HomeMy WebLinkAboutOMNI CRA 2016-12-14 MinutesCity of Miami
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Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, December 14, 2016
5:00 PM
CHAPMAN Partnership
1550 North Miami Avenue
Miami, FL 33136
OMNI Community Redevelopment Agency
Ken Russell, Chair
Francis Suarez, Vice Chair
Wifredo (Willy) Gort, Board Member, District 1
Frank Carollo, Board Member, District 3
Keon Hardemon, Board Member, District 5
OMNI and MIDTOWN CRA OFFICE ADDRESS:
1401 N. Miami Avenue, 2"d Floor, Miami 33136
Phone: (305) 679-6868
www.miamicra.com
OMNI Community Redevelopment Agency
Meeting Minutes December 14, 2016
ROLL CALL
Present: Chair Russell, Vice Chair Suarez, Commissioner Carollo and Commissioner
Hardemon
Absent: Commissioner Gort
On the 14th day of December 2016, the Board of Commissioners of the OMNI
Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of Miami met in regular session at
Chapman Partnership, 1550 N. Miami Avenue, Miami, Florida. The meeting was
called to order by Chair Russell at 5:29 p.m., and was adjourned at 6:47p.m.
Note for the Record: Commissioner Hardemon entered the meeting at 5:40 p.m., and
Commissioner Carollo entered the meeting at 5:48 p.m.
ALSO PRESENT:
Jason Walker, Executive Director, CRA
Rafael Suarez -Rivas, Assistant City Attorney, Supervisor
Todd B. Hannon, Clerk of the Board
Chair Russell: (INAUDIBLE) my delinquent tardiness; 1 apologize, but we do not have a
quorum at this point, so we'll continue --
Todd B. Hannon (Clerk of the Board): Sir, if you would like to begin with the discussion
items, you could begin the meeting, and we could start with the discussion items that
don't require a quorum.
Chair Russell: Gladly. So we'll call to order.
Mr. Hannon: Yes, sir.
Barnaby Min (Deputy City Attorney): Yes.
Chair Russell: All right. Good evening, everyone. Again, officially, I will apologize for
my, tardiness. I know you all have been waiting. That being said, we have a very exciting
agenda tonight, and I'm very excited about many of the things that the Administration of
the CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) has been working on. I'm very proud of
this team, and they've really taken the initiatives of this board and they've been running,
so --
Commissioner Suarez: Can I say "ditto"?
Chair Russell: -- with that, Jason, which items can we take right now without quorum?
Jason Walker (Executive Director/Omni Community Redevelopment Agency): Yes, sir. I
would like to briefly -- I know that we don't have a quorum, and Commissioner, I -- we
had a quorum; Commissioner Gort left., because he wasn't feeling well, and I'll -- what --
I'd also like to put on the record, that we had confirmation from Commissioner Russell,
Commissioner Gort, Commissioner Francis Suarez, and Commissioner Keon Hardemon
for tonight's meeting. Unfortunately, a lot of our items are four f fths. My
recommendation -- because a lot of these things are time sensitive that we'd like to get
running on -- is that at the next Commission meeting, in January, that we do a 12 o'clock
meeting at City Hall to ensure the attendance of all five Board Members. Having said
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that, we do have some informational items, two informational items, but for the purpose
of all the people that showed up, I would just like to run through, you know, the rest of
the items so that at least two Board Members that are here and staff members -- I know
Commissioner Gort's chief of staff is here -- can have some idea of what we're working
on, if that pleases the Board?
Chair Russell: Of course. Which item would you like to start with?
Mr. Walker: Well, first, we could -- well, we don't have enough Board Members to
discuss the board meetings, but on the agenda item -- discussion item 1, we were
recommending that we set a regularly scheduled board meeting for the third Wednesday
of the month.
Chair Russell: I'd be open to that, but do you need official action, or is that an
administrative item?
Mr. Walker: We don't need official action, so we can just set that as a -- without
objection from the two Board Members here, we will --
Vice Chair Suarez: No objection.
Chair Russell: Have you checked with the other Board Members?
Mr. Walker: We ran that by the three that we briefed, and no one had a problem with
that date.
Chair Russell: Third Wednesday. What about time?
Mr. Walker: Five -- 6?
Chair Russell: I would be more inclined to say, at rush hour, at 5, is about the hardest
time to get (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Vice Chair Suarez: 1 would like agree with that.
Chair Russell: That being said --
Vice Chair Suarez: I would agree with that.
Chair Russell: -- everyone else got here, so --
Vice Chair Suarez: Butt would agree with that.
Chair Russell: But, yeah. What do you think?
Vice Chair Suarez: No, I agree. I even called today to confirm the time, because I
thought -- usually, we start at 5:30, at least sometimes, so people can get out of work and
get here, so 5:30, 6 is fine.
Mr. Walker: We can do --
Vice Chair Suarez: Not 5.
Mr. Walker: -- 5:30?
Vice Chair Suarez: Yeah.
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Chair Russell: 5:30 is fine, yeah.
Mr. Walker: And there was a suggestion by one of the Commissioners' staff that we try
to probably move the location because of the parking issue, so we'll look to see if there's
a better parking solution here or another facility within the district that has ample
parking.
Chair Russell: I believe Aspira had offered their --
Mr. Walker: Yes.
Chair Russell: -- location as a potential meeting.
Mr. Walker: Yes.
Chair Russell: So if you want to bounce that off the other Board Members, that might be
an option.
Mr. Walker: Will do. And one of the ideas is to ask Chapman to open up the parking lot
across the street where the employees park and where they leave at 5 o'clock, so by 5:30
they could be empty for our attendees to park.
Chair Russell: Good point.
DISCUSSION ITEMS
1. OMNI CRA DISCUSSION
1358 DISCUSSION REGARDING OMNI COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT
AGENCY'S EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETINGS AND SCHEDULING PLANS.
MOTION TO: Discuss
RESULT: DISCUSSED
Chair Russell: Gentlemen, before we had full quorum, we had discussed the
potential on discussion item 1, moving the regular scheduled meeting to the third
Wednesday of every month, and putting it at 5:30 p.m. rather than 5; we're
considering rush hour and such. Is that something that'll work for you guys, or is
that something you'd like to take up with Jason separately? It's nothing that's an
action item.
Vice Chair Suarez: I'm fine with it.
Chair Russell: It's just something we discussed as a potential regularly scheduled
time and location.
2. OMNI CRA DISCUSSION
1359 DISCUSSION REGARDING 1-395 RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT BY MARIA
PERDOMO, P.E., FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (FDOT)
PROJECT MANAGER.
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MOTION TO: Discuss
LRESULT: DISCUSSED
Jason Walker (Executive Director/Omni Community Redevelopment Agency): So
with that, we'll go to item number 2, which is a presentation by FDOT (Florida
Department of Transportation).
Maria Perdomo: Good afternoon.
Chair Russell: Hello.
Ms. Perdomo: Thank you for having us. My name is Maria Perdomo. I'm the
project manager for the 1-395 Reconstruction Project Design/Build. My address is
1000 Northwest 111 th Avenue, Miami, Florida 33175. This evening -- as I said,
thank you for having us. I'm going to give you a brief update on the project. We're
still in the procurement of it, but we'll begin. The project location is -- there are
several components under this project. One of them is the I-395 reconstruction, it's
complete reconstruction of the corridor. In addition to that, we're going to be
implementing a Signature Bridge, which will be a landmark in our community, and
we'll also be opening the area underneath the 1-395 for activities and for -- to
activate the area, and for the usage of it. In addition to that, we're also have the 1-95
project. That project is a rehabilitation for the rigid pavement, on the rigid
pavement. We're working with MDX (Miami -Dade Expressway) on the
reconstruction -- or not reconstruction -- the widening of 836, and having a new
connector from 1-95 to 836, so that's something that we're partnering with Miami -
Dade Expressway Authority in this project. Right now, we started the procurement
of this project in February of this year. We've short-listed six teams. Out of those
six teams, five did pass on the pass and fail, which was done in August. Pass and fail
was an opportunity for the five teams to propose new concepts or concepts for the
Signature Bridge. In that pass and fail, the individuals who chose that were the Ark
(phonetic) members, which consist of Commissioner Edmonson; Alberto Parjus, City
Manager -- Assistant City Manager; Alyce Robertson, who's the Development
Authority --
Vice Chair Russell: DDA (Downtown Development Authority).
Ms. Perdomo: -- director; Bryan Blanchard; and CEO (Chief Executive Officer)
Arsht Center, Richard -- John Richard. Sorry. Right now, where we're at is a
technical proposal that's going to be submitted in April of next year. We anticipate
the award will be in April, and we anticipate that construction will begin in fall of
2017. It is a long procurement, but there is a lot of components into it, which we'll
go into it a little bit later. The project funding is specific to which corridor we're
working on. The 1-395 is 55 -- a hundred -- no, 555 million; pavement
reconstruction is 25 million; 836 is 35 million; the MDX is 186, which is -- it's about
-- approximately 800 million. Each of these are separated, per component. As I
mentioned, construction begin in 2017. It's anticipated to be a five-year construction
duration. And to -- in more details on the projectt, I have my project manager for --
consultant. He's going to go into a little bit more details on the specifics, and his
name is Dennis Martinez, from (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Dennis Martinez: Thank you, Maria. My name is Dennis Martinez. As Maria
mentioned, I am consultant for the Department. My address is 201 Alhambra Circle,
Coral Gables, Florida 33134. In terms of the project needs, why do we need the
project? Most of the key points listed are to basically increase the capacity, include
the traffic we have existing now along the 1-395 mainline, improve local access onto
I-395; also improve the evacuation time from Miami Beach. Lastly, existing
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structures would not be able to accommodate the future improvements that we are
proposing. Now I'm going to talk about specific -- about the 395. This shows,
essentially, the project layout, the alignment for the 395 portion. What you'll know
is, essentially, it starts from the east of the Midtown Interchange and works up until
the MacArthur Causeway. What you see in blue is with the location, where we'll
have the Signature Bridge. These are the two concepts that we have developed as
part of our request for proposals to the teams. The one on the left is what we call the
"Wishbone"; the one on the right is the "Lotus." Those are nighttime renderings.
These are now what you see is daytime aerial renderings of those same exact
bridges. Now, talking about the streetscape for the 1-395 project. I -- was divided,
essentially, into four zones. We have Zone "A, " Zone 1, Zone 2, and Zone 3. We're
going to focus primarily starting off with Zone 1. Zone 2 is at the Interchange, so
essentially, there's not really a whole lot of improvements happening underneath the
existing bridges. For Zone 1, for example, looking at northwest existing --
Northwest 14th Street, looking at east view, this is what you have right now, which
you could see a lot of the structures currently there are -- they do not satisfy the
minimum DOT (Department of Transportation) vertical clearance criteria. In our
proposal, we are raising that clearance to 25 feet and providing more open space.
