HomeMy WebLinkAboutSEOPW CRA 2013-12-18 MinutesCity of Miami
City Hall
3500 Pan American Drive
Miami, FL 33133
www.miamigov.com
of
• IN Q9▪ IEP 99 i
�YD
({
}} 7 4�
.. S'
Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, December 18, 2013
12:00 PM
Miami City Hall (Manager's Conference Room)
3500 Pan American Drive
Miami, FL 33133
SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency
Keon Hardemon, 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 December 18, 2013
RESOLUTIONS
1.
13-01429
Present: Commissioner Suarez, Vice Chair Gort and Chair Hardemon
Absent: Commissioner Sarnoff and Commissioner Carollo
On the 18th day of December 2013, the Board of Commissioners of the Southeast Overtown/Park
West Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of Miami met in regular session at Miami
City Hall, 3500 Pan American Drive, Miami, Florida. The meeting was called to order by Chair
Hardemon at 12:10 p.m., and was adjourned at 12:37 p.m.
ALSO PRESENT:
Clarence Woods, Executive Director, CRA
Jessica Pacheco, Special Counsel, CRA
Barnaby L. Min, Deputy General Counsel
Todd B. Hannon, Clerk of the Board
CRA RESOLUTION
RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE SOUTHEAST
OVERTOWN/PARK WEST COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY
AUTHORIZING (i) THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO ENTER INTO
AMENDMENTS TO (i) THE GRANT AGREEMENT WITH TOWN PARK PLAZA
SOUTH, INC. WITH RESPECT TO THE TOWN PARK PLAZA SOUTH
COOPERATIVE APARTMENT PROJECT; (ii) THE GRANT AGREEMENT
WITH TOWN PARK VILLAGE NO. 1, INC. WITH RESPECT TO THE TOWN
PARK VILLAGE COOPERATIVE APARTMENT PROJECT; (iii) THE
DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT WITH ISLAND LIVING APARTMENTS, LTD.
WITH RESPECT TO THE ISLAND LIVING APARTMENTS; (iv) THE
DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT WITH LYRIC HOUSING, LTD. WITH
RESPECT TO THE PLAZA AT THE LYRIC; (iv) THE DEVELOPMENT
AGREEMENT WITH ST JOHN PLAZA APARTMENTS, LLC WITH RESPECT
TO THE ST JOHN PLAZA APARTMENTS; AND (vi) THE DEVELOPMENT
AGREEMENT WITH AMC HTG I, LTD. WITH RESPECT TO THE ALONZO
MOURNING PROJECT, TO EXTEND THE TIME CONTINGENCY FOR THE
SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT
AGENCY TO OBTAIN BOND FINANCING ON TERMS ACCEPTABLE TO THE
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS FROM DECEMBER 31, 2013 TO JUNE 30,
2014.
File # 13-01429 Cover Memo.pdf
File # 13-01429 Legislation.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 Hardemon, Vice Chair Gort and Commissioner Suarez
Absent: Commissioner Carollo and Commissioner Sarnoff
CRA-R-1 3-0074
Direction by Chair Hardemon to Executive Director Clarence Woods to provide all necessary
documents so that the Board of Commissioners can make informed decisions on matters brought
before the CRA Board; and further directing Mr. Woods to keep the board updated on the
progress of the bond financing.
City of Miami Paget Printed on 1/21/2014
SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency
Meeting Minutes December 18, 2013
Chair Hardemon: Through the powers invested in the Chairman, I want to call this meeting to
order at 12: 08 p.m. On this agenda -- well, first of all, present, we have a quorum of
Commissioners: Commissioner Willy Gort; Commissioner Francis Suarez and then myself,
Commissioner Keon Hardemon. First on the agenda, we have Resolutions [sic] CRA 13-01429,
and I'll read the resolution into the record so that we're clear on what it is. It's a resolution of
the Board of Commissioners of the Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment
Agency authorizing the executive director to enter into amendments to grant with -- to grant
agreement with Town Park Plaza South, Inc. with respect to the Town Park Plaza South
Cooperative Apartment Project; the grant to -- the grant agreement with Town Park Village No.
