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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSEOPW CRA 2012-05-29 MinutesCity of Miami City Hall 3500 Pan American Drive Miami, FL 33133 www.miamigov.com Di • IN O9▪ IEP 19 1i? Meeting Minutes Tuesday, May 29, 2012 5:00 PM FREDERICK DOUGLASS ELEMENTARY 314 NW 12TH STREET SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Michelle Spence -Jones, Chair Wifredo (Willy) Gort, Vice Chair Marc David Sarnoff, Commissioner Frank Carollo, Commissioner Francis Suarez, Commissioner SEOPW CRA OFFICE ADDRESS: 1490 NW 3rd Avenue, Suite 105 Miami, FL 33136 Phone: (305) 679-6800, Fax: (305) 679-6835 www.miamicra.com SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes May 29, 2012 INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Present: Chair Spence -Jones, Commissioner Sarnoff, Commissioner Suarez and Commissioner Carollo Absent: Vice Chair Gort On the 29th day of May 2012, the Board of Commissioners of the Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of Miami met in regular session at Frederick Douglass Elementary, 314 Northwest 12th Street, Miami, Florida. The meeting was called to order by Chair Spence -Jones at 5:04 p. m. and was adjourned at 6: 26 p.m. Note for the Record: Commissioner Sarnoff entered the meeting at 5: 06 p.m. ALSO PRESENT: Clarence Woods, Executive Director, CRA Veronica Xiques, Assistant General Counsel, CRA William R. Bloom, Special Counsel, CRA Priscilla A. Thompson, Clerk of the Board Todd Hannon, Assistant Clerk of the Board Chair Spence -Jones: We're going to officially call the meeting to order for Southeast Overtown/Park West CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency). We do have three wonderful Commissioners. I'd like to also say I'm very happy to have my fellow colleague on my right side joining us, Commissioner Frank Carollo. Let's give him a hand for joining us. Applause. Chair Spence -Jones: And of course, I'm always happy you're here too -- Commissioner Suarez: Thank you. Chair Spence -Jones: -- Suarez. Commissioner Suarez: I appreciate it. Chair Spence -Jones: At this point, though, I would like to at least stand for the pledge of allegiance. But I'd like for the City Clerk to open us up with prayer. Priscilla A. Thompson (Clerk of the Board): If I may digress for a minute because I asked the good Chair, Commissioner Spence -Jones, this once before, and I really do appreciate your asking me to pray. I think it's about time for me to go to seminary. What you think? Chair Spence -Jones: You do it so well. Ms. Thompson: Well, thank you. Invocation and pledge of allegiance delivered. Chair Spence -Jones: Great. We have Commissioner Sarnoff joining us as well. And Commissioner Sarnoff, I know you have an event as well tonight. Commissioner Sarnoff I do. Chair Spence -Jones: Okay. I know Commissioner -- City of Miami Paget Printed on 1/17/2013 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes May 29, 2012 FINANCIALS 1. 12-00593 Commissioner Sarnoff. I actually -- Chair Spence -Jones: -- Carollo's here. He has to leave, though, in about 45 minutes, so I want to be respectful for -- Commissioner Suarez: Chop, chop. Chair Spence -Jones: -- that time frame. And then I think you also have -- you have something as well tonight? Commissioner Sarnof I may, Commissioner, have a phone call I need to take and I don't know when it's coming in. Chair Spence -Jones: Okay, no problem. Okay, so we're going to go ahead and get officially started. CRA PRESENTATION FINANCIAL SUMMARY FOR THE PERIOD ENDING APRIL 30, 2012. File #12-00593 05-29-12 Cover Memo.pdf File # 12-00593 Financial Summary.pdf PRESENTED Chair Spence -Jones: Miguel. Miguel Valentin: Good afternoon. Miguel Valentin, CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) financial officer. I'm going to be presenting the combined statement of financial position as of April 30, 2012. We're disclosing the amount of 31,218,993. Out of that amount, 14.4 million, they are going to be allocated toward residential development and 5 million is going to be used towards the financing of the loan that we are taking for the Gibson Park project. For the month of April, there is no reportable condition to report to the board. I will be more than happy to answer any other question that you may have. In the event that you might want an itemized detail as to how we have allocated the $31 million, I will be forwarding that to you immediately. Chair Spence -Jones: Okay. Any questions at all? Commissioner Carollo, you're recognized. Commissioner Carollo: Madam Chair. Chair Spence -Jones: Yes. Commissioner Carollo: Thank you. Chair Spence -Jones: Sure. Commissioner Carollo: No. I mean, the same thing it's going to be that I said. I mean, going back to, I would say, January, February of 2011 that, you know, the actual budgeted to -- the budgeted to actuals is a big disparity. We've spoken about this and I just want to put the comments back on the record. Mr. Valentin: I think, Commissioner -- I think next year we are going to be drawing down the funding rapidly, especially when we start undertaking the project in Town Park and the other projects as well. City of Miami Page 3 Printed on 1/17/2013 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes May 29, 2012 RESOLUTIONS 2. 12-00499 Chair Spence -Jones: You're recognized, Commissioner. Commissioner Suarez: Thank you, Madam Chair. Chair Spence -Jones: Yes. Commissioner Suarez: Yeah. You know, I -- first of all, I want to thank you, Miguel, for working with me to, you know, better break down, you know, the information 'cause I think that was part of the issue was we were just seeing very large line items which had a lot of cash built up in it without much detail. So I see here that one of the major ones is a cash allocation for residential developments, which is a $14 million -- and that, I'm assuming, is for the projects that are going to be corning online that we're in the process of -- so that will be hopefully spent down very quickly. And then, of course, the other ones, you know, the $2 million Camillus House commitment, that's a commitment that we have. I mean -- Mr. Valentin: We haven't paid that this year. Commissioner Suarez: Right. So, I mean, once you break it down the way you've broken it down, it gives me a lot more comfort than the way that I initially saw it when, you know -- before. Thank you. Chair Spence -Jones: Okay. Any other questions? I think our attorney is joining us, Bill Bloom. CRA RESOLUTION A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY ("CRA") AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO TRANSFER TITLE, OF REAL PROPERTY, LOCATED AT 480 NORTHWEST 11TH STREET, MIAMI, FLORIDA ("BLACK POLICE PRECINCT AND COURTHOUSE MUSEUM"), TO THE CITY OF MIAMI ("CITY"); FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF ALL DOCUMENTS NECESSARY FOR SAID PURPOSE, IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO GENERAL COUNSEL. File # 12-00499 05-29-12 Cover Memo.pdf File # 12-00499 05-29-12 Legislation(signed).pdf Motion by Board Member Suarez, seconded by Board Member Carollo, that this matter be ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote. Votes: Ayes: Chair Spence -Jones, Commissioner Carollo, Commissioner Suarez and Commissioner Sarnoff Absent: Vice Chair Gort CRA-R-12-0035 Chair Spence -Jones: With that being said, we're going to move on to item number 1. Clarence Woods (Director, Community Redevelopment Agency): Actually, item number 2, Commissioner. Chair Spence -Jones: Item number 2, I'm sorry. City of Miami Page 4 Printed on 1/17/2013 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes May 29, 2012 Mr. Woods: Commissioners, item number 2 is a resolution of the Board of Commissioners of the Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment Agency authorizing the executive director to transfer title of real property, located at 480 Northwest 11 th Street, Miami, Florida, the Black Police Precinct and Court Museum, to the City of Miami; further authorizing the execution of all documents necessary for said purpose in a form acceptable to general counsel. This -- Commissioner Suarez: Move it. Chair Spence -Jones: We have a motion. Do we have a second? Commissioner Carollo: Second, for discussion. Chair Spence -Jones: Second for discussion. Discussion. Commissioner Carollo: Thank you, Madam Chair. My question, I think, is with regards to now the City's going to have to pay for the maintenance. I know when it was that we were asked to transfer the deed over to the CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency), and now it's going to go back to the City. What is the maintenance and -- you know, is the CRA going to be able to help out the City of Miami with regards to the maintenance -- Mr. Woods: Well -- Commissioner Carollo: -- and operations? Mr. Woods: -- Commissioner, it's not intended that the CRA would help out with the maintenance and operations, but we are looking to help out with the programming of the facility, which is intended to help them become self-sufficient and sustainable so that they can begin to take up all of those items on their own. Commissioner Carollo: Has the City and the Budget director been notified of the intention of the CRA? Mr. Woods: The Budget director -- I don't know if it's the Budget director that's been notified, but we have had conversations with other -- Chair Spence -Jones: There's Miguel. He can speak on the financial. Commissioner Carollo: Thank you. Only because -- and I'm going on memory, but I think there was a maintenance of 40, $50, 000, and now the -- Mr. Woods: Yeah, somewhere close to that -- Chair Spence -Jones: I think it's 60 -- it's like 60. Mr. Woods: -- 60. Miguel Valentin (Financial Officer, Community Redevelopment Agency): Sixty-five. Commissioner Carollo: Sixty that now the City's going to have to acquire, so that's why I'm asking -- Miguel, have you reached out to the City? Mr. Valentin: Yes. Commissioner Carollo: Thanks. City of Miami Page 5 Printed on 1/17/2013 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes May 29, 2012 Mr. Valentin: Informally, I approached Danny and I told him about that. Chair Spence -Jones: And what is his response, Miguel? Mr. Valentin: He is going to be -- he needs to get the funding to -- Chair Spence -Jones: Yeah. Mr. Valentin: -- keep everything operating, but he knows. Chair Spence -Jones: Okay. All right, let -- can I just add on to you real fast and --? Well, let me yield to you first 'cause you -- do you have another question, 'cause I know you want to add on. And then I'll wrap it up. Go ahead. Commissioner Carollo: Yeah. The only thing is what is the actual reasoning that we're deeding the property back to the City? Chair Spence -Jones: Okay. So now I guess I can respond to that. Let me just say this. This is something that was actually done, I guess, while I was gone. And as you know, during my tenure as a City Commissioner, this was a major project that the black police precinct -- and I see a lot of the black retired officers here -- we pushed very hard to actually get opened. I was surprised that actually the CRA would take on the responsibility of you know, managing and operating a building. And that when I realized when I got back that that had happened, I wanted to correct the issue. The CRA, which is one of the reasons why we're doing with the shopping plaza, putting it out to bid for somebody to manage and operate it is that we're not really -- the CRA does not have the capacity to manage and operate a facility. And this is a City facility and it's always been that from day one, you know. And all the operational things that have anything to do with the building always was a part of the City. Now what we have been talking about, either though Public Facilities or Parks, originally the reason why, I'm assuming, Parks had it under their area was because Parks had the ability to utilize their existing maintenance crew to actually come over there and keep it clean, to actually put a staffer over there when necessary, so that made a lot more sense. Now I think what the Administration is trying to determine now is it best to keep it in Parks or is it best to -- which they'll have the ability to handle it, or is it best to go to Public Facilities based upon -- just leveraging the additional -- I mean, the dollars that they already have, they'll just be giving -- adding this to the