HomeMy WebLinkAboutSEOPW CRA 2014-01-27 MinutesCity of Miami
City Hall
3500 Pan American Drive
Miami, FL 33133
www.miamigov.com
Di
• IN Q9▪ IEP 99 i
�YD
Meeting Minutes
Monday, January 27, 2014
5:00 PM
Camillus House
1603 NW 7th Ave, Building B
Miami, FL 33136
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 January 27, 2014
FINANCIALS
1.
14-00015
Present: Commissioner Suarez, Vice Chair Gort and Chair Hardemon
Absent: Commissioner Sarnoff and Commissioner Carollo
On the 27th day of January 2014, the Board of Commissioners of the Southeast Overtown/Park
West Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of Miami met in regular session at Camillus
House, 1603 Northwest 7th Avenue, Miami, Florida. The meeting was called to order by Chair
Hardemon at 5:15 p. m., recessed at 5:55 p. m., reconvened at 6:01 p. m., recessed at 6:41 p. m.,
reconvened at 6: 43 p.m., and was adjourned at 7:29 p.m.
ALSO PRESENT:
Clarence Woods, Executive Director, CRA
William Bloom, Special Counsel, CRA
Jessica N. Pacheco, Special Counsel, CRA
Barnaby L. Min, Deputy General Counsel
Todd B. Hannon, Clerk of the Board
Chair Hardemon: 27 of January 2014. I'd like to call this meeting to order, the CRA
(Community Redevelopment Agency) meeting, at 5:15 p.m. Members of the Commission present
are: Myself, Commissioner Keon Hardemon; Commissioner Francis Suarez; and Commissioner
Wifredo Gort. At this time, I would ask for Commissioners present, I would love to entertain a
motion to withdraw from the agenda item number 9 and item number 10.
Board Member Suarez: So move. So moved.
Vice Chair Gort: Second.
Chair Hardemon: It's been properly moved and seconded that we withdraw from this agenda
item number 9 and item number 10. Is there any unreadiness or any discussion? Seeing none,
all in favor, say "aye."
The Board (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: All against? Motion passes.
CRA REPORT
FINANCIAL SUMMARY FOR PERIOD ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2013.
File # 14-00015 Financial Summary.pdf
PRESENTED
Chair Hardemon: At this time, I'd like to follow the agenda. Under "Financials," I have the
CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) financial report complete.
Board Member Suarez: Thank you.
Miguel Valentin (Finance Officer, Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment
Agency): Good evening, Commissioners. I'm going to be presenting the combined statement of
financial position as of December 31, 2013. As you are able to see, we are disclosing the cash
amount of 45,469,879. I just -- I wanted to indicate to you that 54 percent of that cash is being
restricted via resolution, and 45 percent of that cash is being assigned/committed towards other
projects. Feel free to ask me the itemized list of all the projects that comprise that amount, and I
City of Miami Page 2 Printed on 2/25/2014
SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency
Meeting Minutes January 27, 2014
will provide this upon your request.
Chair Hardemon: Commissioner Suarez.
Board Member Suarez: Thank you, Mr. Chair. And welcome to the CRA, Mr. Chair. It's
refreshing to have you, your energy, and your vision for the district and also for the boundaries
that constitute the CRA, where I could tell you for myself and I'm sure I could speak for the Vice
Chair that we're excited to have you, and we're going to look towards your leadership. And one
of the areas I think of concern as a CRA Board Member is precisely the number that Mr. Fuentes
[sic] just articulated -- Fuentes, right?
Clarence Woods (Executive Director, Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment
Agency): Valentin.
Board Member Suarez: Sorry; Valentin. You would think that by now, I would have it figured
out, right?
Mr. Valentin: Yeah.
Board Member Suarez: Sorry, I'm terrible with names. Anyhow, the $45 million is a staggering
amount of money sitting in our balance, and I think, you know, one of the things that we've urged
the CRA to do is to explain why is that balance not spent, number one; and how is it going to be
spent; and with what speed, with what rapidity is that money going to be spent? Because I think
our community -- and obviously, we have a full house here tonight -- has to be concerned with
that specific issue. So, you know, I don't know if it's necessary at this point, or if the Chair wants
to at this point to go line item by line item, but we've been urging him to do that and to be much
more specific and make sure that everything is categorized properly so that the community knows
either what projects are going to happen and with what time frame are they going to happen,
because I think it's frustrating, you know, for us to sit here as Board Members and see a
community that has such a great need and such an abundance of resources. And that's
excluding, of course, whatever bond dollars we're able to raise, which could double that amount,
and a community with the kind of need that this community has. So, you know, the City of
Miami, for example, has 75 million and it's a much, much larger entity, and that's what it has in
reserves. So I just -- since this the first CRA meeting, I wanted to express that. Obviously, that
concern comes with an optimism, which is -- to me, comes from your election, your energy, and
your vigor and the excitement that I think we all feel for your leadership. So I'm excited to start
this journey with you, and I'm hopeful that we can get to a point where we're putting this money
to work for the betterment of our community. Thank you.
Vice Chair Gort: Mr. Chairman, I would like, if you don't mind, to have him express the projects
for the funds, because people hear about $40 million, and then, "Well, what's going on?" So it's
-- I think, yeah, I would like to see you go through the process. Let us know what are the project
[sic], what are the funding being allocated to, and where -- what the restrictions are.
Chair Hardemon: And if I may, Mr. Woods, I know we had a discussion a few days ago in
reference to all the financial -- more than just this summary --
Mr. Woods: Right.
Chair Hardemon: -- this budget summary. How far along are you with comprising the folder,
the binder that you have for me that would discuss each item?
Mr. Woods: Already complete.
Mr. Valentin: It's done, it's done.
City of Miami Page 3 Printed on 2/25/2014
SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency
Meeting Minutes January 27, 2014
Mr. Woods: It's already complete.
Mr. Valentin: It's done.
Chair Hardemon: Okay. So just make sure that I have that for me.
Mr. Woods: Absolutely.
Chair Hardemon: Because one of the things that we want to make sure is that Overtown gets or
the CRA utilizes all of the money that we need to redevelop this community. So to do that, one,
we have to use the money that we have as a resource for it. So we want to make sure that we do
that. If -- do you absolutely want them to go by each item now, or could we address this at
another CRA meeting once we have the documentation and you had an opportunity to review it
before they tell you about it?
Vice Chair Gort: No, I know that, but the public sitting here might not be able to do so, so it's up
to you, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Valentin: It's like 50 items that we have encumbered for this cash. I think -- upon giving you
the information, I think you will have a better picture as to how we have allocated the cash.
What happen is we have obtained approval from the Board; however, still, we haven't expended
the money because there are some planning stages that we need to fulfill beforehand and --
Chair Hardemon: Mr. Suarez -- Commissioner Suarez.
Board Member Suarez: Thank you, Mr. Chair. And I think what's been frustrating as a Board
Member is that in the four years that I've been here, the balance, the overall balance hasn't
really gone down. And I think, you know, obviously, with the prior Chair, there was a huge,
huge effort to allocate the funds in specific projects, and we all know that that has a time
consequence. In other words, you don't just spend this money in order -- that wouldn't be
prudent, either -- to spend it tomorrow. You know, it has to be done thoughtfully, and it has to be
done carefully with the right controls, and I think that was happening. And I'm not saying it's not
happening. I'm saying that is an ongoing effort. But I think it's important for us to do a couple
things: One, inform -- continue to inform the public, as the Vice Chair was saying, of what's
going on, and as your effort is also to articulate, you know, where the money is and where the
money's going. And secondly, we need to get to a point where our stabilized balance, our cash
stabilized balance is much, much lower than this. In other words, in the next four years, I hope
that once a lot of these projects are done and whatever projects that we do by and through the
bond issuance, you know, that our revolving balance, cash balance is much, much smaller,
because we should be doing the projects, we should be getting the projects in and out, and
therefore, there shouldn't be this accumulation of funds. It shouldn't have a $45 million cushion.
We shouldn't be able to push projects out at such a slow pace that we can't get that number
down. It's very similar to what's happening and the frustration that we feel in our City
Commission meetings with not having to be able to hire more police officers and seeing the
consequence of that.
Chair Hardemon: And if I may, Commissioners, the -- I'm excited about having such a large
amount of money to be able to redevelop this community, because that shows me that we still
have life in the CRA. And so we want to make sure and I especially want to make sure that this
Commission be aware that I will utilize these funds in the most responsible way possible. That's
what this is about. When I gave my inauguration speech, my inauguration address, I said,
"Welcome to the new District 5," and these types of funds will be used to establish that new
District 5. So the members of this community can feel assured that we will have the financial
controls necessary and utilize these funds the best way possible. And if you ever want to meet
City of Miami Page 4 Printed on 2/25/2014
SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency
Meeting Minutes January 27, 2014
with me, I have standing office hours you can come see me about. So I ask that this Commission
gives me the opportunity as the newly --
Board Member Suarez: Sure.
Chair Hardemon: -- established Chairman to ensure that the vision and the plan for this CRA is
carried out.
Board Member Suarez: And let me just say that I wholeheartedly agree with you. I'm very
excited that these resources are available, and I'm very excited that we have someone to steward
those resources such as yourself. And I'm -- you know, I'm the one that cast the vote at the City
Commission level to bond the money out, which essentially preserves the CRA, because, as we all
know, the CRA has been continually under attack. And, you know, the fact that we borrow
money against the revenue pledges makes it basically un-attackable in the future because it
pledges our revenue in favor of current cash, so it'll give us the purchasing power to really
transform the district and the CRA in your vision. So it's exciting; it really is exciting, and I'm
glad to be a part of it. Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you.
UPDATES/ DISCUSSION ITEMS
2.
14-00040
CRA DISCUSSION
UPDATE ON UP TO $60 MILLION BOND ISSUANCE.
File # 14-00040 Cover Memo.pdf
DISCUSSED
Chair Hardemon: Seeing no other concerns, we can move on to the CRA (Community
Redevelopment Agency) discussion item number 2.
Clarence Woods (Executive Director, Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment
Agency): Commissioners, item number 2 is a discussion regarding the $60 million bond
issuance that -- as Commissioner Suarez spoke about -- was approved by both the City of Miami
Commission, as well as Miami -Dade County and this Board. An update on where we are in the
process: As you guys are aware, back in July of last year, we concluded -- maybe even before
July; actually, around May or June, we concluded the validation process, which basically
approved the way in which we were going to spend the funds. In July, we put out an RFP
(Request for Proposals) to banks for a private placement loan. We received four responses; of
which, we did have one bank that we chose to actually do business with. I don't know if it's
necessary to call that particular bank's name, but we started the effort at doing all of the due
diligence and underwriting in order to get that loan. Coincidentally, at the same time, there was
a increase in rates in the financial markets. What that did was triggered the -- the effect was
basically to lower the amount of cash that we were anticipating that we would receive through
this financing; went from about an anticipated $44 million to about $37 million. So we lost
about $7 million in anticipated cash that we would have been able to, you know, put towards
projects. Our FA (Financial Advisor) at that time suggested that we use a different methodology
for getting the financing. He recommended that we do what's called a limited public offering
instead of the private placement loan. So in doing the limited public offering, that required that
we then go and get disclosure counsel, because this was going to be a sale -- you know, I mean
the possibility of a sale to other investors. During that due diligence, we were anticipating a
closing in October. We were anticipating a closing on the financing in October, but during that
due diligence, bond counsel from the City reviewed some documents, the documents that initially
created the CRA, an ordinance by Miami -Dade County, which in that particular ordinance, there
City of Miami Page 5 Printed on 2/25/2014
SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency
Meeting Minutes January 27, 2014
was language that would cap the County's contribution to the Redevelopment Trust Fund. The
language basically stated that in the 20th year after the CRA's initial bonding, the County's
contribution would be capped. Well, our initial bonding happened in July of 1990. And 20 years
subsequent to that would be 2010. So from their perspective, their contribution to the
Redevelopment Trust Fund should have been capped in 2010. What kind of complicates the
situation is that in 2007, there was a combined effort between the City, the County and the CRA
to do what was called then "the global agreement." The global agreement provided for many
large-scale projects; it was projects in the Omni. The Omni projects were the Port Tunnel,
Museums in the Park; funding for the PAC (Performing Arts Center), as well as funding for the
Marlins Baseball Stadium; street car; all of those different projects. What was supposed to
happen in the Overtown side was that we would get our life -- get the life extended and the
boundaries expanded. That was what was supposed to happen in the Overtown side. Now, there
was also language in a subsequent amendment that provided for a revenue -sharing mechanism
where the CRA would return 45 percent of TIF (Tax Increment Fund) funds for 10 of the largest
projects, 10 major use projects in the Park West area. Of those 10 projects, 4 of the projects
actually got built. Those projects basically represent the lion's share of the Redevelopment Trust
Fund, of the actual increment. So as we're doing this due diligence and we discover that the
County initiated a cap which happened unilaterally -- there was no agreement by the City or the
CRA in capping their contribution -- as well as this 45 percent from those 4 large projects, the
effect would basically cannibalize all of the CRA's revenues. So the bank that we were at the
table with had concerns about that. And they were like, "You know what? You know, you guys
have to deal with this." From our perspective, we believed that the global agreement superseded
any other agreement out there. At the time, the County didn't see it that way, and at this point, I
think Commissioner is supposed to be having some meetings with the County Commissioner in
an effort to kind of work through that, so that's kind of where we are at this point.
Chair Hardemon: Do you have any questions for him; questions? Was there anyone that worked
on giving you an opinion about the matter in reference to the State statutes and how the capping
-- the 1982 ordinance is going to cap or applies in capping today?
Mr. Woods: Yeah, we had our crack attorney to kind of opine on that, and she has some very
definite -- she has a very definite position about it, and I'll let her speak to that if it's your desire.
Jessica Pacheco: Good evening, Commissioners. The CRA's position as it stands in the opinion
that I rendered to the executive director was that under State law, the County's position of not
contributing the full amount of the TIF is invalid. They cannot and do not have the discretion to
limit their TIF contribution under State law. The ordinance that was passed in 1982 was done
unilaterally, and at the time that they created the CRA, the law on the books was very clear. The
statute provides that the taxing authorities that are contributing to the Redevelopment Trust Fund
have to -- required, mandatory -- make a mandatory contribution to the taxing -- to the
Redevelopment Trust Fund that's being created. Aside from that, the County's position at the
time in 2007 when they entered into the global agreement was with the understanding that the
full contribution was going to be made. There were public representations made at the County
Commission; I was there. There's a full record of the meetings that were held before the Board of
County Commissioners. And the Administration at the time, under Mayor Alvarez and County
Manager Burgess, understood that the projections from the CRA's TIF revenue stream were
going to be with the understanding that the County was making its full contribution, as well as
the City.
Chair Hardemon: And Mr. Woods, has the County issued any payments that have capped -- that
have shown their desire to cap their TIF revenue contributions?
Mr. Woods: As I stated to you that the cap, if they were going to recognize it, should have
happened in 2010. They've submitted all the payments, the full payments from that point up until
this year. This year, they submitted their payment with that cap number.
City of Miami Page 6 Printed on 2/25/2014
SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency
Meeting Minutes January 27, 2014
3.
13-01220
4.
