BUILDING BACK STRONGER
January - December
2022ANNUAL REPORT
About North Miami
Mayor’s Message
North Miami Elected Officials
Building Back Stronger
Financial Snapshot
About North Miami
Budget Department
Bulding Department
Citizens Investigative Board
Code Compliance Department
Community Planning and Development Department
Economic Development Spotlight
Information Technology Department
Finance Department
Housing and Social Services Department
Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA)
Parks and Recreation Department
Personnel Department
Purchasing Department
The City of North Miami has a rich history dating back to the 1800s. After becoming incorporated on February 5, 1926, the city began to grow exponentially from that point forward. It operates under a council-manager form of government, with an elected mayor serving up to two 2-year terms. The four additional council members are also elected and serve up to two 4-year terms by district. The city manager, appointed by the mayor and the council, manages the city’s daily operations, including hiring department heads and preparing the annual budget. The city also provides a variety of services for residents, including public works, police, parks and recreation, economic and community development, transportation, a museum, a library and much more.
As one of the largest municipalities in Miami-Dade County, North Miami is a dynamically diverse community of more than 60,000 residents. Once dubbed the “Most Diverse City” in Miami-Dade County by the League of Cities, the city is known for its evolving community of immigrants from the Caribbean, most notably of Haitian descent. This population mix has resulted in unique opportunities for cultural and economic enrichment as well as unique socio-economic challenges. Despite the current pandemic, the city remains the home to a strong business community and o ers a variety of housing options, from attainable, single-family homes and apartment complexes to multi-million dollar estates overlooking the beautiful waters of Biscayne Bay.
North Miami continues to lure residents and businesses to the area because of its ideal location, midway between Miami and Fort Lauderdale, and the sense of community that is cultivated through its recreational and educational opportunities. The city is home to the Oleta River State Recreation Area, on Biscayne Bay, and a park system that o ers numerous athletic, recreation, and nature programs throughout the year. Further, North Miami residents can receive a quality education from Pre-K to advance doctoral education, as a selection of higher education institutions are located in North Miami, including Florida International University.
A tour throughout the beautiful City of North Miami showcases the largest concentration of mid-century modern buildings in South Florida with a highlight of the NoMi Arts District along NE 125 Street. Anchored by the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), this commercial niche called “20th Century Row” is adorned with mid-century design and furnishing stores as well as an assortment of galleries featuring ne arts, clothing, and interior design.
The city is committed to strengthening its commercial corridors and business community while maintaining a focus on education, the arts, leisure activities, and sustainability to provide a viable future for its residents.
With its desirable parks; municipal public library; internationally acclaimed MOCA; and the NoMi Express Community Bus Service o ering free transportation along four routes within the city, North Miami is well positioned to cater to its residents, businesses, and visitors. It’s plethora of exciting events, a diverse community, customer-friendly residential services and a convenient location make North Miami a preferred destination.
Mayor’s Message
2022 was a year of great success for the City of North Miami. It was a time of collaboration across the city and a time of progress. Key legislation was passed during 2022 and many city events were held for the community. Two events in particular were my annual NoMi Fest and my inaugural event, NoMi FAM Fest -- both charitable events that bene t North Miami Utility Emergency Fund. The fund helps residents who are in need of maintaining access to one of the most basics of life essentials -- water.
As we move forward into a new year, I commit to making 2023 a year of change for North Miami – a year that represents the People’s Administration governed by the People’s Mayor As the new North Miami Mayor, my administration will implement a 100-day plan centered on Five Key Priorities– safety, nancial stability, infrastructure improvements, social services, and community engagement. These Five Key Priorities will help to make the City of North Miami one of America’s premiere cities. Through the implementation of this plan, we will continue to move our city forward by aligning our goals, initiatives, projects, and investments to ensure the utmost e ciency and transparency in our quest to accomplish these goals. So, I encourage you to remain involved in 2023. Attend city meetings. Provide your feedback. Let me know how we are doing on this new path of progress. You are key to our success and thus, we need you to become a part of the change happening in the City of North Miami.
Sincerely,
Alix Desulme
Mayor Alix Desulme, Ed.D.
City of North Miami
North Miami Elected Officials
Pierre Frantz Charles District 4
(Appointed January 10, 2023)
Kassandra Timothe, MPA District 2
Councilwoman
Councilman
Councilman
Scott Galvin District 1
City Clerk
Vanessa Joseph, Esq.
Vice Mayor
Mary Estimé-Irvin District 3
Mayor
Alix Desulme, Ed.D.
BUILDING BACK STRONGER
The City of North Miami presents the 2022 Annual Report: Building Back Stronger which covers accomplishments from January 2022 to December 2022. Over the 12-month period, the city remained in a scally healthy state -- turning around a nancial de cit to a positive fund balance -- while maintaining a consistent level of service during the reporting period.
