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LTC 333-2021 2021 Voter's GuideMIAMI BEACH OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK NO . LETTER TO COMMISSION 333-2021 TO: Mayor Dan Gelber and Members of the City Commission FROM: Rafael E. Granado, City Clerk DATE: August 6, 2021 ~ SUBJECT: 2021 VOTER'S GUIDE Attached please find the final draft of the 2021 City of Miami Beach Voter's Guide . On Tuesday, November 2, 2021, the City of Miami Beach will be conducting its General Election to elect a Mayor and three Commissioners, at which time it will also be conducting a Special Election for the purpose of presenting to the City's voters four ballot questions. The purpose of this Voter's Guide is to provide objective, impartial, and fact-based explanations of these ballot questions, so that City voters may, in casting their votes, be more informed and comfortable with the City issues presented to them at the polls. The Voter's Guide was prepared by the Office of the City Attorney and the Office of the City Clerk and has been edited by the City Clerk to ensure objective and impartial explanations of the ballot questions. The Voter's Guide will be published in both English and Spanish and will be included in the Fall issue of MB Magazine . The Voter's Guide will also be posted on the City's Elections webpage. If you have any questions, please contact the Office of the City Clerk at 305.673. 7 411. Attachment F :\CLER\CLER\000_ELECTION\0000000 2021 GENERAL ELECTION\L TCs\Voter's Guide L TC .docx VOTER'S GUIDE 2021 On Tuesday, November 2, 2021, the City of Miami Beach will be conducting its General Election to elect a Mayor and three Commissioners, at which time it will also be conducting a Special Election for the purpose of presenting to the City's voters the four ballot questions set forth below. The purpose of this Voter's Guide is to provide objective, impartial, and fact-based explanations of these ballot questions, so that City voters may, in casting their votes, be more informed and comfortable with the City issues presented to them at the polls. The explanations set forth below are intended to provide general information, and members of the public seeking further information may contact the Office of the City Clerk at 305.673. 7 411 or visit the City Clerk 's website at https://www.miamibeachfl.gov/city-hall/city-clerk/election-information/ Additional information regarding voter registration, Vote-by-Mail, Early Voting, and finding your precinct may be obtained by visiting the Miami-Dade Elections Department webpage at www.iamelectionready.org or by calling 305.499.VOTE (8683) or 305.499.8480 {TTY). GENERAL AND SPECIAL ELECTIONS INFORMATION DATES: • Monday, October 4, 2021: Deadline by which the Miami-Dade County Elections Department must receive a Voter Registration Application, or if mailed, postmarked by that date. • Monday, October 18 through Sunday, October 31, 2021: Early Voting will take place in the following two sites located within the City of Miami Beach: o Miami Beach City Hall (1st floor Conference Room), 1700 Meridian Avenue, Miami Beach . o North Shore Branch Library, 7501 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach. For Early Voting times, please visit https://www .miamibeachfl.gov/city-hall/city-clerk/election- information/ or contact the Miami Beach Office of the City Clerk at 305.673. 7 411 or 711 (TTY). • Saturday, October 23, 2021 at 5 p.m.: Deadline by which the Miami-Dade County Elections Department must receive (not postmarked) a request for Vote-by-Mail ballot. • Tuesday, November 2, 2021 at 7 p.m.: Deadline by which the Miami-Dade County Elections Department must receive (not postmarked) a completed Vote-by-Mail ballot, if returned via the United States Postal Service. If a voter waits until Election Day to submit their Vote-by- Mail ballot, they can drop it off either at the Miami-Dade County Elections Department (Main Office) at 2700 NW 87th Avenue, Miami, FL 33172, at the Voter Information Center (VIC) located in the Lobby of the Stephen P. Clark Center, 111 NW 1st Street, Miami, FL 33128, or the voter can opt to vote in person at their precinct once the election board confirms that the voter's Vote-by-Mail ballot has not been received. • Tuesday, November 2, 2021, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.: Election Day -vote at the designated precinct printed on your Voter Information Card issued by Miami-Dade County. RUN-OFF ELECTION INFORMATION DATES: A Run-Off Election, if required, shall be held from 7 a.m . to 7 p.m . on Tuesday, November 16, 2021. • Monday, October 18, 2021: Deadline by the which Miami-Dade County Elections Department must receive a Voter Registration Application, or