Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutSEOPW CRA 2011-01-31 MinutesCity of Miami City Hall 3500 Pan American Drive Miami, FL 33133 www.miamigov.com • IN O9▪ IEP 19 1i? Meeting Minutes Monday, January 31, 2011 5:00 PM RESCHEDULED FROM JANUARY 24, 2011 Frederick Douglass Elementary School 314 N.W. 12th Street Miami, Florida SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Richard P. Dunn 11, Chairman Francis Suarez, Vice -Chairman Marc David Sarnoff, Commissioner Wifredo (Willy) Gort, Commissioner Frank Carollo, Commissioner CRA OFFICE ADDRESS: 49 NW 5th ST, SUITE 100, Miami, FL 33128 Phone: (305) 679-6800, Fax: (305) 679-6835 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes January 31, 2011 INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE ORDER OF THE DAY FINANCIALS 1. 11-00026 Present: Chair Dunn II, Commissioner Sarnoff and Vice Chair Suarez Absent: Commissioner Carollo and Commissioner Gort On the 31st day of January 2011, the Board of Commissioners of the Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of Miami met in regular session at Frederick Douglass Elementary School, 314 N. W 12th Street, Miami, Florida. The meeting was rescheduled from January 24, 2011. The meeting was called to order by Chair Dunn at 5:15 p. m. and was adjourned at 6: 48 p.m. ALSO PRESENT: Pieter Bockweg, Executive Director, CRA Clarence Woods, Assistant Executive Director, CRA Veronica Xiques, Assistant General Counsel, CRA Priscilla A. Thompson, Clerk of the Board Chair Dunn: Good afternoon. We want to welcome you to the Southeast Overtown/Park West CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) meeting, as well as the Omni CRA meetings here at Frederick Douglass Elementary School. I'm joined by my colleagues, chairman of the Omni CRA, Commissioner Marc Sarnoff, also, chairman of Midtown, Francis -- Commissioner Francis Suarez. We're going to ask that you would -- if you have your cell phones, if you would at least put them on silence or vibration so that it does not interrupt our proceedings. We're going to begin this meeting. We're going to ask Commissioner Suarez to lead us in our invocation, followed by the leading of the pledge of allegiance by Commissioner Sarnoff. Prior to that, I believe that we're going to ask that we all bow our heads in a moment of silent meditation as we did last week for those police officers who were slain not only here in the City of Miami but also St. Petersburg and across the country, and just for our community as a whole. Let us stand. Invocation and pledge of allegiance delivered. Chair Dunn: Before we proceed with our financial summary report, I'm going to defer items 5 and 6, Southeast Overtown/Park West agenda. Is there a motion to accept that? Vice Chair Suarez: Motion. Commissioner Sarnoff. Second. Chair Dunn: It's been properly motioned by Commissioner Suarez, seconded by Commissioner Sarnoff. All in favor, of course, aye." The Commissioners (Collectively): Aye. Chair Dunn: Nays have the same privilege. Ayes have it. CRA REPORT FINANCIAL SUMMARY FOR THE PERIOD ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2010. City of Miami Page 2 Printed on 5/19/2011 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes January 31, 2011 RESOLUTIONS 2. 11-00009 File 11-00026 01-24-2011 Financial Summary.pdf PRESENTED Chair Dunn: We will now proceed with our financial summary report. Thank you. Miguel Valentin (Financial Officer, Community Redevelopment Agency): Good evening, Commissioners. I'm going to be presenting the combined statement of financial position as of December 31, 2010 for Southeast Overtown/Park West. We are disclosing a cash balance of 17, 858, 685. Again, for the month of December, there is no reportable condition to report to the Board. However, I wanted to put on record that hopefully by February we are going to be releasing the financial statements for fiscal year 2010 audit. And if you don't have any other question -- Chair Dunn: Thank you. Thank you very much. CRA RESOLUTION A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY DE -ALLOCATING FUNDS, IN THE AMOUNT OF $5,000, PREVIOUSLY AUTHORIZED BY RESOLUTION CRA-R-10-0096 FOR DOWNTOWN MIAMI PARTNERSHIP, INC. File 11-00009 01-24-2011 Cover Memo.pdf File 11-00009 01-24-2011 Legislation.pdf File 11-00009 01-31-2011 Legislation (Signed).pdf Motion by Board Member Suarez, seconded by Board Member Sarnoff, that this matter be ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote. Votes: Ayes: Chair Dunn II, Commissioner Sarnoff and Vice Chair Suarez Absent: Commissioner Gort and Commissioner Carollo CRA-R-11 -0003 Chair Dunn: At this time, we will proceed now with our item number 2 on the agenda. Mr. Bockweg. Pieter Bockweg (Executive Director, Community Redevelopment Agency): Good evening, Commissioner, Mr. Chair. The item number 2 is the de -allocation of the $5, 000 grant that was awarded for the trolley that ultimately did not happen. So this item is to de -allocate the $5,000. Vice Chair Suarez: So moved. Commissioner Sarnoff: Second. Chair Dunn: It's been motioned and -- by Commissioner Suarez, seconded by Commissioner Sarnoff. All in favor, let us hear by saying aye." " The Commissioners (Collectively): Aye. Chair Dunn: So moved. City of Miami Page 3 Printed on 5/19/2011 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes January 31, 2011 3. 10-01458 4. 11-00036 CRA RESOLUTION A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY AUTHORIZING THE REIMBURSEMENT OF FISCAL YEAR 2010 CHILDREN'S TRUST REVENUES COLLECTED BY THE CRA, IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $454,707, TO THE CHILDREN'S TRUST, MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, AN INDEPENDENT SPECIAL TAXING DISTRICT; AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO EXECUTE ALL DOCUMENTS NECESSARY FOR SAID PURPOSE; ALLOCATING FUNDS FROM SEOPW TAX INCREMENT FUND, "OTHER CURRENT CHARGES AND OBLIGATIONS," ACCOUNT CODE NO. 10050.920101.549000.0000.00000. File 10-01458 01-24-2011 Cover Memo.pdf File 10-01458 01-24-2011 Financial Form.pdf File 10-01458 01-24-2011 Backup.pdf File 10-01458 01-24-2011 Legislation.pdf File 10-01458 01-31-2011 Legislation (Signed).pdf Motion by Board Member Suarez, seconded by Board Member Sarnoff, that this matter be ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote. Votes: Ayes: Chair Dunn II, Commissioner Sarnoff and Vice Chair Suarez Absent: Commissioner Gort and Commissioner Carollo CRA-R-11-0004 Miguel Valentin (Financial Officer, Community Redevelopment Agency): Item number 3, it is recommended that the Board of Commissioners of the Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment Agency approve and adopt the attached resolution authorizing the reimbursement of fiscal year 2010 tax increment revenues collected by the CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency), in an amount not to exceed 454,707 to the Children's Trust, Miami -Dade County, which is an independent special taxing district. Since the CRA hasn't had the need of using this TIF (Tax Increment Fund) revenue for the payment of CRA debts or other obligations, we are going to be reverting -- or reimbursing the Children [sic] Trust fund the amount that we received in 2010. Vice Chair Suarez: So move. Commissioner Sarnoff. Second. Chair Dunn: Again, motion by Commissioner Suarez, seconded by Commissioner Sarnoff. All in favor, let us hear by saying i ye. " The Commissioners (Collectively): Aye. CRA RESOLUTION A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY ("CRA") AUTHORIZING ADDITIONAL FUNDING, IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $17,500, FOR A TOTAL AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $67,500, TO NEW WASHINGTON HEIGHTS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT City of Miami Page 4 Printed on 5/19/2011 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes January 31, 2011 CONFERENCE, INC. FOR THE CONTINUATION OF "FOLKLIFE FRIDAYS;" AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO DISBURSE THE GRANT, AT HIS DISCRETION, ON A REIMBURSEMENT BASIS OR DIRECTLY TO VENDORS, UPON PRESENTATION OF INVOICES AND SATISFACTORY DOCUMENTATION; FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF ALL DOCUMENTS NECESSARY FOR SAID PURPOSE, IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO GENERAL COUNSEL; ALLOCATING FUNDS FROM SEOPW TAX INCREMENT FUND, "OTHER GRANTS AND AIDS," ACCOUNT CODE NO. 10050.920101.883000.0000.00000. File 11-00036 01-24-2011 Cover Memo.pdf File 11-00036 01-24-2011 Financial Form.pdf File 11-00036 01-24-2011 Backup.pdf File 11-00036 01-24-2011 Legislation.pdf File 11-00036 01-31-2011 Legislation (Signed).pdf File 11-00036 01-31-2011 Submittal-Overtown Folk Life Fridays.pdf Motion by Board Member Suarez, seconded by Board Member Sarnoff, that this matter be ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote. Votes: Ayes: Chair Dunn II, Commissioner Sarnoff and Vice Chair Suarez Absent: Commissioner Gort and Commissioner Carollo CRA-R-11-0005 Chair Dunn: Item number 4. Clarence Woods (Assistant Director, Community Redevelopment Agency): Commissioners, item number 4 is a resolution of the Board of Commissioners of the Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment Agency authorizing additional funding, in an amount not to exceed 17,500, for a total amount not to exceed 67,500, to New Washington Heights Community Development Conference, Inc. for the continuation of Folk Life Fridays; authorizing the executive director to disburse the grant at his discretion on a reimbursement basis or directly to vendors upon presentation of invoices and satisfactory documentation; further authorizing the execution of all documents necessary for said purpose in a form acceptable to general counsel; allocating funds from Southeast Overtown/Park West tax increment fitnd, other grants and aid Chair Dunn: I was going to ask if there's anyone from the public that would like -- are you --? -- to speak on this item. Rosa Green: I know I'm reading this, but I'm -- Rosa Green, 915 Northwest 1st Avenue -- but it's not really clear or maybe I don't understand it in this -- the way it's written. How will this money be realized? Can we -- will we come -- go to the CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency), or would it be given to somebody --? How will the grants be given out? We have to apply? You have an application or something? Chair Dunn: Right. Mr. Woods will respond to that question. Mr. Woods: This grant is specifically for Folk Life Fridays. It's not for the public at large. How we disburse this grant is when the event is to take place, we fund all the necessary -- whether it's the tents, whether it's the police, fire. We pay directly to those vendors. No money goes to anyone. Ms. Green: Yeah, I know that, but who is eligible? That's what I want to know. Mr. Woods: It's New Washington Heights Community Development Conference. That's who City of Miami Page 5 Printed on 5/19/2011 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes January 31, 2011 manages and coordinates the Folk Life Fridays. Ms. Green: So can we go to there and ask for -- or all the money --? Mr. Woods: What are you asking for a grant for? The grant is only to put on the festival. It's not for anybody to just go to them. What this provides is for tents for vendors within the community to -- Pieter Bockweg (Executive Director, Community Redevelopment Agency): Ma'am -- Mr. Woods: -- go out and sell their food -- Mr. Bockweg: Clarence -- Mr. Woods: -- and things like that. Mr. Bockweg: If I may. Ma'am, this is not a grant program. This is a grant given to a specific cause, so this is not something that anybody else can apply to, like Clarence has been saying. This is not a program. Ms. Green: So in other words, you're saying you're giving the money to this -- Mr. Bockweg: That's correct. Ms. Green: So what -- why you -- Chair Dunn: Specific -- Ms. Green: -- make it so difficult? Mr. Woods: No, we're not. Chair Dunn: -- specifically and exclusively to New Washington Heights for -- Ms. Green: Well, that's what