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Home My WebLink AboutR-99-0090..-maf,*�.,,a, huaZI^5,qq`zc"f`e(3'+"` J-99-185 " 2/8/99 RESOLUTION NO.1 A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION t. URGING THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE TO ADOPT LEGISLATION WHICH SHALL AUTHORIZE A TEMPORARY f- SUSPENSION OF ACTIVITY TO ALLOW STATE OR L�4 COUNTY ARCHEOLOGISTS SUFFICIENT TIME TO EVALUATE, ANALYZE, DOCUMENT, AND IF DEEMED APPROPRIATE, ACQUIRE, RECOVER, EXCAVATE AND MAINTAIN AN ARCHEOLOGICAL FINDING ("FINDING"), WHEN SUCH A FINDING HAS BEEN REVEALED ABOUT, IN, OR ON A PROPERTY DURING EXCAVATION, CONSTRUCTION, OR. AFTER STORM EVENTS, AND THAT TO PROCEED WITH THE DEVELOPMENT PROJECT MAY NEGATIVELY IMPACT THE FUTURE VALUE AND PRESERVATION OF SAID FINDING; FURTHER DIRECTING THE CITY CLERK TO TRANSMIT A COPY OF THIS RESOLUTION TO THE HEREIN DESIGNATED OFFICIALS. WHEREAS, it has become apparent that the timeframe afforded archeologists for the evaluation, analysis, documentation, and if deemed appropriate, the acquisition, recovery, excavation, and maintenance of an archeological finding (site and/or artifact), once such finding has been revealed, is insufficient to assure the preservation of such a finding; and WHEREAS, the Miami City Commission urges the State Legislature to recognize and set forth provisions which shall COMMSSION Resolution No. U _ v. wJ -1 '� ;'• �, n: ^. t, ry •n�i;'`�x P 1r el is - 't-y'K:.r.`�n.. C afford archeologists the necessary time to evaluate such archeological finding; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA: Section 1. The recitals and findings contained in the Preamble to this Resolution are hereby adopted by reference thereto and incorporated herein as if fully set forth in this Section. Section 2. The Florida Legislature is hereby urged to adopt legislation which shall authorize an a temporary suspension of activity to allow state or county archeologists sufficient time to evaluate, analyze, document, and if deemed appropriate, acquire, recover, excavate and maintain an archeological. finding ("finding"), when such a finding has been revealed about, in, of on a property during excavation, construction, or after storm events, and that to proceed with such development project may negatively impact the future value and preservation of said finding. Section 3. The City Clerk is hereby directed to transmit a copy of this Resolution to Governor Jeb Bush, the President of the Florida Senate, the Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives, all members of the Dade County Legislative Delegation, the Director the Division of State Lands, the - 2 - 59- 9ii .� prt -ti : , ..7� � rr :�+;e< , ir;. zf.i�i: � • ;.��Ir,i.�t. �ir� :�+.r�`.�.�.,�i �Z�Y t:�'W7 . - .e�:tn .t;PrV" � �" t :F.� tT=9 �ar�X°� V. y e �`d��it#� �;4 \ °� �. � u� yam; zf L`�� .rvs .,P ... ... •. .. .. .-._ .. 's Director of the Division of historical Resources, the Director of the Florida Department of Parks, and the City of Miami State lobbying consultants. Section 4. This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon its adoption and signature of the Mayor.I/ PASSED AND ADOPTED this 9th day of Pehr_uary , 1999. JOB CAROLLO, MAYOR In accordance with Miami Code Sec. 2-36. since thQ Mayer did not indicate approval of this legislation by signing it in the dre;igr!wer; nc:r becomes effective with the elapse of ten (10) uay om th& dill, - `'c,'nrr:issicr regarding same, without the Mayor exercisin a pkto. ATTEST: �. Walter ,, �osm City Clerk WALTER J. FOEMAN CITY CLERK APPROVED AS TO FORM AND CORRECTNESS ATTORNEY 251:BSS If the Mayor does not sign this Resolution, it shall become effective at the end of ten calendar days from the date it was passed and adopted. If the Mayor vetoes this Resolution, it shall become effective immediately upon override of the veto by the City Commission. wig Catty Of fflinmt, WALTER 1. 