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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSEOPW CRA 2011-03-28 MinutesCity of Miami City Hall 3500 Pan American Drive Miami, FL 33133 www.miamigov.com Di • IN O9▪ IEP 19 1i? Meeting Minutes Monday, March 28, 2011 5:00 PM Frederick Douglass Elementary School 314 N.W. 12th Street Miami, Florida SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Richard P. Dunn II, 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 March 28, 2011 INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE FINANCIALS 1. 11-00244 Present: Chair Dunn II, Commissioner Sarnoff, Vice Chair Suarez and Commissioner Gort Absent: Commissioner Carollo On the 28th day of March 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 called to order by Chair Dunn at 5:15 p. m., recessed at 5:25 p. m., reconvened at 5:43 p. m., and was adjourned at 6:15 p.m. Note for the Record: Commissioner Gort entered the meeting at 5:15 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 welcome you to the Southeast Overtown/Park West CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) meeting, the Omni CRA meeting, and the Midtown CRA meeting. It is a very brief agenda so we'll try to move as thoroughly, but as expeditiously as possible. We would ask that you would refrain from -- if your pagers or cell phones are on, could you please put them on silence or either on the vibrator. At this time, I'm going to ask my colleague, who is chair of the Midtown, Chairman/Commissioner Francis Suarez, to lead us in our invocation, followed by the pledge of allegiance by Chairman/Commissioner Sarnoff. Vice Chair Suarez: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Invocation and pledge of allegiance delivered. Chair Dunn: Members that make up the CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) board today, who are present, to my far right, to your left, we have Board Member Willy Gort. We have board member, also chairman of the Midtown, Francis Suarez; Board member, chairman of the Omni, Marc Sarnoff. And I'm Richard P. Dunn, II, chairman of the Southeast Overtown/Park West. CRA REPORT FINANCIAL SUMMARY FOR THE PERIOD ENDING FEBRUARY 28, 2011. File 11-00244 03-28-2011 Financial Summary.pdf PRESENTED Chair Dunn: At this time, we will have the financial summary by Miguel. Miguel Valentin: Miguel Valentin, CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) financial officer. As we are presenting every month, this is a combined statement of financial position as of February 28, 2011. For Southeast Overtown/Park West, we are disclosing the cash balance of 28, 762, 724. And also for the month of February, there is no reportable condition to report to the board. Chair Dunn: Are there any questions? City of Miami Page 2 Printed on 9/8/2011 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes March 28, 2011 2. 11-00260 RESOLUTIONS 3. 11-00262 CRA REPORT PRESENTATION OF EXTERNAL AUDIT REPORT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2010. File 11-00260 03-28-2011 Cover Memo.pdf File 11-00260 03-28-2011 Audited FY2010 Financial Statements.pdf File 11-00260 03-28-2011 2010 Audit Results.pdf PRESENTED Chair Dunn: At this time, we will have our first agenda item. Mr. Pieter Bockweg, our executive director. Pieter Bockweg (Executive Director, Community Redevelopment Agency): Mr. Chair, I'd like to introduce Richard [sic] Tandoc, who is our external auditor, to give the financial -- audit financial statement report to the board. Richie Tandoc: Good afternoon, Chair and board members. My name is Richie Tandoc. I'm partner with Sansone, Kline Jacomino & Company, the partner in charge of the Southeast Overtown/Park West CRA's (Community Redevelopment Agency's) audit engagement for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2010. You should each have the report on the results of the 2010 audit, as well as the required communications as your auditor in accordance with the generally accepted auditing standards and government auditing standards. This report is exactly the same as the report I represented for Omni and Midtown a few weeks ago, so I'll just go over a couple of the main points, as opposed to going over every single point. On page 1, with regards to our auditor's responsibilities under generally accepted auditing standards and government auditing standards, we have issued an unqualified opinion, which is a clean opinion on the agency's basic financial statements for the year ended September 30, 2010. We also issued our report on the agency's internal control or financial reporting and on compliance in other matters for the year ended September 30, 2010. And we noted no material weaknesses or material noncompliance issues, and both reports were dated March 1, 2011. On the page 2, regarding fraud and illegal acts, we are not aware of any fraud or illegal acts that occurred during the fiscal year involving senior management or any fraud or illegal acts involving any employee that would cause a material misstatement of the financial statements. And lastly, with regards to your management letter in accordance with the rules of the Auditor General, we have issued our management letter in accordance with the rules of the Auditor General of the state of Florida, which is dated March 1, 2011. And we had no new findings for the current year. If you have any questions specifically about the financial statements