#318 Miami Beach City Hall Dedication pamphlet 10/17/1977
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DEDICATION
Monday, October 17, 1977
10:00 a.m.
Miami Beach City Hall
1700 Convention Center Drive
Miami Beach, Florida
MAYOR
Harold Rosen
COUNCILMEN
Dr. Leonard Haber Murray Meyerson
Philip Sahl Hal Spaet
Leonard O. Weinstein Dr. Simon Wikler
CITY MANAGER
Dodd A. Southern
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DEDICATION
Monday, October 17, 1977
10:00 a.m.
Miami Beach City Hall
1700 Convention Center Drive
Miami Beach, Florida
MAYOR
Harold Rosen
COUNCILMEN
Dr. Leonard Haber Murray Meyerson
Philip Sahl Hal Spaet
Leonard O. Weinstein Dr. Simon Wikler
CITY MANAGER
Dodd A. Southern
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Monday, October 17, 1977
Mayor
Harold Rosen
This is a memorable day for the City of Miami Beach. It is a memorable
day for me personally as it must be for everyone who has in one way or
another been involved in making this long-needed and desired facility a
reality. And it is a memorable day for the citizens of Miami Beach for whom
this structure was built. It brings the services together so that the citizen
may have ready -access to all the services which are his, and by bringing t~e
different departments of government together, it will provide him with
better government at less cost. The tax-paying citizen deserves the best.
He is getting that now.
As a citizen, a tax-payer, and a public official of the City of Miami Beach,
I am proud to have this beautiful City Hall serve as a symbol of good
government to our citizens and our visiting guests. It reflects the aspira-
tions and the progress of our City.
Councilman Dr. Leonard Haber
r
A City Hall represents the very core of government. Certainly the City of
Miami Beach deserves a building which in structure and in substance
measures up not only to its needs but to its potential. This is such a facility.
I am proud of it, and I am convinced the people will be as pleased with it as I
am.
Councilman Murray Meyerson
I am proud to be a participant on an occasion such as this. Our new City
Hall which we have come to dedicate here today is a building for the people.
It is also visible proof of the progress our City has made, and of our opti-
mism in the future. I am proud of it. And so are the people of this beauti-
ful City. Working together from here, and working together, we can ac-
complish much.
Councilman Philip Sahl
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CLAUDE PEPPER
14TH DISTRICT, FLORIDA
JAMES F. SOUTHERLAND
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
SEL.ECT COMMITTEE ON AGING
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CHARLOTTE DICKSON
OFFICE MANAGER
2239 RAYBURN HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING
WASHIN~TON. D.C. 20515
COM M ITTEE ON RULES
CHAIRMAN,
SUBCOMMITTEE ON HEALTH,
MAINTENANCE AND LONG-TERM CARE
DON PETIT
ELLIS VAUGHN
DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVES
JAMES A. BRENNAN
STAFF DIRECTOR
July 5, 1977
DISTRICT OFFICE:
ROOM 823 FEDERAL BuiLDING
MIAMI, FLORIDA 33030
Dear Dodd:
You know I was extremely pleased to learn that the City of
Miami Beach will be opening its new City Hall soon. I hope
my schedule will permit me to be with you all on that
wonderful occasion.
As a representative for the people of the City of Miami
,
Beach, I welcome the opportunity to note that our City Hall
has been and will continue to play a vital role in the life
of every Miami Beach resident. A City Hall cannot be appre-
ciated apart from the community in which it stands. Each and
every community needs a sound local governmental body capable
of providing and caring for its citizens. Miami Beach is no
different. This new City Hall serves as a symbol of the
city's progress, its growth. And it is the symbol of the kinds
of things the residents of Miami Beach want for themselves and
for their children: a sound, efficient, and effective form of
local government responsive to local community and individual
needs.
I encourage continued growth and expansion in Miami Beach,
and know that such development will help all of us to meet the
changes and challenges we face in improving the quality of life
for all our citizens.
I am sure the residents of this city join with in
extending my best wishes on the dedication of the City Hall -
one which I am sure will serve the city well.
Kindest regards, and
Believe me,
Mr. D. A. Southern
City Manager
City Hall
1130 Washington Avenue
Miami Beach, Florida
THIS STATIONERY PRINTED ON PAPER MADE WITH RECYCLED FIBERS
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City Hall Photos by
City of Miami Beach Photographer
Robert Berman
Greetings:
Beach.
Best wishes on the occasion of the dedication of a new City Hall for Miami
The international reputation Florida has achieved as one of the world's finest
spots for wholesome, family vacations has been due in large part to the many amenities
Miami Beach has to offer. The warm welcome extended visitors by both the weather
and people of Miami Beach is a major factor in the annual return of thousands of
vacationers.
Your new City Hall will stand as a tribute to the dedicated and diligent efforts
of the many people who have made Miami Beach "Vacationland U.S.A." Perhaps more
importantly, the City Hall will be the home of a good government which makes Miami
Beach a wonderful place in which to live.
Congratulations to the people of Miami Beach on this milestone in a very bright
history.
Sincerely,
Reubin Askew
Governor
To the City of Miami Beach:
My heartiest congratulations on the dedication of the new City Hall!
This beautiful new structure is a proud addition to the City and one which will
provide a more spacious and efficient facility from which the city government can operate.
I know the citizens of Miami Beach can look forward to many years of progress
which will be generated from this building.
