HomeMy WebLinkAboutSEOPW CRA 2016-09-26 MinutesCity of Miami
City Hall
3500 Pan American Drive
Miami, FL 33133
www.miamigov.com
Meeting Minutes
Monday, September 26, 2016
5:00 PM
Camillus House
1603 NW 7th Avenue Bldg., B
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 September 26, 2016
ORDER OF THE DAY
Present: Commissioner Suarez, Commissioner Carollo, Vice Chair Gort and Chair Hardemon
Absent: Commissioner Russell
On the 26th day of September 2016, the Board of Commissioners of the Southeast
Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of Miami met in regular
session at Camillus House, 1603 Northwest 7th Avenue, Miami, Florida. The meeting was called
to order by Chair Hardemon at 5:41 p.m., and was adjourned at 6: 07 p.m.
Note for the Record: Commissioner Gort entered the meeting at 5:45 p. m.
ALSO PRESENT:
Clarence E. Woods, Executive Director, CRA
Renee A. Jadusingh, Staff Counsel, CRA
Barnaby L. Min, Deputy General Counsel
Todd B. Hannon, Clerk of the Board
Chair Hardemon: Good evening, everyone. Welcome to the September 26, 2016 meeting of the
Southeast Overtown/Park West CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency). I apologize for my
tardiness. I was leaving the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau meeting. And for
the first time, I mean, I don't really see that much people in attendance today, but happy that
we're here to start the meeting. Okay. And so, I just want to call the meeting into order at 5 --
it's 5 --
Unidentified Speaker: 44.
Chair Hardemon: -- 42. And there aren't any meeting minutes to approve, so we can get right
into the business. And what we'll do is, I'll open up the floor right now for public hearing, so I'll
-- this is the time for public comment. If you're a member of the public and you want to speak on
any item on the agenda today -- that's RE.1, 2, 3, or 4 -- this is your time to be heard. So if you
are a member of the public and you want to speak on an item tonight, you are allowed to come
speak at this time. Please state your name, your address and which item you're speaking about.
Berlinda Faye Dixon: Hi. My name is Berlinda Faye Dixon, activist, organizer for Overtown;
newly appointed to the Oversight Board for Overtown. Item 16-01271, in reference to the
museum, I just wanted to state a couple of things for the record. The last event at the museum
that the public was invited to, I attended, which was a event that was poorly advertised, that I
found a flyer at Two Guys Restaurant on the top of the counter that I took to go copy at NANA
(Neighbors and Neighbors) so I could try to distribute, like the day of and it was, What to do
When Stopped by the Police. "Right? So the news media was there at the museum. I was excited
that we were -- I was going to meet some retired officers that maybe I could help talk into like
donating some time back to the community. And, well, I showed up, and Reverend Lincoln
wanted to go with me, and we were the community. And that concerns me. So now that we have
the Community Investigative Panel with the Police, I was there and three other citizens. It
concerns me that we're going to be disbursing money for this museum for a curator, when I have
heard out of retired officers' mouths themselves, Oh, I live in Miramar, and I come all the way
here, and I have to clean the toilets. "And I'm like, So at no point in time you ever like coached
football and like fund -raised for the museum; like maybe like community barbecue at the
museum to engage the community?"That idea might be really farfetched, but I had some really
interesting dialogue with those retired officers in speaking very frankly and openly, not holding
our words, and respecting that we can agree to disagree and have our opinions, and I would like
to see more of that. So with this money that you want to give, I would like you to put some
strings attached to make sure that the money is properly disbursed, okay, so that a cleaning
company can be hired; and this person that you hire, that they understand that the job
requirements for this museum within Overtown require the museum to actually be a participating
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member in the community, because at this time, it is not a participating member, the community
does not go there, and we really would like to use it. We would like more community
involvement. We may build some bridges this way with those retired officers, who can actually
walk around --
Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much, ma'am.
Ms. Dixon: -- and go to events without a weapon on --
Chair Hardemon: Ma'am --
Ms. Dixon: -- so please think about that with your monies, and add some strings to protect our
community --
Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much.
