LTC 294-2025 Board and Committee Biannual Reports294-2025
N\IAM BEACH
OFFICE OF THE CITY C LE RK
LTC No.
LETTER TO COMMISSION
TO: Mayor Steven Meiner and Members of the City Commission
FROM: Rafael E. Granado , City Clerk '7?sf
DATE : July 17, 2025
SUBJECT : Board and Committee Biannual Reports
Please find attached for your review, the Board and Committee Biannual Reports submitted to the Office of
the City Clerk for the period of January to June 2025 .
Pursuant to City Code Section Sec. 2-22(13), the chairperson of each agency , board , or committee , or
his/her designee , shall biannually submit a completed written report to the City Commission and City
Manager. The submitting agency, board, or committee must approve the contents of the report prior to the
presentation .
If you have any questions , please feel free to contact the City Clerk at 305 -673-7 411 .
REG
We are committed to providing excellent public service and safety to all who live, work and play in our vibrant, tropical, historic community
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BOARD OR COMMITTEE NAME: AD HOC IGUANA REMEDIATION ADVISORY
COMMITTEE
CHAIRPERSON: ALYSSA BAUMGARTEN
CITY LIAISON: Ron Mumaw
NUMBER OF MEETINGS HELD: 2
ACTIVITY:
Purpose:
The Ad Hoc Iguana Remediation Advisory Committee was established to examine measures taken
by other jurisdictions to control the iguana invasion and make recommendations to the Mayor and
City Commission concerning options for iguana mitigation and removal.
Powers and Duties:
The Ad Hoc Iguana Remediation Advisory Committee shall have the following powers and duties:
1)Study actions taken by other cities to mitigate invasive iguanas
2)Directing City administration to increase funding for iguana remediation
3)Directing City administration to explore different jurisdictions dealing with iguana remediation
such as the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission and Iguana Control
Sunset:
Pursuant to Resolution NO. 2025-3370, adopted June 23, 2025, by the Mayor and City
Commission, the Ad Hoc Iguana Remediation Advisory Committee was extended for one year
(subject to earlier or later sunset by the City Commission) through June 28,2026.
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Meeting
February 11, 2025
Meeting Agenda Items:
1. Welcome & Attendance
2. Update on executed Iguana Remediation Agreement
3. Agenda Items for the next meeting
4. Adjournment
Key Motions:
• Motion made to increase funding in the amount of $500,000 over the existing budgeted
allocation towards iguana remediation
Meeting
May 27, 2025
Meeting Agenda Items:
1. Welcome & Attendance
2. Approval of February 11,2025, Meeting Minutes
3. Approval of Iguana PSA Video
4. Agenda Items for the next meeting
5. Adjournment
Key Motions:
• Motion made to request additional emergency funding of $200,000 towards eradicating the
nonnative iguana species that have infested Miami Beach
• Discussion held on finding an iguana expert to present remediation tactics on private property
at the next committee meeting
• City staff to publish Iguana PSA Video
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FUTURE ACTIVITIES:
Explore ways to remediate iguanas from private property
ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
Not Applicable
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BOARD OR COMMITTEE NAME:
Affordable Housing Advisory Committee
CHAIRPERSON:
Commissioner Kristen Rosen Gonzalez
CITY LIAISON:
Marcela Rubio
NUMBER OF MEETINGS HELD:
6
ACTIVITY: January 2025- June 2025
January Meeting:
Elections were held, and Commissioner Rosen Gonzalez was elected Chairperson and Ines Flax as Vice-
Chair.
Additionally, the Committee made the following motions:
1. The Committee supports the submission of the FY 2025-2028 Local Housing Assistance Plan to
the Florida Housing Finance Corporation.
2. The Committee recommends that the City Commission allocate $100,000 from the General Fund
to establish a foreclosure prevention program.
February Meeting:
The Committee conducted a tour of two of the City’s affordable housing properties- located at 1735
Normandy Drive; and the Lottie Apartments, 530 75th street.
March Meeting:
The Committee discussed the impact of federal funds on Miami Beach. Staff confirmed that, as of March
11, 2025, federal funding to the City has not been discontinued. In late January 2025, the Trump
administration implemented a temporary pause on federal grants and loans, raising concerns among local
officials regarding potential impacts on county programs and services. However, this pause was lifted
within days, and federal funds remain accessible to the City.
Commissioner Kristen Rosen Gonzalez requested that staff email the Committee a copy of the draft
legislation on affordable and workforce housing, which is scheduled for discussion by the state legislature
this year, and to provide an update on legislation related to funding for affordable and workforce housing at
the next meeting.
The Committee also discussed the Request for Applications for FY 25 for CDBG and HOME programs.
April Meeting:
During the April meeting, the City's Intergovernmental Affairs Liaison provided an update on the Florida
legislation session related to affordable housing. The Committee expressed a strong interest in staying
informed about the bills related to affordable and workforce housing. As a result, the Intergovernmental
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Affairs Liaison conducted a detailed presentation to ensure the Committee was up to date on the latest
legislative developments and their potential impact on the city's housing initiatives.
May Meeting:
The Committee was scheduled to review the funding recommendations for the CDBG and HOME programs
and receive an update regarding the Florida legislative session. Because there was no quorum, both items
were deferred to the June meeting.
June Meeting:
The Committee conducted a tour of the Anamar at Collins Park, an 80-unit property designated as artist
and workforce housing.
The Committee endorsed the following funding recommendations for the Fiscal Year 2025 Community
Development Block Grant (CDBG) and Home Investment Partnerships Program (HOME).
2025 CDBG Allocation $858,270.00
CDBG Public Services (15% Cap $128,740) Amount Beneficiaries
UNIDAD of Miami Beach – Project Link $14,000.00 250
Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade $35,000.00 320
AYUDA, Inc. – Here for You Program $21,638.00 20
UNIDAD – Senior Recreation & Language Programming $14,440.00 250
Friendship Circle – Sunday Circle $8,820.00 14
Helping Hands Ko Op - Grocery Program $34,842.00 96
Economic Development – Prospera Small Business Assistance $55,000.00 20
Affordable Housing – Property Acquisition $502,876.00 4
Planning and Administration (20% cap) – CMB $171,654.00
2025 HOME Allocation $485,921.06 Amount
Affordable Housing - Property Acquisition $364,441.06
CHDO Set-Aside 15% (Community Housing Development Org.) $72,888.00
Planning and Administration (10% cap) $48,592.00
Prior Year Funds
Activity Amount Funding Source Original Activity
Affordable Housing - Property Acquisition $33,807.65 HOME FY 2022 CHDO Operating Costs
$100,793.00 HOME FY 2023 CHDO Set-Aside
FUTURE ACTIVITIES: JULY 2025– December 2025
• AHAC will continue to work on discussing incentive strategies to develop affordable housing
and will submit an Annual Report to the Florida Housing Finance Corporation, as required
by Florida Statute, by December 31, 2025.
• The AHAC will continue to invite community partners to provide legislative updates and
information related to affordable housing.
• The members of the AHAC will continue providing the Administration with recommendations
on proposals connected to affordable housing.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS: January 2025- June 2025
The members of the AHAC continue to advocate for the creation and preservation of existing
affordable housing units. The Committee made several motions in support during this period.
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BOARD OR COMMITTEE NAME:
Animal Welfare Commitee
CHAIRPERSON:
Linda Diamond
CITY LIAISON:
Julian Derois
NUMBER OF MEETINGS HELD:
5
ACTIVITY:
• Discussed proposal to add Florida Law Chapter 828.13 (Abandonment of animals) to CMB
law, LTC voted and submitted.
• Discussed - C4 P - Disclosure ordinance for Notice of trapping and extermination services.
• Discussed: C4 K DISCUSS AND TAKE ACTION REGARDING THE POTENTIAL
CREATION OF A PROGRAM FOR MIAMI BEACH RESIDENTS TO ADOPT DOGS AND
CATS FROM MIAMI-DADE SHELTERS, WHERE ADOPTEES CAN BE REIMBURSED
OR PROVIDED VOUCHERS FOR CERTAIN VETERINARY BILLS AND FOOD FOR THE
FIRST YEAR
Sponsor: Commissioner Suarez
Presented to Commission on May 21, 2025
F 22. To be heard at the September 26, 2025 FERC meeting
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FUTURE ACTIVITIES:
• Discuss a plan to make TNVR program more robust.
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ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
• PASSED - C4 P - Disclosure ordinance for Notice of trapping and extermination services.
- Commissioner Kristen Rosen Gonzalez, worked with Cat Program Coordinator, Holly
Whalan for requirements of notification for any planned animal trapping/extermination
so that neighbors can protect their pets.
• PASSED - Add Florida Law Chapter 828.13 (Abandonment of animals) to CMB law.
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BOARD OR COMMITTEE NAME:
Art in Public Places
CHAIRPERSON:
Nick D’Annunzio
CITY LIAISON:
Lissette Garcia Arrogante
NUMBER OF MEETINGS HELD:
Six (6)
ACTIVITY:
The Art in Public Places (AiPP) Committee allocates funds totaling 2% of the hard costs for City
Projects and joint private/public projects towards curating and commissioning public art, both
temporary and permanent. They also review new Artist Vendor applicants as well as applicants
seeking renewals.
January 28, 2025
• Committee reviewed presentations for Bayshore Park from six (6) artists, which included
Richard Hudson, R&R Studios, Michele Oka Doner, Ivan Depeña, Dara Friedman, and Mark
Handforth
February 18, 2025
• City Staff introduced new AiPP committee member Colette Mello
• Committee motioned to appoint Member Nick D’Annunzio as Chair of AiPP
• Committee motioned to appoint Member Steve Berke as Vice-Chair of AiPP
• Committee motioned to allocate $300,000 in funding towards a singular sculptural element
in Bayshore Park and engaging three (3) of six (6) semi-finalists for a presentation, to include
Michele Oka Doner, Richard Hudson and R&R Studios
• City Staff confirmed bi-monthly maintenance of Jen Stark’s Sundial Spectrum
• Committee approved Artist Vendor applications for three (3) applicants
March 18, 2025
• City Staff introduced new AiPP committee member Silvia Barisione
• City staff announced partnership with Moonlighter FabLab and Clean Miami Beach on artistic
recycling sculpture at Altos del Mar Park
• Committee motioned to consider featuring artworks by local artists and lesser-known artists
• Committee approved Artist Vendor applications for four (4) applicants
April 15, 2025
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• City Staff shared Artistic Recycling pilot program launch
• Committee reviewed final proposal presentations from semi-finalists for Bayshore Park with
voting deferred to May Committee meeting
• Committee approved Artist Vendor applications for (3) applicants
May 20, 2025
• City Staff introduced new AiPP committee member Direlia Lazo
• City Staff introduced new Cultural Affairs Manager Danielle Bender
• City Staff motioned to recommend the Symphony of Colors: Miami Beach Light Art
Installation after reviewing proposal made by Bibi Andrade and Sherri Schabbach
• Committee motioned to approve artist Christina Pettersson to create a concrete vinyl mural
honoring Marjory Stoneman Douglas at her namesake park.
• Committee motioned to approve the “Bird House” proposal by artist Michele Oka Doner as
the selected public artwork for the Bayshore Park project
• Committee motioned to recommend three (3) artists as semi-finalists for presentation at
Flamingo Park, to include Naomi Fisher, Koichiro Asuma and Atelier van Lieshout
• Committee motioned to recommend two (2) artists as semi-finalists for presentation at
Elevate Española, to include Germane Barnes and Janet Echelman
• City Staff shared legislative updates in regards to Resolution C7 W to develop a municipal
garage beautification program.
• City Staff shared information on the No Vacancy Curatorial Advisory Committee, with
Committee Chair and Vice Chair confirming participation
• Committee approved Artist Vendor applications for (3) applicants
June 17, 2025
• Committee reviewed presentations for Elevate Española from two (2) artists, which included
Germane Barnes and Janet Echelman, and motioned to approve the “When Lines Shift” as
the selected public artwork.
• Committee approved Artist Vendor applications for (2) applicants
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FUTURE ACTIVITIES:
Art in Public Places has reviewed and provided input for the following Projects
• Marjory Stoneman Douglas Park Mural, October 2025
• Bayshore Park Permanent Public Work, November 2025
• No Vacancy, November 2025
• Elevate Española, December 2025
• Legacy Purchase Program, December 2025
• Flamingo Park Permanent Public Work, Spring 2026
• Major Conservation, Roy Lichtenstein “Mermaid”
• Miami Beach Art Week Maintenance, Elmgreen & Dragset “Bent Pool”, Jaume Plensa
“Minna”, Joep van Lieshout “Humanoids”
• Artist Vendor Recertification
ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
• Reviewed and Approved a Call to Artists, No Vacancy Miami Beach
• Awarded Artist selection for Bayshore Park
• Reviewed and Approved a Call to Artists, Flamingo Park
• Awarded Artist finalist for Elevate Española December 2025
• Reviewed and approved the Conservation Treatment for Joep Van Lieshout “Humanoids”
• Reviewed and Approved a Maintenance of Lights, Elmgreen & Dragset “Bent Pool”
• Reviewed and Approved a Maintenance of Mural, Jen Stark “Sundial Spectrum”
• Reviewed, discussed, and voted on legislative referrals from the City Commission
• Review and approval of the City’s Artist Vendor Recertification application process
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BOARD OR COMMITTEE NAME:
Audit Committee
CHAIRPERSON:
Ronald Starkman
CITY LIAISON:
Norman Blaiotta
NUMBER OF MEETINGS HELD:
Two meetings held.
ACTIVITY:
3/12/2025
1. Welcome Noura Salman, CPA, New Audit Committee Member
2. Approval of the December 18, 2024, Meeting Minutes
3. Selection of Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson
4. Selection of Ex-Officio Member to the General Obligation Bond Committee
5. Update on the Red Flag Ordinance
6. Audit Division In-House Updates
7. Audit Division Status Report
5/30/2025
1. Approval of the March 12, 2025, Meeting Minutes
2. Legislative Update
3. Audit Division In-House Updates
4. Audit Division Status Report
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FUTURE ACTIVITIES:
1. RSM US LLP presentation of its financial audit reports for the fiscal year ending 09/30/24.
2. Discussion of the OIG Audit Division’s Status Report concerning the status of assigned projects.
3. Presentation of OIG completed/issued audit reports and their findings.
4. As needed, further conversation regarding OIG staffing issues.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
Motions Passed:
3/12/2025
Motion: Regarding the Red Flag Amendments to OIG Enabling Ordinance Sec. 256, the Audit Committee
agrees most provisions are beneficial, but recommends amending Sec 256(d)(17) to clarify that the Inspector
General doesn't have to review every agenda item in detail. Instead, if they find significant issues like waste,
fraud, abuse, or inefficiency, they should inform the proper party.
Motion Made by: Ronald Starkman
Motion Seconded by: Adam Kravitz
Motion Passed: 4-0
Motion: To approve the minutes from the December 18, 2024 meeting.
Motion Made by: David Grieser
Motion Seconded by: Adam Kravitz
Motion carried: 4-0
Motion: To re-appoint Ronald Starkman as Chairperson of the Audit Committee.
Motion Made by: Marc Gidney
Motion Seconded by: Adam Kravitz
Motion Passed: 4-0
Motion: To re-appoint Adam Kravitz as Vice-Chairperson of the Audit Committee.
Motion Made by: David Grieser
Motion Seconded by: Ronald Starkman
Motion Passed: 4-0
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Motion: To re-appoint Adam Kravitz to serve as an Ex-Officio member of the General Obligation Bond
Committee effective March 17th, 2025.
Motion Made by: David Grieser
Motion Seconded by: Marc Gidney
Motion Passed: 4-0
Motion: That the Finance Committee annually include a discussion item on a meeting agenda to consider
findings and recommendations on Annual Reports submitted by the Office of the Inspector General.
Motion Made by: Ronald Starkman
Motion Seconded by: David Grieser
Motion Passed: 4-0
5/30/2025
Motion: To approve the minutes from the March 12, 2025, Meeting.
Motion Made by: David Grieser
Motion Seconded by: Adam Kravitz
Motion carried: 4-0
Motion: The Audit Committee supports AI implementation and urges the City to allow the OIG Internal Audit
division to utilize generative AI for investigating and following up on compliance issues.
Motion Made by: David Grieser
Motion Seconded by: Marc Gidney
Motion Passed: 4-0
Motion: Considering the Miami Beach Marina's value and the deficiencies found in the recent audit, the
Audit Committee recommends the City pursue all legal remedies, including breaching the lease, to recover
owed funds.
Motion Made by: Ronald Starkman
Motion Seconded by: Marc Gidney
Motion Passed: 4-0
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BOARD OR COMMITTEE NAME: Black Affairs Advisory Committee (BAAC)
CHAIRPERSON: Glendon Hall, Chair
CITY LIAISON: Lissette Garcia Arrogante, Director, Tourism and Culture
NUMBER OF MEETINGS HELD: Six (6)
ACTIVITY:
January 7, 2025
• Approved BAAC Minutes from December 10, 2024
• New business discussion:
o Guest speaker -Ty Davis, of Ty Davis Studios, presented the Botanical Garden
Groove event for Black History Month
• The following motions were made:
o Motion made to re-elect Glendon Hall as Chairman for the Black Affairs Advisory
Committee
o Motion made to re-elect Bibi Andrade as Vice Chair for the Black Affairs Advisory
Committee
o Motion made to request an annual budget of $3,000 based on the multiple events the
Black Affairs Advisory Committee would like to sponsor throughout the year
• Motions shared via L TC #007-2025
• City of Miami Beach Legislative and Event Updates:
o Director Lissette Garcia Arrogante shared event details for Black History Month
activations
February 4, 2025
• Approved BAAC Minutes from January 7, 2025
• New business discussion:
o Guest speakers -Tony Hayton, Owner and Exhibition Director of the Florida
Highwaymen Exhibition, provided an overview of the Florida Highwaymen exhibition.
o Guest Speakers -Melissa Berthier, Director of Marketing and Communications,
provided updates on the Spring Break Marketing Campaign
• City of Miami Beach Legislative and Event Updates:
• Director Lissette Garcia Arrogante discussed Black History Month activations
• The following motions were made:
o Motion made to provide notice to the City Commission of the Committee's
programming calendar for 2025
o Motion made to provide notice to the City Commission of the Committee's
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accomplishments
• Motions shared via L TC #056-2025
March 4, 2025
• Approved BAAC Minutes from February 4, 2025
• Old business discussion:
o Guest speaker -Ty Davis, of Ty Davis Studios, recapped the Botanical Garden
Groove event
o Officer Christopher Mitchell, of the Miami Beach Police Department, provided an
overview of Miami Beach Police Department Spring Break strategies and CRB
updates
• City of Miami Beach Legislative and Event Updates:
o Director Lissette Garcia Arrogante provided an overview of upcoming events,
including the City of Miami Beach Family Day, Miami Beach Pride Parade and Picnic,
and the Pet Parade. Additionally, she shared information about the Artistic Recycling
Pilot Program
April 1. 2025
• Approved BAAC Minutes from March 4, 2025
• New business discussion:
o Guest speakers -Starex Smith, Senior Vice President of Development and Operations for
Center for Black Innovation, gave an overview of the Center for Black Innovation and
discussed a potential collaboration for Juneteenth
o Guest speakers -Wylie Kynard, Event Producer for Miami Takeover, presented the
programming for the 2025 Miami Takeover event
• City of Miami Beach Legislative and Event Updates:
o Director Lissette Garcia Arrogante announced the launch of an Artistic Recycling Pilot
Program at Altos Del Mar Park and provided event details for Pet Month.
• Motion made for the Black Affairs Advisory Committee to provide a Letter of Support for the
2025 Miami Takeover event
May 6, 2025
• Approved BAAC Minutes from April 1, 2025
• Old business discussion:
o Guest speakers -Kristy Bada, Chief Procurement Officer of the Procurement
Department, provided updates on database and tracking of small and disadvantaged
businesses
o Guest Speakers -Detective Christopher Mitchell, from the Miami Beach Police
Department, went over the Spring Break after-action
• City of Miami Beach Legislative and Event Updates:
o Director Lissette Garcia Arrogante provided details regarding the Altos Del Mar Paws
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in the Park event and informed the Committee about the Black History Month
elevation and commemoration item discussed at the Public Safety and Neighborhood
Quality of Life Committee
June 3, 2025
• Approved BMC Minutes from May 6, 2025
• New business discussion:
o Guest speakers -Jeff Friday, Founder and CEO of NICECROWD, shared details on the
upcoming American Black Film Festival
o Guest speakers - Fabrice Armand, Co-Founder of the Creole Food Festival, gave an
overview of the Creole Food Festival 2025 programming
• City of Miami Beach Legislative and Event Updates:
o Director Garcia Arrogante presented the Juneteenth 2025 event programming and
provided details on the committee memo regarding the elevation of Black History Month,
previously discussed at the Public Safety and Neighborhood Quality of Life Committee.
Event details included screenings of the Summer of Soul documentary, a live performance
by singer Mike Michel at Normandy Fountain, and The Bass's Juneteenth Celebration
featurinQ the Miami collective Masisi.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
• Campaigned against proposed "Zero Tolerance" Policing policy during high impact periods
• #MBHistory Program Video Series Curriculum honoring the contributions of the LGBTQ,
Hispanic, Black & Jewish communities to the development of the City of Miami Beach -
Partnering with the City's Youth Commission. Video Curriculum will be utilized by Miami
Beach Schools
• Provided recommendations enforcement traffic, parking & zoning strategies adopted by City
Administration for Spring Break, Memorial Day weekend, & other High Impact Periods
• Received City Proclamation to the Black Affairs Advisory Committee honoring the historic
contributions of Black Businesses in Miami Beach for Black Business Month
• Black Affairs Advisory Committee City Proclamation for the DeAnne Connolly Graham Black
and Jewish Art Collaboration Series with the Greater Miami Jewish Federation
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BOARDS AND COMMITTEE BI-ANUAL REPORT FORM - BOA
BOARD OR COMMITTEE NAME: BOARD OF ADJUSTMENTS
CHAIRPERSON: MICHAEL GOLDBERG
CITY LIAISON: ROGELIO MADAN
DATE OF REPORT: JAN 2025 – JUN 2025
NUMBER OF MEETINGS HELD DURING THIS REPORTING PERIOD: 6
Meeting
Date Agenda
Items Approved Denied Discussed Continued Withdrawn No Action Moved Other
JAN 3 4 1
FEB NM NM NM NM NM NM NM NM NM
MAR 4 13 1 1
APR NM NM NM NM NM NM NM NM NM
MAY NM NM NM NM NM NM NM NM NM
JUN
TOTAL 7 17 1 0 2 0 0 0 0
NM: No Meeting
Note: Some totals may not match due to some items being removed from the agenda at the last minute, or items that
are partially approved and also continued.
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BOARD OR COMMITTEE NAME: Budget Advisory Committee
CHAIRPERSON: Mojdeh Khaghan
CITY LIAISON: Tameka Otto Stewart
NUMBER OF MEETINGS HELD: 6
ACTIVITY:
01/14/2025 Meeting Agenda:
Vote a Chair, Vice Chair, and Ex-Officio for the G.O. Bond Oversight Committee
Review of Florida Sunshine Law
Budget 101
Discuss Meeting Dates
02/11/2025 Meeting Agenda:
Office of Management and Budget Department Budget Review
Discuss Meeting Topics for 2025
03/11/2025 Meeting Agenda:
Economic Development Department Budget Review
Miami Beach Redevelopment Agency (RDA) Budget Review
North Beach Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) Review
04/08/2025 Meeting Agenda:
Environment & Sustainability Department Budget Review
05/13/2025 Meeting Agenda:
Police Department Budget Review
Parking Department Budget Review
06/10/2025 Meeting Agenda:
Prep for FERC 1st Budget Briefing Meeting (June 13, 2025)
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FUTURE ACTIVITIES:
Committee briefing for 2nd FERC Budget Briefing Meeting
Proposed Budget-1st Public Hearing
City Manager’s Office Budget Review
Fire Budget Review
Convention Center Budget Review
Transportation & Mobility Budget Review
Housing & Community Services
ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
Review of Florida Public Records, Sunshine Laws and virtual attendance.
By acclamation, Curtis Slipman was elected as the Chair of the Budget Advisory
Committee; Hagai Gringarten as Vice-Chair of the Budget Advisory Committee and Jack
Benveniste as Ex Officio for the G.O. Bond Oversight Committee. William Roedy made the
motion and Terri Echarte seconded the motion. The motion was unanimously approved by
a vote of 6-0-2. Jalak Jobanputra and Ricky Arriola were absent from the vote.
Budget 101:
The following was reviewed and discussed:
Department Description/Responsibilities
Office of Management and Budget Roles
Budget Development
Budget Timeline
FY 2024 Budget Overview
o Types of Funding Sources
o Overall Total Combined Budget
o Operating Budget
General Fund
o Where the Money Comes From
o Where the Money Goes by Department and Category
Financial Policies
o Balancing the Operating Budget
o General Fund Reserves
o Resort Tax Reserves
o Use of General Fund Year-End Surplus and Non-Recurring Revenues
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o Last Five Years – General Fund Capital Funding for Acquisition, Maintenance and
Replacement
Millage Rate
Budgetary Trends
o Overlapping Millage
o Combined Millage
o General Fund Budgeted Expenditures
o Public Safety Trend
FY 2025 Budget Highlights
Office of Management and Budget Department:
The following was discussed:
Department Description
Organizational Chart
Office of Management and Budget Roles
Financial Overview
o General Fund Expenditure Trends
o Position Overview
o Performance Indicators
Challenges
Opportunities
Economic Development:
The following was discussed:
Department Overview
Department Description
Major Programs/Functions
Organizational Chart
Financial Overview
o Recent Changes
o Expenditure Trends
o Position Overview
FY 2026 Enhancements
Performance Indicators
Challenges / Opportunities
Miami Beach Redevelopment Agency (RDA):
The following was discussed:
Overview
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Description
Major Programs
Organizational Chart
Status Report
Financial
o Recent Changes
o Revenue Trends
o Expenditure Trends
Position Overview
Challenges/Opportunities
North Beach Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA):
The following was discussed:
Overview
Provisions Governing Use of TIF Revenues
North Beach CRA Programs / Functions
Organizational Chart
Financial Overview
o Revenue Trends
o Expenditure Trends
o Position Overview
Challenges/Opportunities
Environment and Sustainability Department:
The following was discussed:
Department Description
Department Overview
Major Programs/Functions
Environmental Resources Management Division
Sustainability and Resilience Division
Urban Forestry Division
Organizational Chart
Financial Overview
o Expenditure Trends – General Fund
o Position Overview – General Fund
o Revenue Trends – Sustainability Fund
o Expenditure Trends – Sustainability Fund
o Position Overview – Sustainability Fund
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Performance Indicators
FY 2026 Enhancement Requests
Challenges / Opportunities
MOTION
The Budget Advisory Committee approved the motion below. The motion passed by a vote of 7-
0-1
Members Absent: Dr. Curtis Slipman (attended virtually)
Motion made by: Ricky Arriola
Motion second by: Mojdeh Khaghan
Motion Text:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Budget Advisory Committee that the City Commission
and City Manager:
Pause non-essential personnel actions and discretionary spending, with exceptions for
critical needs and investments that would lead directly to short term and long-term
efficiency gains.
Review departments for consolidation and technology-driven efficiencies.
Identify 5-10% budget reduction scenarios for FY 2025-2026, prioritizing core services.
Provide quarterly updates to the BAC on progress.