13-01221
Chair Hardemon: Well, in reference to this, I have set up a meeting with Commissioner Audrey
Edmonson. I know that she's been a partner of Overtown, and Overtown is near and dear to her
heart as it is to mine. And we are -- the plan is to discuss this further so that we can know how
she can go about taking action to help save Overtown and the CRA community -- I mean, and the
CRA. So hopefully, I'll have the support of the other members with me here on the CRA Board;
especially when you spent four years working on this and some 20 years trying to deal with this
community. So that is something that we hold very dear to us, because this is the lifeblood of the
redevelopment of Overtown. And the one thing that cannot happen, as I am the Chairman, is for
the community of Overtown to be cheated, because when we have a 2007 agreement where it
allows for development of the Marlins Arena -- Stadium, and you have the Port Tunnel, and you
have the museums, and all those things are completed, I think the community of Overtown
deserves the money, the revenue it needs to send out this $60 million bond issuance so maybe we
can get this development started. And now we can start spending the money, so that's what we
need so that's what we're looking forward to. So if you have anything else?
Mr. Woods: Yes, Commissioner. I also want to make the Board aware of the charge in which
they levied to me to begin to look at other resources or areas of financing. You guys already
know that we received the $900, 000 from EDA (Economic Development Administration) to do
the Overtown Community Center. Just want to let you guys know that we were successful at
getting another $600, 000 grant, and that's going to go towards Town Park North, which is one of
the projects that -- I mean, we can't use bond financing for Town Park North. So that's another
$600, 000 that we were able to leverage our finances with, as well as another $10,000 grant from
the Healthy -- what is it? -- Healthy Children's Initiative? It's $10, 000. It's a smaller grant, but
we are taking your charge seriously in finding other ways to leverage our funding.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much.
CRA DISCUSSION
DISCUSSION ITEM ON CHILDREN'S TRUST.
File # 13-01220 Cover Memo.pdf
DISCUSSED
Chair Hardemon: Seeing no other discussion on this item, moving on to item number 3;
discussion of the item on the Children's Trust.
Clarence Woods (Executive Director, Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment
Agency): Commissioners, this is basically ministerial. It's just to inform you that we are making
the payments that we're obligated to per the agreements that we've cut with the Children's Trust.
Chair Hardemon: Okay. Any response? Seeing none.
CRA DISCUSSION
DISCUSSION ITEM ON FOLKLIFE FRIDAYS
File # 13-01221 Cover Memo.pdf
DISCUSSED
Chair Hardemon: Moving on to item number 4, discussion on Folklife Fridays.
Unidentified Speaker: Mr. Chair, (UNINTELLIGIBLE.
City of Miami Page 7 Printed on 2/25/2014
SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency
Meeting Minutes January 27, 2014
Chair Hardemon: It's -- not during a discussion item, sir.
Unidentified Speaker: Not a problem, sir.
Chair Hardemon: Okay, thank you. So the discussion item on Folklife Fridays. Ms. Jackie Bell,
how you doing today?
Jackie Bell: Fine, thank you.
Chair Hardemon: You are hereby allowed to speak for five minutes, ma'am. Pleasure to see you.
Come on.
Ms. Bell: I'm Jackie Bell, 1600 Northwest 3rdAvenue. The discussion should be how we
continue to make Folklife bigger and better. It has been a successful project. Can you hear me?
Chair Hardemon: Yes.
Ms. Bell: It has been a successful project. I left with your office and Commissioner Gort's office
-- I apologize, Commissioner Suarez -- the summary of last year's activity, and I'd just like to
read off a little bit. For every six hours that we are on the mall, the vendors generate $35,200.
We employ 75 City residents, and we employ 25 local businesses. And over the year's time, we
have -- the businesses have generated $180, 800; 400 hours' worth of employment. All of this did
not happen prior to Folklife. This year, as we have talked to you about, we want to do something
on the 14th that is spectacular. We don't want to give it away today, but, Commissioner, two
Commissioners know what it is. So, please, we're asking for our budget to increase to about
$150, 000 for this year, because we have been working on a peanut budget, and there are some
things that we need in the office. We need a part-time secretary; we need to pay for our
telephone. I've been paying for it for all these years, and the rent, all by myself, out of what we
get. So we'd like to include those things in it, and I'd like for you to consider that. Any
questions?
Chair Hardemon: Any questions? Ms. Bell, I just want to be able to say to you that we support
the mission -- I at least can speak for myself -- I support the mission of what Folklife Fridays is
engaged in, and what I want to make sure is that we have a bigger, better Folklife Friday. I
don't know how that looks, and I'm sure that you and I will sit down further to discuss what we
can do to make sure that we get the quality that we need out of the services that you provide
while making sure that Folklife Fridays has some still presence in the Overtown community. So
I'll make sure that you and I sit down. We can talk about different ways that we can do that. Is
that fine?
Ms. Bell: Well, you're absolutely right, but let me say this to you: Folklife Friday had become a
big, big issue in our community. The thing that kind of stymied it is the lack of it being a
continuation. Last year, we went through a real bad time. It was attempted to be done every
quarter, and we found that that does not work, okay, and when you stop something, rebuilding is
a very, very big thing. And we would hope that we can leave here today and know that on the
14th, which we have committed and done a whole lot of work for, that it will continue; that is
what we're hoping.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you, Ms. Bell.
Ms. Bell: Thank you.
PUBLIC COMMENTS- TWO MINUTES PER PERSON PLEASE
RESOLUTIONS
City of Miami Page 8 Printed on 2/25/2014
SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency
Meeting Minutes January 27, 2014
5.
14-00035
CRA RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE
SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT
AGENCY AUTHORIZING MODIFICATION TO THE BUDGET PRESENTED TO
THE BOARD BY NEIGHBORS AND NEIGHBORS ASSOCIATION, INC. IN
CONNECTION WITH THE GRANT AUTHORIZED BY RESOLUTION NO.
13-0044, PASSED AND ADOPTED ON JULY 25, 2013, TO PERMIT THE
PROPOSED REALLOCATION OF FUNDING BETWEEN BUDGETED LINE
ITEMS, WITHOUT AN INCREASE TO THE ORIGINAL GRANT;
AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO EXECUTE ALL
DOCUMENTS NECESSARY FOR SAID PURPOSE; FURTHER AUTHORIZING
THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO APPROVE FUTURE REQUESTS (IF ANY)
FOR REALLOCATIONS BETWEEN BUDGETED LINE ITEMS, PROVIDED
THAT THE OVERALL AMOUNT OF FUNDING APPROVED BY THE BOARD
OF COMMISSIONERS IS NOT INCREASED.
File # 14-00035 Cover Memo.pdf
File # 14-00035 Backup.pdf
File # 14-00035 Legislation.pdf
File # 14-00035-Submittal-Leroy Jones.pdf
Motion by Board Member Suarez, seconded by Vice -Chair Gort, that this matter be
ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote.
Votes: Ayes: Chair Hardemon, Vice Chair Gort and Commissioner Suarez
Absent: Commissioner Carollo and Commissioner Sarnoff
CRA-R-14-0001
Chair Hardemon: I'd like to move on to the "C" -- well, item number 5, CRA (Community
Redevelopment Agency) resolution.
Clarence Woods (Executive Director, Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment
Agency): Commissioners, item number 5 is a resolution of the Board of Commissioners of the
Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment Agency authorizing modification to
the budget presented to the Board by Neighbors & Neighbors Association, Inc., in connection
with a grant authorized by Resolution Number 13-0044, passed and adopted on July 25, 2013, to
permit the proposed reallocation of funding between budget line items without an increase to the
original grant; authorizing the executive director to execute all documents necessary for said
purpose; further authorizing the executive director to approve future requests, if any, for
reallocation between budget line items, provided that the overall amount of funding approved by
the Board of Commissioners is not increased.
Chair Hardemon: All right, I'm going to open up the floor for public hearing at this time. You
may address, sir.
Leroy Jones: Good afternoon. Leroy Jones, Neighbors & Neighbors Association, the Overtown
Resource Center, 1490 Northwest 3rd Avenue, Suite 110.
Mendi Elcock: Mendi Elcock, Neighbors & Neighbors Association, the Overtown Business
Resource Center, manager.
Mr. Jones: We want to give you some statistics as relates to where we're going with the center
since it's been opened up April of 2013.
City of Miami Page 9 Printed on 2,25/2014
SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency
Meeting Minutes January 27, 2014
Ms. Elcock: Since the center has opened, we have serviced more than 748 Overtown residents,
and we have done more than 1,500 client -- we have serviced more than 1,500 clients since we've
opened. That 748 is just the different individuals, but when you're talking about repeat people
coming in, we're getting at least half of that number on a regular basis. We have seven small
businesses that have started in our hub, and they are growing. We have a wait list of maybe four
to five people waiting to get into the hub to help their businesses grow. We are happy that we are
here. The people of Overtown seem to receive us very well; they like our services. We're getting
positive feedback. We're offering services that other entities, for whatever reason, have seemed
to cut out, because we're providing those services. And they're telling us that they're glad we're
here, they don't want us to go, and they hope we can stick around for a while. So we're just here
to say please keep us, and thank you.
Mr. Jones: The jobs (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Ms. Elcock: The jobs. Since we've been here, we've helped a number of people get jobs in the
community. We've helped 10 people get jobs with the City in the Solid Waste Management
Department. We've helped at least seven people go into the Goodwill; and now that the Lyric is
open, we have, since Friday, submitted more than 50 applications, and we're collecting more
every day. So the people here in Overtown, they are being prepared to work. We are helping
them do resumes. We're helping them fill out applications; whether it's for jobs here in Overtown
or just jobs in the community, in the City of Miami in general. But they are ready to work, and
we're here to help them.
Mr. Jones: IfI can add, when we originally first opened the resource center -- it's a little less
than 1,000 square feet of space; it's all open space -- the mission was to have four small
businesses start in the resource center; we have seven. So what we've been doing is we've been
doubling up spaces so we can take one cubicle and use it for two businesses instead of one.
Because of the foot traffic we get, we start off with two walk-in computers, so anybody can come
in and get on a computer for any services -- for jobs, update their public assistance. Now we
have three, so we increased that from two to three. So I just wanted to mention that.
Chair Hardemon: Is there anyone --?
Mr. Jones: We gave y'all -- y'all have a list of the tenants that we have in the space. Like Ms.
Mendi said, we have a waiting list. The community do receive the resource center. It's -- you
can go there any time of the day, it's being used. And we also have a little conference area now,
so anybody that want to have a meeting, or any business owner, any other agency in the area
that want to use the conference center, they're welcome to use it. So we offer free fax, free
telephone. The office supplies that the tenants use is free, so they don't have to pay for anything
and it's -- all the services is free.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much. Any other persons want to speak on this item? Are we
done?
Mr. Jones: IfI can close with this, Mr. Chair, our budget will end in March, so we'll be coming
back to this Board looking for some additional dollars so that we can continue the service.
Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you. You may, sir.
Willie Williams: Good afternoon, Commissioners. This is Pastor Willie Williams from Just Right
Barbershop and Greater Mercy Missionary Baptist Church in Overtown. You know, I'm very,
very rejoyful [sic] when it comes to the resource center, but, you know, that is something, you
know, I -- from my barbershop, I been doing for years; letting people come in and use my fax, my
City of Miami Page 10 Printed on 2/25/2014
SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency
Meeting Minutes January 27, 2014
computer, and just helping people, you know, and wasn't charging them a dime. But I'm glad
that we do have the resource center now. And we also, we started the Overtown Business
Association; that is online. That is something that we came together, and I hope you're proud of
us for stepping out on our own and making something happen; not, you know, looking for
someone to give us a handout or something, you know, someone to course [sic] us through, but
we just wanted to do this, you know, letting the community know that we can stand, you know, on
our own. And we're looking to go higher, we're looking to expand, and we're looking forward to
working with you. And as soon as we can have a meeting with you, that'd be very appreciative,
you know, from the organization. And we're very happy to see a refreshing here on the dais, and
we hoping to work with you and to make Overtown a success. There's a lot of ideas that I have,
there's a lot of energy that we have, and we want to be able to share it and be able to make
Overtown a better place. Why? Because Overtown is my home; Overtown is where I work;
Overtown is where I pray and worship; Overtown is where I stand for the community, and to
make sure that they're not being misused, abused or taken advantage of. And I just heard you
said some of the words that I hold dear to my heart, and I just know that if we can just come
together and sit down together and just, you know, break bread together, we'll be able to make
something happen real soon, and it'll be a very, very delight to this community. Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much, sir. We have one last? Please. Hello, sir.
Andre Williams: Good day, Commissioners. How you guys doing?
Chair Hardemon: Good, good.
Mr. Williams: My name is Andre Williams, CEO (Chief Executive Officer), eyeurbantv.com. We
are positioned as one of the businesses that are in the incubator space, the Overtown Resource
Center, okay, so we're there. We've been there for about approximately -- maybe seven, eight
months now; company has grown. We're also sit [sic] on the Overtown Business Association, as
well. So what do we do? We do a lot of the visual media and the marketing for all of the
business in Overtown. So I just want to say both of those entities are coming up as we're going
to put our all into it. I hope that you guys consider it -- reconsider it for funding, just keep it
going, make it happen, 'cause we're going to give it our all to make sure that the community
knows exactly what's going on, how it's going on, make sure we have a visual presence, make
sure we have a internet home, make sure people can access and resource all the information for
both of the entities and just spread it out to the community. On that note, thank you guys.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much.
Mr. Jones: Commissioner, ifI could just ada I'm hoping that you all can come one day and take
a look at the resource center. If you think about it, if you think about it, I'm inviting you all to
come and take a look at the resource center, if you think about it. We've got $80, 000 this last
contract and about 17 people placed on jobs. That's outstanding. You know what I mean?
That's a good track record. So the center is needed; it needs some dollars to operate. You can't
operate without dollars, I don't care what nobody say. It might start with nothing, but it end with
some dollars. So we just asking for the CRA to invest back into the Overtown area with the
resource center. Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much.
Grady Muhammad: Mr. Chairman, Grady Muhammad, president/CEO of Miami -Dade First.
It's a great program, but I think one of the greatest problems -- and I don't think they've even
mentioned it. And I know you've gone door to door during elections. Most -- especially the
Overtown, women and men, 90 percent of your people got felonies, and unless you all going to
deal with those issues first on how to be able to get those felonies either removed, sealed,
expunged, or go to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and pay that $75 and get that
City of Miami Page 11 Printed on 2/25/2014
SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency
Meeting Minutes January 27, 2014
stuff completely wiped out where it won't be on their record in the State of Florida. If they got an
arrest record elsewhere, it'll still show up, but for State of Florida, if they could -- if they asking,
"Have you been arrested?" they can put "no" because it won't show up, unless it's
governmental entities or only things like that. Because these projects, from Gateway to
Poinciana, Block 45, Block 46, when it comes to these, it's going to be, "You been arrested"
You going to have all of these problems, and your people -- with 40 percent labor, your people
not going to be able to get a job, and that's just the reality of the fact if those issues are not
addressed first. Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you.
Applause.
Chair Hardemon: If you don't mind, I'll ask that you hold your applause down. I don't want to
have to get into a decorum and such, but we know this is a long agenda, and for everyone that's
as dynamic as a speaker as Mr. Muhammad is, we're going to be clapping for a very long time.
So if you don't mind, just hold your applause. Thank you very much.
Gertrude Clyde: Yes. Good evening. Forgive my voice. My name is Gertrude Clyde. I'm from
Town Park Plaza North. I'm here because I'm upset, and I need to be reassured -- we, the
people, rather -- that $10 million that was supposed to be divided between the three sites, are we
still secured with that money?
