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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSEOPW CRA 2011-04-25 MinutesCity of Miami City Hall 3500 Pan American Drive Miami, FL 33133 www.miamigov.com Di • IN O9▪ IEP 19 1i? Meeting Minutes Monday, April 25, 2011 5:00 PM Doubletree by Hilton Grand Hotel 1717 North Bayshore Drive Miami, FI. 33132 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 April 25, 2011 FINANCIALS 1. 11-00351 RESOLUTIONS 2. 11-00352 On the 25th day of April 2011, the Board of Commissioners of the Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of Miami met in regular session in the Grand Ballroom at Doubletree by Hilton Grand Hotel, 1717 North Bayshore Drive, Miami, Florida. The meeting was called to order by Chair Dunn at 5:40 p. m and was adjourned at 7:13 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 Present: Chair Dunn II, Commissioner Sarnoff, Vice Chair Suarez, Commissioner Carollo and Commissioner Gort CRA REPORT FINANCIAL SUMMARY THROUGH MONTH ENDING MARCH 31, 2011 File # 11-00351 04-25-2011 Financial Summary.pdf PRESENTED Chair Dunn: We're prepared now to call the Southeast Overtown/Park West CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) meeting to order. At this time, we're going to ask for the financial summary report. Miguel Valentin: Good evening, again. Miguel Valentin, CRA financial officer. We're going to be presenting the combined statement of financial position as of March 31, 2011 for Southeast Overtown/Park West. The cash balance for March 2011 was the amount of 29, 096, 274. Again, there is no reportable condition to make you aware of for the month of March 2011. If you have any -- Chair Dunn: Are there --? Yeah. Are there any questions from my colleagues? Commissioner Carollo: Mr. Chairman. Chair Dunn: Yes. Go right ahead, Commissioner Carollo. Commissioner Carollo: Again, some of the same comments that I will have now I said in the last meeting. So to avoid a lengthy conversation or discussion, I'm just going to say that, once again, some of the same comments that I made in the last meeting as -- with regards to the finances pertain to this meeting. Thank you. Chair Dunn: Are there any other questions, comments? Thank you very much. CRA RESOLUTION A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY ("CRA") AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF THE City of Miami Page 2 Printed on 9/8/2011 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes April 25, 2011 3. PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CRAAND HORSEPOWER ELECTRIC, INC. TO PROVIDE STREETLIGHT MAINTENANCE SERVICES ON CRA MAINTAINED STREETLIGHTS FORA ONE (1) YEAR PERIOD WITH THE OPTION OF FOUR (4) ADDITIONAL ONE YEAR PERIODS, AT A TOTAL COST NOT TO EXCEED $25,000 PER YEAR; ALLOCATING FUNDS FROM SEOPW TAX INCREMENT FUND, "OTHER CONTRACTUAL SERVICES," ACCOUNT CODE NO. 10050.920101.534000.0000.00000. File#11-00352-04-25-2011-Cover Memo.pdf File #11-00352-04-25-2011-Financial Form.pdf File 3 11-00352-04-25-2011-Backup.pdf File# 11-00352-04-25-2011-Backup.pdf File 3 11-00352-04-25-2011-Backup.pdf File # 11-00352-04-25-2011-Legislation.pdf Motion by Board Member Carollo, seconded by Board Member Suarez, that this matter be ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote. Votes: Ayes: Commissioner Gort, Commissioner Carollo, Chair Dunn II, Commissioner Sarnoff and Vice Chair Suarez CRA-R-11 -0022 Chair Dunn: Resolution 2. Pieter Bockweg (Executive Director, Community Redevelopment Agency): Item number 2, Mr. Chairman, is the new contract for the streetlight maintenance that was before you in the Omni CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) agenda for the new REP (Request for Proposals) that went out for a lower -- lowest bidder was $11.40. Commissioner Carollo: I'll move it for discussion. Chair Dunn: There's a -- Vice Chair Suarez: Second. Chair Dunn: All right, we have a motion for discussion by Commissioner Carollo, seconded by Vice Chairman Suarez. Commissioner Carollo: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Again, same question that had with the other CRA. This is a one-year contract with four additional years. However, before any of those additional years can go through, it needs to come back to this Board for approval, correct? Mr. Bockweg: That's correct. Commissioner Carollo: Okay, thank you. Chair Dunn: Are there any other questions? We have a motion and a second. All in favor, let us hear by saying aye." The Commissioners (Collectively): Aye. Chair Dunn: So move. CRA RESOLUTION City of Miami Page 3 Printed on 9/8/2011 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes April 25, 2011 11-00353 A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO EXPLORE A COLLABORATION WITH THE MIAMI-DADE COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD TO REBUILD FREDERICK DOUGLASS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AS A K-8 WITH PROGRAMMATIC FOCUS ON SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATHEMATICS, INCLUDING A FUNDING PARTNERSHIP UNDER MUTUALLY ACCEPTABLE TERMS AND CONDITIONS, AS WELL AS A POTENTIAL COLLABORATION WITH MIAMI-DADE COLLEGE FOR THE PURPOSE OF SEEKING GRANT OPPORTUNITIES FROM THE STATE. File # 11-00353-04-25-2011-Legislation.pdf Motion by Board Member Sarnoff, seconded by Board Member Carollo, that this matter be ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote. Votes: Ayes: Commissioner Gort, Commissioner Carollo, Chair Dunn II, Commissioner Sarnoff and Vice Chair Suarez CRA-R-11 -0023 Direction by Vice Chair Suarez to the Executive Director to conduct an analysis or study detailing how improving the school system improves the relative wealth of the people who are participants in that system; further, provide the board with any prior studies that demonstrate said benefits before a decision is made to devote CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) funds to the project. Chair Dunn: Next resolution. Pieter Bockweg (Executive Director, Community Redevelopment Agency): Resolution number 3, Mr. Chairman, is a project that I've been initial -- had an initial conversation with the School Board on. It related to Frederick Douglass Elementary. We -- this is authorizing me to sit down and negotiate terms that are agreeable to both parties for the reconstruction of Frederick Douglass Elementary from an elementary school to a K-8 school. This item did go in front of the School Board, which was met with positive feedback from the School Board, and this is authorizing me to go ahead and sit down and start negotiations with the school administration. Chair Dunn: Thank you. Are there any --? I did see some represent -- yes. There's a representative -- there's some representatives here from Miami -Dade County School Board. Would you please state your name for the record. Greg King: Good afternoon. Greg King, assistant to School Board member Dr. Dorothy Bendross-Mindingall, address 1450 Northeast 2nd Avenue, 7th Floor, Miami, Florida. Again, I'm Greg King, assistant to Dr. Dorothy Bendross-Mindingall. Unfortunately, the School Board member has had a death in the family and could not attend. However, she asked that I attend on her behalf and share her thoughts and gratitudes with you. We're very excited about this opportunity. While the elementary schools in Overtown -- in the Overtown area have an enthusiastic core of teachers and dedicated administrators, the facilities and technology lag behind schools in other areas. The last elementary schools constructed in Overtown were built in the 1950s. That is not to discredit anyone because of the historic nature of Overtown with it and Coconut Grove being the first areas of Miami settled by African Americans. It expected to have -- it is expected to have some older structures in the absence of redevelopment. Many of our community's leaders, however, began their education in the halls of these schools and owe a lot of their successes to the time spent learning in them. However, technology and education has changed greatly since the construct -- their construction and it's always better to be able to update your facilities to keep up with those changes. Due to the limited capital resources of our City of Miami Page 4 Printed on 9/8/2011 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes April 25, 2011 school system, we can only do so much. That is why we are grateful to the Southeast Overtown/Park West CRA for stepping forward and leading the charge to reconstruct Frederick Douglass Elementary. And we hope you won't stop there 'cause I think we have a couple of other elementary schools in the CRA also, so this will be the first of a couple more. Many of you know that Overtown was considered the Harlem of the south and moved almost hand in hand with the renaissance that was being experienced in New York. That was an artistic movement. But now we feel that we are moving on a social development renaissance in Overtown. We are thrilled that the Southeast Overtown/Park West CRA has seen the importance of education in its thrust for change. We know that this attention to education is in no small part due to the vision of its chair, Commissioner Richard P. Dunn, II. Through your leadership, our children will benefit from a new greenway, a new park, and now a new school. This school will be on par or ahead of most. The curriculum will be focused and follow a pattern that prepares students for the changing global economy. There will be programs that are focused on science, math, and technology. It will be organized as a K-8 center, and we have staff here to better explain to you the curriculum and the construction. But the K-8 center is an environment that we have found to be very beneficial to our students because of the focus on academics. It is over subscribed by many parents because -- and some of the K-8 centers have waiting lists because of the nurturing environment and the continuity they offer. Our school district is in support of this project and will provide the support that is needed to make it a reality from thought to finish. Also, we are interested in protecting this opportunity for the children in Overtown. Too many times organizations benefit financially by working in certain ZIP (Zone Improvement Plan) codes, but do not invest financial resources in those same ZIP codes. The CRA, by its charter and practice, is antithetical to that practice. And we, as a School Board, are committed to making sure that does not happen with this opportunity. Again, we cannot say enough about our enthusiasm and appreciation for this project and the vision of Commissioner Dunn and your Board for stepping up to improve our community. We know that the CRA has done a great deal to support our business community, but we also want to recognize you for being in the business of providing support for the entire community. Thank you. Chair Dunn: Thank you. Are there any others that would like to speak on this item? Would you please come forward? State your name for the record, please. Jaime Torrens: Thank you. Good afternoon, Mr. Chair, Board members. My name is Jim Torrens. I'm the chief facilities officer for Miami -Dade County Public Schools; address, 1450 Northeast 2ndAvenue. Thank you again for the opportunity to be here. We're very pleased. As Mr. King mentioned our board unanimously approved this resolution at the last board meeting. I'm here just to answer any technical questions you may have regarding the construction. Ms. Ana Rijo-Conde, our planning officer, is also here should you have any questions. Chair Dunn: Is there anyone else from the public hearing? Darrick Rudolph: Darrick Rudolph, 222 Northwest 22nd Street. I'm a parent and a member of Overtown Optimist Club. I think this will be a great project, you know what I'm saying, for our kids, and I'm hoping that y'all approve it. Chair Dunn: Thank you. There's no other person -- okay, we have