Police Department:
The following was reviewed and discussed:
Department Description
Organizational Chart
Major Programs/Functions
Recent Changes
Financial Overview
o Revenue Trends
o Expenditure Trends
o Position Overview
Performance Plan Highlights
Workload Statistics
FY 2026 Enhancement Requests
Challenges / Opportunities
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Parking Department
Department Overview
Department Description
Major Programs/Functions
Department Highlights
Organizational Chart
Financial Overview
o Revenue Trends
o Expenditure Trends
o Position Overview
Performance Indicators
FY 2026 Enhancement Requests
Challenges / Opportunities
Parking Department
Department Overview
Department Description
Major Programs/Functions
Department Highlights
Organizational Chart
Financial Overview
o Revenue Trends
o Expenditure Trends
o Position Overview
Performance Indicators
FY 2026 Enhancement Requests
Challenges / Opportunities
FY 2026 Operating Budget & Millage Rate Update:
The following was reviewed and discussed:
Property Values
o FY 2026 Taxable Property Values
o Overall Property Value Trend
o Existing Property Value Trend
o New Construction Value Trend
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Preliminary FY 2026 General Fund Budget
o Preliminary General Fund Budget
Preliminary FY 2026 Millage Rates
Preliminary FY 2026 Resort Tax Budget
o Preliminary 2% Resort Tax Budget
Next Steps in FY 2026 Budget Process
FY 2026 Preliminary Capital Budget:
The following was reviewed and discussed:
Capital Improvement Program
Capital Budget Development Timeline
FY 2026 Unfunded Capital Needs
Capital Budget Allocations
o Allocation Strategy
o Capital Funding Strategy
o Commission Capital Project Requests
o FY 2026-2030 CIP by Funding Source
Capital Renewal & Replacement (CRR) Fund
o CRR Projects
o Recommended Projects
Capital Pay-As-You-Go Fund (PayGo)
o Capital PayGo Fund
o PayGo Projects
o Recommended Projects
Resort Tax Quality of Life Funds (QOL)
o Recommended Projects
Convention Center Funds
o Recommended Projects
Parking Funds
o Recommended Projects
Transportation Funds
o Recommended Projects
Utilities Funds
o Budget Gap Summary – Water & Sewer
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o Recommended Projects – Stormwater
Other Funds
o Recommended Projects
Next Steps in FY 2026 Budget Process
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BOARD OR COMMITTEE NAME:
Committee for Quality Education
CHAIRPERSON:
James Orlowsky
CITY LIAISON:
Dr. Leslie Rosenfeld
NUMBER OF MEETINGS HELD:
5
ACTIVITY:
Meeting January 21, 2025
Members Present: Rina Bass, Laurie Kaye Davis, Beverly Heller, Karen Fryd, Seth Guttenberg,
Mary Keinath, Faiza Liban, James Orlowsky, Jacquelynn Powers, Jonathan Rothman, Hayley
Ross, Elizabeth Soto, and Ayala Jeger Mendlowitz
Members Absent: Donielle Cohen, Beth Edwards, Evie Fernandez, Amy Ostroff, Christine Perrin-
Stocco, and Devorah Zeiger
Motion 1
Made by Beverly Heller
Second by Seth Guttenberg
The Committee for Quality Education requests the Mayor and Commission address the parking
issues throughout Miami Beach as it relates to teacher parking at public, private, and charter
schools during school days each school year.
The Committee for Quality Education urges the Mayor and Commission to support the above
request.
Motion Passage: Votes 11-0
Absent for Vote: Mary Keinath and Jacquelynn Powers
Motion 2
Made by Beverly Heller
Second by Seth Guttenberg
The Committee for Quality Education requests the Mayor and Commission include the following in
the City’s 2025 legislative priorities:
• Expand fund for the Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) education program sufficient to cover
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the cost of a full-day Prekindergarten program for all students
• Expand VPK to include program options for three-year old students
The Committee for Quality Education urges the Mayor and Commission to support the above
request.
Motion Passage: Votes 11-0
Absent for Vote: Mary Keinath and Jacquelynn Powers
Minutes approved for November 19, 2024
Status of Motions discussed –
Commission Meeting items
1. C4R Referral (Meiner) NQLC and C4AE Referral (Richardson) MBSH
Drop off and Pick Up – February 25, 2022 Finance Meeting discussed.
$175,000 recommended as match to MDCPS and Miami Dade County –
waiting on Transportation team update
2. C4E MBSH Scoreboard STATUS –Install scheduled for early February
3. C7H Sept. 11 Commission Meeting Reso to negotiate agreement with
MDCPS for use of MBFFK8 parking lots to fund future initiatives at MB
public schools with portion for MB schools and portion to MDCPS to use
at their discretion
4. C7 AG May 15 Commission meeting A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR
AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA,
WAIVING DIRECT COST FEES ASSOCIATED WITH USING THE
CITY’S PARKS AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES UP TO TWO (2)
TIMES PER ELIGIBLE SCHOOL YEAR EACH SCHOOL YEAR FOR ALL
ELIGIBLE SCHOOLS (K-12) WITH ACTIVE MEMBERSHIP ON THE
CITY’S COMMITTEE FOR QUALITY EDUCATION. Commissioner David
Suarez sponsored – Economic Development FERC item not heard
5. Teacher Appreciation Event (one-time) May 12, 2025 from 5 pm – 8 pm
6. C4P July 24, 2024 referral to referral to PSNQLC in September Polo Park
and MBNMS Fence discussion. Heard at October PSNQLC and
approved. Approved December Commission
7. R7E December 2024 – Pilot Metal Detector Program Beach High
8. C7J Donation of golf cart to MB Nautilus Middle School (December 2024)
Education Compact discussd
• Safety / Traffic –
• MBSH Drop Off Lane – County Commissioner Micky Steinberg to return in 6 months
• MDCPS School Operations school time start and end times (-MDCPS)
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• Communication
• School Board update – legislative issues update
• Feeder Pattern Update
• Student Achievement
• STEAM Plus 2025-26 start date August 2025
• Parental Involvement/Family Support/Youth and Community Engagement
• Trust for Public Land – Biscayne Beach field partnership under design
• Technology
• STEM equipment for Charter/Private Schools – all agreements routed for execution.
Then purchasing begins.
• Teacher Recruitment/Retention
• Teach at the Beach – Substitute Teacher Incentive Program
• Teacher Appreciation Event May 12 2025 – will have registration process beginning
in February 2025 for all school teachers
• Health / Mental Health
• Current mental health city support status and expansion for virtual health support
through MDCPS/Hazel Health (SPE, FF, NMS, BB)
• New Business / Announcement
• Washington Avenue Residential incentive (Suarez)
• Adjournment
Meeting February 25, 2025
Members Present: Beverly Heller, Mary Keinath, James Orlowsky, Amy Ostroff, Jacquelynn
Powers, Jonathan Rothman, Karen Fryd, Hayley Ross, Ayala Jeger Mendlowitz, Jelena Khurana,
and Devorah Zeiger
Members Absent: Rina Bass, Laurie Kaye Davis, Seth Guttenberg, Faiza Liban, Elizabeth Soto,
Donielle Cohen, and Christine Perrin-Stocco,
Commissioners Present David Suarez and Kristen Rosen Gonzalez
City of Miami Beach Liaison Present: Dr Leslie Rosenfeld
Motion 1
Made by Beverly Heller
Second by Mary Keinath
The Committee for Quality Education requests the Mayor and Commission support item C4B from
the February 3, 2025, Commission Meeting to include public school Parent-Teacher Associations
and private school equivalents in the Festival of Lights ancillary/festive markets for fundraising
opportunities and provide each school funding up to $2,000 to support public/private/charter
school participation in City sponsored events throughout the year.
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The Committee for Quality Education urges the Mayor and Commission to support the above
request.
Motion Passage: Votes 9-0
Absent for Vote: Jacquelynn Powers and Devorah Zeiger
Motion 2
Made by Mary Keinath
Second by Beverly Heller
The Committee for Quality Education(CQE) requests the Mayor and Commission support the
CQE to work with Miami Dade County Public Schools for a solution-driven drop-off with the
existing Miami Beach Sr. High school configuration with the intention of shared student drop-off
lane with buses and parents. The request includes implementation by the beginning of the 2025-
2026 school year.
The Committee for Quality Education urges the Mayor and Commission to support the above
request.
Motion Passage: Votes 11-0
Motion 3
Made by Beverly Heller
Second by Hailey Ross
The Committee for Quality Education(CQE) requests the Mayor and Commission support the
conversion of 7605 Collins Avenue into a Marine Science Education Center and Museum.
The Committee for Quality Education urges the Mayor and Commission to support the above
request.
Motion Passage: Votes 11-0
Minutes approved for January 21, 2025
Status of Motions discussed –
• New Business / Announcement discussed
• Field Improvements - Asking QEC to support an allocation of funds by COMB
towards improvements to the MBSH athletic field amenities. The commission has
voted to refer it to the budget committee.
• Vape World (vape shop) - Concerns about the proximity of a vape shop that is
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planning to open at the corner of Dade Blvd & Alton Road to the high school.
• Miami Musical Festival Programming
• Blue Zones Update
• Fienberg Fisher Infrastructure
• MBSH 100th Anniversary
Adjournment
Meeting March 18, 2025
Members Present: Beverly Heller, Mary Keinath, James Orlowsky, Amy Ostroff, Jonathan
Rothman, Karen Fryd, Hayley Ross, Ayala Jeger Mendlowitz, Jelena Khurana, Rina Bass, Laurie
Kaye Davis, Faiza Liban, Donielle Cohen, and Christine Perrin-Stocco,
Members Absent: Seth Guttenberg, Jacquelynn Powers, Elizabeth Soto, Devorah Zeiger
Motion 1
Made by Laurie Kaye Davis
Second by Mary Keinath
The Committee for Quality Education requests the Mayor and Commission support Biscayne
Beach Elementary Community Schoolyard concepts presented by the Trust for Public Land
including the identification of funding.
The Committee for Quality Education urges the Mayor and Commission to support the above
request.
Motion Passage: Votes 12-0
Motion 2
Made by Rina Bass
Second by Beverly Heller
The Committee for Quality Education (CQE) requests the Mayor and Commission support the
inclusion of 3-year-olds in the PreK Scholarship program and continue to engage the CQE in
conversations regarding the development of the initiative.
The Committee for Quality Education urges the Mayor and Commission to support the above
request.
Motion Passage: Votes 14-0
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Motion 3
Made by Laurie Kaye Davis
Second by Faiza Liban
The Committee for Quality Education (CQE) requests the Mayor and Commission support the
Miami-Dade County Public School Board’s position on HB 261/SB296 and HB123/SB140 and add
these to the City of Miami Beach’s legislative priorities
HB 261/SB 296 MIAMI BEACH SUPPORTS MIAMI-DADE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
POSITION ON PROVIDING FLEXIBILTY WITH MANDATED MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH
SCHOOL START TIME CHANGES.
HB 261 and SB 296 removes the requirement that middle and high schools start by specified
times beginning in the 2026-2027 school year but provide flexibility in maintaining school start
times, retaining the requirement that district school boards inform the local community about the
health and safety ramifications of sleep deprivation and "consider" the benefits of later start times.
HB 123 / SB 140 MIAMI BEACH SUPPORTS MIAMI-DADE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
POSITION ON THIS OPPOSITION
HB 123 and SB 140 propose unwarranted changes to a School Board’s property holdings and to
the charter conversion process. We urge the Legislature to reject and reconsider proposals that
would adversely affect education and would bypass core tenets that have served Florida school
districts for over a century and run counter to the state constitution.
The Committee for Quality Education urges the Mayor and Commission to support the above
request.
Motion Passage: Votes 13-0
Meeting April 22, 2025
Members Present: Rina Bass, Laurie Kaye Davis, Beverly Heller, Mary Keinath, Faiza Liban,
James Orlowsky, Amy Ostroff, Christine Perrin-Stocco, Jacquelynn Powers, Karen Fryd, Ayala
Jeger
Members Absent: Donielle Cohen, Seth Guttenberg, Jonathan Rothman, Hayley Ross, Elizabeth
Soto, Jelena Khurana, Devorah Zeiger
Commissioner Present: Alex Fernandez
City of Miami Beach Liaison Present: Dr Leslie Rosenfeld
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Minutes approved for March 18, 2025
Status of Motions discussed –
Commission Meeting items
1. C7V March 19, 2025 Enhancement Request in FY26 ---A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR
AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, ACCEPTING THE
MOTION OF THE COMMITTEE FOR QUALITY EDUCATION TO INCLUDE PUBLIC SCHOOL
PARENT TEACHER ASSOCIATIONS (PTAS) AND PRIVATE SCHOOL EQUIVALENTS IN THE
FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS ANCILLARY MARKETS TO ENABLE FUNDRAISING FOR SCHOOL
PROGRAMS AND APPROVING THE ALLOCATION OF FUNDS TO COVER THE COST OF
TENTS AND PROVIDING $500 IN SEED MONEY FOR EACH SCHOOL THAT WISHES TO
PARTICIPATE, WITH THE TOTAL AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $15,000; AND FURTHER,
DIRECTING THE ADMINISTRATION TO MAKE THIS A PRIORITY DURING THE FY 2026
BUDGET PROCESS.
2. R9W March 19, 2025 Discuss/Take Action TPL BBE Community Schoolyard
3. C4E MBSH Scoreboard STATUS –Installed April 29, 9 am- Ribbon
CUtting
4. C7H Sept. 11 Commission Meeting Reso to negotiate agreement with
MDCPS for use of MBFFK8 parking lots to fund future initiatives at MB
public schools with portion for MB schools and portion to MDCPS to use
at their discretion
5. R7E December 2024 – Pilot Metal Detector Program Beach High
6. C4AP Referral (February 2, 2025) to FERC Beach High Field funding
request
7. February 26 Commission Agenda Items C4 G REFERRAL TO THE PLANNING BOARD – LAND USE INCENTIVES FOR
SCHOOL AND EDUCATION FACILITIES.
Applicable Area: Citywide
Planning
Commissioner Alex Fernandez
Commissioner David Suarez
C4 M REFERRAL TO THE LAND USE AND SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE TO
DISCUSS POSSIBLE CONVERSION OF 7605 COLLINS AVENUE INTO A MARINE
SCIENCE EDUCATION CENTER AND MUSEUM.
Applicable Area: North Beach
Office of Commissioner David Suarez
Commissioner David Suarez
C4 X REFERRAL TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY AND NEIGHBORHOOD QUALITY OF LIFE
COMMITTEE TO DISCUSS A POTENTIAL PARKING PROGRAM WITH
DISCOUNTED PARKING RATES FOR EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS AND
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EDUCATION-RELATED ORGANIZATIONS.
Applicable Area: Citywide
Office of Commissioner Alex Fernandez
Commissioner Alex Fernandez
C4 AI REFERRAL TO THE FINANCE AND ECONOMIC RESILIENCY COMMITTEE AND
THE QUALITY EDUCATION COMMITTEE TO CONSIDER EXPANDING THE
CITY'S PREKINDERGARTEN SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM TO INCLUDE OPTIONS
FOR THREE-YEAR-OLD STUDENTS
Applicable Area: Citywide
Office of Commissioner Laura Dominguez
Commissioner Laura Dominguez
C7 AB A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, ADDING THE EXPANSION OF FUNDING FOR THE
VOLUNTARY PREKINDERGARTEN (VPK) EDUCATION PROGRAM TO COVER
THE COST OF A FULL-DAY PREKINDERGARTEN PROGRAM FOR ALL
STUDENTS, AND TO INCLUDE PROGRAM OPTIONS FOR THREE-YEAR-OLD
STUDENTS TO THE CITY’S LIST OF 2025 STATE LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES.
Applicable Area: Citywide
City Attorney
Commissioner Laura Dominguez
Education Compact items discussed
• Safety / Traffic –
• MDCPS School Operations school time start and end times (-MDCPS) SB 296
• MBSH Pilot Drop Off Program Update effective April 1 2025 – Bonce to provide
update in May 2025
• Communication
• School Board update – legislative issues update provided HB 123 and SB 140
(Schools of Hope)
• Feeder Pattern Update provided
• Student Achievement
• STEAM Plus 2025-26 start date August 2025 update provided
• Parental Involvement/Family Support/Youth and Community Engagement
• Trust for Public Land – Biscayne Beach field partnership March 19 agenda update
provided
• Technology
• STEM equipment for Charter/Private Schools –Purchasing almost complete and
update provided
• Teacher Recruitment/Retention
• Teach at the Beach – Substitute Teacher Incentive Program update provided
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• Teacher Appreciation Event May 12 2025 – registration process closed
• Health / Mental Health
• Current mental health city support status and expansion for virtual health support
through MDCPS/Hazel Health (SPE, FF, NMS, BB)
• New Business / Announcement
• Field Improvements - On Finance May meeting.- update provided
• Fienberg Fisher Infrastructure – issues discussed
• MBSH 100th Anniversary – update provided
• PreK 3 expansion on May Finance meeting – update after Finance meting
• Communications Team Education Enhancement sharing – Melissa B and Heather
Shaw
1. Heather to contact realtors and Zillow for great schools rankings
2. Melissa to update Marketing Piece to share
3. Billboard advertisement on 836 for MBSH paid for by MBSH school budgt
• Adjournment
Meeting May 20, 2025
Members: Rina Bass, Donielle Cohen, Laurie Kaye Davis, Seth Guttenberg, Beverly Heller, Mary
Keinath, Faiza Liban, James Orlowsky, Amy Ostroff, Christine Perrin-Stocco, Jacquelynn Powers,
Jonathan Rothman, Karen Fryd, Hayley Ross, Elizabeth Soto, Ayala Jeger, Jelena Khurana and
Devorah Zeiger
Commissioners David Suarez and Alex Fernandez
City of Miami Beach Liaison: Dr Leslie Rosenfeld
Motion I
Made by: Mary Keinath
Seconded: Faiza Liban
The committee for quality education requests the Mayor and Commission support the pilot
parental morning drop-off at Miami Beach Senior High in the bus loop on Dade Boulevard, and
ask for a partnership with Miami-Dade County, Miami Dade County Public Schools and City of
Miami Beach to identify funding to reconfigure the interception at Dade Boulevard and
Washington Avenue to allow for a dedicated east bound left turn lane and require signal upgrade
for the 2025-26 school year.
Vote 14-0
Motion II
Made by: Beverly Heller
Seconded: Laurie Kaye-Davis
The Committee for Quality Education requests the Mayor and Commission inform the QEC any
time a proposed code change or a variance request to the regulations affecting schools and uses
is made.
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Vote 14-0
Motion III
Made by: Seth Guttenberg
Seconded: Beverly Heller
The Committee for Quality Education requests the Mayor and Commission expand funding
access to the names not numbers Holocaust Oral History Film Documentary Project to other
eligible Miami Beach Charter and Private Schools.
Vote 13-0
Motion IV
Made by: Mary Keinath
Seconded: Jacquelynn Powers
The Committee for Quality Education requests the Mayor and Commission to allow the use of the
Filmore for the 2025-26 Miami Beach Senior High Senior Class Graduation align to the school
centennial celebration and to support the school in the celebration of its Centennial including but
not limited to the creation of a documentary of Miami Beach Senior High History, a concert, and a
gala.
Vote 13-0
Motion V
Made by: Mary Keinath
Seconded: Beverly Heller
The Committee for Quality Education requests the Mayor and Commission continue to fund all
educational enhancements in FY 26 and going forward for Miami Beach Public, Private and
Charter schools and fund the successful and enjoy Teacher Appreciation Event in FY 26.
Vote 13-0
Welcome & Introductions
Minutes approval for April 22, 2025
Status of Motions –
Commission Meeting items
May 21, 2025 –
C4 B REFERRAL TO THE QUALITY EDUCATION COMMITTEE TO DISCUSS BUILDING A
WORLD CLASS EARLY CHILDHOOD LEARNING CENTER IN MIAMI BEACH. Applicable Area:
Citywide Office of Commissioner Kristen Rosen Gonzalez Commissioner Kristen Rosen Gonzalez
C4 F REFERRAL TO THE LAND USE AND SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE – DISCUSS
POSSIBLE INCLUSION OF A CHARTER OR PRIVATE SCHOOL WITHIN THE 72ND STREET
COMMUNITY CENTER PROJECT. Applicable Area: North Beach Office of Commissioner David
Suarez Commissioner David Suarez
C7 F A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION AMENDING RESOLUTION
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2024-33180 APPROVING AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, MIAMI-
DADE COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD AND BARRY UNIVERSITY, INC. FOR THE ADDITION OF
BARRY UNIVERSITY, INC. AS A PARTNER TO PROVIDE DUAL ENROLLMENT COURSES AT
MIAMI BEACH SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL FOR THE 2025-26 SCHOOL YEAR AND EACH
SUBSEQUENT YEAR; AND FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE
ANY AND ALL DOCUMENTS OR AGREEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH THE PROGRAM.
Applicable Area: Citywide Education and Performance Initiatives
C7 G A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION ACCEPTING THE
RECOMMENDATION OF THE FINANCE AND ECONOMIC RESILIENCE COMMITTEE AT ITS
MAY 7, 2025 MEETING FOR ITEM NB 5 FOR THE FUNDING OF A SHADE STRUCTURE AT
MIAMI BEACH SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $120,000 TO BE
CONSIDERED DURING THE FY 2026 BUDGET PROCESS. Applicable Area: Citywide
Education and Performance Initiatives Commissioner Alex Fernandez Commissioner Joseph
Magazine Commissioner Laura Dominguez
R5 AE AN ORDINANCE OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI
BEACH, FLORIDA, AMENDING CHAPTER 2 OF THE CITY CODE, ENTITLED
“ADMINISTRATION,” ARTICLE V, ENTITLED “FINANCE,” BY CREATING SECTION 2-280
THEREOF, ENTITLED “USE OF RENT PAYMENTS RECEIVED BY THE CITY FROM
CONVENTION CENTER HOTEL LEASE,” TO DEDICATE, PURSUANT TO THE BALLOT
MEASURE APPROVED BY THE CITY’S VOTERS ON NOVEMBER 6, 2018, THE
GUARANTEED RENT PAYMENTS RECEIVED BY THE CITY FROM THE CONVENTION
CENTER HOTEL LEASE TO ENHANCE FUNDING FOR STORMWATER PROJECTS (IN LIEU
OF RATE INCREASES), TRAFFIC REDUCTION MEASURES, AND EDUCATION; AND
REQUIRE A 5/7TH VOTE OF THE CITY COMMISSION TO ADOPT ANY FUTURE
AMENDMENT TO THIS ORDINANCE; AND PROVIDING FOR REPEALER, CODIFICATION,
SEVERABILITY, AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE. 1:55 p.m. First Reading Public Hearing Applicable
Area: Citywide City Attorney Mayor Steven Meiner Commissioner David Suarez Not reached on
4/23/2025 – R5 AD
R5 AF SCHOOL USE INCENTIVES – COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENT AN
ORDINANCE OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH,
FLORIDA, AMENDING THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH YEAR 2040 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN,
PURSUANT TO THE EXPEDITED STATE REVIEW PROCESS OF SECTION 163.3184(3),
FLORIDA STATUTES, BY AMENDING THE “RESILIENT LAND USE & DEVELOPMENT
ELEMENT,” GOAL RLU 1, ENTITLED “LAND USE,” OBJECTIVE RLU 1.1, ENTITLED
“ESTABLISHMENT OF FUTURE LAND USE CATEGORIES,” AT TABLE RLU 1.1 TO PROVIDE
FLOOR AREA RATIO (F.A.R.) INCENTIVES THROUGH THE CITY COMMISSION WARRANT
REVIEW PROCESS; AND PROVIDING FOR CODIFICATION, REPEALER, SEVERABILITY,
TRANSMITTAL AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE. 2:30 p.m. First Reading Public Hearing Applicable
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Area: Citywide Planning Commissioner Alex Fernandez Commissioner David Suarez
R5 AG SCHOOL USE INCENTIVES – LDR AMENDMENTS AN ORDINANCE OF THE MAYOR
AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, AMENDING THE MIAMI
BEACH RESILIENCY CODE, BY AMENDING CHAPTER 2, ENTITLED “ADMINISTRATION AND
REVIEW PROCEDURES”, ARTICLE V ENTITLED “REZONINGS AND DEVELOPMENT
APPROVALS”, SECTION 2.5.3 ENTITLED “DESIGN REVIEW”, SUBSECTION 2.5.3.3
ENTITLED “ADMINISTRATIVE DESIGN REVIEW”; CHAPTER 2 ENTITLED “ADMINISTRATION
AND REVIEW PROCEDURES”, AND BY AMENDING ARTICLE XIII ENTITLED “HISTORIC
PRESERVATION”, SECTION 2.13.7 ENTITLED “ISSUANCE OF CERTIFICATE OF
APPROPRIATENESS/ CERTIFICATE TO DIG/CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS FOR
DEMOLITION”, SUBSECTION C ENTITLED “REVIEW PROCEDURE” TO EXPAND
ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW AUTHORITY FOR SCHOOL DEVELOPMENT; BY AMENDING
CHAPTER 2 ENTITLED “ADMINISTRATION AND REVIEW PROCEDURES”, ARTICLE VII
ENTITLED “COMMISSION WARRANT” TO SECTION 2.7.1 ENTITLED “REVIEW PROCEDURE”
TO ALLOW FAR WARRANT REQUESTS FOR SCHOOL DEVELOPMENT; BY AMENDING
CHAPTER 5, ENTITLED “OFF-STREET PARKING,” ARTICLE II, ENTITLED “VEHICLE
PARKING, BICYCLE PARKING AND OFF-STREET LOADING REQUIREMENTS,” AT SECTION
5.2.4, ENTITLED “VEHICLE OFF-STREET PARKING REQUIREMENTS,” BY AMENDING THE
PARKING REQUIREMENTS IN PARKING TIER 1 TO ELIMINATE THE PARKING
REQUIREMENT FOR SCHOOL USE; BY CHAPTER 7, ENTITLED “ZONING DISTRICT
REGULATIONS,” ARTICLE I, ENTITLED “GENERAL TO ALL ZONING DISTRICTS,” BY
CREATING SECTION 7.1.12, ENTITLED “SCHOOL USE INCENTIVES,” TO ESTABLISH NEW
ZONING INCENTIVES (INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, FLOOR AREA RATIO) SPECIFIC
TO PROPERTIES PROPOSED TO BE DEVELOPED WITH A SCHOOL USE, BY AMENDING
CHAPTER 7, ENTITLED “ZONING DISTRICTS AND REGULATIONS,” ARTICLE II, ENTITLED
“DISTRICT REGULATIONS,” BY AMENDING SECTION 7.2.4, ENTITLED “RM-1 RESIDENTIAL
MULTIFAMILY LOW INTENSITY,” AT SUBSECTION 7.2.4.2, ENTITLED “USES (RM-1),” AND
BY AMENDING SECTION 7.2.5, ENTITLED “RM-2 RESIDENTIAL MULTIFAMILY, MEDIUM
INTENSITY,” AT SUBSECTION 7.2.5.2, ENTITLED “USES (RM-2),” AND BY AMENDING
SECTION 7.2.6, ENTITLED “RM-3 RESIDENTIAL MULTIFAMILY, HIGH INTENSITY,” AT
SUBSECTION 7.2.6.2, ENTITLED “USES (RM-3),” AND BY AMENDING SECTION 7.2.10,
ENTITLED “CD-1 COMMERCIAL, LOW INTENSITY DISTRICT,” AT SUBSECTION 7.2.10.2,
ENTITLED “USES (CD-1),” AND BY AMENDING SECTION 7.2.11, ENTITLED “CD-2
COMMERCIAL, MEDIUM INTENSITY DISTRICT,” AT SUBSECTION 7.2.11.2, ENTITLED “USES
(CD-2),” AND BY AMENDING SECTION 7.2.12, ENTITLED “CD-3 COMMERCIAL, HIGH
INTENSITY DISTRICT,” AT SUBSECTION 7.2.12.2, ENTITLED “USES (CD-3),” AND BY
AMENDING SECTION 7.2.14, ENTITLED “NORTH BEACH TOWN CENTER-CORE DISTRICT
(TC),” AT SUBSECTION 7.2.14.2, ENTITLED “USES (TC-1, TC-2),” AND BY AMENDING
SUBSECTION 7.2.14.3, ENTITLED ‘USES (TC-3),” AND BY AMENDING SUBSECTION
7.2.14.6, ENTITLED “TOWN CENTER-CENTRAL CORE (TC-C) DISTRICT,” AND BY
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AMENDING SECTION 7.2.15, ENTITLED “PERFORMANCE STANDARD DISTRICT (PS),” AT
SUBSECTION 7.2.15.2, ENTITLED “RESIDENTIAL PERFORMANCE STANDARDS DISTRICTS
(R-PS),” AND BY AMENDING SUBSECTION 7.2.15.3, ENTITLED “COMMERCIAL
PERFORMANCE STANDARDS DISTRICTS (C-PS),” AND BY AMENDING SECTION 7.2.18,
ENTITLED “SPE SPECIAL PUBLIC FACILITIES EDUCATIONAL DISTRICT,” AT SUBSECTION
7.2.18.2, ENTITLED “USES (SPE)” BY REFERENCING THE SCHOOL USE INCENTIVES
ESTABLISHED UNDER SECTION 7.1.12, AND CONFORMING THE REGULATIONS FOR
EACH RESPECTIVE ZONING DISTRICT TO REFLECT THE INCENTIVES AND PROVIDING
FOR CODIFICATION, REPEALER, SEVERABILITY, AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE. 2:31 p.m. First
Reading Public Hearing Applicable Area: Citywide Planning Commissioner Alex Fernandez
Commissioner David Suarez
R7 Q A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI
BEACH, FLORIDA, AMENDING RESOLUTION NO. 2024-33420 FOR THE INSTALLATION OF
A FENCE AND SIDEWALK (IMPROVEMENTS) AT POLO PARK, ADJACENT TO THE
SOFTBALL FIELD AND BASKETBALL COURTS OF NAUTILUS MIDDLE SCHOOL TO
APPROVE, AT THE REQUEST OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, A
MODIFICATION TO THE DESIGN OF THE FENCING PROJECT TO ALLOW FOR THE
SHIFTING OF THE FENCE LOCATION AND TO FURTHER AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER
TO MAKE ANY FUTURE MINOR ADJUSTMENTS TO COMPLETE THE PROJECT. Applicable
Area: Middle Beach Parks and Recreation
R7 N A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI
BEACH, FLORIDA, ACCEPTING THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE LAND USE AND
SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE AT ITS APRIL 15, 2025 MEETING (1) TO DIRECT THE
ADMINISTRATION TO IDENTIFY, AS PART OF THE FY 2026 BUDGET PROCESS, LEGALLY
AVAILABLE FUNDING SOURCES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE GENERAL FUND,
TO ENABLE THE CITY TO ACQUIRE THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 7605 COLLINS AVENUE
(PROPERTY) FOR $6.53 MILLION FROM THE CITY’S BUILDING FUND, WHICH ORIGINALLY
ACQUIRED THE PROPERTY, TO CREATE A MARINE SCIENCE EDUCATION CENTER AND
MUSEUM AT THE PROPERTY INSTEAD OF A SATELLITE BUILDING DEPARTMENT OFFICE
AS ORIGINALLY CONTEMPLATED AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE AND (2) TO DIRECT THE
ADMINISTRATION TO SEEK A UNIVERSITY PARTNER TO FUND THE RENOVATION AND
OPERATION OF THE FACILITY. Applicable Area: North Beach Finance Commissioner David
Suarez
R7 T A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI
BEACH, APPROVING A ONE-TIME GRANT OF $48,000.00 TO THE NAMES, NOT NUMBERS
HOLOCAUST ORAL HISTORY FILM DOCUMENTARY PROJECT, CREATED BY TOVA FISH-
ROSENBERG, TO SUPPORT ITS EDUCATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM INITIATIVE AT FOUR
MIAMI BEACH SCHOOLS FOR THE 2025–26 SCHOOL YEAR, DIRECTING THE
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ADMINISTRATION TO IDENTIFY FUNDING FOR THIS GRANT IN THE FISCAL YEAR 2025
BUDGET, AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY CLERK AND CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE THE
CITY’S STANDARD GRANT AGREEMENT WITH RESPECT TO THE FOREGOING. Applicable
Area: Citywide City Attorney Commissioner Kristen Rosen Gonzalez
R7 S A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI
BEACH, AUTHORIZING A ONE-TIME MATCHING GRANT OF $5,000.00 TO THE
SUNFLOWER SOCIETY, A 501(C)(3) NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION, TO SUPPORT ITS FREE
AFTER-SCHOOL AND INTERGENERATIONAL COMMUNITY ART CLASSES AND
AUTHORIZING THE CITY CLERK AND CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE THE CITY’S
STANDARD GRANT AGREEMENT WITH RESPECT TO THE FOREGOING. Applicable Area:
Citywide City Attorney Commissioner Kristen Rosen Gonzalez
C7V March 19, 2025 Enhancement Request in FY26 ---A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND
CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, ACCEPTING THE MOTION
OF THE COMMITTEE FOR QUALITY EDUCATION TO INCLUDE PUBLIC SCHOOL PARENT
TEACHER ASSOCIATIONS (PTAS) AND PRIVATE SCHOOL EQUIVALENTS IN THE
FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS ANCILLARY MARKETS TO ENABLE FUNDRAISING FOR SCHOOL
PROGRAMS AND APPROVING THE ALLOCATION OF FUNDS TO COVER THE COST OF
TENTS AND PROVIDING $500 IN SEED MONEY FOR EACH SCHOOL THAT WISHES TO
PARTICIPATE, WITH THE TOTAL AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $15,000; AND FURTHER,
DIRECTING THE ADMINISTRATION TO MAKE THIS A PRIORITY DURING THE FY 2026
BUDGET PROCESS.
