Starting today, full enforcement of Miami Beach’s gasoline-powered leaf blower ban has begun as part of the city’s commitment to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. Initial violations in a 12-month period carry a $250 fine while the second violation in a 12-month period carries a $500 fine. The third violation and each additional violation in a 12-month period carries a $1,000 fine.

The ordinance was sponsored by late Commissioner Mark Samuelian and co-sponsored by Commissioners Alex Fernandez, Steven Meiner and David Richardson. It was approved unanimously in January 2022 and rolled out in a phased implementation. This included a nine-month educational period from Feb. 1, 2022 – Oct. 31, 2022 followed by a nine-month warning period from Nov. 1, 2022 to Jul. 31, 2023.

“There are so many benefits for transitioning away from gas-powered leaf blowers, including less noise, air pollution and no longer needing to utilize gas and oil,” shared Chief Resilience Officer Amy Knowles. “This is also a way to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.”

The Miami Beach Public Works Department has already transitioned away from using gasoline-powered leaf blowers as have third-party landscaping contractors that work for the city. The city has worked with local hardware stores to establish community discounts on qualifying electric or battery-powered leaf blowers. Visit www.mbrisingabove.com/leafblowers for more information.

An estimated two ounces of gasoline are spilled every time a gas-powered leaf blower is filled. The California Air Resources Board reported that running a gas-powered leaf blower for one hour emits the same amount of pollution as driving a light-duty passenger vehicle for approximately 1,100 miles. Gas-powered leaf blowers have also been the source of numerous noise complaints in Miami Beach and other cities around the country.

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The City of Miami Beach has launched a new online database that will allow residents to access conditional use permits (CUP) approved by the Miami Beach Planning Board. The new database includes a map component and allows for direct downloading of any CUP in PDF format. All CUPs contain conditions specific to an individual property and/or business.

“The goal is to bring greater transparency to Miami Beach with our new digital database that allows easy access to conditional use permits,” said Miami Beach Commissioner Steven Meiner, the driving force behind this initiative. “Gone are the days of struggling to obtain permits from offsite archives — residents can now effortlessly monitor CUP compliance by businesses.”

Conditional use permits are required for certain types of uses in specific zoning districts. CUP review includes careful vetting as to the location of the proposed use, as well as the site plan, due to the nature of the use and to mitigate any potential adverse impacts on neighboring properties.

Examples of uses that require a CUP include alcoholic beverage establishments that have more than 300 persons, outdoor entertainment establishments, buildings greater than 50,000 square feet, and structures with mechanical parking.

The new online database gives users the option of searching through more than 600 conditional use permits, including permits issued prior to May 2016 that had been previously unavailable online. The database is updated regularly and is searchable by address and zoning district.

The database will also be useful for Miami Beach Code Compliance personnel who are investigating complaints against businesses.

To view the database, visit www.miamibeachfl.gov/conditional-use-approvals/.

Miami Beach Deputy Police Chief Wayne A. Jones has been appointed chief of the more than 400-sworn department effective Sept. 1. Jones succeeds Richard M. Clements, who is retiring after more than three decades of service.

“Chief Jones has demonstrated his commitment to excellent public service throughout his 27-year career with the Miami Beach Police Department,” City Manager Alina T. Hudak said in announcing the selection. “He began as a patrol officer and gained the respect and admiration of his superiors and peers as he moved up through the ranks. I am confident he will build on MBPD’s legacy and take the department to the next level.”

Jones, who joined the agency in 1996, becomes the city’s first Black police chief after holding every rank in multiple areas of the department to include special operations, community affairs, internal affairs and criminal investigations. He was appointed deputy chief in 2019.

Among his many accomplishments, Jones created the department’s human trafficking unit, which went on to lead Miami-Dade County in investigations and arrests for sex trafficking offenses. As a sergeant in community affairs, he developed the structure of what would become the nationally recognized Homeless Resource Officer Program. As a major, he crafted a strategy to boost the recruitment of women police officers, which resulted in an increase of female officers from 12% to 18% of all new hires.

“I am humbled by this great honor and look forward to leading this remarkable team of men and women who wear the badge with pride,” said Chief Jones. “I pledge that the safety of Miami Beach residents, our officers, and our many visitors from around the world will always be my top priority.”

Jones obtained his undergraduate degree in political science and public administration from Florida Memorial University and his master’s in public administration from Florida International University. He completed the FBI’s Law Enforcement Executive Development Seminar and the Police Executive Research Forum’s Senior Management Institute for Police program.

An aviation enthusiast and licensed pilot, he also holds an associate degree from Miami Dade College in professional piloting and technology.

