Walkabout Pedestrian Safety Survey -- Information Please -- Deadline Jan 31st

The Flamingo Park Neighborhood Association is one of 15 communities from around the country seeking to create Livable Communities -- Safer and More Walkable.

In the month of January we are seeking to collect infomration about the issues and concerns that hamper walking in the neighborhood.

Please join us in this effort by participating in the Walkabout Pedestrian Safety Survey. Just download the following form, take a walk in our neighborhood, jot down your response to the questions and submit the completed form by Jan 31st. You will be able to download the Survey in either word or pdf format from the following source:

http://flamingomb.org/WalkaboutPedestrianSafetySurvey.doc

http://flamingomb.org/WalkaboutPedestrianSafetySurvey.pdf

Everyone benefits from walking. These benefits include: improved fitness, cleaner air, reduced risks of certain health problems, and a greater sense of community. But walking needs to be safe and easy. As we find problems --take heart; together we can find ways to make things better.

Getting started: Just pick a place to walk, like the route to school, over to the park, heading for one of the adjacent commercial steets. Then complete as much of the survey form as you can, identify problems, include any notes, and the concluding section on suggestions for improvement.

Then be sure to send us the survey -- by mail, e-mail, fax or just drop off at the office. And then take a moment to connect with us by going to our website at www.flamingomb.org and then signing up to receive posts to our blog and calendar notices.

We welcome the attendance and participation of all residents of the Flamingo Park Neighborhood at our monthly meetings.

CIP Department Project Timeline for Flamingo Neighborhood Improvement Projects -- Stormwater Masterplan, Design Build Bidding, Selection & Contract Awards, Commence Construction

The CIP Department developed and submitted the following Project Timeline for Flamingo / West Avenue Neighborhood Projects, including the commencement of work on Flamingo Southeast -- 7th to 9th, Washington to Meridian.

Flamingo Neighborhood
Right of Way Project Timeline

Flamingo / West Avenue
Capital Improvement Project Timeline
Nov 2009 --Receive responses to citywide Stormwater Master Plan RFQ
Dec 2009 --Commission Action
Jan 2010 --Negotiate contract terms
Feb 2010 --Award contract and issue NTP to Consultant
Jul 2010 --Complete Task 1 – Flamingo / West Avenue schematic design
Aug 2010 --Identify multiple bid packages in Flamingo / West Avenue
Sep 2010 --Issue ITB for design / build packages to Procurement
Oct Nov 2010 --Begin opening and evaluating ITBs
Dec 2010 --Commission Action
Jan 2011 --Award contracts and perform value engineering
Feb 2011 --Begin issuing NTPs to design / build firms
Jul 2011 --Begin construction

Flamingo Southeast – 7th to 9th, Washington to Meridian
Capital Improvement Project Timeline
Nov 2009 --Open JOC bids
Dec 2009 --Negotiate with lowest and best bidder
Dec 2009 --Commission approves funding
Dec 2009 --County authorizes use of grant money
Dec 2009 --Execute JOC contract create BPO
Jan 2010 --Issue NTP for design and permitting
May 2010 --Begin construction
Jan 2011 --Reach substantial completion
Mar 2011 --Achieve final completion

We anticipate that this Baseline schedule will be refined and updated as planning and implementation proceeds.

Status Report by CIP Department on Flamingo Neighborhood Improvements -- stormwater drainage, water distribution, pedestrian streetscape amenities

The CIP Department submitted the following report to the CIP Oversight Committee at its meeting of Dec 7, 2009 and then subsequently to the City Commission:

The City has received design-build proposals for a portion of the Flamingo Neighborhood Right of Way Improvements. The lowest proposal, from Ric-Man International is for $3,956,835. This work covers improvements between 7th and 9th Streets and Meridian and Washington Avenues. The work includes stormwater piping, new watermains, pedestrian lighting, hardscaping, landscaping, bump outs, ADA improvements and renotation of Pennsylvania Plaza.

A CDBG grant is funding the stormwater portion of the project. At this time the County is reviewing the proposals. Upon County review and approval, the City will execute a contract with Ric-Man International to begin this work. It is estimated that construction will start in early 2010 and will finish in one year.