Education Compact
• Safety / Traffic –
• MBSH Pilot Drop Off Program Update effective status and 2025-26 implications
• Communication
• School Board update – legislative issues update
• Feeder Pattern Update
• Student Achievement
• STEAM Plus 2025-26 start date August 2025
• Parental Involvement/Family Support/Youth and Community Engagement
• Trust for Public Land – Biscayne Beach Community Schoolyard funding up to $1.5M
approved
• Technology
• STEM equipment for Charter/Private Schools –Purchasing almost complete
• Teacher Recruitment/Retention
• Teach at the Beach – Substitute Teacher Incentive Program
• Teacher Appreciation Event May 12 2025 – SUCCESS
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• Health / Mental Health
• Current mental health city support status – Jesse Trice designated Trust provider
• New Business / Announcement
• Field Improvements – MBSH $120,000 May 21, 2025 Commission Agenda
• Fienberg Fisher Infrastructure
• MBSH 100th Anniversary
• PreK 3 expansion on May Finance meeting
• MBSH Drop Off Pilot Program Extension 2025-26 (JC Martin MDCPS)
• Ordinance – Restrictions re businesses in proximity to schools (Michael Belush)
• Adjournment
FUTURE ACTIVITIES:
1. To continue to offer, oversee, protect, and sustain educational initiatives for our city’s youth in
conjunction and cooperation with MDCPS.
2. To continue to discuss and evaluate requests by the city’s schools and members of the community for
educational programming and infrastructure improvements and then advise the city’s commission
accordingly.
3. To make Teacher Recruitment/Retention a priority while continuing to meet the goals and
objectives that align with the Education Compact.
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ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
1. Established sub-committee to propose ideas to improve teacher recruitment and retention including a
proposing and facilitating a very successful teacher appreciation event.
2. We worked with the CMB’s Economic Development Dept. to identify the many city-owned
venues/facilities available for school usage, with the benefit of waiving rental fees.
3. We continue to actively facilitate discussions with the CMB Transportation Dept, MDCPS, and Miami-
Dade County regarding a drop-off lane on Dade Boulevard in accordance with the Education Compact’s
prioritization of Safety.
4. We are working with MDCPS on facility issues including flooding and building maintenance.
MIAMI BEACH
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BOARD OR COMMITTEE NAME:
Miami Beach Committee on the Homeless
CHAIRPERSON:
Beatriz Herrmann
CITY LIAISON:
Janay Guerrero
NUMBER OF MEETINGS HELD:
4
ACTIVITY: January 2025-June 2025
Committee on the Homeless meetings are scheduled for the second Tuesday of every month at 3:30 p.m.
at City Hall. Meetings for this period were held in January, February, March, and May.
The following topics were addressed this reporting period:
Monthly reports from the City of Miami Beach on the efforts to address homelessness, including details as
submitted by the Departments/Divisions of the Homeless Outreach Team, Parks Rangers, and Miami Beach
Police Department.
• Homeless Outreach Team efforts to address homelessness:
o Conducted daily street outreach and engagement to build rapport with individuals
experiencing homelessness and offer voluntary support services.
o Facilitated placements of individuals and families into emergency shelters.
o Provided Family Reunification services to assist homeless individuals seeking to reconnect
with friends or family.
o Continued to lead weekly Unified Outreach Missions, collaborating with Miami Beach Police
Officers, Code Compliance, and the Sanitation Division to proactively address encampments
and areas of concern.
o Renewed emergency shelter bed agreements with the Salvation Army & Camillus House,
ensuring continued access to shelter services for the homeless population.
o Distributed “Weekly Homeless Efforts” Letters to Commission to Committee members ensure
they remained informed on the City’s efforts to address homelessness.
• Miami Beach Police Department’s efforts to address homelessness:
o Consistently engaged with homeless population to build rapport and offer services.
o Facilitated arrests in compliance with the No Camping ordinance.
o Placed individuals seeking homeless assistance into Afterhours shelter beds.
o Resumed drone operation details to observe and remove homeless encampments from the
dunes of Miami Beach.
o Continued to assist unhoused persons struggling with substance abuse to overcome
addiction through Marchman Act Program petitions, followed by placement into residential
treatment facilities.
MIAMI BEACH
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o Initiated additional drone operations on Thursdays and Fridays to target areas with a high
level of complaints.
The Committee on the Homeless’ efforts to address homelessness:
• Toured the Miami Center for Mental Health & Recovery in April 2025 to gain insight into its mission
and the services it will provide to support disadvantaged populations. The Committee further invited
selected members of the Miami Beach City Commission to speak on their views and support of the
upcoming Center.
• Continued ongoing discussions on raising awareness on homelessness through a donated mural.
The Committee’s Chair identified an artist, who has attended Committee meetings to present
proposed designs, that has offered to contribute the artwork. The Committee further explored
potential locations and reviewed necessary approval processes for installation.
• Opened discussion on collaborating with a local high school to involve students in promoting
awareness of homelessness.
FUTURE ACTIVITIES: July 2025- December 2025
The Committee on the Homeless anticipates accomplishing the following in the coming months:
o Continue to support the efforts of the Homeless Outreach Services Team and the Miami Beach Police
Department in addressing homelessness.
o Work collaboratively with the City’s Homeless Services Division to make quarterly donations of
clothing and other essential items to local shelters.
o Collaborate with Miami Beach Senior High School to promote youth engagement, awareness, and
fundraising.
o Continue to collaboratively explore ways to support the homeless community and make
recommended motions to the City Commission as appropriate.
o Invite additional guest speakers from local community providers and other Miami Beach Committees
to provide insight into addressing homelessness.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
o The Committee made quarterly donations of clothing, toiletries, and non-perishable food items to
local emergency shelter providers, aiming to support homeless individuals by addressing their basic
needs and improving their comfort during times of crisis.
o Passed a motion to issue a letter of support to the Miami-Dade County Board of County
Commissioners advocating for the opening and operation of the Miami Center for Mental Health &
Recovery (Judge Leifman Center).
o The members of the Committee on the Homeless continue to explore and advocate for innovative
ways to provide support to City’s efforts on reducing unsheltered homelessness.
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BOARD OR COMMITTEE NAME:
CONVENTION CENTER ADVISORY BOARD (CCAB)
CHAIRPERSON:
ROBIN JACOBS
CITY LIAISON:
HEATHER SHAW
NUMBER OF MEETINGS HELD:
5
ACTIVITY:
January 14, 2025 Meeting
In-person: Robin Jacobs, Antonio Hernandez, Chris Gloede, Lee Zimmerman, Marc Gidney, Parkash Kumar,
Bruce Gould, and Carl Linder
Virtual: Chris Rollins
Terra Group – Ivette Batista
Project Manager Ivette Batista notified the group that the hotel grant has been secured and is expected to be
completed by late March. Mr. Linder inquired about the financial data associated with the hotel project and
Ms. Batista agreed to provide during the January 29th, 2025, Neighborhood Safety and Quality of Life meeting
(NSQL) as well as a Production Schedule, to the MBCC team, to ensure seamless interaction with road and
space closures which may affect the Convention Center during events. Ms. Batista also noted the Hotel open
date is scheduled for winter 2027. Chris Glode expressed his concern with the 17th Street Reconstruction
project which will start in 2028, making the opening date provided by Ms. Batista imperative to stick to.
GMCVB – David Whitaker and Carol Motley
David Whitaker, Carol Motley, and a GMCVB and MBCC delegation were in Houston, Texas attending the
PCMA event, which is also booked in the MBCC January 9th-12th, 2027. The primary goal is to attract
prospects to the city by connecting with meeting planners who work with large groups and have the potential
to bring high-impact events that could greatly benefit the local economy.
Ms. Motley continues to provide an update on the status of the events they are currently managing. GMCVB
has booked 4 new events; EMAP Publishing, CoinDesk, Questex, and Professional Convention Management
Association (PCMA). They currently have 84 hotel contracts resulting in 34,028 room nights. A report by ITT will
also be produced shortly that would have analyzed the MBCC’s efficiently levels as well as comparing it to the
competition making sure it is running 100% efficiently in all areas related to convention centers such as energy
consumption and other sustainability functions .
OVG360 – Freddie Peterson
Mr. Peterson noted in December there were five events, including two annuals Beach. This brought in 113,000
attendees. The GMCVB hosted an event for 20 Corporate Event Marketing Association (CEMA) members in the
Venu and Rum Room. This group called is affiliated with PCMA, noted as a prominent meeting for the future of
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PMCA’s contribution to the economic impact for the MBCC. January 2025 has 13 events scheduled with six
annuals, including CosmoProf (full building show) and the 5000 Role Models Rev. Dr. MLK Jr. Scholarship
Breakfast. The MBCC is also hosting the Blue Zones meeting, February 5th-7th, 2025.
During the holiday respite, the MBCC team conducted 29+ restoration projects including, but not limited to,
stripping and sealing carpets on 2nd level and 4 ballrooms, cleaning the Terrazzo flooring and windows, and
pressure washing project the exterior of the building and sidewalks, and completing the addition of 41
cameras in the exhibition hall.
Sodexo Live! - Randy Morales
Randy Morales shared a presentation that highlighted the benefits of Sodexo Live!’s Living Wall Tower Garden.
The Chair, Commissioner Dominguez, and Heather visited and viewed the Orange County Convention Center
display on December 16, 2024. Mr. Morales share images and details of how the gardens attract sales, is
educating the community, and a potential cost saving measure. The aeroponic micro -farms are sustainable
year-round gardens that provide fresh and inexpensive produce. The gardens can save about 907,696 gallons
of water, save about 1,728 pounds of waste, and is nearly self-automated/low labor costs. The Board agreed
they would like to support the project and the Commissioner’s vision.
Motion made by Mr. Linder; Seconded by Mr. Gould.
Motion: The CCAB recommends that the Mayor and Commissioners support the funding,
procurement, and operation of small aeroponic gardens containing plants such as lettuces,
vegetables, herbs, and edible flowers in and for the Convention Center. The gardens can be
maintained and operated by Sodexo Live! to educate visitors to the convention center and the
community on the practices of responsible food sourcing. Sodexo Live! staff can use the fresh produce
harvested directly from these gardens in items served in the Rum Room and Venu and ingredients can
be served in items for catered events.
Motion passed unanimously.
Economic Development – Heather Shaw
Ms. Shaw noted the large impact of having Blue Zones meet at the MBCC. She noted some of the January and
February community events taking place at the MBCC including the 5,000 Role Model’s MLK Jr. Breakfast on
January 18th, 2025, the Labavitch Gala on February 25th, 2025, Blue Zones on February 5th, 2025, and the
Teacher Appreciation on May 12th, 2025. Ms. Shaw reflects on last year’s challenges and accomplishments,
including onboarding new team members, navigating leadership changes, finalizing a new contr act, and
welcoming a new city manager. Looking ahead, the focus for this year is on demonstrating the community's
return on its $40 million investment, collecting and sharing data, and emphasizing community projects to
showcase the economic impact of the convention center.
The CCAB 2025 meeting schedule is below. All meetings start at 9:30 a.m.
•Tuesday, February 11th
•Tuesday, March 11th
•Tuesday, April 8th
•Tuesday, May 13th
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• Tuesday, June 10th
• Tuesday, July 8th
• Tuesday, August 12th
• Tuesday, September 9th
• Tuesday, October 14th
• Tuesday, November 18th
• Tuesday, December 9th
Chairwoman Jacobs thanks the Miami Beach team and the CCAB board members for re -electing her as Chair
and Antonio Hernandez as Vice Chair. She also agreed with Ms. Shaw about communicating the
resident/community impact more to ensure the residents understand and appreciate what is happening
within and because of their investment in the MBCC.
February 11, 2025 Meeting
In-person: Jacobs, Gloede, Zimmerman, Gidney, Kumar, Gould, Rollins, and Linder
Virtual: Hernandez
Terra Group – Ivette Batista
Project Manager Ivette Batista updated the committee with a presentation that explained the current timeline for
the Hotel, which was also presented at the January 29, 2025, Public Safety and Neighborhood Quality of Life
Committee (PSNQL). October 30, 2024, the RDA grant was approved and on January 15, 2025, the Lender Term
sheet has been signed. On March 3, 2025, Ms. Batista informed the group, they will begin test piles, March 28,
2025, is the scheduled closing and lease possession, and April 7, 2025, they will begin building the foundation
with October 18, 2027 being the targeted Hotel opening date. Due to Carl Linder’s financial inquiry, Ivette Batista
will be able to provide a complete financial sheet for the Hotel project after March 21, 2025.
GMCVB – Carol Motley
Carol Motley informed the committee that David Whitaker was in a meeting with the City Mayor and Chief of
Police to discuss the city’s plans for Spring Break 2025. The GMCVB also had a meeting with the hotels which
about 70 confirmed that their hotels were packed as well as their strategies for the upcoming Spring Break
2025. Ms. Motely also mentioned Advisor Circle Future Proof will be having a festival like meeting in Lummus
Park on the weekend of March 16, 2025, which should bring in a lot of walking traffic to the city. Ms. Motely
then continues to note the MBCC will be hosting 6 events with 2 new events added since the last CCAB
meeting on January 14, 2025; PCMA and welcoming back The Aesthetic Society. PCMA has been noted as one
of the largest events for meeting planners, which is forecasted to have both domestic and international
attendees making it a huge economic impact driver both during the event and the outcome of those meeting
planner attendees seeing Miami Beach as an ideal destination for their future events. The Aesthetic Society
event last took place in Miami Beach in 2023 so this will be a return for them. Both newly booked events will
take place in 2027.
Mr. Linder requested to see the projected economic impact the GMCVB has calculated and the post
economic impact after the event to compare. Ms. Motely assured the group that she is currently working on
that performance breakdown for the events of 2024 and will provide it to the committee as soon as it’s
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completed. She will also have a guest speaker attend the next committee to explain how the estimated
economic impact numbers are calculated.
Ms. Motely concluded with announcing a new destination video for Miami Beach that she will share with the
committee.
OVG360 – Ariane Hiltebrand
Ariane Hiltebrand stated they are doing foundational marketing at this time which includes presence in
meetings, magazines and ads. She also noted they are getting an influx of article contributions where one was
completed and sent to Associations, Destinations, and Facilities on the MBCC’s updates today. Ms.
Hiltebrand wanted to recognize the PCMA event that the GMCVB attended in Houston, TX and how impactful
that was to the city for the future.
Ms. Motely adds they have set aside a budget for marketing once the Hotel breaks ground to really showcase
the city for events.
Ms. Hiltebrand mentions they partnered with the GMCVB to help Access Intelligence, which is a company
aimed at doing a survey of the city and provide data on the functionality and sustainability of the MBCC, which
will in turn help the team ensure maximum economic impact where possible. She also mentions a new PR
agency that the MBCC will be using called Evoke which is a local South Florida company but has offices
throughout the United State as well that specializes in the meeting and convention markets.
The MBCC uses a company, hired by Informa Markets, to ensure the event maximizes sustainability efforts be
collected all the plastic wrap around the boats and other recyclable material from the event to send to the
proper repurposing facilities. This is the first OVG360 management team that is doing this initiative so the
company will be doing a large-scale PR piece on the MBCC in recognition of this new implantation.
OVG360 – Freddie Peterson
Mr. Peterson expressed his excitement for the PCMA event coming to the MBCC in 2027 and how huge an
opportunity it is for the city. He noted in December there were five events with two of them being annuals
including Art Basel Miami Beach. This brought in a total of about 113,000 attendees to the MBCC campus.
During this month the MBCC team completed 133 work orders including the fire pump installation, renovation
to the roof cooling tower and the city approved four large digital displays (two in Hall A the n along Hall D) that
are intended to be used as a marketing tool especially during large events as well as help with sustainability
goals.
January has 14 events scheduled with seven annuals. He noted the huge impact iConnections had and the
company was so pleased with the event that they’d like to work on making it an annual event. There were five
events hosted in the Rum Room, minus the canceled event MAGIC Miami (a fashion show) that found there
was no longer an overall vested interest in the event from the public. A group of FIU students were also given a
tour of the MBCC during a few on-going events.
February has 12 scheduled events including annuals and the Blue Zone meeting to take place February 17,
2025. There will be an estimated 550 boats in the building during the Boat Show (February 12 -16, 2025). March
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is projected to have 12 events where 2 will be annuals including high impact days March 14 -16, 2025.
Chairwoman Jacobs mentions the drone show during iConnections and how she was able to see it from her
place of residence. She would like any event doing similar shows that can be seen in the city, without having to
attend a specific event, to become citywide news as an incentive for the residents, especially when they’re
impeded by the increase in traffic due to said events.
Sodexo Live! – Randy Morales
Randy Morales started with the success with the iConnections event. They felt the returns were like the Adobe
Max event. The event bought out the Rum Room and Venu for all 3 days of the show for all their guests. One
note of positive feedback was how the Sodexo Live! employees treated them as guests and not just as
customers. iConnections has started discussing their future plans for the Rum Room and Venu upon their
return. In January, there was an event hosted for 100 Women Who Care and CPNA’s annual meeting as well as
attending the Miami City Ballets.
In February, Sodexo Live! will be catering for the Lubavitch Educational Center Gala on February 25, 2025,
which will host about 700 people. They will be attending the MLK Jr. breakfast, the Muhamad Ali March, and
hosting the Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce in the Venu.
Chairwoman Jacobs mentions she would like to see the Miami Beach resident discount advertised more
throughout the city.
Mr. Morales will continue the outreach efforts by including more social media announcements along with their
on-going efforts through their informercial every Thursday.
Economic Development – Heather Shaw
Heather Shaw shared there would be a meeting to provide clarity on the Spring Break 2025. The public
meeting, with the Mayor, will share expectations for the holiday. She mentions that hotels were concerned
and shared a message that the city should find a balance between discouraging negative people and bad
behavior while also encouraging family friendly events and activities, so families still want to come to Miami
Beach for their vacation destination. She noted the hotels would like clarity on the city’s plan and goals for the
Spring Break 2025’s message so they may arrange their operations accordingly.
Tomorrow, February 12, 2025, the Boat Show will be doing a press conference and ribbon cutting outside of
the convention center at 9:00am.
Ms. Shaw will inform Commissioner Dominquez of the request from the committee to join the March 11, 2025,
CCAB meeting to discuss a potential aeroponic garden on the MBCC campus.
Chairwoman Jacobs would like to voice the committee’s concerns about the lack of data the Project Manager
for the hotel is able to provide to the CMB team that is working with the hotel on the project.
Chris Gloede mentioned all the projects happening in Pride Park. After meeting with the Parks & Recreational
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department as a neighborhood association, he is requesting a master plan of all the projects happening in the
park as a cohesive overview.
Good and Welfare
Chairwoman Jacobs mentions Assistant City Manager Rickelle Williams’ departure from the city and reflected
on their wonderful relationship.
The committee thanked each other for doing a great job of staying on top of everything going on with the MBCC
campus.
April 8, 2025 Meeting
In-person: Jacobs, Hernandez, Zimmerman, Kumar, Gould, Rollins, and Linder
Virtual: Gidney and Gloede
Terra Group – Hash Alyawer and Thais Vieira
Hash informed the committee that the convention center hotel loan is projected to close this week.
Carl Linder inquired about the updated economic projections and the current budget for the project, noting
that the committee has not reviewed any financial updates since the original proposal. Hash assured the
committee he would follow up with his team and provide the requested data.
Vice Chair Antonio Hernandez asked for an update on the project timeline. Hash responded that the general
contractors are prepared to begin construction but are awaiting the loan closing to proceed. Thais Vieira
added that preliminary work has already begun, with test piles initiated in lat e March or early April. Once the
test pile phase is complete, foundation work can commence assuming the closing is completed by that time.
Sodexo Live! – Randy Morales
Chairwoman Jacobs introduces special guest Commissioner Laura Dominguez, expressing gratitude for her
continued efforts on behalf of the residents of Miami Beach and for accompanying the committee on the
Orlando trip to explore the aeroponic gardens.
Randy Morales begins by summarizing the Orlando trip, detailing how the aeroponic gardens will function and
how they could be implemented at the convention center. He established startup and maintenance costs, as
well as the upkeep plan, paving the way for the next step: conducting a feasibility study to determine the best
location for the gardens on the convention center campus.
Commissioner Dominguez shares her background in the travel industry and emphasizes the critical role the
convention center and the convention center hotel will play in the community's growth. She expressed her
strong support for the installation of aeroponic gardens at the convention center. This will be an agenda item
for the upcoming Public Safety and Neighborhood Quality of Life Committee (PSNQL) meeting on April 9, 2025,
and will also be added to the consent agenda for the City Commission meeting on Apr il 23, 2025.
Chairwoman Jacobs conveys her appreciation for the support behind this innovative initiative.
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Heather Shaw notes that completing this project will enhance the convention center's reputation and provide
the added benefit of creating a local, sustainable source of produce as a selling point to both residents and
event planners.
Mr. Morales continues by highlighting February's success despite some lost events. He also mentions that
April 22, 2025 marks the Rum Room’s second anniversary, which will be celebrated with a live music event.
March also exceeded projections, particularly thanks to Padel hosting its first event in Miami Beach.
Ms. Shaw adds that CheeseBurger Baby, a small business on Washington Avenue, is one of Sodexo Live!’s top
revenue-generating partners, supplying cheeseburgers for events. This exemplifies the city’s commitment to
fostering connections and promoting growth within its community.
GMCVB - Carol Motley
Carol Motley shared her regrets for not attending in person, as she is in the DMV area for Business Week, while
David Whitaker is in Tallahassee. She is actively engaging with Destination Marketing Organizations (DMOs)
to promote Miami Beach.
She reported that eight events are confirmed, with a goal of 16. The Aesthetic Society is considering a return,
and PCMA has signed with the Loew’s headquarter hotel and is close to finalizing with the convention center.
There are 14 high-priority tentative events, including Adobe and the American Bar Association, working toward
written commitments.
Currently, there are 68 active MBCC P1 and P2 leads, slightly behind last year’s pace, possibly due to political
factors. However, hotel bookings are ahead of last year. The team remains aggressive in outreach and is
leveraging events like ASAE and IMEX America to drive new leads. Upcoming hotel renovations at Royal Palm
and Loews may impact future bookings.
Freddie Peterson noted his team is tracking new hotel developments and new hotel opening as well.
Ms. Motley emphasized the value of group hotel blocking, which streamlines planning and strengthens event
packages which work highly in their favor when selling the destination. She is also working with Michael
Hughes of Access Intelligence on a report that analyzes the convention center and Miami Beach’s destination
competitiveness. It will include an executive summary and be shared with the board once completed.
At the next meeting, a speaker from Tourism Economics will present on how event economic impact is
calculated.
