Legislative Matter

Miami-Dade Legislative Item
File Number: 100217

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Clerk's Official Copy

File Number: 100217

File Type: Resolution

Status: Adopted

Version: 0

Reference: R-255-10

Control: Board of County Commissioners

File Name: ANALYSIS OF TOLL REVENUE GENERATED AT RICKENBACKER CAUSEWAY

Introduced: 1/28/2010

Requester: NONE

Cost:

Final Action: 3/2/2010

Agenda Date: 3/2/2010

Agenda Item Number: 11A5

Notes:

Title:

RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE COUNTY MAYOR OR MAYOR'S DESIGNEE TO CONDUCT AN ANALYSIS OF THE CURRENT EXPENDITURE OF TOLL REVENUE GENERATED AT THE RICKENBACKER CAUSEWAY AND TO DEVELOP A WORK PLAN WITHIN 90 DAYS ALLOCATING 25 CENTS OF EVERY TOLL COLLECTED TO PROJECTS PROMOTING PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLIST SAFETY ALONG THE RICKENBACKER CAUSEWAY TO BE SUBMITTED TO THE BOARD FOR ITS APPROVAL

Indexes:

RICKENBACKER CAUSEWAY

Sponsors:	Carlos A. Gimenez, Prime Sponsor
	Jose "Pepe" Diaz, Co-Sponsor
	Sally A. Heyman, Co-Sponsor
	Rebeca Sosa, Co-Sponsor
	Sen. Javier D. Souto, Co-Sponsor
	Dennis C. Moss, Co-Sponsor

Sunset Provision: No

Effective Date:

Expiration Date:

Registered Lobbyist:

None Listed

Legislative History
Acting Body	Date	Agenda Item	Action	Sent To	Due Date	Returned	Pass/Fail

Board of County Commissioners	3/2/2010	11A5	Adopted				P

Health, Public Safety & Intergovernmental Cmte	2/11/2010	2E	Forwarded to BCC with a favorable recommendation				P
REPORT:	Assistant County Attorney Gerald Sanchez read the foregoing proposed resolution into the record. Commissioner Gimenez, as sponsor of this item, noted he had a copy of a letter dated January 31, 2005, from the County Manager to the Village of Key Biscayne Manager regarding certain improvements to the Rickenbacker Causeway and the enhancement of the fire rescue services at the Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Station on Key Biscayne. He further noted that prior to that, there was a part-time station and the County Commission passed an additional 25 cents toll on the Rickenbacker Causeway, which he supported. Commissioner Gimenez stated he expected that additional funding would be used for the fire rescue station. He noted that last month he brought this issue before the County Commission and the County Manager advised him that due to certain legalities, the additional 25 cents could not fund the fire rescue station located on Key Biscayne. He stated that, in light of what happened at the Rickenbacker Causeway, he proposed that the County Commission ask the County Mayor or Manager to use the 25 cents and the funding generated to develop a work plan that would enhance pedestrian and bicyclist safety along the Rickenbacker Causeway. The Committee proceeded to vote on this proposed resolution as presented. Commissioner Souto asked to be listed as a cosponsor on this proposed resolution.

County Attorney	1/28/2010		Assigned	Debra Herman

County Attorney	1/28/2010		Referred	Health, Public Safety & Intergovernmental Cmte	2/11/2010

Legislative Text

TITLE
RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE COUNTY MAYOR OR MAYOR'S DESIGNEE TO CONDUCT AN ANALYSIS OF THE CURRENT EXPENDITURE OF TOLL REVENUE GENERATED AT THE RICKENBACKER CAUSEWAY AND TO DEVELOP A WORK PLAN WITHIN 90 DAYS ALLOCATING 25 CENTS OF EVERY TOLL COLLECTED TO PROJECTS PROMOTING PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLIST SAFETY ALONG THE RICKENBACKER CAUSEWAY TO BE SUBMITTED TO THE BOARD FOR ITS APPROVAL

BODY
WHEREAS, the Rickenbacker Causeway is a nationally recognized scenic roadway connecting the city of Miami, Florida, to the barrier islands of Virginia Key and Key Biscayne across Biscayne Bay; and
WHEREAS, the Rickenbacker Causeway is heavily used by automobile, pedestrian, and bicycle traffic; and
WHEREAS, the Board wishes to promote safe walking, jogging, and bicycling along County roadways, including the Rickenbacker Causeway; and
WHEREAS, state law requires that tolls collected at the Rickenbacker Causeway first be used to pay the annual cost of the operation, maintenance, and improvement of the toll project, with any remaining revenue being used for the construction, maintenance, or improvement of County roadways; and
WHEREAS, the tolls collected at the Rickenbacker Causeway are currently used for the operation and maintenance of the toll operation, for debt service related to capital improvements on the Causeway, and for the improvement and maintenance of the Causeway, in accordance with state law; and
WHEREAS, directing the use of 25 cents of every toll collected to projects along the Rickenbacker Causeway to enhance pedestrian and bicyclist safety is in accordance with state law; and
WHEREAS, in order to implement such use of the toll revenue, it is necessary to analyze the current allocation of the toll revenue, and to devise a work plan to be submitted to the Board for its approval, for the application of the toll revenue to such construction, maintenance, and improvements, both now and on an annual basis in the future,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that the County Mayor or his designee is hereby directed to conduct an analysis of the expenditure of toll revenue generated at the Rickenbacker Causeway and, within 90 days, to report a work plan to the Board for its approval, which allocates 25 cents of every toll collected at the Rickenbacker Causeway Toll Plaza to projects promoting pedestrian and bicyclist safety along the Rickenbacker Causeway. The Board further directs that the Mayor or his designee shall annually provide a work plan to the Board for its approval setting forth the specific expenditures to be made in accordance with this Resolution.