C7E-Accept Recommendation Place A Plaque Honoring Rose Weiss Near City HallCOMMISSION ITEM SUMMARY
Condensed Title:
A resolution accepting the recommendation of the Neighborhood/Community Affairs Committee
(NCAC) at its December 17, 2012 meeting to place a plaque honoring Rose Weiss near the flag
pole located on at the north side entrance to City Hall.
Key Intended Outcome Supported:
N/A
Supporting Data (Surveys, Environmental Scan, etc.):
N/A
Item Summary/Recommendation:
A request to reinstall a plaque honoring Rose Weiss in Washington Park was made by a resident
on May 8, 2012. It was stated that Washington Avenue Park was named after Rose Weiss and
that a bronze plaque was placed on the recreation building located in the park but at some point
was removed and never replaced.
The Administration researched the matter and found that the City Commission adopted
Resolution No. 75-14749 on June 18, 1975, renaming the City's Friendship Corner No.2, located
at Second Street and Washington Avenue, "Rose Weiss Park" in honor of Mrs. Rose Weiss.
Additional research found a photo-copy of photograph taken of the Weiss family in September of
1975 dedicating Rose Weiss Park located at the NE corner of Washington Avenue and 2nd
Avenue, called the Friendship Corner on building that has since been demolished by the City.
In speaking with the Weiss family spokesperson the City explained that a plaque in Ms. Weiss'
honor could be reinstalled in the Washington Avenue Park, which had since been reconstructed
as the Washington Avenue dog park. However, if the family wanted to have the plaque placed in
an alternate location, then it would have to follow the code-required process. The family
spokesman stated the Weiss family would like to see a plaque in honor of Rose Weiss at City
Hall.
The request to refer a discussion related to the placement of a plaque honoring Rose Weiss to
the Neighborhood/Community Affairs Committee was made at the July 18, 2012 Commission
meeting. The issue was subsequently discussed at the NCAC meeting on December 17, 2012.
Following the discussion by the Committee a motion was made and approved recommending a
plaque honoring Rose Weiss be placed by the City Hall flag pole.
The Administration recommends adopting this Resolution.
Advisory Board Recommendation:
Financial Information:
Source of Amount
Funds: 1
I I
2
3
OBPI Total
Financial Impact Summary:
City Clerk's Office Legislative Tracking:
n-Offs:
Department Director
MIAMI BEACH 180
Account
City Manager
KGB
AGENDA ITEM __;:;G=-l,.:_:-E_
DATE ___:::2-......:"ft;~,.L...:o/ 3~
MIAMI BEACH
City of Miami Beach, 1700 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach, Florida 33139, www.miomibeachfl.gov
COMMISSION MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor Matti Herrera Bower and Members of the City Commission
FROM, Kathie G. Brooks, Interim City Manager~~!-'
DATE: February 6, 2013
SUBJECT: A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY
OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, ACCEPTING THE RECOMMENDATION OF
THE NEIGHBORHOOD/COMMUNITY AFFAIRS COMMITTEE AT ITS
DECEMBER 17, 2012 MEETING TO PLACE A PLAQUE HONORING ROSE
WEISS NEAR THE FLAG POLE LOCATED AT THE NORTH SIDE
ENTRANCE TO CITY HALL
ADMINISTRATION RECOMMENDATION
Adopt the Resolution
KEY INTENDED OUTCOME SUPPORTED
N/A
BACKGROUND
A request to reinstall a plaque honoring Rose Weiss in the park currently known as
Washington Park, located at 2nd Street and Washington Avenue was made on May 8,
2012 by Mr. Aristotle Ares, a resident of Miami Beach and the retired Assistant Director
of the City's Public Works Department. Mr. Aries stated the Washington Avenue Park
was in fact named after Rose Weiss and that a bronze plaque was placed on the
recreation building located in the park but at some point was removed and never
replaced.
The Administration researched the matter and found that the City Commission adopted
Resolution No. 75-14749 on June 18, 1975, renaming the City's Friendship Corner No.
2, located at Second Street and Washington Avenue, "Rose Weiss Park" in honor of
Mrs. Rose Weiss. Additional research found a photo-copy of photograph taken of the
Weiss family in September of 1975 dedicating Rose Weiss Park located at the NE
corner of Washington Avenue and 2nd Avenue, called the Friendship Corner on a
building that has since been demolished by the City.
In June of 2012 Dr. Abraham D. Lavender, Professor of Sociology at Florida
International University sent an email to Ms. Lynn Bernstein of the City Administration
providing substantial background and history of Rose Weiss and the plaque honoring
her.
