BIE - Balloons Prohibited at Public Marinas Etc (1/17/2024)MIA MA/BEACH
City of Miami Beach, 1700 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach, Florida 33139, www.miamibeachtl.gov
TO: Mayor Steven Meiner and Members of the City Commission
FROM: Alina T. Hudak, City Manag~
MEETING DATE: January 31, 2024 lJ\ .
SUBJECT: BUSINESS IMPACT ESTIMATE FOR:
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH,
FLORIDA, AMENDING CHAPTER 82 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH,
FLORIDA, ENTITLED "PUBLIC PROPERTY," BY AMENDING ARTICLE Ill, ENTITLED "USE
OF PUBLIC PROPERTY," BY AMENDING DIVISION 1, ENTITLED "GENERALLY," BY
CREATING SECTION 82-73 THEREOF, ENTITLED "BALLOONS PROHIBITED AT PUBLIC
MARINAS, MARINE FACILITIES, PARKS AND BEACHES," TO PROHIBIT THE POSSESSION
OR USE OF BALLOONS AT ALL PUBLIC MARINAS, MARINE FACILITIES, PARKS, AND
BEACHES; AND PROVIDING FOR REPEALER, SEVERABILITY, CODIFICATION, AND AN
EFFECTIVE DATE.
Is a Business Impact Estimate Required?
0 Yes□No (If no, please check one of the boxes below)
If one or more boxes are checked below, this means the City of Miami Beach has determined that
a Business Impact Estimate for the above-referenced Ordinance is not required by State law.
□The proposed Ordinance is required for compliance with Federal or State law or
regulation;
□The proposed Ordinance relates to the issuance or refinancing of debt;
□The proposed Ordinance relates to the adoption of budgets or budget amendments,
including revenue sources necessary to fund the budget;
□The proposed Ordinance is required to implement a contract or an agreement, including,
but not limited to, any Federal, State, local, or private grant or other financial assistance
accepted by the City;
□The proposed Ordinance is an emergency ordinance;
□The Ordinance relates to procurement; or
□The proposed Ordinance is enacted to implement the following:
a. Part II of Chapter 163, Florida Statutes, relating to growth policy, county and municipal
planning, and land development regulation, including zoning, development orders,
development agreements and development permits;
b. Sections 190.005 and 190.046, Florida Statutes, regarding community development
districts;
c. Section 553. 73, Florida Statutes, relating to the Florida Building Code; or
d. Section 633.202, Florida Statutes, relating to the Florida Fire Prevention Code.
B u s in e s s Im p a c t E s tim a te
P a g e 2
If non e of the ab o ve e xce p tio ns apply, this B usiness Im pact Estim ate is hereby pro vided in
a cco rda nce w ith S e ction 16 6.0 41(4 ), Fl or ida Statutes.
1. Th e sum m ary of the pro posed O rdinance and its purpose is m ore fully set fo rth in the
C o m m issio n M em o ra n du m accom panying the O rdinance, as w ell as in the recitals to the
O rd in a nce itse lf, w h ich are att ached he reto .
2 . T he C ity of M iam i Be a ch estim ates that the proposed O rdinance w ill have no direct econom ic
im pa c t on priva te, fo r-p rofit busine sses in the C ity of M iam i Beach, that the proposed Ordinance
w ill ha ve no dire ct co m plian ce costs that businesses m ay reasonably incur; that the pro posed
O rd in ance w ill not im p o se any new cha rge or fee fo r w hich businesses w ill be financially
re s p onsib le, and tha t the proposed O rdinance w ill not im pact the City of M iam i Beach's
re g u la to ry costs an d w ill no t gene rate any revenue fr om new charges or fees.
3 . G oo d faith estim ate of the num ber of busin e sse s likely to be im pacted by the proposed
O rd in a nce :
T h e C ity of M ia m i Be a ch estim ates that no businesse s are likely to be im pacted by the proposed
O rd in a nce .
