HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC 1984-01-18 MinutesCITY OF Ml MI
COMMISSION
MINUTES
OF MEETING HELD ON JANUARY 18, 1984
(SPECIAL)
PREPARED BY THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK
CITY HALL
RALPH G.. ONGIE
CITY CLERK
INV
Ct�I���lr(I
TEM NO. SPECIALJANUARY 18, 1984
DISCUSSION OF DEVELOPMENT OF WATSON ISLAND AS A
THEME PARK.
2 PUBLIC HEARING - CONTINUED -
FEDERAL REVENUE SHARING FUNDS 1983-1984
SOCIAL SERVICES PROGRAM.
3 CONTINUED DISCUSSION.
PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT OF WATSON ISLAND AS A THEME PARK.
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DISCUSSION 1-12
M-84-12 12-28
M-84-13
DISCUSSION 28-40
MINUTES OF SPECIAL MEETING OF THE
CITY COMMISSION OF MIAMI, FLORIDA
On the 18th day of January, 1984, the City Commission of Miami, Florida,
met at its regular meeting place in said City in Special Session
to consider business of public import, namely, Watson Island and
Federal Revenue Sharing Funds.
The meeting was called to order at 2:35 P.M., by Mayor Maurice Ferre
with the following members of the Commission present:
ALSO PRESENT:
Commissioner Miller J. Dawkins
Vice Mayor Demetrio Perez, Jr.
Mayor Maurice A. Ferre
Howard V. Gary, City Manager
Jose Garcia -Pedrosa, City Attorney
Ralph G. Ongie, City Clerk
Matty Hirai, Assistant City Clerk
ABSENT: Commissioner Joe Carollo
Commissioner J.L. Plummer, Jr.
An invocation was delivered by Mayor Maurice Ferre, who then led
those present in a pledge of allegiance to the flag.
1. DISCUSSION OF DEVELOPMENT OF WATSON ISLAND AS A THEME PARK.
Mayor Ferre: Since we have a request from some of the members of the
hotel industry here who have to catch planes and I know that Senator
Sherman Winn is here and has to go back to Tallahassee before he comes
back to Miami to become a Metropolitan Dade County Commissioner. As
I said, out of courtesy to Senator Winn and to others, we are going to
take this item first. We may have to interrupt half way through when
we get a quorum here when we get J.L. Plummer or Commissioner Carollo
and take up the social program. You have to bear with me. We're going
to have to play this by ear. Who are the people that need to leave,
who want to make your statement and have to leave. Would you raise your
hands so I can see those of you? Those of you that for one reason or
another want to make a statement into the record in either one of these
public issues, because you have time constraint, I will take you out of
order. Mr. Sheppard, we will tart with you or Senator Winn.
Mr. Dawkins: Mr. Mayor, before they speak, may I say something? I'd
like to apologize to the individuals who are here. As you recall, at
the last meeting I distinctly said that since the people for revenue
sharing had been here numerous times that you would not have to sit
through anything else today other than revenue sharing. Now, for some
reason we do not have, which is beyond the Mayor's control, beyond my
control or Demetrios, we do not have a full Commission. So, in order
to be sure that we do this right, I assume, the Mayor is saying that he
would prefer that we go ahead like we are going until we get at least
four members, so that's why we are not adhearing to the promise that
we made to you at the last Commission meeting.
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Mayor Ferre: Please understand the reasons. There are three of us here.
There are important issues to be decided, because those of you that are
here on revenue sharing are here for funds. As you know, for every dollar
requested we have 25r, and so we are going to have to make some hard decisions.
I think it would be very inappropriate for the three of us to make those
decisions without giving our colleagues, the two missing colleagues, an
opportunity to be present. So I also apologize for the inconvenience this
is causing you, but I think it is fairer for those of you who are here to
have the full word of the Commission on these important issues. I will
however, 3f voit need to leave, take your statement as a public hearing
out of the regular sequence so that you can leave. Senator.
Senator Sherman Winn: Thank you Mr. Mayor, Mr. Vice Mayor, Mr. Commissioner,
my name is Sherman Winn, representing the Greater Miami Hotel and Motel
Association. I'm here, Mr. Mayor and Commissioners, on your item number
1 on your agenda. I'm sure that you are well aware that it is very depressing
that our local papers would put an article of the State of Florida just
two days ago showing the great growth and all the dollars that are coming
into the central Florida, West Florida, and then when it comes down to
South Florida, they so state that Dade is a drag on Southeast Florida.
I think we now have the opportunity Mr. Mayor and Commissioners to advance
our cause. We have wonderful banners and wonderful signs all over our area
of "MIAMI IS FOR ME." We were just blessed in our area by having the No. 1
team in the nation. I think we must develop our thoughts once again,
development of tourism to bring the people back to our area. I believe
that the only way that we could accomplish such a feat is to give the
people, our tourists, our visitors a lot more to see when they do come
down here. The success of Disney World, the success of Seaworld and
Circus World is merely a great attraction for all peoples. We are
hopeful, in our association that Watson Island can become one of the
great attractions in the State of Florida. This is the only way that
we can once again go back to the early 60's and the 70's and go into
the great 80's with the tourist policy and thr tourist program and we
can bring the dollars and the people back into our community. Thank
you very much, Mr. Mayor, Mr. Vice Mayor, Commissioners, for allowing
me to be here today and for allowing me to be number one on your agenda.
Mayor Ferre: Thank you very much, Senator Winn. We are happy to have
you as number one in our agenda. You are number one in the hearts of many
people of Miami that you've served, in the Florida Senate, and before that
as distinguished Mayor of North Miami. Skippy, are you next?
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NOTE FOR THE RECORD: Commissioner Joe Carollo arrived at 2:40 P.M.
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Mr. Sol W. Geltman: My name is Sol Geltman. I am the President of the
Greater Miami Hotel and Motel Association. Mr. Mayor, Commissioners,
Mr. Gary, I would just like to take a few minutes and give you a little
story of my boyhood.
Mayor Ferre: Your boyhood?
Mr. Geltman: Yes, the story of my life. I've been in Miami now....
Mayor Ferre: This is in three minutes now that you have.
Mr. Geltman: I became a man at nine. (LAUGHTER) I've been in the Greater
Miami area for 32 years. I opened the Eden Roc Hotel. I opened the
Diplomat Hotel. I opened the Algiers Hotel. I opened the new facilities
of the Fountainbleau Hotel. I was associated in Puerto Rico for ten years
with the Vice President of E1 San Juan Hotel and have been Director of
Passenger Ships for American export lines. I've been in all phases of
tourism. I've never seen the condition that exists in this area; and it
reminds me of when I first came to this country, as I come from Northern
Italy myself. That's quite a coincidence, which is Poland. When I came
here there used to be an amusement park.
Mayor Ferre: Wait a minute. Ernie, did you catch that?
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Mr. Geltman: When I came into the United States, I came from Havana.
If you will excuse me, I've been around a little bit. I moved in a
neighborhood that had a street car. This street car only went to one
area. It went to an amusement park. That was the only reason anybody
ever used this street car, because we had a place called Canasi. Otherwise
you had to walk six miles and it would cost a nickel. They built this
amusement in order for people to use the trolleys. There was no other
reason to use it, because people used to walk in those times. They had
no cars; just a horse and wagon. I made the same speech for American
Airlines a couple of years ago. Why does American Airlines go to places
that are amusement areas? They only go there because they want to use
their flying trolley cars. We do not have an amusement park that people
would get on a plane and use that flying trolley car. We need a theme
park, an amusement park. I don't care what you call it. We need it within
walking distance of the downtown area, because nobody is coming anymore
to Greater Miami. I just came back from a week -trip. Not weak (against
strong) but a weekly trip. I've been away seven nights. Everybody asked
me what do you do in Miami? I really couldn't tell them, although there
is a lot to do, there isn't the same amount to do as people want to do
today. They want to do things, they want to go somewhere, they want to
be amused, they want to take their kids. Every child that comes here
brings two parents. If you don't want the kids, you're going to lose
the parents. Thank you.
Mayor Ferre: Mr. Shepheard.
Mr. Skip Shepheard: Thank you, my name is Skip Shepheard, General Manager
of the Dupont Plaza Hotel. I'm here today to urge the City Commissioners,
the City Manager and all of you to take a good look at what is going on
downtown as far as tourism is concerned with all of the hotels downtown.
The downtown area especially is hurting. We need the business. We need
some attraction. One of the attractions that would bring tourism to
Greater Miami, including what's going to be done with the park is an
attraction that... in Watson Island. I urge you to give this a good
look and assist us in getting this attraction. Thank you very much.
Mayor Ferre: Thank you. Are there any other speakers who have a time
constraint that have to leave? Mr. Rosichan, I don't know whether you
raised your hand before.
Mr. Arthur S. Rosichan: My name is Arthur Rosichan. I am a Miamian
and have been for the last 25 years. I pay my taxes, which seem to be
going up perceptibly over the last few years.
Mayor Ferre: And Federal and State taxes are going down, right?
Mr. Rosichan: I haven't seen them yet, but it may be a prophesy on your
part. I don't know. I was very much troubled at the last meeting. What
troubled me was not so much what you are trying to do, except instead of
why you are trying to do it. I heard a great deal of talk about the
kind of orientation that a theme park or an amusement park ought to have.
You said, Mr. Mayor, that you would like to see it water -oriented. Mr.
Gary gave us quite a bit of information from a financial standpoint,
which indicated that a theme park there wasn't going to save us any
money as far as taxes were concerned, it probably would cost us some
money, unless it was instantaneously successful, which I doubt very much.
I didn't hear anybody talking about people -oriented parks. I mean we
have a park downtown called the Bicentennial Park. I don't know who
put it up, but it's not a people oriented park. Nobody uses it. There
must be a reason. I assume it is about the same size as Watson Island.
It seems to me that if there were going to be a downtown or a central
town amusement area, Bicentennial Park would rather easily be turned
into a downtown amusement area and with much less difficulty as far as
travel is concerned, accessibility is concerned, because there is a
need in this town for parks for people who live in this town. I hear
you all talking about tourism and tourists. I recall when Disneyland
or Disney World was being built, it was built out in the country. It
wasn't built in town, but -the City of Orlando, which is quite a few
miles away from it, has Benefited tremendously despite the fact that
the park is 20 or 25 miles away. It would seem to me, on the basis
of something like that, we could probably gat "n awful lot of land
around Metro Zoo and set up a theme park cut If people wanted
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Mr. Rosichan (Don't): to come down and amuse themselves, they all have
automobiles and they would travel out that way. But nobody has talked
about the need of this community for a place that's people oriented.
I'd like to tell you about something that my wife pointed out to me.
There is a great architect. I believe he is dead now,
He's been used by many countries throughout the world to set up their
capitol areas. In Pakistan, and this may not interest you, but in
Pakistan in every building that was set up, there was an area set aside
which was called the mothers park, the mothers' area, because he believed
that mothers, having the responsibility for taking care of families,
would do a lot better, if they had a place where they could be quiet
and meet other mothers and wouldn't have the type of stringency and stress
that they have. I think we need a quiet park here. I think we need a
quiet park area. I think Watson Island could be made a tourist area,
if we did with it what Victoria and Vancouver have done on the west
coast, what San Diego has done on the west coast. I haven't heard
anybody talk about what has been done in Toronto, with either amusement
parks or people parks, but Toronto has set up a scheme, after a great
deal of operation, where the Province of Ontario and the City of Toronto
have all worked together toward the end that there are areas on the
lakefront which are for profit -making purposes, for people to be taking
care of the people of the city to be taken care of, etc., etc. I'd like
to point out that it might be worth while for some of you Commissioners
and some of you planners to travel to Toronto and see what they are doing.
Because what they are doing is proof that you don't have to have a theme
park, because their theme park is 20 miles out in the country and has
been a very, very profitable operation. It's only three years old. So,
I would like to make the suggestion that Watson Island be thought of in
terms of the kind of beautiful park that people will come to because of
what is growing there, and that this Commission think in terms of other
areas for an amusement park, rather than this beautiful, nature full
and original, and not out of the ordinary area, which Watson Island is.
Let it be something that belongs to the people in this community, where
those who are in the lower bracket economically -and there are plenty
of them here- can have a place to take their kids on a Sunday by bus,
and not where the tourists who are able to afford going 2,000 miles, if
he wants to see an amusement park, shall have a place where he and his
family can go. I assure you the hotels would benefit just as well if
the park was out by Metro Zoo. I assure you that I'd like this Commission
to think in terms of the people in this community and what it will do
for them. Thank you.
Mayor Ferre: How many minutes did Mr. Rosichan...? Five and a half?
Ladies and gentlemen, those of you that are left, since there are many
speakers, I would respectfully like to ask that you limit your time to
three minutes, if possible. I will be as lenient as I can, but I think
most of you can make your statements within three minutes, unless we
get into an awful lot of repetition here. The next speaker is Dr. Clyde
Pettaway.
Dr. Clyde Pettaway: My name is Clyde Pettaway, Mr. Mayor, Mr. Carollo,
Mr. Perez, Mr. Miller. Can you hear me now? I'm just real big. I don't
talk real loud.
Mayor Ferre: Well, there is some question about that too.
Dr. Pettaway: Mr. Gary, I'm not a citizen for rent. (LAUGHTER) I think
oftentimes many of us tend to move downtown on Biscayne and the highrise
buildings and we overlook our citizens' fine homes and we sometimes forget
what little has happened out there in the streets. Nothing is wrong with
that. I congratulate all people that can do that. But I think when you
really look at it, you don't have to go all the way to Canada to see what's
happening to see why you need to have a park here. You can come to Liberty
City and see how many people are unemployed. A lot of those people are
not going to come here because they think this is a waste of time, but
I will anyway. I think it is very important that this Commission have
the guts to take a chance ajid do something innovative, something different,
something new, if there is any possibility that it will create jobs for
people. Because it is bad when a man gets up in the morning and does not
know how he is going to provide for his family, how he's going to have
food for his family to eat. We have to do innovative things if we are
JAN 181984
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Dr. Pettaway: going to create jobs. When you look at the second part
of this agenda which talks about social service programs, and you are
going to see the Commissioners up there not knowing what to do based
on the amount of monies that we have to provide services to people.
