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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem #07A - Discussion Item® CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA.10 INTER -OFFICE MEMORANDUM 00 S^'' -7 N1 11: g TO : DATE: FI 4 Carlos A. Gimenez, City Manager September 6, 2000 SUBJECT Agenda FROM: 6alp REFERENCES: Commissioner Winton j'� ENCLOSURES: Please provide an opportunity on the City Commission Agenda for a personal appearance from Elena Carpenter and other concerned residents of Coconut Grove. 1i y ,S,f°t jkrid�;..: _. 2M MCFWb 16 Read, Suke 204 • COCMA GMW, FL 33133 a Td: (M) 448-1989 Fax (305) 446.1049 FAX To: Carlosimeriez. Ciiv Manu - E� Elia V. Carpenter Como CitYoF AAigni jM: ftwda Item - Seoternb r 14 Fa3cG' lo/� - _� 2 - -- - Phoee: Date:_ &_Q&2, 2000 As a result of recent conversations with Commissioner Johnny Winton, I have been asked to request that the fbilowing item be placed to the agenda for discussion during the City of Miaovii ComMission meeting of September 14, 2100. Kindly nail Comrn`s oner Winton's office for fuMw Inkmrd l m, If needed. Discussion in mferen©e to kftsiructure, landsscaping and maintenance in Coconut Grove and Brfaketl comr► unliits, Mich are in dine wed of improvements to bake U*m more att dw and user-friendly. TOOZ etoT 9tb SOC Xtra 82'ST d& 00;:0/80 NORTH-EAST COCONUT GROVE NEIGHBORHOOD ENHANCEMENT TEAM • DISTRICT ISSUES BY NEIGHBORHOOD e BUSINESS DISTRICT (VILLAGE CENTER) Weekend code enforcement and waste collection. ti W*, Y'W&?,1" !41W Mi'-ovbtif, recard 4;4r CEt�� The Village Center experiences its activity peak in the weekends, during which time much trash is generated and often sidewalk vendor, noise and sidewalk cafe ordinances are violated. In order to maintain Coconut Grove's desirability as a destination, it is imperative that weekend enforcement and waste collection be carried -out. The North East Coconut Grove NET Office will begin to implement staggered (part-time) weekend shifts for inspection purposes. Ultimately additional enforcement and waste collection staff would be necessary to maintain this effort. • Sidewalk improvements and repairs. The Brick paved sidewalks are broken -up in numerous places resulting in a potentially dangerous situation for pedestrians in the area and giving an appearance of disrepair to the district, which is highly undesirable. A program to revamp the paving system possibly discarding bricks in favor of a more practical, durable and less maintenance -intensive solution would be desirable. Funding sources should be identified for this purpose quickly, in the interim, patching and repair work are needed. • Improved regulation of sidewalk vending (licensed and unlicensed vendors) Although the lottery system presently in place for sidewalk vendors in the Coconut Grove Special Vending District is working successfully, there seems to be a proliferation of vending carts which claim protection under the first amendment / freedom of speech clause. Their rights and responsibilities should be more clearly specified for they seem 'to be acting in manner which undermines the livelihood of other legitimate vendors and the order, appearance and appeal of the district. An Ordinance to put in place rules and regulations for these "1st Amendment vendors" is presently being worked on by the NE Coconut Grove NET office staff. • Valet parking services Although a valet parking ordinance allowing valet parking to be conducted from the public right-of- way is presently in place for the SD -2 district as well as many other commercial districts citywide, it has been claimed that the approximate cost of $2,000.00 per month is prohibitive and would render any such service financially unfeasible. A new ordinance that seeks to put in place a more reasonable fee and a City of Miami task force is presently working a better -defined set of regulations for the implementation of such services on. • Right-of-way signage along Main Highway, Fuller Street and Commodore Plaza for small retailers and restaurants. A number of area merchants have requested that directional signage be placed in the public right of way indicating the location of the different businesses in the area. The idea seems to have merit and enjoys widespread support in the district. (Please refer to correspondence on this item sent forth April 5th, Attached). The Northeast Coconut Grove Net office is presently in the process of identifvink funding sources for this prosect. Page 6 of 18 NORTH-EAST COCONUT GROVE NEIGHBORHOOD ENHANCEMENT TEAM . DISTRICT ISSUES BY NEIGHBORHOOD • BUSINESS DISTRICT (VILLAGE CENTER) - continued 0 Parking surtax and its repercussions