This is a rendering of what you'll see in the exact same view, looking east. This is
the same view now, nighttime rendering. Moving on to Zone 2, which is the area we
are in exactly. This is the existing you have -- condition you have looking north;
Miami Avenue looking north. This is now the proposed, what it will end up looking
like, east view. Moving now, this is another nighttime rendering, west view. Now,
moving on to Zone 3. This is now the existing condition along Northeast 2nd
Avenue, looking at it north, and this is now the same view with the proposed concept
that we are proposing. This is also a nighttime rendering of the Wishbone Signature
Bridge. Now I'm going to talk a little about the 836 project on the MDX portion
side. This project, essentially, starts from Northwest 17th and leads up into the
Interchange. Essentially, it's the same concept as the 836, improved capacity. In
this sense here, what we're doing is widening, adding additional lanes to the existing
structures. In terms of the limited access right-of-way that you do have on the MDX
836 project, what they're proposing is to have, essentially, cantilevered bridges,
where you'll be able to provide for the additional lanes. Talking about now the 1-95
portion of the job. What you're looking -- I guess, it's slanted, hut you could see
where the north arrow is facing. The 1-95 project is, essentially, just pavement
reconstruction. Lane closure times for the 1-395 project. All the lane closure times
for the I-395 project, and the MDX and 1-95, will all be during non peak hours. So,
essentially, during the daytime, after work, there will be no lane closures. And you
can see the times, how they're, you know, restricted to whether they're going to have
a mainline single lane, multi lanes, or for the ramps. These are similar -- a little bit
different, but same idea for the 836 and the 1-95. Now I'm going to pass it back to
Maria to talk about -- in the outreach.
Ms. Perdomo: One other thing I wanted to add to this presentation is the area
underneath the Signature Bridge. As you see, a lot of the things that we're doing is
not only are we increasing the vertical clearance over our standards, which is the 16
and a half but we're also going to be removing all that fencing that right now we
have, and really putting lighting underneath the deck so it could be more welcoming
for pedestrians to use and to activate that area. One of the things that we've been
trying to do this year at the Department is doing some outreach to the community.
Right now we have a local office that -- it's open Monday through Friday for
information We've done some community outreach at different HOAs (homeowners
associations) and neighborhood association alliances and also at several schools.
We've -- one of the purposes is to teach engineering, what we do this, and really be
able to be in the community and also have the community benefit from this. And we
also went to FIU (Florida International University) at a senior class. And just to
share with you some of the pictures at some of the elementary schools and at Booker
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T. Washington, where we had that exhibit of the Wishbone, and taught a little bit of
what we're doing and engineering. With that, I'm open to questions. Again, I'm in
the procurement of the project, so it's a little bit limited of what I could answer, but
I'm open to any questions that you might have.
Chair Russell: Thank you for that presentation. One of the main reasons I wanted
to see FDOT here and to speak to this community so that the residents and
stakeholders would really know what they're in for with this construction, why it's
being done, why it's important for the area, but also the impacts, positive and
negative, that it will have during the construction. If you could, a little bit,
elaborate, because one of the items that we're discussing on our agenda, potentially,
has to do with activation of the space under the proposed 395 area. What was the
purpose of raising 395 and creating green space under there? You know, I had a
sense it had to do with reconnecting a community that may have been split by the
highway in the first place, and I don't know that there's any budget allocated within
what I saw here for actually activating that space once it's built. Is that the case?
Ms. Perdomo: Yes. Currently, what we have is a baseline, and that's what we
presented today, and the baseline does that; it opens it up, it opens the vertical
clearance; it makes it more of a welcoming space. Now, what you're saying
(UNINTELLIGIBLE) as activities and having programs, that's not what -- I'm
thinking that's what you're referring to. I mean, if I'm -- you know -- that we don't
have programs right now. What we have programmed is the area to be able to have
that activities, whether it's the CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) or the
Perez Museum would use that space underneath for the community.
Chair Russell: Right. So it may not be your responsibility to do that, but I think we
know from experience that creating an asset may become an unused asset if we don't
actually make the efforts to communicate with the neighborhood, put it together in a
way that they're going to use it, appreciate it, know that it's there, and activate it.
That's really what I meant by "activation," because the renderings do look beautifitl.
If you can get things to grow underneath a highway at that height, it's going to be
transformational for the area, but I really wanted -- because I didn't know if any of
the residents or stakeholders here had been involved with any of the outreach. 1 felt
it really important that -- because 1 -- it may be part of the CRA's role to help
activate that space.
Ms. Perdomo: Yes.
Chair Russell: And that's what I'll be looking for support on.
Ms. Perdomo: And just to add on to that, once this procurement's finalized and we
have a team awarded, and we have a little bit more specific of what's that area going
to look like underneath -- and I'm sure that the Department -- we're going to be
reaching out to the City and to the County to be partners in it.
Chair Russell: Thank you.
Mr. Walker: And Commissioner, ill may? I'm sorry.
Chair Russell: We do have a quorum now; Commissioner Hardemon has joined.
We don't have an action item on this, but if you have any questions or comments,
please.
Board Member Hardemon: Yes. On page 12 of your presentation, you have an
existing condition, Northwest 14th Street. You have it as an east view, right?
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Ms. Perdomo: Right.
Chair Russell: I saw that, too.
Board Member Hardemon: Page 12.
Unidentified Speaker: Slide 12.
Ms. Perdomo: This one? Okay.
Unidentified Speaker: Is that the one?
Chair Russell: That one, yes.
Board Member Hardemon: And I'm trying to understand exactly -- because I'm
looking at page 12 -- that looks like this -- that says, "east view, " and then looking at
page 14 -- I'm sorry -- 13, the next page. Are they -- is that a -- is it from a -- is it
actually an east view, or is it something different?
Mr. Martinez: When we say looking east, it's just essentially what that is. If you
could see -- far back, you could see the Signature Bridge, the Wishbone.
Board Member Hardemon: Right.
Mr. Martinez: You can see the Wishbone toward the end of the bridge.
Board Member Hardemon: Am I looking from a different angle or something?
Essentially, it is east, but am Ilooking --?
Mr. Martinez: It might not be the exact same angle, but, you know, it -- in all
generalities, you are looking toward the eastern direction.
Board Member Hardemon: Okay. The next question 1 have about it is the RFP that
you have out, what's the timeline on that current RFP? How many people are right
now, currently, bidding for the project?
Ms. Perdomo: Right now we have five out of a short list. It's six firms. The pass
and fail phase of the project was in August, and out of those six, five moved forward.
So right now we have five teams.
Board Member Hardemon: So what's the next step for them?
Ms. Perdomo: The next step is in February 14, they're going to be providing the
department with a technical proposal, which also includes an aesthetics component
to it, which is this area; and also, in the aesthetics, this area, and the Signature
Bridge that each team is proposing.
Board Member Hardemon: So, what you're saying is that, for instance, when I look
at the beginning going east, what's underneath the expressway could change,
depending on the presentation or the proposal that's presented by the bidder?
Ms. Perdomo: Correct. Right now the teams are -- they have the ability to either
use this concept, or they have the ability to propose other features, which are part of
the point system of the technical proposal of the award. So just --
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Board Member Hardemon: So if the City had ideas -- if the City said, "Hey, on the
western part of the" -- "up underneath the expressway" -- not trying to change any
of the scope of anything --
Ms. Perdomo: Mm-hmm.
Board Member Hardemon: -- because I understand how sensitive things can be, but,
you know, you want to see more activation, like on the eastern part of it. So where
on the eastern part, where you have people able to walk through, park cars, it's a
little bit of everything; and on the western part, where it's really just straight green
space, but you could do some things with, but you may need parking. Those kind of
things will be added at the RFP level, where they're proposing now --
Ms. Perdomo: The --
Board Member Hardemon: -- as the next step.
Ms. Perdomo: -- teams -- right now what we have is a baseline, okay? And the
teams are encouraged to bring new ideas in. They've been encouraged to speak to
the City, to the County; that's been open. It's not part of the restrictions of the teams.
So, in our review, we have several members who are going to be scoring, in a way,
the RFP, and those members are Commissioner Edmonson .from the County, and
also Alberto Parjus from the City. So there's members in -- even within our proposal
that are going to be looking -- okay, these are things that they might want to look at.
Board Member Hardemon: Thank you.
Vice Chair Suarez: Mr. Chair.
Chair Russell: Yes, Commissioner Suarez.
Vice Chair Suarez: Thank you, Mr. Chair. You know, I think everyone knows where
I stand on this project. 1 thank you, because you both are very professional. 1 mean,
I've worked with you guys on the MPO (Metropolitan Planning Organization), and
you guys do a wonderful job. You know, I've never really been a big fan of this
project at this particular time, because I worry about our downtown, and this is a
very difficult moment to engage in a construction of this magnitude because of the
density that we have and the traffic that we already have. And it's kind of like, "What
comes first; the chicken or the egg?" because you say, "Well, this is supposed to
alleviate some of that" -- "some of the traffic flow issues, and it's supposed to
reengineer a lot of the ingress and egress from the 395, " which is obviously good,
but in the meantime, it's going to make matters, I think, a little bit worse. And so, my
view of it was always, I guess, complicated, if you will. My view of it was we should
have spent the money instead on bay link and on mass transit to get, you know,
people, you know, connected in that area through mass transit, rather than continue
to expand, you know, car -- you know, car road, if you will. But I understand that I
was very late to the party on that argument, and I know that -- and I respect
Commissioner Edmonson, who I did a sunshine meeting with; was very adamant
about, you know, sort of how long it took to get to this point, and what a process it
was. You know, there's also -- you all studied something in 2014, which was a more
expensive version of a reconfiguration Jro1-395, which brought it to -- it was kind of
a cut and cover. You know, you cut Brickell and you cover it, and then you do 395 at
grade and then you berm it, which would have probably doubled or tripled the size
of Museum Park. I know it was a much more expensive option. At least, you guys
had it priced out, I think, at like 1.2 million -- I'm sorry -- billion, whereas this is
somewhere in the $600 million range, or the 2-to-1 factor. For me, it was always
about being transformational, being visionaries, and I know that oftentimes -- and I
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say this very respectfully, because my father's an engineer. He's a mechanical
engineer, so engineers often think of solving a problem, and that's the way their mind
works. And as a real estate person, I think about building something about creating
something that has a long-lasting, generational impact. And so, for me, even though
it seemed like you would be spending more money, what you would be recapturing
by doing it at grade, or cutting it and going under, you know, below and then at
grade, you would be capturing a tremendous amount of value that, in my opinion,
would be essentially infinite for the community. If you were to price what an acre of
land sells in this area, you would see there was a fairly recent sale of an acre of raw
land on the river next to the Epic; I think sold for $125 million. So, if you were to re
-- you know, if you were to just value it in those terms, you know, dedicating all that
public right-of-way, or getting all that right-of-way to be activated and implemented,
would have -- you know, assuming that you could even value it with a price, because
I don't think you could value it. I think, when you activate public space, it has an
infinite value. That's my, sort of theory. I think you would have had something that
had a real estate value of multiple billions of dollars, if you would have been able to
do it that way. So the money -- the extra money that you would have spent doing it in
a more expensive way, you would have recaptured that value if you were to sell it,
which you're never going to do, but certainly, I think the value would have been
ultimately infinite. So what, you know -- a lot of people have told me, "Look,
Commissioner, just make lemonade out of the lemons," you know. "Stop
complaining about it. Stop griping about it." And 1 understand, you know, and I'm
sort of going to try to do that, you know, and -- some things are hard to let go, but I
definitely want, you know, you guys to work as you negotiate. If you get there in
May of next year and you're negotiating the contract, I think that's the point where
you can nego -- you know, these people are doing a $600 million project. That's a
big project, okay? So I think -- I don't think it's unreasonable in the negotiation
phase to say, "Look, we want real lighting, not just like," you know, white, you
know, kind of -- "We want you to light it up as something that can make a feature for
the City," you know, "when you do the public space," and I want to ask you how
much public space you think you're going to be able to recapture with your -- like in
terms of acreage, you know. There's definitely margin in there, in these contracts for
you to negotiate with them, and say, "Look, we don't want just a baseline," you
know. "We want more than just a baseline." Because what's going to end up
happening is, they're going to come to us as the Omni CRA -- right? -- and I'm going
to support it, because I agree that you don't get opportunities like this, and you have
to maximize your public space recapture. You have Brad Knoefler, who's in the
audience, did it very recently, not that long ago, when we were here with the -- what
used to be the Miami Arena, when he sort of recaptured that space temporarily, but
you really have to do the very best that you can to make it, you know -- And the
Underline is a great example. They're doing it at $10 million a mile. You know, it's
expensive, but what we would ask out of you is if this goes forward under this plan,
once you get to the negotiation phase, please, please, please, keep in mind that we
want a -- as Henry Gold would say, "We want a world -class, " you know, "park
facility." We want a world-classly [sic] lit facility, you know. This schematic shows
kind of like the insane asylum, white lights, you know, underneath the 395 here. Pm
not so sure how well received that will be in Overtown, you know. I think, Overtown
and some of the other areas deserve something better, but, you know, for me, my
dream always was connecting Overtown to the bay; somebody being able to walk
their child in a stroller, you know, but -- you know, we can all dream. So, you know,
I just wanted to put those thoughts out there. I've already put this out on the record
a bunch of times, and I appreciate your patience in listening to it yet another time,
but those are sort of my thoughts on the project. Thank you.