if mailed, postmarked by that date. • Friday, November 12 through Sunday, November 14, 2021: Early Voting will take place in the following two sites located within the City of Miami Beach, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.: o Miami Beach City Hall (1st floor Conference Room), 1700 Meridian Avenue, Miami Beach o North Shore Branch Library, 7501 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach. • Saturday, November 6, 2021 at 5 p.m.: Deadline by which the Miami-Dade County Elections Department must receive (not postmarked) a request for Vote-by-Mail ballot. • Tuesday, November 16, 2021 at 7 p.m.: Deadline by which the Miami-Dade County Elections Department must receive (not postmarked) a completed Vote-by-Mail ballot, if returned via the United States Postal Service. If a voter waits until Election Day to submit their Vote-by- Mail ballot, they can drop it off either at the Miami-Dade County Elections Department (Main Office) at 2700 NW 87th Avenue, Miami, FL 33172, at the Voter Information Center (VIC) located in the Lobby of the Stephen P. Clark Center, 111 NW 1st Street, Miami, FL 33128, or the voter can opt to vote in person at their precinct once the election board confirms that the voter's Vote-by-Mail ballot has not been received. • Tuesday, November 16, 2021, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.: Election Day -vote at the designated precinct printed on your Voter Information Card issued by Miami-Dade County. BALLOT QUESTIONS Ballot Question 1 Amending Lease of City Property: Holocaust Memorial Site The Holocaust Memorial at Dade Boulevard and Meridian Avenue is on City land leased to the Greater Miami Jewish Federation until 2099 . Shall City, at no cost to City, extend this Lease for 21 additional years and expand the leased premises to include adjacent 12,000 square foot City parking lot, per Resolution 2021-31809, with Federation at its sole expense constructing, operating and maintaining a 7,000 square foot Learning Center promoting tolerance and human rights? Explanation of Ballot Question 1 The City is the owner of the property at 1933-1945 Meridian Avenue, the site of the Holocaust Memorial ("Holocaust Memorial"). On January 26, 2000, the City entered into a 99-year lease for the operation and maintenance of the Holocaust Memorial, which expires on March 7, 2099 (the "Lease"). In 2008, the Lease was assigned to the Greater Miami Jewish Federation, Inc., a Florida not-for-profit corporation (the "Federation"), which has operated and maintained the Holocaust Memorial since that time. The Holocaust Memorial encourages visitors to learn about the Holocaust, remember and honor its victims and survivors, and confront issues of genocide, anti- semitism, and unchecked, divisive movements grounded in hatred. Although the visitor experience to the Holocaust Memorial is impactful, the Holocaust Memorial lacks facilities that would permit the presentation of changing exhibits, lectures, and other programming. As a result, many visitors rarely visit the Holocaust Memorial more than once. Accordingly, on July 28 , 2021, following two public hearings, the Mayor and City Commission adopted Resolution No. 2021-31809, approving a proposed amendment to the Lease ("Lease Amendment"), for the City to lease to the Federation the adjacent 12,000 square foot City-owned surface parking lot located at 775 19 th Street ("Additional Premises"), for the sole purpose of allowing the Federation to construct and operate a new Learning Center. The Learning Center is intended to activate the Holocaust Memorial through interactive and other programming that would complement the Holocaust Memorial and reach broader audiences by educating students and the public about tolerance and human rights. The Learning Center would consist of approximately 7,000 square feet of space for educational and cultural exhibits, programming , and events, as well as for ancillary uses, limited to a gift pavilion for the sale of commemorative pictures and similar personal items, and a cafe serving light fare, not to exceed 1,000 square feet. The Lease Amendment also includes a use restriction, to ensure that the Additional Premises is used solely for the operation of a Learning Center as outlined above, and for no other purposes . The design for the Learning Center project is subject to review and approval by the City's Design Review Board, and the Federation must obtain all approvals and permits required to build the Learning Center. Renderings depicting the preliminary concept design approved as part of the Lease Amendment are included on page _ of this Voter's Guide. In consideration for the City's lease of the Additional Premises, the Lease Amendment