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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSubmittal-Commissioner Rosado-Letter to County MayorMIAMIDDA DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY Board of Directors Ralph Rosado Chairman Commissioner, District 4 City of Miami Eileen Higgins Vice -Chairwoman Commissioner, District 5 Miami -Dade County Suzanne M. Amaducci Bilzin Sumberg Alicia Cervera Lamadrid Cervera Real Estate T. Spencer Crowley III Akerman Jarred Diamond The Miami HEAT Group Martu Freeman -Parker Mana Fashion Services Patrick Goddard Brightline Arva Suzanne Graham Gibson Arva G. Consulting Amal Solh Kabbani Publicis Groupe, SA Nicolas Katz Skate Free Inc. Maryam Laguna Borrego Miami Dade College Jose Mallea Biscayne Bay Brewing Company Gary Ressler Tilia Companies Melissa Tapanes Llahues Bercow Radell Femandez Larkin & Tapanes Executive Staff Christina Creep' CEO/Executive Director Ivonne Berrios-Colona COO/CFO/Board Treasurer Submitted into the public recce for 'teu (s) (2 1 ka on 2 21 City Clerk September 19, 2025 Honorable Daniella Levine Cava, Mayor Miami -Dade County 111 NW 1 Street, 29rh Floor Miami, Florida 33128 Dear Mayor Levine Cava: RE: Miami Downtown Development Authority's Recommended Revisions to the Manatee Protection Plan (MPP) II,M IAM I DDA Dear Honorable Mayor Levine Cava, The Downtown Development Authority of the City of Miami (Miami DDA) is an independent agency of the City of Miami focused on promoting the economic health and vitality of Downtown Miami. The mission of the Miami DDA is to grow, strengthen, and promote the economic health and vitality of Downtown Miami. We firmly believe that very few downtowns nationwide have the benefit of being located on water bodies as beautiful and varied as Biscayne Bay and the Miami River. The serenity of Biscayne Bay, known for its consistent bay breezes and more than 600 species of native fish and sea life, stands in stark contrast to the bustling commercial activity along the historic working Miami River, where Miami was first settled over 10,000 years ago. Many of our existing streets terminate at the water, while large areas of public parks and Baywalks & Riverwalks located along the water's edge allow for many points of access to the water as well as a variety of uses, activities, and views along it, greatly contributing to Miami's quality of life and attractiveness to business, residents, and tourists. DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY Biscayne Bay creates substantial economic benefits for the region, contributing approximately $64 billion in economic output, supporting 448,000 jobs, generating $24 billion in income, and creating $4 billion in tax revenue annually for Miami -Dade County. These figures, from the 2023 Biscayne Bay Economic Study, highlight the bay's importance as a major economic driver, accounting for roughly 19% of Miami -Dade County's total economy. The Miami River is also a source of significant economic development, with a 2025 report estimating an annual economic impact of $2.5 billion from revitalization efforts, and the creation of over 10,000 new jobs (Massachusetts Institute of Technology). This is driven by private and public investments in a variety of sectors, including marine industrial activity, residential and commercial real estate development, and tourism. 201 S. Biscayne Blvd, Suite 2600 Miami, FL 33131 305.579.6675 www.miamidda.com I 11 90 Silmi M - Cawnis5,.uAvt.ILoSdolq-ln,+lp,„, Caktil Kati Submitted into the public record for item(s) - 11D on ' I ZS I ZS City Clerk Utilizing the 2025 Downtown Miami Master Plan as our framework, our staff collaborates with Miami -Dade County, the City of Miami, FDOT, the Miami River Commission, and other agencies to create a safe, reliable, and interconnected urban core, provide increased mobility options, whether by land, air or sea, plan for future growth, and make Downtown Miami more resilient, connected, equitable, and sustainable. To that end, our 2025 Downtown Miami Master Plan lists as one of its five (5) main goals to "Leverage our Beautiful and Iconic Tropical Waterfront" To achieve that goal, the 2025 Master Plan lists the following subgoals/objectives: "Activate Waterfront by Providing Greater Daytime Dockage Opportunities; Provide Tall Ship Berths and Amenities at FEC Slip; Develop Waterborne Transportation System linking Downtown to Major Waterfront Destinations; and Enhance Access & Connectivity to Watson Island as a Unique Public Amenity." On March 22, 2024, the Board of Directors of the Miami DDA approved a resolution of support directing the Miami DDA staff to work with the City of Miami and Miami -Dade County to: (1) Apply for and obtain class 1 Permits and/or Marine Operating Permits (MOPs) for water taxi stops at preferred sites (Exhibit B); (2) Monitor Miami Dade County's Division of Environmental Resource Management (DERM) changes to the Manatee Protection Plan (MPP) to ensure water taxi stops are allowed at certain important areas; and (3) Draft a model ordinance for regulation/certification of water taxi operators. The attached Miami DDA resolution No. 007/2024 also includes a map created by the Miami DDA Waterfront Task Force and Miami DDA staff that proposes twelve (12) possible dock sites along Biscayne