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INCORPORATED
• 1927
CITY OF SOUTH MIAMI
INTER - OFFICE MEMORANDUM
To: City Commission
Via: W. Ajibola Balogun
City Manager
From: Victor J. Citarella, P. E.
Director, Building Department
Update No. 1:
Date: July 10, 2008
Re: "Wall /Masonry Fence" Upgrade
To provide update on the efforts by the staff of the City of South Miami to assist local residents with the
refurbishment of the masonry fence located North and West of the intersection of S.W. 62 Avenue and 64
Street.
Action Taken:
A meeting was held at City Hall starting at 9:00 a.m. on July 3, 2008 with local City of South Miami
property owners abutting "The Wall," a five foot high continuous masonry fence located along the rear of
residences located North and West of the intersection of S.W. 62 Avenue and 64 Street, for the purpose
of establishing guidelines leading to its reconstruction by the City.
Attending for the City were: Ajibola Balogun, City Manager; Carol Bynum, Code Enforcement; Victor
Citarella, Building Department; and Rudy de la Torre, Public Works.
Citizen /neighbors representation included: Local residents Panneall Fletcher, Rev. Cortley Fletcher, Rev.
David Walker representing Birtha Walker, Joe Argueta, Ulysses Williams, Rafa6l Mendez, and 'James
McCants representing Joan Jeffrey.
The City Manager opened the meeting by welcoming all those in attendance and proceeded to outline the
proposed plan for reconstructing of "The Wall," which basically consists of the following elements:
1- It was made clear that "The Wall" is located within the boundaries of the private property of the
owners interested in its refurbishment, and therefore it is their responsibility, not the City's to maintain it in
good condition. Furthermore, both S.W. 62 Avenue and S.W. 64 Street are Miami -Dade County roads,
which would not allow the City of South Miami to seek grant funding in order to assist with improvements
to the right -of -way and the adjacent masonry fence. However, due to certain mitigating circumstances,
the city feels obligated to help with the reconstruction at this time, as in its current condition it is an eye-
sore to the community.
2- The city will proceed to try to obtain "grant funds" that could be used for refurbishment of "The Wall"
and its maintenance in perpetuity. It is estimated that it will take approximately 8 to 12 months from
beginning of the process to securing the funds, pending on the availability of appropriate grant sources.
Page 2 of 2
City Commission
July 10, 2008
3- Prior to securing grant funds, the abutting neighbors /property owners, must all agree to provide a 10 ft
easement across the back of their properties where construction will take place, in order to repair or
replace the masonry fence. The city will underwrite the cost of preparing and executing appropriate
documentation to that effect.
4- The purpose of the easement is to make it appropriate for potential funding sources to be able to
grant monies for construction in a "public," not a "private" area; and to provide minimum adequate space
for the heavy construction equipment required for the demolition and reconstruction efforts.
5- Since the city may not be able to secure the necessary funds, the granting of the easement will be
contingent on funds being available for the reconstruction of the masonry fence.
6- The City will undertake the task of demolishing the existing masonry fence and building a new 6 ft.
high similar fence, inclusive of appropriate landscaping. There will be minimal or no cost incurred by
abutting property owners for the entire project.
Upon presentation of the above noted plan by the city Manager, there was some discussion amongst the
citizens regarding the appropriateness of a possible five versus ten foot easement, the replacement of
existing trees and structures within the easement that might be destroyed during the construction process,
and the cooperation from Miami -Dade County who owns the property between the
existing /proposed masonry fence and the adjacent roadways. Some comments were made
regarding curtailing the ability of future owners to demolish said masonry fence as well as reduce its
height. The city Manager assured property owners that the legal documents pertaining to the easement
dedication would be a covenant between current owners as well as any future owners of said property
At the end of the discussion, everyone was in agreement that the plan being suggested /recommended by
the City Manager was appropriate. The City Manager agreed to bring it to the attention of the City
Commission at their next meeting scheduled for July 22, 2008, at which time is anticipated instructions will
be provided to the City Attorney to start developing the appropriate legal paperwork for the granting of the
easement. Staff will select a Land Surveyor to survey all affected properties; in order to prepare needed
preliminary documentation required to start the process.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:00 a.m.
END OF MEMORANDUM