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Item I3BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY Meeting Date: Wed., January 21 2015 Division: BOCC Bulk Item: Yes No XX Department: Comm. David Rice Staff Contact /Phone #: Tamara Lamarche X6000 AGENDA ITEM WORDING: Discussion of request from Village of Islamorada for support to reduce frequency of opening of the Snake Creek Drawbridge. Approval to direct Mayor Kolhage to issue a letter of support from the Board of County Commissioners to be forwarded to the Village Manager's Office. ITEM BACKGROUND: Currently, the drawbridge raising schedule is every 30 minutes, which is causing serious traffic congestion, especially during the winter tourist season. The Village of Islamorada is preparing an official request to the U.S. Coast Guard to change the raising schedule to once per hour. The Village will also be requesting FDOT to install signage viewable to marine traffic on each side of the bridge, to inform the boating public that unnecessary openings of the drawbridge are subject to $25,000 fine per the Title 33 Section 117.11 of the Code of Federal Regulations, requiring vessel operators to lower outriggers to pass under the closed drawbridge. PREVIOUS RELEVANT BOCC ACTION: CONTRACT/AGREEMENT CHANGES: STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS: TOTAL COST: INDIRECT COST: DIFFERENTIAL OF LOCAL PREFERENCE: BUDGETED: Yes No COST TO COUNTY: SOURCE OF FUNDS: REVENUE PRODUCING: Yes No AMOUNT PER MONTH_ APPROVED BY: County Atty T OMB/Purchasing Risk Management DOCUMENTATION: DISPOSITION: Revised 7/09 Included Not Required AGENDA ITEM # Year Lamarche -Tamara From: mary swaney <mary.swaney@islamorada.fl.us> Seat: Wednesday, January 07, 2015 2:57 PM To: B0CC DIS4 Cc: Lieberum, Michael B CN; Patty Ivey; Gus Pego; Colonna-Terri; Neugent-George; maria aguilar; Ryan.W.Kilgo@uscg.mil; Roget Bryan; Gastesi, Roman (roman .gastesi@gmail.com); putom@ci.marathon.fl.us; Jim Scholl (scholl@keywestcity.com); sharing@cityoflayton.com; cityclerk@keycolonybeach.com; barry.dragon@uscg.mil; michael.b.lieberum@uscg.mil; Mike Forster; Deb Gillis; Sim Mooney; Chris Sante; Dennis Ward Subject: Snake Creek Drawbridge openings - additional information Attachments: 2014-06-26_email_reply_RE Snake Creek Bridge Islamorada Florida.msg.pdf; 2014-08-20 _Ltr USCG_Snake_Creek_DB.PDF; 2014-09-30_emails_RE Snake Creek Bridge Islamorada Florida.msg.pdf; 2014-12-18_Request_for_Support-Drawb rid ge_schedule.pdf Commissioner Rice, I understand from Mayor Mike Forster that you are interested in this issue and are seeking additional information. Below are some specific meeting dates and actions taken to address the Snake Creek Drawbridge issue. It is not inclusive of all conversations, meetings or actions, but presents a timeline and information that may be helpful. The attachments provide details about the issue and remedies requested. I have copied all parties in receipt of Islamorada's December request for support and Commissioner Neugent's request for additional information. The Village Council discussed the increasing traffic problem created by the Snake Creek Drawbridge openings at its meetings on April 10 and June 12, 2014. At both meetings, all members of Council supported the issue and Council gave direction to move forward with seeking a reduction to hourly openings of the drawbridge and to educate boaters regarding the regulations and fines for unnecessary openings of the drawbridge. The discussion item was publicly noticed on each agenda; all public comment at the meetings was in support of reducing the frequency of the drawbridge openings. Between those meetings, (then) Mayor Ted Blackburn and (then) Vice Mayor Ken Philipson individually contact the offices of our federal legislators requesting support