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Meeting Minutes
Monday, March 30, 2015
5:00 PM
Camillus House
1603 NW 7th Ave., Bldg. B
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 March 30, 2015
Present: Commissioner Suarez, Commissioner Carollo, Vice Chair Gort and Chair Hardemon
Absent: Commissioner Sarnoff
On the 30th day of March 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: 03 p.m., and was adjourned at 5: 36 p.m.
Note for the Record: Commissioner Suarez entered the meeting at 5:10 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
APPROVING THE MINUTES OF THE FOLLOWING MEETING
RESOLUTIONS
1
15-00336
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: (UNINTELLIGIBLE), 2015, at 5:03 p.m. Noted for presence on the record,
myself the Chairman, Keon Hardemon; Vice Chairman Willy Gort; and Commissioner -- what's
your name? -- Carollo, Commissioner Carollo. I'd like to move to the first item of business,
approving the regular meeting minutes of February 23, 2015.
Board Member Carollo: Move it.
Vice Chair Gort: Second.
Chair Hardemon: It's been properly moved and seconded that we approve those minutes. All in
favor, say "aye."
The Board (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: Motion passes.
CRA RESOLUTION
RESOLUTION THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE SOUTHEAST
OVERTOWN/PARK WEST COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY, WITH
ATTACHMENTS, AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE
SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT
AGENCY TO EXECUTE AN AMENDMENT TO THE DECLARATION OF
RESTRICTIONS REGARDING BLOCK 36 WITH MIAMI-DADE COUNTY,
FLORIDA TO EXTEND THE ZONING APPROVAL DEADLINE BY TWO (2)
YEARS FROM NOVEMBER 14, 2014 TO NOVEMBER 14, 2016 AND TO
EXTEND THE TIME FRAME FOR COMMENCEMENT OF VERTICAL
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Meeting Minutes March 30, 2015
CONSTRUCTION FROM NOVEMBER 14, 2015 TO NOVEMBER 15, 2017
AND PROVIDE THAT THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MAY NOT
UNILATERALLY MODIFY THE TIME DEADLINES.
File # 15-00336 Cover Memo.pdf
File # 15-00336 Legislation.pdf
File # 15-00336 Exhbit A County Approval.pdf
File # 15-00336 Signed legislation .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 5-0009
Chair Hardemon: Moving on now to our first resolution: Resolution authorizing the executive
director to execute an amendment to the declaration of restriction regarding Block 36 with
Miami -Dade County. Mr. Woods?
Clarence Woods (Executive Director, Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment
Agency): Yes. Commissioners, the first resolution is a resolution of the Board of Commissioners
of the Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment Agency, with attachments,
authorizing the executive director of the Southeast Overtown/Park West Community
Redevelopment Agency to execute an amendment to the declaration of restrictions regarding
Block 36 with Miami -Dade County, Florida, to extend the zoning approval deadline by two
years, from November 14, 2014 to November 14, 2016,- and to extend the time frame for
commencement of vertical construction from November 14, 2015 to November 15, 2017; and
provide that the executive director may not unilaterally modify the time deadlines.
Vice Chair Gort: Move it.
Board Member Carollo: Second; discussion.
Chair Hardemon: It's been properly moved and seconded to approve this agenda item. I open
up the floor right now for public hearing. Is there anyone from the public that'd like to discuss
this item? Seeing none, I'm going to close the public hearing. Is there any discussion?
Board Member Carollo: Yes.
Chair Hardemon: You're recognized, sir.
Board Member Carollo: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Executive Director, I think we should
put for the record a reason for this extension.
Mr. Woods: Well, the reason for the extension is, at this point in time, we are in the process of
replotting Block 36, and you'll see there's almost -- it's not a companion item, but item number 3
will also speak to the replat of Block 36. It's just been unfortunate that right now, at this point in
time, the Black Archives -- the extension of the Lyric Theater, the new Archives, which is where
we are actually located right now, has been completed. All of the construction is done. There
are some mechanics liens that need to be taken care of, and once those liens have been taken
care of then we can go ahead and get the CO (Certificate of Occupancy) and finalize the
platting process. So with all of that happening, it basically kind of moves the dates out, so that's
the reason for the extension; is that we are not finalized -- we haven't finalized the replatting of
Block 36 as of yet.
