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HomeMy WebLinkAboutOMNI CRA 2016-07-29 MinutesCity of Miami City Hall 3500 Pan American Drive Miami, FL 33133 www.miamigov.com Meeting Minutes Friday, July 29, 2016 12:00 PM (OR THEREAFTER) Miami City Hall OMNI Community Redevelopment Agency Ken Russell, Chair Francis Suarez, Vice Chair Wifredo (Willy) Gort, Commissioner Frank Carollo, Commissioner Keon Hardemon, Commissioner OMNI & MIDTOWN CRA OFFICE ADDRESS: 1401 N. Miami Avenue, 2nd Floor, Miami 33136 Phone: (305) 679-6868 www.miamicra.com OMNI Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes July 29, 2016 RESOLUTIONS 1. 16-01071 OMNI Community Redevelopment Agency Present: Vice Chair Suarez, Commissioner Carollo, Commissioner Hardemon and Chair Russell Absent: Commissioner Gort On the 29th day of July 2016, 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 American Drive, Miami, Florida. The meeting was called to order by Chair Russell at 2: 36 p.m., and was adjourned at 2: 49 p.m. Note for the Record: Vice Chair Suarez entered the Commission chamber at 2:41 p.m. ALSO PRESENT: Jason Walker, Executive Director, CRA Barnaby L. Min, Deputy General Counsel, CRA Todd B. Hannon, Clerk of the Board CRA RESOLUTION A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE OMNI REDEVELOPMENT DISTRICT COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY ("OMNI CRA") AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO RETAIN THE FIRM OF SANSON, KLINE, JACOMINO, TANDOC & GAMARRAS, LLP ("SKJTG") TO PROVIDE EXTERNAL AUDITING SERVICES TO THE OMNI CRA FORA TERM OF THREE (3) YEARS WITH THE OPTION TO RENEW FOR THREE (3) ADDITIONAL ONE (1) YEAR TERMS IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $15,000.00 PER YEAR; AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT AND ALL OTHER DOCUMENTS INCLUDING AMENDMENTS AND MODIFICATIONS, IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO GENERAL COUNSEL, AS MAY BE NECESSARY FOR SAID PURPOSE; FUNDS TO BE ALLOCATED FROM OMNI TAX INCREMENT FUND ENTITLED "ACCOUNTING AND AUDIT," ACCOUNT CODE NO. 10040.920501.532000.0000.00000. 16-01071 Cover Memo.pdf 16-01071 Legislation.pdf Motion by Board Member Hardemon, seconded by Board Member Carollo, that this matter be ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote. Votes: Ayes: Chair Russell, Commissioner Hardemon and Commissioner Carollo Absent: Vice Chair Suarez and Commissioner Gort CRA-R-1 6-0038 Chair Russell: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) the CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency). We're going to commence the meeting of the Omni CRA, please; corning to order. We have a brief -- very brief CRA meeting today. I'll just let our executive director, Mr. Walker, take over. Jason Walker (Executive Director, Omni Community Redevelopment Agency): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. This is a brief meeting, just to handle some housekeeping items. The first item on the agenda is to approve the auditor for the audit beginning '15/16. This is the same auditor that we've used in the past. They'd like to start beginning work now with some preliminary stuff, but in order to do that, we need to engage them, so this is the first resolution on the agenda. City of Miami Page 2 Printed on 2/16,2017 OMNI Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes July 29, 2016 Board Member Hardemon: So moved. Board Member Carollo: Second. Discussion. Chair Russell: It's been moved and seconded. Mr. Carollo. Board Member Carollo: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just want to verify -- what's the amount of the audit? Mr. Walker: 15,000. Board Member Carollo: Perfect. Chair Russell: How does that compare to previous years? Mr. Walker: Same. Chair Russell: Same, no change; same auditor, same price, same scope of work. Any further discussion? Any comment from the public? I'll close public hearing. All in favor, say ffye. " The Board (Collectively): Aye. Chair Russell: Any opposed? Board Member Carollo: Aye. Chair Russell: Motion passes. Mr. Walker: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): Sorry. Commissioner Carollo, was that lfye'fn favor, or --? Board Member Carollo: Aye,'fn favor of -- Mr. Hannon: Sorry; just want to make sure it was clear. So the motion passes, 3-0. Board Member Carollo: Yeah. Chair Russell: Yeah. Board Member Carollo: Aye'fs also favor -- in favor of -- Mr. Hannon: Sorry. Board Member Hardemon: You were a little delayed, but it was still an Hye,'honetheless, yes. Chair Russell: It was a tone. Board Member Carollo: Someone from -- Chair Russell: Your dye'had a tone. Board Member Hardemon: Yeah, like it was a question. Board Member Carollo: -- the public was motioning to me, so I was looking over there and -- City of Miami Page 3 Printed on 2/16/2017 OMNI Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes July 29, 2016 2. 