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Home My WebLink AboutItem #61 - Discussion Item CI~'Y OF MIAMI, FLORIDA ,,11 l'~.,.';,,`...,;~N#`~~~`~d~FICE MEfVIOpANDUM '/ 1991 NIR'( -U ~'~' ~~ °J Ma 8 ~ 1991 FILE Cesar H - Odio BATE : y j, y Manager SU6.IECT : Agenda Item for 6 / 13 / 91 /~~ ~ /~ City Commission Meeting ~ `L,%VK~J REFERENCES FROM : ictor H . De u re Commissioner ENCL05URES please schedule the attached Quarterly Report from the r2iami ~~Vl..v and Exhibition Authority as a discussion item on the June 13, 1991 City Commission Meeting agenda. Thank you. cc: Honorable Mayor and Members of the Commission Jorge Fernandez, City Attorney Aurelio Perez-Lugones, Legortstand ExhibitiontAuthority William R. Perry, Miami Sp y/- / 91-~ ~ ~ ~, ~ ~ , I.I ~# ~: -_ ~ , _: acv ~~ ~-~._ ,~ S i` ....._ _.,- ,y. L C MEMORANDUM V~Ctor De Yurre, Chairman dr Kenneth Albano Bill gayer ` Manny Carrerlo Eli Feinberg Julio Gonzelez•Rebutl. Sr. tong Marina 13ene Marks Mrs. Frenkie Rolle J Skip Shepard Steve Suarez Mlllon Viokers Michael ZoglJy Wiliam Perry, ill, Executive Director Christopher G. Korge, General Counsel TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the Miami City Commission FROM: Victor H. DeYurre Chairman DATE: May 7, 1991 RE: Ouarterlk Rem As is our custom at the Miami Sports and Exhibition Authority, this memorandum has been prepared to bring you up to date on the activities and accomplishments of the Authority. ART IN PUBLIC PLACES The Authority continues to work with Dade County's Art in Public Places Trust on a suitable project for the Miami Arena. The Authority must commit an estimated $400,000 for the artwork, which will include two or more projects. The Authority has reached a preliminary agreement with the Trust on the scope of the project. The artwork must reflect the cultural and ethnic diversity of this community, as well as the historical contributions of the Overtown area. The project will also recognize the building's use for sports and entertainment functions. Three Authority members have been appointed to the Art in .Public Places Trust to guarantee Authority involvement. throughout the decision making process. (10NVENTION ACTIVITIES In an effort to increase the volume of convention activity in City owned facilities and downtown hotels, the Authority has formed a committee whose. primary purpose is to develop a strategy to attract additional events to those facilities. 300 Biscaync~ Boulevard ~1iay, Suito 1120, Miami. Florida 33'131 f305) 381-826'1 /Fax (305) 375-0636 "~ 'z ~,.~~ - - - committee is comprised of representatives from the Downtown Development Authority, the Department of Off-Street Parking, Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau and the City of Miami Department of Conferences and Conventions. The committee has met with representatives from the top downtown hotels and will soon develop adata-base of potential conferences and exhibitions to attract to Miami. The committee is also studying the possibility of bidding on the numerous events put on each year by organizations such as the NCAA. CURTIS PARK COMMUNITY SPORTS COMPLEX The Authority is working closely with the City of Miami Department of Public Works on the design of the track and field component of the park. It is the City's desire to construct aworld-class track and field facility in hopes of attracting Olympic-caliber events. The track is expected to be ready to host its first competition in early November. As work continues on the first phase of the park redevelopment, the renovation of the tennis and basketball courts, the Authority continues to work closely with Public Works on plans and cost estimates for the Community Center, which will house sports and recreation programs for all segments of the community. The Community Censer building will be the centerpiece of the park. The Authority worked on several pieces of legislation before the Legislature this session. One deals with an amendment to the Professional Sports Franchise Tax Law, which would allow the Authority to apply for funding for the Miami Arena through a sales tax and trust fund program. The Authority is closely monitoring a proposed expansion of the Tourist Development Tax which would enable the promoters of the Miami Grand Prix to use tax proceeds to construct a motor sports testing facility. Also being monitored is a Bill proposed by a Broward legislator that proposes new exemptions