LTC 133-2002
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CITY OF MIAMI BEACH
Office of the City Manager
Letter to Commission No. /33 '2tIJZ
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To:
Mayor David Dermer and
Members of the City Commission
Date: May 24, 2002
From:
Jorge M. Gonzalez \.' _ Anr/'
City Manager 0 ry~ 0
COMPLAINT - 5660 COLLINS AVENUE CONDOMINIUM
Subject:
During the Dr. Stanley Sutnick Citizen's Forum on May 8th 2002, Mr. Garfinkle of 5660
Collins Avenue presented a number of complaints against the Fire Prevention Division with
regards to complying with Fire Sprinkler requirements. The Fire Department has reviewed
each complaint and submits the following response:
1. The condo has made every effort to comply with the Life Safety Plan for fire regulations.
Since 1998, three separate Life Safety plans have been submitted. The final one dated
2/22/99 was approved.
2. The condo has submitted plans and keeps getting referred to fire officials.
Plans must be reviewed by Plans analysts prior to approval. If deficiencies are noted, the
plans must be upgraded.
3. Each official interprets the requirements in a different way.
Two Plans Analysts review plans in a standard manner.
4. The condo was told to apply for a building permit.
No evidence of a permit request pertaining to fire systems or Life Safety.
5. The condo must now go before the Special Master.
There is nothing on record to indicate the building must appear before the Special Master.
6. The condo has become a "test case" for all Miami Beach condos.
We have no knowledge of this accusation, nor would we make any building a "test case".
7. Who is the responsible party to approve plans so the condo may contract the work out?
Plans should be submitted to the building department for review by fire and other
disciplines. Once approved" permits may be pulled and work started.
It appears that Mr. Garfinkle is frustrated by the plans review process and may feel that his
building is being unfairly singled out for critical review. This is certainly not the fact. Each
plan submitted by the condo has been reviewed with "punch lists" attached. The "punch
lists" were addressed to satisfaction in February of 1999. Since that time, no permits were
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pulled, consequently the 2/99 plans, which fell under the 1994 code, will need to be
updated again to comply with the current code, which went into effect this year.
These issues could have easily been addressed by Fire Prevention if given the opportunity.
We offer morning meetings with the Plans Analysts and the Fire Marshal during the week
for this purpose.
As always we seek to provide the best customer service possible, while enforcing the Life
Safety Code. We also look forward to clearing up this issue with Mr. Garfinkle and getting
his building up to full Life Safety protection.
JMG\FJ/ED/dd
c: Floyd Jordan, Fire Chief
Eric Yuhr, Assistant Fire Chief
Ed Del Favero, Fire Marshal
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