workload. So that's -- that was the discussion that I had with Budget on how they would handle it. But I just think that when we start getting into the CRA managing and operating facilities, I think that we run into a problem because that's not what they do. Commissioner Suarez: Madam Chair. Chair Spence -Jones: Sure. You're recognized. Commissioner Suarez: I think there's an additional problem from my briefings with Mr. Woods, which is that I think he explained to me that under Chapter 163 we couldn't pay for the operation and maintenance, and I don't know if that's what -- that was explained to us when we first made the transfer. But my understanding is that that's not an eligible expense. We can do program -related stuff. We can do rehab to the building, but I don't think we can actually pay for the operation and maintenance of it. And so I think -- is that correct, Mr. Director? Mr. Woods: That is correct. Commissioner Suarez: Yeah. City of Miami Page 6 Printed on 1/17/2013 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes May 29, 2012 Mr. Woods: The operations and maintenance is not something that we should be taking on. Commissioner Suarez: It's not an eligible expense under Chapter 163 -- Mr. Woods: Right. Commissioner Suarez: -- for CRAB. Chair Spence -Jones: You're recognized. Commissioner Carollo: Thank you, Madam Chair. And I just want clarity 'cause one thing is something that we shouldn't -- that a CRA shouldn't take and one thing is something that we cannot. So can I have a legal opinion? Can someone give me a legal opinion and see if we actually can do the operations? Veronica Xiques (Assistant General Counsel): Commissioner, my office will have to review it. Under our understanding, any monies from the CRA can be spent within the CRA boundaries in furtherance of redevelopment plan activities. Redevelopment plan activities, as stated in this resolution, are to carry out the community redevelopment projects, and these two projects are a historical structure of major importance. That being the case, my first response would be that the monies could be used, but it was a policy decision. But I will go back to the office and I'll give you an answer first thing tomorrow as to whether it's legally prohibited. Chair Spence -Jones: And then we can always, if we need to, come back and say from, you know, the Overtown side of it, if we need to provide the resources for, you know, to give a grant to the City to do it or another organization to do it, I don't have a problem with that, but I just think that we really do not need to be in the business of managing and operating facilities. Commissioner Carollo: Fair enough. Chair Spence -Jones: Okay. So we had a motion and a second on this item. All in favor? The Commissioners (Collectively): Aye. Chair Spence -Jones: This item passes. [Later...) Ms. Xiques: Madam Chair, if I could just take up one more minute of your time. Chair Spence -Jones: Do you need him? Ms. Xiques: I wanted to clarify your earlier question. Rather than wait 'til tomorrow, I wanted to let you know that you are correct. It is not the statutes that prohibit you from spending TIF (Tax Increment Fund) revenues on those items; it's their policy. So if you make that vote, you're fine. Chair Spence -Jones: TIF? This wasn't about -- that wasn't about TIF revenue. Priscilla A. Thompson (Clerk of the Board): The earlier question. Mr. Woods: No. She's going back to the black police precinct. Ms. Xiques: I was going back to his question. I wanted to catch him before -- City of Miami Page 7 Printed on 1/17/2013 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes May 29, 2012 Chair Spence -Jones: Okay. Ms. Xiques: -- he left but -- Chair Spence -Jones: Okay, no problem. All right, wonderful. 3. CRA RESOLUTION 12-00600 A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY ("CRA") AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CRA AND HOWARD AND HOWARD PROPERTY MANAGEMENT, INC. TO PROVIDE LANDSCAPE AND IRRIGATION MAINTENANCE SERVICES ON CRA OWNED PROPERTIES AND PUBLIC RIGHTS -OF -WAY MAINTAINED BY THE CRA, FORA ONE (1) YEAR PERIOD WITH THE OPTION OF TWO (2) ADDITIONAL ONE YEAR PERIODS, AT A TOTAL COST NOT TO EXCEED $42,000 PER YEAR, IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO GENERAL COUNSEL ; ALLOCATING FUNDS FROM SEOPW TAX INCREMENT FUND, "OTHER CONTRACTUAL SERVICES," ACCOUNT CODE NO. 10050.920101.534000.0000.00000. File # 12-00600 05-29-12 Backup.pdf File # 12-00600 05-29-12 Cover Memo.pdf File # 12-00600 05-29-12 Financial Form.pdf File # 12-00600 05-29-12 Legislation (signed).pdf Motion by Board Member Suarez, seconded by Board Member Carollo, that this matter be ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote. Votes: Ayes: Chair Spence -Jones, Commissioner Carollo, Commissioner Suarez and Commissioner Sarnoff Absent: Vice Chair Gort CRA-R-12-0036 Chair Spence -Jones: We move on to item number 3. Clarence. Clarence Woods (Director, Community Redevelopment Agency): Yes, Commissioner. Item number 3 is a resolution of the Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment Agency authorizing the execution of a professional services agreement between the CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) and Howard & Howard Property Management, Inc. It's to provide landscape and irrigation maintenance and services on CRA-owned properties and public right-of-ways [sic] maintained by the CRA for a one-year period, with the option of two additional periods of renewal, at a total cost not to exceed $42, 000 per year, in a form acceptable to the general counsel. Commissioner Suarez: Move it. Mr. Woods: This is -- Commissioner Carollo: Second. Chair Spence -Jones: We had a motion and a second on this item. All in favor? The Commissioners (Collectively): Aye. City of Miami Page 8 Printed on 1/17/2013 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes May 29, 2012 Chair Spence -Jones: This item passes. The only thing that I do want to say, I know that -- I want to make sure the process was vetted out properly and everything was done properly; correct, Mark? Mark Spanioli (Director of Engineering and Construction, Community Redevelopment Agency): It was, Commissioner. Chair Spence -Jones: And how many people did actually were as a part of the RFP (Request for Proposals)? You guys recall? Mr. Spanioli: We got -- if I recall, it was seven. Seven bids came in. And we actually took your directive from the last meeting and we made sure that we gave preference -- I guess preferential treatment to the local vendors. Chair Spence -Jones: Yes. Mr. Spanioli: So we were able to pick a local vendor for this solicitation. Chair Spence -Jones: Okay. I'm assuming that's the local vendor behind you? Mr. Spanioli: Yes, it is. Chair Spence -Jones: Oh, okay. Welcome aboard, sir. Joseph Howard: Thank you. Chair Spence -Jones: Hopefully, you'll be putting people in the neighborhood to work. Mr. Howard: Yes. That's what I wanted to talk about. Chair Spence -Jones: Okay. Mr. Howard: First of all, I would like to commend every one of you. Chair Spence -Jones: Your name for the record, please. Mr. Howard: Joseph Howard, Jr., of Howard & Howard Property Management, owner. Chair Spence -Jones: Can you take your shades off bro? That's okay. I just want -- Mr. Howard: I would just like to thank you. And I'm just so overjoyed that NANA (Neighbors and Neighbors Association) has really worked for me. I am a child of NANA and it has really progressed in my life and in my business and my future also. But I wanted to make a comment about NANA, that taking those classes, I had the benefit of actually learning what a budget really was. And I did my homework and looked over some things, and the scope of work has become very hazardous, like with biohazardous material, human feces, or needles and things of that nature. And I would just like to address that and some amendments should be done or something that could accommodate me and my guys 'cause it has become like a task, but we do it. We do it with love and everyone in the community applauds us. Look, they got some black guys actually doing the work and everyone in the community is proud and it's because of you guys. And you guys are the one that made me, and you guys are the one that deserve the round of applause. Applause. Chair Spence -Jones: Thank you, sir. Thank you, sir. Okay, so that item passes. City of Miami Page Printed on 1/17/2013 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes May 29, 2012 Mr. Howard: Thank you. Chair Spence -Jones: Grady, do you want -- Grady Muhammad: Yeah. Chair Spence -Jones: -- to add on to --? And let me just say, y'all know I do everything in decency and order in these meetings so -- Grady, you have a comment to add on? Mr. Muhammad: Yes, yes. Very brief but very profound. Chair Spence -Jones: Okay. Do you know this young man? Mr. Muhammad: I have an idea who he is. Chair Spence -Jones: Okay. Mr. Muhammad: Grady Muhammad, president and CEO (Chief Executive Officer), Miami -Dade First, 5426. The requirements of the contract is great. One of the greatest things that's not included, to the best of my knowledge, would be workmen's compensation, unemployment compensation, FICA (Federal Insurance Contributions Act), MICA, otherwise they going to have to be independent contractors. Likewise, we don't have any -- I don't think there's any funding for training and things because we got to deal with the people who we're dealing with. This is a labor intensive job, outside in the heat, and folks going to have to be trained to do this stuff. Everybody's not going to be able to do it. Some people may get a job, get paid two weeks, don't come back. May need some mobilization funds because if people be working for a whole month and he's got to submit an invoice to the CRA and it takes some time to get processed -- and it does -- people working for two weeks, four weeks, but they don't see it, now they going to be ready to take his head off thinking he's got the check, he's got the money, and then they don't want to show up. And all these are un -- issues that haven't been even vetted and addressed. Mobilization funds. He's going to need funds for equipment. He's going to give workers that opportunity, and he should, but every other contract that previously was given, SFM, was of a higher rate. They had one cut, some two cuts, but they had maybe 16 properties. This is 33 properties and it's two cuts per month when theirs were one cut per month, and it's $15, 000 lower than SFM and SFM never had to go through the training and hiring, recruiting the residents from the neighborhood. He has to do all of that stuff and there's no funding in there for any of that stuff. But he's appreciative of it, and I think things can be worked out because we got to give him an opportunity, but you have to deal -- we dealing with substance abuse, mental problems, drug abuse, all of the problems we talk about when we're dealing with the people of Overtown. We also have to take that into consideration because we gone have to train these folks and get these people ready. Some of them have jobs, never had jobs and we have to deal with all those issues that others didn't previously have to deal with. Thank you. Chair Spence -Jones: Thank you, Grady. Thank you for your comments. [Later...] Chair Spence -Jones: Let me just make sure -- on the two items -- I want to respond real fast to Grady on item number 3. I think that -- where's Leroy? Okay, Leroy, we -- I think some of the recommendations that Grady put on the record are extremely important. I know that we offer the business support grant here. I'm assuming that's how he was able to -- Mr. Woods: Yes. City of Miami Page 10 Printed on 1/17/2013 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes May 29, 2012 4. 