LTC 156-2003 CITY of MIAMI BEACH
Office of the City Manager
Letter to Commission No.
TO:
FROM:
SUBJECT:
Mayor David Dermer and
Members of the City Commission
Jorge M. Gonzalez ~
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Date: July 7, 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
June 30, 2003:
Fourth of July Celebration - Members of the administration continued finalizing
details throughout the week for the City's annual Fourth of July celebration. The
free event, headlined by world renowned trumpeter Arturo Sandoval, included a
naturalization ceremony and a fireworks display over the ocean and was highly
publicized throughout various media outlets. An estimated crowd of over 20,000
were also on hand over the course of the event to celebrate the City's receipt of
the prestigious Ali-America City Award.
Major Events Plan (MEP) - As part of the City's Major Events Plan (MEP),
representatives from the administration met throughout the week to continue
planning and coordinating city services for all of the upcoming events. The MEP,
consisting of various phases of citywide planning and logistical implementation,
attempts to ensure that all city services are enhanced and members of the
community are adequately informed. Among the events for which the City will be
implementing its MEP are the NAACP Conference, taking place from July 12-17
at the Miami Beach Convention Center, and the Billboard Hip Hop Awards,
scheduled for August 9 at the Jackie Gleason Theater. Volunteer recruitment
efforts for the NAACP Conference have already begun, requesting employee and
community assistance for a variety of tasks and responsibilities.
Ali-America City Award - I, alongside representatives from the administration,
traveled to the City of Coral Gables on June 30 to receive a proclamation
honoring the City's receipt of the Ali-America Award. Other municipalities
throughout the county will also recognize the City through proclamations,
including the Village of Pinecrest, on July 15 beginning on 7:00 p.m., and the City
of Miami, on July 17 beginning at 9:00 a.m. Other cities including Hialeah, South
Miami and Miami-Dade County will distinguish the City during their upcoming
Commission meetings. Specific dates and additional details will be provided as
they become available. The Ali-America City award, presented by the National
Civic League on June 14, is part of a 54-year-old program recognizing civic
excellence and communities best exemplifying the spirit of citizen involvement
and collaborative problem solving. Miami Beach was the only Florida community
this year to receive the coveted honor.
North Beach Neighborhood Meeting - I, alongside representatives from the
administration and the Police Department, met with residents on July 1 to
address various North Beach neighborhood issues. Residents expressed
concerns over a variety of topics, including: environmental unease over the
possible use of pesticides used along the City's dune system; the need to clean
inland canals and waterways within city limits; the feasibility of retaining or
removing the 63rd Street flyover; illegal parking by commercial vehicles in North
Beach lots and residential lawns; maintenance of Normandy Fountain lighting
fixtures; the request for an area Bark Park; and enhanced recruitment and
retention efforts courting businesses to the North Beach area. Those in
attendance also requested additional information on the process of street and
traffic re-design projects undertaken jointly by the Florida Department of
Transportation (FDOT) and the City as well as status reports on Fire Station
Number 4 and Normandy Shores Golf Course improvements. The president of
the Biscayne Elementary School PTSA also requested City input and
cooperation during an upcoming presentation to the Miami-Dade County School
Board denoting the school's physical condition.
Alaska Parcel - Members of the administration hosted a community design
workshop on July 1 to discuss proposals to resolve South Pointe area litigation
through the proposed expansion of public land and Baywalk adjacent to South
Pointe Park and development of the Goodman, Hinson and Alaska Parcels.
Several plans, brought forth by architect Alex Cooper of the firm Cooper,
Robertson and Partners, were presented to the community and evaluated.
Overviews of the parcels' historical and legal chronologies as well as land use
and zoning designations were also presented as were planning considerations
and development framework for the general area bounded by Biscayne Bay, First
Street, Ocean Drive and Government Cut. A second community meeting has
been scheduled for July 15, beginning at 6:00 p.m. in the Commission
Chambers. A full schedule of ads, placed in various Miami Herald Beach
Neighbors editions, has been placed to notify the community.
Bond Rating Upgrade - Standards & Poor's (S&P), one of the nation's premier
bond-rating services, upgraded the City's bonds rating on July 2 from a grade of
A+ to an AA-. The upgrade, the second in a six-month timeframe, represents the
highest ratings level ever awarded to the City and was based on strong and
sustained financial performance, a growing and diversified tax base and robust
reserve levels; all guided by sound fiscal policy. Moody's Investors Service has
also reaffirmed the City an A1 rating, upgrading their outlook for the City from
"stable" to "positive." An LTC, denoting additional details, was sent to the Mayor
and Commission on July 3.
Royal Palm Negotiations - Members of the administration and the City
Attorney's Office met with R. Donahue Peebles and his representatives on July 3
to continue negotiations. As directed by the Commission on June 11, a follow-
up meeting has been scheduled for July 9, 2003.
Five-Year Consolidated Plan Public Hearing - Members of the administration
are preparing to meet with the City's Committee on the Homeless on July 9,
beginning at 4:00 p.m. in the First Floor Conference Room, to discuss the
Committee's suggestions for possible inclusion in the City's five-year
Consolidated Plan for the fiscal year 2003-2007. The meeting falls within the 30-
day community comment period concluding on July 11, with applicable
comments to be included in the final report presented to the Commission on July
30.
Recycling Efforts - The City launched its new recycling program on July 7 in
City Hall, following several training sessions aimed at instructing staff on how to
best participate. The program, whose main focus is to create a more
environmentally-friendly workplace through the recycling of commonly used office
and paper products, is facilitated through a recent agreement arranged by the
City where the BFI Company will provide recycling bins to all city departments.
Additional training sessions will continue to be provided, with selected
department designees partaking in the process.
Outdoor Entertainment - Members of the administration participated in a City
Commission Workshop on Monday, July 7 to address community concerns and
comments regarding the proposed hotel and outdoor entertainment ordinance.
Modes of Rapid Transit Options - The city's consultant, HDR Engineering, Inc.,
participated in a special meeting of the Planning Board on July 8 to discuss the
rapid transit evaluation report with members of the Committee. A special
Commission meeting, presenting the draft report, has also been scheduled for
July 10, beginning at 5:00 p.m. in the Commission Chambers.
Swale Maintenance Committee - Representatives from the administration,
alongside Swale Maintenance Committee members, will be meeting on July 15,
beginning at 6:00 p.m. in the City Manager's Small Conference Room, to review
a draft policy pertaining to City swales. The draft, intended to create a uniform
quality and standard of maintenance and enforcement for all of the City's swales,
focuses on permit, parking and landscape requirements among other items.
Charter Review Committee - Members of the administration, joined by
members of the Charter Review Committee will be meeting on July 22, beginning
at 4:30 p.m. in the Mayor's Conference Room, to address renewal of the City's
charter. Topics to be discussed and submitted for Commission consideration
include the Citizen's Bill of Rights, form of government questions, election reform
and City Manager/ administrative amendments. Further information, and
agenda, can be found on the City's internet under E-Government, Boards and
Committees.
If you have any questions or need any additional information, please feel free to
contact me.
JMG/ri/jl
F:lcmgr/$alllltc-O31weeklyupdates/July 4 weeklyupdate