HomeMy WebLinkAboutSEOPW OMNI CRA 2003-07-28 MinutesCITY OF MIAMI
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MEETING
MINUTES
OF MEETING HELD ON JULY 28, 2003
PREPARED BY THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK/CITY HALL
Priscilla A. Thompson/City Clerk
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING OF THE
COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY FOR
SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST AND OMNI DISTRICTS
On the 281h day of July 2003, 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 V.I.P. Room, Old Miami Arena, 701 Arena Boulevard, Miami, Florida.
The meeting was called to order at 5:30 p.m. by Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr., with the
following Board Members found to be present:
Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr. (5:34 p.m.)
Board Member Angel Gonzdlez
Board Member Tomas Regalado
Board Member Joe Sanchez
ABSENT:
Vice Chairman Johnny L. Winton
Priscilla A. Thompson, City Clerk
Sylvia Scheider, Assistant City Clerk
ALSO PRESENT:
Alejandro Vilarello, City Attorney, City of Miami
James Villacorta, Assistant City Attorney, City of Miami
Frank Rollason, Executive Director, CRA, City of Miami
William R. Bloom, Special Counsel, CRA, Holland & Knight
Ana Rojas, Legislative Services Supervisor, City of Miami
July 28, 2003
Board Member Regalado: We have a quorum and Chairman Teele is on his way, so we're going
to start the regular CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) meeting. If we can all stand for a
moment of silent prayer, and then the pledge of allegiance, we'll move on with the agenda.
An invocation was delivered by Board Member Regalado who also led those present in a pledge
of allegiance to the flag
1. TABLED: PRESENTATION BY PHILIP BACON REGARDING ACTIVITIES OF
OVERTOWN CIVIC PARTNERSHIP WITHIN SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN
REDEVELOPMENT AREA
Board Member Regalado: For your information, Vice Chairnan Winton will not be here. He's
out of town. And Chairman Teele is on his way. He should be here any minute now. Since we
have a quorum, three of the five board members, we're going to start with some of the items.
We will wait for the chairman to do the personal appearances. We are now on Item 5, the CRA
(Community Redevelopment Agency) financial summary by CPA (Certified Public Accountant)
firm, Harvey, Branker & Associates. Frank.
Frank Rollason (Executive Director, CRA): And Carlton will give that report to us. And I don't
see Carlton. He was here a minute ago.
2 July 28, 2003
2. DEFER FOR 90 DAYS OR TO CRA BOARD MEETING CURRENTLY SCHEDULED
FOR OCTOBER 27, 2003, CONSIDERATION OF CRA EXTERNAL AUDIT REPORT FOR
FISCAL YEAR 2002 FROM KPMG, TO HAVE ADEQUATE TIME TO RESOLVE
PENDING ISSUES PERTAINING TO LOANS AND CONTRACTS AS OUTLINED IN
KPMG REPORT.
Frank Rollason (Executive Director, CRA): All right. Why don't we go to Number 6 and then
we can come back to that? All right.
Board Member Regalado: We go to Number 6, KPMG (Klynveld, Peat, Marwick, Goerdeler)
External Audit Report, fiscal year 2002.
Mr. Rollason: And you have a copy of that draft spiraled -- it's right there in front of you.
Ken Deon: Good evening. Hello. My name is Ken Deon. I am the engagement partner for the
audit of the CRAB (Community Redevelopment Agency) or the agencies. We have tonight --
what we'd like to go over is the management letter. I believe I actually had sent it to you about a
month ago to solicit your comments. And what I,'d like to do, essentially, is walk through, in
summary, each of the comments. You know, please interrupt me if you have any questions.
And, again, I will take questions at the end of the review of the management letter. I guess to
begin with -- and I'm going to focus on fiscal year 2002, and then I'll talk a little bit about fiscal
year 2001 and prior year management letter comments. This year -- I'm on page four, for your
reference, of the management letter. We have five management letter comments in the current
year. Two of them are what is referred to as reportable conditions, or significant or serious
deficiencies in the Agency's systems of internal controls, and we have three other observations.
Note for the Record: At this time, Chairman Teele entered the meeting at 5:34.
Mr. Deon: The first one is on page five, and it's referred to as -- the heading is "Grants
Management and Accounting." And the condition found was that the agencies do not maintain
adequate records to allow information, that it be readily available, with respect to organizations -
- non-profit organizations that are funded with CDBG (Community Development Block Grant)
monies and other fundings. We think it's very significant finding and, therefore, we concluded
that it would be a reportable condition. On page six, finding number two, Contract Agreements.
And we've noted this before. As you're aware, that you do have a lot of professional services
agreements and you're procuring contracts for -- basically most of your professional services are
all contracted. During the fiscal year, we noted that the Agency paid numerous third party
contractors for professional services. However, in several instances, we noted that there were no
formal agreements between the contractor and the agencies, and they have not been executed or
approved -- and/or approved with resolutions. The resolutions actually could not be located, and
we believe that this was a significant deficiency. Other observations in 2002, on page seven, we
noted that there were improper use of Tax Increment Funds. The TIF (Tax Increment Fund)
funds actually that were funds that were earmarked for projects with the City of Miami Southeast
Overtown/Park West Redevelopment Agency were actually used for the Margaret Pace Park
project or under the Omni. And we felt that the TIF monies should be used for their intended
purposes and they were not. Therefore, you were out of compliance. On page eight, Loan
3 July 28, 2003
Administration. And again, you have various loans with developers and other organizations and
you really don't maintain any formal status of your outstanding loans. You actually don't have a
complete -- when I say you -- I'm sorry, the agencies do not have a complete inventory of all the
loans that have been dispersed to recipients. And we think that's a significant finding. Two
thousand and two-5, on page nine, Insurance Bonding for executives and other employees. At
the time we did the audit, we requested -- I actually asked a question of key employees and
executive management had -- that were insured to protect the agencies from theft or acts of fraud
and we were informed that they -- well, actually, they could not locate an insurance policy. I
was informed tonight that apparently you have come up with the documentation. Is that correct,
Frank? And once we look at the insurance form or the actual contract or insurance policy and we
conclude that you do have one, we will delete the comment. On page 10, this is the status -- this
is a table, which basically provides you a summary of the status of prior years observations,
recommendations, and management responses to those findings. As you can see, at this point
you still have -- let's see, two -- nine comments or observations that were -- we made in prior
years that were still relevant and had not been corrected. Most of those -- actually, seven out of
the nine were reportable conditions or significant deficiencies in internal control. Now, if you'd
like, I would go over -- I'll go over each one. I know you've seen them before. I'll leave that up
to you. I'd be very happy to walk through it with you -- walk through each individual comment
with you, if you'd like. Or we could just open up for any questions that you may have.
Board Member Regalado: You done with the report?
Mr. Deon: We are.
Chairman Teele: Board Member Regalado, I would like to apologize. My vehicle wouldn't start
and I appreciate --
Board Member Regalado: I said that --
Chairman Teele: -- the support that the staff gave me in getting here.
Board Member Regalado: I said that you had a car problem and so we began with this. We left
the personal appearances for when you be available. I just had a question, Mr. Chairman.
Chairman Teele: Yes, sir.
Board Member Regalado: Are you working with the auditor general of the City?
Mr. Deon: No, we are not working with the auditor general.
Board Member Regalado: Would you share with him all the information --
Mr. Deon: Yes. We -- in fact, this report will be -- would be issued to the auditor general. It's
prepared in accordance with the rules of the auditor general and it is a required report.
Chairman Teele: How long have you all been the auditors?
4 July 28, 2003
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Mr. Deon: Since 1998, we were the auditors for the CRA.
Chairman Teele: Frank, I'd like to get a copy of these management letters since '98 going
forward. I'd like to get that and then I'd like to schedule a workshop with the auditors and with
the -- our internal auditors, along with the staff -- just -- with the lawyers to try to understand
some of this.. Since I've been here, I'm unaware of any loan, for example, that the CRA has
given. I mean, I have always adamantly opposed loans. What are the loans that the CRA has
given?
Mr. Deon: Commissioner, I don't have that information here.
Chairman Teele: I mean --
Mr. Deon: We'll provide it for you, though. Absolutely.
Chairman Teele: Is anybody on the board aware of any loans that we've given? Mr. Attorney?
Anybody on staff? Frank, are you aware of any?
Mr. Rollason: The -- since I've been here, we've got the one loan -- combination loan and grant
with Club Space. The loan portion has never been exercised, only the grant.
Chairman Teele: Was that ever exercised?
Mr. Rollason: No, not the loan. And I think this was also a previous item, too, wasn't it, Ken?
Mr. Deon: No, it wasn't. This was a --
Mr. Rollason: This is just this year for 2002?
Mr. Deon: Yes.
Board Member Regalado: So why were you talking about loans?
Mr. Deon: Pardon me?
Chairman Teele: There's a deficiency here of something talking about loans and the fact that we
Mr. Deon: We can -- I mean, I don't have the info -- I don't have the work papers that's to
support the comment, but I'd be very happy to absolutely provide it to you, which identifies what
loans we're talking about.
Mr. Rollason: The other thing that we've done is we've taken all of these items that are in this
management letter going back to 1999, which is the earliest one, we have charted them out and
we are in the process of developing those processes that will take care of those items. Some of
5 July 28, 2003
them have been resolved already. But, again, he deals with (INAUDIBLE) 2002. I mean, we'll
arrange for the workshop and we'll get you the backup.
Board Member Regalado: You have been following the CRA finance for -- since '99, right?
Mr. Deon: Correct.
Board Member Regalado: Have you been interviewed by any authority?
Mr. Deon: No, I have not, Commissioner.
Board Member Sanchez: Mr. Chairman.
Chairman Teele: Commissioner Sanchez.
Board Member Sanchez: We -- if I remember correctly, February of this year, we brought you in
to develop policy and procedures to prevent similar occurrences pertaining to the management
letters that we have seen in the past. Although we have made improvement on some of the
categories that were reportable conditions --
Chairman Teele: You (INAUDIBLE) them in?
Board Member Sanchez: No, no, no, no. I'm talking about the administration. This question is
going to be towards the administration. We have reportable conditions. We have five of them
that are reported on this management letter. I just want to ask the administration what steps the
Executive Director and his staff is making to ensure that we comply as quickly as possible with
the rules of auditor general with the state of Florida on these matters, especially pertaining to
improper use of Tax Increment Funds.
Mr. Rollason: If you look at the bottom of each one of those pages, there is a management
response to every one of them and we've been working with KPMG to put these responses
together. And we believe that -- you know, certainly we're addressing to rectify those things that
have happened in the past and put those things in order so they don't happen again in the future.
Also, there is a policy and procedures that KPMG put together some time ago and that is also
being reviewed and incorporated with our present CPAs to develop the policies and procedures
that we'll follow from this point forward.
Board Member Sanchez: So, would it be safe to say that possibly the next letter that we get will
be in accordance with some of these issues that would no longer be relevant, correct?
Mr. Rollason: My position is that when you get the next one, there won't be any.
Board Member Sanchez: Well, my concern is we still have nine items that are currently and still
relevant on this. And you've been here since '99 and, of course, Frank, you have not been here
long enough, but I think you've done an outstanding job as the Executive Director. But I just
think that as quickly as we could start getting our house in order, it's something that -- you know,
6 July 28, 2003
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the CRA is just dying to breathe fresh air. And I think the quickest way that we could start
getting some of these issues moved over from, you know, relevant to no longer relevant, the
better off we'll all be.
Chairman Teele: Frank, I share the concern but I am personally concerned about three items that
are there. One are the contract issues. I don't know if the Attorney was present, but I really
think it's important that the Attorney and you sit down and resolve those issues because what
they're suggesting -- at least the way I heard the comment -- that we had entered into -- the board
had approved but there were -- and work had began but the contracts were never executed.
Mr. Rollason: There are combinations. There are some of that sort.
Chairman Teele: I really would like to get the details of it.
Mr. Rollason: All right.
Chairman Teele: But I really would like for, you know, for this to be coordinated with the City
Attorney's Office, if possible.
Mr. Rollason: All right.
Chairman Teele: The second one is this improper expenditure of funds, which I'm totally
unaware of. Now there, at one time, was a discussion about one TIF loaning one TIF money and
I think that came to the board. And I asked the board attorneys if that was legal and possible.
Did anybody discuss this with you all, Mr. Bloom?
William R. Bloom (Special Counsel, CRA): No, sir.
Chairman Teele: I mean, did the auditors discuss this -- has management discussed this with
you?
Mr. Bloom: No, sir.
Chairman Teele: Well, again, the concern that I have, Frank, is this. Is that given the continuity
issues that are clearly not here, the attorneys, as well as the external auditors have to be a part of
any management, especially the attorneys have to be a part of any management response. And I
don't see how we can have a management response in this document if the attorneys have not
been vetted on this issue. And again, I'm not -- let the chips falls where they may. I mean, I'm
not interested in trying to sugarcoat or coat over it, but I would like to get a full record there and
a full amplification because -it was my understanding, -when this issue came up -- and I took some
exception from the staff and Mr. Judy -- that there was an opinion of some sort that had been
issued on that. And, again, I'm well aware of the fact that there was a cash flow problem in the
Omni and they were trying to get the park issue resolved, and there was a solution proposed by
the senior staff of loaning money from one TIF to the other, and that matter came before the
board and it was referred back out to the attorneys for an opinion. And now I'm seeing a
conclusion. So those are the two issues, particularly, that I really would like to try to get some
7 July 28, 2003
clarification on and then a list of loans. Because, again, the one thing that I have always been
adamantly opposed to, with exception in rare cases, is for the redevelopment authority to be
engaged in loans. You know, we should provide grants, where appropriate, or provide
guarantees to banks, but I really don't think the CRA, you know, 'should be a financial institution
that is engaged in loans, generally. Now we have talked about loans for capital equipment,
which I've always proposed that they be grants, in any event. I'm talking about like dishwashers
and shoeshine machines and those kinds of things.
Alejandro Vilarello (City Attorney): We also had the Omni CRA (INAUDIBLE) for the
development of Margaret Pace Park. That's a loan coming back.
Chairman Teele: Well, yeah. The CRA has done substantial loans to the City of Miami, and --
including one or two others. In any event, those are the two or three concerns. But this is very
important and I share the concern of the board, that we need to try to get this matter fixed.