one other person and we'll close the public hearing. Grady Muhammad: Good evening, Mr. Chairman, Commissioner -- Board of Commissioners, staff, Madam Clerk. Grady Muhammad, CEO (Chief Executive Officer) of Miami Dade First, 5800 Northwest 7th Avenue, Suite 212G. We have to take care of our children. I have three boys, 17, 13, 5, and I'm also the PTSA (Parent Teacher Student Association) treasurer for Charles Drew for my school. We have to ensure our children and our future and the facilities. They have to have the best facilities that they can be able to learn. I'm in very much in support of this. We have to just continue with science, technology. We looking at the thing that only City of Miami Page 5 Printed on 9/8/2011 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes April 25, 2011 three out of ten in Dade County has access to Internet. We have to ensure the access to the Internet so that the digital divide does not continue to get -- the disparity grows. We have to ensure everyone has a computer, either access to it at their home or at the library or facilities that the CRA create, like Frederick Douglass. And I -- again, I'm very much in support of it. Thank you. Rosa Green: Rosa Green, 915 Northwest 1st Avenue. I did not know that this was going to be on the agenda about Douglass, but I am so happy because I have a great-granddaughter that attends that school, special needs, and I know it would be one of the best things that ever happened to Overtown. And I certainly hope that you guys will approve that. Thank you. Chair Dunn: All right. The public hearing is now closed. Is there a motion? Vice Chair Suarez: I have a few questions, Mr. Chairman. Commissioner Dunn: Sure. Vice Chair Suarez: Thank you. The first question that I have -- I guess it's for -- more for our executive director than it is for anyone else. Is it says here on the bottom of the item, it says funding not required, I see here. Mr. Bockweg: Well, this item is allowing me -- authorizing me to start negotiations. So this is not actually the -- this is not the item for the actual contract or the terms that we're going to come to terms with. This is just authorizing me to sit down and talk. Vice Chair Suarez: Okay. That was one of my questions. The second one is in Overtown we lost a private parochial school there not too long ago called St. Francis Xavier. And I think it was a tragedy that the Overtown community couldn't sustain that school. Believe me, my family tried many, many years over many, many decades. And had charter schools been then what they are today, there's a possibility -- there's a very strong possibility that St. Francis Xavier would still be open today. We have in District 1 a school that was also on the brink of closing, Corpus Christi, that is benefiting tremendously from the charter school concept. So clearly, I think we want to do everything that we can to support our public schools and our schools in the areas that are -- where there's the greatest need. In the break, someone came up to us and asked us and so I'll ask the question of the executive director. How does dedicating resources to this school reduce slum and blight or increase TIF revenue? Can you explain that? Mr. Bockweg: Well, it's -- this is a school, so it's not going to increase, obviously, TIF revenue originally. I believe this does do away with slum and blight because it's the children. It's the children that we need to focus on and educating the children for the future. I'm a big proponent in the school system. If you provide them a good place to learn, a safe place to learn and a fun place, that will only carry over to when they leave the school, and that carries over to their homes and their environment and how they interact with one another. And I think that, you know, that's a big part as far as the slum and blight. I'm sorry, Mr. Chair. Chair Dunn: No, no. You're doing quite well, Mr. Executive Director. I -- soon as you finish, I'd like to comment on it. Mr. Bockweg: I think that, Commissioner, the new school system obviously will -- the focus will be on the children of Overtown and that will -- the priority will go to the children of Overtown. That's not to say that there's not enough capacity or wouldn't be enough capacity -- and I can't speak to this 100 percent because we obviously haven't been -- I haven't finalized anything -- for other schools [sic] from other districts to also attend. And I think that has a domino effect of people coming into the community and seeing the community and seeing how the community's changing and bettering itself. And that -- it will translate to people moving in, you know, City of Miami Page 6 Printed on 9/8/2011 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes April 25, 2011 businesses coming and just overall -- you know, the community increasing in overall value. Vice Chair Suarez: I think maybe -- if I may just -- Chair Dunn: Go ahead. Vice Chair Suarez: I'm almost finished If I -- Chair Dunn: Yeah, no, take as long as you need to. Vice Chair Suarez: -- may suggest that between now where we kind of approve the principle of you negotiating with the school and the time that we actually receive the details as to what that will entail -- we don't know what the cost of construction are going to be, and we don't know what the CRA's requested portion will be either -- that you maybe engage in some sort of an analysis or study of how improving our school system improves the relative wealth of the people who are participants of that system. And to the extent that there are any studies out there that show that, I think it would be good to bring to the Board before we make a decision on, you know, devoting CRA dollars. And the last question that I have is when -- once the CRA is implemented, we know that the TIF revenues or the incremental revenues come to the CRA and the School Board also has its own taxing line item in our tax budgets. But as of the freezing of the TIF revenue, do they still continue to receive their portion of taxes, or how does that --? Mr. Bockweg: Well, the School Board -- Vice Chair Suarez: Yes. Mr. Bockweg: -- properties aren't taxed, so as far as the incremental TIF on those properties -- Vice Chair Suarez: No. I don't mean the School Board properties themselves. I mean the people who live within -- Mr. Bockweg: Oh. Vice Chair Suarez: -- the CRA boundaries -- Mr. Bockweg: I'm sorry. Vice Chair Suarez: -- who pay taxes on an annual basis. Mr. Bockweg: Right. Those -- well, obviously, those (UNINTELLIGIBLE) dollars will be coming to the CRA. Vice Chair Suarez: Regard -- even the ones that are paid on the line items for the School Board? In other words, when you pay taxes, you pay -- Mr. Bockweg: No, no. Vice Chair Suarez: Okay. Mr. Bockweg: No, sir. No, no. Vice Chair Suarez: Okay, so the School Board also has been receiving taxes and I think -- Mr. Bockweg: Yes. City of Miami Page 7 Printed on 9/8/2011 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes April 25, 2011 Vice Chair Suarez: Okay. Mr. Bockweg: Yes, I understand. Chair Dunn: Chairman Gort. Commissioner Gort: Mr. Chairman, I'm a great believer in education. I think it's very important. And if you recall back in '99, we created the first charter school right over there on the outskirts of Overtown. I believe we got to work with the school system and we got to help the school system. But at the same time, if we do anything with them, I hope that we do it on a reimbursement purposes. I mean, if we can help upfront and all that, yes, I don't mind, but as long as we understand we can get those funds back to us. And I believe education's very important to -- for the improvement and economic improvement of the areas. But you all have to come back. This is just for you to negotiate and see what you can come back with and then we'll look at it then. Mr. Bockweg: That's correct. Commissioner Gort: Okay. Chair Dunn: I would like to elaborate and expound on the question that someone raised. I think this is very easy for me having been a product of a parochial school, Holy Redeemer. It's now phased out, the Holy Redeemer Catholic school on 71 st Street, between 13th and 14th Avenues. It was in part -- and we -- there was no collaboration or even no type of communication, and that's what makes this such a wonderful concept. I have to commend our staff, Mr. Bockweg, our executive director, for coming up with this concept. I attended Holy Redeemer, and Holy Redeemer was a kindergarten through eighth grade. I attended Holy Redeemer from kindergarten to eighth grade many, many years ago. And it was, in fact, a private school concept where African Americans could go in the City of Miami. There were no private schools. There were no Protestant church schools. This was -- it was Holy Redeemer and it was St. Francis Xavier on this side of the northwest side of town. And it was a privilege because you had to pay not what you pay now -- what I paid for both of my sons at Monsignor Pace, who are graduates of Monsignor Pace and Dade Christian schools, respectively, not upwards of $10, 000 per year. I did not get the No Child Left Behind. "I was looking all over for it, but I struggled to pay that money because I realized there are times when you can get a better teacher -student, student -teacher ratio. I come from a family of educators. Both my father was a professor at Miami Dade College -- Community College North before he had to retire at the age of 47. My mother -- and he passed the next year on his birthday. My mother was a 32-year veteran in the Miami -Dade Public School System at Brownsville Middle School, with now the street in front of it bears her name. Thirty-two years at one school. And my wife is an educator. My sister is an educator. I guess I'm the only oddball, if you will, that did not. So I know the value of education. How will this reduce slum and blight? A very simple, very poignant answer. When you invest in children, it is the greatest -- and they happen to be here today -- investment that you can make. It trumps -- and I'm not saying this as a point to make anybody feel -- the University of Miami Science Biotech Center. It trumps any major development that we may use to spend CRA dollars. I mean, there's nothing -- because what'll happen is, these same children -- and think about it. There's a continuity. It's been proven that if the children can go in that -- I'm sure your data is going to reflect that. That's why School Board member Dorothy Bendross-Mindingall -- Dr. Dorothy Bendross-Mindingall wanted to have a K-8 school center in her district. Guess what, because there was none. All the other districts had one. Now that's not the fault of the School Board. It may be, in fact, you know, what transpired prior to her getting there. So we certainly appreciate the vision that she has. And any of my Jewish brothers and sisters understand this concept clearly. That's why in the synagogues they have the rabbinical schools. That's why in Catholicism you have the Catholic schools. Children make up 20 percent of our population, thank you, but 100 percent of our future and they are our today. These same City of Miami Page 8 Printed on 9/8/2011 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes April 25, 2011 children, if they're trained properly, if they realize and been given an opportunity to know that they can succeed, if they are able to pass the FCAT (Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test) test, you prevent them from dropping out of school. You prevent them from becoming -- having brushes with the law. You see, this is a whole -- you're talking about a whole -- you're talking about generational stuff. And if you start with the children, you can begin now to work on preventing having problems with police and black males because children are now educated, they have something to do. They know they have some -- and by the way, this is going