Chair Russell: The lemonade is still a little tart.
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Ms. Perdomo: And if I may add, the procurement of the project, when we look at the
points allocated, there are 30 points are located -- allocated for the aesthetics and
for the features that we're adding to the 395; only that portion. And when you think
about 30 points for such thing, it's unheard of and it's just that. It's that we really
want to obtain the best for the community, and we -- the only way that we're going to
be able to do that is allocating those points to it, to the award.
Chair Russell: He's trying to make lemonade. It just needs a little more sugar still.
Vice Chair Suarez: Probably.
Chair Russell: Still a little tart.
Vice Chair Suarez: A lot more sugar.
Ms. Perdomo: I (UNINTELLIGIBLE). But just to let you know, it's not as regular
design/build. You have a lot ofpoints --
Vice Chair Suarez: Get it.
Ms. Perdomo: -- allocated for schedule and for budget. These are actually five
points for schedule and five points, for budget. It's maximum -- the money is going
towards the -- these features --
Vice Chair Suarez: Structure.
Ms. Perdomo: -- and --
Chair Russell: And, hopefully, the competitive nature of the design/build will really -
Ms. Perdomo: Yes.
Vice Chair Suarez: That's what I'm --
Chair Russell: Yeah, it's one upping each other to --
Ms. Perdomo: That's what we're working toward.
Vice Chair Suarez: I mean, it's a -- yeah, it's a big --
Chair Russell: -- offer the best product.
Vice Chair Suarez: Exactly.
Ms. Perdomo: Yes.
Vice Chair Suarez: Exactly. So I hope they hear it, too.
Chair Russell: Thank you. Are there any other Board Members who have any
questions or comments about the 395 project? How 'bout the public? Anyone like to
comment or question FDOT about the intention plans, timeline, budget, activation?
We're all good? All right. Thank you very much.
Ms. Perdomo: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) having us.
Vice Chair Suarez: Thank you.
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Ms. Perdomo: Thank you.
Vice Chair Suarez: Thank you, guys. Good job.
Ms. Perdomo: Thank you.
RESOLUTIONS
1. OMNI CRA RESOLUTION
1357 A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE OMNI
REDEVELOPMENT DISTRICT COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY
("CRA"), BY A FOUR -FIFTHS (4/5) AFFIRMATIVE VOTE, RATIFYING,
APPROVING, AND CONFIRMING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S
EMERGENCY FINDING THAT IT IS MOST ADVANTAGEOUS FOR THE CRA
TO WAIVE THE COMPETITIVE SEALED BIDDING PROCEDURES,
PURSUANT TO SECTION 18-90 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI,
FLORIDA, AS AMENDED, AS ADOPTED BY THE CRA; FURTHER
APPROVING THE RETROACTIVE SELECTION OF CENTURY ADVISORY
SERVICES, INC. D/B/A CENTURY RISK ADVISORS FOR THE IMMEDIATE
BINDING OF COMMERCIAL PROPERTY AND GENERAL LIABILITY
INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR TWO (2) CRA OWNED CAPITAL
PROPERTIES LOCATED AT 1401 N. MIAMI AVE, AND 50 NW 14 STREET,
MIAMI, FL, RESPECTIVELY, FOR A TOTAL EXPENDITURE AMOUNT NOT
TO EXCEED $100,000.00 FOR BOTH PROPERTIES, EFFECTIVE
OCTOBER 4, 2016 THROUGH OCTOBER 4, 2017.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: CRA-R-16-0056
MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Francis Suarez, Commissioner
SECONDER: Frank Carollo, Commissioner
AYES: Hardemon, Carollo, Suarez, Russell
ABSENT: Gort
Chair Russell: First resolution, Mr. Walker.
Jason Walker (Executive Director/Omni Community Redevelopment Agency): First
resolution, 1357: A resolution of the Board of Commissioners of the Omni
Redevelopment District, Community Redevelopntent Agency, by a four fifths
affirmative vote, ratifying, approving, and confirming the executive director's
emergency finding that it is most advantageous for the CRA (Community,
Redevelopment Agency) to waive the competitive sealed bidding procedures,
pursuant to Section 18-90 of the Code of the City of Miami, Florida,, as amended, as
adopted by the CRA; further approving the retroactive selection of Century Advisory
Services, Inc., d/b/a (doing business as) Century Risk Advisors, for the immediate
binding of commercial property and general liability insurance for two CRA-owned
capital properties, located at 1401 North Miami Avenue and 15 Northwest 14th
Street, Miami, Florida, respectively, for a total expenditure amount not to exceed
$100, 000 for both properties, effective October 4, 2016 through October 4, 2017.
Vice Chair Suarez: Move it.
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Chair Russell: It's been moved by Commissioner Suarez --
Board Member Carollo: Second.
Chair Russell: -- and second by Commissioner Carollo. I'd like to open for public
comment, if anyone would like to comment on this particular item. Hearing none,
we'll close public comment. Is there any discussion from the Board? It's been
moved and seconded. All in favor, say "aye."
The Board (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Russell: Any opposed? Motion passes.
2. OMNI CRA RESOLUTION
1352 A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE OMNI
REDEVELOPMENT DISTRICT COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY
AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF A GRANT FROM ACCOUNT NO.
10040.920501.883000, IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $50,000.00, TO
THE MIAMI DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY TO EXPAND THE
DOWNTOWN ENHANCEMENT TEAM INTO THE OMNI REDEVELOPMENT
AREA FOR A PERIOD OF ONE (1) YEAR ("PROGRAM"); AUTHORIZING
THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE ANY AND
ALL DOCUMENTS NECESSARY TO EFFECTUATE THE PROGRAM, IN A
FORM ACCEPTABLE TO THE GENERAL COUNSEL.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: CRA-R-16-0057
MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Francis Suarez, Commissioner
SECONDER: Frank Carollo, Commissioner
AYES: Hardemon, Carollo, Suarez, Russell
ABSENT: Gort
Jason Walker (Executive Director/Omni Community Redevelopment Agency).
Resolution number 3 -- 1352: A resolution of the Board of Commissioners of the
Omni Redevelopment District, Community Redevelopment Agency, authorizing the
issuance of a grant from the account number -- Do I have to read the account
number?
Unidentified Speaker: Yes.
Unidentified Speaker: No.
Vice Chair Suarez: Really?
Mr. Walker: One zero -- one says, "yes; " one says, "no." Okay.
10040.920501.883000, in an amount not to exceed $50,000, to the Miami Downtown
Development Authority, to expand the Downtown Enhancement Team in the Omni
redevelopment area for a period of one year; authorizing the executive director to
negotiate and execute any and all documents necessary to effectuate the program in
a form acceptable to the general counsel.
Vice Chair Suarez: Move it.
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Board Member Carollo: Second.
Chair Russell: It's been moved and seconded. I'll open the floor for public
discussion on this item regarding the DET Team, the Downtown Enhancement Team.
Hearing none, we'll close public discussion. Any Board Members would like to
discuss this item? Just so you know, this is an initiative that was started at the DDA
(downtown Development Authority) to employ the homeless and formerly homeless,
to give jobs, and it's been very successful in the downtown core. It has worked with
Camillus House as our source of finding employees, and it's managed through the
DDA. So we're using that model, and the DDA will be managing the same thing but
utilizing Chapman for this area to employ people and move forward. And I look
forward to bringing this citywide at some point, and it's -- this will be employing five
members, for local beautification, cleaning, and other jobs around the area of the
Omni.
Vice Chair Suarez: Purple shirts.
Chair Russell: They will be purple shirts rather than --
Mr. Walker: And Commissioner, just for the record, DDA covers part of the Omni
CRA, so our intent is to have this group focus on the hole in the middle, which is the
Overtown area that we cover. So they will be focused in the Overtown area, the part
that the Overtown CRA does not cover and the part that the DDA doesn't cover, so
they'll be going back and forth.
Vice Chair Suarez: Mr. Chair.
Chair Russell: Thank you for working together with the DDA on it. Yes,
Commissioner Suarez.
Vice Chair Suarez: 1 just want to say that I'm glad that like agencies like the DDA
and Omni and Overtown are able to do this. I think the fact that they do this is
something that we need to replicate throughout the City in areas like Liberty City,
areas like Flagami; you know, there -- we got to use some of our general fund money
to do these kinds of things in other areas so that it doesn't look like you -- you know,
you drive through these areas, which have these CRAs, or whatever, and -- or
special taxing districts, and they're super clean, and they're super well policed, and
they're super -- and then you go to the other areas, and there's like a drop-off.
