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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSEOPW CRA 2013-05-28 MinutesCity of Miami City Hall 3500 Pan American Drive Miami, FL 33133 www.miamigov.com Di • IN Q9▪ IEP 99 i �YD Meeting Minutes Tuesday, May 28, 2013 5:00 PM THE CULMER CENTER 1600 NW 3rd AVE. Miami, FI. 33136 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 28, 2013 INVOCATION AND PLEDGE FINANCIALS 1. 13-00601 Present: Chair Spence -Jones, Commissioner Suarez, Commissioner Carollo and Vice Chair Gort Absent: Commissioner Sarnoff On the 28th day of May 2013, the Board of Commissioners of the Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of Miami met in regular session at The Culmer Center, 1600 Northwest 3rdAvenue, Miami, Florida. The meeting was called to order by Chair Spence -Jones at 5: 07 p.m. and was adjourned at 6:31 p.m. Note for the Record: Commissioner Carollo entered the meeting at 5: 09 p.m., Commissioner Gort entered the meeting at 5:10 p. m., and Commissioner Suarez entered the meeting at 5:12 p.m. ALSO PRESENT: Clarence Woods, Executive Director, CRA Rafael Suarez -Rivas, Assistant General Counsel William Bloom, Special Counsel, CRA Jessica N. Pacheco, Special Counsel, CRA Nicole N. Ewan, Assistant Clerk of the Board Chair Spence -Jones: -- on their way. One went to the wrong location, so we're going to go ahead and get started. We're just going to deal with the update items really fast, and then when they come in -- I know that we're going to be losing some of them tonight, so we'll deal with resolutions. So at this time, we're going to ask for everyone to please stand. We are going to ask -- I saw Reverend Williams somewhere. I want to ask him to at least open us up in prayer. Did I see Walter [sic] Bloom? Yes. (UNINTELLIGIBLE), if you can open us up with prayer, and then I'm going to ask for everyone to recite the pledge. Invocation and pledge of allegiance delivered. CRA REPORT FINANCIAL SUMMARY FOR PERIOD ENDING APRIL 30, 2013 File # 13-00601 May 28, 2013 Financial Summary.pdf PRESENTED Chair Spence -Jones: Okay. Welcome to the Culmer Center tonight. I believe it's been a while since we've had a meeting here. We're going to go ahead and get started really quickly. With the CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) report, the financial report we do have Commissioner Gort here now. We're just waiting for one, and then we'll go straight into the resolutions. Miguel Valentin (Finance Officer, Community Redevelopment Agency): Good evening, Commissioners. As we're doing every month, we are going to be presenting the combined statement of financial position as of April 30, 2013. We are disclosing the cash amount of $30,246,556. And -- well -- and once again, for the month of April, there is no reportable condition to report to the Board. Chair Spence -Jones: And we have another Commissioner joining us, so we do have -- we should have a quorum, please. Any questions at all? City of Miami Page 2 Printed on 9/3/2013 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes May 28, 2013 Commissioner Carollo: Yes, Madam Chairman [sic]. I take it, you were going over the financials? Chair Spence -Jones: Yes. Commissioner Carollo: Yeah, Miguel, the only thing I have is what I always say every time we go over the financials: We have budgeted $35 million, approximately, of expenditures. We're more than halfway through the year, and we only have expended $5 million. Mr. Valentin: Yeah. Do you want to address that, or you want --? Basically, the difference -- that discrepancy lies in the fact that we have been accumulating some money especially for some residential developments, that they are going to be taking place by next year, and if you want to add further as to which projects we have in mind. Chair Spence -Jones: I would like to definitely add onto that, and one of those projects is the -- I see Town Park here today. As a matter of fact, that's one, at least on the north side of it. We have Town Park North, Town Park South, and Town Park Village. But I know that some of these dollars have been set aside for Town Park North -- Mr. Valentin: Yes. Chair Spence -Jones: -- because they were not able to actually get into the bond, so we set those dollars aside to make sure that our commitment to the people in Town Park actually happens. So to answer your question, that's how we're addressing that issue. Vice Chair Gort: Let me ask a question, because I saw a -- numbers adding up to 35 with the expansion that's taking place, but I don't see it here now. Chair Spence -Jones: That's the number. I don't know where you got 35 from. Clarence Woods (Executive Director, Community Redevelopment Agency): Yes. The 35 includes our fund balance. Chair Spence -Jones: Oh, okay. Mr. Valentin: Well, this is money that we haven't expended, but it was already encumbered. Vice Chair Gort: Allocated. Mr. Valentin: Meaning that we're going to be expending the money very soon. Mr. Woods: Commissioners, remember, we always operate under the premise that we're a "pay as you go" CRA. We don't want to take part in this until the money is in the bank. Hey. Unidentified Speaker: How you doing? Mr. Woods: The projects that Miguel is talking about, Town Park North, Town Park North is one of the projects that we're now funding (UNINTELLIGIBLE) the bond issuance, so there is a significant number of 35,000 [sic] that will go towards the rehab of Town Park North. In addition to that, we also have about $4 million set aside for debt service, should we have gotten the bond before 2013 fiscal year is out. So those funds are also a part of what's been encumbered for this year. And all of the other projects are in progress. There is a significant amount of construction in progress, as well. City of Miami Page 3 Printed on 9/3/2013 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes May 28, 2013 Chair Spence -Jones: All right. Any other questions before we move on? Vice Chair Gort: I think -- why don't you go with the first page. It gives the allocation of all the funds -- Mr. Valentin: Yeah. Vice Chair Gort: -- of the 30 million. Mr. Valentin: Well, basically, as you see, the first item is the budget reserve that we have for any unforeseen situation. Then the administration, which it includes our -- the administrative expenses for all our staff, as well as our external legal counsels and the federal lobbyist. Then the third item is for the residential developments, meaning Town Park. We have roughly $10.2 million. And the fourth item is the -- we were foreseeing that we were going to be having the debt service in place by this year. Apparently, that is not going to be happening. Then that money is going to be added to the residential -- to the reserve that we have for the residential developments, meaning that we're going to be having $14 million put aside. In my mind, every -- everything that comes to my mind is Town Park, but it's up to the Board how they want to redirect this money. Then for the job creation and quality of life, the main project that we have right now is the church, and also we have the shopping center. Then for infrastructure -- let me go over this. Vice Chair Gort: You got 3.8. Mr. Valentin: So we have the Greenway project, and we have the Masonic Lodge. Then for the Gibson Park -- the last item is Gibson Park. Most of the money is going to be used towards the gymnasium and there is a remaining balance from previous encumbrance that it was approved back in 2009 that still CIP (Capital Improvement Projects) Department hasn't exhausted in the amount of 600, 000. Just to put you at ease, if you want me, I am able to prepare a list with all the encumbrances. In this way, you will see that all the money is being locked in as I was telling you, or most of the money. Commissioner Carollo: Hold on. But you're actually reading the assets. You're reading a balance sheet to a certain degree, right? Mr. Valentin: Yeah. Well, this -- Commissioner Carollo: What about the expenses for this budget year, which is $35 million? Mr. Valentin: No. The actual expenses, I think it is -- Commissioner Carollo: No. The actual expenses I have here as of 4/30, $5 million. But I'm saying the approved budget is 35 million. Mr. Valentin: Yeah, as I said -- Commissioner Carollo: So there's -- we're more than halfway down the year. We're -- what? -- seven months? -- and out of a $35 million budget, we've only spent $5 million, so there's 30 million that have not been spent. So that's why I was -- Chair Spence -Jones: But let's be clear, and I think that what he's trying to explain to you is that just because it's not spent does not mean that it's not allocated. Mr. Valentin: Exactly. City of Miami Page 4 Printed on 9/3/2013 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes May 28, 2013 Chair Spence -Jones: So we can't start spending down on lines, Commissioner Carollo, until we exactly exhaust what's already been identified for certain projects. Correct? Mr. Valentin: Exactly. Basically, we know that Town Park -- Vice Chair Gort: I understand your point of view. I'm not an accountant, but the assets -- he's reporting this as assets, but it's money that's been relocated to (UNINTELLIGIBLE) they have awarded to contracts, and you have it already as an asset instead of dedicated funds. Mr. Valentin: Because it's actual cash that we have in our checking account, you know. Mr. Woods: It's cash. Mr. Valentin: It's an asset. Vice Chair Gort: It's cash, but it's got dedication -- Mr. Valentin: Restricted. Vice Chair Gort: It's restricted cash. Mr. Woods: Yeah, it's restricted, because we haven't allocated the money. There are resolutions that have set that -- restricted that money to certain projects. Vice Chair Gort: Well, you're the accountant. Anybody can tell you -- Mr. Woods: I think I understand what you're saying is that -- Commissioner Carollo: Again, though, it's as simple as we've budgeted $35 million of expenses for this year, and we've only spent 5 million. So -- and it's more than half a year, so I figure by now, we've had -- we would have $15 million, at least, more or less, of expenses, and we're not there. And by the way, this is something that happens year, after year, after year, after year. And that's why, you know, I don't know how realistic the budget actually is, because every year, this occurs. And it's nothing new. This is not the first time that I've brought this up. Mr. Valentin: I know. Commissioner Carollo: I've been bringing it up for the past three and a half years that I've been here. Mr. Valentin: I acknowledge what you are saying, but we were expecting that we were going to be able to break ground for Town Park this year, but there are many unforeseen situations that we're dealing with. Mr. Woods: We will, we will. Commissioner, if I might add I think within the next three to six months, you'll see significant activity where this money will start to come off the books. And until that happens, obviously, you want to see the money that's allocated. You know, we know where the money is. It is actually programs and projects that we'll be able to expend this money(UNINTELLIGIBLE) on it. And that's the long and short of it. It will be spent. Commissioner Carollo: Okay. Chair Spence -Jones: Thank you. Any more questions on the item? All right. Thank you, Miguel. And I would ask that you, Miguel, please definitely take out the time and plan to go down and sit down to have a discussion with Commissioner Carollo to make sure he fully City of Miami Page 5 Printed on 9/3/2013 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes May 28, 2013 UPDATES 2. 