HomeMy WebLinkAboutWGCRA 2021-08-10 MinutesCity of Miami
3500 Pan American Drive
Miami, FL 33133
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Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, August 10, 2021
9:30 AM
(OR THEREAFTER)
Stirrup Plaza Community Center
3150 Mundy Street
Miami, FL 33133
West Grove Community Redevelopment Agency
Ken Russell, Chair, District Two
Alex Diaz de la Portilla, Board Member, District One
Joe Carollo, Board Member, District Three
Manolo Reyes, Board Member, District Four
Jeffrey Watson, Board Member, District Five
West Grove Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes August 10, 2021
CALL TO ORDER
Present: Chair Russell, Commissioner Carollo and Commissioner Watson
Absent: Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla and Commissioner Reyes
On the loth day of August 2021, the Board of Commissioners of the West Grove
Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of' Miami met in regular session at
Stirrup Plaza Community Center located at 3150 Mundy Street, Miami, Florida. The
meeting was called to order by Chair Russell at 10:11 a.m., and was adjourned at 10:52
a.m.
ALSO PRESENT:
Barnaby L. Min, Deputy General Counsel, CRA
Domini Gibbs, Assistant City Attorney
Nicole N. Ewan, Assistant Clerk of the Board
PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR ALL ITEM(S)
Chair Russell: Good morning. Good morning, everyone. Thank you for your patience.
And welcome to the first ever meeting of the West Grove Coconut Grove CRA,
Community Redevelopment Agency.
Applause.
Chair Russell: First, I'd like to really thank the other Commissioners. My name is Ken
Russell. I'm your chairman of the West Grove CRA. This is a board made up of City
Commissioners. And to my right is Commissioner Joe Carollo, and to my left,
Commissioner Watson. And I really appreciate them coming today. This is our month
off at City Commission. So, for them to make sure to be here as a part of our quorum so
we can get our business done is really important, so I thank you. And of course, thank all
of the community and the advocates, all the stakeholders who helped make this happen
because it's been a long time coming to put this CRA together and now with the hard
work of making sure we do the job correctly. So, I've alreadv been through the roll. I'll
also introduce -- we have the City Clerk's Office here. We have the City Attorney's
Office here. This is an official state -- created by state statute body, where the future
taxes for the next 30 years, the new future taxes of the West Grove area will stay in the
West Grove. Normally, when you pay your taxes -- your city and county taxes -- they
flow out to the rest of the city and the rest of the county. We have been able to find
agreement with the other City Commissioners and County Commission districts that
there is a debt owed to this community, that there is slum and blight that needs repair,
there is needed investment for affordable housing infrastructure, green space, and
historic preservation, and of course, the quality of life for the residents who live here that
those taxes stay here for the next 30 years. And that's no small accomplishment, and it's
in big thanks to this board and to all of you in the community. So, thank you. We have a
very short agenda today. There's only three items that we are taking up as we create the
CRA. There are more steps to go through before we start spending money within the
community and redeveloping the area for the benefit of the residents. You will all have a
time to speak in public comment at this microphone. If you do not have an agenda, we
have stacks of agendas over here where you can basically read the three items that we
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are working on. The deeper conversation is to happen one week before every CRA board
meeting at the Community Advisory Board meeting, which we held last week, which was
very well attended, where we heard input from the community, and we had a really good
roundtable discussion and some amendments to this will come from that. So, I really
thank you for that participation. Please spread the word and help its spread the word on
making sure you know about these meetings and your neighbors know about these
meetings. It's hard to get the word out. We do everything we can, but we want good
participation. So --
Maria Vera: (Comments made in Spanish not translated.)
Chair Russell: (Comments made in Spanish not translated.) Wow.
Ms. Vera: (Comments made in Spanish not translated.)
Chair Russell: (Comments made in Spanish not translated.) Okay.
Ms. Vera: (Comments made in Spanish not translated.)
Chair Russell: (Comments made in Spanish not translated.)
Board Member Carollo: For all you that didn't understand that --
Chair Russell: (Comments made in Spanish not translated.)
Board Member Carollo: -- I think you'll agree with me that Russell's Japanese has
improved tremendously. (Comments made in Spanish.)
Ms. Vera: (INAUDIBLE).
Chair Russell: (Comments made in Spanish not translated)
Ms. Vera: (INAUDIBLE).
