September 10 2025 Minutes
City of Miami Beach, 1700 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach, Florida 33139, www.miamibeachfl.gov
Marine and Waterfront Protection Authority Members:
Ben Mostkoff – Appointed by Commissioner Laura Dominguez
Elaine Roden – Appointed by Commissioner Kristen Rosen Gonzalez
Julio Magrisso – Appointed by Commissioner Kristen Rosen Gonzalez
Tim Carr – Appointed by Commissioner Mark Samuelian
Amy Litos- Appointed by Commissioner Alex Fernandez
Mike Gibaldi – Appointed by Commissioner Tanya K. Bhatt
John Gardiner- Appointed by Commissioner David Suarez
Jose Frias- Appointed by Commissioner David Suarez
Chad Braver- Appointed by Commissioner Joseph Magazine
Please see (https://www.miamibeachfl.gov/city-hall/city-clerk/boards-and-committees/marine-
waterfront-protection-committee/) for video recording of Board meeting. (See 1min:21sec to 5mins:25sec) for Board member “Minute of Sunshine” comments.
The meeting of the Board of Directors was held September 9, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. via zoom and City Manager Large Conference Room. The Chairman called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. The attendees were as follows: Board Members: Chad Braver, Ben Mostkoff, Amy Littos, Julio Magrisso, Tim Carr,
Jose Frias, Mike Gibaldi, John Gardiner and Elaine Roden Absent: City Staff: Brandon McLean – Code Compliance, Liaison Sergeant Javier Fernandez – City of Miami Beach Marine Patrol Lindsey Precht – Environmental and Sustainability, Assistant Director Jason Casanova – Ocean Rescue, Chief Thais Vieira – Go Bond Program, Director Daniel Alzuri – Public Works, Assistant Director Fac & Fleet
Public: Christi LaMahieu - Surf Rider, Vice Chair Ximena Caminos – The ReefLine, Artistic Director and Founder Julietta Imperioso – The ReefLine, Project Manager Brandi Reddrick – The ReefLine, Executive Director Colin Foord – The ReefLine, Director of Science David Philips – The Reefline, Financial Consultant
Gina Chiello – The Reefline, Marine Biologist Rasheed Muslimani – The Reefline
Meeting called to order at 9:02 am by Chairman, Ben Mostkoff.
At 9:54 am following the Chair’s departure, Vice Chairman John Gardiner assumed leadership of
the meeting.
UNFINISHED/OLD BUSINESS
a. Update on Blue Water Task Force water quality with Christi LeMahieu, Vice Chair of
Surfrider Foundation and Lab Director of Blue Water Task Force
• Reviewed 2024 City of Miami Beach water quality data, noting inconsistencies and
missing sire identifications.
• Surfrider independent testing shows consistently high bacteria counts at several
locations, including:
Parkview Island
Biscayne Bay pump stations, especially around West Avenue
73rd Street and 52nd-53rd Street beach areas
• The contamination tested is enterococci, an indicator of fecal contamination. Likely
contributing factors include aging sewer infrastructure, pump discharges, and
stormwater runoff.
• Surfrider has established that contamination is significantly higher directly at pump
outflows compared to nearby waters, suggesting direct impact from discharge. By
contrast, some areas such as Sunset Harbor regularly tested clean.
• Recommendations included expanding data sharing and coordination from the
city. Consider treatment options for stormwater such as UV disinfection. Identifying
and prioritizing the top five contaminated sites for focused action and possible
escalation to the City’s Commissioners.
b. Marine Patrol update and discussion by Sergeant Javier Fernandez, City of Miami
Beach Marine Patrol
General Updates:
• Operations remain status quo. Current priorities are enforcement of the overnight
and anchoring limitations around Palm, Star, and Hibiscus Islands
• Marine Patrol is coordinating with legal on the issues of abandoned or derelict
vessels. Many boats remain unoccupied for months, making removal challenging
unless they are clearly abandoned or unoccupied. Most of these vessels are in
poor condition and are unlikely to get auctioned, as they are in bad shape and not
worth salvaging. There is also a risk of potential lawsuits if property is destroyed.
One vessel was recently removed after it dragged anchor and became a hazard;
it was later discovered that the owner was in Canada without a visa to return.
Preliminary observations indicate a decrease in anchoring since the new
regulations have been enacted, on average the number of vessels anchored city
wide have been around 120.