13-00603 understands what the projects are and also to give him an itemized budget on those items, so he realizes exactly how the money is being expended and why there's a delay in. All right. So we're going to move on, because I know I'm going to be losing some folks in this meeting. CRA DISCUSSION UPDATE ON THE CRA'S APPLICATION FOR EDA GRANT. File # 13-00603 May 28, 2013 Cover Memo.pdf DISCUSSED Chair Spence -Jones: We're going to deal with the -- let me see the updates because they're quick updates. And again, Commissioner Carollo, you haven't been to the meetings, but one of the things we're doing now is just doing quick updates now before we vote on items or bring items in front of the CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) Board, but just to kind of make sure everyone is updated on some of the progress. So, Clarence, give us a quick update on EDA (Economic Development Administration), EDA Grant, which is a big grant. Clarence Woods (Executive Director/Community Redevelopment Agency): Well, as you guys have directed me to find ways to leverage our funding, we put in an application for an EDA grant, which is to leverage our funding for the Overtown Community Center. We were not funded this round, but we spoke with EDA to try to figure out exactly where we were short. They loved the application. They felt like there was nothing needed additional to what we submitted. They asked us to go ahead and just resubmit. It was more of an issue of the federal government not having the budget at this time, and they had other applications that were already in the hopper that they needed to go ahead and fund So we did as they asked, resubmitted it, and hopefully, we'll get that money for the next time out. Chair Spence -Jones: And I believe that amount that we applied for is about a little over $1 million. Mr. Woods: One point two. Chair Spence -Jones: And then I know I see Miami Dade College somewhere in the room. Where are they? Okay. And this is -- and I don't know if PULSE (People United to Lead the Struggle for Equality) is here, as well. But this is the church that's on 11 th Street, I believe, that was turned into, actually, a culinary facility, a beautiful facility. We've already done all of the -- I guess all of the plans for the actual facility, but -- Mr. Woods: Everything has been done. Chair Spence -Jones: Everything is done. The actual dollars that have to be used for construction, we didn't -- we already had our money set aside for construction. Mr. Woods: Which is another -- Chair Spence -Jones: Reason why. Mr. Woods: Yeah. Chair Spence -Jones: Right. So we don't want to use our money for construction. Mr. Woods: We can't. City of Miami Page 6 Printed on 9/3/2013 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes May 28, 2013 Chair Spence -Jones: We'd rather use it for actually -- Mr. Woods: Programming. Chair Spence -Jones: -- programming. So that's one of the reasons why we're delaying it. We want to win this grant first. Mr. Woods: Right. Chair Spence -Jones: We feel pretty good about it, but it is a partnership with Miami Dade College, and we're very excited about that partnership. I am going to ask the Administration, though, to please make sure that we follow up on Ackerman to make sure -- Mr. Woods: Yes. Chair Spence -Jones: -- that they continue to push on that side. I know when we went to meet with the EDA administration, it was a very positive meeting, something that they do want to support, but we came in the ending of the funding round. Mr. Woods: At the end of the funding cycle, yes. Chair Spence -Jones: So they feel really good about the beginning of this funding round, so I want to make sure that they push very hard with our congress folks there to make sure that we get the support that's needed for it. Mr. Woods: Okay. We already reached out, Commissioner. Chair Spence -Jones: Okay. Very good. 3. CRA DISCUSSION 13-00630 UPDATE ON THE ANNUAL PAYMENT TO THE CHILDREN'S TRUST. File # 13-00630 May 28, 2013 Cover Memo.pdf DISCUSSED Chair Spence -Jones: So we're going to move on to Item Number 3, which is discussion on the Children's Trust. Clarence Woods (Executive Director, Community Redevelopment Agency): Commissioner, all this is is to let you guys know that we are further (UNINTELLIGIBLE) interlocal agreement. We are making the payments to the Children's Trust. We have no debt service that is needed, so we can go ahead -- no debt service that's outstanding where we would have to use the money that we get from the Children's Trust, so we're going to go ahead and make the payment to the Children's Trust. Chair Spence -Jones: Okay. And I just want us to be clear here. There's another amount that we're speaking on -- that we're holding onto, Commissioner Carollo. Vice Chair Gort: How much is that? Chair Spence -Jones: I think that's actually -- Mr. Woods: It's like four hundred and fifty -something thousand dollars. City of Miami Page 7 Printed on 9/3/2013 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes May 28, 2013 Chair Spence -Jones: And the group that's been working on this, they presented -- the Seliha Group, the Children's Overtown Youth -- Mr. Woods: Yeah, the Overtown Youth Initiative. Chair Spence -Jones: All right. If you guys are here, just stand up so we see you guys there, wherever you guys are. I see Brother Lyle. I don't know if anybody else from y'all group is here that's working with actually putting together a plan together for all the youth of Overtown, so now we're able to move in that direction and make sure that that actually happens. So tonight was the night that we have them -- Mr. Woods: Yeah. Just letting you know (UNINTELLIGIBLE). Chair Spence -Jones: Okay. Very good. 4. CRA DISCUSSION 13-00605 DISCUSSION ON NANA'S COMMUNITY WORK TRAINING PROGRAM. File # 13-00605 May 28, 2013 Cover Memo.pdf DISCUSSED Chair Spence -Jones: All right. So we're going to move on to Item Number 4, which is NANA (Neighbors and Neighbors Association) Community Work Training Program. Clarence Woods (Executive Director, Community Redevelopment Agency): Yes. Commissioner, this item is an item where we are looking to fund our Business Resource Center. What we're doing, in preparation for all of the development projects that are going to come by way of the bond proceeds -- Chair Spence -Jones: Yes. Mr. Woods: -- we're putting in place now training and certification for the Business Resource Center that will train, certi workers from within the area, as well as some subcontractors, so that once these projects come online and developers need a database of workers, we'll already have that database with folks from the community that are certified, so they can actually go and use this as a resource to get people on jobs with these projects that we're doing. Chair Spence -Jones: Okay. I just want to, once again, thank Clarence and Bill Bloom and Jessica and everyone that worked on -- and, of course, Commissioner Gort, who's actually the chairperson of the major investment that's going into Overtown for all these redevelopment opportunities that are happening now, the four main redevelopment projects. And just so that we're clear, what's happening out of this is we've included in the agreements -- and Bill, if you need to chime in any part of this -- is to really make sure that monies actually flow back to the residents and the people that live here so that they can actually work on these projects. But this center that NANA has, we're make -- we want to make sure that it's actually going through the actual center, so everyone has to actually come through that. So I'm going to ask for Leroy, if you want to put anything officially on the record. Leroy Jones: Good afternoon. Leroy Jones, Neighbors and Neighbors Association, 1490 Northwest 3rdAvenue, Suite 110. We've brought some members that we want to share with you all, let you know what kind of activity we're having at the Resource Center. Mendi Elcock: Hi. My name is Mendi Elcock, and I am the office manager for the Business City of Miami Page 8 Printed on 9/3/2013 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes May 28, 2013 Resource Center. So far, we have not officially opened, but we've been working with the community since February, and thus far, we've serviced over 210 clients. We've helped 156 people register with the Community Work Training program to seek jobs. We've also helped over 100 people in doing their resumes. And the community seems to be gravitating to us, and they're very appreciative, and they're eager to come in and receive the services that we offer. And Freda and I, we're so excited to be here with the people of Overtown, and we're just happy to be here and happy to help them out. Chair Spence -Jones: Well, I do want to say this to my fellow Board Members. It's been wonderful to walk in this space. I think we have a lot of also small businesses that are occupying the incubator spaces. If you're here, just stand up so that at least the Commissioners can see you. Ms. Elcock: We're actually a full house now. Chair Spence -Jones: Yeah. Ms. Elcock: So we have our tenants here. Chair Spence -Jones: So not only they do jobs, but they're providing incubator spaces for small businesses so that we can help them develop their businesses in Overtown so that they can grow from the little incubator space, and I'm just amazed to walk into that space and just see, you know, just a lot of life happening in the area, and I want to commend you guys for that. And I know one of the things -- you guys have been volunteering your time, so I know that one of the things that's being requested is that it comes back in front of us at the next City Commission meeting -- Mr. Woods: CRA. Chair Spence -Jones: -- CRA Board meeting so that Leroy will be bringing something to make sure that that actually happens. So -- oh, y'all can sit down. Thank y'all for (UNINTELLIGIBLE). Mr. Jones: I just want to thank the CRA Board for their commitment in helping small businesses and help also as it relates to the jobs, employment. They are now official employees. Chair Spence -Jones: Yeah. Mr. Jones: So they actually work now. Chair Spence -Jones: Yeah. Mr. Jones: So they're not volunteers anymore. Chair Spence -Jones: Okay, good. Mr. Jones: Okay. Chair Spence -Jones: All right. Well, we just want to say thank you. I don't know if anybody has any questions for you, but I know that you guys have been doing an outstanding job with the Center, the outreach. Ms. Elcock: Thank you. Thank you. Mr. Jones: We're going to need more space, Commissioner. City of Miami Page 9 Printed on 9/3/2013 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes May 28, 2013 5. 