Bay and another twelve (12) "DERM Approved Sites" along the Miami River. The Board of Directors also directed the Executive Director to include the following three (3) sites as additional potential Water Taxi Stops along the Miami River: (1) Brickell Key, (2) River Park (South side), and (3) River Landing. Therefore, on behalf of the Board of Directors of the Miami DDA, I respectfully submit these recommended revisions to the Manatee Protection Plan (MPP): Manatee Protection Fund 1. Create a Manatee Protection Fund dedicated to Manatee Rehabilitation, Habitat Restoration & Law Enforcement of at least $5 million per year. The funds could be used to enforce idle/no wake speed zones, enforce against illegal operations, and promote code compliance against illegal charters. This was the Manatee Protection Plan Review Committee's adopted "Motion 22". This revision should be made on page 107-110 of DERM's track changed draft revisions to the Manatee Protection Plan. The County's previous Manatee Protection Plan Review Committee made specific recommendations about funding for a range of actions, including significant increases in enforcement, and that the existing plan and any future amended plan will only be successful if accompanied by a funding increase. 2. Increase fines for violation of idle/no wake speed zone, and escalate fines and consequences for repeat offenders. This was the Manatee Protection Plan Review Committee's adopted "Motion 1". This revision should be made in the policies goals and objective section starting on page on page 112 of DERM's track changed draft revisions to the Manatee Protection Plan. There should be a greater emphasis on the need for increased law enforcement as a means to protect manatees. Waterborne Transportation / Water Taxi 3. All water taxi stops identified in the DDA Resolution 007/2024 should be specifically authorized by Miami -Dade County and not limited within the MPP. There should be a 2 Submitted into the public record or it in(s) PE. I on q2 12 . City Clerk process to authorize other stops. There is no logical reason why Palm Beach and Broward Counties can have these waterborne transportation services, but Miami -Dade County actively discourages them. 4. Currently, " Waterborne Transportation / Water Taxi" is allowed on the Miami River up to the 5th Street Bridge. Revise the Manatee Protection Plan to allow " Waterborne Transportation / Water Taxi" on the entire Miami River and its tributaries, which is currently allowed in the Broward County Manatee Protection Plan (Fort Lauderdale's "New River") and the Palm Beach Manatee Protection Plan, which were both approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission. This was the Manatee Protection Plan Review Committee's adopted "Motion 9". This revision should be made on page 98 of DERM's track changed draft revisions to the Manatee Protection Plan. 5. On the Miami River, revise the Plan to remove "Waterborne Transportation / Water Taxi", vessels visiting parks and restaurants from the "Transitory Boat Slip" category / definition. Similar to other counties, do not count transitory slips towards the slip count. This was the Manatee Protection Plan Review Committee's adopted "Motion 9". This revision should be made to the definition of 'Transitory Boat Slip" found on page 19 of DERM' s track changed draft revisions to the Manatee Protection Plan. Transient Slips / Dockage 6. Limited Special Use in Downtown Area (p. 70) should not be limited to publicly owned and operated facilities. The criteria should also be clarified to add limited special -use docks downtown. Proving a "demonstrated need" is too subjective. 7. Suggested revision: Site or additional slips may be considered if there is a demonstrated need for this type of use benefit to the public from additional slips and such slips would be located at publicly owned and operated facilities, and such that public access and use shall be afforded and maintained. 8. Revise the purple hatch area "Limited Use Special Docks" in front of Herald Plaza to green "Commercial Marinas." This is one of the few areas of Biscayne Bay where the City of Miami owns the submerged lands lease. We hope DERM recognizes the economic value added by the Miami Boat Show to the community. Making this designation change should help keep the Miami Boat Show here in Downtown and reduce the costs of temporary installations they have to build every year. 9. On Performance Measures (p. 72), this requirement contradicts state law: "In both cases, the proposed project must demonstrate that all other permitting and land use requirements can be met, before being considered for a site -specific alternative or exception." This would be a development permit application. Florida Statute prohibits requiring obtaining other permits as a condition of approving the applied -for permit: "For any development permit application filed with the county after July 1, 2012, a county may not require as a condition of processing or issuing a development permit or development order that an applicant obtain a permit or approval from any state or federal agency unless the agency has issued a final agency action that denies the federal or state permit before the county action on the local development permit." (See § 125.022(5), Fla. Stat). 