Miami Gardens council restricts pedicabs near stadium, approves storage-site variance and backs continued lobbying on water-utility bill

Miami Gardens City Council on April 23 amended and adopted an ordinance that creates a restricted stadium zone and prohibits pedicabs, golf carts and low-speed vehicles in that zone during stadium events; approved a zoning variance for an existing self-storage facility; and authorized the city manager to continue lobbying on a statewide water-utility bill.

The actions, taken during the council’s regular meeting, were taken by voice or roll-call and drew limited public comment. Councilman Reggie Leon sponsored the stadium-vending ordinance. Vice Mayor Stevens made the motion giving the city manager authority to continue lobbying on the water-utility measure.

The ordinance amends Chapter 6, Article 5, Section 6-195 of the City of Miami Gardens Code of Ordinances to adjust the city’s “clean zone” times during stadium events and to establish a restricted stadium zone that bars operation of pedicabs, golf carts and low-speed vehicles within the designated area. Councilman Reggie Leon moved the ordinance and proposed a small amendment removing the word “imprisonment” from section 2.16 while retaining the fine; the amendment passed and the ordinance was adopted on second reading by a 7-0 roll call (Councilwoman Baskin, Councilman Leon, Councilwoman Powell, Councilwoman Julian, Councilwoman Wilson, Vice Mayor Stevens and Mayor Rodney Harris voted yes).

On a quasi-judicial item, the council approved a variance requested by Extra Space Properties to raise the floor-area ratio (FAR) for an existing self-storage site at 20240 NW Second Avenue from roughly 0.50 to 0.83, where the city’s single-use commercial limit is listed as 0.75 under City Code Section 34-47. Staff told the council the facility has been on that site for decades and that the proposal demolishes two structures and replaces them with a new, air-conditioned building while the remainder of the site would remain unchanged. Staff recommended approval and the council voted to grant the variance after a public hearing with no speakers.

Council also approved a motion, made by Vice Mayor Stevens, giving the city manager authority to continue all necessary steps to assist with lobbying on the state water-utility bill. The vice mayor said the bill had passed the Senate floor that morning and required further action in the House because of an amendment; the motion passed by unanimous voice vote.

The consent agenda passed as amended (item 12.2 was withdrawn), and no additional public-comments items…