HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC 1979-03-22 MinutesCITY OF MIAMI
`MST/3 ie urED
- / - 7 ?
COMMISSION
MINUTES
OF MEETING HELD ON MARCH 22, 1979
(REGULAR)
PREPARED BY THE i..::. =FICE OF THE CITY CLERK
CITY HALL
RALPH G.. ONGIE
CITY CLERK
CITY
MARCH 22, 1979
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ITEM ND.
&EJECT
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'DISCUSSION OF PENDING LITIGATION OF BALL POINT
PROPERTY
AMEND RULE VIII, SECS. 8 & 9; RULE XIX, SECS 3 & 5
AND RULE XIV, SEC. 2 - CIVIL SERVICE RULES TO
CONFORM TO NEGOTIATED LABOR AGREEMENTS
ESTABLISH NEW APPROPRIATION FUND FOR ADDITIONAL
PROJECTS FROM FP & L FRANCHISE REVENUES
INCREASE ENTERPRISE FUND ORANGE BOWL TO FUND
STRUCTURAL SURVEY AND ANALYSIS OF THE ORANGE BOWL
STADIUM
EATABLISH NEW TRUST & AGENCY FUND: "SCULPTURE EXHIBIT
- BICENTENNIAL PARK"
DISCUSSION OF CITIZENS PARTICIPATION AND REQUESTING
DADE COUNTY NOT TO HOLD COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
ELECTIONS
CONFIRMING RESOLUTION: REQUEST CITY MANAGER TO
INVESTIGATE "NEIGHBORHOOD PARTICIPATORY DEMOCRACY
SYSTEMS."
REPORT ON RESULTS OF CULMER COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
TASK FORCE MEETING
AUTHORIZE CITY MANAGER TO APPLY FOR GRANT -JUVENILE
RUNAWAY PROJECT
AUTHORIZE CITY MANAGER TO APPLY FOR GRANT TO PROVIDE
SERVICES, REFERRALS AND SUPPORT TO NON -ADJUDICATED
JUVENILE OFFENDERS
AUTHORIZE CITY MANAGER TO APPLY FOR GRANT TO PROVIDE
VIDEO EQUIPMENT RECORDERS IN PRISONER PROCESSING
EXTEND AGREEMENT - ALLIED REPRESENTATIVES TO
MANAGEMENT, INC. (ARM) TO PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL
COMPUTER PROGRAMMING SERVICES
NAME PROPOSED CENTRAL MIAMI PARK - HENRY E. S. REEVES
PARK
BID ACCEPTANCE - ORANGE BOWL PAINTING AND MAINTENANCE
1979
BID ACCEPTANCE - AUTOMOBILES, MOTORCYCLES AND
GROUNDS MAINTENANCE EQUIPMENT
AMEND RESOLUTION 78-374 APPROVING 400 SECTION 8 •
HOUSING UNITS AND APPROVE FINANCIAL PLANS FOR 325
SECTION 8 HOUSING UNITS
CLAIM SETTLEMENT - ROBERT AND VICKIE JACOBS
AUTHORIZE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE AGREEMENT:
UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO TO CONTINUE MANDATED
DEVELOPMENT AND VALIDATION OF EXAMINATIONS FOR
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT
M-79-200
Ord. 8914
Ord. 8915
Discussion
Discussion
Discussion
R-79-202
M-79-203
M-79-204
R-79-205
R-79-206
R-79-207
R-79-208
R-79-209
R 79-210
R-79-211
R-79-212
R-79-213
R-79-214
PAGE NO.
1-25
26
27
27
28
29-34
34
35-38
38
39
39
40
40
41
41
42
43
43-44
q1Y
isEFJEME,TORNA
PAGE # 2
I1FM NO.
SUBJECT
tOLUTION
INANCE Off NO.
PAGE NO.
19 CONFIRMING RESOLUTION: REQUEST METRO NOT TO HOLD
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TARGET AREA ELECTIONS
20 DISCUSSION: FUTURE LOCATION OF THE GOODYEAR BLIMP
' 21 OPEN SEALED BIDS: CITY WIDE SANITARY SEWER
EXTENSIONS IMPROVEMENT-FLAGLER
ST. SR-5458-C (CENTERLINE SEWER)
22 OPEN SEALED BIDS: S.W. 22 STREET HIGHWAY IMPROVEMENT
PHASE III H-4418
23 PLAQUES, PROCLAMATIONS AND SPECIAL ITEMS
'4 AUTHORIZE TRANSFER OF CERTAIN CERTIFICATES OF
CONVENIENCE AND NECESSITY FOR TAXICABS
25
(a)
(b)
CITY REPRESENTATIVE SENT TO TALLAHASSEE TO
PROTEST METRO COMMISSIONERS' ACTION PRE-EMPTING
MUNICIPAL REGULATION OF THE TAXICAB INDUSTRY; AND
REQUESTING AND PETITIONING THE FLORIDA LEAGUE
OF CITIES TO INTERCEDE FOR THE CITY OF MIAMI
IN THE ABOVE MATTER
26 ACCEPT COMPLETED WORK -MANOR SANITARY SEWER
IMPROVEMENT SR-5437-C
27
EMERGENCY ORD: AMEND ANNUAL APPROPRIATION ORGINANCE
INCREASE SPECIAL PROGRAMS AND ACCOUNTS TO FUND DADE
COUNTY SCHOOL PROGRAM AND DADE COUNTY AFTER SCHOOL
PROGRAM THROUGH MARCH 9, 1979
28 DISCUSSION OF ACQUISITION OF PROPERTY FOR LATIN
RIVERFRONT PARK -REQUEST MEETING WITH DADE COUNTY
SCHOOL BOARD TO DISCUSS MATTERS OF MUTUAL CONCERN
29 VACATE & CLOSE ALLEY BOUNDED BY BRICKELL PLAZA,
BRICKELL AVENUE AND S.E. 8TH STREET - TENTATIVE
_PLAT #1040-"INTERCAP SUB" (REQUEST PLANNING DEPT.
STUDY EXTENSION S.E. 1ST AVENUE. AT BRICKELL PL TO
7 STREET
30
30.1
CHANGE DATES OF APRIL 1979 CITY COMMISSION MEETINGS
CONTINUED DISCUSSION: ITEM 23 - PROPOSED CLOSING
ALLEY -TENTATIVE PLAT 1040-INTERCAP SUB.
31 PERSONAL APPEARANCE: VICTOR LOGAN - UNRESOLVED
ISSUES CONCERNING THE MIAMI SUMMER BOAT SHOW
32 INSTRUCT CITY MANAGER TO REMOVE CITY COMMISSION
TELEPHONES FROM CITY COMMISSION CHAMBERS
33 (CONTINUED DISCUSSION) VICTOR LOGAN-UNRESOLVED
ISSUES CONCERNING THE MIAMI SUMMER BOAT SHOW
34 PERSONAL APPEARANCE: JOEL JAFFER REGARDING COCONUT
GROVE HIGHWAY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT
R-79-215
Discussion
M-79-216
M-79-217
Discussion
R-79-218
M-79-219
M-79-220
R-79-221
Ord. 8916
44
45
45-46
46
47
47
48-51
52
52
Discussion 53-55
M-79-223
M-79-224
Discussion
'Discussion
M-79-226
M-79-227
M-79-228
M-79-229
M-79-230
56-63
64
64-65
65-78
79
79-93
93-100
cT;
PAGE M 3
11111 ila.
MCI
45,
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36.1
36.2
36.3
36.4
36.5
36.6
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NaMMINIMEMMIlk
PERSONAL APPEARANCE: MS. ELLEN OSMAN - REQUESTING
FINANCIAL ASISTANCE FOR COCONUT GROVE CHILDREN'S
THEATRE "PERFORM-A-THON" AT GUSMAN HALL
CONSENT AGENDA
BID ACCEPTANCE, WAIVE FORMAL BID PROCEDURES FOR
FURNISHING PRE -PACKAGED MEDICATIONS FOR THE DEPT.
OF FIRE
ACCEPT COMPLETED WORK - D.M.P. CORP. FOR SOUTHERN
DRAINAGE PROJECT E-43 (SECOND BIDDING)
ACCEPT COMPLETED WORK - MET CONSTRUCTION,INC. FOR
ORANGE BOWL STRUCTURAL REPAIRS - 1978
BID ACCEPTANCE - NEW RIVER CONSTRUCTION CO.,INC.
N.W. 20 STREET AREA SIDEWALK IMPROVEMENT - SK-4437
BID ACCEPTANCE - BOODWIN, INC. FOR AVALON SANITARY
SEWER IMPROVEMENT SR-5453-C 6 S
AUTHORIZE CITY CLERK TO PUBLISH A NOTICE OF PUBLIC
HEARING FOR OBJECTIONS TO ACCEPTANCE OF COMPLETED WORK
DELAWARE SANITARY SEWER IMPROVEMENT SR-5390-C
CONFIRMING RESOLUTION: REQUESTING JOINT MEETING
WITH DADE COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD
ESTABLISH MAY 24, 1979 AS DATE FOR PUBLIC HEARING ON
BALL POINT APPLICATION FOR DEVELOPMENT APPROVAL OF A
DEVELOPMENT OF REGIONAL IMPACT
CONFIRMING RESOLUTION: CHANGE DATES FOR CITY
COMMISSION MEETINGS DURING THE MONTH OF APRIL
EXPRESSION OF CITY COMMISSION'S DISSATISFACTION
WITH RECENTLY REVISED STANDARDS OF ELIGIBILITY FOR
DETERMINING AMOUNT OF FOOD STAMPS TO BE AWARDED TO
PEOPLE IN NEED
URGE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE THAT NO CHANGES BE ADOPTED
PERTAINING TO CHAPTER 175 AND 185 OF THE FLORIDA
STATUTES "PENSION FUNDS"
PERSONAL APPEARANCE: LAZARO ALBO REGARDING EXCHANGE
OF EQUIPMENT WITH LIMA, PERU. APPOINT LAZARO ALBO
AS ASSISTANT TO THE MAYOT AT $1.00 A YEAR
towriINANCE OR
cti
N . PA �,_
M-79-231
R-79-232
R-79-233
R-79-234
R-79-235
R-79-236
R-79-237
R-79-238
R-79-239
R-79-240
R-79-241
R-79-242
M-79-243
100-101
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103
103
103
103
104
104
105
105-10,
106
107
108-11
110-1
MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING OF THE
CITY COMMISSION OF MIAMI, FLORIDA
* * * * * * * *
ON THE 22ND DAY OF MARCH, 1979, THE CITY COMMISSION OF
MIAMI, QR DA MET AT IREGULAR MEETING PLACE IN THE CITY
HALL, 35TS uu FAN AMERICAN LRIVE, MIAMI, 1L.ORIDA IN REGULAR SESSION.
THE MEETING WAS CALLED TO ORDER AT 9:12 O'CLOCK A.M. BY
MAYOR MAURICE A. tERRE WITH THE FOLLOWING MEMBERS OF THE
COMMISSION FOUND TO BE PRESENT:
Commiaa.i.oner Rose Gordon
Commissioner Armando Lacasa
Commi.aaionen. (Rev.) Theodore Gibson
Vire-Mayon J. L. PQummen, Jr.
Mayon Maatice A. Fenne
ALSO PRESENT:
Joseph R. Gnaasie, City Manager
R. L. Foamoen, Aaaistant City Manager
George F. Knox, City A.t.tonney
Ralph G. OngJ e, City C.Qenfh
Marty H�.naL, Aasit taut City Ctekk
An invocation was delivered by Reverend Gibson who then
led those present in a pledge of allegiance to the flag.
A motion to waive the reading of the minutes of January
18th and February 1st was introduced by Commissioner Plummer
and seconded by Commissioner Lacasa and was passed unanimously.
1. DISCUSSION OF PENDING LITIGATION OF BALL POINT
PROPERTY.
Mayor Ferre: Before we get into Items A & B we do have the pending situa-
tion with the St. Joe Paper Company property and Mr. Ted Gould's purchase
of it and the lawsuit that is pending before the Supreme Court of which you
have a copy of the jurisdictional statement that was presented by our attor-
ney, Guy Bailey. The way this matter was left last time was that we were
going to get the letter up -dating from the two constitutional lawyers that
the City has retained, one Edward Bennett Williams and the other one Bruce
Roggo for the purposes of them (1) looking at the brief that was presented
by attorney Bailey and (2) looking at a 1978 Supreme Court Case that Mr.
Bailey had stressed was the main thrust of his presentation. Furthermore,
the transcripts of the hearing were to be mailed to these two parties. Now,
Mr. City Attorney and Mr. City Manager, was all of that done? And what is
the result and what is your interpretation and recommendation?
Mr. George Knox, City Attorney: Mr. Mayor, I will begin. Subsequent to
the laE City Commission Meeting I transmitted a letter to Bruce Roggo
who is the Dean of the Nova University School of Law, it is relatively
short and I would like to read it into the record. "As you may have noted
in the newspapers, I have been requested to call upon you again in order
that you would give your interpretation of the Spannaus Case and the New
York Trust Company_ Case as these cases are the authority upon which Mr.
Guy Bailey relies in support of his contention that the Supreme Court may
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MAR • 2 1979
be disposed to hear the Ball Point question. Would you please provide the
City Commission with the benefit of your thoughts in advance of this March
22nd Meeting? The City Commission has also requested a determination as to
whether the Florida Supreme Court has ever reviewed directly the Wild Deed
question, that is has the Florida Supreme Court ever definitively determined
that those deeds which have no root of title upon the record should be cured
by the Marketable Titles Act. In addition to the foregoing, Mr. Bailey has
requested that you have the benefit of his briefs which are scheduled to be
filed on March 14th as a part of your analysis, I will arrange to transmit
these briefs to you in a timely manner. Thank you again for your coopera-
tion with the City of Miami. Kindest personal regards. Sincerely, George
F. Knox, Jr., City Attorney.
Copies of Mr. Bailey's briefs along with the cases that were in question
were transmitted to Mr. Bruce Rogow and I received from Mr. Rogow on March
20th, 1979 a letter which consists of five pages. Unless there are some
questions I will only read the concluding paragraph. "In sum, while I think
the chances of Supreme Court review to be exceedingly dim, I think the City
will know for certain the fate of this case within three months. I leave
it for the Commission to decide if it can afford to wait." His suggestion
was that the Supreme Court would make a determination as to whether or not
it had pr^bable jurisdiction in this case befora the end of its June term
and that if the City Commission should choose it could wait until that deter-
mination is made. However, he indicated that he did not believe, he did not
change his opinion from his former opinion that there is an extreme unlikeli-
hood that the Supreme Court of the United States would grant jurisdiction to
hear this legal question.
Mr. Grassie: And further, Mr. Mayor and members of the City Commission, you
also asked for the opinion from Mr. Edward Bennett Williams and his relatively
lenghty review of the case comes to a similar conclusion, a stronger if any-
thing, he concludes: "I am still of the opinion that there is no reasonable
likelihood whatsoever that the Supreme Court of the United States will grant
plenary review." So based on these opinions we would have to conclude that
there is virtually no chance that the Supreme Court will after whatever
length of time it takes for them to review the case will, in fact, accept
legal review.
Mayor Ferre: Well, would you now before I open it up to the Commission for
questions conclude, you and Mr. Knox, your recommendation to this board after
you've reviewed the facts and the information? Mr. Knox?
Mrs. Gordon: I didn't hear your statement.
Mayor Ferre: The request was, as you recall, last time that after all this
was done and all the information received received that we wanted, I would
like to have into the record their recommendations and then I will open it
up fcr questions.
Mr. Knox: As I have rendered my opinion before in this matter, that this
is a policy question which involves on one side a purely legal question and
on the other side a practical and public policy consideration. .In determin-
ing rather recently that I would be called upon to make a recommendation I
considered the question of law versus policy which is a profound and sub-
stantial question and the analogy that came to mind most vividly was the sit-
uations in which the City Commission had been faced by virtue of courts'
interpretations of the Sunshine Law and most recently there was a Third Dis-
trict Court of Appeal decision which supported a lower court conclusion that
the selection of Police Chief or the screening process by a committee appointed
by the City Manager for the selection of a Police Chief should be done in
the Sunshine. It was the opinion of your City Attorney along with public
attorneys from throughout the State that this was an erroneous decision by
the Third District Court of Appeal and, of course, we had an opportunity to
appeal that decision to the Supreme Courtof the State of Florida and, indeed
there was a great deal of pressure, if you will, upon our office from univer-
sity systems, from school boards, from City Attorneys throughout the State
urging us to file an appeal and indicating that all of these entities and
institutions would file amicus curiae briefs or assist us in any way possible
in pursuading the Supreme Court that this administrative activity should not
be subject to the Sunshine Law and despite all of these suggestions we con-
cluded that the City Commission had announced a policy in support of the con-
cept of openess in government and that even a victory as to this point in
the Supreme Court may have been what the Mayor sometimes refers to as a
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MAR 2 2 tp7Q
pyrrhic victory in terms of the public purpose and the commitment to the
public that the City Commission had. In light of the fact that there have
ben precedents where sometimes policy considerations must outweigh legal
considerations even in the case where there is a likelihood to prevail. I
am compelled to concur in a suggestion which was made by Mr. Roggo in his
letter on page 4 where he says, "I have no idea what the cost of seeking
Supreme Court review is to the City, if any delay in resolution will result
in irreparable injury or substantial economic loss to the City then I would
advise immediate termination of this case." That would be your City Attor-
ney's recommendation.
Mayor Ferre: All right, Mr. Grassie.
Mr. Grassie: The basic case that we have in front of us, Mr. Mayor and mem-
bers of the City Commission, is one of the interests of the City. My con-
clusion and recommendation is that it is in the best interest of the City to
terminate this case and to move ahead with the proposed development.
Mayor Ferre: A11 right, now I'm going to open it up•for Commission questions
and if there are none then I will recognize Guy Bailey for a statement and
then I'll recognize Mr. Gould's attorney for a statement and then hopefully
then we can come to a conclusion. Are there any questions of either the City
Attorney or the City Manager at this juncture?
Mrs. Gordon: As long as we're not precluded from questioning I don't mind
hearing from the attorneys first.
Mayor Ferre: All right, Mr. Bailey.
Mr. Guy Bailey: Mr. Mayor and members of the Commission, I have given each
of you a notebook which sort of is a rehash, I did not have the transcript
of the whole thing until last time and I wanted you to have the however dub-
ious benefit of my comments about the several aspects of this thing. The
most significant change which has occured since the last meeting is Mr.
Roggo's comment in my mind in terms of your decision because Mr. Roggo's
quotation which your City Attorney has read to you says, "...if any delay
is going to result in irreparable harm..." then he recommends termination.
His conclusion in the letter, however, is that if the City waits until June
then he believes the City will certainly have an answer from the United
States Supreme Court on probable jurisdiction. Now I do not agree with Mr.
Roggo's conclusion as to the merits of this lawsuit. I think you know my
comments about Mr. Edward Bennett Williams' attempt to understand five years
of work in a week or so for close to $3,500 and I submit to you that is a
very dubious number that he is supposedly charging this City for that opinion.
But I will say to you that I have read carefully, I received both of these
letters yesterday, I read them carefully, I read the first two letters from
the:,e gentlemen carefully. I discussed it with the lawyers in my office
based upon the research that we have put in on the City's behalf since 1975
which has not been hurried, which has been thoughtful and using that back-
ground and using that history and ability, whatever we have to analyze legal
issues I will say to you that the issues that are raised, and incidentally,
I have given each of you a copy of what we filed in the United States Supreme
Court, this is called a Jurisdictional Statement, a lot of things are proforma
that have to be in there, the guts of the paper are in pages 14 through I
guess it is 32. I reread that and I reread the cases, I read those letters
from those two lawyers and I submit to you that if I were a judge assessing
this jurisdictional statement against those responses to it I would note
probable jurisdiction. I do not think either these lawyers want to understand
what we are raising or that they do understand. I do not think either one of
them meets the legal argument that we have raised. Their attempts to distin-
guish those two cases which they had omitted before, and it seems to me in
evaluating the validity of someone's opinion, and you've just had two opinions
that omitted to deal with the very precedents that we're alleging, our basis
for our case, that you've got to look with some concern about that. They do
not meet the arguments that we raised. If that is going to be Mr. Ball's
defense in his motion to dismiss or affirm I am encouraged. I will say to
you that since 1975 when we started this lawsuit it is the first attempt, the
first attempt by any lawyer to defend that position. All of the briefs by
the Florida Bar, by Governor Askew, by Attorney General Shevin, by the Phos-
phate and mining industries, by St. Joe Paper Company, by Southeast Properties
Company and the other defendants in the case, all of those briefs were silent
on the point that we raise here. There was in their view no answer to them.
Mow we have had the first attempted answer and frankly the first shot by Mr.
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'MAR 2 2 1979
Edward Bennett Williams which attempted to deal with one of the cases helped
to sharpen our position a little bit and I thought it was beneficial. I
feel more confident about the legal position after reading the work of these
gentlemen and I respect them, they're good lawyers. I do not think that
they are so good that they can do in two weeks something that's taken me
four or five years to work on but that's perhaps just a matter of professional
ego. I do not think that they respond to the issues that we raised and if
the Supreme Court is given an opportunity to review them, statistics aside
I think that they would take the position that this is something they ought
to rule on. And I say that to you despite my earlier comments and despite
the fact I don't want to get into a hassle with the City about fees. I still
think that on the practicalities if I'm right and there is a 10 to 15% chance
I suppose I should want you to eliminate, to take me out of that position so
that that would eliminate my dispute with you on fees because then I think
you'd have to pay me and I do, incidentally quote the langauge of the con-
tract with you which says that if you tell me to stop which is your right
because you're the client, that you will reimburse me for my fees. I was
interested to see that the Miami Herald last time thought that fee discus-
sion more interesting than the facts I raised to you that their advices
about this could be possibly colored by the fact that their land and their
building are a part of this 1919 grant. I suppose the best thing I can do
is to ask you to look at these booklets with the plastic fronts and blue
covers and turn to the back - this is not a very good copy - but if you see
the back you will see a map which shows the 1920 shoreline between Venetian
Causeway and Mc Arthur Causeway and then you will see over on your right the
1921 shoreline - it's all filled. It happens to be the residence of the
Miami Herald publishing company at the present time. 1919 was the date when
the City was given everything east of the shoreline, I think the 1920 shore-
line and the 1919 shoreline were the same so anything to the east of that
1920 line was given, vested irrevocably supposedly in the City of Miami by
the State of Florida. Now if you'll. turn up one page in front of that there
is one more little diagram. This is the diagram of the entire 1919 statutory
grant by the State of Florida to the City of Miami. Obviously a lot of it
is still under water because it was a submerged land grant. There has been
litigation back in 56 I believe which eliminated the ownership in the City
of what is designated there as Burlingame Island which is now Claughton Is-
land and which is about four times as big but you see the arrow about the
middle of the page, that's where Ball Point is and you see the other arrow
at the top, you're getting up to the Venetian Causeway area, that's about
where the Miami Herald building is. Now we have done something in the nature
of a pencil search of the rest of this grant. The grant includes the land
beneath the Dupont Plaza Hotel, it includes some of the Dupont Plaza parking
lot but just a little bit of it, it includes all of Ball Point, it included
Bayfront Park, it included the FEC property which you are now paying lawyers
in excess of $250,000 attorneys fees to pay for from the Florida East Coast
Railway. It includes what is now Bicentennial Park and it includes the land
up to and just south of Venetian Causeway, I don't know what else is there.
And since the Miami Herald chose to write a story omitting their possible
conflict of interest in this and since they then chose to editorialize and
rather snidely and incorrectly make a comment about how would the United
States Supreme Court possibly rule against the State of Florida when the
State of Florida had done something twice if that were the standard I can
assure you that no State Supreme Court would ever have been reversed in the
history of the United States and perhaps Mr. Ball would own the entire State
of Florida instead of just the part that he owns. I say to you that this law-
suit, and incidentally all of the recorded transfers that we can find pre-
date the 1944 deed that we were contesting here, the transfer from FEC Hotel
Corp. to St. Joe Paper Company in 1944. So far as we can tell, all of the
land grants to people who purported originally by Wild Deeds to own some of
that filled land, all of them are before 1944. If you drop the lawsuit you
drop the right to own all of the land in that 1919 land grant which is filled
and which is now already park, and obviously you own some of it already, at
least it is acknowledged that you own some of the land that you were given.
The United States Supreme Court in the Claughton Island Case, I'm sorry, the
Florida Supreme Court in the Claughton Island Case in 1956, I believe, held
that the City of Miami owned that land, that it was vested with the title
of that land grant, not that it had a claim to it but that it was vested
with fee simple ownership of the land. Now that is the point that the Dean
of Nova Law School and Edward Bennett Williams have missed. That is a con-
tract that this City has with the State of Florida not a claim but a vested
right. The State by the passage of the Marketable Record Titles Act accord-
ing to the Florida Supreme Court in the decision that we're appealing has
said it is true that you are vested Fee Simple Title full owners of vested
rights in that land, however, unless you file another piece of paper in the
04
rt MAR 2 2 1979
future whether you know you have to or not you lose it. Now that is precisely
what a state cannot do and it was in the Contracts Clause of the United States
Constitution from the very beginning. The early early early decision about
it was called Fletcher against Peck, that was 1810 and there was another one
in 1819 called Trustees of Dartmouth College against Woodward. Mr. Rogow's
first letter said that if the best the City has is a claim under the Dart-
mouth College Case it's not got a very good claim and when he said that he
was expressing the conventional wisdom of members of the bar for the last
fortyyears because since approximately the 1930's the United States Supreme
Court had pretty much made a dead letter of the Contracts Clause. A clause
in the Constitution of the United States says you shall not impair contracts.
It's sort of an ex post facto law applied to contracts. Now, if the last
decision had been in 1933 and if it were not something that was current then
',would say that our chances would be difficult but we raised this in 1975
because we saw that this was an impairment of contract and even if the court
had not ruled on it in the last 30 years it was a Constitutional principle
that was there and we raised it in the proper court and there was no response
to it and it was ignored and ruled against by the trial judge. We raised
it in each of the other courts. Now while we were in suit in this lawsuit,
while we were in the Supreme Court of Florida the United States Supreme
Court decided the decision which I think it is called New York Trust in a
couple of these letters, it is United States Trust Company of New York against
the State of New Jersey. And again in 1978 they decided Allied something, I
forget the full name, against Spannauss and they resurrected the Contracts
Clause. They used it for the first time in 40 years to upset legislation
passed by the states. So we are not dealing with something that is a dead
letter, in fact, one of the opinions of one of the justices of the United
States Supreme Court said by this opinion we cease to have the Contracts
Clause as a dead letter. Six of the justices of the United States Supreme
Court in those two decisions, in one or the other of those two decisions
said that the states cannot no matter what their Supreme Courts say cannot
impair valid contracts for vested rights by legislation no matter what the
Supreme Court of the State says you can't do it. Now our Supreme Court said
you can and they said that because they said we're going to let you do it
because it affects the public concern, the public welfare. Now the three
dissenting justices in those two opinions said you don't need the Contracts
Clause to upset state legislation because you can use due process and then
you get into a measuring or balancing of interest situation and you see
what's involved and you see how severe some individual or some private
party's rights have been dealt with, and incidentally, we have been pronounced
by the Supreme Court of Florida as a private party and if there is too severe
impairment of that party's rights then you upset the state legislation on
due process grounds and we raised due process too. Due process ground would
invalidate this legislation in the eyes of the three dissenting justices in
those decisions and the impairment of contracts grounds would invalidate it
in the opinions of the six justices of the Supreme Court. Based upon those
two decisions there is not a justice of the United States Supreme Court if
this matter gets brought to his attention and he is asked to make a decision
on it who hasn't taken a position in the last two years that said this is
wrong. Now no number of footnotes in Mr. Edward Bennett Williams' letter
is going to change that and nobody has tried to argue with that, what they
suggest is that the volume of cases which is massive just makes it very un-
likely that they're going to have this brought to their attention in any
significant way. Somebody, they said, I think the rule is you have to get
at least four justices to note probably jurisdiction and that means that a
recent graduate of law school, perhaps a year or two years out, and generally
they're the top in their class at knowledge excellent law schools will have
on the average ten minutes to read the papers that are presented to them and
presumably if they read this in ten minutes they know where to go. They will
pass the text and they will ignore the appendix and they will go to through
those ten or fifteen pages I referred to. Now if they do their job I submit
to you that the Supreme Court has jurisdiction, should take jurisdiction and
the State of Florida has taken away this 1919 grant, at least valuable por-
tions of it by virtue of the Marketable Record Titles Act and they just can't
do that. So I submit to you that by reviewing these little diagrams at the
back of m5 little booklet here you will see that the decision that you are
faced with dropping this litigation is not whether or not Mr. Ted Gould or
his corporation are going to have a development on Ball Point, at least it
is not that alone. It is whether you ever want to assert the City's owner-
ship of this land - and I have a typographical error in there, I say $200,000,
I think there's probably land worth in an area of $200,000,000 that you're
talking about. It belongs to the City of Miami and your predecessors based
upon most recently advice just like you're getting now from two outside lawyers
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TAR 2 2 1979
didn't go after this in 1973 and this is your last chance to have any of
this property, now I don't know whether you want it or not. But I don't
know whether you've got a right to walk away in the public interest from
all of that land. I know the City has financial problems and I say again
I would love to see that development right there, I suppose it would prob-
ably generate some law business in the City of Miami. However, you're not
just talking about e1 acres in Ball Point you're talking about a lot of land.
Now if I can still ask you to read from the back of my little booklet there,
if you go to page 26, now I am your special counsel and I am counseling you.
I don't know these gentlemen and I wish them well but I ask you if you drop
a lawsuit right now for $200,000,000 maybe, even if you drop a 1% chance for
a $200,000,000 recovery for the City of Miami what are you going to do if
this contract that I have ever seen, I don't know whether you've ever seen
it, doesn't close on June 30th? Well, they don't have to close it and you
can't sue them if they don't close. You can't sue Mr. John Aurrell for tell-
ing you that they have the contract and that they intend to close but I
haven't seen the contract but I doubt very seriously that anybody enters
into a contract of that magnitude without an escape clause. Now let's assume
tat something happens and Mr. Gould decides he doesn't want to do it, sup-
pose he has some reversals between now and June 30th? Well, you're sitting
here, with all respect, looking like a bunch of idiots because you dropped
a lawsuit for a reason which no longer exists and which you have no right to
compel to happen. Well, let's ask you this - let's assume it's going to go
ahead and close and we've dropped the chance for a S200,000,000 lawsuit be-
cause of Herald editorials which omit to tell the public that they own some
of the land in question and Mr. Gould's lawyers come in and say, "You know,
we've been looking at the economics of this and the costs are going up so
high we really would like to have a little bit greater high rise right on
this than we presently have, how about let's make it five stories higher."
Which one of you is going to vote, having dropped this $200,000,000 lawsuit
to deny them that little bit more? Well, then he's going to say, "Well gee,
I'd like to have a little bit more right to come out closer to the boundar-
ies and not have setbacks. Which one of you is going to vote no on that,
having dropped this lawsuit? Who is going to rule against him on anything
after you've dropped the lawsuit? Just a matter of your bargaining position
with somebody who wants to build something in your City and might want some
special favors from you which you have rights under certain circumstances to
grant, where are you going to be if you've taken a commitment like this al-
ready? I don't think after that that you're going to be anything but in
the - I started to say in the pocket and that's wrong, I don't mean that -
I mean you're going to be in their control. Okay? Now, suppose he says,
"I want more buildings, I want five buildings" and you're going to say no,
that's too much, that's just too far, good -by and away it goes. You know I
just ask you to consider that, it seems to me that is a policy thing. I
would counsel you not to do this. Now what am I coming to? I'm coming to
the fact that nothing is happening this week and nothing is happening next
week, Pioneer Title Insurance called me yesterday and said, "Hey, have you
filed that lawsuit in the United States Supreme Court?" and I said, "Yes,
why?" "Well, we're doing the title work on it, we haven't written a policy
yet." And I said, "Well, is this a cloud on the title, is there some reason
this is a cloud on the title that I don't know about?" And the man said,
"Well, I don't know, it makes us nervous and we probably are not going to
ride over it." I said, "Well, I'd be interested if you find some rule." I
just don't think it is a legal title problem because there is no lis pendens,
if they sell the property and close it it's a matter of law, they own it in
my view, I'm not really giving you a formal opinion about it. Page 23 and
24 deals with the question of your contract with me. Mayor Ferre was I
think, and I guess in view of the history of lawyers dealing with the City
of Miami in the past of which I have no knowledge, was concerned at the time
of the granting of this or going into this lawsuit and the signing of the
contract with me about what was I going to do after I got paid the money that
I was going to get paid and he was worried about that a year later. After
he gets that $25,000 which is a magnificent sum, is he going to quit? Well,
I think that was a valid concern then and it was a valid concern, perhaps
in 1976 but I don't think that it is a fair statement to worry about the
fact that I've quit, I'm sitting here I suppose like an idiot and asking you
not to pay me and give me my little bitty chance to get the Supreme Court to
rule for you. But a conversation between you and your City Attorney a year
after our contract does not let you out of the contract. With all due re-
spect, it certainly doesn't show no meeting of the minds under the law of
Florida, we have a contract, if you drop it you've got to pay me. I just
think that is a peripheral issue, I think it is much lower down in the cate-
gory of things to worry about than what you've got to deal with. So I guess
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MAR 2 2 1979
the bottom line of all of this is that you're being stampeded to make a deci-
sion now. I don't know why Mr. Grassie is so urgently asking you to do this,
and I like Mr. Grassie and I think he is a fine gentleman and I don't think
he dislikes me but I know that he is my enemy in this lawsuit and I know
that he has gone on his own hook and hired Edward Bennett Williams to ask
him to give you an opinion. I understand his desire for tax revenue and I
agree with it and I think you need tax revenue just to pay the pensions of
your past City Managers.
Mr. Plummer: I'm glad you didn't say present.
Mr. Bailey: Well, all things come to an end. The thing that concerns me
about it is, and in his zeal to have a project and in the zeal of the Cham-
ber of Commerce to have this project and in the zeal of that gentleman who
was here the last time reciting statistics to you about this project, nobody
has said that if you wait until June 30th or the day before June 30th or
even if you wait until July 1 so that we can see that it is closed at which
time you have a Commission Meeting and say we drop the lawsuit if it hasn't
been resolved by then nobody has said "The End", we're going to walk away.
Nobody has said that to you one time. Now maybe they're going to say that
to you today but that will be a new position. If they really have hired all
of these architects that you heard about and they've hired all these con-
tracts with these great contractors it seems to me that they have enough
commitment to hang in there to see if you don't drop the lawsuit before they
close because nobody is going to pay until they close, folks and nobody is
committed until they close. And what's happening now, if Mr. Rogow is right
you will have a decision from the Supreme Court of the united States before
then. I did misunderstand Mr. Jones who has worked with me on this that
told me he talked with the Clerk. The Clerk of the Supreme Court said that
most of their rulings on these things happen within six weeks when they're
all in. I did not hear him right and I thought it was six months. I would
not want to say it anyhow because it might not be six weeks, they could kick
it to the next term. Mr. Rogow suggested, however, that they probably will
resolve it this term. That means June, that means by the time this contract
is presently supposed to be going to close. So it seems to me that my counsel
to you is for a variety of reasons even if you think this lawsuit is not
worth a damn - that's just wrong, it is worth considerably more than that
but if you think it is not worth a damn why don't you wait until you see
whether these people are really going to have it. You heard Mr. Aurrell say
to you when we first came up with this that Cadwalder, Wickersham and Taft
of New York and Mahoney, Hadlow and Adams of Florida had given the opinion
that there was nothing to worry about with this lawsuit before he signed the
contract. Vice -Mayor Plummer said, "Well, what do you have to worry about
then? You already knew about it, you're not worried about it, why are you
worried about it now?" And I wonder if they really are. I know it would
make them happier and everybody would like to know there is absolutely no
concern about it but they knew about it. You can't move your house next to
a garbage dump and complain about the presence of the garbage dump and if
that's all this lawsuit is well they moved right next to it. And I think
you ought to wait for a variety of reasons to resolve this because I really
wonder where you're going to be if for some reason they decide to walk from
it and I just don't know why there's anything that needs to be done now.
Now, I really had planned not to talk as long as this and I guess I've talked
longer. If you have any questions about any of this I'll be happy to answer
them and I know they want to tell you why I'm a maniac.
Mayor Ferre: All right, Mr. Bailey, thank you for a very fine complete pres-
entation. Mr. Aurrell?
Mr. John K. Aurell: Mayor Ferre and members of the Commission, my name is
John K. Aurell' and I'm an attorney. I represent Theodore B. Gould who plans
to develop Tract B at Ball Point. I've been here before on the 22nd of Feb-
ruary and the 8th of March, the comments I made at that time I reaffirm and
I will not repeat them, I'm sure you all recall them. After hearing Mr. Bailey
speak I would like to take just a few moments to make some additional com-
ments. First of all, there is no doubt it seems to me and to all of us that
Mr. Bailey sincerely thinks that he is right in his lawsuit. I don't question
his zeal in pursuirg what he thinks is a proper legal coure. The problem
from our standpoint, Mr. Bailey referred to our firm's advice to our client
and the Cadwalder firm's advice to our client given some time ago. As I re-
call, what I told you on Febru.:•y 22nd was that we and the Cadwalder firm
advised Mr. Gould that we did not think there was any merit in the appeal,
that we did not think there was any reasonable chance of success with the
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0'7
IIAR 2 2 1ii$
appeal to the United States Supreme Court. I did not tell you nor did I tell
my client that there was nothing to worry about with the lawsuit. There is
a substantial difference, there is a substantial distinction between those
two matters. I believe the City's two independent counsel, Mr. Williams and
Mr. Rogow have confirmed advising the City in the same manner that we in the
Cadwalder firm had previously advised our client. There is obviously a prob-
lem created by the continuance of this lawsuit vis-a-vis our attempts to
develop the property. It does not take a high degree of intelligence to
understand that. I will state it briefly. We have to borrow a great deal
of money from substantial lending institutions to construct this project.
I don't believe any of you think that a substantial lending institution will
lend us well in excess of $100,000,000 if there is a pending lawsuit which
could create the situation even in the remotest circumstance where we don't
own the land. It is indeed a cloud on the title as far as financing of this
project is concerned. Of course it is. Whether Mr. Bailey thinks he is
right or not, the undisputed facts are that eleven judges in this state, one
circuit judge, three judges of the District Court of Appeal for the Third
District and seven judges of the Florida Supreme Court, the Florida Supreme
Court sitting in bank have heard this matter, they have heard it on rehearing,
they have all unanimously without one dissent been of a different view than
Mr. Bailey. I have great respect for our judges, I do not believe that they
are politicians, I do not believe that they are involved in a political con-
spiracy against Mr. Bailey or this Ci.ty or anyone else. I believe they have
ruled on the merits as a matter of law as to the claims raised by Mr. Bailey
as attorney for the City. They have ruled against him. Mr. Williams and Mr.
Rogow have said that they believe that the Florida judges were correct. They
have said they believe in any event that the United States Supreme Court is
not going to consider this petition. Therefore, what does it mean to this
City if you proceed with this appeal? You have to make that decision, it is
one in the public interest. I can only speak as to what it means to us and
to our project. If that affects your judgement, and I think maybe it does,
then I want to pass it on to you again and to reaffirm it. First of all, it
is our understanding and our advice as Mr. Bailey pointed out toward the end
of his comments that there is a substantial chance with a jurisdictional
statement being filed this late in the year that ii- will not be decided by
the Supreme Court by the end of the current term which expires in June but
rather it will be held over until the beginning of the October term. I can't
tell you whether it will be decided by June or by October but I understand
there is a substantial likelihood that it would not be decided until October.
If we wait until October we just have greater problems, we exacerbate the
problems that we have if we wait until June. One problem is that according
to our construction bids an increase in cost between June and October is
$7,250,000 according to what Mr. Gould just advised me. Another substantial
problem, and I point it out to you, it is a technical, legal, very real prob-
lem, our contract with the St. Joe Paper Company is scheduled to close on
June 29, 1979. If this appeal continues to pend, if it creates title prob-
lems, if it creates problems in financing, if it cannot close at that time
because of this appeal then we have no idea whether the St. Joe Paper Company
will, indeed, close thereafter. They do not have to. We have put up a depos-
it and if the contract can't be closed by June 29 - that's the scheduled
closing date - as you know, one puts up a deposit when you contract to buy
some property and if you don't go through and close then you have a problem.
We don't know if the St. Joe Paper Company will close or deliver the property
if we don't close on that date and this appeal could substantially and dir-
ectly affect that. Obviously any delay in this project, as I've explained
before, is going to increase the construction costs. I won't repeat the fig-
ures, I'm sure you all recall them. They're going to increase the construc-
tion costs substantially. Obviously if the construction costs are increased
in order to make this a commercial success, Mr. Gould is a businessman. He
is in this with a profit motive, if it is not a profitable project it makes
no sense to go forward with it. In order to absorb any increased costs he
will have to be required to reduce the quality of the project, increase den-
sity, reduce the amenities, something. You're not going to get the same high
quality project that you would get if you let it go forward on schedule. It
is on schedule. I respectfully submit as I said last time that the problem
that you should be considering now is whether the City has any realistic
chance of success with this appeal to the United States Supreme Court. As I
said before, if you really believe that upon the advice of all of your attor-
neys, and don't take mine, take your attorneys' advice, then you should go
ahead. If not, then what on earth will the City be accomplishing by continu-
ing this appeal and delaying the project? You're going to adversely affect
the project and cause all the consequences that I've just described. Thank
you very much.
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MAR 2 2 1979
Mayor Ferre: All right, Mr. Aurell, thank you for your presentation. Is
there anybody else in your group that would like to speak? Mr. Gould, all
right, sir.
Mr. Theodore B. Gould: My name is Theodore B. Gould and I'm the President of
Hollywell Corporation. Mr. Bailey in his presentation has made a number of
statements that I think should be corrected. In the negotiation of this
agreement with Mr. Bell and the St. Joe Paper Company I was aware of the nat-
ure of the suit that had been beought by the City of Miami. I did have Cad -
welder, Wickersham and Taft to review it to determine whether the suit had
merit, I was informed that it did not. The problem that I was confronted
with was not the merit of the case, it was the fact that title insurance com-
panies take title risks and insurance companies who mortgage properties take
economic risks. Now the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company is going to Com-
mittee, that is a finance and investment committee, on April llth and Bankers
Life is going to their Finance and Investment Committee the week of April 2nd.
