Euclid & Pennsylvania -- Community Meeting Workshop; Mon, Aug 2nd, 4pm, City Manager Conf Room, at City Hall

Community Meeting Notice
Flamingo Park Neighborhood Association
Workshop Meeting to Consider
Euclid / Pennsylvania Ave Streetscape Design
Monday, August 2, 2010, 4:00 pm --
in the City Manager’s Conference Room
4th Floor City Hall, 1700 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach

Featured Guest – Mike Lydon – Co-Author of Smart Growth Manual
He wrote the book on street design that puts pedestrians + bicycles first and recognizes streets as public space, describing sense of place, not speedy auto pace! Mike Lydon – Bio -- http://www.streetplans.org/leadership_mike_lydon.php

The Flamingo Park Neighborhood Association will host an important Workshop Meeting to address details in the Euclid / Pennsylvania -- Flamingo Capital Improvement Streetscape Project -- Monday, August 2nd, 4:00 pm, City Manager's Conf Room, Miami Beach City Hall, 1700 Convention Center Drive, 4th Floor

The project vision is well set out in the Basis of Design Report adopted by the City Commission in 2002 -- Enhance the pedestrian experience, Calm Traffic, Increase Pedestrian and Bicycle Mobility, with a resulting positive impact on our Sense of Place! While Euclid Avenue was identified as the targeted model block, the Neighorhood has agreed to support the bicylce lane on Euclid in return for narrowing all other north/south Avenues. The discussion has now evolved into a consideration of Pennsylvania Avenue.

The public right of way is 70' and the current auto travel lane is 17', so there's plenty of room to work with. But if we accept 12' auto/bike shared lane, 8' for parking, 2' existing private encroachment, 7'planing area swale -- the yield only permits a 1' increase from 5' to 6' for the sidewalk. The neighborhood does not perceive that as a sufficient pedestrian enhancement. We are interested as well in appropriate tree and landscaping selection, the composition of the swale, appropriate signage and selection of other street amenities that contribute to a greener and safer environment.

This workshop meeting is intended to engage the neighborhood together with the responsible city and county officials, and other stakeholders in a collaborative discussion to reasonably meet the various competing needs. Your participation is very important to us.

Flamingo – the historic, urban neighborhood in South Beach
from Washington to Lincoln, from 5th Street to Lincoln Road
All residents of the the neighborhood are invited to attend and participate.

Denis Russ Direct Line -- 305-672-4782
Miami Beach CDC -- at The Seymour
945 Pennsylvania Avenue, Miami Beach, FL 33139
T-305-538-0090 --- F-305-538-2863
Denis@MiamiBeachCDC.org

Workshop Meeting -- Euclid / Pennsylvania Avenue -- Design Detail

Monday, August 2, 2010, 4:00 pm
City Manager's Conf Room, Mia Bch City Hall

You are cordially invited to join us at this important Workshop Meeting to address Urban Design detail in the Flamingo Capital Improvement Streetscape Project -- Monday, August 2nd, 4:00 pm, City Manager's Conf Room, Miami Beach City Hall, 1700 Conv Ctr Drive, 4th Floor.


The project vision is well established in the Basis of Design Report adopted by the City Commission in 2002 -- Enhance the pedestrian experience, Calm Traffic, Increase Pedestrian and Bicycle Mobility, with a resulting positive contribution on enhancing our Sense of Place!  

While Euclid Avenue was identified as the targeted model block, the Neighorhood has agreed to support the bicylce lane on Euclid in return for narrowing all other north/south Avenues. The discussion has now evolved into a consideration of Pennsylvania Avenue.

The public right of way is 70' and the current auto travel lane is 17', so there's plenty of room to work with. But if we accept 12' auto/bike shared lane, 8' for parking, 2' existing private encroachment, 7' planing area swale -- the yield only permits a 1' increase from 5' to 6' for the sidewalk. The neighborhood does not perceive that as a sufficient pedestrian enhancement and the bike/ped urban design literatrue supports a narrower roadway.

This workshop meeting is intendded to engage the neighborhood together with responsible city and county officials, and the other stakebholder in a collaborative discussion to reasonably meet the various competing needs. Your input is very important to us.

RSVP: Please let us know if you will be able to join us.

Denis Russ          Direct Line -- 305-672-4782
Miami Beach CDC -- at The Seymour
945 Pennsylvania Avenue, Miami Beach, FL 33139
T-305-538-0090   ---   F-305-538-2863
Denis@MiamiBeachCDC.org

City of Miami Beach Planning Board -- Meets on Tuesday, July 27th, 1:30pm

Judy Robertson and Jack Johnson remind us
of Important Matters to be considered

Important matters considered by the Associaiton are scheduled to be heard at the Planning Board

File No. 1946 / Alton Road Historic District Buffer Overlay

File No. 1965 / Alton Road Parking District (new)
File No. 1969 and 1970 / 1600 Lenox Avenue rezoning matters 
File No. 1967 / Bed and Breakfasts / amending eligibility

Jack Johnson urges, "We've got lots of new stuff on our plates, but it's very important that we not lose track of the old stuff, which as we've seen, can change behind our backs if we're not vigilant.