and relief. Also subsequent to those meetings, Islamorada Sheriff's Officers distributed the U.S. Coast Guard brochure that details the drawbridge openings regulations and applicable fines. Captain Corey Bryan provided further public education including an interview on a local radio show. On June 12, 2014, the Village Manager transmitted an email to the U.S. Coast Guard Bridge Management Specialist detailing the problem and requesting temporary relief in the form of reduction to hourly openings of the drawbridge. (2014-06-26 mail attached) On July 21, 2014, Village Manager and Mayor Blackburn met with (then) Bridge Management Specialist Gene Stratton. Attached is an August 20, 2014 letter from Village Manager Maria Aguilar confirming the issues addressed at the July meeting and providing traffic information requested. On September 30, 2014, the Village Manager was informed by Gene Stratton that he had been promoted and Bridge Management Specialist Michael Lieberum would be taking over the issue (2014-09-30 email attached). In October 2014, Village Manager Maria Aguilar met with FDOT Project Administrator Patty Ivey. Discussion included the Bridge Tenders Logs and lack of warnings boaters about the regulations subjecting boaters to fines up to $25,000. The Village does not have a copy of the Bridge Tender Logs to provide to you. The Village Council held a third publicly noticed discussion regarding this issue on December 4, 2014. Council gave direction to send letter to Monroe County and all municipalities requesting letters of support to reduce the frequency of the drawbridge openings. 52014-12-18 letter attached) All public comment at that meeting was in support of the reduced openings. On January 5, 2015, Islamorada received an email from Bridge Management Specialist Michael Lieberum reporting that his office is working on the issue. Staff responded on January I th with a request for direction on how to help move the issue forward and is awaiting a reply. A return call and email was received on January 7th from Chief of Waterway Management Lt. Ryan Kilgo of Sector Key West. Sector Key West now oversees Bridge Operations and Lt. Kilgo, as be our primary contact, is pursuing the use of a Temporary Final Rule. He has requested a copy of the FDOT Bridge Tender Logs and will be gathering all other necessary data. Islamorada has begun coordination with Lt. Kilgo and has invited him to a Village Council Meeting in the near future — confirmation should be available within the next week. We are hopeful that a resolution to the problem is forthcoming and truly appreciate the support from Monroe County and Florida Keys municipalities. )Fury Swaney Assistant rViffage Manager J Public Information Officer Islamorada, rViflageofIsla nds 86800 Overseas H-Whway Islamorada, EL 33036 305-664-6411 ma a. swaney@ islamorada ff us a,ww.is�zc rada ff us Please Note: Florida Public Records Law provides that most written communications to or from municipal employees regarding Village business are public records, available to the public and media upon request. Therefore, this email may be subject to public disclosure. 0 IsCamoradda, Tillage of IsCandls y GarOfI December 18, 2014 Mayor George Neugent Monroe County Board of County Commissioners 25 Ships Way Big Pine Key, FL 33043 boccdis?'i2:monrc)ecount4-11,�ov Mayor Craig Cates City of Key West Key West 3126 Flagler Avenue Key West. FL. 33040 ccates�ri c its of�;ev v, Est-11. �;c�� Mayor Geraldine Zahn City of Key Colony Beach P.O. Box 510141 Key Colony Beach, FL 33051 mavoLd*evcolom beach.net VIA EMAIL AND U,.S._ AfAIL Mayor Chris Bul City of Marathon 9805 Overseas Highway Marathon, FL 33050 bullc;d,6.marjthon. fl.us Mayor Norman Anderson City of Layton P,O. Box 778 Long Key, FL 33001 via: mvoung'ir cit oflavton_cont Re: Request for Support to Reduce Frequency of Opening of the Snake Creek Drawbridge Dear Elected Officials: The traffic congestion resulting from the twice -hourly openings of the Snake Creek Drawbridge located within the limits of lslamorada, Village of Islands, has become increasingly problematic in recent years, particularly during the tourist season_ Although the problem has been exacerbated by the current wastewater construction and F=DO`1' roadway improvement projects in Islamorada, it cannot be argued that the 30-minute opening; schedule of the Snake Creek Drawbridge is the root cause of the traffic delays. Islamorada met with the US Coast Guard Bridge Management Specialist last summer to discuss the problem and request a change to the bridge opening schedule to provide some relief from the traffic congestion. At that time. Islamorada was assured that the bridge attendants would be reminded of' Title 33 Section 1 17.1 1 of the Code of Federal Regulations requiring vessel owners to lower outriggers in order to pass under the closed drawbridge. Although itiegai openings of the drawbridge subject vessel owners to a $25,000 tine. no such fines or even citations have been issued to discourage unnecessary openings of the drawbridge. We were also assured that full consideration would be given to our requested hourly bridge opening schedule. To date, we have received no reply or commitment from the Coast Guard. 36900 Overseas }iighwa,,. Islarnorada, Fl. 33,036 Office 305-664-6400 • FAX 30-664-6464 • ww«.islan1orada.11.us The miles -long traffic back-ups on Plantation Kev, Windley Key and Upper :Matecumbe Key regularly affect residents and visitors traveling to and from the mainland from Marathon. Big Pine Key and Key West. We suggest that a bridge opening schedule of once per hour from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. would provide relief. At this time we are seeking emergency temporary relief for up to 179 days during which time we would further investigate the manner in which to proceed with the required formal process and public comment period to initiate a long-term or permanent change to the bridge opening schedule. Islamorada is seeking the support of all Florida keys municipalities and Monroe County to encourage the Coast Guard to provide the necessary relief. Support in the form of' letters from the Administrator. Municipal Managers or the Mayors would be greatly appreciated. We plan to gather additional information to be formalize in the form of a resolution for transmittal to the Coast Guard in January 2015. In addition to the hourly opening schedule. Islamorada will request the Florida Department of Transportation install signage on each side of the bridge to inform the public that unnecessary openings of the drawbridge are subject to the $25.000 fine. Clear signage visible to ail vessel operators would educate the public. reduce the number of unnecessary drawbridge openings and provide backing for Marine Patrol Officers to issue citations. Please forward letters expressing support for our etTort to change the Snake Creek Drawbridge schedule to Mary Swaney, Assistant Village Manager, by email to the Village mailing address or to mar%.s�vaneN;u`islamorada.11.us. Sincerely. Mike Forster Maria T. Aguilar Mayor Village Manager cc: Patty Ivey, Florida Department of "Transportation. 