Board Member Sanchez: I have another --
Chairman Teele: What's a realistic timeline -- I think, realistically, we should ask that this come
back to us in 90 days. You know, things have a way of just never getting resolved if you don't
put a timeline on it. Is it fair --
Mr. Rollason: No. I have no problem with 90 days.
Chairman Teele: I mean, August, September, October -- would it be fair if there was a motion
that this item be brought back to the board for the board meeting of October, 90 days? Is that
something that the Executive --
Mr. Deon: Absolutely. That's --
Chairman Teele: The attorneys. Is everybody in agreement?
Mr. Rollason: I'm understanding for a status as to where we are on all these items, exactly what
our position is, do you want to try to have a workshop before that time or do you want to wait
until the report?
Chairman Teele: Well, why don't we wait until after the report.
Mr. Rollason: OK.
Chainnan Teele: But like the things relating to -loans -- because, see, there are loans on the book
that nobody even knows about that -- and their questions: Are the loans City loans or CRA
loans? And then the question of board resolutions is something that we certainly need to
address. Has the Clerk's Office been involved in the responses, at all?
Ana Rojas (Deputy City Clerk): No.
8 July 28, 2003
Board Member Sanchez: Frank, what --
Chairman Teele: Would you mind making a motion to bring it back here --
Board Member Sanchez: I will but let me just put this for the record --on the record. I think one
of the contributing factors and the most important factor that has gotten us in the situation that
we're in is the inadequate record keeping. In other words, I mean, we have not been very good
at that. And, Frank, I just think that, you know, the new administration, meaning you, the
Executive Director, needs to focus on keeping every document possible because that's one of the
things now that's really creating such a big problem because there are a lot of documents
missing. And when they put on the record here that the agencies do not maintain adequate
records that allow us -- you know, readily available information with respect to the names and
the organizations from the loan, you know, that's just -- it opens the door to -- for everything,
including contract agreements, improper use, loan administration. So that's something that I
think we need to focus on, is maintaining good records. Because, at the end of the day, you
know, government is all about documentation. And there's an old saying, you know,
documentation is key.
Mr. Rollason: Yes, sir. And I think it's not -- and as Ken can attest, it's not that there aren't
documents. It's the manner in which they have been archived and stored that one doesn't relate
to another and it's difficult to pull it all together. And sometimes we find things -- just like we
did with the insurance document that he's talking about,we found that today. So -- and we've
been dealing with the insurance company on this bonding issue ever since KPMG brought it to
an issue and then today we find that there's this policy in place that may solve that issue. So,
you're right. I mean, it's -- records are there but some of it is kind of hodge-podge and we're
working on that with our CPAs to put all that in order.
Board Member Sanchez: Now, on the insurance aspect, do we have director's insurance policy?
Mr. Rollason: That's the -- the policy that we got today is what we're talking about and we're
exploring that and we're going to have KPMG take a look at that and see if that meets the criteria
of what they're looking for.
Board Member Sanchez: OK. I'm prepared .to make the motion. - Was it 90 days, Mr.
Chairman?
Chairman Teele: Ninety days or the meeting in October.
Board Member Sanchez: So moved.
Chairman Teele: Is there a second?
Board Member Gonzalez: Second.
Chairman Teele: Is there objection? All those in favor say "aye."
9 July 28, 2003
•
The Board Members (Collectively): Aye.
Chairman Teele: Those opposed?
The following motion was introduced by Board Member Sanchez, who moved its adoption:
SEOPW/CRA MOTION NO. 03-64
OMNFCRA MOTION NO. 03-45
A MOTION TO DEFER FOR 90 DAYS OR TO THE CRA BOARD MEETING
CURRENTLY SCHEDULED FOR OCTOBER 27, 2003, CONSIDERATION
OF CRA EXTERNAL AUDIT REPORT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2002 FROM
KPMG, IN ORDER TO HAVE ADEQUATE TIME TO RESOLVE PENDING
ISSUES PERTAINING TO LOANS AND CONTRACTS AS OUTLINED IN
THE REPORT FROM KPMG.
Upon being seconded by Board Member Gonzalez, the motion was passed and adopted by the
following vote:
AYES: Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Board Member Angel Gonzalez
Board Member Tomas Regalado
Board Member Joe Sanchez
NAYS: None
ABSENT: Vice Chairman Johnny L. Winton
Chairman Teele: Commissioner -- Board Member Regalado, I know you have to leave at
7:151sh, so we want to --
Board Member Regalado: No, no. I've got time. Seven forty-five.
10 July 28, 2003
3. DIRECT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO MEET WITH CITY'S CHIEF FINANCIAL
OFFICER TO RECONCILE FIVE-YEAR BUDGET PLAN WITH CITY AND CRA.
Chairman Teele: What item did you --
Board Member Sanchez: Four. Was it four or five? We're going to get all of the finances out of
the way.
Chairman Teele: OK. That was Item Number --
Board Member Sanchez: That was six.
Vice Chairman Teele: That was Item Number 6.
Frank Rollason (Executive Director, CRA): That was six.
Board Member Sanchez: Four.
Chairman Teele: Item Number 5 is --
Mr. Rollason: The summary -- the financial summary for this month.
Chairman Teele: And four is McQueen.
Mr. Rollason: And then you can go back to the personal appearances and whichever --
Chairman Teele: All right. Is Item Number 5 coming?
Mr. Rollason: Yes, sir. And this is an up-to-date one that you're being handed right now.
Carlton Branker: Carlton Branker with Harvey, Branker & Associates. It's a pleasure to be here
tonight. I have them passing out the up-to-date sheet because there had been some changes from
the sheet that we had there, May 31", particularly changes in terms of the budget on the last
meeting that we had. On July 15"', we made some transfer on the budget. So I wanted to try to
capture exactly where we are as most up-to-date as possible. Now, going forward, what we've
tried to do is -- since we've been with the organization probably since March, we have tried to
look at the organization -- please.
Board Member Sanchez: Yes. The revised is the 7/28/2003, is that the revised?
Mr. Branker: Correct.
Board Member Sanchez: OK.
Mr. Branker: Correct. In the packet that you have, that's as of May -- the packet that you have
in your packet -- in your agenda is as of May 3Is'. This sheet that you have in front of you as of
11 July 28, 2003
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July 191h. What we've tried to do is, since we've been with the organization is we've tried to
look at the organization from a perspective matter. KPMG gave their presentation. A lot of
what they look at is primarily what has happened in the past. Since we've come in, we've tried
to come in and look at the organization as where is the organization now, where is the
organization today and where are we trying to go in the future. A lot of that has been a time
consuming process, trying to understand all what is out there, all of the obligations, all of the
projects that we're doing now. One of the things that's very interesting to me -- and I'm going to
explain this report then go forward. The way the report is laid out, I've tried to make it -- the
front sheet so that you can kind of see area wise what we look like and that's a summation. The
front sheet is a summation of all of the detail that's behind there. It's broken out at the Southeast
Overtown/Park West area, the Omni area, and then an administrative area and then the totals.
The sheets that you have behind there are just the details that make up that top sheet right there.
So you can look at each area and see where we are financially and where we're going. What
we've tried to do, again, is we've put that revised budget on there. That is the most current
budget on there, put where the actual expenditures are as of July 19th and then seeing that we
have two months left, August and September, try to project out where we think the organization
will be at year end. And again, that was primarily one of the reasons why we recommended
some of the budget transfers and brought them July 15th, because we saw, based on some of the
projects that were going on, that we would need the funding to get those projects going this year.
What.we have primarily done is, again, looked at each area and see what was going on. One of
the things -- it's interesting you brought that up -- you have a question? One of the things that's
interesting that you brought up is one of the questions about the TIF dollars. And in order to
head that off, I just want to interject that one of things we had to do during this project is we had
to begin to identify the dollars for each project. In the past, a project may have been approved
but maybe the dollars that we're going to use may or may not have been identified. When you
look at your agenda now, one of the things that we've been working with the Executive Director
is making sure that if a project is here, that we've identified the dollars by project, by source, by
minor object on where those dollars are coming from, and we've tried to combine those and but
this on those sheets so that every project that we are aware of at this time that is ongoing or
projects that we know are upcoming, we have encumbered those dollars and reflected them here
on the expenditures that we know are upcoming so that those dollars aren't recycled. We're
making sure that we're using the right dollars from the right pots. In general speaking, just to
summarize -- and, again, feel free to interject any time to ask any questions -- we believe, based
upon the changes that we have -- the adjustments that we have made here, that we'll make it
through with the projects that we made for the year. We begin to start on the 2004 budget,
making the recommendations there. There's quite a bit of activity going on in the Southeast
Overtown/Park West area, and the financials and the projections that we see expenditures are
going to reflect that. And there is some things going on with the Omni but that's mainly the
update plan and things like that. But as an overall, this is the financial situation of the CRA as
we see it as of today -and as we see itgoing forth through September.
Chainnan Teele: Questions, concerns? All right. Are there any questions or concerns? It
would be very helpful if you would work especially -- I note the presence of the Grow America
people. If you would take some time and work with theirs, and can we get some graphs relating
to the various TIFs from beginning to where we are? And I'm going to ask the Grow America
people to provide us with some technical support for looking at TIFs around the state. Because I
12 July 28, 2003
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think one of the challenges that we have is to understand what is a TIF and when is it working
and when is it broken. And I think some charts and graphs would be very, very helpful in trying
to understand that, especially as we present the FY (Fiscal Year) '04 budget. What is the state
law, January 30th is the -- payments must be made? Is it January 30`h?
Unidentified Speaker: For TIF?
Chainnan Teele: TIF payments?
Mr. Vilarello: I believe it's before the end of the month in January.
George M. Stapf. That's the without penalty date.
Chairman Teele: Without penalty date, January 301h. OK. So we need to really try to focus in
on that. Frank, have we gotten our number from the County, yet?
Mr. Rollason: Yes, we did and I distributed that. I sent that to everybody. It shows about a 34
percent increase on the Omni side and a slight decrease on the Southeast Overtown/Park West,
about three percent.
Chairman Teele: I hope that you all have met with Ms. Haskins because I -- is Ms. Haskins here
or a representative of the Budget office?
Mr. Rollason: We forwarded --
Chairman Teele: Because that was the subject of a very bitter debate, which I had with them
because I told them that the TIF this year would go down. The City projections had the TIF up
like 15 percent, which I strongly objected to.
Mr. Rollason: Right. They told us to use a nine percent factor. And I believe what Carlton's
done is you've adjusted the Southeast Overtown/Park West on our figures and Budget request
that we use nine percent. Was that not correct?
Mr. Branker: Correct. And the 2004 budget, which I think you're going to be receiving shortly,
if you don't already have it, we reflected exactly what the County's budget numbers were as they
presented to us. And, actually, I think a representative from the County may be here. We put
those budgets in and assume what the --
Chairman Teele: But tell me what is the number for Southeast Overtown/Park West? Is it up
nine percent or -is it flat?
Mr. Branker: Southeast Overtown/Park West, it is down approximately three percent. I could
tell you exactly.
Chairman Teele: So, why are you --
13 July 28, 2003
Mr. Rollason: We didn't. We adjusted ours exactly like what we're getting the projection from
the County.
Chairman Teele: OK. But what I'm saying is we need to go back and we need to negotiate that
with the City because the City budget -- five-year budget projections, which -- I don't know.
Has anybody sat down with the City on the five-year budget?
Mr. Rollason: What I did with those figures that we got from the County, which were
preliminary, is I sent them -- I sent a copy to Linda. I sent one to Scott at Finance and I sent one
to the Budget Director, Mr. Spring.
Chairman Teele: Who is the senior representative of the City here tonight? Is there a City
representative? Could you make sure that you make a note and -- because, see, sending this stuff
is not really that helpful without a flag on it. We need to have a meeting to reconcile the five-
year budget plan with the City and the CRA because this is substantially -- a substantial
deviation from the current five-year plan. And it's not like I'm saying, "I told you so," but I
understand where the money is coming from and where it's not. The TIF is going in the other
direction now.
Unidentified Speaker: I actually just communicated your request to Ms. Haskins and she will
follow up with Mr. Rollason.
Chairman Teele: OK. I mean, you --
Mr. Rollason: When I sent that I sent it with a flag on it saying a particular note is the decrease
in the Southeast Overtown/Park West because I realized that they had anticipated that nine
percent. So really we're talking about a swing at 12 percent.
Chairman Teele: OK. Further comments? If not, Major McQueen.
I
14 July 28, 2003
4. FINAL REPORT ON 90-DAY ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT PILOT PROGRAM.
DIRECT CRA ADMINISTRATION MEET WITH EUGENE RODRIGUEZ OF BIG TIME
PRODUCTIONS AND OMNI ADVISORY BOARD AND SCHEDULE ITEM FOR
OCTOBER OR NOVEMBER CRA BOARD MEETING REGARDING ISSUES RELATED
TO LACK OF POLICE PRESENCE, PARKING, AND LIGHTING IN AREA OF NW 14T"
STREET AND NORTH MIAMI AVENUE; FURTHER REQUEST EUGENE RODRIGUEZ
MEET WITH CRA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR BEFORE NOVEMBER BOARD MEETING
TO COME UP WITH RECOMMENDATIONS AND PRESENT THEM TO OMNI
ADVISORY BOARD.
Chairman Teele: Was that the item you said, number four? Major McQueen, Lieutenant -- I
don't see Major.