When we have the opportunity to provide jobs for people, I don't see
how we can have the luxury as a City not to provide those jobs because
it might simply inconvenience some people. So I urge the Commissioners
to put out the R.F.P.s, to look at the bids, build a park, to create
jobs with Watson Island and create other type jobs. Thank you.
Mayor Ferre: Is there anybody else that has a time constraint that needs
to address the Commission because they may have to leave. Mr. Horton.
Mr. Dan Horton: Good afternoon, Mr. Mayor and Commissioners. My name
is Dan Horton. I represent Mr.. Ed Stevenson in the South Florida N.F.L.C.I.O.
We'd like to begin by commending you for the foresight you have had up to
now in a very difficult situation in Miami. Miami is becoming one of the
crown jewels of American cities. There is no doubt about that. Anybody
who has grown up here, as I have and most of our people have, remember
what Miami used to look like and the spectacular changes that have been
effected in it. We are very proud of the fact that the Commission has
gone ahead with the Miami Marina Project. We think it is an admirable
program. We honestly and sincerely believe that Watson Island should
be the next step in that, because those of us who have lived here as
most of you have remember when Miami was a small town and a small community
and people came down here because the fishing was good and the beaches
were nice. Then we know what happened since then, all the problem we've
had over the years, the refugee problems and the bad reputation that
Miami has had, the crime problem and what the press has done us. Yet
this City and the people that you represent have taken the lead in
rebuilding this county into an area that is no longer a stop over between
New York and the Caribbean or between Atlanta and South America for
businessmen passing through. The steps are there. Businesses have
relocated here. Regional offices have come here. A lot of things
are developing that provide a magnet city. The next logical step, we
believe, is to go ahead and create the kind of environment and climate
and facilities here so that the next time a businessman comes to Miami,
he might have a reason to bring his family with him and spend an extra
week -end. Or the next time somebody is passing through, they have a
motivation to stay here. The Miami Marina Project is so magnificent in
concept, similar to Boston and other areas, and this is the next logical
step to provide something family -oriented. I tend to agree that we need
it here also for local people. Let me just add this and then I will
close in•deference to the Mayor and the time constraints. You've done
so much to make this City an area that people should come back to. You
have added police downtown to make it safe. You created a Bicentennial
Park that may not be used that much, but it's beginning to be used for
specific events. This is the next logical step. There is nothing like
this in Miami. There is no amusement, no theme park. Right now people
who want to go somewhere with their family and their kids have to go
to Disney World and see the mouse, maybe go to the zoo and that's all
there is. Why not have one here as well? Because it will not just be
tourist oriented, it will attract people. It will fit so nicely in your
concept of a downtown Miami, revitalized and safe on the streets, with
the magnificent facilities of Miamarina for people who want to shop and
have a good meal and an amusement area for people who want to bring their
families back down here on the week -ends and have a reason to do it
in this community and in this town and spend their money here. We
totally support the efforts to do this. We hope you agree that it's
an admirable project. We could go on about jobs in town, but everybody
realizes it will put people to work and help the economy down here. It
is just a tremendous idea. Thank you, sir.
Mayor Ferre: Thank you, Mr. Horton. The next speaker is Leonard Turkel.
Mr. Leonard Turkel: Thank you, Mr. Mayor, members of the Commission.
My name is Leonard Turkel, 227 N.E. 17 Street, Miami, Florida. I'm here
representing Dr. Gladstein, my wife, Ann Sheila, and if you recall, the
three of us were the plaintiffs in the original law suit and we have
tracked the Watson Island project for many years. I'm here to talk
today about the request for proposals. I think that finally, once and
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Mr. Turkel (Don't): for all, there is an opportunity for worth while
development in Miami. I think that if you are prepared to recognize the
rare opportunity that Watson Island affords, and I have to commend you
for saying it here, to be developed as a lushly landscaped subtropical
garden with extensive use of moving waters, fountains, including but
not dominated by wan -made structures. Secondly, and if you mean that,
I think it is an opportunity to preserve a free and an open park for
people from Overtown, from Little Havana, and also for tourists to use
as they are using now. I think further it is an opportunity to develop
a unique downtown facility that has a marvelous shoreline and magnificent
views of the mainland. But I have to warn you that this R.F.P. is booby -
trapped. I will read the dynamite to you. The economic, social, and
environmental perimeters established by the City's development order
are incorporated into this request for proposals and constitute development
limits for proposed facilities. That one sentence will cause the entire
project to self destruct. First of all and most importantly, it puts
constraints on any and all of the developers who are going to come and
try to design a project for this island. It stops them from being
innovative and imaginative and daring when what you ought to be doing
is to excite them and encourage them and inspire them. Secondly, that
development order is so flawed that it lives as an embarrassment. I
want to give you a short history of it. First of all, you can't tell it
from the R.F.P., but the South Florida Regional Planning Council has
never agreed to a development order for Watson Island. I want to read
what they said about that project. Frankly, staff is not inclined to
comment further on the incredible contradictions, obfuscations, and
misrepresentations presented in the applicant's response dealing with
that order. You own Planning Advisory Board, when asked to approve
that development order voted no. The hearing officers that....
Mayor Ferre: Mr. Turkel, excuse me, buf, we're not talking about that
today....
Mr. Turkel: I'm trying only to suggest that the R.F.P. makes sense
and it can make the project work, but if you continue to include that
old development order in it, I guarantee you again that it will self
destruct. It will self destruct by itself. Thank you.
Mayor Ferre: Thank you, Mr. Turkel. The next speaker is Roslyn Kreitman,
11 Island Avenue, Miami Beach.
Ms. Roslyn Kreitman: I know it might seem funny that I come from Miami
Beach to speak about Watson Island, which is part of Miami. However, we
have a great deal to be involved in, because for several reasons. The
Mc Arthur'Causeway for one and the Venetian Causeway are connected right
next to each other. The problem of traffic, for one instance, is horrendous
now. The Venetian Causeway is just a two-lane highway and when the bridges
are open, it's impossible to get through. McArthur Causeway you have the
same problem when the bridges go through. What are you going to do about
that with all the traffic coming? That's one thing. Another thing is
we have luxury apartments on our side of the bay. I mean they are
luxury and high priced. They cannot be sold because no one knows what
on earth is going to happen with Watson Island. I, myself, wouldn't
want to spend $200,000 and $300,000 and have a merry-go-round or a
carrousel or bright lights and music and what not in my ears as a view.
So, these houses, these condos are going begging for people to buy them.
My family has been here since 1930. I have watched Miami Beach and Miami
grow. They have lived both on the Beach and in town. When you speak about
the hotels, they all made a living and they were only open a few months
out of the year. The whole way of life has changed. We now have people
living here permanently. We have condominiums, you have to change through
the time, just like you had horse and buggies and now you have cars. It's
just the way things change. The gentleman over there said what does he
do in Miami. I don't know. I have been so busy that I haven't even time
to sleep. Just this one week we had the opening of the Bass Museum, the
precious legacy, which is fantastic. We have the Center for Fine Arts,
which is open for the search for elegance, which is magnificent. We've
had the symphony, the opera, the Art Deco Week -end. We've had shows.
We are going to have circuses. My God! If you can't find anything to
do in Miami, I don't know where you can find it, outside of a carousel
and a merry-go-round. They have that in the Omni, oh, yes, the carousel
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Ms. Kreitman (Con't): is there. I noticed that in the last week or so
there was mention of something being put up, or not put up, but proposed
at the zoo. If an amusement park is needed, why not have it out there?
As the gentleman said, they didn't put Epcot or Disney World right in
the middle of Orlando. They put it out in a place...if they put it out
with the zoo, families could spend the entire day with the zoo and the
amusement park. It would a perfect place, not in the middle of all the
traffic and all the comotion. I thought toward the end of last year that
this issue would be finished and not dug up again, because the last time
or several times when I was here, they had gentlemen from Tallahassee and
all and they proved conclusively that would not be a proper place to
construct an amusement park. As far as a theme park, I think it is just
a play on words, on semantics. You can call it bolonga and you can slice
it in little tiny bits, but it is still bolonga. Sunday Herald a couple
of weeks ago had a marvelous article on why it shouldn't be developed
as such. I think that the Commission should really look into that article.
It summed everything up pretty much. As far as the restaurants and
the shops, as was proposed, if we are going to have that at Bayside, I
don't see why we have to have a duplication, and particularly a cheap
immitation of it with the carrousels, etc. I can't see any reason why
we just can't go on and utilize that space to a much better, higher
cultural activity in our City. I beg of you, please don't put this up.
Mayor Ferre: Florence Shubin, Miami Beach.
Ms. Florence Shubin: Before I even begin, I want it clearly understood
we have no objection to a theme park. We have no objection to creating
Jobs. Our only objection is that Watson Island is the wrong place.
This speech is directed to the Mayor primarily and I hope that the other
three Commissioners will also listen, because the whole idea of the
amusement park is his brain child. This is New York. I heard you say
it, Mr. Mayor, and you were so proud that you could say it. I know a
very few Floridians that feel the way you do. Most of us are trying
desperately to save what's left of Miami. I am not familiar with New
York. But one thing I do know, there is no theme park in the center
of the city or even in Central Park with all its acres. If you had
one bit of feeling for this community, you wouldn't want one in the
heart of Miami either. Watson Island is the last stand before destroying
another of the people's public parks. There will no longer be a Bayfront
Park. Nobody uses Bicentennial Park. Watson Island is a pretty busy
place for sojourners, especially when the ships are in port. There is
also a beach, a sailing club, a yacht club, picnic grounds used by
organizations. Beth Dunlop wrote a fabulous piece in the Herald last
week which sums up totally my feelings about Watson Island. Watson
Island should be enhanced by the City, not destroyed. With all the
development going on downtown, don't you understand the need for more
open space? Have you ever seen the smoke that comes from smokestacks
on the cruise ships Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at sailing time? And
there are more cruise ships that are coming to our town. We can't all
run up to Vermonth for a breath of fresh air. Trees fight pollution.
What we need in Watson Island is more trees, not carnivals and more
pollution. Mr. Ferre, you have often said that Miami is the only major
city that does not have a theme park. Washington, Baltimore, Philadelphia,
New York, and Boston do not have theme parks in the heart the their city
or even in theri nearby suburbs. Why? Why in heaven's name are you so
bent on a polluting amusement park that could degenerate into tremendous
liability? Watson Island has been neglectai by the City of Miami for years.
What was a beautiful Japanese Garden has become a tragedy. Dr. Popenoe
of Fairchild Gardens used to encourage tourists to visit the Japanese
Gardens on Watson Island; no more. Who is to say that a developer won't
get the same treatment from the City. The City gives a contract to a
developer. The developer grabs his profits and Watson Island is stuck
with a polluting eye sore. Is this what you want for Miami? And you
don't have to be very smart to know that nothing in this area could compete
with Disney World and Epcot. When the prospective bullet train between
Miami/Orlando/Tampa becomes a reality, it will even be more so. Even now,
Miami is becoming too metropolitan for many persons. We now have people
making an exodus from this community, the first in the history of our
town. We, of Save Watson Island Inc., and I am finished say, have always
said, Save Watson Island! I now say to you, Mr. Mayor, you save Watson
Island. You can and you should. The burden is on you and you have the
great opportunity to shine, because you were big enough to give in to
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Ms. Shubin (Con't): the peoples' wishes. I repeat, Mr. Mayor, please
save Watson Island. Enhance it with gardens and picnic grounds. You
don't need a money maker anymore. You have the Bayside project well on
its way. Be generous and noble and give Watson Island back to the people
as a free public park. Thank you.
Mayor Ferre: The next speaker is Edith Land, Miami Beach.
Ms. Edith Land: I liked it so much that I moved from Miami Beach to here.
I like Miami. We happen to be sisters. As she told you before, our folks
came down here in the 1930s and we have been a part of this community since
then. My father used to say that they should change the name of Miami and
call it the Garden of Eden. He said there is no place in this world that
has a climate like this. Even in the rest of the State, I can really say
in the last few days, for instance, the quality of the climate here is
unbeatable anywhere. If you look at all the temperatures. We have the
gulf stream that runs by, and it is really a heavenly place. I don't want
to reiterate what has been said before, but I originally came from Baltimore.
Your Rouse Company is a Baltimore based company. I'm very familiar with
their activities. They have done wonders for the City of Baltimore,
completely rejuvenated the place. That downtown area was a slum, a
crime ridden place, and today it is a showplace for tourists that is one
of the best in the entire United States and the Rouse Company built it.
I don't know about the other places that they built, but I do know Baltimore
and they are building downtown. I don't think you should compete with
them. I don't know whether they are aware of your competition, but that
should be in itself a beautiful place to go. As far as having a theme
park, I have no objection personally and my friend do not either. People
need jobs, great, but don't put it on Watson Island. Now I live at the
Plaza Venetia and I look over the port and I see the traffic. You cannot
imagine what's doing there. I don't know how long it would take. I look
at the paper over here to build a bridge or some type of a conveyance to
get the traffic over and to come from the town over to the island. How
you do that, I don't know. Now in Baltimore we also had two amusement
parks; they called them theme parks. They are both out of existance.
With the changing of times, we had beautiful boats that you could take
on a Sunday and everything that you could imagine, little row boats,
the people used to go there in droves. They closed. Why? Because
the crime took hold in such a way and we had mobs of roving children
and teenagers that came. It was impossible to attend. So I think that
you are planning something a little ridiculous as far as the theme park
is concerned. Last but not least, I want to say that the hotel people
were talking about hotels. Having lived in these hotels for over, well
starting with the 40s up until now 184 -the Lord please, I could live
another 20 years- you know I live here longer, if you were, if you wanted
better tourists then you give them not only better accomodations, but
you use manners and cleanliness and deference and respect and you will
get your tourists. The one reason they don't want to come is because
they don't like the treatment that they get here from starting with the
taxi drivers and up all through the whole bit. You build some things
downtown and I beg you, Mayor, I walk with a cane, sometimes I can go
without it, but most of the time I can't. The Knight Center is gorgeous.
Do you know with all the intelligence that this City possesses and look
at these men here; they are really great! And I read about you in the
paper; and I'm proud! You didn't build an elevator at the Knight Center
to take you up to the second floor. I had to climb those stairs, and
I said I'll never make it, but by golly, I made it. I made it today.