There were key achievements that culminated in 2022. These achievements were accomplished through collaborative e orts across city departments and included housing rehabilitation, reopening parks, and heightening governmental transparency by inviting residents to give their opinions during the city’s rst Budget Town Hall Meetings. With so much progress happening in the city in 2022, the following is just a snapshot of key accomplishments across city departments in Building Back a Stronger North Miami:
• Invited unprecedented developments to the City of North Miami with approval of more than 2,499 additional residential units and more than 1.1 million square feet of non-residential development, which will add approximately half a billion dollars of assessed property value in the future;
• Maintained the lowest crime rate for the city in more than 50 years;
• Revitalized capital projects by completing the design of Cagni Park, renovation of Pioneer Blvd, installation of the EV Charging station, design completion of Breezeswept Tot Lot, upgrades to Enchanted Forest, new playground at Alfred Besade Park, Tennis Center renovation; and the acquisition and opening of the Scott Galvin Community Center;
• Managed an e ective Covid-19 response with free city-sponsored testing and vaccination events; secured $1.1 million in Cares Act Funding to support local businesses and residents; and created supportive services for residents and businesses with $19.1 million of ARPA funding.
Financial Snapshot FY 2022 EXPENSESFY
BUILDING BACK STRONGER:
Municipal Services
Budget Department
Over the past calendar year, the City of North Miami Budget Department has remained focused on maintaining a scally sound bud get while maintaining the same level of city services as in previous years. In doing so, the Budget Department worked with other city departments to implement a buget reduction plan that allowed the departments to reduce their reliance on the city’s general fund while still performing the same level of public service the residents and business owners have come to expect. The Budget Department also spearheaded the development of the city’s comprehensive ve-year plan that accounts for future revenue and expenses; facilitated a budget workshop for elected o cials and the community; hosted -- for the rst time ever in the City of North Miami -- a series of four Budget Town Hall Meetings; and held two budget hearing that were open to the public.
CITY MANAGER’S OFFICE:
Citizens Investigative Board
As a new entity of the City of North Miami, the North Miami Citizens Investigative Board (CIB) o cially opened its doors in 2022. Its rst year of operation focused on building its human capital by hiring sta and appointing board members. Over the course of the year, the CIB -- a department under the City Manager’s O ce -- created a ve-year strategic plan; launched a case management system engineered by Clarity Value, which included a citizen commendation/ complaint online form; secured full-time and contractual sta including an executive director, administrative specialist, investigator, and legal counsel; and held its rst board meeting and training which were open to the public. The North Miami City Council also appointed ve inaugural members to the seven-member board in 2022, re ecting a racial, ethnic, and culturally diverse board of directors.
In July 2020, the CIB was created by North Miami City Council to provide its residents with an unbiased, independent forum, where their complaints and accolades, pertaining to the actions of sworn members of the North Miami Police Department, can be evaluated. Interested residents can follow the CIB on its new social media platforms @NoMiCIB and obtain CIB-related information on its new webpage at www.NorthMiamiFL.gov/CIB.
Code Compliance Department
Building Department
In 2022, the North Miami Building Department maintained a level of consistent progress in serving the permitting, plan review, and building inspection needs for the North Miami community. The Building Department continued to improve its online permitting portal as well as enhance its level of in-person customer service. The following are some of the department’s key achievements in 2022:
In helping to keep North Miami safe and beautiful for residents, businesses, and visitors alike, North Miami Code Compliance Department fostered heightened engagement throughout the city in 2022. With a strong customer-centric focus, the department continued maintaining an impressively high compliance rate of 75%. This approach relied heavily on public education and outreach coupled with stellar customer service to help property owners come into compliance with city code. The Code Compliance Department took extra steps to help owners by providing courtesy notices and walking them through the multi-phased process often required for compliance.
This included assisting them with contacting other city departments, working with them to set realistic timeframes for compliance, and providing useful tools that encouraged longtime compliance. In addition to one-on-one assistance, the department hosted its rst
biannual clean-up which included E-waste and biohazardous materials. The event occurred during the city’s celebration of Florida’s annual government week in August and encouraged both city o cials and residents to participate.
The following is a snapshot of the department’s activity in 2022 which includes sanitation violations, minimum housing violations, general code violations, and curtesy notices.