12-00609 Chair Spence -Jones: -- make it through that process. Mr. Woods: Yes. Chair Spence -Jones: But I think along the way, we're going to make -- need to make sure that he has consistent support to make sure he's able to sustain -- 'cause you can get the contract, but if you don't have the ability to sustain it, then that becomes a problem. So we really need to make sure from our perspective that we work along with the CRA to make sure he has support along the way so that the business can grow. I don't -- I just -- I'm just making the comment, all right. CRA RESOLUTION A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY AUTHORIZING THE EXPENDITURE OF FUNDS, IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $40,000, FOR THE LAUNCH OF THE SHOP, DINE, AND EXPLORE ("SDE") MARKETING CAMPAIGN TO PROMOTE THE BUSINESSES, CULTURAL FACILITIES, AND RESTAURANTS WITHIN THE REDEVELOPMENT AREA; AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO DISBURSE FUNDS, AT HIS DISCRETION, ON A REIMBURSEMENT BASIS OR DIRECTLY TO VENDORS, UPON PRESENTATION OF INVOICES AND SATISFACTORY DOCUMENTATION; FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF ALL DOCUMENTS NECESSARY FOR SAID PURPOSE, IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO GENERAL COUNSEL; FUNDS TO BE ALLOCATED FROM SEOPW TAX INCREMENT FUND, "OTHER GRANTS AND AIDS," ACCOUNT CODE NO. 10050.920101.883000.0000.00000. File # 12-00609 05-29-12 Cover Memo.pdf File # 12-00609 05-29-12 Financial Form.pdf File # 12-00609 05-29-12 Legislation(signed).pdf Motion by Board Member Suarez, seconded by Board Member Carollo, that this matter be ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote. Votes: Ayes: Chair Spence -Jones, Commissioner Carollo, Commissioner Suarez and Commissioner Sarnoff Absent: Vice Chair Gort CRA-R-12-0037 Chair Spence -Jones: All right, we're going to move on to item number 4. Clarence Woods (Director, Community Redevelopment Agency): Yes, Commissioners. Chair Spence -Jones: Staff, will you prepare --? Mr. Woods: Commissioners, item number 4 is a resolution of the Board of Commissioners of the Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment Agency authorizing the expenditure of funds, in an amount not to exceed $40, 000, for the launch of the Shop, Dine & Explore campaign -- Commissioner Suarez: Move it. Mr. Woods: -- marketing campaign to promote the businesses, culture, facilities and restaurants within the redevelopment area; authorizing the executive director to disperse funds at his City of Miami Page 11 Printed on 1/17/2013 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes May 29, 2012 5. 12-00597 discretion on a reimbursement basis or directly to vendors upon presentation of invoices and satisfactory documentation; further author -- Chair Spence -Jones: We have a -- Commissioner Suarez: Move it. Chair Spence -Jones: He had a motion. Commissioner Carollo: Second. Chair Spence -Jones: Second. All in favor? The Commissioners (Collectively): Aye. [Later..] Chair Spence -Jones: All right. And then on the Shop, Dine & Explore -- 'cause you don't want to vote on items and not make sure the community is clear what's happening. Shop, Dine & Explore is a campaign that we're doing and we've been training the local businesses in the area for tourism. We're launching off a campaign -- as a matter of fact, this month in partnership with Little Havana and Little Haiti, where we have the trolleys that will be going through all three neighborhoods and connecting the neighborhoods. And the main goal and objective is to get people that are visiting the City to go into these neighborhoods to shop, dine and explore these neighborhoods. I just got out of a meeting with Mayor Carlos Gimenez. It was a great meeting, and he's at this point working along with the Port of Miami, along with the cruise ships to look at how we could get individuals off the cruise ships, like they do in Port of [sic] Everglades, to get on the trolleys to go into those neighborhoods and spend money 'cause it's really, really important that these smaller businesses in the area that never get any support have people actually corning into their neighborhood. So we're very excited. I see Black Archives is working along with us. Tim has done an outstanding job to pull that program together, along with the Bureau and several other agencies. So we think that this is definitely going to generate some revenue in the neighborhoods and also some excitement in the neighborhoods. CRA RESOLUTION A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY AUTHORIZING A GRANT, IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $100,000.00, TO ITALIAN ICE BY DENISE, LLCAND ULTRINAA. HARRIS D.B.A. KICKS ON WHEELS, FOR THE INTERIOR BUILD -OUT OF THEIR RETAIL BAYS AT NEW ARENA SQUARE, 268 NW 11TH STREET, MIAMI, FL 33136, AND 271-75 NW 10TH STREET, MIAMI, FL 33136, RESPECTIVELY, UNDER THE RENOVATION/TENANT IMPROVEMENTS GRANT INITIATIVE AUTHORIZED BY RESOLUTION NO. CRA-R-07-0034; AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, AT HIS DISCRETION, TO DISBURSE THE GRANT ON A REIMBURSEMENT BASIS OR DIRECTLY TO VENDORS, UPON PRESENTATION OF INVOICES AND SATISFACTORY DOCUMENTATION; AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO EXECUTE ALL DOCUMENTS NECESSARY FOR SAID PURPOSE, IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO GENERAL COUNSEL; ALLOCATING FUNDS FROM THE SEOPW TAX INCREMENT FUND, "OTHER GRANTS AND AIDS," ACCOUNT CODE NO. 10050.920101.883000.0000.00000. City of Miami Page 12 Printed on 1/17/2013 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes May 29, 2012 File # 12-00597 05-29-12 Financial Form.pdf File # 12-00597 05-29-12 Legislation(signed).pdf File # 12-00597 05-29-12-Cover Memo.pdf Motion by Board Member Suarez, seconded by Board Member Carollo, that this matter be ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote. Votes: Ayes: Chair Spence -Jones, Commissioner Carollo, Commissioner Suarez and Commissioner Sarnoff Absent: Vice Chair Gort CRA-R-12-0038 Chair Spence -Jones: So I'm going to move on to item number 5. Clarence Woods (Director, Community Redevelopment Agency): Commissioner, item number 5 is a resolution of the Board of Commissioners of the Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment Agency authorizing a grant, in an amount not to exceed -- it says $100, 000, but it's $50, 000 for two businesses that we're looking to move into the New Arena Square commercial storefronts. One of the businesses is Italian Ice by Denise, and the other is Altrena Harris d/b/a (doing business as) Kicks on Wheels. Commissioner Suarez: Move it. Chair Spence -Jones: We had a motion. Commissioner Carollo: Second. Chair Spence -Jones: We had a second. All in favor? The Commissioners (Collectively): Aye. Chair Spence -Jones: All right. Let me just mention real fast again, I want you to be very clear on these items so that at least the public knows exactly what's happening. This is the building that's across the street from the parking lot that we have on 3rd Avenue and about 11 th Street, right by Jackson's. I want to say to the community that I really love the -- to the CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) staff, the new signage that you have in the window, Shop, Dine & Explore. It looks really good. I think we have how many bays in that facility now? Mr. Woods: Three. What are you talking about, the ones that are already occupied or the ones that are --? Chair Spence -Jones: Unoccupied, just the -- Mr. Woods: Unoccupied, it's three. Chair Spence -Jones: It's three, okay. Okay, no problem. Mr. Woods: Yeah, it's three. Chair Spence -Jones: And these will be two new businesses that are actually coming to the area, right? Mr. Woods: Yes. Chair Spence -Jones: Okay, so I just want to make sure that we know the idea is to make sure we have businesses coming in those particular communities. I think Chelsa's -- go ahead. Ms. City of Miami Page 13 Printed on 1/17/2013 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes May 29, 2012 Rosa, you want to make a comment? Rosa Green: Not about that. The next -- number 6. Chair Spence -Jones: Okay. Well, let -- all right, no problem. Ms. Green: I'm just up here so I won't be late. Chair Spence -Jones: Okay, no problem. So the item has passed, but before we do that, Commissioner Sarnoff -- I mean, Suarez has a comment. Commissioner Suarez: Yeah. I just want to say that, you know, this goes back to the first point, which was we need to spend down the money. Chair Spence -Jones: Yes. Commissioner Suarez: We're getting the money on the street. We're improving, you know, 3rd Avenue, and also, we are doing something that's different. We're bringing in different small businesses to the community and I think that's the purpose of the CRA. So it's proud for me to be a part of it. Chair Spence -Jones: Let me mention -- and first of all, if those two businesses are here today, if they are -- I think it -- believe it's Kicks on Wheels. She already has -- if you would like to at least stand. We'd like to at least see who you are. Kicks Wheels, and then we have the Italian Ice. Okay, so do you want to put something on the record? Okay, no problem. Denise Daniels: Good evening. I just want you all to know I appreciate and thank you all for investing in me and I will not disappoint you all. It will be a success. Thank you. Commissioner Suarez: Thank you. Chair Spence -Jones: All right. Thank you -- Priscilla A. Thompson (Clerk of the Board): I need a name. Chair Spence -Jones: -- so much. Ms. Thompson: I'm sorry. Chair Spence -Jones: Your name, I'm sorry -- Commissioner Suarez: Your name and address. Chair Spence -Jones: -- for the record. Ms. Daniels: Italian Ice by Denise. My name Denise Daniels. Chair Spence -Jones: All right. Commissioner Suarez: Thank you. Chair Spence -Jones: Thank you, Denise. Let me just say this. I'm going to commend once again -- I know you get tired of getting commended, NANA (Neighbors and Neighbors Association). But let me just say, this is what it's all about. It's about the small businesses having an opportunity to not only, you know, build their companies, you know, but to also grow City of Miami Page 14 Printed on 1/17/2013 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes May 29, 2012 6. 12-00591 them. And whether or not she hires one or two people, that's one or two people in Overtown that did not have a job that will have a job now. So I just want to commend Leroy. I know that we have several -- I know we workshopped y'all to death and trained y'all to death, but we want to make sure that once we invest in you, you're able to sustain yourself and that you're able to, you know, grow your business. So I want to at least commend you once again and, Leroy, for your work and we look forward to having that Italian ice shop. We all will come by and sample it. Unidentified Speaker: Thank you. CRA RESOLUTION A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT, IN SUBSTANTIALLY THE ATTACHED FORM, WITH ISLAND LIVING APARTMENTS, LTD, A FLORIDA LIMITED PARTNERSHIP FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT CONSISTING OF NOT LESS THAN 70 RESIDENTIAL UNITS AND 5000 SQUARE FEET OF COMMERCIAL SPACE TO BE LOCATED AT 1201 N.W. 3RDAVENUE, AND 229-247 N.W. 12TH STREET, MIAMI, FLORIDA, WHICH DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT INCLUDES THE MAKING OF A GRANT TO THE DEVELOPER IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED NINE MILLION DOLLARS; AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO DISBURSE THE GRANT, AT HIS DISCRETION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TERMS OF THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT; FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO EXECUTE AND AMEND ALL DOCUMENTS NECESSARY FOR SAID PURPOSE, IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO SPECIAL COUNSEL. File # 12-00591 05-29-12 Cover Memo.pdf File #12-00591 05-29-12 Legislation (signed).pdf Motion by Board Member Suarez, seconded by Board Member Carollo, that this matter be ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote. Votes: Ayes: Chair Spence -Jones, Commissioner Carollo, Commissioner Suarez and Commissioner Sarnoff Absent: Vice Chair Gort CRA-R-12-0039 Direction by Chair Spence -Jones to the Executive Director to work with Vice Chair Gort in creating an oversight committee to oversee the expenditure of the bond funds. Chair Spence -Jones: All right, so we're going to move on to item number 6. Clarence Woods (Director, Community Redevelopment Agency): Yes. Chair Spence -Jones: And I'm about to lose a Commissioner so. Mr. Woods: Okay, yes. Item number 6 is a resolution of the Board of Commissioners of the Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment Agency authorizing the execution of a development agreement, in substantially the attached form, with Island Living Apartments, Ltd., a Florida limited partnership, for the development of an affordable housing project consisting of not less than 70 residential units and 5,000 square feet of commercial