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LTC 271-2006 Police North End Substation (NES) " m MIAMI BEACH OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER NO, LTC # 271-2006 LETTER TO COMMISSION DATE: Mayor David Dermer and Members of the City Commission Jorge M. Gonzalez, City Manager \;, ~ November 9, 2006 0 POLICE NORTH END SUBSTATION (NES) TO: FROM: SUBJECT: On Wednesday, November 8, 2006, an em ail was sent to the attention of the City Commission making several allegations and posing a series of questions regarding the NES. This is very disappointing and frustrating for staff, who has invested significant time openly and honestly attempting to address concerns raised in North Beach as a result of circumstances largely outside of direct City control. Factually, no representation was ever made to residents that Old City Hall had been condemned by the Fire Marshall, It was clearly explained in the community meeting on October 24, 2006, that the Fire Marshall identified a variety of safety concerns that caused the building to have to be evacuated. Attached to this LTC, please find email messages received from the Fire Chief and Fire Marshall relative to the safety concerns expressed and their concern that the building be emptied of all occupants, Old City Hall has been vacated by all City employees inclusive of the City Center RDA, police officers and the Crime Suppression Unit of the Miami Beach Police Department. The relocation of the RDA and Crime Unit officers was delayed until the Sanitation Division could be restored to their original offices thereby making available the space on Terminal Island that Sanitation was using. As was explained in detail at the October 24th community meeting and also in previous LTC's written to the City Commission on this subject and also shared with the community, the relocation of the Internal Affairs Division from Old City Hall to the NES was an emergency and an immediate relocation. The construction plans at Old City Hall did not anticipate that the entire building would need to be evacuated; only the safety concerns raised by the Fire Marshall prompted this emergency and immediate response on the part of the City to relocate all employees, As the City Commission has been previously informed, the SUI Division of the Police Department, the entire Parking Department and the County Clerk and County Court Operations were all relocated several months ago as a planned or anticipated relocation effort. It was known at the time that those individual Departments or entities would be directly impacted by construction and therefore their relocation was necessitated. All three locations were successfully undertaken and work was commenced again at the Old City Hall. The e-mail also questions why so many city/public structures have been condemned in the last 5-6 year period, apparently in reference to the Old City Hall project. As stated earlier, the Old City Hall is an active renovation project in which construction activities have created , 1 conditions not conducive to continued occupancy. Old City Hall was not condemned and it is unclear what other buildings are being referenced. Several buildings have been demolished and rebuilt, such as the Old Bayshore Clubhouse and Fire Station #4, but the only public building that is currently closed is the nnd Street Community Center as a result of damage from hurricane Wilma. The e-mail closing concern is that North Beach has been sold out with the City's efforts to provide work space for North Beach officers at the North Shore Youth Center or in the alternative the vacant Park building at Tatum Park, While each of these locations was considered in a logical attempt to provide temporary work space either to allow interaction with youth in the case of the Youth Center, or to be in the midst of a neighborhood that would benefit from an increased Police presence in the case of the Tatum building, ultimately it should be possible for the Officers to share space with Ocean Rescue in the temporary quarters now occupied by Fire Station # 4 personnel. When the firefighters relocate to the new Fire Station building the modular units that they have been using will be available. The Police Department has not stated that any of these locations would be unacceptable. The City Administration and specifically the Police Department have taken every measure possible to assure that there will be no impact in the delivery of public safety services to the North Beach area. Commissioners will note that while there were questions posed and unfounded accusations made in the email, at no point has there been a concern expressed that services will decrease or that services have actually decreased. As previously reported to the City Commission, all services are being carried forward as in the past. Additionally, in order to help address concerns ofthe North Beach community, additional meetings with the community and the regular provision of crime statistics have been agreed to be provided by the Police Department until such time as the status quo can be restored. JMG\ ./1 j sam F:\C~LL \BOB\policenoendsubstationltc.doc 2 " . , From: Jordan, Floyd Sent: Thursday, October 12,20061:55 PM To: Gonzalez, Jorge Cc: Middaugh, Bob; Hemstreet, Tim Subject: FW: Re: 1130 Washington Ave. Old City Hall Importance: High Jorge the issues raised by the Fire Marshal are very serious and need to be addressed, I concur with the recommendation to remove all the employees housed in the building to another location now. FLOYD JORDAN From: Machen, Sonia Sent: Thursday, October 12, 2006 12:51 PM To: Chief Jordan Cc: Yuhr, Chief Eric Subject: FW: Re: 1130 Washington Ave. Old City Hall Importance: High Chief Jordan and Chief Yuhr, During the last few months, we have had numerous fire alarms at this location. Each time the engine company responded and discovered that the smoke detectors were set off due to the construction work taking piace, On Tuesday alone, there were 4 alarms throughout the day, Obviously, this is taking our units out of responding to a real alarm elsewhere in the City, In addition, this condition is putting the occupants at risk due to their assumption that it is another false alarm when it could be an actual fire in the building. We have tried the normal procedure when there is construction in an occupied building, but it is not working. The contractor is not covering the detectors or even if covered the dust is still setting off the detectors on other floors. I was in the building a few minutes ago and observed the following: - the sprinkler system is compromised due to the open ceilings on the first floor and on the 6th flOOL - the building is still occupied by IT on the 5th, Police on the 7th, and a security company on the 6th, - the public is going to the 6th floor to apply for security jobs - the public is going to the first floor looking for the parking dept - the second exit stairwell has been taking out of service by blocking the exit discharge with scaffolding. This leaves only one exit for the occupants of a high rise bldg, Clearlv unacceotable condition. The windows on the occupied floors are blocked off so there would be considerable delay for any rescue attempt. - the email below states that the fire alarm zones on all the floors except 5 and 7 will be disconnected. This is not acceptable because we need to know if there is a flow alarm anywhere in the building. I have been patient and trying to work with Property Management because the employees were supposed to move out of the building in a short period of time. However, I keep hearing next . . week, next month and so on and we still have about 22 employees working in the building along with the public mentioned above. Earlier in the Summer, the ACM Middaugh was going to authorize ADM Leave for the employees in 777 due to a broken AC. I think these conditions are far more serious and we should do the same for the employees working at 1130 Wash. 1. We cannot allow public entry to this building for any reason. Property Management must secure the building from entry and provide signage outside the building to direct the public to the new parking office. 2. The security company on the 6th floor must vacate the building by tomorrow, Friday 5:00pm. 3. Department Heads for IT and Police must be notified to relocate the employees immediately or sent them home on ADM leave. 4. The building will then be 100% construction zone and notify 300s as such. At that time, the fire alarm can be change to activate on sprinkler flow and crews must respond accordingly. MIAMIBEACH Sonia Flores Machen, P.E., Fire Marshal FIRE DEPARTMENT Fire Prevention Division 2300 Pinetree Drive, Miami Beach, FL 33140 Tel: 305-673-7123 I Fax: 305-673-1085 I www.miamibeachfl.oov We are committed to providing excellenl public seNiee and safety to all who live. work and play in our vibrant. tropical, historic community.