Chair Russell: (Comments made in Spanish not translated.)
Ms. Vera: (Comments made in Spanish not translated.)
Chair Russell: (Comments made in Spanish not translated.)
Ms. Vera: (Comments made in Spanish not translated.)
Board Member Carollo: We have to follow procedure before we go into public hearing.
If you want to take it now, I have no problem, Commissioner.
Chair Russell: Public hearing?
Board Member Carollo: Yeah,, if you want to do it now.
Chair Russell: Yes. (Comments made in Spanish not translated.)
Ms. Vera: (Comments made in Spanish not translated.)
Chair Russell: (Comments made in Spanish not translated.) Let me turn it on.
Ms. Vera: (Comments made in Spanish not translated.)
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Board Member Carollo: (Comments made in Spanish not translated.) Can we get
someone to translate for her, or if not --?
Ms. Vera: (Comments made in Spanish not translated.)
Board Member Carollo: (Comments made in Spanish not translated.)
Board Member Watson: Commissioner.
Board Member Carollo: All right. I've asked her to go slow so I could translate, and
everybody could understand.
Ms. Vera (as translated by Board Member Carollo): Okay, she's lived here for seven
years. And since she moved there, there used to be parking. Okay, and she has had her
daughter come see her because she has knee problems and at night in the evening, they
towed her car away. Okay, she says she has to get permission way, ahead of time for her
daughter to come park here and she needs help from her daughter. She's had to live with
her daughter for two months while she was rehabilitating from the knee operation, but
she needs to be back here. Because of the humidity that the apartment has, she bought a
new couch and she had to throw it away. I imagine she's trying to say that it got mold.
Her apartment was painted but the paint is coming out and it's interfering with her
breathing. The problem is that too many times the administration don't listen to
(UNINTELLIGIBLE). She's saying that they need an administration that will work better
with the seniors, that have the conduct to hear them even if they don't have the -- if
they're not in the right but at least to be heard. And she said she had to pay to get her
couch thrown out, otherwise there would be a fine.
Chair Russell: Okay. (Comments made in Spanish not translated.)
Ms. Vera: (Comments made in Spanish not translated.)
Chair Russell: (Comments made in Spanish not translated.)
Ms. Vera: (Comments made in Spanish not translated.)
Chair Russell: Okay.
Ms. Vera: (Comments made in Spanish not translated.)
Board Member Carollo: Okay, okay.
Ms. Vera: (Comments made in Spanish not translated.)
Board Member Carollo: In short, she's very unhappy with the administration that she
has here. And she said she's not afraid to have given her name and apartment number.
Ms. Vera: (Comments made in Spanish not translated.)
Board Member Carollo: Okay.
Ms. Vera: (Comments made in Spanish not translated.)
Chair Russell: Okay.
Ms. Vera: (Comments made in Spanish not translated.)
Chair Russell: (Comments made in Spanish not translated.)
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Board Member Carollo: She finished by saying that she --
Chair Russell: It's okay.
Board Member Carollo: -- wants an administration that's going to have compassion,
that will speak to the seniors --
Chair Russell: Okay.
Board Member Carollo: -- in an appropriate way.
Chair Russell: Thank you. (Comments made in Spanish not translated.) James Jackson.
(Comments made in Spanish not translated.)
Ms. Vera: (Comments made in Spanish not translated.)
Chair Russell: Okay.
Is. Vera: (Comments made in Spanish not translated.)
Chair Russell: Okay.
Ms. Vera: (Comments made in Spanish not translated.)
Chair Russell: (Comments made in Spanish not translated.)
Ms. Vera: (Comments made in Spanish not translated.)
Chair Russell: Okay.
Ms. Vera: (Comments made in Spanish not translated.)
Board Member Carollo: Okay.
Chair Russell: (Comments made in Spanish not translated.)
Board Member Carollo: Get the lady there.
Chair Russell: (Comments made in Spanish not translated.)
Ms. Vera: (Comments made in Spanish not translated.)
Chair Russell: (Comments made in Spanish not translated) Okay.
Neil Shiver: Good morning Board of Commissioners.
ChairRussell: Good morning.