space, to be located at 1201 Northwest 3rd Avenue and 229 through 247 Northwest 12th Street. Commissioner, this is an item that we're really excited about. This is the actual approval of a development agreement City of Miami Page 15 Printed on 1/17/2013 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes May 29, 2012 for the building of affordable housing within the Southeast Overtown/Park West CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency). This particular item -- or the developers are Carlisle Development Group, along with Palmetto Homes. We worked on this for quite some time and this will be the actual culmination of that vetting process and being able to get some of that money on the street that you guys have been talking about. Chair Spence -Jones: And as a reminder, I know Commissioner Gort is not here as of yet, but -- I mean, he has a conflict, but this is -- Commissioner Gort is heading up the efforts for all the redevelopment efforts. All of the major projects that we have happening in the Overtown area, he's taking the leadership on vetting out these different projects. Mr. Woods: Developments, yes. Chair Spence -Jones: And I've kind of let him handle that, the numbers and all of that. So I know that there're some key things that we put into the agreement that we thought that were extremely important. We also had -- just so that you guys know -- I see Pastor Lake here. We hosted a community meeting -- a planning meeting about a month ago, where all of the projects actually presented themselves to the community as a part of the whole planning day event and it was a very successful meeting. And a lot of things were actually put on the record. We want to make sure that those things are also engaged in the process so that there's -- you know, we're all on the same page with that. Mr. Woods: Well, Commissioner, here again, I'd like to give a plug to my attorney here, Mr. William Bloom, who -- I mean -- Chair Spence -Jones: Bill, you took 'em -- Mr. Woods: -- he made sure -- Chair Spence -Jones: -- you ran 'em through the mud? Mr. Woods: Yeah. Chair Spence -Jones: Bill, would you like to put something on the record? William R. Bloom (Special Counsel, Community Redevelopment Agency): No. I think everyone worked very long and hard in bringing this deal to a conclusion. Chair Spence -Jones: I don't know; is it me or is it hard hearing --? Commissioner Suarez: You got to put the mike up. He's got to put the mike up to his face. Chair Spence -Jones: Yeah. Commissioner Suarez: There we go. Mr. Bloom: Yes. No. I think everyone worked very long and hard in bringing this deal to a conclusion. You know, Carlisle worked, you know, very hard in meeting the requirements of the CRA and addressing their concerns and being responsive to their concerns. And they're committed to the community and putting forth a very fine project. The CRA, you know, opted for all the upgrades that are intended for this project to make it long-term more viable, you know, putting in the upgrades like the balconies and the upgraded floorings that will, again, improve the long-term maintenance of the project, so this should be a wonderful project. Commissioner Suarez: Move it for discussion. City of Miami Page 16 Printed on 1/17/2013 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes May 29, 2012 Chair Spence -Jones: I have a motion and a second. Commissioner Carollo: Second. Chair Spence -Jones: Second for discussion. I just want to -- I'll wrap up in the end but Commissioner Suarez, you're recognized. Commissioner Suarez: Thank you. I just want to briefly say that -- kind of going back to the last item and the point that we made, which is the $14 million that is in the line item that is to be spent down. And I'm very encouraged by the direction the CRA's taken recently, in particular where it looks like we're really making a concerted effort to get that money spent down, in accordance, obviously, with what the community wants and in accordance with our CRA laws, which are voluminous and extensive. But I really commend the CRA administration for taking that constructive criticism to heart and really working on getting these things going, so thank you for that. Chair Spence -Jones: Thank you. Do you want to add anything, Commissioner Sarnoff? Commissioner Sarnoff- You know, I -- Chair Spence -Jones: And then, Rosa, I'm going to open -- Rosa Green: No problem. I need to stand. Commissioner Sarnoff.- -- certainly support what Commissioner Spence -Jones is doing. Where I may differ with her -- and it's -- I think it's a point of good advocacy and I think it's a good point of being a good, you know, fiduciary for the taxpayers, as well as for the Overtown area, and that's the question, What percentage are we spending on economic development? Because I'm a huge advocate -- not such a huge advocate of -- Commissioner Suarez: Affordable housing. Commissioner Sarnoff- -- affordable housing, which I want to say Commissioner Suarez has given me a brand-new field to go into because I'm now learning everything there is to learn for -- as I guess as Clarence Woods would say, I may know now enough to be dangerous on what I know with affordable housing. But having said that -- and this goes back to, Commissioner, when we had to even choose who had to succeed you for a period of time, and the comments that I made on the record then -- Chair Spence -Jones: Yeah. Commissioner Sarnoff -- were on a pie chart, What amount would you spend on economic development? And candidly, I didn't -- I was not receptive to then Commissioner Dunn's response, which was not a significant amount. I just believe that we've got to find jobs and we have to find a way to create jobs in this community. I mean, whether it's a big box, whether it's a convention center -- and I'll use that word which I usually say, multipurpose meeting hall, so I don't offend Miami Beach. But you know, it's our community and we need to get jobs in the neighborhood of 4 or 500 jobs. And I'm going to support this 'cause one thing I've learned is Carlisle is a great company to deal with, but I'm going to ask you for a couple of things in the future, and that is, what is our Planning Department's position with regard to these particular pieces of land? Is it suggested -- is it -- in other words, from a professional planning study, are they recommending that these be affordable housing units? And then I know we don't really have economic development like when you and I probably shared the dais at first 'cause we kind of relinquished that department. But then the question is, Have we done any kind of study to City of Miami Page 17 Printed on 1/17/2013 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes May 29, 2012 determine the viability of creating a large-scale employer in Overtown? You know, I want to put that on the record that that's what I'm looking to see. Chair Spence -Jones: Yes. Commissioner Sarnoff.- I will support this. I will support more affordable housing along the way as well, but I'd just ask if we can get a planning study to see how the City Planning Department is with this. It certainly is intuitive that you would believe there needs to be affordable housing in Overtown. But I just want to know where they expect it to go; how they expect it to go; what they think it should look like. And then -- and I spoke to Clarence today and I told him I would be more than glad to help him with economic development in Overtown because I really think what Overtown needs -- and I mean this with all due respect 'cause you can certainly say I'm not in favor of that -- and times I have not been in favor of what I'm going to say in my own neighborhood. But I think you need a large-scale develop -- large-scale employer, whether it's a Wal-Mart, whether it's a Target, whether it's something very large like that; a good employer that gives opportunities for people to grow up in that particular employment. You know, obviously, I have opposed big boxes and maybe came on the Commission, if you remember, opposing a big box. But I think in the right spot and in the right circumstance, it could be a great economic engine for this neighborhood. And I just want to make sure that we just don't put -- whether it's 500 or $600 rentals out there because even to afford $600 in rent, you have to have a job to have that. And I just want to make sure that we're creating the best opportunities for a viable Overtown as we can. Chair Spence -Jones: Okay. Let me -- you have something you want to add to this? Okay. Let me just say this and I'm -- Ms. Rosa, if you want to add -- I'm assuming you want to put a comment down. A couple things, one that I think is extremely important and I ask for the Administration to do, as you know, we're moving rapidly on the $50 million loan process so that we can get it moving through the County. I had -- like I said, I had a very fruitful meeting with Mayor Carlos Gimenez today, and Commissioner Edmonson are pushing to have this item actually hit the TIF (Tax Increment Fund) Committee tomorrow, so we're moving the process along so that these projects are not held up in any way. So hopefully, by June, we should have everything situated with Miami -Dade County. But what I've asked the Administration to do -- and I want to make sure since we can't talk outside of this meeting -- is to put together an oversight committee that will work along with Commissioner Gort, since he's shepherding these projects, that will consist of individuals to make sure, one, we stay on target; to make sure the key things that we're requesting for these builders and developers actually meet the goals and objectives, and to make sure that we have additional watchdogs on how this money is being spent and what's actually happening with these projects. So I wanted to mention to you there's a few people that we're looking at participating in that process; Pat Braynan (phonetic), which is already -- you guys already know who Pat Braynan (phonetic) is. She's been very interested in being a part of supporting us during this process. Tony Goldman -- I don't know if you know who Tony Goldman is, but he's been very much involved in the redevelopment efforts of Wynwood. But the whole idea was to make sure the historical relevance of Overtown is not lost with all of the new projects that are coming in, that it definitely reflects the history and the culture of the community. So he'll be working along with -- on that oversight committee. And then we definitely want to have a resident from the community. We think it's important to have a resident actually sit on that committee. And then Frank. I'm sure you guys know Frank was actually here prior to me getting here; Frank Rollason, which understands how the CRA process works and has been around for a very long time, just to kind of give insight on what needs to actually happen. So I don't know if you have any comments or any thoughts on that but, you know, that is -- you know, that's kind of what we're kicking around as ideas to make sure that the process actually works. I do want to add on your comment, though, Commissioner Sarnoff. I think it's really key that having the housing, we definitely need to make sure that the housing that we -- housing stock that we have here is adequate, so that's why a lot of these dollars will be spent towards Town Park to make sure that we rehab those units to bring them up to par so that City of Miami Page 18 Printed on 1/17/2013 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes May 29, 2012 we can support the existing people that live in Overtown already. But also, the new housing developments that we're doing includes at least a retail element to give the small business an opportunity to be a part of the redevelopment efforts, that they can afford the retail that there's right there in the facilities so that that's another opportunity for jobs. I think the big issue -- and maybe this something you can help us with, Commissioner Sarnoff is our challenge to make sure on the four lots that were -- I'm not going to call it Crosswinds anymore because we keep call -- and it's not that -- the four additional lots that were once that, it would be great to have your assistance with Bill Bloom and the County to -- since you are such a fabulous negotiator, to get them to do what's necessary -- because I think that when we're talking about larger plots of land that we have, we don't have a