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Chair Hardemon: And from what I understand, also, that that process has taken about two years
now that it's been delayed for Block 36; is that correct?
Mr. Woods: Yes, yes, it has.
Chair Hardemon: Any further discussion? Seeing all -- seeing none, all in favor, say "aye. "
The Board (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: All against? Motion passes.
2 CRA RESOLUTION
15-00335
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE
SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT
AGENCY ACCEPTING THE RECOMMENDATION TO SELECT H.A.
CONTRACTING, CORP., AS THE TOP RANKED FIRM TO PERFORM THE
RENOVATION AND REHABILITATION OF TOWN PARK PLAZA SOUTH, 1798
N.W. 7TH AVENUE, MIAMI, FLORIDA 33136 (FOLIO #: 01-3136-066-0001)
("PROJECT"); FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO
NEGOTIATE WITH THE TOP RANKED FIRM TO PERFORM THE PROJECT.
File # 15-00335 Cover Memo.pdf
File # 15-00335 Backup.pdf
File # 15-00335 Legislation.pdf
15-00335-Submittal-Todd Jonas -Poinciana TJJA.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, Commissioner Carollo, Vice Chair Gort and Commissioner Suarez
Absent: Commissioner Sarnoff
CRA-R-15-0010
Chair Hardemon: Moving on to 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 accepting the
recommendation to select HA Contracting Corp. as the top -ranked firm to perform the
renovation and rehabilitation of Town Park South, and the address is there for the record. This --
and further authorizing the executive director to negotiate with the top -ranked firm to perform
the reconstruction of the project.
Chair Hardemon: Is there anyone from the public that'd like to speak on this item? Can you
please step forward?
Todd Jonas: We got a little handout.
Chair Hardemon: Oh, okay. Can you do me a favor? Can you pass this to the Clerk, give one
to the Clerk?
Linda Forrest: Good afternoon. My name is Linda Forrest, Poinciana -- president of Poinciana
Development Group; one part of the -- one of the proposers, PDG/TGGA -- TJJA. We just had a
brief statement and we have a little handout for everybody. We do not feel that the ranking was
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done in a fair and impartial manner, and it lacked transparency. And as you know, the Town
Park Project's has had a lot of controversy over the last few months, and basically, due to the
lack of clarity, transparency, and since the ranking is so close, we would ask to let the people of
Town Park South decide who is going to renovate and complete their project.
Chair Hardemon: May I ask you a question?
Ms. Forrest: Sure.
Chair Hardemon: When you say, "there is a lack of transparency," there was a committee that
was put together to actually do this ranking. I know that members from the Town Park North --
Town Park South community were on that selection committee.
Ms. Forrest: Correct.
Vice Chair Hardemon: So can you describe to me, what do you mean by it lacked transparency?
Ms. Forrest: Not calling any names, but when you look at the tally sheets, you can see that even
though the experience is there and the qualifications are there, some members of different -- not
just our firm -- other firms also, they got a zero in like qualifications, when they have 20, 30
years of qualifications to do this type of work. It's just what it looks like, you know. When you
look at it on a piece of paper, it just looks strange, that's all.
Chair Hardemon: So your objection is not necessarily to the transparency, but it's to the points
Ms. Forrest: The way the ranking was done, and just how the information was disseminated to
the firms, and that there were no presentations done on this project. Usually, when you have a
Request for Qualifications, you do the Request for Qualifications, you short -rank a number of
firms, and then each firm is allowed 10, 15 minutes of presentation time to present their project.
Chair Hardemon: Okay.
Ms. Forrest: And that's just all Pm saying.
Chair Hardemon: Okay.
Ms. Forrest: Okay?
Chair Hardemon: Thank you. Is there anyone else from the public that'd like to speak on this
item?
