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HomeMy WebLinkAboutOMNI CRA 2010-06-10 MinutesCity of Miami City Hall 3500 Pan American Drive Miami, FL 33133 www.miamigov.com Meeting Minutes Thursday, June 10, 2010 5:00 PM MIAMI CITY HALL 3500 PAN AMERICAN DRIVE MIAMI, FL 33133 OMNI Community Redevelopment Agency Marc David Sarnoff, Chairman Francis Suarez, Vice -Chairman Wifredo (Willy) Gort, Commissioner Frank Carollo, Commissioner Richard P. Dunn II, Commissioner CRA OFFICE ADDRESS: 49 NW 5th ST, SUITE 100, Miami, FL 33128 Phone: (305) 679-6800, Fax: (305) 679-6835 OMNI Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes June 10, 2010 INVOCATION AND PLEDGE FINANCIALS 1. 10-00623 Present: Commissioner Dunn II, Chair Sarnoff, Vice Chair Suarez, Commissioner Carollo and Commissioner Gort On the 10th day of June 2010, the Board of Commissioners of the OMNI Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of Miami met in regular session at Miami City Hall, 3500 Pan Amerian Drive, Miami, Florida. The meeting was called to order by Chair Sarnoff at 5:37 p.m. and was adjourned at 7:15 p.m. ALSO PRESENT: James H Villacorta, Interim Executive Director, CRA Clarence Woods, Assistant Executive Director, CRA Gail A. Dotson, Assistant General Counsel, CRA William R. Bloom, Special Counsel, CRA Veronica A. Xiques, Assistant City Attorney Pamela L. Latimore, Assistant Clerk of the Board CRA REPORT FINANCIAL SUMMARY THROUGH MONTH ENDING MAY 31, 2010. File # 10-00623 Financial Summary 6-10-2010.pdf PRESENTED Chair Sarnoff Let's finish this. Let's go up to item number 1. Let's get that done and then finish up with item 3 and then call it a night. Thank you for being here. Miguel Valentin (Financial Officer, Community Redevelopment Agency): Chairman Sarnoff, Commissioners. Just very quickly, I want to put on record that the combined statement of financial position for Omni for the May -- on May 31, 2010, the cash balance that we're disclosing is 36,858, 788. Chair Sarnoff. You sure about that number? I have 36,253,796. Mr. Valentin: I have here 36, 858, 788. Chair Sarnoff All right, Jim, where did the 600,000 go? James H. Villacorta (Interim Executive Director, Community Redevelopment Agency): I'm sorry. What -- the -- you're giving the combined statement of total liabilities and fund balance? Mr. Valentin: Yeah. I'm presenting -- Chair Sarnoff I apologize. I was looking on -- I was looking at the right-hand column of the second page. All right. Mr. Valentin: And do you want to state --? Chair Sarnoff Any reportable conditions? Mr. Valentin: And also, I wanted to state for -- to put on record that there is no reportable City of Miami Page 2 Printed on 3/23/2011 OMNI Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes June 10, 2010 RESOLUTIONS 2. 10-00537 condition. Commissioner Sarnoff. Okay. CRA RESOLUTION A RESOLUTION OF THE OMNI REDEVELOPMENT DISTRICT COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY ("CRA") AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF A GRANT, IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $2,000,000, TO THE CITY OF MIAMI ("CITY") TO ASSIST IN ITS OBLIGATION TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL REMEDIATION OF BICENTENNIAL PARK, 1075 BISCAYNE BOULEVARD, MIAMI, FLORIDA, FUTURE SITE OF THE MUSEUM PARK PROJECT, CONTINGENT UPON THE MIAMI ART MUSEUM OF DADE COUNTY ASSOCIATION, INC. ("MAM") PROVIDING EVIDENCE REASONABLY SATISFACTORY TO THE CITY MANAGER INDICATING THAT MAM HAS SECURED THE FUNDING NECESSARY TO COMPLETE ITS PORTION OF THE MUSEUM COMPONENT OF THE MUSEUM PARK PROJECT AT BICENTENNIAL PARK, AND SUBJECT TO THE REMEDIATION BEING COMPLETED IN ITS ENTIRETY AND THE REMOVAL OF ALL FENCING SURROUNDING THE AREA PRIOR TO NOVEMBER 1, 2010, AND BAYFRONT PARK MANAGEMENT TRUST OBTAINING FULL AUTHORITY AND ACCESS TO USE THE SPACE ORIGINALLY CONTEMPLATED FOR PARKING FOR THE CIRQUE DU SOLEIL EVENT AFTER THE REMEDIATION IS COMPLETED TO PREVENT LOSS OF REVENUES FROM SAID EVENT, OR THE COMMENCEMENT OF REMEDIATION AND INSTALLATION OF FENCING AROUND THE AREA AFTER DECEMBER 31, 2010, AND PRIOR TO THAT TIME, BAYFRONT PARK MANAGEMENT TRUST OBTAINING FULL AUTHORITY AND ACCESS TO USE THE SPACE ORIGINALLY CONTEMPLATED FOR PARKING FOR THE CIRQUE DU SOLEIL EVENT TO PREVENT LOSS OF REVENUES FROM SAID EVENT, AND BAYFRONT PARK MANAGEMENT TRUST OBTAINING AUTHORITY AND ACCESS TO USE THE AREA IN MUSEUM PARK THAT IT WOULD NORMALLY USE TO STAGE EVENTS IF SAID AREA IS NOT BEING USED, OR IF CONSTRUCTION DOES NOT COMMENCE OR CEASES FOR ANY REASON; AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, AT HIS DISCRETION, TO DISBURSE THE GRANT ON A REIMBURSEMENT BASIS OR DIRECTLY TO VENDORS, AFTER THE CITY HAS AUTHORIZED PAYMENT AND UPON PRESENTATION OF INVOICES AND SATISFACTORY DOCUMENTATION; AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO EXECUTE ALL DOCUMENTS NECESSARY FOR SAID PURPOSE, IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO GENERAL COUNSEL; ALLOCATING FUNDS FROM OMNI TAX INCREMENT FUND, "OTHER GRANTS AND AIDS," ACCOUNT CODE NO. 10040.920101.883000.0000.00000. City of Miami Page 3 Printed on 3/23/2011 OMNI Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes June 10, 2010 File # 10-00537 Cover Memo 4-26-2010.pdf File # 10-00537 Financials 4-26-2010.pdf File # 10-00537 Backup 4-26-2010.pdf File # 10-00537 Legislation 4-26-2010.pdf File # 10-00537 Legislation (2) 4-26-2010.pdf File # 10-00537 Cover Memo v2 6-10-2010.pdf File # 10-00537 Financials v2 6-10-2010.pdf File # 10-00537 Legislation v2 6-10-2010.pdf File No. 10-00537 Legislation v3 6-10-2010.pdf Motion by Board Member Sarnoff, seconded by Board Member Gort, that this matter be ADOPTED WITH MODIFICATIONS PASSED by the following vote. Votes: Ayes: Commissioner Dunn II, Commissioner Gort, Chair Sarnoff, Commissioner Carollo and Vice Chair Suarez CRA-R-1 0-0046 Chair Sarnoff. All right. I want to welcome everybody to the Omni CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) agenda for today. I did make a promise to the City Manager that we would hear -- I guess it's number 2, agenda item number 2, first. Mr. Director, are you ready to proceed? James H. Villacorta (Interim Executive Director, Community Redevelopment Agency): Yes. Mr. Villacorta: You want to do the financial report? Chair Sarnoff No. I promised the Manager -- Mr. Villacorta: Okay. Chair Sarnoff -- I would do this first. Mr. Villacorta: All right. Chair Sarnoff He's test driving a new Ferrari at 6. Mr. Villacorta: Item number 2 is a discussion item regarding the police visibility program. Chair Sarnoff No, no. Item number 2 is not that. Mr. Villacorta: Oh, I'm sorry. Item number 2 is the -- a resolution of the Omni Redevelopment District Community Redevelopment Agency authorizing the issuance of a grant, in an amount not to exceed $2 million, to the City of Miami to assist in its obligation to provide funding for the environmental remediation of Bicentennial Park at 1075 Biscayne Boulevard, contingent upon the City Manager certifying to the CRA that the Miami Art Museum of Dade County Association, Inc. has secured the funding necessary to complete its portion of the museum component of the Museum Park project at Bicentennial Park; further authorizing the executive director, at his discretion, to disburse the grant on a reimbursement basis or directly to vendors upon presentation of invoices and satisfactory documentation. Chair Sarnoff All right. And can we get some background on this? Mr. Villacorta: Yes. In September 12, 2008, Miami -Dade County, the City, the Miami Sports and Exhibition Authority, and the Miami Art Museum of Dade County Association, Inc., and the Museum of Science, Inc., and the Historical Association of South Florida, Inc. executed a City of Miami Page 4 Printed on 3/23/2011 OMNI Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes June 10, 2010 memorandum of understanding concerning the development, design, construction, and operation of the Museum Park project on Bicentennial Park. Pursuant to an MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) signed on December 11, 2008 and the City Commission resolution number 08-0707 approving the terms thereof and authorizing the City Manager to execute a lease agreement between the City and MAM (Miami Art Museum) and a lease agreement between the City and the Museum of Science for the development and operation of the museum component of Museum Park project at Bicentennial Park. This -- pursuant to the MOU, a sampling conducted by environmental consultants for MAM and MSM (Miami Science Museum) has indicated the presence of contaminants at Bicentennial Park in excess of established soil and groundwater cleanup target levels. Consequently, the lease provides that the execution of an environmental remediation agreement was a condition precedent to possession of the land. On July 9, 2009, the City, MAM, and MSM executed an environmental remediation agreement which provides that the City is obligated to contribute up to $2 million towards the cost in environmental remediation. It further states that the City intends to have the CRA contribute these funds, and that's what we're here for under this resolution. Chair Sarnoff All right. I'm going to open this up to a public hearing. Does anybody from the public, anybody from MAM wish to say anything or anyone from the general public? Commissioner Carollo: Mr. Chairman. Chair Sarnoff Yes, sir. Commissioner Carollo: Before we start the public hearing, if you allow me just a minute. I want to disclose today, in the morning I was -- and it was delivered in an envelope that had some tax returns and so forth from the Miami Arts [sic] Museum. I didn't really get a chance to look through them. However, I noticed that the preparer was Morrison Brown Argiz & Farra, which is the company that I work for. It is my employer. They are out of Fort Lauderdale. I didn't know that they were the ones who prepared their tax returns. But in abundance of caution, I want to pose the question to the City Attorney to make sure there are no conflicts of interest. VeronicaXiques (Assistant City Attorney): Commissioner, we have looked at the issue and there's no conflict. Vice Chair Carollo: Thank you, ma'am. Chair Sarnoff Thank you. All right. Can we --? Let's start the public hearing. I'll tell you what. Alice, you had said something earlier, which I don't know that turns out to be true or untrue, but just describe the remediation to us and what you think it says. Alice Bravo (Director, Capital Improvements Program): Yes. Under the $2 million obligation are included the studies that have been performed to date, which the amount spent so far is about $200, 000. So we would need this item in order to cover that cost. Additionally, my understanding is that the site does contain arsenic, but the arsenic levels exceed the residential thresholds but do not exceed the commercial thresholds. So technically, the site not being residential, the material could stay on there. I know that there's a soil plan that has been approved by Miami -Dade County DERM (Department of Environmental Resources Management) so I don't know if there's like a special requirement through that. And there's always the potential when you're in construction that you'll encounter contaminant levels that were not previously known through the sampling process. So it's wise to have an upper limiting amount available so that construction is not stopped if something unforeseen is encountered. Chair Sarnoff So -- are what you -- what you're telling us is based on your experience that on City of Miami Page 5 Printed on 3/23/2011 OMNI Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes June 10, 2010 a commercial development that you don't use the residential threshold. Ms. Bravo: Correct. Commissioner Sarnoff. All right. But what you are -- correct me if I'm wrong. But you are telling us that DERM did come up with a plan that