Beachwalk Working Group Projects

Beachwalk Working Group

Beachwalk Working Group Members:

Chair: Alicia A. Casanova
Projects: Beachwalk Design, Safety, Signage, Surveillance Cameras, Vehicle Deterrent Bollards
Members: Esteban Porcelli, Melinda Pearce, Robert Rabinowitz, Charlotte Tomic, Michele Redlich, Mike Daly, Dr. Manny Corrales.

BEACHWALK PILOT PROGRAM
Due to the concerns regarding numerous bike accidents occurring on the Beachwalk as a result of the shared-used design concept, the City started a "Pilot Program" from 15th thru 24th streets. The new safety center line is 90% complete but there are still shrub encroachments throughout the stretch. The City and every property owner need to continuously remove shrubs encroaching the Beachwalk and regularly trim and maintain their landscaping so that the 18" concrete borders are clear and accessible to users. Pedestrian and bicycle DIRECTION SIGNS and PAVEMENT MARKINGS are urgently needed before this Pilot Program can be properly assessed.

Pilot Program safety line as of May 13, 2022:

Continuous bike/pedestrian pavement markings and signage are essential for the success of the Pilot Program. The MBNA urges City Staff to install continuous signs and bike/pedestrian pavement markings to clearly define sections and guide users; (see samples below.)

Evidence videos demonstrating areas with SHRUB ENCROACHMENT on the 18" concrete borders:

February 13, 2022 by The Setai (21st to 22nd St)

March 28, 2022 (by The Lowe's Hotel on 16th Street)

MBNA Video explaining the situation:
(Thank you Esteban Porcelli, MBNA Board Member, for creating this self-explanatory video.)

Slides presented by the City at the Nov. 3, 2021 MBNA Meeting:

Per Miami Beach's Code of Ordinance, property owners are required to maintain landscaping behind their properties. Shrubs and landscaping must be trimmed and cannot encroach the concrete borders of the Beachwalk. Warnings and Notice of Violations are being issued daily.

PHOTOS OF SHRUB ENCROACHMENT SECTIONS. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEOS.

Drone video showing areas that are clear and areas where shrubs and landscaping are encroaching:

Order your PROPERTY IDENTIFICATION SIGN for your East facing gate!

Beginning April 1, 2022, as determined by Ordinance No. 2021-4454, all property owners with access to the Beachwalk must prominently display their correct street address number on the easternmost perimeter structure facing the Beachwalk.

In order to have uniformity on our Beachwalk, we designed a beach theme and found a company that can create these code-compliant signs for all our MBNA Members, and other communities that request it, at a very reasonable price. If you would like to order your Condo or Hotel sign for your Beachwalk facing gate, please complete the order form below. Cost for the full color, reflective, 18” X 24” aluminum sign is only $60.00 (plus $5.25 tax and $15.00 shipping).

For more information on the sign, call Fabio at 305-968-2978 or email him at fabio.sr@clickprinter.com

For more information on the Ordinance, contact Dexter Peralta, the Neighborhood Affairs Coordinator, via email at dexterperalta@miamibeachfl.gov

INFO and ORDER FORM FOR NEW PROPERTY SIGN

PROPOSED PROPERTY SIGNAGE FOR MIAMI BEACH:

BAL HARBOR EXISTING PROPERTY SIGNAGE:

SURFSIDE EXISTING PROPERTY SIGNAGE:

CMB Sec. 14-107 Code re signage

SAFETY MUST BE PRIORITIZED!

Although MBNA Members are thrilled that the entire stretch of the Beachwalk is open, we are very concerned with the safety of this popular amenity. Our main concerns are that during peak hours, the 15' wide Beachwalk sections are not wide enough to accommodate the large number of multimodal users.

MBNA Members are also very concerned about motorized vehicles/bikes observed on the Beachwalk, speeding bikes and lack of Police presence and enforcement. We need to work together with City Officials to find a solution that provides a safer environment for pedestrians that are taking risks navigating between speeding cyclists and unauthorized electric vehicles.

October, 2021 VIDEOS of SHRUB ENCROACHMENT AREAS:

September, 2021:

SPEEDING CYCLIST HITS PEDESTRIAN ON THE BEACHWALK
Too many near misses are seen daily!

Pedestrian hit by bicycle on October 20, 2021.
(See Mr. Colcord's Facebook posting below)

ANOTHER ACCIDENT ON THE BEACHWALK THAT TOOK PLACE IN MAY, 2021.
Below is a sad testimonial from one of our Residents after a speeding bicyclist ran over her; (shared here with her permission). She ended up at Mount Sinai Hospital with a head concussion. Thanks to her good health; (she walks 6-7 miles a day), her injuries weren't tragic.

August 28, 2021: groups of speeding cyclists on the Beachwalk

WE NEED PROTECTED BIKE LANES THROUGHOUT OUR CITY!
Protected northbound and southbound bike lanes on both Collins Ave. and Indian Creek Drive are needed since they will certainly reduce the large number of cyclists currently riding (and speeding) on the Beachwalk. We're also advocating for a new NORTHBOUND bicycle lane to be added to the Collins Ave. project from 26th thru 44th street that is currently in the planning stages.

SEA GRAPE TRIMMINGS
MBNA has expressed our concerns about the excessive trimming currently being done to the Sea Grapes adjacent to the Beachwalk. (See videos below)

SEA GRAPE TRIMMING LTC from CITY MANAGER

SURF RIDER FOUNDATION
Listen to Mike from the Surf Rider Foundation explaining all the great things their volunteers are doing! We really appreciate the efforts of this wonderful organization.

24/7 VIDEO SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS
We're looking forward to the installation of Video Surveillance Cameras throughout the entire stretch of the Beachwalk.

GO BOND - 6/21 BLOG ON SECURITY CAMERAS ON BEACHWALK

REST BENCHES AND SHADE TREES ARE NEEDED
Two new benches were donated and placed behind Allison Park (53rd street.) We are advocating for additional benches to be placed at the long sections of the Beachwalk where there is no street access.

The City has assured us that they are prioritizing shade trees on the Beachwalk. Sea grapes on the protected dunes need to be pruned at the bottom to encourage top growth so they can provide much needed shade, especially in areas north of 47th street.

THE MBNA WILL CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR THE FOLLOWING:
1. Police/Patrol enforcement throughout the entire stretch of Beachwalk.
2. Street numbers on ALL paved circular areas.
3. Installation of concrete rest benches in sections without street access paths; (46th thru 53rd streets and 59th thru 63rd streets.)
4. Installation of small address aluminum signs facing Beachwalk behind all Hotels and Condos so that Beachwalk users can identify their location, especially in case of an emergency.
5. Completion of Video Surveillance cameras.
6. Enforcement of proper trimming and maintenance of both CMB and private property foliage/shrubs that are encumbering the Beachwalk, resulting in narrower open stretches, especially within the 15' wide sections.
7. Installation of vehicle deterrent bollards.

HISTORICAL SECTION:

September, 2021

24th thru 30th Street opened on April 2, 2021

2/16/21 access to Beachwalk on 25th Street:

Photos taken on February 8, 2021, with views from 41st to 43rd street:

The original projected completion date for the Beachwalk Project was originally on February 13, 2021 (as seen in GO Bond Project Status Report below.) The new projected completion date is June, 2021.

2-24-21 NEIGHBORHOOD & QUALITY OF LIFE MEETING VIDEO LINK

2-16-21 Letter from aguila to COMMISSION with updates

2-12-21 MBNA EMAIL to CITY MANAGER AGUILA

2-24-21 MEMO RE PEDESTRIAN SAFETY ON BEACHWALK