Lieutenant William Alvarez: I apologize. Lieutenant McQueen couldn't be here. He was
transferred to the north end. He's out of central district now and I'm here in his place and
Commander Reed's place. Basically, what I have here today is going to be a PowerPoint
presentation for you so you can see what was done during the Park West Entertainment District
pilot program, which was from the CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) and monies used
from the CRA. We need to come up with a plan. After the pilot program, what to come up with
next. What type of activities we used to stop crime in the area and continue the project what
already had been done and removing people that were undesirable in the area and to keep that
forward and keep it moving forward. Basically, identify overlapping zones between patrol and
BEATs, current manpower allocation, reconfiguration of agent patrol zones, creation/expansion
of downtown BEATs, logistical considerations and the entertainment district and the future of
downtown. Previous patrol zones, the way they're configured. The patrol zones overlapped
with downtown BEATs. We needed to find a way to be able to use our manpower in the most
effective way and the way downtown was moving and progressing, and these were the type of
plans that we came up with. Also, the previous downtown BEATs. This shows you -- in the
map area there, notice that area 44-4, 5 and 2 patrol units were also in the downtown BEAT's
coverage area. So we were overlapping. The New Zone Configurations. This is only for A -shift
zones. What we did was -- since we're overlapping with downtown BEATs, patrol units will be
limited to patrol zones 44-1, 2, 3, and 4. Zones 44-5 and 6 will be covered by downtown BEATs
units and patrol zones remain north of 5th Street. New BEATs Configuration. Downtown
BEATs area coverage. Expanded area of responsibility. Now we expanded from I-95 over to
North River Drive, all that area. And from 5th Street south to the river. This is our weekday
BEAT coverage. The Flagler will still have its post. The expanded area of responsibility for
downtown BEATs units. We have the fixed post on Flagler Street and roving units in the
downtown core area, the ones that have the larger area and we still have the units in Bayside.
Since we have less people traveling into downtown on the weekends, we have less manpower
and we try to allocate' the manpower to those times. We increased the number of officers at
Bayside for the weekends. Downtown BEATs. It's comprised of the NET (Neighborhood
Enhancement Team) Commander, who is in charge of it, which is Commander Reed. I'm
lieutenant for downtown BEATs. We have three sergeants and 28 officers, and they're allocated
as follows there. A -shift Patrol has 10 officers and two sergeants assigned to it. The Downtown
Core. We also -- in this downtown core, we have the third largest jewelry district in the United
States. We've assigned two officers from BEATs over to that area. Those officers, they're
15 July 28, 2003
0
investigating the distraction thefts, following them and making sure that people, as they leave the
downtown area, don't get robbed. It's been very successful. The robbery rate for those type of
robberies, where they leave and they get robbed in other jurisdictions, has dropped tremendously.
And they've been very appreciative in the jewelry district. And also, there's a lot going on there
too where there're improvements and they're renovating the area. Now, back over to the
homeless. These officers are also taken from the BEATS configuration, from the BEATs area,
and the BEATs zones. Previous Homeless Detail Coverage. The BEATs units would only go
from east of 1-95 up to 5"' Street and just cover the downtown core, and we're expanding that.
The expansion will be all of downtown. Two officers also, in addition to these five, will be
pulled from the Homeless Wagon Detail that's in the downtown core right now. And those
officers will be used for all of downtown and assist with the homeless and try to get those
activities. The homeless detail primary goals are assist the homeless and arrest homeless that are
committing crimes. The (UNINTELLIGIBLE) agreement will be followed at all times for these
officers in training. It's heavy on that. This is the HAC, the Homeless Assistance Center.
We've established a good relationship with the HAC. We work with Mr. Brown on a daily basis.
He's very good and very helpful to our youth and to the area. You note how -- note how clean it
is outside. The place is well run. Never homeless congregating and it's very well staffed
facility. This is the Camillus House. It's in sharp contrast to the HAC. You have homeless
congregating outside. You have people -- you have their trash outside. This could be cleaned up
in one hour, and three hours later you'd have the same thing.
Board Member Gonzdlez: That's a picture of Allapattah?
Lieutenant Alvarez: No. This is the debris in the area of the Camillus House.
Chairman Teele: What are you guys trying to do? Get something started up here?
Lieutenant Alvarez: No, sir. We're just trying to expand everything in downtown, why we're
making these changes and why we're trying to be progressive.
Board Member Sanchez: Just the facts.
Lieutenant Alvarez: Just the facts. And, again, this is what you have at the Camillus House in
that area. The new BEAT areas. One BEAT that we added and we pulled it from the downtown
core BEAT -- we pulled them up to the Omni/Watson Island BEAT, which that covers the
Watson Island. It covers the Venetian Island. It covers the Omni area. Then this would --
particularly, denoting the Venetian Isles. A lot of people forget that's part of the City of Miami,
but it is and it needs its coverage. And the residents are very vocal there and we appreciate them.
Then we have the Omni. This BEAT will also cover -- encompass the area of the Omni. And
this BEAT will be working from- Watson Island over to -- in -the Omni area, will consist of two
officers. One officer has Sunday, Monday, Tuesday off, the other Thursday, Friday, Saturday.
The duty hours are from nine to seven, that's when those areas are mostly -- with most people.
And the Parrot Jungle is open from ten to six, so they're covering that area. And the area
consists of Northeast 17th Street to llt" Terrace, Biscayne Boulevard to the islands, and that
includes Omni and the Venetian Islands. We have here -- it depicts on it the Performing Arts
Center. That's one -- I think it's scheduled for -- if it hasn't been delayed -- for December 2004,
16 July 28, 2003
and that's when it will be opening. And we're trying to be progressive and add these BEATs as
we go along, as things are changing in downtown and progressing and, hopefully, get the
coverage that we can. We get a lot of concerns from the citizens: "Why don't I have
(UNINTELLIGIBLE) BEATS? Why don't I have more?" But, you know, we're trying to
allocate the manpower everywhere we could in downtown and correctly, so everybody gets their
coverage, their fair share. Parrot Jungle. The Parrot Jungle is open. It was opened last month.
Very beautiful facility and we're giving the coverage with that BEAT, and that's what this
BEAT also covers. The Children's Museum. That one's scheduled to open September 26"i,
2003, and it's a beautiful facility. That's another area of coverage amongst other development
that's going to be created in the Watson Island. The Entertainment District. These are some of
the clubs that are there now: NV, Crow Bar, I believe, is opening soon. We have the GoldRush.
And you have Club Space and that's the core there of the Entertainment District. And those are
the parts of the pilot program which we targeted those areas, the Park West Entertaimment -- I
mean, the Park West area and those areas are the areas that we covered.
Board Member Regalado: Lieutenant.
Lieutenant Alvarez: Yes, sir.
Board Member Regalado: Was there an incident in -- outside Space several days ago? The
media had some story about some guys getting unruly and the police had to restrain him. Is that
the case or --
Lieutenant Alvarez: I -- sir, I'm not familiar with that case. I do not have information for you
right now on that.
Board Member Regalado: It was reported in the media. That's all.
Lieutenant Alvarez: I didn't watch it in the media. I didn't see it.
Board Member Regalado: OK.
Lieutenant Alvarez: Basically, these are some of the statistics captured from the Park West --
from the Entertainment District Park West pilot program. This started in March 15th through
June 151h. It was very successful. The cost of the project for overtime detail, roan hours, was
44,743.89. Total man hours used was 1,206. Felony arrests were 12. Misdemeanor arrests, 185.
Homeless encounters, one hundred -- I mean, 1,029. These homeless encounters are when
officers talk to the people, try to get them into programs, try to get them into the HAC, try to get
them into the various assistance programs that there are out there for them. And, of course, the
arrests were all following the (INAUDIBLE) agreements, and it's keeping in line with that.
Homeless placements into the HAC were 231. Pink FIVO cards -- these are the cards that are
filled out specifically for homeless people, 998. And you have the FIVO cards for normal people
that just weren't homeless. They were criminals, but weren't homeless, 85. Of these
misdemeanor arrests, they were mostly for quality of life arrests, meter picking, drinking in
public, aggressive panhandling, those type of things that people see in the neighborhood and
scares them off and scares businesses form joining the area and coming into the area. And those
17 July 28, 2003
• 0
are -- this is the things that we targeted. And, also, of course, felonies, in which were any drug
sales, any drug activity, robberies, those type of things, were deterred. When you had these
officers out here, the robberies in those areas that they targeted -- and the area that we targeted
was from 12"' Street under 395 and just south up to about 91h Street. And those areas there, those
were the target areas for this program. It was very successful and the area was very clean at the
time. What we want to do is continue it on and I'll show you other slides of what we're trying to
do to continue that forward. The Video Surveillance Project. Projected camera models. These
are some of the camera models that -- what we might put into the Entertainment District. And
when we talk about the Entertainment District right now trying to get the cameras, we had a
meeting just today. It's still in the planning stages. It's from 10.5 Street, the alleyway, to l lth
Street, from North Miami Avenue to I" Avenue -- Northeast 1st Avenue in there, having cameras
for surveillance and this camera --
Chairman Teele: Lieutenant.
Lieutenant Alvarez: Yes, sir.
Chairman Teele: I know this is going to come up but when we approved this, we approved this
from 91h Street to 14th Street.
Lieutenant Alvarez: Yes, sir.
Chairman Teele: And, you know, I don't know where these people are, but you're getting ready
to get us in a whole lot of trouble with these people on 14th Street.
Lieutenant Alvarez: Well, sir --
Chairman Teele: Because it's a funding issue, too, now.
Lieutenant Alvarez: Yes, sir.
Chairman Teele: The funding of this program came from two sources. And I don't want to say
any more than that because we're already dealing with funding issues. But trust me, there are
some serious issues that you're raising by not keeping 14th Street in this loop.
Lieutenant Alvarez: OK, sir. May I add to that? What we did is we went further than 14th
Street. We also -- those were the target areas, as I mentioned. But we also had the officers
check into the -- because I know sometimes you would have a spill out into other NET areas.
We specifically had the officers -- Sergeant Socorro, for one, go into the Overtown area, into the
lying areas and go a little into the Edgewater -- up north, move up that way a little bit because we
knew that since one area was being affected, make sure that we do help out with the spill out for
people, you know, that are displaced from that area, and we did do that. And that's one thing
that we're very specific with. And that's one thing that Mr. Rollason made sure that we covered
all areas and those areas were covered, sir.
Chairman Teele: How much of City --
18 July 28, 2003
Board Member Regalado: Fifty thousand.
Chairman Teele: How much did Southeast Overtown --
Mr. Rollason: It was fifty thousand. I believe it all came from Southeast Overtown/Park West
TIF.
Chairman Teele: None of it came from Omni?
Mr. Rollason: I don't believe so, sir.
Chairman Teele: I stand corrected. That was the request of the public.
Lieutenant Alvarez: But we did, sir. We did check those areas and we were considerate of other
areas that were being targeted also. OK. Going back to the camera locations and the cameras,
the type of cameras that we have. They will be pole mounted cameras. Those cameras will
either be by fiber optic or, hopefully, digital and those type of things -- those type of cameras
will be placed in there. And that would help us -- and, hopefully, we'll have the technology to
have it beamed into our front desk, where we have an officer on duty, where he could be viewing
that camera at all times. And, hopefully, it will be recorded, possibly -- and I'm still in the
planning stages. That's why, hopefully, that can go through. And that'll be very helpful and that
will be a progressive thing that would help us out.
Board Member Regalado: Excuse me. That police officer is in the central station?
Lieutenant Alvarez: Yes, sir.
Board Member Regalado: And that's the only -- is that a pilot program, the camera, or it would
come from all parts of the City? Just from the Entertaimment District?
Lieutenant Alvarez: It would be a pilot program from the Entertainment District, correct.
Board Member Regalado: And that person is going to be watching that 24 hours a day?
Lieutenant Alvarez: Well, sir, I can't guarantee 24 hours but as much as he can at the front desk,
(UNINTELLIGIBLE) his duties, watch that. And, of course, it'll also be recorded. So if a crime
does occur, we could identify the criminals if a crime does occur in the area. And that would be
a 24-hour loop recording.
Chairman Teele: All right. How much longer, Lieutenant?
Lieutenant Alvarez: How fast do you want me to go, sir?
Chairman Teele: We've got a lot of -- I mean, this is sort of --
19 July 28, 2003
•
Lieutenant Alvarez: OK. I'll move forward really quickly.
Chairman Teele: Normally, personal appearances are three minutes.
Lieutenant Alvarez: OK. Security notices. Basically, we would have these type of signs as a
deterrent and those are the things we will see out in that area, something to that effect. Basically,
another program that we use, chronic criminal homeless people. We have a database that was
formulated also during this time through this pilot program, and targeting homeless that are
criminal homeless, the ones that don't want help.
Chairman Teele: Go back to the -- go back one. I know him.
Lieutenant Alvarez: That's --
Chairman Teele: No. Go back one. He lives on Miami Beach. He comes across the Venetian
Causeway --
Unidentified Speaker: Every day.
Chairman Teele: -- every day and every evening he goes back. He's a nice guy, too.
Lieutenant Alvarez: He's affectionately called Papa Smurf and he does a great -- he's a nice guy
but we try to get him help all the time but he does commit -- unfortunately, does commit crimes.
This is Harry Davis. He's been arrested over 615 times. I mean, 615 is a low number but that's -
- they got tired of counting. This person jumps on people's vehicles, on their hoods, and terrifies
people as they're coming into our entrance, our gateways to the City. So this is one person that -
- this is something that we've done with the pilot program also. And, basically, if you want, we
could stop it here. It's just downtown telling you tomorrow and everybody's aware of how good
things are going in downtown.
Board Member Sanchez: Thank you.
Lieutenant Alvarez: Thank you.
Chairman Teele: I'm asking that you --
Lieutenant Alvarez: Yes, sir.
Chairman Teele: -- secure this presentation, lock it up and don't give it to any of the
Commissioners, especially the Commissioner from Allapattah.--
Board Member Gonzalez: I formally request a copy of this presentation.
Chairman Teele: I knew that was coming. You know, I could hear you the whole presentation.
Commissioner Gonzalez wants -- and also, Lieutenant, would you follow up with Board Member
Regalado on the incident at Club Space that he asked about? Could we get the lights back on?
20 July 28, 2003
Lieutenant Alvarez: Yes, sir.
Chairman Teele: There's one important issue, and I want to just be very clear to the Executive
Director and to the police. We have always made the commitment -- and this is a north and
south commitment. There's an east -west commitment as well. The east -west is crossing the
railroad track. That whatever we do on -- between Biscayne and the railroad track, we're going
to extend it from the railroad track to 95, and you've done that. But we also promised the people
in Park West, particularly in the club district -- I mean, in the -- what is it -- Motion Picture
District that whatever we did on I It" Street, we'd do on 14t" Street to the extent we were using
Omni dollars now. I mean, we all went to Big Time Studios and. we all made this commitment,
the board made .the commitment. Is there anybody here from -- oh, I didn't see you there. I
should have known you'd be here. Mr. Rodriguez, would you like to -- very quickly.
Lieutenant Alvarez: Thank you, sir.
