NEW BUSINESS  26.

COMMITTEE MEMORANDUM

HISTORY:

This item was referred to the Neighborhood/Community Affairs Committee (NCAC) at the April 11, 2018 City Commission meeting. 

Washington Avenue Business Improvement District

Since this date, the official ballot election to create the Washington Avenue BID concluded on April 20, 2018. The measure received 67 "Yes" votes, "12" No votes, and "5" rejected ballots, therefore the measure passed. The district boundaries run from the north by 17th Street and on the south by 5th Street, and consists of properties abutting Washington Avenue and/or the cross-streets intersecting Washington Avenue.

Following this ballot measure, a public hearing to approve the final assessment roll for the special assessment district, Washington Avenue BID, will be held on June 6, 2018. Attached to this memo is a copy of the public hearing notice. 

Addressing Storefront Vacancies

A related item was referred to the Finance and Citywide Projected Cmmittee on April 11, 2018: Discussion Regarding Levying A Vacancy Tax On Empty Storefronts Throughout The City Of Miami Beach As A Way To Encourage Landlords To Keep Their Retail Or Commercial Space Rented And Active.  The FCWPC directed staff to conduct an incentory of vacant storefronts come back to that Committee after analyzing aesthetics, working with Code Compliance, look at best practices in other tourist cities and include critical areas of success and BIDs as well as looking at incentives.

ANALYSIS:

Washington Avenue Business Improvement District

City Administration is actively working with members of the proposed Washington Avenue BID on retaining a design firm to create an update to the Washington Avenue Master Plan for the commercial corridor. The scope for this master plan update is still under development with the BID, but will essentiallly examine the current street conditions, and provide structural and curatorial recommendations that address traffic, walkability, lighting, and vibrancy. The Administration will present to proposed scope to the Commission for consideration once it is finalized.

Addressing Storefront Vacancies

City Staff is working on a city-wide ground floor storefront vacancy count to better understand the current economic climate in our commercial corridors. Washington Avenue is a part of this research study. As of April 2018, Code enforcement counted 55 storefront vacancies between 5th-15th Street. Attached to this memo is list of the storefront vacancies on Washington Avenue along with a corresponding photo. 

Previously, the City had allocated some funding to produce CMB designed window coverings for vacant storefronts, and provided these at no cost to vendors, landlords and tenants. However, that funding is no longer in place, so the City currently provides the template for this printout, and costs of printing must be borne by the storefronts. 

Staff is currently examining the business ownership of each property and will then begin doing outreach to asses the reason as to why these storefronts have remained vacant. This item is being further discussed at the May 18, 2018 Finance and Citywide Projects Committee meeting. 

CONCLUSION:
Administration is seeking further feedback on the plans to move forward with a master plan for Washington Avenue, and overall plans to address vacant storefronts on major commercial corridors.