• Recent arrest and citations for loud noises primarily involve small vessels. Most
violators originate from the Venetian Marina rather than Miami Beach Marina. The
charters coming from the Miami Beach Marina have generally remained complaint,
possibly due to increased enforcement in recent years.
• BTR (Business Tax Receipts) compliance remains a priority; decals are pending
and expected to assist enforcement once implemented.
• Marine Patrol was first on scene during a recent sailing club accident. The
investigation, however, was carried out, since it involved a commercial vessel, it
was transferred to FWC and Coast Guard.
c. Miami Beach Ocean Rescue – Activities / Rescue / Medical Intervention by Jason
Casanova
• Reports on overall call volume continue to rise, with approximately 100,000
medical responses projected for 2025. The vast majority of incidents involve heat
exhaustion and minor injuries related to beach and boardwalk activities (e.g., ankle
injuries, bike and skateboard accidents)
• Ocean conditions have been turbulent, contributing to an increase in rescues
compared to the previous year.
• Ocean Rescue enforced restrictions with double red flags and real-time websites
updates to notify the public on high bacteria levels during beach closures.
• Four rescue jet skis are deployed across Miami Beach, positioned at key
lifeguard towers. Operators received updated training in rescue operations.
Lifeguards issue warnings to vessels or jet skis entering restricted swim areas
but do not have authority to cite violators directly.
• Expressed concern about the City’s pilot program allowing alcohol consumption
on beaches, citing risks of increased incidents and burden on rescue staff.
• Reported removal of 21 tons of sargassum in July, the largest cleanup effort in
recent years.
• Addressed the upcoming Reefline deployment, noting that additional safety
resources may be needed as the site could attract swimmers and snorkelers
offshore, outside restricted swim zones.
d. Blue Lab Preservation Society Inc/ Project Reefline Update by Ximena Caminos,
Founder and Artistic Director for Reefline
• Overview of the Reefline Project, an underwater sculpture park and artificial reef
designed to combine public art with marine habitat creation. Deployment is
planned for October 2025, pending weather conditions. Sculptures are engineered
and tested to withstand Category 5 storm conditions and fabricated using
reinforced concrete with galvanized steel. The project includes a coral lab, where
approximately 2,200 native corals are currently being cultivated for eventual out
planting on the reef structures. Located about 780 feet offshore at a depth of 20
feet. Additional reef modules are being designed to enhance habitat potential. In
addition to the car-shaped sculptures.
• This project has received international recognition, with partnerships and support
from United Nations, Prince Albert Fountation, FIFA and other. Funding sources
include the Knight Foundation, private donors, and a $5 million cultural G.O. bond
approved by Miami Beach residents.
• Coordination with Ocean Rescue will be necessary to ensure swimmer safety, as
the reef may attract increased public activity offshore.
e. Update on Monument Island, “The Health of Biscayne Bay” and Park View Canal by
Lindsey Precht, Environmental Assistant Director
• Lindsey Precht begins her update with Monument Island, noting that FTP
requested a RAI (Request for Additional Information), regarding the public
benefits of the project. She explained that the department recently submitted their
response, highlighting both public safety and environmental benefits associated
with the products. They also included a brief history on recent restorations and
filling done on the island, demonstrating erosion rate over time. In addition, grant
applications were submitted through Resilient Florida Grant Program.
• Precht gave an update on Parkview Canal saying staff provided weekly Letters
to Commission which can be accessed through the City’s website. Items in the
most recent letter included the lining of Biscayne Beach Elementary lateral sewer
lines, identified through a UM study, scheduled for completion on a weekend to
avoid school disruption. She also reported on the UV project, explaining that
initial scoping was recently completed to troubleshoot equipment issues in
preparation for future testing. A final report on project efficacy is expected by the
end of the year.
f. BTR Violation / Renewal Request Update by Brandon McLean, Code Compliance
• Brandon and the board discussed ongoing challenges with BTR compliance
among charters operators. Many continue to operate without valid BTR’s. Decals
are currently in development and expected to be distributed soon. Once
implemented they will assist with quickly identifying violators. Issues with
renewals were also noted, as some operators fail to maintain active BTRs,
resulting in illegal operations. Board members expressed concern that non-
compliant operators gain an unfair advantage over businesses that adhere to
licensing and renewal requirements. The Board emphasized the need for stricter
enforcement and the timely rollout of the decal system to ensure fairness and
improve compliance.
Open Discussion 1. Motion to approve July 8, 2025, minutes. Motion Passed unanimously Meeting adjourned at 11:59 am