Mr. Shiver: This is nothing short of a historic day in this historic community of the first
African American community in Miami. I'm Neil Shiver, 3095 Plaza Street. I'm a
lifetime Grove resident of this community. I'm -- support the approval of the
redevelopment plan. I support the interlocal agreement with the City. I strongly support
the administrative item with the Omni CRA. First and foremost -- and I'll be quick about
it -- I know a little bit about CRAB -- right? -- and it's two L's, Commissioners, that I
always talk about when I speak about CRAB. The first is leadership. And for -- on behalf
of this community and of -- I'll just say my family because I don't speak on behalf of the
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community. I'll let Apostle Chambers do that -- and Robinson. 1 want to thank you for
your leadership. And the second L is location. We have a great location. So, we've got
great leadership. We've got a great location. I just want to thank you for your
leadership, and I'll turn it over to -- well, who I consider the real leaders of this
community.
Chair Russell: Thank you for your comments. Is there anyone else here who would like
to speak regarding the three items on this agenda? One is the approval of the
redevelopment plan. One is the approval of the interlocal agreement with the County,
how the money flows. And one is establishing a staff, which will be in conjunction with
the Omni CRA staff to work together here to implement the redevelopment plan. Good
morning, Pastor Robinson.
Pastor Robinson: Good morning, Commissioners -- Fin sorry, CPA Board. We want to
thank you for this opportunity to bring this CRA into the West Coconut Grove area. We
appreciate the leadership of our Commissioner, but we also appreciate all of the support
of all the members of our community at the countless number of meetings. We
understand that this is something that can be great for our community. And because of
that, I stand today in support of all of the resolutions that will be presented here today.
Thank you.
Chair Russell: Thank you for your comments. Is there anyone else here who'd like to
speak? Ms. Cooper, good morning.
Clarice Cooper: Good morning, Commissioners or Board. I'm Clarice Cooper. I'm
also president of the Coconut Grove Village West Homeowners and Tenants Association.
I'm also a lifelong resident of Coconut Grove, and that's who I'm speaking on behalf of
today. I am in full support of all the three items that are presented here today. And I'm
hopeful that the one that has the staffing being done by Omni, that that will one day turn
over into being the West Grove. We have our own staff. And thank you very much far
giving us this opportunity today. Thank you. And we'll do whatever we can to work with
you. And any community support you need, we could provide that for you.
Chair Russell: We will need it
Ms. Cooper: Thank you
Chair Russell: Thank you, Clarice. Is there anyone else here who'd like to speak on the
agenda items today at public comment? Seeing none, we'll close public comment. Thank
you all for your public parti -- oh, we got some more?
John Chambers: Good evening, Board -- or good morning, okay. I'm John Chambers,
president of the Coconut Grove Ministerial Alliance, a lifetime resident here in Coconut
Grove. And I'll just say thank you very much. I'm in support of all three of those items
that I've read over, and prayerfully, everything will come for the benefit of the
community. Thank you.
Chair Russell: For the record, that's Apostle Chambers. Thank you for your comments.
Are there anyone else here who'd like to speak? Mr. Martin.
Reynold Martin: Good morning, Board. Good morning to everybody here. I'm Reynold
Martin. My family has been in the Coconut Grove area since the late 1890s. And we
hope to be involved in the Coconut Grove redevelopment for a long time. We -- as a
member of'the Community Advisory Association with Miami -Dade County, I'm in support
of the three resolutions here. And I hope that you find it fit to pass these things so that we
could move forward with progress in this community. Thank you.
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Chair Russell: Thankyou, Reynold. Carolyn, good morning
Carolyn Donaldson: Good morning. Carolyn Donaldson, and I'm speaking on behalf of
the Coconut Grove Negro Women's Club and also Macedonia Missionary Baptist
Church, the oldest black church in Miami -Dade County, celebrating 126 years this year.
And we are in fidl support of all three resolutions. Thank you.
Chair Russell: Thank you, Ms. Donaldson. Thaddeus, good morning.
Thaddeus Scott: Good morning, Commissioner. My name is Thaddeus Scott, a lifelong
resident of Coconut Grove Village West. And as you can see this morning, we stand in
solidarity this morning; that in itself is a milestone. So, we're asking that you guys
support because we support those three items. So, we're asking for our leaders to stand
with us. Thank you.
Chair Russell: Thank you, Mr. Scott.
