HomeMy WebLinkAboutSEOPW CRA 2016-05-23 MinutesCity of Miami
City Hall
3500 Pan American Drive
Miami, FL 33133
www.miamigov.com
Meeting Minutes
Monday, May 23, 2016
6:00 PM
Black Archives Historic Lyric Theater Cultural Arts Complex
819 N.W. 2nd Ave.,
Miami, FL 33136
SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency
Keon Hardemon, Chair
Wifredo (Willy) Gort, Vice Chair
Ken Russell, 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 May 23, 2016
RESOLUTIONS
1.
16-00713
Present: Commissioner Suarez, Commissioner Carollo, Vice Chair Gort, Chair Hardemon and
Commissioner Russell
On the 23rd day of May 2016, the Board of Commissioners of the Southeast Overtown/Park West
Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of Miami met in regular session at Black Archives
Historic Lyric Theater Cultural Arts Complex, 819 Northwest 2nd Avenue, Miami, Florida. The
meeting was called to order by Chair Hardemon at 6: 29 p.m., recessed at 9: 37 p.m., reconvened
at 9:44 p.m., recessed at 10:32 p.m., reconvened at 10:53 p.m., and was adjourned at 11:16p.m.
Note for the Record: Vice Chair Gort and Commissioner Suarez entered the meeting at 6: 31 p.m.
ALSO PRESENT:
Clarence E. Woods, Executive Director, CRA
William Bloom, Special Counsel, CRA
Renee A. Jadusingh, Staff Counsel, CRA
Barnaby Min, Deputy General Counsel
Todd B. Hannon, Clerk of the Board
CRA RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE
SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT
AGENCY, AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO NEGOTIATE A
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT FOR ARCHITECTURAL
SERVICES FOR WORLD LITERACY CRUSADE OF FLORIDA, INC.'S "MAMA
HATTIE'S HOUSE", SUBJECT TO CONVEYANCE OF PROPERTY BY
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY TO WORLD LITERACY CRUSADE OF FLORIDA, INC.
FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SAME AND PRESENT THE PROPOSAL
TO THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS FOR CONSIDERATION.
File # 16-00713 Cover Memo.pdf
File # 16-00713 Back up.pdf
File # 16-00713 Legislation.pdf
Motion by Board Member Suarez, seconded by Board Member Carollo, that this matter be
ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote.
Votes: Ayes: Commissioner Russell, Chair Hardemon, Commissioner Suarez, Vice Chair Gort and
Commissioner Carollo
CRA-R-16-0013
Chair Hardemon: I'm going to call this meeting to order today, May 23, 2016, at 6: 29 p.m., the
Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment Agency meeting. Noting the presence
of our Board Members, we have every single Board Member with us present; however, on the
dais at this moment, Commissioner Carollo, Commissioner Russell; and myself the Chairman.
There are no minutes of the past CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) meeting to approve at
this meeting, so we'll go directly into the business, starting with RE.1.
Clarence Woods, III (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,
authorizing the executive director to negotiate a professional services agreement for
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architectural services for World Literacy Crusade of Florida, Inc., Mama Hattie's House,''ubject
to the conveyance of property by Miami -Dade County to World Literacy Crusade of Florida, for
the development of the same, and present the proposal to the Board of Commissioners for
consideration.
Chair Hardemon: May I have the lights -- may I have the house lights up so I can clearly see
who's in the theater, please? So when someone comes to speak at the lectern, we can see them
clearly. Please help me with raising the house lights. So -- oh, yeah; that's the opposite, yeah.
I'll open up the floor for public hearing at this time; noting the presence of Commissioner Gort
and Commissioner Suarez, who has just now joined us for RE. 1. Is there anyone from the public
that would like to speak on RE.1 ? You are recognized, ma'am.
Thema Campbell: Good afternoon. My name is Thema Campbell, and I am the president and
CEO (chief executive officer) of the World Literacy Crusade of Florida for the Mama Hattie's
House Project. I want to thank you all for placing this item on the agenda today. We are here to
answer any questions that anyone may have from the dais on this item. I also have with me Akim
Brutus. He is from the office of County Commissioner Audrey Edmonson, who is in the process
of conveying property for this project, and he's also here to answer any questions; as well as one
of our board members, Delana Tillman (phonetic), is here.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much. Is there anyone else from the public that would like to
speak on this particular item? Seeing none, I'll close the public hearing. Board Members, this is
a -- I'm sure, a project that many of you have read many, many times over in different agreements
that we've had within the CRA, and I have a question as to just one particular part of it. There is
no -- well, within this document, it says that there's no fiscal impact, and so I was wondering,
where would the budgetary impact for this item -- how is it going to be taken care of?
Mr. Woods: Well, as you stated there is no budgetary impact at this time. What we're asking for
is the authority to go ahead and negotiate with one of our four architects that's on our list of
architects to be able to look at the land and the plans, to sit with Ms. Campbell to develop a
scope so that we can then have a price, and then we'll bring that back to the Board for
consideration.
Chair Hardemon: So my question for you, then, would be: When you sit down with this
architect to determine a scope for the project --
Mr. Woods: Yes.
Chair Hardemon: Is that when you'll start to incur some type of cost?
Mr. Woods: At that point, yes. We'll know -- he'll give us a price on what it would actually cost
in order to give us the plans.
Chair Hardemon: And particularly, the reason I'm asking this question -- because I have this
question on a few different items -- is that I don't want to have the item come up to be heard and
then we have to come up and hear it again, just to assign a dollar value to it. I know that we
have staff members that are familiar with this type of work, and so I didn't know if it was proper
for us to assign a value to it to start with that they can -- that we can use the services up to a
certain dollar point to keep this from continuing to come back too many times.
Mr. Woods: Well, in ascertaining exactly what the scope will be, we do surmise that it would be
some minimal cost, but that'll be cost that was -- is within my ability to be able to expend without
having to come before you.
Chair Hardemon: Board Members, are there any questions on this item? Is there a motion to
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approve it?
Board Member Suarez: Move it.
Board Member Carollo: Second.
Chair Hardemon: It's been properly moved to approve RE. 1. Any further discussion? Hearing
none, all in favor, say aye."
The Board (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: Motion passes.
2. CRA RESOLUTION
16-00715
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE
SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT
AGENCY ("CRA") AUTHORIZING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF PARKING LOT
IMPROVEMENTS AT THE THREE (3) PUBLIC PARKING LOTS OWNED BY
THE CRAAT THE FOLLOWING ADDRESSES: 262 NW 10th STREET, 250
NW 10th STREET, AND 345 NW 10th STREET; FURTHER AUTHORIZING
THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO COLLABORATE WITH MIAMI PARKING
AUTHORITY TO FORMULATE A PROPOSED PROJECT PLAN AND
PRESENT THE PROPOSED PROJECT PLAN AND COST TO THE BOARD
OF COMMISSIONERS FOR CONSIDERATION.
File # 16-00175 Cover Memo.pdf
File # 16-00715 Back up.pdf
File # 16-00715 Legislation.pdf
Motion by Board Member Suarez, seconded by Board Member Carollo, that this matter be
ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote.
Votes: Ayes: Commissioner Russell, Chair Hardemon, Commissioner Suarez, Vice Chair Gort and
Commissioner Carollo
CRA-R-16-0014
Chair Hardemon: Moving on now to RE.2.
Clarence Woods, III (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 implementation of parking lot improvements at the three lots -- three public lots
owned by the CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) at the following addresses: 262
Northwest 10th Street; 250 Northwest 10th Street; and 345 Northwest 10th Street; further
authorizing the executive director to collaborate with the Miami Parking Authority to formulate
a proposed project plan, and present the proposed project plan and cost to the Board of
Commissioners for consideration.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much. Is there anyone from the public that would like to
speak on this item? You're recognized.
Renita Holmes: Good afternoon. Madam Renita Holmes, Our Homes, Business and Property
Services, Women in Public Housing. Question, ifI may, through the Chair for the Board
regarding the Miami 21 or any impact fees that would allow for any waivers of hardship put on
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this parking lot? Are there any exemptions on this parking lot?
Chair Hardemon: Your heard the question?
Mr. Woods: Exemptions with respect to what? There's no -- it's public parking. The
improvements will include metered parking with gates. That parking will allow for patrons in the
3rdAvenue Corridor to be able to park maybe two hours for free; and then thereafter, parking
would be at a cost per hour. So, I mean, that's the idea. But before we implement anything, we'll
come back with the exact plan and the exact specifications for the parking, and the cost.
Ms. Holmes: I guess -- just a point of clarification and for the record -- Madam Homes,
Overtown resident -- it was my concern that there is Miami 21 attachments, and after spending
three hours today with Article 7 and several other observations that the average citizen or the
average resident around here can't get, except we simply know there's inadequate parking. It's
my concern that my building and several other buildings, the residents are paying $30 extra per
month for parking. It's my concern that we have built housing without adequate parking and
that resident would incur -- incurring an increasing cost. It's my concern that there's no point of
clarity that any of the funds -- I haven't exactly had that proper notice. And, like I said, Planning
& Zoning and the Comprehensive Master Plan have been changed. It's -- my only concern to my
direct Commissioner, as well as the Chairperson that we're not paying extra fees for parking
when we have inadequate parking, nor competing with those from outside who may need to park,
and that perhaps we may find a better incentive for the developer to ensure that at least a
mother, who's already stressed out to the point, is not walking an extra two blocks, simply
because we're competing with the average public parking. I'd like to take this point in
consideration, because I do believe, as a local resident, because it is local funds that I'm entitled
to that. And we got wet last night, and considering that there are more parks and that the horse
is a little bit before the carriage, let's consider the woman that's parking and walking with kids.
Maybe we should get a sticker, something simple in forethought. I know that we'll answer those
questions later, but please don't answer me when I'm soaking wet and carrying a baby. Thank
you.
Berlinda Faye Dixon: Hi. Berlinda Faye Dixon, Overtown resident, chair of the board, Smash
the Slumlords, Smash (UNINTELLIGIBLE) for Miami's Affordable and Sustainable Housing. My
address is 1128 Northwest 7th Avenue, Miami, Florida 33136. I second what my -- Renita
Holmes is saying. You're talking about parking lots that -- I know that a lot of the residents that
live within that exact block radius, on two blocks they park at, so I definitely want to make sure
that, for the record, that you guys implement some type of program for the residents that are
living in those apartments. New Arena has a big section over there, okay? And that those
residents don't have to incur any additional cost. We already know that a lot of them are living
in those apartments, because all they can afford is 550 or 650 a month, okay? We already know
that that is an issue. So now, if we add parking onto that -- so please don't forget, don't forget
that they need free parking, okay, on top of that, because a lot of those families that are in those
apartments are trying to get a leg up and trying to catch up and do better, and that's all they can
afford. They can't incur any additional costs when they could be saving that money towards
affordable permanent housing. So thank you very much.
Chair Hardemon: Is there anyone else from the public that'd like to speak on that item? Seeing
none, I'll close the public hearing at this time.
Vice Chair Gort: Question: Is this going to be managed by the Miami Parking System?
Mr. Woods: Yes. Commissioners, one of --
Vice Chair Gort: I know they have residence programs for residents in the areas. Okay.
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Chair Hardemon: So, Commissioners, these particular parking lots are lots that were built
during the time, I believe, of Commissioner Teele. What Teele said -- and I still look back to
videos today -- he said that Overtown had a parking issue, and that was the reason why you
couldn't have businesses come to the area and businesses to thrive, because you had nowhere for
the people who are visiting those areas to park. And so, even with the building of these parking
lots, I still think that is true today. We know that within the City of Miami, we've discussed issues
about parking. We've noted that they said that the cost of a parking spot within the City of Miami
is probably about $45, 000 a spot, just to build. And so, you have to ask yourselves, you know,
Will a developer build parking or will he build an apartment unit ,'because an apartment unit, of
course, yields him greater revenue than parking. The parking that we're looking at on these
different sites is parking that belongs -- or a lot that belongs to the Southeast Overtown/Park
West CRA. Many of the -- however, if you're traveling to Jackson Soul Food, if you're traveling
to House of Wings, if you're traveling to the Italian Ice Shop, if you're traveling to any of the
businesses that are there on 3rdAvenue, you'll find it very difficult to find a parking spot. Those
parking spots are always full. Those parking lots are always full at all types of day. And what I
believe is that it discourages people from coming to the area, because they do not want to park
well within the Overtown community, because it's not the Overtown that they necessarily -- well,
that we feel comfortable with, ifI could -- I should put it that way. And so, what this is, is it
allows people -- anyone to park in those parking spaces that are within those lots for two hours
completely free, and during those two hours, they can visit any of the businesses they'd like; gives
you somewhat of a turnover, so you have additional parking that's available for people. So if the
Board Members decided that they wanted to go to Jackson Soul Food, you can be assured that
you'll have a place that you can park and you can service those businesses, so those businesses
have some parking availability. It's not something that's created to establish major revenue
within the area. It's just a matter of providing adequate parking for the existing businesses and
the businesses that will be coming to the area; as well as providing adequate lighting, security,
and things of that nature. If you don't -- if you're not aware, there have been many drug
overdoses that have happened in lots. I want to -- I think the first one that was --
Mr. Woods: Adjacent.
Chair Hardemon: -- that was just adjacent to this spot, and it's a matter of because, you know,
we don't have anyone that's permanently monitoring the parking lot. We don't have the ability to
-- I mean, there -- if there are cars there -- I mean, we can, but if there are cars there with flat
tires that have been sitting there, no one's going to check those cars. So we need to be able to
create some type of flow within that area to allow people to come into the business area and
park. And so, that was one of the reasons that I spoke to many people in the community about
this particular item, because they came to me and said, Look, we don't have anywhere to park."
And over the course of a couple months, we watched and monitored the parking in the area, and
saw that there was really no turnover in the parking.
Board Member Suarez: Move it. Discussion.
Chair Hardemon: It's been properly moved. Is there a second?
Board Member Carollo: Second.
Chair Hardemon: Discussion, Commissioner Suarez.
Board Member Suarez: Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yeah, I mean, we just came from a project that --
where one of the speakers said, you know, that what's interesting about Overtown is that we're
not talking about it in the past tense anymore. We're talking about it -- about what's coming and
the future of Overtown that seems extremely bright, given what's happening here. And when you
look at other areas that are densifying like Overtown is densing, oftentimes, what happens is it
gets -- sort of reaches its density capacity, and then you look back and you say, What is there not
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enough of? "Parking. And so it's really hard to do it after the fact. It's much better from a
transportation perspective, from a traffic perspective to plan for the need for parking as an area
is growing and densifying. So, certainly, that is a wise decision, no doubt. I guess my question
is, is there any provisions that can be made, maybe, for after hours or something for residents, or
something of that nature?
Chair Hardemon: I'm sure that we can come up with some type of provision, but I want to
remind this Commission [sic], as well, is that Overtown will soon be a place --
Board Member Suarez: I know. I knew you were going to say that.
Chair Hardemon: -- for nightlife.
Board Member Suarez: Right. 2 o'clock in the morning, 3 o'clock in the morning.
Chair Hardemon: Overtown will be a place where people will need adequate parking; however,
so I want you all to --
Board Member Suarez: I understand.
Chair Hardemon: -- so now that I'm here on the dais, I can say this in the sunshine. If you --
what we call a range park, which is tucked underneath the expressway, that was really brought
into the City of Miami as a park by Commissioner Athalie Range. But if you take a look at our
zoning maps, our zoning atlas, it is not a park, whatsoever. It is undeclared land underneath the
expressway. And, I mean, it's -- it is a product of yesteryear. It is a product of segregation. It is
a product of when the 95 came through and eradicated this community. That was, if you will, the
only silver lining, that was providing some type of park space for our children. However, today,
we have Gibson Park, one of the most magnificent parks, I believe, within the City of Miami.
And so, with that park being there and Range Park being closed for six hours, that's an
opportunity for us to capture hundreds of parking spaces that would service the Overtown
community. And so that -- Range Park is, I mean, walking distance from these lots here, and it
will provide an opportunity for not only those businesses that are coming to Overtown, but
existing businesses, and especially at nighttime, so that if any of the young ladies or the men with
their wives come to a restaurant in Overtown at nighttime -- and we don't have any that are open
right now at nighttime that way -- but when you come, you'll be able to have a valet service take
your car and move it to a safe place, and you'll be able to enjoy the festivities within this
community, like you would in any other place. And so, I want to be able to provide that type of
service to people that are within the Community Redevelopment area, and I think that capturing
those types of lands is a good way to do it, because right now, all you see is a fence around most
of them and it's just truly unsafe as a site that you shouldn't see within any communities, but you
do see in the Overtown area, and we want to change that.
Board Member Suarez: Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: Commissioners. Mr. Woods, I have a question with this one. Were there any
preliminary numbers that the MPA (Miami Parking Authority) considered in the cost to actually
make this --?
Mr. Woods: Not at this time. He was working on some preliminary numbers, and I'm still
waiting on him to get back to me with those numbers.
Chair Hardemon: Has he estimated what was the cost to do something like this in other projects
that you've seen?
Mr. Woods: I think he mentioned that when we were -- when we sat and we talked. It wasn't that
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expensive. It wasn't that expensive at all to implement the arms and the actual machine. He did
talk about doing some improvements to the curbs and maybe even doing more landscaping;
those type of improvements.
Chair Hardemon: I'm asking this again, because I'm looking at an item that has a direction, but
it doesn't have a dollar figure attached to it.
Mr. Woods: Right.
Chair Hardemon: So with that -- with the assumption I would have is that you would have to
come back before this Commission [sic] and we will have to do this all again; rather than us
being able to assign at least some dollar amount that we can't go above, unless you have to come
back.
Mr. Woods: We did not get a preliminary number from Mr. Noriega, and he didn't feel
comfortable just giving us a preliminary number. We will potentially have to come back.
Vice Chair Gort: How many spots you have there?
Mr. Woods: I'm sorry?
Vice Chair Gort: How many spots?
Mr. Woods: It's about 55 spots.
Vice Chair Gort: Because somebody told me about 12 years ago --
Mr. Woods: It's about 55 spots.
Vice Chair Gort: Okay.
Mr. Woods: That's on just P3. I think the other two lots, one may have about 22 and the other is
a little smaller, for a total of about 80 lot -- 80 spots.
Chair Hardemon: I wanted to just get us into the habit of bringing items that once we bring the
item, we can make an action on it, and don't have to see it two, three, four times to kind of get
things done. It just -- it makes our agenda more painstaking, if you will. And so, it just would be
better for all of us if we could have a number attached to an item like this when we can. But, you
know, it is how it is today. So is there any further discussion on the item? All in favor, say Eye."
The Board (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: All against? Motion passes.
3. CRA RESOLUTION
16-00714
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE
SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT
AGENCY ("BOARD"), REQUIRING THAT ALL SOUTHEAST
OVERTOWN/PARK WEST COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY
("CRA") TAX INCREMENT FUNDING AGREEMENTS AND GRANT
AGREEMENTS OVER $2 MILLION DOLLARS INCLUDE A PROVISION THAT
DEVELOPERS/GRANTEES SHALL REQUIRE THEIR GENERAL
CONTRACTOR, SUBCONTRACTOR, AND SUB -SUBCONTRACTOR TO PAY
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WAGE RATES AND BENEFITS CONSISTENT WITH SECTION 2-11.16 OF
THE CODE OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY - RESPONSIBLE WAGES AND
BENEFITS.
File # 16-00714 Cover Memo.pdf
File # 16-00714 Legislation.pdf
Motion by Board Member Carollo, seconded by Board Member Russell, that this matter be
ADOPTED WITH MODIFICATIONS PASSED by the following vote.
Votes: Ayes: Commissioner Russell, Chair Hardemon, Commissioner Suarez, Vice Chair Gort and
Commissioner Carollo
CRA-R-1 6-0015
Chair Hardemon: Moving on now to RE.3.
Clarence Woods, III (Executive Director, Southeast Overtown/Park West Community
Redevelopment Agency): Commissioners, Resolution Number 3 is a resolution of the Board of
Commissioners of the Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment Agency,
requiring that all Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment Agency tax
increment funding agreements and grant agreements over $5 million include a provision that
developers or grantees shall require their general contractor, subcontractor, and
sub -subcontractors to pay hourly wage rates and health benefits consistent with Miami -Dade
County's Responsible Wage Ordinance.
Board Member Suarez: Move it.
Board Member Russell: Second.
Chair Hardemon: It's been properly moved and seconded. I open up the floor for public
hearing. Sir, you're recognized.
Grady Muhammad: Good evening. Grady Muhammad, president and CEO (chief executive
officer) of Miami -Dade First, 594 Northwest 67th Street. The question is, you do this, who's
going to monitor it? It's a good thing, it's needed, because I can assure you, on y'all's CRA
(Community Redevelopment Agency) -owned shopping center right now, with Save A Lot, there's
no black folks working. With TGK (Turner Gilford Knight) -- that was the contractor -- there was
no black people working. So if you're going to require other folks to make them ensure that they
have black, you should, likewise, on y'all projects, do the exact same thing. But with this here
again, who's going to monitor to ensure the compliance with this agreement? Because it's nice.
Clarence is a great, intelligent man, but I don't think even with the MBM (Master's in Business
Management) degree, I mean, where he's got to literally deal with every individual person that
has a wage dispute, he'd never be able to run the CRA; same thing with this. Y'all got to get
someone to be able to adequately monitor the projects that you all are giving out all our CRA
monies, because we're giving the monies out, but we're not getting the investment -- we're not
getting the return on our investment, because the residents not -- the residents are not getting
those jobs, and they're not getting the contracting opportunities, and I think that's what -- we
must ensure everybody gets an opportunity in Overtown; not just a job opportunity, but
contracting opportunities, so they could become millionaires, just like everybody else. Thank
you.
Applause
Chair Hardemon: Excuse me. For those of you who haven't had an opportunity to come to a
Southeast Overtown/Park West CRA meeting, we don't have any clapping that goes along. If you
agree with what someone has to say, such as the articulate Mr. Muhammad, just simply raise
your hands and show your agreeance in this fashion; we can see you. But when we have to stop
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to tell you to quiet down, it takes away from the length -- or it adds to the lengthiness of this
meeting, and we have to ensure that everyone gets an opportunity to speak, and if -- we just don't
want to slow it going down. You're recognized, ma'am.
Renita Holmes: Thank you, Commissioner. Just for a point of order before we begin, is my time
allotted going towards me giving my address and my name over and over again, or can we skip
that? It was just questionable that at Miami -Dade County, where this rule of law is mandated
that we pay reasonable, fair and (UNINTELLIGIBLE), it would seem only a matter of law now
that we add it in resolution, you know, real simple. If it's mandated, do what's right. And once
you know -- the cost of living and improving of the benefits to the local residents, I know that is
the mission of this Community Investment [sic] Agency, and so to improve and increase the
income, as well as to help benefits, would be a direct impact upon us. We've given so many
contractors and development incentives. They come to the City and they ask for incentives. They
go back to the County and ask for more incentives, and the profit gets bigger. So now, when we
talk about building new buildings that now the increase in the cost of rent will go up, I think the
cost for the wages and the cost in the line items -- we have several items on here, Commissioner,
that are extending gaps and putting more money into it; amendments to the next one, which we'll
speak on, regarding St. John's. Well, if they're going to increase the monies for the developers
and the contractors, increase the money for the people that are working. It seems to be the best
thing, the fair thing, and the lawful thing. Thank you so much.
Chair Hardemon: You're recognized, ma'am.
Cynthia Jenkins: Yes. Commissioner, I'm speaking on the housing; and also, I'm speaking on
the business in Overtown.
Chair Hardemon: Can you state your name, just for the record?
Ms. Jenkins: My name is Cynthia from C&J's Garlic Crab and Seafood, sir. I have been
certified with CRA since 2006. I have been trying for the longest to get my own business and
everything. I took the classes. I took two courses of classes, sir. I haven't got a space in
Overtown yet. I'm on the streets every day. I am historic Overtown history. I have history with
my family here: my grandfather, my grandmother, everybody in Overtown. I also tried to get
apartment with the Lyric over here. They denied me because I had a outstanding light bill,
which I have a payment plan for, and they denied me for apartment. I don't only -- I give to my
community. I'm here every weekend. It's time I take out and I go on the street, and I feed the
homeless people. I give back in my community, I have history here in Overtown; and not only
that, for me being denied several times for my space in Overtown; my space, my restaurant, my
everything. Just for other people to come under -- other communities, just to snatch it up under
our feet is not right. It's not right, Commissioner. And I been certified with the CRA since 2006,
and I been trying so hard. And for every door to be closed on me, it's just not fair for the
Overtown community. I mean, I spoke -- I mean, I see Mr. Clarence on the news, talking about
the new buildings and everything they building up in Overtown. Okay. In Overtown, it's always
been a struggle for us. Now that the CRA and everybody that's building up in Overtown -- what
about a first time -- a second chance program for people that, you know, that, I mean, have
hardships. You know what I'm saying? I mean, financial hardship; a second chance program for
people that is over -- in Overtown, and have history in Overtown to get a decent place to stay, a
decent build -- a business or anything. I mean, just for people to come from Coconut Grove and
from other places and just to sweep it from under our feet is just not fair to the Overtown -- for us
in Overtown. I mean, I am Over -- I am history in Overtown. I mean, I did everything -- I apply
about everything, sir. I mean, I took four classes with Two Guys and -- of the meat market, sir. I
mean, and all the programs, all the classes I took, I haven't got, quote/unquote, a grant with
Shirley, Two Guys, and the meat market. I haven't got anything. And I'm --
Chair Hardemon: All right. Ma'am, the time has expired for you to speak on this item. However,
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I know that you said you've spoken with Mr. Woods before, but I encourage you to have another
conversation with Mr. Woods to see how we can assist you. I can assure you that the only way
we're going to be able to assist you is outside of public forum, you know, but thank you for
bringing your concerns to us. We want to make sure that we have somebody from the CRA team
to see what we can do to assist you in what you're dealing with, because I know you're talking
about a grant, and I'm not sure exactly to the details of it. So the only way that we'll be able to
do it is if we have somebody come meet with you. So someone will make sure they come and
meet with you, okay?
Ms. Jenkins: Okay, sir. Just for the -- until I'm done, sir. Really, I need a place to stay.
Chair Hardemon: Okay.
Ms. Jenkins: And I really need --
Chair Hardemon: We'll make sure you speak with someone from the CRA. We don't own any of
the housing, but they may be able to find someone that does have adequate housing, because
there are also some individuals within the house right now that has affordable housing that are
from the community, so we may be able to serve you, okay? So just --
Ms. Jenkins? But sir, I --
Chair Hardemon: -- thank you so much.
Ms. Jenkins: -- strongly apologize for this. I just need one more second, sir. I put the
application in for the place --
Chair Hardemon: Ma'am, no, no. Ma'am, I really need to move on to the next person --
Ms. Jenkins: -- I put -- I respect you, sir.
Chair Hardemon: -- but we'll have somebody meet with you. Thank you very much.
Ms. Jenkins: Thank you very much.
Chair Hardemon: You're recognized, sir.
Matthew Land: Matthew Land, 14 Northeast 1st Avenue, Suite 1200, Miami, Florida 33132;
political director for the Southeast Laborers' District Council. You know, it was a great day in
the City of Miami, when last February, this Board or City of Miami Board unanimously passed
the Responsible Wage Ordinance. It was a great day for the City of Miami. A lot of progress has
been made at the CRA level to start implementing some of those responsible wages for the
various crafts, and here we have today implementation for all of the crafts. We do still have
some concerns over the potential to opt out of it if it's in the best interest of the CRA. We would
urge that to be removed from it and just make this be a full mandate for all those trades, and just
set it as the bar for all those agreements going forward. We urge you to pass this today. Thank
you.