Ms. Dixon: -- and force some involvement. Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much. And I'd also like to note the presence of Commissioner
Gort, our Vice Chairman, so now we have -- we had quorum when we started the meeting, but
recognizing the appearance for the record for Commissioner Gort, Commissioner Suarez,
Commissioner Carollo; and myself, the Chairman. You're recognized, ma'am.
Shashana Lincoln: Yeah. Reverend Lincoln, from People Helping People, 210 Northwest 16th
Street. Commissioner Hardemon, the reason I'm here today is to kindly ask you that you may
respond to my email. Whenever I send you email, you're not responding, and it's no point to take
up a busy man of your caliber to come to see you all the time. I can just send you an email, and
if you respond, that will be fine with me. Is that all right?
Chair Hardemon: Ma'am, my whole staff responds to you, from the CRA to my office, and we
give you the same advice. You need to have a meeting with the CRA and your contractor in
order for you to get your business -- your building completed. I've done as much as I can --
listen to what I'm saying -- to support you. We've granted -- this board granted you the money to
complete the building. We understand that the building's not moving at the speed that you want
it to move, but myself as Chairman, I'm not going to make your building move any faster than
what my staff can help do for you. So I'm not in the day-to-day business with that building, and I
want your building to be complete. Trust me, I want to see --
Ms. Lincoln: All right, Commissioner. For time constraint, let me just close, okay? I kindly ask
you, since the CRA is beholden to you, and the CRA -- I mean, I was not very satisfied with the
respond [sic] I was getting, but this afternoon, Brian have given me some good news. This is the
reason why I stretched out to you. And with your voice, things will move faster. I know you are
not a contractor, but I kindly ask that -- it is only the polite, courteous thing to do to respond to
the constituent's email.
Chair Hardemon: We respond to you all --
Ms. Lincoln: No. You I'm asking, because --
Chair Hardemon: Ma'am, but -- okay --
Ms. Lincoln: -- the girls told me your email are read by you.
Chair Hardemon: -- but I'm telling you right now, I'm -- because we had this issue before where
you wanted me to say things to people and contractors, et cetera, that I'm not legally obligated to
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do. In this instance, everyone here -- the executive director knows, our attorney knows; my staff
member, who's responded a numerous amount of times know that your building is a priority, and
we want that building to be completed, and that's the furthest that I --
Ms. Lincoln: All right, thank you.
Chair Hardemon: -- can do.
Ms. Lincoln: Thank you. Just give me one second more. Commissioner, the way the building is
going, from what they're promising me, on the 15th of December -- even Brian are not satisfied
with that -- the project manager. So he told me that he could not give an opinion if the building
did not finish on the 15th of December. The point is that we have a master permit in June, and
work should be moving much faster, because it's the most blighted building in Overtown.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you so much. Is there any other public that'd like to -- ma'am, you've
already had your time for public comment.
Ms. Dixon: I'm speaking for --
Chair Hardemon: No, that's her time. She just spoke.
Ms. Dixon: I --
Chair Hardemon: If you'd like to speak about that matter, I suggest that you have a meeting with
everyone. It's not a matter of public comment that we need to talk about that item.
Ms. Dixon: I just wanted to clam that we're working on that.
Chair Hardemon: You finish -- you can finish her 20 seconds that she had left.
Ms. Dixon: Berlinda Faye Dixon, People Helping People, volunteer advocate for Reverend
Lincoln. Just to clam, Commissioner Hardemon, yes, your office has responded to emails. We
met with Kiara last week. I went -- Ishmael. Brian did give us great news, and they did have
dialogue with the contractor, and we have a meeting scheduled next month, October, to follow it
-- follow up and assess what's going on with the building. So in the interim, I ask that you would
just have some patience with Reverend Lincoln and her emails, but I'm helping her with that.
And we had a meeting last week, and we will follow up. Brian just updated me just now. We will
follow up again, October 28, a month out, to see where we are, if we need to have dialogue with
the contractor again.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you so much.
Ms. Dixon: Thank you for your time.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you. Is there any other person that'd like to speak on any of the items
on the agenda? You're recognized, sir.