OVG360 – Ariane Hiltebrand
Ariane Hiltebrand shared that the Sales and Marketing team is collaborating closely with the GMCVB and the
city to review contractual documents, procedures, and team responsibilities, ensuring smooth and efficient
operations. This includes managing the Room Block agreement for the upcoming convention center hotel,
with particular emphasis on the critical 30-month and 18-month clauses. She expressed enthusiasm about
engaging with the hotel team to initiate planning as the Room Block agreement takes effect on January 1, 2026.
Additionally, associations are eagerly anticipating their collaboration with the hotel to plan events scheduled
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for 2029 and 2030.
OVG360 - Freddie Peterson
Mr. Peterson expressed his appreciation and enthusiasm for the progress of the convention center hotel,
emphasizing the importance of maintaining ongoing communication with the Fillmore and the Rum Room
during construction to ensure effective crowd and event management. He reported that nine events took
place in February, including four annual events. Among them, the International Boat Show stood out, featuring
approximately 550 boats and drawing around 90,000 attendees across Pride Park alone and stretched to
downtown Miami. In total, February brought in 1,300 exhibitors and approximately 110,000 attendees. He also
noted the successful turnaround of the Alliance Basketball Championship, which faced challenges in the
previous year but was executed smoothly this time due to the team’s efforts.
Mr. Peterson highlighted the convention center’s unique strength in hosting eight verticals of events —double
the industry standard—which contributes significantly to both the city’s economic impact and the venue’s
diverse programming portfolio. Ms. Shaw added that the team’s ability to remain agile while coordinating with
city departments, Pride Park, the Rum Room, and surrounding construction is essential, especially with the
upcoming hotel. She acknowledged Mr. Peterson’s leadership in keeping operations running smoothly
through these complexities.
Mr. Peterson expressed gratitude to his colleagues for upholding the convention center’s high standards. Vice
Chair Hernandez encouraged the team to present any capital projects needing support from the Convention
Center Advisory Board (CCAB) to ensure optimal building performance. In response, Mr. Peterson confirmed
he would prepare an update for the next CCAB meeting on May 13th. Currently, 21 capital projects are
underway, totaling approximately $19 million. These include the Honeywell Camera Project, wh ich will add
14 cameras and 165 strobes in the exhibition halls, and a $1.5 million initiative with Darktronics to install four
LED video walls for modern, sustainable advertising while maintaining the building’s integrity.
Mr. Peterson also noted that nearly 600 work orders were completed in February by the five -person
maintenance team. Looking ahead, March hosted 19 events, including three annuals such as the Natural
Disaster Expo, JAS, and eMerge. Additionally, Padel and RacketX were intentionally scheduled simultaneously
to boost interest and attendance, reflecting the team's continued strategic approach to event planning.
Economic Development - Heather Shaw
Ms. Shaw shared the City of Miami Beach declared a 72-hour state of emergency. Hotel inquiries are
increasing as visitors seek accommodations. She mentions FIFA had an event recently, with the team
focusing on attracting business for upcoming events like Formula One. They pla n to improve tracking of
economic impacts to effectively communicate their value to stakeholders and enhance understanding of their
contributions to Miami Beach. Projects are in the works for Collins Canal Park to make it more appealing and
user-friendly. Discussions are ongoing about updating special event guidelines for Pride Park, allowing more
flexibility for the city manager. Lastly, the City Attorney’s Office is researching revenue bonds and will discuss
their implications for the convention center campus in the November meeting.
Chairwoman Jacobs noted the removal of the Banyan tree and the open space now available. She encouraged
the committee to return with creative ideas for how to utilize the area, including potential activations that
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support a hybrid use benefiting residents.
Ms. Shaw reminded the committee that Collins Canal Park is currently available for activations through the
city's special event permit process. She clarified that the space remains vacant as the city is conducting a soil
analysis, a necessary step before anything can be installed following the removal of the 100-year-old tree. An
additional analysis of Collins Canal Park’s shoreline is also underway and is expected to be completed by the
end of this month or early May. The outcomes of these assessments will help determine the next steps for the
potential use of the space in the future.
Chris Rollins requests a status update for the Collins Park Hotel that looks to be coming online soon for the
next CCAB meeting.
Public Comments
Brian Ostrom introduced himself to the committee and thanked them for the opportunity to participate in the
meeting. As a longtime South Beach resident, he expressed his strong interest in the convention center’s
operations and its engagement with the local community and intends to attend any future CCAB meetings .
May 14, 2025 Meeting
In-person: Jacobs, Hernandez, Gidney, Kumar, Gould, Rollins, Gloede, and Linder
Chairwoman Robin Jacobs welcomed the committee and public attendees before providing a brief overview
of the Pride Park (the “Park”) agenda item. The City Commission is considering the installation of a children's
play area on the west side of the Park. Chairwoman Jacobs expressed her intent to facilitate discussion on the
proposal before the commission moves forward with its ruling. She emphasized the importance of taking a
holistic approach—gathering input from both the community and the city—to ensure thoughtful consideration
of Park's overall usage and its strategic advantages as part of the Miami Beach Convention Center (“MBCC”)
campus. Representatives from Palm View HOA Secretary John Courtney, together with other Palm View
Association residents and community representatives were introduced.
Chairwoman Jacobs highlighted the importance of maximizing the Park’s potential to host larger, high -profile
'fly-in' events. She cautioned that permanent installations could restrict the park’s flexibility, potentially
diminishing the MBCC economic impact on the city. As an alternative, she suggested exploring temporary
equipment to maintain adaptability while supporting major events. She further emphasized that full utilization
of the Park will drive sustained prosperity for both residents and businesses. With the groundbreaking of the
MBCC Hotel, expectations for the MBCC campus remain high as it continues to be a valuable, $640 million,
city-approved asset.
Vice Chairman Antonio Hernandez recommended postponing any major modifications to the Park. He
suggested exploring removable options for the children's play area or considering alternative locations
instead. He emphasized that maintaining the success of the MBCC campus is crucial, as it directly
contributes to the city's resort tax revenue, benefiting local infrastructure and economic growth.
Member Carl Linder acknowledges that the Park has been a topic of ongoing discussion and debate during his
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time on the committee. While the proposed $300,000 project is a relatively small portion of the city's billion -
dollar budget, he reflected on his personal experiences raising children in Miami Beach, where finding suitable
parks has generally been manageable. He believes the project should be reconsidered due to ongoing
concerns, particularly those raised by Palm View residents, regarding noise levels. Member Linder
emphasized the importance of transparency and public input, expressing a desire for more com munity
engagement before moving forward. He suggested pausing the project to allow for additional review and
dialogue with Palm View residents and other stakeholders.
Member Chris Gloede explained that the Park’s development was already approved for 2026, with the current
proposal simply moving it up to 2025. He assured the attendees that the process has been transparent, with
City Commission agendas are available for p ublic review. Member Rollins encouraged broader engagement
in local projects, like the Fillmore and Collins Park Hotel, and clarified that the plan preserves infrastructure
for ticketed events. He emphasized that the Park remains a public space managed by Parks and Recreation
Department, ensuring continued community access.
Member Marc Gidney expressed his support for creating a master plan for the park, emphasizing the
importance of thoughtful planning. He noted that while some estimate the asset at $600 million, its total value
exceeds a billion dollars when factoring in all components. Member Gidney suggested acquiring a few
properties within the community to establish a park in a safer, more secluded location—away from traffic and
commercial areas—where children can play without public interference. He highlighted that thi s idea has
been proposed in previous discussions, and that available land has been identified as a potential solution. He
believes this approach would better serve the community, ensuring a more enjoyable and secure environment
for residents.
Member Prakash Kumar expressed concern that the estimated cost for constructing the children's play area
is too high and may continue to rise over time.
Member Bruce Gould agreed with previous comments and emphasized concerns about setting a precedent
for future modifications to the Park. He cautioned that continued carve -outs could reduce the Park’s overall
usability, whether for 75 or 225 days of events. Gould questioned the claim that the proposed changes won’t
impact infrastructure or equipment access and suggests exploring temporary structures instead of
permanent installations. He supported Chairwoman Jacob’s call for a pause, advocating for a well -thought-
out master plan that considers the diverse ways the community utilizes the Park.
David Whitaker, GMCVB, emphasized the importance of collaboration in discussions surrounding the Park
and applauds the transparency of the process. He highlighted the significant economic impact of major
conventions, citing Adobe’s recent event, which generated $23 million for the city, including $3 million in food
and beverage revenue. Whitaker suggested that occasional high -profile events in the Park can benefit the
community without excessive disruption and urges a balanced approach. He stressed the need for a process
that allows city officials to capitalize on rare opportunities while maintaining trust with residents. He
supported continued dialogue to ensure MBCC, and surrounding areas remain economically vibrant while
addressing community concerns.
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Carol Motley, GMCVB, highlighted the significant economic impact of Adobe's convention, noting that its final
contribution grew to $25 million. She emphasized the importance of equipping sales teams with strong
offerings to compete against top-tier destinations, leveraging Miami Beach’s year-round appeal. Motley
pointed out that Adobe is considering returning in both 2026 and 2027, potentially generating a combined $50
million in economic benefits. She stressed that this revenue extends beyond the event its elf, as tax
reinvestment continues to support the local community long after attendees depart.
Assistant City Manager Maria Hernandez acknowledged the complexity of decisions regarding the Park,
emphasizing the need for careful compromise between residents, the MBCC, and event operations. She
raises concerns about a children's playground due to heav y truck traffic in the area but suggested modifying
an existing workout space as an alternative. Hernandez expressed openness to exploring a playground in the
Palm View neighborhood and highlights the upcoming $42 million Bayshore Park project, which will offer
additional amenities. She noted that any changes to the Park must go through the Design Review Board,
ensuring transparency and community input. Additionally, she mentioned the City Commission’s directive to
restore parking on 19th Street, though the city is working to balance the need for spaces with preserving
mature trees and green space.
Freddie Peterson, OVG360, emphasizes the need for balance between community interests and economic
opportunities. He highlighted major investments in the area and the importance of outdoor activations in
attracting high-profile events like Adobe MAX. Peterson supported creating a master plan for Pride Park and
encourages ongoing collaboration to develop solutions that benefit both residents and the city. He sees this
discussion as the start of a new chapter for the park and welcomes further engagement.
Vice Chair Hernandez makes the following motion:
Pursuant to its mission to "act in an advisory capacity to the city commission on
matters regarding operation of the convention center," and in response to recent
advocacy for potential installation of a permanent children's playground on the West side
of Pride Park, the Convention Center Advisory Board (CCAB) recommends that the
Mayor and Commissioners fully evaluate the effect such an installation could have on
the operation, stability, and success of the Miami Beach Convention Center. The CCAB
recommends that a full evaluation should at least consider: (i) the city -wide public
investment of $640 million toward construction of the Convention Center intended to
deliver significant economic impact and generate substantial city-wide revenues, (ii) the
role that Pride Park plays in securing and retaining significant revenue -generating and
attractive conventions, (iii) the prior and existing use of Pride Park, (iv) any adverse
impact that a change in the prior and existing use of Pride Park may cause on retaining
and attracting new significant revenue-generating conventions, (v) the number,
frequency, and impact of prior changes to Pride Park's use and design, (vi) the
possibility of alternatives to construction of a children's playground or any other
temporary or permanent structure, and (vii) conduct an economic impact study.
Pride Park, in its current and prior use, provides a competitive advantage to the
Convention Center by offering a unique, open-space amenity that few other convention
centers offer. The CCAB respectfully submits that the current design and use of Pride
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Park sufficiently balances neighborhood and community access and the need for Pride
Park in retaining and attracting significant revenue-generating conventions that require
the use of Pride Park. Accordingly, the CCAB respectfully recommends that the Mayor
and Commission judiciously perform the full evaluation referenced above and create a
master plan for the Convention Center campus before making any further changes to the
design or use of Pride Park which may affect the stability of the Convention Center's
operations and its ability to generate maximum economic impact for the City of Miami
Beach.
Marc Gidney seconds, vote was 7 to 8.
Public Comments
Palm View’s Secretary, John Courtney, acknowledged the CCAB’s role in supporting the MBCC investment
while also recognizing the community’s ongoing collaboration with city representatives. He highlighted the
seven-month process that has shaped the current proposal and emphasizes that any challenges stem from
logistical adjustments rather than flaws in the procedure itself. Courtney encouraged continued dialogue with
commissioners to find a balanced solution and suggests that supporting a small activation ne ar an existing
area could demonstrate goodwill. He also addressed past discussions about Pride Park’s intended use,
clarifying differences in perspective between the committee and the community. Ultimately, he remains
committed to working with city officials to ensure a fair and thoughtful resolution.
Other Palm View residents that attended were in favor in the City Committee’s decision to add the children’s
park and did not want the project to stop .
June 23, 2025 Meeting
In-person: Jacobs, Hernandez, Gidney, Kumar, Gould, Rollins, Gloede, and Linder
Pride Park
Chairwoman Robin Jacobs begins explaining her position to support the approval of Pride Park Playground.
Through her continued efforts after the May 14th CCAB meeting, Chairwoman Jacobs partnered with
Commissioner Kristin Rosen Gonzalez, the Palm View neighborhood association, and Director of Parks at the
City of Miami Beach, John Rebar to review the plans and benefits of having the addition to the park and explore
options for a versatile, multi-use space closest the Convention Center. She further explains the CCAB would
greatly benefit from having a master plan with a proposed date of February 2026 giving enough time for
stakeholder input and ensure the park serves the needs of our entire community.
Marc Gidney inquired about the 5-year plan for this initiative which Commissioner Rosen Gonzalez’s aide
stated she would work on getting that information for the committee members.
Although Vice Chair Antonio Hernandez voiced safety concerns due to the busy streets surrounding the park
and the potential impacts the addition to the park, he received Chairwoman Jacob’s recommendation and
supports it.
Bruce Gould appreciates the efforts of Chairwoman Jacobs and those involved in the vetting process and
looking forward to future developments.
Lee Zimmerman inquired about the impacts to the MBCC which Freddie Peterson noted would add great value
to the city and the community.
David Whitaker, GMCVB’s elected President & CEO, reminds the committee that communication will be key
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to ensure all around success for the community and the MBCC.
Marc Gidney suggests an LTC to be made in support of the Pride Park playground with the inclusion of the
Master Plan and a 5-year financial plan.
LTC is currently pending.
Public Comments
Palm View parents and residents thank the CCAB for their continued support and are excited for the long -term
advances as a community. A suggestion to include shade and water fountain structures in the playground
would be of great value, especially during Florida’s hot summer days.
GMCVB – David Whitaker and Carol Motley
David gives a recap of his time at Art Basel Switzerland and the feedback from those that attended the event
made a point to mention the Art Basel Miami Beach has become the best version of the event. He announced
the addition of Art Basel Awards that will take place during the event at the New World Center which will
encourage more attendees to fly in to participate.
Carol Motley goes over her monthly presentation highlighting her team’s participation showing an 11%
increase of their in-hotel room nights from the last CCAB meeting and a 32% increase in hotel productions
overall. Currently, a few of their international team members are in London preparing for the Meeting Show
and ExCel London. Last year it was just Carol and her team, however this year, 7 hotel partners including 4
from Miami Beach are joining them to help sell the location. She notes this is a huge step forward as it means
hotels are now taking additional steps to bring revenue to the city. American Society of Association Executives
is another huge event that 11 hotel partners are also attending with the GMCVB.
The committee asks about having Adobe back at the MBCC as negotiations have been underway. Maria
Hernandez, Assistant City Manager, notes the city, the MBCC, and Adobe have had successful conversations
and are all working together to allow Adobe 3 extra days for activation for 2026 so they can secure the event
for both 2026 and 2027.
Chairwoman Jacobs makes the following motion to send a LTC (Letter to Commission) in support of the
additional days:
Request to extend Pride Park Activation Days to Retain High-Value Convention Client. On behalf of the
Convention Center Advisory Board (CCAB) and Chairwoman Robin Jacobs, we respectfully recommend
extending the Pride Park activation window from 75 to 78 days—an additional three (3) days—for the
year 2026 only. This adjustment would allow us to retain Adobe MAX, a premier global client that
brought $30 million in economic impact during its 2024 event at the Convention Center and our
destination. Adobe MAX has again expressed strong interest in returning to Miami Beach for both 2026
and 2027 (combined estimated economic impact of $60M).
To accommodate Adobe MAX but especially Design Miami’s operational (move-in) needs, we propose
allocating the remaining six (6) days from the current Pride Park activation “bank” and adding three (3)
new days. The three (3) days are subject to Commission approval. This one-time extension for 2026
would ensure we meet Adobe MAX’s requirements and secure their continued presence for 2026 and
2027.
We recommend close coordination among the City of Miami Beach, Adobe MAX, Design Miami, the
Convention Center, and the Palm View Neighborhood Association to ensure a smooth and successful
outcome that is mutually beneficial to all. Retaining this high-caliber client—who also contributed a
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vibrant sidewalk art installation along Española Way —supports our shared goals of economic growth,
civic engagement, and maintaining Miami Beach’s status as a premier destination for conventions,
meetings, tradeshows and events. It also strengthens our position in key business verticals, especially
technology, and complements the momentum of the new Grand Hyatt Headquarters Hotel which will
indeed unlock a whole new wave of high quality/ caliber of events.
Motion approved unanimously.
OVG360 – Freddie Peterson
Freddie provided updates on operations and events across the Miami Beach Convention Center (MBCC),
Collins Canal Park, and the former Carl Fisher Clubhouse. In April, the MBCC hosted 10 events with over
35,000 attendees, and in May, it held 22 events attra cting 22,000 attendees and 1,500 exhibitors. Key
highlights included the return of Seatrade and successful collaborations such as Cabaña and Swim Show.
The team managed complex event logistics, including one event involving nearly 1.5 million pounds of freight.
Preventative maintenance efforts remain a priority, with over 730 work orders completed in May and large -
scale cleanings of carpets and terrazzo. Staff development also continues to be emphasized through multiple
training initiatives. The team earned a 4 out of 5 point Green Key certification, underlining its commitment to
sustainability.
In June, 12 events and 21,000 attendees were expected, including the Million Dollar Round Table with 15,000
guests and the American Black Film Festival. Looking ahead to July, events like Supercon and the Senior
Summer Bash are on the calendar. Although July will be quieter, it provides time for building maintenance and
rest for staff.
Capital investments continue, with over $22 million in ongoing projects, including an $8 million roof
replacement and $1.5 million for new digital walls in the West Lobby. These improvements reflect the city's
ongoing commitment to the facility, which is reinforced by strong partnerships and the dedication of the
operational team.
Sodexo Live! – Randy Morales
Randy Morales shared highlights from a successful May, noting strong revenue growth across events: a 25%
increase for LE Miami through creative staff-focused offerings, an 18% increase for Miami Tech, and a 41.3%
rise from the Business Show. June is expected to be slower, but the team is looking ahead to Supercon with
enthusiasm, planning fun activations like themed frozen cocktails, chicken and waffles, soft serve, and
popcorn.
August is projected to be busier with events like the Fraternal Order of Police, Connect Marketplace, and other
heavy catering shows. In addition, the Rum Room will participate in summer promotions including Savor and
Miami Spice.
Community outreach remains a top priority. In May, the team sponsored or partially supported three Miami
Beach Senior High events and donated ingredients to support the school’s culinary program. More initiatives
are planned, including the annual “Big Soup” event on July 21 in partnership with Camillus House and the Stop
Hunger campaign. In August, they’ll support Style Saves by running a lemonade and popcorn stand, with all
proceeds benefiting local children. Additional vendor participation is expected, ma king it a meaningful effort
to give back.
Economic Development
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Chairwoman Jacobs introduces the new Economic Development Director, Steven Anthony, and thanks him
for joining the meeting. With background in economic development, finance, banking, and leadership Steven
was very well received by the committee and colleagues at the city. Steven expressed gratitude for the
opportunity to be part of the team. He will be focused on learning from colleagues and the community to
understand what economic development means locally and is excited to bring his expertise into the mix as
the team begins moving initiatives forward.
Chairwoman Jacobs cancelled the July 8th, 2025 meeting and will reconvene on the next scheduled meeting,
Tuesday, September 8, 2025.
FUTURE ACTIVITIES:
• Continue to monitor the advancement of the hotel, Pride Park, and MBCC sales. Explore sustainable
food options. Encourage promotion of the Rum Room.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
1. Successful collaborations between Board, City Staff, and various stakeholders.
2. Focus on the progress of the hotel development and financing.
3. Collaboration on leveraging Rum Room, Venue, Pride Park, and Collins Canal Park.
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BOARD OR COMMITTEE NAME:
Cultural Arts Council (CAC)
CHAIRPERSON:
David Sexton
CITY LIAISON:
Lissette Garcia Arrogante
NUMBER OF MEETINGS HELD:
Six (6)
ACTIVITY:
The Cultural Arts Council (CAC) distributes $1,050,000 through an estimated 16 anchor grants and 43 cultural presenter
grants each season. This division also serves as the primary liaison to the City’s sixteen anchor cultural institutions,
including The Bass, The Wolfsonian, Miami New Drama at the Colony Theatre, New World Symphony, Miami Beach
Botanical Garden and The Rhythm Foundation, among others.
January 9, 2025
- Approved Filmore waiver for (1) organization
o Cuban Classical Ballet, Eternal Love 2025
- Council discussed submitted contracts and associated documents for the One-Time Cultural Organization
Funding Supplement
- City staff shared FY26 Cultural Arts Grant Pre-Application information regarding dates and conflicts of interests
February 6, 2025
- Approved Miami Beach Bandshell waivers for six (6) organizations.
o Change 4 Good, The Art of Go-Go Cultural Festival – July 24, 2025
o Inffinito Art and Cultural Foundation, 29th Inffinito Brazilian Film Festival – September 6, 2025
o Afro Borinken Roots Performing Group, Festival de Bomba y Plena Miami Beach – October 12, 2025
o O Cinema, Rocky Horror Picture Show – October 26, 2025
o Saba K7, Fet Gede 2025 – November 2025
o Orchestra Miami, The Music of Kurt Weill – November 21, 2025
- Approved Colony Theatre waiver for one (1) organization
o Florida L’Opera Zarzuela, Luisa Fernanda, a fully staged Zarzuela by Federico Moreno Torroba –
August 30, 2025
- Approved The Filmore waiver for (1) organization
o Ipadapo Productions, Los Ancestros: Homage a Orlando “Puntilla” Rios – July 3, 2025
- City staff provided first payment updates for the One-Time Cultural Organization Funding Supplement and
FY25 Cultural Arts Grants
- City staff updated Council on the FY26 CAC applications
-
March 6, 2025
- Motion made to appoint Chair David Sexton as G.O Bond Ex-Officio
- Approved Colony Theatre waiver for (1) organization
o Florida Opera Prima – May 2025
MIAMI BEACH
BOARDS AND COMMITTEE BI-ANNUAL REPORT
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- Approved additional waiver for Miami Beach Bandshell for (1) organization
o AYUDA Inc., Miami Beach Salsa Fest 10 – September 27, 2025
- Assignments for FY26 Cultural Arts Council Grant Panel – Cultural Anchors were given
April 3, 2025
- Council conducted FY26 Grant Panel Review for Cultural Anchors
- Assignments for FY26 Cultural Arts Grant Panel - Cultural Presenters Group 1 were given
May 1, 2025
- Council conducted FY26 Grant Panel Review for Cultural Presenters Group 1
- Assignments for FY26 Cultural Arts Grant Panel- Cultural Presenters Group 2 were given
June 5, 2025
- Council conducted FY26 Grant Panel Review for Cultural Presenters Group 2
- City staff informed the Council on the Financial Disclosure Form that must be turned in to City Clerk
- Motion made to have Chair David Sexton and Member Lauren Cohen form part of the No Vacancy Curatorial
Advisory Committee
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FUTURE ACTIVITIES:
- Review of FY 25/26 CAC Grant Applications:
o Scoring
o Funding allocation approval “Exhibit E”
ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
- Provided effective feedback about grant reviewing process
- Approved cultural programming that enrich the Miami Beach resident and visitor experience
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BOARD OR COMMITTEE NAME: Disability Access Committee
CHAIRPERSON: Sabrina Cohen
CITY LIAISON: Valeria Mejia
NUMBER OF MEETINGS HELD: Bi- Monthly
ACTIVITY:
-Continuing to work on beach access projects to ensure the city is properly prepared with
beach wheelchairs for tourists and residents to enjoy access on the sand.
-Developing ideas to ensure all major events have access to the beach.
-Welcomed staff from the county to share how they are providing access onto their beaches
for all major events
-Welcomed emergency management to share information with the committee on how to best
prepare for those who might need additional help in times of crisis.
-Focused on pedestrian enhancements based on resident feedback to make streets safer.
-Engaged in continuous conversation about pedestrian enhancements as the city continues
to grow and construction projects increase.
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FUTURE ACTIVITIES:
- Ordering multiple new and advanced chairs, with the hope of receiving them by the third
quarter of this year.
- Moving forward with a more developed maintenance plan to ensure less breakdowns and
longer lifespan of the wheelchairs.
- Developing a program for the city to purchase mats and decks so that vendors can rent them.
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ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
- The committee has continued working on beach access projects since January 2025.
- Gained insights from county staff regarding providing beach access for major events.
- Prepared for hurricane season by welcoming emergency management to share information.
- Addressed pedestrian enhancements based on resident feedback
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BOARD OR COMMITTEE NAME:
G.O. Bond Oversight Committee
CHAIRPERSON:
Karen Rivo
CITY LIAISON:
Thais Vieira
NUMBER OF MEETINGS HELD:
3
ACTIVITY:
Purpose
The G.O. Bond Oversight Committee was established in 2018 to provide advisory recommendations to the
City Manager and City commission from a macro perspective regarding the timely progress, overall goals,
costs and timely completion of G.O. bond projects approved by the voters.
Power and Duties
The primary responsibilities of the G.O. Bond Oversight Committee are to make recommendations and
provide general oversight relative to the overall timing, cost efficiencies, and prioritization of the projects.
Meeting Agenda Items
I. Roll Call and Introductions
II. Committee Business
• Welcome New Members
• Adoption of Meeting Minutes from 12-19-24
• 2025 Meeting Calendar
III. Bond Accrued Interest Transfers
• 41st Street Corridor & NB Oceanfront Center
2022 G.O. Bonds for Arts & Culture
IV. Arts & Culture Program General Status Update
V. 2022 Bonds Projects Update
• Byron Carlyle Theater (P), Fillmore (P), Reefline (D), NB Oceanfront Center
VI. Public Comment
2018 G.O. Bonds
VII. Program General Status Update
VIII. 2018 Bonds Projects Update
• 72nd St. Complex (D), Fire Station #1 (D), Ocean Dr / Lummus Pk (D),
Washington Av (P)
IX. Community Outreach
• Recent Past Public Meetings / Upcoming Events
X. Public Comment
XI. Adjournment
Meeting #1
February 13, 2025
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Meeting Agenda Items
I. Roll Call and Introductions
II. Committee Business
• Adoption of Meeting Minutes from 2-13-25
• Meeting Calendar
• Motions Log
III. Funding Transfers/Swaps Protocols Chart
2018 G.O. Bonds
IV. Program General Status Update
V. 2018 Bonds Projects Update
• Marine Patrol (D), Flamingo Pk (V), 23rd St. Improv. (D), Ocean Dr (D), Police
HQ. (D)
VI. Public Comment
2022 G.O. Bonds for Arts & Culture
VII. Arts & Culture Program General Status Update
VIII. 2022 Bonds Projects Update
• Byron Carlyle (P), Fillmore (P), Holocaust Memorial (D), Art Deco Museum
(D), Reefline (D)
IX. Community Outreach
• Recent Past Public Meetings / Upcoming Events
X. Public Comment
XI. Adjournment
Meeting Agenda Items
I. Roll Call and Introductions
II. Committee Business
• Adoption of Meeting Minutes from 3-12-25
III. Bond Accrued Interest Transfer
• GO #19 – Soundscape Park
2022 G.O. Bonds for Arts & Culture
IV. Arts & Culture Program General Status Update
V. Miami City Ballet Grant Update & Presentation
VI. 2022 Bonds Projects Update
• Bass Museum (P), Collins Park Cultural Center (P), Byron Theater (P),
Reefline (D)
VII. Public Comment
2018 G.O. Bonds
VIII. Program General Status Update
IX. 2018 Bonds Projects Update
• Ocean Dr (D), 72nd St Complex (D), Fire Station #1 (D),
Traffic Calming (D), Street Lighting (D)
X. Community Outreach
• Recent Past Public Meetings / Upcoming Events
XI. Public Comment
XII. Adjournment
Meeting #2
March 12, 2025
Meeting #3
May 15, 2025
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Motions Made:
1. The Committee made a motion to support the allocation of $1,600,000 in accrued
earned interest from the 2019 Parks GO Bond for the replacement of the
Soundscape Park sound system, with the project to be delivered via a grant to the
New World Symphony, which will manage the project on behalf of the City.