to be a special school. It's called the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics). It's a STEM project. Science -- watch this -- technology, engineering and mathematics. That ties right in -- Applause. Chair Dunn: Thank you, but we're just -- That ties right in with the University of Miami Science Biotech Center. Now we can have the children segue from Frederick Douglass straight to high school, and guess what, the University could be prepared to give them a scholarship that they earned, and then they could get jobs and here we go. That will reduce the blight. So I plead -- I know this is just to begin the conversational process, andl believe there is an agreement, Chairman Gort, that this will be somewhat of a -- where we can get some of that money back so this will be -- Unidentified Speaker: Reimbursed. Chair Dunn: This is not just a sweepstakes where we're just giving everything away. But guess what, if we did, I wouldn't have any problems with it. But there -- you know, we have to be fiscally prudent as we make decisions, but the greatest investment -- I was barely making 40, $50, 000 a year, but I struggled to pay 10,000 -- I told you, there was no child left behind money for me. I looked all over the place for it. And the folk knew me at the cashier's 'cause I was always late 'cause, I mean, that was eight, ten, twelve thousand dollars a year, but I knew that I could -- my sons needed -- they needed a little extra attention, just like I did so -- and it paid off. I don't regret it. I'm not an anti public schools. By the way, you're looking at a public schools product, a graduate of -- a proud graduate of Miami Northwestern. I thought I'd say that parenthetically. I know this is Booker T. Washington territory, but I need to say that. So I think, to answer that question, this is a -- in my estimation, this might just be the greatest piece of legislation that we may have an opportunity to pass that has been brought to the CRA, at least in the Southeast Overtown/Park West. You cannot lose with children. As a matter of fact -- and I'm a preacher so, Mr. Crespo, that's who I am. Jesus said children are the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Applause. Commissioner Gort: Right on. Amen. Commissioner Sarnoff.- Have they closed down that County mayor selection 'cause I think we have --? Chair Dunn: I'll let Luke and them handle that. Commissioner Sarnoff. I think I got a nominee. Commissioner Gort: You need a motion? Move it. Chair Dunn: Okay. Is there a motion? Commissioner Gort: Yes. City of Miami Page 9 Printed on 9/8/2011 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes April 25, 2011 Commissioner Sarnoff. So move. Commissioner Carollo: Second. Vice Chair Suarez: Second. Chair Dunn: Motion by Chairman Sarnoff, seconded by Commissioner Carollo. All in favor, let us hear by saying aye." The Commissioners (Collectively): Aye. Chair Dunn: So move. 4. CRA RESOLUTION 11-00354 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 $24,000, FOR A TOTAL AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $124,000, TO ROOTS IN THE CITY, INC., FOR THE CONTINUATION OF THE "LANDSCAPE TRAINING AND BEAUTIFICATION INSTITUTE;" 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 # 11-00354-04-25-2011-Financial Form.pdf File # 11-00354-04-25-2011-Backup.pdf File # 11-00354-04-25-2011-Legislation.pdf Motion by Chairman Dunn II, seconded by Board Member Suarez, that this matter be DENIED PASSED by the following vote. Votes: Ayes: Commissioner Gort, Commissioner Carollo, Chair Dunn II, Commissioner Sarnoff and Vice Chair Suarez Direction by Chair Dunn to the Executive Director to identify alternative employment sources to resume where Roots in the City left off or find other alternatives to create job opportunities for individuals in District 5, particularly, in Overtown. Direction by Commissioner Carollo to the Executive Director to schedule a meeting with the Commissioner to add a discussion item to the agenda regarding a training opportunity for individuals in Overtown area. Chair Dunn: We have Roots in the City. Pieter Bockweg (Executive Director, Community Redevelopment Agency): Mr. Chair, this item before you is a three-month extension of Roots in the City training and beautification grant to give us more time to sit down and -- with Dr. Dunn and negotiate what -- if the Board so chooses to extend the Roots in the City program to make sure that it's more -- and what believe, you know, gets out the wrinkles that are there now. So this allows the opportunity to -- for a City of Miami Page 10 Printed on 9/8/2011 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes April 25, 2011 three-month extension of the current grant. Vice Chair Suarez: Is there anyone from the public that would like to speak? The Chairman has passed the gavel. Mr. Muhammad. Grady Muhammad: Good afternoon, again, Board of Commissioners. I think this is a wonderful project, but simultaneously, we must do I think what former Chairman Sarnoff did with the Bayside Foundation. We have to ask for an audit. We have to ask for the expenditures of these funds because we're giving the funds -- we have to request and ensure transparency; funds are being spent expeditiously and on what they need to. And because this is not just a two- or three-year -- Dr. Dunn has been doing this for many, many years, even with the 14th Street when he was at FIU (Florida International University). And you know, I asked previously with Dr. Dunn with some trees that was going along the 3rdAvenue corridor that the CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) was spending, and he had said a vendor from the CRA -- or the CRA had wanted a vendor to do this. And I told him, not a problem, but why you didn't get a black vendor. And he said, well, the CRA was asking that I do this. I said, isn't the CRA giving you the money? He said, yes. I said, so once the CRA give you the money, why don't you do the right thing and hire, you know, Blade Landscaping, in this case, because we had a Cuban contractor to put all the trees along the 3rdAvenue corridor doing the beautification and 3rdAvenue redevelopment. With the necessary need for jobs in our community, we must start to ensuring whoever we give funds to, jobs, jobs, jobs, documentation, documentation, and we can't just let them, you know, say what they going to do. We got to verdy. I think it says inspect -- you know, what is it, inspect and verify? One of the presidents said -- I think it was Ronald -- I know it was Ronald Reagan. Hey, I'm a Republican. You all didn't know that? I'm Republican. Commissioner Sarnoff: He said (UNINTELLIGIBLE). Mr. Muhammad: That's right, and it was talking about Russia. Commissioner Sarnoff.- (UNINTELLIGIBLE). Mr. Muhammad.- Yes. And more importantly, I also know -- Vice Chair Suarez: Touche. Commissioner Sarnoff. Trust, but verify. Mr. Muhammad: -- Mr. Chairmans [sic], we've also given over $3 million since 2008 to the police department. They're not at any way of losing their jobs. We gave -- with the peacemakers, we gave $150,000. We gave 850,000 to the police at that time. Then we gave another half a million and another half a million. So, again, they're not at loss of jobs. We have to ensure residents, the youth, have opportunities. 'Cause when I grooved [sic] up, there were summer jobs and there's no summer jobs. And I think the CRA has done a wonderful job with Mr. Washington and others in the past to create summer jobs. I think it should definitely be moved forward because this project, if it's not about jobs, then we should not be funding it. Thank you all. Vice Chair Suarez: Thank you, Mr. Muhammad. Anyone else from the public that wishes to comment on this item? Reveran Lincoln: To the elected and bureaucrats, my name is Reveran Lincoln, from People Helping People in Overtown. I just want to mention in Dunn's project in the Roots in the City, for the past 12 years, I have known him. He has not beautified Overtown. As a matter of fact, Overtown is a degraded community, and for him to upgrade that community, he should be planting palm trees and doing things rather than collard green, you know. Collard green is for Homestead, where people are going to plant farming, and Overtown is not farmland That's one. City of Miami Page 11 Printed on 9/8/2011 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes April 25, 2011 Two, as a protagonist in Overtown and a pragmatist, I do question why this degraded, beleaguered community have been there for 30 years that pose danger for young black men in Overtown and the City has plenty of monies or the federal or the state and do nothing for that community. Rather, the community's declining rather than rising. We have pollution of all sorts, pollution of noise, pollution of trash, pollution of drugs in Overtown. Why can't the City of Miami do something about that? Vice Chair Suarez: We will be. Thank you. We will be. I promise you that. We will be. This Board will be doing that. Ms. Lincoln: Pardon? Vice Chair Suarez: We will be doing that. We're going to be -- Chair Dunn: He's in agreement with you. Vice Chair Suarez: I agree with you. Chair Dunn: We are. Vice Chair Suarez: We are and we will be. Ms. Lincoln: Well, also, me, Reveran Lincoln, in Overtown. I just obtained a building, a six -unit apartment. It's uninhabited, and I'm looking for the City to merge with me to show the City that we can not only alleviate these wanderer in the street that are -- most of them are aliens to that territory, but we can eradicate that because I do have the solution which I had faxed to the Commissioner Dunn. And I would like to meet with you folks to see that within five years we can bring Overtown to a dignified status where young men, particularly black men who are loitering and littering in front of stores opening 24 hours in a population -- six stores opening 24 hours within a population of 12,000 in Overtown. They keep these young men awake all night and I -- Vice Chair Suarez: Thank you. Ms. Lincoln: -- suggest that you folks do something about that also. Vice Chair Suarez: Thank you. And maybe we can get the executive director together with her to talk to her (UNINTELLIGIBLE) after. You can speak to the executive director after the meeting and he'll discuss that with you directly, specifically. Any other speakers on this item? Rosa Green: Good afternoon -- good evening, again. Rosa Green here, 915 Northwest 1st Avenue. I hate the word Roots in the City. We don't need any more Roots in the City, especially in Overtown. I am so disturbed that you five guys would let it happen. I'm telling you I have been in Miami, lived in Overtown most of my life, 68 years. And as I told the lady from the Miami Herald I know what it was. I know what it is now. It's nothing but blight, empty lots, rundown everything. Nothing is right in Overtown. We don't have a drug store. We don't have bill pay, where you can pay your bills, only two decent restaurants, and then they have a hard time. So I'm telling you, I read in the paper where this lady, Peola or somebody said that she want the collard greens from Overtown, where I know, where I drive by everyday and I know that the people used to sleep there and do everything -- all their bodily fluids used to be left there on those sites. There are no fence around there. And to beautdy a city is not with collard greens. And when I went on the farm second phase -- I went on the farm to cut that okra that day I told y'all about. It was way down south and we could not see the end of the rows that were planted and there were no people living in that area. How are you going to beautdy --? Whoever want to beautify it, the Dunn man, he wouldn't want to put those collard greens down where he lives. City of Miami Page 12 Printed on 9/8/2011 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes April 25, 2011 Vice Chair Suarez: Thank you. Ms. Green: And I have never seen him walk those streets living in Overtown. So everybody come to Overtown, all the carpet baggers come for one reason, and I don't know if they kill, but they steal. They leave and we don't have nothing to show. And I'm sick and tired. Vice Chair Suarez: Thank you so much. Ms. Green: Now one minute and I'm going to shut up, sir. Just one little second. Mr. Sarnoff, I can say you are a mover, but you can't fool Rosa Green. Now on one end -- let me tell y'all something. On the northwest end -- I think that's 32nd Street -- they have a sign up there, coming soon, a community center. But guess what, on the northeast end, it's already built and occupied, okay. How long has Mr. Sarnoff been there? Only a few years, Mr. Pieter Bockweg. He has it done, okay. And now the police department -- I mean, police academy. How long did it take? About two years. It's beautiful. Midtown. I happen to be sitting in the Commission meeting down there where it is when they passed it and told them that, okay, you can build it. I think the prodigal son was there, the Chair. He was there, and I tell you that Monday from the day that we were in the Commission meeting, they went to work and look at it. The people haven't torn it down. They had an arena there that they built and said that they were going to -- it was going to benefit Overtown, it's torn down. It happened to be a pink elephant and Overtown still is a mess. Now on those vacant lots, like I said, they had a -- clubs. We had stores. We had drug stores. We had a Walgreens. It wasn't Walgreens. It was called the Harlem Drugs, but it looked like Walgreens looks today. And now we don't have anything. So with all those young men that are getting killed, I want you to search yourselves. I want you to say is there anything we can do more in Overtown that will prevent those young men from standing on corners and doing stuff that they shouldn't be doing. We need to pass some legislation to get those boys off the streets that should be in school. What do the legislators do? They got to pass some rules. They got to do something 'cause the police, it's not all their fault. They're out there. You took the strap out of our homes. We can't whip 'em no more, okay. Vice Chair Suarez: Ma'am. Ms. Green: You took that away from us, so what do we do? And the teachers are calling your house every day. So and so is up walking around. What can we do? Only thing we can do is what they can do, is tell them to sit down and be quiet. Vice Chair Suarez: Thank you. Thank you so much. Ms. Green: And thank you -- Vice Chair Suarez: I appreciate it. Ms. Green: -- but you guys, search yourselves, every one of you. And if you don't have nothing to do with that area, then tell whoever has something to do with it, you need to do better and we don't want no collard greens and all that crap and spending all that money. Applause. Vice Chair Suarez: Thank you so much. Ms. Green: We can buy collard greens. And my son -- let me just show you this. You know, marine don't get there easy, and he is right now without a job, and I'm sure he could plant collard greens much cheaper than what that young man is asking for. Thank you. Vice Chair Suarez: Thank you so much. City of Miami Page 13 Printed on 9/8/2011 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes April 25, 2011 Applause. Vice Chair Suarez: Anyone else from the public that would like to speak on this item? Benjamin Hanks: Good job, Ms. Green. My name Ben Hanks, Overtown resident, come as a member of the Overtown Optimist, 360 Northwest 20th Street. My comment, more or less, about the investment of the CRA dollars pertaining to the Gibson Park project. I know it's a little off the subject of the Roots, but I think Mr. Dunn and you all spoke well of our kids of being our future, and I know the CRA investing dollars in the Gibson project, and I just think that the gymnasium and the bowling alley that has been put on the backburner is very important to the enrichment of our kids. And they over here -- and we have them here today to show that we all know statistically when the kids are idle time or nothing to do, that's when they seem to get in more trouble. And I think the gymnasium will give us that safe haven, give us that environment. The bowling alley will give the fathers a chance to be more involved in the kids' lives and the families to do more things together. And I think we talking about putting modern technology and doing different things, and I think the technology of the school go hand in hand with the recreation department or the after school program and to where we can kind of give them that safe haven to do different things for them to keep them out of trouble. The (UNINTELLIGIBLE) basketball in the summer and other different things that bring exposure. Me, myself, Mr. Washington took us out of town. We was 12, 13 playing tennis. But I think now with a gymnasium and having the (UNINTELLIGIBLE) and being able to get on the circuit, you show the kids a different side of life to where they can go off and, you know, experience to go to different cities and see different things. Some kids might not go past Fort Lauderdale and they think they're out of town, and we know there's more to life. Being a graduate of the University of Florida and having the chance to expose all that, it give me a chance to come back to my community to want to do things for those kids. So I kind of wanted to change the subject a little bit, but I think it all go hands in hand with the School Board system, what y'all want to do with Frederick Douglass, Gibson being across the street. And I think it'll be a great avenue to -- a good preventative measure to keep our kids off the street and give them things to do, another outlet besides, you know, the crime and different things. And I think with that gym, we'll be able to statistically change the outcome of a lot of our kids in Overtown. Applause. Vice Chair Suarez: Thank you. You're a Gator, so you could talk as long as you want. Go Gators. Anyone else from the public? Darrick Rudolph: Yes. Darrick Rudolph. Like the majority of the topic is investing the CRA dollars. And just like Mr. Hanks say, I am a member of Overtown Optimist Club, and what y'all already in the process of doing will do nothing but fall in line to what we already doing. So don't think at all that y'all dollars not being invested in the proper place. But I only want to ask you is to look at it this way so y'all might can tighten up a little more. The projects y'all invest in pertaining to intervention and the projects that y'all invest in pertaining to prevention, if you put more money into prevention, then later on down the line you don't have to worry about all the intervention. That's all. Chair Dunn: Good point. Awesome. Vice Chair Suarez: Thank you so much. Applause. Vice Chair Suarez: Anyone else from the public? City of Miami Page 14 Printed on 9/8/2011 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes April 25, 2011 Lavern Elie -Scott: Good afternoon, good evening. I'm Lavern Elie -Scott, Curley's House. On the Roots in the City issue, I would like to say with so much money, he has created four jobs with basically zero accountability, okay. For the last three years at Curley's House, we have been providing jobs for people from the Overtown community. Last year alone, we provided over 350 jobs. In December alone, we had over 75 people from the City of Miami that worked with our -- directly with our program. The people we are serving are the underserved community of Overtown. These people have zero to no job skill ability. They cannot function on nobody job, so that means they cannot go out and get a job, whether it's on a construction site or at a grocery store or anywhere else. But at Curley's House we take the time to work with these people, to make a difference in their life, to help prevent recidivism, keep them off the streets, keep them out of jail. That's what it's all about. We give those people a second chance at life, okay. We work closely with South Florida Workforce. They send us a lot of volunteers. We train those people in data entry, secretary. If they want to work in the warehouse, we give them that opportunity as well. So we know from working with those people they need all the help that they can get. Some of those people have not never worked a day in their life. A lot of them come from families where the families never worked. They grew up on the system. So if you grew up on a system that was created for you to do nothing but sit down and receive benefits, how do you go about changing that mindset if nobody ever gives you that opportunity? So that's what we do day in and day out at Curley's House. We take the time to spend with them, to help make a difference in their life if they want that opportunity, okay. We also -- like I said, we provide the jobs, so on our jobs, they can go out and work. Some people can't function every day on a job, but at least with us they have that opportunity whereas if it was not for us, they would not receive that. Some of the people we're working with are homeless, okay. Some of them are in and out of jail. Some of them are going through all type of crisis. But like I said, we have been providing them that opportunity, and 75 alone in December. So we're looking to partner with the City and continue what we're doing and help that underserved community get a job 'cause God knows, they need to feed their families. They have kids. They need to put meals on the table. I mean, they have -- some of these may be their mothers -- mothers to these kids. They have books and other school supplies and other things they need to buy for their kids and families like anybody else. But if nobody is going to give them the chance, then what are they supposed to do other than crimes? So we are here to make an alternative to the crime, to offer a solution for the underserved community, and we're here to offer our help. Thank you very much. Vice Chair Suarez: Thank you, Ms. Scott. Applause. Vice Chair Suarez: Anyone else from the public? Commissioner Sarnoff.- Mr. Chair. Vice Chair Suarez: Yes. Willie Williams: Good evening. My name is Pastor Willie Williams. I am -- the address is 1133 Northwest 3rd Avenue. I'm standing on behalf of the children in the community. I beg you to invest in our children. Make sure that the things that you know that others are receiving, that they receive the same thing. We need them to experience things that others are experiencing, and we want nothing but the very best for them, nothing but the very best, nothing less. And we want all promises fulfilled. We had promises that was fulfilled -- that was given to us years ago and we want those promises fulfilled. Also, on the subject of Roots in the City, at the beginning, you know, I thought it was something that would enhance the community, which it did. It cleaned up a lot of the lots. But enough is enough. Enough is enough and the collard greens and the other vegetables and things is being contaminated, I believe, by the constructions and you got the derelicts is walking all around and throwing things all in the gardens, and you just don't know. It's not safe to eat. I mean, who is going to, you know, fix a meal, you know, for their family from City of Miami Page 15 Printed on 9/8/2011 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes April 25, 2011 that -- from the area. I mean, if our family gets sick, who are we going to sue? I mean, who are we going to go at? So let us stay at -- for right now, let us stay at Winn Dixie and Publix and Wal-Mart. You know, let us stay there for right now and let us build the community for the betterment of our children. Vice Chair Suarez: Thank you, Mr. Williams. Applause. Vice Chair Suarez: The public hearing is now closed, coming back to the Commission for discussion. Chair Dunn: Wait a minute, wait a minute. Vice