Chair Hardemon: That has nothing to do with this item. I'm not sure exactly what --
Mr. Woods: Well, I think what she's probably commenting on is the update on the 60 million
bond issuance is where she's probably talking about. That has nothing to do with this particular
item.
Chair Hardemon: Okay. Well,-- we discussed the $60 million bond issuance a little bit earlier
on the agenda, and that's something that we're trying to make sure that we have this money so
that (UNINTELLIGIBLE) utilize it to make the improvements that were promised to the
community. I can't tell you off the top of my head exactly what those promises are, but I can
guarantee you that I'm going to read them when it comes up time for -- to expend those funds,
okay? So we will take care of Overtown; no more promises broken, okay?
Ms. Clyde: No more promises broken.
Chair Hardemon: No more promises broken.
Ms. Clyde: Because we done been boosted up, hiked up, promised, broken promises, and I'm --
we're tired; at least I know I am. I'm fed up; enough is enough.
Chair Hardemon: Enough is enough.
Ms. Clyde: We earned the right to live like anybody else as human being or not, and for what
we're getting, every time it comes down to the north side of 14th Street, it's always -- there's a
problem. It's always -- it never fails, never fails. And that's why I wanted to know for myself.
That's why I came here tonight to ask that question, because I'm being asked that question by the
residents, so that's why I came to ask that question, because -- well, you and I, we already have
appointment date already.
Chair Hardemon: Okay.
Ms. Clyde: So we -- I'm not going to go any further.
City of Miami Page 12 Printed on 2/25/2014
SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency
Meeting Minutes January 27, 2014
Chair Hardemon: Thank you so much.
Ms. Clyde: But I just wanted to know that particular question, as well as to what the gentleman
just was talking about far as jobs. What are we going to do about our people getting jobs? I
have people coming to me every day asking me about a job. But when I tell them where to go,
they come back, and they come back with a negative answer, and I don't think that's right or fair.
So just like any other nationality that's working or training to work or whatever, I think our
people deserve the same treatment. We need jobs; we need them like yesterday. We need them.
And I will be seeing you on the 6th.
Chair Hardemon: Yes, ma'am. Thank you very much.
Unidentified Speaker: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) take five.
Chair Hardemon: Okay. I'm going to ask that we take a five-minute recess at this point, because
we've lost quorum, so I don't want to move forward.
Ms. Clyde: Okay.
Chair Hardemon: So if you may, five-minute recess.
Ms. Clyde: Okay.
Later...
Chair Hardemon: Decorum, please. Everyone, decorum, please. Decorum, please.
Board Member Suarez: I should have gone to the bathroom, too.
Chair Hardemon: I'd like to call the CRA meeting back in order at 6 o'clock p.m. and resume
the public hearing on item number 5. Yes, sir.
Emanuel Washington: Good evening, Mr. Chair, Commissioners. How y'all doing this evening?
Happy New Year. In reference to the NANA (Neighbors and Neighbors Association) Resource
Center --
Chair Hardemon: Decorum, please.
Mr. Washington: Yeah. I'm here to speak on behalf of the NANA Resource Center. Basically,
when this initially started, the Commissioner asked Mr. Jones, and even I asked her in reference
to the community work training program to help us to initiate not only businesses, but a work
resource center. So that birthed the Overtown Community Work and Resource Business Center.
And right now, the numbers that Leroy gave you pretty much is good, and what I wanted to say,
pretty much, just to echo some things he said was that it takes funds. A lot of the numbers that's
been generated, specifically in the area of the work or the jobs, has been done outside of the
venue of the few dollars -- matter of fact, specifically, the $80, 000 that was given, because it took
a lot more legwork, a lot of more time, a lot of more effort; volunteers, primarily, because even
the young lady, Ms. Mendi, as well as Ms. Freda and a few other peoples in the community
chipped in and volunteered resources and -- resources and time to help us make sure that we was
able to get individuals or get those numbers that were put in place. So when he said that we
need dollars, he definitely need dollars to make sure the resource center survive on the business
side as well as the work resource center side. And I'll be back later on when you bring the item
about the two major projects going on, because at the end of the day, what is happening is this:
It takes a little bit more effort to not only identdy individuals who need work, but also they need
City of Miami Page 13 Printed on 2/25/2014
SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency
Meeting Minutes January 27, 2014
to be placed and monitored while they're working, because what has been happening -- and we'll
talk about it later -- is that individuals being placed on a job, they'll work for two or three days,
and, of course, the contractor tell them, "Okay, well call you back when we need you." Case in
point, you may have the plastering company actually having two, three plasters come on. We'll
work them two or three days, and then after the two or three days, they say, "Well, we'll call you
back when we need him [sic], " but nevertheless, they're still plastering, because nobody's
actually monitoring it. So therefore, when it come to resource on the work side, we definitely
need to make sure there's some resources in place; and not only just make sure that we document
helping people with resumes, but also monitoring the situation, because that's crucial.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much. Is there any further public hearing? Sir.
Derek Cole: Good evening. Derek Cole, 1010 Northwest 11th Street. The resource center is
really a positive thing in Overtown, and I've been watching it and spending a lot of time there,
seeing what's going on, and I really like it. I think, though, when the CRA offices move into the
Lyric facility, you might consider moving the resource center into the CRA offices. It'll probably
save about 50,000 in renovating the CRA offices, 'cause it's ready to move into.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much. Is there any other person that would like to speak on
the public hearing for this item number 5?
Shoshana Lincoln: Commissioner, it's quite vivid as to what is happening in the black
Overtown. From Muhammad perspective and Gertrude perspective, it is so, so true. I live in
Overtown. Overtown has been degrading for the past six decades, and it is -- it appear, though,
as if with going north of 14th Street has been developing rapidly, and the north of 14 is blighted,
degrading, posing danger for public health and public growth. And I questioned this several
times with the last Commissioner and with Clarence and so forth. It appears that everybody is
rallying for grants, but as the new Commissioner, I kindly ask you to work closely. I'm Reverend
Lincoln from People Helping People, living in Overtown for the past 12 years, and I would like
to see Overtown develop to a dignified status. People who had lived in Overtown or born in
Overtown do not -- they're afraid to come back there. How will our business generate any kind
of money? Now, we have the NET (Neighborhood Enhancement Team) office who don't care for
Overtown. The NET office hire more people with less -- they don't do much work. I have wanted
to see this woman called Jill. You can never find her. She is administrating over the workers in
this area. Trash has been there for six weeks, never picked up, and she stopped the boys from
picking up, because it's a City job. Overtown is being taken care by patches and by different
groups, like whether the City or the County or the NET or if -- now they are giving 200 -- they're
asking for 200, 000 for some green -shirt people to work in Overtown. I think that should be a
no -no. What Overtown wants is a contractor who live in Overtown to hire people from Overtown
to clean whole of Overtown, not in patches.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you so very much.
Ms. Lincoln: We will never have a dignified community if they do this in patches.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you so very much. Is there any other person that would like to speak
during this time?
Unidentified Speaker: You got one more.
Chair Hardemon: One more?
Unidentified Speaker: Last one.
Stephanie Nalls: Hi. I'm Stephanie Cherry of Different Glimpse Magazine, and this is on behalf
City of Miami Page 14 Printed on 2/25/2014
SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency
Meeting Minutes January 27, 2014
ofNANA, the resource center that we're talking about. I just wanted to end it short and say that
it's very helpful. It not only helps the tenants that's trying to grow their business, but it helps the
residents of Overtown, and I really feel like you guys should, you know, continue the funding.
Chair Hardemon: Seeing no other persons here for public hearing, I close the public hearing at
this time. Is there any discussion on -- Mr. Cruz. You wanted to say something, Mr. Cruz?
Mariano Cruz: Yes.
Chair Hardemon: Come forward. Mr. Cruz, it's okay, it's okay.
Mr. Cruz: I know people, they don't like to see me here, you know, but I'm here, 'cause I been in
the City of Miami for 52 years, resident. I don't move from here.
Chair Hardemon: Yes, sir.
Mr. Cruz: I live here. I have the -- Mariano Cruz, 1227 Northwest 26th Street. What I am going
to say, some people won't like it, especially Dr. Ahr, because I remind them what they promise,
and they don't fulfill the promise about jobs for Allapattah. I gave them six resumes; three from
people in Overtown, three from Allapattah. Nobody was called from those people to work. And
you know what they say? "Oh, that was Coastal." Oh, come on, don't insult my intelligence.
You pay Coastal. Camillus pay Coastal, okay? And nobody was called, so I don't know what
about the jobs for -- and I'm chairman of Allapattah Business Development. I wasn't here on
time because I was -- I dedicated to ABDA (Allapattah Business Development Association), what
we do in Little Santo Domingo, and I don't get paid anything there, but I get paid through the
federal. Next week, between the 31st and the 7th, three federal checks: veteran service, collect
disability, Social Security. I'm still a postal employee and workmen compensation; 75 percent
tax free. So I get plenty of wherewithal and time to be here, and I am -- the person most
responsible for Camillus House being here is Mariano Cruz, whether Dr. Ahr like it or not;
whether he likes it or not, but that was the truth, and you know that, Willy. And you know when
we were opposed to Camillus House for many years, and Wilson, everybody be -- everybody
wasn't a chairperson there and -- well, I was even oppose Camillus House. And Camillus said --
but you know, Camillus forget about us. That's what I am saying. And I remember one thing. I
am not afraid of anybody. I fought next to Che Guevarra, and remember, the anticipation of
death is worse than death itself. I am not afraid of no one, of no one. And I am here and say
what I say. I don't get paid by the City; I don't get paid by the County, but I say federal money,
direct deposit. Obama, he raise all my checks. All my checks have been raised, all of them.
Okay.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much, Mr. Cruz.
Mr. Cruz: And I vote for Obama, and I will keep on voting for Obama, because I was a union
(UNINTELLIGIBLE). But I say take Camillus House to remember Allapattah. When I was a --
'cause they going to build. Don't tell me Coastal --
Chair Hardemon: Mr. Cruz --
Mr. Cruz: -- or whatever it is. Okay?
Chair Hardemon: --thank you so very much.
Mr. Cruz: Camillus pay Coastal.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much.
City of Miami Page 15 Printed on 2/25/2014
SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency
Meeting Minutes January 27, 2014
6.
13-01222
Mr. Cruz: Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: As I said before, the public hearing is closed at this point. Is there any
discussion by the Commission?
Board Member Suarez: No, not on this item. I move the item.
Chair Hardemon: Is there a second?
Vice Chair Gort: Second
Chair Hardemon: It's been properly moved and seconded that we -- that this item is approved.
All in favor, indicate so by saying "aye."
The Board (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: All against? Motion passes.
CRA RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION, WITH ATTACHMENTS, OF THE BOARD OF
COMMISSIONERS OF THE SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST
COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY ("CRA") AUTHORIZING THE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO EXECUTE A LEASE AGREEMENT, IN
SUBSTANTIALLY THE ATTACHED FORM, 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
2NDAVENUE, MIAMI, FLORIDA, FORATERM OF THREE (3) YEARS,
COMMENCING FEBRUARY 1, 2014, WITH RENT WAIVED FOR THE FIRST
YEAR OF THE TERM, AND RENT SET AT $6,000 PER MONTH, OR AN
ANNUAL AMOUNT OF $72,000, INCLUDING TAXES, UTILITIES, FOR THE
SECOND AND THIRD YEARS OF THE TERM; FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE
EXPENDITURE OF FUNDS, IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $35,000, FOR
THE INSTALLATION OF THE CRA'S TELEPHONE SYSTEM AND OTHER
MOVING EXPENSES IN CONNECTION WITH THE CRA'S RELOCATION TO
THE LYRIC THEATER COMPLEX; FUNDS TO BE ALLOCATED FROM
GENERAL OPERATING FUND ENTITLED "RENTAL AND LEASES,"
ACCOUNT CODE NO. 10030.920101.544000.0000.00000 AS FOLLOWS:
$35,0000 DURING FY 2013/2014; $72,000 DURING FY 2014/2015; $72,000
DURING FY 2015/2016.
File # 13-01222 Cover Memo.pdf
File # 13-01222 Financial Form.pdf
File # 13-01222 Legislation.pdf
File # 13-01222-Exhibit-SUB.pdf
Motion by Vice -Chair Gort, seconded by Board Member Suarez, 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-14-0002
Chair Hardemon: Moving on now to CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) Resolution
City of Miami Page 16 Printed on 2/25/2014
SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency
Meeting Minutes January 27, 2014
Number 6.
Clarence Woods (Executive Director, Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment
Agency): Commissioners, Item number 6 is a resolution, with attachments, of the Board of
Commissioners of the CRA; authorizing the executive director to execute a lease agreement in
substantially the attached form with the Black Archives History and Research Foundation of
South Florida, Inc. for the CRA's office space at the Lyric Theater Complex, located at 819
Northwest 2nd Avenue, Miami, Florida, for a term of three years, commencing February 1, 2014,
with rent waived for the first year of the term, and rent set at $6, 000 per month, or an annual
amount of 72,000, including taxes, utilities for the second and third years of the term; further
authorizing the expenditure of funds, in an amount not to exceed $35, 000, for the installation of
the CRA's telephone systems and other moving expenses in connection with the CRA's relocation
to the Lyric Theater complex; funds to be allocated from general operating fund entitled "Rental
and Leases."
Chair Hardemon: At this time, I'd like to open up the floor for public hearing. Is there anyone
here to discuss this item? Seeing no persons here, I close the public hearing at this time. Is there
any discussion here on the --?
Vice Chair Gort: Move it.
Board Member Suarez: Second.
Chair Hardemon: It's been properly moved and seconded that we approve --
Mr. Woods: Commissioners, if I might. Mr. Chair, we want to add to the record Exhibit "A."
There was an Exhibit "A" as a part of the documentation, and we want to have that entered into
the record.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much. It's been properly moved and seconded that we accept
or approve this item. Is there any unreadiness? Seeing none, all in favor, say "aye."
The Board (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: All against? Motion passes.
7. 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; FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO
APPROVE BUDGET MODIFICATIONS UNDER THE GRANT, PROVIDED
THAT THE OVERALL AMOUNT OF GRANT FUNDING APPROVED BY THE
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS IS NOT INCREASED ALLOCATING FUNDS
City of Miami Page 17 Printed on 2,25/2014
SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency
Meeting Minutes January 27, 2014
FROM SEOPW TAX INCREMENT FUND ENTITLED, "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
ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote.
Votes: Ayes: Chair Hardemon, Vice Chair Gort and Commissioner Suarez
Absent: Commissioner Carollo and Commissioner Sarnoff
CRA-R-1 4-0003
Chair Hardemon: Moving on now to CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) Resolution
Number 7.
Clarence Woods (Executive Director, Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment
Agency): Commissioners, Resolution Number 7 is a resolution of the Board of Commissioners of
the CRA authorizing the 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 operations 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; further authorizing the executive director to approve budget
modifications under the grant, provided that the overall amount of the grant funding approved by
the Board of Commissioners does not or is not increased; allocating funds from SEOPW
(Southeast Overtown Park West) Tax Increment Fund entitled "Other Grants and Aid."
Chair Hardemon: Okay. At this time, I'm going to open up the floor for public hearing. Is there
anyone here that likes to address the Commission? Seeing none, I'm going to close the public
hearing at this time. And I want to say, Mr. Barber, we appreciate you adding the information
that we requested from the last CRA meeting where you itemized the anticipated revenue from the
different sources: Gay House, Miami -Dade Cultural Affairs, and things of that nature, and this is
-- that was something that was very near and dear to our hearts, to make sure that we
understood how you were trying to have the revenue come in for the next three years. Is there --?
