City Commission - Regular Meeting

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Heat. Heat. Please take your seats. The meeting is about to begin. Remember to speak into the microphone as this meeting is being recorded for public record. Please stand by. We are going on air in 5 4 3 2 1.

Good morning and welcome to the May 13, 2026 meeting of the public safety neighborhood quality of life committee. Um I'm joined by my colleague, Commissioner Monica Matel Selenus. Uh we we don't have uh Vice Mayor Laura Dominguez or Commissioner Ba joining us today, but we do have a quorum for the committee. And with that, I'll recognize our committee liaison, Stephanie Ray Brooks, to guide us in the proper posture.

Good morning. Just a couple of announcements. Today's meeting will be a hybrid meeting with members of the committee being physically present in the commission chambers. Members of the public who wish to attend this meeting or provide public comment or in person may appear at the commission chambers. Members of the public who want to participate or provide public comment virtually during the meeting may join via Zoom. If you are here today to make any public comments on any of them items, please wait until the item is heard. I know that there's a couple of people from the artist vendor program. The item will be 14 and it will be heard today. Also, we have a couple of items that will be deferred today. We have item number 10 on the agenda will be deferred. Item number 11, item number 12, and item number 13. Those items will be deferred to a future date. And with that, those are all the notes I have. All right. Thank you, Stephanie. Uh, and and again, just to just to uh clarify, public comment related with item number 14, which is the artist vendor uh item that's on today's agenda. Public comment for that item will be heard when the item is called. Uh so at that time, we'll be taking public comments. We won't take that during the during the sutnik form because I want to give an opportunity to members of the public wishing to speak on another community items the the opportunity uh to to be heard. So with that we're going to open up the citizens public forum. Welcome. You have two minutes to speak.

Uh good morning commissioners and staff. My name is Jose Frius. I live 90 Alton Road. Um also I belong to the Marine Water Protection Authority. U we had a meeting yesterday. Uh it came to my attention that it was a applicant for landing agreement on um a vessel coming to Miami Beach Marina and is in standby to become a regular vessel. of the vessel is 150 passenger vessel and uh can you imagine the impact that will bring that to Miami Beach Marina when we try to reduce the numbers of charters that 150 passenger it will take at least three cautious uh buses so that the traffic impact will be crazy where those uh buses are going to be parking uh going south of Fifth also they they'll be taking the marine fuel dock and it will be impact with the other vessels that when get fuel or want to do impact h picking up people and the embarking and disembarking is going to be crazy and I sent an email to the general manager uh from the marina this morning Lee and I CC the president of SNA and John Caprio and the president of my I think they should reconsider this and then it should not be a a application for such a commercial vessel because the impact is going to be crazy. That's it. Thank you so much.

And and Jose, just just to summarize, you have a concern that that the request of the vessel to uh go to the marina is the size that this is a a vessel of 150 passengers. Yes. and that and that occupancy is a concern to you and they're looking to have a permitted slip uh at the marina. Well, it start as a landing agreement.

So, they will have a BTR the application for a BTR is a landing agreement and soon it will be a space available. It will come to the marina as a regular vessel. So, um the marina doesn't have the infrastructure to accommodate at one time 150 people. Of course, this is the capacity. It could be 70 people, it could be 100, but still it's going to be a large number of people. The disembark is going to be crazy. You know, they serve alcohol, so it you you never know. And the infrastructure on the marina is doesn't happen.

Thank you for bringing this to to our attention. I have asked our assistant city manager, Mark Taxis. I need you to look into this. I want to get uh report back on this as I'm sure does my colleague uh and uh and if we need to take action on this issue to make sure that we don't have vessels of an occupancy size out of character not only that out of the out of out of you know out of the size of what is able to be accommodated in terms of occupancy at the marina I need you to let us know we need to pass any policy to address it so we can place it on the commission agenda. Yes sir.

And this is the second time that happened. Uh it happened before in less than a year and then then the administration did something and they didn't approve it at the end. So we're going to jump on it. We appreciate it for the community. This is about safety. Um thank you. Quality of life. Thank you so much. Thank you Jose. Any other members of the public wishing to speak? Feel free to approach the podium. We have two podiums. So you know feel free to approach. members of the public attending via Zoom. If you if you wish to speak, you can raise your hand and you'll be recognized. Good morning, gentlemen.

Good morning. Uh I'm Timothy Sanders. I'm a resident here that abates the marina. U this is Mr. Carlo. He's lived here for 23 years. He's a Cuban born immigrant. He fills his paperwork out every year at Rebecca Towers. Um and for some reason this year they're evicting him. So, we're fighting all the way to the federal government level to make sure I just want everyone to be aware that he is a vibrant member of our community. He has provided fish that veterans catch off of our free vessel to his community in the quantity of 200 to 2,000 lbs of fresh fish a week. He's 95 years old. He's And I just wanted to bring it to everybody's attention and thank you guys for everything you're doing to the city. It's really vibrant. It's equality for all. We really appreciate everything you're doing.

And that's Thank you. And I would like for him to speak because I don't I don't speak enough Spanish to say, but if you want to speak with him, he's a he's a very wonderful human being. Sure. Carlos. Okay.

All right. Um Karen, can you please give them you did already? No, no, we have it. I have

Okay. All right. My office is going to be in touch with you so that we can follow up with you. Thank you for coming to our committee and sharing this because that goes directly to our residents quality of life and we'll look at sometimes if there's an eviction going on, it might be something that is in in the courts that might be outside of our jurisdiction. Notwithstanding that, uh there are legal assistance programs that this commission has passed to provide assistance to to to individuals like like Carlos and try to do whatever we can. But my office will be in touch with you to see what else we can do to help the gentlemen in this situation. Thank you for bringing it to our to our attention.

Thank you guys very much. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Okay, please go. Good morning. Welcome.

Good morning. My name is Michael Bernstein. I reside at 1049 West 47th Street. I'm a Miami native. I've lived on Miami Beach since 1992. I've served on the board of Goodwill Industries of South Florida since 1997. I am the current vice chair. I'm here today to ask this committee to support the approval of two additional attended donation trailers within the city. One in South Beach, one in Mid Beach to supplement the one that's currently at North Beach. Just Goodwill South Florida's mission is to help people with disabilities and other barriers to work gain meaningful life-changing employment. Last year, we served over 7,000 individuals, and we are the number one employer of people with disabilities and barriers to work in Florida. And overall, we are the top 20 private sector employer in Miami Date County. Every donation that comes into these trailers helps fuel this mission. The Normandy is donation trailer generated close to 20,000 donations last year. These highquality items produced approximately a million dollars of revenue. And because 95% of that those dollars go directly into our mission, this single location helped fund job training and employment opportunities for local residents. The environmental impact is equally compelling. The Normandy Isle trailer diverted over 1 million pounds of reusable goods from the landfill and across the region. Goodwill South Florida diverted 62 million pounds last year through 1 and a.5 million donations. Expanding uh access on Miami Beach would be meaningful and increase the city's contribution to waste reduction and sustainability, which I know you know the city is all about. Currently, there are four residents of Miami Beach that serve on the board of directors. Myself, Rosary Fero, Lisa Kaufman, and Naomi Nixon. Um, we know firsthand the current limitations as well as the opportunity

that we're asking about right here. Um, the city can sol you have Thank you. The city can solve a clear convenience gap for its residents, advance its environmental goals, and directly support thousands of people with disabilities and other barriers to work. These new trailers would replicate Normy's Normandy Isles proven success, bringing in tens of thousands of donations and expanding Miami Beach's positive impact on both the people and the planet. Thank you for your attention and guidance regarding this request.

Thank you, Michael. And I'm happy to place an item on the on the next week's city commission agenda referral to this committee so that we can discuss locations where we could potentially accommodate it. Because you are right, it is a convenience to to our residents. Our residents uh often times they're cleaning out their their closets. They want to donate the clothes and having that in our city makes it easier than having to go to a location in Windwood or somewhere else to uh to to drop it off or in Alabama or some other or drive or even drive to Normandy.

Yeah. If you if if you live south of Fifth or Mid Beach, you may want to have the convenience of having it close by. And for us, um, it it we're supporting a good cause most importantly. And anyone that any of my colleagues that wish to Yeah, I'd like to co-sponsor. Thank you. And any other of my colleagues, Mr. Attorney, that would want to join as a sponsor of this, I'll be very happy to welcome them. Thank you all very much. Appreciate it.

Thank Thank you. Any other members of the public wishing to speak on any items on the agenda? If you're in person, feel free to approach the podium. If you're on Zoom, feel free to raise your hand on Zoom. Seeing none, we'll close the reasonable opportunity for the public to be heard. And with that, we'll go to our first item. Our first item is the update on timeline for construction of Miami Beach Convention Center Hotel and anticipated opening date. This item was sponsored by Commissioner Domigus and co-sponsored by Commissioner Fernandez.

Thank you. And uh last time we had an update on this on this item. We were talking about parking. parking for the employees of uh of the convention center hotel and us wanting to make sure that before the completion of the hotel next year uh that we have sufficient accommodations to make sure that we don't end up with unintended consequences and impacts to the surrounding areas. So I see we have a representative uh from uh from MB mixeduse investments. Good morning. Welcome.

Good morning. My name is I bet and um we also have on the line Will Balinbin is with uh Turbury uh our partners at Terara and Turberry is a joint venture uh as MBX use. Will is going to give us an update on the progress of the transit plan. Um if somebody can give him access to speak. Good morning William. Uh welcome.

Good morning. Uh good morning chair and members of the committee. My name is Bimin and like Avette said I am the senior vice president of hotel development for Turnberry serving on behalf of MB Mixuse LLC in partnership with Tara. Uh we are the developers of Grand High at Miami Beach. Uh as noted in the memo that you all have received. We're here to update uh and present a more robust draft employee transportation plan prepared in response to your committee's feedback on April 15th. Since then, we've closely worked with city parking and transportation staff, spoke with the Revani team at 1691 Mishek and A garage regarding approximately 100 spaces and conducted additional outreach and research to better understand capacity and feasibility. He builds on the strategies you saw last month. Tesla has transit incentives, micromobility, car pooling and them more comprehensive multi-layered approach. First, we have added a strong focus on Miami Beach parking solutions, including one enhancing on-site parking, two disc access to nearby private garages like 1691 Michigan, and potential use of city garages both in and outside the core, including options for overnight employees and locations tied to trolley and shuttle services. Second, we are going to explore a regional park and ride program in coordination with the city and major employers such as Fountain Blue, Lowe's, Mount Si, and City Hall using mainland locations and coach bus shuttles. Third, we're going to prioritize local hiring, which will help reduce commute distances and support walking and biking and other transit use. And in addition, we're going to continue to support the car pooling and transit usage on microbility options that we talked about in the initial framework. And importantly, this

plan is uh intended to be phased and flexible. It's going to allow us to refine the strategies over time as staffing levels and commuting patterns become more clear to us, and we'll continue to coordinate with the city. We appreciate your input and look forward to continuing to work with you as we finalize the employee transit plan in advance of our March 1st, 2027 deadline. Thank you. Thank you. Um and uh and I think uh Commissioner Matselinas has some comments.

Uh thank you for being here today. So, how many spots do you have on site for your employees? How many are you going to reserve for your employees on site? So we have um I think the number was 310 parking spots onsite. Onsite. Yes. It's going to be valet parking and the intention is that is for the visitors of the hotel for the staff. We're going to have a combination of what was just explained. We're going to have off-site parking and promote also. So no no on-site parking for your employees. Zero.

No. This is I just I just I'm going to I'm just going to underscore, you know, this is the frustration. This is very irresponsible and and and I appreciate you all coming forward with a, you know, the proposal for local hiring. Uh that's great if we would have the housing in our city where the employees of the hotel would be able to afford to live. The reality is that we know most of the employees are going to be traveling and driving and commuting into into into our our city. Um I still don't see parking availability and I actually I love that you guys are looking at you know providing regional park and ride uh with with uh with with coach buses but that's that's that's not something that you're providing. That's something that you're going to have to rely on public transportation to subsidize the lack of parking on your on on on your property. So I I need to know a quantified measurable amount of parking that is going to be available because we know some people yeah some people will take will do some people might do car pooling some people might do the parking rights but we just know from what we've seen with other major employers that the issue is going to fall on whom? on our public assets and the employees are going to come demanding from us as will the unions and and and we need to solve that and I still don't see a concrete plan that tells us we are securing x amounts of parking spaces for the employees.

Um good morning TA um project liaison um for the hotel. I just wanted to clarify a little bit though. Um, in this draft memo that's attached to your memorandum. Um, they did mention that they they are going to explore the availability of parking on site for employees. That's one of the options that was not provided in the last meeting, but they are um going to be exploring that. They are they have begun engaging or hiring their executives uh team uh for the hotel. And so this is a moment where really these conversations are going to gear up. Um and so let let them explore this further. Let us discuss with them further and come back with uh an updated plan.

Can you guys come back in July? I think that's better giving a little bit more time than because we we didn't really have a whole month. We had the opportunity to meet with the parking and transportation departments. We had a great meeting, great conversation. Um but this is just a starting point on a on a better plan to be presented here. Right. Right. Well, the concern is that the hotel is projected to be open in a year and and we have residential areas in very close proximity and we don't I don't want them to end up then carrying the burden of the lack of parking availability there.

Um so a couple more comments that I have. Um, when you come back in July, please focus on having on-site parking and give us a number. I would appreciate that. Um, and then additionally, a couple questions I have is when you uh I think the plan is to have overnight parking in the garage next to city hall. Um, what time would those overnight employees be leaving in the morning? So, it's between 11:00 at night to like 6:00 in the morning. 6:00 in the morning is what time the overnight 11:00 at night to 6:00 in the morning setup I'm sorry hopefully I get it right but it should be 11 to six

and we can put that in writing the next memo okay and then um um lost my train of thought oh I remember now so you're going to have 300 spots on site you said it was 300 or 310. It's a just over 300. Um, these are and most of that's going to valet. It's all valet and that's what So, how are you expecting to have so much valet? What What's there people are going to need to valet their cars?

So, we have 800 rooms. Uh, 310 was the requirement for minimum parking and we are give we're planning to give the first option to our um hotel guests. Right. The idea here is to have a plan for staff, right? And we are, like Will said, we're going to promote public transportation, but we're also going to enter into agreements with nearby parking garages such as 16 91 Michigan Avenue. Okay. So, the assumption is that 300 guests are going to need valet. That is the assumption. And have you set the valet rates yet?

We are just starting those conversations. as you said, uh we're we just started ramping up hiring uh of the operations team for the hotel and we're starting to talk about those and we need to identify a vendor and do a proper bidding process and all of that. So, okay. Thank you. Thank you.

And what is the timeline for for for for that uh solicitation process for the vendor and negotiations with them? because I think it's it's you know this is a hotel that does service our convention center. it's on public lands uh and it is a partnership with the public and to and to that extent I would want to know you know who is the vendor that's coming in and what is the rate structure commissioner Mattel Selenas thank you for bringing that up because if the rate structure is not within a price range that these uh exhibitioners that you know potentially these are the individuals who are going to be staying at at the hotel people who are going to be exhibiting at at the convention center. We we want to make sure that it's within a price point, a daily price point that they'll be able to afford. Otherwise, the problem is going to again, it's going to go out to the public garages.

Understood. We understand your concern now. Okay, Mr. Parking Director, I see you waiting to speak. Uh Will McDonald, director of parking. So, first and foremost, uh, Commissioner Teo Selenus, I greatly appreciate you bringing up the pricing aspect because if that price point is too high, it will simply push everybody into the public garages that are right next door.

Um, now on a brighter note, using the new technology that we have in the garages, we are able to make time enabled access cards. So, I've already made a commitment to the hotel and we can do this uh throughout different areas of Miami Beach. uh taking any employee who works say 10 to 6, 11 to 7 um whether it be the city hall garage, whether it be the G the 17 street garage um we will generally be able to accommodate as many overnight employees. I understand that's generally the least demand. Um but we can generally take that off the plate. Um and these would be timebased uh access cards. So for example, if they tried to enter at 5 in the afternoon, the card will not allow them. Um, and we can, you know, with the license plate recognition and the access card, we'll be able to kind of monitor that activity, but we should be able to take at least one shift completely off the table from having a challenge finding parking.

Great. Let me ask you uh have any conversations been had um you know with the county or any other entity as it relates to the park and ride facility identifying uh locations in the mainland uh and partnerships to facilitate this. So far we have met with the city officials only with with parking director and transportation director. Okay. So uh thank you. Uh, how about with county officials or or with because in your in your memo? Why is this memo a draft memo?

Why are we provided with a draft memo? By the way, I'm just wondering. The memo that they provided to us because it's not final. We have not gone through every single um discussion that we need to have on this. We still need to So, this is it's a work in progress. Correct. Okay. The plan is a draft. Yeah.

So, you know, it says here, "Exploring coordination with the city of Miami Beach and other major employers, Fountain, Blue Low, Mount Sinai, and City Hall, the feasibility of a shared park and ride program utilizing one or more mainland locations." And I think the idea was to identify garages on the mainland where where individuals could park and then transport them in. Uh you so have have you all had any conversations with any of these major employers besides obviously the city but with any of these other major employers who you have listed in your memo. We started with the city next will be the county and and the others.

Yeah. Okay. I just again I just don't want the burden to always just fall back on the city. If this is part of the plan

and this is only a year away. It's it you know we've seen that these that these programs they take time to they take time to put together especially if we're going to be relying on other jurisdictions as well because the park and ride facilities usually they they belong to the county and so uh and so you know we just have to make sure that the burden of this doesn't fall completely on on our transportation department and on and on the city. This is a responsibility of the hotel developer to provide for this parking. You know, I would like to see progress in July in engaging with the Fountain Blue, with the Lowe's, with Mount Sinai and engaging with the county. Uh because this shouldn't the lack of parking of employee parking on your facility shouldn't become a burden for the public and the taxpayers of the city. So in July, I'd like to see something a little bit more concrete than what we have now um on the agenda that you know tells us, okay, this is the path forward. This is not just what we're exploring and ideas that we're tossing around. No, this is the plan that we're working on executing over the next year. And between the between, you know, the parking spaces that we're going to have on site, between the uh the timelimited parking that we're going to have on the public garages, between the the spaces we're we're securing at 1691 and local hiring and, you know, the anticipated partnership for Park and Ride. This is, you know, what this is the path that we're on uh for for for July of next year.

Okay. Thank you. All right. Any other comments, Commissioner? No. Just please come back with please offer your employees something in that garage. I mean, it's it's it's the right thing to do. And again, the whole idea of this hotel was that people will come in for conventions that don't rent a car and don't drive over. And so the valet, you know, what are you going to do if you have 300 spots for valet and 150 of them sit open? You know, then what you know, and then your employees, are you going to charge your employees to valet? That goes to what will was explaining that our plan involves flexibility and it will be adapted depending on the needs that are found. But give us some time to fully ramp up with the operations team.

Absolutely. We'll give you an update into in July. And our commitment from day one was always to present a plan that was final by April 2027. So that may sound a little bit far. We can't wait till April 27 because at that point the hotel's about to open. I that I don't feel comfortable. We're with you. We're with you. That's where we're starting now. much much in in advance as well as the commissioner mentioned your plans you know solicitation selection of vendors and pricing for the valet I see we have our transportation director Jose Gonzalez uh Jose thank you for joining us

thank you good morning uh Mr. chair, commissioners. Uh so just uh just to add um uh comment um and emphasize the fact that we are in communication with the hotel developers to try to come up with the best tailored uh plan possible. the regional park and ride and coach bus shuttle as you are aware commissioner because you're you're sponsoring that concept that idea of having shuttle bus for employees coming from the mainland different parking rides over it was mentioned to them to the hotel developers as part of the initial conversation that we had but I appreciate your comment uh about um you know them take taking the lead in terms of their employees uh they are one of the major employers listed. So there you know there will be coordination with them. Uh but for this for this concept to be efficient and for it to work we do need a a certain critical mass of employees otherwise it it won't be efficient.

All right. Thank you Jose. Are there any members of the public attending in person or virtually via Zoom wishing to speak on this item? Seeing none, we'll show this item continued to July. Ready for item two. Item number two, yes, is the monthly update on the status of the Fifth Street pedestrian bridge and the modern hotel Miridor Condominium Baywalk project. This item was sponsored by Commissioner Dominguez. Good morning.

Good morning, Mr. Chair, Madam Commissioner. Uh David Gomez, director of capital improvements. Uh at our last uh update, we provided information that FPL had returned a survey drawing to the design team uh and that the design team would proceed with reviewing the impact uh and the implications of that location. Um they are as of last week still embroiled in in looking for every inch they can find. It is a complex project but they are working on on trying to find a solution. Um at simultaneously um Commissioner Matos Alenzas has a uh I guess a companion item to explore the underbridgeidge or overwater connection. We are looking into permitting requirements and whatever uh logistics would be required to do that that process as well. So we are looking at uh this issue from from multiple facets but as of now the design team is still looking at the impacts of the location of the FPL utility.

