The Administration recommends approving the Resolution.

In 2016, the State of Florida Department of Transportation ("FDOT") proposed to improve the intersection of Michigan Avenue at Alton Road.  Construction work began in April of 2017 and  included roadway reconstruction, drainage improvements, intersection improvements, milling and resurfacing, adjustment of numerous valves and manholes, sidewalk and curb ramps, signage, pavement markings, and signalization.

At the time, FDOT requested that the City grant it a perpetual easement to accommodate this project on land the City owns, knowns as the "Miami Beach Golf Course," located at 2301 Alton Road. The FDOT proposed easement would still allow the City to have full access to the City' s Golf Course. 

The golf course has over 149 acres of land, consisting of 18 holes, water features, mature landscaping, and an extensive perimeter buffer.  FDOT sought the area in an effort to assist the City with pending traffic concerns, while having no impact on the 18 hole course, or any of the landscaping of 149 acre golf course.  This allowed a necessary turning lane from Michigan Avenue to Alton Road, that would be within the outer perimeter landscape buffer to the course.

The proposed FDOT easement was approximately 14 feet wide by 581 feet long, and the entire easement contained about 8,392 square feet (0.193 acres).  In order to accommodate the intersection modification FDOT proposed to add a second southbound left turn lane to Alton Road, which area fell within the City' s Golf Course.  The widened roadway required FDOT to obtain from the City a perpetual easement to use, maintain, repair, and construct the roadway along the west side of City owned property.  The City granted this request via Resolution No. 2016- 29465.

FDOT and the City are looking to amend the scope of the easement to include the installation and maintenance of a signalization mast arm; and further authorize the Mayor and City Clerk to execute the amended easement and confirmation of easement donation, as described in Exhibit "1".

Results from the 2019 Resident Survey show that 33% of residents rated crossing an intersection in the city as being very safe or safe; 74% of residents were concerned or dissatisfied with pedestrian safety; and 14% of residents ranked there being Insufficient signage/poor signage, when crossing the street at an intersection.  In order to improve this area, the City intends to enhance pedestrian safety by including the installation and maintenance of a signalization mast arm.