"Next Tuesday, the Planning Board (which has new members who may/may not be sympathetic to our issues) will rehear the Alton Road Historic District Buffer Overlay. It's essential that as many of us as possible be there to protect the hard-fought protections that we've been seeking against overdevelopment along the east side of Alton Road. If we aren't there in force, we could easily lose those protections. Without them, the next economic boom could bring a series of development projects to the west edge of our neighborhood.

"Also on the agenda is a new Alton Road Parking District. You can find the agenda at http://web.miamibeachfl.gov/planning/scroll.aspx?id=27480."

Flamingo Southeast CIP Project Information -- Provided by City of Miami Beach

Flamingo Neighborhood Improvement Project
Construction Activity is currently underway.


The WATER MAIN IMPROVEMENTS for the Flamingo Neighborhood Improvement Project began on July 6, 2010 and are estimated to be completed by October 2010. Weather and other unforeseen circumstances may alter the anticipated schedule. The balance of underground utility and neighborhood improvements, which will consist of lighting, drainage, hardscape, landscaping and roadway improvements, are currently being designed/permitted, and will be forthcoming after the water main installations are complete.

CONTACT FOR PROJECT INFORMATION: 

Ric-Man International, Inc., Yarni Fernandez, Public Information Officer, 1210 Washington Ave., Miami Beach, Florida 33139,
8:00AM to 5:00PMPhone: (305) 535-1743, Fax: (305) 535-1745,
Email: yfernandez@ric-man.us

Project Limits: Washington to Meridian, 7th to 9th Streets -- The work will take place between the west side of Washington Avenue and the east side of Jefferson Avenue from 7th Street to 9the Street.



Maintenance of Traffic:  Throughout construction the contractor will strive to minimize impacts to area commuters and residents. The illustration above demonstrates a typical road closure during the improvements.



Pedestrian Impacts:  Pedestrian access will be maintained during construction; however, for safety purposes, the contractor may close sections of sidewalk and crosswalks at certain times while the work is underway. In such cases alternate pedestrian routes will be provided with proper signage.



Impacts During Construction:  Although the contractor strives to minimize all impacts associated with construction; motorists, businesses and pedestrians may experience one or more of the following inconveniences:

∙ Temporary impacts to on street parking
∙ Periods of dust and noise
∙ Pedestrian and vehicular traffic impacts
∙ Construction crews and equipment within work zone and adjacent neighborhood
∙ Storage of materials on site
∙ Temporary water service interruptions (Advanced notification will be provided)

Public Works Department / Capital Improvement Projects Department -- Develops Project Descriptioon

Project Coordinator Rick Saltrick
has provided this descriptive information
 
City of Miami Beach Public Works Department is developing a description of the Euclid Avenue and Pennsylvania Avenue Roadway Improvements to guide and document the implementation of the project, provide information to the community, and for presentation to the Historic Preservation Board to modify the adopted BODR – Basis of Design Review. The work will be carried out by the Capital Improvements Project Department.


You may access the current draft from the following links:

Euclid Avenue Roadway Improvements -- http://flamingomb.org/3Q2010/EuclidPubWksDesc_07222010.pdf

Pennsylvania Avenue Roadway Improvements -- http://flamingomb.org/3Q2010/PennPubWksDesc_07222010.pdf



The Euclid Avenue and Pennsylvania Avenue descriptive material includes the following information:

Euclid Avenue
Existing Conditions -- Section Depiction,  Roadway Images,  Sidewalk Images,  Intersections
Basis of Design Report -- Narrative Abstract,  BODR Section Depiction
Master Bicycle Plan -- South Beach Section Map,  Proposed Bike Lane Section,  Proposed Intersections
Proposed Landscaping Treatment  --  Proposed Tree and Landscape Selection

Pennsylvania Avenue
Existing Conditions -- Typical Section Depiction, Roadway Images, Sidewalk Images,  Intersections
Basis of Design Report -- BODR Section Depiction
Proposed Reduced Lane Width  -- Typical Section Depiction

Questions or concerns related to current construction now underway in the Flamingo Southeast Project Area (from Washington to Meridian, from 7th to 9th Streets) can be addressed to YAMI FERNANDEZ, Public Information Officer for the General Contractor -- 305-535-1743 or yfernandez@ric-man.us . 

