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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC 2007-08-01 MinutesCity of Miami City Hall 3500 Pan American Drive Miami, FL 33133 www.miamigov.com Meeting Minutes Wednesday, August 1, 2007 9:00 AM Supplemental City Hall Commission Chambers City Commission Manuel A. Diaz, Mayor Angel Gonzalez, Chairman Joe Sanchez, Vice Chairman Marc David Sarnoff, Commissioner District Two Tomas Regalado, Commissioner District Four Michelle Spence -Jones, Commissioner District Five Pedro G. Hernandez, City Manager Jorge L. Fernandez, City Attorney Priscilla A. Thompson, City Clerk City Commission Meeting Minutes August 1, 2007 Present: Chairman Gonzalez, Commissioner Sarnoff, Vice -Chairman Sanchez, Commissioner Regalado and Commissioner Spence -Jones RESOLUTIONS SP.1 07-00976 RESOLUTION Department of A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH Capital ATTACHMENT(S), AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE Improvements AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO THE AGREEMENT, IN SUBSTANTIALLY THE Program ATTACHED FORM, BETWEEN THE CITY OF MIAMI AND THE SOUTH FLORIDA WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT FOR THE AVALON STORM SEWER PROJECT, TO PROVIDE FOR THE FOLLOWING: (1) EXTENDING THE PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE FOR A TOTAL OF THREE (3) MONTHS, UNTIL AUGUST 22, 2007; (2) REVISING THE PAYMENT AND DELIVERABLES SCHEDULE; AND (3) AMENDING THE PROJECT MANAGERS NAME. 07-00976 Legislation.pdf 07-00976 Exhibit.pdf 07-00976 Exhibit 2.pdf 07-00976 Sumary Form.pdf 07-00976 Text File Report.pdf 07-00976 Text File Report 2.pdf 07-00976 Local Governmental Agreement.pdf 07-00976 Statement of Work.pdf 07-00976 Payment and Deliverables Schedule.pdf 07-00976 Funds Awarded.pdf Motion by Commissioner Sarnoff, seconded by Commissioner Spence -Jones, that this matter be ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote. Votes: Ayes: 5 - Commissioner Gonzalez, Sarnoff, Sanchez, Regalado and Spence -Jones R-07-0458 Chairman Gonzalez: Now we're going to go into the supplemental agenda, and once we complete this agenda, we going to have to go into the CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency). Our special item 1, amendment number one to agreement with South Florida Water Management District. Ola O. Aluko (Director, Capital Improvements Program): Good afternoon, Commissioners. This -- Chairman Gonzalez: Good afternoon. Mr. Aluko: -- item is to request approval of the attached resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute an amendment with the South Florida Water Management District for the Avalon Storm Sewer project. Basically, Commissioners, we are moving the completion date of this project from May to August of this year. Therefore, we need an amend -- resolution to authorize that. Chairman Gonzalez: All right. This is a resolution. Is there a motion on the item? Commissioner Sarnoff So moved. City ofMiami Page 2 Printed on 9/5/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes August 1, 2007 Vice Chairman Sanchez: Second. Commissioner Spence -Jones: Second. Chairman Gonzalez: We have a motion, and we have a second. All in favor, say "aye." The Commission (Collectively): Aye. Mr. Aluko: Thank you. Chairman Gonzalez: Motion carries. SP.2 07-00984 RESOLUTION Department of A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION ACCEPTING THE BID Fire -Rescue RECEIVED JULY 5, 2007, FROM MOTOROLA, INC., PURSUANT TO INVITATION FOR BIDS NO. 28069, FOR THE PURCHASE OF A MOBILE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM, FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF FIRE -RESCUE, IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $929,382; ALLOCATING FUNDS FROM THE URBAN AREA SECURITY INITIATIVE (UASI) FISCAL YEAR 2005, ACCOUNT CODE NO. 11000.181000.664000.0000.00000. City ofMiami Page 3 Printed on 9/5/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes August 1, 2007 07-00984 Legislation.pdf 07-00984 Summary Form .pdf 07-00984 Tabulation of Bids .pdf 07-00984 Letter. pdf 07-00984 Data Restrictions .pdf 07-00984 Required Documents .pdf 07-00984 Certification Statement .pdf 07-00984 Certifications .pdf 07-00984 Bid SPecifications .pdf 07-00984 Acknowledgement by Surety.pdf 07-00984 Power of Attorney .pdf 07-00984 Bid Bond.pdf 07-00984 Addenda .pdf 07-00984 Appendices .pdf 07-00984 Warranty & Maintenance .pdf 07-00984 System Description .pdf 07-00984 System Drawings .pdf 07-00984 Statement of Work.pdf 07-00984 Acceptance test Plan Procedures.pdf 07-00984 Trunking Features.pdf 07-00984 System Reliability Features.pdf 07-00984 Console Microwave Link Operations .pdf 07-00984 Punch List & Corrective Action Doc.pdf 07-00984 Signoff Certificate .pdf 07-00984 Literature. pdf 07-00984 Site Controller.pdf 07-00984 Specification Sheet.pdf 07-00984 Invitation for Bid.pdf 07-00984 Limitation of Liability. pdf 07-00984 Email.pdf 07-00984 Email 2.pdf 07-00984 Draft Proposed Revisions.pdf 07-00984 Specifications .pdf Motion by Commissioner Sarnoff, seconded by Vice -Chairman Sanchez, that this matter be ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote. Votes: Ayes: 4 - Commissioner Gonzalez, Sarnoff, Sanchez and Regalado Absent: 1 - Commissioner Spence -Jones R-07-0459 Chairman Gonzalez: Special item 2, accepting bid from Motorola, Inc., Mobile Communication System. Come on, move. Let's go. Glenn Marcos: Good afternoon, Commissioners. Glenn Marcos, Purchasing director. The item before you is a recommendation to award the purchase of a Mobile Communication System to Motorola. The Purchasing Department, on behalf of the Fire -Rescue Department, issued a bid on this with the hopes of having authorized representative of Motorola to compete for this actual contract. This actual contract should have been in sole source, but because of the fact that I'm a firm believer in competition, I decided to bid this thing out and try to create the competition. It didn't work. We weren't successful, but nonetheless, we are asking for the City Commission to make the award to Motorola for the -- in an amount not to exceed 929, 382. Chairman Gonzalez: All right. City ofMiami Page 4 Printed on 9/5/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes August 1, 2007 Commissioner Sarnoff So move. Chairman Gonzalez: We have a motion. Is there a second? Vice Chairman Sanchez: Second. Chairman Gonzalez: There is a second. All in favor, say "aye." The Commission (Collectively): Aye. Chairman Gonzalez: Those opposed have the same right. Motion carries. SP.3 07-00986 RESOLUTION Department of A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION BY A FOUR -FIFTHS General Services (4/5THS) AFFIRMATIVE VOTE, RATIFYING, APPROVING, AND Administration CONFIRMING THE CITY MANAGERS FINDING OF AN EMERGENCY; WAIVING THE REQUIREMENTS FOR COMPETITIVE SEALED BIDDING PROCEDURES, PURSUANT TO SECTION 18-90 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED; AUTHORIZING THE PURCHASE OF FOUR (4) UNINTERRUPTIBLE POWER SOURCES (TURN -KEY PURCHASE), FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION, RADIO COMMUNICATIONS DIVISION, FROM STATIONARY POWER SERVICES, INC., IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $269,948; ALLOCATING FUNDS FROM THE FISCAL YEAR 2006-2007, ACCOUNT CODE NO. 31000.241000.664000.0000.00000, B#74202. 