13-00631 Chair Spence -Jones: No, no, this -- just start right there. CRA DISCUSSION DISCUSSION ON SUMMER YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM. File # 13-00631 May 28, 2013 Cover Memo.pdf DISCUSSED Chair Spence -Jones: All right. We're going to move on to item -- Unidentified Speaker: Commissioner -- Chair Spence -Jones: -- Reverend, we're going to stay in order, and then I'm going to take comments in the end. Let me get the discussions out of the way first, okay? I'm going to move on to Item Number 5, which is the discussion of the Summer Youth Employment program. I know -- I don't know if Loren Daniel is here. Is he here anymore? Okay. There was a question about whether or not we could have summer jobs. To my fellow colleagues, that was one of the concerns. Many of the kids in Overtown definitely want to be able to work over the summer; and Loren Daniel, who is actually the person over the Overtown NET (Neighborhood Enhancement Team) office, made that suggestion for young people. We are, however, in the month of June, so the question comes, you know, even if you vote and approve -- or we're discussing it today, so we can't really even vote on it until June. So it should have really been an item to bring. So I'm not really surely what your discussion is on this item but -- Clarence Woods (Executive Director, Community Redevelopment Agency): Well, Commissioner, what we've done is -- again, trying to leverage our dollars -- we've already applied to the Department of Juvenile Justice for a summer youth employment grant. Chair Spence -Jones: Yes. Mr. Woods: We've applied already. We should know something real soon, because the program actually starts June 1. If we are successful with our grant, then all the -- the only commitment that would have to come from the CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) would be about $20, 000 for stipends at the end of the program. If we are not successful, then we have to, you know, basically go ahead and fund the complete program, which is going to be upwards of almost $200, 000. Chair Spence -Jones: Okay. Mr. Woods: But if we do get it, all -- we'll be leveraging -- Chair Spence -Jones: "But if we do," that sounds like a lot going on, "but if we do. " And I really want to make sure -- because I know that's one of the concerns of many of the parents. They want to make sure that these kids have a place to work over the summer. I just want to make sure -- do we have something set aside in the budget already for summer employment? Vice Chair Gort: According to our (UNINTELLIGIBLE), 200,000. Chair Spence -Jones: Okay. So -- Mr. Woods: We would have to probably de -obligate some things in order to make that happen. Chair Spence -Jones: Okay. So I'm hearing that we -- City of Miami Page 10 Printed on 9/3/2013 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes May 28, 2013 RESOLUTIONS 6. 13-00606 Mr. Woods: We would have to de -obligate some things. Chair Spence -Jones: Okay. So I would suggest -- I know that we have a CRA meeting corning up in the beginning of -- Mr. Woods: Well, what we're going to look to do is have a special CRA meeting. Chair Spence -Jones: So maybe, perhaps by then, we'll know about the grant, and at that time, we can make a decision as to whether or not it is something that we want to move forward with. Mr. Woods: Well, let me ask you this: Would you guys allow for me to ratify a resolution? If we can go ahead and get the program started by June 1, would you allow for me to then come back to ratify an action? I'll reach out to you guys first. Chair Spence -Jones: I think you should reach out, too, because -- I mean, I don't -- my biggest concern is I don't want these kids not to be working over the summer, and I know that's something that Loren Daniel really is pushing hard for, so I don't have a problem with supporting that, but I do think all Commissioners need to be briefed on what that is. Mr. Woods: We would. I mean, we definitely would. Chair Spence -Jones: All right. So I thank you guys for your patience. CRA RESOLUTION A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY, WITH ATTACHMENT(S), AUTHORIZING AN AMENDMENT TO THE SCOPE OF WORK PERFORMED BY HUMAN RESOURCE STAFFING OF MIAMI, INC. TO REFLECT THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE OVERTOWN BEAUTIFICATION TEAM, AS WELL AS OTHER ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS; AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO EXECUTE ALL DOCUMENTS NECESSARY FOR SAID PURPOSE. File # 13-00606 May 28, 2013 Cover Memo.pdf File # 13-00606 May 28, 2013 Legislation with Attachments.pdf File # 13-00606 Signed Legislation with Attachments.pdf Motion by Board Member Suarez, seconded by Vice -Chair Gort, that this matter be ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote. Votes: Ayes: Chair Spence -Jones, Commissioner Carollo, Vice Chair Gort and Commissioner Suarez Absent: Commissioner Sarnoff CRA-R-1 3-0031 Chair Spence -Jones: All right. We're going to move on to item -- we only have two more items, Item Number 6, which is a resolution. Clarence Woods (Executive Director, Community Redevelopment Agency): Yes. Commissioner, Item Number 6 is a resolution of the Board of Commissioners of the Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment Agency, with attachments, authorizing an amendment to the scope of work performed by human resource staff of Miami, Inc., to reflect the administration of City of Miami Page 11 Printed on 9/3/2013 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes May 28, 2013 the Overtown Beautification Team, as well as other administrative requirements. Basically, what this is, Commissioner, is we are looking for the modifications to the scope of work for the Overtown Beautification Team. What we're asking them to do now is go beyond the original scope. They are looking to service the western side of the CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency), which is across 95, the western side of I-95. We're also asking that they will do pressure cleaning on 9th Street, 9th Street Mall, and pressure -clean the library. So this is basically just a modification of the scope; extending the coverage areas, as well as now doing some pressure cleaning (UNINTELLIGIBLE). Chair Spence -Jones: All right. I want to acknowledge Nathaniel Joseph. In fact, I know that he's your team member that's been working hard. I know this guy has been doing a great job. Raise your hand for those Commissioners that don't know you. He's been doing a great job. But I do want to acknowledge my blue shirts. Please stand up, y'all. I'm so proud of y'all. Yaall are holding it down in Overtown. Applause Chair Spence -Jones: So it's great to see some young faces, as well. You guys are working it out 'cause y'all keeping the area clean. Not only the supervisor -- who's the supervisor? (INAUDIBLE) Chair Spence -Jones: Oh, all right. So I don't know if your administrators are here. Are they here? Unidentified Speaker: Yeah, we're here. Chair Spence -Jones: Oh, good. Unidentified Speaker: I'm here. Chair Spence -Jones: Okay. All right. So I just wanted to at least acknowledge you guys. You guys are doing a great job. And for those that don't know -- you guys can sit down now. Y'all look good in y'all blue shirts and we -- and definitely -- I'm sure the Overtown businesses really appreciate you guys keeping the area clean. It does make a big difference to see y'all out there working, and it's great to see that you will be expanding, and I love all the work that you guys are now doing to make sure that they be trained beyond working outside. Mr. Woods: Yes. Chair Spence -Jones: Make sure life skills and all the other things are put in place for them. So we really appreciate all the work that you're doing with them. And the last group, so that my fellow Commissioners know, they're transit -- they've already transitioned out, and probably about 80 to 90 percent of them were already placed on other jobs, and they're working. So once they finish going through this training program, our job, our number -one objective is to make sure they transition out to other jobs so that another group of people can actually come in and work and be a part of what we're doing. So I wanted to at least acknowledge you guys are doing a great job with that. Mr. Woods: Commissioner, I've been advised by counsel to make sure you guys know that there is no fiscal impact from this -- no change to the budget. Chair Spence -Jones: We like that. We do like that. Mr. Woods: And also, that there is, as you mentioned, a training component to -- there's a City of Miami Page 12 Printed on 9/3/2013 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes May 28, 2013 modification to the training component, that there is more in-depth training. Chair Spence -Jones: Okay, great. So do we have a motion on it? Commissioner Suarez: Move it. Chair Spence -Jones: I have a motion. Vice Chair Gort: Second. My understanding, it was more like a -- also a mentor program, where you're going to be sitting one on one and give them coaching and -- Mr. Woods: Yes, yes. That's -- Vice Chair Gort: -- life skills, the whole works. Mr. Woods: Exactly. Vice Chair Gort: Okay. Chair Spence -Jones: And I think you modeled this program, if I'm not mistaken, off DDA (Downtown Development Authority). DDA has a very similar program. The program has been very successful. Mr. Woods: Yes; that, too. Vice Chair Gort: With the homeless. Chair Spence -Jones: And Gort -- Vice Chair Gort: With the homeless. Chair Spence -Jones: -- is reminding me that he started the program in DDA. So now he's also transforming Overtown as well, so. We're going to move on to -- we had a motion and a second on this item? Vice Chair Gort: Yes. Chair Spence -Jones: Okay. So this item passes. All right. Move on to Item Number 7, which is the -- Vice Chair Gort: We have to vote on it. Chair Spence -Jones: I just -- Rafael Suarez -Rivas (Assistant City Attorney): You had a motion and a second, but you didn't sound -- let them say "aye." Chair Spence -Jones: All in favor? The CRA Board (Collectively): Aye. Chair Spence -Jones: Okay. Thank you. This item passes. Thank you, Rafael. We thank you for the City Attorney joining us now. We really appreciate you. 7. CRA RESOLUTION City of Miami Page 13 Printed on 9/3/2013 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes May 28, 2013 13-00604 A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY, WITH ATTACHMENT(S), AUTHORIZING AN AMENDMENT TO THE SCOPE OF WORK FOR FOLKLIFE FRIDAYS TO ALLOW NEW WASHINGTON HEIGHTS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, INC. FLEXIBILITY IN DETERMINING THE FREQUENCY AND LOCATION OF FOLKLIFE FRIDAYS, AS WELL AS OTHER PROGRAMMATIC AND ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS; AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO EXECUTE ALL DOCUMENTS NECESSARY FOR SAID PURPOSE. File # 13-00604 May 28, 2013 Cover Memo.pdf File # 13-00604 May 28, 2013 Draft Legislation with Attachments.pdf 13-00604 Legislation-SUB.pdf Motion by Board Member Suarez, seconded by Vice -Chair Gort, that this matter be ADOPTED WITH MODIFICATIONS PASSED by the following vote. Votes: Ayes: Chair Spence -Jones, Commissioner Carollo, Vice Chair Gort and Commissioner Suarez Absent: Commissioner Sarnoff CRA-R-1 3-0032 Chair Spence -Jones: Item Number 7. We're going to move on to Item Number 7, which is the last item on the agenda, and then I have a few announcements that I'd like to make. Clarence Woods (Executive Director, Community Redevelopment Agency): Commissioner, Item Number 7 is a resolution of the Board of Commissioners of the Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment Agency, with attachments, authorizing an amendment to the scope of work for Folklife Fridays, which calls for modifications to the schedule and location of Folklife Fridays, as well as other programmatic and administrative requirements; authorizing the executive director to execute all documents necessary for said purpose. Commissioner -- Chair Spence -Jones: Yes. Mr. Woods: -- basically, what this is, just as it says, a modification to the schedule, as well as the scope. Instead of doing it every first Friday of the month, we're looking at doing it quarterly, which would allow for us to have more funding in the line items for entertainment, needed marketing, in an effort to try to get more people involved within the community. Chair Spence -Jones: Okay. So I just want to put my comments on the record. Well, let me let the reverend speak first, and then I'll go from there. Willie Williams: No, go ahead, go ahead. Chair Spence -Jones: Okay. All right. Again, this is -- Clarence kind of somewhat explained it, but one of the things that we're trying to really make adjustments on -- We've been doing this for how many years now? Probably about -- at least about -- Miguel -- Mr. Woods: Five or six years. Chair Spence -Jones: About five years. And we have been really, really trying to figure out a way to increase the numbers on the 9th Street Pedestrian Mall, and it's been difficult'. It's been difficult to get a consistent group of people corning out during lunchtime. Maybe it's the lunchtime hour; I'm not really