Pioneer Title, contrary to what Mr. Bailey has said, has taken this case as
an exception primarily because the litigation is pending. Pioneer Title's
lawyers believe the case has no merit also. I'm going to put this in very
simple terms for you because many of you know Mr. Ball. If we do not close
on the property by June 29th it is highly likely that Mr. Ball will not be
prepared as the Executor of the Estate to close on the property at all unless
we require specific performance and go to court to get specific performance.
Under those conditions there is no question in my mind that St. Joe Paper is
going to request an increase on the price of the property. Now, construction
costs are rising very rapidly in this country. We're going to working draw-
ings on the hotel tower on Friday and we're going to working drawings on the
office building tower in two weeks when the wind stress tests that we're pres-
ently in the process of conducting with respect to the design, the present
design, the design that has been proposed have been completed. It is my in-
tention because of the increase of construction costs to go into the market
now and buy elevators and buy concrete and buy dry wall in order to continue
at least to build this thing at the lowest possible cost. The George Hymann
Construction Company has estimated that the increase in costs from going to
June bid as opposed to an October bid will be $7,250,000. That's hard con-
struction costs. If you add soft costs to that it means that in order to
construct the same building that we propose we would have to increase the
rents to satisfy the mortgage requirements and the appraisal requirements
by a dollar a square foot and I don't think that that is teasible. So I
think that very likely the consequences of a delay could be the termination
of this project which would be a great shame and it would be the termination
of a project that had a significant economic disadvantage not only to my firm
but in addition to that in my opinion to the City of Miami.
Mrs. Gordon: Mr. Mayor, may I ask a question of Mr. Gould?
Mayor Ferre: Mrs. Gordon,... No, I will let you do that as soon as every-
body makes their presentations. Maybe Mr. Bailey may have something else to
add or somebody in this group. Is there anybody in your group that wants to
add anything? Then I'm going to ask the Downtown Development Authority and
the Chamber of Commerce to put their statements on the record and then I'll
open it up for questions from the Commission unless there is somebody in the
public that wants to speak to this. All right, well wait a moment, sit down.
I'll give you a chance in a moment. First is the Downtown Development Author-
ity.
Mr. Roy Kenzie: Mr. Mayor and members of the Commission, my name is Roy Kenzie,
I'm Executive Director of the Downtown Development Authority. I have at our
last board meeting raised the issue of the lawsuit and the questions which
were raised before the City Commission prior to our board meeting. On the
instructions of the board I conveyed to them individually the transcripts of
the prior Commission Meeting, the opinions of the attorneys on the first round
and on the second round and have called the board members over the phone after
they have had a chance to review all of this material. The result of the poll
to the board members is that the majority of the board would request the City
to consider dropping the lawsuit for the benefit of the City in terms ofmov-
ing ahead with the project.
Mayor Ferre: For the record, you did not poll me and I'm a member.
Mr. Kenzie: No, Gerald Lewis, Oliver, Wolfarth, Gill and Jacobs were
the votes for it.
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11AR 2 2 1111
Mayor Ferre: I just wanted to put it on the record that I have not taken a
position at the DDA level. All right?
Mr. Kenzie: That's right. Thank you.
Mayor Ferre: Chamber of Commerce? We have your letter here which we'll sub-
mit into the rdcord.
Mr. Lester Freeman: Thank you, Mayor, Lester Freeman, Greater Miami Chamber
of Commerce. Mr. Chapman and Mr. Goode, the chairmen of our committee couldn't
be here today, asked me to express their views. Mr. Revelle who is chairman
of our subcommittee is here. I'd like to say at the outset that we are cer-
tainly proud and commend the City for the initiatives that you all have under-
taken in the last several years to produce jobs and to increase the economic
health of this community - the Conference Center, the Exhibition Center, the
Department of Trade and Commerce that you founded and funded, even the Watson
Island Project all manifest your extreme desire to proceed in this direction.
However, you have expressed and we share a concern from time to time with the
percentage of these projects that involve public lands and public funding.
There has been a massive effort by us and by you and your staff to find respon-
sible private organizations to participate in the New World Center concept.
You already have heard Mr. Gould and you know that we have found as responsi-
ble a private organization and how fortunate we are to have them in our midst
making these proposals. It is private, it is the kind of thing we're looking
for, the Dupont Plaza area is the most desirable underdeveloped piece of ground
perhaps in the south, certainly in the southern part of Florida. We also sym-
pathize and commend the legitimate effort that you all have made to establish
the fact or the non -fact of the trial rights of this land. Mr. Bailey and
his people have done an outstanding job. They have explored it tediously and
meticulously over and over. However, it is our opinion as we expressed that
that now has become futile. Businesses make decisions based on probabilities.
The probabilities of the Supreme court accepting this case and then the fur-
ther probability that they would rule in the favor of this City are so remote
as to make it unnecessary to proceed. The question had to do with irreparable
harm, whether or not there really would be harm done by delaying until June.
Mr. Gould has faced the harm to his particular proj,:ut, I would like to deal
with it and answer emphatically yes, there would be harm, irreparable harm
done to the City in the terms of reputation and image. Our reputation as a
place in which to do business, Miami always sharing the image of Miami Beach,
Dade County and even Southeast Florida has been sun, surf and sex and we're
trying to get off of that image as a place for a developer to make a profit,
as a place for a manufacturer to make a profit. Our reputation remains shaky
although improving, however, it is so shaky that any slight to any responsi-
ble business has to be disastrous. The communications among the American
business community is very good but it is also very superficial and very im-
pressionistic and their general opinion of Miami at the present time is not
positive. However, these kinds of people getting involved in our City have
a very positive affect. This action proceding and losing Gould, and I think
we stand a very good chance to do that would be a car load of straw on the
camel's back and I urge you to not proceed with this case. Thank you.
Mayor Ferre: All right, Ernie.
Mr. Ernie Fannatto: Honorable Mayor and members of the Commission, I'm not
going to argue on the merits of the case.
Mayor Ferre: We need your name and address for the record.
Mr. Fannatto: Ernie Fannatto is my name, President of the Taxpayers League
of Miami and Dade County. I'm not going to argue on the merits of the case,
I've heard it but I think the City Attorney is capable of giving you a decis-
ion and I also want to commend the City Attorney, Mr. Grassie for hiring an
outside attorney to give him advice whether to proceed with the case or not
proceed with the case. I think that's business and good business. There's
one thing that I am a little disturbed about and that is the fees. The tax-
payers are going to have to pay a big fee here and it seems to me every time
Mr. Bailey speaks his fee goes up. I think the air should be cleared right
now and here. We should have into the record what will Mr. Bailey's fee be
if the case is stopped, what will Mr. Bailey's fee be if he wins the case,
what will Mr. Bailey's fee be _'f he loses the case in the Supreme Court and
I'd lilt.: co have that put into the record, I thinkthe taxpayers should know
what they're going to pay and I don't think Mr. Bailey has a right to keep
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IlAR 2 2 1979
changing it. I heard Reverend Gibson say, "Well, this is a good risk,•he's
not charging a high fee it's mostly percentage." Now, i understand we're
paying him, now the taxpayers are going to be gouged for a big fee. Let's
put it in the record right now, I'd like to have Mr. Bailey possibly say
what his fees are going to be then I'd like to have the City Attorney's state-
ment saying what he thought he was going to pay him before he undertook this
case. Now Mayor, I want these in the record. I want to hear from Mr. Bailey
right now.
Mayor Ferre: A11 right, Ernie, well we will....
Mr. Fannatto: No, right now I want it.
Mayor Ferre: No, sir, we have a ... Listen, you made a statement into the
record and like everybody else you've got to wait your turn now. So just sit
down, we'll get to that in due time.
Mr. Fannatto: Well, I want Mr. Bailey's statements into the record what he's
going to charge. We don't want to be taxed afterwards, we want to know what
we're paying and I think we're entitled to know, the taxpayers of this County.
Mayor Ferre: Mayor Ferre: We're going to get into that later on. All right.
Is there anybody else who wants to speak before we get to the Commission for
questions?
Mr. Robert H. Traurig: My name is Robert H. Traurig, I'm an attorney with
offices at 1401 Brickell Avenue. I'd like to make some general comments, I
would say in answer to Mr. Fannatto that I know Mr. Bailey as a good lawyer
and a strong advocate and a good citizen who is operating out of conviction
and I'm not worried about his fees as not a citizen of the City of Miami but
as a taxpayer in this community because I know that if the issue requires
strong advocacy he is capable of doing it and will do it as fairly as any
other lawyer would do it. But this Commission has already heard from all of
those judges and all of those other fine lawyers who have suggested to you
that the great weight of the legal opinion is that the case really does lack
merit and both your City Manager and your City Attorney have urged that you
consider dropping this case for good and valid reasons and we think that other
responsible citizens have similarly urged and the media with whom we all dis-
agree from time to time have given us strong analysis which indicates that it
is really in the best interest of the City of Miami to cooperate in order to
encourage this project. Now I would say to you that your issue is what is
the value of the property as an extension of the park versus the fiscal bene-
fit to the City by encouraging this project with regard to both a tax benefit
to the City and the economic impact and that's the same thing that others have
said but I think that if you analyze all of those issues you must conclude
that that the City will benefit by dropping this suit, we urge you to do so.
Thank you
Mayor Ferre: All right, anybody else? All right, thank you very much. Now
I open it to the members of the Commission. Mrs. Gordon?
Mrs. Gordon: There are so many things I hardly know where to begin first.
I think first I'd like to ask Mr. Gould a question that I had in mind before,
about the proposed development and the statement that you made about the hotel
tower and the office tower, would you tell me on what floor that tower begins,
those towers begin?
Mr. Gould: The Development Regional Impact Statement has begun and the
basic concept is to have the lobbies of both buildings begin at ground level.
Mrs. Gordon: Ok, what else is on ground level?
Mr. Gould: There is a six story podium which will include parking for two
thousand five hundred cars, it will also include commercial and retail space
as well as restaurants, perhaps a bank.
Mrs. Gordon: Mr. Gould, is there any open. space on ground level for the vista
of the public through to the bay?
Mr. Gould: The way the project has been designed is that the vista of Bay -
front Par}has been extendc2 into an atrium into the center of the site that
is carried through to the other side, to the mouth of the Miami Paver.
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VAR 2 2 1979
Mrs. Gordon: If I'm standing on Biscayne Boulevard can I see the bay through
your building?
Mr. Gould: No, what you will see is a landscaped park. Wait, now if you're
standing on Biscayne Boulevard?
Mrs. Gordon: Yes, sir.
Mr. Gould: No, what you're going to see is a landscaped park and....
Mrs. Gordon: I'm going to see concrete. Correct me if I'm wrong, I want to
be wrong.
Mr. Gould: Yes, I'm going to correct you, you're not going to see concrete.
I dislike the terminology of concrete buildings. First of all, they're not
going to be concrete buildings. Okay? What you're asking me architectural
questions, the DPI has been submitted with a basic plan, I believe that today
a request is going to be made to establish the public hearings of the review
of the design, we have employed as architects among other people Pietro Boluski
who is the 1972 Gold Medal Winner of the American Institute of Architects,
Tideo Sasaki who has an important function to perform in landscaping and
fundamentally as a developer I take the position that I do not limit the creat-
ive expression of an architect. Now if you as a City Council member in review-
ing it for site plan approval want to make suggestions to the architect that's
fine but the suggestions are inappropriate to me.
Mrs. Gordon: Okay, it wasn't a suggestion to you, sir, it was simply a ques-
tion since I know you know your project, you know your product that you would
be able to answer it. What I have heard, which I don't know if it's true or
not, that you're going to have six stories of pretty solid construction....
Mr. Gould: The answer to that is no.
Mrs. Gordon: ... on the ground floor that your towers would begin at the top
of the sixth floor and any vista that I wanted of the bay I'd have to go up,
excuse me.
Mr. Gould: Mrs. Gordon, the answer is no.
Mrs. Gordon: Okay. I'd have to go up on the sixth floor and then look through
your towers to see the bay and I think that is rather, you know, strong....
Mr. Gould: Mrs. Gordon, the answer to your answer and your statement is that
it is incorrect.
Mrs. Gordon: Okay. Were you planning a setback from the bay for the public's OIL
use?
Mr. Gould: Yes.
Mrs. Gordon: Of how many, do you know about how many?
Mr. Gould: It varies from 20 to 90 feet.
Mrs. Gordon: Okay. With a continuance of a public walkway?
Mr. Gould: That's correct.
Mrs. Gordon: Had you considered perhaps elevating the building one story and
allowing the public at least to look though to the bay from Biscayne Boule-
vard?
Mr. Gould: It is an architectural issue....
Mrs. Gordon: Would you be willing to take that approach?
Mr. Gould: I do not, Mrs. Gordon, ask my architects to do things. I give
them a program, right? Okay, an economic program and ask them to design a
building. If yr_: want to suggest it to them th,n they will respond to it.
Mrs. Gordon: Okay. The next point is you're a well known builder and you
build in great numbers of places and not necessarily one place at a time so
I also understand you're involved in the Washington area with construction.
rt
1?
MAR 2 2 1979
Mr. Gould: That's correct.
Mrs. Gordon: Is it true that you are involved in Rosalyn, Virginia in a proj-
ect?
Mr. Gould: That's right.
Mrs. Gordon: Okay, is it also true that there is a Federal case pending
against you in that particular development?
Mr. Gould: I don't know, there was a case that was brought against the County
of Arlington and three developers. The Federal Eastern District Court decided
the case against the United States Government. The Government had proposed
that the zoning laws of the County of Arlington had not been adhered to by
the County. The Federal Courts held that that was incorrect that the County
had adhered to its own laws, that the site plan approval was correct, that
my giving the County of Arlington and the people of Rosalyn a park across the
street from this project was not illegal. Now I do not know at this time
whether the United States, that is the Justice Department is going to appeal
to the Court of Appeals. But the issues concern the merits and the decision
was made adversely to the United States complaint.
Mrs. Gordon: Did that have to do with the fact that it was within the ten
mile plan of Washington?
Mr. Gould: No.
Mrs. Gordon: Well, that is the understanding that I had, I could be wrong
not an attorney but I had received this kind of information that the Secretary
of the Department of Interior was involved and the suit had to do with high
rises that you were involved in in Rosalyn, Virginia.
Mr. Gould: I don't want t.o say anything.
Mrs. Gordon: Okay, I don't think I want any more than that, that' sufficient.
Mr. Gould: Do you want me to respond to that statement?
Mrs. Gordon: The point I'm making....
Mr. Gould: Your statement is incorrect.
Mrs. Gordon: Okay, then it is incorrect. Have you been held up by suit at
all in construction?
Mr. Gould: No, because the federal courts refused to grant a temporary re-
straining order to the Federal Government and described the actions of the
Secretary of the Interior as being arbitrary, capricious and unreasonable.
Mrs. Gordon: What period of time did it take for that kind of a statement to
be made or to come out of the courts? You know, a week, two weeks, a month,
three months?
Mr. Gould: Well, if you're raising the question, let me respond to you.
The issue of the City's appeal to the United States Supreme Court which is
what I think you're getting at was one of the things that concerned me and so
I had Cadwalder, Wickersham and Taft and in particular one of my lawyers there
who had previously been a clerk to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court find
out when this case would be heard if the appeal was made in March. My position
is if the case has merit then it ought to be taken to the Supreme Court of
the United States. If it doesn't have merit,it should be dropped. I was in-
formed by my counsel after he spoke to the Clerk of the Supreme Court that
this case because it was being appealed so late in the Spring Session would
not be dealt with until the first week of the October session. Now if you
personally would like to speak to my counsel at Cadwalder, Wickersham and
Taft in Washington, D. C. I'd be very happy to arrange that.
Mrs. Gordon: We're not interested in doing that. I'm simply trying to estab-
lish an element of comparability here.
Mr. Gould: There is none.
Mrs. Gordon: ... In that you, are you the owner in title of that proerty in
Rosalyr-
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13
MAR 2 2 1979
Mr. Gould: Yes, I am.
Mrs. Gordon: And your plans for development then are not proceeding because
you are waiting the outcome of the case?
Mr. Gould: No, because the Federal Courts refused to grant an injunction to
the United States Court.
Mrs. Gordon: Okay. All right, that's sufficient for that standpoint. Mr.
Mayor, first of all everybody agrees including me that we have a slim chance
in the court. However, in the last five or six years the courts have shown
a tendency to hear more of these property cases so the slim chance is somewhat
better than as slim as it may have been six or seven years ago. First of
all, the City's claim is and was based upon the granting by the state and the
declaring of our interest in it and it appears anyway that the City was negli-
gent in not doing whatever had to be done at the particular time that it
should have been done to establish that but the point is now that in my opin-
ion I wonder, I wonder if we have a right today to sell out the public's right
and interest to at least, you know to give up and not have an opportunity at
least until the court adjourns in June. Mr. Gould's right under his contracts
are not going to be negated by us waiting until that point in time. His
architect still has the opportunity to do whatever they have to do to prepare
for the reviews that he has to take and nothing, no construction, no dollars
are going to cost more, nothing is going to change economically speaking no
matter how many arguments you are prepared to give us, the facts are clear.
Economically speaking nothing is going to cost you more until you are actually
into contracts or going into contracts and you are far from going into con-
tracts because you do not even have final plans approved that you can put to
a contract. I believe that we don't have a right to give up the public inter-
est in this case after this number of years to give it up today. If the court
doesn't take jurisdiction by the end of June I would be one of the first to
want to give up the case because I would not want to have this proceed in the
federal courts or anywhere else forever. I am not opposed to development, I
am in favor of good development. I am in favor of development that protects
the amenities of our community. I am not for obtaining the highest dollar
return if it is going to injure the rights of the public to what is rightfully
their's and that is a view of the bay and I am expecting that you're a fine
developer and that you're going to protect the rights of us, the people of
the City of Miami and when you complete your project and you come back to
visit us you're going to be proud of the work you've done and maybe you'll
decide to stay. I also wonder about the widening of the boulevard and I'm
wondering whether you are prepared to dedicate to the governmental agencies
for the widening of the boulevard, what is your plan with that regard? If
you have an answer I'd appreciate it, if you don't I would accept your not
answering it.
Mr. Gould: As you know, we have an option on Lots 3 and 4 of Mr. Ball. It
is, in fact, my intention, and I have begun, to negotiate the acquisition of
Lots 2 and 5 and yes, I would be prepared in the widening of Biscayne Boule-
vard to dedicate a part of land so that the boulevard could be widened.
Mrs. Gordon: You would donate that?
Mr. Gould: That's right, yes, right. Now let me say something to you so
that you understand the relationship between George Hymann and Hollywell Cor-
poration. I don't have to go to contract with George Hymann to begin the
process of purchasing the material because George Hymann is my partner. Mr.
Clark and I will begin purchasing materials for fundamental operating systems
like elevators, like steel which we can specify now in quantities, dry wall
which we can specify now in quantities, electrical fixtures which we can speci-
fy now. We will purchase those materials now. We'll go into the market as
if we were going into a futures market, we'll purchase the materials now for
delivery in three years without having to wait for the final drawings. That's
one of the advantages of the relationship that exists between Clark Enterprises
and myself. It is my intention to begin in May as oppose:: until July, for
example, to go to bid.
Mrs. Gordon: Okay, but this is March. Okay? Thank you.
Mayor Ferre: Any other questions?
Mrs. Gordon: Not now, maybe later.
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MAR 2 2 1979
Mayor Ferre: Any other members of the Commission?
Mr. Lacasa: Mr. Mayor, I see my responsibility as a City Commissioner as one
to protect the best interests of the City and that means whatever property
rights the City of Miami might have as well as the business affairs of the
City of Miami. What is before us today is a question of probabilities. I
don't sit here as an attorney or as a judge, for that we have a legal depart-
ment, for that we have a very able attorney, Mr.Bailey and for that we have
had the advice of two recognized authorities in the field, the legal depart-
ment of the City of Miami. What I am concerned now is with what in my view
is a business decision on behalf of the City of Miami, the probabilities,
quite frankly from my standpoint of view for the Supreme Court to hear this
case are very slim. Even if they hear this case the outcome quite frankly I
don't think it would be in favor of the City of Miami. However, this is not
my concern at this point so much as to the fact that we have before us a
unique opportunity to develop a very important piece of property which is
going to contribute tremendously to the growth of this City and to the fiscal
stability of the City. It is going to supply jobs, it is going to add to the
prestige of the City of Miami national and international. I'm also concerned
with the image of the City of Miami in the national and in the international
business worlds. We have been facing for years doubts cast, quite frankly
by our own press in relation to the ability of the City of Miami and its gov-
ernmental body to conduct the business of the City in a business manner. If
we were considering now whether to drop this suit before this suit was Heard
by the Florida courts and by the Florida Supreme Court I would say no, I would
say that the best interests of the City will then be to go through the whole
process at least until we have the Florida Supreme Court decision but we have
been turned down several times on the merits of our suit. I think that Mr.
Bailey has done a tremendous job, I commend him for keeping up the fight but
I as a City Commissioner not judging from the legal standpoint of view alone
but judging on the best interests of the City of Miami I feel that enough is
enough that now we ought to go ahead and to contribute to the development of
our own downtown and to drop a suit that at this point has very slim chances
to succeed if any and that compared to the damage that could be done to us I
don't think that it has the merits.
Mayor Ferre: Any other questions or statements, Mr. Plummer, Father Gibson?
Rev. Gibson: I defer to my senior.
Mayor Ferre: Anybody else want to make a statement on the Commission at this
point? All right.
Rev. Gibson: Mr. Mayor, I want to make this observation....
Mr. Fannatto: Mr. Mayor before you vote.. not after you vote...
Mayor Ferre: Wait a moment, Ernie, I will not forget you. Sit down. All
right, Father Gibson.
Rev. Gibson: I sit here with amazement, I sit here with amazement that some
people of this community don't want to give this city the opportunity to get
its fair shot and I want to say that in the light of many things. You are
listening to a buy who heard the Florida Supreme Court and a number of other
courts say, "Gibson, you couldn't make it" and Gibson made it because I moved
out of the realm of the politics that were so near. And to tell me, I could
understand one of the counsels and I fully understand, you say the clergy are
a board of politics but I am a clergyman and we are supposed to be the least
attached to. Yet, when we elect bishops just like when you elect the pope
the human element enters. No reflection on any denomination. You have an
opportunity as a Commission to enter into a field of endeavor that has not
been trodden upon before. Don't tell me that you don't have that opportunity.
I would hope, I would pray that you would want to be venturous. Now you're
venturing a lot of other things. You could venture, you could take the gamble
for t;_ interest of the people, the people wouldn't condemn you. They condemn
us abcut a lot of things but if you said to the people we have some doubts as
to who owns that property the people will commend us because we want to clear
up the doubts. Once the United States Supreme Court speaj:s they would have
spoken certainly for a period of time. They reverse themselves sc::etimes,
they always do. You know, but I want to give the court the opportunity. I
don't think I could sit in judgement, I'm not smart enough to interpret nor
understand the legal implications and all of the ramifications of law. That's
what they are there for. Miami isn't going to die. I'm 63 years of age, will
rt
15
1.!AR 2 2 1979
be 64 next year and I am a Miamian so if it stood 64 years it will stand some
more time. You don't have to worry about that. But let's talk about the
reputation of the City, it's very significant that we're talking about the
image of the City, the reflection. We went out to the Super Bowl the other
day and doggone it, you know that kind of crap that was given on the City out
there I hope that the people will never forget. Business people ought to be
happy that we want to put them on firm foundation, that there won't be no
doubt and cloud on the titles after this particular. What's wrong with that?
Certainly if we do nothing else we ought to wait until the Supreme Court ends
its current session. The least we could do, that would be a sign of good
faith. Any man who comes here and doesn't want us to do that, you know what
I want to say to you, sir, as a native? May God bless you and may heaven
smile upon you. We will not be discharging our commitment to the people if
we did otherwise. And you know, it all depends on whose ox is being gored
sometimes around here in this City and the people's ox is being gored and I
hope the people's ox will not be gored in this instance. I love progress, I
want development, nobody wants it anymore than I. You know how I vote around
here. I feel that I would have a mandate after the court decides, not before.
You have two opposing sides, each of which says I'm not sure. Well, I don't
have to worry about who is short, the court tells me. Let me say something.
it bothers me world without end how we decide the fate, how you want us to
decide the fate of the people. I am going to suggest to this Commission so
you'll know where I am. I'm going to suggest to this Commission to carefully
consider their vote before they vote - carefully consider their vote before
they vote. Do what is right. You notice every time I come up here I talk
about what is right and best and fair for the people. I know all of us try
to do that but I want to make sure in this instance that's exactly what we
see. Let me make one further comment. Mr. Ball's not wanting to sign in
June doesn't make a hill of beans to me. You saw it in the paper, how many
of you saw it in the paper? You know I don't usually read the paper, don't
usually have the time because I've got to stay on my knees and pray. I saw
him in the paper, front page saying that he was still having the grip on the
trust, you know that business, do you know what I'm talking about? He had
that all along, nothing new. And you know, all of us just want to knuckle
under. That outfit has been doing it to this state all around, don't tell me
about the politics - all around, all this time. I urge the Commission be
forthright and do what St. Paul in the Bible said, "Quit yee yourselves like
men" and at least give the court an opportunity to deny us, the opportunity
of hearing us or the privilege of hearing us. It is not a right, it's a
privilege of hearing us. Then we can all come back here and feel happy and
we can sleep at night like Elizabeth Verrick said, "Between me and that cover,
man, t'ain't nobody."
Mayor Ferre: All right, Mr. Bailey, do you want to make a statement? And
while you're up I think Ernie Fannatto had asked the question about legal fees
and I just wanted us to go over this on the record because he wasn't here be-
fore, you told us last time you didn't know what your exact hours were but
you figured it was over 200,000 and might be over $250,000 and that you thought
that you were entitled to that and, of course, Ernie as to who decides that,
if he pursues it and the City Attorney disagrees and the Commission doesn't
agree I would imagine the courts will have to decide that. All right, Mr.
Bailey.
Mr. Bailey: Mr. Mayor, there was one other question that you directed the
City Attorney to address last time which has been lost in the shuffle here.
The first suggestion I gave to you was this is a great project, let the City
assent to it and then it would be a question of ratifying the contract,
affirm it with Mr. Gould so that he can proceed and then it would be a ques-
tion of who got that money as to Ball Point whether it would be Mr. Ball or
the City of Miami and that would be the issue and there would be no conflict
and that would, incidentally open the question of who owns the rest of the
property to the north. And you directed the City Attorney to answer two other
questions, one was is it legal for the City to contract with Mr. Gould to sell
this land to him based upon all of the compelling arguments for the good of
Miami and so forth that you heard. I hay. since the last meeting been in
receipt of a letter that Mr. Gould's lawyer. wrote saying that they did not
think the City could do that. I understood the City Attorney last time to
cast doubt upon whether or not you could do that and I ask you and I refer
to this in my lit''e booklet here which I suppose I could put into the record
which deals with . .s too, by the way. On page 22, If you cannot legally
contract with Mr. '=_,.d to sell him this property and since the only argument
and motivation and trust of any decision to drop the lawsuit woulc be to
accomodate Mr. Gould are you able to do an illegal act, if that's the right
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16
MAR 2 2 1979
conclusion about it, by subterfuge which you would be doing because the only
argument for the City to drop this lawsuit is so that Mr. Gould will be en-
couraged to build on the project which is fine. Now I haven't heard, in an-
swer to that I do think you should consider it. Now let me just very briefly,
on page, and I'll put this if I may...put in the record. I quote from the
transcript on page 24 where you were concerned about what happens after I
got my first $25,000 was I going to quit and you asked the then City Attorney,
Mr. Lloyd, and he said, "We can resolve that in terms of the contract..." on
page 25 the language from the contract is quoted, "... If Bailey is not pro-
ceeding in the best interest of the City of Miami the City may cancel the con-
tract, reimbursing Bailey for work done until the point of cancellation."
Now the other part of my fee arrangement which was not only public, sir, but
which was several hours at public negotiated here and on television and in
the papers and everywhere else, was that my fee was a retainer of 25, and I'm
reading from page 25 of this booklet and from the contract, from the resolu-
tion - "...a retainer of $25,000 to be paid in monthly installments billed at
the rate of $100 an hour plus costs and 21 of the 1975 assessed value of any
lands secured for the City by the efforts of Bailey..."
Mayor Ferre: Mr. Bailey, we've been on this for almost two hours, in the
interest, we're not really going to resolve the question of the legal fees
today, you know that's something that will come up depending on what this
Commission does or doesn't do.
Mr. Bailey: Ok, I just wanted to make it clear. Well, I do think it is im-
portant if you can't sell it and your only reason for dropping the lawsuit
is to accomplish the same thing I wonder if that is an appropriate thing to
discuss?
Mayor Ferre: All right, Mr. Knox, with reference to the questions that the
Commission instructed you to answer, I have a memorandum dated March 20th
which I assume all members of the Commission got which was in response to
the question as to whether or not the City can contract to sell this property
which the City may not have title to a private developer, etc., etc. Now,
would you in non -legal language if possible just give us a simple version of
what this says?
Mr. Knox: Yes, sir, it was our opinion that they City may have power to con-
tract for sale of property which it does not have title to because this is a
permissible activity in the law. However, there are other factors to con-
sider and that is to whom the City would be selling the property and for use
would that property be put because we are now subject to a recent court deci-
sion which determined that the lease of property at least to private individ-
uals must be accomplished after a competitive bidding process and we have
identified a person to whom the City would be selling the property at some
future time and arguedly we would have violated the court's order in that
respect. And the second consideration that the City Commission would have
to have in terms of contracting to sell property again is the use to which
the property is being put and as I understand it this project contemplates
the construction of housing in condominium units and other types of housing
units where there could be a question about the public purpose in terms of
the City's powers with respect to a sale for that purpose and our recommenda-
tion is that there not be a contract for the sale at a subsequent time in
the event that the City later acquires proper title to the property.
Mr. Fannatto: Mr. Mayor, the City Attorney hasn't answered as the fees and
what he thought were the fees.
Mayor Ferre: All right, Mr. City Attorney, for the record - he did but you
just weren't here so for your particular benefit we're going to do this one
more time then I'm going to ask you to sit down. Go ahead.
Mr. Knox: At the last meeting I read into the record a portion of the Minutes
of the meeting that was held where there was a discussion as to Mr. Bailey's
fees. Subsequent to that time Mr. Bailey has referred all of us to a conver-
sation which took place at some prior time and these represent inconsistenc-
ies and it is my opinion that there would have to be some agreement hopefully
between the City Comm on and Mr. Guy Bailey as to the City Commission's
inter ion when they ent•_red into the contract for a retainer. So the simple
answer is the fee could be anywhere from what !r. Bailey alleges to zero.
Mr. Fannatto: I'd just like to answer, Mayor. This fee could go up from
200 to 4 or $500,000 on the basis that he's talking about and I don't think
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17
MAR 2 2 1979
it's right. I think it should be put in the record the hours that's he's
charged already.
Mayor Ferre: Ernie, I think the City Attorney has given you the best answer
he can. Ernie, there is no way that we can at this point negotiate this from
this public forum on an issue that's not before us at this time.
Mrs. Gordon: Can I ask Mr. Knox a question that's important to his thinking
because
Mr. Fannatto: Because you should know before you vote whether it's financial-
ly feasible.
Mrs. Gordon: Mr. Fannatto, I know how concerned you are and I appreciate
that, with the dollars that come and go out of the City coffers, right?
You're interested in what we're going to spend
Mr. Fannatto: No, I'm interested in Mr. Bailey, Rose, Commissioner Gordon.
Mrs. Gordon: I'm interested in everything you're interested in but I want
to ask you a question. Under the circumstances of what we're dealing with
today we're dealing with a possible value which is in question of an inter-
est that you the taxpayers have in a piece of property. How much do you
think the taxpayers should receive for that interest? Do you think the tax-
payers should give a zero dollars, return that interest? That's the ques-
tion before this body this morning.
Mr. Fannatto: Not my question, Mrs. Gordon.
Mrs. Gordon: What do you think?
Mr. Fannatto: What you're saying is correct and I agree with you but that
isn't the question.
Mrs. Gordon: Okay, you think you should give it away, do you think that you
should just say forget it? What do you think? I want your opinion, it's
valuable.
Mr. Fannatto: My opinion is that what you're saying is correct, Mrs. Gordon,
I don't want to give up $200,000,000 and I don't want these attorneys coming
in here and say, well my fee is 500, I want it to be in the record what the
fee is up to date what we owe him and how much approximately the whole case
will be.
Mrs. Gordon: Do you think that the City should receive compensation for fiv-
ing up this lawsuit, now, do you think the City is entitled to a settlement OP
fee, that's the point that I'm asking you as a taxpayer, President of the
Taxpayer's Association?
Mayor Ferre: Mrs. Gordon, I'm going to rule Ernie and you both out of order
because that is not the subject before us. Now you have a valid question.
Now the City Attorney has given you his opinion. You can't go beyond that.
Now unless Mr. Bailey wants to go up and specify into the record what he
thinks he's due now and the City Attorney answers immediately there's nothing
I can tell you.
Mr. Fannatto: That's what I asked for, Mayor, how much is due now and how
much
Mayor Ferre: Is Mr. Bailey willing to do that at this point? .... Please,
Mr. Fannatto, let me run the meeting.
Mr. Bailey: Mr. Mayor, it is on I think page 25, I have given you an estimate
of the number of hours that are there now. The 2% I think is what is bother-
ing the gentleman. If you drop the lawsuit I don't have a claim under the
contract for 2% of the value. If that's what's bothering you, sir,
Mr. Fanr.4tt : If this case were to be dropped today approximately how much
would the City owe you? That's what I want to know.
Mr. Bailey: I would say approximately $250,000.
Mr. Fannatto: $250,000, and if the case. goes on it's going to be $500,000
and that's too much money, if you wan'. to know. And I'll tell you point blank
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18
MAR 2 2 1979
I think that you could have gotten other attorneys to handle it for $100,000
easy.
Mayor Ferre: Thank you very much. Let the record reflect that we're not
expressing any opinion or claiming anything for the City one way or the other,
this is just an open discussion at a citizen's request and we're giving him
the opportunity to do that. That's something that we'll talk about.
Mr. Bailey: Can I possibly, the onoy thing I would have left to do is to
respond to the motion that will come in in 30 days which is a very short re-
sponse and unless they take jurisdiction I would have no additional hours so
you're talking about very small amounts of additional time.
Mr. Plummer: May I ask a question, Mr. Mayor? Let me just clarify this in
my mind. Mr. Bailey, it is my understanding, and contrary to what else has
been said here, I very vividly recall the terms and conditions in which you
were hired. It is my understanding that if you go to the Supreme Court and
lose the City owes you nothing beyond the $25,000.
Mr. Bailey: That's correct.
Mr. Plummer: That only if you win does the 2% apply against the 1975 assess-
ment.
Mr. Bailey: Yes, sir.
Mr. Plummer: I just want that on the record.
Mrs. Gordon: That's exactly correct.
Mayor Ferre: Any further questions? Please, Mr. Fannatto. Mr. Plummer, do
you want to make any other statements?
Mr. Plummer: No, sir.
Mayor Ferre: All right, then I would really like to address myself and I
guess basically to you, Mr. Plummer, because what we have here is three Com-
missioners have expressed themselves, two against dropping, one for dropping
and you and I have not made any statements.
Mr. Plummer: I always enjoy the wisdom of the center chair.
Mayor Ferre: This is a legislative body and like any other legislative body
when the Commission or when the legislature deliberates the representative
or congressman or senator addresses the others to try to pursuade them in
their position and that's something that ..e do around here all the time. Since
we can't do this behind the Sunshine the only we're able to do this is in the
open in front of these microphones.
Mr. Plummer: Mr. Mayor, the only question I have is are you a registered
lobbyist?
Mayor Ferre: Yes i am, I was registered by the votes of the citizens of Miami
in November of 1977 and in November of 1975 and in November of 1973. Is that
a sufficiently good answer for your question?
Mr. Plummer: All people make mistakes.
Mayor Ferre: Talking about mistakes, I would like to recognize Mr. Plummer's
ability in the past to accept mistakes. I well remember that when we came
before this Commission on the Coconut Grove - now Coconut grove Exhibition
Center the vote was 3 to 2, Mrs. Gordon and Mr. Plummer being the dissenting
votes. And at the innauguration Mr. Plummer then and since very graciously,
and I think it takes a person who has a lot of stature - he could have kept
very quiet about it but he didn't. He said I made a mistake and I want to
admit it publically. So we in this Commission 'must take positions that once
in a while we do make mistakes and some of us have the ability to recognize
them are big enough to say we made a mistake and others, of course, have done
that, Mr. Plummer is not the only one. I have made mistakes and I hope that
when I make them I try to admit them or amend them. Now, let's talk about
this situation. What we have here is the three main themes: (1) the public
welfare, (2) the legal aspects of it and (3) the practical considerations.
Now, with regards to the public welfare I don't think any one of us here
rt 19
MAR 2 2 1079
would question the fact that that property would preferably be an open park
area, I think we would agree to that. Now, with regards to the legal, the
fact is that three courts, a lower court and a supreme court have gone through
this. There have been eleven judges, not one two or three, eleven judges who
have all unanimously ruled that there is no merit, the Supreme Court of Flor-
ida has judged that. Now I want to point out to you that the last time around
I hesitated. The reason I hesitated was because Mr. Bailey I think very cap-
ably pointed out that his briefs had not been read and that there was a 1978
Supreme Court Case which was the main thrust. Now we have retained the Dean
of the Law School of Nova University, a very well respected and recognized
constitutional lawyer from Florida, Mr. Bruce Rogow and have alwo retained
in Washington a very well known and highly acclaimed and recognized Edward
Bennett Williams law firm. We have now gotten into the record two legal opin-
ions from two outstanding constitutional lawyers that agree with the eleven
judges and conclude as the Supreme Court of Florida. Furthermore, we request-
ed - I did anyway - that since I am not a constitutional lawyer, indeed I'm
not any kind of a lawyer not even a one day lawyer that the City Attorney
interpret for the City Commission or at least for the Mayor since I ion't
understand constitutional language what these two opinions meant. The City
Attorney has interpreted those two letters and has concluded, as he stated
into the record that we should drop this lawsuit. Now the evidence of the
fact that eleven judges at three different levels of courts including the
Supreme Court, two renowned constitutional lawyers and our City Attorney have
all recommended unanimously that this matter be dropped that I would from a
legal point of view be guided by them not withstanding the very brilliant
dissertation that Guy Bailey on this occasion and the last time he was here.
Now we get to the last point which is the practical consideration. The key
word is irreparable injury. Now, who are we going to believe? It could be
that Mr. Gould is misleading this community and this Commission and is before
us lying, that there is no irreparable injury, that he can wait until June,
that he can wait until October, that there is no inflation, that the prices
will not go up, that he will be able to hold back, that he will do all of
these things. I think, however, that it is reasonable to assume that infla-
tion will not stop as of March 22nd, that the price of elevators, steel, glass
and everything else will go up. It is a reasonable thing to assume that un-
less you get into the contractual obligations of buying these things immed-
iately, getting into working drawings so that you know how much steel you
need to buy, etc. etc. that the odds are that the project will increase in
cost. Now, then the next question is, well, if it does go up $7,000,000
isn't it still a good business deal and won't he do it any way? Well, as a bus-
inessman I would have to say that that obviously is a business judgement that
every businessman has to take. I cannot speak for Mr. Gould, he has said
that he would not. Now, we either believe what he is saying or we don't if
we think he's bluffing us and telling us something for whatever purposes.
Now, to that end I might point out, and that's why I thought the testimoney
of the Downtown Development Authority which is composed of the President of
the Florida National Bank in Miami who is not an interested party in this,
the President of, the Chairman of the Board of Burdines of Florida, Mr. Mel
Jacobs who is not an interested party in this and is now in Cincinnatti and
has no interest at all in this matter personally, a former Mayor of the City
of Miami, Mr. Bill Wolfarth, Mr. Jerry Lewis, the Controller of the State of
Florida, so I think that these are people that we would recognize as being
reasonable people who have in the past and I hope in the future exert leader-
ship. They have recommended as Mr. Kenzie has said into the record that the
lawsuit be dropped. Lastly, we have the Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber
of Commerce, and I see Mr. Walter Revel here and Mr. Walter Revel represents
the Downtown Action Committee and it is not Mr. Alvah Chapman alone who hap-
pens to be co-chairman but I think that committee has over thirty members,
a cross section of the business community and the Chamber, of course, has
thousands of people and I understand it is their official position that we
should drop this. Therefore, from a practical business consideration I have
to conclude that if we do not drop this lawsuit we stand a reasonable chance
of losing this project. Now, I want to tell you that I have been closer than
most people to the Dupont Plaza because 20 some odd years ago my father bought
from Mr. Ed Ball one of those lots. Unfortunately, my father and I and my
family no longer have an interest in that property so I have no conflict of
interest directly or indirectly. The banks own what we pzeviously owned.
But I want to tell you that I have watched the going ons of the Dupont Plaza
for 20 some odd years. I have been to see Mr. Ball, I have been to see Mr.
Bassett, I have heard from numerable people that have come down, the Hines
Company who came into town, the Rowse Company, all of the big developers,
Mr. John Horton from Atlanta, we have been looking for 20 years, Oscar Dooley
put together and went to United States Steel to set them interested to finance
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20
MAR 2 2 1979
it, had architectural drawings made. There is a long long and an unfortunately
sad and unsuccessful of failure of anybody to put something together at the
Dupont Plaza. Now we have a major developer. I don't know what problems Mr.
Gould has had at Rosalyn or has not had at Rosalyn, I do know Mr. Gould is a
highly regarded member of the development industry at the very same level as
somebody like Jim Rowse or Heintz or somebody in that category of which there
really are not more than a dozen people'in these United States. He happens
to be one of the highly respected "Big Fish", if you will in this particular
business and he's come down here and he's taken an interest in this and I
want to point out because I'm going to say this with a great sense of pride,
I'm a great believer in the Multiplier Theory. Mr. Gould is down here be-
cause of the City of Miami, because of this Commission and I'll tell you why.
