HomeMy WebLinkAboutMemo - Designation FindingsCiTY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA
INTER.OFFiCE MEMORANDUM
TO: Daniel J. Alfonso
City Manager
ark Spend', RE„ Director
Capital Improvements and
Transportation Program
DATE: September 30, 2014 FILE:
SUBJECT: Findings to Designate Select City
Properties as Brownfield Sites
REFERENCES:
ENCLOSURES: Property Locations
This memorandum respectfully requests your approval and adoption of the below described findings to
authorize designating two (2) City properties that are located. outside of the City of Miami existing
Brownfield Area, as Brownfield Sites, The Brownfield designation of these two (2) City properties would
follow the designation of six (6) City parks as Brownfieks Sites, which was adopted on July 24, 2014,
The City has conducted environmental status evaluations at 112 parks located within our jurisdiction due
to contamination discovery at Blanche Park while implementing soil testing within a 1-mile radius of the
former City Incinerator #2 that operated in Coconut Grove located at 3900 Thomas Ave, which is currently
the Grove Fire Rescue Training Center, During the environmental status evaluation via visual park
inspections, historical aerial photographs, and viewing archived City files; several locations were
suspected of former landfill operations prior to conversion into parks,
Following the Initial environmental status evaluation, the soil was tested at each of the parks of concern
which resulted In confirmation of eight (B) City parks containing a combination of solid waste debris and
heavy metals at levels that exceed the Miami -Dade Cleanup Target Levels for the Residential Threshold
(residential threshold for parks Is due to children's potential exposure to the soil). Per the requirements of
Florida Administrative Code (F,A,C) 62-780, the City Is required to remedy environmental hazards on any
property that It owns. The location and name of the parks tested with confirmation of solid waste debris
and heavy metals contamination, and which were designated as Brownfield Sites on July 24, 2014 by the
City of Miami are as follows;
Outside of the existing City of Miami Designated Brownfield Area
3045 Shipping Avenue (Blanche Park)
2795 SW 37th Avenue (Douglas Park)
3400 Grand Avenue (Billy Rolle Park)
3349 Pan American Drive (Site of Future Regatta Park)
4356 SW 42nd Avenue (Merrie Christmas Park)
140-142 SW 11th Street (Southside Park)
Within the existing City of Miami pesignated Brownfield Area
1901 NW 24thAvenue (Curtis Park)
301 Biscayne Boulevard (Bayfront Park)
The two (2) additional designations proposed for Brownfield Site Designation are as follows;
Outside of the existing .City_of Miami Designated, Brownfield Area and not previously designated
3900 Thomas Avenue (Coconut Grove Flre Rescue Training Center)
4000 Grand Avenue (Armbrlster Park)
Date: Ot
FINDINGS
An environmental assessment was first conducted at the Coconut Grove Fire Rescue Training Center
(3900 Thomas Avenue) In February 2011. Additional follow-up assessment was conducted in 2013 and
2014 to fully delineate the extent of contamination Impacts both within the property boundary, and
adjacent to the property. The City Is currently developing a strategy to implement a combination of
remediation and engineering controls at 3900 Thomas Avenue within the property boundary. The City
has tested the right of way areas of 3900 Thomas Avenue and discovered the potential for soil Impacts, In
which the extent is In the process of evaluation. 4000 Grand Avenue was tested for environmental
contamination, which resulted in no confirmed impacts within the first 2 feet of soil; however It is
reoommended that thedesignation of the property be achieved as a precautionary measure.
The City of Miami intends to remediate eaoh property with confirmed environmental contamination per
requirements fisted within F.A.C. 62-780. 3900 Thomas Avenue formerly operated as City Incinerator #2.
The current use of 3900 Thomas Avenue as a training center for City of Miami Firefighter recruits will
remain as such currently, however the discovered soil contamination has hindered plans to add additional
structures and upgrades to the facility. 4000 Grand Avenue will continue to remain as a City Park, If any
plans were to be proposed that would require excavation of soil at deeper depths than 2 ft. coupled with
any potential environmental issue; the City would Implement the appropriate mitigation, and utilize the
property Brownfield Site status as a method to obtain voluntary cleanup tax credits if applicable. If
applicable, the City will enter into a Brownfield Site Rehabilitation Agreement (BSRA) with the Mlami-
Dade Department of Environmental Resources Management (DERM) and; 3.) Upon successful
remedlation, apply for Voluntary Cleanup Tax Credits for th.e purpose of sale or transfer of the credit as
allowed per Florida Statute 220.1845.
Following successful remediation and issuance of a Site Rehabilitation Completion Order from the Florida
Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP), a maximum of $500,000 can be claimed on each
property; and the credits may be sold or transferred In units of not less than 25% of the remaining credit,
Unused credits may becarried forward for up to five (5) tax years.
The City has determined that designation of these properties as Brownfield Sites would be of future
benefit for the purpose of recouping a portion of overall environmental mitigation costs expended where
applicable.
Your signature below will Indicate your concurrence with the above recommendation and acceptance of
these findings as your own Justification for designating these two (2) City properties as Brownfield Sites
for the purpose of the sale or transfer of future Voluntary Cleanup Tax Credits that will be applied for and
issued for each property individual)
Approved by:
Daniel J. Alfo
City Manager
Cc: Alice N. Bravo, P.E., Deputy City Manager/Chlof of Infrastructure
Victoria Mendez, City Attorney
Mark Spanioll, P,E„ Director, Capital Improvements Program
Stanley Motley, Director, Parks and Recreation Department