Board Member Suarez: Yeah. I'm going to make a motion and just like to make some brief
comments.
Chair Hardemon: Yes.
Board Member Suarez: Thank you, Mr. Chair. Is there a second?
Vice Chair Gort: Second.
Board Member Suarez: Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: It's been properly moved and seconded that we approve this item.
Board Member Suarez: Thank you, Mr. Chair. Sorry for --
Chair Hardemon: No problem.
Board Member Suarez: -- usurping your role as Chair for a second. No, I -- look, I thank you
City of Miami Page 18 Printed on 2/25/2014
SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency
Meeting Minutes January 27, 2014
for coming to our office, and, you know, as you know, the prior Chairperson had entrusted in me
helping the Black Archives with their plat issue, and I think there is -- I think this Commission is
very -- and this Board is very unified in the thought that, you know, the Archives and the Lyric
Theater need to be opened as quickly as possible, and they need to be successful because they
represent the epicenter of Overtown and culture, and, you know, you can debate whether that's a
good expenditure. The doctor, I think, was making a comment to me in the break about whether
that's a good expenditure of funds, whether that's a bad expenditure of funds, and whether, you
know, the -- you can get into more philosophical debate as to whether government is even able to
really provide our economic development -- redevelopment, but I think you could make a strong
argument if you get past that hurdle, philosophically, that, you know, investing in a cultural
center such as, you know, the Lyric Center and the Black Archives is very, very important to the
vitality of Overtown for a variety of reasons. I think, first of all, you change it from its current
state. I mean, everyone who drives by and sees it empty and fenced is probably wondering what
such a nice building is doing empty and fenced And I think, you know, that sends a wrong
message to our community. Secondly, you want that to be the opposite. You want it to be
vibrant, you want it to be going, and I think aside from what it represents as a cultural center,
you know, the fact that there would be activity in that area -- we're seeing a lot of movement and
a lot of redevelopment in that area -- and I think it's very, very positive for the community. It
gives us self-esteem, which is precisely what you were saying, Doctor. I think -- you know, I
don't know how long the CRA plans on doing this. You know, this is obviously a one-year
project, and I'm hopeful that in that year, you know, the theater is able to get going and start
kind of running on its own, but it is something that I'm proud to support, because I do think that
it's important and vital to the vitality of Overtown and the people who have lived there for many,
many years. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Chair Hardemon: Would you like to say something?
Timothy Barber: Yeah, if I can comment. Thank you so much for the support. First of all, thank
you for all of you, that you see this and you have this vision. Just the theater -- right now, I want
to say I support NANA (Neighbors and Neighbors Association), because these are the job
applications of the number of people in Overtown. I have them ready and waiting.
Board Member Suarez: Awesome.
Mr. Barber: Definitely, we want to help to change Overtown in a special way. We've been
working hard with the Kennedy Center out of Washington, D.C. (District of Columbia). Michael
Keiser has been here several times working closely with the Black Archives, Lyric Theater to get
the theater running. We've had support from the Knight Foundation now, which is the Knights
Art Challenge, and we're looking to stronger support. Coca-Cola is on board; Macy's is on
board. So people are believing in it, and I want to thank the CRA, because what they do is they
level the playing field for us in Overtown, because it's different -- you know, if I can put on the
record, we're different from the Perez that sits on the water; we're different from the Marlin
Stadium. We're in Overtown, a area that has been hit hard through media, hit hard through
social status, but changes like this allows us to provide jobs and change people, so we appreciate
that and look forward to opening the theater on February 7. Thank you.
Vice Chair Gort: Mr. Chairman.
Chair Hardemon: Yes, sir.
Vice Chair Gort: The reason I second the motion is because the Lyric -- excuse me, I got a little
cold coming in -- can be the icon for that area. I mean, let's face it, we began a project 20 years
ago called Latin Quarters. Today, you have over 10 buses full of tourists going every day
through it. We can have the same thing. People want to see culture, they want to see different
food, different artwork and so on, and I think we have it all there.
City of Miami Page 19 Printed on 2/25/2014
SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency
Meeting Minutes January 27, 2014
Mr. Barber: Yeah. Thank you.
Vice Chair Gort: Plus the history. People like to go back and see the history. We have a lot of
history in there.
Mr. Barber: Thank you, thank you.
Chair Hardemon: I think that's one of the most beautiful things about the City of Miami. We
have one of the most diverse cities, I believe, in this entire country, and so we're creating a space
where you can have the tradition, you can have the culture infused into the community in a place
that has been slum and blighted for so long. So when you couple that with the development and
affordable housing, when you couple that with the investment in commercial business, I think
that we have a great formula for success. And we support --
Mr. Barber: Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: -- the arts, and we support what you are going to do with the Black Archives,
but we will hold you accountable.
Mr. Barber: We're ready.
Chair Hardemon: So -- and one of the things that -- and I'll say this, and then we can go to vote.
But one of the things that I want to be able to do is experience these things. So I know that you
have some groundbreaking --
Mr. Barber: Yes.
Chair Hardemon: -- ceremony coming up in February. I hope to God I have an invitation. So --
Mr. Barber: Well, you have an imitation. I think if everybody -- I think it was in a e-mail
(electronic) that we're having an event, but the first thing that we're trying to do is get to the CO
(Certificate of Occupancy) to get open.
Chair Hardemon: Okay.
Mr. Barber: We're hoping that -- like Perez Museum opened during Art Basel, that was
important. We feel that it's very important that we be able to open this theater during Black
History Month. You know, we've already worked with the GMCVB (Greater Miami Convention
and Visitors Bureau), as well as Black Hospitality Initiative, to schedule tours that'll be coming
with the trolley system. We'll be doing that during Black History Month. So we're hoping to feed
off of that energy and the synergy; Folklife Friday, all these things that are happening that will
help build up this area. So you are invited. I just wanted to get the CO first before we put it out
there.
Board Member Suarez: You definitely need to do that.
Chair Hardemon: I hope, I hope.
Board Member Suarez: You definitely need to do that.
Mr. Barber: So -- and I know the Commission can help us get there. We're meeting Life Safety.
We know the plat may be a issue, but we're meeting Life Safety.
Board Member Suarez: Right.
City of Miami Page 20 Printed on 2/25/2014
SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency
Meeting Minutes January 27, 2014
Mr. Barber: We met with Suarez, so -- Commissioner Suarez -- and we want to make sure that
we can get that in hand, becauseit's easier to change a date than refund everybody's tickets.
Board Member Suarez: Yeah.
Mr. Barber: So we want to meet that.
Chair Hardemon: All right. Thank you very -- you have any --?
Board Member Suarez: Could I just say one --
Chair Hardemon: Sure.
Board Member Suarez: -- thing very, very briefly. That, you know, I see, you know, Grady
shaking his head, and, you know, sometimes, our toughest critics, you know, and the people who
push us to be -- you know, when we get it right, it's nice that, you know, you guys acknowledge
that. And I think it's -- I didn't get a chance to talk about it on the last item, and we just kind of
voted on it, but I think it's symbolic and it's important that the CRA is also located there.
Mr. Woods: Yes.
Mr. Barber: Yeah.
Board Member Suarez: I think, you know, we did something similar in the Omni CRA where we
picked a nice building that was historic, and we preserved it, and we built it up, and we gave
them a nice home, you know, and I think it's -- you know, it's important that we invest back in our
community, and I think, you know, it sends the right message, and it will be a help to the Archive
going forward, you know.
Mr. Woods: Exactly.
Board Member Suarez: And I don't know to what extent we'll be available or we'll be able to
subsidize going forward beyond the first year, but I think, certainly, the rent is a big help, and I
think it's the right thing to do.
Mr. Barber: It's a great help.
Board Member Suarez: So thank you, Mr. Chair.
Chair Hardemon: Mr. Muhammad, the public hearing session was closed.
Grady Muhammad: No problem.
Chair Hardemon: He was discussing the item.
Mr. Muhammad.- No problem.
Chair Hardemon: And so at this point, seeing no further discussion, all in favor, say "aye."
The Board (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: All against? Motion passes.
Mr. Barber: Thank you.
City of Miami Page 21 Printed on 2/25/2014
SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency
Meeting Minutes January 27, 2014
8.
14-00034
Board Member Suarez: You should say 'for." At least one guy got it.
CRA RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE
SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT
AGENCY AUTHORIZING ISSUANCE OF ADDITIONAL FUNDING, IN AN
AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $60,000, TO MTZ CARVER, LLC TO
UNDERWRITE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE RENOVATION AND
REHABILITATION OF THE BUILDING AT 801 NW 3RD AVENUE, MIAMI,
FLORIDA; 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; FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO
APPROVE BUDGET MODIFICATIONS UNDER THE GRANT, PROVIDED
THAT THE OVERALL AMOUNT OF GRANT FUNDING APPROVED BY THE
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS IS NOT INCREASED; ALLOCATING FUNDS
FROM SEOPW TAX INCREMENT FUND ENTITLED, "OTHER GRANTS AND
AIDS," ACCOUNT CODE NO. 10050.920101.883000.0000.00000.
File # 14-00034 Cover Memo.pdf
File # 14-00034 Financial Form.pdf
File # 14-00034 Backup.pdf
File # 14-00034 Legislation.pdf
Motion by Board Member Suarez, seconded by Vice -Chair Gort, that this matter be
ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote.
Votes: Ayes: Chair Hardemon, Vice Chair Gort and Commissioner Suarez
Absent: Commissioner Carollo and Commissioner Sarnoff
CRA-R-14-0004
Chair Hardemon: Moving on to CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) Resolution Number
8.
Clarence Woods (Executive Director, Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment
Agency): Commissioners, Resolution Number 8 is a resolution of the Board of Commissioners of
the CRA authorizing the issuance of an additional funding -- of additional funding, in an amount
not to exceed $60, 000, to Mount Zion Carver, LLC (Limited Liability Corporation) to underwrite
cost associated with the renovation and rehabilitation of the building located at 801 Northwest
3rdAvenue --
Board Member Suarez: Move it.
Mr. Woods: -- Miami, Florida.
Chair Hardemon: Well, before you move it, before I entertain that motion, I would like to open
the floor for a public hearing. Is there anyone here that wants to address the Commission on this
matter? Yes, sir.
Darryl Reaves: Mr. Chairman, I'm Darryl Reaves, the vice chair of Mount Zion Development,
Inc., and we certainly appreciate the continued support that you've provided for us, and we look
City of Miami Page 22 Printed on 2,25/2014
SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency
Meeting Minutes January 27, 2014
forward to having a CO (Certificate of Occupancy) and an opening as well. Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much.
Grady Muhammad.- Mr. Chairman, Grady Muhammad. I think it's a great project in. We have
about $254, 000 in cost overruns; sometimes it happens. But I think this should be also
potentially one of the great things -- as I stated, future projects. Let's take a look at how many
jobs from neighborhood residents, subcontractors, and all of those things, 'cause this is one of
the first major projects that the CRA has funded. And I think we started to get -- we have to get
that track record, that monitoring, that assessment to find out those jobs, the contractors,
because if we get it wrong, continue going forward, your people in Overtown that don't have jobs
right now, the only way they can be gainfully employed, unfortunately, is in a dope game. But
we don't bring it in, we ain't got no ships, no planes, no boats, no banks to launder the billions of
dollars, no bank -- no -- we ain't got no gun licenses to bring in guns, but we need to be asking,
How did those guns and the dope gets into the inner cities of America? 'Cause we surely ain't
bringing it from Colombia, the heroin from Afghanistan, 'cause we ain't got no planes and no
boats. And we ain't laundering a billion, if not trillions, of dollars that's being made. And ifI
may, Mr. Chair, digress for the Children's Trust issue, we should look just like -- a report for how
many real dollars are coming from the Children's Trust to organizations headquartered or
operate in Overtown, because we got millions going to UM (University of Miami) and Jackson,
but it's under the auspices of Overtown, but it's not really coming to Overtown. And this'll be a
potential solution going forward for this whole Board and the CRA in potential perpetuity to
ensure with the Children's Trust funds, if they're not giving our community what we're
reimbursing them on a constantly basis, but we can't change the agreement. The County keep
changing agreements all the doggone time on the CRA. So why can't we change that agreement
where if they're not giving real numbers to our community, the Urgent, Inc.'s and all these other
organizations that keep -- you know, all of them are begging for money 'cause they poor -- then
we can use some of those Children's Trust funds to give those to the -- fund those organizations
within Overtown; we fund those who are good, and we defund those who are not operating. But
I think we should definitely look at that funding, that 657 or whatever that CRA from the -- that's
going back to the Children's Trust and ask the Children's Trust to give this CRA Board a report
to how many -- what's the real numbers for organizations in the Overtown redevelopment area.
Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much.
Shoshana Lincoln: Commissioners, I don't know if you folks realize that MTZ --
Chair Hardemon: Can you state your name for the record, please?
Ms. Lincoln: -- has been over funded.
Chair Hardemon: Excuse me. Can you state your name for the record, please?
Ms. Lincoln: Yes. Reverend Lincoln from People Helping People; an activist here in Overtown.
MTZ, this organization, this LLC has been over funded. One point four million was given and
asking for another sixty grand. Commissioners should look into this. Why? I mean, some
organiza -- like my building have been rambling for three years and has not been funded yet.
CRA give half of that money and City of Miami gave half. Why another 60 grand? Now,
Commissioners, not only saying "yea" and "nay; " should look into how much money has been
spent in six apartment and I think four stores or three stores downstairs. That's way lot more.
Chair Hardemon: Is there any other person here that wants to speak on this item for public
hearing? Seeing none, I'm going to close the public hearing. There was a motion on the floor
that was moved. Is there a second?
City of Miami Page23 Printed on 2/25/2014
SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency
Meeting Minutes January 27, 2014
Vice Chair Gort: I second it.
Chair Hardemon: All right. Open it for discussion.
Vice Chair Gort: Yeah. That project, I want to make sure it gets done; gets done fast.
Mr. Woods: Yes.
Vice Chair Gort: 'Cause that's the engines --
Board Member Suarez: Yeah.
Mr. Woods: Yes.
Vice Chair Gort: -- through Overtown.
Mr. Woods: Yes.
Vice Chair Gort: I mean, that's the one building everybody sees when they get on that
express (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Mr. Woods: Absolutely. And we have done all the due diligence with respect to the finances.
Obviously, we did put in half the money for the complete renovation, and we have all the
documentation on the expenditures of funds. As we state in every grant we give, we either do it
on a reimbursement basis or we pay directly to vendors. So we're confident with where our
money has gone into that project.
Board Member Suarez: Yeah, but -- two seconds.
Chair Hardemon: Any further -- yeah.
Board Member Suarez: Yeah, just real quick that, you know, one of the -- I know that you came
to me, executive director. This has come before us before.
Mr. Woods: Yes.
Board Member Suarez: And, you know, one of the things that motivated me here is precisely
what the Vice Chair just said, the Vice Chair of the CRA Board, which is that this, number one,
and most importantly, is the gateway for Overtown, and we need that building completed and
finished. Secondly, I believe of the originally requested change order amount, the organization
has obtained some of that funding from another source --
Mr. Woods: Yes, they have.
Board Member Suarez: -- if I'm not mistaken.
Mr. Woods: Yes, they have.