Project Construction Commences -- Contact Information for GC Public Information Officer

Flamingo Park Neighborhood Meeting
held on Monday, July 19, 2010

The Flamingo Park Neighborhood Association met on Monday, July 19, 2010 to hear the status of the Flamingo Southeast Project presented by representatives of the City of Miami Beach Public Works Department and Capital Improvement Projects Department.  The meeting was described in the following article appearing in The Miami Herald.  http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/07/20/1738546/road-work-has-begun-in-flamingo.html

Construction has already begun on the project which is located from Washington to Meridian, from 7th to 9th Streets.  The General Contractor is Ric-Man International, Inc. Their Public Information Officer -- Yami Fernandez -- is available to answer questions and respond to concerns about the project at 305-535-1743 and she can be reached by e-mail at yfernandez@ric-man.us .  

Association Supports Bike Lane on Euclid; Calls for Urban Design Workshop Charrette to Narrow the other North/South Avenues

At its meeting on Monday evening, July 19th,
the Flamingo Park Neighborhood Association---

-- Agreed to support the Euclid Avenue bike lane in return for the City moving to the appropriate narrowing of all other north/south avenues;

-- Asked that the City join us in conducting a design workshop charrette to address the design characteristics of Pennsylvania Avenue as a model for the other north/south avenues. Concern was expressed that 12' auto travel lane is too great; 6' sidewalk is too narrow; selection of appropriate n'hood signage is important.

There was general support of the enunciated vision:  reduce the travel lanes, in order to enhance the pedestrian experience, support an integrated bicycle network and calm traffic.   

But if we give 12' to the County for the bike sharrow, 7' to parks for trees, 8' for parking --  there's just a one foot yield to increase sidewalks from 5' to 6'.  Its just not a sufficient pedestrian enhancement!

We hope to conduct the design workshop charrettee on Monday, August 2nd, at 5;00pm, which will be sufficiently in advance of the scheduled Historic Preservation Board to have credible input into the final urban design program for the area.

Meeting on Monday -- To Finalize Euclid & Pennsylvania Urban Design -- Flamingo Southeast Kickoff

Flamingo Park Neighborhood Association
Meeting Notice and Agenda
Monday, July 19, 2010, 5:00 pm
at The Seymour, 945 Pennsylvania Avenue

          5:00 pm Southeast Flamingo Project Information 
Learn all about the Project -- Washington to Meridian, 7th to 9th Streets
Water Distribution, Stormwater Drainage, Streetscape Improvement
Traffic Calming, narrowing the auto travel lanes, bulbous at the corners, Increasing the swale to plant Shade Trees, widen the sidewalks, improve safe mobility for pedestrians and cyclists including a bicycle network with bike paths, boulevards, lands and routes.

          6:00 pm General Meeting / Regular Agenda
Building & Sustaining Quality of Life for those who live, work and visit
Euclid Avenue Bike Lane / Narrowing all other north/south Avenues
Presentation of Proposal for 1600 Lennox Avenue -- Michael Larkin

Flamingo Agenda Focus Areas -- Quick Updates

Communication and Outreach -- Tammy Young
Park Masterplan / Implementing Projects -- Wanda Mouzon
CIP N'hood Projects -- Judy Robertson / Ben Bachelder
Crime Prevention & Safety -- Aaron Sugarman
Preservation & Planning -- Jeff Donnelly & Mark Needle
Family Friendly Promgrams -- Adam Shadroff

FLAMINGO -- the historic urban residential neighborhood in South Beach -- from Washington to Alton, from Fifth St to Lincoln Road -- All residents are invited to attend and participate.

Sixth Street Quality of Life WALKABOUT -- Friday, July 16, 2010, 9:30am, Meet at the Las Olas Cafe

The City of Miami Beach Community Resource Outreach Team is coordinating a WALKABOUT in the Sixth Street area to identify issues that impact the quality of life of area residents and businesses.  The Team will be joined by representatives of the Police Department and the Code Enforcement Division. 

The group will gather at Las Olas Cafe, 644 Sixth Street on this Friday, July 16, 2010, at 9:30am.    Members of the Flamingo Park Neighborhood Association are invited to participate. 

This important activity is being coordinated by Lynn W. Bernstein, Community Resource Outreach Team, Office of the City Manager - Tel: 305-673-7000 x6178 / cell: 786-229-3972 - LynnBernstein@MiamiBeachFL.gov.