you should say. Chair Dunn: -- Folk Life Fridays, okay. Ms. Green: See, the way you got it written like people can apply and -- yeah, but you say you can show the documents, Mr. Woods. Chair Dunn: Okay. Ms. Green: So I'm sure she knows -- (UNINTELLIGIBLE). Chair Dunn: Are there anyone -- is there anyone else that would like to speak on this issue? Derek Cole: Hi. Derek Cole, 1010 Northwest 11 th Street. I want to speak in favor of this program with Folk Life Fridays. It brings people to the community. I know it hasn't been totally well attended. I think it's going to -- as time goes on, it's going to be more and more well attended and you're going to get traffic through the community and realize that Overtown's not the dangerous place that the perception is out there in the general public. And I think we need to keep it going and I think we should further it and do it year-round. It shouldn't just be limited to the few times that it's being done. City of Miami Page 6 Printed on 5/19/2011 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes January 31, 2011 Mr. Woods: Commissioner, let me just speak to something that Derek just mentioned. If you see, the amount is for 17,500. Basically, that's for two months. It's a pro -rated amount. The original grant amount that we normally provide for this particular event is $50, 000 for six months. This was broken out for two months. And the reason we're looking at just doing it for two months right now, we are looking at reorganizing the event, trying to bring more to the table, if you will, from the community to help it with the marketing and things like that, getting more people out to the event. Chair Dunn: So if you were to basically say -- break that down by a third, it's really like a third, two six -- Mr. Woods: Right. Chair Dunn: -- two months, you said. It normally is six months funding of about 50,000 so -- Mr. Woods: Right. Chair Dunn: -- just a little bit over thirty-three and one-third. Maybe that's what it boils down to. Mr. Woods: Somewhere close to that. And I think -- Chair Dunn: Yeah. Mr. Woods: -- the number -- the 67,500 represents six months. Chair Dunn: Well -- Mr. Woods: Well, it's eight months. The sixty-seven five -- Chair Dunn: Oh, eight, okay. Mr. Woods: -- it represents eight months. Chair Dunn: Okay, all right. So -- Mr. Woods: Right. Chair Dunn: -- okay. Someone else. Mr. Cole: I'm sorry. Let me add one more thing. I think possibly we should add an alcohol sponsor to this event during happy hour, during the last part of it. Chair Dunn: That's another issue. Mr. Cole: Bacardi or somebody. Chair Dunn: That's another issue, Mr Cole. All right, thank you. Gloria Adams: Hi. My name is Gloria Adams, and I'm a long time residence [sic] in Overtown. We've lived in our house for over 40-something years. And -- since this is only to deal with the Folk festival, I think that it should be continued, and I think that whatever monies are necessary to enhance it should be given. I think that not only should it only be Fridays, but City of Miami Page 7 Printed on 5/19/2011 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes January 31, 2011 it also should be continued on Saturday like in 19 -- excuse me, 2006. And we had a two folk festival and a lot of people Overtown work on Fridays, so -- but Saturday they were out. And I'm looking at -- you know, every time something good is happening, it's something to tear it down. The money and the resources are there. I know they are there because they are shipped out to everywhere else. But what really saddens me is that we don't even get crumbs anymore. We get less than crumbs. My daughter invited me to North Miami Beach during the Christmas holidays. There was a festival there, no incidents. There was no incidents when we had the two-day festival. They had the snow, the gifts. I mean, it was really nice; the bubbles, the rides, the games. They didn't have live entertainment like we had in 2006, which I really -- I was one of the vendors, and I was breaking my neck trying to break down so I could be -- to see Angela Stone, one of my favorite artists. If you take this away -- this is a part of our culture -- if you take it away, what do we have? We getting a new baseball stadium. We getting everything else, but what is given to us in the form of culture? What? And for you to deny us -- a Christmas tree ain't going to cut it. I'm sorry. It's not going to cut it. You could take that money and give it to families that need to buy gifts for their kids or just a job to put food on the table. You can also give that money to do something else than put up a tree -- and it come -- in December and it comes down in January. Give us what -- Chair Dunn: Okay, you have -- wrap -- Ms. Adams: -- we want and give us what we need. Chair Dunn: Okay. Ms. Adams: Thank you. Chair Dunn: Okay. Let me just state for the record, this is not -- if you read it carefully, it is a recommendation to award this in the interim of the eight months. Nobody's taking away anything, so I want us to be clear on that. I don't want us to get it misconstrued that we're taking away Folk Life; we're not. There will be some evaluations in terms of providing some technical assistance to make it better, to enhance it, to improve it. And so this is basically a increment or percentage of what it would be if the program will continue to run. So this is not anything being taken away. Nothing is being cut. It is basically what it would take if this was done on a regular basis. So I don't want anyone to get the wrong information that this is being cut. It is not being cut. Our goal and objective is only to improve. Mr. Woods: And Commissioner, you're exactly right. The evaluation process will also deal with what she recommended, looking at the timing and when we would actually hold the festival. So it's those type of things that we want to look at to improve. Chair Dunn: Thank you. State your name and -- Roy Hardemon: Roy Hardemon, 655 Northwest 48th Street. I'm so proud of my Commissioner because, you know, at one point it did look sort of bleak for the festival. To see you continuing it on and making it even stronger, I'm really proud of you. Thank you. Chair Dunn: Thank you. That's our goal. Thank you. Mark Lesniak: Hi. My name is Mark Lesniak. I work at the 697 Lofts building. It's only a few blocks away from where the Folk Life Fridays is held. I love going there. I love attending them. I hope that I could continue to do so, and I hope that you guys continue to fund it and improve it as it progresses. Thanks. Brad Knoefler: Brad Knoefler, 697 North Miami Avenue. I also wanted to support the Folk City of Miami Page 8 Printed on 5/19/2011 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes January 31, 2011 Life Fridays. I think that this is the type of thing that we need to do more of. I want to make a small point about the linkage between these type of activities and economic development and job creation. Derek touched on that earlier when he said that it's important to bring people back into the neighborhood so that they reverse the perception of Overtown being drug, gangs, and homeless and so on. And the more and more people that we can bring back here, the more people will potentially invest and maybe open up restaurants. We're creating more and more demand for businesses to potentially open, so I would definitely like to support this. Talmadge Frazier: Good afternoon. Chair Dunn: Good afternoon. Mr. Frazier: My name is Talmadge Frazier. I own Brother Frazier's ribs. The Folk Life festival has done great for me. With the help of the CRA, Brother Frazier's barbecue sauce is being tested now for the market. This will allow us to create a factory here in Overtown that will hire 60 people. Not only will this help the community, it's going to help (UNINTELLIGIBLE). We talked about people coming to this community from the outside. I'm proud to say that Brother's Frazier's ribs is drawing people as far away as Coral Gables that are coming into our community enjoying our food. Another thing it's going to do, it's going to help us to create more jobs and education. What I'd like to build in the future -- talk about future growth -- with the factory, I want it set up so that you have to have a -- -- go to work at Brother Frazier's factory and then you can go to school. We'll waiver [sic] the education requirements based upon if you're going ahead to get your high school diploma or even to go to college. This is going to help -- I can't tell you how Brother Frazier's ribs has grown. We've grown from just a thought to one of the best ribs in Miami through the help of the CRA and the Folk Life festival. So thank you very much for the opportunity to speak with you and I pray -- Chair Dunn: You're welcome. Mr. Frazier: -- that some time you come by and try the food out. Commissioner Dunn, you have not been there yet. Chair Dunn: Oh, you put me on blast, didn't you? What is your --? When are you open? You open tonight? Mr. Frazier: Oh, no, no. See, that's -- we only do festivals. But that's -- I'm hoping to get -- Chair Dunn: All right, all right. Mr. Frazier: -- a permanent place here in Overtown. I (UNINTELLIGIBLE) talk about putting in a sports bar here. You know, everybody else can go places and have a good time. Chair Dunn: True, true. Mr. Frazier: We need some place in our community that at the same scale. And one thing about the factory, the back part of the building will be the factory. The front part, I want it to be a sports bar. That's going to draw people into our community. At the same time, we help our people get the education they need. Overtown cannot survive with the current educational level of their occupants, and that we have got to change. We cannot grow without education. I said this before and I'll say it again. If this community wants to grow, two things got to happen. Number one, we got to get educated. Number two, we got to get involved with our politics as they come. Three and four percent at voting time ain't going to get it. Chair Dunn: Agree. City of Miami Page 9 Printed on 5/19/2011 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes January 31, 2011 Mr. Frazier: You know, that's like going in the middle of the night striking a match in the middle of a storm. It ain't going to happen. This is what I want to bring here. I want to take everything out of the community. It's time that Overtown residents realize that our community will change if we change. We can buy these apartments if we change the educational level, and that's what Brother Frazier ribs is going (UNINTELLIGIBLE). Here's a job here for you. Come to us. Use us as a source to get educated, then move on, and come back in the community and be able to buy the type of houses. Chair Dunn: Thank you so much. Mr. Frazier: You're welcome. Thank you, sir. Jackie Bell: I'm Jackie Bell. I am the president of New Washington Heights. I am the founder of Folk Life Friday. I wrote the program in 1979 when we did a redevelopment plan that the City of Miami presented to Department of Transportation for rebuilding around the Overtown arena. And I hear from you that you want to take it to another level, but I didn't hear anybody talk about taking it to another level when ten years you left it sitting there with the homeless population. Five years after that, you had it closed up. If two to three hundred people can come through there one Friday a month, I think we have done a good job. Secondly, if you look at the paper I gave you -- and I know this is short notice for you to read, but I did mail it and give it to the director. I had a meeting with him in December. I had a meeting with your chief of staff and he had it as well, Commissioner Dunn. I'm sorry it was not put into your report. But if on one Friday alone we can bring 25 or more small businesses to that community and they can make more than $7,500, that means that that is $7,500 with a complete blighted, empty lots around, okay. And for the six months that we had it, which was six days, the people made $67,500. That is more than have been