I took off time to come. I say Watson Island is lovely. One more thing
I want to say, I know the light is shining. I was here two years ago,
before my open heart surgery. I remember that was St. Patrick's Day
and you all wore green shirts and green ties and you looked so cute.
When it comes to a little green in the City, you don't want to see it.
Think of it.
Mayor Ferre: The next speaker is Eric Messersmith, President of the
Japan Cultural Foundation.
sl JAN 18 1984
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Mr. Eric Messersmith: My name is Eric Massersmith, President of the Japan
Cultural Foundation in Miami. I'm here on behalf of the spirit of Mr.
Kyochi Ishimura, who so graciously donated the Japanese Garden to the
City of Miami and Japanese gardens are supposed to become more beautiful
with age. In fact the most beautiful gardens in Japan are the oldest
ones. But it seems here, in the City of Miami, they have a problem when
it comes to maintaining the Japanese Garden. I would like to know, Mr.
Mayor, why it is that with all the money that the City of Miami has,
that it can't take care of a four -acre garden. Is it because the garden
is in the way of future development or is it because no one knows how to
take care of it or? Everybody in town knows that the Japanese Garden
was once a beautiful place to go to and it created a lot of good publicity
for the City of Miami. Now, it is nothing but an eye sore. I know because
I've spent a lot of time there cleaning it up on my own. I might add that
I was fortunate enough to live in Japan for ten years in the City of Kyoto,
where I studied the tea ceremony. I think of all the big cities in this
country, Miami is the only one that takes care of its Japanese Garden in
such a disgustful manner. I'd just like to know if there is any intention
on the City's behalf to do anything about that.
Mayor Ferre: The next speaker is Erny Fannotto.
Mr. Erny Fannotto: Erny Fannotto is my name and I'm president of the
Taxpayers League of Miami and Dade County and the Homestead Tax
Exemption League. The Homestead Tax Exemption League happens to be
300,000 people here in Dade County who own homes. I would like to
start off by saying, Mayor, you were right the first time in reference
to building a stadium. You were right here in reference to building
a theme park or an amusement park. The only trouble is with the
amusement park is that it is the wrong park in the wrong location.
The trouble was with the stadium, and you might have won it if you'd
had bona -fide contracts so it would have tenants in there instead of
verbal commitments. Verbal commitments are no good when you're building
a $50,000,000 park, I mean stadium. This is the taxpayers' money, and
I want to let you folks know why you don't have so many tourists here
in Dade County. I'll tell you why, 14% sales tax on the tourists every
time they walk here in Dade County. Almost 1/7th of their total bill.
Let me go over them for you: 5% gasoline tax, 4% local gasoline tax,
3% hotel bed tax, -Miami Beach is going to put on here- 2%.bed tax,
that is 14% tax. We are a tourist -oriented city that's slapping it
on the tourists, excuse the slang. So how do you expect to have tourists?
But I do agree with you, Mayor. The theme park is all right. The amusement
park is all right. It's very productive. For God's sakes, don't do it
where you are going to do it. There are thousands, thousands of cars.
People come from work from that beach. You know what? When they have
all that additional traffic in this theme park, they're going to cuss
this Commission up and down a thousand times and prevent it. Now in
reference to the stadium, I won't be able to be here, Mayor. I'd appreciate
it if you would give me one or two minutes on that. I am for the stadium.
I am for football.
Mayor Ferre: It wouldn't help if I tried to stop you anyway, Erny, so
go ahead.
Mr. Fannotto: Well, I wouldn't do it unless you said O.K.
Mayor Ferre: Go ahead, Erny.
Mr. Fannotto: I am for the stadium. I am for football, because I think
we get millions and millions of dollars of advertising over national
television that's going to help or break this community. I say to the
Manager, and I am going to say to you, Commissioners, a bond issue is
not going to pass. I don't think it is entirely tide responsibility
of the City of Miami. It is a County -wide project that, I think, Mr.
Pope in the Miami Herald described very well, it should be divided up.
If you folks are, and you mean -business, let's be be business. Let's
talk with professionals. Let them offer constructive recommendations.
Who are the professionals? Robbie, if you want to know. Robbie is a
real professional. You may not like him personally. But my friend,
George Hammad and Danny Thomas owned the Dole; -ins b=Fore he took it
over. What happened? They went bankrupt. Th7 �idr.'t know the business.
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JAN 181984
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Mr. Erny Fannotto (Con't): He happens to know the business. I think
before you can come up with any idea of spending any money on that
stadium, whether it is to repair it or build a new stadium, you should
,invite Robbie, you should invite Don Shula, you should invite the
Orange Bowl Committee and you should invite Schenellenberger from the
University of Miami. You folks don't know one thing about football.
You can stand up there and laugh all you want. You don't know a damn
thing about it and you are trying to tab $50,000,000 on our homeowners.
You know what your chances are? One out of twenty of getting it passed.
I'm going to be against it, unless you have bona fide written contracts.
I don't want these verbal contracts....
Mr. Dawkins: I'm going to be against it, if you have Joe Robbie with
it.
Mr. Erny Fannotto: I don't care whether it is Joe Robbie; he's successful.
And the other people haven't been successful.
Mr. Dawkins: I want you to know because you want me to know.
Mr. Fannotto: You don't have to tell me that. What I'm driving at is
let the people who know the business come up here and offer constructive
criticism. They are the people that know the business. You people are
old enough and I think you have enough sense to digest when you see things
are right, but you know I hear everybody laugh, but you got beat 4f to 1,
didn't you on the other bond issue. That's what is going to happen now
unless you consult people who know and people who have confidence in
business, let's be business and not just try to kid the public. Thank
you.
Mayor Ferre: Thank you, Erny. The next speaker is Marilyn Reed. We
have two speakers left.
Ms. Marilyn Reed: Marilyn Reed, I live in Coconut Grove. I haven't had
a chance to read the whole R.F.P., but I would like to make sure that you
all don't open yourselves up to any further trouble. I would like to
see the City at least get the marina project off the ground. I am not
interested ... I am not going to address the uplands. I'll leave that up
to you, because my main interest is in the marinas. Back in 1981 you all
gave a contract to Greenleaf and Telesca and a large amount of money. I
was hired as a consultant. We went forth and designed an excellent
marina plan. It's one of the few'that is ready. We have taken it to
the permitting agents already. They like it. We have support
letters, which is unheard of in the permitting process to go with the
application with support letters. They are going to run out of date.
I tell you, this is one of the best designs. We could do that. I would
suggest that you consider separating the marina project out. Let us go
to get the permits. Then you have a bird in hand. You have negotiable
instrument. You could handle this separately with your bidding. I would
call your attention to something else and it certainly needs to be checked.
The use of the language in here talking about the development site map.
The map that is included in here I have some questions on. I believe,
as I checked it through the Regional Planning Council, that this is not
correct, the one that they are showing on the north side. The way they
explained it to me, Mayor, is that you and John, when you were before
the Cabinet, that this was withdrawn but you got the approval of the west
side, and that was based on Carmen Lunetta's letter, which I was able to
get. Nobody else could get it. All right, now, I think this map should
be changed if you are going to be accurate to the configuration on the
D.R.I. map, which is what still remains.
Mayor Ferre: You are right.
Ms. Reed: I'm pointing out things that I think need to be looked at.
Mayor Ferre: She's not right, John?
Unidentified Speaker: We have a little disagreement about it.
Ms. Reed: He doesn't agree with it.
Council ... as I said, check it out.
language. The development site map,
,10
This is what the Regional Planning
I have a problem here with some
which is this, which files
JAN 18 1984
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Ms. Reed (Con't); include the City proposed marina facilities of Watson
Island, which have been approved by State Agencies. Just a minute...
D.R.I. is only an advisory process. You have not even been through the
permitting process. That is the State Department of Environmental
Regulation, that is the D.N.R. That is why we are ready to go get your
permits on the marina masterplan we have already designed. It won't
take us long. It would take us 60 days at the corps and 90 days at
the State. That is not long and we could at least put them in your
hands if you would consider this. I believe that this language stands
to be corrected here so that you don't have a misrepresentation because
this has not been approved by all the State agencies. That leaves people
to believe other than what is true. So I would like to see that language
corrected. Do you have any questions?
Mayor Ferre: Marilyn, I think you have some very good suggestions.
Ms. Reed: Thank you.
Mayor Ferre: Mr. John Brennan, the City of Miami Waterfront Chairman.
The last speaker that I have is Mariano Cruz.
Mr. John A. Brennan: Mr. Mayor, I'm going to read a motion that was made
last night at the Waterfront Board. Everyone should have been delivered
a copy.
Mayor Ferre: We have a copy of it, Mr. Brennan and it is in the record.
Mr. Brennan: The Waterfront Board of Miami at its meeting on January 17th
passed a motion strongly recommending that the City proceed immediately
with the process of acquiring permits for the proposed public marinas
at Watson Island, as planned by Greenleaf and Telesca in 1980, further
recommending that these docking facilities and the necessary upland and
ancillary facilities be reviewed independently from other development
considerations. This was done because we feel that it is in the best
interest of the public and the City financially as well as emotionally
if you like. Thank you.
Mayor Ferre: Thank you very much, Mr. Brennan. The last speaker that
I have that was registered to speak is Mr. Cruz.
Mr. Mariano J. Cruz: Members of the Commission, my name is Mariano
Cruz. I live within the City limits of Miami at 1227 N.W. 26th Street
in Northwest Miami in Allapattah. I have lived there for the past 15
years. You are the Commission of the City. You are there to represent
the interests of the taxpayers of the City of Miami, the voters and no
voters. I am a voter too. I don't work for the City. I just happen
to be here because I have the day off today. I work for the United States
Postal Service. I don't have a problem in the City. I have nothing in
the City; I just pay taxes to the City of Miami. Of one thing I have
glad is the decision if you are going to have a decision done in Watson
Island. I drove a taxi here for many years. When the people came, the
Superbowl and different places, "Take me to a place, Seaquarium," that's
it, "Monkey Jungle, Serpentarium." I don't think for the last many years
nothing has been done to here. But in that mean time they establish a
barrier there in Orlando, Disney World so people don't come here. You
have to have an attraction for the people here, even for me. I got
family. I got children. If we get to go to the park, we go to the
Metro Zoo. Now they are going to build a theme park there on Metro
Zoo. I don't want to drive to the...I live in the City. I like to
have something like that, a good development made there in Watson Island,
because first it is close to us, it will provide jobs for the people
there and is a decision. Right now they say the taxpayers have to pay,
O.K. I had to pay for the Dade Cultural Center there. Very seldom I
will visit that Dade Cultural Center in Flagler Street made by the County,
which our money to the Dade Progress Bonds, but nevertheless there are
people that like that, the Cultural Center, and they go there. So
there are a lot of peopre...maybe they are not here today, but they
had to be working iti the factories and the only time they get free would
be Saturday and Sunday to take the children to a place. There are no
retirees or they don't have wealthy people that have plenty nf time
especially time to be here today. Not the money, because some people
have a lot of money, but they don't have the time. But the time is
u
JAN 181984
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Mr. Cruz (Ccn't): very important. So I say due to the Commissioners
there, if you are going to make a decision, wise decision, make it thinking
of the residents of the City of Miami, not just the ones that make it here
to this meeting organized, vocal people who know how the system works.
Many people out there don't know how the system works, but they pay taxes
nevertheless, taxes that make possible that all of you sit there. Thank
you very much for your time.
Mayor Ferre: Thank you very much, Mr. Cruz, for your statement. Are
there any other speakers? Are there any other speakers at this public
hearing? Seeing no hands, is there a motion that the public portion
of this hearing be closed? It's been moved. Is there a second?
Mr. Dawkins: Second.
Mayor Ferre: Seconded, is there further discussion? Call the roll.
THEREUPON MOTION DULY MADE AND SECONDED, THE PUBLIC HEARING
PORTION ON WATSON ISLAND WAS CLOSED.
Mayor Ferre: Ladies and gentlemen, in the interest of waiting for
Commissioner Plummer to give him the opportunity to participate in
both of these discussions, what I'm going to do now is to switch to
item number 2.
2. PUBLIC HEARING - CONTINUED
FEDERAL REVENUE SHARING FUNDS 1983-1984
SOCIAL SERVICES PROGRAM.
Mayor Ferre: Item number 2 deals with the continuing public hearing
with regards to Federal Revenue Sharing. We have four speakers. I
would assume that if they take three minutes each, that will be fifteen
minutes. Then we will take a short break, and by that time, hopefully
Plummer will be here. The first speaker is St. Alban's Day Care Center;
is there somebody here representing St. Alban's Day Care Center? Mr.
Nembhard.
Ms. Sally Walker: I'm Sally Walker, 3465 Brooker Street. I'm the
Executive Director of St. Alban's Day Nursery. At the last Revenue
Sharing hearing, our program was almost eliminated because you started
at the top of the list 4nd selected your programs alphabetically along
with your pet projects.' I feel that this was wrong. Father Gibson was
not here to select his pet project. I hope that the same procedure won't
be used today. I hope that you will accept the recommendations of your
very competent staff. They have done their homework. They have monitored
our program and they know its worth. You have set your priorities, one,
to feed the hungry and two, to take care of the sick. For the benefit
of those of you who may not be aware of what we do, I would like to tell
you briefly some of the things that we do for children. We feed them
three meals a day and we take care of their health needs. The components
of our program are nutrition, social services, parent involvement, education,
and health. Tears would come to your eyes if you could see some of the
children who come to us with malnutrition, those who come with emotional
problems too great for a child to bear, some are withdrawn, some too
agressive, some filled with fear and hostility and some children who
have been terribly abused.
JAN 181984
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Ms. Brooker: (cont't)
Our program is a preventive program. We feed and nourish the
children now, so that they won't grow up with rickets and other nutri-
tion related problems for you to take care of later. We take care of
the emotional problems now through referrals ao that the mental insti-
tutions won't be so full. We see that all of the children have their
immunizatoos so that diseases like diphtheria, polio and smallpox won't
be a problem for children later and for you. Learning starts at birth,
so we start at age 6 weeks to teach children to trust and to be trusted,
and give them a good self image. By the time a child is five, three-
fourts of his brain has already been developed. It is too late to
start when he is a teenager. We start to instill good habits at
infancy. Give us the children and you won't need so many police offi-
cers later, or so many jails, or so many hospitals. We try develop
the whole child socially, emotionally, physically and intellectually.