Chair Suarez: Oh, did we miss someone? I'm sorry. Paula Greenfield: Hi. My name is Paula, and I'm a resident of Overtown. And I just wanted to speak quickly on behalf of an opportunity -- Chair Dunn: Oh, could you --? Excuse me, last -- could you tell us your whole name? Vice Chair Suarez: Last name and address please, for the record. Ms. Greenfield: Oh, I'm sorry. My name is Paula Greenfield, 301 Northwest 22 Street -- Vice Chair Suarez: Thank you. Ms. Greenfield: -- in Overtown. And I just wanted to just share quickly an opportunity that Curley's gave me about a year ago. I was in between work. I was with the Workforce program. They sent me to Curley's to get some work, volunteer hours and things like that. And I've been in sales a whole lot of years and I was really surprised to see the other areas that Curley's took me into, office work. I even got an opportunity to fundraise. I got an opportunity to be on the air with a radio station fundraising. So I was surprised with all of my experience of what Curley's -- different avenues that Curley's took me into and the profession that I'm in. And then open to the stadium, we were able to get on at the stadium immediately so that we can have immediate funds to take home to support our families with in between working with things. And then the fact -- what surprised me mostly about doing volunteer work was once I started working at Curley's -- it's really true like what they say. When you're working somewhere, whether you're volunteering or whatever, you're -- the fact that you're working is out in the universe. And all the days I spent at Workforce and could not find employment, I went to Curley's. I did some volunteer work there, and because the fact that I was working went out into the universe, then I found employment in my desired field So I just wanted to thank them again for that opportunity. They helped me when I needed them. Thank you. Vice Chair Suarez: Thank you so much. Applause. Vice Chair Suarez: I'm going to close the public hearing on this item. I think -- are you guys here for this item or for the next one? Paula Graham: Yes. Unidentified Speaker: Yes. City of Miami Page 16 Printed on 9/8/2011 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes April 25, 2011 Vice Chair Suarez: For this one? Ms. Graham: Yes. Vice Chair Suarez: Okay. Anyone else who's here on this item, please line up behind these two ladies, otherwise, I'm going to close the public hearing after they are finished. Ms. Graham: Yes. Good afternoon. Vice Chair Suarez: Anyone else? Ms. Graham: My name is Brenda Graham and I am a volunteer at Curley's for about three years. When I first came to Curley's, I was down and out. I had lost my job, my home, my car. I mean, I was just -- I wasn't even Brenda again. Someone told me about Curley's House. Under the great guidance of Ms. Holliday and Ms. Scott and (UNINTELLIGIBLE), I know got a job. I do have a office now. Chair Dunn: Watch out. Ms. Graham: Okay. So I just want you to know whatever you do, please help Curley's -- Vice Chair Suarez: Thank you. Ms. Graham: -- to stay alive, okay. Thank you very much. Vice Chair Suarez: This is not -- Curley's House is not an item on the agenda -- Ms. Graham: Oh, okay. Vice Chair Suarez: -- as far as I know, but -- Ms. Graham: Thank you anyway. Applause. Vice Chair Suarez: Thank you. Closing the public hearing, coming back to this Commission. Any other board member like to --? Chair Dunn: Let me chime in. Vice Chair Suarez: Sure, Mr. Chairman. Chair Dunn: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'm going to kind of yield to the direction of my colleagues as -- because I don't want -- I would ask before -- Is there anyone here in support of the farmer's mar -- and I don't want to say farmer's market, no. The -- what is it called? Mr. Bockweg: Roots in the City. Chair Dunn: Roots in the City, that's it. Is there anyone here in support of Roots? I find it a little bit odd that no one is here. Is there anyone here? Yes, could someone say something? I was told the Herald was here. Clarence Woods (Assistant Director, Community Redevelopment Agency): Dr. Dunn called and let us -- to let us know that he would not be able to be here because his mom had an appointment at the doctor and he would not be here. She had an issue. City of Miami Page 17 Printed on 9/8/2011 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes April 25, 2011 Chair Dunn: No one representing the Roots of [sic] the City besides Dr. Dunn? Okay, I won't say anything else. Commissioner Sarnof Mr. Chair. Commissioner Gort: Yes. Commissioner Sarnof You know, I guess budgets today are like the number of life raft that existed on the Titanic. There simply weren't enough. I guess if budgets were simply -- there's plenty of money to go around, they certainly wouldn't need us because everybody would just get it, and it's never really been that case, even in the good times. But in the bad times when you have to think about how many life rafts are there because you're not going to be able to give everybody what they want, your job very simply is to discern the money you spend, is it being spent philosophically on something you want and is it being spent well. So I asked our director, of the $100, 000 that we gave to Roots in the City, where did it go? And he was able to tell me $49, 000 was able to go towards upkeep of the land, which meant anything intended to that land, the watering, the gardening, went towards the land. Thirteen thousand dollars went towards the wages, if you will, of those people who worked it, leaving $37, 000 for administrative costs . And I asked him, where did the administrative costs go? He indicated that the 37,000 went to Dr. Dunn's son. Chair Dunn: No, sir. Go ahead, I'm sorry. Commissioner Sarnof And a COO, chief operations officer, who resides in Atlanta, Georgia. And to me, that is not a good use of CRA money. Unidentified Speaker: No, sir. Commissioner Sarnof And I mean, you could be as popular as you want, you could be as -- and you can get the Miami Herald to support you and it's fine that they do that 'cause conceptually, I got to tell you, I like the idea of the sound of Roots in the City. It sounds good, sounds like a nice idea. But you ask yourself, what are you spending on a jobs program, how much are you spending per job? And correct me if I'm wrong, Mr. Bockweg, if I read the Herald and I saw his most recent request of 3.3 or $3.2 million, I believe it would have come to $270, 000 per job. Mr. Bockweg: That's correct. Commissioner Sarnoff.- 'Cause this is only a jobs program. Mr. Bockweg: Well, Commissioner, if I may. Currently, the grant is not a jobs program. It is a training program and beautification grant. Currently, the way that it's being run is that the people are not graduating and they are supposed to be graduating. So it's not a jobs program. The initial grant that was issued was only for training. And they trained the individuals and then they graduate and hopefully, you know, find a job and they -- Commissioner Sarnof So of the people -- how many people have they graduated? Mr. Bockweg: Since 2008 -- I don't have the exact figures with me, but I believe there were eight. Commissioner Sarnof And how many of those eight people are now farmers? Mr. Bockweg: I think four got jobs, Commissioner. City of Miami Page 18 Printed on 9/8/2011 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes April 25, 2011 Commissioner Sarnoff.- Four have jobs? Mr. Bockweg: Four. Commissioner Sarnoff.- Okay. So eight people and that was over -- How much money was spent from '08 to '011 [sicJ? Mr. Bockweg: About $300, 000. Commissioner Sarnoff.- Okay. I got to tell you, I don't think I can support any further extensions of this program. Applause. Vice Chair Suarez: Anyone else from the Commission like to discuss this item? Commissioner Gort: I -- Chair Dunn: I -- oh, go ahead. Vice Chair Suarez: I'm sorry. Commissioner Gort: I think when this issue was in front of us the last time, one of the things that I talked about is those lots, those empty lots, they should have buildings. They should have businesses. So I don't think a garden there or whatever will last long 'cause we have plans for that area. I mean, you need to realize we have inherit a lot of the -- I mean, this took place in 208 [sic]. Most of us have been here for maybe about a year and a half, so we dealing with a lot of other problems that we had before and I really think that those lands should be developed into projects where we can bring back hotels and restaurants and whatever we had there. We need to put that in there to create economic development and buildings and residential facilities. Vice Chair Suarez: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chair Dunn: Thank you. Vice Chair Suarez: Board Member Dunn. Chair Dunn: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Given the tone and tenor that we all are witnessing today, given the revelation -- and you have to pardon me. I've been hit today more than once with just hard news when the staff -- administrative chief of staff for School Board Member Dorothy Mindingall -- Dr. Mindingall mentioned that her -- that she lost a family member. I knew that someone had been very ill and it came out to be her sister I believe that passed so I'm stunned about that. And then to hear the revelation about the productivity of Roots in the City or the lack thereof. And I'm going to steer away from making it a very personal thing, but it's -- I'm going to say it like this. It's a dirty, low-down shame that I was almost made the scapegoat in this scheme. Dr. Dunn has done a lot of credible work in our community. I will not impugn him. I'll give him his props. But clearly, the people of Overtown have spoken and they're speaking today. Mr. Chairman, I'd like to make a motion to deny the extension. Vice Chair Suarez: There's been a motion to deny the extension. Is there a second? Commissioner Sarnoff Second. Vice Chair Suarez: There's a motion and a second. Any further discussion? Hearing no further City of Miami Page 19 Printed on 9/8/2011 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes April 25, 2011 PRESENTATION 5. 