HomeMy WebLinkAboutR-03-1105City of Miami
Legislation
Resolution: R-03-1105
City Hall
3500 Pan American
Drive
Miami, FL 33133
www.miamigov.com
File Number: 03-0145 Final Action Date: 10/9/2003
.A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION WITH
ATTACHMENT(S), AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING, IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO THE
CITY ATTORNEY, SUBJECT TO THE CITY MANAGER'S APPROVAL, WITH
THE CITY OF MIAMI RETIRED POLICE OFFICERS COMMUNITY
BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION, INC. FOR ITS DONATION OF FUNDS
TOWARDS THE RESTORATION OF A BUILDING KNOWN AS THE COURT
HOUSE AND PRECINCT LOCATED AT THE CORNER OF NORTHWEST
11TH STREET AND NORTHWEST 5TH AVENUE, MIAMI, FLORIDA;
FURTHER DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO TAKE THE STEPS
NECESSARY TO ESTABLISH A SPECIAL REVENUE FUND FOR THE
APPROPRIATION OF FUNDS RECEIVED FOR THE RESTORATION AND
MAINTENANCE OF THE BUILDING AND MUSEM.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
MIAMI, FLORIDA:
WHEREAS, in 1944, the City of Miami established, under the "separate but equal" era,
the nation's first Negro Police Precinct which was quartered in the dental offices of Dr. I.P.
Davis; and
WHEREAS, then in 1950, the City of Miami constructed a building located on the
corner of Northwest 11th Street and Northwest 5th Avenue, Miami, Florida, which became the
nation's first Negro Municipal Courthouse and Police Precinct Station ("Courthouse and
Precinct"), which employed its own clerk and bailiff; and
WHEREAS, it was at this Courthouse and Precinct that legendary Judge Lawson E.
homas, the first Black judge in the South since the Reconstruction period presided; and
WHEREAS, following Judge Thomas' first appointment, this Courthouse and Precinct
was historically presided over by Judges John D. Johnson, Henry Arrington, Harold Braynan,
and Donald Wheeler Jones; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Resolution No. 31652, effective February 3, 1960, the City
directed the transfer of the Municipal Court and its jail and stockade operations to
Miami -Dade County, which, in 1964, caused this particular municipal court to be abolished;
and
WHEREAS, for over forty years, this City -owned facility, located near the Jefferson
City of Miami
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Reeves Health Clinic, the Athalie Range Mini -Park, Booker T. Washington High School and
several elementary schools, has remained vacant and has become a blight to the community;
and
WHEREAS, since 2001, the City of Miami Retired Police Officers Community
Benevolent Association ("Association"), consisting of former police officers that were
stationed at the Courthouse and Precinct, has been working with the City to restore the
Courthouse and Precinct and create a Black Police Courthouse and Precinct Museum; and
WHEREAS, the Association has engaged an architect to assist in the restoration of the
Courthouse and Precinct and has raised approximately $700,000 towards for the restoration
project; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Community Development has committed approximately
$400,000 towards the restoration; and
WHEREAS, the building has been designated as a historic landmark; and
WHEREAS, the City has committed to allocate over $1 million of Capital Improvements
Program ("CIP") funding from its historic preservation funds, and the Department of CIP has
agreed to expedite the reconstruction and restoration of this building; and
WHEREAS, the City will maintain the building once it has become operational for the
use of the community and to commemorate the City's history and legacy; and
WHEREAS, the Association has agreed to assist the City in the restoration of the
building, deliver to the City fully permitted plans, assist in the development of an interim
management plan, and commits to raise additional funds;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
MIAMI, FLORIDA:
Section 1. The recitals and findings contained in the Preamble to this Resolution are
adopted by reference and incorporated as if fully set forth in this Section.
Section 2. The City Manager is authorized{1} to execute a Memorandum of
Understanding, in a form acceptable to the City Attorney, subject to the City Manager's
approval, with the City of Miami Retired Police Officers Community Benevolent Association,
Inc. for its donation of funds towards the restoration of a building known as the Courthouse
and Precinct, located at the corner of Northwest 11th Street and Northwest 5th Avenue,
Miami, Florida, pursuant to the terms set forth in said Memorandum, which includes, but is not
limited to:
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File Number: 03-0145 Enactment Number: R-03-1105
1 acceptance of a donation from the Association, in the amount of
$300,000 ("Grant"), from the funds awarded to the Association from the
State of Florida's Division of Historic Resources, Bureau of Historic
Preservation, Grants and Education Section;
2. the City agrees to expedite the restoration of the project to assure
completion by June 30, 2005, pursuant to the terms of the Grant; and
3. after the construction of the building, the City will determine the
management of the building.
Section 3. The City Manager is directed to take the steps necessary to establish a
special revenue fund for the appropriation of funds received for the restoration and
maintenance of the building and museum.
Section 4 This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon its adoption and
signature of the Mayor.{2}
Footnotes:
{1} The herein authorization is further subject to compliance with all requirements that may
be imposed by the City Attorney, including but not limited to those prescribed by
applicable City Charter and Code provisions.
{2} The Mayor does not sign this Resolution, it shall become effective at the end of ten
calendar days from the date it was passed and adopted. If the Mayor vetoes this
Resolution it shall become effective immediately upon override of the veto by the City
Commission.
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