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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem #44 - Discussion Item70 Carlos Gimenez City Manager =aorvi Tomas Regala Commissioner 0 &ISTRICT 4 CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA INTER -OFFICE MEMORANDUI COMMISSIONER REGALADO 00 °� _ ''9 Psl 3: 29, DATE - September 27, 2000 FILE SUBJECT Discussion Item REFERENCES: ENCLOSURES: Please place the following item on the agenda of the City Commission meeting to be held on October 12, 2000. 1) Discussion about the Economic Development Committee Cc: Agenda Office n • CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA INTER -OFFICE MEMORANDUM TO : Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Commission FRO401mas � Regalar Commissioner DATE : October 12, 2000 SUBJECT : Economic. Dev Committee Issues REFERENCES: ENCLOSURES: FILE I would like to share some of my thoughts with you, my colleagues, on development issues within the City of Miami. I am concerned that we have reached a critical point in a number of areas related to economic development including the development of waterfront properties as well as other properties, the creation of recurring revenue, and seeking much needed private sector expertise on future development projects. Two recent developments highlight the importance of these concerns. In this Monday's Herald, October 91h, I read about the latest developments on Watson Island. I commend City Staff for their hard work on attempting to create recurring revenue but. was alarmed to read about what appeared to be a unified development plan to the best of my knowledge has not been shared with this Commission. The second item, Grove Harbour, was pulled from the October 12, 2000 City Commission Agenda at the last moment. Both issues could have a critical impact on the future economic development of the city. Each and everyone of us was elected to represent the people of Miami, yet without timely and accurate information we cannot be asked to make informed policy decisions that impact the lives and futures of our citizens, our neighborhoods, and the overall economic viability of the City of Miami. During today's October 12' Commission meeting and the October 26" Commission meeting I to ask the City Manager a number of questions regarding Watson Island, Grove Harbour, and other economic development related issues. I offer the following for your review: Watson Island: (1) A request of the City Manager to explain why the Port of Miami walked away from the negotiating table. (2) Was the Mayor briefed that the Port of Miami walked away from the negotiating table? (3) At any time during negotiations with the Port of Miami, was the Mayor involved? (4) If the Mayor was involved, what was his level of involvement? =0wrej (5) After the Port of Miami walked away from the negotiating table was there any effort to inform the City Commission? (6) It would appear there is a new process, the City Manager shares his plans of development with the Miami Herald prior to sharing them with the City of Miami Commission. If this is the case, I would like an explanation. (7) I will request that the City Manager provide the preliminary designs referred to in the October 91h, 2000 Miami Herald for viewing by the City Commission. (8) Does the city currently posses a projected timeline for all of the Watson Island projects mentioned in the October 9th, 2000 Miami Herald article? (9) How far along is the city in negotiations with the Children's Museum? Heliport? Mega -yacht marina? Hotel? Grove Harbour: (1) Explanation from the City Staff regarding the City's maximum exposure each year as it pertains to the Bay Bottom Lease, if there is exposure. (2) When does the City expect to begin collecting lease payments from Grove Harbour? (3) How much does the City expect to collect each year in lease payments from the Grove Harbour project? (4) How would these lease payments compare to similar projects on City waterfront properties. General Economic Development Issues: (1) Watson Island is an example of multiple projects, ranging from a marina and a hotel to parking garage and a heliport. This would seem to be the time to seek outside assistance and private sector expertise specific to the individual projects being discussed. My recollection tells me when we sold the land to the County (where the new American Airlines Arena is), that we had a private sector expert negotiate and consummate that entire transaction and we at the end 100% of what we had asked for at the beginning. The evidence of prudent waterfront development is visible across the country, and it is our responsibility to seek out those who can do the same here in Miami. (2) We must acknowledge that although we seek to develop sources of recurring revenue we must begin to establish some form of objective criteria. We cannot ask for top dollar return on one development while accepting bottom dollar on another. We must all me mindful of entering deals such as Grove Harbour that requires no firm commitment from the developer or Parrot Jungle that gives up 18 acres of prime waterfront property for $400,000 per year against five percent of a yet unknown gross. (3) What are the City's obligations in the event a Parrot Jungle failure and we have approved the same obligations to other waterfront developments. (4) I will ask the City Manager by the next Commission Meeting to provide a written report of the current top ten net revenue -generating leases with the City. We must keep in mind that the City has leases that generate large amounts of revenue (Bayside Marketplace is an example) but once we subtract City Services like police and others we are left with the net revenue. (5) I will also check on the status of prior requests made to the City Manager on the following issues: (1) Written copy of City of Miami incline regarding sequencing of the ship terminals, heliport, and parking lot structure. (2) Written copy of the last City of Miami staff memorandum to the Port .of Miami outlining the City's position. (3) Request that the Port of Miami cruise industry data on projected growth or decline in cruise industry in Miami, South Florida, and Florida as a whole. I look forward to discussing these issues and any related issues that may arise during today's October 12`h Commission meeting and the October 26 Commission meeting.