David, how long how much longer do we anticipate it will take the design team to understand uh the the the impact that the FO utility is going to have on the foundation design. Um it is a complex project. Um so we as of last week the design team couldn't give us a deadline of when they would be able to wrap up their reviews. Um we are still waiting for an update from the design team as to when they expect to have a a formal uh resolution.

All right. Um what I want to make sure is that you know if if at some point it becomes clear that moving forward with this pedestrian bridge is not is not possible because a foundational redesign is going to be costly I would imagine it depending on the impact. Yes.

Okay. So, so you know, I just don't want us to spend spin our wheels if there is a foreseeable outcome uh that is not going to allow us to proceed with the bridge. I want us to be e efficient and mindful of of of time and of public expectation. Uh and so and so if if it becomes at any point foreseeable that it's just not going to be realistic to continue forward with this, I rather us find out about that sooner rather than later. Uh so that we just don't keep on spinning our wheels in vain.

Agreed. And I I can assure you that the developer and the design team will advise us as soon as they have more uh concrete information whether it be that for whatever reason they feel that they can't do it or if the cost is becoming primitive. Mr. Selenas, any questions on No. All right. With that um with that uh are there any members of the public wishing to comment on this item? Uh when can we get uh when when by when do we anticipate just to have something more substantive?

Hector with Terra. Um we we're really shooting to get something in here within next 30 days. Um the the information we've gotten from FPL has kind of really reduced the real estate on that area is I'm sorry.

The information that we've gotten from FPL has really reduced the the real estate that we can use to drill 30 piles and four drilled shafts. So, it's become very difficult. We're looking at multiple options as far as uh uh still being able to do uh FDOT's requirements for structure on a bridge um a and be able to do it safely, which is the the biggest issue. Um so, I think in the next 30 days, we should be able to give give you guys a report, sit down and meet with you guys and be able to to to explain to you options if there are any um and and what the path forward could be. So, you know, let me just ask because this was part of a public benefit. Is that correct?

Yes. On the record, please. Yes, sir.

Okay. And if if for some reason because I'm just seeing I don't want to be pessimistic, but I'm just seeing the direction that this is going in. if for whatever reason because of you know of of the utility and the and the and the FPL power duct bank that was identified and that causes significant reductions in the available real estate to to properly and safely create foundations for the bridge and that happens and we can't move forward uh with the bridge and the city ultimately has to move forward with an alternative. What then is what then is the developer's public benefit to the city?

I don't believe that the development agreement contemplated an inability to construct the bridge. So, we would have to go through that process. Well, I think I you know because I just I just I just want I just want to make sure that the public the electorate and the city organization has an expectation that a public benefit was going to happen and a public benefit was going to happen to support pedestrianism and to improve the safety of pedestrians with this bridge. And so and so and so you know if we need to start thinking about how do we go back and redesign and renegotiate the public benefit you know I don't want that to be that has to be very present in all of our minds that it's not just you know identifying you know the foundational space for for for for the bridge and if that doesn't happen then then okay the project is is off the table, but making sure that the commitments that were made to the public in terms of a public benefit connecting these areas that that is still, you know, fulfilled and that that and that there is some sort of negotiation and a path towards that.

Yes, I appreciate those comments, Commissioner. I agree with you and I'll be pessimistic. I don't think this is ever going to get off the ground ever or built on the ground, I guess I should say. And so I think we should be looking at different avenues of where we can build that bridge so that it connects south of Fifth. So I know my companion item is over the water. I think that's something we should still explore even though the bridge will go really far out into the bay. But hey, that might be a nice walk over the water. Um maybe additionally we can look at putting the foundation um in the water so that way we're not disturbing those lines because I don't think that that land is going to be feasible to drill considering there's the potential to electrocute someone if they drill there. It's just we we have to call it like it is and accept it for what it is and start um replplanning this and redesigning it and and having conversations with the developer about maybe a different public benefit because this site is just not going to work.

Yeah. As developer, we want, you know, we want to do what's right always and we want we want to make sure that we honor our commitment. So, however that be, we have to have those discussions once we once we get past we've already looked at some conceptual some conceptual ideas for the over the water. Uh, but we can start focusing a little more attention on that and try to get try to get something more more concrete past conceptual, right? Um, but I think in the next 30 days, we should be able to have something concrete to show you guys and and tell you guys and be able to at least move forward from the spot that we've been in for several months now. So, cross your fingers.

Yeah. Because what I want to know um from from from the city administration, you know, what is our cut off point? you know, at what point should the city evaluate, you know, whether whether going a different direction will be the most appropriate route? And and I just I just feel like we're going through a lot of bureaucracy, you know, and and and a lot of time being spent on something that I think none of us are optimistic that is going to get us to the point that we that uh that we want to be at where we're going to have a bridge. You know, I don't I just don't see it being being happening. Yeah, we are uh looking at both of those options on a parallel path. While while we explore whatever challenges there are to the bridge, we're also looking at the logistics for the overwater portion. Um and at some point we'll get a determination from the design team whether there is a fatal flaw or not. Um what the impact is. So we'll be able to make that decision or more accurately the the commission will be able to make the decision on how we move forward from there. I think we know there's a fatal flaw and I think we can make that call now. No,

I don't know that I've received enough information from the design team to say it can't be built where where it's planned.

I I we just need we need the administration to give a deadline. I'm not an engineer uh and I'm not a contractor or a project manager, but we need the administration to give a deadline, a solid deadline by which we determine we're moving forward with this because we've identified that this that this can be redesigned and move forward with it and fulfill the promise that was made to the residents and the taxpayers of of the city in a referendum. uh or you know because of unknown circumstances at at the time we you know we now have to go back and and change that. But the commitment of a public benefit still has to be respected but the administration needs to provide that deadline when we say okay this you know by this date we need to know for sure what is happening.

Yeah. Yeah. And as far as the developer, we're trying we're we're our goal is to expedite the completion of this and and get to get to an end an end result. Um so definitely in the next 30 days, I'm hoping that we can get this faster than that. Yesterday we sat down with all the incomplete design team and really went through through the little slivers of land that we have left to be able to put all these piles in the ground and we're looking at every possibility including different structures, different methods. Um, we're trying to analyze every possible way out before we say, you know, we're waving the white flag, right? So, um, we definitely get back to you as we can. Okay. Thank you. Next item.

Next item is a quarterly update on Operation Clean Water and Park View Canal. This item was sponsored by Commissioner Fernandez. All right. Uh, who will be presenting this item on behalf of the administration? I see Amy Nolles approaching the podium. Good morning, Amy.

Yes, good morning, Mr. Chair. Good morning, Commissioner Mateo Selenas and staff. Uh, we're very pleased to provide an update today, uh, along with John Norris, our public works director. We have a couple of presentations for you, uh, which will give you the ability to ask some really good questions and understand some recent work that's been done. And then we're happy to provide any other updates. Um, so if it's okay with you, Mr. Chair, I'd like to introduce Dr. Solo Gabrielle. She is with the University of Miami. She's a professor with the College of Engineering. Her work specializes in microbial contaminants specifically in intertitle zones and she has really been our partner in examining the source of issues to the Parkview canal. While we've made meaningful progress, we still have a little ways to go. One of her most recent studies was the effect of UV disinfection on the storm water runoff that is impacting the canal. Just as a brief refresher, we do know that storm water is a primary driver of issues impacting the canal in addition to a recent uh hot spot that we had discovered with the Biscane Beach Elementary, but I would love for her to be able to provide an overview. She has some really interesting results and then we can go ahead and move on to pump station 23.

Well, wonderful. Good morning, doctor. First and foremost, thank you for your partnership with our city uh for the work that you've been doing uh to guide us through through this process and thank you for joining us today. Thank you so much. Thank you. I appreciate it.

And okay, great. The presentation is there. I want to again thank you for the opportunity to present our work uh looking at the effects of street sweeping and also UV disinfection of the surfaces of the streets in an effort to reduce the levels of bacteria going to Park View Canal. Um in addition to myself, I want to acknowledge our team members, many students that took part um and volunteered to work on the project and also thankful to the city of Miami Beach for the support. Why are we doing this study? Well, kayak launch at Parkview Canal has been closed since 2019 because of elevated levels of bacteria. We have identified that the storm water runoff, the runoff coming off of the street is the primary source of contamination. Um, our prior studies have looked at the sources and have identified birds, dogs, and humans as a contributors and as a result the city initiated operation clean water. Our objectives was again to look at street sweeping. We looked at the big industrial street sweepers. We also looked at manual sweeping of the sidewalks. And we also looked at UV disinfection um using a sterilizer which is a a an instrument that is designed to disinfect wrestling mats, yoga mats. Um we applied it in a pilot scale to see whether or not it was effective for the streets. We did take data. We do have data. Data was provided to us about the amount of street sweepings and then also the area that is swept in the city of Miami Beach. We took samples from the street sweeper and documented that the sweeping in fact removes a lot of bacteria about 63,000 bacteria per square foot from the streets. And even manual sweeping removes about 44,000 bacteria per square foot. So it's definitely worthwhile to street sweep. Um the total amount of bacteria removed through sweeping we

estimated about 10 to the 14th bacteria which is about 4,000 bacteria reduction in the Park View Canal. So when you if you just go back to that slide the sweeping removes okay 63,000 per square feet on streets. Is that what you guys saw when it was implemented? Is that what you and your students saw when uh based in um in Park View? We do see a reduction in the storm water coming off the streets when when the street sweeping does take effect.

But I guess you know is that I guess my question is is that an industry standard when you say sweeping removes 63,000 per per square feet on streets and 44,000 uh per square feet in sidewalks. Is that is that a scientific standard or is this what we actually observed what we measured in the area? That's what we This is what we measured. Yes, we measured it directly. All right. That's okay.

So, what how did we UV treat? Well, um we had two UV an uh sterilizers. We had a large one that we used for the streets and the sidewalks. And then the the curbs were done with a handheld unit. We had three segments identified on 73rd Street and each segment received a different treatment depending on the day. Um we sampled on September 19th, 26th and October 27th and the treatments were no cleaning, sweeping and then sweeping plus UV. Um we needed to make rain and so uh we had a sprinkler system that was tied up to the hydrant. Um, we had a we had to decllorinate the water. So, we had a filter unit there and we then pre-wetted the street and also pre-wetted the sidewalk and then proceeded to collect a series of samples. This is the results, the general results. The top one corresponds to segment A. The second one corresponds to segment B. The third one corresponds to segment C. The dark blue are the streets, the results for the streets. The light blue are the results for the sidewalks. What you can see as we proceeded from day one to day two to day three, as you go horizontally, you can see an overall decline in the bacterial levels coming off of the street. So, we know that repetition of the treatment cleaning over and over again is helpful for improving the quality of the water. However, the baseline levels are very high. The baseline level of bacteria on the coming off of the streets is about 24,000 bacteria per 100 mills. From the sidewalks, it's about 12,000. Our maximums are 240,000. And we're trying to get this down to 70, which is the the the goal. Very very low levels. So, we have to really reduce the level by a lot. We need 99.99% reduction, a lot of reduction in order to get to our goal.

What we found with street sweeping and UV treatment is on its own it provides about 50% reduction. It helps but it's 50%. When we look at the repeated action of treatment of UV and street sweeping there was a four-fold reduction 75% from the streets. There was a seven-fold reduction from the sidewalks 85% reduction. But again we need 99.9% and we achieved 80%. So this is part of the solution but it's not the entire solution. So what we recommend go back I'm sorry just go back to the previous repeated cleaning matters more than specific treatment. Okay I'm just reading

yes and and the the repetition does help in the improvement of the water quality. We recommend that street sweeping continue. There are certain refinements of the process that we recommend as well, but it's very beneficial to removing the bacteria off of the streets. We recommend adding sidewalk cleaning. Um, sidewalk cleaning has the advantage in that it doesn't require the movement of the cars. It can be done without disrupting um the community. We think that UV technology is good, but it needs more development. U mainly, it was it's not designed for a city of this size. there needs to be more work and engineering in order to be able to apply uh UV treatment in a larger scale. We cons we recommend considering additional technologies that are strong disinfectants such as gaseous or liquid disinfection. Um UV requires that the light hit the surfaces and the roads are very crevice and so we believe that a gaseous or liquid disinfectant may be more effective such as hydrogen peroxide or ozone.

Doctor, I have a question. Yes. Um, sidewalk cleaning. What What and you actually just touched on this. Um, what would you recommend that we clean our sidewalks with? Are we already using that or because you mentioned concerned that chemicals will then? We did simple sweeping and the simple sweeping without any chemicals was able to reduce to a certain extent, but I think we're only getting 80% with that. So, I think we need to even get it higher. So getting into disinfectants, hydrogen peroxide when it degrades, it degrades to water and oxygen and so that wouldn't further contaminate the water. It's more as an

to clean the sidewalks with hydrogen peroxide then

that would be one alternative. Now again um there may be challenges for I don't know derm and there may be permitting issues. I don't know if that would have to be permitted but as a minimum simple sweeping helps a lot and then exploring these alternatives with stronger disinfectants I think u would be worthwhile. Okay. So in in summary u we know that the contamination of the Parkview canal is driven by storm water contamination. It's on the surface. It's coming off the surface of the streets and sidewalks. Um we believe that the sidewalks are a good opportunity to further reduce the source. UV shows potential but it needs refinement. Repeated cleaning helps and we were able to get 80 80% reduction in the uh bacteria in the storm water um doing repeated cleaning but we need 99.9% reduction. So, there are some plans for Park B Canal, including an outfall trash and sediment collector system that is being installed or has been installed. I I think they're at the process of installing it right now, which can help. Add sidewalk cleaning to enhance street sweeping. Consider stronger disinfectants for streets and sidewalks such as the peroxide or ozone. Again, um that may require approval. And then also evaluate canal-based treatment, actual disinfection of the water in the canal, perhaps through nanobubbles augmented with a disinfectant such as ozone. Again, there may be regulatory challenges with that. And with that, I'd like to thank the city of Miami Beach. This was a great opportunity. Um, very much appreciated. The logistical support was amazing. Um, the just moving things around, closing the streets. Um, it was a an incredible process and and really appreciate the support. So, I just want to thanks thank the city again. Thank you.

Thank you, doctor. Um, and let me just um let me just ask you some uh some some follow-up questions because, you know, you're you're suggesting then that we perhaps not continue with the UV treatment. Um because it's just the technology. I guess you know, it needs to be scaled up. So, the technology we use was designed for indoor use. um smaller scale. Um there needs to be development in scaling it up so that it could be efficiently applied throughout a city.

And so when we when we look at your at your your presentation, you know, it's it references a lot it seems like the contamination is in large part surfaced driven. Uh so what I'm wondering is if if at this point we view this primarily as a storm water runoff watershed management uh challenge rather than a singular infrastructure failure issue. It's a sur it's surface driven and the storm water system in m in this area of Miami Beach is very old and was installed prior to regulations that required the first flush treatment of storm water and therefore the storm water system was designed appropriately for its time which is take the water and put it into the canal. U but there is no first flush treatment which is required of more modern storm water systems. So that's part of the the limitation in terms of this system

and you and I I want to ask staff because if if surface treatment requires the use of for example hydrogen per peroxide that's something that it's a readily available chemical uh and that I'm just wondering is that something that we that can be easily incorporated into our pressure cleaning let's say that we do on a regular basis.

Good morning. I don't think it can be easily incorporated. We will have to start investigating it. That's a process that I have not seen done in a municipal environment, especially something in an area as dense as we are. It could be extremely labor intensive and challenging because we are not pressure washing often enough residential sidewalks in my opinion to have an impact. This would have to be done on a very very regular basis. Given that we have a lot of other approaches to addressing this issue, I think we should look at the um application of different disinfectants. That can be one of the tools, but we have many tools that we're looking at to address the problems.

And which were doctor, some of the other I think you mentioned ozone. Uh but I guess that would be uh like with nanobubbles. I mean that would be treatment of the canal itself, not the surface. Yes. And that could be an alternative. Yes.

But so so alternatives to hydrogen peroxide for surface treatment, you know, what other alternatives are there? Because I because it sounds again, you know, how do we make the surfaces cleaner? Uh the UV lights are not are not there yet to scale it to the to the level that would help the city. What other alternatives might be um considerations that uh that our public works department should be looking at?

I think it has to be multi multibarrier. The way when you try to get to 99.9 is four log removals and it's multiple barriers. So I um there different things that should be evaluated and every every I think the street sweeping should continue. That's 80% reduction frequent. Um but there needs to be other things added to it

and I guess operationally what level of cleaning obviously you know as you've mentioned um cleaning has produced the strongest observed improvements at roughly uh 80% reduction but what level of cleaning frequency would be uh actually required to sustain uh to sustain uh these improvements on the long term. We were uh we sampled at two week interval and then at one month. So we we cleaned three times in the in the period of a month roughly and we believe that the areas that were most that had the highest levels of bacteria were the areas that were tree covered. Um it happened to be an area where there were sea grapes and I think it attracts the birds and then you get all the debris coming down. So I think going to areas that are focusing on areas that are more susceptible. We love the trees. We love the birds, but just clean those areas um more frequently as an example.

And you know when you're saying three times in in a month yielded 80% so just continuing uh I guess pretty much that's almost pretty much weekly. Uh not you know just short of weekly cleaning. Um yeah. Is that is that something that uh that you feel then we should continue doing? Maybe it could vary seasonally. So during certain times of the year um for example in the summer when the trees are growing and there's much more litter and maybe animals are migrating towards the area than maybe at that time. So I I think it could vary depending but I guess there would have to be more research and study on it.

Okay. Because I would like you know I would like for um for Amy uh and John to work together and get this scientific feedback and implement it into an update to our plan uh that can be presented back to us. Uh because I do think I I think this is telling us the directions that we need to uh that we need to be going in. Can I go ahead please John? Go ahead. Yeah, Commissioner, for the record, we are currently sweeping three times a week in that area. So we're exceeding what was done in the study. The study was doing three times a week. Oh, I'm sorry. So we are matching what was in the study. Sorry.

Street sweeping. Street sweeping and manual sweeping as well. Which is what's being done on the sidewalks. I'm sorry. Manual sweeping on the sidewalks. Okay. And but it seems like when when doctor when you were doing the sweeping on the uh on the sidewalks, was it Pressure cleaning. Was it what type? A broom and dust pan. Broom and dust pan. That was it. Yes.

Okay. All right. So, where do we go from here, Amy? Well, I as you mentioned, we can go ahead and take a look specifically if there's anything else John's team can do in terms of the sweeping and we can investigate if the regulatory agencies would allow some type of disinfection and maybe test it out. Um, let's not give up on it and see if it could yield some improvements. Um, so we can sort of package that and think about what we could do, you know, this summer. Um, which may be helpful. And then we also brought for you the presentation of pump station 23. Um there was a study that was directed by city commission to go ahead and make sure leave no stone unturned with that pump station, making sure that there's no issues coming from from that. So if you'd like to hear that item, we can we can have that

please. Yes. Great.

Oh, okay. Great. And just and just for um just for background, last year, was it last year, John, that we had a failure of the of the force main? October of 2025.

October, we had a failure of of the force main uh by Biscane Beach Elementary. Great. Um and and at that time, you know, we spoke to you and you had already uh procured and requested a full uh detailed analysis of the conditions of the of the pump station and the infrastructure on the site. And this is the outcome of that analysis. That is correct, sir. This is actually an assessment of the actual pump station. There's quite a bit of infrastructure on that site, including portable water storage and pumping facilities. This is what's related to the sanitary sewer system. Okay, great. Good morning.

Good morning, commissioners. Nelson Pisakome, CHA Consulting. Um, and as John mentioned, we're really here to talk about the pump station itself and the the results from that. There's more information in the technical memorandum we provided to the city. Um but the purpose of of the pump station component of the scope was really to take a look at the operational and the maintenance data, take a look at all observable conditions, perform a physical inspection of the assets and try to ascertain what potential pathways there are for contaminants to be introduced into Park View Canal. Um specifically sewage. This is a sewage pump station. Um just a quick background of the site and and the infrastructure on the site. As you can see, there's a wastewater pump station, pump station 23 on the site, and there's the influent gravity main as well as the effluent force main pressure pipe. Um, beyond that, there are two groundwater storage tanks for potable water. They're used to attin attenuate peak demands in the city. Um, as well as a water booster station to sustain pressures during peak demands. So, an important note about our about our assessment. We aligned our assessment with the 2018 RNR report the city received and we thought that was important because that RNR report was used to feed your master plan that you're currently putting into place. So, um the assessment framework in terms of the rating criteria, the weights for certain assets, whether mechanical, structural, electrical, we follow that assessment framework. So you can take the results in our report, plug it into that RNR study, and if you wanted to rep prioritize where pump station 23 is based on the inspection we performed and all the work the city has done, well, you can easily do that, right? It it goes in it's an apples to apples comparison.

I'm sorry. And who prepared that uh that study in 2018?

