Resolution 2020-313112020 -313 11
A R E S O L U T IO N O F TH E M A Y O R A N D C IT Y C O M M IS S IO N O F T H E
C IT Y O F M IA M I B E A C H , FL O R ID A , R E Q U E S T IN G M IA M I-D A D E
C O U N T Y M A V O R C A R L O S G IM E N E Z T O R E -O P E N P U B LI C
PLA V G R O U N D S W IT H IN TH E C IT Y O F M IA M I B E A C H A S S O O N A S
PO S S IB L E , SU B JE C T T O T H E SO C IA L D IS TA N C IN G R E Q U IR E M E N T S
O F M IA M I-D A D E C O U N T Y EO 21-20, AP PL I C AB L E C D C G U ID E LI N E S ,
A N D G U ID E LI N E S C O N TA IN E D W IT H IN T H E E M E R G E N C Y
O R D E R IS S U E D BY TH E C ITY O F M IA M I B E A C H .
R E S O L U T IO N NO .
W H E R E A S , on June 7, 2020, Mayor Gimenez issued Amendment No. 2 to Miami-
Dade County's Emergency Order ("EO") No. 21-20, ordering the re-opening of parks, golf
courses, marinas and boat ramps, subject to social distance requirements, such as the
requirement to wear a facial covering and maintain a six-foot distance separation between
persons; and
WHEREAS, however, use of playgrounds in public parks remains prohibited to this
day under EO No. 21-20; and
WHEREAS, playgrounds are vital for physical fitness and mental wellbeing of our
children, and build social capital, reduce stress, increase happiness, and strength mental
health; and
WHEREAS, the re-opening of playgrounds would provide children and their
parents with an additional, and safe, option for outdoor recreational use; and
WHEREAS, there is a growing consensus that it is safer to be outdoors than in an
indoor public gathering space; and
WHEREAS, an April 7, 2020 study, spanning between January 4 and February 11,
2020 across 320 municipalities in China, examined where and how COVID-19 is
transmitted and identified only a single outbreak in an outdoor environment, which
involved two cases; and
WHEREAS, according to Dr. Julian W. Tang, a virologist at the University of
Leicester, open spaces prevent the virus from building up in concentrated amounts and
being inhaled; and
WHEREAS, according to Dr. Gary Green, medical director of infection control at
Sutter Santa Rosa Regional Hospital, outside exercise lowers the chance of spreading
the virus by a magnitude of 10 compared with the same level of exertion indoors; and
WHEREAS, based on the foregoing, the Mayor and City Commission of Miami
Beach request Miami-Dade County Mayor Gimenez to re-open public playgrounds within
the City of Miami Beach as soon as possible, subject to the social distancing requirements
o f M iam i-D ade C ounty EO 21-20, applic ab le C D C guidelines, and guidelines contained
in the Em ergency O rder issued by the C ity of M iam i Beach.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT DULY RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY
COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, that the mayor and the city
commission hereby request Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez to re-open public
playgrounds within the City of Miami Beach as soon as possible, subject to the social
distancing requirements of Miami-Dade County EO 21-20, applicable CDC guidelines,
and guidelines contained in the Emergency Order issued by the City of Miami Beach .
PASSED and ADOPTED this fl_day 2r
~i.---•---------- - Dan Gelber, Mayor
(sponsored by Commissioner Ricky Arriola)
APPROVED AS TO
FORM & LANGUAGE
& FOR EXECUTION 5di
City Attorney
July 27, 2020
Honorable Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez
Stephen P. Clark Center
111 N.W. 1st Street
Miami, FL 33128
Dear Honorable Mayor Gimenez,
Attached please find a copy of City of Miami Beach Resolution No. 2020-31311:
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, REQUESTING MIAMI-DADE COUNTY MAYOR
CARLOS GIMENEZ TO RE-OPEN PUBLIC PLAYGROUNDS WITHIN THE
CITY OF MIAMI BEACH AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, SUBJECT TO THE SOCIAL
DISTANCING REQUIREMENTS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY EO 21-20,
APPLICABLE CDC GUIDELINES, AND GUIDELINES CONTAINED WITH IN
THE EMERGENY ORDER ISSUED BY THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH.
(Sponsored by Commissioner Ricky Arriola)
This Resolution was unanimously passed and adopted by the Mayor and City Commission of the
City of Miami Beach on July 17, 2020.
Respectfully,
Rafael E. Granado
City Clerk
c: Commissioner Ricky Arriola