2. The Committee made a motion to support the revision to the Miami City Ballet
grant to include the capital renewal & replacement scope of work, with city
oversight.
FUTURE ACTIVITIES:
2018 G.O. Bond Program:
The following projects are anticipated to commence construction in the second half of 2025:
• Flamingo Park Butterfly Garden
• La Gorce Park (Artistic) Playground
• Bayshore Traffic Calming
• Chase Ave Shared Use Path
The following projects are anticipated to be completed in the second half of 2025:
• Bayshore Park
• Collins and Washington Avenue Security Cameras
• Soundscape Park Storage Facility
• Flamingo Park Lodge
• Flamingo Park LED Lighting – Fields
• Flamingo Park Softball Field
• La Gorce Park (Artistic) Playground
2022 Arts & Culture G.O. Bond Program:
The following projects are anticipated to commence construction in the second half of 2025:
• Deployment of the first phase of Aquatic Sculpure Park (Reeflne) – fabrication already underway
• La Gorce Park Artistic Playground
The following projects are anticipated to be completed in 2025:
• La Gorce Artistic Playground
• Collins Park Rotunda
• Holocaust Memorial
ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
2018 G.O. Bond Program:
13 of the 46 Tranche 1 projects have reached completion. Out of the 91 Tranche 1 subprojects, 52 have
been completed, 13 are under construction, and 24 are actively progressing through design or planning
stages.
The following are recent accomplishments:
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1. Construction commencement of Pedestrian Bridge, Flamingo Park Softball Field, Flamingo Park LED
Lighting – Fields, 23rd Street Improvements, Street Lighting
2. Completion of North Shore Park (Artistic) Playground, Maurice Gibb Park, Marjorie Stoneman Douglas
Park Lighting
3. Construction of Bayshore Park, Soundscape Park Storage Facility, Flamingo Park Lodge
4. Continued progress on citywide seawalls, street paving and sidewalk repairs
Arts & Culture G.O. Bond Program:
The program encompasses 21 total projects, of which 20 are actively progressing as part of Tranche 1.
Currently, 18 projects are in various stages of development, while 2 have been successfully completed. 33
of the 47 Tranche 1 subprojects are underway and 10 have been completed. The following are recent
accomplishments:
1. Holocaust Memorial construction commencement
2. Initiated fabrication of Phase 1 of the Aquatic Sculpture Park (Reefline)
3. Completion of North Shore Park Artistic Playground, Collins Park Workforce Housing Project, and lighting
and mechanical upgrades at the Bass Museum
4. Construction of Collins Park Rotunda, New World Symphony, and various projects at Colony Theater,
and at Bass Museum continued
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BOARD OR COMMITTEE NAME: Health Advisory Committee
CHAIRPERSON: None Appointed
CITY LIAISON: Marc Chevalier, Senior Risk Officer
NUMBER OF MEETINGS HELD: No meetings were held due to quorum issues
ACTIVITY:
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! M I AM I B E AC H !!
BOARDS AND COMMITTEE BI-ANNUAL REPORT
BOARD OR COMMITTEE NAME: Health Facilities Authority Board
CHAIRPERSON: Arthur Unger
CITY LIAISON: Jason Greene
NUMBER OF MEETINGS HELD: 2
ACTIVITY:
Refunding Bond Series 2025A
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BOARDS AND COMMITTEE BI-ANNUAL REPORT
FUTURE ACTIVITIES:
Meetings are held on an as needed basis. No meetings are scheduled at this time.
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BOARDS AND COMMITTEE BI-ANNUAL REPORT
ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
Refunding Bond Series 2025A
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BOARD OR COMMITTEE NAME:
HISPANIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
CHAIRPERSON:
CARMEN DATORRE
CITY LIAISON:
LEONOR HERNANDEZ
NUMBER OF MEETINGS HELD:
5 MEETINGS AND 2 EVENTS
ACTIVITY:
Jose Marti Event – Collins Park
Wreath Laying Ceremony – Successful and well attended event
January 27, 2025, 12:30 pm
Benito Juarez Event – Collins Park
March 20, 2025, 4 pm
Wreath Laying Ceremony -- Successful and well attended event
(Invitations and Programs attached)
FUTURE ACTIVITIES:
Simon Bolivar y Las Americas Day Celebration
July 24, 2025, 4pm
Tribute to Peru
Collins Park by Simon Bolivar Monument
Wreath Laying Ceremony
September 15 – October 15, 2025
Hispanic Heritage Month Activities:
VIP Honorees Reception and Hispanic Heritage Awards Ceremony date/location TBD
Hispanic Heritage Festival and Concert (Concert scheduled for October 5, 2025)
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Continue to expand Hispanic Awareness in the City of Miami Beach in an effort to improve the
quality of life of the Hispanic population in the City.
FUTURE ACTIVITIES:
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ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
MIAMI BEACH
BENITO JUAREZ
CELEBRATION
Join the City of Miami Beach in celebrating
the life and accomplishments of Benito Juarez in
collaboration with the Consulate General of Mexico
in Miami and the Hispanic Affairs Committee.
THURSDAY, MARCH 20, 2025 I 4 PM
Collins Park by the Benito Juarez Bust
2100 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, FL
MIAMI BEACH
Mayor
Steven Meiner
Commissioners
Tanya K. Bhatt
Laura Dominguez
Alex Fernandez
Kristen Rosen Gonzalez
Joseph Magazine
David Suarez
City Manager
Eric T. Carpenter
City Attorney
Ricardo J. Dopico
City Clerk
Rafael Granado
Parks & Recreation
John Rebar
Cindy Casanova
Tom Curitore
Hispanic Affairs
Committee
Carmen Datorre, Chair
Elba Machado, Vice-Chair
Gustavo Briand
Natasha Fernandez
Julian Linares
Rosary Plana Falero
City Liaison
Leonor Hernandez
For alternate format or ADA accommodations, please call 305.604.2489
(voice),selectl(English)or2(Spanish)andpressoption6toleovea
messoge.TTYusersmoycallvia7ll (FloridaRelayService).
----•••••----
BENITO JUAREZ
CELEBRATION
----•••••----
Opening APERTURA
Mayor Steven Meiner & Commissioners
Hispanic Affairs Committee
Master of Ceremony MAESTRA DE CEREMONIA
Andrea Bazarte, Host at Imagen TV & WWE Digital TV
Miami Beach Police & Fire Honor Guard
USA National Anthem
HIMNO NACIONAL DE ESTADOS UN/DOS DE AMERICA
Maria Diaz , Miami Beach Senior High
Mexican National Anthem
HIMNO NACIONAL MEXICANO
Oscar Bedoya, voz principal Mariachi "Sol de Oro"
Special Guest JNVITADO ESPECIAL
Rutilio Escandon, Consul General de Mexico en Miami
Proclamations PROCLAMAS
Commissioner Laura Dominguez , Miami Beach
Commissioner Alex Fernandez , Miami Beach
Commissioner Eileen Higgins, Miami-Dad e County
Commissioner Micky Steinberg , Miami-Dad e County
Special Performance PRESENTACJ6N ESPECIAL
VAIPOIME "Ameyal " con musica y danza de
Oaxaca
Mariachi "Sol de Oro"
Wreath Laying Ceremony
PRESENTACION CORONA BENITO JUAREZ
Mayor Steven Meiner and Commissioners
Mexico
~ ~=Bee ·~''"""""' •
MIAMI BEACH
Mayor
Steven Meiner
Commissioners
Tanya K. Bhatt
Laura Dominguez
Alex J. Fernandez
Kristen Rosen Gonzalez
Joseph Magazine
David Suarez
City Manager
Eric Carpenter
City Attorney
Ricardo J. Dopico
City Clerk
Rafael Granado
Parks & Recreation
John Rebar
Cindy Casanova
Tom Curitore
Hispanic Affairs
Committee
Carmen Datorre, Chair
Elba Machado, Vice-Chair
Gustavo Briand
Natasha Fernandez
Julian Linares
Rosary Plana Falero
City Liaison
Leonor Hernandez
"Happiness exists on earth, and it is
won through prudent exercise of
reason, knowledge of the harmony
of the universe, and constant
practice of generosity." -Jose Marti
BOARD OR COMMITTEE
NAME:
Human Rights Committee
CHAIRPERSON: Dale Stine - Vice-chair (acting chair)
CITY LIAISON: Lisa Pinilla-Carrillo
NUMBER OF MEETINGS
HELD:
five
ACTIVITY:
1.Red Sand Project (Human Trafficking awareness) event in conjunction with Art Deco
Weekend: January 18, 2025. This is slated to be an ongoing annual event.
Commissioners Bhatt, Dominguez, Fernandez and Rosen-Gonzalez were present, as
well as the MBPD and a HT survivor.
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2.Continued homeless/ unhoused project: Miami Beach homeless outreach services
included in committee meetings
3. LTC to remove term limits for social committees on a case-by-case basis
4.Had ongoing discussions in re: the Disability Parking resolution passed by the
city. We met with the parking department and city attorney for clarification .
5. Dialogue with Commissioner Fernandez to support a possible drop-in
center for unhoused persons. Although the item did not pass through for a
second reading, the hours for phone line call-in were increased as a result
of the above dialogue.
6. LTC for continued support for Human Trafficking awareness, spurred on by
the Tate brothers arrival in Miami Beach.
FUTURE ACTIVITIES:
The Red Sand Event (http://redsandproject.org) will be held in conjunction with Art
Deco Weekend on an annual basis, as per agreement with Daniel Ciraldo and the
ADW board - next year January 10, 2026.
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Other issues we plan to address:
1.Human Trafficking signage that used to be in all city buildings bathrooms,
but seems to no longer be the case.
2.Ways to address immigration and Human Rights in Miami Beach, including
due process.
3.Need to recruit new members for the committee. Need to seek out those are
genuinely interested in and committed to Human Rights as detailed in the
City’s Human Rights Ordinance.
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BOARD OR COMMITTEE NAME:
LGBTQIA+ Advisory Committee
CHAIRPERSON:
Carol Coombes
CITY LIAISON:
Kara Petrella
NUMBER OF MEETINGS HELD:
5 to date – one meeting was cancelled as the Liaison was
unwell – a second meeting was cancelled as the Chair and
Vice were unavailable
ACTIVITY:
Over the last six months, the City of Miami Beach LGBTQ+ Advisory Committee has
demonstrated its role as a proactive, hands-on working body committed to advancing inclusion,
visibility, and equity for LGBTQIA+ residents and visitors to Miami Beach.
One of the committee’s key achievements has been its collaboration with the City’s Visitor and
Convention Authority (MBVCA) to develop LGBTQIA+ focused content for the official tourism app:
ExperienceMiamiBeach.com. This initiative - proposed to launch in October 2025 during
LGBTQIA+ History Month - will offer a self-guided walking tour highlighting the rich LGBTQIA+
history and cultural landmarks of Miami Beach—bridging education, tourism, and local pride in an
accessible, tech-forward format that serves both residents and visitors.
Simultaneously, the committee is taking on a leadership role in preparing and self-submitting the
City of Miami Beach’s 2025 Municipal Equality Index (MEI) application to the Human Rights
Campaign (HRC). This work is crucial to maintaining and improving the City’s national reputation
as an inclusive, progressive municipality. The committee’s effort reflects a shared commitment to
holding the City accountable and ensuring policies, services, and benefits continue to support
LGBTQIA+ equality across all levels of government and public life.
Since January 2025, the committee has also actively fostered collaboration by inviting
representatives from key civic, business, and advocacy organizations—including the Lincoln
Road Business Improvement District (LRBID), the Miami Beach Police Department, the Greater
Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB), SAVE, and Equality Florida—to present updates,
align efforts, and explore opportunities for partnership. This coalition-building underscores the
committee’s broader mission: to not only advise but to catalyze real change by bringing diverse
stakeholders together in service of a more inclusive Miami Beach.
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FUTURE ACTIVITIES:
The City of Miami Beach LGBTQ+ Advisory Committee has outlined a focused set of strategic
goals for the upcoming season to advance visibility, equity, and safety for LGBTQIA+ residents
and visitors. These priorities reflect the Committee’s ongoing commitment to civic engagement,
cultural inclusion, and community empowerment.
1. Amplify Visibility and Communication:
The Committee is working to develop a cohesive communication and public education strategy
with the City of Miami Beach that promotes LGBTQIA+ businesses, highlights the work and
impact of the Committee itself, and reinforces the importance of identifying and sustaining safe,
inclusive spaces across Miami Beach. This includes improving messaging through social media,
public signage, and collaborations with tourism partners.
2. Activate Lincoln Road with Inclusive Placemaking:
In partnership with the Lincoln Road Business Improvement District (LRBID), the Committee is
brainstorming on ways to activate vacant storefronts to increase foot traffic, support LGBTQIA+
entrepreneurs and creatives, and encourage economic vibrancy along one of the city’s most
iconic commercial corridors.
3. Submission of the HRC Municipal Equality Index (MEI):
The Committee is currently preparing to submit the City of Miami Beach’s application for the
Human Rights Campaign’s 2025 Municipal Equality Index. This effort is critical to maintaining and
potentially elevating the City’s national scorecard rating for LGBTQIA+ inclusion in municipal laws,
policies, and services.
4. Launch the LGBTQIA+ History Walking Tour:
Beginning in October 2025 for LGBTQIA+ History Month, the Committee will support the rollout of
the newly developed LGBTQIA+ History Walks—an educational, self-guided tour housed on the
city’s official tourism app (ExperienceMiamiBeach.com). This initiative will honor the local legacy
of LGBTQIA+ bars, clubs and businesses both past and present.
5. Expand Community Safety Education:
The Miami Beach Police Department’s LGBTQIA+ Liaison Office is working to launch a series of
“Stop the Hate” and “Safe Space” training workshops for residents, hospitality partners, and
frontline workers. These sessions are designed to equip the community with tools to recognize,
prevent, and respond to bias-related incidents.
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ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
One of the LGBTQIA+ Advisory Committee’s most impactful achievements this season has been
its collaboration with the Miami Beach Visitor and Convention Authority (MBVCA) to co-develop
dedicated LGBTQIA+ content for the City’s official tourism platform, ExperienceMiamiBeach.com.
Set to launch in October 2025 during LGBTQIA+ History Month, this initiative will introduce a self-
guided walking tour that showcases Miami Beach’s rich LGBTQIA+ history and cultural
landmarks. The project seamlessly blends education, tourism, and civic pride in a tech-forward,
accessible format designed to serve both residents and visitors while amplifying the city's legacy
of inclusion and visibility.
Additionally, the Committee played an active role in the 2nd Annual Lincoln Road Business
Improvement District (LRBID) Pride Month celebration at Euclid Circle. The event was attended
by City Commissioners and their aides, senior leadership from the Miami Beach Police and Fire
Departments, and LGBTQIA+ Advisory Committee members. Commissioner Alex Fernandez
delivered a proclamation honoring longtime LGBTQIA+ activist and former Committee member
Herb Sosa, recognizing his enduring contributions to the community and his leadership in
advancing equity across Miami Beach.
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BOARD OR COMMITTEE NAME: MAYOR’S 41ST STREET COMMITTEE
CHAIRPERSON: BONNIE CRABTREE
CITY LIAISON: DIANA FONTANI MARTINEZ
NUMBER OF MEETINGS HELD: 4
ACTIVITY:
Mission Statement:
The Mayor’s 41st Street Committee (“Committee”) is created pursuant to the Mayor's authority to establish
boards or committees under Section 2-27(b)(2) of the City Code. The purpose of the Committee is to
study conditions on 41st Street, one of the City’s primary gateways, and make recommendations that
enhance overall quality of life for residents and visitors.
Powers and Duties:
• Report directly to the Mayor on its findings, activities, and recommendations.
• Convene publicly noticed meetings, open to all members of the public, to fulfill its mission.
• Engage with City staff and departments, as required, to obtain information and technical support.
• Consult with and secure legal advice from the City Attorney’s Office.
• Prepare and publish meeting agendas, minutes, and any related materials on the City’s Economic
Development Committee Resources webpage.
• Submit written reports to the Mayor, on an ongoing or as‐requested basis, detailing the Committee’s
progress, key issues, and recommended action items.
Meeting #1
January 9, 2025
In Person Meeting Agenda
First Horizon Bank, 400 Arthur Godfrey Rd
1. Welcome and Attendance
2. Approval of September and November 2024 Meeting Minutes
3. Approval of Bi-annual Report (July – December 2024)
4. Discussion and Approval of 2025 Meeting Dates
5. Discussion: Proposed Vacant Storefront Registry
a. Diana Fontani, Redevelopment Specialist
b. Heather Shaw, Economic Development Assistant Director
c. Amy Mehu, 41st Street Business Improvement District (BID)
Executive Director
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6. Selection of Chair and Co-Chair: Deferred to February Meeting
7. Update: 41st Street Revitalization Project
a. Committee Member Robin Jacobs
8. Committee Member and Public Comments
Motion 1: The committee recommends the Mayor and Commission extend
the term of the Mayor’s 41st Street Committee to April 2026.
Motion made by: Robin Jacobs
Seconded by: Betty Bahar
Motion passed: 10-0
Motion 2: The committee recommends the Mayor and Commission inform
the United States Postmaster to maintain and upkeep the property located
at 445 West 40th Street.
Motion Made by: Robin Jacobs
Seconded by: Rana Florida
Motion passed: 10-0
Meeting #2
February 13, 2025
In Person Meeting Agenda
First Horizon Bank, 400 Arthur Godfrey Rd
1. Welcome and Attendance
2. Selection of Chair and Vice-Chair
3. Approval of January 2025 Meeting Minutes
4. Discussion and Approval of 2025 Meeting Dates
5. Update: Transportation and Mobility Department
a. Otniel Rodriguez, Assistant Director
6. City Manager’s Update
a. Eric Carpenter, City Manager
7. Update: 41st Street Revitalization Project
a. Herman Fung, Office of Capital Improvement Projects
8. Update: 41st Street Business Improvement District (BID)
a. Amy Mehu, BID Executive Director
9. Guest Speaker: Richard Florida
10. Discussion: Review and Reprioritization of Committee Goals
11. Chair Updates: Bonnie Crabtree, Chair
12. Committee Member and Public Comments
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Motion 1: Bonnie Crabtree received and accepted nomination as Chair.
Motion made by: Robin Jacobs
Motion passed unanimously.
Motion 2: Michael Burnstine received and accepted nomination as Vice
Chair.
Motion made by: Betty Behar
Motion passed unanimously.
Meeting #3
April 17, 2025
In Person Meeting Agenda
First Horizon Bank, 400 W 41st Street
1. Welcome and Attendance
2. Approval of February 2025 Meeting Minutes
3. Chair Updates: Bonnie Crabtree, Chair
4. Committee Procedural Update: Committee Virtual Attendance Policy
a. Diana Fontani, Redevelopment Specialist
5. City Staff Update: The Anamar Workforce Housing Project
a. Diana Fontani, Economic Development Redevelopment
6. City Staff Update: Pop Up Permit and Parking Incentives
a. Diana Fontani, Economic Development Redevelopment
7. City Staff Update: Revitalize Love 41st Street Committee
a. Diana Fontani, Economic Development Redevelopment
8. Update: 41st Street Business Improvement District (BID)
a. Amy Mehu, BID Executive Director
9. New Business
10. Committee Member and Public Comments
Motion: The committee recommends the Mayor and Commission support
the possibility of bringing Kid’s Marketplace by Slingshot to activate near
41st Street in November 2025 and allocate $5,000 for fiscal year 2025-
2026 specifically for this project.
Motion made by: Robin Jacobs
Seconded by: Betty Bahar
Motion passed: 6-0
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Meeting #4
June 12, 2025
In Person Meeting Agenda
First Horizon Bank, 400 W 41st Street
1. Welcome and Attendance
2. Chair Update: Bonnie Crabtree, Chair
3. Discussion: School Cross Guards on 41st Street
4. Discussion: Community Outreach Plan
a. Steven Anthony, Economic Development Director
5. Discussion: Neighborhood Association Panel
6. Update: 41st Street Business Improvement District (BID)
a. Amy Mehu, BID Executive Director
7. New Business
8. Committee Member and Public Comments
Motion 1: The Committee supports the milling and resurfacing of alleyways
along 41st Street, with particular attention to areas adjacent to the Post
Office and Cafe Avanti, and recommends that additional alleyways be
considered for beautification in future phases. The Committee also
requests the opportunity to review the City's implementation plan for
alleyway improvements.
Motion passed: 6-0
Motion 2: The committee requests that City staff notify the 41st Street
Committee in advance of any Commission items related to 41st Street.
Motion passed: 6-0
FUTURE ACTIVITIES
2025 Committee Goals:
1. Collaborate with the 41st Street Business Improvement District (BID) on joint initiatives.
2. Enhance quality of life for businesses and residents through public art and cultural programming.
3. Advance strategies to increase workforce housing along the corridor.
4. Develop targeted marketing and communications support for retail and property-owner businesses.
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Vacant Storefront Registry
• Economic Development Department to help solicit feedback from BIDs, Chambers, and business
associations for guidance in the formulation of policy initiatives.
• Explore the compiling and maintenance of a publicly accessible registry of vacant retail spaces.
Sheridan Avenue and Royal Palm Avenue One-Way Pilot Program
• Identify additional traffic-calming measures to reduce cut-through automobile traffic.
• Explore a shuttle service for commuters traveling from the mainland to local businesses.
41st Street Business Improvement District (BID) Partnership
• Provide support for façade and streetscape improvements; attract new tenants.
• Encourage build out of the BID’s website and marketing plan, including business-tracking metrics.
• Promote public and private funding of small-scale redevelopment benefiting local merchants.
• Coordinate on major corridor developments (Roosevelt, Jefferson, new Alton projects).
• Oversee Forge’s new contractor onboarding, with a 2026 opening target.
• Support further refinement of Fresh Market proposal for vacant lot behind Roasters & Toasters.
• Develop a community-focused messaging campaign addressing grocery placement planning.
School Crossing Guards & Public Safety
• Continue policy efforts and partnerships to enhance pedestrian safety and reduce criminal activity
near schools on 41st Street.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
• Elected to leadership Chairperson Bonnie Crabtree and Vice Chairperson Michael Burnstine.
• Advised on transportation and mobility policy initiatives, including the Sheridan Avenue and Royal
Palm Avenue one-way pilot program design.
• Advocated to the Mayor and City Commission regarding current and proposed public space
beautification efforts, public safety, and measures to increase economic activity.
• Reaffirmed partnership and further cultivated vital collaboration with the 41st Street BID to further
mutual interests among residents and local businesses.
• Hosted dialogue with various City staff disciplines (Transportation, CIP, Economic Development,
etc.) on pending policy measures and proposed initiatives.
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BOARD OR COMMITTEE NAME: Commission for Women
CHAIRPERSON: Lynette Long
CITY LIAISON: Sara Murillo
NUMBER OF MEETINGS HELD: 6
ACTIVITY:
1.Held Women’s History Month Exhibition of “Exemplary Women of Miami Beach” at
Lummus Park – signs displayed at Lummus park and Altos Del Mar Park
2.The mural at Marjory Stoneman Douglas Park was approved, designed, and currently in-
process.
3.Women’s Conference – Commissioner Kristen Rosen Gonzales and Mayor Matti Bower
requested the Commission for Women to plan a women’s conference for Women’s History
Month. The request was approved by the full commission and funding was allocated for the
event.
4.The Lincoln Road Bid reached out to the Women’s Commission requesting them to
organize an event at Lincoln Road.
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FUTURE ACTIVITIES:
1. Plan the Women’s Conference
2. Decide/discuss what event to do with the Lincoln Rd Bid
MIAMI BEACH
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ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
MIAMI BEACH
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BOARD OR COMMITTEE NAME: Neighborhood Resilience Projects Advisory Committee
CHAIRPERSON: Clare McCord, Chair
CITY LIAISON: Amy Knowles, Chief Resilience Officer
NUMBER OF MEETINGS HELD: 6
ACTIVITY:
Purpose:
The Neighborhood Resilience Projects Advisory Committee shall act as an advisory board to the City
Commission and City Manager on neighborhood infrastructure programs and private property matters
related to the City’s climate resilience projects to help build awareness within the community and to
incorporate resident ideas and feedback. The purpose is not to advise on former projects, but to
provide helpful ideas going forward to improve planning and delivery of future projects. The
Committee will not advise on specific projects and items that are already reviewed by the City
Commission and by existing Committees and Boards and will not result in fiscal impacts or delays.
The Neighborhood Resiliency Projects Advisory Committee shall have the following powers and
duties:
1.Provide advisory recommendations and feedback on best approaches to enhance resident
education and resident engagement.
2.Provide advisory recommendations and feedback regarding process improvements for flood
mitigation.
3.Share input and evaluate general neighborhood aesthetics and utility and infrastructure
improvements, such as location decision criteria for pump stations or other improvements.
4.Provide a forum for the Committee to share best practices and lessons learned from completed
projects and/or ongoing projects, for potential incorporation as part of future projects.
The Committee held six meetings (monthly) from January 2025 – June 2025.
FUTURE ACTIVITIES:
•Future topics to be discussed include: Ongoing opportunities to build awareness of projects,
understanding the PIO role, assessment and monitoring of stormwater projects and flooding
areas, and private property adaptation,
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ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
The Committee engaged with other Board and Committee members and provided feedback on
community communications strategies to City staff from the Public Works Department, Capital
Improvement Projects, and the Communications Department.
The Committee has gathered information and held robust discussions regarding:
•Phase II West Avenue on-site tour with the Contractor: Timing, Information Flow &
Harmonization Agreements.
•Sea Level Rise Vulnerability Assessment and Adaptation Plan.
•Letter of Support for the application to the Promoting Resilient Operations for Transformative,
Efficient, and Cost-Saving Transportation (PROTECT) Discretionary Grant Program.
•Mid Beach and Alton Road Updates.
•Resiliency Code: New development, resilience stress, zoning laws, incentivize optimal building,
permeability and resilience code. How do new projects, permitting and approval take resilience
into account?
•Rainy season, flood response communications, storm preparation.
•Adopted a motion to adopt a quarterly meeting schedule.
MIAMI BEACH
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BOARD OR COMMITTEE NAME: Normandy Shores Gov. Neighborhood Improvement
CHAIRPERSON: Laura Taylor
CITY LIAISON: Tameka Otto Stewart
NUMBER OF MEETINGS HELD: 1
ACTIVITY:
*There were no meetings held between January-March, nor May-June 2025*
04/21/2025 Meeting Agenda:
Approve March 4, 2024 Meeting Minutes
Vote on a Chair and Vice-Chair
Status of current Projects
Preliminary Budget Projections
o FY 2025 Budget Update
o FY 2026 Budget Requests
Set Next Meeting Date
FUTURE ACTIVITIES:
Set Millage rate based on July 1 Certified Taxable Values and finalize proposed budget
ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
The following was reviewed and discussed:
Vote for Chair and Vice-Chair:
By acclamation, Laura Taylor, was elected as the Chair and Abigail Nagler Vice Chair of the Normandy
Shores Local Government Neighborhood Improvement Board. Laura Taylor made the motion and seconded
by Abigail Nagler. The motion was unanimously approved by a vote of 2-0-1, Josh Goldstein was absent from
the vote.