Roce Simpson: Roce Simpson, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, IBW. First of
all, we -- I'd like to say that we're here to speak on that item 3, and commend the Chair and the
Commission for having the foresight and the compassion to put those items like responsible
wages, local hire, all of those items that this community needs so bad into a written document so
that there's some hope for everyone who lives in Overtown and everyone who participates in the
labor movement. All of us are working class, middle class people. These jobs are important to
all of us. We have training programs, and all of the crafts that -- we take are apprentices from
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the local community. We don't just give them a job; we give them a career. We train them for
five years; we take them, put them back into the workforce, and they therefore can earn
responsible wages and raise their children. So we thank you again for your foresight.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much, sir. You're recognized, ma'am.
Cynthia Hernandez: Good evening. My name is Cynthia Hernandez, 4349 Southwest 36th
Street. I'm here with the Central Labor Council; executive director of the South Florida
AFL-CIO (American Federation Labor/Congress of Industrial Organizations), and I'm here to
speak in favor of the Responsible Wage Ordinance. I think it's definitely a great move. I do have
concerns, though, about the threshold. The County currently is set at 500, 000. The City of
Miami is only set at 100, 000. So, you know, what is the discrepancy of the threshold for $5
million? But again, you know, I am here, and to speak in favor of this. We know that when
workers are paid responsible wages, their lives are improved, their families' lives are improved;
and, really, our entire community is improved, and our economy. So it's a great move forward.
Thank you.
Scott Duhamil: Hello. My name is Scott Duhamil. I could give you a local address, but I'm
actually not local. I work for the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades. And I could
give you my Pompano Beach address, but that's not correct. But I'm here as kind of a expert. I
think I'm an expert, but not quite. We commend you for this, and this is happening all over the
country, and this is good stuff. But the threshold, 5 million, I question that. When you have a
500,000 threshold in the County, you have 100,000 threshold in Miami itself, look at all the jobs
you're going to leave out. These are all opportunities for local people to work. 5 million is
really high. And in construction, you're going to wipe out a ton of opportunities. I think as well
as this is crafted and as good as this is, you should really consider the threshold -- reconsider the
threshold and think about the actuality of people who can work. Andl'd also like to say, as you
get down the line here on Resolution 13, that I hope this -- if this passes, this applies to that,
because that's been done -- the deal's been done for that, but this should apply to the big project,
and a job like that, I think would be very beneficial to all if the same parameters apply to that.
Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: You're recognized, sir.
Steven Hall: Good evening. Thank you for the opportunity this evening. My name is Steve Hall.
I'm with the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades, 1300 South Andrews Ave.,
Pompano Beach, Florida. I'm here to speak in favor of the responsible contractor language
being applied to these projects. I, too, am very concerned with the $5 million threshold. I think
that's kind of high. Miami -Dade has it much lower; the City of Miami [sic] has it much lower,
and the City of Orlando has it much lower. Many years ago, back in 1990s, I worked as
president of the Florida Consumer Action Network on the responsible contractor type language
that we have in Orlando. In Orlando, we're using it currently on the Performing Arts Center,
which is a beautiful project; on the Citrus Bowl and --
Chair Hardemon: How much -- can you tell us how much those projects cost, if you know?
Mr. Hall: Well, I have no idea --
Chair Hardemon: But they got to be north of 5 million, though, right?
Mr. Hall: Yes -- or more, yes. But, you know, the -- conceivably, to have them at 5 million, jobs
could be busted up into $5 million packages, and it could deviate. We look more at $100,000
threshold on production projects for taxpayer money. But probably one of the most important
things is we -- from the Amway Arena to the Performing Arts Project to the Citrus Bowl -- we
also have a soccer stadium coming up, which this language will also apply -- is the
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apprenticeship program. It requires the use of State -certified apprenticeship training. We're
training our sons and daughters to be productive tax paying members of their communities. If,
for example, theoretically -- and I have some of these -- if an apprentice started in a four- or
five-year program, like you heard the electrical worker talk about -- ours is a four-year program
-- if they started on the Amway Arena as a first -year apprentice, by the time they finish the soccer
stadium, they will then be tradesperson, with a career; not just a job, but a career. And that's
what we're trying to do here; is not just give a man a fish so he can eat for a day, give him a fish
and pole so he could eat for a lifetime --
Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much, sir.
Mr. Hall: -- and give him a career.
Chair Hardemon: So --
Mr. Hall: I appreciate your consideration for that. Thank you very much.
Chair Hardemon: -- Thank you. How are you doing, sir?
Pierre Soriano: How are you doing, sir? My name is Pierre Soriano, (UNINTELLIGIBLE)
Basketball, and I'm just trying to inquire, how can I get some funding, some help for the kids in
the community? And I got a program, I've knocked on a couple doors, no help. You know, it's a
lot of stuff going on, a lot of money in the area. Trying to get some help for the kids. And we get
-- we use (UNINTELLIGIBLE), you know, (UNINTELLIGIBLE) need help.
Chair Hardemon: Make sure you have an opportunity to sit down with our executive director,
Clarence Woods, and to see where there are some opportunities. We have a lot of programs
within the area that benefit from the Southeast Overtown/Park West CRA, giving grants and
such; and others that benefit from the City of Miami, Miami -Dade County, Children's Trust, et
cetera. So make sure you sit down with Mr. Woods, and he'll help you better position yourself
where you can at least acquire some grant funds, so Mr. Woods will have someone give you a
business card, okay?
Mr. Soriano: One more question, sir.
Chair Hardemon: Sure.
Mr. Soriano: Because I have a back -- when I've been denied a apartment here. I grew up
Overtown, and I just wanted to find out what other -- which ways can Igo on, because I've been
denied a couple -- quite a few times; no type of help from the building, either, you know, as far
as that goes, because of my record, so I want to know what's going on with that.
Chair Hardemon: Yeah. Have a conversation, if you will; have a conversation about that with
Mr. Woods, also. We'll do the best that we can. I mean, there are certain limitations, if you will,
that the CRA has in its ability to help people find housing, but it may be housing that's available;
not just, for instance, in Overtown, but you may have some housing in Liberty City, in Little
Haiti, in Overtown and Wynwood, Little Havana. I mean, there's some other places that also
have affordable housing. So we'll do our best to assist you; just see Mr. Woods. Thank you, sir.
Willie Mitchell: Hi. My name is Willie Mitchell, and I'm speaking on behalf of the community,
Overtown community. As of all the jobs and the contractors that come over and get these
contracts, they say one thing and they get the contract, say they're going to do one thing --
Chair Hardemon: Can you speak closer to the mike?
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Mr. Mitchell: Yeah. Speaking on behalf of the Overtown community. As of the contractors that
come in, you know, that get the job -- that come to build the community up -- actually, what I'm
trying to say is that they come in and they say one thing, and then they say they're going to hire
out of the community; and then, all of a sudden, we get out there when it's -- well, after they get
the contracts, it's like, Okay, we're going to hire the blacks out of the community. "And then when
we go out there on the job sites, we get turned around, we get denied. So what I'm saying is, is
that I believe personally that the CRA, which I believe they can monitor that -- the jobs -- the job
contractors, don't let them monitor it themselves, because they're not doing what they say they're
going to do. If you all monitor it, I believe personally that -- I think it could be ran better by y'all
monitoring the programs and the jobs and everything like that, and we'll have a better chance of
getting hired -- you understand? -- and keeping these jobs, because what they do is, they'll say,
Okay, we're going to hire 20 or 30 of us. "They'll hire 20 or 30 of them, but they'll lay off about
25 of us. You understand? And then they'll say, Okay, well, we met that quota. "And then, all of
a sudden, they -- now it's no jobs, because they replace us with a lot of different other races, you
see? So I believe personally that if y'all do it, CRA, run this properly -- and I think y'all can do
it, you know -- I think that well have a better chance of having jobs, and then better our careers
over here in Overtown.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you, sir.
Mr. Mitchell: Thank you for letting me share.
Jermaine Flax: How is everybody doing? Speaking in reference of the community, like the
brother who just was up here.
Chair Hardemon: Can you state your name and address for the record, sir?
Mr. Flax: Jermaine Flax, 1550 North Miami Avenue. Basically, what I wanted to just put on the
floor is that, yeah, just like the brother was saying, you know, I believe it need to be more
networking, far as like with the CRA and the community, far as like net -- programs, far as like
training and getting them ready for things that's coming up, because, you know, if they're not
ready, you know, and you guys, you know, you got a deadline or whatever, whatever, far as like
building and constructing, you know, them -- these guys over here won 't be ready, far as like in
the community is what I'm speaking of. I just think that, you know, when you hire a certain
amount of the people from the community, it's just like the brother just said, they get laid off, you
know, when a certain process of the building is done. They're still -- you know, iif it's supposed to
be for the community and us to benefit from the community, we need to see more action towards
that, you know, and not trying to build complexes with higher rent or the rent going up every
three months or every six months, or however they do it. You know what I mean? We -- just like
you say, the community been here. There has been no other race of people in this community
until now, and everybody want to put they money in and try to do things here, but you can't
forget about the ones that's been here, you know. I speak on behalf of my wife, Cynthia Jenkins,
the one who was up here with C&J Garlic Crab and Seafood. I speak for myself Local 1416 ILA
(International Longshoremen's Association) Longshoremen, and thank you for your time.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you, sir.
Mr. Flax: I just think that just something just need to be elaborated on, and looked at. Okay.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you, sir.
Mr. Flax: Thank you.
Alice Moss: Good afternoon. My name is Alice Moss, and I stay at 219 Northwest 16th Street,
Apartment 4. I'm speaking on behalf of the community that rent is going sky high; and also, the
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minimum wage, we working for minimum wages. We can't be able to pay for our rent no more.
And like they say about the jobs, the people tell us that the jobs is for people in Overtown. When
we go apply for the jobs that they tell us that to come back and they'll hire us, but then they don't
hire us. They hiring all this Latin people. What can we do to try to get more money to pay rent
so we won't have to move out of our community?
Chair Hardemon: Thank you, ma'am.
Ms. Moss: Thank you, too.
Chair Hardemon: You're recognized.
Keva Taylor: Good afternoon. My name is Keva Taylor. I stay at 180 Northwest 17th Street,
Apartment 3, and I just want to touch up on these jobs that y'all keep proposing and offering to
us. It's like every time y'all come up with a proposal for these new high-rises or the new
buildings, we always get the promises, quote/unquote, that, Oh, y'all back us, we going make
sure y'all get a job,'this, that, that, and a fourth. Okay. We do all the backing. For instance, I
backed All Aboard and went with them to Orlando and everything. After they got what they
wanted, we never heard from them again. I took a trade to Mr. Leroy class and went out to these
construction sites. They either not hiring women or they telling us they going to get back with
us. It wasn't till I met Mr. Nathaniel Jones -- Joseph, right here, and went to his office, and he
went over and above his job duty, and he made sure that I got a job. But the thing about that
was we been working for two weeks, but we only been working for three days. After the first
three days, we haven't been back. It's nobody there monitoring these contracts, making sure they
doing what they supposed to be doing so we can work. But the minute we turn to the streets, we
a criminal, we don't want to do nothing with our lives. But when we try, we getting put down.
They not giving us the opportunities, they not keeping they words, they not doing nothing they
supposed to be doing what they promising. Something need to be done about it.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you, ma'am.
Hansani Weaver: How y'all doing today?
Chair Hardemon: How you doing, sir?
Mr. Weaver: My name is Hansani Weaver, original resident from Overtown all my life. And like
the whole neighborhood is talking about, we know what the issue is, but we here to get the issue
solves, and that's what we need to be focusing on, a solution; a solution that will help our
neighborhood; and not only our neighborhood, but every individual within our neighborhood,
from wages to living to individuals who got convictions being able to obtain these new houses
that they're building that -- where we've been all our life. And individuals come that we never
seen before, and they would live, you know, but it's besides (UNNTELLIGIBLE). I just feel like
everybody should have a fair opportunity. And it's money involved You know, when money gets
involved individuals get crafty and sheisty once they get a hold of it, and that's destroying our
community, you know, and it's not necessarily from our greed. It's from the greed of others,
because they're taking from us. We're not receiving what is due to us, what we're entitled to, you
know. And I just pray that this be addressed, and it be done fairly. And we need more
organizations such as the NET (Neighborhood Enhancement Team) and such as the CRA and
such as Brother Nate, such as Brother Leroy Jones. You know, we need more organizations. And
I really think y'all should enter into it where, like they say, where the neighborhood could be
involved; we get together and form a team that works with the CRA, people from the
neighborhood that been around here all their life, with the NRA [sic] and make sure that at least
30 percent of all these jobs be filled with residents from Overtown. Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you, sir.
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Lorenzo Bryant: Yes. My name Lorenzo Keith Bryant. I'm gay. The reason I say that, sir, the
reason I say it, because I'm 52 years old, and I used to live at 1020 Northwest 1st Court, which
the -- where the Metrorail runs through right now. I'm living with my aunt, which is 1000
Northwest 1st Avenue, in the Beacon Building, on the 8th Floor. I say that to say this here:
Okay, I'm a two-time convicted felony [sic]. Okay, like I say, this is my history in Overtown. I'm
trying to do the right thing. I haven't been incarcerated since 2007, okay? I just left the Triple A"
Arena. I was making $8.05. I upgraded from $8.05 to 8.50. Now, I'm at the Aventura Mall. I
have to get up two hours ahead of time just to get to work on time. I'm working seven days a
week, three hours a day, which God done opened the door. Now, two months ago, I done went to
another training place which they're in the building that promised me -- of a he -- Lorenzo, I'm
going to give you a chance," never happened. But I say that to say this here: Stop pointing
fingers and just give a person a second chance. Even though the past is the past, everybody
change. If you don't give them a second chance, they going to keep repeating the same activities
as I used to be. But that's not me anymore; I'm trying to change. I say I'm homeless because I'm
living with someone. Until get my own place, then I could say, This is mine. "You know, I just
want to share that. Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you, sir. Seeing no other persons that'd like to speak -- well, other
individual.
Javier Hernandez: Mr. Chairman, good afternoon. Javier Hernandez, here on behalf of STP
Apartments on item 4 and MDM on item 3. And just I wanted as a point of clarification to
understand this --
Chair Hardemon: No, this won't affect the --
Mr. Hernandez: Okay. Thank you very much, sir.
Chair Hardemon: Okay. Is there any other person that'd like to speak on the item? Seeing
none, I'll close the public hearing at this time. Now, we don't have a motion, right? We don't
have a movant and a seconder?
Board Member Carollo: Move it.
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): Yes, sir.
Chair Hardemon: Who?
Mr. Hannon: It was moved by Commissioner Suarez, seconded by Vice Chair Russell at 6:49.
Chair Hardemon: I want to be clear, though. The -- I mean, there were some -- there we lots of
issues that were brought up, and one particularly talked about striking the language that --
where he said, Unless the Board determines that it's in the best interest of the CRA."
Mr. Woods: Yes.
Chair Hardemon: So I want to ensure that the motion that was made and the second was with
the intent of what was put into our -- I'm sure -- did everyone get a copy of this in their agenda
item? I don't know if you all have a copy.
Mr. Woods: I was going to make that clarification, Commissioner.
Chair Hardemon: Can you please make that clarification?
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Board Member Russell: That it has been struck?
Chair Hardemon: Right. So --
Mr. Woods: Yes.
Chair Hardemon: -- can you make the clarification, please?
Mr. Woods: With the resolution for this particular item, at the end of the resolution, it reads,
Unless the Board determines that it is in the best interest of the CRA to waive the requirement of
this resolution in whole or in part,'{ve want to strike that language to remove any option for
enforcing this ordinance.
Chair Hardemon: So there was another thing that I wanted to bring up to my Board Members.
You know, as I read the title, the third tibhereas'clause and under How, therefore, "under Section 2,
Francis, I'll read from the title. It says that, The tax increment funding agreements and grant
agreements over $5 million include a provision that developers/grantees shall require that the
general contractor, subcontractor, and sub -subcontractors shall pay hourly wage rates and
health benefits consistent with Miami -Dade County's responsible wage. "I just want to ensure
that the language is clear and -- because, you know, many times, we write things and we're
trying to say something, but we don't mean what we say. So what I would like for the movant
and seconder to consider is that we strike after Pay hourly wages and health benefits consistent
with'=- Lonsistent"-- and insert instead, jay wage rate and benefits in accordance with the
County's the Miami -Dade County's Responsible Wage Ordinance."
Mr. Woods: Okay. And strike Health now?"
Chair Hardemon: Right. So you're striking -- if all of you follow me, you're striking --
Mr. Woods: Health --
Chair Hardemon: -- Hourly wage rates and health benefits consistent, 'and you're going to
insert: To pay wage rate and benefits in accordance with Miami -Dade County's Responsible
Wage Ordinance."
Barnaby Min (Deputy City Attorney): Excuse me.
Chair Hardemon: So that would apply to the title.
Mr. Min: Mr. Chairman, the mover of the motion is not present, so, unfortunately, that is the
motion on the floor. Perhaps the seconder wants to withdraw his motion. Then that motion will
die --
Vice Chair Gort: Who's the maker of the motion?
Mr. Min: -- and you can make a new motion.
Chair Hardemon: Is there --? Who is the second on this motion?
Board Member Russell: I'll withdraw the second so we can make a new motion.
Chair Hardemon: All right. So we'll --
Board Member Carollo: I'll move, with amendments.
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Vice Chair Russell: Second.
Chair Hardemon: So it's been properly moved and seconded, with the amendments that were
stated. Just to clam that, it's in your ibhereas'clause -- I'm sorry -- your title; your third
tibhereas'clause in Section 2 of the Now therefore, be it resolved'clause. And if I missed anything,
I mean, anything else that's consistent with that language we just spoke of. But discussion. Yes,
sir, you're recognized.
Board Member Carollo: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Several persons also mentioned the
threshold. My question is, why is there a $5 million threshold? Why couldn't it be lower? Let's
say --
Mr. Woods: Well, if it's --
Board Member Carollo: -- (UNINTELLIGIBLE) but why 5 million?
Mr. Woods: -- the will of the Board to lower the threshold, we have no objections to doing that.
Chair Hardemon: I can express to you, in my mind, why I would consider a lower threshold to
be a detriment. The CRA gives out a number of smaller grants, and we consider small -- I mean,
for instance, grants to the Lyric Theater or the Black Archives; grants to existing businesses
within the area. We renovate different spaces within the area that are about $100, 000 at a cost;
for instance, we have some on the agenda item that's about that. And so, what I want to do is
ensure by this language that's in these grant agreements that we stop having to discuss wages
with people that we're giving major grants and TIF (Tax Increment Fund) agreements with.
Now, I think that the threshold should be that everyone should be paid a responsible wage within
the Overtown CRA, especially when you're getting a benefit of a TIF-structured revenue or some
grant that is larger than what is typically made or given to a small organization to get it on its
feet. The bottom line is that when you have grants that may be -- $500, 000 sounds like a lot of
money, except when you're renovating a small apartment complex that has 15 units, and that
$500,000 goes into materials, into labor and things like that, and the costs really then become
something that become a hindrance to that developer -- well, I won't call it developer"- I mean,
someone who owns a building and we're trying to renovate that building. And so, I would rather
see that these revenue types -- For instance, when the gentleman from one of the unions stood up,
he said, We're building'=- he mentioned at least three different types of arenas. I mean, all those
are major developments; all those, this ordinance would capture. However, when you're talking
about something that is as little as -- what is the name of the firefighter that has the building
that's being renovated right now?
Mr. Woods: Yeah, Al During.
Chair Hardemon: Al During. So Al During's property would not meet this threshold, and having
a wage rate on those smaller properties, I think flies in the face of getting projects done within
our community, because it becomes difficult for us to fund these projects if we don't have the
dollars to commit to it in the smaller amounts.
Board Member Carollo: Mr. Chairman.
Chair Hardemon: You're recognized.
Board Member Carollo: I understand and I agree with you, but still, 5 million is a rather large
threshold. I think -- any of those projects, were they over a million dollars?
Mr. Woods: The projects that he's -- the Commissioner's talking about? No, they weren't over a
million.
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Chair Hardemon: They're -- you have --
Mr. Woods: There is a -- there are a couple that are just over a million dollars.
Board Member Carollo: Excuse me. And the reason why --
Chair Hardemon: They're -- just like -- for in -- like People's Barbecue, I think that was just over
a million dollars.
Board Member Carollo: That was a million.
Chair Hardemon: Right. The Harlem Square is just over a million dollars. So there are a few
projects that are around that amount.
Board Member Carollo: And I've been here with you, voting for those projects.
Chair Hardemon: Right.
Board Member Carollo: That's why I'm mentioning --
Chair Hardemon: What amount would you propose, sir?
Board Member Carollo: I would propose the original million, but if you want to make it a
million -five or 2 million -- but again, I think the projects that you're speaking about -- and
correct me if I'm wrong -- they've all been either slightly over a million dollars or under a million
dollars, so that's why I think we would capture -- because I agree with you. So again, it's just a
suggestion.
Chair Hardemon: Okay. You're recognized, sir.
Board Member Russell: Thank you. I agree with lowering the threshold, as well. I mean, maybe
it's naive of me, but if I had my way on any grant that we give, we would ask that these
requirements be fulfilled. It would cost us more as a CRA. As we are the ones providing the
grant that can help pay for these wages, our dollar wouldn't go as far, but it would be impactful.
So I'm onboard with any lowering of that threshold that you'd be open to.
Chair Hardemon: Mr. Executive Director, do you think $2 million in your expertise is
acceptable?
Mr. Woods: Well, I think the argument is well stated. The more we pay in wages, the less impact
we'll have to make in the redevelopment area, but if $2 million is a acceptable limit, then, by all
means, I think it is okay. But I --
Chair Hardemon: Is there a motion to amend the motion on the floor?
Board Member Carollo: So move.
Chair Hardemon: Is there a second?
Board Member Russell: Second.
Chair Hardemon: It's been properly moved and seconded to amend the motion that's on the
floor --
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Board Member Carollo: To 2 million.
Chair Hardemon: -- to $2 million. We'll have a vote on the motion to amend. Is -- you have a
Mr. Woods: Well, I want to make sure that we make it effective after we vote on items 4 and 13.
Chair Hardemon: Right. So, I mean, this item would not affect any of the current documents
that's on the agenda?
William Bloom (Special Counsel, CRA): It would affect it if it's passed first, because the effective
date is immediately upon being passed.
Chair Hardemon: Okay.
Mr. Bloom: If you change the effective date to June 1, then it won't be a problem for the two
items that have already been negotiated with slightly different terms than you're proposing in this
resolution.
Chair Hardemon: Okay. So how would you propose, then, the word --?
Mr. Bloom: Effective June 1, 2016.
Chair Hardemon: Is the mover and seconder in agreeance with that? I'll tell you the issue. If I
could have the agreement that's on the agenda today, ifI could have them pay all responsible
wages, I would. No -- there's no one here that would say otherwise. I wholeheartedly believe
that. But our issue is that we've come so far, and we haven't had this type of agreement in place
in the past. Island Living, the site we just came from, paid $8.05 on the bottom. Lyric -- the
Square -- what is it called? Lyric?
Mr. Woods: The Plaza at Lyric.
Chair Hardemon: The Plaza at Lyric, I believe $8.05 at the floor. We didn't -- we did not have
wage discussions at the CRA level until I assumed Chair, and even in doing so, there's one
project particularly that found its way of increasing the wage requirements, and I applaud them
for doing just that, and it was one of the bond projects. And so, what I'm saying to you all is that
this is why we're bringing this ordinance today, so we won't have to have this discussion any
longer. Any time someone comes to the Southeast Overtown/Park West CRA, they can expect to
pay responsible wages for everyone. There was no such thing as a responsible wage in the CRA
agreement before this Board decided to implement them in our new agreements that we have.
And we got a responsible wage, we had enhanced living wages, and now we're trying to increase
it even further. So what we're asking for from this community is the ability to go ahead and seal
the deal and allow us to move forward with all new projects, so that we won't jeopardize the
projects that we have on the floor today. The bottom line is that it's whatl think is the right thing
to do and it's what we're asking for your support for. And if you're in here and you've seen
responsible wages paid for all the trades in Overtown, you wouldn't be honest; but in the future,
that's what you'll see. And so, with this body's approval, with the amendment to $2 million, I
believe that we've done our due diligence and that's all that can be required of us, in essence.
Board Member Russell: Mr. Chair.
Chair Hardemon: You're recognized, sir.
Board Member Russell: Not knowing the sensitivity of the negotiations of the other items you've
got, I would defer to your judgment if you'd like it to start at June 1.
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Chair Hardemon: As will 1.
Mr. Woods: I'm a man of my word; June 1. I'm a man of my word.
Vice Chair Gort: Yeah.
Board Member Suarez: Yeah, that's right.
Chair Hardemon: So there was a move and a second to include the June 1 effective date.
Hopefully, the agreement doesn't get inked until after June 1. Is there -- right now, we're going
to take a motion on the amendment to lower it to $2 million and make it effective June 1 -- or you
don't -- we don't have to do it? You want to do the whole thing at once?
Mr. Hannon: No, sir. You can go ahead and take action, if desired.
Chair Hardemon: Okay.
Renee Jadusingh: Commissioner, hi. Renee Jadusingh, (UNINTELLIGIBLE) counsel. I just
want to run through the amendments, just to make sure you have them clear. So we're going to
lower the threshold from 5 million to 2 million and after the wordJiay'fn the title, third ibhereas"
clause in Section 2, we're going to strike hourly wage rates and health benefits, 'and substitute it
with *age rates and benefits,'and change the --
Chair Hardemon: In accordance with -- yeah -- in accordance with --
Ms. Jadusingh: Yeah, yes, Th accordance with Miami -Dade County Responsible Wage
Ordinance. "And in Section Number 3, we're going to make this effective June 1, 2016.
Chair Hardemon: That appears to be the language, yes.
Ms. Jadusingh: Okay. Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: Any further unreadiness?
Board Member Russell: Mr. Chair.
Chair Hardemon: Yes.
Board Member Russell: There was one question from a member of the audience regarding
monitoring, and I just wanted to know from the executive director, how do we enforce this sort of
monitoring?
Mr. Woods: Typically, when we sit down and negotiate a TIF agreement or a grant agreement,
and if there's a need for monitoring -- in most TIF agreements, we do have a need for
monitoring. In the smaller projects, we don't necessarily monitor, but where there is a significant
contribution from the CRA, there's always a monitoring provision.
Board Member Russell: Do we do it in-house, or do we contract someone --?
Mr. Woods: We contract. We put out an RFQ (Request for Qualifications), and we procure those
services by way of solicitation.
Board Member Russell: Thank you.
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(3.)
16-00714a
Chair Hardemon: Any further questions? Hearing none, all in favor, say aye."
The Board (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: All against? Motion passes.
Mr. Hannon: As amended.
Chair Hardemon: As amended. Moving on to RE.4.
Mr. Woods: Commissioner, you know, counsel just brought up a good question. This will also
affect Town Park Village, the last of our bond projects, which I don't think that's the intent; Town
Park Village, as well as Town Park South.
Chair Hardemon: So those are things that thinkyou should bring up before we take the vote. I
mean, it's more than one thing to talk about the projects that affect other people, but the people
who are actually within our community, I think it should affect. So I would love to entertain a
motion that would include --
Board Member Suarez: Move to reconsider.
Chair Hardemon: -- that would exclude the Town Park Villages; Town Park North in that
department --
Board Member Suarez: So moved.
Chair Hardemon: -- so they can get their project completed.
Board Member Suarez: So moved.
Chair Hardemon: Is there a second?
Vice Chair Gort: Second.
Board Member Carollo: Second.
Chair Hardemon: It's been properly moved and seconded. Is there any discussion?
Board Member Suarez: No.
Chair Hardemon: Hearing none, all in favor, say aye."
The Board (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: Motion passes. We've got to protect our existing housing stock, so we have to
make sure that's done.
CRA RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST
COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY ("CRA"), EXCLUDING THE
TOWN PARK VILLAGE REHABILITATION PROJECT FROM THE
REQUIREMENTS OF CRA-R-16-0015.
File # 16-00714a Resolution.pdf
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4.
