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Meeting Minutes
Monday, February 23, 2015
5:00 PM
Camillus House
1603 NW 7th Ave., Bldg 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:
819 NW 2nd Avenue, 3rd Floor
Miami, FL 33136
Phone: (305) 679-6800, Fax: (305) 679-6835
www.miamicra.com
SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency
Meeting Minutes February 23, 2015
APPROVING MINUTES
Present: Commissioner Carollo, Vice Chair Gort and Chair Hardemon
Absent: Commissioner Sarnoff and Commissioner Suarez
On the 23rd day of February 2015, 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 5:50 p. m., and was adjourned at 6:34 p. m.
ALSO PRESENT:
Clarence E. Woods, Executive Director, CRA
Renee A. Jadusingh, Staff Counsel, CRA
Barnaby L. Min, Deputy General Counsel
Todd B. Hannon, Clerk of the Board
Motion by Board Member Carollo, seconded by Vice -Chair Gort, to APPROVE PASSED by
the following vote.
Votes: Ayes: Chair Hardemon, Commissioner Carollo and Vice Chair Gort
Absent: Commissioner Suarez and Commissioner Sarnoff
Chair Hardemon: I'll call this meeting to order at 5:51. This will be the February 23 meeting of
the Southeast Overtown/Park West CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency). In our presence,
announce the board members of Commissioner Gort and Commissioner Carollo and myself as
Chairman. The first item on the agenda is approving of the minutes from December 29, 2014.
Board Member Carollo: Move it.
Vice Chair Gort: Second; a question.
Chair Hardemon: It's been properly moved and seconded to approve the agenda meeting
minutes from December 29, 2014. You're recognized, sir.
Vice Chair Gort: My understanding, we have the additional $1.3 million in debt service.
Clarence Woods (Executive Director, Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment
Agency): Additional 1.3 million in debt service?
Vice Chair Gort: Yes, and that's because of the bond issue that we did, right?
Mr. Woods: Right. It's a little more than 1.3 though.
Vice Chair Gort: Well, in excess of what we were paying before.
Mr. Woods: Yes, yes, yes.
Vice Chair Gort: I'm looking at the excess. I think it's important that people understand that
that's the funds that we get, the bond issue that we did --
Mr. Woods: Right.
Vice Chair Gort: -- to be able to get some of these projects going.
Mr. Woods: Right, absolutely.
Vice Chair Gort: Okay. Thank you.
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Meeting Minutes February 23, 2015
PRESENTATION
1
15-00191
Chair Hardemon: No problem. Is there any other unreadiness?
Miguel Valentin (Finance Officer, Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment
Agency): Good evening, Commissioners. We're going to be presenting the --
Chair Hardemon: Well, we're on the approval of the meeting minutes, so let me -- can I have the
vote on that? No further discussion? Hearing none, all in favor, say "aye.
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: Motion passes.
CRA PRESENTATION
2014 AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENT.
PRESENTED
Chair Hardemon: Moving on to Presentation 1, CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) 2014
audited financial statements.
Miguel Valentin: Good evening, Commissioners, again. Miguel Valentin, CRA financial officer.
We just concluded the 2014 financial audit. Again, thankfully, we -- the auditors issued another
clean opinion, and now, Richie Tandoc, he is going to be -- render more information to you.
Richie Tandoc: Good evening, Chair and Board Members. My name is Richie Tandoc. I'm with
Samson, Kline Jacindo, Tandoc and Gamarra. I am the partner in charge of the Southeast
Overtown/Park West CRA's auditing engagement for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2014.
I'll keep my presentation brief in the essence of time, but before I get into that, I want to just
thank Clarence and Miguel and their staff for the continued cooperation in assisting us in getting
this audit done; the agency in cooperation with the City staff. IfI could just go over real quick a
couple of the -- you know, the results of our audit, the 2014 audit, as well as some of the required
communications as your auditor. As Miguel did say, we did issue a clean opinion, which is an
unmodified opinion on the agency's financial statements for the year ended September 30, 2014.
We also issued the agency's report on other issues -- I'm sorry. We issued a report on the
agency's internal control over financial reporting and non-compliance and other matters for the
year ended September 30, 2014. We noted no material weaknesses or any material
non-compliance issues therein. And both of those reports were dated January 15, 2015. With
regards to any significant and/or unadjusted audit adjustments, we did not come up with any
audit adjustments. All the adjustments that were made were by Miguel, the finance officer, and
approved by us. With regards to fraud and illegal acts, we are not aware of any fraud or illegal
acts that occurred during the fiscal year involving senior management or any fraud or illegal
acts involving any employee that would cause us to -- that would cause a material misstatement
of the financial statements. With regards to independence, we are independent of the agency as
of September 30, 2014 and going forward in accordance with the rules of the AICPA (American
Institute of Certified Public Accountants). And lastly, with regards to the management letter, we
have issued a management letter in accordance with the rules of the Auditor General of the State
of Florida, which is dated January 15, 2015, and we did not report any new findings or
observations therein. If you have any specific questions about the financial statements, I'd be
happy to address those.
Chairman Hardemon: Any questions, Board Members? Seeing none, thank you very much, sir.
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Meeting Minutes February 23, 2015
RESOLUTIONS
1.
15-00192
Mr. Tandoc: Thank you.
CRA RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE
SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT
AGENCY ("CRA"), WITH ATTACHMENT(S), APPROVING AND ADOPTING
THE CRA'S TAX INCREMENT FUND AND GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET,
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR COMMENCING OCTOBER 1, 2014 AND ENDING
SEPTEMBER 30, 2015; DIRECTING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO
TRANSMIT A COPY OF THE AMENDED BUDGETS TO THE CITY OF MIAMI
AND MIAMI-DADE COUNTY.
File # 15-00192 Cover Memo.pdf
File # 15-00192 Legislation.pdf
File # 15-00192 Exhibit.pdf
Motion by Board Member Carollo, seconded by Vice -Chair Gort, that this matter be
ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote.