Community Planning and Development Department (CP&D)
In 2022, the Planning Division of CP&D was engaged in several initiatives including coordinating the city-wide redistricting process; the North Miami transit station discussions with Miami-Dade County; planning and design for the Downtown P3; and coordinating the city’s robust planning process for investments in redevelopment and the environment. Some of which included the extension of the Special Development and Transit Overlay District. The extension is designed to encourage development and facilitate redevelopment of city-owned properties in that area. It also amends the city’s future land use and zoning maps to extend the North Miami Transit Station Overlay District (NMTSOD) that include land within the former Johnson and Wales campus to allow redevelopment of the properties.
The Planning Division also prepared a new Property Rights’ Element for the Comprehensive Plan as required by the state. Additionally, this division updated the land development regulations to clarify term limits and the process for appointments for the Planning Commission, Board of Adjustment, and the Downtown Action Plan Advisory Committee; expanded the locational limits for food trucks and drive-throughs; amended the allowable uses in the C-2BW; established a distance limitation regarding vehicle sales on Biscayne Boulevard and modi-
ed the de nition of retail to exclude vehicle sales; revised the de nition of “uni ed development site” for the purpose of uni cation of properties; amended the comprehensive plan and the land development regulations to combine the oating bonus unit pools; and clari ed the development standard hierarchy between the Planned Corridor Development Overlay District and the NMTSOD.
The division also spearheaded the North Miami Comprehensive Plan Update titled Future City: NOMI Beyond the Centennial As a part of the public engagement, the division hosted information sessions, community town hall meetings, and attended several special events to heighten community participation. The division also processed 14 conditional use permits; four applicant-requested Future Land Use Map/Text and Zoning Map/LDR text amendments; one Brown eld designation application; 17 unity of title/covenant in lieu applications; seven site plan approvals before city council; and hosted 42 pre application meetings.
The Sustainability Division promoted sustainability and environmental awareness through various initiatives. In April, an Earth Fair was hosted which encompassed an area clean-up, retail vendors, music, games, and a drive-in movie. In September, a clean-up and pollinator class were held at Enchanted Forest for National Public Land’s Day in collaboration with UF Extension School, and North Miami Parks and Recreation Department. Residents and volunteers were introduced to di erent types of pollinators native to South Florida. They were also provided native wild ower seeds to plant on their own properties for beauti cation. The division expanded public awareness with the creation and dissemination of the quarterly Resilient NoMi E-Newsletter.
This newsletter provides residents with updates on upcoming events, educational articles, and resources to increase participation in the sustainability e orts of North Miami. As part of its Neat Streets grant requirement from Miami-Dade County, 41 trees were planted in the city with long term bene ts such as reducing urban heat, capturing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, increasing property values and capturing storm water. In October, the UF Extension School hosted a pruning workshop luncheon for city employees.
The Zoning Division launched several public education and outreach initiatives, including the circulation of simplied zoning information to help educate the public on fence, driveway, recreational vehicle’s storage, and temporary use standards. Continuous e orts were made to update the website with relevant information for residents, creating a smoother application process. Through the Development Review Committee (DRC) for Site Plan Reviews, Zoning sta received 14 projects in 2022, eight of which were approved including the redevelopment of Cagni Park North This, in turn, will upgrade Cagni Park North into a multi-use and professional grade recreational facility. Upgrades will include the installation of a pool, o ce spaces, community rooms, and a gym. In addition, the division reviewed 1,229 building permits (a 58% increase from 712 in 2021) and processed and approved 3,154 zoning permit applications (which included Certi cate of Use Business licenses, landscaping/tree removals, land use and veri cation letters, administrative variances, administrative site plan reviews, temporary uses, and yard sale permits). During the previous calendar year, the division processed 1,963 zoning permit applications which represented a 62% increase in 2022.
Like many other cities across the nation impacted by the pandemic in 2020, the City of North Miami was still recovering from its impact and working its way back to its pre-pandemic state in 2022. The city’s Economic Development Division managed several key projects throughout the year. These projects included the advancement towards a public-private partnership (P3) to reimagine the city’s nine-acre downtown area. Several P3 community outreach events occurred in 2022 including a P3 business symposium in August that attracted more than 100 people to the MOCA Plaza – one of the sites of the proposed P3 project for an expansion; a street team – Downtown NoMi Connects Team -- that engaged a plethora of residents and business owners at the 47th Annual Winter National Thanksgiving Day Parade, North Miami District 2 Business Summit, NoMi FAM Festival Winter Wonderland, and the North Miami Police Department’s Let It Snow event to collect community input on the downtown redevelopment project. Due to the street team’s heightened level of engagement, the city received 560 surveys from the community with input about the reimagining of the City’s downtown North Miami area.