Simultaneously, the City is evaluating the proposed storm water improvements for the Flamingo/Lummus Neighborhood and West Avenue Neighborhood projects. Both neighborhoods are in priority drainage basins. Therefore, the proposed improvements will accommocate a 5-year 1-day storm.

At this time, the Flamingo Neighborhood has 60% complete plans, in which the streetscape design is relatively 100% complete. These proposed streetscape improvements will be incorporated into the ultimate design since they have been accepted by the Flamingo neighborhood associations, the Flamingo Sub-committee of the CIPOC, and the City Commission. The West Avenue Neighborhood has a completed Basis of Design Report to provide direction for the streetscape improvements there.

To complete the stormwater design, the Public Works Department will engage an engineering consulting firm to prepare a Citywide stormwater master plan. The first task of the selected engineering firm will be to develop a storm water hydraulic model of the Flamingo / Lummus and West Avenue neighborhoods. This initial task will analyze the existing system, identify deficiencies, and design improvements.

These improvements will be identified in a schematic fashion so that multiple Design Criteria Packages can be prepared and issued for Invitations to Bid. The Invitations to Bid will then require the selected design-build firms to finalize the schematic designs, permit the design plans, and cconstruct the improvements. This approach will allow one pragmatic and comprehensive solution to the drainage needs of these neighborhoods and expedite the construction using multiple design build firms.

A proposed timeline for the entire neighborhood has been developed. The timeline will be refined as the modeling and design efforts are further developed.

Flamingo Meeting Notes -- Tues, Dec 14, 2009; Next Meeting -- Tues, Jan 11, 2010

Flamingo Meeting Notes of Tues, Dec 14, 2009

5:00 pm – Pedestrian Safety Project

 Walkability Audit and Checklist
The draft Walkability Audit and Checklist was reviewed revised and approved for distribution and input. Next Steps include the following:

1. Distribution of the Walkability Survey with a response date by Jan 31, 2010 and the option of responding by mail, e-mail, fax or drop off.

2. We will ask that our resource liaisons provide overview of Residents’ Guide for Walkability, Chapter 3, Solutions – Engineering, Education, Enforcement, Encouragement at our next meeting – scheduled for Mon, Jan 11th, 5pm.
We will ask Joyce Meyers and Xavier Falconi to host a Resource Team Meeting to organize the presentation. Likely input would include –
Engineering – Xavier Falconi, Christine Bettin, Richard Saltrick
Enforcement – Deborah Doty
Education – David Henderson, Karla Utting
Encouragement – Karla Utting, David Henderson

3. After the General Solutions Overview and after the submission of Walkability Survey Information targeted for Jan 31st, we anticipate that in February we will prioritize identified problems and develop an Advocacy Agenda.

6:00 pm – General Meeting Agenda

Special Guest: Charles Carreno,
Director of the CMB Capital Improvements Project Department.
In the absence of Charles Carreno, Rick Saltrick (the CIP Flamingo N’hood Project Manager) presented the current status of the CIP Neighborhood Infrastructure Program.

 Project Time Line for Planning and Implementation

 Stornwater Drainage Issues and Solutions
 Plans for Sewage and Water Distribution
 Pedestrian Amenities – Streetscape Improvements

 Initial Project Implementation –
7th to 9th Streets, Washington to Meridian.

Other Matters:

 Dan Davidson Presentation – Temple House
It was agreed that Flamingo Park Neighborhood Association supports the proposal presented by Dan Davidson for operation of Temple House as a Bed and Breakfast facility.

 Closure of Drexel Avenue at Lincoln Lane
Community Meeting: Wed, Jan 6, 5:30 pm
Hice Hall, Miami Beach Community Church
It was agreed that Flamingo Park Neighborhood Association opposes the permanent, full time closure of Drexel Avenue.

The next meeting of the Flamingo Park Neighborhood Association will be held on Tues, Jan 11, 2010, at The Seymour, 945 Pennsylvania Ave., 5pm Pedestrian Safety Project; 6pm Regular Meeting Agenda. All residents of the Flamingo Neighborhood are invited to attend and participate.