1. Approval to submit a grant application to the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) and Walmart Foundation Healthy Out-of-School Time grant program, in the approximate amount of $25,000, for the City’s out-of-school youth development program.
The National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) and the Walmart Foundation Fund programs to support children’s health through park and recreation out-of-school time programs. The program goals are to increase the number of healthy meals children receive; provide nutrition literacy to children and families; implement nutrition standards that increase access to healthier foods; and implement meal and program efficiencies that increase community sustainability.
The City, through the Parks and Recreation Department provides nutrition education to participants in the after school and summer programs; the classes teach participants the importance of proper nutrition and a balanced diet and include meal preparation and cooking classes. The City Administration has requested funding in the approximate amount of $25,000 to expand the nutrition education component of the culinary classes and to host more weekend cooking classes. If awarded, nutrition services will be expanded to meet the needs of children and families in the after school and summer programs. Funds will be used to purchase equipment and increase hours for existing part time staff for weekend seminars.
This project supports the key intended outcome to achieve educational (K-12) excellence. The grant does not require matching funds.
2. Approval to submit a grant application to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Emergency Watershed Protection Program, in the approximate amount of $313,088, for recovery efforts related to Hurricane Irma.
The Emergency Watershed Protection Program (EWP) assists in recovery efforts to relieve imminent hazards to life and property from natural disasters such as floods, fires, windstorms and hurricanes. The program is administered by USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service. Funding is subject to Congressional appropriations. NRCS may assist in two types of emergencies: 1) Presidentially declared disasters; and, 2) Local disasters, in cases where the NRCS State Conservationist has declared a local emergency.
As a result of Hurricane Irma, the City is eligible to apply for funds through the EWP program. The Administration has identified construction activities relative to debris removal at the city outfalls at 10th and 14th Street and related work that needs to be completed in order to conserve natural resources. The total project cost is $407,963 and the City Administration is requesting funds in the approximate amount of $313,088. This grant requires a cash match of 25%; the match dollars are subject to being appropriated in the Fiscal Year 2018/19 budget. This project supports the key intended outcome to improve cleanliness and City beaches.
3. Approval to submit a grant application to AARP Community Challenge grant program, in the approximate amount of $14,000, for the construction and installation of a bicycle corral on Lincoln Road.
The AARP Community Challenge provides funds for projects that improve livability for all residents. AARP invites applications for quick-action projects that support the efforts of neighborhoods, towns, cities and counties nationwide to become great places for people of all ages. AARP prioritizes projects that deliver a range of transportation and mobility options that increase connectivity, walkability, bikeability and/or and access to public and private transit.
The City Administration is requesting funds in the approximately amount of $14,000 from AARP to construct and install a bicycle corral on the corner of Lincoln and Alton Road. The bicycle corral will support the multitude of intense uses in the area such as restaurants, retail and a movie theater. By installing a user-friendly, free bicycle corral, the City will build momentum for bicycling in our community, increase resident and visitor ridership and improve safety.
This project supports the key intended outcome to ensure comprehensive mobility addressing all modes throughout the City, and to maximize the Miami Beach brand as a world class destination. The grant does not require matching funds.
4. Approval to submit a grant application to The Miami Foundation, 2018 Public Space Challenge for a speech/video studio project entitled The Truth Booth.
Launched in 2013, The Miami Foundation’s Public Space Challenge is a platform for residents to create, improve and activate parks and public spaces in their neighborhoods and communities. Projects are awarded grant funds based on their ability to address community needs for a more resilient future. The 2018 Public Space Challenge will fund ideas to create, activate, and improve local parks and public gathering places.
Ocean Terrace is a beachfront neighborhood of historic buildings and new construction; it is also home to the North Beach Bandshell, which hosts numerous community events where residents and visitors socialize and exchange common interests. Understanding and protecting Ocean Terrace’s characteristics is key to its identity and evolution. Through the Public Space Challenge grant program, the City is proposing to employ an artist to engage residents and visitors in a creative, interactive and captivating exercise. The Truth Booth is a walk-in inflatable speech balloon/video studio that records visitors finishing the statement "The truth is. . ." These two-minute recordings are reviewed, interpreted, and used to discover the links that connect us and help define the identity of a neighborhood in transition.