Votes: Ayes: Chair Hardemon and Vice Chair Gort
Noes: Commissioner Carollo
Absent: Commissioner Suarez and Commissioner Sarnoff
CRA-R-15-0001
Chair Hardemon: At this time, we move on to Resolution Number 1.
Clarence Woods (Executive Director, Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment
Agency): Commissioners, Resolution Number 1 is a resolution of the Board of Commissioners of
the Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment Agency, with attachments,
approving and adopting the CRA's Tax Increment Fund and general operating budget for fiscal
year commencing October 1, 2014 and ending September 30, 2015; directing the executive
director to transmit a copy of the amended budgets to the City of Miami and Miami -Dade
County.
Chair Hardemon: You're recognized.
Miguel Valentin (Finance Officer, Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment
Agency): Yes. Commissioners, what you have in front of you, practically at large, is the same
budget that we presented to you back in July 2014. We -- this amended budget is reflecting the
actual TIF (Tax Increment Fund) revenue that we have collected from the taxing authorities, as
well as the audited fund balance from 2014. You know, it is -- pretty much, this is a very
accurate financial picture as to the amount of cash that we have right now, and I forwarded to
you last week the detail for each categories [sic]. If you have any question, I feel I will be more
than happy to address them.
Chair Hardemon: Before we ask any questions, we'll open up the floor for public comment. Is
there anyone who would like to make a public comment? Seeing none, we'll close the floor.
Commissioners, Board Members, any questions?
Board Member Carollo: Move it.
Vice Chair Gort: Second.
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Chair Hardemon: It's been properly moved and second to approve CRA Resolution Number 1.
Any unreadiness? Any discussion? Being none, all in favor, say "aye."
Vice Chair Gort: Aye.
Board Member Carollo: No.
Chair Hardemon: Motion passes.
2. CRA RESOLUTION
15-00026
A RESOLUTION THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE SOUTHEAST
OVERTOWN/PARK WEST COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENTAGENCY
AUTHORIZING THE EXPENDITURE OF ADDITIONAL FUNDS, IN AN
AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $16,200, FOR A TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED
$51,200, TO UNDERWRITE COSTS ASSOCIATED THE INSTALLATION OF
THE CRA'S TELEPHONE SYSTEM AND OTHER MOVING EXPENSES IN
CONNECTION WITH THE CRA'S RELOCATION TO THE LYRIC THEATER
COMPLEX, 819 N.W. 2nd AVENUE, MIAMI, FL 33136; FUNDS TO BE
ALLOCATED FROM SEOPW TAX INCREMENT FUND, ENTITLED "RENTAL
AND LEASES," ACCOUNT CODE NO. 10050.920101.544000.0000.00000.
File # 15-00026 Cover Memo.pdf
File # 15-00026 Financial Form.pdf
File # 15-00026 Legislation.pdf
15-00026-Submittal-SEOPW-Moving Expenses.pdf
Motion by Board Member Carollo, seconded by Vice -Chair Gort, that this matter be
ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote.
Votes: Ayes: Chair Hardemon, Commissioner Carollo and Vice Chair Gort
Absent: Commissioner Suarez and Commissioner Sarnoff
CRA-R-1 5-0002
Chair Hardemon: CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) Resolution Number 2.
Clarence Woods (Executive Director, Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment
Agency): Commissioners, Resolution Number 2 is a resolution of the Board of Commissioners of
the Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment Agency authorizing the
expenditure of additional funds in an amount not to exceed 16, 200 for a total not to exceed
51,200, to underwrite costs associated with 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 SEOPW (Southeast Overtown/Park West) Tax Increment Fund entitled
"Rental and Leases." Commissioners, this is just additional expenses and there is --
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): My apologies, Chair. Essentially, there was an item that made it
into the agenda, but didn't make it to the web, so we just -- for the record, we want to submit a
document titled "Southeast Overtown/Park West CRA Moving Expenses" into the record.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much.
Mr. Woods: And basically, what that is, that's the backup. That's the backup. The backup is in
your package. We came before you back in -- I think it may have been May of last year for funds
for our move from the Overtown Shopping Center to the Lyric Theater. We allocated -- it was
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3.
15-00027
just about -- it was $35, 000. And we had some additional expenses that we needed to spend on
wiring, telecommunications, and we're corning before you now with those expenses.
Chair Hardemon: Is there anyone from the public that would like to make a comment on this
item?
Board Member Carollo: Move it.
Chair Hardemon: Seeing none, I'm going to close the public hearing.
Board Member Carollo: Move it.
Vice Chair Gort: Second.
Chair Hardemon: It's been properly moved and seconded to approve CRA Resolution Number 2.
Any unreadiness? Any comment? Seeing none, all in favor, say "aye. "
The Board (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: All against? Motion passes.
CRA RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE
SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT
AGENCY AUTHORIZING A GRANT, IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED
$50,000, TO SUITED FOR SUCCESS, INC. TO UNDERWRITE COSTS
ASSOCIATED WITH THE PROVISION OF JOB TRAINING AND OTHER
EMPLOYMENT SUPPORT SERVICES TO JOB SEEKERS FROM THE
REDEVELOPMENT AREA; AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO
EXECUTE ALL DOCUMENTS NECESSARY FOR SAID PURPOSE; FURTHER
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; FUNDS TO BE ALLOCATED FROM SEOPW TAX
INCREMENT FUND, ENTITLED "OTHER GRANTS AND AIDS," ACCOUNT
CODE NO. 10050.920101.883000.0000.00000.
File # 15-00027 Cover Memo.pdf
File # 15-00027 Financial Form.pdf
File # 15-00027 Backup.pdf
File # 15-00027 Legislation.pdf
Motion by Board Member Carollo, seconded by Vice -Chair Gort, that this matter be
ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote.
Votes: Ayes: Chair Hardemon, Commissioner Carollo and Vice Chair Gort
Absent: Commissioner Suarez and Commissioner Sarnoff
CRA-R-1 5-0003
Chair Hardemon: Moving on to item number 3.