or the management letter, I'd be happy to address those. Chair Dunn: Are there any questions? Thank you, sir. Mr. Tandoc: Thank you. CRA RESOLUTION A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY ("CRA") AUTHORIZING THE EXERCISE OF THE FIRST OPTION TO EXTEND THE TERM OF THE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CRA AND SFM SERVICES, INC. TO PROVIDE LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE SERVICES ON CRA PROPERTIES FOR ONE (1) ADDITIONAL YEAR, AT A TOTAL COST NOT TO EXCEED $35,064; City of Miami Page 3 Printed on 9/8,2011 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes March 28, 2011 ALLOCATING FUNDS FROM SEOPW TAX INCREMENT FUND, "OTHER CONTRACTUAL SERVICES," ACCOUNT CODE NO. 10050.920101.534000.0000.00000. File 11-00262 03-28-2011 Cover Memo.pdf File 11-00262 03-28-2011 Financial Form.pdf File 11-00262 03-28-2011 Backup (Landscape Maintenance Sites).pdf File 11-00262 03-28-2011 Backup (Original Contract).pdf File 11-00262 03-28-2011 Legislation.pdf Motion by Board Member Suarez, seconded by Board Member Sarnoff, that this matter be ADOPTED WITH MODIFICATIONS PASSED by the following vote. Votes: Ayes: Commissioner Gort, Chair Dunn II, Commissioner Sarnoff and Vice Chair Suarez Absent: Commissioner Carollo CRA-R-11-0015 Chair Dunn: Agenda item 1, but actually 3. Mark Spanioli (Director of Engineering and Construction): Good evening, Commissioners. Mark Spanioli, CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency). Item number 3 is a resolution of the Board of Commissioners of the Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment Agency authorizing the exercise of the first option to extend the term of the professional services agreement between the CRA and SFM Services to provide landscape maintenance services on CRA properties for one additional year at a cost not to exceed $35,064. In February of 2010, the CRA Board passed a resolution to contract with SFM for landscape maintenance services on CRA properties. And in March of 2010, the CRA contracted with SFM for these services. SFM's performance has been excellent, and we're looking forward to continuing with them for this year. The work has been completed on time, as per the scope of services. One correction I'd like to put on the record is that the amount after further review of our property portfolio should be $35, 620, not $35,064. It's a change of $556. Vice Chair Suarez: Move it. Chair Dunn: It has been moved by Commissioner -- Board Member Suarez. Is there a second? Commissioner Sarnoff.- Second. Chair Dunn: Second by Board Member Sarnoff. All in favor, let us hear by saying fiye. " Commissioner Gort: Discussion. Chair Dunn: Discussion, yes. Commissioner Gort: Who supervises to make sure the work gets done? Mr. Spanioli: Myself and Rey -- Reynaldo at our office. He's our project field inspector. Commissioner Gort: So you guys and the field inspector make sure that the work is being performed and done by the -- Mr. Spanioli: We are there during every -- the times that they are there cutting the grass and so forth, we are there watching over them. Commissioner Gort: Thank you. City of Miami Page 4 Printed on 9/8/2011 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes March 28, 2011 Chair Dunn: Are there any other questions or comments, discussion? We have a motion by Board Member Suarez, second by Board Member Sarnoff. All in favor -- Priscilla A. Thompson (Clerk of the Board): And Chair -- Chair Dunn: -- let's -- Ms. Thompson: -- before you take the vote, you just need to make sure that you realize this is a modified resolution based upon the change made to the -- Vice Chair Suarez: As modified. Ms. Thompson: Okay. Chair Dunn: As modified, okay. Ms. Thompson: Thank you. Chair Dunn: Is that acceptable? Commissioner Sarnoff.- Accepted -- Chair Dunn: Okay. Commissioner Sarnoff -- by the seconder. Chair Dunn: All in favor, let us hear by saying Eye." The Commissioners (Collectively): Aye. Chair Dunn: So move. Mr. Spanioli: Thank you. 4. CRA RESOLUTION 11-00258 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 $100,000, PAYABLE AT A RATE OF $25,000 PER QUARTER FORA ONE (1) YEAR PERIOD, TO NEW WASHINGTON HEIGHTS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE, INC. FOR ITS FOLKLIFE FRIDAYS OPEN-AIR MARKET; CONDITIONING THE GRANT ON THE QUARTERLY REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR; AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO DISBURSE FUNDS, AT HIS DISCRETION, ON A REIMBURSEMENT BASIS OR DIRECTLY TO VENDORS, UPON PRESENTATION OF INVOICES AND SATISFACTORY DOCUMENTATION; 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. City of Miami Page 5 Printed on 9/8/2011 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes March 28, 2011 5. File 11-00258 03-28-2011 Cover Memo.pdf File 11-00258 03-28-2011 Financial Form.pdf File 11-00258 03-28-2011 Legislation.pdf Motion by Board Member Suarez, seconded by Board Member Sarnoff, that this matter be ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote. Votes: Ayes: Commissioner Gort, Chair Dunn II, Commissioner Sarnoff and Vice Chair Suarez Absent: Commissioner Carollo CRA-R-11-0016 Chair Dunn: Agenda item 4. Pieter Bockweg (Executive Director, Community Redevelopment Agency): Mr. Chair, this is the -- a grant issuance to Folk Life Friday, in an amount not to exceed $100, 000. It will be a quarterly review, and it will be subject to