Meeting Notice -- Monday, July 19, 2010, 5pm -- Project Information Kick-Off

Neighborhood Meeting Notice
Flamingo Park Neighborhood Association
Community Information and General Meeting
Monday, July 19, 2010, 5:00 pm
at The Seymour, 945 Pennsylvania Avenue
5:00 pm – Southeast Flamingo Project -- Community Kick-off
6:00 pm – Regular, General Meeting

The Flamingo Park Neighborhood Association will meet on Monday, July 19, 2010, 5;00pm, at The Seymour, 945 Pennsylvania Avenue. Flamingo Park Neighborhood – from Fifth to Lincoln, from Washington to Alton – All residents of the neighborhood are invited to attend and participate.



At 5:00 pm representatives of the City of Miami Beach Capital Improvements Projects Department and Public Works Department will join with featured guest, the selected design/build contractor Ric-Man International, Inc. to provide information and answer questions about the commencement of the Southeast Flamingo Project. This is a long anticipated major construction project that will improve water distribution, stormwater drainage and streetscape improvement in the area – from Washington to Meridian, from 7th Street to 9th Street. Streetscape Improvements will include the beginning of a major program to address traffic calming and improve pedestrian and bicycle mobility throughout the neighborhood. Special feature of the program is bump-outs at the curbs and increased sidewalk and swale for planning shade trees.

This Community Presentation will be followed by the regular meeting at 6:00 pm with a focus upon Building and Sustaining Quality of Life in our historic urban residential neighborhood in South Beach. This will include final consideration and action by the Association on the Euclid Avenue Improvements as a part of the Flamingo Neighborhood Mobility Network to promote traffic calming and an improved pedestrian and bicycle network for the neighborhood. Other program elements include – Communication and Outreach, Preservation and Planning, Crime Prevention and Safety, Improvements to Flamingo Park, and continued Neighborhood Capital Improvement Projects. An additional area to be discussed at the meeting is promoting the neighborhood for families.

At the CIP Oversight Committee meeting it was recommended to move forward with the Southeast Flamingo Project with a bike lane on Euclid Avenue, but with narrowing Pennsylvania Avenue.  The Administration indicated its support for narrowing all other north-south Avenues!!

Flamingo will Host Webinar Internet Seminar on Bike Boulevards + Greenways

Bicycle Boulevards and Neighborhood Greenways

Wednesday, July 21, 2010, 3:00 to 4:00 pm

Miami Beach CDC, at The Seymour, 945 Pennsylvania Avenue

5 Participants may join us for this Internet Webinar, sponsored by

apbp -- Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals

Learn about the evolving best practices in the creation of bicycle boulevards. This webinar will be drawn from lessons learned in Portland, Ore., as well as across the nation. Presenters Mia Birk, CEO, Alta Planning + Design, and Greg Raisman, Traffic Safety Specialist, Portland Bureau of Transportation, will describe the current state of the practice and the next big thing—neighborhood greenways, which incorporate the idea of bicycle boulevards with green streets, neighborhood enhancements, and community building; this larger vision can appeal to more people and help with funding.

Advance Registration is required.  Please contact Denis Russ at 305-672-4782, Denis@MiamiBeachCDC.org.

The webinar will focus on helping to fully optimize existing bicycle boulevards, through

• route selection
• levels of intervention
• examples of challenges and solutions for a range of design issues
• neighborhood greenway strategies, and
• processes for getting project buy-in and approval.

Presenters:

Mia Birk is CEO and Principal at Alta Planning + Design, with 20 years experience in sustainable transportation focused on pedestrian, bicycle, trail and greenway planning, design and implementation. She is also Adjunct Professor at Portland State University, where she co-founded the Initiative for Bicycle and Pedestrian Innovation (IBPI) in the College of Urban Studies. She is the co-author of the PSU IBPI Bicycle Boulevard Planning and Design Guidebook. Mia was the City of Portland Bicycle Program Manager from 1993-99, where she led a period of rapid growth of Portland's bikeway network. She has led numerous groundbreaking studies in the field of non-motorized transportation and is a co-founder of the Cities for Cycling project of the National Association for City Transportation Officials.

  

Greg Raisman is a Traffic Safety Specialist with the Portland Bureau of Transportation. He works in the Traffic Operations Division on the Community and School Traffic Safety Partnership team. Greg specializes in bicycle safety, school and residential traffic safety, drunk driving, red light cameras and crash data mapping and analysis. Greg's current projects include developing a citywide network of neighborhood greenways, utilizing "green streets" for traffic calming, and building programs to increase behavior change from multi-modal police enforcement.