Van Waiters: Hello, hello. My name is Van Waiters. I'm the vice president of the newly
established Coconut Grove Optimist. I am in support of all three.
Board Member Watson: Van Waiters
Mr. Waiters: I just wanted to be --
Board Member Watson: -- oh, my goodness.
Mr. Waiters: -- on record as being in support of --
Board Member Watson: I didn't know that --
Mr. Waiters: -- all three.
Board Member Watson: I didn't know that was Van Waiters.
Mr. Waiters: Yeah, a lot of pcople say that.
Board Member Watson: Oh, my god.
Chair Russell: What'd you expect?
Board Member Watson: I haven't seen Van Waiters in ages. Van Waiters was All -
American football player.
Mr. Waiters: I'm on record, okay.
Board Member Watson: All world, my god.
ChairRussell: We can get you an autograph if you want.
Board Member Watson: I did not know it was Van Waiters, my goodness.
Board Member Carollo: Commissioner, no selfies until the end of the meeting.
Chair Russell: Okay, all right. The autograph line will be at the back. Thank you, Mr.
Waiters, for your comment. Anyone else? (Comments made in Spanish.)
Ms. Vera: (Comments made in Spanish not translated.)
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Chair Russell: (Comments made in Spanish not translated.)
Ms. Vera: (Comments made in Spanish not translated.)
Chair Russell: (Comments made in Spanish not translated.)
Board Member Carollo: The maintenance.
Ms. Vera: (Comments made in Spanish not translated.)
Chair Russell: (Comments made in Spanish not translated.)
Board Member Carollo: The problem is the maintenance in her building.
Ms. Vera: (Comments made in Spanish not translated.)
Board Member Carollo: I think this is for another meeting.
Board Member Watson: Yeah.
Chair Russell: That's why I got my team on it. (Comments made in Spanish not
translated.)
Lazaro Bringas: Good morning.
Chair Russell: Good morning. (Comments made in Spanish)
Mr. Bringas: (Comments made in Spanish not translated.)
Board Member Carollo: Another one (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Chair Russell: I need a translation, Commissioner.
Board Member Carollo: I'm not sure how to translate that one. But what I would
suggest since it seems the reason that some of the individuals that are here are here today
is for problems in their building.
Board Member Watson: Yeah.
Board Member Carollo: You might want to hold a separate meeting, let them know, so
that we can proceed with the CRA matter that's here before us today. Because what I'm
hearing, their problems are not CRA related.
Chair Russell: Correct, correct.
Board Member Carollo: They're —
Chair Russell: This is the first meeting of the CRA, so I think the community's learning
exactly what we deal with and what we don't deal with here.
Board Member Carollo: (Comment made in Spanish not translated.)
Gladys Valdes: Okay.
Chair Russell: (Comments made in Spanish not translated.)
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Ms. Valdes: (Comments made in Spanish not translated.)
Board Member Carollo: (Comments made in Spanish not translated.)
Ms. Valdes (as translated by Board Member Carollo): She's complaining that all the
doors to get in into the parking lot and the buildings are broken. And she's afraid
because there's a lot of people that don't live here that are starting to come in, at night.
Chair Russell: Okay.
Ms. Valdes: (Comments made in Spanish not translated.)
Chair Russell: (Comments made in Spanish not translated.)
Ms. Valdes: Okay.
Chair Russell: (Comments made in Spanish not translated.)
Ms. Valdes: Okay. (Comments made in Spanish not translated.)
Applause.
Ms. Valdes: (Comments made in Spanish not translated.) Okay. (Comments made in
Spanish not translated.)
Chair Russell: Can you paraphrase?
Board Member Carollo: Bottom line is she's extremely upset on the administration on
the building, the security that's here, the lack of anyone presenting any attention to the
people that live here. I'm going to tell her now that what needs to be done is for the
district Commissioner, our chairman here of the CRA, to call a meeting separate --
because this is a CRA meeting today -- and what they're bringing, while its something
that is very important to them, and we understand that, it has nothing to do with the CRA.
So, I'm going to tell her that the chairman will call a special meeting that will deal
strictly with this -- with the residents of this building and he can invite the County
Commissioner -- which will be Raquel Regalado -- in this area to be part of it --
Chair Russell: Thankyou, Commissioner.
Board Member Carollo: -- and anybody else that he would like to invite. (Comments
made in Spanish.)
