LTC 181-2024 Memorial Day Weekend 2024MIAMI BEACH
OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
LTC# 181-2024 LETTER TO COMMISSION
TO:
FROM:
DATE:
SUBJECT:
Honorable Mayor Steven Meiner and Members of the City Commission
Rickele wams, Interim ciy Mana, K'(1)
May 10, 2024
Memorial Day Weekend 2024
In addition to the Memorial Day Weekend 2024 Plan discussion item on May 15, 2024 City
Commission agenda, this Letter to Commission (L TC) provides an update on the City's
preparations for Memorial Day weekend, including traffic route modifications, departmental staffing
plans and event programming.
As in previous years, we anticipate an increased number of visitors to Miami Beach for Memorial
Day weekend driven in large part by the return of the Hyundai Air & Sea Show, which is expected
to generate an estimated attendance of more than 10,000 people daily. Our hotels are currently
projecting an occupancy rate of 79.5%. We expect that percentage to increase with last minute
bookings closer to the holiday weekend.
Programming
The Hyundai Air & Sea Show will take place on Saturday, May 25 and Sunday, May 26 in Lummus
Park between 10 and 12 streets, east and west of the dunes. There is no ticketed area this year,
and public visibility can continue to be enjoyed between 1 and 21 streets. The display village,
located along Ocean Drive between 10 and 15 streets in Lummus Park, will be open Saturday and
Sunday, featuring interactive military and civilian displays that are free to the public between 12
p.m. and 6 p.m. Special demonstrations and performances will take place several times throughout
each day. On Saturday evening, the Music Explosion Presented by Hyundai will feature the U.S.
Army's As You Were band as well as patriotic melodies by The Miami Beach Classical Music
Festival in collaboration with the Ocean Drive Association with a 3D mapping projection along the
iconic buildings of Ocean Drive near 14 Street starting at 8:30 p.m.
For additional details on the Hyundai Air & Sea Show along with a variety of events taking place
at the city's cultural anchors throughout the holiday weekend, visit www.OurCityMB.com.
Coordinated Planning Efforts
As part of our ongoing comprehensive approach, various city departments continue to meet
regularly to ensure we are implementing a coordinated plan for the safety and enjoyment of our
residents and visitors this Memorial Day weekend. In addition, multiple city departments have been
meeting regularly with Air & Sea Show organizers to coordinate efforts and finalize
the Special Event Permit.
The Division of Emergency Management (DEM) is developing a coordinated Event Action Plan
(EAP) based on the operations plans and support provided by City departments as well as partner
agencies for the holiday weekend. As part of the development of the EAP, DEM is working with
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the United States Coast Guard (USCG) to ensure the coordination of operational plans between
landside and waterside units. DEM is also working closely with the National Weather Service in
Miami, monitoring weather and providing "point forecasts" specifically for the activated areas.
In preparation for Memorial Day weekend and the Air & Sea Show, USCG, Miami Beach Police
Department (MBPD), Miami Beach Fire Department (DEM) and Air & Sea Show personnel will be
conducting a tabletop exercise on Tuesday, May 23.
High-Impact and Other Measures
Pursuant to Ordinance No. 2023-4571, the following high-impact measures will be in effect at 7
a.m. Friday, May 24 through 7 a.m. Monday, May 27, 2024 within the designated high impact
zone including along the public beach; the MXE mixed-use entertainment district (excluding that
portion of the MXE district between 73 and 75 streets) and that portion of the CD-2 commercial,
medium-intensity district between Pennsylvania Avenue and Collins Court from 5 to 16 streets:
• Local access restrictions will be enforced on some city streets to limit traffic routes, and
improve mobility for residents and business patrons.
• The issuance of a business tax receipt to promoters for any dance or entertainment
events to be held at an alcoholic beverage establishment located in the MXE and CD-2
districts will be suspended.
• Flat parking rate of $30 for non-residents and $15 for residents within City garages.
• Pursuant to Miami Beach Code Sec. 70-70.1 (c), suspension and closure of business
entities renting or leasing certain vehicles including golf carts, low-speed vehicles,
autocycles, motorized scooters, mopeds, motorcycles powered by motors of 50cc or less
and motorized bicycles during the aforementioned timeframe.
The following additional high-impact and other measures may be imposed as necessary:
• Coolers, inflatable devices, tents, tables and similar objects may be prohibited from public
beaches.
• The citywide suspension and closure of all or part of sidewalk caf~ operations located in
the MXE and CD-2 districts each night (including the removal of any sidewalk caf~
furniture).
Staffing
Miami Beach Police will work 13-hour shifts in an Alpha/Bravo staffing configuration throughout
Memorial Day weekend. Several local, state and federal law enforcement partners will be
assisting MBPD, including, but not limited to, the Florida Highway Patrol, Miami-Dade County
Police and Miami-Dade Schools Police. Additional outreach to local police departments is
ongoing. We are planning for a contingency of over 600 police officers on patrol throughout the
weekend.