the review and approval of the executive director to continue past each quarter. Vice Chair Suarez: Move it. Chair Dunn: It's been moved by Board Member Suarez. Is there a second? Commissioner Sarnoff. Second. Chair Dunn: Second by Board Member Sarnoff. Before we vote on it, I just want to applaud Ms. Bell. Just want to thank you for the marvelous presentation you had at the Folk Life Fridays on -- I know it was during the month of February. I thought it was just outstanding, the presentation that you brought about, and I wanted to compliment you publicly. Jackie Bell: I thank you, but you missed the women's month and we honored your Clerk, and it was fabulous too; wasn't it, Commissioner Gort? And the Mayor was present. So you missed that one. Chair Dunn: I do -- I hope my Clerk will accept my apologies. All right. Thank you very much. Commissioner Gort: She'll make you pay for it. Ms. Bell: And you're welcome, and thank you. And you look beautiful with your orchid on. Chair Dunn: Oh, okay. Ms. Bell: Remember, we pinned an orchid -- Chair Dunn: That -- oh, that's right. That's right. Ms. Bell: Yes. Chair Dunn: Thank you. Thank you, Ms. Bell. Ms. Bell: Thank you all so much. Chair Dunn: Thank you. There's a motion and a second. All in favor, let us hear by saying Bye." The Commissioners (Collectively): Aye. CRA RESOLUTION City of Miami Page 6 Printed on 9/8/2011 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes March 28, 2011 11-00158 A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF AN AGREEMENT, IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO GENERAL COUNSEL, WITH AKERMAN, SENTERFITT & EIDSON, P.A. FOR REPRESENTATION AND LOBBYING SERVICES BEFORE CONGRESS AND FEDERAL AGENCIES REGARDING LEGISLATIVE ISSUES AND APPROPRIATIONS REQUESTS, FOR A TWO-YEAR PERIOD COMMENCING APRIL 1, 2011, IN AN ANNUAL AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $24,000, FOR A TWO-YEAR TOTAL NOT EXCEED $48,000, PLUS REASONABLE EXPENSES AS APPROVED BY THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR; ALLOCATING FUNDS FROM SEOPW TAX INCREMENT FUND, "PROFESSIONAL SERVICES," ACCOUNT CODE NO. 10050.920101.531000.0000.00000. File 11-00158 03-28-2011 Cover Memo.pdf File 11-00158 03-28-2011 Financial Form.pdf File 11-00158 03-28-2011 Backup.pdf File 11-00158 03-28-2011 Legislation.pdf Motion by Board Member Suarez, seconded by Board Member Sarnoff, that this matter be ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote. Votes: Ayes: Commissioner Gort, Chair Dunn II, Commissioner Sarnoff and Vice Chair Suarez Absent: Commissioner Carollo CRA-R-11-0017 Chair Dunn: All right, we're moving right along. Agenda item 5. Pieter Bockweg (Executive Director, Community Redevelopment Agency): Commissioner, agenda item 5 is the extension of a lobbying service contract with Akerman Senterfield [sic] for the federal lobbyist. It's in the amount not to exceed $24, 000 per year for two years. Just to give you a little background, Commissioners, I believe this thing to be an important aspect to the CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) scope, especially during this budget cycle and all the budget crunches that we're going through. I think it's important that we have people out there representing the needs of the CRA and looking for opportunities to get additional grant monies to further our projects. In the past, Akerman has been able to receive earmarks for Camillus House in a total amount of $1.1 million, as well as for Bicentennial/Museum Park of $1.4 million. So I believe this to be an important aspect to the furtherance of the CRA projects. Vice Chair Suarez: Move it. Chair Dunn: Moved again by Board Member Suarez. Is there a second? Commissioner Sarnoff: Second. Chair Dunn: Second by Board Member Sarnoff. All in favor, let us hear by saying aye." " The Commissioners (Collectively): Aye. Chair Dunn: So move. At this time I believe, Madam Clerk, we have to recess before we go into the Omni. Is that correct? Priscilla A. Thompson (Clerk of the Board): Actually, you're going to adjourn this meeting 'cause you're all done. City of Miami Page 7 Printed on 9/8,2011 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes March 28, 2011 Chair Dunn: Adjourn. But we will -- after the Omni -- Do you have an issue today on Midtown? Vice Chair Suarez: No. Chair Dunn: No, okay. Vice Chair Suarez: No. We don't have a Midtown agenda. Chair Dunn: After the Omni, we will reconvene after and then -- because there's questions -- some -- from the public asked to speak and I'm going to grant that. But because of the time certainty with some issues, we're going to yield now and allow -- Ms. Thompson: Okay. In that case, if you -- Commissioner Sarnoff- Recess. Ms. Thompson: -- have not finished the SEOPW (Southeast Overtown/Park West) meeting, you will recess now and we'll reconvene at that point in time. Chair Dunn: Okay. Ms. Thompson: Okay. Thank you. Chair Dunn: Thank you. So we're going to re -- Ms. Thompson: Just give us about two seconds to set up. Chair Dunn: Okay. NA.1 CRA DISCUSSION 11-00326 DISCUSSION REGARDING ROOTS IN THE CITY PROJECT. DISCUSSED Chair Dunn: We're going -- we're now going to reconvene the Southeast Overtown/Park West CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) meeting. I understand that there are some individuals here that want to speak on an item. It's not on the agenda, but we're going to yield the floor for