That was a Hazen Sawyer study. Frankly, I I I knew how to do the assessment framework cuz I was there. But um so a just going into the the findings that we observed. Some of these findings are ones that we observed physically. Some of them are underground that we reviewed data and and and historical records. The city has the city has performed an extensive amount of of rehabilitation of existing infrastructure. You can see manholes have been lined. The city has done 100% CCTV of the system. Um they've done 95% lining of manholes and 95% lining of trunk mains. On the right hand side you see a rehabilitation of the drywall. We're showing before and after pictures. Um the rehabilitation clearly denotes not only a a repairs to mechanical and electrical components but importantly repairs to the cementitious liner of the drywall um which is uh a potential pathway right should there be an SSO. Um perhaps the most important work is the wet well lining. You see the wet well before and after picture. The wet well is where the sewage is housed prior to pumping and discharge is collected there and picked up at the pumps and and lifted to to uh to the sanitary sewage system for conveyance to to ultimate treatment and disposal. Um so this was a this was the primary pathway that that sewage could be introduced into the Parkview canal and it's been completely and and lined and restored. Um, a few other notes to mention, mechanical components.

So, so go back. I'm sorry. Sure. So, you said that if sewage would be making its way into the canal, it would be from this here. I This would be the primary pathway. The primary pathway. There could be other pathways. So, I'm trying to cover it. Okay. So, let's So, let's explain this to the public. And I I'm sorry I didn't have this presentation ahead of time.

No problem. It's was very challenging as lay individuals to be analyzing this for the first time um on the fly here. What is being displayed there? This is an underground retaining area almost let's say like almost let's say like a septic tank almost like a septic tank except that it as opposed to it being treated and infiltrated into the ground. That's not what this is doing. This is collecting, housing it, making sure it does not exfiltrate into the ground and then pumping it for treatment and disposal. Underground tank. It's an underground tank.

It's an underground tank. And the uh conditions on the left were I guess the conditions in 2018 when that analysis was done first. Um, no those those pictures were not from 2018. Those pictures are his city historical documents. They lined the wet world infrastructure sometime between 2019 and the time today. I I don't really recall the date exactly, but um the the before pictures are not from the 2018 inspection. Okay. So, okay. And then and today those are the lined conditions today.

Just sorry, just to answer your question a little bit more clearly, they would probably reflect the 2018 inspection because they were taken afterward. Got it. I see. And and so then um because just looking looking at one of the tables uh when we look at the remaining useful life of the wedwell and it says that the remaining useful life of the wedwell is unknown. Um to me that seems like an inconsistency because it seems like the pictures there seems like something that's been updated and maintained well.

How come we don't have why is it that we are unable to identify what would be the useful remaining life? So I'm not sure what t so there was two tables in the report right there was one that documented the existing condition and that was an unknown condition. The remaining useful life of the wet wall is in excess of 30 years. Now with this lining in excess of 30 years. Yeah. I'm I'm not I'm looking at table 2.3. That would probably be the existing condition documentation because it's early on in the report.

Okay. So I mean that's you know because that would be a concern because if because if it would have been like for example there's certain things where we see we have zero useful years left. So that wet weld that's underground does not have zero useful years anymore. The manufacturer might say it's a 20 year guaranteed service life, right? Something of that sort, but a lining of this caliber, they they provided a cementitious lining behind the epoxy liner, it it does increase the remaining useful life of the structure quite significantly.

Okay. Okay. Thank you. Um but I perhaps the most important part and I I just don't want to belver the point but is that the epoxy liner is showing you know extremely good condition. There's no visible observable exfiltration from there. So there's no contaminant pathway right um a few notes on other potential potential contributors. We we call sewage discharges SSO sanitary so flows. Um you can see all the work that's been done on mechanical components, replacing of valves, working on the pumps. In fact, one of our recommendations was to fix the seal water system on the pump. Um that that's all been done and those are all typical maintenance items that while they extend the useful life, it's not a hard number to the extension of the useful life, but it is maintenance items and that address potential pathways for for contaminants. So at a high level, a the scope of work as it related to the pump station was to identify from the physical perspective and both from the record perspective what potential pathways could be identified or observed. No potential pathways were identified or observed for uh for sanitary sewer to to be introduced to Park View Canal from pump station 23. Right. Um I I think that's the most important finding. There was minor findings and recommendations that the city has been extremely proactive in addressing minor repairs of of uh of a ladder and railings. Um a few mechanical recommendations in certain in particularly in terms of the seal water leakage and corrosion control. And one kind of overarching uh recommendation to take a look at the drywall ventilation cuz the H2S in the drywall, the hydrogen sulfide builds up and it does create

corrosion. So, um, more of a proactive measure to to try to not only limit a a future potential pathway, but also just to keep up with maintenance and limit future capital repairs. So, I'm just and thank you. Thank you for this because it kind of I guess um coincides well with what the doctor uh was was telling us earlier from from their work in um in the um what do we call this area aren't you? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. The but it's uh we call the watershed.

Oh yeah. in within the watershed. Um that is not necessarily something coming from from the infrastructure but but it's more of a sanitation issue. It is, you know, I've been on this item for since 2019. It it does have non-point source contributions as opposed to a point source contribution. Right. Oh, sorry. Could you repeat?

So, this item, the Park View Canal water quality issue has significant non-point source contributors. So I'm agreeing with Dr. Gabrielle, right? As opposed to a point source where a point source would be pump station 23, non-point source would be various, you know, pollutants in the watershed as a whole. Okay. Let me ask you something because so the same way with uh with a wed with the wed when we look at the remaining useful life on on the table it was unknown but you identified that at least 20 years you mentioned is a manufacturer guarantee on the wet well.

No that there's a there's a table later on in the report that documents that I don't have the report exactly in front of me but it documents what the expected revised useful life is. And then the table also takes that out takes into account when the improvement was made. So it should say the remaining useful life somewhere between section three and five most likely because I believe six is remaining useful life. I see here. Yeah. Okay. So So I see here for the wedd. Okay. I found that that was really what we tried to do to provide the best value to the city in terms of a full inspection since we were out there. Mhm. It

it was a little bit beyond the scope of of what we're doing. The intention is, you know, the water quality and Parkview canal, but all those um I think all those inspection results would be valuable. Okay, John, guide us uh for the next steps.

Well, the next steps currently, we're replacing the force main that goes from pump station 23 to pump station 24. That was an emergency purchase authorization based on the sanitary sewer overflow at Biscane Beach Elementary. Uh that is going to be a horizontal directional drill. It's approximately 2,000 ft from the northern portion of Hawthorne at pump station 24 to pump station 23 at the street end of 75th. This will be a HDP pipe with fused joints which will take away the compromised areas of the joints that we experienced with the ductal iron that is currently in service. So each of those pipes is fused and where it's fused that joint is stronger than the original pipe material. Those pipes tend to have a useful life of close to 100 years. So that's great news that uh once this is in none of us will see the failure of that pipe again. That is scheduled to be done throughout May and June. They are currently mobilized running their u drilling rig to basically ream a hole underground under the canal. Then they will be pulling the pipe from Hawthorne to the end of 75th. Then they'll dig the two access pits to tie into the existing infrastructure. So that is underway right now and will be the main work will be completed by the end of June. Restoration work extends into August of uh this year.

Okay. Um what targets can we set? What targets uh can we work uh Amy um with with the team at M with public works on you know if we continue on a certain path

we continue a certain level of sanitation maintenance service surface driven cleaning um a certain a certain target for for the reduction of the entroxy you know over a a let's say over a one-year period, if we sustain these uh three monthly cleanings a month, if we find a way to maybe incorporate uh the hydrogen peroxides, maybe yes, maybe no. Um can we look at setting certain targets of where we could potentially be given uh given what what the science is telling us today? Well, first I I just want to acknowledge we have seen very meaningful progress since 2020. We've seen a pretty large uh reduction in the average amount of bacteria. Um so we know we've seen about a 76% improvement since 2020. So that's positive. We want to keep going in the right direction. You know, our ultimate goal is to be 70 uh MPNs. We want to meet that Department of Health target for ocean beach bathing. Again, it's aggressive, but that's what our community expects and that that's what we're shooting towards. So, I wish I had a very simple answer for you, but there are so many variables, but it should be going in the right direction. Um, as you know, uh, Commissioner, the city commission approved funding to do design and permitting for nanobubbles and we do expect to get those permits in hand in the next one to two months. Uh we've uh had many pre-application meetings, meetings with the regulatory agencies and that is all moving in the right direction. Um and nanobubbles introduces a technology that can add oxygen and ozone directly into the canal to hasten up those natural processes um to really address the bacteria, the algae um and to to handle some of those issues. The um the canal, as you know, is very

angled and has low flow. So, we're we're really uh positive about that and the company has worked elsewhere in other areas of Florida and our country, but this is the first time in Miami Date County. So, the regulatory agencies are very um interested in this as well. And so, you said that the permitting for that we should be able to have permits in hand within a two-month period.

We we really hope so. Uh they were submitted April 1st uh to the regulatory agencies and we did receive the first request for additional information. that information is being provided back. Uh we have heard from the Army Corps of Engineers that they do expect to issue our permit and we're still working directly with DURM um as well as Southwater Water Management District on some other items. Yes, Commissioner. Thank you both of you. John, question for you. Circling back on the cleaning the sidewalks with hydrogen peroxide, is that possible? Yes or no? Definitely possible. Is it uh economical and feasible? That that I need to look into if you could. Yep. Definitely will. Why not?

And I'll look at other alternatives to see what we can do. I do want to note that, you know, we're we are treating the symptoms right now. The ultimate goal here is to get modern pre-treatment in the system, which we well we are well on our way of installing pre-treatment through Downstream Defenders through a project and then Northshore Dhood improvement projects. One of the main goals of those projects is to provide treatment, pre-treatment for storm water before it makes it into the bay. And and that will address a lot of the concerns in the surrounding basins in this basin. So, and how long will that take to get implemented?

That uh that's a great question. I'm not sure that I have funding for it right now. Uh Northshore D I don't. Uh so, we're we're just working towards that. So, thanks, John. Yes. And does Northshore D cover the town center area? It covers up to 72nd which some of that goes into this canal and then phase two and three go up north of 73rd there. So it's all in this general vicinity. So Northshore D72 and then 73rd and 73rd is the next phase.

Okay. The main pump station will be installed as part of the initial phase because it's one pump station for the whole project and as well will the injection wells which are probably the preferred pre-treatment in that area. So, but the perimeter of Northshore D Northshore D uh covers what what area of the wershed? It goes up to 73rd and a little bit up into the side streets north of 73rd and goes west to Indian Creek and the southern border is 69th Street

of 69th Street. Yes sir. Okay. And this whole system ties together and outfalls. That's why I say and so but I just have a question on that because there was an article on the Miami Herald uh last week where where a private party a developer was stating that they were funding all of the they were self-funding all of the infrastructure improvements for this part of the city and so but now I'm hearing from you that that we're short in funding. Yeah. Yeah, North Shorty is not a funded project as of right now. We are in design right now with a grant that's paying for the majority of the design, but as far as construction, we don't have funding.

All right. So, so I'd encourage the administration to reach out because this was something that was published on the Miami Herald. There was an article about development in North Beach, uh, where I specifically, you know, raised concerns about, you know, the infrastructure improvements not not advancing, uh, not being able to keep up with the rate of development in the area. Um and and and the developer quoted in the article stated on the record in the article that they were self-funding the infrastructure improvements needed in the area uh to keep up uh so that so that the infra so that the infrastructure could keep up with the rate of construction and so I so so I would like to I see Mr. our CFO also entering the room. Very good timing. Uh because I do think since we're talking about numbers and funding and budgets and infrastructure, we need the administration to, you know, understand that our public works director is telling us that in order to do u the modernized pre-treatment in Northshore D uh to improve the water quality levels uh in the Park View Canal. um he needs funding and that and that this is all within the project area of where we're seeing all of this town center developments. If you're if it's going all the way to 69th Street,

you said 69th to 73rd 69th to 73rd and the western coordinate being that'll be Indian Creek and Dickens and the eastern most eastern most is uh Collins. It doesn't go into Collins, but side streets to Collins. So, we need to follow up on this. I'd like to have an update. Uh I would like for the administration to give me an update on on the funding for that um at the at the uh next meeting. What's what's the cost of this infrastructure improvement uh for Northshore D?

Cost of Northshore D is approximately $140 million if I remember correctly. $140 million and that's for phase one that goes to 72nd and then I believe phase two is 58 million. Now I did want to clarify that the each development is required to do a hydraulic analysis for water and sewer needs and there might be a reference to that. They are required if the city's system cannot handle the load that the new development is going to going to bring, they need to fund upgrading that system. But that's concurrency with with any project. That's with any project.

They can't break ground unless and we can't decline them as we well know. you know, we need to give them the option, the ability, you know, we just can't tell a development, a large tower, oh, we're not going to approve you because the water and sewer capacity is not there. The state requires us to give them the option to pay into the system to funded the improvements. That's correct.

Okay. I just want the record to be clear on that because a lot of times there's misinformation out there as to what the city can decline, what the city can do, what the city can't do. And then people see all of this overdevelopment happening in an area like North Beach and they believe that, you know, we are allowing for this development. uh they believe that we could have, you know, voted down this development or not approved this development when in fact um the zoning number one was created over 10 years ago when none of us were on the deis and then on top of that now uh now the state doesn't allow the city to deny the project based on sewer capacity. the state requires uh us to give the developer the opportunity to pay into the system and bring it uh as mitigation to bring it into concurrency. Uh if and if they're not able to do that, then we're allowed to deny it, but we're not allowed to flat out deny the project. Okay. All right. Uh with that, I I would like for the administration to come back at the next meeting. Let's get the recommendations from the doctor uh um and bring back a plan of how do we sustain uh the surfaced driven enhanced sanitation throughout the entire watershed. Uh because I think I think that's the key. The doctor was only looking at a very narrow area of 73rd Street which is that block just north of of of the park. Uh clearly we need to look at the entire watershed that uh feeds into into the canal. In the meantime, while we work on getting $140 million uh for modernized pre-treatment, we need to, you know, do the above ground pre-treatment, which is

sanitation. So, so I just want to make sure that we can see at the next meeting a plan uh of how we sustain that within the watershed so that we can do what has been proven already to yield an 80% uh improvement uh in in in in bacterial levels. Is that good? You got it. Anything else, Amy? Thank you. Thank you. I appreciate uh the seriousness that everyone has uh has has put into this issue and that will show this item continued to next. Perfect.

All right, let's go into the next item. Our next item is item number four, monthly updates on the status of ongoing and future projects involving the use of Leonard Horowits color palettes for art deco buildings restoration in collaboration with Barbara Hulini. This item is sponsored by Commissioner Dominguez. All right. Good morning.

Good morning. Good morning. Um, Elizabeth Muro, assistant director for parks, facilities, fleet, and beaches. Um, at the last committee meeting, you asked us to explore additional buildings that could be painted in these art deco colors. One of which was um police station at 1100 Washington. And what we did is that we actually conferred with our planning department to see the appropriateness of these buildings. So first um the police station that one which is built in a contemporary style is more appropriate um not to have these colors but it will be painted in light cool colors including some blue sparse colors throughout. Okay. So that one's not exactly appropriate. You also asked us to explore the restrooms on Lumis Park. So, we identified the restrooms on six and on on 14th Street and those are appropriate and we did get a cost proposal for those. The cost to repaint those buildings is about 8,400 exclusive of any consultation fees for Miss Huniki. The total uh fiscal impact for this would be exactly 14 I'm sorry, 18,400 and this is currently unfunded.

Okay. Uh would it be possible for because I do I do like the impact that color does bring to the area and I um I do like these these restrooms. They are um they are art art deco in style in their in their architecture. So, I'd love to see a concept of a design concept of what they would look like. Um, before we go ahead and we recommend, you know, the expenditure of funds to to to paint them, I'd like to see a concept of what they would look like. Okay. I just have a comment real quick.

So, it looks like the the cost associated for this is um to to paint, correct me if I'm wrong, two restrooms is 18,400. Correct. So, it's 8,400 for the actual painting and for Miss Hulani the consultation fees are 5,000 per building. Sure. And um and um is so the so then if we were to just hypothetically say let's paint more restrooms um all the city restrooms. So then is there is there at any point where the price, you know, tell me more about the $8,400 for the two restrooms that includes staff time, paint,

correct? Everything. And what we did is that we estimated that there would be a couple of colors that would be included in there. Anywhere from three to four colors depending on what Miss Hulani recommends. So that we issued an ITQ or an invitation to quote and that's what we um got those calls for. Okay. Okay, thank you. Any other questions? So, I think we're ready to close this item out, right? Or you want to wait for him? Okay. Yeah.

And I don't see any public comment online either or in person. So, Okay. Um, yeah. So, if we could just if we could get the designs, a rendering and renderings. Yes. Okay. Beautiful. And we could bring that um back to next month's committee meeting. Okay. And you want this in consultation with Miss Hulani what these uh renderings would be. I leave that up to Okay. up to the administration.

You got it. Um that's that's up to you guys. Okay. Yes. Uh but we'll just we'll continue the item to next month. I don't know if there's any members of the public wishing to speak on this item. Seeing none in person and on in Zoom, uh we can go to the next item. Okay. Item number five is discuss the potential creation of a quiet zone and the installation of related signage in the south of fifth neighborhood. This item was sponsored by Vice Mayor Dominguez. Okay, this is uh Vice Mayor Dominguez's item. Is there anyone from the administration who will be presenting on this item? I believe police is walking to the days.

All right, good morning everybody. How you doing? Captain Police Department.

Welcome. Thank you for joining us. So, this item was brought up um for us to come up with some solutions, ideas to assist with the loud noise from mufflers, loud noise from vehicles, um large trucks in the sofa community. So, there were a few ideas that were brought up, um, which include additional signs that are distributed throughout the zone, uh, that say quiet zones. Uh, I believe 20 signs were identified to be distributed throughout the area. Um, we've also increased our enforcement for loud noise citywide, not just in the SA community. Um, in fact, we've actually increased our numbers by about 400%. The last time I checked citywide. So, we target specific areas like the SA community, um, Alton Road Corridor, MacArthur Causeway, 41st Street corridor, and different areas in North Beach, uh, which contribute to these numbers. And all of these are on duty resources that that we're using to conduct this enforcement. Uh we conducted an operation called Operation Quiet Streets to address specifically this issue which has been a big issue for the community

and and and the businesses. So our officers are on board with continuing enforcement. Captain, let me ask you, what is the monetary violation associated with the citation uh with these retrofitted muffins? I don't have that specific number. Off the top of my head, I can imagine it's a couple hundred bucks per citation. Okay. Um I think you know I think that the administration is recommending approval of this item. Mark. Yes. Yes sir.

Okay. Um so what I would like to do is is clearly you know we have an issue with noise in in the city. Cle clearly we want to do everything that we can not just by you know putting more responsibilities on our police and having them going out and doing more details which is good. I'm glad that you're doing that. But if we can get ahead of the situation, if we can get ahead of the of the situation by informing people, hey, this is a quiet zone, uh, and hopefully encourage them not to go into the area with their with their retrofitted mufflers or to find ways to create noise. Hopefully, we can get ahead of the situation so that so that the individuals don't don't engage in the violation in the first place. What would be great is if the zone if the the quiet zone sign would indicate that there is a penalty associated with violating this. That I think is the driver simply telling people that hey this is a quiet zone. I'm not sure that's that's far enough, but they see that violation of the quiet zone could be, I don't know, $500 citation, could be, you know, something arrestable or, you know, x amount. I think that that could then yield a change in in behavior. Uh so so if if if if you don't have any comments on this commission or perhaps we can send this back to the full commission

uh with the inclusion of of a penalty um on the signage. Yep. I support that. I support that. Okay. All right. Anything else that you need from us, Captain? That's all, sir. Appreciate. All right. Thank you, sir. Thank you for your hard work. And I believe it's uh national it's it's national police national police. So thank you guys always for the incredible work you guys do every single day in our community. We know we ask a lot of you guys uh but you guys do it with passion and with uh with with tremendous dedication and we are very grateful. Thank you. We appreciate the support.

Thank you captain. All right. With seeing no members of the public wishing to speak on this item and none on Zoom will show this item uh going back to the full commission with a positive recommendation. Next item.

The next item is item number six. discussed a ready to implement plan to reform residential towing practices. Said plan to include a one, ending resident toes on public property except in instances involving vehicles parked next to fire hydrants and handicap parking spaces and in designated freight loading zones and two enhancing enforcement in residential zones and freight loading zones to ensure compliance and reduce illegal parking. This item was sponsored by Commissioner Fernandez.