North Miami Business Activity Highlights for 2022
Information Technology Department
In helping North Miami make technological advancements throughout the city, North Miami Information Technology (IT) Department focused on ensuring city departments were equipped with the tools and capacity needed to operate more e ciently and thereby provide quality services to the community. During 2022, the IT Department completed the migration of all city departments to the M365 Email and Applications Cloud as well as completed the network/infrastructure conversion to SD-Wan services. This conversion was a collaborative e ort with North Miami Public Works Department and North Miami Parks and Recreation Department that included connectivity at the newly acquired Scott Galvin Community Center. Due to the migration and conversion projects of 2022, city departments
experienced an increase in response time, heightened level of connectivity, and an enhanced le-sharing system. As a result, patrons and other city stakeholders were a orded easier and more e ective communication with the city and provided information made available via the city’s website and NoMi TV. Connectivity at the Scott Galvin Community Center, in particular, assisted the Parks and Recreation Department with servicing customers at the center in registering for activities and events. Each initiative that the IT Department accomplished in 2022 ensured e cient and continued operations of the city.
Finance Department
North Miami Finance Department continued to embrace an award-winning year in 2022. Its Accounting and Administration Division responsible for the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report Award, was awarded a Certi cate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for scal year-ending September 30, 2021. Thus, the Finance Department was able to maintain the award for the past six years after not receiving it since scal year 2010. The division also updated the city’s Investment Policy in October to bring it in line with State of Florida Statutes, the
Government Finance O cers Association and the Association of Public Treasurers of the United States and Canada’s best practices. Additionally, the Finance Department prepared an investment plan in 2022 to help maximize the city’s returns on cash ows; implemented the new accounting standard GASB Statement No. 87: Accounting for Leases; and implemented a new software tool, LeaseQuery, to properly account for the city leases inventory.
Here is a snapshot of other achievements in 2022:
Accounting and Administration Division
• Accounts Payable processed 17,343 vendor payments for calendar year 2022.
Business Tax Receipts (BTR)
• The Business Tax Receipt Section worked to implement more online portal access for businesses to initiate its BTR applications.
• Plans were made to improve the new business cross-check with Miami-Dade County to help new businesses comply with the city’s BTR regulations.
• The city added 400 new BTR customers to the rolls from January to December 2022.
Liens
and Collections
• The Liens Section processed a total of 2,229 lien searches from January to December 2022.
Utility Billing and Customer Service
• The Utility Billing Section added 1,643 new accounts from January and December 2022.
Housing and Social Services Department
Throughout 2022, North Miami Housing and Social Services Department provided funding and direct services to more than 1000 residents. The department, through its Housing Division, provided rehabilitation of single-family homes and beauti cation assistance to 32 homeowners, amounting to more than $400,000. The division also provided homeownership assistance to one rst-time homeowner; emergency rehabilitation assistance to eight elderly residents; tenant-based movein rental assistance to six renters; and assistance to one small business through the department’s special economic development green rehabilitation program -- totaling more than a $100,000 investment in these areas. Through its public services activities, the division assisted 188 residents with various services o ered by community-based organizations (CBOs), such as workforce training, health and wellness assistance, assistance for pregnant women and assistance for youth in sports, among other assistance. In total, the Housing Division provided assistance amounting to $911,628 in 2022.
In the Social Services Division, the North Miami Golden Silver Senior Program provided recreational activities to approximately 70 senior citizens on a weekly to bi-weekly basis; and facilitated the processing of 29 applications for free bus passes in collaboration with Miami-Dade County under the Golden Passport program. In addition, the NoMi Food Pantry distributed 222,336 pounds of food to approximately 580 residents. The Social Services Division also provided leadership training opportunities to ten local teenagers in 2022 through the North Miami Leaders in Training (LIT) program, as well as
summer internships to 12 teens through the Youth Opportunity Board (YOB) program. To accomplish the goals of the Social Services Division, a total of $251,876 was invested in the community.
In a continual response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Housing and Social Services Department provided assistance through various programs, including assistance with rent, hot meals, mental health assistance and mortgage assistance, among other services. In 2022, 13 North Miami residents received hot meals twice a day and 41 residents received mental health assistance under the NoMi Mental Health Program. In relations to housing assistance, 170 households at risk of homelessness were assisted with rent payments, totaling $651,585 under various rental assistance programs. Emergency housing assistance was also provided to 31 homeowners under the foreclosure prevention program via the Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program (EMAP); through this program, a total of $142,627 was issued in mortgage payments. The small business community was also assisted throughout the year under the Business Technical and Financial Assistance Program. Overall, the Housing and Social Services Department spent $858,776 in a continual response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the a ordable housing crisis in 2022.
North Miami Housing and Social Services Department remains committed to providing services to the most vulnerable residents living in the City of North Miami. The department continues to increase access to a ordable, decent, safe and stable housing, as well as improving the quality of life for its senior citizens and youth through various social service activities.
Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA)
The internationally acclaimed Museum of Contemporary Art, North Miami (MOCA) is the cultural anchor of downtown North Miami. As MOCA continues to grow and attract visitors from around the world, it also makes it a top priority to serve the local community by being an accessible and welcoming space that sparks curiosity and nurtures a lifelong love of the arts. MOCA is woven into the tapestry of the community of North Miami, not only through exhibitions, but also through free education and public programs for all ages, such as, Teen Art Force and Sunday Stories. In 2022, it provided more than 23 community engagement programs for North
Miami residents which increased participation by more than 35% in scal year 2022. It o ered outreach programs such as weekly MOCA at the Library workshops; bi-weekly photography classes at North Miami Senior High School; several school tours; 12 Jazz at MOCA concerts on the plaza; three activations in Gri ng Park ofUnder the Electric Tree; and curated the second year of Art on the Plaza, a commissioned temporary public art works by South Florida artists on MOCA Plaza. The museum was also present at several city events including a back-to-school event, Halloween Haunted Trails, and Winter Wonderland.
In 2022, the museum presented contemporary art and its historical in uences through exhibitions that featured under-explored artists and movements as well as lifted up diverse voices. In 2022, the museum presented seven innovative exhibitions and installations that were displayed inside or outside the museum. These exhibits contributed to its increase in daily museum attendance by 11% in scal year 2022, including an 18% increase in attendance by City of North Miami residents. The 2022 exhibits are the following:
o My Name is Maryan curated by Alison M. Gingeras
o Postcards from the Edge: A Dispatch of Hope organized by Carl Juste
o Didier William: Nou Kite Tout Sa Dèyè curated by Erica Moiah James, Ph.D.
o Leah Gordon: Kanaval curated by Adeze Wilford
o Art on The Plaza temporary public artwork commissions on MOCA Plaza
These exhibits not only drew local crowds, but they also attracted international attention during Miami Art Week and received extensive press coverage in The New York Times among other publications. While the city provides the essential operating expenses annually, due to its accomplishments, MOCA leveraged the city’s support and was awarded restricted funds of more than $3M in grants from Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts and other entities.
With such a successful year, the museum ended 2022 with an increase in its membership by 48% from the previous year.
Parks and Recreation Department
2022 was a year of stellar advancement for North Miami Parks and Recreation Department. Not only did it experience a surge in community participation across its programs and services, post pandemic, but it also relocated its administrative o ces from city hall to the now named Scott Galvin Community Center. Most notably, the department was able to report progress in many of its parks and facility renovation projects. These projects included the completion of the Penny Sugarman Tennis Center renovation; Alfred Besade Park playground renovation; San Souci Canal Drive landscaping renovation; Downtown North Miami landscaping renovation; and North Bayshore and Keystone triangle landscaping renovation. It also enhanced North Bayshore Park and other parks throughout the city.
Additionally, there were new services in 2022 for the department like the registration for the tness room and gymnasium memberships at Scott Galvin Community Center. There were also several programs reintroduced including the afterschool programs with 220 participants; tennis programs which attracted more than 250 participants in its clinics, classes, and camps; basketball program with 30 participants; soccer program; swim lesson program; adult tness classes; and various camps with more than 200 participants combined in its spring, summer and winter sessions.
Here are a few other department highlights:
• The department cultivated several partnerships throughout 2022 including a partnership with the University of Fort Lauderdale; Miami Pro Summer League; Ronnie Taylor “We Them Ones” Basketball Program; Miami Country Day School; and Mater Academy Biscayne.
With an outpouring of support at a North Miami City Council Meeting on November 18, 2022, the City of North Miami Council renamed its swim program after one of its teen interns who drowned the summer of 2022. Alyssa Mack-Lie Lucien, an 18-year-old North Miami resident, was an outgoing and active teen who served on the North Miami Youth Council and interned in the North Miami Clerk’s O ce. The city council renamed the program to Alyssa Mack-Lie Lucien Learn to Swim Program in honor of Alyssa and her involvement in the community. The item was co-sponsored by Vice Mayor Alix Desulme, Ed.D. and District 3 Councilwoman Mary Estimé-Irvin.
“I feel good that the city renamed the program after my daughter,” Samuel Lucien said. “It is a gesture that will allow her to be publicly remembered always.”
Lucien was overcome with emotion during the city’s special council meeting. He expressed appreciation and took solace in knowing that renaming the swim lesson could potentially
save the lives of others. Even for Lucien, he has since inquired about his other children taking lessons at the city’s pool.
My daughter did not know how to swim – none of us do,” Lucien revealed. “So, my wife, Anaira Jean Baptiste, and I want our other children to learn how to swim. If Alyssa knew how to swim, she would be here today. So, I hope by renaming the program after her it will bring more attention to the importance of knowing how to swim.”
