05-24-1999 Workshop Meeting•
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MIAMI SHORES VILLAGE
COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING
The Miami Shores Village Council held a Council Workshop on Monday, May 24, 1999
commencing at 7.00 PM in the Conference Room of Village Hall. All Council members, the
Village Manager, Village Attorney and the Village Clerk were in attendance.
1. DISCUSSION REGARDING THE DESIGN CHARRETTE CONCEPTUAL PLAN
2. DISCUSSION REGARDING MIAMI-DADE COUNTY'S CURRENTLY ON-GOING
DESIGN OF N.E. 2ND AVENUE
Mayor Ulmer opened the meeting, explaining the purpose of the Workshop and the two issues to
be discussed. Mayor Ulmer stated that due to the similarity of the two issues, he would like to
discuss the items simultaneously. Mayor Ulmer introduced Lew Soli, Executive Director from the
Greater Miami Shores Chamber of Commerce and asked him to give a brief summary of his memo
which was distributed at that time.
Mr. Soli stated that the Chamber Board had met this afternoon and proposed amendments to the
Design Charrette Conceptual Plan as outlined in his memorandum. Specifically, Mr. Soli
indicated that any prior references to the elimination of the street barricades should be
disregarded.
Mayor Ulmer provided those in attendance with an update of his recent meetings with County
representatives, Commissioner Gwen Margolis, Mayor Penelas, and Director Pete Hernandez.
Mayor Ulmer outlined the current proposal of the County's which is to fund the improvements to
N.E. 2nd Avenue, in whatever manner/design the Council chooses, if the one cent sales tax
increase is passed by the voters of the County. Mayor Ulmer emphasized that the plan does not
include the installation or funding for sewers. He stated that he has made a personal commitment
to Mayor Penelas to support the sales tax increase, but did not commit the Village Council, nor
did he represent them in his support. Mayor Ulmer explained his thoughts on the need for
improvements to the intersections along N.E. 2nd Avenue and alternates to the Charrette Plan's
call for narrowing the roadway. Mayor Ulmer suggested that there is a need for a
traffic/transportation engineer or planner to assist the Village in studying the traffic patterns and
available options.
Discussion amongst the Council centered upon the various opinions on how traffic should flow,
obtaining specific commitments from the County, where money will come from for the
planner/engineer and the costs of improvements, the need to handle the question of sewers
separately from the roadway improvements, whether we have requested a large enough share of
the possible tax funds, and what will happen if the increase in the sales tax is defeated.
It was the consensus of the Council to wait to see the outcome of the one cent sales tax increase
election before making any further decisions on a definitive plan for N.E. 2' Avenue (4 lane
versus 2 lane, etc.).
• Mayor Ulmer stated that he would like to have a Resolution on the June 1, 1999 Council Meeting
Agenda supporting the increase in the sales tax.
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Setting aside the issue of the redesign of N.E. rd Avenue, the Council discussed the other
elements contained within the Design Charrette Conceptual Plan, specifically, the redevelopment
of the downtown business district. It became evident that individuals interpreted the Conceptual
Plan's recommendations differently and the question arose as to what the community wants N.E.
rd Avenue to become. Alternatives to finding an answer to the key question were volunteered,
including directing the task to the Planning & Zoning Board, appointing an advisory committee,
or keeping the task for the Council to deal with. After discussing the pros and cons of the various
options, it was the consensus of the Council to appoint a Citizen Advisory Task Force.
Mayor Ulmer called for a short recess and reconvened the meeting at 8:30 PM.
Subsequent to further discussion regarding the make-up of the Task Force, it was decided that a
Resolution should be drafted which outlines the number of appointees and the task assignment.
Mayor Ulmer suggested that each Council Member, and Tom Benton the Village Manager,
appoint three individuals to the Task Force. Additional guidelines for the Task Force were
discussed with the consensus being that the appointees should be Village residents or business
owners, that the Village's Community Development Director, Rich Freeman, will act as Chair of
the Task Force, that the Task Force should report back to the Council within 60 days, and that
the appointments will be made during the June 15, 1999 Council Meeting.
The May 24, 1999 Council Workshop was adjourned at 8:55 PM.
Barbara A. Fugazzi, CMC
Village Clerk
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Mark S. Ulmer, Mayor