Eugene Rodriguez: I own the Ice Palace Film Studios, Big Time Productions and several other
properties on 141" and North Miami Avenue.
Chairman Teele: Your name is?
Board Member Sanchez: Your name.
Mr. Rodriguez: Eugene Rodriguez. And we are now getting a lot of these properties and
showing them. We've had a lot of traffic for really nice restaurants, that type of thing, that
would be something that would happen earlier in the evening. And the police issue -- and the
two corporate headquarters, as well, in the media and entertainment type business. And the lack
of police presence is a really, really big issue because if -- you know, there is none. And this
pilot program, even though I believed it happened, it didn't happen. on 14th and North Miami
Avenue. The only police we have there is when they come to eat at Gilli's, which is nice, but
that's about it. So I think the return on the investment of having these police officers here and
some parking would be almost immediate. And people pulling permits to open restaurants, to
open businesses, the extent of the investment, whether it may be for the City of Miami, I think,
would be minimal considering the return they'll get just by having the police presence in that
intersection. Besides that, by the time the Performing Arts opens, that area will be developed
and settled, which will actually, I think, contribute to the Performing Arts as far as customers.
So I can't stress -- the clients are there. The money, the private sector is willing to go into this
area and open along that North Miami Avenue area. It's just a function of public services that
the private sector can't do, which is the police presence and some parking, and some lighting at
night. So as soon as those items are attended to, I can -assure you, you'll see results on your tax
base and results in permits being pulled and that kind of activity. Because they're coming right
now. I mean, I have a whole list of people that are knocking on my door and I can't service
certain aspects of what they want.
21 July 28, 2003
Chairman Teele: Mr. Rodriguez -- Eugene, if Commissioner Winton were here, I'm sure he
would say, one, that you've been consistent. Every time you've come before us, you've said the
same three things. Nothing creative, nothing new, just the facts. Parking, police and lighting.
Mr. Rodriguez: That's it.
Chairman Teele: And, you know, we all even came to your studio and had a board meeting and
we heard that eloquent plea over a year ago. So what I'm going to do is, I'm going to ask the
staff to schedule an item in October or November, after having conferred with you and the Omni
Advisory Board. Because, you know, we just keep talking about the same thing. And, at one
point, Lieutenant, there was some discussion about even using Wackenhut guards or private
security guards, which is what they wanted. The Chief, apparently, had some concerns about
that. If I'm correct, Commissioner Regalado, I understand that -- I guess -- but I don't think we
should take anything off the table. How much taxes do you pay -- did you pay four years ago?
Mr. Rodriguez: My taxes have gone up over a thousand percent.
Chairman Teele: Your taxes have gone up --
Mr. Rodriguez: Over a thousand.
Chairman Teele: -- over one thousand percent?
Mr. Rodriguez: I started buying -- I bought in 1998, '99 and I have over seven or eight
properties, over 200,000 square feet of buildings and over a thousand percent. And I have yet, in
six years, since 1998, seen anything change as far as public services are concerned. I mean,
everything I've done, I've done on my own with the -- at that point, there wasn't a customer for
the area. I was using -- our film shoots, our commercials, movies, but now there is actual viable
customers that want to be in the area that are the type of customers you need to support the
performing arts. These are earlier customers, daytime customers, as far as offices and restaurants
that have lunch and also would create a flow of public. But then, if they want to stay later, they
can go to the club district, where they could just walk. They'll park once and they can go to the
performing arts, eat dinner, go to the clubs or an assortment of destination entertainment related
activities. But I think if you just look at it purely from economics, the sooner this is done, the
return on your investment as City service -- as City dollars, will be immediate. It's not even a
function of, "Oh, let's factor in money -- years of lost money." This will -- you'll get your
payback right away in development dollars from the private sector and sales tax and all that type
of thing. So --
Chairman Teele: I .want to be very clear. I'm not good at math, but are you clear that your taxes
have gone up over the previous five years?
Mr. Rodriguez: Yeah. Because when I started buying in '98, I was buying buildings that
haven't changed hands in 40 years.
Chainnan Teele: But the point is, your taxes have gone up 1,000 percent?
22 July 28, 2003
Mr. Rodriguez: Yeah. I have buildings that went --
Board Member Sanchez: (INAUDIBLE)
Chairman Teele: I mean, his basis -- obviously, when he bought, his basis was one thing. But
the fact of the matter is, the reason that the TIF numbers have gone through the roof -- and this is
what I've continued to try to say to the board members -- the reason the TIF numbers have gone
through the roof has more to do with the design -- with the club district and the film district, and
particularly, the club and film district, and we have to put money back into those areas.
Mr. Rodriguez: There's no question. I've being trying to fight my taxes every year and they --
the printouts that they show me of comparables are just pages and pages of --
Board Member Sanchez: Comparable properties?
Mr. Rodriguez: Yeah. And they're all the -- so, it is -- but those dollars are not coming back to
this neighborhood. And the thing is they're going up even further --
Chairman Teele: But that's the problem -- that is the challenge that this board has to deal with
and that is why I'm trying to get the board members to focus on it because this is not like found
money. I mean --
Mr. Rodriguez: Well, you have more money you can get still. That's my point. You're not
even close to where you could go if certain elements are dealt with in this neighborhood. People
are dying to invest in this neighborhood but all the properties are zero lot line properties with
buildings with no parking. So, to a great extent, there's certain things that have to be done that
are public service related that people would pay for.
Chairman Teele: Have you identified areas that the CRA can buy and to try to facilitate parking,
other than what's under 395?
Mr. Rodriguez: There's the School Board building, which is sitting there, that could be
generating income if they would address some of the land that School Board building has.
Chairman Teele: Would you meet with the Executive Director, please, and -- before the meeting
in November and try -- with Mr. Rollason -- and see if we can come up with some
recommendations.
Mr. Rodriguez: Sure.
Chairman Teele: It would be very good if once your recommendations are done, we could take it
to the Advisory Board and make sure they are aware of what your recommendations are.
Mr. Rodriguez: Yeah. And I think -- look at it purely from a business perspective. I think
you'll be very happy with how fast you'll get a return on this.
23 July 28, 2003
Chairman Teele: OK. Well, I would only add that in the future, the pilot programs should be
funded from Omni funds and Southeast Overtown funds. And we need to try because, otherwise,
we're just going to shift people underneath 395 to the other side of the rail -- to the north and
that's not what we want to do either. Thank you, Mr. Roderiguez.
Mr. Rodriguez: Thank you.
Chairman Teele: All right. Can we start from the top now and take the -- Mr. Bacon, Philip
Bacon? Oh, I'm sorry, sir.
Charles Cutler: I wanted to make a comment.
Chairman Teele: Your name for the record.
Mr. Cutler: Charles Cutler, Veterans Employment Transition Assistance. I wanted to address
the homeless issue in terms of this development. There's over 16,000 homeless veterans right
here in the downtown Miami area on a regular basis. And I work with Disabled Veterans
Outreach Program with the Department of Labor. And I do specialize in placing and providing
services to homeless veterans, specifically. Now, what we're prepared to do, we're prepared to
work with those homeless veterans in this area in order to provide transitional services because
what we've found is a lot of their skills, knowledge, and ability is not compatible with the local
industry that we have in this area. But through our network, we're able to relocate them in other
areas of the country and different parts of the world where they -- where we have had success
with them becoming a viable part of whatever local economic system that they do become a part
of. Now, in lieu of the way that the program has worked in the past, we have been able to get a
lot of positive results. But the way that business is being done now through this privatization,
things are kind of getting away from service and they're sort of streamlining it and
(UNINTELLIGIBLE). So the people that are capable of, basically, securing employment and
services on their own, they're the ones that's basically getting the services, and other ones are
sort of falling through the cracks. So, what I suggest is that you work through -- with us through
our organization and we are a 501-3C organization. And we can provide services to those
homeless veterans. I heard the officer mention earlier that they was providing some services to
the homeless within that particular target area. He didn't go into any specific detail. But now, in
terms of the criminal element, you know, we do need to address that. But there are people that's
in those areas that actually need help. And I think that we should extend to them every
opportunity to become a viable part of the community. We'll be willing to work with you.
We're a new organization. We have a lot of experience. I have a lot of resources. I've been in
this business for over 20 years. And the only thing that we're going to need right now -- we've
got a facility located in the..Overtown area and we'll be willing -to work with you, as a partner,
and provide the services. And we do hope that the program that we have will spill over into the
public sector so that we will be able to provide some transitional services to other people in the
community besides the veterans.
24 July 28, 2003
Chairman Teele: All right. Lieutenant, I hope you took that down and I hope you and the
lieutenant will talk. And I think it's very important that we have a comprehensive approach to
the services. So, Lieutenant, I hope you'll get with the veteran -- with the Department of Labor.
25 July 28, 2003
0
5. REFER REQUEST FROM OVERTOWN DEVELOPER'S STEERING COMMITTEE TO
CITY'S PLANNING DEPARTMENT; FURTHER INSTRUCT CITY MANAGER TO
DIRECT PLANNING DEPARTMENT TO COME BACK WITH PRESENTATION AND
RECOMMENDATION AT CITY COMMISSION MEETING CURRENTLY SCHEDULED
FOR SEPTEMBER 11, 2003.
Chairman Teele: All right. Mr. Bacon, welcome. And that was a wonderful story in yesterday's
Miami Herald, regarding your four-year plan, I think. Five-year.
Philip Bacon: There's a certain danger in timelines of that nature, Mr. Chairman. But. what --
we hope that the article is a reflection of the work that everybody has been doing over the years
to bring it to this point in Overtown. With respect to your time, Mr. Chairman and
Commissioners, I'm Philip Bacon with the Overtown Civic Partnership and Design Center,
located at the Dorsey House on 9th Street in Overtown. I'd like to ask the members of the
Overtown Developers Steering Committee to -- just to move forward, if they could, or at least be
in close proximity. The Civic Partnership Center is an initiative of the Collin Center for Public
Policy and funded by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. I'm here today, however, as
a spokesman for the Overtown Developers Steering Committee. And -- which is a group of
property owners, developers, and stakeholders who have interest in an area bounded by 5th Street
to the south, llth Street to the north, 3rd Avenue to the west, and Northwest Ist Avenue to the
east, as you can see up on the slide there. We've tried to depict a triangle in the heart of
Overtown. Members of the community, along with developers, property owners, CRA
(Community Redevelopment Agency) staff, and its planning consultant and the City of Miami
Planning Department are all supported -- supportive of the Downtown Overtown concept. As
background, in 202, the Collin Center Commission Ray Gendro (phonetic) of Urban Design
Associates of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to conduct a charette to update, construct and verify
assumptions included in previous revitalization plans. In these well attended charettes, partners,
residents, developers, and stakeholders in Overtown defined priority areas for redevelopment and
conceptualized other development characteristics. Moreover, design alternatives were developed
to illustrate ways in which design principles could be used to create development opportunities
that would fulfill the goals of the community. One of the guiding principles articulated during
the course of the planning process was that Overtown should become a destination of choice, as
opposed to a destination by law or custom, as had been in the past. The development concept
includes mixed income and mixed use residential developments to attract new residents to the
area, while maintaining affordability standards and providing job opportunities for Overtown
residents. Downtown Overtown emerged as an area of focus. And in its final report, concluded
that this -- UDA (Urban Design Associates) concluded that this area was a prime location in
which to focus initial revitalization efforts because it had a number of assets, which are currently
shown in the slide there. If you go to the next slide, there are a number of key development
projects ongoing or in the -pipeline within this Downtown Overtown area, including the Lyric
expansion, the 9th Street Mall expansion, the 3rd Avenue Business Corridor development project,
the New Arena project, the Towers at Park West, Park Place, and a Miami -Dade County office
building at the Overtown MetroRail Station. A significant amount of public investment and/or
assisted projects that could be maximized with additional development are also characteristic of
this particular area. Also, this particular area that we're calling Downtown Overtown has a
significant number of designations, including -- it's in the CRA, the Empowerment Trust, the
26 July 28, 2003
•
gospel and jazz districts. The area also supports and preserves the concept of a historical folk
life village as conceptualized in previous redevelopment plans. This village, located between --
and I'm talking about the Folk Life Village now located between 8"' and 10"' Streets within the
Downtown Overtown area, would feature the preservation of historical structures and faoades as
a live, work and retail village among modern development. Given these assets and the desire of
the community to see them maximized, the Downtown Overtown area should be appropriately
declared a priority area by the CRA. Over the past four' months, participants of the Overtown
Developers Steering Committee have met to embrace this development concept and to explore
how present and future development in the area can be enhanced and expedited through
coordinated activity related to infrastructure, land use, zoning regulations, and quality of life.
Could you give me another slide, please? As for the project scope, this slide summarizes the
potential development schedule. And this is, by the way, very conservative, producing
approximately 1,150 residential units and that should say retail 80,000 square feet,
approximately 425,000 square feet of office, with 2,000 employees and 20,000 square feet of
additional cultural or institutional and cultural build out. If you'd give me a slide, please. We
were going to flip through, very quickly, some of the slides associated with the Gendro's vision.
These are perspectives. And I want to point out that these were perspectives, but they do not
depict the ultimate build out in this particular area. If you could see there to the south -- if you
go back there -- the street at the bottom would be 8t" Street and that's the Metromover there.
And then there's another little street going up to the north there. That would be Northwest 2" d
Avenue. But these perspectives that -- and you can flip through them. This happens to be
looking south towards the Lyric expansion. And this is a perspective from the Dorsey House.
Again, I want to make the point that these are perspectives that came out of the charette and do
not depict the ultimate build out but, rather, convey a sense of scale, density and quality
anticipated within the area. Slide, please. The following slide is a list of those who have been
participating with the Overtown Developers Steering Committee. And you can see that these are
a list of current property owners and people who have substantial interest in the area, including
you own CRA staff, which includes your Executive Director. You can see there that we have
met with the City of Miami Planning and Zoning Department, who have also been a part of this
particular steering committee, and others. One -- another slide, please. As far as the Overtown
Civic Partnership and Design Center, these are our partners. These -- BAME (Bethel African
Methodist Episcopal), as you know, Black Archives, LISC (Local Initiative Support
Corporation), the Overtown Youth Center, St. Agnes Community Development Corporation, St.