16-00716
Motion by Board Member Suarez, seconded by Board Member Carollo, that this matter be
ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote.
Votes: Ayes: Commissioner Russell, Chair Hardemon, Commissioner Suarez, Vice Chair Gort and
Commissioner Carollo
CRA-R-1 6-0016
CRA RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION, WITH ATTACHMENT(S), OF THE BOARD OF
COMMISSIONERS OF THE SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST
COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY (THE "CRA") AUTHORIZING A
THIRD AMENDMENT TO THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT DATED AS OF
JANUARY 18, 2013 (THE "DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT') BETWEEN THE
CRAAND ST. JOHN PLAZAAPARTMENTS, LLC (THE "ORIGINAL
DEVELOPER") AS ASSIGNED BY THE ORIGINAL DEVELOPER TO SJP
APARTMENTS, LLC, A FLORIDA LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY, NOW
KNOWN AS ST. JOHN PLAZAAPARTMENTS, LLC (THE "DEVELOPER") AS
AMENDED BY AMENDMENT DATED AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 2014 AND AS
AMENDED BY SECOND AMENDMENT DATED DECEMBER 21, 2015 AND
AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO EXECUTE THE THIRD
AMENDMENT TO THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT (THE "THIRD
AMENDMENT"), IN SUBSTANTIALLY THE FORM ATTACHED HERETO AS
EXHIBIT "A".
File # 16-00716 Cover Memo.pdf
File # 16-00716 Back up.pdf
File # 16-00716 Legislation.pdf
File # 16-00716 ExhibitA.pdf
Motion by Board Member Suarez, seconded by Board Member Carollo, that this matter be
ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote.
Votes: Ayes: Commissioner Russell, Chair Hardemon, Commissioner Suarez, Vice Chair Gort and
Commissioner Carollo
CRA-R-1 6-0017
Clarence Woods, III (Executive Director, Southeast Overtown/Park West Community
Redevelopment Agency): Commissioners, item number 4 is a resolution of the -- with
attachments -- of the Board of Commissioners of the Southeast Overtown/Park West Community
Redevelopment Agency, authorizing a third amendment to the development agreement, dated as
of January 18, 2013; the development agreement between the CRA (Community Redevelopment
Agency) and St. John Plaza Apartments, LLC (Limited Liability Company), the original
developer; as assigned by the original developer to SJP Developer; as assigned by the original
developer to SJP Apartments, LLC, a Florida limited liability company now known as St. John
Plaza Apartments, LLC, the developer; as amended by amendment dated as of September 30,
2014; and as amended by a second amendment, dated December 21, 2015; and authorizing the
executive director to execute the third amendment to the development agreement, in substantially
attached form hereto as Exhibit A."
Board Member Suarez: Move it.
Board Member Carollo: Second.
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Chair Hardemon: It's been properly moved and seconded. I'll open up the floor for public
hearing.
Javier Fernandez: Chair good afternoon.
Chair Hardemon: You're recognized.
Mr. Fernandez: Thank you. Javier Fernandez for the record, here on behalf of St. John Plaza
Apartments, LLC; and joined by Dr. Nelson Adams, who is the chair of St. John CDC
(Community Development Corporation). The amendment, we believe, is straightforward. It
extends the closing date and modifies the responsible wage provision to help us address some
project cost issues; and also extends the project's schedule, in pertinent part, by two months. If
you have any questions, we're happy to entertain them at this time.
Chair Hardemon: Is there any other person from the public that'd like to speak on this item?
You're recognized, Mr. Muhammad.
Grady Muhammad: Grady Muhammad, president and CEO (Chief Executive Officer) of
Miami -Dade First. Are they going to have to pay the hundred thousand dollars again? Because
the last time, there was an amendment, and they gave an additional -- it was supposed to be a
hundred thousand dollars that they had to pay every time there was an agreement or an
extension of the agreement. The first hundred thousand, I think, Mr. Chairman, you allowed it to
go to -- for the CRA for the -- I think Adonis Parker.
Chair Hardemon: It was for the sign gate.
Mr. Muhammad: For the signage, yeah, for the signage. That's -- And I think this is another
agreement, but I was really understanding -- why, with this agreement, why would we exclude,
unless we have some additional -- not additional -- unless was have some specific living wage
ordinances and things directly relating to this? I do not think we should exclude these projects
as well, because they're part of the bond issue projects, and they're over -- I think they're
definitely over the $2 million. So my thing would be, if we're going to do that and that we're
doing the agreement, then we have to ensure if we don't pay an enhanced wage living, we should
definitely pay a living wage. And like you stated, all of those projects that funded -- Island
Living, et cetera -- we should never allow $8.05, the minimum wage, the bare minimum wage to
be paid to Overtown residents. We got to ensure -- You're doing a great job, Mr. Chair, and the
Board will support you, but I think we should again ensure the projects pay the adequate wages,
whether they're funded. I understand with the bond projects, but we got to look at -- If we give
some additional dollars, like Commissioner Russell had talked about with the DDA (Downtown
Development Authority) and Ambassadors Program, with the Blue Shirts, it may affect the CRA,
but at the end of the day, it helps your community. It helps them be able to have a job. They
could then go ahead and get an affordable apartment, and they had better get married, buy a
dog, walk it, but that'll be the thing they can be able to do. But they got to be able to do that with
a job that pays a living wage, with job that pays adequate wages, and I think, at the same time,
you all going to have to start to put some provision to ensure that this criminal thing, keep this --
well, keep it out of there, because, you know, Overtown has lots of people with criminal records,
and I think those issues got to be addressed, as well, because if your people, who got the
contracts, who got -- who own the corporations, look like you, they'll be -- like a Sam Gilmore --
they'll be amendable [sic] to hiring ex felons. But others, they don't have to go through that
stuff, and when you have these provisions in these agreements, from all the zip codes; that they
can hire from all the zip codes, never have to hire from Overtown; yet, they still get black
people's money from Overtown. That'll be a disgrace, and I don't think we want to do that, Mr.
Chairman, or the Board, because I know you all are working to make sure this CRA is the best
CRA, and the residents of Overtown get the best housing, get the best jobs, and get the best
services. Thank you.
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Chair Hardemon: Thank you, sir.
Berlinda Faye Dixon: Berlinda Faye Dixon, Overtown resident. My address is on file, if that's
okay. I have a question for you, Commissioner, in reference to this resolution. St. John's, please
don't be upset with me. Pastor, I love you. But at the One Way, you know, at the corner of 17th
and One Way, boarded up building that has a big old sign with the County, 862, 000,
dah-dah-dah-dah-dah, that I took pictures of and sent to Unsafe Structures, and then it got
boarded up. I'm wondering, with St. John's and the monies, does any of this have to do with that
and St. John's Community Development Corporation? Because if it does, I'm kind of curious, if
there's County money coming in, now we're flipping hands to another developer, flipping again
and flipping again, and the property's dilapidated, in disrepair, should -- I think maybe you
ought to look into that aspect of things with -- for our community, and I just wanted to put that
out there. That's it. Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much.
Renita Holmes: Madam Holmes again, a local woman. And I think that makes a difference
when we talk about ushering and setting precedence over and over again of extending benefits in
the name of me for affordable housing. And yes, I do believe it is, madam. I would like for
everybody to step up here to tell whether or not they're local or not, because apparently, opinion
is nine -tenths of the law, and 98 percent of the budget. It's my situation that we continue to give
favor to the developers, but there is that one stakeholder that we could bring equitable policy to,
and I don't want to be redundant, because my redundancy is actually a statement made by
Grady, in which Grady and I were the only ones that upheld Scotts when they wanted to reduce
Scotts in Hope 6, because there were no covenants or clause or provisions in the agreement, no
oversight. But I still had that same law that we followed up with, Commissioner. And we don't
have to be litigants. We are the concerns, because even as a local taxpayer, I'm paying for the
lawyers. It's just a cycle of violence and depletion. So, however, most lawyers make $125. We
have no Federal lawyers. If $1 is attached to any tax increment -- State, local, surtax, it now is
under the Federal mandate and Code, which says 30 percent of the jobs per dollar. It's a
starting point, so why ask for less when it's the bare minimum; when it says that the
administrative fees, which may be what this resolution is asking to add more administrative fees?
There's no point or clarity to how that benefits the local person first in Section 924.935 of the
Federal mandate. But this is about monitoring. This is about knowing. And once I learned that,
I got in a lot of doors that were closed to me. I got out of it economic opportunity, not just fair
housing, but you can't do nothing, one without the next. And the last time that I was at St. John's
and I talked about fair housing and economic -- or just the right to participate, and adequate
funding, well, you know what happened. So this is what I'm saying: We're having incentives to
give others monies that we have no Federal mandate that we are mandated to follow. We're
giving them the extension. It's my recommendation that you take a good look at this, because if
we continue to give that, that means we would be in violation again of that Federal mandate.
And I'm not one to threaten folks about suing. As a paralegal, having to add this to other hats, I
don't get paid for my information or my two cent. We need to not keep setting ourselves up for
more litigation.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much.
Ms. Holmes: It's my recommendation that this is deferred until further auditing and monitoring
done to ensure that the Federal mandate --
Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much, Madam Holmes.
Ms. Holmes: -- and monies used on this Federal property -- in closing -- is adhered to; so say
the law. Thank you.
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Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much.
Ms. Holmes: Thank you, Commissioner.
Chair Hardemon: You're recognized, sir.
Jermaine Flax: Jermaine Flax again, community resident. I hear a lot of -- I see and hear a lot
of things about development, and I see developers out here, but I want to know of how are the
developers contributing as far as work training networks, and what are they doing, also?
Because, you know they want the land, they want the property. You know what I'm saying? Now,
it's only right -- you know what I'm saying? -- for a community that never seen the kind that's
coming in now to -- let me see -- have some type of way that we also be benefited for, too; far as
like networks, and like teaching guys who want to work construction and things like that, to build
what their vision is. Is it anything that the developers has sided with the CRA, far as like helping
-- getting jobs for the residents that's here?
Chair Hardemon: Write down your question, sir. We'll address it after (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Mr. Flax: Okay. And also, you know what I'm saying, like, my wife brought up, far as a second
chance for like residents that's already here, and if they have some type of you know, things
that's stopping them from getting what you guys are -- what the developers are trying to build, we
want a piece of it, too, because, you know, we been here for the longest, and we got to be
recognized. If this -- it's supposed to perspire [sic], or like -- far as like go on the way it's
supposed to be ran, we got to have a piece of it, and that's only right, far as being a community
resident. Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you, sir.
Terrence Cribbs-Lorrant: Good afternoon, everyone. My name is Terrence Cribbs-Lorrant, and
I'm a worker in Overtown. I've been here since 2003; attended FIU for graduate school, and this
was my research community. It favors very similar to the community that I left in St. Louis,
Missouri, Florissant. And this community was really the community that I felt was really close to
home. They say after you finish college, you're to go back home and serve your community. This
became my home, and I started working here and servicing and doing -- much of my life is here.
I get home anywhere from 10 o'clock once I leave here to go all the way up to North Miami now,
because my building I stayed in for eight years was sold by developers on 63 rd. Congratulations
to those people who got all those millions, but not so far for me, because now I'm traveling from
135th Street. I'm bringing this up because there are a lot of college students like myself that have
graduated that would love to come back to Miami, that would love to come to Overtown to live.
Unfortunately, the affordable housing that we continue to build prevents us, so if we're making in
the 30s, we can't live here. 30. We pay rent on time, we're trying to manage and maintain above
what -- if they have any student loans. So, really, if you subtract student loans from some of us
who have law degrees, who have medical degrees, who have teaching degrees, you can go ahead
and say we're in the poverty level -- right? -- if we're paying our loans. Most of us are not
paying them or we're deferring them; that's honest, right? So I ask that we continue to look at
other ways to attract those -- recruit us -- college student to come into the community. When the
students and those kids see these type of people in the community -- and you'll see one of the
projects come up that I work on -- when they see us come in the community, they'll want to do
better, so consider that. Thank you very much for your time.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much. Doctor.
Nelson Adams: Thank you, Mr. Chairman and to the Board and to all of you gathered. First, let
me say thank you for the opportunity that you have given the St. John Community Development
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Corporation and its developer partners. The extensions are for a variety of reasons, and the
most significant thing that I'd like to make sure that everybody is aware of is that, unlike some of
the other projects, all of which I salute, our project, St. John Plaza, also includes a child
learning center; approximately 200 children who will be served, not just by the St. John Church
and those affiliated, but by the community. So I say that simply to say that this is a very special
project; one that is not just good for some of us, but has the potential to be good for all of us.
Thank you, sir.
Chair Hardemon: Can you explain to us exactly who St. John's is? Because there's many people
who don't know, so --
Mr. Adams: The St. John CDC is a community development corporation that was incorporated
in 1985 by the St. John Baptist Church. It is a separate entity, a 501(c)(3). It has its own board,
it has its own administrative office, and we've done significant development in Overtown since
the late '80s. With the completion of this project, we will have a housing stock of approximately
150 units. So we look forward to continuing to do good work in our community.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much, sir. Clarence, there were a few questions that were
asked. The first question was: Does the $100, 000 penalty apply to this change or this
amendment?
Mr. Woods: Well, it wasn't a penalty. It was what the developer -- well, you were able to
negotiate from the developer in exchange for a -- for extending the deadline the last time out.
There was no such negotiation this time, but they have, in fact, remitted the $100,000 to us.
Chair Hardemon: So have we started looking to who's going to develop the gateway sign?
Mr. Woods: We have some preliminary ideas about the gateway signs and where we want to put
them, but we have not had an architect to actually begin the work on those as of yet.
Chair Hardemon: Now, I want to make this known to the community. When -- this organization
was one of the bond projects that did not have a -- Board Members -- that did not have a
requirement for wages and such. And there were a number of people who are affiliated with the
organization that rallied the CRA to establish these requirements, these wage requirements. And
to show their good faith, they ended up negotiating, within our parameters within the CRA, wage
requirements. So now, this project has responsible wage requirements that the other projects that
are building themselves within the CRA do not have. And furthermore, when this organization
wanted to have the extension that we spoke about earlier, the $100, 000 was also another thing
that was negotiated out that provides a gateway sign to Overtown. So now, you don't have to
just see that small Welcome to Overtown'kign that you see on 14th Street and 3rdAvenue. We
want to build something that is much more significant and with much more dollars that are
invested into it. And I applaud St. John's for taking that bull by the horn. And so, at this point
now, when we first came within the CRA, my charge from my fellow Board Member,
Commissioner Suarez, was to make things happen, and I started to do that to ensure that we had
some projects that are developing. But now, as we continue to have projects developing, we
want to ensure that people are paid those responsible wage rates, and they accepted that
challenge, so I applaud them for that. Commissioner.
Board Member Suarez: I would just say that this is the sort of final -- these are the final projects
that were based on the bond. We just did one -- we just did today a groundbreaking for 70-plus
units. It's going to be twice in terms of the number of units. And childcare is something that all
areas have a huge need for, not just the Overtown area. But District 3 I know has an amazing
childcare institution in its district, and it really is something that is very difficult for parents,
particularly in impoverished areas, to be able to afford. It's had enough to get by and pay, you
know, the essentials of life, you know, gasoline and rent and food, but childcare is essential to be
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able to work, in many cases, in some of these homes, two working families or a single mother or
single father, whatever the case may be, you know, childcare is critically important to having the
confidence to be able to go out and work. Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: There was also a question about job training for residents within the area,
and then I want to make sure I touch on the young man's comments about essentially workforce
housing needs for young professionals and young graduates.
Mr. Woods: Well, as far as our job training, we do have several job training programs. We have
the Hospitality and Culinary Institute. We also have the -- what we call our Blue Shirts. We are
creating another hospitality job program. The program -- as far as construction is concerned
there are programs out there already, so we decided that it'd be best that we not just reinvent the
wheel, but give referrals to those agencies that are doing training. As a matter of fact, on item
number 13, we'll talk about a training program that we're going to be doing with Miami Dade
College that will allow for OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration)-10 and
OSHA-30 certifications. So there are many training programs out there already. It's not that
there are a lack of training programs. It's just that once folks are trained, it's placing them on
jobs, so that's where we want to focus our energy and our efforts.
Chair Hardemon: Particularly the training that we have for our current residents, for
organizations that take those who have records. So --
Mr. Woods: Yeah.
Chair Hardemon: -- for instance, the Blue Shirts and the Hospitality Institute, many of those
people who are within those programs have criminal records. They live and reside within
Overtown. There are a number of them who were homeless that are not homeless and now
making $15 an hour. And so, I mean, there are many success stories that come from that. And
as far as the workforce housing, I just want to say that we do have a need. We have an extreme
need for workforce housing, and we're consistently trying to find a way, besides some of the
language that Commissioner Suarez introduced, to help bring workforce housing. But
particularly, one thing that I'll ask my Board Members to support me on in the future is taking
some of the existing lots that we have, because we have some lots that you can have some
building on, but we haven't analyzed the particular numbers and what type of housing we can
build there. However, what I'd like to do is to build housing that is -- it is still a form of
affordable housing; it's just a greater percentage of the area median income.
Mr. Woods: Yeah.
Chair Hardemon: And so that if you are a young teacher, if you are someone who works for the
City of Miami making -- if you work for my office, you make $35, 000 a year -- you can live
within the Overtown community, in the community that you're giving to, and so that's the goal
forward. And in those projects, I just like doing things -- I want to do things a little different. I
don't want to give away the land I want to keep the land and then help us with the building. So,
hopefully, we can get those type of things done.
Board Member Suarez: That's great.
Chair Hardemon: But is there any other --?
Vice Chair Gort: Didn't we have the construction training program, also?
Mr. Woods: Yes, we did. That's what I was talking about where -- you know, we did have a
construction training program that we were working in conjunction with Camillus House, but we
didn't continue it, because there was already construction training. There's -- over at -- Miami
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Dade has work readiness over at Dorsey, and they're doing a great job on the construction side.
But we also --
Vice Chair Gort: Yeah, but I think that --
Chair Hardemon: It doesn't keep us from doing something --
Vice Chair Gort: Right.
Chair Hardemon: I think that we can do something in the future.
Mr. Woods: Right, it doesn't.
Chair Hardemon: Yeah.
Board Member Suarez: We're piggybacking on them.
Chair Hardemon: Right. Any further discussion?
Mr. Fernandez: Mr. Chair, we'd like to make one announcement for the record, since there has
been a lot of discussion about jobs. Mr. Aluko would like to share the date of an upcoming job
fair for this particular project, and I just wanted to note that none of the targeting and hiring
requirements that were in the prior amendment have been rescinded, they all stand, in response
to Mr. Muhammad's comments; as well as we do have a wage floor and that we've adopted the
responsible wage for general labor, so.
Ola Aluko: Thank you, Javier. Ola Aluko, president and CEO (Chief Executive Officer), St.
John CDC. Commissioners, I'd just like to reiterate, as part of our development agreement, the
CRA has imposed the CDC -- I'm sorry -- the St. John Plaza Project to have at least, at the very
minimum, two job fairs. So we will have these job fairs once we set a closing date. We will
entertain Overtown residents to make certain that they are aware of the job fair. As a matter of
fact, one of the reasons why I wanted to make certain of this today is starting tomorrow morning,
you can start calling our offices, and I will be in the back. You can start calling our offices to at
least get your name on the list. That way, for those of you who may not have an opportunity to
buy a Miami Times or see the Herald, at least you can call our offices and we will give you the
heads up as to when our job fair will be. As Dr. Adams mentioned earlier, the difference
between our projects and the others -- and the others were great projects, also -- is that we are a
community -- a true community project. We are based on 3rdAvenue, downtown, St. John's --
Downtown Overtown. So we will be here to cater to those qualified residents who are willing to
participate on our project. So again, I just want to mention that you have imposed that
requirement upon us, and we will have that, and you will get your full colored ad pages in the
Miami Times and other publications.
Mr. Woods: Overtown, 'hot Downtown Overtown."
Chair Hardemon: He said, Downtown Overtown."
Mr. Woods: Yeah. Overtown --
Chair Hardemon: Downtown.
Mr. Aluko: Downtown Overtown.
Chair Hardemon: He said Downtown."
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5.
16-00524
Mr. Aluko: No, no. Downtown Overtown.
Mr. Woods: Naw, naw. Overtown.
Chair Hardemon: All right. Any further discussion from the Members of the Board? Hearing
none, all in favor of the motion, 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 ("CRA"); AUTHORIZING THE ACCEPTANCE OF FUNDS IN THE
AMOUNT OF $191,398.46 FROM THE BLACK ARCHIVES HISTORY AND
RESEARCH FOUNDATION OF SOUTH FLORIDA, INC. ("BAF") TO SATISFY
A CONSTRUCTION GAP FUNDING LOAN TO BAF AUTHORIZED BY
CRA-R-15-0012; FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO
EXECUTE ALL DOCUMENTS NECESSARY FOR SAID PURPOSE.
File # 16-00524 Cover Memo.pdf
File # 16-00524 Back up.pdf
File # 16-00524 Legislation.pdf
Motion by Board Member Suarez, seconded by Board Member Carollo, that this matter be
ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote.
Votes: Ayes: Commissioner Russell, Chair Hardemon, Commissioner Suarez, Vice Chair Gort and
Commissioner Carollo
CRA-R-16-0018
Chair Hardemon: Moving on now to RE.5.
Clarence Woods, III (Executive Director, Southeast Overtown/Park West Community
Redevelopment Agency): Commissioners, Resolution Number 5 is a resolution of the Board of
Commissioners of the Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment Agency,
authorizing the acceptance of funds in the amount of $191, 398.46 from the Black Archives
History and Research Foundation of South Florida, Inc. -- excuse me -- to satisfy a construction
gap funding loan to the BAF [sic], authorized by CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency)
Resolution Number 15-0012; further authorizing the executive director to execute all documents
necessary for said purpose.
Board Member Suarez: Move it.
Chair Hardemon: It's been properly moved. Is there a second?
Board Member Carollo: Second.
Chair Hardemon: And seconded.
Board Member Carollo: Second.
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Chair Hardemon: I open up the floor for public hearing. Mr. Muhammad, you couldn't possibly
have anything to say about this item, but I yield the floor to you.
Grady Muhammad: But of course. And literally, in truth, with the funds, I remember when the
place had to be closed down. It was not the fault of the Lyric Plaza. It was some faults of the
County guy and the contractors and some funds got missing, but nobody ever got arrested, but
the project was shut down. This proj -- these funds -- where we're standing now, they need those
monies back, and I think you all should give them back, but it should be directly given towards
like these workers that's standing around that's working here tonight. When they have those
events on Folklife Fridays, they have to hire additional staff. I think those -- I think these are
some funds as a reinvestment back to the Black Archives, should go back to the Black Archives,
because -- not that the CRA need the money. The Black Archives definitely need the money, and
I think it should directly be tied to when you have events here, they should have to hire -- if they
don't hire the people, they should have to hire additional people above and beyond their current
staffing. Like I state, for a meeting like tonight, you got to hire the door people. You got the
young men that's standing around, and I think they had to hire them, because usually, you don't
have these CRA meetings here. And I think that'd be a good idea, a good reinvestment back to
the C -- from the CRA back to the Black Archives, because I don't think the CRA needs this
$191,000, but the Black Archives definitely do. Thank you.
Vice Chair Gort: Wait until Agenda 6.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you.
Mr. Muhammad: 5, Item 5.
Chair Hardemon: Any other person? You're recognized, sir.
Anthony Walters: Anthony Walters. You're not familiar with me.
Chair Hardemon: Can you step closer to the microphone, please?
Mr. Walters: I said you're not familiar with me, but I'm a resident out of Brown Sub, and I want
to say something -- training courses -- about your training that you had. I went --
Chair Hardemon: Can you state your name for the record, please.
Mr. Walters: My name is Anthony Walters.
Chair Hardemon: Okay.
Mr. Walters: First of all, I went through the training at the church right there, AME (African
Methodist Episcopal) Church. 41 of us graduated, all right? We went all the way to FIU
(Florida International University). We graduated. Matter of fact, I could be precise with it.
August 2015 at 11, 11 o'clock, we all -- 41 graduates did the training, but here it is, y'all got
somebody -- AME Church told me that I cannot participate in none of the training that y 'all have
here. Now, I'm bringing this to your attention, because I feel like you want to dis -- you know,
discriminate against me. But I graduated, though, with honors in the class.
Chair Hardemon: What program are you talking about, sir?
Mr. Walters: The culinary program.
Chair Hardemon: Culinary program.
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Mr. Walters: Yeah.
Chair Hardemon: Okay.
Mr. Walters: I graduated, and the man told me, say I can't participate in it, because once I
completed -- you understand what I'm saying? But I was -- influenced other people that came to
do that, and you go further if you want to. But this young man told me, say I can't participate no
more. Can you tell me, why is that?
Chair Hardemon: Yeah, we can have someone from the -- I know the Culinary Institute
representatives are here tonight, so we can have someone -- I know Nate. I think you represent
one of -- you're one of the project managers for the Culinary Institute. Let's clarify what's going
on here for me, please. Thank you, sir.
Mr. Woods: Well, Commissioner, if he said he completed the course and passed with honors --
You want to take it again?
Chair Hardemon: No, that's not what I'm saying, but just -- let's figure out exactly what he's
saying.
Board Member Suarez: Figure it out.
Chair Hardemon: Let's figure out what he's saying.
Board Member Suarez: Yeah.
Chair Hardemon: So, sir, make sure you have a chance to sit down with Nate so you can talk
about the situation, okay?
Mr. Walters: All right.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you, sir. Is there any further discussion on the item? Seeing none, I
believe that it was properly moved and seconded.
Board Member Suarez: Yes.
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): Yes, sir.
Chair Hardemon: Is there any discussion from the Board? Hearing none, all in favor, say ifye. "
The Board (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: Motion passes.
6. CRA RESOLUTION
16-00020
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
INCREMENT FUND, ENTITLED "PROFESSIONAL SERVICES - LEGAL,"
ACCOUNT CODE NO. 10050.920101.531010.0000.00000.
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File # 16-00020 Cover Memo.pdf
File # 16-00020 Financial Form.pdf
File # 16-00020 Legislation.pdf
Motion by Board Member Suarez, seconded by Vice -Chair Gort, that this matter be
ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote.
Votes: Ayes: Commissioner Russell, Chair Hardemon, Commissioner Suarez and Vice Chair Gort
Noes: Commissioner Carollo
CRA-R-16-0019
Chair Hardemon: Moving on now to RE.6.
Clarence Woods, III (Executive Director, Southeast Overtown/Park West Community
Redevelopment Agency): Commissioners, Resolution 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 documents necessary for said purpose;
allocating funds from Professional Services, Legal account.
Board Member Suarez: Move it.
Chair Hardemon: It's been properly moved. Is there a second?
Vice Chair Gort: Second.
Chair Hardemon: Seconded by the Vice Chairman.
Board Member Suarez: Mr. Chair.
Chair Hardemon: You're recognized, sir.
Board Member Suarez: I presume this is all the legal work that's related to the expenditure of
$60 million worth of bond?
Mr. Woods: Well, it's -- no. It's for specialized legal services throughout the year. It's an iip to"
amount.
Board Member Suarez: Okay.
Mr. Woods: It's for whenever we need special counsel.
Chair Hardemon: Okay. Is there anyone -- well, is there any other Board Members that want to
speak on the item? Seeing none, anyone from the public? I close the public hearing. I move the
vote. Anyone -- all in favor, say 1 ye. "
Vice Chair Gort: Aye.
Board Member Russell: Aye.
Board Member Suarez: Aye.
Chair Hardemon: All against?
Board Member Carollo: No.
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7.
15-00737
Chair Hardemon: Motion passes.
CRA RESOLUTION
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 ENTER INTO A COMMERCIAL LEASE
AGREEMENT WITH ULTRINA HARRIS, INDIVIDUALLY, FOR THE LEASE OF
COMMERCIAL SPACE AT THE OVERTOWN PLAZA, 1490 NW 3RD AVENUE,
UNIT 110, MIAMI, FLORIDA, IN SUBSTANTIALLY THE FORM ATTACHED;
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; ALLOCATING FUNDS FROM SEOPW,
"OTHER GRANTS AND AIDS," ACCOUNT CODE NO.
