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Home My WebLink AboutResolution 2025-33730RESOLUTION NO. 2025-33730 A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, ACCEPTING THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY AND NEIGHBORHOOD QUALITY OF LIFE COMMITTEE, AT ITS MAY 14, 2025 MEETING, DIRECTING THE ADMINISTRATION TO CONSIDER AS PART OF THE FISCAL YEAR 2026 BUDGET PROCESS DISCUSSING A LONG-TERM PUBLIC SAFETY PLAN FOR THE BAYWALK. WHEREAS, at the February 3, 2025, City Commission Meeting, the Mayor and City Commission approved a referral to the Public Safety and Neighborhood Quality of Life Committee ("PSNQLC") to discuss a long-term public safety plan for the Baywalk; and WHEREAS, the item was subsequently heard at the May 14, 2025 PSNQLC meeting and the Committee unanimously agreed to move the item to the full commission with a favorable recommendation to be considered as part of the FY 2026 budget process; and WHEREAS, the Administration believes that staffing the Baywalk with appropriate personnel is needed to ensure the quality of life is not affected by unwanted and illegal activity such as loitering, narcotics use, alcohol consumption, fishing, illegal boat docking, and camping; and WHEREAS, the Miami Beach Police Department (MBPD) has considered four (4) recommended options to safeguard that laws and rules are followed throughout the City of Miami Beach's Baywalk; and WHEREAS, Option 1 entails assigned police personnel, including two (2) officers working from 11:00 A.M. to 9:00 P.M. with opposite days off, patrolling the entire neighborhood with the Baywalk and all parklets on foot, bicycle, and vehicle as needed for an approximate cost of $144,504.88 ; and WHEREAS, Option 2 entails private security company engagement to patrol the Baywalk and Parklets, including two (2) security guards working the Baywalk's hours of operation, seven (7) days a week for an approximate cost of $136,247; and WHEREAS, Option 3 entails Park Ranger personnel engagement, including two (2) Park Rangers working from 11:00 A.M. to 9:00 P.M., seven (7) days a week, patrolling the Baywalk and Parklets and locking/unlocking the gates as necessary for an approximate cost of approximately $115,673; and WHEREAS, Option 4 engages with existing resources, including police, Park Ranger and Code Compliance resources to include the Baywalk in their existing roving patrols, for which a fiscal impact has not been identified; and WHEREAS, following the June 25, 2025, City Commission Meeting, the Mayor and City Commission unanimously agreed to proceed with Option 4 as the long-term public safety plan for the Baywalk; and WHEREAS, the aforementioned fiscal impact statements exclude additional costs of signage, city cameras, and lighting enhancements. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT DULY RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, accepting the recommendation of the Public Safety and Neighborhood Quality of Life Committee, at its April 9, 2025 meeting, considering the potential funding for FY 2026 to discuss a long-term public safety plan for the Baywalk. PASSED and ADOPTED this dS day of T nK 2025.� ATTEST: D `� — Steven Meiner, Mayor F8 2 0 2026 Rafael . Granado, City Clerk APPROVED AS TO FORM & LANGUAGE N 4LZ EXECUTIOL� LL Dote 10 Resolutions - C7 U MIAMI BEACH COMMISSION MEMORANDUM TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Commission FROM: Eric Carpenter, City Manager DATE: June 25. 2025 TITLE: A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, ACCEPTING THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY AND NEIGHBORHOOD QUALITY OF LIFE COMMITTEE, AT ITS MAY 14, 2025 MEETING, DIRECTING THE ADMINISTRATION TO CONSIDER AS PART OF THE FISCAL YEAR 2026 BUDGET PROCESS DISCUSSING A LONG- TERM PUBLIC SAFETY PLAN FOR THE BAYWALK. The Administration recommends enhancing security measures throughout the City of Miami Beach's Baywalk by considering a long -tens plan incorporating at least one if not a combination of the various options presented herein. The Administration recommends that while the Public Safety and Neighborhood Quality of Life Committee evaluates a Baywalk safety plan, it also carefully considers several critical factors that will significantly impact the General Fund budget, beginning in FY 2026: 1. The City's increasing unfunded capital improvement program 2. Long-term General Fund financial projections indicating a potential shortfall in upcoming fiscal years 3. The passage of Amendment 5 in November 2024, which increases the homestead exemption and further constrains the growth of taxable properly values These considerations are essential to ensure that decisions regarding the Baywalk safety plan align with the City's broader long-term financial stability and strategic priorities. If the Committee recommends funding a plan, the Administration recommends it be considered as part of the FY 2026 budget process. BACKGROUND/HISTORY At the February 3, 2025 City Commission Meeting, at the request of Commissioner Alex Fernandez and subsequently co -sponsored by Commissioner Laura Dominguez, the Mayor and City Commission approved a referral (C4 G) to the Public Safety and Neighborhood Quality of Life Committee ("PSNQLC") to discuss a long-term public safety plan for the Baywalk. The item was heard at the May 14, 2025 PSNQLC meeting and moved to the full Commission with a favorable recommendation to consider Option 1 and a hybrid option as part of the FY 2026 budget process. ANALYSIS The Miami Beach Baywalk once complete will connect with the Beachwalk to form a continuous waterfront amenity forthe use of residents and the City's many visitors. The Beachwalk runs along the Atlantic Ocean while the Baywalk will be parallel to Biscayne Bay and cover the bay's edge 851 from 5th Street through Dade Boulevard. To ensure the safety and comfort of residents and visitors alike, the Miami Beach Police Department (MBPD) has considered various options to safeguard that laws and rules are followed. The existing Baywalk hours of operation are currently from sunrise to sunset. Under the assumption that the hours of operation will remain the same throughout the entirety of the Baywalk, four (4) recommendations to consider are delineated below. Option 91 — Assigned Police Personnel Staff the affected