50EMAN —' DONALD H. WARSHAW s' City Clerk City Manager . �w I+s February 26, 1999 Miami Shores Elementary 10351 N.E. 5 Avenue F `' Miami Shores FL 33138 Dear Principal: During the City of Miami Commission meeting held on February 9, 1999, ' students from your school made a presentation in connection with the preservation of the "Miami Circle." Enclosed please find a copy of the video tape containing the filming of said presentation. We thank all of the students who participated for their enlightened civic interest. Since ely, l al er J. oem _ , ,0V It �'y'rii, ! .1i 111 dI WALTER 1. EOEMAN 'All (= DONALD H. WARSHAW City Clerk \� �� ;;� 1 City Manager Vx February 26, 1999 Miami Country Day School 601 N.E. 107 Street Miami FL 33161 Dear Principal: During the City of Miami Commission meeting held on February 9, 1999, students from your school made a presentation in connection with the preservation of the "Miami Circle." Enclosed please find a copy of the video tape containing the filming of said presentation. We thank all of the students who participated for their enlightened civic interest. nc rely, — T�T�1tn`r�Rn �,r, J-99--185 2/8/99 RESOLUTION NO. A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION URGING TnR FLORIDA LEGISLATURE TO ADOPT LEGISLATION WENCH SHALL AUTHORIZE A THMPORARY SUSPENSION OF ACTIVITY TO ALLOW STATE OR COUNTY ARCHEOLOGISTS SUFFICIENT TIME TO EVALUATE, ANALYZE, DOCUMENT, AND IF DBEF'tTD APPROPRLATE, ACQUIRE, RECOVER, BXCAVATB AND MAINTAIN AN ARCEROLOGICAL FINDING ("FINDING"), WHEN SUCH A FINDING HAS BEEN REVEALED ABOUT, IN, OR ON A PROPERTY DURING EXCAVATION, CONSTRUCTION, OR AFTER STORM EVENTS, AND THAT TO PROCEED WITH THE DEVELOPMENT PROJECT MAY NEGATIVELY IMPACT THE FUTURE VALUE AND PRESERVATION OF SAID FINDING; FURTHER DIRECTING THE CITY CLERK TO TRANSMIT A COPY OF THIS RESOLUTION TO THE HEREIN DESIGNATED OFFICIALS. WHEREAS, it has become apparent that the timeframe afforded archeologists for the evaluation, analysis, documentation, and if deemed appropriate, the acquisit.on, recovery, excavation, and maintenance of an archeological finding (site and/or artifact) , once such finding has been revealed, is insufficient to assure the preservation of such a finding; and WHERBA.S, the Miami City Commission' urges the State 1. Legislature to recognize and set forth provisions which shall i FEB-Oe-1999 17:10 CITY OTTORNEY'S UFF-11-t I afford archeologists the necessary time to evaluate such archeological finding; NOW, THEREFORE, SS IT RESOLVED BY THE COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA: Section 1. she recitals and findings contained in the Preamble to this Resolution are hereby adopted by reference thereto and incorporated herein as if fully set forth in this Section. Section 2. The Florida Legislature is hereby urged to adopt legislation which shall authorize an a temporary suspension of activity to allow state or county archeologists sufficient time to evaluate, analyze, document, and if deemed appropriate, acquire, recover, excavate and maintain an archeological finding ('finding"), when such a finding has been revealed about, in, of on a property during excavation, construction, or after storm events, and that to proceed with such development project may negatively impact the future value and preservation of said finding. Section 3. The City Clerk is hereby directed to transmit a copy of this Resolution to Governor Jeb Bush, the President of the Florida Senate, the Speaker of the Florida House , of Representatives, all members of the Dade County Legislative Delegation, the Director the Division of State Lands, the - 2 - ft tv , .�.kuxrrraa+wpars[+xrxa� t FE8--08-1999 17:10 CITY ATTORNEY'E OFFICE .�Z t Director of the Division of Historical Resources, the Director of _ :- the Florida ida Department of Parks, and the City of Miami State t wl lobbying consultants. JOE CAROLLO, MAYOR ATTEST WAITER J. FOEMAN CITY CLERK APPROVED AS TO FORM AND CORREOMSS & ALEJANDRO VIIARIBLLO CITY ATTORNEY W3251-ESS td the Mayor does not sign this Resolution, it shall became effective at the end of ten calendar days from the date it was pewxed and adopted. If the Mayor vetoes this Resolution, it shall become effective t immediately upon override of the veto by the City Commission. 