HomeMy WebLinkAboutSEOPW OMNI CRA 2000-11-20 MinutesCITY OF MIAMI
CRA
MEETING
MINUTES
OF MEETING HELD ON NOVEMBER 20, 2000
PREPARED BY THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK/CITY HALL
Walter J. Foeman/City Clerk
INDEX
MINUTES OF CRA MEETING
NOVEMBER 20, 2000
ITEM NO. SUBJECT LEGISLATION
1. APPROVE PROCUREMENT OF NOT -FOR -PROFIT DIRECTOR AND 11/20/00
OFFICERS ORGANIZATION LIABILITY INSURANCE FOR CPA SEOP/CRA R-00-101
BOARD OFFICERS AND ITS DIRECTORS. OMNI/CRA R-00-51
3-4
2. APPROVE ESTABLISHMENT OF SPECIAL COMMITTEE TO DEAL 11/20/00
WITH PUBLIC EDUCATION REGARDING TECHNOLOGY ISSUES SEOPW/CRA R-00-102
WITHIN REDEVELOPMENT AREA. OMNI/CRA R-00-52
5-6
3. DISCUSSION ON HOMELESSNESS ISSUE IN CRA AREA. 11/20/00
DISCUSSION
7
4. AUTHORIZE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO SELECT LOWEST BIDDER 11/20/00
TO RFQ FOR CONSTRUCTION OF PHASE I (A) AND PHASE I (B) FOR OMNI/CRA R-00-53
MARGARET PACE PARK AND TO ENTER INTO AGREEMENT_ WITH 8-10
SAME LOWEST BIDDER TO COMMENCE CONSTRUCTION.
0
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
UPDATE ON HISTORY AND ANTICIPATED FUNDING FOR TAX 11/20/00
INCREMENT FUNDING (TIF) FOR NEXT FISCAL YEAR AND FIVE DISCUSSION
YEAR BUDGETARY PROJECTION. 1 1-13
DISCUSSION ON STATUS OF DECLARATORY JUDGEMENT 11/20/00
REGARDING SAWYERS WALK (See # 29). DISCUSSION
14
SPECIAL PRESENTATION BY GAIL THOMPSON, DIRECTOR OF THE 11/20/00
PERFORMING ARTS CENTER. PRESENTATION
15-24
DISCUSSION ON PARK WEST STUDIOS.
11/20/00
DISCUSSION
25-26
SPECIAL PRESENTATION BY ANA GELABERT, PLANNING I1/20/00
DIRECTOR FOR THE CITY OF MIAMI, ON THE PROPOSED MIAMI PRESENTATION
MILENNIUM MEDIA PROJECT. 27-34
DISCUSSION ON PROPOSED ORDINANCE CREATING OMNI MEDIA 11/20/00
PRODUCTIONS SPECIAL DISTRICT. DISCUSSION
35-36
11. DISCUSSION OF STATUS ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF A GRAND 11/20/00
PROMENADE FROM BISCAYNE BOULEVARD TO MIAMI AVENUE DISCUSSION
BETWEEN IOTH STREET AND I ITH STREET. 37-38
12. (A) TRANSFER PARKING LOT (P7) TO BLACK ARCHIVES --PROVIDE 11/20/00
TESTING AND REMEDIATION --ACCEPT ALLEY THEATER BY SEOPW/CRA M-00-103
LYRIC THEATER; SEOPW/CRA M-00-104
(B) CONSTRUCTION OF PARKING LOTS P2, P3 AND P4; SAME SEOPW/CRA M-00-105
CONTRACTORS FOR P1, P5, AND P7, AND FENCING. SEOPW/CRA R-00-106
SEOPW/CRA R-00-107
39-59
13. APPROVE EXECUTION OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK 11/20/00
GRANTS (CDBG) ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT WITH SEOPW/CRA R-00-108
CITY. OMNI/CRA R- 00-54
60-62
14.
UPDATE ON PRELIMINARY BUDGET FISCAL YEAR END 2000
11/20/00
FINANCIAL REPORT.
DISCUSSION
63
15.
(A) APPROVE ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE AND
11/20/00
ADMINISTRATIVE BUDGET FOR CRA.
SEOPW/CRA R-00-109
(B) APPROVE ACCOUNTING POLICY AND PROCEDURES MANUAL.
OMNI/CRA R-00-55
(C) APPROVE BUDGET AND FINANCIAL SCHEDULE FOR FISCAL
SEOPW/CRA R-00-109.1
YEAR 2001.
OMNI/CRA R-00-55.1
(D) APPROVE RECONCILED TAX INCREMENT FUNDING (TIF) 2000-
SEOPW/CRA M-00-110
2001 BUDGET.
OMNI/CRA M-00-56
(E) AUTHORIZE SALARY AND BENEFITS TO BE RECEIVED BY
SEOPW/CRA R-00-1 I I
DIPAK PAREKH, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF CRA.
OMNI/CRA R-00-57
(F) REQUEST CITY TO UN -RESTRICT CASH WITH FISCAL AGENT.
SEOPW/CRA R-00-1 12
OMNI/CRA R-00-58
SEOPW/CRA R-00-113
64-69
16.
DIRECT CITY ACTING IN CAPACITY AS FIDUCIARY TO CRA TO
11/20/00
DEPOSIT ALL FUNDS ALLOCATED OR DUE TO CRA ACCOUNTS
SEOPW/CRA R-00-114
AND NOT TO MAKE WITHDRAWALS (DISBURSEMENTS) FROM
OMNI R-00-00-59
ANY CRA ACCOUNT WITHOUT PRIOR WRITTEN AUTHORIZATION
70-71
OF CRA.
17.
APPROVE CRA ISSUING REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS (RFQ)
11/20/00
FOR SELECTION OF GENERAL APPRAISER WITH EXPERIENCE IN
SEOPW/CRA R-00-115
REDEVELOPMENT AREA WITH PREFERENCE TO WOMEN,
OMNI/CRA R-00-60
MINORITIES, AND BUSINESSES LOCATED WITHIN
72-73
EMPOWERMENT ZONE.
18. REQUEST FROM WAYNE STRINGER, PRESIDENT OF FORAM 11/20/00
MANAGEMENT AND LEASING, INC. TO PURCHASE CRA-OWNED SEOPW/CRA M-00-116
LAND WHICH BISECTS BLOCK BETWEEN N.E. IOTH AND I ITH OMNI/CRA M-00-61
STREETS, AND BETWEEN N.E. 11T AND 2ND AVENUES (VACANT 74-75
PROPERTY).
19. DISCUSSION ON DEVELOPMENT SCHEDULE FOR FISCAL YEAR 11/20/00
2001. DISCUSSION
76-80
20. DEFER CONSIDERATION OF PROPOSED IN -KIND GRANT 11/20/00
AGREEMENT BETWEEN CRA AND TECHNOLOGY CENTER OF SEOPW/CRA M-00-117
AMERICAS TO PROVIDE TEMPORARY PARKING FOR 81-83
CONSTRUCTION WORKERS OF NAP FACILITY.
21. AUTHORIZE THREE MILLION ($3,000,000) FOR OVERTOWN 11/20/00
CULTURAL AND TECHNOLOGY CENTER AND APPROVE CAPITAL SEOPW/CRA R-00-118
AND OPERATING BUDGET FOR OVERTOWN CULTURAL AND 84-86
TECHNOLOGY CENTER.
22. AUTHORIZE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO ADVERTISE AND ISSUE 11/20/00
RFP FOR SELECTION OF MANAGEMENT FIRM WITH EXPERIENCE SEOPW/CRA R-00-119
IN CULTURAL PROGRAMS, TECHNOLOGY AND GRANT WRITING 87-88
TO OVERSEE DAY TO DAY OPERATIONS OF OVERTOWN
CULTURAL AND TECHNOLOGY CENTER AND UTILIZING LOCAL
NOT -FOR -PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS.
23. AUTHORIZE CRA TO PURCHASE PROPERTY FROM SUSIE 11/20/00
SIMMONS IN ACCORDANCE WITH AGREEMENT BETWEEN SUSIE SEOPW/CRA R-00-120
SIMMONS AND GREATER MIAMI NEIGHBORHOODS INC. 89-93
24. AUTHORIZE CRA TO LEASE HISTORIC WARD ROOMING HOUSE 11/20/00
PURSUANT TO TERMS OF GROUND LEASE AGREEMENT SEOPW/CRA R-00-121
PREVIOUSLY EXECUTED BETWEEN OWNER OF PROPERTY AND 94-95
CRA.
25. AUTHORIZE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO APPLY FOR LOAN FROM 11/20/00
FANNIE MAE CORPORATION FOR ARENA SQUARE APARTMENTS SEOPW/CRA M-00-122
PROJECT AS WELL AS OTHER ELIGIBLE PROJECTS PERMISSIBLE 96-104
TO CRA UNDER FANNIE MAE GUIDELINES.
26. DISCUSSION ON STATUS OF SELECTION OF PARKING 11/20/00
MANAGEMENT CONSULTANT DISCUSSION
105
27. APPROVE CRA TO DISPLAY SIGNS ON ALL ONGOING CRA 11/20/00
PROJECTS IN REDEVELOPMENT AREA. SEOPW/CRA R-00-123
106
28. AUTHORIZE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO EXECUTE DEED 11/20/00
RECONVEYING PROPERTY TO CITY AS RESULT OF PROPERTY SEOPW/CRA R-00-124
HAVING BEEN PREVIOUSLY CONVEYED BY CITY TO CRA IN OMNI/CRA R-00-63
ERROR (SOST SUBDIVISION). 107-108
29. (A) DISCUSSION ON STATUS OF DECLARATORY JUDGMENT 11/20/00
REGARDING SAWYER'S WALK AND LYRIC VILLAGE (See #6). SEOPW/CRA M-00-125
(B) AWARD GREATER MIAMI NEIGHBORHOODS (GMN) GRANT, 109-115
$95,000, PREVIOUSLY INTENDED TO BE GIVEN TO ST. JOHN'S
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION TO ENABLE GMN TO
ACQUIRE SITE FOR DEVELOPMENT OF NATIONAL FOOD
FRANCHISE AND FURTHER PROVIDED, AS CONDITION OF GRANT,
GMN AGREE TO ASSIGN GRANT TO ST. JOHN'S AND CONVEY TO
ST. JOHN'S ANY PROPERTY ACQUIRED BY GMN UTILIZING
GRANT PROCEEDS AFTER CURRENT LITIGATION BETWEEN ST.
JOHN'S AND CPA IS RESOLVED.
30. SCHEDULE SPECIAL CRA MEETING ON DECEMBER 18, 2000 — 11/20/00
HOLIDAY FESTIVITIES TO FOLLOW AT END OF MEETING. SEOPW/CRA M-00-126
OMNI/CRA M-00-64
116-117
®1 •
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING OF THE
COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY FOR
SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST AND OMNI DISTRICTS
On the 201h day of November 2000, the Board of Directors of the Community Redevelopment Agency for
the Southeast Overtown/Park West and Omni Districts of the City of Miami met at the Old Miami Arena, VIP
Room, 701 Arena Boulevard, Miami, Florida.
The meeting was called to order at 5:10 p.m. by Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr., with the following Board
Members found to be present:
Board Member Wifredo Gort
Board Member Tomas Regalado
Board Member Joe Sanchez
Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Vice Chairman Johnny L. Winton
1 11 /20/00
0
•
ALSO PRESENT:
Carlos A. Gimenez, City Manager, City of Miami
Frank Rollason, Assistant City Manager -Operations, City of Miami
Robert Nachlinger, Assistant City Manager -Finance & Administration, City of Miami
Dena Bianchino, Assistant City Manager -Planning & Development, City of Miami
Genaro "Chip" Iglesias, Chief of Staff, City Manager's Office, City of Miami
Alejandro Vilarello, City Attorney, City of Miami
Joel Maxwell, Assistant City Attorney, City of Miami
Ilene Temchin, Assistant City Attorney, City of Miami
Walter J. Foeman, City Clerk, City of Miami
Sylvia Lowman, Assistant City Clerk, City of Miami
Anna Rojas, Chief Deputy Clerk, City of Miami
Lori Billberry, Director, Asset Management, City of Miami
Gwendolyn C. Warren, Director, Community Development, City of Miami
Ana Gelabert, Director, Planning & Zoning, City of Miami
Maria Nardi, Planning & Zoning, City of Miami
Albert Ruder, Director, Parks & Recreation, City of Miami
Dipak Parekh, Executive Director, CRA
Richard H. Judy, Special Project Coordinator, CRA
William Bloom, Esq., Legal Counsel, CRA
Nathalie Legagneur, Legal Counsel, CRA
Hilda Tejera, Administrator, CRA
Chelsa Arscott, Executive Assistant, CRA
Hammond Noriega, Overtown Advisory Board Liaison/Project Coordinator, CRA
Francisco Garcia, NET Operations Services Administrator, City of Miami
2 11/20/00
Chairman Teele: We would like to start the meeting. If you would all stand, please, as customary, we
will -- we will have a moment of silent prayer, followed by the pledge of allegiance to the flag. I guess we
should pause a minute as the flags are being put in place. A moment of silent prayer, please.
Note for the Record: A silent prayer was had, after which, Chairman Teele led those present in a pledge
of allegiance to the flag.
I. APPROVE PROCUREMENT OF NOT -FOR -PROFIT DIRECTOR AND- OFF.ICERS,:
ORGANIZATION.LIABILITY INSURANCEFOR CRA BOARD -OFFICERS AND -ITS DIRECTORS.
Chairman Teele: Let me welcome you all to the meeting of the City of Miami Redevelopment Authority,
the Omni Redevelopment Authority, as well as the Overtown/Park West, the Southeast Overtown/Park
West Redevelopment Districts. In this regard, Mr. Manager, again, let me take this opportunity to
welcome you and the Assistant Managers, and the various department heads and officials that are here
from the City. And I think, you know, we have really finally reached the point where we're all
understanding our roles. This is not the City of Miami Commission. This is the CRA (Community
Redevelopment Agency) meeting. And one of the things that has happened in the past, at least based upon
the way our documents read, is that there has not been a clear distinction. And many of the functions that
the City of Miami has will overlap. And we're very pleased, Mr. Manager, that you have agreed to allow
the Planning Department to make a presentation to us on a number of projects that we're asking them to
work with us on, and those projects are underway. Mr. Executive Director, are there any changes or
anything that needs to be brought to our attention before we leave?
Dipak Parekh (Executive Director, CRA): No, sir.
Chairman Teele: All right. And I would ask the Clerk's Office to work with the Planning staff in helping
to -- I think they may have to use your view corridor there to work this out. The first item on the agenda is
an item --
Board Member Sanchez: So move, Mr. Chairman.
Chairman Teele: -- an item by Commissioner Sanchez, moving the item relating to officer and board
liability. Is there a second?
Vice Chairman Winton: Second.
Chairman Teele: Is there objection? All those in favor, signify by a sign of "aye."
The Board (Collectively): Aye.
Chairman Teele: Those opposed have the same right. Did you want to be heard on that item?
3 I 1 /20/00
The following resolution was introduced by Board Member Sanchez, who moved for its adoption:
SEOPW/CRA RESOLUTION NO. 00-101
OMNI/CRA RESOLUTION NO. 00-51
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE
COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY ("CRA") APPROVING
THE PROCUREMENT OF THE NOT -FOR -PROFIT DIRECTOR AND
OFFICERS ORGANIZATION LIABILITY INSURANCE FOR THE
CRA BOARD OFFICERS AND ITS DIRECTORS ATTACHED
HERETO AS EXHIBIT "A."
(Here follows body of the resolution, omitted here and on file in the Office of the City Clerk.)
Upon being seconded by Vice Chairman Winton, the resolution was passed and adopted by the following
vote:
AYES: Board Member Wifredo Gort
Board Member Tomas Regalado
Board Member Joe Sanchez
Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Vice Chairman Johnny L. Winton
NAYS: None
ABSENT: None
Dorothy Fields: No, but one of our pioneers who is nor well, Ms. Bernice Sawyer is here, and we would
beg your indulgence, just as soon as you can, to allow her to make a statement.
Chairman Teele: All right. We'll do that. I saw Ms. Sawyer coming in. She --
Ms. Fields: She's coming in.
Chairman Teele: -- looked unusually fit today, and I was really pleased.
Ms. Fields: That's a long walk. That's a long walk.
Chairman Teele: Well, we should perhaps, Hilda, we should arrange to have a wheelchair for people in
the future. But we'll just make Ms. Sawyer comfortable, because I'm sure --
Ms. Fields: Thank you.
Chairman Teele: -- she's prepared to be with us.
4 11 /20/00
•
-.r
2.- 'APPROVE ESTABLISHMENT .OF..: SPECIAL COMMITTEE ' TO DEAL WITH''PUBLTC
;EDUCATION REGARDING TECHNOLOGY ISSUES WITHIN REDEVELOPMENT AREA.
Board Member Gort: Resolution Number 2 is a special committee on educating -- on the education
regarding the technology. This is a resolution that I requested, asking for a committee to be set up, giving
each member one appointment. I would ask that it be amended. How many appointments does the Mayor
have to this?
Dipak Parekh (CRA, Executive Director): None, s
Chairman Teele: I would ask that it be a
appointment, and the Chairperson to have one
Vice Chairman Winton: Yes.
Chairman Teele: It's moved by Commissioner
Board Member Sanchez: Second.
Vice Chairman Winton: Second.
to afford the Mayor the opportunity to make an
al appointment. Is that acceptable to everyone?
Is there a second?
Chairman Teele: Seconded by Commissioner Sanchez. Is there objection? All those in favor, signify by
the sign of "aye."
The Board (Collectively): Aye.
The following resolution was introduced by Board Member Gort, who moved for its adoption:
SEOPW/CRA RESOLUTION NO. 00-102
OMNFCRA RESOLUTION NO, 00-52
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE
COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY ("CRA") APPROVING
THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A SPECIAL COMMITTEE TO DEAL
WITH PUBLIC EDUCATION REGARDING TECHNOLOGY ISSUES
WITHIN THE REDEVELOPMENT AREA.
(Here follows body of the resolution, omitted here and on file in the Office of the City Clerk.)
5 11 /20/00
0
n
U
Upon being seconded by Board Member Sanchez, the resolution was passed and adopted by the following
vote:
AYES: Board Member Wifredo Gort
Board Member Tomas Regalado
Board Member Joe Sanchez
Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Vice Chairman Johnny L. Winton
NAYS: None
ABSENT: None
6 11 /20/00
3. DISCUSSION ON HOMELESSNESS ISSUE IN,CRA AREA: --
Chairman Teele: Update on the homeless issue to the CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency). This
is requested by Commissioner Winton. Dipak.
Dipak Parekh (Executive Director, CRA): Yes, sir. I met with Commissioner Winton. There are a few
items, which we need to bring up before the board. I would suggest that perhaps a committee be created
to work with the City of Miami and Metro -Dade County on the homeless issue.
Chairman Teele: Well, let me tell you what I really think. Rather than creating another committee, what I
really think we need to do is get a person from the CRA staff to work directly with the City Manager, so
that we're not in any way in conflict or duplicating --
Vice Chairman Winton: Efforts.
Chairman Teele: And with Commissioner Winton basically having oversight over that process, because
the Manager's working on that. He's having meetings, and I think we ought to try to streamline --
Vice Chairman Winton: That would work great.
Chairman Teele: -- this process. All right. Without objection.
7 11 /20/00
4. AUTHORIZE EXECUTIVE ' DIRECTOR:.=TO ' SELECT LOWEST D BIDER TO`�I-FQ, FOR,
.....
,CONSTRUCTION OF PHASE I (A) AND PHASE I (B) FOR MARGARET PACE PARK ANDY:TO
ENTER INTO AGREEMENT TO COMMENCE CONSTRUCTION: =
Chairman Teele: Number 4. Mr. Director, you're recognized.
Dipak Parekh (Executive Director, CRA): Commissioner, I think we are just about to start actual
construction, Phase I (A) and Phase I (B). We have --
Chairman Teele: Well, wait a minute. Excuse me.
Mr. Parekh: Yes, sir.
Chairman Teele: Have the bids gone out?
Mr. Parekh: No, sir. They will be --
Chairman Teele: Then you can't start construction.
Board Member Sanchez: Then they can't start construction.
Mr. Parekh: There is a time line. They've shown up as part of your package.
Vice Chairman Winton: Well, at least there is a real hope that we're about to start construction. At least
there is some optimism sitting there.
Mr. Parekh: There is activeness over here. Commissioner, as part of your package, you will notice that
on December the 4th, we will be advertising for the project, meaning the bids will be out to complete
Phase I (A) and Phase I (B). By December 1 lth, we'll be able to pick up the drawings for both the phases.
Chairman Teele: By what date?
Mr. Parekh: December the 111h
Vice Chairman Winton: That's in the year 2000; is that right?
Mr. Parekh: 2000, sir. Yes, sir. The bids are due on January the 51h, 2001. The evaluation will occur
during the week of -- beginning January the 8th. The bids will be awarded January 26th
Chairman Teele: Is that when this board meets?
Mr. Parekh: The board meets on the 29th, the Monday thereafter. The mobilization will occur on the date
the board members will meet, on January the 29th. Construction will begin on Phase I(A) in February 12,
2001.
Chairman Teele: All right. Is the resolution acceptable to Commissioner Winton?
8 11/20/00
Vice Chairman Winton: Yes, it is. So move.
Chairman Teele: Moved by Commissioner Winton.
Board Member Regalado: Second.
Chairman Teele: And this is a resolution authorizing the Executive Director to select the lowest bid for
Phase I (A) and (B), and basically authorizing the Director to enter into an agreement. Will you make sure
that you present your recommendations to us on the board meeting of the 29t", or whatever that date is in
January.
Mr. Parekh: Yes, sir.
Chairman Teele: Just as an update item.
Mr. Parekh: Yes, sir.
Board Member Sanchez: How many people have bid? How many people?
Chairman Teele: The bids haven't gone out.
Mr. Parekh: They haven't gone out.
Board Member Sanchez: They haven't gone out?
Mr. Parekh: No.
Board Member Sanchez: OK. OK.
Chairman Teele: Further discussion?
Board Member Sanchez: None.
Chairman Teele: On the motion, all those in favor, say "aye."
The Board (Collectively): Aye.
Chairman Teele: All those opposed, say `B."
9 11/20/00
The following resolution was introduced by Board Member Winton, who moved for its adoption:
OMNI/CRA RESOLUTION NO. 00-53
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE
COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY ("CRA")
AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO SELECT THE
LOWEST BIDDER TO THE RFQ FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF
PHASE I (A) AND PHASE I (B) FOR MARGARET PACE PARK, AND
FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO
ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH THE SAID LOWEST BIDDER
TO COMMENCE CONSTRUCTION.
(Here follows body of the resolution, omitted here and on file in the Office of the City Clerk.)
Upon being seconded by Board Member Regalado, the resolution was passed and adopted by the
following vote:
AYES: Board Member Wifredo Gort
Board Member Tomas Regalado
Board Member Joe Sanchez
Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Vice Chairman Johnny L. Winton
NAYS: None
ABSENT: None
10 11/20/00
UPDATE ON HISTORY, AND ANTICIPATED,FUNDING,�FOR TAX .INCREMENT FUNDING
(TIF) FORNEXT FISCAL YEAR AND FIVE -YEAR -BUDGETARY PROJECTION.
Chairman Teele: Items 5 and 6. In my judgment, Item 6 is the most important item on the agenda today,
because it really gives us the opportunity to understand what we're doing. And I think a lot of the
questions that may come up in the next two or three meetings will be better understood if we take a minute
to understand Item Numbers 5 and 6. Would you go over them very quickly, particularly the Southeast
Overtown/Park West.
Dipak Parekh (Executive Director, CRA): Yes, sir. I'll start off with Item 5, Southeast Overtown/Park
West. We can see basically the incremental increases from 1986 through 1994 and thereafter, a fall in the
appraise -- the assessed valuation within the City of Miami, and from fiscal year 2000, picking up to Item
Number 6 with the base for Southeast Overtown/Park West stands at approximately nine hundred
thousand dollars ($900,000). With the construction of the Technology Center of the Americas, thereafter
a number of different commercial type of properties just within the downtown area, adjacent to the
Southeast Overtown/Park West, we do see an increase in the assessed valuation going up from sixty-three
million dollars ($63,000,000) in calendar year 2001, which has an impact on fiscal year 2002 from sixty-
three million dollars ($63,000,000) to a hundred and twenty-three point eight million dollars ($123.8
million) in fiscal 2002/2003. Primarily, the biggest increase based upon the values which we have been
able to compile from the County's Planning Department and the City of Miami's Planning Department, as
well as the DDA (Downtown Development Authority), the NAP (Network Access Point) stands to
increase the assessments over the next five to six years, including real estate as well as personal property
in the amount of approximately a hundred and sixty million dollars ($160,000,000). The retail and
entertainment facilities in which Southeast Overtown/Park West has been working aggressively in over
the last couple of years will have the projected total going up to 2006 of seventy million dollars
($70,000,000). The Arena Square Apartments, which is an agenda item, .you should see an increase of
approximately four million dollars ($4,000,000). 1 must add a caveat to this: That the overall project cost
is about sixteen point six million dollars ($16.6 million). Knowing that this is a commercial as well as a
residential facility, some of it is within the Southeast Overtown/Park West area and another one just a
little bit north of the particular area. However, we should see immediate benefit in the next couple years
with over four million dollars in assessed valuation.
Board Member Sanchez: And this is taxable properties, right?
Mr. Parekh: Yes, sir, it is.
Board Member Sanchez: These are taxable properties?
Mr. Parekh: Yes, it is. There are tax credits involved to the developer, but the CRA (Community
Redevelopment Agency) will definitely benefit for that incremental tax increase. Plus the City will
benefit by all the types of permits and fees, which are actually given and permitted through the City of
Miami. I think we should see very healthy tax increment revenues to the Southeast Overtown/Park West
in the amount of over four point eight million dollars ($4.8 million) by fiscal year 2006/2007.
Chairman Teele: Now, that's important, because what we're saying is we're going to go from about three
hundred thousand dollars ($300,000), you know, and this has been the point -- I know Commissioner Gort
11 11 /20/00
knows that I've said from the very beginning, the Southeast Overtown/Park West District is broke, totally.
We're upside-down. When you consider our staff cost, which is at a minimum of four hundred to eight
hundred thousand dollars ($800,000), when you consider the overhead and the debts that we have, the
bonds, et cetera, the four hundred thousand dollars ($400,000) bond that we had coming in, in '96, we
were upside-down. And this is why, you know, we have sort of taken the "take no prisoner" approach
relating to those things that are going to change the economics of the ad valorem base. The key to this is
the support that we've had from the City of Miami Planning Department, particularly in the Entertainment
District. And we're going to talk about that, Commissioner Gort, because there is a request, you know,
that -- a letter you received that is in the Entertainment District, the things that are going on over there.