lot of that in Overtown. We only have it in certain places and those are basically their lots. So my recommendation, if you're open to it -- and Bill, I don't know if you have any updates of where we are with the County regarding the issue of the settlement agreement. I mean, I think they're almost at the end, but I think a little nudge with you and the County Mayor and working along with the Commissioner to get that done would be very helpful for us. Commissioner Sarnoff- And I -- to the extent I don't -- Bill, ifI screw it up, I don't want to do that, but I think those blocks, Block 55, in particular -- Chair Spence -Jones: It's like three blocks. Commissioner Sarnoff. Yeah, it is three blocks, but if you just look at it -- you know, I understand what you want to do with the historic district, the Lyric. But I think you need a battery. Chair Spence -Jones: Yeah. Commissioner Sarnoff. And I think that battery needs to be a large employer. And I think that large employer really brings people who want to remain here, people who live here that don't have a job. I mean, I just tried to drill down the other day What is the true unemployment rate in Overtown. And I started out at -- somebody said 11.2 percent. And I said, no, that ain't right. Then somebody came back at 17.2 percent. And I said with all due respect, I don't think that's right. Then I called a couple of universities and they said 27.5 percent. And I said, I really don't think that's right. And the best we've been able to drill down is we think it's in the neighborhood of 40 percent for those who are unemployed and underemployed. And you ask yourself -- you know, affordable housing is great and this is not a criticism of affordable housing. But when you have limited resources, you have to deploy those resources, you ask yourself, how can I best deploy these resources to affect those that want to work -- 'cause there are some out there that don't want to work and there's nothing any person up here of any persuasion can do to make a man or a woman want to work. But those who are willing to work and get trained to work, how many of them are out there and what can we do for them? And then -- that's my question. And I certainly accept your challenge. I certainly accept -- and I don't want to screw it up, so trust me, I don't want to go in there like a bull in a china shop and, you know, do something I don't belong doing. But having said that, Block 55, in general, and a couple of other blocks very close in proximity really do facilitate a large-scale employer -- Chair Spence -Jones: Yeah. Commissioner Sarnoff -- and really could be the battery to what -- I know -- I suspect your heart is probably more geared towards historic Lyric and historic Overtown -- and by the way, if you guys aren't watching Magic City, it's -- there's a great little spot on Overtown years ago and what was going on in Overtown years ago. But I think to get to even a semblance or a resemblance of that, you have to have a battery and that battery has to be a large-scale employer. City of Miami Page 19 Printed on 1/17/2013 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes May 29, 2012 Chair Spence -Jones: Right. And if I can just add -- I think when -- and I see Dr. Fields here and I saw Gregory from our Planning Department. I don't know where he's -- he was -- he walked through. Okay. Gregory Gay has been working with us for almost like four or five years in putting together the development efforts. Your questions around planning, he's been at the table with us from day one making sure that we do have a balance of housing along with some sort of balance of job creation -type things happening in the Overtown area. So he's been very much involved in that whole drilldown effort that we had with social compact and just in general whatever redevelopment efforts we have happening to make sure that we have enough and not have more housing than anything else. But if you can definitely work along with the County. Bill, I think we should be closer to the end on it, but -- Mr. Bloom: Right. Chair Spence -Jones: -- to push it over would be great. Mr. Bloom: There's a few issues and the -- Chair Spence -Jones: Yeah. Mr. Bloom: -- Commissioner can be very helpful in persuading the County the timeframe required to complete a big -box retail development because it's like Bayview Market who came in the Omni; said they were shovel ready and they're still shovel ready. All they have to do is sign some big -box retailers and they're good to go. Until then, they're nowhere. Chair Spence -Jones: So -- Commissioner Sarnoff.- Yeah. I think there's a different -- I think, philosophically, you take a different motif and you go to the big -box retailer and you suggest to them what is available, what incentives could be brought to bear, and then you let the Commissioner of the district -- I don't want to say cut the deal. I don't want to make it sound that -- Chair Spence -Jones: No. You're chairing that, so just as Gort is doing that part, this is -- we all sit on the CRA board, you know. It is Overtown and it is my district, but it's important for the people of Overtown to know that the board members that are sitting on this board have actively engaged in the transformation of Overtown. So it is your -- you know, we can definitely -- I would like community people to be a part of that process with you 'cause you need their input, but it's your baby. Commissioner Sarnoff Okay. Chair Spence -Jones: Let's create the jobs. Commissioner Sarnoff I accept the challenge. Chair Spence -Jones: Okay. So with that being said -- Mr. Woods: I think you got to vote on it. Chair Spence -Jones: Huh? Mr. Woods: The development agreement. Chair Spence -Jones: Yeah, but I want to -- Mr. Woods: You have to actually vote. City of Miami Page20 Printed on 1/17/2013 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes May 29, 2012 Chair Spence -Jones: -- hear Ms. Rosa first. But also, the 1201 building -- I want -- who are the individuals doing the building? Are they here? Mr. Woods: Yes. Chair Spence -Jones: Okay. Is anybody else here from the group? Can you guys please step up 'cause people need to see who you are? Can you guys come on up? And Ms. Rosa, you're on. Ms. Green: You know, I almost forgot some of what I wanted to say. Chair Spence -Jones: I'm sorry. Ms. Green: But first of all, I want to take a few minutes because -- Chair Spence -Jones: Put your name on the record, Ms. Rosa. Ms. Green: Oh, Rosa Green. Chair Spence -Jones: You see Ms. Priscilla looking at you. Ms. Green: She probably has it down already. She -- Chair Spence -Jones: She done gave me -- she gave me that look. Ms. Green: -- knows me quite well. I'm an Overtown pioneer. And I am sick and tired of being sick and tired. Commissioner Jones [sic], you probably know a lot about politics, much more than I'll ever learn. But one thing I learned, if you see somebody successful at what they are doing -- Chair Spence -Jones: Yes. Ms. Green: -- it's not a problem and most of them would love for you to come up and say, Well, how do you do this so I can get this done in my district? Chair Spence -Jones: Yes. Ms. Green: Now you have two young men there -- three young men -- Chair Spence -Jones: Three young men, yes. Commissioner Sarnoff. Thank you. My mother appreciates that 'cause, as young as you make me is as younger you make her. Ms. Green: -- that barely got here only a few years ago, and let me tell you, my favorite channels are 77 and 28, so I see the things that they have done since they've been on the Commission. First of all, ifI may, I want to say we live -- we supposed to be living in a democracy and not a dictatorship. It's not what I want, it's not what he want, but it's what the people want. And I really think that we don't have enough input into the things that happen in Overtown. Now I came to Overtown at the age of 13 years of age, and I've seen it go. We had hotels. Why can't we get a hotel in Overtown and hire some of these people that aren't working? Why can't we get --? You know how I got -- earned a degree? They -- I had finished 12 grade, of course, but they opened up a manpower center that looked like the Culmer Center could be used for to train. Now you guys got very angry with Braman when he said that people need to get training to get these jobs. You know, they need to be trained and there are a lot of -- I don't know City of Miami Page21 Printed on 1/17/2013 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes May 29, 2012 why you paying rent on the Culmer Center. It's basically empty. There's a lot of space there. And all these vacant properties -- you have eyesores. You have the Lyric Theater, over 60 years. You have the Dorsey House down on 17th. Dana Dorsey gave the property to the City and it can't get build or something can't be there. And somebody is coming in here who has been in here before asking for $9 million. Carpetbaggers. I hate to say it, but that's what I will call them. They come, they get the money, they disappear and they leave nothing. So I'm going to tell you -- I'm speaking -- and all these committees. I think I heard you, Commissioner Carollo, say all these boards and committees. Let's find out what they doing. You don't need that many people. Too many people, nothing will happen. That's why it's five of you there. And five of you there run this City. I mean, I know the County's there, but I mean, you're responsible for what goes on in the City. You can make it or you can break it. We don't have a place where I could take my -- and I only have about eight left over here in my family -- and sit down. I mean, Shirlene -- we don't have family restaurants. I mean, those little lofts there -- I call them hole in the walls -- not to embarrass you, Commissioner. But that little wing fry thing there, two people get in there; three people get in the dress store; two people get in -- and it's crowded. I agree with that Commissioner, Sarnoff. You need some big store, some big something to come over there and hire the people from Overtown. If you're afraid that somebody's going to rob you or do something -- but trust me, most of the people that work in Overtown, you know what? They come from Broward County, a lot of them. So they aren't afraid to come there. And I live there and I'm sure you can build something there and it will prosper. I'd like to have a Hispanic or Cuban restaurant in Overtown 'cause God knows I love the Cuban food, you know. And maybe they could have some collard greens on Southwest 8th Street, okay. Applause. Ms. Green: I'm serious. If you talking about getting together, you don't have to be there. Hire some black people. The Chinese taught black people how to cook Chinese food. Go down on 7th Avenue and see how crowded it is. You know who in the kitchen? Somebody my color, okay. And you can teach them if you don't want to be there. You don't have to be there. But I'm speaking from my heart 'cause God knows when I -- we had two hotels. We had a hotel where the police department is, Mr. Carollo -- you weren't born yet -- and Mr. Suarez. We had a black service station, black man -- Chair Spence -Jones: I wasn't born either, Ms. Rosa. Ms. Green: No, you weren't. Chair Spence -Jones: Why you making me old as dirt? Ms. Green: On 5th Street -- I'm trying to tell you what Overtown can become. Chair Spence -Jones: Yes. Ms. Green: I want to see you shine. The reason I voted -- I would have -- look, it don't -- color don't matter to me. Chair Spence -Jones: Yes. Ms. Green: Ask my Hispanic friends who I work with out in south Hialeah. My whole career of teaching was in Hialeah. It doesn't matter to me what color you are. It matters to me that we love one another and everybody's needs are the same, not matter what. We breathe the same air, and that's the most important thing. 