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LTC 187-2023 Memorial Day Weekend 2023 UpdateMIAMI BEACH OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER NO. LTC# LETTER TO COMMISSION TO: Honorable Mayor Dan Gel~ber and Members of the City Commission FROM: Alina T. Hudak, City Mana DATE: April 25, 2023 SUBJECT: Memorial Day Weekend 2023 Update This Letter to Commission provides an update on the City's preparations for Memorial Day weekend, including traffic route modifications, departmental staffing plans, and planned programming. As in previous years, we anticipate an increased number of visitors to Miami Beach for Memorial Day weekend and a large attendance for the Hyundai Air & Sea Show, generating an estimated attendance of over 10,000 people daily. Our hotels are currently projecting an occupancy rate of 80%, we expect that percentage to increase with last-minute bookings closer to the holiday weekend. The Hyundai Air & Sea Show will take place Saturday, May 27 and Sunday, May 28 in Lummus Park between 10 to 15 streets east and west of the dunes. The display village, located along Ocean Drive between 11 and 14 streets at Lummus Park, will be open Saturday and Sunday, featuring interactive military and civilian displays that are free to the public between 12 p.m. and 6 p.m. Special demonstrations and performances occur several times throughout each day. On Saturday, May 27 the event will feature air and sea acts, a-list musical performances, the U.S. Army Band, fireworks, and a drone show. On Sunday, May 28 an evening concert featuring country music stars Big & Rich, U.S. military bands, and the Veterans Florida Fireworks Extravaganza will follow the air and sea acts. As part of our ongoing comprehensive approach, multiple city departments continue to meet regularly to ensure we are implementing a coordinated plan for the safety and enjoyment of our residents and visitors this Memorial Day weekend. In addition, various city departments have been meeting regularly with the Air & Sea Show organizers to coordinate efforts and finalize the Special Event Permit. The Division of Emergency Management (DEM) is developing a coordinated Incident Action Plan (IAP) based on the operations plans from key departments and the support provided by all city departments as well as partner agencies for the holiday weekend. As part of the development of the IAP, DEM is working with the United States Coast Guard (USCG) to ensure operation plans between landside and waterside units are coordinated. DEM is also working 187-2023 closely with the National Weather Service in Miami, monitoring weather and providing "point forecasts" specifically for the activated areas. In preparation for Memorial Day weekend and the Air & Sea Show, USCG, Police, Fire, DEM and Air & Sea Show personnel will be conducting a tabletop exercise on Tuesday, May 23. High Impact Measures The following high impact measures, many of which are in the City Code, will be in effect commencing at 7 a.m. on Friday, May 26 through 7 a.m. on Monday, May 29, in the High Impact Zone, which includes the public beach; the Mixed Use Entertainment District (MXE) (excluding the portion of the MXE district between 73 and 75 streets); and that portion of the CD-2 commercial, medium intensity district between Pennsylvania Avenue and Collins Court from 5 to 16 streets: • Direct or indirect consumption of alcohol on beach property will be prohibited unless specifically authorized by a Special Event Permit or a concession agreement. • Limitations of traffic routes to prohibit vehicular access to non-residents, and permit access only for residents and those patrons and employees of businesses located in the specific area where traffic routes have been limited. • The implementation of license plate reader (LPR) police details will be utilized at defined access points in the city. • The suspension, or the issuance, of a business tax receipt to promoters for any dance or entertainment events to be held at an alcoholic beverage establishment located in the MXE and CD-2 districts. • The suspension and closure of the business entities renting or leasing certain vehicles - including golf carts, low-speed vehicles, autocycles, motorized scooters, mopeds, motorcycles powered by motors of 50cc or less and motorized bicycles. The following additional High Impact Measures may be imposed as necessary: • Coolers, inflatable devices, tents, tables, and similar structures on the beach may not be permitted. • Limitations may be placed on live or amplified music. • The citywide suspension and closure of all or part of sidewalk caf~ operations located in the MXE and CD-2 district (including the removal of any sidewalk caf~ furniture). Staffing Miami Beach Police will work 13-hour shifts in an Alpha/Bravo staffing configuration throughout Memorial Day weekend. Several local, state, and federal law enforcement partners will be assisting MBPD, including the Florida Highway Patrol and Miami-Dade County Police Department. A contingency of over 600 police officers will be patrolling throughout the weekend. Over 100 Goodwill Ambassadors, comprised