AN ORDINANCE OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, AMENDING THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, BY AMENDING CHAPTER 106, ENTITLED "TRAFFIC AND VEHICLES," BY AMENDING ARTICLE II, ENTITLED "METERED PARKING," BY AMENDING DIVISION 1, ENTITLED "GENERALLY," BY AMENDING SECTION 106-55, ENTITLED "PARKING RATES, FEES, AND PENALTIES; EXCEPTIONS," BY CREATING A NEW SUBSECTION (S), TO BE ENTITLED "HIGH IMPACT PERIOD PARKING RATES," WHICH AUTHORIZES THE CITY MANAGER TO ACTIVATE A TEMPORARY PARKING RATE INCREASE DURING HIGH IMPACT PERIODS; AND BY AMENDING SUBSECTION (I), ENTITLED "EXCEPTIONS," BY CLARIFYING THE APPLICABILITY OF THE RESIDENT DISCOUNT PARKING RATE; AND PROVIDING FOR CODIFICATION, REPEALER, SEVERABILITY, AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

The Administration recommends that the City Commission approve the Ordinance on First Reading and set a second and final public hearing on April 21, 2021.

Due to its domestic and international popularity as a resort destination, many large-scale events, both authorized by City permits and otherwise, occur on City property and/or on the City’s beaches. Subsequently, the City has seen an increasingly large number of visitors during these events, and the sizeable number of individuals in the City during these periods of time has posed numerous challenges for the City. Among those challenges, the City experiences increased traffic congestion, and the availability of parking is diminished during such high impact events or periods.

The City Manager is presently authorized to impose certain immediate measures upon determining that a high impact period will occur or is in progress. The Administration is recommending an amendment to the City Code to allow the City Manager to activate temporary, increased parking rates during those high impact periods.

The proposed high impact period parking rates are as follows:

1. Parking meter rates: up to a 100% increase to the hourly rates.
2. Municipal parking garages and parking lots up to $30 flat rate for 6 hours, and $5/per hour, or any portion thereof, for any additional hours, for a maximum of $50 for 24 hours.

Additionally, the Administration is recommending an amendment to the City Code to clarify the applicability of the resident discount parking rate for registered City of Miami Beach residents in order to continue receiving the discounted parking rate at City curbside (on-street) parking, and municipal parking garages and parking lots.

This item was presented at the City Commission Budget Workshop on May 21, 2019 and presented, discussed, and approved at the July 26, 2019 Finance and Economic Resiliency Committee (then the Finance and Citywide Projects Committee) Budget Briefings.

The First Reading of this Ordinance was included in the September 11, 2019 Commission agenda; however, the item was deferred. It was included in the October 11, 2019 agenda as a referral to Neighborhoods Committee; however, no further action was taken, and the original sponsor, Commissioner Joy Malakoff, is no longer on the City Commission. Commissioner David Richardson hos now agreed to sponsor the proposed Ordinance.

At this time the Administration wishes to pursue this amendment authorizing the City Manager to implement increased parking rates during high impact periods in order to manage parking utilization, reduce traffic congestion, and to promote the health, safety, and welfare of the City’s residents and visitors.  

Results from the 2019 Resident Survey show that 61.5% of residents rated the availability of on-street Parking in Miami Beach as too little.

The Administration recommends that the City Commission approve the Ordinance on First Reading and set a second and final public hearing on April 21, 2021.