'Cause in five minutes, if you aren't breathing, you're dead, so that's most important. My point is don't -- please don't, Commissioners, give these people no nine -- loan it to them or whatever. Let's get something going in Overtown. Let's clean it up. That house that needs -- right there on 9th Street -- 8th Street, with all that junk out there in the City of Miami Page22 Printed on 1/17/2013 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes May 29, 2012 yard. Look at the Lyric Theater, millions of dollars. Look at the Dorsey House. I was supposed to be on the committee. They walked away and left me. I don't know what happened. But I am not stupid you guys. Chair Spence -Jones: Ms. Rosa -- Ms. Green: I'm going to sit down, but I -- Chair Spence -Jones: No, no. I don't want you to sit down. I'm not asking you to sit down. I just want to make sure that no matter what, we come away from your conversation -- I want us to come away with a solution or a suggestion. So let me just -- ifI can just add onto something that you're saying. Andl don't know how Commissioner Sarnoff feels about it, but that -- Commissioner Sarnoff, I just mentioned the issue of putting together -- heading up the effort to do the subcommittee to make sure -- to create a committee to work along with Bloom to make sure we get the paperwork done through the settlement agreement on that side and to figure out what needs to happen in that overall space. And I think what -- one of the things that Ms. Rosa is saying is that that particular -- if that is the charge from the whole entire board, to focus on more jobs, more opportunity, maybe that particular -- those particular lots would engage more than just the African -American experience, but leave it open for other things to be offered in Overtown as well. So my recommendation or my thought -- and I don't know how you feel about it, Ms. Rosa, is -- would you like to also sit along with Commissioner Sarnoff to work on -- Ms. Green: No. I sat -- excuse me -- and I don't want to be rude. Chair Spence -Jones: Sure. Ms. Green: But I sat on committees -- Chair Spence -Jones: No, I'm saying with Commissioner Sarnoff, though, 'cause you just -- Ms. Green: And he's a winner. Chair Spence -Jones: Yes -- commit -- you just made a comment about you know Commissioner Sarnoff when he puts his mind -- Ms. Green: Yeah, he does. He gets things done. Chair Spence -Jones: -- he gets things done. So that's the reason why I'm making the suggestion so we can move it into an action item, which means I'm asking you if you would like to sit along with Commissioner Sarnoff on -- you probably won't be the only one, but to make sure that whatever happens from that settlement agree -- you don't -- no? Commissioner Sarnoff. No, no, no. Let me just -- Chair Spence -Jones: No? Okay. Commissioner Sarnoff.- No, no. First off, I will report to anybody you want me to report to. I will do a memo to anyone you want. I'm just not a committee -driven kind of guy. I'm a guy that's going to make -- Ms. Green: That's me. Commissioner Sarnoff. -- ten phone calls. Chair Spence -Jones: Right. City of Miami Page23 Printed on 1/17/2013 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes May 29, 2012 Commissioner Sarnoff.- I'm going to sit their butts down in my law office and I'm going to say, here's the goal, get me there. And by the way, if you can't get me there in a half an hour, we don't need to talk anymore 'cause it's -- obviously, you don't want to get there. Then I'll go to the next big box, and I'm going to say, your competition was just in here and so far I have not struck a deal with them. How would you like to strike a deal with me today? And when they say no, I'll go to the next big box. And by the way, all I'm suggesting -- and I want everybody -- my Commissioners -- 'cause I don't get to talk to them. This is it. This is as much -- Chair Spence -Jones: Yes. Commissioner Sarnoff.- -- as I get to talk to Spence -Jones and Carollo won't even take my phone calls anymore. So I want to say this to them. I just believe -- and I could be dead wrong, by the way. But I believe the solution for Overtown is a large scale employer. Ms. Green: Yes. Commissioner Sarnoff Whether -- Ms. Green: And I'll agree. Commissioner Sarnoff. Right, and the reason for that is because once you bring in a number of people into Overtown, then the Lyric Theater feeds off that, Jackson Soul Food feeds off that, even the House of Wings, who used to be my next -door neighbor, feeds off that; even he does. Ms. Green: Three people, it's crowded. Commissioner Sarnoff.- Well -- okay. But -- and I'm not -- all I'm suggesting to anybody is -- you know, I think I know Commissioner Spence -Jones' vision, but I -- you know, I only get to know it up here and I know it by having served with her for a long time. And I know everybody wants things to go back circa 1955, before the interstate came though, before, before, before. I don't think we're ever going to get you to -- Ms. Green: I don't blame the interstate -- excuse me -- because there's a lot of vacant land there. That's just an excuse, okay. Every metropolitan city has an expressway running somewhere cross there. If it wasn't any vacant land in Overtown, then I could say that. But it's overgrown. Look at that place right there on 5th Street that they started to build. I don't know what it was, but look how things do go up when they want them to. In two years, we had the Midtown. Look at the theater out there on Biscayne Boulevard. When things -- and your brother -- I hope Commissioner Spence -Jones deal with the former -- he was the mayor, wasn't he? Yeah, Carollo. Chair Spence -Jones: Joe. Ms. Green: If it wasn't for him, we wouldn't have that center there on 14th Street. Thank you. He left something to remember him by. But I hope you go and find out where that three hundred and some million that he can get -- Chair Spence -Jones: Okay. Ms. Green: -- to put in Overtown. That will certainly help that 50 million. Chair Spence -Jones: Okay. Ms. Green: And they could start building. And I'm not telling everything I like to tell. I'm holding some stuff, but it's some more stuff might come out soon. City of Miami Page24 Printed on 1/17/2013 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes May 29, 2012 Chair Spence -Jones: All right, Ms. Rosa. Ms. Green: And I'm going to sit down. Here's Dr. Fields. She know. Chair Spence -Jones: Thank you, Ms. Rosa. Ms. Green: I'm not afraid to speak my mind. And I really -- Chair Spence -Jones: And I -- Ms. Green: -- you know, let me see. One minute, Dr. Fields, one second. Let me see -- anyway, thank y'all for listening. Chair Spence -Jones: Thank you, Ms. Rosa. Ms. Green: And Mrs. Suarez, tell her to put us -- oh, yeah, senior citizens. Let me get back to that. That's me. Chair Spence -Jones: Thank you. Ms. Green: Now when -- wait a minute. See how he got that nice gym there where the old lady she was exercising. Commissioner Suarez: Oh, yes. Ms. Green: And she looked a little older than me and I was just smiling. Get something like that for senior citizen, whatever you got. I worked all my life. I worked two jobs, full time; Miami Heart Institute, 11 to 7; Dade County Public Schools, from 8 to 3, 12 years. You know why? I had six children. I needed the money. I didn't want to be on Welfare and food stamps, so I worked. Thank God I get my little pension, 'cause if I didn't -- I told Commissioner Sarnoff how that man keep going up on my rent. Y'all saying affordable rent -- let me just say this and I'm going to sit down. When I moved there, it was 900. I've been there two years. Guess how much it is. One thousand, fifty. So when you say affordable -- and I can't afford it, but I'm paying it, okay. But let me tell you this, affordable sounds good. You see the Clerk, she's shaking her head. She knows. Sounds good, affordable. But like Commissioner Sarnoffsays, some people can't afford $600. That's a lot of money, especially when you aren't working and you aren't trained. You don't make that in Burger King and McDonald's. So we got to get these people trained and get them to work. And when you think about hiring, hire the people that live over here. And so if they break in and tear up, then they won't have nowhere to live, sleep or eat or play. Thank you. Chair Spence -Jones: Thank you, Ms. Rosa. I know that -- can we hear from the project real fast, Grady, because --? Okay, 'cause I think you need to at least put something on the record at least so that we're clear on it. Marvin Wilmoth: Absolutely. Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen, Commissioners. Marvin Wilmoth, a regional director for Carlisle Development Group. We're very excited to be partnering with Ario Lundy of Palmetto Homes, a local developer here in Miami -Dade. And I believe that the CRA staff has done a great job of representing the community and making sure that there's a lot of community involvement, as well as local hiring. And we're just very excited. If there's any way that we can help and we look forward to working forward with you in the future. Chair Spence -Jones: Okay, so this will be our first project. And this was a project actually that City of Miami Page25 Printed on 1/17/2013 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes May 29, 2012 you guys voted on when I was not here, correct? Commissioner Suarez: Yes, we did. Chair Spence -Jones: Okay, so I'm actually -- this was a project that I actually inherited, but I'm excited about the fact that you have done and vetted as much as you can in the community to make sure that they're involved and that there's some level of participation. The only thing that I do want to add -- I know -- I see Pop back there, Emanuel. Can you please stand up? We -- you do know we want to make sure from the jobs perspective, correct, that that -- that there is some, you know, initiative that goes in to make sure the local construction workers are participating in the actual facility that's being built because I know in the park -- again, something I inherited when I got back -- that was a challenge for local people actually being put to work. So I believe in the agreement, right, Bill -- you want to put it on the record to make sure that we're clear on -- Mr. Bloom: There's an obligation for 40 percent of labor participation and 20 percent subcontractor participation of local -- Chair Spence -Jones: Forty percent labor, twenty percent subcontractors. So all of the agreements that come out, they have to, you know, adhere to what their contract is saying and you guys all understood that because you negotiated with Bill for how many hours? Mr. Wilmoth: More than I can count. Chair Spence -Jones: All right, not a problem. All right, thank you, guys. Mr. Wilmoth: Thank you. Chair Spence -Jones: Grady. Grady Muhammad: Great project. Commissioner -- Grady Muhammad, president/CEO (Chief Executive Officer) of Miami -Dade First. This is something what we're talking community benefit trust, but simultaneously going in the future. Commissioner Sarnoff, tell Midtown we want Wal-Mart, if those residents up there don't want it. And we can use Block 55, 56 and other ones to be able to facilitate the development like the Brickell -- Mary skyline Brickell Village retail; go residential above. More importantly, we also have to look at the hotels. We have to look at the economics, and we have to look at -- when you're talking about housing, we have to look at what Miami Beach is doing, 52 acres, total redevelopment of the convention center, the Jackson [sic] Fillmore, Miami Beach City Hall, parking lots, the whole nine yards. We have to use the land in Overtown to facilitate the development. We can give the land, we can give the funding, we can do that, like we just did with this project -- or before you all vote, we should do it because it's been vetted. But simultaneous, looking at going future, any and all lands that we control in Overtown, we should look to facilitate the development. Let -- like Miami Beach, bring their development ideas, bring their potential plans and bring those funding as well. As it relates to the Overtown shopping center, I think you all should work to give -- work with Mr. Otis Pitts who built the Liberty City Edison Plaza, got it rented out with national retailers. I think he's the only person that I know of that has that skill, the capacity, that's done it in the past and can be able to do an urban center shopping center, bring the jobs that we need. Because if you don't have a job, you're not going to be able to get married, you're not going to be able to walk dogs, you're not going to be able to buy houses, you're not going to be able to pay for child care. Jobs, jobs, jobs first. And we have to ensure, not just put it in writing. We have to have somebody vetting because we still waiting on Camillus House. I forgot to bring my big old beautiful, amazing view of the Marlins stadium. We waiting on those penalties that they still have not committed those jobs as open. Any