City of Miami Beach Receives Top Award from the Construction Management Association of America

Planned Progress Program Recognized for Effective Program Management

Miami Beach – CityDebate.Com – November 1, 2009 - The Construction Management Association of America (CMAA) announced today that the City of Miami Beach is this year’s 2009 Project Achievement Award for its work on the City’s Right-of-Way program. Since 1999, CMAA has awarded its Project Achievement Awards to recognize instances in which professional Construction or Program Management has made a significant contribution to the successful completion of a challenging project or program.

      From 141 award submittals, CMAA chose the City of Miami Beach for the 2009 Project Award for the success of the right-of-way program. This award recognizes the City’s accomplishment, despite having faced a series of challenges, including fluctuating market cycles and construction costs, direct impacts from active hurricane seasons and the day-to-day demands of conducting public construction in both residential and highly urbanized areas with unique requirements and restrictions.

      The City of Miami Beach began its ambitious Capital Improvement Projects (CIP) Program in February 2001, to implement projects funded through bond issues voted on by the City’s residents in 1999 and 2000, to enhance city facilities, parks, utilities, and right-of-way infrastructure improvements.

      The program is now valued at over $980 million. More than $500 million of the program has been used for facilities, parks, and utilities - including signature projects such as South Pointe Park, the Bass Museum of Art, and the Regional Library among others - with an additional $410 million for right-of-way infrastructure improvements. The City’s Right-of-Way portion of the CIP Program for which Miami Beach won the award -- includes various components such as new and upgraded water lines, new storm water drainage systems, new street and pedestrian lighting, landscaping and traffic-calming installations and other neighborhood improvement components.

      The Right-of-Way projects affect all of the City’s 13 neighborhoods. To date, nearly $200 million of these projects have been completed, including Washington Avenue Streetscape Project, Belle Isle Streetscape and Park, and the illuminated bridge on 41st Street.

      “The Capital Improvement Program has always been one of the City’s top priorities, since I became City Manager over 9 years ago, and we are committed to enhancing the quality of life for our residents, businesses and visitors,” said City Manager Jorge M. Gonzalez. “I am especially proud of this award for recognizing the hard work and effort of our City as well as our success despite challenges; It’s good to have professional organizations such as CMAA validate that we are being effective and efficient in the implementation of our CIP Program.”

     City Manager Jorge M. Gonzalez, Assistant City Manager Tim Hemstreet and CIP Director Charles Carreño accepted the award Tuesday night on behalf of the City at the CMAA 2009 National Conference & Trade Show in Orlando. CMAA’s mission is promoting and enhancing leadership, professionalism, and excellence in managing the development and construction of projects and programs.

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