The Mural ordinance was modified by the Miami Springs City Council on Monday, June 13, 2022, so that it would allow an existing mural, in our case the UTD Mural, to be allowed to stay through June 30 of 2027.
As we reported on May 26th article titled “UTD May Have to Remove Mural After All“, the City of Miami Springs had the First Public Reading of an ordinance that would ban murals in Miami Springs. However, the new ordinance would also require existing murals to come into compliance within one year. In other words, the UTD will need to remove the mural within one year of the passing of this ordinance in order to come into compliance.
All murals in existence upon the effective date of this section, which are made nonconforming by the provisions of these regulations, shall be removed by June 30, 2023 (the “amortization period”).
However, during the Second Reading last night the City Council appeared to be willing to be flexible with the UTD to give them more time to come into compliance. Councilman Walter Fajet made a motion that would extend the amortization period (or the length of time before the UTD would have to remove the mural) to June 30, 2027 or five years.
Councilman Victor Vazquez seconded the motion. Councilwoman Jacky Bravo wanted to end the length of time earlier.
Bob Best chimed in and said “I’m just very concerned that if we’re going to vote on something like this right now, next thing you know we’ll be outlawing books.”
Mayor Maria Mitchell was obviously shocked by Councilman Best’s comment and responded to Best saying, “That is such…Councilman…That is such a stretch.”
The Mayor called the roll and the motion passed by a 4-1 vote. Here’s how they voted:
- Councilman Bob Best: No
- Councilwoman Jacky Bravo: Yes
- Councilman Walter Fajet: Yes
- Councilman Victor Vazquez: Yes
- Mayor Maria Mitchell: Yes
The mural went up in March of 2021. By extending it till 2027, it may stay there for a total of over 6 years altogether.