Ms. Valdes: (Comments made in Spanish not translated.)
Board Member Carollo: (Comments made in Spanish not translated.)
Ms. Valdes: (Comments made in Spanish not translated.)
Board Member Carollo: (Comments made in Spanish not translated.)
Ms. Valdes: Okay. (Comments made in Spanish not translated.)
Board Member Carollo: (Comments made in Spanish not translated.)
Ms. Valdes: Yeah.
Board Member Carollo: (Comments made in Spanish not translated.)
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Ms. Valdes: Okay.
Board Member Carollo: (Comments made in Spanish not translated.)
Ms. Valdes: Okay.
Board Member Carollo: (Comments made in Spanish not translated.)
Ms. Valdes: (Comments made in Spanish not translated.)
Chair Russell: (Comments made in Spanish not translated.)
Ms. Valdes: Okay.
Board Member Carollo: (Comments made in Spanish not translated.)
Ms. Valdes: (Comments made in Spanish not translated.)
Chair Russell: (Comments made in Spanish not translated.)
(COMMENTS MADE OFF THE RECORD)
Chair Russell: Okay. (Comments made in Spanish not translated.) Okay. (Comments
made in Spanish not translated.) Okay. Sir, would you like to speak? Shall we bring the
microphone to you?
(COMMENTS MADE OFF THE RECORD)
Anthony Cunningham: Okay. I'm a longtime resident of Coconut Grove. Actually, I
grew up here on Carter Street down the street on Virrick Park.
Chair Russell: Your name, please?
Mr. Cunningham: Oh, my name is Anthony Cunningham. I grew -- like I said, I grew up
in the Grove, and I remember when (UNINTELLIGIBLE) across the street over there in
the Gables area called Sweet Town. (UNINTELLIGIBLE) a part of the Grove. Now it's
Coral Gables. But first of'all, I want to say 1 agree with everything that's being said on
this paper here. But my thing is, I want to kind of challenge the churches. You know, it's
so much potential in the Grove. 1 mean, the diversity that we have here, I mean, it's
awesome. And I was wondering how we going to embrace that diversity. You know, I
was listening to the radio the other day and they was talking about the STEM (Science,
Technology, Engineering & Mathematics) program, which is -- STEM program is --
which is a program that's being presented by a lot of companies that want to get our kids
more into agriculture and science and all that. And I think the -- gosh. The
Commissioner -- what's her name? She's running the program called the -- God, I can't
think of -- well, anyway, my thing about the STEMprogram, the problem with the STEM
program is it offer our kids a more -- to get more involved in agriculture and science and
all that. But the problem with that, I can't -- what beholds me is that how can we
produce so many great athletes to the university, like Alabama, University of Miami, but
we can't --
Board Member Carollo: You were doing good with University of Miami. Leave it at
that. Don't mention Alabama.
Mr. Cunningham: Okay. Well, we produce so much, these coaches. We coach -- as
coaches, we produce so much of these athletes on the football field, but the STEM
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program, there's not many of us jumping on these opportunities to learn that these
companies are bringing in to educate our kids to go into those -- these lucrative fields.
And I challenge the coaches to -- and my --1 challenge the coaches to be able to try how
can we convince these kids, how can we educate these kids to get involved with programs
like this, you know, educational program, you know, because this future -- it's about their
future, you know. It's about them, you know, their grandkids and their great kin, what's
going on with the environment changes and all that. So, I challenge the churches to
embrace that diversity and be able to reach these kids, get them in these STEM programs,
You know. Just like we do them in jootball, basketball, let's do that on an educational
level. And I challenge the churches to do that.
Chair Russell: Thank you.
Board Member Carollo: Thank you.
Chair Russell: I remember your comments during the advisory meeting. And I'm going
to ask for an amendment when we get to the item to include a focus on youth
opportunities as well as -- it was also brought up -- elderly, activities. So, that'll be an
amendment I'll be introducing into Item Number 1. Is there any more public comment to
be made? Seeing none, I will close the public comment. Thank you all again for your
advocacy.