11-00355 discussion, all in favor, signifir by saying "aye." The Commissioners (Collectively): Aye. Chair Dunn: And Mr. Chairman. Vice Chair Suarez: Yes. Chair Dunn: May I direct the executive director to look at ways -- because we certainly don't want to hurt those individuals who were employed by Roots in the City who were at the last meeting, those individuals. And even with that information, I don't want to go on hearsay, but one of the things I do want to say for the record, that my number one concern for Southeast Overtown/Park West is the residents of Overtown first. I want everyone to understand that. That is a priority. Secondly, then you have the remaining of District 5 and then anyone else that can fit in. I think that -- and I think that's fair. I think that's acceptable. Most of us as Commissioners, we look out -- we are charged with representing the interest of those people that we represent. So I would ask you to look at ways, look at possible replacements who can pick up where this project left off and -- or look at other ways in which we can create some type of job opportunities because we hear it. And I hope the Miami Herald would report this. The people in District 5, particularly in Overtown, they need jobs, period. Applause. Vice Chair Suarez: Thank you. I'm going to pass the gavel now for the last item, which is the Neighbors for [sic] Neighbors, and I believe we can take this up for both CRAs at the same time. Commissioner Carollo: Mr. Chairman. Vice Chair Suarez: Yes. You're -- Chair Dunn: Yes. Commissioner Carollo: Before we move on, I would like to ask our executive director if he could please see me prior to the next CRA meeting. I would like to put a discussion item on the agenda. I do believe that I have a good way -- and I'd like to discuss it with my colleagues -- in order to train individuals in Overtown. And I'll show you the funding sources and so forth that are out there that, combined with some of the CRA funding, could actually train individuals to obtain jobs in the Overtown area. So if -- you know, I would respectfully request that you meet with me -- Mr. Bockweg: Absolutely. Commissioner Carollo: -- so we could properly put that in the next agenda as a discussion item. Mr. Bockweg: Absolutely. Commissioner Carollo: Thank you. Chair Dunn: Thank you, Commissioner Carollo. CRA PRESENTATION A PRESENTATION OF CERTIFICATES FOR PARTICIPANTS OF N.A.N.A. City of Miami Page 20 Printed on 9/8/2011 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes April 25, 2011 BUSINESS TRAINING PROGRAM. File # 11-00355 04-25-2011 Cover Memo.pdf PRESENTED Chair Dunn: Madam Clerk, I'm going to ask you how do we proceed. You did bring up an issue, so I just want to be in line in terms of parliamentary procedures here andl know you are the expert, the parliamentarian par excellence. Priscilla A. Thompson (Clerk of the Board): Always trying to make sure that your records are correct, accurate and clear, what we -- our staff -- we've talked about it, and what we will do is this. Because you do have two separate agendas, you do have two separate items, you are supposed to act on them separately. Given the fact that you've already adjourned one meeting, what we will do is show lio action taken'bn that portion that was on the old agenda. And if you want to merge those names into this item, you can do so, okay? Chair Dunn: I believe -- Madam Clerk, I believe that's what we're requesting. Ms. Thompson: Okay. That's fine to do, but we just had to close out -- Chair Dunn: Okay. Ms. Thompson: -- the item from your last meeting agenda. Chair Dunn: I'm going to graciously yield the gavel to my colleague, Chairman Sarnoff, since he had the first bite at the apple. Can I do that? Pieter Bockweg (Executive Director, Community Redevelopment Agency): IfI may, could I just introduce the item so that we know what --? Commissioner Sarnoff.- Please go ahead. Go ahead, Mr. Bockweg. Mr. Bockweg: Commissioners, Mr. Chair, the item before you are the certificates of participation for all the people that are graduating from the Neighbors and Neighbors business development training program, which is a program that the CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) helps fund for small -- via the small business economic initiative. So -- and these are the graduates. So I know -- Leroy, if you will. Leroy Jones: Hello. Leroy Jones, executive director of Neighbors and Neighbors Association, 180 Northwest 62nd Street. First, I want to thank this body and the CRA for allowing us the opportunity to provide business training to businesses in the Southeast Overtown/Park West, as well as the Omni area. The program has been a great, great program to the point to now we're going to -- we're looking at restructuring it because we want to take all the people since the first year of doing this program -- we just closed out our second year of the program -- take all the people that graduated the program and concentrate on getting some resources for them. Since now we have provided the necessary training, we want to look at getting some resources. We want to actually help take these businesses to the next level. And training is one thing, but resources together, I think, will make a tremendous impact as relates to this program. So I'm going to call Ms. Hilda Hall Dennis up to say a little bit about the program. Hilda Hall Dennis: Good evening. My name is Hilda Hall Dennis. And again, thank you, as Leroy said, for allowing us to do this program. The first year we listened to the individuals that took the classes. As you're aware, we offer classes in marketing, business ethics, human resources. We also offered classes in financial management. And a lot of our business owners had never seen their financials before. They were used to, you know, just doing them or handing them over to an accountant and they weren't aware. We were able to work with businesses who City of Miami Page 21 Printed on 9/8/2011 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes April 25, 2011 are from the concept stage and we had one business owner that had been in business from 40 years and she learned something and they all had gotten something out of this program . I thank the City of Miami for being a leader and being, you know, a forward thinker in doing this because no one else in the County has done a program similar to this prior to you. We've had other people come to us afterwards hearing about how great the program is and they want it in the other areas, so we're thankful for that. But overall, this year we've had 60 in total, 60 people that were in our class. We're graduating this session 23 people, and what we see, of course, is the main concern that everyone has is the financial resources and we'd like to be able to offer that. And we want to offer procurement training, CSB certification because it's important. We think that for small businesses to survive, they have to be able to be in that marketplace and to be able to assess all the opportunities that are available to them. And we just thank you again for this opportunity. Mr. Jones: If we can, Commissioners, we would like for some of the graduates to say a few words. I wanted to say to Commissioner Sarnoff that I think you was the one had requested that the nonprofits and all the lobbyists take some ethics training. I want you to know that I took that training, okay, and graduated and got my certificate because of that. And I think I was the only nonprofit at that training, but I took that training and I graduated, and I want to thank you because I learned so much from that. So I just wanted to mention that to you, okay. Thank you. Commissioner Sarnoff Thank you. Ms. Hall Dennis: And lastly, we realize that a lot of our businesses were making major mistakes when it came down to human resources. People were losing their businesses, getting into a lot of lawsuits, so that's why we included that plus the business ethics this year. Laverne Holliday: Thank you for the opportunity, NANA (Neighbors and Neighbors Association). We've learned an awful lot. A lot of things -- sometimes when you are working and doing a lot of things, you hit the ground running and you go by your feet and sometimes you can get in a snag not thinking about the little things that could get you in the most trouble. We had excellent instructors. We had a wonderful time in class and we really enjoyed it and I learned an awful lot. Thank you so very much and we're going to do that ethics class. Commissioner Sarnoff- Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. Stop, stop, stop, stop 'cause I think every Commissioner here should know what is your business, are you in business -- Ms. Holliday: You don't know? Commissioner Sarnoff No, no, no. I want everybody to tell us who's going to speak what is your business, how long have you been in your business or when are you going to open your business. Ms. Holliday: Okay. My name is Laverne Holliday. I'm the assistant director of Curley's House of Style/Hope Relief Food Bank. We have been in business for 11 years. We serve approximately 1,500 people a month, low to moderate income, boxed food product as well as offering job opportunities, working very closely with South Florida Workforce in addition to other CBOs (Community Based Organizations) in the County. And we serve -- our mission is we serve anyone that comes to our doors. We serve them as long as they say they are hungry. If they are not and they are lying, that's between them and God and eventually they will be caught, so that's what -- so that -- and with the classes, once again, that help us put a stricter accountability on some of the resources that we got. Commissioner Sarnoff Thank you. Next. Yes, sir. Just give us your name. Hendrick Van Leesten: Hendrick Van Leesten, from STAD Real Estate Development Corp., City of Miami Page 22 Printed on 9/8/2011 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes April 25, 2011 located at 900 Biscayne Boulevard, which is just within the CRA district. I'd like to thank the people at NANA for giving great training. The speakers were excellent. The trainers were great. And I saw my company grow from just having no contracts to having a lot of work. I'm in property preservation and property management and I'm a resident of Dade County as well. Commissioner Sarnoff.- Wait, wait, wait. So you're a property -- you're going to be or you are a property manager? Mr. Van Leesten: Actually, a property preservation company and we just got our prop -- real estate brokerage license, so now we're able to do property management and brokerage so we hope to do a lot of work within the CRA. Commissioner Sarnoff.- So if somebody were watching this TV (Television) program right now -- Mr. Van Leesten: Yes. Commissioner Sarnoff.- -- they would hire you why? Mr. Van Leesten: 'Cause I've been trained -- Commissioner Sarnoff.- What are you going to do? Mr. Van Leesten: Property management, brokerage. Commissioner Sarnoff Brokerage as well, so you could sell somebody a condo. You could -- Mr. Van Leesten: Absolutely. Condos. We can do leasing. Commissioner Sarnoff.- I think you need to say that. Mr. Van Leesten: Okay. Commissioner Sarnoff: Yeah, I mean -- Chair Dunn: It's a mighty poor frog -- Commissioner Gort: Leroy. Commissioner Sarnoff -- here's some free advertising. My name is -- wait, wait. Here it is. My name is? Mr. Van Leesten: My name is Hendrick Van Leesten. Commissioner Sarnoff.- My phone number is? Mr. Van Leesten: 305-987-1773. Commissioner Sarnoff.- I do? Mr. Van Leesten: Property management and brokerage. Commissioner Sarnoff And if anybody's interested, they can contact me at? Mr. Van Leesten: 305-987-1773. City of Miami Page 23 Printed on 9/8/2011 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes April 25, 2011 Commissioner Sarnoff. Thank you. Mr. Van Leesten: Thank you. Commissioner Gort: That's part of your marketing class. Applause. Mr. Van Leesten: I want to hire you. Commissioner Gort: It's a mighty -- Mr. Chairman, may I say, it's a mighty poor frog that don't praise his own pond sometimes. Commissioner Sarnoff.- Next. Jewell Parham: Hi. My name is Jewell Parham. I learned a lot through the class. It was long, but it was very informative. And I learned how to write a business plan for businesses. And my business is going to be -- is grant writing, and I also will be assisting small businesses in putting their business plans together. Commissioner Sarnoff And I intend on working at? Ms. Parham: Well, right now I'm -- Commissioner Sarnoff.- I'm available where? Ms. Parham: Well, you can catch me at Curley's House. Commissioner Sarnoff. Telephone number. Ms. Parham: My phone number is 786-879-5776. Commissioner Sarnoff: And anybody seeking a grant writer could e-mail (electronic) me at? Ms. Parham: Jewelll0diamond@yahoo.com. Commissioner Sarnoff.- Thank you. Applause. Commissioner Sarnoff.- Next. Norma Ann Kendall: Good afternoon -- good evening, everyone. My name is Norma Ann Kendall, with Ann's Janitorial Services. We're located at 5800 Northwest 7th Avenue, Suite 212. And once again, I want to say publicly -- thank each and every one of you for implementing a program like this. And most of all, I want to say thanks to Mr. Leroy. I know I tell him that a lot of times because my heart is so grateful to him. I have spent endless money out of the little that I receive to try to move my business and it's not until I came to NANA -- I was introduced to Mr. Leroy -- that I was able to get all the equipments I need to move my company. And I want you to know today we started a contract with South Miami through this program. Commissioner Sarnoff.