LTC 082-2006 Bi-Weekly Update March 11 - 27, 2006MIAMI BEACH
OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
NO. LTC :fi: 082-2006 LETTER TO COMMISSION
TO: Mayor David Dermer and Members of the City Commission
FROM: Jorge M. Gonzalez, City Manager \ ~
DATE: March 27, 2006
SUBJECT: BI-WEEKLY UPDATE--March 11, 2006- March 27, 2006
The purpose of this LTC is to provide you with an update of issues the Administration has
recently been focusing on. In an effort to align everything we do with our Strategic Plan and
ensure we are always working toward achieving the City's Key Intended Outcomes (KIOs),
the Bi-Weekly Update will now be structured to follow the vision linkages of our Strategic
Plan.
CLEANER AND SAFER
POLICE DEPARTMENT-- On Monday, March 13th staff of the Miami Beach Police Department
attended a 2007 Super Bowl Public Safety Committee meeting at Dolphin Stadium. The
Police Department is already preparing for the many events that are scheduled to take place
around the City.
On March 13, 2006, Patrol Division staff met with representatives of the County Manager
Office regarding Miami Dade Police and Miami Dade Corrections support for the 2006
Memorial Day Weekend festivities.
Miami Beach Police Department staff also met with representatives of the City of Miami in
preparation of Black Bike Week which is scheduled for Labor Day Weekend.
On March 14, 2006, Patrol Division staff met with the CommunityAdvisory Committee for the
63~ St Rehabilitation Project in preparation for the construction start date of May 17, 2006.
On March 7, 2006 MAXIMUS, Inc. submitted the Miami Beach Police Department
Operational Staffing Optimization Models final report. The purpose of the study was to
conduct an analysis to determine the most effective personnel staffing levels, deployment,
and evaluate existing policies governing overtime, off-duty and secondary employment for
the Miami Beach Police department. On March 23rd, the Steering Committee held their final
meeting to review the report. Previous Steedng Committee meetings were held on July 7,
2005, August 17, 2005 and November 29, 2005. The Office of Budget and Performance
Improvement has already begun to work with Labor Relations and the Police Department to
implement some of the recommendations made in the report; an LTC will be forthcoming.
MEETING WITH THE RESPONSIBLE DOG OWNERS OF MIAMI BEACH--Assistant City Manager
Robert C. Middaugh met with the Responsible Dog Owners of Miami Beach in order to
discuss the dog beach access area in South Pointe Park, and to discuss a potential
cooperative relationship to address the restocking of dog bag dispensers throughout the City
as well as animal waste removal.
BEAUTIFUL AND VIBRANT, MATURE, STABLE RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY, URBAN AND HISTORIC
ENVIRONMENT
MEETING WITH THE HOTEL INDUSTRY-- On March 22, 2006, Assistant City Managers Robert
C. Middaugh and Hilda Fernandez, met with representatives of the hotel industry to review
the new Noise Ordinance, and to discuss how it would be enforced. This proactive measure
was taken in preparation for the Winter Music Conference, the first major event since the
enactment of the Noise Ordinance.
CULTURAL, ENTERTAINMENT AND TOURISM CAPITAL
BEACH PATROL - MIAMI BEACH (Evolution/Court TV) continues filming through mid-April for a
June series aidng.
The Film and Print Office participated in lobbying efforts in Tallahassee to promote
enhancing the State's Entertainment Industry Financial Incentive.
Recently reopened Colony Theater is already in full swing. March bookings included Miami
International Film Festival, Dan Froot in 'Shlammer" (part of Miami Dade College's Cultura
del Lobo Series) and Jennifer Monson's "Flight of Mind" from Tigertail Productions. The
Byron Carlyle is currently hosting the Second Annual Miami Beach Dance Festival with a
dozen events spread over two weekends.
The Winter Music Conference was held from March 22- March 28, 2006. Similar to the
Memorial Day Weekend efforts, comprehensive and coordinated planning was initiated as
part of the City's Major Events Plan. Several interdepartmental meetings were held over
several months as well as a number of external meetings with the Ocean Drive and South
Pointe associations. The Police Department, Fire Department, Parking Department,
Sanitation Division and Code Compliance Division all enhanced staffing levels in order to
manage crowds, maintain safety and quality of life standards throughout the City.