1, Inc. with respect to the Town Park Village Cooperative Apartment Project; the development
agreement with Island Living Apartments, Ltd, Limited with respect to the Island Living
Apartments; the development agreement with Lyric Housing with respect to the plaza at the
Lyric; the development agreement with St. John Plaza Apartments, LLC (Limited Liability
Corporation) with respect to the St. John Plaza Apartments; and the development agreement with
AMC HTG, I, Limited with respect to the Alonzo Mourning Project, to extend the time
contingency for the Southeast Overtown/Park West Overtown -- Parkwest Community
Redevelopment Agency to obtain bond finances on terms acceptable to the Board of
Commissioners from December 13 -- to December 31, 2013 to June 30, 2014. First of all, I
guess we can entertain a motion on the floor.
Board Member Suarez: Move it.
Chair Hardemon: Is there a second?
Vice Chair Gort: Second for discussion.
Chair Hardemon: It's been properly moved by Commissioner Suarez and second by
Commissioner Willy Gort. This item is open for discussion. Is there discussion from Mr.
Clarence?
Clarence Woods (Executive Director, Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment
Agency) No, Commissioner, other than the fact that we are diligently working to get the bond
financing finalized so that we can get these projects moving. We have at least two right now that
are ready to break ground, right now, even as we speak, and it's all contingent upon us being
able to finalize the financing. Once I leave here, I'll be going over to Miami -Dade County to
work on the issue of the financing so that we can go ahead and break ground on these projects
and get them moving.
Chair Hardemon: Now, I'm familiar with the reason why there needs to be an extension, but can
you make the Board aware of why we actually need the extension?
Mr. Woods: The reason for the extension is because at this point, we are in talks with
Miami -Dade County as a result of an issue with the original ordinance which allowed for the
CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) to come into existence. That ordinance, which is an
ordinance from 1982, was -- unilaterally instituted a cap -- well, it didn't institute, but it
suggested a cap of the ability of the CRAs to do any additional financing beyond its first bond
issuance, and not only the cap, but then we also have the 2007 global agreement, which we
agreed to refund the County certain portions of projects that were listed in the global agreement;
10 projects specifically that we would refund 45 percent. In doing our due diligence in getting
this bond issuance, the issue of the cap came up. We all understood and made allowances for the
global agreement and the 45 percent return of TIF (Tax Increment Fund), but the cap was
something that was kind of new to everybody, so we are in the process of working that out, and
trying to figure out how we would actually be able to get all of the financing we need in order to
fund all of the projects. The County is working through the numbers to try to figure that out.
City of Miami Page 3 Printed on 1/21/2014
SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency
Meeting Minutes December 18, 2013
Chair Hardemon: And for the Board to be clear, so as far as I understand, the cap comes in
from the 1982 ordinance, where year 19, it caps off how much --
Vice Gort: Right.
Chair Hardemon: -- the County is going to give towards the CRA. Now, my question for you,
Mr. Woods, is why is it that you're asking for six months versus any other time span?
Mr. Woods: Well, we believe that we can get -- well, we're hopeful that we can get this issue
wrapped up rather quickly. Six months is just a -- I think a time frame for us being able to settle
our issues with the County. It may be that we may have to go beyond six months. I'm hopeful
that we can get this done before six months and have these projects financed. I think there is a
willingness on the County to resolve the issue and do it in rather short order, but we have to go
through this process.
Chair Hardemon: And the agreements that we will be making the amendments to are the
original agreements that were created for the development within Overtown CRA?
Mr. Woods: Yes, the bond projects.
Chair Hardemon: Right. Six months is a long time. Six months is halfway into the new year.
Six months is a long time for us not to have any knowledge of what is actually going on or for the
community to have knowledge about what's going on within this project. So one of the things
that I'm hoping that this Board will be amenable to is maybe a friendly amendment to their
motion so that we can have this come up sooner than six months. And I wavered on how much
time that would be; however, considering the importance of this measure, considering that we
need this development soon, and considering that there's a significant amount of discussion that
needs to occur about this agreement, what I think -- and I don't know if you feel the same way,
Commissioners, but having this back before this Commission, before this type of body in about
two months I think would be fair. Would you be amenable to accepting that as a friendly
amendment?
Board Member Suarez: Yes, Mr. Chair. I -- this is Commissioner Suarez for the record. I would
amend my motion so -- you know, accordingly. You know, we at the Commission struggled, and I
remember, I was the chairman last year and passed the gavel to authorize the Commission to
basically indebt itself as a city, because these projects are extremely worthy, and the community
deserves to have these projects done as quickly as possible. So I share your frustration, and I
think the community wants these projects to have happened yesterday. So, you're right. I mean,
two months, three months, two days, two weeks is probably too long. So I know that
Commissioner Gort has been working very diligently to get the bond offering completed as
quickly as possible, and maybe he can give us a little update on that. But --
Vice Chair Gort: My question is: This resolution has already been approved.
