LTC 126-2009 Report on Planning Efforts for Memorial Day Weekend 2009 (Thursday, May 21, 2009 - Monday, May 25, 2009)-__ o_ ._
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OFr!CE Of THE CITY MANAGER
NO. LTC # 126-2009 LETTER TO COMMISSION
Tc: Mayor Matti Herrera Bower and Members of the City Commission
FROM: Jorge M. Gonzalez, City Manager ~, ~~''~
onm: May 12, 2009
SUBJECT: REPORT ON PLANNING EFFORTS FOR MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND 2009
(THURSDAY, MAY 21, 2009 -MONDAY, MAY 25, 2009)
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 2009 Holiday Weekend (Thursday, May 21, 2009 -Monday, May
25, 2009). Irrespective of any events and based upon early occupancy reports, it is
anticipated that this year's holiday weekend will attract at (east as many people as previous
Memorial Day weekends, causing the City's resources to be strained.
Background
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 years,
the City's Police Department will be cancelling off-duty assignments and deploying public
safety staff on an alphalbravo 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 will be fully extended during the
Memorial Day weekend (a major holiday weekend) and unavailable to support any events on
public property. Similar to the Super Bowl, the City will. however, continue to work with those
organizations who desire to host events on their private property and require approvals for
change of use. At present, the Fillmore Miami Beach at the Jackie Gleason Theater
scheduled to have Mike Epps on Friday, May 22, 2009 at 7:OOPM. The Miami Beach
Convention Center is hosting Johnson and Wales Graduation on Sunday, May 24, 2009
from 12:00 pm (noon) - 3:00 pm.
Transportation Plan
Closure of Ocean Drive is not contemplated this year, but is 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 6'" Street
to 16 Streetfrom 7:00 p.m. unti17:00 a.m. daily, beginning Friday, May 22 through Monday
morning, May 25. The plan will be similar to prior years, with the exception of allowing
easUwest vehicular traffic on some cross streets between Ocean and Washington. This plan
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Memorial Day 2009
includes the closure of some 100 and 200 blocks between 6`" Street to 15'" Street
throughout the weekend. Washington Avenue and Collins Avenue will remain open with
two-way traffic. If population expectations surpass or do not materialize, the transportation
plan will be altered accordingly to ensure public safety.
The Ciry will once again implement a plan similarto last year to address pedestrian overflow
along Collins Avenue; especially on certain blocks where pedestrian slow often exceeds
sidewalk capacity. The plan was first implemented in 2007 with much success. Sidewalks
along Collins Avenue will be expanded into the parking lane using French barricades to
accommodate the large pedestrian crowds from 7'" Street to Espanola Way. French
barricades will also 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. Staff continues to research similar options for specific
locations on Ocean Drive, and will implement those options if necessary.
The 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 the 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. The City will provide "'comp" time to employees
that volunteer Ambassadors.
In addition to an expanded Goodwill Ambassador program, we are looking to expand our
information efforts before and during this weekend. These efforts 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 will activate an "Answer Center" 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 tothe on-duty Internal Affairs sergeanttor 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.
Given the current economy, hotel occupancy booking trends are very short term. That being
said, we have no reason to think hotel occupancy in the region's hotels will be different than
in previous years. 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.
Other Initiatives
In accordance with the MEP, several other initiatives continue and are ongoing, including:
• Internal staff meetings have been conducted and expanded to include County
beach maintenance, public safety, code compliance and transportation system
staff and community stakeholders.
• Department staffing plans, including enhanced levels of service and fiscal impact,
are being developed; enhanced staffing includes: Parking, Parks, Code
Compliance, Public Works/Sanitation, Police, Fire, and TCDISpecial Events.
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Memorial Day 2009
• Goodwill Ambassadors recruitment is ongoing, and training sessions are
forthcoming.
• Monitoring Hotel Occupancy and collaborating with the Greater Miami Convention
and Visitors Bureau (GMCVB) and the Hotel Association of Greater Miami and the
Beaches.
• Ongoing outreach. communications and meetings with hotels, nightclubs.
entertainment establishments and merchants.
• Monitoring and assisting with promoter licenses.
• 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.
• 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 and implementing the community outreach and pre-publicity
campaign with media partners.
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, and minimize to the extent possible any impacts to our residents from increased
traffic and visitor volume.
C: Management Team
JMG/HMF/MAS
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