provides that the Federation would be solely responsible for developing, designing, constructing, operating, and maintaining the Learning Center, at the Federation 's sole cost and expense , with no City funding whatsoever. The Lease Amendment provides that the term of the Lease, which currently expires on March 7, 2099, would be extended for an additional 21 years. The Lease Amendment also includes project milestones for the completion of the Learning Center, with the goal of (i) obtaining Design Review Board approval of the Learning Center within 2 years of the effective date of the Lease Amendment, and (ii) completing the project within 3 years thereafter. The Lease Amendment further provides that until the commencement of construction for the Learning Center, the City will continue to utilize the Additional Premises as a surface parking lot. Pursuant to Section 1.03(b)(3) of the City Charter, the Amendment requires approval by sixty percent (60%) of the voters voting in a Citywide referendum. This Ballot Question 1, if passed by sixty percent (60%) of the voters, would extend the Lease for an additional 21 years and would add the Additional Premises to the Lease, for the Federation's construction and operation of the Learning Center promoting tolerance and human rights . FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, INCLUDING A COPY OF THE LEASE AMENDMENT AND CITY COMMISSION RESOLUTIONS 2021-31809 AND 2021-31810, PLEASE VISIT THE CITY'S WEBSITE AT https://www .miamibeachfl.gov/city-hall/city-clerk/election-information/, OR CONTACT THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK AT 305.673.7411. Ballot Question 2 Non-Binding, Straw Ballot Question: Citywide -Changing Alcoholic Beverage Establishments Sales/Consumption Termination Time City law allows, subject to exceptions, the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages at Alcoholic Beverage Establishments throughout the City, from 8:00 a.m . until 5:00 a.m. the following day. Would you support changing this 5:00 a.m. termination time to 2:00 a.m. throughout the City, with specific locations and related restrictions and exceptions, to be determined by City Commission by Ordinance? Explanation of Ballot Question 2 Over the past decade, the City has experienced increasing challenges associated with alcoholic beverage sales/consumption, particularly during the early morning hours, placing significant demands on the City's Police, Fire, and Code Compliance Departments. As part of the City Commission's multi-pronged approach of strategies to address these challenges, and in an effort to achieve long-term solutions, the City Commission is presenting the City's voters the opportunity to provide the Commission with their advisory, non-binding opinion on whether there should be a "rollback" of alcohol hours from 5:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. Specifically, the above straw Ballot Question asks whether City law should be changed to make 2:00 a .m. the termination time for the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages at Alcoholic Beverage Establishments throughout the City, subject to future City Ordinance establishing related restrictions and exceptions. Under current City law, the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages at Alcoholic Beverage Establishments is generally allowed from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 a.m. the following day, except as noted below. The sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages at Alcoholic Beverage Establishments is generally allowed from 8:00 a.m. until 2:00 a.m. the following day, but only in the following four areas of the City: • Sunset Harbour Neighborhood, from Dade Boulevard to 20 th Street, between Alton Road and Purdy Avenue; • 41 st Street area in Mid-Beach, from 40 th Street to 42 nd Street, between Indian Creek and Alton Road; • South of Fifth Neighborhood (south of 5th Street); and • CD-2 properties on the west side of Alton Road, between Fifth Street and Collins Canal, except for Alcoholic Beverage Establishments fronting Lincoln Road between West Avenue, which currently have a 5:00 a.m. termination time for the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages. Notwithstanding the above, the 2:00 a .m. termination time in the above areas does not apply to certain establishments that were previously licensed for the sale/consumption of alcoholic beverages until 5:00 a.m., before the 2:00 a.m. rollbacks in those areas were enacted. Figure 1, below, depicts the various areas of the City where alcoholic beverages may currently be served and consumed on-premises until 2:00 a.m.: (MELISSA TO CONFIRM FINAL MAP CORRESPONDS WITH THIS STATEMENT.) [MAP] In