HomeMy WebLinkAboutM-86-0714r )
LAW OFFICES
SPARBER, SHEVIN, SHApo, HiEILORONNER St Boots
Pt70FFSS10NAL ASSOCIATION
1. BARRY BLAXISERG
RONALD L. BOOK
CHARLE9 A. CITRIN
EDWARD HFILBRONNER
URSULA MANCUSI-UNGARO
HOWARD E, ROSKIN
R0I9ERT L. RUBIN
RONALD A. SHAPO
ARNOLD D. SHEVIN
JEROME H. SHEVIN
ROBERT L. SHEVIN
STEVEN SON13ERG
BYRON L. SPARSER
STEPHEN A. STIEGLITZ
SETH STOPEK
ARTHUR E, TEELE, JR.
JEFFREY M. WEISSMAN
JAMES H. BARRETT
RICHARD 1. BLINDERMAN
JOSE A. BOLANOS
FRANCISCA COPELAND'LOPEZ
MICHAEL J. CONIGLIO
BRIAN S. DFRVISHI
MARTIN E. DOYLE
GREGG FIERMAN
ALAN J. FRIEDMAN
PAUL A. GOLDBERG
MOISES T. GRAYSON
SANDRA P. GREENBLATT
DAVID B. HABER
MICHAEL E. HILL
MICHAEL KOSNITZKY
ELIO F. MARTINEZ, JR.
JAMES A. MINIX
Submitted into the public
D. JUSTIN NILES
GARY S. PHILLIPS
LAWRENCE M. PLOUCHA
MARK T. REEVES
MARSHA C. ROSEN
GARY R. RUTLEDGE
NANCY SCHLEIFER
ELIZABETH SCHWASEDISSEN
SEYMOUR N. SINGER
GREGG S. TRUXTON
GLENN J. WALDMAN
ROBERT T. YOUNGS
GERALD D. KISNER •
OF COUNSEL
L. A."SKIP' BAFALIS
GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS CONSULTANT
• ADMITTED IN OHIO L
WASHINGTON, D. C.
record in connection with
item_. L, on �" �' September 8, 1986
j Matty Hi:cd
City Cle:k
The Honorable Xavier Suarez, Mayor
and Representatives of the
City Commission
City of Miami
P.O.Box 33078
Miami, Fla. 33131
Dear Mayor and City Commissioners:
I
AMER1 IRST 6U11_DING
ONE SOUTHFA9T THIRD AVFN F_
MIAM1, FLORIDA 33131.174SS
TELEPHONE (305) 3 47.4700
TELECOPIER 347.4669
FORT LAUDERDALF 324.0209
NORTH BROWARD 781.9591
TELECOMMUNICATIONS 347-4699
TELEX 1 51 - 060021131
TELEX EASYLINK 62899002
TALLAHASSEE OFFICE
315 SOUTH CALHOUN STREET
BARNETT BANK BUILDING • SUITE 348
TALLAHASSEE. FLORIDA 32301
TELEPHONE (904) 681.7051
TELECOPIER 224.2784
IREPLY TO MIAMI OFFICR
WRIT[R'8 DIRECT
347-4772
SEP I�0 KJB6 IIp
I am writing this letter to you as an individual citizen and
resident of Dade County, and not on behalf of my law firm.
I am a boat owner and frequent user of Biscayne Bay and its
surrounding waters. I routinely use the services of
Merrill -Stevens Dry Dock Company in Coconut Grove. I urge you
in consideration of the use of the property upon which
Merrill -Stevens is located, to retain its use as a full service
marina/boat yard operated not by the City but by a competent
pricate operator. The City is simply incapable of managing and
operating the property as a yard for the technical repair of
pleasure boats.
Biscayne Bay is among the few great bodies of protected boating
waters in the world. The absence of convenient service in Miami
for boaters is a shameful waste of industry so appropriate for
the area, particularly the Coconut Grove waterfront. My boating
companions (many of whom live in Broward County and north, but
keep their boats alongside Bay waters) often look to service
in Ft. Lauderdale and elsewhere because services are simply not
available in Miami. That means lost revenues and employment
opportunities for Dade County and the City of Miami.