If this Commission had not acted with vigor and courage in the Conference Cen-
ter/Convention Center we would not have enthused the business community as
touch as we have. I think it is that initial act that has this Ripple Multi-
plier Affect of bringing people in, people who normally would not have come
to Miami and who, indeed, stayed away from Miami for years and years and
years. And I would suggest if you call John Portman, J. L., that you get on
the phone and call Heintz or that you call somebody like Jim Rowse and ask
them what their previous opinions were of Miami. And I have done this with
some of these people and I'll tell you on the record what their opinion is -
Miami is an impossible place to deal with: In the first place your govern-
ment is crazy, everybody wants to cut you up and divide you and quarter you
into pieces and you've got the worst newspaper who wants to investigate and
be against everything in the world.- now we are not going to go into that
kind of a community. These are specific words spoken by the major developers
in this country. Here we have an opportunity that I think would be another
major step forward for the proper development of this community and lastly
the taxpayers. I would assume that a project of this nature would bring into
the coffers of the City of Miami two or three million dollars in taxes on a
yearly basis and as it is developed into a larger thing, and I hope this will
also have a multiplier to get other projects, we're talking about a substan-
tial amount of money. Now let me remind you of one of the tragedies that we
are facing - not we the City of Miami, Urban America. We do not have enough
money whether it is Philadelphia, Boston, cities in California or Miami to
render all of the services, the daycare centers, the police services, all the
things that we need to have in this community. Today Ad Valorem Taxes only
make up about 35% of our total operating budget. We don't have enough money,
if it were not for the licenses and the subsidies that we get from the federal
and the state government, some say that we're bankrupt. If you take that into
consideration we are bankrupt but so is Metropolitan Dade County and Philadel-
phia and Boston and Detroit and you name it. We are dependent on others.
One of the ways that you look into the future is by creating the type of
proper developments that will increase the tax base so that we can be more
self-sufficient. The fact is that the services that we will have to render
to this project will not be as much on the cost basis as the taxes that they're
going to be paying. Therefore, what in effect that does is it makes the
larger commercial developments share a larger proportion of the burden and
inversely relieves the homeowner from that burden. You may have seen yester-
day in the newspaper Mr. Blake's statement to Merit Steirheim that if Proposi-
tion 13 came into Miami only 1/3 of the relief would go to the homeowners and
2/3 would go to commercial properties. I am afraid that is probably not a
true statement in the City of Miami because the burden in the City of Miami
is on the little homeowner. And the reason is that we have one of the weakest
core cities of any of the metropolitan areas and I would put into the record
that the City of Miami of the 20 major metropolitan areas, the core city has
the weakest core taxwise of any major metropolitan area in these United States.
The way that we turn that around is by inducing development of important and
well thought out and well financed projects. Now whether or not this project
would assure the view of the bay, I would imagine we're talking about for the
1312 seconds that an automobile passes from one location on Biscayne boulevard
to another location which is the only way that anybody ever sees the bay at
that point, I think it is a rather relative question because, for example,
that is the kind of logic that would then say that we should move back to North
Miami Avenue and knock down the buildings or not let any -buildings develop
along Biscayne Boulevard because the people along First Street should have a
view. Well, why First Street, why not Miami Avenue? Why not West First Street,
Why not West Second? Why not have no construction back to the Government Cen-
ter and have a clear view? Well, you know, we can make arguments on all sides
of this but I think the point is that this is at this point a private property
and there are eleven judges and we've gotten the legal opinions that we're
going to lose again, then I don't that we have to go beyond the Supreme Court
of the United States. That's why there are five members of this Commission
rt
21
MAR 2 2 1979
rather than one and like any other governing body we have a diversity of
opinion, we're all entitled to our's and I've expressed my opinion on the
record and I will make a decision in a second. All right?
Rev. Gibson: Mr. Mayor, I'd like to make a motion. Are we through with the
discussion?
Mayor Ferre: Does anybody else want to say anything else?
Rev. Gibson: Mr. Mayor, I'd like to move that we continue the lawsuit and
let the Supreme Court tell us one way or the other, certainly that we continue
through the current court session, that at least we go through the current
court session.
Mayor Ferre: All right, Father, that is something that if you want to, of
course, I'll recognize it and if we get a second we'll vote on it but unless
this Commission takes another position, that's exactly what we have to do
anyway.
Mrs. Gordon: Well, he's being more specific I believe, Mr. Mayor, and that's
why I'm asking for a clarification. I want you to clarify, Commissioner
Gibson, please, that your motion includes a continuance until the end of June
or the recess of the Supreme Court.
Rev. Gibson: That is the sense. Okay, I'll make it more specific. My motion
is that the attorney that represents us in this matter... All right, you want
to?
Mr. Bailey: Father, may I say that there is a resolution, I am empowered and Or
directed to proceed with the lawsuit and it would take a negative vote, it
would take a motion to stop me as I understand the resolution. So you don't
need....
Rev. Gibson: All right, you've answered my question. We don't really have
to have a motion. We could do nothing and you will proceed. A11 right.
Mr. Bailey: It would take an affirmative negative vote.
Mayor Ferre: Do you have a motion now?
Rev. Gibson: I have no motion, I'm going to vote to do nothing.
Mayor Ferre: Is there a motion?
Mr. Lacasa: Then I'd like to make a motion.
Mayor Ferre: All right, make your motion.
Mr. Lacasa: Mr. Mayor and members of the Commission, as I said before, if we
were discussing this situation prior to our having appeared in court three
times in the State of Florida including the Florida Supreme Court and before
having been turned down by eleven judges with not one dissenting I would be
all in favor of con*inuing this suit. However, based on all the arguments,
after having heard the legal opinions expressed here and based on what I con-
sider to be priorities of the City at this point I'd like to make a motion that
this case be terminated, the suit be dropped and Mr. Guy Bailey be released
of part of the responsibilities toward the City of Miami as far as represent-
ing us in this case and also to thank Mr. Bailey for the tremendous job that
he has done.
Mrs. Gordon: Did you put a time element in there? Did you consider that it
be done at the end of this court session?
Mr. Lacasa: Rose, my motion calls for the termination of this case as of
now.
Mayor Ferre: All right, is there a second to that motion?
Mr. Plummer: Well, is that not a substitute motion?
Mayor Ferre: No, what happened was that Father made a motion and Rose sec-
onded it, Mr. Bailey got up and said you really don't need that motion so he
withdrew the motion and now then Lacasa wanted to be recognized.
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22
MAR 2 2 1979
I
Mr. Plummer: Oh, you withdrew the motion?
Rev. Gibson: Yes, I withdrew the motion because they said to do nothing was
tantamount to telling him to continue.
Mrs. Gordon: Yes, and what I'm saying,'in Mr. Lacasa's statement,•and I want
a clear understanding is that if he's asking for an immediate departure from
that suit then I cannot concur. If he is saying that he wants this to take
place at the time that the closing would take place, at the time the court
would recess for the summer session then I believe that there is some merit
in his motion. Now, I just want to know if he is going to be explicit about
it and say he terminates it, we're going to do a mercy killing today, the pat-
ient is going to be disconnected today from the respirator and he's going to
be allowed to die then I'm opposed to his motion.
Mayor Ferre; All right, I think he's answered the question and you've made
your statement on it, now is there a second to the motion? And then you can
speak further to it, Mrs. Gordon. Is there a second to that motion made by
Mr. Lacasa? And lastly, is there a second to that motion? Well, I will sec-
ond the motion so that there is a vote on it.
Mr. Plummer: Rose Gordon just put me in a conflict of interest letting the
patient die. All right, would you repeat the motion, please?
Mr. Ongie: A motion that the case is terminated as of this date, that the
lawsuit be dropped and discharge Mr. Guy Bailey from further representation
of the City of Miami in this matter and thanking him for his services.
Mr. Plummer: Any further discussion? Hearing none, call the roll.
The preceding motion introduced by Commissioner Lacasa and seconded by
Mayor Ferre failed to pass by the following vote -
AYES: Mr. Lacasa and Mayor Ferre.
NOES: Mrs. Gordon, Rev. Gibson and Vice -Mayor Plummer.
ON ROLL CALL
Mr. Plummer: Mr. Mayor, I refrained from comment but I will make a brief
comment now. I think there is merit on both sides but let me say to you
quoting from a great Florida philosopher who for 91 years has done almost
everything right, and I will quote the article, "I think that if a person
makes a commitment and then welches on it I don't think he's any damned good."
He says, "If there is anything I detest it's a person who doesn't live by his
word." I agree. This Commission made a commitment, $25,000 if nothing more
commitment. The people who are proposing to build were aware at the time of
negotiations, I vote against the motion.
Mayor Ferre: All right, the motion, therefore, is defeated and what is the
will of the Commission at this point?
Mr. Plummer: Mr. Mayor, let me express something else. I have seen Supreme
Court Cases take years and years and years. I wish to pursue this matter but
I would like it to be reviewed by this Commission on June 1st or the first
meeting in June, that we take a second look at this thing on June lst or the
first meeting in June.
Mr. Lacasa: Would you accept a substitute motion?
Mrs. Gordon: Is that a motion?
Mr. Plummer: I'll have to listen to the substitute motion.
Mayor Ferre: Well the motion doesn't have a second yet so let's see if Mrs.
Gordon seconds it.
Mrs. Gordon: I'll second it in order that it be a legitimate motion.
Mayor Ferre: All right, now the substitute motion, state your substitute
motion.
Mr. Lacasa: My substitute motion would be that we continue the case then un-
til June and if by June the Supreme Court has not taken a dedision on
whether or not to accept the case then it be dropped at that time but that we
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23
TiAR 2 2 1979
do take this action now and the reason is this, we do have the developers
here and I think that we owe it to them to give them a final word as of
today of what they can expect.
Rev. Gibson: Mr. Chairman?
Mayor Ferre: Wait, let me see if we have a second because if there's no
second then there's no use unless you want to just talk about it.
Rev. Gibson: No, I'm not going to talk.
Mayor Ferre: Is there a second? Let's understand where we are. Mr. Plum-
mer made a motion that this matter be reviewed again on June 1st.
Mrs. Gordon: Or the first meeting in June.
Mayor Ferre: The first meeting of June. That was seconded by Mrs. Gordon.
Now Mr. Lacasa made a substitute motion which said that this matter, that
this case should be continued until the ending of the present Supreme Court
Session which I understand is June, is that right? And if the Supreme Court
does not rule on it or does not take it under advisement by June that we
would then drop it at that point. Now that is the substitute motion.
Rev. Gibson: It has died.
Mayor Ferre: Well, I haven't called it yet, if you'll let me call it let me
see.
Rev. Gibson: Wait a minute, Mr. Mayor
Mayor Ferre: Father Gibson, I second the motion, now I have a right.
Rev. Gibson: Look, man, you didn't second the motion.
Mayor Ferre: I wanted to explain why
Rev. Gibson: Wait a minute,....
Mayor Ferre: No, sir.
Rev. Gibson: I want to make sure that everybody understands that a lot of
us know Robert's Rules of Order. Now wait a minute, don't play us all cheap.
Mayor Ferre: Now I resent that! I'm not playing you cheap and I'm not play-
ing anybody cheap.
Rev. Gibson: I'm glad you resent it so you know from
again.
Mayor Ferre: I have a right to second a substitute motion! And I was going
through the process before and I don't that's playing you or anybody cheap!
Rev. Gibson: Come on, man.
now on not to do it
Mr. Plummer: Now, we have a motion and seconded, we have a substitute motion
and seconded, is there any discussion first on the substitute motion? Read
back the motion.
Mr. Ongie: The motion is that the case will be continued until June or the
ending of the present Supreme Court Session with the understanding that if
they do not hear this case by June that the appeal would be dropped.
Mr. Plummer: Motion understood? Call the roll.
The preceding substitute motion introduced by Commissioner Lacasa and
seconded by Mayor Ferre failed to pass by the following vote -
AYES: Mr. Lacasa and Mayor Ferre.
NOES: Rev. Gibson, Mrs. Gordon an3 Vice -Mayor Plummer.
Mr. Plummer: I think this Commission has the opportunity to review and pos-
sibly take a new stance at that time. Now, the original motion, would you
read it back?
Mr. Ongie: The original motion was that the City Commission would review
today's action on Ball Point at the first meeting in June.
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24
MAR 2 2 1979
Mayor Ferree Further discussion? Call the roll.
The following motion was introduced by Commissioner Plummer who moved
its adoption:
MOTION NO. 79-200
A MOTION DECLARING THE INTENT OF THE CITY COMMISSION TO
REVIEW THE STATUS OF THE LITIGATION IN THE MATTER OF THE
BALL POINT PROPERTY AT THE FIRST SCHEDULED CITY COMMISSION
MEETING IN JUNE.
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Gordon, the motion was passed and
adopted by the following vote -
AYES: Commissioner Rose Gordon
Commissioner (Rev.) Theodore Gibson
Vice -Mayor J. L. Plummer, Jr.
Mayor Maurice A. Ferre
NOES: Commissioner Armando Lacasa
Mayor Ferre: Further discussion on this item?
Mr. Aurell: Mr. Mayor, it is a technical matter but pursuant to Florida
Statute380.06 there is a requirement that a notice of a hearing be given by
the City in connection with the Development of Regional Impact application
that has been filed and the written notice which has come down from the Reg-
ional Planning Council to the City so pursuant to that section I request that
the City take the necessary action to schedule the hearing.
Mr. Plummer: You're saying that the City must initiate the action?
Mr. Aurell: That is correct.
Mr. Plummer: I so move.
Mr. Lacasa: Second.
Mr. Plummer: Wait a minute, here is the resolution, Mr. Mayor.
Mrs. Gordon: Is there any material before us relative to this motion? Is
that what you're handing out now? Well, could we have an opportunity to
read it, J. L., and hold it until we can have an opportunity to read what has
just been handed to us this very moment?
Mr. Plummer: If you wish, be happy to second it later or move it.
Mrs. Gordon: All right, take it up in the afternoon.
Mr. Aurell: One further comment if I may, I believe it's a procedure required
by the statute and it's a ministerial procedure.
Mrs. Gordon: We're not arguing the point, just want to know what we've been
handed and scan it. Okay?
Mr. Aurell: Thank you.
Mayor Ferre: All right, we will then take this up later on in the day, is
that what you're saying?
Mrs. Gordon: Yes, have an opportunity to read it. I don't like to get handed
something and say vote, I want to read it at least.
Mr. Aurell: Mr. Mayor, might I know approximately what time it will come back
up so that we could be back?
Mr. Plummer: Items usually not scheduled for the Commission come up at the
end of the .genda.
Thereupon the City Commission took a five minute break.
rt
25
MAR 2 2 1979
2. AMEND RULE VIII, SECS. 8 S 9; RULE XIX, SECS 3 & 5
AND RULE XIV, SEC. 2 - CIVIL SERVICE RULES TO CONFORM
TO NEGOTIATED LABOR AGREEMENTS.
AN ORDINANCE ENTITLED -
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING RULE VIII, SECTIONS 8 AND 9, OF THE
CIVIL SERVICE RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE CITY OF MIAMI,
FLORIDA, EFFECTIVE DECEMBER 31, 1961, AS AMENDED, AS CON-
TAINED IN ORDINANCE NO. 6945, AS AMENDED, BY PROVIDING
THAT, WITH REGARD TO THE SAID RULES, EMPLOYEES IN THE
AFSCME, LOCAL 1907, BARGAINING UNIT MAY BE ASSIGNED WORK
OUT OF THEIR CLASSIFICATION ACCORDING TO THE PROVISIONS
OF THE CURRENT LABOR AGREEMENT, AND AMENDING RULE XIX,
SECTIONS 3 AND 5, OF THE SAID CIVIL SERVICE RULES BY PRO-
VIDING THAT WITH REGARD TO THE SAID RULES EMPLOYEES IN
THE FOP, LODGE #20; IAFF, LOCAL 587; AND AFSCME, LOCAL
1907; BARGAINING UNITS BE COMPENSATED FOR UNUSED SICK
LEAVE, COVERT SICK LEAVE TO VACATION TIME AND BE GIVEN
TIME OFF WITH PAY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF
THEIR RESPECTIVE CURRENT LABOR AGREEMENTS; AMENDING
RULE XIV, SECTION 2, OF SAID RULES BY PROVIDING THAT,
WITH REGARD TO THE SAID RULES, EMPLOYEES IN THE AFSCME,
LOCAL 1907, BARGAINING UNIT MAY BE PLACED ON AN APPRO-
PRIATE LAYOFF REGISTER IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TERMS OF
THE CURRENT BARGAINING AGREEMENT; CONTAINING A REPEALER
PROVISION AND A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE.
Passed on its first reading by title at the meeting of March 8th, was
taken up for its second and filial reading by title and adoption. On motion of
Commissioner Gibson, seconded by Commissioner Plummer, the Ordinance was
thereupon given its second and final reading by title:. and passed and adopted
by the following vote:
AYES: Commissioner Rose Gordon
Commissioner (Rev.) Theodore Gibson
Vice -Mayor J. L. Plummer, Jr.
Mayor Maurice A. Ferre
NOES: None.
ABSENT:
Commissioner Armando Lacasa
THE ORDINANCE WAS DESIGNATED ORDINANCE NO. 8914.
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.
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26
MAR 2 2 1979
3. ESTABLISH NEW APPROPRIATION FUND FOR ADDITIONAL
PROJECTS FROM FP 6 L FRANCHISE REVENUES.
AN ORDINANCE ENTITLED -
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 1 OF ORDINANCE NO. 8716,
ADOPTED OCTOBER 26, 1977, AS AMENDED, THE CITY'S CAPITAL
IMPROVEMENT APPROPRIATIONS ORDINANCE, BY APPROPRIATING
FROM THE FLORIDA POWER AND LIGHT COMPANY FRANCHISE
EARNINGS AN AMOUNT OF $4,313,000 TO FUND ADDITIONAL
PROJECTS, AND FROM THE FEDERAL REVENUE SHARING DINNER
KEY ACQUISITION FUND AN AMOUNT OF $150,000 FOR ADDITIONAL
WORK ON THE COCONUT GROVE EXHIBITION CENTER; REPEALING
ALL ORDINANCES OR PARTS OF ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT HERE-
WITH; AND CONTAINING A SEVERABILITY PROVISION.
Passed on its first reading by title at the meeting of February 26th, was
taken up for its second and final reading by title and adoption. On motion of
Commissioner Plummer, seconded by Commissioner Gibson, the Ordinance was
thereupon given its second and final reading by title and passed and adopted
by the following vote:
AYES: Commissioner Rose Gordon
Commissioner (Rev.) Theodore Gibson
Vice -Mayor J. L. Plummer, Jr.
Mayor Maurice A. Ferre
NOES: None.
ABSENT: Commissioner Armando Lacasa
THE ORDINANCE WAS DESIGNATED ORDINANCE N0. 8915.
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.
4. INCREASE ENTERPRISE FUND ORANGE BOWL TO FUND
STRUCTURAL SURVEY AND ANALYSIS OF THE ORANGE BOWL
STADIUM.
Mayor Ferre: Is Item 4 controversial?
Mr. Plummer: Mr. Mayor, I will want a word changed in there or wording which
would say that if, in fact, this $25,000 is not paid from the 2% tax which I
feel that it should and in discussion others feel the same, if it is not paid
from that source then we will pay it.
Mayor Ferre: All right, is that acceptable?
Mr. Grassie: In order to contract with somebody we would have to be sure that
we have a source.
Mr. Plummer: We'll guarantee payment but not, this here speaks that we defin-
itely pay and I'd like to give the opportunity to the 2% tax to pay this be-
cause I think it is legitimate.
Rev. Gibson: Isn't it true that, is this another study, Mr. Grassie?
Mr. Grassie: This is the one that was authorized by the City Commission in
its discussion at your last meeting, Commissioner.
Mayor Ferre: Is this formalizing that?
Mr. Plummer: Father, speaking for the motion this is something regardless of
who does it it's got to be done to establish the engineering feasibility of
the Orange Bowl and there is some question by some people. I think that this
study as expressed to me will, in fact, come forth with a truthful answer that
rt 27
MAR 2 2 1979
the Orange Bowl is worth re -doing or it is not and I think....
Rev. Gibson: All right, Mr. Plummer, I'm going to vote for it but you know
I get rather disturbed, you know we make these studies and we make these
studies and another study. All right, let's go.
AN ORDINANCE ENTITLED -
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTIONS 1 AND 6 OF ORDINANCE
NO. 8858, ADOPTED SEPTEMBER 28, 1978, THE ANNUAL APPRO-
PRIATIONS ORDINANCE FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING SEP-
TEMBER 30, 1979, AS AMENDED; BY INCREASING THE APPRO-
PRIATION FOR THE ENTERPRISE FUND, ORANGE BOWL, IN AN
AMOUNT OF $25,000; INCREASING ANTICIPATED REVENUES,
ENTERPRISE FUND, ORANGE BOWL, BY THE SAME AMOUNT;
FROM 1977-78 ORANGE BOWL ENTERPRISE FUND, RETAINED
EARNINGS; FOR THE PURPOSE OF FUNDING A STRUCTURAL
SURVEY AND ANALYSIS OF THE ORANGE BOWL STADIUM; CON-
TAINING A REPEALER PROVISION AND A SEVERABILITY
CLAUSE.
Was introduced by Commissioner Plummer and seconded by Commissioner
Gibson and passed on its first reading by title by the following vote -
AYES: Commissioner Rose Gordon
Commissioner Armando Lacasa
Commissioner (Rev.) Theodore Gibson
Vice -Mayor J. L. Plummer, Jr.
Mayor Maurice . Ferre
NOES: None.
1
The City Attorney read the ordinance into the public record and announced
that copies were available to the members of the cit commission and to the •ublic.
5. ESTABLISH NEW TRUST & AGENCY FUND: "SCULPTURE
EXHIBIT - BICENTENNIAL PARK."
AN ORDINANCE ENTITLED -
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 1 OF ORDINANCE NO. 8719,
ADOPTED OCTOBER 26, 1977, THE SUMMARY GRANT APPROPRIATIONS
ORDINANCE, BY ESTABLISHING A NEW TRUST AND AGENCY FUND
ENTITLED: "SCULPTURE EXHIBIT - BICENTENNIAL PARK;" AND
APPROPRIATING A GRANT AWARD IN THE AMOUNT OF $500 FROM
THE FINE ARTS COUNCIL OF FLORIDA FOR SAID PURPOSE; CON-
TAINING A REPEALER AND SEVERABILITY CLAUSE.
Was introduced by Commissioner Plummer and seconded by Commissioner Gibson
and passed on its first reading by title by the following vote -
AYES: Commissioner Rose Gordon
Commissioner Armando Lacasa
Commissioner (Rev.) Theodore Gibson
Vice -Mayor J. L. Plummer, Jr.
Mayor Maurice . Ferre
NOES: None.
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.
rt
28
VAR 2 2 111R
6. DISCUSSION OF CITIZENS PARTICIPATION AND REQUESTING
DADE COUNTY NOT TO HOLD COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
ELECTIONS.
Mayor Ferre: We're now on Item "A" oh the morning agenda.
Mr. Grassie: Mr. Jack Bond will introduce the subject, Mr. Mayor and members
of the City Commission.
Mr. Jack Bond: At your last Commission Meeting you instructed us to look at
four models across the country in citizen participation and advise you as to
what they say, what they report. We have done that in writing to you. You
also advised us to advise you as to a course of action in the development of
the citizens participation process in and for the City of Miami. To high-
light what we have put into writing to you, I will quote, "The most noteworthy
similarity among the four models that were discovered in each of the cities'
administration attempted to bring a staff plan for city participation to the
community for approval." In each case the plans received caustic criticism
by the community for lack of citizen involvement in their development of those
plans. For those reasons we propose not to make the same mistake that at
least those four major municipalities made. In contrast, we propose that the
Citizens Services Department, the Planning Department and the Community Devel-
opment staff recommend to you to maximize citizen participation in our plann-
ing process, that we develop a series of six neighborhood quorums utilizing
Imp the existing six planning districts. (STEPS AWAY FROM THE MICROPHONE AND
BECOMES INAUDIBLE) ... Using those planning districts as a base to conduct
meetings therein, giving due public notice, etc. so that all can have ade-
quate input, notifying all citizen based organizations, etc. we would then
synthesize the data gained from those six meetings, put it into some reason-
able foremat, return it to those neighborhoods for clarification, further
input etc. to open lines, make sure that lines of communication are open and
then bring the results of that to you in the way of recommendations.
Mrs. Gordon: Question, Jack. The process then would be to get an input from
these neighborhood groups as to what they feel are important community issues
as they affect them, is that correct?
Mr. Bond: Actually the purpose is to develop an openess in communications
between the government and the community groups that they feel comfortable
with as well as....
Mrs. Gordon: A townhall type of meeting in these target areas that you're
referring to.
Mr. Bond: Yes.
Mrs. Gordon: I think it's a good idea, I think in times past there was some-
thing similar that took place but they were never on a steady basis, it was
a haphazard, you know once in a while kind of thing. I think what you're say-
ing is a more regular kind of meeting of getting together neighborhoodwise,
is that correct?
Mr. Bond: This is really to establish what kind of formal citizen participa-
tion structure we can develop jointly between the neighborhoods and the policy
makers.
Mrs. Gordon: I understand, Okay.
Mayor Ferre: Let me reiterate on where I started last time on this. At a
national conference, at the Mayor's Conference the National Endowment for
the Humanities at a luncheon in which the Mayor of Birmingham explained to
us how the experiment in participatory democracy the way he explained it was
functioning in Birmingham and that they had 75 neighborhoods organized. What
in effect they have are neighborhoods organized with councils, the council
has a president and a vice-president and what have you. The City of Birming-
ham provides staff, these people have regular community meetings and from the
community level it goes up a council of presidents of all these neighborhoods
and from there to the City Commission. So in effect what we have is an at-
tempt to create an upward mobility of participation from the neighborhoods
rt
29
MAR 2 2 1979
which we have to some extent in some places like, perhaps, Coconut Grove that
we don't - the northeast part - we don't have throughout the City and this
would be an attempt to do such a thing. I've only got one problem with the
memorandum that has been written here. I'm strongly for this, I think it is
a very bold and important move forward in getting the citizens of this commun-
ity to be more involved and more participatory in our government. I do, how-
ever, think that it is a political process and people get scared of the word
politics, they think it is dirty. I think it is something that should be
within the eventual purview of the City Commission and not the City adminis-
tration. The purpose of this is not to advise the City administration on
things, the purpose of this is to get the neighborhoods to become a partici-
pant in city government and that means to the elected officials and I think
there is some indication here as to whether or not the administration is too
much involved in the selection and guidance process. I think you should be
involved in it but I think that these councils should really eventually go
up to the Commission level.
Mr. Bond: We take that under advisement, sir and in the last paragraph I had
hoped that that was made clear. We invite each of you, all we're going to do
is the leg work and involve each of the Commissioners in the process.
Mr. Lacasa: Mr. Bond, we do have two others, for instance, let's take as an
example one particular target area, Little Havana. We do have two others as
well as in'all the other areas two other committees that are duly elected
through an electoral process, one is for the purpose of the implementation of
the CD program and the other is for the implementation of the CAA Program.
So how do you evision the working of this proposed committee with these two
other committees or do you invision the fusion of all of them into just one?
Because the thing that worries me is the possibility that we have a multiple
number of committees that could duplicate and detract from the power of repre-
sentation of each one of them.
Mr. Bond: Sir, consistent with what the Mayor has said it would really be
inappropriate I think for the staff to try to answer that question at this
time because that would be tantamount to trying to tell the people in those
communities what we think they need to do in the organizational process.
Mr. Lacasa: No, but that is not my question.
Mr. Bond: I know. We do have boundaries, there will always exist boundaries
that are proterminus with moneys, ie., Community Development Funds have
certain boundaries, other funds have certain boundaries. They may have to
constitute somewhat of a sub -committee to whatever is the broad representation
committee from that particular neighborhood, those boundaries cannot be vio-
lated in the expenditure of funds, people outside those boundaries would not
be able to impact on how the moneys would be spent, an example would be Com-
munity Development Funds.
Mr. Lacasa: Yes, but my question or rather than a question is a suggestion -
could something be worked out so that one committee might be the conduit of
the other activities, in other words that we might have this committee that
you are proposing here and that this would also encompass the functions of
CD and CAA so as to have only one voice rather than to have three different
bodies with three different chairmen and three different boards and a situa-
tion where we have fragmentation rather than unity in the neighborhood?
Mr. Bond: That is our goal, sir, not to proliferate but to consolidate and
to legitimize the process.
Mr. Lacasa: For this particular purpose I guess that inquiries would have to
be made with CD, that means County CD - well no, because we do get the CD
Funds directly, and see if it could be implemented in just one committee,
that would be my suggestion because I'd rather see just one authority ....
Mayor Ferre: I think the point being that we don't want to end up with say
the Little Havana area, just to take one, with two committees and you'd have
competition and all that kind of stuff.
Mr. Plummer: Well let me ask the question, because you know basically what
we're looking for, the bottom line is for the citizens of this community to
express themselves to this Commission in helping to mold the decisions that
we make. Now unless I'm off somewhere it seems like to me we have eight tar-
get areas of Community Development which is required. Now why would you feel
that those eight present coverages of the different segments of this commun-
ity are not adequate?
30
MAR 2 2 1979
Mr. Bond: Because they do not involve the entire city, they only involve
target areas of the City and it was my understanding that you were looking
at a total overall democratic process wherein the total population could
interact with you.
Mayor Ferre: And furthermore I think that there are neighborhoods that have
their own particular framework of working and thinking and I think that they
all should have proper representation. For example, the people out at Tamiami
or Grapeland Heights are usually much more active. I think that would permit them
forming themselves into a neighborhood. This is not a regional thing this is
a neighborhood. See, and we hae eight target areas, well, Birmingham has
seventy-five target areas. That's basically what I guess we're saying, it's
not much larger than the City of Miami.
Mr. Fosmoen: Mr. Mayor, one comment We're finished with this year's
planning cycle in Community Development, the application has been approved
by this Commission and submitted. The time table that Jack has laid out sug-
gests that this Commission may consider a structure around September. What
we would propose is that the current chairpersons in the CD target areas
remain in place and we not go ahead and hold the elections during the summer
but rather see what kind of a structure comes out of the six neighborhood
meetings... The CD target areas are one of the basis by which people parti-
cipate then we would hold elections in September. But in the
meantime I don't think it makes a great deal of sense to go ahead through the
whole process of elections if the Commission is looking at alternatives.
Mayor Ferre: Well, I would.... I was just going to say if we're finished
with this discussion later on in the day when we have some time I'd like to
111, talk about the forthcoming elections in first the Allapattah area which is
coming up and secondly Little Havana. They both come up in April and even
though that's not the subject, I realize that's not the subject.
Mr. Fosmoen: Do you mean CD elections?
Mayor Ferre: CD elections. I want to talk a little bit about that and I'll
tell you what the thrust of what I'm going to say is.
Mr. Fosmoen: If I may, I think it is germane because of the things that I'm
asking is that we hold those elections and let the people, the current chair-
persons stay in place.
Mayor Ferre: Then I'll say it now. With all due respects to my colleague
Armando Lacasa who did a magnificent job as chairman, I think that it should
be the policy of this Commission - this is my personal opinion - that those
boards function as boards and rather than just have a president and vice-
president and treasurer that we should insist that the people in Allapattah
elect a board, the people of Little Havana elect a board the way it is pro-
vided for in the statutes. You see, they can go either/or and I think what
they're calling for is an assembly. The assembly then decides which way they
go. I think that frankly speaking for myself I'm not willing to let that be
determined at an assembly level because it all depends on who is able to
muster up what force to get what votes. I think it ought to be a policy of
the City that all of these regions have a functioning board elected by the
neighborhood and the way it's prescribed and that they in turn be the govern-
ing body and that the president and the vice-president be subject to the
majority in these boards rather than having one person become the Czar if you
will or whatever you want to call it of that particular neighborhood.
Mrs. Gordon: Please explain to me, is the chairman a Czar in these community
development areas? I'd like to know if that's the way the procedures have
been made. Have the chairmen made the decisions for the community? Somebody
tell me who is familiar with it.
Mr. Fosmoen: Dena is here, but you know each community functions differently.
Mayor Ferre: That's the point.
Mrs. Gordon: Well, I need to know because you know if a chairman singly made
decisions for the community without consulta*ior.w.aith the community then a
board is certainly going to spread it to mor people for a decision.
Mayor Ferre: Precisely.
rt
31
MAR 2 2 1972
Mrs. Gordon: But, if the community can contribute into the decision making
process in the structure that we have now then I would like to keep the
structure as it is now. I would hesitate to allow enormous community decis-
ions to remove the populace from those decisions. An assembly possibly, I'm
not saying that they couldn't stack the deck, an assemly possibly might be
more democratic, I'm not sure. I'm asking you. I'd like to hear from Dena,
please.
Mayor Ferre: Would you permit me to say something?
Mrs. Gordon: If it's an answer to my dilemma.
Mayor Ferre: Yes, I'd just like to make a statement if it's all right with
you.
Mrs. Gordon: Well, I'd like to get an answer from the professional staff and
then you can make a statement, Mr. Mayor.
Mayor Ferre: I will make the statement anyway. The case of Allapattah is a
case in point. You may recall Pat Keller. See, Allapattah has a board and
has a process where a group headed by Pat Keller don't have much to say and
I think that if you were to expand this so that there is a board process that
the board is elected by the assembly or by the people in an electoral process
then people like Pat Keller would have the opportunity to be heard at a board
level. That does not mean that the people in a regular assembly couldn't
deliberate on questions because they do anyway. But it does mean that I
don't think that we should put all of the strength and the emphasis of the
whole neighborhood in the hands of one or two or three people as we've had
in some neighborhoods in the past.
Mrs. Gordon: Well that's the question that I want the professional staff to
answer. Is that what you have found to be the case?
Ms. Dena Spillman: I'm not prepared to say that any chairman currently is
acting as a Czar but I will say that I think we are not getting appropriate
representation at some of these meetings. We have twelve people, twelve or
fifteen people who may be making decisions for an entire community. There
is another point T'd like to add that I think....
Mrs. Gordon: Well wouldn't a board of directors do the same thing?
Ms. Spillman: But I think the whole goal of this is to get wider participa-
tion in the community and by bringing it down to neighborhood levels where•
people feel an identity, like Buena Vista, for example.
Mrs. Gordon: Yes. What you're saying then, Dena, I don't want to interrupt
you, finish your conversation.
Ms. Spillman: That's all right.
Mrs. Gordon: Is that you wouldn't want it shortened, the amount of represen-
tation, you'd want to broaden the amount of representation and I think every-
body here wants to broaden it too, the method is the thing that we are trying
to find, the best....
Ms. Spillman: Well, if I could, just let me clarify one thing. In the past
the City used the Court:y's method of citizen participation in Community Devel-
opment. We've never had our own system. The County is withdrawing their
funds from the City, we all know that, I think I told you that last time.
The elections which are proposed to happen next month are County elections
in the County process. You have never seen that, it's not a City. We would
not be in favor of conducting those elections, what we would like to do is
hold, go out to the people, find out what kind of system they want to have,
come back to you in the fall and then you utilize that system as our commun-
ity development process. If the chairmen are asked to remain and any special
subjects come up over the summer we can certainly call meetings and go out to
the peopld but I would not be in favor of proceeding with the CAA process,
it's not effective at all.
Mayor Ferre: All right, Father Gibson.
Rev. Gibson: Mr. Mayor, I want to address that issue because I think that if
we're not careful we'll have another layer of agencies and have confusion.
rt
32
MAR 2 2 1979
You already have in the Culmer area confusion which we'll be talking about
later on and I would hope that you don't confuse those people even more.
Mayor Ferre: Is there an election coming up in Culmer now?
Ms. Spillman: I don't know.
Mayor Ferre: I think the next two elections I know of that are pending now
are Allapattah and Little Havana.
Mr. Fosmoen: And again, Mr. Mayor, what we're proposing is that we hold those
elections in abeyance until after the community has had an opportunity to
express to this Commission how they feel about representation.
Mayor Ferre: Well, I'm all for that but I'll tell you what I'm not for. I'm
not for what's going to be happening in April. What's going to be happening
is, as I read those regulations, and the County has put them out and they say
the County and the City so they're talking for us.
Ms. Spillman: No, we already told the County that they should not speak for
us.
Mayor Ferre: You may have told them but they went out and printed something
that is made a public document now and I've got it upstairs and it says the
County and the City and what it says is that there will be an assembly called,
the assembly will decide the way to proceed and then what they're going to
end up doing is selecting a president, a vice-president and a treasurer in an
election which would be held 40 days after, or 45 days after and you're going
to end up with two or three people deciding the whole fate of that whole neigh-
borhood.
Mr. Fosmoen: Mr. Mayor, might I suggest if that's the case, and I haven't
even seen the document you're talking about....
Mayor Ferre: Well I have.
Mr. Fosmoen: And that's the kind of communication that we have had with the
County and their electoral process.
Mayor Ferre: They're telling us what to do.
Mr. Fosmoen: Yes, sir. What I would suggest is this Commission go on record
to the County Commission asking them to hold....
Mayor Ferre: Precisely my point.
Rev. Gibson: Mr. Mayor, I think we need to in all of our structure too, if
the County is going to get out we ought to wait so the County can get out.
Let me tell you I was at a meeting the other night and I'm not so sure and I
urge this Commission because if,you are going to have a City structure and
the County is going to still be in place you're going to be in trouble.
Mayor Ferre; We're going to have two boards.
Rev. Gibson: Right, going to have two boards and those people aren't going
to know who is speaking for.
Mayor Ferre: Well, and that's why I think that it is appropriate at this time
for this Commission to go on record to the County that they do not speak for
us, that we have not made a decision and that the regulations that they put
out we would respectfully request for them to hold up until both the City of
Miami Commission and the County Commission have had the opportunity to read
them and approve them and we have not had that opportunity.
Rev. Gibson: And to further substantiate what you are saying, the meeting
that was held last week, that meeting was not our meeting that was the County's
meeting and even so the logo announcing the meeting, the logo was not our
logo.
Mayor Ferre: Well, does somebody want to make a motion then to that effect?
Rev. Gibson: I move that we ask the County at this point not to hold the
elections until we have had an opportunity to make necessary changes and
recommendations.
rt 33
MAR 2 2 1079
Mayor Ferre: And at least deliberate on this.
Rev. Gibson: Yes.
Mayor Ferre: All right, is there a second? All right, moved by Rev. Gibson,
seconded by Commissioner Lacasa. Further discussion? Call the roll.
The preceding motion introduced by Commissioner Gibson and seconded by
Commissioner Lacasa was passed and adopted by a unanimous vote. SEE LATER
RESOLUTION NO. 79-215.
Mayor Ferre: Now, Mr. Bond, with regards to your presentation here on the
citizens participation, what is the next step that you recommend that we take
on this?
Mr. Bond: The next step, sir, is that we will begin organizing meetings in
the planning districts. This is just an informative session to you.
Mayor Ferre: Do you need any action on our part creating these neighborhood
boards or what?
Mr. Bond: No, sir, we don't.
Mayor Ferre: In other words you're going to proceed.
Mr. Bond: Yes, with your blessing.
Mayor Ferre: So you don't need any formal action.
Mr. Bond: Actually I think what you're doing, if you will look at Item 22,
when you pass Item 22 you will in affect be giving us our charge.
7. CONFIRMING RESOLUTION: REQUEST CITY MANAGER TO
INVESTIGATE "NEIGHBORHOOD PARTICIPATORY DEMOCRACY
SYSTEMS."
The following resolution was introduced by Commissioner Gibson, who moved
its adoption:
RESOLUTION NO. 79-202
A RESOLUTION REQUESTING THAT THE CITY MANAGER INSTRUCT THE
PLANNING DEPARTMENT TO INQUIRE FROM OTHER LARGE URBAN AREAS
TO DETERMINE IF A NEIGHBORHOOD PARTICIPATORY DEMOCRACY SYS-
TEM IS FUNCTIONING EFFECTIVELY AND TO REPORT THE RESULTS
OF SUCH INQUIRY AND SURVEY TO THE CITY COMMISSION, TOGETHER
WITH RECOMMENDATIONS OF SAID PLANNING DEPARTMENT.
(Here follows body of resolution, omitted here and on file
in the Office of the City Clerk.)
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Gordon, 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
rt
34
MAR 2 2 1!7!
E
8.a)REPORT ON RESULTS OF CULMER COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
TASK FORCE MEETING.
b)NEW WASHINGTON HEIGHTS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM -
CONTINUED FUNDING
Mayor Ferre: Now we're on Item "En, Report on the Culmer Community Develop-
ment Task Force.
Ms. Dena Spillman: Mr. Mayor and members of the Commission, at our second
public hearing on Community Development when the Culmer Community Development
Target Area was discussed there was some confusion as to whether the residents
of that area had been involved in the decision making process. As a result,
Commissioner Gibson recommended that a meeting be held in the community clari-
fying two issues in particular, one the Culmer Economic Development Program,
the additional funding for that program and two the lease for the building
that the Interim Assistance Program was proposing to occupy. The meeting was
held on March 13th, Commissioner Gibson was in attendance and three motions
were presented and voted upon by the community at that meeting. The motions
that were voted upon are listed in the memo that you have before you.
Mrs. Gordon: Dena, why don't you wait until everybody is listening to you.
Ms. Spillman: I repeat, the motions that were voted upon by task force are
listed before you. Several of them we do not feel were appropriate for us
to respond to, however, there are three that I would like to discuss with you
at this time. The first motion approved by the community was that the bidding
process for the building and the Interim Assistance Program will occupy be open
so that all property owners in the Culmer area will have an opportunity to
present their properties as potential sources for this building and our recom-
mendation is that we proceed in that vein, go out for bid on this phase.
Mr. Plummer: Dena, please, my comments are not directed personally to you.
You know to come here to this Commission and make such a statement, I read in
the Miami Herald yesterday an advertisement to do that. Now why do you come
here today and ask me to approve when yesterday I read it in the paper?
Ms. Spillman: Perhaps Mr. Daughtrey can respond, I was not aware that it had
been advertised.
Mr. Plummer: Well, I hope somebody will respond. You know I've never had a
problem in the past to ratify actions taken by the Manager or staff but I
guess it's truth in packaging.
Mr. Newell Daughtrey: Mr. Mayor, Commissioners, on the 20th of this month in
conjunction with the lease/management department after we went to the commun-
ity and we were informed that we had to bid the item I went back to Lease
Management who initially had negotiated the lease and they informed me that
they had not ever bid it for the space. They sent me to the Purchasing Depart-
ment, I explained to the Purchasing Department what Lease Management had asked
me to ask them. They in turn required and requested that we write them the
specifications telling them the exact amount of space we needed and all of the
other particulars which we did. They were also told by me in a memo that we
would need them to do it as expeditiously as possible to bring it back to the
Commission and they advertised it.
Rev. Gibson: W. Mayor and members of the Commission, I think what needs to be
said is the staff got caught in a bind.
Mr. Plummer: Yes, but I don't want to take the staff out of the bind and put
this Commission in the bind. Now you know, Father, I have no problem with go-
ing out to bid. Okay? I was the very one who two weeks ago raised the ques-
tion about $43,000 for a one year lease. Okay? So I'm actually the one who
actually brought this matter to the forefront and I'm not embarrassed for it.
The point I'm bringing is that one of the recommendations here that we are re-
ceiving is that we do such when it's already been done and we were not told
that it had been done. That's my problem, Father.