sure. But we tried almost everything to try to make that happen. So one of the reasons why we supported this in the very beginning is to support the small City of Miami Page 14 Printed on 9/3/2013 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes May 28, 2013 businesses in the area so that they would at least have a way to kind of promote their businesses, and it has helped from that perspective, but we have most of our businesses on 3rdAvenue, from 8th Avenue -- 8th Street all the way really up to 14th Street that really need the exposure, need the walk-through traffic. So one of the things that we're trying as a part of this is to try to figure out -- at least try it. Is it once a month we're doing, Clarence? Mr. Woods: Once a quarter. Chair Spence -Jones: Once every quarter for now. No money's changing. Everything is the same. We're just trying to put it in a location where we will have greater traffic actually supporting the businesses and more people in one solid area, so that's the whole purpose of this. So I don't know, reverend, if you have a comment that you want to make on it. Mr. Williams: Okay. My name is Pastor Willie L. Williams. I'm the owner of Just Right Barbershop, as well as the president of the Overtown Business Association, an association that we just rekindled, and we just, you know, put it together, and we're here to get the respect that we deserve. And many times, you know, we have been, you know, overlooked, and as well as, you know, looked over as businesses in Overtown where we would like to make our own decisions when it comes to the growth and serving the community. I know many of us as business owners, we've been dedicated, we have been here, and we have been doing everything that we can to promote the services in Overtown from a business point of view. Now, I'm looking at one of the members of the organization that has the Folklife on Friday, every first Friday, and they are -- seems like it's -- they're not -- you know, the way we put it together, they would be soon forgotten, because every month, you know, they're visible, and we know every month, they have -- you know, we expect to see them there every first Friday of the month. And the more that you see a organization present, you know, the more that you expect. Only thing I see that we need to do is to help them grow, put our heads together, because when we put our heads together, we can do anything. We can -- I know -- we can roll out the carpet and make it happen. But we have to put our heads together and make it happen. We don't need to, you know, scale down backwards on a event that has been going on. We need to help it. We need to make sure that this event, you know, is successful. And the only thing I see that we're not -- everybody is not putting -- it's not going in the right -- the same direction. Everyone is going in different directions; that is causing, you know, the impact that you see. But people are -- they're eager. They're very excited about having a event such as Folklife, and we are here to make sure that it continue, make sure that people know that we're there for them, make sure the entrepreneurs get a opportunity to share their goods and to share their talents. And I just believe that if we come together, Commissioner Chair Spence -Jones: Yes. Mr. Williams: -- we could make this thing happen. We can really make it happen. And instead of altering or modifying what we already have, let's go ahead and just move forward and make sure that these -- that the organization, Folklife, get what they deserve as a organization that have been dedicated, and they've been here making sure that the people are being recognized and served, and we just need to do that. I just -- that's my suggestion -- Chair Spence -Jones: Thank you. Mr. Williams: -- as the president of the Overtown Business Association, and I think that's what we need to do. Also, you know, we mentioned about the children, the summer program. We need that, and we don't need to question that. I just believe that children need to be looking forward to be working every summer. They just need to be working. Chair Spence -Jones: Yeah. I think we already decided that we would be doing that. City of Miami Page 15 Printed on 9/3/2013 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes May 28, 2013 Mr. Williams: Okay. And also, the -- pretty much the businesses in the community, a lot of us, we've been overlooked. Only -- you know, it's -- only some have been helped, you know, to the fullest. We want to come and reveal Overtown to outsiders but every -- all the businesses is not ready. You know, I have a beauty salon that has not been touched It need renovation. You have Rudy. Rudy need help, as well as Two Guys. They need help. It's so many -- Remix -- out there that need help. Even our shoe store, you know, they need help. But we bringing people in, you know, and businesses -- everybody is not ready. And we need to be ready if we're going to showcase Overtown and our businesses. We just need to be ready. Chair Spence -Jones: Well, I thank you for your leadership, and I'm glad that you guys have created a business association, so I want to definitely acknowledge you for pulling it all together. We have not had a business association in a minute. And I understand by conversations with Nathaniel Joseph that you guys have been having regular breakfast club meetings, and finally, there is some order taking place, so I want to acknowledge you for that, and your comments are definitely -- will be taken today. Thank you very much. Mr. Williams: Okay. Chair Spence -Jones: I think we have some other people behind you. Gracie Edwards: Good evening. Chair Spence -Jones: Good evening. Ms. Edwards: I'm Gracie Edwards. Chair Spence -Jones: Would you pull your mike down a little bit. Ms. Edwards: I'm Gracie Edwards. I'm one of the vendors at Folklife. I think that it should continue every first Friday, 'cause I always get people at my job -- Chair Spence -Jones: Yes. Ms. Edwards: -- questioning about it, and it was more concern this year about it than previous years, and they don't want to see it leave. I work in the Brickell area, but I'm associated with a lot of the people who works at most of the downtown business, and they do want to see this continue, and they like to come out for the lunchtime event, as well as seeing some of the vendors with the food, the different foods, the different things that are offered there. And so I hope it do continues as First Friday, 'cause most of my co-workers and family members and neighbors, they do question when they don't see it. Chair Spence -Jones: Thank you. Ms. Edwards: Okay. All right. Chair Spence -Jones: Next comment. Victoria Norris: Good evening, Commissioner and podium staff. I am also one of the vendors for the Folklife Friday. My husband and I -- Rafael Suarez -Rivas (Assistant General Counsel): Good evening. What's your name and address, please? Ms. Norris: No problem. Thank you very much. Victoria Henry Norris, 422 Northeast 210 Circle Terrace, Miami, Florida. Once again, I am one of the vendors for Folklife Friday. My City of Miami Page 16 Printed on 9/3/2013 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes May 28, 2013 husband and I are CEO (Chief Executive Officer) operator of Big Al's Conch and More. I'm listening to the comments stating that you've tried it for five years; it's not working. You want to redirect it to another location. But from what I have seen from being a vendor there for the past two, maybe three years, more advertisement needs to be done, because the business, the operation can stay where it is. You're calling this Historic Overtown, so you need to keep this going, because not only are we feeding and catering to the people of the county offices, the state offices, and some of the condominiums in that location -- longshoremen -- we have a lot of homeless people that come through there, so we're also helping them as well. So for the powers -to -be to say that it's not working and it needs to be changed to once quarterly, then I, personally, along with other vendors, don't think that quarterly will work, because first of all, that's going to be a waste of your money that you're allocating for it, and it's going to be a waste of the vendor's money to put it together to just come out and do this thing once every three months. I think you need to continue to let it work, bring in more advertisement if, at all, possible and if it's in your budget, and let us continue to go out once every first Friday. You're calling it Folklife First Friday. Let it stay as Folklife First Friday. Chair Spence -Jones: Thank you. Ms. Norris: Thank you very much. You have a wonderful evening. Chair Spence -Jones: Thank you. Leslie Moore: Hi. My name is Leslie Moore. I'm the owner ofMoore's Grocery and Bakery. I decided that the First Life [sic] Fridays -- I'm one of the vendors of the First Life [sic] Friday, and I decided that it was a great thing for the vendors of Overtown to do, because during the time that I was there, I -- my business -- was able to help my business when it was down, you know, so I thought that was a great idea for Ms. Bell to do, and I think that we should continue that, because everybody's looking -- you know, looking forward for that day, you know. I think if it should be any changes, it will -- wouldn't help us too much. So I don't have too much to say, but that's all I have to say. Thank you. Chair Spence -Jones: Thank you. Alberta Godfrey: Hi. My name is Bert Godfrey. I'm a member of Greater Bethel AME (African Methodist Episcopal) Church, where I'm the Christian ed. (education) director, responsible for youth activities, and I would like to speak to encourage you to continue the once a month. I -- When I retired from Dade County Public Schools, I moved back to Tallahassee, and I come back just for this festival. I was disappointed when I came back end of last year and it had been postponed to another time. But my main reason for wanting you to continue, two reasons: Number one, it helps my church. The youth in my church have had booths there, and that money helps them to take part in educational activities throughout the state. I have a personal reason: because I love Overtown. I came here in 1960 as a teacher at Phyllis Wheatley. So Overtown belongs to me too, even though I don't live in the neighborhood. I'm here every week at church, and I'm here every month for the festival, and it's encouraging to see people come in and interact with each other. And the more consistent an activity happens, the better it will survive. So, please, give me a reason to come back to Miami. Thank you. Chair Spence -Jones: Thank you so much, Greater Bethel. Agnes Martin: Good evening. My name is Agnes Martin. I live at 1454 Northwest 43rd Street. I'm a former Overtown resident, and I attend First Friday events, and I like those events, because I see a lot of people there that I haven't seen in a long time. I would like to see them -- I know a lot of people that would like to see them continue, in addition to myself. I would like to see some more marketing out to the Overtown community, in terms of getting the word out to the community, and also maybe some additional vendors coming in. I would like to see it continue City of Miami Page 17 Printed on 9/3/2013 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes May 28, 2013 monthly as is, and I'd like to see you work more closely with Ms. Bell and her committee to see if it can be more, you know, refined, in terms of getting more people there. But I enjoy it, and I know other people that enjoy it, and I think we need to continue it. I'd like to encourage you to continue having it every Friday. Chair Spence -Jones: Thank you. Ms. Martin: Every first Friday of the month. Chair Spence -Jones: Thank you. Dorothy Jenkins Fields: Dr. Dorothy