seems to be beyond a commercial development threshold. Ms. Bravo: That's what I've been told, but I'm not completely familiar with the plan. Chair Sarnoff. All right. So as far as you know, this is the DERMplan under which they're to proceed. Ms. Bravo: It could very well be. Chair Sarnoff. Well, I want to know what level of understanding you have. Ms. Bravo: I have not had a chance to review that plan. Chair Sarnoff Okay. So I may have more of a level of understanding than you. I did review it. Ms. Bravo: Okay. Chair Sarnoff All right. Thank you. Ms. Bravo: Thank you. Chair Sarnoff Let's open it up for a public hearing. Gillian Thomas: I am Gillian Thomas from the Miami Science Museum, 33 -- 3280 South Miami Avenue, 33129. So as I was explaining, we've been working on this for a very long time and the two museums are working very closely together and have worked with the City and with the County to get this plan negotiated with DERM. I am sorry that we haven't had the time to take the staff through perhaps some of the detail that's needed. It isn't correct that all the soil on the whole of the land is below the commercial threshold. There are substantive hotspots, and we have an engineer here who can come and tell you that detail. So we are really seeking your permission to move forward with the plan that has been agreed with DERM. We meet with the City and the County on a monthly basis, and we'll be going through all the details as we move forward. And this is a grant which is paid by reimbursement, so you have to agree with the reimbursements as we go ahead and we're very committed to making sure this will happen. I think if you wish to have specific inquiries about the engineering, we should perhaps call on EE&G, who have a representative here who could answer some of those details. Chair Sarnoff Could they give a very brief statement as to --? Is EE&G here? I've never seen an engineer be brief but could you be brief? Craig Clevenger: My name is Craig Clevenger. I'm a senior hydrogeologist with EE&G Environmental, 14505 Commerce Way, Miami Lakes. I'm a geologist, so I can be brief not an engineer. I'm the author of the soil management plan on behalf of the museums. Concurrently, the City has their engineer who wrote a similar plan for the southern half of the Bicentennial Park. The site is contaminated with arsenic. There's levels above residential and hotspots that are above a commercial standard of twelve parts per million. There's also in the northeast corner of the property petroleum contamination that emanated from the former Belcher Oil in there that also is going to be encountered when they go into the construction. So the soil City of Miami Page 6 Printed on 3/23/2011 OMNI Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes June 10, 2010 management plan has been worked with DERM and we worked very hard with the City to try to minimize the amount of remediation and the cost to deal with this, and DERM was very tough on us on here. Now there's a concept about a residential standard on a commercial facility, and DERM did not accept that this is a commercial facility. This is a park project, and so they're holding us to a stricter standard. There's no official park standard right now, although there's an option to do some type of risk -based corrective action, but that's a lengthy process to do it. So right now we're held to a residential standard and we're going to have an engineering and institutional control, meaning anywhere there's a building, a parking lot, concrete, sidewalk, that'll be an engineering barrier to prevent direct exposure to the soils. Any landscaped areas will have to be cleaned with two feet of clean fill put in there and that's the standard that we have. Chair Sarnoff Okay. Thank you very much. That was brief And you're right, geologists are much smaller and briefer than are -- Mr. Clevenger: We cut right to the chase, yeah. Commissioner Sarnoff. -- PEs (Professional Engineers). Mr. Clevenger: Thank you. Chair Sarnoff Thank you. Anyone else in the general public wishing to be heard? Aaron Podhurst: Aaron Podhurst. I'm an attorney in the City of Miami. I'm a volunteer. I happen to be chairman of the board of Miami Art Museum. I know that some of the Commissioners are new, and so I -- if I'm repeating myself I will sit down quickly. But this was negotiated by DERM's requirement. Museums did not want to do any of this, and we were required because as it has been explained, there is asbestos and other toxics there and it had to be done -- and it has to be done on the whole property. And the reason it is important, in my view, to go through with the agreements that the City has already entered into, as Jim has said, is because this project, in my view, is time sensitive. There are contracts that need to be signed. There's over 500 -- approximately $500 million, a half a billion that will come into the City of Miami between the two GOB (General Obligation Bond), the 100 million from the County voted on by the people, 175 from the Science Museum, $100 million each that the museums are going to be raised. It will provide jobs. Andl know the Commissioners know this, that the way to do a project is on time, on budget. And so we ask you please to live up to the agreement that was carefully entered into by the City of Miami at the request of DERM and the two museums, and I believe that that is the requirement. The statement that this can be commercial property is just not true. DERM has made that very clear and our expert has told you why. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chair Sarnoff Thank you, Mr. Podhurst. Anyone else in the public wishing to be heard on item number 2? Grace Solares: Good afternoon, Commissioners. Grace Solares, Miami Neighborhoods United. We oppose CRA -- Omni CRA giving $2 million to this project. I hand -delivered this morning to each of your respective offices and that of the Mayor the letter enclosing also certain financial documents of the -- ofMAM. One of the issues here today before you is for the measure to make certain that the museum has secured the funding necessary to complete the museum components. They have not. The speaker behind me will probably address that directly, but -- that my letter actually mentioned. With respect to the CRA and the $2 million, I don't want you to forget that those $2 million come from the people that live in the Omni area. They have given you that money. And I don't think it's fair to utilize it for things that were not the objectives of the CRA. I will tell you some of the objectives of the CRA, which is to promote City of Miami Page 7 Printed on 3/23/2011 OMNI Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes June 10, 2010 rehabilitation and maintenance of existing viable uses and structures. This is not it. Achieve orderly and efcient use of land. This is not it. Reinforce the property tax base. This is not it because they're not going to pay you a dime in taxes. Promote concentrations of similar business activities that reinforce each other and improve the area economic element -- climate. No, this does not. Provide adequate public utilities and services for areas, residents, and business; this is not. Provide a system of public open spaces; this is not. Maximize access and views to the Biscayne Bay; this is not. Encourage preservation and restoration of historic buildings; this is not. Emphasize crime prevention and improved security in the area; this is not, and on and on and on. Commissioner Sarnoff, you better than anyone know these things. Taking this money from the CRA to give it to an entity is a crime. It's immoral in my view. It is not -- it does not cover the objective of what the CRA was created for. It's not the objective that the residents in the area want. It does not benefit the quality of life. It does not benefit anything that the CRA was actually created for. So, therefore, Commissioners, I want you to rethink this gift. You will be gifting -- giving a gift of $2 million of the people's money to an entity. They should come up with that money. They should have that money. They don't have it, as I told you in my document this morning to each of you. So I went into the Internet before coming here to see whether or not I was able to take a look (UNINTELLIGIBLE) 2009. Guess what? They have done zero about that. Their documents are not there. They've requested probably extensions or whatever it is, but it's so, so coincidental that in the moments that are most crucial, when bonds will be issued, when (UNINTELLIGIBLE) will be issued, that we really do not know whether they have the money or not. They don't have it. I can tell you they don't have it. Pledges -- trustees have resigned from the museum board lately. Mrs. Cisneros took her pledge with her and left. They hardly have a collection. You have to think about this very carefully. Whether you give this money to these people, where are you going to get that money from, whether or not they have actually complied? I wrote to the City Manager yesterday saying what are you going to base yourself on to tell this wonderful board that you have made certain they have the money. Well, you know what I got? I got a letter from the -- Mr. Burgess that says to Mr. Aaron Podhurst -- right here -- that says after careful review and based on our extensive communication -- After extensive review of what? Of the thoughts? Of the air? He doesn't say. In our extensive communication -- What is it, a two-hour telephone call? Three days talking on the phone? Where is the documentation proving that they have the pledges, they have the money? And besides that, pledges mean absolutely nothing. I can tell you today that I'm going to give you $10 million tomorrow and tomorrow you come to me and I say, gee, Commissioner, I'm sorry, but I don't have the money anymore. And guess what, nothing happens to me. And then I tell you what, what's going to happen when you have holes in that area or half a building built? You're going to leave it like that? No. We are going to probably come out and try to help them out and pay and building out those (UNINTELLIGIBLE). Do not throw good money after bad. The Diaz Administration did enormous harm to us, the citizens of this City. We already have given these people $2 million and maybe even more. What did they do with it? I have no idea. I ask you please not to give from the people's money, from the CRA that they pay this tax. Do not, in the Omni area, give the $2 million from the CRA Omni, not the objectives. Thank you. Chair Sarnoff Anyone else from the general public wishing to be heard? Linda Carroll: Good afternoon. My name is Linda Carroll. My office is at 1 Southeast 3rd Avenue. I am here to speak in opposition to the resolution as well. I would, first of all, remind everybody that we're here for an agenda of the CRA. So with all due respect, I will not refer to you as Commissioners because you are sitting here as the board of the CRA. It just happens by ordinance that you have a dual role. But today's decision has to be made based on your duty as board members of the CRA. You have a legal, a fiduciary, and a moral obligation to make a determination as CRA board members. And what you're being asked to do right now and what I'm asking you to do is to stop this habit of having the CRA funds being used as the private piggybankfor the City of Miami. Because we all know the City of Miami, at least historically, City of Miami Page 8 Printed on 3/23/2011 OMNI Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes June 10, 2010 has engaged into contracts -- entered into contracts or agreements that they can't afford to pay for. Now you have before you, as board members, a resolution that is requesting that the CRA approve a grant of $2 million to be given to the City of Miami to assist the City of Miami in the City's obligation to provide funding for the environmental remediation. I'm asking this board to be responsible to the CRA board boundaries residents, taxpayers who live or own property within the CRA because this board has no responsibility to anyone or anybody else other than to those within the boundaries of the CRA. Now if the City of Miami wants to make a deal to pay $2 million, let the City of Miami make it. Let the City of Miami in turn pay for it. The $2 million that the CRA now is being asked to give up, first of all, came from the property owners within the CRA. What are they going to get? How many projects has the CRA on its plate right now that they're trying to scramble to get funding for? How can any one of you five board members go to the residents, property owners and say to them, you know what, I don't think we're going to let you have this project -- it may be a small project -- but we're not going to give you that money. Why? 