1
L
`3 �-*71`q
,. _...
F4
The Honorable Xavier Suarez, Mayor
Representatives of the
City commission
September 6, 1986
Page 2
urge you to retain the present use of the property by the best
and most competent private operator unAer the best terms and
conditions obtainable by the City of dMia
n 1 yours,
i
L.Aw, OFFICES Q
SPARSER, SHEVIN, SKAP O, HEILBRONNER 8e BOOK ,
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION /a�'�1 '�•
30T- FLOOR AMERIFIRST BUILDING
.ONESOUTMEAST THIRD AVENUE r! ���
MIAMI; FWRIDA'23131-1766
. The Honorable Xavier Suarez, Mayor
and Representatives of the
City Commission -
SP10
JOHN G MCMILLIAN
SUIT! A00 F. OFFICE IN THE GROVE
'.
24599 SOUTH 19AYSHORE DRIVE
COCONUT GROVE, FLORIDA 33133
TELEPHONE (3031 a54-0053
September 9, 1986
The Honorable Xavier Suarez, Mayor
and Members of the City Commissions
City of Miami
P.O.Box 330708
Miami, Florida 33133
Re: Dinner Key Boat Yard
Service Area
Dear Mayor Suarez and Members of the City Commissions:
I understand that the city is considering eliminating the Merrill
Stevens Boat Yard operation at Dinner Key. A lot of us live in this
`
area because we are interested in boating and yachting and own boats
7
that need service and storage. The quality places available to have
your boat repaired today are limited, and to lose a fine organization
Y
such as Merrill Stevens Boat Yard would be a very serious blow to
;
the yachting community.
To turn this area into another restaurant or bar would make
a large "Honky Tonk" area out of Dinner Key and is unacceptable to
the decent citizens of this community. I moved to Florida because
I was interested in boats and the ocean and would hate for you Mr.
Suarez and the Commissioners to force me to move to another area,
but, if you do decide to make a "Honky Tonk" area out of Coconut
Grove and Coral Gables that is exactly what I will do.
Very truly yours,
Y
ohn G.
13
Submitted iata tine public
record in "AnOction with
matty
az
86- 714 City Clem
U
n
IV
200 S. W. 50 `Ave.
Miami, Fla. 33134
Sept. 8, 1986
Mayor Xavier Suarez
City of Miami
P.O. Box 330708
Miami, Florida 33233-0708
Dear Mayor Suarezi
As per the enclosed Ltiiitorial from the Niami Herald of July 31, 1986 and
having attended the City Commission meeting of July 24th. at which this
particular insurance policy was discussed by yourself and Comm. tosario
Kennedy, as a Eiami taxpayer, we certainly do hope that you and all the other
commissioners will take a godd hard look at this extremely high priced ins.
policies, along with the included high cost of the insurance agents commission
on this pexticul.ar deal.
With the upcoming City of Miami budget hearings these policies need a long
hard look in order to be fiscally responsible to the Idami taxpayers as most
of them could not afford these high priced insurance coverages after paying
the high cost of taxes for the dubious privilege of living in the city of Ydami.
Money for these premiums could perhaps be put to better use for many other
benefits needed for Miami, rather than high priced insurance policies to cover
our elected officials who also would own these policies once they leave office,
which sure)y is not right. hopefully this matter will be corrected to the taxpayers
satisfaction and without the Cadillac of ins. policies coverage.
Also in view of the enclosed news item regarding the many problems at the Dinner
Key Marina it would seem that City Manager Cesar Odio would not wish to take on
the additional problems of trying to run the repair service currently handled at
the KerrillStevens boat repair service company. If the Dinner Key Marina is
having all-tihese problems, what would happen if the city were to take over the
repair of and storage of boats now being so capably handled by Dierril Stevens.
I am not a boat owner so do not have any interest in MerrillStevens one way or the
other but I can well imagine what would happen if the city were to take over that
business andhandleit as poorly as the repairs and improvements to the Dinner Key
Marina. At the City Commission meeting it was told that the Dinner Key was a money
making proposition for the city. The enclosed article reads just the opposite.