Mr. Woods: Yeah, mm-hm.
Vice Chair Gort: What kind of amendment are you making?
Mr. Woods: It's just the extension of time; within each resolution -- I mean, each development
agreement --
Vice Chair Gort: When we approved the resolution, they had a specific time when it had to be
accomplished.
Mr. Woods: Well, it was -- the development agreements provided for developments to go forth.
City of Miami Page 4 Printed on 1/21/2014
SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency
Meeting Minutes December 18, 2013
Vice Chair Gort: To begin as soon as funding were available.
Mr. Woods: Right. And --
Vice Chair Gort: So from the time that they begin, then they'll have the extension till they
complete it; that was my understanding.
Mr. Woods: Well, no, not the actual development. It's the agreements, themselves.
Vice Chair Gort: Right.
Mr. Woods: The agreements basically terminate December 31, 2013 --
Vice Chair Gort: Okay.
Mr. Woods: -- if financing has not been gotten.
Vice Chair Gort: So that's what you're asking for.
Mr. Woods: Right, yeah.
Vice Chair Gort: Now, all the documents we've been working on for six months, eight months --
Mr. Woods: We're done.
Vice Chair Gort: And we've had six drafts of the documents already. With this amendment, it
will put the documents up to date. All we need is the okay from the Commission and we can go
on the market. I mean --
Mr. Woods: We're ready, Commissioner.
Vice Chair Gort: -- all the paperwork is done.
Mr. Woods: You're right.
Vice Chair Gort: I mean, the bond can be issued at any time.
Chair Hardemon: But part of the issue that we're having with the bond, from what I understand,
is this Wells Fargo issue with the issuing of the bond because of the County and this cap.
Mr. Woods: Yeah.
Chair Hardemon: Apparently, from --
Vice Chair Gort: Right. No.
Chair Hardemon: So, I mean --
Vice Chair Gort: I mean, they need their revenues in order to comply that.
Chair Hardemon: Exactly.
Mr. Woods: They need that.
City of Miami Page 5 Printed on 1/21/2014
SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency
Meeting Minutes December 18, 2013
Chair Hardemon: Exactly.
Mr. Woods: Right..
Chair Hardemon: So in the agreements -- and that's not provided in any of the -- well, I received
an e-mail (electronic) from Mr. Woods yesterday that had the agreements that were -- that are to
be amended, and in each agreement, there is a line in the agreement that specifically speaks to
December 31, 2013 being the date that these agreements automatically terminate. It had some
language that had some things that are not terminating; however, it is not entirely clear without
significant reading of the agreements.
Vice Chair Gort: You (UNINTELLIGIBLE) the amendment.
Commissioner Suarez: Okay.
Chair Hardemon: So do I have a second from any (UNINTELLIGIBLE) --?
Vice Chair Gort: Yeah, I will second.
Mr. Woods: IfI might, Commissioner, with respect to the timing, the six months, this -- the
financing of these projects, the actual bond financing, we were ready to receive the loan from
Wells Fargo in October. It's not a function of us and how we actually operate at this point in
time.
Chair Hardemon: You mean the CRA?
Mr. Woods: The CRA or the CRA Board. It's really about Miami -Dade County and how they are
going to reinterpret the statute, the original ordinance, as well as the global agreement, and how
they're going to accommodate us in allowing for this financing to happen. They've already
approved the bond resolution. They approved the projects. Everything is actually done. It's just
that when we -- when it came down to execution and actually getting this financing, the City
Attorney's Office, their bond counsel, Ms. Robin Jones Jackson, found the original ordinance
that had a cap in it, which became problematic. So it's a function of actually the County. So we
-- if we say we're only going to do this for two months -- I mean, we can come back to you every
month from here on out, every day, just advising you on the progress with the County.
Vice Chair Gort: Just remember that we got to put pressure on the County, and I'm willing to
talk to a couple of Commissioners on the County, and they got to -- because people have been
waiting for this for a long time.
Mr. Woods: Yeah.
Vice Chair Gort: I mean, every meeting we've been to, we tell them, "We going to do the bond
issue." Everybody talked about the bond issue, everybody talked about the construction that's
going to take place --
Mr. Woods: So that --
Vice Chair Gort: -- and it's up to us to push the County.
