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 noteworthy candidates, the Commission for Women recommended the celebrated Cuban-American artist and long-time Miami Beach resident, Gloria Estefan.

At the October 18, 2023 City Commission meeting, Commissioner Laura Dominguez referred a discussion item (C4 K) regarding the co-naming of a portion of 13 Street between Ocean Drive and Meridian Avenue, in honor of Gloria Estefan 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, international superstar Gloria Estefan is a Grammy award-winning singer, actress, songwriter, author of two (2) New York Times best-selling children’s books, philanthropist, and humanitarian. She is one of the world’s most recognizable and beloved performers and has been named one of the Top 100 greatest artists of all time by both VH1 and Billboard. Ms. Estefan's record sales exceed 100 million worldwide, making her one of the best-selling female singers of all-time. Ms. Estefan has garnered eight (8) Grammy Awards and an Oscar nomination for her performance of the song “Music of My Heart.” She has received an American Music Award for Lifetime Achievement and the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song. In 2015, President Barak Obama honored Ms. Estefan and her husband, Emilio Estefan, with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Nation’s highest civilian honor. In 2017, Ms. Estefan was the first Cuban-American singer-songwriter to receive The Kennedy Center Honors. In June 2023, Ms. Estefan became the first Latina to be inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

In addition to numerous awards, Ms. Estefan also has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Ms. Estefan was awarded an honorary doctoral degree in music from the University of Miami in 1993. In 2002, Barry University in Miami bestowed upon her an honorary law degree. She and her husband received honorary doctoral degrees in music from the Berklee College of Music in Boston in 2007, where she also delivered the commencement address to the 2007 graduating class. In April 2014, Ms. Estefan was tapped into the Iron Arrow Honor Society, the University of Miami's highest honor society.

Ms. Estefan is the founder of the Gloria Estefan Foundation whose mission is to support charitable programs for disadvantaged children and empower young people through education and opportunity. The Foundation also supports spinal cord research through the Miami Project to Cure Paralysis.

Ms. Estefan and her husband Emilio reside on Star Island in Miami Beach, and own several business establishments in the City, including the Cardozo Hotel, located at 13 Street and Ocean Drive.

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 Gloria Estefan, 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 made lasting and significant contributions to the Miami Beach community through arts 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 Gloria Estefan, 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 Gloria Estefan, 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.