The Miami Seaside Fee brainstorms tips on how to make the earlier ‘final name’ a actuality – NBC 6 South Florida

Months after voters went to the polls and voted for a referendum on an earlier final call in the city of Miami Beach, commissioners are now tasked with making it a reality.

In November, with a few exceptions, voters said yes to a rollback from 5 a.m. to 2 a.m. The vote was not official and now city commissioners have to decide how the plan works.

“I will never vote broadly for a tough 2 am,” said Commissioner Ricky Arriola. “There have to be exceptions. The voters voted for it. “

The city’s planning director outlined five ways the commissioners could, with exceptions, undo the last call. A citywide call at 2 a.m. was not listed as an option.

The five options include:

• # 1 – Allow oceanfront hotels with at least 200 rooms to serve alcohol indoors by 5 a.m.
• # 2 – Allow seaside hotels and fully enclosed restaurants to serve alcohol until 5 a.m.
• No. 3 – Allow options one and two, but also include bars and clubs
• No. 4 – Allow exceptions for hotels by the sea and some restaurants, bars and clubs in certain parts of the city
• # 5 – Basic exceptions for a last 5am call based on performance standards

Some feel that making an exception would not curb crime in the entertainment district.

“They could have sent an overwhelmingly loud and clear message that the party’s over,” said Mitch Novick, owner of the Sherbrooke Hotel. “But instead they decided to make all possible exceptions. Essentially to water down what the voters asked for. “

The referendum was held on November 2nd in response to increasing crowds and public drinking in the South Beach entertainment district, where tension has been bubbling for years as the party crowds grew from a few weekends to a year-round presence.

Mayor Dan Gelber, who pushed for a closing time at 2 a.m., also won re-election and declared victory for both campaigns.

“That’s what our residents want,” said Gelber. He called the earlier alcohol sales restriction a first step in repositioning the South Beach entertainment district as “living, working, playing” with new homes, offices and cultural spaces.

Gelber said he was open to allowing larger hotels with security guards to continue serving alcohol until 5 a.m.