2004 0318 Regular City Commission Meeting

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Summary Minutes: Regular City Commission Meeting March 18, 2004 City of Sunny Isles Beach, Florida the City and Newport for the Operation of Pier Park. He noted effective Monday, March 22, 2004, the Ci ty will now be operating and in charge of Pier Park, and that the Park will become more convenient and accommodating to our residents. He said that the City will spruce up the entrance, as it is legally an entrance to the construction site to the LaPerla Condominium. He said that the Cultural and Human Services Department has contacted a number of firms in terms of temporarily operating it until an automatic ticket machine can be installed. The City will be temporarily entering into an agreement with RS Valet Parking Systems, which are currently operating the valet parking at Tony Roma's Restaurant. Mayor Ede1cup asked if a fee has been negotiated yet, and City Manager Russo said yes, $10.50 an hour. Mayor Ede1cup said this property was under the administration of the owners of the Newport Hotel as long as they abided by the provisions of that agreement, and last week it was noted that they were not leaving the Park open for the benefit of the public on a 7- day week, 24-hour basis, and as a result of that, the City is moving forward with terminating that agreement, and taking over the Park. 12. CITIZENS' FORUM: REQUESTS, PETITIONS & OTHER COMMUNICATIONS 12A. Request of Claretha Youngblood, a Sunny Isles Beach resident, to discuss the Removal of a Bus Stop at Galahad-Dade Boulevard that Services the "S" Bus and the "E" Bus. Action: City Clerk Hines read the title, and City Manager Russo and Cultural and Human Services Director Susan Simpson reported. Public Speakers: Claretha Youngblood; Lee Liebman; Art Kapel; Bonnie KIeper; Maxine Rabinowitz; Madeline Thaler Claretha Youngblood said that she is against removing the bus stop at Galahad-Dade Boulevard, because bus routes "S" and "E" are a necessity for residents to get to school, work, the hospital, etc., and this is the only means of transportation for many, and some have to be there at 7:00 a.m., and don't get home until after 9:00 p.m. Suggestions were made to have shorter buses and the signal light longer. Art Kapel said that this is a safety issue, and that when the buses make the u-turn it is very hazardous. City Manager Russo said that the City is sensitive to all the comments. He said that the bus service that is provided from points north of the Lehman Causeway in this City to all points south or west of us, should be provided as closely as humanly possible to the frequency that it is now. City Manager Russo said that there are no points in Miami- Dade County that has hundreds of school children on a street corner that has double tiered County buses turning over six lanes of traffic at a median at high rates of speed because those bus drivers are scared that a car may not see them and hit them. He asked why do these buses have to terminate here, why not in some other place in Miami-Dade Page 13 of 15