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The Miami Beach Hispanic Affairs Committee is seeking nominations for the 2023 Hispanic Heritage Month Awards by 5 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 18. The committee will honor recipients at an awards ceremony in October.

The awards are intended to honor members of the Hispanic community who live or work in the City of Miami Beach and who have made a positive contribution to the community in their respective professions.

The committee will select individuals or businesses from the following categories:

Individual — Educator, public safety personnel, social service provider, artist, youth (under 18 involved in community service), adult contributing to the success of youth and any Hispanic Miami Beach community member.

Business — Business, business owner, or employee of a qualified business (must have at least 51% Hispanic ownership).

Each nomination must include the nominee’s full name, address, phone number and a detailed explanation of the nominee’s contribution to the community. Nominations must be received by 5 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 18, 2023. The awards will be presented during the Miami Beach Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration.

Nomination forms are available by clicking here. Completed forms can be submitted via email to leonorhernandez@miamibeachfl.gov or via mail to Leonor Hernandez, City of Miami Beach, Hispanic Affairs Committee Liaison, 1700 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach, FL, 33139.

The Hispanic Affairs Committee serves as an advisory capacity to the City Commission and the administration with respect to matters pertaining to the Hispanic community of the City of Miami Beach. For more information, send an email to leonorhernandez@miamibeachfl.gov.

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The City of Miami Beach and its Disability Access Committee invite residents to celebrate the 33^rd anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act on Wednesday, July 26 at Miami Beach City Hall.

The free event will take place on the first floor of City Hall from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. with disability simulations, light refreshments and a limited number of gift bags for people who participate in the simulations. City Hall is located at 1700 Convention Center Drive.

“The disability simulations include wheelchair exercises to give people a better understanding of how removing barriers improves the lives of people who live with limited mobility,” observed Disability Committee Chair Eddie Sierra. “Attendees will also learn how to provide assistance to a blind person and get an opportunity to practice basic American Sign Language skills like fingerspelling their name.”

The ADA is a federal law that gives civil rights protections to individuals with disabilities, similar to those provided on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, age and religion. It guarantees equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities in public accommodations, employment, transportation, state and local government services as well as telecommunications.

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The Precautionary Boil Water Notice issued in South Beach on the evening of July 20 has been lifted after two consecutive days of satisfactory drinking water test results and approval by the Florida Department of Health.

Residents, businesses and visitors should allow the water to run for five minutes at each tap to flush the lines. Remember to include drinking fountains, ice makers (discard the first binful), soda machines, etc. when flushing the lines.

The notice was issued after a private contractor hit a 20″ water main in the vicinity of Alton Road at 6 Street that resulted in a water main break. Due to the drop in water pressure, a Precautionary Boil Water Notice was issued for all areas south of 23 Street from the ocean to the bay. There are no other Precautionary Boil Water Notices in place on Miami Beach.

Text MBAlert to 888777 to receive notifications to your mobile device.

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Late this afternoon, a private contractor hit a 20″ water main in the vicinity of Alton Road at 6 Street, which resulted in a water main break. Due to the drop in water pressure, a Precautionary Boil Water Notice is in effect for all areas south of 23 Street from the ocean to the bay, including the Sunset Harbour neighborhood. The Venetian Islands are NOT part of this advisory.

The Precautionary Boil Water Notice will remain in effect until drinking water test results pass for two consecutive days, as per Florida Administrative Code.

Residents, visitors, and businesses are advised to boil all water used for drinking, cooking/food preparation, making ice, brushing teeth or washing dishes. A rolling boil of one minute is sufficient. Bottled water may be used as an alternative.

The City of Miami Beach will notify residents and businesses when the Precautionary Boil Water Notice has been lifted.

Text MBAlert to 888777 to receive notifications to your mobile device.

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Ushering in a new cultural renaissance, the City of Miami Beach will break ground on an innovative workforce housing complex on Thursday, July 27 at 11:30 a.m. The 80 residential units, located at 224 23 St., will be prioritized for income-eligible artists, educators, first responders, veterans and other Miami Beach employees with households that earn 120% or less of the area median income for Miami-Dade County.

This public-private partnership (P3) is partially funded through the city’s 2022-voter led Arts and Culture General Obligation Bond program and includes dormitory housing serving Miami City Ballet’s student dance education program. The project will also feature ground floor space for potential public, cultural or performing arts activations through not-for-profit partners.

“This project represents years of exploration, discussions and planning involving the City of Miami Beach, residents and our cultural anchor, the Miami City Ballet,” explained Miami Beach City Commissioner David Richardson. “This project not only provides much-needed workforce housing inventory at a time when housing costs have soared, it also complements Miami Beach’s creative spirit and cultural character by supporting our cultural partners and programming.”

