HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC 1979-07-11 Minutes.01111,101
CITY OF MIAMI
SSION.
WUTES
OF MEETING
PREPARED BY THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK
CITY HALL
RALPH G.. ONGIE
CITY CLERK
JULY 11 1979-REGULAR
TIM NO.
SUBJECT
INANCE OR
SowrION No, PAGE N0,
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PERSONAL APPEARANCE: COL. MITCHELL`WOLFSON, CHAIRMAN
OF THE BOARD, OFF-STREET PARKING AUTHORITY TO DISCUSS
SALE OF PARKING GARAGE
ATLAPATTAH TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM -REPRESENTATIVES OF
"ACCION" AND "IMPACT" PROGRAMS
DISCUSSION ITEM: ORANGE BOWL LEASE AGREEMENTS,
SCOKEBOPRD,ETC.
DISCUSSION ITEM: LEASE AGREEMENT FOR DEVELOPMENT
OF`CONFEiENCE/CONVENTION CENTER.
J1.,CuSSION:ITEM: 'STATUS OF
STATE.
INTERAMA PROPERTY SALE TO
PLAQUES, CERTIFICATES OF APPRECIATION AND SPECIAL
ITEms
DISCUSSION ITEM: VELODROME ON VIRGINIA KEY.
DISC:'SS'ON AND DEFERRAL OF SECOND READING OF
PROFCSE'_' CHANGES TO CIVIL SERVICE RULES AND
GE `*...TIONS TO SPECIAL MEETING ON . JULY 24, 1979
DISCUSSION ITEM:: YACHT CLUB LEASES UTILIZING CITY
FrOPEETY.
OiLICUSSION ; ITEM:
STAFFING IN CITY COMMISSIONERS,
OFFICES
INSTRUCT CITY MANAGER TO COOPERATE IN DISTRIBUTION
OF MATERIALS ETC. FOR EMPLOYEE PARTICIPATION IN U.S.
SAVINGS BONDS PROGRAM.
REQUEST ACTUARIAL ANALYSIS OF PENSION ADJUSTMENTS
FOR RETIREES
PERSONAL APPEARANCE OF JEROME WOLFSON REPRESENTING
HOMER LANIER REGARDING PROMOTION IN POLICE
'DEPARTMENT
EMERGENCY ORDINANCE: AMEND SECTIONS 1 6 6 OF 8858
INCREASE GENERAL FUND FROM SALE OF CONFISCATED
WEAPONS TO PURCHASE THREE MICROFILM READERS FOR THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT.
ESTABLISH RATES FOR USE OF LITTLE HAVANA COMMUNITY
CENTER.
FIRST 6 SECOND READING ORDINANCE: ESTABLISH NEW
TRUST 6 AGENCY FUND "LETS PLAY TO GROW".
FIRST 6 SECOND READING ORDINANCE: ESTABLISH NEW
TRUST 6 AGENCY FUND "RECREATION SUPPORT PROGRAM
1979".
FIRST & SECOND READING ORDINANCE: ESTABLISH NEW
TRUST 6 AGENCY FUND "SUMMER FOOD SERVICE PROGRAM FOR
CHILDREN-1979"
BRIEF DISCUSSION AND MOTION TO TABLE CONSIDERATION
OF AMENDING CITY CODE CONCERNING REGULAR CITY
COMMISSION MEETINGS.
DISCUSSION'.
DISCUSSION
DISCUSSION
PRESENTATION
DISCUSSION.
DISCUSSION
DISCUSSION
DISCUSSION
DISCUSSION
ORD. 8960
ORD, 8961
ORD. 8962
ORD. 8963
ORD. 8964
DISCUSSION
1-19
20-24
24-33
33-36
36-43
43
43-44
44-63
64-65
65-67
67-70
70-71
77
78-79
IAMI, FIDRIAA
PAGE It 2
TEM 10,
SUBJECT
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INANCE 0
�oWTION o,
PAGE NO.
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AMEND SECTIONS 5, 6, 7, 8 OF ORDINANCE 6145 -
SUBSTITUTE NEW FEES FOR BUILDING, PLUMBING
ELECTRICAL, BOILER. INSPECTION AND CERTIFICATE
FEES.
DEFERRAL OF SECOND READING ON PROPOSED CIVIL
SERVICE RULE CHANGES TO SPECIAL MEETING OF JULY
24, 1979
MOTION TO DEFER CONSIDERATION OF ORDINANCE TO
INCREASE INTERGOVERNMENTAL SERVICE FUNDS
MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT PLAN.
PERSONAL APPEARANCE OF REV. H.W. KIRTLEY,
AFFIRMATIVE ACTION BOARD TO APPEAR AT SPECIAL
MEETING; HELD ON JULY 24, 1979
RATIFY ACTION OF CITY MANAGER: SUBMIT GRANT-IN-AID
APPLICATION, PHYSICAL IMPROVEMENTS IN LITTLE
HAVANA.
URGE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO ENACT: "THE
CONDOMINIUM ACT OF 1979"
RECOGNIZING RAIL -PASSENGER SERVICE IN BROWARD AND
DADE COUNTIES AS MAKING MAJOR CONTRIBUTION TO
MEETING TRANSPORTATION NEEDS OF THE TWO COUNTIES
'NAME AND DESIGNATE VISTA COURSE AT KENNEDY PARK
"TED BLEIER VITA COURSE".
CONSENT AGENDA:
AUTHORIZECITY MANAGER. TO APPROVE EXTENSION OF
CONTRACT: STATION AREA DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT
PLANNING SERVICES:
GRANT USE OF MIAMI BASEBALL STADIUM BY MIAMI-
DADE COMMUNITY COLLEGE DOWNTOWN CAMPUS.
ACCEPT COMPLETED WORK:MORNINGSIDE PARK -SWIMMING:
POOL MODIFICATIONS.
ACCEPT COMPLETED WORK:ALLAPATTAH,C.D. PAVING
PROJECT -PHASE II-ALLAPATTAH SEWER MODIFICATIONS
PHASE II.
ACCEPT COMPLETED WORK: BUENA VISTA C.D. PAVING
PROJECT
GRANT MIAMI DADE WATER & SEWER AUTHORITY
EASEMENTS FOR WATER MAINS -NEW WORLD
BICENTENNIAL PARK.
ACCEPT BID-DIXIE COMMUNITY PARK -PHASE II
GRANTING APPROPRIATE EASEMENTS ADJACENT TO THE
SOUTHERLY PROPETY LINE OF CITY OF MIAMI OWNED
PROPERTY ABUTTING THE SOUTH RIGHT OF WAY LINE OF
N.W. 20 STREET AND 10TH AVENUE
FIRST. READING
DISCUSSION
DISCUSSION
DISCUSSION
R-7.9-478
R-79-479`
R-79-480
R-79-481`.
R-79-482.
-79-483
R-79-484,
R-79-485
R-79-486
R-79-487
R-79-488
79
79
80
81
81
82
82
83
84
84
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5
CI
SSIARFFLORIDA
PAGE 1l 3
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&EJECT
QRDINANCE OR
KKEEsowT1 oN NO.
PAGE NO.
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ACCEPT BID-DIXIE COMMUNITY PARK -PHASE II
ACCEPTING BID OF L.G.H. CONSTRUCTION CORP IN THE
PROPOSED AMOUNT OF $1,476,900 FOR DIXIE
COMMUNITY PARK,PHASE II.
DISCUSSION AND TEMPORARY DEFERRAL OF FINANCIAL PLAN.
FOR 100 SECTION "8" HOUSING UNITS IN MEDICAL CENTER.
PROPOSED SALE OF BEER IN THE ORANGE BOWL STADIUM:
GRANT RIGHT TO DOLPHINS TO END OF AGREEMENT: -
ORDER PUBLIC BIDDING 1980-86-PRIORITIES ON SCORE-
BOARD ADVERTISING, ETC.
PERSONAL APPEARANCE: HERB LEVIN-PRESENTATION
AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO HIRE APPRAISAL FIRMS
TO DETERMINE VALUE OF AIR' RIGHTS OVER THE CONVENTION/
CONFERENCE CENTER
APPROVE FINANCIAL PLAN FOR 100 SECTION 8 HOUSING
UNITS: TO BE CONSTRUCTED IN THE MEDICAL CENTER
DISCUSSION ITEM: YACHT CLUBS FINANCIAL PROPOSAL.
TO THE CITY TO BE HEARD ON JULY 23, 1979
ALLOCATE $29,000 TO ACTION COMMUNITY CENTER (ACCION)
FOR THE ALLAPATTAH TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM
HOUSING IN THE CULMER AREA DISCUSSION BY`DENA:
SPILLMAN
` AUTHORIZING MODIFICATIONS; IN CONSTRUCTION PLAN FOR
VELODROME ON VIRGINIA KEY TO INCLUDE RESTROOMS AND
TO PRESENT PLAN TO THE"METRO COMMISSION FOR THEIR
CONSIDERATION
DISCUSSION ITEM:.PERSONNEL`STAFFING
:COMMISSIONERS OFFICES
IN : CITY
OFF-STREET PARKING CHARTER AMENDMENTS -TEMPORARILY
DEFERRED
PERSONAL APPEARANCE: DEVELOPERS OF CLAUGHTON ISLAND
AND BRICKELL BISCAYNE CORP. TO DISCUSS IMPACT OF
PROPOSED CHARTER AMENDMENTS -DISCUSSION AND ACTION
TABLED TO MEETING OF JULY 23, 1979.
PROPOSED CHARTER AMENDMENT REGARDING LEASING OF CITY
WATERFRONT PROPERTY -AND INSTRUCTING ALL BOARDS AND
COMMITTEES TO EXEMPT WATSON ISLAND AND CONFERENCE/
CONVENTION CENTER FROM DELIBERATIONS ON SETBACK
REQUIREMENTS
R-79-489
DISCUSSION
M-79-490•
M-79-491
M-79-492
PRESENTATION
M-79-493
R-79-494
M-79-495
R-79-496
DISCUSSION
-79-497
DISCUSSION
DISCUSSION
DISCUSSION
M-79-499
M-79-500'
85
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86-95
96
96-9)
97-98
98-99
99-100
101
101-103
103-104
105-108
105-154
154-165
Itm(
CIlYi��•1SSIQHFIAM1, Fl.DRIDA
Tel ( SUBJECT
Y� Rom':
41 BALLOTING PROCEDURES FOR APPOINTMENT OF PERSONS TO
THE ADVISORY COUNCIL ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
BALLOTING ON: ACADEMIA -ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT -BANKING
& FINANCE -INDUSTRIAL & MANUFACTURING -MEDIA -
BALLOTING SERVICES -RETAIL -COMPLETED. AIRLINES -
UTILITIES -REAL ESTATE & MISCELLANEOUS DEFERRED.
y; PROPOSE'.) CHARTER AMENDMENT-$4,500 FOR PUBLIC WORK
PROJECT SALE OF PROPERTY, ETC.
PAGE # 4
DISCUSSION.
PAGE NO.
166-178
178
MINUTES OF RscuLAR MEETING OF
CITY ;CCVVIISSION OF MIAMI, FLARIDiA
ON THE 11TH DAY OF DULY, 1979, THE CITY COMMISSION OF
MIAMI, FLORIDA NET AT ITS REGULAR MEETING PLACE IN THE CITY HALL;,
3500 PAN AMERICAN DRIVE, MIAMI. FLORIDA IN REGULAR SESSION.
THE MEETING WAS CALLED TO ORDER AT 9:00 O'CLOCK A.M. BY
MAYOR MAURICE A. FERRE WITH THE FOLtt.'ING MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION
FOUND TO BE PRESENT:
ALSO PRESENT:
Commissioner Rose Gordon
CormLissioner Armando Lacasa
Catmissioner (Rev.) Theodore R. Gibson
Vice -Mayor J. L. Plummer, Jr.
Mayor Maurice A. Ferre
Joseph R. Grassie, City Manager
R. L. Fosmoen, Assistant City Manager
George F. Knox, City Attorney
Ralph G. Ongie, City Clerk
Matty Hirai, Assistant City Clerk
AN INVOCATION WAS DELIVERED BY REVEREND GIBSON WHO THEN LED THOSE
PRESENT IN A PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG.
1. PERSONAL APPEARANCE: COL. MITCHELL WOLFSON, CHAIRMAN OF THE
BOARD, OFF-STREET PARKING AUTHORITY TO DISCUSS SALE OF PARKING
GARAGE
Mayor Ferre: All right, ladies and gentlemen, we are on the regular City
of Miami Commission meeting. Good morning to all of you. And we now
have under the disucssion of the whole, don't we have to approve any previous
minutes?
Mayor Ferre: All right, the first item to come before us is item
discussion of 'sale of the Off -Street parking Authority Garage.
Father Gibson: Is Rose here?
Mayor,Ferrer Well, she is in her office and she knows that we are starting,'.;
at 9, so if she wants to be here, she can be here. Its perfectly..'.All right,
Mr. Assistant City Manager, would you introduce the subject-, item a.
Mr. Fosmoen: Mr. Mayor, it is my impression that this was requested to be
placed on the agenda after several articles appeared in the newspaper
concerning this item. It is my understanding, that this was requested to
be placed on the agenda after several articles appeared concerning the sale,
and there are representatives of the Off -Street Parking Authority here.
Perhaps they could describe the process that they went through for the sale
of that property.
Mayor Ferre: Very good. A11 right, Col. Wolfson, it is always a pleasure
to have you and your associates here, and the chair will recognize you at
this point.
01.
-JUL i11979
Col. Mitchell Wolfson: Mr. Mayor, distinguished City Commissioners, our
board consisting of Ms. Dianne Smith...Ms. Smith could you just stand up
for a minute? Mrs. Arnold Rubin, Vice Chairman. Mr. Gordon Wiley is in
Washington, and couldn't be here this morning, Marx Cauthen are here today
with our parking consultant, Mr. Howard May of Conrad Associates, of
Chicago, Mr. Robert Wheel of Wainwright and Ramsey, Mr. John Reeves, our
certified public accountant, Mr. Ronald Silver, State Representative, our
attoreny, Mr. Sol Bennett and Mr. Harry Flemming, MIA appraisers and Mr.
Richard La Baw, Director of the Off -Street Parking Authority to present you
with the facts regarding our proposed sale of garage number 2 on
Biscayne .Boulevard to Florida Atlantic Investments, Inc. owner of the 30
story New World Tower building, next door to the garage and also owner of
the vacant lot in the rear and adjoining the city parking garage on the
south. First, with your permission, I would like to dispell some of the
misinformation that has been published in the Miami Herald, then I would
like to furnish you with the facts, as to why it is good business to
dispose of this mechanical garage and to replace it with a self service
garage. This would better serve the public and increase the income of the
Off -Street Pakring Authority so that we can sell additional revenue parking
bonds to meet the future parking needs of the central business district
of Miami. In the first place, this proposed sale was not done in secret.
The negotiations have been going on for at least three months. When our
Board finally decided that the terms were the best that could be received,
we approved the sale in principle. The next thing we did, was to call
John McMullen, editor of the Miami Herald, and David Kraslow, publisher
of the Miami News to tell them about the proposed sale. Although, there
is no legal requirement for us to do so, we wanted to notify the public,
in advance, of the proposed sale so there would be a matter of public
record for the community as well as for the City Commission and the City
Manager. Mr. McMullen said, he was objecting to the sale because we did
not take bids. In the business judgment of the board, the price was so
favorable, as we will describe to you later, that it would be uneconomical
for anyone else to even match that bid. And we were also concerned that
the buyers might lower their bid offer. I also want to call your attention
to the misinformation about the price. The price was to be $1,600,000 all
cash, net. The brokerage commission of almost $100,000 was being paid by
the buyers and we told these people that the City Commission...the City
were not going to pay any commission, neither was the Off -Street Parking
Authority. As a matter of fact, we even insisted that they pay for the
stamps that go on the deed, and everything else that is debt note.
The Miami headline on Friday, June the 29th was as follows, I quote, "Sale
price won't pay off garage", end of quote. However, the article below the
headline said, and I quote, "the garage was built in 1961...1961 for
$1,800,000 including the land. It, was refinanced in 1964. Combined
interest and principle payments between now and 1994, combined interest
and principle between now and 1994, on those bonds total about $1,800,000"
end of quote. The figure is incorrect. The total obligation, including
interest to maturity, is actually $2,166,500 for both garage 1 and garage
number 2. Mechanical Garage is valued at 54% of the cost of the 2 garages.
The principle plus interest, if we paid interest and principle on garage
2, if we paid the interest until maturity, would only be a cost of a
$1,169,910. Not the $1,800,000 in the Herald article. But of course, if
you deduct the interest, which we would not be paying on these bonds, the
figure would be less, since we would have a million 6 in cash to pay off
the principle, if we so desired. By the way, you would be interested to
know that $1,600,000 invested at 8% simple interest would amount to about
$5,000,000 in 1994 which would be quite a bonanza for the City if we didn't
have to use the money for construction of another garage. I just bring
this to your attention to show you the misinformation that has been
appearing in the Herald with regard to our operation of the Off -Street
Parking Authority. The Herald has given us credit for doing a good job
in building garages that are practical and have aesthetic beauty to help
the progress of the downtown area. On the other hand, their major thrust
has been that the City should turn over the Off -Street Parking Garage
Authority to the County, the same as they would like to do with the
Fire Department, the Police Department and the entire City. The Department
of Off -Street Parking has a specialized job, and that is to provide
parking in the central business district. That, is are only responsibility.
Outside the designated central business district, private enterprise has
02
'JUL 1 1 1979
•to provide parking facilities. It is not in the best interest of the City
of Miami to turn over the efficient and successful Off -Street Parking
Authority to the County. This would completely dilute the ability of the
Authority to fulfill its primary responsibility for the downtown business
district. The reason the Off -Street Parking Authority favored selling the
mechanical garage number 2, to Florida Atlantic Investments, is simple.
They are the only people who can make this garage profitable, since as next door
neighboors, they can increase the size of the garage from their vacant property
without adding additional elevators and other mechanical facilities and personnel.
Furthermore, they have agreed to a potential $100,000 penalty which could
be paid to the Off -Street Parking Authority if they did not build additional
parking facilities. And for every space they build less than 50, we would
receive a credit of $2,000. So there is a real incentive for them to build the
entire 50 spaces. Now, because of the mechanical nature of garage 2, it
has lost over $1,080,000 since it was built in 1961. We will present you
with certified figures by our CPA. We were also concerned that we would
again lose money this year, in spite of a recent rate increase. If we
didn't sell the garage, we were planning to raise the rates again, to try
to break even just on operating expenses. Meanwhile, we will be losing
the interest on the $1,600,000. You should also know, that we were advised
that it would cost some $300,000 for improvements to maintain the garage
which would certainly be an additional financial drain.
Now, perinit me to introduce our consultants and I will ask Dick La Baw to
pass these figures to you and give you their opinion as to why,the sale of
the garage, as we have outlined, is a good deal for the Off -Street Parking
Authority, the public, and the City. When we are all through with our
presentation, please feel free to ask them, any member of our Board, our
Attorney, our Director, our MIA appraisers, any question you might care to
ask. I also have with me today the appraisals which were requested by
Commissioner Gordon for this meeting. I think you will find these
appraisers very respected MIA appraisers and that their work should certainly
satisfy Commissioner Gordon, and the entire Commission. The sale,as
originally conceived, is a good one and in the best interest of everyone
concerned. For the pressing need of the central business district of Miami,
we shoulc' proceed with the sale of this mechanical garage and go on with
the constrLction of additional parking facilities which are also badly
needed. Respectfully submitted, Mitchell Wolfson. Now, if I may have the
time, I would like to read you a report from Wainwright, and Ramsey, Mr.
Wheel is here today and this is re. the proposed sale of the garage that
Mr. La Baw will hand you.
Co..Wolfson:Gentlemen, as we are all aware, the consisten trend of operating
deficits of garage number 2, has been a matter of pressing concern to the
Department of Off -Street Parking, its consultant and the credit rating
agencies. It is a fact of life that mechanical garages are less popular
with patrons than self park facilities. And that the average cost of
parking a ..vehicle is approximately 4 times higher than in the self -park
facility. In any business, public or private, sound management practice
dictates that one dispose of an unprofitable operation. We concur,
with your plan to sell garage number 2 for the following reasons; number 1,
the original cost of garage number 2 was $1,350,000 for the building and
$506,000 for the land in 1960. The facility is now 18 years old and has a
significant amount of deferred maintenance which could require a heavy
capital investment. A net price of $1,600,000 impresses us as very
advantageous to the Department. 2, you have imposed conditions at the
time of the sale, which assure that the garage will continue to be operated
and available to the public with expanded capacity, thus continuing your
commitment to public service. Three, the sale of the garage will allow
the Department to invest the proceeds in a new self -park garage facility,
which will be far cheaper to operate thus enabling the Department to
continue providing modern, clean, safe parking facilities to the public
at lower rates. Four, deficits at garage number 4 have been such a matter
of concerns at Moody's Investment Service •Incorporated and Standard and
Poors Corporation that we have been apprehensive that both agencies might
lower the Department's credit rating from A-1, which is presently the
highest rating of parking revenue bonds secured solely by use of these
anywhere in the nation. A lowered rating would raise, of course, the
financing of new facilities. As you all know, we've got no tax money.
The only way we pay off our bonds and operate is with the revenue that
we get from the parkers. In summation, we believe that you have constructed
the price, times, and conditions for the sale of garage number 2 in the
03
3ui 1 1 �e+a
best interest of the public using parking facilities in the City of Miami.
Additionally, as financial consultants to the Department of Off -Street
Parking and responsible for advise to investers, we approved the sale of
garage 2 with the proviso that the proceeds of the sale be used for
additional parking facilities--garageto replace garage number 2. Very
truly yours, Wainwright & Ramsey, Robert C. Wheel, President. Now, I'd
also like your permission to read a letter here from Conrad and Associates
who are our parking consultants.
Mayor Ferre:
Go right ahead.
Col. Wolfson: Several times in the past, we have disucssed the need of
additional preventive maintenance work at this facility. The principle
areas of concern is the many metal parts, gate assemblies, elevator frames,
cell angles, etc. etc. which have rusted to various degrees. While some
of these elements were cleaned and painted a few years ago, some did not
appear to have been painted since the facility first opened, have rusted
to the point of pitting its surface. These elements which have been
painted a few years ago are in need of cleaning and a new coat of paint.
If you are going to continue to upgrade this facility, I believe that a
rust removal and painting program should be started andmaintained because
the extent of rust on some of the parts, particularly the gate assemblies,
initial costs for rust removal and painting will be significant. I
was pleased to note that the roller track is now being greased on a
regular basis,however, the cleaning and painting of other areas is needed
if you are going to keep the facility. Also there are cracks in the
concrete which allowed the reinforcing steel to rust in another location.
While there is not a structural problem, at present, if allowed to
continue, significant damage could result in these areas. On a preliminary,;
basis, it is my guesstimate that the cost to clean, paint, the rusted
metal along with concrete repairs would probably be in the magnitude of
$300,000. Sincerely, Conrad Associates, Howard May, President.
Then, one more letter which I would like to read, with your permission.
Gentlemen, As you know,I have been concerned about the fiscal aspects
of this facility for some time. At the January 24th, 1978 meeting of the
Off -Street Parking Board are mentioned several alternatives that the Board
should consider. Now, this is January 1978. One, raise rates, significantly.
Two, cease operation. Four, demolish the structure and use the land for
surface parking. And four, sell the facility. Last year I recommended
a substantial increase in rates for that structure. These rates were
put into effect December 1, 1978. These new rates were the highest
of any facility in your system, and were similar to the private parking
rates in the neighboring area. In reviewing the financial report since
the rate increase, I note there continues to be an operating loss. It
should also be noted, that this loss is occurring even with the increase
and use compared to last year. It is my opinion, that the continued
operation of this facility is uneconomical. I think that even with the
rates that would be increased each year, to stay similar to those of
private facilities, the continuing increase in operating tots would
result in this facility, at best, staying near the break even point for
direct operating expenses. Now, that is just the direct operating
expenses. That doesn't include the interest we are losing on the
$1,600,000 which could be 5 million dollars in five years if we invested
it. Thus it would not be able to pay its share of the cost of general
operations, administration and debt service. I believe, it is in the
best interest of the City, Off -Street Parking Authority, Miami, and the
Bond holders to accept the offer to sell the facility for $1,600,000.
Also, I believe, it is unlikely that a higher sale price could be obtained.
The future value of the $1,600,000 cash which you were offered, if invested
at 8 percent interest, as I've said before, would be worth over 5 million
dollars to the Board and the City by 1994 when the last of the bonds are
due. By maintaining this facility, not only would the money not be
available, there would be a considerable loss over that period of time.
Sincerely, Conrad and Associates.
Now, I won't try to read the education background, membership, designation
of experience of Mr. Harry Flemming, who is one of the best known, well
known MIA people in the United States. Nor will I do so for Mr. Sol Bennett,
but I have these backgrounds here if you gentlemen would like to see them.
Who we asked, at Mrs. Gordon's request, to give us an appraisal on the
building. Now, I would like to refer to that please. Request for a
preliminary appraisal of the property referred to as garage number 2, legally
described as follows, the parking garage together with the structural
improvements built on the following described property. Then there is
legal description which I won't read and we'll hand them to you together
with all pertinent papers. We have inspected
the property and reviewed the operating statement for the years 1962-1979
as well as reviewing the income and expense statements for the years 1976,
1977, and 1978 for the other 3 parking garage facilities operated by the
Department of Off -Street Parking, City of Miami. The subject property
is located on the west side of Biscayne, well you know that. Improvements
consist of a 12 story structure with Bowser Systems Semi -Automatic, and
so forth. Now, a review of the operating statement clearly indicate a
loss in the operation since the inception of the structure. The appraiser
is aware of the parking rates both for garage and for 8, presently secured
for privately operated off street parking facilities. Most of the parking
in the downtown central area, independently operated, are surface parking,
except for 2 to 3 parking garages, most of the parking structures in this
area are built in conjunction with office type structures. Like Biscayne
number 1. A review of the operation of privately owned parking structures
indicate that an operator for surface parking lots could not pay more than
$200 to $250 net for parking stalls, which would reflect a net income to
the fee owner of approximately $105,000. If capitalized at 8% it would
reflect evaluation approximately of $1,320,000. And if capitilized at
Q% it would reflect a value of $1,175,000 leasee to pay ad -valorem taxes.
By the way, as you know, starting next year this property would also go
on the City tax roll and the County tax roll, which it isn't now. The
Executive Vice President of the National Parking Association in Washington
D.C.; w.s contacted for knowledgeable operators. They submitted the names
of lir. J. Layden, President, of All -Rite, in Houston, Texas. A publicly owned
corporation and a Mr. Edwin Roth of Cleveland. The operator of the largest
privately owned company under the name of Ap-Co, Incorporated.
Telephone calls were made to both gentlemen by the appraisers and the
discussion revolved around the possible interest in this facility. Namely
garage 2. Neither of the operators were told the proposed purchase price
but were asked whether they would be interested in purchasing such facility.
Two, if interested, what would they consider a fair and reasonable purchase
price. And three, a general disucssion regarding values and operating
problems of this type of facility. Mr. Layden's comments were as follows,
quote. "He would not touch it except as a steal and all they could pay under
leasee arrangement would be approximately 50% of the gross income for
ramp parking. When asked if an offer of $3,000 for car space would be
secured, his immediate response was don't let him get away". End of quote.
Mr. Roth's comments were that the Bowser unit was a poor and expensive
operating system and parts were hard to get. He would only pay $500 to
$600 per car space plus land value for a facility with this type of system.
He also states that it was his opinion that a good operating parking system
would only warrant $1,000 per car space. When asked what he thought of an
offer of $3,000 per car space for the facility, he stated "grab it and run".
By the way, they are paying us $4,000 per car space. Those gentlemen are
familiar with the Greater Miami area and the present operated -facilities
in Dade County. Ap-Co is the leasee of the parking facility at Miami
International Airport. Both Mr. Layden and Mr. Roth were cooperative and.
forthright in the discussion relating to this operation. It is the appraisers
opinion that the land as unimproved would have a valuation between
700 and 8 hundred thousand dollars. It is our opinion that the facility
including the land would have a market value of approximately $1,200,000
to the $1,250,000. Yours very truly, State Wide Appraisal Service,
Harry D. Flemming, President. F. D. Bennett Appraisal Company, Sol Bennett
President.
05
JUL1119r9
Now, gentlemen. Just one final thing, if you don't mind. We have here
a certified public statement by our Certified Public Accountant, Mr.
Robert Graham, and it shows here what I stated before, that the loss since
we started operating this garage is $1,857,103. And someone will say,
well why did you continue to take these losses. Well, we have always felt
that :e had to render service to people. We weren't in the business of
making money, we are in the business of providing parking for the downtown
area. Arid we were trying our very best to provide parking facilities in
that neighborhood, but its just come to a point now where we have to build
a garage somewhere else and particularly since we have someone who is
willing to pay us such a good price and increase the size of the garage.
We thought it was the absolutely the best thing for us to do. Now one, two
final things and I'll be out of your way. One, we notified the public
through the newspapers that anyone who wanted to come in and bid anymore
we would be glad to take their money. And we have had four inquiries.
We talked to a Mr. George Goldbloom, who owns the Everglades Hotel. Mr.
of our office called him. A Mr. Richard Dennis was sent to us
by Commissioner Plummer, Mr. Sam Freidman of Oscar Dooley came over and Mr.
Alan Scher came over and looked at the garage, and Mrs. Caroline Weiss
came over. So, there were 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, people that talked about bidding
but nobody ha; come up with a bid. Now, I'd like to call you attention
to this fact, there is no requirement for the City of Miami, nor the
Downtown Deve:opment Authority, nor the Off -Street Parking Authority, to
advertise for bids in a situation like this. And I would like to propose,
even .this was a most unusual case, and I'm sure it will never happen
gain,` that you Commissioners today, pass a resolution making it mandatory,
if the public so votes it, that in the future any bids of over $4,500 be
publicly advertised and sent out for bids, both by the City and by the
Downtown Devleopment Authority, and by the Off -Street Parking Authority,
nut just the Off -Street Parking but by everybody. And Dick, if you'd
pass t1'c resolution which was prepared by your...
ay r Pe-r' We have copies of it,Colonel Wolfson
Cci. Wolii,,nn You have copies, fine.
Mayor keire: We all have it in our package.
Cu1. Woilson:-'Well gentlemen, that is the story. I think I have lived
lmre long enough and loved this community long enough where I'm more
interested in doing what's good for the City rather than doing what's
gaud for Mitchell Wolfson. Now, I could have turned tail and run, which
Commissioner Plummer knows we don't do that in Key West, and called this
deal off and advertise for bids. And Mitchell Wolfson, in the newspapers
I guess, would have been a hero. But I would have lost the City and
Off -Street Parking Authority some 2, 3, 4, 5 hundred thousand dollars, and
1'd'ratner be critized personally than have the City or the Off -Street
Parking or any public institution that I am with lose money. And so
tnerefore, I was willing to take whatever abuse was going to be handed
out and so was our Board. We are all here today to take this offer,
and we have a signed contract by them. Hopefully, there will nothing
go wrong with it and we will make one of the best deals for the
Off -Street Parking Authority, the City and for the public that could be
made under the peculiar circumstances of this unfortunate garage, which
was built in the wrong way. I might also just do a little bragging. This
built by the first authority which I was the one...and it is the only time:
7. ever voted against anything, and I was out oted. I would have never
built this garage. So, I feel no hesitancy in getting rid of it.
Mayor Ferre: Thank you, very much, Col. Wolfson for your presentation.
You are going to have some questions in a moment, and I'm going to
recognize Mrs. Gordon that asked to be recognized. But before we do that,
let me explain to you that this morning, we have a Committee of the Whole
meeting. We have about 5 or 6 very hot subjects that are going to be
discussed. Usually, as the Chairman, I run these meetings here in a loose
fashion, so that people have freedom of movement of doing things anyway
that they think is appropriate. On this occassion, however, as the Chair,
I'm going to rule that the Committee of the Whole meeting which will be
going on this morning, I will not accept any motions of any kind. And I...
we will take up any motions dealing with Committee of the Whole matters,
in the afternoon session. So, we will not take up anything...anything that
06
3UL t to".
requires a vote. The purpose of the Committee of the Whole meetings is
to, so that the Commission is informed, so that the Commission is educated
as to what's going on and to ask questions on the part of the Commission.
In the past, we have been very broad in the interpretations. We permitted
input from members of the public and they become public hearings. However,
that's a very time consuming way of doing things. As Chairman, I'm going
to rule today, that today we stick to the Committee of the Whole pattern
which is standard operation. So, we can talk about it, and I for one will
thank you for your presence today. The proposed resolution which requires
a Charter amendment which would in the future assure that property of the
City of Miami, whether it is in the Off -Street, or the in DDA of the City
proper, be put up for public bid, is something that we will then bring up
for disucssion this afternoon. I'd like to ask the City Attorney, let me
just ask one question, Rose, and then I'll recognize you,whether or not
Col. Wolfson has told us that legally under the Charter, he is entitled,
he I don't mean he personally, I mean the Off -Street Parking Authority,
is able to do this and it's perfectly legal. And, on the record we just
wanted to put that as the City Attorney's ruling.
Mr. Knox: Yes, our. Charter provides the power to acquire and dispose of
realproperty without setting out any requirements for the acquisition
or sale.
Mayor,Ferre: Where else, other than, the Off -Street, Parking Authority
does the Charter have that provision?
Mr. Knox: It also has that provision as it relates to the Downtown.
Development Authority and as it relates to the City of Miami.
Mayor .Ferre•
Mr. Knox: Yes,
And the City of Miami.
sir.
.Mayor Ferre: I see. Now, Col. Wolfson, your position is that your
has..:voted`on"this and you wish to:proceed with the:sale; All right,
thank you. Mr•s. Gordon.
Mrs. Gordon: Mr..Wol
contract, it is an offer.
You haven't signed`it, nor
Therefore it still...
Col Wolfson: We have not signed it, yet. But they have signed it now.
We finally go it in final form. They have signed it, and we haven't signed
it yet.
Wolfson,
Board
the contract you referred to is really not:a
It's only unilaterally signed, is that correct?
has the Off -Street Parking Authority.
Mrs. Gordon: Then it is not a contract till you affix your signature
or the signature of the Authority, so it's still an offer.
Col. Wolfson:
Mrs. Gordon:
Yes mam,; Yes imam.
.k. Second question..
in with a higher
bid
Col. Wolfson: We did that so if anyone came +
take the higher bid.
Mrs. Gordon: And you said, and we agreed, there isn't anything mandatory
about the bid process for the Authority, at the present time, however, on.'!
a voluntary basis there is nothing prohibiting that, is there?
Col. Wolfson: That is right.
Mrs. Gordon: And that the Authority chose not to take the voluntary
procedure of bidding or asking for bids. Is that correct?
we could'
Col. Wolfson: Well, we announced it in the paper that it would be open
for bid if anyone wanted to bid, and we had five people that looked at
it but they didn't bid.
Mrs. Gordon:
to that.
Mitchell, only since this controversy flared up not prior'
07
wit. 1 1 107n,
Col. Wolfson: No.
Mrs. Gordon:
controversy.
Col. Wolfson:
With no bidding, public notice of..any sort prior to. the
Mrs. Gordon: O.k., what is the current cost for construction of a car
space: in your garages that are being...gOiflg up now?
Col. Wolfson: We think it will be somewhere in the neighborhood of between
$5,000, . 4 to $5,000. ` Is that about correct?
(UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER
Col. Wolfson: How muc
Unidentified Speaker:
Col. Wofson: $4,000.
Unidentified Speaker:
Mayor Ferre:
Col. Wolfson:
Mrs. Gordon:
him.
INAUDIBLE)
h?
$4,000.
Inaudible
That's Mr. Sol Bennett,
Sol Bennett.
can't see with
Unidentified Speaker:
Mrs.
Mayor Fe:re:
Soli
Mrs.
Mr.
Gordon:
Sol
or the recor
who said $4,000..
Ron' head in the way, whose sitting behind
Howard Gary.
Gordon: I didn't think that was Sol Bennett unless he changed...
is' the man who answered. Would you stand up,
, Sol Bennett
Oh Sol
I didn't see you back there. What was your answer, Sol?
Bennett: $4,000 (INAUDIBLE)
Mrs. Gordon: $4,000, today, plus land. That's what I thought. It would not
be in the $2,000 range or $1,000 range, replacement of a facility. Of course,
it would be more modern but it would range somewhere in the $4,000 to maybe
$5,000 range, depending upon the bid. O.k.
Col. Wolfson: That's right.
Mrs. Gordon: All right, that clears that thing up.
Col.` Wolfson: There paying us
Mrs. Gordon:
Col.; Wolfson:
$4,000 for this ;.
ea, understand but theyare not paying under
No. No.
Mrs. Gordon: Under what should, over what it
mean. They are not paying over...
Col. Wolfson:`
Mrs. Gordon:
the cost of replacement
Co].. Wolfson: But` Mrs. Gor...Commis
they are paying what nobody else would pay
you the. people...
Mrs. Gordon: We recognize the shortcoming
to get some facts on the record.
Co]. Wolfson:
Yes
mam.
should
be. That's what I really
of a new facility.
stoner. Gordon, what theyare paying,
anything like that ...we read
of the facility. j
I
ust
want
08
JUl 1 1 19T9
Mrs. Gordon: O.k. The purchasers certainly are not going toinvest
money into the purchase of, with the intention of losing money. It doesn
make good sense, does it?
Col. Wolfson: Like, like...
Mrs. Gordon: The point of that...let me get to the
Col. Wolfson: Like everyone in business, you're pretty optimistic and
you always hope for the"best. Sometimes, it doesn't turn out quite. that .>
way.
Mrs. Gordon: True, but the point is that when they make an investment,
they are certainly going to want, to expect some return on their investment.
Col. Wolfson: I hope they do, I hope they build these additional 50 spaces
and that Ihope they can operate it and make a profit. We always want to
see people make a profit when they invest their money. It it certainly
the private enterprise, American way of doing business. But, that is there
problem.
Mrs. Gordon: )k. Mitchell, the point, I'm trying to getto a point.
point is, that they will be required, out of sheer economic necessity,.
increase the mites.
Col..
Just the same as we
!lr.s. Gordon: Exactly. What I'm trying to bring out is the fact that the
pub]ic is going have to pay. an increased rate whether or not the Authority
keeps the. property, or the private developer purchases the property.
Col. Wolfson:
were . going ,t
:1rc. Gordo;:: Well, I'm sure of that. I'm positive of that. That is an
ecor:o-c `: There ore ' there is an intangible value that is above and
boyoad *.ha ?rpraisers value of the approach, that you have probably
ubt.ainei the best apprasier you can obtain from the standpoint of quality
of. service.'.. But there is an intangible value here that is not a measurable
value, in my opinion, and that is the value of the lowest possible rates to
chat could be charged and certainly the Authority could afford
to charge less than private enterprise could charge for that same facility.
Col. Wolfson: Yes, because we wouldn't be paying taxes. They are going to
have to pay City and County taxes.
Mrc. Gordon: I understand, but there is a service in supplying the public
with spaces that are badly needed in downtown, at the least possible cost.
Even if in some cases, it needs to be subsidized by revenue from some other
facility in the same Authority's jurisdiction Now, there is another
consideration, that in the event you should ignore my plea, or anyone else's
plea to retain the facility, in the Authority's ownership,then I would hope
that you would include into the agreement, that you convey to the purchasers,
a deed restriction and a reverter clause, that if in the event it is not
kept available for public use as a parking garage, that it would therefore,
in some way restrict them from shutting out the public. I think I have
covered my thoughts in the issue so that you will understand where I am
coming from.
ol. Wolfson: Mrs. Gordon, could I just give you a couple of answers.
We have 422 spaces there. We hope, and believe, that we will now, with the
sale of this,and -with the issue of new bonds, that we will be able to provide
some 1,150 new spaces for the central business district.
Mrs. Gordon: You still would be providing some new spaces for
business district.
Col.': Wolfson: ' 14 hundred and some.
Mrs.
09
3btA 1 WM
Col. Wolfson: We hope to build two new garages downtown. We are drawing
the plans right now for the first one.
Mrs. Gordon: Mitchell, even if you build three of four new garages
downtown, you wouldn't have enough garages downtown to accomodate all the
vehicles that are going to be coming into downtown with all the new
construction that's taking place. So therefore, I know that the Authority
is trying hard to meet the need, but I don't see that selling this
facility is going to help meet the need. It is going to, in my opinion,
be a...it's going to hold back some of the current available spaces.
Col. Wolfson: If we didn't sell this facility, we wouldn't be able to
build an additional garage. And, and we are going to give the public
a much better facility, a more convenient facility. If you have been
there sometime, and wait for your car, sometimes 20-30 minutes, you get
awful upset. This way here with the new type of garages we'd build,
as other garages, you just walk in get your car and drive out. And
believe me, I get it for my wife who has to park down there because she
does her shopping, and she always comes back and complains.
Mrs. Gordon: I've mentioned the deed restriction and the reverter in
the event the public was not allowed to utilize that property for parking.
What is your thought on that?
Col. Wolfson: That is impractical.
Mrs. Gordon: Pardon me.
Mayor Ferre: Impractical`.;I think
Mrs. Gordon: I know, but you see, then you are losing the public purpose.
You are losing the land for the public's use.
Mrs. Gordon: It's going to be shutout. The public will be shutout. The
rates will be increased to such an enormous degree that they will not be
ableto utilize the perking garage.
Col. Wolfson: No, no. They will be able to use it because there will be
50 more spaces in addition to the ones we have. The mly difference I see
is the rate will be higher, just as we would have to raise the rate. And
they will also have to raise the rate sufficiently to pay the taxes to the
City and the County. But to put a reverter in a deed, it would mean that
we couldn't sell the garage, Commissioner Gordon. Just be impractical,
giving you an honest answer.
Mrs. Gordon: The private garages and the private parking lots downtown, the
rates now are making it impractical for the average citizen to come downtown
to do any kind of shopping. We are trying to encourage people to come
downtown, to use downtown, and in my opinion, the best way you could help
us to accomplish the goal of bringing more people to shop downtown is to
not sell this garage. •
Col. Wolfson: 0f course, I disagree with that and our board does for the
reason that we are going to provide 14 hundred more spaces. And by the way,
we have a clause, it isn't a reverter, that these people have to keep this
garage operating for a minimum of three years. We just put that in to make
sure that it's going to continue to be operated. But believe me, if they
add these additional 50 spaces and the fact that they have the building
next door, I'm as sure as I'm standing here today, that this will be a
garage for a long time.
Mayor Ferre: All right, other questions from members of the Commission?
Mrs. Gordon: Just to wind up, Mr. Mayor, I don't want to take a long time.
You all have questions, I'm sure. The 3 year condition, it would take them
that long to redevelop, to develop and redevelop plans and arrange financing
10
°DI
for new construction. There is a possibility that the garage could be
removed, another office building could come in and it would be private
parking. The public would be totally removed from any use of that
facility...
Col. Wolfson: As I understand your question, we hope that by a year from
now we will have a second garage built with at least 780 spaces, the first
one. That will be done within the year. And then, we hope, that within the
three years we will have another one of 7 hundred and some spaces.
Mrs. Gordon: How much...
Col. Wolfson:
've been working on both garages for a long time to try..
Mrs. Gordon: How much...
Col. Wolfson: to bring them about.
Mrs. Gordon: How much financing is still remaining on this property?
How much money do we still owe?
Cola Wolfson:
Mrs.
Gordon:: Yea.
Col. Wolfson: Well, garage number , as I remember right, was ..as
saidir► my report there...was, let's see, let 'me give you the exact figure.
9 hundred and one thousand eight hundred dollars.
9-hundred...
Mrs. Gordon:
Col. Wolfson: 9 hundred and one thousand eight hundred dollars. That':
the principle remaining due• on the garage.
Mrs. Gordon: So therefore, when you sell it for.
not going to have an equity of one million 6.
Mayor Ferrel.
by..:
million and 6, you are
To'freeze-your financing, the ability tofinance others
Mrs. Gordon: Yes, but as I said before, if, he invested
at what percent you said...
the million 6
Col. Wolfson: But we are getting the 9 hundred thousand back plus the
7 hundred thousand, which is the million six, which money we are going
to use to build another garage.
Mrs. Gordon: Yea, you're saying you are getting the bonding power back
for the 9 hundred thousand well, that's understandable but when you
put up another facility, that facility will have to stand m its own two
feet from the standpoint of revenue bonding.
Col. Wolfson: It will.
Mrs. Gordon: I believe, that if you wanted to raise some capital for
the construction of the second building, you could probably refinance
this structure to some degree and loosen up some of the equity you've
got tied up in there. .I'm not sure that you can, but I wonder if you
can.
Col. Wolfson: As John Kennedy said, I'm sure you've heard me
didn't understand what I said.
Gordon: Perhaps.
Col. Wolfson: What the bond rating services have told us, that they may
lower our rating if we continue to keep this garageand lose this money.
So, what we are doing is taking...
11
-JUL 1 i 19Ta
Mrs. Gordon: You raise your rates, that's what you said, you would raise your
rates, you wouldn't be losingyour money.
Col.Wolfson: We would only break even on operating expenses but; we would be
losing the interest we have to pay on the debt service.
Mrs. Gordon: But Mitchell, you still have agreed that the private sector is.
going to have to raise it and if they raise it it is going to be more than you
viou1d raise it to meet your obligation.
Col. Wolfson: They don't have to raise it to meet our obligation.
Mrs. Gordon:
investment.;'
Col. Wolfson:
o, sir they would raiseit to meet their own return on their
That is right.
Mrs. Gordon.: Butin your case you would be raising it to meet your obligation.
and so then you would come out of the red and still, cover your interest, and
so forth.
Col. Wolfson: No if we raised it enough, Commissioner,' to pay off the $900,000
plus the interest we would have to maybe raise our rates so astronomically
that it wouldn't 1e ableto attract any customers.
Mrs. Gordon: But the private sector is going to do exactly that plus.
Col. Wolfson: Well, but this gives us the money to build a second garage which
is what,I think the City needs. Just as you've said, the downtown development
;s so great that this 1,400 cars is still not as much as we would like to have.
But please keep this in mind, any time the City Commission wants to, which I'd
`; opposed tc as a private citizen, to put a tax on all the people of Miami
including the people in the outlying areas, the ethnic people whether they be
Soanish.or black or whatever, with the little homes that are handicapped right
now with taxes and with utility bills and high interest rates and so forth,
to Fay for;`rar':ir.g in the downtown area I think would be a big mistake and the
vr.; we've e ^ .':1e to structure this with your help and your consideration is
*..'= the only jecrle that pay any money for these garages are the people that
.h;: perking and, therefore, we have not had to go to the City and ask you
tc ,.ivc us any tax supported subsidy to do this job and I know that that's
your opinion, I know that's your desire and you don't want to raise taxes any -
Mrs. Gordon: I don't. We're just debating it and I don't think there isany
need to further debate it.
{Mr. Lacasa:-- Mr. Wolfson, I really want to thank you and the members of the
a.ifji-d on.bchslf of the City for your contribution. I believe that this is a
very fortunate City to have members of an authority such as your's devoting
the time to it. I for one feel that there has been a misunderstanding here
and quite. frankly I had two questions and I don't have a question after having
listened to your explanation about the reasoning of the Authority to go ahead
with this sale. My question is basically the fact that the Commission was not
informed - the Commission was not informed. I see that the Authority took the
•
time to call on the Miami Herald and the Miami News, however, the City Commis-
sion which is ultimately responsible to the citizens of the City of Miami for
whatever destiny the properties that the City has was not informed and I for
one had to learn about this issue which became controversial afterwards through
the paper. Thank God as you explained to us mis-information and the only infor-
mation that I had was wrong information and that was because we were not in-
formed. However, we have to answer to the public when a question of this nat-
ure comes out. The second point is that I will endorse and move the resolution
proposed to you as soon as the Mayor this afternoon this for discussion. And
the third question is this, would it be advisable, and this is a question to
you and the members of the Authority, that when a major piece of property be-
longing to the City of Miami is out for sale or for disposition in any way that
this piece of property, action on the piece of property requires the approval
of the City Commission rather than an independent authority which is not elected
directly by the people.
Col. Wolfson: Can I answer that? We think we have done a great service not
only to the public but to the City Commission. We've been the buffer between
you and the special interests that want to do things for their private purpose.
We've had many occasions on which people with a large voting power or a large
influence have come to the City Commission, before you were on it and before
many of these members were on it, and wanted to have a garage built which they
should. have built themselves and the City Commission has said, "Well, we have
an Authority, they're an independent authority, we have confidence in them,
they've been given this authority and you have to go and see them" then we get
our consultants, every one of them and we've surveyed the property carefully
and if we find that it is not a proper place for the public to build a garage
we turned it down on the basis of pure business reasons without being subject
to the political pressures that you lady and you gentlemen are under and I
think it would be a big mistake to have the City Commission get back into the
parking business because you're going to be under terrific pressure to put
garages where they shouldn't be put and this way here you have us as a buffer
and as long as you have confidence in us you're much better off to operate
that way and that was the original idea and it worked so well for over 25
years that i think it would be a mistake to change it. Now believe me when-
ever we have some idea of doing something like we've had recently we've talked
to the City Manager. We haven't come and talked to each one of you gentlemen
or lady, you've got enough to do and we thought we were doing the job for you
and if there was something that came up that we thought might make sense we
talked to the City Manager and kept him informed and we think we ought to con-
tinue to operate that way in the best interest of the Commission.
Mr. Lacasa: Thank you very much, Mr. Wolfson.
Mayor Ferre: Mr. Grassie, I think I have to ask the obvious question then, if
you were informed why didn't you inform the Commission of the proceedings of
this?
Mr: Grassie: Col. Wolfson,'I guess at about the time they were handling the
sale, called me and it was in the nature of a report, he was telling me what
he was doing and that was all. I didn't make any comment on it one way or an-
other.
Mayor Ferrer I think the question is shouldn't the Commission also know what
you know when Col. Wolfson calls and reports something like this.
Col. Wolfson: Well, when I called the Manager there was nothing concrete, I
was just telling him of the possible sale of the garage to just sort of keep
the situation alive and we had another situation which I think Mr. Grassie will
remember when wer were working on the Burdine property and I called him and
told him we were working on this and if these people would give us the garage
that we might consider taking the land I mean, taking the land, give us the
land and let them have the air rights. That deal has not gone through but it
is in the works.
Mayor Ferre: Colonel, when it became concrete did you or did somebody or Mr.
La Baw inform Mr. Grassie or anybody in the City that it had become a concrete
matter?
Col. Wolfson: No, the only time it became concrete was that day when we in-
formed Mr. Mc Mullen and Mr. Kessler and we thought they would put it in the
paper and everybody would be informed.
13
JUtii 1970
Mayor Ferre: All right, any further questions?
Mr. Plummer: Well, Mr. Mayor, my only comments and my only concerns.... Mr.
Mayor, I just want to make an observation. I too only have one problem, if
you want to call it a problem, is that when the final came into play in the
sale of the building the Commissioners should have been notified. But I'm sure
the Colonel will remember well as will Dick La Baw that quite extensively I
have gone into their budget for the past three years and I recommended to
them strangely enough two years ago that you were losing sufficient funds in
this operation that you get rid of the thing. I recommended that two years
ago to you people.
Col. Wolfson: Yes, sir, you did.
Mr. Plummer: And it was my recommendation this year to you after extensive
discussion in my office of which I was grateful for that you at least raise
the rates to break even. And the only thing I can say, the only concern that
Iexpress is more than adequately covered in this resolution. So I only say
that it doesn't come as any surprise to me, it was my recommendation to you
two years ago that you do this, it's an unfortunate situation and I want you
to know that this all came about - you think your wife raised hell with you?
My car got stuck in there four hours, Mr. La Baw will remember one day when the
gate jammed. And that proved to me without question that that place was just
not financially feasible. Colonel, I am more concerned today that this money
be taken and that you do what you have said and that is to implement as quickly,
as possible the building of new structures. The only thing that I beg you to
do is to look into our Convention Center because there we're talking about
$6,600 per parking space and you're doing it for 4. Now, the only thingI can
say is if you've got some magic that you portrayed for this 25 years would you
please extend that magic over to Southeast 2 and 2. Thank you.
Rev. Gibson: - Mr. Mayor and members of the Commission, two things. I want to
thank all of the members of the Board who serve, I think you've done us a ser-
vice in the past and you will continue to do us a service now and in the future.
I trust your judgement. When the newspaper called me and asked me I made this
comment, "The only regret I have was that I had to read it in the paper and as
a public ofi..cial I should have been told." And I said to the people I would
be very reluctant to criticize that Board because I trust the judgement of the
Board. I happen to be one of the firm believers if you don't trust a board
don't appoint it. If you don't trust those people, I don't care what it is,
don't appoint them. And I trust you. But I would have lived much happier these
two or three, four or five, six days if you had told me, not that you were ask-
ing me, but that you told me "Hey man, we've got to get rid of this", you know
you didn't have to go into the details. However, I'm satisfied in that you
now have come up with a remedy to avoid this happening again so that I'm not
caught by surprise. In other words when you say all of the City property for
all agencies in order to sell it if it is more than $4,500 put it up to bid
and everybody knows what everybody knows and then I'm not caught unaware. Now
one other thing, this may not be good business but I'm not so sure I'm a good
businessman anyway. I would, since you say you are going to build, have you
decided where you're going to build? Or businesswise that's a secret not to
tell, you know how that is, sometimes if you say you know everybody is going
to buy up around. Okay.
Col. Wolfson: No, we thought we had told you, we thought everybody knew but
we'll tell you again if we haven't told you. First of all, I want to apologize
for the Commission for not informing you more promptly and I can assure you
that it will not happen again, and I speak for the whole board, we -probably
should have notified you more formally and it will be done in the future with
anything like this. Now we were very wise I must admit and even take a little
credit for the board for it, by what they call land banking some land, by buy-
ing some land a long time ago, and we bought this land for $4.00 a square foot
even though today it's worth $20 or $30 a square foot and it's right on North-
east Third Street that we own free and clear across from the Miami Community
College and across from the New Federal Courthouse and right next to the present
garage and we own the land, we don't have to pay anymore money for the land,
it's all paid for and that is the first place where we're going to build. I
might say this, because I'd like to review some history, before we made a move
we wrote you gentlemen on the Commission, "Do you want us to build a garage
that we can afford to build if we can raise the money for at the Convention
Center? And if you do that would be our first obligation to take care of the
City and you gentlemen told us that wasn't necessary so then we went to the
second place. Now the second place was the Burdine property which is located
across the street from Burdines and Miami Avenue there and we tried to work
out a deal with them that they would give the City without any cost to the City
4
III/ 4 4 1070
Okay.
for the land, and if they would give us the land and keep the air rights we
would build a garage there and they would pay for the foundation strong enough
to support anything above and that was the best and most needed location. They
turned that down for the time being and told us they were sorry, they had some
other deals cooking and so forth and so on so then the third choice was this
site here. We've talked to some of the federal judges and they're so grateful
to the City and the Off -Street Parking Authority that that garage is there now
although it's filled up at 9:00 O'Clock every morning, that some of the jurors
that come in from Pahokey and the outlying places are scared to come to down-
town Miami and have a good safe place since Commissioner Plummer got us to move
the benches there where the fellows used to sleep and lay around, and they are
very very looking forward to another garage there which we need and which the
Community Col]ege needs and which the business people need because they come
there and they park there. There is where we're presently working with Mr.
May who is in charge of drawing the plans for us to put the first garage. Now
the second garage, we still hope maybe somebody like Burdines or somebody,
Southeast Bank or whoever will give the City some very valuable land as a gift
and that would be a wonderful thing for them because they could charge it off
as a deduction to Uncle Sam and we could get the land for nothing and we'd
build a garage there provided it's in the right location where it will serve
the public and not any private person and that's one of the reasons we've been
held up on that, it's a very interesting thing. In order to issue tax exempt
bonds it has to e for a public purpose and we have never been able to agree
with them that`w! will give so many spaces for a hotel or so many spaces for
that, it has to :'e on a first come -first served basis and with that little
problem we've begin delayed some but this land here we own and we're putting a
garage right these>and the plans are being drawn right now and I suspect by a
one of these days we'll have you gentlemen and lady come down
fcJr groundbreaking.
Mrs. Gordon:
We] fson:
How many spaces, Mitchell?
780.
Mrs. Gordon: Only 780, and the rest
you don't know where the rest of the
you don't know where they'll be orwhen,
spaces you spoke about beforewill be
'ol . Y;o] .`s : 1 The other 700 ; cars? No,
tl-e money- en-1 ;ind a place to build it.
Mrs.
it's
not until we sell this building, get
Gordon:" And then you've got to find a place and you don't
going to be.
know where
Ccl. Wolfson: Yes, and we're working on that all the time negotiating, you
know, hopeiutly one of these days we can come up and say to you, "We've got
this piece of land, we let you know this time, and apologize -for not having •:;
done it the last time."
Mrs. Gordon: Mitchell, so the record will reflect exactly where we are, if,
in fact, this building, is not sold you're saying on the record that the new
garage next to the present garase across from the Junior College could not and
would not be built?
Col. Wolfson: No, ma'am, I'm not saying that. That will positively absolute-
ly be built, we've got the credit to do that one. But this is a second one
we're worrying about.
Mrs. Gordon Well, and that
's is a nebulous thing because you don't have a loca-
tion yet or even know when or where or how.
Col. Wolfson: That is right.
Mrs Gordon:
i4ayor Ferree All right, further questions from the Commission? If not, let
me make a few comments on this. In the first place, Colonel, I think you've
explained it very very succinctly and very clearly, anybody who can read the
Er, lisp language can understand what your position is and I think you've done
a good job of that. There are some basic philosophical questions that are in-
volved in all these things, of course, this is not the time to address them
but I do want to point out that times have changed. The idea of 10 or 15 years
ago how to solve problems was to go to authorities. Now we've had occasions,
let's say at the waterfront, to create another authority which wanted to be
it 1 1 1979
mr
patterned after the Off=Street Parking and this Commission in its majority
anyway decided not to go in that direction and the reason is the accountabil-
ity of things to the public, in other words through the elected officials and
I think, I know that's a controversial thing but if, indeed, we believe in
the Jeffersonian Democracy then we must elect people to be responsive to the
needs of the community and if we give these people the responsibility then
they must have the corresponding authority. For us to diverge ourselves of
tat authority in effect is to give up the responsibility. Now, I'm not saying
this in any way as a criticism to the Off -Street Parking Authority, that was
created at another time and another age and certainly what has happened over
the years is magnificent and what you've done is wonderful. I noticed that in
your statement you mentioned the Herald, the News and John Mc Mullin nine times
in a five page statement so let me add just one sentence to that. I sent to
the members of the Commission and to Mr. Grassie copies of a letter which I
wrote to the Herald which they probably won't print, I haven't seen the paper
this morning so I don't know if it was printed but I rather doubt it. So let
me share with you, I just want you to hear this for a second because I think
this is very germain to a lot of the things we're going to be discussing. On
Friday there was an editorial in the Miami Herald which the title was the City
of Miami Flounders in a Comedy of Errors, One More Mistake and that kind of
thing. The conclusion of that editorial was abolish the City of Miami. Now
in that same page there was another editorial which talked about Metro. It
said, Metro Hacks Hack Fares and it took to task some members of the Metro Com-
mission. Now I want to point out to you the difference between those two edi-
torials. The Herald editorial board is entitled to criticize Metro and the
City of Miami Commission and I think that is appropriate but notice what their
conclusions are. When it deals with Metro they point the finger and say you
did wrong, you did wrong, you're a bad guy and you ought to change your mind.
When it deals with the City of Miami they always invariably conclude abolish
the City of Miami. Now, the moral of that story is that you and I should not
be surprised when they take issue with a lot of different things because their
main purpose in taking issue evidently is not to criticize the right or the
wrong of the matter as they with Metro, and rightfully so, but rather to try
to put one more nail in the coffin, in what they consider the coffin. Now
they've been doing this for 26 years no matter who the editor is that has been
a standard Herald editorial policy and I think when they do that what they do
is they weaken the thrust of their argument because their credibility is lost
because you never know when they're doing this because they believe in what
they're saying or when they're doing it as a political attack to try to embarrass
the City of Miami. So I just wanted to make that comment on the record. Now,
with regards to this garage I happen to probably know more about this than most
people other than, of course, yourself and the members of the Board. At one
time when my family and I owned the building next door you and I talked about
the possibility of our purchasing that garage. At that time I was not on the
City of Miami Commission so there was no conflict. Now at that time when that
was discussed as I told you subsequently, my father who was the one who decided
to put up the building made a decision to put a 300,000 square foot building
without a garage and everybody said he was crazy that it didn't make any sense.
He said no, it will work out and it worked out because subsequent to that you
all decided to put up a garage or actually you had put it up before, I beg your
pardon, it was there before the building went up. Now the reason why we after
studying it concluded not to buy that garage was what we did is we went out and
we bought land behind the property instead because it was cheaper to buy sur-
face parking property and hold it as a land bank operation and eventually if
we had to put up a garage to put up a ramp garage and the reason for that, and
I want to state this into the record, is that mechanical garages are absolutely
ineffective. Now 15 years ago that was the raging thing, that was the new
thing, that was the thing to do was to put up a mechanical parking garage but
everybody has found out since that mechanical parking garages do not work. They
break down, they cost a lot of money to repair, they cost a lot of money to
maintain, with the cost of electricity and fuel they are prohibitive to oper-
ate and you really don't get value out of them. As a consequence they only
place you see mechanical garages being put up today in the United States is in
small lots where there is absolutely no other choice. Wherever you have a
choice you don't put up mechanical garages. Well then why, in answer to Mrs.
Gordon's question which I don't think was completely addressed, why would the
people who now own the building want to buy the parking garage? Well, I think
the answer simply is that the other properties around that we owned are now
purchased and they are precluded from buying that land and you cannot have a
parking garage to serve a building more than a couple of hundred feet away and
so, therefore, since they are the property owners of an empty lot next to the
garage it makes sense if they expand the garage beyond 500 or up to 500, 492
units as you explained, and I think then they might have a chance of being
able not only to break even or to make a small profit but more important, not
�ryry
to make money in the garage but to guarantee that the 300,000 square feet of
office space which they have in that building now are guaranteed parking be-
cause they were finding, and let me make this point very clear, is that now
they are charging - I don't know what the going rate is - 9.50, $10.00 a square
foot for office space but the people who want office apace won't buy rent that
space unless you can give them guaranteed parking and since these people can
not do that that is their interest. As a consequence, it is my personal opin-
ion that the only people who have any logic in buying that garage are the people
with the property next door. Now with regards to tearing it down, who is going
to tear down a piece of property that sold for a million six and they're going
to have to spend $300,000 to repair it and improve and another half a million
dollars to increase it to the 500 space size and then tear it down, that land
as the appraisers have said is worth as land maybe $700,000. Who would buy
for a million six cash a $700,000 piece of property? So that doesn't make any
sense. So I think if you go through the logic of this you come to a conclusion
that what you're doing makes business sense, business sense. Now if you have
something which the Miami Herald again has once in a while criticized which
is a conservative 2 to 1 ratio on the money you borrow. In other words....
Col. Wolfson: One and a half to one.
Mayor Ferre: One and a half, I'm sorry. Let me explain this in terms of what
the public understands. That means that your debt service every year has got
to be covered one and a half times so that if you have a debt service of a
hundred thousand dollars you've got to make $150,000 every year. Now that is
a conservative wise position to take. Now....
Col. Wolfson: Excuse me, Mr. Mayor, can 1 just interrupt? Believe me, we
didn't put those terms in, we tried to get them quite different than that.
They were forced on us by the people that bought our bonds
Mayor Ferre: By the people who buy the bonds, I understand that and that's
why you have the highest rating possible which is A-1 in your particular field.
Now, since you have an A-1 rating you're able to borrow money cheaper which
means you're able to build garages cheaper and charge less. Now what in effect
you're doin.1 is you're getting rid of a lemon and you're taking that money
whether oz`nct you pay debt with it or whatever, it is a million six which is
applicable to your debt structure which then permits you to put up another
building but this time you're going to do it right, you're not going to make
the mistake you made 20 years ago. You're not going to put a mechanical gar-
age, you're going to put a ramp garage. Now, where is this new garage? It is
a block and a half away. So in effect what you're doing is you're trading
442 spaces for 780 spaces. Now the fact as to whether or not you can build
that garage if you didn't have this money or not I don't think is germain for
this very simple reason that you're going to keep on building garages until
you reach your maximum, whatever that is and your maximum is being hurt by the
fact that you're losing $100,000 a year in this thing. That means from a ratio
point of view you've got to make up $150,000 of profit somewhere for the hun-
dred thousand that you're losing here. So the impact yearly is $250,000 that
if you did not have this garage you would be free to borrow money on to ser-
vice and build other garages. So I think the logic is very very clear. My
last two points are very simple. I agree with everything but two areas, Col-
onel. One area is I think that since this is City of Miami property that it
would be wiser if you had let, if you or Mr. La Baw or the members of the Board
had let the City of Miami Commission know what you were doing. And the second
thing that you and I talked about and that I feel strongly about is that it is
still my opinion that you ought to put this out for public bid. Now, you told
me, you gave me the reasons why that could not be done. I understand and I
want to ask you just one last time for the record to make sure that you do not
want to put this out for a public bid at this time.
Col. Wolfson: If we do you'll lose 3 or $400,000 on the sale and as I said
before I'd rather take all the criticism, whatever they might heap on me by
the newspapers and make the public and the City and the Off -Street Parking
Authority the proper deal and save them 3 or $400,000, that's more important
to me, that's the reason why I take this job without any salary, that's why
the Board members do the same thing and they work very hard, they're there at
B:30 in the morning to do their job and they're more interested in doing what
is right than there is in satisfying some of the writers at the Miami Herald.
And Mr. Mayor, there was no requirement taht we take bids either by the City
nor by the Downtown Development Authority nor by the Off -Street Parking Author-
ity and we just never thought of it. But I have now that this criticism has
come up of the City and ourselves have suggested to you that we be required
in the future to take bids, aothough I can assure you we're not going to sell
any more of our real estate that is so valuable and that we own.
Mayor Ferre: Colonel, you see since you again mentioned the Miami Herald
let me point out that a much larger garage than this called Apcoa at the
Airport, I think it is close to 2,000, 1,800 parking spaces was given to
Apcoa without going through a bid process. Now it was a negotiated deal and
I want you to know that the Miami Herald Editorial Department never said word
one about that - never. So that's another proof that the Miami Herald is
duplicitous I guess is the word which means that they have two standards -
one is the standard they apply to the City of Miami the other is the standard
they apply to Metro. If they Miami Herald was on gung ho in criticizing leases
and sale of property without a bid process why did they not complain about the
Apcoa lease at the Airport that was extended to Apcoa without going through a
bid process? I think the point is that because it has been made such an issue
1 think for public confidence it would be much better if you were to put this
out for public bid and that's just my opinion.
Rev. Gibson: Let me ask this, I don't know. But the likeliness that you go
that route now you may lose your deal, isn't that a possibility?
Col. Wolfson: We definitely will, we've been told that.
would hope---- Well, you know what I'm thinking.
Col. Wolfson:Y,•s. Mr. Mayor and Commissioners, let us be your buffer, let
us take whatever criticism the Herald or the News or anyone else wants to give
and let us do whet is right for the public and let us do what is right for the
City i.n the 'ay of getting the top dollar for this property. Now this doesn't
e:,zi.re ea :ion on your part but we're here today to bare our souls and
tell you everything and we have all our people here, in case you wanted to ask
them any questions as to why this was such a good deal for the City and, of
cours€,`;ifyou want to pass a resolution approving it we'd appreciate it but
if you don't want to do anything that's all right with us too.
Mayor Ferre: Colonel, we're not going to pass any resolutions this morning,
this afternoon we're going to take up the resolution to amend the Charter and
1'd like :to"ask your attorney....
3y the way, let meassureyou this, whether you passthat reso-
11.1t5on to amAr!r_=the Charter or whether they City votes for it we will not take
more sales of property without a public bid.
Mayor Ferre Let me ask your very capable attorney this. Ron, is there, a
L. _ change b LY:een the resolution that George Knox presented us and the one
you presented us this morning? George?
Mr. Knox: No, sir, there were one or two cosmetic changes that Ron Silver
spoke to me about and we concurred in those changes, the resolution is essent-
ially
the same.
Mayor Ferre:
Mr. Knox:
So the substance of it is agreeable, to you in the legal?
es, sir.
Mayor Ferre:
you have any
Mr.
Grassier
Now Mr. Manager, you've had an opportunity to look
objections to that resolution?
No, sir, none at all..
Mayor Ferre: Colonel, and you're the one that'
have any problems with you I assume.
at that, d
proposing it, so_ we;:don 't
Cv . Wolfson: No, sir.