10050.920101.883000.0000.00000.
File # 15-00737 Cover Memo.pdf
File # 15-00737 Financial Form.pdf
File # 15-00737 Backup.pdf
File # 15-00737 Legislation.pdf
File # 15-00737 ExhibitA.pdf
Motion by Board Member Suarez, seconded by Vice -Chair Gort, that this matter be
ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote.
Votes: Ayes: Commissioner Russell, Chair Hardemon, Commissioner Suarez, Vice Chair Gort and
Commissioner Carollo
CRA-R-16-0020
Chair Hardemon: Moving on now to RE.7.
Clarence Woods, III (Executive Director, Southeast Overtown/Park West Community
Redevelopment Agency): Resolution Number 7 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 enter into a commercial lease agreement with Ultrina Harris,
individually, for the lease of commercial space at the Overtown Plaza, at 1490 Northwest 3rd
Avenue, Unit 110, in substantially the form attached; further authorizing the execution -- I mean
the executive director to disburse funds at his discretion on a reimbursement basis or directly to
vendors upon presentation of invoices and satisfactory documentation; allocating funds from
SEOPW Other Grants and Aids, in the amount of $85, 000 -- $92, 000.
Board Member Suarez: Move it.
Chair Hardemon: It's been properly moved. Is there a second?
Vice Chair Gort: Second.
Chair Hardemon: And seconded. I open up the floor for public hearing at this time. You're
recognized, sir.
Leroy Jones: Leroy Jones, Neighbors and Neighbors Association, 1490 Northwest 3rd Avenue,
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Suite 110. Just want to say that I like the idea of you moving them in that space. I support it 100
percent. I'm currently occupying that space now. I'm hoping that we'll be moved into the old
CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) space in the same building on 3rdAvenue. Right now,
the space is open space. You know, we run a resource center now. There's no closed rooms in
there. All the meetings is open, no closed conference space. So I support the idea 100 percent of
that company coming in there, because it should be a commercial space. Now, I just need to
know where we're going.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you, sir.
Mr. Jones: Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: You're recognized, ma'am.
Ultrina Harris: Ultrina Harris, 1622 Northwest 1 st Avenue, Overtown resident, business owner,
and a community advocate. I want to thank you guys for the opportunity. That's it.
Chair Hardemon: Is there anyone else from the community that'd like to speak on this item?
Renita Holmes: Madam Homes again, A Wave of Women in Public Housing, Education, Finance
and Development, Inc. I'd like to know where we're going, too, but just for special note that in
observation, the small business owner, as well, I am noticing a pattern and trend where
historical black businesses or local entitled business owners, particularly women, are offered to
be moved into other areas; example, Jackson Soul Food. It just seems to be a new practice --
Chair Hardemon: Ms. Harris -- I'm sorry. Ms. Harris, can you come back, just in case?
Someone may have some questions for you. You're recognized.
Ms. Holmes: Thank you, Commissioner. I'm glad that you have a lot of questions tonight. And I
have to really say that you really are listening. However, you know, I want to deal with facts and
observations, real experience. And as a black woman, business owner, historical and, you know,
family owned, I'm just watching restaurants or black -- those that are actually originals be
moved into other places, but I'm recognizing that they're being moved out of properties where
eminent domain would prevail if the next person that gets access to the properties takes it. I'm
also noticing a pattern and a trend of us as women, single mother, head of households that are
still providing, having the last opportunity in the good 'ole boy industry. And I'm not angry
about it; it's just that after you build it, someone has to maintain it. And so, now, women -- Wave
and Wave of Women in Overtown really want to know, after these guys build it -- and I don't have
no baby daddy paying the rent. I pay my rent. I think, in this industry, where we benefit in
saying that we're improving the quality of life, we build commercial spaces and provide
economic opportunity, and I know you know I want economic opportunity. It's not just fair
housing, they come together, like safety and health. But if I'm in a safe place next to an
expressway, where I can have affordable rent and longevity, why in the hell would I want to move
up into a space -- an open space? And I believe in competitiveness, but real reason why that I
turned down CWEP, which was something that we created in our mind -- and I notice that we
have a tendency -- you give Leroy a good idea, he will enhance it. That's what I love about him.
But it's just kind of a downsizing to move me into a place where I have no privacy. Some of us
were business owners when we started rebuilding this place. We built this place, and just like --
Chair Hardemon: Can you reach --
Ms. Holmes: -- and constructions workers, I don't need a whole lot of training and education on
how to fill out a application.
Chair Hardemon: Madam Holmes --
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Ms. Holmes: I'm just saying in patterns and trends --
Chair Hardemon: -- your two minutes have come to an end. I will say this and --
Ms. Holmes: -- so in closing, now closing --
Chair Hardemon: -- I'm going to say this though: I watched you at Miami -Dade County, at the
last hearing that was in the -- of the subcommittee --
Ms. Holmes: -- Yes.
Chair Hardemon: -- and I saw that they allowed one minute for people to speak on the items.
Ms. Holmes: Commissioner --
Chair Hardemon: No, hear me out, hear me out. The one thing about it that I recognized was
that --
Ms. Holmes: Yes, sir.
Chair Hardemon: -- you gave your message within that one minute.
Ms. Holmes: Yes, sir.
Chair Hardemon: And you're like one of those people I would call an habitual two -minute
abuser.
Ms. Holmes: No, no, no. You know I don't like no two -minute man or woman. Oh, hell no, that
ain't me.
Chair Hardemon: I know, I know.
Ms. Holmes: Take a look at me. You know -- if you been watching me closely, you know that is
my philosophy. Look at me. Do I really like a McDonald's snack would do my Burger King?
Chair Hardemon: What I'm asking --
Ms. Holmes: Really, Commissioner? Andl also note that you always tell me about my time, and
search, but you're so -- you look into my mouth, but you're not hearing what I'm saying. In
closing, I want to close my legs and stop having people stick it to me as a black woman and
business over here, moving me into tight spaces, and give me the benefit of the doubt, as well as
the benefit of the dollars. Is that short enough for you?
Chair Hardemon: No.
Ms. Holmes: Trust me, it gets longer.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much.
Ms. Holmes: Have a good day.
Chair Hardemon: Somebody, please, please talk to her. Ms. -- I'll close the public hearing at
this time, but, Ms. Harris, there's some people that may not have had the opportunity to read
your project -- not on the dais, but within the community -- so I think you -- it'd be good for you
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to say who you are, besides you're just a business owner; and what you do for this community
and the product that you want to bring to this area, so that the community can support or not
support the idea.
Ms. Harris: Okay. I'm born and raised in Overtown; went to Phyllis Wheatley Elementary,
Booker T.; then went out to Jackson, because Booker T. wasn't a high school at the time. Me
and my husband started our business, Kicks on Wheels, located -- it was located on 14 th Street,
175 Northwest 14th Street. We started out of the trunk of our car, selling men's athletic shoes.
We had that goal and that dream once we finished high school. We were able to open a brick and
mortar location that we occupied for seven years, from 2006 until 2014. We came into a
dilemma with the landlord, who is currently living in that facility -- that building now, that we
had to potentially find another location. We were successful in that location. We did receive
funding from Mr. Leroy Jones and a small mom and pop grant. So I do want you guys to find
somewhere for them to go, but I -- it's because they are an important part of our community. I'm
still an Overtown resident, live in the St. John Village Condo Homes, so I'm a homeowner here,
as well. I'm the site director for Touching Miami with Love, a children and youth organization;
been there for six years. I'm also a program consultant for the Overtown Optimist Club, where
we're building and changing lives in the community. So if anyone wants to get to know me,
please reach out. I'm always open and available.
Chair Hardemon: And can you tell us a little bit more about the business you plan to put in
1490?
Ms. Harris: It will be a retail store that will specialize in children's uniforms, to be able to
provide them at a lower cost in the community. It's something that is in need and it's something
that is a trend that's happening. So I would love to be able to partner with other schools and
neighborhood, as well, to be able to make it a staple. But we'll also be -- that will be just a
platform for the other entrepreneurial retail opportunities that would be available, coming out of
that space.
Chair Hardemon: Board Members, do you all have any questions for her? Thank you very
much, ma'am.
Ms. Harris: Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: Good luck. Is there any other person that'd like to speak on this item? Well, I
think I close the public hearing. Any further comment from the Board Members? Hearing none,
all in favor of the item, say aye."
The Board (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: All against? Motion passes.
8. CRA RESOLUTION
15-00741
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
$200,000, TO TALMADGE FRAIZER, TO UNDERWRITE COSTS
ASSOCIATED WITH THE BUILD OUT OF "BROTHER FRAIZER'S RIBS"
FROM THE COMMERCIAL TENANT IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM;
AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO EXECUTE ALL
DOCUMENTS NECESSARY FOR SAID PURPOSE; FURTHER AUTHORIZING
THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO DISBURSE FUNDS, AT HIS DISCRETION,
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ON A REIMBURSEMENT BASIS OR DIRECTLY TO VENDORS, UPON
PRESENTATION OF INVOICES AND SATISFACTORY DOCUMENTATION;
ALLOCATING FUNDS FROM SEOPW, "OTHER GRANTS AND AIDS,"
ACCOUNT CODE NO. 10050.920101.883000.0000.00000.
File # 15-00741 Cover Memo.pdf
File # 15-00741 Financial Form.pdf
File # 15-00741 Back up.pdf
File # 15-00741 Legislation.pdf
Motion by Board Member Carollo, seconded by Board Member Suarez, that this matter be
ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote.
Votes: Ayes: Commissioner Russell, Chair Hardemon, Commissioner Suarez, Vice Chair Gort and
Commissioner Carollo
CRA-R-1 6-0021
Chair Hardemon: Moving on now to RE.8.
Clarence Woods, III (Executive Director, Southeast Overtown/Park West Community
Redevelopment Agency): Resolution 8 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 $200, 000, to Talmadge Frazier, to underwrite costs associated with the
buildout of Brother Frazier's Ribs from the Commercial Tenant Improvement Program;
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.
Chair Hardemon: All right. 171 open up the public hearing for this item. Anyone from the public
that'd like to speak on this item, please come to the microphone. Brother Frazier, in the same
spirit.
Talmadge Frazier: Oh, yes, sir. First of all, Commissioners, I'd like to thank yourself and the
Commission; Clarence Woods, in the office; and Leroy Jones. My name is Talmadge Frazier.
I'm the proud owner of Brother Frazier's Ribs. I live at 201 Northwest 7th Street. I'm here
tonight to support and ask Commissioners to fund my building. I think we're in keeping with
what you want to do. The nightlife, we will have (UNINTELLIGIBLE) opportunity; plus we're
going to work close with the Miami Dade Culinary Arts School to hire their graduates. A lot of
their graduates don't have high school diplomas. They have opportunity to come and work with
Brother Frazier's and achieve high school diplomas. Also, Brother Frazier was born here in
Overtown. I was a counselor, the PE (physical education) teacher, the CSI (Community Safety
Initiative) teacher at Douglas Elementary. Brother Frazier was actually born to take my Boy
Scout troops on a field trip. It was 18 of us. We went to New York, we went to Washington, and
I'm proud to say that all 18 of those boys finished high school and went on -- some went to
college, some went to military. It all came about by the one dream to do well in this community.
So I ask you now to approve this and give the opportunity to provide the community with a really
nice place to go to; family have a nice time, they really do. But Overtown need to be
(UNINTELLIGIBLE) in with the growing of Overtown.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you, sir.
Mr. Frazier: Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: I'll allow the next person behind you to speak.
Mr. Frazier: Oh. Thank y'all.
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9.
Chair Hardemon: You better watch out; she might cut you, too. How are you doing, ma'am?
Jackie Bell: Jackie Bell, 1600 Northwest 3rdAvenue, the president of New Washington Heights
Community Development Corporation, and I'd like to speak for Mr. Frazier. He was one of the
businesses that we had at Folklife Friday. We had what is called a barbecue cook -off festival.
Mr. Frazier won first prize; that's how good his barbecue is. So please grant him what he is
looking for, and continue to build the black businesses of this community. Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much, ma'am.
Leroy Jones: So Leroy Jones again. I just want to say I'm here in support of Brother Frazier. I
mean, at least once a week, on a Thursday or Friday, you can catch Brother Frazier at my office,
keeping my staff there 7, 8 o'clock at night, helping him. So I'm very happy to see the CRA
(Community Redevelopment Agency) support him; very, very happy; very happy to see that.
Eric Knowles: Mr. Chairman, good evening. Eric Knowles, president of the Miami -Dade
Chamber of Commerce. I just want to speak on behalf of Mr. Frazier. In my former position as
the operations director for the Sun Life Stadium, at one time, we had the opportunity to have Mr.
Frazier out there, and he was a outstanding tenant and provider of services, so I support that
initiative.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much, sir. Is there any other person that'd like to speak on
this item? Seeing none, I'll close the public hearing. I know there's not a motion on the floor,
but I'd like to say something just first -- I typically don't like to speak first, but I want to say that,
you know, when you hear the stories of the people from Overtown that have existing businesses,
that had existing businesses for a very long time receive a benefit from this organization, it
warms my heart, because businesses aren't moving into Overtown like they're moving into
Wynwood. They're not moving into Overtown like they're moving into the Design District. And
this gives us an opportunity to really service our community with businesses that are here and
put them in state-of-the-art, if you will, suitable conditions, so that when we have visitors from
all over this nation, visitors from even our neighboring communities, like Wynwood, they can
come to Overtown and be proud in -- of their experience in this place that we're probably going
to have a food destination in the very near future. And so, you know, the one thing that you'll
hear some people say about CRAs -- they may say it about our CRA -- is that the people are left
out. And I think that with the work that we've done on this Board, especially over these past two
and a half years, we know that that's not true. And so with advocates in the community, like
Brother Frazier, like Two Guys, like House of Wings, like Harlem Square, like Jackson Soul Food
-- I mean, the list goes on and on and on -- with the number of businesses that we're assisting,
provide a great service to our community. And so with that, I just hope that you all move and
support this motion. Is there a motion to approve this item?
Vice Chair Gort: Move it.
Chair Hardemon: It's been properly moved. Is there a second?
Board Member Carollo: Second.
Chair Hardemon: It's been properly moved and seconded. Is there any further discussion on the
agenda item? Seeing none, all in favor, say aye."
The Board (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: Motion passes.
CRA RESOLUTION
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16-00159
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
$110,000, 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 # 16-00159 Cover Memo.pdf
File # 16-00159 Financial Form.pdf
File # 16-00159 Backup.pdf
File # 16-00159 Legislation.pdf
Motion by Board Member Suarez, seconded by Board Member Carollo, that this matter be
ADOPTED WITH MODIFICATIONS PASSED by the following vote.
Votes: Ayes: Commissioner Russell, Chair Hardemon, Commissioner Suarez, Vice Chair Gort and
Commissioner Carollo
CRA-R-16-0022
Chair Hardemon: Moving on now to RE.9.
Clarence Woods, III (Executive Director, Southeast Overtown/Park West Community
Redevelopment Agency): Resolution Number 9 is a resolution --
Chair Hardemon: We're almost there, Board Members. We're almost there.
Mr. Woods: -- of the Board of Commissioners of the Southeast Overtown/Park West Community
Redevelopment Agency, authorizing a grant in an amount not to exceed $85, 000, to Suited for
Success, 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.
Board Member Suarez: Move it.
Chair Hardemon: It's been properly moved.
Board Member Carollo: Second.
Chair Hardemon: And seconded. I open up the floor for public hearing. You're recognized,
ma'am.
Sonia Jacobson: Thank you, Commissioners and the CRA staff. My name is Sonia Jacobson. I
am the founder and executive director of Suited for Success. We are pleased to announce we are
in our 22nd year in Dade County and seven, going into our eighth year here in the Overtown
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community. And I am really pleased to bring two young ladies that are Overtown residents that
we are ready to hire with the additional funding that this resolution is offering us . So I want to
thank you in advance and present -- I thought they were right behind me -- to present two
Overtown residents that are getting jobs with our agency, so we have good news.
Chair Hardemon: Now, this is one thing that I'll let you all clap for, because these are real
Overtown residents.
Ms. Jacobson: Yes, they are.
Applause.
La Shawn Naylor: Thank you. In addition to Ms. Jacobson, I would like to give a special thanks
to some special people, starting off with you, Mr. Hardemon. Thank you very much. Thank you,
Mr. Clarence Woods. Thank you, Nathaniel Joseph, wherever you're at. Thank you very much.
And also, Martha Wells, thank you very much. Thank you, Ms. Jacobson, for giving me this
opportunity. And to you all that are behind me that are other Overtown residents and pioneers
in the Overtown community, you know the struggle that I've been through and that this young
lady has been through, and we want to thank all of you. And I would like to give some advice to
you all that are here now: Don't give up.
Applause.
Destiny Reynolds: Hello. I'm Destiny Reynolds. Thank you all for your support on this
program. I am from Ohio, but I've been in Overtown for the last two years, volunteering; a
college graduate with a history degree. So initially, I was looking for jobs in the department.
With me having a black history degree, I was really initially attracted to Black Archives and
other programs that you have going on. I started volunteering for Ms. Sonia at Dress for
Success, and I am so glad that I did. She has given me the chance now to come onboard and
work for her. Not only does this program -- excuse me. Not only does this program offer women
clothes, undergarments and nice shoes, but it's -- the program, Dressed for Success, provides
empowerment to women. And the women that come in there are appreciative. They leave with
confidence to go out and get the job that the program is setting them up to do and get. So I am
really again happy for the support on this program and glad to be onboard. Thank you.
Applause.
Chair Hardemon: You're recognized, sir.
Leroy Jones: Leroy Jones again. I grew up in Overtown. I just want to say that for the record. I
just want -- I want to say, too, how proud I am that five of the items on the agenda, I worked
with; five of the agencies on this agenda, I work directly with, and Suited for Success is one. Out
of that five, three of them we financially support. Think about that. So I grew up in Overtown,
too. I'm a strong supporter of second chance. So when you all decide to meet about dealing
with the issues as relates to people in Overtown that need a second chance, please include me in
that dialogue; I would love to be a part of that. So I don't have to keep getting up here, I just
want to say I support item 1; I support Ultrina item, which was item --
Unidentified Speaker: 7.
Mr. Jones: -- 7.
Unidentified Speaker: 8.
Mr. Jones: I support item 1, item 7, item 8, item 9, item 10; and Urgent, Inc., item 11. So that's
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Suited for Success, Miami Dade College, Urgent, Inc.; Girl Power, which is item 1; item 7,
which is 'Trina Place; and Frazier Ribs. I just want to say that. Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you, sir.
Renita Holmes: You know what? When Section 3 was done and it was a class action suit, it
wasn't -- not too many people that would read law.
Chair Hardemon: For the record, Ms. -- Madam Holmes.
Ms. Holmes: Madam Holmes again, 350 -- Overtown. And so, Commissioner, I appreciate
when you say that You the only one that abuse it, 'that means that I read --
Chair Hardemon: No, no, not the only one. I'm not going to --
Ms. Holmes: -- well --
Chair Hardemon: -- I didn't say that.
Ms. Holmes: -- I know you -- when I'm on point about law and just on facts, that's when I get
that type of response, and it's not just you. But I don't think too many people read law, and I
think too many people read policy, but will show up at the meetings. So excuse me to all my
haters back there talking about, tiwe,'because I'm awesome.
Chair Hardemon: You are.
Ms. Holmes: And I read.
Chair Hardemon: You are.
Ms. Holmes: So with that, I want to say, Ms. Jacobson, I watched you from a long time coming,
and I actually came up here because I really do support them, but, you know, you can't -- me, I'm
scrutinized and things as much as you are. So when you rub your head and you look at me, I
wish every resident would read policy; the Negroes wouldn't be so far behind, as we are now
with the things that you're doing now, because the Bible say, Put it in writing and make it clear."
Today, in the resolutions and ordinances -- and particularly, I say this to Commissioner Russell:
You're doing what the strategy requires, what the law mandated. All of us that dropped in the
crack -- but for you, I would like to say a special thank you, because someone called me about
these opportunities. It's just one thing I asked, and that was how we first met when you got back
over here. There are LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender) women and transgender men
and women that live in this community, and I've watched you give them what they want,
irregardless of all the religious folks and hypocrites back there talking in my neck. That takes a
lot of human response, so you're deserving of it. I'm just asking now that you look at a very, very
special gap population -- and that doesn't have to do with the ones that read or the ones that
don't -- that we need some special jobs and some special opportunities, and we need to take at
how transgenders, gays and lesbians are hired or mistreated in this area. It goes a lot further,
but when it comes to the African American ones, we don't get it. When it comes to the Haitian
ones, we don't get it. And I'm not prejudiced, because my daddy's Cuban, all right? But nobody
should be discriminated in job opportunity. And sometimes, as African Americans, we scrutinize
those who are fighting (UNINTELLIGIBLE). If I don't want to wear a suit, don't make me have a
suit. And I ain't going to say no more, Ms. Sonia. IfI don't want to wear a dress, don't make me
have a dress, because what's up underneath is none of your business. However, who you give
the money -- and businesses the monies to require that there's fair opportunity. Please consider
these words as a matter of waking people up, as reading into the policy to make sure that it
adheres to the State mandates and that everyone has a equal opportunity. All right?
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Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much.
Ms. Holmes: Thank you, Ms. Sonia.
Chair Hardemon: Is there any further public comment? Seeing none, I'll close the public
hearing.
Ms. Jacobson: Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: You're welcome. Was there a motion on the floor? There is a motion on the
floor. Is there any discussion from the Board Members? I have one question, Ms. Jacobson.
Ms. Jacobson: Yes.
Chair Hardemon: That out of the salary that you asked for, for the increase to hire the Overtown
residents, is that to be split amongst the two?
Ms. Jacobson: Yes. It's going to be a part-time position; 20 hours a week to start. And
hopefully, in the future, we'll be able to raise additional funding so that --
Chair Hardemon: Right.
Ms. Jacobson: -- we can hire more women from the community; also, men in the community,
because our program serves both men and women. And hopefully, we will be able to make these
positions full-time in the future.
Chair Hardemon: So the positions that you have, especially for the two young ladies that you've
already decided to hire --
Ms. Jacobson: Right.
Chair Hardemon: -- are they only available part-time?
Ms. Jacobson: The positions are available right now part-time, because of the funding that we
have, yes.
Chair Hardemon: And I ask that, Commissioners, because right now, the number is about
$25, 000 for the two staff members. Will they be -- are they going to be working the entire year?
Is that a year --
Ms. Jacobson: It's a year long --
Chair Hardemon: (UNINTELLIGIBLE)?
Ms. Jacobson: -- yes. It's a year -long position. Well, it's 50 weeks out of the 52. We close for
two weeks' vacation.
Chair Hardemon: Okay. The -- considering -- when we talk about servicing the type of
individuals that have been -- okay. There was a comment made earlier where the woman said,
Don't give up. Don't give up. "And I think that's really important. And when I think about what
that org -- your organization is doing, particularly for the women and men that come through
that organization, I mean, I think it's a great touch that you add someone from the Overtown
community, especially someone who, a month ago, two months ago, I know, personally, said to
me, P need help finding a job." And so what that shows me is that not only are your providing a
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service, but you're listening to the pulse of the community, because she was able to find your
organization in the Culmer Center to apply for a job, and you to assist her like that. I don't think
there's anybody greater than the two individuals that you have that can go out into that
community and really pull people into your business to ensure that they're better prepared for the
jobs of tomorrow. And because of that, what I'm asking of some of my Board Members are if we
can double the Overtown liaison's proposed budget to 50,000 so that you have two full-time
positions for those who are within the Overtown community.
Applause
Chair Hardemon: Well, that's the request --
Board Member Suarez: So move. So move.
Chair Hardemon: And I just ask that --
Board Member Carollo: Second.
Chair Hardemon: It's been properly moved and seconded. Is there any further discussion on
that?
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): Excuse me, Chair.
Chair Hardemon: Yes.
Mr. Hannon: So, again, we're on item number 9.
Chair Hardemon: That is correct.
Mr. Hannon: And you're amending the resolution. The mover was Commissioner Suarez, and
seconded by Commissioner Carollo. They've accepted the amendment.
Board Member Suarez: Right. I'm accepting.
Chair Hardemon: That is correct.
Board Member Carollo: Right.
Chair Hardemon: Any further discussion on that item? All in favor, say Eye."
The Board (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: Motion passes. Congratulations.
Ms. Jacobson: Thank you very, very much.
Applause.
10. CRA RESOLUTION
16-00019
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE
SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT
AGENCY AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF A GRANT, IN AN AMOUNT NOT
TO EXCEED $165,000, TO MIAMI DADE COLLEGE TO UNDERWRITE
COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH ITS CURRENT OPERATION OF THE
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HOSPITALITY AND CULINARY INSTITUTE; 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 16-00019 Cover Memo.pdf
File 16-00019 Financial Form.pdf
File 16-00019 Back up.pdf
File 16-00019 Legislation.pdf
Motion by Board Member Suarez, seconded by Board Member Carollo, that this matter be
ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote.
Votes: Ayes: Commissioner Russell, Chair Hardemon, Commissioner Suarez, Vice Chair Gort and
Commissioner Carollo
CRA-R-1 6-0023
Chair Hardemon: RE.10.
Clarence Woods, III (Executive Director, Southeast Overtown/Park West Community
Redevelopment Agency): Commissioners -- excuse me. Resolution Number 10 is a resolution of
the Board of Commissioners of the Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment
Agency, authorizing the issuance of a grant in an amount not to exceed $165, 000 to Miami Dade
College to underwrite costs associated with its current operation of the Hospitality and Culinary
Institute; 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.
Board Member Suarez: Move it.
Board Member Carollo: Second.
Chair Hardemon: It's been properly moved and seconded. Is there -- I see that there are
individuals from the public that'd like to speak on this item; some Ninjas. If you're a Ninja, raise
your hand. Okay. The Ninjas are in the building. You're recognized, ma'am.
Laura Drosdowech: Good evening, Commissioners and Overtown CRA (Community
Redevelopment Agency). My name is Laura Drosdowech. I work with the Hospitality Institute of
Miami Dade College. We are currently located in Greater Bethel Church, 245 Northwest 8th
Street. We just wanted to say thank you for the opportunity of coming before the Board tonight
for our funding proposal for the coming year. Our program is continuing to expand and grow.
We have new trainees corning on. We're moving into Culmer Center, and Ebenezer; lots of
exciting things, lots of new jobs in the works. We're -- have lots of new projects going on. So we
just wanted to say thank you very much for all of your support. We couldn't do it without you.
Shaneetha Omoaka: Good evening, Commissioners. My name is Shaneetha Omoaka. I'm with
Human Resource, which is also known as Overtown Beautification Team, which is the Blue
Shirts. I am the supervisor that are out in the streets and working with our trainees, and making
sure that they get a better job. And first and foremost, I'd like to say thank you for the increase
that you guys have given us. I would also like to say for Mr. Nathaniel, he's been a great support
with helping us, and he's been a great support with making sure that we help the homeless get off
the street. We've been bringing them into the Blue Shirts to help them to get to a new life. And
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last but not least is -- foremost, of course, is hospitality. I truly support this. They have done
tremendous job. With my last crew, they were so excellent. They taught them how to interview
better, resumes, how to go out there, how not to have fear. And we also implement them in our --
also in our program, as well. We make sure we work hand in hand with them, as we work hand
in hand with Suit for Success, as well. So I just want to say thank you. And please, if you can
please give them.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much. You're recognized, ma'am; name and address for the
record.