07-00986 Legislation.pdf 07-00986 Summary Form.pdf 07-00986 Budget Funds Check Results.pdf 07-00986 Memo.pdf 07-00986 Attachment A.pdf 07-00986 Critical Power Retrofit. pdf 07-00986 DC Power System Overview.pdf 07-00986 System Detail.pdf 07-00986 Inverter Plant System Overview.pdf 07-00986 Specifications.pdf 07-00986 Pricing Summary.pdf 07-00986 Pricing Analysis.pdf 07-00986 Capabilities Fact Sheet.pdf 07-00986 Customer References.pdf 07-00986 Emerson Network Power Quotes.pdf 07-00986 Letter. pdf 07-00986 Quotation Scheduling Detail.pdf 07-00986 Equipment Material Pricing.pdf 07-00986 Work To Be Performed.pdf 07-00986 Terms & Conditions of Sale.pdf 07-00986 Letter 2.pdf 07-00986 Quotation Scheduling Detail 2.pdf 07-00986 Equipment Material Pricing 2.pdf 07-00986 Work To Be Performed 2.pdf 07-00986 Terms & Conditions of Sale 2.pdf 07-00986 Specifications 2.pdf City ofMiami Page 5 Printed on 9/5/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes August 1, 2007 Motion by Commissioner Sarnoff, seconded by Vice -Chairman Sanchez, that this matter be ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote. Votes: Ayes: 5 - Commissioner Gonzalez, Sarnoff, Sanchez, Regalado and Spence -Jones R-07-0460 Chairman Gonzalez: Special item number 3 is a four fifth. It's an emergency finding. Kelly Barket: Kelly Barket, director of GSA (General Services Administration), City ofMiami. This item is the procurement of a UPS (Uninterruptible Power Source) system for our Communications Division, utilizing the backup source for Fire, Police, and general use within the City. The main reason for the purchase is the age and the failure of the system. It was put in in 1984, well beyond its life expectancy. Chairman Gonzalez: All right. Commissioner Sarnoff So moved. Chairman Gonzalez: We have a motion. Is there a second? Vice Chairman Sanchez: Second. Chairman Gonzalez: There is a second. It's a four fifth vote. All in favor, say "aye." The Commission (Collectively): Aye. Chairman Gonzalez: Motion carries. SP.4 07-00987 RESOLUTION Districts- A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH Commissioner ATTACHMENT(S), APPROVING THE SALE OF CERTAIN CITY OF MIAMI Michelle ("CITY") OWNED PARCELS TO CARRFOUR SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, INC., Spence -Jones AS SPECIFIED IN EXHIBIT "A," ATTACHED AND INCORPORATED; AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A PURCHASE AND SALE AGREEMENT, AND TO EXECUTE SUCH OTHER DOCUMENTS AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO CONSUMMATE SUCH TRANSACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SUCH AGREEMENT, WHICH TERMS MAY BE AMENDED BY THE CITY MANAGER AS MAY BE NECESSARY IN ORDER TO MEET THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE CITY; AUTHORIZING CARRFOUR SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, INC. TO ASSIGN SUCH PURCHASE AND SALE AGREEMENT SUBJECT TO THE PRIOR CONSENT OF THE CITY MANAGER. 07-00987 Legislation.pdf 07-00987 Exhibit.pdf WITHDRAWN Direction by Commissioner Spence -Jones to the Administration to ensure that the Request for Proposals (RFP) to be issued by the City Manager for the land located at 6200-01 Northwest 17th Avenue includes Umoja as a partner of the subsequent project or as a major component of the development that will occur on said land. Chairman Gonzalez: Special item number 4, approving the sale property. Mr. Manager. City ofMiami Page 6 Printed on 9/5/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes August 1, 2007 Commissioner Spence -Jones: Mr. Chair -- Chairman Gonzalez: Yes? Commissioner Spence -Jones: I'm sorry. Mr. Chairman, this is an item -- hopefully, the group is here. This is the -- I see Carrfour. I don't see Serve the People, nor do I see NANA (Neighbors and Neighbors Association). Are they coming in at all? This is an item that we talked about in the last City Commission meeting regarding this issue of a project that you know has been very sensitive to me in my district. This is the shantytown issue, andl want to say, once again, thanks, a special thanks to all of the colleagues that have decided to support me on this issue. This has definitely been a very hard road for me from day one, being a newly -elected official, to be fronted with a very important issue. I thought that, in our last meeting, and where we all voted and said that we would support, you know, the project or something like this going forth, that we would not have any issues concerning the project moving forth. I think that Serve the People, which is the Max Rameau group, got the support of the task force by saying that it was important to have supportive housing on 62nd and 17th, and also got the recommendation from the task force to say that they supported the three of them coming together. Well, I know that the City Manager, over the last 72 hours, has been going back and forth, and even up until 8 o'clock this morning, with the County regarding this issue. I am truly in a rock and a hard place because while we all agree that this is the right thing to do and that this shows that we're -- we have -- we're doing this really in good faith, there clearly are going to be some obstacles that are put in front of the group in order for them to actually build on the land, andl'm sure you saw in the paper one of the biggest issues was the Homeless Trust and their ability to support a project without a process. The one thing that asked the Commissioners to do in the last meeting that we had was for us to waive that idea of doing a competitive bid process because normally when we have affordable housing projects in the past, we have not had to go through that if they're a group that has actually -- it's a group that's actually doing affordable housing, so I know after all of the issues that took place with CD (Community Development), I wanted to make sure that there wasn't a sense of you know, myself or anybody on our team negotiating a backroom deal. I felt that it was important to bring it in front of the Commission and say I understand that we're moving in the direction, based upon Commissioner Sarnoffs comments in the last meeting, was that we want to make sure that they -- whoever we convey properties to, that it should go to a group that has the ability to actually build a project and see that it can happen. From that point, I thought that we were very much there, andl think that that's why I got everyone's support. I've leaned a lot on Commissioner Regalado's direction in this issue only because he's been with the Homeless Trust longer than I have, and he understands many of these issues, so I've really counted on him to kind of give us some sort of directions on the best way to move, but understand Carrfour's position, and their position really is that they cannot do this project without the Homeless Trust, and while they are -- want to remain a part of the project, they do not want to, in any way, affect their ability to do projects not only on 62nd and 17th, but anything that they have going on in the City, and they've been very clear that they would like to see a process take place, if this is going to create an issue for the Homeless Trust. I just want to officially put my viewpoint on the record, and I'd like to then turn it over to the City Manager that has been trying to hammer it out, and then I would like to, at least, have Commissioner Regalado at least chime in 'cause I think out of all of us, he really understands this issue probably more so than any of us. My position on this, you know -- I did have the opportunity to speak to the chairman of the Homeless Trust, Mr. Ron Book, andl'm sure you all received the letter that came from him and his concerns about not having any process, and one thing that I can say that he did make available -- andl understand that the City Manager also had confirmation of this this morning -- was that there is a parcel of land that's connected to the City land that is necessary in order to have this done, which is County land, and part of their willingness to kind of support a project like this is to, you know, encourage the County to include this parcel, which is definitely needed, and also to look at funding opportunities that can go along with this, if there's a process actually put in place. Quite frankly, I have to just say this, City ofMiami Page 7 Printed on 9/5/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes August 1, 2007 and then I'm going to move on. I had an issue in the very beginning on this -- on the concerns of the Trust only because I know that we --from a City standpoint, we have a policy where we do give land away for affordable housing projects, and from that point on, if they -- the individuals decide they want to go for surtax dollars or they want to go for state tax credits, they can, and we're really not involved in that process, so I really couldn't understand why the Homeless Trust was taking such a strong position on -- if we gave the land, then, quite frankly, the Homeless Trust would not support it. I want to find a positive resolution to the issue. I think that if anybody's -- andl do understand why Mr. Book might be a little upset. The e-mails (electronic) were a little -- I don't know if you've seen them, but they were a little strong, but we would not expect any less from Max and the Umoja family. As I explained to him and several other people regarding this issue, no one has beat -- gotten beaten up more than I have in the last nine months. I've been called everythingfrom -- that you can think of under the kitchen sink, but yet and still, I can still stand tall and say that think that this is the right thing to do. It's not about Max. It's not about me. It's not about any of us. It's about what's necessary and what's needed