Resolution 2024-32905 RESOLUTION NO. 2024-32905
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, APPROVING AND DIRECTING THE CITY
ADMINISTRATION TO IMPLEMENT THE FOLLOWING COMPREHENSIVE
STRATEGY FOR SPRING BREAK 2024, IN AN EFFORT TO PROACTIVELY STEM
THE THREATS TO PUBLIC SAFETY THE CITY HAS EXPERIENCED DUE TO
EXCESSIVELY LARGE CROWDS AND LIFE-THREATENING VIOLENCE DURING
SPRING BREAK: (1) ADOPT AND EXECUTE A HEIGHTENED LAW
ENFORCEMENT STAFFING PLAN, INCLUDING "ALPHA BRAVO" STAFFING IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES PROVIDING
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES TO THE MIAMI BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT,
INCLUDING THE FLORIDA HIGHWAY PATROL, MIAMI-DADE COUNTY POLICE
DEPARTMENT, CITY OF MIAMI POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND CORAL GABLES
POLICE DEPARTMENT, AMONG OTHER JURISDICTIONS; (2) VIGOROUSLY
ENFORCE THE "OPEN CONTAINER" LAW, PROHIBITING CONSUMPTION OF
ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES IN PUBLIC AREAS AND RIGHT-OF-WAYS; (3)CLOSE
PUBLIC BEACHES, FROM 5TH STREET TO 15TH STREET, OR PORTIONS
THEREOF, AT 6:00 P.M., AS AUTHORIZED BY SECTION 82-443 OF THE CITY
CODE; (4) SUPPORT, IF NECESSARY, THE SUSPENSION OF SIDEWALK CAFÉ
OPERATIONS ON OCEAN DRIVE, FROM 5TH STREET TO 15TH STREET,AT 7:00
P.M., FROM FRIDAY, MARCH 8, 2024 THROUGH SUNDAY, MARCH 10, 2024,
AND FROM FRIDAY MARCH 15, 2024 THROUGH SUNDAY, MARCH 17'2024, AS
AUTHORIZED BY THE CITY'S OUTDOOR DINING CONCESSION CONTRACTS;
(5) ENFORCE THE CITY'S NOISE ORDINANCE TO THE FULLEST EXTENT
PERMITTED BY LAW, WITH A FOCUS ON PREVENTING THE SPILLOVER OF
LOUD MUSIC FROM ESTABLISHMENTS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO THE PARTY
ATMOSPHERE ON PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAYS; (6) INCREASE CODE
ENFORCEMENT, PARKING ENFORCEMENT AND.FIRE CODE STAFFING AND
INSPECTIONS OF BUSINESS ESTABLISHMENTS TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE
WITH ALL LAWS; (7) CONTINUE TO EXPLORE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A
SECURED PERIMETER ON OCEAN DRIVE OR PORTIONS THEREOF; (8)
IMPLEMENT MIDNIGHT CURFEWS AND OTHER EMERGENCY MEASURES IN
ACCORDANCE WITH ALL LAWS, AS AUTHORIZED BY CITY COMMISSION
RESOLUTION NO. 2023-32557; (9) IMPLEMENT A ROBUST MARKETING AND
COMMUNICATIONS CAMPAIGN TO APPRISE THE PUBLIC TO ANTICIPATE
CURFEWS AND BE AWARE OF THE SIGNIFICANT ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS
DURING SPRING BREAK; (10) CLOSE ALL CITY-OWNED OR CITY-OPERATED
PARKING LOTS AND GARAGES IN THE ART DECO CULTURAL DISTRICT,
INCLUDING ALONG WASHINGTON AVENUE AND COLLINS AVENUE,
BETWEEN 5TH STREET AND 15TH STREET, STARTING AT 6:00 P.M.; (11)
IMPLEMENT THE HIGH IMPACT PARKING RATE IN CITY-OWNED OR CITY-
OPERATED PARKING LOTS AND GARAGES, WITH A DAILY RATE OF UP TO
$100, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF RESIDENTS AND MONTHLY USERS; (12)
RESTRICT ON-STREET PARKING ON OCEAN DRIVE, COLLINS AVENUE AND
WASHINGTON AVENUE, FROM 5TH STREET TO 16TH STREET; (13)WORK WITH
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY TO EXPLORE THE CLOSURE OF THE VENETIAN
CAUSEWAY AND/OR RESTRICT THE VENETIAN CAUSEWAY FOR RESIDENT
USE ONLY; AND (14) EXPLORE ALL ALTERNATIVE MODES OF
TRANSPORTATION TO REDUCE TRAFFIC CONGESTION DURING HIGH
IMPACT PERIODS.