penalties that's supposed to be punished -- 'cause I know you was trying to get them to fund the trolley and they bucked and they finally did. But we got to ensure whatever penalties come, comes back to start the facilitating the jobs because we need the City of Miami Page26 Printed on 1/17/2013 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes May 29, 2012 jobs. We need a first-class hotel in Overtown to be able to facilitate. We talking about convention space. We have to look at working with (UNINTELLIGIBLE) and as well as the Sands and all of those 'cause we've given them $500, 000 for development of regional impact and they changed it and may not build anything. But we have to look at how we facilitate development, use those funds for the infrastructure, use those funds to use the land as an economic incentive. Either loan it or sell it, but to use it so we can be able to create real economic jobs. And then likewise, what's coming with the UM (University of Miami), that's going to be coming, that community benefit trust. We got to get real economic incentives out of that agreement 'cause they got a hun -- they going to be getting $158 million and all of it is poor people's money. We got to get more than a person that's going to be supposedly monitoring what they're doing. We got to make sure. Those Parrot Jungle deals, them debacles, we got to make sure they create the jobs because we're giving them $25 million of poor people's money so we got to make sure those jobs -- $35, 000 per job, that should be 714 jobs. They don't have 200 people working there, but these are the requirements of the fed regs. So we have to ensure when we start to giving this money out, loaning this money out, tying it out, even with the school -- the School Board needs it. We need to make this a science, technology, engineering, mathematics, one of the most highest virtually technological schools in the country. This is what this should be and we need to work with the School Board so we can be able to -- because when you create those things, that's what people look at when they look to move to Coral Gables, when those companies move -- those multinational companies move. They're looking at children. They're looking at education. They're looking at the infrastructure. They're looking at housing. This is what we got to do. Overtown must become a mixed income community. Everybody should want to live here. We five minutes from the expressway, five minutes from South Beach, five minutes from everything. We should be able to, with no problem, bring a mixed -income, mixed -use anything because why? We five minutes from downtown. We have everybody -- all them prices in Brickell, they now 1,500, $2, 000, when they was only $1, 000. We can be able to bring what you talking about, the affordable housing. We got to be able to -- Chair Spence -Jones: In -- Mr. Muhammad: I'm almost -- in conclusion. Chair Spence -Jones: I know -- 'cause he's -- I'm about to lose him 'cause he has to go. Mr. Muhammad: I don't want to lose it. Chair Spence -Jones: Okay. Mr. Muhammad.- But what we must do, real -- what you're talking about with the Goldman and everything, we don't need a charrette. We already have the master plan. We just need to implement some of these dusted plans that we've got from all of the years of 1982 and look at how we can be able to tweak some of those plans for right now 'cause that -- not the Crosswinds, that the people's land. It's not the County's land; it's the people's land. Chair Spence -Jones: Thank you, Grady. Mr. Muhammad: And with that deal with (UNINTELLIGIBLE) Sawyer property, we have to make sure something gets done and I think we going to have to do something. I wouldn't have a problem sitting out 'cause I don't have time to -- for crap. I got -- my oldest just graduated. I got another boy going to senior high school, got one going to elementary, so we have to do something -- Chair Spence -Jones: And -- Mr. Muhammad: -- because -- no -- my son needs a job right now. He just -- City of Miami Page27 Printed on 1/17/2013 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes May 29, 2012 Chair Spence -Jones: I understand. Mr. Muhammad: -- graduated from school and we have not yet facilitated this stuff. I growed [sic] up where we -- I was the person they used to be patting on the head saying this is for our children's future. But now, damn it, I'm a grown man with children, so we can't keep talking about this stuff. We got to fulfill this stuff -- Chair Spence -Jones: Right. Mr. Muhammad: -- 'cause I'm a towner for life. And '82, when this process was done, I was 14 years old. Now I'm almost -- I'm 44 and I'll be 45, so we talking 30 years. We got to stop talking about what we talking about and we got to put this plan in action. And finally, the 50 million, we should take Town Park Gardens and knock that crap down and redevelop it 'cause its 40-year recertification. It's two-story old military style barracks. We can be able to use some of those funds to relocate these people and do a master plan for Town Park and we can have vertical on 17th Street. We can be able to do a retail on the State Road 19 -- State Road -- 1-95 and then 1-9 -- 195 and 395. We can do a master plan community with all of this land from there from 17th forward to 1-95. We need to be able to redo this in a holistic way. That's a 40-year-old outdated model. I grew up in Rainbow Village in the projects. That should be torn down and redeveloped in a holistic manner. And the people, if we got to buy 'em out, we'll buy 'em out, but we should in no way, shape, form and fashion spend $15 million to redevelop a 40-year-old certification. That's public housing, but it's military style barracks. Let's think outside the box -- Chair Spence -Jones: Grady -- Mr. Muhammad: -- and do that, Commissioners. Chair Spence -Jones: -- Grady. Thank you, Grady. Mr. Muhammad: Thank you. Chair Spence -Jones: Thank you, Grady. I would make a recommendation, though -- and Grady -- that when we talk about Town Park -- because you do have residents that live there that have vetted this process and have been a part of this process, that if there's any concerns that you have about what they're request -- no, I'm done. We're done. -- that you have a discussion with the tenants association in all three of those facilities. You have a discussion with them. And if that is their recommendation as to what they want to see happen with where they live, then they should be coming back in front of this board. Because at this point, this is their recommendation and this is what the community people in Town Park want to see happen, okay. Mr. Muhammad: No problem. We should give them an alternative and I think they accept. Chair Spence -Jones: Okay. Go ahead. Dorothy Jenkins Fields: Yes. Good evening. Dorothy Jenkins Fields, founder of the Black Archives, Lyric Theater. I just want to speak to the point of a large-scale employer. First of all, the Lyric Theater complex will be hiring 60 to 75 individuals to run not only the theater, but the archives and the welcome center. We are the tourist destination for Overtown, so we're looking at training and hiring and being able to employ 60 to 75 individuals. In addition to that, what we're going to really need in Overtown is a hotel. And of course, the Archives -- Jackie Bell is the one who started talking about it 50 years ago as the hotels that we had were no longer available. And the Archives tried five or six years ago, but the market wasn't good. The market is coming up and is better. And Commissioner Sarnoff, I would certainly ask that at the top of your list, before you put Wal-Mart, that you look at a boutique hotel, that you look at -- or even a City of Miami Page28 Printed on 1/17/2013 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes May 29, 2012 midsize hotel that would in fact be able to handle the scholars and the researchers and the -- all of the visitors who are going to be come -- international visitors who are going to be coming. The Lyric Theater is going to have a plaza and in that plaza, the plaza will have a map that will show all the Caribbean and West Indies coming from West Africa, going all the way up the east coast to Canada. And so we expect to do a lot of seminars. We expect to have a lot of people coming from around the world to be a part of what we're doing. We're working with John Yearwood from the Miami Herald in a project with Dakar. They're going to be putting, hopefully, a statue that represents the history of the area. So we would certainly ask you for the top of your list and the first five on your list to be a hotel that will fit in with what we do; hotel, of course, with retail. And know that the Black Archives and the Lyric Theater will be employing 60 to 75 people and we'll need your help with that. Know also that the Dorsey House that was mentioned several times by Ms. Green; she meant Dorsey Library. It's the Dorsey Library on 17th Street that was given money from the general obligation bond. Chair Spence -Jones: I know. Ms. Jenkins Fields: Thank you. Chair Spence -Jones: Thank you, Dr. Fields. And let me just say this really fast. Thank you, Dr. Fields. I'm going to lose Commissioner Carollo so I need to let him take a vote. His wife is not happy right now, so can we take this vote? Commissioner -- I mean -- Commissioner -- Pastor Lake, is there something you were going to say in reference to this particular item? Eddie Lake: Yes. Real quick, brief. Chair Spence -Jones: Okay, 'cause I'm going to -- he -- Mr. Lake: Brief. Eddie Lake, senior pastor, Greater Bethel -- Chair Spence -Jones: -- 'cause he's got to go. Mr. Lake: -- 245 Northwest 8th Street. Madam Commissioner, thank you, Chair, and to all of the Commission and Mr. Woods and all of you assembled. My question in regards to -- or statement in regards to item number 6 and future development projects together, we definitely need to redevelop Overtown, so I'm all for that. However, in the development, I want to make sure that we enforce 20 percent ownership in each development project, whether it is the GC (General Contractor) or it is the CDC (Community Development Corporation) that is working in conjunction and collaboration with a development team. And so if we can enforce that -- and thank you, Commissioner, for the oversight commission -- that would be wonderful, but we have to do it this way in order to maintain equity and ownership in our community. So this is my statement. This is -- this has to happen and we have to oversee that and make sure it happens for every development that takes place in our community. Thank you. Chair Spence -Jones: And I think Mr. Bloom is going to say that's in every agreement. Mr. Bloom: Right, every agreement. Chair Spence -Jones: Okay. Mr. Bloom: Palmetto Homes has a 20 percent ownership interest in the Island Living project. Chair Spence -Jones: Okay. Thank you, pastor. Mr. Lake: Wonderful. Also want to invite you to our Get Out to Vote town hall meeting June 20 at Bethel church at 6 p.m. Thank you. City of Miami Page 29 Printed on 1/17/2013 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes May 29, 2012 DISCUSSION ITEMS 7. 