There is a new club over there. I walked by it Friday. And Mr. Manager, it's a very interesting club, Gold
Rush. But there's all sorts of club activities that are under construction now, that are being permitted now
-- as the word sort of gets whispered out what "Gold Rush" really is. But each one of those clubs and
each one of those activities is changing the tax base. The most important thing -- and I want to say this
again so that it's very clear to everybody -- so goes Southeast, Park West, so goes Overtown. Virtually all
of the increase that we're talking about is coming out of the six -block area known as Park West. As soon
as the City of Miami and the CRA can remove the Camillus House -- and I say this with no disrespect to
the management of the Camillus House that is here present today -- but as soon as we can remove the
Camillus House, we will remove the largest barrier to increasing the funds for Overtown and Park West.
The Camillus House is the number one deterrent to property values. It's holding property values down
right now. And as great as these number look -- I mean, these numbers, absolutely, are fantastic. To go
from three hundred thousand dollars ($300,000), which is where we were in `96/97 when all of us sat
down for the first time as the CRA to now to be at nine hundred thousand dollars ($900,000), and to be
projecting four million dollars ($4,000,000), all of which can be used in Overtown. And I think that's the
important thing to remember, that most of the things that are going to happen in Park West are going to be
market driven. Most of the things that happen in Overtown are going to have to be "incentivized,"
subsidized, et cetera. And I just think it is amazing, and no small measure of support is owed to the City
of Miami, their staff, in terms of changing land use, and zoning, and how we approach this. And Mr. Judy
and others deserve a lot of credit in working with us in doing that. Other questions about the Tax
Increment District. Would you comment very briefly on Omni in terms of the projections?
Mr. Parekh: As we have an agenda item, Commissioner, 7-B, I'll just preface my short item on the
following.
Chairman Teele: No, no, no. Omni projection, the TIF (Tax Increment Funding) projection. That's Item
6.
Mr. Parekh: The TIF projection, I think it's going to take roughly at least five to six years before the
Omni TIF sees any money internally. Otherwise, all these monies are going to go towards the County.
Chairman Teele: OK. But hold it, hold it. The issue of the TIF projections is totally different from the
Overtown/Park West.
Mr. Parekh: Absolutely.
Chairman Teele: Overtown/Park West projections are going straight up, like this. The TIF projections in
Omni are vertical.
12 11 /20/00
Mr. Parekh: Vertical.
Chairman Teele: In other words, we don't expect any significant buff or change in that. And one of the
reasons we have a very distinguished guest tonight is we've got to work just as hard on changing the
projections of the TIF there. If we don't do some things to incentivize the Omni, that is going to be very,
very flat. And we'll get into that issue.
Mr. Parekh: Yes, sir.
Chairman Teele: So if you look at the two charts that show Omni, and if you look at the one that shows
Southeast Overtown/Park West, you can see that one reflects the numbers going up, and one reflects the
numbers staying the same. And that, I think, is the challenge that we have to begin to focus on, and shift
our focus, to some extent, from how we continue to advance Southeast Overtown to how we can now
advance Omni with the same kind of vigor. Commissioner Gort, I know that you're challenged with the
same kind of issues in downtown, and we'd welcome any advice or instructions that you may have on this.
Discussion from the board, if any. If not, I would move -- These are not action items, but these items --
Commissioner Sanchez, let me say this: There is going to be a presentation that will come up later on
today where we're proposing to borrow money from the Fannie Mae Foundation for -- in conjunction with
housing and other kinds of things. The question is, "Where is the money going to come from?" The
money comes from -- and these monies, by the way, are going to go into Overtown. The monies come
from the projected income, because the more we put into Overtown/Park West, particularly Park West, the
more we put into Overtown and Park West, the more money we get back. And that's the uniqueness of
the Tax Increment District that I think has been totally misunderstood in the context of why the Camillus
House and some of these things are so important. We simply have to be engaged in not having any more
government property, other than what we already have. And so everything that we touch -- like the
franchise, we have an exit strategy -- so government doesn't own any property or to minimize the property
that can be in commercial or residential hands, in the ownership of taxpayers. And the other strategy that
we are proposing is that we really work to incentivize further development. And I'm working very closely
with the financial advisors and the Executive Director in coming back in the next meeting, recommending
an incentivized proposal relating to a hotel in the Southeast Overtown/Park West area.
Board Member Sanchez: I can see your staff briefs you well.
Chairman Teele: Yes, sir.
Board Member Sanchez: Because that was one of the concerns that I had on that item. But we'll get to
that item later.
13 I 1 /20/00
6. DISCUSSION ON, STATUS;'_ DECLARATORYJUDGMENT REGARDING S-AWYER'S
WALK (See #29): ;
Chairman Teele: Ladies and gentlemen, we are very honored to have today -- and Ms. Sawyer, if at any
point you want to'-- you said you were looking forward to being here as you came in. If at any point
you're ready to leave, just raise your hand, and we'll take you out of turn at any point that you'd like to be
taken.
Bernice Sawyer: (Inaudible comments not entered into the public record).
Chairman Teele: Yes, ma'am. And -- yeah, OK. For those of you who don't know, Ms. Sawyer is the --
Board Member Sanchez: The owner.
Chairman Teele: -- one of the owners of the vast majority of land that is what is known as the very
southern part of Overtown, the area along the Sawyer's Walk. Dr. Sawyer, her father-in-law, was one of
the distinguished doctors and actually was one of the founders of Jackson Hospital.
Ms. Sawyer: (Inaudible.)
Chairman Teele: No, it was Jackson. It was Jackson. I've had Dr. Sawyer brought me too many -- Bill
Sawyer to brought me too many times. But it was Jackson Hospital. And much of the land that we're
working on now as development was land that was acquired by the City of Miami on behalf of the -- our
Overtown -- of this board, and was put out for bid or tendered for bid that was historically owned by that
family. So we want to be very respectful of Ms. Sawyer.
14 11 /20/00
i
7. SPECIAL °PRESENTATION BY GAIL THOMPSON, DIRECTOR OF THE
.P•ERFbkMING:ARTS CENTER.
Commissioner Teele: Ladies and gentlemen, we're honored to have the director of the
Performing Arts Center here with us today, and we're going to ask Gail Thompson, if
you would just come up. We've asked — specifically, since our money is involved in this
project — Dipak, how much money do we have involved in — committed to the
Performing Arts Center?
Mr. Dipak Parekh: We have already provided one point five million dollars
($1,500,000), and all the incremental revenues for this year, which amounts, roughly,
about seven hundred to eight hundred thousand.
Commissioner Teele: So, there's a bond — it's already bonded out? The bond's already
gone out. Would you touch upon the bond that's already been issued, that we're paying
or backing? And we want to make very clear that we're going to be working through the
City Manager in developing an overall strategy, but there are dollars that are Southeast
Overtown — I mean -- I'm sorry, Omni tax increment dollars that are directly related to
this. Many of the residents of the Omni are here. They are very interested in knowing —
we appreciate you voluntarily coming before us, and just know that we want to see the
project go. We are here about trying to increase the tax increment district and the TIF
(tax increment funds). And the number one thing that will change the Omni is the
Performing Arts Center. So, we're all ears and we're all supportive.
Ms. Gail Thompson: OK. Thank you. Good evening. And I'm delighted at the
opportunity to share with you where we are with the project, and...
Commissioner Teele: For the record, just give your name and address for the — title for
the record.
Ms. Thompson: Yes, of course. I'm Gail Thompson. I'm Director of the Performing
Arts Center Project for the Miami -Dade County, and the address of our office is 1444
Biscayne Boulevard, just north of the Performing Arts Center site, in fact. And I thank
the City of Miami for its support of the project to now, and ask if you hang in there with
us as we're going through a fairly difficult challenge right now, but one I'm certain that
we're going to overcome to build Miami's most ambitious public private partnership to
date. This project is important for several reasons, which I'd like to briefly outline for
you. First of all, if you don't know, this will be the fourth largest performing arts center
in this country when finished, and it is the largest performing arts center endeavor in 40
years, not since Kennedy Center and Lincoln Center has such an ambitious undertaking
been taken. And, quite frankly, it's Miami's turn to build such a project and have the
same sort of catalytic effect that each one of these has had in their community. Miami, as
has been probably overstated, is a microcosm of what this country is moving toward in
terms of its demographics. This represents what the 21" Century audience is going to
look like for all art centers. And art centers, quite frankly, are scrambling all over the
country to figure out how to address a more diverse community. Well, I think that this
15 11/20/00
•
art center has a unique opportunity to set an example, to take the lead, to be the
trendsetter, and the trailblazer for demonstrating to the performing arts community in this
country how to deliver the performing arts to a 21s' Century audience. This is an
important and, perhaps, underexploited initiative that this project will undertake. It
promises also to be a significant catalyst to economic development. Now, I am most
familiar recently with the New Jersey Performing Arts Center development in Newark,
New Jersey. And when we started that project nine years ago — well, actually, it's 11
years ago now, and it's been open for four — Newark was much more depressed than the
community in which we're building right now. I mean, Miami is so much ahead of the
game. However, one barely recognizes or remembers the Newark that we began to build
in because of the tremendous economic development activity that has been spurred
because, as a direct result of that project, a hundred and eighty-seven million dollar
($187,000,000) initiative there, roughly half the size of this undertaking. This will have a
significant effect on the Omni District and the Overtown District in terms of tax
revenues; in terms of jobs; in terms of development; in terms of economic development,
and that should not be lost, and I am sure it's not lost on any of you. And, of course, the
center will be the nucleus for arts and culture in this area. It will be the cultural identity
that has been missing from this community. Every single major city in this country, that
is considered world class, has at its heart a performing arts center, a performing arts
institution that its cultural identity is tied to. This will be the home of five resident
companies. It will be the home and the place for performance of many community arts
groups, but it will also be a stage for world class performing arts from all over the world
— from Africa, from Latin America, from Asia, from Europe — will be showcased here,
and it will be a place where all of the communities will come together and enjoy arts as
it's the thing that we have in common. Now, where are we? We have a budget of two
hundred and five million and we are continuing to negotiate bids that have recently come
in at two eighty and three thirty-two. We have, as late as a few hours ago — as recently as
a few hours ago — been negotiating with the firms, and we're confident that we will bring
that down to some extent. We will not bring it down to 205, however, and we are going
to need to identify additional funds to build the center. We will discuss, internally, with
the County and with the private sector, who is contributing forty-three million dollars
($43,000,000) to the construction of the center. Recently, an increase there it gives from
twenty-two to forty-three million to build the center, and this is the private sector's
commitment and understanding and appreciation of all of the issues that I outlined. And
we will know, within a matter of weeks, what the financing plan is.
Commissioner Teele: Commissioner Winton.
Commissioner Winton: You know I had a question.
Commissioner Teele: It's your district. I want to make sure...
Commissioner Winton: Gail, you said you'll know within weeks what the financing plan
will be. I've read, with a great bit of interest, the debate that's going on out there, and
sitting in the chair that I occupy, not in my formal chair, in my business chair, I've begun
to lean in the direction of Michael Lewis' editorials because — and here is the issue, as
16 11 /20/00
I'm thinking about it currently. We know that construction costs — and you know it much
better than I at this point — construction costs have been going up and, as far as I can tell,
construction costs are going to continue to go up, and they're probably going up monthly,
not anything less than that. And, so, the longer we wait, the greater the cost is going to
be. Number two is, as we continue to value engineer this facility; there is value
engineering where you're cutting out the fat. There is also value engineering where
you're cutting out the muscle. And we know for sure we have enough money in hand to
probably build an absolutely magnificent, one hall today that will be something people
will look back on a hundred years from now and say, "Wow, what a facility they built!"
But we don't have enough money to build two of those facilities that have the potential to
withstand the test of time, and it seems to me that, if we got one done today and we set all
of the rest of the money that's left over from the one aside and put it in a fund that
becomes the seed money to start our next round of fundraising, we can end up with a
facility as fast as we can get — obviously, it takes a little longer to build these things since
it's public sector, as opposed to a private sector, but we could get one out of the ground
and get rolling; have something that we could really be proud of; that could create some
enthusiasm for getting round two done, as opposed to the process that at least the
Performing Arts Center Trust people seem to be focused on, and that is, "come hell or
high water", we're going to get two done, and if we all have to go down and sink into the
ocean trying to get two done, that's just what we're going to do. So, I'm concerned about
that. I want to see something done and I see an opportunity to get one of the halls done
and do it right, and I'm concerned that, in this absolute, almost inflexible commitment to
do two halls, we might get two done that are much like this old arena here. One done that
— two done that just don't quite "cut the mustard". I guess I'm looking for — and I know
you — you have to be careful what you say here. So, I guess I'm not really asking a
question. I'm giving you my opinion and you can respond to what...
Mr. Thompson: Well, let me just say that I relish the opportunity to answer that question,
OK?- and there are so many ways to answer that question. I struggle to know where to
begin, actually. First of all, just talking about the fundraising aspects of that for a second.
The forty-three million dollars ($43,000,000) raised by the private sector is raised based
on the two facilities, so if we only build one facility, we lose all of the money related to
one of the facilities, OK. Maybe the most minor of the many reasons. Also, when
these...
Commissioner Teele: But that's an assumption that may not be true, either.
Ms. Thompson: Well, I think it's — I think we've investigated that. So, I think we're
pretty clear that that's the case. Now — but that really isn't the most — even the most
important reason. Each of these facilities is designed as what's called a single purpose
facility. One is a concern hall and can only do concerts performances. The other is a
ballet/opera house and can only do those sorts of performances, stage performances, and
they are very specifically designed, and you can't do one without the other. Also, many
of the services — mechanical, plans, and a lot of the ancillary facilities — are designed in
common for the two facilities so that, in order to build just one, you'd have to redesign it,
OK? - You'd have to redesign it to accommodate the other — you'd have to redesign the
17 11 /20/00
ballet/opera house to accommodate orchestra music; you'd have to redesign the concert
hall to accommodate the other performing arts. Building one would not give the
institution the financial strength that building two would because of that reason. First of
all, several organizations couldn't perform in one of the halls. But beyond that, even if
we spent a couple of years redesigning one into a multipurpose hall — or let's just start
with the five resident companies — the amount of activity that would be generated from
that would create such a competition for performances that we would not be able — we
would not have enough time and enough facilities to accommodate even the arts that we
plan into the facility. Now, again, I refer to the New Jersey Performing Arts Center
where we did have two institutions, two facilities designed there initially. We did make
the decision there to only build one, initially, and we were going to start the design when
we were in construction of the other, and then we were going to start the design when we
opened the other, and here we are —there they are, in their fourth season, and that second
hall has yet to be realized, and they have all of the problems that I just identified with
one -resident company. You know, it becomes a struggle. You've heard Broward and
Cravis are now talking about building a second facility because of that competition. Here
you have the opportunity, at lower costs — it may seem like a greater cost now — but you
have the opportunity to go for the whole ball of wax right now to just do the heavy lifting
right now and not have those problems, those financial problems that you saddled the
institution with long-term. Now, I will also add that, in analysis, when we analyze the
costs — even at the two hundred and eighty million, which we hope we don't have to
award and I don't expect that we will — but even if the two hundred and eighty million,
when you compare this project with Kennedy, with Lincoln, with the L.A. Music Center,
with the Myerson in Dallas, which is another single purpose hall, with the New Jersey
Performing Arts Center, this is, by far, not the most expensive performing arts center.
It's average in terms of the cost comparison with those, adjusted for current dollars and
adjusted for a locale building in Miami is less expensive than New York, but more
expensive than Houston. It is an average cost. And it's important, as you say, not to
reduce the quality of this; to build it just as its designed, or it will be meaningless, and it
will be obsolete before you know it. So, I think it's the Trusts' intention; it's the
County's intention, and it's the Foundation's intention not to compromise the project; to
stick with the project, as designed. We've done significant value engineering, I would
say, but not the kind that compromises, that cuts to the heart and the life breath of this
design. And we have done that. But where we are right now is where we need to be and
we've got to put our arms around the costs because it really is never going to get better,
and you said so yourself in your opening remarks.
Commissioner Winton: Well, I guess I'm still struggling with — you know, you're what?
- Thirty-five percent shy on money to build the two facilities. So, how is that going to get
reconciled? Where is the extra seventy-five million going to come from? I mean, if you
— or are you comfortable that, within the next two weeks, as you said, y'all are going to
have some new mechanism that's going to bridge that big gap. That's a big gap.
Ms. Thompson: Well, there's — yes, it is a big gap. And there are several plans. One is
to continue to negotiate, and we think that we can get a significant amount out from that.
And I won't go into the details about that.
18 11 /20/00
•
Commissioner Winton: Right.
Ms. Thompson: But I think that we will be able to. The other thing is, this is a
guaranteed maximum price contract, which means that the contractors have put in
contingencies to protect themselves during the buy of the project. We think that, once we
actually start buying the project -- award the contract and start buying the contract, the
construction industry will take this project more seriously than it is right now. I'm telling
you that it isn't taken seriously right now because we bid it three times and we haven't
bought anything. Once we start to buy, the numbers will come down as well, because
then there will be some competition out there. We're not getting competitive numbers.
And we will benefit from the savings on that. So, no matter what the financing plan is,
you have a reduction in the initial buy, which we hope to yield, but there will be a —
hopefully, a significant reduction once we buy. Then, in addition to that, fundraising is
strengthened by actually going into the ground, you know. It's one thing to fundraise
when you're talking about a vision. It's another thing to fundraise when you're actually
seeing steel going up, and the Foundation believes that it may be in a better picture to
increase its sites once we're actually in construction. We also hope to seek federal and
additional state funding for the project. I know in New Jersey we were very successful at
federal funding, which we haven't even begun to explore on the project yet.
Commissioner Winton: Well, my last comment and that is that I think that, you know,
almost everyone I know — and that includes me —has been a major backer of getting this
performing arts center done from day one. We're still very enthusiastic about it. But
there is a growing course of people that I know, including me, who are saying, "Get
something done and get something done that I'm going to be able to walk into, not
something done when I'm dead and it's" — there are a lot of people that have been
looking forward to this a lot longer than I have, but it's really time to get something done.
So — I mean, we're in good hands. You're doing a great job. So, I hope that, in that two
weeks or three weeks, whatever you were mentioning, that we're able to — I'm able to
read the newspaper, this great new plan that you have, and we can get this thing rolling.
Ms. Thompson: OK. Well, I would just say, in conclusion, having opened an arts center
four years ago and having imagined what that opening would be like over the course of
the construction, there is no greater moment in a community than that. And four years
after its opening, having gone through four seasons and seeing what it's done to that
community, you will be proud of the investment that you've made, and your "stick-to-
it'veness" in seeing it through. Thank you.
Commissioner Teele: Commission Gort.
Vice Chairman Gort: I have a question — and I'm sure you're looking there with the
architects and the engineers and see what you can do to reduce some of the costs. One of
the things in DDA (Downtown Development Authority) that we've discussed quite a bit,
and one of the reasons we want to bring these types of facilities into the area is to have
people walk into the street, like they do in all the major cities, like in New York, and, yet,
19 11 /20/00
•
when you have build the plaza between the two buildings, which is a two-story plaza --
which I don't know what the cost of that will be — but that certainly will keep the people
off the street. And I don't know what the cost of that plaza will be, and how much
necessary it is to have that plaza.
Ms. Thompson: Oh, yeah. I feel like I've sent you guys these questions. That's a
wonderful question, and I — again, I am a total component of what you're saying.
However, this is not a two -level plaza. There is a bridge, a simple bridge, between
buildings to get people in safety from one side — when I say safety, I mean away from
traffic, from one building to the other. But you are absolutely right. It's important to get
activity down on the ground, and this is a key reason why I — at least, for one — am not a
proponent of garages with tunnels and bridges to get you from the garage to the center.
We want people down on the street. We want to see restaurants developed. We want to
see outdoor activities. That plaza that you see there hopefully will be teaming with
outdoor cafe activity and outdoor performances and all of that. We want to see the streets
come alive again, the way the Lincoln Center community has, and even the Broward
Center, which is the closest example of an art center being a catalyst for economic
development and bringing street life back to Miami.
Vice Chairman Gort: My understanding, it's above ground.
Ms. Thompson: What?
Vice Chairman Gort: My understanding is this has to be above ground.
Ms. Thompson: No.
Vice Chairman Gort: Can be on ground — on Biscayne Boulevard?
Ms. Thompson: This is on grade. This is on the ground.
Vice Chairman Gort: On grade?
Ms. Thompson: Yes. Believe me, it is.
Commissioner Teele: All right.
Ms. Thompson: Very important point too.
Commissioner Regalado: Comment. I understand Commissioner Winton's desire on
many of his constituents to get something done, but I think that we tried that once and I
would not like to see, in the year 2014 a new performing arts, like we have a new arena
now, ten years after this one was built. You know, I think that -- I don't understand why
this project has not received the grassroot support from the people from the different
communities that it needs. It seems to me that some people look at this as an elitist
project, the opera. Not too may people have gone to the opera and will go to the opera,
20 11/20/00
•
and people probably do not understand that this is something for everybody to share and
participate, and I think that one of the problems is that nothing has been done to reach the
people in the community. I think that if those five companies — I think Miami City Ballet
and Philharmonic and other — will start bringing their art to the communities, to the parks,
to downtown, to Coconut Grove, to Aventura, you would find more support. Because I
mean, your problem is that the private sector has not raised enough money. Is that most
of the problem?
Ms. Thompson: No, no. They have actually exceeded their goals right now, and they've
actually increased a goal. It's just that the costs are outpacing their ability to fundraise at
this point. At this point.
Commissioner Regalado: You know, I think that it's important to — while you work on
your bids, also to do a parallel campaign of getting support from the different
communities for this project. And explain to the people that they are going to be part of
that project, and that's what I see on a distance. I don't — if I go out here and ask
someone about the project, I'm sure that they don't know a lot.
Ms. Thompson: You're absolutely right. And more needs to be done on that score. No
argument at all. And this project — as I said earlier, cannot survive just on the strength of
those five -resident companies. It has to be more relevant in this community. This is
something that all arts institutions are struggling with, and we have the opportunity to set
the example here in Miami -Dade County.
Commissioner Teele: All right. Mr. Manager did you or your staff have any — probably
have — Gail, let me thank you again for coming by. I think it's important that you heard
the conversation that we're having regarding the Overtown Park — Southeast
Overtown/Park West District. We're very committed and we're very focused on
improving and increasing property values. I know of nothing that we can do that will
more dramatically increase property values than to complete the Performing Arts Center.
I am very much associated with the remarks of my colleague, Commissioner Regalado,
because I do think that building one-half of the complex, as it's being proposed — and a
lot of people are looking at this — is tantamount to building what we're in right now, the
old arena, which was a way of cutting and solving a lot of problems for the moment but,
then, ten years out, fifteen years out, you have a problem. I think the real question gets
down to how can we work together, that is, the CRA (Community Redevelopment
Agency), working through the City of Miami in this context and Metro -Dade County, and
the various other entities, the TDC and the CDCs and all of these come together to come
up with a shortfall, along with the private sector. I have one specific question ... in your...
(audio equipment faltered a few seconds) ......at CDT and Omni Tax Increment District
interests. What is the -- how much money -- Do you happen to know offhand -- and I
apologize, because I haven't -- I didn't alert you -- but do you happen to know offhand
how much money, the total that you all are looking for or your calculations are that this
Board will be providing through the Tax Increment District?
21 11 /20/00
Ms. Thompson: I unfortunately don't have that offhand. It's been some time since I
looked at that, and I would be happy to get that information and to forward it to you. I
don't have...
Chairman Teele: Well, two final points, then. First, I'm only one vote here, but I am a
strong advocate of the Performing Arts Center, and what culture can do, not only for the
community, but for this neighborhood. To the extent that we can identify funds that
could be generated through the TIF (Tax Increment Fund), I'm not at all adverse to
working through the City Manager's Office in examining that. But I would deeply resent
if my dear friend, Rick Sisser and others would start to suggest that they're going to
legislatively somehow impose and require that we come up with more money. That
would not be well received by me as Chairman of this body, because that's certainly not
the way to win friends and influence people. But I'm certainly open to that. I'll go one
step further that I have not heard any of the County Commissioners say. As a City
Commissioner, I'm prepared to work through the Manager's Office, and particularly, the
Budget Office, and the Finance Office, the Assistant Manager in developing new revenue
streams from the City of Miami to the extent that two other members of the Commission
and the Mayor or four members would join me. But I think we're nowhere near there. I
would want to see the County begin that process, because what's clearly not -- what's
clearly missing from this funding mechanism is any County general fund money or any
County fund dollars. And I certainly wouldn't want to put the City in the position of
offering up money for a County facility. But I think any County -- any City dollars
would certainly have to be overmatched, as far as I'm concerned, by the County. And
there would have to be certain issues relating to governance and participation or
management, that the Manager, the City Manager and his staff would have to recommend
to the Commission. But this Chairman is extremely open to trying to figure out how to
do this thing, and to do it in the timetable that Commissioner Winton has outlined, and
that is in somebody's lifetime around here. So just know that you have some -- at least
certainly some positive voices. This Board is committed to it, because we're committed
to the Tax Increment District. It's going to help our district. And the door is open for
you all to come back with some other recommendations.
Ms. Thompson: OK. Well, I would certainly very much like the opportunity to do that,
and will do so posthaste. And I know it's with the Manager's -- the County. Manager's
concurrence. And we'd love to sit down with the City Manager and to go over whatever
possible scenarios can be developed between us.
Chairman Teele: Thank you.
Ms. Thompson: OK.
Chairman Teele: How long before you all finish the demolition?
Ms. Thompson: Oh.
22 11 /20/00
Chairman Teele: I mean, one of the real problems that we have in our community is that
government is the biggest perpetrators of slum and blight all over this town. And, you
know, we go out here and we give fines to private owners if they do that. And I would
like to encourage you all to get in the Christmas spirit or some spirit and fix it up and
make it look better.
Ms. Thompson: Well, we actually hoped, and may still be able to accomplish a
completion of that demolition by Christmas.
Chairman Teele: All right. Were any of the people from the Omni -- I know that the
recommendation to this Board to use the funds came from the Omni Advisory Board. I
know that you all have put your money where your mouth is, or at least your tax dollars.
And Mr. Joseph, you're a member of the board.
Fred Joseph: Yes.
Chairman Teele: Are you a member of the governing board?
Mr. Joseph: Yes.
Chairman Teele: Did you want to say anything on this very quickly, please?
Mr. Joseph: Well, she has done a wonderful job. And as you know, we wanted her on
board almost two years ago, as you were Commissioner at that time. Now that she's on
board, she's got this horrendous task of bringing these bids in. We are trying to support
her in every possible way. But our biggest support is going to be everybody give a voice
to the County Commission. We're sending out every single day notices to her bosses to
help her get this project where it needs to go. She can't do it, but we, as taxpayers in this
district, and Commissioner Winton's district and yours, Commissioner, Chairman Teele,
we need to all write those Commissioners and County Manager to help get this finished
so this lady can get this building built.
Chairman Teele: All right. Thank you very much. I would hope that at some point, we
could talk about maybe even a benefit district or something, but that's premature for that.
Mr. Joseph: We're ready.