16-01072 OMNI Community Redevelopment Agency but, yes, it's an aye." Mr. Hannon: Thank you, Chair. Chair Russell: Thank you. Mr. Walker: Yes, thank you, Mr. Chairman. CRA RESOLUTION A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE OMNI REDEVELOPMENT DISTRICT COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY ("OMNI CRA"), WITH ATTACHMENT(S) AUTHORIZING AN AWARD, IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $1,000,000.00, TO THE PEREZ ART MUSEUM OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY FOR VARIOUS COMMUNITY BENEFITS TO THE REDEVELOPMENT AREA; AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO EXECUTE ALL DOCUMENTS NECESSARY FOR SAID PURPOSE, IN FORMS ACCEPTABLE TO THE GENERAL COUNSEL; FURHTER AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO DISBURSE FUNDS, AT HIS DISCRETION, ON A REIMBURSEMENT BASIS OR DIRECTLY TO VENDORS, UPON PRESENTATION OF INVOICES AND SATISFACTORY DOCUMENTATION; FUNDS TO BE ALLOCATED FROM OMNI TAX INCREMENT FUNDS, ENTITLED "OTHER GRANTS AND AIDS," ACCOUNT CODE NO. 10040.920101.883000.00000. 16-01072 Cover Memo.pdf 16-01072 Legislation.pdf 16-01072 Exhibit.pdf Motion by Board Member Hardemon, seconded by Board Member Carollo, that this matter be ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote. Votes: Ayes: Vice Chair Suarez, Chair Russell, Commissioner Hardemon and Commissioner Carollo Absent: Commissioner Gort CRA-R-16-0039 Jason Walker (Executive Director, Omni Community Redevelopment Agency): Item number 2 is the PAMM (Perez Art Museum Miami) agreement. You all approved in the budget a $1 million grant to the Perez Art Museum for programming in the Omni area. We went back and looked at the agreement, and we've come to some resolution on a different type of programming we'd like to do this year; one specifically is an arts in the public park space on free FDOT (Florida Department of Transportation) lots. That's the only thing that's changed in the agreement. PAMM has agreed to commit $150, 000 to three FDOT lots that are adjacent to I-395 for art installation. This would be supported by the Omni CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency), in conjunction with PAMM. And the other agreement that we came to was a reimbursement; of what expenses would be reimbursed by the CRA. There are some expenses that were reimbursed in the past that will no longer be eligible for reimbursement, and we've narrowed that down with their CFO (Chief Financial Officer) in terms of what those items are. Mostly -- most of the money will go directly towards programming, and also staff for those programs, but gone are marketing and advertising and travel, and things like that. And PAMM is here to -- Mr. Franklin is here. Franklin is here to discuss the art in the open space program that they plan to initiate. Board Member Hardemon: 1'll move it. Board Member Carollo: Second. City of Miami Page 4 Printed on 2/16,2017 OMNI Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes July 29, 2016 Chair Russell: So ii l may, Mr. Executive Director, I'd just like to bring everyone up to speed on what we're doing here. As you all know, the -- and when we last tuned in, I was the begrudging 4-1 vote against the renewal of the grant for $1 million to PAMM, under my opinion of the appropriate use of CRA funds on an existing museum, you know, but I'm a realist and I'm a cooperative person who always looks for the bright side of everything. So I'm very happy to report that I've gotten together with PAMM. They've been very cooperative and, I believe, are excited about an idea that we've proposed to them. And as the executive director said, of that million dollar grant, 150,000 is being carved off for an art in public spaces proposal. It's not defined exactly, but the vision -- and we've walked it in the heat together -- is that the FDOT lots -- and there's three lots together, right next to the 395, where the Signature Bridge will go; had been a blighted, dead area for a very long time. And that's in the Omni CRA, and it's in a part of the area that's trying to revitalize. Some bars have moved in, some shops, it's not far from the fire station, and what we're going to do is transform these three very large, blighted lots between now and when the 395 Signature Bridge is put in, because these lots will then be under that bridge and are supposed to be activated as park