Again, as a taxpayer, the City Xanager and the City Commissioners should leave well
enough alone for the benefit of the many, many boat owners we do have here in Miami
so that we can continue to be known as the boating capitol of the World or at least
of South Florida.
Thank you and all the other commissioners and the City Manager for your
consideration of these matters.
8c1 C. Rosario Kennedy
omm. . ummer
Comm. Miller Dawkins
Comm. Joe Carolla
City Manager Cesar Odio
Merrill Stevens Dry Dock Co.
Sincerely your ,
// lx
Mrs. Charles L. Starkdv
bubfttted into the :-'�-'-•:�t'
reOOrd in conne
item
Ction
OII —// � �o
CattyHuai
tY Clerk _
fity Commission--%onsiaer
,falk6over of - front faclolity
By IEVELYN HERNANDEZ
the Oafs yard and asked people to mail
16Md shot! wrmr
them to the city.
Miami boaters fear the city's proposal
to take over management of the only boat
The boat ytird and marina are "central
i repair yard oa 13fscoyne Ray will leave
to the ambiance and quality of life which
them high and dry.
make Miaml and Coconut Grove unique,"
Michael .T...Moore, a maritime lawyer,
:. City administrators say they would
continue running the sprawling business
said in a letter to fellow Marine Council
2640 S. Bayshore Dr., operated for 37
members.
'
''years by Merrill -Stevens Dry Dock Co., as
while there are boat repair businesses,
a boat repair business.
The city says it can do a better'lob of
Includinganother Merrill -Stevens yard,
on the ifaml River, the Dinner Kee
yard
running the boat yard than Merrill -Ste-
is the only one on the bay.
vens.
"A few times a month some poor boat
Boaters are skeptical. Eveatually, they
out there is disabled and sinking, and
say, the city would remove the boat yard
were here.and we save them," said Ron
-to make way for a more lucrative
• Baker, superintendent at Merrill -Stevens
development on the prime bayfront land
in the Grove. "That's no longer going to
In Coconut Grove.
be available.".
. On Thursday, the City ' Commission
'conslder
In an Aug. 27 memo to the City
will a resolution' to evict
_ . Commission, City Manager Cesar Odio
Merrill -Stevens. The company would
said the city received $181,817 from
have 90 days to get out. The city would
Merrill -Stevens In the fiscal year that .
then take over the boat repair and marina
ended June 30. In the fiscal year ending
business.
June 30, : ON, the city* would make
The Marine Council and Grove boadag
$225,000' from the boat yard it it were
and civic organizations want Ahe City
under city management, the memo said.
Commission to promise that - the boat
. Merrill -Stevens' lease with the city
.. repair business will stay, ,regardless .of
expired In 1984. Since then, the company
who runs iL
has had a month•to-month lease on the
"It it gets neglected,.: It will be closed
land.
down," said John A. Brennan, wsallor and
R►he4 the Merrill -Stevens lease ex-
i former commodore of the Coconut Grove
'pired, the City Commission directed its
i Sailing Club.
; aloft to draw up a request for proposals to
"Then the city will look at Wand say,
,j%ee, the boat facility isn't work-
. , ntn the boat yard. Merrill•$tevens Intend-
bd to bid,tor the to
repair
.ang. Let's put A boutique , there. "
right continue running
the yard. said Ronald J: Falkey, general
it The- marine'community has .mobWzed:;.
msaager_ofthe company.
to ensure that doesn't happen. The Marine `
'. ' But tho pity never put the project out
Council, as organization .of : boaters,.-�
,to .bid; nod - Merrill -Stevens continued
environmentalists and people who work
operating the business month to month.
In the marine Industry, has issued a
At . its..July 44, meeting, the City
position paper formally requestidg that
Commission passed a resolution notifying
the fall -service boat repair and remain.
Merrill -Stevens that the city is consider -
The .pouncil printeQ pa r s oup arting
ing > aktl � oiler the land.
cos sst SIlv4Iu ...- ell 1-Stevens 0
clude it In the agenda for consideration eying a future us
inner Key area.
on
n
tthorizes Greenleaf/Telesca
Fsign the marina renovation.
contract for dockmaster's
Davie firm.
