LTC 65-2003 CITY of MIAMI BEACH
Office of the City Manager
Letter to Commission No.
TO:
FROM:
SUBJECT:
Mayor David Dermer and
Members of the City Commission
Jorge M. Gonzalez~ .
City Manager
WEEKLY UPDA'I'E
Date: March 10, 2003
The purpose of this LTC is to provide the Mayor and Commission with an update
describing some of the areas the Administration focused on during the week of
March 3, 2003:
City's New Website - The City's newly redesigned website was launched on
March 1, 2003. Under the new domain name, www. miamibeachfl.qov, the
streamlined website allows for greater navigational ease as well as more
functionality for users.
Memorial Day 2003 - Members of the administration continued to meet with the
Police Department and other city departments throughout the week to ensure
proper allocation of city services and personnel during the upcoming Memorial
Day weekend. A presentation by the Mayor and the Administration was made to
the Budget Committee of the Miami-Dade County Commission on March 6
regarding our request for enhanced County staff for the holiday weekend.
"A Better Place" Online Customer Service System - In order to enhance the
way city departments address public complaints or issues of concern, a new
online customer service system has been implemented. "A Better Place"
provides residents with an efficient and easy-to-use web interface that allows
members of the community to notify the specified city departments via the
internet of potential or existing problems throughout the city. Each department
has an assigned representative which monitors incoming community messages
and ensures that those messages are addressed in a timely and efficient
manner. Automatic numbering of resident comments allows the community to
track the item's progression through its resolution phase.
Bay Link - I, alongside members of the Commission and staff representatives,
participated in a tour of various cities, reviewing existing examples of Bay Link
systems. The group met with transit officials in: San Francisco, California from
March 1-3; Sacramento, California on March 4; and Portland, Oregon on March
5. There will be a Special Commission meeting on Monday, March 10 to further
review the proposal.
Regional Library - Members of the administration, joined by representatives of
the Cultural Campus Committee, participated in a "Hard Hat" walk-through on
March 3 of the new Miami Beach Regional Library. Further details will be
disseminated as they become available.
South Pointe Community Design Workshop -Members of the administration
held the first of two Community Design Workshops on March 4 to review Phase II
improvements in the South Pointe Neighborhood with area residents. The
Wolfberg-Alvarez consultant team was on hand to review available RDA funding,
proposed streetscape and infrastructure improvements and to discuss parking
and lighting alternatives. In addition, announcements for the March 13
community meeting regarding the South Shore Library/Courts Project were
distributed.
Public Relations and Marketing Services RFP - Representatives from the
administration, in conjunction with the Evaluation Committee, met on March 4 to
allow those bidding to perform public relations, marketing, communications and
consulting on behalf of the City to present their services to the Committee.
Special Events - Members of the administration are working with various event
producers, facilitating the coordination of a multitude of events throughout the
month of March. Meetings have also been held with hotels, nightlife industry,
area residents and businesses to ensure that the City's resources are properly
allocated and planning information is disseminated. The South Beach Wine and
Food Festival, from February 28-March 2, concluded successfully and garnered
much media attention. Winter Party Week kicked off this past week, scheduled
from March 1-10, with an estimated attendance of 5,000. The South Beach
Entertainment District is also preparing for the Sports and Fitness Festival taking
place on Ocean Drive, from 5th to 15~h Streets, from March 27-30. Also on the
horizon is: Fashion Week of the Americas taking place at the Roney Palace, from
March 19-22; Winter Music Conference, from March 18-22, with an estimated
attendance of 11,000 and the Miami Beach Fitness Festival, from March 27-30,
with an estimated attendance of 20,000.
Major Events Plan (MEP) - As part of the City's Major Events Plan (MEP),
representatives from the administration met on March 5 to continue planning and
coordinating city services for all of the upcoming events. The MEP, consisting of
various phases of citywide planning and logistical implementation, attempts to
ensure that all city services are enhanced and members of the community are
adequately informed. Among the events for which the City will be implementing
its MEP are: the MTV March 12-15 filming of "Spring Break Weekend" at the
Surfcomber and Ritz Carlton Hotels; the Winter Music Conference; Miami Beach
Fitness Festival; Dance Star USA Awards; and Memorial Day weekend.
Filming in Miami Beach - Representatives from the administration continue to
facilitate various filming projects throughout our city. Several productions are
scheduled to film in March, including: "Stuck on You" starring Matt Damon, Greg
Kinnear and Cher among others; "CSl:Miami" returning for four weeks of filming;
and "Dance Star USA Awards," airing on FOX, will film on Ocean Drive on March
19. An ABC television pilot titled "Karen Sisco," based on the feature film "Out of
Sight," will also be filming from March 17 - April 2 with Miami Beach locations yet
to be announced. Further information will be provided as it becomes available.
131 Alton Road Property Community Meeting - Members of the administration
are preparing to host a community meeting on March 13 regarding the property
known as "The Courts," located at 131 Alton Road. The administration is seeking
public input on potential uses for the 5,000 square feet property currently utilized
as commercial space. The meeting will take place on-site.
City's Birthday Celebrations - Staff members continue coordinating a variety of
events to commemorate the city's 88th birthday, spanning the month of March.
Scheduled events include: a pictorial exhibition in the Fourth Floor Gallery tracing
the history of our city which is scheduled from March 10 - April 10, 2003; the
launching of the City's newly designed website which took place on March 1; and
the debut of the City's new Answer Center, aimed at streamlining and enhancing
customer service. Other commemorative events yet to be finalized are also in
the planning phase for the March 26 birthday celebration.
If you have any questions or need any additional information, please feel free to
contact me.
JMG/ri/jl
F :lcmgr/$alllltc-O3/weeklyupdateslMarch 7weeklyu pdate