Thank you. And uh I want to thank the parking director and the and the administration for working very hard and working closely uh with me on this on this item. Um you know, I want to make clear that, you know, I'm not I'm not uh against enforcement, but uh I'm for proportional enforcements. Uh not all parking violations create the same level of public harm. Uh, a car blocking a fire hydrant, a sidewalk, a handicap parking space, or a travel lane uh is a very different type of violation from a resident parked in the wrong residential zone. Or your bumper or your tire is touching the the yellow area of a of a of a yellow curb. or you know your car might be inching into you know a a motorcycle spot. I mean there's there's violations but then there are those egregious violations where you are hurting the quality of life of of of the community. One of the ones that we hear about all the time, uh, violations of people parking in freight loading zones and commercial loading zones that then cause the trucks to do their deliveries from the street and end up affecting an already congested uh uh roadway uh in a in in a city that's that's already oftentimes in gridlocks. Clearly, we know that a violation like that of those freight loading zones create uh serious uh domino effect on traffic in in the city. Um but this proposal is is about identifying uh identifying ways that we can end

resident toes. How can we go into into into those uh violations that residents, you know, for a simple mistake, they're getting towed and then now having to incur not only a significant inconvenience and the distaste that then you have in your own community of walking out of your home, out of getting a coffee with a friend or whatever and seeing your car gone. But now, you know, you're also dealing with the cost of of the towing and just the disruption that that causes to to your day when you're you're you're being cited anyways. You know, we're still enforcing and there's still there still is a penalty. So, we have uh our parking director joining us, William McDonald. You've uh you've been working with us on this on this item. uh if you want to uh present on the item and then we'll come back to the days for comments.

Uh yes, Commissioner Will McDonald, director of parking for the city of Miami Beach. So the uh the administration and the parking department looked over all of this and I understand that you know we I'll just say this with we see eye to eye on 99% of these items. Um uh you know there there is a point where you can have compliance and then you have compliance. You know as a resident myself I have to go to Publix and eat and and or restaurants and eat dinner and shop in the grocery stores of the same individuals um that I oversee enforcement for the community. Um so I want to be able to go to Publix without getting tomatoes thrown at me. So, I absolutely appreciate this initiative and I think it will uh go a very long way in ensuring that the parking department can um uh create even more goodwill within the community to show individuals that we're here more to focus on gaining compliance. um creating a great and I probably say this way too much here, a great parking and transportation ecosystem because some of those items that you uh uh talked about that do plague regarding the trucks that feel that they can stop anywhere. Um I myself go north on Collins every day to go home and I've said this before, but our our public works director calls me every single time there are those trucks. Um, but with the residents, um, I think right now, if I remember correctly off the top of my head with the data, they they only, uh, right now they only justify about 10 to 15% of our of our toes. And not to mention the program, uh, that you sponsored and that the commission passed, the text before toe program, um, right now has an 85% save rate. Um so I think this program just kind of goes one step further in ensuring um that we can gain compliance through other means.

And so you know um you know right now year to date uh well we've had I guess close to 1,600 uh residential toes. I I believe it was 1181 year to date.

1181. Yes. I'm sorry. Yes. Yes. 118 1181. I I apologize. So, you know, even though residential is is, you know, it's not the bulk of the amount of cars being towed in our city, when you look at the amount of our residents and you see the the the amount of of them that are getting towed year to date, it's pretty significant, you know, and and and even if it's if it were only a hundred residents that were getting towed, those are 100 residents who we serve. They are they are our residents. They are our taxpayers. And what I see the the opportunity here is that um by reducing the unnecessary towing of of residents for administrative or otherwise correctable violations. We can focus on stronger enforcement and resources on the violations that most directly do impact public safety. Those that impede on emergency access, those that are causing traffic gridlock and and congestion, those who those that are affecting businesses. you know, we don't need to be uh, you know, throwing the book at our residents and and getting and getting, you know, 1100 of our of our residents uh towed and it's not even halfway through through through through the year when we can instead be focusing on the more serious infractions. on the more serious infractions that oftentimes they're really not being caused by by by our residents and we can and we can reshift our resources which you know they're pretty

limited resources uh into into um into those I've circulated a memo with with with the agenda uh that you know breaks down my proposal into into categories. the category that um of violations that are immediately eligible for a tow. Uh, and I'm just going to go through them because we're talking, you know, if you are in any one of these categories, like I'm sorry, like you should totally get towed. Situations like fire hydrants, fire lanes, handicap, uh, parking spaces, blocking uh blocking a travel lane, blocking a crosswalk, blocking a sidewalk, uh, blocking a bicycle lane, blocking a bus stop. um you know, you're blocking a loading zone, whether it be freight or or commercial. Uh you're obstructing uh driveways, you're obstructing dumpsters, you're obstructing traffic, your scoff law, you are in a safety zone, a school loading zone. Those are, you know, serious violations. Like shame on you if you are if you are blocking the area where where where kids are supposed to be getting off uh to go to school and now because you decided to block that now a kid needs to get off from their parents' car or from or from or from a school bus on the street because you know you had to block that space. No. uh or you know, shame of shame on you if you are blocking a a fire hydrant and god forbid there's there's a fire emergency. Yeah. No, shame on you. You should absolutely uh get towed. Or if a handicapped person can't get to where they need to be um because you are you're parked in a handicap parking

space and you don't belong there, you should absolutely get towed. uh in those in those circumstances and I've enumerated those in in my memo and what what I've accompanied with that is that what we should do is that the purpose of you getting towed in those circumstances is to achieve compliance. You want to be able to remedy these more egregious violations quickly because you don't want uh an illegally parked vehicle uh blocking a fire hydrant for a prolonged period of time. You don't want someone that's illegally parked in a in a in a school loading zone blocking the kids drop off area for for a significant period of time because now they're they're causing a safety violation and you know they should be subject to to a toll. But what I'm suggesting in these circumstances, let's initiate and let's introduce a text message to to to those prior to towing. And why am I suggesting that is oftent times by sending that courtesy text message and I'm not talking about a 15minute courtesy warning, a text message that makes it clear your vehicle is parked in a manner creating a safety violation and will be towed at your expense. Please relocate your vehicle immediately to resolve the safety violation. Avoid being towed. This is a courtesy message from the city of Miami Beach. What does this do? It helps us achieve compliance potentially quicker than a towing truck showing up and towing the vehicle. Now, if the towing truck gets there first uh and toes the vehicle, well, so be it. uh the person the person was uh was parked

there illegally. They deserve to be towed. But the goal is not to be punitive because that's what the citation for is for. The citation is the punitive manner of it. That is what we use to drop the hammer on these on these individuals. The towing is to achieve compliance. And if the resident is close by and if the resident is able to fix uh that infraction quicker than a toy truck coming uh coming by, then we should be doing that. Um then there was the separate category of non-immediate tow violations. And these non-immed immediate tow violations is okay, you're resident of zone three and you parked accidentally is zone two. Uh your car is inching in on the yellow curb, which we all have done that. I did it two nights ago actually. I mean it just these are things that that you know when when you are in a city as tight as as ours, this this happens. um you know, you're um you're parked at a at one of those meter meter rental spaces. You know, these are things that can be solved, but you don't always need to start off with a with a toe. You know, give people the opportunity to correct. Give them give them a ticket. get them a ticket instead of towing, but track it. If you if you realize, okay, this person has engaged in this three times, well, you know what? Now you've engaged in this three times, now you'll be towed. But we don't need to start off with the first violation. If your if your car is is in

a is in a residential zone and you don't realize that you're in the in the wrong zone, people that has happened to people in our city. They they don't realize that, you know, they they parked in the in the wrong zone. Their car is is going into the yellow curb. They don't realize, but there was a no parking uh anytime sign placed there where it wasn't yesterday. And this is stuff that happens all the time in our city. Let's give the residents the benefit of the doubt rather than than than starting with the toe with the first violation. Let's give them let's give them three courtesy warnings by means of a ticket. They're they they're still getting a ticket. They're not getting away with it for free. They are still getting a ticket. And then after the third violation, well, now you're abusing the system. Then at that point, you'll be towed. Uh, and when you look at my at my memo, you'll you'll see that um that when people get these these tickets instead of towing, they're also getting a text message so that they know, you know, your vehicle is in violation of unauthorized parking of residential zone or other infraction. Repeated violations may result in towing at your expense. This is a courtesy message from the city of Miami Beach. That way, not only are they getting the ticket, but they are also being informed. They're being informed that what they're engaging in is a violation of our rules. And if they abuse this, and if they engage in this activity repeatedly, they're going to end up getting towed. One of the recommendations that came from Miami Beach United was that if a site if a cited vehicle remains uncorrected after 24 hours that the

vehicle would then be eligible for towing enforcement. And that to me sounds like something reasonable because one thing is if you park and you're out there, you know, an hour or two hour if you're out there the next morning and you realize, oh gosh, I didn't realize there was a sign there where there wasn't a sign yesterday. Okay, you know, I I won't park there again. But sometimes, you know, we are a very pedestrian community and people do engage multiple modes of transportation. So there are areas of our city where individuals might park their car today. they might not go back to their car for two or three days. Uh and in those in those situations where they're engaged in these violations, they should be towed. But what we are introducing in that circumstance is you know making them eligible for the 15minute uh toll warning so that you know they may not even know that there's a ticket on their car but you're giving them the opportunity to correct this.

I think this is very resident friendly. I think this is very mindful of the complaints we've been receiving because we have been get getting a lot of frustrations from our residents um about this and I also think operationally it it helps us then focus on the other violations the freight loading zone violations the commercial loading zone violations the alleys res nonresidents the nonresidents who are violating in residential zones. It allows us then now to go back and shift our resources and focus our resources on the violations that are affecting the residents rather than using our resources against the residents. We are using our resources to address the concerns of the residents and that's the objective with this item. So, Commissioner Matsalenas, I don't know if you I would value your your your feedback. You live in South Beach. I live in Mid Beach, but you live in one of our uh densest parking zones, and uh you've worked very closely on these issues over the years, and I'd value your feedback.

Thank you, Commissioner Fernandez. This is excellent legislation. I appreciate it as well. It's helpful for our residents and it's helpful for um our parking department as well and our enforcement. I see our enforcement officers over there. Hello. You all do great, great work. Um I do have a couple questions um that I want to better understand will um and some comments as well. So from the feedback that I got from our North Beach residents, they feel like there's a lack of enforcement in North Beach. So question will do you have how many how many of the parking enforcement officers are assigned to North Beach?

So after the last commission meeting we dedicated uh two different officers. Uh one works a 6P to 230A. The other is going to be the uh 10P to 630A or 11P to 7:30A uh depending on if they're a part-time officer or a full-time uh officer. So we have dedicated two individuals to North Beach every single night. Um when we have had additional individuals uh we have authorized overtime. So I know there have been some times three individuals assigned to the North Beach area and I know there will be an LTC coming because I have gathered some data and essentially the the outcome has been exactly what you would expect. We've written two to three times the amount of citations than we were previously writing. Um

previously prior to what? uh before assigning two dedicated individuals. So, um which was when again, I'm sorry. Uh the night of the last commission meeting. Okay. Okay. All right. That's good to hear. Um and so, you know, can we continue the efforts in North Beach because again, and I think the concern that I kept hearing over and over again was that the residents have a perception that there's a lot of abandoned vehicles that are parked in North Beach in some areas. And so if we can maybe figure that out, crack down on that and tow abandoned vehicles out.

So yes and no. Like for me, if in a vehicle is determined to be abandoned, we absolutely can tow the vehicle. The challenge comes and um uh soon thereafter that meeting, uh I know that our team received se several text messages of several vehicles. Um for example, one was missing a bumper. Um but that is a cosmetic issue. And the license plate that was in the back window had a valid zone 26 permit. There was a vehicle that had a North Carolina license plate that somebody said it never moves. Um, the vehicle has a valid zone 26 permit and we called up the homeowner and they said, "Yes, my husband owns that vehicle and he has mobility challenges. That's why we never move our vehicle." So, okay. So, we do have to um we understand that there is perception out there. Um, it is a fine line to walk. Uh, actually, while I was in the audience, I received a text from residents saying, "Hey, we see a vehicle in our zone and it's got a flat tire. can you send somebody out here? Um because it's never moved. Um we can respond to those and if a vehicle we have a procedure to go through if a vehicle is deemed to be abandoned, we have to follow certain steps.

Um there was a code a few years ago uh that that uh uh was cut out of the the books in 2022 that said a vehicle has to move every uh 48 hours. As uh uh Commissioner Fernandez spoke, there are residents who don't use their car every day, but they do rely on the curb. And so it gets challenging when somebody says, "Hey, I'm going to go out of town for 2 weeks and they leave their car there." And then you get, and I've seen this in every municipality I worked, resident wars where someone may or may not love their neighbor and they're like, "Well, I'm going to call parking every day on that vehicle." Um, so we do walk a fine line. Um but the additional um the additional uh officers that we have up in the north have in essentially produced additional citations. And then with the current direction right now um with the last commission driven uh uh uh uh permission that we received was when a vehicle has received three citations in zone 26 that vehicle is eligible for tow. Um I don't know the as of yesterday data but I know we had towed about 30 vehicles specifically for that reason over the last two weeks plus or minus. Um now we had towed additional vehicles that were deemed abandoned um before we received that because again if we give it a ticket we give it a ticket we give it a ticket at there's a point in time we can use a particular code that says this vehicle is being stored we're we're taking it. Um so we will use absolutely all the resources within the code. um uh that we can it is nuance sometimes. It does take a few times. Um and then sometimes perception is not reality. Um and our dispatchers um and our supervisors sometimes have to educate um uh uh complaintants that call and say, "Hey, I've seen this not move." And we're like, "Yeah, we know it hasn't moved, but it is a valid vehicle."

Sure. Of course. Of course there are valid vehicles that shouldn't be towed, but there are others that should be towed. Um, and so, and I just want to, you know, be clear that it seems that whenever we get resident complaints about toes, it does happen to be mostly South Beach residents. And so, North Beach residents feel like they're not being served by towing. Um, so maybe we just, you know, make sure we're, you know, doing the due diligence and and enforcing in North Beach cuz they're really at a parking at this point. Oh, we all are kind of, but and especially in those instances where you have these violations by the non-residents, which is happening. It's happening in North Beach. They're telling us all all the time, these aren't necessarily always, you know,

violations by people who live in North Beach. These are, for example, short-term rentals. We know short-term rentals is a problem in in North Beach, and they are taking away parking from our residents. And that's and that's where I'm so grateful and you brought it up at at commission as as well commissioner about about North Beach. Uh you know that that is we have to focus. Yes. There because because for our residents who depend on a car for their job, that's where they're able to find attainable housing. It's in North Beach.

Correct. And so and so and so we need to understand the real direct impact then that vehicles from non residents parked illegally uh in North Beach in in these areas that you've identified commissioner the impact that that is then having on our residents quality of life on their availability on their u on their availability of parking when they get home from work and And they depend they depend on their cars. You know, especially, you know, people who are working in construction, people who are working in services for for for our community, they depend on their vehicles and they need to have spaces available to them. And that's where we need your department uh to focus more of these enhanced uh enhanced um you know enforcement measures. And as uh so right now uh we are in the 18th month approximately give or take of the pilot. Um we will not recommend extending that pilot. We will instead recommend uh creating a a permanent zone. I know there are going to be some conversations um as there were I believe 18 months ago when it was um when it was talked about and first discussed before I arrived regarding maybe breaking it up into smaller zones. There's pros and cons to both because for example, does somebody that lives on West Normandy Isles, do they need to park at 85th and Hawthorne? Um, or should that go to somebody who lives within a few blocks of 85th and Hawthorne? So, there are several things that we still need to engage with the community to get consensus well as much consensus as possible. Um uh and then obviously in November when this is slated to our recommendation will be to have a permanent solution in place at that point in time. Then we will also be

recommending to go to the exact same uh um I'll just say violation structure that exists within zone one that exists within zone 2 uh uh zone 4 things of that nature.

So another concern that I want to raise is um Bell Ale. I was contacted by a resident of Bell Isle where they have very very limited guest parking and they're concerned that if we're not towing in Bell Ale, you know, it's going to be chaotic with the standard there and there's a lot of residents, you know, and others. So, I just want to bring that up as a concern and I do trust you and Commissioner Fernandez to work something out. Um, and I understand that I like the proposal that MBU made too about, you know, if there's a ticket, we give them 24 hours and, you know, maybe there's other things that we can do, but I don't know if it's appropriate to have a car out for Bell Isle because of their challenges there or not. And that's, you know, something that it can be determined by by staff along with Commissioner Fernandez who's who's thankfully taking the the lead on this. Um, I really appreciate that. But I want to make sure that in in these little pockets where there's, you know, a very, you know, well functioning business hotel, you know, what are those impacts there? Um, and you know, it's again parking Armageddon there. So, um, you know, how are we going to make sure that we're doing right by the residents there, too?

Let me let me ask you something following up on what Commissioner Selenas is mentioning. In an area like Balle, are we able to obtain data to measure the violations and see okay what are the type of violations and who are committing these violations? Is it the residents who are committing these violations or or is it the visitors?

So we can and and I I will say the one thing that I truly love about parking and transportation is that um generally it's not life or death. So, it's a little paint, it's a ticket, it's a piece of paper. There's nothing that we can't solve. So, for example, if uh we we can what we can do is say, "Hey, over the next two weeks, we're going to um send a parking enforcement specialist at this time and at this time." Um then we can gather that data for two or three weeks, come back and say, "Now we have gathered exactly what this looks like. This is who we cited. This is who we didn't." and and um uh that that wouldn't be a problem at all. I mean we can look at the existing data but I am a big fan of right now we do send with the resources that we have we try to hit I'll say the extreme problem areas and obviously when we think of that you think of zone 4 which is Collins Park you think of zone 26 zone 2 so it you know we we try to send the resources where we know we can do the most good

and so and so one of the things I would like us to work on that I've included on in our memo is having a dedicated parking enforcement detail Uh because as we know, you know, there's there's the area from First Street to 23rd Street. We know that this is a very challenge. I love that you're laughing because yeah, it is a very challenging area in our city. And I think Bell Isle is is included in that in that area. We have to go back into that area uh and and look, okay, we're taking our focus away from resident violations. We're coming in to look, okay, these other violations that are affecting residents availability for parking, that's affecting traffic in these areas, that's that's that's creating gridlock. Let's shift our focus from citing the residents to citing the people who are creating the inconvenience on the residents. Um, and you know, I want to I I want, you know, a pilot, a 12-month pilot enforcement detail on that. You've mentioned North Beach. North Beach again, it's another area where we need to do that. And so what I'd like us to do is, you know, identify these two enforcement zones. Uh South Beach as an enforcement zone, North Beach as an enforcement uh zone. Uh you know, let's focus on the residential parking uh violations by non-residents. Let's focus on the freight loading zone violations. Let's focus on the commercial loading zone violations and let's put together this this this detail. I mean, uh, we were having a conversation, well, the other day, um, about about possibly having offduty, you know, paying for offduty to

to to to create uh a parking enforcement detail that is specifically focused on these violations. and let's and let's test it. Let's let let's do a pilot. Let's let's test it. Um so that so that so that we can have you know consistent enforcement of these of these violations that are affecting our residents that are affecting our businesses and that's affecting traffic in our city. So, one of the things I'd like to So, I'll first and foremost, sir, absolutely love the fact that we would be able to add heads. Um, I've noticed one thing in my short 56 weeks here at Miami Beach. Um, is that, um, we have, um, in order to focus on safety, the city increased the amount of police officers. Um uh we have some data just with the team that we have not increasing numbers um over the past 3 years or fiscal year 23 2425. Our team started out in fiscal year 23 issuing over 7,000 FLZ citations. Fiscal year 24 they jumped to 9,461. Fiscal year 25 they did more than 11,000 generally with the same headcount in 24 and 25. And so, um, with the addition, uh, looking at the numbers, we run about 9,000 shifts per year. And I look cuz I look at everything as like what does a PES shift look like? And with these addition of these 224, I'm sorry, four, two for each area. Um, it would add about an additional 4,000 shifts. Now, we can reallocate some because we're absolutely going to free up some of our resources. Um, and I absolutely

am incredibly happy to bring PD in the mix because I'll be very honest, I I drive around the city um, in our city vehicle in a in a goofy vest um, with my tablet and I have run up on those trucks at 63rd and Collins where they stop in front of an unnamed hotel um, to do their deliveries. And you know, we can we can issue the citation or we can issue a right of way and um that's what we can do with a police officer. They have a little bit more power and I'll just put it bluntly and say a little bit more respect. Um so inviting the PD to focus on these areas where there's traffic congestion and these vehicles are double parking and where they may um tell a parking enforcement specialist, hey, go ahead. it's the cost of doing business to write me a $124 obstruction of traffic citation as well as a $1,000 rightway citation. They're not going to say the same thing to a police officer when they say I'm going to do the same things, but also now I have the ability to go other steps. So, um

this is something we're willing we're willing to look at creating a 24-hour 7-hour uh 24-hour 7 day a week detail on this. Absolutely. I I would simply ask if we can

and by the way it doesn't have to be a police officer. I mean I mean I was speaking with the chief about this you know there's public safety specialists you know that could be used uh this is you know to supplement and as you mentioned you know sometimes the perception of authority the perception and I and I think all of our park parking enforcement officers you know should be perceived with authority and anything that we can do to drive that perception whether whether it be through their uniform or whether it be any other way that we can drive the perception of authority of our port parking enforcement officers. That's important because because they are officers. Um but but unfortunately when people see a police officer or someone from the Miami Beach Police Department, even if it's a public safety specialist, it's just perceived a little bit differently. And and I want to make it very clear my my thought process and my goal was if we could make uh if if you know I absolutely agree with the desire to add um headcount to our team because as a city has grown and as crime has grown the city said hey we're going to we're going to add more PD and what happened you know I'll just say compliance um as we saw this after spring break compliance returned to the city and so we put more parking enforcement specialists on the compliance will return to the city. And so um in my thought process the

and this is and that's exactly why I want a detail specifically on these issues when we're talking about freight loading zones when we're talking about commercial loading zones when we're talking about people obstructing traffic when we're talking about nonresidents um violating our our our residential zones. increased presence will bring back compliance. That's exactly why why why why I'm so glad that we agree that that that we need to uh work on this on on this detail. Uh and so and and so you know that's something that as as you know our efforts to uh end resident touring uh you know as much as possible uh moves forward on a parallel path. It's with it's it's is it's this program so that then we can address we can address the other violations uh that that that are being caused by by by by non-residents and illegal uh people uh parking on on on on the streets uh blocking traffic gives us the opportunity to address that

if if at all possible. There were two items. What the first item uh that would would help us with the resident aspect um that I had recommended was a favorable recommendation to go to commission for the parking department to be able to uh uh have the manager execute a memorandum of understanding with the uh uh uh department of motor vehicles. So David access um is something that will be uh sorry David access is so we are able to look up a license plate and better understand this. Every parking and and better understand where it's registered every parking enforcement agency that I've ever been a part of has had access to the state DMV. Um it's part of the jobs on top of license plates. It also allows us to look up accessible placards. Obviously, the uh Miami Dade County tax collector has done a great job avoiding 1,400 fraudulent placards. However, those placards are still on the street and with David Access, um our parking enforcement specialists can look up those placards and identify the ones that are false. And

and this is something that we had at one point. We did have it at one point. This is to restore the access. Correct. Yeah. 100%.

