142-2001 LTC
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CITY OF MIAMI BEACH
Office of the City Manager
Letter to Commission No. / if J -CJ(jX/>/
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To: Mayor Niesen Kasdin and Members
Of the City Commission
From: Jorge M. GOnZale~~
City Manager
Date: June 19, 2001
Subject: STATUS REPORT ON THE BOARDWALK PROJECT
This Letter to the Commission is to advise of the most recent status of the Boardwalk
Project.
Briefly, the Police Department's beat officers initiated this project approximately a year ago.
The officers were assigned to the boardwalk due to problems with reported criminal activity
and a haven for the homeless. Our boardwalk was becoming an unfriendly enviroment for
the visitors and citizens of Miami Beach.
The two beat officers approached the problems in a holistic fashion and identified eight
very specific areas that could be improved by collaborating with other City Departments,
These areas included:
1) Excessive shrubbery and illegal footpaths.
2) Spaces under the boardwalk, which created a haven for trash and homeless persons,
3) Use of public telephones for criminal purposes,
4) Low lighting and/or lights not working,
5) Litter in and around the boardwalk.
6) Lack of identification regarding locations along the boardwalk,
7) Lack of signage regarding permitted activities.
8) Upkeep on the boardwalk (painting, graffiti, etc.)
A partnership was formed with other Departments throughout the City, consisting of Public
Works, Property Management, Code Enforcement, Parks and Recreation, Sanitation and
Information Technology, Representatives from each of these Departments met on a
continuing basis, identified funding, and resolved each one of the issues.
Specifically, the following was accomplished:
1. The shrubs were trimmed,
2. Areas under the Boardwalk were sealed and are now inaccessible.
3. The public telephones were removed and replaced with emergency intercom
systems that ring directly into the Police Department's 911 Center.
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LETTER TO THE COMMISSION
June 11, 2001
Page 2
4, Most of the lights have been repaired and/or replaced. The remaining lights are
scheduled to be replaced and/or repaired,
5, All of the trash has been picked up.
6. Street numbers have been placed at the appropriate locations.
7. The Boardwalk has been repainted,
8, Warning signs have been posted regarding protected/closed areas as well as
prohibiting bicyclists and skaters.
This Boardwalk Project was a classic example of "Community Policing" where the police
identify a set of problems that affect crime and quality of life issues and the solutions are
resolved in a partnership with other City Departments. The efforts of those involved have
improved one of our most valuable assets - our Boardwalk.
Please join me in congratulating all of the Departments who have participated in this
project. As a team, we have accomplished a project we all can be proud of.
JMG\RRB\~~T\MMS
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F:IPOLlITECHSERVlPOLlCIESICOM_MEMOlboardwalk status update,ltc,doc