TITLE
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF A COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT BETWEEN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY AND THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE FOR MANAGING THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE RIVER OF GRASS GREENWAY IN AN INITIAL AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $1,000,000 IN FUNDS FROM THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

BODY
WHEREAS, the Commission believes that the River of Grass Greenway provides opportunities for education, stewardship and preservation of the environmental, historic and cultural assets of this unique areas, and is in the best interest of the citizens of Miami-Dade county; and

WHEREAS, the National Park Service desires that the County formalize an arrangement to manage the development of the River of Grass Greenway Feasibility and Master Plan Study through a Cooperative Agreement; and

WHEREAS, the County, through its Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department, has considerable experience in all phases trail planning and development and working with multiple agencies and stakeholders; and

WHEREAS, a cooperative agreement will allow the County to manage the initial phase consisting of a feasibility study and master plan for the entire corridor and subsequent phases contingent upon federal appropriations made in each fiscal year of the agreement; and

WHEREAS, the County, through its Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department, desires to promote an interconnected seamless system of trails throughout the County; and

WHEREAS, this Board desires to accomplish the purposes outlined in the accompanying memorandum, a copy of which is incorporated herein by reference,

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that this Board finds it in the best interest of the County to approve the Agreement with the National Park Service Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program not to exceed $1,000,000.

HEADER
Date:

To: Honorable Chairman Joe A. Martinez
and Members, Board of County Commissioners

From: Carlos A. Gimenez
Mayor

Subject:Cooperative Agreement with the National Park Service for the Development of the River of Grass Greenway
..Recommendation
It is recommended that the Board approve the attached resolution authorizing execution of a Cooperative Agreement (Agreement) with the National Park Service (NPS) Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program (RTCA) authorizing staff to cooperate in the development of the River of Grass Greenway. The initial phase will be for a feasibility study and master plan with subsequent phases to follow contingent upon federal appropriations made in each fiscal year of the agreement. The proposed facility will serve both Miami-Dade County (County) and Collier County.

Scope
The River of Grass Greenway County portion is located on the borderline of Commission Districts 11 and 12; however, County greenways are a regional asset.

Fiscal Impact/Funding Source
There will be no fiscal impact to the County. The NPS will pay 100% of the full costs associated with this project including costs for staff time. The initial phase of the project will include a feasibility study and master plan not to exceed $1,000,000, funded through the Paul S. Sarbanes Transit in Parks (TRIP) program #P12AC30137.

Track Record/Monitor
The Miami-Dade Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department�s (PROS) Planning and Research Division will monitor the Agreement and manage the project.

BODY
The Board of County Commissioners passed resolution R-615-09 (Exhibit 1) endorsing the River of Grass Greenway along the Tamiami Trail on May 5, 2009. The Miami-Dade Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) passed resolution 5-2008 (Exhibit 2) in support of the concept of the River of Grass Greenway on June 18, 2008.

The River of Grass Greenway is envisioned as an 80 mile multi-purpose greenway along U.S. 41 (Tamiami Trail/SW 8 Street) corridor from Krome Avenue in Miami to Highway 92 in Naples connecting multiple State and National parks and preserves. The RTCA program has asked PROS to manage the project for the entire corridor via a Cooperative Agreement (Exhibit 3, with Attachments A-J) over the next five year period due to its considerable experience in trail planning and development and working with multiple agencies and stakeholders.


The agreement will remain in force five years from the effective date. In 2010, RTCA was awarded a TRIP grant from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to conduct a feasibility study for the River of Grass Greenway project (Exhibit 3, Attachment A). The Agreement is for the purpose of conducting the feasibility study and master plan in the initial phase with subsequent phases to follow contingent upon federal appropriations in each fiscal year of the agreement.

The TRIP program was established to address the challenge of increasing vehicle congestion in and around National Parks and other federal lands. Eligible funding recipients include federal land management agencies (FLMAs) that manage eligible areas and include state, tribal or local governmental authorities with jurisdiction over land in the vicinity of an eligible area acting with consent of the FLMA. Program funds support capital and planning expenses�for new or existing alternative transportation systems in the vicinity of an eligible area. PROS has successfully worked with RTCA on other trail projects in the County in the past such as the 2008 Biscayne-Everglades Greenway preferred corridor conceptual master plan.

Approval of this Agreement will accomplish mutual goals of the local, state and federal government and support the PROS Open Space System Master Plan goals to promote an interconnected seamless system of trails that provides transportation alternatives and reduces traffic congestion; creates new recreational opportunities; increases property values; protects natural resources; and encourages tourism and business development

Attachments




___________________________
Lisa M. Martinez, Senior Advisor
Office of the Mayor