in the actual community. I know for a fact, just based upon what's happening from the homeownership standpoint of it, we have more than enough homeownership units coming up in the Liberty City area, so we will have that balance of homeownership that's necessary in the particular community from a affordable housing perspective. We have low-income rentals that are now also coming out of the ground, which is going to give us a nice balance of low-income rentals for those folks that truly can fall in a certain arena to afford certain rents, but then we have an area, which we know we've taken the abandoned buildings that we have in -- but there's -- that's four units here, six units there, and then, of course, a new project that Carrfour has received funding for in the area for supportive housing, but clearly, when we start talking about the need, I know that, for a fact, I have issues in my district that's centered around drug addiction and providing support to those that are either mentally or physically disable, and this will provide a great opportunity to do that. I just want to say, you know, sitting in this seat, you know, you get to the point where you make a decision and you think it's the right thing only to find out it's not really the right thing because people don't agree with you. My position remains the same; thatl think that it's important to live up to our commitment, to work along with the group, to really make sure that we provide the necessary supportive housing, andl wish andl hope that we could find a happy medium with the Trust, and hopefully, Commissioner Regalado can shine some light on this, but that's what I would like to see happen. I still support the project 100 percent, andl think that it's important that we move it forward, so I'm going to turn it over to the City Manager, and then, if you have any comments, I greatly would like to hear them. Pedro G. Hernandez (City Manager): Mr. Chairman, Commissioners, last Thursday you directed me to come back to you today with a resolution, in essence, conveying the Umoja site to Carrfour and the team of Serve the People and NANA. After meeting with all the parties, including this morning at 8 o'clock, my recommendation to you is that we do not proceed with this item. I think it's important that we do a competitive process, an RFP (Request for Proposals), which can be expedited. We can advertise it next week. My plan to be -- would be to have it back to you for an award or conveyance in the last meeting of September. The only agreement that we have with all the parties, including Max Rameau and the Liberty City Trust, Homeless Trust, the County, et cetera, is that we want a very significant project at the site and a project that addresses the needs of that community. However, with Carrfour, in essence, not being able to be part of the team at this point in time, I think it's imperative that we go forward with an RFP, a competitive process that will, in essence, make the project viable; allow for funding opportunities from the State, from HUD (Department of Housing and Urban Development), from the Homeless Trust, and be able to allow the County to also participate and add their two parcels to ours. Our parcel is about 30,000 square feet. The two County lots add another 12,000, and combined, that provides a better site for development. I think that if we follow the competitive process, we will have all the opportunities available to us to add the County land and to have funding opportunities to make the project viable. In speaking to Mr. Rameau this morning, his position was that he felt that the conveyance should be made to serve the people if Carrfour is not part of the team at this point. I don't think that's proper, at this City ofMiami Page 8 Printed on 9/5/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes August 1, 2007 point. I don't think that it's going to, in essence, allow the project to be a reality. You need to have a lead firm that, in essence, has the experience and has the reputation of doing projects like this in order to be able to move it forward and to make it happen. If we were to do something like that, we would just be fooling ourselves. It would never happen. It -- this is not the time or the place for a no -bid contract that we know is not going to go anywhere. I think that we have to be wise and do things the proper way in order to have a successful project at that location, so I recommend that we -- that you allow us and you direct me to go forward with an RFP process, and Mr. Rameau is here. I would ask the Chair that would -- that you would allow him to speak on the subject and also maybe a representative from the Liberty City Trust. Chairman Gonzalez: Right. I believe that -- Mr. Hernandez: Thank you, Mr. Chair. Commissioner Regalado: Can I --? Before -- Commissioner Spence -Jones: Yeah, before Max. I would like to have -- Commissioner Regalado: -- the public hearing, can I say something? Because I think -- Commissioner Spence -Jones: Sure. Commissioner Regalado: -- I have a little historical memory about all these situation now, andl think it has to do with two persons; two men that both have a passion for what they do; one, Max; the other one, Ron Book. Because I was present when the first meeting of the Homeless Trust that happened right after Umoja Village was built, andl try to convince the chairman and the board members that the perception that they had was wrong, but don't know ifI succeed. I think that everybody was pleased with explanation, but that was the day when the bad blood started, andl say "bad blood." Can I tell you why? The Homeless Trust has been doing an extraordinary work. They have given millions of dollars in contracts and health care, housing, transitional housing, medical attention, and the Homeless Trust has a large budget, and it has been doing work that needs to be done. Had not been for the Homeless Trust in Miami -Dade County, we would have had serious problems in this community, and Ron Book has been the chairman for many years, and has -- since it was created, he has been the person that have been at the forefront of all the homeless issues in Miami -Dade County. When Umoja Village was built, the first reports that came in the media was "Homeless Take Over the Land" and Ron and other members of the board believed that Umoja Village was an indictment of the Homeless Trust. I tried to tell them that it wasn't; that it was an indictment on the housing crisis in Miami -Dade County and the City ofMiami. I tried to tell them that homeless issue was not the issue that built Umoja. Umoja was built right after the House of Lies and the march on the County, and the scandals of many millions of dollars squander and waste by the County, so much so that the larger piece of land belongs to the City ofMiami, but the two lots in the back are not owned by the Homeless Trust; are owned by Miami -Dade County Housing Agency, the same agency that is been criminally investigated for fraud and the money have been misspent in the housing crisis in Miami -Dade County, so the Homeless Trust had nothing to do with Umoja, nor with the sites, but they took the Umoja Village political statement as an attack on the way that they treated the homeless, which it wasn't. Then there is the pressure from the County Administration. I can tell you that people in the County were called to the office of the former County Manager -- still has the title and the salary, but he's not the County Manager -- George Burgess, and were told, "These two parcels belong to Miami -Dade Housing Authority; they got to go through a bid regardless. We don't -- we won't do anything. We have to block anything other than going to a bid. We don't want another scandal in the paper," so it wasn't about the homeless. It was about the perception of the scandal of the housing crisis in Miami -Dade County. Unfortunately, there is another guy with a passion, and that is Max, and he sat in his computer and starting sending e-mails, and then they took it more personal than it should be, but City ofMiami Page 9 Printed on 9/5/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes August 1, 2007 the point that I try to convey that time and the second time, in another meeting -- and David Rosemond was there from the City too -- was that this wasn't about the homeless. It was about housing; that this thing that they wanted to build there wasn't about trying to build a homeless center, a transitional center to become another Homeless Trust, independent Homeless Trust, but it's about housing