3 - 0 tk� Cireu Fu Ilei Dara iessicc� - ktL1debra�clt JGV 1 ISI • I -ZL-t10 : 4O.-IM J. L. rLUX11t.K. JK. bbu b 4I CITY 01 MIAMI. I LORIDA INTER -OFFICE MEMORANDUM --- � 'TO: I on warsnaw uATE FILL : City Hager — January 20,1999 L:Uk.IFGT I nom : SEFF.HL NW,FS Co rnissloner J.L. Plummer Jr. ENt;LU`A M ES b Please see the attached request and schedule this presentation by the schoolchildren of our community for 9:30am on th® February a Commission sleeting. Thank you. c r 5 F F :�, .. /, .'F_j a x,+'rul,"�.'�tiY�(ad'��iv' 7�e�1`Mf&;a.'�CS*xa'$,f�l+tT,�r±^Yt.�'.C�R?sG•',t'dr ";�TSr36+R.. »N':F6,sa24a'},r'P ��' 7 FROM FAX NO. Bj Smith 978 NE 115 St. Miami, FL 33161 (305)893-8811 hm (305) 892-9998 ofc. (305) 891-2251 fax Conuniasioner J.L. Plun=cr City District 2 3500 Pan AmrAlcan Drive Coconut Grove, FL 33 133 (3051250-5333 (305) 579-3334 fax 1-20-99 q Jut. W 1998 12:42PM P1 Dear Commissioner Plummer, I would like to maim a request for students from mismil Shores Elementary School and Miami Country Day School to be put on the agenda for the Commission Meeting on February 9tb, 1999. The students would like to express their Interest in, and concern for, the preservation of the `Miami Circle" archeological dig that is taking place an Etrickell Ave. They would also like to thank the developer, Mr. Micheal Baumann, for his generous support of the excavation thus far. The students are aware that plans for development were in place long before artifacts were discovered there and that the responsibility for preserving this wonderful and significant piece of Florida history should not W1 on the shoulders of the developer alone- it Is the wish of the students that a solution could be found that would be fair to everyone. In President Ointon's State of the Unjon Address last night he said that local communities should preserve their history. This site hae tremendous educational potential- It could be a wonderful point of interest not only for school children, but for tourists and all the people of South Florida. Sincerely, EV Smith 9 /Z #!91f9 099 'Nr 'N9Wn1J 'I 'r WV0:6 66-39-1 � 7.Z 'Y" y IIZ�t may.. .7 4 i .{L il!% xt { i ':. } #• _ �ji �4 { t �ci�'1 � 1,�� i�'T�, i.. 4�: 4(' �} > j�''i� `•f £ .s, i c`.# { 'K�fi'3,. `�„i Li! � t t:i i rt 1'- 114. A 1. � { W { k} ?t �.*i4_ i � , �,� i - � i L y W 3 _ .L • "' !� F "�p y dY �'t •:: t .e i 5 };. 4 N f'� j t, yL r rs.�.n gi'� e�..� �1: t }��3*4 " �.2. 'J'+.G+L!'l1MFi-e'.�S�Nn14?Filrb+l,4 . - a .. .. - �3'�'3��T47i1�;'.If��.Asts[+fflka#!Y. •�r im lxet+�,+. �... ,+d1..•rUhM �».uriri�,.,.-.�.,,A'.v(�sa2axk..v,J3w1�' �,nF..s.. _,.... e s v.en3cT;i4a }44-..:/...:FIGn .. {t i frill! WASitrrrClVNi POSY } r f -,-F=zunff urcie ,,,Denoh Downio es e Are MrT By jtu Liman site waA tmaom eoanz wm ate Is th th oFiorf� . MIAMI—In the shadows of this modem of 4WA gleaming towers, wader the remains on glitter. of a b5ghted apsrtinmt block, mdtaeolo. "it has genemG rusts dams' thrpoldt the rubble of cestu- amwem* said Boi j ,.ties have mmveaed a mystmiota circle in and dkector of NE stone. torte Preservation The arrie, formed of dosem of holes ing the zrdaeologl j bored into the limestone bedrock Witt, Historians epe nwtmmtaty toots end kuated rust s few WuwhenbuUdoa step¢ from the mouth of the Miami River, is the old Brickel] A . a startling window into F'lod&'s prt* the site for a new l Cohanbim history in the heart of a bustling of land at the mow mevnpn8e, arrhzecloglsts say. knawn Up have t A cache of wt&t &—including arena, trading post for tl bends and pottery sherds —hoe, persuaded miiWm Scoters, in t -cane erects that tens drde ie likely the The site ores in d fo,mdation of i'reepuesste Iodtsa IPA ng at 1K,tcl and is a etc the site of one of @.12ar6e fist trading pacts narrow aver from , fminded by nvrthem settlers the site of a -I'Mik . But another, mare tntri8ui2", denser &0 Indians inhabited ' has been advaaccd: 'that the circle is a de icon. the Span ode7tia i cxi-A-, Ptft[n rna de by a N, mk- Florida in 1513 sr - VMY band of Mayne, the sopbistir M Yaoth. The TCW C-heat Ameri— Iridtana who licked in the b,c of was an, Yucatan. Belize and northern Guatessla, arrival of the EmW It lot*# b'kc Stonehenge in negative, This summer, vA Instead of aUmes--boles." said T. I- Riggs. bedrock thru4lb s i a surveyor who has studied Mayan cuhvre. middm—the bfadt Whatever the relic toms cart to he—thv rp6iv of rreuinue c S !6 #`SIN 099 66-ZZ-i :A9 IV93 ct. IIA StW it aw r& s of intent.• t is a vision a ciW built f„n. 'Rf1 croty'a }tire^ ieh is head - ate. ttadim anti- toda-Wah ad prepare . The patch ti Rivet waa ,rand and ems. eariy a Sheraton awes the 1 erected on 'fie native vhen Fume landed in Fourrtain of It vanished dkrwing the ;cos actaped f landfill and ed (farm the -they uncov- I NAt1flt1AL NEWS s SATUHDAr. D)AAMBEn 2.6, e998 A3 ered a swim of marKrade holes it the kxut of an are. Riggs edmpolo td the arc. ddt v c krk an the Zmad wimt he expected the rest of it ,attain He under the. dirt. A bxkhoe dug Wong the obese and more holes emerged in the form of a perfect circle 38 legit in diameter. The nV teriom circle arrvived the ron- t; ucNott cf the 4 exleH Apartazas um- mamxL Work crews buried a septic tank in idle middle of the rink without tnurhing the holes- A nearer pipe ttita btwle tho- Acut3xrn point "Nothlrurt Dt ffm bii ever been found in south Fkvida," solid John Ridszk L i Exnj- Dade hittorit pttrsrvxtion Medalist whn has vrorked at the site for months. 'Tn my Ja o edge, if it is the, knntialion of a Tequeeu strudwe of wrrte sort, it u.,culd be the first hard evidence of one that's ever ,men documented archaeologically " Although Ridaak and Carr believe the site is likely Tegner4a, Ricialk acid it, c0e0W cai!cndnr theory would not be 'as far out as it mud t eern." It would not be wTrecedtnted," 11c raid. 7n the Old World, for temple, there was Stonehenge." Riggs, who spew years Hvi g in Central America and Muting the Maya, theorizes that a group of Maya may have made their .►ay to the U.S. tsfar L'=d throngs the Florida Kegs hundreds of pear, w Sonic of the holes ir, the circle werc medcuk u dy cut into the shapes of mar[* crmturm such aA the manatee, turtle atlfl dolphin. he said, 1 'his is unique in the wot f don't think airyone has tver disco ere whFlyplrn hive been mrved into the " hr aald. "There will be a lot of daubtem Thia woulrl be the firm evidence of the Maya in I--Wda.' But Miehad Cos, a Yale Univtn%hy professor and leading erpert nn Mayan cultwe, dovmniayed the Gkc@x-od L`,at the circle is Mayan. ' think the chances againAt it are trc- mendous. There has rem bees any Mayan ertijact found in florid2" Coe said. "nip MayR welly stayed port. They nevtr got up into the United Stairs- There in no hard evidence that they wtnt to the lr-uribbean] ixiwtds.' Rcberrrhers have a number of puzzles to Solve, Rittsak said. Stones appear to have been carefully placed in the holaf at the tattrm, western and southern pointy of the Circle - Urge quantities of flint and two a heads fashioned frorn basalt were found at the site Neither occurs naturally in nits Florida, and thr two dowst so nt" of f M• � basalt, a vok's & rock. are the Appalachian Mountalm of eastern North America and the highlands of Guatemala, a site of Mayan settiementa. But Coc erdd the Maya did not use lnsalt. " Chey had ,cord, better stuff than that," he said. Cam sunzpecttr that the cir&- nru{y have beau the foundatioe for poi u that foxtrx-1 the struchne of an ' Vr,* ael, t1itie4ype ITequebtaI house, t chief perhaps." "We know that they could crease sttuc- turcA,• he earl. "t fired it dff j&t to believt that Wa achAlly,a cakndnr. Rut l don't have a hard time klieving sow knowledge of astronomy figured tnto the comtnsction•" Carr points to the backbone of a shark perfectly prep--md within the circle. "i'he shark has its head to the west and earl to the east very much the way the Indian.,, would put a human in the ground," hp aid. nc relopete plan to ,wild n 600-unit luxury tnwrr on the property. The currrpany did not return ais for cnnrm-nt. Despite the she's Mt"tW hixtoric stgnificant(, Florida krw would allow officials to halt construction daily if the write turned trot to be an ancient hurial gremind. 