1 Type had difficulty obtaining ,
n the dockmaster's offices. Witt
Is electrocuted on the job.
ter plans after deciding it wants,
go and maintenance space-
)n of dockmaster's headquarte,'
'ey for construction to begin at Dint'
tes work ,s bankruptcy.
again, the • Problems with construction
arify and own, a leaky root, a ramp for the
he city's ipside-down soap dishes in the
. Cole. His
deserves orth $136,000 are completed
e specific omplete work at the dockmast
wayers are
receive3. )mpletion of the marina renov,
wements with a $600,000 price tag are unt
,t the dockmaster's headquarters, city offic
e plugged in and showers and toilets open,
ng date for reconstruction of Dinner Key.
SG-71 - r
r
ilia re�i�ients
two•by-fc,urs. Marina Director Ai
Rodriguez said. The prohlems had
still not been corrected Tuesday.
-If we had had hidets, thel}
would have been showers," Rodri-
guez said.
Michael Fleming. head of All
Type, could not he reached frir
comment. The firm's telephone
number in Davie has been discon.
nected.
"That has been the biggest
fiasco I've ever seen," said Public
Works Director Donald Cathe•. At
one point, when All Tvpe fall far
behind on the proit`ct. the city
asked the bonding company to get
another contractor. 'I he company
rehired All Type, Cather said.
The city paid All Type for 80
percent of the Mork. City officials
expect a cost overrun but don't yet
know how much. Earlier this year.
city employees were called in tro
finish the work. They ON• is
negotiating with the bonding cc,m•
pany to have it repay the city for
the cost of finishing the building
Meanwhile, boaters have wa-tvd
and waited for the new facilities.
The biggest complaints, and
rightly so. are. 'When are we
going to get our new toilets?
When are we going to get our new
washers and dryers? When are we
going to be able to stop using the
bottom of City [fall to wash up?'
said Cather.
McConnell says she stays aiviv
from the City Hall showers and
keeps her two sons, ages 2
.,and 23 months. away. (0.'.
86-714
'Will shut., re-. =:dir yard
City Commission to conside
.talkeover of bayfront facilityl
By EVELYN HERNANDEZ
the float yard and asked people to mail
m 5�df w,,ter
them to the city.
Miami boaters tear the city's proposal
to take over management of the only boat
The boat yard and marina are "central
repair yard can Biscayne Bay will leave
to the ambiance and quality of life which
make Miami and Coconut Grove unique,"
them high and dry.'
City administrators say they would
Michael.T. Moore, a maritime lawyer,
continue running the sprawling business
2640 S. Bayshore Dr., for 37
said In a le
letter to fellow Marine Council
members.
at operated
years by Merrill -Stevens Dry Dock Co., as
While there are boat repair businesses,
a boat repair business.
Including another Merrill -Stevens yard,
The city says it can do a better job of
on the Miami River, the Dinner Kee yard
running the boat yard than Merrill -Ste-
is the only one on the bay.
vens.
Boaters are skeptical. Eventually, they
"A few times a month some poor boat
out there is disabled and sinking, and
say, the city would remove the boat yard
we're here ,and we save them," said Ron
-to make way for a more lucrative
Baker, superintendent at Merrill -Stevens
development on the prime bayfront land
In the Grove. "That's no longer going to
In Coconut Grove.
be available.".
On Thursday, the City Commission
In an Aug. 27 memo to the City
will conslder a resolution' to evict
. Commission, City Manager Cesar Odio
Merrill -Stevens. The company would
said the city received $181,817 from
have 90 days to get out. The city would
Merrill -Stevens In the fiscal year that .
then take over the boat repair and marina
ended June.30. In the fiscal year ending
business.
June 30, 1988. the city 'would make
The Marine Council and Grove boating
$225.000 from the boat yard if -it were
.and civic organizations want the City
under city management, the memo said.
• Commission to promise that the boat
MerrilbStevens' lease with the city
1. repair business will stay, .regardless ,of
expired in 1984. Since then, the company
who runs it.
has had a month -to -month lease on the
"If it gets neglected,, It -will be closed
land.
down;' said John A. Bresnan, &•sailor and
Whew the Merrill -Stevens lease ex -
former commodore of the Coconut Grove
'pired, the Clty Commission directed its
! Sailing Club.