WHEREAS, the City of Miami Beach(the"City".) is an internationally renowned tourist
destination that is famous for its beautiful beaches, world-class shopping, entertainment,
fine dining, and vast array of artistic and cultural events; and
WHEREAS, in recent years, the City has seen an increasingly large number of
visitors during the Spring Break period, which has posed significant challenges including,
but not.limited to, extreme traffic and congestion, and severe impacts to the City's Police,
Fire, Sanitation, and Code Compliance services; and
WHEREAS, many of the visitors to the City during high impact periods, such as
Spring Break, are under the influence of alcoholic beverages and have demonstrated a
blatant disregard.for the rule of law; and
WHEREAS, in 2021, unruly crowd control issues during Spring Break resulted in the
imposition of emergency measures, including an 8:00 pm. curfew in the area between 5th
Street and 16th Street, from Pennsylvania Avenue to Ocean Drive; and
WHEREAS, in March 2022, the City also experienced massive crowds and several
shootings in 'a concentrated tourist area over a period of a few days, resulting in the
declaration of a state of emergency and imposition of a weekend midnight curfew for the last
weekend of March, 2022, based upon the excessively large crowds and violence occurring
on the second and third weekend of March,'2022; and
WHEREAS, such 2022 incidents included the shooting of 5 different innocent
pedestrians and created stampedes and mayhem in the public streets and rights-of-way;
and
WHEREAS, also in 2022, the Police Department and its law enforcement partners
impounded one-hundred (100) firearms from February 18, 2022 — March 21, 2022, with
approximately thirty-seven (37) of such firearms having been impounded during the third
weekend in March spanning March 18—20; and
WHEREAS, in March 2023, the City experienced multiple fights, shootings, and
various other incidents and police calls for service—for example, for the period between
February 27,2023'and March 18,2023,there were four(4)aggravated assault arrests,three
(3) aggravated battery arrests, seven (7) robbery arrests, twenty (20) arrests for carrying a
concealed firearm, thirty-seven (37)felony drug arrests, twelve (12) arrests for battery on a
law enforcement officer, and eighty-two (82) arrests for other felonies; and
WHEREAS, in addition, the Police Department and its law enforcement partners
impounded over seventy (70)firearms from February 27, 2023—March 19, 2023; and
WHEREAS, such March 2023 incidents included two (2) shootings that occurred the
weekend of March 17th, which resulted in two (2) fatalities and injuries to others, and which
also created stampedes that caused injuries to several people, including two (2) volunteer
goodwill ambassadors, and all of which posed a danger to public safety and order in the
public streets and rights-of-way; and
2
WHEREAS, in response to each of the two (2) deadly shootings, officers were able
to arrive on the scene within a matter of seconds, but nevertheless were unable to prevent
the shootings (and were, themselves, endangered by their close proximity to the shootings);
and
WHEREAS, despite the vast and highly-visible police presence in the City, criminals
and their illegal behavior continued undeterred; and
WHEREAS, there is a clear pattern of unreasonably large and uncontrollably unruly
crowds, general mayhem, and violence (including deadly violence) that takes place in the
City during every. recent Spring Break season, concentrated in the same area over the
course of two weekends each year; and
WHEREAS, on March 27, 2023, the Mayor and City Commission adopted Resolution
No. 2023-32557, endorsing, in advance of Spring Break 2024, the City Manager's intent to
declare a .state of emergency for the area south of Dade Boulevard/23rd Street in
accordance with chapter 252 of the Florida Statutes, including the imposition of a curfew for
limited periods in March of 2024 is necessary to provide for public safety and order in the