Mr. Jonas: Yes. My name's Todd Jonas. I'm an architect. We've been in front of this committee
I don't know how many times, and part of the design/build process here with Linda Forrest, we're
on the team. We came in at 350 points, and HA has come in at 352, and I just wanted to say that
we don't feel -- hi -- we don't feel that we were rated properly. I mean, I've been involved here
with the -- with this community, with Clarence, with the original estimates for this project, and
we're rated zero as qualified; everyone else gets 20 points. We're rated at zero, and as
technically uncertified These issues are a little bit beyond -- I don't know if you read
"Freakonomics, " but when you do the numbers, the numbers are obvious that something strange
happened on this vote, and -- we just believe -- and we pointed it out, and we think that the
easiest way to handle this is let the people of the Town Park South decide, because everybody's
so close here, anyways. So that's what we got to say.
Chair Hardemon: And when you describe "zero, " you're talking about one of the --
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Mr. Jonas: One of the raters --
Vice Chair Hardemon: -- score cards, or one of the (UNINTELLIGIBLE) --
Mr. Jonas: -- has rated us as -- I mean, I'm a little -- I got to tell you, I'm a little insulted,
because I'm graded as totally unqualified, technically incapable, and I've been in front of these
meetings for a long time. I'm the one who's done the original estimates for Town Park, and I'm
rated zero as far as estimates.
Chair Hardemon: By one of the persons that was --
Mr. Jonas: By one of the persons.
Chair Hardemon: Okay.
Mr. Jonas: So I just feel that it's a little bit -- either that person didn't even read the proposal,
doesn't know what's going on, or the issue is there's something else happening. So I think the
easiest thing to do here is to throw it to the people and not have it decided by a committee on top.
That's all I got to say.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much. Is there anyone else that'd like to speak from the
public? Seeing none, Mr. Woods, can you please help us address these concerns?
Mr. Woods: Yes. Commissioner, first of all, the process, you know, in which we undertook, there
was no -- nothing cloaked in -- or shrouded in secrecy, or anything like that. There wasn't any
controversy about it. When Ms. Forrest mentions controversy, I don't know what --
Chair Hardemon: Can you first describe what the process was?
Mr. Woods: Well, we put out the RFQ (Request for Qualifications). We had any and everybody
that wanted to submit their qualifications; they were able to submit their qualifications to the
Clerk's Office. The Clerk handled all of the submissions. There was a timeliness requirement,
and everybody that was ranked actually submitted their proposals on time. When they were
delivered to us, we initially looked at the proposals to see if they were responsible and
responsive, and determined that they were. We impanelled a review committee. That review
committee consisted of two members of the Town Park South Co -Op, as well as two members
from the CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency), and then a third arbitrary member, a third
member from the community --
Chair Hardemon: The members from --
Mr. Woods: -- who had construction experience.
Chair Hardemon: -- Town Park, how were they selected?
Mr. Woods: They selected -- the association selected their members; they selected their own
members. Once we impanelled the committee, we delivered copies of the proposals to everyone
that would be seated on the review panel, and we set a date for reviewing the proposals, and
once those proposals -- or once that date was set, everybody got the proposals in more than
enough time for them to be able to go through them and kind of get themselves familiarized with
the proposals. And then, they were brought together, they sat down and they discussed each
proposal. And then, they did their rankings. And once their rankings were completed, we --
well, we dismissed them, then we tallied all the rankings and we came up with the scoring for
each member. I'd like to say that when they talk about they received zeroes on -- in certain
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areas, they weren't the only one that received zeroes in certain areas.
Vice Chair Gort: Quite a few --
Chair Hardemon: Yeah. It appears to me that every score card that I'm looking at had an actual
zero --
Mr. Woods: Yeah.
Chair Hardemon: -- on it somewhere.
Mr. Woods: Right. And you got to remember what this project is about. This project is a rehab
project, and as such, the most important element of a rehab project is the contractor. I think
when you look at the proposals, most of the proposals basically led with the contractor being the
project manager, and we felt like it was very important to have a strong contractor. The
architecture, although it's not insignificant, it is not the main aspect or the main focus of this
particular effort, because you're not -- I mean, this is not a new construction project. This is a
rehab project where most of the work is going to be done by the contractors and not by the
architect. So I think therein lies some of the philosophical differences that Mr. Jonas is speaking
of.
