OLD BUSINESS  4.

COMMITTEE MEMORANDUM

HISTORY:

On January 25, 2019, the Mayor’s 41^st Street Blue Ribbon Committee passed a motion to prioritize improving the lighting on the 41^st Street Corridor, specifically to allocate the quality of life funds towards lighting the trees on the 41^st street corridor.

On February 13,2019, the Mayor and City Commission referred to the Neighborhood/Community Affairs Committee to discuss the Mayor’s 41 Street Blue Ribbon Committee’s motion about improving the lighting on the 41^st street corridor, specially to allocate the quality of life funds towards lighting the trees on the 41^st street corridor.

ANALYSIS:

On April 11, 2019, the Property Management Department presented lighting options to the Mayor’s 41^st Street Blue Ribbon Committee (the “Committee”). The options reviewed included Light 365 to be installed by Artistic Holiday Lighting (the “Contractor”) and rope lighting to be installed by R&D Electric, Inc. These are registered vendors with the City of Miami Beach currently holding contracts awarded for electrical services and decorations.

The Committee discussed the options presented, including the long-term commitment for Light 365, as it holds a 5 year warranty versus the maintenance cost associated with traditional rope lighting.     

On May 11, 2019, at the Mayor’s 41^st Street Blue Ribbon Committee meeting, the Property Management Department, summarized the key points given during the April 11, 2019 meeting, the following points were made:

The Committee discarded the R&D rope lighting option and decided to pursue a pilot program with Artistic Holiday for Light 365.

On July 23, 2019, the Mayor’s 41^st Street Blue Ribbon Committee passed a motion to install Light 365 at every other palm from Prairie Avenue to Royal Palm Avenue. The lighting would be installed as a temporary pilot program with temporary electrical connections in order to assess the brightness and quality of the lights. This pilot program was to be installed in good faith and at no cost to the City under the condition the Committee move forward with the permanent installation. If the Committee decided to go with another option, the City would be responsible for a $15,000 labor and installation fee.

On August 16, 2019, the 11 palms were wrapped with Light 365 completing the pilot installation.

On September 12, 2019, the Mayor’s 41^st Street Blue Ribbon Committee met to discuss the installation the pilot. The Committee felt some modifications were needed in order to properly evaluate the installation. We are currently working with the Contractor to remediate these issues.    

CONCLUSION:

The Administration continues to work with the Mayor’s 41^st Street Blue Ribbon Committee.