LTC 072-2006 Dog Beach Access AreaMIAMI BEACH
OmCE OF THE crr¥ MANAgeR
LT¢ # LETTER TO COMMISSION
072-2006
TO: Mayor David Dermer and Members of the City Commission
FROM: Jorge M. Gonzalez, City Manager
DATE: March 17, 2006
SUBJECT: DOG BEACH ACCESS AREA
At the February 22nd meeting of the Neighborhoods/Community Affairs Committee, the
committee members discussed for a second time an area of the City of Miami Beach that
might be made accessible for dogs. Areas in South Pointe Park, as well as on the ocean
side beach were under consideration.
At the meeting the members and the public in attendance were informed that it appeared to
be possible to keep a small waterfront area at the western end of South Pointe Park
adjacent to the old boat basin, free of rip rap to allow dog access to the water. Committee
members unanimously agreed with the use of this area for dog access to water and the
members of the public in attendance supported that position.
Subsequent to the meeting, as the Administration has worked to develop construction
details, it is apparent that the City will not be able to keep the area discussed free of the
placement of rip rap material. The contractor who currently has a permit to place rip rap
along the entire edge of the South Pointe Park can not amend the exiting permit which
includes rip rap along the entire shore front without re-permitting and a lengthy delay.
In order to address the desired dog beach access area subsequent to the placement of the
protective rip rap material, the City will cover the rip rap with material such as small gravel in
order to fill the voids between the rip rap and provide a smooth surface that can substitute
for the current natural sand access area.
The end result will be an area for dogs to access water as discussed at the west end of
South Pointe Park near the boat basin that has a surface that will permit dogs to pass over
the rip rap. The only difference in the two concepts is that the rip rap will need to be placed
initially and then covered by the City at a subsequent date.
The purpose of this LTC is to be sure that the members of the Committee and full
Commission are aware of the alteration of the construction plans and the efforts the City will
undertake to provide for the desired end product.
This information will be communicated to the Responsible Dog Owners Organization and
other parties in the South Pointe area so that there is no confusion or concern about a
change in direction upon the initial placement of the rip rap materJ~iln!t~ ~e~discussectas
a dog///'beach access.
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