MIAMI BEACH
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Preliminary Budget Projections
Tameka Otto Stewart, Budget Director, gave an overall update of the budget process, next steps, and presented
the FY 2026 Preliminary budget. The following was reviewed and discussed:
Upcoming Preliminary 2026
Available Fund Balance
Update on Projects
Cody Croye, Facilities Zone Manager, provided an update on the guard house project.
Additional Items Discussed
Summary of items that were discussed and agreed to by the Office of Management and Budget (“OMB”),
Facilities and Fleet Management, and the Normandy Shores Local Government Neighborhood Improvement
Board, as well as action items requiring follow-up by Monday, April 28, 2025, or earlier.
Professional Services (120-6230-000312)
OMB will update the cost allocation for the reimbursement of the Facilities Zone Manager position to
reflect the new employee, Cody Croye, who has assumed the responsibilities previously held by
Giacomo Natteri
Other Contractual Services (120-6230-000349)
OMB will increase this line item by 3% to reserve funding for a potential living wage increase related
to the security guard contract for FY 2026
Additional Roving Security Guard
o The Normandy Shores Local Government Neighborhood Improvement Board will provide
Facilities Management with the proposed new service hours for the additional roving security
guard
o OMB will incorporate the associated costs into the Board’s FY 2026 budget
o Facilities Management will use this information to submit a budget enhancement request to
OMB for a 50% City contribution toward the cost of the enhanced security service, to be
evaluated during the City’s budget process
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Gate Replacement Planning
Facilities Management will contact the contractor responsible for gate repairs to obtain a cost
estimate for full gate replacement, enabling the Board to plan appropriately for future capital needs
Grant Opportunities
OMB will coordinate a meeting between the District and the City’s Grants Division Director to
explore potential grant funding options for gate replacement
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BOARD OR COMMITTEE
NORTH BEACH
COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY
ADVISORY COMMITTEE
CHAIRPERSON RONNIE ISSENBERG
CITY LIAISON
Heather Shaw
Economic Development Assistant Director
NUMBER OF MEETINGS HELD 5
ACTIVITY
Purpose
The North Beach Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) Advisory Committee was
established to provide advisory recommendations to the City Administration and the City
Commission, from a macro perspective, regarding the North Beach CRA.
Powers and Duties
The primary duty of the North Beach CRA Advisory Committee is to provide advisory
recommendations regarding the implementation of the North Beach CRA Redevelopment Plan
and public projects to be funded by the North Beach CRA, including recommendations relative
to the overall timing, cost efficiencies, and prioritization of proposed North Beach CRA-funded
projects. The Committee is also tasked with providing advisory recommendations regarding the
Interlocal Agreement, as amended. Additionally, the Committee may provide supplemental
recommendations regarding matters that are not strictly within the established boundaries.
Meeting 1
January 14, 2025
Normandy Shores Golf Club, 2401 Biarritz Drive
Committee Member Participants: Chair Ronnie Issenberg, Vice
Chair Tom Richerson, Manning Salazar, Romina Orozco-Encio, Sam
Latone, and David Sexton (ex-officio)
1. Welcome and Attendance
2. Approval of the December 10, 2024, Meeting Minutes
3. Approval of July – December 2024 Biannual Report
4. Legislative Update: In November, CRA Resolution No. 025-2024
directed exploration of artistic display stations at Altos del Mar
Park, with final funding approval by the City Commission
anticipated by April 2025. The City Commission and CRA Board
will review the request to allocate CRA funding in the amount of
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Meeting 1
January 14, 2025
$50,000 for North Shore Park signage enhancements on February
3, 2025. In addition to CRA Board budgetary approval, the City
Commission must review capital improvement projects involving
City assets. Following a Committee recommendation of support in
November 2024, the North Beach Artistic Recycling Program,
proposing $10,000 in CRA funds for artistic recycling receptacles,
is anticipated for City Commission review on February 26, 2025.
Rickelle Williams, Assistant City Manager
5. Status Update: 72nd Street Community Complex Project
Presenters: Ariel Guitian, Interim Division Director, and
Herman Fung, Project Manager, Office of Capital
Improvement Projects (CIP), and Wannemacher Jensen
Architects
6. Feasibility of Waterborne Transportation Services
Jose Gonzalez, Director, Transportation and Mobility
Department
7. Future Programming of Band Shell Park Domino Pavillion
Tom Curitore, Deputy Director, Parks and Recreation
Department
8. Committee Member and Public Comments, request for a
comparative report, annual funding and allocations.
Consideration of alternative meeting locations. Proposal to
leverage Normandy Fountain Business Association to enhance
outreach of current programs.
Motion: The North Beach CRA Advisory Committee supports the
draft design for the 72nd Street Community Center project,
as presented by Wannemacher Jensen Architects on
January 14, 2025, and recommends the continuation of the
project design process toward the development of a world-
class facility.
Made by Tom Richerson, Seconded by Romina Orozco-
Encio. Passed by acclamation
Meeting 2
February 11, 2025
Normandy Shores Golf Club, 2401 Biarritz Drive
Committee Member Participants: Chair Ronnie Issenberg, Vice
Chair Tom Richerson, Romina Orozco-Encio, Manning Salazar, Omar
Jimenez, Sam Latone and David Sexton (ex-officio)
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Meeting 2
February 11, 2025
1. Welcome and Attendance
2.Approval of the January 12, 2025 Meeting Minutes
3. Legislative Update: Vice Chair Tom Richerson raised concerns
about beach erosion affecting certain beach front areas,
particularly near lifeguard stations. CIP Director David Gomez
confirmed that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers oversees
beach renourishment efforts and offered to following up with the
Environment and Sustainability Department on any upcoming
renourishment plans.
4. Rickelle Williams, Assistant City Manager
5. Update: Ocean Terrace Park & Streetscape Project
David Gomez, Interim Director, Capital Improvement
Projects
6. Enhancements to 71
st Street Bridge
Jay Fink, Deputy Director, Public Works Department
7. Referral Item: Proposed Festival of Lights Programming at Ocean
Terrace
Lissette Garcia Arrogante, Director, Tourism and Culture
Department and Michael Rossi, Founder & Artistic
Director, Miami Beach Classical Musical Festival (MMF)
8. Explore Taste of North Beach Restaurant Activation
9. Committee Member and Public Comments, including Elizabeth
Latone, David Sexton, Chair Tom Richerson, Sam Latone, Omar
Jimenez, David Sexton and Romina Orozco-Encio
Motion: The Committee recommends that the North Beach CRA
Board explore and provide funding support to market and
promote the Normandy Fountain Business Association’s
Annual Taste of Normandy event scheduled for March 9,
2025
Made by Tom Richerson, Seconded by Sam Latone.
Passed by acclamation
Motion: The Committee requests that the North Beach CRA staff
review the business inventory, along the Collins Avenue
commercial corridor, provide insights as to whether the
Committee should support the exploration of a potential
“Taste of North Beach” restaurant crawl activation.
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Made by Tom Richerson, Seconded by Sam Latone.
Passed by acclamation
March 18, 2025
March 2025 meeting was cancelled
Meeting 3
April 8, 2025
Normandy Shores Golf Club, 2401 Biarritz Drive
Committee Member Participants: Chair Ronnie Issenberg, Vice
Chair Tom Richerson, Romina Orozco-Encio, Omar Jimenez, Sam
Latone, Manning Salazar and David Sexton (ex-officio)
Welcome and Attendance
Approval of the February 11, 2025, Meeting Minutes
Legislative update: Overview of Florida House Bill 991 and Senate Bill
1242, proposed legislation with significant implications for Florida’s
community redevelopment agencies (CRAs).
Farosha Andasheva, Office of the City Attorney
Update: Strategic Redevelopment Goals and CRA Budgetary Planning
Heather Shaw and Luis Wong, Economic Development
Department
Update: “Taste of North Beach” Activation and Pop-Up Permit Extension
Heather Shaw, Economic Development Department
FY 2025 Proposed Budget Recommendation
Luis Wong, Administrative Services Manager, Economic
Development
North Shore Park Capital Improvement Project
Ariel Guitian, Office of Capital Improvement Projects
Biscayne Beach Elementary Schoolyard Project
Dr. Leslie Rosenfeld, Education and Performance Initiatives
Department and Tom Curitore, Deputy Director, Parks and
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Meeting 3
April 8, 2025
Recreation Department
Altos Del Mar Park Electrical Infrastructure proposed by Commissioner
Bhatt
North Beach Concession Operations Overview
Frank Garcia, Facilities and Fleet Management Department
Proposed Redevelopment of Deauville Hotel, 6701 Collins, requested by
Chair Ronnie Issenberg
Committee Member and Public Comments, there were no public or
member comments.
Motion: The Committee recommends that the North Beach CRA
allocate up to $350,000 toward the North Shore Park/Miami
Beach Tennis Center (Tennis Center) Capital Improvement
Project to enhance the current scope for the Tennis Center
café facility. North Beach CRA funds would support the
completion of facility enhancements, including, but not
limited to, structural improvements, development of a patio
area, installation of a grease trap, and other related
infrastructure upgrades that will improve operational
capacity.
Made by Tom Richerson, Seconded by Sam Latone.
Passed by acclamation
Motion: The Committee recommends that the North Beach CRA
fund the cost of design, development, and construction for
the Biscayne Beach Elementary Schoolyard Project, as
referred for Committee review by the City Commission on
March 19, 2025. This recommendation includes allocating
sufficient funding, in an amount not to exceed $1.5 million,
and identifying funding in FY 2025, to initiate design and
permitting activities. The Committee recommends the City
pursue additional funding sources to offset costs and
reduce the financial impact on the North Beach CRA.
Made by Tom Richerson, Seconded by Sam Latone.
Passed by acclamation
Motion: The Committee recommends that the City evaluate and
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identify the costs and planning requirements necessary to
improve the permanent electrical service to Altos del Mar
Park. The North Beach CRA funds would enhance the
capacity for additional community programming, reduce
reliance on portable generators, and is an eco-friendly
solution. Once a project budget is developed, the
Committee recommends that it be funded by the North
Beach CRA.
Made by Tom Richerson, Seconded by Manning Salazar.
Passed by acclamation
Motion: The Committee recommends, should the North Beach CRA
Board approve project funding for the design for the
Biscayne Beach Elementary Schoolyard Project, that the
project includes a regulation-size soccer field suitable for
organized league play and a four-lane running track.
Made by Tom Richerson, Seconded by Romina Orozco-
Encio. Passed by acclamation
Motion: The Committee has reviewed the current redevelopment
proposal for the property located at 6701 Collins Avenue
and recommends that the Deauville Hotel redevelopment
project be approved as proposed.
Made by Tom Richerson, Seconded by Romina Orozco-
Encio. Passed by acclamation
Meeting 4
May 13, 2025
Normandy Shores Golf Club, 2401 Biarritz Drive
Committee Member Participants: Chair Ronnie Issenberg, Vice
Chair Tom Richerson, Omar Jimenez, Sam Latone, Romina Orozco-
Encio, Manning Salazar, David Sexton (ex-officio)
1. Welcome and Attendance
2. Approval of April 8, 2025, Meeting Minutes with discussion by
member Omar Jimenez rescinding his approval of the Deauville
redevelopment project.
3. Legislative update: Overview of Florida House Bill 991 and
Senate Bill 1242, proposed legislation with significant implications
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Meeting 4
May 13, 2025
for Florida’s community redevelopment agencies (CRAs). The bill
is not expected to advance in the current legislative session
Farosha Andasheva, Office of the City Attorney
4. North Shore Tennis Center Capital Improvement
David Gomez, Office of Capital Improvement Projects
(CIP)
5. Normandy Fountain Shade Structure Proposal
David Gomez, Office of Capital Improvement Projects (CIP)
6. Strategic Redevelopment Goals and Five-Year Strategic Plan
Heather Shaw, Economic Development Department
7. The open Committees Seat Member, Mr. David Cohen presented
himself.
8. Updates provided for: Recycling Program, North Shore Park
Signage, Beach Sand Renourishment, Public Access and Beach
Concession Enforcement, Collins Avenue Restaurant Crawl
Activation, NBCRA Marketing and the 71st Street Bridge
Enhancement.
9. Committee Member and Public Comments: Former member
Daniel Veitia raised concerns about the application of the façade
program.
Motion: The Committee recommends that the North Beach CRA
allocate up to $100,000 toward a Normandy Fountain Shade
structure project, and that an effort to expedite the installation
before the end of summer of 2025.
Made by Tom Richerson, Seconded by Romina Orozco-
Encio. Passed by acclamation.
Motion: The Committee recommends that the North Beach CRA engage
a consultant to assist in the development of a five-year
strategic plan.
Made by Sam Latone, Seconded by Manning Salazar.
Passed by acclamation.
Motion: The Committee recommends that the North Beach CRA
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amend North Beach CRA Commercial Façade Improvement
Program guidelines to allow property owners, of multiple
folios, to be eligible to apply to receive the benefits of the
program; and find ways to accelerate the permitting process.
Made by Tom Richerson, Seconded by Sam Latone. Passed
by acclamation.
Meeting 5
June 10, 2025
Normandy Shores Golf Club, 2401 Biarritz Drive
Committee Member Participants: Chair Ronnie Issenberg, Vice
Chair Tom Richerson, Romina Orozco-Encio, Omar Jimenez(via
Zoom), Sam Latone, and David Sexton (ex-officio)
1. Welcome and Attendance
2. Approval of the May 13, 2025 Meeting Minutes
3. Legislative update: Overview of Florida House Bill 991 and Senate
Bill 1242, the item wasn’t advanced in the current legislative session).
a. Farosha Andasheva, Office of the City Attorney
4. Update: Altos Del Mar Electrical Upgrade, the Commission acting as
the NBCRA Board adopted the resolution of the NBCRA Advisory
Committee.
5. Update Biscayne Beach Elementary Schoolyard Project, at its May
21, 2025, meeting the City Commission/CRA Board also adopted 2
resolutions amending the North Beach CRA capital budget for fiscal
year 2025 to realign the $1,500,000 budget to account for the funds
that were allocated to the North Beach Elementary Schoolyard
Project.
6. New Business: Byron Carlyle Redevelopment Project Workforce
Housing.
Presenter: Daniel Alzuri, Facilities and Fleet Management
7. Member and Public comments: Member Sam Latone asked about
the North Beach Streetscape project, Vice-Chair Tom Richerson
raised concerns about speeding on Collins Avenue and a discussion
about marketing ideas for North Beach.
Motion: The Committee recommends that the North Beach CRA
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allocate up to $190,000 from the workforce housing funds to
engage a consultant to analyze the workforce housing
component of the Byron Carlyle Cultural Center to understand
how to best leverage the value of the City’s contribution to the
project.
Made by Tom Richerson, Seconded by Sam Latone. Passed
by acclamation.
FUTURE ACTIVITIES
Provide input on and advocate for the North Beach CRA’s legislative priorities
Explore short and long-term opportunities for economic development in North Beach
Provide feedback and advice on preparing a 5-Year Strategic Plan for the CRA
Discuss public and private projects and growth opportunities in North Beach
Investigate funding opportunities for various projects
Continue exploring alternatives to add affordable/workforce housing.
Raise community awareness and encourage public participation
Advocate for projects, initiatives, and activations within the North Beach CRA district
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ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
Expanded Membership & Leadership: Welcomed North Beach CRA staff including a
new Economic Development Director and a new Redevelopment Specialist as well as
recruiting the appointment of new committee member for the Legal/Real Estate
membership position, while successfully electing a Chair and Vice Chair for an annual
term.
Funding Recommendations
Provided input on funding priorities for the North Beach CRA Budget,
highlighting the need for increased resources for beautification initiatives,
including motions amending the Commercial Façade Improvement
Program, $50,000 for the North Shore Signage Project and $10,000 for the
Artistic Recycling Receptacles Project.
Altos Del Mar Park Electrical Service Upgrade ($82,000):
Recommended and submitted a motion that the North Beach CRA fund
the electrical service upgrade at Altos del Mar Park, which the City
Commission acting as the NBCRA Board adopted
Biscayne Beach Elementary Schoolyard Project (1,500,000):
Recommended and submitted a motion that the North Beach CRA Board fund
the Biscayne Beach Elementary Schoolyard Project, which the City
Commission acting as the NBCRA Board adopted.
Byron Carlyle Redevelopment Project Workforce Housing: The
committee recommended that the North Beach CRA allocate up to $190,000
from the workforce housing funds to engage a consultant to analyze the
workforce housing component of the Byron Carlyle Cultural Center.
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BOARD OR COMMITTEE NAME:
Parks and Recreational Facilities Advisory Board
CHAIRPERSON:
Sean Smith
CITY LIAISON:
Vianca Peron-Sellan January – March 2025
Lucinda “Lucy” Alonso April – June 2025
NUMBER OF MEETINGS HELD:
5
January 16, 2025, March 20, 2025, April 22, 2025, May 22,
2025, and June 10, 2025
ACTIVITY:
The Parks and Recreational Facilities Board addressed several different issues and areas of
concern during the past six months:
• Current GOB Park Projects
• Tree Planting on Beachwalk
• Lighting at Polo Park
• Commission Meeting Item R9AC – Padel Facility on Lincoln Lane surface lots
• La Gorce Playground
• Senior Programming and Events
• West Lots and Activations
• FY 26 Parks and Recreation Capital Budget Review
• Flamingo Park Tennis Facility Capital Improvement
• Expiration Dates of Parks & Recreation Management Agreements
• Highlight Parks and Recreation's current contractors and partners.
• Theft in Parks
• Rhythm Foundation Agreement
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FUTURE ACTIVITIES:
The Parks and Recreational Facilities Advisory Board will continue to discuss the following topics:
• Any Referrals from City Commission or Commission Committees
• Parks & Recreation Capital Projects
• Parks & Recreation Contractors and Partnerships.
• Parks & Recreation Budget
• General Obligation Bond Projects
The Board will also be involved in providing their input in future park plans as well as setting
expectations and areas of interest to focus on in the future.
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ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
The following list are motions that the Parks and Recreational Facilities Advisory Board made in the
past 6 months based on their activity:
•The Parks and Recreational Facilities Advisory Board motioned if there is a desire from
the commission to add the sport of Padel, the Parks and Recreational Facilities Advisory
Board motions to urge the City Commission to explore adding Padel to one or more public
park, rather than a heavily utilized City surface parking lot.
•The Parks and Recreational Facilities Advisory Board expressed its support for the
preliminary FY 2026 Parks and Recreation Capital Projects request and has asked to
review the updated request at the upcoming board meeting.
•The Parks and Recreational Facilities Advisory Board motioned to support the G.O. Bond
Beachwalk reforestation project.
•The Parks and Recreational Facilities Advisory Board motioned to prioritize the North
Shore Park G.O. Bond project, ensuring it doesn’t have to wait for the 72nd Street
Complex Project.
•The Parks and Recreational Facilities Advisory Board recommended that the City of Miami
Beach Parks and Recreation Department explore the development of the West Lots for
functional and active park use and pursue all feasible avenues to bring this initiative to
fruition.
•The Parks and Recreational Facilities Advisory Board moved to direct the Parks and
Recreation Department to consult with the City Attorney to determine whether the West
Lots are officially designated as park land.
•The Parks and Recreational Facilities Advisory Board recommended that the City of Miami
Beach Parks and Recreation Department install visible and accessible signage at all city
parks displaying a clearly marked emergency contact number. These signs should be
strategically placed in high-traffic areas and include clear instructions for park users on
how to report emergencies or safety concerns.
•The Parks and Recreational Facilities Advisory Board recommended extending the
Rhythm Foundation’s management agreement for the Miami Beach Bandshell
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BOARD OR COMMITTEE NAME: PERSONNEL BOARD
CHAIRPERSON: RAQUEL PACHECO
CITY LIAISON: MARLA ALPIZAR, HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR
NUMBER OF MEETINGS HELD: 0
ACTIVITY:
We have not met to date.
Elections are in progress – Group II elections will be held July 9 & 10. We are looking to schedule
a meeting in August as by that time we will have a full quorum.
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BOARD OR COMMITTEE NAME: PLANNING BOARD
CHAIRPERSON: BRIAN ELIAS
CITY LIAISON: MICHAEL BELUSH
DATE OF REPORT: JAN 2025 – JUN 2025
NUMBER OF MEETINGS HELD DURING THIS REPORTING PERIOD: 6
MEETING AGENDA
DATE ITEMS APPROVED DENIED DISCUSSED CONTINUED WITHDRAWN NO ACTION MOVED OTHER
JAN 19 8 8 2 1
FEB 20 7 7 4 2
MAR 13 2 2 9
APR 20 10 5 1 5
MAY 14 5 7 2
JUN 10 3 2 1 3
TOTAL 96 35 2 0 38 4 14 3 0
NM: No Meeting
Note: Some totals may not match due to some items being removed from the agenda at the last minute, or items that are partially
approved and continued.
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BOARD OR COMMITTEE NAME:
Police/Citizens Relations Committee
CHAIRPERSON:
Seth Feuer
CITY LIAISON:
Julia Grando
NUMBER OF MEETINGS HELD:
5 (not including subcommittee meetings)
ACTIVITY: January 2025- June 2025
1) Discussion and focus on auto theft in Miami Beach. Most cars being stolen are crimes of
opportunity where keys are being left inside the cars. MBPD is aware and on top of the trends
involving these crimes.
2) Seth Feuer elected Chair, Alex Fryd Vice Chair.
3) Discussed the pros and cons of police presence. There is a trade-off: Police visibility vs
response time. MBPD is aware that residents and government officials would like more of a
visible police presence. The downside is that when officers are visible it usually means
they are out of their cars. This results in slower response times where minutes matter.
Certain events and times of the year require more visibility. On the whole the Chiefs are
aware of how staff is deployed and work to use the officers available to them in the most
efficient way possible. There is no static strategy or deployment.
This exact issue and response was brought up in the last report as well. It continues to be
an on-going topic every time there is a high-profile crime. MBPD is aware of the pros and
cons of the approaches and is working to address the issues accordingly.
4) Presentation from the State Attorney’s office. A common concern from citizens is why repeat
offenders end up back on the streets of MBPD. Stephen K Talpins, Chief Assistant State
Attorney, was able to shed light on the legal process and how some people “slip through the
cracks”. His bottom line was the department is short staffed and wages for his staff do no
reflect cost of living. Employees living and working in Dade County are compensated the
same as employees living in less expensive parts of the states. Many federal employees
choose these markets purely from an economic standpoint.
5) Other issues include staffing shortages for drug labs which leads to insufficient presentation
of evidence at trial. Mayor Meiner has prioritized an initiative to provide the labs with a tester
who exclusively works cases for Miami Beach.
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6) Discussion on whether to change the PCRC mission statement to include the Fire
Department. It was agreed on that the PCRC will focus solely on Police business. The
committee feels that the Fire Department should have its own committee as it would take too
much time for any one committee to address Police and Fire.
7) PCRC is in support of Chief Jones’ contract extension.
8) Spring Break results were very positive. Arrest increased by 13%, mostly due to LPR’s and
DUI check points. No major incidents reported during Spring Break.
9) Discussion of recruitment efforts.
10) Upcoming Memorial Day Preparations. Memorial Day staffing is starting to scale back
compared to previous years.
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FUTURE ACTIVITIES:
1) Focusing on traffic, parking and public transit and how it relates to the deployment of Police
officers during high impact weekends and rush hour. It is important to identify what can be
solved with police work and what needs FDOT attention.
2) Scheduling with the Dade County Sheriff’s department and State Attorney’s Office.
3) Continuing to meet with various departments on both a city and county level to understand
how they interact and support the actions of MBPD.
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ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
1) Letter of gratitude sent to MBPD thanking Police Department for their 2024 efforts.
2) LTC by PCRC supporting the additional funding to the Real Time Intelligence Center FUSUS
Software under the Axon Umbrella. More funding for this item was secured by the PCRC,
special thanks to Budget Advisory Committee on this matter.
3) LTC by PCRC recommending that the City Manager extend the Chief’s contract and that in
the future Chiefs should primarily come from within the force.
4) LTC by PCRC with budget approval request.
5) March 13th Spring Break Walk: A Mother reported her three kids missing and those in
attendance were able to watch the children reunited with their mother. Credit to the RTIC.
6) Incident free Spring Break has been accomplished. Focus now turns to helping local
businesses thrive during spring break and attracting tourism during this time that will bring a
positive experience and economic impact to the city.
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BOARD OR COMMITTEE NAME:
Production Industry Council - PIC
CHAIRPERSON:
Barbara Goicoechea
CITY LIAISON:
Shama Johnson
NUMBER OF MEETINGS HELD:
Six meetings held. Second Thursday of every month.
ACTIVITY: To understand, evaluate and advance the benefits of film, special event, photography and music production
and entertainment as it relates to residents, business, tourism, and overall commerce for the City of Miami Beach.
Specific areas of focus include, but are not limited to:
• Helping to establish the strong link between a film incentive program and a robust Florida economy with
growing tourism and enhancing the “Miami Beach” brand.
• To attend, observe and develop relationships with attendees of National Association of Television Producers
and Executives (“NATPE”), Film Florida, American Black Film Festival (“ABFF”), MIPCOM and other industry
organizations.
• To establish connections with industry icons and facilitate access to our city’s film incentives for productions
of all sizes.
• Educate the industry and the residents and stakeholders on the Film, Television, and Photography industry
in Miami Beach, as it relates to economic impact, brand awareness and the permitting process.
• Liaise with the City’s Tourism and Culture Department to provide support when and where necessary to
increase availability and access to film incentives.
• Discussion of successes of large-scale City-Wide Special Event activations such as Swim Week, Art Week/Art
Basel, as well as ongoing productions in support of film, TV, and photography.
• Provided legislative support to Film Florida and industry during Legislative session.
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FUTURE ACTIVITIES:
• Ongoing efforts in areas outlined above including new areas of focus as may be determined by change in
legislation as it relates to film incentives, permitting issues, or other challenges or opportunities as may arise.
• To identify other areas to incentivize both established and emerging film and digital production in the State
of Florida and more specifically Miami-Dade.
• Continue efforts to educate the residents and key stakeholders in the community on the beneficial impacts
of the film industry through the promotion of the City’s Film Incentive marketing campaign.
• Continue to actively partner to highlight local film screenings of Miami Beach local filmmakers.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
• At the January meeting, Barbara Goicoechea was nominated and re-elected for PIC chairperson and Igor
Shteyrenberg was nominated and re-elected as vice chairperson. Motion was carried with unanimous
approval.
• PIC members provided input for legislative items for Mobility Storage requirements for special events,
including cost, liabilities and previous experience at events.
• At the March meeting, the Council passed a motion to approve the $25,000 Film grant award for Fangoria
Studios to produce two short films. Fangoria Studios will provide an itemized budget and further
documentation as requested by Miami Beach. Production planning will begin with story approvals targeted
for April 12, 2025. Filming is planned for May-June, with post-production in June-July, culminating in an
October 2025 premiere. A Letter to Commission, (LTC# 122-2025) was submitted upon the motion being
passed for the awarded amount for the incentive grant to Fangoria.
• The Council has regularly provided feedback on the City’s Film Incentive Marketing campaign, to include
suggested funds spent and collateral.
• On a monthly basis, Council receives updates from Film Floria, the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors
Bureau and the Miami-Dade Cunty Film office regarding State and local legislative items, upcoming film
productions in the Greater-Miami area, and upcoming major special events, to include College Football
Playoff National Championship and FIFA World Cup 2026.
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BOARD OR COMMITTEE NAME:
Program for Public Information Committee
CHAIRPERSON:
Melissa Berthier, Director of Marketing and
Communications
CITY LIAISON:
Amy Knowles, Chief Resilience Officer
NUMBER OF MEETINGS HELD:
1
ACTIVITY:
The mission of the Program for Public Information (PPI) Committee is to create and monitor a Program for
Public Information to assist the community to reduce flood risk and ultimately reduce the cost of flood
insurance. The PPI is an activity of the National Flood Insurance Program’s Community Rating System
(CRS) that compliments the City’s approach to economic resilience and public participation.