WEST GROVE CRA RESOLUTION(S)
1. WEST GROVE CRA RESOLUTION
9466 A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE WEST
GROVE COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY, WITH
ATTACHMENT(S), APPROVING AND ACCEPTING THE WEST GROVE
COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT PLAN ("PLAN") PREPARED BY
PLUSURBIA, LLC., ATTACHED AND INCORPORATED; FURTHER
DIRECTING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO TRANSMIT A COPY OF THIS
RESOLUTION, WITH ATTACHMENT(S), TO THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION
AND MIAMI-DADE COUNTY COMMISSION FOR FURTHER LEGISLATIVE
ACTION.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: WG-CRA-R-21-0001
MOTION TO:
Adopt with Modification(s)
RESULT:
ADOPTED WITH MODIFICATION(S)
MOVER:
Joe Carollo, Board Member, District Three
SECONDER:
Jeffrey Watson, Board Member, District Five
AYES:
Russell, Carollo, Watson
ABSENT:
Diaz de la Portilla, Reyes
Chair Russell:
And now we'll bring it to the Commissioners. Is there a motion on
Items I through 3.
Board Member Carollo: There's a motion with the amendments on 1 that you
mentioned for all three items.
Chair Russell: Thank you. So, that would go in -- so, there's a motion on Items 1, 2,
and 3 of the agenda. Is there a second?
Board Member Watson: With comment. With comment, there is a second.
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Chair Russell: Yes. You have the floor. There has been a motion and a second.
The items are on the floor.
Board Member Watson: I just want to say that Coconut Grove holds a special place
in my heart. I wear my Grove jor life. I didn't grow up across the street or that way,
but I did spend a considerable amount of my childhood time in Coconut Grove. And
I often get calls, Commissioner, because all the folks over here think that the black
guy represents the blackfolks in Coconut Grove.
Chair Russell: You know, Russell is a Bahamian name.
Board Member Watson: Okay, good. And Watson is too, so maybe that's where
they get it from. I just want to say, equally as well, just to at least be a precursor to
my comments is that, unfortunately, most times people think we stop. And I think the
three of its are probably, for various reasons, are always working. And so, it is no --
not less than the fact that you see us here during the course of the time that most
people have taken off and having vacations. And so, we're always working, both
Commissioner Carollo and Commissioner Russell and I. I also want to say this, that
Coconut Grove is not often looked, but it is the beginning. I was very excited to see
Mr. Waiters, as I am often excited to see classmates behind and before me. Mr.
Waiters -- I remember the last time I saw him -- was a skinny little kid with a lot of
promise, a jokester who was going to be great, and he grew up to be just that.
Coconut Grove itself has been the place where a number of both athletic and -- to
the STEM challenger --educational people who have blazed trails in this town. The
Bahamian culture is a culture of strong educational foundation that always seeks to
be better every time that they rise. And so, I just wanted to say that. I spent many of
times on that bus stop behind its going back to Liberty City where I was sleeping and
then coming here in the morning and attending Coral Gables High School. And so,
I've been all over this town. And at some point, Mr. Cunningham, back where in the
Bahamas, in the islands, they called it "I'mma have to borrow your whup
<expletive> stick" because I'm going to need it very shortly to whup some
<expletive>. And so I say to you, this is a beginning of something that's special. I
hope that you can stay active and push the Commissioner and us to do the very best
Job that we can for a very special community.
Chair Russell: Thank you, Commissioner. I would also like to ask for an
amendment to Item Number 3, that we name Jason Walker as the acting executive
director since we will be sharing a staff at this time with the Omni until the West
Grove CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) develops its own budget to take
care of its own staff. Does the mover and seconder accept that amendment?
Board Member Carollo: Except I do want to make a statement on this particular
part. Do we have an estimate of how many dollars this CRA will be approximately
bringing in the first year?
Chair Russell: It's in the --
Board Member Carollo: First fiscal year.
Chair Russell: -- yes, it's in the redevelopment plan if you have a copy of it. There's
a financial chart that shows the projected TIF (Tax Increment Financing) revenues.
The TIF revenues or the tax increment.
Board Member Carollo: Yeah. Now, for those that are here -- so you can
understand where the monies are going to come from -- it will come from the normal
taxes that a piece of real estate will pay to the City and to the County. Instead of it
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going to the City or to the County, it will go to this CRA. The School Board portion
will still go to the School Board. Having said that -- and you could read it to me if
you have it there, okay, Commissioner.
Chair Russell: I do.
Board Member Carollo: What's the amount?
