Commission makes life/safety issues top priority
By: .Bari Auerbach

From working on initiatives making it safer to cross the street – to slowing down speeding motorists and creating a “plan B” for traffic flow in case of emergency situations, the Sunny Isles Beach City Commission focused on life/safety issues at the June 19 Commission meeting.

‘Seeing Red’
If you’ve ever seen drivers run red lights and get away with it – now they just might get caught “red handed” thanks to an ordinance creating the City of Sunny Isles Beach Dangerous Intersection Safety Act serving to help enforce red light infractions.

City Manager John Szerlag explained, “Several months ago, the Commission spoke about the feasibility of installing cameras at traffic signals [to monitor red light] violators going through various intersections on Collins Avenue.”

According to Szerlag, the cameras will be placed on city right-of-ways and installation is expected to be complete before the end of the year. He also noted the city will receive a percentage of fines collected and will not incur any capital outlay costs for the cameras supplied by the vendor.

Vice Mayor Lewis Thaler pointed out the cameras have proven to be effective in areas such as Long Island and have also already been approved by local municipalities including Hollywood, Aventura and Bal Harbour.

Mayor Norman Edelcup added, “I think [the cameras] will give us more of a traffic calming effect and hopefully also reduce the number of intersection accidents that have occurred.” If successful, the Commission agreed it would be beneficial to expand the presence of cameras to other high-traffic areas such as Sunny Isles Beach Boulevard.

‘Give the Signal’
In an effort to create safer streets before the August opening of the Sunny Isles Beach Community School at Atlantic Boulevard and 183rd Street, the City Commission is striving to get a traffic light installed at the primary entrance to the RK Shopping Center just south of 183rd Street.

Following the presentation of a signalization study to the City Commission that did not include evidence proving the need for a signal, the Commission agreed to proceed with drafting a “signal warrant analysis variance request” to present to the Florida Department of Transportation. The variance request (expected to be presented for review at the July City Commission meeting) will emphasize “strong reasons” as to why the light is needed - plus the city plans to include letters of support from school board and elected officials.

Based on time estimates that it could take up to a year for a traffic light to be installed (if approved by FDOT), the City Commission noted a police vehicle would be placed at the intersection to help safeguard pedestrians and motorists.

Traffic Management
The opening of the city’s new school also created the need for a traffic management plan to help avoid congestion and backups on neighborhood roads during drop off and pick up times.

According to the plan, there will initially be as many as nine police officers to help manage vehicular traffic as well as at least a dozen crossing guards at designated locations.

City Manager John Szerlag noted, “Hopefully, [to reduce traffic] they will be able to assign more buses to serve the school. During the year, we may be able to reduce the number of police officers needed …We’ll [scale back] if we need to - if we don’t, we’ll keep it at that level to make sure it’s a safe school.”

Safety Patrol
When the city’s new public school opens this fall, there will be school crossing guards at designated posts to help ensure children can safely cross surrounding streets.

The City Commission has retained the services of Kemp Group International to provide crossing guards and supervisors at locations that will be determined by the Sunny Isles Beach Police Department based on emerging traffic/pedestrian patterns. The crossing guards will be at their posts two hours prior to the start of school and two hours following afternoon recess.

Emergency Exit
At the June 19 City Commission meeting, a resolution was passed to facilitate the design of a pedestrian/emergency vehicle bridge on North Bay Road.

“The city’s Comprehensive Plan [adopted in 2000] indicates a full time pedestrian bridge with emergency vehicular access [to be in compliance with state regulatory agencies],” City Manager John Szerlag said. “[Having an alternative route to Collins Avenue] for entering and leaving the city is a life/safety issue.”

Szerlag explained a gate would be installed only allowing vehicles to go through in the event of an emergency; and that it would not be possible to build a two-lane bridge unless additional right-of-way was acquired. He also noted that prior to being constructed, the bridge (estimated to cost $3.5 million) would have to go through a permitting process requiring oversight by agencies including the Department of Environmental Resource Management and the South Florida Water Management District.

Police Chief Fred Maas noted, “My position and that of the Chief of the Fire Department has never changed…If Collins is cut off, an additional resource for us to move traffic is a health/safety issue and benefit to us.”

Before voting to approve the resolution to begin designing the bridge, the Commission agreed to make schematic plans available for review two weeks prior to another public forum scheduled for September.

‘Best De-Fence’
The City Commission approved the installation of fencing for Collins Avenue medians to be provided by B&G Fence Corporation following successful efforts to receive permits granted by the Florida Department of Transportation.

Assistant City Manager Jorge Vera explained the fencing project will take place in three phases. First, existing plantings and irrigation materials will be removed from medians; then the fences will be installed; and finally, new plantings will be completed. The process is also being planned in such a way as to avoid large spans of unsightly “barren” areas along the medians while the project is underway.

Mayor Norman Edelcup noted, “[The fencing] will help stop illegal jaywalking and various associated accidents creating a much safer city [while simultaneously] preserving the landscaping.”