Board Member Suarez: I think that's important, because that goes to show that they are doing
their due diligence in trying to defray some of the hit, if you will, that the CRA has to bear. So
those are the two issues that really motivated me in my role. Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: Any further discussion? I'd like to say that when I look at the pictures of
"before" --
City of Miami Page 24 Printed on 2/25/2014
SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency
Meeting Minutes January 27, 2014
Board Member Suarez: Yeah, that's the other thing. That's the third one.
Chair Hardemon: -- and the pictures of "after" of this structure, although it's not complete, I
am absolutely --
Board Member Suarez: Shocked.
Chair Hardemon: -- impressed. To think that there are only even 10 units, 10 affordable housing
units in that building, when you see the structure of it and how grand it looks, that is a delight,
and so I look forward to even the commercial --
Board Member Suarez: Right, spots.
Chair Hardemon: -- businesses that will come at the foot of this structure. So we urge you to get
this done, and I think that the community wants to make sure that these monies are spent
correctly. And sometimes, change orders happen; sometimes, there are cost overruns. But it's
about time, it's about time to get this complete so that when we have businesses that want to
remain in Overtown, they have a place that they can go, so we look forward to that. Any other
discussion?
Board Member Suarez: No.
Chair Hardemon: Seeing none, all in favor, say "aye. "
The Board (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: All against? Motion passes.
Mr. Reaves: Thank you.
Board Member Suarez: Thank you.
9. CRA RESOLUTION
13-01214
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 $220,000, TO HUMAN RESOURCES STAFFING OF MIAMI, INC. TO
UNDERWRITE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE CONTINUED OPERATION
OF THE OVERTOWN BEAUTIFICATION TEAM FOR THE NEXT 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 # 13-01214 Cover Memo.pdf
File # 13-01214 Financial Form.pdf
File # 13-01214 Backup.pdf
File # 13-01214 Legislation.pdf
City of Miami Page 25 Printed on 2,25/2014
SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency
Meeting Minutes January 27, 2014
10.
13-01213
11.
14-00036
Motion by Board Member Suarez, seconded by Vice -Chair Gort, that this matter be
WITHDRAWN PASSED by the following vote.
Votes: Ayes: Chair Hardemon, Vice Chair Gort and Commissioner Suarez
Absent: Commissioner Carollo and Commissioner Sarnoff
CRA RESOLUTION
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 $280,000, TO FILM LIFE, INC. TO UNDERWRITE COSTS
ASSOCIATED WITH THE CONTINUED OPERATION AND PROGRAMMING
OF THE MIAMI FILM LIFE CENTER AND FILM INSTITUTE JOB TRAINING
PROGRAM; 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; FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO
APPROVE BUDGET MODIFICATIONS UNDER THE GRANT, PROVIDED
THAT THE OVERALL AMOUNT OF GRANT FUNDING APPROVED BY THE
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS IS NOT INCREASED; ALLOCATING FUNDS
FROM SEOPW TAX INCREMENT FUND ENTITLED, "OTHER GRANTS AND
AIDS," ACCOUNT CODE NO. 10050.920101.883000.0000.00000.
File # 13-01213 Cover Memo.pdf
File # 13-01213 Financial Form.pdf
File # 13-01213 Backup.pdf
File # 13-01213 Legislation.pdf
Motion by Board Member Suarez, seconded by Vice -Chair Gort, that this matter be
WITHDRAWN PASSED by the following vote.
Votes: Ayes: Chair Hardemon, Vice Chair Gort and Commissioner Suarez
Absent: Commissioner Carollo and Commissioner Sarnoff
CRA RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION, WITH ATTACHMENT(S), OF THE BOARD OF
COMMISSIONERS OF THE SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST
COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY (THE "CRA") AUTHORIZING THE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO EXECUTE A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT,
WITH OVERTOWN GATEWAY PARTNERS, LLC (THE "DEVELOPER") FOR
THE DEVELOPMENT OF BLOCK 45 (THE "DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT")
IN SUBSTANTIALLY THE ATTACHED FORM; AUTHORIZING THE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO EXECUTE ANY AND ALL DOCUMENTS
REQUIRED TO IMPLEMENT THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT IN FORM
AND CONTENT ACCEPTABLE TO THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR; AND
ALLOCATING $3,000,000.00 FROM SEOPW TAX INCREMENT FUND
ENTITLED "OTHER GRANTS AND AIDS ACCOUNT CODE NO.
10050.920101.883000.0000.00000.
City of Miami Page 26 Printed on 2/25/2014
SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency
Meeting Minutes January 27, 2014
File # 14-00036 Cover Memo.pdf
File # 14-00036 Financial Form.pdf
File # 14-00036 Legislation.pdf
File # 14-00036 Attachment.pdf
Motion by Board Member Suarez, seconded by Vice -Chair Gort, that this matter be
ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote.
Votes: Ayes: Chair Hardemon, Vice Chair Gort and Commissioner Suarez
Absent: Commissioner Carollo and Commissioner Sarnoff
CRA-R-14-0005
Chair Hardemon: Moving on to CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) Resolution Number
9.
Clarence Woods (Executive Director, Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment
Agency): Eleven.
Board Member Suarez: Eleven.
Chair Hardemon: Oh, I'm sorry. I thought I did that one. Number 11.
Mr. Woods: Commissioners, item --
Board Member Suarez: Go ahead and take discussion. I'm going to go to the bathroom. Go
ahead and take discussion. I'll be back. I'll be right back, but go ahead and take discussion.
Mr. Woods: -- number 11 is a resolution, with attachments, of the Board of Commissioners of the
CRA authorizing the executive director to execute a development agreement with Overtown
Gateway Partners, LLC (Limited Liability Corporation), the developer, for the development of
Block 45; development agreement in substantially the attached form; authorizing the executive
director to execute any and all documents required to implement the development agreement in a
form and content acceptable to the executive director; and allocating $3 million from the
SEOPW (Southeast Overtown/Park West) Tax Increment Fund entitled "Other Grants and Aid."
Chair Hardemon: At this time I'm going to open up the floor for a public hearing. Is there
anyone here that'd like to address this matter?
Grady Muhammad: If you all -- Commissioners, if you all check your e-mail (electronic) boxes,
I sent you all a e-mail and a letter specifically relating to this, because again --
Chair Hardemon: Can you make sure you state your name for the record, sir?
Mr. Muhammad: Grady Muhammad, president and CEO (Chief Executive Officer) of
Miami -Dade First. It's a great project. It's one of the transformative projects, just like the
Mount Carver -- Mount Zion Carver Shops and Apartments; they're transformative. But when I
look through the 103 page agreement, and for the 20 percent labor subcontractors, it's only a
$2, 500 penalty with a percentage, and for the 40 percent labor agreement, it's only a $1, 000 for
percentage. And when you're looking at that, you're talking about potentially 20 to 30 million,
40, $50 million, 20 million -- if it's $40 million, you're talking now $8 million in subcontracts
lost. And if you're talking the same thing with labor, you're talking maybe a half a million
dollars or more lost. And if we don't get these funds -- this (UNINTELLIGIBLE) the people
hiring -- because, see, when you talk jobs, you got to own companies, businesses, corporations,
firms. Jobs don't come up out of the sky. People own businesses that create jobs. And if your
people don't have these companies and corporations and firms and businesses, your people are
not going to get these jobs. So I think, again, when I'm looking at it, if we do it, we should make
City of Miami Page 27 Printed on 2/25/2014
SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency
Meeting Minutes January 27, 2014
sure -- 'cause in the same agreement, it's $1 million a day for lack -- for non -completion, it's $1
million a day per fine, but for -- up to.
Mr. Woods: Not $1 million.
Mr. Muhammad: You'll be able to -- well, yeah, it's -- I think it's 20 -- it's $10,000 a day,
$10,000 a day. But again, all of the agreements, we should ensure compliance; more
importantly, monitoring, because that's one of the things we don't -- we have -- the CRA has the
experience and -- they have the capacity, but they don't have the experience of monitoring. We
have to ensure somebody goes by these jobs, because, like Mr. Washington said, I watched that
Moore Park. You had about eight people, and in one week -- a week later after the
groundbreaking, the gentleman saw me a week later. He say, "You know, after they had that
groundbreaking, they let all of us go." So we got to ensure -- the monitoring, to make sure when
they get hired, they stay on the job; not just the little game that they keep playing, you hire for a
week or a day, and then they let you go. And we have to make sure somebody is there constantly
monitoring to make sure those jobs for your constituents and your residents -- Overtown, the
redevelopment area, District 5 and City of Miami and then Miami -Dade County -- is given those
opportunities. But first and foremost, it must be Overtown and the redevelopment area, and we
have to ensure compliance.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you, Mr. Muhammad.
Mr. Muhammad: And if they --
Chair Hardemon: Mr. Muhammad --
Mr. Muhammad: I'm not -- and if they don't comply --
Chair Hardemon: Mr. Muhammad --
Mr. Muhammad: -- there has to be some penalties. Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much. And I will say this to you --
Mr. Muhammad: Yes, sir.
Chair Hardemon: -- not for you to respond to.
Mr. Muhammad: No, sir.
Chair Hardemon: Okay. But when I read your e-mail, I had the same feeling when I read the
agreement, so I completely agree. But you do -- you are aware that this is time sensitive --
Mr. Muhammad: Of course, without question.
Chair Hardemon: -- because -- so today, we didn't get as best as we could in that -- if there are
issues with the agreement, but tomorrow, we will.
Mr. Muhammad: Yes, sir. Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much. Yes, sir.
Emanuel Washington: Mr. Chairman, Commissioners, again, Emanuel Washington. I'm the
chief operating officer for the Community Work Training Program. As Mr. Muhammad and Mr.
Ariano [sic] alluded to is one thing I want to come and talk about today about the project that's
City of Miami Page 28 Printed on 2/25/2014
SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency
Meeting Minutes January 27, 2014
coming up. I support wholeheartedly. I was born and raised in Overtown, and to see the kind of
money they're bringing in Overtown to do the things they're going to do, I am ecstatic; I'm
ecstatic about the opportunity of bringing back what we used to have as a part of Overtown. But
in saying that, I also want to make sure that -- and put on the record -- about the jobs because
it's crucial. I mean, I've worked with Mount Zion and their project, and we've had a few jobs put
into that place, but at the same time, now we have another opportunity, a great opportunity to
give even more jobs, and that's what we want to make sure we do; not just have the job in the
sense that, okay, say that in agreement, it's going to happen, but also allocate some dollars to
monitor it. I mean, for the last five years, I have personally, you know, since I'm a retiree from
the City of Miami, Mr. Ariano [sic] said -- had resource that I come down every day. I drive 70
miles back and forth from my home -- born and raised in Overtown. I'm a property owner here --
to make sure that we monitor, place, and also make sure the people in the community who
deserve or have an opportunity to work on these projects do that. So I basically, personally,
have made sure that we've got opportunity for individuals who live in this community to work on
those jobs. But I've been faced with the same thing that they're talking about now; is that you put
a guy on the job today, and since nobody's monitoring it, next week, they'll tell him, "Okay, well,
we'll call you back when we need you." They're still there doing work, whether it be plumbing
work, electrical work, or plastering work, but nevertheless, the person that they hired for that
position, they've laid off. But since nobody monitor it, now the project goes on, get developed,
and ultimately, we have what we call -- what I call "structural revitalization." This facility is a
part of the structural revitalization of our community. You look across the skyline downtown,
millions and hundreds of million dollars' worth of structural revitalization, but economically,
none of that money has hit our community. We have people starving, can't pay their rent, can't
support the local barbershop, the local grocery store; they're hurting. Those businesses that are
in our community are starving to death simply because the people who live here cannot support
them because they have no jobs. And it comes from the monitoring, placement, and all of those
things, so I wanted to say that. Thank you very much.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much.
Saliha Nelson: Good evening, Chair and Commissioners. I would like to say that the most
recent --
Chair Hardemon: Can you state your name for the record, please?
Ms. Nelson: Oh, yes. Saliha Nelson, Urgent, Inc., 1000 Northwest IstAvenue, Suite 100. The
most recent statistic from the Bureau of Labor says that black youth unemployment is at a
staggering rate of 393 percent greater than white between the ages of 16 and 24. If we do not
address youth unemployment in all of the job opportunities that are coming through the
Overtown community, we are doing our young people a disservice. If I understand correctly,
there are penalties associated with not hiring folks from this community. What I would propose,
even though I want them to be compliant, is that any and all penalties that are associated with
not hiring -- meeting the hiring practices that are stated in both development agreements for
Overtown Gateway and All Aboard -- that those penalties be directly funneled to fund
employment positions, internships for our young people in this community. As chair of the
Overtown Children and Youth Coalition, some of which our members are still here, I hope,
waiting for the public hearing, is that we are in the best position to steward resources that
become available to promote not only youth employment, but also entrepreneurship activities for
youth between 16 and 24. So please take that into account. Our young people need to be
allocated the same resources as adults, because we want them to stay and be profitable here in
the Overtown community. Thank you very much.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much.
Mr. Woods: Commissioner, ifI might just add real quick, the organization that Saliha just
City of Miami Page 29 Printed on 2/25/2014
SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency
Meeting Minutes January 27, 2014
mentioned about, the Overtown Youth and Children Coalition, was actually created in response
to what Grady mentioned about, the Children's Trust. So, I mean, I don't want to get into it too
deep, but we created that to make sure that the Children's Trust is funding organizations, 'cause
that organization is the makeup of a lot of the children's services -- children and youth providers
from within the area, so that's just an aside, really.
Chair Hardemon: Yes, sir.
Ellis Cantey: Good evening. My name is Ellis Cantey, and I represent the International
Longshoremen at 816 Northwest 2ndAvenue. I'm a little baffled and lack of understanding the
$3 million that's in here. Can you explain that? And what does this resolution does with this $3
million?
Mr. Woods: Commissioner -- Go ahead, go ahead, Bill.
William Bloom: The grant agreement includes -- excuse me -- the development agreement
includes a $3 million grant to help complete the project. It can be only used for purposes that is
permissible to use tax increment financing for. So it can be used for infrastructure; it can be
used for public parking; it can be used for affordable housing. All those are sources that'll be
needed for this particular project, and that was a grant that was made at the request of the
executive director as part of the settlement when All Aboard and Overtown Gateway were trying
to reach an amicable resolution to split Blocks 45 and 56, so one would get one block and one
would get the other block.
Mr. Cantey: The reason I asked that is because I thought it was like a $3 million allocated for
parking for the longshoremen [sic], and I want the record to show where it wouldn't be
rerouted, or is this that money?
Mr. Bloom: The use of $3 million to allocate it for a specific purpose, such as parking for the
longshoremen or parking for the development that's being built on the project, would be an
impermissible use of tax increment financing.
Mr. Cantey: Well, it was a statement that was stated to us that it was some money that went over
in the allocation in the agreement about our parking. We want to assure and speak on the record
tonight that we're not going to be left in the cold because of something in a later perspective.
Chair Hardemon: Mr. Woods.
Mr. Woods: There is parking contemplated in the agreements that, without mentioning
specifically those organizations, because, as counsel has stated, to name a specific organization
is impermissible. But we have taken into consideration our commitments to stakeholders within
the area, and we intend to abide by that in these agreements.
Chair Hardemon: Would you like to say something? Sure.
Vice Chair Gort: My understanding, this parking facility is to be used for the public purpose.
Mr. Woods: Yes.
Vice Chair Gort: Okay.
Mr. Cantey: Okay. So the passing of it, it's an open with the $3 million with the group?
Chair Hardemon: Say that again?