:staff to draw up a request for proposals to
"Then the city will took at It and say.
'G
. ee, the boat repair facility NO
. run the boat yard. Merrill -Stevens Intend-
4d to bid,for the
work-
�Ing. Let's put a boutique . there. "
right to continue running
the yard, saki Ronald J. Falkey, general
The marine community has : mobilized. -.
. manager of the company.
to ensure that doesn't happen. The Marine'
*. ; But theMy never put the project out
Council. an organization .of , boaters,
;. Ao .bids ° ikd Merrill -Stevens continued
environmentalists and people who work
operating the business month to mouth.
Irk. the marine industry, has Issued a
At. its, July '24: meeting. the City
poalUoa paper formally requesting
that
Commission passed & resolution notifying
the full•seervice boat repair
grand remain.
Merrill -Stevens that the city is consider -
The council printeq pos
orting
lag taki $ over the land.
f
R
A The MIA l Redd
I
. JONN& KNIG"T f1M-IM10 �AA!< R A lKftilf;fl7, Ch,nrrnrtn F,' yCntw
RIMARDG. CAPEN, 3P Chnirmnn nr.A A46tiaher
attn,attAlt?NrA4OLIAN JI"ttA1+ PTON HEATitaAtrnttNF;rHk:R
i Prxdeftt 8M Gen"IM'ar. _p Aitr.r ExcCaaah Editor
JOANNAWRA0 al. tar�ira+fi rFT9VM477Ft MranogimViror
ice! . ... ._ 1 _ .._
IAMI city business can at times
run In a very unbusinesslike City Commission
manner.
The rudiments of the cost -dividend Insurance Policy
principle, for example, are not always
observed. City officials either feel that when the commission resumes work
taxpayers' money does not matter as after the summer break. %
- much as shareholders' dollars, or that When the issue is discussed again, the
the public interest is not as important as
private investors profits.commissioners also should clarify and
The purchase of life and disability define the functions of the city s
Insurance for the mayor and commis- insurance agent or adviser, Mr. Cole. His
sioners of the city of Miami, which is relationship with the city deserves
part of their compensation package, ;s investigation to verify If the specific
tbenefits he provides for taxpayers are
he most recent case of controversial
municipal dealings. worth the high commissions he receives.
Not only has the. city violated estab-
lished procedures of competitive bidding
before buying , the 'policies for its
officials, but it has purchased the
top -of -the -line, fanciest coverage in the
market at a high cost for taxpayers. The
policies will cost $34,700, half of which
likely will go to insurance agent Edwin
Cole In commissions the first year.
Perhaps expensive universal -life in-
surance really Is preferable to the
less -costly type known as term insur-
ance. But until the city researches the
market and makes a thorough study of
the right coverage for city commission-
ers, no decision can justify buying what
one insurance specialist called "Cadillac"
policies. Buying simply what is offered i
by only one company, without compar-
ing terms and costs with alternative i
bidders, certainly Is not a sound way to
carry out city business. I
Granted, city officials should be duly
covered and protected in case of acci-
dents and even against assassination
attempts by terrorists or lunatics. But,
when spending taxpayers' money, shop-
ping Is always advisable. This is particu-
larly true in the field of insurance, where
decisions and prices can be so arbitrary.
Both Mayor Xavier Suarez and Com-
missioner Rosario Kennedy showed con- .
tern over this issue In last week's
commission meeting. They should in-
clude It in the agenda for consideration
iOA The Miami IlerAld
1 •
JOHN S. 1KNI91-IT0P?W-IM) JAMF-13 L. KNIGHT. Chntrmnn Emeritux
RIWARD C. CAPEtR m.. choirnman nn4 nsbtishrr
PHIL DEMONTMOLLIN JIM HAMPt'ON HEATH J MERIWETHER
Resident and Generat Mom anger Editor Executive Editor
JOANNA WRAGG. Associate Editor, PETE WErTZEh. Monop np Editor
W � xx� la
F YOU were host to a permanent fleet
of 1.000 sailboat$ and: �` welcomed DLItiZGi• rKey
2.000 more each year " Visitoit and
guests, what priority would ---you put on
maintaining the• only full -service boat Commistioner Rosario Kennedy. who
hard that is not separated from thq fleet brought up the proposal for a city -run
by a drawbridge? program, denies any thought of eliminat• .