the people that needed housing. The fact that some people that didn't have anywhere to go were there were welcome was a secondary issue. Unfortunately, because of the passion where the Homeless Trust leadership wants to defend their job -- and it's a good one -- unfortunately, because of the fear of another scandal on the media because the County is conveying lands without bid, and unfortunately, because the County knows that they will be scrutinized by the media if they do convey the parcels -- the sites to someone to -- without a bid. Max and Carrfour have become collateral damage, and it's not their war; it's not their fault, and yet, they have been killed by friendly fire. That is wrong. It's wrong because, you know, the Manager now says -- I'm told -- I don't even know because nobody have talked to me or brief me, and they don't have to because I'm just, you know, an outsider. I do have the historical knowledge about why this is going on, and it doesn't have to do anything with Max or Carrfour. Had not been for the scandal of the Miami -- had not been for Miami -Dade Housing Authority owning these two parcel, had not been for these e-mails, I would tell you that maybe the County have -- would have said, well, OK, this is an emergency, and we figure that we could go ahead and do the land deal, but this have taken very personal levels, and I'm sure that Carrfour, who has a lot of projects with the Homeless Trust, maybe was told that it would be very difficult for them to -- for the Homeless Trust to continue their relationship in a way they have been now if would -- they would go out of -- on a limb and start building there, and they would not get their support. I don't know that the offer of the Manager to put this out to bid is a wrong idea. If this is expedite, it's OK. I don't know who would respond. I don't know how much is the County willing to participate, butl do know something. We own, the City, the biggest parcel of land of those sites, so it's for the City to decide what goes on that bid, andl will say to you -- and that is something for the area Commissioner to consider and for this Board to decide -- that we should not allow a bid to go out on the street if it doesn't have one fundamental condition, and that condition is that whoever wins that bid partners with Umoja Village to do the housing, whoever, because it is about a symbol. It is about a commitment. It is about some people that were there not to deflect attention from the homeless issue, but to bring attention to the housing crisis, and they have succeeded. They have -- you know, we were very afraid during the Super Bowl that all the media will go and see that. This is why the police wanted to go there and -- but the fact is that in the press area of the convention center in Miami Beach, a lot of journalists took the offer to see Umoja, and this was national news, and this sort of accelerated the will of the County to try to do something. I don't know what they have done up to now, but I would tell you, Commissioner Spence -Jones, it is your district, your problem. I understand your problems. I know that the people across the street wanted to move their homes to the town houses. I know that some of the people in the building next door are trying to look for new housing, andl met the people in Umoja. These are good people, no troublemakers, andl know that you want to do something, andl know that the Manager want to do something. I know that this Commission want to do something, butl will tell you, it will be unfair not to include Umoja Village in any of the bids proposal that goes out, so -- Chairman Gonzalez: All right. This is not a public hearing item. This does not require us to open it to the public, but I have a request that three speakers -- Is that correct, Mr. Manager? Mr. Hernandez: Yes, Mr. Chairman, at least two that are here present, Max and also the chair of the Liberty City Trust, Mr. Chiverton. Chairman Gonzalez: OK. Commissioner Spence -Jones: Can I just add --? I'm sorry, Mr. Chairman. I know we need to get through it. I just want to be very clear because a statement was made by the City Manager that Carrfour did not want -- was not participating in this project, andl just want to be clear City ofMiami Page 10 Printed on 9/5/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes August 1, 2007 'cause I'm seeing Doug shake his head. Is that -- that's not -- Max, that's not the understanding that -- is that --? Chairman Gonzalez: Would you please come to the podium and answer the question, please? Commissioner Spence -Jones: I just want to be clear because -- Max -- they know that they can't build the project. They're going to need to have somebody to help them build the project, so the City Manager stated that Carrfour was not participating, and I'm seeing Doug -- see -- you know, if that's not true. DougMayer: DougMayer, with Carrfour Supportive Housing. Our offices are at 155 South Miami Avenue. We've supported the idea of supportive housing going in on this site from the very beginning. We would like to be part of the process. We're happy to participate in an RFP and respond to the City's concerns about that. We've been working with Max and Serve the People, you know, trying to set up a partnership. We've had some bumps in the road the last few days. In particular, we need to do this in partnership not only with the City, but with the Homeless Trust, as well. We cannot do this type of project without the support of both the City and County, the County being the Homeless Trust, primarily, and the City, through Community Development or whoever, but we are definitely still interested in working and responding and participating. It's just that it has to be through a process that's acceptable to the Homeless Trust because they're our partner in everything we do, and we need their support to make this project a reality. Chairman Gonzalez: All right. Commissioner Spence -Jones: Commissioner -- I'm sorry, Commissioner Regalado, real fast, because you are on the Trust. Can you just answer this quick question for me? I mean, you've been on there for a while, correct? Commissioner Regalado: Five years. Commissioner Spence -Jones: OK. Do you feel that there's any other way around, at least, communicating with the Trust, since you sit on the board, for them to, as we had a special exception on our end, do you think that there's any way that you -- that Mr. -- Chairman Book and the other board members would have a willingness to see this as a special exemption [sic]? Commissioner Regalado: No, but I will tell you -- Commissioner Spence -Jones: At least you're honest. Commissioner Regalado: -- I think that, at least, this should be debated there, andl don't know when and how, but I'm telling you, this all goes back to the perception that Umoja was about homelessness, and it's not. It was about -- Commissioner Spence -Jones: Is it your opinion that if we made the decision today to give the land today to Serve the People, that they would still be in the same dilemma that they're in now without having a process by not getting support from the Homeless Trust? Commissioner Regalado: Well, I -- that I don't know. That I really don't know. I think that they do deserve to have the land. I think that they do deserve to participate in the project anyway, whoever gets a bid or if they get it themself [sic]. I know that you guys really know the Homeless Trust, andl have had to vote in several projects, you know, granting monies to you. I have voted when you have the Miami Beach situation that the County attorney was directed to ask you to return the money and the project, so you know, the Homeless Trust has a lot of projects going on, andl think that maybe if we appeal to them, maybe if we go before them, maybe if they City ofMiami Page 11 Printed on 9/5/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes August 1, 2007 understand that this is not at all an attack on the way that the homeless population has been served, that it's about housing, maybe they would reconsider. I -- you know, I'm just a vote there. It's a bunch of people, andl would tell you something. IfI have to vote, even if the chairman doesn't agree in the board, I will vote for Umoja and Carrfour to build that, andl will vote for the Homeless Trust to support them because it's the right thing to do, but I cannot predict to you how the rest of the board is going to go. Chairman Gonzalez: All right. One thing that I believe that maybe is the right way to go about this is that you should have everyone sit