Clarence Woods (Executive Director, Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment
Agency): Item Number 3 is a resolution of the Board of Commissioners of the Southeast
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Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment Agency authorizing a grant in an amount not to
exceed $50, 000 to Suited for Success, Inc. to underwrite costs associated with the provision of
job training and other employment support services to job seekers from the redevelopment area;
authorizing the executive director to execute all documents necessary for said purpose; further
authorizing the executive director to disburse funds at his discretion, or on a reimbursement
basis, or directly to vendors upon presentation of invoices and satisfactory documentation. This
is a continuation of a program that has been beneficial to the residents of the redevelopment area
where Ms. Sonia Jacobson, who is here, she runs the program and I think they're operating now
out of the Culmer Center, where residents from the redevelopment area can go and get clothes,
get some training on preparing resumes and other literacy type training for job -- going and
applying for jobs and things of that such.
Chair Hardemon: I want to open up the public hearing at this time. Ms. Jacobson, you're
recognized.
Sonia Jacobson: Good evening, Commissioner, Chair and staff of the CRA (Community
Redevelopment Agency). I'm Sonia Jacobson. I'm the founder and executive director of Suited
for Success, and I want to thank the Commission and the CRA for continuing to support our
program. This is our fifth year in funding from the CRA. It's our seventh year in the Overtown
community, andl want to just tell you about a new initiative that we have coming up this year,
which I'm very excited about. This is going to be a first for the Overtown neighborhood. We are
on the verge of signing an MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) with Macy's. They're going to
partner with us to start providing employment -- not employment skills -- retail services, retail
customer training services for the residents of Overtown with our agency, and this is really a first
-- excuse me -- for this neighborhood. It's never been done before, and Macy's is extremely
excited about this initiative. We're about to enter into an MOU in the next week or two, and
we're going to start this training program in June. We are doing an 18-month pilot program,
because we need to start preparing the residents in this community for the Worldcenter that's
coming, and nobody else is doing this as far as I know; not, certainly, in this neighborhood, so I
wanted to make you all aware of that, and I hope to be back in the next couple of months and ask
for your continued support of this program, as well as our ongoing program that we have in
place right now. I'm happy to answer any questions that any of you may have about this,
because we are so excited to begin this program, and I know that this will definitely make sure
that some of our residents will be employable for the new Worldcenter once it comes to
Overtown.
Chair Hardemon: You're recognized.
Vice Chair Gort: Let me ask a question. I was looking at your budget. The -- you receive
congratulation letters from a lot of agencies, including United Way. Do you not apply for
funding with the United Way?
Ms. Jacobson: No, we don't.
Vice Chair Gort: I think you should if they think you're so good.
Ms. Jacobson: We had a grant with the United Way for seven years. That grant ended four
years ago and we were not able to apply for funding because they insisted that we do an audit,
and as a very small agency with one staff person at that time, we couldn't afford to do an audit
going back three years and so they cancelled our contract. We probably could apply to them
again, but I've met with their audit committee, and if they insist that we need to go back for now
five years to do an audit to qualify for their funding, we're just financially not able to do that, so
that's why we've lost our funding with the United Way. But I agree with you, they should be
funding our program; they did for seven years.
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Vice Chair Gort: Thank you.
Ms. Jacobson: If you can help us with that --
Vice Chair Gort: Thank you.
Ms. Jacobson: -- I'd be very appreciative. Any other questions I could answer?
Chair Hardemon: No. Thank you very much. Is there anyone from the public that'd like to make
a comment?
Derek Cole: Hi. Derek Cole, 1010 Northwest 11 th Street. This is a very good program. I've
spent a lot of time around, seeing what they do, and I approve of anything that you can do to
help them.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much.
Shoshana Lincoln: Reverend Lincoln, from People Helping People. My concern for CRA
distributing monies to people like Dress for Success, or cleaning the streets and so forth, what I
have perceived, it is not in the objective of the CRA to do this kind of business. It is their
objective to do streetscape, greener city, infrastructure and build housing, and that has been
neglected immensely. I mean, people like Dressing [sic] for Success, they are donation all over
the place for them to receive. It is not the CRA to take care of Dress for Success or to clean the
street. We have the NET (Neighborhood Enhancement Team) Office; we have the liaison, who
does not even work in Overtown to see what's going on; we have Public Works. We have
everybody's coming in, and in the radius of one square mile, we still do not have proper
sanitation. I am bit concern over that. That money should be spent for what was the objective of
the CRA.
Chair Hardemon: And for your edification, Reverend Lincoln, the Community Redevelopment
Plan that was approved by the community and by this Board, and subsequently approved by the
City and the County, identifies job training as one of the key objectives of the plan, so, in fact, it
is in -- you don't have to make a comment about it; I'm explaining to you.
Ms. Lincoln: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Chair Hardemon: That -- so in fact, it is in -- it is within the plan to allow for job training
opportunities, and Dress for Success is a job training, job readiness program that is used within
the redevelopment area in accordance with the plan, so that is why; I'm letting you know that is
why it is within the rights of the CRA to implement this type of program.
Ms. Lincoln: Commissioner, the time constraint -- I'll be brief. In the radius of about 3,000
square feet, we have four resource center. We have the Workforce; we have the Culmer Center;
we have 101 in the shopping center, which is taking money from us, rather than giving us money.
This is a repetitious activity within a radius of 3,000 square feet. Then we have the NET doing
the same thing, and that is not how we going to build Overtown.
Chair Hardemon: Okay, thank you.
Ms. Lincoln: And Overtown is detrimental with all the homeless, and the bad sanitation, and the
crime rate and so forth. It's because we don't have a green city, we don't have proper streets,
proper infrastructure, nothing. That, I've been asking in my proposal to have an architectural
flair where I can have a proper -- a good construction man to help me. I have been deferred by
Clarence Wood --
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Chair Hardemon: Reverend Lincoln --
Ms. Lincoln: -- for nine months.