of City of Miami Beach and Miami-Dade County employees, wearing branded pink T-shirts will be positioned throughout the Entertainment District to answer visitor questions, assist, and serve as liaisons to the Police Department. Miami Beach Fire and EMS staffing will be enhanced in the MXE, beginning on Thursday, May 25 through Monday, May 29, including roving crews on UTVs ("gators") in the Lummus Park area and a dedicated rescue unit in South Beach. Fire Prevention Night Inspection Teams will conduct checks throughout the Entertainment District. A First-Aid Mobile Structure will be set up at 10 Street at the beachfront, staffed by CERT volunteers and EMS personnel. Ocean Rescue Lifeguard staffing will also be enhanced for optimal coverage to keep swimmers safe. Staffing at the Public Safety Communications Division (911 Call Center) will be enhanced as well and a full communications plan is included in the IAP. The Code Compliance Department deployment will consist of enhanced staffing throughout the weekend with 24-hour coverage on Friday and Saturday. Continuous coverage throughout the MXE will include staff on foot, A TV, and bicycle in addition to proactive patrols being assigned to address conditions citywide. A Short-Term Rental dedicated team will be in place. Miami Beach Marina coverage for the weekend will be between 9 a.m. through 2 a.m. Teams will also be doing outreach to nightclubs prior to Memorial Day to reemphasize the regulations regarding promoted/self-promoted events. The Homeless Outreach Team will be extending service hours for Memorial Day weekend as follows: On Friday, May 26 teams will be available until 7 p.m., and from Saturday, May 27 through Sunday, May 28 the outreach teams will be working 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Additionally, our specialized outreach services provided by New Hope will be available throughout the weekend from 7 p.m. to 3 a.m. Facilities and Fleet Department will be assisting MBPD with traffic mitigation setup and barricade deployments for Memorial Day weekend. Facilities will be responsible for daily street closures and reopening as part of the traffic mitigation plan. Throughout the weekend, Facilities staff will be working on citywide graffiti removal and daily beach shower cleanings. Facilities will also have a dedicated team focused on water and ice deployment for Goodwill Ambassadors and daily refueling of all utility vehicles. Fleet will be operating on extended hours for support of all emergency personnel's vehicles. Transportation and Mobility Department staff will be available throughout the weekend to monitor traffic flows and provide timely traffic updates. Additionally, the City's traffic monitoring and management contractor will monitor major thoroughfares to detect incidents creating congestion using available resources and equipment, including the WAZE mobile application, existing closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras in the City and several portable variable message signs for traffic/event messaging and modify traffic signal timing as necessary to help mitigate congestion. Traffic monitors will operate 14 hours a day from 11 a.m. to 1a.m. starting on Thursday, May 25 through Monday, May 29. The Parks and Recreation Department will enhance staffing throughout South Beach during Memorial Day weekend from Thursday, May 25 through Monday, May 29. Staffing enhancements will consist of expanded service hours and increased personnel assignments ranging from Park Rangers to maintenance and janitorial staff. The core areas of focus will be Lummus Park, South Pointe Park corridor, Ocean Drive, and the beachwalk south of 21 Street. Park Rangers will be ready to provide assistance on the beach, as needed by enforcement partners (Police, Ocean Rescue, Code, etc.). Recreation programming staff will also be assigned to provide activations, including hosting a Kids Fun Zone along Ocean Drive between 12 and 13 streets, adjacent to Lummus Park from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on both days of the Air and Sea Show. Kids and their parents can participate in themed arts and crafts, lawn games, an Imagination Playground, and Operation Give Thanks (a letter-writing station to service members). In addition, the Miami Beach Police and Emergency Management Departments will launch a wristband ID program known as K.I.D.S (Kid ID Station) for children of all ages or adults with special needs. Kids ID stations will be operational both days from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. at 5, 8, 10, and 13 streets at Lummus Park. Parking Enforcement staff will be on 12-hour shifts commencing on Friday, May 26 through Monday, May 29 at 7 a.m. Traffic Information An evening traffic mitigation plan will be implemented on Thursday, May 25 through Tuesday, May 30 beginning at 6 p.m. Traffic will only be allowed to enter Ocean Drive through 13 Street and exit through 5 Street, with no access to any other entry/exit points. Collins Avenue and Washington Avenue will flow north and southbound, with no east or westbound access except for 5 Street