Chair Hardemon: And what I'd like from you, Mr. Woods, is to make sure that this Board is
informed of each of these steps. There's no reason that, for instance, for a meeting of this
caliber, asking for this type of step that these members should not have a copy of the agreements,
and to completely understand exactly what's happening. It may have been given sometime in the
past.
City of Miami Page 6 Printed on 1/21/2014
SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency
Meeting Minutes December 18, 2013
Mr. Woods: Right.
Chair Hardemon: But what I'm saying is that every time we come to this table to make a
decision involving the CRA, involving an item that is on this agenda, we need to make sure that
we have all the documentation that is necessary for them to make an informed decision --
Mr. Woods: Absolutely.
Chair Hardemon: -- (UNINTELLIGIBLE) -- relying upon the word to move forward.
Mr. Woods: Absolutely.
Chair Hardemon: So -- and in regards -- because the longer this thing stays open, the more of a
problem we're going to have with the dollars that it takes for the CRA to actually make this deal
happen. As I understand, there was already about 200, $250, 000 that was used in the --
Mr. Woods: Yeah, with bond counsel. The --
Chair Hardemon: The bond -- right, the -- to determine the validity of the bond, when, in fact,
that's not something that's required by law, but it was required by Holland & Knight and by some
other --
Mr. Woods: Well, Foley & Lardner is the current bond counsel. As I mentioned before, we
sought -- I mean, we fought very hard not to go through a validation process, which ended up
with the original bond counsel resigning from being bond counsel because he felt like, you know,
he couldn't advise us any further. So we brought Foley, who felt that our prior bond counsel was
correct.
Vice Chair Gort: The reason most of the bond counsel ask for a validation, because if you don't
have the validation, anybody, you can go ahead and do the -- try to do the issue of the bond, and
somebody can take you to court.
Mr. Woods: And they get challenged, yeah.
Vice Chair Gort: They can challenge, and anyone in that community can challenge the issue of
the bonds. Now, we have several people that were having problem with the --
Mr. Woods: Uses.
Vice Chair Gort: They've been suing the City of Miami for years now, and they could be -- and
that'll be even worse (UNINTELLIGIBLE) -- you're a lawyer. You know how it takes --
Chair Hardemon: Right, right. No, complete -- I completely understand the reason behind it.
However, part of my issue with everything is that it creates a problem for the community where
they don't under -- the community doesn't understand these --
Vice Chair Gort: Oh, of course not.
Chair Hardemon: -- hoops that we're jumping through. So part of what we need to do going
forward is to make sure the community is aware through this type of process of what's happening
with this process. Is there any other -- is there any further discussion on this item?
Vice Chair Gort: And it's important to explain to the people you're amending the contract with
the reason why it's taking place, so they can also put pressure and make phone calls themselves,
City of Miami Pagel Printed on 1/21/2014
SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency
Meeting Minutes December 18, 2013
too.
Mr. Woods: Yeah, yeah. Just for a point of clarification or understanding, what we've attempted
to do is work it out between us and the County before we took it to the next level and, you know,
started to, you know, I guess campaign on trying to make sure that we get what we believe is the
right outcome. So today's meeting will go a little step further in understanding their position so
that we can then start mobilizing on our side the folks that we need in order
to --
Vice Chair Gort: And all these amendments will have to be added to the documentation already
is taking place in the POS (Point of Sale)? You have to make the changes in the draft of the
POS.
Mr. Woods: Yeah, yes.
Vice Chair Gort: So make sure they get them as soon as possible. As soon as we approve it here
Mr. Woods: Absolutely.
Vice Chair Gort: -- send it to them.
Mr. Woods: Yes.
Chair Hardemon: Any further discussion?
Mr. Woods: So we're talking the end of February?
Mr. Woods: So to clarify, the motion, as been properly moved and seconded, that we extend the
original agreements of the aforementioned agreements that we spoke of so that -- to February 28,
2014 instead of the June 30, 2014 date that was originally proposed.
Board Member Suarez: And I accept that motion --
Chair Hardemon: Okay.
Board Member Suarez: -- that amendment to my motion.
Chair Hardemon: All in favor say "aye. "
The Board (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: All against? Motion passes.