area with beat officers. This would entail two (2) officers working from 11:00 A.M. to 9:00 P.M. with opposite days off to mirror other beat officers in different areas. Their area of responsibility (AOR) would be comprised of the entire neighborhood to include the Baywalk and all parklets. The beat officers would be expected to patrol on foot, bicycle, and vehicle as needed. With individual condo security guards and/or employees monitoring the area behind their property and call police as needed once the Baywalk closes at sunset. Currently the Baywalk has metal gates dividing each condos' property line, all of which are closed after sunset. It is recommended to keep the existing gates and add new ones to cover the rest of the property lines. Condos and/or building representatives would ultimately be responsible for locking and unlocking these gates daily. Each Parklet should have proper lighting and City cameras to monitor the area remotely 24f7. Lighting considerations by the City are also recommended for the entirety of the Baywalk. Option #2 — Security Company Engagement Engage a private security company to patrol the Baywalk and Pardets. Two (2) security guards would be needed to work while the Baywalk is open, seven (7) days a week. Option #3 — Park Ranger Personnel Engage two (2) Park Rangers seven (7) days per week from 11:00 A.M. to 9:00 P.M. The Park Rangers would be responsible for patrolling the Baywalk and parklets as well as for locking and unlocking the gates as necessary. Option #4 — Existing Resources Assign existing police, Park Ranger and Code Compliance resources to include the Baywalk in their existing roving patrols. Regardless of the options considered, staffing this area with appropriate personnel is needed to ensure the quality of life is not affected by unwanted and illegal activity. Police and private personnel assigned would be expected to take appropriate action for any loitering, narcotics use, alcohol consumption, fishing, illegal boat docking and ramping observed. Additionally, since the Baywalk is a pedestrianonly area, bicycles, scooters, skateboards, and any micromobility devices would not be allowed. Having an officer, security guard, and/or Park Ranger assigned to this area would provide an almost immediate response time, ensuring calls for service are handled in a more efficient manner and alleviating resources that would potentially have to respond from the opposite side of the zone. 852 FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT Estimated annual costs for each option are broken down as follows: • Option #1 — two (2) officers with one overlap day: $406,000 (Year One) 'Note: the previous figure provided for the cost of two (2) officers has been revised utilizing a cost estimation tool updated for the upcoming budget process. The previous figure was also not inclusive of all benefits and necessary equipment. • Option #2 — two (2) security guards daily: $136,247 • Option #3 — two (2) Park Rangers daily: $115,673 • Option #4 — no identified fiscal impact Additional costs to consider: • signage throughout the Baywalk and each parklet entrance as designed by the City to highlight hours of operation, no trespassing, and the ordinance violation (Section 70-69) City cameras throughout public spaces, with an optional but highly recommended suggestion for private property owners to install their own cameras • lighting enhancements (both public and private) CONCLUSION The Administration recommends that the Mayor and City Commission consider and provide further guidance on the proposed options to enhance security measures for the safety and enjoyment of residents and visitors to the Baywalk and surrounding areas. Applicable Area South Beach 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 If so, specify the name of lobbyist(s) and principal(s): Department Police Sponsors) Commissioner Alex Fernandez Co-suonsor(sl Commissioner Laura Dominguez Condensed Title Accept Rec, Long -Term Public Safety Plan for Baywalk. (FemandezlDominguez) PO Previous Action (For City Clerk Use Only) 853 Committee Referrals - C4 G MIAMI BEACH COMMISSION MEMORANDUM TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Commission FROM: Commissioner Alex Fernandez DATE: February 3, 2025 TITLE: REFERRAL TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY AND NEIGHBORHOOD QUALITY OF LIFE COMMITTEE TO DISCUSS A LONG-TERM PUBLIC SAFETY PLAN FOR THE BAYWALK. Please place on the February 3, 2025, City Commission agenda a referral to the Public Safety and Neighborhood Quality of Life Committee to discuss the development of a comprehensive long-term public safety plan and potential funding needs for the Baywalk. Once complete, the Baywalk will attract additional residents and visitors, making it essential that it remains a safe, welcoming environment for all. As part of this referral, the Administration should be prepared to discuss strategies for crime prevention, emergency response protocols, lighting, surveillance, and other safety measures. This should include the installation of gates to regulate access between the new 5th street pedestrian bridge and the baywalk, as well as establishing defined hours of operation for the bridge to ensure its safety during non -operational hours. In addition, the plan should indude the development and implementation of an ongoing police detail for the Baywalk. This plan should create an environment that promotes safety and peace of mind for both residents and visitors. BACKGROUND/HISTORY ANALYSIS FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT 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://w .miamibeach0.gov/city-hall/citVclerkimeeting-noticed FINANCIAL INFORMATION 854 CONCLUSION Applicable Area South Beach Is this a "Residents Right to Know" item. Is this Item related to a G.O. Bond Pursuant to City Code Section 2-17? Protect? Yes No Was this Agenda Item initially reguested by a lobbyist which, as defined in Code Sec. 2481, includes a principal engaged in lobbying? No If so, specify the name of lobbyist(s) and principal(s): Department Office of Commissioner Alex Femandez Sponsor(s) Commissioner Alex Fernandez Cosponsors) Commissioner Laura Dominguez Condensed Title Ref: PSNOLC - Baywalk Public Safety Plan. (Femandez/Dominguez) Previous Action (For City Clerk Use Only) 855