'Cause we don't have it. Why? Because we decided we're going to give a grant to the City of Miami because the City of Miami chose to sign this agreement. That's the problem of the City of Miami, not the problem of the CRA and not the problem of this board. It has been a historic pattern that's gone on certainly since the Omni CRA began. Take a look at the PAC (Performing Arts Center); 1996 it was agreed CRA money was going to fund the PAC. Did it solve any problems? No. The problems got bigger and bigger and bigger so that by the time 2007 shows up, what do we have? Well, we -- first of all, we have some officials who want to have bigger and better projects that they can't afford. So what we're going to do is we're going to expand the CRA, we're going to take more of the CRA money, not just the original 1.4 million that was being pledged back in 1996. Now we're going to take more money. But -- oh, but now we're going to do a grant? I suggest to the board members that they will be breaching their legal, fiduciary, and moral obligation to the residents, taxpayers, property owners within the boundaries of the CRA if they do not reject this resolution because you have an obligation as board members. Whatever your duties might be in a different life under the hat or called a County or City Commission, that's different. You have a duty right now. And as Ms. Solares just said, documents have been submitted. A lot of research and analysis has been gone into in the letter that Ms. Solares submitted to you. There is no documentation to verdy that MAM has cash or pledges -- and I'm not personally opposed to pledges, but they don't exist. The pledges are supposed to be included in those 990s . They're not there. As of September 30, 2008, they didn't even have sufficient pledges. They did not report it to the IRS (Internal Revenue Service). It's supposed to be. It's an inducement. The better your pledge looks -- these are public documents -- it generates more interest in you as an institution. It gives more credibility to you as an institution for purpose of getting more pledges. What do we -- Chair Sarnoff Okay. Ms. Carroll: -- have here? We do not have it. You have $13 million approximately in -- Chair Sarnoff I'm going to ask you to conclude. Ms. Carroll: All right -- net assets. Most of that, probably 90 percent of it is -- are restricted -- permanently restricted funds that cannot be used for construction. So, please, this board should not be hoodwinked by some representation we have money, we have pledges. What can you use those pledges for? This board owes it to the residents and property owners and taxpayers in the Omni CRA not to approve this resolution. Thank you. Chair Sarnoff Thank you. Anyone else from the general public wishing to be heard on agenda item number 2? Go ahead. Mike Abrams: Mike Abrams, 1 Southeast 3rd Avenue. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, members of the Commission. I represent both museums. I also happen to be a citizen of the City of Miami. City of Miami Page 9 Printed on 3/23/2011 OMNI Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes June 10, 2010 I've been part and part -- part of every negotiation that's taken place between the two museums -- almost every negotiation -- the City, and the County. I sort of resent when words like moral authority and honor are bandied about, you know, as if the board members of both museums are not citizens of the city or not honorable. They are. They're volunteering to do this. To get up here and say that we haven't provided the pledges to two City Managers as been required is not true, okay. Both museums have done that. To get up here and say that it's our remediation is not true. The only reason we're going through the remediation is because we are required to by DERM. Want to vote down the remediation, we'll all pack our bags and go home because we cannot -- you understand governance in this community and in the county. We cannot proceed without the remediation agreement because DERM and the County won't allow us to go forward. And lastly and finally, this is no surprise to the City, okay. And the fact that CRA money was being used, it should come as no surprise too. And if you weren't informed, new Commissioners, forgive me. That's our job to inform you as well as the staffs job. It was always the intent because the CRA had the money to provide the remediation. And as the executive director said, it's not being gifted to us. We have to spend the money on the remediation. We have to lay it out, then we'll get reimbursed. The museums aren't putting it in their pocket. They're not using it to build the foundation. They're using it for the remediation that's required by the County. I mean, it is just ludicrous, ludicrous to make these accusations when they're not a matter of the record. The City in its tripartite agreement with the County and the museums -- to sit here and say we should let a park have arsenic in it, you know, given what's going on in the Gulf, that's a better alternative? I mean, you've got to be kidding me. You know, in this day and age, we have a moral authority to remediate property. You know, even if the museums weren't going up, that's a park that people in this city go to. They should be remediated, should have been remediated a long time ago. Okay, to say that the park is not going to benefit from the building of the museums, the citizens of the CRA and the City are not going to benefit from the museums I think goes against the fabric of what makes societies great. So I would ask you to look at facts, look at the history, look at the legal requirements and support this remediation. Thank you. Chair Sarnoff Thank you. Anyone else in the public wishing to be heard on agenda item number 2? All right, coming back to this Commission, the public hearing is closed. Is there a motion? Mr. Vice Chair. Commissioner Suarez: Yes. You're recognized for the record. Chair Sarnoff All right. I'd like to make a motion to approve this, and I'd like to say a few things. First and foremost, it must not be easy or maybe comfortable for Commissioners to parachute in on an issue that is in the ninth inning and it is two outs, and now all of a sudden you say to yourself, they're putting blue in; I would have preferred pink. Or I wouldn't have built it just like that; I would have built it this way. I equally got to parachute into MAM and Science. It was probably about the fourth inning. I didn't decide that there should be a public private partnership, but in hindsight, I got news for this Commission. If you're ever going to move this City a millimeter forward from this day forward for the next five years, it will be through public private partnerships only because you do not have the funding, the capacity, or the ability to do it any other way. To turn your back on the private sector right now is to turn your back on the City of Miami for its future. Equally, if you breach a public private partnership at this point, do you think the private sector will ever look to the City of Miami for a contractual relationship again? Do you think the private sector will ever think to do business with the City of Miami again? And you want to know what? For about 15 years, the private sector wanted no part of the City of Miami. And you know what you built for 15 years? Nothing. The City made no progress. Now I was up here as a Commissioner when it was determined to site these parks -- actually, excuse me, site these museums in the park, and it was a difficult decision for me. But I went down there and what I saw was about 16 vagrants enjoying the park. And I came to the realization the only people really enjoying the waterfront City of Miami Page 10 Printed on 3/23/2011 OMNI Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes June 10, 2010 of downtown Miami were cyclists and vagrants, and I couldn't tell the two apart. Of course, I'm teasing the City Manager. It was amazing to me that if you had no money and you were homeless, you got to live directly on the water, and that was called Bicentennial Park. I then read Jane Jacobs' book on -- where I learned that there's something called the vacuous park. Interesting enough, this park is encircled on three areas where you cannot make access to this park. Obviously, you have 395, you have the water, and you have an inlet. So three of the entrancesway [sic] in, you'll never attract anyone getting in there. So what Jane Jacobs said in 1964 was you've got to create an attraction to that park. And it seemed to me that the best way to create an attraction to that park was to have museums in that park to create a vibrance, a sense of community, a sense of belongingness, a sense of public space, and that was the museums. From there people would filter out, play soccer, have playgrounds, and that became the contentious Cooper Robertson plan. An over planned park? I don't know. I thought it was a little bit over planned. I think at that time, forgive me for calling you Commissioner at that time, Regalado may have felt it was a little bit of an over planned park, but we sort of went along with that. I still think it's a little bit over planned on that side but, you know what, now's the time we can certainly come back from that a little bit. But that was inevitably how it was always going to come about, and it was through Jane Jacobs that I realized that the only way to convert a vacuous park into a viable city center was to create attractions. So I think it was 2008 we decided to site the parks on the Bicentennial Park. Was it contentious? Yeah, you guys haven't seen contentious actually. It was a lot of people here and they had a lot of feelings about it. And I don't begrudge anybody's feeling that two museums don't belong there. It may have been a little more than my taste, but you know what, ifI look at what's there right now, there's nothingness there and it's not utilized. And we have put, I think, four of the most beautiful high-rise buildings in Miami on the apron way to that park and they're looking at nothing. They're looking at, essentially, a parking lot. That is -- you now, ironically, think about this, how we've come as a society, how we've matured Belcher Oil had a gas station directly on what few could argue is the most valuable property in the United States of America. We put a gas station on that in 1936, followed by Belcher Oil stacks, followed by Belcher Oil storage facilities. That's what we thought of our waterfront 75 years ago. Today people are fighting tooth and nail to prevent buildings from going there, and I sort of understand that as well. But my position is, unless and until you put a building on that park that brings people in, it will remain Belcher Oil's mistake and the elected off cials in 1920-something that chose to allow Belcher Oil to be sited on your waterfront. This is a supreme opportunity for the City of Miami to correct a mistake that was made approximately 80, 85 years ago. Now is it the CRA's -- is it in the CRA's