011ie Tillman: Yes. Good evening. My name is 011ie Tillman. I reside at 1955 Northwest 4th
Court, in Miami, Florida. Zip is 33136. I just want to say good evening, Commissioners. And
I'm here on behalf of the Hospitality Institute. I'm a graduate of the institute, but I have a wide
variety of experience. I used to work for Miami -Dade County in the Tax Collector's Office. And
when the Tax Collector's Office went ahead and downsized my department, I had the option of
either moving to a different department or either finding a new career. So I decided to find a
new career, going to the Hospitality Institute and I -- when I finished and graduated, I already
had a lot of culinary experience prior to going there, and because of the enhanced culinary
experience that I received for the 12 weeks that I went to the Hospitality Institute, it afforded me
the opportunity to get a permanent position working for Compass Group, which you know is an
international company that deals specifically with hospitals; they deal with the universities. So I
acquired a job there, working with the main kitchen as a -- now as a chef. So I went from, like I
said, working for the County, making a really good income. Now offered -- where my
opportunities are more open to me, doing the things that I really love to do, which is culinary.
So I transitioned from the Tax Collector's Office and went to the -- Barry University, where I
currently work now as a chef. And I'd just like to give them thanks; let you know that the
165,000 really should be doubled, to be absolutely honest. The program should be expanded to
provide more services for this institution, because it did allow me to get what I needed in order to
provide for my currently -- right now, one daughter that I have -- that is able to give me a
full-time job to support her. So I thank you.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you, ma'am.
Kim Smith: Hi. You guys may have remembered me from the Hospitality Institute two years ago.
Chair Hardemon: Can you state your name and address for the record, please?
Ms. Smith: Kim Smith; address, 3780 Northwest 22ndAvenue. I am an alumni from the
Hospitality Institute, and I must say that I'm doing rather well. I have a very good position at --
that I work with the Casino Miami now. I'm their sous chef and I think all that came about with
my certification. Even though I knew how to cook, learning the disciplinary skills from the
Hospitality Institute, how to interview, how to present myself, how to -- the things -- how to tell
them what I had to offer all came through going to the Hospitality Institute. So I must say, for
me, and I'm sure other -- that there's others behind me that will be successful stories -- for me,
it's a rather successful story, because now I'm in a salaried position, and it all has to do with my
certification through -- because prior to that, I can cook, but I didn't -- I wasn't certified. So --
and I must say that I attended one of their graduations, and I must say I'm so proud that a lot of
my complaints was taken care of. I was like ecstatic when I heard them saying what they were
doing and how it was helping, and it has really improved a lot. And I do support them, and I
think that with your support, they can do even more. So thank you.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you so much.
Tranell Harris: Hello. My name is Tranell Harris. I'm the mother of Richard Holman, the
16-year-old that was murdered last year, March 24. I am also the consultant for the Miami
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Dade Hospitality Program. I'm the one that reached out to the Overtown community. I helped a
lot of these people get a job; homeless down to friends I grew up with. This program is a very
great success. It helped me to where I am today. Special thanks to the CRA, Nathaniel Joseph,
and to you all. Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you, ma'am.
Tanya Thompson: Good evening. Hi. My name is Tanya Thompson, and I am a proud product
of the Hospitality Basic Training Culinary. As a result of that, I went on and did the culinary
training, then I got hired for their cafe, and then I decided to go to school. On April 30 I
graduated, and I am the chef of the Culinary School.
Chair Hardemon: Congratulations.
Ms. Thompson: So thank you. And I want you to keep this funding going, because I just enrolled
my son to this great program, okay?
Chair Hardemon: Thank you.
Aesha Lewis: Hi. How are you? My name is Aesha Lewis, and I'm a returning resident of
Miami, Florida. I'm going to start by saying this, because my story is a little different: I grew up
right here in Miami, in foster care for 10 years. I met this big family. They help me got my life
back together. I graduated. I started two years ago. I'm still working. I work at Miami Dade
College as a chef and I'm continuing my education. I'm going for my AS (Associate of Science).
And I'm so thankful for this program. So I would love if you all continue to fund this program,
because it's the best thing that ever happened to me.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you so much, and congratulations, too.
Rick Beasley: Good evening. Rick Beasley, the executive director of CareerSource South
Florida. My address is 7300 Corporate Center Drive, Miami, Florida. We're a very big
supporter of this organization -- of this program. And because you all initiated it here in
Overtown, we were able to provide additional funding to assist. And just to let you know,
Commissioners, this program is very important, crucial to our community, and we're looking at
how we can expand this countywide. So we want to continue to have our effort for you all to
continue to support this program. It is very important. You see the young ladies who have come
up, and I will share with you, I've had colleagues across the country come in last year, take a
look at this program to see how they can replicate this across the country. So Overtown has
kicked this off, where it becomes a national phenomenon. So we ask that you continue to support
this program. We will continue to support it, as well. Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you, sir.
Bereatha Howard: Thank you for giving me this opportunity to come before you. My name is
Bereatha Howard. I work with Miami Dade College Hospitality Institute, but that's the end of
the story. The beginning of the story is two -- about two years ago, I was laid off from my job of
seven years, and I was at the point where I had to stop and pray and ask the Lord, What am I
going to do now?" And opportunities came my way, and I heard about this training. And I went
to the training. And I must say, I thought it was the best kept secret in Overtown. It's a excellent
training program. Not only do they give you skills, but they also empower you. They give you
hope. And at the end of this training, I felt we knew -- and I was able to pick myself back up and
continue on my journey. Andl asked them, Can I volunteer? Because you're doing so much for
this community. I want to be a part of it. "And they allowed me to volunteer. And then a position
came open, and they asked me ifI wanted to work for them. And that's how I came to the end of
the story. And I want to thank Shelly Fano, Laura, Frank, and everybody; and, of course, the
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CRA, for funding this wonderful program. Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you. Congratulations.
Shelly Fano: Good evening. My name is Shelly Fano. I'm the executive director of Hospitality
Institute, Miami Dade College, 300 Northeast 2ndAvenue. I want to say thank you, and I'm
humbled by all the support that we received from the folks that have spoken; but most of all, for
you all, how you continued to support us. And I would ask permission, Commissioner
Hardemon, if we could have the audience applaud you all, all the hard work that you do, all of
you.
Applause
Ms. Fano: Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you.
Grady Muhammad: I'm going to get killed. No. I think the program is great, it's needed, and I
think, as we look down the road, as the Chair -- executive director talked about, we don't have to
reinvent the wheel. We have International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, we have the
Plumbers and the Pipefitters Association. Why don't we be looking at how we can be able to
again partner with them? Get residents from Overtown that are interested in those skills and
those trades from the schools, because everybody ain't going to college. And once we get those
peoples [sic] interested in those skills and trades, the CRA should pay for those to go to
wherever they got to get the training, because when these projects come down, the first people off
of any construction are laborers. So all of these nice little jobs they getting, they'll be gone. And
the skilled people -- the plumbers, the painters, the electrician, the tile setters, the -- everybody
that's making the big bucks, they'll be on those jobs. And since these projects -- we're looking at
these things and we can see down the future, and they're coming. Why don't we think again
outside the box, like the previous Commissioner did when they first created the Hospitality
Institute? Because I remember Ms. Grimes came. She was saying -- with the Doubletree -- We
got to go to Central and South America to hire people to be able to work in our hotels. "And
that's when it was like, hold up. We got enough people born here, Natives, to be able to do it."
We have enough people from Overtown that should be getting those skills -- electrical, plumbing,
pipe -fitting, pipe -setting -- all of those skills and trades that they need to be able to be gainfully
employed, because, again, everybody's not going to go to college. Everybody's not going to own
their own business, but everybody has an opportunity to get paid. And I see MDM, Miami Dade
Culinary Institute is in that agreement for MDM to raise at least $300, 000 to ensure that they do
it. It should also be, as part of that, their graduates definitely should be coming to MDM and to
that 1700 Hotel Marriott, because I think it could be a win/win/win partnership. It should never
be a win/lose; it should be a win/win/win. They come, they graduate, they be able to come from
Miami Dade, go to MDM, and still be able to work in the community. And like I say, again,
everybody wins. Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you, sir. Any further comment from the public? Seeing none, I close
the public hearing. Is there a motion and a second? Correct. Is there any further discussion on
the item?
Board Member Suarez: It's a wonderful program.
Chair Hardemon: Seeing none, all in favor, say Eye."
The Board (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: Motion passes.
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11.
16-00528
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
$205,000, TO URGENT, INC., TO UNDERWRITE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH
THE 2016 SUMMER YOUTH TRAINING INSTITUTE; FURTHER
AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO EXECUTE ALL
DOCUMENTS NECESSARY FOR SAID PURPOSE; 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;
ALLOCATING FUNDS FROM SEOPW, "OTHER GRANTS AND AIDS,"
ACCOUNT CODE NO. 10050.920101.883000.0000.00000.
File # 16-00528 Cover Memo.pdf
File # 16-00528 Financial Form.pdf
File # 16-00528 Back up.pdf
File # 16-00528 Legislation.pdf
Motion by Board Member Suarez, seconded by Board Member Carollo, that this matter be
ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote.
Votes: Ayes: Commissioner Russell, Chair Hardemon, Commissioner Suarez, Vice Chair Gort and
Commissioner Carollo
CRA-R-16-0024
Chair Hardemon: Moving on now to RE.11.
Clarence Woods, III (Executive Director, Southeast Overtown/Park West Community
Redevelopment Agency): Resolution Number 11 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 $205, 000, to Urgent, Inc., to underwrite costs associated with the 2016
Summer Youth Training and Employment Institute; further authorizing the executive director to
execute all documents necessary for said purpose; 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.
Board Member Suarez: Move.
Board Member Carollo: Move it. Second.
Chair Hardemon: It's been properly moved and seconded. I open up the floor for public
hearing. Ms. Nelson, you're recognized.
Saliha Nelson: Good evening, Chair and Commissioners. We are happy to be back for the
fourth year in a row, with your support. We look forward to instituting, once again, the FACE
Summer Employment Program on behalf of the CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency). And
FACE'§tands for Film, Arts, Culture, Coding and Entrepreneurship, where we pair young people,
14 to 24, with industry professionals, to gain real world work experience, paid part-time for
eight weeks during the summer months. And we'd just like to share some of our past successes
over the last couple of years. We had some very exciting things happen with our last cohort last
summer. We had several of our students who participated in the journalism broadcast media;
radio partnership with NPR (National Public Radio), and several of their youth segments were
aired nationally on NPR -syndicated shows. So that was very exciting. We also had one young
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lady that was selected for a youth film festival in Massachusetts, and was able to travel, and was
recognized for her short film. So young people are doing great things. And even our
entrepreneur group that we've highlighted such great success in building word on the great
things of Overtown. Now we have competition. Where no one was creating Overtown products,
now we even have competitors that have commercial, so we got to step it up this summer, and we
look forward to doing bigger and better things with our students.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you all very much. I see one more -- my mike goes in and out -- but I
see one more individual that wants to speak on this item. After you, sir, I'll close the public
hearing.
Terrence Cribb-Lorrant: Thank you. Once again, my name is Terrence Cribb-Lorrant. As I
mentioned, I have the honor of working in Overtown, and I work with Urgent, Inc. I have been
for the last two years the program coordinator for the FACE Program. We do have some of our
FACE interns, as well as alumnae that are present in the building. Our job is really to get your
young people, your children enrolled in the program. I just had a conversation with one of our
family members, and the biggest and the hardest thing I have is getting your kids to actually
come and apply, applying online. So my petition is that -- the CRA makes it a requirement that
we hire Overtown resident, but I need for my Overtown residents to make sure that their kids are
corning and applying. In order to apply, you do have to bring certain documentations to prove
that you are a resident of Overtown, and I'm very stringent on making sure that that happens,
because we have accountability, whether somebody checks it or not. You can come to our office
and you'll be assured that those addresses match what's in our files. So I am encouraging every
parent in here, every grandparent in here, if you're going to have your grandchildren during the
summer that if this is approved that you must, must, must make it an effort to get your child
enrolled. And everyone in this room that has somebody that knows somebody who knows
somebody that's part of Overtown, please make sure that you do that. I'm one of four staff
members that will be working on this project if it is approved. And we pump the pavement of the
streets, but we cannot do anything if you don't allow your children to come and apply for these
programs. Okay, thank you once again, and I look forward to hearing.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much. There was a mover and a second. Is there any further
discussion from the dais? Hearing none, all in favor, say i ye. "
The Board (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: Motion passes.
12. CRA RESOLUTION
16-00526
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 $500,000, 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 2016
CALENDAR YEAR; 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; AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR TO EXECUTE ALL DOCUMENTS NECESSARY FOR SAID
PURPOSE; FUNDS TO BE ALLOCATED FROM SEOPW TAX INCREMENT
FUND, ENTITLED "GRANTS AND OTHER AIDS," ACCOUNT CODE NO.
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10050.920101.883000.0000.00000.
File # 16-00526 Cover Memo.pdf
File # 16-00526 Financial Form.pdf
File # 16-00526 Back up.pdf
File # 16-00526 Legislation.pdf
Motion by Vice -Chair Gort, seconded by Board Member Carollo, that this matter be
ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote.
Votes: Ayes: Commissioner Russell, Chair Hardemon, Commissioner Suarez, Vice Chair Gort and
Commissioner Carollo
CRA-R-1 6-0025
Chair Hardemon: RE.12.
Clarence Woods, III (Executive Director, Southeast Overtown/Park West Community
Redevelopment Agency): Item number 12 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 $500, 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 2016 calendar year; 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.
Chair Hardemon: I'll open up the floor for -- Please, I know every -- I know you are all here to
support, but tell me all of you are not going to speak on the item.
Board Member Gort: Move it.
Chair Hardemon: There's been a motion to approve by Commissioner Gort. Is there a second?
Board Member Carollo: Second.
Chair Hardemon: It's been seconded by Commissioner Carollo. I open up the floor for public
hearing.
Timothy Barber: Commissioners, I certainly thank you. Timothy Barber, 819 Northwest 2nd
Avenue, Historic Lyric Theater. We're certainly thankful for the consideration for support to the
Black Archives Lyric Theater. Know that the support that you give to us goes directly back into
this community. Sitting, talking to Brother Frazier, we've always used Brother Frazier Ribs.
We've used Jackson Soul Food. Anything that comes this way is -- it circulates in this community
over and over again. We're thankful for that. Residents that work here at the theater, we're
proud that we hire people -- we would love to hire more people, and the way that we do that is to
spark more activity at the theater on a regular basis; similar to our counterparts at the Adrienne
Arsht Center, the Perez Center that receives subsidies in order for it to sustain. We're looking for
that same type ofsustainability through the County, through the CRA (Community
Redevelopment Agency), through the City, and any type of support that we can get, because the
more activities that we have at the center, the more we're able to hire people. I would love to
bring Beyonce, love to bring Little Wayne and all these different people here on a regular basis
so that we can get people outside of this community coming to this community, spending money
on a regular basis, and that's way before any of the development come about. And I think that
we can do that here at the theater on a month -to -month daily basis, and with the support, we will
continue to push forward. Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: Before we move forward, Ms. Braynon, you know, there are -- I want to make
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sure that I have a sit-down with you all, because there are some things that, you know, was to
happen within the community that bring up as a concern that I want to ensure that we -- I guess,
get rid of that stigma that we have within our community about providing theater space and
theater services to people who want to be here within this community, people who are here, and
things of that nature. But you know that I support all the things that you all do within this
organization, and I'll be the first to say it. I mean, if not for the grants that we gave as a Board
to the Black Archives, I would not have met my wife here at the Lyric Theater, so I appreciate,
you know, you hiring from our community and ensure that people who are like-minded come and
have an opportunity to participate with what we have going on here.
Mr. Barber: Definitely, Commissioner. And our door is always open for activity. But as you
know, this is a 54, 000-square foot facility, and I'll be getting this light bill very soon for this
meeting here. So, I mean, just with that, saying, you know, it's -- I work close with the County to
develop the needed budget for this, to operate this. Michael Spring's office, Cultural Affairs, we
sat and we did a strategic plan on what is needed at this facility in order to operate this facility
when the County put the $10 million here. They put the $10 million for bricks and mortar, but
they did not put the $10 million for programming. So I learned the hard way my first year of
being open in 2014, where I let someone come in for two weeks, only charged them a meager
$3, 000, and I got a $9, 000 light bill that month. That's real, and that's what I do as a director, is
I look at the real numbers and make sure that we don't go in the red in operating, because we
want to be here. It's been here a hundred years. We want to be here for a hundred more years,
providing jobs for the same projector man that worked in this theater in 1913 running the
projector in that very room up there that live in Overtown. We want to do that for all the
residents here. So I appreciate it.
Chair Hardemon: And what I'm saying to you is that, I mean, in the future -- once we -- for
instance, we passed the responsible wage resolution here for the CRA, and we want to be able to
provide opportunities for organizations like yours to continue to be able to provide services to
this community, because, to me, this theater is the beacon of light for this community. Without
arts, there's no other -- without arts, food and our culture, there's no reason to come to this area,
besides trying to get affordable housing. I think I killed it, right?
Mr. Woods: I think you did, yeah.
Chair Hardemon: So, you know, I can see us trying to find ways in other development
agreements in the future and things like that to try to find some increased revenue to this
organization. We've also looked at some other -- and this is meetings I've had with the City --
trying to find other sources of revenue that are akin to what the Miami Children's Museum have
for this community. So I'm a partner in that, and I just want to be able to ensure that what you
do as an archivist is something that you're able to focus on, concentrate on, and that we're able
to provide the other services that are needed through other positions. And we'll talk further
about it in the future, though. Okay?
Patricia Braynon: Good evening. My name is Patricia Braynon, and I am the new chairperson
for the Black Archives and Lyric, and I am here, respectfully requesting that we are able to
receive the funding today so that we can continue to primarily hire people from our community.
You see a number of people back here. You've seen them here today. They're from the Overtown
community. This is something that we believe in, but we also do other programs that bring
people to Overtown. And won't belabor the fact. The hour is late and we have a lot of people,
but I just wanted to make sure, as the new chairperson that I let you see me making the promise
to do the things that you're asking in our community. Many of you know me and the things I've
done. My family's been here. They've attended this theater for over a hundred years, as it has
been here. And we're committed to making sure that Overtown shines with that beacon of light.
Thank you very much for consideration.
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Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much. Sir.
Grady Muhammad: It's needed, and I think, again, Miami -Dade County, likewise, we can have
some kind of great financial (UNINTELLIGIBLE) to be able to pay off the -- Phillip and Patricia
Frost, when we gave them the 175 million; same thing with the Perez Art Museum. Here's
something they gave 10 million to. There is no funding. Michael Spring is a great person, but I
think the CRA has stepped up to the plate to be able to fund the programs, the programmatic
programs of the Lyric Theater and allow it to be able to be open beyond tonight; and other areas
to allow the community to come and see the plays that -- different things -- the Folklife Fridays,
the Lyric Friday events. And when you have those things that is part of a community. That's
part of the culture that every community must have. You can have all the big, nice buildings, but
you got to have the art, you have to have the culture, and that's what this is. And you got to have
a place for meet and greet. This is the place -- well, it was -- it used to be a little Rolls Royce
Restaurant right there, before I even heard of Burger King. We used have french fries and big
old strawberry shakes and burgers. And so I know -- and it was closed, but I used to always
wonder, what was this building? And looking at the history and looking at it, and looking at how
it's been redeveloped, it is a much -- it's a beacon of light in this community, and the potential --
it has that potential, with all of the other developments coming around and across the street, to
literally be the catalyst, just like everything that the Goldman family did in Wynwood. With this
here and everything else, this has the potential to literally start the -- being the catalyst for
Overtown, because it's the entrance and the gateway to Overtown, and people only get one
thing: You never get a second impression -- a second chance to make a first impression. We
want the best impression left when they come to the Lyric Theater, when they see the Lyric
Theater, they go down and they see the Purvis Young exhibition. We got the Greater Miami
Chamber of Commerce to do the same thing. That's what we got to do; partner, partner, win,
win, win.
Donald Hutchinson: Hello. My name is Donald Hutchinson, 1201 Northwest 3rdAvenue. I'm
an employee of the Black Archives, and I'd like to say thanks to the CRA, along with the Black
Archives for giving me a chance. Since I been working for the Black Archives, my life has
changed drastically. Everything is different for me. I'm living better, dressing better, even
speaking better. So that's all I got to say. Thank you very much for giving me a opportunity.
And I just received a unit in the new Plaza to open up a nice store for the Overtown residents.
Chair Hardemon: Congratulations, sir. Close the public hearing at this time. There's not a
motion? There is a motion on the floor. Is there any further discussion? Seeing none, all in
favor, say fiye. "
The Board (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: Motion passes.
13. CRA RESOLUTION
16-00014
A RESOLUTION THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE SOUTHEAST
OVERTOWN/PARK WEST COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY, WITH
ATTACHMENTS, AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF THE CONVENTION
CENTER ECONOMIC INCENTIVE AGREEMENT, IN SUBSTANTIALLY THE
ATTACHED FORM, WITH P & G INVESTORS, LLC (THE "DEVELOPER"), IN
CONNECTION WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF A 600,000 SQUARE FOOT
CONVENTION CENTER AND A 1,700 KEY HOTEL (COLLECTIVELY, THE
"PROJECT") AT MIAMI ARENA SUBDIVISION; FURTHER RATIFYING AN
EXPENDITURE OF FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF $6,000 TO CONVENTIONS,
SPORTS & LEISURE INTERNATIONAL FOR COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH
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PREPARATION OF AN INDEPENDENT FINANCIAL ASSESSMENT LETTER
ON BEHALF OF THE CRA; FUNDS TO BE ALLOCATED FROM SEOPW TAX
INCREMENT FUND, ENTITLED "PROFESSIONAL SERVICES," ACCOUNT
CODE NO. 10050.920101.531000.0000.00000.
File # 16-00014 Submittal -Javier Fernandez-Presentation.pdf
File # 16-00014 Cover Memo.pdf
File # 16-00014 Financial Form.pdf
File # 16-00014 Back up.pdf
File # 16-00014 Legislation V2.pdf
File # 16-00014 ExhibitA.pdf
File # 16-00014-Submittal-SEOPW Exec. Director -Blended Rate Model for TIFF.pdf
File # 16-00014-Submittal-SEOPW Exec. Director-MDC Responsible Wage.pdf
File # 16-00014-Submittal-Javier Fernandez-MDM Presentation.pdf
File # 16-00014-Submittal-Javier Fernandez-MDM Video.pdf
Motion by Board Member Suarez, seconded by Board Member Carollo, that this matter be
ADOPTED WITH MODIFICATIONS PASSED by the following vote.
Votes: Ayes: Chair Hardemon, Commissioner Suarez, Vice Chair Gort and Commissioner Carollo
Noes: Commissioner Russell
CRA-R-1 6-0026
Chair Hardemon: Moving on now to RE.13.
Clarence Woods, III (Executive Director, Southeast Overtown/Park West Community
Redevelopment Agency): Commissioners, Resolution Number 13 is a resolution of the Southeast
Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment Agency, with attachments, authorizing the
execution of the Convention Center Economic Incentive Agreement, in substantially the attached
form, with P&G Investors, LLC (Limited Liability Company), the developer, in connection with
the development of a 600-square-foot convention center -- conference and convention center --
and a 1, 700-key hotel; collectively, the Project, 'at Miami Arena Subdivision; further ratifying an
expenditure of funds, in the amount of $6, 000, to Convention, Sports and Leisure International,
for costs associated with preparation of an independent financial assessment letter on behalf of
the CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency).
Chair Hardemon: All right. I open up the floor for public hearing at this time. You're
recognized, sir.
Javier Fernandez: Mr. Chair and Members of the Board, Javier Fernandez, again, for the
record. Law offices of Stearns Weaver Miller, 150 West Flagler, here on behalf of P&G
Investors, LLC. Happy to be joined today by a number of MDM employees, including Joe Hearn
(phonetic), who you've met before, who's our director of development; as well as our assistant
director for HR (human resources), JC Zerpa (phonetic). We're also proud to have a number of
community partners here joining us that we've seen. And if I've left -- leave any off the list, I
apologize. This includes Saliha Nelson from the Overtown Children Youth Coalition; David
Landsburg, from Goodwill; Eric Knowles with Miami -Dade Chamber; Shelly Fano, with Miami
Dade College; Wendi Walsh, our labor partner, (UNINTELLIGIBLE); and Mr. Rick Beasley and
David Gilbert, who are also in the audience. Very briefly, if you could -- next slide, please -- You
are all familiar with the project and its scope, so I won't bore you with those details again, as
we've discussed them before. Next slide. MDM is here offering, among many things, an
opportunity for the CRA to partner with it to develop a state-of-the-art convention center. And
through its investment, the CRA will be negotiating -- or has negotiated a number of concessions
that impact in a very significant and meaningful way, not only operations of this facility, but the
operations of the companion hotel, touching upon areas regarding permanent hiring standards
and wages, vendor relationships, and how we choose to reinvest in job training for the benefit of
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the community. So in addition to the convention center that we're offering that will -- we believe
-- an estimate -- will have an annual impact of $425 million on a recurring basis. The CRA has
also negotiated -- next slide -- minimum wages and benefits for jobs during construction; jobs
that will now pay for four classifications -- skill classifications; responsible wages for general
laborers; a living wage consistent with Miami -Dade County standards; required targeted hiring,
and targeted hiring that will be penalized at each one of the tiers that have been negotiated.
Penalties, since our last presentation in March, they have been increased substantially by over a
million dollars in that category alone, with a quarter of that amount focused exclusively on the
Overtown and redevelopment area tiers. We've also negotiated set -asides for subcontractors: 20
percent for City contractors; 60 percent for County subcontractors, with accompanying penalties
to enforce that. Those penalties have also been increased since our last meeting by just under
$200,000. We've agreed, both on the construction side and our permanent employment to ban
the box and engage in a case -by -case analysis, consistent with EEOC (Equal Employment
Opportunity Commission) guidelines for future employees, making sure that people are given an
opportunity to access employment; notwithstanding the past criminal record. And in the
construction area, I'll close by noting that we have also negotiated for set -asides for small
business entities for architectural design functions, as well as construction goods and services.
Next slide, please; actually, one slide ahead, please. Moving into -- again, this is just a summary
of the various -- the benefits I discussed during construction. Move to operations, please; one
more. Through operations, we've also touched upon a number of key areas. Those include, as I
mentioned, minimum wages and benefits of not less than 14.63 today for the 1,350 jobs as a
floor, but that wage and benefit will be increased by CPI (Consumer Price Index) from the date
of execution to the date of operation. So that is our floor today; again, adjusted for inflation
going forward. We have also agreed to targeting hiring requirements for those very jobs, and
substantial penalties that are imposed on a recurring basis annually, and have been increased
since our last meeting by about $400,000. We've agreed similarly to ban the box, and by virtue
of our operation -- if you move forward again -- we will be creating about $1.25 million in
projected additional revenues that will not be captured by the project, which this Board can
choose to reinvest in a number of other priorities, consistent with the Redevelopment Plan.
We've also committed to substantially investing in a minority vendor program, in conjunction -- it
will be operated by the CRA -- that we hope will lead to a number of new business opportunities
for local small businesses. Next slide, please. We've also agreed to contract with a minimum
number of those same firms. And we've substantially increased our commitment to job training
and development through a future CRA institute, in addition to what we had already committed
to Miami Dade College. Those are the direct commitments we've made that are reflected in your
document. We've also, through third parties, entered into other agreements we think are
meaningful and worth note here, to support the activities of one of our partners I mentioned here,
which is the Overtown Children Youth Coalition, which is not memorialized in this document.
