HomeMy Public PortalAbout1998-06-26 Workshop Meeting243
COUNCIL MINUTES
WORKSHOP MEETING - JUNE 26. 1998
The Workshop Meeting of the Bal Harbour Village Council was held on Friday, June 26,
1998, in the Council Chambers at Bal Harbour Village Hall. The meeting was called to
order at 12:18 p.m. by Mayor Spiegel. Those present were:
Mayor Estelle Spiegel
Assistant Mayor Andrew R. Hirsch!
Councilman James E. Boggess
Councilman Peg E. Gorson
Councilman Daniel S. Tantleff'
Also present: Alfred J. Treppeda, Village Manager
Jeanette Horton, Village Clerk
As a quorum was determined to be present, the meeting commenced.
2. Presentation by Bradshaw. Gill & Associates of Amended
Plan and Cost Estimates for Carrying Out Proposed Beach Master Plan -
Bob Gill: Mr. Treppeda explained that Bob Gill (Bradshaw, Gill & Associates) and
Harvey Sasso (Coastal Systems International) are here to make the presentation to follow
up from the last meeting. So far, there have been two plans submitted and they have
made the changes from the second meeting.
Bob Gill, Landscape Architect with Bradshaw, Gill & Associates, addressed the
Council. Mr. Gill stated they re -designed the walkway to reflect the comments from the last
meeting. The major change was taking the pavers out of the walkway. He explained there
are basically two walkways: a jogging path, which is on the seaward side of the vegetative
dune, and a walkway. Both of them will now be made out of crushed shells. The walkway
is 15 feet wide and is landward of the existing vegetative dune. It's a very meandering
approach with a naturalistic style of design. The vegetation has given them a chance to
enhance it. They still have a lot of the same elements they had before as far as elevating
certain areas. They've connected areas where the jogging path and the walkway come
close together and will raise those areas up. That will give better visibility from the
condominiums behind the dune area and from the walkway itself. They will take the
existing jogging path and shift it just seaward of the main line of the sea grape trees. Their
intent is to have the existing trees trimmed to be 6-8 feet high in most places. The existing
scaevola, which blocks the visibility, will be taken out and the existing jogging path will be
relocated to those areas. Doing that will open up the vegetation and give "peek-a-boo"
views along the walkway. All of the vegetation they're adding, as far as mature trees, are
palms with clear trunks, so no visibility is hidden. The palms frame the view, provide
shade, and provide a place to put benches.
Councilman Tantleff left the meeting during Mr. Gill's explanation of the plans to Mr.
Whitman.
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Mr. Gill stated they would be using less than 5% of the existing jogging path and that
percentage is located at the north end. Assistant Mayor Hirsch) stated the walking path
meanders until it gets to the Sheraton and then it becomes a straight line. He questioned
why it becomes a straight line. Mr. Gill stated on this plan they're showing the existing
pavers at the Sheraton as remaining. It is optional if the Council wants the pavers to be
taken out and a meandering walkway put there also. Councilman Boggess stated the
Sheraton uses the paver area to set up tents for events when they need to. Therefore, it
wouldn't hurt the Village to leave the pavers there because the Sheraton is the big income
producer of resort tax for the Village. It's the same color as the sand, so it should be left
alone. Mayor Spiegel agreed.
David Bonneman, Tiffany Condominium, questioned what crushed shells are. Mayor
Spiegel responded it's what the existing jogging path is made of. Mr. Bonneman
questioned about putting pavers. Mayor Spiegel stated pavers are a lot more expensive.
Mr. Bonneman questioned about access for police vehicles. Mayor Spiegel responded
there will not be any vehicle access. Mr. Bonneman stated security is a very important
matter. Assistant Mayor Hirsch) stated the vehicles can go on the other side of the sand.
The super highway that is back there is unacceptable. Councilman Boggess stated the
police have four wheel drive vehicles that can go on the sand. Pearl Lieberman, Tiffany
Condominium, questioned about access for ambulances. Mayor Spiegel stated they will
go to the front of the building. Ms. Lieberman questioned what would be done if something
happened on the beach. Mayor Spiegel stated they can get through at 96`" Street or the
other end.
Councilman Gorson doesn't see where they allowed anything for lighting. Mr. Gill
responded it's difficult to show it on this plan; however, it is shown on the section as a low
level lighting - 42 inches high. Mayor Spiegel stated it has to be something that doesn't
disturb the turtles. Mr. Gill stated it will have a 180 degree shield.