North Miami Parks and Recreation Department o ers the Learn to Swim Program to children and adults at Thomas Sasso Pool, 1100 NW 125 ST, North Miami, FL 33168. Sessions are year-round with classes geared toward advancing basic skills to stroke techniques and proper swim form under the training of American Red Cross certi ed instructors to ensure water safety of participants.
The Parks and Recreation Department also increased the number of events hosted throughout the city and spearheaded the city’s signature events. These signature events included the highly anticipated Spring Egg Hunt which attracted more than 1100 eventgoers; Memorial Day event (150); Independence Day event (1200); Back to School Block Party (500); Halloween Haunted Trails (2,128); Veterans Day Ceremony (250); Brewfest (2000); 47 Annual WinterNational Thanksgiving Day Parade (2000); and the holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony (500). Other events included gardening classes at Enchanted Forest Park; a butter y garden clean-up event; a free cardio tennis group class; and a new event – NoMi FAM Fest – which was held at Claude Pepper Park.
• At the Penny Sugarman Tennis Center, the department hosted the Tim Charles USTA Memorial Tennis Tournament and the annual Clayton Feig Memorial USTA Jr. Tournament which drew an estimated 100 children - adding more age groups including 12 through 18 and under in the boys’ and girls’ divisions.
• The department was awarded a $30,000renovation grant from the Miami Marlins to completely renovate Claude Pepper Park in eld grounds.
Humanitarian E orts: Thanks to the support of partnerships, the department donated tennis rackets and balls for a children’s tennis program in Cuba. It also hosted North Miami Jewish Cultural School for group tennis class as part of its Outreach Physical Education Program.
Personnel Department
As the city’s engine designed to attract and cultivate a strong workforce, North Miami Personnel Department was at the center of recruitment, labor negotiations, performance management and wellness initiatives in 2022. Throughout the year, the Personnel Department was a source of helping the city maintain work life balance by hosting a series of wellness events including a citywide Open Enrollment and Health Fair as well as disseminating a plethora of information across departments that encompassed various bene ts and the like. In 2022, the city hired 157 new employees to ensure departments were equipped to maintain service levels while touting more than147 employees who have been employed with the city for a decade or more. At the end of December 2022,
there were 511 people employed at the City of North Miami. Each employee is essential as they help to move the city forward.
ALYSSA MACK-LIE LUCIEN LEARN TO SWIM PROGRAM
Percentage Change 2018 vs 2022
North Miami Police Department (NMPD) continued to have a successful year in 2022. As it relates Earned Recommendation for Re-accreditation the department was formally assessed and received its recommendation for re-accreditation from the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation (CFA).The accreditation process requires an in-depth review of every aspect of the Police Department’s management and operations, and strict compliance with hundreds of standards. Accreditation symbolizes professionalism, excellence, and competence. Accreditation increases a department’s ability to prevent and control crime through more e ective, and e cient delivery of law enforcement services to the community. It also enhances community understanding of the law enforcement agency and its role in the community, as well as its goals and objectives. The NMPD stakeholders including the community can take pride in the North Miami Police Department, knowing that it represents the very best in law enforcement.
In the area of Crime Reduction, the North Miami Police Department’s ongoing partnerships with the community and crime prevention initiatives resulted in a 24.47% decrease in Part One Crimes over the past ve years, including 2022. Since 1994, NMPD experienced an incredible 70% reduction in crimes throughout the City of North Miami. The number of reported crimes in the city over the past two years are at the lowest levels since 1972. That’s the lowest numbers in 50 years One of the major factors in the crime reduction is the community’s involvement. Thanks to the public’s participation in reporting criminal and suspicious activity, North Miami residents and business owners have evolved into the department’s eyes and ears.
When the North Miami community members see something, they say something.
In the area of Community Engagement, NMPD made a positive impact and touched the lives of hundreds of people throughout the city in 2022 by hosting and interacting with community members at the following events:
January 15: MLK Day Community Bike Ride
February 26: Miami Dolphins Cancer Challenge
March 2: Ben Franklin Elementary School Career Day
April 20: Autism Awareness PD Caravan
May 12: Special Olympics Torch Run
June 25: COPS and Kids Fishing Day
July 28: PAL Summer Field Day
August 2: National Night Out
September 10: Fifth Annual Childhood Cancer Parade
October 27: Halloween’s Zombie Lane
November 13: Autism Speaks walk event
November 11: Veterans Day Ceremony
November 21: Thanksgiving food distribution with the Miami Dolphins
December 10: Shop with a Cop coordination with TJ Maxx and the Circle of Love Empowers Women and Girls organization
December 17: Second annual Let it Snow event
The engagement between NMPD and the community paid dividends in 2022. The transparency of the department was made apparent when residents were invited to the police station for events and subsequently experienced various gestures of kindness and generosity at the events. As a result, these e orts resulted in earning the community’s trust and developing friendships with both adults and children. Over the years, through collaboration with the community, NMPD has been able to reduce crime and the fear of crime, which are vital in ensuring that residents and visitors feel safe to enjoy the many amenities the city o ers.