Flamingo Neighborhood Project Report at CIP Oversight Committee -- Monday, July 12, 2010, 5:30pm

The Capital Improvement Projects Oversight Committee will meet Monday, July 12, 2010, 5:30 pm, in the Commission Chambers at City Hall. Join us for this important meeting. You may access the Agenda and the Flamingo Report at the following link:      http://flamingomb.org/3Q2010/CIP_OC_07122010.pdf

The Flamingo Report at the CIP Oversight Committee will include information and discussion on

• Stormwater Masterplan -- First task is to develop a model of the Flamingo Lummus West Ave N'hoods and develop design improvements for use in Neighborhood Capital Projects.
• Phase I Project 10E -- Washington to Meridian, 7th to 9th Streets.  This will include discussion of Euclid Avenue Improvements and the resolution of the conflict between the BODR and the Bicycle Masterplan.  This report and discussion will determine the manner of implementing the Euclid Avenue Improvements and the possible treatment of all other north/south Avenues in the Neighborhood.
• Flamingo Park Projects

Completed Projects -- perimeter fencing, playground equipment, dog park expansion
Additional Projects --
Football Field turf and scoreboard / Renovation of Running Track
Baseball Field restoration / Perimeter Landscaping
Community Garden / Handball Courts
New Restroom Building / Lodge Building Renovation
Renovate Softball Field Bathrooms / Skate Park Construction
Other Elements -- Park Grading, Hardscape, Furnishings and Signage, etc.

Meeting Notice:  The next meeting of the Flamingo Park Neighborhood Association will be held on Monday, July 19, 2010, 5:00 pm, at The Seymour, 945 Pennsylvania Avenue.  All residents of the neighborhood are invited to attend and participate. 

The Flamingo Park Neighborhood -- Fifth Street to Lincoln Road, Washington Avenue to Alton Road -- the historic, urban residential neighborhood in South Beach.  Our Assoication works to build and sustain Quality of Life for those who live, work and visit our community. 

CIP Oversight Committee Meets on Monday Evening; Project Plan: Add Shade Trees, Calm Auto Traffic, Promote Neighbothood Mobility for Pedestrians and Bicyclists

We urge you to attend the Capital Improvements Projects Oversight Committee (the CIP OC) meeting this Monday, July 12, 2010, 5:30pm, in Commission Chambers at City Hall.

 CIP OC will receive a report on the current status of Flamingo Projects, including projects in Flamingo Park and in the Neighborhood – water distribution, stormwater drainage and streetscape projects.

 Substantial controversy has arisen with respect to Euclid Avenue Improvements due to a conflict between the Basis of Design Report (BODR) for Flamingo and the Bicycle Masterplan – both documents adopted by vote of the City Commission. The Flamingo Neighborhood Association has called for the implementation of Euclid Avenue Improvements as specified in the BODR – with 12’ travel lane, adequate swale for planting shade trees, and enlarged sidewalks, but without an additional 5’ bicycle lane as specified in the Bicycle Masterplan.

 In a meeting Friday with City Officials representatives of Flamingo made the point that proposed streetscape projects for Euclid were intended to serve as a model for reducing the asphalt throughout the neighborhood, increasing shade trees and landscaping, and enhancing pedestrian and bicycle mobility. City Officials expressed concern with removing the bike lane or even moving it to another street. Representatives of Flamingo expressed support for a Neighborhood Bicycle Network providing a hierarchy of bike facilities – including bike paths, lanes, boulevards and routes or sharrows where bikes and autos shared the roadway.

 Flamingo representatives made the point that if Euclid were to become a wide Avenue with separated 5’ bike lane and 10’ auto lane, then a commitment should be made to reduce the width of the roadways on all  other north/south Avenues and then they should be designated as sharrows and a part of the Flamingo Mobility Network.—providing adequate circulation for pedestrians, bicyclists and autos in that order of priority.

1. In this first section of the Flamingo CIP project, narrow the roadway on Pennsylvania Avenue to 10’ to 12’ providing increased sidewalk and swale.
2. Make the commitment to continue this narrowing treatment for Pennsylvania as the project moves northward in later stages.
3. Use the narrowing of Pennsylvania as a model and make a commitment to similarly narrow all of the other north / south Avenues in later states of the Flamingo CIP program.
4. Embrace the policy of a Flamingo Neighborhood Mobility Network that provides adequate circulation for pedestrians, bicyclists and autos in that order of priority, implement Euclid Avenue Bicycle Lane, and mark all other streets in Flamingo as Bicycle Routes with shared space for bikes and autos.

 Join us at Monday’s meeting to see just how this way of looking at the Neighborhood is developed and further presented.

 

July Meeting Rescheduled to Monday, July 19th, 5:30pm, at The Seymour; CIP OC will meet on Mon, Jul 12, '10

There will be no meeting on July 5th.  The Flamingo Park Neighborhood Association regularly meets at 5:30 pm, on the first Monday of each month, at The Seymour, 945 Pennsylvania Avenue.  Because of the July 4th Holiday Weekend the July Meeting is re-scheduled to Monday, July 19, 2010, 5:30 pm.   We anticipate that this meeting will include a presentation by the City and Ric-Man International on the Phase I Southeast Section Improvment Program. 