2. CRA RESOLUTION
13-01222
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE
SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT
AGENCY ("CRA") AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO ENTER
INTO A LEASE AGREEMENT WITH THE BLACK ARCHIVES, HISTORY AND
RESEARCH FOUNDATION OF SOUTH FLORIDA, INC. FOR THE CRA'S
OFFICE SPACE AT THE LYRIC THEATER COMPLEX, 819 NW 2ND AVENUE,
MIAMI, FLORIDA, FORA TERM OF THREE (3) YEARS, COMMENCING
DECEMBER 1, 2013, WITH RENT WAIVED FOR THE FIRST YEAR OF THE
City of Miami Page 8 Printed on 1,21/2014
SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency
Meeting Minutes December 18, 2013
TERM, AND RENT SET AT $6,000 PER MONTH, OR AN ANNUAL AMOUNT
OF $72,000, INCLUDING TAXES, UTILITIES, FOR THE SECOND AND THIRD
YEAR OF THE TERM; FUNDS TO BE ALLOCATED FROM GENERAL
OPERATING FUND ENTITLED "RENTAL AND LEASES," ACCOUNT CODE
NO. 10050.920101.544000.0000.00000.
File # 13-01222 Cover Memo.pdf
File # 13-01222 Financial Form.pdf
File # 13-01222 Backup.pdf
File # 13-01222 Legislation.pdf
Motion by Board Member Suarez, seconded by Vice -Chair Gort, that this matter be
CONTINUED PASSED by the following vote.
Votes: Ayes: Chair Hardemon, Vice Chair Gort and Commissioner Suarez
Absent: Commissioner Carollo and Commissioner Sarnoff
Note for the Record: Item #2 was continued to the January 27, 2014, Southeast Overtown/Park
West CRA Meeting.
Chair Hardemon: Moving on to agenda item number 2, which is CRA (Community
Redevelopment Agency) Resolution 13-01222. It's a resolution of the Board of Commissioners of
the Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment Agency authorizing the executive
director to enter into a lease agreement with the Black Archives History and Research
Foundation of South Florida, Inc. for the CRA's office space at the Lyric Theater Complex, for a
term of three years, commencing December 1, 2013, with rent waived for the first year of the
term, and the rent set for $6, 000 per month, or an annual amount of 72,000, including tax and
utilities, from the second and third year of the term. And I have a question. Well, first of all, is
there a motion on the floor?
Board Member Suarez: I move it for discussion.
Vice Chair Gort: Second.
Chair Hardemon: Properly moved by Commissioner Suarez; seconded by Commissioner Gort.
I'm going to open it up for discussion at this point. I don't have a lease agreement in front of me.
Clarence Woods (Executive Director, Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment
Agency): Right. We -- this is allowing us to enter into a lease. We will be able to -- we will
bring a lease back with all the terms.
Chair Hardemon: Okay, but if we grant this today, then you're able to enter into that lease
without us being able to actually see the lease agreement. And part of that is -- my worry is that
we don't know the square footage, we don't know what space, how much space, anything of that
nature, and that causes some concern for me, especially where the Lyric Theater has to somehow
start to produce some type of revenue.
Mr. Woods: Absolutely.
Chair Hardemon: And that's why I was asking you whether or not Mr. Barber was going to be
here so that we can discuss this lease agreement with him.
Board Member Suarez: I don't have a problem deferring it, if you want to defer it to another
meeting.
Chair Hardemon: Better yet, continue it.
Board Member Suarez: Second.
City of Miami Page Printed on 1/21/2014
SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency
Meeting Minutes December 18, 2013
Chair Hardemon: I mean, so --
Vice Chair Gort: You need the information.
Chair Hardemon: Right, right.
Board Member Suarez: Yeah. I mean, I was going to ask the question anyways.
Chair Hardemon: Do you mind withdrawing your motion?
Board Member Suarez: Yeah, I withdraw my motion back.
Chair Hardemon: Is there a new motion that you'd like me to entertain?
Board Member Suarez: So moved. I move a motion to -- I make a motion to continue to the next
CRA meeting and, you know, with the suggestion that the beneficiary, for lack of a better word,
be here at the meeting, and also, if you can provide us with a draft copy of a lease, because I was
going to ask the question anyways, you know. How have we set the amount; how do we come up
with a -- you know, with an amount? And I figured you had an answer to it but --
Mr. Woods: Yeah.
Board Member Suarez: -- I know -- and I see that we have one year abated --
Mr. Woods: Mm-hm.
Board Member Suarez: -- of rent. So, you know, I did want to know, you know, how we came up
with the square footage, how we came up with the amount, et cetera, so.