Chairman Teele: All right. Mr. Manager, I think we had -- Yes, ma'am.
Eleanor Kluger: Can I say one word?
Chairman Teele: On this issue?
Ms. Kluger: Yes.
Chairman Teele: Yes, please.
23 11 /20/00
0 •
Ms. Kluger: OK. My name is Eleanor Kluger, and I'm the president of the Omni
Advisory Board, and also a member of the PACT (Performing Arts Center Trust). And
we've tried for so many years to have this happen. And I just wanted to say that ever
since Tom Tomlinson came on board and Gail Thompson came on board that they have
reached out to the community. They have spent this year going around to all of the
people and seeing what they could do, and trying to interest them in this very important
project for the Omni area. It is our most important project. And I would be -- the fact
that you want to cooperate as a City with the County or get the County to move toward
you to cooperate is one of the nicest things that I've heard come from you all. And I
think it is very important that before -- between Thanksgiving and December 7th that
everybody urge your Commissioners, your County Commissioners to vote or help figure
out ways to have this project go forward. It is very important for the City of Miami and
for the downtown area, and I know even for the Overtown area, because they have been
reaching out to the Lyric Theater and trying to combine the east and the west areas. And
I know they worked very hard on it, and I just wanted to congratulate them for all of their
hard work.
Chairman Teele: All right. Thank you very much.
24 11 /20/00
DISCUSSION ON PARK WEST STUDIES.
Chairman Teele: Mr. Director, we have the issue of the update of the Park West Studios. I know that the
-- I apologize, ma'am. We skipped over you. Would you like to just come up, and Mr. Dipak or Mr.
Judy, how would you all like to handle this?
Richard Judy (Executive Director, CRA): I think rather just give you a report.
Chairman Teele: Is there anything in writing on this?
Mr. Judy: No.
Chairman Teele: On the Agenda?
Mr. Judy: Just a -- you know, what's going on right now. We have first met with Arleen Weintraub, who
assisted a great deal in the previous three or four weeks, especially in terms of getting necessary potential
use of property for parking. And she's looking at permitting requirements for the temporary certificate of
occupancy and a fagade improvement program. They're looking into that area in helping, and we, as the
CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency), as to developing, you know a tactical assistance program, as
we've done for the other developers.
Chairman Teele: OK. Could you just state on the who is the applicant? The request came, I know --
Mr. Judy: Yes. The applicant is the Park West Studios, a shooting location, and that's Janet Vemell who
is the president.
Chairman Teele: And the address, please?
Mr. Judy: Gosh. It's up at 85 Northwest IOth Street. And it's --
Chairman Teele: Ma'am, would you just come up and put your name on the record so that we have a
complete record.
Mr. Judy: May I just -- what I ask in the meantime is that-- because I got into the economics of this. It
was really interesting to learn that we do about a hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) in Dade County.
From my days at the airport, I knew every economic there was in building our international route
schedule, and I was quite shocked to see how that has grown so massively. And she is bringing that, the
first person in Park West to bring that into our community. We do have some work product in the 14th
Street area, which is in the Omni area, to be frank with you. So that has a lot of capability for our
community. And I think Janet is really being the -- bringing forth this new industry, as I call it, from the
south area. And I know that in meetings I've had, people are still looking for opportunities to build
studios in this area. And Janet has been the one that's broken the -- and she's turned, too, for help and
assistance from others. So I think that we have something that we want to be thankful for what she's
done.
Chairman Teele: Ma'am, are you -- What kind of help are you all recommending? That's the question.
25 11/20/00
!. i
Mr. Judy: Well, she is right now working, as we do with our other commercial people. We'll help them
with some design concepts if they need it. For instance, things that have to be done, we'll help them with
those. And Mr. -- one of our civil engineers is working with her and working with the rest of us to come
up with a work order.
Chairman Teele: Ma'am?
Janet Vernell: Yes. Just for the record, I'm Janet Vernell. And I am the owner of Park West Studios and
Associates at 85 Northwest loth Street in Miami.
Chairman Teele: That's right at the railroad track and 10`h Street, as I recall.
Ms. Vernell: Right. Right down the street here.
Chairman Teele: Uh-huh:
Ms. Vernell: Northwest First Avenue and loth
Chairman Teele: On the Park West side.
Ms. Vernell: Right.
Chairman Teele: OK.
Ms. Vernell: Right, exactly.
Chairman Teele: And you're satisfied that we're paying attention and --
Ms. Vernell: Yes, I am. I'm very satisfied.
Chairman Teele: Thank you.
Ms. Vernell: And you've been very helpful. I appreciate the help in the permitting process and other
things that are going on at once.
Chairman Teele: Thank you very much.
Ms. Vernell: OK. Thank you.
Chairman Teele: Dipak, would you insure that there's a resolution approved by this Board authorizing the
work if it's going to exceed forty-five hundred dollars ($4500), even if it's work being done by
consultants that we have on retainer? I mean, I really want to keep the record straight on all of this. Is
that satisfactory?
Dipak Parekh: Yes, sir.
26 11 /20/00
0 •
;.GMESPECIAhPRESENTATION BY:PLANNINPROPOSED MIAlVII
MIL;ENNIUM-MEDIA PROJECT (TIMES SQUARE) IN PARK WEST.
Chairman Teele: All right. We're going to pause now for a brief presentation from the Manager's Office,
and I think he's got the Planning Director. Is that right, Mr. Manager?
Carlos Gimenez (City Manager): Yes, sir.
Chairman Teele: So Ms. Gelabert, welcome.
Ana Gelabert (Director, Planning & Zoning, City of Miami): Thank you. If you can give us two seconds
for us to be able to put the -- make sure we have --
Chairman Teele: As a way of updating the Board, we've asked -- the Chair has asked for a report on the
3M-P Project, which is the Miami Millennium Media Project, also referred to as the Times Square. We
had initially planned to move this project forward about a year ago, but after the newspaper's editorialists
said, `Be careful, gaudy signs are no substitute for nature's vistas," I think was the way they framed it, I
immediately turned it over to the Planning Department and got out of it. So this is moving very slowly,
deliberately. There's been a lot of travel to New York, to conferences, to Vegas, to California somewhere.
And the staff, I think, is doing an outstanding job in really taking a concept and really trying to understand
it and put some policy behind it. The other one is regarding the Omni Media Productions District, which
is the old Ice Palace issue. And we asked, I guess, in Commission meeting that we develop a special
ordinance, an overlay district in there. That's right adjacent to 395 and Miami Avenue, in that area, which
is really just as much a part of our Overtown/Park West as it is Omni at that particular point, but it is in a
separate district, and we're looking at that. And then the final one, Commissioner Gort, is very important;
because there is a request that we have in here from you that this presentation may or may not be in
concert with. And I think what we're trying to do is give some range of options on what we can do with
the land before we simply sell it. And that's called the Grand Promenade. So the Grand Promenade
would be right there in the old abandoned railroad right-of-way. So, Ana, if you're ready, we'll go right
into it.
Ms. Gelabert: Yes. I think I want to basically --
Chairman Teele: You're going to have to speak up a little.
Ms. Gelabert: A few months ago, like Commissioner Teele said, the Planning Department was asked to
look into districts similar to what Times Square has in New York and see how could we do this in Miami,
in the Park West area. And the Planning Department has had the opportunity to look into it, and what we
have tried to do -- and we'll give you a presentation -- is to see the best of Times Square and find what we
feel would be appropriate for the City of Miami. I would like to introduce Maria Nardi from the Planning
Department to give you this presentation.
Maria Nardi (Planning Department, City of Miami): Good evening. Are we ready? I will be presenting
to you, if this microphone can work, an idea for the Park West area that conceptually refers to New York
and Toronto for inspiration. The Miami Media Project. First, we will look at New York's Times Square.
Next slide. Thank you. The history of New York, as many of you know, is extensive, complex and
27 11 /20/00
fascinating. And it allows us to evaluate the elements that together make up a great City. New York
opened 42nd Street in 1837. What I will do here is I will you a very, very broad overview of the history of
Times Square. The area was initially called Long Acre Square, drawing on the name of its counterpart in
London. Long Acre square makes reference to the accessibility of the area. More ominously, it was later
called Thieves Square, because of the lack of street lamps. In 1902, the New York Times built its
headquarters, comprising of offices and a press on Broadway and 42nd Street. New York built and what
was to become recognized as the iconographic image of Times Square, the great architecture of flat iron
building. Two years later in 1904, the area was named New York Times Square. In 1903 through 1930,
approximately 73 theaters were built in the area, with 13 theaters alone on 42nd Street. In the 1940s
through the `50s, the area fell prey to the Depression and World War II. During the `60s through the `90s,
there was a 30-year period of proposals for 42nd Street. In 1978, which was one of the turning points, the
42nd Street Development Corporation was founded as a tax-exempt local development corporation.
Within a 20-year period, land was acquired, a master plan was established, funding was secured, and the
world-renowned architect, Robert Stern, was selected to head the design team. Next slide. What makes
Times Square successful? A bowtie configuration of City blocks. And I'll go into this with later images
that will allow you to envision this. An enclosed area defined by buildings; historic theater district; dense
mixed urban fabric; architecture that is good architecture, the investment in the design and quality of the
architecture; focus on projects related to the performing arts, like theaters, TV production studios,
rehearsal spaces and offices; public transportation; the proximity to Central Park via Columbus Circle, and
guidelines. This is Times Square, the bowtie configuration orthogonal grid of New York is often
interrupted by diagonals, creating interesting moments like the bowtie configuration in Times Square. It's
an enclosed space defined by a continuous fabric of mixed -use buildings. Can you go back one, please?
And at this moment, actually, the area where the ticket booth is acts like a plaza, often a gathering space
for pedestrians. It rises from a theater district. The City has witnessed the value of investing in the quality
and design of architecture. In fact, it's one of the mandates for building in the area. Next. And this is
another example of that and of the focus on building projects related to performing arts. These are studios
and rehearsal spaces with retail on the ground floor. It also has public transportation that links Times
Square with the rest of the City and gives pedestrians the option and freedom to walk. Times Square has
the proximity to great civic gestures, like Columbus Circle and Central Park. And last, it has guidelines.
What is seemingly chaotic is actually quite carefully designed. Times Square guidelines are comprised of
three basic elements that are multicomplex in their details. One is standards for illumination, two is sign
area analyses, and three is setback requirements. Standards for illumination make reference to specific
requirements for the various options for lighting technology. The sign area analysis makes reference to
the minimum and maximum sign coverage allowed. And third, the setback requirement makes reference
to setbacks of retail signs on the ground floor, mid -level business signs and large-scale super signs, all
carefully choreographed to provide maximum visibility and perspective of illusions. Low -scale signage --
you can actually go back one. OK, OK. Thank you. Low -scale signage establishes street character and
allows for mid -sized and super signs to be shaped and angled to be perceived from a distance, once again,
for maximum visibility. From carefully -- you can go ahead to the next [inaudible]. No, the next. As one
can see in signs like the NASDAC and details of signs as to what is allowed to protrude out into the
sidewalks. And also, another interesting element related to signage in New York is the use of scaffolding
while restoring buildings for signage. There are actually screens that allow light to come through to the
buildings. This is Toronto, Dundas Square. Dundas Square is characterized as an entertainment district
that utilizes high quality design architecture with a spectacular media tower as a point of destination.
What makes Dundas Square successful -- well, first let me go over this. The site for the media tower is
centrally located in an area targeted for improvement. The City expropriated a large parcel of land near
28 11 /20/00
•
the site for a great civic park. Dundas Square is surrounded by mixed use buildings, focusing on
entertainment, and there's a demand on high quality, high standards for quality and design to create a
destination. A design code for the tower is site specific to exert the greatest amount of control over
quality of design. Let me use the pointer. This is the site of the tower. This is the main street, and these
are side streets along the site of the tower. The area that was expropriated for the use of a civic park exists
along this area here. So the tower really will become a focal point for pedestrians along this diagonal and
other pedestrian streets that might take place in the area. Next. As I mentioned before, the towers are site
specific, and -- but the regulations specify that. They're also surrounded by mixed -use buildings. In this
case, this project is still being developed with retail on the ground floor. Next. Another proposal for that
tower, for that site. Go back one. Thank you. Toronto allows ground level not to have signs, allowing for
the signage to be placed on the tower, and for the tower to stand out as a sculptural element. It's placed on
top of a building, typically a two-story building with, once again, retail on the ground floor to activate the
pedestrian level. It links other areas or it -- actually, it becomes a catalyst for the area by emphasizing that
the architecture that's linked along that corridor be illuminated or in this case, the retail, which is probably
two stories or so. Next. And we have Miami; the CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) Park West
area. Now --next slide.
Vice Chairman Winton: Pretty barren.
Ms. Nardi: What could make the Miami Media Project successful in this area we believe are a couple -- a
series of elements: One, a visionary master plan; two, mixed use development with a focus on residential
TV productions, museums, studios, rehearsal space, offices, restaurants, hotels; improving public
amenities, tree -lined streets, street furniture; improving public transportation connections to link this area
to the Greater Miami area; constructing a great civic park, great civic monuments, a great boulevard; the
identification of the multi -media project with media tower gateways. And like New York and Toronto,
demand the highest standards for the quality and design of the architecture with guidelines. Next. Now,
we have a few things already in place that are crucial for areas like this to develop. We have in the blue
Metrorail with several stops in the area; an entertainment district that's outlined in orange; Ninth Street
Mall, which is the green dotted line perpendicular to the Burle Marx project along Biscayne Boulevard.
We have the proximity to the Performing Arts Center. We have the potential of concentrating TV
productions to the area with Channel 6 and Channel 10 nearby; the potential for a great park, with an
impact at the scale of Central Park or Boston Commons and its proximity to Biscayne Bay. Our proposal
distills the essence of Times Square, and acknowledges the success of the multi -media tower in Dundas
Square that, together with other elements, have established a successful entertainment district in the area.
Our proposal defines the area as a point of destination with multi -media sign towers 120 feet in height.
Diagram A illustrates two multi -media sign towers that act as gateways along a corridor that connect the
east and west part of the area. Between the gateway towers is great architecture with illumination and
some retail signage. Diagram B is a multi -media sign tower in the center of the district that acts as a focal
point and a catalyst for the development of the area where illumination is the theme that forms an integral
part of the great architecture. The tower would be site specific, with site -specific regulations unique to
Miami. The design for a tower -- go ahead, the next slide, please. Yes. Next, mm-hmm. The design for
the tower in Miami could potentially include a rooftop garden with a cafe, open or closed, for the public to
use to view the City, the multi -media sign towers, along with the visionary master plan that acknowledges
the waterfront and emphasizes mixed use development with a focus on the performing arts, studios,
residential units and potentially TV productions, as well as great civic gestures and an emphasis on the
29 11 /20/00
highest standards for the quality and design of architecture, landscape and urban design can set the stage
and become the backdrop of urban life in the City.
Chairman Teele: Thank you very, very much. It's very exciting, and we're hoping that we can get
something before the City of Miami, because what we're really talking about here is land use ordinances, I
suppose? That would be the instrument?
Board Member Sanchez: Yes.
Ms. Gelabert: Yes. We would have to -- Right now, what we have on the ordinance doesn't allow such a
thing. So we would have to be looking at doing something totally new. On the way --
Board Member Sanchez: I'm sorry, does or does not?
Ms. Gelabert: Does not, does not. Actually, in that area, you know, probably this would qualify as
billboards because of the way they're attached. And so we would have to do something that's very
particular, but that can be done. On the presentation, what we tried doing was we did not want to pick a
location at this moment. What we wanted to present to you was a concept of what could happen, and
that's what the diagrams start to portray. If we were able to go with the concept that we're proposing,
which becomes site specific, each site would have their own design guidelines. Say, for example, one
might be a gateway coming from the east. Well, certainly, that would reflect conditions of where that
gateway would be placed. And we would be able to create those guidelines to be tailored for that. Then
the structure would be built, and then the signs would be placed, similar to what you see on Toronto. That
was a good -- Did you see the way they sketched it?
Chairman Teele: Right.
Ms. Gelabert: They pretty much drew what is that piece going to be. We would envision for Miami
something similar. There might be another gateway that would start defining the district. What Dundas
did -- you know, we could see it two different ways or even a combination -- is that at like bookends, two
gateways or is it as a catalyst in a particular centrally located location on the Park West District. With the
other plans -- and that's why the master plan becomes also critical with the several ideas that have been
generated right now for this area. All of a sudden, the things start falling in place, and then the district
will have its own. At that moment when we say, well, this might be the location for this one, then that's
when we start proposing it, once we know what guidelines would be prepared. And obviously, we would
have to deal with the zoning and the land use, particularly the zoning.
Chairman Teele: Commissioner Gort, Commissioner Sanchez.
Board Member Gort: My understanding is that when you look at the amenities that was created in other
places, we do have, I'd say maybe 70 percent of the amenities in place already. Now, my question would
be would this -- this would be done by the private sector? We could determine where the location could
be and leave it up to the private sector to come up with -- come up with the criteria and guidelines.
Ms. Gelabert: Right.
30 11/20/00
Board Member Gort: OK.
Ms. Gelabert: That could be, you know. Where is the location? That would be up to us where the
location is, but we come up with the guidelines, the designs to be done by the private.
Board Member Gort: When you're talking about 120 feet, you're talking about at least 12 stories high.
Ms. Gelabert: Oh, yeah. It's a major -- it's like similar-- It's what you saw on the Dundas on Toronto.
That is 120.
Board Member Gort: Well, I have to tell you something. At one time, I think it was five or six years ago,
there was a function that took place at what used to be the Omni Hotel at the parking lot. And the site was
just beautiful. And I think that let's -- so I think that would be a great idea to create a restaurant 120 feet
in that area. I mean, it's a spectacle. At night, it's beautiful.
Chairman Teele: Commissioner Sanchez did you --?
Board Member Sanchez: Yes, sir. I just think that we have too much to learn from other cities that have
done very well. And I commend you for selecting two cities that are way advanced when it comes to that.
I mean, New York was -- what? -- 18 -- when was it?
Chairman Teele: 1847.
Board Member Sanchez: 1847. So, you know, we could learn from these cities. Of course, you know,
along the way, I'm sure they made mistakes. And now, they're so advanced that for us to come up and
once again focus on world class, because we really have to focus on world class, and learn their concept
with the strict codes that they have. You know, it's -- everything is -- it doesn't offend anybody and it's
just in the right taste, under the right -- I think it's great. I think it'll be great to bring in more money for
the TIF in the area. So I am a great supporter of that.
Chairman Teele: Two points. I think it's very important that our staff and the City budget staff or
whomever look at the economics, particular of Toronto. We need to --
Board Member Sanchez: Big bucks in advertising.
Chairman Teele: -- quantify what we're talking about because -- And Commissioner Gort put his finger
on the issue, and we need to be very clear. The property owners will develop this. We will -- this is sort
of like a nightclub license or a -- any number of other things that we permit. What we will do is we will
permit this in this area. Is that your --? But it is not going to be -- at least I have no support at this point
for the CRA building any of these things --
Board Member Sanchez: No.
Chairman Teele: -- per se. I think it's very, very important that it be permitted, and that we understand
what the economic impact on property values are. I'm operating under the assumption, based upon what
I've seen in New York, that property values, wherever we locate this, wherever we locate this, the
31 11 /20/00
property values will dramatically increase. And the decision on the location is a decision that I would
hope that once the Commission has authorized it and considered it, you will come back to the CRA and let
us participate in the actual location within the TIF area. That is the boundaries of this.
Ms. Gelabert: Right.
Chairman Teele: We're not -- this is not going to be all over Miami. It's not going to be all over
Southeast, Southeast Park West. It's not going to be in the Omni at all. It's not going to probably be in
Overtown at all. So we need to be very clear about this. This is going to be a special district that will be
located somewhere within the Park West area. And there are a lot of limitations that you didn't go into
under State law, et cetera, on that. So we're taking the first step. The original thought when I presented
this to the Commission was to put this as a lateral district along Biscayne Boulevard. The Parks
Department politely informed me that that made absolutely no sense, that it was the dumbest thing they
had heard. And I understood exactly what they were saying, and realized that this was over my grade
level or my comprehension level. And that's why I've turned it over to the Planning Department to guide
us in this process.
Ms. Gelabert: Thank you. I just would like to make sure that, you know, we are on the same --
Chairman Teele: By the way -- let me just cut you off. She showed me a picture of what looked like Fort
Bragg, Fayetteville, North Carolina. You know, I don't know if any of you have ever been to an Army
town.
Board Member Winton: I've been there.
Chairman Teele: But, you know, once I saw that, I said, look, I understand what you're saying. So she
didn't exactly say it was the dumbest idea, but once she showed me the picture, I knew it was the dumbest
idea she had ever seen.
Ms. Gelabert: It was just a vision. I just want to make sure -- This is the concept on the location. It
would be somewhere in Park West. And certainly, the Planning Department would be working closely
with the CRA.
Board Member Sanchez: So you would come back --
Ms. Gelabert: Definitely, yeah.
Board Member Sanchez: -- with a specific site.
Ms. Gelabert: Yeah, Definitely. We will be coming back with a specific site.
Chairman Teele: Recommendation.
Board Member Sanchez: Recommendation of a specific site.
32 11/20/00
Ms. Gelabert: Recommendation of where would we like to -- where do we propose. But that would be in
conjunction with --
Vice Chairman Winton: And I just want to put on the record one place else where it clearly won't be, so
that people out there won't get the wrong impression. It will not be in Coconut Grove. It will not be in
Coconut Grove.
Ms. Gelabert: No, it will not.
Chairman Teele: And I think one of the points that they made is that this is an instrument to assist in
development of blighted areas. And I mean, by definition, we selected Park West because it needs to be
somewhere near a main highway, near the kind of thoroughfare -- it can't be really in an interior, although
it doesn't have to necessarily be on that area.
Ms. Gelabert: Right.
Chairman Teele: And that becomes itself a destination, and that's what we're talking about.
Ms. Gelabert: Right.
Chairman Teele: Commissioner Regalado.
Board Member Regalado: Yeah. I think that when you design or plan for a specific business, if you want
to choose an area for TV production, radio recording, it has to be Park West for several reasons. It's close
to the new American Airlines Arena and this arena, where concerts are held. It's close to downtown
hotels, and it's close to major thoroughfares. So we should look for that kind of business to bring here.
My only concern -- and this is a question to you, Ana -- is that are we talking here of restrictions similar to
the Latin Quarter, where it's difficult to even paint or do something?
Ms. Gelabert: No, no.
Board Member Regalado: I mean, if we want to make life harder --
Ms. Gelabert: No, no, it's not.
Board Member Regalado`. OK.
Ms. Gelabert: This is a totally different thing. It would be something new for Miami. And that's why we
have -- we needed the time to look at what other cities have done. This is — we'll deal with height
restrictions as to maximums. We're learning from what other cities have done. So basically, our
regulations are going to be on size, and it would have nothing to do with colors, and certainly it's not
about Latin Quarter. We are not trying to make it difficult. We're just trying to make it of quality, that it
actually will mature, that once we have it, we can look at it and say that it is a landmark into the district.
Chairman Teele: Commissioner, there will only be one of these districts in all of the City of Miami, at
least in our lifetime, in all probability. It won't be one in Coconut Grove, it won't be one in Model City, it
33 11/20/00
won't be one -- It will be one and it will be a destination, much like South Beach is. And what we're
talking about, really, is using our -- not "we," but the City of Miami using their powers in land use to
design this district. That's why they went through and looked at the history, and the bowtie and these
things that, quite frankly, are a little esoteric, to try to figure out the best place to do this. And one of the
things that we want to do is make sure that we do it right, because wherever we place it, the property
values should dramatically increase. And again, that's not reflected in what we talked about in our TIF,
now. That's going to be even more of a bounce to our TIF. And all of these strategies are designed to
increase the amount of dollars coming into Southeast Overtown/Park West, primarily so that in the long
run, we can use these dollars in the Overtown area.
Board Member Regalado: And I tell you something, just a brief comment. When Margaret Pace Park is
done, when the idea for the Bicentennial and the boardwalk and all that, the businesses that do business
with models and photo...
Chairman Teele: Photo shoots.
Board Member Regalado: ...will be using that park, and they need to be close to it.
Chairman Teele: Right.
Board Member Regalado: Because it saves a lot of money and time. So I mean, that is why I say that this
is the place for all this operation. And we need -- and that's why my concern. I mean, you know, we
should facilitate and not create a problem for them.
34 11 /20/00
0 •
10. DISCUSSION :. ON PROPOSED ORDINANCE :CREATING OMNI; MEDIA AND ,'.ARTS
PRODUCTIONS SPECIAL DISTRICT..
Chairman Teele: Ana would you quickly go over the next one, which is the ordinance creating the Omni
Media Production District, because Commissioner Regalado has made a strong point that he really
believes that production should be -- And the area that we're talking about literally is to accommodate
what is one of the largest production centers in the entire Dade County. They are currently on Miami
Beach primarily. They are moving their facilities from Miami Beach to the Omni area. Technically,
they're right in the eye of the Overtown/Park West/Omni area, because they're right on the Overtown
border. In fact, they're talking now about putting in a training center in Overtown. So why don't you just
touch upon that.
Ana Gelabert (Director, Planning & Zoning, City of Miami): What we have, the Department has prepared
and we have an ordinance, a draft of an ordinance that is dealing with the Media and Arts District. And
that, on the exact location of it, we have gone -- the Downtown Development Authority has always
promoted the media and arts entertainment being from north of 395 all the way to the cemetery. We're
looking into that, or maybe perhaps a district that might be closer to where the Ice Palace is. What we're
trying to do is -- presently; we have regulations in the City that creates for what we call a code adherence,
which forces property owners to maintain their properties. What we are trying to create is the mechanism
in that -- only in that area in Miami, not everywhere, just in that area, where through a special permit,
which we call a Class II, someone could come and apply if they show that they are gone for a year, that
they would be able to maintain the building as they are. The people in that business have explained to us
that sometimes they like that type of building, the way they look, because of filming that they are doing.
And because of the present ordinance that we have, we don't allow it. So we're in that position of --
Chairman Teele: In other words, you can't create an old authentic western city...
Ms. Gelabert: No, we couldn't.
Chairman Teele: ...under our ordinance today.
Ms. Gelabert: No, we couldn't.
Chairman Teele: So we want to give these people the ability to create a western town, or a Japanese
garden or whatever.
Ms. Gelabert: What we're trying to do is create the mechanism. Again, we want to insure that it's only
for a particular area, so it doesn't become that it's citywide. It's just for this area, and it would be through
a Class II. It would be a yearly, and that's something that we will be bringing back to you. We are trying
to -- Our schedule would be taking it to PAB (Planning Advisory Board) beginning of the year and then to
the City Commission.
Chairman Teele: Commissioner Winton, did you have any concern on that? This is geographically going
to be in your district.
Vice Chairman Winton: No, I like it.
35 11 /20/00
Chairman Teele: Would you make?
Vice Chairman Winton: Yeah. We've talked about it a number of times in the past. And I'm -- and in
fact, we met with some of the people in the community who are -- who really were urging us to set up this
special district. So I'm very much in favor of this.
