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99-23122 RESO RESOLUTION NO. 99-23122 A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, APPROVING, BY 5/7THS VOTE, THE RENAMING OF OCEAN BEACH P ARK, TO "MARJORY STONEMAN DOUGLAS OCEAN BEACH PARK", SUBJECT TO APPROVAL BY A MAJORITY OF THE ELECTORATE IN A REFERENDUM REGARDING THE PROPOSED NAME CHANGE; AND, IF THE NAME CHANGE IS APPROVED HEREIN AND BY THE ELECTORATE IN A REFERENDUM, RESCINDING RESOLUTION NUMBER 92-20551, WHICH NAMED THE OPEN AREA LOCATED BETWEEN ALTON ROAD AND LA GORCE DRIVE, AT 63RD STREET, "PONCIANA PARK," IN HONOR OF MARJORY STONEMAN DOUGLAS. WHEREAS, the request to rename Ocean Beach Park, located generally to the East of Ocean Drive between the South Right-of-Way of 2nd Street extended, and the North Right-of-Way of3rd Street extended, after Marjory Stoneman Douglas was referred to the Community Affairs Committee for discussion and recommendation; and WHEREAS, the Community Affairs Committee, at its regular meeting on February 24, 1999, considered and reviewed the aforestated renaming of said public facility and, after reviewing the proposal in accordance with its established selection criteria, as set forth in Article VI, Section 82-501 through 82-504 of Chapter 82 of the Miami Beach City Code, unanimously recommended that the Mayor and City Commission consider the proposal to rename Ocean Beach Park to "Marjory Stoneman Douglas Ocean Beach Park"; and WHEREAS, the Committee approved the aforestated renaming with the provision that should the name change be approved, Ms. Stoneman Douglas' name shall be removed from Poinciana Park, located between Alton Road and La Gorce Drive at 63rd Street ("Ponciana Park" in Honor of Marjory Stoneman Douglas), in order to prevent confusion once Ocean Beach Park is named after Ms. Stoneman Douglas; and WHEREAS, pursuant to Article VI of Miami Beach City Code Chapter 82-504, the Mayor and City Commission at its March 17, 1999 meeting, called a duly noticed public hearing for April 14, 1999, to obtain citizen input and consider the name change request; and WHEREAS, following said public hearing, the Mayor and City Commission herein approve, by 517ths vote, the renaming of Ocean Beach Park to "Marjory Stoneman Douglas Ocean Beach Park," subject to approval by a majority of the electorate in a referendum regarding the proposed name change, and should the name change herein be approved by the electorate in a referendum, further rescind Resolution Number 92-20551, which named the open area located between Alton Road and La Gorce Drive, at 63rd Street, "Ponciana Park," in Honor of Marjory Stoneman Douglas. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT DULY RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, that the Mayor and City Commission accept the recommendation of the Community Affairs Committee, approving, by 517ths vote, the name change of Ocean Beach Park to "Marjory Stoneman Douglas Ocean Beach Park"; said renaming to be subject to approval by a majority of the electorate in a referendum regarding the proposed name change; and further, if the name change is herein approved and by the electorate in a referendum, the Mayor and City Commission rescind Resolution Number 92-20551, which named the open area located between Alton Road and La Gorce Drive at 63rd Street "Ponciana Park," in Honor of Marjory Stoneman Douglas. PASSED and ADOPTED this 14th day of April ,1999. ATTEST: 111 J~rf~ CITY CLERK MAYOR F:ICMGRI$ALLVUDY\COMMAFFICOMMMEMOIMSDPH.RES APPROVED MJ TO FORM & LANGUAGE & fOR EXECUTION 2 11l,i~~ ~ CITY OF MIAMI BEACH CITY HALL 1700 CONVENTION CENTER DRIVE MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA 33139 http:\\ci.miami-beach.n.ua TO: FROM: SUBJECT: COMMISSION MEMORANDUM NO. L. (., l-9 ~ Mayor Neisen O. Kasdin and Members of the City C mission DATE: April 1"', 1999 Sergio Rodriguez City Manager A RESOL N OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, APPROVING, BY 517THS VOTE, THE RENAMING OF OCEAN BEACH PARK, TO "MARJORY STONEMAN DOUGLAS OCEAN BEACH PARK", SUBJECT TO APPROVAL BY A MAJORITY OF THE ELECTORATE IN A REFERENDUM REGARDING THE PROPOSED NAME CHANGE; AND, IF THE NAME CHANGE IS APPROVED HEREIN AND BY THE ELECTORA TE IN A REFERENDUM, RESCINDING RESOLUTION NUMBER 92-20551, WHICH NAMED THE OPEN AREA LOCATED BETWEEN ALTON ROAD AND LA GORCE DRIVE, AT 63RD STREET, "PONCIANA PARK," IN HONOR OF "MARJORY STONEMAN DOUGLAS; AND, A RESOLUTION CALLING FOR A SPECIAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON TUESDAY , NOVEMBER 2, 1999, FOR THE PURPOSE OF SUBMITIlNG TO THE ELECTORATE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH A QUESTION CONCERNING WHETHER "OCEAN BEACH PARK" (LOCA TED GENERALLY TO THE EAST OF OCEAN DRIVE BETWEEN THE SOUTH RIGHT-OF-WAY OF 2ND STREET EXTENDED, AND THE NORTH RIGHT-OF-WAY OF 3RD STREET EXTENDED) SHALL BE RENAMED "~IARJORY STONE"MAN DOUGLAS OCEAN BEACH PARK"? ADMINISTRA TION RECOMMENDA TION Adopt the Resolutions. BACKGROUND At its meeting of February 24, 1999, the Community Affairs Committee reviewed a proposal submitted by the Reverend Linnea Pearson to rename Ocean