Terrance Cribbs Lorrant: Good afternoon, everyone. My name is Terrance Cribbs Lorrant. I'm
representing Urgent, Inc., but I'm -- would like to talk about the item 16-01271. The importance
of establishing a curator for a museum, for those that may not be aware, that is how the word
and the functionality of a museum, how the museum is able to conduct business and bring
revenue back into the community or into that space, to that particular space. For years, I've
been working at some facet with the museum; whether it's bringing young kids by, throughout the
community; offering to provide some type of workshop for knowing the law, prior to the event
that occurred, the week -- a couple of weeks ago. The kids is where my biggest concern is; is
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RESOLUTIONS
1
16-01260
when you look at this item and why this item should be approved. Hopefully, the person that is
assigned to this job understands the responsibility and the history behind these -- this museum
and the nature of what this museum would bring about when building up the relationship
between community and officers, law enforcement; not just white law enforcement, but officers,
in general. There is a stigma that still needs to be disseminated and dissolved when it comes to
police officers and how they police the community, particularly this community. And I do believe
that this is a step in a direction that can assist us in strengthening that relationship that some of
us already have with the police. I would like to reserve the rest of my time for another item that's
not on here, but it's something that you all sponsored through the FACE (Film, Arts, Culture &
Entertainment) Program, if that is all right with the Commissioner; if I could thank you all for
your support for the FACE summer internship, which was supported through Urgent, Inc., and let
you know that that was greatly appreciated and kept many of our interns out of harm 's way
during the summer, so we greatly appreciate it. And hopefully, we can move forward with some
support for the overdoses that have been happening in our community. If -- there's much
research that I've done on that overdose situation in regards to getting a Narcan or a pin that
allows us to treat those overdoses, and so I encourage the board to look at that further. Thank
you, and thanks for my time.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much, sir. Is there any other person that'd like to speak?
You're recognized, ma'am.
Stephanie VanVark: Hello. My name is Stephanie VanVark, and my address is 201 Northwest
7th Avenue, in Miami, which means I'm a resident of Overtown. I, too, would like to speak on
behalf of item 16-01271. I believe a few moments ago, there was a comment about the museum,
nothing happening there, and volunteers who are not from the area. I am from the area. I am a
volunteer for the museum, and we've been very active in doing many things for the community; in
particular, the youth. Recently, we had a workshop and just started and launched workshops
called, What to do When Stopped by the Police. "I think that's one of those things that's a
sensitive subject right now. And our retired officers have taken it up on themselves to talk to
adults and youth about how to handle themselves in those situations so we didn't have any
problems in the future. We've done several things with many of the youth -based organizations,
Urgent, Inc., being one of them. For Halloween last year, we did -- what was it called again?
Unidentified Speaker: Whodunit.
Ms. VanVark: Yeah, Whodunit event. That was a Halloween event and activity for young people.
We do a lot of tours. We are partners with the Greater Miami Visitors and -- Convention and
Visitors Bureau, and we actively pursue partnerships and opportunities that can help really
showcase what the museum is all about, and really look at community policing. So we believe
that with what we've done so far, and then ultimately bringing onboard a curator, we can do
greater things for the community and for the City of Miami.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much. Is there any other person that'd like to speak? Seeing
none, I'll close the public comment at this time.
CRA RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE
SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT
AGENCY AUTHORIZING THE EXPENDITURE OF FUNDS, IN AN AMOUNT
NOT TO EXCEED $50,000, FOR EXPENSES RELATED TO THE SECURITY
AND MAINTENANCE OF 925 N.W. 2nd COURT, MIAMI, FLORIDAAND THE
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Meeting Minutes September 26, 2016
FORMER LAW OFFICE OF THE HONORABLE JUDGE LAWSON EDWARD
THOMAS LOCATED AT 1021 N.W. 2nd AVENUE, MIAMI, FLORIDA;
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; ALLOCATING
FUNDS FROM SEOPW TAX INCREMENT FUND, ENTITLED "OTHER
CONTRACTUAL SERVICES," ACCOUNT CODE NO.
10050.920101.534000.0000.00000.
File # 16-01260 Cover Memo.pdf
File # 16-01260 Financial Form.pdf
File # 16-01260 Backup.pdf
Motion by Board Member Suarez, seconded by Board Member Carollo, that this matter be
ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote.