On Monday, July 12, 2010 the CIP Oversight Committee is scheduled to meet at 5:30pm in the City of Miami Beach Commission Chambers, at City Hall, 1700 Convention Center Drive. 

Please plan to join us for this important meeting!  We anticipate a report on the status of Capital Improvement Projects in the Flamingo Park Neighborhood, including Flamingo Park Projects and initiation of Phase I Southeast Section of Capital Project -- Water Districtuion, Stormwater Drainage and Streetscape.  We are also hopeful that there will be a satisfactory resolution of the Euclid Avenue Improvement program with a priority on pedestrian circulation and a shared roadway that will accommodate cyclists and autos. 

Jeff Donnelly reports on Bikeways meeting; Historic Preservation Board Likely to Hear the Issue on August 10, 2010

Items learned or confirmed at the Bikeways Committee meeting on Wednesday June 23.


Euclid BODR

In 2002, the City Commission approved a BODR for the 70 foot Euclid right of way divided east to west as: 14 feet for sidewalk, swale, and encroachments; 9 feet for parking; 12 feet for one traffic (bikes and/or autos) lane; 12 feet for the reverse traffic lane; 9 feet of parking, and 14 feet for swale, sidewalk and encroachments on the other side of the street. The primary purpose of this design was to emulate Meridian Avenbue as the best pedestrian street in the neighborhood.   In addition to the exiting Meridian template, bump outs of approximately 9 feet were added to several corners, making the pedesatrian east-west crossing of Euclid at those points a maximum of 24 feet.

AGN Bikeways

Afterwards, the City Commission approved a bike ways plan for the City that named bicycle lanes as the only method of providing a bicyle facility or bicycle mode on Euclid. This approval, it turns out, conflicted with the 2002 EDAW BODR for Euclid that the Commission had previously approved. Specifically, the BODR called for a 24 foot moving vehicle space and the AGN bike lane proposal would require a minimum of 30 feet of moving vehicle space (20 for autos and 10 for bikes). Had the City Commission approved the bikeways proposal without specifying the bike lane mode, but allowed for the possibility of any of the three other modes -- bike paths/trails, bike boulevard, bike route -- there might not be a conflict. But the Commission, badly advised, failed to allow other bicycle modes or to resolve the conflict.

The City's application for changes in the BODR to accommodate the AGN Bikeway will come before the Historic Preservation Board on August 10, 2010.

On August 10, the Historic Preservation Baord can vote to maintain the BODR's 24 foot (two 12 ft travel lanes (bike and/or auto) with bump outs to limit pedestrian crossing distances and create a viable pedestrian north-south walkway or modify that BODR. Depending on the type of proposal, it may take 4 or 5 votes to modify the 2002 BODR.

Jeff Donnelly

Randall Robinson Reminder: Our vision for Euclid has always been to create a more-pedestrian oriented corridor, lowering the speed, calming the traffic and creating a safe shared roadway for cars and bikes.

The Smart Growth Manual
By Andres Duany, Jeff Speck, Mike Lydon


Bicycle Network

A proper bicycle network consists of four basic types of facilities: bicycle trails, bicycle lanes, bicycle boulevards, and share routes.

Bicycle trails are physically separated from higher speed traffic. Bicycle lanes are demarcated by striping within medium-speed roadways. Bicycle boulevards are streets with low traffic volumes in which priority is given to bicyclists by traffic-calming devices and signage. Finally, shared routes – the majority of thoroughfares – are low-speed streets in which cars and bikes mix comfortably.

The first step is to map the existing network, remembering that much of it will consist of unmarked shared routes within neighborhoods. This network should then be expanded by using the three other basic bikeway types, as contextually appropriate. . . .

Report on the CMB Bikeways Advisory Committee Meeting; Issue is Unresolved: Bike Lane vs Shared Roadway

Flamingo Park Neighborhood Association was invited to attend the June 23, 2010 meeting of the CMB Mayor's Blue Ribbon Bikeways Advisory Committee to discuss the plans for implementation of the Southeast Phase One Section of the Flamingo Neighborhood improvement program -- particularly improvements to Euclid Avenue.  Concern had been expressed that the narrowed 12 ft roadway would have to be expanded to 15 ft to accommodate a 10 ft auto lane and a 5 ft bike lane.  The view of the neighborhood was to implement the existing plans created by EDAW and approved by the City Commission in 2002.

