LTC 210-2002
CITY OF MIAMI BEACH
Office of the City Manager
Letter to Commission No. 9/(J--Zoog.....
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Subject:
Mayor David Dermer and
Members of the City Commission
Jorge M. Gonzalez ).. ~
City Manager v- 0
SOUTH POINTE PARK INITIATIVES
Date: September 10, 2002
To:
From:
As you may know, the Administration had received numerous complaints regarding youths
and gang-related activities taking place in South Pointe Park and its vicinity. These
activities included the congregation of youths attending the park under the guise of
recreational use; however, incited on many occasion, a variety of illegal activities, including
traffic/parking violations, consumption of alcohol/illegal drug use, illegal weapons, and
stolen property. I had requested Police Chief, Don DeLucca to investigate the matter and
provide a short and long-term solution to these issues.
The Police Department established a five officer Task Force to investigate and address
these issues. Over a five-week period (August 4th - September 1st>, the Task Force has
been very successful. The following is an itemized listing of the offenses/enforcement
actions taken during this period:
Cate 0 Total
Arrests 130
Traffic/Parkin Violations 1,557
Wea on/Firearms 48
FI (Field Interrogation 108
Cards
lIIe al Dru Possession 32
Stolen Vehicle 1
Total: 1,876
As a long-term solution, Chief DeLucca requested that the City's Parking Department
operate the South Pointe Parking Lot as an attended/flat rate parking operation as
opposed to a metered operation. The impetus was to increase [parking] availability for
those having legitimate (and legal) use of the parking lot. This recommendation was
reviewed by the Parking Department and implemented on August 17. 2002. The initiative
was discussed with Smith and Wollensky and the City's Parks and Recreation Department,
both demand generators of the parking lot. The following parking policy/rates were
implemented: (1) $2 Flat Rate for Residents (ID Required) and (2) $5.00 Flat Rate for
Non-Residents. Smith and Wollensky patrons are directed to the restaurant's self-park
spaces or valet parking service.
The attended/f1at rate parking operation has been very successful fiscally, operationally,
and from a policing perspective. The parking revenues generated offset operational costs
and a by-product of this initiative provides a uniform presence at the parking lot that acts as
a deterrent to many of the previously stated illegal activities.
The Parking Department will continue to operate the South Pointe Parking Lot as an
attended/flat rate parking operation indefinitely. Furthermore, the Police Department will
continue their efforts monitoring the parking lot and the vicinity to insure that our recent
successes do not diminish. If you have any questions or need any additional information,
please feel free to contact me.
C: Christina M. Cuervo, Assistant City Manager
Robert C. Middaugh, Assistant City Manager
Mayra Diaz-Buttacavoli, Assistant City Manager
Donald De Lucca, Police Chief
Saul Frances, Parking Director
Kevin Smith, Parks and Recreation Director
JMG~
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