City of Miami Page 30 Printed on 2/25/2014
SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency
Meeting Minutes January 27, 2014
Mr. Cantey: There's an open decision where they can allocate it or --?
Chair Hardemon: Well, you have to understand that we're using public dollars.
Mr. Cantey: Okay.
Chair Hardemon: Just give me one second, please. We have some technical difficulty. How
much time do you need?
Unidentified Speaker: Three minutes.
Chair Hardemon: Okay. I'd like to recess for three minutes, please.
Later...
Chair Hardemon: Decorum, please. I'd like to call this meeting back to order at 6:42; resume
the public hearing. Yes, ma'am.
Jackie Bell: I'm Jackie Bell, 1600 Northwest 3rdAvenue. I have some real concerns. All of
these units are rental; am I right, Mr. --? All of these units that we're build -- you're building are
rentals, right?
Mr. Woods: The developer has proposed --
Ms. Bell: Yes.
Mr. Woods: -- rental units --
Ms. Bell: Okay. Then the next --
Mr. Woods: -- with a hotel in this particular development agreement.
Ms. Bell: Huh?
Mr. Woods: Hotel --
Ms. Bell: Yes, I --
Mr. Woods: -- residential.
Ms. Bell: Yeah.
Mr. Woods: Yes.
Ms. Bell: My question is: Are you using any tax credits for any of these?
Chair Hardemon: Wait, wait, before you answer. Ms. Bell, I just want to make sure that if you
have a list of questions, can you name them? And then you address all the questions that she has
so that we have -- we don't want your two minutes to be cannibalized by --
Ms. Bell: I don't want to spend no whole lot of time. I just want to know two things. We are
looking at high-rises all over this County, and AfricanAmericans are not being able to rent them.
Two reasons: If you ever had a jaywalking ticket 100 years ago, you're considered not rentable.
If you ever had an eviction, whether it was 99 years ago, you can't rent one. Okay. And my
question is that we're looking at a community, and if you move out of an apartment and even say
to the people, `I'm moving simply because this place is deplorable," they are submitting to the
City of Miami Page 31 Printed on 2/25/2014
SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency
Meeting Minutes January 27, 2014
credit bureau you have been evicted. You can't get an apartment in any of these apartments. So
I'm looking at my community that you all are giving away all of this money and our land, and I
want to know from the CRA that -- African Americans who live in this community have a right to
live in these units, and that should be a part of whatever agreement. Now, I don't expect you to
put a drug -- a person who's selling drugs today or everybody knows in there, but that somehow
or 'nother, it should be where any one of the people who have lived in Overtown through all of
this destruction -- And all of the money the CRA is spending, they did not spend any of it on
rehabbing and upgrading the existing community. So the new community --
Chair Hardemon: Ms. Bell --
Ms. Bell: Okay. -- should be able to --
Chair Hardemon: -- your time has expired. And I will say that there have been redevelopment in
-- there has been redevelopment in Overtown of structures that were not torn down --
Mr. Woods: Yes.
Chair Hardemon: -- that were simply rehabbed.
Board Member Suarez: We just saw one.
Mr. Woods: Yes.
Chair Hardemon: I know -- yeah, we just saw one, so that's one of the things that we have to be
aware of. I believe there's some other individuals in here that own property that is being
redeveloped, that's not being torn down to build more --
Mr. Woods: Yes.
Chair Hardemon: -- housing so more people can afford to live in the beautiful city that we call
the City of Miami. I want to be able to live in the City of Miami, and that's something that we
need to make sure that we're able to continue to afford people an opportunity to live here. All
right?
Mr. Woods: Absolutely.
Chair Hardemon: Yes, sir.
Mariano Cruz: Yes. Mariano Cruz, 1227 26th Street, chairman ofABDA, Allapattah Business
Development. I am going to be brief brave, and gone. I believe in that. Like Obama say, be
brief be brave, and be gone. But, you know, one thing, I like to hear, this is a good forum, not
only for a soapbox. I'm thanking personally Leroy Jones, Mom and Pop, Brothers of the Same
Mind, Neighbors and Neighbors for the help that he's giving those small business on 17 Avenue.
Seventeen Avenue -- not only that, on 29th Street; you know, different businesses in the
neighborhood, because sometimes, they do those things, and they don't get any thank from
people. People are not grateful. And you have to be grateful when people do something good
for you. And we doing good things on 17 Avenue. We working, we bringing even companies
right now. We trying to put a Pizza Hut on part of the Presidente place there on 2955 17 Avenue.
I've been talking, because Carlos Gimeneztold, "You have any problem with the business, call
the little (UNINTELLIGIBLE). We were having problem with DERM (Departmental of
Environmental Resource Management) and WASA (Water & Sewer Authority), the water and
sewer, 'cause we had to deal with the County and the City, too. And the reason I come here is
because this could be CRA, but the CRA and Overtown is in the City of Miami. You are one -fifth
vote, one -fifth vote, one -fifth vote. When we go over there to the Commission asking monies for
City of Miami Page 32 Printed on 2/25/2014
SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency
Meeting Minutes January 27, 2014
ABDA, you vote in those (UNINTELLIGIBLE). Even it's federal monies, it's Community
Development money, you vote. So, you know, we have to be -- it takes -- you sum all those
one -fifth and you get three -fifths. That's it. That's all you need. And I'm thanking everybody,
okay. I don't get paid to be here, but I love to be around here, because I don't pay city taxes or
county taxes. I pay just the solid waste to the City. But I pay taxes, federal taxes, too, anyway.
Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much. Is there any other person here that'd like to speak for
public hearing?
Shoshana Lincoln: Yes, I'd like to --
Unidentified Speaker: Yes, sir.
Ms. Lincoln: -- say something quickly. Yeah, Reverend Lincoln again. Commissioner, in our
shopping center in 1498 Northwest 3rdAvenue, this shopping center has been closed down for
quite a long time. The NET (Neighborhood Enhancement Team) office does nothing for us, and
the NET office downtown is abandoned. I suggest strongly that we amalgamate this NET office
with downtown, and NANA (Neighbors and Neighbors) has given us the privilege to use his place
to post it, all happenings that is happening in Overtown, and NANA do have -- what you call
these people who sign --? notary, so we don't need another notary in the NET. The NET does
nothing there. The NET is --
Chair Hardemon: Ms. Lincoln --
Ms. Lincoln: -- being used as a place for City employees to come --
Chair Hardemon: Ms. Lincoln --
Ms. Lincoln: -- in the back door and to rest there. It's not used --
Chair Hardemon: Ms. Lincoln --
Ms. Lincoln: -- to take care of Overtown. In the shopping center, we do not need --
Chair Hardemon: Ms. Lincoln --
Ms. Lincoln: -- City cars and --
Chair Hardemon: -- I need you to --
Ms. Lincoln: -- City trucks to park all over the place.
Chair Hardemon: -- please have deference to the Chair, because if you don't have respect for
the Chair, then there'll be a lot of people here who don't have respect for the Chair, and then we
couldn't proceed with this meeting in an orderly fashion. So what I'm asking of you, Ms. Lincoln,
and everyone here, that if there is an item on the agenda that we're discussing, if there's a public
hearing, refer to that item; not to any other item that has passed or not -- that is not on the
agenda. That is something that we use to respect not only the Commissioners, but everyone here
who's given their time to be here. We love to hear you speak, but only on the items that are on
the agenda, okay? Thank you so much.
Mr. Muhammad: On Block 45.
Chair Hardemon: Yes, sir.
City of Miami Page 33 Printed on 2/25/2014
SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency
Meeting Minutes January 27, 2014
Mr. Muhammad: Mr. Chair, humbly and respectfully, all the community really would just ask --
we're in favor, totally in favor of this project; we got to move, it's transformative. We would just
humbly -- respectfully request the penalties that are low just be increased in accordance with
that; other than that, the agreement should pass. But we just think the penalties are just very
small but --
Mr. Woods: Could you specy5r which penalties? Because there are other penalties. The hiring
Mr. Muhammad: The penalties for the subcontractors and the penalties -- for the 20 percent
subcontractors; right now, it's at 2,500. And the penalties for the noncompliance of labor is
1,000. My -- in the e-mail, it was requested that a million as the cap and 500, 000 for labor, and
because -- and that should be, likewise, put into a trust fund for those businesses who did not get
any funds and/or those employees or those potential employees who applied and was not hired
for those, because that, again, will ensure that they applied, they did everything. They tried to
get a job; they didn't get it. They didn't meet the -- but they should still get something out of that
deal because, again, they got to work, and you want them to work and not have to steal anything
like that. You don't have to then defend them.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much. Seeing no other persons here for public hearing, I
close the public hearing at this time. However, sir, I know that you are a proponent of this
resolution, so I just wanted to make sure that the community was aware -- I'm sure they have
been in the past, but continue to be -- that you support this resolution and that you're here to
work with this community. So can you just make sure that you tell us why you believe that this
should be passed for the --
Barron Channer: Thank you, Chair, and thank you, Board Member Suarez, Board Member
Gort, and certainly to your staff. This process started formally in July of 2013. However, for
our team, we actually have been engaged in this process in different shapes and forms dating
back to late 2012, so it's been a very lengthy period of time. Over that period of time, we've
taken the opportunity, slowly but progressively, to get truly informed by most of the people and
most of the comments that you've seen here tonight, and so we've educated ourselves with the
intent, and certainly, the hope to have the opportunity to perform. The structure that your able
staff with the CRA has negotiated with us is one that mandates performance. Quite simply,
there's no money for us to make simply off of promises, because the way the agreement reads, we
don't get the opportunity to pass "go" without having proven ourselves able to perform in a
manner that is sufficient and consistent with the agenda of the CRA. In terms of the nature of the
project and what I believe is the strongest aspect of why this item should be passed this evening,
you have a community, the community of Overtown -- Historic Overtown -- that is a proud
community; a proud community with a rich history; a rich history that has been marred in some
sense by limited areas that have been underinvested. With us, you have a team that has shown
itself interested, has shown itself capable, has shown itself committed to investing in this
community in a way that we believe will make the residents proud and make us proud of the work
that we're going to do; beyond pride, because anyone can watch a building and take pride in
something coming to the neighborhood, when you look at the structure of what we've proposed in
terms of our project and the way we have crafted our team, the participants of our team, the
extent of their knowledge of this community; and particularly, the issues that relate to jobs. We
heard some concerns being expressed as it relates specifically to prior incarcerations and how
that impacts the job issue. We heard that several months ago. We've already started to look into
that. We've heard discussions specifically about training. We have already started to invest
ourselves in figuring out and encouraging the County and the City to put resources on the table
to promote training. So we are doing the things as a team that not just simply creates the facade
of economic development. Certainly, we're a for profit organization, so we're doing this to make
money. But the way that we have approached making money and approached this specific
City of Miami Page 34 Printed on 2/25/2014
SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency
Meeting Minutes January 27, 2014
project is to tie ourselves to the community in terms of being able to create jobs; in terms of
being able to contribute to the educational infrastructure of the community, itself in terms of
being able to create opportunities post -completion for potential tenants for the spaces that were
created. When you think of the components of our project and what it means to the Overtown
community, you have residential. Certainly, almost every other project that has been talked
about and has been celebrated in Overtown has been residential in nature. We are unique in the
annals of Dade County in one exceptional way: From our understanding, there is only one other
building in Dade County that has ever -- in a single building, the same building -- provided units
to those who require affordable housing and those who are market rate of the same standard,
integrated together on the same floor; our building will be the first in Overtown. In terms of
hospitality, hospitality creates jobs and creates jobs at all levels. Individuals go from being
doormen to being owners of hotels and managers of hotels. We will be bringing a hotel, a
national brand. I have been through Overtown with every major national hotel company in the
United States of America, and we've walked the entire Overtown, not just simply 8th Street, and
I've been doing so in order to encourage them to consider the location, and many of them have.
And part of that has been us putting our reputation and our relationships with them on the line to
encourage them to look at Overtown as what it is -- a richly -rewarding community that has good
people that can be a place that is -- that accommodates those who look to stay there overnight
and visit family or those who are doing business. We will be also building office, 50,000 square
feet of office, approximately. The intent there and the whole origination of that idea, when we
fought vigorously for it in prior discussions, was to make sure that not only were we creating
places for folks to live and places for folks to eat, but we were also creating places for folks to
work within the community, which is part of the challenge. Most urban communities -- and I
mean urban in the sense of physical proximity to downtown -- allow people to work within close
proximity if they choose to. Lastly, we're the ones, if we -- (UNINTELLIGIBLE) could date back
to where this process has been worked, the way the retail has shaped up today in terms of a
commitment to giving 2nd Avenue, Northwest 2nd Avenue and 8th Street the level of grandeur,
and 7th Street the level of grandeur that it now promises to be, we're the ones that were the initial
proponents of that concept. Our initial proposals included substantial retail on the ground floor;
30-odd thousand square feet, to be exact. It included embracing what is today known as
Sawyer's Walk, or the 7th Street Plaza, and making that a pedestrian plaza with retail on either
side, and it included making sure that those facades were not interrupted by car traffic the way
you see in certain places, a storefront, and then a garage opening which takes away from the
pedestrian fabric. And the whole reason we did that was to feed into this idea of a live/work/play
space for Overtown and that tourism district. So that's been baked into our concept. I'm asking
you and your fellow Board Members to consider support for this item simply because: One,
we've shown ourselves to be supremely confident for what we have proposed; two, we've shown
and demonstrated in the nature of a proposal and the way we've conducted ourselves in the
negotiations that we are fully intent on living up to the mandates of this CRA; and three, we have
made ourselves accessible and intend to continue making ourselves accessible to living up to the
community elements that are integrated into that particular deal. And so with that, I'm prepared
to address any questions that you may have. Certainly, staff has been ably accommodating us
throughout this process. Getting to here has been a long time and a lot of different twists and
turns, as the executive director himself is very well aware of. We are excited about this
opportunity, and I want to stress there is not a dime to be made by us until we have shown
ourselves able to perform, unlike many of the deals that have occurred throughout the County
and the City. This CRA has been a stickler about the fact that you will not get this land until you
show us you're prepared to move forward and move forward with a project that is consistent with
what you've proposed.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much. Is the --
Board Member Suarez: Move it for discussion.
Chair Hardemon: It's okay. And you're lucky I like you.
City of Miami Page 35 Printed on 2/25/2014
SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency
Meeting Minutes January 27, 2014
Mr. Woods: That's "Miss Family Matters."
Chair Hardemon: It's been -- yeah, I know. I know exactly who she is.
Board Member Suarez: Move it for discussion.
Vice Chair Gort: Second.
Chair Hardemon: It's been properly moved and seconded that we approve CRA Resolution
Number 11. Is there any discussion?
Board Member Suarez: Thank you; just very brief. I want to thank Mr. Channer for coming and
for making a very eloquent presentation. Obviously, some of the elements that he discusses in his
presentation are near and dear to my heart. Obviously, the hotel component is very big for me.
Having mixed income on the same floor is something that, as he mentioned, has not been done in
this community, much less in the City of Miami or in Overtown in particular. You know, andl
think it's fair to say that -- and it's important to note that this is a development agreement; it
contemplates issuance of a grant, but the grant is a separate agreement that will come before this
Board --
Mr. Woods: Yes.
Board Member Suarez: -- for -- and I think it's contemplated that it be --
Mr. Bloom: You know, the authorization would --
Board Member Suarez: Includes the --
Mr. Bloom: Right.
Mr. Woods: Right.
Board Member Suarez: -- my apologies. But it is a separate agreement that will be negotiated.