Mr. Woods: The square footage basically is --
Board Member Suarez: We can talk about it -- we can do it --
Chair Hardemon: We can talk about it at the next meeting.
Board Member Suarez: -- we can deal with that at the next meeting.
Vice Chair Gort: Right.
Chair Hardemon: Right.
Board Member Suarez: I'm saying, you know, those are the questions that I was going to ask just
so you --
Chair Hardemon: The motion has been properly --
Mr. Woods: No problem.
Chair Hardemon: -- moved by Commissioner Suarez.
Mr. Woods: And I will be prepared to answer.
Chair Hardemon: Is there a second?
City of Miami Page 10 Printed on 1/21/2014
SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency
Meeting Minutes December 18, 2013
Vice Chair Gort: Second, yes.
Chair Hardemon: All right, seeing it has been properly moved and seconded, seconded by
Commissioner Gort, is any further discussion? Seeing none, motion -- all in favor say "aye."
The Board Collectively: Aye.
Chair Hardemon: All against? Motion passes.
3. CRA RESOLUTION
13-01216
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE
SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT
AGENCY AUTHORIZING ISSUANCE OF A GRANT, IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO
EXCEED $572,000, TO THE BLACK ARCHIVES, HISTORY AND RESEARCH
FOUNDATION OF SOUTH FLORIDA, INC. TO UNDERWRITE COSTS
ASSOCIATED WITH THE CONTINUED OPERATION AND PROGRAMMING
OF THE LYRIC THEATER CULTURAL HERITAGE INSTITUTE FOR THE 2014
CALENDAR YEAR; AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO
DISBURSE FUNDS, AT HIS DISCRETION, ON A REIMBURSEMENT BASIS
OR DIRECTLY TO VENDORS, UPON PRESENTATION OF INVOICES AND
SATISFACTORY DOCUMENTATION; FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO EXECUTE ALL DOCUMENTS NECESSARY FOR
SAID PURPOSE; ALLOCATING FUNDS FROM SEOPW, "OTHER GRANTS
AND AIDS," ACCOUNT CODE NO. 10050.920101.883000.0000.00000.
File # 13-01216 Cover Memo.pdf
File # 13-01216 Financial Form.pdf
File # 13-01216 Backup.pdf
FILE# 13-01216 Legislation.pdf
Motion by Board Member Suarez, seconded by Vice -Chair Gort, that this matter be
CONTINUED PASSED by the following vote.
Votes: Ayes: Chair Hardemon, Vice Chair Gort and Commissioner Suarez
Absent: Commissioner Carollo and Commissioner Sarnoff
Note for the Record: Item #3 was continued to the January 27, 2014, Southeast Overtown/Park
West CRA Meeting.
Chair Hardemon: Moving on to agenda item number 3, CRA (Community Redevelopment
Agency) Legislation 13-01216, a resolution of the Board of Commissioners of the Southeast
Overtown/Park West Redevelopment [sic] Agency authorizing the issuance of a grant in the
amount not to exceed $572,000, to the Black Archives History and Research Foundation of South
Florida, Inc. to underwrite costs associated with the continued operation and programming of
the Lyric Theater Cultural Heritage Institute for the 2014 calendar year; authorizing the
executive director to disburse funds at his discretion on a reimbursement basis, or directly to
vendors, upon presentation of invoices and satisfactory documentation; further authorizing the
executive director to execute all documents necessary for said purpose; allocating funds from
SEOPH [sic] -- not entertaining the motion just yet. There's some -- I understand the mission of
the Lyric Theater. I sat down with Mr. Barber, and I completely and wholeheartedly agree with
what the cultural importance and the revenue producing elements are to this type of project. I
would have loved for Mr. Barber to be here, because there were further items that I wanted to
discuss involving his supported documentation that he provided. He provided not only a 2014
programming year schedule that had some amounts, salaries that amounted to about $233, 000
for training staff, and then administrative staff of $85, 000. And this -- when you look at this
City of Miami Page 11 Printed on 1,21/2014
SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency
Meeting Minutes December 18, 2013
schedule, it amounts to the $572,000, but it generated a lot of questions for me as he also gave
me some projections. Year one, two and three, 60,172, for instance; in the first year, rental,
60,000; in the second year, rental is 172, 000; in year three, 250, 000. They seem to be
projections. I don't know how he generated those projections. I don't know how in year one, he
even arrived at 60,000, seeing that the legislation just prior to it is a lease agreement for $6, 000
a month.
