HomeMy WebLinkAboutSEOPW OMNI CRA 2004-09-20 MinutesCity of Miami
City Hall
3500 Pan American Drive
Miami, FL 33133
www. ci. miami. fi. us
Verbatim Minutes
Monday, September 20, 2004
5:00 PM
REGULAR
Ice Palace
59 Northwest 14th Street
Miami, Florida
www.miami-cra.org
Community Redevelopment Agency
Arthur E. Teele, Jr., Chairman
Johnny L. Winton, Vice Chairman
Angel Gonzalez, Board Member
Joe Sanchez, Board Member
Tomas Regalado, Board Member
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CRA OFFICE ADDRESS:
49 NW 5th ST, SUITE 100, Miami, FL 33128
Phone: (305) 679-6800, Fax: (305) 679-6835
Community Redevelopment Agency
Verbatim Minutes September 20, 2004
INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Present: Board Member Sanchez, Board Member Regalado and Chairman Teele
Absent: Board Member Gonzalez and Vice Chairman Winton
FINANCIALS
1 04-00905
On the 20th day of September, 2004, the Board of Directors of the Community Redevelopment
Agency for the Southeast Overtown/Park West and Omni Districts of the City ofMiami met at the
Ice Palace, 59 N. W. 14 Street, Miami, Florida. The meeting was called to order at 5: 20 p.m. by
Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr. and adjourned at 6:53 p.m.
ALSO PRESENT:
Frank Rollason, Executive Director, CRA, City ofMiami
Jorge L Fernandez, General Counsel, CRA
James Villacorta, Assistant General Counsel, CRA
William Bloom, Special Counsel, CRA
Alicia Cuervo Schreiber, Chief of Neighborhood Services
Priscilla A. Thompson, City Clerk
Sylvia Scheider, Assistant City Clerk, City ofMiami
CRA REPORT
FINANCIAL SUMMARY THROUGH MONTH END AUGUST 31, 2004,
EXTERNAL AUDIT FINDINGS AND OTHER OBSERVATIONS
MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT.pdf
SEOPW-OMNI EXTERNAL AUDIT.pdf
DISCUSSED
Frank Rollason (Executive Director, Community Redevelopment Agency): And on the financials,
it's for the month -end ofAugust 31 st. There are no reportable conditions, and I think you all got
the e-mail that I sent you, that the first phase of the external audit has been completed, and they
have no findings on any of our controls at all this year.
Board Member Sanchez: And I want to commend you and your staff for that. I think credit is
given where it is due, Frank. I think you've done a great job as the Executive Director.
Chairman Teele: Congratulations to you and your staff.
Board Member Sanchez: Congratulations to you and your staff.
Mr. Rollason: Team effort. A team effort, for sure.
CONSULTANT REPORTS
2 04-00906 CRA REPORT
THOMAS GUSTAFSON, NOVA SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY: STATUS
ON MIAMI AT MIDNIGHT TRANSPORTATION DEMONSTRATION
PROJECT.
COVER MEMO-MIAMI AT MIDNIGHT.pdf
MIAMI AT MIDNIGHT Exec Summary.pdf
MOTION
A motion was made by Board Member Sanchez, seconded by Board Member Regalado, and was
passed unanimously, with Board Member Gonzalez and Vice Chairman Winton absent, to direct
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the administration of the CRA to proceed with a one-year extension of the contract with Nova
Southeastern University for the Midnight Transportation Project, inclusive of a provision for
termination of the contract with 30-days notice, and to come back with a resolution on this
matter for City Commission approval.
Chairman Teele: All right. How long are you going to take, sir?
Tom Gustafson: Five minutes for my presentation and answer any questions after that.
Chairman Teele: All right.
Mr. Gustafson: Each of the board members has received the --
Priscilla A. Thompson (Clerk of the Board): We need a name.
Chairman Teele: Mr. Speaker, they need your name and --
Mr. Gustafson: My name is Tom Gustafson. I'm at Nova Southeastern University, working for
the Miami CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) on a project now called Miami At
Midnight. For those of you who want to know where the name came from, the discussion about
the ballpark in Miami caused some folks in Broward County to worry about whether anybody
would come to watch a ballgame in Miami. I thought that the right way of judging people's
willingness to come to Miami was would they come at midnight? And so building a 24-hour
community that can operate seven days a week, that can have an impact on the tourist
passengers going in and out of the Port ofMiami was the ultimate goal that I fried to put into
this report. I've given copies of the interim report to both staff and the board members, and
would distribute it further to the City staff and Mayor, to the MPO (Metropolitan Planning
Organization) in the County, at your direction, and the MPO because the nature of this project
is, though it is community redevelopment and a strategy to implement your community
redevelopment plans as they exist and as they might be amended from time to time, the source of
the funding is transportation.
