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HomeMy WebLinkAboutR-78-0349filessismaimam AMEMMIIM 12111. ii MW R RFC/ tb 5/10/78 RESOLUTION No. 7 8 3 4 9 A RESOLUTION DISAPPROVING THE ISSUANCE OF A CERTIFICATE OF PUBLIC CONVENIENCE AND NECESSITY FOR MALL TRANSPORT INC,, TO OPERATE A FIXED ROUTE TRAM TOUR SERVICE PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 56, ARTICLE III, OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF tIIAMI WITH THE SAID «SPPOTIV POPDELINEATED ROUTES OF SAID TRAM TOUR DLINEATED R DOCUMENTS FOLLOW" WHEREAS, public hearings were duly held on February 23, 1978 and on May 19, 1978, upon Mall Transport Inc.`s application for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity to operate a fixed route tram tour service as required by Section 56-75 the Ci of Miami, 71orida; and of the Code of TT:iF:;E S, the City Commission has found that no neces- sity ;: _ts for _posed service; THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COMMISSION OF DA:x cation of Mall Transport Inc. for issuance of a _ _c Convenience and Necessity to operate a fixed • ?ursuant to Article III of the Code of the City of Miami, entitled: -susses and Other Vehicles Operating on Fixed Route:_ .._5;i?proved. THE rou:= proposed fixed route tram tour service being disa PA` ed herein is as follows: "DOCUMENT INDEX -. ITEM NO.____421_2 BAYSHO'.E C?0VE TOUR: _n vi,._aity o;. S.E. 8th and South Bayshore Drive, west to Bric'•.o it Avenue, north to Biscayne Way, east to Biscayne Boulevard, north to N.E. 17 Terrace, east to North Bayshore Drive, south to N.E. 13 Street, west to Biscayne Boulevard, south to S.E. 2nd Street, west to S.E. 2nd Avenue, south onto Brickell Avenue, continuing southward to South Miami Avenue and South Dixie Highway, turning left onto South Miami Avenue, south to the Viscaya Museum where it stops for passengers to disembark for the purpose of visiting the attractions in this area. Subsequently, the tour will continue southward on S. Bayshore Drive to McFarlane Road where it will stop for loading and unloading passengers desiring a pedestrian tour of the Coconut Grove business district and points of interest in the area. The tram tour then will return in opposite direction over the same route. LITTLE HAVANA TOUR: Commence at S.E. 8 Street and South Bayshore Drive, east on S, E. 8 Street to Brickell Avenue, north to Biscayne Way, east to Biscayne Boulevard, north to N.E. 17 Terrace, oast to North Bayshore, south to N.E,'"13 Street, west to Biscayne Boulevard, south to East Flagler Street, west. on Flagler Street to Beacom Boulevard, southward on Beacom Boulevard to S,U, 7 Street, w,st to 27th Avenue, south to S.W. 8 Street, east on 8th Street to S, E, Bayshore Drive. CITY COMMISSION MEETING OF MAY 1 9 1978 t.) , , L ') ' RE8oumon REMARKS:. PROPOSED AUTHORIZED STOPS BAYSEIORE-GROVE rouR Sheraton -Four. Ambassadors DuPont Plaza Omni International Everglades Hotel Viscaya-Museum of Science Coconut Grove Business District (McFarlane Road) LITTLE HAVANA TOUR Sheraton -Pour Ambassadors Omni International Everglades Hotel V:iscaya Restaurant (S.W. 8 Street & 24 Avenue) PASSED AND ADOPTED this 19th day of May , 1978. ATTE : 7 . Maurice A. Ferre MAURICE A. FERRE, MAYO R PREPARED AND APPRO7E , . L7'-f_, ROBER: 7. CARK APPROV ASSISTANT CITY ATTORNEY FORM AND CORR GEOR E F. .'�% JR., CITY ATTOR -2- "SUPPORTIVE LJU1.ut',tEf TS FOLLOW" 7�,..340 f" ' r ,78 e.03 tu,i 9 MALL TRANSPORT. INC. 530 North Lincoln Lane P.O. Box 143 Miami Beach, Florida 33139 Trams 673.9297 Sightseeing 673.9299 May 2, 1978 Mr. Joseph Grassie City Manager Miami, Florida Dear Mr. Grassie: We are applying for a licese via open tram for sightseeing under Chapter 56, Code of the City of Miami,Florida,1967, which Provides for the operation of a public hack within the City of Miami. This tram is a jeep motor propelled vehicle towing a trailer seating 24 people. The tour will be operated during the day light hours between 10 A.M. and 1+ P.M., last tour leaving Miami at 3 P.M. The tram will be picking up people at various hotels in Miami and will proceed south on Biscayne Blvd., with a lectured tour pointing out various points of interest and telling some of the history of Miami proper. Then on to Brickell Ave.south to South Bayshore to Viscaya.There one may stop and spend as much time as they wish. The tramwill again proceed south to the Museum and Planetarium, where people may also spend as much time as they like. Then the tram will leave for Coconut Grove where a tour will be given and the tram will again stop on locations in the