province to improve public space? Absolutely, it is. And I could tell you as the District 2 Commissioner, which I think is the most difficult job in all of the City of Miami. It is the most thankless job in the City of Miami. I believe District 2 is in its best interest that that park be improved, that that park have the siting of two museums. I could tell you as the chairman of the Omni CRA, having seen money spent on churches -- no disrespect, Reverend Dunn -- on other issues that will never bring another revenue to the Omni CRA, both of which I opposed I can think of no better use of a pittance of the Omni's money to get a $100 million building from MAM directly on the apron way of the City of Miami's entrance right by the water. I can think of no better use to get the Museum of Science, $175 million museum or probably $200 million museum on what is I think one of the most extravagantly beautiful designed buildings right on the park. And consider this, gentlemen, if you will. Broward County School Board yesterday just fired 130 teachers. I can tell you that the Dade County School Board will be firing a number like that with a zero in front of it. What programs do you think they're going to cut? My guess is gym. My guess is any other shop class or anything other expense than the absolute bare essential fundamentals. I could tell you as a New York City boy, born in Brooklyn, we were brought by the hand, whether we liked it or not, to the Smithsonian, to the Museum of Science, to the Museum of Art. I consider myself an absolute cultural dolt; however, I was exposed to culture. And that exposure to culture affords you a unique opportunity to look at the world in a different way. It affords you the opportunity not to see it in dollars and cents, but to see it in pure beauty and pure joy. And if you do not expose a City of Miami Page 11 Printed on 3/23/2011 OMNI Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes June 10, 2010 five- and six- and seven- and eight -year -old to anything other that's going to be more than one plus one equals two, and that's your mathematic class -- if you cannot show them what a Renoir is, if you cannot explain to them what a Rembrandt is, and if you cannot demonstrate to them what a live snake looks like, you failed them in so many ways that they will never care about earth, nature or his fellow man because the end of the day, fellow man is not about what's in your bank account, but what is in his heart. And what is in a person's heart is best demonstrated by culture. So I implore each and every one of you to move this along. This has been long enough. So that's my motion. Motion to approve. Vice Chair Suarez: Motion by -- Commissioner Gort: Mr. Chairman -- Vice Chair Suarez: -- Chairman and Board Member Sarnoff. I don't know if -- Commissioner Gort: I'm going to second the motion and I'd like to tell you why I second the motion. I think you're in favor of it. Am I -- Chair Sarnoff Yeah, I was -- Commissioner Gort: Okay. I wasn't sure if -- I'm going back to 1993 and when we talked about the Bicentennial. I think we've been talking about fixing that area for the last 20 years. And it was -- I believe it was 1995/'96, the Marlins wanted to build the stadium there. And one of the reasons we voted against the Marlins building the stadium there because it's going to be about 11 stories high and it was going to block the view of the west side of Biscayne Boulevard where you have those beautiful building right now. There's some -- adding some taxes (UNINTELLIGIBLE) so much needed for the City. It was then that the DDA (Downtown Development Authority) and a group of individuals talked about the museum going into that area. And even before I left, I think it -- I believe it was 1999 or 2000 that this Commission decided to create the museum there. My understanding is -- and correct me if I'm wrong -- I think there was some actions that were taken by the Commission at that time to create the Museum Park at that time, and I'm talking back in 1999. At the same time, when the voters had the opportunity to vote for the -- for this new bond issues, part of the bond issue was to approve it for the parks in there. I don't have any problem with it. I think it'll be a great asset for the City of Miami to have those two parks in there, and for that reason, I (UNINTELLIGIBLE). Now, the one thing is if this motion passes, then I'd like to have Administration to work very closely with them, and this mediation [sic], make sure that if we can use a lot less than the 2 million, we do so. That's one thing I'd really like to see it. Vice Chair Suarez: Second by Board Member Gort. Board Member Dunn. Commissioner Dunn: Yes, Mr. Chairman -- Vice Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I feel your passion and I feel your pain in terms of having a grasp and understanding of what you believe is best for your district. You have yielded sometimes what you may have felt was best to this Commissioner as what -- as to what I thought based on my experience or my expertise. I'll be the first to admit that that's probably one area that I do need some shoring up, but anything that can enhance the City to beautify the City, and of course, to bring in the kind of cultural embellishment and enhancement is always a plus and why I definitely am a proponent of what -- I have ideas of what CRA is for, I will yield to your better judgment and to your leadership in that district. That is your district. I will say in your discourse, though I will challenge you on you saying that your district is the most difficult. I don't know about that. Chair Sarnoff I think we may have a fair tie there. City of Miami Page 12 Printed on 3/23/2011 OMNI Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes June 10, 2010 Commissioner Dunn: And I think we might have everyone saying the same thing because we all have our -- as Commissioner Gort said earlier, we all have our unique challenges, and many times it does seem as if it's a thankless mission, but we have to believe and do what we think is best in the leadership. So I will support this on the strength of that, not understanding the totality of it. I am sympathetic to the concerns of the residents and to those who spoke representing the opposition. However, I will yield because you are the chairman of this Omni district and I will yield because it is your district. Vice Chair Suarez: Board Member Carollo. Commissioner Carollo: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. First of all, I'd like to say that in no way, means, or forms am I against museums or do I want to kill this project. However, my first question is that it clearly stipulates in this resolution that it is contingent upon the City Manager certing that the CRA -- to the CRA that the Miami Art Museum of Dade County Association has secured the funding necessary to complete its portion of the museum component of the Museum Park project at Bicentennial Park. So if I may, Mr. Chairman, I would first like to see if the City Manager has certified that. Vice Chair Suarez: You may. Commissioner Carollo: Mr. City Manager. Carlos A. Migoya (City Manager): By the way, Mr. Chairman, there's a lot of people out there that are saying their job is a lot harder than yours in the City of Miami, but I don't know, that's just a separate comment. Chair Sarnoff You have a tough job too, but you get paid a fair rate. Mr. Migoya: Since the last time I addressed the CRA and I was given instructions, I've met with several members of the different museums. I did observe the pledges for both museums, the names and amounts, and it's my personal opinion that the people and companies and organizations that are attached to those organizations and the amounts are worthy of the amounts that are going to be given. Now having said that, a pledge is a pledge. Whether they will pay it or not is up to the individuals, but these are all people of good character and ability to make those payments, and organizations. In addition to that, I've been working closer with the Miami Art Museum since they're the ones that are quicker and more -- and ready to go with the construction as far as they're concerned from their ability to build this. As of a couple of days ago, I received -- what you have here a copy of is a GMP (Guaranteed Maximum Price) from Moriarty, which is a very reputable general contractor in town saying that the actual construction of the Miami Art Museum will be $78 million. In addition to that, we received from Mr. Podhurst, who's the chairman of the Miami Art Museum, and his staff that the overall cost would be of $112, 680, 000, of which the $78 million are included. In addition to that, we received last night, which we knew a certification of which -- of that $112 million, approximately $23 million have already been paid. So you're talking about a number in the $90 million range that needs to be paid. And last but not least, I have a letter, which I believe you've all seen in the past -- but if you haven't, I'll give you a copy for that reason -- from the County manager to Mr. Podhurst in which he spoke about $100 million pledge, of which 19.5 have already been sold. They don't say whether or not they already have been paid or not, but it lets us assume they already have been paid. So you're talking about 80 million plus the pledges would be enough as a total amount to be able to construct this facility. The only thing that would remain here -- and I don't know that certification is the right word -- is -- and you all can read this just as well as I can -- the ability of the County Commission to approve the -- each one of these next bond sales that would provide the funding for that approximately slightly over -- I guess it's $80,500,000 or something to that effect that would be the critical amount City of Miami Page 13 Printed on 3/23/2011 OMNI Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes June 10, 2010 necessary here to pay for the construction of the Miami Art Museum. So if you believe that the $80 million will be collected from the County based on the letters from the County manager -- I will tell you that I also met with the County manager yesterday morning and he verbally mentioned to me that he plans on the sale of these three bonds, which is another one of my concerns. That the first one will be done in the early part of fiscal '11; the next one will be the early part of fiscal '12, and the last will be the early part of fiscal '13; all three of which he felt would be timely for the continued cash flow needed for the construction of the Miami Art Museum. That's all I have. If you have any questions of me, I'm more than happy to answer any. Vice Chair Suarez: You may have colloquy with -- Commissioner Carollo: Mr. Chairman. Vice Chair Suarez: Yes. Commissioner Carollo: So are you certing -- it's your opinion and you are certing that the Miami Arts [sic] Museum has the secured funding necessary to complete the construction? Mr. Migoya: I cannot certifir the $80 million that the County -- because we're going from a letter that talks about subject to three bonds. And certification may be a strong word. That's why I said to you that I think you can come up with as an equal opinion as I can as to the reliability of the County to come up with the $80 million. As far as the $78 million from Moriarty, I believe they're a very reputable general contractor. I have been involved as a financer of several of their projects, in their high-rise projects with much more complex environment than what we're talking about here, and they're very capable of building this. So if they're saying $78 million is the number, I can -- I will agree with that. And I will also agree that the amount of pledges that Miami Art Museum had, which is an approximation of $40 million, of which about 13 million of that is endowment, so the remaining of it is actual pledges; that and the $80 