Clarence Woods (Executive Director, Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment
Agency): Yeah. These are revenues.
Chair Hardemon: Right, I understand that.
Mr. Woods: That's not a grant or contributions, which would probably -- which are up on the --
under the first -- gotcha.
Chair Hardemon: I see under year one, the CRA has the grant of 572,000 provided to them.
Mr. Woods: Mm-hmm.
Chair Hardemon: But what I'm asking is that the other numbers that are there --
Mr. Woods: Right.
Chair Hardemon: -- for one, two and three, I have no understanding of how he generated these
numbers. It looks good.
Mr. Woods: Right.
Chair Hardemon: It looks good, and --
Board Member Suarez: Can I jump in on it?
Chair Hardemon: Sure, absolutely.
Board Member Suarez: You know, I think one of the things we've done as a Board is kind of
demand specificity on issues, and I think, you know, for example, a legitimate question would be:
Okay, so he wants to spend $233, 000 on salaries for training staff, but it's not broken down by
individual component.
Mr. Woods: Okay.
Board Member Suarez: That's number one. Number two, you know, I think it's, generally, a
good rule that if you're going to be asking this Board for a combined amount of you know,
$500, 000 on the one item and, you know -- and I forget how much the other item is but --
Mr. Woods: The rent --
Board Member Suarez: Right.
Mr. Woods: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) was --
Board Member Suarez: Seventy-two times two, which is a hundred and forty-four, right, a
hundred and forty-four.
Mr. Woods: It's about (UNINTELLIGIBLE) times two.
City of Miami Page 12 Printed on 1/21/2014
SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency
Meeting Minutes December 18, 2013
Board Member Suarez: That's about 600, 700 -- almost 700,000 worth combined -- that the
person should be here --
Chair Hardemon: Right.
Board Member Suarez: -- to answer questions, you know. I mean it's --
Mr. Woods: You said --
Chair Hardemon: Absolutely.
Board Member Suarez: -- Illogical.
Chair Hardemon: And even in the 2014 programming year, which, like I say, I understand
programming dollars for this type of venue; however, the training allocations at eight weeks, for
instance --
Board Member Suarez: Right.
Chair Hardemon: -- for $45, 000. So I'm very unclear as to if this money is to only pay for this
eight weeks' training session, including those $233, 000 in training staff, or is it in the first year,
as in the Black Archives Lyric Theater pro forms? If you look at the page that has your
organizational expenses, program salaries and wages, they're 120,000 in the first year. And then
the administrative salaries and wages is 436, 000. So that's already in excess of 540-something
thousand dollars. So is that money that is additionally coming from the CRA --
Mr. Woods: No.
Chair Hardemon: -- versus the money that's coming from the training program? There are a lot
of conflicting numbers in this documentation.
Mr. Woods: The -- I mean, I don't know if you want me to respond as far as I --
Chair Hardemon: If you -- I mean, as far as you know.
Mr. Woods: -- as far as understanding, yeah, right.
Chair Hardemon: I understand.
Mr. Woods: The training -- the funding for the training, that $45, 000, is to, like I said, train folks
that would then be hired by the Black Archives to work in the Lyric Theater.
Chair Hardemon: Right. I get that part.
Mr. Woods: Their projections are what will actually pay for the salaries of folks from the
neighborhood. Obviously, any time we get grants, we expect there to be a benefit to the
community.
Chair Hardemon: Right.
Mr. Woods: And this is for the salaries. I mean, it's an economic development type of grant
because they're going to be creating jobs. The first eight weeks is for the training. Then they
will have to hire, whether they hire them all at that one time, but as they begin to ramp up and
start the program, the Archives, they will be then calling those folks that actually got trained,
City of Miami Page 13 Printed on 1/21/2014
SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency
Meeting Minutes December 18, 2013
depending on the need and the availability. From what we understand, once the Lyric Theater is
up and running the way in which they see it, they will hire up to about 45 people. That -- the
salaries that will be paid will come from their program. So the 120 is money that'll come from
whatever programming that they're doing, and whether it's the $60, 000 in year one, you know, or
money from additional grants that they're getting -- we're not the only one that they're getting
grants from.
Chair Hardemon: Right.
Mr. Woods: They're getting other grants.
Chair Hardemon: Right.
Mr. Woods: But that's from my understanding.