Chair Hardemon: It appears that the -- every other construction company, except for one,
received a zero in something by at least one score card. Commissioners, do you have anything
that you'd like to discuss about the item?
Vice Chair Gort: I have to tell you, in the business that I was in, I had to respond to a lot of
RFPs and not every -- not always I was very happy in the ranking, and unfortunate, that's the
way it works. I think if you have the right selection of individuals making the ranking, you got to
go by the points. I don't see any problem. And you always going to have one person happy and
the rest of the persons' going to be very -- they're going to think the process very unfair. I mean,
that's been my experience in the past.
Chair Hardemon: From what's been described to me by Mr. Woods and then what was stated on
the record, I haven't seen anything that was inherently unfair in the way that it was organized.
There were five different members; two people from Town Park that were elected amongst
themselves. I'm looking at a situation where each entity besides one received at least one zero. I
don't hear that four organizations were allowed to present where one wasn't. I mean, it seems to
me, from what's been presented to me that this has been a fair process, and it didn't necessarily
lack transparency, especially where you have a committee that has people from that community
on it. That is the type of representation that they chose to select who their representative was to
select who the contractor is. So I don't see a reason of necessarily scrapping this whole process
and putting it to a vote of the people that decide to show up to vote, maybe, on that day; I don't.
Commissioners, anything else?
Board Member Suarez: I just -- I agree. I mean, I think, you know, I agree with Commissioner
Gort's point, as well. I mean, there's -- some would say there's some inherent subjectivity in
these kinds of processes, but what's clear is that we want to get this project started. So, you
know, unless there's some real huge unfairness that is clear, and I don't see that here, so.
Chair Hardemon: Well, is there a motion to approve it?
Board Member Suarez: So moved.
Vice Chair Gort: Second.
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Chair Hardemon: It's been properly moved and seconded to approve this item to negotiate
agreement with the top -ranked proposer for Town Park Plaza South. Is there any further
unreadiness, any further discussion? Seeing none, all in favor, say "aye."
The Board (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: All in -- against? Motion passes.
3 CRA RESOLUTION
15-00332
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
$700,000 (INITIALLY BUDGETED FOR $1,025,000 FOR FISCAL YEAR
BEGINNING OCTOBER 1, 2014 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30, 2015), TO THE
CITY OF MIAMI TO UNDERWRITE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH A POLICE
PILOT PROGRAM WITHIN THE REDEVELOPMENT AREA; AUTHORIZING
THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO DISBURSE FUNDS, AT HIS DISCRETION,
ON A REIMBURSEMENT BASIS OR DIRECTLY TO VENDORS, UPON
PRESENTATION OF INVOICES AND SATISFACTORY DOCUMENTATION;
FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE 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 # 15-00332 Cover Memo.pdf
File # 15-00332 Financial Form.pdf
File # 15-00332 Backup.pdf
File # 15-00332 Legislation.pdf
Motion by Board Member Carollo, seconded by Board Member Suarez, that this matter be
ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote.
Votes: Ayes: Chair Hardemon, Commissioner Carollo, Vice Chair Gort and Commissioner Suarez
Absent: Commissioner Sarnoff
CRA-R-15-0011
Chair Hardemon: Moving on to the resolution authorizing a grant not to exceed $700,000 to the
City of Miami for policing innovations in the redevelopment area.
Board Member Carollo: Move it.
Board Member Suarez: Second.
Chair Hardemon: Been properly moved and seconded.
Board Member Suarez: Not too many to discuss that one.
Chair Hardemon: I open it up for the -- anyone from the community to speak on this item. I will
-- and if we could be blessed to have either someone from the Police Department just to give a
few words to say something about what we're doing today.
Clarence Woods (Executive Director, Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment
Agency): I'd just like to say that I've had the privilege of working with Chief -- what's your name
again?