addition, City law also currently allows Alcoholic Beverage Establishments that are permitted to serve alcohol for on-premises consumption until 5:00 a.m. to continue to serve alcoholic beverages until 7:00 a.m., on New Year 's Day and other major event days or weekends as may be designated by the City Commission, provided certain conditions are satisfied . As of the date this Voter's Guide was printed, the City Commission has not discussed what specific exceptions and restrictions would apply to a 2:00 a.m. termination time, or "rollback." Before making such decisions, the City Commission first believed it important to obtain an indication of the general trend of City-voter opinion on this termination time issue, before proceeding further with any concept for a 2:00 a.m. rollback in any additional areas of the City. So, for purposes of your vote on this issue, the decision before you is whether you support, in concept, this 2 :00 a.m . termination time change in additional areas throughout the City, knowing that if enacted by the City Commission, it would be subject to restrictions and exceptions, presently unknown, to be enacted by the Commission. If approved by the City 's voters, this measure may then be considered by the City Commission for possible future legislation which, if enacted, would specify the exceptions and restrictions to a 2 :00 a.m. termination time . Any such exceptions and restrictions to a 2:00 a.m. rollback would be adopted via Ordinance of the City Commission, ensuring the public's right to continue to voice their opinions on the matter, prior to adoption of any ordinance. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, INCLUDING A COPY OF CITY COMMISSION RESOLUTION 2021-31824, PLEASE VISIT THE CITY'S WEBSITE AT https://www.miamibeachfl.gov/city-hall/city-clerk/election-information/, OR CONT ACT THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK AT 305 .673 . 7 411 . Ballot Question 3 Amending Lease of City Property: "Smith & Wollensky Restaurant" Site at South Pointe Park City's lease of 0.56 acres of property to 1 Washington Avenue Corp. for "Smith & Wollensky Restaurant" in South Pointe Park expires November 2025 . Per Resolution 2021-31805, shall this Lease be extended through December 2045, plus renewal options, Restaurant providing: • Minimum $3,305,970 in Restaurant upgrades; • Rent greater of: guaranteed rent, increased annually by 2.5% ($11,680,085 over first ten years) or percentage of revenues; • Free restaurant mentorship seminars; • Park's security gate installation? Explanation of Ballot Question 3 The City is the owner of the property at 1 Washington Avenue , Miami Beach, Florida, which is currently leased to 1 Washington Avenue Corp. ("Tenant") for the operation of the Smith & Wollensky restaurant in South Pointe Park (the "Restaurant"). The Tenant has been the long-term operator of the Smith & Wollensky Restaurant since on or about 1997. The existing lease for the Restaurant property expires on November 6, 2025. On July 28, 2021, following two public hearings, the Mayor and City Commission adopted Resolution No . 2021-31305 , approving an Amended and Restated Lease Agreement ("Lease Amendment"), which would replace the existing lease for the Restaurant, effective January 1, 2022 . If this Ballot Question is approved by the voters, the Lease Amendment, among other things, would: • Extend the term of the lease through December 31, 2145, plus two (2) consecutive renewal options of ten (10) years each; • Provide for an increase in the annual rent paid to the City, consisting of the greater of (i) $1,042,550 guaranteed rent (subject to a 2.5% annual escalator) or (ii) 9% of the gross revenues of the Restaurant's operation; • Require the Tenant to complete a minimum of $3,305,970 in Tenant upgrades to the Restaurant, at Tenant's sole cost and expense, including any improvements that may be necessary to satisfy the 40-year re-certification for the building, all of which must be completed within 5 years; • Obligate the Tenant to provide multiple community benefits, at Tenant's sole cost and expense, including: o A free monthly lunch for seniors living in the nearby Rebecca Towers elderly housing complex; o A free mentorship program for Miami Beach start-up restaurants and bars, given by Smith & Wollensky; and o Reimbursement by the Tenant of the City's costs in buying and installing security electric gates at the entrance to the South Pointe Park parking lot; and • Restructure the existing parking arrangement for required parking for the Restaurant, to provide for greater general public parking, as addressed more fully below. As compared to the City's existing lease for the Restaurant, the Lease Amendment will be increasing the minimum guaranteed rent by over ten times, to $1,042,550 per year. Additionally, as compared to the City's existing lease, the percentage rent will increase by more than double the amount of the existing percentage rent, to 9% of the Restaurant's gross sales. Under the new Lease Amendment, the Tenant will be solely responsible for all maintenance expenses, property taxes, insurance, and other public charges for the Restaurant building. In addition to, and separate from, the Lease Amendment, in Resolution No . 