(Miami, FL) Below please find Mayor Manny Diaz’s response to Chairman Joe Sanchez’s request to cancel the Miami 21 meeting scheduled for August 6, 2009:

“The new zoning code for the City of Miami, Miami 21, has been under discussion for many years, and was approved in its entirety by the Planning Advisory Board in January 2009. There have been over 60 public meetings held about the code, with the participation of thousands of our residents and stakeholders.

Miami 21 is a blueprint for the City of Miami of the 21st century and beyond. It aims to provide new City regulations that are streamlined, progressive, and relevant to the needs of a changing city. These regulations will encourage the development of safe, vibrant, pedestrian and transit-friendly neighborhoods, so that future generations will reap the benefits of well-balanced neighborhoods and rich quality of life.

Although the City Commission requested a Budget Workshop for August 6, 2009, the Administration will not be ready for a Budget Workshop on that date. Taking into account that the Commissioners had already made themselves available for a meeting on that day, the Administration thought it appropriate to schedule the Special Commission Meeting for the First Reading of Miami 21 during that time.

The vote regarding Miami 21 will not distract staff away from working on the City Budget. The Administration is proposing a Budget Workshop with Commissioners on August 14, and is scheduling individual briefings with Commissioners leading up to the workshop starting the week of August 10. We are also scheduling weekly budget updates for the following weeks of August 17, 24, 31 and September 7.  

We have an obligation to our residents to move forward with Miami 21 and create the City they deserve. For this reason, I respectfully decline Chairman Sanchez’s request to cancel the August 6 meeting for the First Reading of Miami 21.”