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2003/2004 Annual Report
The Department of Off -Street Parking Board of the City of Miami, (d/b/a, Miami Parking
Authority) established by the Florida State Legislature in 1955 and chartered by City
ordinance in the same year, continues to serve the purpose for which it was created. The
Board oversees the management and development of affordable, safe and convenient
parking facilities within the City of Miami. The Miami Parking Authority operates 5
parking garages, 52 parking lots and over 8,200 parking meters and Pay and Display
machines. In fiscal year 2003/2004, Miami Parking Authority provided the City with
$1,535,000 in excess revenues. Additionally, the City received nearly $2.75 million from
parking citation fines and $710,000 from the operation of the Knight Center Garage.
This amounts to a total of $4,995,000 million that the City received resulting from Miami
Parking Authority' s parking and enforcement operations.
Miami Parking Authority received approval from the City Commission to issue up to $45
million dollars in bonds to finance several new projects over the next five years. These
projects will add more than 3,000 spaces to our current inventory and is focused on
creating economic synergy in many new and emerging neighborhoods in the City of
Miami. Currently, many of these projects are in the pre -development phase, including a
new 350 space garage in Allapattah, as well as several other smaller projects that will
provide parking in Little Havana, West Grove and Model City.
Miami Parking Authority completed the development of two parking facilities on Watson
Island. The facilities include a boat ramp parking area and a large surface lot which
serves the south side of the Island. In addition, Miami Parking Authority worked closely
with the City of Miami to complete the Watersports Lot in Coconut Grove that serves
several users, including Shake -A -Leg. Miami Parking Authority also leased land under I-
395 in the Arts and Entertainment district from FDOT to create three new parking lots.
These lots will create an additional 325 spaces within walking distance of the new
Performing Arts Center and other venues along Biscayne Boulevard. This project will be
completed in April 2005,
Miami Parking Authority awarded the project to redevelop Garage No. 1 to Miami
Downtown Developers, LLC. This redevelopment will include a much larger parking
facility in conjunction with a substantial residential and commercial building. This
redevelopment will be among the first of its kind in downtown.
During the year, Miami Parking Authority continued its strong parking enforcement
efforts that resulted in the increase in meter and citation revenue. Miami Parking
Authority continues to absorb the cost of parking enforcement within the City at savings
to the City of $750,000. Miami Parking Authority also maintains all of the regulatory
signage along the public right-of-way at an annual cost of $120,000. As part of our
desire to implement new on -street parking technology that is user friendly, efficient and
Off -Street Parking Board
2003/2004 Annual Report
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environmentally friendly, Miami Parking Authority installed 100 new multi -space meters
in Coconut Grove and Downtown. In addition, Miami Parking Authority installed 82
additional electronic meters which will continue to increase revenue opportunities within
the City.
Miami Parking Authority took the lead in finalizing the re -draft of the commercial valet
ordinance which was approved by the City Commission in October. This will be fully
implemented in January 2005. This revision to the existing legislation will help to
facilitate the availability of valet parking along the public right-of-way and will go a long
way towards restaurant and business development in our entertainment districts.
The Board continues to manage Gusman Center for the Performing Arts and improve the
exposure and utilization of this wonderful and historic venue. The theater had its most
successful year in quite a long while. In addition to the commercial success, over
$560,000 was spent in our continued effort to both restore the historical significance of
the building and upgrade theater operations. This money spent was done so by utilizing
grant money obtained from Miami -Dade County and the State of Florida.
The Department of Off -Street Parking Board continues to successfully direct the
operations of the Department of Off -Street Parking of the City of Miami and no other
board could better serve this purpose. Furthermore, no amendments to the ordinance
creating the board or modification to board membership requirements are necessary. The
recently completed changes to the City Charter successfully accomplished that task.
The cost of maintaining the Board is approximately $2,000 annually which is paid solely
from parking revenues.
Oscar Rivero, Chairman