Chair Russell: So, the CRA will generate just around 300,000 --just over $300,000
in its first year.
Board Member Carollo: Okay. And this is why I wanted to bring this up because if I
remember when we first voted to form this, the amounts weren't a huge amount. And
I want to make sure that we don't end up spending that in executive directors and
staff when we have a staff in place already at the Omni that can handle everything.
If we were to create a staff just for the West Grove CRA, all your money would be
going to staff basically. And so what was the purpose then of us having created this.
And that's the part that I wanted to point out where I will stand for the future.
Having said that, I'd like to, you know, put credit where credit should be. It's been
Commissioner Russell that has spearheaded this for some time. Frankly, if he hadn't
been here, this I doubt would have happened. We wouldn't be here today. So, I
want to thank Commissioner Russell for the effort that he put forward making this
happen, along with many of you that are here today or are not here today that
worked hard with Commissioner Russell and the Commission to make this a reality.
The Bahamian community in particular here in the West Grove is a very historic
community. It's a community that your ancestors were the ones that built the first
buildings in Miami. You created the foundation for what we have today, in greater
Miami, so that's something that every individual that is here in the West Grove that
knows that their roots came from the Bahamas can be very, very proud of. Having
said that, there's a lot of work to do. Its a great community. There's so many
things that could be done, in particular, with the extra amount of money that you'll
be getting through the CRA. It's not enough money for the things that need to be
done here, but at least we're getting some extra dollars to make things happen. You
have a beautiful main street here that has been ignored sadly for years. A lot of
promises and very little has come of it. So, I think that it's time to celebrate because
there is a lot of hope that into the future, and particularly, the areas that we
mentioned before, doing more for senior citizens and our youth. I, like you, don't
want to see many of the young people here have to move out because, one, they can't
afford to live here, they don't have a place that they could call their own to buy in
the West Grove. Secondly, lack of jobs in the area. So, we have to work towards
those two goals to keep our young people here in the Grove, living here, and in
greater Miami to be able to create sufficient jobs so that they don't have to move
somewhere else outside of'Miami like so many of our youth have done in past years.
So, thank all of you that are here today. I miss Mrs. Gibson. Is Thelma doing all
right? I don't see her here today.
Chair Russell: She's --
Board Member Carollo: I hope she is.
Chair Russell: -- better than all of us.
Board Member Carollo: Good. Well, that's good. So, thank you all for all the work
you've done and every effort that's been put into this.
Chair Russell: Thank you. We have a motion. Thank you, Commissioner.
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Applause.
Board Member Carollo: There is a motion with the amendments.
Chair Russell: We have a motion. We have a second.
Board Member Watson: Let me just say right quick also, I was informed for you,
Commissioner Russell, that someone from Commissioner Regalado's office is on
their way to address the concerns.
Chair Russell: Oh, thank you.
Board Member Watson: Just someone's on their way to help you with that.
Chair Russell: (Comments made in Spanish not translated) Thank you.
Board Member Watson: You're welcome.
Chair Russell: So, for my, part, before we vote, I would just like to say that I intend
for this CRA to be a reparation to this community against the forces of displacement
that have decimated a culture, a people and so much of'the fabric of this area. A
reparation is deserved and needed. And we will focus on restorative affordable
housing that welcomes people back to Coconut Grove who have lived here
generationally, and that is one of our main focuses. But there's so much work to do.
I'm only in o Jice.fbr another two years, so you're going to see big action from this
CRA in very short order. We're going to have very full, fruitful meetings. And even
though the first year's budget is small, we will be able to go out for bonding and
borrowing to actually -- based on future earnings of ' the CRA, we can take actions
now with a much stronger force. But all of that will come to you as a community and
to this board for a vote. So, with that being said, we have a motion, a second. The
mover and the seconder agrees to the amendments.
Board Member Watson: Yes
Chair Russell: Yes.
Board Member Watson: So agreed.
Chair Russell: All in favor of the items, say "aye. "
The Board Members (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Russell: Any opposed? Motion passes on Items 1 through 3. Thank you very
much. We are adjourned_
Applause.
Board Member Carollo: Hold on, hold on.
Chair Russell: We are not adjourned. Commissioner Carollo.
Board Member Carollo: I forgot to have asked something based on what
Commissioner Russell said. How many Russells do you all know that live here in the
West Grove? Okay, okay. All right.
