61 RESOLUTION NO. _____ _
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3 A Resolution instructing the City Manager to pledge a contribution to the cost of the
4 development of the "Underline" Master Plan.
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6 WHEREAS, there is an initiative to transform the underutilized land beneath the Metrorail into a
7 10-mile linear park and bicycle and pedestrian commuter/exercise trail; and
8 WHEREAS, this proposed linear park, was previously known as Greenlink, has now been
9 renamed and branded as the "Underline"; and
10 WHEREAS, the "Underline" is a proposed 1 O-mile pathway/linear park designed for pedestrians
11 and bicyclists to travel from the Miami River to Dadeland South beneath and alongside the Metrorail
12 pathway ("M-path"); and
13 WHEREAS, the Underline is intended to be a 20-foot wide lighted pathway with seating and
14 park nodes at various intervals along the Underline; and
15 WHEREAS, a master plan needs to be developed in order to build the Underline; and
16 WHEREAS, the University of Miami School of Business and the Miami-Dade County Economic
17 Development Department are scheduled to commence working on an impact study in the fall of 20 14; and
18 WHEREAS, the City of South Miami as well as the cities of Miami, Coral Gables and the
19 Village of Pinecrest have endorsed the project; and.
20 WHEREAS, the county has scheduled a resolution endorsing the Underline for October 7, 2014;
21 and
22 WHEREAS, the endorsing cities, and Miami-Dade County, estimate that the potential positive
23 economic and health impact of the Underline on their communities will benefit nearly 400,000 residents
24 within a 10-minute walk of the park and trail; and
25 WHEREAS, by investing in the Underline project, all of our communities bordering the
26 Underline will join the ranks of leading cities that have invested in a network of great parks; and
27 WHEREAS, the Underline project will transform nearly ten miles of underutilized Metrorail
28 right-of-way into one of the few world's great linear urban parks that is fully integrated into transit while
29 transforming the region through its economic, environmental and health benefits; and
30 WHEREAS, the Underline's master planning process is scheduled to begin in 2015, provided all
31 the affected municipalities and the County donate their fair share of the financial cost for this linear park
32 master plan; and
33 WHEREAS, the initial estimate of the cost to complete the master plan is between $500,000 and
34 $600,000; and
35 WHEREAS, the City of Miami has approved a contribution of $100,000, Coral Gables is
36 proposing a contribution of $50,000 tentatively set for approval on October 14, 2014, Miami-Dade
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County is being asked to contribute approximately $100,000 to $125,000 and the Knight Center has
pledged to donate one dollar for every two dollars that are contributed; and
WHEREAS, one and one half miles ofthe 10 miles of the Underline will run through the City of
South Miami; and
WHEREAS, a representative of the Friends of the Underline estimates that an initial $200,000 is
needed to commence the master planning process.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY
COMMISSIONERS OF THE CITY OF SOUTH MIAMI, FLORIDA:
Section 1. The City Manager is hereby instructed to pledge the sum of , to be paid
to Friends of the Underline when the Underline Master Plan has a total of $200,000 in pledged
contributions, to be used exclusively for payment of consultants to produce an Underline Master Plan, and
to be returned to the City if a Master Plan is not produced.
Section 2. Severability. If any section clause, sentence, or phrase of this resolution is for any
reason held invalid or unconstitutional by a court of competent jurisdiction, the holding shall not affect
the validity of the remaining portions of this resolution.
Section 3. Effective Date. This resolution shall become effective immediately upon adoption by
vote of the City Commission.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this __ day of _____ , 2014.
ATTEST:
CITY CLERK
READ AND APPROVED AS TO FORM,
LANGUAGE, LEGALITY AND
EXECUTION THEREOF
CITY ATTORNEY
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APPROVED:
MAYOR
COMMISSION VOTE:
Mayor Stoddard:
Vice Mayor Harris:
Commissioner Edmond:
Commissioner Liebman:
Commissioner Welsh: