LTC 137-2005 Bi-Weekly Update
CITY OF MIAMI BEACH
Office of the City Manager
Letter to Commission No. 137-2005
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To:
From:
Mayor David Dermer and
Members of the City Commission
Jorge M. Gonzalez J ~ /'
City Manager ~ 0-
BI-WEEKLY UP ATE
Date: May 2b2005
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The purpose of this LTC is to provide you with an update describing some of~e 0
areas the Administration has recently been focusing on:
Major Events Plan (MEP) - Staff from throughout the City continued to meet to
finalize preparations for the busy Memorial Day holiday weekend. A detailed
report of the City's efforts was presented to the Commission at the May 18 City
Commission meeting. Staff from Police, Fire, Sanitation, Code Compliance,
Parking and a number of other departments will be available throughout the
holiday weekend to provide the necessary services to our residents and visitors.
FY 2005/06 Budget - Staff from the Office of Budget and Performance
Improvement (OBPI) and I continue to meet with representatives from all City
Departments to discuss and prepare for the FY 2005/06 budget. An update on
the budget will be presented to the Mayor and Commission at the Committee of
the Whole meeting on June 8. Staff and I will continue to focus on the FY
2005/06 budget preparations throughout the next several weeks.
Miami Beach Community Survey - Results were shared with you at the May
20 City Commission Retreat. The Mayor and I will meet with representatives
from the media on June 2 to share survey results. In addition, staff is working on
a roll-out plan to share the survey results with residents and members of the
business community and community organizations.
Film and Print - Staff from the City's Film Office and I met with representatives
from the "Miami Vice" feature film to discuss ongoing issue before the film
officially begins its production in June. The film's producer, Michael Mann, and
several production teams have been on Miami Beach filming scenes through
before the production officially starts.
Labor Relations - An Executive Session was held on May 25 to share details of
the impasse hearings between the City and the Communications Workers of
America (CWA) and discuss next steps.
Growth Management - Meetings took place with each of you individually to
discuss various growth management strategies prior to the Commission
Workshop which took place on May 25.
Emergency I Hurricane Preparedness - Staff continues to work on and update
the City's emergency I hurricane preparedness plans. A "reverse 911" call will go
out to all residents beginning on May 31 to advise of the upcoming hurricane
season and provide information on how to better prepare. In addition, two
hurricane fairs are planned to provide residents with information that will help
them prepare. The hurricane fair in South Beach will be on Sunday, June 5 on
Lincoln Road and the hurricane fair in North Beach will be on Saturday, June 11
on Normandy Circle.
Vote Miami Beach - The City's voter registration efforts continue with the Vote
Miami Beach initiative which provides discounts to all registered Miami Beach
voters at local restaurants and merchants throughout the City. Voter registration
drives will be held on the following Saturdays (June 4, July 2, August 6,
September 3, and October 1), from 1 0:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the following
locations: Sushi Siam, 647 Lincoln Road, Wild Oats, 1020 Alton Road,
Walgreens Drug Store at 41st Street & Pine Tree Drive and Walgreens Drug
Store at 67 Street & Collins Avenue.
Organizational Development - Training on our new enhanced customer service
standards continue to take place with staff from throughout the City. The goal of
the training is to ensure that all employees receive the proper training and
resources to be able to deliver outstanding customer service. Staff continues to
work with representatives from Florida International University and Miami Dade
College. to provide a greater offering of courses in the City for employees and
residents in the fall semester which begins in August. In addition, recruitment
efforts are underway for various key positions within the Administration, including
the Assistant City Manager, Building Director, Code Compliance Director and
Assistant Parking Director.
Miami International Book Fair I Miami International Film Festival -
Representatives from the Administration met with staff from Miami Dade College
which produces the Book Fair and the Film Festival to discuss ways in which the
City can further partner on these important community I cultural events and
ensure that elements of each of these events take place on Miami Beach.
North Beach Quality of Life Funds - Staff and I met with representatives from
the North Beach Development Corporation to discuss the allocation of quality of
life funds in North Beach.
Wolfsonian Museum - I met with representatives from the Wolfsonian Museum
and Florida International University (FlU) to discuss G.O. Bond related issues
that affect the museum.
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Public Safety - Staff from the Police and Fire Departments, along with Miami
Beach Senior High School and Tremont/Beach Towing, hosted the 8th annual
"Cheat the Reaper" Teen Anti-DUI Program on May 20. The purpose of this
program is to remind students about the grave consequences involved with
drinking/drug use and driving by simulating a live DUI car crash involving
teenagers that will result in death. Nearly 500 students from Miami Beach Senior
High School participated.
Parks and Recreation - Over 400 people attended the second "Movie in the
Park" on Saturday, May 21 at Flamingo Park. The film shown was Son of the
Mask, a family-friendly movie.
International Visitor Program - Staff from the City Attorney's Office and my
Office met with Miguel Landeros, Advisor to the President of the Chamber of
Deputies in Chile, on May 26 to discuss the City of Miami Beach's charter and
administrative composition. This visit was coordinated by the U.S. State
Department's International Visitor Leadership Program which brings leaders from
around the world to the U.S. to assist international governments who are
interested in learning from the U.S.
If you have any questions or need additional information, please feel free to
contact me.
F:CMGRlALUL TC05/Weekly Update/May27.doc
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