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Chair Hardemon: Gomez.
Jorge Gomez (Assistant Chief Police): I know you from somewhere.
Mr. Woods: Chief Gomez, as well as Placido Diaz, and these guys have been -- they've been
really great to work with. I've been working with them for some time now, and they're going to
give us their yeoman's voice in making sure that the SEOPW CRA (Southeast Overtown/Park
West Community Redevelopment Agency) Police, you know, make things safer and create a better
quality of life for the residents of the Overtown area.
Chief Gomez: Commissioner, first of all, the Chief wanted to be here today, but he has a meeting
with the State Attorneys Office, so --
Chair Hardemon: We switched places.
Chief Gomez: -- I'm pinch hitting for him. This -- we already started this program in the Omni
side CRA, which is enhancing police services. Basically, what this is going to do is put more
officers besides what we're going to put in the Overtown area; that we have in the Overtown
area. Right now, we're restructuring some of our areas, and Overtown is going to get a little bit
more police officers when it comes to beats, beat officers and problem -solving team officers. In
the new realignment, they're going to -- they'll be getting those officers, besides the six officers
that they're going to get. Basically, these officers are going to be placed in problem areas that
we have and -- but we've seen in the Omni area where we started, violent crimes, robberies,
burglaries, all those crimes have gone down. Basically, one of the problems that we're having in
the area are the violent crimes, and this will really -- it is going to be concentrated in a lot of the
violent crime areas, so I think this is a win/win for the area, sir.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much. Is there anyone else from the community? Seeing
none, I'll close the public hearing at this time.
Mr. Woods: And just so I don't get arrested when I leave here, Commander Farmer, I'm sorry;
got to acknowledge her.
Chair Hardemon: The one thing I thought that was special about this item is that, I mean, this is
directly from the Florida Statutes as community development, and this is what it's about, creating
community policing innovation, so we're happy to make this happen within the Overtown area
and we look forward to the commitment that the Police Department has to reducing the crime
that's happening in our communities, especially things like what happened today in
Commissioner Suarez' district, and what happened this past week in mine. So --
Board Member Suarez: About two blocks from my house.
Chief Gomez: With those resources --
Chair Hardemon: Yeah. Say it again.
Board Member Suarez: It's about two blocks from my house.
Chair Hardemon: So we don't all live behind these --
Board Member Suarez: Right.
Chair Hardemon: -- shiny gates, right?
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Vice Chair Gort: Nope.
Chair Hardemon: Is there any other discussion?
Board Member Suarez: Actually, the same block.
Vice Chair Gort: Well, I think this is a very comprehensive plan that the -- you guys do the whole
plan working as a team, right?
Chief Gomez: Yes, sir. Those resources, Commissioners, are going to be under the direction of
Commander Farmer.
Chair Hardemon: Okay.
Vice Chair Gort: They're the one that knows what's going on.
Chief Gomez: Yeah, you're absolutely right, sir.
Chair Hardemon: Any further discussion? Hearing none, all in favor, say "aye."
The Board (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: All against? Motion passes. Thank you very much.
4 CRA RESOLUTION
15-00333
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE
SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT
AGENCY ("CRA"), AUTHORIZING A GRANT, IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO
EXCEED $733,000, 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 2015
CALENDAR YEAR, CONSTRUCTION GAP FUNDING TO CLOSE OUT THE
CONSTRUCTION OF THE LYRIC THEATER CULTURAL COMPLEX, AND
TENANT IMPROVEMENTS THEREIN; 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;
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 IS
NOT INCREASED; FUNDS TO BE ALLOCATED FROM SEOPW TAX
INCREMENT FUND, ENTITLED "GRANTS AND OTHER AIDS," ACCOUNT
CODE NO. 10050.920101.883000.0000.00000.
File # 15-00333 Cover Memo.pdf
File # 15-00333 Financial Form.pdf
File # 15-00333 Backup.pdf
File # 15-00333 Legislation.pdf
15-00333-Submittal-Timothy Barber -Lyric Theater.pdf
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Motion by Board Member Suarez, seconded by Board Member Carollo, that this matter be
ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote.