Chair Russell: Yep.
Vice Chair Suarez: So.
Board Member Hardemon: And I'll say, Commissioner Suarez, I mean, this is right
in line with your beautification ideas that you always thought about, and what we've
done in our particular districts or in -- for instance, redevelopment agencies that we
represent, we create -- for instance, in Overtown, we have the Blue Shirts --
Vice Chair Suarez: Right.
Board Member Hardemon: -- and in Liberty City, we have teams that look at the
Martin Luther King Boulevard, and we also have a grant that I give through the
Greater Miami Service Corp, where we look at single-family homes throughout the
district. So, where you have places where you have overgrown grass, properties that
need to be cleaned up, instead of going through that two -week process waiting for it
to be -- well, you first have to complain -- two -week process that person is cited; then
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you have to wait on the contractor to come in and actually do the cleaning, and then
the process starts all over again. If you look at organi -- at funded organizations
where they put those homes or properties on a list, and they go in and service those
properties, so now it's -- it takes away potential revenue from the City, yes, but I
think it improves quality of life.
Vice Chair Suarez: For sure.
Board Member Hardemon: So I'll rather improve quality of life than --
Vice Chair Suarez: Worry about revenue.
Board Member Hardemon: -- revenue any day.
Chair Russell: Thank you. Mr. Walker; I just have one last question on this. What
is the hourly rate that we are paying these employees?
Mr. Walker: Well, this -- and I was going to talk about this. This resolution was
based on the current model that the DDA has, so we're going to have to come back
to you -- I talked to the DDA this morning. We're going to have to cone back to you
for an adjustment in the amount, because the current formula that the DDA has pays
a minimum wage, plus they include the benefits that they receive from the Center to
make up to the $15 an hour. At this $50,000 rate, we can only hire three individuals
at that rate -- I'm sorry. Yes, three individuals, at $15 an hour. This is based on five
individuals on the minimum wage rate. So if we want to hire what we call the
"graduates," which make a straight $15 an hour, we would have to increase this, or
only have three.
Chair Russell: Let's check on it, because at the DDA, we did increase the
ambassador rate so that it would net out -- or gross out at 15, including benefits.
The DET Team had other factors, being housing, other things involved, but they did
actually factor out the 15 in their original calculation. They said they were already
there. So if that's -- if that was incorrectly calculated -- but if we need to change it --
because that -- you know my goal.
Mr. Walker: Yep.
Chair Russell: Thank you. Is there any further discussion on item number 2?
Hearing none, all in favor, say "aye."
The Board (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Russell: All opposed? Motion passes.
3. OMNI CRA RESOLUTION
1370 A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE OMNI
REDEVELOPMENT DISTRICT COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY
("CRA") BY A FOUR -FIFTHS (4/5THS) AFFIRMATIVE VOTE, AFTER AN
ADVERTISED PUBLIC HEARING, RATIFYING, APPROVING, AND
CONFIRMING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S FINDING THAT
COMPETITIVE NEGOTIATION METHODS AND PROCEDURES ARE NOT
PRACTICABLE OR ADVANTAGEOUS, PURSUANT TO SECTION 18-85(A)
OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED, AS
ADOPTED BY THE CRA; WAIVING THE REQUIREMENTS FOR SAID
PROCEDURES; AUTHORIZING THE ALLOCATION OF GRANT FUNDS
FROM ACCOUNT NO. 10040.920501.883000, IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO
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EXCEED $60,000.00, TO CHAPMAN PARTNERSHIP, INC. FOR FACADE
IMPROVEMENTS ("PROGRAM"); AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE ANY AND ALL DOCUMENTS
NECESSARY TO EFFECTUATE THE PROGRAM, IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE
TO THE GENERAL COUNSEL.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: CRA-R-16-0058
MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Francis Suarez, Commissioner
SECONDER: Frank Carollo, Commissioner
AYES: Hardemon, Carollo, Suarez, Russell
ABSENT: Gort
Jason Walker (Executive Director/Omni Community Redevelopment Agency).
Resolution 1370: A resolution of the Board of Commissioners of the Omni
Redevelopment District Redevelopment Agency, CRA, by a four -fifths affirmative
vote, after an advertised public hearing, ratifying approving, and confirming the
executive director's finding that competitive negotiation methods and procedures are
not practicable or advantageous, pursuant to Section 18-85(A) of the Code of the
City of Miami, Florida, as amended, as adopted by the CRA; waiving the
requirements for said procedures; authorizing the allocation of grant funds from the
account number 10040.920501.883000, in an amount not to exceed $60,000, to
Chapman Partnership, Inc., Jrofacade improvement program; authorizing the
executive director to negotiate and execute any and all documents necessary to
effectuate the program, in a form acceptable to the general counsel.
Vice Chair Suarez: Move it.
Chair Russell: It's been moved by Commissioner Suarez.
Board Member Carollo: Second.
Chair Russell: Second by Commissioner Carollo. Opening for public hearing. This
is with regard to the grant to improve Chapman with regard to facade painting.
What other items are being covered in this?
Mr. Walker: Right now it's just the paint and the landscaping. And we had talked to
them about the fencing, which we will come back to you at a later date for another
grant to deal with the fencing. The idea, Conunissioners, is that -- and
Commissioner -- Chairman Russell noticed this as well -- we have about -- and
correct me if I'm wrong, if anybody from Chapman is here -- we have about 80 kids
that live here, and I work across the street, so I see the school buses pull up every
day to pick them up, and the idea is to not make it look like a institution.
Chair Russell: Institution.
Mr. Walker: And so we've been working with them to try to deal with that. The
$60,000 is not going to be enough to cover the fence, but just the painting and the
landscaping, so they're out going to get -- they're getting quotes for the fencing now,
which we'll bring that back to you at a later date.
Chair Russell: Yeah. This is a very -- this is a great gesture, I think, and I've heard
appreciation from the Homeless Trust, as well as Chapman, that we've offered to do
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Meeting Minutes December 14, 2016
this, and I think it's our responsibility as a good neighbor. Any further discussion
from the Board? All in favor, say "aye."
The Board (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Russell: Any opposed? Motion passes.
4. OMNI CRA RESOLUTION
1371 A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE OMNI
REDEVELOPMENT DISTRICT COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY
("CRA") BY A FOUR -FIFTHS (4/5THS) AFFIRMATIVE VOTE, AFTER AN
ADVERTISED PUBLIC HEARING, RATIFYING, APPROVING, AND
CONFIRMING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S FINDING THAT
COMPETITIVE NEGOTIATION METHODS AND PROCEDURES ARE NOT
PRACTICABLE OR ADVANTAGEOUS, PURSUANT TO SECTION 18-85(A)
OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED, AS
ADOPTED BY THE CRA; WAIVING THE REQUIREMENTS FOR SAID
PROCEDURES; AUTHORIZING THE ALLOCATION OF GRANT FUNDS
FROM ACCOUNT NO. 10040.920501.883000, IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO
EXCEED $175,000.00, TO CAMILLUS HOUSE, INC. TO UNDERWRITE A
PORTION OF COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE "MIAMI SHELTER
PROGRAM" ("PROGRAM"); AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE ANY AND ALL DOCUMENTS NECESSARY
TO EFFECTUATE THE PROGRAM, IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO THE
GENERAL COUNSEL.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: CRA-R-16-0059
MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Francis Suarez, Commissioner
SECONDER: Frank Carollo, Commissioner
AYES: Hardemon, Carollo, Suarez, Russell
ABSENT: Gort
Jason Walker (Executive Director/Omni Community Redevelopment Agency): A
resolution -- Resolution 1371: A resolution of the Board of Commissioners of the
Omni Redevelopment District Community Redevelopment Agency, CRA, by a four -
fifths affirmative vote, after an advertised public hearing, ratifying, approving, and
confirming the executive director's finding that competitive negotiation methods and
procedures are not practicable or advantageous, pursuant to Section 18-85(A) of the
Code of the City of Miami, Florida, as amended, as adopted by the CRA; waiving the
requirements for said procedures; authorizing the allocation of grant funds from
account number 10040.920501.883000, in an amount not to exceed S175, 000, to
Camillus House, Inc., to underwrite the portion of costs associated with the Miami
Shelter Program; authorizing the executive director to negotiate and execute any
and all documents necessary to effectuate the program in all -- in a form acceptable
to the general counsel.
Vice Chair Suarez: Move it.
Chair Russell: It's been moved by Commissioner Suarez --
Board Member Carollo: Second.
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Chair Russell: -- and seconded. I'll open for public hearing. This is the -- our
portion as the CRA to Camillus to provide for, if I'm not mistaken, 75 beds, not mats,
in this annual program. Is there any public -- any member of the public would like
to speak on this issue? Hearing none, I'll close the public hearing. Any comments
from the Board? All in favor, say "aye."
The Board (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Russell: Any opposed? Motion passes.
Mr. Walker: Thank you, Commissioners.
5. OMNI CRA RESOLUTION
1355 A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE OMNI
REDEVELOPMENT DISTRICT COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY
("CRA") AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO EXECUTE A
REVOCABLE LICENSE AGREEMENT, IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO THE
GENERAL COUNSEL, BETWEEN THE CRA AND THE CITY OF MIAMI
("LICENSEE"), FOR THE USE OF APPROXIMATELY 200 SQUARE FEET OF
CRA-OWNED PROPERTY LOCATED AT 1401 NORTH MIAMI AVENUE,
FOR THE PURPOSE OF OPERATING A NEIGHBORHOOD ENHANCEMENT
TEAM OFFICE ("NET"), COMMENCING FROM THE EFFECTIVE DATE,
WITH THE LICENSEE TO PAY A MONTHLY USE FEE TO THE CRA OF
ONE DOLLAR ($1.00), PLUS STATE OF FLORIDA USE TAX (IF
APPLICABLE), WITH ADDITIONAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS AS MORE
PARTICULARLY SET FORTH IN SAID AGREEMENT.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: CRA-R-16-0060
MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Francis Suarez, Commissioner
SECONDER: Frank Carollo, Commissioner
AYES: Hardemon, Carollo, Suarez, Russell
ABSENT: Gort
Jason Walker (Executive Director/Omni Community Redevelopment Agency): Omni
CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) Resolution 1355: A resolution of the
Board of Commissioners of the Omni Redevelopment District Community
Redevelopment Agency, authorizing the executive director to execute a revocable
license agreement, in a form acceptable to the general counsel, between the CRA
and the City of Miami, for the use of approximately 200 square feet of CRA-owned
property, located at 1401 North Miami Avenue, for the purpose of operating a
Neighborhood Enhancement Team office, commencing from the effective date, with a
licensee to pay a monthly use fee to the CRA of $1, plus State of Florida use tax, if
applicable, with additional terms and conditions, as more particularly, set forth in
said agreement. The CRA -- I mean, the NET (Neighborhood Enhancement Team)
office is --
Vice Chair Suarez: Move it.
Mr. Walker: -- using that office space.
