On September 2, 2023, the Miami Beach Commission for Women unanimously passed a motion recommending that the City co-designate City streets in honor of women who have significantly impacted the City’s history and culture. The recommendation was transmitted via Letter to Commission (LTC) No. 415-2023. Among recommended candidates, the Commission for Women recommended Naomi Wilzig, American erotic art collector and the founder and director of the World Erotic Art Museum in Miami Beach, Florida.

At the October 18, 2023 City Commission meeting, Commissioner Laura Dominguez referred a discussion item (C4 D) regarding the co-naming of a portion of 12 Street between Ocean Drive and Washington Avenue, in honor of Naomi Wilzig to the Public Safety and Neighborhood Quality of Life Committee (“PSNQLC” or “Committee”) along with any amendment to Section 82-503 of the City Code which may be required to accomplish the co-naming.

As noted in the attached referral memorandum, Naomi  Wilzig was born in Newark, New Jersey in 1934. In the early 1950s she married Siggi Wilzig, an Auschwitz survivor and an early leader of the U.S. Holocaust Museum, as well as president of the Trust Company of New Jersey until his death in 2003. In 1983 Ms. Wilzig began collecting erotic art for herself. Between 2003 and 2005 she accumulated more than 4,000 pieces from around the world. Her personal collection became the base of the World Erotic Art Museum in Miami Beach, which opened in 2005.

In 2006, Ms. Wilzig was honored with the Key to the City of Miami Beach. In 2011, the City of Miami Beach proclaimed October 16 "World Erotic Art Museum Day" in honor of Ms. Wilzig's museum's fifth anniversary.

In, 2011, The Institute for Advanced Study of Human Sexuality presented Ms. Wilzig with "Doctor of Arts Honors Causa Sexuality/Erotology." On October 16, 2011, the City issued a proclamation declaring it “Naomi Wilzig Day” at her public investiture of her doctorate degree ceremony.

Under existing criteria in Section 82-503 of the City Code, City streets may only be co­-named in honor of (1) Miami Beach police officers who died or were killed in the line of duty; (2) a public facility located on the street to be co-named; (3) private not-for-profit organizations with significant historic value to the city and associated with structures which have a significant historical value or architectural significance to the city; (4) geographic areas within the city; (5) a commercial establishment that has been in business in the City of Miami Beach for 100 or more years and which is located on the street to be co-named. 

Whenever a request is made to co-name streets, or portions thereof, in the City of Miami Beach (“City”), Section 82-503(c)(2) of the City Code requires the sponsor to submit the proposal in writing to an appropriate committee (in this case, PSNQLC), which shall include the following: (1) the street, or portion thereof, to be co-named; (2) the proposed co-name of the street, or portion thereof; (3) the reason for the request; and (4) a factual summary confirming that the proposed person falls under the specific criteria outlined in subsection 82-503(c)(1)(a) of the City Code.

In order to co-name a street in the City in honor of Naomi Wilzig, the PSNQLC must first recommend an amendment to Section 82-503(c) of the City Code to provide for additional criteria for the co-naming of streets in honor of a notable woman who has significantly impacted the City’s history and culture. The PSNQLC’s recommendation would need to be accepted by the City Commission via a duly noticed public hearing and a resolution. Subsequently, City Commission adoption of an amendment to the City’s co-naming ordinance (which requires two readings) is required to include the additional criteria. Once the Code amendment has been adopted by the City Commission, the PSNQLC may consider and recommend co-naming a City street in honor of Naomi Wilzig, which also requires a City Commission resolution.

Following City Commission approval, the proposed co-naming would need to be sponsored by a Miami-Dade County Commissioner and approved by the Miami-Dade County Board of County Commissioners (“BCC”) via a resolution.

Subsequent to BCC approval, the City’s Transportation and Mobility Department staff would coordinate with the Miami-Dade County Department of Transportation and Public Works ("DTPW") staff on the fabrication and installation of the new street co-name signs.

FINANCIAL IMPACT

Should the City Commission wish to move forward with co-naming a City street in honor of Naomi Wilzig, the cost of fabricating and installing the new street co-name signs would be based upon the location, number, and type/size of signs needed. The sign fabrication and installation work would be performed by DTPW; and the City would reimburse DTPW for the costs incurred.