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HomeMy WebLinkAboutOMNI CRA 2011-06-27 MinutesCity of Miami City Hall 3500 Pan American Drive Miami, FL 33133 www.miamigov.com Meeting Minutes Monday, June 27, 2011 5:00 PM Doubletree Grand Hotel 1717 North Bayshore Drive Miami, FI. 33132 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 27, 2011 INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE FINANCIALS 1. 11-00552 RESOLUTIONS 2. 11-00553 Present: Commissioner Gort, Commissioner Dunn II, Chair Sarnoff and Vice Chair Suarez Absent: Commissioner Carollo On the 27th day of June 2011, the Board of Commissioners of the Omni Redevelopment District Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of Miami met in regular session in the Grand Ballroom at Doubletree by Hilton Grand Hotel, 1717 North Bayshore Drive, Miami, Florida. The meeting was called to order by Chair Sarnoff at 5:15 p.m and was adjourned at S: 40 p.m. ALSO PRESENT: Pieter Bockweg, Executive Director, CRA H. Bert Gonzalez, Assistant Executive Director, CRA Veronica Xiques, Assistant General Counsel, CRA Todd Hannon, Assistant Clerk of the Board Chair Sarnoff. I want to welcome everybody to the Monday, June 27, 2011 meeting of the Omni CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) agenda. Present of course are my fellow Commissioners, Commissioner Dunn and Commissioner Suarez. Let's do -- is there -- yeah, let's do a pledge of allegiance by Commissioner Suarez and a prayer by Commissioner Dunn. Invocation and pledge of allegiance delivered. CRA REPORT FINANCIAL SUMMARY THROUGH MONTH ENDING MAY 31, 2011. File # 11-00552 06-27-2011 Financial Summary.pdf PRESENTED Chair Sarnoff. CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) report financial summary, month ending May 31, 2011. Miguel Valentin (Financial Officer, Community Redevelopment Agency): Good evening, Commissioners. As we are doing every month, we're presenting the combined statement of financial position as of May 31, 2011. The cash balance that we're disclosing in that month is 35, 581, 740. And just I want to make aware of the Board that there is no reportable condition to report for the month of May 2011. Chair Sarnoff Any questions? All right. CRA RESOLUTION A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE OMNI REDEVELOPMENT DISTRICT COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY AUTHORIZING A GRANT IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $80,797.54 TO CITY HALL THE RESTAURANT, LLC TO UNDERWRITE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE INSTALLATION OF A 12" WATER LINE ALONG NE City of Miami Page 2 Printed on 8/29/2011 OMNI Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes June 27, 2011 20TH STREET, INCLUDING PERMITS AND ENGINEERING AND CONTRACTOR FEES ; AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO DISBURSE THE GRANT, AT HIS DISCRETION, ON A REIMBURSEMENT BASIS OR DIRECTLY TO VENDORS, UPON PRESENTATION OF INVOICES AND SATISFACTORY DOCUMENTATION; FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF ALL DOCUMENTS NECESSARY FOR SAID PURPOSE, IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO GENERAL COUNSEL; ALLOCATING FUNDS FROM OMNI - CRA TAX INCREMENT FUND, "OTHER GRANTS AND AIDS" ACCOUNT CODE NO.10040.920101.670000.0000.00000 . File # 11-00553 06-27-2011 Cover Memo.pdf File # 11-00553-06-27-2011 Financial Form.pdf File # 11-00553 06-27-2011 Backup.pdf File # 11-00553 06-27-2011 Legislation.pdf Motion by Board Member Suarez, seconded by Board Member Dunn II, that this matter be ADOPTED WITH MODIFICATIONS PASSED by the following vote. Votes: Ayes: Commissioner Gort, Commissioner Dunn II, Chair Sarnoff and Vice Chair Suarez Absent: Commissioner Carollo CRA-R-11-0033 Chair Sarnoff Mr. Director, CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) reso number 2. Pieter Bockweg (Executive Director, Community Redevelopment Agency): Bert. H. Bert Gonzalez: Good afternoon, Commissioners, Board. Bert Gonzalez, assistant director for the Omni CRA. We have come back specifically to address the City Hall restaurant issue. This time we are only presenting to you the infrastructure repairs that are part of our waterline project that we are going to be undertaking sometime in the near future. So this resolution reads the Omni CRA Redevelopment District Community [sic] authorizing a grant in an amount not to exceed 80, 797.54 to the City Hall restaurant to underwrite costs associated with the installation of a 12-inch waterline along 20 Street, including permits and engineering and contractors' fees; authorizing the executive director to disperse the grant at his discretion on a reimbursement basis or directly to vendors upon presentation of invoices and satisfactory documentation; further, authorizing the execution of all documents necessary for said purpose in a form acceptable to general counsel, allocating funds from the Omni tax increment fund and other grants/aids, account numbers. Chair Sarnoff All right. Vice Chair Suarez: Move it for discussion. Commissioner Dunn: Second. Chair Sarnoff We have a motion by