In 2016, the Miami Beach City Commission initiated pursuit of a workforce and artist housing facility on city-owned property in the Collins Park Cultural District, home to the Miami City Ballet, the Bass Museum, Collins Park and the future Collins Park Cultural Center at the new Collins Park Garage. Developed in collaboration with housing developer Servitas and Moss Construction, the project’s innovative bond financing structure permits housing to be constructed and operated at minimal cost to the city, and enables excess rental revenues to support cultural programming at the complex.

Founded in 1985 by philanthropist Toby Lerner Ansin and ballet luminary Edward Villela, the Miami City Ballet is headquartered steps away from the proposed workforce housing site. The Miami City Ballet School provides training as well as quality dance education for the next generation of professional ballet dancers as one of the largest dance domestic training programs, with national and international auditions that attract more than 1,300 students each season. The annual season includes performances in Miami-Dade, Palm Beach, Broward and Collier counties while entertaining more than 132,000 people throughout South Florida and beyond each year.

“This project is a result of the original, pioneering and collaborative thinking by Miami Beach leadership to develop a true cultural campus,” shared Miami City Ballet Chair Jeff Davis. “The result will allow our students to focus on honing their craft instead of on where to live and how to get to rehearsals. We are confident that this project will help us attract and foster the next generation of artists, who will continue to produce elevated performances that Miami Beach and the world will be proud to support.”

Angel Rivera, Servitas executive vice president shared that Servitas is proud to be a catalyst for affordable workforce housing and a contributor to the growth of the creative and essential worker community of Miami Beach. “We understand that what we build impacts the quality of life of a community and we work to create spaces that deliver meaningful value,” Rivera said.

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WHAT:            Collins Park Artist Workforce Housing project groundbreaking

WHEN:            Thursday, July 27, 2023 at 11:30 a.m.

WHERE:         224 23 Street (Collins Park Cultural District)

To request this material in alternate format, sign language interpreter (five-day notice required), information on access for persons with disabilities, and/or any accommodation to review any document or participate in any city-sponsored proceedings, call 305.604.2489 and select 1 for English or 2 for Spanish, then option 6; TTY users may call via 711 (Florida Relay Service).

Join the City of Miami Beach for its fifth annual celebration of Simón Bolívar y Las Americas Day on Thursday, July 20, 2023 at 10 a.m. Bolivar was born on July 24, 1783 in Caracas, Venezuela and his accomplishments are celebrated throughout Latin America.

“Simon Bolivar was a great statesman and soldier whose writings and actions ignited Latin America’s thirst for independence from Spanish rule,” explained Chairwoman Rosary Plana Falero of the Miami Beach Hispanic Affairs Committee.

“El Libertador” as he is known in Spanish (The Liberator) played a central role in the South American independence movement. His efforts set forth the creation of Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Panama and Peru.

The Miami Beach ceremony will take place at Bolivar’s Miami Beach monument in Collins Park and will be followed by cafecito.

The monument, which is located at 21 Street and Collins Avenue, commemorates Bolívar’s courageous effort. The festivities will include an invocation and wreath-laying ceremony from the Office of the Mayor and Commission. Every year, the Miami Beach Hispanic Affairs Committee highlights a country Bolivar helped become independent. This year’s ceremony will honor the experience of Bolivia, which gets its name from Bolivar.

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WHAT: Simón Bolívar y Las Americas Day

WHEN: Thursday, July 20, 2023 at 10 a.m.

WHERE: Simón Bolívar monument at 21 Street and Collins Avenue

Miami Beach residents will be given the opportunity to invest in the cultural expansion of Miami Beach this month when a voter-led $159 million General Obligation Bond hits the financial market to fund an unprecedented expansion of city museums, theaters and public performance venues.

The $101,700,000 General Obligation Bond offering will be released to investors on Wednesday, July 12. Investors will have the opportunity to purchase City of Miami Beach General Obligation bonds in minimum denominations of $5,000.

The proceeds of the Arts & Culture bonds will be used to finance the cost of improving facilities for resiliency of arts and cultural institutions throughout Miami Beach. The funds will also be used for artistic playgrounds, senior/cultural centers, a botanical garden, an aquatic sculpture park and related artist/workforce housing as approved by voters on Nov. 8, 2022.

Bonds cannot be purchased directly from the City of Miami Beach. For more information or to invest, call any of the following financial services firms:

• Wells Fargo Securities: 866.287.3221
• Estrada Hinojosa & Company, Inc.: 800.676.5352
• Goldman Sachs & Co., LLC: 917.343.7900

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