Councilman Tantleff questioned if it's going to be easy to get approval from the State to
relocate the jogging path. Harvey Sasso, Coastal Systems International, addressed the
Council. Mr. Sasso explained they are the consultants working with Mr. Gill for the coastal
permits from the State of Florida. They just received approval for a 6,000 foot long beach
walk on Miami Beach and it had paver blocks and similar landscaping and lighting. That
took nine months to get through the process. So, nine months would not be out of line for
approval.
David Bonneman, Vice President of the Tiffany Condominium Board and Chair of the
Preservation Committee, addressed the Council. The Tiffany Condominium Board would
like ten days notice prior to any meetings. He stated that Ms. Silverman, the President of
the Tiffany Board, would like to volunteer to participate in the next workshops relating to
the beach renovation. The Tiffany has been discussing a project for the area behind their
building and before the Master Plan is formally presented for approval, they would like to
discuss their ideas. Other condominiums that were consulted in reference to their ideas
showed an interesting percentage of approval. Assistant Mayor Hirsch) questioned what
their ideas are. Mr. Bonneman stated they would like to work it out together with the
Council in a workshop meeting. The Tiffany's plans and the Village's plans are both in the
primary stage from what he has heard. Mr. Sasso stated in Miami Beach there were 23
different hotel owners and everyone had their own criteria. So, part of the process in the
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design was an extensive number of meetings to deal with all the design elements. Their
intention is to bring forth a concept and show the Council the general direction. As it
progresses through the different stages, there will have to be quite a few meetings. It's
simply a beginning conceptual design.
Councilman Tantleff stated if the Village is looking at nine months, then maybe Jerry Oren,
Oren Development, should be asked how much it would cost to fix the jogging path
temporarily. Because nine months of permits, and five months of working on the plans
becomes a year and a half until the path is relocated. The Council directed Mr.
Treppeda to get a price from Mr. Oren to repair sections of the jogging path since the
money is already allocated. Mr. Treppeda stated Mr. Oren no longer has all of his
equipment at the Majestic Condominium, but he'll check with Mr. Oren and other sources
that can help with doing that.
Sheryl Goldberg, resident of the Plaza Condominium, addressed the Council. Ms.
Goldberg questioned what the pink area on 96`" Street is on the plans. Mr. Gill responded
it's a paver walkway that takes pedestrians to the beginning of the crushed shell walkway.
Pearl Lieberman, resident of the Tiffany Condominium, addressed the Council. Ms.
Lieberman understands the Majestic Condominium is putting down pavers and questioned
if that is going to be removed. Mr. Treppeda responded the Village has never been notified
of the Majestic planning to put pavers down and the Village would have to be notified for
them to do that. Ms. Lieberman questioned what was going to be done about the Sheraton
pavers. Mayor Spiegel responded the pavers are going to remain there for now. Assistant
Mayor Hirsch) stated if for some reason the project decides not to include the Sheraton
pavers, the Sheraton has to remove them at their expense.
Dan Nieda, Building Official, addressed the Council. Mr. Nieda recently met with
developers for the Soli Mar project, and they're going to match the curb and gutter that's
on the Bal Harbour side and duplicate the sodded areas and the palms. Also, they have
an ambitious landscaping project similar to what was done at the Harbour House, where
the beach is bermed. Therefore, he recommends speaking to their landscape architect so
everything on that corner is consistent. Mayor Spiegel questioned if Soli Mar is going to
have an entrance or exit from 96th Street into their building. Mr. Nieda thinks there might
be an access to the garage and will check into that.
Councilman Boggess questioned Mr. Treppeda what the condition is of the ramp going
from 96`" Street onto the beach. Mr. Treppeda stated they fixed it temporarily, but it needs
work. Councilman Boggess questioned whose responsibility that is. Robert Wheldon,
Public Works Director, stated Bal Harbour is responsible for it. The ramp was put in when
they did Bal Harbour's beach, before Surfside had a beach, so consequently, its Bal
Harbour's. Bal Harbour needed to have it because there had to be a minimum of two
access areas to get onto the beach. It is now beyond repair and really needs to be redone.
Councilman Boggess thinks it needs to be part of this project.
Mr. Sasso stated if the developers in Surfside are moving forward and they're already
proceeding with designs, he thinks it might be beneficial for the Village to present a letter
to Surfside noting that Bal Harbour is anticipating some future improvements to 96`h Street
and that it is going to be an improved gateway to the beach. A copy of Bal Harbour's plans
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should be sent to them and they should be asked, as part of their work, to make sure that
they're also looking at what Bal Harbour is doing. That would make sure that everyone is
working towards a consistent and unified approach. Mr. Treppeda stated that Dan Nieda
is the Building Official for both Bal Harbour and Surfside and that can be Bal Harbour's link
with Surfside.
