HomeMy WebLinkAboutLTC 098-2026 - Monument Island Swim-Only Zone and Project UpdateMIAMI BEACH
OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
LTC# LETTER TO COMMISSION
TO:
FROM:
DATE:
SUBJECT:
Honorable Mayor Steven Meiner and Members of the City Commission
Eric Carpenter, City Manager � ��
March 11, 2026
Monument Island Swim-Only Zone and Project Update
The purpose of this Letter to Commission is to provide a comprehensive update on the design, permitting, and interagency coordination efforts associated with the Monument Island project,
including the proposed swim-only zone, in accordance with the FY 2024 capital project direction
established by Resolution No. 2023-32570. This update summarizes project background, completed milestones, regulatory feedback, and the next steps required to advance the project
toward implementation.
Flagler Monument Island (also known as Monument Island) is an uninhabited, man-made island located in Biscayne Bay, constructed in the 1920s as part of the development of Miami Beach. It
is a popular recreational destination for boaters and swimmers, accessible only by watercraft.
Over the past decade, the island has experienced increasing pressures from:
•High vessel traffic, including motorized boats anchoring close to shore;•Safety conflicts between swimmers, paddlers, and motorized vessels;•Environmental degradation, including shoreline erosion and vegetation impacts; and•Crowding and unmanaged recreation, especially during weekends and holidays.
In response to these concerns, the City and resident advisory boards have repeatedly evaluated options to improve safety and environmental protection. This includes obtaining State approval
for a no-wake/slow-speed zone around the island and resident advisory boards recommending the
establishment of a non-motorized boating zone with natural resources restoration around the island. In 2023, the City Commission adopted a resolution prioritizing FY 2024 funding for a
Monument Island restoration project, including riprap shoreline protection and regulatory approvals
for a motorized vessel exclusion zone. These actions reflect a long-standing recognition that
unmanaged vessel activity poses safety and environmental risks that require a coordinated regulatory solution.
Resolution No. 2023-32570 prioritized funding for a capital project that includes:
•Design and installation of a riprap revetment to reduce erosion and protect the island's
shoreline.•The original concept contemplated a motorized vessel exclusion zone and swim only zone.•Installation of buoys, markers, and signage required by federal, state, and county agencies
to delineate the zone.
As a result of the environmental review required by the scope, the project necessitates approvals
from multiple agencies, including but not limited to: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) (including Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserve
098-2026
staff),Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC)and Miami-Dade County
Department of Regulatory and Economic Resources (RER).
Since the issuance of the Purchase Order on September 5,2024,many crucial design and
permitting elements have been completed including topographic/hydrographic surveys,
environmental assessments (such as seagrass surveys required to be conducted in the recognized
regional growing season of June through September),conceptual design,and the preparation of
permit applications.Permit applications were submitted to regulatory agencies in August 2025 and
key comments have now been received to determine what is considered permittable.The
proposed design submitted is as follows:
Pursuant to FDEP,a swim-only zone would
qualify for a letter of consent due to the City
being the applicant while a motorized vessel
exclusion zone would require a submerged
lands lease.In further discussions with FDEP,
they indicated the State is not currently issuing
new leases within the Biscayne Bay Aquatic
Preserve thereby negating the option of a
motorized vessel exclusion zone.In parallel,
the draft City Ordinance establishing a swim-
only zone was provided to FWC (who is the first
authority in establishing waterway markers and
zones)to ensure they would be amenable to
FDEP's preferred zonation.FWC indicated the
Ordinance as proposed was appropriate and
approvable.
Therefore,based on agency feedback and the
City's project objectives,the Administration
recommends to proceed with a swim-only zone
instead of a motorized vessel exclusion zone given the regulatory challenges and the more
favorable feedback toward a swim-only zone.This approach remains consistent with the
Commission's intent to improve safety and environmental protection while increasing the likelihood
of regulatory approval.As a result,the design and permitting materials will be revised and
resubmitted to update engineering drawings to reflect the swim-only zone boundaries and marker
locations.Additionally,FWC requires that local boating safety zones be supported by a municipal
ordinance.A draft ordinance will be prepared establishing the swim-only zone,the ordinance must
be publicly noticed and brought before the City Commission for first and second reading,and upon
approval,the ordinance will be transmitted to FWC for final authorization.The Ordinance will be
placed on the City Commission agenda in Spring 2026.
The Monument Island project continues to advance through the complex regulatory process
envisioned by Resolution No.2023-32570.While agency feedback has necessitated a shift from
a motorized vessel exclusion zone to a swim-only zone,this approach remains aligned with the
City's goals of improving safety,protecting the environment,and enhancing the visitor experience
at Monument Island.The Administration will continue to update the Commission as additional
milestones are achieved.
For more information,please contact Lindsey Precht,Deputy Resilience Officer and Assistant
Director of the Environment and Sustainability Department,at LindseyPrecht@miamibeachfl.gov.
MH/AK/LP
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