'Prom the &-m3oper'q point of view, it utiet be their worst nightmarc," Carr,airl. 'Ifunmarked human groves are &kNrvefed, they are prntn ted by thr state." �� n sibs 099 NP �MWTIJ 'l r cVV - - as a AS .ems , CITY OF MIAMI. FLORIDA INTER -OFFICE MEMORANDUM 70 J. L. Plununer Jr. Commi ner FROM: k *arsh7aw City Manager DATE: January 29, 1999 SUBJECT: Personal Appearance REFERENCES: Archeological Dig C.M. Tickler #2198 ENCLOSURES: FILE : Please be advised that a personal appearance presentation item for the students of Miami Shores Elementary School and the Miami Country Day School has been placed on the February 09, 1999 Commission Agenda as requested. DHW:JWB jwb CC: John W. Buhrmaster, Exec. Asst. to the City Manage T`9� Elvi G. Alonso, Agenda Coordinator Mysterious Circle Discovered in Miami Archaeologists have discovered a p chistoric circle cut into the limestone bedrock in downtown Miami. The feature, once covered by the Brickell Apartments, measures 38 feet in diameter, and somehow miraculously survived the construction of a three story building on top of it. 7 he circle was discovered after archaeologists began investigating the site when the apartments %yore demolished earlier this year. Archaeologists directed by the Miami -Dade Historic Preservation Division of the Office of Community and Economic Development and funded by contributions by the developer and the Archaeological and Historical Conservancy were conducting a routine dig at the site when the project surveyor, T. L Riggs, observed a peculiar set of cut basins in the bedrock about three feet below the surface. W. Riggs predicted that the are of cut features were part of a circle and calculated its location, which was later verified by archaeologists. The circle is depicted by at least 20 irregular cut basins which vary in size from one to three feet. Peculiar to the circle are numerous portholes, and a carving in the rock similar to an eye, that appear on the circle's east -west axis suggesting an alignment to the equinox, however, any astronomical alignments mmain to be fully documented. Also particular to the site are several offerings, including two basaltic stone axes not manufactured in Florida, and a five foot shark deliberately buried in the circle. The circle's function is unimown. It may be an elite structure, such as a chiefs house. No similar sit- has been found in Florida before. Althougb the overall site is approximately 2000 years old, the age of the circle is not known. Some pottery types found within the cut holes indicate that the circle may date to ca. 1200 — 1.500 A.D., but the exact date will have to await additional analysis of materials from the site. Archaeologists plan to continue excavating at the site through January, until developers begin construction of a high-rise on the site. Developers have been cooperative Mth the investigation, having donated both cash to the project and all artifacts to the Historical Muscum of South Florida, and there are no plans to stop the pending development. instead, archaeologists are concentrating on cAn?ptetma as much Avork as possioie and assessing %%iicdwr the circle :an be cut faun the bcuo.k and iauved to : rio;her location. R Project Personnel e Robert S. Carr _ Project Director, Archaeologist Director, Miami Dade Historic Preservation Division Office of Community and Economic Development 305-375-4958 is John Ricisak Field Director, Archaeologist Miami Dade Historic Preservation Division Office of Community and Economic Development 305.375-4958 T.L. Riggs Project Surveyor �WlVfild 'l 'f 11,'F6fi:6 6G-��-I Ag lk3S