ANALYSIS:
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is the right-of-way agent for Route I-195 also known as the Julia Tuttle Causeway. At the eastern most portion of the Julia Tuttle, a large area (over 10 acres) of open space exists at Alton Road. Since this portion of the public’s right-of-way is not used for vehicular use, it has been an ideal location for both hurricane debris storage and contractor staging. Material can be brought to the site, sorted, and consolidated or reduced to minimize transportation costs, and hauled to a final disposal site. This operation is monitored and documented to facilitate reimbursement by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Historically, the City had maintained a permit to occupy this site.
The Administration has been in discussions with FDOT since 2016 when the Alton Road reconstruction project was nearing completion and the FDOT contractor was vacating the site. FDOT notified the City just prior to the arrival of Hurricane Irma that they intended to utilized the site for their storm related operations. The City offered to not only share the site, but to perform debris collection and disposal associated with the FDOT roadways within the City in exchange for use of the site. However, FDOT formally declined all offers and directed the City not to use the site. Furthermore, they directed the City not to pick up the debris on the State roads in the City.
In light of FDOT’s decision, the Administration had evaluated all other open space parcels in the City. The only location that met the needs of this operation was a portion of the Par 3 site adjacent to the Public Works yard off of Pine Tree Drive. The entrance and operation was sited as far from residential properties as possible to minimize neighborhood impacts.
At the Finance and Citywide Projects Committee meeting of January 19, 2018, during a discussion regarding the debris removed of Hurricane Irma, it was requested that an item be brought back to the Committee to discuss options for future debris management sites.
Staff has researched the Miami Dade parcel data inclusive of the City limits as well as within a five (5) mile radius and identified all parcels ten (10) acres or larger. The sites include both public and private undeveloped parcels. Attached is a map and spreadsheet showing the results. Of the 71 parcels identified, there are nine (9) parcels within City limits. They are all parks or open spaces:
North Shore Open Space Park
Lummus Park - Miami Beach
Normandy Shores Golf Course
La Gorce Golf Course
Miami Beach Golf Club
Bayshore Municipal Golf Course Par 3
Flamingo Park & Pool
South Pointe Park
FDOT I-195 Interchange
There are eleven (11) privately owned parcels not including golf courses. These, and the remainder of the sites identified, are outside the City limits. The utilization of these sites would require the additional time and expense of hauling the collected debris to the site. The attached table of parcels includes the approximate distance of road miles necessary to haul debris from the center of Miami Beach to that parcel.
One of the reasons the City was successful in quickly mobilizing equipment and removing the debris from City streets, was that a site was locally available and ready to receive collected debris. The contractor(s) are paid by the volume of debris so it is advantageous to them if the required hauling time/distance is minimized. Sites outside of City limits are problematic in that for a contractor, their equipment is tied up in traffic getting on and off Miami Beach and they must traverse post storm streets conditions, all of which consume time which otherwise could be spent picking up debris from the City streets.
The selection of a site to handle storm debris needs to consider not only the distance the material is hauled, the ease of access to the site, the roadway(s) leading to the site, but also the area surrounding the site (residential or commercial). This may impose additional restrictions which could delay the overall process of clearing debris and increase the costs.
Once a staging area is selected, it needs to be permitted by the State of Florida Department of Environmental Protection. The following criteria needs to be considered when evaluating a site:
Uncontaminated Vegetative Debris
FDEP Considerations
1. Must be located at least 100 feet away from potable water wells (unless otherwise stated by FDEP).
2. Must be located at least 50 feet away from a natural or artificial body of water (unless otherwise stated by FDEP).
3. Cannot be located in a water body or wetlands.
4. If historic artifacts are found in the area all staging must stop until further approval is given.
Contaminated Vegetative Debris
FDEP Considerations
1. Must be located at least 500 feet away from potable water wells (unless otherwise stated by FDEP).
2. Must be located at least 200 feet away from a natural or artificial body of water (unless otherwise stated by FDEP).
3. Cannot be located in a water body or wetlands.
4. If historic artifacts are found in the area all staging must stop until further approval is given.
Conditions associated with distances to the water bodies will further reduce the number of available sites.