Chair Hardemon: -- we know that your time has expired, but in your simple statement that you
just made, you named four or five different issues that we will have to talk about individually --
Ms. Lincoln: All right. Thank you very much.
Chair Hardemon: All right. Thank you very much. Anyone else from the public that'd like to
make a comment? Hearing none, I'm going to close the public hearing. Is there a motion to
approve this?
Board Member Carollo: Move it; discussion.
Vice Chair Gort: Second.
Chair Hardemon: It's been properly moved and seconded that we approve this item.
Commissioner Carollo.
Board Member Carollo: Thank you. I wanted to know from our attorney if this is an allowable
expense of CRA funds.
Renee Jadusingh: Hi. Renee Jadusingh. Yes, Commissioner, it is an allowable expense. In our
plan, it states that we can provide funding for job training.
Board Member Carollo: Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: Commissioner Gort.
Vice Chair Gort: Now, my understanding, this goes beyond job training. This not only -- the
people receiving training in some other places, but sometimes, people don't -- although they been
trained to do certain amount of work, they need clothes sometimes to be able to go to that job.
At the same time, they need some kind of education, because there's different type of behavior in
different type of jobs, and people need to understand when you go to work someplace, you have
to comply with the criterias [sic] and guideline; you cannot use your own. So this, my
understanding, is the type of program that does that.
Mr. Woods: Yes, it is, Commissioner.
Chair Hardemon: Any other discussion? Hearing none, all in favor, say "aye.
The Board (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: Motion passes.
4. CRA RESOLUTION
15-00132
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE
SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT
AGENCY ("CRA"), WITH ATTACHMENT(S), AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR TO EXECUTE A LOAN PROPOSAL, IN SUBSTANTIALLY THE
ATTACHED FORM, FOR BRIDGE FINANCING, FROM FLORIDA
COMMUNITY BANK FOR USE IN CONNECTION WITH THE
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REHABILITATION OF TOWN PARK PLAZA NORTH, 475 N.W. 19TH STREET,
MIAMI, FLORIDA (FOLIO NO. 01-3136-083-0870); AUTHORIZING A
TRANSFER OF FUNDS IN AN AMOUNT TO NOT EXCEED $85,000 TO
FLORIDA COMMUNITY BANK; FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR TO EXECUTE ALL OTHER DOCUMENTS NECESSARY FOR
SAID PURPOSE; FUNDS TO BE ALLOCATED FROM SEOPW TAX
INCREMENT FUND, ENTITLED "GRANTS AND OTHER AIDS," ACCOUNT
CODE NO. 10050.92101.883000.0000.00000.
File # 15-00132 Cover Memo.pdf
File # 15-00132 Financial Form.pdf
File # 15-00132 Backup.pdf
File # 15-00132 Legislation.pdf
File # 15-00132 Exhibit.pdf
Motion by Vice -Chair Gort, seconded by Board Member Carollo, that this matter be
ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote.
Votes: Ayes: Chair Hardemon, Commissioner Carollo and Vice Chair Gort
Absent: Commissioner Suarez and Commissioner Sarnoff
CRA-R-1 5-0004
Chair Hardemon: Moving on to agenda item number 4.
Clarence Woods (Executive Director, Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment
Agency): Item number 4 is a resolution of the Board of Commissioners of the Southeast
Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment Agency, with attachments, authorizing the
executive director to execute a loan proposal in substantially the attached form for bridge
financing from Florida Community Bank for use in connection with the rehabilitation of Town
Park Plaza North at 475 Northwest 19th Street; authorizing a transfer of funds in an amount not
to exceed $85, 000 to Florida Community Bank; further authorizing the executive director to
execute all other documents necessary for said purpose. Commissioners, this particular item is
basically providing collateral for a loan that we received through the Federal Home Loan Bank,
FHLB. As you know, we received two loans from them -- well, not loans; actually, they're
forgivable loans -- grants in the amount -- one in the amount of $600, 000 from FHLB City and
one for $150, 000 from FHLB Atlanta. The relationship -- basically, what FHLB requires is that
you have a relationship with one of their member banks, and in having that relationship, the
relationship basically is a depository relationship, so they -- during the project term, they want
you to, you know, have some funds to act as collateral against the $150, 000 grant or forgivable
loan that we're getting, and for that, there's about $10, 000 -- up to about $10, 000 in interest
payments that we'll make. So in addition to the $150, 000 that we get, we basically will be
spending $10, 000 for that $150, 000 to add as leverage in our project financing for Town Park
North.
Vice Chair Gort: Move it.
Board Member Carollo: Second.
Chair Hardemon: It's been properly moved and seconded to approve agenda item number 4.
Open the public hearing at this time. Seeing no one that wants to comment, I'm going to close
the public hearing. Any discussion from the Commissioners, the Board Members? Seeing no
discussion, all in favor, say "aye."
The Board (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: All against? Motion passes.
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5.
15-00028
CRA RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE
SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT
AGENCY AUTHORIZING A GRANT, IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED
$120,000, TO HEADLINER MARKET GROUP, INC. TO UNDERWRITE
COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE PRODUCTION OF THE 2015 OVERTOWN
MUSIC & ARTS FESTIVAL, SCHEDULED TO OCCUR ON JULY 25, 2015;
AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO EXECUTE ALL
DOCUMENTS NECESSARY FOR SAID PURPOSE; FURTHER 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 APPROVE
BUDGET MODIFICATIONS UNDER THE GRANT, PROVIDED THAT THE
OVERALL AMOUNT OF THE GRANT FUNDING APPROVED BY THE BOARD
OF COMMISSIONERS IS NOT INCREASED; FUNDS TO BE ALLOCATED
FROM SEOPW TAX INCREMENT FUND, ENTITLED "OTHER GRANTS AND
AIDS," ACCOUNT CODE NO. 10050.920101.883000.0000.00000.
File # 15-00028 Cover Memo.pdf
File # 15-00028 Financial Form.pdf
File # 15-00028 Backup.pdf
File # 15-00028 Legislation.pdf
15-00028-Submittal-2015 OMAF Preliminary Budget.pdf
Motion by Board Member Carollo, seconded by Vice -Chair Gort, that this matter be
ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote.
