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Home My WebLink AboutR-91-0586J-91-671 6/6/91 — RESOLUTION NO. 9 `1. _ tl 8 G A RESOLUTION EXPRESSING THE CITY COMMISSION'S INTEREST IN U.S. HOVERCRAFT INC.'S CONCEPTUAL PLANS TO ESTABLISH AND CONSTRUCT, AT ITS OWN EXPENSE, A HIGH-SPEED WATER TRANSPORTATION FACILITY IN THE CITY OF MIAMI, AND APPROVING, IN PRINCIPLE, SAID CONCEPT; FURTHER, DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO ASSIST U.S. HOVERCRAFT INC. IN FINDING A SUITABLE WATERFRONT LOCATION IN THE CITY FOR THE PROPOSED PROJECT, AND TO REPORT ON AN EXPEDITED BASIS SAID FINDINGS TO THE CITY COMMISSION. WHEREAS, it is the belief of the City Commission that water transportation of the type promoted by U.S. Hovercraft, Inc. will gain considerable acceptance in the future as a mode of transportation in Biscayne Bay and the adjoining Caribbean Basin area; and WHEREAS, U.S. Hovercraft Inc. has selected South Florida for its inaugural operation; and WHEREAS, the City of Miami Waterfront Advisory Board has endorsed, in principle, U.S. Hovercraft's concept as well as a particular location; and WHEREAS, the City Commission is interested in promoting all cost-effective projects designed to promote and nurture tourism in the City of Miami; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA: Section 1. The Miami City Commission hereby finds that s the proposal submitted by U.S. Hovercraft Inc., which embodies a concept of establishing and constructing ,, at U.S. Hovercraft's own expense, a high-speed water transportation facility in the City of Miami, to service the metropolitan east coast of the United States from a proposed Key West hub, is a laudable concept which the City Commission is interested in and supports.' s Section 2. As a consequence of said interest and support, the City Manager is hereby directed to work with officials of U.S. Hovercraft Inc. in locating a waterfront location suitable for the proposed project and report back to the City Commission, on an expedited basis findings regarding said location. PASSED AND ADOPTED this 25th day of July, 1991. ATTE : MATTY HIRAI CITY CLERK PREPARED AND APPROVED BY: CHIEF ASSI ii i CITY ATTORNEY APPROVED AS TO FORM AND CORRECTNESS: f4GE- J04ATT0YJU NDEZ JEM/sls/M2430 VIER L. , MAYOR A ` . At CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA' MEMOMMUM. r TO: Cesar H. Odio DATE : July 11, 1991 FILE City Manager SUBJECT : Commission Meeting of July 25, 1991 } FROM Xavier L. Suarez, REFERENCES Mayor ENCLOSURES: I ;! i - I Please place U.S. Hovercraft, Inc. on the next City Commission Agenda of July 25, 1991, to discuss high speed water transportation facilities. XLS/lr cc: Vice Mayor J. L. Plummer, Jr. Commissioner Miriam Alonso Commissioner Miller Dawkins Commissioner Victor DeYurre ILL i0-1991 17:45 PROM ARSCO&RE I N I NGER, P. A. TO eS440 i P.03 U.S. Hovercraft Inc. sat» S.W. 02 court Miami, Florida 33143 MS) 271-3019 WALLAOE J. RINZ Pmldint CEo. It is the intent of U.S. Hovercraft, a Delaware Corporation, licensed and duly registered to do business in the State •� of Florida to introduce high speed water transportation facilities to the United States at both the foreign and domestic levels. We have selected the South Florida tourist market for ourinitial penetration. We will establish a major hub and terminal maintenance facility in Key West, Florida and service the metropolitan areas of East Coast thru Miami, and the West coast thru Tampa - St Petersburg. There will be mid -key and mid West coast stops available. Service will be provided by prototype hovercraft designed to carry 149 passengers and powered by diesel engines driving three nine and one half foot variable pitch propellers. We anticipate cruising speed.of fifty five miles per hour or more in vessels that will travel six feet above the water on a cushion -of 16v pressure - air.- 'Each vessel will have better than normal airline first clase.accommodations with planned travel time..Miadii to Key.west in two hre and fifteen minutes at a projected.•fare• of •seventy nine dollars round drip. ` Having been an elected official in Dade County, it was my intent to approach a terminal site selection in a manner which I considered accepted protocol procedure. More than one year ago I attempted to discuss and'ask various department heads of the City to assist me in suggesting thru the'office of the City Manager a site for terminal.1ocation.'