that discussion now and then we will then adjourn this meeting. Marvin Dunn: My name is Marvin Dunn. I'm the director of the Roots in the City project. About 14 months ago, the Roots in the City project submitted an application to the CRA staff to consider expanding our community garden into a true inner-city farm that over a period of three years, hiring people from the community, could become self-sustaining. That request in 14 months has not been acted upon by the CRA staff. I have been unable to get the CRA director to return a telephone call from me ever. He does not return or respond to e-mails (electronic) from me at all. He has promised, at least through someone else, the meeting on our project some months ago. That meeting has not happened. On April 26, our current contract -- grant, rather, I'm sorry, expires. And all these people you see sitting here work on this project. And as of the 26th of this -- of next month, they will be out of work primarily because of inaction on behalf of the CRA staff Now, Commissioners, we're not entitled to anything. We're just another group coming before you. We're not entitled to anything except a hearing and consideration. Yes or no or that's it. We can't and haven't gotten that. And now we're at the end of our rope. Had I not forced this matter publicly, we will be dead. We probably are dead because I did force it publicly. But I have these people here whose jobs depend upon my standing up before you City of Miami Page 8 Printed on 9/8/2011 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes March 28, 2011 advising you that this has languished for all these months and now this project is about to die. I think someone wants us out of Overtown. I don't know why I can't get a response from the CRA staff. We have turned vacant lot after vacant lot after vacant lot into productive garden space. We have numerous businesses outside of Overtown that buy fresh produce from us that these people raise. We have more orders for fresh produce than we can raise, given the amount of land we have now. The current grant that we have with the CRA, the conditions of the grant were imposed upon us. I told the CRA staff in writing a year ago November I cannot take 16 people from Overtown, put 4 of them lockstep, three months into training then you're gone, 4 more people, lockstep, you're gone after three months. I told them that will not work. For our training program to teach people to farm, we need a year so people go all the way through the whole cycle and see what happens in a year. And I explained to the CRA staff in writing I cannot train people to farm in a classroom; that it has to take place in the field raising the products. That has been an issue for months between the CRA staff and ourself [sic]. So we're here today -- frankly, I met with the staff this morning, asked their opinion about what they wanted me to do. Their desire is that I come before you and ask that the CRA Board consider extending our contract for three months so that we can meet with the CRA staff and work out a way forward. That's the staffs decision, and that's what I'm representing to you today. Personally, you can take the money and keep it because it's not worth the humiliation, begging, trying to track people down and being dismissed. In 35 years of public service in this community, I've never been treated with such arrogance and disdain, ever. There's nobody in this room whose telephone call I would not return eventually, and to not do so is arrogant, dismissive and humiliating. The last thing I want to say -- and some of these folks want to speak -- I don't know what these other people who work with you make, these other directors. I don't get paid to do this. My leadership of this project is free, and I can't reach the CRA executive director to try to work out a way forward. That's why we're now in a public meeting with me trying to bring this matter before the CRA board so that we don't die on April 26. So I do believe some other members of the staff would like to make a statement. Edward Robinson: Good afternoon, Commissioners, members of the CRA. I would like to speak on behalf of the Roots in the City. And my name is Edward Robinson. I'm employed. And I'm going to try to be brief as possible. Whatever happens today, I'm forever grateful and thankful, Commissioner Dunn, Marvin Dunn, for an opportunity, a chance. The people Overtown, the little people, the small people from Overtown. Something you should know about myself. I was sentenced to 70 years in 1990. I was released in 2010. I tried various places to get a job. I was employed by Mr. Dunn. I was taught certain skills, marketing, agriculture, several things with Roots in the City, the program. And each and every one of these members here that we have, most of them are ex -convicts. They're being pulled off the streets and taught certain things about agriculture, about cultivating fields and growing and marketing, and we're getting things done. I've worked since October. But I say to you all today, I listen tentatively to members of the board come up here with motions and make motions for this much money and that much money allocated towards this and that. That's beautiful, and it slid right through the house. It slid right through, no problem. Overtown residents, the small people, everythingI hear, what about the small people? Everything I hear what was going on with