Mr. Sasso stated as part of the overall implementation it is normal that they would do a
survey. In Miami Beach, they did an aerial photograph of the whole site.
Stanley Whitman, Bal Harbour Shops, addressed the Council. Mr. Whitman suggested
contacting the Department of Transportation (D.O.T.) for funding for 96th Street. Mayor
Spiegel stated the Village will work on that.
Assistant Mayor Hirsch) questioned the citizens in attendance if there were elements that
came to mind for a beach scape that hasn't been talked about. Mr. Bonneman responded
it should be elegant and enhance the property when you look out. Assistant Mayor Hirsch)
stated that is the intent. Councilman Boggess reminded the citizens that anything done
on the beach will come out of resort tax revenues. It's being done for everyone in Bal
Harbour and the tourists that come here.
Ms. Goldberg questioned when this will go out for bid. Mayor Spiegel stated when a plan
is finally decided on.
Assistant Mayor Hirsch) questioned what the next step is. Mr. Sasso responded that they
are at the end of the scope of services that they had initially committed to, in terms of
coming forth with a conceptual design and providing a general outline of what their
objectives were. The next step is for the Council to make a decision as to whether they
want to move forward and have the same team move forward, or if another team should
be considered. After deciding on the team, they would then have to identify the scope of
services. The scope of services would then be initiated and the permitting should be
started pretty quickly. Once the project is underway, meetings should be held with all of
the individual property owners. Assistant Mayor Hirschl questioned what they would need
to file the permit tomorrow. Mr. Sasso stated they would need some plans that are not
much further along than the ones they have, an application would need to be completed
and submitted along with a fee, and the Village would need to look at issues of land
ownership. Assistant Mayor Hirsch) questioned based on what they have now, if there is
enough to start that process if the Council would decide to do that. Mr. Sasso believes a
permit application could be submitted within the next three weeks. Mr. Gill may need to
do a few more drawings just to clarify some cross sections in more detail. Then, they
would have to communicate with Mr. Treppeda to make sure they have all the paperwork
together. Councilman Boggess questioned Mr. Gill how long the construction period would
be. Mr. Gill responded four to six months. Mr. Sasso stated the whole project from
beginning to end would take about a year and a half.
Mr. Treppeda stated at this point Mr. Gill and Mr. Sasso have completed the scope that the
Village hired them to do, which was the design phase. There are some State Statutes, the
Competitive Negotiations Act, that the Village has to follow, as far as going to the next step,
since this is going to be a high price item.
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Councilman Boggess is very pleased with the work that Mr. Gill and Mr. Sasso have done.
Mr. Whitman questioned why there are two paths instead of just one. Mr. Gill reviewed the
plans and explained the jogging path is strictly for jogging. The new walkway is simply a
way of beautifying everything landward of the existing dune and provides a fifteen foot wide
walking path. It is not intended for vehicles or construction traffic; however, it gives the
Village the ability for emergency vehicle access if needed. Mr. Gill feels the Village might
be forced to have access for emergency vehicles by the State.
Mr. Treppeda responded the most important thing to think about is the funding for this
project. Resort tax funds will pay for it and there will be some balance in that fund, but that
was going to be used for the street lights and bus furniture. The only other monies are in
the beach renourishment fund, which is $1.4 million that had been set aside for beach
renourishment. However, Bal Harbour did just get the beach renourished at no charge, so
that money is available.
Mr. Treppeda stated a motion can be made at the July Council meeting to proceed, or the
Council can make a motion now, which wouldn't be official, but it would direct him on how
to proceed. A motion was offered by Assistant Mayor Hirschl and seconded by
Councilman Gorson to start the permit process now. The motion carried with the
vote as follows. Mayor Spiegel aye: Assistant Mayor Hirschl aye• Councilman
Boggess aye: Councilman Gorson aye: Councilman Tantleff absent.
Mr. Treppeda stated he will find out what the next step is.
3. Adjourn: There being no further business to come before the Council, a
motion was offered by Councilman Boggess and seconded by Assistant Mayor Hirschl to
adjourn. The motion carried unanimously(4-0). with Councilman Tantleff absent and
the meeting adjourned at 12:59 p.m.
Ma or stelle Spie el
Attest:
„�/�
anette Horton, C/AAE
Village Clerk
/elw
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