HomeMy WebLinkAboutO-13004City of Miami
Legislation
Ordinance: 13004
City Hall
3500 Pan American
Drive
Miami, FL 33133
www.miamigov.com
File Number: 08-00508 Final Action Date: 6/12/2008
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH ATTACHMENT(S),
AMENDING AND ADDING NEW PROVISIONS TO CHAPTER 38, ENTITLED
"PARKS AND RECREATION," ARTICLE II, ENTITLED "USE REGULATIONS,"
SECTION 38-60, ENTITLED "BOATING," OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI,
FLORIDA, AS AMENDED ("CODE") AND TO CHAPTER 38, ARTICLE VI, ENTITLED
"VIRGINIA KEY BEACH PARK TRUST," OF THE CODE, TO ESTABLISH THE
RULES AND REGULATIONS AND TO ESTABLISH AN EXCLUSION/SAFETY ZONE
WHEREBY NO MOTORIZED BOATING, NO MOTORIZED VESSEL, AND NO
OTHER MOTORIZED WATERCRAFT ACTIVITIES MAY TAKE PLACE IN AND
AROUND CERTAIN AREAS OF THE WATERS OFF CITY -OWNED AREAS OF
VIRGINIA KEY, ATLANTIC BEACH AREA, NORTHEAST OF BEAR CUT AS SET
FORTH IN "COMPOSITE EXHIBIT A," ATTACHED AND INCORPORATED, AND
DESIGNATING SUCH EXCLUSION/SAFETY ZONE AS A "NO WAKE ZONE;" MORE
PARTICULARLY BY AMENDING AND ADDING: (1) TO ARTICLE II, NEW
PROVISIONS TO EXISTING SECTION 38-60, AND (2) TO ARTICLE VI, NEW
SECTIONS 38-243 THROUGH 38-247 OF SAID CODE; AUTHORIZING THE CITY
MANAGER TO UNDERTAKE AND TO EXECUTE THE NECESSARY
APPLICATIONS WITH MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, STATE OF FLORIDA, AND UNITED
STATES AGENCIES TO ESTABLISH THE PROPOSED BUOY LINES FOR SAID
EXCLUSION/SAFETY ZONE; CONTAINING A REPEALER PROVISION, A
SEVERABILITY CLAUSE, AND ESTABLISHING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, the City Commission wishes to establish rules and regulations and to establish an
exclusion/safety zone whereby no motorized boating, no motorized vessel and no motorized
watercraft activities may take place in and around certain areas of the waters off City -owned areas of
Virginia Key on the Atlantic beach area, Northeast of Bear Cut as set forth in "Composite Exhibit A,"
defined below; and
WHEREAS, the City of Miami ("City") through its Department of Parks and Recreation and the
Virginia Key Beach Park Trust have initiated and are completing the necessary undertakings, studies,
and permitting requirements to establish potential future swimming area(s), which include
simultaneous applications to City, Miami -Dade County, State of Florida, and United States agencies
in order to establish buoy lines for an exclusion/safety zone; and
WHEREAS, in order for the City Manager to seek and earn permits to establish the necessary
buoy lines for an exclusion/safety zone and a "no wake zone", the City, Miami -Dade County, State of
Florida, and United States agencies require that the City first provide the necessary legal description
and the attendant sketch of the legal description, and enactment of an ordinance for the proposed
buoy lines for that particular exclusion/safety zone; and
WHEREAS, the necessary legal description and the attendant sketch of the legal description
to establish the buoy line for the exclusion/safety zone are attached hereto as "Composite Exhibit A,"
City of Miami
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File Number: 08-00508 Enactment Number: 13004
incorporated hereby, and made a part hereof; and
WHEREAS, this proposed ordinance provides that (a) the creation of the proposed buoy lines
for an exclusion/safety zone will not become effective until such time as all City, Miami -Dade County,
State of Florida, and United States agency approvals have been received, and (b) the City Manager
shall return to the City Commission to amend this proposed ordinance to establish that specific date;
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI,
FLORIDA:
Section 1. The recitals and findings found in the preamble of this ordinance are adopted by
reference and incorporated as if fully set forth in this Section.
