2009-0416 Special City Commission Meeting

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Summary Minutes: Special City Commission Meeting April 16,2009 Sunny Isles Beach, Florida no formal activity programs, it is going to have minimal impact on surrounding properties. When we talk about environmental impacts we talk ~bout impacts on traffic, on circulation, on noise, on surrounding property values, and one of the issues that we had to deal with in this Park Study was "were there parks that would be suitable for these kinds of missing active activities, cultural and recreational, etc., activities that we could use." The problem was, like Margolis Park, you are parking on the street in the middle of a low-density neighborhood across from a church, it was not suitable for the long-range on-going consistent basis, meaning environmental impact at that location would have been problematic. 167'h Street was a much preferable location in terms of its relationship to land use as part of which were commercial and high-density to the south, which would be a better fit for that kind of use and so the traffic accessibility, and the ability to get in and out, the major roadways, all added up to a favorable impact between the Park and its surroundings. Vice Mayor Thaler asked if there would be less traffic with a Park and the parking than what is there now, and Mr. Luft said it depends on the event, and time of day. What is there now is one-story retail shops and a club, on a day-in and day-out hourly basis there may be in fact more traffic there today than there would be say at noon on a Wednesday or Thursday in the Park. On the weekends a properly programmed and actively used Park would have more activity than the current low profile small shops there. Commissioner Goodman said most of our parks are in the northern end of the City and there are no parks in the southern end, the southern end is very narrow and we don't have much land there. The only site to build a good sized Park would be on 167'h Street where you can park cars, etc., and so this would probably be one of the last sites that you could pick if you go to the south. Mr. Luft said as it stands today, yes, this is probably our last best chance to get something to serve that area. You have the little Belle Vista Park under the expressway, and the next park would be Town Center Park at 172nd Street. Commissioner Goodman said the problem we have is parking and so building a garage in the Park would alleviate some of the problems we have in Sunny Isles Beach, and Mr. Luft said it would certainly alleviate the problem with Pier Park, and it would make any other Park use that you put there to the west feasible. For people to get there you would have to have some kind of parking facility, and hopefully you will get some walk-in trade to the Park when you have a major event there. If you had an overpass into the shopping area to the north, people would be able to walk from there, what we are trying to do is to create a mix of activities and reinforce where activities support each other. The Park itself would be a major focal point that would enhance the area and improve the values, and stimulate and attract business. City Attorney Ottinot said in order to clarify the record, to take a roll call vote for each resolution. Vice Mayor Thaler moved and Commissioner Scholl seconded a motion to approve this resolution. Resolution No. 2009-1400 was adopted by a roll call vote of 5-0 in favor. V ote: Commissioner Brezin yes Commissioner Goodman yes Commissioner Scholl ~ Vice Mayor Thaler yes Mayor Edelcup ~ 5