HomeMy WebLinkAboutM-01-06000 CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA • 34
INTER -OFFICE MEMORANDUM
TO, The Honorable Mayor and
Members of the City Commission
DATE : JUN — 6 601 FILE .
eLGMT : 6114101 Agenda Discussion Item
P1FMeWES
VOLO AES:
As per the discussion that took place at the May 24, 2001 City Commission Meeting, we are
scheduling a Discussion Item to report back to the Commission on plans for the Historic Virginia
Key Beach site during this Summer. We are in the process of meeting with representatives of the
Virginia Key Beach Park Trust to develop such plans and will be prepared to report on this matter
at this Commission Meeting.
/nAa'N"
CA , I AR
01.. 600
AWY MAWIF
• 9
j!
it iniaey Beat PARK TRUST
L .L ! • P.O. Box 330011, Miami, Fl. 33233-0011 THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA
r`ll U iv9rs P.A. Arhnue Ronpa C'haapetson - 305-6914343 / Fox 305.691.680b
Mr. GenA Ti; nle Vice Chair.305-751-9791 / Fax 305-751-4192 F-moil:wolit nniewael corp
TO: honorable Commissioners and Mayer, The City of Miami
I RUM: G. I innle, Vice Chair
SUBJFC'I': Report on Feasibility/Advisability of Opening Historic Virginia Key 13each'rhis Summer
DATE: June 14. 2001
This ,tilcnlol-andunl cunles as an addendum to the report which will be made by Mr. Ruder and possibly
NJ?. Jackson at the City Commission sleeting today, in response to the Commission's request .d its last
meeting to iuvcstigate the possibility of opening the historic portion of Virginia Key Beach (the "Old
County Park" site) to the public; con a regular (daily or weekend) basis this Summer. In a meeting with
Mr. Ruder, tits. griffin (ol* Parks and Recreation), and Mr. Jackson (of Public Works), we reviewed
several considerat lolls, including the projected budget that was developed last ,year for either weekend
(:ir daily reguiar opening, 00he Park. The consensus of that meeting WAS that while public interest and
demand for reopening the Park may be high roue in large earl to the progress 111 that dil'CetlOn over the
List two years), the I'ullowing rt:asnns, outlrlled slnly hroadly here, rccomillend that furtherraucnce and
it more astute use of available resource; arc more advisable in this case. and that opening, the Be,ich on
it regular basis this summer would NOT he advisable or practical.
a) Too many date, have already been reserved by groups and individuals for exclusive use. 'Phis
means that notice would need to be given to the public that the Beach is not in fact open for use on each
of those days. (On the other hand, this number of reservations does indicate it growing use of the site,
which augurs %',•ell for there to hr sufficient numbers of people in the future to ju.,oify the deployment of
lifeguards and other staff and resources).
h) The lack of permanent, clean, comfortable tzstrooms poses a real impethincnt to regular opening cot
the park. The cost and benefits of temporary t'eStroonlS need to be reevaluated in this comext
C) sv lllinlill" cannot be allowed at the present nine. Opening the brach without Swilnit'.Itlg WUttld
make little practical sense. Ropes and buoys, as well uS lifeguards would be needed, altong with le-
srarch to define the sal•est areas.
d) Unsafe conditions still prevail with su'ucuues that are ill diSrCpall' and can be a li,ihility: Carousel
building (which continues to be vandalized), Train tunnel, etc, need major work to be rendered sale.
e) The funding and resources that would be reyuir d for keening, the 1i (Ylt open can he better anniied
to start ..Ig i 11eal tell On. tile needed studies and niakine the perniAnent repairs that are.
Incresi 1 I\
necesaCy, possibly allowing for oocninl, by r ext }ung per. (Line items in the Trust's ,Mid-\eiu Operat-
ing Budget have been allocated specifically for this purpose).
f► Che archacological survey of the site is just about to begin and The U.S. Army Corps of Enginecr '
work at the site continues.
MEMBERS
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