LTC 38-2002
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CITY of MIAMI BEACH
Office of the City Manager
Letter to Commission No. '7f6,- ?2tJtJ2-
m
TO:
FROM:
Mayor David Dermer and
Members of the City Commission
Jorge M. Gonzalez \ A ",/'"..
City Manager J~v 0
Date: February 11, 2002
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
February 4, 2002.
Mayor's Blue Ribbon Tourism Task Force - Met on Monday, February 4 to
continue their discussion of tourism related issues. The items discussed at the
meeting included progress reports by all the sub-committees that met the prior
week. The next two meetings will take place on February 19 and 25 and the final
meeting on March 4, 2002 when the final recommendations will be presented.
Ocean Front Neighborhood Meeting - Approximately 50 residents attended the
Mayor on the Move I Oceanfront Neighborhood meeting held at The Palms Hotel
on Monday, February 4. Those in attendance identified a number of concerns
affecting the community's quality of life. The following five items were identified
as neighborhood priorities: (1) Extension of the Boardwalk I Beach-walk; (2)
Beach Erosion; (3) Parking; (4) Code Compliance issues; and (5) Public Works
issues. Staff will be working on strategies to address the five identified priorities
and will then provide a comprehensive overview to the Oceanfront Neighborhood
in the form of a newsletter.
South Pointe Neighborhood Meeting - Approximately 150 residents attended
the Mayor on the Move I South Pointe Neighborhood meeting held at The South
Beach Marriott Hotel on Tuesday, February 5. Those in attendance identified a
number of concerns affecting the community's quality of life. The following nine
items were identified as neighborhood priorities: (1) Noise; (2) South Pointe Park;
(3) Parking; (4) Police; (5) Public Works; (6) Homeless issue; (7) Beach related
issues; (8) CIP related issues; and (9) Zoning issues. Staff will be working on
strategies to address the nine identified priorities and will then provide a
comprehensive overview to the South Pointe Neighborhood in the form of a
newsletter.
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Parks Blue Ribbon Committee Meeting - Met on Tuesday, February 5 and
discussed the comments received from the community at the South Beach and
North Beach Town Hall Meetings and used these as the basis for the creation of
six (6) subcommittees. The subcommittees will address marketing,
communication & outreach, park facilities & maintenance, policy & procedures,
after-school & youth programming (specialty camps/sports), adult & special
needs programming, and new programs, partnerships & funding. The next
meeting will be Tuesday, February 19 at 6:00 p.m. at the Scott Rakow Youth
Center.
2002 Boat Show - Representatives from the Administration met this week to
finalize logistical issues involving this year's Boat Show. An LTC with specific
details regarding preparations for the Boat Show was sent on February 4.
Employee Brown Bag Lunch - City Manager held a brown bag lunch with the
Finance Department and Office of Management and Budget Staff. Some of the
issues discussed included the Manager's major administrative goals, the impact
of the economy on the City and hopes for the future, health insurance and other
benefit changes.
Crime Statistics Press Conference - The City held a press conference on
Wednesday, February 6 to announce that overall reported crime dropped 9.5
percent in 2001 from 2000, which signifies the second largest drop in crime in the
last five years with a total reduction of 33.4 percent since 1996. Media coverage
0NTVJ, WFOR, WLTV, WSCV, WPLG, TVC, The Miami Herald, EI Nuevo
Herald, Sun-Sentinel, SunPost, WIOD, and Community Newspapers) was
positive.
State of the County Address - Representatives from the Administration
attended the Mayor's State of the County address where the County Mayor
discussed some of the highlights achieved during 2001 including beginning
elections reforms; making government more accessible through the County's
new enhanced website; simplifying the permitting process; responding to citizens'
request for better flood control; activating all vital resources to assist with the
September 11 terrorist attacks; and responding with an Expedite Program of
$407 million for our economic recovery.
Royal Palm Crowne Plaza Hotel- Representatives from the Administration and
Commissioner Cruz met with Don Peebles and other representatives of the
Royal Palm Crowne Plaza Hotel on Friday, February 8 to continue our dialogue
about how to deal with the issues at hand. We will continue meeting until the
issues are resolved.
Should you desire any additional information about any of these items, please
feel free to contact me.
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