these things, nothing pertain to Overtown. Yeah, we the downtrodden. We the people that you look down on, but where is the voice for us? We vote people into office. You get our votes. And in return -- I vividly recall speaking to you, sir, Commissioner Dunn, in 2008 in prison. And I spoke with you at a Black History Month program, and you -- we talked and I asked you about jobs and things of that nature there. And you said that it was jobs available and you would be willing to assist me. Well, today, I saw homeless people out there picking up food. They were giving homeless people food. They was giving food. I picked up a plate. Yeah, I have a job and I'm able to put food on the table and do things, help my family pay bills. I feel good about myself 'cause this the first time I ever had an honest job. I'm 47 years old. I did 20 years in prison. I picked up a plate for the homeless 'cause I said tomorrow I might be homeless and I might as well get used to this here. I might be Overtown pushing a buggy, or I might be on one of yall corners with some dope in my hand or a pistol in my hand trying to live, trying to make a way for my family. Yeah, City of Miami Page 9 Printed on 9/8/2011 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes March 28, 2011 it's no telling. I remember you saying that guys in Liberty City were on your corner selling dope and et cetera, et cetera. And you said, no, we're not going to have that, and you stepped up there and said no. And I respect that. That's a man. I lived like that once upon a time, and I don't want to live like that no more. These men and women here don't want to live that no more. We don't want to live that. We want a chance and we want an opportunity, but we want some of you people -- the bigwigs who hide behind the scenes -- see, because it's not one person decision. You have the power, sir, to continue to fund this program. It's very beneficial. It's very -- Roots in the City is very beneficial to the residents of Overtown. It is helping -- it's training these men and women here who've been on drugs. This young sister here, she was on crack cocaine for 16 years. She changed her life. She working now. She paying her bills. But if you don't help funds these program -- this program, Roots in the City -- like we are with the Biscayne Bay project and the hotels and things of that nature there. I know it's more in it for them people there. See, it's more in it for them things. You don't really see anything with this here, with the small -- this is a small thing. And the (UNINTELLIGIBLE) might be greater, but do not sell souls for (UNINTELLIGIBLE) prices. Don't sell your soul for (UNINTELLIGIBLE) price. Don't leave the little people. Who going to look after the little people? Who going to speak up for the small people who have no voice? I'm not afraid to tell you to your face I will speak and I'm not afraid of anything. I ain't got nothing to lose. And I ain't really got nothing to gain. Chair Dunn: You do. Mr. Robinson: But I'm here as a man on behalf of Roots in the City, and I am forever grateful to Dr. Dunn for what -- he's given me an opportunity, a chance, the only man. Thank you. Frank Magee: Commissioner, CRA. My name is Frank Magee. I'm one of the growers, but I volunteer my time out there. I said I'm one of the growers at Roots in the City that Dr. Dunn and I got together and discussed this. I volunteer my service out there, and I run across young ladies and young mens [sic] who want to know about 4-H (Head, Hearts, Hands & Health) Club. How many peoples [sic] know about 4-H Club and what the meaning of a four leaf -- ? Not just the leprechaun, but it's about growing. And I tries to spread farming around. We grow plenty of crops over across in Roots in the City. We have volunteers come all the way from Philly, Durham, and Raleigh. Young ladies, young mens [sic] come off farms. Some of them never participated in that. They may have a cattle farm out from, like I say, Sarasota. They come out and they want to learn and we teach them, but you just cannot just teach them overnight. But the little bit that they do learn from Roots in the City goes a long ways because half of them don't know anything about vegetables. Thank you. Chair Dunn: Thank you. Is there anyone else? Maggi Pons: Hello. My name is Maggi Pons, and I'm here as a citizen of Miami and also as a part of Roots in the City. I've traveled all over the world and all over the United States, and one thing that Miami always lacks is community building. And CRA, right there in Miami, community redevelopment. It's sad 'cause we have to redevelop Miami. The one thing that the gardens do offer is community building. We have people from all over the United States come and volunteer. We have people from the Gables, from parts of the City that would never, ever, ever in their wildest imagination even think of coming to Overtown. And they love it. They absolutely love the gardens. We are able to show that Overtown has a possibility, has a future, has a dream. My own family always tell me, how can you possibly work in that area? And I've proven them almost two and half years nothing has ever happened to me. If anything, the community has done nothing but embrace me and love me. And basically, Commissioners, I would like to say now as part of Roots in the City this is your opportunity. Every man and every woman in life wants an opportunity, and