We help children to grow into good, productive citizens. If you can
find it in your heart to fund St. Albans, I am sure the 374 children,
the 500 parents and the thousands of former parents and students will
remember you for it. St. Albans has a long and interesting history.
For 35 years, the agency has been providing quality day care in Coco-
nut Grove, so that mother can go out and work in order to take care
of their family. If it were not for St. Albans Day Nursery, many
mothers would have to quit their jobs, stay home, get on welfare to
take care of their children, or older children would be deprived of
their education because they would have to be kept out of school in
order to take care of the little ones. Fees at St. Albans are based
on abilities to pay. If you take away St. Albans, it.would be a
disaster. We need more slots. Our waiting list is well over 200.
Commissioners, I have faith in you, and I know you will make the
right decision and stand by our children.
Mayor Ferre: I would like to ask - we do have a series of speakers,
and we do need to finish in the next two hours, that you limit your
statements to three minutes and I don't think there is anybody who
can't basically make their basic statement within that period of time,
so please try to help us. There are a lot of people who want to speak.
Mr. Oswald Menhart: Mr. Mayor, Commissioners, City Manager. I will
just take the remainding portion of Mrs. Walker's time. My name is
Oswald Menhart. I am one of the administrators involved in the Day
Nursery.. In fact, I am charge of the Family Day Care 'Home. One of
the sponsors of the Family Day Care Home happens to be the Revenue
Sharing funds. Addressing a comment made by Mr. Plummer the last time
about sizable budget, I would like to say to him that the particular
amount of money given us by the Revenue Sharing funds forty-five
slots in the Family Day Care Home for babies. It is very important,
therefore, that we should keep this funding. If you take away the
funding from the revenue sharing, it means then that you will be
eliminating service to forty-five children in Day Care home. These
Day Care Homes are filled with children who really need the help.
Based upon your priorities of food and health, I would like to say that
this program is comprehensive. We feel the forty-five children in the
home and although no part of your budget is responsible for feeding
or providing the food, we would like to tell you that we have gone to
other sources and have acquired the necessary funds to feed the children.
To see to it that we have no children there suffering from malnutrition.
We would also like to point out to you that the program deals with health.
Every children that enters the Day Care Home, for the protection of that
child, as well as the other children that they have to deal with, have
to come into the program with health papers presented by the parents.
The Coconut Grove Clinic is one of the extensive programs that
gives support to the parents in that area. And as I said before, a
lot of these parents would not be able to take care of their health
problems had it not been for the Coconut Grove Clinic, and a lot of
them would not take care of the opportunities if we were not behind
them to let them know that their children must receive the necessary
immunization to maintain good health, so then again, I want to say
to you that the program is comprehensive. It is educational, it deals
with food. It deals with health. I want to draw attention to one
or two special incidents that we have, dealing with health. Last year
JAN 18 1984
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one of our Dav care mothers found that after the parent had left the
child with her, the child was pale. When she fed the child, the child
started the vomit. She called us at the Center and we called the parents
in return, and insisted that the parents come over and take the child to
the hospital. The parents did not do that. The parents took the child
back to the husband at the gas station. Within a few minutes the child
was worse, and the husband rushed the child to the hospital. immediate-
ly the child was detained in the hospital. Last week again, we had
another case of meningitis. We called the parents - the Day Care mother
knows that child was sick, possibly had meningitis. We called. The
mother said that because of her job, she could not leave, but the Grand-
mother would come and take the child. The Grandmother insisted that
she would take the child home, and rub the child up with something. We
said "No, the child must be taken to a clinic". The child was taken
to a clinic, the clinic advised that the child must be taken to Jackson
Memorial Hospital. When they reached there, they said that had this
child been kept out for another two hours, it could possibly have re-
sulted in death. The Miami Herald two weeks ago showed where one
child died from meningitis, and this could have been another case, so
we actually deal with health, food and education. I am asking you
to continue our funding or are you denying service to 45 needy children?
Thank you.
Mayor Ferre: All right, sir, thank you. The next speaker will be
Mrs. Latimer from A.S.P.I.R.A. Mrs. Lattimer.
Ms. Marisela Latimer: Good afternoon, my name is Marisela Latimer,
A.S.P.I.R.A., Florida. We are again requesting the cooperation of
yourself to get funds for our program. In that tense, Dr. Luis
Martinez will be talking to you. He is the Chairman of our Board.
Dr. Luis Martinez: Good afternoon. When I left this room two weeks
ago, when I couldn't speak to you because I had a case of laryngitis,
I was under the impression that A.S.P.I.R.A. of Florida had been
awarded $30,000 of revenue sharing funds. I proceeded to sit down in
my office and write letters of thank you to you Commissioners for
as I turned to you for your vote of confidence. Developments later
that day nullified that award to A.S.P.I.R.A. But, once again, the
Board of Directors of A.S.P.I.R.A. of Florida comes to you to request
funding for the operation of our program. A.S.P.I.R.A. of Florida
currently operates a crime prevention program aimed at public school
students in the Wynwood area. One of our objectives is to provide
youngsters with the opportunity to achieve success. The program
makes use of professional counselors as well as peer counselors, who
recognize the need to.use peers to support assertive youngsters to-
ward productive lives. Presently we are serving 128 students in that
area. Last time here in the Chambers you heard the national Chairper-
son of A.S.P.I.R.A. of America pledge her support and the support of
the other five A.S.P.I.R.A. Currently, we are in the process of hav-
ing a fund raising in New York, which is goir..g to provide some limited
amount of funds to us. With those limited amount of funds, and that
which you may be able to help us with, we will be able to continue the
work that we have started. Thank you.
Mayor Ferre: All right, thank you. The next speaker is Mrs. Aldrich
of Centro Mater.
Ms. Francisca Aldrich. Mayor Ferre, Commissioners, my name is Francis-
ca Aldrich - representing Centro Mater located at 418 S. W. 4th Avenue,
in the Little Havana area. The purpose of the City of Miami's priority
are food, health and related support services. Centro Mater provides
needed child care services to low income children, which includes
breakfast, lunch, the snack and health services. The $20,000 that
Centro Mater is requesting will keep the program open during the summer
months. Otherwise, these children would be deprived of the services,
triggering serious problems, putting their mothers out of work,
making critical an already difficult situation for these needly people.
We request that the City Commission consider Centro Mater as a related
support service, and therefore a priority when making decision. Thank
you.
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JAN 181984
# a
Mayor Ferre: All right, thank you. The next speaker is Ringo Cayard.
Mr. Cayard.
Mr. Ringo Cayard: My name is Ringo Cayard. I am going to be talking
on behalf of HACAD, Haitian -American Community Services, but before I
speak, I think I would like Mr. Biambi to express first, and then I
would follow him.
Mr. Roger Biar+bi: Mr. Mayor and members of the Commission, I am here
to speak on behalf of the Haitian community in Miami. HACAD is the
only Haitian social service agency in Dade County. We are facing a
myriad of problems in this community. We still have a long way to
go before we can tackle those problems systematically. Th fact remains
that of the monies available under Federal Revenue Sharing, approximate-
ly 10% of those monies are allocated in the Haitian community. We are
against the proposed budget cut, raging from 29% to 42%. Those cuts
are earmarked to fund new agencies that do not even meet the require-
ments established by this Commission at the last meeting. We in the
Haitian community are always getting short-changed. HACAD is a compre-
hensive social service agency. Last year under our program funded by
Federal Revenue Sharing, our two staff attorneys recovered in excess
of $30,000 from security deposits illegally withheld by unscrupulous
landlords in this community. Our attorneys are forcing Dade County
HUD to effectuate housing changes that are necessary. We are also
in the process of undertaking a class action suit against those rental
agencies and those unscrupulous landlords and we have gotten legal
advice from attorneys nationwide concerning this matter. The monies
that our attorneys are recovering from those unscrupulous landlords
do go back into the pocket of the Haitian community. Cutting our
programs, you are asking us to cut one of our legs. We are opposed to
those changes. With 10% of those monies going into the Haitian commu-
nity is not too much. The by-product of our legal action benefits
the City of Miami. I am willing to throw the gauntlet at this Comis-
sion to walk through Little Haiti to see how this community has changed
over the past two years. Houses are being painted, repairs are being
effectuated by landlords. This is how economic development starts
from within the community. Within that same program we are providing
emergency food in the form of vouchers, with arrangements mady with
two local supermarkets and we are providing also emergency shelter for
those who are facing eviction by those unscrupulous landlords, and be-
lieve me, Mr. Mayor and members of the Commission, landlords in this
community do not follow the legal procedure to evict people in the
streets. We get people at 5:00 o'clock, 6:00 o'clock in the afternoon
coming to our doors telling us that they have been locked out. In
addition, 11st year we received $100,000 from FIMA to provide
emergency food and rental assistance to the Haitian community. Agaiii
this year, we have already applied, and the likelihood of us retciving
that money is great. Those are dollars that will be going into the
Haitian community to feed those are needy. I urge you to consider
not adopting the proposed cut for HACAD. Thank you.
Mayor Ferre: Thank you Mr. Biambi. All right, are there any other
public speakers at this time? Mr. Cayard.
Mr. Ringo Cayard: Ringo Cayard, 700 N. W. 2nd Avenue. I just want
to emphasize on the point that HACAD who is to first agency to enter
the food program into that Federal sharing money in 1981 without being
asked to do so, and we are a different community, unlike the other
communities, we just don't have enough knowledge of the laws here be-
cause we just arrived. Of course, you know, compared with the other
communties, such as the Anglo, the Cubans and the Puerto Ricans, they
do have the large private sector who could absorb all the other prob-
lems, and we don't have that. We are just trying to build up a com-
munity,like cutting HACAD, you know, you are just cutting half of the
community. As a matter of fact, HACAD is the only agency right now
asking for funds from the Federal sharing money, which is nearly 10%.
We are dealing with over 100,000 Haitians here. Legally, the City has
60,000, but we do have the same people in Belle Glade, Immokalee,
Delray Beach and all over.. These people need services, food, and of
course, they need legal assistance, so therefore I would ask that
HACAD remain with that $163,000, and next year, you Know, you could
ld .15 JAN 181984
J
cut it, because then we will have more knowledge and we would have
time to find other sources. Thank you.
Mayor Ferre: Thank you very much, Mr. Cayard. We now I think have
concluded. Are there any other public speakers? Ladies and Gentle-
men, this does not mean that a member of the Commission may not ask
you to come back and answer specific questions, but at this time,
and the way we do this legally, is that after a public hearing and
all the members of....
Mr. Plummer: I move to close the public hearing.
Mayor Ferre: Is there a second?
Mr. Dawkins: Second.
Mayor Ferre: Further discussion? Call the roll.
THEREUPON, MOTION TO CLOSE PUBLIC HEARING duly made by
Commissioner Plummer and seconded by Commissioner Dawkins
was adopted by the following vote:
AYES: Commissioner Miller J. Dawkins
Commissioner J. L. Plummer, Jr.
Vice -Mayor Demetrio Perez, Jr.
Mayor Maurice A. Ferre
NOES: None
ABSENT: Commissioner Joe Carollo
Mayor Ferre: All right, on the issue before us, which is Federal
Revenue Sharing funds, questions from members of the Commission.
All right, no questions? Then I have statements from members of the
Commission.
Mr. Plummer: Okay, I will start off. As I said before, it is not
a popular situation. Nothing I think that we do here today is
going to satisfy everyone. There is just no way. There is not
ample monies for the request and of course I think the disclaimer
has to go that I think everyone of the requests has merit, but there
is no question that some will have to go away with their request
denied. So, it behooves this Commission to try and act as prudent
and as wisely and do for those which we feel is the greatest need
of this community. Mr. Mayor, the January 11, 1984, which was
prepared by the Director of Community Development, has outlined
position, which I have felt we should have been in from Day 1. I
don't know that my fellow Commissioners will agree, but at least
Mr. Mayor, at the time that it is appropriate, I will make a motion,
the guidelines that is set forth in the January 11 memo, be made into
the form of a motion. These guidelines are very simple. We first
feed the hungry, we take care of the medically ill, and any monies
left over, we will talk about. In this particular case, it is the
recommendation that using the percentages as applied, that there
would be a remaining uncommitted balance of $52,313, which is re-
commended. I think that amount must be set aside regardless of
what is the final analysis for the period of wind down of those or-
ganizations who will not have any existence after whatever decision
is made by this Commission. I think that it is only fair that must
have time in which to wind down their programs, whichever they are,
and in some cases those who will no longer be able to exist, so I
think that is a very important criteria regardless of what formula.
Mayor Ferre: All right, I have - I guess I should have spoken out
in the question portion of it - Dena, with regards to the Centro
Mater issue that Mrs'. Aldrich spoke to us on, it was my recollection
that we had previously voted for the $20,000 - I am not talking about
the last meeting - I am talking about three or four meetings ago.
I am positive that the record will reflect that - I think, Mr. Plummer,
it was you, or Mr. Carollo that made the motion...
ld 16 JA N 18 1984
Mr. Plummer: Mr. Mayor, I also recall, and I think it was Commissioner
Carollo - I would have liked to have had the honor to do such, but I
think the credit must go to Commissioner Carollo. I do recall two items -
one was Martin Technical, and the other was Centro Mater. Do I stand
corrected?
Mayor Ferre: I wish - I don't know whether Commissioner Carollo is
(I see his papers there, so he is still in his office) but, I would
like to wait until he returns because I am pretty certain that Com-
missioner Carollo made a motion with regards to those $20,000 for
Centro Mater way back in the very beginning.
Mr. Plummer: May I suggest that we find out how our money is spent
in the Clerk's office and pull the minutes?
Mayor Ferre: Yes.
Ms. Spillman: There were not funded on a four-year basis. It was
requested by the City Commission that they receive another one -twelfth.
The only agency that was funded for the whole year was Martin.
Mayor Ferre: No, That $20,000 was in lieu of...
Ms. Spillman: One -twelfth of it, Mayor, not the full thing. It is
new, yes.
Mayor Ferre: You see, that is your recollection of it, right?
Ms. Spillman: No, that - well.