Votes: Ayes: Chair Hardemon, Commissioner Carollo, Vice Chair Gort and Commissioner Suarez
Absent: Commissioner Sarnoff
CRA-R-15-0012
Chair Hardemon: Moving on to resolution agenda item number 4.
Clarence Woods (Executive Director, Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment
Agency): Commissioners, item number 4 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 $733,000 to the Black Archives History & Research Foundation of South
Florida to underwrite costs associated with the continued operations and programming of the
Lyric Theater Cultural Heritage Institute for the 2015 calendar year. It would also provide -- the
programming is $433,000. It would also provide for a construction gap loan to close out the
construction of the Lyric Theater Cultural Complex and the tenant improvements therein; that is
for $200, 000. This resolution also authorizes the executive director to disburse directly to
vendors or upon presentation of invoices and satisfactory documentation; 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 is not increased.
Board Member Suarez: Move it.
Board Member Carollo: Second.
Chair Hardemon: It's been properly moved and seconded that we authorize this item. And for
the record, for the written record, I just want to make it clear that Commissioner Suarez came in
during agenda item number 2 regarding the Town Park Plaza South, so he's noted for the record.
Additionally, was there something that you need to clarify as far as --
Mr. Woods: Yeah.
Chair Hardemon: -- with the grant?
Mr. Woods: The total grant amount is $733, 000; $433, 000, as I just stated, will go towards the
programming of the Black Archives and the Lyric Theater; 200,000 of those dollars will go
towards the paying off of construction loan -- construction cost for the Lyric Theater in order
that they might get -- well, to clear up liens in order to get the CO (Certificate of Occupancy) for
the building.
Chair Hardemon: Will the Overtown CRA get that money back?
Mr. Woods: That money will come back, the $200, 000. There's an additional $100, 000 -- up to
$100, 000 that will go towards preparing the building to be able to be partitioned. Right now, it's
not a partitioned building. If we wanted to be able to get into that building, because we occupy
the third floor, we would have to call Tim every time we want to get into the building. So what
this would do, it would -- it'll provide for us being able to have access into the building when we
need to get in there, whether it's on weekends or whatever, and keep the rest of the building
secure and not have people come up to our floor when they are having functions going on at the
Lyric Theater. So it provides a duality of purpose.
Chair Hardemon: You're recognized, sir.
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DISCUSSION ITEMS
1
15-00394
Vice Chair Gort: Let me ask a question. As I read -- went to the documentation we have, at one
time, the $200, 000 could have been -- become a grant without repayment, and who makes the
decision for that?
Mr. Woods: No, no, no, it's not going to become a grant at all; it will be paid back. It's a loan.
It isn't --
Vice Chair Gort: Okay. There was a second option that I read.
Chair Hardemon: He's speaking of the -- there was a letter from the Black Archives that they --
Mr. Woods: Oh, well, they were request -- they were asking that, but we --
Vice Chair Gort: But we didn't agree to that.
Mr. Woods: No.
Vice Chair Gort: Okay.
Mr. Woods: We haven't. And you guys -- I'm sorry -- you, the Board Members can state that for
the record, right here now, that that is not an option.
Chair Hardemon: The -- and I would like to say the 100 -- up to $100, 000 that's used to
partition, as you put it, the Lyric Theater, we know that the Lyric Theater is a place where people
can actually rent space; it's why we rent space there. So this will give them the opportunity to
maximize their rental space and become less dependent on what we give them as we move
forward. I mean, we all know that trying to have a performing arts center takes cost, and you
can't always recover those costs from the private community, so there is some aid for training
dollars that we put towards it, but I'm perfectly satisfied with it as it is. Is there any further
comments? Seeing none -- I'm not sure ifI opened and closed the public hearing. I'll open up
the floor for public hearing.
Vice Chair Gort: You did.
Chair Hardemon: Okay. And I'll close it now.
Board Member Suarez: You know what? And this is what's holding back item number 1, which I
wasn't here --
Mr. Woods: Right.