Excellent. And then um if obviously again I go back to um with these extra shifts uh we currently in our capacity it would create a 50% increase in what we are able to do right now. Um I am absolutely in favor because as I said as the city has grown, our parking enforcement specialist team has not and this would absolutely give us the need the resources necessary to be patrolling the city streets um in order to gain compliance when necessary. So if there is a and I I'll I'll defer to individuals um much more learned in situations like this if it needs to be a a priority in the budget enhancement if we need to do something where we can do it right away. I don't know if uh assistant city manager taxes can give me any guidance on that.

So but but explain to me again what is the request you have. So we would need to increase headcount because right now like I said we we generally run by how much? uh uh probably 12 FTEES and eight PTEES at a minimum because the the the two dedications uh I'm sorry, could you repeat that? Will you said 12?

I'm sorry. 12 uh full-time employees and eight part-time employees and and the reason so um I fully absolutely support the ask. It's two bodies, two shifts, two zones. So we have six people a day per zone, 12 shifts per day. That's 84 shifts a week. Um, which is roughly about 4,600 shifts a year. Right now with our we have about uh 29 uh full-time employees and uh 17 part-time. And when you take into account what uh how many shifts they work um over the course of a year, it's a little over 9,000 shifts. So this would increase our enforcement shifts by almost 50%. If but if it helps address the

the complaints that our residents have then uh then I'm inclined to to that. When you're telling us uh these positions, is this taking into consideration the off is this addition to the offduty or is this something where you know we can figure out how how it levels out.

So I think the my personal opinion and I and I'll absolutely collaborate with uh uh the police department on this. I would appreciate the offduty on top of this because I feel like they have the ability to um while our team is out there hitting these zones hard um we can utilize PD to do the same thing but also for example if our team comes along a situation where we have a true 18-wheeler um parked on the right hand lane of 63rd in Collins um we can then go follow our steps. Obstruction of traffic. Well, first, you know, gain compliance. If they don't gain compliance, obstruction of traffic citation, rightway citation, but then call that offduty officer at that point in time. Call a tow if it's available. If not, the offduty officer can get involved because they can actually do things like i.e. a moving citation that we don't have access to. Um, that has a little bit more weight with somebody with a CDL. Um, but I would say that we would be able to, um, do that on top of because now we're talking about creating traffic moving in all places while we're enforcing.

Well, um, do you do you happen to know off the top of your head what's the the surplus in the parking fund? What that amount is? It's a lot. Um, so so we could use that for to hire the 20 new positions. Correct. So yeah, and I don't want to uh without without our CFO still here. Did Jason No, he left. I actually texted him to come back.

He probably saw me walk up and said, "I'm out of here." Um, so we right now we are running as a at a surplus. So obviously, you know, we always want to run it as a healthy surplus because we are about to um come back to commission with a um capital improvement plan over the next 10 years, which will um obviously uh make our garages beautiful. We want to beautify them whenever we can, clean our garages because that's our biggest um our biggest expense when we come into um ensuring that you know maintaining what we already have. And then obviously if we get an opportunity to build any other parking structures, I I think we're already funding I want to say about 20 to 22 million for the parking structure up at 72nd Street uh project. If we get any other opportunities, I want to make sure that the fund is healthy to be able to fund those projects as well. Um, uh, this would be a significant investment, but it's I think it's one we can do.

I mean, I would I would support that, but in the meantime, because it takes a while to, you know, post a position and an interview and hire and all of this. So, that takes a while. So, in the meantime, before we get there, can you create, you know, and this is a 12-month pilot program anyway, but can you, you know, shift staff? Um, and I don't know, and I don't pretend to know what's the best way to staff here. You know, I entrust that you know this along with your team, but is there a way to shift the staff so that they can do this pilot pro program um so we can dedicate these efforts in these areas until we get to your extra 20 positions?

So, it it it will be um it will be shuffling the deck. Uh and so I'll kind of put it out there. These positions do create, for example, four overnight positions, two in the north, two in the south. Um, right now, our current overnight is only staffed with uh five parking enforcement specialists. And you know, employees overnight the greatest need here? I'm sorry. Is overnight the greatest need here? Uh, so well, it's ironically an overnight overnight is really the majority. Well, not majority, all of our residential zones are actually enforced fully overnight. So that's when

but I thought we're doing commercial loading zones, freight loading zones and also the handicap spots that's yeah that's that's what I'm saying like right now for unprecedented violations in residential zones. Correct. But right now for example we have two two parking enforcement specialists dedicated in the north. One is working that uh 6P to 238 and one is working that 11 or you know depending on if they're a part-timer or a full-timer. So we we do want to maintain that enhanced um presence inside the residential zones. Um and all of our residential zones on that evening hours are residents only. So zone 4, zone 2, zone 1, zone 26. And so

doesn't but doesn't that start at 6 p.m.? Is that an overnight shift to 6 p.m.? Well, no. We have a 6 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. And yes, those do start at 6 pm. Um so it it would create some shuffling. Again, we we only have the 9,000 available. So, if we did this, we would be removing half the force. Why don't you Jason, can you come up? It might be good to have them put together a plan to bring back to commission. You know, that also, you know, with offduty, if we work with police and offduty of public safety specialists or or other personnel, you know, it might might help meet the the needs here.

Jason, what's the parking surplus fund at? I don't have the specific number, but I think Will answered it. He would have a because Will will and I uh finance and and parking work very closely together. Uh you know, as we deal with both these parts, Will and I often have these conversations and I'm aware of the uh discussions related to this additional resources that we needed and uh we would be able to afford through the current um annual operating surplus to cover these additional ones. And I always discussed uh you know I think the best way to do is it sounds like there might be multiple options is to submit a few because we're we're right around the corner here with the budget process is submit a few budget enhancements to go through and get the ultimate recommendations and we can get that rolled in but it should be uh able to implement a couple of different programs here to get where you guys are wanting to go.

Okay. Thanks Jason for coming back. Let me ask you something uh because you're deploying you you entered into a partnership with automotives. Oh, how do you pronounce it? Automotives. You you nailed it, sir. People say it in a million different ways. Automotives. Um, and so and so that that can also help like for example with the freight loading zones that can also help with the enforcement, right?

Absolutely. So with uh and I think that the there is an LTC coming if if not today, very soon. Um, so the great thing about that and we are going to have to I'll say pilot how that execution is. So, uh, we understand that Philadelphia, uh, uh, uh, I believe it's Fort Le, New Jersey, there's several other communities that are already operating. And for example, we could in theory sit a parking enforcement specialist, um, inside the dispatch room, look at the computer screen and monitor it, sort of like a security uh, security area. um the minute the computer uh uh identifies a violation and we use the AI cameras because obviously anybody can technically by code pull into a freight loading zone for an expeditious unloading or loading of passengers or freight. Um so it's so we have to look at that time and let's say that's 3 minutes. The the system would say hey this is a possible violation. The parking enforcement specialist can then immediately look at it and say yes that person is still there. I am now flagging that as a violation. So that violation will now be mailed in about three or four days. But at the same time, that person can get on the radio and um identify which parking enforcement specialist is closest in the field. They also do have the capabilities of um sending an immediate message out to a tow partner. Now, right now it's just SMS, i.e. a text message. However, we just entered into an agreement. The commission just authorizes us to enter into agreement with toebooks and I I spoke with both toebooks as well as automotives and in this day and age in parking everybody has open API and everybody is willing to play in the sandbox very well. So all we would have to do is get them together say how quick can you create um create an integration.

So instead of doing SMS style, we're now going to immediately create a tow ticket at at the immediate inst um uh at the immediate push of a button for the citation. That way the parking enforcement specialist um can get there roughly at the same time as our tote partners. Um they al they see the state of the vehicle, they see the vehicle is in violation. Um they approve the tote on spot, no ticket needed, no other identification needed. And that would create incredibly fast response times.

So Otmus deploys the parking enforcement officer automatically or it has to be someone that's watching and then that person deploys the parking enforcement officer.

So it depends. So there's um it can give it so we've and we've we've we've looked at a few ways to do this operation. So our parking enforcement specialists that are in the field all have tablets and automotives is you know it's all tablet computer based. we can say everyone in the field can get an alert. Um however um we've also there there is some delay in that because for example if the nearest parking enforcement specialist is already performing a right ofway violation or an FZ citation you know they're going to be looking at a different screen whereas if we have somebody whose job is to solely look at the screen and identify a violation within within honestly seconds within minutes of it occurring then they push that button for the citation. That's what triggers um essentially the call to the tow partners is the issuance of that citation. Uh because what automotives does is just flag to anybody that's looking in the app a citation. We think a citation has occurred, but it does require a certified parking enforcement specialist to validate that. Um and that's why we looked at having a dedicated individual just kind of watching the monitors so that way it's kind of a rapid response. They press the button and boom. Now that that with the toebooks integration that alert goes out to the toe partners. Um I I see I see.

Okay. Um so so essentially uh we can have it in the field. The the parking enforcement specialist in the field can also get set alert. We again it's new to us. So we can pilot it in a few different ways to see what works best. Yeah. And I understand it's new. You're figuring this out. Fine. But so you're So the way you've been doing it is you've been having somebody watch the cameras to to make sure that the violation is happening. No, it's it doesn't go live till June 1st. Okay. Is that the way that you were we're going to handle it?

Um we're still in com we're still in talks. We have some a few meetings next week with them as far as best practices from the other municipalities that have already utilized it. I'll say that MPA is currently using it, but they're using it for a different reason than us. Um, so we want to look at best practices before we press go. Okay. So, wouldn't someone watching the camera all day take them away from being in the field?

It does. It does. Um, so again, pros and cons. It does take them away from being in the field, but on the flip side, it gives you the, for example, the alert to the toe partners. If a violation occurs, they look at the screen, pull it up, approve the violation. That's the instant communication to our toebooks integration. So, in literally, if a car pulls in, let's say we put the timer at 3 minutes and 30 seconds um for a violation to have occurred for expeditiously to have um terminated. Um

but doesn't the parking enforcement specialist have to arrive simultaneously with the tow? So I the law states that a city agent has to contemporar contemporariously authorize the tow. So um there so they don't have to be there. That's I will I will I will cuz don't we give a ticket along with the toe? Correct. The ticket would show up. Um but it'll be mailed to them. It would be little one on the windshield which we already do. We already do. We we send tickets through the mail now. Um um so camera it is it is an authorized way to send a citation.

Um the reason reason why I from a from a professional and operational aspect um that I would like to have a parking enforcement specialist on hand is one to see the violation. These cameras aren't real time. They they take consistent snapshots of what's going on. And so, for example, if a vehicle pulls in, they they they can take consistent snapshots of that vehicle and then once a violation has occurred, they store that and say this has done and then the person going in to give the citation approves the citation. Um, but at that point in time, the person watching the cameras doesn't have any more eyes on that particular situation. And so, that's why if we dispatch a parking enforcement specialist um immediately, they can get there within minutes. our toe partner can get there within minutes and clear that freight loading zone.

And so and so when when when auto when um what do you how do you pronounce this? Automotus. Automotus when automotus notifies your dispatch. They can't notify uh the toy uh partners at the same time. So we have to have a a ticket has to be the trigger. take a half. So, so we have to say we have to say, hey, the violation has occurred and that's why we can identify a violation quicker. We can do it in the field. So, for example, if we have

the longer that that car is blocking the freight loading zone, the higher the likelihood in a city like ours and then now you have an Amazon truck parked on Alton Road instead of the freight loading zone or parked on Washington Avenue instead of one of the purple spaces or parked on Collins Avenue, you know, during rush hour traffic instead of instead of um instead of one of the appropriate spaces. And so the quicker we get the remedy, the better it is for the people who are being affected by the violation. And that's and that's what most people don't realize. You know, why is it that we speak so much about freight loading zone violations? Because freight loading zone violations, we don't realize it, but at the end of the day, what it does is that it causes traffic congestion in our city. So this is under the current process a we have for example in the morning we have four dedicated freight loading zone um uh details in the AM and so they essentially drive around um identifying the freight loading zones that are inside their assigned territory. they come upon a vehicle. Um, obviously if the vehic if somebody's in the vehicle, they they turn on their lights, they shoe them away, I'll say, um, if there's nobody by the vehicle, they pull in behind the vehicle, they site the vehicle. Once they cite the vehicle, they then have to go through the toebooks information of of filling out the VIN. There is information that we have to input in towbooks. from the time of citation to the time of calling for the toe. Generally, I would say 3 to four minutes because there are a lot of pictures that do have to be taken on site. Um, so now we say we don't know how long a car has been there. Um, one of our PES has arrived. They now go through the act of citing the car. They now go through the act of filling out

towbooks. They now do call towebooks. Right. In April, I looked at the average respond time was less than 20 minutes. So, the average response time um can vary. It can be as quick as five. Um you know, depending on traffic, they get caught up in traffic just like everybody else does on the beach, it can be longer. using automotives, whether it's a dispatcher in a room staring at a screen or whether it's the parking enforcement specialist in the field, they would get an alert. They would look at their tablet, identify the infraction, immediately issue the ticket on their tablet. It's pressing a button saying, "Yes, this ticket is valid." That sends the ticket through the electronic process that then goes through the mail. But as soon as they issue that ticket, whether they're in an office or in their car, that's when they can deploy themselves. If they're in their car, they deploy themselves to that freight loading zone. At that moment a ticket is issued, that now sends a signal through towbooks to uh the towing partners. And so the response time is almost I don't want to say almost immediate, but it's almost immediate.

And that and that and that that seems uh that seems appropriate to me. Uh the last thing that I would want uh is you know again this is a big quality of life issue in our in our city. Um especially when it comes to the freight loading zones and the commercial loading zones and the non-resident uh violations in the residential zones. You know, I think it's important for us to track the progress that we're doing on this uh so that we're not dealing with hypotheticals and with, you know, anecdotal hearsay. you know, I want us to see a weekly LTC, you know, tracking the citations, tracking the toes, tracking the enforcement, you know, activity, whether, you know, including by shift and by and by the category of of the violation so that we can measure our progress and see see how how the technology is helping us, how the extra staff is helping us address the issue and see, you know, how it pairs with the feedback that we're getting uh in our offices because at the end of the day, you know, this is why we have these items on the agenda, specifically this item. There's been a lot of resident complaints about it and I want us to be able to master it and track it and see see what are the outcomes uh from from all of this effort. understood.

And I want to make sure the LTC includes um you know, and I don't know how if you're going to break it down by zone or if you're going to break it down by south, midn north, but I just want to make sure we're taking a snapshot of the whole city and what's happening all over.

So, generally when we issue a citation, we can um we have, for example, if the citation is no no resident uh permit in zone 2, like we have that information. Um so we can highlight where those uh citations were given. Um I can I can look at seeing uh we we have an intern starting on Monday who's a data scientist. Um fought for that one. So I can look at what we can glean from uh that individual as far as maybe creating a heat map or seeing if we can uh um create some structure because when we write a citation, we have the location of the address where in the city it's written. Um I just have to see how we can break that out and where we would consider the boundaries etc.

Okay. So with that, um you know, I'd love for the committee to to to entertain a motion to send back to next week's meeting um the proposal that I placed on the on the agenda uh to end the unnecessary resident towing um together with um with the enhanced parking enforcements, you know, focusing on on on the area in South Beach, focusing on the on the area in in North Beach, you know, you know, consistent with the with the issues we've described, commercial loading zones, freight loading zones, uh non-resident violations in the in the in in the resident zones, asking staff to work with the administration, bringing back um uh you know, their proposal to increase the headcount and taking into into consideration um you know, potentially using offduty uh if necessary and appropriate from the police department. It doesn't necessarily have to be sworn officers. It can be public safety specialists. But I think we know at minimum we need at least four bodies per shift you know um you know considering what the task that's that's that's that that's in front of us the simultaneous communication. Okay. Once you issue that citation using OTMUS, you know, the deployment of of of our of our private sector partners to make sure that we're able to quickly achieve compliance and the LTC. I think the weekly LTC is important for the tracking of of measures. Can we uh advance a motion to to that effect?

Could I just ask and I and I want to bring this up if possible, Commissioner? Um, I know that the the you're passionate about the yellow curbs and the no parking anytime. Um, I just I understand that uh not all yellow curbs and no parking anytime are created equal. Some are I will absolutely acquies. I'll say kind of a shoulder shrug. Um, some of them have the potential to create an issue. So, if that could be included with the 15 minutes, if not, I absolutely understand. And right now um right now are the yellow curbs part of of 15 minutes uh the tax warnings or no?

So no sir uh uh under the previous text before tow uh anything considered a safety violation was completely left off that and uh because the yellow curves are technically generated by traffic engineers they fell under that category. Um we can work on an internal policy within the department. Um because you know just like any whether it be code, police, uh parking enforcement specialists um our specialists have discretion in the field and we can talk about a discretion of regarding Let me just ask you something because earlier we were talking about authority and the perception of authority for parking enforcement specialists. You keep on mentioning parking enforcement specialist

specialist. They're either officers or specialists. So the the the job classification under the state of Florida is parking enforcement specialist and that's their that's the job code. How long has that been the case? Okay. Oh, okay. Are you over 40 years?

But in our city, we've always called them officers because again, we want them to carry that authority. You know, specifically for a lot of the issues that you very clearly enumerated here, we want them to be, you know, treated with respect. They're doing very difficult jobs. So, we want them to be treated with respect, with with with authority. Why are we calling them specialists? They're these are officers who are there to enforce the law, the parking lots of of our city. They a lot of them get spit upon. A lot of them get got get attacked. Some of them have ended up in the in in the hospital. They're these are officers. These are officers who are dealing with with with safety issues. Um

sir, I'm not Yeah, I it's state of Florida designation. It's a classification within the city. I But does the state require us to to to to call them parking enforcement specialists? Because we've always I mean they've always been, you know, we've always called them parking enforcement officers. Uh, and so I'm just a little bit confused by this change of terminology that I've been hearing lately. Good morning, Commissioner Fernandez and Commissioner um, Matio Selenus. Um, I can certainly research this matter and get back to you, the chair, and the rest of the committee on whether or not we have flexibility of what we call them. I have been here for 10 years and they've always been called parking enforcement specialists.

I'm sorry. I've been here for 10 years and they have always been called parking enforcement specialists as far as a job classification, but we can certainly do this research as far as a classification. That's their title, right? I I don't know. I've always heard them being called enforcement officers, but I'm happy to research this matter. Thank you. Yeah. Thank you. I'd appreciate that. So, I'm sorry because, you know, I got I just you you mentioned it and it's been like it's it's been popping up like, you know, I've never heard them being called parking enforcement specialist. It's my first time uh it's my first time hearing the term, but apparently it's a I I don't It's a state of Florida thing. Okay.