Jenkins Fields, 819 Northwest 2ndAvenue. I just came as an observer today. I hadn't been here for a while, and when I saw that the meeting was going to be at the Culmer Center where I spent half my life, I had to come. I'm here to say that First Life [sic] Friday has become an institution in the community, and just like we go to Southwest 8th Street and the Saturdays that we go there -- what is it called? Vice Chair Gort: Viernes Culturales. Fridays. Chair Spence -Jones: First Friday. Ms. Fields: No. In Little Havana. Chair Spence -Jones: Viernes Culturales. Ms. Fields: Yes. The crowds will come. We did surveys when I was on the Overtown Advisory Board. One of the reasons we did it during lunchtime was because we felt that if we could get -- if we could market to the people in the buildings that were not even there that are now there -- transportation and other buildings that are around -- that they would come. I understand that you've done that, and the people still have not come, but I would ask -- there must be a way to do it. And if you start now doing it just quarterly, it will die, there's no doubt about it. The economic potential is there with the new businesses that NANA (Neighbors and Neighbors Association) is going to be bringing in. Those new businesses certainly -- could certain -- should be a part of First -- Folklife Friday. And so I would ask that you reconsider for economic reasons, provide an opportunity for the businesses to strengthen the festival and to keep it First Friday and also, certainly, do not move it from the 9th Street Pedestrian Mall. The businesses on 3rdAvenue, when there are festivals on 3rdAvenue, it helps them, but to have it on the 9th Street Pedestrian Mall is the place where it is to be, and that brings people there, and it also encourages people to go on 3rdAvenue. So I would ask you to reconsider the resolution. Thank you. Jackie Bell: Good afternoon. I'm Jackie Bell, 1600 Northwest 3rdAvenue, the executive director or president and founder of New Washington Heights Community Development Corporation that sponsors Folklife, and the founder of Folklife. When we sat down to redevelop or try and come together to make this community a better community, probably half of you were not even born and the other portion probably did not even know this community exists. From the late '40s, government have come through this community and raped it. In the '70s, it came again with Metrorail. Then it came again with the People Mover. And when you came through with the Metrorail, there was promises made to this community that you all are not adhering to. It is almost after 40 years of trying to redevelop this community. I am at awe that we still don't have a vision, and the visions that we have had and tried to make happen, you all killed them. And then you come back, and you say the only thing that is available to this community are low-income housing, and that says you don't have a vision for this community, because if you did, you would know that low-income housing does not create commerce, nor do they have disposable money. Then we come along and we put together a program that we have small -- City of Miami Page 18 Printed on 9/3/2013 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes May 28, 2013 twenty -some odd small -- sometimes thirty -- businesses, and they are making a living. They are employing people, and people are coming. No, we don't have thousands upon thousands of people. That's not what the marketplace is. The marketplace is what it is. From 11 to 3, people are in the downtown community working. They come; they buy lunch. Some of the business might have a line, and they might have to stay 15 or 20 minutes, but they come, they buy their lunch, they go back to their work, and it is a constant flow. But I don't think anyone really understands it. And as this community builds, it will be bigger and better. And if you or any of you -- and I know some of you travel, like I do. You will find that in Bangladesh, small mom -- small moms get -- borrow $5 and change the way that their family and their community. Some places in Africa, you get one goat, and you can sell milk to the whole neighborhood, and the whole neighborhood changes. Overtown has been desecrated by government; started when I was a kid. None of you who around this table; only a few of us who knows that this was the black economics of this City, and it still can be if somebody who is running things have a vision or even listen or look at the ones of us who did and does have a vision, and look at some of the plans. Back in 1982, there's a resolution that Maurice Ferre and the City of Miami Commission passed -- and if you want a copy of them, I have them all, okay. -- that says that the African -American community of the City of Miami and Miami -Dade County had not had the opportunities to participate in the larger developments that were around this City. So what they said to this community when they came through that the UMTA (Urban Mass Transit Authority) grant -- Oh, Commissioner, I have them all. You don't have to write the numbers down. I'll give you a copy. Chair Spence -Jones: Ms. Bell, Ms. Bell. Ms. Bell: Huh? Chair Spence -Jones: I mean, I really want you -- we want to hear -- I want to get your comments on the item. We're very clear. You know I'm very clear about the vision and what we want to see happen in OT (Overtown). We have a disagreement on what's happening with the event, so let's talk about that. So I really want to be able to respect what you want to put on the record, but I want to at least be able to, in the end, have a solution. And I don't have a problem with you bringing people out to communicate their concern on it. That's what this forum is about, and that's fine. But I also want to be mindful of at least coming up with a solution for today. So your recommendation tonight is to -- that you feel that -- and many other people that came and spoke on the night -- on this tonight, that it should remain a monthly event on the 9th Street Mall. And that's -- Ms. Bell: Yes. Yes. Chair Spence -Jones: -- so I want -- I just -- 'cause I want to be mindful, 'cause I am going to lose a quorum in a bit, okay, because they were very clear before we started that they have to leave. Ms. Bell: But let -- Chair Spence -Jones: So I want to make sure we deal with the item. Ms. Bell: Let me say this. I did not invite anybody to come. Chair Spence -Jones: Okay. Ms. Bell: They got it off the net. Chair Spence -Jones: Okay. City of Miami Page 19 Printed on 9/3/2013 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes May 28, 2013 Ms. Bell: I didn't invite anybody to come. Chair Spence -Jones: And that's fine. Ms. Bell: Okay. Chair Spence -Jones: So I -- Ms. Bell: So -- Chair Spence -Jones: -- but -- so we got your recommendation on the record, but I would like to at least -- at this point, at least address some of the issues and some of the discussions that were put on the record, and then from there, we'll decide -- it's four of us up here -- what is the best thing to do. Clearly, every single Commissioner up here understands what has happened to Overtown. As a matter of fact, our Vice Chair has been working very hard to make sure resources are put in place now. Finally, something is going to be happening in a big way in OT. So we all get it. So let us talk about the item so that we come up with a solution now. This is staffs recommendation, as well, on this item as to, you know, how we feel we need to move this item ahead. These discussions that, quite frankly, you and I, Andrea, your daughter, have had regarding this issue -- Ms. Bell: Sure. Chair Spence -Jones: -- try to figure out a way to make it work. This is not about not supporting the event. It's about figuring out what can we do to make it work. So -- Ms. Bell: And -- Chair Spence -Jones: -- if we can officially close on your comments so that I could bring it back to the -- Ms. Bell: Sure. Chair Spence -Jones: -- Board for us to discuss. Ms. Bell: And we're not saying to you that you're not a supporter. Chair Spence -Jones: Yes. Ms. Bell: What we're saying is that it is a marketplace, it is good for the community, and it should stay the way it is, and hopefully, in the next couple years, we'll have more people here and, you know -- Thank you. Commissioner Spence -Jones: Thank you, Ms. Bell. You know I love you. You know we love you. Let me deal with Ms. Bell's item, okay. Let me deal with this item, 'cause the people that are actually here -- rev (reverend), that are here, that I want to make sure we address their concerns, and then we're going to open up quickly on the floor, and then you can make comments. But let me get this item -- her item out of the way, okay, so we can vote on it before I lose one of my Commissioners, okay. So let me deal with that right now. So I'm officially closing the floor on this item, and I'm going to open it back up for you to put your comments on. No one -- Shoshana Lincoln: Commissioner, I have to go to a meeting. I'll be only two minute, please? Okay. Chair Spence -Jones: Two minutes. City of Miami Page 20 Printed on 9/3/2013 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes May 28, 2013 Later... Chair Spence -Jones: All right. So let us quickly, with my fellow Commissioners -- and Commissioner Gort, you're sitting on my right-hand side; somebody that started Viernes Culturales -- I don't know ifI'm saying it right -- Cultural Fridays in Little Havana. We had been trying for really years, trying to figure out how we increase the numbers on the 9th Street Mall. We tried, you know, doing it in the day, and we tried promoting it on major radio stations, like Hot 105. We've tried to do social media -- I see the social media group that's out here -- to really try to get numbers. And part of the issue has been during the lunchtime break, we do get people to come out, but not in the masses that we need. We spend about $80, 000 per year on this event, which we think is a great event. We think that it's a wonderful way to market the area, but we've got to begin to at least see that the numbers, after almost five years, have increased, and that's the concern. Yes, there are people that come down on lunchtime to actually attend the event, but the question becomes: "Is it enough"? One of the things that we have been trying -- and I don't want to take anything away from staff, 'cause staff has been working very hard, you know, with assisting them with trying to find grants to match, because we can't keep putting the same amount of dollars in it every year and not seeing more people come out for the event. So part of the concern is the attendance. Part of the concern is we're thinking that maybe if it's in the daytime and not in the evening time -- I mean in the evening time and not in the daytime, maybe we might get more people that will stay after work. We know in Little Haiti, for instance, we do it in Little Haiti now in the evenings, and we get two or three thousand people that come out on the last Friday of the month -- last Thursday of the month -- last Friday of the month. And it's very successful, and we've only been doing that for maybe about almost two years now, and we spend definitely less money on them. You guys do your event in Little Havana every, what, last Friday of the month as well? Commissioner Carollo: Last Friday. Vice Chair Gort: Last Friday of the month. Commissioner Spence -Jones: But you do it in the evening, so I know you get a lot more people. People tend to -- when they know they have to go to work, and they only have a 30-, 40-minute break, it's really hard for them. So it's not that we don't want to support Folklife Friday. We're just trying to figure out a way to at least get the attendance up. And we're thinking that maybe if we tried something different, then