Chairman Teele: Our role at the CRA, unlike in the City, is we really are advocates for property owners,
individual property owners and specific property owners. And one of the things that I would like to say
on the record is I really want you to make sure that the issues like the use of security guards that are, you
know, armed, unarmed, the use of motor scooters -- I mean -- what do you call them? -- Golf carts and
those things that are used in the normal studios within this district. You know, even if we have to work
with Florida DOT (Department of Transportation) or Motor Vehicle that we can get some exceptions.
What we're talking about is creating a Universal Studio without a wall. And one thing that I want to make
sure that we look at is prohibiting billboards, and signage and those things that otherwise could be there,
as well as removing any billboards that may be in this district, because the worst thing would be trying to
film something, and all of a sudden, you got —
Ms. Gelabert: Sure.
Vice Chairman Winton: Four hundred billboards.
Chairman Teele: -- you know, a billboard that's --
Board Member Sanchez: Billboards.
Chairman Teele: -- you know, if you're going to create that kind of district. So, we can expect that in
January, maybe?
Ms. Gelabert: Yes. We also have a draft with the billboards. Presently, it's in the general commercial
area that allows it. The rest of the Omni does not allow billboards today.
Chairman Teele: All right.
36 11/20/00
11. DISCUSSION;=OF STATUS ON T•HE VDEVELOPMENT: OF A GRAND.QPROlV1ENAM .FROM
'BISCAYNE BOULEVARD TO MIAMI,AVENUE BETWEEN 10 STREET AND 11. ' STREET.
Chairman Teele: And finally, the grand promenade that we're referring to. Ladies and gentlemen,
between IOth Street and 1 lth Street, from Biscayne Boulevard through Miami Avenue -- I guess it goes all
the way up to Northwest 1" Avenue -- is an abandoned railroad right-of-way. We have several business
owners that have been approaching each of us. I think Commissioner Gort has a letter in here that he has
forwarded. And, one of the competing recommendations that the City Planning staff had discussed with
us early on, and Mr. Judy and others was the notion that rather than allowing the business owners to start
grabbing that and parceling it into a parking lot or something else, can we look at creating a unique use of
space, sort of like a European public space and, would you touch upon that?
Ana Gelabert (Director, Planning & Zoning, City of Miami): I would like to -- I don't have a presentation
for that, but Dipak and I spoke briefly, and we will meet and discuss what is the idea, and we will be more
than happy to come back to you with -- working with the CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) with
a presentation of what could be there for the grand boulevard.
Chairman Teele: All right. Dipak, is that (audio equipment faltered a few seconds) the project as opposed
to outside plans, and then we can take -- and this is very important, Commissioner Gort, because, again,
it's this issue that any time the City has space, everybody, you know -- we would agree sort of to look at
this plan, then look at other alternatives and make a decision at that time. But that is item number -- what
item number is that?
Dipak Parekh (Executive Director, CRA): It's 13, sir.
Chairman Teele: Item number 13. And --
Board Member Sanchez: Are we going to 13 now?
Chairman Teele: Yeah. Item number 13 --
Board Member Sanchez: Mr. Chairman, just one thing. Ana, could you provide us with an economic
feasibility analysis on all three items? In other words, what would -- and I'm sure that hypothetically
speaking, you wouldn't know exactly how much that would generate for the CRA. But just, you know,
looking at other -- you know, like New York and Toronto, maybe, Los Angeles on the production and
stuff like that, how much, estimated -wise, how much would it generate for the CRA and the City of
Miami.
Ms. Gelabert: I could certainly try to find out.
Board Member Sanchez: Thank you.
Board Member Gort: Commissioner Teele.
Chairman Teele: Commissioner Gort.
37 11 /20/00
Board Member Gort: I don't know how many property owners own property on both sides of the right-of-
way. And, the reason those people wrote the letter was because they wrote -- they own property on both
sides of it. And, the reason they would like to buy the land is because of the type of development that they
can make if they have the whole thing. Now, in your study, one of the things you can look at is where the
bottom floor stays the same, and maybe the air rights, where they can connect and create something very
significant and very, very beautiful can be done.
Ms. Gelabert: OK.
Board Member Gort: All right?
Ms. Gelabert: Yeah. And I would like to meet again with the CRA and Dipak, perhaps on the -- more
details from the Planning Division on the -- to make sure that we come back.
Board Member Gort: Because a project that could be created with that portion could still be park or green
areas and build above it.
Ms. Gelabert: Yes.
Board Member Gort: Thank you.
Chairman Teele: I think it's very important what Commissioner Gort is saying. And in that regard, I
think it's important that we do -- maybe the CRA will take the initiative in providing the information --
but we do a survey of the property owners and we meet with each of the property owners and get their
ideas on both sides, whether they own one side or the other or both sides. But the fact of the matter is we
need to at least know what --
Ms. Gelabert: I agree.
Chairman Teele: -- people have. Right now, just so that it's very clear, we're probably losing thirty, forty
thousand dollars ($40,000) a year in parking, because everybody is parking there. And you go there on 1
o'clock, 2 o'clock, Friday night, Saturday morning, Sunday night, and the people from Club Space, God
bless them, are doing what every other group of entrepreneurs do. They are charging everybody to park
right there on the CRA land, and not just that land, other CRA land in the area. And, part of -- you know,
the challenge that we've got to do is, that we've got to basically get control of our land, and put it to not
the most convenient use, but the best use for the neighborhood and for the overall development of the
plan. All right?
Ms. Gelabert: All right.
Chairman Teele: So time is really of the essence in this area.
38 11/20/00
12: (A) TRANSFER PARKING LOT (P7) TO BLACK ARCHIVES -, ;. PROVIDE TESTING
AND REMEDIATION -- ACCEPT ALLEY BY LYRIC THEATER;
(B) CONSTRUCTION: OF PARKING LOTS P2; P3, AN] D P4; S,&MEx CONTRACTORS ,FOR
P1,' P5 AND P7, AND'FENCING:°
Chairman Teele: OK. We've got a number of items. I don't think -- there's only one or two controversial
items, and that is the item relating to Mr. -- the housing unit. Ms. Sawyer, did you want to come forward?
If so, we'll take up Item Number -- if you're ready to leave.
Dorothy Fields: She has to get to the microphone.
Chairman Teele: Item number 20-A and B.
Vice Chairman Winton: Twenty -A and B?
Commissioner Teele: Right. Twenty, 2-0, "A" and `B." Ms. Sawyer, you wanted to make a statement, I
believe?
Bernice Sawyer: Yes.
Chairman Teele: It relates to 20-B, P-7.
Ms. Sawyer: Yes. In reference to the parking lot.
Chairman Teele: Your name is Ms. Bernice Sawyer.
Ms. Sawyer: I'm Bernice Sawyer, yes.
Commissioner Teele: And you live at?
Ms. Sawyer: And I live at -- I don't know the exact address.
Commissioner Teele: Poinciana Village.
Ms. Sawyer: Yeah, Poinciana Village. That's good enough. We have been struggling a long time in
Overtown, and at first, the City Commission said they wouldn't bother that little piece of land. And then
the City came back and they said that I had to get rid of it. And so I told them that the Black Archives
needed space, and we'd like for them to have it so they could have some place to park, because, as you
know, they put a mural on the little bit of land that they did have. And this was just a small piece of land.
And so that was what was done. But now, I understand that they didn't do that. So where do we go from
here?
Chairman Teele: Ms. Sawyer, that's totally incorrect. Let me tell you exactly what has happened.
Ms. Sawyer: OK.
39 11 /20/00
Chairman Teele: Because I reconstructed the record. Your family, your husband and you sold the City of
Miami --
Ms. Sawyer: Yes.
Chairman Teele: -- back in the `80s --
Ms. Sawyer: Yes.
Chairman Teele: -- this land, which was a gas station.
Ms. Sawyer: Yes.
Chairman Teele: Subsequently, the City of Miami deeded it or conveyed it to the CRA (Community
Redevelopment Agency). Two years ago, the CRA planning consultant recommended that this lot that
was just vacant there be environmentally cleaned and cleared of all the tanks and everything that's
underneath it at the cost to the CRA, and further, that the lot be prepared as a finished parking lot, based
upon the plans by the consultant of the Black Archives. And it's my understanding to date that the CRA is
prepared to go ahead -- the Executive Director, at least, has recommended that the CRA go ahead and
pave the parking lot and prepare it for the primary use of the Black Archives. The cost of that is going to
be approximately -- Dipak, did you all have a memo? Because we asked that you all research all of the
money that we've spent on that lot, starting with the engineering and the excavation, et cetera.
Dipak Parekh (Executive Director, CRA): You will have it momentarily.
Chairman Teele: But essentially, the CRA is prepared -- is the consultant here? Mr. King or anyone?
Ms. Sawyer: You said that the CRA did pay for the clearing of the land?
Chairman Teele: The CRA --
Ms. Sawyer: I had to pay five thousand dollars ($5,000) for --
Chairman Teele: When was this?
Ms. Sawyer: Before it was sold.
Chairman Teele: Back in the `80s?
Ms. Sawyer: Yes. For -- what do you call that --
Ms. Fields: Cleaning up.
Ms. Sawyer: No, it wasn't cleaning up. It was the --
Chairman Teele: Ms. Garcia, did you all do an environmental on this?
40 11 /20/00
Tere Garcia: No, we did not.
Chairman Teele: Who did the envirommental on it?
Ms. Garcia: That was one of the parking lots that was going to be done by, I believe, staff engineering or I
believe that the consultant for the Lyric Theater had already a plan for it. But that was not one that was
included; 2, 3 and 4 were the ones that we took care of all the environmental, of all the environmental
work.
Mr. Richard Heisenbottle: Someone needs to take care of the environmental on this.
Ms. Garcia: I agree.
Chairman Teele: Say again?
Mr. Heisenbottle: Someone needs to take care of the environmental work on P-7, as well.
Chairman Teele: Well, look, this is the point. And I mean, I want to be very clear about this. Everything
-- and I think confusion is being created. Since I have been here, the one thing that I've said is we're not
going to do what the City of Miami has traditionally done, that's give problems to the neighborhood. The
CRA voted and approved that we will take the responsibility of clearing that lot environmentally, which
was a gas station. Is that correct, Dipak?
Mr. Parekh: Yes, sir. Level 1 was already done.
Chairman Teele: Level 1 was already done.
Mr. Parekh: Yes.
Chairman Teele: We also have said -- and the item on the agenda right here, which is 20-B -- is that we're
approving the construction of a parking lot, P-1, 5 and 7. This is P-7, right?
Mr. Parekh: Yes, sir.
Chairman Teele: To the plans as done by the Black Archives engineer. Is that correct?
Mr. Parekh: Yes, sir.
Chairman Teele: And what's the total cost of all of this work going to be, approximately? No, no, no, for
just P-7. It's approximately going to be two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000), as I understand the
numbers.
Mr. Parekh: Yes, sir. And the engineering cost us twelve thousand dollars ($12,000), and Phase I,
twenty-five hundred dollars ($2500).
41 11 /20/00
Chairman Teele: Did we pay for the Phase I?
Mr. Parekh: Yes, sir.
Chairman Teele: OK. So the point I want to be very clear is this: The easy thing for the CRA to do
would be to say we're going to turn the lot over to the Black Archives. And then you all have got a two
hundred thousand dollar ($200,000) expenditure on you all, or a hundred plus thousand -dollar
expenditure. What I thought we were doing is what -- you know, the consultants said that they had met
with everybody, which was to take your consultants' plan and to implement it at our cost, because we own
the land. Now, if we transfer the land, we obviously are not in the business of doing that that way. So you
need to tell us what you'd like to do, Ms. Fields.
Dorothy Fields: We need --
Chairman Teele: Dorothy Fields, Black Archives.
Ms. Fields: Thanks. Dorothy Fields from the Black Archives and a member of the board for the Lyric
Theater. We're asking the CRA to convey Parking Lot 7 to the Lyric Theater. We're asking that you
vacate the alley for replatting as a part of the parking lot, and to give evidence of Level 2 testing on the
property. We have State funds in the amount of five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) to begin the
expansion on the north side of the theater. In order to begin this expansion, the electrical equipment on
the north side must be relocated, and a loading dock connected to the theater is needed on the south side.
State funds require that the owner, lessor sign a restrictive covenant regarding usage of the theater. And
you all have in your packages information from the State of Florida setting forth that information. Now,
before the CRA took possession of the property on the south side of the theater, the previous owner, Bill
and Bernice Sawyer intended to give it to the Lyric Theater. That's why I asked Ms. Sawyer to come
today, and appreciate her making that long walk. But it was important to her to be able to say that the
intent of the family was to give the property to the Lyric Theater. However, because there was previously
a gas station on the site with suspected oil spill, this property was deeded to or given to the City of Miami
to be -- with the understanding that it would be conveyed to the Lyric after the oil spill was cleared.
We've been told on several occasions that Level 2 testing has been done, and we have asked for that
evidence, because the State is going to require that we show the Level 2 clearing has been done. And we
are asking the City to do Level 2 testing if it has not been done. If it has been done, then certainly, just
give us the information. The time frame to utilize available state funds is very tight. Construction
drawings for Parking Lot 7 are complete, and Mr. Heisenbottle will talk about that. Replatting takes an
estimated eight months. State funds that we have in hand must be encumbered by June 30, 2001. The
latest State funds can be expended with an approved extension is April 30, 2002. So we really are in a
time warp to have this land replatted to us. The Chairman had asked earlier --
Chairman Teele: Ms. Fields, let me see if I understand this. Are we talking about just the parking lot?
Because --
Ms. Fields: Just the parking lot. Just P-7.
Chairman Teele: Mr. Attorney -- where is the City Attorney?
42 11 /20/00
Alejandro Vilarello (City Attorney, City of Miami): Right here, sir.
Chairman Teele: How can we tonight deed P-7 over to the Black Archives? What are the limitations by
State law? Do we have to get consideration? Do we -- Can we do it as a grant? I support doing it as a
grant. But I'm totally confused right this moment, because it was my understanding, after meeting with
Ms. Fields, after hearing from both Mr. Tyler and Mr. Dipak that we were doing the Black Archives the
best favor we could do by paving the lot, et cetera, and fixing it up to the tune of two hundred thousand
dollars ($200,000). If their request is to turn the land over to them and let them do it, I don't have any
problem. If they've got the money to do it, you know, that just frees up two hundred thousand dollars
($200,000) for some other uses. So Mr. Attorney, how can we do it? I think all of us want to do not only
what Ms. Sawyer intended, but,we want to support the Black Archives to the extent that we legally can.
And, you know, every time we get into this property stuff, I turn to the lawyers, because the one thing that
the CRA has got to be very careful about, in my judgment, is how we move property under Chapter 163.
Mr. Vilarello: Commissioner, certainly, Mr. Bloom has been directly involved in this. Is this on?
Chairman Teele: I don't mean at all to cut you out, Mr. Bloom. I apologize. I was trying to kill two birds
with one stone, so to speak.
Mr. Vilarello: The process does require some notice and advertising and perhaps Mr. Bloom can address
that. The answer to your question, though, initially was -- your question was, "Can you do it tonight?"
And the answer is: "No." Perhaps Mr. Bloom can explain that.
Chairman Teele: What can we do tonight? Give us a motion that someone can make to instruct the City -
- I'm sorry. We can't instruct the City Manager of anything up here. What can we do to instruct the
Executive Director and the counsel, including special counsel to prepare this so that it is ready to move at
the next board meeting? If necessary, we'll call a board meeting for it.
Mr. Vilarello: Exactly that, Commissioner. To prepare all the necessary documents, to do all the
necessary notices required by state statute to deed the property over to the Black Archives. And you can
direct the Executive Director to do that, together with the assistance of either special counsel or my office.
Board Member Sanchez: Mr. Chairman.
Chairman Teele: Commissioner.
Mr. Vilarello: And that would have to be approved at the next board meeting of the CRA.
Chairman Teele: Can we do it without consideration? Mr. Judy, you know, you guys need to tell us, now,
because whatever the rules are, this is the rule we're going to live with, because when I wanted to do this
for Housing -- who was that for? The -- ?
William Bloom (Legal Counsel, CRA): Jubilee.
Chairman Teele: -- Jubilee, you all told me I couldn't do it.
43 11 /20/00
Mr. Bloom: Right.
Chairman Teele: Is that right?
Mr. Bloom: That's correct.
Chairman Teele: So can we do it for the Black Archives?
Mr. Bloom: It's my understanding it has to be done for consideration. And that doesn't mean you can't
give grants to offset the cost. But it's something I think we have to research and present at the next
meeting.
Vice Chairman Winton: Well, how do you define "for consideration"?
(UNINTELLIGIBLE COMMENTS)
Richard Judy (Executive Director, CRA): There's a provision in the statute where you come with the
findings to justify it. It has to be real. And I'm just telling you point blank what 380 says.
Chairman Teele: Does it have to be fair market value?
Mr. Judy: No, sir. It can be -- there are exceptions to it, but you have to deal with it carefully. And I
think it's in the best interest of everybody that we get together and do that, and not -- and work that out
first. There is a way to do it, but I think --
Vice Chairman Winton: Well, we also need to understand what the time frame is there, because there's
real money, State money at risk. And --
Mr. Judy: We'd like to check that out also, because I think that the property that they're talking about is
the northern property, and that's with the (unintelligible).
Ms. Fields: No, no, we have the money, Mr. Judy. The northern property we already own. We're talking
specifically about Lot 7.
Chairman Teele: The southern block.
Mr. Judy: That's the five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) --
Chairman Teele: I'm confused.
Board Member Sanchez: Is it just PZ-7? I mean, is it just P-7?
Chairman Teele: At this point --
(UNINTELLIGIBLE COMMENTS.)
44 11 /20/00
Board Member Sanchez: We've taken care of that. Now, the other thing is, you know, we have to be very
careful, once again, as the Chairman said it, very careful that we don't violate the 163. So I think that the
legal should tell us exactly how to do it, so it's done right, because we've got to be very careful, once
again. When it comes to transfer of land and stuff, that's a major concern that I have.
Ms. Fields: And we would also ask that the --
Chairman Teele: Excuse me. Hold it, hold it. Please, let's just take one thing at a time. I'm going to
yield to the Vice Chair for the purpose of making a motion. Mr. Chairman, would you accept.
Vice Chairman Winton: Please.
Chairman Teele: I would move that the CRA staff and attorney, working with the City staff, prepare the
proper notices, and resolutions and recommendations to facilitate the transfer for consideration of what is
now referred to as P-7 Parking Lot to the Black Archives, as is, immediately, and that at the next board
meeting, notices be provided for further action by the CRA on December 18th. I would so move.
Board Member Sanchez: Second.
Vice Chairman Winton: We have a motion and a second. Discussion.
Board Member Sanchez: Discussion. My dear, would that give you sufficient time?
Ms. Fields: Yes.
Board Member Sanchez: OK.
Ms. Fields: But we would also ask that the level testing -- Mr. Tyler, assured us that level testing --
Chairman Teele: I include -- I will include that we be responsible for providing the testing.
Vice Chairman Winton: Phase II.
Chairman Teele: Phase II testing, which has not been done, as a part of the transfer of land.
Ms. Fields: Yes.
Mr. Heisenbottle: Commissioner, can we also elicit your assistance in going forward with the vacation of
the alleyway, the ten -foot alley --
Chairman Teele: Hold it, hold it, hold it. No, no. One motion at a time.
Mr. Heisenbottle: OK.
Chairman Teele: And I would further amend that the Phase II testing, as well as remediation be provided
as part of the motion.
45 11 /20/00
•
Board Member Sanchez: What are we talking about here?
Chairman Teele: We have no idea what remediation is. So -- but my view is if the City has had the land,
we should have done it and cleaned it up, anyway. And I don't think we ought to continue to transfer
responsibilities of remediation onto private property owners. You know, we're going to pay it either out
of the CRA pocket or we're going to pay it out of the City pocket, because the Black Archives, in all
honesty, generates most of its -- 99 percent of its revenue-- 95 percent of its revenue from governmental
bodies. So it's no need in arguing about who's going to pay for it. We ought to just go ahead and pay for
it.
Board Member Gort: Mr. Teele.
Vice Chairman Winton: Commissioner.
Board Member Gort: Oh, I'm sorry. Mr. Chairman, my understanding is, in looking at different projects
that have been done throughout the City, I believe we -- and I agree with Commissioner Teele. We need
to work with the Lyric Theater. I think this is one focal point that if well done and is established can bring
a lot of people into the area, which is much needed. So I think we should try to do whatever is possible to
make sure that it gets done.
Vice Chairman Winton: Commissioner Sanchez.
Board Member Sanchez: Once again, we are turning the land over to them. Two is, we did Phase I. I'm a
little concerned that we're going to end up paying for Phase II and mediation. That's the concern that I
have as the seconder of the motion. That's the concern that I have.
Chairman Teele: May I respond?
Board Member Sanchez: Yes, sir.
Chairman Teele: Commissioner, let me tell you what's so ridiculous about this. The resolution that is
before us right now -- not the one that I just made -- we would have done Phase I, done Phase II, paved it
and given it to them for one dollar ($1) a year. And it doesn't take a -- you know, I can figure out what
the best deal is. But this is the deal that they want, and this is the deal that I'm prepared to give them. But
-- because we were going to pay-- we had budgeted almost two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000).
This resolution, in effect, saves the CRA two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000).
Board Member Sanchez: I understand that, but I was never informed we were going to turn it over to
them.
Chairman Teele: Well, this lot, P-7 has always been for the benefit of the Lyric Theater. It has no other
use other than for the community. The longshoremen and other activities in the area -- it's directly in
front of the longshoremen union hall, directly adjacent to the Lyric Theater. The only thing that -- 81h
Street is right there. So the only beneficiary users will be the Lyric Theater, the longshoremen union hall
and any businesses. The way we have justified this in funding it is funding it as an economic development
46 11 /20/00
activity for the businesses and the longshoremen in the area. It's not -- because, remember, we've said
consistently, if it's going to be for a culture activity, the CRA is not going to do it. That goes to the City
of Miami. This is not the culture agency funding source. The City of Miami does that. We are into the
economic development. And we justify this parking lot as a part of the overall economic development of
this neighborhood. There's a corner grocery store that has no parking there. There is a longshoremen
union hall that is there. So we've tried to work constructively with the overall neighborhood. If they
would like it for their exclusive use, the concern that I would have had, and I mean, I'll state it on the
record, is when it's not in use, when the Lyric Theater is not in use, which is going to be, you know, 85,
90 percent of the time, if you take the day and divide a clock around it to 24 hours, what you're doing is
taking a parking lot, now, out of circulation for economic activities. And that's my concern. But, you
know, six in one hand, half a dozen in the other.
Board Member Sanchez: And another question I have: Is that property in litigation right now?
Chairman Teele: No, sir.
Board Member Sanchez: No, it's not? OK.
Vice Chairman Winton: Commissioner --
Board Member Sanchez: Call the question.
Vice Chairman Winton: Well, I have one -- I'm 100 percent in favor of everything Commissioner Teele
has said, and I think we've got to do this. I am concerned, however, about one piece of this, and I do
agree with the concept that we need to remediate it, period. But I am concerned about making a motion
that obligates us in a time certain process here to undertake a financial obligation that we really -- at least
right now, I don't, and maybe you all have some numbers, but I have no idea what that financial
obligation is. And if I knew what it was, then it would be easier for me to say, absolutely, yes, we've got
to spend the money to do it. But not knowing what that is, it doesn't --
Chairman Teele: I'll be more than happy to remove the remediation portion from that for the purpose of
this motion to move forward, and then take that up as a second motion.
Vice Chairman Winton: Right. And understanding that we're in favoring of doing the -- I agree with you.
It's our responsibility to get it done, but I'd like to know what the number is before I vote on this. So
we'll remove that.
Chairman Teele: Call the question.
Board Member Sanchez: With the clarification --
Chairman Teele: With the clarification the remediation is removed from this motion.
Board Member Sanchez: Second.
47 11 /20/00
u
Mr. Bloom: Well, one other clarification I'd like to make. As you know, there was an RFP (Request for
Proposals) done in 1996 with respect to the Lyric Village.
Chairman Teele: No, this has nothing to do with that.
Mr. Bloom: I just wanted to make -- clarify that these lots, as far as I know --
Chairman Teele: This is only one lot.
Ms. Fields: This is the parking lot.
Mr. Heisenbottle: No, it's more than one lot.
Mr. Bloom: This appears to be Lots 37, 44 and 45. That's what they're talking about.
Chairman Teele: What we call P-7, yes.
Mr. Heisenbottle: What we call P-7.
Chairman Teele: Correct.
Vice Chairman Winton: So those three lots.
(UNINTELLIGIBLE COMMENTS.)
Vice Chairman Winton: And Mr. Bloom?
Mr. Bloom: To clarify, it's our intention that these lots were not part of that RFP.
Chairman Teele: Right. To the extent that these lots are not a part of that RFP. That's correct.
Mr. Bloom: That's correct.
Chairman Teele: Call the question.
Vice Chairman Winton: OK. We have a motion and a second. All in favor, "aye."
The Board (Collectively): Aye.
Vice Chairman Winton: Like sign, opposed. The motion carries unanimously.
48 11 /20/00
•
The following motion was introduced by Chairman Teele, who moved for its adoption:
SEOPW/CRA MOTION NO. 00-103
A MOTION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE
COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY ("CRA") DIRECTING
THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND THE ATTORNEY TO WORK
WITH THE CITY OF MIAMI ADMINISTRATION, TO PREPARE THE
PROPER NOTICES, RESOLUTIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
TO FACILITATE THE IMMEDIATE TRANSFER OF WHAT IS NOW
REFERRED TO AS P-7 PARKING LOT, "AS IS," TO THE BLACK
ARCHIVES; FURTHER DIRECTING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
TO PROVIDE FOR PHASE II TESTING WHICH HAS NOT BEEN
DONE AS A PART OF THE TRANSFER OF LAND; AND FURTHER
DIRECTING THAT SAID MATTER BE SCHEDULED FOR THE
NEXT CRA MEETING ON DECEMBER 18, 2000.
Upon being seconded by Board Member Sanchez, the motion was passed and adopted by the following
vote:
AYES: Board Member Wifredo Gort
Board Member Tomas Regalado
Board Member Joe Sanchez
Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Vice Chairman Johnny L. Winton
NAYS: None
ABSENT: None
Chairman Teele: Mr. Chairman, a second motion would be to instruct the Executive Director to prepare a
recommendation and resolution at the next meeting providing a grant from tax increment funds -- from tax
increment funds to the Lyric Village -- to the Lyric Theater for the purpose of providing legal
consideration of this land; and further, to make a recommendation regarding the remediation relating to
the land. I would so move.
Vice Chairman Winton: We have a motion and a second. Discussion.
Chairman Teele: Discussion. Mr. Chairman, the purpose of this is this: It does us no good to -- Did you
say you all have the money for this?
Board Member Sanchez: Yes.
Chairman Teele: I withdraw the motion.