2021-31806, the City Commission approved a new 9-year concession agreement with the Tenant, effective January 1, 2022, for a concession area of up to 1,450 square feet, for a portion of the outdoor seating of the Restaurant. Under the new concession agreement, the City will annually receive the greater of: (i) minimum guaranteed rent in the amount of $400,000 or (ii) 10% of the gross revenues derived from the operation of the concession area. Although the existing lease does not expire until November 6, 2025, the Tenant has agreed to start paying higher rent approximately 3 years earlier, effective January 1, 2022. During this "ramp up" period between 2022 and 2025, the total rent payments by the Tenant under the Lease Amendment and the separate Concession Agreement will consist of: $1,250,000 for lease year 2022, $1,500,000 for lease year 2023, $1,750,000 for lease year 2024, and $2,000,000 for lease year 2025. During this initial rent "ramp up" period, the Lease Amendment will permit the City to immediately realize an increase in rent, as compared to the rent under the existing agreements. The existing Lease provides the Tenant with the right to use up to 105 parking spaces in the parking area located adjacent to the Restaurant, as part of the required parking for the operation of the Restaurant. Under the new Lease Amendment, the City may designate up to 50 of the 105 parking spaces for general public parking during off-peak hours (Monday through Thursday, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., excluding holidays). The City will place signage on the 50 designated parking spots to identify the enhanced parking availability for general public parking during off- peak hours. In Resolution No. 2021-31808, the Mayor and City Commission determined that for a minimum of 5 years, the City will dedicate a portion of the revenues the City receives under the new Lease Amendment and new Concession Agreement for public safety purposes, including police and security, in South Pointe Park and the surrounding South of Fifth neighborhood . Pursuant to Section 1.03(b)(1) of the City Charter, the Lease Amendment requires approval by a majority of the voters voting in a Citywide referendum. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, INCLUDING A COPY OF THE AMENDED AND RESTATED LEASE AGREEMENT, AMENDED AND RESTATED CONCESSION AGREEMENT, AND RELATED CITY COMMISSION RESOLUTION 2021-31805 THROUGH 2021-31308, PLEASE VISIT THE CITY'S WEBSITE AT https ://www .miamibeachfl.gov/city-hall/city-clerk/election- information/, OR CONTACT THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK AT 305.673. 7 411. Ballot Question 4 Non-Binding, Straw Ballot Question: Urge Legislature: 1% tax for Homeless Assistance/Domestic Violence Centers Would you support the City Commission adopting a Resolution urging the Florida Legislature to amend Section 212.0306, Florida Statutes, to allow for collection of a one percent ( 1 % ) tax on food and beverage sales for consumption on premises in the City of Miami Beach, which would not apply to hotels and motels, in order to assist homeless persons and those at risk of homelessness, and for the construction and operation of domestic violence centers? Explanation of Ballot Question 4 The purpose of this straw ballot question is to present the City's voters with the opportunity to provide their advisory, non-binding opinion on whether the City Commission should urge the Florida Legislature to allow for the collection of a one percent (1%) tax on food and beverage sales, for consumption on premises, in the City of Miami Beach, which would not apply to hotels and motels, in order to assist homeless persons and those at risk of homelessness, and for the construction and operation of domestic violence centers (the "Homeless and Domestic Violence Tax"). Currently, a 1 % Homeless and Domestic Violence Tax is collected throughout Miami-Dade County (except in Miami Beach, Surfside, and Bal Harbour) on food and beverage sales by businesses that sell alcoholic beverages for on-premises consumption. Only businesses with gross annual receipts over $400,000 must collect this tax. Facilities in hotels and motels do not collect