During the last Committee meeting on May 16, 2025, the following topics were discussed:
• Welcome
o Agenda overview and introductions
o Select Chair and Vice-Chair
o Public comment
o Adopting minutes from last meeting
• CRS Audit Preparation Updates Items
o CRS audit update
o Update about FIRM maps
• Annual Evaluation Report Review
o Projects Summary
o Review and discussion of effectiveness for the following items:
Activity 320 (Map Communication Service),
Activity 330 (Outreach Projects),
Activity 340 (Hazard Disclosure, Real Estate),
Activity 350 (Flood Protection Information),
Activity 360 (Flood Protection Assistance),
Activity 370 (Flood Insurance Promotion),
Activity 540 (Drainage System Maintenance)
o Progress made toward desired outcomes
o Changes/ Recommendations
Private Property Adaptation Program
MB Resilience Projects
Sea Level Rise Vulnerability Assessment and Adaptation Plan
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• Fact Sheet Updates and Flood Disclosure
o Flood Awareness Page
o Real Estate Agents Disclosure and “Flood Awareness and Safety Tips” Brochure
• General Committee Discussion/ Updates
o Mayor’s Flood Insurance Forum
July 16, 2025
5 PM – 6 PM
• Next Steps:
Input on 2025 PPI Plan Annual Update
After the Committee approved the PPI Evaluation Report for 2024, the report was submitted for review by the
City Commission. On December 11, 2024 the Commission reviewed and adopted the report and re-
established the ad hoc advisory committee for 2025 as part of item C7 E.
FUTURE ACTIVITIES:
In 2022, the Committee and staff created a new Program for Public Information, which is required by
FEMA CRS program to be updated every five years. This document tracks the status of PPI outreach
activities and provides recommendations for improvement. The City will continue completing outreach
activities as specified by this report.
An audit for the CRS program will be conducted by FEMA to evaluate Miami Beach’s CRS activities and
rating. This audit is expected to take place in 2026. The full CRS program is led by the Building
Department Floodplain Manager.
The Committee will conduct its Annual PPI Plan Update and Evaluation Report for 2025. The City will
continue to improve flood insurance and flood awareness information.
The Committee will meet again in October 2025 to review the progress on outreach activities and to
review opportunities for improvement to deliver on the PPI Plan’s goals and desired outcomes.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
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The City will hold a public virtual flood insurance forum hosted by the Mayor on July 16, 2025. This
webinar will communicate important flood insurance information and will be recorded for future viewing.
Key messages developed by this Committee continue to be used by the Communications team when
advising and alerting residents about real-time flooding and actions to take. This communication is delivered
electronically via social media (X, Facebook and Nextdoor) and email. In addition, the Committee has helped
create flood awareness fact sheets that are mailed directly to relevant audiences, in addition to being
provided electronically on the website. This information is incorporated in the flood awareness page and
flood awareness brochures developed by the Communications Department following the 2024 June
rainstorm event.
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BOARD OR COMMITTEE NAME:
Senior Affairs Committee
CHAIRPERSON:
Debi Quade
CITY LIAISON:
Alba Tarre
NUMBER OF MEETINGS HELD:
4 (January 2025-June 2025)
ACTIVITY:
January Meeting: Committee meeting canceled.
February Meeting: Presentation by Public Department.
March Meeting: Update on collaboration with the Fire Department
April Meeting: Presentation by ADRC-Lisa Mele.
May Meeting: Committee meeting canceled.
June Meeting: Presentation by Disability Access Committee-Harvey J. Burstein.
FUTURE ACTIVITIES:
• Fill Committee vacancies.
• The Committee will continue to actively participate in the AARP-Age-Friendly Communities,
providing feedback and ideas for Miami Beach’s plan.
• Continue the mission of the Committee to address the needs presented by Miami Beach
seniors
• The Committee will continue to advocate for transportation needs of seniors.
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ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
• The Fire Department will be offering Prevention Classes in all major senior buildings starting
in July.
• Promoted City events designed for seniors.
• Provided information on monthly senior activities.
• Promoted the City’s food distribution program.
• Informed Seniors of the Free Tax Services offered to the community by the Housing &
Community Services Department.
• Presentation by the Alliance for Aging Delivers.
• Presentation by Disability Access Committee.
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BOARD OR COMMITTEE NAME:
SISTER CITIES COMMITTEE
CHAIRPERSON:
MONI COHEN
CITY LIAISON:
HEATHER SHAW
NUMBER OF MEETINGS HELD:
6
ACTIVITY:
January 6, 2025 Meeting:
1. 1. Call to order
Chairwoman Moni called the meeting to order at 12:14 pm
Liaison Heather Shaw indicated the Members present: Moni Cohen (Chair), Laura Levey
(Vice Chair), Allison Buttacavoli, John Ospitia, Janinha Piazzetta, and Blanca Villarello.
2. Approve Minutes –
a. The committee unanimously approved the minutes for November 4th, November 14th,
November 18th, and December 2nd.
b. The committee deferred the review and approval of the Bi-Annual Report to the
February meeting.
c. Sister Cities Committee Meeting Dates were unanimously approved
i. At 12 noon:
Feb 3rd, March 3rd, April 7th, May 5th, June 9th, July 17th,
Sept 8th, Oct 6th, Nov 3rd, Dec 1st.
3. Old Business
a. Fujisawa Marathon – January 2025
o The committee discussed sending a delegation, including Allison Buttacavoli
and Luis Wong as runners in the Fujisawa Marathon, and Heather Shaw as City of
Miami Beach representative, and Laura Levey traveling at her expense. Heather
to ask Fujisawa to include Laura Levey (and husband) in the delegation
o Budget: Committee motion:
The Sister Cities Committee recommends sending a delegation to Sister City
Fujisawa, Japan and a budget to support the delegation, in an amount not to
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exceed $6,000, to represent Miami Beach and participate in the Shanan Fujisawa
City Marathon on January 26, 2025.
b. Portugal Dance NOW! Launch – March 2025
o CMB/Dance NOW! Launch Event
The event is to take place on Monday, Feb 17th from 2-4. Previous
suggestion to have the event at the Jewish Museum were cancelled
due to conflicting event.
Event details to include:
• Invitation – Janinah and Heather
• Venue/Beverages – Heather
o RSVPs – Janinah and John
o Performance – Dance NOW! Budget for Event – Action Item
o Members to contact the Mayor and Commissioners (and
aides). George Neary suggested inviting the same people as
the SC Basel event.
o Discussion on the Basel reception resulted in an agreement that events should
have a return on the investment in the event and answer questions like: what is
the purpose/mission/desired outcomes; did event serve the purpose of the
event; were the right people invited, did they attend, photos, proper
recap/debrief document, etc. If business focused event, align with the
Chambers. Events should not take place without 3 month notice.
• Event Budget motion:
o The Sister Cities Committee recommends the approval of a
budget, not to exceed $100, to host an event to celebrate
and promote the International Cultural Partnership Project
between Dance NOW! Miami and Danca em Dialogos in
Sister City Cascais, Portugal on February 17, 2025.
o Cascais, Portugal Visit – Committee discussed and approved Janinha Piazzetta
and George Neary attending the March 2025 performance. Both will work
through Hannah (Dance NOW!) for Cascais invitation to CMB Sister Cities
delegation. Laura Levy offered to assist with housing accommodations in
Cascais.
Budget motion for Visit –
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• The Sister Cities Committee recommends sending a delegation to
Sister City Cascais, Portugal, and a budget to support the
delegation, in an amount not to exceed $2,000, to represent Miami
Beach at the International Cultural Partnership Project at the
Dance NOW! And Danca em Dialogos performance on March 12,
2025 at the Vila das Artes de Cascais/Cascais Village of the Arts.
o International Delegation Protocol – Grisette Roque Marcos, unable to attend,
shared a written list of Japanese Business Etiquette for the Fujisawa delegation.
c. New Business
o Sister Cities History – George Neary provided an in-depth history of the formation
of the Sister Cities Committee, the oversight by the City of Miami Beach and the
Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce.
Highlights included:
• Binders were created for each Sister City. All binders have been
lost or disposed.
• Gifts collected by delegations were placed in a cabinet and
displayed in the Mayor’s Office
• Members and friends did innovative activations such as getting
$40k to host student chois; Cozumel, Mexico built a sailboat and it
sailed to Miami Beach and docked at South Pointe Park; hosted 34
Japanese guests; Brampton, Canada brought the symphony to City
Hall; Mayor Dermer sent a fire truck to Ica, Peru; and Moni and
George were co-chairs and Jerry Libbin led Sister Cities.
• Jackie Budin (Commissioner Rosen-Gonzalez’s aide) shared new
Cozumel, Mexico binders created and can serve as an example.
• George suggested that the Committee restart the binders,
information collection, documenting engagements and contacts,
and the gathering/documenting/displaying of gifts received; and
maintain this digitally so the information cannot be lost in the
future.
d. Susan Whitebrook (invited by Laura Levey) addressed the Committee. She is a Miami
Beach resident but has opened a restaurant in Patmos, Greece. Born and raised in Miami
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Beach, where she raised her two boys and worked on the Art Deco Festival, Susan would
like to connect Miami Beach with Patmos, Greece. Her husband is a City Commissioner
in Patmos and they live in Miami Beach ½ the year (winter) and in Patmos ½ the year
(summer). Susan would like to arrange a Miami Beach visit to Patmos and explore a
potential new Sister City. The Committee thanked Susan for bringing the opportunity to
the Sister Cities Committee and shared that the Committee is focusing on the existing
pool of cities, the relationships and connections (existing and potential), and the long and
short term strategies with those cities before the Committee can explore new cities at
this time.
February 10, 2025 Meeting:
4. Call to order
Chairwoman Moni called the meeting to order at 12:14 pm
Liaison Heather Shaw indicated the Members present: Moni Cohen (Chair), Laura Levey
(Vice Chair), Allison Buttacavoli, John Ospitia, Janinha Piazzetta, and Blanca Villarello.
5. Approve Minutes –
a. The committee unanimously approved the minutes for January 6th.
b. The committee unanimously approved the Bi-Annual Report for July – December 2024.
6. Old Business
a. Events:
i. Fujisawa Visit Recap
Some members were asked to provide feedback on their trip to Fujisawa, where they represented the
Committee. Members Allison Buttacavoli and Laura Levey expressed their appreciation for the
professionalism shown to them and highlighted how well-organized the entire experience was.
During their time in Fujisawa, they had the opportunity to network with representatives from other
Sister Cities and met with the Miami Beach Friends of Fujisawa Committee. They learned that some
Sister Cities hold events monthly, while others host annual events; Ms. Buttacavoli suggested that
the Committee consider participating in the annual ones. Ms. Levey mentioned her interest in
participating in an upcoming event with one of the Sister Cities similar to food and wine.
ii. Budget Amendment
Economic Development Administrative Services Manager Luis Wong clarified that the Committee
has an annual budget of $40,000, which covers the fiscal year from October 1st to September 30th.
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After deducting the expenses for the Fujisawa trip, the Committee has about $31,000 remaining for
the rest of the fiscal year. It was noted that any unspent funds cannot be rolled over into the new
fiscal year, as per the City Code. However, the Committee has the option to request a budget
amendment or seek an enhancement if additional funds are needed.
Ms. Levey requested reimbursement for her $900 Fujisawa ticket. Chair Moni Cohen allowed Ms.
Levey to make a motion, but it was not seconded. Ms. Levey argued that the City should cover the
ticket. Commissioner Dominguez reminded Laura that she had volunteered to pay for her flight and
noted her earlier comment about an upcoming "food and wine" trip, which she described as not
being Committee-related and emphasized to the group that the Committee members should not take
advantage of trips unrelated to official Committee business.
iii. Delegation Gift Protocol / Gift Documentation Form and Gift Display
Ms. Buttacavoli proposed recreating a gift display at City Hall to showcase the gifts received from
other Sister Cities and suggested the consideration of a motion. Chair Cohen inquired if
Commissioner Dominguez had a specific location in mind within City Hall, to which she responded
that further investigation would be needed. There was also discussion regarding the possibility of
soliciting donations for the display, with no objections raised. Economic Development Assistant
Director Heather Shaw indicated that her team would explore potential recommendations.
Additionally, she noted that the department is preserving photos of these trips as digital records.
b. Portugal Dance Now Launch – February 17, 2025 2-4pm
The members reviewed their efforts in inviting attendees to the Dance Now event, provided
recommendations for additional individuals to invite, and discussed further outreach strategies.
c. Cascais, Portugal Visit 2025
• 1. Outstanding Items
Ms. Shaw informed the members that the Mayor’s letter regarding the trip to Cascais, intended for the
Cascais delegation, is pending approval. Additionally, a press release is scheduled for release later
this week.
• 2. Budget Amendment for Visit – (Action Item)
A member requested approval for a $600 invoice for Cascais t-shirts to be worn at events. Mr. Wong
clarified that the budget was $2,100 for this trip, with $100 spent on packages and approval pending
for two $500 tickets, leaving $1,000 remaining. Ms. Shaw noted that payment for shirts or tickets
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cannot proceed until the committee approves the purchase through a motion. A motion was
proposed to increase the budget by $600.
Motion made to increase the Cascais budget by an additional $600 (Passed unanimously).
New Business
a. Committee Focus for March 2025 – Sept 2025
Chair Cohen asked the members for feedback on upcoming events. Ms. Buttacavoli made a motion
to suspend event planning until the Committee has made significant progress in creating, archiving,
and documenting the history of its relationships, but the motion was not seconded. Ms. Levey
suggested that each member build a relationship with their assigned City to better understand its
status. Chair Cohen noted the Committee’s recent activities, including a December event at the Rum
Room, the Fujisawa Marathon in January, the Dance Now event in February, and the upcoming
Cascais event in March. The members discussed strategies for strengthening relationships with the
nine Sister Cities, with a focus on utilizing City resources to support future events. Ms. Buttacavoli
raised a concern that organizing multiple events could affect the quality of professional-level events.
Commissioner Dominguez shared that she had spoken with the Lincoln Road BID about potentially
collaborating on a carnival, and suggested the Committee consider participating in the collaboration.
Chair Cohen proposed the idea of hosting a large event during Art Week to showcase the Sister
Cities. The members agreed to postpone further discussion on the motion until the March meeting.
March 3, 2025 Meeting:
1. Call to order
a. Chairwoman Moni Cohen called the meeting to order at 12:00 pm
b. Liaison Heather Shaw indicated the members present Moni Cohen (Chair), Laura Levey
(Vice chair), Allison Buttacavoli, John Ospitia, Janinha Piazzetta, Fred Bell. Other attendees:
Commissioner Laura Dominguez, Heather Shaw, Liaison, Luis Wong, Liaison, Hope Mayes
Liaison, Sara Murillo Tejada, Bibi Andrade, Ray Breslin, Harvey Burstein, Jerry Libbin,
George Neary, Marjorie York.
2. Approve Minutes –
a. The Committee unanimously approved the minutes for February 10th.
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3. Old Business
i. Sister Cities Bylaws Review
ii. The committee discussed editing Section 4 page 3 detailing that
three committee members have their terms extended to 2026.
(Chair Moni’s motion to amend fiscal start date from January 1 to
October 1 unanimously approved. ) Edits were mentioned on Page
10 Article 11 for delegation members who can travel to include
committee members, friends of the committee, or chair. (Speaker
Bower’s motion that funding for trips either incoming or outgoing
be voted upon prior to travel unanimously approved.) Liaison Shaw
discussed reviewing with the committee Article 3 section 9 of the
International Sister Cities bylaws regarding travel reimbursement
amendment. (Speaker Bower’s motion to approve the bylaws with
discussed amendments, unanimously approved.)
4. New business
a. Portugal Dance Now Launch Recap
i. Member Piazzetta explained that an official letter from the City of
Miami Beach is needed to solidify and formally reinforce the
invitation of Miami Sister City delegates to the City of Cascais.
Chair Moni mentioned the importance of traveling with gifts to
exchange as a way of fostering and maintaining relationships. The
decision was made which certificates should be placed on Miami
Beach official letterhead to be given to the Cascais Mayor from a
Commissioner.
a. Cascais Budget
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i. Committee Liaison Wong clarified the budget of $6,400 for the
entire trip, excluding T- Shirts. $2,578 for two flights, Hotel costs at
$1,500 per diem, meals $1,300 at $131 per person per day. $400
ground transport and a 10% contingency. (Chair Moni’s motion to
approve the budget for Portugal’s trip up to $6,400, unanimously
approved. Speaker Bower’s motion that additional funding for
Cascais trip must be voted upon approved unanimously.)
b. Sister City Information Repository
i. Chair Moni suggested finding a location to publicly display gifts
received from Sister Cities in a visible location as an enduring
symbol of the strong international bonds Miami Beach continues
to cultivate. (Chair Moni’s motion to suspend event planning for
the summer and focus on compiling the history of the sister city
relationships, unanimously approved. Chair Moni’s motion that
that no additional sister Cities will be added unanimously
approved.)
c. Sister Cities Art week Activation FY 2026
i. Chair Moni discussed creating a single event for one night in
December (prior to Art Basel Opening night) for Sister Cities to
bring artists and dignitaries to Miami Beach.( Member Ospitia’s
motion to have one event held for one night in December Fiscal
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year 2026 for art week prior to Art Basel opening unanimously
approved.)
d. Lincoln Road Mardi Gras
i. Commissioner Dominguez mentioned a possible Lincoln Road
Mardi Gras Festival for March 2026 in collaboration with any Sister
City in Brazil. (Speaker Bower’s motion to appoint John and Janina
as the point people for the Lincoln Road Mardi Gras festival event,
unanimously approved.)
e. Continental Hotel
i. Member Ospitia mentioned the Continental Hotel expressing
interest as being a place to hold the next Sister City meeting in
April in addition to housing delegates visiting internationally.
(Member Ospitia’s motion to have April’s or May’s meeting held in
the Continental Hotel pending approval from the hotel
unanimously approved.)
April 7, 2025 Meeting:
1. Call to Order
a. Chairwoman Moni Cohen called the meeting to order at 12:00 pm.
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b. Liaison Heather Shaw indicated the members present Moni Cohen (Chair), Fred Bean,
Mattie Bower, Allison Buttacavoli, Marcella Novela, John Ospitia, Janinha Piazzetta.
Blanca Villarello,
2. Approve Minutes –
i. The Committee unanimously approved the minutes for March 3
3. Vice Chair Nomination
i. The committee opened nominations for the Vice Chair position.
Motion – Member Bower moved to discuss Vice Chair nominations to the next
meeting pending notification from the City Clerk’s office regarding Member
Levey’s status. Seconded by Member Villarello.
Motion Unanimously approved.
4. Old Business
a. Events
i. Cascais, Portugal Visit 2025 – Member Piazzetta described her experience while
attending the event, meeting City Officials, and being so well accommodated by
supporting staff. T-shirt costs were reimbursed. Member Piazzetta has created
a PowerPoint show documenting the trip to show the committee.
b. Review, discussion, disposition of MB Sister Cities Bylaws
i. Members discussed the Miami Beach Sister Cities Bylaws draft. Members
suggested edits for the draft:
1. Member Villarello expressed she wanted more language in the Bylaws
to detail how the committee decides which member can go to an event
that has limited available tickets. Staff to incorporate edits and provide
to members for next meeting’s discussion.
Motion – The Committee moved to approve the Bylaws with suggested
changes. Member Bower/ Member Buttacavoli.
Motion unanimously approved.
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c. Committee Focus for March – September 2025
i. Education Programming – 2026 Miami Beach Youth Music Festival – March 2026
Member Buttacavoli is exploring, with the City, a virtual Fujisawa
partnership/participation in the 2026 Miami Beach Youth Music Festival.
d. Discuss Potential Art Week Sister Cities Activation – December 2025
i. Chair Moni discussed creating a single event for one night in December (prior
to Art Basel Opening night) for Sister Cities to bring artists and dignitaries to
Miami Beach with a potential collaboration between the Chamber of
Commerce or Lincoln Road. The Committee mentioned possible locations
such as Rum Room or Time Out Marketplace. Emphasis was made about the
proximity of an event so immediately after the Thanksgiving Holiday and prior
to the Art Basel Opening. The Committee continues to consider possible non-
conflicting dates. Sister Cities Friend Neary mentioned inviting the Committee
Chair to the Art Basel Luncheon to strengthen unity between the Swiss
Delegation and the Committee.
ii. Lincoln Road Marti Gras Festival (February 2026) – Commissioner Dominguez
mentioned that she was approached by the Lincoln Road Business
Improvement District about creating a Lincoln Road Marti Gras Festival,
similar to the Lincoln Road Halloween Celebration. She asked the Sister Cities
Committee to consider working with Lincoln Road BID because Marti Gras is
akin to Carnival in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (MB Sister City). Commissioner
Dominguez mentioned to have the event around a time when members from
Brazil have availability to travel. Discussions were had to call the event
“Carnival” verses “Mardi Gras” for a more international appeal. Timing was
discussed, as February is saturated with the Boat Show, and the Wine and
Food Festival. March was a tentative date; being mindful of the City’s Spring
Break Closures. Ocean Drive was a possible location also. Commissioner
Dominguez explained the item should be moved to the next meeting so she
can discuss possible dates with Lincoln Rd BID, the City Administration, and
determine possible participating cities. Member Ospitia and Member
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Piazzetta were identified as Mardi Gras leads on the Committee, and were
tasked with contacting their respective city liaison to solidify dates to discuss
for the next meeting.
5. New Business
a. The committee discussed upcoming sister Cities International dues of $800 to be
used from the annual budget.
Motion- The Committee motioned to pay the $800 SCI Dues from the annual budget.
Member Cohen/ Member Ospitia.
Motion unanimously approved.
b. The Committee received display case options to choose from and will return with
their choices. Discussions included how to get approval to place the case in City
Hall and determining who will be responsible for the maintenance and rotation of
gifts received. Chair Cohen and Member Buttacavoli agreed to physically walk
locations around the Convention Center and City Hall to find appropriate areas for
the display case. Digital documentation of case choices will be sent to the
committee for their review and approval during the next meeting.
c. Chair Cohen expressed the possibility of each Sister city having corresponding
signage on Lincoln Road including cultural clothing or food representing the city.
d. Member Villarello mentioned being contacted by the General Counsel of Mexico for
a possible event in Cozumel and will return with updates.
6. Good and Welfare
a. Chair Cohen discussed how the Nahariya, Israel ambulance program will be sending a
quarterly activity for review.
b. Sister Cities Friend Neary suggested having Sister Cities featured in the Miami Beach
Magazine highlighting Cultural relevancy as part of Miami Beach’s international
appeal.
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c. Chair Cohen mentioned the possibility of each corresponding Sister City to have a
sign on Lincoln Road showcasing cultural attire, music, and regional foods as a
means to foster increased visibility of neighboring Sister Cities to Miami Beach
residents and visitors alike.
d. The Committee discussed the street naming ceremony for Member Bower and the
importance of being part of a community.
7. Adjournment – Meeting Prematurely Adjourned at 1:08pm due to fire alarm Notification.
May 5, 2025 Meeting:
1. Call to order
a. Chairwoman Moni Cohen called the meeting to order at 12:00 pm.
b. The members present Moni Cohen (Chair), Fred Bean, Mattie Bower, Allison
Buttacavoli, Marcella Novela (virtual0, John Ospitia, Blanca Villarello
2. Approve Minutes
i. The Committee unanimously approved the minutes for April 7.
3. Vice Chair Nomination
i. The committee opened nominations for the Vice Chair position.
1. Member Bower Nominated Member Buttacavoli
2. Member Villarello nominated herself
a. Member Allison Buttacavoli was elected as Vice Chair.
Member Buttacavoli – 3 votes
Member Villarello – 2 votes
4. Old business
a. Budget
Luis Wong presented the budget and discussed Cascais, Portugal delegation
reimbursement. Member Piazzetta and Friend Neary expenses totaled $5,064;
$1,335 below approved budget. Members discussed and approved.
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b. Committee Reports
i. Sister City Introductions
1. Liaison Shaw reminded members to contact their respective Sister City
liaisons and gather updates using the sample introduction as a guide.
ii. FY 2026 events
1. Miami Beach Youth Music Festival
a. Coordination with Fujisawa High School (Japan) is underway led
by member Buttacavoli. Submission deadline for musical video
entries is set for December 2025 for participation in the
February 2026 festival. The Parks and Recreation Department
has agreed to include a Fujisawa High School music video in the
2026 event.
2. Discuss Potential Art Week Sister Cities Activation – December 2025
a. Chair Cohen proposed an activation event during Art Basel to
showcase Sister Cities. Potential venues discussed included
the Continental Hotel, Temple Emanuel, and the 6th Street
Community Center. Member Villarello recommended a
networking event featuring Swiss and Miami Beach businesses.
Action was deferred pending further venue research.
3. Lincoln Road Marti Gras Festival (February 2026)
a. Commissioner Dominguez reports on a meeting with Lincoln
Road, which is planning an event on February 14. The committee
decided not to involve Sister Cities in the event due to the timing
and focus on Carnival. It was decided too great of an ask to
invite delegation members to visit Miami Beach for a weekend
during Carnival which is a much larger celebration in their home
country. Potential conflicts with the Miami Beach Chamber of
Commerce were also identified, regarding timing. Member Bean
was asked to approach Annabel Llopiz, the general director of
the Lincoln Road Business Improvement District (BID), to
discuss a potential Sister Cities activation on Lincoln Road.
iii. Display case options
a. Chair Cohen led the discussions over the location of the Sister
Cities gift display case. Chair Cohen expressed views of having a
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custom display case built with adequate lighting and placed on
the fourth floor of City Hall. Commissioner Dominguez
suggested the Mayor’s or the City Attorney’s conference room,
or the space just outside of the office. Commissioner
Dominguez’s aide, Alberto, will arrange a walkthrough of City
Hall for final display case placements.
5. New Business
a. Support for Odessa
i. The Committee reviewed a memorandum expressing solidarity with Odessa,
Ukraine.
b. Sister Cities International
i. SCI 2025 Annual Awards Application- Member Buttacavoli agreed to complete
the 2025 SCI Annual Awards and asked members/friends to send Sister Cities
photographs and documents, specifically on the 66 year history of youth, music,
business, arts, and environmental initiatives between Fujisawa and Miami
Beach. The award deadline has been extended to May 15th 2025. A video is
being prepared for the award submission. Members/friends were encouraged to
send photos and documents to Heather Shaw.
1. Member Villarello asked for the Cozumel, Mexico file of images and
documents be forwarded to her. Hope Mayes to handle.
ii. The Committee discussed the SCI Summer Leadership Meeting and SCI Annual
Business Meeting to be held July 20-23, 2025 in Fort Worth, Texas. Members are
to check calendars and share in the June meeting whether they would like to
attend. Members Villarello and Member Ospitia expressed interest but will check
calendars.
c. Fortaleza, Brazil inbound visit
i. Report deferred to June. Member Piazzetta to report.
d. Cozumel, Mexico
i. Member Villarello reported that she had previously met with the Consul General
of Mexico about a potential Mardi Gras event. However, since that event has
been revised, she plans to meet with the Consul again to discuss alternative
ideas.
e. Sister Cities Feature in Miami Beach Magazine
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i. Liaison Heather asked members to forward any Sister Cities article ideas to her
attention to get Sister Cities featured in Miami Beach Magazine, should Miami
Beach win a SCI award. Miami Beach Magazine publishes by quarter. SC Friend
George Neary shared Sister Cities story in the current Miami Beach Magazine.
6. Good and Welfare
a. Member Ospitia to check on the availability of the Continental Hotel event space for
next month’s meeting.
June 9, 2025 Meeting:
Members present Allison Buttacavoli (Vice Chair), Matti Bower, John Ospitia, Blanca Villarello, and
Janinha Piazzetta, (Virtual Members: Moni Cohen (Chair), Fred Bean, and Shari Lombardi)
(Members Absent: Marcella Novela)
Staff present: Steven Anthony (Director), Heather Shaw (Assistant Director), Luis Wong
(Administrative Service Manager), Sandra Schoenlank-Arian (contractor)
Guests Present: Alberto Mario Rosales (Commissioner Aide Laura Dominguez), Majorie York, Ray
Breslin, Harvey Burstein, and Charlotte Price.