Section 2. The bouy line for the exclusion/safety zone off the waters of City -owned Property of
Virginia Key, Atlantic beach area, Northeast of Bear Cut is hereby established as set forth in the legal
description and the attendant sketch of the legal description attached hereto as "Composite Exhibit
A," incorporated hereby, and made a part hereof, and such exclusion/safety zone is designated a "no
wake zone."
Section 3. Section 38-60, entitled "Boating" of Article II of Chapter 38 of the Code of the City
of Miami, as amended (the "Code"), entitled: "Use Regulations" is hereby amended in the following
particulars to add new provisions:{1}
"CHAPTER 38
PARKS AND RECREATION
ARTICLE II. USE REGULATIONS
Sec. 38-60. Boating, Vessels and other Watercraft.
(a) Boats may be launched only where ramps have been provided. Beaching, aAnchoring,
mooring, or docking of boats on any City park's property shoreline, other than at established
ramps, is prohibited.
(b) Exclusion/Safety Zone and No Wake Zone for Virginia Key, Atlantic beach area and
Historic Virginia Key Beach Park area Northeast of Bear Cut
The bouy line for the exclusion/safety zone off the waters of City -owned Property of Virginia
Key, Atlantic beach area and Historic Virginia Key Beach Park, Northeast of Bear Cut is
hereby established as set forth in the legal description and the attendant sketch of the legal
description attached hereto as "Composite Exhibit A", incorporated hereby, and made a part
hereof, and such exclusion/safety zone is also designated a "no wake zone".
(c) Operation of vessels, boats, and other watercraft in marked swimming area, bathing areas,
or exclusion/safety zone of Virginia Key Atlantic beach area Northeast of Bear Cut.
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(i) No person shall operate any motorized vessel, motorized boat, or other motorized
watercraft within a swimming area, bathing area, or exclusion/safety area within the Virginia
Key Atlantic beach area Northeast of Bear Cut which has been clearly marked by duly
authorized buoys or other alternative permitted regulatory markers. Hand -propelled or
foot -propelled vessels without motors and other hand -propelled or foot -propelled watercraft
without motors, such as canoes, kayaks, surf boards, sail boards, kite boards, and
wind -surfing boards, are permitted to be operated in a safe manner within such designated
swimming area, bathing area or exclusion/safety zone within the Virginia Key Atlantic beach
area Northeast of Bear Cut.
(ii) The provisions of this section shall not apply to film productions that specifically request a
waiver from the City Manager on their film permit applications as long as such film productions
(1) take adequate safety precautions, (2) specify in their waiver requests such precautions to
be taken, and (3) indemnify the City and its officers, directors, and employees for such
waiver.
(iii) The provisions of this section shall not apply to a "special event" (as defined in Section 38-
74 and Section 54-1 of the Code) for which a special events permit is obtained from the
Director of the Parks and Recreation Department.
(d) Speed of vessels, boats and other watercraft off Virginia Key Atlantic beach area
Northeast of Bear Cut.
(i) No person shall operate any vessel, boat or other watercraft off the waters of Virginia Key
Atlantic beach area Northeast of Bear Cut at a speed greater than five (5) miles per hour
within one hundred (100) feet of any person in the water.
(ii) No person operating a vessel, boat or other watercraft off any part of Virginia Key Atlantic
beach area Northeast of Bear Cut shall engage in a race or contest of speed with another
boat, vessel, or other watercraft at any time.
(iii) The provisions of this section shall not apply to races or regattas when the City
Commission has given permission for such races or regattas to be held.
(iv) The provisions of this section shall not apply to film productions that specifically
request a waiver from the City Manager on their film permit applications as long as such film
productions (1) take adequate safety precautions, (2) specify in their waiver requests such
precautions to be taken, and (3) indemnify the City and its officers, directors, and employees
for such waiver.
(v) The provisions of this section shall not apply to a "special event" (as defined in Section 38-
74 and Section 54-1 of the Code) for which a special events permit is obtained from the
Director of the Parks and Recreation Department.
State law reference: Reckless or careless operation of vessels, F.S. § 327.33.
(e) Careless operation of vessel, boat or other watercraft.
