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HomeMy WebLinkAboutM-02-1062rISTRICT 2 Alonso, Elvi G. VICE CHAIRMAN WINTON From: Walker, Jason Sent: Tuesday, September 17, 2002 5:18 PM To: Gimenez, Carlos; Alonso, Elvi G.; Rodriguez, Jessica Cc: Balzebre, Frank Subject: Commissioner Winton Blue Page Items - September 26, Commission Meeting Jessica Per our conversation, please place the following items on Commissioner Winton's blue page for the September 26, Commissioner meeting. • Presentation of the Downtown Miami Comprehensive Transportation Master Plan (David Plummer and Associates) V/ Commission discussion regarding Miami -Dade County Transportation Initiative - November 5, Ballot Question. Thank you, Jason Walker 1 02-1062 SUMMARY OF THE TRANSIT SURTAX PROPOSAL • The proposed %s% Transit Surtax represents the amount calculated as necessary to provide the local share of the cost of essential transit and transportation improvements in the Miami -Dade metropolitan area. It is estimated that approximately $164 million will be generated the first full year of the tax. Of this amount, 20%, or about $32.8 million, will be allocated to the municipalities of Miami -Dade County according to population. The provision that allocates 20% of the surtax proceeds to the municipalities of the County will yield about $10.6 million to the City of Miami the first year, and likely increasing amounts thereafter. This will allow the City to undertake significant transit and transportation improvements on its own initiative through direct payment, bonding, matching grants, or combinations of these and other funding opportunities. At least 20% of the City's allocation, or about $2.12 million the first year, must be spent on transit improvements; the first-year balance of $8.48 million may be spent on any transportation improvements, including transit. Subsequent years are subject to the same requirement. • The People's Transportation Plan, which will govern the use of all funds received from the Transit Surtax, is an outline of projects and activities that address the minimum needs of the area, and includes significant improvements—especially new and expanded passenger rail transit facilities—that benefit the City of Miami. The Plan was developed through extensive citizen input over a period of several months during the spring of 2002. • The People's Transportation Plan has been adopted by the Miami -Dade County Commission by Ordinance No. 02-116; which levies the t/2% sales tax surcharge, provides for its use according to plan, and establishes the Citizens' Independent Transportation Trust to act as an oversight board. The Ordinance is to take effect January 1, 2003, if approved by the electorate on November 5, 2002. The proposed Citizens' Independent Transportation Trust is designed to provide a safeguard against improper use of the surtax proceeds, and it can be overridden only bga two-thirds majority (nine of thirteen members) of the County Commission. • The transportation and transit needs addressed by the proposed surtax are of great importance to the City of Miami and its metropolitan area, in support of its development, revitalization, and quality of life. 02-1062 MAJOR PROVISIONS OF THE TRANSIT SURTAX PLAN Contingent on approval by the electorate of Miami -Dade County on November 5, 2002, County Commission Ordinance 02-116 will levy a one-half of one percent additional sales surtax in Miami -Dade County. This is a summary of the major provisions of the Ordinance. • Proceeds of the tax will be deposited in a special fund to be used to carry out the "People's Transportation Plan", a copy of which is attached as Exhibit 1. • Surtax proceeds can be spent only for purposes specified in Florida Statutes 212.055(1), which generally limits expenditures to transit and transportation projects (see page 5). • No more than 5% of the surtax proceeds can be spent on administrative costs. • The County Commission cannot authorize expenditures that depart from the People's Transportation Plan without concurrence from the Citizens' Independent Transportation Trust (see page 4), which will review and recommend all contracts. A two-thirds vote of the Commission is required to override the Trust's recommendation. • Twenty percent of the surtax proceeds will be distributed annually to the municipalities of the County based on population, to supplement (not replace) general fund expenditures for transportation. • At least twenty percent of the funds received by a municipality must be applied specifically to transit uses, e.g. circulator buses, shelters, pull-out bays, etc. • The City of Miami's share of the surtax is estimated at -$10.6 million the first year. • Surtax proceeds will also be used to provide fare -free Metromover service for everyone, and to expand the Golden Passport Program (fare -free transit on all modes) to all persons over 65, regardless of income. 02-1462 Page 1 of 4 9/26/2002 CITY OF MIAMI PROJECTS IN THE PEOPLE'S TRANSPORTATION PLAN Most of the transit projects, and many other transportation improvements in the People's Transportation Plan, will benefit the City of Miami either directly or indirectly. Improvements with significant and direct impacts on the City include: Improved and expanded bus service: Increase the bus fleet from 700 to 1335. • Increase bus service to minimum 15 minute headways during rush hour, and 30 minutes during other periods, on all routes in the city, and adding 24-hour service in major transit corridors. • Expansion of the municipal circulator program. Expansion of the rail rapid transit system, including: • The East-West Corridor from the Port of Miami to Florida International University by way of the Miami Intermodal Center at Miami International Airport. • The North Corridor from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Metrorail station to Pro - Player Stadium by way of MDCC North, Opa-Locka, and Carol City. • The Earlington Heights Connector to the Miami Intermodal Center at Miami International Airport. • Baylink, the Miami Beach -Downtown Miami light rail line. • The Kendall Corridor west from Dadeland. • The Northeast Corridor from Downtown Miami to Aventura along Biscayne Boulevard/FEC Railway. • Metrorail extension from Dadeland to Florida City. a • Douglas Road Metrorail extension to the Miami Intermodal Center at Miami International Airport. Major Highway and Road Improvements: • Funds Preliminary Engineering and Design Study of I-395 in Downtown Miami. • Constructs major ingress/egress improvements in Downtown Miami. Page 2 of 4 9/26/2002 02-1062 • Other roadway improvement projects listed in Exhibit 1: "Board Requested Major Roadway and Neighborhood Improvement Projects for Inclusion in the People's Transportation Plan" may be fully or partially funded, but there is no specific prioritization, formulas, or funding amounts at this time. Neighborhood Improvements: • Neighborhood improvements, include many repair, replacement, landscaping and beautification projects. Locations are not specified, nor are project costs except in total ($167 million over ten years). It is likely that most of this work will be in the unincorporated area of the county. to 02-1062 Page 3 of 4 9/26/2002 COMPOSITION OF THE CITIZENS' INDEPENDENT TRANSPORTATION TRUST County Commission Ordinance No. 02-117 creates the Citizens' Independent Transportation Trust (CITT), consisting of 15 members: one residing in each of Miami- Dadc CowAy'b 13 Cununissiun disuiuis, one appointed by the Mayor, and one appointed by the Miami -Dade League of Cities. Initial appointments to the CITT will be made as follows: The 13 District members will each be appointed by the County Commissioner for the respective District from a slate of four names submitted by the nominating committee. The County Commission must ratify each such appointment. • The Mayor's appointment will be made from a slate of four names submitted by the nominating committee. • The Miami -Dade League of Cities appointment will be made from a slate of four names submitted by the nominating committee. The nominating committee will have 20 members, appointed by the County Commission, "who are representative of the geographical, ethnic, racial and gender make-up of the County". A list of the persons to be appointed, by position and agency/organization, is included in the legislation. The CITT will "monitor, oversee, review, audit, and investigate implementation of the transportation and transit projects listed in any levy of the surtax, and all other projects funded in whole or in part with surtax proceeds". The Ordinance describes in detail specific powers, procedures, and authority that will empower the CITT to carry out these responsibilities. In the event of a disagreement between the CITT and the County Commission, a two- thirds majority of the County Commission membership (9 of 13 members) must vote to override a CITT recommendation. Staff for the CITT will be provided by the County Manager and the County Attorney. Page 4 of 4 9/26/2002 02-1062