for transient rental facilities. If this Bill is approved, it could severely impact collections of the Convention Development Tax and the Tourist Development Tax. Finally, the Authority is seeking to amend the Convention Development Tax so we can increase investment opportunities available to us. MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL Unfortunately, little or no activity has taken place regarding Major League Baseball in recent weeks. As you know, Miami's effort, headed up by Wayne Huizenga, has made the National League's short list and now, all we can do is wait until a decision is reached June 23. The National League Expansion Committee did visit Miami in February and the Authority was represented in meetings with the delegation. 2 3 ~~~~ The Authority is working closely with other civic orgatuzations in fundraising for this program, which will be for inner city high school drop outs. We estimate it will cost approximately $65,00 to run the program for the first year. We are hoping the school board can help us offset some of the expenses. We hope to inaugurate the program this summer. The Authority continues to explore the possibility of bringing a National Hockey League franchise fo Miami, either by expansion or by relocation of an existing team. In an effort to keep fans interested in the NHL, the Authority has again made arrangements to bring an NHL exhibition game to the Miami Arena this September 21. capped at 25%. The purpose of the refinancing was to eliminate the risk inherent in the variable rate structure by refunding the fonds with fixed rate obligations. VENDORS The Authority has taken a lead role in seeking a resolution to the abundance of vendors outside the Miami Arena on event days. We are working with Arena management and the City Attorney's office in trying to establish a vending district around the Arena and other Overtown/Park West development. As it stands now, numerous vendors congregate on the sidewalk between the Arena and the Metrorail station, creating a safety hazard for patrons going to the Arena. The proposed vending district does not seek to eliminate any vendors from the area, only to relocate them to designated positions to alleviate congestion on the sidewalks. PERFORMING ARTS CENTER We remain ready to assist the County in the development of the Performing Arts Center. We are constantly monitoring their meetings and are ready to discuss the required Interlocal Agreement when it is presented for review. The Authority has been active in trying to bring a diversity of sporting events to the City of Miami. These events include: MIAMI WHEELERS REFINANCING OF BONDS The Authority recently completed the refinancing of $38 million in Special Obligation Bonds issued in 1985 for he construction of the Miami Arena. The bonds were issued at a variable rate 3 The Wheelers are a professional franchise in the National Cycle League, which is in its third year of existence. The Wheelers will participate in three races their first year, the first race being May 25 in Washington, D.C. Miami's home race will be June 2 on Biscayne Boulevard. Teams y r ff 1J ~~.- 4~~.~~, .r- from Chicago, Pittsburgh and Washington will also be competing. The Wheelers hope to be a year round fixture in Miami by creating bicycle safety awareness programs in the school system and various youth and civic organizations. The Authority is working closely with the organizers of the first-ever Miami Mile, a foot race to take place along the streets of downtown Miami. The Miami Mile is patterned after the Mercedes Mile in New York and the California Mile in San Francisco. Along with the mile race, will be a SK race, celebrity races and a Health and Fitness Expo iri Bayfroni Park. ~10RTHWEST EXPRESS TRACK ~~ The Authority is again assisting the Northwest Express Track Club in staging their 16th Annual event at Miami Dade North. This most worthwhile event features age-group participants from South Florida, other southeastern states and the Bahamas. Many former participants in this program have gone on to excel in track and field and other professional sports. ['A~tIBBEAN LITTLE LEAGUE WORLD SERIES The Authority is assisting representatives from the Tony Taylor Academy in Little Havana in bringing the .Caribbean Little League World Series to Miami in 1992. If awarded, teams representing 13 different countries will come to Miami to demonstrate their baseball .skills. 4 yi s