at a table -- and when I say everyone, it's the Homeless Trust, Carrfour, Miami -Dade County, the City ofMiami, Max -- and then come up with a plan and see if there is an interestfrom the Homeless Trust to participate; if there is an interestfrom the County to participate; see who the participants want to be in this project, and then move from there on because, at this point, you don't know what's going on. You know, you don't know what anybody thinks. All we know is that we need affordable housing. We are all willing to support affordable housing, but the matter of the fact is that in order to build affordable housing, you have to have experience -- not affordable housing. In order to build, you have to have experience on how to build. You have to know how to go to your funding sources. You have to know how to complete your RFPs. You have to know -- you know, you have to have a development team. It's not -- building is not a miracle. It's something that takes work, takes organization, takes planning, takes a lot of ingredients to come up with a good project, so you know, I believe that that's one thing that you should do; sit down, you know -- it's your district. It's going to be your project. Have a meeting in your office with all the parties involved and see what, you know, direction -- Commissioner Spence -Jones: Mr. Chairman, I think that they did have a meeting with all those parties that you -- Chairman Gonzalez: They did? Commissioner Spence -Jones: -- talked about this morning, and that was kind of what the recommendation was that the City Manager -- that's what came out of that meeting. Chairman Gonzalez: What the City Manager was recommending? Commissioner Spence -Jones: Yeah, but, you know -- Chairman Gonzalez: Then -- Commissioner Spence -Jones: -- again, you know, that's not necessarily my recommendation, but that's why I wanted to vet it out with you, and -- Chairman Gonzalez: Then you have it. Commissioner Spence -Jones: -- I wanted to hear, at least, from Commissioner Regalado, his opinion on what he felt, being a Trust member, as to whether or not, you know, he -- does he feel that this is the best option to do a bid. Do you feel, Commissioner Regalado, this is the best option, with Umoja attached to that bid? Commissioner Regalado: Well -- Commissioner Spence -Jones: Is that what your recommendation is? Commissioner Regalado: -- I will tell you. I would never support a bid that is not tie to Umoja being an integral part of the -- City ofMiami Page 12 Printed on 9/5/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes August 1, 2007 Chairman Gonzalez: But that could be an agree -- that could be a condition of the -- yeah -- Commissioner Regalado: That's what I'm saying -- Chairman Gonzalez: -- andl agree with you, too. Commissioner Regalado: -- because -- Chairman Gonzalez: I mean, you know -- Commissioner Regalado: -- in fact, whoever wins the bid, if it's the wish of the Commission to issue a bid, will be better off to have Umoja as a partner than not to have them as a partner because they are the community. If it were for me, but then sometimes I say things that are -- if it were for me, I'll give 'em a provisional title of the land so that would guarantee that whoever wins the bid will have to partner anyways with them, and l just think -- Applause. Commissioner Regalado: -- that -- that's just me. I will do it today. Commissioner Spence -Jones: Mr. City Manager, is that an option? Chairman Gonzalez: Well, let me tell you. That sounds very nice, but it's not realistic -- Vice Chairman Sanchez: Yep. Chairman Gonzalez: -- and let me tell you why it's not realistic. We have conveyed land to Allapattah Business Development in Allapattah, and from the day that we conveyed the land, Allapattah has been paying taxes, have been paying the cleaning up of the lot, the fencing of the lot, the maintenance. Do they have the capability to pay for all the costs? Commissioner Regalado: No, I -- Chairman Gonzalez: So you know -- I mean -- Commissioner Regalado: -- just say a provisional. Chairman Gonzalez: -- we can give them the land. Commissioner Regalado: No. I just say a provisional. I didn't say the title of it. I said a provisional that would be for them -- the only thing for them will be to leverage their participation in the process of the RFP -- Chairman Gonzalez: Well, let me tell you. Commissioner Regalado: -- if that is the wish -- Chairman Gonzalez: We have beat the horse to death, so let me open it to -- you're going to have two speakers? Vice Chairman Sanchez: Then it'll come back to -- Commissioner Spence -Jones: Mr. City -- Chairman Gonzalez: You're welcome. City ofMiami Page 13 Printed on 9/5/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes August 1, 2007 Commissioner Spence -Jones: -- I think the -- Chairman Gonzalez: Good morning. Commissioner Spence -Jones: -- City Manager wants to say -- Chairman Gonzalez: And then bring it back to the Commission -- Mr. Hernandez: Mr. Chairman. Chairman Gonzalez: -- and then either fish or cut bait, you know -- Commissioner Spence -Jones: OK. Chairman Gonzalez: -- give them the land; you don't want to give them the land, don't give them the land -- Mr. Hernandez: Just a -- Chairman Gonzalez: -- but -- Mr. Hernandez: -- brief statement on the RFP process. Chairman Gonzalez: -- you know -- Mr. Hernandez: I believe the RFP process could be conditioned in such a way that the winning team would be working with the local participation, which, in this case, will be provided by Umoja representatives -- Chairman Gonzalez: All right. Mr. Hernandez: -- andl think that it can be conditioned in that fashion. Chairman Gonzalez: Yeah, that could be a condition. I mean -- Commissioner Spence -Jones: Well, I will be definitely supportive of that, andl think that that is a good recommendation -- Chairman Gonzalez: All right. Commissioner Spence -Jones: -- and that's kind of what you're saying; is that correct, Commissioner Regalado? Is that they would be attached to the proposal automatically? Commissioner Regalado: Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. It has to be part of the proposal. Commissioner Spence -Jones: Yeah. The question is -- Chairman Gonzalez: All right, Max. Commissioner Spence -Jones: -- do they want to work with them. Chairman Gonzalez: Good morning, welcome. Max Rameau: Max Rameau, 810 Northwest 47 Terrace, Miami. Last week, right here, less than City ofMiami Page 14 Printed on 9/5/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes August 1, 2007 a week ago, this item that we are discussing now with direct conveyance to Serve the People passed on a 4/0 vote, and this week -- and we had Neighbors and Neighbors here and Carrfour here, and everything seemingly worked out. This week, the entire deal is dead. We engaged in a political process, which involved the community, community organizations, elected officials, and in fact, the entire City government, and we came out with a result that had everyone satisfied and build -- gave more power to the community and more leverage to the community in providing what this community needed, and yet, that entire process and that entire conclusion was circumvented by what we feel like is a kingmaker who killed the whole decision, so while this Board, seemingly, last week -- well, this Commission, seemingly, last week was in favor of moving this deal, one person on one board was able to overturn the decision made by the City Commission, or at least the intent of the City Commission. We feel that this is harmful not only to the City's power, but ultimately, to democracy because if we understand that in order for us to build power, we have to petition the government, and we have to do this, and we have to do that, and then this is the way that we -- this is where decisions are made, and then one person can then overturn that power, regardless of how individually influential and how big of a lobbyist and how rich and how powerful they are, and that ultimately hurts our community, in particular, the democratic process, in general, and that's harmful and that's backwards, and we don't think that anyone should have the power to do that. On the -- and this has real serious implications for the way that we now have to move forward because we know now that when we come here and have a decision made, that doesn't necessarily mean that the decision is made, so it really (UNINTELLIGIBLE) us to come here and try to engage and make decisions here because we know that, at any time, someone who doesn't like -- some rich guy who doesn't