And I think, most significantly, agreed to -- so we understand it'd be the first labor peace
agreement the CRA has fostered for the permanent operation of the hotel, and recognition of a
bargaining unit for future hotel employees. That's in addition to the 2,500 induced hotel rooms
that the project will generate or create demand for, as well as the 4,000 induced jobs, by virtue
of this investment you'll be making along with us. Now, what's MDM asking for? Through this
agreement, we are projecting through our request to capture about $3.98 million in recurring
revenues, which we intend to invest to bring forward the convention center component of this
project. I know the agreement has stated within it an outside threshold of $50 million through
2030, and $150 million through the extended life of the CRA, should that happen. In actuality,
based on our projections, the numbers are more consistent with a $40 million commitment in the
near term; and if extended, $88 million over the balance of the life of the CRA in total. That
investment will provide us the minimum acceptable return to our investors to move forward with
this project in total, and I want to remind everyone that this agreement only allows us to take an
important next step, which is working with this agency, the City of Miami Commission and -- or
these members in -- the Board Members here in their capacities as Commissioners and
Miami -Dade County that advance an amendment to the Interlocal Agreement or Redevelopment
Plan that will allow us to actually capture these revenues. So while many of our commitments
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are conditioned upon execution, our receipt of revenue requires us to take and execute a number
of additional steps that will not result in revenues till beyond 2020. I felt that it was important to
just briefly touch on a couple of other key projects by way of comparison. There's been a lot of
discussion about whether or not this Board, this agency is getting a good deal, and we think --
we say this sincerely -- you're getting an excellent deal. I would highlight for you four projects
very briefly for your consideration. The first is a local project, Miami Beach Convention Center,
which you all know is publicly owned, but also, the renovations completely publicly financed to
the tune of about 600-plus million dollars, with recurring operating support being provided in
2020, projected of nine and a quarter million dollars; so significant not only capital investment
in the facility, but also recurring operating support, not including continued capital expenditure
obligations that the City of Miami Beach will retain to keep that facility modern and current.
And the hotel component of the project is not part of the public financing, provides a significant
inducement through a very favorable lease agreement that provides very low minimum base rents
with percentage commitments in terms of future revenues that the project generates. In Houston,
a thousand -room conference center hotel with about 140,000 square feet of meeting space -- I
think I've shared most of these projects with you in the past with the course of the discussions --
which had a cost of $350 million, received a total of $138 million of public subsidy in order to
advance that project. In D.C. (District of Columbia), similarly, a Marriott Marquis Convention
Center Hotel, with a cost -- about $520 million, 1,175 rooms, and ancillary meeting space,
received a $267 million TIF (Tax Increment Fund) commitment. That, alone, is more than 50
percent of the project financing; a $25 million grant from the Convention Center Authority in
Washington, D.C.; as well as a $25 million loan, to assist with design and related expenses. In
Portland -- my last example I'll highlight for you -- 40 percent of the project financing for a
convention center hotel. Again, the convention center there completely publicly paid for, was
underwritten by local public entities in a combination of grants and/or rebates for credits, a num
-- against a number of taxing sources. I highlight all of this to highlight two points: One, I think
the level of public investment being requested here is incredibly responsible; again, it's between
seven and a half to 12 percent of the project cost, depending on whether you look at present
value or total gross contribution. And I would highlight that in contrast to all of the projects that
are mentioned -- I just mentioned -- we bear all the risk for the continuing operational cost and
the reinvestment in capital that's required to keep the facility current. That's a significant
difference between the convention centers that are supported by those hotel inducement deals I
just mentioned and the current project. And while we spent a lot of time over the last few years
talking about the transformational impacts of this project, specifically, I think what often gets
lost in the conversation is the significant transformational effect: the jobs that this project will
generate directly -- the 1,350 jobs we estimate -- will have on the lives of the employees that will
be employed by MDM or P&G Investors, the project -specific entity. And rather than elaborate
on that myself, I'd like to play a very brief video -- it's only two minutes long -- to kind of give
you a sense of the impact these job opportunities that our existing hotels have had on the lives of
our employees today.
Note for the Record: At this time an audiovisual presentation was given.
Mr. Fernandez: Mr. Chair, in closing, I'd just like to thank you, the Members of the Board, the
staff of the CRA. It's been a long process, a very fruitful discussion. I think it's a discussion
that's created a lot of self -reflection, not only for myself but for my client, in terms of how they
have gone about it in the past and how they can go about engaging this community and doing
business with this community for a long time, and so we'd like to thank you for your time and
your efforts thus far, and hope that this proposal you'll find acceptable and support this evening.
Thank you.
Marquise Hardwick: Pastor Marquise Hardwick, Trinity CME (Christian Methodist Episcopal)
Church, 511 Northwest 4th Street. First of all, let me applaud you, Commissioner Hardemon, for
your hard work and effort in bringing forth this groundbreaking deal. I ask that you all vote jfes, "
to move forward, based on the following reasons: First of all, guaranteed jobs for Overtown in
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the City and the CRA, as relates to labor, 8 percent; skilled, 6 percent; permanent jobs, 20
percent; as relates to not only Overtown, but the poorest communities within Miami, 25 percent
labor must be hired; 20 percent skilled must be hired; and 30 percent permanent jobs must be
hired. I think this is a wonderful step forward. I thank you for -- in looking at the penalty
increases, to make them more realistic and more desirous of not to break. I thank you for the
extraction of the penalty being waived by the executive director. I thank you for the labor peace
finally being signed and ready to move forward. I thank you for most especially the MOU
(Memorandum of Understanding), in relations to the internship program with Miami -Dade
Public School System, where it is my understanding that 20 students each year will be placed in
a school -to -employment pipeline. I think that is a great -- and I -- that's one of the things I look
most forward to seeing take place. I thank you for all of these things, and I believe that they are
a real investment in our residents. I look forward to making sure that these developments live up
to all that is promised. This agreement changed this conversation about development by placing
the needs of our community in the forefront. I thank you.
Alyce Robertson: Good evening. Alyce Robertson, Miami Downtown Development Authority,
here on behalf -- in 2009, the DDA (Downtown Development Authority) came up with a study in
our Master Plan that calls for the building of a conference center in downtown. Today, even
more than in 2009 -- we also have a urban land institute study that was done, as well as a study
by CSL saying that this size of conference center is much needed in downtown. It serves a
different market than Miami Beach. It will serve the medical and technology types of
conferences that this community is losing out, because we don't have that kind of facility. Even
now, with Miami Beach -- and they're sort of stalled again on Miami Beach -- this is an
opportunity for Miami to step to the forefront and build this facility that's going to give not only
jobs to the surrounding area, but also more hotel business for all of the hotels that are easily
accessible through public transportation. So I would urge you to accept this deal. And if you
have any further questions about any of the studies that have been done on behalf of the DDA
about a conference center, please let me know.
Natasha Daniels: Good evening. Reverend Natasha Daniels, St. John Baptist Church, 1328
Northwest 3rdAvenue. First, I'd like to say congratulations, Commissioner, on being a
newlywed. That's the first thing I want to open up with, so congratulations. You're a smart man
for marrying a good woman. But I do stand before you, representing St. John here in Overtown,
and I am here to speak, most certainly, to this wonderful community benefits agreement. I think
we have come a long way. We've come a long way from the first point of us engaging in
conversation. And so I'm just so happy that this agreement will now set a new standard,
Commissioners, and it will allow the living wages, and examples here with this development to
be the example of what development in Overtown should be. And I also want to applaud them
for engaging and embracing the Ban the Box. "As a certified chaplain with the Florida
Department of Corrections, my life is committed to those returning citizens. And so to see that
this agreement would then now welcome them, and give them a chance; not just an opportunity
to fill out an application, but a chance to have a job, I applaud them on that. And so I want to
thank you, Chairman Hardemon. Thank you, Commissioner Suarez; most certainly, Carollo,
Gort -- all of you -- for your scrutinized eyes, your willingness to hold them to the fire; and for
advocating, most certainly, for these most vulnerable, our citizens here in Overtown. Thank you
very much.
Willie Banks: How y'all doing?
Chair Hardemon: Your name, sir.
Mr. Banks: My name is Willie Banks. I previously went to the construction class at Dorsey. I
would like to start out by thanking Mr. Nathaniel, Will Klarsy (phonetic) and Mr. Leroy for the
opportunity and the plans that he have to better enrich our community. Now, after that, saying
all that, I would like to say that after the program, I've been going to various construction sites,
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and for some reason, I can't get a job. I went to all the construction sites downtown, and for
some reason, won't nobody give me a job. They telling me that I have to go all the way to Fort
Lauderdale or Hollywood just to get a job. Now, other than that, I been hearing everything that
y'all been talking about, with the parking lots and the construction, and all that going on. I think
the best thing for Overtown would be entrepreneur that's from Overtown, so we can keep money
in Overtown, because a lot of these big businesses are good, but if we're not keeping no money in
our community, then what good is it really going to do for the community? And the buildings are
nice, but if we don't help the people in the community that are suffering, struggling right now,
then them buildings don't mean nothing. It's just a show for the news and everything else. So
what I feel like we should do is before we start talking about the buildings and parking lot, let's
start worrying about all the homeless people sleeping up under the buildings, up under the
bridges. Let's worry about them. Let's worry about all of these broken crack pipes and these
needles that our kids are playing by this new park that y'all just built. I think these are things
that we need to take more control of right now of our community before we start talking about
building bigger businesses that's probably not going to keep the money in our community. That's
pretty much all I got to say. Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you, sir.
Quamon Robinson: How y'all doing? My name Quamon Robinson. I love the fact what's going
on about the business, the building, because it will open doors, as far as for the community. You
know, it's a lot of people out there that is struggling. You know, it's still a recession for some of
us, you know, because it is hard. You know, even though at times, when we go to these
construction sites and other job places, they stereotype, and I -- me, personally -- I know
everyone else don't feel that that's right, and it's not -- but my main thing, the reason I come up
here is because I love the fact that everybody will be -- have a chance to get a job in Overtown,
and as far as for the other neighboring cities, that's great. And another thing that I wanted to
say is, what about the kids? Like, as far as -- I love the fact that what these guys are doing with
the internship from the schools and stuff like that, but, you know, all of us are getting older. You
know, it's the kids, you know? So I was thinking about something that maybe like summer jobs
or, you know, even with the summer jobs, you know, with something that they can learn, to see
like what -- you know the benefits of having a real job or having a education, you know?
Because a lot of us -- a lot -- I can't really say, iis. "A lot of -- well, yes, lis. "A lot of us are messed
up. You know, we -- some of us made bad choices, you know, and we messed up, but we all
deserve a second chance, you know. And that's really all I have to say.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you, sir.
Mr. Robinson: You have a good day.
Diron Andrews: Good afternoon. My name is Diron Andrews. I want to say thank y'all. I
approve of what's going on. I graduated from Mr. Leroy class, who -- with Willy Banks and
Quamon Robinson. I want to say thanks, Mr. Woods, for giving me a opportunity to see a new,
better way; got me a job. I stay in the new building that they just build on 1201 Northwest 3 rd,
apartments. They nice in there. I appreciate it; look real nice. I do want to say I approve of
everything what's going on that y'all keep the word, what's going on, because I still ain't get not
job since I graduated my class, too. They was telling me about my criminal background and all
that, too. I just want to say, y'all keep fighting them and make it better for people like me and
everybody else.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you, sir.
Alvin West: Commissioners, Chairman, my name is Alvin West. My address is 701 Brickell
Avenue, and I'm here to speak on behalf of the project, the Worldcenter Project. And I come at
this from a different perspective, and that is looking at what it contribute -- will contribute to
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Greater Miami. Right now, we are listed on Forbes' List of 10 -- Number 10, rather -- of the
most visited cities for meetings and conferences, and so -- which means that there's competition
out there. And if we look at what we have to offer as a destination, we need this conference
center. Right now, we have approximately 8,000 -- in excess of 8, 000 conference -- hotel rooms
in the pipeline, and I estimate by 2019 that all of them will be online, and -- which means that we
also need a place for meetings and conferences. And so, if we are to continue to be a leader in
this industry, then we need this. We have the Miami Beach Convention Center that this
conference center will complement. It will add to the destination. All of the hotels pretty much
in Miami are meeting in conference center -type venues, and so, therefore, we need a conference
center here in Miami to accommodate all of the hotels that we have. And I might also tell you
that we have more four- and five-star hotels in the City of Miami than we have in any other
place. Thank you.
Wendy Kallergis: Good evening. My name is Wendy Kallergis, and I'm the president and CEO
(Chief Executive Officer) of the Greater Miami and the Beaches Hotel Association. I confess,
this is my first CRA meeting that I'm speaking at, and I want to thank you for -- this was a great
hospitality meeting; great hospitality jobs and great for our industry, so I want to thank you for
that. We look forward to the development of the Miami Marriott Marquis at Miami Worldcenter.
The project provides needed large-scale meeting conference center space and rooms that are
currently lacking in the market. The project will bring needed meeting and global conferences to
the market, which are currently meeting in other destinations, as you heard Alyce just attest to.
Its location next to major public transportation, as well as the very exciting Go Brightline trains
in downtown Miami positions Marriott Marquis Miami Worldcenter to be one of the most easily
and publicly -accessible projects the region has ever seen. We also welcome the growth in
long-term impact of a permanent 2,000 jobs, many of whom will be trained at Miami Dade
College Hospitality Institute and the Culinary Institute, and also include the Suited for Success
Training Program, as well; as well as the continued growth and economic impact of incremental
visitors accessing our retail outlets, restaurants, bars, transportation, companies and other
related revenue centers. On a more personal note, our partnership with MDM is a very special
one. MDM Hotel Group has received many hotel and employee recognition awards to include
four years of hotel community service award and also hourly and manager employees every year
since I've been at the association the last six years. So we hope that you'll support this project,
and then it will be an amazing hospitality day for us today. Thank you.
Rick Beasley: Good evening, Commissioners, again. My name is Rick Beasley. I'm the
executive director of CareerSource South Florida, better known as the South Florida Workforce
Investment Board. I first want to start off to say we're -- we speak on behalf -- to support this
initiative, but I think the actions that you've taken already earlier have already shown your
commitment to the investment in this community, particularly in hospitality. You have already
funded the Hospitality Institute, which is an initiative that ensures that the citizens in this
community have an opportunity; who we also speak in support of because they -- MDM have
already -- has already suggested or supported Ban the Box, and which we've worked with them
in terms of working with the County to ensure that all residents who may have a mistake in the
past doesn't have a stigma of applying for positions, and go out there, and know that they have
an opportunity to have their skills evaluated versus their past, and so we support that. We also
support that they've made a commitment to hire local, which is important. We don't want
individuals coming outside our community to get the jobs that this community has invested, and
so we're very supportive of that; but most importantly, livable wage, to ensure that individuals
have an opportunity to make a good living, to be able to support their families. So we support
the Worldcenter initiative. We hope that you continue to support it, as well. Thank you.
James Adams: Thank you, Commissioner. Bishop James Adams, senior pastor of the St. John
Institutional Missionary Baptist Church Overtown, 1328 Northwest 3rdAvenue. I'm standing
tonight feeling very good about supporting of this initiative. I want to commend you public,
Commissioner, for championing so many of these causes. For fear of redundancy, I will not list
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them all, but there were many that were near and dear to the community. Banning the Box,
making sure that there was a living wage. In terms of Labor Peace, I really appreciate your
fellow Commissioner, Francis Suarez and many of the others who stood up and said at that last
meeting, No. This needs to be retooled. "You should be commended for having the veracity to
stand up and say, No, this is not good enough. "So we support you and we applaud you. And
good luck to you and your new marriage. I only have one thing against you: that you didn't
allow the bishop to do your nuptials, but that's okay.
Saliha Nelson: Good evening once again. Saliha Nelson, 1000 Northwest 1st Avenue, and I'm
here representing on behalf of the Overtown Children and Youth Coalition. And we are here to
say that this project is exciting. We've had some great conversations with the folks over at MDM,
and out of those conversations came a commitment that if this project is successful moving
forward that they're going to be committed to make an annual contribution to the Overtown
Children and Youth Coalition for years to come. And this is something revolutionary, because
this is the first time that young people will be able to have a significant economic stakehold in
the growth of the community from a private company. And this has not happened before, and so
we're very excited that this could set the precedent for future developers coming in to say, We're
not only going to support the adults in the community, but we're also going to make a
commitment to support kids, 'because, Commissioners and Chair, you did an excellent job in
negotiating for adults, but the big gap left out of this picture and for a lot of the other
commitments is young people, because we have to create pathways for their economic success.
And fortunately, there's the Overtown Children and Youth Coalition that you've supported
tremendously in the past by supporting our efforts to become a children's initiative with the State
of Florida, and also supporting our Youth Master Plan. And now comes the opportunity to
resource those opportunities with commitments from private business with the support of your
group. And so, clearly, I didn't do as good a job as signif -- as negotiating as you did,
Commissioner, so all I would say is that include us under your umbrella, because you did a
excellent job, and we want to be part of the growth moving forward, so thank you very much.
Wendi Walsh: Good evening, Commissioners. Wendi Walsh with Unite Here Local 355, the
Hotel Workers Union, 1525 Northwest 167th Street, Miami. On behalf of our 6,000 hospitality
workers, I cannot say enough to commend you all for this unparalleled community benefits
agreement that you have negotiated. And kudos to the Commissioners and to the CRA staff and
to MDM for coming to this agreement. This should serve as an example for how development
can not only serve the benefits of developers, but create opportunity for our most neglected
communities, and there is no community that deserves this more than Overtown. Our community
-- our union knows all too well that hospitality jobs are often minimum wage jobs that don't
provide health benefits. African American workers seldom make it into the highest paid jobs in
hotels. This agreement provides an opportunity to change that. With the language to Ban the
Box, the funding for the training program, enhanced wages and the local hiring commitment,
residents of Overtown have a fighting chance to secure great jobs. As you know, our union has
negotiated a labor peace agreement with MDM, and we are ready to do everything that we
possibly can to help the company meet the commitment to provide training where needed, and to
help meet those local hiring requirements, and also to make sure that folks are successful in these
jobs for a very long time to come. So again, I just want to applaud the visionary leadership of
Chairman Hardemon and the entire Commission, and we would encourage you to vote Yes."
Thank you.
David Landsberg: Good evening, Board and Chair. Thank you for the opportunity to say a few
words. I'm David Landsberg, president and CEO of Goodwill Industries of South Florida. Like
to say just a few word about Goodwill; and more specifically, about the commercial laundry
which Goodwill runs. Our overarching mission is to train and find jobs for people with
disabilities, but also many people with barriers to employment, some of which we've heard
tonight. So for context, you should know that equals 12.6 percent of our community in Dade and
Broward. That's 460,000 people, and a startling 82 percent of them cannot find work. We
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believe that our expertise in training and support during employment is a formula that increased
productivity and employment sustainability. Three years ago, we launched a commercial
laundry to serve the healthcare and hospitality sectors in our community. UHealth was our
founding partner, and then we added Jackson Health and five hospitals in Naples. We handle
Homestead Air Force Base and we're getting ready to sign on another military installation, so we
obviously have the ability to do this. All of this is in a state-of-the-art facility, and what I want to
tell you is that we are very proud that we built this facility -- $16million worth -- in Liberty City,
in an area with two to three times the unemployment of the rest of Miami -Dade County. Three
years into the launch, 48 percent of our laundry workers are from the immediate Liberty City
area. We've done more than talk. We've proven that good investments and focus can spur real
employment growth in our neighborhoods. We are certain that we can help MDM, yes; but more
importantly, we are sure that we can create an opportunity for the people of Overtown and
surrounding areas, especially those with barriers to employment. Thank you.
Grady Muhammad: Commissioners, well, long night. I can tell you two things. Contracting
opportunities: We got a lot of black landscapers, a lot of security companies. Those contracts,
they going to need a lot of trees and a lot of maintenance. We need to get contracts. Again,
everybody talking jobs. People, individuals, companies, groups, firms create jobs. They don't
come up out of the sky; they come from individuals and companies. And unless your people got
these jobs -- Even with the Ban the Box, everybody's not going to have to be able to agree to that,
because, Commissioner Suarez, you had Midtown. That's a CDD, a Community Development
District. All of the funds that goes from the taxation, which was to build the infrastructure, goes
back to the developer. You in a CRA, and the County just created a CDD. They get two bites at
the apple now, not one, because the infrastructure that you all are paying for, the CDD is also
paying that infrastructure; and not only that, the commitment that they're making under this
agreement, the commitment that they're making under the agreement, two things happen. If they
transfer this over to the CDD, the CDD -- there is no commitment between you all, the current
owners and the CDD. There is no commitment for the CDD to be able to carry out none of these
commitments that they're currently doing, because the Community Development District, they're
taxing other property owners within the CDD; and therefore, those property owners are not part
of this agreement; and therefore, they won't have to comply with the agreement, according to the
Community Development District, from what I've read, in Miami -Dade County. And then finally,
25 students, it should be -- I'm glad they added Miami Jackson, tell you that right now. They had
to add Miami Jackson. Once a general, always a leader, literally. And again, we need to do this
for two purposes. We need to bring Memorial Day Weekend, Beach Weekend back to the
mainland, because I have a motto: I don't go and spend where I'm not respected. "And you go to
the Beach, you're not respected. We should bring it and put it on Virginia Key Beach. We have
the hotels, and we can bring all of that money here, because we -- You come here on vacation,
they send you on -- back on probation. They bring you back on violation and then they send you
back on a long vacation. Thank you.
Vera Brownlee: Hello. My name is Vera Brownlee; address, 804 Northwest 5th Avenue;
long-time resident of Overtown. Good evening, Commissioners. I support the TIF agreement.
May I tell you why? In December, I went to a community meeting at the Culmer Center that was
sponsored by the MDM, and they said they were hiring. So I stayed till the end and I filled out a
application. I spoke with some of the staff members. By January, I got a call to interview. By
January 14, I was working. I've been working now about 79 days, you know. It's so wonderful
that I took the time out to go to these meetings, to do something for my community, and look
what came up out it: Me having a job. I'm proud to be a part of this company, because it's
really helped my family. When people see me come home with my uniform, they're always, !ley,
you know, hey. How can I get on? How could FL- this, !low could I "- you know. And I always
let them know, !ley, fill out that application, 'you know? So I support this very much, and y'all
keep up the good work and pass this bill, in Jesus name.
Unidentified Speaker: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
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Ms. Brownlee: Oh, yeah, but, of course, brothers, cousins, all of them.
Brenda Kale: Hi. My name is Brenda Kale. I'm also a strong supporter with MDM. Since
MDM has been a part of this community and entering into our community, it has opened up
many doors, not only for our 11 th and 12th graders. They're bringing new jobs. And if the guys
take out enough time to read the paperwork, they will understand that MDM is opening up doors
where you will not be stereotyped. They're giving you a second chance. They're opening up
doors to enlighten our community, like we're enlightening them to be a part of culture. And if all
of us work together, this can be just -- not just the Marriott; there are other projects. And I see a
lot of the workers here in the community that are working along with some of our street lenders
[sic] and our homeless, and all different organizations that are here. But the main thing that I'm
mostly proud of is that MDM came into this community and opened up some doors. We're --
some people are not really understanding what's going on, but if they be a part of it and get more
information about it, they can find that there are doors, like for Ms. Brownlee and a lot of more
of our community people here, that they can be a part of it. And as I see all of the employees
from MDM, they -- I met them a couple of times. Even with residents that I've sent there,
everybody that I sent from Overtown came back with a job. And I want more jobs, and I want
you all to allow us to be a part of each and every event that you're providing. And the internship
for our kids, it will make a difference, because learning them at a early age will make the
community better. They can accept more things about their community of change. And to
educate our people and give them a part of each and every project here will encourage our
second generation to be stronger than what was replaced in the beginning. So I commend DMM
[sic] and the staff here. You're beautiful people, family -like people. Just open your minds and
your hearts, and let them in. We can help them and they can help us, but we all got to work
together. We don't want no excuses, because I hear a lot of talking, and just talk. They're
backing it up. We need the people to fill the spots. My two minutes up. Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: Five-minute recess.
Later...
Chair Hardemon: Bringing the meeting back into order, recognizing the gentleman at the
lectern.
Matthew Land: Matthew Land, 14 Northeast 1st Avenue, Suite 1200, Miami, Florida 33132;
political director for the Southeast Laborers' District Council. LIUNA (Laborers' International
Union of North America) has had a decades commitment to local hire and responsible wages, or
promoting good wages for construction workers in the South Florida community. Two things we
are very proud and happy to see in this agreement tonight. We want to commend everybody --
the CRA, staff, Chairman Hardemon and the Commission -- for ensuring that these things are in
this agreement. LIUNA's commitment extends even further. After the Community Development
District was approved by the Miami -Dade County Commission earlier this year, LIUNA opened
up an office in Overtown at Trinity CME. We've signed a lease with the church. We've got a
construction workforce recruitment office there, recruiting workers from the Overtown
community from the CRA boundaries and from those high poverty zip codes that are identified in
the Economic Incentive Agreements from the Miami Worldcenter Mall and condo projects, as
well as this one. We've even gone so far as to take those zip codes and begin to do a tour of
Miami -Dade County, for what it's worth; had our first event last Monday, with Commissioner
Levine Cava and Commissioner Moss, down in South Dade. We're going to be doing one with
Commissioner Xavier Suarez and Ken Russell at the end of June; looking to do one in Little
Havana, in July; and do one with Commissioner Barbara Jordan up in Opa Locka, in
September. As things stand today with LIUNA and our negotiations with MDM, we've been in
discussions with them for the last six months. While we're not quite there yet on our agreement,
we believe that we're going to get there very soon. The CRA's mission is to deliver on good
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paying jobs, recruit and train a local workforce, and that's -- those have all been at the forefront
of our discussions with MDM. We remain hopeful that we will see through your commitment on
the entire project. We appreciate the good faith effort that's been shown by everybody at MDM
and Javier and all the folks over there, and look forward to continuing our progress on the entire
project, and updating you guys very soon. Thank you so much.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you, sir.
Board Member Suarez: LIUNA.
Chair Hardemon: LIUNA.
Board Member Suarez: LIUNA.
Jackie Bell: My name is Jackie Bell, 1600 Northwest 3rdAvenue. This evening, I sat and I
listened to all of the promises, and I listened to my community beg. I'm a kid from this area
whose parents owned property in this area. 1-95 took it away, and what I'm hearing now is --
and looking at -- it is now going another way, which is very sad to me. But as I read what have
been promised or what is supposed to be negotiated from this hotel deal, I guess that is good.
But the hotel did not negotiate things that they must buy from my community or with my
community, and these are things that we don't have to beg for jobs. These are businesses that we
can set up and sell to the hotel. There are 30 things that the hotel needs that we should be in
negotiating on making sure that we can sell it to them; not just this one hotel, but we're talking
two hotels. We're talking about the other one with Donahue and those, and they are the desks,
they are the mattresses, they are the televisions, they are the towels, the sheets, the pillowcases,
and those things; the headboards, the bedsheets, the mattress pads, the drapes, the carpet. Why
aren't we talking about that? Why --?
Chair Hardemon: Ma'am.
Ms. Bell: Yes.
Chair Hardemon: Ms. Bell, I have a clause on page 34, 3.2.9.4.
Ms. Bell: I read that.
Chair Hardemon: That's the .7ackie Bell Clause,'because what you didn't talk about was toilet
tissue. That clause in this agreement is going to give us the ability to do the things that you're
talking about; to give us the opportunities for small or growing businesses in our community to
participate as a vendor to provide goods or services to this company. So we listened to you, and
I want you to know that we still need you, because we want to make sure this comes to fruition.
There are penalties that are associated even with this --
Ms. Bell: I read that.
Chair Hardemon: -- right; that affect the TIF value that they have to receive. So it's more than
just a monetary penalty. This is a decrease in the TIF if we don't have participation from
businesses that are reflective of our community. So we're doing the best that we can to move
these agreements forward. I think the -- whatever agreements we start to see in the future, grant
agreements or TIF -- I'm not sure if we'll have many more TIFs, but grant agreements at least --
will have some type of provision to protect our community. And we have to continue to make
these agreements better and better and better, because for every one that we ink, we find out we
probably should have done it this way versus that way, but I'm just happy that we're far away
from where we started.
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Ms. Bell: I thank you so much for that. And I would like to say that, Commissioner, my
community needed a young man like you. You and I know that, you know, how much I love you.
I love each one of you all sitting up there. Every one of you have always been very respectful to
me, and I respect you, but I am tired of hearing my community beg for jobs. We should be able --
as I grew up with this community supplying all of the jobs we needed.
