HomeMy WebLinkAboutR-85-0858J-85-777
7/25/85
RESOLUTION NO. - 5 8, ' ;
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY
MANAGER TO TERMINATE ALL CURRENT USE
AGREEMENTS FOR THE OPERATION OF
HELICOPTER SERVICES ON WATSON I:iLANI)
LOCATED AT THE CITY OF MIAMI MUNICIPAL
HELIPORT, HOWEVER ALLOWING DADE
HELICOPTER JET SERVICES, INC., TO
CONTINUE OPERATING HELICOPTER SERVICES
AT THE BLIMP BASE SITE ON WATSON ISLAND
ON A MONTH TO MONTH TENANCY UNTIL SUCH
TIME AS IS PRACTICABLE TO COMPETITIVELY
BID A SITE ON WATSON ISLAND FOR A NEW
CITY OF MIAMI HELIPORT TO BE OPERATED
BY A SINGLE HELICOPTER SERVICE, AND FURTHER,
THE CITY MANAGER IS AUTHORIZED TO ISSUE A
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR SAID HELIPORT AND
OPERATOR PRIOR TO JANUARY 1, 1986.
WHEREAS, the City of Miami designated a site on Watson
Island as a Municipal Heliport; and
WHEREAS, the City of Miami's Municipal Heliport has been in
operation for nearly two decades; and
WHEREAS, helicopter services are currently provided at the
heliport by four helicopter companies in contractual agreement
with the City of Miami; and
WHEREAS, the City of Miami can terminate all four agreements
upon a thirty (30) day prior written notice; and
WHEREAS, the site designated on Watson Island as the Blimp
Base has been used to provide helicopter services since October
14, 1980, by Dade Helicopter Jet Services, Inc.; and
WHEREAS, the agreement to provide helicopter services at the
Blimp Base can be terminated by the City of Miami upon a thirty
(30) day prior written notice; and
WHEREAS, the City has received and is evaluating a proposal
for the development of Watson Island in its entirety as a Unified
Development Project; and
WHEREAS, as development of Watson Island proceeds all
helicopter operations at their current locations will have to be
dismantled; and
N
411 T 71;:J1VN
INICUTING OF
JUL25 1985
S
REMARKS.
0
WHEREAS, the operations conducted from the heliport have
tarnished the spirit of the four agreements to provide helicopter
services;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COMMISSION OF THE CITY
OF MIAMI, FLORIDA:
Section 1. The City Manager is hereby authorized to
terminate all current use agreements for the operation of
helicopter services on Watson Island at the City of Miami
Municipal Heliport.
Section 2. The City Manager is hereby authorized to
dismantle the present site of the City of Miami Municipal
Heliport at Watson Island.
Section 3. The City Manager is hereby authorized to allow
Dade Helicopter Jet Services, Inc., to continue operating
helicopter services at the Blimp Base on Watson Island on a month
to month tenancy until such time as is practicable to
competitively bid a site on Watson Island for a new City of Miami
Heliport to be operated by a single helicopter service.
Section u. The City Manager is authorized to issue a
Request for Proposals for said heliport and operator prior to
January 1, 1986.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 25th day of July , 1985.
Maurice A. Ferre
MAURICE A. FERRE
MAYOR
EST:
00
RAL G. ONGIE
ITY CLERK
PREPARED) AND APPR0VED BY,k
L R
DEPUTY CITY ATTORNEY
APPROV50 AUTO FORM AND CORRECTNESS:
LV %+1!► A. L Vvu%j
CITY ATTORNEY
Sylvia Lowman August 16, 1985
City Clerk's Office
Resolution No. 85-858
A r Z
ant4 y ttorney
This is in regard to your recent telephone request that this
office confirm the amendments to the referenced resolution at the
July 25, 1985 meeting. The attached amended resolution and this
memorandum will confirm that the resolution as amended formalized
the City Commission's action of July 25, 1985.
