A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, APPROVING FUNDING AND AN EXPENDITURE IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $33,000 FOR THE PUBLIC PURPOSE OF INFORMING AND EDUCATING THE VOTERS OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH REGARDING THE BALLOT QUESTIONS IN THE CITY’S SPECIAL ELECTION ON NOVEMBER 3, 2020, WHICH WILL BE HELD IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE GENERAL ELECTION, IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE A MORE INFORMED ELECTORATE VOTE. 

Adopt the Resolution.

The voters of the City of Miami Beach will be presented with six (6) City Special Election ballot questions on the November 3, 2020 General Election. The subject of the City ballot questions are:

1. Approval of use of $55,000,000 from sale of City property for Marina Park Project;
2. City Charter approval of sale of City property and air rights for Marina Park Project;
3. City Charter approval of lease of City property for operation of Miami Beach Marina;
4. Ordinance authorizing reconstruction of original floor plates within interior of historic buildings;
5. Floor Area Ratio Increase from 1.5 to 3.25 for Proposed Wolfsonian Arts District; and
6. Ordinance excluding certain areas of a building from calculation of “floor area.”

The City Administration believes that educating the voters on these matters is in the public interest and serves a public purpose. In an effort to explain and educate the voters on each of these questions, the Administration will be preparing public education information through various methods, which may include video presentation on the City’s cable channel, a voter’s guide, and other means. As the MB Magazine will not publish in early October 2020 due to COVID-19, the Administration is seeking approval to spend $29,000, of budgeted funds, to produce a direct mailer and video, including the cost of printing, graphics, translation services, layout, mailing, postage, and other miscellaneous costs as needed to disseminate the information.

This expenditure will serve the public purpose given the City’s reasonable expectation that these efforts at explaining the ballot questions and educating the voters will result in a more informed electorate vote, benefiting the public good.

The Administration recommends that the Mayor and City Commission adopt the Resolution approving an expenditure in an amount not to exceed $29,000, of budgeted funds, for the public purpose of informing and educating the voters of the City of Miami Beach regarding the City Special Election ballot questions on the November 3, 2020 Primary Election in order to achieve a more informed electorate vote.

Thirty-six (36) page voter’s guide estimate: