HomeMy WebLinkAboutVirginia Key Advisory BoardVirginia Key Advisory Board
City of Miami
2019 Annual Report
The following report is being submitted to the City Manager pursuant to Section 2-890 of
the City of Miami Code of Ordinances, as amended.
1. Is the Virginia Key Advisory Board ("Board" or "VKAB") serving the purpose for
which it was created?
The Board is amply serving the purpose for which it was created. Our Board met 10
times during 2019 and had no issues with quorum.
The Charge of the Board in the enabling ordinance was to oversee the governance and
planning for the entire island of Virginia Key, including the Marine Stadium.
The Board reviewed some very significant matters that were considered later at the
Commission. Some of the difficult items through our agendas in 2019 dealt with the Ultra
Music Concert being held at Virginia Key, the refurbishment of the Marine stadium along with
criteria for selecting an operator for the Marine Stadium, envisioning and working with the
consultants and staff on the design of a Flex Park adjacent to the stadium, addressing traffic
issues as a result of Ultra and the tragic accident that closed the Rickenbacker Causeway and
access to Virginia Key, the very thorny issue of the Kayak Launch near the old Jimbo's site, as
well as the equally difficult boat launch discussion that potentially could impact Marine Stadium
usage and parking, an ongoing discussion with the Boat Show personal and city staff about how
this event can or cannot coexist with the future operation of the Marine Stadium and the Flex
Park, supporting funding for further development of the Virginia Key Beach Park Trust, the
continuing conversation with key stakeholders on Virginia Key such as the University of
Miami's Rosentiel School and the Miami Dade Water & Sewer Plant. Additionally, we received
a visit from Commissioner X. Suarez whose county district overlaps wholly with Virginia Key
to discuss ways in which the city and the county could collaborate in Virginia Key. Of interest
was the discussion of traffic access and collaboration between all the jurisdictional agencies on
Rickenbacker Causeway and the fortuitous decision to move Ultra out of Virginia Key.
The Board is somewhat frustrated with the delay on selecting a stadium operator. This is a
necessary step in order to have another voice with specific expertise that can assist with the
development issues of the site as well as what potential conflicts may exist with users of the area
such as the boat launch, the Flex Park, the Maritime Center building, and the Boat show to name
a few. Additionally, the Board feels very strongly that serious discussions need to begin with the
City and the Boat Show on reducing the time it takes the Boat Show to put up its elaborate tents
and to take them down. This period is the most advantageous to the outdoor uses of the Stadium
and the future Flex Park. The future success of operating the Marine Stadium during this time of
the year is an important discussion that needs to be sorted out prior to construction period of the
Stadium and after its conclusion. The City is committed to spending $40M+ on the Stadium so
this is extremely critical that we tackle this issue early on.
One of the Board's continuing issues which was discussed throughout our meetings was
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the issue of having an integrated and holistic vision of Virginia Key. Staff under the leadership
of Steve Williamson, Director of Capital Improvements, has begun to address this issue by
assigning staff to consolidate all the projects on -going regardless of what department is running
with it to one giant spreadsheet so we do have every department coordinating with one office.
This is a huge improvement over where we've been over the past three years.
When staff brings forward differing RFP's in the development of the island it is not
apparent that the administration is thinking of the overall vision as imparted by the 2010 Master
Plan. This theme permeates much of the Board's deliberations; the need to integrate planning
and development of Virginia Key island wide.
The Board spent quite a bit of time on the issue of replacing the seawall in the Jimbo site
and the FIND program grant. The Board served a very useful role in analyzing and pushing for
the best way to restore this area with the least environmental impact. The living shoreline was
the preferred method favored for restoring this area by the Board and in the public input taken
on the issue. The Board provided extensive feedback to the Commission on this subject and will
continue to provide further input when it is brought back after its design remake.
2. Is the Board serving current community needs?
The Board is currently serving community needs. The Board regularly takes extensive
public comments on all the issues before the Board. Additionally, the Board also hears from
interested stakeholders of Virginia Key. We are in the process of developing and expanding that
list to invite input from those long-standing groups many of which work quietly to improve
Virginia Key's attractiveness to different users. The composition of the Board continues to
adequately represent the various interests of Virginia Key.
3. The Board's major accomplishments.
a. The Board serves as the principal place where serious discussion takes place
that tries to balance the competing interests that want access to this crown
jewel of the City. The Board is serving as a referee in balancing those
interests that want to develop certain areas with the need to preserve the
environmentally sensitive areas and the public's active and passive
enjoyment of this tremendous City and regional resource. For example, there
exits an inherent conflict between the operation of the existing Boat Show
with the proper development of a park (the not properly named Flex Park)
and the use of a refurbished Marine Stadium at a potential cost of $40M+ to
taxpayers. For the first time there is a group of individuals appointed by the
City that is diligently looking at Virginia Key from a structurally holistic
point of view. This is a significant accomplishment that is due to the passage
of this ordinance. Another example was the extensive discussion of Ultra at
Va. Key. The input provided and the amount of time dedicated to this issue
ensured that the interests of Va. Key were fully considered in this discussion.
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b. The Board provides an excellent forum for public comment on island wide planning and
for the discussion of improvements to this City asset. This review process affords the City
Commission another set of eyes and necessary public input.
c. The Board has forced all existing users and new potential users to follow the
original 2010 Master Plan. For example, the Marine Stadium Operator RFP, does ask the
bidders to adhere to the 2010 Master Plan. The administration after numerous rebuffs from
our Board made the changes that respected the Master Plan. Subsequent RFP's & RFQ's
have corrected, to some degree, this omission now knowing that they will be coming before
us. Our Board has also pushed the various city departments that appear in many instances to
work in silos, to see that they must address the overlap of issues between them.
4. Is there any other board, public or private, which would better serve the function of the
VAKB?
No other group provides as much focused attention on the entire gamut of Virginia Key
issues and possible opportunities.
5. Should the Ordinance creating the Board be amended to better enable the Board to
serve the purpose for which it was created?
Legislation to provide for an oversight or advisory Board in relation to implementing the
2010 Master Plan for all of Virginia Key was promoted by Commissioner Francis
Suarez and unanimously approved by the City Commission in January 2016. In
general, the ordinance has been very effective.
6. Should the Board's membership requirements be modified?
Currently, the VKAB is composed of 13 members appointed by the following individuals
and/or parties:
1. City of Miami Commissioner for District 2 appointee
2. Mayor of the City of Miami appointee
3. Director of Department of Real Estate and Asset Management
4. Director of the Department of Parks and Recreation
5. Village of Key Biscayne Village Council appointee
6. Miami -Dade County Commissioner for District 7 appointee
7. Dade Heritage Trust appointee
8. National Trust for Historic Preservation appointee
9. At -Large appointee of the Miami City Commission
10. Urban Environment League of Greater Miami appointee
11. Tropical Audubon Society appointee
12. Sierra Club appointee
13. Historic Virginia Key Beach Park Trust appointee
The board composition does not need to be modified at this time.
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7. The cost, both direct and indirect, of maintaining the Board.
Per the VKAB's Ordinance, there is a member of the City staff (LaCleveia Morley from
Park's department) who serves as the Board's liaison. Similarly, there is an Assistant City
Attorney assigned (Xavier Alban) as legal counsel for the Board.
In 2019, the City expended approximately $12,700 for incidental expenses of the VKAB
meetings.
Joe L Rasco,
Chairman,
On behalf of the Virginia Key Advisory Board
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