Votes: Ayes: Vice Chair Gort, Chair Hardemon, Commissioner Suarez and Commissioner Carollo
Absent: Commissioner Russell
CRA-R-16-0044
Chair Hardemon: Commissioners, is there a motion to approve items 1 through 3, at least?
Board Member Suarez: So moved.
Board Member Carollo: Second
Chair Hardemon: It's been properly moved and seconded that we approve agenda items RE.1
through 3. Is there any discussion? Hearing none, all in favor, say aye."
The Board (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: Motion passes.
2 CRA RESOLUTION
16-01261
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE
SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT
AGENCY ("CRA"), WITH ATTACHMENT(S), AUTHORIZING AN EXTENSION
TO THE TERM OF THE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH
WEED -A -WAY, INC. TO PROVIDE LANDSCAPING MAINTENANCE
SERVICES FOR CRA OWNED/MAINTAINED PROPERTIES FOR A PERIOD
OF ONE (1) YEAR WITH TWO (2) OPTIONS TO RENEW; FURTHER
AUTHORIZING FUNDS IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $50,000 FOR SAID
SERVICE; 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; FUNDS TO
BE ALLOCATED FROM SEOPW TAX INCREMENT FUND, ENTITLED
"OTHER CONTRACTUAL SERVICES ," ACCOUNT CODE NO.
10050.920101.883000.0000.00000.
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3
16-01266
4
16-01271
File # 16-01261 Cover Memo.pdf
File # 16-01261 Financial Form.pdf
File # 16-01261 Legislation.pdf
Motion by Board Member Suarez, seconded by Board Member Carollo, that this matter be
ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote.
Votes: Ayes: Vice Chair Gort, Chair Hardemon, Commissioner Suarez and Commissioner Carollo
Absent: Commissioner Russell
CRA-R-16-0045
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing item RE.2, please see item RE.1.
CRA RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE
SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT
AGENCY AUTHORIZING THE RENEWAL OF THE CRA'S COMMERCIAL
GENERAL LIABILITY, PROPERTY, AND WORKERS' COMPENSATION
INSURANCE COVERAGE, FOR AN ADDITIONAL ONE-YEAR PERIOD, WITH
RISK MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATES, INC. D/B/A PUBLIC RISK INSURANCE
AGENCY, IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $124,425; ALLOCATING
FUNDING FROM SEOPW ENTITLED "GENERAL OPERATING FUND",
ACCOUNT CODE NO. 10050.920101.545000.0000.00000.
File # 16-01266 Cover Memo.pdf
File # 16-01266 Financial Form.pdf
File # 16-01266 Backup.pdf
File # 16-01266 Legislation.pdf
Motion by Board Member Suarez, seconded by Board Member Carollo, that this matter be
ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote.
Votes: Ayes: Vice Chair Gort, Chair Hardemon, Commissioner Suarez and Commissioner Carollo
Absent: Commissioner Russell
CRA-R-16-0046
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing item RE.3, please see item RE.1.
CRA RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE
SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT
ACCEPTING A GRANT, IN THE AMOUNT OF $150,000, FROM THE
INSTITUTE OF MUSEUM AND LIBRARY SERVICES ("IMLS"), MUSEUM
GRANTS FOR AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY AND CULTURE TO HIRE A
MUSEUM DIRECTOR AND FORMULATE A LONG TERM SUSTAINABILITY
PLAN FOR THE BLACK POLICE PRECINCT AND COURTHOUSE MUSEUM
("PROJECT"); FURTHER AUTHORIZING A GRANT IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO
EXCEED $235,000, OF WHICH $85,000 OF THE PROJECT COST WILL BE
FUNDED BY THE CRA, TO THE CITY OF MIAMI BLACK POLICE PRECINCT
AND COURTHOUSE MUSEUM, INC. ("COMBPPCM") TO EXECUTE THE
PROJECT, AND RATIFYING THE EXECUTION OF A MEMORANDUM OF
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UNDERSTANDING BY AND BETWEEN THE CRAAND COMBPPCM IN
FURTHERANCE OF THE PROJECT; 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; FUNDS TO BE ALLOCATED FROM SEOPW
TAX INCREMENT FUND, ENTITLED "OTHER GRANTS AND AIDS ,"
ACCOUNT CODE NO. 10050.920101.883000.0000.00000.
