LTC 133-2011 Winter Music Conference Break MEP & Funshion RECEIVED
CA M B EAC H 2011 MAY 31 PM 4: 26
OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
CITY CLERK'S OFF ° "
NO LTC # 133 -2011 LE r ER TO COMMISSION
TO: Mayor Matti Herrera Bower and Members of the City Commission
FROM: Jorge M. Gonzalez, City Manager
DATE: May 26, 2011
SUBJECT: Winter Music Conference /Spring Break MEP and Funkshion: Fashion Week Recap
This Letter to Commission (LTC) is intended to provide you with an after action report regarding the City's
Winter Music Conference /Spring Break Major Event Plan (MEP) and information on an incident that
occurred during the Funkshion: Fashion Week Miami Beach 2011 event.
WINTER MUSIC CONFERENCE /SPRING BREAK MEP
As you know, March annually marks the height of the City's tourist season with local and national Spring
Break vacations occurring in conjunction with several major events. During a six week period the City
hosted Winter Party, Winter Music Conference, Ultra related events, and other athletic distance events
concurrent with high school and college spring break periods. As a result, the Administration instituted its
MEP for this period as we expected it to be a very busy time for the City.
The MEP included enhanced staffing from the Police, Fire (including Ocean Rescue), Code Compliance,
Parking, Sanitation and Parks departments. The MEP approach included limiting public property special
events and only allowing existing annual events (no NEW events permitted) to take place during this time.
The City also enhanced staffing presence /enforcement in high impact areas, initiated traffic management
efforts, and enhanced public education prior to and during period.
Sanitation
The Sanitation Division enhanced the night crew in the entertainment district (Lummus Park, South Pointe,
Ocean Drive, Collins Avenue and Washington Avenue) from Thursday — Sunday and placed extra trash
cans at beach entrances from 0 to 15 streets. Additional crews were shifted to affected areas on an "as
needed basis." Miami -Dade County Beach Maintenance enhanced litter crews on South Beach seven days
a week until 7:30 PM from Monday — Friday and until 8:00 PM on the weekends. The County also
redeployed staff from Haulover Beach and other areas to address the peak periods in South Beach. Daily
monitoring and documenting of beach conditions was initiated. Generally, the combination of enhanced
clean -up and pro- active enforcement (as further described below) resulted in our beaches being relatively
clean for the volume of visitors.
Police
The Police Department enhanced staffing to supplement the Patrol Division staffing in the Entertainment
District and South Pointe areas. The plan included traffic management, bicycle deployment, ATV beach
deployment, marked and unmarked vehicles. On beach efforts were focused on quality of life issues, such
as glass bottles and underage drinking. Voluntary cooler checks were initiated in key beach access
locations, with information and education provided to beachgoers. A total of 7,976 coolers were checked,
with 3,311 pour outs /confiscations, and almost 1900 code violations issued.
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Code Compliance
The Code Compliance Division also enhanced staffing to focus primarily on beach litter and other quality of
life issues. The Division's efforts were enhanced with the deployment of a new part -time staff. Focus was
also placed on coordinated efforts with Police to address glass and alcohol on the beaches. Additionally,
Code focused on handbills /flyers and noise, and added extra shifts during Winter Music Conference and
Ultra Music.
Community Outreach /Education
The public education component included the deployment of more than a half -dozen VMS Signs (Variable
Message Signs); the development of informational brochures with maps; the placement of temporary signs
in key locations near and on the beach; and Victim Advocates from the Police Department who distributed
crime prevention, "anti -date rape" and visitor information flyers.
For the first time during a Winter Music Conference /Spring Break MEP, the City deployed the Goodwill
Ambassador (GWA) Program. The GWA deployment focused on the two (2) peak periods (the weekends
of March 11 -13 and March 18 -20). Over 170 City employees volunteered for the GWA program and their
efforts included the following:
• Distribution of brochures outlining safety tips and general rules of conduct for Miami Beach visitors.