1'att�,_it_e\ a dc)t"�tate.t1.0 Count,, Administrator Roman Gastesi. Monroe Count%, qastcsi-jo nan a nioriroecount�-fl_r'Oy Mike f uto. City of Marathon, Vutom'a.ci.niarathonJ1.us James Scholl, City of Key West. `schc�ll,a citcJkevwest-Il.um Skip Haring. City of Layton, sharil7_,,ticitvt)fla�tun.cum City Clerk Cathy Henninger. City of Key Colony Beach, citNrlerk a ke�coiomheach.no Bam Dragon. Chief, U.S. Coast Guard, harr\.dra_on ctuscg..mil Michael Lieberum, Bridge Operations, U.S. Coast Guard, Michael. h.lrlberultl [1 Islamorada Village Council Members 86800OD ersea� Iylarnorada. FL_ Office 0i-664-000 • VAN 105-60-1-6464 Waniofada.tl.u� �bypMO� IsCamorac" Tillage of Islands OF I August 20, 2014 Mr. Gene Stratton Bridge Management Specialist USCG Seventh District Brickell Plaza Federal Building 909 SE 151 Avenue Miami, FL 33131-3050 Re: Snake Creek Bridge, Islamorada, Florida Dear Mr. Stratton: On July 21, 2014, you met with Islamorada, Village of Islands' Mayor Ted Blackburn and I to discuss lengthy traffic backups within the Village that we believe are directly caused by the schedule of the drawbridge on Snake Creek. As we explained, recently the length and duration of the backups has increased due to additional traffic delays resulting from a Village -wide wastewater collection and transmission construction project and two Florida Department of Transportation roadway enhancement projects that are not scheduled to be completed until mid-2015. During our meeting, you advised that the Village should send you a letter requesting a change to the drawbridge schedule from being raised two times per hour to accommodate boat traffic (on the hour and on the half hour) to one time per hour. You further advised that we should provide any traffic studies that might be available demonstrating that the bridge opening schedule is creating traffic backups and that we should provide copies of the bridge tender logs wherein unnecessary bridge openings were documented by the bridge tender. This letter serves as our request that the United States Coast Guard please change the drawbridge schedule from being raised two times per hour to one time per hour. We are requesting this change for a period of 179 days. We understand that the process to approve a change in the schedule for a term less than 1i30 days includes solicitation of public comment but is a shorter process than that to initiate a change in the drawbridge schedule for a term of 180 days or more. While the 179-day change is in place, we are hopeful that you will assist us through the process to seek a permanent or long term change to the bridge opening schedule at Snake Creek. With regard to the traffic study we were asked to provide, I was able to obtain a copy of a traffic study performed by the Florida Department of Transportation over a three-day period (January 8, 2013, January 9, 2013 and January 10, 2013). A copy of this study is enclosed. This study indicates that from 0800 hours to 1700 hours the average number of vehicles that crossed the Snake Creek Drawbridge per hour over the three days was 1,406 vehicles. This translates to approximately 23 cars per minute. When traffic is stopped so that the drawbridge can be raised, the time that traffic is stopped can be as long as 20 minutes. This means that after 20 minutes 460 vehicles have accumulated before traffic starts moving again. The average length of a passenger car is 8 to 12 feet. After 20 minutes, the length of the backup 86800 Overseas Highway, Third Flour, Islamorada, Fl, 33036 305-664-6400 FAX 305-664-6464 wtvw. isiamorada.fl.us Mr. Gene Stratton August 20, 2014 Page Two can span from three -fourths of a mile to over a mile based on these figures. if the bridge is raised again on the next half hour, it is likely that all of the vehicles previously backed up waiting for the bridge to lower have not yet cleared the bridge before it is raised again. I have not yet been able to obtain the bridge tender logs documenting unnecessary bridge openings. As you know, these logs are maintained by the Florida Department of Transportation. Ms. Patty Ivey, an FDOT Project Administrator working out of the Marathon office, confirmed that the FDOT is also reviewing the traffic backup issues