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HomeMy WebLinkAboutM-84-0695CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA T r INTER -OFFICE MEMORANDUM TO, Walter Pierce Assistant City Manager oarE June 26, 1984 FItR: SUBJECT: Caribbean Central American Action/Special Funding Request. F�zoM Dena. Spl.11man REFERENCES ,,Tilnc 28, 1.984 Commission Director_ Agenda Department of Community Development ENCl On>uRFS Attached is a report prepared by Economic Development for the June 28th agenda in connection with the Caribbean Central American Action funding r_-egriest for their- 1.984 Miami Conference in the Caribbean. The Department of Economic Development feels that they are not in a position to provide a recommendation in view of the concerns expressed by the City Commission at the June loth meeLi_ng in connection withthis conference. It is our understanding that the Executive Director of Caribbean Central American Action will be at the June 28th Commission meeting to address the concerns expressed by the City Commission. DS/mc 84-695. CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA INTER -OFFICE MEMORANDUM TO. Howard V. Gary City Manager FROM. Charlotte Gallogly� Director J Department of Economic Development 11 DATE: June 22, 1984 a� FIIEt SURJF_CT: Caribbean Central American Act-ion/Special. Funding Request nEFFi?FNCES: .Tune 28, 1984 Commission Agenda FNCI.0SURFS7 We have reviewed the information that has been provided to us by Caribbean Central_ American Action (CCAA) regarding the City's funding of their 1-984 Miami Conference on the Caribbean. Based on the information contained in a letter dated April 26, 1984 (Exhibit 1) , it appears that last )-ear's conference had some success in the continuing effort to strengthen this area's posi- tion as a major center for international trade and commerce. According to the subject letter, the 1983 conference brought together approximately 2,000 business and political leaders from across the Caribbean Basin, the U.S., Canada and Europe. However, at this time we are not in a position to provide a final recommendation on this project due to the following reasons: I 1. At the June 14th meeting, the City Commission expressed some serious concerns about the manner in which the City's sponsorship of this event had been credited on the promotional materials that have been produced in the east for this conference. 2. At this meeting, the Commission also requested further infor- mation on local black participation in the event and how it would be listed in this year's conference brochure. -' 3. Mr. Peter B. Johnson, Executive Director of the CCAA, indicated at the above mentioned meeting that he would meet with the City Commissioners and would then come up with a recommendation at the June 28, 1984 Commission Meeting as to how the two —! aforementioned problems would be resolved. At this time, we are awaiting the Conunission's decision on this matter. Also, we would like to request guidance from the Commission as to whether City funding for this event should be conditioned upon the CCAA obtaining matching funds from the County and State of Florida. When the above decisions are made and if the CCAA is in substantial compliance with the City of Miami Administrative Policy No. APM 1-84 (dated January 24, 1984) which pertains to Special Funding Requests, 84-695 Howard V. Gary Page 2 we will be in a position to prepare the formal legislation to approve this project in time for the July 30, 1984 City Commission Meeting. CG/AR/rh Attachment 84-695. daW. Central A}'�^F Q_: icy April 26, 1984 Mr. Howard Gary City Manager P.O. Box 330708 Miami, FL 33133 Dear Iloi;-ard : i Attached you will find copies of planning documents which describe the forthcoming 1984 Miami Conference on the Caribbean. Budgets are, currently being drawn up and will be forwarded within the month of blay, as will the Touche Ross financial statements on the 1983 conference. The miami Conference in December, 1983, building oil previous growth, brought together about 2,000 business -and political decision makers from across the Caribbean Basin, the U.S., Canada and Europe. A very high percentage of the U.S. participation came from the State of Florida. The 1983 program included the investment exposition component in addition to the conference and was enthusiastically received by both the Basin countries and the U.S. participants. 'Mis new concept ,gas supported ' by grants from the InterAnerican Development Bank, the V.S. Small Business `) Administration and from the U.S. Agency for International I]evelopmcnt. As a function of this concept, i.iterally thousands of individual appointments were set up ben ecn businessmen and the countries' business development A teams. The results were exceedingly positive according to the folio,, -up confirmed by our consultants, USAID and our own survey. Since it makes no sense to change a ,�inni.ng combination, we plan this year to solve some obvious administrative problems but stay with the same foi;nula of extensive market:int , quality cot.nitry displays and systematic brokering of deals. 7-he Conference itself will focus on current issues in business development ranging from broad issues such as public debt to specific opportimities. A key difference will be that the exj)ositi.on and conference will be scheduled separately so as to spread out the larger ntuffiers of people over i full week of activity. The attached chart illustrates this plan. The dates for the conference are ikcember 3-7, 1984 at the Hyatt Regency hotel in Miami. There is little doubt the it the 141,uni Conference has evolved with the County's cooperation iiito the prei',ier forum of the year for business and policy development in the Carl bbc an Basin. In light of the proven SUITE 1010.1333 NEW HAMPSHIRE AVENUE, N.W. • WASHINGTON, D.C. 20036 • Telephone (202) 46&74fA • Telex 904059 WSH AN AFFILIATE OF THE AWMCAS SOCIETY, INC. i track record of the conference and As productive results, C/CAA requests from the City of Miami a grant of $25,000 to stipport the event in 1934. This is the same 1_eti-el of support: provided in 1933. As we di co ssecl in your office a few w erl: s 1go, the appropriate forms h<3ve bcs^n filled o1_at to f0)1fl:-111y Referring to your Policy memormi(I)rn dated J�immry 24, 1984 and titled Special Funding Request, C/C:AA requests that a v:aiver be granted on item one which requires ghat only Florida non-p)-ofi.t are eligible for city grafts. As you know C/CJM is a. non-profit, but registered. in the District of Col_tmmia. Otir office in Miami Goes ]lot have separate Florida stat:i.-s. .Also, item sever) concerns the question of as opposed to paymcjits in advance. C/CAA needs up front working capital to undertake a program as Large as the Miami_ Conference. I'lie City of TIi ami has historically provided C/CAA with a grant in advance of the conference so that early costs could be covered.. We therefore request that item sever) be v.-ai_ved and that the full grant may be disbursed by August, 1984 if po_-sible. I sinccrel_}- 1101)c this request can meet with the ci.ty's approval. Clearly, should there be questions concealing the event L will be happy to come to Mi mili to discuss them. As in the pest, C/CM mill be working closely- with the city's trade development office to assure that Miami will maximize its benefit from the.overall program. Best regards. PBJ/dim Enclosures Sincerely CPeter B. Johns n Executive Director 84-695.