grove that may be of interest to them. After this tour has been made tha tram will reverse its direction and stop at previons points for pickups to be returned to various hotels. This will be a continuous shuttle type service where there will be one cost of $3.00 per person plus cost of admission to various attractions. All lectures will be in both English and Spanish. Last tram will leave Coconut Grove by 4:30 P.M. This is similar to the type of operation used in Washington, D.C. where a person may get on and off all day. Thane hours will not conflict with heavy traffic. All other languages are available with a 24 hour notice,alsothere will be reduced rate for groups. FO1 Low/ 78-349 ming ffing MEW NEW KEW mm Ema ssa IMMTIV ii HALL THANSPOIRT, INC 530 North Lincoln Lane P.O. Box 143 Miami Beach, Florida 33139 Trams 673-9297 Sightseeing 673.9299 We have sucessfully operated Miami Beach Sightseeing Tours for the past 2 years with similar type vehicles,and has now become a must for all visitors to •Miami Beach and Miami. This tour that I am proposing is not available to the general public, such as families and indivduals. It is only being done by charter bus in large groups We have had many requests by visitors to Miami and Miami Beach for tours to Vizcaya, Coconut Gruve and surrounding areas. After many calls to local sightseeing companies, I have found that these tours are unoptainable,and because of the nature of the tour, it will help stimulate all facets of the tourist industry in Miami, such as restaurant, tourist attractions and taxi cabs. Sincerely Yours Allen Porter Pres. Mall Transport,INC. • TJ t.41', t; ute rbd%•ttr. 2tlJi.4fi4c, LPL s 1 _ Sheraton -Pour -Ambassadors 2- Dupont Plaza 3Everglades Hotel �+ Viscaya-Museum,. of Science-: 5.°.CoconutGrove Business District 6` Omni Int ernational Hotel-.�- ttobert C. Homan Administrative Assistant eorg City F. Knox, Jr. ttorney , May 8, 19/8 Proposed Tram Service Public hearing on Application for _-._:Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity On May 5th,your request for a resolution fixing a Public Hearing date and time was received and reviewed. The pending application of Mall Transport, Inc. for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity was the subject of a Public Hearing on February 23, 1978 (item #47) and the City Commission deferred the matter, instructing the City Manager to prepare a report indicating the "pros and cons and the degree of public consensus". This Public Hearing has been continued to May 19, 1978 at 3 P.M. and has been the subject or proper notice. The only matter that will be heard at 3:00 P.M. will be the windup of the prior Public Hearing. The City Commission may permit a withdrawal of one of the requested tours and afford the applicant the opportunity to submit a new application, if there has been a change in the route of the proposed tour service. If there has been no change in the route there would apparently be no reason for a separate or second application because the Commission action on May 19th will resolve the matter either by way of approving or disapproving the application. GFK/RFC/rb cc: Sgt. Webb MPD, Taxicab Detail Robert Norris City Clerk's Office oseph Al Crassie City Manager Kenneth I. Harms Chief of Police NW 3 1D78 Study of Proposed Tram Service Reference is made to previous memorandums submitted concerning the application by Mall Transport Inc. for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity to operate a fixed route tram sightseeing tour service. From a purely legal point of view, there is no basis for a denial of granting the above -mentioned certificate. However, since the introduction of Mall Transport shuttle tram service between Bicentennial Park and Bayfront Park, we have been concerned for the safety of passengers riding in the tram for the following reasons: 1. The seats on the trams to be used are not equipped with safety belts. Therefore, it is our position, because of the open construction of the passenger compartment, there is nothing to prevent the ejection of passengers in the event of a sudden stop and/or accident. 