Commissioner Suarez, second by Commissioner Dunn. Commissioner Suarez is recognized for the record. Vice Chair Suarez: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, Mr. Gonzalez, and thank you, Mr. Bockweg. I just want to thank you all for working, you know, with us, with this Board, with me in particular to address some concerns or issues regarding this project. Water and sewer, it's something that -- you know, it's a continuing problem for small businesses that are trying to start up in an area. It makes the startup capital, it expands it or grows the amount of money that you need for startup capital tremendously. It also delays the start date by the amount of time that it takes to actually do the construction. I think one of the things that I wanted to express on this item is I was able to work very closely with the CRA director to make sure that we're tailoring City of Miami Page 3 Printed on 8/29/2011 OMNI Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes June 27, 2011 everything that we're doing and we're bringing it back to the capital plan. We're bringing it back to the notion of curing slum and blight in our CRAs and just doing a better job of documenting before the item comes before the public of that entire tie-in so that members of the public that are reading this aren't kind of left with -- scratching their heads wondering why we're spending money on this, is this a handout to somebody or not a handout to somebody or whatever. So, you know, I'm just very pleased that this is the beginning of this large-scale capital improvement that will be improving the -- hopefully, taking care of this issue, this water and sewer issue that's a -- it's a citywide issue, but at least taking care of it within the CRA from, you know, the top to the bottom. And it's good to see that in the backup documents there was talk about when that project was going to be starting, when that project was going to be finishing, and I know that I have your commitment and your commitment that that project's going to go forward and be completed soon. Mr. Gonzalez: Well, in fact, if I may, board members. Mr. Steve Haas is opening the restaurant officially tomorrow. He has had two trial dates and so far, I understand things are going pretty well, and that is to bring 50 new jobs to our community. Chair Sarnoff Commissioner Gort. Commissioner Gort: Well, my understanding also this was part of the program you all had already in mind that you were going to do that to service streets in that area. Now I remember about 11 years ago I got a call from -- I had a meeting with the people from Bacardi because they were looking to relocate and move out of that building. And I told them, look, be patient. That whole area is going to change. And I think the job that you all have done is great. That whole area is changing. As a matter of fact, I had a breakfast meeting there this morning and it's beautiful. So thank you all. Mr. Gonzalez: You're welcome, Commissioner. Chair Sarnoff Commissioner Dunn. Commissioner Gort: Well, I just really would simply reiterate the sentiments of my colleagues, particularly basically to give kudos to our staff, to the executive director for at least clearing up any matters that might have somewhat been ambiguous so that there will be no perception of anything other than the right thing. Chair Sarnoff And let me just close by saying really I guess the word liudos'fs a nice word, especially since Commissioner Dunn came up with it. Commissioner Dunn: You're a lawyer, come on. Commissioner Sarnoff. But I like kudos. I like kudos. Because you guys have been at this for a little over a year now or about a year, and I can tell you that I've seen the CRA do things that it just didn't do before, and it's playing an active part in the fabric of downtown. It is collaborating with the DDA (Downtown Development Authority). It is collaborating with the Bayfront Trust. And it's doing the things it really needs to do. And you know, Bert, to your credit, and Pieter, to your credit, I'm not going to say you're going to get it right, but at least you're putting the ball in the air, and that's all any Commissioner or any CRA board member can ask for. Just put the ball in the air. Let us decide how far the ball goes, where the ball goes, but give us the balls to put in the air, and I think you're going to see us hit more of them out of the park than stay in the park, and I think that's what Commissioner Suarez was saying. Vice Chair Suarez: And I think -- ifI may, Mr. Chair. Chair Sarnoff Yeah. City of Miami Page 4 Printed on 8/29/2011 OMNI Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes June 27, 2011 DISCUSSION ITEMS 3. 