Goodwill Ambassadors wearing branded pink T-shirts will be positioned throughout the
Entertainment District to answer visitor questions while serving as liaisons to the Police
Department.
Miami Beach Fire and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) staffing will be enhanced in the
Entertainment District, beginning on Thursday, May 23 through Monday, May 27, including roving
crews on UTVs ("gators") in the Lummus Park area and dedicated rescue units in South Beach.
Fire Prevention Night Inspection Teams will conduct checks throughout the Entertainment
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District. A First-Aid Mobile Structure will be set up at 10 Street at the beachfront, staffed by
Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) volunteers and EMS personnel.
Ocean Rescue Lifeguard staffing will also be enhanced for optimal coverage to keep swimmers
safe. Staffing at the Public Safety Communications Division (911 Call Center) will be enhanced
as well and a full communications plan will be included in the EAP.
The Code Compliance Department deployment will consist of enhanced staffing throughout the
weekend with 24-hour coverage on Friday and Saturday. Continuous coverage throughout the
Entertainment District will include staff on foot, ATVs and bicycles in addition to proactive patrols
being assigned to address conditions citywide. A Short-Term Rental investigations team will be
in place for illegal/transient rentals enforcement. Throughout the weekend, the Miami Beach
Marina and the lntracoastal Waterway will be staffed 8 a.m. to midnight. Teams will also be doing
outreach to nightclubs prior to Memorial Day to reemphasize the regulations regarding
promoted/self-promoted events as well as checking Business Tax Receipts.
The City's Homeless Outreach Services team will be available throughout Memorial Day
weekend from 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. and the City's contracted provider New Hope will be available
from 7 p.m. to 3 a.m.
Enforcement staff will be on 12-hour shifts commencing on Friday, May 24 at 7 a.m. through
Monday, May 27 at 7 a.m. Additional staff resources will be allocated to enforce Residential
Zones 1 (South of Fifth) and 2 (Flamingo Park) as well as in the four (4) garages within the MXE
district.
The Facilities and Fleet Department will be assisting MBPD with traffic mitigation setup and
barricade deployments, including daily street closures and reopenings as part of the traffic
mitigation plan. Throughout the weekend, Facilities staff will be working on citywide graffiti
removal and daily beach shower cleanings. The Department will also have staff available for
water and ice deployment for Goodwill Ambassadors and daily refueling of all utility vehicles. The
Fleet Division will be operating on extended hours to support all city vehicles throughout the
holiday weekend.
Transportation and Mobility Department staff will be available throughout the weekend to monitor
traffic flows and provide timely traffic updates. Additionally, the City's traffic monitoring and
management contractor will monitor major thoroughfares to detect incidents creating congestion
based on available resources and equipment, including the WAZE mobile application, existing
closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras in the City and several portable variable message signs
(VMS) for traffic/event messaging and modify traffic signal timing as necessary to help mitigate
congestion. Traffic Monitors will operate 14 hours a day, from 10 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. from May
24-26.
The Public Works' plan entails conducting preventative maintenance, including sanitary sewer
main line cleanings, pump station inspections and cleanings, streetlight inspections and repairs,
monitoring chlorine residuals and potable water reservoir levels, stormwater main line and catch
basin cleaning, and responding to all service related calls. The goals and objectives involve
keeping the City's water, sewer, stormwater and streetlight infrastructure fully operational as well
as keeping the City's rights-of-way safe and well-lit with adequate and efficient streetlighting. As
always, the Public Works Control Room will be fully staffed and operational 24/7.
The Sanitation Division will have enhanced staffing commencing the evening of May 23 through
May 26. There will be enhanced pressure-washing all weekend along with an additional night
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crew to address issues as they may arise. Sanitation staff will also provide assistance if shoreline
cleanings are necessary.
Park Rangers, along with the Parks and Recreation Department programming, maintenance and
janitorial staff will operate under expanded service hours with increased personnel assignments
throughout the holiday weekend. The core focus areas are the Lummus Park/South Pointe Park
corridor, Ocean Drive and the Beachwalk south of 21 Street. Park Rangers will also assist on the
beach, as needed, in cooperation with Police, Fire, Ocean Rescue and Code Compliance.
Traffic Information
A traffic mitigation plan will be implemented on Friday, May 24 through Monday, May 27
beginning at 6 a.m. Traffic will only be allowed to enter Ocean Drive through 13 Street and exit
through 5 Street, with no access to any other entry/exit points. On Friday, May 24 through
Sunday, May 26 starting at 6 p.m. each evening, Collins and Washington avenues will flow north
and southbound, with no east or westbound access except at 5 Street and 16 Street.