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Every person operating or navigating any vessel, boat or other watercraft in, on or under the
waters off Virginia Key Atlantic beach Northeast of Bear Cut shall do so in a careful and
prudent manner, taking into consideration the weather conditions and range of visibility, water
turbulence, current, closeness to swimmers, bathers, water skiers and other boats, vessels
and watercraft, and all other attendant circumstances so as not to endanger the life, limb or
property of any person. Failure to operate a vessel, boat or other watercraft in such a careful
and prudent manner shall constitute careless boating and a violation of this section.
State law references: Similar provisions, F.S. § 327.33; operating a vessel under the
influence of drugs or alcohol, F.S. § 327.35 et seq.
(f) Operation or use of towed flying devicesLtowed sailing devices or towed parachutes near
beaches.
(i) It shall be unlawful for any person to tow or manipulate any person attached to any towed
flying device, towed sailing device or towed parachute through or over an area within five
hundred (500) feet either side of the water's edge of Virginia Key Atlantic beach area
Northeast of Bear Cut below an altitude of five hundred (500) feet above the surface of the
water.
(ii) It shall be unlawful for any person to operate, engage in, be a passenger in or control any
towed flying device, towed sailing device, or towed parachute carrying a person through or
over an area within five hundred (500) feet each side of the water's edge of Virginia Key
Atlantic beach area Northeast of Bear Cut below an altitude of five hundred (500) feet above
the surface of the water.
(iii) The provisions of this section shall not apply to film productions that specifically request a
waiver from the City Manager on their film permit applications as long as such film productions
(1) take adequate safety precautions, (2) specify in their waiver requests such precautions to
be taken, and (3) indemnify the City and its officers, directors, and employees for such
waiver.
(iv) The provisions of this section shall not apply to a "special event" (as defined in Section 38-
74 and Section 54-1 of the Code) for which a special events permit is obtained from the
Director of the Parks and Recreation Department.
Section 4. Article VI of Chapter 38 of the Code entitled "Virginia Key Beach Park Trust" is
hereby amended to add new Sections 38-243 through 38-247 in the following particulars:{1}
"CHAPTER 38
PARKS AND RECREATION
ARTICLE VI. VIRGINIA KEY BEACH PARK TRUST
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Sec. 38-243. Operation of vessels, boats, and other watercraft in marked swimming area,
bathing area, or exclusion/safety zone of Historic Virginia Key Beach Park.
(a) An exclusion/safety zone and "no wake zone" has been established for the designated
waters of and off of Historic Virginia Key Beach Park pursuant to Section 38-60(b) of the
Code.
(b) No person shall operate any motorized vessel, motorized boat, or other motorized
watercraft within a swimming area, bathing area, or exclusion/safety zone area within the
Historic Virginia Key Beach Park beach area which has been clearly marked by duly
authorized buoys or other alternative permitted regulatory markers. Hand -propelled or
foot -propelled vessels without motors and other hand -propelled or foot -propelled watercraft
without motors, such as canoes, kayaks, surf boards, sail boards, kite boards, and
wind -surfing boards, are permitted to be operated in a safe manner within such designated
swimming area, bathing area or exclusion/safety zone within the Historic Virginia Key Beach
Park beach area.
(c) The provisions of this section shall not apply to film productions that specifically request a
waiver from the Executive Director of the Virginia Key Beach Park Trust on their film permit
applications as long as such film productions (i) take adequate safety precautions, (ii) specify
in their waiver requests such precautions to be taken, and (iii) indemnify the Virginia Key
Beach Park Trust, the City and their respective officers, directors, and employees for such
waiver.
(d) The provisions of this section shall not apply to a "special event" (as defined in Section 38-
74 and Section 54-1 of the Code) for which a special events permit is obtained from the
Executive Director of the Virginia Key Beach Park Trust.
Sec. 38-244. Speed of vessels, boats, and other watercraft off Historic Virginia Key
Beach Park
(a) No person shall operate any vessel, boat or other watercraft off the waters of Historic
Virginia Key Beach Park at a speed greater than five (5) miles per hour within one hundred
(100) feet of any person in the water.
(b) No person operating a boat, vessel or other watercraft off any part of Historic Virginia Key
Beach Park beach area shall engage in a race or contest of speed with another boat, vessel,
or other watercraft at any time.
(c) The provisions of this section shall not apply to races or regattas when the City
Commission has given permission for such races or regattas to be held.