, 4 . A d d itio na l co m m e nts: N on e
M IAM I BEACH
Rafael A. Paz, City Attorney
City of Miami Beach, 1700 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach, Florida 33139, www .miamibeachfl.gov
COMMISSION MEMORANDUM
TO:
FROM:
DATE:
SUBJECT:
Mayor Steven Meiner
Members of the City Commission ,
Rafael A. Paz, City Attorney \ ' second Reading/Public Hearing
January 31, 2024
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI
BEACH, FLORIDA, AMENDING CHAPTER 82 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF
MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, ENTITLED "PUBLIC PROPERTY," BY AMENDING
ARTICLE Ill, ENTITLED "USE OF PUBLIC PROPERTY," BY AMENDING DIVISION
1, ENTITLED "GENERALLY," BY CREATING SECTION 82-73 THEREOF, ENTITLED
"BALLOONS PROHIBITED AT PUBLIC MARINAS, MARINE FACILITIES, PARKS
AND BEACHES," TO PROHIBIT THE POSSESSION OR USE OF BALLOONS AT
ALL PUBLIC MARINAS, MARINE FACILITIES, PARKS, AND BEACHES; AND
PROVIDING FOR REPEALER, SEVERABILITY, CODIFICATION, AND AN
EFFECTIVE DATE.
The proposed Ordinance (the "Ordinance"), sponsored by Commissioner David Suarez, is submitted
for second reading/public hearing at the January 31, 2024 City Commission meeting after being
unanimously approved, as amended, at first reading on December 13, 2023.
The City of Miami Beach is committed to the preservation and protection of the environment. It is well-
established that balloons released into the environment pose a threat to marine life, birds, and other
wildlife, as ingestion or entanglement in balloon debris can result in harm to marine life or other wildlife.
Moreover, studies have shown that balloons, particularly those made of non-biodegradable materials
such as mylar, can persist in the environment for extended periods of time, contributing to pollution and
ecological disruption.
The State of Florida has recognized the harm and pollution that balloons, or balloon debris, can cause
to the environment. As such, pursuant to Fla. Stat. 379.233, the State of Florida has already prohibited
the release of 10 or more balloons inflated with a gas that is lighter than air within any 24-hour period
by making such offense a noncriminal infraction. Pursuant to Fla. Stat. 403.161 of Chapter 403, entitled
"Environmental Control," the State of Florida has also prohibited any person from causing any pollution
so as to harm or injure human health or welfare, animal, plant or aquatic life or property, which statute
has been utilized to enforce against balloon debris being discarded into the waters of the State by
irresponsible persons.
Accordingly, the proposed Ordinance, which would prohibit the use or possession of balloons at any
public marina, public marine facility, public park, or public beach, would serve to prevent environmental
pollution and litter, avert the unnecessary obstruction of waterways, and avoid
C o m m is s io n M e m o ra n d u m - C re a tin g S e c tio n 8 2 -7 3 - B a ll o o n s Pro h ib ite d a t P u b lic M a rin a s , M a rin e
Fa c il itie s , P a rk s , a n d B e a c h e s
J a n u a ry 3 1 , 2 0 2 4
P a g e 2
denigrating the aesthetics of the waterways and the public marinas, marine facilities, parks, and
beaches.
As directed by the City Commission, the Ordinance has been amended to include a provision
authorizing enforcement officers (from the City's Police Department and the Code Compliance
Department) to issue written warnings, in lieu of issuing notices of violation, to violators who haven't
been previously issued a written warning in the preceding twelve (12) months. Upon issuance of a
written warning, the violator must immediately correct the violation within ten (10) minutes by either
immediately popping and disposing of the balloons or by removing all of the balloons from any public
marina, public marine facility, public park, or public beach. The failure to appropriately correct the
violation within ten (10) minutes shall result in the issuance of a notice of violation pursuant to the
Ordinance.