I mean, would could I ask the parking enforcement officers if they would prefer to be called officers? I mean does that do you feel that that gives you more respect in the field? Yes sir. Yes we here please if if we would approach the microphone and you're welcome all to come up if you'd like. I mean you know we value your feedback too. You're doing the work. You're out in the field. I mean and Will, you are too. I think I think you do. You are will it really is incredible. You drive around the city on the weekend at nights and Will is out there doing the work with them. And I and that is appreciated as well.

It is. It is. and and and you all are appreciated too. You know, we're a team and I want to make sure that you guys also feel supported and and respected out in the field. So, whatever you know, I I want to hear from you, sir. Sir,

hi. Alan Fuo, park enforcement specialist one and um CWA uh vice president. By the way, uh yeah, we rather be treating and show out there as officers. Um as a matter of fact, we've been specialist and our uniforms right now, some of the badges and and stuff says officer and as it is, we've been like you said, jumped, speed on, um end up in hospitals and stuff. You feel disrespected out there. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, always.

And so I just want to make sure because like if we're if we're talking about, you know, challenges with the perception of authority, which is one of the issues,

will that you brought up, you know, there's challenges with the perception of of of authority. I just want to make sure that we do whatever we can so that so that when when our employees, you know, regardless of, you know, how here we we call them, but I've always, you've always been parking enforcement officers. Um so when they show up they're treated you know not just you know respect number one for the individual. Everyone should be treated with respect but number two respect for the function that they're there to carry out to carry out you know respect for the fact that they're there to identify a violation to push for compliance. And unless they're perceived with that with that with that respect of authority, you know, we won't get the outcomes that we're that we're hoping to get. And that's like that was one of the things that really stood out to me, Will, that you really want your employees to have that perception of authority uh so that when they got out there to the field, you know, so that they can be as effective as possible. when you mentioned that that's you know one of the reasons why you think you know partnering on an offduty basis with the police would be good um you know but then you know then we need to make sure that within the department itself we're doing whatever we can to maintain the perception of of of authority and I would imagine you know when they show up you know I I see them with a uniform and and and a badge and all that that's important you know that it

that physical perception of of authority, you know, we need to maintain that and also in how they identify themselves. And so that's that's very important. Yep. And um we we going uh right right now we going through a uh a uniform change. We having um get at the end. We see the we saw the the uniforms as they are and they're going to be completely different different. No. So this uniform that they're wearing right there is a current uniform as a current. Could you come up please so I could so we could see the changes here. Is is this already being implemented?

So no. Um so for example as you'll see we have uh the department has over the course of many years had many different styles of shirts. Um one of the things that had gone away from there are some officers that still do have metal badges. There are some officers that don't have metal badges that have the polos. What we're moving to is uh something that's more in line with code enforcement, park rangers, PSS's. So, it is a a cleaner polo with the long sleeve availability underneath where every uh parking enforcement specialist is required to wear a metal badge. We've already got the badge holders. The metal badges should be arriving in approximately uh two or three more weeks. Um on the front it will have the Miami Beach parking logo. It's a big P. It says Miami Beach parking. On the back it says Miami Beach parking specialist. Um so we're doing a new outfit of uh duffel bags, waterproof boots, tennis shoes, hats, polos, long sleeve shirts. Um

what does it say on the back right now?

Okay. So this is when I when I got here there would always there were some challenges with the uniform supplier and for example when we tried to get X people would oh well that's on back order for another eight months and I was like we can't play this game anymore. Um and so you know I've been really happy to work with the CWA um to try to streamline it. I know there's going to be some wins and losses, but one of the things that I am, I'll just say hyperfocused on is taking care of the team in the field and giving them what they need to be successful. And so, for example, we're going to go above and beyond what the the union contract calls with shoes. The union contract calls for one pair of shoes a year. We're doing mandatory two pairs of tennis shoes. These individuals are on their feet sometimes in rain one day and not the next day. Well, if they got rained on today, what are they supposed to have tomorrow? Um,

so the I'm sorry, the the metal badges are going to be for everyone for across the board. So, no more of the embroidered. So, no more embroidered badges. It will be a polo shirt style. Um, uh, but it will be with a metal badge and a badge holder on a duty belt. And then on the back, it's going to say parking enforcement.

M. It'll say Miami Beach with the kind of the Miami skinny beach bold. Miami Beach parking specialist. I would just say you know work as closely as possible with the CWA. You mentioned the perception of authority you know and to for compliance that is very important uh and you know again it was one of the reasons why you felt you know partnering with police would be good again perception of authority so what a lot of things drive perception of of of authority uh and I think certainly the first impression of when they show up that's important so you know I think we have to just continue doing uh whatever we can do with their with their appearance when they show up uh to continue driving uh that perception.

Do you have any more comments from the union perspective about the uniforms?

Um just um for the last two years we like you said we we've been having trouble with uniforms and stuff. We haven't gotten enough uniform in the last two years. Even before that we got we got here. Um, and like you said, like you see, they look very different. They're shady also. Um, I would like to get this problem solved that way. It's supposed to be by contract. Do you So then are you please work together to make sure that the parking enforcement team feels that they're supported and they have what they need. We are going to and and I hope uh right now, for example, we have um some high visibility jackets um that are all getting lettered right now um that are all going to say the Miami Beach parking department on the back of them. Um I feel within the next two weeks, I feel pretty good saying as long as they're they're putting everything on. Um we'll be delivering every employee 5 11 12 13 15 brand new uniform items. Um, and then the badges should arrive here uh no more than 3 to four more weeks. And so every every parking enforcement officer specialist, every parking enforcement human being that works for us will have a brand new uniform.

But didn't you just say that you wanted to be called a parking I'm going to mess it up. Officer officer. Enforcement officer. Enforcement officer. We'd rather we'd rather be uh called parking enforcement officer or parking at least parking enforcement. Yeah.

Hi. Hi, Mara. And then so is is that do we have to embroider the shirt on the back with what is what? Share your thoughts. Thank you. Um to the chair. um the Marla LPS are HR. I would suggest that right now we should um maintain the uniform as their current job title is stated. Um we can certainly look at our flexibility in changing that title. I'm not aware of what state law says about parking enforcement specialist. So I need to look at that. Um, I do want to um bring up that the um we would have to go through our uh city's personnel board to make a change to the job description and or title. And we all also have to be very careful to get a legal opinion on the job title change and whether or not that affects their perk certification because the union um the makeup of the union is um determined not by the city but by the union's filing with the state of Florida through the perk. And so um I don't have those answers at this moment. That would be a part of our research that we would complete. It is not a simple thing to just change a name given that the union's makeup is defined by their certification through the state.

Thank you, Mara. Yes, sir. Thank you.

It it sounds very complicated um from where I'm sitting. So, and I and I understand and appreciate that. Um my concern is just that our parking officers, enforcement officers or specialists feel that they are being supported and empowered when they're in the field. And if it is an issue of authority and you know they feel like they're you know putting themselves in harm's way as they have to give out tickets and call you know for tow trucks when it's needed then you know how can we support them to do their best work and feel safe and feel supported. That's the the actually for me that's the most important issue here and and I know that there's state law and all this happening but you know so thank you Marlo for for engaging in that research and trying to figure that out but again I mean I think our employees deserve to feel that they're supported and that they're safe out there in the field when they're doing this grueling work. the chair. I can certainly understand the desire of this commission and and the statements by that you're making to to create this um atmosphere of support and safety and I certainly will dedicate um the necessary time to get this resolved

and this committee appreciates your understanding of that. Um but let me let me ask you this. you know, there's there's job classifications and there's official job titles and then there's also, you know, working titles,

right? Uh and and and it feels like traditionally this has traditionally you know while the classification and the legal title may have been specialists you know when we refer to them we refer to them as officers because if we don't express to them with the level of authority that that that that we want the community to treat them with. Well then what what example we putting out there? or not, we're we're not commanding for them that authority. So then how can we expect people who are violating the law in the in the community to treat them with any type of of authority? You know, it all starts with us. Uh and so and so, you know, I can I completely understand what you're saying, job classifications and and and what the statutes say. Um but I also understand, you know, just traditionally there's there's been working titles. um in addition to what classifications say. So, thank you for thank you for looking into this. I look forward to hearing back from you.

Yes, sir. Thank you. Thank you. All right. Uh with that, um Will, you were mentioning about about the curves um and that when the parking enforcement specialist as you were saying or officers, I like that officers. Now, don't get me started. Don't don't don't have me saying specialist now. Well, don't don't confuse me here. Um, when the parking enforcement officers go out there, you were saying that Oh, thank you.

So, there so just just like with with with any other official in their official capacity, um, you know, they are experts in the field and so they have a I'll just say a broad swath of of a swath of discretion in the field. And so, um, while I know that sometimes that can create variables in enforcement, which can create challenges in of itself, um, uh, I I know during the commission meeting, uh, both the city manager and myself expressed support for their ability in the field. I know one of my biggest focuses is going to be um continual training and being able to identify a bumper um within a yellow zone versus a vehicle parked on the side of Collins that's blocking um the sight lines for somebody trying to get in and out of a condo where everybody's flying by 55. um those create different challenges and so um I think if possible if we move these two items into the 15minute it doesn't necessarily mean

you said taxi and which other oh no not taxi uh yellow curb and no parking any time they they both are essentially the same rule it's actually how they're listed underneath toebooks as a classification but they all fall under 3049 2A 10

but it's not and I'll tell you Fine. No parking. And and I'm sorry, I'm going to ask in the public. I need the members of the public. I need silence in the chambers, please. We are conducting a public meeting. I need I just I need to be able to maintain the focus of the meeting. Okay. The no parking anytime signs, the challenge is that they're just popping up in places where they didn't exist before. And so and so it's very easy for us here at city hall to say, "Yeah, you know, they should be subject to an immediate tow or whatnot, but there's no consistency. Like they're just popping up." And that's not fair to our residents. And that's and and that's that's a challenge. That's part of the reason why why why we've had to sit down and create this program because people places that they've been parking at for a long time all all of a sudden, you know, today has has a no parking sign and the person doesn't realize it and that no parking uh sign wasn't there yesterday, you know, uh or or or hasn't been there for the past 2 years and then all of a sudden it's there and now and now they're being towed and this is their neighborhood. This is where they live. Um and and that's that's a challenge. It's a challenge that our residents are are facing.

Understood. Understood, sir. So, so you know, I I need to understand before I say that I'm comfortable with with with putting this under under a 15minute um text before to warning as as opposed to just a simple citation. And if they abuse because one thing is, you know, if you're abusing the system, then have that lead to a violation to a to a toe violation. But if it's a one-time occurrence, you know, then why are we we're we're already citing the resident and we're already sending them a text message telling them that they engage in a repeated violation that then they're going to be towed at their expense. Commissioner, I mean, what are your thoughts about this?

You know, I agree. Um it's unfortunately, you know, we need to look into this a little bit more in terms of the yellow curbs and the text warnings. Um so, um you know, I I'm actually I've been taking notes here and I want to make sure that you know, Commissioner Fernandez, you continue to work with the parking department to create a resolution that comes back to commission.

Yeah. Um, and I want to be really clear as to what we're doing here because I do, you know, I agree with you, Commissioner, that, you know, we need to create these dedicated parking enforcement details as a as a pilot program using our existing resources, Will, and I know that you want to add to the team, which I would fully support. We'll get there. Um, but you know, to do this successfully, this 12-month pilot program, um, with the enforcement personnel that are assigned to, um, you know, look at these quality of life issues, I think we need to use our resources that we have now, um, and make sure that we also include North Beach in this um, and to ensure that Automotus is, you know, giving these tickets simultaneously. And I know that doesn't come online till June 1st, so it's going to be a little bit weird in the beginning, but I'm I I'm sure you'll figure it out. And along with the weekly LTC's that commissioner mentioned,

will you know I'll tell you when going back to the yellow curves of the park anytime you with with the yellow curves I understand why you will why you would want to do the 15 minute notice and you know it still gives us the opportunity to potentially end that toe. Today the yellow curbs don't have the 15minute tax before toe. uh warning. So, we give them the opportunity to correct. I don't feel comfortable doing it uh with the no parking anytime, and I'll explain to you why. The yellow curbs are are built into the built environment of the city. Uh that doesn't change. You have a yellow curb, usually they're there for a long time. The no parking anytime signs, it's, you know, it's a free-for-all. There's no other way to put it. It is a free-for-all. They're popping up all over the city and our residents don't appreciate it. Um, and we're here to serve the residents and and they shouldn't they shouldn't if they're if they've been parking at a place consistently for a long period of time, you know, and they pull up and then all of a sudden someone decided, you know, that, you know, there's going to be a no parking anytime zone created there. now that they're going to be potentially towed. Um, and you have people, you know, they might work a night shift and they get home and they and they they park and they may go to sleep, you know, because they've been working a night shift and you send them that uh that uh 15minute text before tow um message and they're not going to see it. They're they're not going to see it and now and now they're going to be towed. Whereas with the yellow curb, those tend to be more consistent. Um, so you know, I'll give you, you know, the yellow curb is

still it's still not subject to an immediate toe is still part of our effort to end the resident toe because we are uh giving them that 15minute notice. And as you well stated, with the program that we already have, potentially we'll see an 85% decrease on the amount of of residents getting getting towed from from those yellow curves. But the way that these uh no parking anytime signs are just like they just bloom like it's spring and like and it's a spring and and it's a you know a a a shower of of signs just like popping up in in neighborhoods. So you know I can't I can't because we need to fix that.

Just want to make it very clear to the committee that generally parking does not install those signs.

Yeah. Someone who does. So it it those signs are part of for example if if there is a um um and I and I looked over at transportation director those signs get installed as part of a greater um I'll say a creation of a street plan. So when a road is redone, um um traffic engineers and contractors that do that that that end up with that contract have to then go out and say under new vision zero guidelines or under new X or new Y we are going to create these new structures X Y and Z. So, while our team does do signs, hundreds and thousands of signs throughout the city, um I I generally tell the public we are an operations and enforcement branch of parking for the city. We don't go out to roads and generally create more. Um we go back to our traffic engineers. We go back to CIP to public works say what can we use in the right of way? But we simply operate what we have and enforce the laws on the books.

Okay. And so and so from from what you're saying is that usually show up when there is a change of some sort of configuration on on the roadway. Correct. But then that's that's a situation. It's a change. Yep.

We're talking about a change that our residents weren't weren't a aware of. You know, let's get them let's get them the courtesy. You know, give them give them, you know, a ticket. Send them the text message. tell them, hey, listen, if you engage in this repeated violation, then you'll get towed. But if you're making now a change in their in their neighborhood and where they live, and you're and you're putting these no parking any times uh signs where they didn't exist before, and uh and and you know, you're going to subject them immediately to a toe that that I don't I don't agree with. Let's give them, you know, the violations. Let's send them the text message. And if then now if they engage now that we've informed them uh if they recurringly engage in the violation well then at that point at that point well now they know now they know why because now they've gotten citations now we've sent them text messages and then and then you know then okay then it's it's it's fair. Uh but now when you know these just pop up.

Absolutely understand. Okay. All right. I'm going to open up the floor to public comment. If there are members of the public wishing wishing to to speak, if you're in person, approach the podium. And if you're in Zoom, please raise your hands.

Um, thank you, Commissioner Mon Mateo Selenas. Uh, Commissioner Fernandez. Uh, my name is Adam Shedruff. I live at 5216th Street. Uh, just a couple of points. Uh, could you clarify, please, or could you include uh, don't block the dumpster sign as something that's text and tow? Uh it I it wasn't one of the things that was explicit, but it's a real problem. If someone blocks the dumpster, then you wind up with 4 days of trash overflowing. Uh also, the dumpster, the area for blocking the dumpster is about half of parking space. So, if someone parks there, then someone will park behind them and in front of them, and then it's likely it'll be days and days before someone won't. Currently, there's only towing, not text and tow. Uh but could you include the text and tow for blocking the dumpster please?

So right now the way that we have it we have uh obstructing the the dumpster uh as subject to an immediate toe. Uh but they would be they would now the the change is that they would get a text message. Uh, it's not a 15minute text message, but the text message under the proposal that's before us would say, "Your your vehicle is parked in a manner creating a safety violation and will be towed at your expense. Please relocate your vehicle immediately to resolve the violation and avoid being towed."

Well, that's the message. When When would it actually be towed? Because if the car isn't I'm sorry, are you saying that it would be a text and tow that they'd get I thought you just said it wouldn't be 15 minutes. So if you wouldn't have 15 minutes, it would be the moment that the that the violation is is is identified uh and the towing company is called um you know, if the towing company gets there first, their car gets towed. Um and uh and if the person gets there first, then they're able to to move their vehicle. Oh, perfect. Thank you very much. Yeah. Um uh

because the concern is also, you know, you want the garbage to be picked up and so and so if you give them 15 minutes and the and the truck gets there first, you don't want the garbage the waste hauler now to leave and you don't get your garbage picked up. So at least this, you know, it gives the opportunity for the tow company to, you know, correct the violation. But if you got there first because of the text message, well, at least you're able to correct the violation without having to get towed and the garbage can still get picked up.

Great. Thank you. Um, one other thing just to clarify, I was concerned uh when I saw some of the different proposals floating around that having essentially free parking in in our Flamingo Park neighborhood uh district would kind of create a perverse incentive. But as I understand it now that people who park uh out of their zone will get a ticket. They just correct. Great. Thank you very much. Everyone continues to get all the citations regardless of whether they're in immediate tow or not, they all continue to get a parking citation. Thank you.

Yes. Thank you, Adam. Thank you for being here. Any other members of the public wishing to to to speak on this item? And if you're in Zoom, feel free to raise your hand. Good afternoon. Welcome.

Good afternoon, commissioners. Um I live in zone 26 now. I used to live in zone one, zone two for many years. Um and the problem is people go on vacation and in zone one and two I spend a lot of money every year on renewing my uh sticker. Um so I don't think it's very clear like people going on a vacation will be cited like if they go on vacation for two weeks for example like um

that remains unchanged the the current policies continue to to to to uh to mandate at that point. Mandate what? Because I've never had a problem when I went on vacation in the past. So, those that are those that have a current residential zone for the correct zone, if you leave your vehicle there for two weeks, you're absolutely good. As long as the vehicle is in driving condition with a good permit, um there will be no issues. Good. Because I have also a neighbor now in zone 26 who's a little handicapped, so he doesn't move his car that often. So he's been

that that will as long as that individual especially if that individual has a placard um we give uh free uh residential uh uh permits for anyone with an accessible placard and so that individual would just receive uh um that type of residential zone and it I mean if for example if a vehicle got a a flat tire we would make contact with that individual that resident say hey your vehicle had a flat tire we're going we need you to have it in a drivable manner to be parked on the right ofway. And so we'd give them some time.

Okay. Because he was cited before. That's why I'm asking that question. Um the next thing is I work on Beachwalk and Lincoln Road. And um what happens is I have to park to unload. I park valet park, but it's a ramp and I cannot roll my cart down the ramp. So whenever I'm there, parking enforcement comes and tells me to move my vehicle. And I'm pretty quick with it because I have to unload, drive around, give it to valet, come back and move my cart, but they always give me a hassle.

So that's the that is a very a hot spot for congestion. It's the 100 block of Lincoln Road. Um the turnaround there. And so we we have specific details there for that reason. So while I hope I I I feel very comfortable saying they're at a minimum respectful uh that is an area where hyper focus they're doing their job because we do get a tremendous amount of complaints because of what's going on in that area.

The rits complains but I have to unload because I cannot roll my cart down from a ramp. They understand and unfortunately that is an area where the residents not just not just the Ritz the deco plage and many other residents in the in the area they we we got tremendous amount of complaints about the 100 block. Well, I parked there and it cost me a lot to park. I just have to unload and at my age I mean I'm as fast as I can be. I sent you a video showing you what it takes because Thank you. Yeah. Thank you. All right. Okay. I'm ready to make my motion. Thank you. Uh, is there any members of the public wishing to speak on this item?

Good evening. Uh, my name is Ryan Beckis. I'm the chief steward for parking and uh, consensus through the officers which when we're on the street, any customer, any resident, what they refer to us is as officers. They don't say specialist, excuse me, officer, where is this? Where's that? How do I pay for parking and such? So, we would definitely want to keep that if that's possible and keep the enforcement if that's possible on the shirts. Um, pertaining to the color, we rather keep the white that we have. It shows us a little bit closer to what PD looks like. So for calling for safety and such, it keeps us a little closer to what safety might look like.

Thank you. Thank you. Um any other members of the public wishing to speak on this item? We'll talk. Um with that, uh we'll close the uh public uh comments. uh commissioner. So, we have made a motion uh and I'll amend the motion uh to to change the yellow curve for uh for for 15 minutes. Um and uh so we can work on the item and bring it back to next week's commission meeting. Yes, that's my motion. And we're clear on the motion. Correct. Do you need me to repeat it? Would we be able to include the uh recommendation for the manager to enter into a memorandum of understanding with the

with David for Yes. for Yes. Oh, absolutely. Sorry. Yes.

