HomeMy WebLinkAboutcover memoCITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA
INTER -OFFICE MEMORANDUM
TO :
FROM :
Honorable Mayor and Members
Ofhe Cit omm' . ion
Joe
Cit
Arriola
Manager
DATE : November 1.2, 2004
FILE
SUBJECT : Miami Streetcar a
nd Midtown Miami ILA, City
Commission meeting,
REFERENCES : December 9, 2004
ENCLOSURES:
RECOMMEN DATION
It is respectfully recommended that the City Commission adopt the attached resolution (the
"Resolution") authorizing the City Manager to execute an Interlocal Agreement (the
"ILA"), in substantially the attached form, by and between the City of Miami (the "City")
and Midtown Miami Community Development District (the "CDD") (collectively, the
"Parties").
The ILA sets forth the understanding between the Parties with respect to financial
contributions to be made by the City to the CDD for costs associated with conceptual and
final design, permitting modifications and construction to accommodate the proposed
Miami Streetcar Project through Midtown Miami. While the City of Miami Commission
has not yet ratified the Miami Streetcar Project from the current feasibility study stage to
subsequent development and implementation phases, the City of Miami's Transportation
Office has determined that limited additional engineering services are warranted regarding
the streetcar as it impacts the proposed street design and construction within the Midtown
Miami Project. The engineering services include $126,000 for conceptual design, $457,000
for final design, and $30,000 for permitting modifications for a total amount not to exceed
$613,000. The construction amount will be determined after the final design is complete.
Currently, the City's financial staff is evaluating the analysis in the Miami Streetcar
Feasibility Study of the capital and operating costs and financial strategies for the streetcar
implementation. Funds for the study and future phases of the streetcar were appropriated in
the FY 2003-04 Capital Improvement Program, B-71215 Streetcar Project and are derived
from the City's share of the one-half cent transit surtax, People's Transportation Plan.
BACKGROUND
The City does not want to preclude the ability of the proposed Miami Streetcar Project that,
if approved to go forward by the City Commission, will traverse the Midtown Miami
Project. Nor does the City desire to expend markedly higher costs to accommodate the
streetcar if the Midtown street and utility design is not modified accordingly during the
current narrow window of opportunity while Midtown is under construction. The design of
the Midtown infrastructure began in the summer of 2003. However, the Miami Streetcar
Miami Streetcar and Midtown Miami ILA November 12, 2004
City Commission meeting -December 9, 2004 Page 2 of 2.
Feasibility Study began in February 2004. The construction schedule for Midtown was a
mandate of the CDD in order to meet the obligations of the CDD bonds.
While the Streetcar Project has not been scheduled before the City Commission, it is
desirable to construct certain elements of the Streetcar Project within Midtown Miami, now,
for four primary reasons:
1. Cost savings to the City of Miami for approximately $2,060,000 to $2,630,000 to
avoid reconstruction of new infrastructure.
2. Avoidance of adverse economic impacts to Midtown Miami new businesses fronting
Midtown Boulevard and Buena Vista Avenue and potential impact on sales of
condominium units due to construction.
3. Mitigation of environmental risk since Midtown Miami is a Brownfield site.
Avoidance of breaching the environmental cap to construct the streetcar once
residents have begun to occupy the property.
4. Avoiding the public perception of poor long term planning by all parties involved.
Specifically, it is proposed that sufficient design be completed to determine which elements
of the Streetcar Project should be constructed as part of the Midtown Miami Project. This
effort will also determine what modifications should be made to the Midtown Miami
construction effort to accommodate the Streetcar Project. Therefore, the limited engineering
services are required to avoid precluding or significantly increasing the cost of the streetcar
on the Midtown streets based on significant underground utility relocation, potential
environmental considerations associated with Brownfield contamination, and higher future
construction costs associated with the streetcar track bed, station platforms and overhead
electric contact system.
FISCAL IMPACT ANALYSIS
The funds have been appropriated under CIP B-71215 Streetcar Project. The CDD will be
reimbursed for costs associated with the conceptual and final design, permitting
modifications and construction to be determined upon completion of final design. All
invoices from the CDD will include detailed timesheet and contractor invoice
documentation as per the terms of the ILA with the City. Should the City Commission not
approve the Miami Streetcar Feasibility Study or not direct the streetcar project to move
forward, the City will discontinue with final design or construction, and, depending at the
stage of development at that time, authorize the CDD to not continue with the streetcar
component within Midtown Miami.
MIC/ I