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HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution 2025-34017 2025-34017 RESOLUTION NO. A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, URGING THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS (COMMONLY KNOWN AS THE "MORMON CHURCH") TO RECONSIDER THE PLANNED DEMOLITION OF ITS BEAUTIFUL AND BELOVED CHAPEL LOCATED AT 6950 INDIAN CREEK DRIVE IN NORTH BEACH, IN LIGHT OF THE AREA'S INFRASTRUCTURE, FLOODING, AND ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES AND TO RESTORE AND REOPEN THE BUILDING FOR WORSHIP AND COMMUNITY BENEFIT; AND DIRECTING THE CITY CLERK TO TRANSMIT A CERTIFIED COPY OF THIS RESOLUTION TO PRESIDENT DALLIN H. OAKS, PRESIDING BISHOP GERALD CAUSSE, AND ELDER CRAIG C. CHRISTENSEN. WHEREAS, the City of Miami Beach has long been home to diverse faith communities that enrich the cultural, spiritual, and civic life of its residents; and WHEREAS, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints chapel located at 6950 Indian Creek Drive has stood for over two decades as a visually distinctive and architecturally significant house of worship in North Beach; and WHEREAS, the chapel has served not only as a place of spiritual gathering for members of the LDS faith, but also as a serene and admired landmark along the Indian Creek corridor, appreciated by residents and visitors alike; and WHEREAS, recent reports indicate that the chapel has been fenced off, boarded up, and posted for demolition prompting concern among community members who view the building as a landmark and symbol of stability and spiritual presence in a rapidly changing part of the City; and WHEREAS, the proposed demolition and potential redevelopment of the site into another ultra-luxury glass tower raises serious concerns about the cumulative impact of overdevelopment on North Beach, where public infrastructure is already overburdened and strained; and WHEREAS, the surrounding area has experienced frequent flooding, roadway failures, and repeated sewage overflows into Biscayne Bay—conditions that are worsened by increased density and inadequate stormwater and wastewater capacity; and WHEREAS, these chronic infrastructure challenges—from burst pipes to congested roads—are expected to worsen with the ongoing construction of multiple large-scale residential towers in North Beach, placing even greater pressure on an already failing system; and WHEREAS, the City respects the rights of property owners, including religious institutions, but also believes that faith-based organizations have a unique role in promoting stewardship, community service, and the preservation of spaces that foster spiritual and social connection; and WHEREAS, the LDS faith emphasizes service, compassion, and moral living grounded in the teachings of Jesus Christ, and is renowned for its humanitarian work, family-centered mission, and community outreach—principles that align with maintaining a place of worship that serves both its congretation and the broader community; and WHEREAS, in these turbulent times marked by division, violence, and a decline in faith- based community spaces, our city and our nation need more churches, not fewer, more than ever; and WHEREAS, the loss of this beloved chapel would not only represent the demolition of a building, but the closing of a door on a faith community that has long embodied the very values of charity, humility, and service that our City desperately needs; and WHEREAS, while the ultimate decision rests with the Church, , the Mayor and City Commission of the City of Miami Beach respectfully urge its leaders to reconsider the demolition, and instead explore opportunities to preserve this sacred structure, and to renew their mission in Miami Beach by reopening the chapel for worship and community use. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT DULY RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, that the Mayor and City Commission hereby urges the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to reconsider the planned demolition of its beautiful and beloved chapel at 6950 Indian Creek Drive, in light of the area's infrastructure, flooding, and environmental challenges and to restore and reopen the building for worship and community benefit; and that the City Clerk is directed to transmit a certified copy of this Resolution to President Dallin H. Oaks, Presiding Bishop Gerald Causse, and Elder Craig C. Christensen. a '1 day DeCE r+tid c,+ti/ PASSED AND ADOPTED this of , 2025. ATTEST: DEC 1 9 2025 teven Meiner, Mayor Rafael E. Granado, City Clerk (Sponsored by Commissioner David Suarez) = / : IIKOR ORATED4.01 Co-Sponsored by Commissioner Alex J. Fernandez eH 2G=.'