brought into that community in the last 25 years 'cause there is nothing, nothing, absolutely nothing but vacant land that have been used for everybody else's purpose but the purpose of the Overtown community. Not only that is, if you read it, you will see that each vendor have more than one person themselves. They have two or more employees, which means that for what we're doing, we are creating employment. We have over 1,800 hours of work that goes on in six days, okay. It's not like we have been doing this for umpteen years, six days. The last -- since you've been there, Commissioner, and granted it, this was six days. Six months, one day a month. That is saying a whole lot for a community that is deprived of economics, okay. That is saying more than anything any one of you could say for a blighted community that have been permitted to be blighted since 1982, okay. Every promise that the body of the City of Miami promised that community have not been done. And to treat us who works there and live there the way -- and to say to someone who is as educated as I am, who have spent 37 years working in that community for the betterment -- and somebody from the outside says we want you to meet with this one; we want you to meet with that one. They don't even have no clue. I know what I am doing. Yes, we want more people, but you have to understand Fridays from 11 to 3 is lunchtime. The people do not stay. Chair Dunn: I'm going to ask you to kind of wrap it up. Ms. Bell: Okay, I will. People don't stay. They come, they buy, they go. You're talking lunchtime. We've had judges. We have all kinds of people who do come. And I guess I do get a little emotion when I look at the community that I was raised in, the land that my people owned, and now we don't own it; any of the benefits don't come back to us. So I thank you for the two months. I would hope that you will reconsider. Instead of beginning -- we have worked -- today is Monday. We're already ready for Friday. We don't even know if you're going to approve it, but for the -- from the time I knew it was going on the agenda, we have worked night and day to make it work. That's not fair to us. It's not fair to my community. So if at some point in your decision you say, okay, this is what we're going to give you, this is what you do, this is what we City of Miami Page 10 Printed on 5/19/2011 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes January 31, 2011 expect, we will do that. We are smart enough, okay. I'm smart enough. Chair Dunn: Okay. Ms. Bell: You know, I'm smart enough. I'm smart enough to stay alive for 37 years using government money -- Chair Dunn: Okay. Ms. Bell: -- with no problem, so don't do that to us. Thank you. Chair Dunn: Thank you very much. Okay, we're going to close the public hearing on this item. Are there any comments or is there a motion from my colleagues? Vice Chair Suarez: So move. Commissioner Sarnoff. Second. Chair Dunn: Been properly motioned and second by Commissioner Suarez, seconded by Commissioner Sarnoff that we accept the recommendation of our staff on this item. All in favor of this, let us hear by saying aye." The Commissioners (Collectively): Aye. Chair Dunn: So moved. 5. CRA RESOLUTION 11-00023 A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY ("CRA"), WITH ATTACHMENT(S), AMENDING THE CRA'S GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR COMMENCING OCTOBER 1, 2010 AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2011, (1) TO INCLUDE CAR ALLOWANCES; (2) TO REINSTATE CERTAIN CELLULAR PHONE ALLOWANCES; (3) TO ALLOCATE ADDITIONAL FUNDS TOWARD AGENCY TRAVEL AND FOOD EXPENDITURES; AND (4) TO INCLUDE $1,318.21, AS RATIFICATION OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS SALARY OF FOR THE PERIOD BEGINNING JULY 23, 2010 AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2010; FURTHER DIRECTING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO TRANSMIT COPY OF THE BUDGET, AS AMENDED HEREIN, TO THE CITY OF MIAMI AND MIAMI-DADE COUNTY. File 11-00023 01-24-2011 Cover Memo.pdf File 11-00023 01-24-2011 Backup.pdf File 11-00023 01-24-2011 Legislation.pdf File 11-00023 01-24-2011 Legislation (ExhibitA).pdf File 11-00023 01-31-2011 Legislation (Signed).pdf Motion by Board Member Suarez, seconded by Board Member Sarnoff, that this matter be DEFERRED PASSED by the following vote. Votes: Ayes: Chair Dunn II, Commissioner Sarnoff and Vice Chair Suarez Absent: Commissioner Gort and Commissioner Carollo City of Miami Page 11 Printed on 5/19/2011 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes January 31, 2011 6. 11-00043 7. 11-00041 CRA RESOLUTION A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY SETTING THE VACATION AND SICK -DAY ACCRUAL RATE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, WITH THE TOTAL HOURS ACCRUED TO REPRESENT THE MAXIMUM HOURS TO BE EARNED FROM BOTH THE SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST AND OMNI CRAS AND TO BE USED CONCURRENTLY BY THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. File 11-00043 01-24-2011 Cover Memo.pdf File 11-00043 01-24-2011 Legislation.pdf File 11-00043 01-31-2011 Legislation (Signed).pdf Motion by Board Member Suarez, seconded by Board Member Sarnoff, that this matter be DEFERRED PASSED by the following vote. Votes: Ayes: Chair Dunn II, Commissioner Sarnoff and Vice Chair Suarez Absent: Commissioner Gort and Commissioner Carollo CRA RESOLUTION A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF A GRANT, IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $200,000, TO OMNI PARK WEST REDEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION, INC. ("GRANTEE") TO UNDERWRITE A PORTION OF THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE CONSTRUCTION OF A MULTI -USE OUTDOOR FESTIVAL SPACE, LOCATED AT 700 N.W. 1ST AVENUE, MIAMI, FLORIDA ("ARENA SITE"); REQUIRING GRANTEE (A) TO EXECUTE A LEASE AGREEMENT WITH THE OWNER OF RECORD FOR THE USE OF THE ARENA SITE IN A FORM REASONABLY SATISFACTORY TO THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, AND (B) TO OBTAIN ALL NECESSARY CITY OF MIAMI APPROVALS/PERMITS, AS CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO THE ISSUANCE OF THE GRANT; AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO DISBURSE THE GRANT, AT HIS DISCRETION, ON A REIMBURSEMENT BASIS OR DIRECTLY TO VENDORS, UPON PRESENTATION OF INVOICES AND SATISFACTORY DOCUMENTATION; FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF ALL DOCUMENTS NECESSARY FOR SAID PURPOSE, IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO GENERAL COUNSEL; ALLOCATING FUNDS FROM SEOPW TAX INCREMENT FUND, "OTHER GRANTS AND AIDS," ACCOUNT CODE NO. 10050.920101.883000.0000.00000. File 11-00041 01-24-2011 Cover Memo.pdf File 11-00041 01-24-2011 Financial Form.pdf File 11-00041 01-24-2011 Backup.pdf File 11-00041 01-24-2011 Legislation.pdf File 11-00041 01-31-2011 Legislation (Signed).pdf Motion by Board Member Suarez, seconded by Board Member Sarnoff, that this matter be ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote. City of Miami Page 12 Printed on 5/19/2011 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes January 31, 2011 Votes: Ayes: Chair Dunn II, Commissioner Sarnoff and Vice Chair Suarez Absent: Commissioner Gort and Commissioner Carollo CRA-R-11-0006 Chair Dunn: And that brings us to item -- agenda item number 5. Pieter Bockweg (Executive Director, Community Redevelopment Agency): Number 7, Commissioner. Chair Dunn: Seven, that's right. Five and six were deferred. Number 7. Mr. Bockweg: Item number 7 is a grant for $200, 000 to the Omni/Park West Redevelopment Association to underwrite the construction costs for an outdoor multiuse festival. This grant -- this will be located at the old arena site, 700 Northwest 1st Avenue. In reviewing this grant, Commissioners, I did have some concerns when looking at it, and I'd like to express those to you now. The first concern that I had -- obviously, in the grant -- in this item before you there are two requirements that they need to meet. Number one, they need to have an executed lease with the landowner. The concern that I have is that the lease is for two years. I believe that lease should be a minimum of three years, with some additional options to extend it. So I have expressed that to the Omni/Park West Redevelopment Association. The other requirement that I think is very necessary is I want to make sure that this piece of property does not get taken off the tax roll. I'd like the copy -- the property to stay on the tax roll even though it will be used as a quasi park multiuse facility. I'd like to keep it on the tax roll. The other thing that I have been able to do with my staff is negotiate that the park will be open to the public for free for all CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) residents within the CRA boundary. That includes all Omni, Overtown, and of course, also Midtown. Chair Dunn: If you would be so kind -- Mr. Bockweg, I know we had a little competition. Repeat that last sentence because I think that's going to be key in our deliberations, as well as the part about keeping it on the tax rolls and that kind of thing. Mr. Bockweg: Just to go over the requirements that I had mentioned. Number one, that the years of lease is longer than two years, a minimum of three, with some additional years to extend Second requirement would be that the property stays on the tax roll within the Southeast Overtown/Park West CRA. And the third condition that we were able to negotiate with Mr. Knoefler is that the park is -- will be open to the public for all CRA residents for free. When I say CRA boundary residents, that means Overtown -- Southeast Overtown/Park West, Omni, as well as the Midtown CRA. The reason why it is limited, if you will, to the residents within the CRA boundary is for insurance purposes. And I wanted to make sure that our contribution did not exceed what it is now and that -- and Mr. Knoefler agreed. And it will be opened to the public for every day during the day. It will be closed at night. Chair Dunn: Commissioner Suarez. Vice Chair Suarez: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I want to commend Brad. I went over to his place and saw the idea. It's a wonderful idea. I think he's spent his own money and his own resources to promote the idea and to design the park. I have the same -- I share the concerns of the executive director. One question that I had was is it going to be open to the public even if you're not a CRA resident? In other words, for example, someone from District 4, could they, City of Miami resident, maybe get a --? Is there going to be like an admission fee of some sort? Mr. Bockweg: Yes, sir, and I apologize for not mentioning that. It's open to the public for everybody. City of Miami Page 13 Printed on 5/19/2011 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes January 31, 2011 Commissioner Suarez: Right. Mr. Bockweg: It is free for the residents of -- within the CRA boundary. For anybody outside the CRA boundary, they would have to pay a small fee, and that fee, my understanding, is yet to be determined with Mr. Knoefler. However, I'll -- in sitting down and looking over the lease, I will make sure that that fee is nominal to make sure that that park could be enjoyed by as many people as possible. Vice Chair Suarez: And we can also, I think, you know, for City residents have one fee, and then for non -City residents, it can be another fee so that, you know, we also give a preference to the City residents who are not CRA members [sic]. In my particular case, you know, none of my district actually is inside the CRA, and I'd love for my residents to be able to access the park and to enjoy the park. You know, we've -- and I think Commissioner Sarnoff can speak to this 'cause he's been on the Commission a lot longer than I have. But they've given us kind of a hard time -- you know, the public has kind of given us a hard time; that we haven't done enough to promote park space in the City of Miami. And I think this is an incredible opportunity for us to take eight acres of