this tax. Of the 1 % Homeless and Domestic Violence Tax currently collected, 85 percent of tax receipts are remitted to the Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust, and 15 percent of receipts are allocated by Miami-Dade County to domestic violence centers located throughout Miami-Dade County. Section 212 .0306, Florida Statutes, permits any county to impose a 1 % Homeless and Domestic Violence Tax, in order to assist homeless persons and those at risk of homelessness, and for the construction and operation of domestic violence centers. However, sales in cities presently imposing a municipal resort tax-including the City of Miami Beach-are exempt from the 1 % tax authorized under Section 212 .0306. Therefore, based on the existing Florida law, Miami-Dade County may not currently impose a 1 % Homeless and Domestic Violence Tax in Miami Beach. In order to do so, the Florida Legislature must amend Section 212.0306 of the Florida Statutes . If a majority of the City's voters vote in favor of this straw-ballot measure, the City Commission may then consider whether to adopt a Resolution urging the Florida Legislature to amend Section 212.0306, Florida Statutes, to allow for Miami-Dade County to collect a 1 % Homeless and Domestic Violence tax in Miami Beach. If the Resolution is adopted by the City Commission, the Resolution would be transmitted to the Florida Legislature for the Legislature's consideration, at its sole discretion. If the Florida Legislature amends Section 212.0306 to allow for the collection of a 1 % Homeless and Domestic Violence Tax in Miami Beach, future legislative action by the Miami-Dade County Board of County Commissioners would likely be required . If such legislation is ultimately enacted, it is anticipated that the 1 % Homeless and Domestic Violence Tax in Miami Beach would then be allocated by Miami-Dade County to the Miami -Dade County Homeless Trust and for the benefit of domestic violence centers located throughout Miami-Dade County, as described above . FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, INCLUDING A COPY OF CITY COMMISSION RESOLUTION 2021-31823, PLEASE VISIT THE CITY'S WEBSITE AT https://www.miamibeachfl.gov/city-hall/city-clerk/election-information/, OR CONTACT THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK AT 305.673 . 7 411. CHOOSE THE WAY TO VOTE THAT WORKS FOR YOU Some voters like going through the ballot on their own time in the comfort of their own home and voting by mail. Others prefer heading out to an Early Voting location on a day that is convenient for them and casting their ballot before Election Day. Then there are voters who enjoy the tradition of going to their precinct on Election Day to vote. Voters who vote early or on Election Day can rest assured that the Miami-Dade County Elections Department is taking every precaution to protect the health and safety of voters and poll workers as we deal with the global pandemic. Voters who want to vote but would prefer not to venture out -should strongly consider voting by mail. VOTE-BY-MAIL Any registered Miami-Dade County voter can request to Vote-by-Mail by going online at www .iamelectionready .org and selecting "Vote-by-Mail" or by calling 305.499.VOTE (8683) or 305.499.8480 (TTY). The deadline to request a Vote-by-Mail ballot for the Tuesday, November 2, 2021 General and Special Elections is 5 p.m. on Saturday, October 23, 2021. The deadline for the Miami-Dade County Elections Department to receive your Vote-by-Mail ballot is 7 p.m. on Election Day - Tuesday, November 2, 2021, by Mail, at a secure ballot drop box located at an early voting site, or at the Elections Department, as more fully explained below. The deadline to request a Vote-by-Mail ballot for the Tuesday, November 16, 2021 Run-Off Election (if necessary) is 5 p.m. on Saturday, November 6, 2021 . The deadline for the Miami- Dade County Elections Department to receive your Vote-by-Mail ballot is 7 p.m . on Election Day -Tuesday, November 16, 2021, by Mail, at a secure ballot drop box located at an early voting site, or at the Elections Department, as more fully explained below. BY MAIL A Vote-by-Mail ballot may be returned by delivery through the United States Postal Service. The ballot must be received by the Miami-Dade County Elections Department by 7 p.m. on Election Day. AT A SECURE BALLOT DROP BOX LOCATED AT AN EARLY VOTING SITE You do not even have to go inside! Vote-by-Mail ballots can be dropped into a secure Ballot Drop Box located outside any of the two Miami Beach Early Voting locations : Miami Beach City Hall (First Floor Conference Room), 1700 Convention Center Drive and North Shore Branch Library, 7501 Collins Avenue. Just look for the "Official Ballot