Rev. Gibson: Mr. Mayor, I would suggest that you ratify that action only be-
cause it saved the City some of the anguish....
rt 35
MAR 2 2 On
Mr. Plummer: Father, I agree, why don't we just ratify them all when
get finished doing what they say here.
Rev. Gibson: Ok. I know about that one, I'm not going to
Mayor Ferre: Do you want to do this now or later or what?
Ms. Spillman: I think they're separate items.
Rev. Gibson: I'd like to move this one.
ratify....
they
The following motion was introduced by Commissioner Gibson who moved
its adoption:
MOTION NO. 79-203
A MOTION RATIFYING THE CULMER COMMUNITY C. D. TASK FORCE'S
RECOMMENDATION CONCERNING THE CULMER INTERIM ASSISTANCE
PROGRAM IN THAT THE REQUIREMENTS FOR SPACE BE PUT OUT FOR
BID AND THAT PROPOSALS BE RECEIVED, EVALUATED AND PRESENTED
TO THE CITY COMMISSION FOR APPROVAL.
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: None.
Ms. Spillman: The second item, there was a second motion passed by the Cul-
mer Community based on a recommendation by the Planning and Economic Develop-
ment Committee. Members of whom you see listed on the first page and I'd
like to point out to you just for your information that I don't believe that
one of those people lives in Culmer and I think that reflects on the CP proc-
ess that we had today. Going beyond that, the item that they voted upon,
number two which is at the top of the second page, they requested that funds
for New Washington Heights Economic Development Program be doubled and that
the additional funding come from the Interim Assistance Program. Our recom-
mendation to you on that remains the same as it did at our second public hear-
ing, that the funding for New Washington Heights remain at the same level it
is, that we evaluate the whole Economic Development process in Culmer and by
June when their contract is up come back to you with a recommendation on how
to handle this matter.
Rev. Gibson: I would move, Mr. Mayor.
Mayor Ferre:
There is, all
Mr. Plummer:
tion?
Mayor Ferre:
Mr. Plummer:
Mayor Ferre:
Ms. Spillman:
Mayor Ferre:
Mrs. Gordon:
Mayor Ferre:
Do we need a motion on that? Is there a motion needed on that?
right. Father Gibson moves, is there a second?
Excuse me, what is he moving, what Dena said or the recommenda-
The recommendation that she just rattled off.
No, what she said and what is here is directly opposed.
No.
Number two at the bottom is our recommendation.
Let the maker of the motion clarify his motion.
What is you, I don't know what the recommendation is.
Reverend Gibson, what is the intent of the motion?
Rev. Gibson: The intent of the motion, my understanding is the staff wanted
to evaluate or reevaluate that recommendation, isn't it?
Ms. Spillman: Come back to you when their contract expires in June.
Mayor Ferre: That's what I understood the thrust of your motion was.
rt
36
MAR 2 2 tR79
Rev. Gibson:
Mayor Ferre:
Mr. Plumper:
Mayor Ferre:
Mrs. Gordon:
none of these
in Culmer?
Right.
All right, is there a second?
Mr. Mayor, I have no problem seconding that motion.
Is there further discussion? Call the roll.
I just wanted to ask a question. Dena, in your statements that
people lived in Culmer, can you answer whether they own property
Ms. Spillman: Well, I think.... Mr. Hutchison is the trustee for the prop-
erty occupied by New Washington Heights and I think you can call that owner-
ship, I'd have to ask Mr. Knox about that. Mr. Wright is a property manager,
I don't know whether he owns property or not. Mr. Johnson and Mr. Burton do
not, they do not live there, they are employed at a local savings and loan
institution who attend the meetings and....
Rev. Gibson: And they don't live there.
Ms. Spillman:
Mrs. Gordon:
Mr. Plummer:
Ms. Spillman:
Mr. Plummer:
Mr. Fosmoen:
Mr. Plummer:
No.
They don't live or own property.
Let me ask a question. Who picks this board?
Mr. Hutchison picked this board.
Is this an authority vested in Mr. Hutchinson?
He's the chairperson.
He has that right?
Mr. Fosmoen: To appoint boards and to appoint sub -committees of the CD Task
Force. The way the rules are written Commissioner, I think you could inter-
pret that he has the authority.
Ms. Spillman: That's the County rules.
Mayor Ferre: A County rule.
Ms. Spillman: Right, we don't have any rule. Mrs. Chapman is a property
owner.
Mayor Ferre: All right, further questions on the motion? All right, call
the roll.
The following motion was introduced by Commissioner Gibson who moved
its adoption:
MOTION NO. 79-204
A MOTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION THAT THE NEW WASHINGTON
HEIGHTS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM CONTINUE TO RECEIVE
THE CURRENT AMOUNT OF FUNDING UNTIL CONTRACT PERIOD ENDS
IN JUNE, AT WHICH TIME AN ANALYSIS OF THE PROGRAM WILL
BE UNDERTAKEN AND A DETERMINATION MADE BY THE CITY COM-
MISSION AS TO HOW ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES SHOULD BE UNDERTAKEN
IN CULMER.
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Plummer, 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. Plumper, Jr.
Mayor Maurice A. Ferre
NOES: None.
Ms. Spillman: One more item that they brought up that we wanted to respond
to was they wanted to allow under Interim Assistance commercial property owners
to receive grants from the City and we're not prepared to make a recommendation
rt
37
MAR 2 2 1979
to you on this at this time but the committee will meet again to discuss it
and if we come up with a recommended program we'll bring it back to you for
your approval.
Mayor Ferre: Anything else?
Ms. Spillman: There are other items that they requested, we do not feel that
we had to respond to those, you may want to look at them and discuss them.
Mayor Ferre: Does any member of the Commission want to discuss the remaining
items 4, 5 and 6? If not then we will adjourn and we'll meet here at 2:00 and
pick up where we left off. Thank you.
Thereupon the City Commission recessed at 12:15 O'Clock P.M. and recon-
vened at 2:20 O'Clock P.M. with Commissioners Plummer and Gordon absent.
St
9. AUTHORIZE CITY MANAGER TO APPLY FOR GRANT - JUVENILE
RUNAWAY PROJECT.
The following resolution was introduced by Commissioner Lacasa, who moved
its adoption:
RESOLUTION NO. 79-205
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO SUBMIT A GRANT
APPLICATION TO THE BUREAU OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE PLANNING AND
ASSISTANCE, DIVISION OF STATE PLANNING, DEPARTMENT OF ADMIN-
ISTRATION, STATE OF FLORIDA, FOR FUNDING OF A JUVENILE
RUNAWAY PROJECT AND TO EXPLORE ALTERNATIVE WAYS OF COMPLI-
MENTING THE PRIMARY MISSION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT MISSION WITH
DIVERSIONARY AND PREVENTION SOCIAL SERVICE STRATEGIES; AND
AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ACCEPT THE GRANT AND EXECUTE
THE NECESSARY AGREEMENTS TO IMPLEMENT THE PROGRAM UPON RECEIPT
OF THE GRANT.
(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:
Commissioner Rose Gordon *
Commissioner Armando Lacasa
Commissioner (Rev.) Theodore Gibson
Mayor Maurice A. Ferre
NOES: None.
ABSENT: Commissioner J. L. Plummer, Jr.
*Although she was absent at the time of passage, Commissioner Gordon
stated that she wanted to cast her affirmative vote on the preceding resolu-
tion upon entering the meeting.
rt
38
MAR 2 2 1979
10. AUTHORIZE CITY MANAGER TO APPLY FOR GRANT TO PROVIDE
SERVICES, REFERRALS AND SUPPORT TO NON -ADJUDICATED
JUVENILE OFFENDERS.
The following resolution was introduced by Commissioner Gibson, who moved
its adoption:
RESOLUTION NO. 79-206
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO SUBMIT A GRANT
APPLICATION TO THE BUREAU OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE PLANNING AND
ASSISTANCE, DIVISION OF STATE PLANNING, DEPARTMENT OF ADMIN-
ISTRATION, STATE OF FLORIDA, FOR FUNDING OF A 3RD YEAR GRANT
TO PROVIDE DIRECT SERVICES, REFERRALS AND SUPPORT TO NON -
ADJUDICATED JUVENILE OFFENDERS COMING TO THE ATTENTION OF
THE MIAMI POLICE DEPARTMENT; PROVIDING TOR AN APPROPRIATION
OF$87,180 AS THE CITY'S CASH MATCHING FUND PROM THE SPECIAL
PROGRAMS AND ACCOUNTS OF THE 1979-80 FISCAL YEAR BUDGET;
AND FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ACCEPT THE
GRANT AND EXECUTE THE NECESSARY AGREEMENTS TO IMPLEMENT
THE PROGRAM UPON RECEIPT OF THE GRANT.
(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:
Commissioner Rose Gordon*
Commissioner Armando Lacasa
Commissioner (Rev.) Theodore Gibson
Mayor Maurice A. Ferre
NOES: None.
ABSENT: Commissioner J. L. Plummer, Jr.
* Although Commissioner Gordon was absent on roll call, she stated that
she wanted to cast her affirmative vote on the preceding resolution upon
enterin the meetin•.
•
11. AUTHORIZE CITY MANAGER TO APPLY FOR GRANT TO PROVIDE
VIDEO EQUIPMENT RECORDERS IN PRISONER PROCESSING.
The following resolution was introduced by Commissioner Lacasa, who moved
its adoption:
RESOLUTION N0. 79-207
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO SUBMIT A GRANT
APPLICATION TO THE BUREAU OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE PLANNING, DEPART-
MENT OF ADMINISTRATION, STATE OF FLORIDA,?OR FUNDING OF A 3RD
YEAR GRANT TO PROVIDE FOR 3/4" UCA CARTRIDGE TYPE VIDEO EQUIP-
MENT RECORDERS IN PRISONER PROCESSING IN ORDER TO REDUCE THE
COST CURRENTLY INCURRED BY USING 1" REEL TO REEL EQUIPMENT,
PROVIDING FOR AN APPROPRIATION OP $8,396 AS THE CITY'S CASH
MARCHING FUND FROM THE SPECIAL PROGRAMS AND ACCOUNTS OF THE
1979-80 FISCAL YEAR BUDGET; AND FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE CITY
MANAGER TO ACCEPT THE GRANT AND EXECUTE THE NECESSARY AGREE-
MENTS TO IMPLEMENT THE PROGRAM UPON RECEIPT OF THE GRANT.
(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: Mr. Lacasa, Rev. Gibson, Mrs. Gordon* and Mayor Ferre.
NOES: None.
ABSENT: Mt. Plummer.
39
MAR 2 2 1979
rt
*Although Commissioner Gordon was absent on roll call, she stated that
She wanted to cast her affirmative vote on the preceding resolution upon
enterin the meetin•.
4
•
12. EXTEND AGREEMENT - ALLIED REPRESENTATIVES TO MANAGE-
MENT, INC. (ARM) TO PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL COMPUTER
PROGRAMMING SERVICES.
The following resolution was introduced by Commissioner Gibson, who moved
its adoption:
RESOLUTION NO. 79-208
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE THE
ATTACHED AGREEMENT EXTENDING AN AGREEMENT DATED AUGUST 23,
1978 BETWEEN THE CITY AND ALLIED REPRESENTATIVES TO MANAGE-
MENT, INC. FOR FURNISHING, ON AN "AS -REQUIRED" BASIS ON -
CALL PROGRAMMING -ANALYTICAL -CONVERSION SERVICES FOR THE
CITY'S COMPUTER OPERATIONS; USING BUDGETED FUNDS OF THE
VARIOUS CITY DEPARTMENTS RECEIVING SUCH SERVICES.
(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:
Commissioner Rose Gordon*
Commissioner Armando Lacasa
Commissioner (Rev.) Theodore Gibson
Mayor Maurice A. Ferre
NOES: None.
ABSENT: Commissioner J. L. Plummer, Jr.
*Although Commissioner Gordon was absent on roll call, she stated upon
entering the meeting that she wanted to cast her affirmative vote on the
precedin• resolution.
13. NAME PROPOSED CENTRAL MIAMI PARK - HENRY E. S. REEVES
PARK.
The following resolution was introduced by Commissioner Gibson, who moved
its adoption:
RESOLUTION NO. 79-209
A RESOLUTION NAMING THE PROPOSED CENTRAL MIAMI PARK, AT N.W.
10TH STREET AND 5TH AVENUE, THE "HENRY E. S. REEVES" PARK,
IN RECOGNITION AND APPRECIATION OF MR. REEVE'S UNTIRING EFFORTS
IN BEHALF OF THE CITY AND ITS CITIZENS.
(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: Commissioner Rose Gordon*
Commissioner Armando Lacasa
Commissioner (Rev.) Theodore Gibson
Mayor Maurice A. ?erre
NOES: None.
ABSENT: Commissioner J. L. Plummer, Jr.
Although Commissioner Gordon was absent on roll call, she stated upon
entering the meeting that she wanted to cast her affirmative vote on the
preceding resolution.
rt
40
MAR 2 2 1979
14. BID ACCEPTANCE - ORANGE BOWL PAINTING AND MAINTENANCE-
1979.
The following resolution was introduced by Commissioner Gibson, who moved
its adoption:
RESOLUTION NO. 79-210
A RESOLUTION ACCEPTING THE BID OF BOWEN PAINTING IN THE PRO-
POSED AMOUNT OF $83,300 FOR ORANGE BOWL - PAINTING AND MAIN-
TENANCE - 1979; WITH FUNDS ALLOCATED FROM THE "ORANGE BOWL
ENTERPRISE FUND" IN THE AMOUNT OF $83,300 TO COVER THE CON-
TRACT COST; ALLOCATING FROM SAID FUND THE AMOUNT OF $9,163
TO COVER THE COST OF PROJECT EXPENSE; ALLOCATING FROM SAID
FUND THE AMOUNT OF $1,666 TO COVER THE COST OF SUCH ITEMS
AS ADVERTISING, TESTING LABORATORIES, AND POSTAGE; AND
AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT WITH SAID
FIRM.
(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:
Commissioner Rose Gordon *
Commissioner Armando Lacasa
Commissioner (Rev.) Theodore Gibson
Vice -Mayor J. L. Plummer, Jr.
Mayor Maurice A. Ferre
NOES: None.
*Although Commissioner Gordon was absent on roll call, she stated upon
entering the meeting that she wanted to cast her affirmative vote on the
•recedin• resolution.
15. BID ACCEPTANCE- AUTOMOBILES, MOTORCYCLES AND GROUNDS
MAINTENANCE EQUIPMENT.
The following resolution was introduced by Commissioner Gibson, who moved
its adoption:
RESOLUTION NO. 79-211
A RESOLUTION ACCEPTING THE BID OF NORTHSIDE MOTORS, INC. FOR
FURNISHING FOUR AUTOMOBILES AT A COST OF $17,039.00; THE BID
OF HARLEY DAVIDSON OF MIAMI, INC. FOR FURNISHING THIRTEEN
MOTORCYCLES AT A COST OF $53,248.00: THE BID OF DE BRA TURF
& EQUIPMENT CO. FOR FURNISHING SIX 3 WHEEL TRUCKSTERS AT A
COST OF $14,970.00; FOR A TOTAL COST OF $85,257.00; ALLOCATING
$53,248.00 FROM THE MOTOR POOL FUND, $23,489.50 FROM COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT FUNDS, $4,259.75 FROM THE 1978-79 CAPITAL EQUIP-
MENT FUND OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES, AND $4,259.75
FROM THE 1978-79 CAPITAL EQUIPMENT FUND OF THE DEPARTMENT OF
COMPUTERS AND COMMUNICATIONS; AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER AND
THE PURCHASING AGENT TO ISSUE PURCHASE ORDERS FOR THIS EQUIP-
MENT.
(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: Mr. Plummer, Rev. Gibson, Mr. Lacasa
and Mrs. Gordon* and Mayor Ferre. NOES: None.
rt 41
MAR .2 2 1970
16. AMEND RESOLUTION 78-374 APPROVING 400 SECTION 8
HOUSING UNITS AND APPROVE FINANCIAL PLANS FOR 325
SECTION 8 HOUSING UNITS.
The following resolution was introduced by Commissioner Gibson, who moved
its adoption:
RESOLUTION NO. 79-212
A RESOLUTION AMENDING SECTIONS 1 AND 2 OF RESOLUTION NO.
78-374, ADOPTED MAY 31, 1978, WHICH APPROVED THE FINANCIAL
PLANS FOR 400 SECTION 8 HOUSING UNITS LOCATED IN WYNWOOD,
TOWNPARK, CULMER, JEDICAL CENTER, LITTLE HAVANA AND COCO-
NUT GROVE BY APPROVING THE FINANCIAL PLANS FOR 325 SECTION
8 HOUSING UNITS LOCATED IN WYNWOOD, COCONUT GROVE, MEDICAL
CENTER, LITTLE HAVANA AND TOWNPARK, 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 JULY 19, 1976.
(Here follows body of resolution, omitted here and on file
in the Office of the City Clerk.)
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Plummer, 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
*Although Commissioner Gordon was absent on roll call, she stated upon
entering the meeting that she wanted to cast her affirmative vote on the
preceding resolutions.
rt
MAR 2 2 1979
42
The following resolution was introduced by Commissioner Plummer who
moved its adoption:
RESOLUTION NO. 79-213
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE DIRECTOR OF FINANCE TO PAY
TO ROBERT JACOBS AND VICKIE JACOBS, HIS WIFE, WITHOUT THE
ADMISSION OF LIABILITY, THE SUM OF ONE -HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND
DOLLARS ($150,000.00) IN FULL AND COMPLETE SETTLEMENT OF THEIR
CLAIMS AGAINST THE CITY OF MIAMI FOR PERSONAL INJURIES SUSTAINED
BY ROBERT JACOBS UPON THE EXECUTION OF A RELEASE RELEASING THE
CITY OF MIAMI FROM ALL CLAIMS AND DEMANDS
(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: Mr. Plummer, Mr. Lacasa, Rev. Gibson. Mayor Ferre. (Mrs. Gordon)
NOES: None.
ABSENT: Mrs. Gordon . (requested to be shown voting yes.)
ABSTAINING: None.
18. AUTHORIZE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE AGREEMENT: UNIVERSITY OF
CHICAGO TO CONTINUE MANDATED DEVELOPMENT AND VALIDATION
OF EXAMINATIONS FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT
Mayor Ferre: How about #12, the University of Chicago, to continue
a mandated development? We really have no choice do we?
Mr. Grassie: We really have no choice Mr. Mayor. This is a continuation
of the agreement that we have entered into because of the Consent Decree.
Mayor Ferre: Who's paying for this?
Mr. Grassie: The City is.
Mayor Ferre: Through what funds?
Mr. Grassie: General obligation funds, --general budget.
Mayor Ferre: How much do you estimate that will cost?
Mr. Grassie: About fifty-five thousand dollars.
Mr. Plummer: How much?
Mr. Grassie: Fifty-five thousand.
Mr. Plummer: How much extension of time?
Mr. Grassie: One year. Now that's about thirty -thousand dollars less than
it cost before.
Mr. Plummer: They sure know when they've got you over a barrell, don't they?
rn.
43
VAR 2 2 1979
Mayor Terre: Well, you know you could tell that to the Justice Department
or to the Federal Judge,..I think his name is Eaton. Is there a motion
on item #12?
Mr. Plummer: Yes, we have no choice.
Mayor Ferre: Moved by Commissioner Gibson, seconded by Commissioner Plummer.
Further discussion on item 12? Call the roll.
The following resolution was introduced by Commissioner Gibson who
moved its adoption:
RESOLUTION NO. 79-214
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE
AN AGREEMENT WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO FOR THE
CONTINUATION OF THE DEVELOPMENT AND VALIDATION OF
SELECTION AND PROMOTIONAL EXAMINATIONS FOR THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT, WITH FUNDS THEREFOR APPROPRIATED AS PART
OF THE BUDGET OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES.
(Here follows body of resolution, omitted here and on f
file in the Office of the City Clerk.)
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Plummer, the resolution was
passed and adopted by the following vote -
AYES: Rev. Gibson, Mr. Plummer, Mr. Lacasa, Mayor Ferre.
NOES: None.
ABSENT: Mrs. Gordon. (requested to be shown voting yes.)
ABSTAINING: None.
(Mrs. Gordon)
19. CONFIRHING RESOLUTION: REQUEST METRO NOT TO HOLD COMMUNITi
DEVELOPMENT TARIJET AREA ELECTIONS.
The following resolution was introduced by Commissioner Gibson who
moved its adoption:
RESOLUTION NO. 79-215
A RESOLUTION ASKING METROPOLITAN DADE COUNTY BOARD OF
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS NOT TO HOLD COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
TARGET AREA ELECTIONS IN EIGHT TARGET AREAS PARTIALLY
OR WHOLLY WITHIN THE CITY OF MIAMI, UNTIL THE CITY COM-
MISSION MAKES RECOMMENDATIONS
(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: Rev. Gibson, Mr. Plummer, Mr. Lacasa, Mayor Ferre. (Mrs. Gordon)
NOES: None.
ABSENT: Mrs. Gordon.(requested to be shown voting yes)
ABSTAINING: None.
rn.
44
MAR 2 2 1979
20. DISCUSSION: FUTURE LOCATION OF THE GOODYEAR BLIMP.
cl
Mr. Plummer: Mr.Mayor while we are waiting, let me bring up a subject
very quickly. I read in the newspaper, --Mr. Manager, I am going to look
to you for answers, I read in the newspaper the good news that says that
the Blimp is coming back to Miami. I read with bad news that its on
City property and the County is going to get $400,000. Can somebody
inform me as to what is going on?
Mr. Grassie: Yes, Commissioner. The City initiated negotiations with Goodyear
to move the Blimp off Wastson Island as you know. The location that is pro-
posed for the Blimp is in fact County -owned property, not City -owned property.
In consequence the County has taken over those negotiations, however the
City in turn is discussing with the County development of that same property
on which the Goodyear Blimp would be located and we anticipate that those
negotiations between the City and the County probably will be completed
within the next two or three weeks. Now, at that time we would be prepared
to bring to you a recommendation, and that would affect the whole question
of leasing to Goodyear.
Mayor Ferre: Well, let me ask you this question in reference to that. The
County, as I recall Boyd Earp did the negotiations for the County. Didn't
he do it unilaterally, or was it bilaterally done? Were we involved in the
decision making process? Have we been kept apprised, informed?
Mr. Grassie: No, not in terms of what they've been doing in negotiating,...
Mayor Ferre: Do we have a copy of what they propose to do? Have we read
it and analyzed it? Have we looked at it?
Mr. Fosmoen: I saw some preliminary drafts Mr. Mayor.
Mayor Ferre: Well, don't you think we ought to pass a little resolution
in a very polite way reminding the County that we had been hopeful
that a better relationship would have been established and that we
in reverse would have had the courtesy of dealing with them, and since
we are involved and we are requesting that this property,...perhaps
they might want to share this with us and let us know what the contract
says before they finalize it.
Mr. Grassie: I think your indication of intent in that regard would
be helpful to us. I don't know that you want a resolution, but certainly
that is the consensus.
Mr. Plummer: Excuse me. I am missing something. Tell me again where the
City plays in this now.
Mayor Ferre: Nowhere right now.
Mr. Plummer:Well why are they negotiating with the City?
Mr. Grassie: They started out negotiating with the City,...of course
their present agreement was with the City,..which was their Watson Island
location, and they had been dealing with the City for 30 years.
21. OPEN SEALED BIDS: CITY WIDE SANITARY SEWER EXTENSIONS
IMPROVEMENT-FLAGLER ST. SR-5458-C
(CENTERLINE SEWER)
Mayor Ferre: Would somebody move the opening of the ,bids?
rn.
45
.VAR 2 2 1979
The following motion was introduced by Commissioner Plummer, who
moved its adoption:
MOTION NO. 79-216
A MOTION TO OPEN SEALED BIDS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION
OF CITY-WIDE SANITARY SEWER EXTENSIONS IMPROVEMENT
FLAGLER STREET SR-5458-C
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Lacasa , the motion was passed
and adopted by the following vote:
AYES: Mr. Plummer,Mr.Lacasa, Rev. Gibson, Mayor Ferre.(Mrs. Gordon)
NOES: None.
ABSENT: Mrs. Gordon (requested to be shown voting yes)
ABSTAINING: None.
Bids were received from: Giannetti Brothers, Joe Reinertson Equipment Co.
and P.N.M. Corporation .
22. OPEN SEALED BIDS: S.W. 22 STREET HIGHWAY IMPROVEMENT
PHASE III H-4418
The following motion was introduced by Commissioner Lacasa , who
moved its adoption:
MOTION NO. 79-217
A MOTION TO OPEN SEALED BIDS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION
OF S.W. 22ND STREET HIGHWAY IMPROVEMENT PHASE III,
H-4418
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Plummer, the motion was passed
and adopted by the following vote:
AYES: Mr. Lacasa, Rev. Gibson, Mr. Plummer, Mayor Ferre. (Mrs. Gordon)
NOES: None.
ABSENT: Mrs. Gordon.(requested to be shown voting yes)
ABSTAINING: None.
Bids were received from: Marks Bros. Not Inc., Williams Paving Co. Inc.
P.N.M. Corp, Miri Construction Inc. , T 6 N Construction Co., Garcia Allen
Construction Co.,Golden Eagle Engineering Constructors, Inc.
46
MAR 2 2 1971
NOTE: Mrs. Gordon entered the meeting and requested to be shown
as voting yes on items. 8,9,10,11,12,15,16,17,19,20.
No one appeared in connection with "Poison Prevention Week"
Retirement plaques were given to William L. Noonan,Louis M. Sarsich
Charles A. Hall and Hohnny T. Gems.
Presentation of plaque to Mayor Maurice A. Ferre from Councilman
John De Hart of Osharna, Ontario, Canada.
Proclamation designating the week beginning Sunday April 8, 1979
as "La Semana de Juan Ponce de Leon".
24. AUTHORIZE TRANSFER -OF CERTAIN CERTIFICATES OF CONVENIENCE AND
NECESSITY FOR TAXICABS.
The following resolution was introduced by Commissioner Plummerwho
moved its adoption:
RESOLUTION NO. 79-218
A RESOLUTION TRANSFERRING CERTAIN CERTIFICATES OF CONVENIENCE
AND NECESSITY ISSUED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF CHAPTER 56 OF THE
CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA
(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: Commissioner Rose Gordon
Commissioner Armando Lacasa
Commissioner (Rev.) Theodore Gibson
Vice -Mayor J. L. Plummer, Jr.
Mayor Maurice A. Ferre
NOES: None.
"1"
47
MAR 2 2 1979
(a) City representative sent to Tallahassee to protest Metro Com-
25. missioners' action pre-empting municipal regulation of the taxi-
cab industry; and
(b) Requesting and petitioning the Florida League of Cities to inter-
cede for the City of Miami in the above matter.
Mayor Ferre: I wonder if Clark Merrill is still here. All right, Sergeant,
if you would, and I know there is a gentleman from the industry who would
like to discuss this.
As the Commission is aware, the Metropolitan Dade County Board in the
last few days passed a Resolution which in effect attempts to take away from
the City of Miami and other cities the jurisdiction with regards to our taxicab
industry. Since Miami, as you know, is highly affected by tourism and we are
a tourist City, I think we would be remiss in our duty if at least we did not
comment upon this action because the matter is not finished yet. The reason
that it is not finished is that Metropolitan Dade County has no authority to do
what they have just done. Now, what they are hoping to do is to pass a legis-
lation in Tallahassee which would, on a retroactive basis, permit them to take
over the industry. At this time they do not have that authority and therefore
what they have done in effect is put the cart before the horse. I think they
have done that in the zeal of moving this matter forward quickly and hoping that
nobody would object to it. I think this is a matter for discussion before this
Commission. Mr. Manager?
Mr. Grassie: I'd like to have Clark Merrill, Mr. Mayor and members of the City
Commission, comment on this and give you a little background to make a recom-
mendation with regard to the future action that we should take.
Mr. Clark Merrill: Mr. Mayor, Commissioners, on Tuesday, the County Commission
passed an ordinance which is effective as of October 1st, 1979 which takes over
the regulation of taxicabs, and makes it a county -wide regulation and prohibits
the regulation of taxicabs by any municipality within the Dade County. The
present State Statute 323052 states that the County Commission in order to do
that must get a vote -an affirmative vote- of the Commission, the City commissions.
in order to take over regulation . It specifically relates to Charter counties
and I have a legal opinion from the City Attorney saying that that law is the supreme
law which Dade County must follow. The county has made the implementation of
this ordinance on October 1, 1979 in order that they may have time to pursue a
State statute which would change that in the State Legislature. Senator Paul
Steinberg has introduced a Bill -Senate Bill 442- in Tallahassee which would
give the county the authority to take over this regulation.
Mayor Ferre: Would that be for all counties in the State or just here?
Mr. Merrill: All chartered counties within the
other counties which are not chartered counties
Mayor Ferre: I don't understand that, doesn't
Metropolitan Dade County have the authority to
State of Florida. Now, all
are regulated by the P.S.C.
-under the Home Rule Charter -
do that locally?
Mr. Merrill: The constitutional authority that is given to Dade County spe-
cifically prohibits the passing of an ordinance that supersedes general State
law. It is a general State law that requires that the county come before this
Commission and ask for your permission to take over the regulation of City of
Miami taxicabs.
Mayor Ferre: So in effect what Metropolitan Dade County is doing is completely
ignoring the law.
Mr. Merrill: Yes, they are trying to change the law but they've ignored it...
Mayor Ferre: But as of right now what they are doing is illegal.
Mr. Merrill: If the ordinance were to be effective immediately or prior to the
end of the Legislative Session, it would be illegal. However, they have post-
poned the implementation until October 1, 1979 in order to give themselves some
time to go before the Legislature and have this...
Mayor Ferre: I see, so we can't have them arrested by the Sergeant here now.
mh
48
MAR 2 21979
Mr. Merrill: No, not yet.
Mr. Grassie: I wonder if we could have the Sergeant comment for just a moment
and possibly give you an example of the kinds of problems that this is getting us
into in the short run.
Mayor Ferre:
Sergeant Campbell.
Sgt. Campbell: Well Mayor, I have a meeting at 4:30 P.M. with Paul Steinberg
up in Miami Beach to discuss the State statute that he is proposing in the State
Legislature. From what I've seen of the ordinance, it would be dated July 1, 1979
which, if passed, would be approximately two to three months prior to the county
ordinance going into effect. I understand the cab industry does have lobbyists
in Tallahassee that are lobbying against this ordinance now, the State statute
they are trying to propose.
Mr. Grassie: Now we are going to ask Clark Merrill to comment on the direction
that possibly the City Commission wants to take on this, Mr.Mayor.
Mayor Ferre: All right.
Mr. Merrill: I'd first like to say that the City Commission has imposed several
ordinances for the protection of the cab industry which are not included in the
present ordinance and to continue those, the County Commission would have to in-
clude those provisions that this Commission has adopted in favor of protecting the
cab drivers and the industry. If this Commission chooses to oppose the Senate Bill
we would need your approval by motion, if you would, to appear before the Senate
Committee -it has not yet been assigned to a Committee- to explain to the Legislative
Committee what is happening in Dade County and express your preference on that par-
ticular Bill.
Rev. Gibson: Mr. Mayor, as a member of the inter -governmental group, all of us were
opposed, all of the City's representatives in that Agency were unalterably opposed
and we sent word by formal action to the Commission, the Metro Commission, asking
them not to do it, and certainly if they were to do it not to take a position until
such time as a thorough investigation was made. You need to know that the county
was warned by those of us who were present, that the county did not have that right
and you need to know that the taxicab industry pointed out in a memorandum that
they did not have that right. Despite all of that, they went on. You need to know
that some of the same people who were here, if you remember the last Commission
Meeting, I said isn't it strange how you all lie in the same bed when it is conve-
nient. Some of the men who were here the last time in opposition, -do you remember
that, Sgt?- and I said, in another instance,you all are bitterly opposed to each
gir other. That was, you know, the drop..the shield business, I said isn't it ironic,
and I would hope that this Commission will take the necessary action not only to
write and talk but to send a body --b o d y-- a person, to address the Committee
on behalf of the City. I don't know how much we, who live in the City, can afford
to just let go, have those people take over, without any regard. And let me point
out another serious thing that was pointed out, that if this should pass, what is
going to happen is all of the taxicabs will eventually end up in downtown Miami.
Now, I think that is a great danger and that we should not want that, and the out-
lying areas will get absolutely no service and then you will really have some pro-
blems if all of the taxis go down on Flagler and on Biscayne Boulevard. Isn't that
the inference? Right!
Mayor Ferre: All right, is there anything else on this subject? What's the will
of this Commission?
Rev. Gibson: I say that we take the necessary action in the form of sending a per-
son to the Committee, there in Tallahassee, and testify expressing our opposition
to such a take-over.
Mayor Ferre: All right, there is a motion, is there a second?..A11 right, Com-
missioner Lacasa seconds. Mt. Plummer what is the official position of the Florida
League of Cities?
Mr. Plummer: Mt. Mayor, this matter has never come before the Florida League, it
has come before the Dade League of Cities in which they voiced total opposition and
had their legal counsel, Mr. Jack Rice, appear at the Metro Commission to voice
those objections.
Mayor Ferre: Will the Florida League also pursue the matter?
49
MAR 2 21979
Mr. Plummer: The Florida League will, but unfortunately the Florida League
does not meet again until mid -session before we meet again.
Mayor Ferre: Mid -Legislative Session?
Mr. Plummer: Yes, at the end of April.
Mayor Ferre: And there is no vehicle in the Florida League for upholding
the Board on an emergency basis?
Mr. Plummer: I don't know that we've ever done it, I can't recall, but I
will find out if there is the mechanics thereto.
Mayor Ferre: It would seem to me that on a non -related but I think important
matter that, shouldn't the Florida League meet at least one week or when the
Legislative Session begins, because there are a lot of things that pertain to
the League which usually come up, as a matter of procedure, shouldn't that
be done?
Mr. Plummer: Mr. Mayor, we met last month and formulated the package for the
Florida League of the legislative program and all matters that were presented
were considered and that which was felt that was necessary and most important
as items of priority were put into the package.
Mayor Ferre: Well, this is a case in point, you see, this matter did not proceed
as coming before the Legislature and now it will be before the Legislature and I
think this is the kind of things that have come up, as you know, in the Legisla-
tive procedure in the last week.
Mr. Plummer: Well, Mr. Mayor, there is always a vehicle of every city petitioning
the Florida League on behalf of their lobbyists to voice opposition or a position
and that can be done as well as our own lobbying in Tallahassee.
Rev. Gibson: May I ask this question: Mr. Plummer, how many counties are si-
tuated as we are?
Mr. Plummer: Father, I think there are two or three Home Rule....
Rev. Gibson: Well, that ought to tell the story. If there were more of us
situated...there would have been an outcry long before now. Mr. Mayor, I'd like
to make a motion that we petition the Florida League of Cities to use whatever
vehicle they have to address this issue forthrightly and get a reply.
Mayor Ferre: All right, before I accept that as a motion, we have a vote on
the first one, is that correct?
Mr. Ongie: Yes, sir, we have not voted on the first one.
Mayor Ferre: Well, then let's vote on the first one and then I'll accept that,
go ahead.
The following motion was introduced by Commissioner Gibson , who moved its
adoption.
MOTION NO. 79-219
A MOTION DECLARING THE INTENT OF THE CITY COMMISSION TO SEND A
REPRESENTATIVE TO THE APPROPRIATE COMMITTEE IN TALLAHASSEE TO
PROTEST RECENT ACTION BY THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF METRO-
POLITAN DADE COUNTY WHICH PREEMPTED MUNICIPAL CONTROL OF MATTERS
RELATING TO THE OPERATION OF TAXICABS.
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 R. Gibson
Vice Mayor J. L. Plummer, Jr.
Mayor Maurice A. Ferre
NOES: None.
alh
50
MAR 2 21979
Mayor Ferre: Now, Father Gibson, does not need to repeat his motion, you
have it on record. And he moves, is there a second?
Mr. Lacasa: I will second.
Mayor Ferre: Commissioner Lacasa seconds. Further discussion, call the roll.
The following motion was introduced by Commissioner Gibson, who moved its
adoption.
MOTION NO. 79-220
A MOTION TO PETITION THE FLORIDA LEAGUE OF CITIES TO IMMEDIATELY
USE WHATEVER VEHICLE MAY BE AT THEIR DISPOSAL TO INTERCEDE IN THE
MATTER OF THE RECENT ACTION TAKEN BY THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF
METROPOLITAN DADE COUNTY WHICH PREEMPTED MUNICIPAL CONTROL OF
MATTERS RELATING TO THE OPERATION OF TAXICABS.
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 R. Gibson
Vice Mayor J. L. Plummer, Jr.
Mayor Maurice A. Ferre
NOES: None.
Mayor Ferre: Is there anything else to come up on this item?
(INAUDIBLE COMMENT MADE OUTSIDE OF THE PUBLIC RECORD)
Mayor Ferre: No, no, this is not addressed to Rick Sisser, it doesn't say who.
It's up to the Administration. I would assume that you are going to be involved
and that Sergeant Campbell is going to be involved.
Mr. Merrill: But under our contract with Rick Sisser, he works for the City
Commission, and if you gave specific direction...
Mayor Ferre: All right, let the record reflect that this will obviously include
our lobbyist,Rick Sisser, who works directly for the Commission. Okay? Any ques-
tions on that? Yes, Sergeant.
Sgt. Campbell: The bullet-proof ordinance that we have coming up in a couple of
weeks. Did you want to go forward with that after what happened Tuesday, or did
you want to...?
Mayor Ferre: Well, what's the will of this Commission?
Mr. Plummer: Well, Mr. Mayor, first of all, this is not a scheduled item on the
agenda and I do feel that we should have the right to hear both sides, the pros
and cons, who have the right to come here and speak their piece. It's even my
understanding and I think re -enforced by what Mr. Merrill said that if we adopt
it and disaster strikes and they take over, they've got to assume those obliga-
tions that we have created.
Sgt. Campbell: From what I understand about the ordinance, Commissioner, Chapter
56 would just not be in effect anymore and Chapter 31 of the county would be the
new ordinance.
Mr. Plummer: Well, I still feel we should proceed.
Mayor Ferre: Well, unless I hear otherwise, the motion of the previous action
of the Commission stands.
Sgt. Campbell: Yes, sir.
Mayor Ferre: All right. Anything else on the taxicab item?
Rev. Gibson: Doesn't the shield come back?
Mayor Ferre: The shield matter comes back, I think, for a second reading as
I recall. All right, thank you.
51
MAR 2 21979
26. ACCEPT COMPLETED WORK - MANOR SANITARY SEWER IMPROVEMENT
SR-5437-C.
The following resolution was introduced by Commissioner Gibson who
moved its adoption:
RESOLUTION N0. 79-221
A RESOLUTION ACCEPTING THE COMPLETED WORK PERFORMED BY
D.M.P. CORPORATION AT A TOTAL COST OF $606,701.94 FOR THE
MANOR SANITARY SEWER IMPROVEMENT SR-5437-C; AND AUTHORIZING
A FINAL PAYMENT OF $67,744.95
(Here follows body of resolution, omitted here and on file
in the Office of the City Clerk.)
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Plummer , the resolution 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.
27. EMERGENCY ORD: AMEND ANNUAL APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE
INCREASE SPECIAL PROGRAMS AND ACCOUNTS TO. FUND
DADE COUNTY SCHOOL PROGRAM AND DADE COUNTY AFTER
SCHOOL PROGRAM THROUGH MARCH 9, 1979
AN ORDINANCE ENTITLED -
AN EMERGENCY ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTIONS 1 AND 6 OF
ORDINANCE NO. 8858, ADOPTED SEPTEMBER 28, 1978, THE
ANNUAL APPROPRIATIONS ORDINANCE FOR THE FISCAL YEAR
ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 1979, AS AMENDED, BY INCREASING
THE APPROPRIATION FOR SPECIAL PROGRAMS AND ACCOUNTS,
SOCIAL SERVICE PROGRAMS IN AN AMOUNT OF $69,687; AND
BY INCREASING ANTICIPATED REVENUES, SOURCES OTHER THAN
AD VALOREM TAX, IN THE SAME AMOUNT; FOR THE PURPOSE
OF FUNDING DADE COUNTY - COMMUNITY SCHOOLS AND DADE
COUNTY - AFTER SCHOOLS: CONTAINING A REPEALER PROVISION
AND A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE
Was introduced by Commissioner Plummer and seconded by Commissioner
Gordon, for adoption as an emergency measure and dispensing with the
requirement of reading same on two separate days which was agreed to 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.
Whereupon the Commission on motion of Commissioner Plummer and
seconded by Commissioner Gordon , adopted said ordinance 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.
SAID ORDINANCE WAS DESIGNATED EMERGENCY ORDINANCE NO.8916.
52
'WAR 2 2 On
The City Atty. read the ordinance and announced co.ies were available.
28. DISCUSSION OF ACQUISITION OF PROPERTY FOR LATIN RIVERFRONT PARK -
REQUEST MEETING WITH DADE COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD TO
DISCUSS MATTERS OF MUTUAL CONCERN.•
Mrs. Gordon: On the same subject, the additional funding for the
45 days is another related issue to this item. Will you tell us Mr.
Grassie where we are on that?
Mr. Grassie: The City Commission approved that in principle and as
soon as we prepare the budget modification that will come back to you
probably in your next agenda.
Mr. Plummer: Well, now wait a minute. Let's put it all out on_top of the
table Mr. Grassie. You want to tell us now, or you want to tell us
later what beautiful things they did for us yesterday at the School Board ?
Mr. Grassie: I,like you Commissioner only have the newspaper account
to go by.
Mr. Plummer: I'll wait until the full account comes forward, but I want
all of the Commission well aware that as I understand it the School Board
gave us Latin Riverfront Park for $1.00 a year, with a 30 day cancellation.
Rev. Gibson: Let me ask this. What good does that do us?
Mr. Plummer: You tell me. I can't stand their benevolence.
Rev. Gibson: Are you telling me that we could make substantial investment
in that property and in 30 days time they cancel us out? Is that what that
means? Man, they must think we are crazy.
Mr. Plummer: They know we are crazy because we keep pumping money into
them and they just do it into us, and we keep pumping money into them.
By the way, they also in their benevolence, didn't even take up the
Highland Park matter. Didn't even consider that one.
Mrs. Gordon: Mr. Grassie, you and I talked yesterday, and you told me
that they told you the Highland Park deal was going to be delivered to
the City at a reasonable amount, or low amount of something of those
words that you used, I'm not sure, and that you never told me about
the 30-day cancellation. You told me they were willing to give us and
were giving us the property under the expressway near the Riverfront Park.
I'm not quite sure why I didn't get all the facts.
Mr. Grassie: Let's clarify it. When you say they told us, we are talking
about the superintendent. Okay?