million will be enough to do it subject to the County providing the $80 million for the next three bond sales. Commissioner Carollo: Mr. Chairman. Vice Chair Suarez: Yes. You may have colloquy with the Manager. Commissioner Carollo: Thank you. Mr. Manager, it clearly stipulates in the resolution that you -- you know, subject to the City Manager certing. So if you're not certing, what exactly are you doing? Mr. Migoya: I'm giving you a qualified statement, which means that I cannot speak on behalf of the County on how and when they will do the bond sales. And that's all I can do. What else would you want me to tell you? Commissioner Carollo: I wanted to know, just like the resolution says, if you were certing that they can or not. I mean, it -- I didn't write this resolution; I'm just reading it. And it seems that, you know, it's been put on your shoulders whether, you know, the Art Museum has the capacity to complete the construction and it's subject to us approving these $2 million. So again, I didn't write this resolution. I'm just reading what I have in front of me and that's what it stipulates, so that's why, you know, I come to you and ask you. So -- Mr. Migoya: Would you like me to repeat what I already said twice? Commissioner Carollo: So, in essence, you're not certing though? City of Miami Page 14 Printed on 3/23/2011 OMNI Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes June 10, 2010 Mr. Migoya: I'm telling you I cannot certi what the County is going to do with those three bond sales or when they will do them. I will tell you that I received verbal assurances from the County manager when he will do them and that they will be sufficient. That's all I have. And I'm relying [sic] to you the exact information I have. Commissioner Carollo: Do you know if the County manager will put that in writing? Mr. Migoya: He will not put that in writing because, at the end of the day, it's subject -- the way he put it, it's subject to approval by the County Commission for each one of the sales, just like it is here. So even if -- looking at it from my standpoint, if I said I'm going to do this for my next three bond sales, I can't cent when I'm going to do them because, at the end of the day, it's subject to all -- you all approving those bond sales and you're not going -- and no Commission will approve those bond sales this early in the stage. Commissioner Carollo: As the, I guess, board member now -- no, actually, you are the chairman of the Omni -- mentioned we did parachute in here in the ninth inning. And I'll be honest with you again. I'll state it again. I'm not against museums. Your vision, what you stated, you know, it's beautiful and so forth, but I am concerned about the funding. In the MOU, it says that it -- the City of Miami intends to contribute up to 151 million -- $68 million for the park component. It's in there . It's in the MOU. Up to $68 million is for the park component, and what troubles me is that it clearly stipulates that the monies isn't -- aren't even identified yet where they're going to come from. So, you know, I do have some concerns, you know, because I obviously want a beautiful park there, but can we afford it? And that's where I really have concerns. I'm not even talking about maintenance. In the agreement, the lease agreement, it stipulates that there should have been a management agreement done by now. We missed the deadline. There's no management agreement now. So, you know -- and the truth of the matter is, you know, it's not just construction. It's maintaining that -- maintaining the park, maintaining the buildings. It -- you know, it's a lot of money, and I'm really concerned about that. With regards to these $2 million, which is the issue, this morning you spoke, Mr. Manager, of our dire financial situation that we have; yet, if we approve this resolution as is, Bayfront Park Management Trust will be losing $100, 000. This isn't pro forma. This is going on historical facts. The Bayfront Park Management Trust will lose $100,000. Now this is -- Bayfront Park Management Trust is the only component unit that earns their money. It's not a special taxing district, no. They earn their money and they pay for everything. They receive no subsidy whatsoever from the City of Miami. They earn their money by staging events. And let me just give you a few little -- a few numbers. Between calendar years 2000 and 2010, the Bicentennial Park events grossed $9,223,839, with net revenues of 4,260,000. That's a lot of money. Attendance at the 153 events hosted at the facility totaled 1.7 million, which have actually generated approximately 1,054,000 in parking surcharge to the City. Not to mention 1.6 million in police services and 600,000 in firefighter services; in other words, of off -duty work for them, additional work. What I am saying is that the only component unit which is not a special taxing district that does not receive any subsidy from the City, that earns their own money, we're going to now hinder them in making $100,000 a year. At the very least, should my fellow board members want to approve this, I will request an amendment so that Bayfront Park is not hindered and we do not hinder the only component unit that actually earns their money and does not receive any subsidy from the City of Miami. With that said, I'd like to propose an amendment, if possible, if the maker would accept, that this be subject to the remediation being completed prior to November 1, 2010, and that all the fencing is taken down prior to November 1, 2010, and that Bayfront Park Management Trust has the full authority and access to use the space originally planned for parking of the Cirque du Soleil after the remediation is completed so that we do not lose revenues from the parking of Cirque du Soleil. Or that the remediation and that the installation of the fence needed prior to the remediation begin after December 31, 2010, and prior to the commencement of the remediation, Bayfront City of Miami Page 15 Printed on 3/23/2011 OMNI Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes June 10, 2010 Park Management Trust has the full authority and access to use the space originally for the park [sic] of Cirque du Soleil so that we do not lose revenues from the parking of Cirque du Soleil. And the third -- the last thing, third and last, should the area in the Museum Park normally used by Bayfront Park Management Trust to stage events is not being used, either construction has not started or it has stopped for one reason or another, then Bayfront Park Management Trust has the authority and access to use said areas for staging events. Chair Sarnoff And ifI understand you with one -- any one of those three in there, you would -- this would gain your support? Commissioner Carollo: It may, and I'll tell you why. The reason why is although I am extremely concerned about the funding -- and actually, I have more to say, but you know, I'm trying to avoid it and I'll tell you why. Because, in essence, what has been approved by prior Administration for the whole park process is not what is at stake right now. What is at stake is the $2 million for the remediation. And the way I see it is should we first do not hinder Bayfront Park -- Bayfront Park Management Trust from earning those $100, 000 and we then give the $2 million on a reimbursement basis and they remediate the park or they remediate the area, worst case scenario should they not be able to construct in the future or so forth, we remediated the area. However, it is subject to them not hindering Bayfront Park Management Trust from earning their $100,000 and being able to proceed without asking for subsidies. I think it's a reasonable and fair amendment and I ask for your -- Chair Sarnoff And I just want to know if that amendment moves an inch further, will it have -- will we gain your support? Commissioner Carollo: If all three -- and one is an lir' - yes, it will have my support for the remediation. Chair Sarnoff Okay. I don't -- I need somebody up here to tell me whether that can or cannot be done. Mr. Podhurst: Commissioner, I respect your view, but I have to be very blunt. We have already signed a letter, Miami Science Museum, Miami Art Museum, to cooperate with Cirque du Soleil so that the parking could be accomplished, they could get their $100,000 . We've had a full map. The City Manager and I looked at it together. There is no earthly reason if the three people -- three entities get together that it can't be done. This has all been thought through. This has all been done, et cetera. But -- and you're hitting me with putting off construction. I'm not going to agree, respectfully, Commissioner, to putting off construction. We first have to remediate. It costs us $800,000 a month every month delay of construction. Anybody who has ever built anything knows it has to be on time and it has to be on budget. And I want to say one other thing for the people of the City of Miami who put up $44.5 million for the Miami Art Museum. These people are known to the City Manager. They're known to me, and they're known to probably most of you. From the Knight Foundation to Carnival Cruise Lines and many other people, and they -- already we've spent between the City's 3.5 million for each museum, between the $7 million, the County's $12 million at the beginning that the County has put up and about 18 other million dollars of private citizens of the City of Miami, we have done everything we've been asked to do. I am in agreement with Vice Chairman -- Commissioner Carollo, whatever capacity you're sitting at this moment. Commissioner Carollo: Board member. Mr. Podhurst: And we are going to make sure that the $100,000 is revenue that will go to the City. We've written a letter to that effect. It's somewhere in the City's files, and the three entities can do the parking. It's a question -- I'm not an expert on all of -- there's a lot of empty City of Miami Page 16 Printed on 3/23/2011 OMNI Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes June 10, 2010 land there, as you know, all around between the science and between the art museum. My expert here probably knows more and Gillian probably knows more than I do about the parking situation, but I am sympathetic, Vice Chairman Carollo. We are in agreement to do that. We have written a letter, signed by me and I think Gillian signed the letter. That was all done before you became a Commissioner, and we intend to abide by it. I don't know what else to say, other than we -- Chair Sarnoff I'm trying to get a little more grounding. Can your -- well, your geologist. Does anybody know if what Commissioner Carollo is asking for can be done? Is there -- I mean Commissioner Carollo: Of course. Chair Sarnoff. -- does somebody know --? Well, I don't know. It cannot be done or can be? Commissioner Carollo: Of course it can. Ms. Thomas: I had a conversation with Tim Schmand this morning -- Gillian Thomas, Miami Science Museum -- and I think we are comfortable that without any further restrictions, we can definitely accommodate the parking as he requires. Unfortunately, he's not here today, but he was comfortable that we're working together to accommodate the parking he requires. I cannot say that we can do everything exactly as you have requested, Commissioner Carollo, because I don't have the plans here. If we can start straight away, I'm confident that the remediation can be finished by then and that we can accommodate the parking. We're looking at how we can do that. We're trying to do everything we can. And as Chairman Podhurst has said, we've agreed to do everything we can to accommodate the parking on the space. I don't -- I think the amendments complicate the matter, and I can't guarantee here that everything that's in the amendments we can do, but I can agree that we will do everything we can to maximize the parking, and that's what we've said. Vice Chair Suarez: Thank you. Board Member Gort, did you want to be recognized? Ms. Xiques: If you can make your comments on the record, please. Vice Chair Suarez: Board Member Carollo. Chair Sarnoff I'm looking at his -- just for the record will reflect, my left hand has his proposed amendments. The right hand has Gillian and Aaron Podhurst December 17, 2009 letter. He has not said anything to me off the record. He's just pointing out to me the two documents. Commissioner Carollo: Mr. Chairman. Vice Chair Suarez: Yes, Board Member Carollo, you're recognized. Commissioner Carollo: And please bear with me. I'm -- I feel that I'm in a little bit of a disadvantage here. I mean, we have an expert litigator, well known throughout -- you know, and -- so, you know, please bear with me. You know, I'm in a little bit of a disadvantage here. Commissioner Gort: You're doing pretty good. Commissioner Carollo: However, the letter he was mentioning, I was showing the Chairman since it was addressed to him in 2009 -- December of 2009, so I do have the documents that he was stating, you know, and I was just showing the Chairman so we're up-to-date with what he's City of Miami Page 17 Printed on 3/23/2011 OMNI Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes June 10, 2010 saying. Again, just bear with me. I'm not an attorney. And, you know, Mr. Podhurst is well -- very well spoken, very eloquent, and I'm just trying to make sure that we all understand. Chair Sarnoff Gillian, is the only issue the parking of Cirque du Soleil, or is it the actual siting and parking? 