CITY of MIAMI BEACH

Office of the

City Manager

Letter to Commission No. /

Mayor David

TO:

Z)Date: April 25, 2003

Dermer and

Members of the

City Commission

FROM:

Jorge M. Gonzalez
City Manager
~ '~/'

SUBJECT:

WEEKLY UPDATE

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The purpose of this LTC is to provide the Mayor and Commission with an update
describing some of the areas the administration focused on during the week of

April 21, 2003:

Members of the administration
Community Development Week successfully hosted the 2003 Community Development Week from April 21-27,
commemorating the achievements made possible by Community Development
Block Grant (CDBG)funds. The weeklong activities, celebrating Earth and Arbor
Day, civic participation and affordable housing among others, focused on
inspiring the community and achieving personal and family success.

2003

The Public Works Department

Leadership Academy overview of their responsibilities and services to academy
participants on April 21. The participant's surveys, completed at the end of each
session, will be compiled and shared with each department with a final report

Neighborhood
presented an

presented

to the

Mayor and Commission.

Bag Luncheon - As part of an ongoing series with the various city

departments, I had an opportunity to meet with the staff of the Police Department
on April 21 and held informal discussions on a multitude of issues of internal and
Brown

external

concern.

Members of the administration and the City

Attorney met with developer Don Peebles and outside counsel on April 21 to
conclude negotiations.
Negotiation details will be included in the April 30

Royal

Palm Hotel

Negotiations -

Commission meeting

agenda.

Street Development - I, alongside members of the administration, met with

Street
Alan Potamkin and his representatives on April 22 to discuss the 5th
of
the
Parking Study were
Development which includes a supermarket. Copies
previously made available to Mr. Potamkin and his associates for review.
Discussion focused on the need to prioritize the City's future parking
5th

investments, with Potamkin to provide

participation

in the

near

some

revised

proposals seeking City

future.

Parking Initiatives - Members of the administration met with representatives

from North Beach on April 23 to discuss future area parking lot improvements,
specifically the 72nd Street Lot and the Byron Carlyle lot. Pursuant to a recent
Finance Committee meeting, staff also met with Bernard Zyschovich on April 25
Civic/
Convention/ Center area
to discuss parking alternatives for the Government
World
as it pertains to the proposed Soundspace New
Symphony expansion.
Members of the administration, joined by
Review Committee members of the public, addressed renewal of the City's charter on April 23. The
district
process, undertaken every 10 years, is reviewing items including
form
of
election runoff time frames, mayoral term limitations and

Charter

representation,

government questions among others. The

next

meeting

is scheduled for

May 6,

at 5:
30 p.
m.,in the Commission Chambers.

Take Your Children to Work Day - A multitude of city departments successfully

participated in " Take Your Children to Work Day" on April 24. The annual
nationwide program strives to educate children on the challenges and
of participating in today's workforce while providing instruction on

possibilities

how to succeed in future

jobrelated

endeavors.

part of my list of annual priorities aimed at enhancing

organizational efficiencies through the empowerment and education of our
employees and managers, leadership development retreats have been created
for all City departments. The retreats focus on team building, mission alignment,
goal setting, performance measures and internal leadership development. On
April 24, the Tourism and Cultural Development Department successfully
participated in the process, addressing areas of need and opportunities for

Leadership Initiatives -

As

betterment.

in
Rapid Transit Options RFQ - Representatives from the administration,
those
conjunction with the Evaluation Committee, met on April 24 to allow
to
services
their
to
transit
present
options
bidding on consultant services for rapid
vendor
and
the Committee. The meeting provided an opportunity for public
comments to be heard.

Quality of Life Task Force - Representatives of the administration, joined by

members of the community, met on April 25 to discuss various quality of life
issues impacting the city. Discussions focused on enhancing the City's Noise
Ordinance and how to better enforce its reach.
North Beach Neighborhood Meeting - Representatives from the administration
and the Police Department are preparing to host a community meeting on April
The meeting,
28 to address various North Beach neighborhood issues.
School
Cafeteria, will provide
30 p.
at 6:
m. in the Biscayne Elementary

beginning

residents with
various

forum to express their

concerns as

well

receive

input

from

continued

to

meet

as

city departments.
Members

2003 -

Memorial

Day

throughout

the week with various

of the

administration

city departments

as

well

as

local businesses,

hotels and nightclubs

proper allocation of city services and personnel
during the upcoming Memorial Day weekend. A meeting with the City's Cultural
30 a.
m. in the
Arts Council has been scheduled for May 2, beginning at 8:
to

ensure

Tourism and Cultural Development Conference Room. Two meetings detailing

the City's action plan have also been scheduled for May 12, including a
00 p.
discussion with hotel managers beginning at 3:
m. in the First Floor
00 p.
Conference Room and followed by a Town Hall meeting at 6:
m. in the
The administration will also be meeting with the
Commission Chambers.

Transportation and Parking Committee, Ocean Drive Association and other

community groups throughout the upcoming weeks. Volunteer recruitment for
the City's Goodwill Ambassador Program, which is comprised of employee and
community volunteers serving as buffers or liaisons between the police and
m.
visitors, has begun with a training session to be held on May 14, from 10:00 a.
124. The
to 2:
00 p.
m. at the Miami Beach Convention Center Board Room Carticle
placements in news
City's Office of Communications has initiated
residents and community participants for the Goodwill
Program. An editorial meeting, encompassing the Miami Herald
news editors, is also being coordinated to ensure news coverage is factual and
fair while emphasizing the City's myriad of the planning efforts.

publications recruiting

Ambassador

If you have any

contact me.

questions

or

need any additional information,

JMG/ri/
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