Absolutely. Sorry about that. So to so so so just for purposes of clarity uh uh to sending back with a favorable recommendation the proposal to to to end resident toes as as delineated in in my memo with uh with the amendment of making yellow curves now a courtesy 15minute notice before a tow. Um and uh in in addition to that um restore the uh the the agreement for for the David axis um directing or or or asking the administration to bring uh a plan to increase uh the uh headcount establishing uh a parking enforcement uh detail 12-month uh pilot program that covers the South Beach area 1st Street to 23rd Street, the North Beach area, 63rd Street to uh 87th Street. Uh you know, focusing on on residential zone violations by non-residents, freight loading zones, commercial uh loading zones. um looking at the possibility of having offduty support from from the police department, whether it be parking, whether it be um public safety specialists or or others. Uh the simultaneous uh notification of of our private sector partners when a citation is issued uh with the of the Otmus uh technology and the weekly LTC. Is that clear, Stephanie? It is clear.

Okay. So, so, so, so we can show that motion adopted by acclamation and being sent back uh to to the full city commission. All right. Thank you. Um, we have this conversation went significantly beyond uh time. This is this is my uh plan for for for the rest of the agenda. Uh I intend to take items 7,8 and 14 and the remaining items would be deferred to the next meeting. So with that uh let's call item number seven. Item number seven is discuss what initiatives the city of Miami Beach is taking in order to become more festive for national global events such as the college football championship game taking place in January 2026. This item was sponsored by Commissioner Magazine.

All right, I see Maria Hernandez, our assistant city manager, uh approaching the podium. Good morning, Maria. Good afternoon.

Yeah, it is afternoon. Um I'm just going to introduce the item very quickly. Um, so as everyone knows, this item has been on the agenda now for several months and it's really talking about all the festive things that we're doing for all of these big events. Um, as you know, when this started, we were at the college football level. Um, and now, you know, that's behind us, bring behind us, uh, Miami Music Week is behind us, Global Champions, as well as F1 and Pride. So what's in front of us now is the ANC show and FIFA. So um on this Oh, and also um I believe Christina Baguier is on the line. At least she was waiting. Um she's in Italy, but um she is willing to speak um on this item as well. Um so for the ANC show, uh that is she's not on. Okay, doesn't matter. Um so for the RNC show as you know um we have now been managing that uh that that event for many years. It's always gone well. This year they are pulling out all the stops because of 250th anniversary and they're having a concert. It's a country music concert and then FIFA

Maria just just for the benefit of of time I'm just going to cut directly to the departments are all here. I'm just gonna I'm just going to cut directly to where I need to go uh with this just because and I'm sorry and I apologize but we're delayed with FIFA. With FIFA, I want to make sure that we've created an environment where our businesses can capitalize on this on this opportunity. Yes. Um, where are we in making sure that uh that uh that businesses, you know, that have especially those that have concession agreements, sidewalk cafes,

are are able to, you know, use the opportunity of the games to be able to invite people into into our city, host people, uh, and and capitalize from this incredible opportunity that we have the different departments are here that can speak to all those things. Um so um we have economic development here. Uh the sidewalk cafes as you know are also managed by uh public works. Um so go ahead Stephen.

Good afternoon. It is afternoon now. Uh good afternoon chair commissioner. Um so just just an overview a little bit about what we're doing for businesses specifically. Um, so we're we're actually the we have our the business day concierge service which is actually scheduled for next week. We're allow we're letting businesses know that hey, if there's any challenges that you have in terms of wanting to get set up and ready to go um that if there's anything regarding permitting and so forth, then come to our business concier uh the business ready day u scheduled for next week which is the 21st of May. We've done a number of outreach about activations and and letting us know, hey, what type of activations in partnership with marketing communications. They've released the website so businesses can let us know what type of activations that they have going on. Those activations will be featured on the FIFA the World Cup website um that's that's put on by the city. Um we're letting all of the the bids know. We've we sent out invitations to all of the business improvement districts, all of the the business associations. We've sent out over 6,000 uh uh direct emails to businesses letting them know, hey, if there's anything that's happening, let us let us know specifically so we can feature you on on the website as well. Um so we're we're our outreach is is out there um letting letting businesses know. We featured in the newsletter um that just came out last week. Um so we're we're we're really making sure that we're doing the outreach to to businesses as a whole.

Great. Thank you. Um so so economic development is reaching out to businesses. Businesses will only do what they know they can legally do. Right now uh businesses in our city um if they want to capitalize on this have watch parties which is typically what what would draw the ability for them to to to capitalize on this. Are they able to really engage in having watch parties?

Well, specifically, Commissioner, as to the uh outdoor dining concessions, the the agreement does not allow them to have any sort of speaker or TV outside. Uh so, if you wanted to send a recommendation back to the full commission to pass a resolution allowing that for a specified period of time, uh you could do that. But right now, it is not allowed.

Okay. I I would say that um that you know given the fact that FIFA starts what June 11th June 11th this is something that we would need the commission to adopt at our next meeting. Uh and I and you know I do think that we should be uh you know facilitating our businesses being able to have watch parties. It's not every day that you're that that you have FIFA uh coming coming into town. So, you know, I would like to encourage the the commission to help our businesses uh amend whatever agreements we have, concession agreements that currently prohibit them from having watch parties in their sidewalk cafes. Amend that so that so that it can happen. Can it be a temporary special event permit something or other so we don't have to change the whole code or is it like an annual once a year you can have a TV outside or something?

Well, my understanding is that the goal of this is just to do this for a limited time this year. Um uh and the simplest way to do that is simply to do a an amendment to our outdoor dining concession agreement. uh we can do that by a simple resolution at the meeting on May 20th if one of you uh wants to sponsor that and so that uh for that specific time uh restaurants could have a TV outside and so but let me ask you this because that's only good if the establishment has a concession agreement on the city's right ofway. Now, we do have establishments that might have outdoor areas that are not in the the city's right ofways and and they they would be deprived absent there being a special event permit. They would be deprived from the ability of of capitalizing from this opportunity.

I'm sorry, you're referring to people who have uh outdoor dining on their own property. Yes. Well, right now the I did speak with the planning director on this subject and uh he confirmed for me that a TV is not considered entertainment under our land development regulations. Okay. So I I would need to check again but my init my understanding is that that they would be allowed to do that. They would be allowed to do that. All right. So so you know I think I I would like for us uh

Commissioner Yeah. If you want to join me as as a co-sponsor on a resolution uh to temporarily amend our concession agreement so that our outdoor dining establishments can go ahead, you know, have their watch party. It's a it's a moment of excitement um for for for our community and uh let's help them let's help them uh capitalize on this on this opportunity. I wouldn't want to include this in residential areas. So, for example, South of Fifth, Sunset Harbor, we know that those are residential areas um where where we likely, you know, want to be more careful just because of the proximity of the establishments to where people live. But in our other areas, uh I think um I and and by the way, you know, excluding them wouldn't prohibit them from seeking a special event permit. Is that correct?

Uh well, yes. Uh they could individual entities could seek a special event permit, but that is a an involved and longer process, but but but in the in in the meantime, us making this amendment to the concession agreement would streamline and facilitate the process for most establishments. Yes. And you said you would like to exclude South Fifth and Sunset Harbor. For now, I for now I would like to exclude them because I just I I want to be sensitive of those neighborhoods. Yeah. South of Fifth and Sunset Harbor.

Right. I'm going to I'm going to have to leave this meeting and go and draft that and get it approved by you to get on the agenda which is going to print presently. So, I want to get as many as much of it right now as we can. And if there's something you think of over the next couple of hours, just let me know.

Yes. Yes. And what and what I would like is you know make sure that uh through our economic development department that we do reach back and circle back to to to where we can listen our partners and we we let them know hey listen uh we want to facilitate this for you. We've streamlined this by giving you during this period of time uh just make sure that there's certain safeguard there in case you know something does get out of hand that the city manager does have the ability uh if someone is being abusive uh with the with with this that you know the city manager does have the ability to terminate an establishment's rights uh to to this if they are being inconsiderate or abusive towards the city or creating public safety situations.

John, yes, Commissioner. Should there be temporary design standards for this, my concern is our concession agreements outline where the pedestrian area starts and ends to keep that path open, I wonder if we should have a temporary design standard as part of the resolution that we would distribute or economic development could distribute to the businesses to know kind of a parameters they need to work within. When you're saying the sign standards,

in other words, not a TV sitting in the middle of the sidewalk, placement of the TV where it should be relative to the right of way within their concession areas, I'm fine with them having flexibility. I think uh I don't want to dictate what they do within the concession areas for as long as they respect the pedestrian way. uh I'm I'm I'm you know I'm fine giving them flexibility during this temporary period of time on how they wish to to um set their area up. Would that be part of the resolution to keep the pedestrian path open any obstructions?

We can certainly include that and anything else that you all feel that we should that that we should include in that in that resolution. Thank you. Yes. All right. Any other comments as it relates to FIFA? I just want to I want to make sure that we're focused on, you know, helping our businesses communicate with with with our businesses um and making sure that they know that we're doing this so that they don't miss the opportunity and our regulations um don't get in their way. Soon as this gets approved, we can go ahead and send that information directly back out to the businesses.

Okay, great. and and perhaps our communications department who is doing amazing work always um you know maybe you guys can help us you know disseminate that also Melissa question are you doing the uh activation with the stickers doing the activations with what the activations with the stickers um we are doing we actually have designed a sticker so I'm going to do a Vanna White moment to give out to businesses are you referring to the stickers the books that the used to trade. I haven't heard anything from that company. So, okay. All right. Just wondering. Thank you.

Um I will share also that we have soft launched um even though I know this is a public meeting but we have soft launch the website um we'll be pushing it out after Memorial Day weekend but if you want to take a look um it's miam beachfl.govorld.

Great. Awesome. Okay. Thank you Melissa. with that. Um, just, you know, because of of the time and the the other items that we still have on on the agenda, um, I'm gonna I'm going to propose that we send this back to the commission with a favorable recommendation. Uh, as as it relates to the concession agreements, making sure also that the remainder of of the businesses know that they can have uh, a television for watch parties as part of their outdoor areas. I think it's important for for them to to know that because they may not uh realize that and making sure that we have the proper safeguards there in place. I'm going to open up the floor to public comment. If there's any members of the public in person wishing to speak on this item, feel free to approach the podium. I see Andreas Aion with his hand raised on Zoom. Good good afternoon, Andreas. Welcome.

Uh good afternoon, Commissioner. I was thinking I was looking at the wall cast of New World Symphony. I realized saw that they didn't have anything promoted for the FIFA World Cup. I'm not sure if that is planned, but I think it would be amazing uh for the businesses on Lincoln Road for people to be able to go to the wall cast and be able to watch uh the World Cup there throughout the whole entire tournament uh on that wall cast would be amazing. Yeah,

and that's a great idea. I know our our colleague, Commissioner Joe Magazine, uh has been trying to work on that. I think that there might be some licensing issues. uh with uh with with FIFA and not the local FIFA or organization, but the international uh FIFA organization and there's there's some copyright issues and licensing issues. Uh I see our assistant city manager. Yes, sir. That's correct. To shine. So, we we can't do those large scale watch parties without FIFA's approval. Um so, there there's an issue and we can't use the FIFA name, the FIFA brands. Uh, we could try to get their approval though.

Christina has an application. Yeah, we have an we have an active application in right now with FIFA trying to to pick up some additional watch party sites. Um, and we're waiting to hear back from them.

Yeah. And and Andreas, as as as I mentioned, our our colleague Commissioner Magazine as well as our administration has have been working on this for for for quite some time. uh the effort is being made uh to get the rights to uh to to to have that broadcast. Ultimately, the decision comes down to the international uh FIFA organization and thank you for your comment. Any other members of the public wishing to comment on this item? Seeing none, we can show this item uh going back to the city commission. Next item is item number eight. Discuss a potential city policy mitigating early morning noise from non-emergency city vehicles. This item is sponsored by Commissioner Suarez.

All right, John, welcome.

Thank you again. Appreciate that. John Norris, public works director. We've made quite a few adjustments to our operations, in particular sanitation early in the morning um in the North Beach area, the alleys north around 80th. And we're starting waste collection after 8:00 a.m. and asking drivers not to back up if they don't need to to do U-turns instead. Um, we seem to have combed the issue of noise. We have one very vocal resident up there near U 87th in Collins and lately it's been contractors that have been working um unauthorized that we've been dealing with as far as noise goes. So it doesn't seem to be sanitation trucks

and and want to thank you for for working operationally seeing seeing seeing what we could do that that I think is is great. I do see that the administration recommends continued evaluation of technology and uh alternatives including backup alarm modifications and equipment related uh noise considerations specifically um white noise backup alarms. Um is that something that the administration wants us or or recommends us looking into? Uh fleet has identified a backup a white noise backup alarm. I will turn it over because I don't know a whole lot about it. So,

um, good afternoon again. Yes, we have explored, um, there's an equipment that you can use that allows for white noise. We have it installed right now in one of our fleet vehicles and we can certainly test this as a pilot. Okay. And but is this being tested only on one vehicle? One vehicle right now. I don't think we're going to get an accurate measurement just by having it tested on one vehicle. Well, the idea is to see how it performs in the ambient environment in terms of um so these vehicles they have to be audible but without disturbing of course. So we just want to test in different scenarios.

So commissioner if I could could add to that. Um we would want to start a pilot program that would be a little larger with more more vehicles than just one. Um there is concerns on some of the larger vehicles that we have um of switching those out to the white noise. So, we're we're still researching that. Um, if a large scale vehicle is working in a construction site, um, by OSHA standards, we have to be able to have a backup alarm that is more audible than the the construction noise. So, there's some challenges there. And through your suggestion, we we have spoken to um uh Mitch Beerman in regards to working with the waste contractors um to be able to have them work with us and they're they're currently talking to their risk team to mitigate any any liability that they would have in changing these out. So, they're researching that. So, we're trying to tackle this on a lot of fronts as far as being able to reduce this noise.

All right. Um why don't we bring this back next month? Let's continue to next month. Hopefully the sponsor can be present also so that so we can get his his feedback on it. Uh and it'll be great also to hear from our waist hauler from our waist hauler seeing what they'll be able to to do uh as it relates to piloting uh the uh the white noise broadband technology. And these these these um switching these things out is not is not relatively very expensive at all. We're just making sure that that it's going to be effective and and and keep us safe, keep our our residents safe as well. So, I think next month would we would have a lot more information.

Okay, great. And thank you again to our public works department for the operational adjustments that have been made to try to mitigate the noise. I appreciate it. Uh so, let's show that item continued uh to next month. Uh item number 14. Item number 14 is discuss how to improve the artist vendor program. This item was sponsored by Commissioner Matos Selenas and co-sponsored by Commissioner B and Commissioner Fernandez.

Thank you. Um and so and so uh I see I see th this item as to you know I don't want us to go back uh to the challenges that we saw in in in the past but if there were any unintended consequences I want us to see how we can mitigate any any of those uh unintended consequences. Commissioner Matoss Alenas, you're the sponsor of this item, so I'd like to recognize you to present your item.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. So, hi um to our guests today and city staff Minnie. Um you know, I know that there's been some changes to this program recently as of last year. And you know, it seems that that our artists are not happy with the changes and and others are not happy. And so I'm not exactly sure what the answers are and I don't think that we're going to be able to figure those answers out today. I feel like this is an ongoing process. Um I know this item is also going to be heard at land use. So it can't, you know, move forward without it first being heard at land use, too. So I don't know again if we're gonna fix this today, but let's let's have the conversation. Um, I've received, you know, some feedback from one of the artists, you know, and I'm not sure if you guys did all this collaborative collaboratively together, but um, I do think that we need to change the system that was changed. Um, and I'm not exactly sure where to begin and where it ends and how to fix it and how to make it better, but I certainly want to try. So, um, having said that, um, I want to turn it over now to the artists to give their feedback. Um, I do have to leave here at 1:30, so we don't have a ton of time,

ma'am. Please.

Um, but I I do want to hear also from city staff and I want to see if we can figure out a way to make um, this program better because it's it's not great as it currently exists. So, we're going to we're going to Thank you, Commissioner. And I appreciate you bringing this item because it's been an issue we've been hearing a lot of commission and we've been getting a lot of uh public comments on by email in our offices. I'm going to open up the floor to members of the public wishing to be heard. Members of the public have two minutes to speak. Uh and then we'll recognize staff and we'll we'll determine next steps forward. With that, we'll open the uh the floor for members of the public. Those attending in person can can approach the podium and uh those on Zoom can raise their hands on Zoom. Good. Good afternoon.

Okay. My name is Janet Figereroa and all I'm really asking from the city of Miami Beach as an artist vendor that I've been here over 10 years is to create an amendment where we could get grandfather in. will be the best solution right now for the ones who are out without being able to work. That's all I'm asking for. Thank you.

Hi commissioners, lawyer and workers. Um, this is my thing from 2009. I don't know where everybody was at 2009, but even before that, I've been working as an artist vendor. I had a nonforprofit. I have a degree in the arts and I run camps here in Miami Beach sharing the culture. Um, and everybody is not on the same page with this. Some people are suggesting we go back to the old thing that caused this problem in the first place and that was first come first serve people coming setting up tables. That didn't work then and it doesn't work now. the city tried to regulate it, but um com um then Mayor Maddie Bower was saying she didn't put in ordinance unique uh one-of-a-kind art. She said that would have eliminated all the confusion. Since um this program started, it started off on the wrong foot. You can't set up a program for artists without artists involved. It doesn't happen. Every relationship has two sides. The city knows their side and we know our side. And the only way that this program can ever work correctly is that we bring both parties together, sit down and hash it out. So that never happened. And um I'm asking, you know, as an artist, when Art Basel comes, I'm embarrassed because the tables look like crap. There's no standard. There was not from the beginning. At least at the beginning, people used to set up their table when we're certified exactly how we set it up outside and then then the arts board would determine, okay, we like this. They were trying to buy my art straight from my table and that's an indication that it's unique because they see a lot of art. That didn't happen. There's no standard. Stringing. Um, jewelry is art.

There's a lot of missteps. Jewelry has is an ancient art and now they're putting that is not. But anyway, the main points I want to make is that um the original program was um created from the city's perspective. Experienced artists are not allowed meaningful in um involvement. Any workable program must include both the city and the artists and then identifying what mistakes went wrong the first time to see what missteps happen and how we can you know thank you get it on track.

Thank you so much. I and I and and I appreciate your passion on the issue. I see Julian on Zoom with his hand raised. Good afternoon Julian. Welcome. You have two minutes to speak. Good afternoon, Julie. Um, piggyback off of the last speaker. Hi, can you hear me? Yes, welcome.

Hi. I just wanted to piggy back off the last speaker in that um yes, we would like to figure out how we can uh have more artists involvement in the development of an ordinance and the execution of an ordinance. In addition, I'd like to attach what uh Commissioner Dominguez had mentioned in one of our meetings that there is an opportunity here to reimagine this ordinance and to bring it up to the standard of an international art city uh and incorporate the significant amount of artistry that is going on throughout Miami, Dave County, and Miami Beach in general and ensure that it has a proper voice uh and execution. ution through a through an ordinance that uh is inclusive and allows for all artists to be able to express themselves uh to the best of their ability. And so the options that have been presented such far are simply just suggestions and ideas that have been generated from across many artists uh that that are are are interested in what is happening in Miami Beach. and so such that we would really like to just revisit the idea to develop a new ordinance if possible. Thank you. Thank you Julian. Uh and is there any other member of the public attending the meeting today wishing to speak? Seeing none in person and none in Zoom, Commissioner Matselinas, please guide us on the direction you want to take the item in. Um, I uh, you know, I just want to figure out from the artists. You

know, there's a there's a lot of moving parts to this. There's, you know, what people can sell, what is considered art, where they're located, the lottery and the positions, the fees that we charge, if people are residents or non-residents. Um, you know, how we incorporate new folks. Um, I appreciate your feedback about grandfathering the old uh the people that were in the past that were selling participate

and I just don't think that's going to entirely fix the problem because what about new folks that want to come in? Um, and I I don't know if the the best way to move forward is to create a whole new ordinance either. Um, I just don't know how to drill down what exactly the problem is and how to fix it. And we've had multiple meetings and I just wanted to put it on the committee so that way we could get feedback and try to figure out moving forward what's the best way to fix this. To me, I just want to make sure that what is being sold is by actual artists, made by actual artists, and not something that they're just purchasing wholesale and reselling. And so to me, that's the most important part that I want to incorporate. Does the current ordinance already address that?

Yes, the current ordinance requires that all of the items be handmade and not be bulk purchased.

Okay. Because to me, you know, I don't if it's whether they're selling, you know, beaded bracelets or, you know, items, you know, that we hang on our walls. That part doesn't I don't want to micromanage. I don't think we should be micromanaging. Um, so, you know, there's there's just a million different directions to go with this and I frankly don't know what the next steps are. Um, but I just want it to be a work in progress. Um, so maybe we open and continue this to the next meeting and then that way I can do another round table with you guys and we can go point by point as to what what you guys need. Um,

let me ask you this. So, so, so right now the ordinance requires um for the work to be handmade and not bulk purchased. That's correct. for all of the artists.