Gibson: Mr. Mayor, you ought to tell the Colonel that my prayer this
,nozniny was exactly what you said and maybe you need to tell the papers that
I prayed for that we would do that which was right and best for this commun-
ity, that you said, you reaffirmed that you were doing what was right and
best for the community. See, so maybe it will be answered.
Mayor Ferre: All right, thank you very much, Colonel Wolfson, for your..
Col. Wolfson Thank you. Gentlemen, we will go ahead and we thank you for
giving,' us the opportunity to come here and explain the whole thing to you.
Thank you very much, all of your Commissioners.
13/19
J U L 1 1 1979
See Resolution No. 79-501 passed and adopted later in the day.
2. ALCAPATTAH TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM - REPRESENTATIVES OF
"ACCION" AND "IMPACT" PROGRAMS.
Ms. Dena Spillman: Mayor and Commissioners, as you recall at your last meeting
we had a discussion over transportation services in the Allapattah neighborhood.
The staff recommendation at that time was that the Accion Program be granted
the funds for that program, the Commission asked us to go back and bring back
more information on the subject. In the meantime, we did extend funding for
Impact through July 30th of this year so that residents of the neighborhoods
are being served - this was done by Commission resolution. There is one point
I would like to make at the beginning so that there is no misunderstanding. I
think a lot of the people who are here are very concerned that they are not go-
ing to be receiving transportation services in Allapattah. I think it is import-
ant that we understand that no matter who provides the service these people will`,
be served. It's not a question of shutting off a service to people, it is a
question of who will provide the service to the people and I'm not sure that all
the people in the audience understand that.
Well, they will I hope by the time
Ms. Spillman: The first time we brought this up there was some discussion back
and forth with Impact's staff regarding problems that we had with the work pro-
gram and what 1 would call communication problems. We have met with the Impact
staff, we sat down for a couple hours, we have talked about the work program,
they have agreed to change the work program in those instances where we did have.
problems. I' think that what we're faced with today is two proposals to provide
the same service in a neighborhood. To make it very brief, let me just review
with you, I think you're all aware that Accion Community Center, Inc. is a
neighbor based corporation which does receive extensive funds from the City of
Miami. They received $30,500 from City CD and I think it's important to note
here that they also received $10,000 from the County's CD program. Impact, from
my knowledge, does not receive any County CD money, Accion does receive $10,000.
Accion receives $44,500 in FRS money, $98,000 in CETA moneys and they have re-
cently obtained a grant from State DOT for $53,000 for new buses. A few points
I'd like to make with you, as I said, Impact has agreed to revise their work
program. I do have, however, copies of letters which were sent from Impact to
Action over the past year requesting Accion to pick up their clients to provide
services to them. Accion is already serving people in Allapattah without addi-
tional funding, they would serve more people if this funding were given to them.
Another point that came up in our meeting with Impact was that Impact is sub-
ject to all County personnel policies and for the first six months of the pro-
gram there was a hiring freeze in the County, because of that they could not
hire a bus driver and, therefore, their performance for the first six months
of that program was not up to par. As you well know, private non-profit agenc-
ies are not subject to any City or County personnel Civil Service requirements
and, therefore, have more flexibility in hiring. You have a chart attached to
your package which shows information about the two proposals, I think the im-
portant thing to note on that is that the proposal we received from Accion pro-
poses a lower cost per trip than the Impact program proposes so that we would
be paying less money per trip with Accion. Just for your information, last
year's proposal during our fourth year program based on proposed number of
clients to be served Accion's cost per client was $4.98 and Impact's was $6.25.
Our zecommendation remains the same, that Accion be funded for this program.
If you have any questions I'd be happy to respond to them.
Thereupon, the Commission heard from the following public speakers in
favor of the two programs:
Mrs. Fran Kraemer stated that the Impact Program received $30,000cin
County CD Funds. She pointed out that Impact provides a demand service`` to the.
frail elderly while Accion provides a fixed route service and said that that
was the reason Accion was able to serve more people.
The following speakers spoke in favor of Impact:
Jorge Castillo
Ralph Molins
Pedro Poveda
Mrs. Cruz
Mrs. Gail Hillson
Mr. Manuel Vasquez, Vice President of the Board of Directors of Accion
appeared and said that based upon past performance he thought Accion should
receive the funding for it's operation.
Mr. Octavio Blanco stated in response to Mrs. Kraemer's statement that45%
of Accion's trips were to take clients to doctor's offices, hospitals, etc.'
not on a fixed route.
Ms. Barbara Spurrier said that she had come here to speak in favor of
retainingthe program but that she had been misledby persons who tole her the
program was going to be abolished.
Mayor Ferre: Dena, you heard the statements made on both sides, now wind it
up and give us your recommendations and then I'll get to the questions.
Ms. Spillman: Just two comments, Mrs. Kraemer indicated that Impact provides
a system of services beyond transportation, we would certainly hope that no
matter who provides transportation the County would continue to provide those
same services that they're providing in that neighborhood which they should be
doing. I don't know if Mr. Blanco made this clear, Accion does have a demand'
response program.
Mayor Ferre: Demand response, you mean door to door?
Ms. Spillman: Yes, someone can call them up and say, "I need to go somewhere"
and they can do that. One other point, just briefly, that the County should
be providing certain social services in the City and I think sometimes it gets
confusing as to what is being discussed here today, it's the transportation
component. The other Impact programs provided by the County will continue to
be provided, obviously both agencies cooperate and Accion will make sure people
get to wherever they're supposed to get to get the right services and our recom-
mendation remains the same.
Mayor Ferre: all right, now questions. Mrs. Gordon?
Mrs. Gordon: What can I say? It's a a circus. As far aS I'm concerned
a foregoing conclusion, it's arguing with the inevitable.
Mr. Plummer: Let's get the record straight so I'm confused.`
this matter taken before the CD. group?
Ms. Spillman:':
Mr. Plummer:
Ms. Spillman:
It_ was taken to he
All right, and it was their recommendation for the change?
Mr. Plummer: (2) The documents you have given us say that the recommendation
of the Accion would be for a lower per cost trip.
Ms. Spillman:' That's the proposal, yes.
Rev. Gibson:
people?`
rt
it was taken before the Chairperson, what about the
o‘
Ms. Spillman: There was no community meeting held, there was not time, all we
asked, we asked for another proposal to have something to go by.
Mrs. Gordon: Do you mean just one person, Dena, made the decision?
Ms. Spillman: There's no decision, we asked for....
Mrs. Gordon: Or the recommendation?
Ms. Spillman: All he recommended was that another proposal be received for
competitive purposes to see what services could be provided.
Mrs:. Gordon: Did he recommend the one that you're recommending?
Ms. Spillman:
Yes.
Mrs. Gordon: All right
person here?
Mayor Ferre:
Mrs. Gordon:
Mayor Ferre:
can I - well, I wish he was here. Is the gentleman
s Mr. Urra here?
Did you ask him to be here, Dena?
He's" on vacation, is that right? He's out of town?
INAUDIBLE COMMENTS FROM AUDIENCE.
Okay.
Mayor Ferre: Did you threaten him last night? I see, so why don't you tell'.'
us what your conversation was with Mr. Urra and what you said to him."
UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER:
evening and he wasn't
Maycr! Ferre:
I` talked with Mr Urra
out of the City, he was
Will you
UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER:
he didn't know.
yesterday about 7 O'Clock in the.
at his home.
tell us what you told Mr. Urra on the telephone?
I asked him if he wanted to come here and he said that
Mayor Ferre: I see. Was there anything else that you told him that you would
like to shre with this Commission and the public?
UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: Well, what I told "him is that he knows that I belong to
the personnelof the Impact Program and that we are going to fight for what we
bslieve is our right to have, that's all.
Mayor Ferre: That's all youtold him?.
UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: That's all.
Mrs. Gordon::.
re you aware of anything else, Mr. Mayor?
Mayor Ferre: I understand that there were some threats made to Mr. Urra and,
of course,he'll have to speak for himself `since ;I was not present during the
conversationbut he can discuss those publicly at a future meeting, I'm sure.
Mrs. Gordon:;
Urra?
Mayor
Well
Mr. Mayor
Ferre:> No, I" have not.
may I ask you a question? Did you speak to Mr.
Mrs. Gordon: Then it was relayed to you? Okay.
Mayor Ferre: This was information that I received yesterday that Mr. Urra had
been called and threatened and he can clarify that on his own.
Mrs. Gordon: Certain allegations of that sort had come to me, I didn't choose
to put them on the record but since you've made that, it came to me that the
threats were made from the other side and the threats were that his political
future might be in danger if, in fact, he didn't make the recommendation which
he made. Now, that's as much in fact, I assume, as what you're making as a
statement.
Mayor Ferre: No, what I heard was that the people from the County had threat-
ened to cut off his hot meal program he's trying to get if he didn't go along
with the County people.
22
rt
JUL ! I ieTO
Mrs. Gordon: Well, I guess he had to choose between that and his political
future I guess from what we both heard.
Mayor Ferre: Did you talk to Mr. Urra?
Mrs. Gordon: No, I don't talk to Mr. Urra, it came tome the same way it came
to you.
Mayor Ferre: 5o in other words that's also third hand information.
Mrs. Gordon:
It came from the grass roots,
that's right.
Mr. Howard Russell: Mr. Mayor, I'm the administrator of the Impact Program and
I spoke before this Commission two weeks. I'm Howard Russell. And it was at
that Commission Meeting when Dena spoke and gave the reason why they were recom-
mending that they money be taken away that I for the very first time heard that
the residents of Allapattah wished this transfer of the funding from us to Accion.
So as a result of that information which Dena gave publicly I then with Mr.
O'Toole and Jorge went to visit Mr. Urra and I said, "Is there something that
we're doing that you're displeased with, is there something more that you want
us to do? and he said, yes, there are two things that I would like. I would
like the vehicles over night to be based in Allapattah and not across the Miami
River at your senior center. He would also like the dispatcher, the person who
receives the request from the elderly for transporation to be based'in the Alla-
pattah Neighborhood Center which is a County Center and we said that that was
no problem for us. We went and talked to the director of the center, Sarah
Gomez, and Israel Milton, the County Director of the Neighborhood Services Cen-
ter and they said that there is no problem with that. So Mr. Urra at that point
told us that he would go back to Dena and recommend that the funding stay with
the impact program because we had been giving good services and that the only
thing he wanted really was that the vehicles and the dispatcher be physically
located in Allapattah and not just across the river. A day later he told Jorge
that he had to change his mind again because he was caught in the middle was
what he told us. So there was no meeting of residents of Allapattah. Mr. Urra
for whatever reasons had gone to Dena but the residents of Allapattah didn't
know anything about this at the time of the Commission Meeting when Dena said
that, it was really Mr. Urra for whatever reasons and then Mr. Urra told us,
"Yes, the money can stay with you if the vehicles and the dispatcher remain in
Allapattah." I would also like to say that the reason we do not have as many
elderly people here as Accion, we're not in that kind of competition, we wanted
to bring some representatives, is that the majority of the people that we trans-
port
are not well elderly, they're frail elderly.
Mayor Ferre: All right, thank you.
Mrs. Gordon: Mr. Mayor, I'm concerned. Beyond the fact of the funding of this
program or that program, I'm concerned about the political implications that are
being placed before us. I believe that this Commission to fulfill it's responsi-
bility entirely to the people of the City should require Mr. Urra to come here
and to make a personal statement under oath as to whether has received threats
either from one side or the other side. And also, Dena, to you, you yourself
have a staff who does most of the work for you in the early stages at least to
the very last decision -making process which is bringing you to the microphone.
I would like you to bring your staff, the three people that you have....
Ms. Spillman: My staff is here right now if you'd like to talk with them.
Mrs. Gordon: Oh fine, but I would prefer that they be here at the same time
that Mr. Urra is here so that the questions that are being addressed to him
would be addressed in their presence. I would make that as a request of this
Commission for the next Commission Meeting that Mr. Urra come here and be asked
to take an oath.
Mayor Ferre: Well, let me say that I complete agree that Mr. Urra should come
here and under oath make.a statement. However, in my opinion we will not put,.
off this decision today. This decision will be brought for a vote this after-
noon and we will make a decision today.
Mr.' Frank Castaneda appeared before the Commission and stated that he and
Mr. Blanco had met with Mr. Urra some 10-12 days prior at which time Mr. Urra
stated to them that he would not be present to support either Impact or Accion
because he was requesting space in the Allapattah Community Center to operate
a meals program and he felt his presence would jeopardize his chances of getting
that.
23
5trl. Tin
1
•
Mayor Ferre said he felt the City should favor City agencies when the
level and quality of service were nearly equal but in this instance the City
agency was in his opinion rendering superior service. He then cited statis-
tics to support his view.
After hearing from other speakers the City Commission took a five minute
recess before returning to their deliberations.
3.. DISCUSSION ITEM: ORANGE BOWL LEASE AGREEMENTS,
SCOREBOARD, ETC.
Mayor Ferre: We are now on Item "B", Mr. Manager, the discussion of the lease
agreement for the Orange Bowl.
Mr. Grassie: The purpose of this item, Mr. Mayor and members of the City Com-
rnission, is to seek authorization from the City Commission for a new, one more
try to solve the leasing problem that we have with the Orange bowl. You remem-
ber.in the, individual budget discussions that we've had with individual members
of the, City Commission that we have projected the possibility of as much as
$200,000 of revenue for the City in order to help finance next year's budget.
If we're going to accomplish that we need to get this work started as quickly
as possible. Now what we have on your agenda, and what we're seeking your author-
ization to present, keeping in mind that it has not been presented so far to
anyone, what we're seeking authorization on is basically a lease agreement which
includes all of the provisions that the City Commission has already approved
in your prior resolution of July of last year, in other words you have author-
ized all of the terms that we include in this document with the following ex-
ceptions: First, with regard to the scoreboard the terms are identical to what
you have already approved. With regard to beer sales, we are talking about an
agreement which would cover beer sales for one year, that is through July of
1980 at the rate recommended by the Wolfson Committee of 32%. It would provide
for bidding at the end of the current concession term. The current concession
runs out in July of 1980. Before that time we would anticipate that the City
would go to bid and would offer this to anyone who wished to bid on it. This
seems to be in general concurrence with the approach or the feeling of a major-
ity of the City Commission. We would require a $100,000 bond bid to make sure
that the 'bids that the City received were serious and we would place a minimum
on that requirement so that no one could offer the City - and expect to have
it accepted - no one can offer the City less than 31% on food or less than 35%
on beer. Now that would be a minimum that would be acceptable. Of course, we
would anticipate getting higher bids than that. We would also put in a clause
that would provide that the current concessionaire would have the option of
matching the highest bid offered the City and if the current concessionaire did
not accept that offer, did make an offer to match the highest bid then what we
would do is we would reimburse him for any expenses that we had agreed to in
putting in a new beer system and the new concessionaire then would have to take
up those expenses. Further, the last point, what this does is change the so-
called three year and out clause to a four a four year clause generally follow-
ing the desires of this Commission. What we would like to achieve today, Mr.
Mayor and members of the City Commission, is authorization from you to present
this kind of a package. I cannot tell you that it would be accepted but we are
trying to get the process started again so that for this one year, the remain-
ing year of the concession agreement which is a year during which you remember
the court has said that the City must deal with the current concessionaire, dur-
ing this one year that we get something moving and after that one year that we
have the opportunity to go to bid as has been so widely discussed.
Mayor Ferre: All right, I'll start off the discussion. On Item "B", as you
presented this memorandum, Mr. Grassie, just on the record for discussion:pur-
poses I want to say that I agree with everything but Item 2(c). I'll be very
specific, "...The Miami Dolphins will install the new Orange Bowl Scoreboard
System under the terms and conditions previously discussed." I've got some
questions on that because it has been such a long time that I think we'd better
make sure that we look at what we're voting on and understand it properly and
the Item 2 which is the beer, I have no problems with terms and conditions prev-
iously discussed and will be required to pay the City 32% for gross beer until
July 1, 1980 and the following provisions have also been added to the beer docu-
ment: That the Orange Bowl Concession operation will be offered for public bid-
ding when the present concession contract expires on July 1, 1980. Okay. And
shall have 30 days to match the highest bid, the Dolphins will. (b) The
24
'�u�si1919
documents promulgated in 80 to advertise the Orange Bowl Concession operation
for public bidding will require that bidders post a bid bond of $100,000 and
that bids of less than 35% gross less tax on beer sales and 31% of gross less
tax on food, soft drinks and novelties will not be accepted, in other words
that's the floor, we're putting a floor on it. Also, bidders will be advised
that the present concessionaire will be given the opportunity to match the
highest bid. Do you have paragraph 12 of the June 1977 contract?
Mr. Grassie: Yes, I do, Mr. Mayor.
Mayor. Terre: I'll get into that in a moment. Item (c), if the Miami Dolphins
Limited do not choose to match the highest bid the City will reimburse them
for their unamortized investment made to implement beer sales according to a
schedule to ba agreed by the parties. And Item (d), the three year escape
clause will be extended to four years. Now, I agree with everything there as
I said but Item (c) and the reason, Mr. Manager, is that there is no system
that is in operation in these United States which moves beer over a great dis-
tance that is working effectively as of today. There is no system. Now, for
the City of Miami to go spend $350,000, on something that we don't know whether
it is aoi.ng to work or is not going to work and then Joe Robbie to have the
ability next year to walk away from it and have somebody get stuck with it which
might be the City of Miami, in a system that does not work is highly question-
able. So what I would recommend is this: (1) That we agree on the scoreboard;
(2) that we permit beer to be sold in the Orange Bowl this coming football sea-
son but it has t) be dispensed by hand without any major expenditure. Now I
know that that is an incovenient, inefficient way but the only say that it can
be done as I see 't is for the vendors to be at ground level with the barrels
and dispensing it into plastic glasses and for some vendors on a very limited
to Le r.A„ving around the stadium with the cans - and I understand that they
cannot carry more than 24 cans at one time, and with the ability to dispose of
the can and pour the beer into the glass and pass it on to the customer and I
'know that that is an inefficient way but I don't think that the City of Miami
at this time can go to that kind of an expenditure on a one year basis. Now,
Cormissicner Plummer has I think completely justifiably, I understand his posi-
tion, has insisted on a public bid process because of the fact that in Tampa
there is a 42% return rather than a 35% return on both food and beer. Now, we
will put that to the test very simply. I would like to have bid documents ap-
provec: by t-iF Commission either September or October or November, have the mat-
_r rna. cvt -ca. }-.ids over a 60-day period, take bids in December, January or
ro}Y>;ar1, ,ra tho reason I want it done that early - this is my persona opinion -
because if somebody is the successful bidder that person is going to have
t: guarantee for six years that that beer will be installed and it will be served.
cold :and .it thatrequires a system they're going to have to absorb the full ex-
.
r� of `iL and take their chances on it rather than the City taking any chances
which is what Plummer has been saying all along.. Okay?
z.'Plummer:
Exactly what Tampa did.
Mayor Ferre: Let them take the risk, not the City of Miami. Now, the reason
�c!v 7 would like an early bid, by that I mean January or February, is because
if a complicated system is going to be installed I think those people should
ha"e nix months to do itin and, therefore, if they start in February they'll
have it in time for the football season when it starts in September. Basically
that's my position. I'll open it up for other comments.
Mr. Grassie: We wouldn't have any difficulty with any of that, Mr. Mayor, I.
don't think it is exactly true that there are no systems that work but that's.
academic, you know if you prefer to put that off for a year that's fine. In
fact....
Mayor Ferre: Well, what system that you know of works?
. Grassie: Well, the Tampa Stadium has exactly the system that we're talking
about and it does work.
Mayor Ferre: Over very short distances, about one-fourth ofthe distances that
we.'re going to go and it' is not working.° If Yon have checked recently `-Yon "will
find out....
Mr. Grassie:
it works.
We have checked in the last two days, Mayor, and according to them
Mayor. Ferre: In the last two days;, where I havechecked they are serving beer
at 46 to 54 degrees and that is not an effective system
rt
25
J. 1 1 Ig7g
Mr. Grassie: What could I tell you, they must tell you differently than they
tell Mr. Jennings who is sitting here and who checked with them.
Mayor Ferre: That's called hot beer. Mr. Jennings, come up here and tell me
that they're serving cold beer on the record.
Mr. Jennings: Mr. Mayor, I talked to Mr. Chilupsky who is the Director of
the Sports Authority in Tampa yesterday, asked him if his beer distribution;
system was working satisfactorily at the stadium "and his answer was "Yes, it's
working just fine", they're having no trouble with it.
Mayor Ferre: Did you ask him, Mr. Jennings,' what distan
from the beer keg to the distribution point?
Mr. Jennings:
No, sir, , I did not.
es have to be traveled
Mayor Ferrel,-;Well,,I did and do you know that we haveto go four times more?
Now let me ask you another question. Did you ask them what the temperature of
the beer was when it came out of the tap?
Mr.
Jennings:
o, I did not.
Mayor Ferrel, Well`I did, and let me tell you that
beer comes out warm. Okay?
the question was that the
Mrs. Gordon: You're all getting back to the point I said in the beginning -
there isn't the money you think there is in the serving of beer in the Orange
Bowl and everything points to it exactly. People aren't goirig to buy the warm
beer, therefore, you're not going to sell a whole a lot, there's not going to
be a lot of profit, security is goingto be increased, if you're going to have
cans as the mayor suggested you leave yourself open for. all kinds of problems.
Mayor Ferre:
No, the can is just to pour it.
Mrs. Gordon: But you've got somebody carrying a garbage sick .on their back to.`
get the cans. My';goodness, I think you all are justwhistling Dixie really..
Mr. Plummer :L
Mr. Manager, may I inquire through you to the to Mr. Jennings?
Mr. Grassie: Yes,
sir.
Mr. Plummer: Mr. Jennings, how much is the system being proposed for the
Orange Bowl presently, cost?
Mr. Jennings: T
Mr. Plummer:
Mr. Jennings:.
Mr. "'Plummer: ':
Mr. Jennings:
sir.
Mr. Plummer:
Mr. Jennings:
e Perlic
distribution system?
o, what isbeing proposed in this....
$330,000 I believe was the number.,
And how is that cost split?
$220,000 to the City and $110,000 to the Dolphins as I remembe
lr. Jennings, what is the system in Tampa Stadium cost?
It cost approximately $300,000, 300 and, some odd thousand.
Mr. Plummer: The beer dispensing system?
•
Mr. Jennings: Well no, the Perlic. system itself. now not counting all
the other, the racks that the vendors use, it was 137 wasn't it?
Mr. Plummer: About 137,000, about a third or not quite a third less, 2/3 less
than what is being proposed.
Mr. Jennings:
tional things
Per? is
Mr. Plummer:
Mr. Jennings:
Well keep in mind our system also provides for all these addi-
I think that the two beer distribution systems themselves, the
systems were very close.
But they're serving 70,000 capacity in the stadium.
72 or so, yes.
26
rt
JULii10Ta
Mr. Plummer: Who pays that cost, Mr. Jennings?
Mr. Jennings: In the Tampa Stadium?
Mr. Plummer: Yes, sir.
Mr. Jennings: The concessionaire.
Mx. Plummer: And in the Orange Bowl the present percentage is 30.5% on food
and soda.
Mr. Jennings:
Yes, sir.
,and it is being proposed at 32% for beer.
Until 1980, yes, sir.
tir. Plummer
Mr. Jennings:
Mr. Plummer: And it is my. understanding,that in Tampa that -the food and soda
and beer are all proposed at the same percentage.;
Mr. Jennings:
Mr. Plummer:
Mr. Jennings:
Mr.
es, sir.
r'. what is that?
4:.1%.
Plummer: 10% more than what we're' being offered?
.i. Jennings:
s. sir:.
Mr. Plummer: Okay. I'll get back to the scoreboard later but let's just have
xnt: understandings on this other stuff. Thank you.
i•;�,'o FecreT Further questions? I'd like to just for the record point out
because some people have asked me about whether or not the Dolphins have a
r'.'rt to the extension of the contract on the concession and I want for the
record just to put it in so we can settle that one. Mr. Knox the agreement
`hat the>Cty of Miami signed on the 8th day of June, 1977 which I have before
1 3_ _,raph 2 or. page 2 that the City hereby grants the partnership
exciusiv•.. use of the football concession through the regular football
bebava`inc:ludi:g the year 1986. Now in paragraph 12 it says, and I'm going to
read it;verbatim, (12)"Subject to a successful negotation of the provisions of
a new concession agreement with partnership the City agrees that the term of
u.e new-cocession agreement will coincide with the term of this agreement."
Nh.w that means that this agreement goes through the football season of 1986,
therefore, what I think this says in just plain English is that the Dolphins
i^•e e rit+ht to negotiate the extension of the concession agreement through
the football season of 1986.
:roi:: Yes, sir.
Mr. Plummer Wellexpand upon that.
Mayor Ferre: It says, "Subject to a successful negotiation..." Now, the suc-
cessful negotiation portion, the best way to prove the proper negotiating pro-
ceedings since Mr. Dan Paul, the attorney for the Dolphins says that they will
sue us and keep us from bidding it my argument with him is that if we put it
out for bids and clearly outline paragraph 12 that any high bidder for the beer
and food would be subject to the fact that the Dolphins would have priority
that if somebody who was a bonafide company who put up a bid bond for $100,000
bid it at 40% or 42% that that in effect would be the watershed mark that we
wau3a go on and we would negotiate with the Dolphins. If they refuse to accept
that we, in fact, then successfully, I mean we had negotiated it and we had
aiven them the opportunity to successfully negotiate. do you disagree with any
of. that?
Mr. Knox: No, sir, that's essentially what the provision provides. The Dol-
phins have a first option, if you will, with respect to concessions. Now at
:lewd*: one court has determined that concessions include the sale of beer. The
contract does provide a quote termination date between the stadium lease and
the concession agreement. It is our position that successful negotiations would
contemplate an agreement. Based on the proposed agreement then the Dolphins
pursuant to their existing right under the contract would have an opportunity
to match, if you will, the highest bid that would be submitted competitively,
the idea being, of course, that the maximum return to the City would have been
2'7
JULT119T9
accomplished and also the City would have accomplished its obligations under the
existing contract.
Mrs. Gordon: Well, how does that differ with what Mr. Ferre said? He said that,
that's what he said►
Mrs. Gordon: Oh,
Mayor Ferre: All right, are there further questions on this? Well, I do have
questionsabout the scoreboard, Joe. If' you will look in page 2 at Item C, it
says that if the Dolphins give us the cancellation, we've gone out and spent
some money to put up a scoreboard. Now they say Okay, we're leaving, we can-
cel our agreement. That means
Mr. Grassie: Excuse me, Mayor, it is a technicality but in both the beer sys-
tem and the scoreboard the Dolphins put up all the front money, they spend the
money.
Mayor Ferre: Yes, but that's not what it says here. "...That if in the above
revised. paragraph 2(b) of the agreement of June 8th is exercised by the Dolphins
then this agreement should terminate immediately coincident with the date of
service of notice of cancellation." So that if the Dolphins say Ok, we're leav-
ing in 4 years the moment they give us notice this contract is cancelled. Now,
is that in our interest?
Mr. Grassie: Well, I don't believe so but I think that it was the general con-
sensus as I understood the consensus unless I misinterpreted what you wanted I
thought it was the consensus of the City Commission that that's what you wanted.
Mayor Ferre: Well, it says the City shall subsequently reimburse the Dolphins
for its unamortized investment.' So in other words they will then get the° bene-
fit of any usage of that scoreboard even though for years we'll have to reim-
burse them for the money.
Mr. Grassie: No, that wouldn't be it, sir.
Mayor Ferre: Well that's what I wanted you to explain.
Mr. Grassie: What would happen would be this, as soon as they notified the
City that they were going to cancel within four years we would immediately can-
cel out their agreement on the scoreboard, we would have to pay them the unamort-
ized cost of that scoreboard but they we would get 100% of the earnings off that
scoreboard so that they would get no more benefit out of it. Now, we would also
because the agreement now provides that they sell the advertising, and they get
a 15% commission for selling it. We would have to go to an outside ad agency
to sell the advertising.
Mayor Ferre: Well, that was my question, they're not going to make any money
off of it at that point are they?
Mr. Grassie: No, at that point they would be cut out all together.
Mayor Ferre: Now on Item C it says that the Dolphins shall retain title to the
scoreboard if we don't meet all the things that we said in 1(c) above. In other,
words what you're saying is that we'd have to pay them otherwise they would
retain the title but if we pay them we retain title.
Mr. Grassie: Yes.
Mayor Ferre: Is that clear, George? Did the Law Department draft this contract?
Mr. Knox:
Mayor Ferre:
o, sir, we did review it, however. We did review the contract.
What, you didreview it?
Mr. Knox: Yes
Mr. Plummer: Who prepared; it?
sir.
Mr. Knox: Bob Jennings prepared it with the assistanceof somebody from the Law
Department.
rt
28
r_Li",1179
Mr. Grassie: Can I tell you what the purpose of that is? A private corporation
has the ability to take tax benefit from an investment that they amortize.
If
they have title to the scoreboard, and keep in mind that they put up all the money
to buy it to begin with, you know we don't put up a cent, they put up all the
money. If they put up all the money they have the tax advantage of amortizing
this expenditure over a period of the length of the lease. That is the only
reason aside from the fact that they put up all the money for leaving title
with them. It's a benefit that they can get which is not open to us. It does
us no good so it might as well be available to them. Now, what we do is incur
the obligation to repay half of it and, of course, we get 50% of the benefit
from the advertising revenues.
Mayor Ferre: They're putting up all the money and we get 50%?
Mr. Plummer: Oh nol
Mr. Grassie: Well, they are putting up all of the cash, we incur half of the
obligation to repay which is in proportion to half of the benefit that we get
of the profit. You know, we have half of the liability and we have half of
the profit.
Mr. Plummer: No, that's not true either.
Mayor Ferrer All right, clear it up, Mr. Plummer.
Mr. Plummer: Well excuse me, yes. In;your-terminology, Ok. We're obviously
going to play semantics and I don't mind playing that game. Let's. look et the
bottom line that I like to look at. How much is it proposed on your projections'
that the Dolphins will make?
Mr. Grassie: We're talking aboutthe scoreboard.
Mr. Plummer: I thought we were.
Mr. Grassie: They're going to make $56,000 which is exactly what we're going
to make..
Mr. Plummer: Now _ -- to the top. vw much the bottom line, are ; they
going to make?
Mr. Grassie: r That is the bottom line.
Mr. Plummer:
It is?
Mr. Grassie: Now what you're
handling the advertising, the
asking me is are they going to be paid 15% for
answer is yes.
Mr. Plummer: Is`that not moneythat they're going to get?
Mr. Grassie: Commissioner, either they get paid for it or we pay 15% to an
advertising agency.
Mr. Plummer: Possibly, have you precluded that that could be sold almost im-
mediately and locked up in ten year contracts without having an advertising
agency? I know one firm that was willing to spend right away on a ten year
plan $75,000, ready to sign on the dotted line.
Mayor Ferrer We don't have a ten year plan, all we can talk about is six years.
Mr. Plummer: The only reason we don't is because of the fact that:the present
concessionaire chose not to give guarantee of product - that was his option.
Okay? And he affected that option and because of that they backed off. The
bottom line is, since I can't draw from Mr. Grassie the figures, is that the
Dolphins immediately will make $80,000 a year as opposed to the City's $56,000.
Now, Mr. Grassie, may I inquire....
Mr. Grassie: Commissioner, I'm sorry but that's not true.
Mr. Plummer; Tell me where it is incorrect.
Mr. Grassie: It is incorrect in that the way you get the $80,000 is by taking
their $56,000 which is clear profit and the $24,000 which is an earned commis-
sion for which they have to work. Now if you did the same thing for us you'd
take our $56,000 which is our clear profit and you'd take our $18,000 which is
29
.JUL 1 1 1sr9
an earned payment that we get out of it and the $6,000 which is an earned operat-
ing expense that we get and when you add'56 and 18 and $6,000 then that's what
we get out of it.
Mr. Plummer: Yes, but I'd like to•addthat 24 over into our column.
Mr. Grassie: Well, Commissioner..
Mr. Plummer: Now, Mr. Grassie, either to you or through you, since I keep inter-
jecting the Tampa situation, what did the scoreboard in the, Buccaneer Stadium,
cost the City of Tampa?
Mr. Grassie: I don't know what the Buccaneer stadium..
Mr. Plummer: That bothers me when you don't know.
3,000'employees, Commissioner,' is because
of them knows - Mr. Jennings does know.
Mr. Grassie: The reason why we have
I don't know everything that everyone
Mr. Plummer: . Yes, except it is your
mendation and it is understood by me
you do understand it.
Mr. Grassie:
Mr.
Plummer:
Mr. Grassie:
Mr. Plummer:
Mr.
Grassie:
responsibility as Manager to make a recom-
that when you make a recommendation that
ommissioner, it is in the report, by the way.
understand, I know the answer but I want it on the record.
Well, another part of the record is..
I would like to get back to my question,
Yes.
'm looking for an answer.'
Mr. Plummer:. My question once again is now much did it cost. the. City of Tampa
or the Sports Authority for the scoreboard which is the important thing that.
the public be served.
Mr. Grassie: I'm sorry, I thought you were asking what the
what it cost the authority.
thing cost, not
Mr. Plummer: I asked a question, I'll ask it again. What did the scoreboard
in the ;`stadium .in'Tampa cost the City of Tampa, i.e.. the Sports Authority.
Mr. Grassie: I'm sorry,I thought you were asking the cost of the hardware.
It cost the Sports. Authority, nothing, the City did not pay for it.
Mr. Plummer: So with no investment whatsoever what does
the Sports Authority get in return for doing nothing?
Mr. Grassie: About $25,000.';
Mr. Plummer: Without moving a finger.
Mr. Grassie: Commissioner, if you remember, we have an offer that is now
several years old for about a $2,000,000 scoreboard which costs the City noth-
ing and which would produce about $17,000 free and clear. Those propositions
are possible. What we have in front of you is what the City Commission has
authorized. Last July by action of this City Commission you have authorized
that we make this kind of an arrangement. What you're saying is that we want
to rethink that, that's possible but we're not suggesting anything that you
have not already authorized.
Mr. Plummer: I agree with you, your statement is correct it just doesn't go
far enough. By majority vote is what was authorized, there were dissenting
votes.
Mr. Jennings:
Commissioner Plummer
Mayor`Ferre: Go ahead.
Mr. Jennings: If you'll notice the Tampa agreement, it takes 15 years though
before the Authority....
may I` comment on the scoreboard issue
t
rJUL ! 1 1979
Mayor Ferre:
What Tampa Agreement? This is the Tampa Agreement that I got.
Mr. Plummer:
Mayor Ferre:
and here is'
of the City'
please.
That was designated for Inc.
Yes,; this is all I've got in my packet, is this. Here's my packet
the Tampa agreement. I. don't mean to be criticizing the efficiency
s staff but"Iwould `like to have a copy of the Tampa agreement,
Mr. Jennings:. We11, my "point was merely going to be that in our case it only
takes three years to amortize the board after which we begin to split'50-50
in the revenues. -In the case of Tampa it is 15 years before the board gets
amortized and the`50-50 split begins to take place. So I guess you'd have to
c1-5some`arithietic but I'm sure that after you've done the arithmetic you'd
find that the numbers are not going to be too far off as regards the split of
the dollars.
Manor Ferre: Mr. Jennings, I have two questions. One is in Item 8 and again
in'Item `3(a) it says that the City will maintain and operate, that's 3(a) and
over, in 8 it says the City agrees to maintain the Orange Bowl and the score-
board within the terms of this agreement in physical condition suitable for
the Flaying of professional and collegiate football games. Now, I notice that
there is no provision for maintenance or upgrading if there is any damage to
the scoreboard. Ay question is this, we're splitting the profits 50-50, I think
that's fair, I've got no problems with that. We're letting them get the 15%
for advertising ccmmission, I've got no problems with that because we're going
to have to pay that to that agency or another advertising agency so that doesn't
bother me. I am concerned about the fact that is there a deduction allowable
.7_ = the ' t, uir.t.:.iance of the scoreboard?
Mx. Jennings: Yes, sir, that's that $6,000 that we're estimating, it says oper
ting cost but that includes an estimation of what it will cost to maintain and
operate
Mayor Ferre: The point I'm trying to make is that that's not what Item 8 says
and I'm not trying to say that Mr. Robbie's lawyers would put something by us
but in English that's what that thing says. It says the City agrees to main-
tain the scrreioe.rd and it says at it's own expense - no liability of any kind
r'.a13 he Inc; In .d - and so on. So what I'm asking you is are you very sure
th?t wel're able to deduct the 5 or $10,000 a year it's going to cost
tra_u ain that facility or are you telling me that the City is going to ab-
sL rb that cut: ofit's portion and it's got nothing to do with the 50-50 split?
The figure is
Mr. ,Tannings:
$6,000.
I'm sorry.
Mr. Grassie: The figure is $6,000, Mayor, and it is specific and we
the right to take it out.
Mr. Jennings: Yes, in paragraph 5, Mr. Mayor.
Mayor Ferre: All right. Now the other thing that I have a question is we're
now going to the possibility of bidding beer and other concessions. In the
event that Mr. Robbie and the Dolphins are not the high bidders and, therefore,
and they turn down the high bid are we going to have a problem between the
scoreboard and the concessionaire and is there any provision in this document
that whoever has the concession has a priority on advertising? For example,
if Pepsi -Cola is the soft beverage that is being sold in the stadium I don't
think that they would be very happy to have Coca-Cola advertised while Pepsi
Cola is being sold. That is not addressed in this document.
Mr. Plummer: What you're saying is that the availability of the concessionaire
holding right of guaranteed produce should be removed and I agree with that.
Mayor Ferre: Well, what I'm saying is that if the concessionaire is different
from the Dolphins you're going to have a problem as to what's being advertised
if... You understand what I'm saying, Mr. Grassie.
Mr. Grassie: Yes, I understand perfectly. That was the major stumbling block
that the City had when they were talking about building a large scoreboard be-
fore. In the last round of our discussions with Stewart -Warner, the people
who would build the scoreboard they were willing to put up a scoreboard, and
remember that we're talking now about the smaller scoreboard that had to be
rt
31
JUL 1 1 1sr7.
amortized on a three year basis because....
Mayor Ferre: Yes,this is not the scoreboard we originally wanted which would
have cost $2,000,000.
Mr. Grassier That's correct, but they were willing to guarantee building the
smaller scoreboard without that provision that tied advertising to the product
in the Orange Bowl. What they would simply do is sell advertising like air-
lines and that sort of thing which did not have to do with a concession product.
Mayor Ferre: Well, I guess what I'm trying to say, and I'll say it in English
as simply as I can, is I, one out of five votes will not vote on a document
which does not specifically state in it that we're not going to advertise a
product on the scoreboard competitive to something that is being sold without
giving the people who are selling that product a right of refusal or first crack
at it. Now, if Pepsi -Cola doesn't want to advertise and Coca-Cola does that's
their problem but I don't want for Pepsi -Cola to be sold in the stadium and
Coca-Cola being advertised without giving the people who are selling their
product the right of advertising it.
Mr. Grassie: The City retains the right in the agreement to approve any adver
tising that goes on the board so that we have control in sense of being able
to veto anything that goes on that board.
Mayor Ferrer I want it on the record, Mr. Grassie, because we have serious
problems, you weren't here, it was Me. Reese and later Paul Andrews and we
ended up with serious problems in this Commission because we were precluded
from doing some of these things and that's why we don't have a scoreboard now
because Joe Robbie went through this whole harangue how he would not let us
advertise things that he didn't sell.
Mr. Plummer: Mr. Mayor, I see a danger in that same area that you're pursuing.
We retain the right of approval of foremat of advertising if the advertising
agent has the right to accept or deny and forward only to us that which he ac-
cepts we would never know what he denied. We are not covered, Mr. Grassie, by
the clause that says we retain the right to approve all advertising. What it
really says is we retain the right to approve all advertising forwarded to us.
There is a big difference. Someone could make application and be denied by the
advertising agent prior to it getting to us for approval and we would never know
about it or possibly so I don't think we're covered by that provision.
Mr. Grassie: I think you're right but that is, of course, the same situation
that we would be in with a commercial advertising firm, you would be in exact-
ly the same position.
Mr. Plummer:- Well, but you see, the hang up before, Mr. Grassie, was on the
terminology of product accessibility in the Orange Bowl. It was not an exclus-
ive franchise but it was of product availability as I recall the terminology.
Mr. Grassie: Yes, but if we keep in mind the problem that the Mayor outlined
the circumstance that we would have is that the Dolphins would have the score-
board and the advertising and they would have to negotiate with the concession-
aire if they did not choose to be the concessionaire, they would have to negot-
iate with the concessionaire to put the product in the stands so the pressure
would be on the Dolphins and not on the concessionaire. Now if the concession-
aire is reasonable there would be no problems and I don't see any reason to
think that he wouldn't be.
Mr. Plummer: Well, hopefully if we're talking about a
going to rewrite all of that out I would hope.
Mayor Ferre: Okay, any further questions or discussion on this
Yes, sir, go ahead, Ernie, make your statement.
Mr. Ernie Fannatto: Honorable Mayor and members of the Commission, Ernie Fan-
natto is my name, President of the Taxpayers League of Miami and Dade County.
You know I hear all of this but you know you had the Wolfson Committee here
and they said 32% is a fair and reasonable price. Well, I have had some exper-
ience in food and beverages and when you get up to 42% this fellow is paying a
lot of money for a stadium like ours' that's very much harder to pace than what
he has got. So what is going to be the outcome? He's not going to be able to
have as much help because it's going to be too costly. People can't sell as
much. They go further, it's a unique stadium, you know what it is, the Dolphin
Stadium. So you won't get the volume of business. You'll loose, you won't get.
32
JUL 1 1 19T9
as much for 42% as you would from Robbie with 32% and not only that, why don't
you cooperate with the team that's given you millions and millions of dollars
worth of publicity to this City. What are you trying to do, fight robbie?
You know where you're going to wind up? In court, and you're not going to get
the best of Robbie. I've got news for you, Robbie is going to get the best
of you. I'm not saying you don't have a good City Attorney, but Dan Paul is
the best prepared lawyer in Dade County and Dan Paul will have you in court,
Supreme Court, Court of Appeals and you may not have any concession. You al-
ready lost $300,000 last year didn't you? Suppose he doesn't agree to the con-
cessions this year? You lose another 300, so the differences in percentages
would take you about 15-20 years to make up. So what are you doing? Creat-
ing bad will with a team that's one of the best teams in the country, and
don't compare the other team with this team and don't compare the two stadiums
to serve, it's impossible for him to pay that much. You just can't apy. Now
what was the use of you folks getting the Wolfson Committee, and they told
you what the 32%, and then you don't abide by it. You try to do something, a
business that you don't know anything about. Mr. Wolfson is a pretty shrewed
man and he is fair and businesslike but you folks are trying to get 42%, I've
got news for you, you're going to lose hundreds and hundreds of thousands of
dollars for this City when you get through.
Mayor Ferre: All right, further discussion?
•
4. DISCUSSION ITEM: LEASE AGREEMENT FOR DEVELOPMENT OF
CONFERENCE/CONVENTION CENTER.
,44
Mayor Ferre: We're on Item C, Mr. Manager. It's the lease agreement for the
development of the Conference/Convention Center.
Mr. Grassie: This is a progress report, Mr. Mayor and members of the City
Commission, I'm going to ask Vince Grimm to introduce the subject.
Yr. Vince Grimm: Mr. Mayor and members of the Commission, we had hoped to
have on the agenda for today a final draft of the agreement between the City
and the developer. We have not been able to meet that schedule. Unfortunately,
the archiaic provisions in our State Constitution are giving us a great deal
of difficulty. I guess historicaly about a hundred years ago the Constitu-
tion had provisions in it to prevent the government from bailing out the rail-
roads that were bankrupt at that time and as a consequence the Constitution
today severely limits partnership arrangements between governments and private
business and further prohibits governments from spending public funds for pri-
vate benefit. So the wording of this agreement is very complex to avoid any
challenge in either the Circuit Court of the Supreme Court when we got for
validation of bonds. Now all of the representatives of the City, the devel-
oper, the bond counsel, the underwriters, the money lenders are in town today,.
they are working today, tomorrow, Friday and over the weekend if necessary so
we can complete this for the second meeting in July.
Mayor Ferre: And you'll bring it July 23rd.
Mr. Grimm:
Mayor Ferret Any questions?
Mr. Plummer:Yes, Mr. Mayor, it's around about but it's on the point. Mr.
Grimm, under the present contract are we, in fact, the developers or is Wor-
sham?
Mr. Grimm: In this sense it is a joint project, Commissioner. The City is
building one portion, the developer is building another portion. Now there
is a marriage between parts of it and: that's where our legal conflict....'
Mr. plummer: What control does the City have over the developer?
Mr. Grimm: That's part of what the agreement is resolving too. A specific
example of that is that the City would exercise no control over the hotel as
an example.
Mr. Plummer: I'm talking about construction now.
Mr. Grimm:
rt
Well design, we have design control.
33
.701. 1 1 19T9
OtN
Mr. Plummer: What about actual building, competitive bidding?
Mr. Grimm: No, his portion of
competitive bids.
the building, it will be built by him without
Mr. Plummer: Mr. Mayor, there'd a reason I'm gettingto this and I hope I'm`
not misleading. the Commission. You made a statement to me in the area of the
sales tax in reference to the Convention Center of:$400,000.
Mr. Grimm: Yes. sir.
Mr. Plummer: Did that pertain just to the City' Portion?
Mr. Grimm: Just to the City' s portion.
Mr. Plummer: All right, now under that provision who is the contractor o
that?
Mr. Grimm: Well, at the present time we are out for bid on six different bid
packages, the City. Those bids are due in on the 17th of this Month. Now
whether we will aware six bids or one bid or some combination in between we
do not know yet until we review those bids and see who submits the lowest and
best bid.
Mr. Plummer: Mr. Mayor, the reason I bring this up, and I want the Commission
to know, serving on the Tax Revision Commission it became very apparent that
in the building of public buildings by a City we are paying sales tax which is
absolutely ridiculous. Now, bringing that up before the Tax Revision Commis-
sion it was stated that their greatest fear was the fact that contractors were
buying for public but were using the materials for other purposes. Now, they
said ifyou buy through a purchasing agent of the City it is without any ques-
tion tax exempt. I have proposed a resolution before the Tax Revision Commis-
sion in retrospect that the City would be reimbursed for any expenditures in
sales tax for public buildings and I'm just bringing home to this group now
that in one project alone the City of Miami is exempt from paying sales tax
but, in fact, will be paying $400,000 on this one piece of construction and
it is very important that we get this resolution whether it is paid exempt from
the beginning or reimbursed to the City that is $400,000 we can save on that
Convention Center alone. Mr. Grimm is developing for me a position paper be-
cause if you take the amount of construction that this City is doing this year
and we can get a rebate on that portion of sales tax which is paid for a pub-
lic building it would be a sizeable amount of money for this money to save
this year so I just bring that to your attention.
Mr. Grimm: Commissioner, I'd like to remind you that you know this Commission
already wenton record with the legislature and tried before they closed the
session to get them to accomplish something comparable.
Mr. Plummer: Well, that was that they exempt it from the beginning, I have
put a resolution in that the City would go back and justify that which was
spent so there can be no phantom in the sky that it was moneys and materials
that were diverted elsewhere and that way, hopefully, it will fly and the City
can get reimbursed.
Mrs. Gordon: Mr. Grimm, I read your memorandum and I'm really terribly
concerned about the fact that we're really in construction or started prelimin-
ary portions and these issues which are legal issues relating to the contract
and relating to the opinion of the bond counsel, it seems to me almost to be
coming in at a very late point in this. Shouldn't this have been ironed out
months and months ago?
Mr. Grimm: Yes.
Mrs. Gordon: Well, why wasn't it? I mean just like that variance on the design,
I mean why wasn't that? It seems like it is a number of items that it seems
to me have been either overlooked or neglected, I don't know which one.
Mr. Grimm: Not overlooked or neglected, when you have as many different facets
of a problem and as complex as this one is any change in one provision has a
domino affect on the others and we have met and worked on this I can't tell you
how many countless hours since I've been involved and how many before attempt-
ing to resolve these problems to everyone's satisfaction. When we resolve them
to one group's satisfaction it has an effect one on the other which isn't happy
and we have tried to keep the business provisions of this agreement basically
the same to satisfy the legal requirements of our State Constitution and to
rt
34
'JUL 1 1 1919
satisfy the federal requirements for tax exempt bonds. Mr.
he can testify that this has not been an easy problem, Mrs. Gordon.
Mrs. Gordon: Oh, I know that, what I'm worried about....
Knox is here and
Mr. Grimm: I wish the same thing you do, I wish that.... But you've got to
keep in perspective that you know we applied and received a federal grant,
that required grant required in order for us to get that four plus million
dollars that we must go forward on construction, if we either turned that
money down or took advantage of it, so some of the posture that we're in is,
uncomfortable but none of us that are working on this project assume for one
minute that we're not going to make it work in spite of these problems.
Mrs. Gordon: That was the last question I was going to say, is there an area°
in this 17 point document which might not be resolved? i mean some of them
are very difficult points.
Mr. Grimm: Yes, that possibility always exists that we won't come to, but
somewhere along the line one of us has to give, that's all there is to it and
our position right now is that we legally can't give.
Mrs. Gordon: You can't give, absolutely cannot, I mean it's not a matter of
choice. So therefore, if the developer is not willing to give is it possible,
I hate to ever think about it, that this thing would die before it's born?
I wish you wouldn't say it.
Mr. Plummer: It's very simple, Rose just reroute the river.
Mayor Ferre: Well, what we're talking about is a very complicated series of
constitutional questions and we have got to have the stamp of approval of a
prestigous firm like Brown, Wood, Ivey, Mitchell Petty which is who we're deal-
ing with. They brought up, and I don't want to criticize them because Joe
Guandolo is probably one of the most respected persons in Wall Street in these
type of things but I want to say that they brought the whole series of ques-
tions up et a very late date. These are not things that were brought up six
months ago. Mr. Grimm, when did Joe Guandolo bring all of these things up?
Mr. Grimm: Mr. Mayor, let me answer that question this way without being an
advocate for Mr. Guandolo. Mr. Guandolo, the City's bond counsel - let me
say it this way - is not responsible for the business terms of this agreement.
Mayor:Ferres
I know that.
Mr. Grimm: Well, as a consequence now we could not place Mr. Guandolo in the
provision of writing business proposals which would satisfy his legal require-
ments, it's a chicken and egg circumstance.
Mayor Ferre: What you're saying in effect is that previous to this we were
not going in the direction of revenue bonds which were tax free and in effect
what has happened is that since we have now said, Okay, we're going to do this
thing in a very different way and that only happened two or three months ago..
Mr. Grimm: We started out at $9,000,000, Mr. Mayor, we're up to a $65,000,000
project now, it's a different ball game.
Mayor Ferre: I understand, and what's happening here is that when we go to
the public - because this is where we're going - with a revenue bond issue
all the is have got to be crossed, all the is have got to be dotted and every-
thing has to be perfect so that it will not be challenged in court and, there-
fore, ruled either unconstitutional or illegal in some way.
Mr. Grimm: A basic simple time frame, and Mrs. Gordon, this affects part of
your question too, is without our bond attorney's written legal opinion that
this is constitutional and tax exempt we would have to go to the Supreme Court
of the State of Florida for the validation of the revenue bonds. That alone,
if everything went clickety click in six months, we feel that with a firm posi-
tive legal opinion by bond counsel that we can do it at the Circuit Court
level without challenge and do that in 45 days. Now we have to be under con-
struction in September or we're in deep trouble on a time schedule.
Mayor Ferre: And that also ties into Item E which we'll be talking about in
a moment. All right, are there any further questions on Item C?
35
r L •1 mg
5. DISCUSSION ITEM: STATUS OF INTERAMA PROPERTY SALE TO
STATE.
Mayor Ferre: We're now on Item E which is the review of the status of the
Interama property sale to the State. Mr. Grassie.
Mr. Grassie: This report, Mr. Mayor and members of the City Commission, again
is an informational report, it is a discussion designed to have the City Com-
mission give us some direction with regard to the $8,000,000 which the state
is now proferring to us in exchange for the contractual agreements that we
have with them with regard to the Interama property. Now I know that you know
from your long experience with the Interama property that the basic agreement
with the State did provide for a somewhat higher return to the City than what
they are now offering. We have in front of us the reality of their offer of
$8,000,000. If we are to move forward with this the step that we would take
would be to talk with the representatives of FIU who have been delegated by
the State to negotiate for the State, and when I say negotiate, really it is
simply a question of drawing up the document which would recognize the prior
document and would transfer our interest in the Interama property in exchange
for $8,000,000. Now you do know, I'm sure, again because of your prior expos-
ure to this question that in the initial agreement the City retained the right
to develop the Interama Property although we were to be paid by the State
$8,500,000. If we were to accept this $8,000,000 offer, we would have to ac-
cording to the terms of the appropriation, the State legislation, we would have
to give up all claim, all further claim that we would have in the Interama
Property so that is the basic question in front of the City Commission - do
you want the staff to go forward and draw up an agreement, a proposed agreement
with the state which would make this money available to us and, of course, we
would bring itback to you before anything further happens.
Mayor Ferrer Let me ask you this question, Mr. Grassie, and Mr. Knox, both.
From a legal point of view we have some time, that decision does not have to
be made today, in other words the thing I'm trying to point out is that the
legislature when they appropriated this money did not say that there is a limit
of November 15th or August loth, they don't have a date of limitation. I think
that we should be, I've got some very serious questions about this and I'm sure
the rest of the Commission does too but we've got to be very careful as to how
we proceed on it so that we don't kill it today. I don't think we should kill
it today, I think we should ask the questions and come back and deliberate on
this. There are a lot of questions that have to be answered. For example,
I've got one to Mr. Knox, that is,is there a certain date by which we have to
answer the legislature? The second question that I have which you can answer
later on is as I recall the deal with the State we don't really have title to
the property. The State has title to the property and we're owed some money
so in effect I don't think we can sell, we're precluded of selling this prop-
erty to let's say a private person, we cannot do that, it can only be used in
certain ways. The third question I have of you, Mr. Knox is can the City of
Miami sue the State? The fact is that the State has not paid us $1,800,000
that they owe us now that they're behind on and that they would have to pay us
$300,000 every six months and can we sue them for non-performance, and if so
what are our chances of collecting that money? Those are the general areas
that 1 have.
Mr. Lacasa: I have a question, Mr.
ability,. the City's ability to use
sees fit. I understand that there
in the way that we could use those
Grassie, and that is in relation to our
the $8,000,000 in the way that the City
is some limitations imposed by the State
$8,000,000.
Mr. Grassie: That's correct, Commissioner, the state legislation specifies
that the money would be used for the purposes provided for and what they cite
is the Florida Statute which provides for Tourist Development Councils so that
the money would be restricted to the purposes which fall within the Tourist
Development Council legislation. In other words basically tourist advertising,
promotion and the support of physical facilities which are tourist oriented.
Mayor Ferre: Could we, for example, help and put that money into the Conven-
tion/Conference Center if it were needed?
36
:JUL 1 1 1979
Mr. Grassie: Yes, I think that would certainly be considered to be in that
category.
Mayor Ferrel Could we, for example, use it to build a
in the downtown area if that were needed?
Mr. Grassie: Yes, that is specifically provided for.
Mayor Ferre: Could we, for example, use
oriented in that direction?
sports arena/auditorium
it to buyland for a specific.. activity
Mr. ; Grassie: Of the two examples that you've given, that direction yes, we
could.
Mayor Ferre:
Well, for example,
a park which would be tourist oriented?
Mr. Grassie: Well, a general purpose park wouldbe a much more questionable
thing unless it had some kind of a special development for tourist purposes.
Mrs. qordc'n : Do you mean like the Watson Island deal, Mr. Grassie, is that
what you're saying?
Mayor Ferre: Yes, it definitely could be used for Watson Island, there's no
question about tat, I'm thinking about Ball Point.
Mr. Lacasa:`.
But who decides which is an appropriate functionfor that money?
Mr. Grassie: We:;l, the practical answer is that the City would take an action
trier. ii someone challenged it they would challenge it in court under the
provisions ofstate law.
Mr. Plummer: Well, you know, ].et ine ask the gut question, nobody up here wants
to ask it so; let's just put it on the record. Can any of thatmoney be used
tc pay policemen who might be getting laid off in October 1 or firemen or other
vital services?
Mr
Grassie: No.
next question has to be did " the
o^ what the State could use that property for?
_`r. Grassie. Yes,.
The City :'did?
City place any; restrictions
Mr. Grassie: Well, • the City insofar as it was a partner and a party to the
initial" agreement that created"Interama and took the initiative in purchasing
some of the original land, yes
Did our legislative lobbyist fight that provision?
Mr. Plummer:
Mr, Grassie: I. have no
idea.
Mr. Plummer: Was anyone in the staff, your staff or the City's staff talked
to about this provision prior to the vote of the legislature?
Mr. Grassie:
Mr. Plummer
Mr. Grassie:
No, this"' did not"
come out of the City
Out of staff?
It;did not come out of the staff,;no.
L'lummer:'• But in other words there, was no objection placed by staff or you
and we were 1 guess, unawareI was unaware. as I` assume the other Commissioners
dele, that ineffect letting us know this provision was included so we had the
right to object or not to object.
Mayor Ferre:: Let; me ask you this, didn't this come out, J. L., out of the Con-"
fexence Committee? As'I recall, when the bill went in it didn't have any of
these things and it came out of Conference Committee.
Mr. Grassie:
You know this is not a proposal that was initiated by the City...
Mrs. Gordon: You mean the restriction on the use of the money?'`
37
'JUL 1 1 1979
Mr. Grassie: The whole question of appropriating $8,000,000.
Mrs. Gordon: All right, I want to ask you a question. When we made that
agreement originally, when we said Okay, we'll take $8,00,000 in that land and
so forth, well at that time these kind of restrictions were never told to us
George, do you have any information relating to the original agreement?
Mr. Knox: No, ma'am, my only information is that for the past 21 years the
City has been periodically making demands to cure it's default.
Mrs. Gordon: Yes, but the restriction is what I'm discussion now, why are we
getting, why are they taking the liberty of telling the City that they can
have the money but they must have it with certain restrictions?
Mr. Knox: This is only an opinion, Mrs. Gordon, but it may be that there had
been a determination either in Committee or by the legislature that they could
restrict the funds in this manner simply because of the question that the Mayor
asked, it is difficult if not impossible for a constituent municipality to sue
the State. As a matter of fact, for the same 2h years we've been trying to
find a mechanism whereby that could be accomplished and have been unsuccessful.
Mrs. Gordon: What I mean, George, is when we first agreed, and I don't remem-
ber how many years ago it was when the Interama land was under discussion...
Mayor Ferre:
Mrs. Gordon:
that we would
Mayor Ferre:
Mrs. Gordon: Yes, ;I'realize that. So what I'm trying to
tract was there any stipulation that said when we got the
be able to use it for what they tell us to do with it?
Okay, and :$8,000,000;was established as the value of the property
be entitled to that money.....
Mr. Knox:
There's
Oh no.
Mrs. Gordon:
Well why do they think they can get away with that?
Mr. Knox: Because the State may feel that it really has no, it may have a
legal obligation and it may be a lawful debt which is due and owing which the.
State has acknowledged but they may legitimately feel that there is no tribunal
that will compel them to pay this debt.
Mrs. Gordon: Oh, my. Listen how, if we take the money, what are you saying
that we should do, not take the money now?I say let's take the money; and; put
it in the bank and let it draw interest for us.
Mayor Ferre: But Rose, see the point is simply this, you know, and that's why
that third question was so important. Suppose we sue the State. Okay?
Mrs. Gordon: Yes, but he says you can't.
Mayor Ferre: Well, but I mean that's what I want to hear specifically. Do you
mean to tell me that the State can sign a contract with the City of Miami, that
we take it to the State court and say, "Hey, these people are in default, they
owe us $1,800,000, they're not paying us $300,000 a year and you know, what is
this?" and the City of Miami has a right to be protected because otherwise then
what good is a contract with the State? Do you mean to say that since we're a
creature of the State that they can contract with us and then they can violate.
they agreed to do?
Mr. Knox: Well, the principle of Sovereign Immunity runs just that way espec-
ially from a constituent because to you use an analogy it's like a child suing
a parent.
Mrs. Gordon: I'd like to make an observation. In my opinion, and I don't know%'.
whether you suggested that we not take the money now, Mayor, did you say that?
Mayor Ferre: Well, what I'm saying is that I think before we agree to take the
money I think we have to very seriously consider the alternatives and the other
alternative, Rose, is suing for $1,800,000 that they owe us and getting $600,000
every year and that has no strings on it by the way.
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& a 1 1 1 1979
Mrs. Gordon: Yes, but here's what I'd rather do, I'd rather do this. I'd
rather take the money and we bank it and we start drawing interest and then at
the same time we go back to the legislature next year and ask to lift that re-
striction.
Mayor Ferre: The problem with that is that until the legislature lifts that
restriction we're stuck with that unless they lift it.
Mrs. Gordon: Yes, but we at least have the money in our hands. Is it avail-
able to us now, Mr. Grassie?
Mr. Grassie: It would be as soon as we've worked out with FIU an agreement,
yes.
Mrs. Gordon: Okay, then I would suggest that we take the money, we start
drawing interest on it, when the legislature meets in special session in Decem-
ber, I believe, that they be requested to relieve us of this restriction and,
therefore, we would have the best of two worlds. We also would be entitled to
the rest of the money they owe us but at least we have something.
Mayor Ferre: But see, that's another legal question
Mrs. Gordon: Yes, but why not take what we can get and then have at least that?
Mayor Ferre: Mr. Knox, I have a fourth legal question for you. Can we accept,
they owe us in affect close to $14,000,000. When we accept the $8,000,000 -
oh yes they do if you consider the fact that they have not paid.... How much
does the State owe us? I may have read Clark Merrill's statement wrong but
here's what he said. All right? He says, "The State which is now 6 payments
in default agreed in 1973 to pay the City semi-annual payments of $300,000 each
which include a 5% interest rate beginning in July. The total value of that
agreement is 14.7 million dollars in principle and interest of which 1.8 million
represents default payments." Now, does the 14.7, is at the end of the contract,
Clark? I see. As of today how much do they owe us?
Mrs. Gordon: I can't hear you Clark.
!r. Grassie:;- 9.3 million, isn't it? 9.8 million.
Mayor Ferre: 9.8. Well, my question to you, Mr. Knox, is a legal question.
Can we accept the $8,000,000 and then go back and say, "Hey,you owe us a mil-
lion eight", I mean legally can we do that, or by accepting that 8 are we then,
therefore, wiping any possibility of going back and getting anymore money?
Mr. Knox: It would have to be noted almost literally on the face of the check
that the City accepts this in partial payment. There is an implication that
if you accept less than the full amount and you casn the check or you dispose.
of the funds that you are acquiescing that that amount will satisfy the debt
unless there is a protest registered upon the record.
Mrs. Gordon: And George, another legal question along the same lines, if we
take the $8,000,000 and we start drawing interest on it and that amounts to
something like what, a half a million dollars, can we use that for other pur-
poses than the restriction that's on the $6,000,000?
Mr. Knox: Well, on the other side of it attached to the appropriation is the
condition and even if it is not made a part of a contractual agreement that you
accept these funds subject to the conditions that are attached to them there is
an implication if you look back to the source of the funds that that condition
is attached.
Mrs. Gordon. Okay, and what if we receive the funds and, you know, the condi-
tions you say are attached to us receiving the money but you didn't answer me
on the interest, does that also have an attachment?
Mayor Ferre:
Mrs. Gordon: You're saying yes, we can't use the interest?
Mr. Knox: The interest only comes about by virtue of having the funds and
your ability to use the funds even for drawing interest is conditioned upon
at least your manifestation of intention to satisfy the conditions.
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39
rju1 ! 1 1979
•� - svr aietilte
0
Mayor Ferre: The point is that the $800,000 we would make on that or the
$600,000, Rose, could not be used for anything but what we accepted the money
for. Now, let me answer you as far as your statement about going to the legis-
lature asking for a waiver. The person who put that in is none other than Sen-
ator Jack Gordon who also happens to be the Chairman of the Appropriations Com-
mittee. Now, do you really think, unless you can convince him otherwise, that
that is going to change? The Chairman of the Appropriations Committee?
Mrs. Gordon: Yes, but it won't be his decision any longer, it would then be
the entire legislature that would have the option of voting on it..
Mayor Ferre:
You must not know how. the legislature works,; Rose.
Mrs. Gordon: Well, I'll tell you, they're only politicians like the rest o
the people and they respond to the proper arguments.
Mayor Ferre: It goes to Committee, bylaw, by the rules of the Senate that
matter will have, tobe referred to the appropriate committee, that dealt with
it.
s Committee anymore.
Mayor Ferre: Of course it would. The Appropriations Committee that put that
condition on, therefore, for you to take it off, I served in the legislature
and I'll tell you the way this thing works. Since it was the Appropriations
Committee`' who put that condition on it would have to go back to that very same
committee for them to take it off and I ask you from a practical point of view
if they're the ones who instituted and put that in as a specific condition and
his logic as he explained it to me when I saw him and I talked to him was that
he wants us to help FIU build something in downtown Miami. That's what he's
after.
Mr
Gordon:
Well, we'd have to agree to that wouldn't we?
Mayor Ferre: Of course we would,
in shape for us to agree.
Mr. Plummer:
thing million:
Mr. Grassie:
Mr. Plummer:
Mr. Grassie:`'
but he's restricting us so that you. know it'
Mr. Grassie, we, have the payment from the County
dollars for the Convention Center?
That's
correct.
of 5 point some
All right, where la that money presently?
Mostf it is spent, mostof it was spent for land
Mrs. Gordon What money.
are
you talking about,`J. L.?
acquisition..
Mr. Plummer: The money'that the County paid us, five point something. Where
is .. proposed that the rest f these moneys are coming from, for the Conven-
tion Center?
Mr. Grassie: From a bond issue which would be supported by, the project.
Mayor Ferre,:`
Which is.a $40,000,000 bond issue.
Mr. pluinzner: But those bond moneys could be, in fact,
the acquisition of the property?
Mr. Grassie: No, if I` understand...
usedto backwards for
Mr. Plummer: In other words you know where I'm coming from. If.we took that.
$8,000,000 and put it towards the Convention Center could we free up`,$8,000,000
of commitment and bring it back in the General Fund?
insofar as we have General Fund commitment that's a possi
Mr. Grassie: Well,
bility.
mr. Plummer: Well, I'm saying do we have that flexibility? We might be argu-
ing about nothing.
Mayor Ferre: Yes, I think the answer to that, I think you're going to have to
research, that's your 5th legal question, Mr. Knox. The fifth legal question
is, do you follow what Plummer is doing? He's saying all right, we take the
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40
PJUL 1 : upg
$8,000,000, we accept it, put it into the Convention Center in payment of prev-
ious moneys that we had, free up $8,000,000 we've already put into the project
and that goes to the General Fund. Now is that legally doable? My guess is
yes, that's a guess.
Mr. Plummer: So we might be talking about nothing. The final question, Mr.
Know, if you would answer for me in this all -encompassing memorandum that you
will be forwarding to us tomorrow, now that the State is in default what options
does the City have the right to exercise since they are in default.
Mayor Ferre: Well, that was my question, I've already asked that. My question
was can the City of Miami sue the State for their default of $1,800,000.
Mr. Plummer: Well, I'm not so much interested, Mr. Mayor, in suing...'
Mayor Ferre: Well, how else are you going to get it?
Mr. Plummer: That we take the property back and utilize it for another reason.
Mayor Ferre: Can't do that.
Mr. Plummer: I'm not too sure of that.
Mayor Ferre: If
that the City of
is to be used.`
you look at the 1973 contract, Mr. Knox, I think you will find
Miami has forfeited the right of determining how that property
Mr. Plummer: Based upon the premise that they would pay us, now they haven't
paid us so that contract in effect if I know contracts is null and void. One
of the principles of a contract is consideration and they've not made such.
Mr. Knox: Well, the problem is you see that's a judicial determination and the
question is whether we can get into court against the State.
Mr. Plummer: No, that's not the point in my estimation. If in effect they
don't make their payments they have broken the contract and as such, I would
assume we have a reverter that the property comes back to us. Except I don't
think that's the case because 1970 previous to that Mr. Mel Reese and the Com-
mission recommended and it was accepted because it was pushed by Miami Herald
editorials and everybody else, the Chamber of Commerce and what have you and
we virtually gave up all of our rights except that we didn't give up the cer-
tain amount of money that was owed to us. You're going to have to go back to
the 1970 contract when we gave up the right for all that land because the 73
contract was after Interama failed and what rights we had left were negotiated
for this but our position was weakened because in effect in 70 we had given
everything up anyway. Now, so you'll have to research all of that.
