Resolution 2021-31653R E S O L U T IO N N O . 2 0 2 1 -3 1 6 5 3
A R E S O L U T IO N O F T H E M A Y O R A N D C IT Y C O M M IS S IO N O F
T H E C IT Y O F M IA M I B E A C H , F L O R ID A , D IR E C T IN G T H E C IT Y
A D M IN IS T RA T IO N T O IS S U E A L E T T E R T O T H E C IT Y
C O M M IS S IO N , ID E N T IF Y IN G T H E P A L M T R E E R E M O V A L S
A N T IC IP A T E D T O T A K E P L A C E W IT H IN T H E N E X T 9 0 D A Y S ,
IN O R D E R T O P E R M IT M E M B E R S O F T H E C IT Y C O M M IS S IO N
T O ID E N T IF Y T R E E R E M O V A L S IN S P E C IF IC A R E A S T H A T
M A Y B E O F S IG N IF IC A N T C O N C E R N , A N D R E Q U E S T T H A T
T H E C IT Y A D M IN IS T RA T IO N H O L D S U C H T R E E R E M O V A L S IN
A B E Y A N C E U N T IL S U C H T IM E A S L E G IS L A T IO N P R O P O S E D
A T T H E M A R C H 17 , 2 0 2 1 C IT Y C O M M IS S IO N M E E T IN G
R E G A R D IN G P R E S E R V A T IO N O F P A L M T R E E L A N D S C A P E S
IC O N IC T O M IA M I B E A C H 'S C U L T U R E A N D H IS T O R Y IS
C O N S ID E R E D ; A N D F U R T H E R P R O V ID IN G T H A T TH E IN TE N T
O F T H E F O R E G O IN G R E S O L U T IO N IS T O A C C O M M O D A T E
P R E S E R V A T IO N C O N C E R N S W H IL E M IN IM IZ IN G A N Y
D E L A Y S T O C IT Y C O N S T R U C T IO N P R O J E C T S T H A T A R E
C U R R E N T L Y IN P R O G R E S S .
W H E R E A S , in an effort to develop and maintain a healthy and sustainable urban tree
canopy, the Urban Forestry Master Plan ("UFMP") generally recommends shifting to a higher
percentage of non-palm canopy trees citywide in order to improve the resiliency of the City's urban
forest, which will result in reducing the percentage of palms citywide by certain dates, including
through certain targeted removals of palms;
WHEREAS, the City encourages historic preservation, including preservation of iconic
historic landscaping features;
WHEREAS, the UFMP also recognizes the "iconic" historical significance of palms in the
City of Miami Beach, and acknowledges the challenge of facilitating adaptive change, while
preserving clear established neighborhood identities, particularly when those neighborhood
identities are founded in palms; and
WHEREAS, palms always have been, and remain an iconic part of Miami Beach's
landscape; and
WHEREAS, as such, the Mayor and City Commission direct the City Administration to
issue a letter to the city commission, identifying the palm tree removals anticipated to take place
within the next 90 days in order to permit members of the City Commission to identify tree
removals in specific areas that may be of significant concern; and
WHEREAS, upon receiving the letter from the City Administration, members of the City
Commission will have the opportunity to evaluate and request that the City Administration hold
palm tree removals that pose a significant concern in abeyance, until such time as legislation
proposed at the March 17, 2021 City Commission meeting regarding preservation of palm tree
landscapes iconic to Miami Beach's culture and history is considered by the Mayor and City
Commission; and
W H E R E A S , the Mayor and City Commission wish to establish a 90-day moratorium on
the removal of palms from public property except for the following two projects: North Beach
Oceanside Park Beachwalk (#26119) and Surface Lot at Biscayne Beach (#20518); and
WHEREAS, the intent of this Resolution is not to create a moratorium on tree removals or
interfere with the existing twenty-two (22) capital projects, but to accommodate preservation
concerns in areas that are most sensitive, while minimizing any delays to City construction
projects that are currently in progress.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT DULY RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY
COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, that the Mayor and City
Commission hereby direct the City Administration to issue a letter to the City Commission,
identifying the palm tree removals anticipated to take place within the next 90 days, in order to
permit members of the City Commission to identify tree removals in specific areas that may be of
significant concern, and request that the City Administration hold such tree removals in abeyance
until such time as legislation proposed at the March 17, 2021 City Commission meeting regarding
preservation of palm tree landscapes iconic to Miami Beach's culture and history is considered;
and further provide that the intent of the foregoing Resolution is to accommodate preservation
concerns while minimizing any delays to City construction projects that are currently in progress.
PASSED AND ADOPTED ns Ila /liar- „a4.
ATTEST:
2k. Dan Gelber, Mayor
rEe ara&o!cl ceri
(Sponsored by Commissioner Steven Meiner)
APPROVED AS TO
FORM & LANGUAGE
& FOR EXECUTION
2r±
cwy Atome» Q
I
Date
Resolutions-R7 J
MIAMI BEAC H
COMMISSION MEMORANDUM
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Commission
FROM: Commissioner Steven Meiner
DATE: March 17, 2021
SUBJECT:A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY
OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, TO PRESERVE CERTAIN LANDSCAPES
ICONIC TO MIAMI BEACH'S CULTURE AND HISTORY.
ANALYSIS
Resolution is forthcoming.
Please feel free to contact Amadeus Huff for additional information.
SUPPORTING SURVEY DATA
NIA.
Applicable Area
Citywide
ls this a "Residents Right
to Know" item, pursuant to
City Code Section 2-.142
Yes
Legi slative Tracking
Commissioner Steven Meiner
Does this item utilize G.O,
Bond Funds?
No
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