(d) The provisions of this section shall not apply to film productions that specifically request a
waiver from the Executive Director of the Virginia Key Beach Park Trust on their film permit
applications as long as such film productions (i) take adequate safety precautions, (ii) specify
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in their waiver requests such precautions to be taken, and (iii) indemnify the Virginia Key
Beach Part Trust, the City, and their respective officers, directors, and employees for such
waiver.
(e) The provisions of this section shall not apply to a "special event" (as defined in Section 38-
74 and Section 54-1 of the Code) for which a special events permit is obtained from the
Executive Director of the Virginia Key Beach Park Trust.
State law reference: Reckless or careless operation of vessels, F.S. § 327.33.
Sec. 38-245. Careless operation of vessel, boat or other watercraft.
Every person operating or navigating any vessel, boat or other watercraft in, on or under the
waters off Historic Virginia Key Beach Park shall do so in a careful and prudent manner, taking
into consideration the weather conditions and range of visibility, water turbulence, current,
closeness to swimmers, bathers, water skiers and other boats, vessels and watercraft, and all
other attendant circumstances so as not to endanger the life, limb or property of any person.
Failure to operate a vessel, boat or other watercraft in such a careful and prudent manner
shall constitute careless boating and a violation of this section.
State law references: Similar provisions, F.S. § 327.33; operating a vessel under the
influence of drugs or alcohol, F.S. § 327.35 et seq.
Sec. 38-246. Operation or use of towed flying devices, towed sailing devices or towed
parachutes near beaches.
(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to tow or manipulate any person attached to any towed
flying or towed sailing device or towed parachute through or over an area within five hundred
(500) feet each side of the water's edge of the Historic Virginia Key Beach Park beach area
below an altitude of five hundred (500) feet above the surface of the water.
(b) It shall be unlawful for any person to operate, engage in, be a passenger in or control any
towed flying device, towed sailing device, or towed parachute carrying a person through or
over an area within five hundred (500) feet each side of the water's edge of the Historic
Virginia Key Beach Park beach area below an altitude of five hundred (500) feet above the
surface of the water.
(c) The provisions of this section shall not apply to film productions that specifically request a
waiver from the Executive Director of the Virginia Key Beach Park Trust on their film permit
applications as long as such film productions (i) take adequate safety precautions, (ii) specify
in their waiver requests such precautions to be taken, and (iii) indemnify the Virginia Key
Beach Park Trust, the City and their respective officers, directors, and employees for such
waiver.
(d) The provisions of this section shall not apply to a "special event" (as defined in Section 38-
74 and Section 54-1 of the Code) for which a special events permit is obtained from the
Executive Director of the Virginia Key Beach Park Trust.
City of Miami
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Sec. 38-247. Launching of motorized vessels, motorized boats and motorized other
watercraft from Historic Virginia Key Beach Park property.
It shall be unlawful for any person to launch any motorized vessel, motorized boat or other
motorized watercraft into the waters of and off of Historic Virginia Key Beach Park, unless the
launching takes place at a marina, or from a boat ramp provided by Historic Virginia Key
Beach Park.
Section 5. All ordinances or parts of ordinances insofar as they are inconsistent or in conflict with
the provisions of this ordinance are hereby repealed.
Section 6. If any section, part of section, paragraph, clause, phrase or word of this ordinance is
declared invalid, the remaining provisions of this ordinance shall not be affected.
Section 7. It is the intention of the City Commission that the provisions of this ordinance shall
become and be made a part of the Code of the City of Miami, Florida, as amended, which provisions
may be renumbered or reiterated and that the word "ordinance" may be charged to the "section,"
"article," or other appropriate word to accomplish such intention.
Section 8. This ordinance shall become effective immediately upon the City's receiving the last of
all required City, Miami -Dade County, State of Florida, and United States agencies' approvals and the
City Manager shall return to the City Commission to set forth that final approval date into the public
record for purposes of establishing the effective date of this ordinance.
Footnotes:
City of Miami
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{1} Words/and or figures stricken through shall be deleted. Underscored words and/or figures shall
be added. The remaining provisions are now in effect and remain unchanged. Asterisks indicate
omitted and unchanged material.
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