Board Member Suarez: -- to vote on, unfortunately, and I just want to say that we've been -- we
had been working with the Black Archives to get this plat issue resolved; and again, this goes to
getting projects started and getting them done, so I'm totally in favor.
Chair Hardemon: All in favor, say "aye."
The Board (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: Motion passes.
CRA DISCUSSION
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Meeting Minutes March 30, 2015
UPDATE ON REHABILITATION OF PEOPLE'S BAR-B-QUE.
File # 15-00394 Cover Memo.pdf
File # 15-00394 Backup.pdf
DISCUSSED
Chair Hardemon: Moving on to now the discussion item DI 1.
Clarence Woods (Executive Director, Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment
Agency): Commissioners, the discussion item is an item that was before you on December 29th
of 2014. It's People's Barbecue. At that point in time, what we did was we just allocated a
million dollars without having an actual budget. Well, now, we've gotten three bids and we do
have a budget. That budget is here for your perusal. We also have a set of schematic -- a
schematic concept, as well as renderings of what the new People's Restaurant will look like, and
we believe that it'll be a signature building. It's going to be a wonderful space, and we want to
go ahead and get it started. Ms. Lewis has already engaged an architect, she's already engaged
three contractors, and we are ready to go ahead and get started, so it's there for you to see
exactly how we'll be able to spend the money.
Chair Hardemon: Any discussion? Seeing none.
COMMUNITY PRESENTATION
1
15-00344
CRA PRESENTATION
PRESENTATION ON THE MURAL ON THE 3RD AVENUE METRORAIL
GUIDEWAY
File # 15-00344 Cover Memo.pdf
PRESENTED
Chair Hardemon: Moving on to the community presentation.
Clarence Woods (Executive Director, Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment
Agency): The community presentation is for our mural project, the Third Avenue Guide Way
Mural Project that was awarded to Addonis Parker, and I think -- there he is. And we wanted to
be able to come before the community and show the concepts that Mr. Parker has been putting
together since the Board awarded the project to Mr. Parker. Mr. Parker.
Vice Chair Gort: Is he an artist --
Chair Hardemon: Yeah, the tall gentleman --
Vice Chair Gort: -- or is he a fullback?
Chair Hardemon: He's a big guy, yeah. Mr. Parker.
Mr. Woods: The 6'8" talented artist.
Addonis Parker: Sony I'm late. I was -- playing for (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Vice Chair Gort: You're an artist; you get excused.
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Mr. Parker: Okay.
Chair Hardemon: And if we could, can I have someone from the CRA (Community
Redevelopment Agency) assist him when he needs to hold those diagrams up?
Mr. Parker: For the record, my name is Addonis Parker. Forgive me for my time being late.
Today, I want to talk about the mural -- well, the whole scope of services and the ideas about
what I want to do for 3rd Avenue and 11 th Street and also 11 th Court with the Purvis Young
mural that's there with the vinyl wrap. I pretty -- I was talking to a couple people. I've been
going back and forth with the CRA about getting the actual history, meeting people. I met with a
few residents and I've done extensive research. I've also contacted the Black Archives, and I
think I'm digging up a lot more than I'd expected, which is very fruitful, by the way, but my ideas
are -- it's going to be the progression. I want to tell the story. I don't want to be politically
correct; I want to tell the truth. First of all, this is not actually what's going there, but this is
some type of idea where I'm headed as far as my direction. It's the actual pioneers, the people
that helped build Overtown; it was at that time called "Colored Town" to -- for me, going back
into the archives and actually looking. And it was, I think -- if Pm not mistaken -- the Baha -- it
was a huge Bahamian influence. St. Agnes, I restored their altar year before last. I got a lot of
history about St. Agnes in Overtown. That church is over a hundred years old, which I think
Overtown has at least maybe two or three with that same length of time. I wanted to talk about
the Bahamian influence and also the settlers. There was -- I'm finding out there were Indians
also mixed, intertwined in that historical thing there; that's second to the last, sir, that one there.
