LTC 100-2003 CITY of MIAMI BEACH
Office of the City Manager
Letter to Commission No. /Z¢)-
TO:
FROM:
SUBJECT:
Mayor David Dermer and
Members of the City Commission
Jorge M. Gonzalez C~
City Manager ~ '~/'
U
WEEKLY UPDATE
Date: April 25, 2003
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
April 21, 2003:
2003 Community Development Week - Members of the administration
successfully hosted the 2003 Community Development Week from April 21-27,
commemorating the achievements made possible by Community Development
Block Grant (CDBG) funds. The weeklong activities, celebrating Earth and Arbor
Day, civic participation and affordable housing among others, focused on
inspiring the community and achieving personal and family success.
Neighborhood Leadership Academy - The Public Works Department
presented an overview of their responsibilities and services to academy
participants on April 21. The participant's surveys, completed at the end of each
session, will be compiled and shared with each department with a final report
presented to the Mayor and Commission.
Brown Bag Luncheon - As part of an ongoing series with the various city
departments, I had an opportunity to meet with the staff of the Police Department
on April 21 and held informal discussions on a multitude of issues of internal and
external concern.
Royal Palm Hotel Negotiations - Members of the administration and the City
Attorney met with developer Don Peebles and outside counsel on April 21 to
conclude negotiations. Negotiation details will be included in the April 30
Commission meeting agenda.
5th Street Development - I, alongside members of the administration, met with
Alan Potamkin and his representatives on April 22 to discuss the 5th Street
Development which includes a supermarket. Copies of the Parking Study were
previously made available to Mr. Potamkin and his associates for review.
Discussion focused on the need to prioritize the City's future parking
investments, with Potamkin to provide some revised proposals seeking City
participation in the near future.
Parking Initiatives - Members of the administration met with representatives
from North Beach on April 23 to discuss future area parking lot improvements,
specifically the 72nd Street Lot and the Byron Carlyle lot. Pursuant to a recent
Finance Committee meeting, staff also met with Bernard Zyschovich on April 25
to discuss parking alternatives for the Civic/Convention/Government Center area
as it pertains to the proposed Soundspace New World Symphony expansion.
Charter Review Committee - Members of the administration, joined by
members of the public, addressed renewal of the City's charter on April 23. The
process, undertaken every 10 years, is reviewing items including district
representation, election runoff time frames, mayoral term limitations and form of
government questions among others. The next meeting is scheduled for May 6,
at 5:30 p.m., in the Commission Chambers.
Take Your Children to Work Day - A multitude of city departments successfully
participated in "Take Your Children to Work Day" on April 24. The annual
nationwide program strives to educate children on the challenges and
possibilities of participating in today's workforce while providing instruction on
how to succeed in future job-related endeavors.
Leadership Initiatives - As part of my list of annual priorities aimed at enhancing
organizational efficiencies through the empowerment and education of our
employees and managers, leadership development retreats have been created
for all City departments. The retreats focus on team building, mission alignment,
goal setting, performance measures and internal leadership development. On
April 24, the Tourism and Cultural Development Department successfully
participated in the process, addressing areas of need and opportunities for
betterment.
Rapid Transit Options RFQ - Representatives from the administration, in
conjunction with the Evaluation Committee, met on April 24 to allow those
bidding on consultant services for rapid transit options to present their services to
the Committee. The meeting provided an opportunity for public and vendor
comments to be heard.
Quality of Life Task Force - Representatives of the administration, joined by
members of the community, met on April 25 to discuss various quality of life
issues impacting the city. Discussions focused on enhancing the City's Noise
Ordinance and how to better enforce its reach.
North Beach Neighborhood Meeting - Representatives from the administration
and the Police Department are preparing to host a community meeting on April
28 to address various North Beach neighborhood issues. The meeting,
beginning at 6:30 p.m. in the Biscayne Elementary School Cafeteria, will provide
residents with a forum to express their concerns as well as receive input from
various city departments.
Memorial Day 2003 - Members of the administration continued to meet
throughout the week with various city departments as well as local businesses,
hotels and nightclubs to ensure proper allocation of city services and personnel
during the upcoming Memorial Day weekend. A meeting with the City's Cultural
Arts Council has been scheduled for May 2, beginning at 8:30 a.m. in the
Tourism and Cultural Development Conference Room. Two meetings detailing
the City's action plan have also been scheduled for May 12, including a
discussion with hotel managers beginning at 3:00 p.m. in the First Floor
Conference Room and followed by a Town Hall meeting at 6:00 p.m. in the
Commission Chambers. The administration will also be meeting with the
Transportation and Parking Committee, Ocean Drive Association and other
community groups throughout the upcoming weeks. Volunteer recruitment for
the City's Goodwill Ambassador Program, which is comprised of employee and
community volunteers serving as buffers or liaisons between the police and
visitors, has begun with a training session to be held on May 14, from 10:00 a.m.
to 2:00 p.m. at the Miami Beach Convention Center Board Room C-124. The
City's Office of Communications has initiated article placements in news
publications recruiting residents and community participants for the Goodwill
Ambassador Program. An editorial meeting, encompassing the Miami Herald
news editors, is also being coordinated to ensure news coverage is factual and
fair while emphasizing the City's myriad of the planning efforts.
If you have any questions or need any additional information, please feel free to
contact me.
JMG/ri/jl
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