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Chair Russell: It's been moved by Commissioner Suarez.
Board Member Carollo: Second.
Chair Russell: Second by Commissioner Carollo. I'm opening for public hearing.
This is with regard to our NET office for downtown, being placed temporarily in the
firehouse office of the CRA. Any public comment on this subject? Hearing none,
we'll close public comment. Any comment from the Board? Hearing none, all in
favor, say "aye."
The Board (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Russell: Any opposed? Motion passes.
6. OMNI CRA RESOLUTION
1368 A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE OMNI
REDEVELOPMENT DISTRICT COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY
("CRA") BY A FOUR -FIFTHS (4/STHS) AFFIRMATIVE VOTE, AFTER AN
ADVERTISED PUBLIC HEARING, RATIFYING, APPROVING, AND
CONFIRMING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S FINDING THAT
COMPETITIVE NEGOTIATION METHODS AND PROCEDURES ARE NOT
PRACTICABLE OR ADVANTAGEOUS, PURSUANT TO SECTION 18-85(A)
OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED, AS
ADOPTED BY THE CRA; WAIVING THE REQUIREMENTS FOR SAID
PROCEDURES; AUTHORIZING THE ALLOCATION OF GRANT FUNDS
FROM ACCOUNT NO. 10040.920501.883000, IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO
EXCEED $700,000.00, TO REBUILDING TOGETHER MIAMI-DADE, INC. TO
PROVIDE PARTIAL FUNDING FOR A HOME IMPROVEMENT FAQADE AND
QUALITY OF LIFE PROGRAM ("PROGRAM"); 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;
AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO NEGOTIATE AND
EXECUTE ANY AND ALL DOCUMENTS NECESSARY TO EFFECTUATE
THE PROGRAM, IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO THE GENERAL COUNSEL.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: CRA-R-16-0061
MOTION TO: Adopt with Modification(s)
RESULT: ADOPTED WITH MODIFICATION(S)
MOVER: Francis Suarez, Commissioner
SECONDER: Frank Carollo, Commissioner
AYES: Hardemon, Carollo, Suarez, Russell
ABSENT: Gort
Jason Walker (Executive Director/Omni Community Redevelopment Agency): Omni
CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) Resolution 1368: A resolution of the
Board of Commissioners of the Omni Redevelopment District Community
Redevelopment Agency, CRA, by a 'Our -fifths affirmative vote, after an advertised
public hearing, ratifying, approving, and confirming the executive director's finding
that competitive negotiation methods and procedures are not practicable or
advantageous, pursuant to Section 18-85(A) of the Code of the City of Miami,
Florida, as amended, as adopted by the CRA; waiving the requirements for said
procedure; authorizing the allocation of grant funds from account number
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10040.920501.883000, in an amount not to exceed $700,000, to Rebuilding Together
Miami -Dade, Inc., to provide partial funding for a home improvement facade
program; authorizing the executive director to disperse funds at his discretion, on a
reimbursement basis or directly to vendors, upon presentation of invoices and
satisfactory documentation; authorizing the executive director to negotiate and
execute any and all documents necessary to effectuate the program in a form
acceptable to the general counsel.
Vice Chair Suarez: Move it.
Board Member Carollo: Second.
Chair Russell: It's been moved and seconded. I'll open it for public comment. This
is a public -- this is a.facade improvement program. This really touches me. This
has not been done by the Omni CRA in the past, and the reason for that is that the
district line for my district ends east of where all of this is going to happen; and not
.for any will of this Board, but I want to tell you that up here, we are not
Commissioners of districts; we are Board Members of this Omni CRA, and if we
don't beautify our neighborhood and help this neighborhood pick itself up -- We're
spending $700, 000. How many structures will we be able to improve -- residential
structures, correct?
Mr. Walker: Yes. Yes, sir.
Chair Russell: These are homes that we'll be able to fix roofs, facade --
Mr. Walker: These are homes. One project that we're working on is the St. John
property, the townhomes that you were discussing. And we're just going to start
street by street, block by block. We don't know where it's going to get us yet, but this
is only partial of the funding that you all approved in the budget. All of this money
will be going into the Overtown area of our CRA district, so west of the railroad
tracks, and we plan on assessing each building, looking at the elimination of slum
and blight from the facade of the building, and we're doing both multi family units,
single:family units, and townhomes. And this, again, is only partial of the funding
just so that we could get started and see how it goes, but we have money left over in
the budget to continue this.
Chair Russell: Thank you. I'll open the floor for public comment, if anyone has a
comment on this subject. Hearing none, I'll close it. Board Members.
Vice Chair Suarez: Just a quick question.
Chair Russell: Yes.
Vice Chair Suarez: I've worked with Rebuilding; they're fantastic. I've done some
of this stuff with them in my district with CDBG (Community Development Block
Grant) money, and it's amazing. It really is touching, like you said. I have a
question for you. I presume that you've thought through limiting it just to facade
versus allowing them maybe to do some interior things. Is there anything
(UNINTELLIGIBLE) about that?
Mr. Walker: Yeah. We -- the goal is to do the facade --
Vice Chair Suarez: Okay.
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Mr. Walker: -- the outside of the building, the painting the landscaping, the fencing.
If there are other issues that are life and safety issues that need to be addressed,
we'll bring that to your attention to see if we should move forward, but --
Chair Russell: So that would need additional action, if there was like a mold issue
or a sewage issue?
Vice Chair Suarez: That's what -- I've had those.
Chair Russell: Quality of life is just as important --
Vice Chair Suarez: I've had those.
Chair Russell: -- as having a pretty building.
Mr. Walker: Yes.
Chair Russell: For sure.
Board Member Carollo: Yep.
Vice Chair Suarez: 1 had one that they did where they had a -- it was a mold issue in
a home on 57th Avenue. The insurance company refused to pay, and so they were
having health issues, the .family. So, you know, while it's great to do the facade,
which is beautiful, you know, doing -- you know, replacing the drywall and,
obviously, demolding and decontaminating it, that, obviously for them, was a huge
thing. And then, once they did it, they stopped coughing, the kids stopped coughing;
they stopped having a lot of these issues that they were having before.
Chair Russell: Would that need an amendment or is that --
Mr. Walker: Yes.
Chair Russell: -- something you'd like to see --?
Mr. Walker: The attorney just advised that you can make an amendment on the floor
to include quality of life.
Rafael Suarez -Rivas (Assistant City Attorney, Supervisor): Yes. If you want to use,
you know, that funds for quality of life issues, you should amend this to expressly
provide that.
Vice Chair Suarez: Yes, I'd like to amend it. So amended.
Chair Russell: Thank you. Have we -- and -- does the seconder accept?
Board Member Carollo: Yes
Chair Russell: Is there any further comment on this issue?
Board Member Hardemon: Yes. Is a representative from Rebuilding Together
Miami Dade, Inc. here?
Mr. Walker: No. They were not able to make it tonight.
Board Member Hardemon: Okay. I just had a question. I didn't know. Maybe
you're aware of the answer. I saw that they gave us some information that describes
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the number of houses completed from 2008 to 2016, but they used Miami -Dade
County, districts, right? And so, I saw that in Commissioner Barbara Jordan's
district. She had about 43 properties; Dennis Moss, 178; and then Audrey
Edmonson, which touches a lot of our area, she had about nine. I didn't know what
could have been the cause or what encouraged them more in certain areas other --
than others.
Mr. Walker: I don't know the answer, but I can try to get it for you.
Board Member Hardemon: That'd be great, just to find out.
Mr. Walker: Okay. And just again to reiterate, all of this money for rehab will go to
the properties west of the railroad tracks.
Chair Russell: The "Tale of Two Cities" or two CRAs will be over, I think, because
I think we're unifying here. This is great. So any further comment? All in favor,
with amended -- as amended, say "aye."
The Board (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Russell: Any opposed? Motion passes.
7. OMNI CRA RESOLUTION
1369 A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE OMNI
REDEVELOPMENT DISTRICT COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY
("CRA"), WITH ATTACHMENT(S), BY A FOUR -FIFTHS (4/5THS)
AFFIRMATIVE VOTE, AFTER AN ADVERTISED PUBLIC HEARING,
RATIFYING, APPROVING, AND CONFIRMING THE EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR'S FINDING THAT COMPETITIVE NEGOTIATION METHODS
AND PROCEDURES ARE NOT PRACTICABLE OR ADVANTAGEOUS,
PURSUANT TO SECTION 18-85(A) OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI,
FLORIDA, AS AMENDED, AS ADOPTED BY THE CRA; WAIVING THE
REQUIREMENTS FOR SAID PROCEDURES; AUTHORIZING THE
ALLOCATION OF GRANT FUNDS FROM ACCOUNT NO.
10040.920501.883000, IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $905,000.00, TO
LEGIDO MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC. TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR
"BUSINESS REHABILITATION GRANT PROGRAMS"; 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;
AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO NEGOTIATE AND
EXECUTE ANY AND ALL DOCUMENTS NECESSARY TO EFFECTUATE
THE PROGRAM, IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO THE GENERAL COUNSEL.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: CRA-R-16-0062
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MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Francis Suarez, Commissioner
SECONDER: Frank Carollo, Commissioner
AYES: Hardemon, Carollo, Suarez, Russell
ABSENT: Gort
Jason Walker (Executive Director/Omni Community Redevelopment Agency): Omni
CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) Resolution 1369: A resolution of the
Board of Commissioners of the Omni Redevelopment District Redevelopment
Agency, CRA, with attachments, by a four fifths affirmative vote, after an advertised
public hearing, ratifying, approving, and confirming the executive director's finding
that competitive negotiation methods and procedures are not practicable or
advantageous, pursuant to Section 18-85(A) of the Code of the City of Miami,
Florida, as amended, as adopted by the CRA; waiving the requirements of said
procedures; authorizing the allocation of grant funds from the account number
10040.920501.883000, in an amount not to exceed $905,000, to Legido Management
Services, Inc., to provide funding for business rehabilitation grant programs;
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; authorizing the executive director to negotiate and
execute any and all documents necessary to effectuate the program, in a form
acceptable to the general counsel.
Vice Chair Suarez: Move it.
Chair Russell: It's been moved --
Board Member Carollo: Second.
Chair Russell: -- and seconded. For the laymen, this is a similar resolution, but for
commercial properties, so we'll he spending on the beautification and improvement
of commercial properties in the area, nearly a million dollars. And as long as you
spell it right, you don't need to pronounce right, (UNINTELLIGIBLE) be on the
check.
Vice Chair Suarez: That's a good point.
Chair Russell: It'll work. I'll open for public comment. Hearing none, I'll close the
public comment. Any questions or comments from the Board? Hearing none, all in
favor, say "aye."
The Board (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Russell: Any opposed? Motion passes.