'Cause I went to Cavalia, andl assume it's set up the same way. Ms. Thomas: I think it's probably the location of the parking, as well as the actual parking. But what we're trying to achieve -- Chair Sarnoff Well, let me -- Ms. Thomas: -- and what I've agreed with Tim Schmand -- and MAM is also concurrent with that -- is that we will work -- provided we can get going on the site remediation almost immediately so it's completed within time, we'll make sure there is adequate parking. Chair Sarnoff Well, let me tell you up here. Everybody up here supports one another. I want to support what the Vice Chair wants. I want to do so without you in two weeks saying to me I can't build this. So here's my question. I know what Cavalia looked like on the Bicentennial Park. I was instrumental in getting it there. Is Cirque du Soleil going to look just like Cavalia? Is it -- because that had the tent and then it had the parking. Ms. Thomas: As far as I'm aware -- but I'm probably speaking beyond what I know, so I should stop quite soon -- there is a tent and there is parking, and the parking may be in a slightly different location than last year, but as I agreed with Tim Schmand, we're working hard to accommodate the parking on the site. We have no reason to not try and be helpful. You know, this is a collaboration between the two museums, the City, and also the County. We all want this to happen and we're trying to be the most helpful we can. It doesn't help us if the City loses income, so we really are doing everything we can to accommodate the requirements of the City. Chair Sarnoff Maker accepts the amendment. Vice Chair Suarez: The maker of the motion has amended his motion to accept Board Member Carollo's language. Does the seconder adopt that language? Commissioner Gort: Yes. Vice Chair Suarez: The seconder has adopted that language. Any further discussion from the board members? All those in favor, signift by saying aye." Ms. Xiques: Commissioner, ifI may before you take a vote. I'd like to put a couple of clarification statements on the record. Vice Chair Suarez: Yes, you may. Ms. Xiques: In an effort to protect the CRA and allow the City to comply with its contractual obligations, we'd like to add the phrase that reads after the City has authorized payment, 'and that would be in the sentence that says authorizing the executive director at his discretion to distribute the grant on a reimbursement basis or directly to vendors. "And we would add after the City has authorized payment and upon presentation of invoice and satisfactory documentation. "The reason for that statement is because the definitive documents for the museum require that the City sign off on payment prior to the payment being made for environmental remediations. Further, I'd like to clarJ in the first sentence that the grant is to the City of Miami to assist in its obligation to provide funding for the environmental remediation of Bicentennial Park, 1075 Biscayne Boulevard, Miami, Florida, and then I'd like City of Miami Page 18 Printed on 3/23/2011 OMNI Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes June 10, 2010 to add a future site of the Museum Park project. The same changes would be made -- the same additions would be made to the body of the resolution in addition to the amendment that has been requested and approved. Vice Chair Suarez: Does the maker and seconder of the motion approve those changes? Chair Sarnoff As amended Commissioner Gort: As amended, yes. Commissioner Carollo: And Mr. Chairman. Vice Chair Suarez: Yes. Board Member Carollo, you're recognized. Commissioner Carollo: Thank you. And one last thing, I know when Mr. Podhurst spoke he was -- he spoke about a construction, and I just want to make sure we don't confuse one with the other. One is the remediation, which is the issue at hand, and one is the construction. If we were speaking about construction and so forth, believe me, there'd be a lot more questions that I'd be asking. As -- for instance -- one for instance, contingency fund. Supposedly there needs to be a contingency fund for at least 3 percent of the construction cost, so I'd be getting into a lot more detail, but the issue at hand is the remediation. So with that said, I don't want to confuse both of them. Ms. Xiques: In addition, I do have one more clarification. The resolution reads that it's contingent upon the City Manager certifiring to the CRA, and the word l ertifying'fs there. The City Manager did not certify. Instead, I think that what we could consider is language that states that the Miami Art Museum would have to provide evidence reasonably satisfactory to the City Manager that they have the funds. Reasonably satisfactory would allow the CRA to actually make payments because as we saw, the City Manager said he could not cert fy. Vice Chair Suarez: Point well taken, Madam Attorney. Does the maker and seconder of the motion agree with that additional language? Chair Sarnoff Yes. Commissioner Carollo: That was my point in the beginning. Vice Chair Suarez: Yeah. That was a good point. I have one question for you before we take a vote. My question is just kind of going off one of the points that were made earlier by someone from the public. I just want to clarify and I want a legal clarification that the use of these funds from the CRA would be a legal use of CRA funds. I want a definitive statement on the record, please. Ms. Xiques: Yes. It would be a legal use of the funds. Before the Omni CRA boundaries were expanded, it was contemplated that once it was expanded, the funds would be used for the Museum Park project. Vice Chair Suarez: Board Member Carollo. Commissioner Carollo: Thank you. And I want to verify from the executive director that we do have the fundings [sic] available. Mr. Villacorta: Yes. These funds are available, and this use of the funds is contained in the Omni 2000 amended redevelopment plan, which at page 53 provides that the CRA shall support City of Miami Page 19 Printed on 3/23/2011 OMNI Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes June 10, 2010 DISCUSSION ITEMS 3. 10-00725 connectivity, support creating a sustainable regional destination, and promote public private development. Page 54 also states that the CRA shall provide support for the Museum Park and the environmental remediation thereof. Commissioner Carollo: Thank you. And last thing -- Vice Chair Suarez: Yes. Commissioner Carollo: -- Mr. Chairman. Again -- and it doesn't pertain to this issue, but in the future, can we have a discussion item on those $68 million for the park component? I really think that it's something that needs to be discussed further. I'm really concerned about it. I don't foresee CRA having $68 million anywhere in the near future, and you know, I think it's -- it'll be interesting. I think some people believe that it's just a minimum requirement, but I think there's language in there -- actually, I'm sure there's language in there that binds the City a little further than that. So I think it's something that we really need to discuss in the future. Vice Chair Suarez: We have a motion, as amended, by Board Member Sarnoff -- Chairman Sarnoff, a second by Board Member Gort. All those in favor, please indicate by saying fiye. " The Commissioners (Collectively): Aye. Vice Chair Suarez: All those opposed have the same right to say hay." Commissioner Gort: Mr. Chairman. Chair Sarnoff Yes, sir. Commissioner Gort: I apologize, but I'm not feeling good. I'm going to be going. Chair Sarnoff All right. CRA DISCUSSION DISCUSSION ITEM REGARDING THE CONTINUATION OF THE POLICE VISIBILITY PROGRAM. File # 10-00725 Cover Memo 6-10-2010.pdf DISCUSSED Chair Sarnoff Let's go to item number 3. James H. Villacorta (Interim Executive Director, Community Redevelopment Agency): Item number 3 is a discussion item regarding the continuation of the police visibility program, and I believe -- Chair Sarnoff. Want to help us with that? Mr. Villacorta: -- we have some representatives from the City of Miami. This program was funded last year in Omni at the level of $60, 000, and in Overtown at the level of $280, 000. The police -- the City of Miami Police Department is asking to increase funding and has prepared a presentation for the Commission. Lieutenant George Gomez (Police): Good afternoon, Mr. Chairman, Commissioners. City of Miami Page 20 Printed on 3/23/2011 OMNI Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes June 10, 2010 Lieutenant George Gomez of Downtown NET (Neighborhood Enhancement Team). Basically, in the third page you'll see our police objectives for the grant. Our emphasis will be on crime prevention and maintain the security of the area. We're going to target prostitution. On the area of prostitution on the grant we have worked very hard on the 14th Street side and we have arrested and identified several prostitutes in that area and we're working on that area to try to make it a mapping area. That way, we can get those prostitutes out of there. Quality of life. Quality of life problems, like drinking in public, loitering, homeless, and narcotics. We're going to go ahead remove slum and blight conditions, encourage day and night activities, minimize adverse impacts on existing commercial and industrial users, enhance the area visual attractiveness to business, residents, and visitors. When it comes to the part one crimes and person crimes, which includes robbery, aggravated assaults, sexual assaults, and murder, as you can see, from 2008, we had a total on the Overtown/Park West area, 207. And in 209 [sic], we came down to 193. And so far this year we have 65 crimes. Our projection is 156, which is tremendous decrease from '09. On the Omni area, we've done even better. In '08, we had 98 of those crimes; 101 in '09. And so far this year we have 20. Our projection will be -- if we keep it up, it will be 48. So it's more than 50 percent decrease on those crimes. On the next chart you'll see our graph. As you could see from '08 to '09, we have accomplished a decrease in all part one crimes in the CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) area -- on both -- this includes both CRAs. Next page you have the expanded map of the boundaries. The next chart you have the Omni. In the chart, the line -- the graph, it looks like it almost hasn't improved, but as you could see, it shows a slight decrease. One