Mayor Ferre: Is that your recollection of it? You are telling me
that that is all that was in my mind when I voted?
Mr. Gary: No, Mr. Mayor...
Mayor Ferre: You are telling me that that is what you remember we
voted on.
Mr. Plummer: As I recall, Mr. Mayor, as I recall, there has been
so many of these figures. Something rings a bell in my mind that
they had been asking for around $30,000, and they agreed to take
$20,000. is that...?
Mayor Ferre: That is right. No?
(INAUDIBLE BACKGROUND COMMENTS)
Mayor Ferre: So that it is on the record...
Mr. Plummer: What meeting was that at?
Mayor Ferre: Would you please ... I am sorry, we have to keep this
on the record.
Mr. Plummer: I've got this in one of my things where the list is
down below.
Mayor Ferre: YOu have got to put this on the record - the microphone.
There is no other way you can have a public record of it. Thank you.
Ms. Miriam Roman: My name is Miriam Roman, I represent Centro Mater,
418 S. W. 1st Avenue. In the meeting of November, we requested
$20,000. We are a new program and the motion was presented by
Commissioner Carollo and it was approved by these members of the
Commission that we were granted the funds on a monthly basis with
the understanding after the college said that they need the Commission
for one year, for the whole year.. It was with the understanding that
we would be granted the money. However, they give it on a monthly
basis with the understanding that we would receive the whole amount.
.1'7
JAN 181984
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& 0
Mr. Plummer: Excuse me. Mr. Mayor, let me on the record stand
corrected, Dena. There were two.
Mayor Ferre: There were two what?
Mr. Plummer: There were two approved. One, referred to you by
you, Mr. Mayor, as my "turkey" at the last meeting, and it is called
United family and Children's Services for $22,820.
Mayor Ferre: I don't even know who they are.
Mr. Plummer: That is here, Mr. Mayor. That is in the record.
Mayor Ferre: Who is United?
Mr. Plummer: United Family Services of downtown.
Mr. Gary: The one that you couldn't remember.
Mr. Plummer: Okay, there were two. Okay, that I remember.
(INAUDIBLE BACKGROUND COMMENTS)
Mr. Plummer: Excuse me? Well, they were locked in for $22,820.
Mr. Gary: Mr. Mayor, our recollection is that there were a number of
new programs which this City Commission had to approve in order for
them to begin funding, and our recollection is that there was only
one that was approved for the full amount, which was Martin Technical
College. The others were approved for one -twelfth. Our recollection...
Mayor Ferre: Mr. Manager, I want to tell you that up until right
now - until this week you have been batting a thousand! And now all
of a sudden, you know, you are not batting a thousand anymore. You
were doing good up until now. Now, I think the question is the
legislative intent, and since here is the maker of the motion, and
the seconder of the motion is at the other end, we will have to ask
the maker of the motion what he intended! Commissioner Carollo, back
in November you made a motion with regards to Centro Mater for $20,000.
It was seconded by Commissioner Plummer. The Commission voted on it
and we voted on it. Subsequent to that came the question of Martin
Technical College. Commissioner Barbara Carey, who was present at
that time reiterated that there was no way that to clarify the con-
fusion, that she could start a program being funded only one -twelfth,
because how could she hire people? It was subsequently corrected and
there was a specific motion made. Dena Spillman and the Manager, I
think, and I think the Manager has some logic behind what he is say-
ing, since we did not make a similar motion of clarification. They
obviously assumed therefore we had only funded for one -twelfth. The
question therefore comes before us as to what the legislative intent
of this Commission was. Was it to fund one -twelfth, or were we
funding for the full year. Since you were the maker of the motion...
Mr. Carollo: You are saying one -twelfth for Martin Technical College?
Mayor Ferre: No.
Mr. Carollo: And Centro Mater?
Mayor Ferre: No.
Mr. Carollo: Just for Centro Mater?
Mayor Ferre: The question is, Centro Mater. We clarified the problem
regarding Martin Technical College. The question is - Centro Mater.
What was the legislative intent when you made that motion?
Mr. Carollo: To the best of my recollection, Mr. Mayor, as I have
expressed on previous occasions, if there is one program that I feel
Id
19
JA N 181984
certainly has been run to its full capacity and has been extremely
efficient in their all their workings has been Centro Mater and as
I recollect to the best of my recollection, I certainly intended for
them to have the full $20,000.
Mayor Ferre: To the seconder of the motion.
Mr. Plummer: Mr. Mayor, as I recall, it was that they were to be
funded the $20,000.
Mayor Ferre: Well, let the record reflect ... do you have any problems
with that? All right, let the record reflect that there is at least
three of us here who have a similar recollection, so Mr. Manager,
you are batting a thousand again, because you have been corrected.
Now, let the record reflect that that was the legislative intent of
this Commission at that time with regards to this particular matter.
Now, I've got the second question. To the members of ASPIRA that
are here, I got a letter from Congressman Bobby Garcia informing me,
Mr. Manager, that the City of Miami was chosen, and we have been
working hard on this, as you know, to be recipient of $100,000 award
by the Coco Cola Corporation, one of five American cities so chosen.
It is specifically earmarked for Hispanic educational projects.
Now, furthermore ASPIRA was chosen as the Number one Hispanic project
in the United States, so the question therefore is, to you, Mr. Mana-
ger, and to you, Dena, since Coca Cola will be coming here with their
program I think next week, and Dena I think my office has advised you,
so that you can be involved in that meeting? Okay, I will tell you
right now the Coca Cola people will be here Tuesday, the 24th at
2:30 P.M. Now, if we are going to get $100,000 for educational pro-
grams, how much is it that ASPIRA is requiring? $50,000? That would
therefore leave us $50,000 for other educational programs, is that
correct?
Mr. Plummer: Fantastici
Mayor Ferre: Okay, so therefore, Dena, to simplify the process, since
I believe we need to make a motion, may I, to the members of ASPIRA
that are here say, since you were chosen by Coca Cola as the number
one Hispanic program in the nation, I have a feeling from Congressman
Garcia's letter that they the implication is that you will be funded,
so since your request is $50,000, that would leave us $50,000 for
another Hispanic educational program. The money is very clearly
earmarked. Dena, would you, before Tuesday, look into the different
programs...
Ms. Spillman: I don't understand.
Mayor Ferre: You don't understand? Let me repeat it to you. The
Coca Cola Corporation is going to give the City of Miami $100,000.
Now do you understand?
Ms. Spillman: Yes, sir. I do.
Mayor Ferre: Okay, now. It is for Hispanic educational programs,
okay? And they a Hispanic educational program.
Ms. Spillman: I now understand, Mayor.
Mayor Ferre: The Coca Cola Company said they are Number one in the
nation. I think that they should therefore get their $50,000 out of
the Coca Cola funds and that gives you $50,000 to come up with an
additional Hispanic educational program. I don't know what that is,
you tell me.
Mr. Dawkins: Mr. Mayor.
Mayor Ferre: Yes, sir.
Mr. Dawkins: I think, and this is my personal opinion, we are being
unfair to them. What was your original request?
.19
JAN 18 Q84
ld
Ms. Latimer: The total amount of year was $74,000 and then...
Mr. Dawkins: Okay, $75►000 - sit down. Now, Coca Cola Company
is going tc Give us $100,000, and they are asking us for $75,000.
It is in my opinion they should get $75,000 what they asked for,
and then if there is anything left, we should go out and play Santa
Claus with it. That is my opinion_.
Mayor Ferre: All right, I will go along with that. However, I
think the $75,000 is for the full year, wasn't it?
Ms. Spillman: They have already received almost $25,000.
Mayor Ferre: They have already gotten $25,000.
Mr. Dawkins: Well, we take $25,000 from $75,000, and they still
got $75,000.
Mayor Ferre: I'm not going to argue that.
Mr. Dawkins: Let's do it like this, Mr. Mayor, in order to be fair.
Let's take whatever we have given them out of the $100,000, and then
give them the $50,000, I mean, whatever they need to go on and then
take the rest. Is that fair enough? Is that agreeable with the rest
of the Commission?
Mr. Gary: I think I've got a better suggestion!
Mr. Dawkins: No, no, no, Mr. Gary, because you...
Mr. Plummer: I've got a better suggestion than that - why don't
you give them the full $75,000 and let them give us our $25,000 back
and we will give it to Centro Mater.
Mr. Gary: Thank you.
Mr. Dawkins: Mayor, but is Centro Mater ... all right, but it said
"for Spanish educational programs". Now, what Centro Mater - are
they going to feed people, or teach people?
Mr. Plummer: No, no, Excuse me, that is not involved. The $75,000,
Miller, would go to ASPIRA for teaching - total.
Mr. Gary: They would pay us $25,000 back, though.
Mr. Plummer: They would give us our $25,000 back, and then we have
that free to do with what we want.
Mr. Dawkins: Okay, I've got a better idea than that! Take the $20,000
for Centro Mater out of Administration.
Mayor Ferre: All right, let me tell you now, so you understand - the
Coca Cola Company is going to have something to say on this. Dena?
Ms. Spillman: I am listening.
Mayor Ferre: All right, I want you to understand so that we don't
have any problems. Coca Cola Company is going to have something to
say on this, because it is their money. I assume that if they classify
ASPIRA as Number one nationally, they are not going to have any objec-
tions. On the other hand, and I want to tell you this so that we
don't have any problems - ASPIRA here and I know, caters to all of
Hispanic and Black and Haitian community. I understand that, but I
do think that the Coca Cola Company is going to make sure that that
money is used in more than one program, so I would hope that we could
evenly split this between ASPIRA and another worthy program that also
serves the Hispanic community and I think we have to be reasonable
about this, so that is something that we will work out with our staff,
okay? But, would you be advised, please, that we will meet and Mr.
Manager, we could use your conference room with the Coca Cola people
at 2:30 P.M. on Tuesday next. Thank you very much. The only other
o0 JAN 18 1984
ld
--
question that I have is St. Albans. How much is St. Albans going to
get, but they are not going to get now, under your proposal?
Mr. Plummer: Under the latest one?
Mayor Ferre: Yes, sir.
Ms. Brooks: They wouldn't receive any additional monies.
Mayor Ferre: I know that. How much is that? How much are they
requesting that they are not going to be...
Mr. Dawkins: Mr. Mayor, may I ask a question for my own information?
Ms. Brooks: They need $50,000.
Mr. Dawkins: Are we going to sit here and take each individual project
and give them money?
Mayor Ferre: I just haven't...
Mr. Dawkins: No, no, I am asking you. Okay, because if you are going
to do this, then I am going to have a problem and go through the others
that we didn't give any money, and we are right back where we started
from, Mr. Mayor.
Mayor Ferre: I understand, but I am just asking a question that I
want to know, because you know, you know...
(INAUDIBLE BACKGROUND COMMENT)
Mayor Ferre: You can do that too - that is why I said - questions
and comments. Now, I have a question. How much is St. Albans going
to get that they are not going to get?
Ms. Brooks: $50,016.
Mayor Ferre: How about the Miami Jewish Home for the Aged?
Mr. Plummer: They are in here, Maurice. They would get (INAUDIBLE)
Ms. Brooks: No, they wouldn't experience a reduction. They would be
funded at the same level that they are currently funded, if we follow
this method.
Mayor Ferre: Without any cuts
Ms. Brooks: Without a reduction, right.
Mayor Ferre: Now, let me ask you this, because the last time around,
when Plummer asked whether that was for food the statement was made
"no, that wasn't for food" - it was only 25% or 30% for food, but
you know, now all of a sudden I see that there is no cut at the Miami
Jewish Home for the Aged, where in HACAD, which is in a similar situa-
tion, they were cut.
Mr. Plummer: Mr. Mayor, that was predicated on the fact that I made
a part of my motion that they had surrendered two days, or three
days prior to that meeting a new budget and that that would be
allowed to be used as their budget in which they had already readjusted
their figures and shown it onto the area of food and medical.
Mayor Ferre: Okay, so they then switched their whole thing into food -
medical, is that it?
Mr. Plummer: That is correct.
Ms. Brooks: It was either food or....
Mr. Plummer: It was kind of unfair, Mr. Mayor, bec.duse...
21 JAN 181984
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0
0
Mayor Ferre: That is called being nimble, right?
Mr. Plummer: That was being quick, not nimble. It was kind of un-
fair. As you know, I took after this organization when I saw that
their total funding was something like $24,000,000, but that is to
run their entire operation, so as it came to governmental funding,
of course, the figure was a great deal less.
Mayor Ferre: In HACAD's case, I just had the same question - that is
my last question. How much are they being cut?
Ms. Brooks: They would be $55,895.
Mayor Ferre: In other words, in the HACAD case, you are recommending
that they be funded $36,700, so they are missing $55,000, is that it?
Ms. Brooks: Right. The $36,700 represents the food portion of the
project.
Mr. Plummer: Is that food and medical, or just food?
Ms. Brooks: They only have food. They don't have medical costs in
their budget.
Mayor Ferre: Okay, I would like to recommend the following, Mr.
Manager, that if we can convince the Coca Cola Corporation and the
committees coming to see the City on Tuesday to permit, since what
ASPIRA is short is $50,000, that. Centro Mater received for educational
purposes $50,000; that we then take that $25,000 and give it to HACAD.
Mr. Plummer: Do they qualify?
(INAUDIBLE BACKGROUND COMMENTS)
Mr. Plummer: If they qualify, I think that is great.
Mayor Ferre: They would have to qualify.
Mr. Plummer: If they qualify, that is super.
Mayor Ferre: If HACAD and St. Albans don't have the ability to be
as nimble about this as the Miami Home for The Aged, you know, the
handwriting is on the wall, isn't it? What I am saying is that we
now have found $100,000, and I would hope that with that, we might
be able'to help some of these areas, okay? That is all I can do
right now, but you don't have any more money right, and that is the
end of my questions. Any other comments? I'm ready for motions
now.
Mr. Gary: Comnaent.
Mayor Ferre: Yes, sir.