Common sense insists that profitable ing the boat ' "service. She says her
service facilities are No.-.1. That is the concern is for the area's appearance.
conclusion that the Miami City Commis- That concern is legitimate. The prop -
#ton: should reach qn Thursday when it, . erty, has been declining since the old
&'ecotlsiders the use of the Dinner Key lease expired on July 1. 1984. The tenant
property now occupied by Merrill -Ste- has been unable since then to invest in
vens Dry Dock Co. improvements or in long-range market-
? Merrill -Stevens. a maritime company ing.' Merrill -Stevens officials say they
itdf lorida for 101 yelgrs, has been on that could increase the•, city's $200,000-per-
site for 37 years. Its -highly, regarded year profit substantially -- and invest in
maintenance service was a major factor landscaping. art • projects, and other;
in. attracting the 1,000 sallboats that now esthetic improvements — if they had a
' eompose Coconut Grove's nautical forest-.-, long -terra lease.
`oi'iuists. rigging, burgees,,and ensigns. ~ ::W That makes, sense. Miami officials
city officials are considering should put the lease out to bid, as they,
frog • Merrill-Stievens's :rimttaVment •agrrted.' two; years ;ago to do, with the
Ali*=• letting` ihuNclpal `bureaucraWrun ; . 9i; rd1lootion'of opetdting a full -service
:,tote` facility The administration -tlfat � bdat•.,yard anti marina. Only if 'the
don't:. mainisin its porn polices 'cars . ' present tdu" pie or.' other bidders fail to*,
rorzrises overnight expertise., i, :the r offer rez#ongble `,oposals , 0ould the
sAeciaUzed ':lield of boat rliiintenenee city eveif �C4ti c mMdpal operation
! ,,:
'3'he•_ittrplausilfillty of`tjuet preiaf#sgtire+eds Jjeb`r3dSZhoiRt hoardvotedonlylast ::
''to.sstudy:71 pr¢ptisel ;or a 9iieclal �
which believes that the- city intends to maritime" school to tralq students, includ-
run the boat yard Into -the ground In. ing minorities and potent4d;dropouts. in
Order to justify turuln the ;vr+atertroat the skilled trades of the:_huge boating
site over to the Monty Trainer manage- indristry..,The, city should match that
ment or linking it to the 'nearby commitment by securing a place on the
exhibition center. say for boats And for those whose trade
Perhaps that paranoia is unfounded. is to repair and maintain them.
S a 0A
x: a, !,
`��` ..�
upset re Id
S ents'.�
rs
t
By EVELYN HERNANDEZZ
Herold stall writer
Summertime, and taking a shower is easy.
Cvdney McConnell puts on a bathing suit, lathers
up and hoses herself down on the pier where she lives
at Dinner Key Marina.
Wintertime is another story. Then McConnell has
to Join other people living aboard boats at the marina
who have to use the decaying showers and toilets in
the basement of Miami City Hall. -
A tangle of problems with contractors has delayed
both the $265,000 reconstruction of the dockmaster's
headquarters, with new showers and toilets, and the
$7.3 million renovation of Dinner Key Marina.
Originally scheduled for completion in mid- to late
1986, the pier work will take at least another two
years.
Showers, toilets, washing machines and dryers
were supposed to take four months to install and
were to be ready for marina residents in July 1984.
Tuesday, Assistant Public Works Director Luther
"Pete" Long said the facilities should be open.
Told they were not, Long said he would check
Pt to to KEY/8 a
. ease m
V _.
-1i
Now. 4,1992 .—, Miami City Commission authorizes Greenleaf/Telesca
Planners, Engineers, Architects Inc. to design the marina renovation.
Dec. 0,1993 City awards construction contract for dockmaster's
headquarters to All Type Projects inc., a Davie firm.