Votes: Ayes: Chair Hardemon, Commissioner Carollo and Vice Chair Gort
Absent: Commissioner Suarez and Commissioner Sarnoff
CRA-R-1 5-0005
Chair Hardemon: Moving on to item number 5.
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 a grant in an
amount not to exceed $120, 000 to Headliner Marketing Group, Inc., to underwrite costs
associated with the production of the 2015 Overtown Music and Arts Festival, scheduled to
occur on July 25, 2015; authorizing the executive director to execute all documents necessary for
said purpose; further authorizing the executive director to disburse funds at his discretion, or on
a reimbursement basis, or directly to vendors upon presentation of invoices and satisfactory
documentation; 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 is not increased. As you are aware, last year's Overtown Music and Arts Festival
was such a success that we believe that this year, we can do probably a lot better, and we saw fit
to just increase the allocation a little more. We can get better talent, better national talent as
well as local talent, and our partners in this venture has shown that they have the track record to
be able to attract that type of talent and put on a wonderful event. It was really successful, and
we believe that they will do a good job. We're bringing it a little early this year so it'd give them
some time. Last year, we kind of put them under the gun to get all of the things that they needed
to get done, done by the event's time, so we wanted to bring it a little early this year and increase
the allocation to make it a little better.
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Chair Hardemon: Is there anyone from the public that'd like to make a comment on this? Public
hearing is now open.
Grady Muhammed: Good afternoon. Grady Muhammed. It's a great project, great item, and I
think we need to go to the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau to get some of these
dollars, because we bring tourists in; we just don't get our fair share. Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much.
Mr. Woods: And Commissioner, what I want to do is I want to enter into the record -- give it to
Todd -- more budget detail. We did have a line item budget from them, but we asked them to give
us more budget detail, and I want to make it available to the Board Members.
Chair Hardemon: You're recognized, sir.
Derek Cole: Derek Cole, 1010 Northwest 11 th Street. I like this a lot, man, and I just had a
question on what matching there's going to be with this event, because it's a good event, and it
shines a lot of light on the Overtown community. A lot of people from the outside come in and I
wondered if there might be a match that would go with this somewhere.
Mr. Woods: Yes. Commissioner, they're bringing about $50,000. The actual event is going to
run about $173, 000, so they're bringing a little over $50, 000 of their own money.
Chair Hardemon: And as I remember of last year, the amount of money that was expended to
produce the festival was in excess of the amount of money that we allocated.
Mr. Woods: Exactly.
Chair Hardemon: So, you know, from what I understand, they've always --
Mr. Woods: Put some skin in the game, yes, sir.
Chair Hardemon: Any other person from the public like to make a comment? Seeing none, we'll
close the public hearing at this time. Is there a motion to --
Board Member Carollo: Move it.
Vice Chair Gort: Second.
Chair Hardemon: It's been properly moved and seconded to approve agenda item number 5.
Any unreadiness? Any discussion? Hearing none, all in favor, say "aye."
The Board (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: Motion passes.
6. CRA RESOLUTION
15-00029
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE
SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT
AGENCY AUTHORIZING THE EXPENDITURE OF FUNDS, UP TO $200,000
FOR THE PROVISION OF SPECIALIZED LEGAL SERVICES; AUTHORIZING
THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO EXECUTE ALL DOCUMENTS NECESSARY
FOR SAID PURPOSE; ALLOCATING FUNDS FROM SEOPW TAX
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INCREMENT FUND, ENTITLED "PROFESSIONAL SERVICES - LEGAL,"
ACCOUNT CODE NO. 10050.920101.531010.0000.00000.
File # 15-00029 Cover Memo.pdf
File # 15-00029 Financial Form.pdf
File # 15-00029 Legislation.pdf
Motion by Board Member Carollo, seconded by Vice -Chair Gort, that this matter be
ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote.
Votes: Ayes: Chair Hardemon and Vice Chair Gort
Noes: Commissioner Carollo
Absent: Commissioner Suarez and Commissioner Sarnoff
CRA-R-15-0006
Chair Hardemon: Moving on to Resolution Number 6 -- item number 6, rather.
Clarence Woods (Executive Director, Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment
Agency): Item number 6 is a resolution of the Board of Commissioners of the Southeast
Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment Agency authorizing the expenditure of funds up
to $200,000 for the provision of specialized legal services; authorizing the executive director to
execute all necessary -- all documents necessary for said purpose; allocating funds from
Southeast Overtown/Park West Tax Increment Fund entitled `Professional Services. "
Commissioner, this is our annual allocation towards the special counsel funds. It's an amount
up to; it's not necessarily so that we'll spend all of that money, but it's for all of the real estate
transactions that's being taken care of by special counsel.
Chair Hardemon: Is there anyone from the public that'd like to make a comment on this item?
Seeing none, I'm going to close the public hearing at this time. Is there a motion or any
discussion?
Board Member Carollo: Move it; discussion.
Vice Chair Gort: Second.
Chair Hardemon: It's been properly moved and seconded to approve agenda item number 6.
Commissioner Carollo, you are recognized.
Board Member Carollo: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And I'm going to mention something that
I've mentioned in the past. Again, I think we should go to an RFP (Request for Proposals) so we
could start seeing other law firms that could possibly be -- do some of this job so it's not the
same firm and the same person for -- over how many years; 20 years?
Mr. Woods: Yeah, and -- yes.
Board Member Carollo: And again, listen, this is the City of Miami. We have no lack of
attorneys or law firms. I think it's healthy to at least put out an RFP and see -- you know, have
them compete a little bit instead of it being a for sure thing that year after year. Even when you
mention it, when you started speaking, you said, "This is our annual allocation of $200, 000. "
Well, you know what? Maybe it shouldn't be 200, 000; maybe it should be less. And the bottom
line is I really think that we need to explore. Nothing against Holland & Knight, nothing against
Mr. Bloom, but I think we should explore and, you know, see what else is out there as far as are
we getting the best deal, because it's been, from what I've heard over 20 years with the same
attorneys and firm, so I just think we should open it up to at least substantiate that we are getting
the best deal from our legal counsel; and not to mention that I think we're spending quite a bit in
legal services, but anyhow, that's -- it's gotten better, and for that reason, I will not be supporting
this item.