Drop Box!" banner. Drop boxes are drive- up and are safe. Please bring your ID with you. For a list of Drop Box dates and times visit https://www.miamibeachfl.gov/city-hall /city-clerk/election-information/ or call the Office of the City Clerk at 305.673.7411 or 711 (TTY). AT THE ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT You may also return your Vote-by-Mail ballot at the Miami-Dade County Elections Department (Main Office) at 2700 NW 87th Avenue, Miami, FL 33172 or at the Voter Information Center (VIC) located in the Lobby of the Stephen P. Clark Center, 111 NW 1st Street, Miami, FL 33128. ON ELECTION DAY If a voter waits until Election Day to submit their Vote-by-Mail ballot, they can drop it off either at the Miami-Dade County Elections Department (Main Office) at 2700 NW 87th Avenue, Miami, FL 33172, at the Voter Information Center (VIC) located in the Lobby of the Stephen P. Clark Center, 111 NW 1st Street, Miami, FL 33128, or the voter can opt to vote in person at their precinct once the election board confirms that the voter's Vote-by-Mail ballot has not been received. After you submit your Vote-by-Mail ballot, you can track your ballot to see when your ballot is accepted. To do so , visit www.iamelectionready.org and select "Vote-by-Mail." VOTE EARLY Voting early allows you to cast your ballot before Election Day. If you are a registered voter, you can vote at any of the two Miami Beach County Early Voting sites, located at Miami Beach City Hall (First Floor Conference Room), 1700 Convention Center Drive and North Shore Branch Library, 7501 Collins Avenue. Early Voting for the General and Special Elections is Monday, October 18 through Sunday, October 31, 2021. For Early Voting hours, please visit https://www.miamibeachfl.gov/city-hall/city- clerk/election-information/ or contact the Miami Beach Office of the City Clerk at 305 .673. 7 411 or 711 (TTY). Early Voting for the Run-Off Election (if necessary) will be from Friday, November 12, 2021 through Sunday, November 14, 2021 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. VOTE ON ELECTION DAY Even with other options available, many prefer the tradition of voting on Election Day. If you choose to vote on the General and Special Elections Day , Tuesday, November 2, 2021, and if necessary, on the Run-Off Election Day, Tuesday, November 16, 2021, you must go to your assigned voting location, which is determined by your home address. Precincts are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day. To find your precinct, contact the Miami-Dade County Elections Department at 305.499.VOTE (8683) or 305.499.8480 (TTY), or visit their website at www.iamelectionready.org and select "Vote on Election Day." COVID-19 HEALTH AND SAFETY INFORMATION FOR IN-PERSON VOTING To ensure the health and safety of voters and poll workers during in-person voting for the Tuesday, November 2, 2021 General and Special Elections and the Tuesday, November 16, 2021 Run-Off Election (if necessary) amidst the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the Miami-Dade County Elections Department is following the Florida Department of Health and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines. In-person voting will continue to be offered, both through Early Voting and on Election Day, for those who prefer these voting methods. The Miami-Dade County Elections Department is taking precautions to keep you safe and ask that you assist as well. The Miami-Dade County Elections Department will do the following: • Provide poll workers with masks and disposable gloves . • Regularly wipe down common touch points with disinfectant. • Offer hand sanitizer to all voters upon entering the location. • Mark the ground with stickers to ensure voters can adhere to social distancing protocols. • Provide access to bathrooms that have soap and water available for hand washing . What the Miami-Dade County Elections Department is asking from voters: • As of the date this Voter's Guide was printed, you are required to wear facial covering to enter the voting location . • Please use the hand sanitizer that is provided upon entering and exiting. • Review your sample ballot in advance of coming to vote. You can even mark it and bring it with you. Knowing your selections in advance of arriving will speed up the process and allow you to exit the facility faster. • Bring a valid ID. VOTERS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS Every voting location in Miami-Dade County meets Americans with Disability Act (ADA) standards. Each one is equipped with a paper-based voting system that uses touchscreen and/or audio technology, which could help voters who have issues with their eyesight, trouble reading or disabilities .