Chairman Teele: Madam Manager, is Mary here tonight? Is there somebody here representing
Mary from the Transportation? Because --
Alicia Cuervo Schreiber (Chief of Operations): I'm sorry. She had a conflicting meeting, so I
was representing here on the transportation items.
Chairman Teele: OK. The one thing that we've asked repeatedly is to make sure that we're
coordinated with the CRA and the City transportation efforts so that everybody knows what --
Board Member Sanchez: What's going on.
Chairman Teele: -- what's going on, and there's no miscommunications or duplications.
Ms. Cuervo Schreiber: I know that they've met several times and there has been some
coordination, but I'm sorry, she's not here this evening.
Mr. Gustafson: This would not be new information to Mary. We've taken the position -- and I
think we're correct -- is that this project doesn't compete with the Miami efforts to develop a
streetcar. We're looking for intermodal money, which basically comes out of the highway fund,
not transit funds, so there's two different pots of money, both at the state and federal level. In
addition, Miami At Midnight talks about community redevelopment, so if your concern is
gentrification or jobs, or education opportunities within the Overtown community, Miami At
Midnight has about 50 different funding strategies and grants contained in the report that could
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be pursued, something well beyond what any transit project, however well constructed, could
possibly do. Again, their project is transit; ours is intermodal and community development.
They're two separate kinds of projects. Are they competitive? Is the Children's Museum
competitive? Is the library expanse competitive? Is Margaret Chase [sic] Park competitive?
Certainly, there's always a limit to how many projects the City can undertake, but this is
designed to work through the 20 year horizon that your plan is designed to operate under, as a
way of on a recurring basis, going back to federal and state sources and saying, this part of our
plan is fransportation, and try to structure it so that it fits within their statutory directives. The
most important thing to remember -- and there is an article that I'll give to your counsel later
on -- is that this is black letter fransportation law. It is innovative. It is designed to intrigue the
federal grant process by proposing new and different ways of moving people; pedestrian -
oriented parking and small transit, but it's not designed to change the law. It's to take advantage
of it and, particularly, of advantage of the both congressional and state legislative interest in
these kinds of projects, based upon the discussions we've had. I'll be glad to answer any
questions you have.
Board Member Sanchez: Mr. Chairman. Tom, you know, there's been some talk about tearing
down 395, and there's also -- my understanding that there are two transit systems in the same
area. I mean, I get a little confused. I mean, you're the expert on that, and what's fransportation
fund and transit fund. Won't all that compete for the same funding from the federal government,
with all these plans? And that was one of the issues that the Chairman brought out is, you know,
I'm getting confused with all these fransportation issues that are being tossed all over the City,
including here at the CRA.
Mr. Gustafson: In the first three pages of the report, the executive summary, I'm trying to
describe generally the way the fransportation law works, but there is two pots: There's a transit
pot and there's a highway pot. Any funding that is pursued by the streetcar project will
necessarily come out of the transit pot. That's what it is.
Board Member Sanchez: Right.
Mr. Gustafson: Any funds pursuing the Miami At Midnight will come out of the highway pot, a
different pot. In fact, I believe, over time, the interstate fund -- which is reserved about 120 to $
140, 000, 000 for 395 -- could well be used so that it's an interstate improvement combined with
fringe and corridor parking, combined with the pedestrian improvements I've described, so
properly described, this is a fransportation highway project designed to reduce congestion on
the highways, not a transit project. Therefore, the two projects operate simultaneously and do
not compete directly head -to -head for federal funds. There are similar distinctions to be made at
the state level, and there's certainly an argument that, at the local level, you're going to have to
match, but the art of this is -- and I want to be very clear -- to the extent the City wishes to have
first priority on any funding source that makes sense for the streetcar, it would be appropriate
for this project to look elsewhere so as to not compete with their funding, so there's no -- with 50
different funding sources, with the very limited funding opportunities available to the transit pot,
the Miami At Midnight has many other places to go hunt for money. We don't have to compete.