urban property and convert it into something that the public can enjoy. And right now, it is desolate. It is -- it's rocks. And to think that we can get something in our urban core that is not being used and convert it into something as beautiful as that that all of our residents can enjoy is just marvelous. And you know, I do have those same concerns. I think, you know, we want to amortize obviously our investment by a longer number of years, and I am concerned about, you know, access to it and the tax roll situation. But it's something that I think is a fantastic idea. I wish we could do more of it with some of our unproductive properties in the City of Miami because it is an opportunity for us to create park space out of a very, very limited amount of supply of land in the City of Miami. So I commend you for taking the time and the energy and the effort and then the expense of putting this together. Chair Dunn: Commissioner -- Thank you. Commissioner Sarnoff. Commissioner Sarnoff Well, I echo the comments of Commissioner Suarez. I told my wife that I -- my comments would be brief tonight because it's her birthday and I think she's expecting me home, so I won't be very long. Brad, is there any way you can get us that third year? Brad Knoefler: Yeah. Hi. Brad Knoefler, 697 North Miami Avenue. I've been in conversation with Mr. Straub and we more or less agree that if he does not decide to develop the property, we can even see this five, six, seven years. I think that's been said publicly. His worry is to have his hands tied on a $28 million piece of property because of a relatively small amount of money because we're being -- we're paying in rent in the general big scheme of things. So there's a couple of options. One of them would be a three-year lease with an option to get out after two years if there's an approved MUSP (Major Use Special Permit) or a purchase of sale contract. And there might even be a possibility that we could -- we had a conversation about this late Friday night. If he decided to get out after year two, he would reimburse the CRA of one-third of the investment that they made, which I think would just be a win -win for everybody. We're basically getting the three-year commitment, but if he wants to give us back the money, he's welcome to do that and we still have the two-year fix where he cannot break the lease. Commissioner Sarnoff.- Are you equally personally guaranteeing this lease? Mr. Knoefler: Yes, I am. The beauty of this project is that it's self -financed. We're talking about a (UNINTELLIGIBLE) seed grant, which is going to allow us to both build the park and sort of activate it. All of the money is going to go to the operations and construction of the park, but the idea is we're going to generate -- and multi source -- multiple sources of revenue through events, through rentals, et cetera, et cetera, through parking revenue in order to stabilize this to allow us to provide this as a community service. City of Miami Page 14 Printed on 5/19/2011 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes January 31, 2011 Commissioner Sarnoff.- The picture that everybody's seeing to my right, which would be to your left, what is the cost for you to get to that picture? Mr. Knoefler: Right now we're looking at about a hundred and twenty something thousand dollars to get to that picture. There's some additional money in terms of a buffer to allow us to set up outdoor food concessions and things like that that we think will generate jobs. But yes, that's approximately the budgetary amount for the construction, the hard construction costs. Commissioner Sarnoff.- And I think that someone should acknowledge or at least indicate a person who -- I think I'm pretty familiar with parks. To get eight acres to look like that, if you get that far, which I will tell you, I have not seen it done yet, but if you can get eight acres of park or land to look like that for one hundred and -- how much? Mr. Knoefler: Twenty -something, yes. Commissioner Sarnoff.- -- twenty -something thousand dollars, I think we should think long and hard of putting you in charge of the City of Miami Parks Department. Applause. Commissioner Sarnoff.- That's nothing against Mr. Burkeen, but if you get us $120, 000 and it looks anything like that picture, you would be -- you'd be so far ahead of anything that we've heard in terms of budgeting and whatnot for parks. And I'll tell you why I can support you on this. It's because you're personally guaranteeing it. And your reputation's on the line because the reason I wanted to get you to say on the record for $120, 000 I can make it look like that, I wanted everyone here to know why we're voting for this. Rosa Green: Please don't. Please, I beg you. Commissioner Sarnoff.- All right, thank you. Chair Dunn: Let me -- before we take public -- I had a couple other questions -- Mr. Bockweg: Commissioner -- Chair Dunn: -- that I want -- Mr. Knoefler: Yes, sir. Chair Dunn: -- 'cause I -- just to make it clear to the residents, especially in Southeast Overtown/Park West. Somebody will say today we're giving a grant of $200,000 -- and we have given grants to different organizations in this CRA, both Southeast Overtown/Park West, as well as in the Omni. But when a person personally guarantees, that means -- if anyone here is in business -- and I see Mr. Williams -- that means he's putting his money on the line even to this extent. This is something that will beaut. In addition to the lease -- how much is the lease? What will that be equivalent to roughly? Mr. Bockweg: The -- it's my understanding that Mr. Knoefler will pay close to $70,000 every three months. Chair Dunn: Seventy thousand every three months? Two hundred and eighty -- no -- yeah, $280, 000 a year roughly, right? City of Miami Page 15 Printed on 5/19/2011 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes January 31, 2011 Mr. Bockweg: It comes -- it's like 68,000 and change. Chair Dunn: Roughly, yeah, and so about 250, 000. So while it may seem as if it's a grant, he is putting -- he does have skin in the game. Nothing -- I want to put that out there on the record because I don't want somebody to say, oh, you're giving the money all away. No -- Ms. Green: Yes. Chair Dunn: Well, I know everybody will have their opinion, but right now it's an open lot. Nothing's happening with it. Nobody else has stepped up to the table. No one else is guaranteeing anything from a personal guarantee, and in addition to that -- and just so you'll know that this is -- and I don't usually say these kinds of things, but Mr. Knoef er and I have not always been on the same side of the ledger, so -- but I can recognize and appreciate a good project. I can appreciate someone who's willing to -- and that's when politics goes out the window. And so I'm willing to give it a try, especially when there's a guarantee. So it's a win -win situation for the City, for the CRA. Anybody from the CRA zone can utilize the park -- that's why I'm glad you put that on the record, Mr. Bockweg -- for free. Mr. Bockweg: Right. Chair Dunn: Yes, Commissioner. Mr. Bockweg: Unless there's an event, of course, Commissioner. Chair Dunn: Of course, yes. There's -- something would preempt that. Mr. Bockweg: When there's an event (UNINTELLIGIBLE). Vice Chair Suarez: Mr. Chairman, thank you. Chair Dunn: Commissioner Suarez. Vice Chair Suarez: I think we've -- since I've been a board member of the CRA, we've given grants for a variety of different things. We've done it to support some businesses. We've done it for housing, and we've done it for parks. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe we gave money to rebuild the park right out here. Chair Dunn: Ten million. Vice Chair Suarez: Ten million? So we gave $10 million to rebuild a park half a block from here, and we're talking about $200,000 to build a park that is -- I think that was correct, it was five acres. Mr. Bockweg: Yeah. It's four point -- it's almost five acres. Vice Chair Suarez: Five acres, okay. I'm sorry. Nevertheless, whether it's five or eight, it's an incredible amount of land that we're bundling. That is very, very difficult to do. I can tell you because I've, you know, looked for it in District 4 and it's just not there. It's impossible to get that in District 4. And we're constantly pushing ourselves to try to create more and more park space so that our residents can enjoy, you know, open spaces so that we can cure some of the blight that's out there. We have a lot of -- you know, as Commissioner said, I was out there today and we have a lot of empty lots. We have dirty lots, lots that are filthy and disgusting, and we keep cleaning them over and over and over again and we spend resources cleaning them over and over and over again. And I was thinking today as I was cleaning an alley, you City of Miami Page 16 Printed on 5/19/2011 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes January 31, 2011 know, when am I going to be back here? I'm going to be back here next week to clean that same alley and it's going to be dirty again. What do you think, Ms. Cartwright? You think it's going to be dirty next week? Karen Cartwright: Yeah. Vice Chair Suarez: And where am I going to be, back there cleaning it, huh? Ms. Cartwright: I doubt it. Vice Chair Suarez: All right, we'll see. We'll see where I'm going to be next Monday morning. Ms. Cartwright: I'll call you. Vice Chair Suarez: No. You don't have to call me; I'll be there. You don't have to worry about it. I'll be there next Monday. But, you know, nevertheless, we're going to have to keep cleaning it over and over and over again. And you know, this is a great opportunity for a fraction of what we just spent -- is it Margaret Pace? What's the name? Mr. Bockweg: Gibson. Vice Chair Suarez: Gibson, I'm sorry. Gibson Park, where we spent $10 million in Gibson Park. Chair Dunn: Before we -- Mr. Knoefler, and then we'll hear from the rest of the residents. We do want to hear from them. How long has this -- when the arena was imploded, when they had the implosion -- how long has that vacant lot been there? Anybody know roughly? Mr. Bockweg: At least two years. Chair Dunn: At least two years, so -- Mr. Bockweg: At least. Chair Dunn: -- two years just sitting there. So with a two- or three-year lease, you still -- it's -- and no one has stepped up to the table as far as you know? Mr. Bockweg: I think this is a good example of a good public private partnership that we can carry forward in which I'd like to create more of to attract these kind of things within the neighborhood and attract more people. And I think this is a good thing for the community as well. Mr. Knoefler: Yeah. I just want to make a point about the safety and security aspects. That's come up quite a lot. Technically, this will be a private recreational facility with free membership to the residents of the CRAs, and that's how we get around this insurance snag that's prevented this. Commissioner Sarnoff has been talking about visual parks and so on for years. Part of that was the inspiration for our project. And the idea is that no homeless will be able to go on the property. It's private property, and we don't pay 50,000 a year in insurance if we have general public access. So it's a little bit of a manipulation to control the access, but allowing access to the general public. And I'd also like to see this as potentially a model -- this is a pilot project that could be duplicated around the City. You passed, the City Commissioners, last November an ordinance, Chapter 62, that allows temporary use for recreational facilities, and this is -- you have the legislative body right now that has passed the ordinance, so now it's up to people like us and organizations like the CRA and DDA (Downtown City of Miami Page 17 Printed on 5/19/2011 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes January 31, 2011 Development Authority) to start to implementing them. So thank you for your support. Chair Dunn: Before you leave, one other aspect that's been a concern of the Overtown area and definitely a concern