File # 16-01271 Cover Memo.pdf
File # 16-01271 Financial Form.pdf
File # 16-01271 Backup.pdf
File # 16-01271 Legislation.pdf
Motion by Board Member Suarez, seconded by Board Member Carollo, that this matter be
ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote.
Votes: Ayes: Vice Chair Gort, Chair Hardemon, Commissioner Suarez and Commissioner Carollo
Absent: Commissioner Russell
CRA-R-1 6-0047
Note for the Record: For public hearing comments referencing item RE.4, please see Order of
the Day."
Chair Hardemon: Now we can call RE.4, Mr. Executive Director.
Clarence Woods, III (Executive Director, Southeast Overtown/Park West Community
Redevelopment Agency): Commissioners, Resolution 4 is a resolution of the Southeast
Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment Agency, accepting a grant, in an amount not to
exceed -- well, in an amount of $150, 000, from the Institute of Museum and Library Science
Services, Museum Grants forAfrican-AmericanHistory and Culture, to hire a museum director
and fornmlate a long-term sustainability plan for the Black Police Precinct and Courthouse
Museum; further authorizing a grant in an amount not to exceed 235, 000, of which 85,000 of the
project cost will be funded by the CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency), to the City of Miami
Black Police Precinct and Courthouse Museum to execute the project, and ratifying the
execution of a memorandum of understanding by and between the CRA and the City of Miami
Black Police Precinct Courthouse Museum, in furtherance of the project; 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.
What I want to be clear about, the total $235, 000 is the $150, 000 plus the 85. So it's the 150
coming from IMLS (Institute of Museum and Library Services), plus our 85, and this will be over
a two-year term.
Board Member Suarez: Move it.
Chair Hardemon: It's been properly moved --
Board Member Carollo: Second.
Chair Hardemon: -- and seconded that we pass the -- this item. As far as discussion goes,
Commissioner, I mean, I think this is a no-brainer. This is one of those issues where we're trying
to attract people to the redevelopment area. We're trying to highlight one of our jewels within
our community, which is the Black Police Precinct; which, of course, is a space where -- in the
country, it was the first place where you had a black police court -- I mean a black courthouse.
So you had our first black judge, who was over items that were only for colored people, but what
you saw, there were attorneys practicing in front of a black judge, and you had black police
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NON AGENDA ITEM(S)
NA.1
16-01388
officers who could only -- or black patrolmen who could only arrest black people within our
community, and all of that was done in-house. And so, all over the country, people knew that
they were the -- there was a colored courthouse, and that's what it was back in the day, the
colored courthouse. The black police officers found their way in taking over the name of it, but
we appreciate the work that you've done in order to keep this place recognizable, because it was
through your efforts and then through our redevelopment funds that we redeveloped this space.
So this is something where everyone should know the history, it's right in our Overtown area, and
I think that with these dollars, we do this place a service. And now, we'll have some buses stop
and actually enjoy that space; and people utilize that space, like they have in the past, for baby
showers and things of that nature, as well as being educated about the space. I would love to see
maybe even the courtrooms being utilized in the City of Miami, so that's one of the things that I'm
trying to find a way that we can do. And I know that, Mr. Shiver, you've been an advocate in
moving that forward You're recognized, sir.
Board Member Suarez: Yeah. And I think, in particular, with the youth in our community, you
can do a lot of mock trials, and, you know, it's a jewel and it's a gem, like you said. And I think
you can certainly expose the youth in our community to the judicial system, to understanding the
history of the building and the history of African -American juris prudence in our country, and I
think that's something that can create a tremendous amount of pride in our neighborhood and in
our historic district.
Chair Hardemon: Right. Is there any other public com -- any other comment from the dais?
Seeing none, all in favor, say aye."
The Board (Collectively): Aye.
Mr. Woods: And Commissioner --
Chair Hardemon: Motion passes.
Mr. Woods: -- I just want to put on the record, the comment that the young lady made regarding
the place being cleaned and all of that, what this does -- and I think Terrance also alluded to the
fact that having this person will serve as -- I mean, it has multipurpose -- he will have a
multipurpose -- he or she will have a multipurpose function. Not only will they do curating of
the museum, but they will also come with the skill sets to go after grants and to do more than just
do curations; so to run the museum, in conjunction with the black retired police to make it whole,
to make the facility whole --
Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much.
