On June 22, 2022, at the request of Commissioner Meiner, the City Commission approved a referral to the Public Safety and Neighborhood Quality of Life Committee (PSNQLC) to discuss the City’s enforcement efforts with regard to commercial trucks and other vehicles obstructing streets and rights-of-way, aggravating traffic and creating other public safety hazards.

The highlighted concern is not new to the City of Miami Beach. In 2014 the City Commission enacted Ordinance 2014-3873 (attached herein for reference)—the ordinance called for a multi-departmental response comprised of Parking, Code Compliance and Police. Since the adoption of the Ordinance, Freight Loading Zone (FLZ) enforcement commenced in August 2014 and has resulted in many citations and towed vehicles. The FLZ Ordinance was extensively monitored and enforced through the start of the COVID-19 Pandemic when dedicated funding was reprogrammed and personnel were reallocated or reassigned. Attached is a summary of the Parking Department’s enforcement statistics spanning 2017-2022.

Although significant improvements were achieved, the onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic saw significant increases not only in small package delivery vehicles such as Amazon and GoPuff; but other delivery services including but not limited to, Uber Eats, Door Dash, Shipt, and InstaCart. These independent contractors present a challenge to the current ordinance related to permit requirements. Moreover, at the inception of the FLZ ordinance, national couriers (i.e. FedEx and UPS) obtained permits but have failed to renew such permits in subsequent years.

The Parking Department continues to train and hire additional staff to deploy within the  Art Deco Cultural District to enforce both the designated Freight and Alley Loading Zones. Additional hiring and training are planned to bring enforcement to pre-pandemic levels city-wide. Furthermore, additional FLZ enforcement by Police will be subsidized by the Parking Department.

Staff from Police, Transportation and Mobility, and Parking have met to discuss the issue. While there is a commitment to increase enforcement in the short term, additional outreach to delivery companies will be done. Parking staff has reached out to the International Parking and Mobility Institute and will have an opportunity to discuss this matter with parking delegates at an upcoming National Parking Association conference. Lastly, opportunities for utilizing technology are also being evaluated.

UPDATE June 2023:

The Parking Department has issued 6007 citations and towed 2486 vehicles year-to-date during FY 2023.

The Police Department has issued 901 citations and towed 369 vehicles year-to-date during FY 2023.