11-00555 Vice Chair Suarez: I think the other important thing is that, you know, we're doing this process much more deliberatively than maybe in the past. And also, for the public, for the public's benefit. You know, you really have to take the public through. You got to -- you have to talk about the history of these projects. You have to talk about how they tie into the capital plan. You have to talk about how they eliminate slum and blight in the 50,000 foot perspective, and how they're part of a major project that's going to transform the infrastructure of the CRA. And so I think that's what was refined in this plan and now, you know, makes it something that I can support. Chair Sarnoff. Okay. All right, so we -- Go ahead Bockweg. Mr. Bockweg: Mr. Chair, I'm sorry. I just want to make one quick correction in the reso is the account number that's associated with this item. Just for the record, the account number is 10040920101670000, and then all the other zeros. The reason why the change, board members and Chairman, is the money that we're drawing down from this will be coming directly from the money allocated for the storm water project, not through the grant account number, so that's why Mr. Gonzalez: Waterline. Mr. Bockweg: -- the change. The waterline, sorry. Mr. Gonzalez: Waterline project. Mr. Bockweg: The waterline project. Chair Sarnoff Okay. All right, anybody have any further comments? All right, then we have a motion, and we have a second. All in favor, please signify by saying aye." The Commissioners (Collectively): Aye. Chair Sarnoff All right, passed. Todd Hannon (Assistant Clerk of the Board): And excuse me, Chair. We'll show that as a modified resolution. Mr. Bockweg: As modified. Chair Sarnoff Sure. Mr. Hannon: Sorry. Chair Sarnoff It's okay. Commissioner Gort: With all the zeros. Chair Sarnoff. When we put a zero in it and we change a zero, we mods. CRA DISCUSSION DISCUSSION ITEM REQUESTING THE USE OF GENERAL OPERATING City of Miami Page 5 Printed on 8/29/2011 OMNI Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes June 27, 2011 RESERVES TO HIRE ATTORNEYS. File # 11-00555 06-27-2011 Cover Memo .pdf MOTION A motion was made by Commissioner Dunn, seconded by Vice Chair Suarez, and was passed unanimously, with Commissioner Carollo absent, authorizing the Executive Director's request to use general operating reserves to hire a new CRA attorney. Chair Sarnoff All right, discussion item, Mr. Director. Pieter Bockweg (Executive Director, Community Redevelopment Agency): Mr. Chairman, as part of the budget that was approved by the Board last year on October 14, it was the request of the Board that I come before you whenever I needed to take some money out of the reserves for operations. As you know, our general -- our staff counsel had -- has been not there anymore. He went to another job. And I have interviewed ten qualified applicants for the job who has a lot more experience than the previous attorney that was there. And if you recall, the previous attorney was paid a total of $58,200. So I need -- and I don't think for the amount of qualifications and experience that this attorney has that was enough, so I have offered her the position for $87,500, plus the car allowance that my other executive staff receives of $75 a month -- cell phone allowance, sorry. Cell phone. For that, of course, I need to dip into the reserves, and I'd like your permission to do that. The total amount that I'm requesting to dip into the reserves is about $31,000. Commissioner Dunn: Mr. Chairman. Chair Sarnoff You're recognized for the record, Commissioner Dunn. Commissioner Dunn: Well, let me make a motion with discussion, but I have some questions. Vice Chair Suarez: I'll second it for discussion as well. Commissioner Dunn: Okay. Mr. Executive Director, how are we doing in our reserves overall? Mr. Bockweg: We are very well in our reserves. In the -- I can give you an estimate -- reserves for the Omni, we have $131, 000, and in the reserves for Overtown, we have $185, 000 and change. Commissioner Dunn: Okay. Now just for the record, in both of those reserves, this has no bearing or financial consequences toward the general budget of the City of Miami? Mr. Bockweg: Zero. Absolutely zero. Commissioner Dunn: All right. Mr. Bockweg: And -- I'm sorry. Just to clam that that $31, 000 will be split in half between the two CRAs (Community Redevelopment Agencies). Commissioner Dunn: Okay. Chair Sarnoff Commissioner Suarez. Vice Chair Suarez: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'm not as concerned about -- although it's rare that you'll hear me say that I'm not as concerned about the reserves as I am about the quality of work and having an attorney who can really guide the CRA. Just in the last item and in many items that we've encountered in the past, in the near recent past, I really feel that the CRA needs City of Miami Page 6 Printed on 8/29/2011 OMNI Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes June 27, 2011 to have that -- I know you suffered, first of all, as a result of not having a staff attorney. I really, really think you need a high -quality staff attorney because this area of the law, as I've become more and more of an expert in it, requires an incredible amount of -- you need an astute lawyer. You need someone that understands Chapter 163, someone that understands all of the different interpretations of it, all of the different law review articles that have been written based on it and really can guide you, as