HomeMy Public PortalAboutLTC 093-2021 - Surfside Partial Building Collapse Follow-up June 29 2021 UPDATED and AttachmentBAL HARBOUR
- VILLAGE -
OFFICE OF THE VILLAGE MANAGER LETTER TO COUNCIL
NO. 093-2021
TO: Mayor Gabriel Groisman and Members of the Village Council
FROM: Jorge M. Gonzalez, Village Manag
DATE: June 29, 2021
SUBJECT: Updates Regarding the Champlain Tower South Condominium Partial
Building Collapse in the Town of Surfside
The purpose of this Letter to Council (LTC) is to provide you with an update to several items
resulting from the partial building collapse of the Champlain Tower South Condominium
located in the Town of Surfside. The tragic collapse of this building has required many
communities, especially those in coastal areas such as ours, to revisit their building
development and review processes.
Safety is one of the pillars of The Bal Harbour Experience, and our vision rests on a
foundation based on ensuring that both the perception and reality of safety in our
community remains uncompromised. As such, I have tasked our Building Official to
develop a strategic approach for reviewing our current inventory of buildings, which
are covered under Miami -Dade County Section 8-11 (f) Recertification of Buildings and
Components. This County code section requires that any building (other than single
family, duplex or minor structures) that is greater than 2,000 square feet conduct a
recertification process 40 years from the original Certificate of Occupancy (CO) date,
and every 10 years thereafter.
In Bal Harbour Village, there are a total of 52 buildings which meet this criterion, and
of these, 17 are oceanfront high-rise buildings along Collins Avenue. The remaining
35 properties include 27 smaller multi -family buildings along the west side of Collins
Avenue and inside the Gated Residential Section. Finally, the Bal Harbour Shops,
including Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus, Bal Harbour Village Hall and the
SunTrust Bank property are also included within the inventory of buildings covered by
Miami -Dade County Code Section 8-11(f).
A cursory review of all these buildings indicates that several of these buildings either
do not meet the required age threshold, and therefore, are not yet required to conduct
their first recertification or they have already complied with the required recertification
process. However, in light of the recent events, our Building Department will
immediately take the following actions:
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BAL HARBOUR
- VILLAGE -
BAL HARBOUR VILLAGE DECLARATION OF A LOCAL STATE OF EMERGENCY
WHEREAS, at approximately 1:30 AM on Thursday, June 24, 2021, the Champlain Towers
South, a multi -story beachfront condominium located at 8777 Collins Avenue, Surfside, Florida
partially collapsed;
WHEREAS, the structural collapse of the building has resulted in fatalities, and in excess
of a hundred individuals are currently unaccounted for; and
WHEREAS, a substantial portion of the structure has been destroyed and the remainder
of the structure has been rendered uninhabitable; and
WHEREAS, the Bal Harbour Police Department, in addition to the Miami -Dade Police
Department and Miami -Dade Fire Department first responders, immediately deployed to the
scene of the collapse to assist Surfside Police Department in lifesaving efforts to residents; and
WHEREAS, search and rescue of the victims, efforts to locate people still unaccounted
for, and family reunification operations are still ongoing;
WHEREAS, the Bal Harbour Police Department personnel are playing a major ongoing
role in providing 24 -hour traffic control, and providing support for the family reunification
center and logistical support; and it is anticipated that this support will continue to allow on -
scene first responders to complete their mission; and
WHEREAS, a portion of the response operation is imminently relocating to a hotel in the
Village, further involving the Village and impacting the community; and
WHEREAS, because of the foregoing conditions, Governor DeSantis declared a State of
Emergency, and Miami -Dade Mayor Cava declared a Miami -Dade County Declaration of Local
State of Emergency on June 24, 2021 effective in both incorporated and unincorporated areas;
and
WHEREAS, as the Bal Harbour Village Manager, I am responsible to support the public
safety challenges presented to the Village and its people by this emergency;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JORGE M. GONZALEZ, as the Bal Harbour Village Manager, by
virtue of the authority vested in me by Chapter 252.38(3)(a) Florida Statutes and Bal Harbour
Village Code of Ordinances, Chapter 2 Administration, Article VIII. EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT (as detailed therein).
Section 1: I declare a state of emergency exists for Bal Harbour Village.
Section 2: Pursuant to this Declaration, further orders may be issued to protect the
health, safety, and welfare of Bal Harbour Village which are authorized by the above -
referenced provisions of Florida Statutes and Village Code.
Section 4: A written notice ofthisdeclaration shall be posted upon the main bulletin board
in Village Hall as promptly as practical. A notice of a State of Emergency, or emergency
measure declared or ordered and promulgated by virtue of Florida Statutes shall be filed
with the Office ofthe Village Clerk. In addition, representatives ofthe Village shall notify the
local media and residents as soon as possible and, in the manner, most practical and
expeditious of the emergency and any measures established pursuant to it.
Section 5: This Declaration of Emergency will continue in effect from day to day until (i)
declared to be terminated by the Village Council if practicable, or (ii) certified by the Village
Manager that the conditions leading to or causing the emergency no longer exist and the
Village's agencies and departments are able to manage the situation without extraordinary
assistance, in accordance with Bal Harbour Village Code Section 2-355.
Enacted:
Signed:
WITNESS:
aNY\A \..
Date: Jvv,e 28,202 I Time: / 2 :00 l>K