2. Another major concern will be the speed of the tram. The company plans to install governors on the trams which would permit a maximum speed of 25 m.p.h. However, speeds along the route vary from 30 m.p.h. to 40 m.p.h. Two and one-half miles of the proposed route along South Bayshore Drive consists of a two lane roadway. Consequently, a vehicle being towed at a maximum speed of 25 m.p.h. would impede the normal flow of traffic. "SUPPORTIVE DOCUMENTS FOLLOW" Joseph R. Crassle 2 _ MAY y i i Comfort of the passengers should also be considered especially When the vehicle is an open type carriage which would afford little protection to the passengers in the event of a sudden rainstorm or exposure to high temperatures► The proposed route consists of 13.6 miles of heavily trafficked main thoroughfares and intersections. There is a concern that the open structure of the vehicle may tempt passengers to board the tram while it is in motion. The combination of these facts leads us to believe that the operation of a tram on major traffic arteries in the City of Miami would not be in the best interest of the public. On 28 April 1978, the following personnel from various agencies were contacted and their comments noted: Mrs. Polly Clarke and Mrs. Sandy O'Neil, of the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, re -affirmed their original comments on the present bus service as being adequate and have not requested additional trans- portation. Mrs. Clarke added that the tram should be restricted to the mall and parks as it would interfere with traffic along the proposed route. Also it would duplicate the mini -bus service already serving the downtown area. Mr. Howard Berger, of the City of Miami Publicity and Tourism Department, informed our Taxicab Unit that his department had received no complaints on the existing transport service nor any request for additional transportation. d'dseph fit. Grassie MAY Att. Glenn E. Sudduth, Executive Director of the Dade County Citizens Safety Council, states in a letter to me, dated 26 April 1978, ..."Although the possible attractiveness of such a service seems obvious, I have very serious reservations about its safety aspects (especially relative to the apparent lack of passenger compartment crashworthiness and vehicle occupant restraint provisions) in view of the roadway environment within which the proposed service would be operated." Doctor William J. Fogarty, Professor in Civil Engineering, University of Miami, and Director of the Accident Reconstruction Team, has agreed to observe the tram in operation and render a professional opinion as to the safety and practicability of this service. R ,-1 ! /i5 This Department will not make any recommendation concerning the need for additional bus or tram service. We will, however, stress that should the Commission grant the certificate to Mall Transport Inc. to operate a tram service, the certificate should specify the type of vehicle and under no circumstances shall any other type of vehicle be substituted. In view of the facts and information contained within this memorandum, the Miami Police Department will not endorse the operation of the tram on Biscayne Boulevard or similar roadways in the City of Miami. KIU : tr "SUPPORTIVE DOCUMENTS FOLLOW" fr • -r itIL.1 I1!I1 dill' Off' MIAM1. FLORIDA iNtER. Ptiei= MEMORANDUM TOt + 1 �;:0 rs q0 Mr. Bob tlotnan Administrative A stant to the na er. I�v FaoMs LeW Pride, DX . ct Y 1 Dept. of tirisJ romotion r,1) DATE: May 1, 1978 suaJEct: Trahl Tour REFtItENGEB: EtICLOSURESt PiLE: It is the opinion of the Miami --Metro Department of Tourism Promotion that the sightseeing tram proposed by Mr. Allen Porter would be a welcome addition to our tourist industry. The tram, which would take in some of the key points along South Bayshore Drive as well as Little Havana, would be somewhat similar to the Key West Conch Train which has been so successful over the years. We do not see the tram as competition to the local bus or taxicab companies. Visitors who would ride the tram would be seeking an afternoon of leisure rather than getting from point to point for other purposes. Mr. Porter plans to present tram tour lectures in both English and Spanish. LP:gf "SUPPORTIVE DOCUMENTS FOLLOW" ��>;- f iG`1fr11 J � orld e nter May 1, 1978 Mr. Joseph Grassie, City Manager City of Miami P.O. Box 330708 Miami, Florida 3i133 Dear Mr. Grassie: 0 • 9 We have reviewed and arc happy to lend our support to the application of Mall Transport, Inc. for a Public Certificate of Convenience and Necessity authorizing a tram tour from the central business district of Miami to Coconut Grove. We believe this could serve as an additional tourist attraction for our community, particularly if it proved to be as popular as the Conch Train in Key West or the Tram Service in Saint Augustine. It would generate increased attendance at Vizcaya and the Museum of Science, and provide an opportunity for visitors to enjoy the historical sites, cultural features, and the unique charm of Coconut Grove. .