space. What we're going to do is pre -activate them to bring the community there in an artistic way that points toward the PAMM, involves the local homeless population and formerly homeless population in finding work and employment, and create the park. Some of the ideas may include -- and I don't mean to steal your thunder, but I'm very excited about it, and I just can't stop talking -- is that we do a mural program around one of the lots; and then the other, we activate potentially with a surface art that is made from an herb garden: vegetation, flowers; something that you can see from the sky, from the highway, from driving around that's very inviting and can possibly be productive, as well, in terms of a farmers market; in terms of employment for homeless; in terms of an open space for activities, and music, and arts during this period between now and whenever the 395 gets built. And so, I'm very thankful to the PAMM for their cooperation in this. I love making lemonade from lemons; not that the grant was lemons, but it was just something that I would like to see change on how the CRA is directing its focus, and I believe that this still accomplishes a good mission of eliminating slum and blight within the CRA, using the CRA funds, yet involving the PAMM. So thank you for that cooperation. Franklin Sirmans: Thank you. I am -- again, thank you for having us and engaging in this conversation with us. We are really grateful, because this is exactly what we are all about. It is a community organization, and we think about it in that way. And just like we have PAMM in the Neighborhood, which is something we discussed prior, this project that we're working on together with you and -- is really at the heart of what we do, and takes us outside. We're also working on projects that are all about inside and outside, and this is exactly what that project will do. We're working with a local artist and it's -- as you mentioned, has all of those elements. Conceptually, what I think is the nice thing about this project is that it's about beautification on one hand, but it also is about truly making a difference in people's lives. So we are convening with a local artist to create something almost out of nothing. We're using the material that has been used to surround this lot as an empty lot right now, and we're going to take that material and turn it into the centerpiece of what will be a place for people to gather. Chair Russell: You're talking about the chain link fence itself? Mr. Sirmans: The chain link fence, exactly. Chair Russell: You'll make an artistic piece from the chain link fence that has been the blight. Mr. Sirmans: Exactly; just west of the museum. And, as you mentioned, we were out there together in the heat, and I think this project is going to go towards what it means to be in that space; what it means. It also takes into account our hottest days here, because we are creating a space in which people can actually come together. City of Miami Page 5 Printed on 2/16/2017 OMNI Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes July 29, 2016 Chair Russell: Great. Barnaby Min (Deputy City Attorney): I'm sorry. So the record is clear, I believe the speaker needs to identify his name and address for the record. Mr. Sirmans: Franklin Sirmans. I'm the director of the Perez Art Museum Miami. Mr. Min: Thank you. Mr. Sirmans: Thank you. Chair Russell: Would you like to speak to any of the other programming that's remaining in the existing --? Mr. Sirmans: Sure. The opportunity to talk to you in the office has been incredible, because it helped us refine some of the things that we already seek to do, and give us some ways of doing them better. We have PAMM in the Neighborhood, which I mentioned which is a program that takes ideas and art education from the museum out into other places. So we work with summer camps, and we're in full speed on that right now. We have a project in Overtown, where we work directly, also, with summer programs and bringing kids into the museum who otherwise might not be able to. That's another one of the major projects that we do with our CRA funding. We also have free admission, which is integral to our position as a place for people to come together, a place that can be a bridge for discussion that is spurred on by art and ideas; that's another part of it. We have a nationally -recognized afterschool partnership program for underserved high school students, called Brick by Brick, which was recently cited by our National Endowment for the Humanities. We also have the performances, lectures, programs that take place outside of all of our exhibitions, and