HomeMy WebLinkAboutR-21-0154City of Miami
;f
Legislation
Resolution: R-21-0154
File Number: 8866
City Hall
3500 Pan American Drive
Miami, FL 33133
www.miamigov.com
Final Action Date: 4/8/2021
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION SUPPORTING
CONGRESSWOMAN FREDERICA WILSON'S ("WILSON") REQUEST FOR
FEDERAL FUNDING TO CONSTRUCT A PERMANENT COVID-19 MEMORIAL;
FURTHER SUPPORTING WILSON'S REQUEST FOR FEDERAL FUNDING TO
ESTABLISH THE COCONUT GROVE VILLAGE WEST BAHAMIAN HISTORY
AND CULTURAL CENTER TO PRESERVE PROMOTE AND PRESENT THE
VIBRANT CULTURE AND HISTORY OF THE BAHAMIAN PIONEERS WHO
BUILT MIAMI'S FIRST NEIGHBORHOOD; DIRECTING THE CITY CLERK TO
TRANSMIT A COPY OF THIS RESOLUTION TO WILSON.
SPONSOR(S): Commissioner Ken Russell, Commissioner Jeffrey Watson
WHEREAS, Congresswoman Frederica Wilson ("Congresswoman Wilson") has
proposed a Community Project Funding initiative to create and construct a permanent memorial
to Miami -Dade County's more than 5,800 victims of the Novel Coronavirus pandemic
("Memorial"); and
WHEREAS, the Memorial, if approved, will be located in Simonhoff Floral Park located
at 1850 Northwest 541" Street, Miami, Florida in Liberty City; and
WHEREAS, the Memorial will enable members of the community to acknowledge and
grieve the passing of so many members of our community; and
WHEREAS, this year, the United States House of Representatives Appropriations
Committee ("Committee") is in the process of implementing a new Community Project Funding
initiative to allow members or Congress to directly address the most significant needs of the
communities they represent; and
WHEREAS, the process permits members of Congress to submit local projects to the
Committee for consideration of targeted federal funds to be utilized within one (1) fiscal year;
and
WHEREAS, Congresswoman Wilson is proposing that federal funding be used for
construction and capital improvements in Simonhoff Park in Liberty City for the Memorial; and
WHEREAS, the architectural consultant for the project is Zamarr Brown of Design2Form
and is assisting with the preparation of the Memorial's components and construction budget;
and
WHEREAS, Congresswoman Wilson is also proposing that federal funding be used to
establish the Coconut Grove Village West Bahamian History and Cultural Center to honor the
contributions of the City of Miami's ("City") Bahamian community to the history and fabric of the
City; and
City of Miami Page 1 of 2 File ID: 8866 (Revision:) Printed On: 411512021
File ID: 8866 Enactment Number: R-21-0154
WHEREAS, in the 1800s, there were very few permanent residents in the area that
would eventually become the City; and
WHEREAS, in the 1870s, the first large wave of immigration into Coconut Grove started,
with many of those immigrants coming from the Bahamas; and
WHEREAS, the first hotel in the City was established in 1882, the Peacock Inn, which
was located where Peacock Park now rests in the heart of Coconut Grove and the first laborers
of the hotel were black Bahamians who came up from Key West and the upper Florida Keys
who built their homes in the west Coconut Grove area which is now known to be one of the
earliest permanent neighborhoods established in the City; and
WHEREAS, the City could not have been incorporated without the vote and support of
the Bahamian immigrants; and
WHEREAS, on July 28, 1896, a sizable percentage of the voters who voted to
incorporate the City were Bahamians immigrants; and
WHEREAS, the City Commission supports honoring the valuable contributions made to
the City; and
WHEREAS, in accordance with Section 2-33(f) of the Code of the City of Miami, Florida,
as amended, the City Commission, by a majority vote, hereby deems this Resolution to be of an
emergency nature;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
MIAMI, FLORIDA:
Section 1. The recitals and findings contained in the Preamble to this Resolution are
adopted by reference and incorporated as if fully set forth in this Section.
Section 2. The City Commission supports Congresswoman Wilson's request for federal
funding to construct the Memorial.
Section 3. The City Commission further supports Congresswoman Wilson's request for
federal funding to establish the Coconut Grove Village West Bahamian History and Cultural
Center to preserve, promote, and present the vibrant culture and history of the Bahamian
pioneers who built the City's first neighborhood.
Section 4. The City Clerk is directed to send a copy of this Resolution to the
Congresswoman Wilson.
Section 5. This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon adoption.
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND CORRECTNESS:
1
i t6ria i ndez, Cify Attor iey 4/1312021
City of Miami Page 2 of 2 File ID: 8866 (Revision:) Printed on: 411512021