- Jewells [sic], you're a janitorial service, you said? Ms. Kendall: Yes. City of Miami Page 24 Printed on 9/8/2011 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes April 25, 2011 Commissioner Sarnoff. Okay. And a janitorial service cleans? Ms. Kendall: We clean commercial and residentials. Commissioner Sarnof And you could be contacted at? Ms. Kendall: Direct number is 954-593-0707. Commissioner Sarnof And because there is no digital divide with you, you can be e-mailed at? Ms. Kendall: NKendall0575@yahoo.com. Commissioner Sarnoff.- Thank you, Jewells [sic]. Applause. Commissioner Sarnoff.- Next. Ava Orr: Hello. My name is Ava Orr. My business name is Know For Sure DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid) Paternity Testing. I've been doing business for about 18 years, and I work through the State Attorneys Office. I subcontract through Orchid Cellmark. I'm trying to start a mobile business and an office business to where I can have them come on the weekends and do their DNA testing. I'm trying to locate somewhere here. I'm still trying to find the spot. I thank you very much. I've learned a lot with the classes. I've learned how to do my bookkeeping. I'm very bad with bookkeeping, but through them I've learned how to do the QuickBook [sic] and -- Commissioner Sarnoff. I may be disappointing a number of males in the audience, but I want you -- Ms. Orr: I know. Commissioner Sarnof -- to say your name again. Your name is? Ms. Orr: My name is Ava Orr. Commissioner Sarnoff.- And we can contact you at? Ms. Orr: At area code 305-332-7080. Commissioner Sarnoff.- And once again, you do what? Ms. Orr: Paternity testing. Chair Dunn: Go ahead. Ms. Orr: DNA testing for paternity. Commissioner Sarnoff. All right. Ms. Orr: I do locate -- I do go to the jails to find the fathers. I -- oh, yes. Igo to the prison. Vice Chair Suarez: Wait, wait, wait. Ms. Orr: Yes, I do find you. City of Miami Page 25 Printed on 9/8/2011 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes April 25, 2011 Vice Chair Suarez: Mr. Chairman, if I may. What's the name of the business, though, 'cause I like the name. Ms. Orr: It's called Know For Sure. Vice Chair Suarez: Know For Sure. Chair Dunn: Know For Sure. Ms. Orr: Know For Sure. Vice Chair Suarez: Or No, For Sure. Ms. Orr: Yes. Vice Chair Suarez: Which one? Which one is it? Ms. Orr: It's -- Vice Chair Suarez: Is it --? Ms. Orr: No, I like that one. No, For Sure. Vice Chair Suarez: It's K-N-O-W? Know For Sure, not No, on quotations, For Sure. Just want to make sure. Ms. Orr: K-N-O-W Commissioner Sarnoff And there's no digital divide with you, correct? We can e-mail you at? Ms. Orr: Yes, you can. At KnowForSure -- Commissioner Sarnoff.- And just so he's right, is it K-N-O-W -- Ms. Orr: K-N-O-WForSure -- Commissioner Sarnoff.- F-O-R-S-U-R-E. Ms. Orr. Yes, at hotmail.com. Commissioner Sarnoff. At hotmail.com. Ms. Orr: Yes. Commissioner Sarnoff Okay, KnowForSure@ -- Ms. Orr: I'm reasonable, confidential, and very -- you all would appreciate it. Commissioner Sarnoff- Very discreet, very professional. Ms. Orr: Yes. Commissioner Sarnoff. But you'll know for sure. City of Miami Page 26 Printed on 9/8/2011 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes April 25, 2011 Ms. Orr: Oh, you will know for sure. Commissioner Sarnoff And to some of the men out there, it will be, no, for sure. Ms. Orr: It's helping them out. Commissioner Sarnoff Thank you. Ms. Orr: Thank you very much. Commissioner Sarnoff All right, next. Applause. Pamela Strachan: Good evening. My name is Pamela Strachan. My business is Perfect Choice, doula and childbirth services. I'm a licensed midwife and I do homebirths, specializing in water births. I do do prenatal visits at people's homes or their offices, wherever they prefer. My telephone number is 786-220-1409, and my e-mail is PerfectChoice@mail.com. Commissioner Sarnoff.- Say it again. Ms. Strachan: PerfectChoice@mail.com. Commissioner Sarnoff At mail.com. Ms. Strachan: I have been in business for about two years. Just starting, finding it very difficult to get my foot in the door mainly because a lot of people don't know what midwives do or that we still exist. I think it's a much better choice for birth for mothers because we do do it naturally. There's no drugs, no intervention unless something goes wrong. We're very good at what we do. We're CPR (Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation) certified. We're infant CPR certified. We do advanced life support, so it's a very safe alternative. And I thank the people at NANA for the opportunity to take their classes. Again, with me, bookkeeping was my big problem and it really helped me to understand what I should be doing. If you didn't know, that's my sister who just left. So I deliver the babies and she tests the daddies. Thank you. Commissioner Sarnoff Let me ask you guys out there, how many of you want to get a phone call from them? Vice Chair Suarez: It sounds like the business is vertically integrated. What's her name and number 'cause my sister's an OB (Obstetrician) and I'd love to set you up with her. Chair Dunn: Oh, wow. Vice Chair Suarez: Name and number. My sister's an OB at Jackson Memorial Hospital so -- Ms. Strachan: I also forgot to mention I'm trying to start a doula training program through my company where we would provide doulas for all moms in Jackson or any healthcare system who would like to have someone there for support during labor. My name is Pamela Strachan. It's S-T-R-A-C-H-A-N. And my number is 786 -- Vice Chair Suarez: Right. Ms. Strachan: -- 220-1409. Vice Chair Suarez: Thank you, Pamela. City of Miami Page 27 Printed on 9/8/2011 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes April 25, 2011 Ms. Strachan: Thank you. Vice Chair Suarez: Thanks, Pam. Next. George Strachan: Good evening. My name is George Strachan, the owner of George's Meat and Spices. Chair Dunn: He the brother? Commissioner Sarnoff I don't even want to know what he does. Mr. Strachan: My number is 786-416 -- Chair Dunn: Are you -- excuse me, are you the brother? Mr. Strachan: No. I'm the husband. Vice Chair Suarez: Let me guess. Commissioner Sarnoff.- I think he might have been the first client. Vice Chair Suarez: Wait a second, let me guess. You have an umbilical cord cutting company. Mr. Strachan: No, no, no, no, no. Vice Chair Suarez: No? Mr. Strachan: I'm the owner of George's Meat and Spices. I'm more into the organic side of the business, feeding and maintaining the health of the babies. Yes. My name is George Strachan. I'm the owner of George's Meat and Spices. My telephone number is 786-416-2147. My e-mail address is George -- GStrachan@hotmail.com or GStrachan@yahoo.com. I'm the owner of George's Meat and Spices again. I am glad of the class that I took on business management. I learned a lot, especially bookkeeping, maintaining the business. And I heard a lot of the comments today about the farm industry, people trying to grow vegetables and stuff. But I think that the way the economy is going now, we definitely need to get into more organic, so this is why I went into meat and spice. And I'm going to be supplying restaurants in our community with meat and spice and I'm also planning to open up a restaurant in our community. So thank you. Commissioner Sarnoff: Thank you very much. Applause. Commissioner Sarnoff.- Yes, sir. Tommy Bethel: Good afternoon. My name is Tommy Bethel at Green Thumb Landscaping and Tree Service. My e-mail address is GreenThumb2009hotmail.com [sic]. My number is 786-718-5375. I'd like to give you guys thanks and especially NANA for giving me the opportunity to get out there and, you know, go on my own to do, you know, a landscaping business. And I'm looking forward to get some of that City of Miami business too as well for my company, you know. And it was NANA who had helped me back in 2008 to get my company, you know, on the show. So I want to give them thanks and give y'all thanks for giving me the opportunity to take the business class to know more about business. Commissioner Sarnoff. Mr. Bethel, before -- City of Miami Page 28 Printed on 9/8/2011 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes April 25, 2011 Mr. Bethel: Yes, sir. Commissioner Sarnoff Let me help you with a little bit of your marketing. I understand you do landscaping -- Mr. Bethel: Yes, sir. Commissioner Sarnoff. -- for private residences, for apartment complexes? Mr. Bethel: Yes, residence. Commissioner Sarnoff.- Residence? Mr. Bethel: Residence right now at the moment, yeah. Commissioner Sarnoff.- Just residence? Mr. Bethel: Yes, sir. Yes. Commissioner Sarnoff Okay, so people that have homes, people that have gardens, people should contact you if they want to have their landscaping plans -- or you would design landscaping for them. You would take care of their garden. You would cut their lawn, things like that? Mr. Bethel: Yes, sir, as well as tree trimming too. Commissioner Sarnoff Tree trimming as well. Mr. Bethel: Yes, sir. Commissioner Sarnoff Okay. All right. Well, thank you very much, Mr. Bethel. Mr. Bethel: All right, sir. Commissioner Sarnoff. Yes, ma'am. Adelle Carlton: Hello. Thank you. I'm glad to be here and I want to say thank you to NANA. My name is Adelle Carlton. I'm a jewelry designer. The name of my company is Between Spirit & Stone. I specialize in semiprecious gemstone jewelry, and it is art to wear. Who is my customer? Anyone with a neck. You can reach me at Adelle(,BetweenSpiritandStone.com or my personal e-mail at AdelleCarlton@hotmail. com. I can also be reached -- it's great for doghouse gifts. Gentlemen, if you need to buy something for the lovely wife, I can fix you up with that; anyone else, if you're interested too. My number is 305-926-1977. And I'm very thankful and grateful to NANA and also to the CRA for providing funds for this, very important small businesses in this community and every community. And I thank you for the support that you've given us to help make us stronger and therefore make this economy stronger. Thank you. Commissioner Sarnoff. Now you said you specialize in get -out -of -the -doghouse gifts? Ms. Carlton: Yes, I do. Commissioner Sarnoff You call that the Kobe Bryant special? Ms. Carlton: Why not? Would you like my card? City of Miami Page 29 Printed on 9/8/2011 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes April 25, 2011 Commissioner Sarnoff Thank you. Fathia Lyn: Hello. My name is Fathia Lyn. I am the owner of Paradise Plum Designs. I'm a graphic designer. I do marketing. But I felt last year that I needed something else. I felt I was a little old school and I needed some new school information. And I met Joann and it was the best thing I could have done. It refreshed stuff that I already knew and stuff that I didn't know. And I had already started that business and I was starting another business called Believability's. So this one just helped me to push Believability's a little bit more. What is Believability's? Believability's are cushions. They're actually cushions with one -word affirmations. And it went -- it came to me in a dream and I don't do cushions. But anyway, I ended up doing the cushions and they're being produced now in Hialeah and I've gone from that to other products with one -word affirmations and -- Commissioner Sarnoff. But ifI believed in you, how wouldl contact you? Ms. Lyn: If you believed in me -- no, not if -- Commissioner Sarnoff.