.1n every�:instance little or no interest was evidenced. one of the primary selected sites of planners for U.S. Hovercraft was the FEC property in downtown Miami. We have made a presentation in August .of last year to the Miami Waterfront Board and had an endorsement in principle given for both the project and the site. We have met with Parks, Public Works, Legal, Development•and Planning, and an Assistant City Manager and are now in the position of being informed that any action on this matter would.L of necessity, have to originate from this elected body. Given the following set of request the Commission to in principle, the project UL-10-91 WED 17:46 facts, I respectfully act, by resolution, and approve as presented, and further direct Z P.03 91— 586 JUL-10-1991 17.46 PROM R ASCO&REININGERPP.A. TO 8544001 P.04 Page 2 the city manager and his staff to assist U.S. Hovercraft in the location of a suitable site for terminal operation. This site would then be brought back to the Commission at the next regular meeting in September for your consideration in making it a part of the established resolution and accepting it in principle. At that time I would request that the City Manager and staff go into great detail,, U.S. Hovercraft on specific financial arrangements ocernin construction and lease requirements possible and agrees e to the.City for your wisdom and decision at your October meeting. The impact on the downtown area would be some thirty four million hard distributable dollars annually in addition to the fee schedule or lease arrived at as fixed expense to U.S. Hovercraft. Our operation will provide a new tourist attraction as well as a unique transportation mode. It is the opinion of marketing and research that we will have a significant impact in bringing a re -distribution of tourists and the associated revenue back South from the line established by the mouse who resides near Orlando. We will impact the foreign tour market heavily and sincerely believe ve will further enhance the sea related industries including the mainstay cruise ship segment of the economy. We respectfully request the above action in the hope of boosting the economy of Miami and South Florida. I want it to again be known as the Sun and Fun Capitol of the United States. I am open for questions if you so desire. ,. I TOTAL P.04 JUL-10-91 WED 17:47 P.TO a• 1 4 ' 11 1r; e F'1=ItJIIi��E t)ANIAHEISSCr ! ll_� d4 RA. UOS. ov rtra t �Inc. 8205 S.W. 82 Court Milaml, Florida 33143 (305) 2t 1.3019 WALLACE J. AINZ Presider.1 June 13, 1991 cto, � HAND _1�SLI'VE$�D t Mr. Cesar Odio City Manager 3500 Pan American Drive Miami, Florida *33133 Re: Appearance on July 11r 1991 City Commission's Agenda Dear Mr. Odio: The purpose of this letter is to request your office to place U.S. Hovercraft Inc.'s project on the Commission's July 11, 1991 Agenda. U.S. Hovercraft Inc. ("U.S. Hovercraft"), plans to transport passengers via hovercraft between Key West, the St. Petersburg Tampa and the Miami metropolitan areas. For its Miami terminal, U.S Hovercraft proposes to construct at its own expense a terminal on a portion of the Florida East Coast Tract in downtown Miami it is estimated that $54 million would be brought annually to the Miami Downtown area by the passengers that start or, end. their voyage in Miami or pass through the proposed terminal. At the Commission's meeting U.S. Hovercraft will present its project to the Commission and will request the Commission. to directs (1) the City Manager And Department of Development to meet with U.S. ' Hovercraft to establish the selection of the f,w site,.preliminary negotiations.regarding the use of the property, the impact to the area of said proposed use, including its financial benefits, and assist U.S. Hovercraft's project through the various agencies; and :T (2) the City Manager, in conjunction with the Department of Development, to study the proposed project and make a report and recommendations to the Commission at the a. Commission's next meeting scheduled for September 1991. It is imperativeto-be placed on commence construction of the terminal i Mr. Cesar Odio city Manager June 13, 1991 Page Z completed simultaneously with the other terminals for when the routes are scheduled to commence. Thank you in advance for your time and cooperation in placing V.S. Hovercraft's project on the July 11, 1991 ,agenda. Sincerely, U . S : NOVERCRAF'T, INC. Syr--�-�: Wallach J rRi'fiz-3. President WJR:md ect Aurelio Perez•Lugones Mayor Xavier Suarez Rasco & Reininger, P.A. 646\000. ltt