AV:bf
attachment
Ki
r: Honorable Mayor and
`".embers of the City
Commission
CITY OF MIAMI. FLORIDA
INTER -OFFICE MEMORANDUM
l '
�cM Sergio Pereira �---
City Manager
BACKGROUND
OAre:
suaiEc-
REFERENCES:
ENCLOSURES:
July 19, 1985 nl.E:
Heliport Facilities on
Watson Island
It is recommended that the
Commission authorize the City
Manager to terminate all
current use agreements for the
operation of Helicopter
services on Watson Island
located at the City of Miami
Municipal Heliport, however
allowing Dade Helicopter Jet
Services, Inc., to continue
operating helicopter services
at the blimp base site on
Watson Island until such time
that construction of the
Watson Island Development
Project requires removal of
the blimp base facility.
35
On January 19, 1984, the City issued a Request for Proposals for the
development of cultural, entertainment and recreational facilities Fyn
Watson Island. A single proposal was received on February 28, 1985 and
is currently being evaluated prior to recommendations to the City
`tanager.
The proposed development requires the demolition and removal of heliport
facilities at their current location on Watson Island.
It is anticipated that future heliport operations of new facilities as a
part of the Watson Island Development will be determined by competitive
bidding.
It is recommended that the Commission approve the attached resolution
authorizing tine City Manager to terminate the current agreements at ':- he
.:.y of ,Miami '•un:cipal Heliport on ;Watson Island.
F=:her inrormation on lease violations will be=ortnccriing-
1
1
8S-S5 �►
CITY OF MIAMI. FLORIDA
Vur
INTER -OFFICE MEMORANDUM
TO Honorable Mayor and DATE July 24, 1985
Members of the City
Commission Sue.)E Heliport Facilities on
Watson Island
FROM Sergio Pereira ,�v REFERENCES Commission Meeting July 25, 1985
City Manager '�_� Additional Information to
ENCLOSURESAccompany Item #35
Memos, Letters, Photos
The City of Miami Municipal Heliport on Watson Island has been
operational since 1966. The physical condition of the facility has
deteriorated through the years, particularly in the last several years.
Due to bickering over responsibility, none of the services operating at
the heliport have been willing to contribute to maintenance and upkeep.
The attached photos depict the current rundown condition of the building
used for offices and the unkempt condition of landscape.
The agreements, still current for the use of the heliport by the
separate services, were executed nearly twenty years ago and are now
incomplete instruments. The spirit of these agreements has been
tarnished by repeated violations. Property and Lease Management has not
and cannot monitor these operations on a consistent basis and to the
extent necessary. Complaints and observed violations, such as the
number of helicopters operated by each user, are illustrated by the
attached memos and photos. Competition for the small amount of business
generated at the site has created antagonisms between the current users,
causing numerous complaints and counter complaints between the parties.
Therefore, because of continuing violation of the agreements, the
complaints of the users, the resulting demand on staff time, the
deteriorated condition of the facility and in consideration of the
pending development of the entire island for broader purposes, we
recommend that the manager be authorized to terminate all of the current
use agreements for the operation of helicopter services at the City
Municipal Heliport on Watson Island.
85-858
CITY OF MIA MI. FLORIDA
INTER -OFFICE MEMORANDUM
to Sergio Pereira DATE June 19, 1935 FILE
City Manager
SUBJECT City of Miami's Heliport
on Watson Island
IROM Carlos E. Garda REFERENCES
Director 9
Finance Department ENCLOSURES
;n early
1983 Property and Lease
ManaCement was approached by
William Ter Keurst, President of
Dade ►ielicopter Jet
Services,
Inc., one
of four helicopter companies using the City
of Miami's
heliport on Watson Island. Mr.
Ter Keurst alleged
that Miami
Helicopter
Services, Inc. had more
than one helicopter
at a time
in use at
the heliport. This
allegation would be
in clear
violation
of the terms and conditions of Miami
Helicopter
Services,
Inc. Agreement with the
City of Miami, dated
November
18, 1968.
By letter dated May 13, 1983, Robert Riggs, President of Miami
Helicopter Services, Inc., was asked to adhere strictly to the
terms and conditions of the November 18, 1968 Agreement.