that would increase the numbers. Now, I see -- I know I saw the social media guy just stand up. I mean, they tried everything to really promote it and get people to actually come. And it's just hard. It's hard in the daytime. People, you know, they have an hour for lunch, but really, by the time they get downstairs, they only have 30, 20 minutes for lunch. So we're just trying to come up with a solution. And we thought that maybe doing an evening thing, we thought that maybe -- definitely trying to figure out if the CRA is not putting all the money in it by identing -- helping them identifir potential sponsors would help, and that hasn't really materialized. So there's -- and then not only to mention on top of that, we have the 9th Street Mall, which we already been talking about. This year, we're going to be -- at the end of the year, you're going to be breaking ground on the 9th Street Mall, which means the new developments that we do have happening on the 9th Street Mall is not going to really allow for us to even have the festival at least on the 9th Street Plaza; maybe on 9th Street itself, in front of the Ward Rooming House. But it's just at this point, we've got to figure out something, because we can't keep putting money in it and not yielding the number of people in it. And I thought that it was my responsibility to at least communicate to my fellow Commissioners so they understood, because I don't ever want to be in a position where it comes back to this Board where we're spending $80,000 a year and we get 50 people to come out for it, we get 100 people to come out for it, you know, and -- you know, that's one of the things that I know that we've talked about a lot on this Board. So I am totally fine with supporting -- I want to hear your feedback on it. I support Folklife Fridays 100 percent. The whole recommendation was about trying to figure out City of Miami Page 21 Printed on 9/3/2013 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes May 28, 2013 a way to get the numbers up, to get more support on it, to help them get more grants so that they can sustain themselves and not depend on the CRA to actually pay for the whole entire thing. So I want to hear your feedback on what you guys think on the issue. Vice Chair Gort: Well, the way we did it in Little Havana a long time ago -- I don't want to say how long ago but -- and Commissioner Carollo is following up on getting a lot of the infrastructure getting done in there to improve it even better. But what I -- we did is we sat down with --we talked to the merchants in the area, and we talked to -- we got to put tour guides. We have to bring these people, bring people here and show them what do we have. And so we went to the different businesses within Southwest 8th Street. We talked to things that we believed would be interest in bringing tours. And as you can see today, there's about ten buses that go every day to Little Havana and they take tour of the area. We got to coordinate that with the merchants. The merchants have to participate, be part of it. What is the product that -- the main thing is, what is the product? What are we selling? So what we did in Little Havana, we put -- for example, we have domino parks, we have the Bay of Pigs monuments, that it was there, we had the cigar manufacturer, we have the ice cream and the fruits. A lot of people that came from the Midwest were not aware of the tropical fruits. They didn't have any knowledge of it. They didn't have any knowledge of the vegetables, the malangas and sweet potatoes and all that. So we went through all the process, and we put a tour together. We found places of interest where we take people. And this is something you really have to work with the merchants and put it together. And not only do you do it once; whenever you want to do it, but I think lunchtime is not a good time. I have to tell you that. Lunchtime is not the time. And I'll tell you, a lot of events that we try to do on lunch, people are in a hurry. They want to eat and get out and so on. You're better off in the afternoon. Viernes Culturales is something that begins about 5 o'clock, and people go, they look at it, and then they stay afterwards. So this is something you have to sit down and work it among yourselves. And the location is very important, too, where the people feel safe, there's something to see, and that's very important. Chair Spence -Jones: And I just want to add -- I mean, I'm cool with it one way or the other. All we want to do is try to make it work. And everything that you're suggesting, you know, we're working very hard. We now have the Big Red Bus now coming to Overtown. It'll hit not only Overtown, it'll hit Overtown, plus Midtown and the Wynwood area, which would be a new route, which is great. I know it's doing awesome in Little Havana. So we're doing all those things to attract people, but the reality is it just seems as though that lunchtime period, because it's too short, it's very difficult. Most people, when they get off work, they want to be there three, four hours. They want to hang out. They want to -- that's why they go to the evening events, you know. And, you know, the whole idea in -- you know, around the issue of the businesses. Most of the businesses, quite frankly, that are actually involved in First Fri -- I mean, Folklife Fridays are not actual businesses in OT. They're from other places, which is great, and we support them coming to OT to set up and sell their goods or sell their wares or their food, but the local businesses or the merchants that are actually on 3rdAvenue are not even vendors in it. So the whole purpose of us creating this was because we were trying to make sure that those businesses from Overtown got the exposure. Many of the businesses that are now involved in it are coming from somewhere else to actually participate, and that's fine, because we want to help, you know, motivate and encourage and grow those businesses. But we've got to make sure the businesses that are right here on 3rdAvenue that we do invest money and resources into are getting people actually coming into their businesses. And, you know, the reason why the event works well in Little Havana is because it is, you know, on the streets where the merchants are. We're talking about 9th Street Plaza. There's -- 9th Street Mall -- no businesses around there. There's just the Lyric Theater. And right now, we're hopefully getting that finished so it will -- it would be a great addition when the theater actually opens. But when the theater actually opens -- hopefully, the theater is going to be opening and y'all are working that out. Commissioner -- I mean, Suarez has been handling that, but he has been handling it. So that's been getting done. Once that opens, then that provides another venue. But right now, there's nothing else there. So we talked about going to 9th Street in front of the Ward Rooming House, in front of Dorsey, but there City of Miami Page 22 Printed on 9/3/2013 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes May 28, 2013 was not a support from the organizers to actually do it there. So every time we've done something on 3rdAvenue, you know, from 10th Street to 11 th Street, at least in that -- and I'm not -- I don't have a problem going to 12th Street, if that's what we feel we want to do to pick up more businesses. At least those businesses have more foot traffic, people walking into their business, and at least there's some interest in the residents coming down from the apartments where they live to come down and socialize with other folk. So it doesn't really matter to me in the end. Whatever we decide as a group to do, we're just trying to figure out a way to make it work. We want it to be successful. We want to invest in it to make it happen. But right now, the evening -- I mean, the afternoons, it's really, really difficult. So, I mean, that's just my recommendation. Now, I would be willing -- and I'm open to my fellow colleagues. I do agree with the argument of not maybe having the consistency. I believe that Commission -- (UNINTELLIGIBLE) Dorothy Fields mentioned -- Dr. Fields mentioned not having the consistency is a problem. I think a couple of people have said that. I'm cool with leaving, you know, the consistency. The whole purpose -- and Andrea, you know, what's really disheartening about this conversation -- and I'm just going to say it, because I want to keep it all the way out and keep it all the way real, you know -- when we sit down in a room and we have a discussion woman to woman about something and you agree to something, then -- and we're all working in that direction with staff, and then all of a sudden, you come, and we're in an open group, and then the conversation is a different conversation. Now, I don't want to go back and forthwith you on it. I really don't. Andrea Rodgers: No, we're not going to go back and forth, Commissioner. Chair Spence -Jones: Okay. Ms. Rodgers: No, we're not, we're not. Chair Spence -Jones: Okay, okay. So -- Ms. Rodgers: I understand what you're saying. Chair Spence -Jones: Okay. So to me, it's almost like, okay, if we're working as a team and we're trying to make it work for the businesses and for the community, you know, to me, the right thing to do would be for us to try to figure out something that works for all parties involved. Ms. Rodgers: Yes, ma'am. Chair Spence -Jones: And I'm not even getting in -- I'm not going to even continue to talk about all the conversations that we've had about trying to figure out ways to bring monies in so it's not just the CRA paying for it, and staff has worked very hard to do that. So I don't want to go back and forth on this issue, but I would be willing and open to having it back once a month. Again, the only reason why we moved it to quarterly -- Andrea knows this -- Ms. Rodgers: Yes. Chair Spence -Jones: -- is because we talked in our discussions that, at least, if we were able to not do it every month, that we would be able to have more money for talent to draw more people to the area and then also be able to use money to help promote it better. That was the discussion, and somehow, that's a little different now, and I'm okay with that. I'm totally okay with that. Listen, I'm okay with all those. But I think that, you know, ifI am going to make a recommendation on what -- you know, what's going to help the event grow, it is definitely an evening time event, because the daytime is not yielding us the amount of people that we need to have for the amount of money that we're spending, you know, and you know -- Ms. Rodgers: Can I speak, Commissioner? Can I speak? One second. City of Miami Page23 Printed on 9/3/2013 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes May 28, 2013 Chair Spence -Jones: Yes, but let nze just say this. Ms. Rodgers: Okay. Chair Spence -Jones: Dorothy is -- Dr. Fields is at the mike. I'm going to ask Dr. Fields to be very brief. Ms. Fields: Very brief. Chair Spence -Jones: And then, Andrea, please walk up, and then we're going to close out and we're going to take a vote on this item. I don't mind making the amendments on it for us going back to the same time frame, but I am going to suggest that we at least try it in the evening or have the flexibility in this legislation to have that. Ms. Rodgers: Yes. Ms. Fields: In the evening, yes. I just spoke with Jackie Bell about the Historic Overtown Folklife Improvement Association working with First Friday [sic]. Reverend Samuel Sullivan now is our executive director, and he's working through Main Street, which is a national trust initiative. And through Main Street, we have the structure that will help organize, promote festivals that will perhaps give the foundation that First Friday [sic] festival needs, and Jackie Bell has said that she will work with us. She's already a member