Public Library
As the crux of the community’s gathering places in the City of North Miami, the North Miami Public Library attracted a wide range of patrons – young and old – with various interest and curiosities. Throughout 2022, the library was more than a place to check out books, it was a hub of activity that expanded far beyond library services. From computer classes for senior adults to a back-to-school location for clothes and other academic wear, the library touched the lives of many North Miamians.
In expanding its reach in 2022, the North Miami Public Library instituted the following:
1. No nes at the library
As the rst and only municipal library in South Florida to not issue nes for returning library material past its due date, North Miami Public Library o cially became a ne-free facility on June 14, 2022. The resolution adopted by North Miami Mayor and City Council allowed the library to waive all nes associated with library patron accounts and eliminate the fee for overdue items. The decision to become a ne-free library, not only increased the number of smiles from patrons, but it also increased library circulation by 3,085 check-out and renewal transactions from June 2022 to December 2022. The comparison was made using the same seven-month period from 2021. The largest increase was in juvenile books. In addition to improvement in circulation, the door counts also experienced an increase. It welcomed 12,143 more visitors with the new policy proving an incentive for patrons to return to the library.
2. Longer library hours
The library increased its public service hours from 44 hours to 56 hours a week. This allowed the library to regain pre-pandemic service levels for all ages. In addition, increasing the public service hours provided the community with more opportunities to use the facility whether it be for studying, reading, family story-time or community events.
The additional hours of operation have made it possible for the library to o er programs on weekday evenings and Saturday mornings. These new programs include NACA First-time Homebuyers Program, Catalyst Miami Worker Co-Ops Open House, Children’s Storytime with the Miami Children’s Museum, evening Kompa Dance Classes, Basic Computer Classes, Family Gardening workshops with University of Florida extension program, Toast Masters, AIG Financial Literacy program, additional Author Visits such as Award Winning Author Eric Litwin with Pete the Cat, an extra day of ESOL Classes with Miami-Dade County Public Schools, and the continuation of ongoing programs such as English Café, Y.O.V.E., JumpStart Tutoring Parent Workshop, and Celebrity Storytime.
3. Increase in partnerships
The library strengthened its relationship with several grade schools in the surrounding area. These enhanced partnerships allowed the library to increase its membership and educate the partners on resources available to students, parents, and teachers. The schools are Cristo Rey Miami High School, Holy Cross Lutheran Christian Day School, and North Miami Senior High School (NMSH).
During the year, Cristo Rey High School held multiple outreach events at the library to recruit more students to its new school in North Miami. With Holy Cross, the library held several events and programs to increase the students’ reading experience and increase their understanding of the type of services available at a public library. Lastly, the library partnered with the NMSH Finance Department to provide a college tour to Florida A&M University and Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida. The library provided a college workshop series that covered college tools (FAFSA, Loans, SAT/ACT Prep, etc.) and the Friends of the North Miami Public Library sponsored a meal for each student during the duration of the trip.
But the partnerships did not stop at neighboring schools, it also expanded to athletic organizations and other entities. During the 2022 calendar year, the library teamed with the Miami Dolphins to host a library eld trip to its 2022 season training camp; AIG to host a Financial Literacy Program; the Education Fund to provide schools supplies to school-aged patrons; and other partnerships like NACA, and Miami-Dade County Public Schools to o er other bene ts to library patrons.
In short, the North Miami Public Library was a hub for many in 2022 including ESOL students, senior citizens, those who work at night, job seekers, stay-at-home moms and dads, homeowners, adults with special needs and disabilities, and the homeless. It was a place for all to gather in 2022.
Did you know that in 2022 the North Miami Public Library issued 1,042 library cards?