even live in our community can veto the entire decision. We have no incentive now to come here and engage in the process. In terms of the land ownership issue real quick -- and just to correct what our position is that the City Manager put out -- our position this morning was very clear. The land should go directly to Serve the People, not to Carrfour, and we'll partner with Carrfour on the development that happens on top of the land, and that was one position. Our second position is that our item should be heard today and voted on today. We should not jump immediately to the RFP process. Those were our two positions. He kind of conflated those two. I just want to make that clear. We did not go to him this morning and demand that the land be conveyed to us without any partners. We demanded that the land be conveyed to us, not to Carrfour, and that this item be discussed today, and that we get an up or down vote on it today. Commissioner Spence -Jones: And Carrfour has agreed to -- Chairman Gonzalez: All right. Commissioner Spence -Jones: -- continue to participate. Mr. Rameau: Carrfour has agreed to participate in the RFP process, which is different than what -- and -- Commissioner Spence -Jones: But if -- the first decision -- if it is conveyed to you guys, that Carrfour will be a part of the development. Mr. Rameau: If it is approved by the -- Commissioner Spence -Jones: By this body. Mr. Rameau: -- Homeless Trust and by Ron Book, so as long as it's OK with that group, then they would participate. Commissioner Sarnoff Mr. Chairman. Chairman Gonzalez: Yes, sir. City ofMiami Page 15 Printed on 9/5/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes August 1, 2007 Commissioner Sarnoff Mr. Rameau, you -- what's the name of your corporation? Mr. Rameau: Serve the People, Incorporated. Commissioner Sarnoff And that was started about -- Mr. Rameau: It was started two -- Commissioner Sarnoff -- one month ago? Mr. Rameau: -- about a month or two months ago; it's 501(c)3 pending. Commissioner Sarnoff It's not a 501 (c)3? Mr. Rameau: Not now, no, and it's -- Commissioner Sarnoff OK. It has -- Mr. Rameau: -- just so it's clear, too, the City process related to -- (UNINTET,T IGIBT ,F) the City process, even if you were to approve the direct conveyance, we would not actually get the land until after we were able to prove to the City that we have all the financing lined up, which would also be enough time for the 501(c)3 to -- Commissioner Sarnoff OK. Mr. Rameau: -- establish. Commissioner Sarnoff You're -- you have three shareholders in that? Mr. Rameau: Not shareholders, board members. There's no shareholders for a nonprofit, board members. Commissioner Sarnoff You're a Florida nonprofit? Mr. Rameau: Yes. Commissioner Sarnoff But you've not achieved 501(c) 3 status -- Mr. Rameau: No. Commissioner Sarnoff -- correct? All right, and have any of your board members have any experience in the building of any property? Mr. Rameau: No. We don't claim to be -- claim to have that. Commissioner Sarnoff OK. Mr. Rameau: In our proposal, just so it's clear, we would own the land, and the development above the land would be leased out to an LLC (Limited Liability Company), which would be led by Carrfour, or would have been had this deal gone through as initially decided. Commissioner Sarnoff Do you know exactly how you will finance this? Mr. Rameau: It would have been financed through low-income tax credits, which Carrfour does. City ofMiami Page 16 Printed on 9/5/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes August 1, 2007 I believe Carrfour is the most experienced in the state of Florida at this. Commissioner Sarnoff Have you ever done that before? Mr. Rameau: Never, andl have no interest in doing that myself. Commissioner Sarnoff OK, and do you know the difference between (UNINTELLIGIBLE) or SHIP (State Housing Initiative Partnership) or any of the other funding sources? Mr. Rameau: I don't know it. IfI would have known it, I probably wouldn't have asked Carrfour to do it, but we asked Carrfour to partner because that's what -- that -- they're the best ones that we know of in the state of Florida. Commissioner Sarnoff Well, Carrfour would be the developer, correct? Mr. Rameau: That's right, and that's who takes care of that is the developer. Commissioner Sarnoff What do you bring to the table? Mr. Rameau: We bring to the table, one, is the fact that we were able to secure an agreement with the City ofMiami Commission that we would get the land conveyed to us, so we bring the land. Commissioner Sarnoff So you don't bring any experience to the table in doing this? Mr. Rameau: We don't bring any development experience. We bring political experience. We bring representation of the community, and since this is happening in the community, and presumably, will benefit the community, and this would bring political vision, which benefits and Commissioner Spence -Jones: And -- Mr. Rameau: -- meets the needs of the community. Commissioner Spence -Jones: -- I'm not trying to interrupt you, Commissioner Sarnoff. I think also one of the things that they will be able to bring to the table -- the idea of this particular housing is that it provides supportive services, so this group would act in a manner where they will be able to provide supportive -- necessary supportive services along with Carrfour on site, so that is one of the things that will benefit them participating in the project, so ongoing services that -- support services that may need to be a part of the housing part of this. Chairman Gonzalez: Are you done, Commissioner Sarnoff? Commissioner Sarnoff I'm trying to gauge exactly what's brought to the table, and I'm reading, obviously, from Mr. Book's letter. He says, "Based on our interactions with many of the former Umoja Village residents, they would not meet eligibility requirements for programs such that those currently offered by Carrfour." Is that correct? Is that your understanding? Mr. Rameau: That is for -- that they have in their other buildings, yes. Commissioner Sarnoff Right, so you would not be able to meet their requirements? Mr. Rameau: For their other buildings, not for this building. Just because -- Commissioner Sarnoff What are the requirements? What's the criteria Carrfour's going to City ofMiami Page 17 Printed on 9/5/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes August 1, 2007 have? Mr. Rameau: Well, you got -- Commissioner Sarnoff How do I sit here as a Commissioner and know what the criteria that Carrfour is going to require? Mr. Rameau: Well, you could probably ask Carrfour, but the things that we would require would be that there will be some housing there which would be what they call low -impact housing, which allows for people who are there who -- or have not been six months clean, for example, who do not have income or who do not have other things. That wouldn't be the entire project, but there would be a percentage that would -- Commissioner Sarnoff So then Carr -- Mr. Rameau: -- and the residents of Umoja are not some monolithic group where everybody has the same problem, everybody's in the same situation; some fall in one category, some fall in another. Commissioner Sarnoff So Carrfour would be doing something it's never done before, correct? Mr. Rameau: I'm sure, I'm sure. Commissioner Sarnoff So you're proposing to ask Carrfour to create a program that may not even meet any State or federal guidelines for housing? Mr. Rameau: It would meet State or federal guidelines. Just because Carrfour doesn't have it doesn't mean that it's outside of State or federal guidelines -- Commissioner Sarnoff Well -- Mr. Rameau: -- because this kind of housing exists elsewhere. Commissioner Sarnoff -- how do you know what the eligibility requirements are? Mr. Rameau: Well, because they exist elsewhere, and they're funded -- those things that exist elsewhere are funded by the Homeless Trust, are funded by CDBG (Community Development Block Grant) dollars, both by the City and by the County. Commissioner Sarnoff See, I'm a little bit lost 'cause here I am, a Commissioner, and you're asking, at least, District 2, to convey land to you, and you're saying, trust me, I'll get it right with Carrfour, and what I'm trying to figure out is what your experience is, which you've admitted is none, and -- Mr. Rameau: None in development. Commissioner Sarnoff Well, I understand, but -- Mr. Rameau: OK. Commissioner Sarnoff -- you're not -- Do you own land? Mr. Rameau: I'm sorry? Commissioner Sarnoff Do you personally own land? City ofMiami Page 18 