Johns, and the Trust for Public Land are all a part of the Overtown Civic Partnership. Slide,
please. Now, this slide is cut off. Can we move that over somehow? OK. What we're
requesting, Mr. Chairman, is that the Overtown Developers Steering Committee, which is a
recently formed committee, be -- that this area of Downtown Overtown be prioritized by the
CRA and that this committee assign either one of its members to work directly with the
Overtown Developers Steering Committee on issues of infrastructure, plamzing and other
regulatory matters that would expedite the potential build out of this area that we're calling
Downtown Overtown. That's the end of our presentation.
Chairman Teele: All right. All right. Could we get some lights up? Is there any comment from
any of the board members or the staff? Mr. Bacon -- Phil, I think your request is appropriate and
proper and one that I support. What I would like to do, however, is take your request and ask --
because we have this unique relationship with the City -- is ask the City Planning Department to
27 July 28, 2003
make a presentation on the request so that we know exactly what's buried into that request, and
we could do.that in the first meeting in September. And what I would do is call for a motion to
take the request and refer it to the City staff for a recommendation and resolution to be prepared
for the first meeting in September, if that meets your timeline.
Mr. Bacon: Yes, sir.
Chairman Teele: Because buried in that, you start talking about infrastructure --
Board Member Sanchez: So moved.
Board Member Gonzalez: Second.
Chairman Teele: And, you know, just the cost of taking down the utility poles is what -- we're
into this for what, three million dollars ($3,000,000) already, just along 3"d Avenue?
Frank Rollason (Executive Director, CRA): Right. It's --
Chairman Teele: So these numbers get real, real big. Discussion on this item and discussion
from the public. Ma'am, did you want to be heard on this?
Alejandro Vilarello (City Attorney): Mr. Chairman, perhaps, before the public speaks on the
issue, the discussion and the description of different project areas does cover several pieces of
property the City's in act -- the City and the CRA are in active litigation on. So, while we're in
that litigation, I suggest that we reserve comment on just exactly the entire program that's been
presented to you.
Chairman Teele: Will you make sure you take a heavy hand and direct me and any board
member that may go beyond what you consider to be a threshold point of view on that? And,
specifically, would you go and provide us with a legal memorandum of the City's liability in
previous cases where the City -- CRA and City staff may have said certain things or done certain
things that wound up costing the City, I think, about two million dollars ($2,000,000) --
Mr. Vilarello: Yes, sir.
Chairman Teele: -- in a similar situation? Yes, Mr. Bacon. Did you want to respond to what the
Attorney said?
Mr. Bacon: Mr. Chairman, I just wanted to make it clear that this steering committee's role is
simply to try to support the existing, projects that are under development in the area. And with
the addition of any new projects, you know, we certainly would welcome any new projects but
what we're trying to do is to -- all of the developers are trying to embrace a concept for the area,
given their respective roles in development within these boundaries. And we would like to make
certain recommendations to the board aside from any issues relative to the --
28 July 28, 2003
Chairman Teele: The problem that you're raising, though -- and just bear with us -- is about 40
percent of the area, as I see it, maybe 50 percent, is a subject of an ongoing litigation, OK. In a
similar situation, the main evidence against the City was the City listened to other developers and
other people and really had no intent of going forth with us and, therefore, we were frustrated.
So, we're sort of in a -- not sort of, we're in a catch-22 until some of this litigation can be
resolved. And so, what the lawyers is simply saying -- he's cautioning us about saying anything
because we are constrained by the agreements or the documents that may be before the court and
we don't want to get ahead of ourselves on those documents.
Mr. Vilarello: Mr. Chairman, there's no problem with the presentation. However, the board
should not be taking any.action, approving in concept, approving the --
Chairman Teele: That's why I'm sending it to the Planning Department so we can come back
with some specific resolutions and language that guide us through this little minefield. Because
we're trying to get -- all get to the same point. I think we want to see something happen. Is this
the area -- the sole area of the partnership? None of the core Overtown area is being --
Mr. Bacon: No, sir, it is not. It is just an area focus at the moment.
Chairman Teele: OK. Yes, ma'am. Very briefly and we'd like to move on. Thank you for
being here.
Rosa Green: Yes. Rosa Green, 415 Northwest 6"' Street. And it really baffles me how things
are done down here. You supposed to have what you call a Overtown Advisory Board and I
wouldn't have to come down here and do these kinds of things if they -- I do go there and attend
the meetings. There's only two people I know on the board. You just had an election because --
and elected six people. I don't know who you intend or the Mayor intend to appoint, you know,
to represent you guys. But I'm telling you, you ask for those people on the Steering Committee
to stand, did they ever stand? Because I don't know who they are. I do live in -- I reside in
Overtown. I've been there now for 15 years. I have an adult daughter who also resides over
there. And everybody in my community, that's between 4`' Avenue and 5th Avenue,votes.
Chairman Teele: All right. Ms. Green.
Ms. Green: Yes, sir. And just let me finish this, Commissioner. And I take offense. You
simply overlook the people who live in Overtown. You have people that come there and make
decisions and do whatever they do and you don't even -- they don't even try to consult or meet
with the people. Because even if he would come to the Advisory Board, if you guys are going to
have an advisory board -- and it was my understanding the reason that you had the advisory
board, that they were supposed to come out and find out what the people that live in Overtown
wanted and somebody was supposed to convey it to you guys. But it's just a really -- a Mickey
Mouse fairytale that goes on.
Chairman Teele: All right.
29 July 28, 2003
Ms. Green: Waste of taxpayers' money. And I -- I mean, I'm really sick of it. I -- you know, I
don't think it's fair. It's just simply overlooking the people who live there, who really cast their
votes and believed in, you know, the people that we elected. And we need some kind of -- you
know, some information as to how these people are chosen to come here and work for Overtown
because the last people that come (INAUDIBLE) -- millions of dollars are being spent and we
don't see nothing tangible that's being done for the Overtown community.
Chairman Teele: All right. Ma'am --
Ms. Green: I agree -- one more thing, Commissioner. I agree that we have the parking lots
there, which is something I can see. And I do agree that it has -- you do need parking spaces but
we need to see something else because those people over there need jobs. In fact, I think I got to
go back to work. I've been retired 10 years but the cost of living --
Chairman Teele: You've been retired 10 or --
Ms. Green: -- is something else. And I need somebody who -- other than just Dr. Fields and,
you know, the two people running the whole thing, we need to know what's going on.
Chairman Teele: All right. We're not going to entertain a debate. There is two or three issues
that -- by taking -- anyone is free -- anyone is free to come to the City Commission or the CRA
and make a presentation. And I think the fact that you're here underscores that the system
works. Secondly, the Overtown Advisory Board, which was set up 20 years ago --
Ms. Green: Doesn't work. Hasn't.
Chairman Teele: -- is an advisory board to the City. OK. It's not an advisory board to the CRA
and there is a big difference.
Ms. Green: Oh.
Chairman Teele: But the CRA welcomes advice of the Overtown Advisory Board. And I would
think two things should happen. Number one, if the matter has not been presented to the
Overtown Advisory Board, then I would strongly urge that it be presented to the Overtown -- I
can't direct it, but request it. Obviously, when the matter comes back in September for a final
vote here, we will be more than willing to hear from the Overtown Advisory Board, if the matter
has not gone before them. But we can't let boards frustrate developers and people who are trying
to make things happen. And there's two issues in Overtown: One are the people. The other are
the property rights and the property owners. And the two are not the same, unfortunately.
There's very little..overlap between the people that live in Overtown and the people that own the
property. There's no reason why those two interest groups cannot be harmonized. And I have
every confidence that Mr. Bacon and the advisory committee -- the Partnership will work to try
to get public input, as I'm sure they've already done. But we hear your plea and it's not going on
deaf ears. Dr. Fields, did you feel the need to add more?
30 July 28, 2003
Dorothy Jenkins Fields: Yes. Dorothy Jenkins Fields, 819 Northwest 2nd Avenue. Mr.
Chairman and Board Members, I am Vice Chairman of the Overtown Advisory Board. I am here
to go on record by saying that the Overtown Civic Partnership has made a presentation to the
Overtown Advisory Board and they are in attendance at many of our meetings to answer
questions that we have. We are -- I'm also a member of the Partnership and we are very much
for what is being done and what is being suggested. And we look forward to the CRA and the
City Commission embracing --
Chairman Teele: All right. Thank you very much.
Ms. Dorothy Fields: I wanted to finish. I wanted to let you finish. We look forward to the CRA
and the City Commission embracing this concept. We see it as certainly the people being a part
in participating in change. And we understand that that's going to happen. So, thank you.
Chairman Teele: All right. And I just want to underscore the fact that the Overtown Advisory
Board, which is advisory to the City, will be given every opportunity, along with any other mere
citizen, to make any comments or presentations. But I think it's superfluous to continue for the
board -- Overtown Advisory Board to say that they've not been consulted if the record reflects
that they have. So, Madam Clerk, we're going to ask you to do a little research and make sure
that when this comes up -- you all are the clerk for the Overtown Advisory Board, right?
Anna Rojas (Deputy City Clerk): Yes.
Chairman Teele: OK. So we'll clarify that area. All right. If there's nothing else, -we have a
motion on the floor requesting that the matter be referred to the --
Board Member Sanchez: Call the question.
Chairman Teele: All those -- to the City and advice for the Planning Department, with the
lawyers and staff having a resolution before us in September. The question's been called. All
those in favor?
The Board Members (Collectively): Aye.
Chairman Teele: All those opposed have the same right. The item is unanimously adopted.
31 July 28, 2003
The following motion was introduced by Board Member Sanchez, who moved its adoption:
SEOPW/CRA MOTION NO. 03-65
A MOTION TO REFER REQUEST FROM THE OVERTOWN CIVIC
PARTNERSHIP AND DESIGN CENTER - OVERTOWN 'DEVELOPER'S
STEERING COMMITTEE, TO THE CITY'S PLANNING DEPARTMENT;
FURTHER INSTRUCTING THE CITY MANAGER TO DIRECT THE
PLANNING DEPARTMENT TO COME BACK WITH A PRESENTATION
AND RECOMMENDATION AT THE CITY COMMISSION MEETING
CURRENTLY SCHEDULED FOR SEPTEMBER 11, 2003.
Upon being seconded by Board Member Gonzalez, the motion was passed and adopted by the
following vote:
AYES: Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Board Member Angel Gonzalez
Board Member Tomas Regalado
Board Member Joe Sanchez
NAYS: None
ABSENT: Vice Chairman Johnny L. Winton
32 July 28, 2003
•
6. AUTHORIZE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO EXECUTE AGREEMENT, WITH
ZYSCOVICH, INC. TO PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES TO UPDATE 1986 OMNI
AREA COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT PLAN, $715,967.00, ALLOCATE FUNDS FROM
OMNI TIF FUND.
Chairman Teele: We'd like to try to get through the rest of the agenda. Mr. Z, I never can get
your name correct so let me -- Bernard.
Board Member Sanchez: Zyscovich.
Board Member Gonzalez: Zyscovich.
Chairman Teele: Is it. Zyscovich or Zyscovich?
Bernard Zyscovich: It's either way. I say Zyscovich.
Board Member Sanchez: As long as you sign the check, it's either way.
Mr. Zyscovich: In the interest of --
Chairman Teele: Ladies and gentlemen, please work with us. Bernard, go right ahead. Don't
we have an action item on here, too?
Mr. Zyscovich: Yes.
Frank Rollason (Executive Director, CRA): Yes, sir.
Mr. Zyscovich: Mr. Chairman and Commissioners, I think that --
Chairman Teele: What's the action item?
Mr. Zyscovich: -- as you know, I've spoken with each of you independently and I think you
have a staff recommendation --
Mr. Rollason: A reso for the approve -- the --
Chairman Teele: What's the item number?
Mr. Rollason: Two.
Mr. Zyscovich: If you have any questions, I'll be happy to answer them.
Chairman Teele: What is the action number?
Alejandro Vilarello (City Attorney): It's Item Number 2. It's under Personal Appearances.
33 July 28, 2003
• 0
Mr. Rollason: It's Item Number 2, under personal appearances, and the resolution is in there
with that.
Chairman Teele: But why would a resolution be under personal appearance?
Mr. Rollason: I was trying to --
Chairman Teele: OK.
Mr. Rollason: -- get him in and out.
Chairman Teele: OK.
Mr. Zyscovich: That's two hours ago. Thank you.
Chainnan Teele: Would you explain the resolution, please, Mr. Executive Director?
Mr. Rollason: The resolution is an authorization for us to enter into an initial contract with
Zyscovich, to go forward with the Omni -- update of the Omni plan. And we -- what we did
was, we negotiated with him. We brought the -- sort of split it into two phases. We feel that
with the first phase or the initial phase that we've put together greatly reduce the overall cost. It
may be necessary to come back to you later and take some elements of the second phase. But
between the two of us, we feel that the initial phase that we have has all the elements that will
give us a viable product. And --
Chairman Teele: Is there a motion?
Board Member Sanchez: So moved.
Chairman Teele: Is there a second?
Board Member Gonzalez: Second.
Chairman Teele: Board members, this item was presented to us on January the 27th or it was
presented on the 271h in which this firm was ranked number one. And now it's what, seven
months later? Six months later?
Board Member Sanchez:. You don't think they're ranked number one anymore?
Chairman Teele: - Well, maybe they're not ranked -number _ one anymore. But the fact of the
matter is, we've really got to move these things along, especially when the selection process was
done back in the other year. This thing -- you all met a year ago. We have a motion and a
second. The only concern that I would like to make sure that we address somewhere is that the
County, which is man -- under Chapter 163, the County doesn't have a lot of roles but they do
have a very clear role, and that is to ensure that the plan is up-to-date. And I really think if the --
does your work scope require for you to confer with the County, specifically?
34 1 July 28, 2003
Mr. Zyscovich: I'm not sure that it does. It's implied that we get the County to -- our role is to
provide you with a document that will go forward for a formal update, which would require the
County's approval.
Chairman Teele: Well, I just think, at every step of the way, we ought to try to work with the
County. The County obviously has the Performing Arts Center. That's the dominant investment
in the area. And we ought to work with the County, as well as the Performing Arts Center board
of directors in that. And if you all would work to make sure that the scope of work specifically
includes those two entities --
Mr Zyscovich: OK.
Chairman Teele: -- the board of directors -- unless there's an objection from the staff, Frank.
