HomeMy Public PortalAbout1998-11-23 Workshop Meeting.:3`7
COUNCIL MINUTES
WORKSHOP MEETING - NOVEMBER U. 1998
The Workshop Meeting of the Bal Harbour Village Council was held on November 23,
1998, in the Council Chambers at Bal Harbour Village Hall. The meeting was called to
order at 12:15 p.m. by Mayor Spiegel. Those present were:
Also present:
Mayor Estelle Spiegel
Assistant Mayor Andrew R. Hirsch!
Councilman Peg E. Gorson
Councilman James E. Boggess
Councilman Daniel S. Tantleffl
Alfred J. Treppeda, Village Manager
Jeanette Horton, Village Clerk
David Wolpin, Village Attorney
As a quorum was determined to be present, the meeting commenced.
Mr. Treppeda stated this was advertised as a Workshop Meeting, so anything that is
approved today will have to be ratified at the Regular Council meeting in December.
2. Approval of "Construction Documents" Phase of the
Security District Guardhouse Project - Tony Rosabal (Tawfik
& Rosabal): Tony Rosabal addressed the Council and displayed the site plan
approved by the Civic Association on November 7, 1998. Mr. Rosabal explained his firm
was hired because there were several problems with the entrance to the Security District.
There is no U-turn lane for people who are not allowed access, the guardhouse is very
small and too far away from the exiting lane, the guardhouse is old and made out of sheet
metal panels, it's not insulated, the visibility is not good, and the bathrooms are small. Mr.
Rosabal displayed and expiained the design scheme selected by the Civic Association,
which addresses all the problems. They will relocate the guardhouse and make it larger.
They are also adding some landscaping. Mr. Rosabal reported they met with Kent
Security, which is the company that has the contract to provide guards, and they have also
agreed on the selected design. Mr. Rosabal stated the Civic Association requested one
revision of the plan to extend the canopy overhand over the door, to shelter the guard from
rain.
Mr. Rosabal stated the guardhouse will be moved East 50 feet (approximately 2 1h cars).
Councilman Boggess stated that will be a problem because sometimes, especially before
8:30 a.m., traffic is backed up to Collins Avenue. Mr. Rosabal stated that was discussed
and the Civic Association is aware of it and approved the design. Assistant Mayor Hirschl
doesn't think 50 feet will make a difference. The Civic Association now has a form that the
contractors fill out that will process repeated workers to streamline the backflow. Mayor
Spiegel stated there may be a problem with the traffic lights south bound on Collins Avenue
from the bridge because the two left lanes are always backed up going into Surfside. Mr.
Treppeda will send a letter to the Department of Transportation. Assistant Mayor Hirsch!
Councilman Tantleff arrived during the discussion of the Guardhouse.
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stated it's a traffic flow problem from 96th Street. Councilman Boggess stated the people
in the right lane at 96th Street don't want to turn right and want to go south into Surfside.
Assistant Mayor Hirschl thinks this is a necessary step for District 5 and it has been talked
about for 4-5 years. Some money has been put away for this project and an additional
assessment will take place on the single-family homeowners. Assistant Mayor Hirsch)
would like to see this proceed. Mayor Spiegel agreed.
A motion was offered by Assistant Mayor Hirschl and seconded by Councilman Tantleff to
approve Phase Two of the Security District Guardhouse Proiect The motion carried with the vote
as follows: Mayor Spiegel aye; Assistant Mayor Hirschl aye; Councilman Boggess aye;
Councilman Gorson aye; Councilman Tantleff aye.
Bus Issue: Councilman Tantleff stated in October the Council understood
there was a need from the residents for a bus and were to look at some proposals.
Councilman Tantleff would like to propose, for a minimal amount, a one-year contract,
which the Village could cancel at any time, for two days a week (Tuesday and Thursday).
Mr. Treppeda reported for two days a week it would be $32,448.00 for a one year contract.
Assistant Mayor Hirschl questioned how much would be charged for a trip. Mr. Treppeda
stated it could be any amount. Surfside charges .25 cents per trip and Bay Harbor is .50
cents per trip. Bay Harbor receives $10,000 out of their charge for five days per week
service. Mr. Treppeda stated there's a 90 days notice cancellation provision. Councilman
Tantleff stated the Council makes decisions to benefit District 5, etc. and doesn't know the
last time people form the Harbour House had a request for the Council. Councilman
Tantleff requested this be tried.
Assistant Mayor Hirschl wants the record to reflect the approval for the project for District
5 is not being borne by the tax rules of the Village. It's being paid for by the residents in
District 5 that assess themselves. The reality is the Council serves the entire Village at
large and certain issues may affect different residents at different times. But, the Council
basically tries to support all the residents in any way possible.
Mr. Treppeda stated the bus will run two days a week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. continuously.
Councilman Tantleff stated Bal Harbour's a special place and Surfside, Bay Harbor, Sunny
Isles Beach, and other communities have a bus. Mayor Spiegel stated it was requested
by the residents of the Harbour House, who previously had a free bus that was supplied
by the Harbour House, which was discontinued without notice and left the residents
stranded. The Council suggested running one or two trips a day, two days a week. Mr.
