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HomeMy WebLinkAboutM-92-0661a naiad September 17, 1992 Mr. Cesar Odio City Manager City of Miami 3500 Pan American Drive Coconut Grove, FL 33133 Dear, Mr. Odio: it OC9 9;6ve Chamber iDf c6►iimeree 2820 McFARLANE ROAD COCONUT GROVE, FLORIDA 33133 (305)444-7270 FAX 444-2498 e As the Executive Director of the Coconut Grove Chamber of Commerce, I respectfully request a personal appearance to address the Mayor and City Commissioners at the October 9th City Commission Meeting. I wish to address the following items in relation to the Chamber's Annual Halloween Scavenger Hunt: 1) a waiver of submission of application 120 days in advance, 2) waiver of more than 2 events in one month in the Coconut Groove Festival District, 3) street closures and 4) permission to sell beer and alcohol on the streets. An application for the event has been submitted to Espe Avalos in Community Development. I have enclosed a copy of the letter sent to you by Mr. Sid Sussman on behalf of the Coconut Grove Chamber of Commerce. This letter outlines the Halloween event. It is my understanding that you have requested an opinion from the Coconut Grove NET office. Mr. Odio, I realize that the Chamber has violated a few of the requirements in the "Coconut Grove Festiva? District Ordinance". I assure you this is an oversight. As you are well aware, Hurricane Andrew has devastated South Florida. Business is "off" terribly in Coconut Grove. It is the opinion of the Chamber that the Halloween Event will be a welcome release for South Floridians. This event could be the boost that the merchants in Coconut Grove so desperately need. 92- 661 92- 662 3 r -- CM/ August 6, 1992 Mr. Cesar Odio City Manager City of Miami 3500 Pan American Drive Miami, F1 33133 Dear Mr. Odio: Cocgqqt gfibve Chamber bf Commerce 2820 McFARLANE ROAD COCONUT GROVE, FLORIDA 33133 (305) 444-7270 FAX 444-2498 As you know, every Halloween night in the past several years has seen very large crowds converge upon the Coconut Grove Village in search of festivities and good times. This phenomenon creates a significant demand for police services, at city expense, and has consistently resulted in non-scheduled street closures for public safety reasons. The crowds have generally been well behaved, but with few controls in place, the potential for danger resulting from violent crowd behavior is significant. I I am in the business of arranging festivals and events, and I-aman officer of the Coconut Grove Chamber of Commerce. I would like to offer a proposal which will benefit the Coconut Grove Chamber of Commerce from a fund raising perspective, while at the same time benefiting the City of Miami by diverting the costs of police and other services away from the city and perhaps resulting in some revenue for the city in the form of street closure and other fees. The focus of my proposal is a Safe Streets Halloween Trick or Treat for kids, in the Coconut Grove Village, between 4:30 and 6:30 PM on Halloween day. The first phase of the concept focuses on providing kids with a safe place to trick or treat for safe candy. The plan would include street closures in the village, coupled with appropriate re-routing of traffic. Please note that Halloween falls on a Saturday this year; therefore, rush hour traffic will not be a problem. The first phase includes providing merchants with safe candy to give to the kids, inviting the Miami Police Department to set up appropriate displays to encourage crime prevention and drug abstention, and other similar activities. Phase two --and this is how the entire concept will be funded --involves a well organized, structured, Halloween block party for adults. The second phase will also require street closures, and it will include the placement of stages at Main Highway, both at McFarlane Road and at Commodore Plaza. Necessary police and fire personnel will be hired to ensure control and safety within the block party area, as well as in the affected areas around the village. Of course, police and fire 92•- 661 � 92- 662 V qt ! e. co C94 9;ov Chamber oj"Cdrntmer e 2820 McFARLANE ROAD COCONUT GROVE, FLORIDA 33133 (305)444-7270 FAX 444-2498 September 17, 1992 Mr. Cesar Odio City Manager City of Miami 3500 Pan American Drive Coconut Grove, FL 33133 Dean Mr. Odio: As the Executive Director of the Coconut Grove Chamber of Commerce, I respectfully request a personal appearance to address the Mayor and City Commissioners at the October 9th City Commission Meeting. I wish to address the following items in relation to the Chamber's Annual Halloween Scavenger Hunt: 1) a waiver of submission of application 120 days in advance, 2) waiver of more than 2 events in one month in the Coconut Groove Festival District, 3) street closures and 4) permission to sell beer and alcohol on. the streets. An application for the event has been submitted to Espe Avalos in Community Development. I have enclose Sussman on behalf of letter outlines the you have requested a d a copy of the letter sent the Coconut Grove Chamber Halloween event. It is my n opinion from the Coconut to you by Mr. Sid of Commerce. This understanding that Grove NET office. Mr. Odio, I realize that the Chamber has violated a few of the requirements in the "Coconut Grove Festival Dictrict Ordinance". I assure you this