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Chair Hardemon: Any other comment? The one thing about legal services that I can say is this:
It's not like selling widgets.
Board Member Carollo: I understand.
Chair Hardemon: So when we talk about "Are we getting our best deal?" what we need is
quality legal work by whatever firm that we've been -- that's working for us. And we know that
the CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) hasn't had a lot of funds to do much of anything in
past years, so I just want to make sure that whatever legal documentation has been working on --
that we've been working on in the past moves with the same consistency and pace so that we can
get projects completed within these next 14 years that we have left within the redevelopment
area. That doesn't mean that that firm will always be there, but we just want to make sure that
we don't -- not a race to the bottom when it comes to cost for legal services when you're paying
for someone's expertise.
Board Member Carollo: Yeah. No, believe me, I understand it quite well, and that's what I'm
saying, but that doesn't mean that they're the only law firm or the only attorney that can do this
type of work, because in Miami, as you very well know, we have no lack of attorneys or lack of
law firms for any specialization. So again, I just, you know, feel that we should -- we have a
fiduciary duty, because the less money we spend in legal services, the more money we can spend
in Overtown. So again, all I'm saying is we need to look into that and maybe put an RFP and see
different types of law firms that -- maybe we can have a pool, and not necessarily, you know have
a, "For sure, this is the attorney we're always going to go with, no matter what real estate
transaction we have, and this is the attorney we're going to go with." No. I think, you know,
there is enough competition out there that we should leverage that competition in order for us to,
you know, not pay as much and put more money into Overtown; simple as that.
Chair Hardemon: Any other comment?
Vice Chair Gort: Yes. I'd like to add that this time -- I think I agree that in the future, we should
have an RFP and trying to get another law firm, but at this time, this moment, the knowledge and
the history of knowledge that this individual had for the last transactions -- I mean, we have been
going for the last three years very complicated transactions. They've been involved with it, the
bond transactions and so on, so I don't have any problem with this one. But in the future, yes, I
could see some RFP going out.
Chair Hardemon: All in favor, say "aye." Aye.
Vice Chair Gort: Aye.
Board Member Carollo: No.
Chair Hardemon: Motion passes.
7. CRA RESOLUTION
15-00130
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE
SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT
AGENCY AUTHORIZING A GRANT, IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED
$220,000, TO HUMAN RESOURCES OF MIAMI, INC. TO UNDERWRITE
COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE CONTINUED OPERATION OF THE
OVERTOWN BEAUTIFICATION TEAM FOR 2015; AUTHORIZING THE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO EXECUTE ALL DOCUMENTS NECESSARY FOR
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SAID PURPOSE; FURTHER 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; FUNDS TO BE ALLOCATED FROM
SEOPW TAX INCREMENT FUND, ENTITLED "OTHER GRANTS AND AIDS,"
ACCOUNT CODE NO. 10050.920101.883000.0000.00000.
File # 15-00130 Cover Memo.pdf
File # 15-00130 Financial Form.pdf
File # 15-00130 Backup.pdf
File # 15-00130 Legislation.pdf
Motion by Board Member Carollo, seconded by Vice -Chair Gort, that this matter be
ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote.
Votes: Ayes: Chair Hardemon, Commissioner Carollo and Vice Chair Gort
Absent: Commissioner Suarez and Commissioner Sarnoff
CRA-R-1 5-0007
Chair Hardemon: Moving on to agenda item number 7.
Clarence Woods (Executive Director, Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment
Agency): Agenda item number 7 is a resolution of the Board of Commissioners of the Southeast
Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment Agency authorizing a grant in an amount not to
exceed $220, 000 to Human Resource Services, Inc. -- Human Resource Services of Miami, Inc. --
I'm sorry -- to underwrite costs associated with the continued operation of the Overtown
Beautification Team for 2015; authorizing the executive director to execute all documents
necessary for said purpose; further authorizing the executive director to disburse funds at his
discretion, or on a reimbursement basis, or directly to vendors upon presentation of invoices and
satisfactory documentation. Commissioner, again, this is our Blue Shirts, who have done a
marvelous job at keeping the community clean and deal with graffiti, and pressure -cleaning, and
just making the main quarters and even some of the cross streets more than presentable. I mean,
every day, you go out there, they're out there. And then the other thing is, is that this provide
jobs that get some of our second chance residents, those residents that need second chances back
into the workforce to build a resume, to then move on to better jobs. It's been a great program.
It's been run really well by Human Resource staffing, and, you know, I'm delighted to bring this
before you again for renewal of this grant.
Chair Hardemon: I'm going to open the floor for public hearing. Anyone from the public that
would like to make a comment, please come forward now. You're recognized.
Shoshanna Lincoln: Board, I'm quite perplexed as to what's happening in Overtown. Clarence
Wood -- let me be quite candid with my language -- is lacking visual acuity for this town that has
been degraded, and still degrading for the past half a century. Clarence Wood, you quite aware
that you're hiring people from Miami Shores, this Blue Shirt people to work in Overtown, and
our Overtown people who complain to me, this is how I know about that. He does not know.
These people are not -- this is not Clarence Wood -- within his jurisdiction to hire people to clean
street. This belong to the City of Miami and the NET (Neighborhood Enhancement Team). I
don't understand why we should give all this money. From what I have perceived, let me alleged,
quite clearly, I see some favoritism, and he does what he want to do and that's not permitted.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much.
Derek Cole: Hi. Derek Cole, 1010 Northwest 11 th Street. This is a very good program. I sit on
the Re -Entry Task Force with the U.S. (United States) Attorney and State Attorney, with Wayne
Rollins and that group, and this is a very good program, and we need more like it.
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Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much. You're recognized.
