HomeMy WebLinkAboutR-22-0002City of Miami
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Legislation
Resolution: R-22-0002
File Number: 11189
City Hall
3500 Pan American Drive
Miami, FL 33133
www.miamigov.com
Final Action Date: 1/13/2022
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION FINDING THAT THE
NOVEL CORONAVIRUS 2019 PANDEMIC HAS CAUSED A FORCE MAJEURE
DELAY OF THE PERFORMANCE OF RIVERSIDE WHARF, LLC'S ("TENANT")
OBLIGATION TO OBTAIN PERMITS FOR THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT
OF THE CITY -OWNED PROPERTY LOCATED AT 236 AND 298 SOUTHWEST
NORTH RIVER DRIVE, MIAMI, FLORIDA, 33130 ("PROPERTY"), WHICH IS
CURRENTLY LEASED TO THE TENANT ("PROJECT"); AUTHORIZING AN
EXTENSION OF THE FOUR (4) YEAR DEADLINE TO OBTAIN NECESSARY
BUILDING PERMITS CONTAINED IN SECTION 29-B OF THE CHARTER OF
THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED, FOR THE PROJECT FOR AN
ADDITIONAL EIGHTEEN (18) MONTHS; DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO
TAKE ANY AND ALL ACTIONS NECESSARY TO FORMALIZE SUCH
EXTENSION; FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO
NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE AN AMENDMENT TO THE LEASE OF THE
PROPERTY BETWEEN THE TENANT AND THE CITY OF MIAMI, IN A FORM
ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY ATTORNEY, SETTING FORTH REVISED
DEADLINES FOR PLAN SUBMITTAL, CONSTRUCTION COMMENCEMENT,
AND CONSTRUCTION COMPLETION CONSISTENT WITH THE EXTENSION
AUTHORIZED HEREIN.
WHEREAS, the City of Miami ("City") is the owner of waterfront real property located at
236 and 298 Southwest North River Drive, Miami, Florida, 33130 ("Property"); and
WHEREAS, the Property is subject to a Lease Agreement between the City and
Riverside Wharf, LLC ("Tenant") dated May 16, 2017 and authorized pursuant to Resolution No.
R-15-0530 ("Lease"); and
WHEREAS, the Lease was approved by voter referendum on March 15, 2016; and
WHEREAS, Section 29-B of the Charter of the City of Miami, Florida, as amended ("City
Charter'), provides that "[a]ny lease for the development of improvements of city -owned
property which has been approved by voter referendum shall require additional voter
referendum approval for a development on City -owned property where the developer has not
obtained the necessary building permits within four (4) years of the effective date of the lease"
("29-13 Deadline"); and
WHEREAS, Section 29-B of the City Charter also provides that the 29-B Deadline "shall
not be applicable when the delay in the performance of any obligation is as a result of force
majeure, or litigation that questions the validity of the vote, or the City Commission action to
place the question for referendum, then the performance of such obligation shall be extended by
the length of the delay"; and
City of Miami Page 1 of 3 File ID: 11189 (Revision:) Printed On: 112612022
File ID: 11189
Enactment Number: R-22-0002
WHEREAS, on March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the Novel
Coronavirus 2019 ("COVID-19") a pandemic; and
WHEREAS, the City declared a State of Local Emergency due to the COVID-19
pandemic on March 12, 2020; and
WHEREAS, the effective date of the Lease is May 16, 2017 and the deadline for
obtaining the necessary building permits pursuant to the 29-B Deadline expired on May 16,
2021; and
WHEREAS, the Tenant has not yet obtained the necessary building permits for the
development contemplated and authorized by the Lease; and
WHEREAS, the Tenant is requesting an extension of the 29-B Deadline due to force
majeure delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic; and
WHEREAS, the determination of whether a force majeure event has caused delays by
which the 29-B Deadline may be extended is a factual question addressed on a case -by -case
basis: and
WHEREAS, the Tenant submitted information concerning the manner in which COVID-
19 caused force majeure delays, including, without limitation, that the preparation and
finalization of the plans necessary for permit approvals was significantly impaired by office
closures, staffing issues, and safety considerations resulting from COVID-19, as well as the
industry -wide impacts of COVID-19, which affected the design of the proposed development;
and
WHEREAS, based on the information provided, the City would like to authorize a force
majeure extension of the 29-B Deadline equal to eighteen (18) months for the Tenant to obtain
necessary building permits on or before November 16, 2022; and
WHEREAS, the Lease should also be amended to reflect updated deadlines for plan
submittal, construction commencement, and construction completion;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED 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 hereby finds that the COVID-19 pandemic caused a
force majeure delay to the performance of the Tenant's obligation to obtain permits for the
Project pursuant to the 29-B Deadline.
Section 3. The 29-B Deadline is hereby extended for the Project for an additional
eighteen (18) months from May 16, 2021 to November 16, 2022 due to the force majeure delays
caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Section 4. The City Manager is directed to take any and all actions necessary to
formalize the extension to the 29-B Deadline.
City of Miami Page 2 of 3 File ID: 11189 (Revision:) Printed on: 112612022
File ID: 11189
Enactment Number: R-22-0002
Section 5. The City Manager is directed and authorized' to negotiate and execute an
amendment to the Lease, in a form acceptable to the City Attorney, setting forth revised
deadlines for plan submittal, construction commencement, and construction completion
consistent with the extension as stated herein.
Section 6. This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon its adoption and
signature of the Mayor.2
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND CORRECTNESS:
1
i 4inde�k,�Cii y Attor iey 1/3/2022
The herein authorization is further subject to compliance with all legal requirements that may be
imposed, including but not limited to, those prescribed by applicable City Charter and City Code
provisions.
2 If the Mayor does not sign this Resolution, it shall become effective at the end of ten (10) calendar days
from the date it was passed and adopted. If the Mayor vetoes this Resolution, it shall become effective
immediately upon override of the veto by the City Commission.
City of Miami Page 3 of 3 File ID: 11189 (Revision:) Printed on: 112612022