Resolution 2022-32123 RESOLUTION NO. 2022-32123
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, DIRECTING THE CITY ADMINISTRATION TO
EXPLORE THE FEASIBILITY OF DESIGNATING THE PORTION OF OCEAN
DRIVE, FROM 5TH STREET THROUGH 15TH STREET, AS A NATIONAL
HISTORIC LANDMARK, IN ORDER TO INITIATE THE PROCESS OF
NOMINATING OCEAN DRIVE FOR THE U.S. TENTATIVE LIST FOR
CONSIDERATION AS A WORLD HERITAGE SITE BY THE UNITED NATIONS
EDUCATIONAL, SCIENTIFIC AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATION ("UNESCO").
WHEREAS, a World Heritage Site is a landmark or area with legal protection by an
international convention administered by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization ("UNESCO"); and
WHEREAS, World Heritage Sites are designated by UNESCO for having cultural,
historical, scientific or other form of significance and are judged to contain "cultural and natural
heritage around the world considered to be of outstanding value to humanity;" and -
WHEREAS, World Heritage Sites might be ancient ruins or historical structures, buildings,
cities, deserts, forests, islands, lakes, monuments, mountains, or wilderness areas; and
WHEREAS, the World Heritage Committee, the main body in charge of the
implementation of the World Heritage Convention, has developed precise criteria for the
inscription of properties on the World Heritage List and for the provision of international assistance
under the World Heritage Fund, which is as follows:
(i) to represent a masterpiece of human creative genius;
(i) to exhibit an important interchange of human values, over a span of time or within
a cultural area of the world, on developments in architecture or technology,
monumental arts, town-planning or landscape design;
(ii) to bear a unique or at least exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition or to a
civilization which is living or which has disappeared;
(iii) to be an outstanding example of a type of building, architectural or technological
ensemble or landscape which illustrates (a) significant stage(s) in human history;
(iv) to be an outstanding example of a traditional human settlement, land-use, or sea-
use which is representative of a culture (or cultures), or human interaction with the
environment especially when it has become vulnerable under the impact of
irreversible change;
(v) to be directly or tangibly associated with events or living traditions, with ideas, or
with beliefs, with artistic and literary works of outstanding universal significance.
(The Committee considers that this criterion should preferably be used in
conjunction with other criteria);
(vi) to contain superlative natural phenomena or areas of exceptional natural beauty
and aesthetic importance;
1
(vii) to be outstanding examples representing major stages of earth's history, including
the record of life, significant on-going geological processes in the development of
landforms, or significant geomorphic or physiographic features;
(viii) to be outstanding examples representing significant on-going ecological and
biological processes in the evolution and development of terrestrial, fresh water,
coastal and marine ecosystems and communities of plants and animals;
(ix) to contain the most important and significant natural habitats for in-situ
conservation of biological diversity, including those containing threatened species
of outstanding universal value from the point of view of science or conservation;
and
WHEREAS, all member nations of the World Heritage Convention voluntarily nominate
their own sites embracing superlative natural or cultural attributes; and
WHEREAS, the skyline of Ocean Drive in South Beach is iconic and has it's been featured
on television and in print photography thousands of times; and
WHEREAS, Ocean Drive is the heart of South Beach's Art Deco district; this area gives
visitors a chance to see this beautiful, historical architecture from a past era, which was saved
and preserved by preservationists over the years; and
WHEREAS, the architecture on Ocean Drive from the 1930s to the present is a
combination of different styles from different architects; this area is considered to be an "Art Deco
capital" and is home to the largest concentration of 1920s and 1930s resort-style architecture;
and
WHEREAS, people travel from all over to have a glimpse of South Beach's famous Art
Deco district on Ocean Drive; and
WHEREAS, among the most popular is the 1939 Colony Hotel, known as the most
photographed art deco hotel, which has been featured in cameos in scores of movies and TV