this is your opportunity Overtown to make a difference, to save jobs by preserving our Overtown market, which we have worked very, very hard to get and be able to sustain. Also, the gardens, the farms, which not only employ people, they feed people, they teach people. They cure their souls. We talk about building a community in City of Miami Page 10 Printed on 9/8/2011 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes March 28, 2011 Overtown. I've never come across a community more heartbroken, and I've never found more joy than to sit there with people who I would have never met and realize that everybody in that part that we call basically the dumpster of Miami had a dream or has a dream. All I ask is to please take a minute and realize you can make a difference by letting them be fed, employed, and empowering, truly empowering the people of Overtown. Thank you. Mr. Dunn: So just in closing, I would like to ask the CRA Board if you would consider our request to extend our program so that we can work out an arrangement with the CRA staff to continue this project in a way that would be beneficial to the community, to the CRA, and to the larger community as well. Thank you. Chair Dunn: Thank you, Dr. Dunn, and thank you, each of you who came and spoke so passionately about your involvement in Roots in the City and how it has definitely made a difference. What I'm going to do is ask the staff to have a meeting in my office . I cannot speak now in terms of what has happened. I really don't know what -- and that I don't think this will be the place to do it, but what I will do -- Mr. Bockweg, when is our next CRA meeting? Mr. Bockweg: April 25. Chair Dunn: April 23? Mr. Bockweg: Twenty-fifth. Chair Dunn: Twenty-fifth. Okay, so -- and the funds end on the 24th? Mr. Bockweg: Twenty-sixth. Chair Dunn: On the 26th. Mr. Bockweg: We'll be in time. Chair Dunn: So if we were hypothetically to approve some type of agreement of some sort, that would not interfere with them -- it would be continuity in it, right? Mr. Bockweg: That's correct. Chair Dunn: Okay. What I'm going to do is schedule a meeting in my office with the staff and see if we can work that out. But I do want to state for the record because I don't want anybody to leave here thinking -- and it's not to impugn anybody or anything of that nature, but I don't want anybody to think that Roots in the City has not been funded. It has a record of, I believe, close to half -- What is it? Mr. Bockweg: Half a million dollars. Chair Dunn: -- a million dollars from the City of Miami. So I don't want that to go out like, you know, we're just giving money to the big developers and big -- because that could be perceived as, you know, me -- like you used the word, and I'm not offended by it. I understand. I will never sell my soul, but I want to say that just -- that's not the way I'm operating. But we want to try to get the best -- and that is -- there is no -- Dr. Dunn, there is no agenda to get Roots out of the city, not on my part. We just want to make sure that the investment that we make on behalf of the dollars, just like we're doing with all the developers, that at the end of the day that -- we are concerned about jobs. And I like -- I'm impressed with what I see today. I have a heart for individuals who might have had brushes with the law. That was -- I was that way before I came here. I'm that way now, and I'll be that way when I leave here because I care about people. And I'm a beneficiary of second chances, so I understand. I feel you loud and clear. And I wanted to City of Miami Page 11 Printed on 9/8/2011 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes March 28, 2011 compliment you, Dr. Dunn, for the work you do, not just with this project, but what you've done in trying to beaut Overtown for years when you were professoring at FIU (Florida International University). So I do acknowledge that. I -- this board and this chairman is about -- and it's not just -- in general, so people will understand -- it's about productivity. And if it's producing, if it's helping to produce jobs in the community, if it's helping to alleviate and allay some of the blight, and if it's about the quality of life, that's what we're about. That's my whole reason, and I do understand that. So the best I can do -- I don't want to make a decision on the cuff, but what we will do, we will have a day or two cushion to approve it, and then that way the program could continue if that is the decision that -- I don't see no reason why it can't, but I believe there are some things that we want to try to recommend hopefully to involve maybe some others where it will even be better and could expand more. So I have no intentions of any shape, form or fashion, neither does the executive director or anybody to try to obliterate or to destroy the hard work that you've done. But we just -- that's the same thing we've done with Folk Life. We did the exact same thing with them, with Ms. Jackie Bell, and she pitched a fit the first time and -- in February and in March. It came up to a strong, strong level because we're doing that. But I appreciate you coming forward. You don't have to worry about me ever -- I've got too many other problems to be vindictive. That's not my nature or style, but I am about trying to move forward and so has -- I have all the confidence in our executive director. He has moved -- if you look to