12-00604 Chair Spence -Jones: Thank you. Because I want Commissioner Carollo to come back, we're going to let him go. Do -- we had a motion and a second. All in favor? The Commissioners (Collectively): Aye. Chair Spence -Jones: Thank you for your patience. Commissioner Carollo: Thank you. Chair Spence -Jones: This motion -- this item passes. CRA DISCUSSION PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT A DISCUSSION ITEM, REGARDING THE CHILDREN'S TRUST FUND PAYMENT, HAS BEEN PLACED ON THE AGENDA FOR THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY ("CRA"). File # 12-00604-05-29-12 Cover Memo.pdf DISCUSSED Chair Spence -Jones: Number 9, in -- Priscilla A. Thompson (Clerk of the Board): Number 7. Chair Spence -Jones: Sorry for taking so long. Children's Trust, Ms. Colyer. Ms. Thompson: Number 7. Chair Spence -Jones: Number 7. And I don't want you to lose any more of us so -- Jacqui Colyer: Yeah. I think I've already lost most of the audience, but it's all good. Hey, how are you? Listen, I just wanted to come in and talk with you about the -- Chair Spence -Jones: Did you put your name on the record? Ms. Colyer: Oh, excuse me. Jacqui Colyer, the Children's Trust. You don't need the address, do you? 31 -- you don't, okay, good. And what I'm here about is -- before I start talking about the Children's Trust, I want to say that for over 20 years I was a resident of Overtown and one of the things -- and I hear you talking and I hear what you're saying, but a part of the reason that people leave Overtown is not because it's not a great community. It's because quality of life is important to people who want to live a middle-class life. And putting whatever you want to put wherever you put it, you're going to have to deal with both the quality of life side with the police department and with public safety and with all of that as well as the development side. Additionally, I think that a part of what we continue to do is think about old school ways of doing things. And I honestly believe that if we could figure out how to make the entire Overtown a hotspot, where every -- Wi-Fi was available for every single resident of Overtown, that would do more to help people in Overtown at least begin to move up in terms of economic development than any of this other stuff that you're talking about building, because we have got to figure out how to give every child and every individual in Overtown the ability to get access to the Internet. Okay, that's my soapbox and I'm finished with that. But what I came to talk to you about is the fact that the CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) and the Children's Trust have a slight -- City of Miami Page 30 Printed on 1/17/2013 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes May 29, 2012 Chair Spence -Jones: I'm about to lose him right now. Ms. Colyer: Okay. Well, we have a slight dispute, and I just want us to figure out how we can get to a place where, you know -- We understand the whole idea that the CRA gives us -- gives the Trust money; the Trust gives the CRA money, and it's just a swap. But the other part that I want to talk to you about is -- and I know that this is something that you're very interested in, Commissioner -- and it is the whole idea of grassroots grant making -- Chair Spence -Jones: Yes. Ms. Colyer: -- within the Overtown community that the Trust is willing to at least have a conversation about, but we want it to be a conversation where we can both be -- at least accept what comes out of it so that both sides get folks that do this work or do the service in the communities where both of us have skin in the game and -- Chair Spence -Jones: Yes. Ms. Colyer: -- it's not just all our skin -- Chair Spence -Jones: Right. Ms. Colyer: -- but somebody else has some skin in the game as well. The Trust spends over $4 million just in Overtown, and I think that that tells you just how committed we are to this community. But I think that it also means that we are willing to look at grassroots grant making, but we want it to be something that is really going to work for both sides. So I think we have a meeting on June -- Clarence Woods (Director, Community Redevelopment Agency): June 4. Ms. Colyer: -- 4 at 10 a.m. and -- Mr. Woods: Well -- Ms. Colyer: -- I'll bring the paperwork and the information. I don't know what time, sorry. Mr. Woods: I don't know -- right. Not 10 a.m -- Ms. Colyer: Okay. Chair Spence -Jones: And let me just say this, Jacqui -- Mr. Woods: -- because it's a community meeting. Ms. Colyer: Five p.m., sorry. Mr. Woods: Yeah, community meeting. Ms. Colyer: Five p.m. Chair Spence -Jones: In closing, I do want to say this. Clarence has really fully briefed me, and that you guys have been in total communication on addressing what the issues and the concerns are. I know that I feel so much more comfortable with the fact that you are over there at the Children's Trust and you have a real commitment to the Overtown area, so I know you're only going to make sure that the organizations in this particular -- City of Miami Page 31 Printed on 1/17/2013 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes May 29, 2012 Ms. Colyer: For sure. Chair Spence -Jones: -- community have the opportunity to participate. I never had an issue -- so we're on the same page -- with Children's Trust. My concern was if we were identiing dollars that came from the Overtown area, that there are a lot of little, small organizations that are here in Overtown that may not have the same capacity as the University of Miami and all these other big projects that get money from the Children's Trust, you know, which have a lot more resources to do what they need to do. But when we have somebody like -- I'll use -- and I'm glad you're working with them -- the Overtown Optimist Club, where they service 500 young boys and young girls and they're having a difficult time keeping their doors opened or they're struggling to provide a service to people. So we just wanted to make sure if there're CRA-related dollars, that we come up with a program, you know, that we know that smaller organizations can grow, their capacity can, you know, be built, you know, so that they can compete with these other agencies and organizations. Even some of your great organizations are even struggling just to fill out the paperwork or to adhere to some of the -- Ms. Colyer: I understand. Chair Spence -Jones: -- main issues. And all I ask is that we work together to figure out how do we create something that can help build these organizations along the way. I am very pleased to know that you are there. I know you're sensitive to the needs, and I think that we're going to make great progress, so I don't have any issues -- Ms. Colyer: Okay. Chair Spence -Jones: -- at all. Ms. Colyer: So then when we talk in June, what I'd like to do is bring you a white paper just to kind of bring an overall outline of what we're proposing and what we'd like to see not only in Overtown, but I think throughout the City of Miami if there's a way for us to figure out -- Chair Spence -Jones: Not a problem. Ms. Colyer: -- how to do it. Chair Spence -Jones: I just -- on the money side of it -- and I don't -- Commissioner Sarnoff has the Omni CRA, and I think you guys give out of the Omni CRA area for your funds, you know, and I don't know if -- you know, his issues may not be the same as mine in Overtown. Ms. Colyer: Correct. Chair Spence -Jones: But I just got to make sure the little, small organizations have an opportunity -- Ms. Colyer: Right. Chair Spence -Jones: -- to, you know, grow as well. Ms. Colyer: Absolutely. I understand. And -- Chair Spence -Jones: Okay. Ms. Colyer: -- I know how -- I know about the Children's Trust paperwork so I am more than willing to work with you on that. City of Miami Page 32 Printed on 1/17/2013 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes May 29, 2012 Chair Spence -Jones: All right. Thank you -- Ms. Colyer: Okay. Chair Spence -Jones: -- Jacqui. Ms. Colyer: You're welcome. Chair Spence -Jones: And I look forward to seeing you. 8. CRA DISCUSSION 12-00606 PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT DISCUSSION ITEM, REGARDING THE POSSIBLE CLOSING OF FREDERICK DOUGLAS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, HAS BEEN PLACED ON THE AGENDA FOR THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY ("CRA"). File # 12-00606 05-29-12 Cover Memo.pdf DISCUSSED Chair Spence -Jones: So we only have two more discussion items. Let me just say on the Frederick Douglass, I think -- just so I can make a quick announcement on that. We've resolved the Frederick Douglass issue with Superintendent Carvalho. The school will not be closing. Yay. Applause. Chair Spence -Jones: But what he is asking for us -- since we have three Commissioners here. They would like to utilize some -- I see the principal here. We fought hard, right? So thank you. Applause. Chair Spence -Jones: But what they are asking for is support with just some of the rehab things that need to take place for Frederick Douglass. With everything being freshened up and new stuff coming on 3rdAvenue, the feeling is that they do need -- the County -- the School Board just does not have the resources to do the things necessary to bring the school up to par and to get key things, you know, like the computer lab and additional things. So I'm asking -- Carvalho's supposed to be putting something together in reference to that, and I'm going to ask the principal to work along with the superintendent's office so we could see what that request is actually going to be. All right, so number 8, we don't -- Clarence Woods (Director, Community Redevelopment Agency): Commissioner -- Chair Spence -Jones: -- have to really talk about. Mr. Woods: Okay. Well -- Chair Spence -Jones: Number -- Mr. Woods: Go ahead, go ahead. NON -AGENDA ITEMS NA.1 CRA DISCUSSION City of Miami Page 33 Printed on 1/17/2013 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes May 29, 2012 12-00636 NA.2 12-00637 CHAIR SPENCE-JONES EXPRESSED APPRECIATION TO COMMISSIONER SARNOFF FOR HIS CONTINUED SUPPORT OF PROJECTS THAT ENHANCE THE OVERTOWN AREA. DISCUSSED Chair Spence -Jones: Okay, we're going to go ahead and move into the agenda. Before we do that, what I would like to say to my fellow colleagues, first of all -- I think I said it in last City Commission meeting. I just wanted to, once again, thank you both -- all three -- I know you were not here, Commissioner Sarnoff, but I want to clear this up so that there's no confusion about Commissioner Sarnoffs level of support for the Overtown community. He was not in town. He was actually in London during this particular period of time, but he's always been a supporter to the redevelopment efforts. And I just want the Overtown residents that are here, you know, to know that that was the case. And he continues to support our efforts to see things get done, so I want to at least make sure we clear that up so that there's no confusion on that at all. And the other thing I wanted to mention, that there was an article that ran this past week, I believe it was on Monday, in reference to us getting things done in Overtown. I do want to say this 'cause it's extremely important for my colleagues and the residents that are here, that we -- there's no fin team, you know. I cannot do any of this unless I have the support of my fellow colleagues. And I really appreciate and value their support because, at the end of the day, you know, they -- we all want to see something happen in Overtown. It's not just a district Commissioner issue. It is -- when this part of town looks bad, it is a reflection on our leadership. So I think that this body that you see that sits up here long after I'm gone, we can be able to point back -- I mean, 40 years of people trying to get something done and we're going to be the first crew to actually get something done. That is a miracle within itself. So I just want to make sure that that is very clear for my colleagues, you know. It's -- I appreciate and value your support to the end, and I just want you guys to realize that I know that I can't do this without you, so I just wanted to at least publicly acknowledge your support with my return back to the dais. CRA DISCUSSION BRIEF REMARKS BY CHAIR SPENCE-JONES REGARDING INFORMATION PLACED ON THE RECORD DURING COMMUNITY COMMENTS. DISCUSSED Chair Spence -Jones: At this point, if there are any other comments, we're going to officially adjourn the meeting. I just want to say, in closing, you know, when we get up and we have these meetings -- and I want to make sure that we put the process in place where we do have a certain timeframe in which everyone that has an issue can address them during the CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) meeting. But there were a few things that were made -- comments tonight that, you know, when we make these comments, they have to be close to facts because we send the wrong message to people that are visiting us that is just not true. One, you know, in reference to having more training programs. You guys know the CRA clearly has the hospitality and culinary institute. We have the jobs training program for the folks that are actually cleaning up our streets outside. So there are several programs that, you know, are actually being offered by the Administration. Clarence Woods (Director, Community Redevelopment Agency): Yes. Chair Spence -Jones: And I want to make sure that we don't leave out of here not knowing that that's the case. So with that being said, I'd like to officially adjourn the meeting, and you guys have a good evening. City of Miami Page 34 Printed on 1/17/2013