Mr. Plummer: Mr. Knox, I would like or prefer that when you answer the ques-
tion about the diverting of the funds by using that $8,000,000 for something
and loosening up $8,000,000 other that your answer not be restricted to just
the Convention Center because as I have heard Mr. Ferre say, it could apply
to parks, it could apply, for example, the Latin Park, we're going to be spend-
ing an awful lot of money there, we could take part of that $8,000,000 and free.
up the money that we were going to spend for that.
Mayor Ferre: Well that was why I asked the question, I didn't make a statement.
Mr. Plummer: Well, but I don't want it limited just to the Convention Center.
We do a lot of things that could be considered tourist promotion and, we could
use that $8,000,000 for that and free up that which is committed to the other.
Mrs. Gordon: Could it be used for the Water Transportation System that we d
cussed here on a number of different occasions?
Mr. Grassie: Yes, it could but the only extent to which it would accomplish
Commissioner Plummer's purpose is the extent to which you had General Fund
money in Water Transportation.
Mrs. Gordon: Yes, but we're also talking about practical uses that would im-
prove our economy and that would improve our economy if we could put the Water
Transportation System into play as soon as possible. And if we get that money
and we begin to work it we can probably multiply it a number of times.
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41
3u L •1 1 1979
Mr. Plummer: Don't we have money in escrow at the present time for the acquisi-
: tion of the FEC property on the north side of 5th Street?
Mr. Grassie: Yes.
Mr. Plummer: "How much do we have in trust, restricted?,
Mr. Grassie: 14.3 or 4 million.
Mr. Plummer: But that was from bonds.
Mr. Grassie: Yes.
Mr. Plummer: And those bonds would be restrictive.
Mr. Grassie: :Yes, Parks for People Bonds. That's correct.
ive me the budget, I'll find you
Mr. Plummer: Okay, so we can't do that. You q
$8,000,000 in the budget.
Mayor Ferre: Let me make another statement.
. Gordon...
Mrs. Gordon: You've got about $4,000,000 tied up on Watson Island from the
Franchise dollars, you could free those dollars'up.
Mayor Ferre: Mrs. Gordon, you asked a question when you were making a state-
ment that there was nothing in the bill that referred that to FIU. The way
that you can see that very clearly is if you notice what the legislature did
is it didn't give the City of Miami the money it gave the money to FIU, it
appropriated the money to FIU. It appropriated the money to FIU and then it
said, FIU, you can only use this money to purchase this land at Interama. Now
there's a double purpose in that, first of all because it's FIU who wants to
buy the land and secondly because it was the intention of the people who are
doing this to have FIU use that as a leverage with us and Dr. Wolf has already
been around to see how they can successfully convince us to spend that money
jointly with them in something that would help FIU in the downtown area.
Mr. Plummer: T think we need to invite them to lunch.
Mrs. Gordon: Well, all of this is a round robin but let's simply take the
money as soon as we can and put it where it's going to bring us some interest
and I'm in favor of that.
Mayor Ferre: Mr. Knox, can you be ready on the 23rd to give
the legal questions that have been asked?
Mr. Knox: Yes, sir.
Mayor Ferre: A11 right, Mr. Grassie, could you begin negotiations with FIU
on a preliminary basis so that without making any commitments you can come
back here with an outline of more.or less what it is that we're talking about
since you have to negotiate this as I understand it with FIU before it is final-
ized? I think the Commission should then be aware of what exactly FIU has in
mind, if anything, and then we both the legal questions and the practical as-
pects of it.
Mr. Grassie: We can do that, Mayor.
Mayor Ferre: All right, any further questions?
Mr. Plummer: Mr. Mayor, I would hope, if I understand your directions to the.
Manager that he would also prepare a paper stating where that $8,000,000 could
be possibly used that is now restricted funds and freeing up that amount of
money for....
Mayor Ferre: That was one of your questions. All right, any further questions
or statements or comments?
Thereupon the City Commission recessed from 1:15 O'Clock P.M. and recon-
vened at 2:15 O'Clock P.M.
42
JUL ! I t9T9
6. PLAQUES, CERTIFICATES OF APPRECIATION AND SPECIAL
ITEMS.
A. Presentation of a Certificate of Appreciation to Bill Long, former Post
Commander of Harvey Seeds Post, American Legion No. 29.
3. Presentation of a Certificate of Appreciation to Mr. Masud Quaraishy
for his presentation of a mural to the City of Miami.
C. Presentation of a Proclamation designating July 25th as "Puerto Rico
Day" in Miami to Mr. Ralph Borras and Mrs. Alicia Baro.
D. Presentation of a Proclamation designating July 17 as "Asociacion
Interamericana de Hombres de Empress" Day to Mr. Herb Levin.
.... .. ... 4...•
.a
,,.
7. DISCUSSION ITEM: VELODROME ON VIRGINIA KEY.
Mr. R. L. Fosmoen, Assistant City Manager informed the Commission that the
City's application for a Velodrome on Virginia had been denied by the County.
Mr. Grassie stated that there were four areas to which the County objected to
_.. connection with the Velodrome project and sought guidance from the City Com-
mission. Ee asked whether the administration should try to cure the objections
possible, :whether they should abandon the project, whether a new site should
be so.zght, et-. He cited the County's objections, to be as follows:
the uitficulty of access to facilities on Virginia Key and Key Biscayne
the ioss of some of the existing parking as the result of Velodrome`
construction
the lack of restroom facilities within 200'(it was proposed that the
Velodrome users would use the Marine Stadium restroom facilities 700'
away). and
the question ofwhether the Velodrome represented a "marine or allied
•
use" as specified in the deed conveying properties to the City of Miami
on which the Marine Stadium had been constructed.
He suggested that possibly the rowing clubs could be housed in connection with•
the Velodrome_ project to eliminate the fourth objection.
CommissionerGibson saidhe was somewhat pleased with the tone of the letter
from the County and he had hope that the problems with the project could be.
worked "out.
Mayer Ferre said that since the County staff was in favor of the project and
one of the County Commissioners was absent when this item was considered he
hoped that the item could be brought up for reconsideration with the hope that
• f the Commissioners would change their vote, thus permitting the project
to go forward. He suggested that since Mayor Clark's objection to the project
• tag, to the lack of restroom facilities in the immediate area that restroom
_facilities be added to the plans and that the County be requested to reconsider
the amended application.
Commissioner Plummer inquired as to the cost of this project due to inflation
and the cost of adding restroom facilities.
The City Manager said he estimated that the project would now be in the neigh-
borhood of $220,000 at this time and if restrooms were added that an additional
30 to $40,000 would be required.
rt
rJUL111979
Mayor Ferre said that the Velodrome would be a great tourist attraction and
an asset to the City by bringing international bicycling competition to the
Miami area.
SEE LATER MOTION NO. 79-497.
8. DISCUSSION AND DEFERRAL OF SECOND READING OF PROPOSED
CHANGES TO CIVIL SERVICE RULES AND REGULATIONS TO
SPECIAL MEETING ON JULY 24, 1979.
Mrs. Gordon: I want to say what I think we should be doing with this item, it
is a very lengthy item but I think I'd want to go over it line by line and I'd
like to see us set a meeting up maybe for the early part of next week and go
over this on a line by line basis so we can fully understand what we're about.
Mayor Ferre: I've got no objections to that at all.
Rev. Gibson: Mr. Mayor, I have some concerns. I would rather be educated,
that's what this Committee of the Whole is all about. I would rather hear the
staff's side and only hear you all now and then as indicated in the agenda leave
off the afternoon section. Do you follow? Then leave that whole item off,
Item 15, leave that off and then make that the special thing so that you could..
Mayor Ferre: Rose, is that acceptable to you?
Mrs. Gordon: Well, I'd personally like to do it all, you know ask questions.
It's a quarter of three now, we have a pretty heavy agenda we haven't even
begun to look at, this is a very important item, it needs to have consideration
and discussion and we'll be discussing this until 6 O'Clock.
Mayor Ferre: Mr. Bond, we have a difference of opinion now, let me ask so we
can cut through here. How long in your opinion would it take for you to make
your presentation if you're not interrupted and no questions are asked?
Mr. Bond: Twelve minutes, forty-two seconds.
Mayor, Ferre: Well, you're being facetious.
Mr.
Bonds I'm being exact, sir, I have it prepared.
Mayor Ferre: Well all right, will 15 minutes do it?
Mr. Bond: :It will do my part and Mr. Krause has about 8 or 10 minutes and that
will be it.
Mayor Ferre: All right, that's 23 minutes. Now this is as Father is request-
ing just for educational purpose, no discussion and we're going to get into the
line by line discussion at another meeting. Okay? Let them get it off their ,.
chest, that gives you an advantage because that way you can take all this down.
Rev. Gibson: Right.
Mr. Robert Klausner: So long as it is our understanding that there is no vote
to be taken, today.
Rev. Gibson:
Mayor. Ferre: All right, now go ahead then, Mr. Bond, make your presentation,
I'll set aside half an hour for everything, fifteen minutes for you and ten
minutes for Bob.
Mr. Jack Bond: Mr. Mayor and members of the Commission, I'd like to introduce
discussion of the pending Civil Service Ordinance by speaking to three points
which really need clarification. The first point is that one called "Power
Grab". At a recent public meeting the opponents to Civil Service Rules mis-
labeled those changes as representing a power grab by the Director of Human
Resources which really has the effect of taking a major issue of public policy
and making it seem like the trivial interest of a single person. Quite the
contrary, various provisions of the proposed Civil Service Rules state that
the Director of Human Resources shall perform certain functions and may exercise
rt
44 nut ! , fen
judgement in the performance of other functions. This is the normal termin-
ology by which responsibility is fixed upon a specific person. It is the way
in which the State Law, the City Charters, ordinances and rules identify the
person who can be held accountable. It may be significant to note that in
most public agencies the chief personnel officer has greater responsibility
than the pending ordinance proposes for•the Director of Human Resources and
gives this department director only as much authority as is needed to effect-
ively manage the activities of the department. This department director will
have no more authority than any director in the City including the Police Chief
and Fire Chief and there is no autonomy as we know, all are responsible to the
City Manager who is ultimately responsible to you, the City Commission. All
of you know the history of Miami better than I and you know the traditions of
discrimination that led a group of black police officers to sue the City. You
know that in 73 the City entered into a Consent Decree that was designed to
eliminate discrimination in the hiring and promotion of police officers. The
City has paid a half million dollars in five years to the University of Chicago
alone in order to comply with that decree. And what have been the results?
Your agenda today includes an appearance, many years later, by an attorney
representing a black police officer who alleges the City still has no blacks
it, i.i,e ranxs of police lieutenant and police captain. You have received a re-
port issued by the Department of Human Resources very recently stating that
black employment in the Police Dapartment has declined in the last four years
in absolute figtces and in percentage figures and that the increase of the
Latin officers his been so slow that at the current rate it will take approx-
imately 50 years to achieve parity with the City's labor market which is our
goal. These are serious problems for the City, they will not be solved by
claims that the volutions represent a power grab. The problems in the Police
Department ar.e not unique to Miami, in 75 under the authority of General Revenue
Snaring and other federal statutes the United States brought suit against the
City alleging -discrimination against Latins, blacks and women in all the City's
employment practices. Again, the City voluntarily entered into a Consent De-
cree to protect it's federal funds and to correct it's discriminatory employ-
mktnt practices. The Consent Decree was signed in 1977, the City agreed to
cast _: hiring and promotion goals, establishing as its long term goal
parity with the Miami labor market in all departments and at all levels of
_•?cymer.'.; t the City agreed to much more than mere numbers, it agreed to
change a w:ol series of employment practices that involved recruitment, test-
`nc! ^ir.irn-uclificatirns, time -in -grade requirements, transfers, job assign -
and practices that have been governed by Civil Service Rules that
w_re aaoptec 4:0 years ago. The City even hired the national consulting firm
of Booz Allen and Hamilton to analyze its employement problems. Booze Allen
recommended a new Department of Human Resources which the Commission created
by ordinance in 76. The Department was still being formed and staffed when
t.Ye Consent. Decree was signed in March of 77. A year later the U.S. Depart -
rent ofJ_ctice wrote the City a very strong letter stating that the City was
not fulfilling it's commitment made in the Consent Decree. The Justice Depart -
pointed out very specific changes that should made in the Civil Service
Rules. Both the Mayor and the City Manager responded that they would take
steps to comply. They both instructed the Department of Human Resources to
prepare rules amendments. Amendments were drafted and submited to the Civil
Service Board. The board held a public hearing and approved the amendments.
The board recognized the amendments as necessary for compliance with the Con-
sent Decree. Not only did the Civil Service Board approve these amendments,
the City's Affirmative Action Advisory Board has approved them. The Dade
County Community Relations Board has endorsed them, many citizens groups and
community leaders have supported these necessary changes. The amendments re-
sult from open discussion from public meetings, established Charter require-
ments and obvious need to correct discrimination in the City's employment prac-
tices not only because it is the right thing to do but also because $40,000,000
in federal funds depend on the actions we're deliberating over. Secondly,
there have been statements that proposed amendments are not needed and that
_'r_'blems could be resolved by giving adequate staff to the Civil Service
Board and this idea confronts or flies in the face of the City's history over
rest ten years. During that period the City's employment practices have
been under constant challenge. The Civil Service Board and it's staff tried
to adapt but they failed. The City's own consulting firm, Booz Allen con-
cluded again that the City needed a Department of Human Resources, both con-
sent decrees concluded that major changes in rules and procedures were required.
the U.S. Justice Department has pointed out very clearly that revised rules
and procedures are absolutely necessary. Now this is not unique to Miami,
cities and states across the country have been reforming their Civil Service
systems to provide new procedures for equal employment opportunity and Affirmat-
ive Action. National professional organizations and citizens groups have been
recommending Civil Service reforms. The federal courts have mandated corrections
to the traditional discrimination of Civil Service Systems. Even the U. S.
Government itself has abolished its Civil Service Commission, in its place
establishing a new office of personnel management. There are two basic reasons
why these changes are required in Miami. First, personnel administration ac-
cross the country has become more professional and more demanding in this era
of equal opportunity. The psychological profession has been developing new
techniques of job analysis, performance evaluation, test validation, etc. At
the same time the federal government has pre-empted the rights of states and
local governments by enacting new laws and regulations. Title VII in the Civil
Rights Amendments of 72 are the primary federal legislative efforts. In addi-
tion, however, federal grant laws contain new requirements for fair employment
practices under such programs as revenue sharing, Law Enforcement Assistance
Administration, CETA, Community Development Block Grant funds and many other
grant programs. Then there is the separate legislation on age discrimination
and employment of the handicapped. On top of this, federal agencies issue in-
creasingly detailed and professional regulations on employment. The most sig-
nificant for our purposes are the Uniform Guidelines on Employee Selection Pro-
cedures, the merit system standards and the specific regulations applicable to
each grant program. In phrases used by the Justice Department in its communi-
cation to us it is clear that "...compliance cannot be achieved by the efforts
of lay people", that "...in an earlier age issues of this kind could be deter-
mined by local policy" and "...qualified professionals are now needed to meet
the requirements of complying with the Consent Decree and other federal regu-
lations". Second, the City's present Civil Service Rules impose such difficult
obstacles that the selection process for an average job normally takes two to
three months. This is poor management practice but it is much more than that,
it is inherently discriminatory. An analysis of our standard practices shows
that recruitment produces large numbers of minority applicants frequently rang-
ing from 70 to 90%, that the process takes so long that we lose high percent-
ages of these minorities before they even take the exams and that the ratio
for minorities gaining access to eligible registers is 14 to 12 the rate for
other candidates and since the federal government defines adverse impact as
any rate less than 80% it is clear that the City's present procedures do dis-
criminate against minorities really long before the tests were even given. It
is clear that the advocates of more staff for the Civil Service Board have not
really made an effort to understand the real problem. The real problem is
that a system designed 40 years ago has not provided fair treatment to the in-
creasing black, Latin and working female population of this City. The last
point, it has been stated that the Civil Service Office used to spend $250,000
per year to do the same work that now costs the Human Resources Department
$1,000, 000.
Mr. Bond: $1,000,000, sir. That statement really needs a little clarification
because Human Resources is one of the departments that I directly supervise,
I would notwish anyone to believe that I could even tolerate such waste with-
out challenging that kind of a statement. I submit the cost to you Under
Consent Decree costs, $88,000, a special account to pay for the University of
Chicago Consent Decree. This is for this year alone. $100,000, a special
back pay fund for city-wide payments required by the second Consent Decree.
$41,000 covers the cost of the Affirmative Action Office agreed upon in Consent
Decree negotiations. $50,000 covers the cost of test validation required by
the Consent Decree and $64,000 covers the cost of the administrative staff
that was created to monitor compliance with the decree and prepare reports
required by the Justice Department for a total of $343,000. Other non -Civil
Service costs total $315,000 - $159,000 employee health clinic, $32,000 for
a safety program and $125,000 departmental administration, coordination of
Consent Decree activities and the administration of the CETA program. These
two categories of budget cost a total of $658,000 leaving $267,000 for opera-
tion of normal personnel functions of the City, $267,000, not a million.
This is the cost of the Personnel Services Division and the Department of
Human Resources which is the unit most nearly comparable to the Civil Service
Office as it existed previously. Perhaps the most accurate comparison can be
found in the fact that the Personnel Services Division and HRD now has nine
budgeted positions compared to 17 previously included under Civil Service.
So as you can see, the cost of personnel administration really only reflects
normally expected increases over the same functions provided earlier. In
brief conclusion, there may be alternatives to the adoption of the pending
Civil Service ordinance but those alternatives run the risk of non-compliance
with the Consent Decree and federal grant programs. Equally serious, they run
the risk of perpetuating discriminatory employment practices which the City
has pledged itself to correct. Let it be understood by all that my criticisms
are directed not at individuals but at a system that has not kept up with the
changing times. That's 12 minutes and 59 seconds.
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46
FJUL111979
Mayor Ferre: You're right.
Mr. Bond: I think it's appropriate for Mr. Krause to make a few comments, sir.
Mayor: Ferret I'll recognize him in a moment, but that statement obviously took
an awful lot of work on your part and I think it's such a succinct and clear
statement and it's so well expressed that I would like to have, I think each
one of us should have a copy of it and you might want to make it available to
anyone else that wants a copy of that. Would you have some copies made, please?
Mr. Plummer: It's now a public record.
Mayor Ferre: It is a public record.
Mr. Plummer: Mr. Mayor, I, would like it established on the record that that
is, of course, the feelings of Mr. Bond and it does not represent the feelings
of the City.
Mayor Ferre: Of course, it does not represent the feelings of all of the City
Commissioners but if it is put to a vote and there are sufficient votes to back
it then I would say that then it would represent the feelings of the City as
expressed by the majority of the Commission should it pass.
Mr. Plummer: Mr. Mayor, thepoint that I'm making is there was a great deal
of editorializing in there and I'm assuming it is on the behalf of Mr. Bond
and I want that to be on the record, that's all.
Mayor Ferre:
Mr. Grassie.
I think Mr. Bond is talkingfor the administration, isn't he?
That's correct.
Mr. Plummer: Well,.I find it very difficult for Mr. Bond or anyone else to be
in violation of the Charter in which that statement implies. He made the state-
ment within that that the Justice Department sent a very strongly - his termin-
ology I'm sure - worded letter and that the Manager and Mayor would see to it
that there v;ould be compliance. Now that was the terminology.
Mayor Ferrc What he said is that the Manager who was then Paul Andrews.
Mr. Plummer: Am I correct, Mr. Bond? Would you refer back to your notes?
Mayor Ferre: He was talking about Paul Andrews and myself and when I was writ-
ten a letter from the Justice Department and after I went up there with Paul
Andrews and with our City Attorney who was John Lloyd, I wrote them back a let-
ter where.I said that I would do all that I could within....
Mr. Plummer:
That's a different terminology and that I accept which is correct.
Mayor Ferre: Well, obviously I can't speak for five members of this Commission.
Mrs. Gordon: I would just like to ask you, Mr. Mayor, through you, in what way,
1 couldn't get it clearly, are we presently under the present system violating
the Consent Decree.
Mr. Bond:
Gordon.
Mrs. Gordon:
Mr. Bond:
Mrs. Gordo.
e're not implementing any real Affirmative Action Program, Mrs.
e we in violation of the Consent Decree?
By not doing so. yes.
Z:, We are in violation of the
Consent Decree?
Mr. Bond: That you might want to ask your attorney.
Mayor Ferre: Mr. Knox?
Mr. Knox: Violation in its precisely technical context would probably mean
that the City committeed some overt act which violated the terms of the Consent
Decree.; At the same time the Consent Decree has not been implemented by virtue
of our, continued adherence to those provisions of th Civil Service Rules and
Regulations which make it impossible to comply with the Consent Decree.
Mrs. Gordon Then you're saying that the present system - you're talking
47
FrUL111979
around in circles. Is it or is it not a violation of the Consent Decree? Are
we now operating in a manner that is in violation of the Consent Decree and if
so, how?
Mr. Knox: To the extent that promotions or appointments are made based on
scores which have been obtained on an examination which has not properly been
validated there is a precise violation of the Consent Decree to give one exam-
ple. To the extent that there are promotions made from registers going by the
numbers, if you will, without consideration of minority individuals who may
otherwise be qualified for promotional positions there is an overt violation
of the Consent Decree.
Mayor Ferre: Mr. Bond, do you want to add anything to that?
Mr. Plummer: Well can I ask a question?
Mayor Ferre: Well wait a moment, I want to see if he wants to add something
because if not I want to add something. What I want to add simply is this;
that we all lived through the experience in the Cohen Case when in front of
Paul Andrews there was some very strong language about the fact that Affirmat-
ive Action was not functioning and Mr. Paul Andrews right there on that micro-
phone said, Well, you know there's absolutely nothing that I can do about it
and you can't blame me - somebody had blamed him - because the Civil Service
Rules and the Civil Service Board is the one you have to look to. And Jesse
Mc Creary said yes, but the Consent Decree, the Cohen Consent Decree specific-
ally charges the City Manager. And he said, well the Consent Decree may charge
me but I am precluded from doing anything. Then the Civil Service Chairman
came up and the Civil Service Board you know put the blame somewhere else so
it was never clear to me or to anybody. who looked at it I think as to who was
to blame.'.Was it the Commission? Was it the Manager? Was it the Civil Ser-
vice Board? And around and around and around we went, the problem was never
solved, there was no Affirmative Action and there was nobody to• blame. Now
when the Justice Department looked at that the Justice Department put it very speci-
fically and I think it is called institutionalized discrimination - there is..
no culprit, you can't put a finger on anybody but the fact is that blacks,
minorities and women don't progress very much. Now it is easy to point fingers
and say the Manager is to blame you know like we did with Paul Andrews but the
fact is that we've. been through three Managers that I've seen and we haven't
changed very, much and the fact is that the justice Department keeps pointing
out to us thilt the reason we cannot comply is because the Civil Service Rules
of the City ;of Miami which are 40 years old and obsolete don't allow us to
comply and I think that what we've got to do is address that simple fact and
until we'do that the rest of it is just a lot of talk.
Mrs. Gordon: Yes, but nobody still has said how the present rules, how do
they violate the,Consent Decree, how do they absolutely violate the Consent
Decree.
Mayor Ferre: In two ways that I know of, the first way is that with the rules
that we presently have unless minorities make it to the top three which is
very very rare - and women - we never can select them and the second way is
that nobody is responsible. So what happens is between one thing or another
we keep going around in cirlces as to who is responsible and until we can pin
responsibility on one specific individual and hold him or her accountable and
until we have these rules changes I think we will be in violation.
Mr. Bond: For promotional purposes it is the top one, for outside selection
it is the top three so we're even further constrained.
Mayor Ferre: And that will specifically address those two pointsand to me
those are the two basic issues. Now tell me if I'm wrong, Mr. Bond, I think,
the heart of everything we're talking about is (1) who do we hold accountable,
and (2) how do we get minorities into the system.
Mrs. Gordon: Well, is there a violation now of the Consent; Decree?
answer that yes or no.
Mayor Ferre: Mr. Knox?
Mr. Bond:
cuffed...
That's a legal question,
Mayor Ferree
Just
s. Gordon. The administrtion is hand
Excuse me, Jack, since it is a legal question let's let Mr. Knox.`.
48
ITUL ! i Nye
foi
Mr. Knox: There have been violations of the Consent Decree by virtue of
again, promotions that have been made off of registers which were established
based on unvalidated examinations. There have been a number, and we have
that precise number.
Mrs. Gordon: A number of violations of the Consent Decree?
Mr. Knox: Yes. And there has been very much litigation any time there has
been a promotion pursuant to the Consent Decree and again that's a tangential
problem, but you see every time there is an attempt to adhere to the provi-
aions of the Consent Decree there is a lawsuit filed alleging among other
things that the Civil Service Rules and Regulations are being violated by vir-
tue of these promotions.
Mrs. Gordon: George, didn't Judge Eaton say that if•there is a violation of
the Consent Decree it belongs before him?
Mr. tnox
court?
No, I don't think that's what the judge said.
Cf there is a
violation isn't itsupposed to go back to the
Mrs. Gordon: The: judge has jurisdictiori over implementation of the Consent
Decree.
Mrs. Gordon: Yes well that's. what I just said to youand you say there are
violations. Have you taken them then to the judge, the violations? Yes or
Mr. Knox: Ireally don't understand the nature
Mayor Ferre:
Well, you
understand the intent.
of your question,
I.ncox: 7cs, I understand' the intent perfectly.
Gard gin:
GoYao.�,
Mayor
You refuse to answer the question, Ok.
o, 1 said I.•isn't understand the nature of your question,
Fer.e: Are you finished with this, Rose
Mrs. Gordon:
Yes, he can't
answer the question,`I'm finished."
Gordon.
Mayor Ferre: Mrs. Gordon says that you cannot answer the question, I don't
qui .e see it that way but you speak for yourself.
Mr. Knox: I will repeat my statement.
ea s . Gordon:
ou don't need to.
Mr. Knox: Okay.
Mayor. Ferre: Mr. Bond, I apologize for cuttingyou off but I thought it was
important that the City Attorney first give an answer then you can address it
if you wish.
Mr. Bond: The only thing that I can add to that is that we're completely hand-
cuffed in trying to do something administratively because every step that we
make is faced with litigation.
r1.'i er: Can I say something? Here again, everybody is editorializing.
Mr Bond, do Civil Service Rules regulate unclassified service?
Mr. Bond:Yes.
Mr. Plummer: They do?
Mr. Bondi
Unclassified service?
Mr. Plummer: Ah, you understood my question.
I understand it now, I didn't focus, yes.
Mr. Bond:
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49
fful ! ! 1979
Mr. Plummer: All right, I couldn't make it any briefer.
is to the Consent Decree?
Mr. Bond: No.
Mr. Grassie:
The unclassified also
Yes, the unclassified is covered by the Consent Decree, sure.
Mr. Plummer: No wonder we've got problems.
an answer?
Will you two agree so
Mr. Grassie: Commissioner, 'I'think we do agree.
Mr. Plummer: You and I agree, there seems to be some other problem here.
guess I don't have a guayabera so I'm out of place.
can have
Mr. Grassie: That's true. The answer is, Commissioner, that the Consent
Decree does cover all City employment.
Mr. Plummer: Fine. Okay, you know Father Gibson says, "See that? It' ain't
hard to judge." It ain't hard to judge. Now tell me where the handcuffs are
on the unclassified service - you ain't complied.
Mrs. Gordon: Hooray for you, J. L.
Mr. Plummer: Show me the handcuffs.
Mr. Grassie: Let's separate the question from your answer to it, Commissioner,
you know let's get the right answer.
Mr. Plummer: Well, you do it howeveryou want
with you. Go ahead.
Mayor Ferret
Mr. Plummer:'
Mr. Grassie:
You know let
unclassified
Mr. Plummer:'
Mr. Grassie:
Mr. Plummer:; Oh, it is?
Two wrongs don't make a right.
agree.
and I'll go back and play sematics
Well, let's, first decide whether there is a wrong in that instance.
's reviewwhat, in fact, the standard of the Consent. Decree is for
positions and then let's taik about performance.~
that standard different than classified?
Mr.
Grassie: Yes.
Mr. Plummer: In your estimation and your opinion, you're entitled to and I
likewise.
Mr. Grassie: No, Commissioner, I'm`talking about what the Consent
Mr. Plummer: Mr. Grassie, I'm not going to pick on any particular office,
all right, sir? It's not my point to do such. What I'm saying to you, I feel
and I see that there is a lack of minority representation in the unclassified
service. Now that's not too hard to determine. Now, you know....
Mr. Grassie: And I can understand that, Commissioner, because you know when
you consider the unclassified service which has been around for a long time,
when I came to this City three years ago the unclassified service had zero minor-
ity representation.
Mr. Plummer: No, you're wrong.
Mr. Grassie: You're, right,
Mr.
Mr.
Plummer: There ain't much: more now.
Grassie: Well, Commissioner, you really, need to get the facts.
Mr. Flummer: I hope you will come forth with the facts.
Mr. Grassie: And one of the facts that you need to get is that the performance
711n. 1 1 1979
50
rt
record in recent years has been that 60% of all new hires in the unclassi-
fied service are minorities. Now that's a simple fact of life.
Mrs.
Gordon: Not in the upper level.
Mayor Ferre: Now that's being challenged.
Mt. Grassie: Well, the only cure for that kind of challenge that I can suggest
to you is that we go down the list of every appointment in the unclassified
service that has been made in the last year, two years, something which, by
the way, has beer, provided to you.
M'or Ferre: Well, but we don't read all the material we get, you know that,
and anyway, don't bother us with the facts.
Mr. Grassie: You have a full report on this which has been given to you within
the last month.
:ordeal: :`We've;had '' it, we don't need to hear it 'again, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Plummer:
o,
if he thinks it is pertinent I don't mind listening to
Mrs. Gordon:' It doesn't change the fact, J. L., there's not any women on board
and women are sl.d between the cracks of what is supposed to be minorities and
women and Mr. Gr. ssie never did consider women as an important part of the imple-
mentation of thai facet of the hiring prctices.
Mrs. Gordon: Rose, please, you are entitled to your comments, I'm, of course,
entitled to mine. ;:Father Gibson has always said, and I have concurred and I
will continue.' to concur - things are not going to change around here until you
glean up your own back yard and the example is set by the heads. Okay?
bar• .. Grac,e:•::
report..
Mr . P1ui mer
Mr. Plummer:
Mr. Grassie:`
That's right, Commissioner, and I think that if you look at the :.
-Ay I finish?
though you had.
ou wish I had.
ou may be right, Commissioner.
Mr. Plummer: The thing is very simple to me, if I look around this City I know
of ao female serving either in as a department head or assistant department head.
":^.ow,of o::1y one black that is serving in the capacity, that traditional black,
that being Sanitation. I don't know how you would classify Mr. Salman.
Knox
Mr. Gary.
Mr. Plummer: Well,but is he a department head?
Mr. Grassie:
Mx. Plummer:
such.
Mayor Ferre:
not true!
No,;but Commissioner.....
Is Mr. Gary a department head?
If it is, I don't consider it
Hey look, why don't you just tellhim like it is it is simply
Mr. Grassie: ; It's simply, you know, your facts are not true and you're making
too many mis-statements, Commissioner, for me to remember them all. Now look,
yn+� hid::R presentation>this morning from a female department head, Dena Spill-
man. whom you've known for four or five years. She is the Director of Citizens
S�r.icea:
Mrs. Gordon: Only for a short time, Mr. Grassie, don't make it sound like she's
beer, therefor four or five years. She's been on board the City's payroll for
that period of time but not as a department head.
Mr. Grassie: I said that he had known her. Now, in addition to that she has
a female assistant department head, as a matter of fact she has two female,
51
QUL 1 1 1979
elk
assistant department heads. We have two black department directors. We have
another two assistant department directors who are black, not to speak of an
Assistant City Manager and that's just to speak to the issues that you have
brought up and that is in the last three years, Commissioner, starting from
zero.
Mr. Plummer: Mr. Grassie, I will accept correction in the area of Dena Spill-
man. I would, of course, take exception, and a dear friend, Mr. Howard Gary,
that he is a department head. Okay? Now I take exception to that because that
in my estimation has always traditionally been a part of your office. Okay?
So he's really, in fact, not in my estimation a department head. For the pur-
poses of bookkeeping maybe it is but yet when I find 72% of that department is
CETA or it was, I understand it's in the process of being corrected, you know
what are we saying? The point is I will stand quiet and take your figures and
we'll come apart with them. You know we'll just go down the line line by line
by line.
Mayor Ferre: Well, I'm just not satisfied personally, and I want you if you've
documented it ten times before I am now asking you to document it the eleventh
time. I don't want a fifty page memorandum where this is sandwiched in, I want
a one page simple memorandum: Since you have been City Manager in nonclassi-
fied positions how many appointments have there been(1) and I want to know how
many blacks, how many Latins, how many women and I want the total of that fig-
ure and I want the percentage - just that simple, and I want it on the record.
Now, if you've got that information just please give it to us now.
Mr. Grassie: I have it in my hand it was distributed to you on June 13th and
I will be happy to have it copied and we can have it....
Mayor Ferre: Just read it into the record, the conclusion of it: How many`
people have we hiredsince whatever date you got there to whatever date.
Mr. Grassie: The record, by the way, includes the name, date of appointment,
position for every person that's concerned.
Mayor Ferre: We will look into thatand you'll send us each another copy of it,
it's probably lost in the myriad of papers that we have waiting to be read.
Mr. Bonds The attachment three that this memorandum refers to represents all
of the key appointments made directly by the present City Manager between the
period of August 1, 1976 and May 31, 1977. :<These include appointments at salar-
ies of $16,000 and above, the names shown do not include individuals who termin-
ated prior to May 31, 1979, thus the names represent only those individuals who
were still on the payroll as of May 31, 1979..
Mayor Ferre: Give us the totals, Mr. Bond.
Mr. Bond: Twenty-four executive appointments were made, five were black males,
for a percentage of 20.8%; Six were Latin males for a percentage of 25%; One
was an Asian male - that's other minority - representing 4.2%; one was a Latin
female 4.2% thus the total appointments of minorities and females in executibe
service represents 54.2% of all appointments made by the present City Manager.
This compared to the goal established in the Consent Decree of 20% for officials
and administrators.
Mr. Plummer: Mr. Bond, how many department heads are there?
Mayor Ferre: Well wait a minute, Ithink `the point in all of that is do you
want us to go fire people to put women and. minorities?
Mr. Plummer: Not at all, but I want the rules to apply both ways.=
many department heads are there?
Mr. Bond: I believe there are 17, sir.
Mr. Plummer:`
Mr. Bond:
Mr. Plummer
Mr. Bond:
Seventeen department heads?
Do you have a breakdown there?
Not with me; no."
Mr. Plummer: I'd like it.'
rt
52
CUl 1 1 1979
404
Mr. Grassie: But the direct answer to your question, Commissioner, is you
asked about the Consent Decree, the standard established in the Consent Decree
for these positions is, in fact, different than it is for other positions rec-
ognizing that entry level positions are easier to comply with where you have a
high number of entry level people. The standards in the Consent Decree for
these positions is 20% and we are operating with a performance record in the
neighborhood of 60%. Now that was the point that you asked about and that's
the answer.
Mayor Ferree Fifty-three I think is what he said.
Mr. Knox: Mr. Mayor, I would like I think number one in order to advise the
Commission of the status of minority employment in the Law Department and num-
ber to highlight the classic problem as presented by the Civil Service Rules
and Regulations I'd like to advise you of what's happening in the Law Depart-
ment. There are 13 attorneys in the Law Department, four are black males, two
are Latin males, two are females and five are Anglo males so that eight our of
the thirteen are members of the so-called protected class, eight out of the
thirteen attorneys in the Law Department. There's one Anglo male investigator,
two Latin Male investigators and one black male investigator - that represents
75% of the investigators who are minorities in the Law Department. Now as to
the investigators and the attorneys the appointments are not subject to compet-
itive examinations and the traditional Civil Service. Among the legal secretar-
ies' in the Law Department who must take a competitive examination and score in
the best of three there are 13 legal secretaries of which one is a Latin female
and there are no black legal secretaries in the Law Department so that the im-
pact, I think, is made dramatic by virtue of the composition for those persons
where the department director can make appointments and those positions which
are subject to the competitive requirements of Civil Service.
Mr. Bond: Mr. Mayor, I gave you figures a moment ago that were somewhat incom-
plete. On appointments by the present City Manager since August of 76 I'd like
to give you very briefly promotions in that same officials and administrators
category. One was a black male, 7.1%; two Latin males 14.3%; one Asian male,
7.1%; two Anglo females 14.3%, representing 42.8% of all promotions made by the
present City Manager.
Mayor Fer.rt: Well how many promotions have been made in total?
Mr. Bond: A total of....
Mayor Ferre: That would make six so
that allyou've promoted, 13 people?
Mr. Bond: 14.
Mr. Grassie: Yes, in'the
we're talking about..
you're talking about 13 promotions;
class of director and assistant director, you know
Mayor Ferre: In other words what you're saying to us as I understood it, out
of 24 new hires 15 have been the affected class and out of 14 promotions 6
have been the affected class. So on one case you're over 40% and in the other
case you're over 50%.
Mr. Bond: And the established goal by the Consent Decree is 20%, sir.
Mayor Ferre: Well, I'll tell you:I would be very satisfied if you could obtain
similar records, Mr. Grassie, in the Fire Department, the Police Department and
other departments. So let's get back to the main subject here. Now, you wanted
to be recognized.
Mr. Bond: Mr. Krause has the other end of mine, sir.
Mayor Ferre: Oh,;i'm sorry, do you want to do it nowor do you want Mr. Krause
to make it?
Mr. Don Teems: Don Teems, President of the Miami Association of Fire Fighters.
In relation to the question about violations of the Consent Decree, Mr. Mayor,
I'd like to inform you that, in fact, Judge Eaton said that that is all he
wanted to see before his court were violations of the Consent Decree, that if
you did have violations of the Consent Decree he wanted to see them, he would
hear them so I submit to you that there aren't any. In fact, the Miami Assoc-
iation of Fire Fighters have signed a Consent Decree, are signatories to the
Consent Decree and if there were violations of the Consent Decree we would be
willing to go with you to Judge Eaton. So as far as that goes that's where it
is. Now, since the Consent Decree in the Fire Department the Fire Department
53
rt
Put 1 1 1979
has never yet failed to meet its goals. Now, the goals in hiring in the Fire
Department is 56% not 20% - never yet failed to meet its goals under hiring or
promotion and I want that to go on the record.
Mayor Ferre: Is that true of all the other departments?
Mr. Teems: You'd have to ask those, Mr. Mayor, I don't know that.
Mayor Ferre: All right, sir. I wish all the departinents were as good as the
Fire Department.
Mrs. Gordon: Mr. Knox, now that you've heard the comments of Mr. Teems now
will you answer what I said before with regard to the so-called violations
that you said there are. Have you taken them to Judge Eaton?
Mr. Knox: I` will repeat that I do not understand the nature of that question.
The question would relate to whether or not the City has responsibility to
take itself before Judge Eaton if there is a violation of the Consent Decree.
Now, if I have a transcript of the hearing before Judge Eaton and I will examine
it and invite anybody else to examine it to see what Judge Eaton said.
Mr. Teems: Mr. Mayor, I am not a member of the City of Miami as far as the
City representing itself and if the City can show me some violations of the Con-
sent Decree I'll take it for them.
Mayor Ferre: Is there anything else? All right, Mr. Krause.
Mr. Robert Krause: Mr. Mayor and members of the City. Commission
a prepared paper which I` will make as brief as possible.
Mayor Ferre: After, you have given the statement, would you have copies made
and also distribute?`
also have
Mr. Krause: Yes, sir,;I will. We've been dealing with the subject of Civil
Service Rules now for more than a year. I've prepared a substantial amount
of detail for the City Commission during that time. Some of the recent mater-
ial was provided specifically in response to questions of the Commissioners at
the Meeting 7f May 24th. I think it may be more confusing than helpful to try
to review all of the details at this time. For that reason I would like to
put this subject in a perspective that may help to summarize our discussions,
reports and correspondence of the past 15 months. The pending Civil Service
ordinance developed from a letter sent to the Mayor and the City Manager by the
United States Justice Deparment on April 17, 1978. The letter said in part,
and this is a quote, a series of quotes:" We are concerned that the City has
not made the type of substantive and institutional changes that are required by
the Consent Decree to make minorities and females an integral part of the Miami
classified service." The letter went on to detail specific provisions of the
Consent Decree by which the City had committed itself to amend Civil Service
requirements on written exams, job descriptions, job announcements, educational
requirements, job assignments, time -in -grade requirements for promotions and
referral procedures for applicants on eligible lists for both hiring and promo-
tion. The letter went on to say that "These specific suggestions are not intend-
ed as a comprehensive list of the institutional changes that may be necessary
for the City of Miami to achieve compliance with the full scope of the Consent
Decree." I might stop at that point and indicate that as I read that letter
from the Justice Department they are saying the City is in violation of the
Consent Decree because it has not fulfilled the promises made on behalf of the
City. The letter concluded by stating that the City under it's CETA contract
is also, again quote, "...obliged to make substantially greater efforts in mod-
ernizing it's Civil Service system and institutionalizing the programs and pro-
cedures required by the Consent Decree." It may be reasonable to consider why
the Justice Department attaches such great importance to the issue of Civil
Service Reform, there has been a growing realization during the last two decades
that many Civil Service Systems have become a major impediment not only to good
government but to fair employment practices. Perhaps the beginning of this real-
ization dates from the 1960 report of the prestigious Municipal Manpower Commis-
sion. This was an independent citizen group that was funded by a grant from the
Ford Foundation. The Commission concluded that city governements across the
country would be unable to meet the growing service needs of their residents
unless they took steps to remove what they called the dead hand of Civil Service
from their employment programs. Beginning in the mid 1960's the United States
Congress came to accept this view and begin to include requirements for a Civil
Service Reform in many of its grant programs particularly those dealing with
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54
OUL 1 119n9
employment and training such as the Manpower Development and Training Act of
1964 and the Emergency Employment Act of 1971. This trend has continued and
expanded to encompass most of the current grant programs with which we deal.
Meanwhile 1970 was another landmark year. the National Civil Service League
which had created the concept of Civil Service a hundred years earlier pro-
posed a new model law calling for major Civil Service Reform including aboli-
tion of Civil Service Boards and Commissions and development of new programs
to employ women and minorities. During the 1970's states and local govern-
ments across the country engaged in a massive effort to reform and modernize
their Civil Service systems. In 1978 the United States government itself
went all the way and abolished its own Civil Service Commission which had been
established in 1883 and had served as a model for most of the other Civil Ser-
vice Boards and Commissions that had been created in state and local govern-
ments. In its place the Congress established an Office of Personnel Manage-
ment reporting directly to the President and a merit system protection board
that was limited to hearing employee appeals. Reports from a variety of organ-
izations during the past 18 months indicate that Civil Service reform is accel-
erating across the country. Reports from such diverse groups as the National
Urban Policey Round Table, the American Society for Public Administration,
the publishing firm of Prentice Hall, Inc., International Personnel Manage-
ment Association and the National Civil Service League have either called at-
tention to the reed for a reform or have reported its broad sweep across the
country. The mcst recent docuement that I have was received in our office
last week. It's title is "The Impact of Affirmative Action and Civil Service
on American Poli:e Personnel Systems". This is a research project that was
funded by the Federal Law Enforcement Assistance Administration and was con-
1.:-ted by Public Administration Service which is a non-profit public service
agency. < I would like to quote two very brief paragraphs from that report, one
reads as follows: "In brief, the idea of an elitist moralistic principle of
public service has a longer and more pervasive history than most of its advo-
cates acknowledge or than the present debate recognizes. While elitism is not
an intrinsically negative notion regarding the public service it does cast a
somewhat different coloration on the merit issue particularly with regard to
the problem of equal employment opportunity. To put the matter directly, ad-
v:,ui.tes of the merit principle should take considerable care to see their mis-
givings .aotr. its viability in the face of Affirmative Action efforts are not
.nterpretec ?• nn ass'.um_tion that public service employment is a calling for
a select secme,-it'of the populace to which minorities do not belong. "That's the
end of the first quote and the second one says, "According to the Rand corp.
which did a survey or minority recruitment in New York City in the early 1970's
the Civil Service was so slow that many qualified candidates dropped out of
" -urnin ." That's the end of that quote. Our recruiting staff has pre-
pared a table showing the time it takes to hire new employees under the pres-
ot Civil Service System. The table uses three specific cases and shows the
loss ratio for minority applicants. The table shows, for example, that from
the first request to fill a vacancy until the referral of applicants for inter-
views it took 81 days for Stock Clerk II and 82 days for Secretary II, it took
5) days for Engineering Technician I. The main results of these efforts may
be summarized as follows: First, we had excellent success in recruiting qual-
ified minorities. The applicant pool shows 69% minorities for Secretary, 84%
for Engineering Technician and 85% for Stock Clerk, 86%, I'm sorry. Secondly,
the process took so long that we show the same type of drop out problem that
was observed by the Rand Corporation in its study of the New York City's Civil
Service. 0f 17 drop outs for Stock Clerk 15 were minorities which is 88% of
the total. Of 19 drop outs for Engineering Technician,17 were minorities which
is 89% of the total and of 14 drop outs for Secretary, 10 were minorities or
71% of the total. Third, the Federal Government has established a formula
for computing what is called adverse impact in the selection process. The
formula is intended to indicate the degree of discrimination. Any rate for
minorities that is less than 80% of the appointment rate for other applicants
�.: required to be shown as a business necessity that can be justified under
the uniform guidelines on employee selection procedures. In our three cases
rate for minorities falls well below 80%, it is 42% for Engineering Tech-
nician, 33% for Secretary and only 24% for Stock Clerk. These cases demonstrate
the continuing discriminatory impact of Civil Service selection procedures.
The impact is worse because of the long delays then because of the tests them-
s:ves. Even if we validate all of our exams and eliminate all of the cultural
bias our procedures will still show a severe adverse impact unless we can mod-
ernize and expedite the Civil Service requirements. I have copies of these
tables if members of the Commission would like to see them.
Mayor Ferre: Yes.
55
UL i ! 1979
1
Mr. Krause: Okay, I'll distribute those in a second. The final comment is
this, I would like to note that I promised to provide certain data in response
to questions that were raised by Commissioners at the Meeting of May 24th, I
did provide that data in the memo that I sent the City Manager on June 13, Mr.
Grassie has forwarded copies to the Commission, I had intended earlier today
just to read certain excerpts from it but i believe in the interest of time
I will not do that unless members of the Commission wish, and I will give you
copies of this table.
Mayor Ferre: The portion you're talking about dated June 13th, I don't have
that memorandum.
Gordon: I don't either, I need another copy of that.
Mayor Ferre: Well, would you besides providing additional copies also give`
us copies of your statement? All right, are there any further statements to
be made at this time?
Mr. Plummer: Mr. Krause, may I ask a question of you not pertaining to your
presentation directly? Is there a way of determining how many permanent em-
ployees have been hired in the last 12 months in the classified service
permanent? Regular employees as referred to.
Mr. Krause: Yes, there would be a way.
Mayor,Ferre: Well, we've asked for that information before, you
know that I have.
Mr. Plummer: Yes. Have you ever determined such or are you prepared at this
time to give a ball park figure?
Mr. Krause: I'd hesitateto do that without looking at it in more detail.
One of the problems that we have with providing current information to the
Commission as I'm sure you're aware is the fact that we have difficulty get-
ting up to date data out of the computer.
Mr. Plummer: Well, of course, I'm well aware that in last year's budget as
I recall there was a 21 million dollar anticipated salary savings and every
indication is that has been met and that would give certain indications.
Would you say - well, I hate to put you on the spot - Mr. Grassie, would it
be safe to say that we have filled 100, 200 permanent positions in the last
12 months?
Mr. Grassie: Yes, -at least that.
Mr. Plummer:
Mr. Grassie: No. I'm using rules of thumb with regard to turnover.
Do you think it would be double that?
Mr. Plummer: I understand, I'm not holding you to any specific number. The
point I'm trying to make, Mr. Krause, is this. The Mayor made a comment the
other day, we have what, around 4,000 permanent employees? How many?
Mayor Ferre: 3,000.
Mr. Krause: Maybe 3,500.
Mr. Plummer: Okay, just for a hypothetical run through with me, and you know
let's go this route. If we have 3,000 - and I'll use that figure - if we
hired 300 permanent employees, if everyone of those that were hired was a
minority we would only be addressing 10%, is that correct?
Mr. Krause: Yes, sir.
Mayor Ferre: Per year, after three or fouryears it would be 30%.,
Mr. Plummer: Well, if every one, Mr. Mayor, were a minority..
Mayor Ferre: You can't do that obviously.
Mr. Plummer: Please, I understand that. The point I'm trying to make, when
these, and I sat on this Commission when this Consent Decree came down the
path, these at the time were fully recognized because we spent hours on the
word "goal", what is the goal. Okay? Now, the point I'm trying to make, the
Consent Decree has been in what now, three years?
rt.
i6
JUL 1 11919
Mr. Krause: A little over two.
Mr. Plummer: All right, three years since everything is in threes. Had you
had the opportunity to 100% hire nothing but minorities in the three years
30% is where we would be. Now, it cannot address the problem - excuse me,
the representation in the Consent Decree of 60% minorities and it's more than
that. If we're talking about as I recall 52% Latin and 27% black or in that
general neighborhood, let's say 50 and 25 to come up with an even 75 how can
anybody say that this City is not at least headed in the right direction?
There is no way. I don't think there was anybody sitting here at the time
that this Commission agreed to the Consent Decree, and I voted for it, I want
to say that very quickly, that they could obtain those goals. If you weren't
able to have 100% minority hiring you couldn't obtain it - there's no way.
Mr. Krause: There are two kinds of goals in the Consent Decree, there arean-
nual goals which we measure, monitored on an annual basis. They differ accord-
ing to the type of occupation.
Except the Consent Decree, Mr. Krause, spoke to a five year pla.
about annual goals over the....
Mr. Plummer:; Nr., sir, I'm not. The Consent Decree itself spoke toa five year
plan and those Coals of percentages which are set forth in that Consent Decree
are for the fivE year plan that hopefully at the end of five years you would
have been able t ) obtain these goals.
Mr. Krause:' If I may correct you, sir.
Plummer:
If I'm wrong, please do.
Mr.:Krause:, That is a mistaken recollection of what the Consent Decree says.
It'establishes annual hiring goals for six categories of employment. Those
--r.'ua3 -i-:main the same for each of five years. The Consent Decree also
establishes a procedure by which we calculate a promotional goal for each de-
-•-.r`ment c^- veer for each of the five years and the way the formula works,
tha prootioral.goal gets higher each year. The Consent Decree additionally
:ays that 'zc.. C ty estai lishes as its long term goal parity with the City of
labur ne..,et at all levels and all occupations within the City work force,
_�me languacee almost verbatim. Now that I interpret to continue beyond the
five years of the Consent Decree but each year the Justice Department expects
us'to report as of the close of business on June 30th whether we have met the
promotional goals in each department and whether we have met the hiring goals
each.of the categories that are specified in the Consent Decree and they
are, for example, 20% for officials and administrators, 30% for professionals,
aIrxoxiznately 40% I believe for paraprofessionals, 56% for public safety and
£pecal categories of 35% non -black in certain laboring occupations
and there are a couple of other categories that are established.
ti.. Plummer: I accept what you say. All right, sir? Now, using that as a
criteria, using the fact in the general ball park that you only have a 10%
turn over how in God's name will you ever attain that which you are trying to
blame on Civil Service? I say if you had the opportunity to hire 100% minor-
ities you're only talking about at best 10% on your annual reporting, am I
right or am I wrong?
Mr. Grassie: Well, you're wrong in this sense, Commissioner, there are two
kinds of goals. One is a percentage of hires and there in case of the Police
Department, for example, you may be talking about 56% of new recruits. The
other percentage that you're talking about is percentage of total work force
and terms of the percentage of total work force you're absolutely right and
t'l=t is that if you have a 10% turn over there is no way that you're going to
in less than 10 years reconstitute the work force. You're entirely right.
nnA if you are hiring at the rate of 50% of all your new hirees being minorit-
ies and you have a 10% turn over then obviously after 5 years which is our Con-
sc:nt Decree, the maximum impact that we could have is 25% of the work force.
There is no question about that. The only thing that I believe we are bring-
ing to your attention is that since the problem is that difficult inherently
and by nature it is unreasonable for the City to continue regulations which
make it that much more difficult to achieve a result.
Mr. Plummer: Mr. Grassie, this City has paid an awful lot of money to the
University of Chicago, they have redone the testing; they have redone the hir-
ing practices; they have redone the recruiting practices - none of it is in,
as I see it, handcuffed by these Civil Service Rules as it relates to the Police
Department. I don't see anything here that relates to in -hiring in the Police
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57
JUL i 1 147q
•
Department yet we find a negative, so-called negative increase, you know we
have spent a half a million dollars with the University of Chicago to get worse
percentages. And these proposed Civil Service Rules that are proposed here
today doesn't address the Police Department.
Mr. Krause: They do., yes.
Mr. Grassie: They really do, Commissioner.
Mr. Krause: AS a matter of fact, the University of Chicago deals solely with
the testing process and the Cohen Consent Decree which was signed in 1973 was
based on selection guidelines established by the Equal Employment Opportunity
Commission three years earlier in 1970. Since that time last year EEOC and
three other federal agencies including the Justice Department issued a new set
of selection guidelines which makes the use of the Miami Civil Service referral
procedure inconsistent with the selection guidelines. It makes the whole sel-
ection process as conducted by the University of Chicago inconsistent with the
requirements of federal selection requirements and there is a police case in
Mobile, Alabama which says that you may not use a valid examination to promote
police sergeants if it has adverse impact against minorities unless you follow
the new provisions of the Federal Selection Guidelines which require you to
seek alternative uses of the test results meaning that in Mobile, Alabama, a
federal court said they could not certify from the top of an eligible register
they had to certify all names on an eligible register and allow the Mobile Po-
lice Chief to appoint anybody who passed the test.
Mr. Plummer: I hope that I didn't hear you say that all the money we spent
for the University of Chicago is now inconsistent with the new rules. I didn't,
did I hear you say that?
Mr. Krause: Yes, you did and that is correct. The testing by the University
is better than the testing that the City was doing in the past but the guide-
lines for use of the test results have changed since the Cohen Decree was
signed.
Mr. Plummer•
Mayor Ferre:
Rev. Gibson:
you through,
Mr. Krause:
sir?
A half a million dollars.
Well, but that's the way things happen in this country, you know.
Mr. Mayor, may I. ask a question?
Yes, :sir.
0 that we can keep faith, are
Rev. Gibson: We said that we were going to have the administration make its
presentation as a means,: a method::of enlightening, educating. If we did noth-
ing else we got the manuscript from Mr. Bond and one from you, Mr. Krause.
Mayor Ferre: We haven't gotten his yet.
Rev. Gibson: Well, his is going to be given I'm sure. I would hope that in
light of changes that you all are advocating that the unions will have an oppor-
tunity to respond. One thing I learned, I may not agree with what you say but
I ought to at least know your reasons. And if the members of the union can
come forth reasonably so and convince me they don't have to worry. I am not
going to change now as I have not changed. How long have I been up here? Miss
Summers, you'd better tell me. I'm going on my seventh year, is that right?
Something like that. Okay, I don't plan to change now it's too late. I would
want to see us do what Rose wanted, that is deal with these issues, these changes
one by one and let the union tell us what is good about it and what is bad
about it. I think that's fair. I promised the other gentleman sitting beside
you, when he came I said well we would want you to have participation and so
on and we would want to know, that is at least I would want to know how would
these changes affect you adversely or not and I would hope, Mr. Mayor, you
would ask all of us before we leave here, leave this issue right now to look
at our calendars and agree upon a day and a time. And I would hope, Mr. Mayor,
my charge would be that we would be here if we say 9:00 be here at 9:00 O'Clock
ready to begin and if we say 1:00 we'll be here at 1:00 because obviously since
I have to pray for the souls I have to have ample time to pray for them. They
have to be cared for.
Mayor Ferre: All right, let's start looking at our calendars and would you
start telling me what days you're not available.
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•
zn toe cem;,»�wm•
4
Mrs. Gordon: While we all decide what dates are available, I just asked for
some information and I received it and I'd like you to hear this Mayor. The
class that's now in training for the Police Department has 18 members, it
started I believe in the middle of June, 18 members, 18 are minorities - 18
out of 18, how can you beat that with the new rule changes?
Mr. Krause: That's inaccurate, it's close but it's inaccurate, it's not 100%.
Mrs. Gordon: How close, 17 out of 18?
Mr Krause:_ No, it's about 13 out of 18, something like that.
Mrs. Gordon:`. Now
want to know?
how can you beat that with the rule changes, that's all ''I
Mayor Ferre: Why; don't you explain how that happened?
eating for the Commissioner to know.
Mr. Krause: Essentially tha happens because of recruitment procedures that we'.
negotiated with the Justice Department including restricting recruitment to
the boundary lines of the City of Miami;doing joint recruitment with the Police
Department, allowing applicants to apply either at Police Headquarters or at
the Department of Human Resources. We recruited something approximating 90%
women and minority applicants for the total applicant pool and we wound up
with an eligible register exceeding 450 people of which approximately 90% were
minorities.
Mayor Ferre: Was this the first time that the Human Resource Department has
participated in this way?
Mr.
Mayor Ferre: Do you think that has anything to do with what the results were?
Mr. Krause:
I believe it has a great deal to dowith it.
Mrs. Gordon: The
rules right now.
accurate with all
cannot do this or
point is you still have, you're operating under a set of
Arent"you? Now whatI don't understand, it's not exactly
this being said that`,because the -rules are what they are we
that when the' -`facts belie that, here are the facts - 18 out
of 18 and the rules are exactly the sameas theyhave been, or are you saying
that we bent the rules? Which are you saying?
Mayor Ferre:Mrs. Gordon, you and Commissi
oner Plummer I understand, you've
made it perfectly clear, do not feel that we need any changes for compliance.
Mr. Plummer:' Oh no! I disagree with your statement about Commissioner Plummer,,
Commissioner Plummer thinks there's a lotof these rules that have got to change
and I want them changed.
Mrs. Gordon: Yes.
Mayor Ferre: Then I stand corrected.
the date that we're going, to meet?
Mrs. Gordon: Mr. Krause, could:I ask you a question 'while we're still looking
and nobody has decided yet? Are there any departnents in the City in the City
that have failed to meet their requirements?
Mr. Krause:. At the present time there are several departments who are not meet-
ing their goals for the current year.
Mrs. Gordon:
Which ones are they, Mr Krause?
Mayor Ferre: I'm sorry, you're out of order. Please, we're trying to settle
on a date, let's stick to that then you can get intothis thing about the
departments.
After further discussion the City Commission decided to hear this matter
again on July 24th at 9:00 O'Clock.
Mr. Plummer: Mr. Mayor, I would like if it is possible two things, that when
we come back or have in our hands prior to the 24th, and I don't know that the
rest of the Commission will agree with this but I personally would like to have
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59
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•
it developed by staff. Number one, as I recollect there are 48 times in
this proposed document before us in which the terminology "transfer of power
to the Human Resources Department". It has been and is my contention that
there should be two sets of governing rules, one governing Civil Service (2)
separate a set of rules governing Human Resources and I would like to see that
set up into two separate sets of rules. Number two, I think that it is most
imperative that in conjunction with these rule changes as proposed accepted
or not accepted that on the same time we deal with the accusation that the
Affirmative Action Board has no clout, that we discuss that matter and have
the Affirmative Action here, that this Commission might want to take and give
the Affirmative Action Board the necessary vehicle or tools to have the clout
and to do the job that needs to be done. I will conclude by only saying this:
when everything else is finished the final responsibility lies with this Com-
mission. The judge and all others in power look to this Commission for the
final determination if it is right or wrong not to Mr. Bond not to Mr. Krause,
really not even to Mr. Grassie - this Commission. And I want to tell you in
my estimation that person who is going to be in charge in my estimation is
going to be answerable to this Commission on whose responsibility the final
determination is made.
Mayor Ferre:
Mr. 'Plummer:
you may have to change the Charter for that too.
Mayor Ferre: Mr. Knox, would you by the 24th of July have for this Commission;
an analysis of in those 42 cases that Mr. `Plummer is inentioning in the written
document before us entitled "Civil Service Rule Changes" if at any time any of
those can be transferred directly to the Commission directly or indirectly with-
out violating the Charter?
Mr. Plummer: Mr. Mayor, I don't know what you're talking about because that
isn't what I was talking about. Now let me repeat it and I hope that Mr. Knox
understood it. I said there shall be a rule book which is published around
here for employees of Civil Service Rules. In those areas where the terminol-
ogy "This responsibility transferred to Human Resources" there be a second set
of rules, those rules applying to Human Resources. Now, yes, you might be
right that we cannot imply this Commission's overt action towards them but we
can set policy and this is the policy that Human Resources shall operate under.
That's easy enough, that's simple. Mr. Mayor, as you're well aware there are
many boards that operate around this City that are answerable directly to this
Commission.'
Mayor Ferre: But they do not have the authority to hire, fire or set rules
for employees."
Mr. Plummer:;' Would you say that is the rule of th
havethe right to fire employees.
Mayor Ferre: And precisely that is why it is covered in the Charter with those
specific changes.
Mr. Plummer: And they are answerable directly to this Commission. That's
all I'm saying. I would like to see such a document' prepared and I'm giving
staff the latitude of preparing the document.
Mayor Ferre: Okay, I mean we all understand where we are.
Rev. Gibson: Mr. Mayor, Commissioner Plummer referred to the Affirmative
Action, I see on here #4. Now that we've heard what Civil Service says and
all that, the Rev. H. W. Kirtley, is he here? Well, maybe we would want to
hear him and follow him up, Mr. Mayor, because I think they're talking about
Affirmative Action.
Mayor Ferre: Rev. Kirtley, I'm going to recognize you in a second so you can
step up if you will but let me say that we have`. two letters, and I'm not going
to read them into the record, one is from Dr. Herbert H. Greene, Chairman of
the CAA Administering Board in support of the proposed Civil Service and the
other one is from Rev. Thedford Johnson, President of the Ministers' Layman
Voter Registration Committee, also in support of the Civil Service changes.
Mayor Ferre: Okay. I will submit these into the record. And Now, Mr. Krause
and Mr. Bond, are you through with your presentations at this tizne?
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60
:WC 1 1 1979
Mr. Bond: Yes.
Mayor Ferre: All right, Reverend, the Chair recognizes you.
Rev. H. W. Kirtley: Mr. Mayor, ladies and gentlemen, I don't have a prepared
statement, I'd prefer not to have one because that kind of hamstrings me. But
after listening to what y'all have said today I personally as Chairman of the
Affirmative Action Advisory Board feel about as useful as side pockets on a
pig.
1x. Plummer: You did not hear my comments just now.
Re7. Kirtley: No, sir, I was trying to find out how I could get some use.
Mr. Plummer: All right, my comments were that on the 24th when we reconvened
to handle this matter and this matter alone, that this item of the Affirmative
Action Board who cries have been made that they have no clout, that they be
given the same notice to be here and the same staff developed where we could
give you that clout.
Mr.
those statements.
Rev. Kirtley: Clay. Now I'm not here to speak for the Civil Service revisions
l•ut you have already had before you our recommendation for the adoption of
the revisions. I. don't need to talk about that. We are concerned in the
7%f''i.rme.ti-'e 'action Advisory Board that we are not getting the kind of informa-
tion that we need to work with. Now this is an administrative problem and we
can't make the decisions that we need to make unless we get that information.
Now Mr. Krause has been very helpful to us, I think he's a marvelous man, he's
doing a good job, but we need more data to work with and we need to get to you
to find out how we get that data. Okay, now Bob has already said I'm with you
a.,:: w.'i1 su ly that for you. We have some problems of lines of communica-
tion`and this is what we hope we'll be able to address on the 24th. We are at
resent zepciting to the Department of Human Resources. Your original ordin-
ance that naniated us, I think it was 8725, had us reporting to the City Com-
ris:icn. 10w that was Clanged without my even being aware that it was changed
and suddenly we found out that we were reporting to the Department of Human
Resources and through the Department of Human Resources to the City Manager's
Office. £verymember of the Affirmative Action Advisory Board objected to this,
when our City Manager met with us we said we didn't like it, we deplored it, we
y.,-,-not henw with it, we were informed that's the way it was it was just as
svre as the sun rises in the east, that was the way it was going to be.
Mayor Ferre: When`. did this happen?
Rev. Kirtley:. This happened, a new ordinance No. 8725 is the new ordinance,
the old one was something else.
Mayor Ferre
Did we vote on that?
Rev. Kirtley: Y'all voted and changed the ordinance after, we were originally
mandated. The new ordinance is 8725, effective 10-14-77.
Mayor Ferre:
Rev. Kirtley:
M. Plummer:
:n' 77 we voted for this?
You apparently did.
Which one created you?
h_ Kirtley: I think it was 8519, am
is that good, 8519.
:it.
right? That amazes me that my memory
Plummer: Which one do you say changed these rules?
Kirtl 8725.
Rev. ey
Mr.
Plummer: Mr. Clerk, may I have a copy of both of those?
Mayor Ferre: And furthermore, I'd like to know how, who passed, you know
the vote was and who made the motion and how it came about
what
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61
(JUL 1 1 1979
Rev. Gibson: Mr. Mayor, let me make this comment. My Reverend brother, lis-
ten to this. When we were setting up the Affirmative Action Board there was
one hell of an argument up here and I made the recommendation and the observa-
tion that the only way the Affirmative Action Board could be of any consequence
is that they must report directly to the Commission. There was one huge argu-
ment and I want to say this, I don't think anybody was misled. They finally
changed it to do exactly what they're doing. I'm glad, I didn't know you were
coming for that purpose, but I said and I continue to say if you don't need
these boards and you don't want them don't appoint them. And I said that the
only way we the Commission will ever know the real story is when that board
reports back to us because if you report as you are now doing when they don't
want us to hear it we never know about it. I said that then, read the record,
and I am going to be a prophet before I leave this Commission.
Rev. Kirtley: Okay, that's supposed to be part of your job
Mr. Plummer: Let me ask this question, reverend. Reverend,
time that it was brought before your board that it was being
Commission that the understanding of this Commission of your
ly to us was to change?
anyhow as a priest.
was there ever a
proposed to this
reporting" direct- ,-
Rev. Kirtley: I'm going to answer"that question sounding like either the City
Attorney or the City Manager andsay "I'm "pot sure because I -could have missed
a meeting but it never happened while I was there.
Mr. Plummer: Well, I think
a lot of us missed a meeting.
Rev. Kirtley: Okay, "but "I wasnot aware that that was happening until it was
done. I did not even know that we had the new ordinance until about three.
months ago.
Mr. Plummer:
Rev. Kirtley: You most certainly can
Mayor Ferre r All right, reverend, do you have anything else you want to add?
Rev. Kirtley: Yes, I'm not through blowing my top. I want to do several
things if I may, and I'll not take long to do it. We have a communication
problem, we want to have periodic dialogue with the City Commission to whom
we feel responsible. Now we have that but we have to go through certain ad-
ministrative channels to get that done. We want to be able to give you a prog-
ress report. We have been mandated to see that Affirmative Action happens,
to make recommendations, to make suggestions to the Civil Service Commission,
we want to make that dialogue back to you and say ok, this is the progress
we're making.
Mayor Ferre: Reverend, would you be prepared to do that by the 24th?
you ask me to and it
Rev. Kirtley: Yes, I'll be prepared to do it any day
may involve me changing my vacation time too.
Mayor Ferre: That would give you two weeks to do it, to get ready. If that's
inconvenient we could do it in September.
Rev. Kirtley: I'll have to ask. Yvonne, can we, put together? Do we have any
problems? All right, I'In depending on Yvonne to see that we get it together.
Okay.
Mayor Ferre: The 24th. So we will, after' we talk`.
Rules then we will get into your subject.
Rev. Kirtley: Okay, do you want me to hold the restof my report until then?
Mayor Ferre: I'll leave that up to you, 1 think it might be appropriate if
we concentrate on that one subject all at one tizne but if you want to make
your reportnow that's your decision.
Rev. Kirtley: Well,
grievances.'
m not prepared,, to make a report, I'm really airing some
Mayor Ferre: ""Well, I'll leave that u
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62
nut 1 1 ty'3
Mr. Plummer: Reverend, may I ask in this ordinance whre does it say you shall
report to the Human Resources?
Rev. Kirtley: If you'll read back in the middle part
underline it but....
ummer: But it's not in the title.
I did not specifically:
Rev. Kirtley: No, it's underlined in there further back. Ladies and gentle-
men, we also want to ask you to give some consideration to some funding because
in order for our Affirmative Action Office to do it's job we need to see that
our Affirmative Action Officer has access to certain workshops, we need to also
ses that thore are some opportunities provided for the Affirmative Action Advis-
ory Board to also attend those....