1. Call to order
● Vice Chair Allison Buttacavoli called the meeting to order at 12:00PM
2. Approve May Minutes (Action Item)
● The Committee unanimously approved the minutes for May 5, 2025.
3. Old Business
a. Budget
● Luis Wong presented the budget and advised that there is $19,000 remaining for this
fiscal year (October 2024 - September 2025). Funds may not be allowed to roll over into
the next fiscal year.
c. Committee Reports
i. Sister City New Member Introduction
● Liaison Shaw introduced and welcomed new Member Lombardi.
ii. Sister Cities International
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1. Annual Award Application
● Vice Chair Buttacavoli shared details about an award the committee is
nominated to receive for being the longest operating Sister City. The award
ceremony takes place in Japan, and it has been recommended that if we win the
award then at least one member will be sent to receive the award in person.
2. July Leadership Meeting
● “Motion to recommend that two members from sister cities attend the
conference in Fort Worth Texas, budget not to exceed $4,000,” made by
Member Bower, seconded by Member Piazzetta, and approved unanimously by
the committee.
iii. FY 2026 Project Updates
1. Education Programming – 2026 Miami Beach Youth Music Festival
● Vice Chair Buttacavoli shared details about the upcoming education program.
The committee agreed that Member Ospitia and Member Villarello will be in
attendance.
2. MBSC Re-Introductions/Data Collection
● Liaison Shaw advised about open lead connection positions in various cities,
and the committee members volunteered to fill the vacant spaces to rekindle
the relationships.
● Members shared details about their current connections/ statuses with other
Sister Cities.
3. Discuss Art Week Activation
● Members discussed an upcoming event on December 2, 2025 called “The Best
of Miami Beach and Sister Cities”. The main topic of discussion was the location
of the event. Member Villarello proposed The Fillmore because they do not
charge us for the actual space, only labor. Chair Cohen proposed the Rum
Room (just as it was done the previous year), and also shared that Bibi (artist
vendor) was willing to put together a 5 minute video about where we came from,
where we are, and where we are going with Sister Cities.
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● Guest Burstein suggested to reach out to The Avalon Hotel to see if they would
be interested in hosting the event at the property. It was also noted that during
the time of the year (November-December), The Avalon Hotel participates in No
Vacancy and an artist's work will already be on display at the property.
● Members would like to create an invitation to send out to each sister city
representative who is attending Art Basel.
● Member Lombardi advised of an artist friend that can be contacted to do art for
the event. Chair Cohen made note that Bibi (artist vendor) already said she
would do the art and video for the event.
● Chair Cohen assured the committee that we are being mindful of the current
budget for the event.
4. Sister Cities Cabinet and Location
● Chair Cohen advised that Sister Cities was denied the request to install the
cabinet on the 4th floor of City Hall. it has come to light that Mayor Meiner is
planning to relocate the security guard (on the 1st floor of City Hall) to be closer
to the entrance. Chair Cohen is going to request that the Sister Cities cabinet be
installed on the 1st floor of City Hall next to the City Clerk’s Office.
● Member Bower suggested to have the installation/ removal of the Sister Cities
cabinet be voted on/ approved by the City Commission so that it cannot be
removed in the future without a majority vote. All members agreed with this
suggestion.
4. New Business
5. Good and Welfare
● Present in-person members took a tour of the hotel Continental Miami Beach
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FUTURE ACTIVITIES:
• Re-establish relations with key Sister Cities and Florida/Miami-Dade County Sister Cities
• Move inactive/nonresponsive Sister Cities to either “Friend” status or “Dormant” status
• Identify annual goals and objectives
• Develop and implement an annual strategy
ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
1. Re-Established Sister Cities Committee, elected a Chair and Vice Chair
2. Exchanges with Odessa, Ukraine, Nahariya, Israel, Basel, Switzerland, and Fujisawa, Japan,
strengthening their relationship with the Sister City
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BOARD OR COMMITTEE NAME:
Sustainability Committee
CHAIRPERSON:
Isaiah Mosley
CITY LIAISON:
Juanita Ballesteros
NUMBER OF MEETINGS HELD:
6
ACTIVITY:
Identify and promote policies and practices with the City of Miami Beach aimed at achieving a
sustainable environment, as well as to minimize negative impacts and maximize benefits to the
environment.
FUTURE ACTIVITIES:
Identify opportunities to increase local circularity initiatives.
Identify opportunities to reduce single-use plastics in Miami Beach. Continue to brainstorm
strategies to improve compliance with plastic straw ordinance.
Support continued efforts to monitor and improve water quality of the city’s waterways.
Identify opportunities to increase installation of renewable energy.
Continue to discuss and support the urban forest/greenspace projects and programs.
Identify opportunities for incorporating green infrastructure, reducing stormwater impacts, and
improving water quality citywide.
Identify opportunities for the energy efficiency and water conservation initiatives throughout the city.
Support initiatives and policies to mitigate for the city’s transportation carbon footprint and reduce
GHG emissions, such as bike pathways, EV stations, public transportation (non-diesel), water
transportation and other alternative modes of transportation.
Continue to support initiatives to reduce city-wide energy consumption.
Continue to support grants for sustainability initiatives.
Support the development of programs that enhance the city’s natural resources.
Support the incorporation of projects, programming, and education to promote pollinator habitats.
Identify opportunities for green procurement for local businesses.
Support blue/green infrastructure.
Support the implementation of strategies to reduce littering and increase recycling.
Support the continued effort by city staff to engage and educate the community.
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ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
Appointed a committee member as an Ex-Officio Non-Voting Member to the Mayor’s G.O. Bond
Oversight Committee.
Highlighted the efficiencies made by the Fleet Management Division and its cutting-edge use of
data and encouraged other departments to implement similar policies to improve efficiency and
sustainability.
Requested the establishment of a requirement for a representative from the Sustainability
Committee, or a representative with an environmental background, to be included as a voting or
non-voting member on the Planning Board and/or Design Review Board.
Discussed opportunities for community engagement.
Presented on and discussed solutions for plastic straws and other plastic items polluting beaches
that have been picked up through community cleanup events.
Discussed single-use plastic and prioritized areas of focus for the committee to recommend
programs and policies.
MIAMI BEACH
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BOARD OR COMMITTEE NAME:
TRANSPORTATION, PARKING & BICYCLE PEDESTRIAN
FACILITIES COMMITTEE
CHAIRPERSON:
EVA DIAS & PETER MATOS
CITY LIAISON:
JOSE R. GONZALEZ & WILLIAM MACDONALD
NUMBER OF MEETINGS HELD:
SIX (6) JAN – JUN 2025
ACTIVITY:
January 13, 2025:
o 2025 Chair/Co-Chair Nominations
o Install Speed Tables on Meridian Ave between 42nd – 47th Streets.
o Street Co-Naming – 17th Street.
o Bulb Out Removal to Increase Parking Inventory.
o Pilot Program for Seniors for Public Transportation Access.
o Removal of Bicycle Lane on Collins Ave between 63rd – 75th Streets.
o Ocean Drive Pedestrian Promenade.
o Amendment changes to Right of Way Violations.
o Discussion of Converting Taxi Spaces to multi-use spaces.
o Discuss Valet Operations.
o Pedestrian Path/Bridge on the I-395.
o Update on Project Updates sent to the Committee by Transportation.
o Uniformed Parking for Non-Profit Organizations/Parking during Events at the Rowing
Center.
o Resident Petition RE: Venetian Causeway Construction.
o Crosswalk at W 25 St & Pinetree Drive; Safety Issues w/Crosswalk @ Rakow Center.
o TDM Program for Large Employers.
o Autonomous Electric Passenger Van Service Pilot Program.
o Speed Bump Installation/Finalization in South Beach.
o Update from Transportation: Bicycle Storage Facilities.
o Post-Art Basel Update.
o Gas Station Prices in Miami Beach.
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February 10, 2025:
o Resolution to Allow for 15-minute grace period prior to towing resident vehicles.
o Agreement with Pave Mobility for Parking Enforcement technology.
o Accept recommendation to eliminate superfluous bulb-outs throughout the city.
o Discuss possible proposal of mid-sized shuttle buses to transport seniors.
o Meeting with Shane Rowing Center RE: Parking Lot
o Boat Show and Food & Wine Festival – 2025 Traffic Plans
o Renaming of Beachwalk to “Beachpath”.
o Bicycle Rentals: Adding Verbiage to Rental Forms RE: Where Bikes are allowed to be
ridden.
o Art Basel: Discussion on 2024 Successes & Failures; 2025 Art Basel Traffic Plan.
o Proposal to Prohibit Recreational Transportation on the Baywalk.
o Follow up on Chair/Co-Chair Election
o E. Porcelli’s term is expiring after 6 years.
o J. Squire discussed reopening of Ocean Dr. & shared his feelings of TPBPFC.
o Ensuring LTC’s are seen by the Commissioners and to consider the urgency of the
contents.
o Rideshare and Delivery Services parking in the middle of the street.
o Reversible turn lane on 41st Street.
o Blue Zone Infrastructure Session.
March 10, 2025:
o Chair & Co-Chair Election
o Residential Text Message Warning System for Towing.
o Pave Mobility Pilot Program for Cameras at Municipal Lots.
o LUSC Recommendation: Reversable Lane on 41st St.
o FERC Recommendation: Discuss possibility of Inter-Local Agreement for Trolley
Service into N. Bay Village.
o Bicycle Lane Expansion.
o Removal of Bulb-Outs throughout the City.
o Art Basel 2025: Discussion of TPBPFC Ideas and Suggestions.
o Creation of TPBPFC Code of Conduct Agreement
o 73rd St – Lack of Bicycle Storage.
o 72nd St – Deteriorating Road Conditions.
o TPBPFC Nominations: Committee Member Appointment/Approval for 2025
o E-Mobility Solutions: Storage & Charging Hubs @ Key Locations.
o Monthly Follow Up on TPBPFC Recommendations to Transportation & Parking.
o Dedicated Spaces & Discounted Parking for Golf Carts (Residents Only).
o Idea: Bicycle Path Stop Light
o Signs on Beachwalk.
o LTC Process
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April 14, 2025:
o Naming 17 St. as Norman Brahman Way.
o Installation of Speed Tables for 47th St. between Prairie Ave. & Pine Tree Dr.
o Interlocal Agreement w/N. Bay Village for extended Trolley Service.
o PAVE Mobility Pilot Program: Parking Lot Camera/Enforcement System.
o New Parking Dept. Director William MacDonald.
o Dedicated Spaces & Discounted Parking for Golf Carts (Residents Only).
o TPBPFC Code of Conduct Agreement.
o Update on the Bicycle Pedestrian Plan to Category: Fill the Gaps.
o Spring Break 2025: Parking & Pedestrian Concerns.
o March 2025 Rainstorm: Parking & Pedestrian Impacts.
o Locations in Need of Bike Racks.
o Update: Member Item Tracker/Spreadsheet.
o Beachwalk Renaming to “Beachpath.”
o Bike Path on 72nd St.
o E-Mobility Charging Stations – Does Blink provide this?
o Art Week/Basel 2025 Traffic Plan.
o Shane Rowing Center Parking Lot.
o Concerns with Trolley Service.
o 100 New Deco e-Bikes in Circulation.
o Streamline Our Processes.
o How do we want to weigh into topics?
o Baroque Festival.
May 12, 2025:
o Introduction of New CMB Parking Director, William MacDonald
o Vision Zero Action Plan.
o Renaming 28th St.
o “Text-to-Tow" 15-Min. Resident Warning System Registration.
o Curb Color-Coding & Signage Pilot Program.
o Focus Group on Parking Signage.
o Discussion: How TPBPFC Should Discuss, Track, & Move on Topics.
o Proposed Bike Paths.
o Police Escorts & PD Vehicles Parked on Beach/Sand.
o Safety Issue on 71st St. at Byron/Carlyle.
o Updates on Member Tracked Items.
o Questions for new Parking Director.
o Suggested Bike Rack Locations
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June 9, 2025:
o Orchard Park Traffic Calming.
o FDOT Resurfacing on the 6300 – 7500 Blocks of Collins.
o Approving Maintenance Memo of Agreement: Delineator Installation on Alton Rd.
approaching I-195.
o Year-Round Water Taxi Procurement.
o Pilot Program: Enhance Public Transportation Availability/Efficiency for Senior Housing
Facilities.
o Parking Holiday for Slower Months.
o Unified Valet System between 5th-15th Streets from Ocean to Washington Ave.
o Changes and Enforcement of Construction Parking Management Plan.
o Municipal Garage Equipment Upgrades.
o Hotel Employee Parking Program.
o Padel Court on a Municipal Garage/Lot.
o Pilot Program: Color Coded Freight Loading Zones.
o Suggestion: Stop Signs Installed around Rue Notredame.
o Follow-Up: Art Basel 2025: TPBPFC Ideas and Suggestions.
o Updates on Member Tracked Items.
o Installation of Bike Racks throughout the City.
o Project Updates.
o Parking App Concerns for Seniors.
o Lot P1 Parking Concerns.
o Request for Micro-Mobility Updates from Transportation.
FUTURE ACTIVITIES:
PARKING:
North Beach Civic Complex / 72nd Street Garage.
Updates on license plate recognition in garages.
Finalize negotiations and execute an agreement with FPL for the installation of Level 3
Electric Vehicle fast-charging stations in municipal parking lots and garages.
Install additional Level 2 Electric Vehicle charging stations.
Engage owners of private parking lots and garages to explore public/private partnerships to
increase parking inventory, particularly in North Beach.
Working with Deauville Developers to gain access to 150 spaces inside Deauville garage.
Deploy automated parking management and enforcement solutions in municipal parking lots
and garages to streamline enforcement, increase detection of violations, and better allocate
staff resources.
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PARKING (Cont’d):
Explore curb management optimization technologies and strategies to efficiently manage
and effectively enforce the high demand for the City’s limited curb space in commercial
areas.
Establish partnerships with freight purveyors to evaluate and create additional freight loading
zones in the City that meet the needs of the industry while addressing neighborhood quality
of life.
Purchase additional mobile License Plante Recognition (LPR) devices to improve the
efficiency of parking enforcement operations.
Exploring unified valet options for Ocean Drive, Washinton Avenue and 41st street.
Updating our current CPMP violation fines.
Establish a Parking Holiday to provide $1 parking.
Explore cashless options at all city garages.
Install additional CitiBike stations.
TRANSPORTATION:
Procure and launch the “next generation” citywide municipal transit circulator service.
Launch a water taxi service providing a cross-bay connection between Miami Beach and
Downtown Miami, and serving North, Mid, and South Beach.
Construction/operation/maintenance of new bus shelters with “next bus” real-time ETA
devices throughout the City.
Implementation of the Intelligent Transportation System and Smart Parking System Project
to improve traffic flow, enhance parking availability, improve incident response,
communicate incidents affecting traffic to the motoring public, and more efficiently manage
congestion in real time.
Further development and implementation of pedestrian improvements consistent with the
Adopted Modal Prioritization Resolution and adopted 2016 Transportation Master Plan
including implementation of pedestrian priority zones, exclusive pedestrian phases at
signalized intersections, and LED pedestrian flashing beacons at crosswalks.
Further development and build-out of a citywide bicycle network, including projects
recommended in the Adopted Transportation Master Plan and Bicycle-Pedestrian Master
Plan (e.g.: painting green bike lanes,
Installing bicycle corrals and bicycle parking at parking garages and street ends, installing
bike repair stations, and implementing parking-protected and buffered bike lanes,
neighborhood greenways, complete streets, and shared-use off-road paths).
Consistent with the Miami-Dade County Strategic Miami Area Rapid Transit (SMART) Plan,
implementation of regional mass transit solutions including the Beach Express Bus Express
Rapid Transit (BERT) projects using the shoulders of the Julia Tuttle and MacArthur
Causeways (i.e.: Beach Express North BERT, Beach Express Central BERT, and Beach
Express South BERT).
Consistent with the Adopted Miami-Dade County SMART Plan, continue to work with Miami-
Dade County and the community to advance the locally preferred alternative for the Beach
Corridor Rapid Transit Project which proposes an elevated rapid transit connection across
the MacArthur Causeway connecting Miami Beach, Downtown Miami, Midtown Miami, and
Design District.
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TRANSPORTATION:
Planning and development of mobility hubs and intercept parking garages in South Beach,
Mid-Beach, and North Beach to improve the convenience of multimodal transfers and
promote the use of alternative forms of transportation.
Launch micro-mobility, bicycle, and pedestrian safety campaigns in collaboration with
Communications and Police Departments.
Continue the implementation of traffic signal retiming efforts to improve traffic flow along
major thoroughfares citywide while balancing the safety and convenience needs of
pedestrians.
Continue exploring partnerships and sponsorship opportunities for pilot/demonstration
projects in the City advancing autonomous vehicle technology, including autonomous mass
transit shuttles.
Continue collaborating with Miami-Dade County to implement the Advanced Traffic
Management System (ATMS) project along the City’s major thoroughfares.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
February 10, 2025:
Renaming of Beachwalk to “Beachpath”
Motion Passed: The TPBPFC passed a motion recommending that the City Commission
consider renaming the Beachwalk to “Beachpath.” (LTC #087-2025)
Chair & Co-Chair Nominations
The TPBPFC finalized nominations for Chair & Co-Chair. Elections to be held during the
March 2025 TPBPFC Meeting.
March 10, 2025:
Chair & Co-Chair Elections
The TPBPFC has elected P. Matos as Chair; L. Kolko will remain as Co-Chair
April 8, 2024:
Election of Chair & Vice Chair
TPBPFC unanimously voted for Eva Dias as Chair & Linda Kolko to resume as Vice Chair.
May 13, 2024:
Opposition to the Reinstitution of Residential Parking Decals
The TPBPFC passed a motion in opposition to changing residential permits for a return to a
residential permit decal format. If the Commission moves to require decals, a more
streamlined procedure that includes an automated solution should be in place for residents
to validate residential parking permits to allow greater ease for residents. (LTC #246-2024)
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BOARD OR COMMITTEE NAME:
Miami Beach Visitor and Convention Authority
CHAIRPERSON:
Margaret Peggy Benua
CITY LIAISON:
Grisette Roque Marcos
NUMBER OF MEETINGS HELD:
4
ACTIVITY:
January 31, 2025:
The December 12, 2024 meeting minutes were approved. Motion by Mr. Neary to approve the
December 12, 2024 meeting minutes. Seconded by Ms. Rice. Motion passes unanimously.
An update on the 2024/2025 budget was provided to the Board.
A list of upcoming grant applicants was provided to the Board.
The City of Miami Beach updated the Board on the No Vacancy, Miami Beach 2025 project and
their desire to add 2 more artists and properties at an additional $10,000 each. Motion by Mr. Neary
to allow the City of Miami Beach to request for additional $10,000 for No Vacancy grant for 2025.
Seconded by Mr. Haas. Motion passes unanimously.
The MBVCA’s Public Relations firm, Private Label Marketing, LLC, provided an end of year recap
and presented the Board with the Stylish Stay on Miami Beach Destination Campaign
recommendation, in the amount of $85,000. Motion by Mr. Neary to accept the $85,000 proposal.
Seconded by Ms. Benua. Motion passes unanimously.
March 10, 2025:
The January 31, 2025 meeting minutes were approved. Motion by Mr. Haas to approve the January
31, 2025 meeting minutes. Seconded by Ms. Rice. Motion passes unanimously.
An update on the 2024/2025 budget was provided to the Board.
A list of upcoming grant applicants was provided to the Board.
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The Board was presented with the proposed changes for the 2025/2026 Tourism Advancement
Program. Motion by Mr. Haas to approve the 2025/2026 Tourism Advancement Program changes.
Seconded by Ms. Rice. Motion passes unanimously.
April 28, 2025:
The March 10, 2025 meeting minutes were approved by the Board. Motion by Mr. Haas to approve
the March 10, 2025 meeting minutes. Seconded by Mr. Koka. Motion passes unanimously.
An update on the 2024/2025 budget was provided to the Board.
A list of upcoming grant applicants was provided to the Board.
A grant in the amount of $31,500 was awarded to The Miami Takeover for the 17th Annual Miami
Takeover. Motion by Ms. Rice to grant $31,500 for the 17th Annual Miami Takeover. Seconded by
Mr. Neary. Motion passes unanimously.
A grant in the amount of $45,000 was awarded to ABF Ventures, LLC for the American Black Film
Festival. Motion by Mr. Haas to grant $45,000 for the American Black Film Festival. Seconded by
Mr. Koka. Motion passes unanimously.
A grant in the amount of $45,000 was awarded to Zebra3 Productions for the Miami Vice Annual
Reunion. Motion by Mr. Neary to grant $45,000 for the Miami Vice Annual Reunion. Seconded by
Mr. Haas. Motion passes unanimously.
A grant in the amount of $57,000 was awarded to Miami Music Festival, Inc. for the Miami Beach
Classical Music Festival. Motion by Mr. Haas to grant $57,000 for the Miami Beach Classical Music
Festival. Seconded by Mr. Neary. Motion passes unanimously.
A request by the City of Miami Beach to further increase the number of properties and artists
participating in the 2025 No Vacancy project, increasing both to 15, was reviewed. Motion by Ms.
Rice to add $20,000 to the budget request for No Vacancy as part of the FY 2025/2026 budget.
Seconded by Mr. Haas. Motion passes unanimously.
The MBVCA’s Public Relations firm, Private Label Marketing, LLC, provided the Board with a
summer continuation recommendation proposal. Motion by Mr. Neary to grant $60,000 for the PLM
proposal to include Luxe Getaway magazine, Swanky Retreats magazine, and Stylish Summer
media and content creator experiences as presented, of which $15,000 is set aside to refine the
Jess Sims collaboration strategy at a later date. Seconded by Mr. Haas. Motion passes
unanimously.
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The Board was provided with a proposal to develop the Experience Miami Beach website. Motion
by Ms. Rice to approve $19,575 for the development of the Experience Miami Beach website.
Seconded by Mr. Neary. Motion passes unanimously.
May 29, 2025:
The April 28, 2025 meeting minutes were approved. Motion by Mr. Neary to approve the April 28,
2025 meeting minutes. Seconded by Mr. Gonzalez. Motion passes unanimously.
An update on the 2024/2025 budget was provided to the Board.
A list of upcoming grant applicants was provided to the Board.
The MBVCA’s Public Relations firm, Private Label Marketing, LLC, provided the Board with a
Honeymoon on Miami Beach campaign proposal. Motion by Mr. Gonzalez to fund $45,000 towards
the “Honeymoon on Miami Beach” campaign. Seconded by Mr. Koka. Motion passes unanimously.
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FUTURE ACTIVITIES:
The next MBVCA Board meeting is scheduled to take place Wednesday, July 30, 2025 at 10:30
am via Zoom.
MIAMI BEACH
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ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
January 31, 2025:
The December 12, 2024 meeting minutes were approved.
An update on the 2024/2025 budget was provided to the Board.
A list of upcoming grant applicants was provided to the Board.
The City of Miami Beach approved an additional request to be made to the Board for the 2025/2026
grant cycle in the amount of $10,000 for No Vacancy.
The Board approved the Stylish Stay on Miami Beach Destination Campaign in the amount of
$85,000.
March 10, 2025:
The January 31, 2025 meeting minutes were approved.
An update on the 2024/2025 budget was provided to the Board.
A list of upcoming grant applicants was provided to the Board.
The Board approved the 2025/2026 Tourism Advancement Program changes.
April 28, 2025:
The March 10, 2025 meeting minutes were approved by the Board.
An update on the 2024/2025 budget was provided to the Board.
A list of upcoming grant applicants was provided to the Board.
MIAMI BEACH
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A grant in the amount of $31,500 was awarded to The Miami Takeover for the 17th Annual Miami
Takeover.
A grant in the amount of $45,000 was awarded to ABF Ventures, LLC for the American Black Film
Festival.
A grant in the amount of $45,000 was awarded to Zebra3 Productions for the Miami Vice Annual
Reunion.
A grant in the amount of $57,000 was awarded to Miami Music Festival, Inc. for the Miami Beach
Classical Music Festival.
A request by the City of Miami Beach to further increase the number of properties and artists
participating in the 2025 No Vacancy project, increasing both to 15, was reviewed and approved in
the amount of $20,000.
The MBVCA approved a PR Summer continuation recommendation proposal in the amount of
$60,000, of which $15,000 is set aside to refine the Jess Sims collaboration strategy at a later date.
The Board approved a proposal in the amount of $19,575 for the development of the Experience
Miami Beach website.
May 29, 2025:
The April 28, 2025 meeting minutes were approved. Motion by Mr. Neary to approve the April 28,
2025 meeting minutes. Seconded by Mr. Gonzalez. Motion passes unanimously.
An update on the 2024/2025 budget was provided to the Board.
A list of upcoming grant applicants was provided to the Board.
The Board approved the Honeymoon on Miami Beach campaign proposal in the amount of $45,000.
MIAMI BEACH
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BOARD OR COMMITTEE NAME:
Youth Commission
CHAIRPERSON:
Aubrey Rosenhaus
CITY LIAISON:
Dr. Leslie Rosenfeld
NUMBER OF MEETINGS HELD:
Five
ACTIVITY:
- The Youth Commission Board held five meetings, one per month from January to May
2025. Throughout these meeting we have passed motions and made great progress in our
new and existing initiatives which I have detailed below about. Additionally, our Board had
the opportunity to participate in two events through the City of Miami Beach and a few
members were able to attend a conference for Florida Youth Commissions in Tallahassee,
all of which I’ve described in detail below.
- One member, Aubrey Rosenhaus, attended the Miami Swim Week Internship Opportunity
on June 1st representing the Board and learning more about the city’s involvement in the
Miami Swim Week Partnership
- Three Members, Aubrey Rosenhaus, Penelope Heller, and Maglio Salinas attended the
Florida League of Cities Youth Council Legislative Action Days in Tallahassee with Dr.
Rosenfeld on March 24th-26th where they partook in workshops, meeting with legislative
officials, and gained valuable advice on how to navigate conflict for the purpose of
becoming better Youth Commission Board Members.
- Throughout the past six months as a Board, we have met with the MB Communications
department and wrote a paragraph as well as submitted a board photo which were
included in the May 2025 city newsletter to help spread awareness of this board within the
city.
- At our March meeting we virtually met with Michelle Bono to discuss topics important to us
as Youth Commissioners to help tailor her presentation at the FLC Youth Council
Legislative Action Days program.
- At our March meeting we passed a motion regarding the text and design of the Positive
Affirmation project at Bayshore Park which is an initiative that was started without any
outside influence from the Youth Commission Board. This motion was later passed by the
Commission. At the same meeting we passed a motion that urged the Commissioners to
investigate different composting initiatives to help with our environment.
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FUTURE ACTIVITIES:
- Exploring the possibilities of creating first aid training programs for youth across Miami
Beach.
- Continue to oversee the implementation and design of the Bayshore Park Positive
Affirmation Signage Initiative.
- Elect a new Chair and Co-Chair for the 2025-2026 Board.
- Explore ways to improve transportation for youth in Miami Beach.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
- On May 28th Commissioner Kirsten Rosen Gonzalz recognized all members of the 2024-
2025 Youth Commission at the Presentations and Awards Ceremony for our service and
dedication to the board throughout our terms.
- Passing two motions for commission, one of which (the motion regarding the positive
affirmation text and design in Bayshore Park) got passed by the Commission Board.
- Having an article about our accomplishments as a Board in the May Miami Beach Newsletter,
which is something our Board hasn’t done in at least three years.
- Attending a FLC Youth Council Event for the first time in at least three years with three Board
members.
MIAMI BEACH
MIAMI BEACH
MIAMI BEACH
BOARD AND COMMITTEES THAT DID NOT SUBMIT A BI-ANNUAL
REPORT FOR JANUARY – JUNE 2025
Ad Hoc City Lighting Plan Advisory Committee
Ad Hoc City Sanitation Advisory Committee
Ad Hoc South Shore Community Center Advisory Committee
Design Review Board
Historic Preservation Board
Marine and Waterfront Protection Authority
Next Generation Council