• Distribution of small courtesy litter bags.
• Assisting tourists with general information, report overflowing garbage cans and any other issues
that require immediate attention.
• Educating beach goers on the City's laws and fines
FUNKSHION FASHION WEEK
Funkshion Fashion Week was produced by 3B Productions, LLC. Funkshion took place on the beach
between 7 and 9 streets from March 23 — 26, 2011. The Funkshion series typically occurs twice per year
(March and October) and is a series of fashion shows paired with musical performances. This event was
the 15 edition of the event and producers planned and scheduled a larger performance for the closing
event on March 26 by Swedish House Mafia that was titled Masquerade Motel. When the closing event was
originally proposed to City staff, the producers suggested attracting the type of rock or R & B talent that
would be distinct from and attract the crowds already in downtown Miami for the Ultra Music Festival.
Like all other special event applications, Funkshion was reviewed internally by all City departments, as well
as external review at regularly scheduled monthly special event community meetings in February and
March.
Funkshion hosted a series of events that were held without incident From March 23 — 25. Prior to the event,
staff became aware that the March 26 Swedish House Mafia Masquerade Motel event was extremely
popular and that ticket sales for the event were very strong. As a result staff met with the producer several
times to review the occupancy load and staffing plans for the event to ensure adequate off -duty staffing was
scheduled. Largest deployment of off -duty staffing was scheduled for Saturday event (March 26). The
deployment included 25 off -duty police officers, 2 ALS Rescues, 1 BLS Gator, Event Coordinator, Lead
Inspector and 3 Fire Inspectors. Additionally, there were an additional 100 private security personnel to
secure the event site.
Crowd size was estimated to be from 10,000 to 11,000, but the occupant load for this event was set at
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WMC /Spring Break After Action
8,600. At approximately 6:15 pm the front doors were closed due to being at full capacity. There will still
about 2,000 "ticket holders" outside of the gates. The crowd quickly became angry and hostile and
began to rush the gates and attempt to make entry to the Site. Police officers and Security guards
made their way to secure the entrance. The crowds began to push on the barricades and police
officers. The decision was made for the safety of all to re -open the entry gates and allow entry to the
crowds. Once the crowd outside the gates was let in, the gates were closed for the remainder of the
event.
Several incidents occurred that resulted in a number of arrests and a police lieutenant suffered a deep cut
on his forehead and received stitches at Mount Sinai Medical Center. Fire personnel responded to 24 total
calls for the event, but there were no major emergencies. The calls included:
• 3 ALS transports to Local Hospital
• 9 patients treated and released on scene
• 12 patients evaluated and assisted (minor care)
The City also received three noise complaints pertaining to the event. The event was ultimately cited for
violating the City's Noise Ordinance and for violating the conditions of their special event permit. Due to the
violations, including exceeding occupancy load, and subsequent problems with litter control, the City has
defaulted the $5,000 security deposit.
In addition to the off -duty event staffing listed above, the Police Department also had a total of 60 officers
citywide (all three zones), 24 Officers assigned to south zone (including RDA city center), 11 additional
officers for spring break enhanced staffing and another 45 officers working off -duty events in the south zone
of the city.
Since 2004, Funkshion has taken place in the Lummus Park/Ocean Drive area during this same time period
without incident. The Administration is reviewing options relating to the Funkshion event that normally
occurs this time of year to ensure that this type of issue does not occur again. This may include restricting
them from hosting this event in a public outdoor area during March, and /or prohibiting /limiting any added live
concert element of the event.
C: Hilda Fernandez, Assistant City Manager
Jorge Gomez, Assistant City Manager
Max Sklar, Tourism and Cultural Development Director
JMG /HMF /mas
H: \Tourism and Cultural Development \Entertainment Film Special Events \MEP \SPRING BREAK 2011 \Spring Break and Funksion 2011AfterAction
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