Mayor Ferre: May I recommend that we take all of that up on the 24th? I think
that's a good time to do it.
Rev. Kirtley: Okay, I'll be very happy to do that. I'm not sure that I can
get all of our members back that are here today but I would like for you to
known' that Hazel; Grant is here, Hines Breeden, Linda Eades who is our Vice -
Chair and Roderick Silva, all members of the Affirmative Action Board are here.
They're here to tell you that we are working for Affirmative Action, we want
your support. .Iinda, do you want to say anything or shall we wait? (INAUD-
IBLE RESPONSE) then we'll wait until the 24th and we thank you for that oppor-
tunity.
Plummer: I heard the key word "Budgetary Problems", may I suggest if you
have such a document prepared that you supply it to us prior to the 24th so
that we can review it and be on the same level in discussion with you on the
24th.
nn•� •
Kirt1s7s That's very good. Thank you, for giving us the time.
Mayor Ferre: Reverend, my guess is that we'll take at least three hours on
(.ivi] Servica Pules on the 24th, we're starting at 9:00. I would recommend
that we e i th .r . k:eet at noon or that . _at we -do it at=2.: 00 0' Clock in the - afternoon.
.'otl d vc A =Y do it at 2:00?
!`: s .
Gordon.,Continue right through the morning and `get out of here.
Mayor Ferrer
C.ia- .2.4 L...
Okay, my guess is at noon. We'll get to you around 12:00 O'Clock`°
Rev. Kirtley: On the 24th of July?
Mayor Ferre: Yes, sir, is that all right with you?
It will louse up my vacation too. Yes, I'll be here.
All right, thank you, Reverend.
R'v. Kirtley:.
Mayor Ferre:
63
rJUL 1 1 1979
9. DISCUSSION ITEM: YACHT CLUB LEASES UTILIZING CITY
PROPERTY.
Mayor Ferre: We're now, ladies and gentlemen, on Item H which is Mrs. Gordon's
request. Rose?
Mrs. Gordon: I'm going to ask the Manager to furnish this Commission with a
proposal at the next Commission Meeting which is the 23rd that we can go along
with to begin charging these clubs a fee to bring some money into our budget
because our budget certainly is looking for new funds and $1.00 a year is ab-
solutely incredible and nobody can understand how we could put up with it for
so long. So in light of that and with the understanding that without fail
this will be on the agenda, that your staff will now have two more weeks to
be able to prepare this information for us that you will bring us a proposal
that will be fair to the City and will not be inequitable to the people in the
clubs. Again, reminding you that it was my suggestion that we charge a fee
to those members who are non-residents of the City and at the rate of $100
per person per member that it would bring to our budget $130,000 that we could
well use as new revenue and that will only be for the non-residents in the 3
clubs, 1,300 people.
Mayor Ferre: Let me say that I: think in principle I support the idea and I.
would like, Mr. Grassie, that you would also come back with alternatives if.
you feel that there are some that need to be presented for discussion.
Mrs. Gordon::
money, you're
Mr. Grassie:
looking for,
signer?
Not :just for discussion but for action because you need the
budgeting now.
Just so we come back to the City Commission with what you're
do 1 understand what you want is a legislative proposal. Commis -
Mrs. Gordon: Yes.
Mr. Grassie: What I have just passed out to you is a memorandum, and we've
only had a couple of days to do this because you know we've done it since you
and I talked about putting this on the agenda but basically what this says
is that if you establish, if it is your intent to establish a proportion be-
tween what taxpayers pay and what non-residents ought to pay for this kind of
facility that you would have a result rounded off to $112 per non-resident
yacht club member as a goal that you would be shooting for. We also have
shown you how much that turns out to be in money, in the case of the Coconut
Grove Sailing Club which is represented here that's about $50,000, $59,000 in
the case of Miami Yacht Club and so on.
Mrs. Gordon: That's a reasonable approach and we can have a chance to study
it between now and then.
Mr. Grassie: All right, now if this is
late this into a piece of legislation.
Mrs. Gordon. :
Mr. Grassie: Is that what you're looking for?
Mrs. Gordon: That's my request, yes.
what you're looking for we can trans -
Mr. Plummer: Well, let me ask this question. It was my understanding, Mr.;,
Grassie, that last time this matter was referredto you to negotiate somewhat
based on the guidelines set forth in the Coral Reef negotiations.
Mr. Grassie: Yes, and we have done that. As a matter of fact, those negotiat-
ing sessions are detailed for you on this memorandum we just distributed.,
There is a great deal of concern on the part of the clubs with regard to that
approach. That's an understatement.
Mayor Ferre: I. understand. Mr. Grassie, I think it, is appropriate then that
once you come up with this that you inform all of these clubs as to when this
matter is coming up on the 23rd since it affects them. All right, is there
anything else on that, Rose?
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64
11 T 'roTo
Mrs. Gordon: No, I just wanted to cut through it quickly so we can take action
on the 23rd.
10. DISCUSSION ITEM: STAFFING IN CITY COMMISSIONERS
OFFICES.
The next item is Item I, Commissioner Lacasa.
Mr. Lacasa: Mr. Mayor and members of the Commission, the discussion on this
item is centered on the situation that I have in my particular office. As you
know, about 55% of the population of the City of Miami is Spanish speaking.
The problem that I am facing is one of manpower. I only have one person in
my office and the result is that the tremendous amount of telephone calls,
personal visits, correspondence that I have is totally disproportionate to the
ability that our office has to handle them. Furthermore, from a physical loca-
tion my office is located outside the shall we say compound of the other three
City Commissioners, consequently, I do not have the advantage of having access
to the shall we call it pool of secretaries that you have at your disposal.
So basically my request is that I be allocated, and the Manager be instructed
to allocate one clerical person to my office to help the assistant that I al-
ready have there.
Mayor Ferre: All right, any other comments by members of the Commission?
Mrs. Gordon: I'd just like to point out to the Commissioner who just spoke
the fact that I serve on 19 committees for the Commission and I have 19, and
I have the services of one-fourth of an assistant besides my regular person.
It is incredible, the load that I carry and this does not include any services
other than Commission appointed services. I serve in other capacities that
are not even discussing but I just want you to know that if Commissioner Lacasa
feels that he's being unfairly burdened with calls from the public we get the
same amount of calls from public and we serve on 19 committees.
Plummer? Father?
Rev. Gibson: Mr. Mayor, I want to make sure everybody hears me. I don't have
anybody but the person you gave me. I advocated, I've begged, I've pleaded
that we have a standard budget for the Commission. And you know what's very
strange? Nobody wants to face it - nobody wants to face it. Everybody wants
a budget of his own. Now I find it incredible that we, the Commission, and
this is not for you, Mr. Lacasa, I think all of us ought to face up with this
business. You know we're talking about tightening our belts, we're talking
about laying off all these other people. You know what I mean? And you know,
I venture to say if we wanted to tell the truth one person in each of our of-
fices if we really wanted to put them to work would do that work. I just heard
on the news last night Mr. Wilson is going to finally have his way. Do you
know Mr. Wilson is, Mr. Grassie? Mr. Wilson is the man who wants to deal with
Proposition 13 come September. And you know, I hope we get the message. Now
I want to say this, you know I'm not going to be so holy and righteous, you
know if you all need two I need two too. I ain't got no problem with that.
Mrs. Gordon: Father, don't misunderstand me, I just wanted to point out the
work load that I'm carrying. I know J. L. Plummer carries a similar load to
mine and I know you do too.
Rev. Gibson: Rose, I have more needs than you all have you know, my folk are
the bottom rung of the ladder so I get all the calls about everything conceiv-
able. Okay? And note, I'm not complaining but if you give one I want youto
give all. Okay, 1 just want to make sure everybody understands.
' Plummer, do you want to add your two cents worth?
Mr. Plummer: Mr. Mayor, this matter has been discussed before and I just want
to make the same comment I made before. I have a second person in my office
presently, maybe the best thing the Manager could do is take it away because
the minute you do I want you to know you've got nine immediate resignations of
matters that I have been assigned by this Commission for which I was not elected
and as far as I'm concerned you all can be the judge. Now you know I guess
maybe you can find fault with me that I didn't know how to say no when the Com-
mission said take one more committee, take one committee, take one more committee
rt
65
;JUL 1 1 1379
take one more committee, take one more committee. Maybe I'm guilty for that
but I also know you might be doing me a favor by taking me out of those nine
major committees which will give me some more time to spend with my family.
So it's up to the Commission, it's up to the Manager, you're not going to hurt
try feelings really either way.
Mayor Ferre: I'm not affected so let me make a statement. I personally think
that times have changed. There was a time - I served four years as a Commis-
sioner here before I served as Mayor and we used to all sit in one little of-
fice. That had a wonderful advantage, it kept us all out of City Hall because
we had to share, four of us were stacked into one little office and Miriam
Glowacki God bless her used to sit outside and how that woman was able to keep
up with the four of us....
Mrs. Gordon:Nobody did anything at City Hall.
Mayor Ferre: That's right.
Mr. Plummer:` And your budget was under $20,000,000.'
Mayor Ferre: What happened was that none of the Commissioners or me ever did.
very much in those days. We came to meetings and Mel Reese pretty well ran
things and he used to the Mayor who was Steve Clark once in a while, they'd
come to, an agreement and you very seldom found any kind of a dissention. Now
there are those, and I call them cynics, who might think that that was really
a better way to function. We certainly got through meetings a little quicker
and there was certainly not as much talk. Let me tell you what has happened
since. I think we have an activist Commission. I wouldn't want J. L. Plummer
to resign his nine commissions, I wouldn't want Rose Gordon to resign her nine-
teen commissions and successively. We have a Cuban population which is super
active which wasn't active ten years ago. You know who gets the brunt of that,
it isn't Plummer and it isn't Rose and it isn't even me. I get a little bit
of it but not much. The guy that gets all of that is this guy right here.
He must get 500 calls a month or a week asking for this and doing that and
doing what have you. Everybody in the black community, you know where they
end up.; They're, not going to call you or me, they call Gibson.
Mrs. Gordon: Don't kid yourself, you're making assumptions. I get a lot of
calls from, the Latin people and I get a lot of calls from the black people,
I a` lot of calls from other people. I wouldn't make assumptions as to
who's getting calls from whom, Mr. Mayor.
Mayor
Ferre: Well, I would judge that by the voting patterns of the past.
Mrs. Gordon:` That's dangerous.
Mr. Plummer: I didn't understand the question.
Mayor Ferre: "I think the point is that obviously with all due respects to
my colleague that I would assume that most people who have a problem in the
Cuban community would rather deal with one of their own and I think that is
true of the black community with all due respects. And that doesn't mean
that we don't all get calls from different segments of the community but there
is a burden upon us and an activist Commission. However, I want to put on
the record the fact that as far as the Mayor is concerned that the Mayor has
the same number of people that the previous mayor had and I have not gone up
one single person. I still have three secretaries, I don't have a driver.
There used to be a driver that drove the mayor around before and used to make
about $25,000, everything included and now I don't have anybody driving me
around because I stopped that six years ago and instead of that I have an
extra assistant but the Mayor's staff has not increased. It was one assistant
and three secretaries when I got there and a driver, there were five people
and it's exactly what I have now. I'm not saying that in any derogatory sense,
I think that I can handle the work we have with five people but I understand
your request and I sympathize with your problem.
Mr. Lacasa: Thank you. I'd like to add to this that the situation in my parti-
cular case worsened because when Reboso was on the City Commission he had an
assistant in addition to his secretary and that was a CETA position. Unfortun-
ately by the time that I came to the Commission that position was already vac-
ant and now I cannot refill that position with a CETA position because it is
contrary to the new regulations of labor which is not the situation, for ins-
tance, Rose, that you have where you have an assistant who is a CETA....
66
!JUL 1 1 1979
Mrs. Gordon: I don't, I have no assistant, it is a floating secretary for
Gibson"and for you and for anybody. She doesn't belong to. me. I only have
one-fourth of her services, that's all.
Mayor Ferre: Well, you ought to tell her
pretation....
Mrs. Gordon: And another, thing I want to tell you, she speaks Spanish, she's
a Spanish girl, she's a Cuban girl and, therefore, she's able to interpret in
those calls that we receive from the Latin people where we need to. have inter -
Mr. Lacasa: Then I find it very appropriate that you have her and I do believe
that she wi:l.3. be extremely helpful to you and I have no questions about it and
I do feel that you need her. My only problem is not what you havemy problem
is what 'I need.
Mrs. Gordon: She sits in that room. I wish'I had her, you don't understand
me I wish I had her but I don't. Also,. she fills in out here in the lobby
for the girl for an hour and a half when the girl out here leaves. We have
very little out of that girl' so don't feel envious of us who sit in the other
room.
Rev. Gibson: Well, the easy to solve it, just give us all another somebody.
I have no problem with that, no problem at all. If you find the money find
the money, man a-d I will start right now recruiting. I'll pick up the phone.
. I just toll you what my problem was. I spent all afternoon and evening
yesterday lookin4 over problems and I came near crying. I understand. That
ne _ .r._ _oing much easier. Beautiful. I have no problems.
11. INSTRUCT CITY MANAGER TO COOPERATE IN DISTRIBUTION
OF MATERIALS ETC. FOR EMPLOYEE PARTICIPATION IN
...3. SAVINGS BONDS PROGRAM.
1ayor Fe-rt 'x. Carl Elake, Mr. Blake, our apologies for making you wait two
Hours, you are hereby recognized.
Mr. Carl Blake: _I'm here speaking for the Department of the Treasury, United
States Savings Bonds Division. I'd just like to take a couple of minutes to
ewrl.ain •.,01;7 in regard to the bond program that I wanted to speak to you people
oiay. I wanted to mention a few figures to you that are probably fresh in
your mind, I` know I received last March and you probably read it in the paper
about the United States Government running into the ceiling of our national
neot, S798,000,000,000 and at that time Congress seemed to take a few days
if you recall to make an extension of this national debt of $32,000,000,000. So
the Treasury was having a few problems meeting some of its obligations and
I'm sure being in City government you run into that problem once in a while.
Well, what happened, a few people didn't receive their Social Security checks
and some people that had returns coming from IRS, they didn't receive them.
But after April 4th when they extended this National Debt by $32,000,000,000
and now we owe $830,000,000,000 why these obligations were to be met. The
point I want to put across is at the present time $81,000,000,000 is outstand-
ing in United States Savings Bonds. The average life of these bonds is 61
yeas and it pays 612%. Now that's the cheapest possible way the Treasury can
finance its debt and it's just as important to finance this debt as it is to
'continually increase it. Now you can imagine how expensive this is for you
an0 I as taxpayers to go to the Federal reserve which you read in the paper
and buy S10,000 notes at 9.4, 9.5%, maybe now they're down to 8.9% but espec-
1 .1 being in government like you are I'm sure you're well aware of how ex-
pensive it is to continually refinance and this is just what the United States
:3sury Department has to constantly do. Now with Savings Bonds with an aver-
age life of 61 years let me tell you it is a great breathing spell to the United
States Government. It's not only beneficial to them it's beneficial to the
City of Miami, the community here and to every employee that you have with the
City of Miami and I can guarantee you, and if there is anyone sitting here that
can tell me of a better savings program for a city employee at W% with the
tax advantages I'd like to know about them because I can tell you that an em-
ployee with a little financial security, your personnel manager will tell you
that there is less absenteeism and I know he can do you a better job without
having this financial problem and that financial problem on his mind.
67
J U L 1 1 1979
Mayor Ferre: Mr. Blake, I agree with everything you've said, what can we do
for your sir.
Mr. Blake: All right, I met in front of this Commission when Mr. Reese was
the City Manager, I remember Judge Balaban was on the Commission and they
endorsed this Savings Bond Program. We had a terrific program. In 1976 we
had 1,233 people on the program. In 1977 I contacted the City Manager's Office
and was unable to have a bond program. In 1978 we even sent out over 5,000
pieces of material and we haven't found that yet. In 1978 we have now 896, I
mean at that time and I would doubt in 1979 we haven't had the program, we're
down about 600 employees on the program. The State of Florida has a program
every year, you can see the governor, Dade County has it, the City of Coral
Gables have it, everyone has it. What we would like to do is have a campaign
amongst your City employees to let them know that the interest rate has gone
from 6% to 61% because every employee wants to save but they need a little
help.
Mayor Ferre: Have you got any problems with any of this, Mr. Grassie?
Mr. Grassie: Mr. Mayor, our position on this program is very straight forward
and simple. We last year as I understand it made a complete distribution to
every employee of the literature on Savings Bonds and we think it is a fine
program. What we have tried to do is to maintain the line that the City does
not get in the business of promoting good causes because there is no end to
the number of good causes that we are asked to promote and you know we try not
to get into fund raising programs. We do distribute their literature and we
feel that that is a prudent response to the kind of requests that we have been
getting from them. We have no problem with that, if they want us to go beyond
that then we have the question of equity with other organizations that want us
to get into fund raising for them.
Do you want to address yourself to that, Mr. Blake?
Mr. Blake: Yes, I'd like to answer that. Of course, there are many many com-
panies that only have two programs, that's the Savings Bond Program and the
United Way but afterall, when you and I elect people to go to the United States
Government and those people spend the money and they spend more than we take
in it has to be financed and I know this is very advantageous to the City of
Miami and afterall, it is an advantage to some of your employees. So I just
don't think maybe that you quite figure the importance of the Savings Bond
Program. I just explained to you how important it is to finance the national
debt. Now maybe you figure every employee you have has $10,000 and goes down
and earns 9.4% interest but I can tell you that there is no employee that can
get a better program than the Savings bond Program but he's not selfish, he's
not helping himself he's helping the City government, the Federal Government
and everv_emplovee that works here. What I would like is permission from the Commis-
sion to have the City Manager appoint a chairman that we can present this pro-
gram to your employees.
Mayor Ferre: Can you do that?
Mrs. Gordon: Mr. Grassie, I'd like to see you do that. I think you do too,
don't you Father?
Rev. Gibson: Mr. Grassie, I heard what you said but when you tell me United
States Savings Bonds is the same as any other good cause that bothers me. I'm
really troubled over that because I cannot see it that way. I believe - you
may not agree with me - I believe that the heads of all these departments
ought to be confronted. You know, I think people have to get a new concept
of America, man and we've got to start getting some loyalties in America. I
really am of that opinion. Again I want to repeat this: Having gone to Ger-
many the other day I came back with a different concept. Many, my God, America
is great! And you know what? I don't think a lot of us really appreciate that
and I don't see why we have to go tongue and cheek about Savings Bonds and these
people are making doggone good salaries and they ought to make sure and start
a savings program, all of them who do business, who are on the City's payroll
ought to really be confronted. And I know how you feel, you don't want to be
the agent, I understand that but I think this Commission ought to say that
every department head ought to, this man ought to be given the permission to
talk with those department heads and present that program.
Mr. Grassie: Commissioner, you need to know that our practice now is to pro-
vide payroll check -off which is really the single most important thing that
the City can do in my estimation. We provide payroll check -off for two
rJuL s 119tn
rt 68
•
activities. One is United Way and the other is U.S. Savings Bonds, nothing
else. So we have already placed this program in a privileged position in rela-
tion to every other program whether it is Multiple Sclerosis or the Cancer Drive
or whatever it is. They're already in a privileged position. The only limit-
ation that we have, and we also distribute their literature in the paycheck
for every employee. Now the only thing that we have said is that if they want
to make presentations to the employees it should be voluntary with the employee
and it should be not on City payroll time. Okay? And you know if they want to
do it on that basis that's fine but don't ask us to get into the business of
providing the audience and forcing people to go, that's the only thing. But
we do distribute their literature, we do provide check -off for them....
Rev. Gibson: All right,
sends out those checks?
Mr. Grassie: Well, they.
by the computer actually.
Rev. Gibson: Okay, when
any of his material in i
let me ask you this. Who makes up the payroll, who
come out of the Finance. Department
you put those
t
Mr. Gunderson: The last two years we have, yes.
Mr. Grassie: Yes, we have.
Mr. Blake: Well, I don't know where you got the material because I didn't
deliver it to you in the last two years. I delivered it to you in 1977 and
talked to you in your office with my state director, you didn't even know where
te material was and then finally you told me - and you know how many people
you signed up that year? Nine new employees - nine employees.
Rev. Gibson: We could solve that. Let me ask you, Mr. Manager. Mr. Manager,
I'd like to make a motion that you, sir, as you send those checks out be in-
structed - be. instructed. Sir, you bring the material, leave them there and
I'm going to make, sure and inquire whether or not some of these envelopes have
your material in it. That's a motion,
Mayor
Ferre: All right, there .is'-a'motion is there a second?
Mrs. Gordon: Second.
Mayor. Ferre: Seconded by Mr
to that?
Mr. Grassie:
Mayor Ferre:
Mr. Blake:
. Gordon. Further discussion? Are you opposed
No, that's fine, sir.
All right, further discussion?
May I just say one thing, sir?
Mayor Ferre: Yes, sir.
Mr. Blake: Our material right now says 6%, June 1 we just went up to 61% so
that's why it would require a letter either from the Mayor or the City Manager,
we have sample letters and that's what all the other companies are doing, letting
te employee know instead of 6 it's 61% and telling them all about the new ad-
vantages of the Savings Bond Program. The only way that can be done is the
way we've always done it in the City of Miami right here in this room, we have
a meeting with the department head and whoever he appoints to run this program
and then they in turn explain it to each employee or otherwise it's the same
as before, we passed out over 5,000 pieces of 3 different kinds of people and
we signed up 9 employees. Now that isn't the way we signed up over 1200 before.
We know how a program should be run, if it isn't run that way,it's just throw-
ing material away.
Rev. Gibson: Mr. Manager, it would appear to me, I don't know about the rest
of them but I have some very strong feelings about people who ought to become
loyal. And you know, to tell me that you're loyal to America and don't want
to spend none of your money you know is just like the guy who is hungry, you
know? And I would hope that the Manager would put his heart and soul and mind
in this thing and have those department heads meet this man, have the depart-
mnt heads sign somebody up and try to proceed expeditiously and show our loyal-
ty - this is a great country and they need the money. Other people are getting
it and throwing it away so I think we ought to cooperate.
rt
69
'JU L 1 1 1979
The following motion was introduced by Commissioner Gibson who moved
its adoption:
MOTION NO. 79-476
A MOTION AUTHORIZING AND DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO COOPER-
ATE IN THE DISTRIBUTION OF PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS TO ENCOURAGE
PARTICIPATION BY CITY EMPLOYEES IN THE U.S. SAVINGS BOND PRO-
GRAM.
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Gordon, the motion was passed and"
adopted by the following vote -
AYES: Commissioner Rose Gordon
Commissioner Armando Lacasa
Commissioner (Rev.) Theodore Gibson
-`Vice-Mayor J. L. Plummer, Jr.
Mayor Maurice A. Ferre
NOES:
Mayor Ferre: Thank you very'. much, Mr. Blake and thank you for your patience.
Mr. Blake: Do I take it that I'm to contact the City Manager?
Mayor Ferre: You are, you are indeed.
Mr. Blake: All right, thank you very much.
12.REQUEST ACTUARIAL ANALYSIS OF PENSION ADJUSTMENTS FOR
RETIREES.
Mayor Ferre: All right, Mr. Wilcox.
Mr. Tony Wilcox: Chief Howard will speak for the retirees.
Mr. H. G. Howard: My name is Glenn Howard, I'm the Director of the Retirees
Association. We are back here to move an invitation, when we were here last
year we were told return and ask for one-half of one percent on the first
$300 on retirement and I think
Mr. Plummer: Mr. Mayor, I discussed this issue with Mr. Wilcox and with all
of the parties and I think we're all in concurrence that the present actuarial.
study that was used for determination last year needs to be updated for the
current costs and that we, the Commission or they know the full impact at this
time. I think what we're really looking at is that the half a percent as refer-
red to last year, that we immediately ask for an actuarial study of what it
would cost for the first $200 and the first $300 or $400 of the monthly bene-
fit and then I think we can all talk on the same basis. I would move at this
time, Mr. Mayor, that that be done as quickly as possible and report back to
this Commission.
Mayor Ferre: A11 right, it has been seconded by Commissioner Lacasa, further
discussion?
Mr. Grimm: Mr. Mayor, as, a point of privilege now that the motion has been
seconded I would; like to suggest that maybe the Commission since two of the
members are chairmen of the respective boards refer to this to their boards
where this would be reviewed and possibly these actuarial studies conducted
at that level before the Commission.
Mayor Ferre: Mr. Plummer,
Mr. Plummer:` Mr. 'Grimm, .I love you dearly but I., want it done by the City's
actuarial board not the Pension Boards to whose charge it would be. I think
the City should rightfully pay for this and not the pension boards.
Mayor Ferre: All right, is that consistent with out past policy? Is; that
consistent, now, Plummer, ----
Mr. Plummer: That complies, Mr. Mayor, with the State. Statute that says before
any additional benefit can be considered it must be actuarially sound.
rtt
70
'�UL i i 1979
Mayor Ferre: Yes, but we turned over all these things to the Pension Board,
why shouldn't the Pension Board carry the burden of all this?
s. Gordon:They'll:: review it but .the charge has to be done...
Mr. Plummer: The other problem is that you might find if this City Commission
grants such relief as requested that it would be from the General Fund rather
than from the Pension Fund.
Mayor Ferre: Okay, any problems
Mr. Gunderson: Only the historical precedent.
Mr. Grassie: Yes, we have a hundred problems with it, they're all money but
you know one of the assumptions, I think it is fair that we get the answer for
you with regard to what the costs are. Now you should know that there is not
a City actuary which is different than the Plan or System actuaries.
with that, Mr. Gunderson?
Mr. Gunderson: They're the same one.
Mrs. Gordon: The charge is what J. L. is saying, the charge for receiving
this information is information the City requires from the standpoint it is
going to have to fund it.
Mayor. Ferre: Well, the pension boards are, really in much better financial
shape to pay for that thari we are aren't they?
Mr. Gunderson:
Mr. Wilcox: It
ruling on?it.
Not only that, but, it's the logical place.
's been handled the last ten years this way with the Commission'
Mr. Gunderson: The Commission has authorized it but heretofore the payments
have all come out of the Pension program.
Mayor Ferre: How much are we talking about, how much is this going to cost?
Mr. Gunderson: I'm guessing because`I can't remember the last one, I would
say about $2,500 each for Alexander and Alexander and for our new -A. Friend;
and
The following motion was introduced by Commissioner
its adoption:
MOTION NO. 79-477
A MOTION AUTHORIZING AND DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO RE-
QUEST AN ACTUARIAL STUDY OF THE IMPACT OF A .5% (ONE HALF
OF ONE PERCENT) INCREASE FOR EACH FULL YEAR SINCE RETIRE-
MENT FOR ALL RETIRED EMPLOYEES WITH PERCENTAGE LIMITED TO
THE FIRST $200, $300 OR $400 OF PRESENT MONTHLY BENEFITS
AND TO REPORT HIS FINDINGS TO THE CITY COMMISSION.
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Lacasa, the motion was passed and
adopted by the following vote -
AYES: Commissioner Rose Gordon
Commissioner Armando Lacasa
Commissioner (Rev.) Theodore Gibson
Vice -Mayor J. L. Plummer, Jr.
Mayor Maurice A. Ferre.
NOES: None.
Mayor. Ferre: All right,, thank you, Tony.
71
J U L 1 1 191g
13. PERSONAL APPEARANCE OF JEROME WOLFSON REPRESENTING
HOMER LANIER REGARDING PROMOTION IN POLICE DEPARTMENT.
Mayor Ferre: Mr. Wilson, our apologies for making you wait 21 hours. As you
realize, it's 5:00 O'Clock and we've got a whole bunch of other things. You
asked for a half an hour.
Mr. J. Wolfson: I don't need a half hour.
Mayor Ferre: I wish you'd make it as short as you possibly can..
Mr. Wolfson: I'll get right to it and I'll get out of here. I've been before
this Commission before in the matter of Homer Lanier and I think the name might
be familiar to many of this Commisssion. There are no black lieutenants or
captains on the City of Miami Police Department. I brought the problem to this
board before and although I felt there was a lot of sympathy from this board
the Commission was not empowered to really do anything. We filed a lawsuit
and the jest of our lawsuit was that there was a violation of the Consent Dec-
ree. Now I wish that I could have got out of turn and said, "Yes, I know the
violations of the Consent Decree" because I have a letter here signed by Squire
Padgett. Are you familiar with that, Mr. Mayor, the letter dated June 20th,
1979?
Mayor Ferre:
No, I. haven't seen: that.
Mr. Wolfson:;' There'sa letter dated June:20,
ed to Squire Padgett and Mr. Drew S. Davis.
Mayor, Ferre This is from
Mr. Wolfson: No, sir, this is signed by Squire Padgett and it's to Mr. Knox
and Mr. Krause. And I contend that this is, and we had a hearing in front of
Judge Eaton. Mr. Knox, when was it, a couple weeks ago, two, three weeks ago?
And there's a transcript around, I didn't bring my transcript with me but Squire
Padgett supports my position, he feels Homer Lanier should be a lieutenant, he
says in this letter than a golden opportunity was missed to make Sergeant Lanier
a lieutenant and I tried to negotiate this matter with the City but it seems
that there is such a division of powers at this point that I have nowhere to
go and it's a question, I feel that I'm going to win my case and I think that
Judge Eaton indicated that I'm doing pretty good in the case at this point.
What's so funny? Nothing to do with me? Ok.
1979 from Squire Padgett address
Mayor Ferre: Mr. Grassie, do you want to address this point and perhaps get
Mr. Knox?
Mr. Wolfson:"
and laugh?
Mayor Ferre:
Mr. Wolfson:
Mayor Ferre:
I'd like some response to it, are they just going to sit there
.'Wolfson, Idon't think you heard whatI just asked for.
Yes, sir. Do you want a copy of the letter, sir?
I've got it right here. Mr. Grassie and Mr. Knox.
Mr. Grassie: 1 'in not sure whether you're looking for a comment or whether,
there i§ a specific question being raised, Mr. Mayor.
Mayor Ferre: Well, I think what he's saying is very simply this, that he
presents to you a letter signed by Squire Padgett dated the 20th day of June
addressed to Knox and Krause, Krause works for you and it specifically talks
about the Lanier Case and the Police Chief and the opportunity. He wants to
know if you're going to take the opportunity to do this and if not if you want
to answer it fine and I'll ask Knox what the legalposition is and then that s the
end of it.
Mr. Grassie: I have not yet discussed this with the City Attorney, Mr. Mayor,
I would think that the City would need to make some kind of an evaluation of
Mr. Wolfson's comment that both the Justice Department and also the federal
judge have some sympathy for his argument. I don't think that the City has
rt
72
WS
ever been in the position of doing something which, or at least not consciously
doing something which was out of tune with the Federal Government in this case.
Now if his interpretation is correct and if our City Attorney confirms that
after I have a chance to discuss it with him I think that would have a material
bearing on my conclusion but I simply haven't had a chance to have that discus-
sion yet.
Mayor Ferre: Well, this letter specifically says, "We feel compelled to re-
spond to what we view as possible", it doesn't say they're actual, possible
'violations of the decree in the resultant failure to promote a well qualified
minority officer to an upper level since the opportunities are few. We would
hope that the City would seek to rectify this situation and provide us with a
response to the question and the concerns we raised", which are in the letter.
Now the question is have you responded to this letter dated June 20th? If
not would you look into it, would you talk to the City Attorney, would you
schedule it back on the Commission Meeting of July 23rd? We'll see you then.
Mr. Wolfson: I'm leaving town, I won't be here.
Mayor Ferree Well we can answer you today, that's for sure.
for. the Manager, he's got to answerfor himself.
can't answer
Mr. Wolfson: He'shad the letter'for a long time.
Mayor Ferre: June`20th but July llth the way things happen in
is not a long time.
this City
Mr. Wolfson: You know what's going to complicate things more than ever is that
the new eligibility list is going to come out and if the Chieftakes a black
officer off of that list and makes him a lieutenant when there isa possible
violation here there's going to be another lawsuit. The way I understand the
Cnarter,-this is the only gentleman here that has the power to act at this
Grassie: Mr. Mayor, Mr. Wolfson represents that I have had this for some
time, in fact, you know he sent me a letter, attention: Selma Schwartz and
`.h_ s vei t to `'y agenda Eecretary and I have not seen it until it name up on
the package,ar,. since then I have not had a chance to talk with the City Attor-
ney about it. Now you know all he says in his letter to me is "Please put me
on the agenda", he's not raising a question with me.
Mr. Wolfson: But I do believe he has had it in his posession since longer.
Ali an : that. Am I : correct?
Mayor Ferre:`
M+:. Wolfson:
than that.
I think he got you on a technicality. Okay?
Well, he's had it longer than thatI know he's had it. longer
Mayor Ferre: Well, but do you want to cross examine him and put himon the
witness stand and make him swear and all of that? Mr. Grassie on, the record,
have you seen this letter before?
I saw it when I prepared the agenda, Mr. Mayor, which is five
Mr. Grassie:
days ago.
Mayor Ferre: Well, so the question is in the last five days you could have
discussed it with Mr. Knox.
Grassie: I could but I have not.
Mayor Ferre: Now what else do you want to say?
Mr.
`1r. Wolfson:; Nothing, I'm going to be out of town in
put it back on the agenda for.....
July.
re you going ;;to
Mayor Ferre: Do you want us to put it in the September meeting or do you want
it July `23rd?
Mr. Wolfson:. Is :there an August agenda?
Mayor Ferre:
for us?:
o, there's no August meeting.
Can you have a July 23rd answer
Mr. Grassie: Yes, of course.
73
rt
'JUL i i 1979
Mayor Ferre: It will be on the July 23rd, send your associate down.
14. EMERGENCY ORDINANCE: AMEND SECTIONS 1 6 6 OF 8858,
INCREASE GENERAL FUND FROM SALE OF CONFISCATED WEAPONS
TO PURCHASE THREE MICROFILM READERS FOR THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT.
AN ORDINANCE ENTITLED -
AN EMERGENCY ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTIONS 1 AND 6 OF ORDI-
NANCE NO. 8858, ADOPTED SEPTEMBER 28, 1978, THE ANNUAL
APPROPRIATIONS ORDINANCE FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING SEP-
TEMBER 30, 1979, AS AMENDED; BY INCREASING THE APPROPRI-
ATION FOR THE GENERAL FUND, POLICE DEPARTMENT, IN THE
AMOUNT OF $24,390; FOR THE PURPOSE OF PURCHASING 3 MICRO-
FILM READERS AND SMITH AND WESSON HANDGUNS; INCREASING
ANTICIPATED REVENUES, SOURCES OTHER THAN AD VALOREM TAX,
IN THE SAME AMOUNT FROM THE SALE OF CONFISCATED HANDGUNS;
CONTAINING A REPEALER PROVISION AND A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE.
Was introduced by Commissioner Gordon and seconded by Commissioner Lacasa,
for adoption as an emergency measure and dispensing with the requirement of read-
ing same on two separate days, which was agreed to by the following vote -
AYES: Mrs. Gordon, Mr. Lacasa, Rev. Gibson, Mr. Plummer and Mayor Ferre.
NOES: ' None.
Whereupon the Commission on motion of Commissioner Gordon and seconded by
Commissioner Lacasa, adopted said ordinance by the following vote -
AYES: Mr. Lacasa, Mrs. Gordon, Mr. Plummer and Mayor Ferre.
NOES: None.
ABSENT: Rev. Gibson.
SAID ORDINANCE WAS DESIGNATED ORDINANCE NO. 8960.
The City Attorney read the ordinance into the public record and announced
that copies were available to the members of the City Commission and to the
public.
15. ESTABLISH RATES FOR USE OF LITTLE HAVANA COMMUNITY
CENTER.
AN ORDINANCE ENTITLED -
AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING RATES FOR THE USE OF DESIGNATED
AREAS AT THE CITY OF MIAMI LITTLE HAVANA COMMUNITY CENTER;
CONTAINING A REPEALER PROVISION AND A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE.
passed on its first reading by title at the meeting of June 25, was
taken up for its second and final reading by title and adoption. On
motion of Commissioner Lacasa, seconded by Commissioner Gordon, the. Ordinance was
thereupon given its second and final reading by title and passed and
adopted by the following vote -
AYES: Mr. Lacasa, Mr. Plummer, Mrs. Gordon and Mayor Ferre.
NOES: None.
ABSENT: Rev. Gibson.
THE ORDINANCE WAS DESIGNATED ORDINANCE NO. 8961
The City ATtorney read the ordinance into the public record and
announced that copies were available to the members of the City Com-
mission and to the public.
74
J U L 1 ! 107$
16. FIRST 6 SECOND READING ORDINANCE: ESTABLISH NEW
TRUST 6 AGENCY FUND "LETS PLAY TO GROW".
AN ORDINANCE ENTITLED -
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 1 OF ORDINANCE NO. 8719 ADOPTED
ON OCTOBER 26, 1977, THE SUMMARY GRANT APPROPRIATIONS ORDINANCE,
AS AMENDED: BY ESTABLISHING A NEW TRUST AND AGENCY FUND ENTITLED;
"LET'S PLAY TO GROW", AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS FOR THE OPERATION
OF SAME IN THE AMOUNT OF $2,000; CONTAINING A REPEALER PROVISION
AND A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND DISPENSING WITH THE REQUIREMENT
OF READING THE SAME ON TWO SEPARATE DAYS BY A VOTE OF NOT LESS
THAN FOUR -FIFTHS OF THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION.
Was introduced by Commissioner Gordon and seconded by Commissioner Plummer
for adoption pursuant to Section 4, Paragraph (f) of the City Charter, dis-
pensing with the requirement of reading same on two separate days by a vote
of not less than four -fifths of the members of the Commission -
AYES:
NOES:
None.
Commissioner Rose Gordon
Commissioner Armando Lacasa
Commissioner (Rev.) Theodore R. Gibson
Vice -Mayor J. L. Plummer, Jr.
Mayor Maurice A. Ferre
Whereupon the Commission, on motion of Commissioner Gordon and seconded
by Commissioner `°Plummer, adopted said ordinance by the following vote:
AYES Commissioner. Rose Gordon
Commissioner Armando Lacasa
Commissioner (Rev.) Theodore R. Gibson
Vice -Mayor J. L. Plummer, •„ Jr.
Mayor Maurice A. Ferre
NOES: None.
SAID, ORDINANCE; WAS DESIGNATED ORDINANCE NO. 8962.
The City Attorney read the ordinance into the, public record and announced
that copies were available to the inexngers of the City Commission and copies
were available to the public.
riui 1 1 1979
17. FIRST & SECOND READING ORDINANCE: ESTABLISH NEW
TRUST & AGENCY FUND "RECREATION SUPPORT PROGRAM -
1979".
AN ORDINANCE ENTITLED -
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 1 OF ORDINANCE NO. 8719, ADOPTED
ON OCTOBER 26, 1977, THE SUMMARY GRANT APPROPRIATIONS ORDINANCE,
AS AMENDED, BY ESTABLISHING A NEW TRUST AND AGENCY FUND ENTITLED:
"RECREATION SUPPORT PROGRAM - 1979", AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS
FOR THE OPERATION OF SAME IN THE AMOUNT OF $49,403; CONTAINING
A REPEALER PROVISION AND A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND DISPENSING
WITH THE REQUIREMENT OF READING THE SAME ON TWO SEPARATE DAYS
BY A VOTE OF NOT LESS THAN FOUR -FIFTHS OF THE MEMBERS OF THE
COMMISSION.
Was introduced by Commissioner Gordon and seconded by Commissioner Plummer
for adoption pursuant to Section 4, Paragraph (f) of the City Charter, dis-
pensing with the requirement of reading same on two separate days by a vote
of not less than four -fifths of the members of the Commission -
AYES:
Commissioner Rose Gordon
Commissioner Armando Lacasa
Commissioner (Rev.) Theodore R. Gibson
Vice -Mayor J. L. Plummer, Jr.
Mayor Maurice A. Ferre
Whereupon the Commission,on motion of Commissioner Gordon and seconded
by Commissioner Plummer, adopted said ordinance by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES: None.
Commissioner Rose Gordon
Commissioner Armando Lacasa
Commissioner (Rev.) Theodore R. Gibson
Vice -Mayor J. L. Plummer, Jr.
Mayor Maurice A. Ferre
SAID ORDINANCE WAS DESIGNATED ORDINANCE NO. 8963.
The City Attorney read the ordinance into the public record and announced.
that copies were available to the memgers of the City Commission and copies
were available to the public.
76
'J U L 1 ! 19f9
18. FIRST 6 SECOND READING ORDINANCE: ESTABLISH NEW
TRUST 6 AGENCY FUND "SUMMER FOOD SERVICE PROGRAM
FOR CHILDREN - 1979".
AN ORDINANCE ENTITLED -
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 1 OF ORDINANCE NO. 8719, ADOPTED
OCTOBER 26, 1977, THE. SUMMARY GRANT APPROPRIATIONS ORDINANCE,
AS AMENDED; BY ESTABLISHING A NEW TRUST AND AGENCY FUND ENTITLED:
"SUMMER FOOD SERVICE PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN - 1979", AND APPRO-
PRIATING FUNDS FOR THE OPERATION OF SAME IN THE AMOUNT OF
$154,880; CONTAINING A REPEALER PROVISION AND A SEVERABILITY
CLAUSE; AND DISPENSING WITH THE REQUIREMENT OF READING THE SAME
ON TWO SEPARATE DAYS BY A VOTE OF NOT LESS THAN FOUR -FIFTHS OF
THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION.
Was introduced by Commissioner Gordon and seconded by Commissioner Plummer.='
for adoption pursuant to Section 4, Paragraph (f) of the City Charter, dis-
pensing with the requirement of reading same on two separate days by a vote
of not less than four -fifths of the members of the Commission -
AYES:
NOES:
Commissioner Rose Gordon
Commissioner Armando Lacasa
Commissioner (Rev.) Theodore R. Gibson
Vice -Mayor J. L. Plummer, Jr.
Mayor Maurice A. Ferre
None.
Whereupon the Commission,on motion of Commissioner Gordon and seconded
by Commissioner Plummer, adopted said ordinance by the following vote:,.,
AYES:
NOES: None.
Commissioner Rose Gordon
Commissioner Armando Lacasa
Commissioner (Rev.) Theodore R. Gibson
Vice -Mayor J. L. Plummer, Jr.
Mayor Maurice A. Ferre
SAID ORDINANCE WAS DESIGNATED ORDINANCE NO. 8964.
The City Attorney read the ordinance into the public record and announced
that copies were available to the memgers of the City Commission and copies
were available to the public.
'JUL i 1 1979
a
19. BRIEF DISCUSSION AND MOTION TO TABLE CONSIDERATION
OF AMENDING CITY CODE CONCERNING REGULAR CITY
COMMISSION MEETINGS.
Mayor Ferre: Let me ask you, why are we standardizing the fourth Thursday at
7:00 P.M.? Mr. Grassie, the question is addressed to you, sir. Item 13, why
are we going to the fourth Thursday at 7:pp P.M.?
Mr. Grassie: The attempt, Mr.' Mayor, is to get on a regular schedule which
meets the convenience of theCity,Commission.
Mayor Ferre: Well, have you asked the. City Commission whether that'
of this Co!nmission?
Mr. Grassie: That's what you have
been your pattern.
Mayor Ferre: I'm not asking you that. Now we've done that for the last three
months." Did you poll' this Coininission and find out if thatwas the will of the
majority?"
Mr. Grassie: No, as a matter of fact I didn't even prepare this, "Mr.Mayor.
,
What this attempts to do is standardize your process. If you don't like it
or you want some other date just say so, you: know.
Mayor Ferre: That's not my question.
Mr. Grassie: The ordinance also includes a prepared draft which, says that
the City Commission has the right at any time to change the date.
Mayor Ferre: All right, my question again for the third time, Mr.
is how dd this get on this agenda? Who is recommending this?
N's. Grassie: The cover letter
out of hisshop.
Mr.
Plummer:
Mayor Ferre:.
move to defer.
Grassie,
is from the City Attorney,:I guess it came
still want the answer to my question, please.
Mr. Grassie: Apparently Bob Clark initiated it, Mayor, just as a matter of
trying to clean :up Your ordinances so that what we're doing is in conformance,
with the ordinance. It is a technical thing, he's trying to do the right
thing. If you don't like it we'll change it, all you have to do is say so.
Mayor Ferre: Nobody said we don't like it, Mr. Grassie, let's stop being so
defensive. I'm just trying to find out how it got on the Commission ----
but you know if you would have told me that in the beginning we would have
avoided three minutes of questions. Bob Clark thought that he was doing the
right thing. Fine, now we know how itgoton the agenda. Now, Mr. Clark,
since you're the author of this, did you go around and poll the Commission
and see if that was their will?
Mr. Clark: What I did was find out how you got to a situation where you had
a separate Planning and Zoning Meeting for Planning and Zoning matters. Now
that was, done by resolution. That was done for 2:00:O'Clock in the after-
noon, 'I got the minutesof the meeting and at that meeting Mrs. Gordon sug-
gested that you make it at 7:00 O'Clock if you're going, to have it on the
same day that you have your regular Commission Meeting.
Mayor Ferre Yes, that was for one meeting.
Mr. Clark: And for three months you followed it and then you started depart-
ing from that routinely and in order to put you back in line with the ordin-
ance we prepared this amendment and all we did was send it, we distributed.
it to each and every member of the Commission pointing out that this was what
has been going on.
Mayor Ferre: Okay, what's the will of this. Commission?
I8
'JUL 1 1 1979
Mr. Plummer: Table it.
Plummer and
The preceding motion to table was introduced by Commissioner
passed and adopted by a unanimous vote.
Mayor Ferre: Now let me tell you when you table a motion under our procedures
it comes automaticallyup at the next meeting.
Mr. Plummer: No.
Mr. Knox: No, sir, that's a deferral.
from the table by a motion.`
If you table it it has to be
Mr. Plummer: That's right. I vote for Knox for Mayor.
Mayor Ferre.:
meetings?
removed
Mr. Clark, what does the ordinance say at this time as to our
Mr. Clark: The second and fourth Thursdays period. It doesn't say anything
about a Planning and Zoning and this was just an effort to legitimize or just
crystalize what you've been doing right along.
Mayor Ferre: All right, well, evidently the Commission doesn't want it crys-
tallized so we're on Item 14...
20. AMEND SECTIONS 5, 6, 7, 8 of Ord. 6145 - SUBSTITUTE
NEW FEES FOR BUILDING, PLUMBING, ELECTRICAL, BOILER
INSPECTION AND CERTIFICATE FEES.
AN ORDINANCE ENTITLED -
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 5 OF ORDINANCE NO. 6145,
ADOPTED MARCH 19, 1958, AS AMENDED, WHICH PROVIDES FEES
FOR BUILDING, PLUMBING, ELECTRICAL, MECHANICAL (INCLUD-
ING BOILER AND ELEVATOR) INSPECTION, PERMIT AND CERTI-
FICATE FEES, BY SUBSTITUTING NEW FEE SCHEDULES IN SAID
SECTION 5 TO COVER THE INCREASED OPERATIONAL COST PRIMAR-
ILY FOR THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE SOUTH FLORIDA BUILDING
CODE; CONTAINING A REPEALER PROVISION, A SEVERABILITY
CLAUSE AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
Was introduced by Mayor Ferre and seconded by Commissioner Lacasa
and; passed on its first reading by title by the following vote -
AYES: Commissioner Rose Gordon
Commissioner Armando Lacasa
Vice -Mayor J. L. Plummer, Jr.
Mayor Maurice . Ferre
NOES: None.
ABSENT: Commissioner (Rev.) Theodore R. Gibson.
The City Attorney read the ordinance into the public record and announced
that co.ies were available to the members of the cit commission and to the public.
21. DEFERRAL OF SECOND READING ON PROPOSED CIVIL SERVICE
RULE CHANGES TO SPECIAL MEETING OF JULY 24, 1979.
ti;
A motion to defer Item #15 to the Special Meeting of October 24, 1979 was
introduced by Commissioner Gordon, seconded by Commissioner Plummer and passed
and adopted by a unanimous vote of the Commissioners present. ABSENT: Commis-
sioner Gibson.
79
"bt! j ion
•
Mayor Ferre: Would
Mr. Grassie: No,
all.
4
22. MOTION TO DEFER CONSIDERATION OF ORDINANCE TO INCREASE
INTERGOVERNMENTAL SERVICE FUNDS -MANAGEMENT INFORMATION
SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT PLAN.
Mayor Ferre: Take up 16.
Mrs. Gordon: I'd like some more discussion on that one, could we defer that
one?
Mayor Ferre: All right, Mr. Manager, before we defer it, do you want to speak
to it very briefly?
Mr. Grassie: This is simply cleaning up the budget, Mr. Mayor, what it does
is take funds from the reserves of that, particular intervogernxnental fund and
makes them available to implement the data processing plan which has been re-
viewed and approved by this City Commission:,
Mayor Ferree
Mr. Grassie:
meet.
[s this under Gunderson or is this under ----
It's under Bill Smith in the
Computers and Communications Depart -
Mayor Ferre: So what you're doing is transferring funds from one side to the
other.
Mr. Grassie: Really, it is last
pose, making them available this
ing for the computer.
year's funds appropriated for the same pur-
year to pay for software to pay for prograaan-
it cause you great harm to wait until the 23rd?.-;:
simply that we have to put it back on the agenda, that's
Mayor Ferree: All right, Rose
Mrs. Gordon: Yes, just let.me look it over more, I haven't really looked at
it. Defer it.
Mayor Ferrer Okay. Now there's
please, in the future, look over
a certain amount of that that we can do but
your agenda....
Mrs Gordon: It's not that, it's just there are questions that are needed
and the time is running late. I don't feel, that it is appropriate for me to
start asking a lot of questions now on this issue,we can do it then.
Mayor Ferre: All right, Mr. Grassie, would you have Mr. Srnith visit with Mr,
Gordon to try to answer...
Mrs. Gordon: ..That's not necessary, we can do it at the public, meeting.` Okay?
Upon motion of Mrs. Gordon, seconded by Mr. Plummer, the preceding item
was deferred until the. Commission Meeting of July 23rd by a unanimous. vote.
80
Tut ! i 1979
23. PERSONAL APPEARANCE OF REV. H.W. KIRTLEY,.AFFIRMATIVE
ACTION BOARD TO APPEAR AT SPECIAL MEETING HELD ON
JULY 24, 1979.
Mrs. Gordon: Would want to take, you asked for these ordinances relative to
the Affirmative Action Advisory Board to be given to us which they were, relat-
ing to the change from the Affirmative Action Advisory Board answering to the
Commission to the Affirmative Action Board being responsible to the Human Re-
source Director. Is there anything further you want to take,up on it?
Mayor Ferre: What, what item is this?
Mrs. Gordon: These two ordinances that you asked for, you aske5 the Clerk to
provide you with those.
Mr. Plummer: All right, Mr. Mayor, I would like a copy of this which I have
been presented to Reverend Kirtley. Let me read just an excerpt from this in
which at the time that the motion to re -do those ordinances, the first one,
let me read to you: Mrs. Gordon asked the question, "Is it changing the con-
cept in any at all from what it was?" The answer of Mr. Grassie, "Simply
strengthening and expanding it from their point of view." Mayor Ferre, "Does
this come with their recommendation, Mr. Manager?" Mr. Grassie, "Yes, sir."
Yet we find that the chairman is stating before this Commission that he was
totally unaware of these changes and I would like a copy of this to be for-
warded to each member and ask them for their discussion on the 24th. Mr. Clerk,
would you forward this to them? Because obviously as commonly referred to
around here somewhere there is a lack of communication.
24. RATIFY ACTION OF CITY MANAGER: SUBMIT GRANT-IN-AID
APPLICATION, PHYSICAL IMPROVEMENTS IN LITTLE HAVANA.
r*'
The following resolution was introduced by Commissioner Plummer, who moved
its adoption:
RESOLUTION NO. 79-478
A RESOLUTION RATIFYING AND AFFIRMING THE ACTION OF THE
CITY MANAGER IN SUBMITTING A GRANT-IN-AID APPLICATION TO
THE UNITED STATES COMMERCE DEPARTMENT, RECOMMENDING DEVELOP-
MENT ADMINISTRATION DATED JUNE 22ND, 1979 FOR CERTAIN
PHYSICAL IMPROVEMENTS IN THE LITTLE HAVANA AREA.
(Here follows body of resolution, omitted here and on file
in the Office of the City Clerk.)
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Lacasa, the resolution was passed and
adopted`. by the following vote -
AYES:
NOES:
Commissioner Rose Gordon
Commissioner Armando Lacasa
Commissioner (Rev.) Theodore Gibson
Vice -Mayor J. L. Plummer, Jr.
Mayor Maurice A. Ferre
81
'JUL i I i9T9
25. URGE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO ENACT: "THE
CONDOMINIUM ACT OF 1979".
•
The following resolution was introduced by Commissioner Plummer, who moved
its adoption:
RESOLUTION NO. 79-479
A RESOLUTION URGING THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO ENACT
"THE CONDOMINIUM ACT OF 1979", ALSO REFERRED TO AS S.612
AND H.R.2792, ENTITLED "A BILL TO ENCOURAGE BROADER UTILIZ-
ATION OF THE CONDOMINIUM FORM OF HOMEOWNERSHIP, TO PROVIDE
MINIMUM NATIONAL STANDARDS FOR DISCLOSURE AND CONSUMER
PROTECTION FOR CONDOMINIUM PURCHASERS AND OWNERS AND TENANTS
IN CONDOMINIUM CONVERSIONS, TO ENCOURAGE STATES TO ESTAB-
LISH SIMILAR STANDARDS, TO CORRECT ABUSIVE USE OF LONG-
TERM LEASING OF RECREATION AND OTHER CONDOMINIUM -RELATED
FACIL"TIES, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES"; AND DIRECTING THE
CITY ,'LERK TO FORWARD COPIES OF THE HEREIN RESOLUTION TO
THE HONORABLE ROBERT BYRD, MAJORITY LEADER, UNITED STATES
SENATI, AND TO THE HONORABLE THOMAS O'NEILL, SPEAKER,
tPITEI: STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AND TO EACH MEMBER
OF THE FLORIDA CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION.
(Here follows body of resolution, omitted here and on
in the Office of the City Clerk.)
Urcn 11&ng seconded by Commissioner
adopted by the following vote -
Commissioner Rose Gordon
Commissioner Armando Lacasa
Commissioner (Rev.) Theodore Gibson
Vice -Mayor J. L. Plummer, Jr.
Mayor Maurice A. Ferre
1UES: tore.
26. RECOGNIZING RAIL -PASSENGER SERVICE IN BROWARD AND
DADE COUNTIES AS MAKING MAJOR CONTRIBUTION TO
MEETING TRANSPORTATION NEEDS OF THE TWO COUNTIES.
The following resolution was introduced by Commissioner Plummer, who moved
its adoption:
RESOLUTION NO. 79-480
A RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING RAIL -PASSENGER SERVICE IN BROWARD
AND DADE COUNTIES ALONG THE SEABOARD COASTLINE RAILROAD RIGHT
OF WAY AS MAKING A MAJOR CONTRIBUTION TOWARD MEETING THE
TRANSPORTATION NEEDS OF THE RESIDENTS OF THESE 2 COUNTIES;
FURTHER URGING THE METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATIONS OF THE
SAID COUNTIES TO APPOINT A JOINT OPERATING AGENCY TO PROMOTE
AND IMPLEMENT THE SAID RAIL -PASSENGER SERVICE WITH FUNDING
THEREFOR TO BE JOINTLY PROVIDED BY THE DADE AND BROWARD COUNTY
COMMISSIONS, WITH AN APPROPRIATE SHARE OF THE AGENCY COSTS TO
BE CONTRIBUTED BY THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION,
DIVISION OF MASS TRANSPORTATION; FURTHER DIRECTING THE CITY
CLERK TO FORWARD COPIES OF THE HEREIN RESOLUTION TO THE METRO-
POLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION OF BROWARD AND DADE COUNTIES AND
TO THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, DIVISION OF MASS
TRANSPORTATION. •
(Here follows body of resolution, omitted here and on file
in the Office of the City Clerk.)
82
riot. 11
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Gibson, the resolution was passed and
adopted by the following vote -
AYES:
NOES: None.
Commissioner Rose Gordon
Commissioner Armando Lacasa
Commissioner (Rev.) Theodore Gibson
Vice -Mayor J. L. Plummer, Jr.
Mayor Maurice A. Ferre
27. NAME AND DESIGNATE VITA COURSE AT KENNEDY PARK
"TED BLEIER VITA COURSE".
Mayor Ferre: Who moves 26?
Mr. Plummer: Well, we were supposed to have a report.
Mayor Ferre: Well the report is in your packet and the report is that Mr. Ted
Bleier who worked for umpteen years with the School Board is a highly recognized
man in the whole field of recreation and sports with children and what have you.
It is recommended by the Memorial Committee and it seems to have the strong sup-
port of everybody on the School Board and everybody else.
Rev Gibson: The question last time was couldn't we find something else that
stands out. But I'll go with it only because they recommended it but I wish
they'd found something better.
Mayor Ferre: Well, it's
Mayor:
our best Vita Course
and since this guy was a health...
Rev. Gibson: I move it, I;` knew the man, knew him well.
Ferree It was his family's request, that was their request.
Rev. Gibson:, Oh, fine, beautiful.
I knew him, he was a very fine man.
I just wanted him to have something more.
The following resolution was introduced by Commissioner Gibson, w
its adoption:
RESOLUTION NO. 79-481
A RESOLUTION NAMING AND DESIGNATING THE VITA COURSE AT
DAVID T. KENNEDY PARK AS THE TED BLEIER VITA COURSEIN
HONOR OF THE LATE THEODORE J. (TED) BLEIER.
(Here follows body of resolution, omitted here and on file
in the Office of the City Clerk.)
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Lacasa, the resolution waspassed
adopted by the following vote
�o moved
AYES:
NOES:
Commissioner Rose Gordon
Commissioner Armando Lacasa
Commissioner (Rev.) Theodore Gibson
Vice -Mayor J. L. Plummer, Jr.
Mayor Maurice A. Ferre
Mayor Ferre: Mr. Manager, would you
have the appropriate department head
schedule an event for that, invite the members of the Theodore Bleier family
and the members ~of the School Board and those other, friends of Mr. Bleier,
evidently, he had many, be invitedfor the ceremony and we ought to do a nice
thing.
and
1iuL i i 1979
83
rp
4
Item #35 was removed from the Consent Agenda at the request of Commis-
sioner Gordon for discussion.
Unless a member of the City Commission wishes to remove specific, items
from this portion of the agenda, Items 17-34 constitute the Consent Agenda.
These resolutions are self-explanatory and are not expected to require addi-
tional review or discussion. Each item will be recorded as individually num-
bered resolutions, adopted unanimously by the following motion:
...that the Consent Agenda, comprised of Items 27-34 be adopted."
Mayor Ferre: "Before the vote on adopting items included in the Consent
Agenda is taken, is there anyone present who is an objector or proponent that
wishes to speak on any item in the Consent Agenda? Hearing none, thevote on
the adoption of the Consent. Agenda will now be taken."
The following resolutions were introduced by Commissioner Plummer, seconded
by Commissioner Lacasa and passed and adopted by the following vote:
Commissioner Rose Gordon
Commissioner Armando Lacasa
Commissioner (Rev.) Theodore R. Gibson
Vice -Mayor J. L. Plummer, Jr.
Mayor Maurice A. Ferre
28.1 AUTHORIZE CITY MANAGER TO APPROVE EXTENSION OF CONTRACT:
STATION AREA DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT PLANNING SERVICES.
28.2
28.
RESOLUTION NO. 79-482
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO
EXECUTE AN EXTENSION IN THE PERFORMANCE PERIOD
OF THE CONTRACT(FL-09-0038) BETWEEN DADE COUNTY
AND THE CITY OF -MIAMI FOR STATION AREA DESIGN
AND DEVELOPMENT PLANNING SERVICES.
RANT USE OF MIAMI BASEBALL STADIUM BY MIAMI-DADE COMMUNITY
COLLEGE DOWNTOWN 'CAMPUS.
RESOLUTION NO. 79-483
A RESOLUTION GRANTING USE OF THE MIAMI BASEBALL
STADIUM BY MIAMI DADE COMMUNITY COLLEGE, DOWN-
TOWN CAMPUS, FOR THE PURPOSE OF CONDUCTING ITS
BASEBALL PRACTICE SESSIONS FROM SEPTEMBER 1, 1979
THROUGH FEBRUARY 1, 1980 SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY
OF THE STADIUM ON CERTAIN DATES; AND FURTHER SUB-
JECT TO ADVANCE PAYMENT FOR EVENT PERSONNEL, IN-
SURANCE AND OTHER DIRECT COSTS BORNE BY THE CITY,
AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ENTER INTO
THE ATTACHED AGREEMENT WITH MIAMI DADE COMMUNITY
COLLEGE, DOWNTOWN CAMPUS, FOR SAID USE.
ACCEPT COMPLETED WORK: MORNINGSIDE PARK - SWIMMING` POOL
MODIFICATIONS
RESOLUTION NO.
79-484
A>RESOLUTION ACCEPTING THE COMPLETED WORK PER-
FORMED BY ASSOCIATES CONSTRUCTION CORPORATION AT
A TOTAL COST OF $90,824.62 FOR THE CURTIS AND
MORNINGSIDE PARKS - SWIMMING POOL MODIFICATIONS
1978; AND AUTHORIZING A FINAL PAYMENT OF $9,816.52.
84
FJUL11
1979
28.4 ACCEPT COMPLETED WORK: ALLAPATTAH C.D. PAVING PROJECT -
PHASE II; ALLAPATTAH SEWER MODIFICATIONS - PHASE II.
RESOLUTION NO. 79-485
A RESOLUTION ACCEPTING THE COMPLETED WORK PER-
FORMED BY GASTON LANDSCAPING CO., INC. AT A
TOTAL COST OF $48,525.00 FOR THE ALLAPATTAH
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PAVING PROJECT - PHASE II
AND ALLAPATTAH SANITARY SEWER MODIFICATIONS -
PHASE II - 1977 (BID "C" - LANDSCAPING); AND
AUTHORIZING A FINAL PAYMENT OF $2,872.50.
28.5ACCEPT COMPLETED WORK: BUENA VISTA C. D. PAVING PROJECT.
RESOLUTION NO. 79-486
A RESOLUTION ACCEPTING THE COMPLETED WORK PER-
FORMED BY T & N CONSTRUCTION CO., INC. AT A
TOTAL COST OF $339,116.69 FOR THE BUENA VISTA
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PAVING PROJECT (BID "A"
HIGHWAYS); AND AUTHORIZING A FINAL PAYMENT OF
$30,682.50.
28.6 GRANT MIAMI-DADE WATER & SEWER AUTHORITY EASEMENTS
MAINS - NEW WORLD BICENTENNIAL PARK.
28.7
RESOLUTION NO. 79-487
A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE GRANTING OF APPRO-
PRIATE EASEMENTS TO THE MIAMI-DADE WATER AND
SEWER AUTHORITY FOR THE INSPECTION AND MAINTEN-
ANCE OF 12-INCH AND 8-INCH WATER MAINS ACROSS
AND UNDER NEW WORLD CENTER BICENTENNIAL PARK;
AND AUTHORIZING AND DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER
AND CITY CLERK TO EXECUTE THE APPROPRIATE DOCU-
MENTS THEREFOR.
4GRANT°APPROPRIATE EASEMENTS
AID;N.W.'14 AVENUE.
N.W. 20 STREET BETWEEN N.U. 10 AVENUE
RESOLUTION NO. 79-488
A RESOLUTION GRANTING APPROPRIATE EASEMENTS
ADJACENT TO THE SOUTHERLY PROPERTY LINE OF CITY
OF MIAMI OWNED PROPERTY ABUTTING THE SOUTH RIGHT
OF WAY LINE OF N.W. 20 STREET BETWEEN N.W. 10
AVENUE AND N.W. 14 AVENUE, TO THE MIAMI-DADE
WATER AND SEWER AUTHORITY, FOR SEWER PURPOSES;
AND AUTHORIZING AND DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER
AND THE CITY CLERK TO EXECUTE THE APPROPRIATE
DOCUMENTS THEREFOR.
28.8 ACCEPT BID: AmXIF rtimtLNITV PARK - P!ACF TT
RESOLUTION NO. 79-489
A RESOLUTION ACCEPTING THE BID OF L.G.H. CONSTRUCTION
CORP. IN THE PROPOSED AMOUNT OF $1,476,900 FOR DIXIE
COMMUNITY PARK, PHASE II: WITH FUNDS ALLOCATED FROM THE
1ST YEAR FEDERAL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT FUND
IN THE AMOUNT OF $75,000, $581,463 FROM PARKS FOR PEOPLE
BOND FUND, $611,000 FROM 4TH YEAR FEDERAL COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT FUND, AND $281,448 FROM 5TH YEAR
FEDERAL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT FUND TO COVER
THE CONTRACT COST; ALLOCATING FROM SAID FUNDS THE AMOUNT
OF $70,475 TO COVER THE COST OF PROJECT EXPENSE; ALLOCATING
FROM SAID FUNDS THE AMOUNT OF $1,536 TO COVER THE COST OF
SUCH ITEMS AS ADVERTISING, TESTING LABORATOREIS, AND TO
EXECUTE A CONTRACT WITH SAID FIRM
85
'JUL 1 1' 1$71
29. DISCUSSION AND TEMPORARY DEFERRAL OF FINANCIAL PLAN
FOR 100 SECTION "8" HOUSING UNITS IN MEDICAL CENTER.
Mayor Ferre: All right, Mrs. Gordon on Item 35.
Mrs. Gordon: Just to let me know why this was removed originally from the
proposal and now it is back on the agenda.
Ms. Spillman: The reason is that the numbers changed on the project, on the
financial plan and Little HUD asked that we remove it from`. the last agenda,
they've reworked the numbers in the financial plan and so we're bringing it
back so they can proceed with it.
Mrs. Gordon: What are the differences in the numbers, Dena? I mean not the
dollar differences but what was the major difference in the numbers? What
kind of numbers, difference basically are we talking about?
Ms.
Spillman:
can't answer the question.
Mrs. Gordon: More or less, or what is it?
Ms. Spillman:
Well I can't answer the question.
Mrs. Gordon: Well, can you look up something in the meantime if we hold
aside for a little while?
Ms. Spillman:
I'll try.
Mrs. Gordon: Okay. She's going to look it up and then give me answers.
Mayor Ferre: Okay.
SEE LATER RESOLUTION NO. 79-494.
30. PROPOSED SALE OF BEER IN THE ORANGE BOWL STADIUM:
GRANT RIGHT TO DOLPHINS TO END OF AGREEMENT: -
ORDER PUBLIC BIDDING 1980-86 - PRIORITIES ON SCORE-
BOARD ADVERTISING, ETC.
Mayor Ferre: We're now on Item B which is discussion of lease agreements for
the Orange Bowl and I will pass the gavel to the Vice -Mayor. I would like to
make a motion that reads as follows; I move that the City of Miami give the
operations lease... How do you describe it? ... the Dolphins the opportunity
to well beer at the Orange Bowl until his lease expires in July of 1980 provided,
however, that no expense be incurred by the City of Miami in so serving, that's
Item 1. Item 2....
Mrs. Gordon: 19, what was the date you said?
Mayor Ferre: I think it is June, I've got it right here. I'll give you the
exact date. July 1, 1980. The second part is that the City Manager be in-
structed_to immediately draft the guidelines and the legal language to be put
out on a bid for the concessions at the orange Bowl from July of 1980 through
July, 1986 and that he come back to the Commission for final approval on the
wording. (3) Subsequent to approval on the wording that the Manager be in-
structed to advertise as quickly as possible for that concession, the thought
being that it be done by the early part, that the bid be taken by no later
than the early part of 1980 so that whoever is the successful bidder will
have sufficient time to install whatever needs to be installed provided, how-
ever, that in that bid document the expense of the equipment be borne complete-
ly by the concessionaire and that the minimums to be bid be 31% for food and
35% for beer, that a $100,000 bid bond be posted and--- I'm missing something,
Plummer.
III IIIIIIIIIIIIUI IIII 1111•1
86
4
Mr. Plummer: That basically what it was that Robbie agrees to the public
bidding.
Mayor Ferre: Oh yes, all right. And that according to the contract signed
between the Dolphins and the City of Miami in the 8th day of June, 1977, para-
graph 12 that the way for us to comply with that would be to give Mr. Robbie
30 days to accept or reject the high bid for the concession and that if he
accepts it that he would obviously under contract have the right of prefer-
ence but that if he rejects it that that would be defacto considered as proper
negotiations and that is my motion.
Mr.Plummer: What about the escape clause, Mr. Mayor?
