LTC 080-2006 Winter Music ConferenceMIAMI BEACH
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NO. LTC # 080-2006 LETI'ER TO COMMISSION
TO: Mayor David Dermer and Members of the City Commission
FI~OM: Jorge M. Gonzalez, City Manager~~~~{'.~_
DATE: March 24, 2006
SUI~JECT:WINTER MUSIC CONFERENCE
This Letter to Commission is intended to cladfy some information you may have received
from the business and nightlife community regarding staffing levels during Winter Music
Conference (WMC). Similar to the City's suc, cessful Memorial Day Weekend efforts,
comprehensive and coordinated planning was initiated as part of the City's Major Events
Plan. Several interdepartmental planning meetings have held over several months, as well
as a number of external meetings with the Ocean Drive and South Pointe associations.
Additionally, three separate notices were sent to the hotel and event production industries,
since January 2006, advising them of the City's Special Event Guidelines and the need to
submit applications if they were planning to host events that exceed their permitted
regulatory uses.
The Police Department, Fire Department, Parking Department, Sanitation Division, and
Code Compliance Division all enhanced staffing levels in order to manage crowds, maintain
safety and quality of life standards from Wednesday, March 22 - Tuesday March 28, 2006.
Staffing plans will be adjusted further as needed throughout the weekend. It is important to
note that the Police Department has implemented a modified Alpha/Bravo staffing for every
weekend since March 6th in response to increased Spring Break crowds and these
enhancements have and will be in affect for every weekend in March, including WMC. In
addition, the Special Event Voluntary Response Teams (SEVRT) have been activated, and
special staffing assignments made in areas where concerns have been raised in the past.
Planning for WMC includes compiling a list of every known event taking place in the City,
which currently totals 327 events scheduled for clubs, bars, hotels and other venues. In
response to some initial complaints we received prior to the start of the activity, Code
Compliance reviewed the list of events to ensure all venues have received special event
permits and/or are properly licensed to host the advertised activities. As a proactive
measure, notices were then sent to those establishments which do not appear to have the
appropriate zoning and/or proper licensing reminding them of the City's regulations. This
proactive measure was done in order to avert the need for enforcement action, as well as
ensure that the City does not have to address any life-safety concerns during an extremely
busy period for all City staff. In addition, the City must protect the welfare of all residents and
ensure that their quality of life is not disrupted as a result of events such as Winter Music
Conference.
This will also be the first experience for most since the enactment of the new Noise
Ordinance, but it is not the City's first time planning for and managing the WMC and best
efforts will be made to balance the competing needs of residents, visitors and businesses.
As an additional proactive measure, a meeting was held pdor to the WMC with the hotel
industry to explain the new Noise Ordinance and how it will be enforced. The meeting was
well attended by the industry.
As you know, it is the City's desire to ensure the success of WMC and its continued
presence in Miami Beach. Please feel free to call should you have any questions regarding
this or any other matter, or if you would like additional information on staffing plans.
C: Hilda Fernandez, Assistant City Manager
Robert C. Middaugh, Assistant City Manager
Tim Hemstreet, Assistant City Manager
Max Sklar, Toudsm and Cultural Development Director
JMG/HMF/mas