TKB fire station presentationFire Station No.1
Every milestone has passed unanimously
Every benchmark requirement met...
But the goalposts keep moving.
Motion passed 7-0
•Resolution 2024-3293 directed city staff to pursue two parallel paths for the Fire Station No.1
project: (1) continue to execute the current Fire Station No.1 project at the South Shore
Community Center site and (2) continue to explore alternative sites for the new Fire Station
No.1 project.
January 31, 2024 –Directing the
Administration to explore alternative sites.
Motion passed 6-0*
•Resolution 2024-32927 directed the administration to study the possible relocation to a city-
owned site, and to work with the city attorney to determine requirements for a county-wide
voter referendum.
•Commissioner Bhatt worked with staff and residents from FPNA to evaluate 8 potential sites
including those that would require purchase, and including the current proposed site as
suggested by a resident and championed by Commissioner Fernandez.
•Commission decided to not move forward with demolition until staff return in May/June with
full evaluation of site.
*Comm. Bhatt absent
February 21, 2024 –Directing the
Administration to study the suggested sites.
Motion passed 6-0*
•Resolution 2024-32999 directed the administration to proceed with preparing language, with
Commissioner Fernandez, for the referendum that needs to be sent to the County so that they
can start the legislative process to place the Item on the August ballot.
*Comm. Bhatt absent
April 3, 2024 –Approval for advancing ballot
question language.
Motion passed 7-0
•Resolution 2024-33157 directed the administration to proceed with the relocation of the Fire
Station No.1 project to the Flamingo Park site, provided (1) the referendum is approved by a
majority of Miami-Dade County voters and (2) Construction of Fire Station No.1 at the
Flamingo Park site is approved by a majority of the City of Miami Beach voters in the aggregate
voting thereon in the referendum.
June 26, 2024 –Approval of relocation
pending voter referendum adoption.
Results of the referendum regarding construction of a fire station in Flamingo Park on Alton Road
in Miami Beach published via LTC no. 370-2024.
•The referendum passed countywide by 75.71%
•The referendum passed in Miami Beach by 71.01%, passing in
every single precinct.
•6,452 voters in Miami Beach approved this measure; are we really going to take away their
voice again?
August 28, 2024 – Voter Referendum Results
•Two factual emails sent
and opened by 41k
recipients.
•Opinion piece in Miami
Herald.
•Massive media coverage
reaching hundreds of
thousands of Miami
Beach and Miami Dade
residents.
August 28, 2024 – Concerns re: Referendum
Language?
Motion passed 7-0
•Resolution 2024-33259 directed Administration to work with the design consultant to explore
modifications to the current construction drawings for Fire Station No.1 , which was approved
for construction in Flamingo Park in the City of Miami Beach by the voters in the Miami-Dade
County in a referendum on August 20, 2024.
•Seek to do so
•without impacting/having to shift track, thereby realizing a cost savings
•without having to close track/field during construction
•without getting too close to track
•with an “open air” view corridor
September 11, 2024 –Directing Administration
to explore design modifications on Flamingo
Park site.
Motion passed 7-0
•Resolution 2024-33411 authorized the Administration to utilize funds for additional
architectural and engineering services required to redesign and relocate Fire Station No. 1 to
the proposed Flamingo Park location.
December 11, 2024 – Approving and amending
agreement with architects to redesign Fire
Station.
Reminder:
•Public safety is our primary function: building this Fire Station is a huge part of that mission.
•Fiscal responsibility is our secondary function: this Fire Station is fully funded as we move into
years of budgetary tightening. $15-30 million in potential land acquisition costs is
irresponsible even if we could find suitable properties available for sale.
•SSCC is programmed to be used, and has already started including, but not limited to:
•Enhanced neighborhood security with MBPD facility – 20-30 officers
•Senior lunch program daily – 50 seniors
•Summer camp – 57 kids
•Daycare – 66 kids year round PLUS 51 during the summer
•20-40 PAL kids daily for boxing at MBPD training unit
•Community Services offices
•Other community programming TBD
July 23, 2025 – Where are we now?
Goals accomplished:
•Referendum passed county-wide and city-wide in every single precinct.
•Track and field will not be moved to accommodate Fire Station.
•Track and field will not be closed during construction.
•Fire Station will be set back from existing chain fence.
•Track and field will not be closed during construction.
•Transparent "view corridor"incorporated into design.
•Field house will be upgraded and moved.
•Project is fully funded, including $11 million resiliency grant which may be put at risk.
Goalposts moved:
•Address loss of greenspace in park
July 23, 2025 – New issue?
July 23, 2025 – Add greenspace = net +26k sq ft
How it can be done:
•Remove northern ramp and convert into greenspace
•Extend park greenspace into southern half of 12th St. Sidewalk
•Repurpose most of underutilized parking lot adjacent to baseball field
•When Parks & Rec building is rebuilt (upcoming G.O. Bond project), incorporate parking into
design (can be done without excess height) and repurpose portion of main lot
Goal accomplished:
•Proposed Fire Station: 27,946 sq ft + relocated field house: 5,000 sq ft =total: 32,946 sq ft
•New green area: 58,900 sq ft total
•New green area gained: 25,954 sq ft
July 23, 2025 – Add greenspace +26k sq ft