49 11 /20/00
•
Board Member Sanchez: That's the concern. My concern is that --
Chairman Teele: I withdraw the motion.
(UNINTELLIGIBLE COMMENTS.)
Ms. Fields: We were told that the Level 2 testing has already been done on the property, so we're asking
for the evidence of that. If not, we would certainly, since the City has had the property since the `80s, we
would ask that that would be done, because our money is for capital improvement.
Chairman Teele: Ms. Fields -- Mr. Chairman, if you would allow it, I would move that the Executive
Director in the next meeting make a recommendation and determine the funding necessary for Level 2
remediation as necessary, if it has not been done.
Vice Chairman Winton: Well, it's for the Phase II test and --
Chairman Teele: I'm going to take it a step further. Phase II test and remediation.
(UNINTELLIGIBLE COMMENTS.)
Board Member Sanchez: And my concern is I just can't write a blank check.
Chairman Teele: OK. All we're doing is directing them to go back at the next meeting.
Board Member Sanchez: OK. Second.
Vice Chairman Winton: OK. We have a motion and a second. Any other discussion? Being none, all in
favor, "aye."
The Board (Collectively): Aye.
Vice Chairman Winton: Like sign, opposed. The motion carries unanimously.
The following motion was introduced by Chairman Teele, who moved for its adoption:
SEOPW/CRA MOTION NO. 00-104
A MOTION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE
COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY ("CRA") DIRECTING
THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO
DETERMINE NECESSARY FUNDING FOR PHASE II TESTING AND
REMEDIATION RELATED TO P-7 PARKING LOT.
50 11/20/00
Upon being seconded by Board Member Sanchez, the motion was passed and adopted by the following
vote:
AYES: Board Member Wifredo Gort
Board Member Tomas Regalado
Board Member Joe Sanchez
Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Vice Chairman Johnny L. Winton
NAYS: None
ABSENT: None
Chairman Teele: Mr. Chairman, would you just hold onto that, because Ms. Fields -- I'm sorry.
Ms. Fields: Yes. We just have one more item, and that is that the alley behind the Lyric be vacated so
that it can be replatted as a part of Parking Lot 7. That's where the loading dock is to be for the theater,
and it's the alley that we share with the CRA.
Vice Chairman Winton: And it's a dedicated alleyway?
Richard Heisenbottle: It's a dedicated alleyway, John, only on paper. Never been improved.
Vice Chairman Winton: Never been used, right?
Mr. Heisenbottle: Just sitting there doing nothing right now.
Board Member Sanchez: Mr. Attorney --
Chairman Teele: Mr. Chairman, I would move the acceptance of the dedication of the alleyway to the
extent it is not a part of the RFP that was done relating to the Lyric Village, and further require that the
staff conduct surveys to determine the exact parameters and determine the feasibility of that dedication.
Mr. Judy: Feasibility, right.
Chairman Teele: Feasibility as well as the lawyers to provide an affirmative sign -off or memorandum that
this is a matter that we can do, in that it is not in litigation. I would so move.
Board Member Regalado: Mr. Chairman.
Vice Chairman Winton: Do we have a motion?
Mr. Bloom: Well, Commissioner --
Vice Chairman Winton: Do we have a second?
51 11 /20/00
Board Member Regalado: Second.
Mr. Bloom: The item is in litigation at this point with respect to Lyric Village, and to the extent that
alleyway adjoins that property, there's an access --
Chairman Teele: Can't do it.
pMr. Bloom: Can't do it.
Ms. Fields: Well, part of --
Board Member Sanchez: That was going to be my question.
Vice Chairman Winton: Hold on, hold on.
Board Member Sanchez: That was my question. I knew that one of the properties was in litigation, and
that's a concern.
Mr. Judy: So is the alley.
Mr. Bloom: Correct.
Mr. Heisenbottle: How can the alleyway be in litigation, Mr. Judy?
Mr. Judy: Because there's a possibility of access into that. There's a whole problem of the two road
systems there. As you well know, there is a problem there. We should look at the development concept
for that lot to be sure that it's saved and being used properly for both your interest and the interest of our
property, that's very, very valuable and can be very negative if we don't have proper access. You have
the Ninth Street Mall on the north, which makes it very difficult to get the proper access to that property.
All I'm saying is you want to look at that carefully, being sure that it benefits everyone in that area
properly.
Mr. Heisenbottle: Mr. Judy, this is a ten -foot alley, not big enough for a fire truck --
Mr. Judy: I understand that. We could add more property. We could -- more to that alley would have to
be added from our property to make it work out.
Vice Chairman Winton: Excuse me. Mr. City Attorney.
Mr. Vilarello: Independent of Mr. Judy's comments, the process for vacating the alley requires the
consent and replatting of the adjoining property owners.
Vice Chairman Winton: Right.
52 11/20/00
Mr. Vilarello: So I think what he's referring to is if we're in litigation with those adjacent property
owners, their consent is going to be difficult to achieve. So that's independent of Mr. Judy's comments.
Vice Chairman Winton: But it may not be impossible.
Chairman Teele: But there is a bigger problem. And the bigger problem is our position -- and I don't
want to get into the litigation -- but our position is that they don't have any rights, anyway. That has been
the legal position of the staff ever since I've come here, is that what we granted them was -- them and
other similarly situated was an opportunity to come forth with a development plan. They never came forth
with that development plan. So all they have is literally something short of a legal right. Going to them,
asking them to sign something confers -- legally, it confers, certainly, that you're acknowledging that
right. And that's why we need to get to the last item on the Agenda, so we can clear up these issues,
because these are problems none of us were sitting here -- None of us were sitting here when the City of
Miami made these decisions. These were things done in '84, '83, '85. Willy, I don't know if you were
here but --
Board Member Gort: No.
Chairman Teele: The fact of the matter is I think it's just --
(UNINTELLIGIBLE COMMENTS.)
Board Member Gort: I inherited a lot of problems.
Chairman Teele: The problem is, is that this piece of property, the Lyric Village, along with the other one
-- what's the other one?
Mr. Judy: Sawyer's Walk.
Chairman Teele: -- Sawyer's Walk was a decision made by the City Commission, and it has just been
sitting there for the last -- what?
Mr. Bloom: Ten years.
Chairman Teele: Ten to 12 years. So --
Mr. Judy: Try 15.
Board Member Regalado: Mr. Chairman.
Vice Chairman Winton: Yes, sir.
Board Member Regalado: Just a comment, not regarding litigation, but anyone that has visited the Lyric
Theater and has been backstage would have to understand that without that alley, there is no way that you
can present quality shows, because you don't have the possibility of bringing props, or you don't have the
possibility of having your support mechanism for the theater. It's just -- You go out of the stage, and you
53 11/20/00
will fall on the property. I don't know the remedy for this, but I would think that at least we should
commit that whenever litigation is over, that alley will belong to the Lyric because --
Chairman Teele: My motion does that. That's what I'm moving. And that they be instructed to go ahead
and survey it, Tomas. But let me just say this on the point: This didn't happen in the `80s. This happened
in the `90s, because I wrote a letter as Chairman of the County Commission to the City asking them to
withdraw -- Dorothy, Ms. Fields, you know this -- we discussed this.
Ms. Fields: Yes.
Chairman Teele: -- to reserve sufficient space for the Lyric Theater as opposed to putting it out under
RFP when I saw it. And the City refused to acknowledge the fact that the Lyric Theater needed more
space. And when they did the RFP, it included all of the land right up to the Lyric Theater. And it was
wrong. It must have been in `92/93 when this was done. So I mean we have to sit in the shoes of our
predecessors who tied our hands. But I think there is certainly commitment on the part of the five of us
that we're all willing to work through this process as soon as it becomes legally possible.
Vice Chairman Winton: Ms. Fields.
Ms. Fields: Mr. Chairman,, I must thank you, and we must put on the record that we do have a business
plan. You've asked that several times. You've asked it publicly and we need to acknowledge publicly
that Miami Economic Associates, Incorporated, in conjunction with Real Estate Research Consultants of
Orlando performed an analysis to preliminarily assess the potential financial viability of the theater. The
report surveyed four similar theaters across the country. The findings showed that the facilities surveyed
are either breaking even or recording cash flow. And so while right now the Lyric Theater in Miami's
Overtown is 90 percent grants, we don't expect that to continue. These models of the four other facilities
are being considered by the Lyric Theater management, and we will use the best for ourselves. The Lyric
Theater has the potential to continue to be productive, to generate funds to sustain operations, and to serve
as an economic generator and centerpiece for the redevelopment area. And, of course, all of that means,
just as Commissioner Regalado said, we will eventually need more land. And as you tried to get it for us
in '92, not only the alley, but we'll need property east. Know, too, that we have a general manager, if he
would stand. Another first step was the hiring of a full-time experienced general manager, James Henley.
He's here to produce shows, build an audience, operate and maintain the theater. Mr. Henley owned, and
operated and managed several theaters in Chicago. One of them was called the Lyric. He has relocated to
Miami as the first general manager at the restored Lyric Theater. Our consultants are here. Our economic
consultant is here, Andy Delgart (phonetic), if you want to speak with him or want him to say something
as to the next steps for our economic development plan or our -- not that, but our business plan. So Mr.
Chairman, know that we do have the makings of a business plan, and it looks good.
Vice Chairman Winton: Thank you, Dorothy. We need to --
Chairman Teele: Call the question.
Vice Chairman Winton: Yes. OK. We have a motion and a second. All in favor, "aye."
The Board (Collectively): Aye.
54 11/20/00
Vice Chairman Winton: Like sign, opposed. The motion carries unanimously.
The following motion was introduced by Chairman Teele, who moved for its adoption:
SEOPW/CRA MOTION NO. 00-105
A MOTION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE
COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY ("CRA")
AUTHORIZING AND DIRECTING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO
PROCEED WITH THE ACCEPTANCE OF THE DEDICATION OF
THE ALLEY BEHIND THE LYRIC THEATER TO THE EXTENT
THAT IT IS NOT A PART OF THE REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
THAT WAS DONE RELATED TO THE LYRIC VILLAGE; FURTHER
INSTRUCTING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO CONDUCT
SURVEYS TO DETERMINE THE EXACT PARAMETERS AND
FEASIBILITY OF THAT DEDICATION; FURTHER INSTRUCTING
THE CRA BOARD ATTORNEY TO PROVIDE AN AFFIRMATIVE
SIGN -OFF MEMORANDUM WHEN THIS MATTER IS LEGALLY
READY TO PROCEED.
Upon being seconded by Board Member Regalado, the motion was passed and adopted by the following
vote:
AYES: Board Member Wifredo Gort
Board Member Tomas Regalado
Board Member Joe Sanchez
Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Vice Chairman Johnny L. Winton
NAYS: None
ABSENT: None
Vice Chairman Winton: Thank you very much.
Ms. Fields: Thank you very much for your concern and support.
Chairman Teele: Would you hold on. I would like to go ahead and --
David Days: Mr. Chairman, I'm sorry. I don't want -- While I --
Vice Chairman Winton: Yes, sir.
Mr. Days: She said that you're going to do it now.
55 11 /20/00
•
Chairman Teele: I don't know what she said I'm going to do. I'm going to get the other parking lots
built, because while we're sitting here talking, rolling around, I don't want to lose the fact that we got
businesses all over Overtown that don't have any parking. And I want to go ahead and move item number
20-A and 20-B before we --
Mr. Days: Well, there's something I want to ask you wile I have our attorney here, since we've reached
the subject of the Lyric Village property. Could I please have him speak just --
Chairman Teele: If you all are going to leave right now, I have no objection. But it's on the Agenda, and
we need to talk about the Lyric Village in the context of Sawyer's Walk. And it's on the Agenda and
we're going to get to it.
Vice Chairman Winton: As what agenda item number?
Chairman Teele: It's item number 24 and 25.
Vice Chairman Winton: All right. So it's on our agenda here. We'll be right there.
Chairman Teele: Mr. Chairman.
Vice Chairman Winton: Yes, sir.
Chairman Teele: I would move item number 20-A, which is a resolution approving the low bidders for
the construction of Parking Lots Numbers 2, 3 and 4, and further authorizing the Executive Director to
enter into an agreement with the contractor to the same.
Board Member Sanchez: Second.
Vice Chairman Winton: We have a motion and a second. Discussion.
Board Member Sanchez: It's about time.
Chairman Teele: It's about time.
Vice Chairman Winton: Further discussion? Being none --
Board Member Sanchez: No further discussion, it's about time.
Vice Chairman Winton: OK. We have a motion and a second. All in favor, "aye."
The Board (Collectively): Aye.
Vice Chairman Winton: Like sign, opposed. The motion carries.
The following resolution was introduced by Chairman Teele, who moved for its adoption:
56 11/20/00
SEOPW/CRA RESOLUTION NO. 00-106
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE
COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY ("CRA") APPROVING
THE LOW BIDDER CONSTRUCTION OF THE CRA PARKING LOTS
P2, P3 AND P4, AND FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH THE SAME
CONTRACTOR.
(Here follows body of the resolution, omitted here and on file in the Office of the City Clerk.)
Upon being seconded by Board Member Sanchez, the resolution was passed and adopted by the following
vote:
AYES: Board Member Wifredo Gort
Board Member Tomas Regalado
Board Member Joe Sanchez
Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Vice Chairman Johnny L. Winton
NAYS: None
ABSENT: None
Chairman Teele: Mr. Chairman, I would further move a resolution approving the same contractor
assigned to P2, 3 and 4 as a sole source provider for Parking Lots 1 and 5, and any additional fencing
necessary. I would so move.
Board Member Sanchez: Second.
Vice Chairman Winton: We have a motion and a second. Discussion?
Board Member Sanchez: None.
Vice Chairman Winton: Being none, all in favor, "aye."
The Board (Collectively): Aye.
Vice Chairman Winton: Like sign, opposed. The motion carries.
57 11 /20/00
•
The following resolution was introduced by Chairman Teele, who moved for its adoption:
SEOPW/CRA RESOLUTION NO. 00-107
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE
COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY ("CRA") AUTHORIZING
THE SAME CONTRACTORS ASSIGNED TO PARKING LOTS P2, P3
AND P4 AS THE SOLE SOURCE CONTRACTOR FOR PARKING
LOTS P1, P5 AND P7 AND ANY ADDITIONAL FENCING.
(Here follows body of the resolution, omitted here and on file in the Office of the City Clerk.)
Upon being seconded by Board Member Sanchez, the resolution was passed and adopted by the following
vote:
AYES: Board Member Wifredo Gort
Board Member Tomas Regalado
Board Member Joe Sanchez
Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Vice Chairman Johnny L. Winton
NAYS: None
ABSENT: None
Chairman Teele: I have one question. Mr. Executive Director, when can we expect to begin construction
on the parking lots? This is a part of the 3Ta Avenue Business Corridor priority.
Board Member Sanchez: Good question.
Chairman Teele: And can we have a groundbreaking? Since everybody likes to have a groundbreaking.
Board Member Gort: After you finish it.
Chairman Teele: Or a ribbon cutting.
Mr. Parekh: Construction ten days from today.
Chairman Teele: Construction commences.
58 11 /20/00
Board Member Sanchez: Ten days from today?
Mr. Parekh: It commences ten days from today.
Vice Chairman Winton: Did everybody hear that out there? The construction commences ten days from
today.
Chairman Teele: All right. Thank you, Mr. Vice Chairman.
59 11 /20/00
0
•
13. APPROVE: EXECUTION. OF COMMUNITY:°.DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANTS` (CDBG)
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT -AGREEMENT WITH CITY.
Chairman Teele: We're now on item number 8. This is a motion. Would you move it, Commissioner
Regalado?
Board Member Regalado: Yes, I will.
Chairman Teele: This is a motion approving the agreement between the City of Miami and the CRA
(Community Redevelopment Agency) relating to funding. This has been in progress for at least 18
months.
Vice Chairman Winton: Second.
Chairman Teele: Now, does this resolution include both -- do we have two resolutions or one?
Dipak Parekh (Executive Director, CRA): Commissioner, we have two resolutions.
Chairman Teele: OK. So the first one is on the Southeast Overtown/Park West.
Mr. Parekh: Yes, sir.
Chairman Teele: Moved by Commissioner Regalado, seconded by Commissioner Winton. Is there
objection? All in favor say "aye."
The Board (Collectively): Aye.
Chairman Teele: All opposed?
60 11 /20/00
The following resolution was introduced by Board Member Regalado, who moved for its adoption:
SEOPW/CRA RESOLUTION NO. 00-108
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE
COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY ("CRA") APPROVING
THE EXECUTION OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK
GRANTS ("CDBG") ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT
WITH THE CITY OF MIAMI.
(Here follows body of the resolution, omitted here and on file in the Office of the City Clerk.)
Upon being seconded by Vice Chairman Winton, the resolution was passed and adopted by the following
vote:
AYES: Board Member Wifredo Gort
Board Member Tomas Regalado
Board Member Joe Sanchez
Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Vice Chairman Johnny L. Winton
NAYS: None
ABSENT: None
Chairman Teele: The second resolution relates to CDBG funding with the Omni District. Moved by
Commissioner Regalado, seconded by Commissioner Winton. Is there objection? All those in favor, say
Ccaye.
aye.
The Board (Collectively): Aye.
Chairman Teele: All those opposed, say "no." The only issue here is that these are two separate legal
entities and da-da-da-da-da.
61 11 /20/00
• 0
The following resolution was introduced by Board Member Regalado, who moved for its adoption:
OMNI/CRA RESOLUTION NO. 00-54
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE
COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY ("CRA") APPROVING
THE EXECUTION OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK
GRANTS ("CDBG") ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT
WITH THE CITY OF MIAMI.
(Here follows body of the resolution, omitted here and on file in the Office of the City Clerk.)
Upon being seconded by Vice Chairman Winton, the resolution was passed and adopted by the following
vote:
AYES: Board Member Wifredo Gort
Board Member Tomas Regalado
Board Member Joe Sanchez
Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Vice Chairman Johnny L. Winton
NAYS: None
ABSENT: None
62 11 /20/00
14. UPDATE ON PRELIIVIINARY'BUDGET FISCAL YEAR END 2;000 FINANCIAL REPORT.-,,
Commissioner Teele: Item number 9. What's the significance of the financial report, end of year?
Dipak Parekh (Executive Director, CRA): Preliminary numbers have gone up by a hundred thousand
dollars ($100,000) to one point five eight four million.
Chairman Teele: All right. Is there any need to act on it?
Mr. Parekh: No, sir. It's for information purposes.
Chairman Teele: All right.
63 11 /20/00
15. (A)< , APPROVE: ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE AND= ADIVIINISTRATIVE: AUDGET
FOR CRA:
APPROVE ACCOUNTING POLICY AND PROCEDURES \MANUAL.
(C),= APPROVE BUDGETAND FINANCIAL SCHEDULE FOR=FISCAL YEAR 2001. r ,
(D) _ (APPROVE RECONCILED TAX INCREMENT —FUNDING (TIF), 2000-2001 BUDGET.
AUTHORIZE SALARY ANID, :BENEFITS TO BE . RECEIVED BY,., DIPAK,, PAREKH =,
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF:CRA._
' (E) AUTHORIZE, ;SALARY AND. BENEFITS TO -BE RECEIVED BY ; DIPAK PAREKH,
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF CRA.
(F) : REQUEST CITY TO UN -RESTRICT CASH WITH FISCAL AGENT.
Chairman Teele: All right. A resolution regarding the administrative structure and budget. A resolution
approving the accounting policies and procedures. I think we've all had this document out. Is there a
motion?
Vice Chairman Winton: Move it.
Board Member Regalado: Move it.
Chairman Teele: By Commissioner Winton. Second by Commissioner Regalado. Is there objection? All
those in favor, say "aye."
The Board (Collectively): Aye.
Chairman Teele: All those opposed, say "no."
The following resolutions were introduced by Vice Chairman Winton, who moved for their adoption:
SEOPW/CRA RESOLUTION NO. 00-109
OMNFCRA RESOLUTION NO. 00-55
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE
COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY ("CRA") APPROVING
THE ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE AND ADMINISTRATIVE
BUDGET FOR THE CRA.
SEOPW/CRA RESOLUTION NO. 00-109
OMNFCRA RESOLUTION NO. 00-55.1
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE
COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY ("CRA") APPROVING
THE ACCOUNTING POLICY AND PROCEDURES MANUAL.
(Here follows body of the resolutions, omitted here and on file in the Office of the City Clerk.)
64 11 /20/00
•
Upon being seconded by Board Member Regalado, the resolutions were passed and adopted by the
following vote:
AYES: Board Member Wifredo Gort
Board Member Tomas Regalado
Board Member Joe Sanchez
Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Vice Chairman Johnny L. Winton
NAYS: None
ABSENT: None
Chairman Teele: Item 10-B is the budget and financial schedule for fiscal year 2001. Are there any
significant changes?
Board Member Sanchez: None.
Dipak Parekh (Executive Director, CRA): No, sir.
Chairman Teele: Motion by --
Board Member Regalado: Move it.
Chairman Teele: -- Commissioner Regalado.
Board Member Sanchez: Second.
Chairman Teele: By Commissioner Sanchez. Is there objection? All those in favor, say "aye."
The Board (Collectively): Aye.
Chairman Teele: Those opposed --
Board Member Sanchez: It passed, but there was none, right? I thought you were -- there was no
changes?
Chairman Teele: There were no significant changes.
Mr. Parekh: There's no significant changes to that item.
Board Member Sanchez: OK. And you said "no."
Mr. Parekh: No.
Board Member Sanchez: OK.
65 11 /20/00
Chairman Teele: That's a fair question.
The following motion was introduced by Board Member Regalado, who moved for its adoption:
SEOPW/CRA MOTION NO. 00-110
OMNFCRA MOTION NO. 00-56
A MOTION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE
COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY ("CRA") APPROVING
THE BUDGET AND FINANCIAL SCHEDULE FOR FISCAL YEAR
2001.
Upon being seconded by Board Member Sanchez, the motion was passed and adopted by the following
vote:
AYES: Board Member Tomas Regalado
Board Member Joe Sanchez
Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Vice Chairman Johnny L. Winton
NAYS: None
ABSENT: Board Member Wifredo Gort
Chairman Teele: Resolution approving the reconciliation of the Tax Increment Funding for 2000 and
2001.
Board Member Sanchez: So move.
Chairman Teele: Moved by Commissioner Sanchez.
Vice Chairman Winton: Second.
Chairman Teele: Seconded by Commissioner Winton. Is there objection? All those in favor, say "aye."
The Board (Collectively): Aye.
Chairman Teele: Opposed?
66 11 /20/00
•
•
The following resolution was introduced by Board Member Sanchez, who moved for its adoption:
SEOPW/CRA RESOLUTION NO. 00-111
OMNI/CRA RESOLUTION NO. 00-57
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE
COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY ("CRA") APPROVING
THE RECONCILED TAX INCREMENT FUNDING ("TIF") BUDGET
FOR FISCAL YEAR ENDING 2000 AND FISCAL YEAR ENDING
2001.
(Here follows body of the resolution, omitted here and on file in the Office of the City Clerk.)
Upon being seconded by Vice Chairman Winton, the resolution was passed and adopted by the following
vote:
AYES: Board Member Tomas Regalado
Board Member Joe Sanchez
Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Vice Chairman Johnny L. Winton
NAYS: None
ABSENT: Board Member Wifredo Gort
Chairman Teele: Ten-D, the resolution approving the salary and benefits of the Executive Director.
Motion? Commissioner Regalado?
Board Member Regalado: Move it.
Vice Chairman Winton: Second.
Chairman Teele: Second by Commissioner Winton. Is there any change in the traditional level of funding
of salaries?
Mr. Parekh: Yes. By two thousand, nine hundred dollars ($2,900) to the salary, and --
Chairman Teele: Decrease or increase?
Mr. Parekh: Increase, sir.
Board Member Sanchez: I guarantee it ain't going to be no decrease.
Mr. Parekh: But we have cut down from two Executive Directors to one.
67 11/20/00
Chairman Teele: Motion as approved. Is there objection? All in favor say "aye."
The Board (Collectively): Aye.
Chairman Teele: Opposed?
The following resolution was introduced by Board Member Regalado, who moved for its adoption:
SEOPW/CRA RESOLUTION NO. 00-112
OMNI/CRA RESOLUTION NO. 00-58
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE
COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY ("CRA"), WITH
ATTACHMENT (S), AUTHORIZING THE SALARY AND BENEFITS
TO BE RECEIVED BY DIPAK PAREKH, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
OF THE CRA.
(Here follows body of the resolution, omitted here and on file in the Office of the City Clerk.)
Upon being seconded by Vice Chairman Winton, the resolution was passed and adopted by the following
vote:
AYES: Board Member Wifredo Gort
Board Member Tomas Regalado
Board Member Joe Sanchez
Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Vice Chairman Johnny L. Winton
NAYS: None
ABSENT: None
Chairman Teele: Resolution authorizing salary and benefits -- is that deferred?
Mr. Parekh: Deferred, sir, until the next meeting.
Chairman Teele: All right. Motion to defer without objection.
Note for the Record: At this point, agenda item 10-E was deferred to the next regularly scheduled
meeting of the CRA Board.
Chairman Teele: Resolution to approve a request -- now, this is simply a request -- to the City of Miami
to un-restrict the cash with fiscal agents in the amount of five hundred and fifty-four thousand dollars
($554,000). This is pursuant to a resolution and a memorandum dated April -- what's the date of that
memorandum? The letter by Ms. Henry.
68 11/20/00
Mr. Parekh: June 26tn
Chairman Teele: June 26th. This takes no action. It is an action requesting that the City go ahead and do
what we've already voted in the City to do; is that correct?
Mr. Parekh: Yes, sir.
Chairman Teele: OK. Motion.
Board Member Gort: Move it.
Vice Chairman Winton: Move it.
Chairman Teele: Moved by Commissioner Gort, seconded by Commissioner Winton. Is there objection?
All in favor say "aye."
The Board (Collectively): Aye.
Chairman Teele: Opposed?
The following resolution was introduced by Board Member Gort, who moved for its adoption:
SEOPW/CRA RESOLUTION NO. 00-113
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE
COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY ("CRA") REQUESTING
TO THE CITY OF MIAMI ("THE CITY") TO UN -RESTRICT THE
CASH WITH FISCAL AGENT AND FUND BALANCE IN THE
AMOUNT OF $554,148.
(Here follows body of the resolution, omitted here and on file in the Office of the City Clerk.)
Upon being seconded by Vice Chairman Winton, the resolution was passed and adopted by the following
vote:
AYES: Board Member Wifredo Gort
Board Member Tomas Regalado
Board Member Joe Sanchez
Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Vice Chairman Johnny L. Winton
NAYS: None
ABSENT: None
69 11/20/00
16. DIRECT CITY ACTING 1N. CAPACITY AS FIDUCIARY TO CRA TO DEPOSIT ALL FUNDS
ALLOCATED-1--OR DUE- TO CRA ACCOUNTS AND NOT TO MAKE WITHDRAWALS
(DISBURSEMENTS) FROM, ANY' CRA ACCOUNT WITHOUT " z , PRIOR WRITTEN
AUTHORIZATION OF CRA. r
Chairman Teele: This is a motion directing the City of Miami as fiduciary to deposit all funds allocated in
the accounts due and to not make withdrawals or disbursements from any CRA (Community
Redevelopment Agency) account without proper or written authorization from the CRA. Motion.
