LTC 271-2022 Resolutions from Miami Beach United (MBU) Board of Directors - Relating to Items on the July 8, 2022 Commission Meeting.MIAMI BEACH
OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK
LTC # 271-2022
TO:
FROM:
DATE:
SUBJECT:
LETTER TO COMMISSION
Mayor Dan Gelber and Members of the City Commission
Alina T. Hudak, City Manager
Rafael A. Paz, City Attorney
Joseph M. Centorino, Inspector General
Rafael E. Granado, City Clerk r4
July 6, 2022
Resolutions from Miami Beach United (MBU) Board of Directors -Relating to
Items on the July 8, 2022 Commission Meeting.
On behalf of the Board of Directors of Miami Beach United (MBU), please find three resolutions for
your consideration.
• Supporting Agenda Item RS S -Demolition by Neglect Replication Requirements -July 8, 2022
• Supporting Agenda Item R7 B -Noise Meters and Cameras -July 8, 2022
• Holding of Election / Not Appointment -Item R9 B -Discussion of Filling Vacancy on Commission
-July 8, 2022
F:\CLER\$ALL\L TC FROM ASSOCIATIONS\MBU 07062022.docx
Miami Beach United Resolution
Agenda Item R5-S (formerly R5-W)
Demolition By Neglect Replic ation Re quirements
July 8, 2022
Miami Beach United SUPPORTS this item which would strengthen the City's demolition by neglect
procedures and provide more specific guidance to both property owners and the Historic Planning
Board. Further, the proposal will establish clear and objective criteria consistent with the Secretary of
Interior's Standards for the Reconstruction of Historic Buildings, for the Board to evaluate during their
review of applications for Certificate of Appropriateness. Making these changes will not lessen the
ability of the HPB to make decisions on a case-by-case basis as to how to proceed, and it will
disincentivize derelict owners from trying to circumnavigate the city's laws regarding demolition by
neglect.
Miami Beach United 2022 Officers
Tanya Bhatt, Vice President, Marketing
Rhea D'Souzo, Vice President, Adminislrotion
Saul Gross, Treasurer
Adam Kravitz, Recording Secretary
Committee Chairs:
Hortense De Castro, Community outreach
Gayle Durham, Strategic Policy & Advocacy
Herb Frank, Nominating
Clare McCord, Membership
Valerie Navarrete, Forums and Events
Ron Starkman, Government Affairs
Directors:
Ryan Borras
Jorge Gonzolez
Elizabeth Lafone
Sarah l eddick
Scott Needelman
Manning Solazar
Scott Von Hove
Miami Beach United Resolution
Agenda Item R7-B (formerly R7-Q)
Noise Meters and Cameras
July 8, 2022
Miami Beach United SUPPORTS this pilot program that utilizes noise meters and cameras to both monitor
and reduce noise levels in the City of Miami Beach. Cities around the world are testing and utilizing
new methods and technologies such as sound radar to address noise pollution. We applaud the effort
to pilot these new technologies in an effort to make Miami Beach a quieter and more pleasant place
to live.
Miami Beach United 2022 Officers
Tanya Bhatt, Vice President, Marketing
Rhea D'Souza. Vice Presid ent. Administration
Saul Gross, Treasurer
Adam Kravitz, Recording Secretary
Committee Chairs:
Hortense De Castro, Community Outreach
Gayle Durham. Strategic Policy & Advocacy
Herb Frank, Nominating
Clare McCord, Membership
Valerie Navarrete, Forums and Events
Ron Starkman, Government Affairs
Directors:
Ryan Borras
Jorge Gonzalez
Elizabeth Lalone
Sarah Leddick
Scott Needelman
Manning Sala zar
Scott Van Hove
Miami Beach United Resolution
Agenda Item R9-B
Discussion Of Filling Vacancy On Commission
July 8, 2022
Miami Beach United urges the Commission to fill the vacancy created by the late Commissioner Mark
Samuelian's tragic and untimely passing by holding an election, not by appointment, and not by a
hybrid of an appointment until the November 2023 election.
An election as part of the regularly scheduled election in November 2022 allows residents to VOTE on
THEIR OWN REPRESENTATION rather than having a replacement picked by the Commission, which is is
consistent with the voters' overwhelmingly stated will. In 2020 the county asked th e voters if they
preferred elections or appointments when replacing county seats; the ordinance won with voters
selecting elections over appointments. And similarly, when Miami Beach voters were asked about
elections vs. appointments, they overwhelming ly voted in support of elections (70-80%)
Putting this vacancy to the public vote is the right thing to do. The timing allows for early voting on this
topic, as with all the other questions on the ballot, for the November election. While it's possible there
may be a run-off election needed in December, for which voting would be on one day only, doing
the right thing for the voters and residents of this city shouldn't be predicated on a ''what if" scenario
which may not come to pass.
Moreover, as the City Charter is silent on the point of what happens when a Commission is deadlocked
over the issue of a vote vs. an appointment to fill a vacancy, Miami Beach United urges, as part of the
upcoming Charter review, that language be added to the effect of, "In the event of a deadlocked
Commission, the default will be filling the vacancy by election."
Miami Beach United 2022 Officers
Tanya Bhatt, Vice President, Marketing
Rhea D'Souza, Vice President, Administration
Saul Gross. Treasurer
Adam Kravitz, Recording Secretary
Committee Chairs:
Hortense De Castro, Community outreach
Gayle Durham, Strategic Policy & Advocacy
Herb Frank. l\lominating
Clare McCord, Membership
Valerie Navarrete, Forums and Events
Ron Starkman, Government Affairs
Directors:
Ryan Barras
Jorge Gonzalez:
Elizabeth Lalone
Sarah Leddick
Scott Needelman
Manning Salazar
Scott Van Hove