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HomeMy WebLinkAboutR-14-08RESOLUTION NO. R -14 -08 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF SEBASTIAN, INDIAN RIVER COUNTY, FLORIDA, REQUESTING THAT THE STATE OF FLORIDA AND THE FEDERAL RAIL ADMINISTRATION REQUIRE ALL ABOARD FLORIDA TO FUND, WITH NO GOVERNMENTAL ASSISTANCE, ALL COSTS RELATED TO THE ALL ABOARD FLORIDA PROJECT, AND TO TAKE ALL NECESSARY STEPS TO PRESERVE AND ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR VISITORS, RESIDENTS, AND BUSINESSES WITHIN THE CITY OF SEBASTIAN; PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. WHEREAS, the City of Sebastian acknowledges the efforts of Florida East Coast Industries to construct a high speed passenger rail system, called All Aboard Florida, from Miami to Orlando along current and additional FEC tracks; and WHEREAS, a minimum of five railroad crossings are located in Sebastian; and WHEREAS, the All Aboard Florida Project will increase railroad traffic and train noise; and WHEREAS, thousands of people who reside in close proximity to these crossings would be significantly affected by traffic, noise and possible safety aspects of increased railroad traffic; and WHEREAS, All Aboard Florida trains are proposed to travel in close proximity to the City's designated Historic District, which contains both residential and commercial historical structures, many of which have been restored at great expense, with some listed on the state and /or national historic register; and WHEREAS, ingress to and egress from Sebastian Highlands to the Community Redevelopment Riverfront District, which the citizens and the government have spent millions of dollars to redevelop, will be severely impacted by increased railroad traffic; and WHEREAS, the FECI tracks run close to the environmentally sensitive Indian River Lagoon, which is the essence of the Treasure Coast and the most diverse estuary in North America, and reduction in waterfront access due to railroad traffic would significantly reduce economic and recreational opportunities for our community; and WHEREAS, quiet zones are needed at all affected railroad crossings in order to mitigate the impacts of increased railroad traffic and railroad noise and to protect the health, safety, and the quality of life of all City of Sebastian residents, businesses, and visitors; and WHEREAS, the preservation of the quality of life of the City will, at the very least, depend on All Aboard Florida improving the rail crossings to maximize safety and minimize noise and disruption; and WHEREAS, the State of Florida has expressed a commitment to the success of All Aboard Florida, and may not have recognized the potential major disruption that it may bring to the City of Sebastian without direct passenger rail benefits; and WHEREAS, businesses along the Interstates will lose revenue as a result of redirecting travelers from roadways to railways; and R -14 -08 City of Sebastian WHEREAS, the cost of upgrading the infrastructure at crossings to meet maximum safety requirements would be beyond the funding ability of the City of Sebastian; and WHEREAS, the City of Sebastian requires financial assistance for infrastructure improvements and other road and traffic related construction, to keep our citizens safe, and our jurisdictions solvent. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SEBASTIAN, FLORIDA, as follows: Section 1. The City of Sebastian formally requests that any donor agency, including the Federal Rail Administration, other Federal agencies, the State of Florida, and any State agencies, to require All Aboard Florida to privately fund all costs of All Aboard Florida, including all quiet zone /corridor improvements or terminal connections, without any governmental assistance, be it in the form of loans or infrastructure and right -of -way improvements at less than market rates, as such support would put the risk of All Aboard Florida on the backs of taxpayers. Section 2. The City of Sebastian encourages the State to consider financial assistance to those local businesses that will lose revenue as a result of the shift of travelers away from the roadways to railways if All Aboard Florida is permitted to operate. Section 3. The City of Sebastian encourages the Governor and State Legislators to do all within their power to urge FECI to explore extending direct benefits of passenger rail service to the City of Sebastian, and explore partnerships from which the area may benefit directly to offset and /or mitigate the impacts if All Aboard Florida is permitted to operate. Section 4. The City of Sebastian strongly recommends that the Indian River County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) Board convene regularly scheduled meetings with FDOT District 4 and local environmental impact experts to prepare for and respond to the Environmental Impact Study (EIS) draft and final product. Section 5. The City of Sebastian fully supports and endorses the recommendations and findings contained in the Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council Memorandum, Subject: All Aboard Florida Update, dated March 21, 2014. The foregoing Resolution was moved for adoption by VIA- /v/a 177 seconded by N%raKf 00/me-L and upon, being put to a vote, the vote was as follows: Mayor Bob McPartlan elAl e Vice Mayor Jim Hill Aim Council Member Jerome Adams 4 Council Member Andrea Coy Council Member Richard Gillmor The Mayor thereupon declared this Resolution duly passed and adopted this % = day of 2014. K R -14 -08 City of Sebastian CITY OF SEBASTIAN, FLORIDA B y Bob McPartlan, Mayor ATTE T: Sally A. Mai MC City Clerk Approved as to Form and Content for Reliance by the City of Sebastian Only: Robert A. Ginsburg, City Attorney 3