Vice Chairman Winton: Move it.
Chairman Teele: Moved by Commissioner Winton. Second?
Board Member Gort: Second.
Chairman Teele: By Commissioner Gort. All those in --
Vice Chairman Winton: And comment about it, because I think it's important. And I think the primary --
the primary motive here or message is that the City and the CRA, really, today are working together as a
team, unlike they've worked in many, many years. The City holds all of the cash. The CRA holds none
of the cash. And it is important for the CRA, when they're going about the process of paying bills, doing
their monthly budgets, reconciling where they are, it's critically important that the CRA have a direct
dialogue with the City to understand where the funding is. And so I have an appreciation. But if the City
moves funding from one spot to another, and the CRA is ready to pay bills, and suddenly, there's no
funding there, then it's problematic. So it's very important to continue this partnership that we've created.
And this just solidifies that a bit better and makes the job, I think, of everyone a whole lot easier.
Chairman Teele: That's extremely well stated. This resolution does not suggest that there is any problem
at all. It merely provides the legal authority for the CRA and the City to operate. It's just further
providing structure. There are no problems in this area. On the motion, is there objection? All those in
favor, say "aye."
The Board (Collectively): Aye.
Chairman Teele: Those opposed, "no."
70 11/20/00
•
The following resolution was introduced by Vice Chairman Winton, who moved for its adoption:
SEOPW/CRA RESOLUTION NO. 00-114
OMNI/CRA RESOLUTION NO. 00-59
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE COMMUNITY
REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY ("CRA") TO DIRECT THE CITY OF
MIAMI ("CITY"), ACTING IN THE CAPACITY AS A FIDUCIARY
TO THE CRA TO: I) DEPOSIT ALL FUNDS ALLOCATED OR DUE
TO THE ACCOUNTS OF THE CRA; AND II) NOT TO MAKE
WITHDRAWALS FROM ANY ACCOUNT OF THE CRA WITHOUT
THE PRIOR WRITTEN AUTHORIZATION OF THE CRA.
(Here follows body of the resolution, omitted here and on file in the Office of the City Clerk.)
Upon being seconded by Board Member Gort, the resolution was passed and adopted by the following
vote:
AYES: Board Member Wifredo Gort
Board Member Tomas Regalado
Board Member Joe Sanchez
Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Vice Chairman Johnny L. Winton
NAYS: None
ABSENT: None
71 11 /20/00
•
:I APPROVE CRA ISSUING REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS (RFQ)£,FOR SELECTION OF
GENERAL APPRAISER WITH EXPERIENCE IN REDEVELOPMENTrAREA WITH PREFERENCE
TOE WOMEN, MINORITIES; AND',BUSINESSES LOCATED WITHIN EMPOWERMENT ZONE.
Chairman Teele: A resolution authorizing the CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) to advertise the
RFQ (Request for Qualifications) for general appraisers with experience in the redevelopment area, with
preferences for women in businesses in the Empowerment Zone and minorities. Is there a motion?
Board Member Sanchez: So move. It's an RFQ, Request for Qualifications?
Chairman Teele: Yes, it's a Request for Qualifications. Motion by Commissioner Sanchez.
Board Member Gort: Second.
Chairman Teele: Second by Commissioner Gort. Is there objection? All those in favor, say "aye."
The Board (Collectively): Aye.
Chairman Teele: Opposed?
The following resolution was introduced by Board Member Sanchez, who moved for its adoption:
SEOPW/CRA RESOLUTION NO. 00-115
OMNFCRA RESOLUTION NO. 00-60
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE
COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY ("CRA") APPROVING
THE CRA ISSUING A REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS ("RFQ")
FOR THE SELECTION OF A GENERAL APPRAISER WITH
EXPERIENCE IN THE REDEVELOPMENT AREA WITH
PREFERENCE TO WOMEN, MINORITIES, AND BUSINESSES
LOCATED WITHIN THE EMPOWERMENT ZONE.
(Here follows body of the resolution, omitted here and on file in the Office of the City Clerk.)
72 11 /20/00
Upon being seconded by Board Member Gort, the resolution was passed and adopted by the following
vote:
AYES: Board Member Wifredo Gort
Board Member Tomas Regalado
Board Member Joe Sanchez
Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Vice Chairman Johnny L. Winton
NAYS: None
ABSENT: None
73 11 /20/00
18. REQUEST FROM WAYNE STRINGER, PRESIDENT OF FORAM MANAGEMENT AND
PLEASING;-INC. TO'PURCHASE CRA-OWNED LAND; WHICH BISECTS BLOCK°=BETWEEN N.E'.
TH TH „: ST ND
10 AND 11 STREETS;:AND BETWEEN°;N,.E.: l..:, AND 2 AVENUES (VACANT PROPERTY):.,
Chairman Teele: This item number 13 has been taken up with -- the instruction is, is that the CRA
(Community Redevelopment Agency) staff will work with the City staff in developing -- Why don't we
ask, Commissioner Gort, that that come back to us within 90 days. Is that fair?
Board Member Gort: No problem.
Chairman Teele: We need to put a time line on it. Motion by Commissioner Gort that the
recommendations that have been formulated come back in the March -- not later than the March CRA
Board meeting. Motion by Commissioner Gort. Is there a second?
Vice Chairman Winton: Second.
Chairman Teele: By Commissioner Winton. All those in favor --discussion?
Vice Chairman Winton: Just one more comment about that. Commissioner Gort already said it, but I'd
like to accent that I think if you look at any picture of Overtown/Park West area, there is not much green
space. And so this is a great opportunity to create a new linkage that can be extremely pedestrian -friendly,
the kind of thing that we need in our community. So how we look at this is crucially important, period.
Chairman Teele: I was in Tallahassee not too long ago and the biggest -- big front page story in the
Tallahassee Democrat -- well, we'll know what it is tomorrow. But I tell you, that was history in the
making today to see the Florida Supreme Court. But the story in Tallahassee about two weeks ago was
the City Parks Department was building a skateboard -- what do you call those things where they -- huh?
-- ramps. And they built it in a big park. And I mean, there were literally thousands of kids lining up to
go there. I mean, you know, I'm not suggesting that we turn this into a skateboard, but I am saying that
there are a tremendous number of options we have with that kind of abandoned use, and I really do think
that we ought to try to make it pedestrian and people -friendly, not to the exclusion of any other use.
Dipak?
Dipak Parekh (Executive Director, CRA): Commissioner, what we have mandated --
Chairman Teele: On which one?
Board Member Gort: Thirteen.
Chairman Teele: The motion on -- giving the 90 days by the month -- that the staff present this by the
month of March. Is there objection? All in favor say "aye."
The Board (Collectively): Aye.
Chairman Teele: Those opposed?
74 11 /20/00
• 0
The following motion was introduced by Board Member Gort, who moved for its adoption:
SEOPW/CRA MOTION NO. 00-116
OMNFCRA MOTION NO. 00-61
A MOTION REFERRING TO THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE
COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY ("CRA") REQUEST
FROM WAYNE STRINGER, PRESIDENT OF FORAM
MANAGEMENT AND LEASING, INC. TO PURCHASE CRA-
OWNED LAND WHICH BISECTS THE BLOCK BETWEEN N.E. LOTH
AND I ITH STREETS, AND BETWEEN N.E. 1ST AND 2ND AVENUES;
FURTHER DIRECTING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO COME
BACK WITH A RECOMMENDATION TO THE CPA BOARD OF
DIRECTORS NO LATER THAN THE MARCH 2O01 CRA MEETING.
Upon being seconded by Board Member Vice Chairman Winton, the motion was passed and adopted by
the following vote:
AYES: Board Member Wifredo Gort
Board Member Tomas Regalado
Board Member Joe Sanchez
Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Vice Chairman Johnny L. Winton
NAYS: None
ABSENT: None
75 11/20/00
0 0
19. DISC-GSSION ON'DEVELOPMENT SCHEDULE FOR FISCALYEAR 2001.
Chairman Teele: Dipak.
Dipak Parekh (Executive Director, CRA): Commissioner, we have requested in the area of accountability
not only that the staff is accountable to this Board, but also our consultants. We want to insure that our --
Vice Chairman Winton: Here, here.
Mr. Parekh: We want to insure that the projects get done on time, that there is a time line, and if there are
any issues, that we bring it up before the Board, prior and try to resolve it. What you see here today is our
first attempt at trying to resolve some of the ongoing issues, like the parking lots, Margaret Pace Park,
Jackson Soul Food and so on. And within the copy, we have Mr. John King of Civil-Cadd to answer any
further questions you may have on some of these projects. We would like to accomplish some of these
projects within a time line of -- an aggressive time line of within six months.
Vice Chairman Winton: Well, I think it would be -- Dipak, it's really helpful to us if at each meeting, we
have a list of the projects, the time line that shows when completion date is and a time line that shows
where we stand relative to completion date on each of those. So that's outstanding.
Mr. Parekh: I agree with you, sir. On the second to last page, you have basically a (inaudible) chart. I
know we need glasses for that. We have --
Vice Chairman Winton: (Inaudible) doesn't even help.
Mr. Parekh: I know. We'll try better next time by bringing a time line for some of these ongoing projects
to you.
Vice Chairman Winton: Great, great.
Mr. Parekh: So at next meeting, you'll see the progress.
Chairman Teele: How many of these do we have for the public? I mean, does the public have any of
them? I would like for Irby McKnight to at least have one. He's the representative of the Overtown
Advisory Board. And --
Vice Chairman Winton: Eleanor.
Chairman Teele: Eleanor Kluger should at least have one.
Mr. Parekh: Sir, we will insure that they do get copies of them.
Vice Chairman Winton: I have to say that this is wonderful. It's the kind of thing we need. It's the
mechanism, the tools we need from a Board of Directors standpoint to monitor what we're doing, to
measure our performance, and take whatever steps we need to take to make sure that if something is out of
kilter, we can get it back on kilter. So my hat's off to you.
76 11 /20/00
Mr. Parekh: Board Member, I really appreciate, for the record, the assistance you've given us on
Margaret Pace Park and trying to push it, and Commissioner Regalado on the CDBG (Community
Development Block Grant) agreement.
Chairman Teele: Is there going to be a presentation?
Mr. Parekh: Yes.
Chairman Teele: All right. Let's make it very quickly, Mr. -- Mr. King.
John King: I'm John King. I'm president --
Chairman Teele: You're going to have to speak up, sir.
Mr. King: My name is John King. I'm president of Civil-Cadd Engineering. The pamphlet that you see
before you is 98, probably 99 percent red, because all the projects right now are on the critical path. But
as we develop it more and more, the colors will change. And as you -- if you look at the bottom section of
it, at least -- we'll go to the middle where it says "Overtown Area." All of the parking lots are listed in
sequence on when they should start. The initial start date for the first project is scheduled for December
41h. But now that it's been approved, we can actually pull that up four days. The contractor has
committed to being able to start a new parking lot every ten days after he's started on his first project.
Parking Lot P7, which shows on the chart was removed, was the last project that we had anticipated
starting on. With respect to the grantees, Jackson's Soul Food, Two Guys Restaurant and Just Right
Barbershop, the construction documents for Jackson's Soul Food is in the City for permitting, and we're
hoping to have those back in about 15 to 20 days. After Jackson's Soul Food is back, we're then going to
submit Two Guys. And five days after we submit Two Guys, we'll submit Just Right Barbershop. We're
looking to have Jackson's Soul Food substantially completed by the first of May. Two Guys Restaurant
will be substantially completed the second week of May. And Just Right Barbershop should be
substantially completed the first week of June. And those are the major projects that we are focusing on at
the present time.
Chairman Teele: Mr. King, this is very helpful. But let me just say this: I'm very concerned about the
lack of coordination with the various businesses. I have a series of concerns. We learned from People's
Barbecue some very important lessons. One of the lessons is, number one; the CRA (Community
Redevelopment Agency) is not going to do the construction work. It's important that each of these
owners select their own contractors. Is that being done?
Mr. King: Yes.
Chairman Teele: I want a very transparent process, and I want each of the businesses to select their own
contractors. And they should have their own architects, to the extent that that's feasible. Because you
know what I'm talking about. It's a liability issue, and it's an issue that if something is wrong, I don't
want the CRA injected in this for the next years, like we're dealing with, with the People's Barbecue
issue. The second concern that I have -- and this is really to the point of doing -- no good deed goes
unpunished. Once we have these businesses, the property owner is the guy or the woman who benefits the
77 11 /20/00
most. We need to make sure that we have long-term agreements with the property owners to insure that
we don't come in and put a hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) or two hundred thousand dollars
($200,000) into a business only to have the property owner raise the rent. OK? So it's very, very
important. Mr. Dipak -- I'm sorry -- Mr. Parekh is the property name, Mr. Parekh.
Mr. Parekh: Yes, sir.
Chairman Teele: It's very important that we make sure that we sit down and get long-term agreements
with the property owners. And even if the property owners are the same as the business owners -- if
they're two different entities, I want to make sure that we have long-term agreements. And this is also
true with Mr. -- the housing unit. What's the -- Mr. -- What's the guy's name that has the -- Mr. Yuken.
That those barbershops, if we go in there and we put all this money in there that we don't squeeze out the
businesses that have been there through the bad times, because once you put this kind of money in,
obviously, you increase the value of the leasehold. So I just want to be very clear on the record on this,
Mr. Parekh that we need to do that. Now, do we have written agreements from the landlords on all of
these, so that we're working in concert? Because our goal is to help the business, but we need to make
sure that we protect the businesses, as well.
Mr. King: Presently, we're working with Willy who's there. He's -- we supplied him with the
preliminary plans for Two Guys Restaurant, which he's approved. And the next thing would be, after we
get his barbershop laid out, was to actually get him with the attorneys to negotiate a lease, a long-term
lease for Two Guys.
Chairman Teele: OK. I would duly expect that the lease should be the first thing that gets done, because
if we can't come to a term on the lease, then we -- you know, it makes it very difficult. What about
Jackson's Soul Food? Do we have -- Does the owner of Jackson's Soul Food have an agreement with
their landlord?
Mr. King: They're the owners.
Chairman Teele: They're the same names?
Mr. King: Yes.
Chairman Teele: Well, then, Mr. Lawyers, you ought to look at that and make sure that there is an
agreement still, and make an agreement with themselves. We don't want to wind up, you know --
Board Member Sanchez: They can't make an agreement with themselves.
Chairman Teele: Well, we want to have a transparent process that's very, very clear and that we know
what we're doing here. And I think it's very important that we don't do a good deed and then wind up
hurting a business three years -- when all of us are not on this Agenda. Commissioner Winton.
Vice Chairman Winton: Mr. Chairman, maybe I'm -- and I may not know what I'm talking about, but an
alarm went off here a bit, because I've been working under the assumption here all along that the tenant
happened to be the owner of the building that it was one and the same. And the fact that this could be
78 11 /20/00
0
tenants that we're helping and a building owner, and it raises a -- you know, there are some interesting
issues here, because, absolutely, we want to protect the business.
Chairman Teele: That's what this is about.
Vice Chairman Winton: That's what we're in business to do; not the landlord.
Chairman Teele: Right.
Vice Chairman Winton: Otherwise, I'd be saying let the landlord spend his own money.
Chairman Teele: Exactly.
Vice Chairman Winton: But there's also some -- I would guess some interesting concerns from a
landlord's standpoint about the tenant. And so are we in complete legal grounds here if we start -- if we
have a process whereby we're fixing up a landlord's building and requiring him to do certain things with a
specific tenant, and that specific building long-term? I mean --
Chairman Teele: Yes, sir, we are. But number one, we're not fixing it up. We're providing --
Vice Chairman Winton: Right, right, right.
Chairman Teele: -- the technical support, the soft support -- not to use the word "soft" to Mr. King, but
the professional -- what we would call program support -- as well as grant dollars. But we're not
providing cash. We're providing grand dollars for equipment, and the building materials and those kinds
of things. So, yes, we must have the permission of the property owner. In fact, to draw -- pull a building
permit, you've got to have the permission of the property owner. And this is not, you know, new. This
has happened in a series of communities all over the country. And one of the things that I've read and
learned is that what you want to make sure that you do is you have the support of the landlord, because the
landlord is obviously going to say, "Yeah, you want to put two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000) in my
building?"
Vice Chairman Winton: Right.
Chairman Teele: "Hey, come on." But then if the tenant is like most of the minority and small
businesses, they're on a month -to -month or a year-to-year. You don't have a long-term agreement. You
run the risk of losing it. That's the one thing. Now, does Jackson's Soul Food-- is the owner the same?
Mr. King: Yes, yes.
Chairman Teele: And there's no legal entities between them?
Mr. King: That's correct.
Chairman Teele: I still think they ought to do an agreement with themselves on it.
79 11 /20/00
Vice Chairman Winton: But we're not doing anything that's going to create a landlord/tenant conflict
here in any fashion or another.
Board Member Gort: This is like a conventional loan. You go and get a loan to do the repair or whatever,
and the bank will ask you if you for at least a five- or ten-year lease before they can give you the loan.
Vice Chairman Winton: Right.
Board Member Gort: I think this is very similar. We have to do the same thing. We have to make sure
that we protect the --
Vice Chairman Winton: I don't know that I see it the same way.
Chairman Teele: Well, let's let the lawyers resolve it. They've heard the issues.
Vice Chairman Winton: Yeah.
Chairman Teele: But I do think that both from the point of view of Two Guys Barbershop -- is it Two
Guys Barber --
Vice Chairman Winton: Two Guys Restaurant.
Board Member Gort: Two Guys Restaurant.
Chairman Teele: I've made a barbershop of it. Willy, what's the name of your barbershop?
Mr. King: Just Right.
Chairman Teele: In the context of Just Right Barbershop and Jackson's Soul Food, they both should have
some type of document that reflects what our intent here is. All right. Is there anything else on this that
we need to take up, Mr. King?
Mr. King: No. We was going to show you a video presentation of it, but we don't have the time.
Board Member Gort: We'll pass on it. Thank you.
Chairman Teele: All right. Dipak, did we need to adopt the development schedule, or is this
informational?
Mr. Parekh: This was information, sir.
80 11/20/00
20 DEFER CONSIDERATION- `OF PROPOSED IN -KIND GRANT AGREEMENT BETWEEN
CRA AND TECHNOLOGY CENTER OF AMERICAS TO. PROVIDE TEMPORARY;PARKING FORA
CONSTRUCTION WORKERS OF'�NAP FACILITY.
Chairman Teele: All right. I would ask that item 15 be deferred. There are some legal issues in Item 15
that are not correct, and that is the memorandum that says the amount of the in -kind is --
Board Member Sanchez: It's different, the numbers --
Chairman Teele: -- fifteen hundred dollars ($1500) --
Board Member Sanchez: The numbers don't match.
Chairman Teele: The numbers don't match. It should be eleven hundred. But the other thing that we're
going to have to do is we're going to have to come forward with a separate resolution. The only
resolution that this Board has approved is a resolution of seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars
($750,000). The letter that we committed to and that we endorsed as a Board was up to one point five
million dollars ($1.5 million). So we need a separate resolution on the second seven hundred and fifty
thousand dollars ($750,000), and then we need to make the numbers work as it relates to the up to one
point five million. But again, the City of Miami has been totally supportive, and the City has provided a
grant of part of the one point five million dollars ($1.5 million), which is about three hundred and fifty
thousand. And I would hope maybe at the next Board meeting, we could have the NAP (Network Area
Point) here, and maybe present the check and move on to another --
Board Member Sanchez: Do we need a motion to defer?
Chairman Teele: A motion to defer, yeah.
Board Member Sanchez: So move to defer.
Chairman Teele: Moved by Commissioner Sanchez.
Vice Chairman Winton: Second.
Chairman Teele: Second by Commissioner Winton. Objections? All in favor say "aye."
The Board (Collectively): Aye.
81 11 /20/00
The following motion was introduced by Board Member Sanchez, who moved for its adoption:
SEOPW/CRA MOTION NO. 00-117
A MOTION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE
COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY ("CRA") TO DEFER
CONSIDERATION OF PROPOSED IN -KIND GRANT AGREEMENT
BETWEEN THE CRA AND TECHNOLOGY CENTER OF THE
AMERICAS TO PROVIDE TEMPORARY PARKING FOR
CONSTRUCTION WORKERS OF NAP FACILITY; FURTHER
DIRECTING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE CRA TO
PREPARE TWO SEPARATE RESOLUTIONS REGARDING THIS
MATTER AND ASCERTAIN THAT THE NUMBERS ARE ALL
CORRECT.
Upon being seconded by Vice Chairman Winton, the motion was passed and adopted by the following
vote:
AYES: Board Member Wifredo Gort
Board Member Tomas Regalado
Board Member Joe Sanchez
Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Vice Chairman Johnny L. Winton
NAYS: None
ABSENT: None
Chairman Teele: Commissioner Winton.
Vice Chairman Winton: I would like to see, when we have the NAP people here, and when we bring
forward the motion, I think it's -- this is a fabulous picture. The City is going to put a million and a half
dollars into this -- the City, CRA, somebody is going to put a million and a half dollars into this, and I
would like it if you would also bring to the table the ad valorem taxes that are going to be generated on an
annual -- just ad valorem taxes. Forget about all the other things. In fact, if you want to add a few other
things in there, add them in -- to show what the return on investment to our community is by making this
investment, so that it isn't just, well, there goes another million and a half dollars out the window. It's a
return on investment. And if you could show that, I'd be very appreciative.
82 11 /20/00
Chairman Teele: I think that's absolutely what we need to do. And we need to understand that -- because
it's a follow onto the TIF (Tax Increment Fund). And I think it's a more-- If we educate ourselves on the
impact of development, the better it's going to be in terms of how we deal with the DDA (Downtown
Development Authority) and all these others -- the Omni issues, and how we deal with all these other
issues. So I'd appreciate that.
Board Member Gort: You could probably check with all the other four cities where they've already
established one, the development that took place around that one.
Chairman Teele: All right.
83 11/20/00
•
21.. ;: AUTHORIZE= ' THREE `MILLION`k=>DOLLARS,; ($3,000,000) FOR OVERTOWN CULTURAL
AND ]TECHNOLOGY., CENTER AND APPROVE -;CAPITAL AND OPERATING. BUDGET FOR`,
OVERTOWN CULTURAL AND TECHNOLOGY CENTER.
Chairman Teele: Motion on 16-A, which is the Technology Center. Let me just say this: We have had
probably 20 or 30 meetings with different technology companies, with the staff, wanting to be a part of a
community project. They are waiting to adopt something. And we feel that this project is something that
should move very quickly. We have not identified all of the funds; is that correct?
Dipak Parekh (Executive Director, CRA): Yes, sir.
Chairman Teele: And -- but it's subject to the availability of funding, and you'll be coming back in the
next meeting with that.
Mr. Parekh: Yes, sir.
Chairman Teele: So the motion, 16-A, is authorizing the capital and budget, subject to the availability of
funds which authorizes them to get it and bring it back to us.
Board Member Gort: Move it.
Chairman Teele: Moved by Commissioner Gort.
Board Member Sanchez: Second for purposes of discussion. There's just one item to discuss. Make sure
that no reprogrammed funds from other projects are used for that.
Chairman Teele: No re -programming funds, absolutely. Do not reprogram any money from the Third
Avenue Business Corridor. It's the only place we have money.
Vice Chairman Winton: Another point here, and that is -- and we haven't had a chance to talk about this.
On Friday, there was a meeting held. I guess in attendance were major representatives from all of our
universities, Miami -Dade Community College, Miami -Dade Public School System, Joe Alfano from --
Board Member Gort: JEP (Jobs and Education Partnership).
Vice Chairman Winton: Yes. And I had invited Dipak to the meeting. And this meeting was a -- and the
people from the NAP (Network Area Point), and the Governor's Task Force. So you had a broad array of
folks all focused on technology training. And what's important here for us is that there's a lot of people
running in the same direction here, a lot of different entities focused on figuring out how we're going to
get our workforce trained in this whole new information technology world. But what we want to do is
make sure that we don't duplicate something that's going on and/or waste our money. So I would
recommend that before -- while we may begin this process, we need to integrate this process in with this.
And this committee is going to be an ongoing standing committee. It's just now forming. We need to
integrate our efforts into kind of the global picture that's being developed right now, and then figure out
how we could best utilize our resources to make that happen for our community here. And I would add
that -- what is his name from the Governor's -- the guy from Boca Raton?
84 11-20-00
Board Member Gort: We know who he is.
Vice Chairman Winton: He also said that from his special perspective that this is an opportunity for us to
provide training for all of our underprivileged and minority residents within our City, and that he has a
particular focus on that issue. So that's kind of a side point, but there is a focus on the City of Miami, and
I think we need to make sure that whatever we do here gets integrated in with the bigger picture that's
being developed, and not do anything just singularly and on our own.
Chairman Teele: I couldn't agree with you more. And my frustration is really trying to even just
understand. It's moving so quickly, the dimensions of it. I've had a meeting with the Manager, and one
of the things that I would like to bring before the Commission is, number one, we're really going to need
the support of ITD (Information Technology Department) in helping us to understand this whole
technology and how to harness it in a number of ways. And let me give you an example. On Thursday or
Friday, in the last 48 hours, I have gone to three community -- is Ms. Warren still here?
Board Member Gort: I think she left.
Chairman Teele: Oh, she left? I've been to three meetings. I think, Mr. Manager, you were there at
Moore Park. We missed you, Commissioner Gort. At Moore Park, at Greater Bethel AME Church and
one other where the community -based organizations were rolling out technology laboratories, technology
centers. There's already some issues about Williams Park and who can use it and who can't use it. And
we're really going to need some real technical support from the City. And I think one of the things that
we're going to have to do, particularly in the community development process, is create some type of
technology evaluation committee to begin to evaluate what's going on, because there's going to be a
shakeout here, sort of like with the "dot-coms," and we need to be in a position to understand. And I
know that Chief Martinez was there that night. They're doing a lot of funding of technology centers
through Law Enforcement Trust Fund. But the essential thing that we're trying to do here is put together,
in conjunction with the Parks Department, an infrastructure that will be able to be a City municipal -- a
City facility that will be able to do partnerships with Miami -Dade, with PIC (Private Industry Council),
with others, et cetera. And I think that's perhaps the uniqueness of what it is we're proposing. Is there
further discussion? Did we carry that, Mr. -- On the motion on 16-A, all those in favor, say "aye."
The Board (Collectively): Aye.
Chairman Teele: Opposed?