In fact, we compliment each other in one sense in that we collect, throughout the whole
redevelopment area, people to come to the streetcar system, the Metrorail system, the Baylink;
we're the collector system, not the line system, and there is a distinction between the two, in law
and in the practice.
Chairman Teele: All right.
Board Member Regalado: Question.
Mr. Gustafson: There was three recommendations I made in the executive summary that -- if we
could address them before the meeting is over, I'd appreciate.
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Board Member Regalado: Mr. Speaker, thank you. I read the first several pages of the report.
You say that there are 30 to 50 funding sources, but do we need, for this project, any matching
funds from any local entity -- I mean, meaning government? Because it seems to me that the
administration of the City is not very supportive of this project.
Mr. Gustafson: The answer to that question would be, depending upon your funding source, you
can get down to virtually no match, depending upon how aggressively you pursue it, but would
also say this: Assuming the CRA believes it's a good idea and assuming we can take this matter
to the City as a matter to be voted on, to the County, to the MPO, because that's really the
process you have to go through, and if those entities can find a way of blending this priority in
with their others, and I believe that is possible, then what happens is, the match -- and local
match to the fells mean 50 percent coming from the state, which otherwise doesn't come to you,
and then 50 percent local, and they don't care whether it's County, City, CRA or other sources,
so it could even be private sources, so there is such a wide variety of match requirements,
depending upon the program you're in, and there are a wide number of strategies to minimize
the amount of say City funds to be used in match. I believe that in many cases, the match will be
minimal or nonexistent. I also believe that the ridership of the streetcar system, which the City
would like to build, will be increased and, therefore, the long-term cost of operating that system
will be reduced. This will save money by delivering more people to a streetcar system that the
City says they would like to build.
Board Member Regalado: Yeah, but my question -- Mr. Chairman, my question is -- was
regarding the time -- on the window of timing, and basically, the only thing we know -- we, in the
City Commission -- about this streetcar is what read in the Miami Herald. It have never been
discussed or voted at the City Commission level. There was a report brought to the City
Commission, but it has never been approved by the City Commission. The question is, if the
CRA Board would go ahead and approve the concept ofMiami At Midnight, is there enough
fundings from those sources for the City to be found harmless in terms of matching funds?
Maybe the CRA would want, in the future, to place in front, because I'll tell you something. In
the bond issue, in the GOB (General Obligation Bond) that is going to go before the voters in
November, there is several projects regarding that area, the port, and what happened if the bond
issue goes down and, you know, it turns back the clock in everything, and yet, we have the
possibility of doing the Miami At Midnight with some sources of funding. How long are we
going to wait?
Mr. Gustafson: I believe, to answer your first question, you can construct a viable funding
approach that would assume no City ofMiami funds for match. Now, that doesn't mean you
wouldn't go to the County; it doesn't mean you wouldn't go to the CRA. There will be some
match requirements, but there are some programs that require no match, so until you figure
out -- you've got to put your baits in the water and you've got to see what works, and then you'll
figure out what your match is, and if the -- if this project can only get support from the City by
pledging not to request any City matching funds, it's still a viable project. It just means you have
to work hard.
Chairman Teele: Well, I think that's got to be condition number one.
Board Member Regalado: Exactly. That's what I'm saying.
Chairman Teele: So let's don't even -- let's don't say "if." Condition number one has to be --
because I got to tell you something. When people start talking about transit projects, I'm not
going to be voting yes unless and until I see a plan to ensure that every road, every sidewalk,
every Swale area in the disfrict that represent and my colleagues' disfrict are protected -- I
mean, are brought up to a minimum standard, and we've still got -- I know in Angel's district and
my disfrict -- I don't know about anybody else's disfrict, butl can tell you, the land thatl took
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from Angel is totally substandard, and I appreciate the fact that the Manager's Office is working
it. I mean, I recognize that the CRA dollars can only be used within the CRA confines. I fully
recognize that, from the very beginning of this country, from the Van Sweringen Brothers in
Cleveland, Ohio, and the Shaker Heights -- most rail systems are built not for transportation, but
for development. I recognize that the so-called concept of Benefit Disfricts -- Rail Benefit
Disfricts are primarily where property owners say, "This rail is going to be so good for my
business that I'm willing to pay a voluntary assessment under a Benefit District." In fact, the
business owners in the City ofMiami accepted a challenge that I gave when I was in
Washington, and voluntarily voted; Ruth Shack led the charge and voluntarily voted for a Benefit
Disfrict. That district only expired two years ago, and that was the local match. The local match
did not come from Miami -Dade County for the Metromover. It came from a Benefit District that
was voluntarily voted upon. There is no question in my mind that ifMiami At Midnight is going
to move people from club to club and from activity to activity, people will vote for a Benefit
Disfrict to do it, as an example, or the redevelopment authority could put up money to do it
because you can't put up money from the redevelopment authority for, you know, Allapattah or
for Liberty City or for --
Board Member Sanchez: Got to keep it within.