The Committee indicated that they had not received any plans and could not discuss the matter until receiving plans.  Present at the meeting were David Henderson, the Bicycle / Pedestrian Coordinator for the County and Jeff County Traffic Engineer for the County who was pointed to as the responsible party for approving any plans.  Mr. Cohen spoke very strongly in favor of bike lanes separated from the auto lanes.  He indicated he had not seen any plans for Euclid Avenue Improvements, but upon receiving plans he would review them and likely suggest alternatives that would require separated bike lanes.

There did indeed appear to be an adversarial quality of the meeting with the bikeway members favoring separated 4 ft bikelanes on Euclid as was designated in the Bikeways Masterplan and representatives of Flamingo Neighborhood continuing to advocate for implementation of the plan for Euclid adopted by the City Commission as a part of the CIP Basis of Design Report.  It is likely that we will need to identify other venues for the resolution of the conflict, i.e.,

• Designated Responsible Departments -- CIP;  Public Works
• Assistant City Manager Jorge Gomez / City Manager Jorge Conzalez
• CIP Oversight Committee
• Historic Preservation Board
• City Commission

EPZ joins us at Flamingo Park Neighborhood Meeting and offers advice and cousel on streetscape plans

Subject: Euclid Avenue Improvements


Dear Denis,

This follows yesterday's meeting of the Flamingo Park Neighborhood Association about the Euclid Avenue improvements. It now looks like I will be unable to attend Wednesday's meeting in City Hall, due to meetings at the University I could not reschedule, so I am providing some comments emerging from our discussion. . . .
As you know, my questions and comments emerge from many years of involvement nationally with urban design and streetscape design, including studies for the City of Miami Beach for the area south of Fifth Street. Also, for the past two years I have chaired the Built Environment Adaptation Committee of the Miami-Dade Climate Change Task Force and I am thoroughly sensitized to the anticipated effects on South Florida such as sea level rise. For this discussion there are two relevant responses to climate change: mitigation (of human impact on global temperature) including reducing carbon emissions and urban heat; and adaptation (to the effects of climate change) that for South Florida includes learning to live with more frequent flooding as a result of sea level rise. There is of course much more to be said about both mitigation and adaptation, but I am focusing on those points that might affect the street design decisions.

With regard to an impending phase of street improvements south of Flamingo Park, it is my understanding that there are several guiding documents that have had public input and yet are not entirely compatible in terms of street width dimensions. These include the Basis of Design Report (BODR) of 2002, and the more recent Bicycle Master Plan, as well as more recent resident advocacy for narrower lanes and more attention to pedestrian mobility. While I understand that there is urgency to begin the project, I would suggest adding to the discussion the element of climate change and sea level rise, as it may provide the overriding rationale for choosing among the various options. Street flooding will intensify with time, so public expenditures for infrastructure should be as forward thinking and adaptable for evolving conditions as possible.

In our meeting we were looking at 2004 engineering drawings for Euclid, and we could not fully understand the street section, and potential changes in elevation. We raised several concerns related to the narrowing of the pavement and the extending of the curb into the existing cartway:

1) Will the crown of the road remain where it is? Presumably one would not plan to lower it as high water is already a concern. In which case, will the storm water system be moved (with the curb and gutter, and sewer inlets) closer to the center of the right-of-way to take advantage of a somewhat higher elevation?

2) Maintaining the crown has implications for extending the curb, requiring a somewhat higher curb elevation and the swale to slope from the sidewalk up to the curb, so a careful study of the geometry in section of crown, curb location and elevation, swale slope and sidewalk width, should inform the decision about dimensions. Here we are assuming the sidewalk remains at its current elevation.

3) Mitigation goals point to a street design with more green area and less pavement. This in turn suggests designating Euclid a bicycle route (or sharrow or shared street) to avoid additional pavement for a bike lane. While I believe the argument can be made for even narrower lane and parking dimensions, the BODR dimensions of 12' lane and 9' parking (total 21') would provide generous space for bicycles in the roadway as well a generous swale to accommodate shade trees.

4) Adaptation goals also point to such a narrower street section, as this will bring up the curb elevation, and position parked cars closer to the crown diminishing some of the flood risk. The wider swale will provide more permeable ground for storm water absorption. (As flood events intensify, a simple street section of 21' per side, would even allow a future use of the roadway with cars parked on the crown, with the driving lanes designated at curbside, as long as bumpouts are not installed.)

I hope this is helpful in advancing the discussion. As a property owner in the neighborhood, I look forward to the long awaited improvements to the public space, and I hope that this investment will serve the public goals of sustainability, resilience, and adaptability.

Lizz
Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk

Last Minute Proposal to change the Euclid Avenue Plan to add 5 foot concrete bike lane: Oh Say it Ain't So, Joe

The City is on the verge of implementing Phase 1 of the Flamingo Improvements – the Southeast Section from 7th to 9th Streets, from Washington to Meridian. (Likely the next phases will be 2 to 5 years down the line.) A contract has been let with Ric-Man International, Inc. and they will begin with the water distribution portion by early July. Later portion of this first Phase will be the Stormwater Drainage and Streetscape Improvements.