Mrs. Gordon: You told me, that's all I know.
Mr. Grassie: Well, and I told you of a discussion,...
Mayor Ferre: Why don't you'answer her insinuation directly and tell her.
that yesterday the Board did something which had nothing to do with the
discussion you had with Dr. Johnny Jones. So obviously since you are not
a fortune teller you couldn't tell her before it happened what happened,.
since you didn't know it was going to happen.
Mr. Plummer: I second the motion.
Mrs. Gordon: You are going to let him tell me now. Come on Mr. Grassie, you
can talk for yourself. You don't need anybody to talk for you.
Mt. Grassie: I started out to say Commissioner,was that, my discussion
with the superintendent did include his intention to recommend that the
property for the Latin Riverfront Park be donated to the City. It is
obvious that between his intention and what the Board has done, there is
a difference, and there was no way, as the Mayor pointed out, for anybody
to know that until the Board did it. Now, with regard to Highland Park,
and any other property that the City might be interested in that the Board
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53
MAR 2 21979
has, again the superintendent has indicated his willingness to recommend
that, and be disposed of to the City, at what he would consider to be
a favorable price, but I don't think that they are talking about giving
it to us. But they would, he indicated a willingness to recommend that
property like Highland be sold to the City at a very reasonable price.
And those are the things that I reported to you.
Rev. Gibson: Mr. Mayor, I don't want us to forget that the School Board
presently has a problem. They are over a barrel. The School Board agreed
to rebuild the Booker Washington High School. They need same closing of
streets. I just wonder how long and how much the people expect us who represent
the people in the City of Miami, to give and take and get nothing in return.
And I want Booker T. rebuilt. God knows I do. But I just feel, that man,
there comes a time when somebody ought to understand that we are not a
bunch of fools. We may look like it, but I hope they don't think I am.
Mr.Plummer: Speak for yourself.
Rev. Gibson: Well, I kr.ow I am not. It burns me up.
Mrs. Gordon: You know, what I'd like to suggest to this Commission, Mr.
Mayor could I ask your attention, --I'd like to see us sit down in a
joint session with the School Board, the same way we sat down with the
County Commission and discussed the People Mover issue, because I don't
think that we are going to be able to overcome our differences of opinion
so to speak until we sit in the same room and talk to each other around
a table, in a sunshine environment. I am very much in favor of communication,
--direct communication. I don't think there is anything better than doing
exactly that. I would like us to arrange such a meeting and I would so move
that we immediately try to bring about such a joint meeting.
Mayor Ferre: But before you make your motion Rose, I'd like to remind you,..
Mrs. Gordon: Father seconded it already.
Mayor Ferre:...would you let me finish? You passed that same motion last time.
Mrs. Gordon: For a joint meeting?
Mayor Ferre: Yes, yes. There's motion for joint meeting, it's on the books.
You made it, Father seconded it and we all voted for it. Now would you like
to have a copy of it?
Mrs. Gordon: No, but I'd like to do it again.
Mayor Ferre: We have motion and a second to repeat the same motion that
we passed last time.
Mrs. Gordon: Then we can send them copies of both, so they can see them.
Mayor Ferre: Then we have two motions. A motion on a motion, on a motion.
Call the roll on the motion on a motion.
Mr.Ongie.: Mrs. Gordon?
Mrs. Gordon: Yes.
Mr. Ongie: Mr. Plummer?
Mr. Plummer: Yes, yes, yes..
Mr. Ongie: Mr. Lacasa?'
Mr. Lacasa: Before I vote I would like to say,...
Mrs. Gordon:Yes, yes, yes,
Mr. Lacasa:..that this is a very serious matter and a very serious business
of this Commission, in the particular case of the Latin community, which
1
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54
MAR 2 21979
ista substantial proportion of the City of Miami. Quite frankly we feel
in just one word discriminated against by the School Board of Dade County.
And yesterday I had the opportunity to attend one more meeting of the
School Board of Dade County where here again they completely ignored
our pleas and absolutely voted against the best interest of the Latin
community, not only in the City of Miami, but also in the County. So
I would like, and I am voting yes on the motion, to really expedite
this meeting with the School Board with the hope that we could come
to a certain understanding because we do feel that we have a responsi-
bility to our Latin community in the City and they are not being taken care
of in an appropriate way by the Sbhool Board. I want that fully written.
Mr. Plummer: Well let me also put on the record that, Mr. Lacasa I
appreciate your comments, but the Latins were not the only ones that
were affected by the action of yesterday.
Mr. Lacasa; I am not talking Commissioner Plummer about specifically
the action that you were talking about. That affects the whole City
of Miami.
Mr. Plummer: No, sir, I am talking about Ada Merritt in particular. You
were not around when I was an alumni of Ada Merritt and would like to
see it remain. And I would like to tell you that there was a lot of people
in opposition, in particular now, it affects the Latin community but there's
a lot of Anglos and other people that think that Ada Merritt should remain.
So I don't think its just a sectionalism type of thing.
Mayor Ferre: A11 right, were in the middle of a vote now, so would you
vote on this? Be votes yes.
A motion calling a joint meeting with the School Board was passed
and adopted by a unanimous vote of the City Commission and formalized
later in the meeting by Resolution No. 79-238.
Mayor Ferre: All right, there was for the record a.letter that was sent
to you by Mr. Grassie of March 16, to all members of the Commission, --
I've got a copy of it, and my understanding there was a previous motion
that said exactly what we've said now, but I would then recommend that
you transcribe this quickly and give it to the Manager tomorrow if possible,
or if not, Monday morning, and have it hand delivered over to the Superin-
tendent Johnny Jones, and to Phyllis Miller for their immediate pursual
hopefully.
4)
MAR 2 21979
29 (a) DEFEP. CONSIDERATION•VACATE & CLOSE ALLEY BOUNDED BY BRICKELL
PLAe BRICKELL AVENUE & S. F. 8TH STREET -TENTATIVE PLAT i`1040
Y)y) REQUEST PLANNING DEPARTMENT STUDY EXTENSION S.E. 1ST AVENUE
AT BRICKELL PLAZA TO 7TH STREET.
Mayor Ferre: We back to item 123.
Mr. Davis: If I may explain this Mr. Mayor, there were three applications
made by Intercap Investments Inc. for this property at 800 Brickell. There
were three applications made. One of them was the closure of the alley
which runs north and south through that block providing return in con-
junction with the plat which is before you. Also in that same application
aeries was an application for variance for lot coverage, and an approval for
bonus for floor area ratio, both of which was passed by the Zoning Board.
The period of appeals has elapsed on both of those items so therefore the
only thing that's before this Commission is the alley closure itself.
Mayor Ferre: So technically the period for the appeals by the neighbors
has elapsed.
Mr. Davis: That's right.
Mayor Ferre: So they are not techincally entitled to appeal the variances
that were granted.
Mr. Plummer: Is there anyone here to object?
Mayor Ferre: Any objectors here? You are an objector? In other words you
have no objections? Obviously you were not,...you did not appeal, so you
were not an objector to the variances that were granted.You are an objector
to the closing of the alley?
Mrs. Gordon: In actuality, if the alley is not closed as requested, those
variances would not be able to take effect anyway I believe.
Mr. Davis: That's our observation.
Mrs. Gordon: That's mine too.
Mayor Ferre: Mr. Traurig, you represent the applicant?
Mrs. Gordon: While you are setting up Bob let me ask a question. Did you
deliver this material or have someone deliver this to us?
Mr. Traurig: That material was delivered by the applicant. I didn't do it,
but the applicant did.
Mrs. Gordon: Is the applicant here? Okay. I simply wanted to state that
my office received it this morning at 9:45. The other Commissioners and
the Mayor were delivered copies yesterday. I simply want to tell you I have
had no chance to look at anything you've delivered to me because of .the
lateness of the time of delivery.
Inaudible.
Mayor Ferre: We have a rule around here that if a member of the Commission
wishes to look at the property or has not seen all of the material, that
he or she is entitled to postpone the matter for the next meeting, and that's
why I ask.
Mr. Robert B. Traurig: For the record my name is Robert E. Traurig. I
an the attorney who represents Intercap Investments Inc. which is the
applicant for the closure of this alley. As has been stated to you, this
matter has already been considered by your Zoning Board which recommended
approval of the application, and that vas after ,your Plat Committee had
also reviewed it and after reports had been received from the Fire Department
and the Police Department etc. What we seek to do is -to close a portion of
the n/s alley that lies between S.E. 8th Street and S.E. lOth Street
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56
WAR 2 2 1979
end between Brickell Avenue and Brickell Place. '
Mrs. Gordon: You can take the mike off the stand if you want, Bob.
Mr. Traurig: I apologize to the objectors whose views are blocked by the
exhibit. I don't know where else I could put the exhibit. (A elide pre-
sentation follows).
Mr. Traurig stated initially there was a great amount of objection from
property owners. The Allan Morris Company was very concerned that the relocation
of the alley would do harm to traffic flow to and from their building,
but as a result of meetings with members of the Company, they agreed to a
slight modification in the initial plans, with some convenants on the
part of the applicant regarding landscaping etc. so their building
would be beautified and not impaired by the traffic flow.
Mr. Traurig expressed the opinion that S.E. let Avenue should be extended
to 7th Street.
Mayor Perre: All right. Are the opponents here, and do they wish to
address the Commission?
Mr. Frost Walker: Ladies and gentlemen my name is Frost Walker I am
an attorney with offices at 1 S.E. 3rd Avenue Miami Florida. I represent
an objector, Banac Investment Corporation. We own the property to the
south of the proposed development.
Mayor Ferre: Would you point that property out?
Mr. Walker opposed the building being on public property. He stated the
applicants had threatened to build a 25-story, ugly building if the City
does not close the alley in the interest of the public. He begged the
Commission to not be pursuaded or threatened nor influenced by these
threats because that building will never be built regardless of their
threats, that a building such as this would not be feasible with 40 per-
cent core -area on each floor. He also stated the traffic coming out of
Sth Street was not as serious a problem as the applicant had stated.
After a long discussion, he again requested the City Commission not
to close a public street for private gain.
Mayor Perre: Mr. Walker and Mr. Traurig, before we continue on this, I'd
like to ask a question. Is there middle ground somewhere here? For example
you don't care what happens above the public right-of-way. Suppose that
alley was left the way it is and we would let them build over the public
right-of-way. Would that be a problem for you, for your client?
Mr. Walker: My immediate reaction is I don't know of any problem that
that would create. No, sir.
Mayor Ferre: Mt. Traurig, would that be a problem for your client?
Inaudible.
Mayor Ferre: See, I'm saying if we could leave the alley the way it is.
Mrs. Gordon:You are talking about using the air rights?
Mayor Ferre: Yes, just give them the air rights. We won't close down the
alley,..just give them the air rights. And they can build over,...you'll
have to cut the building 5 or 10 ft. or move it some way. You see, let me
tell you Bob what my problem is, and I'd like for you in your rebuttal to
address it. We had a similar case a little while ago called the James town
Apartments. The difference between this and the Jamestown is the; Dr.
Robertson owns both sides of the property, and the closing of is alley
did not affect the property at either end of adjacent. 0n this case,...
see you own both sides of the alley, but you've got properties that they
claim...I don't know,..they are claiming that they being adjacent, need
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MAR 2 2 1979
that alley. And that's what concerns me about all this.
Mr. Traurig: I want to cover that on rebuttal, but I think they are wrong.
Inaudible. - SPEAKING OFF PUBLIC RECORD
Mayor Ferre: I don't want to get into discussion with you, because I
really haven't come to a conclusion in my own mind on this, but I was
asking you if there's a middle ground that everybody could agree on,
and perhaps we might solve the problem.
Mr. Traurig: I will be happy to have the architectes answer this Mr. Mayor
but I want to make sure that everybody understands that the Carib property
is this property. What they are saying is they want their drive-in facility
should generate the traffic to go out this alley to the Trail, (inaudible)
Mayor Ferre: You see the problem of it they are entitled to do that today.
What you are asking us to do is to take that right away. Now I have no
objections, if they have no objections, and if the traffic people have no
objections, and the government, my problem is that the property owner,...
he's affected.
Mr. Traurig: We don't want to take it away. We want to merely relocate
the alley and give that traffic substantially more options, to go north
south and west from this location so they can then move in a number of
different directions rather than all coming out here, the result of which
is they have to go down to the corner of Brickell, maybe stack up to the
point where they are going to create a substantial traffic jam at this
location, and then either turn right and get into the Brickell Avenue
flow, or have to get across Brickell, across the Trail to this north
lane and then go here and then come this way.
Mayor Ferre:I see.
Mr. Traurig: In all of those events they are creating a worse traffic
situation for the City. To let the traffic go to this location gives
those options to the driver.
Mayor Ferre: I see.
Mr. Traurig: And that was the design consideration. And in Mr. Candela's
design of the building,..
Mayor Ferre: Well now I asked you a question.
Mr. Traurig: I want the architects to answer you.
Mayor Ferre: I'd like to get an answer to that, because that might be
the middle ground everybody is,....
Mrs. Gordon: You know what: the ideal situation,...let them have both.
The air rights and open an alley to First and everybody could flow
easily.
Mayor Ferre: That's a perfect solution.
Inaudible.
Mayor Ferre: You'd better speak up.
Mr. Alvarez: My name is Artemus Alvarez. I represent the firm
of Ferindino, Grafton, Spillis, Candela.We have been commissioned by
Intercap Investments to design this complex this complex or office
at the corner of Brickell S.E. Sth Street.I will answer your questions
regarding the possibility of right-of-way.If we were to retain the
present rout of the alley, the present project would actually be divided
as you may see. The direction of the alley will affect the base of the
tower for the office building. It will affect the parking garage adjacent
to it. Considerable interference by the traffic generated will result
C..
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MAR 2 2 1979
and the actual integration from the parcel would result in two separate
parcels where the pedestrian movement and the circulation through the
retail,the arcade, and atrium space which was really the objective
to develop a very strong appealing people -space, would be seriously
damaged because of the presence of the heavy traffic at the time of
maintaining the circulation that now the alley gets. In our judgment
as architects we feel that the strongest point of appeal of this
project would be seriously damaged if this alley were to obtain
its present route. It is not a question of having the same square
footage. There's no question about it, we could rework the solution
to contain the same square footage, but the quality of the urban space
and the appeal that is could have as its presently proposed, would
seriously be hurt.
Rev. Gibson: Let me ask you sir, you own the property?
Mr. Alvarez: No, sir we are only the architects.
Rev. Gibson: No, I don't mean you. Your client owns the property?
Mr. Alvarez: Yes.
Rev. Gibson: For all intents and purposes, you are like the owner? You
own the property?
Mr. Alvarez: No, they do not.
Mrs. Gordon: His client does.
Mr. Traurig: Our client has contracts to buy those parcels of property.
Rev. Gibson: Then you don't own the property. Let me ask you this. I don't
know about the others,...let's assume that didn't own but you now own it.
Okay. That means that you bought it with the full knowledge that that alley
was there. Isn't that right?
Mr. Traurig: Yes, sir.
Rev. Gibson: Now, what I'm concerned about is, if I had the property,..
4 if I'm next to you, adjacent to you, abut you, and I went out there
at. noon, I know you can't believe it, ..to make sure I know what I
was talking about,..if the people to the south of you are there and they
own the property, and that's a bank, I want to ask you sir, if you were
in their shoes, how would you react? No, not you counsel. How would you
react? See, you are an architect paid to do a job. Okay. How would you
react?
•
Mt. Traurig: I would be absolutely delighted to have that alley relocated.
The reasons for it is, the traffic would be distributed. The alley is not
used to any great extent at the present time. We have those figures and
we'll be happy to give them to you. We don't think that the people •
utilizing the drive-ins for the Carib National Bank will want to go
out to the Trail, and they'll probably use the alley to get to loth
Street rather than to the Trail and they'll impact loth Street. If
I owned the bank, my objective would be, get as many cars out of those
drive-in lines as fast as I could during peak hours. The way to do that
would get those cars to the arterial street system. Its like the Orange
Bowl clearing out. The reason that the traffic is so effectively moved
out of the Orange Bowl parking lot is that that arterial system from
12th Avenue to 17th and from Flagler to 7th Street, permits traffic to
move in a number of different directions simultaneous. That's what would
be accomplished if the alley were turned to the west. My answer to you
Rev. Gibson is I would really be delighted if I could get my traffic
out to let Avenue instead of going to the Trail to mesh with all that
oncoming traffic.
Rev. Gibson: One other question, the Mayor referred to Dr. Robertson
You know why I voted for Dr. Robertson
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59
MAR 2 2 1979
Mr.Traurig: Its a good project.
Rev. Gibson: Not only because it was a good project but because it
did not do to anybody else but...it did not interfere,..with anybody
else as this would be interfering with his neighbors. For instance, he
owns both sides. So when you close the alley, what happens is you put
him back on to the bank property and all of the people who go through
must either be his people or no people. You follow what I'm saying?
That's my dilemma.
Mr.Traurig: Well, we own on both sides too. Maybe I didn't make that
clear. We own the property on both sides of the alley in the area in
the area we want to have closed. And I think we have to explain that a
little bit better.
Rev. Gibson: Mr. Traurig, I understand what you are saying. All I am
saying is the people who are to the south of you, and the people who
are to the west of you, have some certain rights and when I do what
you are asking me to do, not that I may not do it. I want you to answer
this for me. When I do that, I then inhibit or damage their rights to
the south of you, and I damage the people's right, not directly to your
west hut Allan Morris property, catty -corner like. You understand what
I mean? Right. So the alley comes up to their property and you will turn
and the alley will then switch on over to Allan Morris. Isn't that right?
Based on the drawing, isn't that right?
Mr. Traurig: Perhaps I didn't understand you, and I'd like to explain
it. This is our site.Two different parcels. This is the property,..the
Brigham Building, and this is the property that was one time Citizens
Federal and one time Kislak Associates. This is where their bank would
go. This alley now exists from 8th Street to loth Street. We want to
close it just for this distance. We are saying that the cars and their
drive-in windows would come up in this direction. They will then be in
the alley. The question is will they go this way in the alley or will
they go this way? They do have the right for their vehicles to get
to the public right-of-way and that alley is a dedicated alley, and
that's why we are here to ask you to vacate the alley and relocate the
alley. But the law does not require that alley to remain open if in your
discretion you feel that the overall public welfare is served by the re-
location of the alley as long as they are not denied the right to get to
a public street. I think that your City Attorney will tell you that that
is correct. So therefore if their vehicles come after this point, the
question is should they go to the Trail, should the go to First Avenue
or should they go to loth Street? They will still be able to go to 1Oth
Street. We think its desirable from their standpoint. You asked me the
question about how I would react if my client owned this property or I
did. I think it is desirable to go to First Avenue and not have our
traffic mesh with that traffic that will be coming down the Trail. We
think also that the alternative that is suggested and that is to have air
rights above 10 ft.-15 ft. would do great violence to a great project.
As has been indicated to you by Mr. Alvarez, the Zoning Board has already
approved all of the things that we requested, and the result would be, the
if we are going to build this building with this garage, we could build, --
this is the building we would build. We could build two separate structures
and keep the alley open. One structure would be this structure, the other
would be this structure. But in doing that there right, we would have 7500
sq. foot floors after taking out the core area, which is not quite as desir-
able as having a larger floor. But we can build 15 stories now by the plan
we are proposing or 24 stories if we have to build the two separate
structures. But what we would be sacrificing in building the tall building,
is the kind of effect that we choose to accomplish, and that is to create
the kind of ambience that you see to prevent a restaurant to be here in
Brickell Avenue, and this location needs restaurants. We would not have the
opportunity to do that if we covered the lot as we are authorized to do
right now with that other structure. So by accomplishing this kind of a
design solution, the Ferendino, Grafton firm has created something better
for Brickell Avenue than would exist if we went the other way. We think
that the City has the right to relocate that alley. We have done sub-
stantial legal research that satisfies us that that right exists. We
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LIAR 2 2 1979
don't think we are depriving any private property owner of his private
property rights.to get to a public right-of-way. And furthermore we are
helping the safety conditions on the streets in that immediate vicinity.
Rev. Gibson: Let me say this and I'll hush my mouth. I would be the
first,..I want to admit to you that the graphics that I saw this morning,
(Rose I wasn't much different then you, the delivered my yesterday and
I didn't have time till this morning to see it), I want to concede. Its
beautiful. I want to congratulate you. Most folk who come here don't
come with it that thorough. My concern is, my only problem is, I would
have felt so much better if you and the adjacent property owners, --like
you did Allan Morris, had got together and you had come to us, I think
then I would have eased my conscience as a public official knowing that
the people who were affected were not opposing. You follow me?
Mr. Traurig: We'd welcome the opportunity to sit down with them.
Rev. Gibson: Well, I think you ought to do that.
Mrs. Gordon: I have a question. Can I ask you this Mr. Traurig? This
parcel of property that you have under contract, is that a rectangular
piece of property?
Mr. Traurig: Yes. It's not square. It's a true rectangle.
Mrs.Gordon: It's a true rectangle. And when you take the portion off
for the alley, there will be somewhat of a indention on the westerly
portion of your rectangle, for the extent of the alley at any rate.
Where you are turning the alley to the west, to the south of your
property, one side of your property will be somewhat shorter than the
other side. Is that correct?
Mr. Traurig: That's correct.
Mrs. Gordon: Okay. The question that in my mind might be another possible
solution, maybe you'd like and maybe you won't, but have you thought that
perhaps since you are going to be given the advantage if this is closed,
to have one solid piece of property which does lend itself to design a
whole lot better than a parcel that is divided, had you thought of running
that alley straight through from Brickell to Brickell Place?
Rev. Gibson: From east to west.
Mrs. Gordon: Would you make a T out it?
Mr. Traurig: What we've got here are some drive-in tellers that come
through from Brickell Avenue, you come out at this point here. We already
have a drive. It isn't a public driveway. It's a drive-in.
Mrs. Gordon: What I'm asking though is because of the comments we heard
relative to the enormous amount of parking that's going to come out on
Brickell Place, and when the people mover is a reality, that will be a
problem. If you dedicate it, okay, --a alley through, from Brickell to
Brickell Place, some of the traffic would go one way and some would
go another. Now I don't know if that's going to be practical for you to
approach that or not.
Mr. Traurig: I don't know what the client's reaction would be. I would
like to ask our objectors if they are prepared to dedicate half of an
alleyway going from east to west.
Mr. Walker: We are not prepared to do any dedicating at this time. We
are prepared to sit down at any time and discuss any possible resolution
of the matter that didn't involve us giving up our access to 8th Street.
Mrs. Gordon: Okay, I would like to move a deferment on this item for
the applicant and the objectors to get together and explore whatever
avenues may be available to satisfy both parties.
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VAR 2 2 1979
Rev. Gibson: What she was saying was that if you come off Brickell
this way and put all your property together that way .
Mrs. Gordon: You'd be giving up a little bit more.
Mayor Ferre: Tell me, because I was,...
Mrs. Gordon: Maurice, I suggested that a possible alternative might
be a alley through from Brickell to Brickell Place, forming a 'T'
and therefore releiving some of the problems on Brickell Place. So
they are will to all sit down together and put their thoughts together
and come up with something. I move deferment.
Mayor Ferre: Does anybody have any problems with that?
Mr. Plummer: Mr. Mayor my question is in relation to these people, so
I'll hold. I can still ask my question.
Mayor Ferre:
Mr. Plummer:
Mayor Ferre:
problems? Do
Mr. Traurig:
Mayor Ferre:
Mr. Plummer:
Mrs. Gordon:
What people?
The Carib Bank. You are the Carib Bank, just to the south?
I am going to call for a vote now. Mr. Traurig, you got any
you have any problems with deferral?
I would like it for
Is there any reason
Yes, because we are
the briefest possible time.
why this can't be brought up on April 12?
not meeting on the 12th.
We have to set a new date for a meeting Maurice.
Mayor Ferre: Well at the next meeting. It might be before the 12th. If
it is before the 12th,--we have to bring this to a quick conclusion. My
guess,(if you will wait for a moment, as soon as we vote on this item),
is that I am going to make another motion on something related, then I
am going to see what the date is. My guess is that it will be before
April 12. Now does anybody have any problem with that? I certainly will
not vote for one month. Maybe everybody else will want to vote for a month
and that's the will of the majority, but I think it is only fair for these
people who have done an awful lot of work to give them an answer one way
or the other quickly.
Mr. Plummer:
Mayor Ferre:
Mrs. Gordon:
Why don't the motion just state at the next regular meeting?
At the next regular meeting yes.
I'll include that in the motion. I didn't include anything.
Rev. Gibson: I'll second that too. You all have to stay up night and day.
Get your business together.
Mayor Ferre: Further discussion. Call the roll.
/'
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MAR 2 2 1979
The following motion was introduced by Commissioner Gordon , who
moved its adoption:
MOTION NO. 79-223
A MOTION TO DEFER CONSIDERATION OF A REQUEST FOR VACATION
AND CLOSURE OF AN ALLEY BOUNDED BY BRICKELL PLACE, BRICKELL
AVENUE AND S.E. 8TH STREET, TENTATIVE PLAT .1040, "INTERCAP
SUB", AND REQUESTING THAT THE APPLICANT AND THE OBJECTORS
ARRANGE A MEETING TO RESOLVE THEIR DIFFERENCES AND RESCHEDUL-
ING ACTION ON THIS MATTER UNTIL THE NEXT COMMISSION MEETING
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Gibson , 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: I would like for somebody to move, otherwise I'll move,
that S.E. lst Avenue, the extension that you talked about, or somebody
talked about,--Brickell Place,..the extension of Brickell Place over
to 7th Street makes an awful lot of sense because the People -mover is
going to be coming down that way anyway. So the People mover is going
to have to take some of that land,..for the People mover. Follow me?
Mrs. Gordon: Excuse me. But where are we going to get the money? I think
we need to explore it.
Mayor Ferre: I am not going to move it, obviously because we don't have
the drawings or the engineering. All I would say is, to tell the Manager
to start looking into that aalignment and come back with a recommendation
one way or the other, after the staff and engineers and everybody looks at
it, including obviously,..
Mrs. Gordon: The feasibility is what you are talking about.
Rev. Gibson:I move it. It makes sense.
The following motion was introduced by Commissioner Gibson , who
moved its adoption:
MOTION NO. 79-224
A MOTION INSTRUCTING THE CITY MANAGER TO STUDY POSSIBLE
ALIGNMENT AND FEASIBILITY OF THE EXTENSION OF BRICKELL PLACE
TO 7TH STREET AND TO REPORT HIS RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE CITY
COMMISSION IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
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.
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VAR 21 f979
30. CHANGE DATES OF APRIL 1979 CITY COMMISSION MEETINGS.
After a discussion between the Mayor and Commissioners, a motion
to change the meeting dates to April 19th at 9 A.M. and April 23
at 6 P.M. was passed and adopted by the unanimous vote of the
Commission. (See Resolution No. 79-240 adopted later in the
Meeting).
30.1 CONTINUED DISCUSSION: ITEM 23 - PROPOSED CLOSING
ALLEY -TENTATIVE PLAT 1040 - INTERCAP SUB.
Mr. Plummer: Mr. Mayor I want to ask a question because it bothers
me. I asked Mr. Grassie, it was my impression that all drive-in tellers
(sir would you listen, or your client), --all drive-in tellers were
subject to approval. Do I understand correctly that your proposal
is putting forth the traffic from the drive-in tellers into the alley?
Mr. Walker: The proposal that's before you now is not by our bank sir.
Mr. Plummer: No, sir. Your proposal.
Mr. Walker: The proposal that we have has not even been finalized to
my knowledge. I don't know exactly what stage in the process that it is.
Mayor Ferre: Its a very important question and I might add to what
Mr. Plummer is saying, when we hear this next time, I want to see your
drawings, and your garage and how it flows because we need to understand
that too.
Mr. Traurig: Exactly. And I think they should both be considered together
and that's part of the problem with granting them any,....
Mayor Ferre: And I would like your traffic people here and you'd better
have a traffic person who is an expert in traffic, because,..
Mrs. Gordon: They are going to be neighbors Maurice. They have to work
together.
Mr. Walker: I'd like to answer that question though, Mayor. The answer
is that our drive-in tellers are exclusively on our property. Their
drive-in tellers would use the alley.
Mr. Plummer: Well all I'm saying Mr. Traurig is,...
Mr. Walker:..we go through one street to the other.
Mr. Plummer: You know alleys are not streets. There's a big difference,
and I would be very, very leery of any proposal, even yours, if you empty
into the alley. I'm saying, you know, alleys were designated as dedication
for the purposes of utilitiea, and in no way were alleys ever created to
carry regular residential traffic. I'm going to go on record now Mr.
Manager that any proposal which shows emptying into an alley, I want
before this Commission.
Mr. Traurig: And I'd like it very clear that not one vehicle that will
utilize our property in any way, will use this alley. Not one of our
vehicles.
64
ra.
1IAR 2 2 ten
d
Mayor Ferre: One more thing. I think Mr. Manager I think it might be
important to have the traffic people from Dade County here in case
there's some questions to come up on this item.
Mrs. Gordon: I was hoping by the time they come back they will have
resolved all of their differences and we won't have to have any body
but ourselves, if they haven't been bringing everybody.
Mayor Ferre: All right.
Mrs. Gordon: Mr. Mayor I want to clear the records, because you made
a statement before that I could not recall ever us making a motion
regarding a joint meeting of the School Board and the City of Miami
Commission. And the item that took place on the March 8 was a suggestion
by Mr. Grassie which was not acted upon. The Clerk has checked the record
on this simply suggesting that you meet with the School Board and try to
resolve issues. The motion we have now before us in which we acted upon
is to bring into a joint meeting the joint bodies of both the City Com-
mission and the School Board. And I do believe that we will, if we meet
in the same kind of harmony we are expecting of these two people that
just left, be able to resolve the differences I'm sure.
Mr. Plummer: Mr. Clerk, take back one of my 'yeses' please.
31. PERSONAL APPEARANCE: VICTOR LOGAN -UNRESOLVED ISSUES CONCERNING
THE MIAMI SUMMER BOAT SHOW.
Mr. Victor Logan: Good afternoon Commissioners, since there are only
3 months to go before Miami Summer Boat Show and the administration
has not been able to negotiate my contract satisfactorily and I must
come before you again today. One of the issues which needs your attention
is the usage of Pier 5 for our show. Previous to this we were led to
believe there would be no problem getting the use of Pier 5, so we
included it in our brochure and to this date have sold 28 of the 42
slips or two-thirds of Pier 5. It was our desire to work with the people
on Pier 5 personally, and so I went out to Pier 5 to find out what their
problems and desires were previous to this. We sent out invitations re-
questing their presence at a meeting so we could try to get them all to-
gether and unfortunately right after getting our invitation to this
meeting, and just prior to the meeting a letter was sent out to all
persons residing on Pier 5 by the administration, indicating that they
could not sublet their space to us due to ordinance 50-57..A few days
later while contacting the people on Pier 5 again personally, they
indicated why they had not shown up because the letter, that even if
they wanted to they couldn't rent us their slips. Several of the people
on Pier 5 have indicated to me that they would not move their vessels
from Pier 5 unless order to do so by the City Commission. I have checked
the matter with the legal department with Mr. Knox and Mr. Knox indicates
that there is no legal problem with the Commission granting us that right.
This would be a major part of the Boat show and unless this area can be
made available to us, we will lose approximately 70 very important boats
who cannot exhibit on land. We would like you to pass a motion or ordinance
whatever is necessary just as you have for Larry Perl's show. In addition
we would appreciate your setting aside ordinance No. 50-57 so that if we
wish to personally work with the people that have vessels on Pier 5, if
they have special problems that need attending to, we'd like to help them
with those problems, and we'd like your permission to work with them
personally, in addition.
Mrs. Gordon: Mr. Grassie will you speak to that issue?.
Mr. Grassie: Yes, I think that we need to have at least two things
clarified for the benefit of the City Commission, Commissioner Gordon.
rn.
65
'BAR 2 2 11M9
Mr. Grassie: (Cont'd): One is the history of circumstances under which boats
are moved off Pier 5 and I am going to ask Bob Jennings to give you
that history, both of its length and its specific provisions. Then I
think that we need to ask the City Attorney whether he agrees with
what Mr. Logan is putting in his mouth in regard with regard to what
the City Commission cay do.
Mr. Plummer: Mr. Jennings?
Mr. Bob Jennings: The first item I might mention is that there is a pro-
vision, --there are two provisions in the dockage agreements of tenants
at Dinner Key. The first provision says that they cannot sublease their
slips to anyone without authority from the City Commission. That 's the
provision that Mr. Logan referred to when he said that we advised the
tenants that they would have to obtain that permission before they could
deal with Mr. Logan on an individual basis. The second provision that is
in all the dockage agreements, the tenants at Dinner Key, says that the
tenants on Pier 5 must vacate their slips each year for the Miami Dinner
Key Boat Show, or any other boat show which might succeed the Miami Dinner
Key Boat Show, and that's all it says. In other words, they are required
by virtue of the dockage agreement that they sign when they accept their
slip at Dinner Key to vacate for that one boat show. There is no provision
for them to vacate for any other purpose.I think those are the two points
that Mr. Grassie mentioned.
Rev. Gibson: I could understand that. I would hope that the people who
have boats there realize we have a problem. All of us live with problems.
I would hope we would, as good citizens want to cooperate. I would think
that those persons who are willing to cooperate with Mr. Logan, we the
Commission ought to be most happy to facilitate it, because we created
a problem, and we ought to be happy to help,...have somebody relieve us
of some of these,...
Mr. Grassie: Yes, sir.
Rev. Gibson:...all right,...and I would hope my good citizens over here
on the docks would want to cooperate. We aren't trying to make anybody
do anything, but you know if we would spend half of the time that we spend
in trying to get along, rather than being irritable and obnoxious to things,
we would find ourselves much further on the way. And I want to plead with
you, I want to beg you to try, please. Don't let people say,..you heard
somebody say here this morning,'Come to Miami, man, --they give you a hard
time'. For God's sake don't let us get that reputation. I know you have
rights to protect. It wasn't in their lease, --but for God's sake, we have
a problem. And we want the man to operate his boat show, or whatever he
is going to do, with a minimum problem if you will cooperate. And if I am
in order, I'd like to make that motion that we ask our tenants to cooperate.
We can't make you do anything, but I would like for you to cooperate. Here's
a man who is trying to survive. Help him to survive.
Mrs. Gordon: Are they opposed to it?
Rev. Gibson: I don't know. He said that he could not do it until
we asked the people, give them permission. The people cannot sublease.
I think that we the Commission ought to make a motion asking the people
to cooperate, not that we want to demand or make anybody do anything. But
those who will cooperate, as he has indicated, give them the right to
cooperate if they want to do it.
Mr. Victor Logan: Father Gibson could I express that lightly please?
The problem here is that, just as in this Commission Chamber, --let me
give you an example with the Boat Show. Unfortunately what happens is
that we could not hold the Boat Show using Pier 5 if one out of every
5 people, or 2 out of every 5 people, said you can use our slip, because
the other people who would not be moving would have problems with people
who are paying to see the Dinner Key Boat Show,who aren't on Pier 5.and
are going to attempt to board their vessels because they think its part
of the Boat Show, and there's going to be all kinds of fights and all
kinds of problems. Now in referring to the dockage agreement, and I have
it in front of me, so let me quote it to you rather than to try and
1
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66
'Lao a 1670
remember as Mr. Jennings did. It specifically says 'owners of vessels
assigned to Pier 5 at Dinner Key Marina agree to relinquish their berths
on 60 days notice, if requested by the Director Public Facilities by
direction of the City Commissioners in order that the City may accomodate
the in -the -water display of the annual Miami Dinner Key Boat Show or any
other boat show, --or any other boat show, --which may in the future succeed
the Miami Dinner Key Boat Show. If you will check the dictionary which I
have done, the word succeed has two meanings. One of the meanings is
'follow'. We follow the Dinner Key Boat Show by some months. The other
meaning means 'replace'. Irrespective of that before this was put into
their dockage agreements, it wasn't in there, and the Commission made
some sort of a resolution that put it in their agreement. Now moreover
than that, it says in paragraph 6B that legally their dockage agreement
may be broken by a written notice of termination by the City. And this
is the reason why its a very light document. The City,..the Commission,
they are not bound by that document and if we lose,..if we are not able
to use Pier 5, we are going to lose 40 percent of our exhibitors. And I
have some other discussion to bring up to you in a few minutes which will
show you the suffering that I have already done because of the conflict
with the Marine Stadium Show won't allow me to succeed. And this is why
I talked to Mr. Knox about it last week end. Mr. Grassie may I address
your remarks sir? I don't try to put words in anybody's mouth. I am
simply quoting a remark that made by me to Mr. Knox this week. And if
Mr. Knox would like to answer it I welcome his answer.
Mr. Plummer: Mr. Knox do you wish to comment?
Mr. Knox: Yes, sir. I did speak to Mr. Logan sometime either early
this week or last week concerning the question of defining the word
successor as he indicated and he gave to me his dictionary definition
of successor and I indicated to him that the consideration would probably
be what the parties have in mind at the time that used that word in the
existing agreement. And that I indicated to him was a question for deter-
mintation by the City Commission of those persons who participated in the
process which lead to insertion of that term into the agreement.
Mr. Plummer:Mr. Logan why don't you go ahead and continue and bring out
your other point sir. It might be pertinent to the first point.
Mr. Logan: I realize the City has other problems and business to attend to
but with the publicity about the two shows, and the mention by the Miami
Herald that I don't contracts. Several potential exhibitors have requested
I call them as soon as I have my contract signed. They're skeptical about
putting money into a show which Mr. Perl's office is telling them I can't
get contracts for. And the Miami Herald after the February 26th meeting
misquoted me as saying I didn't think I would get contracts or that my
show would materialize. May I ask you to please instruct this City's
administration to finish my contracts and have them before by the next
Commission Meeting?
Mr. Plummer: You can ask that sir. Yes sir. Is there anything else?
Mr. Logan: To attend to that particular question?
Mr. Plummer: I'm asking if there's anything else?
Mr. Logan: Yes, there's several things.
Mr. Plummer: All right.Go ahead. You.have the right to ask and if a
Commissioner wants to make a motion then it will be considered. Go ahead
and finish your presentation.
Mr. Logan: When my contracts were submitted to me on February 1st they
also did not include motion M78-762 which provided that we would be granted
a 60 day protection clause before and after our event against similar events
in all City facilities. Instead we were give a letter of January 19th
which Mr. Lieberman will pass out to you now, which indicated that it
would serve to confirm that action of the City Commission. A letter similar
to the one that you ordered my contracts be based on,..representation from
the City. And based on that representation I have performed and made certain
67
111AR 2 2 ten
representations to many exhibitors..After discussion with Mr. Knox
at his question, he also indicated to me that the question that was
posed by Attorney Dan Paul at the 26th meeting was relevant to cities
getting involved with cities competing with other individuals. And I
asked him whether he saw any legal reason why the clause could not be
put in my contract for at 1980 through 1983, since you have another,
as Mr. Grassie calls it permit, or standard contract that you have
given to Mr. Perl. I would appreciate your instructing the Administration
to put this in my contract and if there are any further questions on this
I would appreciate the administration posing them to you now.
Mayor Ferre: Vic, I'll tell you. We discussed this before here and as
you may recall Dan Paul representing Perl. He gave us some kind of a letter
about the Supreme Court and all that stuff. Ron have you had a chance to
look at that? There was some discussion here, then I turned,..or somebody
around here turned to Knox and asked Knox to make a legal determination
as to the validity of the letter from Dan Paul. Who was that letter
addressed to anyway? Was it to me?
Mr. Knox: No, it was addressed to me.
Mayor'Ferre:It was addressed to you? Okay. Well I think this is the
pertinent point now to address that question.
Mr. Knox: Pursuant to the City Commission's instructions we have engaged
in research concerning the questions that were raised by Mr. Dan Paul
in his letter. I have a copy that Mr. Lieberman can have if he'd like to.
And the question involved whether or not the granting of a 60-day protect
period on either side of an event to cover all facilities owned by the
City would violate the Sherman Antitrust Act. And Mr. Dan Paul correctly
pointed out that pursuant to a decision by the United States Supreme Court
which was rendered in 1978, that cities are not immune from violations of
the Sherman Antitrust Act. So that whatever antitrust legal principles
apply to private corporations will also apply to municipalities. The
question that was decided by the Supreme Court had to do with whether
or not municipalities who operated their own public utilities could
exclude private companies from operating similar facilities in the same
city. And the court determined that if this would violate the antitrust
laws then cities would be prohibited from doing so. The question of whether
or not a protect period which extends to all the facilities owned by the
city would be a question number one whether or not this creates a monopoly,
number two whether or not the City intends to create or authorize the
creation of such a monopoly. The questions have not been answered in any
judicial cases regarding this kind of situation, and the Supreme Court
has only issued broad guidance and courts have not had an opportunity
to themselves interpret the answer to the question. After consultation
with the members of the staff who have researched this question and after
having engaged in our own research regarding this question, it would
appear based on antitrust principles that there would be a legitimate
argument that a protect period which extends to other facilities througnout
the City could violate antitrust laws. And the antitrust laws provide that
where that is the situation that the burden has been on the defendant or
the burden would upon the City, or the City's lessees to prove to a court
that no violation of the antitrust law exists. That represents our inter-
pretation of the current staus of the law regarding the antitrust question.
Mayor Ferre: Does that mean that we can or we cannot?
Mr. Knox: It means that you can, subject to challenge,in the event of a
challenge where there's a determination that there is a monopoly then
the burden would be on the City, --burden on the City rather than burden
on the plaintiff, to show that there is no monopoly.
Rev. Gibson: Mr. Mayor, a monopoly means an exclusive, --an exclusive
right. Isn't that right? Nobody else would do it but you. You are talking
about time, whether you could it within 60 days,..we tell Mr. Perl he
could have it 90 days later. That doesn't say that this man is only the
person is to have that thing. I think that this whole business has been
the most regurgitating experience I've seen for a long, long time. I think
that this man ought to get his contract forthwith. 4nd I think that this
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68 'OAR 2 2 flT9
man ought to be given, --not this year because you can't isolate a
contract that you have. But beginning those years that he asked for,
give him the 60 days before and the 60 days after. Now you can't tell
me you have already signed a contract on those things. You told me that
you signed one, --you know the story. But you haven't signed one yet. And
I think, man, the public is going to be saying some awful things about us.
There's no reason why this man should be held up all this time. The City
should make every effort to facilitate these actions. And it angers me.
I make a motion that the Commission instruct the administration to proceed
posthaste.
Mr. Lacasa: What is your motion Father?
Rev. Gibson: My motion is that they must proceed posthaste to give this
man his contract.