that is supplementary material that also has been a part of our CRA funding. So we are using these programs and building off of them with the new beautification project, and I could go into that further. I mean, there are many elements, but at the heart of it is about making an art project that is done with the public. It's not about us going in there and saying, We have these sculptures in our collection. We're going to put them out here. "It's about building something together, and that's what I believe is the importance of a 21st Century art museum, which is a little bit different from the 20th Century. We really want to be a part of working together, and we consider ourselves lucky to be in that position. Chair Russell: Thank you very much. I'll open the floor for public hearing if there's anyone that'd like to comment on this item. Okay, none. I'll close the public hearing. Is there any discussion from the dais? Mr. Min: Mr. Chairman, just a couple clarifications, because I know it was a -- arguably, a heated debate at the last CRA meeting. This agreement terminates September 30, 2016. There is no automatic renewal, so if there's going to be any further funding for future fiscal years, it would require a separate grant agreement. There is no automatic assumption that the CRA will be funding for next year. Chair Russell: Thank you for claming, Barnaby. Board Member Carollo: Mr. Chairman, question: September 2016 is still a carryover of those funds, correct? Mr. Min: Yes, sir. Board Member Hardemon: Okay. Chair Russell: Hearing no further discussion, all in favor, say Eye." City of Miami Page 6 Printed on 2/16/2017 OMNI Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes July 29, 2016 NON -AGENDA ITEM(S) 1. 16-01114 The Board (Collectively): Aye. Chair Russell: Any opposed? Motion passes. Mr. Sirmans: Thank you, Commissioners. CRA DISCUSSION OMNICommunity OMNI CRA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, JASON WALKER, PROVIDED A Redevelopment STATUS UPDATE OF THE OMNI CRAAND FUTURE PLANS OF Agency SCHEDULING CRA MEETINGS WITHIN THE OMNI REDEVELOPMENT AREA. DISCUSSED Jason Walker (Executive Director, Omni Community Redevelopment Agency): Mr. Chairman. Chair Russell: Yes, Mr. Executive Director. Mr. Walker: Thank you. A brief statement about what we've been doing, what's been going on: I've had the opportunity to meet with most of your chiefs of staff to give an update on the projects and initiatives that we're working on. We're excited about holding our real first meeting in September, and I'm just throwing this out to you now. We would like to change the location of our meetings to bring our meetings, just like the Overtown CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency), back to the community. We're looking for a venue now. We've had several folks offer their space to us, including the Chapman Auditorium and the Aspira Charter School as possible locations for our meeting. We're looking to do it in the first week of September, because we also need to approve our budget in September, but we also want to get to work on some of the great projects and initiatives that we're working on. So we will continue to brief you and your staffs through the month of August about these initiatives, but please, what I'm asking is to, you know, open your calendars up for the first week in September, so that we can have a real Omni CRA meeting to discuss very important projects and initiatives that we're working on. Chair Russell: Would you prefer to set that date today, gentlemen; or would we like to look at our calendars, and deal with it over this next week? Mr. Walker: The date -- if -- the date that I'm going to throw out is September 6, which is a Tuesday. Barnaby Min (Deputy City Attorney): Just so the Commission -- the board is aware, there is a City Commission budget hearing that evening at 5: 05 p.m. Mr. Walker: September 7? September 8? Board Member Carollo: Commission meeting. Board Member Hardemon: Yeah. So you probably should confer with all of our schedules. Chair Russell: All right. We'll do the rounds, yep. Thank you. Great. No, I'm very excited about the future with the CRA, and I look forward to bringing new stuff to the board, and I'm very confident Jason's been doing a very good job there. So if there's no other items, I will acjourn the CRA meeting, and we'll get back to the other business of the City. Thank you. City of Miami Page 7 Printed on 2/16/2017 OMNI Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes July 29, 2016 ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 2: 49 p.m. City of Miami Page 8 Printed on 2/16,2017