Mr. Rollason: No, not at all. That's -- number 7 sort of goes along with that, with the Omni
Steering Committee that will be working hand -in -hand with that.
Chairman Teele: All right. On the question, it's been called. All those in favor say "aye."
The Board Members (Collectively): Aye.
Chairman Teele: All opposed.
The following resolution was introduced by Board Member Sanchez, who moved for its
adoption:
OMNI/CRA RESOLUTION NO. 03-46
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE OMNI
COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT DISTRICT COMMUNITY
REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY, AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT, IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE
TO GENERAL COUNSEL, WITH ZYSCOVICH, INC. TO PROVIDE
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES TO UPDATE THE 1986 OMNI AREA
COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT PLAN, IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO
EXCEED $715,967.00, ALLOCATING FUNDS THEREFOR FROM THE
OMNI TIF FUND ENTITLED "PROFESSIONAL SERVICES — OTHER,"
ACCOUNT CODE NO. 686001.590320.6.270.
35 July 28, 2003
u
(Here follows body of resolution, omitted here and on file in the Office of the City Clerk.)
Upon being seconded by Board Member Gonzalez, the resolution was passed and adopted by the
following vote:
AYES: Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Board Member Angel Gonzalez
Board Member Tomas Regalado
Board Member Joe Sanchez
NAYS: None
ABSENT: Vice Chairman Johmly L. Winton
36 July 28, 2003
• 0
7. ESTABLISH OMNI STEERING COMMITTEE TO OVERSEE AND COORDINATE
WITH PLANNING CONSULTANT UPDATE OF OMNI AREA COMMUNITY
REDEVELOPMENT PLAN; FURTHER APPOINT INDIVIDUALS TO SERVE IN
CAPACITY AS MEMBERS OF COMMITTEE; FURTHER AMEND LIST OF MEMBERS
TO ALLOW TWO ADDITIONAL APPOINTMENTS, ONE AFRICAN-AMERICAN AND
ONE HISPANIC.
Chairman Teele: Let's take up number 7, it's companion item.
Bernard Zyscovich: Thank you very much.
Chairman Teele: Hold on. Number 7, it's companion item.
Frank Rollason (Executive Director, CRA): Number 7 is the Omni Steering Committee. It is the
nomination of the individuals. I have worked with Vice Chair Winton on these --
Board Member Sanchez: So moved, Mr. Chairman.
Board Member Gonzalez: Second.
Chairman Teele: Is there objection? Are there any African -Americans on this committee?
Board Member Gonzalez: I hope there are.
Board Member Sanchez: I believe there's one or two.
Board Member Gonzalez: Well --
Chairman Teele: Well, Donna Nottingham, by virtue of his office, is there, but is there anybody
that is -- I would hope that we would amend this to authorize the district commissioner the right
to make two additional appointments, provided one is at least an African -American from within
the community that can play a meaningful role.
Board Member Sanchez: Maker of the motion accepts the amendment.
Board Member Gonzalez: Second, as amended.
Chairman Teele: All those in favor say "aye."
The Board Members (Collectively): Aye.
Chairman Teele: All those opposed.
37 July 28, 2003
0
The following motion was introduced by Board Member Sanchez, who moved its adoption:
OMNFCRA MOTION NO. 03-47
A MOTION ESTABLISHING THE OMNI STEERING COMMITTEE TO
OVERSEE AND COORDINATE WITH THE PLANNING CONSULTANT,
THE UPDATE OF THE OMNI AREA COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT
PLAN; FURTHER APPOINTING THE INDIVIDUALS NAMED IN THE
ATTACHED EXHIBIT "A" TO SERVE IN THE CAPACITY INDICATED AS
MEMBERS OF THE OMNI STEERING COMMITTEE; FURTHER
AMENDING THE LIST OF MEMBERS TO ALLOW FOR THE DISTRICT
COMMISSIONER TO MAKE TWO ADDITIONAL APPOINTMENTS
PROVIDED THAT ONE IS AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN FROM WITHIN THE
COMMUNITY TO PROVIDE A MEANINGFUL ROLE IN THE PROCESS.
Upon being seconded by Board Member Gonzdlez, the motion was passed and adopted by the
following vote:
AYES: Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Board Member Angel Gonzdlez
Board Member Tomas Regalado
Board Member Joe Sanchez
NAYS: None
ABSENT: Vice Chairman Johnny L. Winton
Chairman Teele: All right.
Board Member Sanchez: All right. Let's go.
Mr. Zyscovich: Thank you.
Chairman Teele: Mr. Dotson and Ms. Mitchell.
Mr. Rollason: They have withdrawn that item. They notified me today.
Chairman Teele: All right. Item Number 8.
Mr. Rollason: Number 8 is the --
Board Member Regalado: Mr. Chairman.
Chairman Teele: Yes.
Board Member Regalado: Item 7, how would that be modified?
38 July 28, 2003
Chairman Teele: It will be modified to allow the district commissioner, which in this case would
be Commissioner Winton -- all of Omni is within Commissioner Winton's district --
Board Member Sanchez: To make two appointments.
Chairman Teele: -- the right to make two appointments, provided one is an African -American
and they can provide a meaningful role in the process.
Board Member Regalado: And who appointed them? Who appointed these persons?
Chairman Teele: Apparently, these are appointed by Frank Rollason and Johnny Winton.
Mr. Rollason: They were recommended by me. I went over several lists, depending on how we
tried to break out the group to be representative of big business, small business --
Board Member Regalado: There's only one Hispanic business representative there.
Board Member Gonzalez: Don't worry about it. Chief Timoney's (INAUDIBLE)
Chairman Teele: Well, the motion would be that -- the amendment would be the two
appointments would be for minority, one African -American, one Hispanic, if that would be
satisfactory? But, again, I think -- Frank, I'm going to be very honest with you. I mean, I have
every confidence in Commissioner Winton and you on this, but the CRA is -- we need to make
sure that all of the board members are consulted in some of these areas and not just one or two. I
was not consulted, although I could have weighed in on it. But I really think it's important that
the full board be -- even though it's in Commissioner Winton --
Mr. Rollason: Well, what really appears to have happened is that the action of the board directed
the Executive Director to appoint these people to be on a committee, when you read the language
in the resolutions, not even to come back here. So what I did was I worked on putting together a
list and I felt it should come back for the board to review. We've certainly got time to make
some modifications or, you know, amend it in some way. It is difficult, within the area, to find
the types of businesses that we're talking about being representative and hit all the representative
areas that you're speaking of. But f think, by adding those two, that would be helpful for
somebody of a general nature to be involved in the process. Again, we're talking the Omni area
so we're north of 395 and -- with the small businesses, especially those that have hung in there
and, hopefully, will be there during the full term of the existence of the committee, we've tried to
identify people that have a track record.
Chairman Teele: All right. It's -- Commissioner Regalado, does the amendment help you on
that at all?
Board Member Sanchez: Yes.
Board Member Regalado: Sure.
39 July 28, 2003
0
Chairman Teele: OK.
Board Member Sanchez: OK. Call the question.
Chairman Teele: As amended, let's revote on the second amendment, and that would be
incorporating the reference to the two appointments. All those in favor, as amended, say "aye."
The Board Members (Collectively): Aye.
Chairman Teele: All opposed, "no."
The following resolution was introduced by Board Member Sanchez, who moved for its
adoption:
OMNUCRA RESOLUTION NO. 03-48
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE OMNI
REDEVELOPMENT DISTRICT COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT
AGENCY ESTABLISHING THE OMNI STEERING COMMITTEE TO
OVERSEE AND COORDINATE WITH THE PLANNING CONSULTANT,
THE UPDATE OF THE OMNI AREA COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT
PLAN; FURTHER APPOINTING THE INDIVIDUALS NAMED IN THE
ATTACHED EXHIBIT "A" TO SERVE IN THE CAPACITY INDICATED AS
MEMBERS OF THE OMNI STEERING COMMITTEE.
(Here follows body of resolution, omitted here and on file in the Office of the City Clerk.)
Upon being seconded by Board Member Gonzalez, the resolution was passed and adopted by the
following vote:
AYES: Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Board Member Angel Gonzalez
Board Member Tomas Regalado
Board Member Joe Sanchez
NAYS: None
ABSENT: Vice Chairman Johnny L. Winton
Chairman Teele: And the maker of the motion would have been Commissioner Sanchez and
Commissioner Gonzalez.
40 July 28, 2003
E
C�
8. CORRECT SCRIVENER'S ERROR BY RESCINDING RESOLUTION NO. SEOPW/CRA
R-02-122; AUTHORIZE CRA'S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO EXECUTE AGREEMENT
WITH DOUG BRUCE & ASSOCIATES TO PROVIDE GOVERNMENTAL
REPRESENTATION AND LOBBYING- SERVICES IN TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA;
FURTHER ADDING TIDEWATER CONSULTING AS APPROVED SUBCONSULTANT
$92,600 ANNUALLY OR $185,200 OVER LIFE OF CONTRACT.
Chairman Teele: OK. Mike Abrams is walking around like a cat on a hot tin roof. Can we clear
up these two items? Items Number --
Frank Rollason (Executive Director, CRA): Eight and nine.
Chairman Teele: -- eight and nine.
Board Member Sanchez: So moved, eight.
Chairman Teele: Motion on eight is moved.
Board Member Gonzalez: Second.
Chairman Teele: Seconded. Is there objection? All in favor say "aye."
The Board Members (Collectively): Aye
Chairman Teele: All opposed.
41 July 28, 2003
0 0
The following resolution was introduced by Board Member Sanchez, who moved for its
adoption:
SEOPW/CRARESOLUTION NO. 03-66
OMNI/CRA RESOLUTION NO. 03-49
A JOINT RESOLUTION OF THE BOARDS OF DIRECTORS OF THE
SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST AND OMNI REDEVELOPMENT
DISTRICT COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCIES (THE "CRAS")
CORRECTING A SCRIVENER'S ERROR BY RESCINDING RESOLUTION
NO. SEOPW/CRA R-02-122 AND AUTHORIZING THE CRAS' EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT, IN SUBSTANTIALLY THE
ATTACHED FORM, WITH DOUG BRUCE AND ASSOCIATES TO
PROVIDE GOVERNMENTAL REPRESENTATION AND LOBBYING
SERVICES IN TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA, PROVIDING FOR AN
EFFECTIVE DATE OF JULY 1, 2002 AND AN ENDING DATE OF JUNE 30,
2004, AND FURTHER ADDING TIDEWATER CONSULTING AS AN
APPROVED SUBSCONSULTANT AT AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED
$92,600.00 ANNUALLY OR A TOTAL OF $185,200.00 OVER THE LIFE OF
THE CONTRACT; FUNDS TO BE ALLOCATED FROM SEOPW TIF
689001.550108.270 and OMNI TIF 686001.590320.6.270.
(Here follows body of resolution, omitted here and on file in the Office of the City Clerk.)
Upon being seconded by Board Member Gonzalez, the resolution was passed and adopted by the
following vote:
AYES: Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Board Member Angel Gonzalez
Board Member Tomas Regalado
Board Member Joe Sanchez
NAYS: None
ABSENT: Vice Chairman Johnny L. Winton
Board Member Sanchez: And just for the record, Frank, thank you so much. It clearly tells you
the justification, recommendation, had the funding source available, where the money's coming
from. You know, it makes my decision here much easier when I have that information right in
front of me.
42 July 28, 2003
• .•
9. AUTHORIZE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO ENTER INTO AGREEMENT WITH KATZ,
KUTTER, ALDERMAN & BRYANT, P.A., FOR LOBBYING SERVICES BEFORE
CONGRESS AND FEDERAL AGENCIES ON LEGISLATIVE ISSUES AND
APPROPRIATIONS REQUESTS, TOTAL CONTRACT OF $100,000.00, FUNDS TO BE
ALLOCATED FROM SEOPW TIF AND OMNI TIF FUNDS.
Chairman Teele: Item Number 9.
Board Member Sanchez: So moved, also.
Board Member Gonzalez: Second number 9.
Chairman Teele: On number 9, moved and seconded. Mike, would you all check with Coreen
Brown because Congresswoman Brown, who normally wouldn't give a darn about Miami, has
made a commitment to me. And let me tell you what the real problem is, just so that it's out in
the open. Everybody has sort of counted on a lot of parking going under 395. With the debate
and the discussion going on at the MPO (Miami Parking Authority) about lowering 395 and all
of that, now everything is, you know, into like a Philly freeze. Everything is -- nobody's doing
anything. Congresswoman Brown said that she would pull out some money for the CRA
(Community Redevelopment Agency) to try to help us build some parking infrastructure.
Contrary to anything that you may hear or read, the number one problem in the urban core is
parking. That's what Big Time Studios wants. That's what the club district wants. And we
really need -- this is discretionary money in the appropriations bill. We really need dollars for
parking if we're going to keep -- especially, on the Southeast Overtown side -- moving. Because
we're flat now and we're going backwards. OK. So we really need help in trying to deal with
that. Everybody says we can do the parking underneath 395 but the DOT (Department of
Transportation) is not going to do that because to build up the parking under 395 is going to cost
what, about two million dollars ($2,000,000), a million and a half, two?
Frank Rollason (Executive Director, CRA): Two (INAUDIBLE)
Chairman Teele: Two million dollars ($2,000,000). And so everybody's going to say, "Well,
why are you doing that if you're going to lower it?" And so, now we're caught in a catch-22
with the debate that's going on. OK. All right. We have a motion. We have a commitment
from you on that? You'll help us, Mr. Abrams?
Mike Abrams: Oh, yeah.
Chairman Teele: All those --
Mr. Rollason: Mr. Chairman, I have a -- something I have to fix on number 9. It's a scrivener's
error. It just shows one of the account codes incorrectly. It shows it as 270. It should be --
Board Member Sanchez: What do you mean 270?
43 July 28, 2003
Mr. Rollason: -- 250. It's legal. When you look in the reso itself, right at the very bottom of the
heading --
Chairman Teele: You're talking about point two seven zero?
Mr. Rollason: Yes, sir. And it should be point two fifty, legal, is the proper account for that to
come out of We've got it right on one document and wrong right here in this.
Chairman Teele: Scrivener's error is adopted.
Mr. Rollason: Yes.
