LTC 033-2024 LTC from the Ocean Drive Association - Concerns Regarding a Proposed March 2025 Music FestivalM IA M I BEACH
OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK
LTC#
033-2024 LE T T ER TO C O M M IS SIO N
TO: Mayor Steven Meiner and Members of the City Commission
Alina T. Hudak, City Manager
Rafael A. Paz, City Attorney
Joseph M. Centorino, Inspector General
FROM: Rafael E. Granado, City Clerk m
DATE: January 30, 2024
SUBJECT: L TC from the Ocean Drive Association - Concerns Regarding a Proposed
March 2025 Music Festival
On behalf of the Ocean Drive Association Board of Directors, attached please find a Leter to
Commission regarding Concerns Regarding a Proposed March 2025 Music Festival.
F:\CLER\$ALL\LTC FROM ASSOCIATIONS\OCEAN DRIVE 01302024.docx
a Ocean Drive
association
Jan uary 29, 2024
Via Em ail
M ayor Steven M einer
Com m issioner Tanya Bhatt
Com m issioner Laura Dom inguez
Com m issioner Alex Fern andez
Com m issioner Joe M agazine
Com m issioner Kristen Rosen Gonzalez
Com m issioner David Suarez
City M anager Alina Hudak
Subject: Concern s Regarding a Pro posed M arch 2025 M usic Festival
Dear Honorable M ayor, Com m issioners and M adam e M anager:
It has co m e to our attention that there is an active lobbying effo rt underway to bring a large concert or
m usic festival to the Art Deco Cultural District fo r M arch 2025. The ODA board has not been briefed or
consulted on the m atter, nor have either of the im portant resident gro ups. Regardless of the merits of
any such an initiative, we believe it is essential to involve all stakeholders early in the deliberative pro cess.
That is certainly true fo r the stakeholders m ost directly im pacted.
Acknow ledging that we have not been briefed on the matter, our com m entary is based on the discussion
the last tim e such a large music festival pro posal was being contem plated fo r a March activation.
• M arch is the busiest month of the year fo r our hotel co mm unity. Already. W e do not need further
pro m otion to fill our hotels in M arch. June and Septem ber are need months and should be our fo cus.
• Our neighborhood is not adequately equipped to handle such a large-scale event responsibly. The
last tim e such a fe stival was contem plated, attendance num bers from 15,000-20,000 were shared
as the potential fo r daily festival participation. That does not include, of course, those already here
with no intention of attending the festival. W e recall last time that the public safety concern s were
not properly vetted befo re the pro posal was taken to the full Comm ission fo r a vote. (Noting it was
first appro ved and then subsequently rejected. The safety and well-being of our residents and
visitors m ust be the param ount consideration when contemplating events of this m agnitude.
Befo re any consideration is given to fo rm ally presenting this m atter to the com m ission, we stro ngly urge
a thorough, open, and public vetting of any pro gram of such magnitude. This should include
com prehensive consultation with those most directly im pacted, the residents and businesses of Ocean
Drive and adjacent areas.
W e rem ain co m m itted to working co llaboratively with city leadership to enhance the vibrancy and
pro sperity of our com m unity.
Thank you fo r your co nsideration.
Respectfully,
Ceci Velasco
Executive Director
For the Board of Directors
BOARD OF
DIRECTORS
Chairman
Jonathan Plutzik
The Betsy
Vice Chairman
Jamil Dib
V&E Restaurants
Secretary
Tom Glassie
Avalon Hotel
Treasurer
Alfie Feola
Altanini Realty
Steven Boucher
Boucher Brothers
Management, Inc.
Rory Greenberg
The Collins
Mark Muhlrad
Starlite Hotel
Salem Munayyer
Nakash Holdings
Scott Srebnick
Goldman Properties
Janet Suarez
YUCA Hospitality
Orlando Valdes
Cavalier & Henrosa
Hotels
Ceci Velasco
Executive Director