RAP/ MAF/bhs
O R D IN A N C E N O . _
A N O R D IN A N C E 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 , A M E N D IN G C H A P T E R 8 2 O F T H E
C O D E 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 , E N T IT L E D
"P U B LI C P R O P E R T Y ," B Y A M E N D IN G A R T IC L E Ill , E N T IT L E D "U S E
O F P U B LI C P R O P E R T Y ," B Y A M E N D IN G D IV IS IO N 1 , E N T IT L E D
"G E N E R A L L Y ," B Y C R E A T IN G S E C T IO N 8 2 -7 3 TH E R E OF , E N T IT L E D
"B A L L O O N S P R O H IB IT E D A T P U B LI C M A R IN A S , M A R IN E
F A C I LI T I E S , P A R K S A N D B E A C H E S ," T O P R O H IB IT T H E
P O S S E S S IO N O R U S E O F B A L L O O N S A T A L L P U B LI C M A R IN A S ,
M A R IN E F A C ILI T IE S , P A R K S , A N D B E A C H E S ; A N D P R O V ID IN G
F O R R E P E A L E R , S E V E R A B ILI T Y , C O D IF IC A T IO N , A N D A N
E F F E C T IV E D A T E .
W H E R E A S , the City of Miami Beach is committed to the preservation and protection of its
marine environment; and
WHEREAS, balloons that are released into the environment pose a threat to marine life,
birds, and other wildlife; and
WHEREAS, the City acknowledges the potential risk of balloons causing environmental
pollution, obstructing waterways, and compromising the aesthetic appeal of the marinas, marine
facilities, and the waterways (including Biscayne Bay); and
WHEREAS, studies have shown that balloons, particularly those made of non-
biodegradable materials such as mylar, can persist in the environment for extended periods of
time, contributing to pollution and ecological disruption; and
WHEREAS, the City recognizes the importance of fostering public awareness regarding
the detrimental effects of balloon use in marine areas and endeavors to encourage responsible
practice; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Fla. Stat. 379.233, the State of Florida has already prohibited the
release of 10 or more balloons inflated with a gas that is lighter than air within any 24-hour period;
and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Fla. Stat. 403.161 of Chapter 403, entitled "Environmental
Control," the State of Florida has also prohibited any person from causing any pollution so as to
harm or injure human health or welfare, animal, plant or aquatic life or property; and
WHEREAS, the Mayor and City Commission desire to create the following section to be
included within the City Code of Laws and Ordinances in order to prevent environmental pollution,
avert the unnecessary obstruction of waterways, and avoid denigrating the aesthetics of the
waterways and its marinas, marine facilities, parks, and beaches.
N O W , T H E R E F O R E , B E IT O R D A IN E D B Y 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 , A S F O L L O W S :
S E C T IO N 1 . That Section 82-73 of the C ity C o de sh a ll be created as fo llo w s:
CHAPTER 82
PUBLIC PROPERTY
k * *
ARTICLE I. IN GENERAL
* k *
Sec. 82-73. Balloons Prohibited at Public Marinas, Marine Facilities, Parks. and Beaches.
(a) P urp o se. T h is O rd in a n ce is ena cted to protect the m arine environm ent, w ildlife, ae sthetics,
an d pu b lic sa fety by pro hib itin g the po sse ssio n or use of ba llo o ns at all pu blic m arinas,
pu b lic m a rin e facilitie s, and pu b lic pa rks an d bea che s in the city .
(b) D e finitio n s. T he fo llo w ing w ords, te rm s, an d phrases, w hen used in this se ctio n, shall have
the m e a n in g asc rib e d to the m in this se ction , except w here the co ntext clea rly indicates a
d iff e re n t m ean in g:
B a llo o n m ea n s an infla tab le ob ject m a d e of any m a teria l that can be fille d w ith gas or
a ir, a n d is ty p ica lly se a le d at the ne ck and tethered , but sha ll not include inflatable
ite m s co m m o n ly use d in the w a te r, or at the park or be a ch, such as rafts, toys, or balls.
M arin a m e an s an y in stalla tio n w h ich provide s any accom m odatio ns or facilities fo r
w ate rcraft , in c lu d in g m o o ring , docking, storing, le asing , sale, rental, or se rvicing of
w a te rcraft , loca ted in the w ate rs of the city.
M arin e fac ili ty m ea ns any de vice , structure , build ing or co m po nent of a m a rina.
(c) Proh ibition ;
ill N o pe rson or en tity sha ll po sse ss or use a ba llo on at any pub lic m a rina, pub lic m arine
fac ility , pu blic pa rk, or pub lic be a ch .