for area merchants. As expressed in numerous meetings and public hearings, the merchants in Coconut Grove, especially those providing the bulk of the parking for the district are concerned that the surtax will give rise to already high parking fees and will discourage patronage of area businesses. This would exacerbate the problems associated with the deficient parking stock in the area. • Intersection of McFarlane Road, Main Highway and Grand Avenue, pedestrian and traffic unfriendly. It is felt that this pivotal intersection located in the heart of the business district is, in its present configuration, pedestrian -unfriendly. The intersections are two wide and the span of time to cross them provided by the traffic light phasing, too short. In addition, the juncture of three main area streets in a highly irregular geometry creates traffic flow conflicts, which result in driver confusion and often in accidents. Miami -Dade Public Works is presently working on a re-engineering proposal for the intersection. A draft plan has received the endorsement of merchants in the district but it is perceived that a few details need yet to be worked -out. The timing of this project is also delicate, since the business district is highly season -sensitive. • Traffic management strategies and provision of parking. The significant parking shortage and the traffic woes this creates during the district's peak demand periods have long been a sore spot in the area. The groundbreaking for the Oak Avenue parking Garage is scheduled for April 12, 1999. This City of Miami Parking facility will add approximately 410 parking spaces to the existing parking stock. Its anticipated date of completion is February 2000. The garage is expected to improve the situation significantly in the northeastern sector of the district. The parking department is also looking for a new site on which to develop an additional garage in the southwest sector of the business district. • Coconut Grove Parking Improvement Trust Fund / cost to small merchants While there have been, for some time, complaints about the high cost of parking waivers in the Commercial District ($50/month per space for supplementary spaces and $8,000 per base - requirement space), it must be remembered that they provide in part the funding necessary to build new parking garages such as the Oak Avenue parking Plaza. Also, the payment in -lieu of parking saves the developers the cost of providing the required parking spaces on site. Finally, for those sites that have already been developed to capacity; this mechanism allows the owner to bring in more parking -intensive uses such as restaurants, which would otherwise be precluded for lack of ability to provide ora -site parking. Submitted into the public, record in connection � item— Vqalter Foeman City Clerk i 1. ��•' `'P) Page 7 of 18 • • NORTH-EAST COCONUT GROVE NEIGHBORHOOD ENHANCEMENT TEAM • DISTRICT ISSUES BY NEIGHBORHOOD • BUSINESS DISTRICT (VILLAGE CENTER) - continued • Pan -handlers and vagrants in the area / their impact on tourists and visitors Even though the Pottinger suit settlement has enabled the Police and Homeless Assistance Program to ameliorate the situation, some individuals keep returning to the area giving rise to the perception that a revolving -door effect has been put in motion. Those homeless individuals who are in addition mentally unstable or drug dependent are at times seen hassling visitors to the area tarnishing the perception of safety that otherwise prevails.. C Tour buses, taxis and rickshaws / management thereof During tourist season a number of large and small buses frequent the area bringing tourists who in turn become patrons to the establishments. While the influx of visitors is always welcome, there area presently no adequate provisions to accommodate these buses. An interim solution has been put in place which allows the buses to drop-off and Pick-up the visitors in two designated spots in the district, while temporarily acceptable, complaints are still registered that the buses stay idle in the stops polluting the area with fumes and noise and at times interrupt traffic when they double park to unload passengers. The issue merits further study. • Permitting procedures as hindrance for improvements and development in the area There is a widespread sense of frustration at the complexity and length of permitting procedures presently in place in the City. Developers cite this as a reason for not seeking to invest in the City more actively and homeotivners use it as a defense for doing work without a permit. Although some improvements have been made the perception has not yet disappeared. • Special