CIRQUE DU SOLEIL -- Staff and I have continued discussions with the Cirque development
team to explore and refine the proposed redevelopment of the Jackie Gleason Theater for
the Performing Arts for a permanent venue for Cirque du Soleil. As part of this effort, we
have met with the County Manager and our County Commissioners to explore possible
funding opportunities.
WELL-IMPROVED INFRASTRUCTURE
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS---The Capital Improvement Projects Office is working
diligently to complete a series of construction projects around the City. Following are some
highlights of on-going projects:
The Water and Waste Water Pump Station Upgrades project consists of 24 different
locations throughout the City where different types of improvements will be performed.
Construction is on-going throughout several locations such as Pump Stations 1, 10, 11, and
24. Pump Station 1, located on Jefferson Avenue and 11~h Street, is online with substantial
completion. Pump Stations 28, 29, 19, 18, 15, 24 and 23 are now underway. Pump Station
28 is expected to be returned to Public Works at the end of March.
Fire Station No. 2 consists of the construction of a new 3-bay Fire Station including living
quarters and the City's new Emergency Operations Center. This project includes the full
histodc restoration of the existing Fire Station Building for the use as the Fire Department
Administrative Offices. The Fire Station and Public Works Yard entrance is also being
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redesigned. The contractor has completed the first, second and third floor shell. Roof slab
for the apparatus bay is complete. Additional underground utility work is underway. The
contractor is working on interior partitions, rough electrical, plumbing and fire suppression.
63"= STREET BRIDGE REHABILITATION/INDIAN CREEK RECONSTRUCTION/FLYOVER
DEMOMTION--On May 17, 2006, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) Distdct
Six Construction Department will begin construction of two separate but related projects in
and around the intersection of State Road A1NIndian Creek Ddve and 63~d Street in the City
of Miami Beach. The combined cost of these two projects is approximately $15 million.
Work is expected to commence on May 17, 2006 and is expected to last 380 calendar days.
The FDOT contractor for this project, Gilbert Southern Corporation, has developed the
Movement of Traffic (MOT) plan. I shared with you the details of this plan in LTC 076-2006,
dated March 22, 2006.
Staff members from our Police Department and Fire Departments have been working hard
to ensure that public safety is safeguarded throughout the different phases of this
construction project. The Citizen's Advisory Committee for the 63"~ Street Reconstruction
Project has also been very active in pursuing different ideas to mitigate the effects of this
construction project.
SUPPORTING OUTCOMES TO SUSTAINABILITY OF VISION
EXECUTIVE STAFF AND DEPARTMENT D~RECTORS RETREAT--On March 15-16, 2006, I led a
retreat for my Executive Staff and Department Directors. We discussed where we are today,
and what each department needs in order to complete the initiatives that were started dudng
the current fiscal year. We also participated in career development exercises to enhance
teamwork and organizational development.
CONDOMINIUM OWNERS RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES WORKSHOP'- On March 21,2006, the
Ad Hoc Condominium Taskforce hosted the Condominium Owners Rights and
Responsibilities Workshop. The Office of the Condo Ombudsman for the State of Florida
held a free workshop in Commission Chambers in order to better inform our residents of
their dghts and duties as condo owners. The workshop was well attended, and the Office of
the Ombudsman has agreed to hold additional workshops in the near future.
MEETING WITH THE COUNCIL FOR EXCELLENCE IN GOVERNMENT--On March 21, 2006, I
hosted an informational briefing for a group of 20 senior level federal government managers,
visiting Miami Beach with the Council for Excellence in Government.
The Council for Excellence in Government works to improve the performance of government
at all levels. The Council helps to create stronger public sector leadership and
management, driven by innovation and focused on results.
We shared with them our strategic planning process as well as our Results Oriented
Government presentation, which currently is being communicated to every level of our
organization. I also had the opportunity to share my personal experience as a public
administrator, and the lessons learned throughout my career.
E-GOVERNMENT/VELOCITY HALL--The Information Technology Department, along with the
Tourism and Cultural Development Department, is working to develop an online sPecial
event permit application, which will be ready for a beta test in the coming weeks. This
application will allow special events permits to be completed and submitted online. Future
enhancements will include the ability to make payments of the permit fees online as well.
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BUDGET MEETINGSm I have already discussed fiscal year 2006/2007 workplans and current
service level budgets with 18 out of our 22 departments. I will be meeting with the remaining
departments in the coming weeks.
If you have any questions or need additional information, please feel free to contact me.
JMG/DM
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