Mr. Lacasa: I will second that motion. I think that Mr. Logan has been
subjected for whatever the reasons, to quite a heavy situation here by
circumstances and I feel the man is entitled to have the same rights that
other people such as in the case of Mr. Peri is having to use the City
facilities, so I second that motion.
Mrs. Gordon: And on this subject, I want to tell you I feel ashamed.
Truthfully embarrassed by the kind of treatment that any citizen doing
business with this City would have to bear the kind of treatment that
Mr. Logan has had. I'm ashamed, that's all I can tell you. Embarrassed
and ashamed.
Mr. Plummer: Any other Commissioner have something to say? We are embar-
rassed, ashamed, regurgitated.
Mrs. Gordon: Absolutely. And its not funny J.L. It isn't even something
for us to joke about.
Mr. Plummer: Rose I
its been said many,
Mrs. Gordon: But I
really.
fully understand what you say. You know,..I think
many times. Mr. Grassie you wish to comment?
don't think the message has gotten home. It hasn't
Mr. Grassie: Yes, I think so Commissioner. I agree with a number of the
comments made but I think that this is one of the sorriest displays of
poor business practice that I've seen a city engage in in a long time.
With regard to concluding a contract, my impression from the staff is
that the only reason that we don't have a contract with Mr. Logan is
that he keeps making demands that are simply unreasonable and unaccept-
able. I understand for example that we finally,(Mr. Jennings will have to
tell me when), have gotten Mr. Logan to agree that in fact he would put
up a five -thousand dollar deposit like everybody else rather than the
thousand dollars he wants to put up. Well, if he agrees to reasonable
standards that apply to other people who use City facilities, then it
will be very easy to reach a contract with him. But maybe Mr. Jennings
needs to comment on just what is holding up that contract process. Aside
from the question of terms, the other two questions that have held up
the contract, are basically legal questions. And those are detailed for
you in a letter which one of my staff people sent to Mr. Logan and which
you have copies of. One of the legal questions is the one that the City
Attorney just finished discussing with you, and that is the very real
question of whether or not legally we can enter that all -facilities
provision which allows for a protect period in all City facilities. We
really don't have a legal response to that question which has been asked.
Now those are the very basic things which prevent the contract so far.
I hope that we can get it resolved, because certainly it is in no one's
interest to keep the thing dangling any longer than necessary.
Mr. Plummer: Mr. Jennings would you like to comment on why the contract
has not been signed?
Mr. Jennings: I would just like to add to what Mr. Grassie said. There
rn.
MAR 2 2 1979
are the two legal questions. We've been waiting for responses on those
two issues.
Mayor Ferre: What two issues? There's only one issue.
Mr. Jennings: Well there's the 60 day protect in all City facilities
and the issue of Pier 5 contract. The other two issues,..its my under-
standing that Asst. City Manager Cortina has been involved In some of
these meetings while I was out of town. But my understanding that we
have now resolved the two nonlegal issues which were the deposit and
for the dates.
Mayor Ferre: Have the dates been resolved?
Mr. Jennings: Yes, the dates have been resolved.
Mayor Ferre: Now Mr. Jennings is there any reason why this afternoon
or first thing in the morning you cannot conclude this contract since
the two nonlegal issues have now been settled and we have a legal inter-
pretation from Mr. Knox, since we'd have the two legal interpretations
on this. Now with regards,..I've listened before and today and what -have -
you, and I'd like to just quickly state my opinion on this. I think that
Mr. Logan is entitled to a quick resolution of the problem. Let me finish,
--is it germane to what I'm about to nay? The only problem that I have at
all in any of this is a question of the competitive/noncompetitive aspect
of it. The Sherman Antitrust laws are very, very complicated. I spent
unfortunately,(to my regret as it turned out) about two month in a court
room defending some Sherman Antitrust cases which I just couldn't believe,
so complicated. But the burden falls on you,through,..you are not violating
antitrust laws. And if the Supreme Court has now ruled that cities are not
exempt from that, I realize that the question of time, but when you have
a facility, you have two things to sell, space and time. So time is a
factor in antitrust litigation. Now my concern Mr. Grassie and Mr. Knox,
not only in this particular contract but every other contract that the
City of Miami might be violating. For example, and this may affect Mr. Dan
Paul's other clients, in football stadiums, baseball stadiums, golf courses
and other public facilities that the City of Miami has. So after this thing
is all done, depending on what the final resolve is to this Commission, I
would like to move that the City Attorney go through all existing contracts
to see if there are any possible Sherman Antitrust violations in any of
our contracts due to a noncompetitive nature. I think that a very important
thing for us to resolve very quickly. And that includes Mr. Perl by the way.
Mr. Logan: May I address something very important here? I'd like to point
out that the reason that my contract has not been negotiated, Father Gibson
I learned a couple of new expressions when I walked into this Commission.
The Administratibn has been 'shucking and jiving' and you asked me if I
understood what C.Y.A. meant.I am not sure its covered but I understand it.
I want to tell you that I have requested Mr. Grassie get down off his
podium and meet with Mr. Knox, myself, Mr. Cortina and Mr. Jennings and
help together as a team to work out my problems. Mr. Grassie absolutely
refuses to sit in my presence, to return my calls or to try to negotiate
any kind of property contract. The reason why we have failed to negotiate
this contract is because the administration continues to show total dis-
respect for this Commission and refuses, refuses, I repeat, to put the
thing in my contract which you have already given me. May I remind you
that based on a letter that was sent to me by Mrs. Bush back in August
and that letter was the basis under which you gave me my contract. And
it said at that time that they were holding days for me. That's that
letter of August 31st. The letter will advise you we are holding June 18, to
28, inclusive for your proposed show in the Coconut Grove Exhibition Center.
You felt you had an obligation to honor that letter. Well, sir, the letter
you have in front of you dated January 19, I submit to you that you have
an obligation to honor that letter as well and that your administration
has got to quit shucking and jiving. This public works issue that Mr. Paul
has brought up simply says that if you stop a private individual from
competing with you as a City, it may violate the antitrust laws. But under-
stand you are leasing the facility to me,as Father Gibson said, you are
only giving me not a total exclusivity, --there is no question about
antitrust here. You are simply giving me a 60 day protection before and
rn.
70
MAR 2 2 tun
after my show. And you've given that to me already. And based on that
I have moved, --I have made representations to exhibitors who are going
to go with me because I am supposed to have the only summer boat show
in Miami for the continuing years.
Mayor Ferre: We have a motion by Father Gibson, seconded by Rose Gordon.
Mrs. Gordon: May I hear the motion again?
Rev. Gibson: My motion is that we instruct the administration to proceed
posthaste in completing this contract for a maximum of 10 days, as per
the agreement made by us and this man. That is, give him 60 days, not
this year, but next year, 60 days before and 60 days after, that's it.
Mayor Ferre: You are saying the 60 day on either side is for the full,
all the years ?
Rev. Gibson:Not this year because you have a contract.
Mr. Logan: I am willing to relent this year.
Rev. Gibson: You can't do it for this year because they signed the
contract.
Mayor Ferre: But for future years?
Rev. Gibson: Right.
Mayor Ferre: Let me ask Mr. Knox, before I cast my vote I must have
on the record, your again, legal opinion as to whether or not I can
vote that way legally.Or am I going against the Supreme Court ruling
and the antitrust laws or what -have -you. Because I don't know. That's
a very complicated area. Its a matter of law. You tell me what the law
says and if I can vote, I am ready to vote.
Mr. Knox: Currently, there is no prohibition which is contained in the
United States Supreme Court cast against granting a protect period. How-
ever I would indicate again that if you grant a protect period which
extends to all facilities which are owned by the City then that would
invite a challenge based on the Sherman Antitrust Act, and upon such
challenge, again based up another federal circuit court case, the burden
would be on the municipality to defend the monopoly.
Mayor Ferre: Are there any further questions?
Mr. Jennings: Mr. Mayor I have a question. I'd like to be clear as to
what you desire me to do with regard to his contract as regards Pier S.
That's not clear to me. I understand what's to be done with the other
issues.
Mayor Ferre:Well the Pier 5 issue is something that's not been addressed
yet. And as far as I'm concerned I'm willing to go along with the
motion.
Mrs. Gordon: Do you want it included in there Father Gibson?
Mayor Ferre: Well don't because I'm going to be voting against this
motion on the legal aspects of it, but I want to vote with the other
motion.
Mr. Logan: Can we handle Pier 5 after this?
Mayor Ferre: If you separate these motions Vic, I may be able to vote with
some of them but I won't be able to vote with the others.
Mr. Logan:Thank you.
Mayor Ferre: You may not need my vote. The majority may go otherwise.
As long as there is this legal question, I cannot vote if you make them
rn.
71
'MAR 2 2 1!7!
all-inclusive motions. However, you separate it into.parts then I'll be able
to vote with some of them.
Rev. Gibson: Mr. Mayor I could appreciate that. I have no objections to
separating them. Absolutely none. Because I want to get the administration
off the spot. I move you that we deal, we ask the tenants on Pier 5,..
Mayor Ferre: You are going to have to withdraw your previous motion. Are you
going to withdraw it or keep it.
Rev. Gibson: I'm going to keep the previous motion.
Mayor 'Ferre: You want to call the question on the previous motion?
Rev. Gibson: Yes.
Mrs. Gordon: Now the motion we are voting on.
Mr. Ongie: The previous motion, the City Commission would instruct the
administration to proceed posthaste in the negotiations and to give Mr.
Victor Logan a contract for his summer boat show within a period not
to exceed 10 days as per the agreement made previously by the City Com-
mission containing the 60 day proviso for not this year but the other
years of the show.
Mayor Ferre: We haven't voted on that.
Mr. Ongie: No, sir, not yet.
Mayor Ferre: This is what we are voting on now. We haven't given you years
80, 81, 82.
Mr. Logan: Yes, sir, you have. You gave me all the years. If you'd like me
to quote,...
Mayor Ferre: No, no. I mean with this noncompetitive proviso on either side?
Mr. Logan: Yes, sir. You gave me everything. And the Minutes were from December
loth and I read to you Motion 78-762.
Mayor Ferre: You don't have to read it. I recall that. As I recall the vote on
it was 3 to 2 wasn't it?
Mr. Logan: That's correct sir.
Mayor Ferre: All right. Now we have the motion, and there's a second. Is there
further discussion?
Mr. Plummer: Under discussion you passed out a letter dated January 19, 1979.
I ask you sir, did you execute that which obviously sent to you and returned
as requested?
Mr. Logan:No, sir and the reason for that was that there were other things
that you had told the administration to put in that contract that were not
there, so I was not in the position to execute the contract without these
things being proper.
Mr. Plummer: What were those provisions?
Mr. Logan: The provisions were the deposit amount. At that time it was my under-
standing the Commission was willing to go with a thousand dollars per year.
That was incorrect. In addition to that, I have been given by this Commission
a 60 day before and after all City protect. And I wanted it put in the contract
rather than in an attached letter which I was told by my attorney was proper.
In addition to that, if I could pull out my last letter on this, because I wrote
Mr. Grassie a letter on that. That was January 19. Okay, on January 31 I wrote
another letter and in that letter I pointed out that,...
Mt. Plummer: May I have a copy?
rn.
72
VAR 2 2 Vag
Mr. Logan: Yes.
Mr. Jennings: Commissioner Plummer I might also add if I may that it
was also subsequent to our sending him that contract. And Mr. Logan
decided that he wanted the Pier 5 issue mentioned in his contract.
That is one of the factors that contributed to the delay because at
that point we had to start looking into the legalities of ordering
the people off Pier 5 for a second boat show etc, etc. and so this
is what has delayed the contract. This is one of the factors.
Mr. Logan: The letter that I sent you Mr. Plummer, a copy of from
March 14 which should be in front of you, indicates the 5 issues that
were problems.
Mr. Plummer: Did you so indicate in writing to Mr. Jennings subsequent
to March 14, which is approximately 8 weeks of delay.
Mr. Logan: Yes, I did.
Mr. Plummer: May I see a copy of it?
Mr. Logan: What period are you speaking of Mr. Plummer?
Mr. Plummer: Well obviously the period between January 19, the date of
this letter and your's dated March 14.
Mr. Logan: I want you to remember that in between there we had a meeting
February 26 and in the interim there before anything else could be done,
the City held off. There was also,..many of the people were out of town,
as the last eight days of this period. Mr. Jennings had to go out of town
for a week and Mr. Cortina had go out to the Super Bowl, the N.F.L. choosing
and so forth, and schedules have made it impossible for them to answer my
things. We had a meeting,..
Mr. Plummer: All I'm asking Mr. Logan, did you respond in writing to Mr.
Jennings' letter of the 19th prior to March 14th , which is one week ago?
It vas an 8 week time lapse in which you brought to his attention your
objections.
Mr. Logan: Okay, there's a February 13th letter. I have been attempting
right along to get this settled, and its been excruciating .
Mr. Plummer: I can imagine. Sometimes you get too much paper work.
A11 right, sir, what you are stating here the dates for '80 through '83
were incorrect.
Mr. Logan: That's correct sir.
Mr. Plummer: Mr. Jennings do you agree?
Mr. Jennings: Yes, sir I do, and they've been adjusted.
Mr. Logan: Mr. Jennings, let me answer that. Mr. Plummer I have asked
for that adjustment to be sent to me in writing, and Mr. Jennings and
Mr. Cortina's office refused to do that. That's another reason why that
hasn't been solved, because they refuse to put it in writing and send it
to me.
Mr. Plummer: The second item is the $1,O00. as opposed to the $5,000.
Mr. Jennings?
Mr. Jennings: Yes, I believe that's been resolved also.
Mr. Plummer: All right sir.
Mr. Logan: I just got a letter on that about a half an hour ago when
I walked into the Chambers. That letter was nailed to me yesterday
and the wording on it is incorrect. I think its something to the benefit
rf1
MAR 2 2 1979
of the City that I tell them of their error.
Mr. Plummer: So nowhere here is there any contention on your part about
Pier 5. Today is the first day you have raised that problem.
Mr. Logan: In front of the Commission, yes sir.
Mr. Plummer: Did you raise it to the administration?
Mr. Logan: Yes, sir, I had talked to Mr. Jennings about it and I had
talked to Hec Gui about it.
Mr. Jennings:..but until recently he had not requested it be a part of
his contract.
Mr. Plummer: Thank you very much. Would you repeat the motion on the
floor floor please?
Mr. 0ngie: That the City Commission instruct the City administration
to proceed posthaste to complete negotiations with Victor Logan on
the contract for his projected summer Boat Show and that his contract
be concluded in a period not to exceed 10 days pursuant to previous
agreements made by the City Commission with the 60 day proviso, front
and back being included for the years 1980, 1981, 1982 and 1983.
Mr. Plummer: Any further discussion?
Mr. Lacasa: I have a question. Mr. Knox, what would be your legal advice
if the 60 days proviso protection clause would be limited to only the
Dinner Key facilities rather than to all the City facilities?
Mr. Knox: We don't feel that under those circumstances there will be any
danger of violating the Sherman Antitrust Act because there would be
an opportunity for competition and that's the basis upon which the Act
was originally adopted.
Mayor Ferre: You mean we went to a bid process?
Mr. Lacasa: No, no. If it is limited to 60 days, --protection clause
is limited to Dinner Key facilities only rather than to the whole
facilities of the City of Miami, then his answer is that he doesn't
feel that that within the provision of the Sherman Antitrust Act.
Mr. Lieberman: The problem I have with that interpretation on the antitrust
is we are dealing in a situation here where if Mr. Logan has the 60 day
protection before and after within the City of Miami, I don't belive there
is any monopoly problem since you've got other facilities. You have private
facilities, you have municipal facilities, --in Miami Beach, North Miami,
Ft. Lauderdale, County facilities, so there's no monopoly in that respect.
Secondly the protection clause goes for 120 day period. It doesn't include
the City of Miami for the whole year. I would say clearly there's no
monopoly problem, if the original resolution giving Mr. Logan 60 day
protection before and after for the entire City , passes. The problem if
you don't is you get the situation we have this year where Mr. Logan's got
a summer boat show at Dinner Key and two weeks later you've got a boat show
right down the street, and the same exhibitors have to decide which show
to advertise at. Neither show is going to be a complete boat show. I think
that's detrimental to the City to have two half boat shows instead of one
solid boat show.
Mr. Lacasa: George that's a well taken point. What would be your reaction
to this point.
Mr. Knox: The difficulty is that there's no way really to define the scope
of the market and I would maintain that if there is a prohibition against
individuals holding boat shows for periods which include 120 days which
is a substantial period of the year from which there will be no competition,
that the burden upon a challenge, --that the burden would be upon the City
to show that there's no Antitrust violation because in our opinion that
rn.
74
MAN 2 2 1979
Mayor Ferre: Does Perl have any protective clause in his regular
fall boat show? Is there 60 day protection on either side?
Mr. Jennings: Before and after his show and only at Dinner Key Auditorium.
Mayor Ferre: Yes, but I want to tell you something. Now I think that
we ought to look into all these things and in my opinion remove them
all, including Perl. I'don't think that we should take any kind of
a chance on Antitrust.
Rev. Gibson: Let me make this observation, the Florida Power & Light
Company has a monopoly. Southern Bell has a monopoly. Logan in the same
sense will not have a monopoly. I'm not an attorney, but I'm willing to
bet, --I'm willing to bet, and I'm not trying to be a lawyer. I'm willing
to bet, the very fact that Perl can go on Miami Beach, --the very fact
that Perl could go in Hialeah or some other place and have his boat
show, shows that we do not have a corner on the market. And you know,
and all this business,...I call for the motion.
Mr. Grassie: Discussion for clarification, Mr. Chairman,..
Mayor Ferre: Go ahead.
Mr. Grassie: This City Commission does not have another meeting before
the 10 day period mentioned in the motion is going to be up. In consequence
to abide by this timetable means that we will have to take some action
before you have a chance to review anything that is put together by way
of agreement. We are talking about a five-year agreement which under
normal circumstances could not be executed unless it comes back to you.
75
SIAR 2 2 1979
Mayor Ferre: Well, I think the way to do that is to send a copy of the agree-
ment to the members of the Commission and give us two days to look at it before
you sign it.
Mr. Grassie: The point that I want to make is that the City Attorney has
already told you that with the provision that you are talking about which
is a protecting of all City facilities, he is advising you that the burden
is on the City and that it is very likely that we have a violation of anti-
trust.
Mayor Ferre: You don't have any problems with me, I'm not voting with it.
Mr. Grassie: Now, the consequence of that opinion, the Administration will
not be able to recommend an agreement that includes that provision. Within
ten days we will prepare -if your motion is adopted- within 10 days we will
prepare an agreement which includes that. But I want you all to be clear
one, that we will not be recommending it, that we will present it only based
on your motion....
Mayor Ferre: You'll do what the majority of this Commission asks you to do,
that's all.
Mr. Grassie: ....and further, I simply want you to be clear that I simply
will not have an opportunity to get back to you before the 10 days are up.
Mayor Ferre: All right, further discussion...he said that he will sign it
as I understand it, provide --I would imagine you would send it to members
of the Commission and set a time date and then sign it.
Mrs. Gordon: No, he said he couldn't, on account of the legal opinion.
Mr. Grassie: That's not what the motion says, Mayor, but certainly, we'll
be happy to do that.
Mr. Logan: Mr. Mayor, did the motion say that the Administration was to do
their job? I'm not worried at all about this Commission doing their job.
And if this Commission, you know, wants to take a couple of more days to do
their jobs to redevelop it and authorize it, I'll live with that.
WHEREUPON the vote was called on the above
stated Motion, which motion failed to be
pass by the following vote:
AYES: Commissioner (Rev.) Theodore R. Gibson
Commissioner Rose Gordon
NOES: Commissioner Armando Lacasa*
Vice Mayor J. L. Plummer, Jr.*
Mayor Maurice A. Ferre
ON ROLL CALL:
Mr. Plummer: I've got to be consistent. I'm in favor of Mr. Logan having
his boat show, I'm opposed to the 60-day up front and after, and I have been
opposed to it and I'm opposed to it for everyone. I think it restricts the
possibility of potential revenue to this City and it ties the Facilities Di-
rector from leasing those facilities and I think the public has the right
if dates are not secured, so I have to vote against the motion.
Mr. Lacasa: I will have to vote against the motion, and the reason is the
60-day protection clause on all the City facilities. For me this.is a very
difficult situation because I can sympathize with your position. I am ready
to make another motion as soon as this one is over. In all conscience, I
cannot vote against my belief at this point that the City could be jeopardized
twice by the 60-day protection clause. One from the legal standpoint of view
in the question of the anti-trust law possibility; second, on the matter of
the economic aspect that I will have reservations about tying up the possi-
bilities of the City to rent all the waterfront facilities tor 120 days,
which is one third of the Year. So consequently, I will have to vote no on the
motion.
76
/AR 2 2 1979
Rev. Gibson: Mr. Mayor may I now...
Mayor Ferre: All right, Father.
Rev. Gibson: I'm going to make this statement not in rebuttal to anybody but
I want to make sure the public hears it. We haven't been renting these faci-
lities, nobody has been overly anxious to rent so I don't understand. How-
ever, I make a motion that the City ATtorney be instructed to bring back an
answer and tell me whether or not there is a monopoly on the use of the Orange
Bowl by the Dolphins.
Mayor Ferre: Would you expand that motion, Father, to include all contracts
including the Baseball Stadium, all the facilities of the City of Miami where
there is a contractual arrangement.?
Rev. Gibson: Right, I'll make it. That's my motion, that the City Attorney
report back to us within a reasonable period of.time to tell us whether or
not we are operating a monopolistic outfit when we leased to these other folk
and no let nobody else come in.
Mayor Ferre: All right, there is a motion, is there a:aecond?
The following motion was introduced by Commissioner Gibson, who moved its
adoption.
MOTION NO. 79-226
A MOTION INSTRUCTING THE CITY ATTORNEY TO EXAMINE ALL CURRENTLY
EXISTING CITY CONTRACTS AND AGREEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH THE
USE OF CITY -OWNED FACILITIES TO DETERMINE IF ANY MONOPOLISTIC
SITUATIONS EXIST IN SUCH CONTRACTS.
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Plummer, the motion was passed and
adopted by the following vote:
AYES: Commissioner Armando Lacasa
Commissioner Rose Gordon
Commissioner (Rev.) Theodore R. Gibson
Vice Mayor J. L. Plummer, Jr.
Mayor Maurice A. Ferre
NOES: None.
Mr. Logan: Now, Mr. Lacasa, before you make that motion; may I pose one
question? Mr. Plummer asked me to go all the way through my presentation
and unfortunately I wasn't through with the presentation but I wanted to
show respect for your questions and not interrupt you.
Mr. Plummer: Mr. Logan, if in fact that was the case, it was the under-
standing of the Chair that you had concluded and if we proceeded with,.
that assumption then I'm sorry.
Mr. Logan: I didn't want to interrupt you, sir, okay? Let me continue by
saying this, I have two very important points. The literature that I just
passed out to you, Commissioners, is a photostatic copy of Larry Pearl's
Miami Dinner Rey Boat Show brochure. Mr. Pearl represented to Mr. Jennings
and to this Commission, if you will read your Minutes, that he was interested
in doing a clearance sale, not a Boat Show, and it wouldn't be any competi-
tion to Mr. Logan. I must tell you that since this Commission has decided
to go ahead -or since the Administration and Mr. Jennings decided to go ahead -
and issue to him that "permit", as Mr. Grassie called it, he is now doing a
full blast competing Boat Show, and there is no way that two full blast com-
peting Boat Shows can compete with each other, and as a result there are many
exhibitors that would be in my Show who I cannot have. Now, I hate to open
up an old cancof worms but on February 26 when Father Gibson said to me he
did not want to attend to anything except to Mr. Grassie and there were some
questions that were unanswered. I need to bring these things to your atten-
tion because they are very, very important. What we have here is a situation
where..it is a legal question which was addressed to Mr. Knox by Mrs. Gordon
and not answered clearly. You may recall Mr. Grassie saying under oath that
he had never seen a "standard contract" before for the City of Miami. Be
further stated, under oath, that he was under the impression that he authorized
Mr. Jennings to reserve the Marine Stadium for a clearance sale, he thought
he was authorizing a permit, not a contract, and further thought that the
77
MAR 2 2 1979
permit was revocable by the Commission. He pointed out that the City Charter
says: "No contract is legal unless signed by the City Manager, unless he
delegates the responsibility which presumably" -it is a very deep word- "which
presumably ratifies them." The question was answered clearly when Mr. Grassie
said he had not delegated the responsibility to enter into a contract. As
Mr. Jennings told in the past, he felt it was Mr. Grassie's job to tell you
certain things and that's why he didn't tell you there was a:contract entered
into on the 12th of December. He felt it was Mr. Grassie's job. Mr. Knox
indicates to me in conversation over the last two weeks, since that meeting,
that he felt it was -at the last meeting- Mr. Grassie's job to answer the ques-
tion Mrs. Gordon posed to Mr. Knox. And unfortunately, he wouldn't tell you
or I that he felt it was not his job to answer that question and more time has
passed. Now, he said it was his job to protect the City against embarrassment.
It is our contention that you don't want to be protected against embarrassment
if it keeps you from knowing the facts and the proper legal answer you were
attempting to strive for. The fact is that the most damaging statement, but
honest answer by Mr. Grassie, was that he had never before seen a standard
contract used by the City so in effect every standard contract ever entered
into since he has been in office by Mr. Jennings, or any subordinate have been
illegal, including Mr. Perl's standard contract. The point now is that Mr.
Grassie is aware of the problems caused and fully understands that he probably
should have asked this Commmission what they meant when the Minutes of November
loth indicated the 60-day before and after protect, and that you were very
displeased on December 14 that didn't make the Perl permit as he called it
knowledgeable to you. Would he continue to show total disregard for your
feelings, the Commission by ratifying that standard contract? Further if
Mr. Perl in fact had signed the missing application on the 12th of December
as supposedly stated, why did Mr. Perl make the Commission aware of that when
he spoke to you with me on the 14th of December? Didn't he feel his rights
needed protecting if he thought he had entered into a contract? Its our
contention that no such instrument was entered into on the 12th or signed
prior to the Commission's decision on the 14th. In fact you may recall when
you cross examined Mr. Grassie under oath, and Mr. Jennings, --Mr. Jennings
said,..
Mrs. Gordon: Why don't you wait until he's listening to you.
Mr. Logan: Mr. Grassie,--I'm sorry, I'm addressing a question to you sir.
Rev. Gibson: Just wait man.
Mr. Logan: That's the kind of cooperation I've gotten from Mr. Grassie
all along.
Mayor Ferre: You know that's not fair because I came over here to ask him
something. That has nothing to do with Mr. Grassie. You blame me. Okay?
Mr. Grassie: But it is typical of Mr. Logan's attitude.
Rev. Gibson: Mr. Mayor it would appear to me,...I'm going to say this. I would
think respect is due a dog, and you are not a dog.
Mayor Ferre: Well I would like to point out respectfully to this Commission
that I and others in this Commission are continually on the phone getting
up walking around and talking to different people, so I don't think anyone
can cast a stone in this glass box.
Rev. Gibson: Mr. Mayor you know I don't know why you have to take exception
and be,..you know. Look, the man called Mr. Grassie,..
Mayor Ferre: In the middle of a conversation.
Rev. Gibson: You know, this is this man's future. I don't understand you all.
You all treat people's future lightly. I'm not going to deal with that. I
hope the day will come when all of us, --as far as I'm concerned you can get
rid of this telephone, --I wish the day will come when all of us will come
here on time, take care of the business and get out of here. All right.
Mayor Ferre: I'll second that motion to remove the phones anytime you want
to make it.
II IIIIIIMNIIM=
Rev. Gibson: I make the motion that they be removed forthwith.
rn.
78
in 2 2 197$
._s
1
32. INSTRUCT CITY MANAGER TO REMOVE CITY COMMISSION
TELEPHONES FROM CITY COMMISSION CHAMBERS.
Mayor Ferre: I'll second the motion.
Mr. Plummer: The item is out of order. I invoke the 5-day rule.
Father let me answer that very quickly. I'm going to tell you I
am damn seldom on that telephone, and I will not relinquish that
possibilty, and my phone is not being answered, to have my vital
communication with my family and my business. I will not vote for
such a motion. I have not been on that phone but one time today
to ask my secretary to bring me a piece of paper, so I would not
have to leave this desk. If you take it out, by the majority, I abide,
but I'll pay for it to put in here that one time to keep me in touch
with my family and my office. I'm sorry. There's a motion on the
floor and its seconded. Is there any discussion?
Mrs. Gordon: Did you invoke the 5-day rule?
Mr. Plummer: Rose I'm not going to do that to you or Father. I was kidding,
but I'm just making my thoughts known the way I feel. Now there's a motion
on the floor and a fmcond. Let's go from there. Any further discussion?
Hearing none, call the roll.
The following motion was introduced by Commissioner Gibson , who
moved its adoption:
MOTION NO. 79-227
A MOTION INSTRUCTING THE CITY MANAGER TO REMOVE
ALL TELEPHONES USED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE CITY
COMMISSION FROM THE CITY COMMISSION CHAMBERS
Upon being seconded by Mayor Ferre , the motion was passed and
adopted by the following vote:
AYES: Rev. Gibson, Mrs. Gordon, Mayor Ferre.
NOES: Mr. Lacasa, Mr.Plummer.
ABSENT: None.
ABSTAINING: None.
Mr. Plummer: I vote no for the reasons stated. Mr. Grassie, you'll order
the phones removed, you will have one put back in here at my expense sir.
And when we remove the phones, that's all of the phones, so nobody can be
disturbed, nor be in touch with their family at 2 o'clock in the morning
when we sit here trying to conduct the business of the public.
Mrs. Gordon: We can still use our phones out there.
Mr. Plummer: Okay, Rose then you know other people have to understand
that when I'm going to do that, I've got to get up and leave this room
and go out there and take the time away hoping that I'll know when my
family calls. Mr. Grassie, you will have this phone reinstalled at my
cost.
33. (CONTINUED DISCUSSION) VICTOR LOGAN-UNRESOLVED ISSUES CONCERNING
THE MIAMI SUMMER BOAT SHOW.
Mr. Lacasa: Can we go back to the Logan situation here?
Mr. Logan: I'm just about finished Mr. Lacasa, two or three more
sentences. You may recall,(and this is very important), that,..Mr.
Lacasa you weren't here I don't think but you may recall that the
day,(you were there),..on the 26th when Mr. Grassie was questioning
Mr. Jennings and Mks. Bush, you may recall that Mr. Jennings absoultely
could not remember when he signed Mr. Perl's application, which vas only
MAR 2 2 1979
a couple of months ago.Mrs. Gordon when you asked that the witness
attesting signature be questioned, that individual was called in and
questioned by Mr. Ongie and she verified that it was her signature
but she absolutely couldn't remember when she signed it. It seems to
me that its the job of Mr. Jennings or the administration to prove
to you beyond a shadow of doubt that that permit or contract or what-
ever you want to call it was in fact signed before your December 14th
Commission Meeting when you gave me that 60 day before and after pro-
tection. And that has not been established by this administration. A11
I'm saying to you is that were you in a clear conscience giving Mr.
Perl permission to do a competing boat show three weeks after me , it
would have been one thing, which you didn't have any word in. But they
were giving him permission to do a 3-day flea market and in fact what
he's turned around and done which is in front of you, is he's doing
a full-fledged competing boat show. And that's the only reason why
I need the 60-day protection all -city.
Mr. Lieberman: Commissioner Lacasa you said before that you are casting
your vote against because you felt the 120 days was too long a period of
time. We are not asking for an unreasonable period of time. We are asking
for protection. If 120 is too long, I would ask for 90. We are looking for
a period of time that's not unreasonable but will protect Mr. Logan from
somebody going right down the street and putting up another boat show.
Mr. Lacasa: Listen I am ready to make a motion but I want to share this
now with you. I'm with the members of the Commission. The question here
from my standpoint of view is not only Mr. Logan but the interest of the
City of Miami. It is in the best interest of the City of Miami that we
have successful shows. I am not for having two shows at the same time
or within a week or within a 15 day period, so both shows results in a
failure, because,...and this goes beyond Logan's interest or Perl's
interest. This is the interest of the City of Miami. It is in the best
interest of the City of Miami that Mr. Perl's shows are successful
and that Mr. Logan's shows are successful and that if any other one
comes out with a show, that deal's also successful. My problem is very
simple, that I don't feel that the way to do it should be by giving
anyone whether Logan or Perl, or anyone, a protection clause which
could result in disadvantage to the City from both legal and economic
standpoint of view, as I stated before. There is an alternative though,
and the alternative is the reason why the City Commission exists and
where we are supposed to approve the contracts that come before the City
Commission. Now, when we have this situation, the City Commission should
evaluate on every contract situation that is presented, the feasibility
of that contract. And from my standpoint of view, a major consideration
should be that in a case like an application for a contract for a show,
if that show that is now being applied for, competes with a previously
scheduled show, to be a detriment of that show, and therefore could
result in the failure of both. To make it plain if anyone by virtue
of his financial situation, is in a position to afford losing on one
show, just to maintain a monopoly for boat shows, then that of course
will not be in the best interest of the City of Miami, and the City
Commission would take exception I'm sure of that. So my position is
this, I don't feel that we are to give two contracts any kind of pro-
tection that could result in a monopoly for a certain period of days
for any individual. However I do feel that the City Commission ought
to protect the interest of the City by having healthy shows that will
benefit the City. And this is the kind of motion I would like to make.
My motion is to instruct the Administration to proceed with the contract
within 10 days with Mr. Logan to include a protection clause on the Dinner
Rey facilities only,(and what else was in your motion Father), --the same
thing that Mr. Perl has, the 60 days before and after on the Dinner Key
facility for the 5 years.
Mrs. Gordon: So what else is new?
Mr. Lacasa: No, no,...what we are voting against is on all facilities
of the City of Miami. That's the reason I voted against it. I am willing
to vote on the Dinner Key facility, which is not according to the legal
rn.
80
MAR 2 2 1979
opinion expressed by Mr. Knox in contravention of any,...
Mayor Ferre: That's a very important distinction. What he's saying is
the previous motion said that he would not have any competition 60 days
before or after in any City facility. What he's now saying is that in
the Dinner Key facility, now we could have a boat show in another facility
and that depends on who makes the offer, the price and all that.
Mrs. Gordon: Maurice and Lacasa, you made a very nice speech and I
thought you were going to come up with something that we could really
find some credibility in, but what you are saying doesn't really add up.
It doesn't make one -and -one -make -two because you are saying you want
the viability and success of a program to take place and the two shows
at the same time are very close together,.. you know? The Marine Stadium
and this Auditorium are not very far apart, and if they take place within
a week of each other, or two,..
Mr. Lacasa: That is up to you as a City Commissioner, Rose. When that
comes,..when that second application for a contract comes, and the
Administration is instructed by this City Commission to screen every
contract that comes, and make pretty sure that no other application
could jeopardize an existing scheduled show contracted by the City
Commission, then is when your concern comes up. My problem is very
simple. I am not willing to give to any individual a monopoly for a
certain number of days of all the facilities of the City of Miami. I
am willing to take into consideration the feasibility from the economic
standpoint of view of any individual who has a contract with the City of
Miami for any facility, and take that into consideration to enter into
a second contract with anyone else.
Mayor Ferre: Now, George as I understand this portion, I don't think the
Justice Department could ever construe that to be in any way monopolistic
because we are just talking about one facility. We've got a right to tie
up facility for a certain period of time. 0r is that stretching it?
Mr. Knox: No, sir, that is our interpretation, and the second part of
Commissioner Lacasa's motion involves administrative activities concerning
scheduling and again where the City Commission is in a position to make
a determination as to whether or not a competing situation would create
a monopoly. Then that would not, on its face violate the antitrust laws.
Mayor Ferre: Is there a second to the motion? Anybody want to second that
motion?
Mrs. Gordon: Well it doesn't even need a motion. That's already taken,...
Mayor Ferre: What in effect his motion says is that, at Dinner Key you
will have 5 years with a 60 day protection on either side.
Mrs. Gordon: He has that. We granted him that back, long time ago.
Mr. Logan: You've already given me that on November 10. My point to Mr.
Lacasa is, Mr. Lacasa since there are other facilities all over Dade
County,..that is my point, that Mr. Perl or any other promoter as Mr.
Lieberman said is not being withheld. That's the point.
Mayor Ferre: Look, just for the matter of getting this thing, I think
Lacasa has made a motion which is legal and which give some protection
and I'm willing to second it.
Mrs. Gordon: Its repetitious of what we have done before. You just
want to reinforce what we said back in November. Okay. I'm sure you
have a right to reinforce it, but it doesn't accomplish anything to
solve the problem.
Mr.Lacasa: It does accomplish. Let me tell you what it accomplishes.
rn.
81
.YAR 2 2 1979
Mr. Lacasa: It accomplishes giving a contract to Logan. It accomplishes
having Logan being able to put his show,giving him protection on the
Dinner Key facility, the same kind of protection that Mr. Perl has.
The only thing that is not given Mr. Logan at this point, is a complete
monopoly for 120 days which is one-third of a full year, on all
facilities of the City of Miami. At the same time, the question I am
raising is that Logan, as well as anyone else, shold have the protection
in his show,..
Mrs. Gordon: He already has it, Lacasa. We gave it to him.
Mr. Plummer: I'm running the meeting. Now, Mrs. Gordon, you allow him
to finish. Mr. Lacasa, in a very calm tone, you will finish.
Mr. Lacasa: When you speak Mrs. Gordon in this City Commission, I
always listen silently and respectfully and I never interrupt you.
So I will appreciate very much if the same courtesy be extended
to me by you.
Mr. Plummer: Have you finished Mr. Lacasa?
Mr. Lacasa: Yes, I have.
Mr. Plummer: Mrs. Gordon, you wish to comment? Mr. Lieberman?
Mr. Lieverman: Yes, Armando again you are getting back to the statement
that we are trying to tie up the entire City for one third of a year.
And as I said before, we are not looking necessarily for a third of the
year, but your motion says nothing to prevent somebody from opening up
a show a couple of weeks later. Now you say the City should review those
contracts carefully. What you are suggesting is that we leave it to the
good faith of the City administration to screen people out. They've
already shown that they are willing to let a boat show go opposed to
another boat ".within two or three weeks. So if the 120 days is too much,
give us some protection clause for nearby events for the Miami Marine
Stadium or anything else that's a couple of miles away. If 120 days is
too much, give us 90 throughout the City. That's not tying up the City
for half of the year, and its not tying up the City for a third of the
year, but it protects this show from somebody siphoning off people from
the public down the road. That's all we're after, --a reasonable period
of protection.
Mr. Lacasa: Mr. Knox what would be your legal advice if the days were to
be reduced as to the effectiveness of the antitrust laws in relation to
our position?
Mr. Knox: It does not appear sir that the number of days of protection
is relevant.
Mr. Lacasa: We go back to the same kind of thing Ron. My problem is this,
as much as I want to give a fair chance to anyone, I feel I have a respon-
sibilty toward the City and I am not going to vote here for anything that
might put the City in jeopardy, legally or economically. What I am saying
is this, I think that not only on the Logan situation, on every single situation
this Commission as well as the administration, has a responsibility to see
that whatever. contracts we get into, are feasible contracts. I don't see
the administration, and I don't see the City Commission entering into
contracts with any individual that will result in two shows of the same
nature within 15 days, which might result in the failure of both. This
is the kind of thing for which the Commission and the Administration
are here. And this is the kind of trust you will have to have on the
City Commission, but the protection,..absolute protection that might
result in jeopardy to the City of Miami, that quite frankly I am not
willing to vote for.
Mayor Perre: I think we are rethrashing over and over again and the same
statements are being said over and over again. I think its been fully
discussed. I call the question.
rn.
82
'VAR 2 2 1979
Mr. Plummer: Repeat the motion.
Mr. Ongie: The City Commission instructs the Administration to complete
negotiations with Victor Logan within a period of 10 days for his Summer
Boat show to include a protection clause at the Dinner Key facilities
only, 60 days before and 60 days after.
Mrs. Gordon: Mr. Knox can I ask you a question?
Mr. Plummer: There's been a calling of the question unless you want a
point of personal privilege. Mr. Knox?
Mrs. Gordon: George is there a meeting of some sort that you are going
to be attending in the near future which would perhaps shed same light
on the legal question of monopoly?
Mr. Knox: I'm scheduled beginning this Sunday to attend the midyear
meeting of the National Institute of Municipal Law Officers, and on
the agenda is a dicussion,...
Mrs. Gordon: J.L. why don't you listen to this?
Mr. Plummer: I'm sorry. I apologize.
Mr. Knox:..is a discussion of the impact of the Lafayette Louisiana
Supreme Court case that we've been talking about concerning antitrust.
And in addition we've made a formal request of the National Institute
of Municipal Law Officers to search the records to identify if possible
a precedent situation or the existence of a situation anywhere in the
country where a municipality grants protect periods to include all
facilities owned by that municipality. That meeting takes place from
the 23rd through the 26 which is Sunday through Wednesday.
Mrs. Gordon: What is your advice to us based upon what you just told us
as to the issue before us.
Mr. Knox: Our indication has been that because the Supreme Court renders
opinions that are then studies by legal scholars throughout the country,
that this is an oportunity for me on behalf of the City of Miami to raise
this precise question during the discussion that's taking place by the
city Attorneys and legal scholars from throughout the country. And it
also give an opportunity while the meeting is in Washington D.C. for us
to utilize the resources that may be available in Washington in terms
of historical interpretations of these kinds of provisions of the Sherman
Antitrust Act.
Mrs. Gordon: I appreciate that information because what that information
says to me is that if Mr. Knox is able to make determinations during
that conference that he's going to be attending that his concerns about
the City's position as being in jeopardy legally, would be removed. This
Commission could, in fact bring this portion of the dispute back to the
table, and I assume that he would bring it to us as quickly as possible
when he has been able to make that determination.
Mr. Plummer: Any further discussion? Point of clarification by the Chair.
It is my understanding the motion as proposed is a reversal of a former
motion of this Commission granting to Mr. Logan an exclusive in all
facilities 60 forward and 60 days back is the present resolution. The
Chair is asking for a ruling must that be rescinded since this one directly
contradicts the former motion as I understand it.
Mr. Knox: The former act was in the form of a motion and the rules provide
that a subsequent motion which conflicts with a prior motion supercedes
that prior motion.
Mrs. Gordon: The reason why, its very doubtful to me how we are to
proceed now is because we are trying to instruct the Administration
to proceed and draw a contract, and I don't think that those who voted
for that privious postion want to remove the right to revert back to it
if legally Mr. Knox is able to determine at the conference that we can.
rn.