On July 12, 1983 a response to the above referenced letter came,
nct from Robert Riggs but from Ellen M. Gilmour, President of Sky
Lark Helicopters, Inc., another of the helicopter companies
allowed the use of the heliport, per Agreement dated October 17,
1966. Ms. Gilmour's response was not relevant to the City's
request made in the letter of May 131, 1983. The thrust of Ms.
Gilmour's letter was that she leased one of Miami Helicopter
Service's helicopter and pilot in order to fulfill her obligation
in providing 10 hours of helicopter service to the City.
Early in 1985 William Ter Keurst again approached Property and
Lease Management and by letter on February 21, 1985 indicated the
very same complaint as -in 1983. Namely, that Miami Helicopter
Services has been operating as many as four helicopters,
interchangeably as Miami Helicopter Service, Inc. and Sky Lark
Helicopters.
On March 20, 1985, a request for an audit of the helicopter
operations was made to the Office of Internal Audit. The City's
Auditor, in a draft audit, was not able to verify the allegation
that the companies were using more than one helicopter. The
Auditor did recommend:
85-85 F+
aewi �
1
Sergio Pereira June 19, 1985
1. Frequent surprise inspections of the City of Miami
heliport.
_. Requesting helicopter companies to maintain records
(flight logs) which clearly indicate the registration
number(s) of helicopter(s) which operate from the City
of Miami heliport on a daily basis.
Cn March 25, 1985 Albert J. Armada, Proporty and Lease 'Manager,
after having been informed 'cy Mr. Ter Keurst that there were
three helicopters parked in the heliport belonging to Miami
Helicopter, visited the site and recorded the license numbers of
four helicopters. The United States Department of
Transportation, F ed,;ral Aviation Administration, was asked to
identify theso forlr helicopters. By letter dated April 8, 1985,
Robert. Januzzi, Aviation Safety Inspector, informed that three of
the license numbers were registered to Miami Helicopter Services.
The fourth license number belonged to Craig Enterprises, a
helicopter rented to Mr. Ter .:curse.
Surn.'narv:
The situation in the Miami heliport has deteriorated consistently
through the years.
1) The agreements that are still current were executed
nearly twenty years ago, and are now incomplete
instruments, in our opinion.
2) The spirit of all these agreements has been tarnished as
evidenced above.
3) 'Miami Helicopter Services is clearly in violation of its
agreement of November 18, 1968 as a result of the
incident on March 25, 1985.
4) The Finance Department has not and cannot monitor these
operations on a consistent basis to the extent required
and as suggested by the draft audit.
Thrse Agreements can be terminated uporr shirty (30) days prior
written notice.
cE'j:AJA:mg
85--8 _3E!
CITY of MIAW. FLORIDA
INTER-OFFIC9 MaMORANDUM
To Su jan Chhabra DATE: March 20, 1985 I'LR,
Director
Internal Audit sueJEct: Request for Audit of the
Helicopter Operations • City
of Miami Heliport
room ( �b L`✓ REfEH[NCi6:
Carlos E. Garci
Director ENGI.OSURED:
Finance Department
Enclosed please find copies of the Agreements for the four
companies that operate helicopters in the City of Miami Heliport.
As a result of ongoing complaints among the operators, it has
become imperative that greater contract compliance be enforced.
Particularly of interest is the use of the Heliport by more than
one helicopter per company. Attached are copies of a letter
dated May 13, 1983, addressed to 14iami Heliport Services, Inc.,
written after such a complaint, and a subsequent response from
Sky Lark Helicopters. These may be of some help.
Please audit these operations as soon as possible. For further
information, contact Albert J. Armada, Property & Lease Manager,
at extension 6318.
CEG:AJA:amw
enc.
VIMARD V GARY
l rh, 11d t1J ;, r•r
flay 13, 1983
Mr. Robert Riggs
Miami Helicopter Services, inc.
