On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the rapidly spreading novel coronavirus ("COVID- 19") a pandemic, acknowledging what seemed clear — the virus would likely spread to all countries on the globe; and
The rate of infection throughout the world and in the United States accelerated rapidly, grinding most markets and businesses around the globe to a halt. In order to limit the spread of COVID-19, both Miami-Dade County and the City of Miami Beach (the “City”) issued various Emergency Orders including restrictions, social distancing guidelines, and facial covering requirements on retail and commercial establishments, including restaurants.
On May 13, 2020, the City Commission adopted Resolution No. 2020-31276, establishing the Restaurant Recovery Outdoor Seating Pilot Program (the “Program”). This Program temporarily allows restaurants to expand sidewalk café seating areas onto public rights-of-way, or other outdoor seating areas on private property, subject to the Administration’s review and approval of a proposed site plan for the expanded area(s) to ensure all public safety and public access issues are appropriately addressed, and further subject to the restaurant operator’s compliance with applicable provisions of the Sidewalk Café Ordinance (set forth in Chapter 82, Article IV, Division 5 of the City Code).
The Program has been extended through September 30, 2021 pursuant to Resolution Nos. 2020-31406, 2020-31522, and 2021-31632.
At the September 17, 2021 meeting, the Mayor and City Commission adopted Resolution No. 2021-31867, authorizing the extension of the Program through October 31, 2021, but only for those restaurants located outside MXE mixed use entertainment district.
At the September 23, 2021 City Commission Workshop relating to Transportation/Ocean Drive and Washington Avenue, the Mayor and City Commission provided direction to the Administration regarding the configuration of Ocean Drive for pedestrian and vehicular purposes, and in view of the ongoing work, directed the Administration to bring an agenda item for consideration at the September 30, 2021 City Commission meeting, to consider extending the scope of the Program to all restaurants with sidewalk café seating areas located within the City of Miami Beach, including the restaurants located within the MXE mixed use entertainment district. The terms of the Program are set forth in Exhibit “A” to this Resolution, and incorporated by reference herein.