Resolution 2021-31906RESOLUTION NO. 2021-31906
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY
OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, URGING THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE
AND THE FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION
COMMISSION TO SUPPORT THE CITY ADMINISTRATION'S INITIATIVE
TO PROTECT ALL PERSONS UTILIZING THE CITY'S WATERWAYS BY
COLLABORATIVELY WORKING TO PROVIDE FOR THE INSTALLATION
OF APPROPRIATE SPEED AND SAFETY SIGNAGE ALONG CERTAIN
WATERWAYS WITHIN THE CITY.
WHEREAS, the City of Miami Beach (the "City") and the Miami Beach Police Department
(the "Police Department') are committed to providing a safe and welcoming environment for all;
and
WHEREAS, the City is a vibrant tropical community which, due in part to its ideal marine
location and popularity as a local hotspot, experiences a wide variety of vessels making use of its
waterways; and
WHEREAS, the City also continues to encounter a significant and ever-increasing amount
of water-based tourism, including charter boats and rental vessels; and
WHEREAS, these factors have compelled the City to contend with a growing number of
dangerous situations and problems pertaining to boats and other vessels being operated at
excessive speeds, or being captained by an inexperienced and/or inattentive operator, throughout
the Indian Creek canals, Surprise Lake, and the residential areas and islands along Biscayne
Bay; and
WHEREAS, recognizing that boating and water safety for its visitors and residents is a
major concern for the City, which residents include approximately 130 individuals (young
students) of the Miami Beach Rowing Club that make use of the public waterways to train typically
when there is little or no sun (and, consequently, low visibility) in order to avoid the heat; and
WHEREAS, the Police Department has identified the need to protect rowers, swimmers,
paddleboarders and the like from vessel operators and, especially, from visitors and tourists who
may not boat or use jet skis and other motorized vessels regularly, and are often careless and
may be ignorant of and/or fail to follow the No Wake and Manatee zone protection laws in effect
in the area; and
WHEREAS, in response to this identified need and the inexperienced, irresponsible
and/or inattentive vessel operators, the City Administration has emphasized the importance of
providing additional information and knowledge, by way of increased and clear signage, in order
to aid in the goal of all persons safely operating vessels within the City's waterways; and
WHEREAS, the Mayor and the City Commission hereby find that the protection of rowers,
swimmers, paddleboarders, and others utilizing City waterways would greatly benefit from
increased signage for these rowing areas marked as No Wake and Manatee zones; and
WHEREAS, this matter was heard at the October 13, 2021 City Commission meeting and
generated unanimous City Commission approval for the City Administration to appeal to the State
Legislature (including State House Representative Michael Grieco and State Senator Jason
Pizzo); and further, for the City Administration to work with the Florida Fish and Wildlife
Conservation Commission to add appropriate additional speed and advisory signage to the
aforementioned locations throughout the City's waterways.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT DULY RESOLVED THAT THE MAYOR AND CITY
COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, hereby urge the Florida Legislature
and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to support the City Administration's
initiative to protect all persons utilizing the City's waterways by collaboratively working to provide
for the installation of appropriate speed and safety signage along certain waterways within the
City.
PASSED and ADOPTED this 13th day of October, 2021.
ATTEST:
Dan Gelber, Mayor
�ti 3
Rafael E. Granado, City CI rk
(Sponsored by Commission Michael Gbngora)
APPROVED AS TO
FORM & L;4NGUAGF
&FOR EXECUTION
City Attorney �� Date
New Business and Commission Requests - R9 Al
MIAMI BEACH
COMMISSION MEMORANDUM
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Commission
FROM: Commissioner Michael Gongora
DATE: October 13, 2021
SUBJECT: DISCUSS/TAKE ACTION REGARDING SPEEDING BOATS BEHIND THE
MIAMI BEACH ROWING CLUB.
ANALYSIS
Please place on the October 13 Commission agenda a discuss/take action on speeding boats
behind the Miami Beach Rowing Club located at 6500 Collins Ave. The Rowing Club brought
this to my attention that these speeding boats get too close to the students rowing in the waters.
I have also seen it happening before from my balcony. Please feel free to reach out to Diana
Fontani should you need any additional information
SUPPORTING SURVEY DATA
N/A
Applicable Area
Citywide
Is this a "Residents Right
to Know" item, pursuant to
Citv Code Section 2-14?
Yes
Legislative Tracking
Commissioner Michael Gongora
Does this item utilize G.O.
Bond Funds?
No
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