and 16 Street. The traffic mitigation plan will also be in place from Friday through Sunday evenings along the MacArthur and Julia Tuttle causeways. To safely coordinate this effort, there will be a single-lane reduction on both causeways. In addition, the Police Department will utilize fixed and mobile License Plate Readers (LPRs) throughout the city. Protected residential zones for the Flamingo Park and South of Fifth neighborhoods will be in place each evening from 6 p.m. through 5 a.m. starting on Thursday, May 25 through Tuesday, May 30 with barricades to restrict cut-through traffic in these residential areas. Flamingo Park and South of Fifth residents are encouraged to use Alton Road to enter and exit their neighborhood. There will be an enhanced police presence in other surrounding neighborhoods. Parking Information Effective Friday, May 26 at 7 am through Tuesday, May 30 at 6 am a flat parking rate of $20 per vehicle will be imposed at all city parking garages in the MXE except for access card holders and residents. This includes garages at 7 Street and Collins Avenue, 12 Street and Washington Avenue, 13 Street and Collins Avenue, and the Anchor Garage on 16 Street. Additionally, entrance to the parking garages in the MXE will be limited to access cardholders only after 10 p.m. On-street parking will be prohibited along Collins Avenue between 5 Street and Espanola Way commencing on Thursday, May 25 at 6 p.m. through Tuesday, May 30 at 6 a.m. Additionally, the 100 and 200 blocks between 6 Street and 16 Streets will be restricted to Residential Zone 5 permit holders only between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. The parking lot on the northwest corner of 10 Street and Washington Avenue (P13) will be unavailable from Tuesday, May 23 starting at 6 p.m. through Monday, May 29 at 6 a.m. Transportation Information During the hours when the traffic mitigation plans are in place, the Miami Beach trolley service and Miami-Dade County Bus services will operate normally. The city's trolley tracker "Rider Alert" feature will be updated as needed to reflect service changes and important updates. Free Parking Shuttles The city will provide free shuttle service to and from four designated event parking garage locations. Please look for the special parking shuttle identification signs prior to boarding and use the Miami Beach e-Gov app to track shuttle service in real-time, under Trolley tracker. Parking shuttles will operate on Saturday, May 27 and Sunday, May 28 from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. at intervals of approximately 15 minutes. Designated shuttle pickup and drop-off locations are as follows: • 42 Street garage: shuttle bus will serve trolley stop #219 at Sheridan Avenue and 41 Street. • 23 Street garage: shuttle bus will serve trolley stop #194 at 23 Street and Liberty Avenue. • 17 Street, Pennsylvania Avenue and the City Hall garages: shuttle bus will serve trolley stop #200 at 17 Street and Convention Center Drive. • 5 Street garage: Freebee shuttle will serve trolley stop #113 at 6 Street and Lenox Avenue. All passengers using the free shuttle service will be dropped off at trolley stop #106 located at Washington Avenue and 11 Street. Passengers should use this stop for their ride back to garages. Alternatively, passengers can use the free citywide trolley service. Messaging to our Visitors and Residents The Office of Marketing and Communications will continue promoting our 'Take Care of Our City' safety messaging campaign, which highlights local residents and influencers top tips on how to enjoy Miami Beach safely, while promoting all of the incredible cultural, culinary and health and wellness initiatives they can enjoy while they are here. Our website www.OurCityMB.com will continue to provide residents and visitors with up to date information on public safety, parking, transportation, and tourism information. The office is promoting this integrated campaign via traditional marketing channels including trolley wraps, pole banners, bus shelters, and MBTV, and through more targeted digital marketing on social media, programmatic banner ads, and Google keyword search. The office will be prepared to react to any unexpected traffic or public safety occurrences by notifying the public via text messages, social media, and targeted e-newsletters. Memorial Day Commemoration at PD Headquarters Our Memorial Day Commemoration Ceremony will take place at Miami Beach Police Headquarters on Monday, May 29 at 10 a.m. In partnership with the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) 3559 Miami Beach posts, this event pays tribute to the memory of the men and women who fought and died for our freedom with a wreath-laying ceremony and a 21-gun salute. Community Meeting The city will host a virtual community meeting on Tuesday, May 23 at 6 p.m. to discuss preparations for the holiday weekend. The Zoom meeting link is the following: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87995486919. I'd like to express my sincere appreciation for the ongoing support that you continue to provide the administration. ATH