Mr. Woods: -- and sustainable.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much. Everyone, thank you all for coming. This meeting's
come to --
Mr. Woods: There --
Chair Hardemon: -- a conclusion.
CRA DISCUSSION
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SEOPWCommunity A DISCUSSION OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE
Redevelopment SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT
Agency AGENCY ("CRA") REGARDING AN UPDATE STATUS OF THE AGREEMENT
BETWEEN THE CITY OF MIAMI, THE CRA, AND THE SOUTH FLORIDA
REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY ("SFRTA"), PASSED BY CRA
RESOLUTION CRA-R-15-0031.
DISCUSSED
Clarence Woods, III (Executive Director, Southeast Overtown/Park West Community
Redevelopment Agency): There's one other item that I think we have --
Chair Hardemon: This meeting has come to a conclusion, right? What item was it? I wasn't
aware of any item that -- now. So I'm not --
Vice Chair Gort: Pocket item (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Board Member Suarez: Do you have the --What is it? SFRTA (South Florida Regional
Transportation Authority) and the Tri-Rail?
Mr. Woods: It's SFRTA and Tri-Rail.
Board Member Suarez: Just -- is it brief?
Chair Hardemon: Is it a briefing that someone --
Mr. Woods: They want to just come before the board and give a update, a project update. And
there is --
Chair Hardemon: If there's -- that's what I'm saying. If you're trying to have a -- if there's a --
yes.
Board Member Carollo: Mr. Chairman, what's going on with SFRTA and -- because it is a
domino effect. I know all the other agencies can -- will receive their monies back or -- well, they
haven't actually even allocated their monies yet -- unless CRA (Community Redevelopment
Agency) also is onboard. So it's a domino effect. So what's going on with SFRTA?
Mr. Woods: Well, there are a couple of issues. As you know, our board, as well as the City
Commission, gave a resolution to give SFRTA 17 -- $17.5 million. As we have been going
through all of the agreements, the City has requested that there be a validation of the bonds that
would be floated in order to do the $17 million. That poses a potential problem, wherein if the
bonds aren't validated, then, basically, our agreement terminates. And what the folks from
SFRTA wanted to be able to do -- which we have no authorization for -- is go out and get a loan,
a conventional loan, and have the CRA to pay the debt service. It's basically the same $17.5
million. They'll go out, they'll get that loan, and we would be the backstop. It's still us paying
debt service on the $17 million; it's just that they would go out and get the loan, and we would
pay for the debt service on that loan. That was not contemplated in the original resolution. The
CR -- well, the City did not make that stipulation about having a validation, so I have no
authority to be able to say that we'll --
Chair Hardemon: Vice Chairman?
Vice Chair Gort: No, no.
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Chair Hardemon: No.
Mr. Woods: -- to say that we can move forward and enter into that additional aspect of the
agreement with SS -- with SFRTA. That needs to come from the board.
Chair Hardemon: You're recognized.
Mr. Woods: And one other issue which I think Mr. Fernandez will put on the record is, in the
interest of protecting and preserving the CRA, our attorney drafted some language in that
agreement that basically stated if there was not enough funds during the underwriting of the
bonds, then the CRA would only be responsible for that portion of the funds; meaning if it fell
short of the $17 million, then SFRTA would be responsible for that.
Chair Hardemon: Mr. Woods --
Mr. Woods: I think --
Chair Hardemon: I just think -- look, this thing is a very technical thing --
Mr. Woods: Yeah.
Chair Hardemon: -- where the attorney that wrote the agreement is not present today, and I
haven't had opportunity to speak with him. I'm not sure -- I mean, I'm sure you probably briefed
some of the board members about the issue, but I just don't think this is the way we go about
making any type of recommendations for changes to an agreement that we spent a lot of time
putting together in the first place. And so, I think it would be prudent for us to have this
discussion, but only after it's been noticed and people have an opportunity to come and hear
about that item. Commissioner.