@ T h is pro h ib ition ap p lie s to all type s of ballo o ns includ ing, but no t lim ited to, those m ade
of la te x, m ylar or an y othe r m a te ria l.
(d) Enf or c e m e n t an d P e n a lties.
ill N o tice of viola tion . If a code co m p lia nce offi ce r (w hich term spe cifically includ es all law
e nfor c em en t offi cer s ) finds ob ser v e s a vi olat ion of this se ction , th e offi cer shal l _issue
a no tic e of vio la tio n . The no tice sh a ll info rm the violato r of the nature of the violation,
a m ou n t of fin e fo r w hich the vio la to r is lia b le, instructio ns and due date fo r paying the
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fin e , tha t the vio la tion m a y be ap pe a le d by req ue sting an ad m inistrative hea ring befo re
a sp e c ial m a g istrate w ithin te n da ys afte r se rv ice of the notice of vio latio n , and that the
fa ilu re to ap p e a l the viola tio n w ith in te n da ys of se rvice sha ll constitute an ad m ission
of the vio la tio n an d a w a ive r of the rig ht to a hea ring .
(2) Written warnings. U n less a w ritt e n w arn ing ha s be en previo usly issue d to the violator
in th e pre ce d ing 12 m onths, a co de inspe ctor m ay, in lie u of issu ing a notice of
viola tio n , first issu e a w ritt e n w a rn in g to the vio la tor to cea se the vio latio n by either:
a . Im m e d ia te ly po p p in g a n d disp o sing of all ba llo ons be ing po ssessed or use d on the
pro h ib ited pub lic pro p ert y in an ap p ro priate trash receptacle : or
b. Im m ed ia te ly re m oving all ba llo o ns be ing po sse ssed or used on the pro hibited
pu b lic pro pe rt y fr o m an y pu b lic m arina, pu blic m arine facility, pub lic park or public
be a ch.
T h e w ritt e n w a rn ing shall be su b sta ntia lly in the sa m e fo rm as the notice of violation as
se t fo rt h in su b se ctio n 82 -7 3 (d )(1) ab ove . The failure to co rrect the vio lation w ithin 10
m in u te s fo llo w ing the issuan ce of a w ritt en w arn ing shall result in the issua nce of a notice
of vio la tion pu rsu a nt to th is se ction .
(3) A viola to r w ho ha s be en se rve d w ith a no tice of violation m ust ele ct to either:
a . Pa y the fo llo w in g civil fin e :
1. F irst vio la tion by a pe rso n or entity w ithin a 12-m o nth pe rio d shall be a
civil fin e of $10 0 fo r ea ch ballo o n up to a m axim um total fine of $1,000;
2 . Se co n d vio la tio n by a pe rson or entity w ithin a 12-m o nth pe riod shall
be a civil fin e of $2 5 0 fo r ea ch ballo o n up to a m a xim um tota l fine of
$2,5 0 0;
3. Th ird vio la tio n by a pe rso n or entity w ithin a 12-m o nth pe rio d shall be a
civil fin e of $5 0 0 fo r ea ch ba llo o n up to a m a xim um total fine of $5,0 00;
4. Fo u rt h or su b se q u e nt vio la tio n by a pe rso n or entity w ithin a 12-m onth
pe rio d sh all be a civil fine of $1,000 fo r ea ch ba lloo n up to a m axim um
total fin e of $5,0 0 0.
.Q,. R eq u e st an ad m in istrative he a ring be fo re a special m agistrate to appea l the notice
o f vio la tio n , w h ich m u st be re q u e sted w ithin te n da ys of the se rvice of the notice
of vio la tio n . T he pro ce d u re s fo r ap p e al by adm in istrative he aring of the notice of
vio la tio n sha ll be as se t fort h in se ctions 30-72 and 30-73 of this C ode.
A pp lic atio ns fo r he a rin g s m ust be accom pa n ie d by a fee as ap pro ved by a
re so lu tio n of th e city co m m issio n , w hich shall be refunded if the na m ed violator
prev a ils in the ap p e a l.
