LTC 322-2006 Level of Service- Parks and Recreation
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MIAMI BEACH
RECEIVED
2006 DEe 29 PH 4: I"
LE~~~ ~9~9~~SION
OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
NO. LTC # 322-2006
FROM:
Mayor David Dermer and Members ophe Ci1 COTssion
Jorge M. Gonzalez, City Manager ~ ~ ~()\
December 29, 2006
TO:
DATE:
SUBJECT: Level of Service - Parks and Recreation
This LTC is in response to two resident e-mails sent to members of the City Commission
about the maintenance of a City Park located east of Collins and north of 22nd Street.
The Park east of Collins and north of 22nd was last mowed on December 6, 2006. The Art
Basel event affected the regular service schedule and this area has one added week of
growth as a result. The City has also had an unseasonable amount of rain that has spurred
growth in the past two weeks. The Park will be mowed this week and will be on its regular cut
schedule from this week forward.
The two residents' concern that one missed mowing cycle in one small park represents a
decrease in services, while they are being asked to pay more in taxes, is a both a bit of an
exaggeration and inconsistent with the approved 2006-2007 City Budget. Unfortunately
many of our residents do not yet understand the impacts of the recently approved budget.
As the Commission is aware, in this fiscal year property taxes paid to the City of Miami
Beach decreased for the average homeowner by approximately $31. When combined with
the resident tax refund of $300 this year our residents will be paying a good deal less in
property taxes and receiving more City services. Getting more for less is almost unheard of in
Florida municipalities. This year's budget includes added Police Officers, increased levels of
sanitation services, a significant amount of landscaping, increased cultural arts
programming, fee relief for County imposed water and sewer fees, plus free services in many
areas of the City.
The practice of incorporating increased spending, most notably in Parks and Public Works to
provide for the ongoing maintenance expenses associated with newly constructed projects,
is continued in the 2006-2007 budget This practice was started several years ago in order
to provide for the appropriate level of care for the public investments made in the City's
infrastructure. The Commission has made very clear, and supported the policy with funding
resources, that when a project is built it should be well maintained.
The budget also makes very important allocations to a variety of capital reserve funds in
order to provide assurance of capital project completion and continued maintenance. While
fiscally responsible, these budget enhancements are typically not easily observed by our
residents.
By copy of this LTC to the two residents, their specific question about the Park is addressed
and some insight into the real impact of the fiscal year budget is also provided.
Please feel free to call me if you have any questions.
F:lcmgr\$ALLIL TC-06\LeveI of Service - Parks and Recreation.doc