thing that I can mention on the part one crimes on the expansion of the Overtown/Park West, on the CRA area in the Overtown/Park West side, the violent crimes have gone north to the new CRA area that we just -- past 14th Street. Since we're working on the grant, we have decreased part one crimes and especially violent crimes on the CRA area, and we have seen that it have pushed north. But with the new -- if we approve the new grant, we'll be able to cover that new area. What we have done, identify and assist homeless in the area, removal of contaminated abandoned items, (UNINTELLIGIBLE) in the area of beautification, illegal homeless encampments, abandoned vehicles, et cetera. We targeted prostitution, other quality of life arrests, leading to more hospitable environment to new business and residents and visitors. What are we going to do in the future? Well, we want to work on an informational pamphlet letting the community know the purpose of the CRA and the CRAss partnership with the Police Department and the NET office. We want to target more attention on graffiti, vandalism to the public and private property. And one thing that we want to focus right away is on truancy and curfew violations. Chair Sarnoff How do you do that? I mean, what -- it's $55, 000? Is that what they're --? Mr. Villacorta: It was -- we funded in Omni at the level of $60, 000 -- Chair Sarnoff. Sixty thousand. Mr. Villacorta: -- last year. They'd like to increase that to 250,000 from each CRA. Last year Overtown provided 280,000 for increased police visibility in the Overtown CRA. Chair Sarnoff Well, it's always hard for me to say no to cops, so -- but on the other hand you're coming and asking for a lot more money from Omni. What am I --? How are you going to do that? How are you going to --? Impress me. Wow me. What are you going to do? Lieutenant Gomez: Basically, the area has increased. Now the Omni CRA goes all the way to the old, abandoned property on 22nd Street. Chair Sarnoff Right. Lieutenant Gomez: And basically, Commissioner, the statistics and what we put in that area a City of Miami Page 21 Printed on 3/23/2011 OMNI Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes June 10, 2010 tremendous improvement. A spinoff from the last grant, we were able to provide on duty -- now we have like an extra NRO (Neighborhood Resource Officer), which deals with the homeless. And the -- Chair Sarnoff So you literally put another man out there. You bring, I guess, more tow trucks in to tow abandoned vehicles. You bring in graffiti busters or -- I mean, tell me. What do you do? Lieutenant Gomez: Basically, what I said about that is the officer that I was telling you about is on duty. That person is on duty, but it came about doing this extra details, we needed that, so it came about. But with the funding, we're going to target -- bring in more operations, which last night we did an operation with some of the funding that is left. We were able to make a total of 21 arrests and only -- the whole day, we only had two crimes reported in the whole downtown area based on the extra visibility and what we added was an extra five hours of patrol. And for a perfect example, downtown usually averages from ten to twelve crimes a day. With this operation yesterday, the whole 24 hours, you only had 2 crimes. And this grant would add extra patrols, extra details, like narcotics details, homeless placements, and additional manpower out there in the street. Chair Sarnoff I mean, it's always hard for me to say no to the police because you guys know best of what you need to do. My only concern is how do we know, other than through statistics, which is fine -- but I guess it's a lot of reliance and a lot of trust me because you're not going to say I'm going to hire three cops or I'm going to do this 'cause you're going to say I'm going to use my best judgment. I'm going to bring in the necessary forces as I see fit. It's going to be one additional NRO, I will tell you that. I'm going to bring in a task force that's going to hit at hours that I choose when I think it's necessary, and for all this, it's going to cost $255, 000, Commissioner. Lieutenant Gomez: This is for a whole year. Chair Sarnoff No, I get that. Annualized, I get it. And you know, I trust the police, I really do. And I happen to think City of Miami police are about the best cops I've ever met. But anybody watching this -- wouldn't -- what would -- here's the person I'm trying to dispel saying this. Well, you know what you've done, Commissioner? You've just paid the Police Department a certain amount of money. You don't know what you got for it. Hopefully, your crime statistics will come down and all you've done is taken a burden away from the City of Miami. Lieutenant Gomez: Commissioner, we do have reports. Every detail that we have done on CRA monies is detailed and -- Chair Sarnoff You know, two years ago I wanted to give then -Chief Timoney -- I wanted to give him -- I think it was four Segways -- Mr. Villacorta: Yes. Chair Sarnoff -- what are they called, Seg --? Mr. Villacorta: No, they weren't Segways. Chair Sarnoff. What do they call them? Mr. Villacorta: They were three -wheeled vehicles. Chair Sarnoff Three -wheeled things. And at first we were ready -- City of Miami Page 22 Printed on 3/23/2011 OMNI Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes June 10, 2010 Mr. Villacorta: P3s. Chair Sarnoff -- to do it. I was going to get the DDA to fund some, put the cops all up and down, high visibility. That was my way of high visibility. And he said, no, bad idea. I'd rather have a cop on a bicycle. You know, I'm not a cop. The only one up here that was a cop was him. So -- I didn't mean to say him. It was the Vice Chair. But you know, I get the fact that a cop on a bike might be more effective than a cop on one of those electric things. But I support what you're doing, but anybody watching this, I just -- I'd like some more meat on the bone as to how you're going to do this. Lieutenant Gomez: Basically, the meat on the bone is -- like yesterday, working the detail. The business owners kept coming out and saying where are you guys coming from? 'Cause at times we have the minimal staffing in the area and on a special day like yesterday that we had the extra funding, you'll see more ofcers, more police activity, and right away you'll see the criminal element move somewhere else. Chair Sarnoff But if what you're saying is true, then shouldn't I be adding $500, 000? Mr. Villacorta: They'll take it. Chair Sarnoff I mean -- Lieutenant Gomez: Sir, we'll take it. Mr. Villacorta: They submit timesheets and -- Chair Sarnoff They do? Mr. Villacorta: -- show us beyond the normal staffing that these are additional officers and we go through those timesheets hour by hour -- Chair Sarnoff Okay, if you make that representation -- Mr. Valentin: -- and that's what -- Chair Sarnoff I will tell you this, if you think you need $500, 000, then ask for $500, 000. This -- our primary responsibility as Commissioners, and I guess as people for the -- as board members for the CRAs is to keep people safe. You know, we can build the things we want to build, but nobody's going to go visit them unless they think they're safe. And if you're saying to me it's 250, Commissioner, 'cause that's the thing -- that's the most I think I can get out of this board but I really need 5, 5 would do it; 5 would get you down to 20 crimes a year. Suppose I said seven, that'll be no crimes. I know you'll never be able to say that, but you get my point? Lieutenant Gomez: Yes, sir. Chair Sarnoff I mean, I'm going to ask that we approve it based on what you want right now, 250, I guess, is what you're asking for. Lieutenant Gomez: Correct, sir. Chair Sarnoff But if you think it needs to be more -- I mean, this is where I believe the City of Miami should be spending its money, keeping people safe around the Omni, around the -- you know, the parks, around the PAC (Performing Arts Center). I mean, I've heard too many stories City of Miami Page 23 Printed on 3/23/2011 OMNI Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes June 10, 2010 of women walking out to their cars from an event. You know, they're in high -heeled shoes. They're not going to be able to run. That's where I'd love to see visibility. Lieutenant Gomez: One thing, Commissioner, also that you see the improvement and also to the tactics that Commander Sanchez back there has implied in downtown, you hardly see the panhandlers when you get off at 836 where they were always there. Now very rarely you see a panhandler there. Chair Sarnoff That's true. Lieutenant Gomez: And a lot of times that's the impact of the additional detail that we're doing 'cause we target -- Chair Sarnoff Okay. Lieutenant Gomez: -- no-nonsense quality of life. If you're drinking in the corner, if you're aggressively panhandling on a -- in the CRA area, you go to jail. Chair Sarnoff You guys are the experts. My only point to you is if you want a midyear adjustment because you're seeing results and you think it needs more, come back to us. You don't have to do this -- you don't have to wait a year. Come back in six months. Lieutenant Gomez: Thank you, Commissioner. And I can tell you the results are there and our tactics have been right on target. And a veteran here of many years, that example that I gave of getting off the ramp and not having somebody banging in your window asking for money. Chair Sarnoff Commissioner Gort, you're recognized. Commissioner Gort: Mr. Chairman, I agree with you. I think safety is one of the best items or issues that we can provide to the citizens. Let me give an example. We do the Kiwanis Club of Little Havana. We do the Calle Ocho. We spend $170, 000 for one day. And thank God, the -- an event as big as that one and with the amount of people that come in, we have never really had the major crime or problem taken place because the police force is always there. Chair Sarnoff All right. Commissioner Gort: I'm ready to move. Vice Chair Suarez: Mr. Chairman. Chair Sarnoff Can we get a --? Vice Chair Suarez: I need to jump in on this. Chair Sarnoff You need what? Vice Chair Suarez: I need -- May I ask him a question? Chair Sarnoff No. Absolutely not. Go ahead. Vice Chair Suarez: I got to jump in on this. I mean, this is too good. First of all, I want to commend you. These statistics are incredibly impressive. Lieutenant Gomez: Thank you, sir. City of Miami Page 24 Printed on 3/23/2011 OMNI Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes June 10, 2010 Vice Chair Suarez: I -- they're incredible. I -- the only -- I have one question for you, which is what would you say is the single biggest reason why you were able to achieve this result, the single biggest reason, if you could point to one reason? Lieutenant Gomez: Commissioner, it's the extra funding to put the extra officers out there. 