caused by the current drawbridge schedule. While Ms. Ivey indicated that the logs exist and that she has reviewed them recently, she has not yet provided me with a copy. I believe you mentioned that you have another means to obtain the logs. If you are able to obtain the logs you need sooner in an effort to assist the Village with this request, we would greatly appreciate this. Please let me know how we might proceed in changing the Snake Creek drawbridge schedule from opening on the hour and the half hour to opening on either the hour or the half hour. If this request is approved, we might need to further discuss a time frame for when it would be effective. Please let me know what type of additionai information you need. My e-mail address is made. aguilar@islamorada.fl,us, and my office telephone number is 3CM64-6410. In the meantime, the Village has distributed the informational brochures that you delivered. The Marine Unit of the Monroe County Sheriffs Office assigned to the Village is also committed to educating boaters about lowering nonstructural vessel appurtenances' so that the frequency of unnecessary bridge openings is reduced. The Village of Isiamorada appreciates any consideration you may give to this request at this time. Sincerely, Maria T. Aguilar Village Manager mite Enclosure c: Village Mayor, Vice Mayor and Council Members COUNTY: 90 STATION: 0101 DESCRIPTION: SR 5/US-1, 1400' S OF SNAKE CREEK BRIDGE (MM 85.4 START DATE: 01/08/2013 START TIME: 0000 DIRECTION: ^- N y DIRECTION YT-- S -^-- __ COMBINED TIME 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL TOTAL --__ _ _- ---- 0000 11 ------------------------- 15 10 10 46 _- -- 1 8 ------_.._-_----_____________-------- 11 8 14 41 1 87 0100 5 7 8 8 28 1 11 7 14 13 45 1 73 0200 5 9 7 3 24 1 10 10 9 10 39 1 63 0300 4 5 4 3 16 1 8 21 15 18 62 4 78 0400 9 13 14 14 50 ) 15 14 13 19 61 1 111 0500 4 14 11 22 51 I 20 19 28 64 131 } 182 0600 26 38 36 49 149 I 58 83 84 84 309 1 458 0800 101 122 116 111 450 1 160 157 139 18'? 643 4 1093 0900 136 99 145 153 533 1 184 192 162 198 736 1 1269 1000 145 146 141 139 571 I 168 193 182 196 739 1 1310 1100 210 166 154 157 687 I 184 170 232 207 792 1 1479 1200 158 183 155 167 663 I 207 205 231 195 838 I 1501 1300 167 194 149 178 688 I 191 182 219 181 773 1 1.461 1400 191 184 199 169 743 1 189 217 162 214 782 1 1525 1500 175 214 241 179 809 1 179 190 188 210 767 1 1576 1600 202 211 196 198 807 1 158 190 155 164 667 t 1474 1800 160 153 149 131 593 1 127 119 107 82 435 1 1028 1900 112 100 125 106 443 1 71 67 83 66 287 I 730 2000 96 115 92 105 408 1 59 66 53 49 221 1 633 2100 86 68 68 70 292 I 43 39 36 30 148 1 440 2200 49 67 57 36 209 € 37 28 30 34 129 I 338 2300 35 32 19 23 109 € 23 23 20 14 80 1 189 24-HOUR TOTALS: 9466 9778 19244 PEAK VOLUME INFORMATION 141t5l DIRECTION: N DIRECTION: S COMBINED DIRECTIONS HOUR VOLUME HOUR VOLUME HOUR VOLUME A-M. 845 491 845 725 845 1216 P.M. 1515 836 1200 838 1515 1582 ❑AILY 1515 836 1130 850 1515 1582 TRUCK --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PERCENTAGE 9.62 10.13 9.98 CLASSIFICATION SUMMARY DATABASE DIR 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 N 66 6382 2107 89 346 169 12 122 124 35 5 2 7 0 0 S 50 6692 2045 94 392 36 142 145 160 10 7 5 0 0 0 GENERATED BY SPS 5.0.44P 14,057.00 + 13-884.00 + 14,263.00 + ------------------ iatlk 42,264.00 42.204. 38 .— s c 1,406.80 #r,� Vzhet�s 1.406.8 60. = mk ILc}e5 io pia- k)00` 23.45 lto� vtvh�,6-fs�mkvlk#c� COUNTY: 90 STATION: 0101 DESCRIPTION: SR 5/US-1, 1400' S OF SNAKE CREEK BRIDGE (MM 85.4 START DATE; 01/09/2013 START TIME: 0000 DIRECTION: N DIRECTION:S + COMBINED TIME 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TIi TOTAL 1ST 2ND 3R0 4TS TOTAL TOTAL -- ----- ---- 0000 21 - ---- 16 17 ----- ----- 16 ----- 70 ----- [ 10 ------w--------------- 6 13 10 ------------ 39 1 109 3100 12 15 6 8 41 ! 