ANALYSIS:
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 sites. It was further directed to review sites not only within the City, but on the main land as well.
Staff has continued to attempt to find a way to be able to utilize the FDOT site and is currently in conversations with FDOT. However, it is prudent to assume that option is not viable and an alternative site or sites should be considered.
Staff has researched the Miami Dade parcel data inclusive of the City limits as well as 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 showing the results of the investigation. There are 71 parcels identified. Information of each parcel was generated from the Miami Dade County Office of the Property Appraiser. There appear to be ten (10) privately owned parcels not including golf courses. These are outside the City limits and are to the north in North Miami Beach and Aventura. Seven (7) of those appear to be contain significant amounts of water or submerged lands. That leaves about three (3) that are worthy of further consideration.
However, the analysis and utilization of sites outside the City limits needs to account for the additional time and expense of hauling the collected debris to that site. The attached table includes a column that represents the distance of road miles necessary to haul debris from a theoretical center of the City. The analysis needs further work as it is proving difficult to predict the travel time associated with post hurricane traffic as well as the time it would take to re-enter the City across the causeway. The calculations will mirror the hauling trips associated with Hurricane Irma to provide a point of reference.
One of the reasons the City was successful in quickly mobilizing equipment and removing the debris from City streets during Hurricane Irma, was that a site was centrally available and ready to receive collected debris. The debris hauling contractors are paid by the volume of debris so it is advantageous to them if the required hauling is minimized. The most recent contract award had one price for hauling to 15 miles and a higher cost for disposal sites extending the hauling to 30 miles.
Sites outside of City limits are problematic for a contractor as their equipment is tied up in traffic getting on and off Miami Beach. They must traverse post storm streets conditions in other communities which we have no control over, all of which consume time which otherwise could be spent in a scenario that has shorter trips and can be more profitable. Thus, contractors are more likely to haul debris for another municipality.
Within the City limits, there are eight parcels in excess of ten (10) acres. They are all parks or open spaces:
North Shore Open Space Park
Lummus Park - Miami Beach
Normandy Shores Golf Course
La Gorce Golf Course
(privately owned)
Miami Beach Golf Club
Bayshore Municipal Golf Course Par 3
Flamingo Park & Pool
South Pointe Park
There has been a suggestion to look at the driving range area on the Miami Beach Golf Course. It appears that a ten acre parcel could be carved out with only a slight realignment of the 18th hole. This area may be desirable in that there are no immediately abutting neighbors. It should also be noted that the Miami Beach golf course does generate revenue from the utilization of the course, so complete disruption of the course should be avoided.
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