'Cause basically, a lot of times like yesterday's detail, we grid out the whole area and basically, the criminal element will just move somewhere else. They'll say, hey, today they're doing that detail, I'm out of here. Vice Chair Suarez: You know what, if I may. He answered the question exactly the way I wanted him to answer that question. I kind of set you up there, which was he needs the extra funding to have the extra police officers out in the street. When Igo to all my homeowners association meetings, the residents are asking for more police officers out on the streets, okay. That's what they ask for. And a lot of times they get kind of excuses and different kinds of answers and, you know -- as a layperson, I always thought, just like they did you know, we just need more police officers on the street. We need to get our police officers out on the street from wherever they are. We need to get them out on the street. And it's good to hear a police officer saying the reason why we're able to drastically reduce our crime is because we have more police officers out on the street. And that's, you know -- and I had -- I'm sorry, I had to -- you know, and I -- you know, I didn't mean to take advantage of you. You're being honest in your answer and I know it doesn't apply to this specific example. It's just something that I'm glad that a police officer is up here testing before this board too because it's something that our citizens constantly, constantly tell me. And you know, it's hard to argue with that. You know, it's hard to argue with the notion that if we had more police officers -- Lieutenant Gomez: Sure. Vice Chair Suarez: -- patrolling our streets, crime would be less. Maybe never be -- may never be eradicated, may be impossible to eradicate it, but that crime would be lower. It's un -- I mean, it's undoubtable. And you've attested to it and the statistics attest to it right here. Lieutenant Gomez: Commissioner, you're absolutely right. We can never measure the decrease in crime that that police car by passing by, what he prevented. If we could measure that, you know how many robberies, how many murders, and drug dealer in the corner had that officer that went by prevented. We really cannot capture that. Chair Sarnoff Well, isn't that that expression, an ounce of prevention, a pound of cure. Commissioner Dunn: Yes. Vice Chair Suarez: Mr. Chairman. I just -- before -- I just want to say that as this budget year continues, that's one of the things that I'm going to be pushing for in our budget is that we ensure that -- and not because I think so, who's a layperson, but because the City of Miami police officers themselves are here testing saying that if they had the manpower on the streets, they would be able to reduce crime drastically. So we need to look at the distribution of our police officers within our force, the ones that we do have -- I think it's 1,100 or so -- and see do we have an optimum level of those 1,100 on the streets. That's my issue. And obviously, our funds are going to be limited and we're going to have to make tough choices there, but within the funds that we have, how are we going to be using those off cers ? And I think -- Chair Sarnoff Let me tell you. The thing I think I'm most proud of -- although I'm sure you guys will see my mistakes over the next budget cycle -- I believe since I've been here, we've put 200 police officers and PSAs [sic] on the street. And I think of anything anyone ever wants to City of Miami Page 25 Printed on 3/23/2011 OMNI Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes June 10, 2010 say of my career here, that would be it. So -- All right. Commissioner Dunn, you're recognized. Commissioner Dunn: Thank you, Mr. Chair. I want to piggyback on Vice Chairman Suarez some -- oh, boy, I don't want to -- well, it doesn't matter -- probably 28, 30 years ago when I was in college, I took Introduction to Criminology 101. And one of the things that they talked about is the criminal element -- even though we know we have brazen criminals and there are some exceptions to the rules, one of the greatest fears is that they will be caught. That's a fear, and that is a deterrent to crime. And so with that being said, when you have the presence of law enforcement, when you have the presence of policing, teen curfews, et cetera, et cetera, when you have the presence of parked cars, when you have the presence of foot patrol, bicycle patrols -- one of the things that I -- it does reduce crime tremendously. And I guess that trend has not changed. That was some 28, 30 years ago when I studied that, and it does work. It does work. We know there's some brazen criminals that there's an exception to the rule, but for the most part, most criminals do not want to get caught. Lieutenant Gomez: Correct. Commissioner Dunn: Am I correct, sir? Lieutenant Gomez: Yes, sir. And the citizens, what they want to see as you go to your community meetings, like the Commissioner said, they want to see that police car. You can tell them about all the technology that we have, but they want to know where is my police car that patrols my street. That's what I really want to see. Vice Chair Suarez: Mr. Chairman, ifI may. I always think that it's ironic that, you know, areas like Natoma Manors and Bay Heights that have a police officer constantly patrolling, you know, there's no crime in those areas. Commissioner Dunn: Sure. Vice Chair Suarez: There's very little crime in those areas. I know they're wealthier areas, but if you would think, if they're wealthy areas, they're targets for crime as well because there's more wealth in that area, more things to steal. And so, you know, I think we really, really need to focus on the future on how we distribute our resources, the limited resources that we have because clearly the statistics, the officer's testimony -- it's not just the residents of District 4 or the residents of a specific district. I hear it in every homeowners association meeting that I've gone to, and I go to two, three a week. We've doubled the number of homeowners associations since I -- in my district since I was elected, and I'm going to continue to do that. And I'm going to try to triple them, if possible. But it's a constant theme. It's a constant theme. And it's good to hear it from a police officer and so that I don't think I'm just a layperson that doesn't know what they're talking about. And it's very intuitive. Chair Sarnoff All right. Mr. Villacorta: This is a discussion item so -- Chair Sarnoff Why don't you bring it back -- Mr. Villacorta: -- we'll bring it -- Chair Sarnoff -- with the number he asked for. Mr. Villacorta: All right. We'll -- yeah, we'll meet with the -- City of Miami Page 26 Printed on 3/23/2011 OMNI Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes June 10, 2010 NON AGENDA ITEMS NA.1 10-00798 Chair Sarnoff.- And if you think you need to amend that number, don't be hesitant. Vice Chair Suarez: I support that, by the way. Mr. Villacorta: Yes. Commissioner Dunn: Yes. Vice Chair Suarez: I support the additional funding. Lieutenant Gomez: Thank you, Commissioners. CRA DISCUSSION DISCUSSION REGARDING THE COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCIES 2010 YOUTH SUMMER EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM. DISCUSSED Direction by Commissioner Dunn to the CRA Executive Director that the 2010 Youth Summer Employment Program be expanded to include an additional 80 students, and that a resolution rating the expansion of the program be presented by the next SEOPW/OMNI CRA Meeting. Commissioner Dunn: Mr. Chairman. Chair Sarnoff Yes. Commissioner Dunn: Before we leave, I just wanted to ask one thing of my colleagues and yourself It has come to my attention that we have received over 600-plus applications for our student summer program and we have interviewed over 350-plus students. In light of this demand, I would like the permission of my colleagues to direct the executive director to implement an expansion of the summer employment program by an additional 80; in other words, double the students' amount who would work with the Parks and Solid Waste. We have found a tentative approval if this -- once it comes back, if this board so deems it, who will work with the Parks and Solid Waste Department since those summer jobs lend themselves to student skills. I believe these are the type of programs that move our children and youth off the street and help to lower teenage violence and crime. I would ask that once the executive director has developed the expansion, that it be brought back to this board possibly at the next meeting because summer school officially ended -- I mean, school -- the school term officially ended yesterday, I believe. So this -- if that will be something that -- I know we don't vote on it but -- Chair Sarnoff. What would the cost of that be? Commissioner Dunn: What was it for --? James H. Villacorta (Interim Executive Director, Community Redevelopment Agency): Right now we're using $120, 000 from each CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) to support 40 jobs in each CRA. So this would double that amount and we would have 80 jobs from each CRA, for a total of 160 students or young people. And we have the money available. I mean, we -- I think we can do that if the board want to direct me to implement that and bring the resolution back for ratification to expand the program. Chair Sarnoff. And they would work with our Parks Department? City of Miami Page 27 Printed on 3/23/2011 OMNI Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes June 10, 2010 Mr. Villacorta: Right. We've contacted Parks and -- Commissioner Dunn: And Solid Waste. Mr. Villacorta: -- Solid Waste, and they've agreed to work with these young people to put them on -- depending on whether they're -- if they reside in the CRA, then they could come out and work in any park. If they don't reside in the CRA, then they have to work within the CRA. So that also brings people that might not be in the redevelopment area to come to the redevelopment areas and work there, gain an understanding and increase their -- Commissioner Dunn: Sensitivity. Mr. Villacorta: -- sensitivity to the area and change their perception of the area. But mainly it's to give an additional 80 students or 80 young people a job -- Vice Chair Suarez: Can I --? Mr. Villacorta: -- a summer job. Vice Chair Suarez: Mr. Chairman, can I just say something for the record? Chair Sarnoff You're recognized, yes. Vice Chair Suarez: I just want to -- I just did the math real quick. That's 40 jobs that pay $3, 000 a job, if my math is correct. So you know, $120, 000 for 40 jobs. I mean, when you think about some of the things that we spend $120, 000 on in the City, 40 jobs of people that can make $3, 000 over the course of a summer -- Mr. Villacorta: Yeah. Vice Chair Suarez: -- you know, you're significantly helping out a tremendous number of people by giving them some, you know -- you know, and the people who are in the most need right now. I think it's a no-brainer for me. Mr. Villacorta: And they're also -- the original 80, I mean, they're being placed with businesses within the redevelopment area, so it's helping our small businesses. Chair Sarnoff So we didn't place them with the City. This will be the first group we'd place with the City. Mr. Villacorta: Right. We would -- and some of these would also be placed at businesses, but the City has agreed, you know, since we're short on time and we're trying to limit the amount of young people that are placed with any one business to three or four. This would allow us to -- Chair Sarnoff Okay, why don't you bring it back? Mr. Villacorta: -- absorb those. Chair Sarnoff. Why don't you bring it back? Mr. Villacorta: 171 bring it back for ratification 'cause we need to put it into motion -- Chair Sarnoff Right. City of Miami Page 28 Printed on 3/23/2011 OMNI Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes June 10, 2010 ADJOURNMENT Mr. Villacorta: Okay. Chair Sarnoff The next -- I don't know when you're going to do the next Southeast Overtown/Park West but -- Mr. Villacorta: Overtown/Park West is meeting on the 28th, but Omni isn't meeting, and we need to have a resolution from each CRA. Chair Sarnoff Just -- why don't you have a real brief Omni meeting at that time? Mr. Villacorta: Okay, we'll do that. Commissioner Dunn: Thank you. Chair Sarnoff If he doesn't mind. Mr. Villacorta: Okay. Chair Sarnoff I mean, I think he wants me to do it so -- all right. Do we need a motion to adjourn? Commissioner Dunn: So move. Vice Chair Suarez: Second. Chair Sarnoff Second. All in favor, please say "aye." The Commissioners (Collectively): Aye. Chair Sarnoff Thank you, gentlemen. A motion was made by Commissioner Dunn, seconded by Commissioner Suarez, and was passed unanimously, with Commissioner Carollo absent, to adjourn today's OMNI CRA Meeting. City of Miami Page 29 Printed on 3/23/2011