2008 0515 Regular City Commission Meeting

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Summary Minutes: Regular City Commission Meeting May 15,2008 City of Sunny Isles Beach, Florida 10. RESOLUTIONS lOA. A Resolution of the City Commission of the City of Sunny Isles Beach, Florida, Providing the City Manager with the Authority to Proceed with the Desie:n of a Two-Lane Bride:e; Authorizine: the City Manae:er to Expend the Money Needed for a Feasibility Study; Calline: for a Local Plannine: Ae:ency Meetine: on Aue:ust 21. 2008 to Discuss Amendine: the City's Comprehensive Plan to Provide for a Full-Time VehicularlPedestrian Bride:e; Calling for a L~cal Planning "^igenCy Meeting on June 19, 2008; Authorizing the City Manager to Take "^inv and All "^iction Necessary to Amend the City's Comprehensive Plan; Prepa;; Plans and Specifications to Construct a Permanent VehicularlPedestrian Bridge to Connect 172 Street to 171 Street; Authorizing the City Manager to Take Any and All Action Necessary to Effectuate the Terms of this Resolution; to Construct the Vehicle/Pedestrian Bridge to Enhance Local Vehicle and Pedestrian Mobility; Providing for an Effective Date. Action: [City Clerk's Note: A modified resolution, memoranda, and several Protest Letters including a Petition with 176 names, were distributed prior to the meeting During the meeting Protest Petitions were received from Lisa Gray, Property Manager of Porto BeUagio & Carlos Gimenez, Esq. (over 213 against), and MarkPochin of Winston Towers.] City Clerk Hines read the title, and City Manager Szerlag reported, this is a life safety issue. The bridge would operate as a local connector street, a traffic circle can be placed at each end of the proposed bridge, signalization if needed, a 10-MPH speed limit, no large trucks with the exception of school buses will be allowed over the bridge. The next step is scheduling a public hearing to consider modifying the Comprehensive Plan, two public hearings are required. Police Chief Fred Maas and Fire Division Chief Pedro Bas expressed the importance of having an alternate route during an emergency greatly improving response time as a life safety factor. City Planner Jack Luft presented maps of the proposed bridge and the immediate area. Public Speakers: Ramone Soria; Edwin Mojena; Fire Chief Pedro Bass; Jack Luft; Terry McNeil; Paul Marks; Isaac Aelion; Walescka Soto; Charles Ripper; Timothy Gray; Herb Granick; Manny Fernandez; Michael Schnitzer; Natasha Reinhard; Danny Iglesias; Miriam Sprung; Leib Kamishev; Phillip Chernoff; Lisa Gray (submitted a petition against); Carlos Gimenez, Esq. (submitted a letter from Porto Bellagio against); Harvey Busch; Manuella Adrian; Alex Shnayder; Manuel Perez; Jay Reinhard; Sigmund Dragastin; Chanan Shapiro; Russell Kania; Lana Braverman; Virgilio Valor; Mark Pochin (submitted a petition against); Jack Cohen representing Winston Towers Master Condo Assn against; Doris Fernandez; Boris Kuperman; Audrey Paskow; Anthony Pirzone; Trina Duluc; Ron Starkland; Richard C. Schulman; Donatella Rogers; Gloria Taft; Joaquin Ribas; Mayor Edelcup opened the meeting to public speakers and announced that we would answer questions after everyone had a chance to speak (15 speakers for, and 21 speakers against). City Manager Szerlag went over the comments and questions asked by the public with Ramone Soria and Edwin Mojena of Marlin Engineering, and City Planner Jack Luft. Specifically, City Manager Szerlag stated that if we constructed the bridge within our current easements, the bridge itself (in terms of the substructure and superstructure) would be the same bridge, all that would change essentially would be an additional 15-feet to the east and the property would be acquired from the Salem House without taking any structures. If the Commission decides to go with an emergency only bridge with pedestrian access, the cross 7