Printed on 9/5/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes August 1, 2007 Mr. Rameau: Yes. Commissioner Sarnoff OK, then you're a landowner; you know the obligations attendant to that. You know that you'll have to pay the taxes on the land. You'll have to do other things attendant to landownership, and how will you do that? How will you, in the interim, pay those taxes? Mr. Rameau: Well, in the interim, we wouldn't have the land because the way that the City of Miami structures its conveyance deals is that we wouldn't get the land until the financing is there. Once the financing is there, we would use the finance to pay the interim costs. The City of Miami attorney sat in the room with us and said that when we -- if the City Commission approves this, we would not give you the land the next day. You'd have to show that you have enough money to hold and manage the land and build all of the items, so we would not actually get the land until we had enough money to pay for the interim costs and to pay for the development itself, as matching with what the building plan is, and for other details of those things, you should and would have to speak to Carrfour, if they were still a partner in this, so that would -- Commissioner Sarnoff Well, do you know what the building plans would be, as you sit here today? Mr. Rameau: We have not developed the buildings plans. Commissioner Sarnoff So you wouldn't know if it would be three stories, five stories, seven stories? Mr. Rameau: We know it would be between 55 and 75 units, and the number of units that we would have and the number of stories that we would have would be dependent upon the completion of our community survey, where we would ask people in the directly affected area what kind of units they would like to see there; efficiencies, one -bedrooms, two -bedrooms; the number of units, how many stories is acceptable for that area; how many stories is not, et cetera, et cetera. We would not impose that on the community ourselves. Commissioner Sarnoff OK. Thank you. Chairman Gonzalez: All right. That concludes your presentation, Max? Mr. Rameau: Yes. Chairman Gonzalez: Thank you. Yes, sir. David Chiverton: Yes, Mr. Chairman. Thank you. Good morning. My name is David Chiverton, 6114 Northwest 7th Avenue, Miami, Florida 33127. I stand here before you on behalf of our chairman, Mr. Reverend Dunn, who is unable to be with us. He has illness in his family. Just to be sure that it's on the record that the Neighbors United Task Force supports housing, but we don't support any particular agency in developing that particular site. We would like to see something that would help stimulate the growth in the community, as well as provide some economic stimulus for those entrepreneurs in the area. On the side -- the other hat I wear is I'm the chairman of the Liberty City Revitalization Trust, and we are concerned as to the fact of the low impact that's been talked about where there're less restrictions on residents in low -impact areas, and the area's already looking at the various challenges that face it economically, as well as housing, and we want to be sure that the City keeps that in mind as it moves forward. We want to see a project come out of the ground that's -- would support the community, help stimulate growth, both economically and socially, but we don't want to have a program that sits there that provides other ailments that would help keep the community from City ofMiami Page 19 Printed on 9/5/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes August 1, 2007 growing. Thankyou. Chairman Gonzalez: Thank you. Charles Cutler: Yes. Charles -- Chairman Gonzalez: All right. Mr. Cutler: -- Cutler. I'm a long-time resident ofMiami. As a matter of fact, my family been here for almost 80 years, andl was born and raised over in Liberty Square -- Chairman Gonzalez: All right. Mr. Cutler: -- so Liberty City, that's where I grew up. That's the heart of my community, and what I want to say to the leadership in this community -- and y'all are our leaders, you know what I'm saying? And it really breaks my heart to watch somebody come in here and take a article that was put out by the Miami Herald about the housing issue here, then take that article and prostitute this whole community and undermine the leadership, use the media as a catalyst, then come right back to say, well, now give me the land. Then you going to say now you're ready to go out and survey the community and say, well, what you need in the community? We did -- we never did ask for Umoja Village. That was just something that was shoved down our throat, and now these same people got the unmitigated gall to come back before this Commission, after disrespecting this community like that, after disrespecting our neighborhoods -- our children had to look at that foolishness going on everyday passing by there, and I'm really upset about that because here it is, being a disabled veteran myself andl volunteered to go to Vietnam, come back home, and I've been home ever since, and when people come in like that and just disrespect our community, and then live other places -- the same issues that they have where they live, we have the same issues here, and we're trying to work together to resolve our issues, and to come in and to create a problem, then you think that you serve to fix that problem and think that we should reward you for that, then that means that all we got to do in the City ofMiami is just go on a rampage and just create chaos throughout government and just make a media spectacle of it, and we can have anything that we want to have in this community. No, that's what the riots was all about. We done grew past that. This whole charade here, to me, is just like Ben Yahweh. Chairman Gonzalez: Thankyou. OK. That close the portion of the public, andl bring it back to the Commission, andl think there has been enough debate. I believe that there has been enough debate and enough argument, andl believe everybody should be ready to make a decision -- Commissioner Spence -Jones: Well -- Chairman Gonzalez: -- so -- Commissioner Spence -Jones: -- actually -- Chairman Gonzalez: -- let's -- Commissioner Spence -Jones: -- the City -- Chairman Gonzalez: -- fish or cut -- Commissioner Spence -Jones: -- Manager had some -- Vice Chairman Sanchez: I -- Commissioner Spence -Jones: -- he -- City ofMiami Page 20 Printed on 9/5/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes August 1, 2007 Vice Chairman Sanchez: -- would like an opportunity to speak on the issue. I have not had an opportunity, but of course, district Commissioner, I would yield to you, and then I would close it, and -- Commissioner Spence -Jones: Well, actually, the City Manager did want to put -- say something Mr. Hernandez: Well, the -- Commissioner Spence -Jones: -- and then if -- Mr. Hernandez: -- statement that wanted to make was to, in essence, reconfirm my statement at the beginning that I would like to have your direction to proceed forward with an RFP process that, based on your discussion, could be conditioned to ensure that whoever the winning team is, that they would have to, in essence, engage with the local participants, in this case, Umoja Village representatives. Commissioner Spence -Jones: So we would make them a part of the process? Mr. Hernandez: They would be part of the process, and they would be participants with whoever the team is that we award to. Vice Chairman Sanchez: All right. Mr. Chairman, I just want to clarify one statement that was made about affordable housing, which is not only a District 5 problem. I believe that's a citywide problem, and we agree on that. This Commission, I think, demands affordable housing, but we also demand that our city be held to a higher ethical and procedural standards when it comes to affordable housing. I don't think we need another embarrassment in this City, not only for ourselves, but organizations that are out there trying to do the right thing to provide more affordable housing for the people. This is a multimillion dollar experience. It has more questions than answers, from what I've gathered, andl think we could agree on that, but I'll tell you what I see. I see a great opportunity for us, as the City, to work together with the people to try to come up with a signature event that we could showcase, but through that process, we have to make sure that our is are crossed and our is are dotted because one failure, whether it be the City, the County, or the organizations that are going to be involved in this process, would