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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSummary FormFILE ID: AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY FORM 14-00789 Date: 08/04/2014 Commission Meeting Date: 09/11/2014 Type: ® Resolution n Ordinance n Other Law Department Matter ID No. Requesting Department: Community & Economic Development District Impacted: 2 Emergency Ordinance ❑ Discussion Item Subject: SECTION 108 LOAN FUNDS — DOUGLAS PARK AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO APPLY FOR A SECTION 108 LOAN IN THE APPROXIMATE AMOUNT OF $6 MILLION FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW COMMUNITY CENTER AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL REMEDIATION OF DOUGLAS PARK LOCATED AT 2795 SW 37 AVENUE, MIAMI, FLORIDA; FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE ALL THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS FOR SAID PURPOSE. Purpose of Item: Background Information: Please see attached Budget Impact Analysis NO Is this item related to revenue? YES Is this item an expenditure? If so, please identify funding source below. General Account No: Special Revenue Account No: TO BE DETERMINED CIP Project No: NO Is this item funded by Homeland Defense/Neighborhood Improvement Bonds? Start Up Capital Cost: Maintenance Cost: Total Fiscal Impact: $6 million Final Approvals (SIGN AND DATE) CIP Budget If using or receiving capital finds Grants Risk Management Purchasing Dept. Director Chief City Manag Page 1 of 1 AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY FORM CONTINUED Background Information: In the City's effort to address contamination discovered at the Coconut Grove Fire Rescue Training Center, it was revealed that the facility formerly operated as City Incinerator #2. In July of 2013, simultaneous to conducting additional soil samples within the Fire Rescue Training Center and submitting the results to the Miami Dade Department of Regulatory and Economic Resources (RER), RER required a regional soil assessment study due to the historic operation as an incinerator, and the potential threat of the presence of a smoke stack harming the environment. The sampling grid and boundary requirements of the regional soil assessment were random locations within a 1-mile radius of the former incinerator. Over a period of 2 months a total of 55 locations were sampled in joint efforts by the City and RER. During this sampling effort, it was confirmed that any potential ambient impacts from the former City incinerator smoke stack is not currently present in the environment; however both the City and RER discovered properties that are suspected of either being former landfills; or receiving deposits of incinerator ash fill material; due to the type of contamination detected. The suspected former landfill and incinerator ash fill properties discovered up to that point are all currently City Parks. RER then required the City to investigate the environmental status of all of its 112 parks. Simultaneous to the City's investigation of its 112 parks, RER conducted independent sampling of its own at select City park locations. RER selected Douglas Park located at 2795 SW 37 Ave as one of their random sampling locations in October 2013. The amount of samples collected were not representative of the entire 10 acre park however, and in November 2013, RER re -visited Douglas Park to collect more samples at different locations and detected contamination that is consistent to what is associated with former landfill and or incinerator ash deposit operations. On November 21, 2013, RER issued a letter specifically describing their findings at Douglas Park and recommended closure of the park until a complete site assessment investigation is completed to determine how much of the 10 acre park is contaminated. The City immediately fenced off Douglas Park and closed it to the public after receiving the notification. Soon after, the City discovered via archived file review of government resolutions a memo dating back to July 13, 1938; which formerly describes the location of Douglas Park as Tousey Rock Pit; and in which the Pit will begin to be used for dumping and burning of trash and rubbage. A separate City government correspondence dated May 19, 1941 indicated that the City would begin to make preparations for conversion of the property into a park. Other historical accounts reveal several areas in Miami were used for mining of coral rock, and later filled in for land re -use. In December 2013, the City began the site assessment investigation of Douglas Park by implementing a determination of the extent of the presence of solid waste delineation. The first mobilization by environmental contractors confirmed the presence of heavy solid waste debris beneath the ground surface throughout the majority of the 10 Acre Park ranging from 6 inches to 9 ft. below the ground surface. The City followed the solid waste delineation by mobilizing in late April 2014 to analyze the concentrations of contamination throughout the 10 acre park. A site assessment report was prepared to combine the results of the solid waste delineation and the concentrations of contamination. The report was submitted to RER for review, comment, and concurrence to submit a Corrective Action Plan. The preliminary Corrective Action Plan to date is anticipated to consist of a significant amount of soil mitigation with a 2ft. clean fill cover, re -grading of topography, and may include restoration of select existing structures throughout the park. The estimated cost of the environmental and site restoration based on the size of the park is approximately $3.5 million. The contamination and the condition of the current community center require the demolition during the remediation and the construction of a new community center at an approximate cost of $2.5 million for a total of $6 million dollars. The administration has made all the necessary plans to have funds for all the contaminants for the other parks remediated or contained to the acceptance of the Miami Dade Department of Regulatory and Economic Resources (RER) except Douglas Park which requires extensive remediation. The administration recommends the City Manager to apply for a Section 108 loan in the approximate amount of $6 million for the construction of a new community center and the environmental remediation of Douglas Park located at 2795 SW 37 Avenue, Miami, Florida.