AN ORDINANCE OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, ACCEPTING THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE FINANCE AND CITYWIDE PROJECTS COMMITTEE AT ITS JULY 27, 2018 MEETING; AND AMENDING APPENDIX "A," ENTITLED "FEE SCHEDULE," TO THE CITY CODE, IN ORDER TO MODIFY THE FEE CHARGED PURSUANT TO SECTION 82-383(A), ENTITLED "PERMIT FEE; PENALTIES FOR LATE PAYMENT; REVIEW OF FEE; EXCEPTION," IN ORDER TO MODIFY THE ANNUAL SQUARE FOOT FEE FOR SIDEWALK CAFES, INCREASING THE PER SQUARE FOOT FEE FROM $20 TO $25, PROVIDING FOR REPEALER, CODIFICATION, SEVERABILITY, AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

This year, as part of a budget process that needed to identify ways to address a $5.5 million budget gap and still maintain services, the City has evaluated all components of the budget including employee salaries and benefits, potential efficiencies, and revenue enhancements.  At the July 20, 2018 Finance and Citywide Projects Committee (FCWPC), the sidewalk café permit fee was recommended to be increased.

The City Commission last increased sidewalk café fees through Ordinance 2010-3698 which raised the fees from $15 to $20 implemented over a two year period.  The first increase of $2.50 went into effect on October 1, 2010 and the second $2.50 increase was effective on October 1, 2011. 

At the July 20, 2018 FCWPC meeting, the Committee approved to increase the sidewalk cafe permit fee to be increased from $20 to $25 effective October 1, 2018. This increase would generate $358,000 in revenue for sidewalk café permit fee for fiscal year 2019.

For Fiscal Year 2018, it is estimated that the City will collect approximately $1.5 million in sidewalk café permit fees.  This is projected to increase to approximately $1.8 million in Fiscal Year 2019.