It's not in here right now, so I think that's important to note. And I think that's why it's so
important for the community to express the concerns and the comments that they've expressed.
And I know that part of this agreement envisions the building of, you know, parking spaces in
excess of what is required by code, and I think that's important to note publicly for those who
have concerns about parking in that area and have expressed those concerns. You know, it's
exciting for me to be a part of it. I know that -- As the Chair and I were talking here about some
of the frustrations, you know, this is one of those areas and these blocks constitute a source of
frustration because they've been stagnant and they've been held up through litigation. So to the
extent that we're able to get this moving forward and solve these issues that have a tendency to
block progress in our community, it's incumbent upon us to do that. So I appreciate you coming
and I appreciate your group's effort and emphasis, and it's an honor for me to support it. Thank
you.
Mr. Channer: Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: Any other discussion? Yes, sir.
Vice Chair Gort: Yes. First of all, I also agree mixed use is the future of all of the developments,
especially when you have people that are going to work and live and so on; that's very
important. The one thing I would have looked in here is the design development documents and
construction documents; leave it up to executive director. Do we have the staff that can do that?
City of Miami Page 36 Printed on 2/25/2014
SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency
Meeting Minutes January 27, 2014
Mr. Woods: Well, actually, what will happen is the design development phase, there is several
points where they would have to go to the community, community stakeholders -- HOFDIA
(Historic Overtown Folklife District Improvement Association); the Overtown Community
Oversight Board if it's ever reconstituted. They will have to have their designs vetted through the
community, and obviously, if it meets the community's appetite for design, then, you know, we
will be able to approve their designs. Oh, yeah, that's right, my staff -- we have an architect on
staff. Brian will also be working with the community to make sure that the designs are consistent
with the design guidelines and themes that are already codi -- well, not even codified at this
point, but there are design standards and guidelines for the area.
Vice Chair Gort: What is the total investment on this project?
Mr. Charmer: A hundred and forty million dollars, sir.
Chair Gort: A hundred and forty million dollars.
Mr. Charmer: Yes.
Vice Chair Gort: Okay.
Chair Hardemon: Any other discussion? Seeing none, all in favor of this item, indicate so by
saying "aye."
The Board (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: All against? Motion passes.
Mr. Channer: Thank you, Board.
12. CRA RESOLUTION
14-00037
A RESOLUTION, WITH ATTACHMENT(S), OF THE BOARD OF
COMMISSIONERS OF THE SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST
COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY (THE "CRA") AUTHORIZING THE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO EXECUTE A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT
WITH ALL ABOARD FLORIDA NW SIXTH STREET, LLC, (THE
"DEVELOPER') IN SUBSTANTIALLY THE ATTACHED FORM, FOR THE
DEVELOPMENT OF BLOCK 56 (THE "DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT); AND
AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO EXECUTE ANY AND ALL
DOCUMENTS REQUIRED TO IMPLEMENT THE DEVELOPMENT
AGREEMENT IN FORM AND CONTENT ACCEPTABLE TO THE EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR.
File # 14-00037 Cover Memo.pdf
File # 14-00037 Legislation.pdf
File # 14-00037 Attachment.pdf
Motion by Board Member Suarez, seconded by Vice -Chair Gort, that this matter be
ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote.
Votes: Ayes: Chair Hardemon, Vice Chair Gort and Commissioner Suarez
Absent: Commissioner Carollo and Commissioner Sarnoff
CRA-R-14-0006
City of Miami Page 37 Printed on 2,25/2014
SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency
Meeting Minutes January 27, 2014
Chair Hardemon: Moving on.
Clarence Woods (Executive Director, Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment
Agency): Commissioners, item number 12 is a resolution, with attachments, of the Board of
Commissioners of the CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency), authorizing the executive
director to execute a development agreement with All Aboard Florida Northwest Sixth Street,
LLC (Limited Liability Corporation), the developer, in substantially the attached form for the
development of Block 56 of the development agreement, and authorizing the executive director to
execute any and all documents required to implement the development agreement in form and
content acceptable to the executive director.
Board Member Suarez: Move it.
Vice Chair Gort: Second.
Chair Hardemon: Before we entertain the motion to approve, I'd like to open the floor for public
hearing.
Grady Muhammad: Mr. Chairman, again, Grady Muhammad. The concerns is the same for the
agreement, that the penalties are too low. We're in favor of it because these are transformative
projects. They will make a huge difference in Overtown and the City of Miami, and we have to
approve these and not only that, so we can start, 'cause All Aboard Florida is spending their own
monies; it's about a billion dollars. So when you're talking private investment and the funds that
we're creating, which is mainly the land, we definitely want to do it. They say they're going to
bring their headquarters from Coral Gables to here, you know. That'll be a great coup for
Overtown, because Coral Gables got all the multinational headquarters anyway. But I think it'll
be a wonderful idea and a wonderful project, and I think as I spoke to the Gateway -- not
Gateway -- All Aboard Florida, I told them, "Y'all need to have some folks that look like me on
your executive staff, because I don't" -- I done pulled they whole list, and I ain't seen one person
that look like me on the executive staff They say they working on it, but in truth, that's what we
have to have, because it's got to be -- we're a diverse community. And they say they was just
building up their executive team. And I say, "Listen, not a problem, but as of right now, ain't
none of them guys look like me." But --
Chair Hardemon: But you happen to be one of a kind, though, right?
Mr. Muhammad: Without question. Hey --
Board Member Suarez: Definitely. There's not many people that look like you.
Mr. Muhammad: -- I'm a chocolate/chocolate --
Chair Hardemon: That's true.
Mr. Muhammad: -- chip cookie.
Board Member Suarez: Chocolate chip cookie.
Mr. Muhammad: But in a nutshell, we definitely want to continue to encourage private
investment. We don't want to do anything to stymie it or stifle it. We want to encourage it. And
we definitely -- from the community's perspective, please approve this. And again, the only thing
we would request is the penalties just be raised, and that's it. Thank you.
Board Member Suarez: Thank you, Grady.
City of Miami Page 38 Printed on 2/25/2014
SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency
Meeting Minutes January 27, 2014
Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much.
Mr. Woods: Commissioner, I just want to make one clarification. We're not giving the land.
There is a payment for the land.
Mr. Muhammad Yeah, they're -- simple, simple fee payment. They're paying for the land.
Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much. Yes, sir.
Reginald Charles: My name is Reginald Charles Munnings: I'm a concerned resident here. I
live at 1000 Northwest 1st Avenue. This is a very important project for the Overtown community,
the City of Miami, and the State of Florida. It's a chance for the local residents of Overtown to
gain meaningful employment. This connects not only just the City of Miami, but also Palm
Beach and Orlando and perhaps junctions to parts unknown. This is a -- I'm in favor for job
creation and meaningful employment for towners, and I'm in favor for the CRA authorizing the
executive director to execute a development agreement with All Aboard Florida. Thank you very
much.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much, sir. Yes, sir.
Irby McKnight: Good evening. Thank you very much for this opportunity. I'm Irby McKnight.
I've lived in Overtown for 45 years this coming June, and I'm here to support this resolution to
bring some stability to the community that I've lived in for 45 years by choice. Also, I would like
to say that we support Brother Muhammad request about compliance. I know that sometime this
stuff is written to loose until it's easier to pay the fine than to meet the community's requirement.
Well, I think Brother Muhammad has made it quite clear that we need to move a step above that.
I'm not concerned about that with All Aboard Florida, but there's so much development going on
until we really need to do that. With All Aboard Florida, there will be employment for residents
in the community, and I'm not a person that think that you have to come and do training. I've
lived there 45 years after all, every day, so I know there are a lot of trained people in the
community. And then when I first arrived in the '60s there, there were all kinds of training going
on. The people in Overtown have been trained in everything except three skills that -- it may be
four -- but three that comes to mind. They had no training in diamond cutting, no training in
paper bag folding, and no training in church -bell ringing. These three entity would have been
just as important as the training you gave them, 'cause it was bogus. I knock on doors
politically, and at the door, people bring stacks of certificates of completion. And I go, "You
went to school this much? You could have gotten a college degree in four years. Look at this,
none of this stuff really mean anything. You still unemployed" So let's not create any more of
these false training program that leave people with a piece of paper that won't even absorb water
so they can't wipe up a spill with it. They definitely can't get a job on it. Also --
Chair Hardemon: Mr. McKnight, thank you very much. Your two minutes have expired. I
appreciate your comments.
Mr. McKnight: Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you.
Andrea Rogers: Good afternoon. I'm Andrea Rogers from New Washington Heights, Folklife
Friday. I would like to speak on All Aboard Florida. I'm here as a business owner in Overtown.
I have done -- sat down and had meetings with All Aboard Florida. They have came into our
community and have recognized all the business owners and members of living in the Overtown
area. Now, I know there's another group that's here. They have maybe talked to someone else.
But now there's other business owners and other community organizations that we have. We
City of Miami Page 39 Printed on 2/25/2014
SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency
Meeting Minutes January 27, 2014
have Overtown Business Association. We have different communities and different associations
that they could all come to meet with also, but All Aboard Florida has reached out to all of us
and has brought all of us in at the table, and we all sit down and talked to them. That would be
nice if everyone that's looking for the money from over here can come and reach out to all us;
that would be great, so we'll know exactly where our kids are going to work, people going to
have jobs. I'm -- thank you for so much. I'm Andrea from Folklife Friday. Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you. Yes, sir.
Andre Williams: Good day again, Commissioners. This is Andre Williams of eyeurbantv.com,
small business in Overtown. Just want to plug the developers that's coming in. We did have a
chance to sit down with All Aboard, and they gave us some reassurance as to them working with
the small businesses that are coming up in the community, which is very important. We stand
here not only as eyeurbantv.com, but also as a member of the Overtown Business Association,
and it's key that these small businesses become developed. It's key that we start developing the
small businesses and pushing them out there so that we can build the economic value of the
community. So with that being said, I really like the program that All aboard came aboard with
that they mentioned and I think it's going to be good, and we look forward to hearing from the
rest of the developers to proceed in making Overtown the great township that it will be.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much.
Mr. Williams: Thank you.
Charles Haynes: Good evening.
Chair Hardemon: Good evening, sir.
Mr. Haynes: My name is Charles Haynes. I stay at 219 Northwest 14th Terrace, and like the
lady say, I went to meet with All Aboard. We came to hear and what I'm trying to say, before we
dig anything, we need to get something in contract stating about the jobs for the youth in
Overtown, 'cause I'm tired of everybody saying, "We going do this, we going do that." Before
you do anything, let us see that. And we need somebody from the community that look over that
before anything be done. That's all I got to say.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much, sir.
Willie Williams: Okay, Pastor Willie Williams, president of the Overtown Business Association. I
am here to recognize All Aboard. I'm looking forward to seeing the support that they're going to
offer the business association. We are willing and ready to support anyone and any entity that is
going to be positive towards the community. The community means so much to us, and as people
put it down in red, we will, you know, accept them, as well as support them. And I'm here again
standing for All Aboard.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much.
Emanuel Washington: Mr. Chairman, Board Members, Commissioners, just for the record, I
don't want to be redundant and so I'll be really brief but just so that I'll be on the record and just
to reiterate what we've -- and everybody else said before --
Chair Hardemon: Can you list your name for the record, please?
Mr. Washington: Yes. Emanuel Washington, property owner at 155 Northwest IOth Street; born
and raised, community resident. As I said, not to be redundant, but just so that to be a part of the
record that is it very important that we make sure that the entity that's doing all these
City of Miami Page 40 Printed on 2/25/2014
SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency
Meeting Minutes January 27, 2014
development -- and also, I just want to basically mention, too, about All Aboard, Ali and Jose, all
of them have become a staple in the community to the point that you know them almost
personally now, because they made the effort to come forward and make sure the residents who
are in the community understand that they're here, and they want to help in any way they can, so
I really appreciate that. But just as I said, for the record, about the jobs, we want to make sure
that not only we create a program to give them jobs, but to monitor it, because that's been the
issue. When you don't monitor it, then we don't get the results. Thank you very much.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much. There was -- seeing no other entities here or persons
here for public hearing, I close the public hearing at this time. And it was previously moved and
seconded that we accept or approve CRA Resolution Number 12, so at this time, I place that
before this body. But I'll allow this gentleman here to step up and address our concerns as to
why we should approve this measure.
Rafael Rodon: Rafael Rodon, Florida East Coast Industries, All Aboard Florida, 2855 South
LeJeune Road, Coral Gables. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, Board Members, staff thank you to the
community. And we're very grateful for the opportunity; really, really grateful to the City, CRA,
but especially the community. As you may have heard from some of the community members, we
went out of our way early and often to reach out to the community and attempt to open and keep
open a line of communication so that whether it was one or both blocks, the development would
be one that fits into the community. As you know, All Aboard Florida is a larger development,
and so we also look forward to participating, becoming -- having our development integrate and
be part of Overtown; putting our bigger, larger development next to Overtown, and this block is
a part of that, a very good part of that. The other thing I wanted to mention is that as part of
taking the land uses that the CRA wanted to be built on both blocks, Block 56 ended up with the
nonresidential end of land uses, and so our project consists of over 100,000 square feet of
nonresidential uses, and we hope to work together with the other developer and make sure that
that works together, especially with respect to 7th Street and Sawyer's Walk, but also with respect
to the community and then our project on the other side. Thank you. Any questions?
Chair Hardemon: Is there any discussion about this item?
Vice Chair Gort: Well, I think this project is going to be very important for that area. In your
projections, how many visitors you project in a year to that one area?
Mr. Rodon: We are projecting initially with respect to the station, the equivalent of a football
game every week.
Vice Chair Gort: Thank you. And the other question that I had is I know we made a commitment
here from the CRA -- what you call them -- the tax increment, 1.5?
Mr. Woods: No, not on this project.
William Bloom: Not in this project, no. The tax increment relates to Block 46.
Mr. Woods: That's the next item. That's the next item.
Vice Chair Gort: I stand corrected. Okay.
Chair Hardemon: Are there any other discussions? Hearing no further discussion, it's been
properly moved and seconded. All in favor, say "aye."
The Board (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: All against? The motion passes.
City of Miami Page 41 Printed on 2/25/2014
SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency
Meeting Minutes January 27, 2014
13.
14-00038
CRA RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION, WITH ATTACHMENT(S), OF THE BOARD OF
COMMISSIONERS OF THE SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST
COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY (THE "CRA") SELECTING
SAWYERS WALK, LTD., AND POINCIANA VILLAGE OF MIAMI, LTD.
(COLLECTIVELY REFERRED TO AS THE "DEVELOPER') AS THE SOLE
PROPOSER IN RESPONSE TO A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS ISSUED BY
THE CRA FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A PORTION OF BLOCK 46;
AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO EXECUTE A
DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT, IN SUBSTANTIALLY THE ATTACHED FORM,
WITH THE DEVELOPER (THE "DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT");
AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO EXECUTE SUCH OTHER
DOCUMENTS REQUIRED TO IMPLEMENT THE DEVELOPMENT
AGREEMENT IN FORM AND CONTENT ACCEPTABLE TO THE EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR AND ALLOCATING $2,000,000.00 FROM SEOPW TAX
INCREMENT FUND ENTITLED, "OTHER GRANTS AND AIDS," ACCOUNT
CODE NO. 10050.920101.883000.0000.00000.
File # 14-00038 Cover Memo.pdf
File # 14-00038 Legislation.pdf
File # 14-00038 Attachment.pdf
Motion by Board Member Suarez, seconded by Vice -Chair Gort, that this matter be
ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote.