Public Works Department
As the department responsible for the city’s infrastructure, the impact of the North Miami Public Works Department in 2022 was felt throughout the city and across both residential and commercial corridors. The department focused primarily on three areas in 2022 which were green space management, improving resiliency in the city’s water and sewer system, and improving sidewalks and roadways for pedestrian and vehicular tra c. Several projects were completed over the course of the year which encompassed landscape restoration. In collaboration with North Miami Parks and Recreation Department, the Public Works Department facilitated the landscape design of numerous areas which improved the aesthetic appeal of several of the city’s corridors with native and Florida-friendly plants. The 2022 landscaped areas were the following:
a. NE 123 ST BETWEEN BISCAYNE BLVD AND NORTH BAYSHORE DRIVE
b. BISCAYNE BLVD BETWEEN 135 ST AND 121 ST
c. WEST DIXIE HIGHWAY BETWEEN 143 ST AND 122 ST
e. NE 4 AVE BETWEEN 125 ST AND 131 ST
f. TRAFFIC CIRCLES WEST OF NW 7 AVENUE
g. NW 120 STREET CLOSURES WEST OF NW 7 AVENUE
2022 also saw an infusion of funding for the city’s infrastructure projects. With nearly $3M in grants and other funding awarded in 2022, the Public Works Department was able to plan and implement sustainability and resiliency initiatives to improve its water and sewer system and to provide safe potable water and dispose wastewater even in the midst of a power loss or failure. Due to a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), eight emergency generators were installed at various locations throughout the city. The department also received grant awards from the State of Florida for septic to sewer conversion projects planned for implementation in the coming years.
Finally, the Public Works Department invested approximately $400,000 on sidewalk repairs and $240,000 on street resurfacing. The repairs increased safety for pedestrians on sidewalks and vehicles on roadways throughout the city.
Purchasing Department
North Miami Purchasing Department was immersed in many of the city’s major projects in 2022. These projects included the downtown redevelopment project spearheaded by Community Planning and Development (CP&D)/ Economic Development Division; infrastructure improvement projects managed by North Miami Public Works Department; the city’s comprehensive plan update facilitated by CP&D; and capital improvement projects managed by North Miami Parks and Recreation Department.
P3 Downtown Development: With a focus on creating a public-private-partnership (P3) in the city’s downtown area, the Purchasing Department helped to advance the multi-phased initiative by identifying experienced and quali ed consultants to help formulate a solid P3 team, codifying a governing ordinance for adoption by city council, and entering an agreement for public communication and outreach in advance of the Purchasing Department’s issuance of the P3 solicitation.
Citywide Infrastructure Improvement Projects and Comprehensive Plan Update: As part of North Miami’s commitment to the overall improvement of the city’s current infrastructure and planning for the anticipated future growth, the Purchasing Department worked with the City Manager’s O ce, Public Works Department, and CP&D to select, negotiate, and award various infrastructure improvement projects and consulting services for the city’s Comprehensive Plan throughout the course of 2022. These projects were an infrastructure study of the city’s water distribution and sanitary sewer collection system to accommodate projected future population growth; rehabilitation of sanitary sewer force main projects along NW 12 Avenue and NE 135 Street; citywide sanitary sewer evaluation survey and recommended improvements; rehabilitation of the city’s sanitary sewer pump stations; purchase and installation of backup generators for the city’s Winson Water Treatment Plant; and water main replacement projects along NE 6 Avenue, NE 118 Street and NW 141 Street. It was through such collaborative e orts of these projects that the city was able to meet the future needs of anticipated population growth and development of its community as re ected in the city’s Comprehensive Plan.
Parks and Recreation Capital Improvement Projects: As part of North Miami’s continuing e ort to improve the city’s parks and recreation facilities, the Purchas ing Department worked with the City Manager’s O ce and Parks and Recreation Department to select, negotiate, and award several parks and recreation capital improvement projects throughout the year. These projects were the proposal of improvements to Claude Pepper Park and renovations and additions to Joe Celestine Community Center; proposed a new Cagni North Park and Athletic Complex; roof replacement and renovations to the Penny Sugarman Tennis Center facility; and Breezeswept Park and Tot Lot renovation and improvements. It was such projects that re ected North Miami’s investment in the city’s parks and community centers to provide its residents and visitors alike with state-of-the-art facilities for their use and enjoyment, as well as to promote sports and other recreational programs for the community.
Risk Management Administration at a Glance
Throughout 2022, North Miami Risk Management Division continued its focus on reducing the city’s exposure while adding value through subrogation recoveries and maintaining involvement in special projects and endeavors. By serving as a good steward of public resources, Risk Management decreased the city’s liability exposure to the city’s signature assets. Major projects like the sale of the Gwen Margolis Community Center, insurance negotiation for the Scott Galvin Community Center, heightened cyber security coverage and the maintenance of a robust safety training program were some notable areas of focus for the department in 2022.The department’s goal was to ensure that a more e cient operation yields a reduction in the number of required man hours to perform critical tasks while re-integrating a contract compliance manager position to work with internal as well external stake holders in the upcoming year.
The mission of the City of North Miami is to enhance the quality of life, environment, and safety for citizens, businesses, consumers, and employees in an atmosphere of service, integrity, quality, and scal responsibility