\ tour of this type would add a large measure of enjoyment for tourists visiting our area. We urge you to give Favorable consideration to this application. DOCUiv3ENTS ruLLuvVr> Sincerrel/y, / Charles A. IVli itcomh, Chairman 'l'ou r i sm Action Committee Grecttcr Miami Cficmaor of C, mrnerco • 12^0 Bisccyno Boulevard • Miami, Florida 33132 • (305) 374-1800 VIZCAYA 18 May 1978 The Honorable Maurice Ferre Mayor of The City of Miami 3500 Pan American Drive Coconut Grove, Florida Dear Mayor Ferre and Honorable Commissioners: It is our understanding that Mall Transport is applying for a license to permit the transportation of people to and through Coconut Grove, via trams. I feel that such a system is sorely needed, especially by the innumerable individuals on the Beach who may desire to visit and shop in the Grove, but who are unable to do so because of the lack of any direct public conveyance. It should be a stimulus to a variety of activities and economic growth in our area. Among other things it would make the great experience of visiting Vizcaya available to a far wider audience, and I am therefore personally very much in favor of the proposed venture. S' ey� �� re`l. times J\.JLoiacono ] sistant Director JJL:jmw Vizcaya Museum and Gardens Miami, Florida 33129 305/579-2708 78-349 MIEt MD milk mm IILIF Mk l'-l)C liC1`i'll6 A KNIGHT RIDDER NI1'r;)I',1PER of- 111, N11.011 NLWs A COX NEWSPAPER Two editorially independent newspapers. printed. sold and distributed by THE MIAMI HERALD PUBLISHING COMPANY 1 ill-.F4A1. r> 1 t.A,!A. t AtvIl. rt.oRIDA :3 3101 s (AREA CODE 305) 350-2111 JOHN D. VELNSTRA Retail Advettisint Mcmciyet Before the undersigned authority personally appeared John D. Vet_nstra, who on oath says that he is the Retail Advertising Manager of The Miami Iler;ild and The Miami News, dai I v newspaper (9 published at Miami. in !.lade County, Florida; that the attached copy of advertisement was published in said newspaper (s) in the .issue of May 8, 1978 Miami Herald — City of Miami Aft i;1t further states that the said THE MIAMI HERALD/NEWS are newspapc•ts uuh1 ished at Miami, in said Dade County, Florida, and that Lit. said newspapers have Isere —to —fore Fe'•n continuously published in said Dade County, Florida, each day, and have been entered as Second Class Mail matter at the Post Office in Miami, in said Dade County, Florida, for a period of one year next preceding the first publication of the advertisement. Sworn to and Sul,:,c r i hed to / t(•1.,. me f.itiday „f )te . A. I), l tI ',� • C ',,t;lry i�t,nl it NnTio w •'IRi it traTE OF FLORIDA AT IARGE MY COMmERtI1 )CXPIRES NOV. 17, 1978 DQN ii.,, am -kJ ut:NLkAj 1NSUkANCE UNDERWRITERS "SUPPORTIVE DOCUMENTS S FOLLOW" %I) C 4fl i nt i Hera ><-a A KNIGHT MIA NI Viz)I.APER 1 FIl.. N1iANi) NI %v5 A COX NEWSPAPER rwo editorially independent newspapers, printed, sold and distributed by THE MIAMI HERALD PUBLISHING COMPANY titHAL.D t'LA A, MIAMI FLORIDA 33101 6(ARE.A CODE 305) 350-2111 JOHN t) VEENStRA Retail Advettaint, Manager Before the undersigned authority personally appeared John D. Veenstra, who on oath says that he is the Retail Advertising Manap,er of The Miami. Herald and The. Miami News, da i i v newspaper er (s) published at Miami in Dade County, Florida; that the attached copy of advertisement was published in said newspaper (s) in the issue of May 8, 1978 Miami Herald - City of Miami Aft iant further states that the said THE MIAMI HERALD/NEWS arc newspapols pn1h1 fished al Miami, in said Dade County, Florida, aryl that Lhc said newspapers have here -to -fora been coat i moos I v published in said Dade County, Florida, each day, and have been entered as Second Class Mail matter at the Post Offit•e in Miami, in said Dade County, Florida, for a period ut one year next preceding the first puhiication of the advertisement. `;t:•ur11 t and Sill,:ier i bed to IJ 1 oreIltt ! day of t ., A.D.. 19 I� . Not ar:• I'ui)1 eyr tow "!Fi IC Surf OF FLORIDA AT LARGE MY COMimmt )EXPIRES NOV. 17, 1978 DUNA... .111 u tJcNLKAl tNSUkANCE UNDERWR1TER5 "SUPPORTIVE DOCUMENTS FOLLOW" mimsE 111 MOW t cind:ay. May 8, 1078 i Thn Miami Neale • 7A NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING All interested will take notice that a public hearing will be held in the City Commission Meeting Room, City of Miami City Hall, 3500 Pan American Drive, Miami, Florida on May 19, 1978 at 3:00 o'clock P.M. to consider a certificate of public convenience and neces- sity to Mall Transport, Inc. to operate an open tram tour from Downtown Miami to Coconut Grove. RALPH G. ONGIE CITY CLERK 767, 7