Mr. Gary: For the sake of bringing up an issue which is somewhat
contrary to established policy, I think I would be neglecting my
professional responsibility to highlight the unique needs of a com-
munity, namely, the Haitian community, which is not experienced in
other communities, except one, which in my estimation has been
addressed more appropriately than the Haitian community. I would
like to bring this to the Mayor and the City Commission's attention.,
when we had the influx of refugees, the Federal Government established
a Cuban and Haitian refugee program. I would also like to remind the
Commission that that program and the funding of that program and the
utilization of that funding was primarily for Cubans. I brought the
matter to the City Commission's attention and we made some adjustments
to rectify the problem,.but not on an equitable basis. Mr. Mayor, and
members of the Commission, we have a grave problem in the Haitian com-
munity, which is different than that of the Cuban community, in that
there is not a community base which can afford to give the type of
assistance that it is afforded to Cuban refugees in the Cuban community.
We have gone on record by support the needs of that community, even to
the point of financing of special projects that identify the extent of
.22 JAN 181984
ld
the problem in the Haitian community, which is readily available in
other communities. And because there are unique circumstances, we
were not able, prior to that time, to not only address the problem,
but even identify the problems. To that end, Mr. Mayor, we have a
serious problem in the Haitian community in terms of people who are
fearful of being deported, being taken advantage of in that particular
community, and of all the communities, we attempt to try to say that
we should provide services equally to all segments of this community,
but there are some segments of this community that have unique problems
that may not exist in other areas, and I go back to my situation, or
my comments I made earlier that I have no problems of putting all of
our storm sewer money in Flagami and Little Havana, not because that
community is Cuban, but because that community has the lowest level
and a serious drain problem in this community, and I think we ought to
address the problems as opposed to directly providing services equally,
regardless of whether they need it or not, and I would probably surmise,
Mr. Mayor, and members of the Commission, that in the Haitian community,
I will probably make a guess that the legal services to prohibit econ-
omic and social abuse of Haitians in that community is probably more
severe than feeding the people in that area, and I would ask the
City Commission to take another look at the needs of the Haitian
Community as it relates to legal services.
Mr. Plummer: Mr. Gary, I agree with you fully. Now, what is the
answer?
Mayor Ferre: Yes, what does that translate to dollars?
Mr. Plummer: That is fine, you know. Who else are we going to tell
"no"? Now, that is really what it boils down to. Everything that
you said I agree with it.
Mr. Dawkins: 100%, now where are we going to get the money from to
do what you said? You tell me, and I am with you.
Mr. Gary: I can address this right now. First of all, what is the
balance that you have in the ... no, we have less than $52,000 now.
What do we have as a balance in the phase out money?
Ms. Brooks: The phase out was$52,313.
Mr. Gary: No, we took something out. We had to give some money to
Centro Mater.
Ms. Brooks: It comes out to $16,666. (INAUDIBLE)
Mr. Gary: You have got how much left?
Ms. Brooks: $35,647.
Mr. Gary: You have got $35,647.
Mayor Ferre: But Howard, you want to phase down, you said.
Mr. Dawkins: That is all right. He is going to figure out...
Mr. Gary: Well, Mr. Mayor, you know, this phase out, the reason we
put that title to that balance, was primarily because the City Coirmis-
sion had some phased out money. Well, we have got them funded until
the end of this month - I mean, you don't need to phase out...
Mayor Ferre: All right, sir.
Mr. Dawkins: Okay, now, how.much do we need?
Mr. Gary: $55,000.
Mr. Dawkins: Okay, let's take the other - now, since we have got
people employed, and they work, and let's take the rest of it from
Administration.
JAN 181984
ld
Mr. Gary: You have got to pay them too.
Mr. Dawkins: The Administration is our people - they are working
for us, we are going to pay them anyway. I mean, isn't the people
that are adminstering, are we call the Administration - isn't that
City employees?
Mr. Gary: Yes, they get funded...
Mr. Dawkins: All right now, okay...
Mr. Gary: No, no, no. Give me the right to respond. Let me...
Mr. Dawkins: You can adjust - you can adjust. Let's take it ... you
want to help them and I want to help them. Let's take it from Admis-
istration!
Mr. Plummer: What is the total Administration cost of the social
programs.
Ms. Brooks: $79,523.
Mr. Plummer: The remaining balance, or total for the year?
Ms. Brooks: That is the total for the year.
Mr. Plummer: Is $79,000 - what is the remaining portion for the year.
Ms. Brooks: $49,555.
Mr. Plummer: So, it is about 8%?
Ms. Brooks: Roughly 8% of the total available.
Mr. Plummer: And what is the Administration cost for the total Admin-
istration of all Federal Revenue Sharing funds?
Mayor Ferre: We are getting it out of the Police Department.
Mr. Dawkins: Let J. L. finish.
Mr. Plummer: Excuse me, I have asked a question. Can I have an answer?
Ms. Brooks: That is the total for FRS, the $79 „ 523.
Mayor Ferre: Mr. Manager, you are not going to argue fcr over $10,000.
Mr. Gary: No, I am not!
Mr. Plummer: Your Administration is $79,000 for. almost $10,000,000.
Ms. Brooks: Oh, no, not for the total FRS.
Mr. Plummer: The question again is, what is the total Administrative
cost for all the FRS funds?
Mr. Gary: We don't have those figures available right now. We could
get them, we don't have them right now.
Mr. Plummer: Sure you do. You have got them, you just don't want
to give them to me. You've got them. If you don't, you have an
inefficient staff, and that's one of the reasons to cut down, and I
don't think that is the.case.
Mr. Gary: Mr. Mayor...
Mr. Plummer: May I have an answer to my question?
Mayor Ferre: He is going to answer you, I think?
Mr. Plummer: Oh, he is going to answer me whether he likes it or not,
because it is going to come out of his pocketbook if he doesn't!
,24 JAN 181984
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Mayor Ferre: That is a big answer!
Mr. Gary: Mr. Mi,yor, and Commissioner.
Mr. Plummer: I didn't interrupt you, Mr. Gary. Why are you interrupt-
ing me?
Mr. Gary: I thought I gave a response.
Mr. Plummer: Oh, I am sorry, you are going to answer for them? Fine.
I am ready to write the numbers. Please give them to me.
Mr. Gary: Would you give us five minutes to figure out the numbers.
Mr. Plummer: Be happy to, sir.
Mr. Gary: Thank you, sir.
Mr. Plummer: You can have more than that, because we are not going
anywhere until you do.
Mr. Gary: Fifteen.
Mr. Plummer: That is up to you, sir. You can talk as long as you
want, but I am walking out at 5:30 P.M.
Mayor Ferre: He has only got here at 4:00 P.M.
Mr. Plummer: Yes, but if I don't tell him that, we will be here until
6:30 P.M.
(INAUDIBLE BACKGROUND COMMENTS)
Mayor Ferre: Give Mr. Plummer his answer as we get it, and put it
in writing, so it will be part of the records.
Mr. Gary: we accept the recommenation of Commissioner Dawkins.
Mayor Ferre: All right, ae we ready to make the motion, now? In
other words, everybody will be in agreement, I hope.
Mr. Plummer: With what?
Mayor Ferre: With his recommendation.
Mr. Plummer: You mean as it relates to HACAD.
Mayor Ferre: Is there a motion now that the Manager's recommendation
as relates to HACAD be accepted? ... so we can make some progress.
Mr. Plummer: Yes, I move it.
Mayor Ferre: All right, is there a second?
Mr. Perez: Second.
Mayor Ferre: Seconded by Commissioner Perez. Call the roll on that.
Mr. Plummer: That's in reference to the additional funds coming out
of the Administrative side.. Yes, sir.
Mayor Ferre: And the $35#000 that is left in the balance and is going
to be given to HACAD.
Mr. Plummer:
Yes,
sir..
So moved.
Mayor Ferre:
That
makes
a total of $50,000. All right, call the roll.
25 JAN 181984
The following motion was introduced by Commissioner Plummer, who
moved its adoption.
MOTION NO. 84-12
A MOTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION INSTRUCTING THE
ADMINISTRATION TO FIND THE NECESSARY FUNDS IN
ORDER TO FUND H.A.C.A.D. IN THE A?lOUNT OF
$50,000 FOR FY-"83-'84.
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Perez, the motion was
passed and adopted by the following vote:
AYES: Commissioner J. L. Plummer, Jr.
Vice -Mayor Demetrio Perez, Jr.
Mayor Maurice A. Ferre
NOES: None
ABSENT: Commissioner Miller J. Dawkins
Commissioner Joe Carollo
Mayor Ferre: To the main motion now, which is the recommendation as
prexented by the Administration on the figures before us. Is there
a motion, as amended with H.A.C.A.D.
Mr. Plummer H.A.C.A.D. stays in on this?
Mayor Ferre: Yes, sir. Miller, the Manager accepted your recommen-
dation. Plummer made the motion. It is now incorporated into the
main body. Now, we are about to vote on the main thing.
Mr. Dawkins:
Mr. Gary: No, you said take it from me.
Mr. Plummer: Your recommendations.
Mr. Gary: From the Administration.
Mr. Dawkins:
Mayor Ferre: He accepted it, so Plummer made the motion and H.A.C.A.D.
has now been funded for $50,000, based on ... now, we are ready to vote
on the main motion.
Mr. Dawkins: What is the main motion?
Mr. Plummer: That one hasn't been made yet.
Mayor Ferre: I would imagine that the main motion - I will make the
motion if nobody else would. I will wait, but if nobody else does, I
would be happy to do it.
Mr. Plummer: Make the motion!
Mayor Ferre: I move that the Administration's recommendation dated on
the January llth memorandum before us be accepted as modified, in
H.A.C.A.D.
Mr. Dawkins: It has to be amended - (inaudible word), H.A.C.A.D., A.S.P.I.F.A.,
and St. Albans!
Mayor Ferre: All right, that is fine.
Mr. Dawkins:
Mayor Ferre: I accept it. That is fine!
ld 26 JAN 181984
ld
Mr. Dawkins: I mean, I don't know, am I in error?
Mayor Ferre: No, I accept that.
Mr. Perez: What about Centro Mater?
Mayor Ferre: And Centro Mater.
Mr. Perez: We approved the....
Mayor Ferre: But that...that is taking the $100,000 of Coca Cola
monies into account, assuming that is all part of the motion. What
Miller is saying is, do the whole thing. I'm with you.
Mr. Perez: We approved the other day the motion about Youth Coop?
Mayor Ferre: And that includes Youth Coop, right?
Mr. Plummer: No, that is not included in the motion.
Mayor Ferre: How much is Youth Coop? Is Youth Coop educational?
Miller? All right, I will make the following motion to clarify it.
Mr. Manager, I move that your recommendation on Page 2 of the
January llth memorandum be accepted with the difference that H.A.C.A.D.
will get the additional monies as the previous motion; further that
the $100,000 that Coca Cola is offering the City of Miami for Hispanic
educational programs be spent as follows: $50,000 fqr A.S.P.I.R.A.,
$25,000 for Youth Coop, and $25,000 for Centro Mater, in addition
for educational programs.
Mr. Plummer: How are you going to equate St. Albans?
Mayor Ferre: We are going to have to deal with St. Albans, and I
think we have to do something for St. Albans, but it obviously not
going to be in this, and I may have a solution for that. What else
can we do?
Mr. Plummer: I don't know - I have no more magic wand.
Mayor Ferre: How about seconded the motion?
Mr. Plummer: Second the motion.
Mayor Ferre: Further discussion?
Mr. Plummer: Under discussion. Mr. Gary, tell me the figure of
what is wind -down money left.
Mr. Gary: Zero
Mr. Dawkins: Call the roll, Mr. Clerk.
Mr. Plummer: You are not the Vice -Mayor.
The following motion was introduced by Mayor Ferre, who
moved its adoption.
MOTION NO. 84-13
A MOTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION ACCEPTING THE ADMINIS-
TRATION'S RECOMMENDATIONS AS CONTAINED IN PAGE 2 Or -
MEMORANDUM DATED JANUARY 11, 1984 ADDRESSED TO THE CITY
COMMISSION AND DISCUSSED ON THIS DATE, AS FURTHER
MODIFIED DURING DISCUSSION, NAMELY; ALLOCATING $50,000
FOR A.S.P.I.R.A. OF FLORIDA: $25,000 FOR CENTRO MATER;
AND $25,000 FOR YOUTH CO-OP.
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Plummer, the motion was
passed and adopted by the following vote:
.27
JA N 181984
ld
AYES: Commissioner Miller J. Dawkins
Commissioner Joe Carollo
Commissioner J. L. Plummer, Jr.
Vice -Mayor Demetrio Perez, Jr.
Mayor Maurice A. Ferre
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
Mayor Ferre: Thank you very much, Ladies and Gentlemen, we will see
you Tuesday at 2:30 P.M.
3. CONTINUED DISCUSSION.
PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT OF WATSON ISLAND AS A THEME PARK.
Mayor Ferre: All right, we are back to Watson Island. Mr. Manager,
on your Watson Island proposal, the Chair recognizes you to make your
statement into the record.
Mr. Gary: Mr. Mayor.
Mayor Ferre: Yes, sir.
Mr. Gary: I have before you a memorandum as well as a draft of the
RFP, and the draft of the RFP is slightly different than the one you
had earlier and reflects some of the changes that you have recommended
at the last meeting. I would like to highlight those changes in this
particular point in time.
Mr. Plummer: Excuse me, Mr. Gary...
Mr. Gary: Yes, sir.
Mr. Plummer: All kidding aside, I have about five drafts, and I just,
you know, I think it is time that we get one marked "final", and I
don't really know which one you are talking from!
Mr. Gary: The one that is dated "Revised, 1-13-84" at the top. That
is the final.
Mr. Plummer: Is this the final? Let me see what it looks like.
Mr. Gary: 1-13-84.
Mr. Plummer: Okay, that is this one.
Mr. Gary: Yes.
Mr. Plummer: The rest of them I can throw out?
Mr. Gary: Yes, sir.
Mr. Plummer: Okay, go ahead, proceed.
Mr. Gary: The memorandum addresses those questions raised by the
City Commission. I would like to go down them individually.
Mr. Plummer: I saw a memorandum here with the questions.