Seemingly at the last minute, County and City staff recommend changing the plan to add a 5ft bicycle lane along Euclid Avenue—taking the space from the pedestrian sidewalk and green planting swale. While we were hoping to model the new Euclid after Meridian, this change would result in a Euclid that more closely resembles 16th Street. We favor a bicycle route with bikes and autos sharing the roadway. So the FPNA is pushing back to retain the adopted plan – to create a better, cleaner, greener, safer, more pedestrian-oriented Euclid Avenue. 

These matters will be discussed at a meeting of the City Bikeway Committee tomorrow, Wed, June 23, 2010, 3:00pm, in the Mayor's Conference Room, 4th Floor, City Hall.


Some background information --

The proposed capital improvement program for the Flamingo Pak Neighborhood puts a priority on addressing improvements to Euclid Avenue. The existing plan – fully supported by the Flamingo N’hood Association -- includes the following explanation and treatment for Euclid:


Euclid Avenue (see Figure 3-18 thru 3-20): Euclid Avenue is a heavily traveled North/South vehicular corridor through the Flamingo neighborhood that connects 5th Street to Lincoln Road. The existing section of the Avenue consists of two 17’-0" wide travel lanes with +/- 2’-6" planting strips and 5’-0" sidewalks on either side. The Avenue was identified by residents as being the least pedestrian friendly Avenue in the neighborhood due to the speed of traffic and the lack of shade along the sidewalks. 
The proposed improvement is to modify the existing section to match that of the "preferred" Meridian Avenue section. This would require relocating the existing curb & gutter to allow for +/- 7’-6" planting strips with a continuous shade tree canopy. This would also "calm" the traffic by reducing the travel lanes widths to +/- 12’-0". To further improve the pedestrian experience, the existing sidewalks will be widened to +/- 6’-0" where possible (Appendix "B" – Sheet 21).

The Flamingo Park Neighborhood Association continues to be guided by the following principles:

1. We favor implementation of the Flamingo Cap;ital Improvement streetscape projects in a manner compatible with the adopted Basis of Ddeisgn Report.  We believe that the public space needs to adequately accommodate pedestrians, bicyclists and autos  -- in that order of priority!
2. We continue to support a 12ft roadway shared by bicyclists and autos -- with appropriate traffic calming, including crosswalks and 4 way stop signs at every intersection. 
3. We think that the Atlantic Greenway Network can best be implemented in South Beach by a Bike Route along Euclid.
4. We oppose increased asphalt along Euclid at the expense of the pedestrian-oriented sidewalk and green swale.  We need an increased tree canopy and shade.
5. We support moving forward with the Southeast Phae 1 portion of the project.  Nonetheless, it is imperative for the City to sit down with the community and review the detail plans currently being developed. 
6. We continue to favor moving forward with the development of the Stormwater Master Plan.  Nonetheless and in the meantime, it is important to review with the city the proposed elevation and geometry of the roadway, the slope of the sidewalk and swale, the elevation of the outlet pipes and the opportunity to encourage private property owners to replace concrete with pervious materials.
7. We continue to favor greenery over asphalt and a pedestrian, bicycle friendly public space that substantially slows auto traffic along neighborhood streets.

It seems clear to us that the Flamingo Park Neighborhood does not need more concrete nor another Sixteenth Street corridor.

City Commission to Decide on Tennis Courts in Flaming; An Open Letter to the Mayor and Commissioners

Dear Mayor and Commissioners:


The Flamingo Park Neighborhood Association urges that you move forward by finalizing and implementing the Flamingo Park Masterplan and its Tennis Facilities within the 17 court footprint adopted by the City Commission, approved by the Historic Preservation Board, and recommended by the City Manager.

We fully support the very good plan that resulted from over 18 months of meetings, workshops and hearings guided by Wolfberg Alvarez, CIP, Parks and Recreation, your Finance Committee, and the City Commission.

We fully support the Administration’s analysis and recommendation to move forward now within the parameters of the existing adopted masterplan.

We urge you to fashion a reasonable, realistic solution that will enable tennis players – whether seniors, adults, or our students – to play on appropriate surfaces on courts in the City. But tennis facilities in Flamingo Park ought not to overwhelm other aspects of the park – active, passive or aesthetic. That was the point made by Planning Department staff and the Historic Preservation Board in considering the Berger Plan and the 22 court proposals!

We urge that you fashion a solution without compromising the balance of uses and aesthetic value of the Flamingo Park Masterplan.

Sincerely,

Denis Russ
For Flamingo Park Neighborhood Association