LTC 332-2023 Resolutions from Miami Beach United (MBU) Board of Directors - Relating to Items on the July 26, 2023 Commission MeetingM IA M I BEACH
OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK
LTC # 332-2023
LETTER TO COMMISSION
TO:
FROM:
DATE:
Mayor Dan Gelber and Members of the City Commission
Alina T. Hudak, City Manager
Rafael A. Paz, City Attorney
Joseph M. Centorino, Inspector Gener~ /
Rafael E. Granado, City Clerk 7 )II
July 24, 2023
SUBJECT: Resolutions from Miami Beach United (MBU) Board of Directors - Relating to Items on
the July 26, 2023, Commission Meeting.
On behalf of the Board of Directors of Miami Beach United (MBU), please find resolutions in advance of
the Commission Meeting of July 26, 2023, pertaining to:
R5 G 10:50 a.m. 1 Rdg PH, Rooftop Alcohol Establishments - CUP Requirement. (Fernandez) PL
R5 J 3:10 p.m. 2' Rdg, Alton Road Office Height Overlay - Transient/Overlay Exceptions. (Dominguez)
PL 5/7
R5 U 1"Rdg, Indoor Restaurant Ambient Entertainment Pilot Program . (Arriola) PL
R5 V 1"Rdg, Notice Requirements for Discussion Items that are Scheduled by Land Use Boards.
(Arriola) PL
R5 W 1"Rdg, Alcohol Hours of Sales March 2024 - Citywide. (Gelber) PL SM2
M ia m i B e a c h U n ite d B o a r d o f D ire ct o rs
R e s o lu ti o n s fo r C ity C o m m is s io n m e e ti n g 7 .2 6 .2 3
R5G Sponsored by Fernandez -- First Reading
ROOFTOP ALCOHOL ESTABLISHMENTS - CUP REQUIREMENT
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING AND EXPANDING THE DEFINITION OF
NEIGHBORHOOD IMPACT ESTABLISHMENT TO INCLUDE ROOFTOP ALCOHOLIC
BEVERAGE ESTABLISHMENTS ADJACENT TO PROPERTIES WITH A
RESIDENTIAL UNIT
Miami Beach United SUPPORTS this ordinance. Rooftop bars adjacent to residential buildings
can create significant nuisance and noise for the residents nearby.
We have many examples of rooftop establishments which are NOT located near residential
units which still create chaos, noise complaints and trouble for the residential community,
causing continuing calls to Police and Code Compliance. Given this history, it seems clear that
any rooftop establishments in residential areas would only further burden the Police and Code
departments with noise or behavioral complaint calls.
We also suggest this ordinance apply not just to rooftops, but to any open air space above the
ground floor, as well as any rooftop smoking/hookah lounges
R5J Sponsored by Dominguez -- 3:10 PM Second Reading Public Hearing
ALTON ROAD OFFICE HEIGHT OVERLAY - TRANSIENT USE AND OVERLAY
EXCEPTIONS TO INCLUDE CERTAIN EXCEPTIONS FOR DEVELOPMENTS
LOCATED BETWEEN LINCOLN ROAD AND 17TH STREET ,
Miami Beach United SUPPORTS the merits of the proposed project; however, we DO NOT
SUPPORT the process by which this project gained more F.A.R. We are deeply concerned that
this ordinance dilutes the purpose of the F.A.R. bonus which was intended to incentivize new
residential development, and that it may set a precedent. If office development is rewarded in
this way, then more of those projects may be built instead of apartments which are so
desperately needed.
R5U Sponsored by Arriola -- First Reading
INDOOR RESTAURANT AMBIENT ENTERTAINMENT PILOT PROGRAM IN SUNSET
HARBOUR AND SOUTH OF FIFTH FROM 11 AM TO 6 PM, SATURDAYS, SUNDAYS AND
HOLIDAYS.
Miami Beach United DOES NOT SUPPORT allowing live entertainment, whether ambient or
non-ambient, to be performed at commercial establishments as of right. Given that code
enforcement already has difficulty enforcing noise disruption as evidenced by the extremely low
percentage of noise complaints which result in citations, significantly expanding the number of
locations allowed to offer live entertainment poses an unacceptable risk to resident quality of
life. The city commission should uphold two decades of solid and effective planning and zoning
decisions rather than prioritize this advocacy on behalf of insistent commercial interests over the
clearly stated will of the affected neighborhoods. Further, a pilot program which allows more
possible noise disruption is at the very least premature, since we currently have a pilot program
in place to measure and assess decibel levels which has not yet yielded data that would be
dispositive.
R5 Sponsored by Gelber -- First Reading
ALCOHOL HOURS OF SALE MARCH 2024 - CITYW IDE
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 6 TO REQUIRE TERMINATION OF
ALCOHOL SALES AT MIDNIGHT AT ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE ESTABLISHMENTS
DURING TW O HIGH IMPACT (SPRING BREAK) WEEKENDS IN MARCH OF 2024.
Miami Beach United SUPPORTS this ordinance amendment which would require the sale and
consumption of alcohol at alcoholic beverage establishments to cease Citywide at Midnight
during two Spring Break weekends in March 2024. Other measures tried in recent years have
failed to curb the violence and mayhem which keeps happening during peak Spring Break
weekends. While we recognize the typical patron at the City's alcoholic beverage
establishments paying high prices for drinks are rarely a problem during Spring Break, the
clubs, bars and hotels who promote high profile performers at their establishments during this
period contribute to the image of the City as an "anything goes" place to be and that, in turn,
attracts the massive, unruly crowds who have been taking over streets and the park in the
Ocean Drive area. We think a Midnight termination for the sale of alcohol to curb
promotional activity is worth a try, but this will need to be Citywide to change the image of Miami
Beach as the place to be for Spring Break and to treat all businesses equitably.
RSV Sponsored by Arriola -- First Reading
NOTICE REQUIREMENTS FOR DISCUSSION ITEMS
ORDINANCE AMENDING ADMINISTRATION AND REVIEW PROCEDURES TO
ESTABLISH A NOTICE PROCEDURE FOR CERTAIN DISCUSSION ITEMS THAT
ARESCHEDULEDBYLANDUSEBOARDS
Miami Beach United SUPPORTS this important ordinance to enhance notification requirements
to a property owner when a discussion of their property is· included on any Land Use Board
agenda. We believe it is only fair that the owner is aware, from the inception, of any discussion
or dialogue taking place by the City about their property which could have a considerable impact
on their property. Having been integrally involved in the creation of the City's Residents Right to
Know process, MBU is committed to support legislation which increases transparency and helps
to ensure that residents and businesses are fully informed and timely aware of any Land Use
Board discussions that may affect them.