Building 105
Opa Locka Airport,
Opa Locka, Florida 33054
Dcar Mrs. Rigcls:
Propc-ty and Lease :Management has received complaints that Miami
Helicopter Services, Inc., has more than one helicopter at a time
using the heliport. This allegation, if verified, is in clear
violation of the terms of your agreement with '.he City under
Article II, Section d.
Also a complaint has been made that individuals associated with
Miami Helicopter Services, Inc., are operating a helicopter under
the agreement with Skylark Helicopters with the City of Miami.
If this allegation were found to be true, it would be in viola-
tion of the terms of your agreement with the City. Under Article
II, Section d, the Skylark Helicopters agreement is a non-negotia-
ble instrument, therefore, Miami Helicopter Services Inc., would
be using the heliport with more than one helicopter.
In order to avoid an investigation
outcome of terminating your lease
to the terms of the agreement.
Sinc3�r�ly,
^v
r Garcia, C.P.A.
Direct r of Finance
v
CEG:AJA:mc
of this matter with the possible
agreement, please adhere strictly
II%ANC( INPART WNT / Property A1dna;;rnit-w, PO Box .31070ts; AL.rnu, iluricla IiIit/ IIU5) 5'9•G118
85-858.
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MAILING. k1DORFSS
(
G5d0
it-4 WehtO!)kl AiMIAMI,
TAMiA 1i
F1.0
:ANAL ROAD
iUl1 �314•i
r 1050 McARTHUR CAUSEWAY
t
VMIAMI CITY HELIPORT
�
MIAMI, FLORIDA
`\
ELLEN M. GILMOUR
-
�e o%
PHONE
} (HONE
7
261-4909
377-3344
.fuly 17.,1,983
;
Mr. Garcia
Director of Iinanc�!
City of ^fiari
,O.RJ 33J706
1siah�i , Florida 33130
Lear Mr. Garcia:
Mr. Riggs of Plismi Helicopter Service informed me that he had received a
letter from your office which pertained to certain allegations made by an-
other operator at the City of Miami Heliport. Since my own helicopter was
out of commission for some time, I arranged to lease on of Miami's machines
and one of their pilots to fly i* for me. My main reason for making this
arrangement was to enable me to fulfill. my oh'igatihn (as per my lease con-
tract) to furnish flight time to the city.
Since the allegations contained in the letter to Mr. Riggs are of direct
concern to me and t}he status, of my lease agreement with the city, I rm at a
loss to understand w-hy I was not informed simultaneously with Mr. Riggs. I
have a very strong feeling that someone who has bcon known to make I;t;ite-
ments to the effect that they were going to put Sky Lirl: and Miami Helicopter
Service out of business, is trying by any and all weans to make rhi.s threat a
reality. However, I have no intention of meekly :submitting to this type of
coercion, especially sine I have been actively engaged in the helicopter bus-
i:hers at cihe City of 'Miairi Heliport since 1959. At that time, I was a director
of Sun Ling Helicopters and instrumental in formulating the first lease agree-
ment between Sun Line and the city.
When I left Sun Line and formed by own business (Sky Lark Helicopters) in
1964, I again made an agreement with the city for Sky Lark, under the same
terms as the Sun Line lease. Then, in 1966, another individual (now deceased)
calling himself "Tropical Helicopters" applied for a lease. When George
Nesmith, who had formed Crescent Airways after resigning as vice-president of
Sun Line, heard of Tropical's request, the decided that he too would apply for
a lease.
All of the principals involved were called to a meeting with the then city
naua;er, Mr. Reese, and spent the better part of a day discussing the pros and
JIh5 of having four operators at the heliport. The shack which we used as an
etfice at the heliport, had ori-finally Leen donated by Mr. Nesmith when he was
still with Sun Line. Tlhe primary question at the time was whether or not the
ai..ount of business at this heliport could support four operators. To insure
fairness, each operator was limited to the use of one machine. We soon found
that there simply wasn't enough business to support us all so Tropical was the
85-858.