The Truth Booth will allow residents and visitors to participate in the creative practice of informed community-directed development; the outcomes will offer the city and visitors a snapshot into the people who live and work on Ocean Terrace as well as a better understanding of the spirit of the neighborhood. The amount of each award will be determined by the funding agency after preliminary review of all applications. The top ideas will share up to $305,000 in funding to make their ideas a reality.
This project supports the key intended outcome to maximize the Miami Beach brand as a world class destination. The grant does not require matching funds.
5. Approval to submit a grant application to Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) for the Public Transit Service Development Grant Program, in the approximate amount of $1,250,000, for the South Beach Trolley.
The Public Transit Service Development Program was enacted by the Florida Legislature to provide initial funding for special projects. The program goal is to provide new or innovative techniques or measures that can be used to improve or expand public transit services. Service Development Projects can be for operational, capital or marketing costs.
The City Administration intends to request funds in the approximate amount of $1,250,000 for the South Beach Loop trolley service. This free trolley service is a reliable transportation alternative that complements the existing transit network and provides connection to regional transit routes. The South Beach Loop trolley service was soft-launched in November 2017 and replaced the County-operated South Beach Local and City-operated Alton-West Loop trolley service.
The total cost of operations for the South Beach Loop trolley service is $5,001,451 per year. The Administration intends to apply for $1,250,000. The grant requires matching funds in the amount of $1,250,000; the match dollars are subject to being appropriated in the Fiscal Year 2018/19 budget. This project supports the key intended outcome to ensure comprehensive mobility addressing all modes throughout the City.
6. Approval to submit a grant application to Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) County Incentive Grant Program in the approximate amount of $418,000 for the Alton Road Shared Use Path
The Florida Department of Transportation’s County Incentive Grant Program (CIGP) was created in Section 339.2817, Florida Statutes and allows FDOT to issue grants to counties for local transportation projects that relieve congestion or improve transportation facilities on the State Highway System. Awarded projects will be programmed into FDOT’s 5-Year Work Program for funding in State Fiscal Year 2018/2019.
The City is requesting funding in the approximate amount of $418,000 for a shared use path that will run along the east side of Alton Rd and Chase and Michigan Avenues and will consist of buffered bi-directional bicycle lanes and a walking path. The path will begin at 34th Street and follow the Miami Beach Golf Course south to Michigan Avenue. Future plans call for the path to connect to the North Bay Road Neighborhood Greenway, the Chase/34th St. Shared Use Path, Meridian Avenue Shared Use Path, and the existing Dade Boulevard Shared Use Path.
The grant requires matching funds in the amount of $418,000; matching funds are programmed in FY 2019/20, in the FY 2018/2022 Capital Budget and 5-Year Capital Improvement Plan under Project No. 27920, subject to funds being appropriated in FY 2019/20. This project supports the key intended outcome to ensure comprehensive mobility addressing all modes throughout the City.
7. Approval to submit a grant application to Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) County Incentive Grant Program in the approximate amount of $2,406,805 for the development and implementation of an Intelligent Transportation System and Smart Parking System
In addition to the Alton Road Shared Use Path request mentioned above, the City Administration also intends to apply for funding through the County Incentive Grant Program for the development of an Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) that monitors and mitigates traffic congestion. The ITS network will advance the City’s ability to affect real-time changes in traffic conditions as well as disseminate crucial information to motorists. The project will provide integrated management of the Miami Beach roadway network through the implementation of Smart Parking System (SPS) and ITS devices to support Traveler Information Systems consisting of dynamic message signs, closed-circuit television camera systems, and travel-time data collection systems.
The grant requires matching funds in the amount of $2,406,805; matching funds are available in the following account numbers: 158-0870-069355-00-410-530-00-00-00-28080; 158-9615-061357-26-410-530-00-00-00-28080; 158-9615-069357-26-410-530-00-00-00-28080; 187-9615-069357-26-410-530-00-00-00-28080 and 480-0870-069355-00-418-000-00-00-00-28080. This project supports the key intended outcome to ensure comprehensive mobility addressing all modes throughout the City.