your left or to the north of this building, you see progress. Progress hopefully will be coming soon in some more ways, and so we do support that. But we will set up a meeting with my staff, with the CRA and yours to try to get this resolved amicably and as expeditiously as possible so that you can continue to do the kind of work that you're doing and yield hopefully the kind of benefits that will be a blessing and a benefit to the entire community. Any other comments from my colleagues? Commissioner Gort: Mr. Chairman -- Rosa Green: Mr. Dunn. Commissioner Gort: -- I think that she wants -- she'd like to speak. Chair Dunn: Oh, yes. Go right -- yes. Ms. Green: My name is Rosa Green, and I live at 915 Northwest 1st Avenue. I am a pioneer Miamian. I have lived in this city for 68 years. Most of the time was spent right here in Overtown. And I, too -- even though I'm a retired teacher -- is one month from being homeless. 'Cause if my retirement check don't come, Social Security doesn't come, I will be homeless, so I have a lot of feeling and passion, sympathy for homelessness. However, I grew up in Overtown and Overtown is not a garden city. When I grew up here, we had a area, 4th Avenue to 3rd Avenue, 14th Street to 13th Street, and they called it Good Bread Alley. The people -- I'm older than everybody in here, so I'm going to bring you up to par ifI have a minute. Commissioner Gort: Not me. Ms. Green: The people used to sit -- my house -- it was a bunch of little houses, you know, from 4th Avenue to 3rd Avenue, and I lived facing the street, which was 4th Avenue. The people used to sit -- come out the alley, sit on my steps, our porch, and wait for the trucks that come from down south so that they could harvest the gardens and they got paid daily. And my mother had one -- two children, but I was the only one living at the time, and I wanted to go because they got paid by the night -- I mean, by the day when they got through at work. So I begged my mom to let me go one day and I went. And that day, they was cutting okra, and I didn't know that okra sticks. And I decided then that that is not the way I want to go. To make a long story short, I went to school. I went to four elementary schools, a couple of high schools before I finished 12th grade. And then I thought I'd had enough schooling. I said, when I finish 12th grade -- I had to do that for my mom because she stressed it. She was as sixth grade dropout and had my brother City of Miami Page 12 Printed on 9/8/2011 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes March 28, 2011 and I when she was very young. And she -- every day, go to school. I couldn't go. I had to work the gardens. So I said, well, I owe it to her to finish 12th grade. To make a long story short, after six children, I went back to school to get a degree, but at the age of 50, the first one; 85, the second one. I had two before then. The two I had before then, degrees, mother's wit and common sense. Now we can get success without college, and you don't have to work in a farm. The money that you give to plant collard greens and whatever else on that ground is hallowed ground. The likes of Ray Charles, Otis Redding, Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye, Midnighters, Soul Stirrers, Sam Cook. I could go on and on. We had a hotel over here. We had restaurants over here. And when you walked down 2ndAvenue, you walked with pride, okay. You walked with a lot of pride. We had L&L Men's Store that sit -- sits on Miami Avenue was on Northwest 2ndAvenue. All the businesses that you have in the other districts, trust me, we had them. Yes, we had people -- it's good and bad no matter where you go. There are people my color, my ethnic group, American black -- we call us African American. I've never been to Africa, and I live -- grew up with people who was from the Bahamas that had never been and it's right across the water. I've had the opportunity to go there several times. My point is when the garden goes down, we have nothing left. Let's get a building there. There are a lot of jobs. As a matter of fact, my daughter, who's cosmetology, she made more money doing hair than I did teaching school. So you can learn skills, but we need to rehab these buildings, and we have a lot of them. We have a lot of empty properties over here. Why -- would you put collard greens down in Palmetto Bay and Coral Gables and Brickell? Let's ask for some money to build a building and train you guys. You can get train -- I was trained as a nurse's aide. I integrated Miami Heart Institute. And when we went there, after they trained me, they had a -- I like for the -- you -- I can't think of your name; senior moment here. Commissioner Gort: Sarnoff. Ms. Green: Yeah. They had a building here was called Manpower, and what it did, people like these who -- and I have a daughter who probably -- she has been in the penal system, and I'm not ashamed of it because one thing she always say, she know it wasn't my fault, you know what I'm saying. That was a life she chose. So what I'm trying to say, you can go and get a training to make more money than some of us with degrees. So don't count yourself out. You're young people. I went back to school at 50. You don't want to be out there digging up some collard greens. There's no money there. Let's ask for some money to rehab -- it's a lot of empty buildings. I ride around here in Overtown and that's