Again, congratulations and best wishes.
Sincerely,
Dante B. Fascell
Member of Congress
Dear Dodd:
Although I cannot be among those in attendance at your ceremony, I wanted
to tell you how pleased I was to learn that the new City Hall is being dedicated. I realize
how long local government and concerned citizens have worked to make this building
a reality, and I am sure it will provide continued service to the residents of Miami Beach.
My best to you all on this memorable occasion.
Most cordially,
Richard (Dick) Stone
Senator
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Commemorative Issue '
7
This building is the result of many years of dedicated effort on the part of
many people. Its purpose is to bring all the departments of city govern-
ment and its services together for the convenience and comfort of the
citizen, decreasing costs so that the people of this City get the most and
the best for their tax dollars. And at the same time to create a building
of beauty compatible with our environment. I believe we have achieved
that. It is also my belief that the people who will use this facility will
also believe that we have achieved that. This is a great City, deserving
of a great City Hall. We can all be proud of it.
City Manager
D. A. Southern
This is indeed a marvelous, progressive step forward for the City of Miami
Beach. This beautiful new structure will provide, I hope, the incentive
and the motivation for the Administration and the City Council to provide
even better service to the people of Miami Beach.
Councilman Hal Spaet
I have looked forward for years to the day when the City of Miami Beach
would enjoy a City Hall that did justice to its image as a world center for
trade and tourism. In addition, because of the increased efficiency which
this new City Hall will make possible, it will mean a considerable saving
to the taxpayer. All of this is to the benefit of the citizen.
Councilman Leonard O. Weinstein
It is my hope that the new City Hall facility will result in improved
government and greater services to the people of the City of Miami Beach.
Unfortunately, it is more expensive than I thought we could afford.
Councilman Dr. Simon Wikler
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l'v1onday, October 17, 1977
That The People May Be Served
The new $5 million Miami Beach City Hall is the fulfillment of a long cherished municipal dream
that will bring together the varied City departments into one complex engineered for efficiency and
economy. Witl1in this one carefully designed structure will be brought together the necessary resources
and the required services made readily ava'llable to the public. This new City Hall was planned with the
needs of the citizen primarily in mind, and it is a facility of which its planners and dreamers as well as
its taxpayers can be justly proud.
Strategically located at 1700 Convention Center Drive, the building overlooks the refreshing expanse
of the imposing Convention Center Complex. The view is panoramic and majestic. Three times the
size of the old City Hall on Washington Avenue, the four floors of the 108,000 square foot facility also
fronts on a vista of the Theater of the Performing Arts that luxuriates before it. The new City Hall
also looks out upon a rejuvenated Lincoln Road lustily encouraged to recapture an exotic and sophisti-
cated glamour of the past.
Two glass-enclosed automatic elevators run up the outside of the central atrium, revealing breath-taking
scenes of the splendor that is in essence the magic of Miami Beach, immaculately clean, lovingly land~
scaped and freshened by the winds from the sea. Two additional elevators are enclosed centrally to facilitate
movement.
Novel in the architectural planning of the building is the main entrance which will eventually be the
third floor when it links up with the proposed pedestrian walkways of the future that are meant to link
City Hall with Lincoln Road directlYJ avoiding street crossings and traffic. It is also within immediate
reach of parking garages without the deTacing sigllt of massed cars in close proximity.
The new City Hall has been so located that it will be enhanced by the four-acre tropical park that
is to be developed on the north side of City Hall in front of the Convention Center. This park will be
sculpted to contain the serenity of its natural environment. It will contain walkways benches, and all the
features of an outdoor amphitheater, providing a refuge for relaxation and pleasure in the midst of the
meaningful activity of a busy City.
In harmony with the new City Hall a new Administration has stream-lined the various City Depart-
ments that are to occupy the structure making them as functional as the building itself. Centra Services
will be located on the ground floor, as will be the mail room, the coin room, the photographic dark room,
the. receiving .dock, ana an employee lounge that will comfortably seat 75 people, providing them with
a kitchen faCility.
MIS, Management Information Systems, with its computer center and programming room will be
on the second floor. Also on the second floor: Purchasing, Accounting, Payroll and Recreation.
The third floor has been architecturally detailed for Code Enforcement which is to include Community
Inspection and Construction Services as Divisions. Also included on this floor are Insurance
and Safety, Finance Department, En!jineering Permitting, Utility Billing, Licensing, Resort Tax,
Personnel, and the Council Chambers. A classroom has also been provided for, to be used as the needs
of the City may require.
The Offices of the City Manager, the Mayor, the Councilmen, and the City Attorney will be located on
the fourth floor. So will Public Properties, PubliC Utilities, Engineering, Planning and the Budget Division.
Citizen Services which includes the Office of Public Information is arso located on this floor. Provisions
have also been made for conference rooms on all floors except the ground floor. Training rooms are
provided for on the second and third floors.
By bringing these various departments together within one facility and within easy access of each other,
greater efficiency will be realized in all areas of public service to the benefit of the citizen. In addition, the
citizen will not only know exactly where to go for the service he needs, but will find these services readily
available and within easy reach.
The extent to which the new City Hall anticipates the future may be seen from the fact that a fifth
floor is within the plans of the structure as the City of Miami Beach not only moves ahead, but looks ahead
beyond that into the future.
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