is an oversight. As you are well aware, Hurricane Andrew has devastated South Florida. Business is "off" terribly in Coconut Grove. It is the opinion of the Chamber that the Halloween Event will be a welcome release for South Floridians. This event could be the boost that the merchants in Coconut Grove so desperately need. 92- 661 92- 662 3 Sincerely, Tricia M. Naron Executive Director Enclosure cc: Mayor Xavier Suarez Vice Mayor Miriam Alonso Commissioner Victor DeYurre Commissioner Miller Dawkins Commissioner J.L. Plummer Ms. Espe Avalos, Community Development Ms. Christina Abrams, Coconut Grove NET Administrator Mr. Joe McManus, Deputy Director of Planning CWA s August 6, 1992 Mr. Cesar Odio City Manager City of Miami 3500 Pan American Drive Miami, F1 33133 Dear Mr. Odio: Cocost Cr tb Ve Chamber of Commence 2820 McFARLANE ROAD COCONUT GROVE, FLORIDA 33133 (305) 444-7270 FAX 444-2498 As you know, every Halloween night in the past several years has seen very large crowds converge upon the Coconut Grove Village in search of festivities and good times. This phenomenon creates a significant demand for police services, at city expense, and has consistently resulted in non-scheduled street closures for public safety reasons. The crowds have generally been well behaved, but with few controls in place, the potential for danger resulting from violent crowd behavior is significant. I I am in the business of arranging festivals and events, and I, am an officer of the Coconut Grove Chamber of Commerce. I would like to offer a proposal which will benefit the Coconut Grove Chamber of Commerce from a fund raising perspective, while at the same time benefiting the City of Miami by diverting the costs of police and other services away from the city and perhaps resulting in some revenue for the city in the form of street closure and other fees. The focus of my proposal is a Safe Streets Halloween Trick or Treat for kids, in the Coconut Grove Village, between 4:30 and 6:30 PM on Halloween day. The first phase of the concept focuses on providing kids with a safe place to trick or treat for safe candy. The plan would include street closures in the village, coupled with appropriate re-routing of traffic. Please note that Halloween falls on a Saturday this year; therefore, rush hour traffic will not be a problem. . The first phase includes providing merchants with safe candy to give to the kids, inviting the Miami Police Department to set up appropriate displays to encourage crime prevention and drug abstention, and other similar activities. Phase two --and this is how the entire concept will be funded --involves a well organized, structured, Halloween block party for adults. The second phase will also require street closures, and it will include is the placement of stages at Main Highway, both at McFarlane Road and at i� I Commodore Plaza. Necessary police and fire personnel will be hired to r ensure control and safety within the block party area, as well as in the affected areas around the village. of course, police and fire 92- 661 92- 662 r Mr. Cesar odio Page 2 services will be hired for both phases of the event. Also, a critical element of the plan will be a clear period between 7:00 PM and 8:30 PM during which no activities will take place other than the clearing of streets and setting up for phase two. Funding for this event will be raised through the sale of sponsorships, and through the sale of beer and other liquids at the block party. Necessary permits for such sales would be issued by the city. The event will purchase and supply all necessary insurance. The event will be managed through a not -for -profit organization formed specifically and solely to organize this event. This organization will be comprised of qualified individuals in the fields of event management and public relations, and will include representatives of the Grove business community. A portion.of the proceeds will be presented to the Coconut Grove Chamber of Commerce for use in their ongoing community service programs, and the balance will be retained by the organization to help fund future events. I have discussed this proposal with Major Ivan Fernandez and he has expressed support contingent upon our commitment to provide sufficient controls to ensure safety. I hope that you see this proposal as a way of saving the city some money while assisting a community organization to raise funds. But, most importantly, I hope that you see this as a way to provide a safe alternative for city residents to celebrate Halloween. I realize that this is a matter which must -go before the City Commission, but time is short and I must start planning and organizing immediately if this event is to become a reality; therefore, I would appreciate hearing from you, and I— rhaps from each of the commissioners, so that I may gauge whether sufficient support exists to make this event a reality. Please do not hesitate to call me if you would like to discuss this matter further. I can be reached at 444-7270. Sincerely, Sid Sussman Secretary cc: Honorable Xavier Suarez, Mayor, City of Miami Honorable Miriam Alonso, Vice -Mayor, City of Miami Honorable Miller Dawkins, Commissioner, City of Miami Honorable Victor De Yurre, Commissioner, City of Miami Honorable J. L. Plummer, Commissioner, City of Miami 92- 661 S2-- 662