HomeMy WebLinkAboutBack-Up DocumentsCITY OF MIAMI
PLANNING & ZONING DEPARTMENT
OFFI E OF ZONING
MEMORANDUM
-I'O: Danic; J. ,1 fo rso, City Manager
FROM: Dcvin- eja. , toning Administrator
DATE: May
RE: Future ion Public Comment Period Report on FL.1 -. 1374
Section eso ution R-16-0303
Pursuant to Section 7 of Resolution R- 6-0303, the Planning and Zoning Department received one
comment from the public from the Michael Slyder, President of the Miami Entertainment District
Association (MEDA), in strong objection to FI..1 _ — 1374. He believed that the new legislation would
destroy the nightlife business within the Park West District, and that the proposed changes avoided
recommendations provided by the Alcohol Beverage Ordinance Review Committee, which was established
in 2010 by the City Commission. Representatives of the Planning and Zoning Department met with Mr.
Slyder to assure him that the rules regarding the Park West District and all other Entertainment Districts
will not be changed in any way. Also, we explained that the purpose of these changes were not to adhere to
the recommendations provided by the Alcohol Beverage Ordinance Review Committee, but to clean up
existing language, conform to new state licensing requirements for Restaurants, allow smaller Restaurants
to open, and create a code that is easier to enforce. Alter meeting and corresponding with Mr. Slyder on the
draft, he is supportive of the new legislation.
Cc: Anna Medina, Agenda Coordinator
Victoria Mendez, City Attorney
Legislation Division
Planning and Zoning Department
Page 1 of 1
Medina, Anna
From: Michael Slyder <mslyder@gmail.com>
Sent: Monday, January 23, 2017 1:51 PM
To: FutureLegislation
Subject: FL.1 - 1374
Pursuant to Resolution R-16-0303, future legislation sponsored or co -sponsored by the City
Administration shall include a sixty (60) day public comment period prior to a First Reading
with the Commission.
Please allow this email to serve as a formal notice of our strong objection to this future
legislation. The Miami Entertainment District Association (MEDA) is a 501c(6) business
association formed in early 2010 that is dedicated to the promotion and preservation of the
Downtown Entertainment District, including the 24-hour Park West Entertainment
District. Since the enactment of Ordinance #11917 in March of 2000, the City of Miami has
benefited in a number of ways via the investment of a number of nightlife businesses that
collectively facilitated the initial economic growth of the area. This growth includes an
explosion of residential growth and the recent commencement of several development
projects, not the least of which being Miami World Center.
This ill-advised and short-sighted ordinance amending Chapter 4/Article 1 will effectively
destroy the nightlife businesses within the Park West District, ignoring the principle rationale
for ordinance #11917 to correct a "competitive disadvantage with other entertainment
areas". Additionally, the proposed changes appear to avoid any recommendations of the
detailed work, findings and recommendations provided by the Alcohol Beverage Ordinance
Review Committee, established in 2010 by the City Commission.
MEDA members would also like to point out that we collectively employee in excess of 800
persons within the City of Miami, pay millions of dollars in taxes, including an additional 1%
to Miami -Dade County's Tourist and Convention Development program.
Finally, it is our assertion that a principle catalyst to the growth and continued success of the
Ultra Music Festival is in part the result of the symbiotic relationship that exists between this
festival and the 24-hour district. This event, which brings in more than 90 million dollars in
revenue for the City of Miami (including much needed rents to the city parks that host this
event), is in part dependent on immediately adjacent large clubs that can host after -parties
after midnight. Given the operational costs of these large venues and the fact that more than
50% of our revenues are generated after 4:00am, this district will effectively collapse within
months, creating an entertainment void with obvious impact on the Ultra festival and
tourism.
1
Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions or concerns.
Respectfully submitted,
Michael Slyder
President
Miami Entertainment District Association (MEDA)