Mayor Ferre: Oh yes, thank you. And that instead of three years that upon
being the successful recipient the only condition is that Mr. Robbie change
the three year escape clause to a four year escape clause if he is the success-
ful bidder, if he's not obviously we can't require that of him. Yes, Mr. Lacasa
points out that in Item 411 I forgot to put that he has to pay us this year if
he sells beer 32%. Have I forgotten anything else? Are there any other amend-
ments? That's my motion.
s'there a second?
Mr. Plummer: Is there a second? I
Mr. Lacasa: I second.
Mr. Plummer:' Motion made and seconded, is there any discussion? Father Gibson.
Rev. Gibson: Mr. Vice -Mayor, I want to raise a question. The last time we
had a discussion or we had litigation something like this went on: Because
Mr. Robbie now has the lease on the stadium and because Mr. Robbie is now sell-
ing food in the stadium that gives him preferential priority treatment. I
want to make sure that it is worded counsel, I want you to answer this so
that if wecan't tango I want the thing so worded, worked, that if Mr. Robbie
isn't willing to tango with us about that beer because he is doing business
selling food doesn't give him any preferential priority treatment or let me
put it the other way. Let's be doggone sure we write this because he sold it
this year doesn't give him no right next year. You know Mr. Robbie will do
that to you, not Mr. Robbie, Dan Paul who is his lawyer. And while I'm not
going to be the lawyer I'd hope we'd be just as doggone smart to make sure
that we don't let him sell beer one year and then get locked to him for the
rest of our life even though he doesn't want to do what's right.
Mayor Ferre: I accept
all right, Mr. Knox?
both of those statements as part
Mr. Knox: Yes, sir.
Mr. Plummer: Any further discussion? Mr. Grassie.
of my motion,
is that
Mr. Grassie: Under discussion, just for clarification, Mr. Mayor. The sug-
gest that we had first made to the City Commission was that we present to the
Dolphins the package that we talked about. Now as I understand the intent of
your motion` it is to do this unilaterally without necessarily having their con-
currence, am I accurate in that or not?
Mayor Ferre: Well, since under the law we went to court and we lost, in effect,.
and we haven't gone to appeal yet, in effect what it says is that we can't
sell beer this year anyway. So all we're really doing is selling beer by hand
for this next season if Mr. Robbie wants to do it and if he chooses not to do
it there's not a darned thing we can do about it anyway but then that's his
decision not our's. We can't force him to sell beer.
Mr. Grassie: All right. Let's carry that one step forward then. If the City,
goes out for competitive bids without having gone through the process of para-
graph 12 that you read this morning we are subject, I'm not saying that he
would do it, but we are subject to another court challenge that we have vio-
lated his existing contract. Now you know that we are still in court on the
first argument of that type, that's on appeal.
Mayor Ferre: Yes, but you see the point I'm trying to say in all of this is
that we're confident and we're hoping that our City Attorney is going to be
able to couch the bid process in such a way that obviously it has to address
paragraph 12. The bidders for the beer are going to have to obviously be
aware of the fact that we have given Mr. Robbie paragraph 12 and they are sub-
ject to that. If Mr. Robbie comes in and somebody bids 39% and meets that then
87
rJUL 1 1 1979
there is nothing else cnat we can do about it but to gi'e it to Mr. Robbie.
However, should somebody come up and say we are willing and bonafide, here's
a $100,000, we are willing to bid 39% and Mr. Robbie says, "I refuse to pay
anything over 35%" I think that that would be considered as bonafide negotia-
tions since we do have a willing person to do that and I don't think any court
would throw us out. Am I wrong, George?
Mr. Knox: That's essentially correct, Mr. Mayor. It is my understanding that
the agreement terminates anyway in 1980 so that from 1984 it would be as you
just described it.
Mayor Ferre: Yes, but see paragraph 12 which we always end up going back to
specifically says, that the Dolphins have a right, let me read that again so
we can be very very specific on it, "...Subject to a successful negotiation of
the provisions of a new concession agreement with partnership the City agrees
that the term of the new concession agreement will coincide with the term of
this agreement. Now all we're doing is we're stating the guidelines of how
we're going to negotiate. That's all we're doing.
Rev. Gibson: And, Mr. Mayor, again I want to make sure that this is encouched,
that we don't get hooked nor tied in the position because Mr. Robbie is sell-
ing food that you know the following year he automatically can inhibit us from
that beer business. Now I believe somehow the language has to be, "Hey look,
Joe, you could s111 beer and food but we want X number of dollars and if you
can't give us X :umber of dollars you're not going to sell food and you're not
going to sell be(r." That's what I'm talking about. Now I don't know how you
do that in the legal language that's why Marty Fine and George Knox and all of
those are paid big salaries. But it doesn't make sense for us because Mr.
nc-bie is rc.'irLg food then he says, "Well, you know I don't want to give you
?5S .for beer and that's it." I want to make sure we understand that.
Mr. Knox: Yes, sir, and I can point out that the contracts now, beer is not
a separate concession item, it's a part of the beverage, the food and beverage
concession that's held by the Dolphins now which expires in 1980 so that food
d,d beef cied together in the concession arrangement.
Gii)scr, : AJ.1 right, just
make sure - look, I'm not a lawyer - I just want
to make sul:e :hat when you come back I don't hear the discussion about beer
n6 I don't h+-..r the dis^ussion about food. I want the discussion about con-
Andlike Plummer said, if Tampa_ is giving us
cessions meaning beer and food.
47)% across the board I want that percentage across the board and if he feels
.like he needs to make more money selling beer that's his baby not mine.
t'r P: ur n r • ' T. s the motion understood? Call
to s . Gordon: No, lets
hear the motion as the
Ir. Plumber Read the motion.
the roll.
Clerks have it down.
Mr. Ongie: The motion is that the City of Miami would give the operator/lease-
holder Miami Dolphins the opportunity to sell beer at the Orange Bowl until
the expiration of their present lease, July 1, 1980 provided, however, that no
expense be incurred by the City of Miami in connection with the sale of such
beer, further instructing the City Manager to immediately draft guidelines and
legal language to put the concessions at the Orange Bowl out for public bid
for the period beginning July of 1980 through July of 1986 and come back to
the City Commission for their approval of the exact wording of the bid, fur-
ther that the City Manager be instructed to advise as quickly as possible to
facilitate the bids as quickly as possible in early 1980 so that installation
of any needed equipment can be done; further providing that all expenses in
connection with the installation of this equipment be borne by the concession-
aire. The minimums to be bid are to be 31% for food, 35% for beer. Section
amended later to require the payment to the City of 32% if beer is sold
in the stadium this year, further providing that a $100,000 bid bond be posted
Lr.at further according to the contract signed between the Dolphins and the
,itl of Miami in 1977, paragraph 12 we give Mr. Robbie 30 days to accept or
reject the highest bid. If he accepts he would have the right to be the con-
cessionaire and if he accepts the bid that he would change his escape clause.
fr.=i 3 to 4 years.
Mayor Ferre: And there's one addition, I'm sorry. And that if he refuses in
the 30 day period that that be considered the negotiation as outlined in para-
graph 12 and that since it would not be properly concluded we could then go
and give it to the highest bidder.
1
Mr. Plummer: Mr. Mayor, a matter of clarification. The first sentence, Ralph,
there was a reference that no expense be incurred, that means on opposing
parties. What I'm trying to forestall, that Mr. Robbie doesn't spend $200,000
and then try to amortize it.
Mayor Ferre: No, I don't care what Mr. Robbie spends, the. City of Miami will
not incur any direct expense.
Mr. Plummer: But Mr.' Mayor, a tremendous expense would be a defendable item
in court that he needed time to amortize. I think what you spoke to this morn-.
.ng.
Mayor Ferre: No, J. L., the motion speaks very specifically that this is for
one season. It is not for anything more than one season. That's all he is
entitled to as of right now.
Mrs Gordon: A clarification, Maurice, your statement was that if he does not
accept in 30 days this would have been his opportunity and then you go to Pub-
lic bids in general, what did you say?
Mayor Ferre: No, we're going to public bids
Mrs. Gordon: Yes, but that's in 1980.
what was that?
Mayor Ferre: Al
higher than 35%.
all ;right?
What are you taiking about 30 days
right, after we get to public bids suppose somebody bids.
You -mean next year.
That's correct, well,
Mrs. Gordon:
Mayor Ferze:
Mrs. Gorton: :Okay.
.4"17$ to prr-iTt this.
fo, I'm' talking
it. might be November, December,
about now,' you're not giving Robbie 30
e,: r•e : Nc, it has nothing to do with .this.
Mrs. C,orior A.1.1' right, fine..
January.
£.iyor Ferre: After the bids come in he would have 30 days if somebody. bids
nigher than.35% and he either accepts that figure or he rejects it. "If he re-
jects it then that's a bonafide negotation as far as we're concerned.'
M.S. Gordon: Would you consider separating your motion into two; parts? I
have no objection to Mr Robbie, having afirst refusal':or the bidding: process.
ta..ing place in 1980 but I. object to the beer portion and I would vote against
an,9:I'would not want to vote against everything.
Mayor Ferre: I will separate it into two motions
don't you read that again, Section 1?
Mr. Ungie: Section 1 would be City of Miami give the operator/leaseholder,
the Miami Dolphins, the opportunity to sell beer, at the Orange Bowl Stadium
until the expiration of their current lease, July 1, 1980 provided, however,
that no expense be incurred by the City of Miami in connection with the sale
of such beer.
part one as you read. Why
l+irs. Gordon: That would be the first one, Okay.
Mr. Ongie: I guess included in the,first,one would also be further providing
that if he does sell beer in the Orange Bowl Stadium.this year that 32% would
hn n =id to the City.
MaI„rr
Ferre: Yes.
MI. Ongie: Is that part 1?
Mrs. Gordon:.' That's part 1.
Mayor Ferre:
All right, now
move that and Lacasa, you second? Okay.
89
J if l 1 1 igrg
47
The following motion was introduced by Mayor Ferre, who moved its
adoption:
MOTION NO. 79-490
A MOTION AUTHORIZING AND DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO GIVE
THE MIAMI DOLPHINS THE OPPORTUNITY TO SELL BEER IN THE ORANGE
BOWL STADIUM UNTIL THE EXPIRATION OF THEIR PRESENT LEASE
(JULY 1, 1980) CONDITIONED UPON NO EXPENSE WHATSOEVER BEING
INCURRED BY THE CITY OF MIAMI IN CONNECTION WITH SAID BEER
SALE; FURTHER CONDITIONED UPON THE PAYMENT OF 32% ON BEER
SALES TO THE CITY OF MIAMI IF BEER IS SOLD IN THE ORANGE BOWL
STADIUM THIS YEAR.
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Lacasa, the motion
adopted by the following vote:
AYES: Mayor Ferre, Mr. Lacasa and Rev. Gibson.
NOES: Mrs. Gordon and Vice -Mayor Plummer.
ON ROLL CALL:
Mr. Lacasa: I am going to explain my vote for the record. I am voting yes
because the question of beer being sold at the Orange Bowl was put to the vote
and uas approved by the citizens of the City of Miami. So far we have not
been able to implement the will of the citizens of the City of Miami and I
see no other alternative from the legal standpoint of view if we are to have
beer sold in the Orange Bowl in 1979 but to go this route. Furthermore, I
don't want to see the City of Miami losing the anticipated revenues that the
32% that the Dolphins are to reimburse the City of Miami are going to suppose.
We hope that in 1980 we get a more equitable deal than the one that is being
offered now by the Dolphins. Furthermore, I'm also basing my vote on the
fact that the City of Miami will not be liable for any expenses into which
concessionaire, the Dolphins, might incur in the selling of beer so I vote
Mrs. Gordon: Okay, and now to explain my vote, and the vote is negative.
There are several factors involved that have not even been discussed. One of
the factors are that there will be additional expense for security and we had
that problem last year when this discussion came up. We have to face the
fact that t„ere will be costs involved. Secondly, the vote that Commissioner
Lacasa referred to which had over 26,000 people voting, 26 votes separated the
yeses and the noes and it was a straw vote and to me that was no mandate to
put beer in the Orange Bowl. I have never felt that that was a mandate, I
still do not feel it is a mandate, 13 people were the entire difference between
the affirmatives and the negatives one way or the other. So with the fact that
beer is not a money making factor, it has not been proved to be money making,
that it is going to be expensive to add the additional police security that we
need I vote no.
Mayor Ferre: Now,
Mr. Vice -Mayor, I move you the second part, sir.
Mr. Plummer:' Re -read the motion.
Mayor Ferre: Wel wait a minute, wait until you see, if there is a second.
Mr. Lacasa: I second.
Mr. Plummer: Re -read the motion.
Mr. Ongie: The second portion would be that the City Manager be instructed
to immediately draft guidelines and legal language to put the concessions at
the Orange Bowl out for public bid for the period beginning July 1980 and
ending July 1986 and come back to the City Commission for approval on the
exact wording of the bid. Further instructing the City Manager to advertise
these bids as quickly as possible so that any installation of necessary equip-
ment can be accomplished and further providing that the entire expense of such
installation be borne by the concessionaire; further providing that the mini-
mum bids be 31% for food and 35% for beer, requiring the posting of a $100,000
bid bond and further providing that according to a contract signed signed be-
tween the Dolphins and the City of Miami, paragraph 12 of such contract in
1977 the City of Miami will give Mr. Robbie 30 days to accept or reject the
high bid. If he accepts the bid he will have to change the escape clause in
the present contract from three to four years, further providing that if he
refuses within the 30 day period the City would then award the bid to the
highest bidder.
90
Mrs. Gordon: Maurice, in what area do you want to touch on the scoreboard
or are you going to touch on it?
Mayor Ferre: Well, that a separate motion.
Mr. Plummer: Mr. Mayor, may I suggest or you consider that Father Gibson's
fears might be alleviated, I don't think it is unrealistic in what we have
seen that you couple food and, beverage and beer at a minimum of 35%.
Mayor Ferre: No, sir, =I'm not going to do that in
go, by the Wolfson Committee's recommendation and I
the way it is and you know you're entitled to vote
motion stands. As I recall, the Wolfson Committee
beer.
that is correct, sir.
my motion. I am going to
stick to that and that's
for or against it but the
was 32 for food and 35 for
Rev. Gibson: Hey wait a minute, let's make' sure if we're going out to bid
we're going to ignore the figures-.1980. This man,, look, you're letting this
man go free, man, in 1980 he isn't giving us what the market is.
Father, what the motion says is that that will be
Rev. Gibson: Sir, I want to go
you something....
Mayor Ferre: Suppose somebody bids 30% for beer, that's not right.
Mr. Plummer: That's the highest bid.
Mayor Ferre: Well, but you know what is going to happen, see, I'm going to
give 'you ny practical approach to what I think is going to happen. You're
not going to have any bidders and, therefore, what is going to happen is that
RObbie'is r.oing to have the ability to come in and bid 30% and we will have
boxed ourselinto that position. Now, what I'm saying is if you put a min-
imum, a float on it then he knows he's got to go to 32 and 35%. But if you
don't and there are no other bidders he will come in and bid 30% and then
you've got problems.
Rev. Gibson: Let me ask you what is his bid now for food?
Mayor Ferre: 31%.
Mr. Plummer: No, his bid, now is 30.5%.
Mayor Ferre: I'm sorry, 30.5%, I stand corrected. The Wolfson Committee,
recommended 32% for food and 35% for beer and I want to put that in as a min-
imum so that we can avoid any potential problems.
Rev. Gibson:
Mayor Ferre:
they made it,
You're saying that 35 is the minimum for everything?
No, sir. I'm following the Wolfson recommendation exactly
32% for food, 35% for beer.
Rev. Gibson: Mr. Mayor, you know Plummer tells us that the people in Tampa
are getting 42%. I want the public to hear this.
Mr. Plummer: 42.1%.
Rev. Gibson:
Mayor Ferre:
Rev. Gibson: Listen to this. If we can get that kind of a bid in 1979 are.
you telling me. that in 1980, 81 we can't get at least 35% across the board?
Mayor Terre: I:'m not, telling you that at,all, ;I agree with 100% of what you're
saying, I agree with that and a].1 I'm tryingto say is I hope we get 41, 42,
43%.
91
■
Rev. Gibson: I'll vote for your motion if the minimum across the board is
35%."
Mayor Ferree For beery
Rev.Gibson: 35% across the board. Listen, you can't separate, you all just
told me My brother, listen, when people go out and work - now listen,
I'm going along with them in that I'm letting them sell it for one year at
their price and I think that Mr. Robbie has to understand that I've got some
price too. Now one thing I promise you, I'm not going to go to the people and
ask them to vote for me and then let all the other people run that thing for
me, I'm going to have some opinions. I want across the board 35%. If you
could get it in Tampa in 1979 across the board 42%, 35% can't be too bad two
years from now.
Mayor Ferre: All right, I accept that as an amendment to the motion, for food
and beer across the board 35%.
Rev. Gibson: Right.
Mrs. Gordon: No, if you'reincluding -beer, you. know I'll. vote against it.
You're not putting it in this motion, that was inthe previous motion, the
Mayor Ferre: No, ma'am, I'm sorry I want it very clear to be understood that
I want food and beer on this motion as well as on the other.
Mr. Plummer: Motion understood? Call the roll.
The .following ;motion was introduced by Mayor Ferre, who moved its'.
MOTION NO. 79-491
A MOTION INSTRUCTING THE CITY MANAGER TO IMMEDIATELY DRAFT
GUIDELINES AND LEGAL LANGUAGE TO PUT OUT FOR PUBLIC BID THE
CONCESSION AT THE ORANGE BOWL STADIUM FOR THE PERIOD BEGINN-
JULY 1980 THROUGH JULY, 1986 AND TO COME BACK TO THE CITY
COMMISSION FOR FINAL APPROVAL OF THE EXACT WORDING OF SUCH
BIDS; FURTHER INSTRUCTING THE CITY MANAGER TO AFFECT THE
ADVERTISING OF THESE BIDS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE (EARLY 1980)
SO THAT INSTALLATION OF ANY NEEDED EQUIPMENT MAY BE ACCOM-
PLISHED; FURTHER PROVIDING THAT THE EXPENSE OF SUCH INSTALL-
ATION SHALL BE BORNE ENTIRELY BY THE CONCESSIONAIRE; PROVIDING
THAT MINIMUM BIDS FOR FOOD, BEVERAGE AND BEER BE A MINIMUM
OF 35%; FURTHER PROVIDING FOR POSTING OF A $100,000 BID BOND
AND FURTHER PROVIDING THAT ACCORDING TO A CONTRACT SIGNED IN
1977 BETWEEN THE MIAMI DOLPHINS AND THE CITY OF MIAMI, PARA-
GRAPH 12, THAT THE CITY SHALL GIVE MR. ROBBIE 30 DAYS TO
ACCEPT OR REJECT THE HIGHEST BID TENDERED; FURTHER PROVIDING
THAT IF MR. ROBBIE ELECTS TO ACCEPT THE HIGH BID THAT THE ESCAPE
CLAUSE PRESENTLY CONTAINED IN HIS CONTRACT BE CHANGED FROM 3
YEARS TO 4 YEARS; FURTHER PROVIDING THAT IF MR. ROBBIE REJECTS
SUCH BID PROPOSAL WITHIN THE 30 DAY PERIOD PURSUANT TO PARA-
GRAPH 12, THE CITY OF MIAMI SHALL THEN AWARD THE CONCESSION TO
THE HIGHEST BIDDER.
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Lacasa, the motion was passed and
adopted by the following vote:
AYES: Mayor Ferre, Rev. Gibson and Mr. Lacasa
NOES: Mrs. Gordon and Vice -Mayor Plummer.
Mayor Ferre: Now, Mr. Plummer, -I move you, sir, that the motion as presented
in the packet that was delivered to us five, days ago, Item B that is called
Orange Bowl Scoreboard Agreement, I move that as a motion.'
Gordon: Second.
Mr. Plummer: Are you withdrawing in your discussion this morning that portion
related to guarantee of product availability?
Mayor Ferre: No, with the amendment as under the discussion this morning, as
I recall the only amendment that we ended up making was that question of prod-
uct availability and the concessionaire has priority in the product that he
selling in the Orange Bowl. 92 'JUL 1 1 1979
rt
Mr. Grassie: Just for clarification, Mr. Mayor, this lease is for the score-
board, of course, it could not control the concessionaire, that is a separate
person. The problem is different.
Mayor Ferre: No, the only thing I am amending in the motion here that Plummer
is pointing out is that I want the concessionaire whoever he or she may be to
have a'priority on advertising in the scoreboard. I do not want, as I said
this morning, for the concessionaire to be selling Coca Cola and for the score-
board advertiser to be advertising Pepsi Cola. I think that is unfair and un-
reasonable and I am, therefore, amending everything. I am going with this
thing with that amendment. You have to put that specific clause in there leg-
ally.
Mr. Grassie: Well, I agree with what you're trying to accomplish, Mr. Mayor,
but I think that we're, I don't want you to be deceived that you are accomplish-
ing it because the advertising is placed with national Coca Cola. The conces-
sionaire only has control over whether he buys as a wholesaler, whether he buys
from Coke or from Pepsi. That's the only thing he can control. Now he can't
control the advertising.
Mayor Ferre: Mr. Grassie, I don't think you're understanding, I don't think
you understand what I'm saying. Let me be very specific. I want it in legal
specific language in this contract that Mr. Robbie cannot advertise and will
not advertise on this scoreboard at any time in the future any product that
is a competitive product to what is being sold in the Orange Bowl. Now I
couldn't be more specific than that. Now, if he cannot acquire the advertis-
ing of the product then he is not to advertise any competitive product period.
If he is selling Coca Cola he cannot advertise 7-Up. If he is selling Schaefer
Beer he cannot advertise Budweiser Beer.
The point is that he may not be the concessionaire, Mayor.
Mayor Ferre: And what I'm trying to say is that since precisely he will not
be or may not be the concessionaire I don't want the concessionaire and Mr.
Robbie fighting and, therefore, to avoid that fight I am specifically putting
into this contract a clause that will absolutely preclude him from advertising
something that is not being sold or that is a competitive item to what is being
sold in the stadium.
Mr. Grassie: My only point that I think you need to understand is that the
board is financed based on at least a three, probably a five year advertising
agreement with a national company, let's say Coca Cola. The concessionaire
can change his mind with regard to the product that he sells in the stands
every six weeks. Now the effect of your motion is that if the concessionaire
changes his mind with regard to carrying Coke and decides to carry Pepsi that
Robbie or the Dolphins will be in violation with regard to the five year con-
tract on advertising, that is what you're saying.
Mayor Ferre: That is correct, that is exactly what I have in mind, you're'
.absolutely correct.
Well what's the point?
Rev. Gibson: Mr. Mayor, I would think that there is wisdom in what the Manager
is pointing out. What we ought to do is to make sure in our document that who
ever is the concessionaire or whatever he sells, if he's selling Pepsi -Cola
that we ought to stipulate that Pepsi -Cola be given an opportunity to sell
first just like you did about that other because if Mr. Robbie and the other
people don't get along you know you're in trouble. So we don't want it to be
said that we doncone his fight because if anybody knows anything at all you
know that he will have 10,000 fights.
Mayor Ferre: Mr. Grassie, I would accept that it be on a primary right for a
limited period of time in which that concessionaire's product would have that
right to advertise. If they don't do it beyond a certain point at a reason-
able price then they could go on to something else. I would accept that. You
work on the language and come back, you understand the intention.
Mr. Grassie: Yes. I know that we can accomplish your intention if we put
the language in the concession agreement. The difficulty is putting it in
the scoreboard agreement.
Mayor Ferre: Mr. Grassie, you will have the right as was just passed three
two to, put that in the document that you will submit to the Commission as a
bid document when you go out to bids. Now if Robbie, Mr. Grassie, is the
'JUL 11 1979
On
rt
successful bidder for one reason or another then there is no problem is there?
The only problem exists if somebody else bids it and wins the contract and then
Robbie and the concessionaire do not get along and what I am trying to do is
knowing that Mr. Robbie is prone to fight with everybody from Don Shula on
down, I'm trying to foresee and preclude that from happening here.
Mr. Grassie: Okay, if you give us a little latitude with how we accomplish
it we can accomplish your purpose.
Rev. Gibson: Please, because you know I want to make sure that because Mr.
Robbie has the concession on Pepsi -Cola you know he can't exclude Coca-Cola
because he can't make Coca-Cola tango., Do you understand? But I would want
Pepsi -cola to be given the right, the first right of refusal. Do you under-
stan: I hope I'm clear.
Msyor Ferre: Yes, that's exactly the intention.
Me. Lacasa: 'I have another question. In the agreement we have a 15% commis-
sion on the sale of the advertising of the scoreboard from Mr. Robbie. I
» uici like to know why can't our own staff do the selling of the advertising
ani, therefore, save the 15% for us?
Mr. Grassie: I 'think that the City employees, Commissioner, would probably
not want to be n the position of going around to private businesses asking
them for advertising. It puts us in a very awkward position really.
Mayor Ferre: We're not qualified to do that, we don't have the staff. Either
w give it to RoY.;bie which is in my opinion what makes the most sense or we
go out and give it to an advertising agency who is qualified to set that up.
T've got no objections to letting Robbie make that $24,000, I think he is well
entitled to it if he can get the proper advertising.
Mz. Lacasa: My problem is not Robbie making the $24,000, my problem is if the
r:.ty can 710.T the $24,000, if we have a staff that can do the selling, and I
bet that this type of advertising will sell very fast and very quickly, we'll
• mcrc a,or.lcants to put their ads on the scoreboard than we can handle.
I don't se3'czy reason why this couldn't be explored if we are going to save
.`-24.000 fo~ t"e City especially when we are considering a budget reduction
c .iL year.
further discussion?
M. Lacasa: 'I'd'like to have an answer from Mr. Grassie on this, if there
a very definite reason, a very solid reason why we cannot do it.
Mr. Gressie: The basic reason, Commissioner, is that I feel that it puts
J.,:e:rnment in a very precarious position to be going out asking private indus-
try for a business sale. In other words, for us to go out to Coca Cola and
ask them to advertise in our facility puts government in a position I don't
think you want government in. We should not be in that posture with regard to
private industry and we certainly should not be in that posture with some of
our major industries like Eastern Airlines, for example, or National. You
know we don't want to be in the position of going out and knocking on their
door asking them for advertising money. That is the basic reason, aside from
that I think that we could do it.
Mr. Plummer: Further discussion?
Mayor Ferre: Yes, I have one other thing. I'don't think this contract has
one thing that's:; specifically clear. The maintenance of that billboard is an'.
expense, that's not clear here.
M.r. Grassie: All right.
Mayor Ferre: Would you tighten that up?
Yes, we will expand the operating statement to include....
Mayor Ferre: I'm talking about paragraph 8 on page 7 on line 2, "... the City
agrees to maintain the Orange Bowl and the scoreboard." Now I want to make
sure that that does not preclude that, that that does not mean that that's at
our expense, that's from the joint account expense. Do you follow me?
Rev. Gibson: That they pay for it jointly, since he is going to get half and
we're going to get half that half of the expense from us and half from him.'
You won't get no free ticket no more.
94
'JUL 1 1 11179
Mr. Grassie: Yes, that's different than it's written, but I see what
your pointing out.
Mayor Ferre: Yea, what I'm pointing out is that you have a conflicting
language, which I think in law is called ambiguity. It is ambiguous.
It says one thing in one part and says another. Then it says the City
agrees to maintain the Orange Bowl and the scoreboard. Well, we agree to
maintain the scoreboard, then you can't deduct it as an operating expense.
What :I'm saying is that the maintenance of that scoreboard is an operating
expense period.
Mr. Grassie: We do have the obligation, and we understand that we have
the obligation, Mayor, but we also have a budget for it that is provided
specifically, and that's the 6 thousand dollars that we talked about.
Mayor Ferre: That is exactly why it is ambiguous in nature, because one
part ot.:this" agreement says one thing and the next paragraph that I just
read says another. Ok. It needs to be tightened up and I would ask
Mr. Knox to personally look into this and make sure that that is very,
very abundantaly;clear in legal language.
Father. Gibson That out of our profit and out of his profit they
maitain the "scoreboard.
11
Mayor Ferro.: I call the question, Mr. Plummer.
Mr. Plummer: Any further discussion? Hearing none call the roll.
The following motion was introduced by Mayor Ferre, who moved,
its adoption:
MOTION NO. 79-492
1�OTION TO ACCEPT THE PROPOSED RESOLUTION (PACKETT
"TE^i E) CONCERNING THE ORANGE BOWL SCOREBOARD AND
L.STRUCTING THE CITY MANAGER TO AMEND THE PROPOSED
AGREEMENT, GIVING PRIORITY TO THE CONCESSIONAIRE FOR
THE ADVERTISING ON THE ORANGE BOWL SCOREBOARD
GRANTING A PRIMARY RIGHT FOR USE OF THE SCOREBOARD
TO INSURE THAT COMPETITIVE PRODUCTS NOT SOLD BY THE
ORANGE BOWL CONCESSIONAIRE WILL NOT BE ADVERTISED
ON THE SCOREBOARD; FURTHER DIRECTING THAT THE
CITY MANAGER CLEAR UP THE RESPONSIBILITY OF
MAINTENANCE OF SAID SCOREBOARD PRIOR TO PRESENTING
THIS RESOLUTION AND AGREEMENT TO THE CITY
COMMISSION FOR FINAL RATIFICATION
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Gordon, the motion was
passed and adopted by the following vote:
Mayor Maurice A. Ferre
Commissioner (Rev.) Theodore R. Gibson
Commissioner Rose, Gordon
Commissioner Armando LaCasa
NOES: *Vice -Mayor J. L. Plummer, Jr. ;.
.:SLNT• None
C:.t•NT. S ON THE . ABOVE:
xMr. Plummer: This item has not been put up for public bidding,
Mayor Ferre: That's a good line.
I vote no.
95
ist
"JUL 1 1 1979
PERSONAL APPEARANCE: HERB LEVIN-PERSENTATION
•
Presentation of a Proclamation designating July 17th as "Asociacion
Interamericana de Hombres de Empresa" Day to Mr. Herb Levin.
04 AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO HIRE APPRAISAL FIRMS TO
31. DETERMINE VALUE OF AIR RIGHTS OVER THE CONVENTION/CONFERENCE
CENTER
Mayor Ferre: All right, we are now on item...there's nothing to do on
item C,is that right, Mr. Manager?
Mr. Grassie: No, there is one thing that we would like to ask the
City Commission to do. It's come out of the discussions that the City,
the developer for the Conference Center, and Mr. Guandolo are having today.
We would; like authorization from the City Commission to engage appraisers
who would give us air rights appraisals for the Conference Center similar
to those that we had on the World Trade Center.
Mrs. Gordon: I would so move.
Mayor Ferre: All right, Mrs. Gordon moves.
Mr. LaCasa: Second.
Mayor FerreCommissioner LaCasa seconds that the Manager be authorized
to hire appraisers. Two?
Mrs. Gordon: You have to have two.
Mayor Ferre: Two appraisersfor, the, purposes of setting a value of the
air rights over the Convention/Conference Center. Further discussion?
Call the roll.
The following motion was introduced
who moved its adoption:
MOTION NO. 79-493
by Commissioner Gordon,
A MOTION AUTHORIZING AND DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER
TO ENGAGE THE SERVICES OF TWO APPRAISAL FIRMS TO
ESTABLISH THE VALUE OF AIR RIGHTS OVER THE JAMES
L.KNIGHT UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI/CITY OF MIAMI
CONFERENCE/CONVENTION CENTER
Uponbeing seconded by Commissioner LaCasa, the motion was
passed and adopted by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:. NONE
Commissioner Rose Gordon
Commissioner Armando LaCasa
Mayor Maurice A. Ferre.
96
*JULii 197O
Ma.
ABSENT ON ROLL CALL: Commissioner (Rev.) Theodore R. Gibson
Vice -Mayor J. L. Plummer, Jr.
COMMENTS ON ROLL CALL:
Mayor Ferre: What is this you are passing?
Mr. Grassier This is item .D,Mr.Mayor.
Mrs. Gordon: Maurice
been keeping her.
Dena Spillman has the information and we have
Mr. Grassie: Resolution on the Action Program.
Mayor Ferre: Wait,wait, wait. Are we through with this item now, which
is item C? Is there anything else on item C
Mr. Grassie: Not from us, sir..
Mrs.''Gordon: 35 is`the'one that I asked Dena for some information. She
has the information.
32.
APPROVE FINANCIAL PLAN FOR 100 SECTION C HOUSING UNITS TO BE
CONSTRUCTED IN THE MEDICAL CENTER
Mayor Ferre: Dena.
Ms. Spillman: If you...you have the financial plan, I believe, in your...
if you look on page 3, the reason that it was taken off the agenda and
put back on, is that due to inflation, construction costs on the project
went up. Little HUD had to go back to Federal HUD and get increased
revenue, so on page 2(e), the assistance figure went up to support the
additional construction costs.
Mrs. Gordon: How
much dollars is that?
Ms. Spillman: The increase?
Mrs. Gordon: Yes.
Spillman: I, I didn't get that information.
Mrs. Gordon: All right, I won't bother you, o.k. Let it go, I'll look
it up myself later.
Ms. Spillman: I can provide it for you.
Mrs. Gordon: Yes, I'll move it. O.k.
Mayor Ferre: Mrs. Gordon moves 35.
Commissioner LaCasa: Second.
Mayor Ferre: .Commissioner LaCasa seconds 3
Call the roll on item 35.
The foliowing resolution was introduced by Commissioner Gordon,
who moved its adoption:
97
'JULiit9Ta
RESOLUTION NO. 79-494
A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE FINANCIAL PLAN FOR 100
SECTION 8 HOUSING UNITS LOCATED .IN MEDICAL CENTER,
SUBJECT TO THE CITY OF MIAMI HAVING INPUT AND
PARTICIPATION AS TO USE OF FUNDS, DESIGNATION OF
TRUSTEE, ETC., SUCH APPROVAL BEING CONSISTENT
AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE AGREEMENT FOR
FINANCING HOUSING IN THE CITY OF MIAMI BY AND
BETWEEN DADE COUNTY AND THE CITY OF MIAMI DATED',
JULY19, 1976
(Here follows body. of resolution,. omitted here and
on file in the Office of the. City Clerk).
Upon being seconded by Comxnissioner LaCasa, the resolution
passed and adopted 'by the following vote:
NOES:
ABSENT ON ROLL CALL:
Commissioner (Rev.) Theodore R. Gibson
Vice -Mayor J. L. Plummer, Jr.
33.
Commissioner Rose Gordon
Commissioner Armando LaCasa
Mayor Maurice A. Ferre
DISCUSSION ITEM: YACHT CLUBS FINANCIAL PROPOSALS TO THE CITY
TO BE HEARD ON JULY 23, 1979
Mayor Ferre: We have to wait for the rest of the Commission on these
other items. Is there anything that we have to take up on the Velodrome,
Virginia Key?
Mr. LaCasa: I move,
continue...
Mayor Ferrer
Mr.',Grassie:
Commission on
Mayor Ferre:
now? That's
Mrs. Gordon:
Mayor Ferre:
Mrs. Gordon:
move that the City Manager be instructed to
We'd better wait till you have a Commission
Yea, we should get a motion of intent from the City
that, Mr. Mayor
Rose, do you want to make your motion on the yacht clubs
item H.
That was.. that s,was..
're now on motions on
That was the one that we
Mayor Ferre: Yea, snake your motion.
spoke of before as being a subject of discussion on the
Mrs. Gordon:
23rd...
these things in the, morning.
Mayor Ferre: Make your motion.
Mrs. Gordon:
And, I so iove that theinformation that has been given
9B
IJ U 1 1 1 197$
to Us by the: Manager, prepared[ by the staff," be sent to the yacht clubs,
and that they be advised that we.vill be hearing this item on the 23rd,
and that there vill be legislation prepared for us to be able to take
action on it.
Mr. LaCasa: I' second.
Mayor Ferre: All right,, there
outlined. Call roll.
s a motion and a second on item H,;as
The following motion was introduced by Commissioner Gordon
moved its adoption:
MOTION NO. 79-495
A MOTION AUTHORIZING AND DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER
TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE YACHT
CLUBS UTILIZING CITY PROPERTY TO INFORM THEM TO
HAVE THEIR FINANCIAL PROPOSALS READY FOR PRESENTATION
TO THE CITY COMMISSION FOR FINAL ACTION ON JULY 23,
1979
Upon being seconded by Commissioner LaCasa, the motion was
and adopted by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES: None
ABSENT:
Commissioner Rose Gordon
• Commissioner Armando LaCasa
Mayor Maurice Ferre
Commissioner (Rev.) Theodore R. Gibson
Vice -Mayor J. L. Plummer,Jr.
passed
ALLOCATE $29,000 TO ACTION COM,1UNITY CENTER(ACCION) FOR
34. THE ALLAPATTAH TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM
Mayor Ferre: On item D, the Allapattah Transportation Program, is there
a motion?
Mr. LaCasa: I move that the recommendation by the staff be adopted and
the...
Mayor Ferre: We have a specific...here it is. A resolution allocating
Action Community Center $29,000 of Community Development funds previously
appropriated by Ordinance 8943, adopted June 4, 1979, to previously
approved social service programs, for a period commencing August 1, 79,
and ending June 30th, 80. Said funding is to provide transportation
progtam to the Allapattah area of the City of Miami. Further authorizing
the City Manager to enter into an agreement said approved social service
programs. Is that what you are moving?
Mr. LaCasa: Move.
Mayor Ferre: Is there a second?
Mr. Plummer: Mr. Mayor, I'm trying to find my papers.
motion. No, the document we had this morning and...
Mayor Ferre: D. Here's my whole package.
Mr. Plummer: Here's my package. It's D. No, I underlined mine, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor, I seconded this motion based upon staff recommendation in our
memo dated the 5th of July, which states that the recommendation for the
transportation program be awarded to Action Center, Incorporated. Based upon
the fact that this was recommended by the Community Development people,
and also it states in the memo that ACCION has the support of the community
and' very importantly, the fact that the per trip basis is much cheaper
using this organization. Based upon that, I second the motion.
Mayor Ferre:
Further discussion. Call the roll.
The following resolution was introduced by Commissioner
who moved its adoption:
RESOLUTION NO. 79-496
A-R:SOLUTION ALLOCATING ACTION COMMUNITY CENTER
$29 000 OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FUNDS PREVIOUSLY
APP:OPRIATED BY ORDINANCE NO. 8943 ADOPTED JUNE
4, :,979, TO PREVIOUSLY APPROVED SOCIAL SERVICE
PROC=RAMS FOR THE PERIOD COMMENCING AUGUST 1, 1979
rL:D ENDING JUNE 30, 1980; SAID FUNDING IS TO
PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM TO THE ALLAPATTAH
AREA OF THE CITY OF MIAMI; FURTHER AUTHORIZING
THE CITY MANAGER TO ENTER INTO AGREEMENT WITH
SAID APPROVED SOCIAL SERVICE PROGRAM
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Plummer, the, resolution
passed and adopted by the following vote:
AYES.
CommissionerArmando LaCasa
*Commissioner (Rev.) Theodore R. Gibson
Commissioner Rose Gordon
Vice-Mayor.J. L. Plummer, Jr.
Mayor Maurice A. Ferre
v^r itiE\T .0 ROLL CALL:
Father Gibson: Let me explain my vote. I'm going to vote with the
staff. Ms. Spillman, I know this shocks you. I just..I heard some
things ;here this morning that kinda bothered me, and I want to say
I,could-.really get under the temperment and mood of what I saw this
mnrnir.g, I couldn't really get the true picture. I'm sorry Mr...the
gentleman wasn't here to answer for himself. But in light of the fact
that the staff did the study, and this is what the staff said, I didn't
do the study, I couldn't do it, I didn't have time', I going to vote with.
Yes, sir.
HOUSING IN THE CULMER AREA - DISCUSSION BY DENA SPILLMAN
35.
Mrs. Gordon: Dena, while I have you at the microphone, may I ask you
a question relative to the housing in Culmer?
Ms..Spillman: Yes.
Mrs.,Gordon: Could you clarify the situation because that property was,
eliminated from -the allocation and a lot of people are concerned about
Culmer. And I am one --of them.
'JUL 1 1 1279
boo
Ms. Spillman: O.k. There's a two block property on 5th Street in Culmer
that was purchased with City and County Community Development funds about
2 years ago. It was proposed as one of our projects under the Housing
Bond issue, and as we discussed at the last meeting, the financial plan
didn't work out. And, I think there's two options here. One, is the
proposal that the Commission approved to HUD where we get our special
allocation of units, and we should be hearing on that in August. Now, that's
one option that can be done through the Dade County Department of Housing
and Urban Development. The other option is, I have had several developers
in contact with my office who are interested in purchasing the property
and applying directly to Jacksonville HUD, for Section 8, Family Housing.
So, that's another option we can recommend to Dade County if we chose to
take that.
Mrs. Gordon: Wouldyou give me a written memorandum to give me all this
information relative to the Culmersituation?
Ms. Spillman: Yes`, I'll provide it to all the Commissioners.
Mrs.
Gordon:
Mayor Ferre:
Thank you, that's what I mean. O.k.
Did we vote onD, Mr. Clerk?
Mr.' Ongie: Yes, sir.`
Mayor Ferre: Now, we, are on E.
than what was done this
Horning.
Mr. Grassie: I don't believe so,
themselves clearly.
s there anything to be done on E
Do you need a motion on that?
I think the Commission expressed
other
36. AUTHORIZING MODIFICATIONS IN CONSTRUCTION PLAN FOR
VELODROME ON VIRGINIA KEY TO INCLUDE RESTROOIIS AND TO PRESENT
PLAN TO THE METRO COMMISSION FOR THEIR CONSIDERATION
Mayor Ferre:
development.
Mr. LaCasa:
Mayor Ferre:
All right, with regards to the Virgina Key and Velodrome
I'd like to move.
All right.
Mr. LaCasa: I'd like to move that the' City Manager be instructed to,
pursue the question of the Velodromewith the County Commission.'and.try
to obtain the permits so the City can build the Velodrome.
Mrs. Gordon: That's already been through there.
Mr. Plummer: My only question...
. LaCasa: And that we expand the project to include
the restrooms
Mayor Ferre: I think the conclusion was as. follows,, that we expand: the
Velodrome to include;restrooms, not -.to cost more than $40,000 and that
the total project would now not cost more than 200 hundred and 65 thousand
dollars...
265?
Mr. LaCasa:
Mayor Ferre: Yes. And that we then go back to the County Commission,
specifically to Steve Clark, and ask any of the 5 members on the prevailing
side, to reconsider their vote. Is that correct? Did I catch it all?
Mrs. Gordon: Close enough.
Mr. LaCasa: That's correct.
101
�J U L 1 i 197S
Mayor Ferre: Is there a motion?
r. LaCasa: I move it.`'
Mayor Ferre:
o seconds it?
Father Gibson: Second.
ayor Ferre: Gibson seconds.
Mr. Plunnner: Mr. Mayor, my onlypoint of discussion, is what. it was this
morning, at that is where, the Manager is, going to get the additional
80 thousand dollars. Something's gotta suffer...
Mrs. Gordon 40 thousand,
Mr. Plummer:."
please...
o, Rose. No , from 186 upto 275. Am I wrong, if I'am,
Mrs. Gordon: fir. Grassie, what will those restroom facilities cost?
'pproximately 40 thousand dollars.
Mr. Grassie:
Mr. Pllnrrer: What is the say...what is the total increase, in your
estimation, of the project?
Mr. .Grassie: Between inflation, and the restroomswe are talking about
an `increase of approximately 60 thousand` dollars..'.65 thousand dollars.
I'1u.riwt.0 : Well, Mr. Grassie, I'm not going
but ';186 to 265 is 79.
Cra:si, ::
1ttrle
o-quibble on pennies,
The186 does not include some of the design cost, so it
r budget is a little higher.
Mr, Plummer: Here again, Mr. Grassie, I'm all in favor of the Velodrome,
I'm all in favor of going back to the County. But I do feel this Commission
should be aware of something having to suffer to get this additional
r'.n�3icg to the Velodrome and I want to know what's got to suffer.
N.;:. Grassie: Well, couldn't we do this? Since we will not take this to
the County without, or at least I would like to show you the design before
we take it to the County, why don't we bring you both of those things at
the same time. The design and the impact on the Parks for People Program.
Mr. Plummer: Do you have that amount of time? For the right of...
to reconsideration?
Mr. Grassie: At this point they have put us off for a year, so we are
going to have to ask for an exception toget back on their calender in
less than a year.
Mr.,Plummer: 'Oh, I thought the right of reconsideration had to be at the
next meeting.
Mr. Grassie: "I don't believe so.
ivdyur Ferre: All right. We've got to move along because we have a whole
bunch, of people here at 6:30, on this waterfront question. So, is there
further discussion'? All right, call the roll.
The following motion was introduced by Commissioner LaCasa,
who moved its adoption:,.
102
'JUL 1 1 1979
MOTION NO. 79-497
A MOTION AUTHORIZING AND DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER
TO EXPAND THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT OF A VELODROME
AT VIRGINIA KEY TO INCLUDE THE CONSTRUCTION OF
RESTROOMS WITH TOTAL COSTS NOT TO EXCEED $265,000
AND FURTHER INSTRUCTING THE ADMINISTRATION TO
RESUBMIT SUCH PROPOSAL TO THE METRO
COMMISSION TO REQUEST RECONSIDERATION
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Gibson, the
and adopted by the following vote:
AYES:
Commissioner Armando LaCasa
Commissioner (Rev.) Theodore R. Gibson
Vice -Mayor J. L. Plummer, Jr.
Mayor Maurice A. Ferre
NOES: None
ABSENT ON ROLL CALL:
Mayor Ferre: There is no vote on the Civil Service. Have we
made the motion to put that on the agenda on the 24th. Yes.
Mr. Grassie: Yes.
DISCUSSION ITEM: PERSONNEL STAFFING IN CITY
37. COMMISSIONERS OFFICES
Mayor Ferre: All right, now, Commissioner LaCasa, the only item we have
left is item I.
Father Gibson: What
Mayor Ferre: Item I
staff.
was that?
which is the question of expanding Commission
Father Gibson: And that means all of us?
Mayor Ferre: I would imagine so.
Father Gibson: All right. Let's just make sure that means all of us.
M. Manager, you hear. All right.
Mr.•LaCasa: Yes. Definitely so. Definitely so. I move that the
City Manager be instructed to provide every Commissioner with an.
additional staff member to the secretaries they already have.
Mayor Ferre: Well, that includes the Mayor, too.
Mr. LaCasa: I don't want to discriminate you, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Plummer:' I second the motion.
Mayor Ferre: There is a motion and a second. Further discussion?
Mir. Plummer: Mr. Mayor, this is a burning issue that I feel should
have all five votes.
ME
EM
103�
`JUL i 1 1979`
'Mayor Ferre: C
call'=the roll.
r. 'Plummer:`.
Mr. Plummer:.
Mayor Ferre:
Mr. Plummer:
..it's going to have all 5 votes. All r
ht
The burning part is the Manager.
Oh, I would like to have the very profound comments..
We will have everybody voting.
Of my collegues.
Mayor Ferre: All right, Mrs. Gordon and Father Gibson, would; you come
in for a vote and then you can go...then we can have a few minutes,
break.
Mr. Plummer:
Well, we still have item 23 to do, Mr. Mayor.
Mayor Ferre: Is Mrs. Gordon out there. are on I.
Bill, did :you ''see Mrs. Cordon out there? I hear her running.
not Mrs. Gordon
Mr. Plummer:
Mayor Ferre:
for a vote.
u're
She'snot even wearinga rose.
Well, we'll have to wait until we have a full Commission
O.k. Call'; the roll, call the roll, please.
Mrs. Gordon: What are you calling the roll on
Mayor Ferre:
Mayor
're calling the roll on the two...
Father Gibson: What'
the motion?'
Mayor ,e re: .,The motion; was made by"LaCasaand seconded by Plummer
•• that each member of the. Commission` have:` two staffs for...two`persons
per staff.• "In other words, one additional personnbe added::: each
staff .
Mr.s'..Gordon: Where's the money going to come from?.
Mayor Ferre: Obviously; from the .General, from the General,"I'm
voting against"it, in case you... -
Mrs. Gordon: So`am"I.
Mayor Ferre: Want know. Call the roll.
Father Gibson:. Read the motion.
Mr. Ongie: The motion would be that the City Manager would be instructed
to provide an additional staff person, in addition to the secretary
already assigned to each member of the City Commission.
Mrs. Gordon: Are you talking...may I ask a point of information, Mr. Lacasa,
since you made the motion. Is it you intention to increase the budget
beyond what your normal budget would be, in order to cover the extra
personnel.
Mr.LaCasa: Mr. Grassie, do you feel that you could secure the services
of additional personnel for the Commission. And, actually, what we
are talking about here will be basically, two persons, because Mrs. Gordon
already has one person there, and Mr. Plummer also has another person.
Mrs. Gordon: No, no, no. Mr. LaCasa. Make the records correct.
Gordon does not have an extra person there.
104
JUL 1 1 1979
Mr. LaCasa: O.k. There are already 2 additional persons. There are
already two additional persons. So, we are talking basically as far as
the Commission is concerned, of two more and one for the Mayor. So, my
question is, if that personnel could be secured from some other departments,
or some kind of arrangements can be made so it doesn't cost any additional
money to the City.
Mr. Grassie: Commissioner, I think that what you are talking about is
5 positions, not 3 because -Commissioner Plummer's position is on loan
from a department that is going over to the County, and as you know,
we have the Labor Department ruling problem with the person that is...
Mrs. Gordon: The CETA person is going to be removed, she is a floating
secretary. She serves all the Commissioners, and her position has to
be removed because she is a CETA person. The reason for my question,
Mr. LaCasa, is this. If, you or any other Commissioner may have an
overage in your budget because you don't travel, because you don't spend
money on other items which are in your budget now, and you want to
reallocate your own funds to cover yourself, that would seem not unreasonable.
However, if you're asking to increase the Commissioner's budget, Iwould'
object because I don't intend to increase mybudget. I think everybody
has got to tighten their belts, including us.
Mr. LaCasa: My; problem, Rose, is one of services. As I explained before,
by virtue of being the Spanish speaking member of the Commission, aside
from the Mayor, and by virtue of having 55% of the population of the
City of Miami of Spanish speaking extraction, I am bombarded with a
number of telephone calls, correspondence, requests, that I cannot
handle with just one person. My secretary is totally, and completely
unable to handle the situation that I have in my office. So, my
situation is very simple. I either provide the services to this
constituency orI don't. If I can't, I will explain the situation to
the media and I will have to proceed to take other measures, even if those
include closing my office, my operation here, because I am unable to
perform it from here, and I will have to seek alternative situations.
It's as simple' as that. I cannot handle what I have with the personnel
that:I have at this point. Either the City provides me with the ability
to serve the 55% of the population that is coming to me, in this City
of Miami, or I have to explain that I cannot, because I don't have the
ability to do it. And that is as simple of that. The Manager is there,
the Manager knows my problem. I have been dwelling on this for the
last 5 months with Mr. Grassie. He is very familiar with the situation.
So, if he could find an alternative solution, I am more than pleased to
accept any kind of solution, whatsoever. CETA personnel, non-CETA
personnel, whatever. As long as I am able to keep my office open and
provide the services. I have to close this office continuously because,
as I explained before, the physical realities differs froms yours.
You three have, are in the same space. Mine is outside. Consequently,
I don't have the facilities to change, to alternate with your own pool
of, secretaries.
Mrs. Gordon: Yea, but you know, she answers your phone when your
secretary takes her lunch break. You get the coverage as much as we
the coverage. Where she sits is unimportant.
Mr. LaCasa:" The answering, Rose, the answering of the phone does not,'
is not limited to say that the secretary of Commissioner LaCasa is not
here, or that the Commissioner is not here. This means more. This
means services This means information that a simple telephone operator
is not going to give. And, when I get to my office, every day, I see
correspondence that is not being attended to, I see telephone calls that
are not being answered, request for information and services that are
not being followed -up. We don't have the ability to do it and we either
do it correctly or we don't do it at all. I am going to tell this
Commission, with all due respect, that if I can not do it well, I am not
going to do it at all.
[05
Mrs. Gordon: Well, I think you are probably a little new in the job
then, because those of us who have been here for a long time have.
adjusted ourselves to being able to handle the load. We handle..I handle
19 committees. I serve as Chairman, of the Pension Board of Trustees,
I serve as Chairman of the Retirement Board and 17 other positons for the
City, besides handling the work that the constituency gives me to handle.
The garbage pickups, and the rest of this things that have to be done as
Commissioners. I still say that it's nice to have a lot of staff. I'd
love to have a full time, 2 or 3, I'd love to have that. It'would be
great. But, we are asking the police to cut down on their budgets,
we're asking the firemen to cut down on their budgets. Everybody is
tightening a belt, and we are going to expand to two full time people?
Why, you know, that's kind of ridiculous. Unless we cut down on our
travel expense. On our other expenses that we have in our budget, and
we can do without and we don't travel, or we travel on our own money.
Things like that.
Mayor Ferre: Continue the roll all, please.
THEREUPON THE:FOREGOI MOTION was introduced by Commissioner
LaCasa and seconded by Commissioner Plummer and defeated by the following.
vote:
AYES:
NOES
ABSENT:
None
Commissioner Armando LaCasa.
Vice -Mayor J. L. Plummer, Jr.,..
Commissioner (Rev.) Theodore R. Gibson
Cornmissioner Rose Gordon
*Mayor Maurice A. Ferre
COMMENTS ON THE ABOVE ROLL CALL:
Father Gibson: Am I to understand that all of us are going to get
the same treatment?'
Mr. Ongie: Yes, sir.
Mr. ,Plummer: All of the Commissioners.
*Father Gibson: I'm going to vote no, man. I just believe...I can't
in good conscience tell the Manager to reduce fire and police. And
you know what nobody said, Sanitation.And we are talking about
keeping the City clean.
Mrs. Gordon: That's right.
Father Gibson: We are going to get rid of 59 people. Isn't that right.
Somewhere..no...
r. Grassie: 29.
Father Gibson: 29, you admit 29.
going to do that. No.
.k.' You know,` no man, ; I'm not
*Mayor Ferre: I vote no. And, furthermore,<;I wish to announce that
it is my intention, as .Isaid a .month and a half ago,' to reduce my
budget in the Mayor's Office, 104 for this coming year.
106
JUL!l1679
•
OFF-STREET PARKING CHARTER AMENDMENTS - TEMPORARILY
38. DEFERRED
Mayor Ferre: All right, the next item to come before us is item A,
which is the Off -Street Parking Authority Garage. Mr. Paul, have
you had time to read that. We were waiting for your arrival here,
to see if there was any objection to the lease hold to the City of Miami...
Mr. Paul? Putting lease holds on bid if we are going to go out and bid
these things:
Mr. Dan Paul:Well, I think there is a problem unless you add to that
section that nothing in this section shall be construed to waive the
special requirements for leases and contracts of waterfront property,
provided elsewhere by the Charter and ordinances in the City of Miami.
And, I underlined it in the placeI thought
Mayor Ferre: Mr. Knox, do you have any objections to that?
Mrs.' Gordon: That would protect the waterfront?
Mr. Paul: Right.
Mrs. Gordon: Because Mr. Knox's comment to me earlier before your arriva
was that it will include, this should include, and; would include the
waterfront and I objected to it.
. Plummer:
there any parking garages on the waterfront.
Mr. Paul: NO, no. It's notparking garages. As I understand the sense
of the Commission,.` that this requires competitive bidding for any contracts
orleases involving City property. And all that sentence that I put in,
was the addition that there are additional restrictions on leases and
contracts on City property, waterfront property, that relate to the
standard, that I' understand that you aregoing to come up with.
Mrs. Gordo
Mr. _.Pau l:
n: o.k. Then that provides...
It just makes the two things fit together, that'
Right,
Mr. Knox: The answer is yes..
Mrs. Gordon: Then `we'11 go with that:
all.
Mr. Knox: and there is no problemwith the additional language that'
been suggested.
Mrs. Gordon: In that case, I'll move it, with the amendment.
Father Gibson: ;So, what is the language. now. Read it.
Mr. Ongie: I' don'
even have it, sir.
Father Gibson: Oh well, lets all get it now.
Mrs. Gordon: The attorney has it.
Mayor Ferre: All right, is there any further objections to the language?
Father Gibson: I;want...I don't have it.
Mrs. Gordon: We don't have the amendment as amended." We don't have it
as amended.
107
'JUL l i 1972
Father Gibson: I want to know what I'm voting on. Give it to me let me
read.
Mayor Ferre: Well, we'll have to come back to it. then, I'm sorry because
we have item A=still pending. Mr. Plummer, you wanted to go to item 23,
you say?
Mr. Plummer: No, sir.
item 3 is dragging.
r. Mayor, I just brought to your attention'
Well there are people here on it.
Mayor Ferre: Well, we can wait on that? 0n item 23? Whose here on
item 23. Plese-raise your hand. Can you wait. Cause, I'll tell you
there's some people that have to leave.
39.
PERSONAL APPEARANCE: DEVELOPERS OF CLAUGHTON ISLAND AND
BRICKELL BISCAYNE CORP. TO DISCUSS IMPACT OF PROPOSED CHARTER
AMENDMENTS - DISCUSSION AND ACTION TABLED TO MEETING OF
JULY 23, 1979
•�S M.
Mayor Ferre: We are not on items 18, 19, 20 and 21. Now, ladies and
gentlemen, there are some of you who have passed me notes that you have
to leave by 6:30 so on. And, I recognize that you've got a meeting?
How many are there that have to leave at 6:30. That must leave at 6:30.
Is that you?
Mr. P1immer: You're not
gonna quite make it.
Mayor Ferre: Anybody else that has to leave immediately. All right,..
Mr. Traurig,are you the only one. Because we have several union
representatives and lawyers who have to speak then have to leave by 6:30.
Your re the only one then. Mr. Kenzie?
Mr.,`Plummer:
and 21.
What does union representatives got
Mayor,Fevre: Well,: there are here to speak on it, obviously.;
All`right,,Mr. Traury, go ahead and we'll recognize you to speak since
you have to leave .
Mr.;Traurig: Mr.Mayor, I didn't really want be taken out of -turn. You
asked for a; show: of hands and;I gave you a show of` hands. I` do have to be
at the County Commission' at 7:00 o'clock and I can.wait'until 10 minutes
to.`7 to leave ;here.
Mayor Ferre: You may as well go ahead and say what you have
then we'll get into the other.
Mr.Traurig: I'd like to address this Commission with regard to 2 situations.
Ong,, relates to Claughton Island, and Mr. Claughton is here today. And,
I'd like to introduce other people who are very interested in the effect
of this ordinance on Claughton Island. I would also like to speak very
briefly with regard to the.) project which this Commission recently approved
for Brickell Biscayne, Corp. Which we think, as a result of land planning
which sets the building 300 feet back from Brickell Avenue, and which we
think that asa result of the present line aside from Brickell Avenue
which doesn't even permit you to see Biscayne Bay from there. Also,
that if a setback were provided at the bay front it would have no value
whatsoever, to the general public, except the boating public, and we
already have a 150 feet,more-or-less, area which we had no intention to
fill, which will create that vista for those people. We think that all
of the R-5A property along Brickell Avenue which has already been
developed, violates the spirit and intent of this ordinance and to visit
the kind of penalties on one or two parcels of property along Brickell
Avenue, would be very unfair because I don't think that the scrivener
L08 J U L 1 1 19T9
of these ordinances and proposals really had taken that into consideration.
I think it was more the central business district area that was within
the purview of the scrivener. I do believe, that where a site plan has
previously been approved as a result of a PAD hearing, or some other
hearing where a site plan has specifically been reviewed by the Urban
Development Review Board, the Environmental Preservation Board and by
the Zoning Board of the PAB and this Commission, that you ought to at
least consider grandfather provision, which would legitimize those projects
and exempt them from the operation of this ordinance, no matter what form
the ordinance takes. We think that to create, what amounts to a moratorium,
when plans and specifications are ready and millions of dollars have
already been expended in architectural and engineering work, and other work
is the kind of a sanction which this Commission ought not to levy against
those people,who in good faith, were relying upon the provisions of the
existing ordinances and the kind of review that had already taken place
by all of our boards and by this Commission. So, we urge you with regard
to the R-5A along Brickell Avenue, to take those matters into consideration.
I'm telling you that I cannot see Biscayne Bay from Brickell Avenue at
any point right now, and that these buildings, no matter what their form,
will not have any greater obstruction of vision than presently exists
without any building, just based upon the natural contour of the land.
With regardto the SBD-1 district, which is the Claughton Island district,
obviously, Mr. Claughton is here to make a presentation to you. I also
would like you to have the opportunity to hear from Mr. Charles Cheezam
President of Cheezam Investment Corporation, one of the joint venture
partners of Brickell Key, together with the soir entity.
And also, and this would be an indepth presentation to you from Mr. Charles
Lamb. A senior partner in the Lamb Planning Association, which has
developed a detailed land plan for the island. It's the RTKL Associates,
Incorporated, out of Baltimore. They have done work throughout the
United States. They have received a number of land planning awards and
they believe that for you to impose the language that is presently in
the ordinance, and presently in the proposal which will go to the
public i.uNovember,would be a great sanction upon them after they went
through a DRI review, after they have been before this Commission, and the
boards of this City numbers of times. And, after they have in good faith
spent 17 million dollars for the purchase of this island within the last
few ;months, based upon assurances in letters, from the City that there would
be no violation of any City ordinances if they developed in accordance with
what was previously proposed and approved. So, we urge you to take those
two parcels into consideration and generally to be circumpsect about
what you are doing . I think, that when your Zoning Board meets on Monday,
and your Planning Advisory Board meets next Wednesday, and you get
information from your Urban Development Review Board from its meeting
next Tuesday, you will have a basis for consideration. And, I think, that
to take action prior to getting all of that information from all of your
duly constituted boards, at this point in time, would be premature, and
not in the best interest of the City. Thank You.
Mayor Ferre: All right, Mr. Knox.
W. Knox: Mr. Mayor, yes, sir. I just wanted to advise the Commission
I was not aware of what Mr. Traurig was going to say but we were prepared
to advise you that any...you would not be authorized to take any action
this evening. And, you are not authorized to take any action at all until
the proposed ordinances have been reviewed by the Planning Advisory Board,
based upon your own code of ordinances and based upon the state statutes
of the State of Florida
Mayor Ferre: All right. Let me ask if there is an alternate way.
Could we place a moratorium on any waterfront...on any waterfront property,
any building permits for waterfront property until this matter is passed.
Father Gibson: Mr. Mayor...
Mayor Ferre: Let...excuse me Father. That was a legal question that I'm
asking the City Attorney.
W. Knox: Our research has not revealed any cases in the State of. Florida.
I can, therefore, tell you what cases from other jurisdictions have
indicated and what similar cases in Florida have indicated. That is, to
IJUL i ! 1919
109
have a moratorium or a manner of regulation which would effectively
deprive individuals of an opportunity to beneficially use their property.
is also a zoning matter, and therefore, recommendation regarding a
moratorium would also have to come from the Planning Advisory Board or
the Zoning Board whichever would be appropriate under the circumstance.
Mayor Ferre: So, what you are telling us, is for us to pass an ordinance
today, on first reading, would require it first to go before the
Planning Board?
Mr. Knox: Planning Advisory Board, a public hearing..
Mayor
Ferre: And the same thing would be true of a`mnoratorium..,
Mr. Knox: Yes, sir.
Mayor Ferre: All right, Father Gibson.
Father Gibson: Mr. Mayor, I sometime am misunderstood and a lot of people
don't understand me. And, I hope, I'm going to prove that I wasn't so far
wrong, right now. When all this matter came before the Commission, I was
unalterably opposed. I was opposed to the 50 foot setback, I was oppossed
to putting it on the ballot. And my reason then, and is now, number one,
I believe if you are going to people you ought to give people intelligent,
well thought out, reason and information. I could not understand, how on
a day like this, we would just arbitrarily say, you must set back 50 feet
from the water when we had not made a study of how many pieces of land
are affected. For instance, we should have made a study, I said this before,
and I want to reiteriate it again, how m any pieces of land would conform
to setting back 25 feet, 30 feet, 40 feet, 50 feet. I said, to this
Commission then, and I say now, to ask the people to vote on a 50 foot
set back under the emotional fervor that we have in this matter is not fair,
doesn't show good sense, nor is it good judgment. If I had a piece of land,
I would be made as all get -out, if you tried to deny me the use of my land
at the llth hour. Not only that, I said this, that the City should have
asked the Building Department how many people have applied for building
permits to use the waterfront, as of now. It would have made more sense,
it would have been more acceptable, I think, if you had said to everbody,
all right, if I don't have your plans, I'm not going to accept them. And,
have a cutoff date, and say to people don't bring anymore. If I had spent
my money, if I had spent my hard cold cash, getting plans knowing I could
build within X number of feet, and you told me afterward. I tell you what,
I would be just as determined as those who want that 50 foot setback. I'll
have m ore to lose, and I'll have more to gain. I'd go straight to court.
And, I wouldn't feel bad if the people took us to court, because I don't
see making the right of somebody else, a privilege of mine. And I hope,
I hope this Commission, would not do by the people who may be helpless
what they, what we would not want done to us. To do that to the public,
or to the people who are affected, it is not right, it's not fair and I
hope you won't do it. Let me deal with the...is that Claughton Island?
I should never forget all that hell we raised around here about Claughton
Island, you know. I thought we had all our ducks in a row. Now, in the
midst of it, we want to say, well, I made that man give up some land for
public use. Isn't that right? Sir, I want to defend you to the very
end. You, without hesitation, came across. I want to put it on record
now, I am unalterably opposed to, I am unalterably opposed. No study
has been made. I cannot be intelligent, and you know, then let me make
the last comment. The City will look bad as quote, hell. End of quotation.
To be building the Convention Center and you know, you are going to the
people and you are going to be in violation of the very thing you are
asking the people to do. So, it says to me, you might well get off that
emotional kick and start doing that which is reasonable, and sensible, for
the best interest of this community. I pray practically everytime one
prayer, Lord help us to do that which is right and for the best interest
of this Community. I just cannot buy it and I want to serve notice right
now. I am going to vote against number 1, the 50 foot set back, I'm going
to vote against putting it on the ballot because there has been no
intelligent, no intelligentinformation acquired, developed for the people
of this community to go by.
110
That's what it says.
Mayor Ferret Well, putting it on the ballot is not before.
passed 3-2 at the last...
Father Gibson: All right, let me do it the other way, I will be opposed
to any moratorium. You, you knew when you were passing it that there were
people who had plans, and had already reviewed the plans. And, what
was so ridiculous is we went that way on Tuesday, Monday? Anyway, we
went the ordinance route prohibiting and inhibiting on one day, and came
back the next day and voted a project. Now, we want to say, lets put a
moratorium. My brothers, those of you that have that project out there,.
you know right now, Theodore Gibson is dead with you.
Mayor Ferre: All right. Anybody else who has to leave here on an
emergency basis. If not, Mr. Reid, I'm going to ask you to...you've had
some time to think about all this, and you'be got a memorandum prepared
and all kinds of stuff. Why don't you share your thoughts with us.
Mr. Reid: Thank you, Mr. Mayor, and members of the City Commission. I
would like to before beginning my comments, sort of re-echo the point just
made by Commissioner Gibson. The purpose of my memorandum, the purpose
of my comments this evening, are really to present a status report to you,
in terms of where we are on researching a very complex subject. And, we
have asked the Planning Advisory Service, in Chicago, to look into this
and to help us in terms of how other cities have treated this issue. We
are in contact with Seattle, and San Francisco, who face this problem, and
we have also talked to consultants who worked in Norfolk, and Hawaii, on
these similar types of provisions, how they are trying to gather
intelligence on this issue. We have scheduled 4 meetings. We are meeting
right now, staff, with the Waterfront Board, with the Zoning Board on the
16th, the Environmental Board on the 17th and the P1annin¢ Advisory Board
on the 18th. And, all of these meetings are to better understand a very
complex subject. We do feel, that the, and as you..as the City Attorney
has indicated, the property place for this ordinance, if you enact an
ordinance, is to amend the Environmental Control Section of the existing
Zoning Ordinance. And, we have taken the step of advertising the ordinance
for the Planning Advisory Board meeting of the 18th. Should the Commission
wish to act in an initial form on the 23rd, there would be a recommendation
from the Planning Advisory Board enabling them to do that. I'd like to
break my comments into addressing the two primary sections of the ordinance.
We feel that the setback provision as it is presently written which
specifies that on the smaller lots there would be a 25% of depth requirement.
Which provides the option of a 25 foot average depth in terms of setback,
and in presumably construction of a riverwalk. We feel that basically
is an important and a good idea. We do feel, that several modifications
ought to be though about with respect to this provision. For example,
the way it is currently applied, we favor the 200 foot as the minimum
for setting the 25%. And, 200 foot coincides with 25% of 20 feet being
50 feet. What this means is, that if you keep it at 150 feet, if my
lot is 150 foot deep, I have to setback from the bay 371 feet. If my lot
is 151 feet deep or 152 feet deep, I have to setback 50 feet. So, we
feel that the sliding percentage ought to go all the way up to 200 and
then be maintained at that level.