of mine in the CRA, that's jobs. To get us to that point, God's willing, from where we are now, how many jobs do you anticipate coming out of that to get to that -- Mr. Knoefler: On a -- Chair Dunn: -- the end game? Mr. Knoefler: -- permanent basis, I would say five to seven jobs. The overall purpose of this is not as much to create jobs as it is to be a catalyst for job creation, and that's the important fact. You know, if you can have an outdoor food concession, you can have somebody that may be selling hot dogs over on 3rdAvenue that could go over, set up, and sell. You bring thousands and thousands of people for events, all of a sudden you have demand and maybe somebody in an adjacent building can open up a restaurant that will hire ten, fifteen more people. Of course, when you have the events, they're short-term jobs, but you still have jobs for security, everything like that. So, you know, we're looking to do -- hit everything all at once, but of course the real purpose is more of a catalyst to bring people here to invest than it is to specifically be a job creation mechanism, although four to five -- five to seven jobs on a permanent basis I think is pretty feasible. Chair Dunn: Let me just say this because that's precisely what Ms. Bell has been doing with the First Fridays as well. And I cried literally on MLK (Martin Luther King) Day when we had the parade and it rained because so many vendors and so many individuals were depending on that as being an opportunity. And while it may not be a bumper crop situation, it's an opportunity for them to at least, you know, get the ball moving. And sometimes that one event or those two or three or four or five, whatever the events are, gives a private vendor, hot dog vendor, rib -- someone out selling ribs, I mean, at the park. That would be -- and if the park's looking like that, I can picture myself lying down on the grass and having me a -- I shouldn't say that -- rib to smack on. Bu I -- that's -- that seems pretty cool to me. All right, thank you very much. We're going to hear from the rest of the residents. Mr. Knoefler: Thank you. Rosa Green: Rosa Green, 915 Northwest 1st Avenue. The word out is that Ms. Green is angry because she isn't getting any of the money. She thinks she's something because she has a master's degree. Well, all of that's true, but in reading the little brochure that you guys have, the CRA -- and I'm not trying to knock anybody. I know these people might want to do it, but think Grand Central Station. I think those same -- Brad owns that. What are they doing there? When that property was released, it was supposed -- when they built the arena there, it was supposed to help the people of Overtown. It didn't, none of the things that we promised. And in 1992, when I -- yeah -- retired, they had a meeting over at Booker T. Washington High School. The late Commissioner Arthur Teele, Jr. said if we vote for single districts -- because, see, I was raised in Overtown. My six children were born in Overtown; two at the old Christian hospital and the other three at Jackson Memorial -- I mean, three at -- four -- my math is fuzzy -- at Jackson Memorial Hospital. So I know what Overtown -- look how long they've been working on the Lyric Theater, over 20 years. And look at the police academy. Look at Midtown. Overnight succession. Commissioner Dunn, I voted for you. I voted for you because I thought you were going to make a difference. How can you keep giving the poorest community money away and let us suffer when I know what Overtown can be? Overtown should be -- is taxed without representation. Our people should not be lying on the street. And you know as well as I know, if you put a public park there, the homeless going to have a haven. And it's -- even if they don't, we don't want no park there. Look at all those condominiums there. And you don't City of Miami Page 18 Printed on 5/19/2011 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes January 31, 2011 pay five dollars a week. And those people -- what we need is a Midtown, a mini strip mall there where people can stop all these cars, all these cars on the highway. Everybody got to get in their car to go to a decent grocery store, okay. We can put Midtown there in two years, just like they did on 36th Street. And for you to sell the poorest community out -- and how far does Overtown go? 'Cause when you get to 22nd Street, it's a jungle. They have taken everything and renamed it. Black -- Chair Dunn: Kind of -- Ms. Green: Wait, wait, wait, Mr. Dunn. Chair Dunn: -- wrap it up. No. I'm just telling you, you got to wrap it up. Ms. Green: Let me tell you -- Chair Dunn: Go ahead. Ms. Green: -- that we are almost the forgotten people. We're exiles in our own land. They destroying everything that black people -- and you can call it the race card or whatever card -- has done here. They had a sign over there on the river, that house there, and you don't distort history, that that house was where the slaves used to sit on the porch and the people would come there and buy them. They removed the sign. I would like to see it back because that's what that house represents -- Chair Dunn: Thank you. Ms. Green: -- right there on Miami River. Chair Dunn: Thank you very much. Ms. Green: And then -- wait. Chair Dunn: No, you -- Ms. Green: Dana Dorsey -- and I'm going to stop. Chair Dunn: Okay. Ms. Green: Please just listen to me 'cause -- Chair Dunn: You got -- Ms. Green: -- I'm old and I lose my thoughts. Chair Dunn: Okay, you -- Ms. Green: Just let me say one more thing. Chair Dunn: All right, go ahead. Ms. Green: Dana Dorsey, that house, who's district is that, 17th Street and 1st --? Please let me come or let somebody -- let's get that house refurbished, okay. Commissioner Sarnoff There's a library going in there. City of Miami Page 19 Printed on 5/19/2011 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes January 31, 2011 Ms. Green: Yeah, it's supposed to be. He gave that -- Commissioner Sarnoff.- Well, the -- Ms. Green: -- black man, black like me, gave -- Commissioner Sarnoff.- -- gentleman -- Ms. Green: Wait a -- Commissioner Sarnoff.- You want to hear about it or do you want to talk about it? Ms. Green: Yes, sir, but I was going to -- Commissioner Sarnoff.- The gentleman -- Ms. Green: -- beg you to try to give us some money. Commissioner Sarnoff.- It's all appropriated. It's all -- the money's all been there. The money came from a grant. Leonard Turkel was the person who was going to be -- Ms. Green: I'll bring you the papers on that. Commissioner Sarnoff- You don't need to. I have them -- Ms. Green: You have them? Commissioner Sarnoff- -- in my office. Leonard Turkel, unfortunately, had kidney failure and he equally had another disease and he was just about incapacitated for eight or nine months . I had a choice to make. This was Leonard Turkeys sole desire, if you will, to do this. And I took the choice of allowing him to heal and allowing him to fulfill the project. Maybe that was a bad choice and maybe you disagree with it, but we're meeting next week to finalize exactly how we proceed. Nobody's forgotten about it. Those dollars are still there. He was the one that procured the money. It's really his legacy because he was the one that pushed the City towards doing it. So I can tell you that it will proceed. I could tell you that if Leonard is not physically able to do it, that we will take it over for him and keep it in his name, but that's where it stands. Ms. Green: It was -- he was at the Jefferson Reaves celebration last -- you know, I saw him, but -- and I was on that board supposedly. Commissioner Sarnoff I could tell you that today he was having kidney dialysis. Ms. Green: But there are a lot of people left, Commissioner. Chair Dunn: Okay. Just -- I'm just -- you need to wrap it up now. Ms. Green: But let me just finish, please. Chair Dunn: Go right ahead. You -- wrap it up. Ms. Green: Because I thought you -- this -- you came out here so you can hear from the people. Chair Dunn: Yeah, but there's a time -- City of Miami Page 20 Printed on 5/19/2011 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes January 31, 2011 Ms. Green: But every time the Commissioners come, everybody's in a rush. Chair Dunn: No. There's a timeframe. We have to have organization and structure. Things have to be -- Ms. Green: Yeah, because -- Chair Dunn: -- done decently and in order. That's all. Ms. Green: Thank you so much. But when I come down there -- you know, I can't come down there because I don't know you guys hours and I don't think you just sit there and wait for us to come. So when we get the opportunity to speak to you -- 'cause I heard you say -- I hate to bring up old stuff, but I got to say this to get my point across -- that you don't understand -- you don't want no white man telling a black man how to run his business. Commissioner Sarnoff said that every man that sat in your seat on the dais -- Chair Dunn: Okay, that's -- Ms. Green: -- had went down for corruption. Chair Dunn: Right, okay. That's it. Ms. Green: And that was true. But let me just say this -- Chair Dunn: No, that's it. That's it. Ms. Green: Okay, okay. Chair Dunn: Thank you very much. Ms. Green: Okay. Chair Dunn: That's it. Ms. Green: Okay. Chair Dunn: That's it. Ms. Green: Okay, go ahead. Chair Dunn: Thank you. Ms. Green: You going to speak to me? Chair Dunn: That's it. It's over. Next. Ms. Green: Thank you. Then I'll write it. Chair Dunn: Okay. Let me just state something for the record. You're done, Ms. -- Ms. Green: Okay. Chair Dunn: -- Green, for the night. City of Miami Page 21 Printed on 5/19/2011 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes January 31, 2011 Ms. Green: Okay. Chair Dunn: Let me just say something. And everyone has a right to their opinion, and I do respect each and every one of you. But one thing that I cannot take is when people don't have all of the facts and they speak without having all the facts. And if you come up to this microphone and you personally impugn any one of us, we have a right to at least state the facts. Now just so that you understand, yours truly was one of the plaintiffs for single member districts. I was one of the persons that sued the City of Miami so that we could have districts. And it had nothing to do with me running for office. It had everything with having representation in the City of Miami where at least someone from District 5 could represent this district. For the record, I'm not giving away anything. This is a -- this is not a permanent project. This is a temporary project. Now if it turns out that this is the best that comes to the table, then it has the potential, the prospects of becoming something more permanent, but this is temporary. This is something that is being utilized in the interim prior to where nothing else was being done, nothing else was being said. Sometimes in my church -- and if we have pastors around here, you'll understand what I'm talking about -- when nobody does anything, nobody says a thing. But as soon as somebody does something or attempts to do something, then everybody's against it. And so I think that's one of the things that I -- again, I respect every person, their right to give input, but I just ask that you would have the facts. I'm convinced that for now this is a good project and I' m going to support it. Next. Gloria Adams: I'm Gloria again. I have four things I want to say. One, we do network. Two, something wrong with this picture about this money, and I agree with the lady that just spoke. I agree with a lot of things that she said. Three, you all need to get out and talk to the people in the community. I looked around this room. You can sit there and you can say whatever you want to say; same game, new people. New -- everything is still the same. It's a game. And I've been working with community development, redevelopment, going down to the Commissioners. It's the same game that you guys play. It's just got a new group of people. Chair Dunn: State your name and address, please. Roy Hardemon: Roy Hardemon, 655 Northwest 48th