- When I believe -- Ms. Lyn: -- because you believe in me -- Commissioner Sarnoff Right. Ms. Lyn: See, affirmations. -- you can contact me at Plumice, P-L-U-M-I-C-E, 2gyahoo.com. And phone number, 305-495-3092. Commissioner Sarnoff Thank you. Ms. Lyn: You're welcome. Commissioner Sarnoff Yes, ma'am. Applause. Lavern Elie -Scott: Good evening, once again. I am Lavern Scott, executive director of Curley's House, as well as the multitasking owner of Curley's Beauty Salon. I am a licensed cosmetologist, been in business for over 20 years, owned my own business for over 11 years. So why should you come to me? I have plenty experience at what I do, and I can make you look great. My address is 6301 Northwest 7th Avenue. My phone number is 786-262-2851. And my e-mail address is LadyLavern@gmail. com, okay. And I thank you all for the class. It was very informative. Thank you, Leroy, for the training. The teachers were great and I really learned a lot. I enjoyed the class and I was able to stay up and not sleep so I learned a lot. Applause. Commissioner Sarnoff.- Thank you. Yes, sir. Joseph Howard: My name is Joseph Howard of Howard & Howard Property Management. My telephone number is 305-879-1443. My e-mail address is HowardJrJoseph15@yahoo.com. We do a lot of specializing in foreclosed homes, landscaping, tree cutting. And I would just like to thank NANA for giving me the opportunity to create a successful business plan. I didn't know that -- getting into business at first -- I've been in business like three years. I didn't know that, but NANA instructed me and gave me a wealth of knowledge, even pointed me in the right direction to go back to college to get my college degree -- City of Miami Page 30 Printed on 9/8/2011 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes April 25, 2011 Chair Dunn: Wow. Mr. Howard: -- to get certified in property management. And I would just like to give Mr. Leroy Applause. Mr. Howard: -- a round of applause and Ms. Joann a round of applause. And I hear you guys say creating jobs. For a small minority business owner trying to get funds to rise up the youth in my community is very, very hard. I would like for you gentlemen to know that if I was to ever get any funding, you'll hear about me in the future doing great things. Applause. Commissioner Sarnoff Thank you. Yes, ma'am. Martha Whisbey-Wells: Good evening. Thank you so much for NANA. My name is Martha Whisbey-Wells. I'm a business owner in the Overtown area. I've been in business for a year. The day of my grand opening -- I opened up a boutique named after my mother and she passed on that day. So this one year of me being open has been a struggle for me, but I want to thank God for NANA and the training that I've gotten. The mistakes that I made the first year, from what I've learned from Ms. Julie and all the ladies, I won't make those the second year. And I just want to ask you all, if you all can help me with what I -- the mistakes I made and through the struggle that I've gone through in Overtown for the first year, I know that my business will be a success from this year and on. And I have hired two girls since I've been open in Overtown. This summer I did hire two young ladies from Overtown, so I'm asking the CRA and NANA to thank you so much for the support that you've given me for this year. Thank you. Commissioner Sarnoff- Martha, wait a minute. Applause. Commissioner Sarnoff- Wait a minute, wait a minute. Ms. Whisbey-Wells: I'm sorry. Commissioner Sarnoff- I don't know what you do. Ms. Whisbey-Wells: I'm sorry. Commissioner Sarnoff. I don't know how to contact you. Ms. Whisbey-Wells: I'm sorry. I'm located at 1033 Northwest 3rdAvenue, Moselle's Boutique. You can contact me at MosellesBoutiqueggmail. com. My personal e-mail is MarthaWhisbey@yahoo.com. My phone number is 786-314-1630. Also, I want to say my products are women clothing and accessories. I also want to say to you that since I've been opening, I've done three fashion shows. I work with the Black Film Festival. I also have done things with Jones Magazine, so I'm very, very involved with the local designers here in Miami. Thank you. Commissioner Sarnoff- Thank you, Martha. Commissioner Gort: Thank you. City of Miami Page 31 Printed on 9/8/2011 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes April 25, 2011 Applause. Commissioner Sarnoff. Yes, sir. Mr. Van Leesten: How you doing? Hendrick Van Leesten, from STAD Real Estate. I'm back again. I forgot to mention earlier that I relocated from Broward County to the district. I've been in business since 2005. It'll be six years in June. So I -- due to the program and part of the benefits of being located within the CRA, I decided to move my office from Broward, from Miramar, down to the district. So I'm at 900 Biscayne Boulevard, Suite 503. Commissioner Sarnoff You're in a beautiful building. Mr. Van Leesten: Thank you. Applause. Commissioner Sarnoff Anyone else? Grady Muhammad: Yes. Grady Muhammad, president/CEO (Chief Executive Officer) of Grady Muhammad and Associates, 5800 -- Commissioner Sarnoff. Did you graduate from this program? Mr. Muhammad: No. I worked with Leroy to pass out the flyers, and more importantly -- to work with them to pass out the flyers to get the businesses and encourage them to come. And more importantly, what, I don't know how many years ago, Leroy, what, 14, 15 years ago -- Commissioner Sarnoff Okay. Mr. Muhammad: -- I helped in creating and teaching Mr. Leroy Jones government, 14, 15 years ago when he was just starting out. I didn't create Neighbors and Neighbors, but I'm looking at and so proud of what he's done. And it literally shows when the teacher, you know, does a great thing and the student excels the teacher, it validates the teacher, what the teacher is teaching. Thank you all. Commissioner Sarnoff Thank you. Applause. Commissioner Sarnoff.- All right, folks. Willie Williams: Last but not least. Again, my name is Pastor Willie Williams and I also experience a touch from NANA. And I'm telling you, it is a program that is much needed in the community. It remind -- gave me a refresher. You know, I thought I knew it all, but Leroy, he showed me wrong. So therefore, you know, anyone that is in business and you have an opportunity to experience the classes that he render to the community, you need to go ahead and do it as soon as possible because this is something that is well -needed in the community. Thank you, NANA. Thank you, Leroy. Commissioner Sarnoff Thank you very much. Applause. Mr. Muhammad: And just please fund it again, sir. City of Miami Page 32 Printed on 9/8/2011 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes April 25, 2011 Commissioner Sarnoff. That's it, that's it. Mr. Muhammad: That's all I wanted to encourage. Please -- Commissioner Sarnof CRA meeting -- Mr. Muhammad: -- fund it again, sir. Thank you. Commissioner Sarnof Thank you. Commissioner Gort: Leroy, you done very good in your marketing. Mr. Jones: Thank you all. Thank you, Commissioner Dunn. Thank this whole body. As you can see, this program is a wonderful program and it's going to benefit not only the small businesses that participate, but the people that live in the community. So it's -- whenever you have a chance -- I know y'all very busy -- when we have the workshops, please come by one day. I promise you, you'll learn something. Commissioner Gort: We will. Chair Dunn: Before you go -- and I'm going to call you -- I'm not going to call you Leroy. I'm going to call you Mr. Jones. Mr. Jones: Thank you. Chair Dunn: I am -- Mr. Chairman, and to all of my wonderful colleagues on this dais that make up the CRA Board as well as the City of Miami Commission, I wish I could take credit for all that you have become. I would be remiss ifI did not acknowledge Commissioner Barbara Carey -Schuler, the late Commissioner Arthur E. Teele, Jr., who gave you a chance, and you have just skyrocketed. You have exceeded probably many expectations, maybe even yourself -- maybe not yourself because it takes a certain level of self-confidence to be able to do what you've done. It also demonstrates -- and I need to say this -- that not everybody in the black community wants someone to give them a fish. You are showing people how to fish. And when you show people how to fish, then they can get their own fish. If I could speak the words of James Brown, he said, I don't want nobody to give me nothing, just open the door and I'll get it myself. And I think that you have demonstrated that the wisdom of our Chairman in terms of asking you to take the ethics course, you are the poster person for small businesses, not just in the black community or the black districts or the African American -- predominantly African -American districts, but all over this county. And that's why you've done and you're doing your program all over this county. I believe that we just need to take a bow and honor you, give you a round of applause. Applause. Chair Dunn: As a people, we're coming forth. I got to tell you, I said, man, we got a lot of wealth in District 5 and in the broad -- 'cause I know you're not just restricted to District 5, but just all over this county. And I got to ask you this question: Where do you find them? Because you're doing a great job. Mr. Jones: Thank you. You know, Commissioner, I'm -- I think I'm really a prodigy [sic] of everybody in this community because I'm conscious enough to listen to valuable things that everybody say and absorb it and suck it in and use it. So I'm not at this point because of all that Leroy know. I'm at this point because of all that Leroy has learned from everybody else. So everybody in this town get the credit for making me the type of person that I am; black, white, Hispanic, Haitian, everybody because I take from everybody and use it for my best benefit. So I am everybody here. I'm everybody. So thank everybody for making Leroy Jones Leroy Jones, City of Miami Page 33 Printed on 9/8/2011 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes April 25, 2011 you know. Applause. Chair Dunn: Well, let me just say this one and I'm going to yield to my colleagues. This has been a wonderful meeting today, and I can't -- I mean this genuinely, guys. I'm not just blowing smoke. I don't do that. I feel so good. I'm so honored. Don't know how long it will be or what the future might even hold for me, but this I know. I am grateful for the privilege to serve on this dais and we -- this is real. We disagree because everybody -- I disagree with my wife of twenty-four and a half years, and yes, I said it. And most of you who are married, you disagree with your wife or your husband so you know what I'm talking about. But -- Commissioner Gort: Not me. Chair Dunn: -- some even go a little further than that. I'll stop. Let me stop and be good. But let me say that, you know, this is just -- I mean, I don't want this to go -- you -- and see, you are a living testimony, a living example, and you've got a story to tell. I thought I could write a book, but let me tell you, you need to get you somebody to help you write a book. It'll be a number one seller because you can help so many -- and you are helping so many people in our community who just need -- who are serious and sincere about it who just need a second chance. You have gone -- you have transcended and if nothing else ever happen from Mr. Leroy Jones, you've already done quite well. Mr. Jones: Thank you. Commissioner Gort: Mr. Chairman. Applause. Commissioner Gort: I have to tell you, I go back with Leroy quite a few years, right on 17th Avenue and Northwest 43rd Street, where he had his office, where he began to work with the community in there. And yes, you got to be very proud of yourself. You've come a long way and you've helped a lot of people. Mr. Jones: Thank you. Chair Gort: So thank you. Mr. Jones: Thank you, Commissioner. I appreciate that. Applause. Commissioner Carollo: Motion to adjourn? Commissioner Sarnof All right. Leroy, just two words from me. Mr. Jones: Yes. Commissioner Sarnoff. Two words. Thank you. All right, motion to adjourn? Vice Chair Suarez: Second. Commissioner Carollo: Motion to adjourn. Vice Chair Suarez: Yes. City of Miami Page 34 Printed on 9/8/2011 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes April 25, 2011 Commissioner Sarnoff: All right, we are adjourned. City of Miami Page 35 Printed on 9/8/2011