Beach Park after Marjory Stoneman Douglas. During the meeting, the Committee also discussed Poinciana Park, located between Alton Road and La Gorce Drive at 63rd Street, which is named "Poinciana Park in Honor of Marjory Stoneman Douglas". AGENDA ITEM RIA l..l-IY-1$ DATE Page 2 April 14, 1999 The Committee unanimously approved the proposal to rename Ocean Beach Park after Marjory Stoneman Douglas, with the provision that her name be removed from Poinciana Park in order to prevent confusion once Ocean Beach Park is named after Ms. Stoneman Douglas. At the March 3, 1999 City Commission meeting the Commission accepted the recommendation from the Committee. ANALYSIS Marjory Stoneman Douglas has an international reputation as a conservationist and has authored books on conservation. She spent more than 70 years of her life in South Florida; in 1916 she lived on Miami Beach. Miami Beach had a formative effect on her writings and philosophy, and is referred to throughout her work. In 1989, at the age of 98 she fought to save Ocean Beach Park from development. Ocean Beach Park is largely reclaimed from sandy soil, and Ms. Stoneman Douglas was involved in the initial movement to reclaim the park. Ms. Stoneman Douglas, who is renown for her efforts to protect the natural resources of Florida, was presented with the Medal of Freedom by President Clinton in November of 1993 in honor of her work. Marjory Stoneman Douglas died in Miami on May 14, 1998 at the age of 108 years old. A previous proposal to rename Ocean Beach Park after Marjory Stoneman Douglas was approved by the City of Miami Beach Commission on July 12, 1995, and was presented to the electorate of the City of Miami Beach as a ballot question at the November 7, 1995 Special Election. The question was defeated by a narrow margin: 4250 in favor of the renaming and 4392 against (49% in favor; 51 % against). This proposal is presented to the Commission today, with neighborhood support, in an effort to recognize Ms. Stoneman Douglas for her part in saving Ocean Beach Park, and as a result of increased recognition for her work in Miami Beach. Chapter 82 of the Miami Beach City Code provides the following guidelines for renaming public facilities: 1. The proposal must be approved by a majority of the members of the Community Affairs Committee; 2. The proposal to rename the public facility must be heard by the City Commission at a scheduled Public Hearing; 3. The proposal must be approved by a 5/7ths vote by the City Commission at the Public Hearing; 4. If the City Commission approves the proposal by 5/7ths vote at the public hearing, then the name selection will be submitted to the electorate of the city by referendum at the next regularly scheduled election and approved by a majority of the voting electorate. Page 3 April 14, 1999 Today, the proposal is being presented to the City Commission as a scheduled Public Hearing. If the City Commission adopts the Resolution approving the renaming by 5/7ths vote, then, in accordance with the provisions of the Charter of the City of Miami Beach, Florida and the general laws of the State of Florida, a Special Election must be called by the Mayor and City Commission at which time there will be submitted to the duly registered and qualified voters of the City of Miami Beach the following question: Shall "Ocean Beach Park" (located generally to the East of Ocean Drive between the South Right-of-Way of 2nd Street extended, and the North Right-of-Way of3rd Street extended) be renamed "Marjory Stoneman Douglas Ocean Beach Park"? As such, a second Resolution has been prepared and included herein calling for the Special Election, and submitting the question to the electorate of the City. Upon approval of the proposal to rename Ocean Beach Park, the accompanying Resolution calling for a Special Election to be held on Tuesday, November 2, 1999, should also be adopted by the City Commission. The cost of placing this question on the ballot will be minimal because of the General Election to be held on the same day. CONCLUSION In an effort to recognize Ms. Stoneman Douglas for her part in saving Ocean Beach Park, and as a result of increased recognition for her works on Miami Beach, and neighborhood support in favor of the renaming, the Mayor and City Commission should: 1) Adopt the Resolution approving by 5/7ths vote, the renaming of Ocean Beach Park to "Marjory Stoneman Douglas Ocean Beach Park", subject to approval by a majority of the electorate in a referendum regarding the proposed name change, and, if the name change is approved herein and by the electorate in a referendum, rescinding Resolution Number 92-20551, which named the open area located between Alton Road and La Gorce Drive, at 63rd Street "Ponciana Park" in Honor of Marjory Stoneman Douglas; and, 2) Adopt the Resolution calling for a Special Election to be held on Tuesday, November 2, 1999, for the purpose of submitting to the electorate of the City of Miami Beach a question concerning whether "Ocean Beach Park" shall be renamed "Marjory Stoneman Douglas Ocean Beach Park". 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