Street. You know, Commissioners, a lot of things that Ms. Green says, I feel them, but one of the things I don't feel is that she's saying that my Commissioner is a sellout. I don't feel that. I would say this here is that the young lady say you look around the room, it's no new community faces. And you know, we got a lovely staff, but the staff got to do more outreach. We spend a lot of money in the staff and we cut back stuff left and right during the budget. And if we got this kind of staff that I see, some people should be in here to talk about any of these projects. To do something with that project, you know, I would say, look here, the arena that was torn down, in my heart, it was a joke. Something was going terribly wrong, but to try to rect ff it with (UNINTELLIGIBLE), you know, I'm with that. The issue had came that this project is -- looks as if it was more of a we're going to replace Folk Friday slowly and this is how we do it. You know, it looks like a scam so people get upset when they see stuff like this. It's not just that they want to come up here and vent to call people all kinds of names and stuff like that there. They see things happening in the community. They don't see the right things happening, and then when projects pop up, we don't have money to do projects like this. And when we come to the CRA, well, wait a minute. You don't fit the code. You don't fit this, you know -- you just can't get no project going. You got small businesses in here I know good and well that if we put enough of the CRA money in 3rd Avenue in the business, like our -- God bless his soul, Commissioner Teele had, it would make a difference for the smaller people that's in here that don't have the dollars, that these -- this project would really impact and make a difference. And that's all I want to say to you. (UNINTELLIGIBLE). Chair Dunn: Thank you. City of Miami Page 22 Printed on 5/19/2011 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes January 31, 2011 Ms. Cartwright: Good evening. My name is Karen Cartwright, and I live at 1770 Northwest 5th Avenue, in Overtown. And my question is to Mr. Knoefler. Vice Chair Suarez: Welcome to our world. Ms. Cartwright: Okay. You got a private owned company. Private -- the land is privately owned, right? Mr. Knoefler: The land is privately owned, yes. Ms. Cartwright: Okay. The CRA is giving the money -- you're asking the CRA for the money, right? Mr. Knoefler: For seed capital, yes. Ms. Cartwright: Okay, seed capital, however you call it. Let me see ifI get this right. How many lots does the CRA own in Overtown that they don't do anything with? Mr. Bockweg? Mr. Bockweg: The exact number of lots, I can't give you an answer to. However, I can tell you that there are numerous lots that have parking lots on them, as well as the Roots in the City, which are -- Ms. Cartwright: Okay. Mr. Bockweg: -- something -- Ms. Cartwright: Let me slow you down now, okay. I had a walk this morning with two gentlemen who were over here cleaning lots, okay. And I want to tell you, I asked for you and I to take a walk in Overtown 'cause I want you to see the lots that I see in Overtown. Now I have nothing with Mr. Knoefler getting some money to make the retired Miami Arena, destroyed Miami Arena, whatever -- and that was a waste of money. Pink elephant, white elephant, whatever you want to call it. What I have a problem with is every time I see a building go down in Overtown, it's a vacant lot, and I have a job to do. I got three grandchildren. Believe me, I would love to leave you all alone, but I can't leave you alone because you keep surrounding me with what, trash, empty lots, dirty lots, overgrown lots. Now the next conversation is the job promises. And I want you to put this on the record up front. When the Miami Arena was built, it promised jobs. When the (UNINTELLIGIBLE) Ferguson courthouse -- federal courthouse was built, it promised jobs. When the Miami American Airlines Arena was built, it promised what? Jobs. When Miami Dade was building their new building, it promised jobs. When the Performing Arts Center was built, it was performing [sic] jobs. Overtown -- Southeast Overtown/Park West, whatever it called, promising jobs. Camillus House, right down the street, promised jobs. The biotech center, the University of Miami, promised jobs. So Mr. Knoefler, would I have to visit you? Because if you're promising jobs and there are no jobs coming to Overtown, I'm going to be coming to see you. Chair Dunn: All right, thank you. Ms. Cartwright: Gentlemen, thank you. Chair Dunn: Okay, wait a minute. This will be the last speaker. Go ahead. Talmadge Frazier: Talmadge Frazier, 201 Northwest 7th Street. Commissioner, I support the park because it's better than a rock pit. I also upset about my community. I have not been City of Miami Page 23 Printed on 5/19/2011 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes January 31, 2011 getting involved in a lot of political stuff because a lot of people don't like my opinions. But how can you fight for a job when you have no training? I worked at the Miami Arena as a security guard. It took me going to Miami Dade to get my license to get to be a security guard. It's not -- it's your fault, yes, opportunities for us to get jobs. It's on us to have the skills to get the jobs, and that's (UNINTELLIGIBLE) our community. I talk to them about this all the time. I taught at this school. I was a school counselor here, the school PE (Physical Education) teacher, and the school CSI teacher. Eight out of the last ten blacks that got killed in Overtown was my students. I told their parents 15, 20 years ago to change these children. They did not do it. We can't come to you all the time -- and I want this on the record. Overtown residents cannot come to this community all the time blaming these people because we don't have the educational background to get the jobs. If they put them out there, you got to get your education to get them. That's on us, not on you, and I'm tired of hearing that. If you want the job, get an education to afford the jobs. Thank you. Applause. Eleanor Klueger: Good afternoon, Commissioners. Chair Dunn: Good evening. Ms. Klueger: I'm Eleanor Klueger, past president of the Omni Advisory Board. I came here today to specifically talk about number 7, which is the park that Brad is beginning -- is wanting to put there. I wanted to tell you that 15 years ago or more, we wanted to put a park -- or improve the park at Margaret Pace Park, and that did happen. It took us almost three years to get it going. It cost, I would say, $6 million. Now you are -- Omni -- I mean, we were very fortunate in getting money from the Performing Arts Center, a million four, plus other monies, plus a bond issue was issued, and we got all those dollars in order to build Margaret Pace Park. What it did for the community was to bring you the TIF money that you are now spending. It would never had happened had we listened to a lot of the government that was going to do it. This was a grassroots program that the Omni Advisory Board got involved in. They were going to fence the park. They were going to put high lights in the park. They were going to spend money on a tot lot, and we complained about it all and we were heard, and we were fortunate that there were people there that understood we needed a master plan, we needed a park that made sense. We had meetings with the entire community, and we built that park and it is a very good park and everybody's enjoying it, and the high-rises have come and your TIF money is now there. Bradley right now -- Rosa, you don't realize it. And I have worked and I understand the frustrations of the Overtown people -- Chair Dunn: I do too. Ms. Klueger: -- since I have worked on many of the committees to try to bring funding to the Overtown. I have been on -- you name it, I've been on it where there were dollars to be put into the community. And it's very frustrating to see so many dollars that have been wasted and they have been wasted. Even though they were good intentions and people wanted to do it, it didn't work out. And I can go through the list, but I'm here today to talk to you about Bradley's gift -- and I think it's a gift -- to the community of Overtown and Omni and even Midtown. And I think that if he can pull this off -- Chair Dunn: Pull it off, yeah. Ms. Klueger: -- he's done a wonderful thing for us and you should vote for it. Chair Dunn: Thank you. City of Miami Page 24 Printed on 5/19/2011 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes January 31, 2011 Ms. Klueger: And I thank you. Chair Dunn: Thank you. Applause. Irby McKnight: Irby McKnight, 1600 Northwest 3rdAvenue. I'm not here opposing the project. I'm here saying let us see how this plays out in Overtown. This is a private owned site. I've met with the owner several years ago and not long ago, and I'm not opposing it. I'm just going to say to you that if we can do all of this for private -owned land, what it is we plan to do for the land that you used eminent domain and took from this community and it's still vacant, some of it since 1982. So let's go forward with this, and then let us come back to Overtown where, since 1982, they have been waiting for the same thing. And it's documented. It's nothing new. There are 44 studies on Overtown. I thank you, Ms. Klueger, when you say how you fought for funds for this community. She did. We served on the same boards, and I always had her support. And she's right, all of it was good intention, but none of it happened. It reminds me that the road to hell is paved with good intention. I can't get that thought out of my mind. Thank you. Applause. Fred Joseph: Fred Joseph, president of the Omni Advisory Board, 1717 North Bayshore Drive. Eleanor Klueger and Mr. McKnight are a thousand percent correct. Only thing I would ask, if the Chair would allow the executive director to ask a couple -- answer a couple of my questions. One is, is the tax going to stay on the tax rolls -- I mean, the property on the tax roll at 400,000 a year or at the rate it is today? Mr. Bockweg: The property -- I'm going to propose that the property stays on the tax roll as it is accordingly assessed not -- Mr. Joseph: That's what you -- Mr. Bockweg: -- capital or -- Mr. Joseph: -- that's part of your -- Mr. Bockweg: -- limited in anything. Mr. Joseph: Very good. And the other item is, I believe the gentleman had -- oh, I'm sorry. I believe the corporation -- and I will not speak of the gentleman. The corporation should be spoke about. I believe Chairman Sarnoff of the Omni area, I think you mentioned to me one time there was an enormous amount of fines on the property because of the rock. Is that part of your definition of what --? Go ahead. Commissioner Sarnoff.