OLD BUSINESS  2.

COMMITTEE MEMORANDUM

HISTORY:

As the renovation of the Miami Beach Convention Center nears completion, there is an opportunity to name the neighboring northern Convention Center Park and the main Convention Center Park to reflect the spirit the new convention center.

Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau (GMCVB) and City staff collaborated on the following suggested names for the parks:

Main Convention Center Park/P-Lot:

1. Convention Center Park

2. City Center Park

Northern Park:

1. Clubhouse Park

2. Great Ficus Park

3. North Convention Center Park

Early in 2018, the Neighborhood/Community Affairs Committee (NCAC) recommended the names be reviewed by the Women’s Committee, who later suggested that it be heard by the Parks & Recreational Facilities Advisory Board (PRFAB), and suggested that staff develop additional recommendations.

In October 2018, the Convention Center Advisory Board (CCAB) motioned that West 8 (landscape architects) be asked to identify the featured plants being installed in the Miami Beach Convention parks and further, that the Parks and Recreation Board consider the names of these plants as potential names for the Main Convention Center Park and the Northern Park renaming. – Mahogany trees and Spidering Fig tree.

On Tuesday, December 11^th, the Parks and Recreational Facilities Advisory Board took a tour of the parks and recommends the following names:

North Park

• Convention Center Waterway Park

  • Also suggested the City get input from the immediate neighborhood and the AiPP Board – however, the review of parks names is not within the charge of AiPP

Main Convention Center Park/ “P-Lot”:

• Convention Center Park

• Memorial Park

During the December 14, 2018 NCAC meeting, staff was asked to research additional names and provide a presentation on potential names. 

ANALYSIS:

Staff reached out to West 8, the park designers who recommended the following options:

Main Convention Center Park/P-Lot

City Green

Mosaic Park

Grove Park

Grovescape

Barnacle Park

City Hall Park

Green Grove Park

City Green For the Arts

Upland Park

North Convention Center Park

Artscape Park

Canal Park For The Arts

Collins Canal Park

Canopy Park

Mahogany Park 

Staff is also working with Legal to ensure the naming of the parks is consistent with City Code including "the naming of an exterior portion of a public facility or a park (as opposed to the naming of interior portions/rooms in a facility, or interior portions of a park).  Under City Code there is a referendum requirement unless the facility or park is to be “named or renamed solely for the name of the City, the geographic area or physical location of the facility and/or the street or portion of the street where the facility is located, the function of the facility, or the current name of the facility.”

The City Attorney's office is researching which, if any, of these names would require a referendum. 

CONCLUSION:

The Administration in seeking NCAC direction regarding the naming of the new parks in the Convention Center vicinity.