| | | | | | | | | TO: | Finance and Economic Resiliency Committee Members
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| FROM:
| Alina T. Hudak, City Manager |
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| | DATE: | October 16, 2023
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| | SUBJECT: | REFERRAL TO THE FINANCE AND ECONOMIC RESILIENCY COMMITTEE TO DISCUSS THE MIAMI BEACH COMMISSION FOR WOMEN’S JULY 14, 2023 RECOMMENDATION FOR THE CITY TO PURCHASE “DATE RAPE DRUG” DETECTION CARDS, AND DEVELOP A PLAN FOR DISTRIBUTION OF THE CARDS AT LARGE SPECIAL EVENTS, AREA HOTELS, CITY PARKS, BEACHES, AND OTHER AREAS. |
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| | | | | | | | HISTORY:
| Commissioner Laura Dominguez placed a referral to the Finance and Economic Resiliency Committee (FERC) on the July 26, 2023 City Commission Meeting agenda to discuss the Miami Beach Commission for Women’s motion at their July 14, 2023 meeting regarding the purchase of date rape drug detection cards and a potential plan for their distribution throughout the city. The motion is as follows:
In order to help reduce the number of rapes that occur in the City of Miami Beach the Miami Beach Commission for Women urges the City Commission to direct the City of Miami Beach to purchase Date Rape Drug Detection cards and distribute them as they see fit.
Motion Passage: Unanimously (16-0, 2 members absent) |
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| | | | | | | | ANALYSIS:
| The acquisition of “date rape” drug detection cards for distribution is a community awareness initiative to provide a mechanism by which unsuspecting victims can determine if their drinks have been tampered with. The cards or drink coasters utilize a technology that upon encountering a laced beverage will change color and detect Gamma Hydroxybutyrate (GHB) and Ketamine, two drugs often used to incapacitate individuals and commit sexual crimes, such as date rape.
While rape due to GHB and Ketamine incapacitation is not particularly widespread within the City of Miami Beach, drug detection cards could be a valuable tool through which to further support the prevention efforts by the City and the Miami Beach Police Department (MBPD). It should be noted that MBPD has no back log in rape test kits and has investigated every sexual battery allegation made in the City. Through their efforts, MBPD had a clearance rate of 40% in reported cases in 2022, placing the Department above the national average of 33%.
Preliminary research has identified a potential sole source vendor that could price their bulk products with a 25% discount at between $2,250 and $2,400 for 2,000 pieces. (Print material for large scale events in the City normally begin at 5,000 pieces.) The cards can be personalized with logos and colors preferences to meet the needs of a client. Funding may be available within funds allocated to the MBPD’s victims services, and a potential deployment contingent on procurement processes could be slated as part of the Spring Break activations by Good Will Ambassadors and the City in conjunction with entertainment, hotel and business improvement districts and associations. A similar Spring Break activation utilizing the cards was deployed by the Ft. Lauderdale Police Department via their FLPD Bar Watch initiative and further exploration on additional municipalities carrying out comparable programs could be beneficial.
If adopted, the Parks and Recreation Department is prepared to work with MBPD on identifying locations and assisting with the distribution of drug detection cards at City parks.
In addition, the Tourism and Culture Department (TCD), regularly communicates with the Special Events and Hospitality industries and would collaborate with producers and hotel management to determine feasibility of distributing the drug detection cards with a goal of reaching as many attendees and hotel guests as possible. TCD would work with MBPD to determine number of cards available, based on their budget.
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| | | | | | | | CONCLUSION:
| | The distribution of drug detection products in the form of cards and/or coasters has as a goal to raise awareness and decrease victimization of sexual crimes through prevention. While it may be difficult to measure the number of cases prevented, the cards would not only act as a form of protection by potential victims, but also as a deterrent to potential predators. This in turn would reduce opportunities for date rape and other crimes to occur. |
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| | | | | | | | | Is this a "Residents Right to Know" item, pursuant to City Code Section 2-14? | | Does this item utilize G.O. Bond Funds? | | | No | | No | |
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| | | | | | | | Strategic Connection
| | Neighborhoods - Prevent and solve crime for residents and visitors. |
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