| | | | | | | | | TO: | Neighborhood and Quality of Life Committee Members |
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| FROM:
| Alina T. Hudak, City Manager
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| | DATE: | September 20, 2021
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| | SUBJECT: | DISCUSSION REGARDING THE EXCESSIVE SPEEDING OF WATERBORNE VESSELS ALONG THE BISCAYNE POINTE AND NORMANDY WATERWAYS. |
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| | | | | | | | HISTORY:
| | Commissioner Steven Meiner (later co-sponsored by Commissioner Micky Steinberg) placed a referral to the Neighborhood and Quality of Life Committee (NQLC) on the July 28, 2021 City Commission Meeting agenda to both address complaints by residents in the Biscayne Pointe, Stillwater, and surrounding neighborhoods who are concerned about the excessive speeding by waterborne vessels and to discuss methods to strengthen ongoing efforts to mitigate such activities. |
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| | | | | | | | ANALYSIS
| The Miami Beach Police Department (MBPD) is cognizant of recent issues with waterborne vessels and speeding within our City boundaries. The Department has therefore increased its monitoring and enforcement of city waterways through which to decrease excessive speeds and ensure the public’s safety.
On average, on any given month the Department issues anywhere from 20 to 25 violations north of 65th Street. Over the last week of August alone, officers issued six violations adjacent to Biscayne Pointe.
The MBPD Marine Patrol Unit assigns one and sometimes two boats to proactively patrol the middle and north districts of the City. Because of this proactive visibility, there has been a noticeable decrease in the number of violations given out in these areas.
City staff is aware of these concerns and has begun the initial process to legislatively amend and regulate the waterways by moving away from a partial-year slow speed zone and towards a full-year slow speed zone. Once approved via a lengthy process, updated signage will be posted and violations will be enforced and addressed accordingly.
Lastly, the Department plans to continue to build and strengthen partnerships with area agencies to include the United States Coast Guard and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission through which to better monitor and enforce laws throughout City waterways. |
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| | | | | | | | CONCLUSION:
The MBPD will continue to monitor and more closely track all illegal activity related to excessive speeding in the Biscayne Pointe and Normandy waterway area in an effort to curtail the practice and protect our residents’ and the public’s safety on City waterways.
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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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