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(A) F ai l ur e to p a y th e c iv il fi n e , o r to tim e ly re q u e s t a n a d m in is tra tiv e h e a rin g b e fo re a
s p e c ia l m a g is tra te , s h a ll c o n s titu te a w a iv e r o f th e v io la to r's rig h t to a n a d m in is tra tiv e
h e a rin g b e fo re th e s p e c ia l m a g is tra te , a n d s h a ll b e tre a te d a s a n a d m is s io n o f th e
v io la tio n , fo r w h ic h fi n e s a n d p e n a ltie s s h a ll b e a s s e s s e d a c c or di ngl y.
(5) A c e rt ifi e d c o p y o f a n o rd e r im p o s in g a fi n e m a y b e re c o rd e d in th e p u b li c re c o rd s , a n d
th e re a fte r s h a ll c o n s titu te a lie n u p o n a n y re a l o r p e rs o n a l p ro p e rt y o w n e d b y th e
v io la to r, w h ic h m a y b e e n fo rc e d in th e s a m e m a n n e r a s a c o u rt ju d g m e n t b y th e
s h e riff s o f th is s ta te , in c lu d in g le vy a g a in s t th e v io la to r's re a l o r p e rs o n a l p ro p e rt y , b u t
s h a ll n o t b e d e e m e d to b e a c o u rt ju d g m e n t e x c e p t fo r e n fo rc e m e n t p u rp o s e s . A fte r
th re e m o n th s fo ll o w in g th e re c o rd in g o f a n y s u c h lie n th a t re m a in s u n p a id , th e c ity m a y
fo re c lo s e o r o th e rw is e e x e c u te u p o n th e lie n fo r th e a m o u n t o f th e lie n p lu s a c c ru e d
in te re s t.
(6) Th e s p e c ia l m a g is tra te s h a ll b e p ro h ib ite d fr o m h e a rin g th e m e rits o f th e n o tic e o f
v io la tio n o r c o n s id e rin g th e tim e lin e s s o f a re q u e s t fo r a n a d m in is tra tiv e h e a rin g if th e
v io la to r h a s fa ile d to re q u e s t a n a d m in is tra tiv e h e a rin g w ith in te n d a y s o f th e s e rv ic e
o f th e n o tic e o f v io la tio n . T h e s p e c ia l m a g is tra te s h a ll n o t h a v e d is c re tio n to a lte r th e
p e n a ltie s p re s c rib e d in th is a rt ic le . A n y p a rt y a g g rie v e d b y a d e c is io n o f a s p e c ia l
m a g is tra te m a y a p p e a l th a t d e c is io n to a c o u rt o f c o m p e te n t ju ris d ic tio n .
(e) P ub lic A waren e ss . The City shall undertake a public awareness campaign to inform
residents, businesses, and visitors about the prohibition on balloon possession or use at
public marinas, public marine facilities, public parks, and public beaches.
SECTION 2. REPEALER.
All ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict herewith are hereby repealed.
SECTION 3. SEVERABILITY.
If any section, sentence, clause, or phrase of this ordinance is held to be invalid or
unconstitutional by any court of competent jurisdiction, then said holding shall in no way affect the
validity of the remaining portions of this ordinance.
SECTION 4. CODIFICATION.
It is the intention of the Mayor and City Commission of the City of Miami Beach, and it is
hereby ordained that the provisions of this ordinance shall become and be made a part of the
Code of the City of Miami Beach, Florida. The sections of this ordinance may be renumbered or
re-lettered to accomplish such intention, and the word "ordinance" may be changed to "section,"
"article," or other appropriate word.
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S E C T IO N 5 . E F F E C T IV E D A T E .
T his O rdinance shall take effect on -----------
PASSED and ADOPTED this day of , 2024.
ATTEST:
Steven Meiner
Mayor
R afael E . G ranado
City Clerk
(Sponsored by Com m issioner David Suarez and Co-sponsored by Comm issioner Joseph
M agazine)
U nderline denotes additions.
Strikethrough denotes deletions.
Double underline denotes additions after first reading.
D ouble str ike thro ugh den otes del etions after firs t reading .
APPROVED AS TO
FORM & LANGUAGE
& FOR EXECUTION
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