Resolution 2019-30924 RESOLUTION NO. 2019-30924
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF
THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, ACCEPTING THE
RECOMMENDATION OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD/COMMUNITY
AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, AT ITS JULY 23, 2019 MEETING, TO
APPROVE THE INSTALLATION OF A COMMEMORATIVE
PLAQUE NEAR THE 3rd STREET BEACH ACCESS POINT AND
ADJACENT TO MARJORY STONEMAN DOUGLAS OCEAN
BEACH PARK IN HONOR OF MARIAN DEL VECCHIO, AND
SETTING A PUBLIC HEARING FOR SEPTEMBER 11, 2019
PURSUANT TO SECTION 82-504 OF THE CITY CODE TO
CONSIDER THE INSTALLATION OF THE COMMEMORATIVE
PLAQUE, AND DIRECTING THE CITY CLERK TO PUBLISH THE
APPROPRIATE PUBLIC NOTICE.
WHEREAS, Marian Del Vecchio, a political cartoonist and long-time Miami
Beach activist, passed away on June 15, 2019; and
WHEREAS, originally from the former nation of Czechoslovakia, Marian Del
Vecchio migrated to England in 1938, and subsequently fled from London to Brazil, and
finally settled in New York; and
WHEREAS, her cartoons were regularly featured under the section "A Different
View" for the Miami Herald, from 2000 to 2005, and her drawings were also featured at
a recent exhibit by the Miami Design Preservation League at the Art Deco Museum; and
WHEREAS, at the June 26, 2019 Presentation and Awards Commission
meeting, the Mayor and City Commission referred a discussion regarding a
commemorative plaque in remembrance of Marian Del Vecchio to the
Neighborhood/Community Affairs Committee ("NCAC"); and
WHEREAS, the NCAC issued a favorable recommendation at its July 23, 2019
meeting, which recommended the installation of a commemorative plague in honor of
Marian Del Vecchio; and
WHEREAS, recognizing Marian Del Vecchio's civic contributions (See Exhibit
A), the proposed location for the commemorative plaque would be the beach walk
extension between 3rd and 5th Street, which is adjacent to Marjory Stoneman Douglas
Ocean Beach Park; and
WHEREAS, the proposed language for the plaque will read, "In memory of
Marian Del Vecchio (1935-2019)", and the estimated cost of the design, fabrication, and
installation of the stainless-steel plaque would be $1000.00; and
WHEREAS, Section 82-504 of the City Code sets forth the process for the
installation of monuments and memorials, and the Mayor and City Commission are
required to hold a public hearing prior to final approval of the commemorative plaque;
and
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 hereby accept the recommendation of the Neighborhood/Community
Affairs Committee, at its July 23, 2019 meeting, to approve the installation of a
commemorative plaque near the 3rd Street beach access point and adjacent to Marjory
Stoneman Douglas Ocean Beach Park in honor of Marian Del Vecchio and hereby set a
public hearing for September 11, 2019 pursuant to Section 82-504 of the City Code to
consider the installation of the commemorative plaque, and direct the City Clerk to
publish the appropriate public notice.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 31st day of July, 2019.
Dan Gelber, Mayor
ATTEST:
Psis l tie 144
Rafael E. ranado, City Clerk
jeNe.\.,,,,§1.. ....-'4.... 1;•••
* INCORP ORATED'
0,,,-9, .•..........•-;N
oy
►ago Cth,H 2F :)
APPROVED AS TO
���' & LANGUAGE
•R EXECUTION UA
i
idiroi
City Attorney ,~ 7/2 VI
Date
Resolutions -C7 N
MIAMI BEAH
COMMISSION MEMORANDUM
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Commission
FROM: Jimmy L. Morales, City Manager
DATE: July 31, 2019
SUBJECT:A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY
OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, ACCEPTING THE RECOMMENDATION OF
THE NEIGHBORHOOD/COMMUNITY AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, AT ITS JULY
23, 2019 MEETING, TO APPROVE THE INSTALLATION OF A
COMMEMORATIVE PLAQUE NEAR THE 3RD STREET BEACH ACCESS
POINT AND ADJACENT TO MARJORY STONEMAN DOUGLAS OCEAN
BEACH PARK IN HONOR OF MARIAN DEL VECCHIO, AND SETTING A
PUBLIC HEARING FOR SEPTEMBER 11, 2019 PURSUANT TO SECTION
82-504 OF THE CITY CODE TO CONSIDER THE INSTALLATION OF THE
COMMEMORATIVE PLAQUE, AND DIRECTING THE CITY CLERK TO
PUBLISH THE APPROPRIATE PUBLIC NOTICE.
RECOMMENDATION
Mayor and City Commission to accept the recommendation of the Neighborhood/Community Affairs
Committee from its July 23, 2019 meeting, approving a commemorative plaque in recognition of
Marian Del Vecchio and her civic contributions.
ANALYSIS
Marian Del Vecchio, a political cartoonist and long-time Miami Beach activist, passed away on June
15, 2019.
At the June 26, 2019 Presentation and Awards Commission meeting, a discussion regarding a
commemorative plaque in remembrance of Marian Del Vecchio was referred to the
Neighborhood/Community Affairs Committee ("NCAC"), co-sponsored by all members of the
Commission.