Chair Hardemon: Yes, ma'am.
Ms. Bell: And I thank you. Have a good evening.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you.
Ben Feldman: Board, Chairman, thank you for the time. Ben Feldman, 100 Southeast 2nd
Street, Miami. I'm speaking on behalf of myself as a resident of downtown, as well as the Miami
Worldcenter. We're strong supporters of this project, as well as the agreement. The project will
create very significant jobs, taxes, wages, and other revenues that will impact and benefit the
adjacent community, as well as the City, the County, and the region as a whole. And further, this
agreement has been very heavily negotiated and really is truly a win/win for all parties involved
and is a great example of what can happen when the public and private sectors work together
towards a common goal, and ask that you vote in favor of this. Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you.
Darryl Holsendolph: Good evening. Darryl Holsendolph, 655 North Biscayne River Drive,
representing the Miami -Dade branch of the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement
of Colored People). We want to say thank you, Mr. Chair, Commissioners, on the progress that
has been made since the last time we talked about this. I want to bring to the attention of the
Commission that the Miami -Dade branch of the NAACP voted in full support of the project. We
just -- as you stated -- we want to make sure there's some accountability there. And again, thank
you guys for the work you've done to make sure that it is a win/win for this community. Thank
you.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you, sir.
Renita Holmes: I'm proud of you, too.
Vice Chair Gort: What did she say?
Chair Hardemon: She said, 1"m proud of you, too."
Ms. Holmes: I'm proud of you all, because, you know, a lot of people don't know, it's not easy.
You're all attorneys and lawyers up there. You read -- you read to get your degree. I don't have
that degree. Second, I'm just a resident who's been fighting on the forefront and all that, but I
haven't had one single contract opportunity, the first Section 3 business. So, of course, I know
the law that's kept me there, but doesn't -- and most people don't. Now it's just because you're
doing the right thing. Look, she said it all, this lady that I adore; lady that first built it. The
same lady talking to you, she's been mentoring me; that's why it's been a lot easier for me. But I
don't have her elder in years; I just have that experience as a contractor, as the first for -profit --
not-for-profit, owned by a woman with a disability check, as a person with disability, as a LGBT
(Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender); all the challenges of the world. And I'm still here,
because I'm an entrepreneur. But this was set out on policy and the funding was given on policy
to help me, four blocks down, with my business license on the wall. And don't think that I'm
agitated or pissed off sometimes, because Igo through that discrimination stuff. But bottom line,
I want to remove whatever impediment it is for a woman in public housing, education, finance
and development, of poverty and with disability to get involved; whether it be a personality,
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whether it be a lack of oversight in monitoring, or maybe those who just don't understand why
I'm so upset and so hungry for my children. I know my children going to pay for this bond, and I
know women area coming to me and my not -for -profit, because they can't afford, and their civil
rights. But I don't have a law degree or real estate license, but I know what I know; hasn't
improved (UNINTELLIGIBLE)life. So now you know why I'm agitated. I know what it is to play
in blood when your son can't get a job, because he's doing everything, the first weed and seeder.
It's not that I'm just giving you a resume. This a real truth, but I'm standing because I know the
law. And when you apply the law for fair housing and economic opportunity to every --
irregardless of the funding -- you are doing what is morally and humanly correct. But when you
find out why people ain't doing what they said they doing right, and then you giving me a better
chance to -- closer to a project on my block. So I'm just asking you for a little bit more; a little
bit more tolerance, a little bit more understanding, because late at night, after all of us go home,
I'm still here riding through my street, andl see the ones that want a job, ain't high, and they
need it. I see those with disability that are entitled to an opportunity. And I see those of us who
aren't going to do construction. Please, look a little bit further into the best practices. And I
offer you that opportunity, but, Commissioner, I can't keep coming to your office, and I know
Commissioner Gort ain't going to never open his door.
Chair Hardemon: Now, look --
Ms. Holmes: I'm just saying.
Chair Hardemon: -- Commissioner Gort has supported our community -- no, stop, that's
enough.
Ms. Holmes: No, no, no. I did stop.
Chair Hardemon: Stop, stop.
Ms. Holmes: No, but see, look how you -- I'm saying I did stop. I'm just say --
Chair Hardemon: I know, but what I'm saying to you is this: I would not tolerate you saying
such a thing about Commissioner Gort. He has been a friend --
Ms. Holmes: But you're my Commissioner.
Chair Hardemon: -- hear what I'm saying to you. He has been a friend to our community, to
this community. He sits here, he's voted -- he's been to every CRA meeting that I've ever chaired
Applause
Chair Hardemon: -- as Commissioner.
Ms. Holmes: You're miss --
Chair Hardemon: And he's voted -- he's voted --
Ms. Holmes: -- Commissioner, all due respect --
Chair Hardemon: -- listen to me, listen to me.
Ms. Holmes: -- all due respect --
Chair Hardemon: Listen to me. IfI could stop your mike, I would.
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Ms. Holmes: Well, Second Amendment rights --
Chair Hardemon: I'm telling you this. Listen to what I'm saying to you. I'm not going to have it.
I'm not going to have it. I'm not going to have it. I'm not going to have it.
Ms. Holmes: Say that again, Commissioner. I'm not going to --
Chair Hardemon: Please.
Ms. Holmes: -- (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Chair Hardemon: Please step away from the microphone.
Ms. Holmes: Now you've violated --
Chair Hardemon: Step away from the microphone. Step away from the microphone.
Ms. Holmes: Hold on, hold on, hold on. But you know what I'm --
Chair Hardemon: Madam Holmes --
Ms. Holmes: -- you said --
Chair Hardemon: Madam Holmes --
Ms. Holmes: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Chair Hardemon: Madam Holmes, Madam Holmes, step away from the microphone.
Ms. Holmes: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Chair Hardemon: Step away from the microphone.
Ms. Holmes: You know for a fact that I'm homeless. You know for a fact -- don't --
Chair Hardemon: Listen, I -- what do you want me to do? You have to --
Ms. Holmes: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Chair Hardemon: -- I need you to take a seat.
Ms. Holmes: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Chair Hardemon: I don't want you to leave. I want you to take a seat.
Ms. Holmes: (UNINTELLIGIBLE). But you can't touch me again while I'm walking away. It
ain't no -- oh -oh, no. It ain't no law in this room that say you could push me. Don't push me.
Why are you pushing me? Hey, hey, hey, don't push me. Get your hands off of me. Get your
hands off me, though. Get your hands off me, though. Put them cameras up. Get your hands off
me. You pushing on me (UNINTELLIGIBLE). Man, stop bending my hand, stop bending my
(expletive) hand, boy. Stop bending my hand. I could walk, I could walk. You the reason why --
Chair Hardemon: Let her walk.
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Ms. Holmes: (UNINTELLIGIBLE). Don't you never do that (expletive) again.
Chair Hardemon: Let her walk.
Ms. Holmes: Don't you never do that again.
Chair Hardemon: Let her walk.
Ms. Holmes: No, I could walk, I can walk. I (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Chair Hardemon: Let her walk. Let her walk. Let her walk. Let her walk. Let her walk.
Ms. Holmes: (UNINTELLIGIBLE). Stop touching me, man. I'm walking away.
Chair Hardemon: Somebody just -- one of our sergeant -at -arms, please ensure that the uniform
officer just respects her as best as he can, please. Now, I'm going to say this: I will not tolerate
anyone to speak against the Commissioner that's sitting to the left of me. He doesn't have to
respond, he doesn't have to say anything, because we all know what he's committed to this
community and what he's doing right now. And so, many times, we hear sly remarks, but I'm not
going to tolerate it from anyone -- I don't care how long I've known you -- about this gentleman
sitting to the left of me. So we're going to get through the rest of this meeting. I ask that you
respect those that are before us; meaning speaking at that lectern, and those that are sitting up
here on this dais. Thank you very much. Sir, you're recognized.
Daniel Ruel Miles: Commissioner, Board, good evening. First of all, I'd like to thank you,
because a little bit over a year ago, I stood in front of you briefly and said, Thank you for an
opportunity. And one thing that I could assure you of we would deliver. "What we need more
than anything is an opportunity to build wealth, and when that's given, there should be a call to
answer. That answer should not be one that erodes, bring down, tear down, ridicule. It should
just simply be that you've presented an opportunity, negotiate an agreement, and make the most
of it. I'm proud to say that my name is Ruel Miles. We have just completed a project for the CRA
in excess of $3 million, which was an opportunity that was presented to us by this Board. Yes, we
hired locals; and no, we didn't hire locals. We hired people that wanted to work. I'm also
blessed and fortunate enough that we hired two people that look like me from Overtown. And I'm
not a resident of Overtown, but I am who I am. I look like you, my Commissioner, and others
that are here in the audience. And those two gentlemen are now working on a project that we
have in Fort Lauderdale. That's a three-year project. It's not necessarily jobs that you need, but,
one, you do need opportunity, engage in the opportunity, evaluate the opportunity, and see that it
is in your best interest. So when I made the comments that -- you know, we didn't make a goal,
we didn't set a goal. We just did the -- to me -- the right thing. But in doing the right thing, we
hired people for permanent and continuing jobs. This development offers permanent and
continued jobs beyond construction, so that's one focus for a group of people. Then you have
people like me. I didn't know who MDM was a year -- I apologize; I know I'm going to run over,
so let me just --
Chair Hardemon: Make a close.
Mr. Miles: -- and I'll make it brief. I didn't know who MDM was. We received a phone call that
they wanted to have a launch at our project. By all means, of course, we'd love to have you.
We'd love for you to see what we're doing. "Tonight, I'm here in some instances to repay that
favor of opportunity that they presented to us, because what it did, it brought in Commissioners,
brought in the media, brought in other contractors that are larger than us to see that, yes, a
African American contractor, hiring people that are of the world, because you can't only hire
people that look like you. That's discrimination. So we hired people that are of the world, from
the community, outside of the community, and gave them other jobs that they could look for.
MDM is just like Pioneer.
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Chair Hardemon: Thank you, sir.
Mr. Miles: Thank you.
Edduard Prince: Good evening. Edduard Prince, 175 14th Street. You had a lot of people
speaking on behalf ofMDM, so I don't feel the need to validate them, you know. You know who
you dealing with. But, Commissioner, you -- a reference to page 34 of the community benefits
agreement, and myself, with other partners are some of the people from Overtown that saw that,
and through partnership, are able to fulfill that. So I guess we're grateful to y'all on that part,
and my partner, who is (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Latonja Epenger: Hi. My name is Latonja Epenger, 175 Northwest 14th Street. I wanted to say
this has been a very interesting meeting. I've learned so much; to see the changes in the
community and what you guys have done for MDM. I'm very new to this area, but what I do see
is opportunity, andl do see change. I lived in a city with Marion Barry, in Washington, D.C.
(District of Columbia). We're redeveloping. So I know if they can do it, we can do it. And when
I see these Commissioners up here were taking their time away to try to help this community, and
seeing the people out here who state their voice, I know, with the cooperative work and with the
help of the community, this can be done successfully. Thank you.
Unidentified Speaker: Mr. Chairman, Commission, first of all, I'd like to say that back in the
1980s when I worked in Coconut Grove, building affordable housing and low-income housing,
that same Commissioner Gort, who worked with Thelma Gibson and David Alexander to build
those homes, along with Frank Castaneda, who worked for the City at that time, I want to salute
Commissioner Gort for his continued community service. With that, beyond that, this is a good
community agreement, but as you said, as you sign and you learn through these agreements, it
could be a great community agreement. And it will be a great community agreement, because
when I met with Joe Herndon for the first time, he talked about opportunities. He talked about
opportunities to create not just jobs, but contracts. And as we talk about the challenges we have
in our community, we know that black contractors hire black people; just like Mr. Ruel just said
about being a contractor working here in this community. But also, it's about the community
working together. The Miami -Dade Chamber of Commerce, as I said, sat with Mr. Herndon,
and we talked about the opportunities for the membership and the community to get contracts.
We have an MOU that says that we will work together to make sure that that happens. Jobs that
aren't in place, we will work together to create opportunities for our community. And with that
said 171 say this: My good friend, Bill Talbert, is in New York right now, getting ready to meet
with the NFL (National Football League). And the one thing that I would like to call my good
friend, Bill Talbert, and tell him: In 2019, we will have a new convention center and a hotel in
downtown Miami to support the Super Bowl.
Chair Hardemon: 171 close the public hearing at this time, seeing there's no other persons
available to speak -- or no other persons that desire to speak, rather, so the record is properly
reflected. I offer discussion with the Board Members.
Board Member Suarez: Move it.
Board Member Carollo: Second.
Chair Hardemon: It's been properly moved and seconded to pass RE.13. Any discussion?
Vice Chair Gort: Let me go back a little bit to the history of the CRA. Unfortunately, when it
first began, I think it took about 10 or 15 years for the CRA to create any funds at all, so it seems
like it's been a long time, but it took a long time to get the revenues that we have today. Part of
the CRAB not only create the affordable housing and improve the standard of living of the
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person, but if you don't have jobs that pay well, that community cannot maintain itself
constantly. So it's important to people to understand the CRA funding is created by the building
of these offices or the building of these hotels, or the building of the convention center. Now, the
hospitality, it's been very good to us. The hospitality community has been great to us and the
City of Miami. It creates a lot of jobs and it gets people to work. You don't need the bachelor's
degree or anything to start working in there, and work all the way up by experience. So I think
this project's very important. And I have to tell you, this gentleman here next to me, if I ever
have to negotiate something, I'm going to talk to him and I'm going to let him do it for me,
because the negotiation that has been going on and what he's gotten for this community, it's a
lot. Now, what takes place is these people are going to invest -- what was the total amount their
going to invest?
Unidentified Speaker: 700 million.
Chair Hardemon: 700 million?
Vice Chair Gort: $700 million, something like that. You going to make sure that they're going to
protect their investment. And how are they going to protect the investment? Making sure that
the neighborhoods is alive and it's function -able, and people like the neighborhoods next to you;
if not -- so they going to be worried. They're going to make sure that we get the jobs, that we get
the high paid jobs; and most important, get contracts to the minority business within this area.
Chair Hardemon: Any other discussion?
Board Member Russell: Yes, Mr. Chair. The last time we met a couple months ago, I was a iio"
on this issue for -- the issue on the TIF agreement itself. That was the first time we were able to
discuss openly amongst ourselves as Commissioners, as Board Members of the CRA what we
needed to make this a Yes. "And I'm very onboard with making this a 9es,'because downtown
needs it. We need a good convention center as a city, and all of the jobs and opportunities that
this can provide. So when we all did meet and discussed it and everybody brought up the issues
they had with the agreement, mine was about the TIF; mine was about the actual percentage of
the tax that we're giving back to the developer in order to incentivize them to come. I do not
have a problem with a TIF agreement. I do believe that it's a big job of the CRA to give away --
not kive away'L- to subsidize taxes for the developers in order to bring them here; but for that
incentive, that they would go elsewhere. I don't think they're going elsewhere, and I do think that
the agreement makes them build a bigger development than they would have, but I wasn't happy
with the TIF amount. So fast forward two months. An amazing amount of negotiation has
happened here. You can see not one dissenting voice came to the microphone to say that this is a
bad deal for the community. But when the developer did come by my office this week to -- along
with the executive director -- to explain where we had gotten to, there was still no movement on
the TIF. And for me, 65 percent of the taxes being given back to them was just too much. So I
want to be a Yes."And so we kind of threw a curve ball at them and there are two conditions that
would get me to a 9es,'because I certainly do not want to be one to stand in the way of all the
good community benefits that can be gained from this deal, and one is that -- not related to the
TIF, but in the agreement -- that rather than five businesses be forced to -- that the developer be
forced to work with five businesses. They identified in a universe of about a couple dozen
industries that they can hire from the local area -- but that they do 10 instead. And the other
thing that I hope that I've got an agreement with, because I have been talking with the developer
a little bit, is that we would reduce the nominal amount of the TIF that's given back to them down
to 59 percent, rather than the 65. How do we achieve that? Realizing that money to them today
is more valuable than money years from now, we offered a suggestion of coming up with a
blended rate of the TIF. Rather than 65 percent across the board, what if we frontloaded it a
little bit, so that they got more leading up to the sunset, and less after the sunset? That blended
rate would be less; 59 percent. The nominal rate would save the CRA about $10 million in the
max payout; $10 million that -- of taxpayer money that's been entrusted to us. And so my
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suggestion is that we give them an 80 percent TIF leading up to the sunset; a 45 percent TIF
after the sunset, which is a condition of this agreement. I mean, this isn't going to happen unless
we extend the CRA. If understand correctly, this doesn't happen without an extension. So
that's a big if "That's another hurdle we have to get through down the road. So with the
assumption that that would happen, they would pay 45 percent TIF after the sunset for the next
14 years. This would incentivize them to finish faster, and that money would be worth more to
them now than later. But to the CRA, the end result is a savings of almost $10 million in the max
payout, and a 59 percent TIF instead of a 65. If the developer is open to those agreements and
the Board is, as well, I'm a jfes. "
Chair Hardemon: You're recognized, sir.
Mr. Fernandez: Mr. Chair, thank you for the --
Chair Hardemon: Go ahead.
Board Member Suarez: Just say
Chair Hardemon: Speak into it now.
Board Member Suarez: -- it's late. Just say (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Mr. Fernandez: Commissioners, I think we are -- thank you -- amenable to the 65 percent TIF.
We are also -- I have discussed with Commissioner Russell this alternative of an 80 percent TIF,
frontloaded through the extension date, and the back end commitment being at 45 percent. It
results in a slightly reduced total contribution, but if -- we would certainly prefer this Board to
unanimously support this agreement, and to get Commissioner Russell's vote, we are -- we would
be amenable to both conditions you proffer.
Board Member Suarez: I'll amend my motion to include that, to have a unanimous vote.
Chair Hardemon: Okay. Is the seconder of the motion willing to accept the amendment?
Board Member Carollo: Yes.
Chair Hardemon: So the seconder of the motion is willing to accept the amendment. First, I just
want to qualify from --
Board Member Carollo: Mr. Chairman.
Chair Hardemon: -- Yes.
Board Member Carollo: That's a jfes,'but financially, has anyone looked at that and verified
those numbers?
Mr. Woods: We had the opportunity of first hearing of this on Thursday. The -- Mr. Fernandez
sent his model to us earlier today, so what we see here is an analysis that looks at several
different alternatives, with respect to a blended rate.
Chair Hardemon: But did we have anybody independent of --
Mr. Woods: No.
Chair Hardemon: -- him --
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Unidentified Speaker: No.
Chair Hardemon: -- to consider that rate?
Mr. Woods: No. I think the Commissioner's office --
Board Member Russell: My staff and I ran the numbers, and that's -- it seems to work.
Chair Hardemon: So I just want to be clear, because I want -- So the independent review of the
financial analysis that was provided by Fernan -- by MDM, by representation ofMDM was
reviewed by your staff, and you can qualnY that the numbers will result in a $10 million savings?
Board Member Russell: Yes. So just to be clear, for this first nine years leading up to the sunset,
the TIF would be 80. For the next 14 years, it would be 45, coming out to a blended rate of
approximately 59 percent. And in the max payout, it would reduce the total amount by about 10
million.
Chair Hardemon: And this motion also includes going from five businesses to 10 businesses,
correct?
Mr. Woods: In the vendor program.
Chair Hardemon: In the vendor program.
Board Member Russell: In the vendor program.
Mr. Fernandez: Yes, sir, that's my understanding.
Chair Hardemon: Okay.
Board Member Russell: They'd still be held to the million -dollar amount, but the number of
businesses that they would have to involve would be 10 instead of five, minimum, could be.
Vice Chair Gort: That might be at five more.
Board Member Carollo: Mr. Chairman.
Chair Hardemon: You're recognized.
Board Member Carollo: At the very least, did our CFO (Chief Financial Off cer) from the CRA
look at it? Has Miguel looked at it? Are you okay with it? I mean, this is the first I hear of it,
so.
Board Member Russell: This was even coming just today, even -- because I --
Mr. Woods: Yeah, we just got this model.
Miguel Valentin (Financial Officer): I haven't checked those numbers.
Mr. Woods: We just got it today.
Chair Hardemon: Then that's part of what makes this -- I mean -- well --
Board Member Suarez: This is not rocket science.
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Chair Hardemon: Go ahead, Commissioner.
Board Member Russell: We brought this idea during the brief --
Board Member Suarez: Yeah.
Board Member Russell: -- briefing earlier last week, and so the various models were presented
of different blended rates, and what we could possibly achieve, and this was the best one we
could negotiate.
Mr. Fernandez: Commissioner, ifI could maybe proffer a path forward, and that is I understand
-- we sent this model a few weeks ago, and unfortunately, I think Commissioner Russell
construed our statement of fact that we could not get to the first rate we discussed that was just
below the 59 percent. He suggested that --
Board Member Russell: Trust me, I wanted a lot more.
Board Member Suarez: Yeah.
Mr. Fernandez: -- as our refusing to honor a counterproposal of his; and frankly, it was quite
the opposite. We're trying to show a variety of scenarios that would get him closer to his desired
outcome. So in recent conversation during the last briefing, we clarified our position. I'm --
maybe one way forward is to make that modification subject to further analysis by, you know,
your CFO, if he can verify the numbers.
Board Member Suarez: I think a verification -- subject to verification by the CFO as to the
veracity of the numbers.
Mr. Fernandez: If he concurs with the analysis, we can move forward that way.
Board Member Suarez: That's fine.
Chair Hardemon: I think that becomes much more acceptable. Yeah, I can agree to that. Now, I
want to add one thing. Just like -- there was an item earlier that we looked at, the responsible
wage, and we clarified some information in there. I know that within this document, it -- in the
definition section, it refers to Pesponsible wage,'hnd it refers to another section within the
document on page 13, 3.1.6, Pesponsible wage rates. "I just want to also clam in this document
exactly what we mean, because I don't want -- You know, I know we intend on paying responsible
wage rates, and I want that to be clearly reflected. So I want the definition section to reference
Section 2-11.16, Code of Miami -Dade County. That doesn't change the number of people or
classifications that have agreed -- or that you've agreed to provide a responsible wage for, but it
does refer to that section, so we can make it very clear. And then also, in that same Section 3.1.6
on page 13, that -- just like on the other agreement, where it says 1n connection with each phase
shall pay a minimum hourly wage rate and health benefits; the responsible wage consistent with
the County's responsible wage; that it reflects in the same way that you rephrased this to say that
they'll pay the wage rate and benefits in accordance with Section 2-11.16 of Miami -Dade
County. So I'm not changing the professions that are under responsible wage; just how you refer
to them. And so, then, as it follows under 3.1.6, you have, for instance, electrical workers. It's --
it tells us what their hourly rate is and the benefit rate is, so everything that's within the
parentheses, to strike so that -- because you already have a reference to it within the
Miami -Dade County Ordinance. And, of course, this would be C'hnd D. "So that's the only thing
I want to make. And hopefully, the movers and seconders --
Board Member Suarez: Yeah, I'll agree with that.
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Chair Hardemon: Okay.
Mr. Fernandez: Commissioner, just one clarification on a -- we -- I believe we would have no
objection to that, so long as we're referring to the wage and health benefits components strictly,
because I think there are some other benefits listed in that section that we did not factor into our
model. So if that's clear, if that's your intent, then we would have no objection.
Chair Hardemon: I mean, the intent is to pay the responsible wage rate.
Mr. Fernandez: And now we've identified it as the hourly rate, plus the companion health
benefit. I -- again, I don't have the section in front of me, but I think the addendum that's
promulgated by virtue of that section has a series of other benefits. And again, I just want to
highlight to the Board it's not something we've factored into our cost analysis for this project;
just want to make sure. If you're referring to the wage rate and health benefit component of that
Ordinance, again, we have no objection to the modification.
Chair Hardemon: So what other benefits in this agreement are we not getting?
Mr. Fernandez: I don't know offhand. I think there may be a contribution to -- a pension
contribution potentially would be the other one I can think of off the top of my head.
Chair Hardemon: Well --
Mr. Fernandez: I don't have it.
Chair Hardemon: -- the tried and true Miami -Dade County Ordinance is what I'm referring to,
and that's why I'm asking. To -- The Section 2-11.16 of the Code of Miami -Dade County is what
I'm referring to. So whatever the rates and benefits schedule is there, that's what I'm -- that's
what I want for this agreement.
Mr. Fernandez: Commissioner, the Ordinance itself doesn't specifir the rates. They're
promulgated annually by virtue of the addendum that we referenced in the LIUNA agreement, so
that's -- I think this is the addendum that he -- that Neil Shiver has just circulated.
Chair Hardemon: I mean, this is the only way that I know how the responsible wage is
calculated.
Mr. Fernandez: I think --
Board Member Suarez: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Mr. Fernandez: -- yeah. The only benefit that's not reflected in this document, Commissioner, is
again the hourly pension contribution that's set forth in the schedule. So we had factored in and
agreed to pay and remit -- negotiated the wage rate and health benefit under the schedule that
you have in front of you.
Chair Hardemon: I would have never thought that. I would have always thought that we were
getting responsible wages. And then to refer to --
Mr. Fernandez: The --
Chair Hardemon: -- because to me, it sounds like you're trying to have a dollar amount that's
not equal to the responsible wage, but then call it a responsible wage. And that wouldn't be what
you're trying to do; would it be?
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Mr. Fernandez: No, sir. It's, in fact, a reflection of what we've actually put in the document,
which was the components of the responsible wage that are actually articulated in the document.
So we've been -- I understand your sentiment, but we did not --
Chair Hardemon: I mean, because we --
Mr. Fernandez: -- agree to --
Chair Hardemon: -- The issue I'm having is that, you know, we have a tree, right? You call it a
tree, but it's not really a tree. It's really a car. And there's a difference between a tree and a car.
You can climb a tree, but you can drive a car. I have yet to see anyone drive a car. Might be a
strange thing to say, but I think it's equally strange as you telling me you're paying responsible
wages, but you're really not. You're paying a number that's equal to a number that's lower than
responsible wages. So what I'm asking for support is for responsible wages for those items that
they have listed. You're recognized, Commissioner Suarez.
Board Member Suarez: I got a little heartburn when you start negotiating from the dais, I guess.
Chair Hardemon: I'm not -- I thought I was just clarifying the language.
Board Member Suarez: My thing is this. This is my thing: We just -- and again, I don't know
what their higher calculations, where they're going with every one of these little component
pieces, but certainly, I commend the Vice Chair for his bold maneuver. And yours might be, as
well. The only thing is -- my issue is they have -- we have Labor Peace, meaning that they have
the -- they are going to have the ability to unionize and to collectively bargain for wages. I think
what we're setting here is the floor, and I presume that their labor partners will be negotiating on
their behalf, if and when they're able to unionize, for wages going forward. So I just -- you
know, that's just my only issue. And so, you know, in terms of squeezing the lemon, I get it, but --
Chair Hardemon: And I'm not trying to squeeze any lemons. I thought we already had
lemonade.
Board Member Suarez: All right.
Chair Hardemon: All I'm saying is that I thought that we were talking about responsible wage
rates. And so I --
Mr. Fernandez: I think --
Chair Hardemon: -- just like when I looked at the other document, and I was like, The language
looks funny, so let me clam that language. "And so I read this as I'm here, and I saw that the
language looked funny, and I want to clam that. So I just was unaware. Would a responsible --
so if you were paying a responsible wage rate, would you typically be paying for some type of
pension benefit?
Mr. Fernandez: Apparently, from -- I'm looking at the schedule. It would be any -- between --
depending on the classification, another dollar to another -- like another 3.15, 3.45 an hour,
depending on which classification we're talking about, in terms of the required pension
contribution. And again, Commissioner, if there was a misunderstanding, I apologize. We
specified the components that we were willing to pay in the document for this reason, so there
would be no ambiguity, there would be no confusion, and we thought there was an understanding
on that point with you and staff. So, again, it's not an economic impact that we have considered, -
probably, for us, it's not an insignificant one as -- for the very reason we've discussed before.