Votes: Ayes: Chair Hardemon, Vice Chair Gort and Commissioner Suarez
Absent: Commissioner Carollo and Commissioner Sarnoff
CRA-R-14-0007
Chair Hardemon: Moving on to CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) Resolution Number
13.
Clarence Woods (Executive Director, Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment
Agency): Commissioners, item number 13 is a resolution, with attachments, of the Board of
Commissioners of the CRA selecting Sawyer's Walk, Ltd. and Poinciana Village of Miami, Ltd.,
collectively referred to as "the developer, " as the sole proposer in response to a Request for
Proposals issued by the CRA for the development of a portion of Block 46; authorizing the
executive director to execute a development agreement in substantially the attached form with
the developer; authorizing the executive director to execute such other documents required to
implement a development agreement in form and content acceptable to the executive director,
and allowing $2 million from the SP -- from the Southeast Overtown/Park West Tax Increment
Fund entitled "Other Grants and Aid. "
Chair Hardemon: Opening up the floor for public hearing at this time, is there anyone here like
to discuss this matter? Yes, sir, you are recognized.
Grady Muhammad: Mr. Chairman, Grady Muhammad. Can I ask a question? 'Cause I'm
reading in here -- are we going to be giving a half a million dollars of predevelopment cost a
month?
Chair Hardemon: Mr. Woods.
Mr. Woods: No, not a month.
City of Miami Page 42 Printed on 2,25/2014
SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency
Meeting Minutes January 27, 2014
Mr. Muhammad- No.
William Bloom: It's one time.
Mr. Muhammad.- Okay.
Mr. Bloom: It's $500, 000, of which $83, 000 is to be used to do repairs to Poinciana Village,
which is the 64-unit condominium adjacent to this project. The balance of the money, subject to
an advance, is going to be disbursed to assist the developer as far as providing marketing
materials --
Mr. Muhammad: Predevelopment.
Mr. Bloom: -- and plans and specifications for the project.
Mr. Muhammad: Okay. Y'all have to change the language, 'cause I read it in there. It says
"advancing per month 500, 000. " That's what I read in the agreement. That's the only thing I'm
saying. I'm not --
Mr. Bloom: No.
Chair Hardemon: Can you identify the page number where you saw that?
Mr. Muhammad: The page should be 20 --
Vice Chair Gort: Put your glasses on.
Mr. Muhammad: -- half million in closing.
Vice Chair Gort: You want to borrow my glasses?
Chair Hardemon: Are you --?
Mr. Muhammad: Half a million in closing. Yeah, I need some glasses, Mr. --
Unidentified Speaker: You can borrow mine.
Mr. Muhammad: Twenty. Twenty.
Mr. Woods: Thirteen.
Chair Hardemon: Are we looking at page 20 of the agreement?
Mr. Muhammad: It should be page 20 of the agreement.
Chair Hardemon: Which line; under what?
Mr. Muhammad: Give me one second. Let me just re -get [sic] it. Here we go. The agreement --
Chair Hardemon: Is it under Block 56, the development agreement, under Part 25?
Mr. Muhammad: The -- no; above the development agreement. It's executed by the agreement
$500,000 at closing, the contemplation cost, 24.2.
City of Miami Page 43 Printed on 2/25/2014
SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency
Meeting Minutes January 27, 2014
Mr. Bloom: That's a different provision dealing with a different issue. Both Overtown and
Gateway and All Aboard --
Chair Hardemon: Decorum, please, decorum. Decorum, please.
Mr. Bloom: -- have agreed if they go forward with their projects, at closing to contribute
$500,000 each to Sawyer's Walk and Poinciana Village in exchange for releases and
indemnifications that they are proposing to give as part of this development agreement.
Mr. Muhammad: Because of all of the --
Mr. Bloom: That's different --
Mr. Woods: Yeah.
Mr. Bloom: -- from --
Mr. Muhammad: -- litigation issues that --
Mr. Bloom: -- that (UNINTELLIGIBLE) resolves the --
Mr. Muhammad: Okay, I'm understanding that.
Mr. Bloom: -- litigation issue and we're hoping --
Mr. Muhammad: It's the re --
Mr. Bloom: -- that it'll resolve some outstanding issues (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Mr. Muhammad: It'll resolve all of those issues.
Chair Hardemon: Let's have one person speak at a time, please. I know you asked your
question. Let him answer the question.
Mr. Muhammad: It'll -- so it'll resolve those issues, all the litigation specifically relating to
Sawyer's Walk and Sawyer's Limited, Ltd. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much.
Mr. Bloom: Again, to speak for the record, it's the position of the CRA and the City that the
litigation that had been pending has all been dismissed by 2007 --
Mr. Muhammad: 'Seven, mm-hmm.
Mr. Bloom: -- for lack of prosecution, and there is no claims. However, as part of the settlement
agreement with the County, the County is requiring an indemnification agreement. We're hoping
getting the release from Sawyer's Walk and Poinciana and the indemnification, it'll satisfy the
County and the City and the CRA Board so that All Aboard and Overtown Gateway are not
required to provide that indemnification.
Mr. Muhammad: Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much. Public hearing.
Davon Harrington: Yes.
City of Miami Page 44 Printed on 2/25/2014
SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency
Meeting Minutes January 27, 2014
Chair Hardemon: Yes.
Ms. Harrington: Hi. My name is Devon Harrington. Currently, I'm the president of Poinciana
Village Condominium Association. The purpose of me being here tonight is to make it clear that
Poinciana Village Condominium Association is a separate entity from Poinciana Village of
Miami, Limited. First of all, Poinciana Village Condominium Association submitted a grant in
June of 2012 in regards to listing items of needs for the residents and the owners of Poinciana.
In March of 2013, we were informed to take the top ten items of concerns from the CRA grant
that was submitted in 2012 and list them as in terms of what our needs are, and at both times, we
always indicated that one of the most priority things that we needed was in regards to the roof,
100 percent roof job done. Here's the problem: Today, I just learned as of yesterday that
Poinciana Village of Miami, Limited, which the item is of now, that Poinciana Village
Condominium Association was included in Exhibit "E," indicating what they quote, "Poinciana
Village repairs." I'd like to say for the records, the board of directors never approved these
modifications that's exhibited in Exhibit Number "E "; we never made those changes; we never
approved them, and no one ever reached out to us. So I was quite surprised to see that these
items was put in there, you know, listing things that we did not approve. So I guess here tonight,
I guess the question is, "Where did it come from?" Because the board of directors did not
approve this for Poinciana Village Condominium since we're added in Exhibit 2 and also on
page 13.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much for your question, and your time has expired. But
please address her questions.
Mr. Woods: Commissioner, we worked with the condominium association. They submitted a list
of repairs. Within the list, they had some items that they had forecasted that would probably
need some repairs. We removed those items because we can't budget monies for repairs that may
need to happen at some point in the future. We had our architect to go out and to inspect, to look
at the list of items that they had submitted. And I think I did -- if it wasn't Ms. Harrington --
Ms. Harrington: Michael came out. Michael came out.
Mr. Woods: No, not Michael. I'm talking about my architect, Brian.
Ms. Harrington: Okay.
Mr. Woods: And he did work with someone at Poinciana Village. But what we were able to
substantiate, and we felt like was a definite need, was about 83 -- no more than $100,000 worth
of repairs. It was a complete new roof -- they asked for a complete roof because there was some
penetration, some water penetration in a particular unit. I think it's Ms. Harrington's unit.
Ms. Harrington: It was -- right, it was Unit 269; that we have a person here, Toledo, Mr. Louis,
that will validate in regards to that Building 269, in fact, needs 100 percent roof repair. And
Unit 2 or Building 201 was the one that only needed 25 percent. So that's why I was kind of
disturbed when I seen --
Mr. Woods: But it was being --
Chair Hardemon: I will say this: Please respect the Chair in the sense of the floor has been
given to Mr. Woods. Your time has expired. At this point he's answering your question.
Ms. Harrington: Okay. I didn't know I couldn't respond.
Chair Hardemon: I don't -- I know. I understand. I don't want us to get into a back -and -forth
City of Miami Page 45 Printed on 2/25/2014
SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency
Meeting Minutes January 27, 2014
argumentative type thing. From what I understand, this agreement is supposed to provide them
funds to actually make improvements to that facility, so --
Mr. Woods: And as a matter of fact, it's not just the improvements that -- the deferred
maintenance type of improvements, but this will also give them the clubhouse, the new gate --
they were asking for a new --
Mr. Harrington: Elevators.
Mr. Woods: -- security gate. All of those things that they've asked for is contemplated to be
taken care of in the larger development. So what is shown is just those deferred maintenance
type of repairs. Clubhouse, new pool, new gated access, all of that is included; and we've
required that as a term of the development.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much. Thank you very much, ma'am. Is there anyone here --
else on the public hearing item? Seeing that there are no other persons here for public hearing, I
close the public hearing at this moment. And -- how you doing, sir? I know you're here as a
proponent of this item; is that correct?
Ted Weitzel: Yes. Ted -- pardon me -- Ted Weitzel, the developer of Poinciana Village and
Sawyer's Walk. I'd be glad to answer any questions that the Chairman or the Board or the staff
may have.
Chair Hardemon: How long has this thing been --
Board Member Suarez: It's been close to 20 years.
Chair Hardemon: -- held up?
Mr. Weitzel: Said how long has it --
Chair Hardemon: How long has this initiative --
Mr. Weitzel: -- been going on?
Chair Hardemon: Yes.
Mr. Weitzel: In 1988, we signed the original agreement, and we built the sample 12 units as a
sample for Overtown. And then we were delayed a while, and then we built another 28; finished
those in 1992. And then we went ahead and built a -- the last phase that you see there now, in
1999 it finished. We've been stalled since 1999.
Chair Hardemon: So as I understand it, are you stating to me that this resolution would solve or
end 20-some-odd years of concerns or halting of the building of this project?
Mr. Weitzel: Yes. It should give us the wherewithal to proceed now.
Board Member Suarez: Move it.
Vice Chair Gort: It's been moved and second already.
Chair Hardemon: It's been properly moved and seconded.
Board Member Suarez: They already moved it? All right, sorry. Move it again.
Chair Hardemon: What?
City of Miami Page 46 Printed on 2/25/2014
SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency
Meeting Minutes January 27, 2014
Unidentified Speaker: You only need to move it one more time.
Board Member Suarez: Move it again.
Chair Hardemon: It has been properly moved and seconded that we pass this resolution, CRA
Resolution Number 13; am I correct?
Vice Chair Gort: Yes.
Mr. Bloom: Fourteen.
Chair Hardemon: It's --
Mr. Woods: Thirteen.
Chair Hardemon: -- 13, right? Thirteen?
Board Member Suarez: Yeah, my apologies; 13.
Chair Hardemon: Is there any further discussion? Seeing none, all in favor, say "aye."
The Board (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: All against? Motion passes.
Mr. Weitzel: Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you.
Vice Chair Gort: Where's the champagne?
14. CRA RESOLUTION
14-00039
A RESOLUTION, WITH ATTACHMENT(S), OF THE BOARD OF
COMMISSIONERS OF THE SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST
COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY (THE "CRA") APPROVING THE
RELEASE TO BE EXECUTED BY SAWYER'S WALK, LTD. AND ITS
PARTNERS AND POINCIANA VILLAGE OF MIAMI, LTD. AND ITS PARTNERS
IN THE FORM ATTACHED (THE "SAWYER'S WALK RELEASE") AND
INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT TO BE EXECUTED BY SAWYER'S WALK,
LTD. AND POINCIANA VILLAGE OF MIAMI, LTD. IN THE FORM ATTACHED
(THE "SAWYER'S WALK INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT") AS AN
ALTERNATE RISK MANAGEMENT SOLUTION TO REQUIRING OVERTOWN
GATEWAY PARTNERS, LLC ("OVERTOWN GATEWAY") AND ALL ABOARD
FLORIDA NW SIXTH STREET, LLC ("ALL ABOARD") FROM BEING
REQUIRED TO PROVIDE THE INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT
CONTEMPLATED BY SECTION 7(F) OF THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT
BY AND BETWEEN THE CITY OF MIAMI (THE "CITY"), THE CRAAND
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY (THE "COUNTY"), DATED MAY 9, 2013 (THE
"SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT") AND REQUESTING THAT THE CITY AND
THE COUNTY APPROVE THE SAWYER'S WALK RELEASE AND SAWYER'S
WALK INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT AS AN ALTERNATIVE RISK
City of Miami Page 47 Printed on 2/25/2014
SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency
Meeting Minutes January 27, 2014
MANAGEMENT SOLUTION THEREBY WAIVING THE REQUIREMENT THAT
OVERTOWN GATEWAY AND ALL ABOARD PROVIDE THE
INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENTS REQUIRED UNDER THE TERMS OF THE
SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT.
File # 14-00039 Cover Memo.pdf
File # 14-00039 Legislation.pdf
File # 14-00039 Exhibit Indemnification Agreement.pdf
File # 14-00039 Memo to City Clerk with Attachments.pdf
Motion by Vice -Chair Gort, seconded by Board Member Suarez, that this matter be
ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote.
Votes: Ayes: Chair Hardemon, Vice Chair Gort and Commissioner Suarez
Absent: Commissioner Carollo and Commissioner Sarnoff
CRA-R-14-0008
Chair Hardemon: All right.
Clarence Woods (Executive Director, Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment
Agency): This is the last item.
Chair Hardemon: We have one more item; CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) Resolution
Number 14.
Mr. Woods: Commissioners, CRA Resolution Number 14 is a resolution, with attachments, of the
Board of Commissioners of the South -- of the CRA, approving the release to be executed by
Sawyer's Walk, Ltd and its partners, and Poinciana Village of Miami, Ltd and its partners in the
form attached,- the Sawyer's Walk release and indemnification agreement by the -- to be executed
by Sawyer's Walk, Ltd. and Poinciana Village of Miami, Ltd, in the form attached ("The
Sawyer's Walk Indemnification Agreement'), as an alternative risk management solution to
requiring Overtown Gateway Partners, LLC (Limited Liability Corporation) ("Overtown
Gateway'), and All Aboard Florida Northwest Sixth Street, LLC ("All Aboard') from being
required to provide the indemnification agreement contemplated by Section 7(F) of the settlement
agreement by and between the City of Miami ("The City'), the CRA, and Miami -Dade County
("the County'), dated May 9, 2013 ("The Settlement Agreement"); and requesting that the City
and the County approve the Sawyer's Walk release and Sawyer's Walk indemnification agreement
as an alternative risk management solution; thereby waiving the requirement that Overtown
Gateway and All Aboard provide indemnification agreements required under the terms of the
settlement agreement.
Vice Chair Gort: Move it.
Board Member Suarez: Second.
Chair Hardemon: It's been properly moved and seconded. However, I will open the floor for
public hearing at this time. Is there anyone here that like to give a comment on this item?
Seeing no persons, we close the public hearing. Is there any discussion about this item? Seeing
no discussion, all in favor, say "aye."
The Board (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: All against, say "nay." Motion passes.
Vice Chair Gort: Move to adjourn.
City of Miami Page 48 Printed on 2/25/2014
SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency
Meeting Minutes January 27, 2014
Applause.
Chair Hardemon: We adjourn the meeting at 7: 28 p.m.
The meeting adjourned at 7: 29 p.m.
City of Miami Page 49 Printed on 2,25/2014