Chairman Teele: -- Flagami -- huh?
Board Member Sanchez: Got to keep it within.
Chairman Teele: Say again.
Board Member Sanchez: Got to keep it within.
Chairman Teele: It has to stay within, and so, I mean -- you know, if we can see that this is
going to benefit -- I think the point that the Speaker is trying to make is, this project is more like
a parking facility project than a rail project by the federal standards, and the federal government
probably today builds as many parking lots as anybody else does because that is a way to get
people out of cars, and so it is viewed very positively, and you're saying that this project would
not compete for transit dollars --
Mr. Gustafson: Correct.
Chairman Teele: -- from the City, and I think that has to be a proviso in whatever language that
we pass or approve, because the problem with transit programs is one thing: It's called --
Rollason: Mr. Chairman.
Chairman Teele: -- operating -- hold it.
Mr. Rollason: All right.
Chairman Teele: There's only one problem with transit programs. It's called operating costs,
and every transit project in this country has to have an operating subsidy, which means most of
them are 50 percent, 60 percent. The PATCO (Port Authority Transit Company) system that
runs between Lindenwold, New Jersey, and Philadelphia has the highest fare box recovery of
about 82 percent, but the basic deal is you've got to put up 50 percent of the money to operate it,
and this city is not in a position to start paying operating costs for a fransit system, so as long as
we're not going to be, "A," competing with the City and as along as we're not talking about an
operating cost that whatever system is deployed has to be revenue neutral or just about revenue
neutral, I'm all right with going ahead in the study, but if we're talking about competing with the
City for a ration for fransit dollars, I'm opposed to it.
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Mr. Gustafson: I can make those revisions into the document to make it very clear that that's
what the intent was. I would also suggest that because of the way the document was written in
the final executive summary, on Page 7, there should be a reference to what is called TCSP, a
source not identified by the streetcar consultants as a funding source. It's called Transportation
Community and Systems Preservation Fund, which is basically an earmark from the
Congressmen, as well as, broadly stating, any transportation or DOT (Department of
Transportation) funds that we can identify that is not competitive with the streetcar project, i.e.,
looking for highway dollars converted to both parking and corridor improvements. Remember,
this project is 11 percent vehicle and 89 percent structure, so this is not a transit project. It's
intermodal parking, corridors and a very small amount of vehicles, like an elevator in a tall
building.
Chairman Teele: You're talking about the cost --
Mr. Gustafson: In terms of the cost.
Chairman Teele: -- and the capital cost. You're saying the capital cost will be 11 percent for the
vehicle.
Mr. Gustafson: A vehicle of some kind, and then the rest of it's in structure of the corridor
improvements, as well as the parking.
Chairman Teele: And --
Mr. Gustafson: The most important thing is it'll --
Chairman Teele: Structure and signalization.
Mr. Gustafson: And signalization, and what happens is, with the 2000 parking spots that's in,
say even the demonstration project, the first 16,200, 000 that I've suggested is doable, the
revenue off the parking, which now doesn't have a debt service because it was paid for with cash
dollars from the DOT, basically pays for the operation, because we're now operating a parking
garage in a pedestrian corridor in an interface; very small amount of transit component, just
enough to make the walk tolerable, like an elevator in a tall building. It's not a line system. It is
a intermodal transfer system, not unlike a big airport where they have inside the airport the
escalators and --
Chairman Teele: What is the resolution --
Mr. Gustafson: -- where it has buses, et cetera.
Chairman Teele: -- or motion that you're looking for us to pass? You need to amend it to make
sure --
Mr. Gustafson: Yeah.