- I'm not aware of where the fines stand right now. I do know that he was being charged $500 a day for each day that the rocks were on the property. I don't know the status of those fines. Mr. Joseph: And again, gentlemen, I have no dog in this fight because I'm in the Omni. I'm here to support this gentleman. I'm here to support McKnight. I'm here to support Eleanor Klueger. We did do Margaret Pace Park through quite a few challenges of our own, but we also live there, and now it's full of wonderful people. You can drive by there and see them in the hundreds at night, and that's only because items that we refused to allow, and that was fencing, non -lighting, and now it's well lit and so it's a good project. This item will do nothing but help City of Miami Page 25 Printed on 5/19/2011 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes January 31, 2011 the area better than what's there today. You're a two-year window. If it works, he'll be there for another time and entity, but if it doesn't, he'll just be another good project. But again, you've at least given this blighted area a shot in the arm. So I commend you. Go ahead. Mr. Bockweg: I was just going to mention, as of today, there are no fines on that property. Mr. Joseph: Okay. And -- but the tax roll will remain, so it's nothing but a win -win. Mr. Bockweg: I will make that -- Mr. Joseph: I mean, you know -- and if this gentleman's going to pay that (UNINTELLGIBLE) 6:23:05, this park will have to work or go home. Thank you. Grant Stern: Hi. My name is Grant Stern. I live at 275 Northeast 18th Street. As one of the few people who's actually born in Miami, attended high school in downtown Miami -- Chair Dunn: Can we pause for a moment? Mr. Stern: Certainly. Chair Dunn: We have some technical difficulties with airing this. Just for a moment, please. Why don't everybody just exhale. Go right ahead, sir. State your name again for the record and your address. Mr. Stern: Sure, sure. My name is Grant Stern. I live at 275 Northeast 18th Street. I'd like to say, as one of the few actual natives of Miami, born here, who attended high school in downtown Miami, just a few blocks from this site, as somebody who's seen the area transformed from the Wild West, a place where people were afraid to be, into what it is today, which is a transitional state, I think that this is one of the best projects I've seen. I've seen Mr. Knoefler in action before. He's gone in where the angels dare to tread. He's done very well over the last ten years in this city and other neighborhoods as well, and I think that it's a great thing that you guys are doing here and I firmly support this project. Thank you. Willie Williams: Good evening. Chair Dunn: Good evening. Mr. Williams: My name is Pastor Willie L. Williams, 1133 Northwest 3rdAvenue, resident in Overtown. This park, I just -- it sound good. It sound good. Everything sound good, but will it be good for Overtown? Will it be good for the residents of Overtown? I have yet heard him spell out, you know, what -- how the residents of Overtown will benefit from the park. What are the things will be in the park where we can really and truly enjoy and benefit as well. When CRA helped me refurbish my business, you know, they wanted me to spell out how many people that I was going to hire. They wanted me to spell out a lot of things before they helped me. And I'm talking about a person who been here. My family and I, we been here over 62 years, 62 years here in Overtown. And seems like we get more problems, you know, than people who just show up. You know, people just show up and they get the red carpet. And people who been here, been paying taxes for over 62 years, you know, we -- you know, they drag us through the mud. Doors don't open as wide and as flexible as those who comes over here for the first three, four years. And I just want to know from Brett [sic] how many people do you have slated to hire, you know, at this park? Because you said you're going to hire people here at the park and it's going to, you know, generate money, funds for the park as well as for the community. How many people are you -- have slated to work here, Brett [sic]? City of Miami Page 26 Printed on 5/19/2011 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes January 31, 2011 Mr. Knoefler: As I stated earlier, we estimate about five to seven permanent jobs. I just want to emphasize here that the way that we're setting this park up is as a platform. So basically anybody can come in with any ideas for community service, for job creation. If you or anybody else wants to talk about food concessions, about throwing events, that's the whole beauty here. It's not exclusive. It's inclusive. And we're talking about using this as a platform for job creation, but not necessarily, as I said previously, this is the job creation mechanism. It's a catalyst to help out everybody, residents all throughout the community and Omni as well. Chair Dunn: Are you finished? I mean, he -- were you finished with him or you need to ask --? Mr. Williams: Yes, I'm finished with him. Okay, so -- I'm sorry. Out of the -- so you'll be targeting the residents of Overtown as well, right? You'll be targeting -- Mr. Knoefler: I always do. Mr. Williams: Okay. All right. Chair Dunn: This will be the last person. Commissioner Sarnoff. He spoke already. Chair Dunn: He spoke on this issue already? Commissioner Sarnoff Yeah. Chair Dunn: Okay, you already spoke 'cause we -- Derek Cole: No, but not on this project. I spoke on Jackie Bell's project. Chair Dunn: I think -- yeah, you're right. He's right. Mr. Cole: This is Derek Cole, 1010 Northwest llth Street. I support the project, and I think you really -- if you look at this thing, the property owner pays about $300, 000 a year in property taxes. So a $200,000 grant is like it's not costing anybody and you're getting it off of that. The jobs that it's going to help create in Overtown and the benefit that Overtown will have is it's going to bring thousands of people to the community and it's going to change the perception so you're not looking at Overtown as such a negative, dangerous place. Thank you. Chair Dunn: We're now closing -- You're the last, and I mean it. You're the last person. No one else get up, please. Darrick Rudolph: My name Darrick Rudolph. I live at 222 Northwest 22nd Street. I'm a resident of Overtown. And I'm also a person that's trying to venture out pertaining to doing his own thing also. And I been aware of this park right here for a minute now, and I understand how someone might not know what's going on might think that it's something just came about. But it's something that I knew in my neighborhood since I been growing up about a lot of lots always be open. So if a person comes and want to do something that going to benefit the community, hey, it's all good. And I also know about other programs that's going on in this park here that's going to help our kids because I'm a coach in Overtown Optimist Club and I know that it's just not about sports. It's about green. It's about other things that going on also. And I want my kids to be exposed to all things. Thank you. Chair Dunn: Thank you. Public hearing is now closed. Commissioner Suarez. I'm sure Commissioner Sarnoff has comments as well. City of Miami Page 27 Printed on 5/19/2011 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes January 31, 2011 Vice Chair Suarez: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'd like to move the item, and I'm going to ask the executive director to give me some guidance as far as what kind of a motion would be appropriate given the concerns that we've all expressed here today. Mr. Bockweg: The item is written so that it has to be satisfactory to the executive director as far as the lease agreement's concerned. And the -- and I'll make sure that the requirements of that I've put in front of the board on the record will have to be part of that lease agreement. And -- Vice Chair Suarez: Okay, so -- Mr. Bockweg: I'm sorry, Commissioner. Vice Chair Suarez: No, no. That's fine. I just want to make sure that the things that you've expressed and that we've kind of echoed -- and I think Commissioner Sarnoff had a specific idea with reference to the lease, that that gets incorporated into the approval if -- Mr. Bockweg: Absolutely. Vice Chair Suarez: -- we have the votes to approve this. Mr. Bockweg: And I'll make it a requirement that he hires from within the Overtown community. Vice Chair Suarez: That's fine. I just -- I want to say something just about this. For me, this is a no-brainer. I mean, you know, I know that there's a lot of people here that care about the Overtown community, and I think activism -- generally community activism sometimes has a tendency to look backwards instead of forwards. In other words, to look at the things that we haven't gotten over time, to look at the mistakes that were made and instead of looking forward and analyzing this project for what it can be for the future of this community. As Ms. Cartwright said this morning, we were cleaning several lots in Overtown, and you know, I can't help but think how much more beautiful that lot in particular is going to be as a park versus an empty pebble -filled lot that it is right now that probably does need to get cleaned on a weekly basis or more. We not only saw lots that were public right-of-way and publicly -owned lots, but we saw privately -owned lots. And the one in particular I'm thinking of is the one on 69th and 7th -- or -- is that 69th and 7th? Yeah -- where we had a private owner coming to the Commission meeting last Thursday asking for an alleyway, that it be incorporated into the property. And the comment that I had, having stood on that lot several days before, the day that the officers were shot a block and a half away from there, was that it was filthy and disgusting and it was a private lot. And you know, we have to do everything that we can to promote, you know, beauty in the lots of Overtown, whether it be a botanical garden, whether it be, you know, a vegetable and fruit garden, whether it be a park, or whether it be a business or whether it be affordable housing. I can understand the frustration that there's a lot of money in the CRA and that it needs to go to -- it needs to be put to work. And I think that's the frustration in the community that we want to see that money put to work and I think the Chairman is strongly supportive of that, as am I, and as is the new executive director. So hopefully, we'll start to see that happening. And I think you'll see that the leadership of this Commission, of this body, is very different from the ones in the past, and the difference is going to be that regardless of whether we represent the CRA districts or not, we're going to be present. We're going to be physically present. And I'm sincerely hoping that that creates a tipping point in this community where people understand that we care about the community, regardless of whether we represent it or regardless of whether we live in it because it is part of one community and we all have a moral obligation to do everything that we can for the least of our City of Miami Page 28 Printed on 5/19/2011 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes January 31, 2011 brothers, I think, as someone once said. Chair Dunn: Thank you. Commissioner Sarnoff. Commissioner Sarnoff.- You know, as I was sitting here, I looked up the definition of a catalyst. It's a person or a thing acting as the stimulus in bringing or hastening a result. Now it's my opinion -- I'm not the chair of the Southeast Overtown/Park West CRA. It's simply my opinion that you need a catalyst. It's simply my opinion that you need a certain density and intensity of people going to that particular place, and you need not only African Americans. You need Anglos, Hispanics. You need everybody going to that community 'cause otherwise, simply by the density and the intensity you have, you will not be able to sustain businesses or a way of life, if you will. So there's got to be an attraction into that community. Now when I had to make the decision on -- with regard to Bicentennial Park and I had to determine whether it was a good idea or a bad idea to site a museum or two museums there, I went to Jane Jacobs' book, A Great City," and I had to look up what a vacuous park was. And a vacuous park, by her definition, was a three -sided park that had no ingress or egress. I've just described to you Bicentennial Park. The only ingress or egress to that is Biscayne Boulevard. It's got a pretty good nondescript, nonfunctioning front to get in there. And I decided that it needed a catalyst. It needed an attraction, a magnet. And I got to tell you guys here at Southeast Overtown/Park West, you need a magnet. You need an attraction. I also think you need a major employer. And the reason I think you need a major employer is 'cause that will facilitate the mom -and -pops. That's just my opinion. Now whether this park will be the be-all and the end-all that we hope it will be, I know one thing about my career here as an elected official. I want to attempt to succeed at doing something than sit here and do nothing. You know, I do not want to be successful at doing nothing. My CRA or the Omni CRA just turned around and bought the skill center. I could tell you we paid a historic low price for a building