Protected residential zones for the Flamingo Park and South of Fifth neighborhoods will be in
place each evening from 6 p.m. through 5 a.m. starting on Thursday, May 23 through Sunday,
May 26 with barricades in place to restrict cut-through traffic in these residential areas. Flamingo
Park and South of Fifth residents are encouraged to use Alton Road to enter and exit their
neighborhood. There will be an enhanced police presence in other surrounding neighborhoods.
Beginning Friday through Sunday evenings at 8 p.m., a traffic mitigation plan will be in place
along the 5 Street corridor starting at the east bridge of the MacArthur Causeway and on the
Julia Tuttle Causeway. To safely coordinate this effort, there will be a single-lane reduction on
both corridors starting at 8 p.m. each evening. In addition, the Police Department will utilize and
deploy fixed and mobile License Plate Readers (LPRs) throughout the city.
During hours when the traffic mitigation plan is in place, the Miami Beach trolley and Miami-Dade
County transit services will operate normally. The Transit App will be updated as needed to reflect
service changes and important updates.
Parking Information
Effective Friday, May 24 at 7 a.m. through Tuesday, May 28 at 6 a.m., a high-impact flat parking
rate of $30 per vehicle for nonresidents and $15 for residents will be imposed at all City parking
garages in the Entertainment District. This includes parking garages at 7 Street and Collins
Avenue, 12 Street and Washington Avenue, 13 Street and Collins Avenue as well as the Anchor
Garage on 16 Street. Beginning at 9 p.m., entrance to these garages will be limited only to
residents, employees of Miami Beach businesses with proof of employment and access
cardholders.
On-street parking will be prohibited along Collins Avenue between 5 Street and Espanola Way
commencing on Thursday, May 23 at 11 p.m. through Monday, May 27 at 6 a.m. Additionally,
the 100 and 200 blocks between 6 Street and 16 Street will be restricted only to Residential Zone
5 permit holders between the hours of 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. on May 23- 27. The parking lot on the
northwest corner of 10 Street and Washington Avenue (P13) will be unavailable from Thursday
evening starting at 11 p.m. through Monday at 6 a.m.
Free Parking Shuttles
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The City will provide free shuttle service to and from four (4) designated event parking garage
locations. Users may look for the special parking shuttle identification signs prior to boarding.
Parking shuttles will operate on Saturday, May 25 and Sunday, May 26 from 11 a.m. to 11p.m.
at intervals of approximately 15 minutes.
Designated shuttle pickup and drop-off locations are as follows:
• 42 Street garage: shuttle bus will serve trolley stop #219 at Sheridan Avenue and 41
Street.
• 23 Street garage: shuttle bus will serve trolley stop #194 at 23 Street and Liberty Avenue.
• 17 Street, Pennsylvania Avenue and the City Hall garages: shuttle bus will serve trolley
stop #200 at 17 Street and Convention Center Drive.
• 5 Street garage: Freebee shuttle will serve trolley stop #113 at 6 Street and Lenox
Avenue.
All passengers using the free shuttle service will be dropped off at trolley stop #106 located on
the west side of Washington Avenue between 11 and 12 streets. Passengers should use this
stop for their ride back to garages. Alternatively, passengers can use the free citywide trolley
service.
Messaging to Our Residents & Visitors
The Office of Marketing and Communications will continue promoting our "Take Care of Our City"
safety messaging campaign, which highlights local residents and influencers with top tips on how
to enjoy Miami Beach safely. The campaign promotes the cultural, culinary and health and
wellness offerings that can be experienced throughout the City. Our website
www.QurCityMB.com will continue to provide residents and visitors with up-to-date information
on public safety, parking, and transportation options. The office is promoting this integrated
campaign via traditional marketing channels, including trolley wraps, pole banners, bus shelters
and MBTV. It is also employing more targeted digital marketing on social media, programmatic
banner ads as well as via Google keywords. The office will make the public aware of any
unexpected traffic or public safety incidents via text messages, social media posts and targeted
e-newsletters.
Memorial Day Commemoration at MBPD Headquarters
Our Memorial Day Commemoration Ceremony will take place at Miami Beach Police
Headquarters on Monday, May 27 at 10 a.m. in partnership with the American Legion and
Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) 3559 Miami Beach posts. This event pays tribute to the memory
of the men and women who fought and died for our freedom with a wreath-laying ceremony and
21-gun salute.
Outreach and Community Meeting
The Neighborhood Affairs Division, Economic Development, Code Compliance and Police
departments will collectively canvass area businesses to provide information regarding high-
impact measures and planned activities. The City will host a virtual community meeting on
Thursday, May 16 at 6:30 p.m. to discuss preparations for the holiday weekend. For updated
information on Memorial Day weekend, visit www.OurCityMB.com.
Thanks to each of you for the continuous leadership and support you provide the Administration
during high-impact periods. Your feedback is welcomed and appreciated.
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