WS-
'VAR 2 2 'o'•
1
Mrs. Gordon: And I would not be able to vote with the motion if that
is the result of voting with the motion, and I don't see how we can
develop the contract,..in completion of a contract without a stipulation
of some sort in the contract.
Mr. Lacasa: You can always amend the contract, later.
Mrs. Gordon: Yes, but what we're saying is we're taking the policy change
and I don't think we need to. I think perhaps we could have a substitute
motion rather than what you're saying, and that this substitute should
say that the City Manager is instructed to complete a contract for this
year's show with Mr. Logan with all of the other provisos that this
Commission has agreed to with the exception of all other facilities
until such time as the legal issue is resolved and the information
furnished to us by Mr. Knox.
Mr. Lacasa: I'm willing to vote for that, Rose.
Mrs. Gordon: That just doesn't remove our prior policy position. Am
I correct Mr. Attorney?
Mr. Lieberman: I believe so Commissioner.
Mr. Plummer: Mrs. Gordon is that a substitute motion?
Mrs.Gordon: In order to bring about a contract which would be executed
very quickly I would say yes, that is a substitute motion that would
not negate our prior policy position.
Mr. Lieberman: For five years? Not one.
Mrs. Gordon: Yes, five yesrs included. Everything except,..
Mayor Ferre: Point of order please, Mr. Chairman to the City Attorney.
Mr. Plummer: Wait a minute. She's offered a substitute motion.
Mayor Ferre: And on the substitute motion I've got a point of order.
All right, to the City Attorney, this Commission just voted on a motion
and the motion lost 3 to 2. Now does that motion, --because it is a motion,
subsequent to the previous motion, doesn't it have precedence over the
previous motion?
Mr. Knox:Yes, sir.
Mayor Ferre: So therefore the policy that had been established was in
effect altered.
Mr. Knox: Yes, sir.
Mr. Plummer: Is there a second to the substitute motion?
Mrs. Gordon: It was seconded by Mr. Lacasa.
Mr. Plummer: Can you make a motion and then second the substitute motion?
Mr. Lacasa; Well, I withdraw mine, and I second Rose's.
Mayor Ferre: Now, repeat the motion.
Mrs. Gordon: I would ask the Clerk to repeat it as the Clerks have taken it
down.
Mr. Ongie: The City Commission instructs the City Manager to complete
contract negotiations with Victor Logan for the Summer Boat Show for
the 5 year period, with all provisions formerly contained in motions
passed by the City Commission except the 60-day protection clause until
this issue is resolved by the,...
rn.
84
MAR 2 2 1979
Mrs. Gordon:..in)other facilities.
Mr. Ongie:..in-other facilities until this issue is resolved by
the City Attorney.
Mrs. Gordon: Okay.
Mr. Plummer: Any further discussion?
Mayor Ferre: Yes, Mr. City Attorney, do you then feel, because my vote
depends on your answer, now that you need to go to Washington to this
conference to 'discuss this item, for you to come to a legal conclusion
or do you feel that your conclusion is sufficiently researched, that you
stand on what you previously said?
Mr. Knox: It is my opinion that the question has been sufficiently
researched and that my opinion would remain firm subject to having
persuasive evidence to the contrary and I would appreciate the oppor-
tunity of consluting with persons who are directly involved in anti-
trust matters to have my opinion refuted or buttressed.
Mayor Ferre: Well then the answer is that you would like to have that
time to go to Washington and get that clarified. Is that correct?
Mr. Knox: Yes, sir, especially since the event takes place with the
next couple of days.
Mayor Ferre: I see. All right.
Mr. Plummer: Further discussion? Call the roll.
The following motion was introduced by Commissioner Gordon , who
moved its adoption:
MOTION NO. 79-228
A MOTION INSTRUCTING THE CITY MANAGER TO COMPLETE
CONTRACT NEGOTIATION WITH VICTOR LOGAN FOR THE
SUMMER BOAT SHOW FOR THE FIVE-YEAR PERIOD WITH
ALL PROVISIONS FORMERLY CONTAINED IN MOTIONS PRE-
PARED BY THE CITY COMMISSION EXCEPT THE 60-DAY
PROVISO PROTECTION CLAUSE IN OTHER CITY -OWNED
FACILITIES UNTIL THIS ISSUE IS RESOLVED BY THE
CITY ATTORNEY
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Lacasa , the motion was passed
and adopted by the following vote:
AYES: Mrs. Gordon, Mr. Lacasa, Rev. Gibson.
NOES: Mr. Plummer and Mayor Ferre.
ABSENT: None.
ABSTAINING: None.
Mayor Ferre: As I recall, because I want to be consistent, when this
thing came up originally, the vote was 3 to 2 and I was one of the
dissenting vote. I think Plummer you were the other one. I think for
me to vote differently now would be a reversal of my position. This
would take precedence over the previous motion, and therefore my voting
yes on this substitute motion, I would then reverse my position on that,
and therefore I have to vote no.
Rev. Gibson: Am I to understand that we are only voting to give the men
the contract for 5 years,...
Mr. Ongie:...with all provisions except the 60-day protection clause
until that matter is resolved by the City Attorney.
Rev. Gibson: I vote yes.
rn.
85
1AR 2 2 1979
Mayor Ferre: I'll take the Chair back again, and thank you. What else do
we have to discuss with you ?
Mr. Logan: Pier 5 which is the,...
Mayor Ferre: No, that was included. Wasn't that included?
Mrs. Gordon:No.
Mayor Ferre: Father Gibson moves, Mrs. Gordon seconds that this Commission
go on record with regards to Pier 5 that we would request respectfully
that the people who are leasing those slips be kind enough to be permitted
to do all of this. Okay. I have not problem. Any further discussion on
that?
Mr. Logan: Yes, Mayor Ferre I have a very big question with that. As I said
to you before, I have been out on Pier 5, I have been talking to the tenants
of Pier 5, I have several tenants on Pier 5 that absolutely under no cir-
cumstances will move. Just a second,..when you say you can't force them,
let me point out that you made a motion somewhere down the road that was
not in their pier agreements in the past, and allowed Larry Perl to use
Pier 5. I have already gone out there and I have already asked them
permission to use thier slips and a number of people say we absolutely
will not. Now your contract or your pier dockage agreement is very clear.
You are not legally bound by this. It says simply upon written notification,
you can void this agreement. You are not breaking any legal rules.
Incidentally during the summer many people have indicated to me that they
don't mind moving in the summer because the kids are out of school and
its less problems.
Mayor Ferre: Then fine. Get their signature and you're all set.
Mr. Logan: This is what I'm trying to tell you Mr. Ferre. There are people
out there that reduce to move if we ask them to. Now, my question to you
is if these people refuse to move, and I get the person on slip #1,5, 9
and 12 to say they'll go, I haven't got the use of Pier 5 and I can't
use it for my boat show. I've already been out there.
Mayor Ferre: What's your question?
Mr. Logan: I'm simply asking you to please give me,...look I think you
all know that I've really taken a beating on this boat show. You know
I am not Howard Hughes, and financially this has really done a draining
job on me. I'm simply asking this Commission to give me a consideration.
Say to me Vic Logan, we will do the name thing that we've done for
Larry Perl. You deserve no less. We will order the people on Pier 5 to
move.
Mayor Ferre: All right. Modify your motion and tell me,..
Rev. Gibson: I move that we invoke the rule to the provision in that
contract asking the tenants to make available to Mr. Logan those slips.
Mayor Ferre: Will you incorporate in that the same as we do for the
other boat show.
Rev. Gibson; That's the intent,...
Mayor Ferre: In other words so that its understood that we're not doing
for one more or less than we are doing for the other.
Mr. Lacasa: I second it.
Mrs. Gordon: I did already.
Mr. Plummer: Mr. Grassie presently I know that is in Mr. Perl's and
I voted against that for Mr. Perl. Presently at whose expense are these
people moved?
i
rn.
W
WAR 2 2 1972
Mr. Plummer: It is an inconvenience, and are these people compensated,
are they given additional apace? What happens there? I don't know and
I think we must know.
Mr. Jennings: Commissioner, we generally provide them with another
slip, if we can and one of our two City marinas. We can't promise
that we will have,....we have 42 boats on Pier 5. Maybe we will have
42 empty slips and maybe we won't.
Mr. Plummer: My question is,..
Mr. Jennings: We do our best.
Mr. Plummer: Who pays for it?
Mr. Jennings: Who pays for their move? Or who pays for the other slip?
Mr. Plummer: What exists with Mr. Perl,....
Mr. Jennings: They have paid for a slip anyway, so we pay for the other
slip. We just give them a swap.
Mr. Plummer: Can I have an answer?
Mr. Jennings: I'm sorry.
Mr. Plummer: My question is, the rules that presently are with Mr. Perl.
Does he compensate the people for moving? Number two, does he compensate
the City for additional square footage of lease?
Mr. Jennings: No, sir he doesn't. In answer to your first question he
does not compensate the people for moving. In answer to your second question
he pays the City rental for Pier 5.
Mr. Plummer: Okay.
Mayor Ferre: And that would be the same in this case.
Mr. Jennings: Sure.
Mayor Ferre: What's sauce for the goose, is sauce for the gander. Further
discussion; on the goose and gander? Call the roll.
Mr. Grassie: Mr. Mayor?
Mayor Ferre: You're against the goose and gander?
Mr. Plummer: No, he wants to get back to the ox.
Mr. Grassie: Mr. Mayor you have 42 people out there on that pier, some
of whom are live -a -boards. That's their home. They have a contract
with you which says that they have to move once a year.
Mayor Ferre: Once a year?
Mr. Grassie: Once a year. Mr. Logan is proposing to you that you arbi-
trarily without hearing these people, break their contract and force
them to move. That's what he's suggesting to you.
Mayor Ferre: Let's get this very clear' -on the record. Does the contract
people sign on Pier 5, of 42 boats say that they must move at our request
once a year?
rn.
87
11111.11
*MAR 2 2 197"
Mr. Grassie: Once per year for a specific named show.
Mayor Ferre: So in other words we're not really legally able to do this.
Mr. Grassie: That is correct, sir, you are not unless you void their contracts.
Mr. Logan: That's not true.
Mayor Ferre: Mr. City Attorney, is that correct?
Mr. Knox: In order that the persons, in order that you would have the author-
ity to enforce that provision of the contract it would be necessary for you
to determine as a matter of policy that your intention at the time that that
provision was placed in the contract was to provide that service in each in-
stance where a boat show was held in the Dinner Key Auditorium or in the Din-
ner Key facility. At the time that the contract was entered into there was
only one boat show that was being held there and that was the so-called an-
nual Dinner Key Boat Show.
Mayor Ferre: So, therefore, we're stuck.
Mr. Logan: May I address the question, Mr. Ferre? Mayor Ferre, Mr. Knox did
not say that to me when he talked to me two days ago. Let me point out that
the Miami International Boat Show was here at Dinner Key and you gave them
permission to use Pier V for their boat show. When Mr. Perl' came to Dinner
Key you gave him permission to use Pier V for his boat show and it specific-
ally says, and I don't want to be repetitive but it says here, "... or any
other show that may succeed the Dinner Key Boat Show." I don't think you
meant when you made that motion, correct me if I'm wrong, to simply show favor
to one person. You continually tell me you're trying to treat everybody fair-
ly.
Mayor Ferre: Does it say one?
Mr. Knox: It says the Miami Dinner Key Boat Show or those which succeed it
and Mr. Logan's question is how to define the word succeed.
Mr. Logan: It does not say one.
Mr. Lacasa: George, I have a question here. Could we, could the City Commis-
sion change that particular situation in the contract based on the priviledge
of the public welfare of the City?
Mr. Knox: The management of the City negotiated that provision of the contract
pursuant to to a motion of intent or statement of policy which was articulated
by the City Commission at the time.
Mayor Ferre: Let me tell you I've read this, I want to read this clause to
you and I think, I hate to disagree with you, George, I never have and I'm
going to be bound by what you tell me but I want to tell you how I think you
might be wrong if you'll forgive my saying so. Item 12 of this contract reads
as follows: "... Owners of vessels assigned to Pier V at Dinner Key Marina
agree to relinquish their berths on 60-days notice if requested by the Director
of Public Facilities by direction of the City Commissioners in order that the
City may accomodate 'the in -the -water -display' of the annual Miami Dinner Key
Boat Show or any other boat show which may in the future succeed the Miami..."
Oh, I see, you're right. "... or which may succeed the Miami Dinner Key Boat
Show."
Mr. Logan: We do succeed it, Mayor Ferre, we succeed it by four months.
We're the second boat show, I'm sorry.
Mayor Ferre: George, will you accept my apologies for questioning your legal
ability?
Mr. Logan: we do succeed the Dinner Key Boat Show, it doesn't say only and
it doesn't say one.
Mayor Ferre: Or succeed, does that mean mean follow or does that mean takes
the place of?
RT
88
Mr. Knox: There are two definitions and the only way to resolve ambiguities
is to search the minds of the parties at the time that thought of the words.
Mr. Plummer: You are a fool.
Mr. Lieberman: Maurice, if this said or its successor that would be differ-
ent, it doesn't say....
Mr. Grassier Mr. Mayor, if I may? Mr. Mayor, I believe that the only person
here who was involved in writing that language is Mr. Jennings, maybe it makes
a little sense to ask him.
Mayor Ferre: Mr. Jennings, when this thing was drafted were you involved in
all of this?
Mr. Jennings: Yes, sir, I was.
Mayor Terre: All right, what was the intention of the drafters when you said,
"or succeeds"?
Mr. Jennings: Well, I'm sure my answer will be suspect but, nevertheless, I'm
sure it was meant to mean a successor to the show. It says, "...the annual",
the annual to me means one. I'm sure that was the intent.
Mr. Lieberman: Can I address one question to Mr. Jennings, Mayor Ferre? If
you're so sure, Mr. Jennings, that that's what it meant why is it you can't
remember what happened two months ago when you can so explicitly what remember
what happened years ago?
Mr. Jennings: Well, I'm not remembering I'm just interpreting.
Mayor Ferre: All right, let's not get into, we've had a little bit too much
of that today.
Mr. Knox: Mr. mayor, I'm advised that Mr. Clark drafted the appropriate legis-
lation whenever it happened in the past and maybe he can enlighten the Commis-
sion.
Mayor Ferre: Mr. Clark, the drafter, the culprit of the ambiguity.
Mr. Plummer: Why have you let us sit here for 2h hours without telling us
that?
Mayor Ferre: Go ahead, Mr. Clark.
Mr. Robert Clark: The language was to protect the tenants of their rights
from more than one eviction per year. We were very careful to spell it out
and it was the in -the -water display of the annual Dinner Key Boat Show and
just in case there was some sort of a successor corporation we said successor
in the language.
Mayor Ferre: All right, ladiestnd gentlmen, I think that we have really dis-
cussed this to a point of the n degree. Can we now vote on it?
Mr. Logan; I have one question, Mayor Ferre. Since you're spending so
much time talking about one paragraph rather than looking at the entire is-
sue which tells me whether or not I'm going to have a failure or a success
it Pier V bothers you why don't you give me Pier IV?
Mayor Ferre: I'm going to duck on that one. Where is Pier IV, is that in
Ft. Lauderdale?
Mr. Kogan: If you could give Mr. Perle Pier V, if you feel like now have
told these people and I don't agree but give me Pier IV.
Mr. Lacasa: He's got a very good point there because the question is this,
what we are trying to do is to protect the tenants of Pier V from being
evicted twice in a year.
Mayor Ferre: But the legal question is unless you have it written in the
contract with the people of Pier IV can you force it upon them? Mr. Attorney,
can you force people on Pier IV to move out if it's not in the contract like
that paragraph on Pier V?
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89
Mr. Knox: They have a right to occupy those slips pursuant to their existing
contracts and they would have to be negotiated with as those persons on Pier
V were.
Mr. Logan: Let me point something out to you, and you know Mr. Knox and I
talked about this before the Commission and it is amazing how I'm getting a
different story now. You must understand that you didn't have it in your
contract when you gave it to Mr. Perl. You sat here and made a motion, it
wasn't in their contract before you put it in for Mr. Perl. If you could just
put it in to an existing contract with Mr. Perl why can't you just put it in
for me? Your dock agreement specifically says, Mr. Lacasa, this is important;
it specifically says if you want to legally, now we're talking about the legal
question are we not, Mr. Knox? Are we addressing the legal question? Sir?
Mr. Knox: Are you addressing me?
Mr. Logan: Yes, I'm addressing Mr. Knox. We're addressing a legal question.
Okay? If the City wanted to send letters to all of the people on Pier V or
Pier iv cancelling their dockage agreement. This is only a dockage agreement,
and issue them new ones they could. It simply says you don't have to have
to have any cause. You could simply send them a letter. Now this boat show
is for the good and the welfare of the City and if I don't have pier slips on
Pier IV or Pier V I've lost 70 exhibitors.
Mr. Grassie: Just for the information of the City Commission, I understand
from Mr. Jennings that the question with regard to Pier V has been in the
agreement for at least five or six years.
Mayor Ferre: All right, is there further discussion on this item? I don't
think that we can really, we're just going in circles now. All right, call
the roll.
Mr. Plummer: Well wait a minute, Mr. Mayor, it is mu understanding by the
opinion of the City Attorney that the motion is out of order.
Mayor Ferre: On Pier V.
Mr. Plummer: Yes. Now am I right or wrong?
Mr. Knox: It does not appear that the City Commission has any authority to
order the tenants who are residing on Pier V or Pier IV pursuant to an agree-
ment to order them to leave absent their consent. This would be tantamount
to an eviction.
Mr. Plummer: As such, is the motion out of order or in order?
Mr. Knox: If there is a motion upon the floor which is designed to effective-
ly evict these tenats for a period of time without their consent then the
motion would be out of order or at least unenforceable.
Mr. Plummer: Mr. Clark, would you interpret for the record? I understand,
of course, the way I understand the understanding is that the motion is out
of order. That's my understanding.
Mr. Lacasa: Okay, but we still have a situation here. We have that Mr. Logan
is going to enter into a contract with the City of Miami to have a show that
he needs the slips to have his show, otherwise what we are doing is we are
certainly telling Mr. Logan if he doesn't have the slips that his show is go-
ing to be a failure and besides Mr. Logan's interest, I think it is in the
best interest of the City to have a successful Sumner Boat Show. So the ques-
tion remains how do we go about in providing Mr. Logan with the dock space
that he needs. My question now is this: we have our tenants in the marina
and I'm sure that the tenants have a very good will. We can negotiate with
the tenants, we can try to convince the tenants that it is in the best inter-
est of the City to have the boat show and try to obtain their cooperation.
If that fails, and taking into consideration here again the interest of the
City, we have that in this contract under Item 6(b) there is a provision that
this agreement shall be terminated upon upon one of the following conditions
and 6(b) is by written notice or termination by the City. In other words,
my interpretation of this contract is that we could terminate the contracts
by written notice. If that is the situation I would say that if negotiations
fail and in order to protect the show I would suggest that we do terminate
and renegotiate the contract with the tenants in order to include the provi-
sion that will allow us to provide Mr. Logan with the docks.
rt
90
r
r
Mr. Grassie: Commissioner, my understanding is that these are five year
agreements and that they have to be renewed annually.
Mr. Lacasa: Well, if we have to go on an annual basis we will have to go on
that basis but here the basis is necessary.
Mr. Grassie: What I'm suggesting to you is that maybe to accomplish what you
are talking about if we are willing to wait until the next Summer Boat Show,
as these contracts come up for annual renewal we could shift the burden to
Pier IV and for the Summer Boat Show provide that Pier IV would have to move.
Mr. Lacasa: I understand that but the problem is the show that he is going
to have now which has been extremely jeopardized by all the happenings here
I don't see how he can make it this year if he doesn't get the space. On the
other hand, I don't see how he can make it in the following years if he loses
his credibility now and his show is a failure at this point. So I think it
is the best interest not only of his interest but in the best interest of the
City if we are going to have a Summer Boat Show that is going to be success-
ful that we give him as much ammunition as we can give him so he can run a
successful show and, therefore, insure the success in the following years be-
cause if he fails this year I can assure you that he doesn't stand a chance
in the forthcoming years because he would have lost the credibility with his
potential clients, many of whom are out of the state.
Mr. Plummer: I disagree with my good friend Armando, you know I think that
this thing would have taken a different picture, remember that this request
for Pier V, Armando, comes late in the game. This game has been going on
since December. That's why I pinpointed this here and asked when, in fact,
this request for Pier V came. Now very obviously it came long after the init-
ial request, the initial granting of this Commission for the Pier V and unless
I stand corrected by a letter....
Mr. Logan: Mr. Plummer, to answer your question, all along I had been talking
to Mr. Jennings and to Mr. Gai about using Pier V and there was no indication
there would one problem whatsoever and I never knew I had a problem about Pier
V that I had to bring before this Commission until that letter of January 26th
came to my office three days after I had a dinner meeting with the tenants and
no one showed up.
Mrs. Gordon: What does that letter say?
Mr. Logan: That letter is informing the tenants that they can't deal with me
and informing me that I can't deal with the tenants after Mr. Jennings and
Mr. Gai had led me to believe that there would be no problem getting Pier V
and unfortunately I can't put everything in writing.
Mr. Plummer: Sir, you know but unfortunately courts of law and quaisi we are
a court of law, will not accept anything other than a written communication.
As Father says, "Black and white don't lie." Now, all I'm saying, I never
heard any request prior to today for the use of Pier V.
Mr. Logan: Sir, did you see the brochure that I sent to you?
OP, Plummer: No, sir.
Mr. Logan: Did you? Well, I sent it to you, I gave everyone here a copy,
it was right in there.
Mr. Plummer: I might have seen it but I don't remember it.
Mr. Logan: Sir, that brochure was out since November 20th. I'm not playing
any games with you and Mr. Jennings is not standing there denying that we
haven't talked about Pier V, we have talked about it.
Mr. Jennings: I'd like to respond.
Mr. Lacasa: Just a minute. Listen, I don't care about what Mr. Logan could
have applied for or could have asked for. I think that the responsibility
of the City Commission has to go beyond that. The responsibility of the City
is to ensure a successful show even if Mr. Logan by omission in his applica-
tion for a contract did not include something that could have ensured a suc-
cessful show I think that it would have been our responsibility upon review-
ing the proposed contract to see that everything that the City could do in
rt
91
order to insure the success of the show be done. So this question of the
dock apace to me is essential and I don't have to talk to Logan about this
or listen to Logan apply for it to realize that he cannot have a successful
show unless he has dockage space. So I am not considering Logan's interest
now, what I am considering is the City's interest in having a successful
Summer Boat Show.
Mr. Grassie: Well Commissioner, I wonder if it would help if we tried to
negotiate with the tenants, a voluntary withdrawal from the space, and if we
can't do that then we bring it back to your next City Commission Meeting.
Mr. Logan: I've already been out there, Mr. Lacasa. The motion on the floor
as stated I think does exactly what needs to be done. We are giving them, or
you are giving them the opportunity to fairly move out and be reciprocated,
you are further giving me the opportunity if I want to personally pay them to
move out, I'm willing to remunerate them. Okay? Instead of asking the City
to do it and if they're not willing to comply and do it to the best interest
of the City then you simply say, " We will send you a letter..."
Mr. Lacasa: Vic, I have to disagree with you on that, I do believe that the
City administration has the best interest of the City at heart and I do believe
that they will do whatever needs to be done in order to insure the best inter-
ests of the City. But, what I am going to do is make a motion - who is chair-
ing this, are you chairing this?
Mr. Plummer: The man who asked that the phones be removed. Go ahead, I'll
Chair the meeting.
Mayor Ferre: I'll tell you - excuse me for a moment, Harold - I apologize, I
do have an emergency and I may have to leave in about five minutes.
Mr. Lacasa: Well, I'd like to make a motion that the administration be in-
structed to negotiate with the tenants and in the event that the negotiations
with the tenants fail to seek alternatives to insure that Mr. Logan's boat
show would have adequate dock space facilities. i move.
Mr. Plummer: Is there a second to the motion? Is there a second to the motion?
Is there a second to the motion? The motion fails for the lack of ....
Mrs. Gordon: Would you please repeat the motion, the Clerk as he's got it
down?
Mr. Plummer: Mr. Clerk?
Mr. Ongie: Mr. Lacasa, you didn't say which pier but I assume you mean V,
did you mean Pier V or Pier IV?
Mrs. Gordon: He meant Pier V I think.
Mr. Plummer: Would the maker of the motion please instruct the Clerk?
Mr. Lacasa: Pier V.
Mr. Ongie: Pier V, Okay. The motion was that the City Commission instruct
the City administration to negotiate with the tenants of Pier V for voluntary
removal to facilitate the Summer Boat Show and if such negotiations fail that
other alternatives be explored in order that the Summer Boat Show has the
necessary space.
Mrs. Gordon: I'll second it.
Mr. Lacasa: Okay, now on the motion let me ask you a question, Vic. Why
does it have to be Pier V? Because the problem that we have with Pier V if
I understand is that the tenants will have to be moved twice in a year. Could
it be Pier iV as you said before?
Mrs. Gordon: Armando, why don't you say IV or V?
Mr. Lacasa: Okay, let's say IV or V.
Mr. Logan: The only reason I suggested Pier V is because there are enough
slips on Pier V for one and number two, when the architects refurbished Dinner
ICey they put the walkway where our sailboat exhibits go
111 ul 1111.1111111HIMINF III II IIM
92
rt
m • I• A
Mr. Lacasa: We could review then again but the problem is that I also have to
take into consideration the welfare of the tenants and if they....
Mr. Logan: I'm willing to go for Pier IV or Pier V.
Mr. Lacasa: Okay.
Mr. Grassis: Let us talk to the tenants of both piers.
Mr. Lacasa: That's right, that's it.
Mrs. Gordon: That's what we want to do. Wherever you gat the greatest com-
pliance than use that, four or five.
(INAUDIBLE CONVERSATION BETWEEN MR. LACASA AND MAYOR TERRE PRIOR TO VOTING ON
%ME MOTION) J
The following motion was introduced by Commissioner Lacasa who moved
its adoption:
MOTION NO. 79-229
A MOTION INSTRUCTING THE CITY MANAGER TO BEGIN NEGOTIATIONS
WITH THE TENANTS OF EITHER PIER IV OR PIER V TO REQUEST
THEIR VOLUNTARY REMOVAL OF VESSELS FROM SAID PIERS IN ORDER
TO ACCOMODATE VICTOR LOGAN'S SUMMER BOAT SHOW, PROVIDING
THAT IN THE EVENT OF FAILURE IN SUCH NEGOTIATIONS, THE CITY
MANAGER BE INSTRUCTED TO INVESTIGATE OTHER ALTERNATIVES.
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
Mayor Maurice A. Ferre
NOES:
Vice -Mayor J. L. Plummer, Jr.
Mr. Plummer: The motion passes 4 to 1. Mr. Logan, do you have any other
matters to come before this Commission?
Mr. Logan: No, thank you.
34. COCONUT GROVE HIGHWAY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT -
JOEL JAFFER REPRESENTING B.A.Y. & COCONUT GROVE
MERCHANT'S ASSOCIATION'S REQUESTS.
Mayor Ferro: We now on Item 25.
Mt. Joel Jaffer: Mr. Mayor and members of the Commission, my name is Joel
Jaffer, I live at 3268 Mary Street and I'm the Chairman of the Bayshore Alert
Yes Committee, soon to be a non-profit corporation in the community recognized
by the City Clerk. At this time I would like to apologize for the first sen-
tence of my letter addressed to the City Manager that's in your agenda packet.
The B.A.Y. Committee is not, I repeat not interested in halting development
on Miami's bayshore. In fact, I come before you today not as an abutting
property owner to the Main Righway Improvement District but as a developer.
In that sense 1'm willing to invest my time and money to see that Coconut Grove
and Miami look and grow a certain way. What separates se frowsy developing
peers is that instead of shaping Miami to fit Chicago, Sew York end national
models in the trends I merely want to the city to look the way that it has
looked and naturally evolved for hundreds of years. Although mainly concerned
with several lots on Mary Street, I've also become aware of the large volume
of traffic entering from downtown Miami to Old Cutler Shad. I think the aboli-
tion of all traffic corridors in the Grove and especially Mac Varlane load and
Main Bighway, I might add the in the last week I've done sore to alleviate
the traffic prnblem..oxl South hayshore than all the planners in the City put
together. I a.1reciate the thousands of hours literally that the Commissioners
and the citizens of Miami have spent in_oonsideration.of this problem and I couldn't
summarize briefly_or su:deratand a .l Of it but my objection at this
Uwe today is that without_arppropriats.�ublic
hearings of a problem of this magnitude which has been discussed and unless
definite plans to four lane Main Highway for one block and obtain easements
for its extension to Franklin Street have bean included in an unrelated side-
walk and utility improvement project without any or with little public input
in the planning process and a mask to prevent any public inspection of the
final project. There are many people here today who wish to address this
problem on their own but for everyone's benefit in that regard I would like
to present a brief summary of the findings of some research I was able to do
in this area and a lot of records weren't available tome. On February 24th,
1977 the City Commission confirmed Resolution 76-995 creating the plain High-
way Improvement District, improvements that it resolved to make regarded, in-
volved decorative sidewalks, curbs and gutters, drainage, some pavement ad-
justments and a pedestrian crossing on Fuller Street. Subsequently on April
14th, 1977 a blue ribbon committee of members of the Coconut Grove
a volunteer group was appointed to act as advisors to the Department of Pub-
lic Works. On the 3rd of June, 1977 the Public Works Department asked the
Dade Department of Traffic and Transportation, DOTT, to temporarily lane
mark/. Capitol Bank and they were informed on June 14, 1977 that DOTT can
only alter lanings after the City completes construction on the project. On
the 27th, 1977 Public Works again asked DOTT to expedite the making of street
marking improvements and to obtain the necessary street widening. On July 28,
1977 the Commission ordered adopting Resolution 77-626 for the Street Lighting.
On September 19, 1977 the Public Works Department again asked DOTT for a lane
marking plan. On the 3rd of October, 1977 the blue ribbon committee discussed
the present Sodium Vapor Lighting noting that it looks like they're here perma-
nently. On the 31st of October 1977 the Commission adopted emergency street
lighting resolution for a supplemental street lighting. On the 27th of Decem-
ber, 1977 the Public Works Department sent a letter to abutting property owners
about funding for decorative street lighting. Since December of 1978 the blue
ribbon committee agrees on one plan to make Puller Street one-way in order to
make way for a parking garage. On the 8th of February, 1978 a formal letter
is sent to the property owners to fund the improvements in the original improve-
ment resolution and the improvements that it lists in that letter are the decor-
ative sidewalks, curbs and gutters, drainage, some paving adjustments and a
pedestrian crosswalk on Fuller Street. On the 14th of February, 1978 the com-
mittee drafts a resolution to extend the boundaries of the improvement district
to Mayfair in the Grove and that area and no action is taken on this resolution.
On the 6th of March, 1978 the Department of Public Works again asked the DOTT
for street marking plans to add to their improvements. The 17th of March, 78
Public Works decides that landscaping and lane marking improvements to Mac
Farlane Road should be a separate project from the rest of the improvement
project. On the 27th of April bids were received on the Street Lighting Proj-
ect, the plans that were bid on did nothing to remove existing street lights
and on the 13th of June, 78 bids were received on the original improvement
project did include four-laning Main Highway for one block on page 45 and on
page 55 and 56. My point once again is that while 1 didn't talk to anyone
with any authority in DOTT this morning they apparently have no authority to
include their street marking plans in the improvement project because they
were asked three times and never complied with those. There are similar changes
on Mac Farlane Road would be inappropriate and the letters to the property
owners especially asking for money never mentioned any plans for the street
widening. As far as the street lighting is concerned although the term sup-
plemental is used in the Commission's ordinance they are referred to as decor-
ative street lights in letters to the property owners asking for the necessary
funds to put in the street lights. At this time I'll turn over my space to
the abutting property owners and anyone else who wishes to comment on this.
But I am asking the Commission to delete the lane marking changes from their
plans and to take same steps to remove the present overhead sodium vapor light-
ing. Thank you.
Mayor Perre: All right, is there anybody else? All right, go ahead, sir.
Mr. Joe Avalos: my name is Joe Avalon, I own Dade Cycle Shop in Coconut Grove
at 3043 Grand Avenue and I'm speaking for the Coconut Grove Merchants Associa-
tion, Inc., newly formed and a not for profit corporation. it is an associa-
tion representing over 60 merchants in the Coconut Grove Business District and
those of us who could leave our businesses are here today, we have been here
since 2:30 and unfortunately I informed many of the attendants who are no longer
here that we would probably be heard between 2:30 and 3:30. M1any of them had
to leave to go close their businesses and are not here. However, the points
that we would like to bring up are as follows: We would first like to point
out to this body, and Mr. Jiffies speaks only for his group and not for the
Coconut Grove Merchants Association, we are fully capable of speaking for our-
selves and addressing the problems that we find ourselves confronted with.
rt
94
During the course of the current beautification program certain aspects of
the corollary construction have caused great concern among the business com-
munity of Coconut Grove particularly with reference to proposed parking and
laning changes. We are pleased to report that the City Manager's Office and
the Public Works Department have been most helpful. Mr. George Campbell in
particular of Public Works at a joint meeting of the Board of Directors of
the Coconut Grove Chamber of Commerce and our board last night indicated that
many of the serious concerns of our group may well be addressable. The Board
of Directors of the Chamber of Commerce unanimously endorsed our efforts to
have these plans reviewed at the earliest possible moment. We sincerely re-
quest that this body instruct the appropriate departments and individuals in
City government to continue their efforts to resolve these concerns to the
satisfaction of all. We are heartened with the attitude of those in City
government with whom we have thus far been in contact. One of the aims of
this group is to avoid an adversary confrontation whenever possible. We are
delighted with the prospect of resolving our concerns without resorting to
sensationalism. We in no way intend to imply that we oppose the beautification
program perse, to the contrary, we fully support the program. Our concerns
we feel are readily solvable, with the assistance of this body we feel that
our goals can be achieved. Mr. Bryan Hirsch will speak for a moment and then
Mr. David Tackett, President of the Coconut Grove Merchants Association has
prepared a briefing for you on the focal point of our concern. Briefing means
brief and we shall attempt to take as little more of your time as possible.
Mr. Hirsch.
Mayor Ferre: All right, thank you.
r Mr. Brian Hirsch: Mr. Mayor, my name is Brian Hirsch, I'm an attorney, my
'' address is 19 West Flagler Street and I am here today representing the Coconut
Grove Merchants Association as has been indicated a separate corporation not
for profit. Before I begin I would like to indicate that we've been here since
2:30 this afternoon and we have, and I'd like to enter it into the record, 27
signatures of merchants that work here and unfortunately, we still have quite
a few and I'm going to ask them to stand up so you can see how many have been
hanging on since 2:30 this afternoon, they're all with our group so the record
will not the people that are here.
Mayor Ferre: All right.
Mr. Hirsch: In addition I have 338 petitions that have been signed in the
last two days through our group and we would ask that these two items be
entered into the record at this time.
Mayor Ferre: All right, if you'll submit them to the Clerk they'll be so
entered.
Mr. Hirsch: And finally, at the same time for the purposes of my presentation
I'm going to ask you to examine the published notice with regard to the con-
struction. I'm not here to make a legal presentation, I will remind this Com-
mission though that I was the attorney for Save Brickell Avenue, Inc., a cor-
poration not for profit that successfully won in court the opposition to the
building of UTD Towers recently. Be that as it may, and the reason that I
have taken it upon myself to submit to you the published notice of which I
have a blow up copy for everyone to see, we are particularly concerned with
regards to the lack of parking spaces and the traffic flow on the downtown
Coconut Grove as a result of your passing Resolution No. 76-995. The problem
is, and I've put a little red X on that portion of the notice on the left mar-
gin, there is no indication in your published notice about the fact that you're
intending to do away with the parking or make a four -lane highway on this part
of the road. The possible portion of the notice that could even be deemed to
be appropriate in my opinion is that portion that says "adjustment of drain-
age structures and pavement adjustments may be necessary. I seriously ques-
tion that but in any event I'm not here on a technicality. The point we're
making is that while there are Florida Supreme Court cases and there are pre-
sentations that can be made regarding failure to give notice we are in accord-
ance with the articles of incorporation of this corporation not for profit,
number (b) says to promote the activities and cooperate with organizations and
governmental agencies that are involved and that's exactly what has transpired.
This organization has been in existence since approximately Monday of this
weak and in that period of time we have been able to....
Mr. Plummer: Excuse me, which organizations?
rt
95
Mr. Hirsch: This is the Coconut Grove Merchants Association, Inc., a corpor-
ation not for profit.
Mr. Plummer: Has only been in existence since Monday of this week.
Mr. Hirsch: That's correct, as a corporation not for profit.
Mr. Plummer: Were they in existence prior to that without a corporation?
Mr. Avalos: Another week.
Mr. Plummer: I can't imagine anybody in the grove being a fly-by-night outfit,
I'll just tell you that real quick like.
Mr. Hirsch: No, it's not fly-by-night, you're right. We have as I've indi-
cated over 60 members that are merchants in the Grove in this period of time
and that's why the 338 petition signatures in that period of time. We did
not get adequate notice about these changes, we didn't know there was going
to be a four lane and no parking on Main Highway, that's why the brief pres-
entation, and it will be a brief presentation because the point I'm making,
and I'm going to summarize it, is....
Mayor Ferre: Well before you continue, let me see if I understand what you're
saying. What's being done here is that the parking is being completely elim-
inated from Main Highway and it is made into a four lane road which it is not
now and you say that it did not go through a public hearing process.
Mr. Hirsch: We're saying that the notice that was given was defective and,
therefore, all of the merchants and the interested people, and the case law
in Florida is quite clear that the notice, and that's the reason for the notice.
Mayor Ferre: Now wait, because see what you're getting into, you may have
noticed all day we were getting into this is you're getting into legal mat-
ters.
Mr. Hirsch: Okay, well I'll try to stay away from it.
Mayor Ferre: No, but see you're an attorney and we've got an attorney here
and if what you're telling me is that we did something illegal by having a
defective notice then I need to have Mr. Knox's opinion on this.
Mr. Hirsch: Well, I'm asking you that it's not - I would like to if I could
just make two or three more sentences you may find it's not necessary.
Mayor Ferre: Mr. Knox, I hope you're listening to this because I'm going to
ask your opinion in a moment.
Mr. Hirsch: In accordance with the purposes in the articles of incorporation
the committee members and the committee itself have met with Mr. Campbell from
your department, your administration and in addition Mr. Campbell from the
County's Department of Transportation and the presentation that you will hear
in just a minute which is an alternative which does away with the parking,
the elimination of the parking and the four laning has been submitted, this
was in a joint meeting between Coconut Grove Merchants Association, Inc. and
the Chamber of Commerce last night with Mr. Campbell from your administration
present. And the presentation which would put the parking back and which would
make the road only two lanes at least during non -rush hours has been deemed _.
and been found to be at least advisable to discuss and feasible and could very
well work. So, since what we are proposing and you will hear in a minute does
not require any construction changes so, therefore, no cost to the City of
Miami, it is a matter as striping as they call it in Transportation and the
fact is that's the last thing on the construction which will probably be anti-
cipated sometime in August, there is time to discuss this, there are meeting
set up and it will probably be thrashed out but we would like you (1) to be
aware of the association, to be aware of our alternative plans and be aware
that we have had good cooperation from the City and County officials and we
are cooperating also.
Mayor Ferre: I have one last question before you make a presentation. Is
there anyone here who has been a part of this whole procedure and process who
is against what you are proposing?
rt
96
Mr. Hirsch: To the contrary....
Mayor Ferre: Is anybody here opposed, are you opposed to what they are pro-
posing to do?
Mr. Lester Pancoast (INAUDIBLE, NOT AVAILING HIMSELF TO THE USE OF A MICRO-
PHONE)
Mayor Ferre: I see, Okay.
Mr. Hirsch: May we hae the gentleman's name for the record?
Mayor Ferre: Mr. Lester Pancoast.
Mr. Hirsch: Okay. The reason I mentioned that is because we hae not had an
opportunity to discuss it with all of the people on the ad hoc committee but
we have talked with one in particular who was at the meeting last night and
has indicated he has no disagreement. I think that that's important to note.
With that summary, and with the observation that we are not here to disagree,
we just want to make you aware of us and our plan, we'd like to make a brief
presentation.
Mayor Ferre: From a procedural point of view shouldn't you actually go to
the ad hoc committee, from there to the administration and from the adminis-
tration to the Commission since it's not going to stop the construction any-
way?
Mr. Hirsch: I don't believe so, and the reason for that is if we start back
on following square one as you're indicating, Mr. Mayor, I think then, in fact,
we would have to whether the notice was defective.
Mayor Ferre: Okay, Vince?
Mr. Grimm: Mr. Mayor and members of the Commission, I don't really want to
interrupt the procedings but I think maybe in order to put this in perspect-
ive we do have to go back a little historically. We're all very much aware
that no improvement or change takes place in Coconut Grove without repeated
public airings and without many diversified opinions. And this particular
circumstance we have something unique in Coconut Grove in the sense that the
department,. the City, the administration, whatever you want to call it didn't
sponsor this improvement, this was sponsored by a group of Coconut Grove citi-
zens. They came before this Commission with an overwhelming petition request-
ing that the City develop and beautify Main Highway and a few of the other
streets leading into it.
Mt. Avalos: Mr. Mayor, may I respond to that?
Mr. Grimm: But when the public hearing was held to confirm this district
these same people expressed some concern that the Public Works Department would
ride rough -shod over the wishes of the people in Coconut Grove and to protect
that from happening this Commission in its wisdom appointed nine members -
Mr. Pancoast, Mr. Treister, Father Hingston, Claire Filer, Mr. Smith, Henry
Alexander, Mrs. Prince - a whole panel of professional and business interests
in Coconut Grove and charged that committee with the responsibility to see
that nothing was done in that street development to adversely affect the
people that were there. Now, this committee has met at least 20 times, has
kept detailed minutes of their meetings, have gotten involved in such things
as deciding how big the bricks were going to be, what texture they were going
to be and what color they were going to be- has held repeated meetings. Now
what we're hearing them say to you is that because these people did not see
a notice in the paper which said parking might be affected, and that's what
it is, affected it has not been entirely removed„ that they felt they didn't
have to pay attention to all of these public hearings, now that's what you're
up against.
Mayor Ferre: Ok. Now Lester, you and Mrs. Prince were on that committee, are
there any other members on that committee? Who is on that committee, would
you raise your hands so we'll know? Are the only two members.... All right,
sir.
