123-2001 LTC
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CITY OF MIAMI BEACH
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CITY HALL 1700 CONVENTION CENTER DRIVE MIAMI BEACH. FLORIDA 33139
http:\\ci.miami-beach.f\.us
L.T.C. No.~d/f2:>1
LETTER TO COMMISSION
June 8, 2001
TO:
Mayor Neisen O. Kasdin and
Members of the City Commission
Jorge M. Gonzalez f1lUC.
C. M /'~tl-
Ity anager
FROM:
SUBJECT:
MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND
Attached you will find a copy of the prepared statement I gave at the press conference on
Tuesday, May 29, 2001 regarding the Memorial Day Weekend. I have also attached the
statistics compiled relative to this past weekend's activities.
As you know, many factors contributed to the events of this past weekend, not the least of
which was the Memorial Day holiday, which in year's past has been the most popular
weekend, presenting significant challenges. During the last weekend, public safety (police
& fire), sanitation, code enforcement were at maximum staffing levels. The Urban Fashion
Week was the only City permitted event and the Special Events division denied numerous
permit requests and all film and music video requests were denied to mitigate anticipated
crowding and congestion. Nonetheless, Miami Beach experienced an overwhelming amount
of visitors, exceeding the City's expectations and challenging our resources. I am certainly
not happy with the impact oflast weekend's events.
As a result, the Administration immediately contacted the Greater Miami Convention and
Visitors Bureau (GMCVB), the Hotel Association, affected Hotel owners/managers,
commercial district representatives and area merchants, and the nightclub industry owners
and representatives, to assess this weekend's impacts. These meetings were focused on
discussing the development of a comprehensive and collaborative effort to assure this
experience is not repeated in the future. We are compiling the information and suggestions
we gathered at each of these meetings, to develop some long-term strategies that will address
the needs of residents, visitors and the merchants, alike. Our goal is to assure the residents
and visitors, that the City of Miami Beach, together with its partners, are doing everything
we can to ensure their safety and high quality of life will be maintained and that Miami
Beach continues as ongoing viable tourist destination.
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May 29, 2001 - Memorial Day Weekend Press Statement
Once again this past holiday weekend, Miami Beach's continued popularity was demonstrated. The
Region experienced maximum hotel occupancy and exceeded projected number of visitors
converging on our # 1 tourist destination.
Many factors contributed to the events of this weekend, not the least of which is the Memorial Day
holiday, which in year's past has been the most popular weekend, presenting significant challenges.
Over the past week, public safety (police & fire), sanitation, code enforcement were at maximum
staffing levels. The Urban Fashion Week was the only City permitted event. The Special Events
division denied numerous permit requests and all film and music video requests were denied to
mitigate anticipated crowding and congestion. Nonetheless, Miami Beach experienced an
overwhelming amount of visitors, exceeding the City's expectations and challenging our resources.
I am certainly not happy with the impact of this weekend's events but I expect a comprehensive and
collaborative effort, with our partners, to assure this experience is not repeated in the future.
To that end, the City is now coordinating and meeting with:
. area hotels, including the GMCVB and Hotel Association,
. nightclub and restaurant owners, and the
. City's entertainment and commercial districts, such as Ocean Drive, Lincoln Road, Collins
Avenue and Washington Avenue,
to assess this weekend's impacts and to continue to enhance our plans accordingly.
As a result, we will be providing information to address the needs and concerns of:
. residents,
. visitors, and
. area merchants.
Our service levels were enhanced to assure we met the City's residential, visitors and tourist and
commercial concerns and needs.
Fortunately, no fatalities occurred and approximately 211 arrests were made over the weekend. Our
911 emergency calls, however, increased by over 50% from our normal activity. Overall, demand
for all City services increased as a result ofthis weekend's activities.
We want to assure the public that the City of Miami Beach, together with its partners, are doing
everything we can to ensure their safety and high quality of life will be preserved.
For many, the weekend is over, but our weekend of activities continues. Enhanced city services will
address concerns of area residents, businesses and hotels in the short term. From a long term
perspective, the City will continue to work with the GMCVB, Hotel Association and area merchants
to assure that the quality of life for our residents and tourists is maintained and that Miami Beach
continues as an ongoing viable tourist destination.
We also want to thank the City of Miami and Miami-Dade County for assisting us during the
weekend and the employees of the City of Miami Beach that helped maintain the order and
cleanliness.
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MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND 2001 STATISTICS:
Fire:
. 293 calls over four (4) days, representing a 50% increase in calls for service
. Inspected over 200 nightclubs; some on multiple occasions
. wrote: four (4) violations for overcrowding
four (4) violations for block exists
four (4) violations for exit lights, etc.
. experienced ongoing delays due to traffic gridlock
. overtime of268 hours - totaling $12,060
Police:
. 211 arrests
. 803 moving citations
. 3,071 (911) emergency calls, representing a 55% increase in calls for service
. overall increase of32% in all calls for service.
. overtime of 5,900 hours - totaling $234,566
Parking:
. 4, I 04 parking citations
. 342 tows
. 27 valet fines
. overall experiencing a 25% increase in service levels
Code:
. 303 man hours for a total of $8,500
. shifts extended
. over 1,000 posters; 1,000 handbills were removed from City property
. nightclub extension of hours was rescinded back to 5:00 p.m.
. package stores were inspected for compliance
. promoters bonds were not refunded
South Beach Service Team/Parks:
. overtime totaling $17,045.43
Sanitation:
. incurred $5,873.40 in additional labor and equipment costs.
. approximately 65 additional tons of garbage, resulting in $3,737 in additional dumping
fees.
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