10. Transient Docks/Water Taxi Vessels should not count towards slip counts. Areas with an overlap between commercial and residential should be allowed to have transient/water taxi slips in addition to resident slips (for example, most of the mixed -use buildings in Brickell). 3 Submitted into the public i record for iic.ir(s) ILL I on 01 City Clerk In the section "IV. Manatee Protection Plan: Objectives and Policies", revisions to the following policies should also be made: 11. Policy 10.E (p. 91): Incorporate vested rights in existing facility, as follows: 10E. An existing marine facility as defined for this Manatee Protection Plan, is one which is legally operating and is currently producing boat traffic, or has recently produced boat traffic in the past five years, or otherwise has a vested right to produce boat traffic prior to the permit application. 12. Policy 10P (p. 94-95) should be revised to set alternative performance standards. 13. Procedure for site -specific alternative performance measures should be altered to increase allowable slips from 1 per 100 feet to 5 per 100 feet. The basis of data for 1 per 100 feet locations is outdated and should be updated to reflect site -specific evidence of actual manatee sightings in recent years (Available on FWC website). 14. The slip transfer process (on page 75), similar to the revision to "existing marine facility", should refer to vested rights and not just 5 years. 15. Suggested revision: "Documentation would include records showing the vessel use and aerial photographs, based on the highest single day slip use by motorboats during the period not greater than 5 years prior to application, or during the period within which vested rights for slip use have been established, for transfer." 16. The proposed "slip transfer" process is too restrictive and inconsistent with past precedent. The requirement for donor site slips to be in active use for the last 5 years is another limitation on grandfathering and retention of historic docking facilities in an attempt to phase them out. Additionally, the requirement to result in a net reduction of the overall slips at donor plus receiver sites is inconsistent with past slip transfers that were approved to maintain the same amount and deprives owners of property rights. 17. Transitory slips should be expanded and unlimited to help provide access to upland restaurants and businesses. This is consistent with how other plans in Palm Beach and Broward Counties regulate transient slips. This is critical to the success of various downtown restaurants and businesses. 18. The historic date for "grandfathering" of slips (1984) and the proposed five-year limit on "existing marine facilities" cannot be approved, because this unfairly and disproportionately impairs the property rights of waterfront property owners. The Manatee Protection Plan Review Committee adopted this concept as "Motion 10". This revision should be made on page 16 to the definition of Existing Marine Facility DERM's track changed draft revisions to the Manatee Protection Plan. 19. Allow slip transfers from one property to another property in either direction on the Miami River and its tributaries. This was the Manatee Protection Plan Review Committee's adopted "Motion 5 & 6". This revision should be made on page 104 of DERM's track changed draft revisions to the Manatee Protection Plan. Therefore, on behalf of the Miami DDA Board of Directors, we respectfully recommend that DERM incorporate these recommended Revisions to the Manatee Protection Plan (MPP). We also ask Miami -Dade County to engage the Miami DDA on any proposed changes to the Plan impacting both Biscayne Bay and the Miami River. The Miami DDA also cordially invites Miami -Dade County DERM staff to please participate in any of the Miami DDA's publicly noticed meetings, which continue to provide a public forum for our Downtown businesses, 4 Submitted into the public record fcr item(s) 1'4 l on ! ZS ) z. j City Clerk residents, and stakeholders. Open discussion in this format provides the best opportunity that when this revised legislation is eventually filed with the Miami -Dade County Commission for consideration, it will be successfully adopted. Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely, Christina Crespi Chief Executive Officer/Executive Director cc: Honorable Chairman Anthony Rodriguez and Members of the County Commission Honorable Francis Suarez, Mayor, City of Miami Honorable Chairwoman Christine King and Members of the City of Miami Commission Honorable Steven Meiner, Mayor and Members of the City of Miami Beach Commission Miami Downtown Development Authority Board Members Miami Rivier Commission Members Jimmy Morales, Chief of Operations, Miami -Dade County Lourdes Gomez, Director, Regulatory and Economic Resources, Miami -Dade County Jose Gonzalez, Transportation and Mobility Director, City of Miami Beach Lisa Spadafina, Deputy Director, Regulatory and Economic Resources, Miami -Dade County Roy Coley, Chief Utilities and Regulatory Services Officer, Regulatory and Economic Resources, Miami -Dade County Lorena Parra, Chief, Office of Environment Risk and Resilience, Regulatory and Economic Resources, Miami -Dade County Rockell Alhale, Manager, Regulatory and Economic Resources, Miami -Dade County 5