Chairman Teele: All those in favor say "aye."
The Board Members (Collectively): Aye.
Chairman Teele: All opposed.
The following resolution was introduced by Board Member Sanchez, who moved for its
adoption:
SEOPW/CRA RESOLUTION NO. 03-67
OMNFCRA RESOLUTION NO. 03-50
A JOINT RESOLUTION OF THE BOARDS OF DIRECTORS OF THE
SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST AND OMNI REDEVELOPMENT
DISTRICT COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCIES (THE "CRAS")
AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO ENTER INTO AN
AGREEMENT, IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO GENERAL COUNSEL, WITH
KATZ, KUTTER, ALDERMAN & BRYANT, P.A., FOR LOBBYING
SERVICES BEFORE CONGRESS AND FEDERAL AGENCIES ON
LEGISLATIVE ISSUES AND APPROPRIATIONS REQUESTS, IN AN
AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $50,000 ANNUALLY, FOR A TOTAL
CONTRACT AMOUNT OF $100,000.00, PLUS PRE -APPROVED EXPENSES,
PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE OF NOVEMBER 1, 2002 AND AN
ENDING DATE OF OCTOBER 31, 2004; FUNDS TO BE ALLOCATED
FROM SEOPW TIF FUND "PROFESSIONAL SERVICES — OTHER",
ACCOUNT CODE NO. 689001.550108.270 AND OMNI TIF FUND
"PROFESSIONAL SERVICES — OTHER" ACCOUNT CODE NO.
686001.590320.6.270.
44 July 28, 2003
(Here follows body of resolution, omitted here and on file in the Office of the City Cleric.)
Upon being seconded by Board Member Gonzalez, the resolution was passed and adopted by the
following vote:
AYES: Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Board Member Angel Gonzalez
Board Member Tomas Regalado
Board Member Joe Sanchez
NAYS: None
ABSENT: Vice Chairman Johnny L. Winton
45 July 28, 2003
•' •
10. RESCIND RESOLUTIONS SEOPW/CRA 02-10 TO OMNI/CRA 02-47 AUTHORIZING
CRA' S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO ENTER INTO AGREEMENT PIGGYBACKING ON
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY'S . CONTRACT WITH WOLFBERG, ALVAREZ AND
PARTNERS, INC. FOR ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES.
Chairman Teele: Item Number 10.
Board Member Gonzalez: Move 10.
Chairman Teele: Moved. Seconded by Commissioner Regalado?
Board Member Sanchez: Second.
Chairman Teele: By Commissioner Sanchez. All those in favor say "aye."
The Board Members (Collectively): Aye.
Chairman Teele: Opposed?
The following resolution was introduced by Board Member Regalado, who moved for its
adoption:
SEOPW/CRA RESOLUTION NO. 03-68 r
OMNFCRA RESOLUTION NO. 03-51
A JOINT RESOLUTION OF THE BOARDS OF DIRECTORS OF THE
SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST AND OMNI REDEVELOPMENT
DISTRICT COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCIES (THE "CRAS")
RESCINDING RESOLUTIONS NO. SEOPW/CRA R-02-110 AND OMNI/CRA
R-02-47, BOTH ADOPTED JUNE 13, 2002, AUTHORIZING THE CRAS'
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT
PIGGYBACKING ON MIAMI-DADE COUNTY'S CONTRACT WITH
WOLFBERG, ALVAREZ AND PARTNERS, INC. FOR ARCHITECTURAL
SERVICES.
46 July 28, 2003
•
(Here follows body of 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: Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Board Member Angel Gonzalez
Board Member Tomas Regalado
Board Member Joe Sanchez
NAYS: None
ABSENT: Vice Chairman Johnny L. Winton
47 July 28, 2003
01 i
11. AUTHORIZE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO EXECUTE AGREEMENT WITH
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL AND GROW AMERICA FUND, INC. FOR
PURPOSE OF ESTABLISHING CRA/GROW MIAMI FUND UTILIZING COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT FUNDS PREVIOUSLY ALLOCATED TO CRA/MICRO
BUSINESS LOAN PROGRAM $471,770.; FURTHER ACKNOWLEDGE THAT ANY
CHANGES TO "CONTRACT CONDITIONS" ARE SUBJECT TO APPROVAL BY CITY'S
DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES TO
AGREEMENT MUST BE BROUGHT TO CITY COMMISSION FOR APPROVAL.
Chairman Teele: Item Number 11. I apologize for holding you all so long.
Frank Rollason (Executive Director, CRA): Item Number 11 is the Grow Miami fund proposal.
This is the proposal that went before the Commission.
Chairman Teele: This is Grow America, right?
Mr. Rollason: Yes, sir.
Chairman Teele: OK.
Board Member Sanchez: So moved.
Chairman Teele: Moved by Commissioner Sanchez.
Board Member Regalado: Second.
Chairman Teele: Now, let me understand this. This is a loan program, right?
Sandra Joice-Tyralla: Yes, it is.
Chairman Teele: You all would be responsible for all of the compliances, et cetera.
Ms. Joice-Tyralla: Absolutely. Well, we're going to be responsible -- with exception of the
CDBG (Community Development Block Grant) compliance, which we'll have to work with the
Community Development Department of the City of Miami, we will be responsible for
underwriting, dispersing and servicing every loan until it's paid off.
j
Chairman Teele: OK. That's the way I think, you know, the CRA (Community Redevelopment
Agency) should function. Now, we're going to have to have an agreement with you. That
doesn't exempt the fact that we've got to make sure that our agreements with you are consistent.
I really believe that the relationship, Frank, that we have with the National Development Council
is an important one. It is underutilized. Have you all been contacted by the City regarding the
parking lot in Allapattah?
Ms. Joice-Tyralla: I think we participated in a meeting and we didn't hear back from them after
that meeting, but I believe that action was taken to submit an application.
48 July 28, 200.3
Chairman Teele: OK. I would just like for you all, as an organization, to make yourself
available to Board Member Gonzalez --
Ms. Joice-Tyralla: Oh, absolutely, sir.
Chainnan Teele: -- in every way because I think you all are a resource that the City could draw
down and the CRA should use a lot more. And I would hope that you'd make yourself available
to all of the Commissioners. But, again, I think the National Development Council is among one
of the leading national organizations in providing technical assistance not only to government
agencies, but to HUD (Department of Housing and Urban Development) itself.
Ms. Joice-Tyralla: But not only technical assistance, but a lot of times we can bring funding into
the project, either equity or debt. So, don't forget us.
Chairman Teele: And what I'm saying is, is that while your relationship with us is at the CRA
but there's no reason why a board member cannot have lunch with you or sit down with you and
access something that could be citywide or in a district.
Ms. Joice-Tyralla: Absolutely. I know that there -- you know, some of the Commissioners have
demonstrated interest in historical preservation projects and we have been very successful in, you
know, developing a lot of those projects throughout the country. So, absolutely.
Chairman Teele: On the motion -- is there objection? All those in favor say "aye."
The Board Members (Collectively): Aye.
Chairman Teele: All opposed.
49 July 28, 2003
0
0
The following resolution was introduced by Board Member Sanchez, who moved for its
adoption:
SEOPW/CRA RESOLUTION NO. 03-69
OMNI/CRA RESOLUTION NO. 03-52
A JOINT RESOLUTION OF THE BOARDS OF DIRECTORS OF THE
SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/ PARK WEST AND OMNI REDEVELOPMENT
DISTRICT COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCIES (THE "CRAS")
WITH ATTACHMENT(S), AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT, IN SUBSTANTIALLY THE FORM
DETAILED IN EXHIBIT "A", WITH THE NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
COUNCIL AND THE GROW AMERICA FUND, INC. FOR THE PURPOSE
OF ESTABLISHING THE CRA/GROW MIAMI FUND UTILIZING
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT FUNDS PREVIOUSLY
ALLOCATED TO THE CRA/MICRO BUSINESS LOAN BUSINESS
PROGRAM, IN THE AMOUNT OF $471,770.00; FURTHER
ACKNOWLEDGING THAT, PURSUANT TO MIAMI CITY COMMISSION
RESOLUTION NO. R-03-706, ANY CHANGES TO THE "CONTRACT
CONDITIONS" DETAILED IN EXHIBIT "B" ARE SUBJECT TO APPROVAL
BY THE CITY OF MIAMI'S DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT AND SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES TO THE AGREEMENT
MUST BE BROUGHT TO THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION FOR
APPROVAL.
(Here follows body of 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: Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Board Member Angel Gonzalez
Board Member Tomas Regalado
Board Member Joe Sanchez
NAYS: None
ABSENT: Vice Chairman Johnny L. Winton
Chairman Teele: Item Number 12.
Ms. Joice-Tyralla: Thank you.
Mr. Rollason: Thank you.
50 July 28, 2003
12. DEFERRED: PROPOSED RESOLUTION TO RATIFY ACTIONS OF ACTING
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR RELATED TO PROCUREMENT_ AND MAINTENANCE OF
VARIOUS OFFICE EQUIPMENT AND, SECURITY SYSTEMS UTILIZED BY CRA,
$157,343.00.
Frank Rollason (Executive Director, CRA): Item Number 12 is an issue that I am bringing
forward to try to ratify some of the actions that have taken in the past to put the legitimacy to
them as it should have been with the amount of dollars that were expended. Some of these are
said and done. Some of them are ongoing. You know, the backup is there. I've grouped them
together. I was not looking to pull them out individually. I guess, the one with the lease of the
computers, it's been for three years. It's over in September. So, that's really a moot point.
Board Member Regalado: Is any of these under investigation?
Board Member Gonzalez: Probably.
Mr. Rollason: I would say that every thing that we have been -- discussed, all the paperwork --
I've only had two meetings with two sets of authorities. They've indicated that it's a blanket
investigation. Nothing has been just particularly picked out.
Board Member Regalado: Mr. Chairman, I'm not -- I'm voting "no" on this item.
Chairman Teele: All right. Well, why don't we wait until we have five members and defer it to
the next meeting, and give the staff an opportunity -- and everybody's free to vote how they want
to vote. Are any of these items in excess of forty-five hundred dollars ($4,500)?
Mr. Rollason: Yes, sir.
Board Member Regalado: They all are.
Mr. Rollason: They all are. If you look at the cover memo, you see the amounts of money we're
talking about. Twenty-seven thousand. One is seven thousand dollars ($7,000), sixty-one
thousand, three eighty, fifty-five thousand. The other one is seven thousand dollars ($7,000).
Board Member Sanchez: Mr. Chairman, if these items would have come in front of -- at least in
front of me, speaking for myself, on an emergency basis, being that, you know, computers and
copiers, which are required to keep the office in order, I would have supported them. But here's
what my concern that I have. You have numerous items here that, first of all, are being put in
front of us today, never under an emergency item. We're packaging a couple of -- I believe, it's
like what? How many, Frank? -How many item..
Mr. Rollason: Items? There are five items --
Board Member Sanchez: Five items --
Mr. Rollason: Five items that I have (INAUDIBLE).
51 July 28, 2003
Board Member Sanchez: -- being packaged to vote after the facts with no evidence that, you
know, any kind of procurement process was used to make sure it was the best deal for the CRA.
And I just -- you know, I'm very uncomfortable. All the items here on the agenda today, you
know, I've supported. This one is one that I cannot support today or at the next meeting because
I just think it's inappropriate for us now to all of a sudden, you know, take these five items that
were never put in front of this board, never approved, and all of a sudden now, you know, it has
to be approved. And whoever it was here, the Executive Director, knew exactly if anything over
four thousand, five hundred dollars ($4,500) had to come in front of this board. So, therefore,
there's no way that I could support this today or next month. As a matter of fact, I asked. you to
defer the item --
Mr. Rollason: The last time. Yes, sir.
Board Member Sanchez: I just wanted to make --put that on the record.
Chairman Teele: All right. Well, again, I'd like to make sure, first and foremost, that all of the
items are present. And I need, at least, some type of accountability of all of the items that we're
talking about.
Mr. Rollason: Are you saying to me that there are no others besides these, when you say "all of
the items are present?" I'm not sure what you're saying.
Chairman Teele: I'm talking about the hardware, equipment and whatever.
Mr. Rollason: Oh, is the -- the inventory is the stuff -= do we have accountability for the
equipment?
Chairman Teele: Yes.
Mr. Rollason: Yes, we do. There are a couple of laptops that were stolen that have gone through
the process and that's been reported and so forth way back. But the equipment -- the copiers are
there. The computers are there to be turned back in to Gateway. The camera system is in place
and operating. The burglar alarm system is operating. I mean, some of these things were put in,
I would assume, as an emergency basis as a result of the break-ins that took place and that's why
they did these things.
Chairman Teele: See, that's what I'm trying to say. I mean, you know, at one time we were
having all these break-ins.
Mr. Rollason: Right.
Chairman Teele: We have a clear documentation. The board instructed the staff -- I don't even
remember when and what was done, but I do remember there was something of people breaking
in and there was documents being stolen and all of that.
52 July 28, 2003
Mr. Rollason: Just recently, when we had the break-in --
Chairman Teele: And the board -- and the staff came and said we're going to put in cameras to
try to find out who's doing the stealing and all of that.
Mr. Rollason: Yes, sir.
Chairman Teele: But it has to be done the right way. But see, this is what I don't understand,
Frank. This says 20 -- two thousand, four hundred and fifty dollars ($2,450).
Mr. Rollason: Which one are you looking at, sir?
Chairman Teele: Well, I don't know. This is August 2000 --
Mr. Rollason: Is that Circle Security?
Chairman Teele: Yeah.
Board Member Sanchez: That doesn't mean anything.
Mr. Rollason: But it's over a period of time. In other words, what I've done here is I have taken
the period of time of the contract, like Circle Security is a five-year contract that was entered
into. And these are the top end dollars if we go the full route with everything that's there. If this
comes back the next time, we'll see -- I can separate them out, bring them individually --
Chairman Teele: Well, I think you need to separate them out. I mean, I think, you know --
Mr. Rollason: I could do that.
Chairman Teele: -- it's easier for everybody to see why'-- you know, we need to separate them
out. Number two, we need to, I would assume, talk to the lawyers but we probably need to
cancel all contracts that have not been properly approved. And I'm not directing it. I'm saying
discuss it with the attorney, and then come back in and see if we can do it the right way by
bringing the contracts in for an emergency approval going forward. But I think what you've
done is, you've taken the full five years of something out and it may be something we don't want
to have for five years. I can tell you one thing: We certainly need to have some way of
safeguarding the equipment. We've lost thousands of dollars in equipment.
