LTC 155-2013 SOFNA Correspondence and Motion RE: South Pointe Park Dog Off-Leash Area ® MIAMI BEACH
OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER _
NO. LTC# 155-2013 LETTER TO CQM"S�1(?,1 2: 19
CI I Y CLr Rr 'S O F IC E
TO: Mayor Matti Herrera Bower and M mbers of he City Commission
FROM: Jimmy L. Morales, City Manage
DATE: May 1, 2013
SUBJECT: SOFNA(South Of Fifth Neighborh d Association) Correspondence and Motion
Related to the South Pointe Park Dog Off-Leash Area
The purpose of this Letter to Commission (LTC) is to provide you a copy of a correspondence
dated April 29, 2013, sent to the Administration by the SOFNA (South Of Fifth Neighborhood
Association) Board of Directors. The correspondence was sent to clarify the association's
motion related to the off leash dog area in South Pointe Park, at a location selected in
consultation with professionals as well as the input of the community that was approved at their
April 4, 2103, general meeting. As indicated in the correspondence SOFNA recognizes there is
overwhelming community support and also supports an off-leash area in South Pointe Park.
However, the association does not support the location of the triangular grass area where the
lighthouse sculpture is located.
As instructed by the City Commission at the March 13, 2103 meeting, the Parks and Recreation
Administration hosted a publically noticed community meeting on Monday, April 15, 2013, in
South Pointe Park to discuss the relocated South Pointe Park Dog Off-leash Area. At the
meeting, the Administration discussed the City Commission's directives given at its March 13,
2103, meeting. This included an explanation of the revised hours, a presentation of the draft
landscape concept plan, and a discussion as to potential alternative locations in South Pointe
Park for the Dog Off-leash Pilot Program Area. Following questions and comments by the
residents in attendance, it was the majority opinion that the current location of the off-leash dog
pilot program, in the triangular area south and west of the Washington Avenue entry plaza
where the Lighthouse sculpture is located, was the location best suited for the South Pointe
Park Dog Off-leash Pilot Program, and it should remain there. Attached for your information is a
copy of the sign-in sheet for the April 15, 2013, South Pointe Park Pilot Dog Off-leash
community meeting.
Also as instructed by the City Commission, the Parks and Recreation Department
Administration has submitted the application for the Design Review Board's review of the
landscape plan around perimeter of the relocated (lighthouse) dog off-leash area. At this time
the application is scheduled to be heard at the June, 2013 Design Review Board meeting.
This Ordinance Amendment implementing the directives of the City Commission to relocate the
dog off-leash area, revise the evening hours, and extend the pilot program through and
including December 31, 2013, was presented and approved on first reading by the Mayor and
City Commission at the April 17, 2013, Commission meeting and is presently included on the
May 8th agenda for a second reading and public hearing. SOFNA has sent an email to its
neighbors informing them of their position on the location of the dog area and inviting them to
attend the May 8th Commission Meeting.
Please advise if you have questions, comments or concerns.
JLM/MASKS
Attachments
F:\RCPA\$ALL\Previous\KEVIN\LTCs-2013\Jimmy L.Morales-CM\SOFNA South Pointe Park Dog Off-Leash Motion.doc
SOFNA
SOUTH OF FIFTH
NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATON
April 29,2013
Via email
Kevin Smith
Director
Parks& Recreation/City of Miami Beach
2100 Washington Ave
Miami Beach, FL 33139
Dear Mr.Smith,
I am in receipt of your April 17, 2013 email to Dr. Mandy, Mr. Diaz,and me, requesting
a reaffirmation and/or clarification of the following unanimously approved SOFNA
resolution:
SOFNA supports an off leash dog area in South Pointe Park,at a location selected in
consultation with professionals as well as the input of the community.
There has evidently been some confusion about the wording of that resolution, and
whether in fact it was passed with the express and explicit intent of putting on the record
SOFNA's current opposition to the city's proposed relocation of the off-leash dog zone in
South Pointe Park to the triangular grass area that is home to Tobias Rehberger's
"obstinate lighthouse"sculpture.
Let there be no doubt that SOFNA is currently opposed to that relocation.
SOFNA recognizes there is overwhelming community support, however,for an off-leash
dog area. We support that.
The issue that SOFNA tried to address in that April 4 resolution was our desire for a
planned decision-making process that more actively sought and weighed input from the
neighborhood as well as from professionals who specialized in the use of public spaces,
parks,and design.
1521 Alton Road -Ste 575 • Miami Beach, FL • 33139
sofna@sofna.net
1'
-2- April 29,2013
We do not have any reason to believe that such an inclusive and transparent process led
to the City's decision to return the off-leash dog area to a prime and heavily trafficked
location as opposed to a more isolated and less used portion of the Park. It seems rather
to be a decision based largely on the fact that the oft-leash dog area had at one time been
at that location and some dog lovers wanted it returned there.
You will note that twice above, when referring to SOFNA's opposition to the proposed
relocation of the off-leash dog area, I used the qualifier current. That is because we are
ready to abide by a consensus reached as a result of a fair and comprehensive process that
takes into account community input and the advice of professionals. If the end result of
such a process were a decision to relocate the off-leash dog zone to the lighthouse area,
we would support that.
What are the next steps? What can SOFNA do,together with the City, to move forward
toward a process that will help comprehensively settle the question of where is best in
South Pointe for an off-leash dog area?
We look forward to your guidance and to working with you on this important element of
the Park.
Sincerely yours,
On behalf of S A Directors
erald seer
Secre ry
gerald @sofna.net
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