85 11-20-00
•
0
The following resolution was introduced by Board Member Gort, who moved for its adoption:
SEOPW/CRA RESOLUTION NO. 00-118
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE
COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY ("CRA")
AUTHORIZING THE TOTAL EXPENDITURE OF THREE MILLION
FOR THE OVERTOWN CULTURAL AND TECHNOLOGY CENTER
AND APPROVING THE CAPITAL AND OPERATING BUDGET FOR
THE OVERTOWN CULTURAL AND TECHNOLOGY CENTER,
SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS.
(Here follows body of the resolution, omitted here and on file in the Office of the City Clerk.)
Upon being seconded by Board Member Sanchez, the resolution was passed and adopted by the following
vote:
AYES: Board Member Wifredo Gort
Board Member Tomas Regalado
Board Member Joe Sanchez
Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Vice Chairman Johnny L. Winton
NAYS: None
ABSENT: None
86 11-20-00
22...:: AUTHORIZE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO ADVERTISE AND,TSSUE RFP FOR SELECTION.
OF ;MANAGEMENT=FIRM WITH EXPERIENCE IN -CULTURAL PRQGRAMS,„TECHNOLOGY
AND: GRANT WRITING TO,`;.OVERSEE DAY-TO=DAY .. OPERATIONS OF OVERTOWN,;
CULTURAL .AND TECHNOLOGY CENTER, AND UTILIZING :;LOCAL :.:NOI-FOR=PROFIT
ORGANIZATIONS.
Chairman Teele: Sixteen-B is the RFP (Request for Proposals) for a management firm in culture
technology for writing, to start writing grants.
Board Member Gort: Move it.
Chairman Teele: Moved by Commissioner Gort. Seconded by Commissioner Regalado.
Board Member Sanchez: Mr. Chairman, for discussion.
Chairman Teele: Discussion.
Board Member Sanchez: I mean, aren't we putting the cart in front of the horse here, hiring an executive
director for a project that was just --
Chairman Teele: No. This is authorizing our Executive Director.
Board Member Sanchez: Exactly, for -- well, for Overtown Culture and Technology Center. We were
going to hire --
Chairman Teele: No, no, no. This doesn't hire anybody. This is to try to get firms to come in and offer to
provide grant writing expertise, and to assist us in developing and designing the facility. One of the
biggest problems with the way government works is we tend to build buildings, and then we go out to get
somebody to work with us in management. The key is to bring in the management company to help you
design the building of the firm -- or whatever it is -- Tower Theater and all of these things in particular.
So all this does is provides the Executive Director with the authority to go out and find out who is in the
industry that knows how to write grants, that has the expertise, and they will basically wind up being a
partner with us as we build this. Further discussion? All in favor say "aye."
The Board (Collectively): Aye.
Chairman Teele: Those opposed?
87 11/20/00
The following resolution was introduced by Board Member Gort, who moved for its adoption:
SEOPW/CRA RESOLUTION NO. 00-119
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE
COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY ("CRA")
AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO ADVERTISE AND
ISSUE A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) FOR SELECTION OF A
MANAGEMENT FIRM WITH EXPERIENCE IN CULTURAL
PROGRAMS, TECHNOLOGY AND GRANT WRITING TO OVERSEE
THE DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS OF THE OVERTOWN
CULTURAL AND TECHNOLOGY CENTER, AND UTILIZING
LOCAL NOT -FOR -PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS.
(Here follows body of the resolution, omitted here and on file in the Office of the City Clerk.)
Upon being seconded by Board Member Regalado, the resolution was passed and adopted by the
following vote:
AYES: Board Member Wifredo Gort
Board Member Tomas Regalado
Board Member Joe Sanchez
Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Vice Chairman Johnny L. Winton
NAYS: None
ABSENT: None
88 11/20/00
23-:: AUTHORIZE CRA TO-' :PURCHASE PROPERTY FROM :SUSIE-- SIMMONS :'IN
.;ACCORDANCE WITH `AGREEMENT ; BETWEEN SUSIE SIMMONS AND GREATER MIAMI
NEIGHBORHOODS, INC.
Chairman Teele: Now, this is the item relating to the City of Miami's request for the -- no. Simmons
Property. Mr. Attorney?
William Bloom (Legal Counsel, CRA): Yes. This is property that's one of the parking lot parcels, P2,
that we're under a contract to purchase. However, there are title issues involving various estate problems.
Chairman Teele: Is this your way of advising us that we can close on this, but we're going to have
problems as we move forward trying to clear the title, et cetera?
Mr. Bloom: That's correct.. We've asked the property owner to give us a lease so we could start the
parking lot while we're solving those title problems. The property owner has refused to do so. So this
resolution would authorize the CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) to go ahead and purchase the
property, notwithstanding the title problems, and then we would work with the owner after the fact to try
to resolve them.
Chairman Teele: And since it's going to be used as a parking lot anyway, there is no down side to
acquiring it, because it's just going to be there in a -- sort of in a dormant state, anyway.
Vice Chairman Winton: Well, there is a down side. The down side is you may never take title to it, and
somebody else claims title, and you get to pay for it twice.
Chairman Teele: Yeah, but the problem is, is that that's the problem of all inner City development. And
nothing happens if you don't move forward and take some of the risk.
Vice Chairman Winton: Well, I mean, that hasn't been the case on any of the other things we're doing.
Chairman Teele: Well, this one has been with us now for -- what? -- two years?
Mr. Bloom: Two years.
Chairman Teele: Two years. And you have heirs that are all over the place. And this is a strong
recommendation of both the consultants and the Executive Director, in terms of the only way to move the
project forward. You see --
Vice Chairman Winton: There's not an alternative, an alternative site?
Chairman Teele: The alternative is to do nothing.
Vice Chairman Winton: No, no, no. An alternative site.
Chairman Teele: No.
89 11 /20/00
Vice Chairman Winton: With all the land there is available in Overtown?
Chairman Teele: Not for the franchise facility that we're looking at. It's got to be within walking
distance of -- what is that? 121h Street and 3Td Avenue.
Board Member Gort: Also, most people won't walk more than 1200 feet.
Vice Chairman Winton: What's the cost here?
Mr. Bloom: It's priced at thirty-two thousand dollars ($32,000).
Chairman Teele: For three lots.
Vice Chairman Winton: And what's the square footage?
Chairman Teele: It comes out to about four dollars ($4) a square foot, isn't it?
(INAUDIBLE COMMENT)
Chairman Teele: Fifty -by -a hundred?
Mr. Bloom: Yeah.
Board Member Gort: A hundred and fifty -by -three hundred.
Vice Chairman Winton: So forty-five thousand?
Mr. Bloom: Forty-five hundred.
Richard Judy (Executive Director, CRA): A hundred and fifty -by -a hundred, that's fifteen thousand
square feet.
Vice Chairman Winton: Yeah, fifteen thou. Well, what is our -- what's our -- well, the consultants have
recommended this. I want to hear the logic of us spending this money, and I want to understand what our
risk is.
Mr. Bloom: Well, your risk is you're never able to clear title to get the requisite quitclaim deeds from the
heirs whose estates weren't properly probated.
Vice Chairman Winton: And if we're never able to clear title?
Mr. Bloom: So at that point, your concern would be one of these people -- and most likely, it's a question
of not being able to locate them, their -- they would come back and challenge your title, in which case,
you could ultimately be ejected from the property. So you'd lose your initial investment and the upgrade
being the parking lot.
90 11/20/00
Chairman Teele: Yeah, but the ejection would only be that the lot would continue to be a parking lot. It's
right now a dump lot. I mean, we're talking about a lot that is literally a trash receptacle.
Vice Chairman Winton: I understand. But I'm focused right now on understanding our risk. So that's a
different issue here.
Mr. Bloom: Right. And you have an owner who's being cooperative with us, but is not willing to give
any more time.
Chairman Teele: Given the fact that the owner is over 80 years old, the owner is very fragile. This is the
lady who came up said; "You all have been talking to us for three years. Will you all do something? And
what kind of tricks are you all trying to play on us?" And it really gets down to a question of the
credibility of the CRA. The owner has no interest in holding onto it. It's a burden to the owner. The land
is not going to be -- we're not planning to put any kind of structure or building on the land. So the land, in
effect, is going to be used solely as a passive parking lot.
Board Member Gort: Let me ask a question. My understanding is at one time, we passed a motion where
we were willing to rent this property for -- I think it was -- I don't know how many years. What was the --
Mr. Bloom: We were willing to rent it for a period of up to five years at a cap rate not to exceed ten
percent. However, in this particular instance, the owner was not willing to --
Board Member Gort: OK, I understand. Let me finish my question. What was the payments per year?
Mr. Bloom: It would be --
Vice Chairman Winton: Three thousand a year.
Mr. Bloom: Yeah, three thousand, two hundred dollars ($3,200) a year.
Board Member Gort: A year.
Mr. Bloom: Mm-hmm.
Board Member Gort: OK. Which means for five years, it would be fifteen thousand. We're asking for
how much?
Chairman Teele: Thirty-two thousand.
Mr. Bloom: Thirty-two.
(INAUDIBLE COMMENT)
Vice Chairman Winton: So the risk here is that if we never clear title, one of the heirs can come back at
us and we could be forced to turn the property back over to the heirs; is that right? Is that the risk?
91 11 /20/00
•
Mr. Bloom: That's correct.
Chairman Teele: That is the risk.
Mr. Bloom: Or a percentage of the property.
Board Member Gort: That's my next question. If you paid and you had certain considerations and you
had made a payment towards it, you're not going to lose it all.
Mr. Bloom: Well, now, if you pay the wrong person. But I believe what you had in this case is that --
Board Member Gort: Well, do we have a title company that's going to be in there?
Mr. Bloom: At this point, you don't have an insurable title. You may have a percentage of the title that is
insurable, but there may be certain interests that are not insurable. So you may own 70 percent or 80
percent of the property.
Vice Chairman Winton: Well, do we know that?
Mr. Bloom: I'm not sure if we have those notes with us. We have --
Board Member Gort: Well, at least we have 50 percent.
Dipak Parekh (Executive Director, CRA): Yes, we do.
Board Member Gort: At least we have 50 percent title.
Vice Chairman Winton: Well, he's saying he doesn't know.
Mr. Bloom: At this point, I don't know. I'd have to look at the notes.
Board Member Gort: But you went up to 70 and 80. But at least 50.
Mr. Bloom: Again, I'd have to look at the notes.
Board Member Gort: Which means that we would be making payment of fifteen thousand.
Chairman Teele: Gentlemen, I think one of the issues that we need to understand is that the CRA's role is
to provide infrastructure to businesses. Whether we provide it as a grant, as we were prepared to do for
the Lyric Village or as a grant, as we're doing for the Saint John's Church or CDC (Community
Development Corporation), it's really -- our goal is to get the infrastructure in place. And the risk in this
case is nominal, in that we would never build on the building. In other words, the lot, as it is configured
right now is exactly what the lot will be used for, except in a legalized manner. Right now, the lot is there.
It's been there. It is a major eyesore. It's a major grass -cutting problem. And we're working to stabilize
the neighborhood. This lot is essential to meet the Code as it relates to the franchise facility that we're
proposing. So I mean, I have a hard time rationalizing that we're looking at a four or five hundred
92 11 /20/00
thousand dollar ($500,000) franchise facility for which this lot is essential, but at the same time, you
know, we're letting this -- And I'm not at all recommending that we waste money. But the lot is going to
be an asset to the community. Right now, it's a detriment to the community. So I would respectfully ask
that we approve it, and let's trust the attorneys can clear the title on it over time.
Board Member Gort: I'll move it.
Chairman Teele: Moved by Commissioner Gort.
Board Member Regalado: Second.
Chairman Teele: Seconded. Is there objection? All in favor say "aye."
The Board (Collectively): Aye.
Chairman Teele: All opposed?
The following resolution was introduced by Board Member Gort, who moved for its adoption:
SEOPW/CRA RESOLUTION NO. 00-120
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE
COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY ("CRA")
AUTHORIZING THE CRA TO PURCHASE THE PROPERTY
DESCRIBED ON EXHIBIT "A" ATTACHED HERETO FROM SUSIE
SIMMONS, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TERMS OF THAT
AGREEMENT DATED JANUARY 31, 2000 BETWEEN SUSIE
SIMMONS AND GREATER MIAMI NEIGHBORHOODS, INC. (THE
"PURCHASE AGREEMENT") NOT WITHSTANDING THE
EXISTENCE OF THOSE TITLE DEFECTS DESCRIBED ON EXHIBIT
"B" ATTACHED HERETO AND MADE A PART HEREOF.
(Here follows body of the resolution, omitted here and on file in the Office of the City Clerk.)
Upon being seconded by Board Member Regalado, the resolution was passed and adopted by the
following vote:
AYES: Board Member Wifredo Gort
Board Member Tomas Regalado
Board Member Joe Sanchez
Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Vice Chairman Johnny L. Winton
NAYS: None
ABSENT: I None
93 11/20/00
• 0
24-.. AUTHORIZE CRA T6'LEASE -HISTORIC WARD ROOMING ,HOUSE PURSUANT TO
TERMS .OF,,GROUND LEASEAGREEMENT PREVIOUSLY EXECUTED BETWEEN OWNER, OF
,PROPERTY=AND CRA.-.. w
Chairman Teele: OK. Approving the ground lease of the historic Ward Rooming House. We have the
same problem. And I think, you know, this is one of the things that we need to all understand, is that these
properties in the inner, inner, inner City, because they are low in value -- if this was property that had
value of a million dollars ($1,000,000), we would have no problem finding everybody. I mean, they'd be
standing in line. But when you have property that literally has negative values, based on the buildings that
are old and et cetera, this is the urban redevelopment problem. Here, we're proposing again a lease,
because we can't get the title clear; is that right?
William Bloom (Legal Counsel, CRA): That's correct. We have a number of -- the majority of the
owners in this case who are willing to lease the property, are willing to sell the property to us. But there's
some estate matters that have to be dealt with. And the issue here is trying to preserve the property that
the City has slated to be torn down.
Vice Chairman Winton: And so we're doing a lease on this one, not --
Mr. Bloom: In this case, this would be a lease until we're able to resolve those legal issues.
Vice Chairman Winton: I don't have a problem with a lease at all.
Chairman Teele: Motion by Commissioner Winton. He doesn't have a problem with that. Second by
Commissioner Regalado. Is there objection?
Mr. Bloom: There's just one clarification. The lease that's attached to the resolution contemplates
monthly payments. The Executive Director wanted to change that to one annual payment. Same dollar
amount.
Chairman Teele: As amended. All those in favor, say "aye."
The Board (Collectively): Aye.
Chairman Teele: All opposed?
94 11 /20/00
0
u
The following resolution was introduced by Vice Chairman Winton, who moved for its adoption:
SEOPW/CRA RESOLUTION NO. 00-121
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AGENCY ("CRA") AUTHORIZING
THE CRA TO LEASE THE HISTORIC WARD ROOMING HOUSE
(THE "PROPERTY") DESCRIBED ON EXHIBIT "A" ATTACHED
HERETO PURSUANT TO THE TERMS OF THE GROUND LEASE
AGREEMENT PREVIOUSLY EXECUTED BETWEEN THE OWNER
OF THE PROPERTY AND THE CRA.
(Here follows body of the resolution, omitted here and on file in the Office of the City Clerk.)
Upon being seconded by Board Member Regalado, the resolution was passed and adopted by the
following vote:
AYES: Board Member Wifredo Gort
Board Member Tomas Regalado
Board Member Joe Sanchez
Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Vice Chairman Johnny L. Winton
NAYS: None
ABSENT: None
Chairman Teele: By the way, this building is a classic example that if we don't step in, the building is
going to be torn down. And this is what's happened all over Overtown with the -- what was the hotel that
was there on Third Avenue and Eighth Street that was torn down? The Sir John. All of this. Everything
has been torn down, because the City just hasn't had the dollars to do it. We're going to wind up spending
probably close to three to four hundred thousand dollars ($400,000) to repair and restore this building as a
historic building. And hopefully -- let me say this on the record -- hopefully, as the folk life village comes
into place, we'll be in a position to turn this building over properly to the Lyric Village if they're in a
position to do it -- I mean to the Lyric -- not the theater, but to the Black Archives Foundation if they're in
a position to do it. But it's going to be very expensive to get it done. We have no interest in owning the
building. We want buildings out of government hands. We want them paying taxes.
95 11/20/00
25..:: F AUTHORIZE � -EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO r_ APPLY FOR -LOAN FROM FANNIE-�=MAE
CORPORATION FOR. ARENA SQUARE APARTMENTS PROCT; JEAS .-WELL AS -:OTHER
ELIGIBLE PROJECTS PERMISSIBLE TO CRA UNDER FANNIE MAE GUIDELINES.
Chairman Teele: The last one is 19. It's the resolution relating to the approval of the Arena Square
Fagade and business improvements.
Board Member Sanchez: Mr. Chairman.
Chairman Teele: Commissioner Sanchez.
Board Member Sanchez: Have we applied already for the loan? Have we turned in our application for the
loan on Fannie Mae?
Dipak Parekh (Executive Director, CRA): Fannie Mae has a draft, and we are reworking, based upon
what happens tonight at this meeting.
Chairman Teele: The answer is no. We have draft documents. We have draft documents with Fannie
Mae, but we have not submitted a final document executed by anyone to Fannie Mae. Is that --
Board Member Sanchez: Are we -- That is in the Empowerment Zone, correct? Are we applying for --
Doesn't that fall under the Empowerment Zone?
Chairman Teele: No, sir.
Board Member Sanchez: No?
Chairman Teele: We're applying for -- the Fannie Mae Foundation -- I think it's the Fannie Mae
Foundation -- has a special program for governmental agencies and select not -for -profits in which they
will advance money for projects that have a housing component to it or meets their national goals and
objectives. What we're saying to them -- and they love this project. They've looked at it. They love it.
This is a project that they would be pleased to support, but they can give us no assurance that it will be
approved. If it's approved, then our goal would be to provide this type of support to this business owner.
And let me just say this: I don't like charrettes anymore, at all, because charrettes have a way of -- people
coming in and raise expectations, with no money. And then they leave, and then you spend the rest of the
next ten years fighting over what somebody came in and said this is what ought to be done. And, you
know, the way charrettes normally work is the guy who has the money to do it brings in people -- Mr.
Kramer -- the infamous Mr. Kramer now -- did a major charrette there on South Beach. But he was
prepared to finance what came out of it. The problem with the charrettes that we've gotten to now with
the City and community -based organizations, we bring in people, we get them all pumped up --
Vice Chairman Winton: Then there's no money.
Chairman Teele: -- and there's no money.
Board Member Gort: And how do you pay for it?
96 11 /20/00
• 0
Chairman Teele: How do you pay for it? And everybody starts arguing about what they want and what
they don't want. But at the end of the day, there's no money. Unfortunately, this building, which is right
on the corner of 3Td Avenue and 10t" Street, was the subject of a major charrette process. And there are
pictures all over Miami about how this building should look, the building we're talking about. Mr. Yuken
has come forth and said, "Look, we've talked to our architects, our planners, our investors. They are
willing to invest" -- how much money is this in the building?
Solomon Yuken: On this particular building, it's five point five.
Chairman Teele: They're willing to invest five point five million dollars ($5.5 million).
Board Member Sanchez: It is on ratio of five to one, right? Yeah.
Chairman Teele: On the housing component. But because the funds that they're using are -- what?
Mr. Yuken: Tax credit funds.
Chairman Teele: Can you use the tax credit funds for the fagade improvement and for the --
Vice Chairman Winton: Not for retail.
Chairman Teele: -- and for the retail component that we're looking at?
Mr. Yuken: That is correct.
Chairman Teele: You cannot use it?
Mr. Yuken: I cannot use it.
Chairman Teele: So in effect, we'd have a beautiful building, I mean, for the residents that would be
reconfigured. It's not the old usual Section 8, put in new carpet, paint the building, put in some new
fixtures. And all of the plumbing and all that -- this is going to be a real rehabilitation -- the plumbing, the
electrical.
Mr. Yuken: All of the buildings that we have done -- you know, we have 12 buildings. We have finished
four. All of them have been 100 percent gutted, 100 percent rehabbed, new plumbing, new electrical.
Everything is new. There is nothing old. The only old thing at all is the walls.
Chairman Teele: Will any of the units be reconfigured?
Mr. Yuken: Yes, because there are only one -bedrooms in this building. We are reconfiguring to two and
three bedrooms mainly.
Chairman Teele: So the point is, you can see this is a real rehabilitation. And what he's asking us to do is
to do the fagade and the retail, because the way he's getting his funding, it's not available.
97 11 /20/00
•
•
Vice Chairman Winton: Has this resolution been moved yet?
Chairman Teele: No, it has not.
Vice Chairman Winton: I would move this.
Chairman Teele: Moved by Commissioner Winton. Seconded by Commissioner Gort. Mr. Yuken,
would just make a very brief present --
Board Member Sanchez: This is all based on approval from --
Vice Chairman Winton: Correct.
Board Member Sanchez: OK. This is to approve.
Chairman Teele: Was there an amendment on the amount?
Mr. Parekh: Yes, sir.
Chairman Teele: What's the amendment?
Mr. Parekh: To one million, one hundred and sixty-seven thousand, one eighty-seven.
Board Member Sanchez: So it's not nine hundred thousand anymore?
Mr. Parekh: No, sir. We need to finish that particular phase which has not been granted under tax credit,
so the amount goes up to one point one million dollars ($1.1 million).
Chairman Teele: But it's still five to one ratio.
Mr. Parekh: Yes, sir.
Chairman Teele: All right. Very briefly, Mr. Yuken.
Mr. Yuken: Yes. I want to address the Commission to one point which I --
Chairman Teele: Mr. Solomon Yuken.
Mr. Yuken: Oh, I'm sorry. Solomon Yuken, president of New Arena Square Corporation, developer for
New Arena Square Apartments. The situation I have to address you is that I have a window of two years
to do eight buildings. I have done four out of 12. I have 24 mostly complete. That's a deadline that I
cannot change.
Vice Chairman Winton: Is this included in that deadline?
98 11 /20/00
•
Mr. Yuken: Yes.
Vice Chairman Winton: OK.
Mr. Yuken: My problem is that the plans have to be finished before the end of the year. These plans, the
way I have projected and I have budgeted does not include this building the way it is. It's just the regular
one that I have that doesn't need engineering or structural changes and it just needs the painting, changes
of windows, new roof, and that's about it. And that's a square box that everybody knows and everybody
has seen. Now, I cannot wait for something that is a question mark in regards to loans from Fannie Mae to
do the plans. And I cannot do the plans without having the confirmation that this is going to be granted.
So I am in a bind right now, because I have put my work, my time, and some of the monies into this
particular situation, because of our conversations, and meeting with staff and CRA (Community
Redevelopment Agency), which is a fact after the charrette. Now, I cannot do it and I cannot, very
candidly, accept the offer that you have right now approved, because tomorrow or next week, I have to go
with the architect, go ahead and do the plans.
Chairman Teele: Mr. Yuken, what is the -- this is catching me totally by surprise, but I appreciate you
being candid. What is the amount of the architectural support that you need for this? What does --
Mr. Yuken: No, I'm not talking about the money of the architect. That's this entire point. If I do the
plans with this front and go to the Building Department and I get approved, and 60 days later, I am not
approved because the grant has not been granted, then I have to go back and do the plans again for the
Building Department to do it again, and I will be behind six months.
Board Member Sanchez: And get fined in 60 days.
Mr. Yuken: And I cannot do it.
Vice Chairman Winton: Fannie Mae.
Board Member Sanchez: Or Fannie Mae. Mr. Chairman, if I may, just a point of clarification.
Chairman Teele: Commissioner Sanchez.
Board Member Sanchez: I see here you have -- the City of Miami CDBG (Community Development
Block Grant) has assisted you with three hundred thousand dollars ($300,000). The City of Miami HOME
(Home Investment Partnership Program) also gave you one point two million dollars ($1.2 million). Now,
the CRA is -- and we haven't approved it yet -- but we're talking about giving you one point --
Mr. Parekh: One.
Vice Chairman Winton: One.
Board Member Sanchez: -- one million dollars ($1.1 million), and then you would have to rely on the
additional funding of Fannie Mae Corporation to complete your project.
99 11 /20/00
•
Mr. Yuken: No, no, my project is finished. My project is funded. The only thing that's not funded is
what we did on Third Avenue.
Chairman Teele: You know what's missing? We need a picture of the existing building.
Board Member Sanchez: It's here.
Chairman Teele: OK. Because that --
Vice Chairman Winton: Right here.
Vice Chairman Winton: I don't understand what his problem is.
Board Member Gort: Johnny, what he's saying is -- what he's saying is if he goes and he requests -- he
goes through the process of getting the permits, presenting his architectures, and then by some reason that
Fannie Mae does not give him the grant, he's got to go back to the old --
Vice Chairman Winton: Square box.
Board Member Gort: He's got to go through the whole process again. So what are you asking of us?
Vice Chairman Winton: Yeah, what? I don't get it.
Board Member Regalado: I don't know --
Vice Chairman Winton: How are we supposed to respond?
Board Member Gort: What are you asking of us?
Mr. Yuken: An alternative situation if it can be. Otherwise, I have to proceed.
Vice Chairman Winton: What kind of alternative situation?
Mr. Yuken: I don't know. I'm not the one who has to propose.
Board Member Gort: No, no, we don't either. We can't.
Board Member Regalado: Excuse me. Is there any way, Mr. City Attorney that you can -- that we can
waive -- not here, but probably at the City Commission or extend the life of the permit so he doesn't have
to go back?
Alejandro Vilarello (City Attorney): No, Commissioner. The City Commission can't direct a building
official to extend the life of a building permit. What the building official can do is -- I believe there is one
renewal that is discretionary of the building official to extend it for the same time period. But I don't
know if that's the problem that you're talking about.
100 11 /20/00
Mr. Yuken: No, the problem, that's not the problem.
Board Member Gort: That's not the problem.
Mr. Yuken: The problem is I have to change the plans.
Chairman Teele: Look, let me ask you this. I've met with Fannie Mae. They are very excited about this
project. Dipak, what is the soonest they can approve it?
Mr. Parekh: Commissioner, I'll be meeting with them this week, and I'll be able to ascertain that.
Chairman Teele: Let me tell you what I think we have to do, and I think, Commissioner Sanchez -- this
really catches me by surprise. What's the maximum amount of time we have to tag on this for you? Do
we have two weeks to give you a definitive answer, yes or no?
Mr. Yuken: I will stretch myself, yes.
Board Member Sanchez: Stretch yourself?
Mr. Yuken: The only thing I'm asking the Building Department --
Board Member Sanchez: Mr. Chairman, I move to defer this item.
Mr. Yuken: The only thing I'm asking from the Building Department is at the time of the plans that I will
have a fast track, sit down with the inspectors and try to approve it, you know, on a fast track basis.
That's all. That's basically -- that can be done.
Vice Chairman Winton: I'm totally lost.