8. OMNI CRA RESOLUTION
1356 A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE OMNI
REDEVELOPMENT DISTRICT COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY
AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF A GRANT IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO
EXCEED FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS ($500,000.00) TO THE
CITY OF MIAMI TO UNDERWRITE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH AN
EXPANDED POLICE PROGRAM WITHIN THE OMNI REDEVELOPMENT
AREA; AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, AT HIS DISCRETION,
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Meeting Minutes December 14, 2016
TO DISBURSE FUNDS ON A REIMBURSEMENT BASIS OR DIRECTLY TO
VENDORS, UPON PRESENTATION OF INVOICES AND SATISFACTORY
DOCUMENTATION; AUTHORIZING THE AUTOMATIC RENEWAL OF SAID
GRANT SUBJECT TO AVAILABLE FUNDING; FURTHER AUTHORIZING
THE EXECUTION OF 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.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: CRA-R-16-0063
MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Francis Suarez, Commissioner
SECONDER: Frank Carollo, Commissioner
AYES: Hardemon, Carollo, Suarez, Russell
ABSENT: Gort
Jason Walker (Executive Director/Omni Community Redevelopment Agency): Omni
CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) Resolution 1356: A resolution of the
Board of Commissioners of the Omni Redevelopment District Redevelopment
Agency, authorizing the issuance of a grant, in an amount not to exceed $500, 000, to
the City of Miami to underwrite the costs associated with Expanded Police Program
within the Omni redevelopment area; authorizing the executive director, at his
discretion, to disburse funds on a reimbursement basis or directly to the vendors
upon presentation of invoices and satisfactory documentation; authorizing the
automatic renewal of said grant, subject to available funding; further authorizing the
execution of all documents necessary for said purpose, in a form acceptable to the
general counsel.
Vice Chair Suarez: Move it.
Chair Russell: It's been moved by Commissioner Suarez.
Board Member Carollo: Second.
Chair Russell: Second by Commissioner Carollo. I'll open for public comment.
This is our Expanded Police Program. Hearing none, I'll close the public comment.
Is there any comment -- questions from the Board? Hearing none, all in favor, say
"aye."
The Board (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Russell: Motion passes.
Mr. Walker: And to add on: "Allocating funds from Omni Tax Increment Fund,
Other Grants and Aids," account code number 10040.920101.883000.0000.0000.
Chair Russell: For the record.
Vice Chair Suarez: It's okay, Todd. Hang in there, Todd. I know you're going to
have a coronary. Hang in there, buddy. Todd's freaking out.
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9. OMNI CRA RESOLUTION
1372 A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE OMNI
REDEVELOPMENT DISTRICT COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY
("CRA"), WITH ATTACHMENT(S), BY A FOUR -FIFTHS (4/5THS)
AFFIRMATIVE VOTE, AFTER AN ADVERTISED PUBLIC HEARING,
RATIFYING, APPROVING AND CONFIRMING THE EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR'S RECOMMENDATIONS AND FINDINGS THAT COMPETITIVE
NEGOTIATION METHODS AND PROCEDURES ARE NOT PRACTICABLE
OR ADVANTAGEOUS PURSUANT TO SECTIONS 18-85 AND 18-86 OF THE
CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED, AS ADOPTED BY
THE CRA; WAIVING THE REQUIREMENTS FOR COMPETITIVE SEALED
BIDDING AS NOT BEING PRACTICABLE OR ADVANTAGEOUS TO THE
CRA, FOR THE EXECUTION OF A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
AGREEMENT WITH MR. MIGUEL A. VALENTIN, IN SUBSTANTIALLY THE
ATTACHED FORM, FOR THE PROVISION OF FINANCIAL SUPPORT,
CONSULTING, AND GENERAL ACCOUNTING SERVICES FOR THE CRA,
FOR A CONTRACT PERIOD OF ONE (1) YEAR, BEGINNING
RETROACTIVELY ON JULY 23, 2016 AND ENDING ON JULY 22, 2017,
WITH THREE (3) ONE (1) YEAR OPTIONS TO RENEW, AT A YEARLY
CONTRACT AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $47,800.00, SUBJECT TO THE
AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS AND BUDGETARY APPROVAL AT THE TIME OF
NEED.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: CRA-R-16-0064
MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Francis Suarez, Commissioner
SECONDER: Keon Hardemon, Chair
AYES: Hardemon, Carollo, Suarez, Russell
ABSENT: Gort
Jason Walker (Executive Director/Omni Community Redevelopment Agency): Omni
CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) Resolution Number 1372: A resolution of
the Board of Commissioners of the Omni Redevelopment District Redevelopment
Agency, CRA, with attachments, by a four -fifths affirmative vote, after an advertised
public hearing, ratifying, approving, and confirming the executive director's
recommendations and findings that competitive negotiation methods and procedures
are not practicable or advantageous, pursuant to Section 18-85 and 18-86 of the
Code of the City of Miami, Florida, as amended, as adopted by the CRA; waiving the
requirements of competitive sealed bidding as not being practicable or advantageous
to the CRA for the execution of professional service agreement with Mr. Miguel A.
Valentin, in substantially the attached form, for the provision of financial support,
consulting, and general accounting services for the CRA, jor a contract period of
one year, beginning retroactively on July 23, 2016 and ending on July 22, 2017, with
three 1-year options to renew at a yearly contract amount not to exceed 47,800,
subject to the availability offunds and budgetary approval at the time of need.
Vice Chair Suarez: Move it. Move it.
Chair Russell: It's been moved by Commissioner Suarez.
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Board Member Hardemon: Second.
Chair Russell: Seconded by Commissioner Hardemon.
Vice Chair Suarez: Where's Miguelito?
Chair Russell: We'll open for public comment. Hearing none, we'll close the public
comment. Any questions or comments from the Board? Hearing none, all in favor,
say "aye."
The Board (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Russell: Any opposed? Motion passes.
Mr. Walker: Commissioner, just let me explain this. We had our. financial officer
resign in July. That person was making I believe, $65, 000 at a base salary, plus
benefits, so the total, fully loaded budget was about 70-something thousand, or
actually, more than that, 74,000. We reached out to the Overtown CRA, because I've
known Miguel for a long time, when he was the financial officer for both CRAs, and
asked .for assistance. So, basically, this contract would be with Miguel as an
individual, and he will get a waiver, an outside employment waiver from the
executive director of the Overtown CRA to do our work --
Vice Chair Suarez: And it's obviously a significant savings.
Mr. Walker: And we're saving -- we're having a significant savings in the salary.
Chair Russell: Sure.
Mr. Walker: Now, the salary that's here is 47,000; that's not the salary. The salary
is actually 36, but there are additional services that may, go up to 47; when you look
at analyses that may need to take place that would add up to the 47, but it's 36.
Chair Russell: Thank you.
Mr. Walker: Okay. That was approved?
Chair Russell: It's already been approved, yep.
Vice Chair Suarez: Yes.
Mr. Walker: Okay.
Chair Russell: Thank you (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
10. OMNI CRA RESOLUTION
1373 A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE OMNI
REDEVELOPMENT DISTRICT COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY
("CRA"), WITH ATTACHMENT(S), BY A FOUR -FIFTHS (4/5THS)
AFFIRMATIVE VOTE, AFTER AN ADVERTISED PUBLIC HEARING,
RATIFYING, APPROVING AND CONFIRMING THE EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR'S RECOMMENDATIONS AND FINDINGS THAT COMPETITIVE
NEGOTIATION METHODS AND PROCEDURES ARE NOT PRACTICABLE
OR ADVANTAGEOUS PURSUANT TO SECTIONS 18-85 AND 18-86 OF THE
CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED, AS ADOPTED BY
THE CRA; WAIVING THE REQUIREMENTS FOR COMPETITIVE SEALED
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BIDDING AS NOT BEING PRACTICABLE OR ADVANTAGEOUS TO THE
CRA, FOR THE EXECUTION OF A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
AGREEMENT WITH URBAN IMPLEMENTATION LLC, IN SUBSTANTIALLY
THE ATTACHED FORM, FOR DESIGN, PLANNING, AND CONSTRUCTION
RELATED SERVICES FOR THE CRA, RELATED TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD
PARK AND COMMUNITY EVENT SPACE LOCATED ON CERTAIN
PARCELS ABUTTING INTERSTATE 395, SUBJECT TO THE AVAILABILITY
OF FUNDS AND BUDGETARY APPROVAL AT THE TIME OF NEED.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: CRA-R-16-0065
MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Francis Suarez, Commissioner
SECONDER: Frank Carollo, Commissioner
AYES: Hardemon, Carollo, Suarez, Russell
ABSENT: Gort
Jason Walker (Executive Director/Omni Community Redevelopment Agency): Omni
CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) Resolution 1373: A resolution of the
Board of Commissioners of the Omni Redevelopment District Community
Redevelopment Agency, CRA, with attachments, by a four -fifths affirmative vote,
after an advertised public hearing, ratifying, approving, and confirming the
executive director's recommendation and findings that competitive negotiation
methods and procedures are not practicable or advantageous, pursuant to Sections
18-85 and 18-86 of the Code of the City of Miami, Florida, as amended, as adopted
by the CRA; waiving the requirements for competitive sealed bidding as not to be
practicable or advantageous to the CRA for the execution of a professional service
agreement with Urban Implementation, LLC (Limited Liability Company), in
substantially the attached form, for design, planning, and construction related to
services for the CRA, related to the neighborhood park and community event space
located on certain parcels abutting Interstate 395, subject to the availability of funds
and budgetary approval at the time of need.
Vice Chair Suarez: Move it.
Chair Russell: It's been moved.
Board Member Carollo: Second.
Chair Russell: Seconded by Commissioner Carollo. Would you like to give a small
presentation on the intention of this project?
Vice Chair Suarez: Okay.
Chair Russell: You seem to be prepared with an easel, so I didn't want to
Vice Chair Suarez: Go for it. Go for it.
Chair Russell: -- assume that you didn't want to --
Vice Chair Suarez: Knock yourself out.
Brad Knoefler: It'll be quick.
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Vice Chair Suarez: Go for it, go for it.
Chair Russell: Please do.
Vice Chair Suarez: Go for it.
Chair Russell: This is what I referred to when I spoke about FDOT's (Florida
Department of Transportation) activation of the park space that will -- or the open
space that will go under the 395 location. There are several blighted lots, and when
I say blighted, they are -- these are the pure definition of a blighted lot with chain
link and bottles and trash and weeds and rock right along the current 395, and part
of which will be under the new 395 when the job is finished. I had an initial concept
of pre -activating this area in conjunction with the Arsht Center, and when Mr.
Knoefler came along with his activation ideas that had a much more public
involvement that'll engage the area with the community -- I think what we're doing
here is we're pre -activating an area that we hope to really be a transformational
part of the Omni area, which will be called "Omni Park." So please, take it away.