On July 23, 2019, the NCAC moved this item to City Commission with favorable recommendation.
Originally from the former nation of Czechoslovakia, Marian Del Vecchio migrated to England in
1938, only later to flee the London Blitz to Brazil and then settle in New York.
Her cartoons were regularly featured under the section "A Different View" for the Miami Herald, from
2000 to 2005. Her drawings were also featured at a recent exhibit by the Miami Design Preservation
League at the Art Deco Museum.
Page 295 of 1288
In recognition of her civic contributions (Exhibit A) the proposed location for the plaque is the beach
walk extension between 3rd and 5th street, adjacent to Marjory Stoneman Douglas Ocean Beach
Park. The proposed verbiage for the plaque will read, "In memory of Marian Del Vecchio (1935-
2019)" and the estimated cost of design, fabrication, and installation of the 6x12 inch stainless steel
plaque is$1000.00.
Pursuant to Section 82-504 of the City Code concerning monuments and memorials, the City
Commission is required to hold a public hearing prior to final approval of the commemorative plaque.
Legislative Tracking
Parks and Recreation
Sponsor
All Members of Commission
ATTACHMENTS:
Description
❑ Exhibit A— Marian Del Vecchio Civic Background
o Resolution
Page 296 of 1288
Subject: FW: Marian Cartoon Signature for Memorial Plaque at Beach Entrance from Ocean
Beach Park
Attachments: IMG-0851.1PG
From: Frank DelVecchio [fdelvecchio@atlanticbb.net]
Sent: Tuesday, June 18, 2019 1:41 PM
To: Gelber, Dan; Morales, Jimmy
Cc: Bob Goodman; Patricia Posner; Gerald Posner; Clare McCord
Subject: Marian Cartoon Signature for Memorial Plaque at Beach Entrance from Ocean Beach Park
Dear Mayor Gelber:
I very much appreciate your willingness to consider the installation of a memorial plaque
in recognition of the civic contributions by my recently deceased wife, Marian Del
Vecchio, specifically her successful role, with me, in initiating a homeless assistance
program at Ocean Beach Park and the dune crossover there.
These were the first matters she discussed in her April 15 FIU/MDPL video. The first day
we arrived at our 301 Ocean Drive apartment, adjacent to the park, Marian looked out
over the balcony and remarked: "Frank, look at the homeless encampment. You've got
to do something about it." I had directed HUD homeless programs in New England,
among others, and went right to work on it.
The Pottinger settlement agreement had paralyzed and demoralized the City of Miami
Beach police, who felt that if they arrested homeless the NAACP would get the Federal
Court to assert its jurisdiction over the City of Miami Beach, which would lose control. I
talked to the attorneys in the case, and formulated a homeless assistance program
proposal that would enable the City of Miami Beach to make the offer of housing and
assistance which would satisfy the underlying premises of the Pottinger Settlement
agreement. Captain Casey Conwell of the CMB police, chief Barreto, and city manager
Sergio Rodriguez recognized this as the avenue out, and the city commission agreed to
an initial budget. [I even wrote the first contract with the Salvation Army Shelter in
Miami.]
Marian was with me all the way, drawing cartoons that told the story in a nutshell. This
was just the beginning. We advocated repair of the boarded-up playground in Ocean
Beach Park, and eventually the construction of a wonderful fenced-in
playground. Marian's cartoons were instrumental in all of the successful legislative
initiatives which fostered a viable South of Fifth neighborhood, now home to hundreds of
families with children. It is stable and sound.
Even the most recent controversy over the path for the Beachwalk extension from 3rd to
5th Street has been brilliantly solved. Instead of a low-lying path adjacent to the walls
of the oceanfront buildings, from which no part of the beach could be seen, there is now
a higher path in the dunes that is embraced by residents and tourists, dozens of whom
photograph every day the lifeguard stands and the beach from the serpentine
i
Page 297 of 1288
path. The dunes have been strengthened in the process. We advocated for this, and
Marian supported this with her cartoons of the beach. Always a partner.
I think a legitimate case can be made for city recognition of this remarkable woman's
contribution to the civic good.
I ask that you consider a location (I will forward photographs) at the Beachwalk opposite
the shower as one enters the beach area of Ocean Beach Park. There is a palm tree set
in a few feet from the path, fronting on a sandy spot that should prove ideal for a
plaque on a stand. I assume it would be a bronze, engraved plaque tilted so as to be
best seen. This e-mail contains one of Marian's universally recognized cartoon
signatures: a cartoon of Marian on the left and me on the right. I would use Marian's
signature cartoon on the left, just her, and on the left of the plaque,which I think the
engraver could copy in bronze, and to the right, the simple words:
In Memory of
Marian Del Vecchio
(1935 - 2019)
With heavy heart but with appreciation that the mayor is willing to move forward with an
initiative I believe the community and the city commission will recognize as legitimate.
Many thanks,
Frank Del Vecchio
301 Ocean Drive, Apt. 604
Miami Beach, FL 33139
2
Page 298 of 1288