Marcia Carty: Good evening, everyone that is here. More importantly, I thank all of the
residents of Overtown. I'm grateful to be here. I'm representing Human Resources of Miami
particularly. Good evening to the Board, Commissioners, and I just want to thank you for
having faith.
Chair Hardemon: Can you state your name for the record, also?
Ms. Carty: Did I? It's Marcia Carty. I'm sorry. Thank you. Anyway, I just want to really say
I'm grateful that we've been given an opportunity to bring some positive, you know, results and
activities into Overtown. I was born here in Miami. I grew up in Overtown. I went to church
Overtown. I sold candy apple, you know, conch fritters and everything, so I'm from Overtown,
and my heart desire is to do something that will bring positivity to that. We operate a job
training initiative since -- 1999 we started, and we were given an opportunity to start with CRA
(Community Redevelopment Agency) in 2011. So we have had at least four cycles, I believe, of
being funded We believe that keeping the sub -city, the sub -community of Overtown clean is
profitable, practical, and creative and it should be encouraged. During this last period, we were
able to train a total of 33 persons. And when we train them, we put them in uniforms, we make --
we go through at least 26 life skill type training every other week. We don't issue a check to them
without them receiving training. Some of the training that we give them is very simplistic, but it
tends to motivate their mind and activate their vision to believe that they can, in fact, be
assimilated in the community and work jobs. So we teach them things such as creating visions,
transformation, discipline, society chain of command. So I'm just very grateful, and I don't think
I have anything else to say except thank you for giving myself and my daughter -- my daughter is
the primary person that's out there in the field with them. I'm just the one that do all the writing.
Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much. Any other persons from the public? Seeing none,
close the public hearing at this time. Is there any discussion?
Board Member Carollo: Move it; discussion.
Vice Chair Gort: Second.
Chair Hardemon: It's been properly moved and seconded to approve the item. You're
recognized.
Vice Chair Gort: Discussion. My understanding is you train them in landscaping?
Ms. Carty: We train them --
Vice Chair Gort: Why don't you come to the mike. Come to the mike.
Ms. Carty: We actually give them a course in landscaping. They receive a certificate, as well;
and we train them in anti -litter and we provide them opportunities for landscaping right in the
Overtown environment.
Vice Chair Gort: That's the reason why I asked the question. I don't know if we have any
particular plan where we can set up the landscaping and then beautify the area as much as we
can utilizing this system that we have. We did that in downtown Miami. We took a group of
people, former homeless --
Mr. Woods: Yes.
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Vice Chair Gort: -- and they did a lot of landscaping within downtown area and that works quite
a bit. And there's opportunity for jobs in landscaping.
Ms. Carty: Yes, and they not only do landscaping, they also -- we train them in pressure
cleaning, and in painting, and things of that nature, graffiti removal. And additionally, during
our process, we give them a lot of counseling, so we get into the intricacies of why you are
considering yourself a failure, and what do you think it takes to motivate you to stand up, live
again and be productive. So we go beyond the surface and generally speaking, that's why they
have changed. We've had one of our persons to work directly with that guy, the basketball player
that was so great; King James or somebody? Sorry for saying it wrong, but you know what I
mean. So, yeah, we have really good results with the people; they do well. I could sit down
now?
Chair Hardemon: Thank you. Any other discussion, questions? You're recognized.
Board Member Carollo: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. A couple of
things. With regards to the Blue Shirts, are they residents of Overtown?
Mr. Woods: Yes.
Ms. Carty: Yes, sir.
Ms. Lincoln: Not all.
Board Member Carollo: Okay.
Ms. Carty: Well, that's --
Board Member Carollo: So you might as well step to the mike.
Chair Hardemon: You could stay at the mike -- well, wait till the Commissioner finishes his
statement.
Ms. Carty: Okay.
Chair Hardemon: Reverend Lincoln, I -- stay seated, please.
Ms. Carty: Okay.
Board Member Carollo: And the bottom line is it's not an opinion, it's facts. Are they --
Mr. Woods: Yes.
Board Member Carollo: -- for the most part --?
Mr. Woods: Yes. We make them --
Ms. Carty: There's a screening process.
Mr. Woods: -- prove that they are residents of Overtown.
Board Member Carollo: Okay, because I would have a problem if they're not residents of
Overtown.
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Mr. Woods: They are residents of Overtown.
Ms. Carty: They are residents.
Board Member Carollo: Okay.
Mr. Woods: Inasmuch as we can --
Board Member Carollo: Understood understood.
Ms. Carty: Right; with their I.D. (identification) and --
Board Member Carollo: Understood. Second part: You said that this is a beginning for them to
move on into better jobs and stuff like that.
Ms. Carty: Yes.
Board Member Carollo: Do you have any of that documentation?
Ms. Carty: Yes, I do.
Mr. Woods: Actually --
Board Member Carollo: Of jobs that they have --
Ms. Carty: Yes.
Board Member Carollo: -- moved on to historically?
Ms. Carty: Yes. Even of the current 13, seven of them have been placed. We now have six more.
So each cycle, all of the persons that are in our program are, in fact, placed. "Placed" for us
means either, one, they're in full-time employment; two, they're back in college or vocational
training. A part of the process during the year that they're with us, they are placed in GED
(general education diploma) training and things of that nature. But at the end of their
involvement with us, they are, in fact, placed; that's a part of our contractual agreement.
Board Member Carollo: And let me ask you something. And once they are placed, how long do
you monitor to see that they are maintaining -- in other words, because some person could finish
the program and then be -- by your definition -- placed because they signed up for school. But
that doesn't mean that they finished, and that doesn't mean that they keep going. So how long do
you follow, you know --
Ms. Carty: Okay.
Board Member Carollo: -- their progress to see that --?
Ms. Carty: Excellent point. We -- initially, when we first started, the first pilot program, I don't
think we did a great job with the following through.
Board Member Carollo: I got you.