These costs are frontloaded, and the TIF dollars are back -loaded, so we incur these
(UNINTELLIGIBLE) costs to --
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Chair Hardemon: Not any longer.
Mr. Fernandez: Huh?
Chair Hardemon: Not any longer. The TIF, as amended by the Commissioner to my far left is
frontloaded.
Mr. Fernandez: We understand and -- but I would note that the proposal, while acceptable, still
diminishes the total gross revenues that we would receive by -- not an inconsequential amount.
So again, it's your prerogative to decide how you want to dispense with this particular issue. I
just wanted to make you aware of the fact that we specified the language in the form that we did
to illustrate the components that we had agreed to pay. And I leave it to the Members of the
Board to decide how they want to decide this item. That's all I can say by way of clarification.
Chair Hardemon: Any further discussion from the Board Members? Well, I have a question for
you. So frontloading -- I know that, as Commissioner Russell explained, frontloading
encourages you to build quicker, because you can have a greater TIF revenue upfront than you
can have if you wait until later times to continue to build your phases. So help explain to me
how frontloading doesn't help pay for -- frontloading the TIF doesn't help pay the actual
responsible wage rate.
Mr. Fernandez: You know, theoretically, it could. I think part of the preconditions here -- it's all
a matter of how quickly we can dispense with the other preconditions to this agreement. In fact,
if we're able to go through this next phase of discussion to the City, County and CRA in short
order, we may be able to actually bring the dollars over the years forward sooner, and certainly
could help offset unexpected costs like these. Again, I haven't done the analysis. I don't want to
answer with, you know, misinformation. Quite honestly, it's just not an item that we had
contemplated in our cost figures, and what the cost impact is of that addition, I couldn't honestly
tell you.
Chair Hardemon: How about if it doesn't significantly increase the cost of the project?
Mr. Fernandez: Being a lawyer yourself, if you can define what 5'ignificant'fs in some -- to some
standard?
Chair Hardemon: I mean, that's always up -- it's almost the same thing of what we say about --
Mr. Fernandez: I mean, I'll tell you it's 10 percent of the nominal wage rate on average, from
what I can tell, looking at the documents. So it's not -- whether that's significant in your mind or
not or this Board's mind you know, again, it's for you to determine. If you wanted to caveat the
language that way, certainly, we would appreciate it.
Chair Hardemon: So what I'm hearing from the representative is that if we caveat the language
that if it doesn't significantly increase the cost of the project, then it should be acceptable. Does
the mover agree?
Mr. Fernandez: So long as you define S'ignificant'fn some way, so we can have a standard to rely
on.
Chair Hardemon: I'm sorry?
Mr. Fernandez: So long as -- Mr. Chairman, again, so long as we can define what you would
deem to be significant as a Board, so we have a standard which we can follow up with your CRA
executive director to decide the true impact and whether it should be included or not.
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Chair Hardemon: Does the seconder agree?
Board Member Carollo: You have three attorneys to define what 5'ignificant'fs.
Chair Hardemon: You're right. You've been saying Three attorneys'all day. Special counsel?
William Bloom: Listen, if you get -- define 5'ignificant, 'You have to put a dollar amount in there
for us to consider your question; what you people, you Commissioners feel is a significant
variation in the cost. I mean, at this point, you know, without an analysis, you know, the
executive director and the attorneys aren't going to know what that objective cost is.
Chair Hardemon: I think you would know what tf significant increase in cost'fs, based off of I
mean, other documents you review, other cases you've considered that show an increase in cost.
So, for instance, when we were first told that people were getting paid $8.05 an hour and we
wanted a responsible wage rate, they said that that was a significant increase in cost. Now,
certainly, the responsible wage rate and what is titled in this document as the responsible wage
rate, which are different, the question is: Is it a significant increase in cost? So that's the value I
think we need to --
Mr. Bloom: Right. The change -- you know, without doing an analysis, you know, just on a
700,000 -- $700 million project, the change you're talking about and the fringe benefits would
not really sound like it's going to be a significant cost change in the overall cost of the project --
Board Member Suarez: That's what I would think.
Mr. Bloom: -- probably would be, though.
Chair Hardemon: That's what I would think. So it's been --
Mr. Fernandez: Commissioner, again, I just would highlight -- for example, we're talking in one
category, if electrical workers, it's $30.11 an hour for the base wage rate, the pension benefit
enumerated in the addendum is 3.91 an hour. I'd say that's more than 10 percent. I would deem
that to be significant. I don't know how this Board would decide the matter. Could we set a
percentage value, a threshold above which we could look at these numbers?
Chair Hardemon: I think -- the language that we're proposing, I think will work to the benefit of
all of us, so I think, looking at, as you describe, $3.91 for a pension benefit on a wage rate of
$30.11, I mean, I'm not incredibly moved by it being a huge number. However, like we stated,
you know, we'll put the caveat within the language, and I'm sure with all the business minds and
attorneys that we all have working for us that we'll come to some sort of an agreement. I mean,
we're giving a hundred and -- with the new thing, maybe $5 million towards this project. I think
we can probably work it out. Is there any further discussion on it?
Mr. Fernandez: Could you just clarify the modifications for the record, please?
Chair Hardemon: The modification includes moving from five businesses in the vendor program
to 10; and also, a blended rate of 59 percent, rather than 65 percent TIF; frontloaded at 80
percent; and then after the sunset period, 45 percent; and inclusive of clarifying the language
within the -- under definitions of --
Board Member Suarez: Subject to verification of Miguel.
Chair Hardemon: -- subject to verification, correct. And vering the -- well, clarifying the
definition of Pesponsible wage,'hnd for -- in the definition section, and also in Section 3.1.6 on
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page 13 to be reflective of Section 2-11.16 of Miami -Dade County Code for the -- only for the
wage -- I'm sorry -- only for the classifications that's indicated within the document. So.
Mr. Fernandez: Mr. Chairman, could we ask for a two -minute recess? I just want to call my
client. We're being texted that they actually want to understand this modification. Apparently,
they got a report about it from someone in the audience. If I can impose upon you just two
minutes? And I'll get back to you right --
Chair Hardemon: You can take your time right now. Two -minute recess.
Mr. Fernandez: Thank you.
Later...
Board Member Suarez: All right, guys, let's get this show on the road.
Chair Hardemon: Call the meeting back into order. That was significantly longer than two
minutes or five minutes, or whatever we said the break was, but I know lots of us have had lots of
discussion about particularly what's on the floor right now, the motion that's on the floor, and
the impact of what's on the floor. And I know that the executive director wants to speak to the
issue, along with his team of attorneys.
Mr. Woods: Commissioners, again, when I sat with Commissioner Russell and his team, I did
express some concerns. This was on Thursday, in the briefing. I did express some concerns
about frontloading the TIF, where we had no guarantee of the life of the CRA being extended
Commissioner Russell has proffered the fact that this would not be effective -- the blended rate
would not be effective unless we have the extension, so that kind of alleviates that concern. But
the concern still is, in frontloading the TIF, where we've had considerations and thoughts for
going out and bonding again, utilizing the capacity that would be created by a development like
this. That would severely hamper our abilities to be able to put out another bond issue. I mean,
even if we were able to put out another bond issue, we would have to put out for a lot less,
because we would not have that capacity available to us. Now, you might say, Well, you can do
that in the following nine years, if you get the extension, 'but you would only have 11 or 12 years,
which -- whether or not you can do a 10-year bond issuance or -- I'm not sure how that would
affect the rates, and how much we actually are able to get, but obviously, it's a lot better if we
can do a bond issuance where we have 15 to 20 years with the execution, having the capacity
that we would get from that project to count towards any bond issuance that we might do in the
future years to come.
Chair Hardemon: So what is your recommendation?
Mr. Woods: I mean, my recommendation would be to stay at the -- I understand the savings of
the $10 million, but again, if we can bond, that means we'll have money -- more money to do
more with in the time that we have in the remaining years of the CRA. My recommendation
would be -- well, the 65 that's on the table now, but I've recommended something else other than
that, which I don't think anybody wants to do, which is far less -- much like Commissioner
Russell -- a TIF offering than what is on the table at this time. But to be fair, I'll -- my
recommendation would be the 65 percent that's on the table.
Board Member Russell: Mr. Chair.
Chair Hardemon: Yeah, you're recognized, sir.
Board Member Russell: You used words such as S'everely affect our bonding ability,' ind that's a
pretty strong word. I mean, we're talking about a difference between 65 to 80, right? And for the
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-- for this initial portion. And it -- the extension isn't even a discussion, it's -- because it's only --
none of this --
Mr. Woods: Absolutely.
Bmrusl -- happens without the extension.
Mr. Woods: Absolutely.
Board Member Russell: And so this is perhaps all a big academic exercise.
Chair Hardemon: No, no, some of it does happen. This -- they will start to receive TIF revenue
on whatever their improvements are; that's with or without the extension. If it is extended --
Board Member Russell: I'm under a different understanding.
Mr. Woods: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) developers, they don't get the extension.
Chair Hardemon: Say it again.
Mr. Woods: They're saying that they won't build unless they --
Mr. Fernandez: Mr. Chair, there's -- ifI can clam for the record, there's a precondition -- and
I could find the contract provision -- in the agreement that requires the extension to occur by
1/1/2018 or else the agreement becomes null and void.
Board Member Suarez: Right.
Mr. Fernandez: Now, any cost we have out of pocket against some of the commitments that are
due upon execution, we would have expended and undertaken, but we would not receive any
revenues if those milestones aren't reached within that time period.
Mr. Bloom: Well you -- there is an ability for the developer to waive that condition subsequent,
and so they -- you could waive it. You could get your 80 percent until the -- 2030.
Chair Hardemon: So can you clam that again for the record, please? Please.
Mr. Bloom: It's a condition subsequent, which means if the conditions aren't satisfied, the
agreement would automatically terminate unless -- by -- on a specific date -- unless waived by
the developer.
Board Member Russell: And what's the risk there?
Mr. Bloom: So the developer would have the right to waive that condition, except the higher TIF
number for a shorter period of term.
Mr. Fernandez: Sorry, I stand corrected. That is correct. I apologize to you both. He's, in fact,
correct. We had, I think, in a prior draft -- and I apologize -- made that a condition precedent,
but it's now a condition subsequent. So, Commissioner Russell, I apologize. I was mistaken in
my representation to you about that provision.
Chair Hardemon: The -- and the thing about this is that when you think about the development
that we have right now, Commissioner Gort, it's happening because we were able to bond those
dollars. And certainly, if we have more improvements and a greater amount of money to bond,
we'll have the ability to produce more projects for the area, so -- such as the young man that
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spoke earlier about having some type of workforce housing. When the CRA could own land and
we have workforce housing built on it, we have more capacity to build within the area. And so,
that's one -- the one thing about this Commissioner Gort, I think you can appreciate is that when
we talk about that the CRA has been in existence for quite some time, and we haven't had the
revenue to actually do projects, we're running on a timeline here. So the CRA will terminate --
what is it? 20 --
Mr. Woods: 2030, as of --
Chair Hardemon: -- 2030. As of today, we'll terminate in 2030, so we don't have a lot of time to
get things done. And then if it's extended, if it extends to 2042?
Mr. Woods: '42, the max amount.
Chair Hardemon: 2042. And so when we're talking about waiting now the additional years
where you frontloaded, you have much less revenue to complete the projects, I think that you can,
if you get a bond upfront to build, to do more. The bonding is a tremendous tool that the Florida
Legislature gave us in order to spark projects. In their wisdom, they realized that if we can get
money upfront to build projects today, that's going to help increase the revenue in the area.
That's going to be able to help to increase the development in a shorter period of time, compared
to waiting many, many years to get it, because if we have to wait on annual TIF revenue, it'll be
a long time before we're able to accumulate the type of dollars that we need to do something
immediately within this community. And so --
Board Member Russell: How much less bonding ability are we talking about? If it's slightly
less, but we save $10 million in the long run in TIF money and, you know, what the taxpayers are
trusting us with, therein, it's potentially a win/win. Now, if we lose our ability to write a bond, of
course, that's a bigger -- you know. So I don't want to use adverbs such as, you know --
Mr. Woods: Yeah. I mean, maybe that was --
Board Member Russell: -- that take it to the extreme.
Mr. Woods: -- superfluous. Maybe it was hyperbole, but I don't think saying that it would
significantly reduce --
Chair Hardemon: Well, you're talking going -- you're going from a 45 percent -- just about --
around a 45 percent revenue, if we have it at 60 percent, 65 percent, that comes back to the CRA,
just about.
Mr. Woods: 30. It would be 30.
Chair Hardemon: Because of -- you have to take 5 percent away from the total?
Mr. Woods: Yes, yeah. 5 percent is administrative cost.
Chair Hardemon: So 100 minus, say -- so then, it's 95 minus 65.
Mr. Woods: Right.
Chair Hardemon: Okay. And so --
Mr. Woods: So it's half.
Chair Hardemon: -- you taking 20 percent.
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Board Member Russell: 15.
Mr. Woods: 15. It's half.
Board Member Russell: And then --
Chair Hardemon: From 80 to 20 is what? Oh, it's 15, right.
Mr. Woods: Mm-hmm.
Mr. Woods: Front, and then from the extension on, your bonding ability will be much greater,
because instead of 65, you'll be paying 45.
Mr. Woods: But the duration would be a lot shorter, as well.
Board Member Russell: An additional 14 years after that point. We're only talking nine years at
the 80, and then potentially 14 years beyond in the extension --
Mr. Fernandez: Mr. Chair --
Board Member Russell: -- at the 45.
Mr. Fernandez: -- ifI may, just to Commissioner Russell's point, I think it's the same issue we
have. The present value of the interim dollars are much valuable in terms of future capacity than
the out years, so you're basically putting the CRA in the same position that you would be putting
us by back -loading the TIF further, but --
Board Member Suarez: So --
Mr. Fernandez: -- you know, I think in terms of the dollars lost to the CRA -- just my rough
numbers here -- is about $600, 000, a differential between 65 and 80. Again, I offer this, though,
with clarification for discussion. So you'll see it's about a -- $600, 000 in recurring annual
revenues that wouldn't be available in those first nine years.
Board Member Russell: For the bonding ability?
Mr. Fernandez: Correct.
Board Member Russell: You know, I mean, at 65, I was a fio. "I -- like Clarence, I wanted 49.
You can say it.
Chair Hardemon: If Clarence wanted 49 --
Mr. Woods: I wanted (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Board Member Russell: Where we were trying to get, yes. And this blended rate gets us to 59.
And for me, that's acceptable.
Mr. Fernandez: Commissioner, if I could just add one other point for clarification, as well. And
I think if you -- we have a -- roughly, a cost of about $19 million, per our initial analysis for the
community benefits package, present value over the life of the agreement. So if you were actually
to deduct that and apply it against the percentage, your TIF is south of 45 percent, in terms of
the net benefit to our project. So, again, to your point, I think we've had this discussion. The
concessions do resolve in terms of the aggregate benefit in a TIF below the nominal 65 percent,
recognizing the cost of those concessions.
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Board Member Russell: And to the special counsel's point, if we make this frontloading or
blended rate conditional on the extension, that would allay the fear that they would get the 80
percent and then waive the extension need, and we did, right? So we --
Mr. Bloom: That can be easily addressed, yes.
Board Member Russell: Okay. So that fear should be allayed.
Vice Chair Gort: Your sunset is at 2030?
Mr. Woods: 2030.
Vice Chair Gort: 2030.
Mr. Woods: 2030 is the sunset.
Vice Chair Gort: This is 14 year of 80 percent.
Chair Hardemon: And you all were willing to go from five to 10 businesses --
Mr. Fernandez: Yes, sir. We have no objection to that change.
Chair Hardemon: -- regardless?
Mr. Fernandez: Right.
Chair Hardemon: And --
Unidentified Speaker: But it only starts once they get (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Chair Hardemon: -- the language for the definition of Pesponsible wage,'ff it's not a significant
increase, you're willing to accept that?
Mr. Fernandez: Correct, sir. If we could agree on a cap or threshold that would not exceed,
such as $2 million, we'd be amenable to accommodating that modification.
Chair Hardemon: What about a percentage, like 5 percent?
Mr. Fernandez: I think a percent -- that 5 percent would be reasonable.
Chair Hardemon: Okay. So --
Board Member Suarez: I'll amend my motion to include those additional parameters.
Chair Hardemon: -- to clam the motion that's on the floor for our Clerk, the discussion has led
us to where we are right now, which is, as Mr. Woods put it, the original, again, which was 65
percent --
Mr. Woods: Yes.
Chair Hardemon: With the 10 businesses instead of five in the vendor program that
Commissioner Russell recommended; and then, also, to amend the definitions section, in Section
3.1.6, responsible wage rates to reflect Section 2-11.16 of the Code of Miami -Dade County, if it
does not amount to greater than 5 percent of the wage cost.
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Mr. Bloom: I think that the change you're talking about is only that portion that relates to the
fringe benefits; that -- there was the segment of that --
Chair Hardemon: Right.
Mr. Bloom: -- they were -- it was the pension.
Chair Hardemon: The part that they're talking about -- there was a pension benefit that's --
Mr. Bloom: Correct.
Chair Hardemon: -- that was not included, right. That's what it captures, correct.
Mr. Bloom: And that's the portion that you're talking about not being a significant increase.
Chair Hardemon: Correct. Any further discussion?
Mr. Fernandez: Commissioner, just one clarification, ifI may. The 5 percent of -- is it total cost
for each classification, or total cost for labor in all classifications that we're discussing? How
do you want it -- how do you want -- what's the 5 percent tied to? And I'm not sure I could
discern that from the discussion or counsel's clarification.
Chair Hardemon: Is the sum of the part greater than the whole? How do you capture that?
Mr. Bloom: I would think what you're talking about is the total labor cost projected for the
construction, and whether it's not increasing more than 5 percent, because of that; that's what
you're proposing. I think you're talking about the total labor cost for construction, and then you
have to decide what percentage is appropriate.
Chair Hardemon: Correct.
Mr. Fernandez: Understood. Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: Okay. Any further discussion? Yes --
Board Member Russell: Just so I fully understand what we're voting on, was my amendment on
the rates taken back, or is that still on the floor, on the vote?
Chair Hardemon: As I understand it, the movant and the seconder took that back, so it's not on
the floor.
Board Member Russell: Is that correct? I didn't -- I'm sorry, I didn't hear that part.
Chair Hardemon: That was the clar Eying part. So what we're saying was that on the floor right
now is 65 percent, not --
Board Member Russell: My amendment was to change the rate to the blended rate, and that was
accepted by the mover and the seconder, but I didn't actually hear it get taken back to the 65.
Board Member Suarez: Yeah. And let me clam. I think what happened here is the Chair
rearticulated essentially what he thought the deal was, to put it sort of mildly. And so I accepted
his re -articulation of the deal. That -- I think what we're talking about here is -- we're talking
about two competing factors, you know. You're talking about a blended rate, which I think, you
know, in and of itself, is something that maybe could have been done. And then, we're talking
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about an additional component to the wages. Both have a cost. And I think we have -- and I
think everyone here who has testified here today has testified to the intensity of this deal, where
we have literally squeezed it to the margin. And I just think, from what I'm hearing, from what
I'm reading, and from what I'm listening to, it's either we did the blended rate or we did the
responsible wages, as defined by the County Code.
Board Member Russell: That is not what I understood.
Board Member Suarez: That's what I understood, but maybe I'm wrong.
Board Member Russell: Was it Zither/or,'br you were willing to accept both of those factors?
Mr. Fernandez: Commissioner, I think we -- you know, we're agnostic on this issue, honestly, in
that it's a matter of the gross revenues it realizes for the project. We've always been very clear
about that. I think there's a -- my sense is that the 65 percent number, from hearing the
conversation, has been vetted for a longer period of time and is generally accepted. I -- again,
from our perspective, we are comfortable with the motion. I think it was most recently
articulated at 65 percent, with the increase in the 10 businesses, and a determiner of cost at not
more than 5 percent of the total labor cost. If the Board's inclination is to accept your 80 -- 45
percent arrangement, we certainly could live with either alternative. Again, but it's your -- it's
the Board's decision.
Chair Hardemon: And I think --
Board Member Russell: I'm sorry, I just want to understand. Either alternative,'tneaning that,
5r?
Mr. Fernandez: Or the 65 percent.
Board Member Russell: Oh, okay. So the other stuff is not --
Mr. Fernandez: The other stuff is --
Board Member Russell: -- at risk of being taken off the table?
Mr. Fernandez: No. We -- as I --
Board Member Russell: So we could have it off?
Mr. Woods: Right.
Chair Hardemon: But I -- well, I want to be clear. When --
Board Member Russell: The risk is about the bonding versus --
Chair Hardemon: Right.
Board Member Russell: -- the cash in hand.
Chair Hardemon: Right. Andl think what the community of Overtown has been missing for
some time is just that spark, that jump in development, and that's what your bonding capacity
gives you the ability to do. I mean, if we were just receiving the revenues each year, trying to get
projects done, it would be more of a trickling effect, compared to the amount of money that we
were able to capture in the bond issuance to get all of the development that we have started thus
far. So I anticipate in the near future, and hopefully, within our next terms, that we'll be bonding
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another project that'll service more needs for the people that live here within this area.
Board Member Russell: So it's -- as the Chair --
Chair Hardemon: So it's 65 percent.
Board Member Russell: -- your preference would be with the 65.
Chair Hardemon: Correct, sir.
Board Member Russell: I'm a 1 o'ht the 65. I just wanted to understand where the amendment
stood in terms of the mover and the seconder, that's all.
Board Member Suarez: Is that where we are, or --?
Chair Hardemon: Yes.
Board Member Suarez: I mean, is that where --?
Mr. Fernandez: We are fine. It's -- we are fine. MDM is fine at 65 percent, with the increase
from five to 10 businesses, and a cost gap of not greater than 5 percent.
Chair Hardemon: Any further --
Board Member Russell: And they are also okay with the blended rate and the other items, as
well; the businesses changed from --
Mr. Bloom: Commissioners, would it make sense with respect to the blended rate that it was
going to be analyzed by the CFO, and if the CFO and the executive director, in consultation with
the financial advisor for the CRA determines that one is better for the other as far as future
bonding, that the executive director will pick either the 65 percent or the blended rate, plus the
other options that you're considering?
Board Member Russell: Well, I think it's more of a policy decision for the Board to decide
whether it's better to have the bonding ability, as the Chair is saying, or it's better to save the
money in the long run from the TIF. And so I don't think that's something -- he doesn't want that
decision on his shoulders by himself. I think that's our decision here to make today.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you.
Board Member Suarez: I wouldn't want it ifI was him, either. I don't think it's fair.
Vice Chair Gort: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) can't build it because of the bonding.
Chair Hardemon: Yeah.
Board Member Russell: I respect where the Chair is coming from on this, and I understand the
difference between the two options, and it's okay if we're split on this. The -- but I just needed to
understand what we're voting on, that's all.
Commissioner Carollo: Mr. Chairman.
Chair Hardemon: You're recognized, sir.
Board Member Carollo: My problem with this is that we just heard about it at least an hour ago.
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It's -- what? It's 11:15 now, so around 10:15 at night. No one's verified the numbers, even the
savings. We're not really sure if it's really going to be $10 million, or less or what. We're not
really sure what that is. We don't know what the future value of those dollars will be; not to
mention that now, we're going to upfront an additional 15 percent of TIF. So without any
financial expertise --
Board Member Suarez: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) for 14 years.
Board Member Carollo: -- looking at it and really analyzing in a clear -- with clear minds, clear
heads at a reasonable time, you know, it makes it quite difficult. And it's not something that I
would be, you know, in favor of. We did do that caveat that subject to, you know, financial
analysis in the future --
Board Member Suarez: Verification.
Board Member Carollo: -- or verification. But even then, I'm not really sure where we're at,
because what if it's not $10 million? What if it's a lot less? And that savings will come, you
know, years and years down the road, where, in essence, we could use some of that money
upfront, and that has a value.
Chair Hardemon: Yeah.
Board Member Carollo: So that's where, you know --
Board Member Russell: It's actually -- it's not 10 in net present value of savings. It's 10 in
actual nominal dollars of savings, if they go to the max of the TIF. If they expend a lot less,
obviously, it could be a little less of the savings. But at the 115 level, if that's what the max
amount was going to be, it would be at 10 million savings --
Chair Hardemon: Commissioner Gort.
Board Member Russell: -- dollar -wise.
Vice Chair Gort: Well, the bonding is very important. One of the reason we've been able to do
the four developments that we have done so far is because we did that bond issue; that we didn't
have enough money to do a lot more, but the bonding is very important, because we can continue
to build where we need to build with the bonding funds.
Chair Hardemon: Including Town Park; Town Park North, Town Park South, and those projects
are because of the bond issuance, and those are the projects that affect the current residents of
Overtown; that's why people are having to this day windows, roofs, doors are complete; and
then, some interior renovations are being made thus far. So to clarij5r the motion on the floor:
10 businesses instead of five; 65 percent; claming the language on -- to reflect the Section
2-11.16 of Code of Miami -Dade County for the responsible wage benefits; and an increase in --
Board Member Suarez: Subject to the limitations.
Chair Hardemon: -- subject to the limitation of the 5 percent total cost of the labor -- not
exceeding 5 percent of total cost of the labor. Any further unreadiness or discussion?
Mr. Bloom: Again, I think to get there, it's a question of what the motion was and second,
because I think you accepted --
Chair Hardemon: This is the motion --
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Board Member Suarez: No, I think he articulated it again --
Chair Hardemon: Yeah, correct.
Board Member Suarez: -- the same motion that we sort of went back and forth on.
Chair Hardemon: Any further discussion?
Board Member Carollo: Yeah. So just to confirm, is this the motion that the Chairman made,
the one that you --?
Board Member Suarez: Yeah, that's what -- yeah.
Board Member Carollo: Okay, so that's your motion.
Board Member Suarez: Right.
Board Member Carollo: And I second that motion.
Board Member Suarez: Right, right, right.
Board Member Russell: So you're accepting half of my amendment; the amendment about the
five --
Board Member Suarez: Yes.
Board Member Russell: -- to 10, yes?
Board Member Suarez: Yes.
Board Member Russell: But not accepting the part about changing the actual --
Board Member Suarez: And this is one of those where we're trying to bring you to us so you can
make this unanimous, because we know you fought hard for this, and we want you to come
along, and we want this to be unanimous, and we respect what you fought for, and we thank you
for it.
Board Member Russell: I would love to be, and my lio'irote would not be anything reflective on
the amazing amount of negotiating that's been done to get the benefits that are very well
deserved and much needed for this deal when it goes through.
Board Member Suarez: Well all gotta sleep tonight.
Board Member Russell: My lio'{vould simply be about the fact that I challenged the developer
with reducing the amount of TIF that they needed from this deal, and they have not met me on
that at all.
Board Member Suarez: But in fairness, I mean -- not that I want to get into a big colloquy or
debate about this -- your initial proposal was 25 percent TIF, which was actually less than the
cost of a variety of the things that are involved here. So with all --
Board Member Russell: You got to start somewhere.
Board Member Suarez: No, I hear you.
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ADJOURNMENT
Vice Chair Gort: Originally, he came with 75.
Board Member Suarez: But, you know, come on. I mean, look, I think we've driven this -- I
mean, and everyone here who has testified, has testified to how hard we've driven this deal, you
know. And that's really -- you know, I want to be there with you, too. I just think we've driven
this thing into the ground, and I think it's time to move on, you know? Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: Seeing no further discussion, all in favor, say Eye."
Vice Chair Gort: Aye.
Board Member Suarez: Aye.
Board Member Carollo: Aye.
Chair Hardemon: All against?
Board Member Russell: Nay.
Chair Hardemon: Motion passes.
Mr. Fernandez: Thank you, gentlemen.
Chair Hardemon: Motion -- meeting adjourned.
Applause
The meeting adjourned at 11:16 p.m.
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