Mr. Knoefler: Hello. Good afternoon. Hello. Brad Knoefler, 199 East Flagler,
Miami, Florida. I represent Urban Implementation, LLC. Just -- we'll be quick, but
1 think it's a really exciting project, and as many of you guys know, we're the ones
that did the Grand Central temporary activation on the old Miami Arena site. What
I just wanted to highlight really quickly is the differences between this project and
the last one, as everything we learned; what worked and what doesn't work. And one
of the things that I'm really excited about here is that we have a couple points that
are very, very different that we've learned from. The first is the way we structured
this project. It's not a grant. It is actually a consulting agreement. So, basically, the
CRA will own all of the assets at the end of the day; and, of course, in a typical grant
agreement, if you save money here and there -- and we're actually realty good at that
-- the grantee gets to pocket the money. In this case, if there is a savings that will be
passed along to the CRA. Second thing that's very, very important is -- and we
learned that from the Grand Central Park project -- we don't want to spend money
on things that are sunk costs. We want to .spend money on minimal landscaping, but
assets that could be relocated to other sites. 1 think that's very important. We spent
a lot of money on trees and not enough money on activation on the Grand Central
Park project. In this case, about 60 percent of the budget are things like sound
system, shipping containers that can be relocated to another part of the park
afterwards. The third thing is the activation portion. We have a team -- what call
the "Dream Team" -- basically, of collaborators that we really are going to focus on
activating the park, whether it's the skate park portion, the concert portion, the art
portion, the food portion. There are so many people coming right now, after the
article came out yesterday in the Herald that we think that we're going to activate
this almost on a continual basis; very, very important. And the last point, I think,
that's more symbolic than anything else, but this is a collaboration of almost every
downtown agency. I mean, we have the Omni CRA, which is leading the project,
Commissioner Russell's office; we have the PAMM (Perez Art Museum); we have the
Miami Parking Authority; we have FDOT (Florida Department of Transportation);
we have the DDA (Downtown Development Authority) that's going to be working
with us. We are working together, all jbr the common goal of making this project
succeed, and I think that's very, very important. As many of you know, that didn't
always happen in the past. So I'm just going to pass it real quick to Mark to just go
through the design of the park.
Board Member Hardemon: Can you also identify the streets and bounds? Because
I was --
Mark Lesniak: Sure, I'll walk through it with you --
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Board Member Hardemon: I didn't see it --
Mark Lesniak: -- here with a picture.
Board Member Hardemon: -- when I went through it.
Mr. Lesniak: Sure. So it's a little hard to tell, but this is 390 -- sorry. Mark Lesniak.
Chair Russell: Do you don't have the "before" picture, the current picture of what it
looks like now?
Mr. Lesniak: No, we don't. Sorry.
Mr. Walker.: Before Mark begins -- I'm sorry, Mark -- I need to put this on the
record, because there was some confusion after the Herald article yesterday. The
parcel that is being swapped to Miami -Dade County from FDOT is not a part of the
project, which is the parcel between Northeast 1st and Northeast 2nd. It is not a
part of the project. The map that was provided to the Miami Herald was incorrect,
but we will work -- it's an aspiration to include that site. We will talk to Miami -Dade
County to see if we can include it. 1 had a conversation with the -- one of the
Commissioners today to get that ball rolling, but currently, it's not a part of the plan.
Chair Russell: Commissioner Suarez, how tight is your schedule? And --
Vice Chair Suarez: It's getting there.
Chair Russell: All right. We're going to -- Would you prefer to move for a vote? I
mean, to see if anyone needs to --
Vice Chair Suarez: Unless anyone has an objection.
Chair Russell: -- feel his presentation out before.
Board Member Hardemon: Well, I think we read through the --
Vice Chair Suarez: Yeah, let's take the vote.
Board Member Hardemon: I definitely read through the presentation. I just want to
be clear, because I didn't see in the documentation the streets ' bounds, so that one --
Mr. Lesniak: Give me 30 seconds, Commissioner Suarez. So Mark Lesniak, 133
Northeast 2nd Avenue, Miami, Florida, Urban Implementation. I worked with Brad
on Grand Central Park, and we're working on this new activation here. This is --
it's a little upside down. So this is North Miami Avenue, and this would be 395. So
right here, this is the parcel directly west of North Miami Avenue.
Board Member Hardemon: This works.
Mr. Lesniak: There we go.
Board Member Hardemon: You don't have to really go further I think we have it.
Mr. Lesniak: You got it?
Board Member Hardemon: And this wasn't included.
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Mr. Knoefler: Okay. I'm passing out --
Board Member Hardemon: Okay.
Mr. Knoefler: -- new renderings with labels for everyone --
Mr. Lesniak: So it's basically North Miami down.
Board Member Hardemon: And I have a question, Mr. Chairman. So, I had been
thinking about pre -activation of spaces as well, and so -- you know, we don't have an
opportunity to talk about things like this, so I think this is a perfect time since --
seeing that you brought this up. What do you anticipate the timeline for something
like this to be? And then, at what point do you think it'll be disrupted by the new 395
design? So, for instance, I'll give you -- you know, there are parts that go further
west that are not activated today, and I mean, I just had a -- my office had a
conversation with FDOT, because we want to improve the lighting in certain parts of
the area, and particularly, we discussed what was going on on 395, and they were
adamant about not allowing anything to go on before the project went forward.
Chair Russell: Yep.
Board Member Hardemon: And so, what have you seen that's different?
Chair Russell: They've done a great job at setting up all the pieces so that once we
hit this gavel, they can hit the ground running, and that's why we really wanted to
get it done before Christmas. They, if I'm not mistaken, have met with several of the
designers, the potential bidders on the 395 project to know what sort of disruption
will happen; that some of them are even designing potentially around this park to
have minimal disruption that a lot of this will be able to stay; and, if I'm not
mistaken, over 60 percent of the infrastructure budget will actually be stuff that we
can move, bring back, move to another location, but it's going to be fast, because we
want to activate this well before they do their work, so that we get a good, at least,
year. Who know -- and who knows how fast FDOT will move? But right now, we
have at least until next August, hut we anticipate that between design and bidding
and everything, it'll take (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Mr. Walker: And Mr. Chairman, let me clarify, because we got a call from FDOT
today after reading the Miami Herald article. The actual agreement isn't till July 30,
whatever, 2017, not August, but I guess it's, you know -- but we have, as the
Chairman explained, talked to the -- some of the bidders, three of them, who said
that, you know, their work will not begin for another six months. If you saw the
contract date --
Vice Chair Suarez: The timeline, yeah.
Mr. Walker: -- the timeline date, they wouldn't be awarded until July 2017, but if'
they are allowed to -- once they regain the property, they would allow us to continue
while they do the site work. And as the Commissioner pointed out and Brad pointed
out, a lot of the structures that we're purchasing could be moved to another site
within the Omni CRA after that is completed.
Chair Russell: All right. So when does the first kid play? When is the ribbon
cutting?
Mr. Lesniak: January.
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Chair Russell: January, all right. Any further discussion from the Board? All in
favor, say "aye."
The Board (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Russell: Any opposed? Motion passes.
Applause.
Chair Russell: Thank you. Is there any further items? All right, we're adjourning.
Rafael Suarez -Rivas (Assistant City Attorney, Supervisor): Mr. Chair.
Chair Russell: Again, I -- Yes.
Mr. Suarez -Rivas: I just want to say one thing. If the executive -- no, no, it's just --
it's a minor point, but if the executive director does not care to read out the account
numbers, he can say, "The account numbers listed in the resolution."
Chair Russell: Okay.
Mr. Suarez -Rivas: "The account numbers listed in the resolution, " just so people
know where they are.
Chair Russell: That's -- got it.
Mr. Suarez -Rivas: I mean, you know --
Chair Russell: Does he need to do that?
Mr. Suarez -Rivas: Yes. I told him, I'll give him the note.
Chair Russell: All right. Thank you very much. Merry Christmas, everyone. Have
a great holiday. We'll see you next year.
NON -AGENDA ITEM(S)
1. OMNI CRA DISCUSSION
1524 OMNI CRA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, JASON WALKER, DISCUSSED
OVERTOWN APARTMENTS PROJECT, A PROPOSED 46 RESIDENTIAL
UNIT HOUSING DEVELOPMENT, WHICH WILL BE LOCATED AT 1600 NW
1ST COURT, MIAMI, FLORIDA.
MOTION TO: Discuss
RESULT: DISCUSSED
Chair Russell: All right, do we have any other presentations, Mr. Executive
Director?
Jason Walker (Executive Director/Omni Community Redevelopment Agency): We
have one presentation that we'd like to do. I don't know if you want to do it now. It's
just something that we're working on that we wanted to bring to the Board's
attention. It's in -- the housing project that we'd like to show you that we're working
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on, and so that you can be prepared when we come back in January, February with
the agreement.
Chair Russell: How long will it take?
Mr. Walker: It could take five minutes.
Chair Russell: Perfect.
Mr. Walker: We just wanted to show you this to get your opinion before we continue
to move forward. When I first came onboard, one of the first things I did was look at
a map to see which properties were owned by government that would be available
for development of housing, and we located one particular property. I'm going to
need somebody to hold this.
Vice Chair Suarez: Can somebody take the stand off of it?
Chair Russell: Yeah. Actually, if you could stand over by Hilda so that the public
and the camera can see it. I've seen it.
Mr. Walker: We identified one particular property right here on -- between 15th and
16th on Northwest 1st Court, which the City of Miami owns this little sliver right
here.
Chair Russell: Can you point to where we are right now? Point to Chapman on the
map, just so we get a bearings.
Mr. Walker: We are right here at Chapman, our offices are right here, and this is
the City of Miami -owned portion right here, which we put a fence around to -- it
used to be "Tent City." The CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) paid to put a
fence around it to keep out the Tent City folks, so now that's secured. And then the
rest of this is privately owned. We were able to gather -- which they're here now --
the property owners, Lolita and Ricardo, who own the rest of the space here. And
so, we're working on a development agreement to fund a housing project at this
location, and we're looking to do it without 4 percent tax credits; we're looking to do
it as a fully funded CRA project. We've been talking to lending institutions. We
think -- as you see from your renderings, we think we could get 36 units on this, and
Francisco -- 46, sorry-- 46. And Francisco's here, because he's going to help us get
there. Yes, sir.
Vice Chair Suarez: Just a question. You mind if I ask --?
Chair Russell: Yeah, please. I was going to say.
Vice Chair Suarez: So nay question was, just for clarify sake, because I -- this is --
you know, why wouldn't we do the 4 percent deal? Is there a particular reason?
Mr. Walker: Only because --
Vice Chair Suarez: You'd get better leverage rate if we do the 4 percent; no?
Mr. Walker: Yeah, but we wanted to -- we didn't want the restrictions that come with
the 4 percent.
Vice Chair Suarez: Got it.
Mr. Walker: We wanted to be able to --
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Vice Chair Suarez: I got it.
Mr. Walker: -- have the ability to rent to whoever, whether it's market, which I know
Commissioner Hardemon is looking for --
Vice Chair Suarez: I got it.
Mr. Walker: -- whether it's workforce --
Vice Chair Suarez: I mean, that --
Mr. Walker: -- or whether it's --
Vice Chair Suarez: You answered it.