of the Historic Overtown Folklife Improvement Association that you helped to initiate, Commissioner. Chair Spence -Jones: Right. Ms. Fields: And so she says that she will work with us, and so we're going to work with her on that through the Main Street structure, and first thing we're going to suggest is that they try to do it -- that they do it in the evenings, at least for the first six months. Chair Spence -Jones: And I have to say this, Doc. You know, Tim Barber has been involved -- and Clarence can tell you -- with all these meetings. Ms. Fields: Yes, yes. Chair Spence -Jones: Okay. And we have been really trying to figure out a way for us to all work together. I'm glad that in this conversation, it seems like we're working together -- Ms. Fields: Yes. Chair Spence -Jones: -- but that has not been the case. Ms. Fields: Sometimes you have to come to that point. Chair Spence -Jones: Okay. Ms. Fields: Yes. Chair Spence -Jones: So this festival is for the whole entire Overtown, and every organization, every business, everybody has to be involved with it. And one of the things that I try to instill in all the organizations is that we've got to get out of "it's my thing," okay. Ms. Fields: Yeah. City of Miami Page 24 Printed on 9/3/2013 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes May 28, 2013 Chair Spence -Jones: This is not my thing. It's taxpayers' dollars. It's everybody's thing, and everybody has to have their input and involvement on whether or not the thing works. We cannot continue to look at something and see that it's not getting us the numbers, that it's not successful from the standpoint of having the people attend the event and be okay with that. I'm not going to be a -- my fellow Commissioners can vote on it, and if they want to vote on it, that's fine. But it's my responsibility as the Chair to say, Look, we're spending 80 grand on this, and we're not getting the numbers. I don't feel good about it. That's my responsibility. Now, when it goes wrong and people spend the money on it and then it's bad and then it's seen as a bad thing, then who gets the flack? I get the flack. So now I brought it to the fellow Commissioners 'cause I want them to understand that we want to continue to support it, but we've got to figure out a way to make it work. Ms. Fields: And Commissioner Gort had said, what, 15, 20 years ago to me that he wanted to help us as they were working with Cultural Fridays. So now, we weren't ready for it then, but we're ready for it now. So we will come to you, along with Jackie Bell, and make it work. Vice Chair Gort: But let me tell you that Viernes Culturales was born out of the businesspeople there. Ms. Fields: Yes. Vice Chair Gort: They're the one that got together and (UNINTELLIGIBLE), then we got involved. But they got together and they says, "Why don't we create an art exhibit." People love art. There's a common denominator that bring people together. Art is one of the main one and entertainment. Art and music and food, they're three items that bring people together. And so you got to have that component. You could have -- Ms. Fields: And with Shop, Dine and Explore already in place -- Vice Chair Gort: You got art. Show the art. You got a lot of artists. Ms. Fields: Yes. Vice Chair Gort: You have a lot of good arts. You can show it on the street, and I'm sure you can talk to some of the people in Viernes Culturales. They were willing to work with you all, and then put the whole thing -- The idea was that only we had Viernes Culturales the fourth Friday, the first Friday here in Overtown -- Ms. Fields: Yes. Vice Chair Gort: -- and the second Friday in -- Ms. Fields: Yes. Vice Chair Gort: -- over in Little Haiti, so people -- make it a tourist attraction. Ms. Fields: Mm-hmm, yes. Vice Chair Gort: Ethnic tourism is very important throughout the United States -- Ms. Fields: Absolutely. Vice Chair Gort: -- and throughout the world. Ms. Fields: All right. Thank you for your consideration. City of Miami Page 25 Printed on 9/3/2013 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes May 28, 2013 Chair Spence -Jones: Thank you. We're going to go ahead and take a vote on this item. Derek Cole: Can I -- may I have -- Chair Spence -Jones: Sure, sure. Mr. Cole: -- just one word? Chair Spence -Jones: Mm-hmm. Mr. Cole: I think what's not being looked at is you talked about -- Mr. Suarez -Rivas: Name and address, please. Chair Spence -Jones: Name. Mr. Cole: Derek Cole, 1010 Northwest 11 th Street. -- $80,000 being spent on 12 events. How many events have we done in Overtown with CRA money and they spent over $100, 000 for one event, or during Basil, they did a two-day event and spent -- a lot of money was spent on those things and nobody came to those. But the vendors were making at least $10, 000 per event, all of them combined. Chair Spence -Jones: Wait, listen.Let me -- Mr. Cole: They're all selling out. Chair Spence -Jones: Listen, let me just say this to you, and I'm not going to put anybody's business out on the street. Mr. Cole: And there's 12 events for 80 grand. Chair Spence -Jones: But what I'm telling you is that we're also getting vendors that are complaining, are saying that the numbers are not there, that are not returning; not all of them. Some of them came out, and they're doing okay. But what we don't hear and what you don't hear is the calls that we get saying, "Commissioner, the numbers and the people are not here. I'm not going to come back." And, Andrea, they know it, okay. So -- Mr. Cole: Well, work on marketing. Chair Spence -Jones: Gotcha. Gotcha. But -- Vice Chair Gort: That's great. Chair Spence -Jones: Yes. But -- Ms. Rodgers: Excuse me, excuse me, Commissioner. Vice Chair Gort: Good idea. Chair Spence -Jones: Yes. Ms. Rodgers: Andrea Rodgers, New Washington Heights, 1600 Northwest 3rdAvenue. Chair Spence -Jones: Lift the mike, Andrea. City of Miami Page 26 Printed on 9/3/2013 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes May 28, 2013 Ms. Rodgers: I'm Andrea Rodgers, 1600 Northwest 3rdAvenue, New -- Folklife Friday. I'm the daughter of Ms. Jackie Bell, okay. Chair Spence -Jones: Yes. Ms. Rodgers: Commissioner, you're right. Yes, we have been going back and forth. I understand very well what you're saying. I comprehend what you're saying. But now that we have Dorothy Fields on board with us now, maybe we can maneuver better, you know. I have no problem with being on 3rdAvenue in the evening time. I have no problem with that, Commissioner. The only problem that I was seeing was every -- the quarterly, okay? Because the vendors that we have and the people that we do help in the neighborhood. Chair Spence -Jones: And I don't have a problem with -- Ms. Rodgers: I understand. Chair Spence -Jones: -- us doing it monthly. Ms. Rodgers: Yes, ma'am. Chair Spence -Jones: And we can make the amendment -- Ms. Rodgers: Yes. Chair Spence -Jones: -- to at least have the flexibility -- Ms. Rodgers: Yes. Chair Spence -Jones: -- for you to make a decision what works best. Ms. Rodgers: Yes, ma'am. Chair Spence -Jones: I don't have a problem, but we've got to put the numbers up. Ms. Rodgers: Yes, ma'am. Chair Spence -Jones: And that's my conversation the whole time. Ms. Rodgers: I understand. I understand. And I don't mean to be hard, but you know, it's just vision, and I'm going to do my very best to work and do whatever I need to do. Chair Spence -Jones: And we support you 100 percent. Ms. Rodgers: And I thank you, Commissioner. Chair Spence -Jones: And we just want you to win, that's it. Ms. Rodgers: Yes, yes. And I thank you for that so much, all right. Thank you, Commissioner, all right. Chair Spence -Jones: All right, no problem. Ms. Rodgers: Thank you all. Have a good evening, okay. City of Miami Page 27 Printed on 9/3/2013 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes May 28, 2013 Chair Spence -Jones: Okay. Deborah Roberts: Good evening. My name is Deborah Roberts. I live in Town Park Plaza South, right over here. But as I hear all this about the Folklife, what we need to get a lot of people out, Commissioner, is to have it in the evening. Have it like from 12 until 7 or something like that, because when I get off from work, I be dying to get over there, but everything shut down. And another thing, to draw the people out, you need to get some kind of artist, you know, to just lure them down. You can get the junkanoos to bring the crowd. You know, I do a lot of things in Overtown on my own. Chair Spence -Jones: Yes. Ms. Roberts: I don't have no sponsor, but I bring a lot of love out -- Chair Spence -Jones: Yes. Ms. Roberts: -- you know, in our community for unity of the people that live here. I'm not getting paid for anything, but I got a good sense of humor about bringing people together. Chair Spence -Jones: Yes. Ms. Roberts: You know, having a good time in the name of love. Chair Spence -Jones: Yes. Ms. Roberts: So therefore, you get the -- like a artist out, you know, and get the junkanoo, greet the crowd and it's a nice little, you know, way to bring the crowd out, okay. That's all I could say. Well, I was telling Pastor Williams, well, you have to have a time. You cannot have that thing shut off like 2 o'clock or 3 o'clock. When I get off from work or everybody else work, they don't want to run to the Sun Life [sicJ, you know, to get the food. They have some good food, the cakes and everything. I be looking forward to get that. But I cannot stay off my job or leave my job early to get that. Chair Spence -Jones: Yes. Ms. Roberts: So a lot of people feel like I feel. So just -- the time limit, and get some artists over there, and let them bring the crowd to the place, and I'm quite sure it could go -- Chair Spence -Jones: So you can definitely volunteer with the group. Ms. Roberts: I don't -- Chair Spence -Jones: Anybody that wants to participate -- Ms. Roberts: I don't mind Chair Spence -Jones: -- in Folklife, please (UNINTELLIGIBLE) in the back. Ms. Roberts: I don't mind Chair Spence -Jones: We're asking for the Overtown residents to participate, involve -- it is your festival. It is the community's -- Ms. Roberts: I don't mind. City of Miami Page 28 Printed on 9/3/2013 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes May 28, 2013 Chair Spence -Jones: -- festival and that's the only thing that we were trying to accomplish. Ms. Roberts; I don't mind where it is. It could stay where it is. It doesn't matter. Wherever it goes, bring the crowd. Bring some kind of artist, activities so the people could come out to celebrate being -- living in Overtown. Chair Spence -Jones: Thank you. We're going to thank you, ma'am. We're going to go ahead and take a vote on this item. We're going to amend -- make an amendment on it to give them flexibility. Mr. Suarez -Rivas: I don't think anyone has made a motion. Chair Spence -Jones: Okay. But I -- Mr. Suarez -Rivas: You need a motion and a second to approve, which is amended -- Commissioner Suarez: She wants to -- Mr. Suarez -Rivas: -- make the amendments. Chair Spence -Jones: Okay. Commissioner Suarez: -- articulate what the amendment is going to be. Chair Spence -Jones: Okay. Clarence, do you understand what the --? Mr. Woods: Yeah, yeah. And, Commissioner -- Chair Spence -Jones: -- amendments are? Mr. Woods: -- depending on how you guys proceed in amending this item, there will be fiscal impacts, because if you're going to go to every month and it has to be on 3rdAvenue, then you have to consider closing the streets -- Chair Spence -Jones: Right. Mr. Woods: -- which is an additional cost that -- Chair Spence -Jones: But I guess what we need -- but I guess what I'm asking, Clarence, if we could just leave it flexible for the organizers to decide what makes the most sense. So let's give them the flexibility to see whether or not that works. Mr. Woods: Okay. Vice Chair Gort: You