Mr. Gary: That is it. The.firs,t question on the sheet, labeled
Number one is from the Mayor and there should be a 5% of gross set
aside for cultural events. We agree with the concept and the goal
that the Mayor is trying to achieve, however, because there is a fee
JA N 18 1984
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required, and it also includes performing arts facilities, the
incentive to fund the costs for performers and entertainment is
built into the RFP. I would like to also inform the City Commission
that we think this would be one of the criteria by which we evaluate
the benefits that a firm provides to us and to limit us to 5% may
be eliminating an opportunity that would get more. As an example,
in Bayside, we had both proposers recommending not only money for
entertainment to be determined by the City Commission, but even money
for training, etc, and I think we should not limit ourselves there,
because we may be able to get more than the 5%.
Mayor Ferre: The problem, Mr. Manager, I get your point, but I think
that makes a statement as to what kind of a park we want, you know,
Mr. Turkel left. You know, the first five minutes of his speech, it
sounded like me seven years ago, that's exactly what I said. We want
this to be a Tivoli Garden with lush vegetation, no neon lights, no
honky-tonk, we don't want this, we don't want all these terrible things.
We want this to be a different type of a park, where people's imaginations
will really be captured and all that. Park of the premise with the
statement that we are making is that we want a very loose definition
of what culture is. We are not defining culture. Culture can be a
rock group. It can be strolling violins. It can be juglers. It can
be pantomime. It can be Corky Dosier and the theatre and the kids from
Coconut Grove. It can be a lot of things. It can be opera. It can be
the Harlem Theatre for Dance. It could be the Hispanic whatever.
Mr. Gary: I agree with you. The only thing I'm saying is to the extent
we qualify things in the R.F.P., first of all it makes it much more
difficult to evaluate, but more importantly it puts a cap on what we
can get. I think we can accomplish what you want through the contract
process.
Mayor Ferre: I accept that, but let me say that when the review of
potential bidders comes, I want to be present. I want to tell them
up front, just like I did on Bayside....
Mr. Gary: We plan to have you in it anyway.
Mayor Ferre: ....unless I see some Black folks and some Hispanics in
the process, you don't have my vote.
Mr. Gary: Right, we'll have you at the pre -bid conference.
Mayor Ferre: I want to say that I don't have any problems with yanking
that out and the same thing with landscaping, but I'm telling you right
now, Mr. Manager, so that we don't have any problems. If we have a bidder,
if that bidder does not put a minimum 5% of gross revenues into cultural
programs, I'm voting against it. I'm saying it on the record right now.
Now, you don't want to put it on the R.F.P.; that's fine. I'm just going
on record and I will say that at the conference if we have a conference.
Mr. Gary: Yes, sir. With regard to the landscaping, Mr. Mayor, we've
added that on page 4.
Mayor Ferre: You mean it specifically says....
Mr. Gary: Yes, it says that all aspects of infrastructure in public
facilities, including but not limited to vehicle and pedestrian
bridges, access, and service roads, parking facilities, sanitary
sewer, connection to the mainland, site utilities, land field and
landscape, that's a requirement of the developer.
Mayor Ferre: Would you also add, Mr. Manager, in that portion of the
$35,000,000 potential infrastructure description... Am I saying it
right?
Mr. Gary: That's correct. That's on page 4.
Mayor Ferre: When it says that the mainland and the site utilities,
would you add the words sea walls, marina docks, landscaping, and fill,
so that there is no question that we would consider if the developer
so wishes to say, we want to put a sea wall, that we would accept that.
John, is that a problem?
Mr. John Gilchrist: You will never get the environmental approval.
Mr. Mayor, we proceded on the project and the development of the island
with all the approval process 'committing that we would not alter the
shoreland. There is sea wall on actually about half the island.
Mayor Ferre: Does any of it need repairing?
sl So JAN 18 1984
sl
John Gilchrist: Repair is not a problem. The repair/maintenance....
Mayor Ferre: Look, you know the sea wall on Bayfront Park?
John Gilchrist: There should be no dredge and fill and no alterations....
Mayor Ferre: I'm not saying that we have to dredge and fill. I'm saying....
Mr. Gary: If it is required.
Mayor Ferre: ....is there a need for a sea wall in this project along
the permitted sea wall. I don't want to get in a problem with Marilyn.
But suppose....
INAUDIBLE COMMENT FROM AUDIENCE.
Mayor Ferre: In other words, we can't touch the sea wall.
INAUDIBLE COMMENT FROM AUDIENCE.
Mayor Ferre: That's my point! Thank you. Now you have my point.
Mr. Gary: Fine, Mr. Mayor, I'll have it in there.
Mayor Ferre: The same thing with marina/docks you have those....
Mr. Gary: I got that.
Mayor Ferre: Thank you, sir. That's all.
Mr. Gary: Mr. Mayor, their question to raise, the developer should
have flexibility to move Chalks, the heliport and the Japanese Garden...
that is on page 3 that says proposals can incorporate, redesign, and
relocate these facilities on Watson Island.
Mr. Plummer: At their expense.
Mr. Gary: At their expense, all this.
Mr. Plummer: Does it say that? I'm just trying to make it clearer.
Mayor Ferre: O.K., if it doesn't say it, let the record reflect that
we want it to be said that way.
Mr. Gary: You want on that "at their expense."
Mr. Plummer: At their expense.
Mayor Ferre: Well, it could be, J.L., part ... it could be at their
expense, but part of the infrastructure, see, and there you get into
these gray areas. Suppose somebody says all right, we want to move
Chalks....
Mr. Gary: I don't think they should pay all of it.
Mr. Plummer: Who's going to pay part of it? If they relocate the
yacht club, you are relocating the structure. Most likely that
structure is not going to be a movable situation, it's going to be
torn down and rebuilt.
Mr. Gary: Those guys have no right on that. They ought to share in
the cost.
Mr. Plummer: I understand, but they have a contract.
Mr. Gary: No, they don't. Yes, but it's on a day to day basis. I'm
just trying to be fair,. J.L. 1.
.31 JAN 181984
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Mr. Plummer: I'm also trying to be fair, but I am also trying to be
clear. Hey, moving of the heliport is no big deal. I am told ... is
it a big deal to move it? I am told that there is a legal problem,
by Marilyn Reed, if you try to move Chalks. I don't know that legal
problem. Because of the proximity to the basin, to whatever ... yes
or no? But I'm saying, you start moving the Japanese Gardens ... is
no problem, but when you have....
INAUDIBLE COMMENTS FROM AUDIENCE NOT ENTERED INTO THE PUBLIC RECORD.
Mr. Gary: Is this a public hearing? Yes, you can move a garden.
Mr. Plummer: But when you start moving structures is my great concern.
That's what costs dollars.
Mr. Gary: J.L., that could be an evaluation criteria that we could use.
Mr. Plummer: Fine, I'm just saying it is not stated in here in lieu
thereof, silence gives consent.
Mr. Gary: Yes, but a guy comes in and is going to pay for it and
another guy is not, he's....
Mr. Plummer: Howard, that's why I'm trying to be as clear as possible.
Mr. Gary: Item 4 is the same as item 3. Item 5, taxes should be paid
by the developer. That is included now. Item 6 proposal should allow
the City to be able to separate operating marinas and attractions and
that is done on page 4. The language basically says, as has been reviewed
by the City Attorney, proposes, -Mr. Mayor, this is the one you are
interested in- proposers may submit proposals for any of the following
options: marina development, attraction development, marina development
and attraction development.
Mayor Ferre: Well, Gjebre asked me a good question and I think it is
a valid question. If you give somebody the right to develop the marina
or the attraction or the marina and the attraction, shouldn't we really
have a kind of a priority so that we will first of all consider the
joint package before we consider the break down? Suppose somebody
goes through a lot of trouble putting this thing together? Then all
of a sudden you are saying, well, we're going to take your attraction
portion, but we don't want your marina, because we get a better deal
from....
Mr. Gary: But there is no way out of that, because....
Mayor Ferre: Yes, there is. The way out of it is this. You say you
allow taking R.F.P.s. We will first of all, before doing anything else,
make a decision if there are any R.F.P.s that are worthy of consideration
as a total package. If there are none, then we will accept pieces of it.
Mr. Plummer: You are talking of breaking it down in more than two
segments?
Mr. Gary: According to the City Attorney, you can't do it that way
for the mere fact that you have to evaluate them separately, even
though people may bid on two in terms of the merrits of them individually.
Mayor Ferre: I think the answer is that the way our charter reads, you
have such flexibility now anyway that you could break it down ... and so
why not say it up front. In other words, you could bid either/or or both.
Mr. Dawkins: Where is the City Attorney? I asked for a ruling. Mr.
Gary, hold it. Where is the City Attorney? I asked for a ruling on this.
Mr. Robert Clark: The priority that will be assigned, if you intent....
Mr. Dawkins: No, no, no.
Mr. Clark: I'm going to answer your question.
.32
JA N 18 1984
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Mr. Dawkins: But you do not answer my question.
Mr. Clark: Well, I'm going to answer your question.
Mr. Dawkins: Well, answer my question. My question, wait a minute, sir.
Mr. Clark: Give me the question.
Mr. Dawkins: My question to you was if we have passed an ordinance or
resolution that said we now deal with unified development, can you
split a bid up when you are supposed to be unified? That is my question.
Mr. Clark: In answer to your question, you can according to the request
for proposals, accept one for the marina development, one for the attraction,
or one which will take care of both those. Now, if you intend....
Mr. Dawkins: Hold it, now wait, I have to be together.
Mr. Clark: I haven't finished yet.
Mr. Dawkins: No, but I have to be together with you.
Mr. Clark: All right.
Mr. Dawkins: Are you saying I put out a unified development for marina,
a unified development one for attractions and unified development one for
something else?
Mr. Clark: We are telling you that those are acceptable proposals which
will be accepted. They can submit a proposal for a marina. They can
submit one for an attraction. They can submit one for a combined proposal
and if you intend to give higher priority, I think you can do it, but
you should say it out front because the selection committee can only go
with what you people approve here today.
Mr. Dawkins: Mr. Mayor, unless I get an understanding from this attorney
as to what unified development means, then I move that this be postponed
until I bring a lawyer in here who can tell me in plain English what I'm
trying to understand.
Mayor Ferre: All right, Commissioner, Clark, do you want to give another
try? I think the Commissioner has asked for a very clear yes or no
answer to whether or not and then a specific explanation as to whether
within the law of the Charter of unified development there is allowed in
a project, specifically Watson Island, a division of the bid procedure
the way the Manager has recommended.
Mr. Carollo: If I may, Bob, have you been handling the Watson Island
Project at the City Attorney's office?
Mr. Clark: I have been in on the Unified Development Proposals since
its inception. In answer to Commissioner Dawkins' question, the answer
is yes.
Mr. Carollo: Where is our City Attorney?
Mr. Clark: He had to leave.
Mayor Ferre: He has a fund raiser.
Mr. Carollo: Fund raiser.
Mr. Gary: Leave it alone.
Mayor Ferre: I'm not touching it.
Mr. Gary: I'd like to proceed. Item 7 expands the design criteria,
especially water features and land form. Pages 17 and 18, which Mr.
Turkel alluded to earlier, demonstrates that it is a water -oriented
development.
sl
33 JAN 18 1984
0 0
Mayor Ferre: Thank you, Mr. Manager.
Mr. Gary: Item number 8, through further explanation of the D.R.I.
process, the current status before the Florida Land and Water Judicatory
Commission explains the City's intent to seek extension of time limits
set by F.L.W.A.C.O. Condition 5. That is stated on page 3. The City
Commission envisions... the City envisions demonstrating progress in its
development of Watson Island by this request for proposals. The proposed
schedule and hopefully by receipt of proposals by April 12, 1984 in
seeking approval of the time extension. Cabinet denial now would
disallow the current D.R.I. Number 9, set aside an area of Watson
Island, 20 acres, for the performing arts. Page 2, Watson Island
proposals are expected to include and emphasize culture facilities,
live entertainement and shows. It is desirable that development includes
such facilities as outdoor and indoor stages, audio-visual, etc.
Basically, what is says, Mr. Mayor, here is that we think that to put
the maximum of 20 acres when you may need more or less, we don't think
it would allow creativity on the part of the developer in terms of
submitting his proposal. I think you need more study and research to
determine that.
Mayor Ferre: I realize that.
Mr. Dawkins: Mr. Mayor, I have a question. When we first discussed this
R.F.P., we, the Commission, instructed the Manager to come back with an
R.F.P. that dealt with 35 acres of Watson Island. That's what this
Commission told Mr. Gary to go and do. Now, it would appear to me, -and
if I am in error, you correct me- that before the acreage could be changed
from what this Commission designated as 35 acres, it would have to be
brought back to this Commission and O.K.'d. Am.I right or wrong?
Mayor Ferre: I think you are right. I think that's what he is trying
to do now.
Mr. Dawkins: No, no, no, I wrote Mr. Gary a letter. I sent him a memo,
and I specifically told him that this Commission told him to deal with
35 acres of Watson Island.
Mayor Ferre: Was that the motion?
Mr. Dawkins: No, that wasn't a motion....
Mayor Ferre: I'm asking you. You are making the statement. I'm
asking you.
Mr. Dawkins: That is what we instructed the Manager to bring back.
Mayor Ferre: Now, Mr. Gary, I don't remember. I assume that is
correct. What I do remember is that we use the basis for the R.F.P.
was the D.R.I. as approved by the cabinet. See, Mr. Turkel told us
that the South Florida Planning Council did not approve. But what
he did not say into the record is that the cabinet did approve, because
the cabinet is the ultimate....
Mr. Dawkins: Will somebody in my office bring me my memo to Mr. Gary,
please?
Mr. Gary: I'm sorry, you have it all in your package. If you look at
the stapled sheets right after my memo to all of the Commission, I have
a memo to Commissioner Dawkins, and right after my memo to Commissioner
Dawkins, is Commissioner Dawkins' memo to me, which includes that
information. If I may respond now....
Mr. Dawkins: No, wait, first I have to hear from the Mayor what we
agreed on.
Mayor Ferre: I don't know!
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JAN 18 1984
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0
Mr. Dawkins: Is there anybody else on this Commission who understands
what we told Mr. Gary to do, other than me? Is there anybody else?
Maybe me and Joe are the only two who are kooks in here.
Mr. Gary: I recall it. I recall that we talked about 35 acres.
Mr. Dawkins: And when you left here from this Commission you were to
bring back an R.F.P. dealing with 35 acres. Am I right or wrong?
Mr. Gary: That's correct, but that....
