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HomeMy WebLinkAboutLTC 57-2003 Vehicle Policy CITY OF MIAMI BEACH Office of the City Manager Letter to Commission No. 1J7 -doo3 to From: Mayor David Dermer and Members of the City Commission J~rge M. Gonzalez J' P-<7I'---- City Manager /' {) I , :'j CITY OF MIAMI BEACH VEHICLE POLICY Date: February 28, 2003 To: Subject: The purpose of this LTC is to advise you on the status of the City's Beach Vehicle policy. Yesterday ~fternoon, I met with City departments to assess the appropriate uses of vehicles on the beach and to review its current policies and develop a citywide policy under which all departments will be governed. While a more comprehensive policy is explored and evaluated, the City will be adopting the existing Beach Patrol policy with a few enhancements. Attached is a copy of this policy as well as the press release that has been distributed This policy will be effective immediately and will be implemented throughout the next few days to ensure that all City personnel are briefed on this new policy. The policy will remain in place until the review process is completed. As part of the review process, the City will continue to look at the operational impacts of the policy and the appropriate vehicle uses of the beach by all users. If you have any questions or need any additional information, please feel free to contact me. J MG\ri c: Executive Staff Management Team F:/CMGR/ALUL TC-03/Beach Vehicle Policy1.doc .."'.,-.---------.'" )"\ '- ~....~ .-. l.,~' ~ , / \ \;- ~ 0 11',1 ~\ :8, H \ c. \J w' , C' (\ ,. C. '-' lQ CITY OF MIAMI BEACH PRESS RELEASE For Immediate Release Date: February 28, 2003 Contact:. Nannette Rodriguez Phone: 305-673-7575 nrodriguez@miamibeachfl.aov www.miamibeachfl.aov City of Miami Beach Implements Enhanced Beach Vehicle Policy Miami Beach, FL - Miami Beach City Manager Jorge M. Gonzalez recently met with City departments to assess the appropriate uses of vehicles on the beach and to review its current policies and develop a citywide policY-'under which all departments will be governed. While a more comprehensive policy is explored and evaluated, the City will be adopting the existing Beach Patrol policy with a few enhancements. "This policy will be effective immediately and will be implemented throughout the next few days to ensure that all City personnel are briefed on this new policy, The policy will remain in place until the review process is completed," said Miami Beach City Manager Jorge M. Gonzalez. "The City Manager has taken a positive step toward ensuring that the beach remains a safe area for all who visit our beaches," said Miami Beach Mayor David Dermer. "Public safety will always remain a high priority," As part of the review process, the City will continue to look at the operational impacts of the policy and the appropriate vehicle uses of the beach by all users. -- more -- City of Miami Beach Beach Vehicle Policy Effective 3/1/03 The following interim policy pertains to the operation of vehicles on the beach by any City of Miami Beach employee. All City of Miami Beach employees are reminded that vehicles are intruderson the beach, The public are not expecting vehicles on the beach. Therefore, all operators of vehicles on the beach must utilize due care and extreme caution at all times. Safety is of paramount importance in the operation of any vehicle on the beach. Beach Patrol vehicles are the only vehicles authorized for routine operation on the beach, Police (other than direct patrol), Fire and other City department vehicles are only permitted on the beach in response to a call for service. Whenever possible, ATVs or bicycles will be utilized by personnel when responding to a call for service. All City of Miami Beach employees operating vehicles on the beach shall follow the below listed procedures at all times, · Vehicles, SUVs, and Trucks will not be used for routine patrol of the beach, ATVs and Bicycles will be the only authorized routine patrol vehicles for the beach. Vehicles, SUVs, and Trucks are prohibited from being on the beach unless they are dispatched to respond to a call for service. · Should an ATV or Bicycle Unit not be available and a City employee is required to respond for service on the beach, the following safety precautions shall be followed at all times. a Due care and caution will be utilized at all times while driving any vehicle on the beach. a All vehicles responding to a call for service on the beach shall enter and depart the beach at the nearest access point to the call. a Prior to entering the beach area, employees will turn on their vehicle headlights and overhead flashing lights (if equipped) or flashers, a Employees shall roll down both the passenger and driver's side front windows of their vehicle while operating a vehicle on the beach, a Maximum speed allowed on the beach is 15 MPH, a Vehicles, SUVs, and trucks are prohibited from driving on the soft sand where hard pack sand exists. a Vehicles, SUVs, and trucks shall stay west of the garbage cans on the hard pack at all times. a Do not drive over hills or berms or near objects that may obstruct your view. a If you stop and exit your vehicle, walk completely around the vehicle prior to entering your vehicle and moving it. a Employees shall place a traffic cone at the front and rear of their vehicle when parked on the beach, except during an emergency response, a Use of a cellular phone while the vehicle is in motion is prohibited, a Employees are prohibited from driving personal vehicles on the beach at anytime, a On-Duty Fire Division Chiefs and EMS Supervisors are authorized to inspect the hard pack during the morning hours to ensure that rescue units will be able to traverse the beach if dispatched to a call for service. · City of Miami Beach employees working authorized Special Events or off duty jobs that are required to have a vehicle on the beach will follow the above procedures at all times, These procedures are to be complied with at all times by all City staff operating a vehicle on the Beach, Failure to comply with these procedures may result in disciplinary action up to and including termination. ### Call 305-673-7575/VOICE to request material in accessible format, sign language interpreter (five days in advance), or information on access for persons with disabilities.