Treppeda will speak to the company about limiting it to two runs twice a week. Councilman
Boggess doesn't think .25 cents is enough to charge for a fare. Mr. Treppeda stated North
Bay Village charges $3.00 round trip and North Miami Beach .60 cents a trip.
A motion was offered by Councilman Boggess and seconded by Assistant Mayor Hirschl to table
the vote and direct Mr. Treppeda to investigate this issue and bring it back to the December
meeting. The motion carried with the vote as follows: Mayor Spiegel aye; Assistant Mayor
Hirschl aye; Councilman Boggess aye; Councilman Gorson aye; Councilman Tantleff aye.
Mr. Treppeda will find out the cost for twice a week and this issue will be voted on at the
December meeting.
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3. Discussion of Phase I of the Proposed Beach Master
Plan - Harvey Sasso (Coastal Systems International) and Bob
Gill (Bradshaw, Gill & Associates): Mr. Sasso displayed and reviewed the
proposed plans for the Beach Master Plan. Mr. Sasso explained at the last meeting, a
proposal was presented and the Council wanted a workshop to look more closely at the
proposal. An important element of the proposal is an agreement of the conceptual plan.
Part One is to do the full extent of surveying necessary to get into the design development,
which would include putting the concept onto computer and to start to include the
geometry, grading, paving issues, have meetings with the Council and residents, etc. The
starting point is a crushed shell jogging path relocated further land ward; and secondarily
including a crushed shell pedestrian walkway. Another issue discussed at the last meeting
was whether or not to just implement the jogging path alone or to implement the entire
project recognizing that there are some budgetary issues. They could get the design
portion done and the construction drawings could then be done in phases. They could
implement the jogging path and have a three year window to come back from the time of
the issuance of the permit to implement Phase Two, which is the pedestrian phase. Mr.
Sasso would like to discuss the concept, the phasing, and the proposal to implement the
plan.
Mr. Sasso suggested getting the permits for the entire project, which would take
approximately 6-9 months. Councilman Boggess stated the Council needs to decide if a
jogging path and an access road is wanted. Councilman Boggess suggests widening the
jogging path to include both pedestrians and joggers, thus having only one path that
meanders. The path should be wide enough for emergency vehicles to utilize it if
necessary. Assistant Mayor Hirsch) stated one of the issues is that the joggers and
pedestrians want a view of the ocean, which would require a redefinition of this plan.
Assistant Mayor Hirsch) questioned the estimated of the cost of the project. Mr. Gill stated
on 6/26/98 they came up with a preliminary cost estimate of $1,442,000.00, based on this
plan with two crushed shell paths and landscaping. That's construction costs of the
walkways, the site work, the landscaping, irrigation, minimal lighting, etc. It did not include
Mr. Gill's and other fees. Councilman Boggess questioned if one wider path would reduce
the cost. Mr. Gill responded yes, the construction costs would be about $25,000.00 less.
The other costs would remain the same. Assistant Mayor Hirsch) stated Mr. Gill's fees are
about $233,000.00. So, the entire project at this phase is about $1.7 million. Councilman
Tantleff thinks the beach is beautiful now and suggested landscaping the access road.
Stan Whitman, Developer — Bal Harbour Shops, stated resort tax is paying for this
project and resort tax is paid for by the Sea View, Sheraton, and Bal Harbour Shops. Mr.
Whitman stated the beach can be made more attractive than it is today and suggested
putting coconut palms in. He believes there's no point in having two paths.
It was suggested to preserve the beach, jogging path and planting areas with granite rock.
Mr. Sasso stated historically the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has been
opposed to "hardening" the beach. If a pile of rock were buried on the beach under the
sand (a revetment), it would be difficult to get approval to do because they're trying to
discourage that kind of construction. There's a movement by the U.S. Army Corp of
Engineers and Dade County towards better understanding where there are hot spots and
deficiencies in design. He believes there are some hot spots within Bal Harbour partially
due to wave energy defraction coming around the southern groin, a deficit of sand that gets
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hung up within the inlet and is not bypassed. He thinks there was some prior discussion
of Bal Harbour to have some structures more in line with the "T" head structures being
installed at the heads of some of the groins. He thinks there's a loosening of the hardening
concept at the State and Army Corp level, and it may be possible to explore some form of
hardening to reduce the rate of sand erosion on the beach. Mr. Sasso stated perhaps
breakwaters, a pile of rubble, could be put at the end of the "T's that the Village has now.
It would give a little bit more storm protection. Councilman Boggess questioned about the
Corp doing that work for the Village. Mr. Sasso stated it would be possible. The Corp
would re-evaluate the performance of the 1975 authorized project and prove the benefit
cost ratio worked. The soonest the Village would see anything is three years from now if
they're in favor of it. Councilman Boggess questioned the Village's chances of getting
State funding. Mr. Sasso thinks it's better than 50%. At the last session there was
dedicated funding approved within the State of Florida, so there will be dedicated funding
for ongoing beach projects. Mayor Spiegel stated the Village should pursue that. Assistant
Mayor Hirsch) stated the Village went through a wave break system suggestion and the
Village was denied to spend its own money to fund the experiment. Mr. Sasso discussed
the test project scheduled for Miami Beach and stated the laws are changing.