Mr. Dawkins: That's all.
Mr. Gary: If I may respond, though, to come back with an R.F.P. for
35 acres would be to come back with an R.F.P. that does not include
public infrastructures one of which being parking. The reason, Commissioner
Dawkins, that it was 35 acres in the D.R.I., which went to the State was
because the original proposal included the other segment of the land to
be financed ... I'm sorry, developed for public infrastructures, which is
to be financed by the City. We are no longer doing it. We are requiring
them to pay for those infrastructures, therefore, that has to be included.
Do you follow me? Does everyone follow me?
Mr. Dawkins: Yes, I follow you. What you are saying to me is you want
to use all of it, so you are finding a way to use it. I understand you.
Go ahead.
Mr. Gary: The next item....
Mayor Ferre: Go ahead, you are on item number 9, Mr. Manager.
Mr. Gary: Right.
Mayor Ferre: I accept your response to me. Again, I'm just going to
say that at the bid conference, I'm going to make my statement about
the need for future expansion for perhaps cultural things. I accept
that.
Mr. Gary: Thank you. The next item is minority equity participation
should be addressed. That was your concern, Mr. Mayor.
Mayor Ferre: Yes, sir.
Mr. Gary: On page 20, we've added that while minority equity participation
is not a•requirement of this request for proposals, true equity positions
with local minority partners, not,rent-a-citizens will be viewed favorably
in the evaluation of proposals. The next item is item 11, requiring
deposit to accompany proposals should be greater. Commissioner Plummer
wanted to go back to $50,000, you also, Mr. Mayor We have added that
back to $50,000.
Mayor Ferre: Returnable.
Mr. Gary: Returnable to those who are now successful.
Mayor Ferre: In other words, the same as we did in Bayside.
Mr. Gary: Yes, sir. From Commissioner Plummer there is no development
map. We have now a map.
Mr. Plummer: You have a map, but it is not a development map.
Mr. Gary: Look in the map.
Mr. Plummer: Hold on. It says page 7.
Mr. Gary: Of the memo.
Mr. Plummer: Oh, this, in other words, what you are telling me is
that all the dotted area is that which is possible for use of development.
,35 JAN 18 1984
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Mr. Gary: Yes.
Mr. Plummer: Then, Mr. Gary, I have to ask you why is the air terminal
which could be relocated according to the R.F.P. not included.
Mr. Gary: Because you assume that we are going to keep that, and if you
relocate it, you have to give them the same amount of land, so you have
to take that out.
Mr. Plummer: Likewise, the same with the others.
Mr. Gary: No, no at their option... first, they don't have an option
with regard to the air terminal and Japanese Garden and the heliport.
They do have an option with the yacht club and the outboard club.
Mr. Plummer: To relocate them.
Mr. Gary: No, they have an option to keep them or get rid of them, on
those two.
Mr. Plummer: Where are you proposing under the terminology 'air terminal.'
Mr. Gary: That means heliport and the Chalk.
Mayor Ferre: Is that defined in there?
Mr. Gary: Yes, sir.
Mayor Ferre: In other words, it is thoroughly defined in there.
Mr. Gary: The next item is Commissioner Plummer's, which deals with
the restrictions on transfer of rights. We have added that requirement
in there also. It's on pages 12 and 13.
Mr. Plummer: Mr. Gary, where in the R.F.P. does it state that they cannot
use this project in any way, shape, or form for collateral on another
project? I'm talking about transfer rights.
INAUDIBLE BACKGROUND COMMENTS NOT ENTERED INTO THE PUBLIC RECORD.
Mr. Plummer: It's not in the R.F.P. It has to be in there.
Mr. Gary: We will put that right in the R.F.P.
Mayor Ferre: Let the record reflect that was a machine error and that
it is to be included.
Mr. Gary: That will be put in there in that specific language. The
minimum annual payment should be included. We have added that in there,
which is on page 4-a, 14, 3, and 37. All of those require a guaranteed
minimum payment. Item 4, review committee should have the option to reject
all proposals.
Mr. Plummer: No, that was never my recommendation or question. It was
my question or statement that said that the review committee should have
the right to recommend that none of the proposals be recommended to you,
not that they give them the right to reject. I never proposed that.
Mr. Gary: I have added that. I'm sorry for not writing the exact words,
but the intent that you wanted to accomplish, I have added. It is on
page 13 and it reads: "The committee has authority to recommend none
of the bids if it deems them not to be in the best interest of the City
of Miami. However, the committee shall have to explain its reasons for
such a decision."
Mr. Plummer: I would want them to.
Mr. Gary: Item 5, the R.F.P. should not include the City's right to
waive any irregularities in any proposal. I'd like for each of you to
just read my comments on that.
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Mr. Plummer: I see them. I don't disagree.
Mr. Gary: Thank you, sir. Item 6, the R.F.P. should not include the
requirement that the Watson Island development should be complementary
to Bayside. We have removed that language. The other, some of it is
just a technicality.
Mr. Plummer: Eight I have no problem with. Mr. Gary, I'd like to
ask is there anywhere in the R.F.P. on total construction time?
Mr. Gary: No, sir.
Mr. Plummer: I think that is of concern that the City expects construction
time to be 30 months, 22 months, but there has to be an expectation by
this City as well as this community that, you know, they always ask
the question. O.K., we're going to break ground today. When are we
going to go through the turnstile? I think there is a reasonable date
to be applied.
Mr. Gary: Mr. Plummer, that is a good concern, but it should not be
addressed in the R.F.P. for the mere fact we don't know....
Mr. Plummer: Yes, I'll tell you why it should. I think it has a lot
to do on the way the construction people move. They can go fast track.
They can go regular track. I think it has a lot to do with the construction
company they choose and the availability of man power facilities.
Mr. Gary: You are right, I have just been informed by staff we do have
that. The time table for the completion of the proposed construction
will be considered as a factor in the evaluation of proposals. All
proposed development must bebond insured for completion within
the specified time period or phase development as proposed, la, la, la.
Mr. Plummer: O.K., the final thing that I have in the way of a question,
Mr. Gary, you and I spoke the other day about the payback on any City
bonds.
Mr. Gary: I think I got that one right too. That is on page....
Mr. Plummer: On the draft or on the proposal.
Mr. Gary: Of the R.F.P.
Mr. Plummer: What page?
Mr. Gary: Page 4, it says —it's on your corrected sheet. I'm sorry,
Commissioners, on the memo right here.
Mr. Plummer: In the back? Where in the back. Page 4 of this?
Mr. Gary: It basically says....
Mr. Plummer: Yes, that's it, you have the word that guaranty and repayment.
That's fine.
Mr. Gary: But I even went further too, Commissioner, because I know
you are concerned about this. The decision to use revenue bonds as
a financial tool will determine after the selection and should not
be included as such in the financial proposals, which means that you
have the option later on.
Mr. Plummer: Mr. Gary, let me just once again, I heard what you said,
but I want to make sure I understand. I guess, as Ferre says, I always
take a fatalistic point of view; I guess it is because of my professional
upbringing. Mr. Gary, if this thing goes broke, where is the City?
Mayor Ferre; The same place it would be with Bayside.
Mr. Gary: If what, this project?
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Mr. Plummer: This, whomever is chosen to be the developer whatever, and
they go broke, where is the City of Miami.
Mr. Gary: Well, the good part about this R.F.P., as opposed to the other
one, is that in the first one you had to come up with $55,000,000. In
this one you have to come up with zero.
Mr. Plummer: If we do go for the $35,000,000 in bonds, it is not zero.
Mr. Gary: They have to come up with a bond to cover the bond; they have
to have a back-up pledge; and they have to guarantee the payment up front.
The City has no liabilities.
Mr. Plummer: I'm satisfied.
Mr. Gary: Now, those are the changes. Are there any questions?
Mr. Plummer: Those are mine. Do you have Dawkins?
Mr. Gary: Oh, we have some others too. I'm sorry. Commissioner
Dawkins we responded to in a memorandum, which is attached. The first
question which we addressed, which is the same question with Plummer
with regard to complement. We took that out. The second we dealt with
35 acres, which we addressed. The other is net vs. gross, and we have
that clear as gross, wherein the other R.F.P. we had different definitions
of gross and we had some net, so we have it all as gross so it is
standardized. Minority equity participation was raised by Commissioner
Dawkins. We have that provision in there to insure that we allow Blacks
and minorities to participate. Now we have Commissioner Perez' questions.
Bayside should be included in the R.F.P., which we have done. Minorities
should be represented on the review committee; they are and I will give
you the names of the review committee members. Local contractors should
be given preference.:..
Mr. Garcia -Pedrosa: You have given them already the names of the proposed
members. It is five days before. You have given them that already.
Mr. Gary: Yes, I mean I'll read them off to you. Local contractors should
be given preference by proposers. On page 12 that is addressed to the
extent possible proposers should use general and subcontracting firms
located in the Miami area. We made it even stronger, Commissioner Perez.
The use of general contractors and sub -contracting firms located in the
Miami area will be viewed favorably in the evaluation process, which
means they get points by using local people. Those are the questions
or concerns raised by the City Commission, which we addressed. If
there are any questions, I'll be happy to answer.
Mr. Plummer: Mr. Gary, there was some discussion as I recall in giving
additional time for the proposers instead of 60 to increase it to 90 days.
Mr. Gary: Thank you for bringing that up.
Mr. Plummer: That's all right; I'm part of your staff.
Mr. Gary: I'm beginning to feel that way too.
Mr. Plummer: Be better off.
Mr. Gary: Yes, Commissioner Plummer, I am requesting that we extend the
time for the R.F.P. from 60 to 90 days.
Mr. Plummer: You don't feel this in any way would jeopardize in any
way your standing before the cabinet?
Mr. Gary: No, I don't think so because the original proposal called for
an April 2nd deadline for proposals, which is the same date that we have
to be before the cabinet. So.it really doesn't make any difference because
we are not going to have selected a developer by April 2nd, but will be in
the process and we won't have the proposals to go to the cabinet, so it
doesn't make any difference. We will demonstrate that we are making
progress. We would demonstrate through newspaper advertisements, the
R.F.P., therefore, I think 30 additional days should be given so that
everybody will have a fair opportunity to bid, but also adequate time
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Mr. Dawkins: Mr. Gary, I have two things to say. Number one, I asked
if the road restrictions had been taken care of. I was told by staff
that they were, yet I have had two citizens stand before me here today
and say that they live at the other end of the roadway which the report
which you have given me spells out the...for being able to give directions
for the western end of this road. But yet, I heard two citizens say
this morning that the eastern end of this road, they, in their opinion
not being professionals, do not feel that road will carry the load. I
feel the same way. Secondly, I have to tell you I'm going to vote against
this project, and if anybody is going to Tallahassee, I'm going to go with
them to speak against it. Number one, I do not feel in my opinion, that
you need two projects on both sides of the bay. We have Bayside on one
side. I've sat here and you have told me how wonderful it is going to
be, how much money it is going to raise, how many jobs it will create,
etc., etc., and etc. Now you come back and tell me that you are going
to put another similar project on the other side of the bay that is
going to create the same jobs, create the same economy, do the same
thing and create money for this City. That is impossible. If you are
going to put two similar projects on both sides of the bay, one or both
of them must have some empty shops. You are aware and I am aware that
the economy is not what it should be. I say to you, sir, that you do
not need specialty shops, in my opinion, on the one side of the bay and
on the other side to compete. Nor do you need entertainment on one
side ... on the other. So therefore, that's my feelings.
Mayor Ferre: Mr. Manager, are you through with your statements?
Mr. Gary: No, Mr. Mayor, I have some additional, if I.may. Mr. Mayor,
I have given you a list of the proposed members for the review committee.
Earlier I had told you that Mr.Weaver who served admirably on the Bayside
Committee was dropping out as chairman of this committee. The reason he
was doing such was because he had plans to bid on Grove Market. Even
though they are separate projects, he wanted to remove the appearance
of any conflict. I am here to inform you that I was informed two or
three days ago by Mr. Monty Trainer that he is withdrawing his request
to place his project under the unified development project and that he
plans to proceed with the redevelopment of his project without asking
for an extension of his time period, thereby, relieving him of his
need to have a unified development project. Therefore, with that....
Mr. Plummer: Excuse me, how long ago did you say that was?
Mr. Gary: About two days ago.
Mr. Plummer: There has been no memos or mail around here for two days.
Mr. Gary: Excuse me, one or two days.
Mr. Plummer: Proceed, I made my point.
Mayor Ferre: Did Monty just call you and tell you that? Did he write
you a letter or what?
Mr. Gary: No, I had to call him because I had been waiting for him.
Mr. Plummer: Insignificant things we hear about immediately.
Mr. Gary: May I have two minutes, please sir, for a very urgent call?
INAUDIBLE BACKGROUND COMMENTS NOT ENTERED INTO THE PUBLIC RECORD.
Mayor Ferre: You are about to miss your Commission, so I think you
are going to have to continue this tomorrow.
Mr. Gary: I'm ready.
Mayor Ferre: He has to go. He wants to continue this tomorrow.
Mr. Perez: As you remember, Mr. Manager, at the last Commission
meeting, we instructed you to meet with each 'one of the members of
Commission. Personally, I didn't have the opportunity to meet with
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Mr. Perez (Con't): you to discuss all the issues. I don't know if
the other members have, but now I have received the list of the members
and I not familiar in order to vote today on this issue. I think if
we have a Commission meeting tomorrow, it would be better to discuss
tomorrow.
Mayor Ferre: This bearing will be continued until tomorrow and at
the end of the regular agenda, we'll take this matter up tomorrow.
Is there any further discussion at this time? You're not going to
have a Commission anyway.
Mr. Gary: I don't care.
Mayor Ferre: This matter will be continued until tomorrow. Yes, the
time certain, Mr. Manager, will be what time?
Mr. Gary: Tomorrow? Nine.
Mayor Ferre: Six o'clock. It will be continued at 6:00 o'clock tomorrow.
Thank you very much.
ADJOURNMENT:
There being no further business to come before the City Commission,
on motion duly made and seconded, the meeting was adjourned at 5:20 P.M..
MAURICE A. FERRE
Mayor
ATTEST: RALPH G. ONGIE
City Clerk
Matty Hirai
Asst. City Clerk
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