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The long contested SW 87th Avenue bridge project over the C-100 Canal that the county has authorized over the protests of Palmetto Bay officials and residents is still the subject of meetings and debate.
During the regular monthly meeting of the Palmetto Bay Village Council on Monday, Oct. 1, the council voted 4-1 to reject the interlocal agreement and continue negotiations, with litigation as a possibility.
Then on Nov. 29, Palmetto Bay officials — including Mayor Karyn Cunningham, Village Attorney John Dellagloria and Special Counsel Gerald Greenberg, Manager Nick Marano, County Attorneys Bruce Libhaber and Annery Alfonso, and Executive Director Aileen Boucle of the Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) — conducted a Conflict Resolution
Assessment meeting in the Village Council Chambers to discuss the issues raised by the village concerning the Miami-0Dade County Commission and TPO approvals of the SW 87th Avenue bridge project, a required precursor to litigation between two governmental entities.
Special Counsel Gerald Greenberg said that the action focused more upon the county commission than on the TPO itself, regarding the resolution passed to build the bridge.
“The village’s position is that it was improperly noticed and acted upon pursuant to a COVID emergency ordinance the county had passed, which was clearly designed to facilitate procurement of goods and services related to the COVID emergency,” Greenspan said. “Clearly, this is not a COVID-related bridge.”
Greenspan also said that it was an improper appropriation of funds, which should be done by ordinance rather than a resolution.
County Attorney Bruce Libhaber strongly disagreed.
“Issues of this being improperly noticed, less than 24 hours before, or being improperly funded by a resolution are wrong and are not what this meeting is about. This meeting is about the TPO, and that meeting was well noticed and about 70 people spoke there.”
The Conflict Assessment Resolution meeting was concluded pending a response from the TPO Board. Mayor Cunningham closed the meeting by encouraging residents to remain engaged by contacting the TPO Governing Board members. Up next is a joint meeting with representatives from the county, the TPO and the village, because the village is currently in mediation with both entities.
Meanwhile, the Miami-Dade County Department of Transportation and Public Works has scheduled a virtual public meeting to discuss the SW 87th Avenue bridge project.
According to the meeting notice, “The project scope includes a new roadway, storm water drainage system, signing and pavement markings, bridge lighting, fencing and landscaping along the project. The objective of the project is to provide connectivity for motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians along SW 87th Avenue and to improve traffic network along the SW 87th Avenue corridor within the Village of Palmetto Bay. Funding for this project will be provided from the Road Impact Fees of District 5, pursuant to Section 33E of the Code of Miami-Dade County.”
The virtual meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 15, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. For additional information and to register for the Zoom meeting go to https://miamidade.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_cbcUKUh0SnavKIPyEz9lOw.
For information from Miami-Dade County concerning the project, send email to DTPWOutreach@miamidade.gov.