181
Commission Memorandum
February 6, 2013
NCAC recommendation -Placement of a plaque honoring Rose Weiss at City Hall
Page 2 of 3
There were a number email exchanges with the Administration and Professor Lavender
concerning the City Commission resolution renaming the City's Friendship Corner No. 2
after Ms. Weiss. The City explained that if it was the desire of the Weiss family, a plaque
in Ms. Weiss' honor could be reinstalled in Washington Avenue Park. It was also stated
that the park had since been reconstructed as the Washington Avenue dog park;
however, if the family wanted to have the plaque placed in an alternate location, then it
would have to follow the code-required process. Ms. Bernstein then spoke with Wolf
Feld the nephew of Rose Weiss and a former City of Miami Beach employee. Mr. Feld
said he was speaking for the family and that they were not supportive of having the
plaque in the dog park. They would like to see a plaque in honor of Rose Weiss at City
Hall.
ANALYSIS
The request to refer a discussion related to the placement of a plaque honoring Rose
Weiss to the Neighborhood/Community Affairs Committee was made by Commissioner
Jorge R. Exposito and the City Commission at the July 18, 2012 Commission meeting.
As requested the Administration prepared and submitted a memorandum for discussion
that was included in the Neighborhood/Community Affairs Committee's December 17,
2012 agenda.
Following the Administration's presentation of the issue and a discussion by the
Committee (Commissioners Exposito and Libbin present) a motion was made and
approved recommending a plaque honoring Rose Weiss be placed by the City Hall flag
pole. Please see the site layout on the following page indicating the approximate location
the plaque would be installed.
Mr. Ares was subsequently advised of the NCAC recommendation and sent the attached
letter urging the City to place the plaque at the entrance to the City Commission
Chamber.
CONCLUSION
The Administration recommends that the Mayor and Members of the City Commission
adopt the attached resolution accepting the recommendation of the
Neighborhood/Community Affairs Committee at its December 17, 2012 meeting to place
a plaque honoring Rose Weiss near the flag pole located on at the north side entrance to
City Hall.
KGB/MAS/KS
Attachment
T:\AGENDA\2013\February 6\Comm. Memo. Accepting NCAC recommendation -Plaque Honoring Rose
Weiss -City Hall.doc
182
Commission Memorandum
February 6, 2013
NCAC recommendation -Placement of a plaque honoring Rose Weiss at City Hall
Page 3 of 3
POTENTIAL LOCATION FOR ROSE WEISS PLAQUE
183
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184
RESOLUTION NO.-----
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE
CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, ACCEPTING THE
RECOMMENDATION OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD/COMMUNITY
AFFAIRS COMMITTEE AT ITS DECEMBER 17, 2012 MEETING TO
PLACE A PLAQUE HONORING ROSE WEISS NEAR THE FLAG
POLE LOCATED AT THE NORTH ENTRANCE TO CITY HALL.
WHEREAS, a written request to reinstall a plaque honoring Rose Weiss in the park
currently known as Washington Park, located at 2nd Street and Washington Avenue, was made
on May 8, 2012 by Mr. Aristotle Ares, a resident of Miami Beach and the retired Assistant
Director of the City's Public Works Department; and
WHEREAS, in his written correspondence, Mr. Ares stated that the Washington Avenue
Park was, in fact, named after Rose Weiss and that a bronze plaque was placed on the
recreation building located in the Park but, at some point, was removed and never replaced; and
WHEREAS, a referral of a discussion related to the placement of a plaque honoring
Rose Weiss to the Neighborhood/Community Affairs Committee was made by Commissioner
Jorge R. Exposito and approved by the City Commission at the July 18, 2012 Commission
meeting; and
WHEREAS, as requested, the Administration prepared and submitted a memorandum
for discussion regarding this matter that was included in the Neighborhood/Community Affairs
Committee's December 17, 2012 agenda; and
WHEREAS, following the Administration's presentation of the issue and a discussion by
the Committee, a motion was made and approved recommending a plaque honoring Rose
Weiss be placed by the City Hall flag pole. (Please see the attached Exhibit indicating the
approximate location where the plaque would be installed).
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT DULY RESOLVED THAT THE MAYOR AND CITY
COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, hereby accept the
recommendation of the Neighborhood/Community Affairs Committee at its December 17, 2012
meeting to place a plaque honoring Rose Weiss near the flag pole located at the north entrance
to City Hall.
PASSED and ADOPTED this ____ day of February, 2013.
ATTEST:
RAFAEL GRANADO, CITY CLERK
MA TTl HERRERA BOWER
MAYOR
T:\AGENDA\2013\February 6\Reso. Accepting NCAC recommendation -Plaque -Rose Weiss -City Hail.doc
APPROVED AS TO
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