177-1999 LTC
C~.TY OF MIAMI BEACH
CITY HALL 1700 CONVENTION CENTER DRIVE MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA 33139
http:\\ci.miami-beach.fl.us
177-1999
L.T.C. No.
LETTER TO COMMISSION
August 19, 1999
TO: Mayor Neisen O. Kasdin and
Members of the City Co ission
FROM: Sergio Rodriguez
City Manager
SUBJECT: OCEAN DR!
This Letter to the Commission is to advise the Mayor and City Commission of the various issues and
initiatives by the City with regard to Ocean Drive.
BACKGROUND
Notwithstanding the resurgence of Lincoln Road and Washington Avenue, Ocean Drive continues
to be the number one destination for entertainment in Miami Beach. The number of persons visiting
Miami Beach in general and Ocean Drive in particular has increased over last year with no signs of
it slowing down.
CRIME AND ARREST STATISTICS
For the period of January to July 1999, crime statistics indicate a 9% increase in Part I crimes,
primarily attributed to increases in aggravated assaults and automobile thefts. There has been a less
than one -percent increase (.13 %) in Part II crimes. Simple assaults, attempted fraud and vandalism
to automobiles are the most prevalent Part II crimes. Arrests for Part II crimes have increased 20%.
JUVENILE GANG TASK FORCE
For the period of January to July 1999, in the South Beach area, the Police Department's Juvenile
Gang Task Force has made 63 felony and 299 misdemeanor arrests, issued 3,569 moving traffic
violation citations, issued 859 parking citations, seized ten weapons, towed 68 vehicles and
apprehended 555 juveniles for curfew violations.
Currently, there are no known organized youth gangs located in South Beach. However, South
Beach is a Mecca for youth gangs from all over Miami-Dade and neighboring counties as it is for
tourists and visitors alike. There have been 33 different youth gangs documented as frequenting
South Beach. There are Miami Beach Police juvenile gang detectives working every night of the
week in South Beach on anti-gang enforcement activities. Our Police Department is assisted by
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\ police officers from the Multi-Agency Gang Task Force (MAGTAF) on a daily basis. In addition,
the entire MAGT AF conducts sweeps of South Beach on a bimonthly basis.
RECENT POLICE INITIATIVES
The Police Department, responding to information from its officers and citizen/business complaints,
enhanced three programs in the last 30 days to address stated concerns regarding illegal vendors,
prostitution and illegal narcotics activity on Ocean Drive.
Illegal Vendors
Uniform police officers have been effecting deterrence by a uniform police presence. Three
persons have been arrested and charged with illegal vending. This is a difficult crime to
enforce due to the number of illegal vendors and the evident willingness of tourists to pay
for these services.
Prostitution
Undercover police officers have arrested and charged 61 persons with prostitution or related
violations. Forty-nine (49) were arrested in the area of Collins Ave, eight in the area of
Ocean Drive and four in the area of Washington Ave. Some of those arrested included taxi
cab drivers who are permitting prostitutes to use their cabs for illegal purposes. The Patrol
Division conducted a special undercover detail in the Collins Avenue area and over a two-
night period arrested and charged ten persons with prostitution related offenses. This includes
18 arrests over the weekend of August 13th through August 15t\ 1999. The Police
Department has recently submitted an Ordinance for the Legal Department's review that
would enable arresting officers to seize a violators automobile when used to perpetuate the
offense. This Ordinance is similar to ones used in other jurisdictions which have been
successful in curbing prostitution.
Narcotics
Undercover police officers have arrested and charged 102 persons with narcotics related
offenses on South Beach of which 38 in the area of Ocean Drive. The Police Department's
Strategic Investigation Unit continues to work undercover assignments focusing on the 10lh
street and Ocean Drive area.
POLICE STAFFING
The Police Department currently has a bicycle squad, consisting of one Sergeant and six police
officers assigned exclusively to Ocean Drive. There is one officer working during the day shift and
four officers working evenings and nights. These officers have been supplemented with a special
overtime detail in July on weekends with one supervisor and four police officers. This was reduced
to one supervisor and two police officers in August. Police staffing has not changed except for
special overtime details. Overall, the Police Department has 31 police officer positions vacant which
affect its ability to deploy more officers on Ocean Drive.
These and other issues of concern to residents, business owners and the City continue to be
addressed in a holistic fashion with all parties at regularly scheduled meetings of the Ocean Drive
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; Association and the Ocean Drive Merchants Association. One example of this was the cooperation
shown between the Police Department and operators of the All Star Cafe. The Police Department
was concerned with the large numbers of persons at this location. This meeting resulted in the All
Star Cafe agreeing to hire more off-duty police officers and additional private security to alleviate
these concerns. This is a good example of the Police Department and the business community
working together to resolve problems.
SR/RBIPS/MMS
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