Mr. Walker: Yep.
Chair Russell: Local preference is also an issue.
Mr. Walker: And local preference. If we want to say that --
Vice Chair Suarez: Understood.
Mr. Walker: -- the folks in Overtown have first right --
Vice Chair Suarez: Got it.
Mr. Walker: -- to come in, we're able to say that, so.
Chair Russell: We will be looking for creative financing, though, correct?
Mr. Walker: We are. This is just the first project. We have other projects that we
can do 4 percent on. What you see in the highlighted area, for example, we're
looking at this site. This is a St. John site. They've submitted a proposal to do a
development here. Right now we're working with St. John and this team to make
sure that these two are cohesive.
Chair Russell: Could you point out the Dorsey Library, as well, just so people know
where (UNINTELLIGIBLE)?
Mr. Walker: Dorsey Library is here, which you all voted in the budget to spend
$850, 000 to cover the gap, and they are starting to work on that project for
renovation, as well. So we wanted to bring this to your attention, because it's being
talked about. We have met with lending institutions; that have been going very well.
We've submitted all our financials, and we're also working on the agreement -- a
development agreement with the team in order to develop the site into a housing
project. And Adam -- we may need some -- you want to talk about what --?
Adam Old: Sure.
Chair Russell: Jason, really quickly, what level of affordability are we talking about
here?
Mr. Walker: They're going to --
Chair Russell: Okay. I'm jumping ahead.
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Mr. Old: So, this --
Mr. Walker: Your name.
Mr. Old: My name is Adam Old. I work with Jason at the Omni CRA on this
project. And so we met with Director Garcia about this project a little while ago,
and it's currently in a -- what's a T3 zone. We feel that that zone probably came
about -- the designation came about when Miami 21 was originally implemented,
because it was an R3, but R3 doesn't really translate exactly to T3; so Francisco,
and we feel -- also think that it should be probably -- the zoning should be changed
to a T4, which is a townhouse designation. All of the buildings around it are
essentially multifamily buildings; they're not single-family homes, so you're not
going to be dealing with, you know, angry homeowners coming out and objecting to
the change in zoning, but -- so this project, the way that it's conceived in front ofyou,
would depend on that zoning change; would also depend -- to get the 46 units, would
depend on Commissioner Carollo's attainable housing amendment that you all
passed on first reading when you were other people. And so, what we would get --
we would need a 50 percent bump in --
Vice Chair Suarez: Density.
Mr. Old: -- the density; the height would remain the same, as it would get under a
T3, so it would be three stories, but with Commissioner Carollo's housing density
bump, we would have 5 percent extremely low income, so that's 0 to 30 percent AM1,
area median income, and then it would have 45 percent -- no; I'm sorry -- 40 percent
affordable, which is 30 to 60 percent, and then the rest of the housing would be
workforce, so that would be up to 140 percent of area median income.
Chair Russell: At 5 percent for the ELI (Elderly Low Income), at 30-something
units, we'd be looking what, one unit, maybe two?
Mr. Old: Three of the 46 would he --
Chair Russell: Three of the 46.
Mr. Old: -- very low income. Yeah. So, I mean, it's not a huge amount of very low
income, but, as you know, Overtown CRA just built many units of low-income
housing that they were able to do through the tax credit deals and other financing.
Chair Russell: We can certainly study the numbers of need that are out there. My
gut, you know, from an uneducated standpoint on this subject, is that it's something
that we do need, but I'm opening to learning and seeing. Commissioner.
Vice Chair Suarez: Yeah, I know. The need is there. The problem is the economics.
I mean, the need is definitely there. I mean -- and I think the tax credit deals you're
talking about probably don't do any, if any, ELI product in those buildings.
Mr. Old: It depends on the deal, but --
Vice Chair Suarez: Very few.
Mr. Old: -- the 9 percent deals are -- can, you know, house a bunch of people, but
then those people come from the County's list, which, I think, you guys all know it's
thousands of people on that list. So our goal here is to make sure that the residents
of the neighborhood can stay in the neighborhood, and you have, you know,
pensioners that --
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Vice Chair Suarez: Sure.
Mr. Old: -- make $30, 000 that they're not -- they can't make it onto the list, and even
if they could, they'd be behind, you know, 50,000 other people (UNINTELLIGIBLE)
qualification.
Board Member Hardemon: Mr. Chairman, if I may?
Chair Russell: Of course.
Board Member Hardemon: One of the things that I've always talked about in
Overtown when people say that we need more affordable housing, and I say, "We
don't," they look at me crazy. But the reason I say that is because the people who
live in Overtown can afford to live there. One of the major initiatives that we've
been doing as a board in Overtown has been creating -- well, rehabbing existing
properties. The reason we do that, of course, is because you have people who
already afford to live there, but they're living in substandard housing, and so we
wanted to bring that housing standard. And so, any time you have these vacant lots
like this, though, that's a new opportunity to create more additional housing. But,
certainly, I would encourage all of us to begin to look at housing that is .for people
who don't make a lot of money, but have -- well, what we all call "workforce
housing." And so, 1 always encourage workforce housing, because you have a
individual who may live in Overtown, who may live with their mother; their
grandmother, their sisters, but they may be all living in one space, and it's those
people who don't have an opportunity to move out into -- and live and remain in
Overtown, compared to other people who come into Overtown, so -- especially when
you have a product I think that is available for the community, which is why -- I
mean, I can -- I admire using the funds the way that you intend to use it, so you can
have a bit more flexibility, because if someone's living in a place with their mother
or their sisters or brothers or whatever, and they say, `I want to move out, " moving
out in Overtown should be an option, so now they can live down the street from
where they were living before, and so 1 think it's smart to take a look at that. We
definitely create a lot of housing for extremely low-income affordable housing; we
do that. The need is across the County, but I don't want us to believe that in
Overtown, particularly, there's a need for ELL, because the need is throughout the
County. And so, we should mix the product mix in Overtown so that we have a
community that can service and support the businesses that we intend on bringing
into that immediate area.
Vice Chair Suarez: Mr. Chair.
Chair Russell: Yes, Commissioner.
Vice Chair Suarez: Look, I totally agree. I agree with exactly what you're saying;
and I commend you, Chair, and I commend you for coming up with this project,
because I think -- First of all, there's nothing there right now, so let's start there.
You start with zero. If you look at the map that you showed, it didn't have anything -
- not only there; not anything in the surrounding area. And I think the point of a
CRA -- and this is something you focused on when you got here -- was, "Look, we
really need to change our focus a bit, " you know, "and start ficusing on this kind of
like, mission." So the focus of a CRA is to redevelop the area, and so we have to
develop the area. And if you can -- I didn't know it was zoned T3. What's interesting
about it is that it's zoned T3, and you're getting a really good product out of a zoning
designation that's very limiting, so --
Mr. Old: This product would need an up -zoning --
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Vice Chair Suarez: Oh, no. Of course.
Mr. Old: -- to T4.
Vice Chair Suarez: Of course, this would be a T-4, but still, with a T-4 with a double
density, you now have -- right -- a packed product. You have a product that has --
you can build more units into a tighter envelope and, yet, it's not a massive building.
It --
Mr. Old: Right.
Vice Chair Suarez: -- sets a very nice predicate for the way that area could develop
sort of -- and it's good that we're involved, because that's what gives us the ability to,
you know, play with some of the -- and so that's why -- I just wanted to ask the 4
percent deal, because I was curious, more than anything, but I think it makes a lot of
sense to try it this way and see what that sort of engenders, and what you get at the
end of the day.
Chair Russell: Certainly. And that's one of the reasons we're doing a mix here.
This will be mixed income, and I'm just wondering if the mix is exactly right. 1 was
on one of my first tours of Chapman when I actually was fortunate enough to witness
someone graduating and getting their key to their apartment, to get back into the
swing of life, and have a job; and at that moment, I committed myself to making
more of those opportunities to really move the needle on what, in the end, will move
our entire homeless situation into shelter, out of shelter, graduating to low-income
housing, and growing the community.
Mr. Old: If I may, we are also in talks with Chapman, the Chapman partnership
itself on other projects that would be like, for instance, transitional --
Chair Russell: Yep.
Mr. Old: -- for the people that need to move out.
Chair Russell: Sure.
Mr. Old: And this is, you know, one project that was brought to us by the
landowners who wanted to do something good for the neighborhood with the land
they owned, and so that's why we're pushing it forward first, because everything's in
a row. You know, we need your support --
Chair Russell: Thank you.
Mr. Old: -- at the Commission level.
Chair Russell: And I know you all are working on lots of properties, actually, that'll
have different levels of income, and that's great. So thank you very much. So is that
good? Should we move on -- we got a lot to cover today.
Mr. Walker: We just wanted to make you aware that we're working on this, and
hopefully, in January or February, we can have an agreement to you for approval.
And just so you know, Commissioner Hardemon -- Chairman Hardemon, we had this
debate back and forth today, and for the past weeks. You know, I'm willing to build
less in order to have more flexibility. I'm in the minority on that, but, you know,
that's where we are right now at the 46 units, but I'm willing to do 23 if we don't
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ADJOURNMENT
have any, restrictions on who we place in there, and we can make up our own
formula.
Board Member Hardemon: The -- I would say -- I -- today I took a drive through
Overtown just around lunchtime to look at some of the problem spaces that we had
before and this property, along with -- you know, the City had that lot, as well, that
you described, a sliver of lot. It was a major headache. And so today, driving by, I
saw some of the new fence intertwine with the old, and got a chance to see the
property in a better condition than it was, so I'm happy to see that, because -- and to
see your -- just your lovely face to know that it was yours. You know, thank you for
agreeing to --
Mr. Old: Thank you.
Board Member Hardemon: -- move, forward in a way that's positive, that could think
-- can help the community, and you know, with the T4 in what you describe, Mr.
Walker, we're talking about building for people, for the community -- for people in
the community to be able to have some space there, and I think we also have to
consider the neighboring homes, so just on the backside, I believe, of the large
parcel that is vacant now, which is across the way, or just east of the described
property before, that's -- that property seems to be well maintained, but on the
backside of that, there's some -- I guess you would call them townhomes, so --
Mr. Walker: St. Johns.
Chair Russell: St. Johns.
Board Member Hardemon: Right, St. Johns owns those. So, you know, when you
look at the number of units there you know, we want to be considerate of them, also.
I just like to -- for people who buy property, they can expect some sort of density;
but, certainly, that area can improve its density from T3 to -- I mean, from R3 -- or
T3 to T4.
Mr. Old: And I'd just point out also that the plan in front of you utilizes the small
building parking exemption, so they're not putting 1.5 spaces per unit, and that's how
they're able to get the -- like to make it pencil out in the way that it does, but there
are parking spaces available, but it's not, you know --
Chair Russell: Thank you, Adam. I'm -- I apologize. We really need to -- we've got
a lot to cover, so thank you very much. You guys are doing a great job with that.
The meeting adjourned at 6: 47 p.m.
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