set us back, so having that -- if we take anything from this, it's the opportunity that we may have to work together to create a signature project to show that, after all, government is for the people and by the people and can certainly work with the people, so having said that, I think the Chairman is right. We have to make a decision. I cannot make a decision on this that could go against the City Manager in itself because it really puts us on the path to failure, and think that the only way that we're going to be able to accomplish this is bringing everyone to the table to try to find a way that, one, we could create this project, find the financing for this project, and have the methodology in place to make sure that we go from start to finish and it's a success story, and based on that --from what I hear today, that is not there. There are ingredients missing, so I believe that the proper thing to do, to add a suggestion to this, is to take the advisement of the City Manager, which is to put out an RFP and the process -- let me tell you. You -- what you've done in two months to bring this to light -- I have a project in my district, Jose Marti, and the City Manager knows, I've been at it for two years; City property and $4 million ready to go. Three times the RFP process have come back, and as a matter of fact, it's out right now for the fourth time, so what you've been able to do for two months, it's taken me four -- two years, with a board and the money, so you know -- Mr. Rameau: Want us to build a shantytown there for you? Vice Chairman Sanchez: No, I don't think so. City ofMiami Page 21 Printed on 9/5/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes August 1, 2007 Chairman Gonzalez: All right. Commissioner Spence -Jones: Mr. Chairman, I mean, I have heardfrom every single last one of you on the dais. I would like to hear from you, Mr. Chairman. You know, I've heardfrom Commissioner Sarnoff, andl clearly understand what his position or his feeling is on the issue, and you've been stating that from day one, you know, even on the processes of how CD handles giving away the land, so I kind of understood your position before we even started, and I'm just hearing your position now with Commissioner Sanchez, so I kind of understand your position, but I really would like to hear from my Chairman. You know, again, y'all have been up here a lot longer than I have. I'm only trying to do the right thing, but I do want to hear your position on it before we turn it back over to the Manager. Chairman Gonzalez: Well, my position is that, first of all, I want to see housing, affordable housing. That's number one. Number two, I believe that whatever happens in this deal, they need to be part of the deal. They -- because they're the community. I mean, they live there. They -- you know, they have gone through rough times in that community, and they have the right to participate and be a partner on this deal, but to build a project takes a lot. I mean, you need to have a developer team. You need to have -- first of all, you know, awarding the land implicates expenses -- Vice Chairman Sanchez: Liability. Chairman Gonzalez: -- and for example, they are not a 501(c)3 yet. That would qualifi, them not to pay taxes on the property, but they're not a 501(c)3, so they will have to pay taxes. They will have to maintain the lot clean, the lot safe, a fence. They will need to have plans. They will need to do predevelopment on the land. We don't know if the land is contaminated; if the land -- you know, it's so many things involved, and they don't have any experience on building anything. They have never built anything, and that's why they believe, probably, that building a project is one, two, three, and that's it. The building is done; let's sell it or let's rent it or let's live in it. No. It's -- we're talking -- we're discussing this today, and mark my words, it's going to be no less than two years before you can break ground on that project, OK? Just mark my words, and that's having a company that is experienced, that have the financing put together, that have all the requirements in order to build a project, so having everything is going to take you at least two years before you can do ground breaking on the project. That -- my suggestion is that you put it out on an RFP, and as a condition, you know, whoever answer the RFP take into the consideration that they have to work with the community in developing this land -- Commissioner Spence -Jones: Well -- Chairman Gonzalez: -- and building the project; get the suggestions, how many units, how many floors, how many bedrooms in the units, what the community needs. The -- who better than them can tell the developer what the community needs and what the community want? Commissioner Spence -Jones: Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and it's obvious I can count to -- count to three, so I understand where my current position is currently on this issue. I would -- I mean, at this point, I -- it seems as though I'm not going to get the support on the item. The only thing that would really want to, at least, encourage the City Manager on is taking the recommendation that anything that goes out on that parcel of land -- and I do understand that I do have constituents -- Mr. Cutler, I very much respect him, and understand his position on this issue. He'll probably never understand why I would have my position on it, but I feel it's the right thing to do, but it's obvious that I don't have the votes on this issue today, so what I would like to recommend, without having the item go all the way away -- and we don't have a lot of time. I want to get some things moving -- is if we could make sure that the RFP that does go out will include Umoja as a partner in the project or is -- that as a major component of whatever City ofMiami Page 22 Printed on 9/5/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes August 1, 2007 happens on that land. Mr. Hernandez: Commissioner, that is the plan and, in essence, with this item that you have before you today, SP.4, the item would have to be withdrawn. I will ask for you to withdraw the item, and with respect to the RFP, there is no action required. I'm just making you aware that once this is withdrawn, I'll proceed with the RFP process. Chairman Gonzalez: All right, so we need a motion to withdraw SP.4, right? Mr. Hernandez: Yes, on SP.4. Julie O. Bru (Deputy City Attorney): You don't need a motion. It's just -- the item was placed on the agenda by the District 5 Commissioner. She can just withdraw the item. Chairman Gonzalez: All right. Vice Chairman Sanchez: No motion. Chairman Gonzalez: Is the Commissioner withdrawing the item? Commissioner Spence -Jones: I mean, do I have a choice? Chairman Gonzalez: Yes, you do. You have a choice to make a motion to give them the land today -- Commissioner Spence -Jones: Yeah, but I'm not going to -- Chairman Gonzalez: -- and then, if you have the -- Commissioner Spence -Jones: -- get the votes, so -- Chairman Gonzalez: -- support, we'll give them the land. Commissioner Spence -Jones: I'll withdraw the item. I don't have the votes. I know I don't. Vice Chairman Sanchez: All right. Chairman Gonzalez: All right. We still have -- Vice Chairman Sanchez: No, no, no, no. Commissioner Spence -Jones: No, no, no, no, but in doing that, we -- have we directed the City Manager to -- I need you to -- us to direct him on what needs to happen regarding -- Ms. Bru: Commissioner, the Manager put that on the record already, that he's proceeding with the RFP with the participation somehow of this group. Commissioner Regalado: What is somehow? Ms. Bru: Well, that wasn't stated on the record, and what I would recommend is is that when the RFP is drafted, that it come back to you for approval so that you know specifically to what extent this entity will be participating in the project. Commissioner Spence -Jones: What -- can we put a time frame on this thing? 'Cause I don't want it to be another six months, another nine months. Can we say in the next -- City ofMiami Page 23 Printed on 9/5/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes August 1, 2007 Mr. Hernandez: Well, whatl -- Commissioner Spence -Jones: -- 30 days or 60 days that we'll have something? Mr. Hernandez: -- plan to do is once I have the RFP ready, I'll contact each one of you, since we don't have a meeting. I'll share with each one of you what the scope is because, otherwise, if I wait to 90 -- September 11, it will be six weeks. City ofMiami Page 24 Printed on 9/5/2007