The traffic situation on the access road was discussed.
Councilman Boggess questioned the use of groins since he thought they were destructive.
Mr. Sasso stated historically groins were placed so that sand could be captured that would
otherwise move down drift. That had a detrimental effect in that everybody up drift
captured most of the sand, which created a deficit and accelerated erosion down drift.
There is still opposition to that and there's somewhat of a concept for the revetments to
prevent the sand and during a storm event to move out into the system and to feed the
neighbors down drift. So, there's still opposition to creating impacts to the down drift
beaches. However, if there is a particular hot spot area that is eroding at a faster rate than
the surrounding area, the direction of the State is now moving to put structures in to reduce
the amount of energy, and thus the rate of erosion. That's where the tides are changing
a little. Mayor Spiegel questioned when they will have results of the testing being done in
Miami Beach. Mr. Sasso stated it should go to construction in Summer 1999.
Councilman Gorson thinks the plan they're showing is magnificent and can't see changing
it. Assistant Mayor Hirsch) stated on the cost estimate there's a $100,000 difference
between a two -path process versus a one -path process. Assistant Mayor Hirschl would
like to work on some of the numbers and come to a consensus to move ahead. Assistant
Mayor Hirschl would like to know the cost if the Council approves the plan today based on
full permitting of the project, the cost of a one larger path concept, and which fees can be
reduced. Mr. Sasso discussed the costs and stated they rounded all the numbers off. Dan
Nieda, Building Official, stated the consultant fees are around 161/e%, which is a substantial
fee. Mr. Sasso stated they're lower than the conventional percentages for design
implementation and higher on the permitting and surveying. Mayor Spiegel questioned
obtaining grants from the State. Mr. Sasso stated if it's related to erosion control, it's
feasible that the Village could qualify for some reimbursements on a special project. The
planting of the dune enhancements could potentially qualify.
Councilman Boggess stated this is a resort tax project and questioned Assistant Mayor
Hirsch) if the Resort Tax Committee has viewed this plan as it is proposed, if they've looked
at the figures, and if they're prepared to make a recommendation to the Council. Assistant
Mayor Hirschl stated they looked at the concept, but they did not go through the figures
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241
because it's up to the Council first to give the design they want, and then the figures would
be discussed.
Assistant Mayor Hirschl stated if the removal of the second path is $25,000.00, he would
be in favor of a dual path system. Councilman Gorson stated she's not in approval of one
path if it changes the design.
Raj Singh, Sea View Hotel, stated they have been disappointed about the ocean
encroaching on the beach quickly. Mr. Singh suggested at the same time the project is
being done, that the erosion be addressed so that the money being spent is not in vain.
Assistant Mayor Tantleff stated the Village should talk to the Army Corps while they're
doing the Surfside project. Mr. Treppeda stated he spoke with Mr. Sasso about it and the
Corps is going to do a survey of Bal Harbour's beach while they're doing the Surfside
renourishment. Mr. Sasso stated there will be some benefit to the South end of Bal
Harbour's beach as a result of the renourishment. Councilman Boggess questioned about
the possibility of the Village paying to have the badly eroded area renourished. Mr. Sasso
doesn't know. Councilman Boggess doesn't think Bal Harbour received all the sand it was
suppose to because the Corp's equipment broke down and they left. Mr. Sasso stated the
Corps will be doing a survey to see how much sand the beach has lost.
A motion was offered by Councilman Boggess and seconded by Assistant Mavor Hirschl to
consolidate the plan and have one wider jogging/pedestrian path that meanders in and around
the dunes, and is not to be used by vehicles except in an emergency situation. The motion was
denied with the vote as follows: Mayor Spiegel ave; Assistant Mavor Hirschl nay; Councilman
Boggess ave; Councilman Gorson nay; Councilman Tantleff nay.
A motion was offered by Assistant Mavor Hirschl and seconded by Councilman Corson to
approve the proposed plan displayed (two paths) and go through the permitting and design as
previously agreed to. The motion carried with the vote as follows: Mayor Spiegel aye; Assistant
Mayor Hirschl aye; Councilman Boggess aye' Councilman Gorson aye; Councilman Tantleff
aya
Councilman Boggess would like the Resort Tax Committee to work on this and bring back
a plan they feel is feasible with a budget that the Village can live with.
5. Adjourn: There being no further business to come before the Council,
a motion was offered by Councilman Tantleff and seconded by Councilman Boggess to
adjourn. The motion carried unanimously (5-0) and the meeting adjourned at 1:45 p.m.
Attest:
gazaee) Av5
anette Horton, CMC/AAE
Village Clerk
/elw
sistant Mayor Andrew Hirschl
Council Workshop Meeting I1/23/98 5