March 0,1904 ---- After delays because All Type had difficulty obtaining .k
building permits, construction begins on the dockmaster's offices. Witt.
month, an eMployee of a subcontractor Is electrocuted on the job.
May 7, 1984® City stops contractor to alter plans after deciding it wants_
new east wing to hold offices, not storage and maintenance space.
July 6,1984 — Original date for completion of dockmaster's headquarter
passes.
January 1985 — The original target date for construction to begin at Dini
Key Marina slips by. /
Feb. 0,1985 Greenleaf/Telesca ddclares bankruptcy.
Summer 1985 -- All Type goes bankrupt. Problems with construction
included roof trusses installed upside down, a leaky roof, a ramp for th-
handicapped that was too narrow and upside-down soap dishes in the
bathroom.
January 1986 — Electrical improvements worth $136,000 are completed
marina. City employees are called in to complete work at the dockmas!
headquarters.
June 1986 ® The original target date for completion of the marina renov
passes.
July 1086 — Water main improvements with a $600,000 price tag are unc
way at Dinner Key Marina. At the dockmaster's headquarters, city offic-
say washing machines will be plugged in and showers and toilets open
use within days.
Fall 198f3 -- Anticipated starting date for reconstruction of Dinner Key.
p
Delayed repairs upset marina residents
KEY /from 2
once more on. the delays.
Bankrupt and in default, the
contractor for the dockmaster's
headquarters, All Type Projects
Inc. of Davie, has left the city with
a leaky roof and a ramp for the
handicapped that had to be built
twice because it was too narrow.
Long said.
In the bathrooms, soap dishes
were put in upside down and sinks
are attached to the walls with
i
i
two-by-fclurs. Marina Director Al
Rodriguez said. The problems had
still not been corrected Tuesday.
"If we had had bidets, tile,%
would have been showers," Rodri.
guez said.
Michael Fleming. head of All
Type, could not he reached for
comment. The firm's telephotw
number in Davie has been di -con-
nected.
"That has been the biggest
fiasco I've ever seen," said Public
Works Director Donald Cathe,. At
one point, when All Type felt far
behind on the projecl, the div
asked the bonding company to get
another contractor. The company
rehired All Type, Cather said.
The city paid All Type for SO
percent of the work. City officials
expect a cost overrun but don't cent
know how much. Earlier this ycar.
city employees were called in V.
finish the work. The. city is
negotiating with the bonding com-
pany to have it repay the city for
the cost of finishing the building.
Meanwhile, boaters have waitt-d
and waited for the new facilities.
"The biggest complaints, and
rightly so, are, 'When are wv
going to get our new toilets?
When are we going to get our new
washers and dryers:' When are w(.
going to be able to stop using the
bottom of City Hall to wash upT
said Cather.
McConnell says she stays away
from the City Hull showers a: a
keeps her two sons, ages 2 '''
,end 23 months, away. (u,'. _
..
_.� ...:.
_.: :...
_..-i
CITY Or MlAmi. P"l anIQA
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members
of the City Commission
FROM: Cesar H. Odi o
City Manager
DATE: S P 1 111915 nLg: RAD
SUNJECT: Operational Feasibility -
Merrill -Stevens Facility
REFERENCES:
ENCLOSURES:
IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT THE CITY COMMISSION
ADOPT A RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER
TO ASSUME MANAGEMENT AND OPERATIONS OF THE
MARINE SERVICE FACILITY CURRENTLY OPERATED BY
MERRILL-STEVENS DRY DOCK COMPANY AT DINNER KEY,
AND DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO, ON NO LESS
THAN A NINETY (90) DAY TIME FRAME, PREPARE AND
IMPLEMENT A PROGRAM FOR THE CITY TO TAKE
CONTROL OF THE PROPERTY AND THE OPERATIONS
THEREON; ADDITIONALLY DIRECTING THE CITY
MANAGER TO PUT MERRILL-STEVENS DRY DOCK COMPANY
ON NOTICE TO VACATE THE PREMISES WITHIN SUCH
NINETY (90) DAYS.