Mr. Rollason: Right. There's some of this equipment I'm going to have to pay for when these
things are. over. -.The other thing on the camera .system, the last break-in we had was recorded.
The individual plea bargained one year and --
Chairman Teele: I mean, yeah. That's the other point.
Mr. Rollason: -- that's because they had it on video. They said if they hadn't had that, he would
have walked. So, I mean, it certainly pays. It's just the methodology of how we got to it.
53 July 28, 2003
Chairman Teele: So, you all caught the burglar?
Mr. Rollason: Yes, sir.
Chairman Teele: With the video from the camera?
Mr. Rollason: We caught him physically that night and caught him on film, too.
Chairman Teele: All right. Well, let's try to make it more intelligent.
54 July 28, 2003
• 9
13. AUTHORIZE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO PIGGYBACK ON STATE OF FLORIDA'S
CONTRACT NO. 250-000-03-01 WITH DELL FOR PURCHASE OF COMPUTERS AND
EQUIPMENT $12,000.; FUNDS TO BE ALLOCATED FROM GENERAL OPERATING
FUND.
Chairman Teele: What other items have to be approved -- acted upon?
Board Member Gonzdlez: What about 13?
Frank Rollason (Executive Director, CRA): Thirteen.
Board Member Gonzdlez: Thirteen.
Board Member Sanchez: Are those a part of the computers that were stolen?
Mr. Rollason: No. This is -- now in September, the lease ,on the computers goes away and this
is now to replace the teased computers that are going away I've got to have computers for staff to
be able to operate. We go these through a contract with IT (Information Technology). This was
through the City. This is off the --
Chairmanleele: State.
Mr. Rollason: -- state contract but also, in conjunction with IT, IT is providing our backup and
our support. And, therefore, we went with the same type of equipment that the City is buying
(INAUDIBLE)
Board Member Sanchez: So moved.
Board Member Gonzalez: Move 13.
Chairman Teele: Moved and second. Is there objection? All those in favor say "aye."
The Board Members (Collectively): Aye.
1
55 July 28, 2003
•
C�
The following resolution was introduced by Board Member Sanchez, moved for its adoption:
SEOPW/CRA RESOLUTION NO. 03-70
OMNI/CRA RESOLUTION NO. 03-53
A JOINT RESOLUTION OF THE BOARDS OF DIRECTORS OF THE
SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST AND OMNI REDEVELOPMENT
DISTRICT COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCIES (THE "CRAS")
AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO PIGGYBACK ON THE
STATE OF FLORIDA'S CONTRACT NO. 250-000-03-01 WITH DELL FOR
THE PURCHASE OF COMPUTERS AND EQUIPMENT DESCRIBED IN THE
ATTACHED EXHIBIT "A", IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $12,000.00;
FUNDS TO BE ALLOCATED FROM THE GENERAL OPERATING FUND —
"MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES," ACCOUNT CODE NO.
689004.550011.6.903; FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR TO EXECUTE, IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO GENERAL
COUNSEL, ANY APPROPRIATE SERVICE AGREEMENTS.
(Here follows body of resolution, omitted here and on file in the Office of the City Cleric.)
Upon being seconded by Board Member Gonzalez, the resolution was passed and adopted by the
following vote:
AYES: Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Board Member Angel Gonzalez
Board Member Tomas Regalado
Board Member Joe Sanchez
NAYS: None
ABSENT: Vice Chairman Johnny L. Winton
Chairman Teele: Item 13
56 July 28, 2003
0 9
14. RATIFY ISSUANCE OF WORK ORDER #3 TO METRIC ENGINEERING, INC. FOR
GENERAL ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR 9TH STREET PEDESTRIAN MALL BETWEEN
N.W. 2ND AND N.W. 3RD AVENUES, $102,890.00 FROM COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
BLOCK GRANT CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS ACCOUNT.
Chairman Teele: Item Number 14.
Frank Rollason (Executive Director, CRA): Fourteen is an item that we had before you dealing
with Metric Engineering back in April. We were directed to do further research on that and also
the City Clerk's Office was directed to do further research. We have done that. We have
brought this item back. This is the one where Metric Engineering did the design work for the
work that's going on right now for the 9t" Street Mall extension. And the authorization that was
in place was for some work on 3"d Avenue itself. And we have gone back and forth with this
with the City Attorney --
Chairman Teele: Is there a motion? You recommend it?
Mr. Rollason: I recommend it. And this has been -- this has all been paid, except for six
thousand dollars ($6,000) of it. And I also want to put on the record that this has been paid with
TIF (Tax Increment Fund). And it's our intent that, when we've got our paperwork together, that
we'll submit this to CD (Community Development) and we'll get reimbursed because this is
eligible under the 9t" Street Mall, which is CD money.
Board Member Gonzalez: And this was properly approved by the board?
Mr. Rollason: Yes, sir.
Board Member Gonzalez: So moved, 14.
Chairman Teele: Is there a second?
Board Member Gonzalez: Move 14.
Board Member Regalado: Second.
Chairman Teele: Is there objection? All those in favor say "aye."
The Board Members (Collectively): Aye.
57 July 28, 2003
The following resolution was introduced by Board Member Gonzalez, who moved for its
adoption:
SEOPW/CRA RESOLUTION NO. 03-71
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE SOUTHEAST
OVERTOWN/PARK WEST COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY
RATIFYING THE ISSUANCE OF WORK ORDER 43, TO METRIC
ENGINEERING, INC. FOR GENERAL ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR THE
9T" STREET PEDESTRIAN MALL BETWEEN N.W. 2ND AND N.W. 3RD
AVENUES, IN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $102,890.00 FROM ACCOUNT
NUMBER 799126.452502.6.930, CDBG CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS, AND
APPROVING PREVIOUS PAYMENTS MADE THERE UNDER.
(Here follows body of 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: Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Board Member Angel Gonzalez
Board Member Tomas Regalado
Board Member Joe Sanchez
NAYS: None
ABSENT: Vice Chairman Johnny L. Winton
58 July 28, 2003
15. DIRECT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO MEET WITH BOARD MEMBERS PRIOR TO
CRA FY 2004 BUDGET BEING PRESENTED BEFORE CITY COMMISSION AND
COUNTY COMMISSION; FURTHER SUGGESTING BOARD SHOULD PASS
RESOLUTION STIPULATING TIME PERIOD FOR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO SUBMIT
BUDGET TO CRA BOARD, PREFERABLY JUNE OR JULY.
Chairman Teele: Item 15.
Frank Rollason (Executive Director, CRA): That's. the legal --
Chairman Teele: Sixteen.
Mr. Rollason: All right. Sixteen. I have distributed, under cover to you separately, the proposed
-- or a draft of the budget for next year. I wanted to get something out early. We've made
copies of it. We're not voting on it tonight. We just wanted to bring it. If there were any
immediate questions that you had, we could discuss it. Otherwise, it'll come back in September.
And I certainly will be meeting with you each, individually, to go over the budget. But if there's
any questions, I thought, if you had tonight, it'd be appropriate to have it on here.
Board Member Sanchez: On the budget?
Mr. Rollason: On the budget for next year.
Chairman Teele: All right. What we're going to do is ask everybody to try to meet with Frank.
Now, we need --
Board Member Sanchez: That's the best thing to do.
Mr. Rollason: I'll do that.
Chairman Teele: We need to be very careful. We are obliged to have a budget approved by the
City Commission and the County Commission in September. This budget, technically, should be
-- and one of the things we should do after this year is we should prescribe, by resolution, a time
period that the Executive Director shall submit the budget, which probably should be in the
month of June or July, not later than --
Mr. Rollason: I agree.
Chairman Teele: But let's don't beat a dead horse to death.
59 July 28, 2003
16. DISCUSSION RELATING TO NEW PROVIDENCE LODGE RESCHEDULED TO CRA
SCHEDULED MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 2003.
Chairman Teele: There's one pocket item I think the Attorney would like to --
Frank Rollason (Executive Director, CRA): We have two tonight. I know Alex has one and I
have one. So, however you want to go. All right. I've got one that I believe has'been passed out.
Is that -- it's coming to you now. This is on the New Providence Lodge. We have a month -to -
month lease with them right now, predicated upon us going forward with doing a build out in
that facility and then moving the Overtown NET (Neighborhood Enhancement Team) Office into
that facility. The City administration, as you will see in the back, has sent me an email
indicating that the Overtown NET will not be moving into the Masonic Lodge. And, therefore, I
am recommending that we cancel this lease, the five hundred dollars ($500) a month and --
Board Member Sanchez: So moved.
Chairman Teele: Let me offer -- can this item be brought up in September? I'd like to meet with
the Manager on it.
Mr. Rollason: Sure.
Chairman Teele: I've not met with the Manager.
Mr. Rollason: Sure. No problem. We'll bring it back in September.
60 July 28, 2003
17. AUTHORIZE SETTLEMENT OF QUIET TITLE LAWSUIT WITH CITY AND MIAMI-
DADE COUNTY INVOLVING CERTAIN LOTS OF BLOCK 36 OF P.W. WHITE'S
RESUBDIVISION AND LOTS 1 THOUGH 12, BLOCKS 45N AND 56N OF A.L.
KNOWLTON'S MAP OF MIAMI.
Board Member Sanchez: Mr. City Attorney.
Alejandro Vilarello (City Attorney): One pocket item, which is a resolution of the Board of
Directors of the Southeast Overtown/Park West CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency)
settling the lawsuit between -- that the County filed Quiet Title on two parcels, which -- I don't
know the best way to describe the two parcels, but they're adjacent to the MetroRail station and
also a part of -- also include a part of the St. Johns settlement that we recently entered into. This
is a companion item to the City Commission's approval --
Chairman Teele: Has anybody really read this item? I've not. Has anybody read it?
Board Member Regalado: No.
Chairman Teele: I mean, I'm willing to vote "yes."
Board Member Sanchez: I've reviewed it. I'm prepared to vote.
Mr. Vilarello: I could explain it to you briefly. When the property. was initially deeded by the
County to the City, it had a provision that required that it be developed consistent with the master
plan, the Southeast Overtown/Park West Redevelopment Plan, within five years. The City
entered into various -- two agreements to develop the property. The County, in 1999, chose to now, at that point, would have been in excess of ten years after the property was deeded to us --
decided to move Quiet Title and take back the property in accordance with the reverter provision.
This settlement gives us an additional four years --
Chairman Teele: From what date?
Mr. Vilarello: August --
Chairman Teele: From the end of litigation?
Mr. Vilarello: No. No, sir. From August Is' of this year. We had initially attempted to
negotiate two years after the end of litigation. When we came to the City Commission --
Chairman Teele: How long has the litigation been going on?
Board Member Sanchez: Five years.
Mr. Vilarello: The litigation's been going on now for approximately two years.
61 July 28, 2003
Chairman Teele: That's because we just decided to litigate. But, I mean, how long has the
controversy been going on?
Mr. Vilarello: Well, the controversy with regard to these parcels has been going on in excess of
10 years.
Chairman Teele: In excess of 10 years. So, I mean, you know -- I just want to put one thing on
the record. Most of this land was land that was given to the City of Miami by the federal
government, by the Urban Mass Transportation Administration, when I was the administrator.
This land was a grant -- was a request from the Mayor, Maurice Ferrer, and because the County
was the grantee of the federal government transit, the money for this went -through the County.
But the City was always -- and the grant documents say that the City is the beneficiary of the
grant. So, I mean, I just want to be very clear. The County doesn't have any money in this to
speak of. It was 80 percent federal, 10 percent state and 10 percent City dollars. So, 10 percent
of the money is City, and I'm not even sure that the County didn't make the City put up the 10
percent. They did on the 9`h Street Mall. So it's more than just the way it's being expressed.
This was always ours. I don't have any objection to it and I would move it or ask that somebody
move it.
Board Member Sanchez: So moved.
Board Member Gonzalez: Second.
Board Member Sanchez: So moved.
Chairman Teele: But I think we need to be very, very careful about the timeline now because
they're counting on us sleeping at the switch. How long has the litigation -- how long have we
been trying to get clear title on the Ward Rooming House?
William R. Bloom (Special Counsel, CRA): About 18 months.
Chairman Teele: That's just -- that's a simple clearing title. And probably how much, forty
thousand dollars ($40,000) later?
Mr. Bloom: Yes, sir.
Chairman Teele: So time goes when you're having fun.
Board Member Sanchez: Move to adjourn.
Chairman Teele: On the motion to approve, all those in favor say "aye."
The Board Members (Collectively): Aye.
Chairman Teele: All opposed.
62 July 28, 2003
U
The following resolution was introduced by Board Member Sanchez, who moved for its
adoption:
SEOPW/CRA RESOLUTION NO. 03-72
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE SOUTHEAST
OVERTOWN/PARK WEST COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY
AUTHORIZING SETTLEMENT OF THE QUIET TITLE LAWSUIT WITH
THE CITY OF MIAMI AND MIAMI-DADE COUNTY INVOLVING
CERTAIN LOTS OF BLOCK 36 OF P.W. WHITE'S RESUBDIVISION AND
LOTS I THOUGH 12 BLOCKS 45N AND 56N OF A.L. KNOWLTON'S MAP
OF MIAMI IN THE CITY OF MIAMI, MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA.
(Here follows body of resolution, omitted here and on file in the Office of the City Clerk.)
Upon being seconded by Board Member Gonzalez, the resolution was passed and adopted by the
following vote:
AYES: Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Board Member Angel Gonzalez
Board Member Tomas Regalado
Board Member Joe Sanchez
NAYS: None
ABSENT: Vice Chairman Johnny L. Winton
Chairman Teele: Motion to adjourn is in order.
63 July 28, 2003
There being no further business to come before the Community Redevelopment Agency for the
Southeast Overtown/Park West and Omni District, the meeting was adjourned at 7:20 p.m.
ATTEST:
PRISCILLA A. THOMPSON,
City Clerk
SYLVIA SCHEIDER,
Assistant City Clerk
ARTHUR E. TEELE, JR.,
Chairman
64 July 28, 2003