Mayor Ferre: That's what is says.
Mr. Reid: And, we have a chart...
Mayor Ferre: Mr. Reid.
Mr. Reid: Yes.
Mayor Ferre:
Mr., Reid: No.
Mayor Ferre: Which is not set back at least 50 feet from the seawall
except...
Mr. Reid: Let me,' let me say something because some comments have been
s 1979
made'to me that
as now written.
have not seen.
comments are on
.nlyor Fette Well, this is about the 5th or 6th time that we have
written this, so I"don't ..I mean in defense of him, I don't blame the
poor man for notknowing what we have written.
I want to clarify. We are commenting on the ordinance
O.K. I cannot comment on a revised petition that I
So, I want to be clear to Mr. Paul and others, our
the 'ordinance as written. We will be glad to comment on...
IJNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: He is commenting on some ordinance your City Attorney
as drawn up.
Mayor Ferre: No, no. We are. commenting; on the ordinance that was passed.
out which was the fourth or the'fifth'draft of this thing.
rIDC:1':trinD SPEAKER: Mr. Reid, Mr. Reid has known in conversations that
it is 200 feet. He was told today it was. So what he is commenting "on,
he knows better.
Mr. Reid: Wt t 1 am commenting, Mr. Mayor, to be very clear and that,:
Mr. Paul and have talked about the 200 feet that now appears in his
amendment: and t.have made the suggestion to him that it be there. . I
am commenting on the ordinance, I am not commenting on the proposed,
charter amends;ent because it has been...it is in the process of refinement.
And, t can't comment on a version I haven't seen.
Mayor -Ferre: Mr. Reid, nobody, including I am sure, Mr. Paul, is questioning
any...th.e'fact ;is that you are addressing yourself to item number 18 which
is...is filet right or is it 19?
Mr. Reis'!' I, am addressingmyself to item number 18 and 19. I think one
•21.t,2; `.hc Charter .amendment and the other relates to an ordinance...
I'm so:•ry, number 19...
..r. t.d1G Inat incorporates the
same feature
Mayor Ferre: which is an ordinance.
t•fr- : The
tnumber. 1.9.
language is the same.
'm addressing myself specifically
Which is in our packet and is specifically written, and
nobody expects you to do anything other than that. We understand.
ar.?Reidy O.K. The second thing, is we feel that the boundary line for
the setback provision ought to be extended to the northwest 5th street
bridge. In your presence ordinance, it is recommended that the boundary.
stop at the South Miami Bridge. We feel that this is in line with the
Miami Riverfront Development Study. As, as redevelopment occurs...
Mayor Ferre: Which is the Northwest 5th Street Bridge.
Mr. Reid:
It's just above Lummus Park as you are going up the Miami' River.
Mayor Ferre: So, you would extend beyond then. .In other words you want
to go deeper into the river.
Mr. Reid: That..we want to go deeper into the, river for the purpose.
-4Aeveloping a meaningful river walk. O.k. We hops that some day
as redevelopment occurs along the Miami River, as was suggested in the
illami Riverfront Study, that there be a river waik the entire length...
Mayor Ferre: You are addressing yourself to both the 50 foot setback
provision and the 75%.
Mr. Reid: All of my comments at the present time are addressed simply
to the setback provision. O.k.
112
'JUL1 1979
Mayor Ferre: So, you are not addressing yourself to the 25% see -through
on the river. O.k.
Mr. Reid: No, I'm not. Mr. Mayor, my first four comments, and I've
discussed two of them, are addressed to the setback provision. Number
three, I believe, the waterfront industrial properties that are now
presently in this area, should be allowed to function in terms of use of
the waterfront yard. So, that some language would have to make it clear
that boat slips, boat ramps, pump out stations, whatever, would be
permitted within this area as waterfront industrial property are embraced
When you stop at the South Miami Avenue bridge, I don't believe you
affected any waterfront industrial property. So, if you do accept the
principle of extending it further up the Miami River, we do have to deal
with waterfront properties. And, finally, we feel that in residential
zones, as the heights of structures increase, a greater setback is
required from the waterfront than the present 50 feet suggests in the
ordinance. So, we should make it clear that if other provisions of our
ordinance, because of height restrictions are more restrictive, that they
should be applied in terms of the setback from the waterfront. O.k.
Now, for the comments on the view corridor provision of the ordinance. We
feel, that in terms of their• geographic coverage, that they cover too much
of the City. That in terms of public purpose, that there are other
public purposes that could be achieved in terms of access to the bay that
we think rate a higher priority. And that, in terms of administration
of the view corridor ordinance, it is going to be very difficult to
administer and we'd be prepared to illustrate that specifically on the
23rd and can talk about it tonight. It should be, and Father Gibson
was asking...
Mayor Ferre: Wait, wait a minute, because I, I didn't...I think that's
a very important statement you just made, and I want to make sure I
understand it. Why don't you want to talk about it tonight?
Mr. Reid: Well, I'll be glad to talk about it verbally, but I,would like
to have :some drawings of sites and some actual parcels..
Mayor Ferre: Are, are you talking about, still item number 1 which is
the 50 foot setback?
Mr. Reid: NO 1`>finished talking about the setback. O.k.
Mayor Ferre: 'All right. Now, what you are saying is, I didn't catch
your fourth one. The third one was your w...waterfront industrial...
Mr. Reid: Let me summarize the setback recommendations. Number one,
that the ..it would be 200 feet in terms of the 25% rather than the
150. Number two, extend to the Northwest 5th Street bridge with respect:
to the ;river walk.
Mayor Ferre:
That's done.
Mr. Reid: Number three, as you make that extension, protect the rights
of waterfront industrial to continue.
Mayor Ferre:. That's not in there.
Mr. Reid: Number four...
Mayor Ferre: Excuse -me, where is Dan? Onyour
Mr. Paul: That's in there now, where it exempts
of 500 square feet, relating to docks.
Mayor Ferre: Well, O.k. It's not in there.
Mr. Reid: Finally, the fourthpoint is, that where, our'present zoning
restrictions, with respect to setbacks, are more restrictive,-they"should
structures not in excess
113
!JUL111979
apply and we should make clear that they do apply, and that is true
as the heights, of buildings go up. So, that finishes the commeent, a
this time, on the setback requirements. Now, turning tor_theview.,
corridor, we feel that it is too extensive with respect to its geographic
coverage of waterfront property...
Mayor Ferre: All right, you have to go slower. I'm sorry. This is on
item 2, you have...tell me that again.
Mr. Reid: View corridor. We think its too extensive with respect to
its geographic coverage. It covers too much of the City's waterfront,
if you will. Number one, we feel that other public purposes, in terms
of waterfront access, should rate higher priority than a view corridor,
and I'm prepared to explain that.
Is that a second item?'
That's a second comment.
Mayor Ferre: All right, would you repeat that again?
Mr. Reid: That other public purposes, we believe should take priority
over a view corridor and we are prepared to explain that. And, wealso
feel that the ordinance, in its present form, would be difficult to.
interpret and administer and I can give verbal comment...
Mayor Ferre: Wait, wait, that's a third thing.
Mr. Reid:. Yea, third thing is, that the ordinance would be difficult
to interpret and administer and we are prepared to make some commentswith
respect to that.
Mayor F. re: All right, proceed.
Mr. Reid: In terms of the first item, in geographic coverage, it should
be noted for the record, and in terms of our calculations, looking at
bayfront land, which we feel is the most important with respect to the
view; corridor, that at the present time, over 25% of the bayfront land
is in public ownership, or public right of way. And, there are 20,000,
20% of the bayfront land, in terms of linear feet of frontage is in PR -
zoning and 5% of it is in public right of way. So, right now, in terms
of. public...
Ferre: Put them up against the seats.
Mr. Reid: In terms of public access to the bay, we currently own, and
can provide access to about 25% of the bay frontage. This includes
many fine parks such as Morningside, Pace, Legion, Kennedy, Coconut Grove,
Wainwright and Brickell, and includes some presently under utilized parks,
like Bayfront and Bicenntenial. One of our major concerns is to get
public use of the waterfront land that is now available. O.k. Number
two, of the current waterfront zoning, 36% of the land abutting the water
is zoned R-1 and R-2, relatively low density. And, we feel that the
City basically has a good mix with respect to the...having high density
development of the water, having open space, having City owned property,
having commercial development, and soforth. And we feel, that as a
legislative policy we ought to think about mandating that we should seek
to preserve half or more of the City's waterfront in low density development
and in public ownership. So, that community fears and developer aspirations
are, if you will, circumscribed by the policy that we intend to maintain
a City that has low density along the waterfront. I think that this
policy would be especially applicable in the upper northeast areas of the
City above 36th Street and in the Coconut Grove area. We feel that
residential zones, basically, should be exempted from the ordinance, and
that's residential zones R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, R-5, RPD and RC. As a
general matter, in terms of the side yard requirements of our zoning
ordinance, whenever you get above 10 stories, our side yard requirements
are much more restrictive than the view corridor setback, if you will.
L14
rjUL 1 i 1979
And, for example, on a lot that's 400 feet wide and the building which
has a height of 300 feet, the view corridor covers 100 of those feet.
The side yard requirements under the ordinance covers 311 feet in terms
of pinching a building in. And, we feel that there should be a policy
of encouraging this development that sits perpendicular to the bay and
we also feel that in terms of the present view corridor,as its proposed,
could create problems with effect to the constructions of walls, the
growing of hedges, landscaping to screen parking lots, the provisions
of site amenities, such as gazebos, and soforth. And there are questions,
major questions, in terms of how all these things are handled with
respect to a view. For example, a property owner in a single family
dwelling, and I guess Mr. Paul is amending this, could be required to
have 25% of his 8 foot wall in front of his property that he might want
to put in as a wall 75% and 25% as a chain link fence to maintain
the view corridor required for his property. In the case of multi -family
structures, large parking lots could be prevented from being screened
by landscaping and residential areas would lose some of their privacy
and perhaps security. We believe, that in some areas of the City, nearby
residents of lower density areas prefer to be screened from a bayfront
highrise rather than partake of the distant view of the bay. And, we
do feel that in terms of variances with respect to the side yard setback,
that perhaps the City Commission as well as the Zoning Board should
consider these variances on the waterfront so that we would have two
steps of control, and make it more difficult to get variances from the
side yard setback. Just a couple of more points and I'll wrap this up.
We feel, that the view corridor could usefully be replaced by what we
call a bay access corridor. And basically, this means that it is more
important form our perspective the views of the bay are important and we
own 25% of the waterfront to permit such views, but pedestrians access
in areas where people work and shop, is also very important. And, we
would like to see a provision which would require developers to dedicate
a 25 foot easement, if no public rights of way exist to get in front of
their property and commercial areas where people now work and shop, or
will work there in the future. And, that a walkway be constructed in the
front of these properties as part of the zoning ordinance, so that we
provide pedestrian walkup and sea access to the bay. We think that's
very important. And of course, this access would also, this bay walk
as we call it, would also provide a view corridor. We think, that
there are problems in calculating the frontage under the existing
ordinance, in terms of the shape of properties. That you are either
shaped like a pyramid, or an invert pyramid, in terms of the properties
that are bounded by two sides, such as Elk, rather by the bay, south
and Ball Point. Do you calculate the frontage in terms of total
water frontage? In which case Ball Points frontage would be in excess
of 14 feet, 1400 feet. Do you calculate it as a straight line between
Chopin Plaza and Biscayne Boulevard? In which case they would have
998 foot of frontage. 0r do you calculate it in terms of the width
of the property as viewed from Biscayne Boulevard, in which case they
would have something in excess of 600 feet of frontage in terms of a
view corridor. So, there are calculation problems in terms of how you
administer this. 0n an island, how would you do it? If you took the
total frontage of Claughton Island, for example, the perimeter is
something like 6,000 feet. Whereas, a line drawn from...parallel from
Brickell Avenue drawn from the northern boundary of the island to the
southern tip of the island, is something in excess of 2,000 feet. So,
which one do you constitute for purpose of measurement, or do you use
neither? We feel, that in the particular case of Claughton, that it
should be exempted from the view ordinance. We feel that the DRI require-
ment which were accepted by this Commission and established 8 view
corridors with a minimum of 64 feet are the important consideration
with respect to island development. These were done as a result of the
DRI requirement and urban design studies. And, we do feel also,
that the waterfront recreational and public recreational zoning district
are accessible to the public and these might well be exclude with
the caveat, if there is extensive activities on Watson Island and
Virginia Key, that those would also be good candidates for urban
design studies and view corridors to preserve a view on those particular
properties. And, I'd like to say that this is the...we have some tables
115
with respect to waterfront setback that illustrates the problem that I
talked about at the beginning and some tables with respect to the view.
corridors and side yard requirements that illustrates several of the,.
points I've been making. But, I would like to indicate that this is a
preliminary analysis, we are continuing to work on this, and we would
hope by the Commission meeting on the 23rd that we would be much more
definitive and will have learned from the process of additional analysis
and additional consultation with people who are familiar with the subject.
Mayor Ferre: All right, is there anybody else from the administration
that wants to say anything. All right, Mr. Roy Kenzie, from the
Downtown Development Authority, and then we'll hear....All right the,
Planning Advisory meeting, those of you that are hear for that is being
held in this room over here. Is there anybody here for the Planning
Advisory Board meeting? Mam, you have to go around. Would you show her.
There are signs to show where it is. Anybody here for the PAB meeting.
All right, Mr. Kenzie.
Mr. Roy Kenzie: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor, and members of the
City Commission, over the last 5 to 10 years the City Commission and
the administration, and the private sector have been forging an alliance
and a working relationship to improve the image of Miami in the eyes of
large institutional investors and development consortiums. And, this
is especially true in the case of downtown. The City has created parks,
provided zoning variances, established convention/ conference centers,
world trade centers, worked with the County to develop government centers
develop rapid transit, and downtown people movers systems, as catalyst
for large scale private investment in the downtown area. These activities
are extremely important, for a number of reasons, including the provision
of increased tax income to provide the basic services, while holding
the line on residential tax assessment within the City. Downtowns,
as you know, are the single most efficient tax producers in the City,
while occupying only 2% of the City's land area, it now produces over
18% of the total tax take of the City, and of course, does not demand
back that 18% in services, and consequently pays for services for the
entire City of Miami. Helping to hold, again, the line on residential
taxes and tax base. While present City tax caps and the potential loss
of CETA funding and attendant fiscal problems of the City point to the
need for increased tax revenues, Downtown Development has been moving
to provide those revenues through increased development activity.
In the 1960's, downtown produced roughly one quarter, or almost 25% of
the total tax take of the City. With the decline of downtown after that
point in time, this dropped to a low of 12% in 1974.
Mayor Ferre: O.k. give me the years again.
Mr. Kenzie: O.k. I'm saying in the 60's, through the 60's, downtown
provided almost one quarter of the total tax take of the City. When we
got into the 70's, by 74 we dropped to about 12% of downtown providing
12% of the total tax take of the City.
Father Gibson:'
Sir.
Mr. Kenzie: Yes, sir.
Father. Gibson: Since the Mayor did that, I was going to wait, but I want
to make sure we don't get that wrong. You said, that you provide 18%...
Mr. Kenzie: Presently.
Father Gibson: Yes. But read that again.
Mr.'Kenzie: O.k. In the 60's, running through the 60's•
Father Gibson: No, no, no.'
Mayor Ferre:
Previous to that.
'JUL 1979
116
Mr. Kenzie: 0.k. Ptiously, I was saying that down represents...
Father Gibson: No, read it because it's in the record and I want to make
sure it's made right. Go ahead.
• Mr, Kenzie: O.k. I said, while occupying, roughly 2% of the City's land
area, downtwon presently produces approximately 18% of the total tax base
for the City. That's in assessment, net assessment, for land and
improvements. That's excluding other taxes.
Father Gibson: All right, now read the other part you said.
1ft. Kenzie: 0.1c. I'm saying in the 60's....
Father Gibson: No, no, no, no. Continue right there.
Mayor Ferre: Father Gibson thinks that You were making a statement
right after that that it was costing more than 18%...
Mr. Kenzie: No, o.k. Right after that I said, while downtown pays 18% of
the total tax take of the City, it does not demand back that total in
services.
Father Gibson: Read what you said before because you gave me the
impression, at least what you said was, as if you all pay the tax bill.
That is not the case, you get, you pay more than a proportionate share,
you get less service than what you pay for, and I want that cleared up.
Because if I let you go on with what you said, you would not think that
I know better. Read, read the statement. Go right on, read it like you
said.
Mr. Kenzie: Which part.
Father Gibson: You heard me.
Mr. Kenzie: No, the argument...
•Father Gibson: That 3% going to start with. You know the "thing
You just :zot through reading.
Mr. Kenzie: O.k. The argument is this...
Mayor Ferre: Roy, it'll take less time, if you just read that...start
where it says 3%, 18. Just read it over.
Father Gibson: Right.
Mr. Kenzie: O.k. While occupying only 2% of the City's area it produces
now, over 18% of the tax base of the City. And, I said, of course,
downtown does not get all of that 18% back, and as a consequence it pays
for services for the entire City.
Father Gibson: That's what I wanted. See, you can't tell me that. Now,
the English I studied, you can't say that to me.
Mayor Ferre: That's an ambiguous statement.
Father Gibson: You act as if 18% pays for the whole deal. If you say,
if you go on to say that you, you pay more than your proportionate share
and receive less than your proportionate share of the service, buy
Mr. Kenzie: O.k.
Father Gibson: But, I want...
Mr. Kenzie: I'll agree with that.
Father Gibson: You know, I want the record to reflect, because if you,
you know, we usually ask, give us a manuscript. So, I want you to correct
it now, so that, you know.
Mr. Kenzie: O.k. I'll agree with that statement. And, I was saying,
in the 60's, I'll go to that point. Downtown was producing about a quarter
of the tax take of the City. In the 70's, that dropped to a low in 1974
of 12%. And, since that time, we've been working to try to push that
back up. At the present time, we're back up to the 17 or 187. level.
As a matter of comparison, downtown Miami, represents 2%
FAH s
117
Mr Kenzie: ... of the total area of the City and produces now eighteen percent
of the taxes. In the City of Atlanta, downtown Atlanta represents three percent
of the land area and produces fifty percent of the tax take of the City. And
that's as I was saying earlier downtowns are very efficient tax producers for
the amount of area they occupy and increased development in that area produces
taxes without gobbling up a lot of land. Downtown growth in this period in the
late seventies is contributed to a number of things. One, to the City's tax
base... as Father Gibson said in unproportioned share to it's land area.
Secondly, It has provided new jobs, this development. It has provided other
taxes. It has redeveloped the vast areas of decline and areas within the
Downtown has provided new housing. And what does this statement have to do
with the Charter Amendment and proposed ordinance? It has this to say "we have
spent a considerable amount of time and a considerable amount of money in an
cffort to bring large investors and developers into Miami". If this Ordinance
passes as written presently, this will serve to turn off those very investors
we spent our time trying to bring here. It will in effect in some cases
break faith with them in terms of our desire to see them go ahead and continue
and complete their projects. For example, when we have issued development
orders and then we turn around and make it impossible to develop through other
action, that crates problems with the investors, the institutional investors
who have put the money behind those developments and which we spend a
considerable amcsnt of time trying to get into Downtown to help us develop the
Downtown area. The ordinance and Charter Amendment impacts on the following
1)nwntovm rrr' Downtown related projects and these are large scale projects;
Bell Point Phase II, Claughton Island, Plaza Venetia Phase II, Brickell Place
?base II, Watson Island, the Forte Property below, General Development, the
Hermitage, the Peter's Property on the Miami River, Brickell Point, the Dick
and Thatcher Property on the Miami River, Flagship Bank Phase II as a number
of large projects. And these projects represent an excess of five hundred
w.i.liun dollars of investment in Miami presently on the way or presently in
planning that would be affected by any cessation of building permitting or
c;:.upancy c"i'... ability to occupy structures. And thousands of construction
jcbs and thoisands of permanent jobs that are affected by that. Further, if
it wLs rui ,d 'thJt the City would have to compensate property owners for
scenic easements or taking of property, the City would then be obligated to
come up witn hundreds of millions of dollars in compensation to those property
owners who's property would be affected by said ordinances or Charter Amendments.
Beyond' affecting Downtown Development and other large scale projects. The
rrrinance a.nd proposed Charter Amendment also affects over four hundred
s:.ng].e family property owners in the City who stand to lose up to one third
to one half of the value of their land and will be unable to build walls, plant
screens or build garages if they obscure more than one quarter of their
iionLage, depending on how you define the scenic easements and how Mr. Reid
earlier presented the difficulties in trying to do that. If we look at the
City's bay edge as Jim pointed out, we can see that eighty-five percent of
the bay's edge is either in residential use now or in park use and twenty...
Mayor Ferre: How much?
Mr. Kenzie: Eighty-five percent is either in residential use or
presently.
Mayor Ferre:
Jim?
n park use
That's not the figures that you..._that 'Jim Reid. 'where i
UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: - He said public use Mr. Mayor.
,T,;,. GROUND' COMMENTS OFF THE PUBLIC RECORD)
Kenzie: I'm talking about all our zones, ok? If we talk just about
single family residential that's thirty-six percent and if we talk about parks
that's twenty percent and right-of-way that's five percent, so that's thirty-
six percent plus twenty-five percent is either in single family or in parks
or. right-of-way of the present bay frontage. Now, R-3 is twenty-five percent
and then we get into highrise residential developments. Downtown... excuse me,
commercial development on the bay represents 6.8 percent of the total bay
frontage. So what I'm saying is this Charter Amendment and proposed ordinances
affects great private home owners, property owners along the bay, over four
hundred and fifty of them presently and their ability to build walls in front
of their property, build hedges, plant screen, park their cars perhaps in
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'JUL1i 1979
4gt‘
their drive -way, whatever, that would block this proposed scenic quarters
through their property. The provision of an... Another point to consider
generally is the issue of building permits. It is an interesting argument
from this point and I haven't seen this answered yet and that is in terms of
major renovations of buildings that are presently within the confines of the
ordinance. For example, the Miami Herald Building is a good example. If the
Miami Herald decided to have a major renovation of their structure, they would
not be able to get a building permit, because by the ordinance that building
presently is too close to the water, number one, it's not within fifty feet.
In fact, not within twenty feet of the water. Secondly, it has no public
access to the water and thirdly, it covers more of the site than seventy-five
percent.
Mayor Ferre: Excuse me, Roy, but I have got to interrupt. You could look
at it the other way. You say it's too close to the water and may be the
other way is that it's not close enough.
Mr. Kenzie: But sways it causes the problem for any building that's within
the confines of the ordinance or affected by the ordinance presently if it
was to go in for major renovation and needed a building permit. We would
have a dilemma in what to do with that unless we exempted all of those. To
sum up the arguments that I presented and add a couple of more, is first of
all in doing this we lose the development momentum we spent years and years
trying to create. Secondly, we create a lack of confidence in the large
institutional lenders and developers who have spent a considerable amount of
time and money in involvement with the Commission to this day trying to
push their projects ahead only to now reach further difficulties which in
some cases and in projects right now create difficulties in closing to be
able to move ahead. Third, it creates a loss of jobs if we cut down on the
development momentum and cut down development time Downtown, we are losing
both construction jobs and we are losing permanent jobs and this we are doing
at a time of recession presently. Next we lose potential services for the
City because of the lack of taxes or loss of taxes which this development
represents. And we have not too many abilities to raise additional taxes
unless we have development because of present caps. It creates a loss of
value on p-operty for single family property owners who's property is affected
along the bay. It also impedes major renovation activities within the confines
of the scope of the ordinance. There are some additional questions to ask
and I would like to leave you with this. First of all, is that I think the
property owners, the private property owners especially in residential units
along the bay should be given the same courtesy that people are given through
the normal zoning change process and that is to be given public notice of the
in the case of zoning ordinances, zoning
ordinances which affect their property. Many of the private property owners
along the bay have no knowledge of what this ordinance means to them personally
and their property. They see it mainly as applying to large scale development
Downtown, but that's not true. The ordinance applies to the entire frontage
along the City and affects a tremendous number of individual, single family
property owners along the bay. Secondly, is a question to the process whereby
we are going through trying to achieve what we are trying to achieve. We are
going through in an ordinance process when it would be more advisable and
the City Attorney has recommended we go through amendments to the zoning
ordinance, which would then provide public notice and provide public input
in a orderly process towards change. Third item is the... just the process
of the Charter Amendment versus the Zoning Amendment. This Charter Amendment
is really a zoning ordinance, amendment or change and should more likely go
through that process. The fourth item is the questionable constitutionality
of certain portions of the Charter Amendment Ordinance as proposed in terms
of public taking and scenic corridors and the rights of the property owner'
compensation for taking of property. In either case for scenic corridors or
for public right-of-way through private property. If that could not be
resolved the legal issues involved in the court cases and arguments could
take such a long period of time over years that would hold up significant
development in the Downtown anyways. That summarizes the majority of the
points I wanted to make. There is a representative, I believe... a representative
still here from one of the unions. There were others here earlier who wanted
to speak on the subject, but had to leave prior to 6:30, so one remained.
And I'm just mentioning that because he would like to speak before he has to
leave.
Mayor Ferre: Ok. And then after that. Dan, I will recognize you...
Mr. Washington: Walt Washington, President of the Lathers Local 345.
Mayor Ferre: Alright, excuse me. Is there anybody here that is present for
the Planning Advisory Board Meeting? (EXPLAINS IN SPANISH). Alright, proceed.
Mr. Washington: Walt Washington, President of the Lathers Local 345.
Mayor Ferre: What local is that Walt?
Mr. Washington: Lathers Local 345, 1655 Northwest`17th Avenue is our location.
My apologies for several representatives that could not make it tonight, like
Wednesday night, it's very busy for union meetings. Two things that come to
our mind that was very significant. One, they speak of moratorium. We remember
the recession we had here several years ago and how it cut back on construction
and this word traveled very fast among the trades. I am a man that works with
his hands, have to serve as President of his union as well. But the concern
of our organization and labor itself becomes very dear when we find out that
may be things could take a reverse. This gentleman previously... that spoke
to you said that things could be tied up in litigation over rights along the
water. This we know. And where as we are talking in hundreds of millions
of dollars in construction in the very heart of our City and this concerns the
individual that works for a living. It concerns those that are involved with
them and then when it comes to us over the word that passed through labor
today it made us concerned about this program and you will hear more about it
later. The point that I want to put to this, the nation is talking recession,
we are talking something in growth here in our City that shines out all over
the world and I think we should be made very concerned if we want to grow and
we can see ourselves growing that we shouldn't take steps back when we want to
go forward. To talk on, on this would be just repetitious from my part, but
I just want to make you concerned of how we feel about it.
Mayor Ferre: Thank you, very much. Walt do you represent your union here,
or are you here for the trade unions or what?
Mr. Washington: Well,
speak in bF'la1f of my
the City too as well.
trades tomorrow.
Mayor Ferre: Who
/;r. Washington: M
Mayor Ferree
Ok.
speaking in behalf of those that were not here. I,
union and as a.citizenthat livesright in the -heart of
But I>will get -back to the President of "the.building,_`=
the President of the building trades now.
. Shears.
Mr. Washington: And I havehim...
later on. Thank you, 'very much.
e will probably get in touch with you
Mayor Ferre: Thank you. Alright, do you want to present your position a
this point and then we will get into this?
(BACKGROUND COMMENT OFF THE PUBLIC RECORD)
Mayor Ferre: What's the brown bag? Are you brown bagging it again,
(BACKGROUND COMMENT OFF THE PUBLIC RECORD)
Paul?
Mr. Paul: Mr. Mayor, the hour is late and I don't know that a great deal of
use would be spent in debating back and forth on some of the points that
Mr. Reid raised. If he will read the Charter Amendment, I think he will find
that almost all of them are already answered, but there is one thing that
does interest me. When I listen to all these people up here carping and trying
to pick this thing apart. I want to just ask a question. Where was the
Miami Planning Department when the public was being raped along the waterfront?
Where was the Downtown Development Authority when the public was being raped
along the waterfront? Where was the Chamber of Commerce? We haven't heard
one peep from anyone of these people until this amendment was proposed and now
the same old turn dirt crowd, the same people who want to build now and repent
at leisure are up here telling you that "let the developers do what they want".
In fact, I listened to one Lawyer stand up here and argue for several people
saying that because all of these people had started to plan to do these things
gl
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JUL 1 1 1679.
that we shouldn't in any time suggest now that we should have setbacks.
That's the reason we have to have them. That argument reminds me of the
old argument that used to apply in Florida in rape cases. It used to be a
defense in a rape case that the female was not a previously chased young lady.
Well, that has now been passed and out. And the fact that all this has gone
on in the past is certainly no excuse for grandfathering it in, in the future.
There is a demand in this community to preserve what we have of waterfront and
when I sit here and listen to what Mr. Reid tells you, that he recommends
exempting residential areas, but he does... residential zones and he doesn't
tell you that all of those great big highrises along Brickell that, that is a
residential use by his definition. What's the difference whether you block the
waterfront out with a hotel or an office building or a highrise condominium?
By Mr. Reids definition, there is nothing wrong with Collins Avenue because that
great concrete wall along their majority of them are highrise condominiums
that are walling it out. Obviously,... I begin to wonder really whether there
is any desire to do anything at all and nobody is arguing that the amendment
as drafted is perfect in every respect, it was put out to get as much input as
possible. But the time is now running out, obviously this week we will have
to put this petition on the streets so that we can guarantee that we will have
something on the ballot. Because if these people have such great concern as
I said "where were they when all of these things... we didn't hear a peep
from Mr. Kenzie and his Downtown Development Authority when all of these
buildings were being built. Not one peep have we heard. Even before he came
here that authority has been into existence. The Planning Department has been
here it's their job to try and protect the City from these particular things.
Now, I think that the Amendment in the first place in the amending process
as provided by the Metropolitan Home Rule Charter, once the petitions are
circulated the Commission still has the opportunity to make corrections and
make changes if there are any wording changes or errors in the ballot before
it's submitted to the public. But these petitions have got to be submitted
not less than sixty days prior to November 6th, then obviously to collect the
sum twelve thousand signatures we have got to put them on the street. I think
that Commissioner Gordon has certainly made a good faith effort to come up
with a workable proposal and I think the Mayor has made a good faith effort
to come up with a workable proposal, but I think at that point it stops
honest with you. I don't think that there is a desire to find something that
will save the public's waterfront and to provide a reasonable setback and to
provide some reasonable view corridors. Sure, I wouldn't at all suspect that
this matter may not be litigated. It's been litigated many, many times, but
if we don't start somewhere we are not going to have anything when we finish.
And the time has come, we can't be grandfathering in anymore projects, we can't
be attemping to provide anymore variances. That's the problem in trying to
deal with this thing in terms of zones. Most of the worse things that have
happened along the waterfront have been the result of variances. There were
protections in the Zoning Code, but they didn't hold and that's why we need a
Charter Amendment to put a final floor under this particular rape of the
waterfront in shutting out of the public from any view, any where along the
Bayfront. I'm open to any reasonable suggestions in the drafting of this
petition. Every suggestion that I have been able to get from Mr. Reid until
he stopped cooperating here about a week ago. We have attempted to incorporate
in this particular amendment and I'm still willing to listen to him. A11 I
want is the best possible proposal. All of these other people who are out here
representing developers are here because their clients have paid them to come
here. I'm not paid by anybody to come here. I'm looking only for the best
proposal that we can get to save the waterfront, but this matter... I don't
think that anything short of a Charter Amendment is going to do this job and
going to control zoning variances that have been granted by various boards of
the City or days passed by the City Commission. It's certainly not ideal.
I would like to see much higher requirements than we have in this particular
amendment, but at least this will put a floor on it and will preserve something
before everything is lost. And I hope that the Commission will put the amendment
or as I gather you have already put at least one version of the amendment
already on the ballot and I hope that as the amendment is refined, that the
amendments and the revisions will get put on the ballot. But I think the
principle is basically sound of a fifty foot setback except where the lot is
less than two hundred feet, that it ought to be twenty-five and that there
ought to be a twenty-five, seventy-five ratio from the point of view of open
space along the waterfront and if Mr. Reid will read the amendment he will
see that in the cases of the irregular pieces of property or Claughton Island
which already has a fine view corridor laid out through it that, that within
the City Administration's discretion to administer those. Obviously, you have
to have special provisions when you have islands or when you have irregular
pieces of land and I don't have any quarrel with the view corridors that are
going to be provided on Claughton Island. But if we are all working in a
good faith effort to save the waterfront, I think that we need to go ahead with
this proposal. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I will be happy to answer any questions
anybody has.
Mayor Ferre: Alright, Ken do you want to address the issue? And then we will
be hearing from the other side.
Mr. Treister: My name is Kenneth Treister, I'm a architect in the City and
Mr. Mayor and City Commissioners I have made some comments to Dan Paul that
were included in this new petition and I only wanted... I don't want to address
the political or all the other consideration, but I would like to bring out
some architectual points of view for the preservation of the waterfront.
Number one, I'm for highrise and high density. I'm against suburban sprawl
and I'm a developer and an architect and I am for development. And I think
the City of Miami has a great future in front of it because for all the reasons
of the energy crisis and the hours wasted on long lines on expressways, we have
to start bringing people back to the center city and I think that we have to
do it with high density. At the same time I'm for the preservation of the bay.
I lived on Miami Beach, I grew up on Miami Beach and I saw Miami Beach change
from a very beautiful City to one that is in a decline now. So I think it would
be a mistake to ignore the preservation of the bay and I think the solution isn't
black and white. We shouldn't have bumper stickers that say highrises are
bad. We should say bad highrises are bad. Good design is good, bad design is
bad and there isn't any black and white characterization in architecture.
Number one, in going over this just architectually, I think the point is made
and I think it should be reinforced in the wording here, that single family and...
Mayor Ferre: Excuse me, Ken. Mr. Reid, I don't mean to be rude to you, but
I think this is important that you listen to this. I know. But I'm sorry to
do that to you, but I think it's important that you follow this.
Mr. Treister: Thank you. In this latest draft and we are talking draftmanship
now. It: says single family residences should have walls. I think we should
encourage townhouse development and I think that includes may be duplex or
other type of townhouse or rowhouse development and that's a minor change,
but I think that would encourage Hermitage and that type of development which
I think is compatible with low profile along the waterfront. Sometimes you
get great density in midrise or lowrise buildings and we should encourage that
as well as the highrise buildings. An auxilliary... someone mentioned a gazebo.
I happen to like gazebos. So I think walls, gazebos or auxilliary structures
to low profile residential developments should be allowed.
Mayor Ferre: But that doesn't say so here Ken, that's why you've got to...
you see, you and I talked on the phone today and you really have a moral
responsibility to work on this along with all of us.
Mr. Treister: Yes, and I... Right. And that's one thing we just saw... I
just saw this tonight, I would like to work on. Secondly, I would like to
talk about the bonus provision on the second paragraph which I think is very
important. Number one, to encourage proper development we have to give bonuses
Bonuses are meaningful when they are increasing the floor area ratio and the
height that might be limited. Number one, this provides and I think it's a
good idea. If someone has greater side setbacks and that's required by the
law or by this amendment that they be given some bonuses. Now, there is a
fundamental planning concept that I would like to bring to your attention
which is in here. Highrises that are perpendicular to the bay are good in
general and those that are parallel to the bay are generally bad. Miami Beach
as one continuous concrete wall parallel to the bay. So you don't get the
breeze, you don't get the view, you don't get the vista, you don't get the
relief from that concrete wall. If as in Brickell Bay they are perpendicular
to the bay, you get a thin silhouette of a building and a large space between
adjoining highrises, that generally is good. So I think... and it says in here
"that the City should try to encourage highrise perpendicular to the bay and
oppose it parallel to the bay. Secondly, from the occupants point of view
in a highrise building if it's parallel to the bay, half face the bay and half
do not see the water. If it's perpendicular to the bay all on either side can
see the bay at the angle. So there is a dual purpose in this, one for the
community and one for the tenants. Now, some review boards review these
buildings and I got a hunch that some of them let some buildings go by that
are bad, may be because they didn't have proper guidelines. So I don't know
gl
122
places where you can't have underground
below the bay level and below Bayshore Drive, now it's expensive and I'm
,not suggesting 1 be mandatory, but what I'm suggesting if somebody in their
good will and ma; be good business judgement does it, they should be awarded
some bonus, eliminating surface parking, encouraging underground parking.
Another thing Mr. Mayor, would be if you have multi -level parking garages
and you eliminate the first level and allow that to be opened to the view and
-tothe.breeze'and to the openness and park on the second or third level plus
underground, again that's encouraging. So this is worded by saying "we will
give a.bonus if they eliminate surface parking" which is basic. I hate to
say ugly carsaren't ugly, but it isn't as attractive as a landscaped area.
thxt idea is something that Ley did before we ever thought of.:
the procedure, but the guideline should be established so the review boards
know the intent of the people and the intent of the Commission and if you agree
with that concept which is stated in here that "buildings should be perpendicular
rather than parallel to the bay" that should be communicated to the various
boards so they know that they are not rubber stamping a development, but they
have some prerogatives to make it better. The next thing that I think is
in here which is good, is giving bonuses if you eliminate surface parking.
Now, it's very expensive to have base underground parking, but it can be done
s.nd if you caa just excuse my pride, Office in the Grove has underground
parking, Yacht Harbor has underground parking and Mayfair has underground
parking. Now, it's expensive, but eliminates that ugly asphalt paving..,
Mayor Ferre: Underground parking?
Treister: Underground parking.
Mayor Ferre: But Ken, there are some
rir. 'Preister: Yes, but let me say this... Well, I don't know of any that your
can't- but it's 'eery expensive. In Yacht Harbor where underground parking
it in .Villa Marseilles in Marseilles.He decided that building-highrise
&3L ld he on stilts. And if you build them on stilts and allow the
oprnress on tle first level the landscape, whether it be urban landscape or
'ub'irran or x'rel landscape continues through the first level. So we should
b_;E a.,DO4L., a developer who dedicates the open space on the pedestrian
i vel or c:iicre cars sees through it to the public.He doesn't give
to the puhiic, but he allows them to see through it. He raised the building
on stilts. He has a small lobby with an elevator and stair landings that come
down. He does that, he has given us really a public park almost. And if it's
a commercial building people can walk in and can shop and can go to the lobby
and *hey fee] the freedom of that open space. So this says that"if we support
th• building on stilts with a minimum structure, we give them a bonus". And
', :: rouse, think that's important. So just in general, I think what this
now says and I will keep working on trying to improve it, is that we want to
encourage proper development, we want to encourage highrise development, but
wt. should try to bring in some architectual features that make it more
pleasant for the community and better for the community, so we don't have the.
problems that other communities have had. Thank you.
Maycr Ferre: Ken, I will tell you before you go. One of the problems that
I see-- trying to be constructive on this-- is that in the Downtown area
there are no restrictions now. Now, the stuff that is being proposed by the
department and by everybody has a seventeen floor area ratio. Now, a seventeen
FAR is basically what Henry Gutierrez had in that one Biscayne Building.
That's a hell of a lot of space. Now, how much bonus can you really give
somebody who has that much of a bonus anyway?
1'r. Tr.plster: You make a good point and may be we are making a mistake in.
only talking about floor area ratio bonuses. There is many other bonuses that
a 44P•"eloper would like. I mean, I can list...
May ur Ferre:
Like what?
Mr. Treister: Well, number one, if there is adjoining off-street parking that
should... and it's under developed, under used. For instance, he should be
able to use that may be for required parking, number one. Number two, if he
donates may be some of his open spaces as pedestrian area, may be a bonus
should be that he doesn't need certain setbacks that aren't meaningful. Setbacks
are arbitrary. We did a house in Gainesville by Frank Lloyd Wright a fraternity
house, who has never built. The setback was I think twenty feet. Frank
Lloyd Wright made a eighty foot setback, but in one place because of the angle
of the lot violated the twenty foot setback. The City said "oh, we have to
it
81
123
have the twenty" and he said " that's ridiculous". So what I'm saying is
based on may be a review you can give variance as a setback if they end up
with an average setback that's greater..
Mayor Ferre: Well, that's what we tried to do on this average of this thing
that ,we were working on. You see, the averaging of the...
Mr. Meister: But there is many. I can just tell you as a developer there is.
many things you would love the City to do. May be off-street utilities could
be done by the City. May be a park...
Mayor' Ferre: The what?
Mr. Treister: May be off-street utilities. I mean, maybe off -site utilities
would help a developer of the City wanted to do that pay'. for some, of the off
street -.hookups and other things.
Mayor Ferre: Look, Ken, that I know of the main things the developers are
worried about are setbacks, floor area ratio, lot coverage and height.
Mr. Treister: Yes, but there is parking requirements.
Mayor Ferre: And parking. Ok, those are the basic five things that you are
dealing with,and:here are others, but those are the basic things... you know,
your,buiiding envelope, your so-called building envelope and that's it. It's
ce hack ;reg1.iirements, it's floor area ratio, it's lot coverage, height
restrictions and then parking. Now, Whipple are you around? What have I
missed?_ Those are the five big things that we deal with in everyone of these...
Now, when you;are talking about bonuses, what is it that you are going to
give when there is no parking requirement in Downtown? Now, let's talk about.
the Gould' Property just to be one specific, also known as Ball Point. There
i io paiNi..b,requirement in Downtown as of right now. Alright, now there
are no height requirements, so there is no bonuses to give...
(BACKGROUNL C(`MMFNT OFF THE PUBLIC RECORD)
Mayor Ferre: 1s he going to exceed three hundred feet?
(BACKGROUND COMMENT OFF THE PUBLIC RECORD)
�-�•,�r Ferre: Speak to the microphone, please. Mr. Roy Kenzie for the record.
G0 ' ahead.
Mr. Kenzie: The City gave a variance and a height for the project, the overall
i.ioor area ratio Downtown could be based on the three hundred foot height
limitation which is required by the ordinance. Which is approximately, you
can convert that to about thirty FAR which would allow the development on the
site, depending on the restrictions, three hundred feet high the total coverage
of the site with no parking under the present ordinance. The proposed ordinance
which you alluded to when you said seventeen FAR is equivalent to One Biscayne
Tower.
Mayor Ferre: Well, ok. But you get my point as to...
Mr. Treister: Yes. There is very few major bonuses. There are many little
bonuses because there is many variances that a developer doesn't even ask for
that he would like, but they are minor. You are right, you have hit the
major ones.
:Li . Terre: Now, the other thing that concerns me here is that I think, you
know, somehow this is a little bit too loose. Look, the City is in the
_'.g Code "may grant floor area ratios and height bonuses for observing
cucli or greater property occupancy limits eliminates surface parking and
raising the structure above ground level so only supporting columns, minimum
lobby and elevators is required. Stair enclosures are built at ground level.
Try City Shall encourage highrise". You know, "shall encourage highrise"
doesn't mean anything. You know, it a...
Mr. Treister: These are very loose, right. These are not mandatory..
Mayor Ferre: It's a very loose thing.
81
JUL 1 1 ,1979
Mr. Treister: That's right.
Mayor Ferre: And then look at what this says. "In administering the requirement
the City shall attempt-- attempt, shall attempt-- to preserve open spaces for
light". You know, who decides whether we really attempted and... you know, it's
awfully ambiguous language...
Mr. Treister: Mr. Mayor, you really should require some of these things, but`
that's what...
Mayor Ferre: Well, yes, but that's my point. Look, "which your ground level
occupys more than seventy-five percent of the waterfrontage of each lot or
tract on which the structure is to be built", fine, that's very specific. "The
total waterfrontage shall be computed by a straight line calculation measured
at the waterfront". Now, let's take Ball Point, that's sixteen hundred feet.
"except that in the cases of irregular shape-- that's not irregular property ---
the island or island or single family residence, the City shall determine the
method of measurement." The City shall determine it. Well, how is it going
to determine it? What is it going... you know, suppose the City then determines
that, you know, we only have a hundred feet?
Mr. Treister: The basic problem is you can't legislate or draft proper
architecture for a specific sites.
Mayor Ferre: Why not? Why not? It can be done. You see, I think what you
are getting into here is a can of worms that you are never going to get out
of and I think we have got to be a lot more specific for this thing to hold
water. And I tell you, I... and I will... I think what is being attempted
here is valid and reasonable and I think it should be done. And I think we've
got to figure out the way of doing it so that it's not knocked out in a court
proceeding somewhere for vagueness and that it has impact rather than the
"City shall encourage highrise this and that and the City may grant floor ratios,
bonuses and blah, blah that doesn't mean anything".
Mr. Treister: Mr. Mayor, there was one thing that was left out of here. I
just want :o mention it so that it doesn't get left out. In my comments is
that one of the exceptions to the setback laws now is the parking structures
can exceed the setbacks. So what you have because of the great need of
parking is huge monoliths four or five or six or seven stories high for
parking and then the very thin tower. And those four or five stories monoliths
defeat the whole concept of the original setback and that's something that isn't
addressed here and should be considered by the City to so how correct that
problem. Thank you.
Mayor Ferre: Ken, let me make a graphic explanation to show you how I could
punch one hole through this thing and... This think says, alright, the new one
I'm talking about the new one. The total waterfront... the waterfrontage shall
be computed by a straight line calculation measured at the waterfront, except
that in the case of a regular shaped... This is Ball Point, ok. The distance
between here that wraps around to this point is sixteen hundred feet, ok.
Twenty-five percent of that is four hundred feet, is that correct?
Mr. Treister: Right.
Mayor Ferre: Alright now follow... let me show you what I'm going to do, here
is four hundred feet and I marked it out for you, ok. Alright. Now, I put
up a building like this... do you follow me? Everything here is a building
down to this point. Now, technically that complys with this requirement.
(BACKGROUND COMMENT OFF THE PUBLIC RECORD)
Mayor Ferre: This is not an irregular shaped piece of property.
(BACKGROUND COMMENT OFF THE PUBLIC RECORD)
Mayor Ferre: Who says that's an irregular shaped piece? That's not an
irregular shaped piece. Then, alright, let's say that it is irregular. Let's
go on with it "that in case of irregular shaped piece of property or island or
a single family residence, the City shall determine the method shall determine
the method-- so that in the Ball Point, then how are we going to determine it?
It doesn't say how we are going to determine it.
gl
125
(BACKGROUND COMMENT OFF THE PUBLIC RECORD)
Mayor Ferre: No, not yet. You will have plenty of time.
Mr. Treister: Well, Mr. Mayor, I do agree. This was done, you know, with a
good intent, but probably without "as...'you know, enough I"think factual and
real clear enforcement.
Mayor Ferre: Well, we need to get more than good intentions cm this. We need
to get something that's tight. Because otherwise, I think we are just going
to be spinning our wheels on it.
Mr. Treister: Right. It's really intent, really more than actual law.
Mayor Ferre: Well, would you help in drafting
just something that... you know...
Mr. Treister: I would, be very happy to.
Mayor Ferre: Alright.
(BACKGROUND COMMENT OFF THE PUBLIC RECORD
something that is more than
the microphone so that we can have that
Mayor Ferre: Dan, woui.d you address
on the record?
Mr. Paul: I said you are going to have to leave whatever amendments you
draw and put in our Charter as far as the actual determination of visual site
lines and actual property line measurements'you are going to have to leave for
determination by ordinance and by your Planning Department. You cannot cover
every single piece of property in the Charter Amendment, but that's no reason
for giving up the effort in saying that you can't do it. Everybody knows
what the intent is and that is to try and keep twenty-five percent of the
waterfront open so the public can see it and to provide fifty foot setbacks
and you are going to have to adjust that. If you got a piece of property like
Ball Point, "ou didn't draw it correctly, it's totally irregular because it,
you know, it curves all around. It isn't even... I don't even know what kind
of figure you would call Bali Point. It's got a curved end on one side and
it's square on two sides. I think may be there is a name for that kind of
figure. I don't remember my geometry. But in any case it's obvious that
pieces of property of that type and you have another one on the other side of
the river, you are going to have to put in effects...
Mayor Ferre: What are you saying, that this isn't applicable to Ball Point?
Mr. Paul: No, I'm saying it is applicable to Ball Point, but I'm saying that
the actual measurement to determine where the twenty-five percent setback
would be, would be something to be determined by your Planning Department
pursuant to whatever standards are set up if the amendment is adopted. I'm
not saying that... all I'm saying is you can't put it in this particular
amendment. All you can do is say that the Planning Department is to come up
with a plan that keeps twenty-five percent of that waterfront open.
Mayor Ferre: Alright, Father Gibson?
Rev. Gibson: I heard what you said. What... if we are not careful then we',
run the risk of not being fair by all, you know. That bothers me. And that'
why I was...
Mr. Paul: That's the
risk when you pass any ordinance.
Rev. Gibson: Well, some risks we don't have to have. You know, I wasconcerned
and I"still am, that a thorough study should: have been:made-and"I still believe,
for instances you are getting some input right now that we didn't have and I
just...
Mayor Ferre: You see, there problem is one of timing Father. There is an
election coming up in Novemberand they want to get this on as a... and I understand
the logic of all of that. So...
Mr. Paul: It's not just the election that's coming up. There won
waterfront left to save if you sit around and study it.
Mr. Plummer: May I make a comment? I have been quiet. I just want to make a
t be any
•
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126
'JUL 1 i 197$
broad overview. Mr. Mayor, I want to.remind you as Father has that I was, I
am still committed to placing on the November 6th ballot something for the
electorate to decide in reference to the waterfront setbacks, because I think
for us to do it unilaterally would be wrong. I said then and I will say again,
I will not operate under a theory that says do something even if it's wrong.
I'm not going to operate under that theory. We have roughly another six
may be seven weeks to put input into this proposed draft which will be submitted
to the voters.
(BACKGROUND COMMENT OFF THE PUBLIC RECORD)
Mr. Plummer: That's exactly right. I voted against that which was proposed
before us. It has now five times proven me right and I think that I heard
your terminology. Let me tell you something. I'm not an expert and I never
profess to be, but if I was the developers with selfish interest, by God, I
hope you go with this petition. One little decimal point is right now the
possible jeopardy of Metropolitan Dade County. One little decimal point and
the people who took up the petition admitted that they didn't intend for it
to be that way. But because those nasty Metro boys forced their hand, they are
going to force it as the petition was taken up. And that's what they are going
to do because you cannot substantially change a petition that was presented to
the people. Mr. Mayor and Mrs. Gordon, my dear friend Mr. Paul, I still say
to you I am committed to placing something on the November 6th ballot. But
I plead with you to take advantage of this next six weeks, if that's the time
frame and let's put something on there that is good for this community, for all
of this community, but when we put it on, let's put it on right, that nobody
is going to be shooting holes into, nobody is going to say I didn't have the
right to speak my piece. And all I say to you is for the good of this community
let's put something on the ballot that makes sense and is good for the'
community,but more so is right.
Mr. Paul: Let me just correct two things, Mr. Plummer, that you are in error
about the procedure. First isto the Metro:.
Mayor Ferre: After this Dan, we have got to let some other, people speak, because
Mr. Claughton has been trying to say something for a while. And Earl Powell
as been trying to say something, but...
Mr. Plummer:
answering me.
Well, I`would appreciate Mr. Paul speaking because he was
Mayor Ferre: Yes, I willlet him do that. I just want to make sure that
we understand that there are other people who want to... go ahead Dan and answer
the...
Mr. Paul: I just wanted to point out that first on your Metro thing there is
a provision in the Metro Charter for correcting axactly the kind of error that
is in the Metro tax petition. It specifically provides that the Metro Commission
shall revise the amendment to put it on in accordance with the intent of the
framers and the people that signed it. So it's very simple to correct that
little typographical error of where the decimal is placed if anybody really
wants to correct it. Secondly, on this...
Mr. Plummer: I hope you are right, but from what I read in the paper this
morning, it doesn't seem to be the case.
Mr. Paul: That's because the Metro Commission turned down the request of
the circulators of the petition to correct the typographical error thinking
they would go for broke. If they continue to take that arrogant attitude I
think somebody will send a message to the Dade County Courthouse that they
will never forget. Secondly, as far as this particular petition goes, the
procedure provided in Section 503 of the Home Rule Charter is that after
the petition is circulated and the signatures are collected, that the City
Commission may provide a method for revising the proposal which has been
circulated among the voters and making any corrections that they want to make
in it before it's submitted to the public. But in view of the timing there
isn't any longer... time is running out, these petitions have obviously got
to go on the street this week. I'm anxious to get all the input we can get
to make it as nearly correct as we can make it before we put them on the street,
gl
1.27 'Jut 1 1179
but it will assure that something will go on the ballot come November 6th
and the Commission and by whatever procedure it may determine will have an
opportunity. It's essential for another reason too, because all building
permits and estoppel under building permits is based on lack of knowledge and
reliance. And once this Commission adopted that resolution back here in
June that you were going to put a setback, an occupancy coverage requirement
on the ballot... I don't care... the last paragraph so provides. I don't care
what building permits frankly, are cut between now and then. If the amendment
passes they won't be able to get a certificate of occupancy because they won't
have been able to rely. They have had clear notice now from the City by
adoption of that resolution and by statements of every member of this City
Commission, that you intend to put something on the ballot come November. So
they act at their peril. That's in place already.
Mr. Claughton: Could I ask one question Dan before you...
Mayor Ferre: Go ahead.
Mr. Claughton: Dan, one question. In the wording of your ordinance would
you agree with some of the remarks that have been made and some.that you have
made, that a property such as Claughton Island that has already metall the
test of what this ordinance is trying to do, that say special island district
should be exempted in your wording...
Mr. Paul: Well, I think that the wording does provide for that,
islands...
Claughton: I mean , -specifically.
Mr. Paul:... and as I said, I think -the view corridors that are provided in
Claughton Island are the appropriate view°corridors where you look all the way
through the island instead,of ,sitting up here and listening to somebody who
was carping earlier that you wouldn't be' able to see Claughton Island from
Brickell Avenue. That was a total non -sequitur. Obviously, what you are
interested in on Claughton Island are the long range view corridors which you
have already provided...
or exempting
Mr. Claughton: So that the specific language in reworking it that you mentioned
would probably exempt something like special island district.
Mr. Paul: It would leave it up... it specifically exempts it from these:`
requirements and puts it back in the lap of the City Planning Board to decide;
whether thoses are the proper view corridors. And I have heard them say and
I think so too, that they are the proper view corridors.
Mr. Claughton: But we have already passed them and now we are up before
something else, Father Gibson's point. And what I'm asking you in public and
on the record is do you feel that some properties such as special island
districts should specifically be exempted because we have...
Mr. Paul: No, I don't feel they should specifically be exempted. I think
they should have specific requirements that apply to them. Obviously, Claughton
Island is a special situation unlike any other piece of Downtown waterfront
property without any question. And it would be totally inappropriate to
apply view corridors from Brickell Avenue to Claughton Island. The important
thing are the long going through areas that you have already provided on
Claughton Island. Those are the ones that you want. But that's not for the
amendment to determine Ed, that is... the amendment specifically exempts those
requirements as to islands and puts it back in the hands of the City.
Mr. Lacasa: Mr. Paul, I have a question here. In this application that you
are proposing in this last paragraph where you are talking about "any structure
that was issued a permit after June 26th". You mean that we are going to
make this retroactive? In other words, that if the people of the City of
Miami faced with this petition decides to vote for it and impose these
limitations this will be retroactive to June 26th?
Mr. Paul: I think that's the effect of the resolution that you adopted on
June 26th, that you put anybody on notice who got a building permit thereafter
that new regulations were about to be imposed and that they will not be able
to rely and the City will not be estopped.
gl
128 rjuL
Mayor Ferre: Well, now you better expand that and explain how it happened
n-Cocoplum and how that's legal..
-Mr. Paul: Well, in Cocoplum as you know Cocoplum got all of their zoning
and then a petition was circulated and there was vote and the vote reversed
or revoked the zoning after they had already acted on the zoning and the case
went all the way to the Florida Supreme Court and the Court held that the
public always have got the right to take back that zoning provided they have
had notice that these things were in the wind before the actually... what
actually... that's you right under a building permit is when you start to
turn dirt under the building permit without any notice that there is any kind
of impediment. But all the cases that I'm familiar with on vested rights on
building permits are based on estoppel and reliance and obviously, if the
City has already told you before you get your building permit, that we are
going to have certain setbacks and occupancy requirements and we are not going
to issue certificates of occupancy for buildings that don't meet those
particular requirements, you will never in my opinion be able to meet the
estoppel a►td the reliance requirements in order to vest any rights under a
building permit. Now, that's a legal matter and I'm sure there are lawyers
that would probably disagree and the matter can very probably be litigated,
but I don't thir'c any of them will--- any lawyer will disagree that building
permit estoppel '_s based on reliance and lack of knowledge.
And all I'm
saying is as of ,'une 26th you don't have that and I put that in there on
purpose because don't want to see the waterfront destroyed by a rush to
permitting between now and November 6th and that's exactly what we could be
in the problem r oi.
Rev. Gibson: Mr. Mayor, again, again I want to warn the Commission, I made
the observationthatif we had said-- and Mr. Paul, now I'm not a lawyer--
to"the public we will accept no more plans, we serve notice on everybody,
then what is that saying "beware of the Athenians bearing wreaths. I don'tBecause
r�,i-,k.•a� f-�1 in good conscience go to court and defend our position.
either position is not defensible. We have not been fair to the people and
obligation. Now, if ... suppose the... let me raise the other
practical. Suppose that we go to the public and the public turns us down?
SuFpose we gc to the public say "we want the fifty foot setback" and the public
tc other tliaa heaven" what would we do? Where would we be? I'm
Ist talking• about the practical... What happens to the businessman who has
invested>his•money and all of us money is tied up? My brethren I hear what you
say, but.l think that just common reason and fair play ought to dictate to
the' contrary ,to what you are advocating and asking.
Mr. �avl: No, it's not a question of... I'm not
Giuson because I don't think that any reasonable
.ire is going to attempt to build something in
these requirements because I don't think you can
is assured of getting a certificate of occupancy
'So I think it will be self-executing. I'm
concerned about it Father
developer with competent legal
the interim that will violate
get a legal opinion that he
in view of the notice he now
not really concerned about it.
Mayor Ferre: Alright, Mr. Powell? Excuse me, Earl. If there is anybody here
for the Planning Advisory Board Meeting and I see that there might be some
people that have walked in... the Planning Advisory Board Meeting is meeting
right next door, ok. This is not the PAB Meeting, this is a City of Miami
Commission extended meeting. Mr. Earl Powell?
Mr. Powell: Mr. Mayor, I represent the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, at
least I thought I did, but now I have been described as a dirt turner.
It's
our position and one that hasn't changed since the last time we were here,
that this is a matter that requires a tremendous amount of study.
Mr. Paul
T. think, attempting to place something on a ballot for a public referendum
that is entirely his right. And I think that the voters of the City of Miami
e right and an obligation to look at that petition once he gets the
signatures and decide whether or not they want to accept such an amendment to
the City Charter. My guess is if the representatives of the union are any
indication and with over seventy-five percent of the population of the City
of Miami being either Black or Latin and people that work with their hands,
that such a resolution that may have the impact of halting a half a billion
dollars in construction which considering even a small multiplier effect
could take out 1.5 billion dollars or more from our economy over the next
few years that, that resolution may not do too well at the polls, but between
now and then, I think it's certainly incumbent upon you to at least assign
this proposed amendment to a study committee that can air this matter in the
gl
'129
J U L 1 1 1979
having to do it in the Commission Chambers.
Mayor Ferre:
Les r t' b ing that point to a head, because George Knox made.
a statement Dan;- now, excuse me, but I want Mr. Paul to hear this-- that we.
cannot vote upon this because this has to go before the Planning Board. Now,
what... do you have any...
Mr. Paul: ',think what Mr. Knox was referring to was your ordinance. Is
tie shaking his head? There is nothing you can certainly vote on putting,a
Charter Amendment on the ballot.
No, we have done that.
We were referring to the ordinances...
Ordinances only. I don't have any quarrel with that opinion.
117;or Terre: Well, in other words, in effect what we can request now is for
therPlanning Board to deliberate on this. Their meeting is on the 18th, today
is the filth which is... so that meeting comes up in one week exactly, ok.
And they will then be deliberating. I would imagine that once they
then it can come back before the City of Miami Commission. ,
tat mea
it will come before the Commission on the 23rd, ok. That doesn't leave you
much time.
Mr. Powell: .Well, it doesn't leave you much time.
would like to hear what the proposals are of the...
the... excuse me, Dan,.I thought you had your say.
Mr Paul:
.i_
Powell:
lit. Paul. I was asked to answer a question. Itwould be interesting before
you sit; down if you tell us what your proposals are for saving the waterfront.
Mr. Powell: Well, I don't know where... you were asking where the Planning
nepartment wa. uhen.everything was built. You know, I don't know that you
,,:cu13 hat la., here if they hadn't decided to build Ball Point, so... and I
}:iul iu. t i_•.es are just a suspect as anyone else is. The fact of the matter
i5 ell. Mayor, that you can't deal with this kind of a situation that's this
complex and you have heard the people that are professionals,
like Mr. Kenzie
and Mr. Reid and others tell you, you can't deal with this kind of an issue.
r.Nen Mr. lreister, I think, would agree with that in a space of time of two
weeks or three weeks or perhaps even in two months or three months. So I
would' just ask you to try to turn this item over to a study group that can
er.c'd' ects and planners and zoning specialists and lawyers deal with the
subject in a quite responsible fashion as opposed to having this come before
the City Commission at every meeting so that we have to prepare all of these
:1Li:alous arguments. It can be done in a very rational way and there may be
some great merit to the proposals that Dan Paul is making, at least in some
substance and that's the Chamber's position. Thank you, very much.
Mayor Ferre: Are there any questions to Mr. Powell from members of the Commission
from the statement he just made? Alright.
Mr. Claughton: For the record Mr. Mayor and Commissioners, my name is Ed
Claughton and I'm only going to take a couple of minutes. We have an awful lot
of people here that want to speak. Some have been brought in from out onof the
town. I want to particularly address those that voted for the putting have
ballot of this proposed change, because I think that you may find youthat
tuo
d
rode a mistake and I bkeliouewould voteare
tonight, ifcourageous
p possible andthat
may be they
you have made a mistake y
can. to repeal that.
*firs. Crcdon: Well, Mr. Lacasa moved it, Mr. Ferre seconded and I voted with
them. That's your vote, the other two voted "no".
Mr. Claughton: Those that voted for it may want to repeal it when they realize
what Father Gibson has said and Mr. Reid and Mr. Kenzie everyone has said
t I
to point out
it mean
antfortthe middles of my. sentence tot come some
things...
didn't right in thebeginningof
yours Mr. Mayor.
gi
130
Mayor Ferret Well, that's alright.
Mr. Claughton I can't address the Commission if we are going
Mayor Ferret Well, I think, you got a valid point, wewill 'take
recess.
a " five minute
(AT_THIS TIME THE commusio TOOK A FIVE MINUTE RECESS)
Mr. Plummer: Coupled with last evening the FBI crimes statistics particularly
relating to Miami. We find a decrease in Policemen in the City of Miami and
I would like to see may be that we have some kind of a report from the Manager
as to the situation existing presently. I would just like to have that addressed,
Mr. Fosmoen.
Mayor Ferre: Alright, Ed go ahead.
Mr. Claughton:" Mr. Mayor and the five Honorable City Commissioners
because I":have been out of town for a few days and I didn't realize
Paulhad been elected to this Commission. At 5:15...
Mayor Ferre: He is not even in here to enjoy your joke.
I say five
thatDanny
Where is he?
Mr. Claughton: Yes, but I think he should be. I think he should ""be. `<He is
misleading you all and I think it's completely unfair. At 5:15"you said "I
want to wait for Danny Paul to come because we want to get started with this by.
Mayor Ferre: Well he is the Father of all of this.
Mr. Claughton: He is not the Father of #19 I" don't, believe, is he?
Mayor Ferre: Yes, he sure is the Father of #19... 18, 19, 20 and 21. There is
the Father right there.
Mr. Claughton: And at 7 o'clockhour
on somethinghalf
thatlater
we were toldgiven
atthe
o'clock
privilege of addressing the Commission
would be up in a few minutes. This is only from an administration standpoint
that I pass this on to you. We called at 4:15 and he said they are on item...
your people said "they are on item 15, 17 has been withdrawn and you better get
down there in a hurry" and we came in a hurry. We were told after we got here
that they didn't mean 15 on the evening agenda, they meant 15 on the morning
agenda, which is wrong because there isn't any 15 on the morning agenda, it's
all in alphabets. "A" thru "I". Now, I think...
Mr. Plummer: Which is further wrong because we don't have a night agenda.
Mr. Claughton: I know it. I am ashamed of our City. I am embarrassed. I
think the integrity of our City is at stake now more than anything I... any
other time I have ever seen. I would just want to appeal to you for a couple
of minutes. What Father Gibson said made more sense to me than anything else.
It's sort of like playing a ball game and in the second quarter I'm told that
I've got to punt a baseball instead of a football, because we came into the
game according to your rules and we abided by them and we have been before you
and I have been before you and your predecessors for twenty-three years. And
I have to admit been treated very...
Mayor Ferre: And you have done pretty well too, I might say.
Mr. Claughton: ... and treated very fairly. And my friends say that when I
build this I better put the slanted sidewalks in so that my wheelchair will
be able to take me across the island because I will be that old before I
ever see it developed. Twenty-three years. Now, I'm going to address specifically,.
why I think the three that voted for it should move... one of you should move
for the repeal of it for all the reasons that have been said plus a couple that
haven't been told to you. What they are trying to do here may or may not be
good, but needs more study. But we have already done it and Danny Paul in
reply to my question said that it shouldn't be specifically exempted. These
buildings and these lot coverages that you are going to see in just a minute,
they cover may be sixteen percent, not seventy-five. If you are going to
change the rules on us and say setback fifty feet when you all told us to
setback twenty because you wanted it to go all the way around the island, do
MM
ME
Mff
gl
131
!JUL i t 110
you:remember that one? We have a -twenty foot all the way around. But the
people that are on the up land that you want to have them setback twenty or
twenty-five or thirty or fifty, they are only setting back on one side. They
are not surrounded by water, this is an island. There is water on all sides.
If you setback fifty on one side you are getting closer to the water on the
other.
:ors. Gordon: Ed, could I remind everybody of something? I think it was about
five years ago that wemoved for special island districts because islands do
have unique situations which do not apply to other upland areas.
Mr. Claughton: Right.
Mrs. Gordon: So I... you know I am agreeing with you.
Mr. Claughton:Right.
Mrs. Gordon: You are unique and different than any other situation.
Mx. Claughton: T knew, you would feel that way...
Mrs. Gordon: at it fiveyears ago_ Whip? Do you remember how many years ago
it was?
. Claughton: Tes, yes Ma'am.
Mrs. Gordon: Whipple? Was it five years ago we, did that island special'
island district?
(;.ACKCROUNt COMMENT OFF THE PUBLIC RECORD)
1 - Coracr. About five years?•
Ar.,Claughton: That's my point Rose and if. I` can point out to you, we are not
exQrpting thin Danny said we were or we should be or something like that
anc,w I coui'1n't follow "him exactly. But number one on this petition re] ates
th!s fi:ty foot setba.^k and doesn't mention islands.
I know, but there is amendments that have to be made.
Gordon: ies
Mr. Claughtun: Ok, plenty of them and one of them that should be made tonight
is;an amendment existing to exempt all special island districts. That's one
cling that should be done before you pursue the bigger picture which Father
Gibson is pointing out that you better study the whole thing because it's
rid,aed with problems. Your Planning Department has already told you about
percent of them why it's bad. Now, we did what the City said to do
and then we went to the South Florida Regional Planning Council and we did
what they said. Now, if you pass this do we build under, let's call it the
;rany Paul Ordinance. Do we build under the Danny Paul Ordinance and get to
build seventy-five percent? We will go for that in a minute. Let us build
scventy-five percent. The volume will only be four times what the plan is.
But you can't do it both ways to us. You can't say "well, we are going to have
you develop according to the plan that we passed and that you agreed to and that
everybody else that has massaged this for twenty-three years has said to do.
You can't tell us to build under that, except for a couple of little things
we want to change. You can't do that, that's not fair. That's not equitable,
it's not the American way. If you are going to change it a couple of ways,
then we will build under this one. We will build seventy-five percent lot
coverage instead of thirty-five or whatever, if you follow my reasoning. Special
island districts should be exempted specifically, should be exempted from the
a.menr'ment going to the public and in any ordinance.
Mrc. Gordon: Another reason, if you recall, those that don't recall that the
special, island district is treated as a unit development which means that the
er,t::e thing has to be laid out with a plan.
Mr. Claughton: Exactly, Rose. Exactly.
Mrs. Gordon:; So it isn't just an at random development, it's a development'
that is planned to be...
