209-2000 LTC
CITY OF MIAMI BEACH
CITY HALL 1700 CONVENTION CENTER DRIVE MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA 33139
http:\\ci.miami-beach.fl.us
L.T.C. NO.209-2000
LETTER TO COMMISSION
FROM:
Mayor Neisen O. Kasdin and
Members of the City Commission
Lawrence A'~VY ~
City Manager
BEACH TOU -- FRIDAY, MAY 26, 2000
DATE: June 7, 2000
TO:
SUBJECT:
On Friday, May 26, 2000, I went on a beach tour with Assistant City Manager Christina Cuervo,
Vince Andreano of Beach Patrol, Joe Damien, Robert Reboso, Bruce Henderson, Kelly Goeden,
Ariel Pereda and Chandra Iglesias. We covered the beach from the South Pointe Pier to the City's
northern boundary. The following were our observations:
1. Sagamore Hotel: Construction vehicles have violated the dune; we have already fined them
in the past; follow-up with Building Department and State of Florida.
2. Boardwalk behind the Roney Plaza: There are apparently people living under the
Boardwalk; there are signs of cardboard and cloths and things that they lie on at night, and
there is a sleeping bag under the Boardwalk.
3. At approximately 26th Street, we noticed a very long distance between lifeguard stands;
consider more money for lifeguard stands and lifeguards in the budget.
4. We need stencils on the Boardwalk with addresses of buildings so that if somebody is in
trouble when they call on the cell-phone or by some other means, that the Police or whoever
is responding can get an address to know which building it is behind.
5. In back of the Fontainebleau and the Loews and along the beach, the Boucher Bros.
concessions have advertising on the umbrellas and the sunshades, which is not allowed.
They are phasing these out as they purchase replacements. I recommend an attrition plan.
6. Behind the Eden Roc there is an illegal sign on the Boardwalk advertising the bar for
Memorial Day Weekend. A lot of trash, cups and plastic under the Boardwalk. There are
a number of places on the beach where there are illegal volleyball installations; poles coming
out of the ground -- they are not allowed to be there permanently. One such is behind the
Carriage Club.
7. Severe beach erosion noted in the area of 60th Street.
8. We need to address the groins and piling fragments that is sticking out of the water at low
tide at 64th Street.
9. The lifeguard stand at 64th Street needs to be replaced with a larger one and, again, we noted
a lot of beach erosion in the 64th Street area by the parking lot.
10. At approximately 67th Street there is a concession that has not paid occupational license
fees. She has already been cited; it needs to be followed up.
11. 73rd lifeguard stand has graffiti on it; needs paint.
12. Around 83rd Street where the turtle hatchery is, there is an old piece of pipe that the County
uses to smooth the beach and a pile of tailings and things; we need to address with the
County that they need to clean it up more often.
13. Behind the Eden Roc there are not enough buoys. We probably need to go with eight buoys
on each side of the channel (instead of four) where we noticed there are swimmers in the
channel because they cannot tell where it is.
14. To the credit of the Bocher Bros., their concessions have signs that say "You Are Now
Entering a Water Sports Safety Zone" on the sand in front of the channel. We also noted that
they need to bring the buoys in a little closer and again we recommend eight buoys on each
side.
15. At 29th Street there is a food concession that may be a little too far into the dune. It should
be checked.
16. Lifeguard tower behind Ocean Steps and II Villagio: We are getting some complaints
apparently from the residents that they do not like the colors and the City to paint it. Maybe
we should meet with them and ask them if they want to pay for the paint. (How about an
"Adopt a Lifeguard Stand" program?)
17. There is a question as to whether we can regulate the para-sailors and make them get
occupational licenses and pay a beach concession. We have asked Legal for an opinion on
this; it needs to be followed-up.
By copy of this LTC, I am directing the staff to follow-up on all of the foregoing.
LAL:ptw
c: Christina M. Cuervo, Assistant City Manager
Mayra Diaz Buttacavoli, Assistant City Manager
Matthew Schwartz, Assistant City Manager
Ronnie Singer, Executive Assistant to the City Manager
Kevin Smith, Parks and Recreation Director
Al Childress, Code Compliance Director
Vincent Andreano, Beach Patrol Supervisor
Joe Damien, Asset Manager
Robert Reboso, Assistant Asset Manager
Bruce Henderson, Environmental Specialist
Kelly Goeden,