185-2001 LTC
CITY OF MIAMI BEACH
Office of the City Manager
Letter to Commission No.J <6:')- ;::;'0,0 I
m
August 17, 2001
TO:
FROM:
Jorge M. Gonzalez
City Manager
Mayor Neisen O. Kasdin and
Members of the City Commission
J~
SUBJECT: WEEKLY UPDATE
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 week of
August 13, 2001.
Community Meeting - The Administration held a community meeting on
Monday, August 13 to discuss and solicit input on the Major Events Planning
process the City has initiated to ensure that all future special events and holiday
weekends on Miami Beach are safe, fun, and successful. The meeting was
attended by about 55 representatives from the community, including members of
the Miami Dade County and City of Miami Beach Community Relations Boards.
Press Conference - Was held on Tuesday, August 14 to release the City's
Major Events Plan to the public. Representatives from all local media included:
Channels 4,6,7, 10, 23, and 51, and News Radio 610, The Miami Herald, EI
Nuevo Herald, The Sun Sentinel, Miami New Times, and the Sun Post.
Representatives from the national media included: Associated Press, CNN,
Newsweek, and People Magazine. Numerous positive stories resulted from this
press conference as well as from our ongoing media efforts. A press clip report
will be compiled and shared with the Commission.
Source Awards Weekend - The Administration continued to work this week to
assure that planning and resources are appropriately allocated for all events
associated with The Source Hip Hop Music Awards 2001 which began on
Thursday, August 16 and will conclude the evening of the Awards Show taping at
the Jackie Gleason TOPA on Monday, August 20. The Administration met with
representatives from Miami-Dade County to coordinate mutual aid for this
weekend. In addition, the Administration, the County and the U.S. Department of
Justice coordinated a second training session for the Goodwill Ambassadors on
Tuesday, August 14. The Goodwill Ambassadors were deployed beginning
Friday, August 17 afternoon and teams will be volunteering from 4:00 p,m. to
4:00 a.m. through August 21. All associated events held this week were
successful thus far and indications are that the City is well prepared for the
remainder of the weekend.
Employee Brown Bag Lunches with the City Manager - In an effort to better
communicate with City employees, the City Manager along with other
representatives from the Administration held dialogues over lunch with City
employees in an effort to get to know each other better and understand mutual
concerns. On Tuesday, August 14, we met with employees of the Sanitation
Division, on Wednesday, August 15, with employees of the Public Works yard,
and on Thursday, August 16, with Property Management employees.
Beach Concessions - Representatives from the Administration continued
negotiations with representatives from Boucher Brothers in an attempt to finalize
an agreement to be presented to the City Commission.
Collins Avenue - Work is progressing on schedule with the City's watermain
and expected completion remains August 31 for the watermain project.
Representatives from the Administration continue to meet with representatives
from each hotel on Collins to update them on the status of construction.
17th Street Corridor Study - Met with Bernard Zyschovich, the City's consultant
on this project, to discuss the scheduling of workshops for the HP/DRB/Planning
Boards and a separate workshop for the City Commission to provide preliminary
reviews of the concept plans.
Should you desire any additional information about any of these items, please
feel free to contact me.
JMG:RI
F :/cmgr/$all/ltc-O 1/weekupd .August13