REGULAR AGENDA: NEW BUSINESS  11.

COMMITTEE MEMORANDUM

HISTORY:

At the May 2, 2018 Parks and Recreational Facilities Advisory Board meeting, the following motions were made and unanimously passed (Exhibit A), pertaining to the building, funding and location of an aquatic center in the City of Miami Beach, and the need for baseball fields and active use space:

MOTION #3: The Parks and Recreational Facilities Advisory Board strongly supports and realizes the value of building an aquatic center located in proximity to other sports activities to allow for synergy and that such site could be the 72^nd Street Lot, Flamingo Park or the Scott Rakow Youth Center and further motions that money be set aside in the GO Bond and for that money to be portable to accommodate a location once identified.

MOTION #4: The Parks and Recreational Facilities Advisory Board motions that staff completes a rendering with cost estimates of placing the aquatic center and associated parking garage at the Scott Rakow Youth Center and Flamingo Park.

MOTION #5: The Parks and Recreational Facilities Advisory Board motions to explore the feasibility of the baseball field options for North Shore Park as discussed at the Board meeting and attached to this motion and to ask the Transportation Department to evaluate where potential pick-ups and drop-offs can be accommodated given the design in addition to exploring a pedestrian bridge from the 72^nd Street lot across Harding Avenue.

At the June 6, 2018 Commission meeting, a discussion to consider the Parks and Recreational Facilities Advisory Board’s (“Board”) motions regarding an aquatic center and baseball field options for North Shore Park was referred to the Finance and Citywide Projects (“FCWP”) Committee.

ANALYSIS:

AQUATIC CENTER

The topic of the need and location for an aquatic center in Miami Beach has been at the forefront of many of the advisory board meetings. The Board has identified this as a top priority and had previously passed a motion on the specifications of the aquatic center to include, at a minimum, a 50 x 25-meter pool with amenities and space considerations (Exhibit B).

Most recently, at their May 30, 2018 meeting, the Board unanimously passed another motion supporting the aquatic center at the 72^nd Street Lot location as follows:

MOTION: The Parks and Recreational Facilities Advisory Board agrees that we support making the park space identified for the 72^nd Street Sports Complex for active multipurpose use. Additionally, we support the aquatic center at its proposed location at the 72^nd Street Sports Complex. (Exhibit C)

BASEBALL FIELD OPTIONS – NORTH SHORE PARK

Similarly, much discussion has ensued with the Board on the need for baseball fields and active use space as programming activities and participant numbers continue to rise. Creative suggestions for adding baseball fields at North Shore Park have been explored by the Board prompting the motion at the May 2, 2018 Parks and Recreational Facilities Advisory Board meeting.

At the June 8, 2018 FCWP meeting, there was discussion on consideration for the baseball field at North Shore Park as it relates to the project budget and scope of the 72^nd Street civic complex, and the optimization of reconfiguring the current baseball field from 2 fields into 4. It was also recommended to include the reconfiguration of the baseball field as part of the funding mechanism of the 72^nd Street project including the transit needs of the Youth Center.

FUNDING

Presently there is a project concept, but no design or feasibility study.  The Office of Capital Improvement Projects (CIP) needs to review the concept to ensure all needs can be met on the site. To complete this study, CIP would need a funding allocation of $50,000 to engage a design team, and vet the project concept and construction feasibility.

CONCLUSION:

Discussion, direction and possible funding on the aquatic center and baseball field options for North Shore Park.