Pursuant to the City Commission's directive, the administration
has reviewed the feasibility of whether or not the City can
effectively operate a boatyard facility on City property
currently leased by Merrill -Stevens Dry Dock Company. In general,
the answer is affirmative.
As you are aware, Merrill -Stevens Dry Dock Company operates a
full -service brokerage, storage and yacht repair facility on land
leased from the City of Miami at 2640 South Bayshore Drive.
Organizationally, the operation is comprised of the Dinner Key
and Yacht Brokerage divisions. According to Merrill Stevens
personnel, the Dinner Key and Yacht Brokerage Divisions are
supported by 67 full and part-time employees principally
performing administrative, yacht brokerage, storage and marine
trades -related functions.
The lease agreement between the City of Miami and Merrill -Stevens
expired on July 1, 1984. However, Merrill -Stevens continues to
lease the City property on a month -to -month basis as a tenant -at -
will in compliance with the conditions of the expired agreement.
In addition, on July 24, 1986 the City Commission passed
Resolution No. 86-626 placing Merrill -Stevens Dry Dock Company on
notice that the City is considering a future use or uses of City -
owned land in the Dinner Key area.
4017j0)V
SE-714
1
Honorable Mayor and Flembers
4 of the City Commission
Page 2
According to the Department of Internal Audits and Reviews,
revenue payments to the City of Miami from Merrill -Stevens
aggregated to $181,815.56 for the fiscal period ending June 30,
1986.
Determination of service level is essential to the City's
effective operation of the Merrill -Stevens facility. The
administration has proposed that the City should only operate
the Merrill -Stevens facility as a storage and dockage operation
and that trades -related functions, i.e., carpentry, electrical,
mechanical and painting should not be performed by the City.
More specifically, it is recommended that the City maintain both
current wet and dry storage facilities including the provision of
gasoline and diesel fuel from the dock areas. In addition, it is
recommended that the approximate 1,600 square feet currently
occupied by the Yacht Brokerage division be available for rental
at prices comparable to the area.
From a financial perspective, the custodial operation of the
facility merits favorable consideration. Operating and financial
projections of the facility for nine months of fiscal year 1987
demonstrate a positive cash position of approximately $44,627.
Cash positions of subsequent fiscal periods will substantially
improve since considerable non -recurring expenditures for capital
outlay will be programmed during the first year of operation. To
illustrate, projected annual cash flow without capital outlay
will be approximately $225,000 in FY'88.
It is anticipated that the City's custodial operation of Merrill -
Stevens could commence on December 11, 1986 supported by the
attached rate schedule. Merrill -Stevens Dry Dock Company will be
provided a ninety -day notification of the City's intent to assume
operations of the facility, subject to the approval of the City
Commission.
It is therefore recommended that the City Commission approve the
attached resolution authorizing the City Manager to proceed.
A
A
` COCONUT GROVE 80ATYARD ENTERPRISE
SOURCES AND USES OF FUNDS
JANUARY 1, 1987 - SEPTEMBER 30, 1987
INCOME
Wet Storage
$1400400
Less 10% Vacancy
14,040
Available Wet Storage Income
$126,360
-
Dry Storage
245,700
Less 40% Vacancy
98,280
Available Dry Storage Income
$147,420
Lift Operation
121,875
Gasoline Sales
3129010
Commercial Rental -Office Space
18,000
is r,
Total Available Income
$726,665
EXPENSES
�sYy
Personnel Services
$1069375
[FI
Operating Expenses
179,363
Operating Supplies -Gasoline
2719350
`
Capital Outlay
1230950
Total Expenses
$681,038
r
Net Cash Flow-9 Months $449627
Projected Net Annual Cash Flow $224,769
W/O Capital Outlay
w
r
Proposed Net and Dry Storage Rates
Merrill Stevens Facility
A. Dry Storage Rates
Less than 30' $.21/ft/day
30' - 40' Covered $.38/ft/day
30' - 40' Uncovered $.36/ft/day
On owner's trailer $.10/ft/day
B. Wet Storage Rates
Long term
Transient
Liveaboard Surcharge
$.25/ft/day
$.42/f t/day
$.07/ft/day