events and festivals / how they impact the area The close proximity of a residential area to the commercial district core often gives rise to residents' complaints that special events with their associated noise and tumult and the traffic impediments created are a nuisance. While the Coconut Grove Festival committee has made significant strides in ensuring that the festival organizers leave the area in no worse shape than they found it the events themselves still generate a flurry of complaints. • Appropriate linkage with west grove commercial district It is felt that the western end of the commercial district is inappropriately developed and thus prevents pedestrian traffic patterns from reaching the whole district in a circular fashion, as it is desired. In part a solution to this would be a link with the business district located on Grand Avenue and Douglas Road, which would increase the perception of safety and bring new development. Development activity however has already begun to take place in the western end of the village center. This bodes well for the future of the area. Fa Submitted into the public 8 ZI record in tonne ,tion with item on —.20-cI ; Walter Foeman Page 8 of 18 City Clean . • NORTH-EAST COCONUT GROVE NEIGHBORHOOD ENHANCEMENT TEAM . DISTRICT ISSUES BY NEIGHBORHOOD . BUSINESS DISTRICT (VILLAGE CENTER) - continued • Access through Grand Avenue from US1 An improvement of the Grand Avenue corridor between USI and McDonald Avenue (SW 32nd Ave.) would, as argued in the point above, facilitate a stabilization of the area and establish a clear link between the Village center and USI that would facilitate access to the district. • Improved street lighting / number of fixtures and maintenance thereof A number of prototypes have been suggested for the village center to replace the existing fixtures which are hard to come by for replacement of old ones. The existing stock of fixtures is mostly in disrepair and thus in need of revamping. More fixtures might be considered since the tree canopy in some areas render the existing illumination scheme somewhat scarce. • Newsracks / proliferation and maintenance thereof The excessive proliferations of newsracks in the business district and their poor maintenance have significantly worsened the visual quality of the area. A new ordinance is being drafted by the department of Public works, modeled after that of Coral Gables, meanwhile, however, strict enforcement of the existing regulations would significantly improve the present situation. • Garbage bins / number and maintenance thereof / litter There are too few trash containers in the Coconut Grove commercial district. The deployment of new containers has enhanced the appearance of the district; their number however should be significantly higher than it is now. The present stock of trash bins is simply insufficient to handle the amount of trash generated. Submitted into the public record in connection with item-- on'` Walter Foeman City Clerk f:� 2 Page 9 of 18 �� _ _-•SiFt .Lj �� moi': i � ; 'phi t'r g, vp It T f y,�.� �rY _ sem` • -'' . .e,'. t�:w!�' �"ittT�+� \ • . Z�' 'LqK� r � •rot 'rf � a �,'� r; ��~ •� `� '; }!'1lJ V�"�.f �J. '. , "��• � a� .• _ ` �� � .�• 't• .�5� •fit •,j r , `• '� � � � Vii` r� E \ 't/ •�'^ /. r?` . , %4 4i ,. • '' �' JAM. tit � �'�� ��•I ...��,•. s�'�'�,- � +r _. � . __ _ .. •_. moi' � • Submitted into the record �- C Public item—�°nnec ion on with 2�-av Walter FOeMan City Clerk KOH06LU ASSo(;I.-VFF--S-All(:l 11TECTS.PA. • SIDEWALKS Although repairs have begun, they are to state minimal repairs correcting the most obvious problems. The leveling of the existing bricks, and the replacement of large areas of broken bricks would make i# safer and more attractive. STREETLIGN"14 Broken glass covers, many do not light up, needing repair and regular maintenance. Often Commodore Plaza is in the dark with most lights off. GRAFFITIUgly graffiti on signs, walls, news racks and city garbage cans. LANDSCAPINGLandscaping surrounding trees and in planters on the public right-of-way is non-existent, Medians are unattractive and bare, A prime opportunity to beautify the area is instead an eyesore. STREETSIGNS Some have igen missing for months. SANMT19N Littler in the streets, sidewalks and planters- COBEENFORCEMENT Overflowing and unsightly commercial garbage bins, often unregulated construction activity. Illegal parking opera tions, unpenT tted news racks and more. i Submitted into the public re rd connection with item on G^u/ Walter Foeman City Clerk COCONUT GROVE VILLAGE CENTER Miami City Commission, September 28, 2000 Respectfully Submitted, Elena V, Carpenter 1V; sC..0'3e-01