Chair Hardemon: Commissioner Suarez.
Board Member Suarez: Yeah, thank you, Mr. Chair. You know, I think the Chair has some very,
very good points. I mean, one, for example, you know, they've had a hard time getting going,
and we're trying to help them --
Mr. Woods: Exactly.
Board Member Suarez: -- on a multitude of different fronts with the platting, things of that
nature.
Mr. Woods: Right.
Board Member Suarez: And of course, you know, (UNINTELLIGIBLE) want to see
(UNINTELLIGIBLE) there's some County representatives here, so to the extent that they can help
with that, that would be great. But like for example, when they talk about corporate
contributions, I'm assuming that means some sort of sponsorship from corporations.
Mr. Woods: Exactly.
Board Member Suarez: And I mean, is it realistic -- are they realistically going to be able to get
300,000 in year one, 500 in year two, and 500 in year three? Maybe they will. Who are those
people? Have they had discussions with them? Have they contacted them? You know, they have
pledges, commitments? You know, we don't know.
Chair Hardemon: And the thing about this is that I believe that this Board is going to help this
organization, no matter what.
Board Member Suarez: Absolutely.
Chair Hardemon: But I want real numbers in front of me. You're not going -- I do not want
numbers that are inexplicable before me, because then I have a hard time then asking this Board
to move a motion to further help an organization that gave me bad numbers. So what I would
suggest is to have Mr. Barber meet with me in my office at some time to at least explain this out.
So now the next time --
Mr. Woods: Absolutely.
Chair Hardemon: -- this comes before this Board, we have everything that we need to make a
decision. Is there any other discussion about it?
City of Miami Page 14 Printed on 1/21/2014
SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency
Meeting Minutes December 18, 2013
Vice Chair Gort: Well, if we train people to get a job, and later on, they can't get a job because
the revenues are not out there to support it, I think it's a fail [sic] on our part, so we have to
make sure that the revenues are going to be there, reoccurring revenues. I mean, grants work
real good for a year or two years, but we got to make sure that the business plan is put together.
And I think that we all want to see them to become very successful. I think that's going to be very
important for that community.
Board Member Suarez: I think the Chair -- I want to reiterate something the Chair said, which is
- - you know, and I think the former Chair also emphasized -- which is that we want to see the
Black Lyric Theater succeed and open, and, you know, we think -- I can speak for myself. I can't
- - you know, obviously, I suspect my colleagues on the Board feel the same way -- that it's a
centerpiece of our community.
Mr. Woods: Absolutely.
Board Member Suarez: And that --
Vice Chair Gort: Culture and history.
Board Member Suarez: Absolutely. And it needs to be opened, and it needs to be opened sooner
rather than later; just like these projects need to be done sooner rather than later. I mean, this
community has waited for a long time, and thankfully, we have some fresh energy here to, you
know, keep pushing, because at the end of the day, you know, we all know that it's about pushing
and your will to get things done, and, you know, so -- you know, we'll just keep working to make
it happen as quickly as possible.
Chair Hardemon: And then please inform Mr. Barber that I would love to see him at the next
scheduled CRA meeting, considering that he has two items of significant importance to his
organization so that we can ask him questions.
Mr. Woods: Absolutely.
Chair Hardemon: That would be the best part about it. Seeing no further discussion, is there a
motion to continue this --?
Board Member Suarez: Motion to continue it to the next CRA meeting.
Chair Hardemon: Properly moved by Commissioner Suarez.
Vice Chair Gort: Second.
Chair Hardemon: And seconded by Mr. Gort. Any further discussion?
Vice Chair Gort: No.
Chair Hardemon: All in favor say "aye."
The Board (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: All against? Motion passes. Any further discussion that you would like to
discuss on the record?
Mr. Woods: No, not at this time.
City of Miami Page 15 Printed on 1/21/2014
SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency
Meeting Minutes December 18, 2013
ADJOURNMENT
Chair Hardemon: Seeing none --
Vice Chair Gort: Motion to adjourn.
Chair Hardemon: Properly moved. It doesn't have to be seconded, right?
Board Member Suarez: You're a better parliamentarian that 1 am, man. I don't know
(UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Chair Hardemon: We'll call the meeting to concluding at 12: 36 p.m.
Board Member Suarez: Very good, very good; appreciate it. I like that.
The meeting adjourned at 12:37 p.m.
City of Miami Page 16 Printed on 1,21/2014