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HomeMy WebLinkAboutexhibit 1 - background infoPartnerships for a NEW MIAMI MODEL CITY COMMUNITY REVITALIZATION DISTRICT TRUST ANNUAL PLAN AND BUDGET REQUEST FOR FISCAL YEAR 2005 BACKGROUND INFORMATION • The Model City Community Revitalization District area is located at the contiguous area bounded by NW 71st Street to the north; State Road 112 to the south; I-95 (Interstate 95) to the east; and NW 17th Avenue to the west and the contiguous area of NW 17th to 19th Avenues between NW 58th Street and State Road 112. Leveraging the experience of municipalities throughout this country who had achieved success in similar revitalization initiatives, the City Commission approved a public -private partnership to be charged with the oversight and facilitation of the Model City Homeownership Pilot Project and other revitalization efforts to be undertaken in the District. With Ordinance No. 12082, adopted July 10, 2001, the City Commission established the Model City Community Revitalization District Trust ("Trust"). The City Commission recognized that the right slate of individuals from the private sector would possess the skill sets and the volume of experiences to effectively facilitate projects of the size and complexity of the Model City Homeownership Zone Pilot Project. The partnership between the public and private sectors promises to build a thriving, multi -income community that not only improves the quality of life for city residents, but also builds the tax base for the city as a whole by providing a community that is attractive to middle and upper income residents. The Ordinance called for the creation of a Board of Directors that consists of six individuals representing the following disciplines: residential construction, development architecture and engineering, planning, zoning and land use law, economic development, historic preservation and restoration, administration, fiscal management, and community involvement. Six members are appointed by the City Manager and confirmed by the City Commission. One member is a Public Advocate appointed by the District Commissioner. Board members serving for the Fiscal Year 2004-2005 included the following: N. Patrick Range, Sr. (Chairperson) Mr. Range is a businessman and local resident and has been the co-owner and manager of Range Funeral Home for the past 42 years. Norman C. Powell (Vice -Chair) Appointed by the City Manager and confirmed by the City Commission in March 2003, Mr. Powell is an attorney specializing in land use, local government and environmental law. Lucia A. Dougherty. Ms. Dougherty is an Environmental and Land Use Attorney and a Shareholder with Greenberg Traurig, P.A. Dr. Shalley A. Jones: Dr. Jones was the inaugural chair of the Model City Trust and continued to serve through the first quarter of FY 2004. Dr. Jones is a Regional Vice President of Fannie Mae. Father J. Kenneth Major: Priest of Church of the Incarnation, which is located in the Model City Homeownership Zone Project area. Father Major is also a founding Board member of the Economic Opportunity Family Health Center. Rev. Vincent F. Mitchell, the public advocate and Pastor at the St. Paul A.M.E. Church which is located in the Model City Homeownership Zone Project Area. Early in FY 2004, Hector Brito resigned as a member of the Board of Directors. The vacancy has not been filled as yet. The Homeownership Zone Project area (located within the Model City Community Revitalization District) includes the contiguous area between NW 12th and 17th Avenues between NW 62nd to 54th Streets and the contiguous area of NW 17th to 19th Avenues between NW 58th Street and State Road 112. The comprehensive strategy includes: • State-of-the-art infrastructure improvements (streets, sidewalks, water/sewer, underground utilities) • Creation of "green space," including a neighborhood park and/ or park improvements/expansion • Establishment of a Community Center/Technology Center • Revitalization of the commercial corridors • Development of "Gateway" initiatives • Establishment of a Magnet or Charter School • Providing a full -service healthcare facility 7/12/2004 at 3:30 PM 2 • Construction of a public building to include a new Neighborhood Enhancement Team (NET) office FISCAL YEAR 2004 IN REVIEW Highlights of the accomplishments of FY 2004 include the following: • Applied for and received two (2) grants from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for a total of $400,000. • Applied for and received a grant from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection for a remediation of property located at 5329 NW 17th Avenue estimated at a value of $75,000. • Closings on fifteen (15) properties through private sales and two (2) properties from the Miami -Dade County list of lands. DEVELOPMENT COMMENCEMENT FY 2004 brought the City Commissions approval of the Model City Homeownership Zone's master plan in concept. The collaborative work of the master planning team of Dover, Kohl & Partners and A+S Architects commenced in the Fall of 2001. The most significant deliverable, the Model City Homeownership Zone Master Plan, which was presented to and approved by the City Commission in November 2003 with a roadmap for implementation. During the course of FY 2004, the master planning team's work continued with the development of Special District 1.1 as an amendment to the zoning code and the land use atlas for the northern area of the Model City Homeownership Zone. The proposal was approved by the City Commission on February 26, 2004. Currently, the master planning team represents a critical component of the Design Evaluation Committee that evaluates architectural designs proposed by potential developers and architects for construction in the project area. This process allows us to maximize the value of the master planning process without drawing out the design process extensively. Currently, two (2) developers have been identified with a housing product approved by the Trust's Design Evaluation Committee. The architects engaged 7/12/2004 at 3:30 PM 3 by the Trust are completing the site planning function of the additional lots to facilitate the rapid development on an ongoing basis. The Trust Board and the City Commission has reprogrammed $650,000 for infill housing in the Model City area, which will be submitted for the consideration of the Housing and Loan Committee to finance the construction of thirteen (13) homes in the Model City Homeownership Zone. -The bulk of the master planning team's responsibilities per its contract has concluded during the course of FY 2004. You should note, however, a remaining obligation regarding the definition of architectural guidelines for the Homeownership Zone area. Construction is expected to commence on approved product prior to the close of FY 2004. ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY FOR EXISTING BUSINESSES With the construction of new houses well within sight, the Trust's Chairperson, who also chairs the Trust's Economic Development Committee, has directed the activation of the Economic Development Planning Process. During the fourth quarter of FY 2004, the committee will be constituted with public meetings to be held throughout FY 2005 that will help to define opportunities for the recruitment of new businesses and commercial interests as well as means to expand current businesses in the area. The Brownfields grants create a tremendous opportunity in this regard. As a critical component of the award was the proposed reuse for the Brownfields site, the economic development process is expected to grow out of the Brownfields redevelopment opportunities that are located in key areas to form "anchors" that will support economic development purposes (Le., create job opportunities and increase foot traffic in the area). During the course of FY 2005, the Trust has scheduled several community planning workshops that will focus on the economic development purposes. IMPROVED COMMUNICATION AND COMPLIANCE One key element of the annual plan for FY 2004 dealt with the improved communication between the City and the Model City Trust. With the execution 7/12/2004 at 3:30 PM 4 of the Interlocal Agreement, several of the identified communication issues have been addressed. You will recall that those issues were defined as: • Definition of clear protocols in terms of the interface between the Model City Trust and the City of Miami, particularly the Administration. • Definition of clear checks and balances to ensure that all parties are bringing the best value to the implementation of the project. • Establishment of mutual respect for the role and contribution that each entity has to play in the implementation of the Homeownership Zone. During the course of FY 2004, the Trust continued to address the U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) compliance issues communicated by the Department of Community Development primarily related to acquisitions which occurred prior to the inception of the Model City Trust. These issues were creating a bar to the flow of entitlement funds (Le., HOME and CDBG) allocated for the Project. Those identified issues included alleged landbanking and relocation. On May 8, 2003, the City Commission approved $1.8 Million to enable a "swap" of funds between the Homeland Defense/Neighborhood Improvement Bond earmarked for Model City infrastructure improvements and the HOME Investment Partnership Program dollars previously used for acquisitions. An approval for an additional $1.8 MilIion was approved by the City Commission in March of 2004 for current and prior acquisitions and acquisition -related expenses. This transaction was challenged by the Independent Auditor General and, thus, submitted to Bond Counsel for an opinion by the City Attorney. The determination was that a swap could be made though prior expenses could not be reimbursed where the expense pre -dated the approval of the bond (November 10, 2001). During the course of FY 2004, the Trust and the City have worked cooperatively on a comprehensive reconciliation of transactions related to the Model City Homeownership Project from inception to ensure that the refund may be promptly effectuated upon HUD's request. Additionally, the City procured a relocation consultant (PBS&J) to examine the past compliance with the relocation requirements. After an extensive advertising and public notice campaign over the course of thirty (30) days, the City, the Trust 7/12/2004 at 3:30 PM 5 and PBS&J co -hosted a public meeting which invited any individuals who believe they may have been displaced by the Model City Homeownership Zone Pilot Project. That issue has been resolved with a certification from PBS&J dated May 14, 2004. Although the Trust engaged a procurement to identify a relocation consultant on a prospective basis, several multi -family dwellings that had been approved for acquisition by the Trust Board and the City Commission have been sold to private parties over the course of the.past several months. Thus, these services 'are not anticipated to be required in FY 2005 because of the limited number of displaced households. OTHER ACTIVITIES The Trust has continued to enjoy strong community support during FY 2004. The mutual respect between the Board and the community has fostered a very positive working relationship that has been an essential part of the success that brought the three BrownfieIds remediation grants and the master plan for the area. Two sites funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are envisioned to be completed in FY 2005 as well as the third site that will be funded and remediated at the direction of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). Additionally, a fourth site is scheduled for remediation at 1199 NW 62nd Street. Each of these former gas stations have contributed to the slum and blight of the area and stifled redevelopment activity along core commercial corridors in the area. The remediation of these sites will be a tremendous opportunity for increased economic development activity in the area. The Trust has honored the City Commission's commitment to the former residents of the Miami Limited property whose experience as the City's Section 8 residents helped to give rise to much of this project. At a meeting of June 26, 2004, the Trust held its first meeting with the individuals to introduce the notion of the return to the neighborhood in the context of what is envisioned for the area. In addition to Trust staff and Board members, representatives from the City of Miami's Department of Community Development and the Miami -Dade Housing Agency, and a private mortgage broker who brought the message that "anyone who can afford to rent can afford to buy" were included in the presentations. The process is expected to continue over the next several months with several meetings focusing upon particular issues of significance to the target population. 7/12/2004 at 3:30 PM 6 FISCAL YEAR 2004-2005 BUDGET REQUEST The proposed budget for FY 2004-2005 will maintain the staffing level of six (6) individuals approved for the FY 2004 budget cycle. Based on the resources that are being recommended by the City's Administration staff for the projected activities, the total general fund 'request for FY 2004-2005 is $641,263 for its 3rd year of operation. The Trust Board of Directors wishes to thank the City Commission for this opportunity to serve the community and have accepted the challenge with excitement and commitment. 7/12/2004 at 3:30 PM 7