the executive director, and us as a board. And like I said before, I think one of the issues that we were having was that things were not being really tied together in terms of how things were being brought to us. They were brought to us without the necessary, you know, backup and without the necessary kind of tie-in. I know there was a typo, for example, on the last -- Mr. Bockweg: There's one today too. Vice Chair Suarez: Right. That's what I'm saying. There's one on today's. I think -- but it's a big one. Commissioner Dunn: On my -- on Overtown, yeah. On Overtown, yeah. Mr. Bockweg: A small one. Vice Chair Suarez: But it's a big one 'cause -- Commissioner Dunn: Guys, don't be alarmed, please. Commissioner Gort: Spell check, guys. Spell check. Vice Chair Suarez: 'Cause I think it's to the order of like a thousand, you know, or something like that. So instead of spending 247, 000, we're going to be spending 247, 000, 000, which I'm pretty sure we don't have the money to do. But I think the point is that, you know, when you have an entity that has only, you know, a few percentages of its total operating or its total revenue that it generates in operation, but it's handling millions and tens of millions of dollars and it's charged with -- statutorily charged with a very, very good objective, you need, you know, a very capable person, the most capable person that you can find for the reasonable amount of money to guide you through in the process. So I definitely support having an attorney here of the highest level of qualifications that we can afford because I really feel that -- one of the things I've learned here is that we need a high level of legal advice. We also need, you know, a good accountant, which Miguel is out there and he's very good at what he does as well. So you need to have somebody -- you know, you need to have competent advice on -- particularly on those two facets because the money that we are spending here is heavily restricted. It's governed by, you know, a state statute and it has to be very, very carefully spent. Mr. Bockweg: Well, I could tell you, Commissioner, that the CRA currently is understaffed as I see it from day-to-day operations, and the addition of the attorney, who I believe is highly capable and qualified, will definitely be an asset to the CRA. Commissioner Gort: Question: My understanding is you can ask for a line item change in your budget (UNINTELLIGIBLE) to reflect? Mr. Bockweg: No. Commissioner Gort: No? Mr. Bockweg: The line item is still there. It's for the CRA staff counsel, and the previous person who was there is obviously no longer there, so there's not an additional line item change in the budget. It's just for more money. City of Miami Page 7 Printed on 8/29/2011 OMNI Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes June 27, 2011 Commissioner Gort: You're going to add more money into the budget and it's going to be split, 43/43? Mr. Bockweg: No. It's going to be split 15.5 and 15.5. It's a total of $30, 000 [sic]. Commissioner Gort: You're talking about the difference, but okay, no problem. Mr. Bockweg: Yeah. The 58,200 has already been budgeted for. Commissioner Gort: It's already been budget -- Mr. Bockweg: It's already there. Commissioner Gort: -- so you're talking about 31. Vice Chair Suarez: And you save some money as a result of the fact that you haven't had -- Mr. Bockweg: Right. Commissioner Gort: Now do you still need outside counsel after this? Mr. Bockweg: I truly believe that in the future that I will need another attorney in the office, and then I will be proposing that once the budget comes before you next month. I think it's vital that the CRA has an attorney who is involved and in depthly [sic] involved in the research aspect of it with our making sure that we meet those guidelines that the Commissioner was talking about within Chapter 163. But then I also need an attorney who is purely contractual and focusing on the contracts of that, and I'll be proposing that come July. I didn't want to propose that tonight because then I would have to amend the current year's budget, so I'll be proposing that in my budget in July. Chair Sarnoff Can we put a name or a face to this person? Mr. Bockweg: Yes. Carmela [sic], if you'd like to stand up and introduce yourself. Carmen Cabarga: Hi. Carmen Cabarga. Pleasure to meet. I've met most of you. Chair Sarnoff Carmen, how many -- how long you been a lawyer? Ms. Cabarga: Over 11 years. Chair Sarnoff How many cases have you tried? Ms. Cabarga: Have I tried. Jury or bench trials? Chair Sarnoff I'll take first jury and then bench. Ms. Cabarga: Bench trials, I -- about one a month for the last five years, and then some scattered in between there in the previous seven years before that. And jury trials, I think it's been four or five. Chair Sarnoff Okay. Commissioner Gort: What's the record? City of Miami Page 8 Printed on 8/29/2011 OMNI Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes June 27, 2011 Ms. Cabarga: What's the record? The bench trials I did really good at. The jury trials, half and half. Commissioner Gort: Okay. Ms. Cabarga: You wouldn't be going to trial otherwise, sir. Vice Chair Suarez: Mr. Chairman, if I may. Chair Sarnoff Absolutely. Vice Chair Suarez: I think there's a lot of things about this process that I like. I like the fact that you interviewed ten people, you know. I think that sounds like a very broad pool of -- and you know, I think one of the things that we want to make sure is that we're getting the most qualified person that someone -- you know, and no one gets the impression this is being done, you know, for, you know, a friend or -- Commissioner Dunn: Yeah. Vice Chair Suarez: -- anything like that. I haven't had the chance of meeting you. I've heard good things about you from a couple of people, but I haven't had the chance of meeting with you. Ms. Cabarga: Give it to me. I can answer anything. Vice Chair Suarez: My question to you has to do with have you had any interaction with Chapter 163, and if so, what? And if not, you know, have you familiarized yourself with it and how do you hope to familiarize yourself with it in the future? Ms. Cabarga: I've actually not been hired yet by the CRA, but I have -- Vice Chair Suarez: Right. Ms. Cabarga: -- familiarized myself on my own time. I'm still working. I have read through Chapter 163. I'm happy to say it's not as large, the section that applies to the CRA, so I've gotten somewhat of a hold on it. Of course, not near as much as what I want to. A statute is a statute. I've been doing it for 12 years almost, so once you learn to read the law, it's the ands, the shalls, the ors, different things, the wordings in the statute. So previously -- Chair Sarnoff You're going to have to go easy on him. He's a remedial statute reader. Vice Chair Suarez: That's actually true. That's actually -- I'm pretty good at it, though. I happen to have bested my litigation partner on it just a couple days ago, but anyhow, we're not going to -- Chair Sarnoff He did get me the other day. Vice Chair Suarez: -- be calling people out here or anything like that, are we? In any event, I guess my follow up request would be if you're confirmed, which it looks like you will be, I would like the opportunity to sit with you -- Ms. Cabarga: Definitely. Vice Chair Suarez: -- and go over what my thoughts are on 163 and some of the literature and materials that I've been presented with. City of Miami Page 9 Printed on 8/29/2011 OMNI Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes June 27, 2011 NON -AGENDA ITEMS NA.1 11-00626 Ms. Cabarga: I'd welcome that. And also if you can share some of that material with me, I can read it as well. Vice Chair Suarez: Certainly, of course. Commissioner Dunn: Mr. Chairman, if I may. You won't have the luxury of being able to be vetted by me from a legal standpoint, but I do have legal representation on my staff and -- Ms. Cabarga: I've met that very rigorous person. Commissioner Dunn: What did you say, rigorous? Ms. Cabarga: Well, detailed. Commissioner Dunn: So you will get the 1-3 punch. Ms. Cabarga: I'm ready. Commissioner Dunn: But if all goes well, I want to congratulate you. Ms. Cabarga: Thank you. Thank you very much. And I'm competent for the job. I really am. Commissioner Dunn: Enjoy the short honeymoon. Ms. Cabarga: Oh. Chair Sarnoff That's right. As soon as you're hired, it's over. Commissioner Gort: That's it. Mr. Bockweg: That's right. Chair Sarnoff All right, any further discussion, gentlemen? All right, hearing none, we have a motion and we have a second. All in favor then, please say "aye." The Commissioners (Collectively): Aye. Commissioner Sarnoff. All right. Mr. Bockweg: It's not a reso. Todd Hannon (Assistant Clerk of the Board): I'm sorry, Chair Sarnoff, Mr. Executive Director, I will record this as a motion for the record. That's sufficient? Mr. Bockweg: Yeah. It's a not a reso, but that's fine. Mr. Hannon: No problem. Chair Sarnoff All right, I think that's -- the Omni is done. CRA DISCUSSION DISCUSSION REGARDING VARIOUS PARCELS OF LAND LOCATED IN City of Miami Page 10 Printed on 8/29/2011 OMNI Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes June 27, 2011 DISTRICT 2 AND THE OMNI REDEVELOPMENT DISTRICT. DISCUSSED Direction by Chair Sarnoff to the Executive Director to distribute a report to the board detailing the City Attorneys opinion on the ownership of the bay bottom; further directing that the Executive Director provide the board with the amount of funds expended by the City of Miami, the DDA (Downtown Development Authority), and the CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) on the bollard project, the seawall project, and the bay walk project to determine the investments that have been made to the FEC (Florida East Coast) corridor by the City and its agencies. Chair Sarnoff. All right. We're going to start out today with the Omni CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency). Before I do that, as a point of privilege, I'm going to have Mr. Joseph come up to the microphone and he has something he wants to dispense to us. Fred Joseph: Commissioners, I don't know if you're aware of the article about one