that I have people approaching us every day asking us to buy it. Yet, I'm going to attempt to do something versus succeed at doing nothing. And you know, we should look about this colorless and cultural -less. And we shouldn't look at it like, oh, you know what, a white guy's getting something and why is he getting something? And this isn't good for the black community. This is good for all of our community. And I've never noticed that a park is culturally geared to one set of circumstances. A park is a community place that me, as a Jewish American, gets to play with my Cuban -American friend or my African -American friend and throw a ball and get to learn a little bit about each other. And I just don't understand how a place that generates close to $400, 000 a year in tax rolls, there is some reticence to giving them back a $200, 000 grant, especially with the set of circumstances and criteria that are attached to it. I think it takes your chairman incredible courage to come up here and present this, an issue that I support him 100 percent on. And I think you all should think who oppose this and look deep in your heart as to why you're opposing this 'cause I think you need a catalyst. And you want to know who I think the catalyst is? I don't think it's the park. And I certainly have had historically my differences with Mr. Knoefler, but I think the catalyst is Brad Knoefler, and the day that he and I agree on something, you know, might be a new day. I happen to agree with him on this, but Brad brings ideas. And you know, before Barack Obama, used to be a dirty word in politics, change. And then suddenly an African American won on the word change. Bobby Kennedy, in 1967, said people hate change; they like progress. And suddenly, a man won on change. So how about this, Southeast Overtown/Park West, how about a little change? Why don't we let Brad Knoefler see if he can make a change in our lives? So I can support this. Applause. Chair Dunn: Before we ask for the vote, I do want to reiterate to each and every one of you, particularly those of you who have labored long and who have worked hard and who are part of the Overtown -- Southeast Overtown/Park West community, and I want to say in general, if you have something that you believe that can enhance, improve the community, the CRA, please City of Miami Page 29 Printed on 5/19/2011 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes January 31, 2011 don't hesitate to bring it to the table. I believe that's where it's at and -- Applause. Chair Dunn: -- you know, again -- and I have at least two pastor friends, and they know exactly what I'm talking about. All the time it happens in our congregations. Nothing is going on, but the minute somebody proposes to do something, boy, oh, boy, you got to fight. You know, so let's give Brad a chance. And I say this because, as Chairman Sarnoffstated and Commissioner Suarez -- I mean, Brad and I are not on the same page most of the times, but I had to go beyond that and do what I felt what might benefit the community. I put my differences aside, and I said -- and I'm not saying I know. I'm not saying I'm right. I'm not saying I'm going to be right. But as Commissioner Sarnoff said, let's give it a try. And in the interim of that, anyone that can bring a viable project to the table, you're welcome to do so. But I don't want us to forget the fact he's bringing some money to the table. So I'm not saying that you have to always do that, but he has some skin in the game. So I think when you look at all of the conditions -- Thank you, Mr. Bockweg, for negotiating and the CRA staff for what you have -- Mr. Bockweg: Absolutely. Chair Dunn: -- done to try to make this palatable for all of us and acceptable so that we can, you know, at least, you know, know that we're trying to negotiate on the best -- at the best interest of Southeast Overtown/Park West. And you know -- and to those, you're welcome to come and oppose. This is a democracy. You don't have to always agree, but what I don't appreciate is when people make personal attacks on a person, whether it by myself or anyone sitting on this dais, especially if it's not totally founded, you know. People need to understand that I lived in this area before. I actually lived in Overtown. And I will always -- I eat -- I haven't gone to your barbecue. I'm going to get some. Mr. Frazier: Friday. Chair Dunn: Friday. Okay, Friday. You got me. Vice Chair Suarez: Where on Friday? Chair Dunn: All right, Friday. Mr. Bockweg: Folk Life Friday. Chair Dunn: All right. We got Folk Life, right? Vice Chair Suarez: Folk Life. I'll be there. I'll be there on Friday. Chair Dunn: All right. I'm going to get a -- and that's -- let me get on -- stay on cue here, but I'm going to get a slab, so get me a slab ready. Now you got a shot. This is your shot now 'cause I got my other barbecue spots I go through in the hood. All right, I have to say that. Mr. Frazier: All right, no problem. Chair Dunn: All right, is there --? There is a motion by -- Commissioner Sarnoff.- And second without qualification. Chair Dunn: Okay. All in favor of this item, let us hear by saying Eye." City of Miami Page 30 Printed on 5/19/2011 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes January 31, 2011 The Commissioners (Collectively): Aye. ChairDunn: Ayes have it. Applause. 8. CRA RESOLUTION 11-00047 A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF A GRANT, IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $10,000, TO PROPOPS FOUNDATION, INC. FOR ITS ANNUAL CAMP R.E.D. BASKETBALL CLINIC TO BE HELD WITHIN THE REDEVELOPMENT AREA; AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO DISBURSE THE GRANT, AT HIS DISCRETION, ON A REIMBURSEMENT BASIS OR DIRECTLY TO VENDORS, UPON PRESENTATION OF INVOICES AND SATISFACTORY DOCUMENTATION; FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF ALL DOCUMENTS NECESSARY FOR SAID PURPOSE, IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO GENERAL COUNSEL; ALLOCATING FUNDS FROM SEOPW TAX INCREMENT FUND, "OTHER GRANTS AND AIDS," ACCOUNT CODE NO. 10050.920101.883000.0000.00000. File 11-00047 01-24-2011 Cover Memo.pdf File 11-00047 01-24-2011 Financial Form.pdf File 11-00047 01-24-2011 Backup.pdf File 11-00047 01-24-2011 Legislation.pdf File 11-00047 01-31-2011 Legislation (Signed).pdf Motion by Board Member Suarez, seconded by Board Member Sarnoff, that this matter be ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote. Votes: Ayes: Chair Dunn II, Commissioner Sarnoff and Vice Chair Suarez Absent: Commissioner Gort and Commissioner Carollo CRA-R-11 -0007 ChairDunn: And last, but not least, item -- agenda item 8. Pieter Bockweg (Executive Director, Community Redevelopment Agency): Commissioner -- Mr. Chairman, item number 8 is a grant to the Popup [sic] Foundation for -- Popup -- Unidentified Speaker: Propops. Mr. Bockweg: Propops, excuse me, Foundation -- for the annual Camp R.E.D. basketball clinic. This is an annual clinic that has done -- that benefits the community. It was originally scheduled to be located in Robert Clemente Park, and when we found out about it, it's something that we wanted to attract to Overtown so that the local residents of Overtown could take advantage of it, particularly the kids. This is a grant for ten -- not to exceed ten thousand dollars, and this basketball clinic will provide life skill training, blood pressure screening, nutrition and hygiene, dental cleaning, education clinic, eye exam, obviously some proper shooting techniques and other classes, such as teen pregnancy prevention. We think it'll be a great addition for the children of Overtown, and I know that Mr. Wade, Sr. is here who probably want to say something. City of Miami Page 31 Printed on 5/19/2011 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes January 31, 2011 Chair Dunn: Right here, sir. State your name and address for the record, please. Dwyane Wade: City of Miami, residence of Overtown. My name is Dwyane Wade, Sr. I'm the founder and CEO (Chief Executive Officer) ofPropops Foundation, Inc., which is dedicated to bringing fathers and children back together worldwide. We're in several cities. We've been doing this for over four years. Camp R.E.D. is a basketball camp and clinic. We facilitate more than just basketball camps. We do all facilities. You can have any sports venue you want. So say if it's next year, you can choose to have another sport venue instead of basketball. Camp R.E.D. basketball clinic is going to try to bring you a clinic that will involve 400 students or 400 kids from right here from Overtown from ages 9 through 12 and will be held at Booker T. Washington High School. It will be held March 15 through 18 from 9 o'clock until 2:30. The purpose of the clinic is to promote sports, teamwork, healthy lifestyle, nutrition, hygiene, and education. Once again, Camp R.E.D. is real education delivered. I'm an educator. I've been educating for 30 years. I've coached for 30 years, and I think I can bring a great program here to the city of Overtown. And these kids will be out of school at that time and I think that they need to be off the street. We all are -- a lot of us in here are fathers and I'm sure my organization should stand out to you guys by being dedicated to bringing fathers and children together. So these things that he's already mentioned about us having screens, eye screening, dental screening, blood pressure check, and talking about teen pregnancy, those are some of the things we're going to bring to you. We're also going to have a lot of celebrity athlete dads attending the four days and also other -- like actors and pretty good people to have around your children. Basically, that's it, and only thing I'd like to say to you guys as fathers, fathers, our flight in life has just begun and it's never to end so I think we all should get on board with bringing fathers and children back together worldwide. Vice Chair Suarez: Move it. Commissioner Sarnoff.- Second. Chair Dunn: All right, it's been motion and second that we approve this item. All in favor, let us hear by saying Eye." The Commissioners (Collectively): Aye. Chair Dunn: So move. Vice Chair Suarez: Congratulations. Chair Dunn: Congratulations. Mr. Wade: Thank you. Chair Dunn: Thank you, sir. Applause. Chair Dunn: Mr. Wade, there's a question that was raised by my colleague. Commissioner Sarnoff- I just want to know, when you guys played when Wyane -- when Dwyane was like 16, who was the better basketball player? Mr. Wade: Me or Dwyane? Commissioner Sarnoff Yeah. City of Miami Page 32 Printed on 5/19/2011 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes January 31, 2011 NON -AGENDA ITEMS NA.1 11-00105 ADJOURNMENT Mr. Wade: At 16? Commissioner Sarnoff Yeah. Mr. Wade: Probably me every time. Chair Dunn: Well, you know there's an old saying, the student is never greater than the teacher. Mr. Wade: He's better now. Chair Dunn: We're going to adjoin -- adjourn, and then we'll go into our Omni CRA. Is there a motion to adjourn? Just -- okay. CRA DISCUSSION CHAIR DUNN APPLAUDED COMMISSIONERS SARNOFF AND SUAREZ FOR ASSISTING WITH THE CLEAN-UP EFFORTS IN DISTRICT 5. DISCUSSED Chair Dunn: Let me also state -- I was remiss early on -- as we go to our next item, Item number 5 -- I wanted to publicly compliment and commend both of my colleagues for showing me up in Overtown today. They have -- I think we ought to give them a round of applause, both Commissioner Suarez and Sarnoff. Applause. Chair Dunn: Where is Ms. Cartwright? She met me at the door with a smile on her face and told me, guess who was in my district. So I'm very pleased and -- There is she right there. That shows how we are attempting to work together. And I do want to allay all fears that everybody will get a fair shake. We just want to get the maximum return on the investment, and that's not to take anything away from anyone. Certainly, vision is when there is nothing and then someone sees it, and I know you've done that quite well, Ms. Bell, and others. The meeting adjourned at 6:48 p.m. City of Miami Page 33 Printed on 5/19/2011