LTC 105-2007 Report on Memorial Day Weekend 2007 (Thursday, May 24, 2007 - Monday, May 28, 2007)
lD
MIAMI BEACH
RECEIVED
2001 HA Y - 9 AM II: 41+
CITY CLERK'S OFF ICE
LETTER TO COMMISSION
OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
NO. LTC # 105-2007
DATE:
Mayor David Dermer and Members of the City Commission
Jorge M. Gonzalez, City Manager ,~
May 8, 2007 0
REPORT ON MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND 2007 (THURSDAY, MAY 24,2007
- MONDAY, MAY 28,2007)
TO:
FROM:
SUBJECT:
Similar to the City's successful planning efforts for the past five Memorial Day Weekends,
the City has begun a comprehensive and coordinated planning effort to prepare for the
upcoming Memorial Day 2007 Holiday Weekend (Thursday, May 24,2007 - Monday, May
28, 2007). Irrespective of any events and based upon early occupancy reports, it is
anticipated that this year's holiday weekend will attract at least as many people as previous
Memorial Day weekends, causing the City's resources to be strained.
As part of the City of Miami Beach's Major Events Plan (MEP), in 2003, the City began
submitting a request for In-Kind Services assistance to Miami-Dade County to provide
enhanced public safety resources, beach maintenance and the participation of members of
the County's Goodwill Ambassador Team, to assist the City of Miami Beach throughout the
Memorial Day holiday weekend. In 2005, the County included In-Kind support for Memorial
Day weekend in their annual budget, which eliminates the need for a separate request.
Annual in-kind support is based on actual costs from the previous year. As in the past year,
the City's Police Department will be canceling off-duty assignments and deploying public
safety staff on an alpha bravo shift assignment. This will be supplemented by mutual aide
from Miami-Dade County and additional assistance from Florida Highway Patrol, City of
Miami, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Miami-Dade Corrections Department, Coral
Gables, and Fort Lauderdale.
The City has advised event promoters that its resources would be fully extended during the
Memorial Day weekend (a major holiday weekend) and unavailable to support any events on
public property. Similar to Super Bowl, the City will, however, continue to work with those
organizations who desire to host events on their property and require approvals for change
of use.
Transportation Plan
Closure of Ocean Drive is not contemplated this year, but must be planned for in the event
crowd control issues arise. Nonetheless, the Miami Beach Police Department will implement
a transportation plan between Ocean Drive, Collins and Washington avenues from 6th Street
to 16th Street from 7:00 p.m. until 7:00 a.m. daily, beginning Friday, May 25 through Monday
morning, May 28. The plan will be similar to prior years, with the exception of allowing
east/west vehicular traffic on some cross streets between Ocean and Washington. This plan
includes the closure of some 100 and 200 blocks between 6th Street to 15th Street
throughout the weekend. Washington Avenue and Collins Avenue will remain with two-way
traffic. If population expectations surpass or do not materialize, the transportation plan will
be altered accordingly to ensure public safety.
French barricades will be utilized along the curb on the east side parking lanes of the 600,
1200 and 1400 blocks of Washington Avenue to increase pedestrian capacity on the
sidewalks and prevent overflow into the street. Additionally, this year the City is also
developing a similar plan to address pedestrian overflow along Collins Avenue, especially on
certain blocks where pedestrian flow often exceeds sidewalk capacity. Although the plan is
still being developed, the Administration anticipates the need to expand the sidewalk along
Collins Avenue into the parking lane to accommodate the large pedestrian crowds. Once
the plan is finalized, the information will be made available to you.
Miami-Dade Transit Agency will operate the local shuttle bus service and offer free
transportation throughout the weekend.
Community Outreach
The City has also been working with Miami-Dade County Office of Community Relations to
expand our Goodwill Ambassador Program. As you know, the City's Goodwill Ambassadors
provide assistance, helping our visitors remain informed on pertinent laws and dispel any
confusion our guests may have. In an effort to increase participation, this year, the City is
offering two levels of "comp" time for every hour worked. Employees who volunteer and
serve one shift (each shift is eight hours) will be compensated on an hour by hour basis.
Employees who volunteer and serve two or more shifts will be compensated on a two to one
basis.