---..-=o,..�,...n.,,G..�-.+.4....�..-•s--�'r�.'�.F.t rR,...:_.:...� s .Yyz:., u ""'� =.�•d�. '_Ft,y »h`
f ir"t. tc Ar ,p gout. I found th:it. T ,.�ulc1 :n;tke a better living by takinf; ray
lie icopter ,•n Cie ro,id in the s i;,lr~u,' rind t11t n c ;I:in); host al te, 1•;Ih('r da':, or
thel-n-,1 -?)(mt:i .
<:r(rry if I have bored you with all t?li:: hi::tor}', itut e ttel that it's
time the penitle who were not around (luring th, .:c e•�rl} .?ays h. ve some knnw-
led;;e of the Tht_ire are rosiny ot.hcr Far!.. 1,,* T (:an rind will give
if the Itecessity arise"-.
�oncernin the rr -'sibi lity of a,, ir,'ae:,tig;ttict;; `. your office, I would wel—
c,,me .tich an inve.til;ation. Perhap; it would clear lip :;ome of the question.,; as
to why Mr. rerKur:;t has been re.:eivi(,t; profcr.enti<11 treatment for over two years.
I n-fer to hi- Ltccir:atlon of the old Goodyear Blini1; lust^. Crescent, Miami and
`, V Lary; woulc] al i 1]ke-1 to have fluvial ovc'r therc... ai; .1 mattt'r of -fact, an
r0proventin. Crescent, ''Tr. hi�;�,:i and i aLL(AIdrL'd a cGTlirii.;Sion meeting
{r' ret;t!c'steci ;_1, -i 7oi:e. The rcti :LSt was tabl(:d .III(] we lir;ird nothing further
IIC(ti . fou:i:1 ..;at '4r. Tci KurSt 1:a,l tiog )ti 3te(i ,-in _gr_-e Je_nt with tlt(? City for
••.�1•i ii�.'1 7' ;, !li 'i�tt! i!IIITih 1"..(', wiir'r(• PO is J1''..v to _'pk-raIe in SIiop n" Well.
as ..:_m' :iclic oi-tc-ra :s hc. pleasr.s. All t};i.• i, '-he tin lI(.-urs pkir m(:intr
t0 f uri: f ch ''ins c it' f .� r us l.n)', i�'':1i: .;ii .p. 'Thi tC n hnurS
t,✓en ; ii nir: for . ,i,, tl:,:J i't i(t: ho oi` 'r:a _er: nt tilt?
,tI)ilj;atC?d O f it'1l1till Ct" :(lCV IkoIlY:: ('`Cr month
Lo the ciL%*. I w,-uld like tn see the records oT tht! actual time flown by Dade
an.1 Tropical for t}cc p.;st two year,.
.illy�'t:(:l ')y several. tratisicnt hel.i::.-pter pil(tt,4 that Lhey wt'ri?.
c :ie.i pus; ission t..- .and at the b1i,ri) bast. and/or ioll to . t off "HIS
;)r. .
:,o su— Up: i haVC' instructCd r.,y attornoy LO 111 alit the an WerS to the
How did Mr. Tt I i.ur;;r_ f et :in t ::c.lus iv. us , at,reemcnt for the
1)11IT,) 1,lsv and
b. .iow ;`.':Illy li.tl.r`i of fi,S,ht t :r 1 :1as 11C' furtilshed the city
u 't';. tii_ a- t two year, ii;1A
c. why art L:.0 '..,titer operators (:Qaiod the rise of that facility
c✓hilt ai., c.. , .;tzll c•;cupie: oclr little ,Huck.
Yu, Irs truly,
ir%,r=l�L—�.Ir,!;f, t P UGC /t✓
I:1.1 c:l M. 'f;i lmouil
i1ros Ld(•nt
Sky Lark ;Ielicuptc:rs Inc.
IC: Mayor Ferr;:
Com-, Iotier PIU'X:e7
Commis ; ione r J . Carul to
Corr.Lissionar M. Dawkin:;
C,.:.-,m,issioncr D. Perez
C i. t% Manager It. Gary
11. c,ilchrist
1). Stewart
85`8 )i
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