City; and
WHEREAS, based on the foregoing, the Mayor and City Commission desire to
approve and .direct the City Administration to implement the measures specified in this
Resolution, as part of the Mayor and City Commission's comprehensive strategy to mitigate
the massive challenges associated large crowds and violence during Spring Break, and
protect the health, safety and welfare of all residents and visitors in the City of Miami Beach.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT DULY RESOLVED BY 'THE MAYOR AND CITY
COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, that the Mayor and City
Commission hereby approve and direct the City Administration to implement the following
comprehensive strategy for Spring Break 2024, in an effort to proactively stem the threats
to public safety the city has experienced due to excessively large crowds and life-threatening
violence during Spring Break:
(1) adopt and execute a heightened law enforcement staffing plan, including "Alpha
Bravo" staffing in partnership with law enforcement agencies providing additional resources
to the Miami Beach Police Department, including the Florida Highway Patrol, Miami-Dade
County Police Department, City of Miami Police Department, and Coral Gables Police
Department, among other jurisdictions;
(2)vigorously enforce the"Open Container" law, prohibiting consumption of alcoholic
beverages in public areas and right-of-ways;
(3) close public beaches, from 5th Street to 15th Street, or portions thereof, at 6:00
p.m., as authorized by Section 82-443 of the City Code;
(4)support, if necessary, the suspension of sidewalk cafe operations on Ocean Drive,
from 5t" Street to 15th Street, at 7:00 p.m., from Friday, March 8, 2024 through Sunday,
March 10, 2024, and from Friday March 15, 2024 through Sunday, March 17, 2024, as
authorized by the City's outdoor dining concession contracts;
3
(5) enforce the City's Noise Ordinance to the fullest extent permitted by law, with a
focus on preventing the spillover of loud music from establishments that contribute to the
party atmosphere on public right-of-ways;
(6) increase Code enforcement, parking enforcement and Fire Code staffing and
inspections of business establishments to ensure compliance with all laws;
(7) continue to explore the implementation of a secured perimeter on Ocean Drive or
portions thereof;
(8) implement midnight curfews and other emergency measures in accordance with
all laws, as authorized by City Commission Resolution No. 2023-32557;
(9)implement a robust marketing and communications campaign to apprise the public
to anticipate curfews and be aware of the significant additional restrictions during spring
break;
(10) close all City-owned or City-operated parking lots and garages in the Art Deco
Cultural District, including along Washington Avenue and Collins Avenue, between 5th Street
and 15th Street, starting at 6:00 p.m.;
(11) implement the high impact parking rate in City-owned or City-operated parking
lots and garages,with a daily rate of up to$100, with the exception of residents and monthly
users;
(12) restrict on-street parking on Ocean Drive, Collins Avenue and Washington
Avenue, from 5th Street to 16th Street;
(13)work with Miami-Dade County to explore the closure of the Venetian Causeway
and/or restrict the Venetian Causeway for resident use only; and
(14) explore all alternative modes of transportation to reduce traffic congestion
during high impact periods.
PASSED and ADOPTED this 3! day of 741) 1
Key y 2024.
•
ATTEST:
FEB 072
Steven Meiner, Mayor
Rafael E. Granado, City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO
(sponsored by Mayor Steven.Meiner) FORM &LANGUAGE
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=INLORP ORATED FOR EXECUTION
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City AttorneyZ Date
4
Resolutions - R7 N
MIAMI BEACH
COMMISSION MEMORANDUM
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Commission
FROM: Rafael A. Paz, City Attorney
DATE: January 31, 2024
SUBJECT:A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY
OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, APPROVING AND DIRECTING THE CITY
ADMINISTRATION TO IMPLEMENT THE FOLLOWING COMPREHENSIVE
STRATEGY FOR SPRING BREAK 2024, IN AN EFFORT TO PROACTIVELY
STEM THE THREATS TO PUBLIC SAFETY THE CITY HAS EXPERIENCED
DUE TO EXCESSIVELY LARGE CROWDS AND LIFE-THREATENING
VIOLENCE DURING SPRING BREAK: (1) ADOPT AND EXECUTE A
HEIGHTENED LAW ENFORCEMENT STAFFING PLAN, INCLUDING
"ALPHA BRAVO" STAFFING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LAW
ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES PROVIDING ADDITIONAL RESOURCES TO
THE MIAMI BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT, INCLUDING THE FLORIDA
HIGHWAY PATROL, MIAMI-DADE COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT, CITY
OF MIAMI POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND CORAL GABLES POLICE
DEPARTMENT, AMONG OTHER JURISDICTIONS; (2) VIGOROUSLY
ENFORCE THE "OPEN CONTAINER" LAW, PROHIBITING CONSUMPTION
OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES IN PUBLIC AREAS AND RIGHT-OF-WAYS;
(3) CLOSE PUBLIC BEACHES, FROM 5TH STREET TO 15TH STREET, OR
PORTIONS THEREOF,AT 6:00 P.M.,AS AUTHORIZED BY SECTION 82-443
OF THE CITY CODE; (4) EXPLORE SUSPENSION OF SIDEWALK CAFE
OPERATIONS ON OCEAN DRIVE, FROM 5TH STREET TO 15TH STREET,
AT 7:00 P.M., FROM FRIDAY, MARCH 8, 2024 THROUGH SUNDAY, MARCH
10, 2024, AND FROM FRIDAY MARCH 15, 2024 THROUGH SUNDAY,
MARCH 17, 2024, AS AUTHORIZED BY THE CITY'S OUTDOOR DINING
CONCESSION CONTRACTS; (5) ENFORCE THE CITY'S NOISE
ORDINANCE TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, WITH A
FOCUS ON PREVENTING THE SPILLOVER OF LOUD MUSIC FROM
ESTABLISHMENTS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO THE PARTY ATMOSPHERE
ON PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAYS; (6) INCREASE CODE ENFORCEMENT AND
FIRE CODE STAFFING AND INSPECTIONS OF BUSINESS
ESTABLISHMENTS TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH ALL LAWS; (7)
CONTINUE TO EXPLORE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A SECURED
PERIMETER ON OCEAN DRIVE OR PORTIONS THEREOF; (8)
IMPLEMENT MIDNIGHT CURFEWS AND OTHER EMERGENCY
MEASURES IN ACCORDANCE WITH ALL LAWS, AS AUTHORIZED BY
CITY COMMISSION RESOLUTION NO. 2023-32557; (9) IMPLEMENT A
Page 1638 of 2002
ROBUST MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS CAMPAIGN TO APPRISE
THE PUBLIC TO ANTICIPATE CURFEWS AND BE AWARE OF THE
SIGNIFICANT ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS DURING SPRING BREAK;
(10) CLOSE ALL CITY-OWNED OR CITY-OPERATED PARKING LOTS AND
GARAGES IN THE ART DECO CULTURAL DISTRICT, INCLUDING ALONG
WASHINGTON AVENUE AND COLLINS AVENUE, BETWEEN 5TH STREET
AND 15TH STREET, STARTING AT 6:00 P.M.; (11) IMPLEMENT THE HIGH
IMPACT PARKING RATE IN CITY-OWNED OR CITY-OPERATED PARKING
LOTS AND GARAGES, WITH A DAILY RATE OF UP TO $100, WITH THE
EXCEPTION OF RESIDENTS AND MONTHLY USERS; (12) RESTRICT ON-
STREET PARKING ON OCEAN DRIVE, COLLINS AVENUE AND
WASHINGTON AVENUE, FROM 5TH STREET TO 16TH STREET; AND (13)
WORK WITH MIAMI-DADE COUNTY TO EXPLORE THE CLOSURE OF
THE VENETIAN CAUSEWAY AND/OR RESTRICT THE VENETIAN
CAUSEWAY FOR RESIDENT USE ONLY.
BACKGROUND/HISTORY
Was this Agenda Item initially requested by a lobbyist which, as defined in Code Sec. 2-481,
includes a principal engaged in lobbying? Yes No
If so, specify name of lobbyist(s)and principal(s): N/A
ANALYSIS
The attached Resolution was prepared at the request of the sponsor, Mayor Steven Meiner.
SUPPORTING SURVEY DATA
N/A
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
The sponsor of this item requests that the Administration be prepared to address the fiscal
impact of this proposed measure, if any,at the January 31, 2024 City Commission meeting.
Is this a"Residents Right Does this item utilize G.O.
to Know" item, pursuant to Bond Funds?
City Code Section 2-14?
No No
Legislative Tracking
Office of the City Attorney
Sponsor
Mayor Steven Meiner
Page 1639 of 2002
ATTACHMENTS:
Description
❑ Resolution
Page 1640 of 2002