� APPROVED AS TO FORM & LANGUAGE &FOR EXECUTION 62) Le) Zo i zo2 - City Attorney Date 2 MAMI BEACH City of Miami Beach, 1/00 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach,Florida 33139,www.miamibeachfl.gov Office of the City Clerk Tel:305-673-741 1 December 19, 2025 President Dallin H. Oaks The First Presidency 47 East South Temple Salt Lake City, UT 84111 Dear President Oaks, Attached please find a copy of City of Miami Beach Resolution No. 2025-34017: A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, URGING THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS (COMMONLY KNOWN AS THE"MORMON CHURCH") TO RECONSIDER THE PLANNED DEMOLITION OF ITS BEAUTIFUL AND BELOVED CHAPEL LOCATED AT 6950 INDIAN CREEK DRIVE IN NORTH BEACH, IN LIGHT OF THE AREA'S INFRASTRUCTURE, FLOODING, AND ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES AND TO RESTORE AND REOPEN THE BUILDING FOR WORSHIP AND COMMUNITY BENEFIT; AND DIRECTING THE CITY CLERK TO TRANSMIT A CERTIFIED COPY OF THIS RESOLUTION TO PRESIDENT DALLIN H. OAKS, PRESIDING BISHOP GERALD CAUSSE, AND ELDER CRAIG C. CHRISTENSEN. (Sponsored by Commissioner David Suarez and Co-Sponsored by Commissioner Alex J. Fernandez) This Resolution was passed and adopted by the Mayor and City Commission of the City of Miami Beach on December 17, 2025. Respectfully Ra el E. Granado City Clerk c: Commissioner David Suarez Commissioner Alex J. Fernandez MAMI BEACH City of Miami Beach, 1700 Convention Center Drive,Miami Beach, Florida 33139,www.miamibeachfl.gov Office of the City Clerk Tel:305-673-741 1 December 19, 2025 Elder Craig C. Christensen The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 50 East North Temple Salt Lake City, UT 84150 Dear Elder Christensen, Attached please find a copy of City of Miami Beach Resolution No. 2025-34017: A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, URGING THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS (COMMONLY KNOWN AS THE"MORMON CHURCH") TO RECONSIDER THE PLANNED DEMOLITION OF ITS BEAUTIFUL AND BELOVED CHAPEL LOCATED AT 6950 INDIAN CREEK DRIVE IN NORTH BEACH, IN LIGHT OF THE AREA'S INFRASTRUCTURE, FLOODING, AND ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES AND TO RESTORE AND REOPEN THE BUILDING FOR WORSHIP AND COMMUNITY BENEFIT; AND DIRECTING THE CITY CLERK TO TRANSMIT A CERTIFIED COPY OF THIS RESOLUTION TO PRESIDENT DALLIN H. OAKS, PRESIDING BISHOP GERALD CAUSSE, AND ELDER CRAIG C. CHRISTENSEN. (Sponsored by Commissioner David Suarez and Co-Sponsored by Commissioner Alex J. Fernandez) This Resolution was passed and adopted by the Mayor and City Commission of the City of Miami Beach on December 17, 2025. Respectfully, Rafael E. ranado City Clerk c: Commissioner David Suarez Commissioner Alex J. Fernandez MIAMI BEACH City of Miami Beach, 1700 Convention Center Drive,Miami Beach, Florida 33139,www.miamibeachfl.gov Office of the City Clerk Tel:305-673-741 1 December 19, 2025 Bishop Gerald Causse The First Presidency and Council of the Twelve Apostles 150 East North Temple Salt Lake City, UT 84150 Dear Bishop Causse, Attached please find a copy of City of Miami Beach Resolution No. 2025-34017: A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, URGING THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS (COMMONLY KNOWN AS THE"MORMON CHURCH") TO RECONSIDER THE PLANNED DEMOLITION OF ITS BEAUTIFUL AND BELOVED CHAPEL LOCATED AT 6950 INDIAN CREEK DRIVE IN NORTH BEACH, IN LIGHT OF THE AREA'S INFRASTRUCTURE, FLOODING, AND ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES AND TO RESTORE AND REOPEN THE BUILDING FOR WORSHIP AND COMMUNITY BENEFIT; AND DIRECTING THE CITY CLERK TO TRANSMIT A CERTIFIED COPY OF THIS RESOLUTION TO PRESIDENT DALLIN H. OAKS, PRESIDING BISHOP GERALD CAUSSE, AND ELDER CRAIG C. CHRISTENSEN. (Sponsored by Commissioner David Suarez and Co-Sponsored by Commissioner Alex J. Fernandez) This Resolution was passed and adopted by the Mayor and City Commission of the City of Miami Beach on December 17, 2025. Respectfully Rafael E. Granado City Clerk c: Commissioner David Suarez Commissioner Alex J. Fernandez Resolutions - C7 BE MIAMI BEACH COMMISSION MEMORANDUM TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Commission FROM: City Attorney Ricardo J. Dopico DATE: December 17, 2025 TITLE: A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, URGING THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS (COMMONLY KNOWN AS THE "MORMON CHURCH") TO RECONSIDER THE PLANNED DEMOLITION OF ITS BEAUTIFUL AND BELOVED CHAPEL LOCATED AT 6950 INDIAN CREEK DRIVE IN NORTH BEACH, IN LIGHT OF THE AREA'S INFRASTRUCTURE, FLOODING, AND ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES AND TO RESTORE AND REOPEN THE BUILDING FOR WORSHIP AND COMMUNITY BENEFIT: AND DIRECTING THE CITY CLERK TO TRANSMIT A CERTIFIED COPY OF THIS RESOLUTION TO PRESIDENT DALLIN H. OAKS, PRESIDING BISHOP GERALD CAUSSE, AND ELDER CRAIG C. CHRISTENSEN. RECOMMENDATION BACKGROUND/HISTORY ANALYSIS The attached Resolution was prepared at the request of the sponsor, Commissioner David Suarez. FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT N/A Does this Ordinance require a Business Impact Estimate? (FOR ORDINANCES ONLY) If applicable, the Business Impact Estimate (BIE) was published on: See BIE at: https://www.miamibeachfl.gov/city-hall/city-clerk/meetinq-notices/ FINANCIAL INFORMATION CONCLUSION 2004 of 3458 Applicable Area Citywide Is this a "Residents Right to Know" item, Is this item related to a G.O. Bond pursuant to City Code Section 2-17? Project? No No Was this Agenda Item initially requested by a lobbyist which, as defined in Code Sec. 2-481, includes a principal engaged in lobbying? No If so, specify the name of lobbyist(s) and principal(s): Department City Attorney Sponsor(s1 Commissioner David Suarez Co-sponsor(s) Commissioner Alex Fernandez Condensed Title Urge Leaders of Mormon Church to Reconsider Demolition of its Chapel at 6950 Indian Creek Dr. (Suarez/Fernandez) CA Previous Action (For City Clerk Use Only) 2005 of 3458