Ms. Carty: Okay? We just assumed, and we called, but we're doing much more of that now. So
now, we stay involved with them. Thirty -- no -- 90 days past the end of our period with them, so
at least we know at least three months past. But a lot of them come by the office, you know, and
they'll bring their family; they'll show us they got married. We can see -- they continually stay
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involved with us after the period. We have a lot of them that are no longer drug users and even if
they were, they are not to the extent they were before we met them, so there's all kind of positive
results at the end of the period.
Board Member Carollo: Understood. One last thing, Mr. Woods. Don't you think $220,000 at
your discretion -- I'm not saying you're a bad administrator. What I'm saying is that $220, 000 at
your discretion is a lot of money, so the only thing that I'm going to request -- I'm going to vote
in favor of this, but I'm going to request that whenever -- that you give me some type of a report
any time that there's funds allocated from the two -twenty --
Mr. Woods: Okay.
Board Member Carollo: -- so that I can see exactly what is it going to, what are you spending it
on.
Mr. Woods: Actually, Commissioner --
Ms. Carty: We have detail.
Mr. Woods: -- this is somewhat deceptive when it says "at my discretion." What that means is,
is basically, when they submit their documentation, their invoice, if agree with the
documentation that they've submitted, then I can disburse funds. But all -- you have a budget in
here and it's -- it details exactly where all of that money goes to. I don't just, you know, mete it
out at my -- at will or however I choose to. It's based on --
Ms. Carty: The budget.
Mr. Woods: -- the documentation that they give. If they've documented -- it's payroll, it's all of
those things. They can't have -- they can't submit a payroll where they're asking for more money
than somebody's actually worked. Those are the type of things that's at my discretion to be able
to say, "Okay, yes, I'll pay this, " or, "No, I'm not going to pay it, because it doesn't line up with
what you actually submitted as documentation."
Board Member Carollo: Well, since you have $220, 000 that you could say, "Yes, I will pay
this, " or "No, I will not pay this, " before you say, "Yes, I will pay this, " is it possible for you to
give me a phone call or at least --
Mr. Woods: Absolutely.
Board Member Carollo: -- give me a report, "They're asking me for this amount"?
Mr. Woods: Absolutely.
Board Member Carollo: Unless you're telling me that you receive invoices two or three times a
week.
Mr. Woods: I get invoices -- I get them every two weeks; I think it's every two week, every -- it's
like a pay stub.
Board Member Carollo: Okay, so on a monthly basis, more or less --
Mr. Woods: Yeah, yeah, we can do that.
Board Member Carollo: -- you could tell me, "Hey" --
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Mr. Woods: We can do that.
Ms. Carty: Yeah. It's a budget.
Chair Hardemon: One second, please.
Vice Chair Gort: My understanding is every grant that we have here is on reimbursement --
Mr. Woods: Right, it's -- yes.
Vice Chair Gort: -- package.
Mr. Woods: Yes.
Ms. Carty: Reimbursement.
Vice Chair Gort: My suggestion is whenever you do the -- before you do it, like he says, send it
to him; e-mail (electronic) it to him, the information.
Ms. Carty: Thank you so much, Commissioner.
Board Member Carollo: And again, I'm not looking to generate a lot of e-mails or a lot of
paperwork, but I would like to know, you know, from these $220, 000, you know, what percentage
is going to "X" --
Mr. Woods: No problem.
Board Member Carollo: -- and what percentage is going to "Y, " and -- you know, and just be
able to follow up a little bit without going crazy, but without -- just following up a little bit, you
know, the $220,000, where you're allocating it to; simple as that.
Mr. Woods: Absolutely no problem. We keep detailed records, everything --
Board Member Carollo: Perfect.
Mr. Woods: As far -- I can say to you that this program is one of the better managed programs,
because Ms. Carty, by profession, is a CPA (certified public accountant), and her working with
Miguel -- I think Miguel likes having to deal with her, because they both speak the same
language, and then you as well. So --
Board Member Carollo: Well, CPA's usually have a good record, so --
Mr. Woods: Yeah.
Ms. Carty: I do, sir.
Board Member Carollo: -- it's a good start.
Ms. Carty: Yes, sir.
Mr. Woods: This is one of the better managed -- I mean, all -- we -- I think all of our programs
are managed well, but as far as documentation, what they submit to us, we don't ever have a
problem with what they submit.
Board Member Carollo: Very good.
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ADJOURNMENT
Mr. Woods: And we can make that available to you --
Board Member Carollo: Fair enough.
Mr. Woods: -- with no problem; monthly, so it won't be so much.
Board Member Carollo: Yeah. And again, I don't want to micro -manage it. I just want to know
-- have a little more detail of these two -twenty, where they were allocated, you know.
Mr. Woods: No problem.
Board Member Carollo: Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: So -- and I just want to be -- so -- because within the project proposal, there is
a budget --
Mr. Woods: Yes.
Chair Hardemon: -- that's put in, and it shows the amount of allocations that will go to each
item, so it's for everyone -- and I'm sure you've taken a look at this if you're in this meeting and
you're standing for public comment that you've seen what this program has done for our
community, and what I appreciate about it is that it provides those training opportunities, and it
does not necessarily require you -- nothing within the Community Development Act requires you
to live within the community to receive that training --
Board Member Carollo: Right.
Chair Hardemon: -- but what's unique is that we always want more participation from Overtown
residents than any other residents; and then second, that the service that they're providing to the
community is in the Overtown community.
Mr. Woods: Exactly, exactly.
Chair Hardemon: So it benefits the Overtown community in two ways.
Mr. Woods: Exactly.
Chair Hardemon: One, training and investment in the people; and then two, a return from that
training, which is a service that's provided to keep Overtown clean. And research has always
shown that when a community is clean, it's perceived to be safer. And so we want safe, clean
communities within Miami, and especially within Overtown. So I'm in support of this item as it
is. And is there any further discussion? Seeing none, all in favor, say "aye."
The Board (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: Motion passes. I'm going to call this meeting adjourned at 6:35 p.m. Thank
you very much, everyone, for your attention.
The meeting adjourned at 6:34 p.m.
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