184-2001 LTC
CITY OF MIAMI BEACH
Office of the City Manager
Letter to Commission No. 184-2001
~
August 13, 2001
FROM:
Mayor Neisen O. Kasdin and
Members of the City Commission
Jorge M. Gonzalez ~/ ",n
City Manager U 0-. '....
WEEKLY UPDATE
TO:
SUBJECT:
The purpose of this LTC is to provide the Mayor and Commission with an update
describing some of the areas the Administration focused on during the weeks of
July 30 and August 6, 2001.
Source Awards Weekend - The Administration has continued to work to assure
that planning and resources are appropriately allocated for all events associated
with the Source Hip Hop Music Awards beginning on Thursday, August 16 and
concluding the evening of the Awards Show taping at the Jackie Gleason TOPA
on -tv1onday, August 20. Intelligence reports indicate that hotel occupancy on
Miami Beach will be filled to capacity. The Administration has continued our
monitoring of special and nightclub events; developing and maintaining ongoing
community contact, including with nightclub and hotel owners; researching
internet information and websites; limiting off-duty police available for those
weekends to maximize the number of officers available; and developing
appropriate transportation plans. In addition, the Administration had been
pursuing an aggressive media campaign to advise area residents and nationwide
visitors of the City's plans and order maintenance laws including; created and
distributed 25,000 Welcome and Informational Pamphlets to be distributed to
area Hotels to advise visitors of the City's order maintenance laws and
emergency contact telephone numbers; disseminated a notice to area residents
and the entertainment district businesses advising them of the City's traffic plans
and other helpful information for this weekend; and plan to implement a traffic
plan to improve traffic flow in the South Beach Entertainment District for the
Source weekend. The Administration coordinated a training session for close to
200 City and Miami-Dade County volunteers for the Goodwill Ambassadors
Program. A follow-up training session is scheduled for August 14. A meeting
with representatives of the hotel and nightlife industries was held on August 10 to
discuss the City's preparations for the Source Awards and collect additional
information from them about events they are planning. A meeting with
representatives from the Community is planned for August 13. An LTC with
more specific information about the Administration's preparations for the Source
Awards weekend was sent on August 9, 2001.
Millage Reduction - The Administration is in the process of working to achieve
the .10 millage reduction directed by the City Commission.
G.O. Bond Oversight Committee - Met on August 6 to discuss funding levels
for neighborhood and parks projects and resident's expectations of these project.
In addition, the Committee received a status report of all related projects. A new
status reporting format is now being used that consolidates four different reports
into one.
Miami-Dade County Public Schools - Met with representatives from Miami-
Dade County Public Schools to discuss and coordinate various construction
related issues and projects in Miami Beach.
Beach Concessions - The City Attorney's Office responded to a bid protest
submitted by Penrod's stating that the action taken by the City Commission
stands. Representatives from the Administration began negotiating with
representatives from Boucher Brothers.
Collins Avenue - Work is progressing on schedule with all construction activity.
Representatives from the Administration continue to meet with representatives
from each hotel on Collins to update them on the status of construction.
Construction is still expected to be completed by December 14, 2001.
Cone of Silence Workshop - Was held on August 8 to provide an overview of
cone of silence prohibitions and advising of the appropriate course of action to
pursue in all related cases. The City Attorney's Office also provided a
presentation of ethical and election related issues and shared with the group that
caution should be used in regards to expressing sentiments either way for
candidates seeking elected office.
Sunset Islands - Met with residents of Sunset Islands to attempt to reach a
consensus on the proposed design for the entryway and Guardhouse.
Homeowners Association Meeting - Was held on August 9 to discuss the
funding levels for neighborhood and parks projects and resident's expectations of
these projects. About 10 Home Owners Associations were represented.
SAVE Dade - Met with representatives from SAVE Dade to discuss the
possibility of extending group health insurance and other benefits to domestic
partners.
Fire Prevention - The Administration is developing recommendations on how to
proceed with the tire prevention code requirements in high-rise residential
buildings.
National Lifeguard Championships - Sponsored by the City's Beach Patrol,
this event was held on August 9 - 11 and brought 53 teams from around the
world to compete in open water lifeguard competitions. The over 700 lifeguards
who competed over the course of the weekend represented the largest
registration ever for the National Lifeguard Championships.
Should you desire any additional information about any of these items, please
feel free to contact me.
JMG:RI
F :/cmgr/$all/ltc-01/weekupd.August6