A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, ACCEPTING THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD/COMMUNITY AFFAIRS COMMITTEE AT ITS DECEMBER 20, 2017 MEETING TO APPROVE THE ADOPT-A-BENCH PROGRAM APPLICATION FROM JANE GOODMAN AND, PURSUANT TO SECTION 82-504 OF THE CITY CODE, SETTING A PUBLIC HEARING FOR FEBRUARY 14, 2018 TO CONSIDER THE APPLICATION AND DIRECTING THE CITY CLERK TO PUBLISH THE APPROPRIATE PUBLIC NOTICE.

Mayor and City Commission to accept the recommendation of the Neighborhood/Community Affairs Committee from its December 20, 2017 meeting, approving the Jane Goodman’s Adopt-A-Bench Program application.

On November 9, 2016, the City Commission passed Resolution No. 2016-29649 supporting the creation of an “Adopt-A-Bench Program” similar to the Central Park Conservancy’s program in New York City. The program provides the public an opportunity to adopt park benches for the commemoration of loved ones or special events, and would be an additional means to finance the beautification of City parks.

The Parks and Recreation Department received an application for Adopt-A-Bench Program (the “Program”) from Jane Goodman (the “Applicant”) in November 2017 (Exhibit A).

Pursuant to the City’s existing policies and procedures for proposals establishing monuments/memorials, the application must be in compliance with Article VI, Section 82-504 of the City Code, according to the following requirements:

1. Only the Mayor or a Member of City Commission may propose the establishment of a monument/memorial and submit the proposal as a request for referral to Committee.

    

2. Establishment of monument/memorial shall also be subject to the following:

    

1. The person to be recognized on the monument/memorial is in good standing in the community.

1. Any proposal for the establishment of a monument/memorial approved by the Committee shall not be transmitted to the City Commission without an accompanying analysis detailing the estimated costs for design, fabrication, installation, and/or maintenance of the monument/memorial.

At its December 13, 2017 meeting, the City Commission referred this item to the Neighborhood/Community Affairs Committee (NCAC) for its recommendation, pursuant to the process set forth in Section 82-504 of the City Code.

On December 20, 2017, NCAC approved the Applicant’s Program application and moved this item to City Commission with favorable recommendation.

The Applicant proposed that a new bench be installed at Fisher Park, by the intersection of Delaware Avenue and W 49^th Street (Exhibit B). The Applicant requested the commemorative bench plaque (the “Plaque”) read as follows: “In Memory of Jerrold F. Goodman. Who did all he could for all he could in all ways he could for as long as he could.” The person to be recognized on the Plaque is the applicant’s husband.

The proposed location does not have an existing bench in the desired area. The estimated cost of purchasing and installing a 3-arm cast aluminum Dumor Bench, the standard bench product line and design for Fisher Park, is approximately $1,900.00 plus shipping. The bench would need to be secured to a 7ft by 4ft concrete slab, which is a one-time expense of $400. Ongoing maintenance, including monthly pressure washes and repairs as needed, run at an estimated annual cost of $216.00 including labor. The estimated cost for design, fabrication, and installation of the 3”h x 10”w stainless steel Plaque is $300.00.

Participation in the Program requires a $10,000.00 adoption fee, to be paid in full by the donor within (30) days of application approval. Under the Program, benches are made available for re-adoption after 10 years.

As required in Section 82-504 (2)(a) of the City Code, the person to be recognized on the Plaque is in good standing in the community.