In addition to an expanded Goodwill Ambassador program, we are looking to expand our
information efforts before and during this weekend. These efforts will include signage, flyers,
and radio outreach providing information in current City, State and Federal codes.
Consistent with our other efforts to provide and facilitate information to our visitors and
residents during the MEP, the City's Answer Center will be activated during the weekend,
and weekday after hours. Answer Center staff will be able to assist with directing questions
and will also forward any police complaints to the on-duty Internal Affairs sergeant for their
review and handling. We will be working with our Communications Staff to promote (via
signage, brochures, etc.) the availability of the Answer Center number to our visitors and
residents, including the issues that the Answer Center can assist with.
Additionally, attached please find a list of meetings attended or those that staff plans to
attend and provide a report on the City's planning efforts.
To date, and based on early indications of full occupancy in the region's hotels, the City is
continuing to conduct a broad and concerted outreach effort throughout the community, as
delineated above. This outreach has been coordinated with the assistance of the Nightlife
Advisory Task Force, the Greater Miami and the Beaches Hotel Association, GMCVB, South
Beach Restaurant and Hotel Association, and Miami-Dade County.
The City has been effectively communicating all action plans prior to the weekend's events.
While we cannot assure any major impact weekend will go without incident, the City is
effectively planning and preparing its resources to assure a safe, clean, and successful
weekend.
Other Initiatives
In accordance with the MEP, several other initiatives continue and are ongoing, including:
· Monitoring Hotel Occupancy and collaborating with the Greater Miami Convention
and Visitors Bureau (GMCVB) and the Hotel Association of Greater Miami and the
Beaches.
· Nightlife Advisory Task Force (NITE) coordination/communication with City staff.
· Ongoing outreach, communications and meetings with hotels, nightclubs,
entertainment establishments and merchants.
. Monitoring and assisting with promoter licenses.
. Department staffing plans, including enhanced levels of service and fiscal impact,
are being developed.
. Miami Beach Police enhanced staffing plan on alpha/bravo and eliminating off-
duty staffing during the weekend has been authorized.
. Pre-planned coordination with City, County and State law enforcement agencies
to develop an effective resource deployment allocation, including provision of off-
duty police for area hotels has been ongoing.
. Internal staff meetings have been conducted and expanded to include County
beach maintenance, public safety, code compliance and transportation system
staff and community stakeholders.
. Goodwill Ambassadors will be utilized and training sessions are forthcoming.
. Transportation plan(s) being developed and implemented based upon population
expectations including provisions for shuttle transportation in the Entertainment
District to alleviate congestion.
. The Miami Beach Community Relations Board (CRB), including the Miami-Dade
County CRB representatives, have been actively participating with City Staff.
. Developing a community outreach and pre-publicity campaign with media
partners.
C: Management Team
JMG/HMF/MAS
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2:00pm
MEP Meeting - Memorial Day
Miami Dade County Community Relations Board's
"Police and Community Relations Task Force"
City Manager's Large Conference Rm
Stephen P. Clark Center
111 N. W. 1 st Street - 6th Floor Rear
Conference Room
Patrol Roll Call Room
TCD Conference Room, 555 17 St
CMSCR
TBA
CMLCR
10:00 am
Police Citizens Relations Committee
VCA Meetin
NITE Monthl Meetin
Lincoln Road Marketin
MEP Meeting - Memorial Day Weekend
Cultural Arts Council Meetin
Transportation Parking Committee Mgt.
6:00
4:00
3:00
4:00 m
3:00 pm
9:00 am
3:30 pm
10:00 am
4:00 pm
Goodwill Ambassador Trainin
MB Chamber - Board of Governors
9:00 am
MB Community Relations Board
City Manager's Large Conf Rm
9:00 a.m.
10:00 am
3:00 m
10:00 am
9:00 am
PIC Monthly Meeting
MEP Meetin - Memorial Da
Ocean Drive Association
Goodwill Ambassador Trainin
Art in Public Places
Report to Miami Beach Mayor & City Commission
TCD Conference Room
CMLCR
Park Central, 640 Ocean Drive
Convention Center - C 219
TCD Conference Room, 555 17 St
9:00am
NOON
Convention Center Adviso Board
Ci Commission Chambers
Convention Center Board Room