about as far as I can go with the cost of gas now and see a lot of empty, nice buildings that I would like for somebody to put another Lindsay type, you know, place there. I would like to be of some help. We got children -- Mr. -- Commissioner Dunn, that can't even write their names straight in the fourth grade. I'd like for you to go around to some of these schools in Overtown and that's what I wanted to do, but everybody say they don't have any money, just to teach them how to write their name properly. We need that. We need carpetbaggers to stop coming to Overtown. You know, you come on a mission to get what I can get, give nothing back and leave. And I'm older now. I don't know when God will call me home, but I hope and pray that we get somebody that really want to help the people of Overtown, but not planting collard greens. It's horrible out there. Chair Dunn: Okay, that's -- Ms. Green: Thank you so much -- Chair Dunn: Thank you. Ms. Green: -- for letting me get some of it out. I know I forgot a lot -- Chair Dunn: Thank you. Ms. Green: -- but when I write a note, I forget to look at the note. City of Miami Page 13 Printed on 9/8/2011 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes March 28, 2011 Chair Dunn: Thank you. Commissioner Gort: I'm glad you forgot a lot. Ms. Green: So thank y'all for tentively [sic] listening. And anything you want to know about Overtown for the last 70 years, you can ask me. Trust me, I can answer the questions. Thank you. Chair Dunn: Thank you, Ms. Green. I think -- I don't want to get into -- I think basically just a discussion that we want to deal with as it relates to Roots in the City, and certainly, everyone has their opinion and we respect their opinion. We will set up a meeting so that we can move forward and come to some type of resolution. I do believe that if done properly, there should be room for everybody. Board Member Gort. Commissioner Gort: Thank you. First of all, I've known Dr. Dunn -- I won't admit how many years we go back in doing social work and helping the community. And even two of my girls came over to plant trees here in Overtown and worked with him quite a bit. I think it's worth -- that his dedication to this area has been tremendous and I think (UNINTELLIGIBLE) should respect. The one thing that I -- and I don't know what the problem is between staff and Dr. Dunn and -- but I don't think there's no reason why people should not return the phone calls, but that's something you all have to discuss. And I can understand with -- first of all, I'd like to admit that we do have a lot of programs to help the homeless, quite a few. My understanding, I think it's about $20 million a year that we spend in trying to help the homeless. But I think the work that Dr. Dunn is doing is a tremendous work. And I can understand some of these lots that you're using as a garden, if they're going to be built in the future, I think it's going to produce a lot more with the building than with a garden. That's something that we need to analyze. But in the meantime, we've had programs in the past where we have vacant lots that we try to maximize and the use of it. While we have empty lots in here, I think if we can use it and maximize it, we should go ahead and do it. Chair Dunn: Before we close out, I'm going to at least allow Mr. Bockweg an opportunity to respond, and then we're going to close it out because we've already at least for now -- Commissioner Gort: You have to hear both sides. Chair Dunn: -- have a resolu -- yeah, and that's -- and I appreciate that astute observation on your part, Board Member Gort. Mr. Bockweg. Mr. Bockweg: Mr. Chair, thank you. I think that even though I can understand Dr. Dunn's frustration as far as the grant application is concerned itself. One of the things that I did when I became executive director was take a look at all the grant applications that were in place and making sure that they were fully working to their best ability and so that we get the most return out of what we are investing in the community. As far as the communication is concerned between Dr. Dunn and I, I can assure you that I have had two phone call messages that I -- was given to me regarding Dr. Dunn. I did forward them to Clarence, my assistant director of Overtown, and Clarence Woods did speak with him twice or at least one of those times and did return the phone call. As it relates to meeting with Dr. Dunn, the last time I met with him was, I believe, in reference to a problem that he was having with the water supply to his properties and the planting. It was an emergency. It was an important meeting. We arranged our schedules around so that we could accommodate Dr. Dunn and meet with him, but in no way, shape or form am I ignoring him reaching out to me or our staff or the CRA. As you know, Mr. Chair or Board Member Gort, one of the reasons why I wanted to have an assistant director for Overtown and one for Omni was so that the public's concerns would be addressed and would be returned. And I can tell you that my assistant director for Overtown did return the phone calls and did City of Miami Page 14 Printed on 9/8/2011 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes March 28, 2011 speak with Dr. Dunn. Chair Dunn: Any further comments from my -- All right, motion to adjourn. Commissioner Sarnoff. So move. Chair Dunn: Good evening. City of Miami Page 15 Printed on 9/8/2011