Mr."Claughton: Planned unit development.. PUD or whatever...
Mrs. Gordon:. Exactly
gl
that's the whole idea behind it.
132
Uti31979
Mr. Claughton: And every single point that Danny Paul wants to address has
already been addressed on this particular island.
Mrs. Gordon: I'm sure it's Danny's...
Mr. Claughton: Setbacks, see through... we got see through
hery8 corridors,
wehggot
he
double see through corridors, we have small density, we
the bay is the island
wants. Now, then just think for a minute what p
blocking from the public? I think the public ought to be able to see the view.
Heck, I think they should be able to see the view from Biscayne Boulevard. We
got a beautiful Bicentennial Park and somebody thought of building a berm, so
the public can't see one bit of the water from Biscayne Boulevard in the largest
single tract of land in the City of Miami. I can't believe it.
Mayor Ferre: By public you mean the people that ride in automobiles pass it,
you mean?
Mr. Claughton: Yes, because if you are talking about any other public, then I
need know what public you are talking about because if you are going to put them
up in buildings and let them look at the water, then you don't need these
ground level see through vistas, you see.
Mayor Ferre: Have you ever tried to see the water as you drive down Biscayne
Boulevard and Bayfront Park where there are no berms?
Mr. Claughton: No... yes,
Mayor Ferre: Well, you better becarefulbecause you might have an accident
if you try doing: that, because it's dangerous.
Mr. Claughton: Yes, but my point is you can't see it. .I don't know why
Danny Paul is preoccupied with trying to show the water to the public.
The
public isn't asking for this. You know, when
tnm you
untnaluzet thisltis here Roseis Gordon,
single... you know, the best analogy...
said that when you did the beer deal twenty-six thousand people voted on it
and only twenty-six of them... only a difference of twenty-six votes and that's
coming
not a mandate. I don't think it is either. And I don't think one guy g
up here and saying he doesn't want to have his view blocked from his law office
by some building that might be built in Downtown Miami constitutes a mandate.
We can't legislate by crisis. We can't legislate bytman
acocoming
daup up and
saying if you don't pass this, I'm going to pass a peit
get
everybody to sign it. Now, you all know better than that. We all know better
than that. I'm going to pause in just a minute and interrupt a pro that knows
something about this, because I admit that I don't.
Except I know what fair
play is and this isn't right. I don't think the ordinance is good yououtif
Y
ou
excluded the island, but I do think that decency and honesty cry
to amend whatever you have done and to make sure that the wordage is put in there
so that special island districts are exempted because we have already complied
with what you are saying... expressly overtly saying that you want to accomplish
by this thing. I would like to also ask if there is anyone that feels thatnance
at
may be more planning is necessary, that a motion be made to repeal
and give your Planning Department and give your experts a chance, because I
think you have been inundated tonight with evidence of how bad this is
single families, how bad it is on the development, how bad it is on the town,
how bad it is on the taxpayer and further study is not going to do anything
except may be not allow you to get on the ballot by November and I don't believe
anything would be lost by that. Good laws sometime
oietake
more
d time
Squthan
Gust as
a couple of weeks. As you know, an organization
purchased seventy-five percent. A large segment of the island. We spent a
million dollars building a bridge. I tried for years, you know, to get you
all to do it, that is your predecessors and they wouldn't go for that. We
spent a million dollars to build a bridge and turned around a couple of
months ago and gave it to you. Based upon the vested right that we have in
that plan right there. We have a right to rely on our City officials, I think.
We spent another million in film, bulkhead and plans and everything.incUtilities.
We have a right... in the law it's called a vested right.
You the ball game, you can't change the rules in the middle of a ball game.
You
just can't do it. We have join together... the Claughtons have and witthd w the e nave
Squire-Cheezam people who are wonderful people by the way
what we think to be the finest land planners in the Country. It's a firm
called RTKL out of Baltimore. One of their senior partners is flown down
here to present to you all what I think you at least are caused to be concerned
and that's my point, you can't see the water.
gl
UL 6
with by the introduction to this, something called see through corridors and<
setbacks. And I would like to introduce at this time and let him feel any
questions you may have, Mr. Charles Lamb from Baltimore.
Mr. Lamb: Thank you, Ed. Mr. Mayor and Commissioners, I feel very fortunate
to be here tonight representing two very fine clients on the same island. It's
a unique situation, I don't know of any comparable situation in the United
States today and I appreciate the fact that we are serving two clients on
adjacent properties. What we have shown here in front of you today are just
excerpts from approximately two dozen planning documents that will in a matter
of days be presented through the process for approval in your City. This is
a combination of five intensive months of work by my firm. These excerpts as
well as the other two dozen documents that comply in every respect to the
existing ordinance that governs the development of this island. I am apprehensive
though that the amendment that you have before you is not well conceived. I
am apprehensive that it may and we have not had time to assess it's impact on
our island. I know that we hope to be under construction in just a matter of
weeks. I'm apprehensive that we will be held up. A moratorium would be a
disaster for our team and our aspirations for the island. I reviewed the
amendments and all of it's copies and as presently drafted, I don't believe
that isappropriate for the City of Miami. Now, I'm going to take off my
hat for a minute and speak to you as an urban planner because it may. be that
the island is exempted. But in the five months that I have been flying down
here weekly to Miami, I have grown very fun of this City and I can say that
coming in last night from the airport and seeing that full moon rise over
Biscayne Bay it really did something inside. You really felt charged up.
The goals behind your ordinance amendments are all fine and I believe in them
and I believe in vistas and view. I believe in setbacks. But it's a question
of how those are applied in terms of the numbers. It's a very complicated and
complexed issue and I urge you to take the time to think this matter through.
Take the suggestions of your Planning Department, take the suggestions of
others who have spoken here tonight and conceive this amendment if you proceed
at all in this amendment, as doing good things for the City of Miami. The City
of Miami is shortly going to be very much on the map as a major American City
taking it's place with major urban components, transit, possibly people mover
systems, ur. ara parks and plazas, very exciting mixtures, programs. You have an
opportunity and you should take advantage of that opportunity right now. Don't
cut it off by an ill-conceived amendment. Putting on that hat as an urban
planner again, and you should conceive of your City as a lot of interrelated
parts. The base planes of those parts are very important, levels one, two and
three are especially important. The interrelationship of land uses, retail,
restaurants, boutiques, the movement of people, second level walkway systems,
where you move to a people mover system ultimately and so forth. These
interrelationship of parts are served by the base planes. If you devise an
amendment that isolates each one of your components in Downtown Miami into
distinct and discreet parts you lose that integration. It's almost as if you
were conceiving an amendment for a suburban office park or an industrial park
where you have discreet components. I urge you not to do that. However, your
objectives and goals behind it I'm not quarreling with, but you should look at
each area of your city individually. Each one has a kind of unique character
and opportunity vistas and views, whether they be at grade level, whether they
be at second level or third level. Whether the roads are at the first level
or the second level. Whether the people mover is at the second or third or
the fourth. All of these components should be taken into account. The bay
and the ocean are our primary resource and you should not turn away from it,
you should incorporate that into these views and vistas. My firm as a
response to the specific design of Claughton Island has been to recognize
it's unique setting. There is not another setting of a major island of
forty-four acres next to an urban setting in this entire United States. I don't
know of anything like it comparably internationally. The opportunity as listed
here is literally spell binding and it's an opportunity not only for the
developers of Claughton Island, it's an opportunity for the City of Miami.
Our plan as I've briefly stated meets all the open space requirements. This
green plan that you see here, the darker green color is the thirty-five percent
open space met both by the Squire-Cheezam Development portion and the Claughtor.
portion. The lighter green area is the landscaped plazas. These are pedestrian
areas that are landscaped. They do not buy the DRI criteria meet open space
requirements by definition. However, they are in effect, the same. They are
public open space, green space for the residents living there. The small model
that you see down here illustrates view corridors. The ones that have the red
dots on them specifically respond to the requirements of the DRI criteria.
134
.There are other view corridors too, that don't specifically. respond, but they
should be listed and shown in context. of theisland. We believe this meets
the intent of the DIR ordinance. However, if.you put a moratorium on all
development including Claughton Island, we can't go ahead. We have at the
present time twenty-seven people working on the various phase of development
to this island. If we stopped it's going to be a catastrophic situation for-.
-our entire development team. -
Mr. Plummer: Sir, may I stop you fora minute?
Mr. Lamb: Yes.
Mr. Plummer: Because you keep referring
it is not what exists today?
Mayor Ferre: No, of course, not.
(BACKGROUND COMMENTS INAUDIBLE)
o this model. This model which is...
Mr. Plummer: The point I'm trying to:.make is that, that which you are using as
your, model here does not. in anyway. give a true picture of,what exists. And if
you are using that as your reference, then something is obviously, radically
wrong.
(BACKGROUND COMMENT INAUDIBLE)
Mr. Plummer: Yes, but Ed, look...
Mayor Ferre: Plummer: what he is saying is this is what it could look like, it
isn't what it is now.
Mr. Lacasa This is a mixture... Is this a mixtureof whatexist plus what it.
could be projected for the future? ThAt's understandable.
(BACKGROUND COMMENT INAUDIBLE)
Mayor Ferre: Let me ask .you. . when you say view corridor, do you mean from
the ground view?
(BACKGROUND COMMENT INAUDIBLE)
Mayor Ferre: Well, which are which? Are you going to be able to stand on the
ground at anyone of these points and see it that way along the street? Anyone
of those green areas... in other words, my question is, is aren't there any
parking garages anywhere there?
(BACKROUND COMMENT INAUDIBLE)'
Mayor Ferre: That would preclude the view. So you see what Mr. Paul... I don't
know where he is now, I guess he is gone.
(BACKGROUND COMMENT INAUDIBLE).
Mayor Ferre: I'm just trying to get to the point, you know. According to
what this thing was originally intended to do as drafted by Dan Paul and Rose.
(BACKGROUND COMMENT INAUDIBLE)
Mayor Ferre: Well, ok, but Mr. McMullen and Dan.Paul when they drafted this
thing and after further discussion... McMullen was involved in the drafting of
it, there is no question about it and Dan Paul specifically told that to me,'
that this corridor... the idea was,... you know, it included parking garages,
so my question to you is are there any parking garages 9
(BACKGROUND COMMENT INAUDIBLE)
Mayor Ferre: Which is ground level? The green?
(BACKGROUND COMMENT INAUDIBLE)
Mayor Ferre: Ok.
JUL .1 1 1979
gl
(BACKGROUND COMMENT INAUDIBLE)
Mr. Lacasa: What is this structure here? No, on the, west side othe`island.
The one next to the... that's the one.
(BACKGROUND'COMMENT INAUDIBLE)
Mayor Ferre: In effect then, within that structure... ;wouldyou put your marker
right in the middle? That's it, right there. From that point there you cannot
see any water anywhere. It will be like Hialeah.
(BACKGROUND 'COMMENT INAUDIBLE)
Mt. Lacasa: Which are the highrises?
(BACKGROUND COMMENTS INAUDIBLE)
Mr. Plummer: Ed, almost anywhere, ok.
(BACKGROUND COMMENT INAUDIBLE)
Mr. Plummer T egreer
(BACKGROUND :COMME 'T INAUDIBLE) .
Mr. Plummer: Sure. Ed, you don't have the first tree on there now.
Mr. Claughton: Yes, we do. We got lots, of,.trees... If You .stand sight here
right now you can seethe bay, because that's the bay. :,If "You want to` -see this
bey You are going to have to get up -,on a ladder... because the island'`is
seven feet high, and you are 'only; six feet.
iiayor Ferrel ies, but that's true of the River too.
"t'iunmer:
vista views..
But the point ,I
Claughtoi': You all are.
rying to make, you are talking about
so-called
Ir. Plummer: No, no, now, let's just calm down a little bit. Since the point
that I'm trying to get back to you is, you made a big point about the berms
nn. er.±en^i41. Now, the point I'm trying to come to, this is not realistically
being able to be called a vista view.
Mr. Claughton: Do you know who it's called vista view by? A11 the governments
that we have been before, the State, the South Florida Regional, everybody.
And this is lined up so that you can see all the way through and this is lined
vn so that you can see all the way through. You can stand on any point in the
island and see the water.. Now, if you want to get up here on Brickell Avenue,
you can't see the water now.
(BACKGROUND COMMENTS INAUDIBLE)
Mr. Plummer: Below ground level?
(BACKGROUND COMMENT INAUDIBLE)
Mr. Lamb: I would like to introduce just for a moment Mr. Charles Cheezam,
�y neighbor and I would lovingly call him my partner, but he is really just
Rry neighbor and a wonderful guy. Charlie?
Mr. Cheezam: Thank you, Ed. Thank you, for the privilege of speaking. I'm
;:i sorry that Mr. Paul didn't stay to cross examine us on all of this because
‘:e have sincerely tried to meet not only with your criteria, but that of the
Southwest Regional Planning Council and the other agencies of your government
that we have tried to make these plans conform with. We are not asking for
any variance, nor did we ever intend to come to ask you for any variance. We
brought this property in good faith. We have depended upon the DRI and your
approval of it and subject to governmental approvals. And we basically..
I'm just going to go through this very quickly because it's been said before,
but I can tell you from the bottom of my heart that when you talk of moratoriums
and when you talk of holding patterns and these sort of things you make it
impossible for not only us, but every other developer. And those that have
in good faith taken out permits since the 26th of June, their financial
136
riUl 1 1474
institutions are in much worse position perhaps, than our. Because I can tell
you we are looking at a thirty million dollar loan and until this matter is
cleared up, we are not going to be able to proceed, not that one minute. And
we have made our plans. We expect to have our permit for the foundation on our
first building into your City on Monday. We have literally spent over a million
dollars getting ready to do this. We have sent out invitations and I promise
you we didn't send out theseinvitations for ground breaking and sales
ceremonies, because we knew of this ordinance or the possibility that you would
take the action that you are taking. But it has made a very,very devastating
situation out of one that we have proceeded in good faith to pursue. We did
this and inspite of what Mr. Paul said it was at the insistence and the sell
of the Downtown Development Authority which I think that every Miamian should
be extremely proud of because there is no other development authority in this
Country that I know of, that's not envious of the job that has been done here
in Miami both by the Chamber of Commerce, both by the Downtown Development
Authority and I could tell you as an outside developer who has been in your
midst for five years, that there is no other municipality in Florida that
welcomes and treats as fairly as Miami does. In our other project at Brickell
Place both phase I and phase II, we have never been down here to ask you for
any variance. We take your rules and your regulations and we live by them to
the letter. As a matter of fact, here at Brickell Key and Claughton Island
and Brickell Place, we are not asking for it nor did we base our plans on the
maximum densities or the minimum vista view corridors. You are getting more
corridor space, more open space, more landscaping and more views than you
have bargained for with us in good faith. Now, we did this-- I hate to say
selfishly, but we want a successful project just as much as you do. This
that's been pointed out and correctly so is a veryunique opportunity. It's
a unique responsibility and we certainly want to come away from this project
and tell everyone in the world of our participation in it. Getting back to your
Downtown Development Authority, our company was not in a position to buy this
property. We were able to do this with seventeen million dollars in cash, which
is not an easy thing to raise in today's scheme of things. And we went through
our friends in Hong Kong, who incidentially our own Governor Askew talked to
these people in Hong Kong and encouraged them on coming to Florida and specifically
on coming to South Florida. We brought them over here, we took them through the
Downtown Development Authority's presentation and within two weeks they made a
commitment to buy this island. And there is no one, I don't believe, in this
room would ever say and I believe that there are several here that are aware of
the circumstances-- no one could ever say that any outside international investor
acted that quickly, with that much money to bring into your midst. And why did
they do it? They did it because they were relying upon the reputation that is
permeated from the work that you people have done through your Planning Department,
Zoning and fair play and as presented by your Downtown Development Authority.
The international banking community all over the world is looking at Miami.
And if you put a moratorium on this thing at a time when everybody who knows
anything knows economy is going down three consecutive months, you are talking
about stopping literally millions of dollars of work putting thousands of
people out of jobs, because frankly, even at Brickell we have about six hundred
people employed there, we've got the roof on both of those buildings. We would
like to move those same people at Claughton Island, but if you stop this thing
for six months the momentum could never get back in place for another six months.
What you are doing to us, is putting us out of business for one year and this is
just a small segment of the thirty-five or so major projects that you have spent
thousands and millions of thousands of hours, millions of dollars to get ready
to present to the world and here you are telling them. And the financial
community is just like a sewing circle, you do one of these things to us and a
thirty million dollar loan is a pretty big significant thing. You don't have
too many of them here, but they have... whisper goes out so fast you wouldn't
believe it. It's like a bad insurance risk. The insurance companies tell each
other tonight what happened today and the financial community is the same way.
If you treat us this one and if you treat these other developers this way, the
word is going to be on the street and all of this that you have put forth to
bring and to make Miami the most outstanding international City in the United
States, the most progressive, the... really on the verge of becoming the most
modern if just about half the things that you have made possible to happen,
happens Miami will become truly a great city. And it just kills me to think
that at this time you can consider doing this and I along with my good friend
Mr. Claughton, would certainly echoe the thing that you ought to reconsider
this moratorium... and no matter how you call it this is a moratorium. If
this ordinance...
Mayor Ferre: There is no moratorium as of now. What we have... the only
thing that's passed upiuntil now, Mr. Cheezam is that we have voted to put
137
on the ballot on November 6th something which obviously needs amendment.
Mr. Cheezam: I think as it's drafted, I would have to agree with Mr. Paul
and I would have to refer it to my attorneys, but I know that our financiers
will not close our loan on this construction with a possibility that we would
have a non-comforming... They are going to say "you are going to have to wait
to see what that is". We are not going to close that loan and I guarantee you
we are not going to move forward until they do it. And nobody else can do
that either.
Mayor Ferre: Is there any harm done to your project or to any of these projects,
in your opinion, if this thing is deliberated on by the Planning Board on the
18th and brought to the Commission on the 23rd?
Mr. Cheezam: I really think that the ordinance as it has now... as it has
boen passed...
Mayor Ferre: There is no ordinance, it hasn't been passed.
vr C1-,eez"--1• Alright let tne say this and I'm not a legal technician by any stretch
-• - • - •-••••.•-- , ' •
of imaginatiot. If indeed the facts are that you :ave put everyone on
notice legally al d effectively, that any proceeding now is one at their own
risk. The mortgk ge company
They will not allow us to start building and we...
isnot going to go on the line for this mortgage.
mP7or ver-r, But you are not going to start building by the 23rd of July, is
Tin, question to you?
Mr. Cheezam: Well, I would have...
Mayor Ferre: Today is the llth, the 23rd is twelve days rom now.
Mr. Cheezark: I say to you, we will be in here Monday if ' Mr. V.A. Lee comes
.:ugh with his plans and I believe he will for our building permit for the
fot ndation on bui.lding. And how long it will take to process in fair
tin Is '11.12 d 'e o: we.eks. may or we may not be in there, that hopefully
would De t.'nere. I do say to you that the critical thing would be the
finsnring institution, if we can convince them to close our loan, we could
proceed. I don't believe we could do that. I would have to ask our attorney
1,,,hat his position is going to be.
Garson: My name is Matt Garson, I'm with Mr. Traurig's office at 1401
Bricl.ell Avenue. I would submit to you at this point we are prepared to
Stibitlit our final development plans to the Planning Department. That our
concept plans were approved under the SPD-1 Zoning Ordinance four years ago
when there was no further need at this time for any public review and we were
prepared to commence construction in the next two weeks.
Mayor Ferre: The next what?
• Mr. Garsort: Within the next two to three weeks depending on the approval
of the Planning Department of our final development plan.
Mayor Ferre: Well, but you know just as well as I do, that a plan of the
magnitude of what you are going to present on Monday is not going to be approved
within the first week. That takes at least two weeks as you know.
Mr. Carson: Yes, that's what I'm saying, but we are prepared to submit it
within the next week and subject to review. •
Yayor Ferre: Ok, if you submit it on Monday it will not be approved, I can
nee you no matter what happens, by the 23rd of July.
Mr. Gerson: I also advise that we are only going in on a phase development
for our first phase which consists of two buildings and not the entire island.
Mr. Lacasa: Mr. Mayor, I would like to make some comments at this point, becaus
I believe that we have two different situations here and those could be resolved
nay be tonight. Let's go back to June 26th. What we voted on June 26th was
to place on the November ballot an amendment to the existing zoning regulations
for the waterfront properties. On that particular resolution by the City Commis
there was no mention at all of any moratorium either expressed or implied. The
gl
133
e
sion
On't 1 en
question of the moratorium came today to discussion because there has been this
second amendment...
Mayor Ferre: No, this is about the fifth one.
Mr. Lacasa: Whatever. It says #2 here. This... I'm going to call it like it
is in this paper. Amendment #2 presented by Mr. Paul, which includes in the
last paragraph a moratorium. A defacto moratorium. Because I understand that
no one could go on and start building, getting into financing and so I wforth with
the possibility of what you do today might be reversed tomorrow.
on
the majority when I voted to place it on the ballot.
Not because I believed
in this, but because I believe in the right of the citizens to express their
views in what I think is a major issue in the City of Miami.
And that is
the access to the waterfront, how should it be regulated, so forth. torThe
as
question and I speak for myself, of this last paragraph
far as I'm concerned is totally and completely out of the question. Let me
explain to you why. I cannot think of anything more detrimental tostthe
lit
credibility of an institution being public or private, that the possibility
of a reversion of this nature. The retroactivity of laws and regulations
that affects those that has gone into a situation in good faith on reliance of
the existing regulations is to me sacred. I do agree with you and I do agree
with the gentleman that has spoke on behalf of the unions, that we are now
here in the City of Miami at a critical point. We are trying to develop
pathe
City, we are trying to do it with the help not only of those local, eut
with those out of the City, like in your particular case.
There is no way
that we can proceed with a substantial development of the City of Miami unless
we live up to the expectations of those that have credibility on our systetonight
From that standpoint of view you can rest assured that I am going
that we clear this question of the moratorium once and
difor all. There butIis too
much at stake here and by that I don't mean only your
an
the future of the City of Miami. So it is very important for me that you
lt of
understand, hassiblte at amnendmentexist nplacedas ton theuballotafor rtherconsiderationresolution
is just a po
the voters in November, which...
Mayor. Ferre: Wait a minute...
Mr. Lacasa: Let me finish.
Mayor Ferre:
Mr.
Let's get a copy of it.
Lacasa: I would like to finish Mr.
Mayor Ferre:
was passed.
Mr. Ongie: MT. Mayor, it was passed in motion form.
tonightin resolution form as Item 18.
Mayor Ferre: No, sir that's been changed.
Mrs. Gordon No, what you passed was a motion.
Mr. Ongie: What we passed was a motion on Tuesday, the 26th.
Mr. Lacasa: So to finalize my comments, I will like to put yourself at ease
as far as the situation that we have tonight here. We are not talking at the
present time of a moratorium of any kind. What we are talking here is...
because this is a proposition that is not and has not been approved by this
City Commission. What we are talking here is of the possibility of placing
in the ballot that something that if approved on November 6th will be in effect
there
on, but
uation.retroactively
for what I voted forleast
onthis
Juneis my 26 h andunderstanding not
off this sit
intend to change my voting tonight or thereafter.
Mrs. Gordon: Would the clerk furnish us with the motion that was passed?
Mayor Ferre: I have it right here. I will read it for you. (READS MOTION
RECORD)... You all have this in your package as Item 1118...(CONTINUES)..
Mr. Lacasa: Mr. Mayor, let me emphasize one point in this resolution that
we were talking about. On the first paragraph Section 1, it says...(READS FROM
SECTION 1 OF THE of
N)... and there is no mention whatsoever of any
retroactivity any
Would you get a copy, is all`I wanted to say.`. Please, of what
139
It is on your agenda
JUL 111979
gl
�rssa.�semva+r •.»+ry«r�av:+:•�r�=�c:.�lv�:r�tie'�^usffio:
Mr. Garson: May I point one thing out that several hours ago, Mr. Paul pointed
to a case which he referred to as the Cocoplum case and the fact that we were
put on notice that this was coming before the electorate and that o we werefertacting
at our peril. And that was the type of case and that's the type
Mr. Cheezam is talking about, that he is concerned that his lenders are going to
come to us and whichour thisCommissionon. The prev previory usly askedrforion which he that someone ised
publicly and get
started on Claughton Island.
Mr. Claughton: Let me sum up because I think we finished... I want to point out
to Mr. Lacasa one thing in summing up. You are right about the moratorium and
they way you feel about it, but the unfortunate thing which Charlie there is
trying to get over to all of the Commissioners is that the very
Sefact
sthat
you
ely
have voted it without specifically excepting that island,
zoned, without exempting it from your passage puts a cloud over it so that
no lender is going to operate. It is exactly as if you had passed a moratorium.
He will not be able to get his loan because of what Matt has just said. So
you got a kind of a double barrel there.
Mr. Lacasa: But let me tell you what the problem that we all are facing here:
is. It goes beyond this, because the problem that you have is that there is
a petition...
(BACKGROUND COMMENTS INAUDIBLE)
Mr. Lacasa:
Mrs. Gordon:There is no petition on this issue.
Mr. Lacasa: Excuse me. It was annouced today by Mr. Dan Paul, here in, front
of everybody here that he intendsto have this petition drive starting next
week, if I heard correctly.
Mr. Claughton: That's what I understood.
have it on the record. It should be on the record.
i where we will have
Mr. Lacasa: And you might
a a petition
So whar.;you are facing is this type of situation,
drive. Mrs. Gordon, publicly has stated so d h is'sponsoring 'that petition
drive. Mr. Paul...
Mayor Terre:
Mr. Lacasa:
is endorsing
Mayor:Ferre:'
Mr. Lacasa: And the Miami News. And probably some other members of the
media. So let's be realistic about this, ok. We have
here �agn example of the
kind of petition that these ladies and gentlemen
are Mr. Claughton: And what I was trying to tell Danny is that he ought to
specifically exempt special island districts because we have already complied
with what they are after. bnleksyou fallsminto thatmotion
categoryhtunlessexempt
exempt
and anything else that you thin
that piece he can't move ahead. He cannot move ahead.
Mr. Lacasa: But it's very easy... what we are discussing here is not what we
can do. What we are discussing here...
Mr. Claughton: You can amend that... you can amend and say this part of the
Zoning Ordinance: that'' has to do with island-- I don't know how many islands
you've got, but everything that's a special island district, that's what
you gave us, that what you passed, you see. Now, you can exempt that because
nothing in that ordinaflCe applies to it. Rose, will tell you that.
an she
They had a public hearing on the.5th a
Excuse me. Mr. Paul,
this petition drive.
today here and the -Miami Herald
Mrs. Gordon: There are onlytwo islands that could even begin to fall into
this and the only one that would be affected is the one that you have.
Mr. Claughton: Right.
Mrs. Gordon: And I find it a reasonable amendment to make to it and I would
so move that the islands district be not included in the proposal. Because the
'JUL 1 1 14VO
140
gl
island district is already a controlled instrument by it's own regulations.
It is a instrument which regulates tie placement of buildings, the amount of
buildings and everything else there is to do with the development. And for
that reason it's already a controlled vehicle that we can use to buy whatever
we need.
Mayor Ferrer I will recognize you for the purposes of a motion after everybody
has had an opportunity to have their say.
Mrs. Gordon: Well, the motion is already on the table Mayor and if it gets a
second
Mayor Ferre: I did not recognize you for thepurposes of a motion and technically
therefore, it is not on the table and the Chair does not recognize that motion.
Now, who else wants to speak?
Mr. Claughton: I thinkwe have concluded, unless... that's the only point I
wanted to make is thatwe have already complied and...
Mayor Ferre: Ed, under discussion so I... I want you to understand. I'm not
trying to... God knows that I'm not trying to create a habit in the construction
industry nor put a stop to all of these things. I want you to understand that
I think that theory as I have told Dan from the very beginning...that in theory
I think what he is attempting to do makes sense. What he is trying to do is.
trying to prevent a repetition of what happened in Miami Beach. Nobody likes
that. I don't think you like it. When you drive down Collins Avenue you are
a hundred yards away from the Atlantic Ocean and no where can you see the
ocean. It's unreal. You can go for literally four miles along Miami Beach,
you could throw a stone over a building and hit the ocean and yet you don't
see the ocean. Now, I think... I completely agree with what we are trying to
achieve here. The problem we are having here is struggling and trying to
achieve it. Now, you say we are going to exempt irregular lots. Well, now
let me ask you this, if you were Ted Hollo, ok... now he happens to have a square
lot. I`wouid imagine that his is not irregular, ok. Now, why should we penalize
Ted Hollo because his l.ot happens to be square, when all of the sudden you heard
tonight Dan Paul say that "there is no question that Ball Point is an irregular
lot",`you "see. So now we are going to except Ball Point and we are excepting Mr.
Gould and we excepting the...now, I assume if Ball Point is irregular, then
of course, obviously the Elks Point is irregular and if that is irregular and
you know you go right down the line to all these irregular lots, then what in
effect... who are we applying this to? One or two properties? Three properties?
Mr. Claughton: My answer is that's why it needs further study, but being very
specific on the island, you have already reviewed it. Your City Commission and
your Planning Department has already said these are the setbacks from thewater
and these are the see through corridors and we said "ok, that's what we will plan".
We are talking about the same ball game, you see.
Mayor Ferre: Yes. I could play games with this because I think that the
original intention of this whole thing as discussed between Dan and John McMullen
was to stop Ball Point and to stop Watson Island. Now, obviously if I go along
with Rose's motion in a little while, in effect, we brought Watson Island out of
it. So one of them has been solved because of it's irregular shape and the other
one because it's an island. So in effect the original intention of all of this
is therefore, diluted to nothing.
Mr. Claughton: I didn't say exempt islands. I said exempt special island
districts which is a legal term in your own law.
Mrs. Gordon District, that's a different thing than Watson Island.'
Mr.
Mrs.
You pass one ordinance and it's called a SPD-1...
Gordon: Right.
Mr. Claughton: ... and it has already been
purposes that the goals which we agree with
don't make us do again what we have already
there that has already conformed to the law
all I'm saying. And that's only one SPD.
massaged over and over
you on. So all we are
done. Exempt that one
that you are trying to
s'right..
fo.r the same
saying is
entity right
pass. That's
Mayor Ferre: And all I'm saying is that what we are trying to achieve in this
gl
'dui ! et Tara.
whole process if we are dealing in good faith, is an open area for all properties,
for all properties. And that includes for example, the Miami Convention Conference
Hall. I don't see any reason why all of the sudden that should be exempted.
I`>;don't see any reason why anything should be exempted because it's irregular
in shape or otherwise.
Mr. Claughton: I'm just going to sum up by saying.. I'm not saying exempted
because it's irregular. I say the law is bad because it's got that terminology
in it. Like you, I agree with you. I'm saying exempted because we have already
complied with what goes hereafter in the ordinance and not to exclude us puts.
the whole world and the lenders on notice and we are absolutely scuttled here
tonight.
Mrs. Gordon: May I clarify the zoning intent, since I happen to have a little
experience in the zoning line, Mr. Mayor. I explained before and I repeated
it several times, that the island district has it's own regulations which
control what you can put on there and you cannot do as you can on an upland
area and design whatever you want with just setback restrictions. Claughton
Island was designed to fit the lot, to fit the shape of the island, it has
restrictions on it and it did go through the DRI. It went through the whole
process and it went under this concept of a planned island development. It
was created. The whole ordinance of planned island development was created,
I believe speci`ically for Claughton Island. Because it was known that if
it didn't have :ertain specific control could have become a monstrosity, but
it is not a mon.trosity because it was designed to fit the particular situation
of this urban it -land. It's an urban island close to Downtown. It is separated
by water...
Mayor. Ferre: Just like Watson Island.
Mrs. Gordon:. No, Watson Island is a public piece of land and you are dealing
with apples and oranges. Now, let's talk just about the apples and there is
aly.Ohe. apple and that is Claughton Island. There is no other, it's it.
P1ur,n:er
orr
That's
what I heard Mr. Jaffer say, it's keeps growing and growing..
Elw about Fair Isle, are they. involved?
Nr. Plummer: Yes
Mr. Grassier I believe they are
Piayor Ferre:
They are what?
MI. Grassie: I: believe that
they want to do.`
Mayor; Ferre:
to move along.
recognize Rose
Mr. Rice:
because they are not fully developed
permanent already, "Mayor.
they are permenant for the amount o
development
For the whole. project. Alright, '_let 's... it's 9:30, we've -.got
So let's see if we . can get the
, for that motion.
. Mayor, excuse me, please.
I'm
next speakers and: then I will
Mayor Ferrer Mr. Fine has been raising his hands
want .to have an argument betweenthe two of you.
for a long time and I don't
Mr. Rice: I just wanted to say, I'm double dipping here tonight and I'm right
now in another meeting and I think this will: be my last chance, if you will
give me just a minute.
Yn„rr Ferre: Ok, Mr. Rice.
M. Rice: I am John Rice, my company is Interra and we are planning the development
of three hundred feet on Brickell Avenue, just South of Visccaya North rgntial
apartments. 4e lie between two blinders it you will, the
lowers .,ui its
to the South and Viscaya North to the North of us. Your Commission, you have
just approved a project that's being developed on the academy of the assumption
and they will be building out, something like I believe twenty-six feet to
their property line. We saw no reason to stand in opposition to that project
because we were already blinded by Viscaya North and they rea:ly couldn't do
anything more to us. Our property line actually goes all the way out to the
bulkhead line, which lines up directly with the existing bulkhead line at
Viscaya North and at the CTA or UTD Towers Building. So if we sit back twenty
gl
142 tact ! wr
POSI
feet or twenty-five feet now, we are already back two hundred twenty-five
feet from the site line along that outer bulkhead line and the two properties
to the North and the South of us. We have some seven hundred forty feet of
depth from Brickell Avenue all the way to the Bay. Ideally we would like to
build our building as close to that water line as possible because we do not
plan to fill in or apply to fill in the property in the bay bottom which we
own. I submit to you that there is two sides to this issue. There is the
front and the back. And the people coming along Brickell Avenue between
25th Road and 15th road have no opportunity to see the water in any event.
It's so far removed from there. What they do have an opportunity to see is
the ambience of Brickell Avenue, particularly in the area that we are located.
The beautiful trees and planting. And if you take a building and require it
to be removed further... fifty feet from the rear property line, it's going
to move fifty feet closer than it otherwise would to Brickell Avenue. And
you are going to be destroying something which really has something of value
to the people who daily travel along Brickell Avenue. On the water side of
Brickell Avenue where we are located, you are not really in Navigable water
ways. We are far removed from the the intercoastal, we are in very shallow
waters three to four feet at low tide and there is no one there to see it.
There is no public access to that waterfront from 25th Road, the Brickell
Townhouse, all the way to Viscaya North Apartments. So there is nothing to
be gained here at all for the public if this ordinance or this ordinance as
proposed would be adopted by the City Commission. I submit that what we need
in this effort is some wisdom and less emotion and I believe you are going
to get that if you follow the orderly processes which are provided in your
ordinances to take this before the Planning Board, have the public hearings
where you can get the input, not just of us who are involved in it, but the
professional who can counsel you and you will come up with peramaters. that
I submit that the public will be gained much more than by that which is proposed.
And I think Mr. Cheezam, it's going to be in your interest that this take
place, because as it's been suggested some kind of petition is going to be
going around this town and it may be a real lousy one. And I submit that if
something comes out of the City Commission, that also is on the agenda next
November, that the constituency of this City will vote rationally and everybody
will be happy. Thank you.
Mayor Ferre: Precisely my point. Thank you, very much Mr. Rice. I think you.
said it much: better than I have been trying to say.Thank you.
Mr. Fine: For the record my name is Martin Fine and I'm representing
Miami Center Associates who is the developer of the proposed Hyatt House Hotel
on top of the Conference Center and Convention Center built by the University.
Very briefly, I'm very confused because we have so many documents floating.
around. Mr. Paul was kind enough to furnish me with a copy of amendment #2
that Mr. Lacasa quoted...
Mayor Ferre: Well, let me correct you, I'm sorry. That isn't... I don't
know whether it's amendment one or two. It's about the fifth or the six
draft. The first draft was passed out at a Downtown Development Authority...
I'm sorry Chamber of Commerce Meeting. I Have got them all numbered. I will
be happy to give you copies of all of them and Dan Paul at that meeting who
saying that Rose Gordon was proposing that the following day at a Tigerbay
luncheon which was a Wednesday of about two or three weeks ago. And since that
time this thing has been amended at least four times, this is the fifth amendment,
so... and I'm sure it will be amended again.
Mr. Fine: Let me say this, the amendment that I have before me specifically
exempts the Miami Convention Center for the reason that the City has already
drawn a partial permit for it.
Mayor Ferre: That wasn't what was passed at the last meeting.
Mr. Fine: I know and my concern is, that in my opinion what was passed at
the last meeting should be amended tonight much as I think you have been asked
to do for Claughton Island, because unless you amend it, in my opinion, you
jeopardize the City's Convention Center and the proposed Hyatt House Hotel.
Because you have passed, at least on first reading and I don't know Mr. Knox,
if it has to be on the second reading, but you have passed something which in
my opinion would prevent any financial institution from financing this or a
bond house from selling bonds with an ordinance that says that this building
can't possibly be in compliance with as I understand it. Now, with all these
folk from the City here if someone has a different idea, that's fine. My
opinion is at this point in time, that unless you specifically exempt the
Miami Convention Center from the terms of the ordinance that you previously
gl
143 idyl 1 2 1979
passed and .the basis for doing that is that actually. construction has started
and is on going at the present time and permits are being taken at various
stages, I think you place that center and any proposed improvement there in
serious jeopardy.
Mayor Ferre: Mr. Fine, God knows that I don't want to see that center jeopardized.
The newspapers in this town have been totally irresponsible in their editorial
policies on this issue and I think that until we get some clarification and we
go through a proper process of going through the Zoning Board and having input
and have Jim Reid and everybody who is involved in this discuss this thoroughly
and come out with something that we can live with. The reality of the situation
‘.;l:ether it's Dan Paul or Rose Gordon and now she wants to deny this whole thing,
you know or whoever it is that's going to get this on a petition, this matter
is going to be used as a political sledgehammer. They are going to get the
twelve thousand eight hundred signatures, there is nothing to that. We can
do that very easily. And I think that what we need to do is to come back with
something that is reasonable, well reasoned, not a cockamamy thing that's been
•!o^ig ed, ever designed, gone up and down, side ways , round and back and forth
and Ken Treister was working on it desperately all day today. I talked to him
several times and Dan Paul has admitted that John McMullen had something to
do with the drafting of the original one, because he gave me some very valid points
that he, 1)an Pau accepted and changed in the second draft. Now, the point
I'm trying to male to you is, that the best way for us to deal reasonably with
this is not to elempt anybody, but to have this thing go before the Planning
Board and that's ;here all these things should be dealt with and then we
finally should deal with them on the 23rd of this month.
Mr. Fine: Mr. Mayor, I just want to share with you my grave concern both for
my client and for the City of Miami and this Convention Center. Under the
re ent;cliiate I am of the opinion that no responsible lender will lend money
tc any public or private project in an area that's involved here nor will any
t..apater. responsible attorney render an opinion to that lending institution
that they can in good conscience proceed with any permit issued after June
?Ate And chile none of you probably intended to do that, you have in my opinion
inadv_rten:ly created a very serious cloud on any project in this area.
yc,c fc.: : n furthermore, I think... you see, now we have... Claughton
- Mr. Ct.eeza... -wants an exemption.
Fine: They are on the same island.
1;.;or Terre: I know, but they are two separate property owners.''
wants an exemption...
M•.
Fin
n, the City wants an exemption.;:
Mayor Ferre: Oh, I see. Alright.
litre:ior your client?
Mr. Fine: Right.
Mayor Ferre: You want
a property on Brickell
are we going to give.
Ball Point, ok. Let's
all at time.
But no you don't represent the City, you
an exemption? Alright, now we have Mr. Rice who has
Avenue, he wants an exemption. Now, how many exemptions
You want an exemption too? Now, who do you represent?
hear Ball Point's exemption, Imean, we can take them
Mr. Fine: Mr. Mayor, my responsibility really, is to point out what I think
is a problem. I have done that and you all deal with it in a manner you think
i& best.
Mrs. ;Gordon:
r+a`•c r, Ferre: '.
Mr Mayor
would you letsomeone else have a word?
Mrs. Gordon; Oh, thank you.
Mayor Ferre: Always have, never have problems with that.
Mrs. Gordon: Thank you, very much. Now, let's go back and tell everything like
it really is, ok. First of all, it's true someone did show you something the
day before I spoke at Tigerbay and you said "that's a great idea, I think I
will capitalize on that one" consequently you figured that
was a good u said little
ok, let
political thing and you would like to have some applause,y
pvi.1 t,�
gl
144
1
me have it and you and Mr. Lacasa were the ones who moved it. 1 only went
along with you to give you a third vote. Look, I'm finishing and then you can...
Mayor Per": Mrs° Gordon, you know that, that speech you "ade on Wednesday
you came out with this proposal ePeeifioally. I will show you the copy of the
speech.
mrs. Gordon: Ok, well, would you let me finish and then I will listen to you,
ok? Ok. Thank you. Consequently when we got to the City Commission level and
I asked to have discussion relative to perspective Charter Amendments, I would
like you to know ladies and gentlemen my interest is in the public land that
has been leased out and is being considered to be leased out to private interest.
That is what I am all about and that is this petition that I am taking to the
public, petition that I'm taking to the public is available here for you to
see. The petition that's being talked about is a nebulous thing, has never been
developed, it is not on the street, nobody is carrying it, it cannot be carried
in it's present form. There is no one that you could possibly imagine that
would want to sign something as lengthy as that. At least I don't know anybody
that would. So therefore,... I mean what the Mayor is trying to stew is a
political ploy and I resent it and I think all the people here resent it, because
you would like to have Mr. Paul's goodwill and you would like these people to
be on your side too and you cannot play two sides of the game, Mr. Mayor. And
therefore, you have to realize that this is the intent to continue this petition
drive to protect the public land from private leases. And anyone here interested
in protecting the public lands that's the park lands and the other public lands,
that's Watson Island and all the rest of them, please come up here and sign
this. I have no other petition to offer you.
Mayor Ferre: Are you through? Alright, Mrs. Gordon, you and Dan Paul on at
least three separate occasions that he has stated discussed this particular
issue. Furthermore, there is correspondence between Dan Paul and yourself to
this particular regard. Furthermore, you voted for this item when it was
moved previously. Now, for you to back paddle now for whatever reasons you
may have is completely obvious and conspicuous and unacceptable. You may try
to hide, but there is no way that you can hide from the reality of your vote.
Mrs. Gordon: I admitted I voted, but I didn't move it. Lacasa moved it and
you seconded it, that's very funny that's all.
Mayor Ferre: The matter... the record will reflect that Mrs. Gordon was
desperately trying to move it and could not get a second. And the records
will so reflect and I will have the Clerk bring up the records to show the
many times that Mrs. Gordon was trying to move this item and the reason...
and finally it was Mr. Lacasa who on the second day, because the matter did
not pass. It shows her total and complete hippocracy.
Mrs. Gordon: You moved it the first day Maurice. I think it's ridiculous for
us to continue this. I think that the important thing that we need to do
tonight is to get this agenda completed, so we can all go home. We have been
here since 9 o'clock this morning and I don't think anybody else needs to
listen to anymore of this kind of political, you know...
Mayor Ferre: I agree with that.
Mrs. Gordon: I don't think it's worth anybody's time or effort.
Mayor Ferre: My Position is that there will be no changes on this thing, that
it go before the Planning Board, follow a natural course and then come before
us on the 23rd for final disposition one way or the other.
Mr. Jaffer: Mr. Mayor, my name is Joel Jaffer, I live at 3268 Mary Street.
I've got a lot of ground to cover because contrary to popular belief, it's not
just Mr. Paul who is in favor of this ordinance. I'm in favor it, there are a
lot of other people in favor of it. And I want to preface my remarks first of
all by saying that I don't have any friends in the City of Miami. I'm not
employed by the Miami Herald, I don't have law offices at 1401 Brickell Avenue.
I don't have any interest. It's important that the Commission realign it's
perspectives because they somehow got very maladjusted by listening to hours
and hours of this talk. The thing that is putting this thing before the voters
is a very concerned... very justified concern of thousands upon thousands of
citizens of the City of Miami. The crisis element that is working here is all
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'JUL t iST;
these developers who don't even have enough ground to stand on, that you all
can decide something one day and all their lenders start turning their backs
on them. You know it... and where are the priorities. The thing that...
well, that's well said. I also want to tell the developers first of all that
I didn't consider this amendment very serious when it passed the Commission.
And it's only upon listening to you all say how it's going to shut everything
down, that I'm getting interested in it. Furthermore, this is doing you a favor
it's giving you a basis for variances which you get all the time illegally, but
at least it's giving you a basis just for giving a few feet on the waterfront
which you time and time again give on the street sides for street widening and
dedications to the City. I don't hear you all complaining when the City ask
you to give ten feet of their... of the street side of your property for street
widening. Why are you complaining now when the City wants you to give fifty
feet for the bay, it's the same thing. Ok, about Claughton Island. I don't
feel sorry for Mr. Claughton. He has told you himself that for twenty-three
years he can't get this thing off the ground. You know, so... he didn't buy
this property sold on developing it. It's just some, you know, little hankering
he has had that he is trying to force on the citizens of the City of Miami for
twenty-three years. He hasn't been able to do it this time. I don't feel sorry
for him, alright. He says he has massaged it, he has massaged it alright. He
has built this island up, illegally dredged it, sea walled it, built a bridge
to it. Nobody wants him to do this. No one asked him to do it. We have a
case in Coral Gables where they are dredging up the Cocoplum properties illegally,
Fair Isle was dredged to a large extent illegally. Who are we kidding here?
This is a... these are flimsy shams put on the City of Miami to try and get
New York City move down South and I can't go for it. Now, there has been some
talk about the law here. I've done a lot of research on cases like this and
I would like to add also that nothing would make me more happier than to see
this thing litigated at length in the courts... but... no matter who does it...
Mayor Ferree Mr. Jaffer, I have only got
Grassie..give you that bow tie?
one question out of you. Did Joe
Mr. Jaffe.: Ok, now, there is also one way of doing business that is done
constantly in the City and that's the kind of business that's done by Wonder
Bread. Vonter Bread you remember, they got taken to court also. They bleached
their bread to death at every stage of the process. They bleach the wheat...
they put chemicals in the wheat before it grows. They bleach the wheat, you
know they insert chemicals in the bread after it's cooked and the public says
you know, we don't like wonder bread. It's just not bread and they say "well,
what's missing and the public says well there is no vitamin A, no Vitamin D,
so that they destroy the bread and put back about a few... about twelve vitamins
to put back in and then they claim, that this makes a good bread and this was
strucked down in court and it's... Well, it's unnatural, but more than that,
it's not a good way of doing business. You can't say that the only thing
wrong with Miami Beach is that you can't see the bay. There are a zillion
things wrong with Miami Beach that is producing this gut feeling that makes
the people of Miami want to sign these petitions and make them not want to
work for developers and you know leave the City of Miami all together. And
that gut feeling you know, you can... it expresses itself, you can't see the
bay, you know, there is too much traffic, there is too much density, but it's
really a basic problem of development and the only answer and the only thing
that will make people want to sign this is the idea that they can actually stop
it all together and have their bread whole and have their city free from this
kind of development. I would like to speak to Mr. Gibson's remarks and a few
others. That is about the boards and about the review. You know, there were
two very serious breaches of faith by this Commission in the last month or so
and the first one struck me for about two days, I couldn't get over it. And
that was Mr. John Aurell coming up here and saying we will not build our
Ball Point unless you dismiss your petition and you all went right ahead and
dismissed it. You know, how... why go on, you know? What did you have to
lose, you gave away something that you couldn't never have again and you gave
it away just for some spector of some future development, you know, no basis
or anything and it's... I think a lot of people went away from that meeting
very morally a lot less than they had when they got into the meeting. Also
about Claughton Island, the fact that it's protected by zoning ordinances
already, that's what we are trying to do by this ordinance is to make these
protections a lot stronger and more stringent than the present zoning ordinances.
Also, so more on the legal thing. There were some cases in Florida here
despite what Mr. Knox says. One was Mr. Sokolski versus the City of coral
Gables where he took out a permit to do some subbasement... where the foundations.
and then he claimed that, that was in good faith for him to get the rest of his
gi
146
1UL'! '! im
permit. And the main thing in deciding that case was that he was served with
a.civil summon after the Appeals Court had already taken jurisdiction. So
I, you know, say right now if it's necessary I will be very happy to file some
kind of suit against Claughton Island and the Convention Center if necessary
and anyone else to give them fair notice. You know, just so there is no
doubts that they have good notice. Also after reading the Charter-- the
home rule Charter, all that you all need to do right now is express your
intent and I think you have done that very well. And you all say you like
the intent but not the particulars. But that's what we need right now is the
intent and that's what we got. So thanks very much for listening.
Mayor Ferre: Alright
are there any other speakers at this time?
Mr. Plummer: I thought Ball Point was one.
Mayor Ferre: Ball Point doesn't want to be excepted?
Mr. Adams: My name is William Adams and I represent Ball Point and the reason
why ve didn't speak is because we sort of got thefeeling that you were going
to send us back as you had suggested. And while we do feel that Ball Point is
in the same category as Claughton Island, that while the zoning...
Mayor Ferre: Well, explain that to us would you please, because that's not
an island.
Mr. Adams: Well, while the zoning classification may not be quite as stringent
the process of having to go through the DRI and getting a development order,
going through five separate hearings, negotiating before each one of these
people ending up with a development order that contains twenty-three separate
conditions to development. We have made concessions which result in our
commitments to spend three and a half million dollars more than the law
requires for the very purposes designed by this partic--- that would be served
by this Charter and by the Charter Amendment and by the Ordinance. And we now
have a development order. We are in the same precise position and my suggestion
is, for what it's worth at this point, that if the Commission really wants to
be fair abouc this and to avoid the kinds of problems that have been discussed,
that an exception should be made in the ordinance that would except anything
which has a finally development order entered. And that's my suggestion at
this point.
Mayor Ferre: How about those people like, let's take Ted Hollo who is working
on a development order, but won't be ready until August or September?
Mr. Adams: Well, obviously, there has to be some point at which a line is
drawn. I personally believe that and we have done considerable research in
this area... I believe you are going to have an unconstitutional taking...
Would you like to answer the question? My suggestion was that we have done
some research in this area and we think you are going to have an unconstitutional
taking that's going to risk City funds in the way that has already been described
if you go through with it.
Mayor Ferre: Well, I think that's a very important point and we have... I
have written down here that I want the City Attorney... Mr. Knox? There are
three areas that I want you to address legally for us by the 23rd. One is
the question of retroactivity as discussed by Commissioner Lacasa and as
defined specifically in proposition before us entitled "Amendment #2, protect
our waterfront amendments petition" and you have a copy of it. I think I gave
one to you. So there is the last paragraph which begins "The City nor any of
it's agencies and ends with the 79 ballot which addresses that point of
retroactivity. And would you tell us about the legality of that? Secondly,
there was a gentleman here and I think he was representing, I think Mr. Cheezam.
We talked about vested rights. No, I'm sorry it was Ed. It was Ed Claughton
and he was talking about vested rights. Would you therefore address the legal
point on vested rights? And thirdly, is the question of constitutionality
which we are just now beginning to address. And you think that this item
as presented and I wish you would look at this new one as been presented as
unconstitutional.
Mr. Plummer: Alright, does that end this issue?
Mr. Adams: The question you asked me is how you deal with the other people
who's processes are half way along. At some point you have to draw the line.
My answer was that in our judgement wherever you draw the line you are going
have with this particular thing an unconstonal taking, but if you are
gl 3UL •! 11!»
going to do it, then you should draw the line at a point where it is definite.
And that is where the development order has become final.
Mayor Ferre:
Alright, further..
Mr. Plummer: Yes, but you see, the one thing you better
petition is not under our control.
fir. Adams: We understand that.
Mr. Plummer: And under this petition there
we don't have any control. over.
We understand that,
Mr. Adams:
understand sir
this
are proposed retroactivity that
but we can only fight one battle at a time.
Mr. Plummer: Yes,; but when you start fighting that battle make sure you
know who your opponent is.
Mr. Adams: I thinkwe know that.
Mayor Ferre:
Rev. Gibson:
Mayor Ferre:
Alright,.'..
Ma: or?
YeE, sir? Father Gibson.
re.. Gibsor: Sir, you were going to ask
you were going to say something,...
Mayor Ferre: Roy Kenzie.
Rev.
Gibson
Mr. Kenzie?
want to ask.. Mr. no,no,;no
Mr. Kenzie: I'm just going to make one remark to something that Dan Paul
.24 earlier': which I can't let drop because it bothers me and it was in
rei,ards to Do mtown in relationship of that to this ordinance and proposed
C iar ter tme+dr. ,nc And chat was that the development authority had not backed
it in anyway to save this poor Waterfront Downtown since it's inception.
And I think if you look at the Downtown on that map, that you will see starting
et the very top of Downtown and running down, you will see first of all a park
at the top above 17th Street and then you will see a women's club property which
y Tar von along the water right now, then you see Plaza Venetia phase I and
I1 and the City has required a setback and public access and river walk along
chat and SO we can go by that. Then we reach the Venetian Causeway, then the
eo
next thing we come to is a barbed wire fence in front of the Miami Herald.
you can't walk in front of the Miami Herald, they have no access there. Then
what do you hit? You hit a park and you hit a park that the City has spent a
tremendous amount of money buying and still buying to do exactly what we are
trying to do with this ordinance, protect the waterfront in front of the City.
And we have for the entire length of the Downtown core to Ball Point we have
a park. Then what do you hit? You hit Ball Point. And the City Commission
has required that the Ball Point developer give public access and easement
aad give that to the City which he has done. Then you come to a little piece
on the end of Biscayne Boulevard. What's happened there? Rose Gordon,
Commissioner, asked that... when the development order went through, that the
developer give that land to the City which the developer did. And so that's
now a park and has public access to it. Then you come to Dupont Plaza Hotel.
You can walk along the docks there now, but it's not necessarily public access
and that you could consider a blockage. What do you hit after that? The
Convention Center which has a river walk in front it, public access in front
-ui :i.. Bauder Fashion College we required it have a river walk and have public
access in front that. Then you come into two pieces owned by Thatcher and a
:.�.. tror.: Atlanta, those are not developed yet are parking lots presently and
that's it. That's the entire edge of Downtown. The good majority, about
eighty percent now is park or has public access and the only blockages on it
are the Miami Herald and the Dupont Plaza Hotel and a potential development
on a parking lot. And where did that river walk come from that we all, you
know, have along the river now? It came through the development authority
for the City of Miami. And we have... if everyone else in the City followed
the example of the Downtown, we wouldn't be sitting here. And Downtown is
certainly is not what I think that it's been painted to
be in terms of eating up all it's bayfront and creating a Miami Beach.
spent a lot of money putting a park there to get out of that problem.
We
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i
Mayor Ferre: Don't tell me, go tell Alvah Chapman and John McMullen.
Rev. Gibson: Mr. Mayor, may I ask a question? Where are we now? I wish
somebody will enlighten me.
Mayor Ferre: Well, Father, here where we are. I wanted to let everybody have
an opportunity to say whatever they wanted which has happened now, I think.
Now, after that I'm going to recognize Mrs. Gordon who wanted to be recognized
about an hour ago to make a motion, I think on Claughton. And then after that
I think somebody around here, if not I will, will make a motion that all this
be properly referred as far as the ordinance is concerned, which is Item #119
to the proper Board as told to us by the City Attorney and that is the Planning
Board. And then since they have it on schedule on the 18th it will come back
to us, hopefully on the 23rd on an emergency basis at which time we will
deliberate on all this. At this point that will give Mr. Dan Paul enough time
along with his other friends and people who are interested in this to properly
get this thing worded so that it doesn't completely devastate and destroy the
City and the waterfront and something that people can live with and yet
accomplishes, hopefully, some of the intentions of what we had in the beginning.
And that's where we are at. Now, Mrs. Gordon, I recognize you for the purposes
of a motion.
Mrs. Gordon: Ok. Previously stated that the island district has restrictions
that governs the type of development that takes place on it. Therefore, for,
that reason should be excepted from the proposal that was passed on June 26th...
What was the date, June what?
Mr. Ongie: 26th.
Mrs. Gordon: June 26th meeting. The specific action was a motion
resolution to place the proposed Charter Amendment on the November
ballot.
Mayor Ferre
Mrs. Gordon:
Mayor Ferre:
Mrs. Gordon:. --add an amendment to the motion that was passed on June 26th
exceptingthe island development:
and not a
6th election
That's correct. There is now a motion' that...
This is a motion to amend that or to.,.
o amend that motion.;
Mayor Ferre Alright.
Rev. Gibson: Mr. Mayor, I'm going to second the motion not because this is
what`I want, but I don't want these people to be put the predicament they are
in. I think it's unfortunate. And if this is the only way I could get the
relief that I think they ought to have, I'm going this way, but I have a motion
of my own I want to make later on. So I want to second it.
Mayor Ferre: Alright, there is a second, is there further discussion on the
motion?
Mr. Plummer: Yes, I happened to go back to my point. Anybody answered the
question of how many islands are involved?
Mayor Ferre:
Mr. Plummer
One.
(BACKGROUND COMMENT OFF THE PUBLIC)
Mr. Plummer:
Mrs. Gordon:
Mr. Plummer What about Watson Island?
Mrs. Gordon: That is a public land not classified
Mr. Plummer I got a problem, because that which I'
what 'I`approved four years ago. Right Ed?
it's not the same thing.notthe same thing.
m looking et there is not
gl
1.49
rJUL1.1 t97
(BACKGROUND COMMENT OFF THE PUBLIC RECORD)
Mr. Plummer: Well, but I'm saying it's not what I approved.
(BACKGROUND COMMENT OFF THE PUBLIC RECORD)
Mt, Plummer: From what I have heard I'm glad for, ok. I'm glad for. But
this Commission had supposedly site control over that island. Well... wait
a minute Rose. And this Commission voted a certain set of criteria which has
been out of our hands completely altered. Nov, I don't know whether that
within itself is legal. What did we give, a variance? Or what did we give?
Mrs. Gordon: No, no, that was a planned island development. It's a planned
d evelopment .
Mr.
/p e CYCpnt. T?1 .COMMENT OFF THE PUBLIC,; RECORD)
Mr. Plummer:
I prefer them Ed, on the record.
(BACKGROUND COWITT OFF THE .PUBLIC RECORD)
Mr. Plummer:,We.1, how long is that"which we approved
Forever,
Mr. JiM,Reidl, No, there is a requirement that before the building
Permit is issued that a final development plan be prepared. At this stage
what we°have is an approved concept plan and the initial building that is
part of that concept plan was consistent with the overall area development
plan that was suggested to you. But what they are bringing here for a building'
1.-.rmit a final development plan to be reviewed by the department and in
subject;to our approval.
Mr. Flutnmer: WAat about the Commission.
i,n } In terms of the terns of the ordinances as I understand
;i,.the... unless the development plan represents a
substantial deviation from the original proposal if it's not brought back for
review.
i'itimoez: Well, fifty percent deletion, isn't that a substantial change?
Mr. ,Tim Reid: Well, if that is the case then, of course, when the
development plan is filed we will deal with that issue.
Mr. Plummer: Now, Mr. Mayor, you know, I'm going to adopt a basic philosophy.
I don't want to act on anything without proper public hearing, regular research.
Ed Claughton knows how I feel about that island. It was the greatest
disappointment in the world when we didn't break ground in 1976. I'm all
in favor of it. I don't want to make anything here tonight where we are finding
ourselves with the fifth proposal before us. We got to come back with five
more proposals. Can't we just wait and do this rational?
Mayor Ferre: Mr. Plummer, I pass you the gavel, sir and I move...
Mrs. Gordon: There is a motion on the table.
Mayor Ferre: that this matterbe tabled and that takes precedence. I;
moved that it be tabled, 1 don't need a second for that and it goes without.
discussion for vote.
Mrs. Gordon:
Mayor Ferre:
Mr. Plummer:,
A motion to table does not need ..a°second?
Does not need a second. I move to table.
Call the roll.
Mr. Mayor, before we vote, a motion...:
Mrs. Gordon: Be tabled until. when?
Rev. Gibson:
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150
rJuL i 1 1!
AYES:
NOES:
Rev. Gibson: Wait. I think I know, but I want to ask for the record.
A motion to table Mr. Vice -Mayor means what?
Mr. Plummer: A motion to table means that,, it is put aside until another
motion is made to bring it back up. It takes another motion to bring it
back up, is my understanding.
Mrs. Gordon: Or it could be tabled to a time certain, J. L.
Mayor Ferre: Ok, tabled until the 23rd of July. I amend my motion..
anything else? 'Ok, call the roll.
Mr. Plummer:
The following motion was introduced by Mayor
adoption.
Ferre, who moved its
MOTION NO. 79-498
A MOTION TO TABLE ANY CONSIDERATION OF PROPOSED
CHARTER AMENDMENTS CONCERNING THE WATERFRONT
UNTIL THE MEETING OF JULY 23, 1979.
Whereupon the motion was passed and adopted by the following vote:
Mr. Lacasa, Vice -Mayor Plummer and Mayor Ferre.
Mrs. Gordon and Rev. Gibson.
ABSENT: None.
Rev. Gibson: Mr. Mayor, may I ask a question? You know, I trust I understand.
I heard... don't leave. Don't you leave, don't you leave. I heard two men
e
make, may be three men make a reasonable, plausible admonition to us.
Wher
is that gentleman... That gentleman there and this gentleman here and Martin
Fine. I hope we... oh, yes and the fourth gentleman, that gentleman there.
I hope we are not putting ourselves in the position where we get to be known
as a community that people cannot depend upon carrying out promises and
commitments. I can only tell you this, if my members promise me a certain
sum of money, I expect them to produce it. I expect them to give it.
I go and I plan the business of the church based on promises and commitments
You need to know that about me. That's why when you come here and you make
a promise to me, I expect you to keep your word. Now, what really bothers
me is I do not really understand where we are
ite lmewherewe are
the
legal
posture.
1 wish
he
I could understand it. Mr. City Attorney, you
referendum, all this other business, you tell me. Tell me, I don't understand
it.
Mr. Knox: Yes. The only operative action that has been taken by the City
Commission has been the passage of a motion of intention to place on the
ballot in November a proposed Charter change which is worded as your motiIteon is
18 is worded, which has not been adopted by the City Commission.
an informal expression of the will or opinion of the City Commission and
does not have the force and affect of law nor is it considered to be an
official action of the City of Miami Commission.
Mr. Plummer: And as such does not affect Mr. Claughton today. What we...
even what is being...
Rev. Gibson: Nor anybody else who is involved.
Mr. Plummer: What is being proposed does not affect Mr. Claughton, it doesn't
affect Ball Point, it doesn't affect any;. of these. Mr. Paul's most recent.
petition could affect.
Rev. Gibson: Providing
Mr. Plummer: That's right.
Rev. Gibson: Providing it passes, let's make sure we get that straight.
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151
NUL 1 I tin
Mr. Plummer: By a motion here this evening Father, as I understand it, we
are trying to exempt Mr. Claughton from something that doesn't exist. We
can't exempt him from this petition, only the voters can by rejection. We
`cannot exempt him because he hasn't been spoken to.
Rev. Gibson: But if the man has... what I don't understand, if you already
have a law which places that island in a special category which automatically
excludes.it, why are we dealing with it now?
Mr. Plummer: We shouldn't be.
Rev. Gibson:
Mr. Lacasa: He is free.
Mr. Plummer: He is free...
Mr. Lacasa: That is the whole thing that I have been talking about before.
He is free as far as we are concerned. The legal status of this situation
is as it is today with the existing zoning regulations, nothing more, nothing
less. There is a petition drive over which this City Commission has no control
whatsoever. And there is on first reading a resolution proposing to the voters
of the City of Miami an amendment to the existing zoning regulations to take
effect on November 6th of 1979 with no retroactive effect. So that's all there
is to it. As far as anybody is concerned the existing zoning regulations
of today are the ones to be applied to this project and to anyone like that.
There is nothing else.
Rev. Gibson: He is shaking his head.
Mr. Fosmoen: The one point that has been missed is that while the design may
have to conform to the zoning ordinance, there are several hundreds of millions
of dollars of financing that is in the process and any underwriter or any lending
institution is not going to commit itself to finance a project that is in
jeopardy based on a motion of intent of this Commission to pass this ordinance.
Mayor Ferre: And that will all be clarified hopefully, by the 23rd.
Mrs. Gordon: Well, what was the reason for delaying it until the 21st? What
are you going to gain?
Mayor Ferre: Because we want this matter to go by the proper procedure of
going as an ordinance through the Planning Board to see what they come up with.
Also, to give people like Ken Treister and Dan Paul the opportunity to get this
thing in proper language where may be all of you may support this, ok. And at
that point we will deal with Watson Island, this island, Claughton Island,
the Convention Conference Center, Tibor Hollo, the other people who have
irregular properties, Gould, which is Ball Point and all the other people that
want to be exempted. And that will be the proper time to deal with all these
islands. Ok. Do we have anything else on this particular item? Mr. Lacasa,
I think you as I recall, told me you wanted to make a motion to send this to
the Planning Board.
Mr. Lacasa: Yes, sir.
Mayor Ferre:
Mr. Lacasa:
Mayor Ferre:
Mr. Lacasa:
Mayor Ferre:
Mr. Lacasa:
of the ° 20th.
Mayor Ferre:
(BACKGROUND
gl
Alright, tell me what your motion is.
My motion 'is to
refer this matter to the Planning Board.
With regards to the'ordinance, that is.
With regard to the ordinance.
That's Item #119.
And discuss the question again in public hearing on the meeting
That's fine. Ok, is there a second
COMMENT OFF THE PUBLIC RECORD)
152.
o that motion?
MIL ! 111171
Mayor Ferre: • Has that been done? I think you are ri
It was because it was tabled.
ht.
Mayor Ferre: No, no, it wasn't tabled. What I tabled was the motion that
Mrs. Gordon moved and Father seconded, that wasn't...
Mrs. Gordon: That was to eliminate the islands from the proposal. Now,
your Planning Board Maurice doesn't know that you want the islands eliminated
because you have... they don't know.
Mayor Ferre:
them all the
what the pur.
the law says.
Mr. Lacasa:
Mayor Ferre:
Alright,...
Mrs. Gordon:
Mr.
Lacasa:
That's why I want them to go before the Planning Board and give
arguments, that's what we have Planning. Boards for. That's exactly...
.. that's what the law says, is that right Mt Knox? That's what
Well, then the motion is in order.
You say the law doesn't. make any sense, fine go change the law.
The law makes sense, but somebody else doesn't.
The motion is in order J."L.
Mayor Ferre: Is that the law Mr. Knox?
Mr. Knox: The law is that zoning matters have to be referred first to the
Planning Advisory Board or the Zoning Board, which ever is appropriate under
the circumstances.
Mayor Ferre:
Mr. Plummer:
Mayor
Ferre:
Mr. Plummer:
Mr. Knox:
Mr. Lacasa moves.
Plummer?
Did 18 go through that Mr. Knox?
Shouldn't 18 be included then
18 and 20...
Mr. Plummer: As well as 19...
Mr. Knox: ... are not required to go through that process because they
involve Charter changes and of course, any zoning ordinances are subject to
the Charter. Now, if the City Commission would choose as a matter of policy
based on all...
n. •
Mayor Ferre: I would accept that. I wouldn't change my vote on the previous
one, but I think that both 18 and 19 should be referred to the Planning Board.
Alright, that's the way the motion reads. Is there a second?
Mr. Plummer: Are you speaking... let me try to understand. Are you speaking;.
now to 18 and 20? Or to 19 and...
Mr. Lacasa: 18 and 19.
Mayor Ferre: We are talking now strictly about the area with regards to the
setback and the see through provisions that we previously passed a motion and
put on the ballot for November 6th. And what we are doing is referring it to
the Planning Board so that the ordinance... they will deal with the ordinance,
but since the resolution is similar, out of courtesy to them, let them
deliberate on that.
Mr. Plummer: May I read to you a motion from the last meeting?
Meyer Ferre: Alright.
Mr. Plummer:
(BEGINS TO READ MOTION INTO RECORD
Mayor Ferre: This isnot a motion, this is a
(BACKGROUND COMMENT OFF THE PUBLIC RECORD)
gl
153
�1UL�i Z 197""�
Mayor Ferre: Oh, I 50 it's a motion. I beg your pam,n.
Mr. Plummer: (READS MOTION INTO THE RECORD).
Mayor Ferre: That was with regards to zoning. I mean, I'm sorry, that was
in regards to the leases.
Mr. Plummer: No, sir, that says #1 and #2.
Mr. Lacasa: Where is that?
Mayor Ferre: Alright, well, then in other words, what he is saying is that we
don't need a motion, that's already being done. That's on Item 18 and 19.