Board Member Suarez: Yeah. And I'm okay with that. Obviously, you know, we need to do
things in a transparent fashion. I just -- if I can express a little bit of frustration, you know, I'm a
little frustrated, because we did this deal, presumably -- how long ago? What; like a year ago?
Mr. Woods: Close to that.
Board Member Suarez: Okay.
Mr. Woods: Close to that.
Board Member Suarez: And, you know, I just think, you know, this should have been sealed up
by now. And I think, also, you know, as you're appointed vice chair of the MPO (Metropolitan
Planning Organization), you know, we're trying to do $4 billion worth of transit projects to
connect people countywide. And, you know, it's just frustrating when we put together this deal
that's somewhat fragile, and it requires a variety of different funding sources; one of which
already balked, which was the Florida Department of Transportation, and was subbed in. You
know, I just think that we need to direct our executive director to get this deal com -- you know --
consummated and finished
Chair Hardemon: I just don't want to see --
Board Member Suarez: I get it.
Chair Hardemon: -- anything --
Board Member Suarez: Gotcha.
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Chair Hardemon: -- you know, being done where --
Board Member Suarez: I got you.
Chair Hardemon: -- this deal is being made off of the backs of the residents of Overtown, and
we're at the short end of the stick; although I know we're going to -- that transportation is a great
thing, but I think the details of financing is also very important.
Vice Chair Gort: A couple of questions: My understanding, this is going to be a 10 year term
bond?
Javier Fernandez: Mr. Chair, ifI may --
Chair Hardemon: Yeah. You're recognized.
Mr. Fernandez: -- direct -- Good evening. Javier Fernandez, here on behalf of SFRTA.
Regarding the term, I think the bond is -- it's contemplated to be a 20-year bond that the City
would issue. The issue is that the agreement that we -- the last draft that we got had a provision
that said if the validation -- which the City requested to basically preclude any challenges to the
bond's sufficiency -- was not granted that the agreement would basically go away, which means
the 17 and a half million dollars that this agency had committed would terminate, as well.
Obviously, that's not a position that SFRTA can -- a revision that we can agree to. What we had
suggested was, we are going to have a private loan to kind of bridge us through that point in
time when the debt is actually issued. We believe we can procure a commercial loan for a term
of not longer than 10 years that would allow the CRA to pay that obligation on a pay-as-you-go
basis going forward.
Vice Chair Gort: Okay.
Chair Hardemon: So, you know, I'm not comfortable at all, moving forward without my
attorney, who represents this board with this agreement, having some real serious discussions
with me, at least, as the Chairman. I'm sure the other board members would also like to hear
that discussion, beyond the brief of what has been stated before us today. So what I'd like to do
is just ensure that maybe by our next agenda that this item is on there, so we can have some
meaningful discussion about it. Okay?
Mr. Fernandez: Commissioners, again, respectfully, if can just ask this for the record: We
have been at this for -- as Commissioner Suarez said -- a very long period of time, and we're at
the point now where a lot of the other funding partners are getting concerned about this
agreement not being executed.
Chair Hardemon: Right.
Mr. Fernandez: If we can get a commitment from you and Mr. Bloom --
Chair Hardemon: But we --
Mr. Fernandez: -- and your executive director to sit down this coming week --
Chair Hardemon: -- but we --
Mr. Fernandez: -- to get this finalized, we would greatly appreciate that.
Chair Hardemon: I mean, that's the goal. The goal is to make sure that we have someone here
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ADJOURNMENT
so we can discuss the issue. So, I mean, I'm committed to discussing the issue.
Mr. Fernandez: Fine. We -- just so you understand, the representatives from this agency and the
City went before SFRTA last month, and represented to them that the agreement would be
finalized within two weeks. Obviously, four weeks -plus have transpired since that meeting.
Again, the agreement being out there just raises issues. We want to button this up, get this
resolved. Obviously, this is a win/win for everyone in the community; not only for --
(UNINTELLIGIBLE) but for the entire region. So if we can make this a focus over the next week
to get this resolved, we would be most appreciative.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you. All right. Seeing no other items on the agenda, I'm going to close
the meeting at 6: 07 p.m. Thank you, everyone, for attending.
The meeting adjourned at 6: 07 p.m.
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