LTC 107-2012 America's Best of the Best MIAMI'BEAC H`
OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
No. LTC # l07 -201 LETTER TO. COtV4AR' 64" 1 � z
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TO: Mayor Matti Herrera Bower and Members of the City Commission
FROM:• Jorge M. Gonzalez, City Manager C�"
DATE: April 25, 2012
: SUBJECT: America' Best of the Best Restored Beach Award Contest
The purpose of this Letter to Commission (LTC) is to inform you that as the 2011 winner of the
American Shore & Beach Preservation Association (ASBPA) Best Restored Beach award, the
City of Miami Beach is eligible to.win the Best of the Best Restored Beaches•in the Urban Beach
category.
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Through this contest, the ASBPA seeks to remind people that our country's favorite beaches
have been restored and ,to highlight the importance .of sound coastal management, as' well as
the need to maintain our coastal infrastructure to keep it healthy and wide for all users. For the ,
last 40 years, beach restoration has been the preferred method of shore protection in coastal s
communities. Beach restoration is the process of placing beach - quality - sand on dwindling
beaches to reverse or offset the effects of erosion. The three main reasons for restoration are:
storm protection — a wide sandy beach helps separate storm waves from upland structures and
infrastructure; habitat restoration — numerous species rely on wide, healthy beaches as a place
to live, feed and nest; and recreation — every year, there are more than 8 million visitors come
and enjoy our 'city's beaches: The City realizes the protection and enhancement of natural
resources. is closely linked to preservation of .its quality of life and the stability of its tourism
based economy.
' The initial Miami Beach restoration project was constructed from 1976 to 1981 and
restored /constructed a 10.5 -mile protective beach and vegetated berm extending from
-Government Cut through Haulover Beach Park. The initial project cost approximately $64 million
'and revitalized the economy of Miami Beach and the neighboring areas: Subsequent smaller
restorations have addressed severe beach erosion along the Miami -Dade County shoreline and
have also had resounding economic and social impacts to the community.
The Best of'the Best Restored Beaches winner will be the beach receiving the most votes in an
on- line contest. 'The community can vote for the City of Miami Beach at:
http: / /www.asbpa.org /about us /about us best restored beach 2012:htm Individuals can
place. a vote once every 24 hours, through April 27, and see how your favorite beach is doing
every time you visit..
If you have any suggestions or need additional information, please feel free to contact. Betsy
Wheaton, Environmental Resources Manager, at elizabethwheatoncc Dmiamibeachfl.gov.
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