5 8 10 10 33 1 74 0200 7 3 5 4 19 1 6 17 5 7 35 1 54 030D 11 5 3 7 26 1 17 19 18 14 68 J 94 0400 6 7 10 13 36 1 19 8 12 14 53 1 89 0500 12 12 17 31 72 1 25 26 37 50 138 1 210 0600 27 32 42 43 144 1 70 79 67 129 345 I 489 0800 102 90 106 131 429 1 193 162 147 170 672 1 110I 0900 101 123 102 171 499 1 177 174 180 143 674 1 1173 i000 155 154 188 163 660 1 223 193 199 202 817 i 1477 1100 180 186 190 179 735 1 193 16-7182 214 756 1 1491 137�4` 1200 177 192 175 158 702 1 197 187 221 217 822 I 1524 1300 197 177 192 181 750 1 196 178 198 162 734 I 1484 1400 209 177 191 206 783 1 180 165 149 190 684 I 1467 1500 187 195 217 197 796 1 163 186 191 168 708 I 1504 1600 192 174 133 222 721 I 120 191 126 202 639 I 1360 1700 229 173 185 172 759 1 141 150 13§ 117 1 0 1 1 9 138 140 580 1 112 95 108 89 404 1 984 1900 122 105 104 102 433 1 '15 10 70 6'7 282 1 715 2000 90 98 99 70 357 1 42 55 59 65 221 1 578 2100 69 79 71 56 275 1 46 47 43 31 167 I 442 2200 50 50 44 44 188 1 39 39 30 30 138 1 326 2300 41 27 16 15 99 1 19 18 16 18 71 ! 170 24-HOUR TOTALS: -----^ yY--- ^--^ -~ 9527 -- - - 9530 19057 --~---_-- _^-_~ '__~ '~ ~ VOLUME INFORMATION T^ _T l TPEA3f DIRECTION: N DIRECTION: S COMBINED DIRECTIONS HOUR VOLUME HOUR VOLUME HOUR VOLUME A.M. 830 463 845 701 845 1160 P.M. 1645 809 2200 822 1215 1543 DAILY 1645 809 1200 822 1215 1543 TRUCK PERCENTAGE 9.82 10.09 5.96 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CLASSIFICATION SUMMARY DATABASE DIR 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 TOTTRK TOTVOI, N 59 6511 2020 82 337 200 12 138 118 40 3 3 3 0 1 936 9527 S 54 6550 1963 94 363 44 168 154 124 9 8 2 1 0 1 962 9530 GENERATED BY SPS 5.0.44P COUNTY: 90 STATION: 01.01 DESCRIPTION: SR 5/US-1, 1400` 5 OF SNAKE CREEK BRIDGE (MM 85.4 START DATE: 01110i2D13 START TIME: 0000 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DIRECTION: N DIRECTION: S COMBINED TIME 15T 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL, 1ST 2ND 3RO 4TH TOTAL TOTAL --------------- 0000 13 -- ----- - -- 18 11 - -- 9 - 51 ---- ---- 1 9 ------- 14 -- 11 --------- 14 ------------- 48 1 99 0100 11 13 5 10 39 1 8 11 10 7 36 75 0200 10 7 5 3 25 1 10 6 13 6 35 I 60 0300 3 8 B 5 24 1 13 20 26 16 75 I 99 0400 6 11 8 10 35 1 15 23 20 15 73 1 108 0500 11 15 22 16. 64 1 26 31 43 69 169 4 233 0600 16 29 45 40 13D 1 45 75 49 128 297 J 427 0800 103 104 116 120 443 1 192 158 152 187 689 J 1132 0900 122 121 148 183 574 1 175 163 166 187 691 I 1265 1000 130 166 173 188 657 1 176 177 202 186 741 J 1398 1100 166 203 201 151 721 1 186 195 205 209 795 J 1516 1200 161 202 178 189 730 1 247 185 250 222 894 ; 1624 1300 183 189 182 221 775 1 191 177 193 189 750 J 1525 1400 167 211 182 204 764 1 185 190 155 197 727 J 1491 1500 210 186 211 212 829 1 172 184 169 183 708 1 1527 1600 162 231 160 214 767 1 99 219 146 187 651 I 1418 1800 168 172 135 141 616 } 124 118 115 120 477 1 1093 1900 112 99 90 109 410 1 78 83 77 87 325 1 735 2000 103 141 92 89 424 1 79 64 59 48 250 1 674 2100 100 99 67 57 323 1 53 42 55 46 196 J 519 2200 65 57 36 40 198 1 27 39 36 26 128 1 326 2300 40 33 23 14 110 4 19 21 12 15 67 1 177 24-Y HOUR TOTALS: --A- _---- - ---- - 9770 -- - - T - 9910 19680 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PEAK VOLUME INFORMATION DIRECTION: N DIRECTION: S COMBINED DIRECTIONS HOUR VOLUME HOUR VOLUME HOUR VOLUME A.M. 845 511 845 691 845 1202 P.M. 1500 819 1200 894 1200 1624 DAILY 1500 819 1200 894 1200 1624 TRUCK PERCENTAGE 9.79 10.53 10.16 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CLASSIFICATION SUMMARY DATABASE DIR 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 TOTTRK TOTVOL N 74 6647 2092 82 318 217 7 123 151 43 5 1 9 0 1 956 9770 S 49 6861 1956 97 252 39 186 193 158 7 8 2 2 0 0 1044 9910 GENERATED BY SPS 5.0.449