It seems to me and what I'm what I'm seeing um especially from Ema um it seems like that's that's probably not being enforced well. Um that it's you really don't have people out there who are really handmaking these these products. seems like there might be bulk, you know, someone goes on on, you know, whatever may be on whatever website and buys stuff from China and they're somebody gets a whole container, right? And split it up amongst five or six.

So, and that's and that's and and that's what I'm getting to. So, so it seems like to me there's part of the problem that we're facing is an enforcement issue. How do we as a city and we're granting these opportunities? You know, people come, we know they come before TCD, they present before TCD. Um, but once they leave and once they got their right, they're out there and they might not necessarily be selling and displaying the same type of product that they uh showed uh the um the um what is it? the review process that review meeting.

How are we enforcing this? Well, staff,

good afternoon, uh, Commissioner, Madam Commissioner. Currently, code enforcement would issue a violation. There are there have been several violations issued to artist vendors that have not been selling art. They've been selling knockoffs of of Van Clee, Gucci, Fendi, and

but forget about the obvious. Okay, so there and thank you for enforcing that. That's the obvious that needs to be enforced. But also the other obvious, the bulk purchased stuff that they buy as Ema mentioned in a crate and then they spread it amongst, you know, different tables and then and then this is where you have that visual proliferation of product that really, you know, some might call it art, but really is it really art when you're when you're buying it in bulk and just so like how that that you know because you know van you know a fake Van Clee a fake Louis Vuitton you know whatever you know yes that that can be identified uh but but how are the others being enforced whatever the artist is approved for photographs are taken I know in the in the past these photographs were put in a shared file and code compliance had access to to these files and when they would see a table and it something was on the table that was not in the files approved by art public places committee they would issue a violation. So I would defer to to code compliance to see

I see Mr. in the in in the audience and um you know guide us uh from from code enforcement your code enforcement officers how are they enforcing this so that so that we don't end up with mass produced you know stuff that's being bought from China now ends up being being sold in our right of ways.

Sure. Uh good afternoon uh chair and commissioner uh Edgar Drad, assistant co- compliance director. Uh so this is something that our officers they do on a a proactive basis. Well, when they see uh an artist vendor, it's going to be up to them to go up to the table, make sure that they review all their documents and that they compare what items they have on the table is what is actually approved for them to have. Um, so we can absolutely conduct a a special detail where uh for a number of days or weeks in a row, our officers are out there uh consistently and enforcing these artist vendors and making sure that what they have on their tables is is what they're approved for. And and let me ask you, is it all the um code enforcement officers that do this or do you have specific code enforcement officers that are specifically trained on this and to identify this type of violation? because I I mean, you know, I think this is something very specific, you know, uh and I don't know I don't know that all code enforcement officers may have the ability to properly not that they don't have the ability to properly use their discretion their their discretion, but it's you know something very unique.

Sure. Yeah. It's a very unique subject area for them to be able to identify you know what's what should be there and what should not be there based on what was presented during during the review process with TCD.

Sure. So uh some officers will have more experience than others in identifying uh and how to enforce uh the artist vendors. Uh so other areas so our officers are split up in different zones. Some zones may not have any artist offenders uh within their zone. So, they're not going to have as much expertise in addressing these types of violations, but on Lincoln Road, on Ocean Drive, those officers are the ones that are consistently seeing these types of of issues. So, they're they're going to be the ones that would uh typically identify and address these these concerns. So, it really is area based because not everywhere has artist vendors, but those areas that typically do on Collins, on Washington, on Ocean, the officers that are uh assigned to those zones are the ones that are typically going to address that.

And we continue to experience these problems today, even after the adoption of the new ordinance. Uh so we I I have would have to see the numbers uh exactly how many inspections, how many violations we've issued uh since the ordinance, but uh any complaints that come in for this type of violation, our officers will certainly address that uh in a timely basis. Um but it's it's something that I would need to to look at our our records. Let me recognize Commissioner Suarez, who was the original sponsor of the ordinance. He's joining us via Zoom. Good afternoon, Commissioner. Welcome. I want to I have some questions for Edgar, though. And but let me yeah let's let me just recognize the commissioner since since he's this is it was his original item.

Commissioner

thank you commissioner uh for Mr. Chair and uh Commissioner Matias. Thanks for recognizing me. Um yes I I was the original sponsor for this. Originally, when I brought this up, um, I realized you're walking around that many of these quote unquote artist vendors basically were buying what appears to be kind of crap from Alibaba, putting them together, and then selling them on our public rightway. Um, to me personally, I don't think our public rightaway should be used as a business for profit. Um, the whole point of an artist vendor program is to sell art, not mass- prodduced junk on our street. EMA sells amazingly beautifully crafted artwork on Miami Beach. That is a an exception to what is the norm for most of these artist vendors where they'll sell things with like a marijuana pendant on there or uh like what code compliance said a fake Von Cleave and Chanel jewelry when the code officer is not uh looking and you know and and to speak to that too it's not really the city's responsibility with code because we put a lot of effort on code. There's a lot more pressing matters that code has to deal with as far as noise and quality of life issues than babysit uh artist vendors who are skirting the rules. So, you know, I would be very cautious on how we proceed with this because at the end of the day, you know, what we're doing is facilitating a business on the public right away. And I to me I I'm I'm I'm very much against that. And the compromise that we had at

the last meeting was to just allow the residents of Miami Beach to continue to do this. So, um you know, I think uh I I I don't I certainly don't want to see this get out of hand with uh using any sort of restriction. Um, but fundamentally I I I disagree with the premise that people are selling on public right away and we're using city resources to accommodate uh this program where it it's for a forprofit business. Thank you.

Thank you, Commissioner uh Commissioner Matselinas. So Edgar, just to clarify some points that you mentioned about code enforcement and um the artist vendor program. So does your code they your code of compliance officers actively go out every weekend for example on Saturday on Sunday and check every table that we have in this artist vendor program.

So their role is to go and address various issues. Um, now if they're walking on their detail on Ocean Drive, let's say, and they observe an artist vendor table, yes, they should be checking in, just touching base, making sure that there's nothing out of the ordinary. So, yes, I I mean, I can't tell you definitively how many inspections at this moment, but, uh, it is something that we it is part of their detail. Uh, any officer that has, uh, these artist vendors in their area, it's something that when they observe, they they should go out there and and check in on uh, on. Can we just on a timely basis?

Can we just get um some data on this? How often they've been checking the tables and and if any citations, you know, if there's been a particular area or location or artist vendor that gets more citations than others because they're not selling what they are approved to sell. I'd be interested to look at that. Um, and then I don't know if um there's any type of, you know, after you get three citations for selling what you're not approved to sell, then you get removed from the system. Is that already built in there?

Our ordinance has strong language. If you get X number of violations, you're prohibited from participating in the lottery for one quarter. Uh, if you get Y number violations, you're prohibited uh you're you're actually excommunicated from the program. Okay. Do you know how many that is? There there's there hasn't been many over the years that have that have gotten through. So it doesn't really happen is what you're saying. Yeah. Maybe I could think they don't get or so throughout through in the past 15 years or so. Okay.

Okay. Um and then you know I guess you know since that is and I understand the commissioner Suarez's concerns about um you know selling on our public right away but I there are people who you know purchase you know bracelets or art or you know little I don't know um things that are sold that say Miami Beach on them and it's a nice little momentum from their vacation. So, um, you know, again, the question of is it only for resident artists that live in Miami Beach or do we open it up for those who have moved off the beach? That's an interesting discussion because I know not a lot of artists can afford to live here. Um, you know, so maybe we give priority to those who live on Miami Beach to get the better spots, the better locations. I have data on uh artist vendors that live on the beach and and those that don't live on the beach. Over the last three quarters before the project was implemented, we had a total of 58 different artist vendors that applied to participate in at least one quarter. Of those 58, 20 were non-be residents. Of those 20 non- beach residents, 16 were non-expressive artists. Four were expressive artists, meaning they were painters or sculptors. So, of those 20 non- beach residents, uh, 16 were non-expressive.

And can you define non-expressive as? I I I will defer to the city attorney to define expressive and non-expressive. Non-expressive is something that is not protected under the first amendment. It is generally clothing, toys, jewelry, things of that nature. And what we normally get, what that normally boils down to is bead stringers. Okay? And and so does let me let me let me ask you this.

Um we have people that go through the application review process and then we have people that go through the lottery application process. Okay. How is that determined? How tell me tell me the

the difference. I know the difference in the process, but how is it determined who goes under which? So, we have 58 different lottery locations. Whoever's certified as as an artist vendor by Art and Public Places, they don't have to participate in our lottery. Our lottery is just for South Beach, uh, Lincoln Road, Ocean Drive, Washington, Collins, and our beach, our beachwalk, our beach end, street ends. And there's 58 locations. And just by coincidence, we have 58 different artist vendors that are participating in the in the program. The lotteryies is based we uh literally like the Florida lottery. We have a kino balls. Uh every artist vendor is assigned a number and every quarter we have a lottery. It's it's streamed on online on zoom and for example Brenda might be number one, she might be number two and we spin the balls and so it's completely random. And for whoever gets the first ball

do they need to go through the review with TCD? Do they have to go at the front end? They review each artist and and then they go into the lottery. Then they can participate in the lottery. Yes. So in order to make it into the lottery, they have to go through the TCD review process. Yes. Excuse me. So wait, I have one more question. I'm sorry. So out of 58 artist vendors that we currently have in the program, only four don't live in Miami Beach. 20 do not live in the beach. Of those 20, four are expressive artists. So 16 are non-expressive sign this time. Mr. Chair, can I uh chime in for a second, please?

Yes, please do. Thank you, Mr. Chair. If you are not as and the city attorney can correct me if I'm wrong, if they are non-expressive, I'm sorry, if they are expressive, the ordinance doesn't necessarily prohibit them from getting in the the lottery programs. It's only for non-expressive jewelry that and if you're not a Miami Beach resident, you would be not allowed to participate selling on public property. And I can have the city attorney weigh on that. Yeah.

Yes, that's correct. the artists, people who are selling art as opposed to non-art with non-expressive products, uh, anyone is allowed to, uh, get a certificate to sell it anywhere in the city and to participate in the lottery to get a special spot on South Beach, which are limited and special. If you're not in the South Beach area and you have a certificate, you can sell anywhere in the city that you want that uh doesn't block the sidewalk or things like that, but only in South Beach do you need a special spot assigned by us and that's just because it's so overcrowded and that you get through the lottery. So, so there's more than 58 certificate holders, I would imagine. And then and if I and if I could just piggyback on that one more time and that was the intent of the order it's that if it's truly non-expressive meaning not art then we're the city is facilitating a forprofit business that's not that's not art technically uh on public right away and so if very simple if you are selling art what is you know what is defined by the then great, anyone can apply. Doesn't mean you're for a beach reser or non- beach res. But if you are selling a for-profit uh production item, then you know you we we limit it to only Miami Beach resident.

Yeah. Well, selling is selling. I mean, regardless of whether it's expressive or non-expressive, you're benefiting from the public's rightway, you know, and that, you know, so so that's, you know, I think we should make that clear. What I do think is on the non-expressive side, you know, do we even need to allow non-expressive to be selling on on the public right ofways?

Very quickly, the the answer is no. We are required under the first amendment to allow the sale of expressive products of of we don't have to allow any non-art. you made the policy decision through Commissioner Sorz's uh ordinance to allow some non-art and like what like like I said that mainly means bead stringers for us here and why couldn't we so you know and that's and and that's the problem is those the non-expressive is is hurting

is is hurting um the expressive you know and that's that is the challenge and is There is there a way that we could have perhaps a more sophisticated review process where we do away with the non-expressive. We only keep the expressive but but have a more rigorous review process. Well, let me let me say that there are a lot of uh non-expressive products that may be considered to be valuable or handmade. Like for example, you've complimented some of the peak speakers here today who I believe make handmade jewelry. Jewelry is not considered to be art. It's not considered to be expressive. Even if it's handmade, even if it's one of a kind. Although the problems we mostly see are bead stringers. When you have a rule that doesn't allow any non-expressive products at all, then even the handmade one-of-a-kind jewelry is cast out uh with the back

and so and so and so if we do include please ma'am. Ma'am, please ma'am, you are out of order. Please, we're trying to work and it affects my life. We're trying to help you and we're trying to not because you're not listening. We are listening. Ordinance wasn't written with specific language. Clients can't please not. Can we have Can we have if we're going to have both non-expressive and expressive? Can it be a more rigorous vetting process for this?

Well, yes. You can always have a very rigorous uh vetting process and very rigorous enforcement, but those both take uh uh assets and money and time to do. And that that's one of the key sort of takeaways from this is in crafting the ordinance is trying to make something that is easily enforcable and that is doesn't take like code enforcement hours and hours to go and sift through everything on a table. Uh and so

well what we want to make sure is that we really have this is an artist vendor program. We want to make sure that we really have artists that are out there. selling products

and so and so, you know, right now I don't know that our uh current process through TCD is truly differentiating between artists and resellers. Well, it's my understanding that they go through TCD and they also go through AIP and that the initial screen is is pretty rigorous with both of those. Uh but as you said, once they get past that that stage, then you have to enforce and having a code officer go and sift through everything for hours and hours trying to figure out what they're selling may not be what you want them using their time to do. We also did a pilot program last year with uh our education department sending out secret shoppers to the artist vendors to go through and look for things and give us a report. But that was a one-time thing. It cost I believe we paid about $4,000 to have a run through of all of the artist vendor tables. You could do something that was a little bit cheaper than using code enforcement officers. And you could do that on an ongoing basis if you wanted to. Uh but but the problem really is enforcement and and the and the ordinance is written in a way to make it as simple as possible uh to enforce.

How many violations do we have to give someone uh if they are violating this before we revoke their rights? Uh any have to look it up. I believe it's three and they're kicked out of the program forever. And why would we give them three three vi three violations? Because I mean to me they're they're kicked out of the program for how long? Forever. Forever. Life.

And you know from what I'm seeing in this in in this memo approximately 90% of of the 58 um sell some form of of non-expressive art predominantly bead making and bead stringing. Yes. you know, and and that's that's not EMA, you know, EMA. But that's her uh you know, that's you know, but that's that's that's the challenge that we're that that that we're facing. Do we want to allow that or do we want to allow a more

a more artistic form of non-expressive art? Well, you know, I'm sorry, ma'am. I'm sorry. If we are in public meeting, we are elected to do shave my head when I disagree with you. Yes. But I just need you to understand that. So you let other people like the parking speak their peace because they are employees of the city of Miami Beach and they're here for that purpose. Allow us to engage in this discussion, please, because we are here to work. It's a one-sided isn't it's not a one-sided discussion. Oneonone. You're the city side and I'm here on my side and we've met with you. allow me to express and we've met with I'm listening to you

and we've and we've all met with you and now this is this is the opportunity that we have to discuss with staff and to discuss with colleagues so that we can find the best avenues forward if there is one to be found to assist us and it's not a one way because whenever you need a meeting lawyer we give you something incorrect I looked it up jewelry is considered an ancient art form and that is opinion so he can help his client. Thank you. I have case in point that I sent but we need you to maintain order in the chambers. Thank you.

Um I want to make sure that there are jewelry makers and bead stringers out there that are truly made by artists such as yourself. You make beautiful jewelry. Um not everyone can buy. Not all of our tourists and our residents and our visitors and folks that come to the beach can buy Van Clee jewelry that's not knockoff. Um, you know, we're moving in a direction that everything is luxury luxury and not everybody can afford luxury luxury. So, you know, and to Commissioner Suarez's point, um, although I I understand and respect that he does not support people making money off our public writeaways, it's not like any of these artists are making millions of dollars on these tables. Um, in fact, you know, a lot of them can't even pay for the fees that they're that they have to pay for to keep their table open. So, um, you know, I just want to make sure that, you know, our visitors that come here, you know, if they want to take a momento back from Miami Beach, it's it's a it's a momento that that is artistic and it's and it's made by true artists and it's not something that's um, you know, bought on, you know, Amazon in bulk. Um, so I don't know if what the answer is. Um, and at this point I think it might be better to defer the item to bring the item back next month and that way we can engage a little bit more and I'm happy to meet again with you guys. I just don't know what the answer is here. I really truly don't and I want to help but um I'm not sure how to you know and it is like you to your point it is enforcement um but it's also making sure that we have artists that are offering um art even if it is bead stringing even if it is jewelry I I don't see anything wrong with that as long as it's not bought in bulk online.

Yeah. And and and I'll tell you my challenge is while yours is bead stringing is exactly that we do see cases of of art that is bought as commissioner Suarez me mentioned from Alibaba and and then that's being sold and then the other challenge is that we are required under the first amendment to have a program like this. Uh is that correct Mr. Attorney?

That is correct. And so and so so to the extent that you know we're required to have a program like this um I think that the ordinance that was passed as imperfect as it may have been it was necessary because I'm sure I'm sorry like what was happening in our public right ofways it was shameful it was taking away from the aesthetics of our city and there had to be measures that had to be put in place um because it was not good.

And and uh it was just going all throughout our our historic districts and our and our um Lincoln Road and the and the Beachwalk um it was it was distasteful and it and and it it wasn't good. But to the extent that we have this program and to the extent that um that that we do have people with non-expressive art out there, not all non-expressive art is the same. And what I want to see is that how do we have that better vetting? How do we have um people who can more clearly identify you know, non-expressive handmade art as opposed to non-expressive mass- prodduced products from making its way out there. Uh, and we're not going to figure that out today. I would love for you to, you know, maybe maybe there's a sunshine meeting to be had with the original sponsor of of the item

uh to find some sort of a middle ground for that non-expressive part. Yes, Commissioner Suarez.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. And I keep on saying final note, but and you're very, very gracious with your time. Um, I just want to also have everyone caution that if we do sort of open the gates for non-expressive, then it's not just bead stringing that you're opening the door to, you're setting a precedent to sell pretty much anything on public right away. And that's a problem, right? I mean, because it may sound great that we're allowing quote unquote artists sell little trinkets that say Miami Beach on it, but what happens when they want to sell other things and they realize with the letter of the law, we're allowing this particular item to be sold, but not this, even though it's they're both non-expressive. We're kind of setting ourselves up for possibly a legal challenge, and I want to make sure we avoid that. But I'm I'm more than happy to discuss this in a sunshine meeting. uh with Commissioner Mateas Selenus and and probably iron out a much better program because even what I see now after this ordinance, it's it's it's like you said, Commissioner, it's not perfect, but it it sort of helps stem the tide of the unsavory sellers selling uh you know, trinkets. But let we can make the program better where we have actual artists uh selling on our on our uh on our public rights away. Thank you again.

Yeah. And and and and I'll tell you, you know, let's just keep in mind we currently do allow non-expressive art. It just has to be by our residents. Uh and we and and we did that understanding that we didn't want to uh impact uh our our residents who who who have been doing this for a long time and they're a part of our community. uh and we don't want to end up displacing them o ultimately because that's that's what would happen. So we we currently do do have it and one of the things I would suggest is that if there is a sunshine meeting about this um you know perhaps these are people who when they sell it they need to be part of the art is you're doing you have to be engaged in producing the product uh while you're there. um because I don't see people doing that and and perhaps that's something that can be considered uh because I'm not that concerned about whether the person is a resident or not to me that's not as much as as a concern if from the perspective of like okay you don't want to displace people who have been dependent on this yes you know then I want to make sure that we're not hurting our residents but if we have residents out there who today 90% of those who are out there are pon predominantly doing beat making and beat stringing then I don't want them there you know and I and and and I think we need to go back and look at the at at the violations if you're engaged just once violating this privilege is it's a privilege to use the public right of ways you shouldn't be given a second opportunity or a third you should be taken out of the program and make way then for the real artist. Uh and I and and and I think that that needs to be a starting point, you know, because that that that that sets the

ground and that sets the expectation and also the fear. Yeah, let me not have that because if I'm capable of producing my own art and selling my own art, why am I going to risk losing this privilege?

Exactly. if if if if I'm going to be selling um these fake mass-produced bracelets and that and that should be the penalty. Penalty number one, that's it. You're out and that's that because it is ultimately as Commissioner Suarez mentioned, it is the public's right of way. We do have to have this program under under the first amendment, but it doesn't take away from the fact that it's a privilege to to use the public's property, and we need to set the highest of expectations and standards with that. So with that, Commissioner Matso Selenus, thank you for bringing the item. Commissioner Suarez, thank you for participating in in the conversation. I look forward to your Sunshine meeting and the product that comes out from it.

Thank you. Thank you. So, can we bring this back maybe in two or three months? Uh, do you want to bring it back, let's say, July? Not in August, obviously, but July or September? July. July. July. Okay. So, we'll bring the item back in in July. Uh and hopefully at that point we'll we'll have some some good recommendations. All right. So let's show this item coming back in in July. Uh with that uh seeing no other items on the agenda, those that were not heard today will be deferred to our next meeting. All right, meeting.