shows, including the series Dexter; and
WHEREAS, Ocean Drive is also the location of the famed Casa Casuarina, the residence
of the late Italian fashion designer Gianni Versace, and is one of the most photographed houses
in North America; and
WHEREAS, designating Ocean Drive as a World Heritage Site would elevate the City's
status as a cultural and tourist destination around the world; and
WHEREAS, at this time the United States is not a member of UNESCO but it is still
considered a State Party to the World Heritage Convention, and thus has the ability to nominate
sites to be included on the World Heritage list; and
WHEREAS, in order for a site to be nominated for consideration as a World Heritage Site,
it must have been included on its country's Tentative List for at least one year before nomination;
and
2
WHEREAS, only sites already designated as National Historic Landmarks (NHLs) or
National Natural Landmarks (NNLs) or otherwise officially recognized as being nationally
significant (such as National Parks) are eligible for the U.S. Tentative List; and
WHEREAS, the Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Fish and Wildlife and Parks, with
staff assistance from the National Park Service, Office of International Affairs (NPS-OIA) is
responsible for identifying sites for the U.S. Tentative List, and nominating sites to the World
Heritage List; and
WHEREAS, in addition, potential World Heritage Sites can be added or recommended to
the U.S. Tentative List, as part of an official process for making nominations; and
WHEREAS, the U.S. Tentative List was last revised in 2017, and now includes 19 sites or
groups of properties.; and
WHEREAS, at this time, no further revisions are planned in the near future, as this list will
supply future nominations for a number of years, however, the NPS-OIA maintains files on other
properties that might be considered for addition in the future, and parties interested in being
placed on the Tentative List are encouraged to contact the NPS-OIA; and
WHEREAS, the Mayor and City Commission desire for the Ocean Drive to be considered
as a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO; and
WHEREAS, as follows, the Mayor and City Commission direct the City Administration to
explore the feasibility of designating the portion of Ocean Drive, from 5th Street through 15th
Street, as a National Historic Landmark in order to initiate the process of nominating Ocean Drive
for the U.S. Tentative List for consideration as a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO.
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 direct the City Administration to explore the feasibility of designating the
portion of Ocean Drive, from 5th Street through 15th Street, as a National Historic Landmark in
order to initiate the process of nominating Ocean Drive for the U.S.Tentative List for consideration
as a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
("UNESCO").
PASSED AND ADOPTED this G day of a ,_ 2.
Dan Gelber, Mayor
2s(
ATTEST:
APR 1 2 2022
Rafael E. ranado, City Clerk
(sponsored by Vice Mayor Kristen Rosen Gonzalez)
APPROVED AS TO
FORM & LANGUAGE
_`Pe: . E,q''c,, & FOR EXECUTION
'="
53 `iliCORP 1 ORATED ; (----1 -D3 3-a-ct -).
,mil Cv�1 i ^- City Attorney Date
",'' '' 6�`h."
Resolutions-R7 F
MIAMI BEACH
COMMISSION MEMORANDUM
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Commission
FROM: Rafael A. Paz, City Attorney
DATE: April 6,2022
SUBJECT:A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY
OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, DIRECTING THE CITY ADMINISTRATION
TO EXPLORE THE FEASIBILITY OF DESIGNATING THE PORTION OF
OCEAN DRIVE, FROM 5TH STREET THROUGH 15TH STREET, AS A
NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK, IN ORDER TO INITIATE THE
PROCESS OF NOMINATING OCEAN DRIVE FOR THE U.S. TENTATIVE
LIST -FOR CONSIDERATION AS A WORLD HERITAGE SITE BY THE
UNITED NATIONS EDUCATIONAL, SCIENTIFIC AND CULTURAL
ORGANIZATION ("UNESCO").
ANALYSIS
Pursuant to the request of Vice Mayor Kristen Rosen Gonzalez, the above-referenced
Resolution is submitted for consideration by the Mayor and City Commission at the April 6 ,
2022 Commission meeting.
SUPPORTING SURVEY DATA
N/A
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
N/A
Is this a"Residents Right Does this item utilize G.O.
to Know" item. pursuant to Bond d Funds?
City Code Section 2-14?
Yes No
Legislative Tracking
Office of the City Attorney
Sponsor
Vice-Mayor Kristen Rosen Gonzalez
ATTACHMENTS:.
Page 1404 of 1735
Description
❑ Resolution
Page 1405 of 1735