Mr. Avalos: Mr. Grimm is quite right, there was an ad hoc committee of Coco-
nut Grove citizens. We have spoken with a number of them, we have not spoken
to all of them. A number of them indicated that they were not aware of the
extent of the disruption and changes involved in the traffic flow patterns
rt
and the parking. We are not here to pick a fight. We are not here to say
anything about anything except that a number of the people that we have con-
tacted are surprised at some of the extent of the changes and we are here in
an effort to present a viewpoint that is not necessarily an opposing view-
point but merely to suggest that there are alternatives to what is on the
blueprints and we are requesting an open ear and an open mind from the City
government. Mr. David Tackett has prepared as I said a brief presentation
and if it is in order at the present moment for him to proceed I suspect that
most of the questions that are being raised by the time we are done with our
presentation will be answered to the satisfaction of all.
Mayor Ferre: All right, to ahead, proceed.
Mr. Avalos: David.
Mr. David Tackett: Mr. Mayor and Commissioners, my name is David Tackett,
2860 S. W. 22nd Avenue and I own a business in the Grove area. In regards to
the ad hoc committee, yesterday morning was spent with Henry Alexander from
the ad hoc committee and yesterday afternoon, and he did attend the meeting last
night. At the end of the meeting he did state that the proposals that we have
although I'm not a traffic expert, I don't propose to be a traffic expert, I
have met with Mr. Campbell and I discussed just a few minutes ago with Mr.
Campbell from the County and they are willing to negotiate, willing to at least
hear what we have to say, programs based not just on parking but on safety,
on traffic flow that is necessary for the Grove area. If I may proceed, the
general diagram now as you see it, is for two lanes of traffic coming across
the 3400 block. You see a merge coming from the right hand lane to the left
hand lane. It then merges back form the left hand lane to the right hand lane
where it intersects Fuller Street and then comes in from the top. We see
no objection with the construction. We see no objection with the one-way
street. We see one lane proceeding on downtown, then we see one lane return-
ing with a center turn lane . This is an optional turn lane. It does not
indicate that it goes in one direction only. The single lane gone on through
town, becoming two lanes and out of town. We propose or have suggested and
have had good reception from the Board of the Chamber of Commerce and Mr.
Campbell, and a member of ad hoc committee, with the presentation last night
that instead of having these two lanes merge in this manner, if the parking
were restored here expcept possibly in the peak hours, having this lane
being the through lane, the merge beginning here, rather than here. Now
we belive this is important. A car coming from Fuller Street at this point,
the driver being allowed in this position, his view would be blocked of
this oncoming car already underway in this through lane. Now this thru lane
I indicate as a through lane because it seems to be only a suggestion of
a merge. Nothing here actually prevents through traffic, whereas if a car
was coming in this direction, it would be better viewed from here, would
not have competition in a crosswalk which we feel is very dangerous. A
point on their behalf is that it is dangerous for cars to be parked in this
lane, whereas persons walking between cars, walk into traffic therefore
not be visible. We suggest that it may be even more dangerous to create
a stack land situation here. Persons do jaywalk in Coconut Grove. They do
very unique things in Coconut Grove. If they should choose to jaywalk at
this point they would jaywalking not between parked cars but between a
stacked lane that may move at any moment, therefore creating double hazzards.
Also creating here, rather than having two cars competing, the merge would
begin here, allowing the Fuller Street car a chance to get into a safe lane
due to blockage here, whereas now he would have to wait in this line to give
pedestrians a chance to cross, then look in this direction, hoping a car is
not coming and he can only to approximately to this point. This way he would
come in here. This car would be coming from here, then begin to merge, still
allowing this turn lane. This is just a few of the ideas that we have, suggest-
ing that there may be other alternatives, not that our plan is the best.We
are not traffic engineers.
Mayor Ferre: You know I'm trying to follow it. I think I followed about half
of it. What I followed seems to make sense. Now, what is you want us to do?
Mr. Avalos: We want you to be aware that there are different ideas as to
that, and that there are meetings coming up with your administration and
the County on the striping. It will not cost the City any money.
rn.
98
IAR 2 2 1979
Mayor Ferre: Well, I think what you are proposing from what I've seen makes
sense. I would like to have the reaction of Ms. Printz, Mr. Pancoast and the
rest of that Committee and the administration.
Mr. Avalos: We'd ask you to question Mr. Campbell.
Mayor Ferre: If you are asking me a preliminary opinion of what you've said
makes sense, and I like it. Beyond that I don't know.
Mr. Tackett stated he was not opposed to the beautification and that the
changes suggested or recommended are strictly striping and laning. He felt
this may create a safer situation for pedestrians, and still save parking
places.
Rev. Gibson: Isn't it possible that, I guess what you want us to do is ask
all involved to at least hear what you haveto say. Is that what you are
asking us to do?
Mr. Tackett: If I may.
Rev. Gibson: I find it difficult to have a committee at work all this period
of time and then all of a sudden,..I would hope that you all would go into
the meeting with the feeling that you want to listen and hear and do that
which makes good sense, and if you only protect one life, then come to it.
I hope you know the sense in which I'm saying this. I find it difficult, --how
many months now? Two years? So I would want you to go and have the meeting
and from all indiciations, you are going to be dealing with reasonable people.
And you seem to be reasonable.
Mr. Avalos:If I may summarize good counsel, we feel that the serious problems
of parking and traffic flow control, pedestrian safety that are addressed by
the contemplated relaning etc. have not until now been given sufficient public
ventilation to insure that the best possible design is attained. Also to department,
the written text, to remove even one parking place in Coconut Grove until such
a time as a municipal parking facility, which I understand a study has been
commissioned and the contract is on the verge of being signed. Until that
facility is a reality, it is an even more important, if you can create parking,
do it. Don't take any away. It is obvious that it is the intent of this body
as it is ours, to safeguard the best interest of all concerned, and that you
share a desire to maintain the unique flavor of the Village. We thus request
that you, Mayor Ferre, Commissioners, Gordon, Lacasa, Plummer and Rev. Gibson,
that you direct the following: that the current laning and parking proposals
be held open to constructive changes, that additional study and consultation
with the Coconut Grove Merchants Association, Coconut Grove Chamber of Commerce
and any other appropriate interested parties be implemented as soon as possible.
I have high hopes that we will be able to report back to this group at an early
date, and indicate that our efforts have borne results.
Mayor Ferre: You have two recommendations there and I would accept that as a
motion if somebody wants to move it. You have any problems with that?
Mr. Lacasa: I can move that.
Mayor Ferre: Moved and seconded. Is there further discussion on both of those
items, together as part of one resolution. Call the roll please.
rn.
99
'VAR 2 2 1979
The following motion was introduced by Commissioner Gordon , who
moved its adoption:
MOTION NO. 79-230
A MOTION GRANTING TO THE COCONUT GROVE MERCHANTS' ASSOCIATION
THEIR REQUESTS THAT: (1) THE CURRENT LANING AND PARKING PRO-
POSALS BE HELD OPEN TO CONSTRUCTIVE CHANGES; AND (2) THAT
ADDITIONAL STUDY AND CONSULTATION WITH COCONUT GROVE MERCHANTS
ASSOCIAITON, THE COCONUT GROVE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, AND ANY
OTHER APPROPRIATE INTERESTED PARTIES BE IMPLEMENTED AS SOON
AS POSSIBLE
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: Will you make sure that the Clerk has a copy of those two items.
Anything else you want to tell us.
Mr. Tackett: Thank you very much.
_ 35. PERSONAL APPEARANCE: MS. ELLEN OSMAN - REQUESTING FINANCIAL
ASSISTANCE FOR COCONUT GROVE CHILDREN'S THEATRE
"PERFORH-A-THON" AT GUSMAN HALL
Mayor Ferre: The next appearance is Ms. Ellen Osman, to present her
request for City financial assistance for the Coconut Grove Children's
Theatre Perform-A-Thon at Gusman Hall.
Ms. Cornelia Dozier: Honorable Mayor and Commissioners, my name is Cornelia
Dozier, I am director of the Coconut Grove Children's Theatre.We are a non-
profit organization devoted to the educational training of the theatre arts
for youth. Drawing from the community at large we now have 150 children that
are involved in our program, offering clases diction, theatre history
theatre technique, music,voice and technical theatre. Last year we requested
and got the assistance from everyone involved in the City, in doing our very
first Coconut Grove Children's Theatre of Performing Arts. Our endeavors are
not only to educate the children in the theatre arts but also to instill a
quality awareness of life. What better than theatre to do that? We are on
April 30 this year, once again attempting to do our seventh annual Perform-A-Thon.
Last year it was well attended. Over 6,000 people attended it. From 10 o'clock
in the morning until 10 o'clock at night we are performing, all children, by
children and of course children's theatre does appeal to the child in every
one of us.
Mayor Ferre: Sorry to interrupt you but I have a little bit of an emergency
that I am going to have to leave, and I really would like to vote for your
thing. What exactly,..
Ms. Osman: If you will turn to the budget that I gave to Mr. Grassie several
weeks ago. You were given it today on your agenda.
Mayor Ferre: Item 26.
Ms. Osman: We have two changes. We are requesting from the City in this budget
rn.
100
11AR 2 2 19T9
$1,050.00 which we are in deficit for this project, our annual Perform-A-Thon.
Mayor Ferre: One thousand and what?
Ms. Osman: One thousand and fifty dollars is reflected in the last page of
what you have.
Mayor Ferre: Are you a nonprofit organization ?
Ms. Osman: We are a nonprofit organization.
Mrs. Gordon: It was beautiful. I was thrilled to be there last year. I hope I
can be with you again.
Mayor Ferre: Mr. Manager has the staff had an opportunity to look and make
sure this is a legitimate operation and all that kind of stuff?
Ms. Osman: Rev. Gibson is well aware of our organization and Commissioner
Gordon is also very aware of it. In fact we were presented a proclamation
at our Perform-A-Thon last year.
Mayor Ferre: I remember, which I signed.
Mrs. Gordon: What's your change?
Ms. Osman: Quick change. One thing is that we receive a waiver from Gusman
Hall yesterday which I want you to be aware of.
Mayor Ferre: Who gave you the waiver?
Mr. Grassie: The Staff Committee, that evaluates requests for waivers.
Ms. Osman:..which reduced the amount we need $250.00. There is a revenue income
that is not near what I had anticipated which is ad book income which is
being reduced by $500.00 which would increase our request by $200.00
Mrs. Gordon: I would so move Mr. Mayor. I think it comes out to $1500.00.
Mayor Ferre: Are you earmarking where the funds come from?
Mrs. Gordon: That would come from new programs and accounts under the 'Quality
of Life' classification that we have. Festivals and such. When is it going
to be? I want to come.
Ms. Dozier: Its on April 30. We are sending invitations to all of you. We would
be happy to have you attend this one.
Mayor Ferre: Are you getting funds from any other source? Metro?
Ms. Dozier: Burger King has given us a grant $2,800.00. Nothing else has been
done,....
Mayor Ferre: Have you asked Metro or the Arts Counsel? We are now paying in
this community,..we are raising about a half million dollars a month of which,
...what, 20% is being earmarked for just these types of things.
Mr. Grassie: Yes, 201 is being marked,...
Mayor Ferre: It will be well over 1 million dollars, which is exactly for your
type of program. Yesterday when we met, in the Committee that's involved in that,
I made a very strong point to Mr. Cooper and those involved in the arts not to
forget that in this Community more than 502 „in Dade County,..of this community
is either black or Latin, and I wanted to make that point very sure. I have
nothing against the Philharmonic and I have nothing against the opera, and I
have nothing against the well -established things except the times that I've
been there I don't see that any blacks and I don't see that many Latins that
are able to afford, or sitting there at those concerts.
Ma. Dozier: They'll have to come to ours.
rn.
101
MAR 2 2 1276
Mayor Ferre: I just want to make sure that it is understood that I made
that point then. I think next year this going to be resolved hopefully
this way.
Mr. Grassie: Two points, Mr. Mayor. One the preliminary staff evaluation
is that this is a very worthwhile kind of a project. The other point
that you need to be aware of is that it is not a request that was budgeted.
Consequently we don't have the money in that particular account. We can
pay it in the short run. It simply means that as we get toward to the
end of the year some of the organizations that have been budgeted are
going to get squeezed. That's the kind of problem we always have. You
are aware of that, but we can do it.
Mayor Ferre: Call the roll.
The following motion was introduced by Commissioner Gordon , who
moved its adoption:
MOTION NO. 79-231
A MOTION INSTRUCTING THE CITY MANAGER TO ALLOCATE FUNDS NOT
TO EXCEED $1,500 TO THE COCONUT GROVE CHILDREN'S THEATRE IN
CONNECTION WITH THE COCONUT GROVE CHILDREN'S THEATRE ANNUAL
"PERFORM-A-THON"; SUCH FUNDS TO BE TAKEN FROM NEW PROGRAMS
AND ACCOUNTS QUALITY OF LIFE OR OTHER APPROPRIATE SOURCE TO
BE IDENTIFIED BY THE CITY MANAGER
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Gibson , 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.
1
1.02
rn
IlAR 2 2 t979
Mayor Ferre: "Before the vote on adopting all items included
in the Consent Agenda is taken (Items 28-33), is there anyone
present who is an objector or proponent that wishes to speak
on any item in the Consent Agenda? Hearing none, vote on
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 -
AYES:
Commissioner Rose Gordon
Commissioner Armando Lacasa
Commissioner (Rev.) Theodore Gibson
Vice -Mayor J. L. Plummer, Jr.
Mayor Maurice A. Ferre
NOES: None.
36.1 BID ACCEPTANCE, WAIVE FORMAL BID PROCEDURES FOR FURNISH-
ING PRE -PACKAGED MEDICATIONS FOR THE DEPT. OF FIRE.
RESOLUTION NO. 79-232
A RESOLUTION WAIVING THE FORMAL BID PROCEDURES AND ACCEPT-
ING THE PROPOSAL OF INTERNATIONAL MEDICATION SYSTEMS FOR
FURNISHING PRE -PACKAGED MEDICATIONS AS REQUIRED FOR THE
DEPARTMENT OF FIRE AT AN ESTIMATED TOTAL COST OF $8,000.00;
ALLOCATING FUNDS FROM 1978-79 OPERATING BUDGET OF THE
DEPARTMENT; AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER AND THE PURCHAS-
ING AGENT TO ISSUE THE PURCHASE ORDER FOR THESE MATERIALS.
36.2 ACCEPT COMPLETED WORK - D.M.P. CORP. FOR SOUTHERN DRAIN-
AGE PROJECT E-43 (SECOND BIDDING).
RESOLUTION NO. 79-233
A RESOLUTION ACCEPTING THE COMPLETED WORK PERFORMED BY
D.M.P. CORPORATION AT A TOTAL COST OF $259,994.76 FOR
SOUTHERN DRAINAGE PROJECT E-43 (SECOND BIDDING); AND
AUTHORIZING A FINAL PAYMENT OP $27,543.88
36.3 ACCEPT COMPLETED WORK - MET CONSTRUCTION, INC. FOR
ORANGE BOWL STRUCTURAL REPAIRS - 1978.
RESOLUTION NO. 79-234
A RESOLUTION ACCEPTING THE COMPLETED WORK PERFORMED BY
MET CONSTRUCTION, INC. AT A TOTAL COST OF $235,306.00
FOR THE ORANGE BOWL STRUCTURAL REPAIRS - 1978; AND
AUTHORIZING A FINAL PAYMENT OF $25,330.60.
36.4 BID ACCEPTANCE - NEW RIVER CONSTRUCTION CO., INC. -
N.W. 20 STREET AREA SIDEWALK IMPROVEMENT-SK-4437.
RESOLUTION NO. 79-235
A RESOLUTION ACCEPTING THE BID OF NEW RIVER CONSTRUCTION
CO., INC. IN THE AMOUNT OF $23,334, THE TOTAL BID OF THE
PROPOSAL, FOR N. W. 20 STREET AREA SIDEWALK IMPROVEMENT
IN THE N. W. 20 STREET AREA SIDEWALK IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT;
WITH MONIES THEREFORE ALLOCATED FROM THE "HIGHWAY G. O.
BOND FUND"; WITH ADDITIONAL MONIES ALLOCATED FOR PROJECT
AND INCIDENTAL EXPENSES FROM AFORESAID FUND; AUTHORIZING
THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT WITH SAID FIRM.
103
'MAR 2 2 t9T!
36.5 BID ACCEPTANCE - BOODWIN, INC. FOR AVALON SANITARY SEWER
IMPROVEMENT SR-5k53-C 6 S.
RESOLUTION NO. 79-236
A RESOLUTION ACCEPTING THE BID OF GOODWIN, INC. IN THE
AMOUNT OF $1,163,949, THE TOTAL BID OF THE PROPOSAL,
FOR AVALON SANITARY SEWER IMPROVEMENT SR-5453-C
CENTERLINE SEWER) AND SR-5453-S (SIDELINE SEWER) IN THE
AVALON SANITARY SEWER IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT SR-5453-C
(CENTERLINE SEWER) AND SR-5453-S (SIDELINE SEWER);
WITH MONIES THEREFOR ALLOCATED FROM THE "SANITARY SEWER
G. 0. BOND FUND"; AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO
EXECUTE A CONTRACT WITH SAID FIRM.
36.6 AUTHORIZE CITY CLERK TO PUBLISH A NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEAR-
ING FOR OBJECTIONS TO ACCEPTANCE OF COMPLETED WORK -
DELAWARE SANITARY SEWER IMPROVEMENT SR-5390-C.
RESOLUTION NO. 79-237
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY CLERK TO PUBLISH A NOTICE
OF PUBLIC HEARING FOR OBJECTIONS TO THE ACCEPTANCE BY CITY
COMMISSION OF THE COMPLETED CONSTRUCTION OF DELAWARE SANI-
TARY SEWER IMPROVEMENT SR-5390-C (CENTERLINE SEWER) - BID
"A" - IN DELAWARE SANITARY SEWER IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT SR-5390-C
(CENTERLINE SEWER) - BID "A".
104
37. CONFIRMING RESOLUTION: REQUESTING JOINT MEETING WITH DADE COUNTY
SCHOOL BOARD.
The following resolution was introduced by Commissioner Gordon who
• moved its adoption:
RESOLUTION NO. 79-238
A RESOLUTION STRONGLY URGING THE DADE COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD
TO MEET IN JOINT SESSION WITH THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION FOR
THE PURPOSE OF DISCUSSING AND RESOLVING MATTERS OF MUTUAL
CONCERN AND ALSO RESPECTRULLY REQUESTING SAID SCHOOL BOARD
TO ACKNOWLEDGE RECEIPT OF THE HEREIN RESOLUTION AND RESPOND
THERETO
(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: Commissioner Rose Gordon
Commissioner Armando Lacasa
Commissioner (Rev.) Theodore Gibson
Vice -Mayor J. L. Plummer, Jr.
Mayor Maurice A. Ferre
NOES: None.
38. ESTABLISH MAY 24, 1979 AS DATE FOR PUBLIC HEARING ON BALL
POINT APPLICATION FOR DEVELOPMENT APPROVAL OF A
DEVELOPMENT OF REGIONAL IMPACT
Mrs. Gordon: I want to ask does this have to go to the Planning Board
also?
Mr. Fosmoen: Yes, it does.
Mrs. Gordon: So therefore you have to schedule it for the Planning Board
and then to the Commission?
Mr. Fosmoen: We have it scheduled.
Mayor Ferre: May 24 is for who?
Mr. Fosmoen: For this Commission.
Mrs. Gordon: When does the Planning Board get it?
Mr. Fosmoen: May 16.
Mayor Ferre: Do we have to pass a resolution for them too?
Mr. Fosmoen:No.
Mayor Ferre: Just for us?
rn.
105
WAR 2 2 1979
The following resolution vas introduced by Commissioner Plummerwho
moved its adoption:
RESOLUTION NO. 79-239
A RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING MAY 24, 1979 AS THE DATE FOR
THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE BALLPOINT APPLICATION FOR
DEVELOPMENT APPROVAL OF A DEVELOPMENT OF REGIONAL IMPACT,
SAID MEETING TO BE CONTINUED FROM TIME TO TIME AS NECESSARY
(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: Commissioner Rose Gordon
Commissioner Armando Lacasa
Commissioner (Rev.) Theodore Gibson
Vice -Mayor J. L. Plummer, Jr.
Mayor Maurice A. Ferre
NOES: None.
39. CONFIRMING RESOLUTION: CHANGE DATES FOR CITY COMMISSION
MEETINGS DURING THE MONTH OF APRIL
The following resolution was introduced by Commissioner Gordon who
moved its adoption:
RESOLUTION NO. 79-240
A RESOLUTION RESCHEDULING THE REGULAR CITY COMMISSION
MEETING OF APRIL 12, 1979, TO TAKE PLACE ON APRIL 19,
1979, AND RESCHEDULING THE REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETING
OF APRIL 26, 1979, TO APRIL 23, 1979, BEGINNING AT 6 P.M.
O'CLOCK .
(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: Commissioner Rose Gordon
Commissioner Armando Lacasa
Commissioner (Rev.) Theodore Gibson
Vice -Mayor J. L. Plummer, Jr.
Mayor Maurice A. Ferre
NOES: None.
1.06
rn MAR 2 2 1979
40. EXPRESSION OF CITY COMMISSION'S DISSATISFACTION WITH RECENTLY
REVISED STANDARDS OF ELIGIBILITY FOR DETERMINING
AMOUNT OF FOOD STAMPS TO BE AWARDEDTO PEOPLE IN
NEED
Mrs. Gordon: On the #2 item, I want to call to your attention a situation
that maybe not everybody is aware of, but it hurting a great number of
low-income people in our community and that is the cutback on the method-
ology for determining the amount of food stamps that are made available
to these people. I want to get the attention of the Commission before
I,...
Mr. Plummer:You've got mine, baby.
Mrs. Gordon:...yes, but I need to tell you what the problem is so you
will understand it and be able to speak out in other bodies about it.
Congress has eliminated from the calculations of eligibility the costs
that the persons, --particularly the elderly,have to spend for medical
care. Medicine, or any other medical care. Now in reallocating the
amounts of dollars that are considered their base, so they can determine
how much money they will get, some of the elderly people are receiving
as little as 12 to 15 dollars a month in food stamps whereas they were
receiving closer to fifty dollars before. What's happening is that a
number of these people have stopped taking the medication because they
are getting no credit for it and a lot of those people now are ending
up in the emergency room of the hospitals at lunch time because that's
where they can get a meal. And its a really sad situation and I feel that
we together with every other concerned body, the Dade League of Cities,
the United Way, --whatever agency has to deal with community problems,
must notify our congressmen, our senators, of the inequity of the system
that's being used. So I would like to move that we as a City Commission
notify those people concerned in Washington who have to deal with this
issue, how its affecting our population, because we have a great number
of people here who are being severely handicapped by the method now being
used. I move it. I don't have a resolution before me. I would hope that
we could get one ready before we leave tonight.
Mayor Ferre: There's a motion and a second. Call the roll.
The following resolution was introduced by Commissioner Gordon who
moved its adoption:
RESOLUTION NO. 79-241
A RESOLUTION EXPRESSING EXTREME DISSATISFACTION ON THE
PART OF THE COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA,
WITH RECENTLY REVISED STANDARDS OF ELIGIBILITY FOR
DETERMINING THE AMOUNT OF FOOD STAMPS TO BE AWARDED
PERSONS IN NEED, AND DIRECTING THE CITY CLERK TO
FORWARD A COPY OF THE HEREIN RESOLUTION TO THE PROPER
FEDERAL OFFICIALS CHARGED WITH ADMINISTERING THE
PROVISIONS OF THE FEDERAL FOOD STAMP PROGRAM
(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: Commissioner Rose Gordon
Commissioner Armando Lacasa
Commissioner (Rev.) Theodore Gibson
Vice -Mayor J. L. Plummer, Jr.
Mayor Maurice A. Ferre
NOES: None.
107
MAR 2 2 1979
41. URGE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE THAT NO CHANGES BE ADOPTED PERTAINING
TO CHAPTER 175 AND 185 OF THE FLORIDA STATUTES
"PENSION FUNDS"
ti.
Mr.Plummer: Mr. Mayor I brought to the attention of the Commission a
guess a sore subject, and I can go into it as much as you want. I'll
read the resolution which I have combined. (Mr. Plummer reads resolution.)
Mayor Ferre: That's a pretty heavy subject.
Mr. Plummer: Well its not a heavy subject.
Mayor Ferre: J.L. look, the session doesn't start until the middle of
April, right?
Mrs. Gordon: Well, its in committee now, Mr. Mayor and that's a reason.
Mayor Ferre: You want to make a motion?
Mr. Plummer: I make the motion, yes.
Mrs. Gordon: I second the motion.
Mr. Lacasa: I don't know what the impact of this will have on the pension
and financial structure of the City. I relly don't know.
Mr. Grassie: This is strictly a policy choice on the part of the City
Commission. So whatever action you take here would be the position of the
City. I think in fairness to the City Commission you need to know what
the money impact this decision is.
Mayor Ferre: Its going to be an hour.
Mrs. Gordon: It's not going to be an hour.
Mayor Ferre:I'm already an hour late.
Mrs. Gordon: Mr. Gunderson, before the Mayor leaves, may I ask you a
question? Are you planning to go to Tallahassee on March 2Oth?
Mr. Gunderson: No.
Mr. Plummer: Well I guess I'm running the meeting. Is there any other
discussion? Call the roll.
Mr. Lacasa: What?
Mr. Ongie: It's a motion that Mr. Plummer read from a resolution about
urging the State legislature not to,...
Mr. Plummer: In fairness, I hear a disagreement over here, and over there
shaking heads that they want to discuss the matter.
Mayor Ferre: Look, with the records, I don't want to be leaving here
without voting. Show me voting no on the premise that its a very com-
plicated subject I don't fully understand. It has a serious economic
impact as I understand it. J.L please don't misunderstand. Until I
understand this much, much better, and I don't have time now.
Mr. Plummer: Well, Mr. Mayor just so you will go away with a little comfort-
able feeling, this is a proposal to change the present,..
Mrs. Gordon: Exactly right.
Mr. Plummer:..its not a matter that this will change to make the impact
rn.
108
MAR 2 2 1979
14r. Plummer: This is a proposal to change what is presently there in
our pension fund. And Mr. Gunderson went representing the City and
proposed this idea to a Committee who adopted it without first finding
the policy of this Commission.
Mr.Grassie: Commissioner, he did not go representing the City. He was
invited as an expert witness and he testified et thier request,as
an expert witness, of a person in the state who knows about these things.
Mayor Ferre: When you testified did you make it a point to say that
were not there representing the City of Miami?
Mr. Gunderson: I represented the director,..as the Director of Finance,..
Mr. Plummer:...for the City of Miami.
Mr. Gunderson:..for the City of Miami.
Mrs. Gordon: Well, he did.
Mayor Ferre: But you specified that this was not the City of Miami's
position? Did you say that?
Mr. Gunderson: Yes, sir, I said that. Very specifically.
Mr. Plummer: Mr. Mayor I want to say this to you, and I'll abide by
your rules. This particular thing has got,...
Mayor Ferre: Put it to a vote J.L.
Mr. Plummer:No, I haven't got the votes at all. I can only say the way
J.L. feels, and I'm saying to you, that its got a tremendous up -set in
the Police Department, Fire Department and all employees.
Mrs. Gordon: You know how I feel? J.L. is absolutely right. What it
does, its a matter for negotiations in my opinion. In fact if it
were going to be handled, it should have been handled at the bargaining
table because that's where it belongs.
Mr. Plummer: Rose, I don't agree with that. I think its wrong period. I
am totally opposed to it.
Mayor Ferre: I don't understand any of this,..because none of you,..
you may have gone to see J.L., and you may have gone to see Rose
about it,...
Mrs. Gordon: No one saw me about this..I just happen to know about it,
being on the Pension Board.
Mr. Plummer: For the record, it is unfortunate, with the instructions
of this Commission, to place it on this agenda. I accept the Administra-
tion, that they forgot to do it, and as such put it on the supplemental.
But it was to be a scheduled item for today.
Mayor Ferre: Would you continue calling the roll? J.L. I will commit
to you if you lose this thing, I will move to reconsider and we'll
bring it up at the next session.
Mr. Plummer: Mr. Mayor before I do that, and take defeat, which could
be misunderstood, I'd rather defer. I don't want to but rather than take
a defeat I'd rather defer.
Mayor Ferre: And if you lose, I'm telling you on the record, that I
will make a motion to reconsider.
Mrs. Gordon: That no good Maurice, show that. Its no good that way.
•
rn.
109
VAR 2 2 1971
Rev. Gibson: Why don't we defer this?
Mr. Plummer: Father the legislature convenes in abount another 10 days.
Mayor Ferre: Call the question.
Mrs. Gordon: How is the motion being stated?
Mr. Ongie: I don't have a complete wording of it. He's got it.
Mrs. Gordon: Will you read it?
Mr. Plummer: Okay, I have the motion in front of me Rose, right here,
okay, and its with an addition and that includes the Fire Department
as well. I vote yes.
The following resolution was introduced by Commissioner Plummer who
moved its adoption:
RESOLUTION NO. 79-242
A RESOLUTION OF THE COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA,
RECOMMENDING TO THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA
THAT NO CHANGES BE ADOPTED IN THE LEGISLATURE PERTAINING
TO CHAPTER 175, FLORIDA STATUTES, ENTITLED "MUNICIPAL
FIREMEN'S PENSION TRUST FUND" OR TO CHAPTER 185, FLORIDA
STATUTES, ENTITLED "MUNICIPAL POLICE OFFICER'S RETIREMENT
TRUST FUND: POLICEMENT GENERALLY", AND DIRECTING THE CITY
CLERK TO FORWARD A COPY OF THE HEREIN RESOLUTION TO PROPER
STATE OFFICIALS
(Here follows body of resolution, omitted here and on file
in the Office of the City Clerk.)
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Gordon , the resolution 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.
NOES:
Mayor Ferre.
42. PERSONAL APPEARANCE: LAZARO ALBO REGARDING EXCHANGE OF
EQUIPMENT WITH LIMA, PERU. APPOINT LAZARO ALBO
AS ASSISTANT TO THE MAYOR AT $1.00 A YEAR
Mayor Ferre: Lazaro would you stand up and tell us what the problem
is? This is the City of Lima, we passed a resolution last July to
give them 9 trucks. They got sold for half of what we said they were
worth four months later, and now there's a bunch of new trucks and
my position for the record very clearly is, that we'll live up to
whatever it is we agreed to do in the past. And no more.
Mr. Plummer: Or no less.
Mayor Ferre: On a dollar basis. We agreed last year ,
Mt. Lazaro Albo: ..give 9 trucks.
Mayor Ferre:..to give 9 trucks. One thing is 9 trucks,...to Lima Peru.
Mrs. Gordon: To what? For what? To where?
ra.
,MAR 2 2 1279
Mayor Ferre: To Lima Peru. We passed this last year.
Mrs. Gordon: Nine trucks?
Mr. Plummer: For the statue Rose.
Mayor Ferre: We are going to get a statue and all this kind of stuff.
In the meantime, the trucks were sold. Four months went by, the whole
thing went away. The trucks were sold. We didn't live up to this thing,
through no fault of ours
Mr. Grassie: They decided they did not want the trucks.They turned us
down.
Mayor Ferre: Then is the question. Would you mean Tommy de Toro
because you never heard back from them.
Mr. Grassie: No, sir.
Mayor Ferre: We got an official communication?
Mr. Grassie: You remember that Tommy De Toro was
in Lima with us he was named by the Mayor of Lima as the official
representative for him here. And that happened when you and I were
the mayor's home. So we did accept his word for it. But what happened
was that Lima could not get the national shipping company to give them
freight, and consequently they did not accept the trucks. After that
we sold them.
Mayor Ferre: We sold them. All right. Now, the Captain was here from
the Peruvian Navy, now says that they will have them shipped, to come
by and pick up these trucks. The question is the trucks aren't there
anymore.
Mr. Grassie: His Mucks are not here.
Mayor Ferre: Now, therefore all I am saying that I think made a commitment
that I think we should live up to. Those trucks are no longer here. We've
got to do something about it. However the problem is that these new trucks
are worth much more than the old trucks.
Mr. Grassie: Six times as much.
Mr. Albo: No, no. The other truck was $9,700. These new trucks are
$12,500. He sold for $9,700. Now hP
Mayor Ferre: I've got no problems Lazaro as long we do not change what
we did before.
Mr. Albo: No change,...before, 9-trucks, now, 6-trucks.
Mayor Ferre: The same thing.
Mr. Albo: What's the difference.
Mr. Plummer: I sounds like a Chinese election.
Mayor Ferre: Look this is a serious matter.
Mr. Albo: This is a serious matter,...and City Manager should be in Peru.
Okay, go ahead.
Mrs. Gordon: Where's the statue Lazaro?
Mr. Grassie: The same people who estimated the value of the trucks the
first time, did them the second time. Trucks that we now have are worth
$6,000. a piece and that is for 6 trucks, $36,000.
rn.
111
LIAR 2 2 t!
Mayor Ferre: Lazaro we cannot do that.
Mr. Albo: Mr. Manager, before you want a price for $1500. --they sold for
$350.
Mayor Ferre: No, but,...
Mrs. Gordon: Can we take it up next month?
Mayor Ferre: No, because the ships are leaving.
Mr. Albo: Before you got in big trouble, --you want $1500. it's no good,
$350.00,. (INAUDIBLE)
Mr. Plummer: How much are you willing to pay?
Mr. Albo: I am willing to pay nothing. The City Manager and the Mayor
being in Peru,...
Mr. Grassie: Mr. Mayor can we agree that want to give them $9,000. of
equipment? If we can agree on that,...
Mrs. Gordon: No.
Mr. Albo: (INAUDIBLE)
Mayor Ferre: Look this Commission took a position that we were going
to give them $9,500. worht of equipment. All right? Now, that stands.
They were going to give us in exchange for that a statue. If we don't
get the statue, you don't get the trucks.
Mr. Albo: I'll put you in the statue.
Mayor Ferre: I don't want to be in the statue.
Mr. Plummer: Remember what is to be inside the statue?
Mayor Ferre: Mr. Grassie, with regards to the trucks.Lazaro, wait a moment.
I am one hour late to a very important meeting. Now, Mr. Grassie, seriously
now, the $9,000. worth of equipment that they had (will you keep quiet)
four months later, was sold for less than half of that. So that means
obviously we had either inflated the price or,...I hope we don't do that
in this case.
Mr. Grassie: Mr. Mayor we will try and give them, and if you prefer.
we will get an outside estimator. We'll try to give them as honestly
as we can $9,000. worth of equipment.
Mayor Ferre: Thanks very much.
Mr. Lacasa: I move that Lazaro Albo be appointed assistant to the Mayor
for $1.00 a year.
Mr. Plummer: If you'll knock it down to 99p I'll consider. I second the
motion.
rn.
112
MAR 2 2 1979
The following motion was introduced by Commissioner Lacasa , who
moved its adoption:
MOTION NO. 79-243
A MOTION APPOINTING LAZARO ALBO AS ASSISTANT TO MAYOR
MAURICE A FERRE AT AN ANNUAL SALARY OF $1.00 PER YEAR.
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Plummer, 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.
ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business to come before the
Commission at this time, the meeting was adjourned
at 7:45 o'clock P.M.
ATTEST:
RALPH G. ONGIE
CITY CLERK
MATTY HIRAI
ASSISTANT CITY CLERK
MAURICE A FERRE
MAYO R
113
MAR 2 2 ren
CITY OF MfAMI
MEETING DATE:
INDEX March 22, 1979
ITEM NO DOCUMENT IDENTIFICATION
1 COMMISSION AGENDA AND CITY CLERK REPORT
2 REQUESTING THAT THE CITY MANAGER INSTRUCT THE PLANNING
DEPARTMENT TO INQUIRE FROM OTHER LARGE URBAN AREAS TO
DETERMINE IF A NEIGHBORHOOD PARTICIPATORY DEMOCRACY
SYSTEM IS FUNCTIONING EFFECTIVELY
3 AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO SUBMIT A GRANT APPLICA-
TION TO THE BUREAU OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE PLANNING AND
ASSISTANCE, DIVISION OF STATE PLANNING, DEPARTMENT
OF ADMINISTRATION, STATE OF FLORIDA FOR FUNDING OF JU-
VENILE RUNAWAY PROJECT
4 AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO SUBMIT A GRANT APPLICA-
TION TO THE BUREAU OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE PLANNING AND
ASSISTANCE, DIVISION OF STATE PLANNING, DEPARTMENT OF
ADMINISTRATION
5
10
11
AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO SUBMIT A GRANT APPLICA-
TION TO THE BUREAU OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE PLANNING, DEPART-
MENT OF ADMINISTRATION.
AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE THE ATTACHED
AGREEMENT EXTENDING AN AGREEMENT DATED AUGUST 23,
1978 BETWEEN THE CITY AND ALLIED REPRESENTATIVES TO
MANAGEMENT, INC. FOR FURNISHING, ON AN AS -REQUIRED"
BASIS, ON -CALL PROGRAMMING -ANALYTICAL -CONVERSION SER-
VICES FOR THE CITY'S COMPUTER OPERATIONS
NAMING THE PRORPOSED CENTRAL MIAMI PARK, AT N.W. 10TH
STREET AND 5TH AVENUE, THE "HENRY E.S. REEVES" PARK, IN
RECOGNITION AND APPRECIATION OF MR. REEVES'S UNTIRING
EFFORTS IN BEHALF OF THE CITY AND ITS CITIZENS
ACCEPTING THE BID OF BOWEN PAINTING IN THE PROPOSED
AMOUNT OF $83,300 FOR ORANGE BOWL -PAINTING AND
MAINTENANCE-1979
ACCEPTING THE BID OF NORTHSIDE MOTORS, INC.
AMENDING SECTIONS 1 AND 2 OF RESOLUTION NO. 78-374,
ADOPTED MAY 31, 1978, WHICH APPROVED THE FINANCIAL
PLANS FOR 400 SECTION 8 HOUSING UNITS.
AUTHORIZING THE DIRECTOR OF FINANCE TO PAY TO
ROBERT JACOBS AND VICKI JACOBS, WITHOUT THE ADMISSION
OF LIABILITY, THE SUM OF ONE -HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND
DOLLARS ($150,000.00) IN FULL AND COMPLETE SETTLEMENT
OF THIER CLAIMS AGAINST THE CITY OF MIAMI
AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT
WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO FOR THE CONTINUATION
OF THE DEVELOPMENT AND VALIDATION OF SELECTION AND
4ROM0TIONAL EXAMINATIONS FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT
COMMISSION
ACTION
R-79-202
R-79-205
R-79-206
R-79-207
R-79-208
R-79-209
R-79-210
R-79-211
R-79-212
R-79-213
R-79-214
RETRIEVAL
CODE NO.
0043
79-202
79-205
79-206
79-207
79-208
79-209
79-210
79-211
79-212
79-213
79-214
DOCUMENTIN DEX
CONTINUED
TEM NO.I DOCUMENT IDENTIFICATION
13 ASKING METROPOLITAN DADE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMIS-
SIONERS NOT TO HOLD COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TARGET AREA
ELECTIONS IN EIGHT TARGET AREAS PARTIALLY OR WHOLLY
WITHIN THE CITY OF MIAMI, UNTIL THE CITY COMMISSION
MAKES RECOMMENDATIONS
14 TRANSFERRING CERTAIN CERTIFICATES OF CONVENIENCE AND
NECESSITY ISSUED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF CHAPTER 56
OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI
15 ACCEPTING THE COMPLETED WORK PERFORMED BY D.M.P. COR-
PORATION AT A TOTAL COST OF $606,701.94 FOR THE MANOR
SANITARY SEWER IMPROVEMENT SR-5437-C
16 WAIVING THE FORMAL BID PROCEDURES AND ACCEPTING THE
PROPOSAL OF INTERNATIONAL MEDICATION SYSTEMS FOR
FURNISHING PRE -PACKAGED MEDICATIONS AS REQUIRED FOR
THE DEPARTMENT OF FIRE AT AN ESTIMATED TOTAL COST OF
$8,000.00
17 ACCEPTING THE COMPLETED WORK PERFORMED BY D.M.P. COR-
PORATION AT A TOTAL COST OF $259,994.00 FOR SOUTHERN
DRAINAGE PROJECT E-43.
18 ACCEPTING THE COMPLETED WORK PERFORMED BY MET CONSTRUC-
TION, INC. AT A TOTAL COST OF $253,306.00 FOR THE
ORANGE BOWL STRUCTURAL REPAIRS-1978
19 ACCEPTING THE BID OF NEW RIVER CONSTRUCTION CO.,
INC. IN THE AMOUNT OF $23,334, THE TOTAL BID OF THE
PROPOSAL, FOR N.W. 20 STREET AREA SIDEWALK IMPROVEMENT
20 ACCEPTING THE BID OF GOODWIN, INC. IN THE AMOUNT OF
$1,163,949, THE TOTAL BID OF THE PROPOSAL, FOR AVALON
SANITARY SEWER IMPROVEMENT SR-5453-C SEWER AND SR-5453
S IN THE AVALON SANITARY SEWER IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT
21 AUTHORIZING THE CITY CLERK TO PUBLISH A NOTICE OF
PUBLIC HEARING FOR OBJECTIONS OF THE COMPLETED CON
STRUCTION OF DELEWARD SANITARY SEWER IMPROVEMENT
SR-5390-C
22 STRONGLY URGING THE DADE COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD TO MEET
IN JOINT SESSION WITH THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION FOR
THE PURPOSE OF DISCUSSING AND RESOLVING MATTERS OF
MUTUAL CONCERN
23 ESTABLISHING MAY 24, 1979 AS THE DATE FOR THE PUBLIC
HEARING ON THE BALLPOINT APPLICATION FOR DEVELOPMENT
APPROVAL OF A DEVELOPMENT OF REGIONAL IMPACT.
24 RESCHEDULING THE REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETING OF
APRIL 12, 1979, TO TAKE PLACE ON APRIL 19, 1979
25 EXPRESSING EXTREME DISSATISFACTION ON THE PART OF THE
COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, WITH RECENTLY RE-
VISED STANDARDS OF ELIGIBILITY FOR DETERMINING THE
AMOUNT OF'FOOD STAMPS TO BE AWARDED PERSONS IN NEED
COMMISSION
ACTIONL
R-79-215
R-79-218
R-79-221
R-79-232
R-79-233
R-79-234
R-79-235
R-79-236
R-79-237
R-79-238
R-79-239
R-79-240
R-79-241
RETRIEVAL
CODE NO.
79-215
79-218
79-221
79-232
79-233
79-234
79-235
79-236
79-237
79-238
79-239
79-240
79-241
26 RECOMMENDING TO THE LEGISLATION OF THE STATE OF
FLORIDA THAT NO CHANGES BE ADOPTED IN THE LEGISLA-
minN PERTAINING TO CHAPTER 175, FLORIDA STATUES,