HomeMy WebLinkAboutcover memoCITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA
INTER -OFFICE MEMORANDUM
41)
TO :
FROM :
The Honorable Mayor and
Members of the City Commission
Joe Arrio
Chief Administrator / City Manager
DATE:
SUBJECT:
REFERENCES
ENCLOSURES:
May 12, 2004
FILE :
RFQ # 03-04-022: Master Plan for
Bicentennial Park "Museum Park
Miami"
RECOMMENDATION
It is respectfully recommended that the City Commission adopt the attached resolution
authorizing the City to negotiate a professional services agreement with Cooper Robertson &
Partners, the top ranked firm, to provide a Master Plan for Bicentennial Park "Museum Park
Miami," for the Office of the City Manager. The negotiated contract will be submitted for
subsequent City Commission approval.
BACKGROUND
The City held a "Bicentennial Park Charrette," and numerous public meetings regarding the
future of Bicentennial Park. The effort to redesign Bicentennial Park reflects a growing public
movement to preserve and enhance public parks in the City. The Miami City Commission
committed itself to the underutilized Park's revival on April 2, 2000 when it passed a resolution
to renew Bicentennial Park as a "premier public park." During that time, the Miami Museum of
Science and the Miami Art Museum completed a multi -year site and funding analysis for the
development of new, world -class institutions at Bicentennial Park. In July 2000, the trustees of
both the Miami Art Museum and the Miami Museum of Science adopted a joint resolution
establishing the collaborative goal of creating "Museum Park Miami" in Bicentennial Park,
The Miami City Commission further created the advisory Bicentennial Park/Waterfront Renewal
Committee and, in conjunction with the City's Planning Department, hired the urban design firm
Dover, Kohl and Partners (Dover Kohl) to propose three options for the Park based on public
input; the Bicentennial Park Charrette.
Dover Kohl presented to City Commission the outcome of the Charrette, held on February 10,
2001 and attended by more than 350 interested individuals. These included three development
options for the park that reflect the citizens' vision for public park land; one of purely open
space, a second as a cultural park with two museums and a third of mixed uses including retail.
The City Commission in October 2001 proposed a citywide referendum for the $255 million
Homeland Defense/Neighborhood Improvement Bond issue. The bond program specifically
included $10 million for Bicentennial Park infrastructure improvements and $3.5 million for
each museum as a challenge grant for planning and pre -development costs. The bond referendum
was approved by City voters on November 13, 2001. The resolution adopted on July 25, 2002