Chairman Teele: Mr. Yuken, I think you really ought to take a deep breath here. Now, listen. We're
doing you a favor. We're giving you a grant of a million dollars ($1,000,000). That's the proposal on the
table. So when you start talking about you'll stretch yourself, I mean, this is sort of a partnership, but I
think the tones I'm hearing from some of my Board members, you're catching us all by surprise. We have
not given anybody a one million dollar ($1,000,000) grant since I've been here. The money for the NAP
(Network Area Point), about eight hundred, nine hundred thousand dollars ($900,000) of that money is in -
kind. We're giving them the use of our parking space. That's -- so that it's real clear. We're giving them
about a three hundred thousand dollar ($300,000) grant. I know that this community needs this project,
and I know that this doesn't add anything to your bottom line in terms of -- you're going to rent -- you're
building what it is, with or without. This would be a tremendous addition to Overtown. But what I think
we should do is let's defer this for two weeks or give the staff two weeks, and if necessary -- When is the
first meeting of the Commission?
Mr. Vilarello: The 141h of December.
Board Member Gort: The 141h of December.
101 11 /20/00
Chairman Teele: What I will be willing to do is to call a special meeting on the 141h and finally act on
this. And that just gives you two weeks. At the same time, you don't have to tell us -- We're involved in
this project as the CRA. There will be a full-time staff person working with you or appropriate staff
people working to expedite it and move it forward. But we can't instruct the staff --
Mr. Yuken: No, I didn't say that. And I'm sorry I came across that way. It was not my intention. My
intention is to make you aware of my parameters in regards to my regulations for tax credit. It has nothing
to do with you, with me or anybody else. It has to do with the Federal Government. That's the way it is,
and that's the way I have to do it, otherwise, I lose it. That's the problem.
Board Member Sanchez: Mr. Chairman?
Chairman Teele: Commissioner Sanchez.
Board Member Sanchez: And I would feel much, much comfortable if within those two weeks the loan
application was filed to Fannie Mae Corporation.
Chairman Teele: Right. And I think we have to have the Fannie Mae Corporation representative at that
meeting that we have. In effect, we're going to defer this for the purpose of having a called meeting on
December 14th, which will be at City Hall. We'll just have three minutes, and we'll know before then
whether it's "yes" or "no." Hopefully, we'll know within the next two or three -- within the next ten days.
Mr. Vilarello: Mr. Chairman, can I suggest that instead of deferring the item to authorize the Executive
Director to apply for the Fannie Mae loan and bring it back for acceptance at the December 141h meeting.
Board Member Sanchez: So move, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Vilarello: At the special meeting.
Chairman Teele: I would move that the Executive Director be authorized to apply to Fannie Mae for a
loan inclusive of this project, as well as whatever Fannie Mae will allow you to apply for. That's moved
by Commissioner Sanchez, seconded by Commissioner Gort. All those in favor, say "aye."
The Board (Collectively): Aye.
Chairman Teele: All those opposed, say "no."
102 11 /20/00
•
The following motion was introduced by Board Member Sanchez, who moved for its adoption:
SEOPW/CRA MOTION NO. 00-122
A MOTION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE
COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY ("CRA")
AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO APPLY FOR A
LOAN FROM FANNIE MAE CORPORATION FOR THE ARENA
SQUARE APARTMENTS PROJECT AS WELL AS OTHER ELIGIBLE
PROJECTS PERMISSIBLE TO THE CRA UNDER FANNIE MAE
GUIDELINES; FURTHER DIRECTING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
OF THE CRA TO BRING SAID ISSUE BACK FOR
CONSIDERATION, REVIEW AND POSSIBLE APPROVAL BY THE
CRA BOARD OF DIRECTORS AT THE SPECIAL MEETING OF
DECEMBER 2000.
Upon being seconded by Board Member Gort, the motion was passed and adopted by the following vote:
AYES: Board Member Wifredo Gort
Board Member Tomas Regalado
Board Member Joe Sanchez
Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Vice Chairman Johnny L. Winton
NAYS: None
ABSENT: None
Chairman Teele: And I --in Overtown. He has worked against tremendous odds and his properties stand
out singularly as properties that are acceptable, I think, to the City, notwithstanding the fact that we've had
some very controversial history in Section 8. Mr. Yuken is not a part of that history to my knowledge.
And we appreciate you standing in there. I know there are a lot of issues and there are a lot of obstacles,
and we appreciate what you're doing in this area.
Mr. Yuken: I appreciate your time and your receiving me. And I'm sorry about what the message looked
like. It was not that message.
Vice Chairman Winton: Mr. Yuken, you said you are already doing other properties. Are those other
properties in Overtown, or are they somewhere else?
Mr. Yuken: Yes.
Chairman Teele: But they're not in the CRA.
Vice Chairman Winton: Right.
103 11 /20/00
0
•
Chairman Teele: They're north of -- a lot of them are north of 201" Street, right at 3rd Avenue and 20t"
Street.
Mr. Yuken: That's part of your district. All of them, I think.
Vice Chairman Winton: Thank you.
Chairman Teele: Right there at the Wynwood Trade Center.
Vice Chairman Winton: Right.
Chairman Teele: The property that's right in back of that, that's his. They're beautiful. And I should add
for the record that Mr. Yuken was a very strong advocate regarding the fire fee. And it shows that we can
disagree and still work closely together. And I'm very proud of that, Mr. Yuken.
Vice Chairman Winton: Well, you and I were together in that regard. Same with the parking fee.
Chairman Teele: You're getting my drift. How many people did you bring down here, Mr. Yuken?
104 11 /20/00
26. DISCUSSION ON STATUS OF SELECTION OESPARKING MANAGEMENT CONSULTANT..
Chairman Teele: OK. We've taken up 20. Twenty-one is the management of the parking fee. We're on
a month -to -month with Off -Street Parking; is that correct?
Dipak Parekh (Executive Director, CRA): Yes, sir.
Chairman Teele: And we expect to continue that relationship in that manner.
Mr. Parekh: Yes, sir.
Chairman Teele: There were no bidders on the parking management. That was in the midst of the
parking controversy, and we issued a whole lot of changes on that.
105 11/20/00
11
27... ` �:;'' APPROVE CRA: TO DISP=I;AY SIGNS ON ALL ;`ONGOING CRA PROJECTS -
REDEVELOPMENT AREA.
Chairman Teele: Resolution authorizing the display of signs on all CRA (Community Redevelopment
Agency) ongoing projects.
Board Member Sanchez: So move.
Chairman Teele: Moved by Commissioner Sanchez.
Board Member Regalado: Second.
Chairman Teele: Seconded. All those in favor, say "aye."
The Board (Collectively): Aye.
The following resolution was introduced by Board Member Sanchez, who moved for its adoption:
SEOPW/CRA RESOLUTION NO. 00-123
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE
COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY ("CRA") APPROVING
THE CRA TO DISPLAY SIGNS ON ALL ONGOING CRA PROJECTS
IN THE REDEVELOPMENT AREA.
(Here follows body of the resolution, omitted here and on file in the Office of the City Clerk.)
Upon being seconded by Board Member Regalado, the resolution was passed and adopted by the
following vote:
AYES: Board Member Wifredo Gort
Board Member Tomas Regalado
Board Member Joe Sanchez
Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Vice Chairman Johnny L. Winton
NAYS: None
ABSENT: None
Chairman Teele: And also, Mr. Manager -- Mr. Director, the law requires that there be notice on
properties when there is a sale or some action. And I think it's very important that we develop a template
for noticing the public on all land transactions, as well. We need to make sure that everything we do
relating to land is transparent, and that we placed an ad in the newspaper advising, consistent with 163.
Didn't you say, Mr. Judy, one time, that the law required that we do a notice? Well, I don't think we did
one on the Barkett Building yet. So let's make sure that we fully comply.
106 11 /20/00
28. AUTHORIZE XXECUTIVE,DIRECTOR TO EXECUTE DEED RE -CONVEYING PROPERTY:;
TO CITY AS RESULT"OF PROPERTY HAVING BEEN PREVIOUSLY CONVEYED, BY CITY "TO
CRAJN"ERROR (SOST;SUBDIVISION). "£
Chairman Teele: All right. Let's move to the final items. Mr. Bloom, there are people here that are very
interested in this. Item number 23 is the resolution authorizing the transfer of land back from the CPA
(Community Redevelopment Agency) to the City. This is something that Dena Bianchino and the
Manager have been working with. A private developer is going to be working with the City, Asset
Management, et cetera. Ma'am, you're welcome. It's good to see you here.
Lori Billberry (Director, Asset Management, City of Miami): Hello. How are you? Lori Billberry,
Director of Asset Management. This was a lot that was actually part of Theodore Gibson Park, and was
inadvertently conveyed to the CRA. And we are asking that it now be re -conveyed back to the City so it
can be developed for this Parks and Recreation project.
Chairman Teele: The City has already passed a resolution requesting that the CRA do this.
Ms. Bilberry: Yes. We have the lease agreement from the Commission, approved at the last Commission
meeting.
Chairman Teele: At the last Commission meeting. Well, things are working right, because before, the
City would have done it, and that would have been the end of it. Motion by Commissioner Winton,
second by Commissioner Gort. Is there objection? All those in favor, say "aye."
The Board (Collectively): Aye.
Chairman Teele: All those opposed?
Ms. Bilberry: Thank you.
Chairman Teele: Thank you, Lori, for keeping that straight.
107 11 /20/00
The following resolution was introduced by Vice Chairman Winton, who moved for its adoption:
SEOPW/CRA RESOLUTION NO. 00-124
OMNFCRA RESOLUTION NO. 00-63
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE
COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY ("CRA")
AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO EXECUTE THE
DEED RECONVEYING THE PROPERTY DESCRIBED ON EXHIBIT
"A" ATTACHED HERETO (THE "PROPERTY") TO THE CITY OF
MIAMI (THE "CITY") AS A RESULT OF THE PROPERTY HAVING
BEEN PREVIOUSLY CONVEYED BY THE CITY TO THE CRA IN
ERROR.
(Here follows body of the resolution, omitted here and on file in the Office of the City Clerk.)
Upon being seconded by Board Member Gort, the resolution was passed and adopted by the following
vote:
AYES: Board Member Wifredo Gort
Board Member Tomas Regalado
Board Member Joe Sanchez
Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Vice Chairman Johnny L. Winton
NAYS: None
ABSENT: None
108 11/20/00
29. , z {A) DISCUSSION ON STATUS r £; OF "',,,DECLARATORY JUDGMENT REGARDING,-
SAWYER'S"WALK AND=LYRIC VILLAGE, -(See #6).- ,,;
(B) ._:.' AWARD GREATER .MIAMh „NEIGHBORHOODS , (GMN) 1.: GRANT,
PREVIOUSLY INTENDED: "TO BE ' GIVEN TO ST. < <JOHN'S COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
CORPORATION TO ENABLE,_,GMN TO ACQUIRE SITE -..FOR DEVELOPMENT�,OF,„NATIONAL
FOOD FRANCHISE AND FURTHER PROVIDED, AS CONDITION OF GRANT, GMN-;AGREE TOE
. ASSIGN GRANT TOte T. JOHN'S AND CONVEY TO- ST; .JOHN'S ANY PROPERTY=ACQUIRED
''BY GMN UTILIZING GRANT ;"PROCEEDS AFTER CURRENT LITIGATION 13ETWEEM° ST �
"J.OHN'S-AND CRA IS --RESOLVED: P`=
Chairman Teele: All right. These two status of declarations of judgment regarding Sawyer's Walk and
Lyric Village were authorized in June, or May or June of the previous year. You informed us that you all
would file immediately in May or June. Can you give us the status and tell us exactly where we are? And
Ms. Sawyer has asked to be heard on this. I know that the people from St. John's are here, so let's go
ahead and get it over with, and get out of here tonight.
William Bloom (Legal Counsel, CRA): On these -- The Sawyer's Walk Project has been filed and
served. The developer, Sawyer's Walk Limited, their attorney has asked for an extension of time to file an
answer, which has been granted as a professional courtesy.
Chairman Teele: Please, please. Go right ahead.
Mr. Bloom: A declaratory judgment action was filed today with respect to Lyric Village. St. John's
attorney was provided with a courtesy copy of it as their representatives here this evening.
Chairman Teele: And the other one?
Mr. Bloom: Both of them. The Sawyer's Walk was filed probably a month ago.
Chairman Teele: Sawyer's Walk was filed a month ago and Lyric Village was filed when?
Mr. Bloom: Today.
Chairman Teele: Today. And essentially, what does the request -- what is the request of the CRA
(Community Redevelopment Agency) in this declaratory judgment?
Mr. Bloom: What the CRA is seeking is a clarification as to whether Sawyer's Walk, with respect to the
Sawyer's Walk Project or Lyric Village, with respect to the Lyric Village Project have any interests in
these properties by virtue of the RFP's (Requests for Proposals) which were done. Sawyer's Walk was
done, I believe, in 1986. Lyric Village was done in 1996, where the documentation was never -- the
transactions were never consummated after the RFP's were completed.
Chairman Teele: All right. I note the presence of the pastor of St. John's and the chairman of the board of
the St. John CDC (Community Development Corporation). I think it's important if anyone has anything
to say on this, please say it here and now, because once the litigations have been commenced, all
discussions -- the staff will no longer be empowered to work with this. It has to go through the lawyers.
109 11 /20/00
So this is the opportunity. I had hoped, particularly with the Lyric Village and St. John's that this would
not happen. It was my understanding that there was going to be some meeting of the minds on this. That
didn't happen, but that certainly is consistent with their rights. And all of this predates everybody here,
just about. And all we want to know is who's got what rights. Mr. McKnight, welcome, and you're
recognized.
Irby McKnight: I'm Irby McKnight, 1600 Northwest 3rd Avenue, Chairperson of the Overtown Advisory
Board and the Neighborhood Assembly for the Empowerment Zone. And I'm here on number 26. I'm
here to ask that these ninety-five thousand dollars ($95,000) not be taken from the Overtown community.
Please work with us at the Empowerment Zone. We have dollars that we can match with this and get a
really good business in Overtown. The intent here is to bring new businesses and strengthen the
businesses that we have to the area. And I'm here just to ask that you keep that in mind and do not take
these funds away from our community. The second thing is that at an earlier meeting in June, we asked
that monies not be taken away from Overtown, and you voted not to do that. We would like an update on
what is the status of those funds, and when will the CRA come to the community as to what will happen to
those funds. Thank you.
Chairman Teele: All right. Next speaker.
David Days: Yes. On the advice of our attorney, we don't want to go --
Chairman Teele: Your name and address for the record.
Mr. Days: Oh, I'm sorry. David Days, St. John Community Development Corporation. We don't want to
go in-depth in terms of what's going on. But Dr. Adams, the chairman of our board, would like to make a
statement.
Nelson Adams: Nelson Adams, chairman of the board of St. John's CDC. Suffice it to say that I'm
extremely disappointed in the decision that the CRA has made. Our attorney has advised us that perhaps a
statement should be kept to a minimum tonight. Simply let the record reflect that at least to my
knowledge, as chair of the board, no effort -- I might emphasize no effort has been made to work out any
arrangement or to come to any clarity of understanding as relates to this dilemma. We wholeheartedly
would embrace an opportunity to do that. However, if the proverbial line has been drawn in the sand, so it
is written, so it shall be. Thank you.
Chairman Teele: All right. Let me yield to the Vice Chairman. I met with the board of directors of the
St. John's CDC on one Saturday and indicated to the board that the attorneys had advised that we must
seek clarification on the issue. As I think everyone knows, these parcels of land have sat there with no
legal documents by either the City, the CRA or the developing parties. There's been no plan. There's
certainly -- I would hope our attorney would receive any plan to redevelop the lots, and would end this
litigation immediately. It would be my hope if you get that that is sufficient to constitute a developable
plan. But the St. John's CDC is keenly aware of the fact that we have to make the decision. Now, one of
the issues, quite candidly, that's driving this is we have an obligation to the Lyric Theater, as well. We
can't do anything on all of these requests that came up from the Lyric Theater until we resolve who owns
and who has what rights. And so we're all sitting here looking at each other. This has gone on in the case
of Sawyer's Walk for -- what? How many years?
110 11/20/00
0 •
Mr. Bloom: It was done in 1996, was their RFP.
Chairman Teele: Sawyer's Walk?
Mr. Bloom: Excuse me. On Sawyer's Walk, it was '86.
Chairman Teele: This has gone on in Sawyer's Walk for over 14 years. Nothing has happened. And in
the case of the Lyric Village, this has gone on for five years.
Mr. Bloom: Right.
Chairman Teele: And I think that we have an obligation to the citizens of Overtown and to the community
to see something happen. I will say right here and right now, I am prepared to meet as the district
Commissioner and as the Chairman of the CRA with the lawyers or anyone that has a plan, with the
attorneys for the CRA to get it done. And I thought to put it all on the record that we had worked out an
agreement whereby one of the things we would do is we would provide the St. John's CDC as being the
entity that we would work through the franchise facility with, that we would transfer the ownership of the
proposed building, that we would provide the opportunity to work with you on housing initiatives that
were going to be undertaking, particularly in the 14th Street area. Your board responded very favorably to
that. And I said very clearly that if we're in litigation, we can't go forward on these things, because on the
one hand, we can't give you a grant and the other hand, sue you. So the issue relating to the franchise,
which is a motion to deal with the national food franchise was simply the fact that we were going to
acquire the building, but rather than the CRA acquiring the building, we were going to allow a
Community Development Corporation to acquire the building on our behalf, consistent with the grant
agreement in which the building would be nominally controlled by the CDC, subject to this Board's
instructions on who the franchisee would be. There is no money moving in or out of Overtown based
upon this motion. The building is the building on the corner of 3rd Avenue and 12th Street. The entity that
holds that building on our behalf will be an entity that we're not in a lawsuit with. And that's what this is
all about. So if there is any way we can meet, if there is any way the staffs can meet and work it out with
the lawyers present, we're open to doing it. No one is trying to draw, nor do we desire to draw -- I
certainly don't desire to draw a line in the sand. But at some point, we've got to move forward with the
development of those lots. And I think we all recognize that.
Mr. Days: Mr. Chairman, thank you very much. We'd be glad to meet with the staff to work this out with
our attorney. But just for the record, we've put our original team together. We got our architect on board
that's already doing plans. We're ready to go with this. But we will meet with them and certainly try to
work it out, because we don't want to go into litigation with the CRA. We want to work in partnership
with the CRA.
Vice Chairman Winton: Mr. Days, do you all have money? Do you have funding to develop something if
you develop the plans?
Mr. Days: Bank of America is on board in terms of being our financial arm in developing this particular
project. They've already put up the dollars --
111 11 /20/00
Chairman Teele: I can tell you right now, Mr. Days, if your board comes up with any kind of plan, I'll be
the one to give up the chair and make the motion to drop any litigation and grant you the opportunity to
move forward. I mean --
Mr. Days: That's all we're trying...
Chairman Teele: You know, this is not -- you know, the last thing we're interested in is an adversarial
relationship. But at some point -- you know, you all are just five years. I guess your argument, if this
were Al Gore and George Bush, would be, treat us like the other guy. So give you 14 years to get it done
because -- we've been waiting 14 years.
Mr. Days: We will meet with the staff. And as soon as possible, we'll meet with the staff, and we'll bring
our team on board.
Vice Chairman Winton: And Mr. Days, you remember you and I met, drove around Overtown after I first
got elected. And you talked to me about all the plans you had, and the things that St. John's wanted to do
in the community. And my itch, as you remember, I'm sure, from then was get it built.
Mr. Days: Yes, sir.
Vice Chairman Winton: Get it built, get it built, because talking about redeveloping Overtown is what
people have been doing forever.
Mr. Days: Yes, sir.
Vice Chairman Winton: Rebuilding Overtown is what no one has done, forever.
Mr. Days: Very good. And I showed you a lot of dilapidated buildings that we were given. We're doing
15 units of town homes there for sale. We got a million dollar --
Vice Chairman Winton: Have you started construction?
Mr. Days: We haven't started construction. We just got the surtax dollars, got a million dollars
($1,000,000) form surtax. We're getting -- we got an eight hundred thousand dollar ($800,000) loan from
LISC (Local Initiative Support Corporation), construction loan, two hundred and fifty thousand dollars
($250,000) predevelopment. We're on our way. All of these things take time, you know, but we're on
our way. We have pledged to be that development arm for Overtown, and we're going to do it.
Vice Chairman Winton: Well, I'm on Commissioner Teele's side here. And he is saying if you all have a
real plan, you can show him a real plan, that's a real plan, not just smoke and mirrors, but a real plan with
money behind it, and resources behind it, you know, I'm going to support him to the maximum. But I can
tell you the same thing I've told a lot of CDC's in this community, and that is, I'm tired of waiting. And if
you can't get it done, get out of the way.
Mr. Days: I understand.
112 11/20/00
Vice Chairman Winton: Lead, follow or get out of the way. And so that's where we are. We've got to
get stuff built in our neighborhoods that are so desperately needed. And there are entities out there that
have the wherewithal today to do development. And so those who can't get it done today need to get out
of the way.
Mr. Days: Right.
Vice Chairman Winton: And we're going to turn these over to those entities that have the resources, the
skill sets to get it done, and then our communities are going to be a lot better, and St. John's will be a lot
better off. So that's our mission. Thank you.
Chairman Teele: Commissioner Gort, please. Reverend Nevins, it's an honor to have you here.
Reverend Nevins is the pastor of the St. John's Church, which is a different entity from the CDC. But
you're the founder of the CDC, as well.
Reverend Henry Nevins: Yes, sir.
Chairman Teele: Thank you for being here, Reverend.
Reverend Nevins: Thank you. My name is Henry Nevins, pastor of the St. John's Baptist Church. And
whatever you can do for the St. John's CDC, we appreciate it. And we love you. We love all the
Commissioners. I'm standing here because I heard that the Chairman's mother is sick, and I do know that
you are very, very much committed to your family. And I want you to know that we are praying very,
very hard for your mother. And I hope that all of us who are here will go into prayer for her, and all will
be well, because we think positively.
Chairman Teele: Thank you very much. I do intend to take a flight in the morning at 5 a.m. to be with my
mother in Atlanta. She's with my sister, who's a physician, but she was scheduled to have surgery today
at 6 o'clock. Thank you.
Reverend Nevins: You're welcome.
Chairman Teele: At 89 years of age, all surgery is serious. Thank you very much. And I think, you
know, the statement that Reverend Nevins underscores a tremendous energy that we all have about
Overtown. There's a lot of mixed emotions here. The last thing I want to do, first of all, is be at this
Board meeting; and second of all, be in an adversarial position related to St. John's CDC. But, you know,
the fact of the matter is I've made a commitment to move the development forward. And we have to have
a development plan, or we have to make other arrangements, and that's the concern. And as it relates to
the franchise facility, the resolution will be amended to say that if and when the litigation is resolved that
St. John's CDC will assume their role as the owner of that building. And that's the way I would make that
motion.
Reverend Nevins: Thank you very much. Thank you. I wonder, sir, since we are in a free society, I
wonder if at this time, we could have a word of prayer. Would you grant me that privilege?
Chairman Teele: Prayer is always in order.
113 11 /20/00
Reverend Nevins: Thank you very much. Eternal and ever -wise God, the Creator of all mankind, we
thank you for this opportunity of seeking your guidance. And Lord, we just pray your blessings upon
these Commissioners. They have a great job, and they're performing in a wonderful way for us. And
Lord, we are mindful of the Chairman, Commissioner Teele, who will be taking that iron bird in the
morning to be by his mother's side. And so Lord, we present him. And we present the pilots, and we ask
you to be the pilot of that airline, that airplane that he will travel on. And we pray, oh God, your blessings
upon the doctors, and the nurses, and the orderlies who will be waiting on his mother. We know that you
are the great physician, and Lord, we know that you've never lost a case. And so we present her into your
gracious keeping. And Lord, we just ask you to do for us what no earthly power can do. And so now, we
commit it all to you. Bless us now, we pray, in your precious name. Amen.
The Board (Collectively): Amen.
Reverend Nevins: Thank you, sir.
Chairman Teele: Thank you very much. A motion on 26.
Vice Chairman Winton: Yes.
Chairman Teele: By Commissioner Winton. Is there a second?
Board Member Gort: Second.
Chairman Teele: By Commissioner Gort. Is there objection? All those in favor, say "aye."
The Board (Collectively): Aye.
Chairman Teele: With the proviso that if the litigation is resolved that St. John's will be restored as the
owner. And that will be a condition of the grant to the other entity. All those in favor, say "aye."
The Board (Collectively): Aye.
114 11 /20/00
•
The following motion was introduced by Vice Chairman Winton, who moved for its adoption:
SEOPW/CRA MOTION NO. 00-125
A MOTION TO AWARD GREATER MIAMI NEIGHBORHOODS
("GMN") A GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF $95,000 PREVIOUSLY
INTENDED TO BE GIVEN TO ST. JOHN'S COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION ("ST. JOHN'S"), TO ENABLE
GMN TO ACQUIRE THE SITE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE
NATIONAL FOOD FRANCHISE, AND FURTHER PROVIDED AS A
CONDITION OF THE GRANT, GMN AGREES TO ASSIGN THE
GRANT TO ST. JOHN'S AND CONVEY TO ST. JOHN'S ANY
PROPERTY ACQUIRED BY GMN UTILIZING THE GRANT
PROCEEDS AFTER THE CURRENT LITIGATION BETWEEN ST.
JOHN'S AND THE CRA IS RESOLVED.
Upon being seconded by Board Member Gort, the motion was passed and adopted by the following vote:
AYES: Board Member Wifredo Gort
Board Member Tomas Regalado
Board Member Joe Sanchez
Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Vice Chairman Johnny L. Winton
NAYS: None
ABSENT: None
115 11 /20/00
0
30. , $CHEDULE SPECIAL CRA MEETING ON`DECEMBER 18, 2000 --,,HOLIDAY FESTIVITIES
r:
TO, FOLLOW AT END `OF MEETING:
Chairman Teele: Could we do this, staff? The next meeting is on the 181". Could we have this meeting so
that it's no more than 30 minutes, and could we have proper holiday festivities for the remaining 30, 45
minutes?
Dipak Parekh (Executive Director, CRA): Yes, sir.
Vice Chairman Winton: What are those?
Board Member Gort: I mean, are you going to make a short agenda?
Chairman Teele: A short, short agenda. Meeting is now adjourned.
The following motion was introduced by Vice Chairman Winton, who moved for its adoption:
SEOPW/CRA MOTION NO. 00-126
OMNFCRA MOTION NO. 00-64
A MOTION TO ADJOURN TODAY'S MEETING OF THE
COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY.
Upon being seconded by Board Member Gort, the motion was passed and adopted by the following vote:
AYES: Board Member Wifredo Gort
Board Member Tomas Regalado
Board Member Joe Sanchez
Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Vice Chairman Johnny L. Winton
NAYS: None
ABSENT: None
116 11 /20/00
There being no further business to come before the Community Redevelopment Agency for the Southeast
Overtown/Park West and Omni Districts, the meeting was adjourned at 8:40 p.m.
ATTEST:
WALTER J. FOEMAN
City Clerk
SYLVIA LOWMAN
Assistant City Clerk
ARTHUR E. TEELE, JR.,
Chairman
(SEAL)
117 11 /20/00