So, is there anybody else who wants to speak to 18 and 19? If not we are on
Items 20 and 21 with regards to the leases...
Mr. Jaffer: I would like to say one thing about 18 and 19, just in regard to
Mr. Knox's comment. I don't think it's a zoning matter. I just want to get
that on the record.
40. PROPOSED CHARTER AMENDMENT REGARDING LEASING OF CITY WATERFRONT
PROPERTY- AND INSTRUCTING -ALL BOARDS AND COMMITTEES TO EXEMPT
WATSON ISLAND AND CONFERENCE/CONVENTION CENTER FROM DELIBERATIONS
ON SETBACK REQUIREMENTS.
Mayor Ferre: Alright, thank you. Alright, now on 1120 and #21 which regards
to the probation of leases on any City property along Biscayne, Government Cut,
Miami River, Rickenbacker, Watson Island or Virginia Key.
Mr. Knox: Mr. Mayor, I think that the Clerk's records will reflect that there
was a motion of intention to send these matters to the Waterfront Board
specifica''-
Mayor: Ferre
Mr. Grimm:
Mayor Ferre:
Mr. Grimm:
Mayor Ferre:
That's correct. That is, correct.
And it's been done.
And it's been done.
So that therefore, the...
Mrs. Gordon: Maurice didn't -you instruct that item to be on
your own instructions?
Mayor Ferre: Yes, for the purposes of passing an ordinance. I have since been
told by the City Attorney, that we cannot pass this because it must by law
go to the... since it is a zoning matter, it must go to the Planning Board.
Mrs. Gordon: This is not a zoning matter, however.'
public land. This is not a zoning matter._.
Mayor Ferre: Well, that's right.
Mrs. Gordon: It has no zoning involved in it whatsoever and you asked for
it to be on the agenda and it's on it.
Mr. Grimm: Mr. Mayor, if I may refresh you at least the way I remember it is
you referred it to the Waterfront Advisory Board for the purpose of their
conducting public hearings and to come back to this Commission on the 23rd
with their recommendations. Now, that's the way...
Mrs. Gordon: That is not in the minutes by any
instruction to put this on tonight's agenda was
and personal instructions to the Law Department
remember who took the instruction from him, but
it.
motions whatsoever. The
by the Mayor's individual
or to Mr. Grassie. I don't.
he is the one that instructed
Mayor Ferre: I think she is right. I think what the intention of this was
that until the Board finished their deliberation, the intention was that no
leases be signed until this whole process is finished. Now, I don't see... I
still feel that way. I don't see anything wrong with that. Yes, sir?
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154
Mr. Pine: For the record my name is Martin Fine and I'm here representing
Miami Center Associates and I would like to raise a question and perhaps your
City Attorney and you all could react to it. In April of 1978 the City entered
into a long-term lease agreement with Miami Center Associates to lease certain
land and other rights in connection with the hotel to be built over the Miami
Convention Center. And on the face of it that would not be affected by Items
20 and 21. However, for reasons of both the City and the developer that
is presently being amended and I would like to specifically point that out to
you and therefore specifically request that if you take any action on these
two items tonight or at any time in the future, that you specifically except
the Miami Convention Center Property because that lease not only probably
be amended in the next week or two, but thereafter to meet the requirements of
Bond Council, to meet the requirements of certain technicalities of Florida
Law and to meet the requirements of lenders and so forth and so on. And so
a tremendous amount of money has been spent both by the City and the Developers
in that regard and I would specifically request that you exempt that from Items
20 and 21, if in fact you are going to take any action on it tonight.
Mrs. Gordon: Morty will you repeat your...
Mayor Ferre: No Morty is over there, that's Martin.
Mrs. Gordon: Someone was talking
would like to hear.
Mayor
would the Clerk read back the statement?
Mr. Fine:No, I'm`alright. I have been here since 5 o'clock waiting on it
but now I remember` it well, I think. In April of 1978 the City entered into
a contractual lease agreement with Miami Center Associates and I am saying that,
that lease is of necessity for reasons by City Council and for a Council for
lending institutions being amended. And I believe that you should except this
specifically in here so we have no problem in terms of the financing and the
construction of it. And I would hope, I haven't seen any proposed Charter
Amendment you have, but if you have anything in your Charter Amendment about
leasing property you certainly want to consider excepting the Convention Center
from it or in my opinion, you will seriously jeopardize it.
Mrs. Gordon:
Mr. Fine:
Mrs.
Mr. Fine: Well, unless you excepted it, I will be happy to read it.
Mrs Gordon: You are an attorney, come and read it.
Mr. Fine: I would say the language here Mrs. Gordon, in reply to your
question, it would specifically prevent what is presently attempting to be
done and that is this language says that without first submitting such lease
or contract to the voters of the City for approval or rejection and any such
existing lease or contract shall --and this is a terrible language, pardon me
it is inappropriate language, unless you except Convention Center-- shall not
be modified or extended by the City without first submitting such modification
or extension of the voters of the City of Miami". Now, I want to be very
clear on this in my opinion and I assure you that nothing I have here to say
tonight expresses the opinion of the City, I'm talking on behalf of my client,
I think and do not in any manner mean to have any political overtones. The
mere fact that this would circulate in my opinion and possibly have twelve
thousand signatures on it would prevent the Convention Center from going
ahead. I don't think any Bond Counse].would ever render an opinion on'it.
don't think any lending institution would ever lend on it.
Mr. Plummer: Mr. Fine?
Mr. Fine:
Mr. Plummer:: Excuse me. You know,
That is not within our purview. We
circulating that petition. You've'
that.
Mr. Fine: Mr. Plummer, I was just doing that. Mrs. Gordon asked me'a
here again I keep getting back to
didn't draw up that petition: We
got to speak to the people who are
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155
the point
are not
doing
IuL.1 t 1972
and I was responding to her question. Now, I consider her to,be a very
responsible Commissioner and a very responsible person and I can't believe.
that Rose Gordon would want to place that project in jeopardy.
Mayor Ferre: The Queen of the petition,
Mrs. Gordon: Oh, Maurice, you are so funny. You know, let me tell you how.
funny you are, you are so funny that you seconded the motion and we didn't
get a third on that issue.
Mayor Ferre: I beg your pardon. I wantto tell you on the record that if you
will look upon the record you will find out that I did. not, not only not second
it. I was strongly opposed to it as I am now.
Mrs. Gordon: Yes, but you sent it, to the Law Department and said for them to
make an ordinance. I think this is getting quite ridiculous and it's 10:30 at
night and I think we should all go home.
Mayor Ferre: And I am perfectly willing to v
Mr. Fine: Did I answer your question, Rose?
vote
that ordinance.
Did I answer your question...
(BACKGROUND COMMENT OFF THE PUBLIC RECORD)
Mayor Ferre: Anybody else want to,sreak on this? Mr.,Plummer, I>Pass over
to you the gavel and make the followingmotion as an ordinance. (READS
ORDINANCE INTO THE RECORD). Now, I don't know... Mr. Knox?.
Mr. Plummer: Wait a minute you can't discuss a motion..
Mayor Ferre: No, wait a minute, I haveto make...
Mr. Plummer: I
s that your motion?
Mayor Ferre: No, because I have to make sure that my motion is. what I think
I'm doing here. Mr. Knox, my intention in the motion for the ordinance is
that all 1eaes be prohibited from being signed by the City of Miami Commission
until we have gone to the public hearings and put' this matter on the ballot
and has been voted upon by the people either for or against on November 6th.
Mr. Fine: I didn't say a word.
Mrs. Gordon: Did you say 1979... question for clarification.
Mr. Plummer: Wait a minute. Rose, wait just a moment. Is there
to the motion?
Mayor Ferre: I need an answer from Mr. Knox.
Mr. Plummer: Wait a minute, now. Is there a second to the motion? For the
third and final time, is there a second to the motion? Hearing none the motion
dies.
Mayor Ferre: Well, let me make another motion. Mr. Knox, before I make the
motion as I read this thing I don't think this motion really speaks to the
intention of what we were trying to do. What we are trying to do is to
preclude the signing of any leases until this matter has been before the
Committee, the 'Waterfront Board Commiittee, the Zoning Board and we had one other
Board and I forgot. The what?
Mr. Plummer: You forgot the Editorial Board.
Mayor Ferre No, no, there was a third...
Mr. Knox: Was it the Planning Advisory Board?
Mayor Ferre: And then we would put that word... oh, yes, I remember now.
Armando and J. L. and Father, the intention of this is to stop any lease
from being signed between now and the time those Boards deliberate. And when
those Boards give us their report then this motion would cease to exist an.
ordinance and we would vote upon that. That was the intention.
gl
'.56
2 P'1;
Mr.. Plummer: Mr. Knox, would you word such a motion to try to accomplish what
the Mayor, is seeking?
Mr. Knox: I think that the ordinance
that objective.
Mayor Ferre: Well, how can that be when
September 30th, why September 30th?'
Mrs. Gordon: It's not intended for 1979,
that's before you essentially accomplishes
you don't have... first of all you have
it's intended for some future year.
Ferre: No, no, further limiting both for prohibition by earlier' the
intention is this year.
Mrs. Gordon: Who drafted this. Mr. Clark, what was your intention in putting
Ole September 30th,'19 in here? What was your intention?
MT "lark In
Mrs.
order to "have a date certain.
ordon: For what?
21r. Clark: To k ow when, this ordinance will no longer be effective you have.
to... you can ist leave it in limbo.
Mrs. Gordon:
We:`_, were you, going to do it before election?
u could have 1985.
Mayor Ferre: Of course,.preclselY we are going
"ru are &a'n right, because that's what's going
;.nt,nnt..: cr.
Y.r. Fine:
to do it before the'election.
to go on'the`bellot., That was
Vice -Mayor and Mayor, whoever' I'm supposed to...
Mr. Flur.rne.-: Sleek Mr. Fine, give us the wisdom.
r .. 7 I had is to give you, I,would say your Counsel Mr. Joe
3�1. y`prestigious New York. Law Firm that you all pay rather
. s: tti.l {eta to, well earned I'm sure, to give you advice will tell you
"A" :�.is coming Tuesday you are going to be receiving bids for the
construction`"of this entire facility. On the 23rd you are going to be asked,
r.osically accept the bid and authorize the City Manager when
iurds are available through the sale of bonds to award that contract. You
:re Rlso`hopefully going to be asked to approve a lease in which lawyers have
wcrkIng;around the clock for about a week in various cities in this
Country; trying to put it together and get it approved. I am literally begging
you to understand that in my opinion unless you specifically exempt the
'•..r,r^tio.' Center from anything you have done or doing or consider doing, that
project`is in'serious jeopardy. If it has to wait until November 6th we
0;�?1 nothave a problem in my humble opinion, you will not have a project.
Mayor Ferre I accept that.• Alright, let me try again. I move, Mr. Plummer,
tnat an ordinance be passed by this Commission prohibiting all leases from
ho.+lg:signet that affect the waterfront by the City of Miami between now and
November 6th except the James L. Knight Convention Conference Center. I so
Move::
Mr. Knox::, Re said between now and November 6th?
Ferre:
. Fine:.
. , P11i ner:
That's correct of 1979.
r. Mayor, may I. suggest to you that you might want to consider...
Wait a minute, excuse me; is there a second?
Mayor Ferre: I would expect that Rose Gordon is doing this in good faith.
Mr. Plummer: Don't lobby. Is there a second? Third and final time, is there
a second? Hearing none the motion dies. Alright, now.
Mr.
gl
Knox: Mr. Mayor?.
157 'Jut 3 -t tsy9
Mayor Ferre: I accused Mrs. Gordon of acting in bad faith and being duplicitous.
If it's her intention to stop any leases, then she would have seconded the
motion as made. Since she did not I think...
Mrs. Gordon: Mr. Mayor, you made a logical move and you certainly would have
had my support, but you have been a little bit incoherent in the last five
minutes with the motions and the half motions and the intense emotion and all
the other things you have done.
Mayor Ferre A very simple motion.
Mrs. Gordon: So I wouldsuggest that you have someone write something down
that I can understand what your intentions are and perhaps you would have my
support.
Mayor Ferre: It's a very simple motion. The motion is to stop all leases
other than the James L. Knight Convention Conference Center, from being signed
between now and November 6th and let the voters decide on November 6th after
we have put something on the ballot.
Mrs. Gordon: Alright, have we yet put anything on
Mayor Ferrer We are going to.
Mrs. Gordon: Well, let's put something down on the ballot, then we will decide:
what we'are going to do.
Mayor Ferrer We are not going to do it arbitrarily until it goes, through the
proper course and we think this out very carefully. In the meantime this is
the... the intention of this if you are honest about it is to stop any leases
from being signed. Now, if you don't want to go for that, that's your problem
It's alright with me.
Mrs. Gordon: That's not my problem, that's your problem Maurice.
Mayor Ferree Oh? I think you will find that it's not exactly limited to.
me.
Mrs. Gordon: You have an ordinance here before you which, if you have the
intentions of doing this in a logical way, you will pass it and you will
exclude the Government Center and then you will have a logical movement.
are you talking about?
to put on the agenda.
Mayor Ferre: What ordinance
Mrs. Gordon: The one you asked
Mayor Ferre: Well, I moved that motion and nobody seconded.
Mrs. That motion is an ordinance.
Mayor Ferre: I moved the ordinance. I read it.
Mrs. Gordon: This ordinance has to be read...
Gordon:
Mayor Ferrer
Mrs. Gordon
read it.
... in it's entirety and it hasto, be read...
Mayor Ferre: I read it in it's entirety...
Mrs. Gordon: Excuse me, Mr. Mayor, would you let me finish speaking. I
would appreciate it. But that ordinance has to have inserted in it`excluding
the Government Center, then it would".be.a proper ordinance and I would then
second it. Mr. Knox, do you have it there,and can you insert the exception
of the Government. Center?
Mr. Knox: Yes, Ma'am.
81
Mrs. Gordon: The September 30th date has no meaning, because by the time
this would be implemented it would be out of date, because it would take
a first reading and a second reading and a certain number of days afterwards,
so it would be in effect for less than or may be a full month. I believe
that you need to have it up until the day of election. Because if something
is going to be on the ballot...
Mayor Ferre: I agree with that. I accept that. Go ahead Mrs. Gordon, since...
Mrs. Gordon: No, Mr. Knox has to read the ordinance.
Mayor Ferre:
Mr`. Knox:
Read the ordinance.
(READS ORDINANCE INTO THE RECORD)`.
Mayor Ferre: No, you don't need that
November 6th...
Mrs. Gordon:
Mayor Ferre:
that.
you don't need'
art "B" because
Ok,I will second it.
Wait a minute. I have made a notion and Mrs Gordon seconded
Mr. Plummer:: There is a motion Made and seconded
a minute, now, Commissioners take prefer...
under discussion. Wait
Mrs. Gordon: Mr. Fine, what; is your comments?
Mr. Plummer: Well wait a minute, Rose. Wait a minute now,; if anybody of
the Commission wants to speak, if they. don'tI'm. going to recognize Mr. Fine,
but give the
Ith rivilege to Commissioners °first "to speak.
Mrs hearf him because he made the suggestion
for the. amendment.
.Gordon:� Yes, but I have tofrom
Mr. Plummer:
r.r. Fine.
Mr. Fine: Thank you. I"would most respectfully suggest that you amend the
language to say enter, into modify... and or amend in reference to the James
L. Knight 'Center. Youhave already entered into-- and Mr. Knox can use whatever
language is...
Alright
sincethe other
Commissioners want to speak, you speak
Mrs. Gordon: Well, you used two languages...
Mayor Ferre: I accept.that. As the maker of the motion I
And I"will take it for the second.
Mrs Gordon:
Mr. Fine: Thank you.
Mr. Grassier Under discussionsMr Mayor?
Mr. Plummer: Under discussion, Mr. Grassie.
Mr. Grassier The City Commission knows that we have been in the process of
trying to secure a UDAG application for Claughton Island. That application
process will no doubt require that we make further modifications in the
agreement that we have with the proposed developer.
Now, as I understand
what is in front of you, we would be prohibited from making any of those
modifications and bringing them to the City Commission until after the 6th o
November.
Mayor Ferre: Mr. Manager, as you know I am for the Watson Island Project.
Now, let me tell you that in my opinion, now this will not affect that project;
because in the first place, we have been rolled back until the September 30th
deadline, right?
Mr. Fosmoen: 30th.
Mr. Fosmoen: The decision period would be the last week in September, Mr.
Mayor for this current round of funding. The funding round runs from...
Mayor Terre: W1.11 we be affected by this?
Mr. Fosmoen: Yes, sir. Yes.
Mayor Ferre: Well, tell me how we will be affected?
Mr. Fosmoen: First of all Mr. Mayor, the UDAG people, in my opinion, are not
going to waste their time on the application if they are faced with a Charter
Amendment or this ordinance which is in place until that Charter Amendment
takes place on November 6th. Secondly, that contract will require modification
for UDAG purposes. I have no doubt about that. I have been in conversation
with the UDAG people.
Mayor Ferre: Can we bring that up for discussion and action at that particular
time?
Mr. Fosmoen: To change this ordinance?
Mayor Terre: Yes, of course.
Mr. Fosmoen: To exclude Watson Island?
Mayor Ferre: Yes.
Mr. Flu:rimer: What about the World Trade Center in which you also...
Mr. Fosmoen: It's not...
(BACKGROUND COMMENT OFF THE PUBLIC RECORD)
Mr. Pluramer: It's a lease.
Mayor Ferre: It's not on the water.
Mrs. Gordon: Waterfront land is all that's in consideration.
Mayor Ferre: Well, / will tell you even though I know Rose isn't going to
second it, but then I
Mr. Plummer: Isn't this a lease as I understand this thing, a ].ease for
over three years?
Mr. Grassi.e: The only waterfront leases as we understand it, Connissioner...
Mr. Fosmoen: This only covers the waterfront property.
Mayor Ferre: We've got a problem Rose, because I'm not going to do something
to kill Watson Island.
Mr. . Plutturter: OkSince it's one complex... Since it' s .
Mrs. Gordon: Listen, may I remind you this is a first reading. You have a
second reading that has to come up.
Mayor Ferre: I'm not going to go for something that will kill Watson Island,
no, absolutely...
Mrs. Gordon: This is a firstreading.
Mayor Ferre: Yes, but that includes Watson Island in it and then I w1.1l vote
with you...
Mrs. Gordon: Oh, no, I would not accept Watson Island by any stretch of
imagination.
Mayor Terre: Well, then you can withdraw your second, because I am now
amending my motion.
Mrs. Gordon: I didn't withdraw, you are now making another amendtnent?
gl
1t30 JUL 1 1 197O
But there is a motion and there was a second. Now, we should...
Mayor Ferre: I withdraw my motion. Now, I will make a new motion which reads the
same as the previous one, except that it also includes Watson Island.
Mr. Plummer: Is there a
motion dies.
Mr. Jaffer: Mr. Mayor, can I just get an informational point cleared up?
Mr. Plummer:
Mr. Jaffer:
the concrete
sent out for
Mr. Plummer:
second? Is there a second? Is there a second?
Sure, why not.
To my understanding all the City didwas to send out bids .for
ground work for the Convention. I" didn't remember any bids being
the whole thing.
No, sir, that's already in place. They are already doing
Mrs. Gordon: Maurice
Mayor Ferre:
Mrs.
Gordon:
Mayor Ferre:
Mrs. Gordon:
why do you flip flop so much?
I'm not flip flopping, Rose.
es, you are. You flip, you flop.
that.
You are back, you are forth.
Thepoint is that I don't want to kill Watson Island.
It's hard to keep up with you, you change your position so much.
Mayor Ferre: Let me make my statement without interrupting me. All I'm
trying to do is protect Watson Island. Obviously, you know this only has
two votes,' yours and mine. You want me to prove it to you? Alright,,l will
make the motion exactly as it was only .exempting you, ok? Now, you want to
second that motion?
Mrs. Gordon: You are speaking of the ordinance that was read a few minutes
ago which included the exclusion of the Government Center...
Mayor Ferre:
That's right, that's correct. That you seconded.
Mrs. Gordon: Certainly I will second that.
Mayor Ferre: Alright, I"wake the motion. Call the question.
Mr. Plummer: No, for clarification, is that an ordinanceor a motion? There
is no ordinance before us.
Mrs. Gordon: Yes, there is.
(BACKGROUND COMMENTS OFF THE PUBLIC RECORD)
Mr. Knox:I read the ordinance. --`
Mrs. Gordon: It is an ordinance, it's
Mayor Ferre:
Mr. Knox:
Mayor Ferre:
Mr. Plummer:.
the roll.
on the agenda.
Read it again.
READS` ORDINANCE': INTO THE RECORD AGAIN).
Call the question. Mr.'Chairman, you want tocall the roll?
Any further discussion, hearing none
Motion understood?
Mayor Ferre: Does that make my point?
Mr. Plummer: No.
Mrs. Gordon:.
Mayor Ferre:
Mr. Ongie:
Mayor Ferre:
gl
You didn't call your vote. Are you voting?
I voted
called him first..
Does that make my point clear to' you? Alright, now,
161
call
s there
JUL 1 1 1979
anything else? I take the Chair back...
Mr. Plummer: Let me try a motion on you. I make a motion at this time that
the Conference/Convention Center be exempted from any and all consideration as
it relates to the proposal before us.
Mrs. Gordon: There is no proposal J. L.
Mr. Plummer: The ordinance before us. Anything relating to the Amendment...
Mrs. Gordon: Honey, there is nothing... it's all over.
•
Mr. Plummer: No, no. What I am saying is Father, is I will exempt tnat...
the way Maurice made the motion, I've got to include all of the rest,
jte one item, exempt that Convention /Conference Center.
ust h
exempt
Mr. Knox: That's what I just read.
Mr. Plummer: No, you did not. You are asking me in that motion to enforce...
,put into effect all of the other exempting that. r am saying exempt just that
and I will vote for it.
Mrs. Gordon: Yes, but from what? You have nothing to exempt it from.
Mr. Lacasa: I understand your intention, but there is nothing that you can
exempt them from. There is nothing.
Mrs. Gordon: Nothing to exempt it from.
. -. -:, • -• - . . , , . , • , -„,.,.. ,, , , ,,, ,...., . ,,
Mr. Plummer:.,I 'ain';scared are you.right. . •
. , .
' .' - - - - ' •---- - - • . - , ' -- .--- .. - ., ,- _ . , - _,-. -- - - .>.,,...,,,,, r. ,.
Mayor - Ferre: The way westand:-On . this thing .„ now .'is.-.itiat,. thie. Trotter .on the,,.-,,•-,-;-,,
question .1 of f b 1
lt. on ', the ..1)aOt onNeilbet ll.-',ov• fith'.6: before the Water : Board, -.• :
. • _., „., .,, ... ,..._......-,, ... . , ... .-..._.,,... ,._. _
the Zoning Bo'ard and what's the
s. :- Board? -- -- '-- --, - ••••''-',•..,„:--'„---,-,-.,:. •,- .--' ''. .'.-.• - - .--- .. - •
- ,.. other . _ ..... . . .,, . „ . ,. ..,..
Mr. Plummer: . It's EnvirOnmenta 1.
- . ' .' '' ' ..- ..'- - :-• -, ,.. ,,,:c . -., ,,.. ,...
• ' - . . - - ---- ,-. -- - , • -,,, -,„ .. ... ,, . ,, , .,. _ ,.. „ _ , ,
• . ...., _. , . . , .
Mayor Terre: -.Environmental. .. , . ....,,,,, .. ' , • , , , , „ ,,
,' - -_--. ,,- , • , • . -- .- -
. ..:- - „ ' ..,-::- , -..,- - - „i , . ,: - , ..,- • -, - -- ::_,--, ,-,-..,•.•, _ -_----_-, , .- -. , , ..,,,, _ ,,..,
- . . . .. . ,.
Mr. Knox:;-•.Acti.ially the •.•znotiOn,, Mr. ..„Mayor provides only for.. consideration of ; -:',.•,.'
the Waterfront- Board. • - --, • - ,• ,--- ,, - " , ' '- , ,` , ' ' , , • .
_,. ... ,-....,,,,,,,..... , ,,, ,, . , --,,,:_...,-., .., :-. ....-,- ..• '-- ,-,__-,,..-...., -,,,,..-,-,..,,,,-....,,...„--.,--,-.:
.. , .,... ,,L, .,- ,. ,-- .. ,-, ., _ .. ,,,, , , . -.., , . , - ----• '._.„ ,,,-,,-, , ..,,,,,,..-.--. ,..
, -,.- .. .-: ..-,- .2 -.,•.,,,.• ..-,..,,,,, ,,,,, -
Mayor Ferre: -Waterfront- Board.
Mr. Knox: '-,' Yes, the'-m(READS NOTION ,reads-,,,-MOTION'INTO.THE,,RECORD). - --,,,•••, -..,„,..,,,..,,
- - - , -,,, „,•-•:,,,,,,,,,, ,
. ,•„;,,,,-_--, -,, ,.. ,, .,
., , ..„..,, „._
-., . . • . ,..... .- , . - . , „. ..,..., ...,„ .. , - , --......., f-,' ,- ...` .... - - , ' ...-;._ , .."" -, : : ; .., , . , ,
Mayor :Teirei:-•• Gic,....'..now,.let'ne.'-aSkl-the'',--Adinini.Strati.on.•-; /s-ille:,aterIBOard....;,,..,,,,,
deliberating :on'..ithiS-,:item.. at this point? i-i•-...i',-• - .--. ,,,,- - . ,.. .. .•,,,,,, -,,:,.. . ,,,,., _ .:. ., ,,..:, ,.,,,.,,,, „ , .,., ., , , ,,
' - - • -- -------------..--,--,- --.-....._
Mr. . Grassier' : It',hSs':been.._.'Sent. ''fo-.1,:theM•-..and' ..I ,Understand that they are going
• to be--dealingwith'-it„--tOnlorrow,, Mr. Mayor. ''.• .,_ ,.,._.: .._.,.,.., , :,...,. ., _ .,,,,,,,, , .,,,,,__: ,,,_ „.
' ' • - ' '-' '•, --,, :, :- • .,-. -.. , ..,'.• , ... ,.
Mayor Ferre: Oh, I see. Ok. So, hopefully we will have something by the
twenty third.
Mr. Grassie: Well, we can't assure you that they will come to a conclusion,
but at least they will have talked about it.
Mr. Plummer: Well, let me understand something to see if we understand each
other correctly because you know, it's getting late... It is my understanding
Morty, that if nothing is done, you are not in trouble?
Mayor Ferre: What he is saying is that he is in trouble because there is a
cloud over it.
Mr. Fine: I am absolutel.y saying atld I want to make it clear as the Mayor
Pointe
in major trouble.
Mr. Plummer: Yes. But Morty, what I'm .saying is if we don't pass twenty or
twenty-one this evening you are not in trouble.
gl
d out before, not only is my client in trouble, but I think the City is
0,4-1
.104
JUL 1 1 1979
Mr. Fine: Well, I would say this. I would say I would suggest to you that
you seriously consider passing anything that your City Attorney and you think
is appropriate whereby you would specifically exempt...
Mayor Ferre: I think I have it, if I may. Mr.
Chair again?
Mr. Plummer: I would rather have the gavel.
Plummer
Mr. Knox: Mr. Mayor, let me correct the record, pleases What I just read to
is the motion; that you adopted on the 25th. On the 26th you adopted a motion
Which provides as follows. (READS MOTION INTO THE RECORD).
M.vor Ferre: That's right. That's the way it i
M:. Plummer:.
I, move you, sir that we instruct allthose boards that in their
deliberations that the James L. Knight. Convention Conference Center is exempted.
Mr. Lacasa:
Mr. Plummer:
Mr. Jaf f er
fens.
Mr. Plummer:
I s.teond that motion.
Dot that do it?
Why ..on't you let Mr. Paul do that?
o ahead.
Is that .a.compliment?
,� wait a minute Ed. What?
'.t,:vcr .Fetr-: o
Or. Fine: .I think 'it's a step inthe right direction and I think the other
;•n;, has to 1^e taken after this and I will be glad to suggest it after you
al.:. vote o1
-e
: ot. Yr.
right, .that 'a motion and it's been seconded. I:call the
•,:, irman.
N. Plu nr r Call the . roll.
::u.Llowing motion: was introduced by Commissioner Ferre
adoption:
MOTION NO. 79-499
who moved :its
A MOTION AMENDING MOTION 79-468 PASSED AND ADOPTED
JUNE 26, 1979 INSTRUCTING ALL BOARDS AND PARTIES
NAMED IN SAID MOTION TO EXEMPT THE JAMES L. KNIGHT
CONFERENCE/CONVENTION CENTER FROM THEIR DELIBERATIONS
FOR THE PROPOSED CHARTER AMENDMENTS CONCERNING THE
WATERFRONT.
Upon ,being seconded by Commissioner Lacasa, the motion was passed an
adopted by the following vote:
AYES: Commissioner Rose Gordon
Commissioner Armando Lacasa
Commissioner (Rev.) Theodore.R.
Vice -Mayor J. L. Plummer, Jr.
Mayor Maurice A. Ferre
Gibson
1Vone.
LOLL CALL:
`Mr. Mayor, I would...
Mr. Plummer: , we are still in a roll call. I' haven't casted my
1'31:oL. George my problem is can we the Commission instruct Boards?
Mr. Knox: You can establish perimeters for their deliberations.
also indicate your will or opinion as a matter of policy.
Mr. Plummer:
81
I' vote
8"
.
163
You can
'jut t t 1979
Mayor Ferre: No, no, you still have the Chair. I move you now that we also
exempt Watson Island.
Mr. Lacasa: Second. `.
Mayor Ferre: And the reason is that we presently have a
which this will severely. effect. I call the question.
Mr. Plummer: Motion made and seconded,:.. that is that would then in fact be
emotion, right? It would have to be brought back before us?
Mayor Ferre: It's a inotion to the Board that in their deliberations, that they
have two exemptions and the reason is that four out of five members of the
Commission have voted that, that is an on going project.
Mr. Plummer: Call the roll.
The following motion was introduced by Commissioner Ferre, who moved i
adoption:
MOTION NO. 79-500
A MOTION AMENDING MOTION NO. 79-468 PASSED AND
ADOPTED JUNE 26, 1979 INSTRUCTING ALL BOARDS AND
PARTIES NAMED IN SAID MOTION TO EXEMPT WATSON
ISLAND FROM THEIR DELIBERATIONS FOR THE PROPOSED
CHARTER AMENDMENTS CONCERNING THE WATERFRONT.
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Lacasa, the motion was passed and
adopted by the following vote:
AYES: .Mr. Lacasa, Rev. Gibson, Vice -Mayor Plummer and Mayor Ferre.
NOES: Mrs. Gordon.
ABSENT: None.
Mr. Fine: Mr. Mayor, I'm not sure or Vice -Mayor, if this is appropriate, but
in response to Mrs. Gordon's question and in response to any questions you
may have regarding any proposed amendment that you are going to put on the
ballot. I would specifically suggest... I better wait a minute. Rose, you.
asked me a question before.
Mrs. Gordon: I'm listening to you.
Mr. Fine: I would hope that in anything you are circulating you, might
consider or anyone else might consider exempting the James;L. Knight Center
from that. Otherwise, we are going to have a cloud over this which in my,
opinion would prevent financing.
Mr. Jaffer: Can I answer that? In the Dade County Metro Home Rule Charter
it makes a provision that several different amendments can be proposed to the
Charter at the same time and I would hope that at least one of those alternates
would be a non-hippocratical, non -exemption...
Mrs. Gordon: I will try my best to do something, but I would have to recapture
an awful lot of them that have already gone out. I will try.
g1
`JUL I 1 1979
NI
41. BALLOTING PROCEDURES FOR APPOINTMENT OF PERSONS TO THE ADVISORY
COUNCIL ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
BALLOTING ON: ACADEMIA -ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT -BANKING & FINANCE -INDUST-
RIAL & MANUFACTURING - MEDIA - PROFESSIONAL SERVICES - RETAIL -
COMPLETED. AIRLINES - UTILITIES- REALESTATE & MISCELLANEOUS
DEFERRED.
Mayor Ferre: Alright, is there anything else to come up before this Commission?
We have Item 23 still to go through. So if you will take up Item 23. You
have a... on the second page a sheet. My recommendation it that you each
write a name down and we submit our choices and then we will then discuss the
choices and vote on each one, ok.
Mr. Lacasa: Well, why don't we...there is fifteen names,
here until dooms day.
Mayor Ferre: Well, the reason why we can't do that is because there are different
categories. One is Academia, the other one is...
Mr Lacasa: Well, but we don't have to adhere to the categories...
Mayor Ferre: Alright, we have some nominations further on these Committees.
Now, Mr. City Attorney, there are some further additions that Mr. Lacasa
wants to make and I don't know whether anybody else wants to makes. Mr.
Lacasa, the Chair recognizes you for that purpose, now.
Mr. Lacasa: I would like to nominate...
Mrs. Gordon: You mean, we could still add names now?
Mayor Ferre: Yes, he wants to add some names.
Mr. Lacasa:
Mayor Ferrel
Mrs. Gordon:
Mayor Ferre:
would like to addsome names.,
Alright.
I "didn't 'know we
could add names now
Can we add names or not?'
Mrs. Gordon: We didn't make it up to add names now.
Mr. Arturo : Excuse me, sir. My name is Arturo and the
Assistant. Director of the Office of Trade and Commerce Development. This
particular list was put together as a recommendation from the private sector
to you and in no way and no means does it limit your choice of the
you know, members to this particular list. Add whatever you want.
Mayor Ferre: Alright, we could add names. I understand. Alright.
Mrs. Gordon: Why weren't we told that, that was the procedure prior to now?
Mayor Ferre:
we are going to be
We were told that...
Mrs., Gordon:. Wewere not told. We were told it was cut off, this was it, you
know.
Mayor Ferre: I don't think we were ever told that, that I can remember. We
were spectfically told... Mr. Lacasa, last time said that he wanted to add
some names and I told him that he couldn't do it at that meeting, but that...
then somebody asked for this thing to be deferred so that the people could...
Rev. Gibson: Now, what is the first one? Academia?
Mayor Ferre: Academia? Does anybody want to add any academic people onto this
list? Any academic people? Alright, I:will go on to the next category.
Any Banking and Finance people? Any additions? Alright, I will go to the next
one. Economic Development and Labor people?
Mr. Lacasa: -Here I want to add the name of Reinaldo Cruz.
1
14ayor Terre: Alright, #17 on this was Mr. Reinaldo, Uhat?
Mr. Lacasa: Cruz.
Mayor Ferre: Now, would you tell us who he is?
Mr. Lacasa: I would like to pass the resume.
Mayor Ferre: And what is his title?
Mr. Lacasa:Reinaldo Cruz is the (COMMENT INAUDIBLE).
Mayor Ferre: He is a former President?
Mr. Lacasa : Yes, sir.
Mayor Ferre: Ok.
Mr. Lacasa: Well-known businessman in our community.
Mayor Ferre: Yes, I know him, he is a very fine man. Any other additions?
Alright, Industrial and Manufactui-i.rag, any additions to that? Any Industrial
and Manufacturing? Alright, the next one is Media. Are there any additions
to the Media list?
Mrs. Gordon: Yes.
Mayor Ferre: Alright, Mrs. Gordon?
Mrs. Gordon: Mr. Aure13. RaTflOS.
Mayor Ferre: Mr. who?
Mrs. Gordon? Mr. Aure11 Ramos.
Mayor Ferre: Mr. Aurell Ramos, alright.
Mrs. Gordon: Yes, from Diarios Las Americas.
Mayor Ferre: Alright, any other additions? Be is well-knOWn under Aurell
Ramos Diarios Las Americas, so you will identify t.
Mrs. Gordon: He is the one that covers us and does such a good job.
Mayor Ferre: Alright, then we have Professional Services. Anybody in
Professional Services?
Mr. Lacasa: Eduardo Calil.
Mayor Ferre: Alright, what is his title as 1122?
Mr. Lacasa: He is an architect.
Mayor Ferre: Eduardo Calil. C -a -1 -i -1, architect. Alright, any other additions
in that category of Professionals. The next one is Retail. Are there any
additions to the Retail? The next one is Airlines. Are there any additions
to Airlines? Next one is Utilities. Any additions to Utilities? Alright,
Realestate? Anybody in Realestate? Alright, Miscellaneous?
Mr. Lacasa: I would like to add the name of Jose Correa.
Mayor Ferre: Jose Ricki Correa. Alright, we all know who he is. Are there
any other additions. Alright, is there a motion that nominations be closed?
Mr. Lacasa: I so :Dove.
Mrs. Gordon: Well, wait a minute. You are moving what?
Mayor Ferre: That nominations be closed and then we: are going to vote.
Mrs. Gordon: Oh, no, here is another one.
gl
166
gut.
Mayor Ferre.:
Mrs. Gordon:::
Alright, give me another one.
Put Arturo Hevia on...
Mayor Ferre: Miscellaneous.
Mrs. Gordon: ... Miscellaneous, yes.
Mayor Ferre: I think that Arturo Hevia would also... no, I guess he is not...
Mrs. Gordon: What did say?
Mayor Ferre: Is he a Professional? He is with Mida, isn't he? Where does
he work?
Mr. Lacasa He works for and he is a tsetn1)er of the Bureau of
the Census.
Mrs. Gordon: Of what?
Mr. Lacasa: Of the Bureau of the Census. He is on the Advisory Board of the
Bureau of the Census at the National level. At the National level...
Mayor Ferre: Alright, Arturo Hevia would be in 141.scellaneous. Alright,
anybody else? Alright, is there a motion that nominati.orts be closed?
Mr. Lacasa: I so move.
Mayor Ferre: Is there a second? So we can get on with the voting.
Rev. Gibson: Second.
Mayor Ferre: Alright, seconded, further discussion that nominations be closed,
call the roll on that.
A MOTION THAT NOMINATIONS BE CLOSED WAS MOVED AND
SECONDED AND WAS PASSED BY A UNANIMOUS VOTE.
Mayor Ferre: Alright, now, if you will then take that first sheet and write
the people you have... on this sheet and just write down the people and I'm
sure that...
Mrs. Gordon: How many people do you want us to write?
Mayor Ferre: One one each one and let's see if anybody gets... it will take
us ten hours to do otherwise, Plummer.
Mrs. Gordon: Oh, comeon, everybody write three, you have got fi.f teen.
Mr. Plutnmer: That's it.
Mayor Ferre: Everybody write three?
Mr. Pltumner: Definitely.
Mr. Lacasta: Yes, definitely so.
Mrs. Gordon: Everybody pick three and that's it.
Rev. Gibson: Everybody picks three?
Mrs. Gordon: Yes and then you got... we got fifteen and that's what we need.
You get three and I get three...
Mayor Ferre: I don't agree with that of everybody getting three because we are
talking about Academia, Banking all different kinds of categories and I don't...
Mrs. Gordon: There is no other way you are ever going to get it all squared
away.
Mayor Ferre: I don't agree with it. Now, if you want to make a motion that
it be done that way, then you move it.
3UCI 1. 1979
167
gl
Mt. Grassie: Mr. Mayor?
Mrs Gordon: You will be sitting here for two hours any other way.
Mrassie: Mr. Mayor, I'm really sorry to bring it up because it is so late,
but'when you discussed this the first time you remember that one of the things
that you wanted to accomplish was to make sure that you ended up with at balance
Board and you want representation from each of the sectors.
Mayor Ferre: I agree with you.
Mr. Grassie: Now, the only way that I: think that, you are going to achieve that
is that you are going to have to follow the procedure that you find on`the first
page memorandum, which is that individually you nominate a person from each
sector.
Mayor Ferre: I agree with that, Mr. Grassie. Alright,, the Chair is open for
nominations for the first one which is Academia. You have eight candidates.
Is there a motion?
Rev. Gibson:And how many are you going
Roosevelt Thomas.
Mr. Lacasa•
Mayor Ferrer Alright, we have other nominations?o nominations. e have
a etherenaMunoz
notherd
Roosevelt Thomas, are there any
nominations? Let's go through the nominations of the whole thing so that we
will know what we are limited to and then we can come back and vote and that
way balance it.
(BACKGROUND COMMENT OFF THE`PUBLIC RECORD)
Mayor Ferre: There are two nominees, Roosevelt Thomas
Alright, we will come back and vote in a moment.
Mayor Ferre: Munoz is nominated by Lacasa,
Banking and Finance who are the nominees?
Mrs. Gordon: Well, let me ask you a question for clarification? Each o
us nominate on every page?
Mayor Ferre: Yes and then we will come back and vote on the nominees one by
one and that way we will be able to balance it between Blacks, Latins and women'
and do it intelligently. Alright, we are down to the next category which is
Banking and Finance.
Mrs. Gordon: I want a clarification again, Maurice, because it doesn't seem
like a fair and reasonable thing for us to be doing. We each should take three,
that's it. Take three first and see if we cover every category. Otherwise, I.`
will nominate somebody from every page and that's ridiculous.
Mayor Ferre: Fine, then do that.
Mrs. Gordon: No, that's ridiculous.
Mayor Ferre: No. Well, you do what you want to. The Chair is ruling.. that we
go each and nominate in each page and then go back and vote on them and that
way we can do it one by one and do it logically and balance it. Now, we are
on Banking and Finance.
Mrs. Gordon: Alright, then.
Mayor Ferre:
Mrs. Gordon:
Mayor Ferre: Cyrus...
gl
want to pick Cyrus Jollivette from Academia.
168
Mrs. Gordon: Jollivette.
Mayor Ferre: Jollivette,. Alright, so there are three nominees there. Alright,
let's go to the next page. Banking and Finance, who are the nominees?
Bellamy.
Rev. Gibson: Jean
Mayor Ferre: Jean Bellamy is one, alright. Any other nominees? Are there
any other nominees on this...
Mrs. Gordon: Doris Steele.
Mayor Ferre: Who?
Mrs. Gordon: DorisSteele.
Mayor Ferre: Doris Steele. Alright, any other nominees? Alright, then we
inove on to the...,I"would like to nominate Charles antor, so that's three.
Mr. t:acasa: Charles?
Mayor Ferre:Cai tor, which is number one onthat list.
Development. Whc are the nominees?"
Lacasa: Here in Economic Development I nominate Reinaldo Cruz.
Dve?.opment.
Mrs. Gordon:'
r,�.•. Gib.5or..
Mayor Ferre:.
11r. Lacasa:
Mayn't- Ferre
Mr. Plummer:
.fright, Reinaldo Cruz.
Next page Economic
Are there other nominees? Economic
Oh, is that what was just asked?
Janet Reid.
Alright, Father Gibson nominates Janet Reid. Alright,..
du,n't see her here.
q. ;is #16.
Yes, on the back side.
.ui,
see.
(BACKGROUND COMMENT INAUDIBLE)
Rev. Gibson: Yes.
Mayor Ferre:
Mrs. Gordon: I will nominate Norma Hunt
Mayor Ferre: Alright, there is a"nominee for Norma Hunt.
Any other. nominations?
Rev. Gibson:
Mayor Ferre:
Mrs. Gordon:
Don'
Yes, T. Willard Fair.
Alright, T. willard Fair.
I will nominate Russ Marchner.
i•;a,orFerre: Well, I think each one of us should nominate
o do I.
s. Gordon:.
Well
Gibson has two inthat,
you want to nominate Russ Marchner
Plummer?
Maurice? Norma Hunt.
Any other nominations?
ust one person.
Mayor Ferre: Who. does Gibson have other than...
Mrs. Gordon: Janet Reid and Willard Fair.
and -Fair" so that's one nominee per person.` Further
Mayor:Ferri: I said Will,
nominees? Alright, Industrial and Manufacturing?
Mr. Plummer:
gl
. Sam Kantor.
169
"fit I 1 1979
1
EM
Mayor Ferrer Mr. Sam Kantor.
Armando Aleyandre.
Alright,
Rev. Gibson:
Mayor Ferre: Alejandre.
Mrs. Gordon:
Mayor Ferre:
Mrs. Gordon:.
Mayor Ferre:
Rev. Gibson:.
Mayor Ferre:
Rev. Gibson:
Mayor Ferre:
Mrs.
anybody else? Anybody else?
Rod Overholt.•
Rod Overholt. Anybody else? O,k
,Who said .Armando?
Armando Alejandre.
I did.•
In Media.
Garth Reeves.
next?
Alright, Gibson nominates Garth Reeves.
Gordon: I do. Aurell Ramos
Mayor Ferree.
Mr.
Aurell Ramos.
s there, anybody else?
I. nominate Gustavo Godoy.
Mayor Ferre:GusGodoy. ;�Yy bod else? Going once. I nominate Sylvan
: �
Meyer. Anybody else from Media? Alright, professional Services?
Anybody else?
Lacasa:
Mrs. Gordon: Was only three in Media?
Mayor Ferre: In Media were the following,
Reeves and Aurell Ramos.
Sylvan Meyer,. Gus Godoy, Garth
Mr. Lacasa:; I withdraw my nomination' of Gus Godoy in view
has been nominated.
Mayor Ferre:
Services...
Mrs.
Alright, ok, then there
is only three.
that :Aurell Ramos
e arenow
in Professional
Gordon: There, was only two then, is that correct?
No Ma'am there is three. They are Sylvan Meyers, Garth Reeves
Mayor Ferre: �
and Aurell Ramos.
Rev. Gibson: :I nominate Ricardo Fernandez.
Mayor Ferre: Alright, Father Gibson nominates Ricardo Fernandez.
Mr. Lacasa: I -nominate
Mayor Ferre:
Mr. Plummer:
On which one now.
Mr. Lacasa: Professional.
Mr. Plummer:
Well, wait a minute now, I hope you got mine of Homer Marlowe.
Mayor Ferre: If you say so,
Where is that?
Homer Marlowe is #16.
Mrs. Gordon: Who nominated him?
Mr. Plummer: :I did.
Mr. Lacasa:
Mayor Ferre:
Mayor Ferre:.
gl
I will get Homer Marlowe at this point.
Plummer nominated Homer Marlowe.
170
"JUl 1 1 1979
Mrs, Gordon: And what other ones were nominated?
Mayor Ferre: Lacasa nominated Eduardo Calil who is #22. He was added previously.
Rev. Gibson: And I nominated Ricardo Fernandez.
Mayor Ferre: Ricardo Fernandez. We now have three nomi.nees. Are there• any other
nominees?
Mrs. Gordon: Just a minute and I will tell you. Robert Jones.
Mayor Ferre: Alright, we have Mr. Robert Jones. Nov in this one we have
four. I will nominate Hr. David Pincher.. Alright, anybody else? There is
five, we are full on that one. Alright, next one?
Mr. Lacasa: I nominate Willie Gart.
Mayor Ferre: Alright, we have .Willie Gart. It's #4, Willie Gart.
Rev. Gibson: McEwen.
Mayor Ferre: Tell me again.
Rev. Gibson: McEwen. Richard McEwen.
Mayor Ferre: Alright, that's two. Any other nominates?
Mrs. Gordon: Tony Alonzo.
Mayor Ferre Tony Alonzo is three. P3.ununer? I nominate Ri.z OW , that's four.
Mr. Lacasa: Who.
Mayor Ferre: Rizikow. The next one, Airlines. Any...
Mr. pluunner: Ricon.
Mayor Ferre: Who?
Mr. Plummer: Ricon.
Mayor Ferre: Ricon. Alright, Plummer nominates Ricon.
Rev. Gibson: Louis.
Mayor Ferre: Who?
Rev. Gibson: Who did you nominate, Pli.unmer?
Mayor Ferre: Ricon.
Mr. Pltimlner: #2, Mr. Louis Albert Ricon of Avianca Airlines.
Rev. Gibson: That's alright.
Mayor Ferre: Anybody else want to nominate anybody? I will norni.nate Eli
Tinioner. Eli #1. Eli Timoner. Utilities?
Rev. Gibson: I noininate W. R. Ellis.
Mayor Ferre: Mr. W. R. Ellis. Any other nominations? Alright, I will nominate
Mr. Sanchez. We are now on Realestate. Are there any other nominations there?
Mr. Lacasa: I nominate Sonny Wright.
Mrs. Gordon: Ted Pappas.
Mayor Ferre: Sonny Wright is #1, Ted Pappas 118. Anybody else?
Rev. Gibson: What about Casey Cousins?
Mayor Ferre: Alright, Casey Cousins. Anybody else, there is three? Three.
gl
,171 1ri`rf '974
Anybody else? Alright, we are now on Miscellaneous.
Mr. Lacasa: I nominate Jose Correa.
Mayor Ferre: Jose Correa. Mrs. Gordon nominates Arturo Hevia. Anybody
else? We have two. I will nominate Maurice Alpert and that make it three.
Jose Ricki Correa, Arturo Hevia which you submitted and Maurice Alpert. That
makes three. We are now complete. Now, let us go over and start from the
heginning and if you will take a piece of paper and vote we will select...
We have three nominees in the first one. They are Roosevelt Thomas, Munoz
and Jollivette.
Mr. Plummer: Give it to me again. Who are the three?
Mayor Ferre: Roosevelt Thomas, Ramon Munoz or Cyrus Jollivette.
Mrs. Gordon: May I ask you to see whether you have fifteen categories this
wAY?
Mayor Ferre: Yes, we have fifteen categories.
Mr. Lacasa: No, .;e have less, but there are some which we have to...
Mr. Grassie: Thee are eleven categories, Commissioner. Four of the categories
have two individut is from each of the four categories.
Ferle; you tell us which one has two?
Mr. Grassie: Yes, sir. The first one that has two is Banking and Finance.
mevor Ferret Well, Academia only has one.
Mr. Grassie: Academia has one.
>rs Gordon: One?
terc i'F•
Gordou:
Mayor Ferre: So if you Fill Put your Candidate. on this one. How many
do ve
in Pru:essional?,
Mrs. Gordon:. How about .Banking .and. Finance, are Fe ready for
Mr.
Grassie: Banking and .Finance has: two Mr. Mayor.
Msv.)r Ferre:' Banking has two.
' • . .
Mr. Grassie: Industrial and Manufacturing has two.
Mayor Ferre: Yes.
Mr. Grassie: Retail has two.
Mayor Ferre: Yes.
Mr. Grassie: And Realestate has two. All of the others are one.
Mrr-. Gordon: So we write two on the same ballot?
Mayor Ferre: Well, this one you only have one.
Tni-s. Gordon: No, we are on Banking and Finance...
MaYot.
oarFerre: Na' we are on Academia' We are an 01. We are starting at the
fr
Mrs. Gordon: Are you still on #1?
Mayor Ferre: Yes. Alright, has everybody... I will tell you I don't mind
reading it out because it's all public record anyway. Well, ok, pass the ba13.ot.
Pass your ballot on the first one down, please. Plummer, you forgot your
ballot.
jut I i9711
gi 1.72
Mr. Plummer:
Mayor Ferrel
Not really.
Well, hurry up and vote, will you, so we can get out of here.
(BACKGROUND COMMENTS OFF 'THE PUBLIC RECORD)
Mayor Ferre:.:
ow many people do we have in Retail?
Mr. Grassie: We
Mr. Lacasa:
Mayor Ferre:
Mr.
Lacasa:
Mayor Ferre:
to everybody
have two on Retail, Mayor.
I want. to .change Calil from Professional Services to Retail.
Is he a retailer?
Yes, he has a jewelry store..
Oh, that's, right. He has a jewelry shop. Now,'is that acceptable
because I don't want to start doing these things unless we...
Mrs. Gordon: Where are you taking him from?
Mayor Ferre:, He had Put him down under Professional Services and he wants to
remove him from that and put him down where there is less people which is in
Retail. Do you follow me? Because he owns a jewelry shop.
Mrs. Gordon:' Well, look, if we are going to start moving a whole bunch of
things, around, Maurice, all of us can find a reason why we should do them.
Mayor Ferre: I will let you do the same thing, Rose. We are not going to be
tight on this. We will do anything that's reasonable you want to do. And
if you object with the people we have and you tell me who you want to change
and we will try to comply with this as best we can. Alright, has everybody
voted on the first one which is Academia? Would you read the results?
FIRST BALLOT:
Mr. Ongie: The results of the
Roosevelt Thomas
Dr. German Munoz
Cyrus Jollivette
Mayor Ferre:
Mr. Grassie:.
person vote
Mayor Ferre:
Mr. Grassie:
Mayor Ferre:
votes... the
Alright
first
In this case Mr. Mayor
for two individuals.
Is this... Banking and
ballot:
you are .going to instruct that each,
Finance
are two items
Yes, sir.
Alright, vote for two and who ever gets, you know, the majority
two; high...
Rev. Gibson: You only have two people nominated.
Mayor Ferre: If you nominate two, the two high vote getters willbe the guys.
So you just put two names down. The people are-Kandor, Bellamy and Steele.
You need two.
Mr. Plummer: Oh,
Mayor Ferre: Two.
Charles Kantor.
Mrs. Gordon: How many on Economic
Mr. Grassie: Economic Development
Mrs Gordon: Only one.
Mayor Ferre:
gl
wait a minute, I'm sorry. Two?
You have got three choices, Doris Steele, Jean Bellamy and
Development and Labor?
and Labor is only one, Commissioner.
Alright, Economic Development
1'73
how many do we get?
1V1. T : 1979
Mr. Grassie One, sir.
Mrs. Gordon: Maurice?
Mayor `Ferre:
Mrs.
Yes, go ahead.
Gordon: You said we could change.
Mayor Ferre:
Mrs.
Yes, you can.
Gordon: I would like to put Laura O'Brien
O'Brien.
Mayor Ferre: We have also included Laura
Laura O'Brien is also on this list. Alright.
SECOND BALLOT:
The results of the second ballot:
Mr. Ongie:
Doris Steele
Jeanne Bellamy
Charles Kantor
Mayor Ferre: Alright, we are now
Is that correct?
Mr. Grassier_ Economic
Mayor Ferre:' What?
on mind here.
if you want to
reconsider
on. Item C, which is` Economic Development.;
Development andLabor, sir," is one person.
Mr. Grassier One person.
Mr. Lacasa:;.
Mayor
Ferre:
Mr. Plummer:
Mayor Ferre:;
we have got
Mr.
Plummer:
e already voted on that.
No, we haven't. Oh,I'm .sorry ,-I beg your pardon.-
We are now on Industrial..
Development.
We: have done Economic
No, wait a moment. Call the vote on Economic Development
to balance these things.
He did.
Mr. Ongie I haven't totalled that yet, Mr. Mayor.
Mayor Ferre: He hasn't totalled it yet, Plummer. All we have totalled now
is Roosevelt Thomas in category "A"and we have Bellamy and Kantor in category
"B". Now, so far we have got one Black male and we have one female and one
White male. Go ahead. We don't have any Latins yet. It's only five votes
can't you total quicker than that?
Mr. Ongie: Sir, he is trying to count them.
Mayor Ferre: Just read them out.
because
THIRD BALLOT:
Mr. Ongie: The results of the third bailot:
Reinaldo'Cruz'
Janet Reid
Laura O'Brien
Mayor Terre:
woman and one
Mrs. Gordon:
Mayor Ferre:
Alejandre and
g1
Alright, we have now one Latin male,
White man.
one Black male, one White
What are you talking about now?
Alright, the next one we have got three,
Rod Overholt.
174
Samuel Kantor, Armando
'got t R7
Mr. Grassier And this is a category with two persons, Mr. Mayor,to.be selected.
Two persons to,be,selected.
Mayor Ferre:
Mr. Plummer:
Mayor Ferre:
Mr. Plummer:
Mayor Ferre:
Two persons, ok.
And please don't get confused that there are two Kantors.
This is Samuel 'Kantor.
Samuel Kantor is the man that I
I got it.
nominated.
Mrs. Gordon: You nominated Samuel Kantor•
?`
Yes, the owner of
Mayor Ferre And I nominated Armando Alejandre who...,
Mr. Jaffer: I don't think the Industrial' category needs two members. This isn't
an industrial ciy.
Mr. Plummer:
Mayor Ferre:
Sit down, this is not a -public hearing.
(BACKGROUND COMMEdTS OFF THE PUBLIC RECORD)
Mayor Ferre: Alright, so far we've got Roosevelt Thomas, Bellamy, Kantor
Cruz. Now, we are on Item "D", would you read the totals? Industrial; and
Manufacturing, Rose, out of three people, would you vote for one of those.
You have got Sam Kantor Armando Alejandre and Rod Overholt.
Mr. Plummer
Ferreiiav Have you vo
iitt1e:bit?
You have to have two of
Yes, you vote for two.
LJo, yes, vote for two.
tec' Rose? Call the answer
FOIJRTH BALLOT:
Mr,. Ongie:
Samuel',Kantor (4):;-
Armanda Alejandre (5)
Rod Overholt (1)
them...
and
Vote for any of themwhat'is the difference?
, would you. And can we speed this up' -a
The results of the fourth ballot:
Mayor Ferre: Alright, so we have Alejandre and Samuel Kantor, that's spelled
S. Kantor. Alright, Alejandre is a Latin male, we now have two Latin males.
and two White males. Alright, the next category, I think is Media. Is that
correct?
Mr. 'Grassie:
Mayor Ferre:
Ramos.
Rev.
Gibson:
Mr. Plummer:
Mayor Ferre:
Mr. Plummer:
Mayor Ferre:
That's correct, sir, one person.
ow, the nominees are Sylvan Meyer, Garth Reeves and Aurell
How many on Professional Services?
One. That's going to be a rough one.
Which one?
The.next one is going to be a rough one.
Well, we are on Media now. Have
we all voted on Media? Read it.
J1�! 3 i 1979
Mr. Ongie:
FIFTH BALLOT:
Mr. Ongie: The results of the fifth ballot:
Garth Reeves (4)
Aurell•Ramos (2)
Mr. Plummer: How do you do that?
Mayor Ferre: How could anybody get six votes?
Mr. Lacasa:
Have to be three.
There must have been a single charting.
Mayor Ferre: How could you have six votes?
Mrs. Gordon:
Mayor Ferre:
I voted for two.
Oh, you did. Did you vote for two?
Mrs. Gordon: Yes.
Mayor Ferre
Mr. Ongie:
Mayor Ferre: Well, four
if Mrs. ;Gordon voted for
Wait a minute, there was four and three?
Four and two. Not everybody voted for two.
and two. Obviously, the guy who got four wins, even
both...
Mr. Ongie: Right. Reeves, got four.
Mayor Ferre:
. it would be three to one, so Reeves won anyway you look a
it.
(BACKGROUND COIIMENTS OFF THE PUBLIC RECORD)
Mayor Ferre: Alright, the nominees in Professional
are e Robert Jones,u Rictardow
o
Fernandez, Homer Marlow and David Fincher. Now,
lethave two Black males, we don't have any Black females. We have, one White female
and that's all, we only have one woman so far.
Mr. Plummer: Mr. Mayor,.I want to make a strong pitch for Mr. Marlow' who has
expressed an interest in being a member of this thing. He is an attorney...
Mrs.
Mayo
Mr.
possible.
Mayor Ferre:
Mrs. Gordon:
Mr. Plummer:
Gordon: Who?
rFerre: Homer Marlow.
Plummer: Homer Marlow an attorney. And I would like to lobby if that's
You can do that.
If I let you lobby me, can I lobby you the next time.
What's next time?
Mayor Ferre: There ain't no nexttime, do
you read that tally?
UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: Who were the nominees on that last category?
Mayor Ferre: The nominees are Robert Jones,. Ricardo Fernandez, Homer. Marlowe
and David Pincher. We have one choice. Is that correct?
Mr. Grassie:
Mayor. Ferre:
gl
That's correct
Please vote.
sir.
n't you know that.
Alright , would
SIXTH BALLOT:
Mr. Ongie: The ,results of the sixth ballot:
Homer Marlow (3)
David Pincher (1)
Ricardo Fernandez (1.)
Mayor Ferre: The next group are Mauricio Rizikow, Tony Alonzo, Willie Gort,
Richard McEwen and Eduardo Calil.
Mr. Grassie: You 'have two to choose in this group Mr. Mayor.
Mrs. Gordon: We have two in this...
Mr. Pl.wmner: Mr. tiayor, may I ask a question? I want to vote for... one of
the people I want to vote for is Willie Gort, is there any conflict with hian
being on the Planning Board and being on this Board'? I'm just asking.
Mr. Knox: I don't think go.
Mr.Plummer: Alright, fine.
Mrs. Gordon: Where did we have Laura O'Brien? What was she in? What category
did we have her in? Laura O'Brien.
Mayor Ferre: 1. think you had her in Realestate.
Mrs. Gordon.• Economic Development. Well, Laura is in a retail business,
she sells cosmetics.
Mayor Terre: Well, put her on there.
Mrs. Gordon. Yes. So why can't we move her to retail, so we could vote
her. for
Mayor
Ferre: You can. Go ahead.
Mrs. Gordon: Ok, I have moved Laura O'Brien over here to Retail. Did you
hear me, so you can vote for her.
(BACKGROUND COVERTS OFF THE PUBLIC RECORD)
Mrs. Gordon: Where are you going to put her? You can't put her in Realestate.
Mayor Ferre: Well, we will balance it out...
Mrs. Gordon: You can't put her in utilities.
Mayor Ferre: Where are we?
(BACKGROUND COMMENT INAUDIBLE)
Mr. Plummer: Mr. Mayor, sorry, I have to leave the meeting. Some of you
are well aware of mother, I think is dying and I have to leave. I would like...
I'm sorry. (MR. PL1JMMER LEAVES THE MEETING AT THIS TIME)
Mayor Ferre: J. L., voted on that Airline category, so we can put that in.
Would you give us the last tabulation?
SEVENTH BALLOT:
Mr. Ongie: The results of the seventh ballot:
Willie Gort (3)
Eduardo Calil (3)
Richard McEwen (2)
Laura O'Brien (1)
Tony Alonzo (1)
Mayor Ferre: Well, I tell you what, we are going to have to wait then until
gl
177
JUL 1 t "
Plummer gets back. So what...
Mrs. Gordon: I don't think we should do anymore now, Maurice. Can't we
just stop this now?
42. PROPOSED CHARTER AMENDMENT - $4,500 FOR PUBLIC WORKS PROJECTS,
sale of property etc.
Mayor Ferre: Alright, we... wait a minute... Rose, before we leave we do have
a resolution setting forth a proposed Charter Amendment. This is as amended by
izr. Paul this morning with regards to Mitch Wilson's garage... everybody is in
agreement with it, so...
Mr. Lacasa: Move.
Mayor Ferre: Movcd by Lacasa, seconded by Gibson, further discussion
roll.
call the
:'he'following resolution was introduced by Commissioner Lacasa, who moved
irs Rdortim!
RESOLUTION NO. 79-501
A RESOLUTION SETTING FORTH A PROPOSED CHARTER AMENDMENT AMENDING
SECTION 53 OF THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, TO
ri.VViDE FOR AN INCREASE IN THE CONTRACT PRICE FROM $1,000 TO
$4,500 FOR ANY PUBLIC WORK OR IMPROVEMENT CONTRACT BEFORE
REQJCiaNG PUBLIC ADVERTISEMENT AND COMPETITIVE BIDDING; FURTHER
PRJVIDIi1G FOR THE REQUIREMENT OF PUBLIC ADVERTISEMENT AND OPEN-
001:75F.711tVE BIDDING BEFORE THE SALE, CONVEYANCE, OR DISPOSITION
OF ANY REAL PROPERTY, INCLUDING LEASEHOLD INTEREST THEREIN,
OWNED BY THE CITY OF MIAMI, THE DEPARTMENT OF OFF-STREET PARKING
OF THE CITY OF MIAMI AND THE DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY OF
THE CITY OF MIAMI.
(Here follows body of resolution, omitted here and on file
in the Office of the City Clerk.)
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Gibson, the resolution was passed and
adopted by the following vote:
AYES: Mrs. Gordon, Mr. Lacasa, Rev. Gibson and Mayor Ferre.
NOES: None.
ABSENT:. Mr. Plummer.
Mayor Terre: Alright, ladies and gentlemen... Mr. Manager, if you will tabulate
what's been done up until now, we will resume this whole process next time..
We stand adjourned.
AD1OURNNENT"
i'ece being no further business to come before the City Commission, onmotion
duly made and seconded, the meeting was adjourned at 11:35 P.M.
ATTEST:
MATTY RIRAI,_
Assistant City Clerk
11
178
MAURICE A. FERRE
Mayor
DOCUMENT
MEETING DATE:
INDEX July 11, 1979
COMMISSION 1 RETRIEVAL
ACTION I CODE NO.
ITEM NO.
1
2
DOCUMENT IDENTIFICATION
3
4
5
6
10
11
12
COMMISSION AGENDA AND CITY CLERK REPORT
ACCEPTING AND APPROVING THE CITY MANAGER'S
ATTACHED PROPOSED AGREEMENTS FOR A SCALED
DOWN SCOREBOARD SYSTEM AT THE ORANGE BOWL
STADIUM
RATIFYING AND AFFIRMING THE ACTION OF THE
CITY MANAGER IN SUBMITTING A GRANT-IN-AID
APPLICATION TO THE UNITED STATES COMMERCE
DEPARTMENT
URGING THE UNITED STATES, CONGRESS TO ENACT
"THE CONDOMINUM ACT OF 1979".
RECOGNIZING RAIL -PASSENGER SERVICE IN BROWARD
AND DADE COUNTIES ALONG THE SEABOARD COAST-
LINE RAILROAD RIGHT OF WAY
NAMING AND DESIGNATING THE VITA COURSE AT
DAVID URSET NKENNEDY HONOR OFARK THEAS LATEETED BLEIER
COURSE
THEODORE J. (TED)
BLEIER.
AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE AN
EXTENSION IN THE PERFORMANCE PERIOD OF THE
CONTRACT (FL-09-OOBETWEEN
AREA DESIGN AND.
THE CITY OF MIAMI FOR STATION
AND DEVELOPMENT PLANNING SERVICES.
GRANTING USE OF THE MIAMI BASEBALL STADIUM BY.
MIAMI DADE COMMUNITY COLLEGE, DOWNTOWN CAMPUS.
FOR THE PURPOSE OSFCONDUCTING ITS FROM SEPTEMBER 1,1979PRACTICE SESSION
THROUGH FEBRUARY 1, 1980
ACCEPTING THE ;COMPLETED
N AT A
D BY
ASSOCIATES CONSTRUCTION CORPORATIO
TOTAL COST OF $90,824.62
ACCEPTING THE COMPLETED WORK PERFORMED BY
GASTON LANDSCAPING CO., INC. AT A TOTAL
COST OF $48,'525.00 FOR THE ALLAPATTAH COMMUNI.
TY DEVELOPMENT PAVING PROJECT -PHASE II
ACCEPTING THE COMPLETED WORK PERFORMED BY
T&N CONSTRUCTION CO., INC. AT A TOTAL COST
OR $339,116.69 FOR THE BUENA VISTA COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT PAVING PROJECT
APPROVING THE GRANT OF APPROPRIATE EASEMENTS
TO THE MIAMI DADE WATER AND SEWER AUTHORITY
FORTHE INSPCSS IAND
C
H
WATER
A
MAINS CROANDUNDER NEWWORLDCENTER
BICENTENNIAL PARK
0043
R-79-478
R-79-479
R-79-480
R-89.481
R-79-482
R-79-483
R-79-484
R-79-485
R-79-48E
R-79-48;
0044
79-478
79-479
79-480
79-481
79-482
79-483
79-484
79-485
79-486
79-487
DOCUMENT'INDE
CONTINUED
TO4 NO
13 GRANTING APPROPRIATE EASEMENTS ADJACENT TO THE
SOUTHERLY PROPERTY LINE OF CITY OF MIAMI OWNED
PROPERTY ABUTTING THE SOUTH RIGHT OF WAY LINE
OF NW. 20 N.W �14 AVENUEE,ETOT BTHE MIAMIEN WAND. 10 AVENUE
DADE WATER AND
SEWER AUTHORITY.
14 ACCEPTING THE BID OF L.G.H. CONSTRUCTION CORP.
IN THE PROPOSED AMOUNT OF$1,476.900 FOR DIXIE
COMMUNITY PARK.
15 APPROVING THE FINANCIAL PLAN FOR 100 SECTION
8 HOUSING UNITS LOCATED IN MEDICAL CENTER
16 ALLOCATING ACTION COMMUNITY CENTER $29,000 OF
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FUNDS PREVIOUSLY APPRO-
PRIATED BY ORDINANCE NO. 8943 ADOPTED JUNE 4,
1979
17 SETTING FORTH A PROPOSED CHARTER AMENDMENT
AMENDING SECTION 53 OF THE CHARTER OF THE CITY
OF MIAMI, TO PROVIDE FOR AN INCREASE IN THE
CONTRACT PRICE FORM $1,000 TO $4,500 FOR ANY
PUBLIC WORK OR IMPROVEMENT CONTRACT BEFORE
REQUIRING PUBLIC ADVERTISEMENT AND COMPETITIVE
BIDDING
1
m
R-79-488 79-488