of our wonderful County Commissioners which is not in this district offering the parcel between Parcel B and now the new Omni area CRA district, which is the new to be Museum Park. They're offering to dump, as for a loss of other words, all the fill out of the tunnel that the CRA is going to contribute about $50 million to. I believe that would be a enormous travesty to this area not only to the beautification, but I believe, if I'm not mistaken, we have already spent on the bay walk, the bollards for the tall ships, many millions of our own money to beautify that area, which was slum and blight with many shanties back in the day I moved here. They had a better view than we did at the Grand for free. I believe you should be outraged, not that I've seen too many articles about it. But again, a Commissioner, a wonderful Commissioner, but not in this district, made this proposition. The problem with the proposition is he's got a lot of area down where he's at that probably could use some darn good fill, but to start offering it to City of Miami property -- and you do own the bay bottom, by the way. You are the stewards. You may have given up the upland, unfortunately, but you have the right to the bay bottom. It belongs to you and the citizens of Miami, not Dade County. We'd like for them to maintain it, but they don't. The other item that if you will look out the window -- I don't have the shades up and you can look a little later. There's a beautiful island out here that could be expanded, I'm sure. We jokingly call it Beer Can Island because we all go out there, take everything out -- take it all off when we're done. We barbecue. We swim on the manmade beach. That was part of a bridge. The next one over was part of this beautiful Venetia. These little, tiny islands could be expanded, enhanced, and if you don't believe they're used, you are the same person that didn't believe when I said if you build Margaret Pace Park, it will be used. That island is used by hundreds, not a few, but hundreds of people every given weekend and holiday. If you want to expand something, see if Biscayne Bay monument and the Biscayne Bay Trust will allow you to put the fill -- very close. You don't have to go far, right here from this tunnel project. Please, as the stewards -- and Commissioner Gort, you've been here a long time with me. You are the steward of that bay bottom land. You are the people that control what can happen there, not the County. He made a bad suggestion, but I think you might want to send him a letter and see if we can help enlighten him. Thank you. Chair Sarnoff Thank you, Mr. Joseph. Commissioner Dunn: Thank you. Chair Sarnoff Madam City Attorney, is there a --? Is it accurate to say that we own the FEC (Florida East Corridor) corridor, the bottom right there? Veronica Xiques (Assistant General Counsel): I can't tell you without reviewing the deed whether or not we own it. I know that we have it under our possession, but as far as whatever deed restrictions there are, reverters, I couldn't tell you about that without seeing the document. Chair Sarnoff All right. So, Mr. Bockweg, would you get to each Commissioner the attorney -- City of Miami Page 11 Printed on 8/29/2011 OMNI Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes June 27, 2011 ADJOURNMENT the City Attorneys opinion as to who owns the bay bottom. And then if you would also get to each Commissioner the amount of money the City of Miami, the DDA (Downtown Development Authority), the CRA has spent on the bollard project, the seawall project, and on the bay walk project so that we could at least let the County know that our investments in the FEC Corridor which, based on my knowledge as being the DDA chair, was intended to allow the big ships to come, such as the Eagle, the United States Coast Guard Eagle, so that we would have a venue for large ships and potentially even to have a venue for some of the smaller ships to come. And it doesn't seem like it's a wise move by any stretch of anyone's imagination to start filling that in, even ifI think the Coast Guard would allow it, whether DERM (Department of Environmental Resources Management) would allow it or anyone else would allow it for that matter. But I'd like to just start the process rolling of at least creating a resolution both from the CRA, which then could be built on by the City in its juridic body to at least let the County know the amount of dollars and vision that has been provided, you know, for the FEC Corridor. Commissioner Gort: Do you need a motion? Chair Sarnoff Should we do that by reso or just ask him to bring it back to the Board so that we can at least have the facts and circumstances, know who owns the bay bottom and let's get the capital expenditures so we know exactly how much we spent. Pieter Bockweg (Executive Director, Community Redevelopment Agency): Mr. Chair, I'll present it to you in the July meeting. Chair Sarnoff Okay, very good. All right, so thank you, Mr. Joseph, for bringing that to our attention. The meeting adjourned at 5:40 PM. City of Miami Page 12 Printed on 8/29/2011