really don't have to close the street. Mr. Woods: If it's going to be on 3rdAvenue, the streets would have to be -- Chair Spence -Jones: He's saying put it on the sidewalk. That's what he's saying. Mr. Woods: On the sidewalks. Vice Chair Gort: You can put it on the parking spaces. Chair Spence -Jones: Yeah. In Viernes Culturales, they have -- it's on the sidewalks, right? City of Miami Page 29 Printed on 9/3/2013 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes May 28, 2013 Vice Chair Gort: On the sidewalk. Chair Spence -Jones: They don't close the street. Commissioner Suarez: They don't close the street. Chair Spence -Jones: They do it -- Mr. Woods: Commissioner, that's a different -- Chair Spence -Jones: -- they actually do it on the streets, yeah. Dr. Fields: But that's -- Chair Spence -Jones: We don't have to make a decision how we organize -- Vice Chair Gort: Right. Chair Spence -Jones: -- your event. We don't want to get involved in organizing y'all event. Unidentified Speaker: I'm just -- Chair Spence -Jones: What we just want to do is make sure -- Unidentified Speaker: Commissioner -- Chair Spence -Jones: -- you have flexibility with the CRA staff, with your team, with the community on what makes the most sense. I think we do -- at least came up with the consensus that an evening event works a lot better, and we need to figure out how we get the residents out from that point. Unidentified Speaker: Okay. Chair Spence -Jones: We had a motion. Do we have a --? Commissioner Suarez: I'll move it, as amended. Chair Spence -Jones: We have a motion and a -- Vice Chair Gort: I'll second. You read it again. Chair Spence -Jones: Okay. Rafael, you want to -- Mr. Suarez -Rivas: Well, as I understood, the amendment is that the grantee would have the discretion to coordinate the event monthly or, you know, at such other intervals, you know, as are deemed best for its success. Chair Spence -Jones: Okay. So this has the flexibility on time frames? Mr. Suarez -Rivas: Yes, yes. Vice Chair Gort: My understanding, the allocation is $80, 000. Those $80, 000 has to be used, and there cannot be any more than $80, 000, so they have to sit down, they would have to meet, and they'll come up. They have to come up with a budget, which budget will take into City of Miami Page 30 Printed on 9/3/2013 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes May 28, 2013 NA.1 13-00679 consideration if they're going to be in the evening, if it's going to be on 3rdAvenue, and how they're going to get the -- And also, it's very important they get the people involved, the merchants in the area, because you're talking about marketing. When you get the merchants involved, the merchants are going to market it, too. They're going to tell the people, Hey, we're going to have this event on 3rdAvenue. And then the entertainment, you can put it on a side street where you can close the side street. It doesn't have to be 3rdAvenue. And my suggestion is get together with the people that organized Cultural Friday. If you call my office, Duharte, who used to be one of the executive director way back, Ralph Duharte. Mr. Woods: Okay. And Commissioners, the amendment probably should speak to the grantee having the flexibility to have the events either -- frequency as well as location. Chair Spence -Jones: Okay. Mr. Woods: Have flexibility on frequency, as well as location. Chair Spence -Jones: And we're fine with that. All right, we had a motion and a second, amended. Are we correct, Rafael? Mr. Suarez -Rivas: Yes, yes, yes. You had a motion and a second, as amended. Chair Spence -Jones: As amended. Vice Chair Gort: But in coordination also with the CRA. Chair Spence -Jones: Yes. Vice Chair Gort: And you need the budget and -- Mr. Suarez -Rivas: Right. In the scope of work, I think we've understood that the Board wants this discretion for the timing, for the location, and that the grantee will coordinate or will, you know, work with the CRA. Vice Chair Gort: And the message should be location -- if its going to be in the afternoon, location, 3rdAvenue be your best bet. Chair Spence -Jones: All right, we had a motion and a second, amended. All in favor? The CRA Board (Collectively): Aye. Chair Spence -Jones: This item passes. NON -AGENDA ITEMS CRA DISCUSSION CHAIR SPENCE-JONES ACKNOWLEDGED THE MEMBERS OF THE BLACK POLICE PRECINCT PRESENT AT THE BOARD MEETING. DISCUSSED Chair Spence -Jones: I do want to acknowledge the black police officers that are here, the black police precinct. Wherever you guys are, just raise your hand. We had a great meeting with them today. Let's give them a hand, all the members of that organization. Applause. City of Miami Page 31 Printed on 9/3/2013 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes May 28, 2013 NA.2 13-00690 Chair Spence -Jones: They have been doing an outstanding job. They have a new president -- correct, Mr. President -- that's running that facility, and it's great to see the number of tour buses that are actually coming to that space now, and they've been doing a great job in Historic Overtown, so I wanted to at least acknowledge them. CRA DISCUSSION CHAIR SPENCE-JONES OPENED THE MEETING TO COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC. DISCUSSED Soshana Lincoln: I just want to inform the Board of Commissioners, the lawyers, and the staff of Overtown CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency), and the audience, who knows People Helping People. The People Helping People is a legitimate organization, and I am the president, and I'm the founder. From what I have perceived that -- Miguel have just told me that what they understood, that we -- I -- we are not the legal owner, and that's incorrect. That's one. And two, Commissioner, you talk about beautification in Overtown. I want to have a ride with you in Overtown and show you what is Overtown. Chair Spence -Jones: So those people that you saw working, they're not doing anything? Ms. Lincoln: No, and the police, too. I just going to talk with him. Overtown smells so bad, and your staff knows that. Chair Spence -Jones: Okay. Rev (Reverend) -- I mean, Rev, I see you in the background. Is the beautification team not doing a decent -- just shake your head. I really want to get a move on (UNINTELLIGIBLE). Ms. Lincoln: The beautification team are being instructed to work and patchwork, and that's not good for the -- not only the socioeconomical situation that you pose in Overtown here. I don't think the Commissioner in Overtown understand the socioeconomic status in Overtown. And, I mean, spending money on the Mason Lodge? Would that giving precedence, using up the tax dollar? Not a tall, my dear. What I am saying here is that we need a proper environment. Beautification don't call for people to clean a street that's already clean. To clean the whole of Overtown is only -- Chair Spence -Jones: So you want me to -- Ms. Lincoln: -- one and a half square mile of land. Chair Spence -Jones: -- close down the beautification program? Ms. Lincoln: Not to close it, but it's not been organized properly. Chair Spence -Jones: Okay. Thank you, Dr. [sic] Shoshana. Appreciate it. Thank you. Ms. Lincoln: And again, I am emphasizing, and we are -- I am the president, and People Helping People is legitimate, for everyone to know that. Chair Spence -Jones: Okay. Thank you so much. Later... Chair Spence -Jones: All right. We're officially closing out the meeting. City of Miami Page 32 Printed on 9/3/2013 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes May 28, 2013 Vice Chair Gort: Move to adjourn. Chair Spence -Jones: Okay. Are you --? Carlos Gonzalez: Hi. Commissioner Carollo: Move to adjourn. Mr. Gonzalez: I just have an observation. My name -- Chair Spence -Jones: Sure. Put your name on the record. Mr. Gonzalez: Yes. My name is Carlos Gonzalez. I'm the only one in the world with that name. I'm mindful of the time. It's just an observation. Mr. Suarez -Rivas: Your address was, please? Mr. Gonzalez: Oh, 1550 North Miami Avenue, Miami, Florida 33126; just down the street. Just a quick observation and it's a sad one. I've observed that there's only, from what I can see, five people from what appears to be other communities outside of Overtown or Liberty City, and you know, really -- you know, every community in the City of Miami, when it comes to something like this, helping another community flourish, we should all get involved. It shouldn't be -- what I see is, you know, not even 10 percent of the people -- I'm Cuban -American. There isn't even 10 percent of people from other communities that I can ident fy, and it's a sad statement and -- you know, it's a sad statement. We should get other communities to be involved in -- Unidentified Speaker: We will. Mr. Gonzalez: -- making this community grow and flourish, and if we could somehow do that, it would be great. Thank you. Chair Spence -Jones: Thank you. Commissioner Suarez: Thank you, thank you. Chair Spence -Jones: With that being said, we'd like to officially adjourn this meeting. NA.3 CRA DISCUSSION 13-00692 DISCUSSION BY CHAIR SPENCE-JONES DIRECTING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO CONTACT THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (FDOT) FOR THE PURPOSE OF SCHEDULING A PRESENTATION ITEM BEFORE THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS REGARDING THE TRANSFER OF BRICKELL AVENUE AND THE 1-395 BRIDGE. DISCUSSED Chair Spence -Jones: I just want to mention just two things for the record. I'm going to ask the Administration to definitely get with FDOT (Florida Department of Transportation). I need for FDOT to do a presentation. In our last week Commission meeting, this issue -- I think it's 3rd Avenue. It's 3rdAvenue, 1st Avenue they were trying to swap with Brickell or something? City of Miami Page 33 Printed on 9/3/2013 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes May 28, 2013 NA.4 13-00693 ADJOURNMENT Vice Chair Gort: Right, right, right. Chair Spence -Jones: That issue has never come before this Board, has never come actually before the Overtown community. I would like to at least make sure that FDOT comes to also give a briefing on what's happening with the bridge. Is it 395 going over? Clarence Woods (Executive Director, Community Redevelopment Agency): Yes, it's 1-395. Chair Spence -Jones: Okay. So we really want to make sure that they're here. Later... Chair Spence -Jones: Is there anything else I'm missing? Okay. Vice Chair Gort: Let me -- FDO Tot -- FDOT or whatever, the Department -- the Florida Department of Transportation, it's not only this neighborhood they ruined. If you all recall, Allapattah, Northwest 36th Street, there used to be a downtown in there. We used to have a JByrons. We had all kinds of stores there. Once they built the 112, that's it. It went away. Little Havana and Allapattah, the whole area, once they built 836, it split. So the City of Miami has been -- everybody loves the suburbs and moved to the suburbs, but it's been too detrimental of the City of Miami, all of it. Chair Spence -Jones: So we definitely want to make sure that they come to address that issue. CRA DISCUSSION DISCUSSION BY CHAIR SPENCE-JONES DIRECTING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO PLACE A DISCUSSION ITEM ON THE NEXT CRA AGENDA FOR THE BLACK POLICE PRECINCT TO PRESENT PLANS FOR THEIR NEW PROJECT EXPANSION BEFORE THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS. DISCUSSED Chair Spence -Jones: Also, I want to make sure in the next CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) Board meeting that the black police precinct is on that agenda, as well. They're going to be presenting something as a part of their -- expansion of their project over there, so I want to make sure that actually hits their agenda. The meeting adjourned at 6:31 p.m. City of Miami Page 34 Printed on 9/3/2013