At its November 16, 2022 meeting, the City Commission approved a referral to the Public Safety and Neighborhood Quality of Life Committee (PSNQL) to discuss improving landscaping, cleanliness, and aesthetics of Miami Beach Drive from 24th to 29th Streets.  

The discussion originates from a Mid-Beach Neighborhood Association meeting, where residents expressed a desire to work with the City to improve the area.  Improvements requested included litter collection, pressure cleaning, additional landscape installation, repairs and replacement of brick pavers and concrete walkways, and bollard replacement. 

Public Safety and Quality of Life Committee meetings regarding improvements along Miami Beach Drive have taken place on February 28, 2023, March 22, 2023, April 18, 2023 and May 23, 2023, all sponsored by Commissioner Fernandez, where potential short and long-term initiatives have been discussed and have taken place, including: trimming of lower limbs of trees and minor plant in-fills at the Beachwalk entrances from 24th Street to 27th Streets, installation of 2 Victor Stanley trash cans and 2 doggie bag dispensers on Miami Beach Drive (serviced 7 days a week), pressure washing of all beach entrances from 24th through 29th Streets, lighting, ordering of bollards (currently in back order), and repairing/replacing of brick pavers and concrete walkways that have cracked through daily use.

At its May 23, 2023 meeting, Public Works provided several updates related to Miami Beach Drive as requested by Commissioner Fernandez:

• Ownership of Club Atlantis: Through extensive research, it has been determined that all of Miami Beach Drive with the exception of the property behind Club Atlantis is owned by the City.
• Status update on brick pavers, lighting, bollards, pressure washing of the beach entrances from 24th to 29th Streets, including the area of Club Atlantis
• Negotiations regarding the transfer of a portion of land by Club Atlantis back to the City, either via a transfer of an easement (as recommended by Legal) or alternate ownership.

Two items from the list stood out and are due to come back in June for an update: the status of the bollards that are on backorder, additional pressure washing needed on Miami Beach Drive, and results from a professional property survey on Miami Beach Drive to determine land ownership.  It was stated that the survey has been ordered by the Legal team, and the results are due in early June, 2023.  A verbal update/report not covered in this memo (due to Committee printing deadlines) will be provided.