HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem #04 - Discussion ItemMETROPOLITAN DADE COUNTY. FLORIDA
MMbADE
February 28,1982
Mr. Howard V. Gary
City Manager
City of Miami
3500 Pan American Drive
Miami, Florida 33133
Dear Mr. Gary:
OFFICE OF COUNTY MANAGER
911 COURTHOUSE
MIAMI, FLORIDA 33130
(305)579-5311
As you are aware, the County is desirous of considering the 12th Avenue
and llth Street City-ourned property as a site for a new Medical Examiner
facility (other sites should be considered as well). As you suggested
in your recent letter, it would be appropriate for the City Commission
to discuss this matter and authorize your staff to begin negotiations
with the County for the purpose of either leasing, selling, or trading
City -owned land with the County for this purpose.
Therefore, please schedule this matter before the City Commission and,
if you feel it is appropriate, I will have a representative at the meeting
to discuss the County's proposals and plans.
u
M. R. Stierheim
County Manager
cc: Joseph H. Davis, M.D.
Medical Examiner
dacua�eanJ
?OZIP07 96. i
CFFICE CIF MmICAL EXAMINER
1050 N.W. 19th Street
Miami, Florida 33136
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1. That a parcel of latxi at the northeast corner of N. W. 12 Avenue and 11 Street
become the site of a medical examiner building.
2. That the Miami City Commission mission authorize the City Manager staff to work with
the Medical Examiner and the County Manager staff to devise proposals for
such use so that the best interests of the City of Miami and its citizens and
nearby residents are preserved.
3. That the proposals be made available to the Mayor and the Commissioners within
a period of 60 days.
JUSTIFICATIONS
1. Medical examiner service has been furnished to the citizens of Miami for
26 years.
2. The medical examiner has been a primary support for the Miami Police Department
for 26 years and also serves the Miami Fire Department rescue services.
3. The citizens, police and fire personnel are best served by a location within
the 12 Avenue Civic Center.
4. Zhere is a direct and measurable cost efficiency for the citizens of Miami,
their police and fire departments by such a location.
5. Zhe medical examiner building is conceived to be sufficient well past the
year 2000. As such the N. W. 12 Avenue and 11 Street property is the only
parcel which suits the above.
,-,. 82 - 2 8 6.1
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CFFICE OF MEDICAL EXAMINER
1050 N.W. 19th Street
Miami, Florida 33136
It is reoo►mended that a parcel of land approximating 3.5 acres be made available
for construction of the new medical examiner facility for District 11 of the state
medical examiner system. This property is currently opposite the Holiday Inn on
the northeast corner of N. W. 12 Avenue and 11 Street.
For a quarter century the medical examiner facility has been housed in a small
building adjacent to the emergency facilities of Jackson Manorial Hospital. It
has became woefully inadequate. The only potentially available property with ready
access to the criminal courts, crime laboratory and medical center is the above.
A factor in the choice of the original location in 1956 was to best serve the citizens
of Miami and its police agencies. In keeping with this concept the N. W. 12 Avenue
and 11 Street site affords the following benefits to the City of Miami.
EFFICIENCY
Hanicide and other death investigations utilize local police working with the
medical examiner at the scene of death, at the medical examiner office and in
subsequent follow-up among police, the medical examiner and the nearby crime
laboratory. Twenty one percent of medical examiner cases involve Miami Police
Department personnel.
See the attached memorandum which indicates
medical examiner to the City of Miami during
efficient.
$366,909 value of service by the
1981. Geographic closeness is most
Every hour spent in needless travel by homicide detectives is very expensive.
Personnel costs including fringe and vehicular costs for a detective approximate
$15.00 per hour. There are easily two to four hours of liaison time involving
death investigations.
CITIZEN SERVICE
Fourteen of the forty --me funeral hones serving Dade County are located within the
City of Miami. Excess travel costs adversely increase the costs of funeral service.
Daily there are citizens who drive to the office to seek records and information.
The central location is imperative.
In summary, there is no satisfactory alternative to the central civic center location.
Although the County had ample land far out, west of the Palmetto Expressway, deep
south or elsewhere, the detriments to the citizens of Miami necessitate utilizing
such remote property only as an unsatisfactory alternative.
The architectural planning stage is imninent and land acquisition is urgent. Your
cooperation and support is most appreciated.
82--86.1
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Usted below is eome data that shows the relationship bell the City of
Miami Police Department and this deparbment
for the last three years.
'1979
' 1980
lr 981
Hanicides
153
208
233
Suicides
75
74
68
Accidents
57
60
63
Traffic
70
83
78
Naturals
465
478
337
Totals
820
903
779
Total M.E. Cases
3,544
3,791
3,745
% of Case Load Produced
LY City of Miami
23.1%
23.8%
20.8%
Cost 820
x $365 (est)=
-903 x $407=
779 x $471=
$299, 300
$367, 521
$366, 909
1980 Census Data for Dade County
All of Dade County - 1,625,900
City of Miami Population - 346, 931
Percent City of Miami Population - 21.3%
Ftaneral Hams/AU of Dade Canty - 41
Ffluneral homes/Inside City of Miami - 15
Average Cost of City of.
Miami Homicide Detective - $10.26 per hour
Cost of Auto - $410.00 per month + 23t per mile
Average Cost
$15.00
Per Hour
Average Cost of City
Evidence Technician -- $9.16 per hour Average Cost
$10.02
Cost of Auto - $410.00 per month + 2.3,t per mile Per Hoar
�.. j 82-286.1