Okay, the second one -- that's the one right behind you, I'm sorry. The second board -- what I'm
actually going to do is tell a story. It's called "Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow "; that's the
mural project that I'm working on. That's the name of the project. The second board here is
actually the progression about the '60s. It's about -- also, I want to tell the story, not to tap in,
not to -- you know, I want to talk about the progression that -- and the advancement that came
from the eminent domain. There were a few riots. I'm not going to put anything like that on
there, but I do want to document the actual political struggle that actually went on. I know
everybody want to talk about Martin Luther King and put King up there in the struggle in the
'60s, but I think that Overtown had its own personal story that I want to document on there. I've
done -- I met with a few groups. I can't -- their names right now I can't -- I don't why I can't
think of their names, but I understand that there were five officers -- because the last meeting, I
also met with Stephanie van Vark. There were -- five police officers were the first black officers.
During -- I can't -- I mean I -- my mind -- I'm sorry. But I'm learning a lot of history.
Chair Hardemon: It was probably in the '40s, the '40s.
Mr. Parker: Yeah, something like that. I think Clyde -- what his name? -- John Clyde and some
more of those, at the time, they weren't even -- wasn't even considered officers. They were called
"patrolmen." They couldn't arrest any whites or had any jurisdiction. They had to stay within
their boundaries. It was heavy. It's a lot of good, rich history, but what I want to do, everybody
that's involved, every background, every culture, I want to paint a picture to -- this is about
Historical Overtown. I want to tell the truth, definitely. But then, everybody that participated,
everybody -- we're talking about yesterday, today and tomorrow. I want to invite everybody to
the party and I want to tell the truth; that's the biggest thing. This is the art and culture wall
here. This will be facing Gibson Park. Again, this is not the actual final draft. I will have the
draft very soon. This is the direction I'm going in -- excuse me. We're going to paint a lot of
stars that were -- back then that were prominent, our early -- was it -- Billy Holiday, 1930s,
1940s, 1950s, '60s -- Sammy Davis, Jr.; James Brown -- the people that actually came down to
visit. I talked to -- I spoke with -- is it Ms. Pinkney? She's the -- yes, yeah, she's advocating right
now. She's still pushing that Hampton House thing, and I got a lot of history from that, you
know, and who visited who came down. Also, to -- again, when I'm telling the story, we're
talking about tomorrow, where we want to see, and that will be the last picture. Actually, the last
wall is about where we're going with this as far as -- excuse me, I got a cold -- multiculturalism,
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ADJOURNMENT
you know, togetherness; no more separation. We know about what happened yesterday. Let's
move forward. If we're going to work together, let's work together. So that's pretty much -- I got
one more wall here. It's -- I'm sorry -- I think -- wow, yeah. It's called "Tomorrow's Promise
from God, " and this was -- again, this was brief. This was off the cuff here. This -- but it's
actually -- I don't know if you can see the kids on here, but it's -- we have to tell the story, the
real story about where we want to go with this, you know. We know that, again, I want to tell the
truth in the beginning about the settlers also from Lemon City. I did some research, found that
out. I did not know about Lemon City. I didn't know about Colored Town, which is now
Overtown. I'm actually learning a lot. But I want to -- actually, I want to paint a movie. I want,
when people drive by, I want to see a motion -- I want them to see a motion picture about my
version of the soul of Overtown out ofAddonis' eyes, but I want to be -- again, I wasn't born in
Overtown, but I feel like I'm a part of it. I've done enough work in Overtown, but I want to tell
the story to where if anyone from anywhere around the world comes to see Overtown, if they look
at the wall, it'd be close to the truth if not the full truth, or to my understanding of what
historical, you know, relevance it is. So I just want to say I thank you for your time, listening to
me, and thank you for allowing me to be a little late. I appreciate it. Is there anything, any
questions you might want to ask?
Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much. Commissioners? Seeing none, thank you very much,
sir.
Mr. Parker: Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: No problem. All right. Now that all hearts and minds are clear, I'm going to
close the meeting at 5: 35 p.m. Thank you very much, gentlemen and everyone, for watching.
The meeting adjourned at 5: 36 p.m.
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