Chair Russell: How do you thinkl got elected?
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Board Member Watson: It's been confirmed.
Board Member Carollo: He's off the hook.
Chair Russell: How do you think l found the votes?
Board Member Carollo: I was going to play with him. All right.
Chair Russell: Hey, we've come a long way, Joe.
Board Member Carollo: Sure have, sure have.
Nicole Ewan (Assistant City Clerk): And Chair, to confirm, that's an amendment on
Item Number 3 only?
Chair Russell: Item Number 1 has two amend -- an amendment adding language --
Board Member Carollo: Yeah.
Chair Russell: -- to the redevelopment plan focusing on youth opportunities and
elderly activities. And on the third item, it's naming Jason Walker as the acting
executive director.
Barnaby Min (Depuiy City Attorney): Mr. Chair, just to be clear, the redevelopment
plan is actually not an exhibit to the legislation. It's just backup, so it does not need
to be amended as part of the resolution. It does give you --
Chair Russell: It's an amendment directing the Administration to include that
language.
Mr. Min: Thank you.
Chair Russell: Thank you very much. That works. All right. We are adjourned,
everyone.
Board Member Carollo: Thank you.
Chair Russell: Thank you very much.
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2. WEST GROVE CRA RESOLUTION
9467 A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE WEST
GROVE COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY ("CRA") APPROVING
AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT ("AGREEMENT") WITH THE CITY OF
MIAMI ("CITY"), MIAMI-DADE COUNTY ("BOARD"), AND THE CRA TO
IMPLEMENT AND FUND CERTAIN REDEVELOPMENT PROJECTS FOR
THE MUTUAL BENEFIT OF ALL PARTIES; DESIGNATING THE CHAIR OF
THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS TO EXECUTE THE AGREEMENT ON
BEHALF OF THE CRA, IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO OUTSIDE COUNSEL;
AUTHORIZING THE CHAIR TO FURTHER NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE
ANY AND ALL OTHER NECESSARY DOCUMENTS, ALL IN FORMS
ACCEPTABLE TO OUTSIDE COUNSEL, IN ORDER TO ACCOMPLISH THE
INTENT AS STATED HEREIN; FURTHER DIRECTING THE CLERK OF THE
BOARD TO TRANSMIT A COPY OF THIS RESOLUTION AND SUPPORTING
DOCUMENTS TO THE CITY AND THE COUNTY FOR FURTHER
LEGISLATIVE ACTION.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: WG-CRA-R-21-0002
MOTION TO:
Adopt
RESULT:
ADOPTED
MOVER:
Joe Carollo, Board Member, District Three
SECONDER:
Jeffrey Watson, Board Member, District Five
AYES:
Russell, Carollo, Watson
ABSENT:
Diaz de la Portilla, Reyes
Note for the Record. For minutes referencing Item 2, please see Item 1.
3. WEST GROVE CRA RESOLUTION
9483 A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE WEST
GROVE COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY (" WEST GROVE CRA")
AUTHORIZING THE WEST GROVE CRA'S CHAIRMAN TO NEGOTIATE
AND EXECUTE ANY AND ALL NECESSARY AGREEMENTS PURSUANT
TO SECTION 112.24, FLORIDA STATUTES, WITH THE OMNI
REDEVELOPMENT DISTRICT COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY
("OMNI CRA") FOR THE OMNI CRA'S STAFF TO PROVIDE
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES AND SUPPORT TO THE WEST GROVE CRA;
FURTHER AUTHORIZING ANY AMENDMENTS, EXTENSIONS,
RENEWALS, AND MODIFICATIONS TO SAID AGREEMENTS, ALL IN
FORMS ACCEPTABLE TO THE COUNSEL FOR THE WEST GROVE CRA,
FOR SAID PURPOSE.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: WG-CRA-R-21-0003
MOTION TO: Adopt with Modification(s)
RESULT: ADOPTED WITH MODIFICATION(S)
MOVER: Joe Carollo, Board Member, District Three
SECONDER: Jeffrey Watson, Board Member, District Five
AYES: Russell, Carollo, Watson
ABSENT: Diaz de la Portilla, Reyes
Note for the Record. For minutes referencing Item 3, please see Item 1.
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ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 10: 52 a.m.
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