Chairman Teele: -- provided there are no competition for City dollars, nor is there an
expectation that there'll be City dollars, and further, that you will not compete for City dollars at
the federal level.
Mr. Gustafson: Correct.
Mr. Rollason: Well, for the light dollars that the City would be competing for, that's what I think
is the important thing.
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Chairman Teele: Madam Manager.
Mr. Rollason: But, Alicia, you can certainly speak to it, but --
Alicia Cuervo Schreiber (Chief of Operations): May make one statement? Alicia Cuervo
Schreiber again. Commissioner Regalado, I would like to address one thing that was stated.
The City is not against this project. As a matter of fact, we haven't made a position or a
presentation to the Commission. We've been checking the feasibility of it. The only argument
we've made is as it addresses competition, and as it addresses the fact that there is funding in the
County's Transportation Improvement Plan, shown in their 20 year work program for Baylink,
and also for the link that enters the City ofMiami on 2ndAvenue, they overlap, so the City has
shown a feasibility study in a presentation we'll be doing to the Commission that shows that this
line on 2ndAvenue should be most probably the first line that goes in as a test for the City since
it has overlapping funds of probably 40 to $47, 000, 000 of the County's Baylink. If we were to
design that, as we are quickly in doing the feasibility, we may be able to advance that line
quickly. However, as you look at projects that go offline that help the pedestrians in these
entertainment disfricts and different disfricts, these would obviously be funded either out of TIF (
Tax Increment Fund) funds or assessments, and not funded out of the general fund of the City --
Chairman Teele: Right.
Ms. Cuervo Schreiber: -- so it is good that we have been working together, but we need
everyone to address the fact that 100, 000, 000 goes to Earlington Heights; there's different
corridors that the County's looking at, so as we fight for dollars, we're fighting for our main line,
and we're not focusing that much on the minor lines, but understanding that they would happen
with other assessments.
Chairman Teele: Where is Baylink in the five-year plan?
Ms. Cuervo Schreiber: There -- it is in 20 -- it's in the 20-year plan. It's in 20 -- I want to say
18, or even 2020. We are in a position at the City ofMiami to have -- the feasibility is complete
and we are ready to present it to the Commission to have the plans, hopefully, by next year, even
be able to, if the County were to progress these funds, to begin construction.
Board Member Regalado: Yeah, but --
Chairman Teele: Is Miami Beach --
Board Member Regalado: -- but the City --
Chairman Teele: Did Miami Beach --
Board Member Regalado: -- the City ofMiami Beach has to vote on it on November.
Chairman Teele: Is that a refer -- did they put that referendum on there?
Board Member Regalado: Yeah.
Ms. Cuervo Schreiber: That is on their referendum, and that would change the priority of the
project, so the County has not committed to where it falls.
Chairman Teele: Change it? If they vote no, it'll kill it.
Ms. Cuervo Schreiber: Right.
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Board Member Regalado: Of course. That -- and that was my point. See, my point with Tom
was that if we make a commitment of not matching funds from the City -- you know, there is the
bond issue, especially in one of those categories, which I doubt it would be approved by the
voters. Then there is the referendum in Miami Beach because of the Baylink. All of these will, if
we wait, will set us back to January of next year, but if we give you the green light, provided that
there is no matching funds, because like Commissioner Teele, I am not voting for one single
penny of transportation money for railroads or streetcars or airplanes until the streets and the
potholes and the sidewalks are fixed. That's just me, so if we can ask you to continue to work on
that with that understanding, we may have the service, and the reason, I think, that we should
give you the green light is because this -- the fact that this could be announced is a psychological
boost for the Entertainment District. It's something new; something that they can offer because,
I mean, you know, we were here two years ago, and we're still with the same issues that we were
dealing on this exact place two years ago, so if we can announce -- if we can provide concrete
plans that we have this possibility of transportation in the Entertainment District, it would be a
psychological boost for the area, so that was my intention asking if we are -- can be assured that
there will be no matching funds from the City.
Ms. Cuervo Schreiber: And, Commissioner, can I proffer one thing? There is a federal
government grant that is the Small Starts Grant, which is only $150, 000, 000, that the City will be
requesting if we were to obtain the 40, 000, 000 from the County, a large chunk there, and we
have good ranking and standing. It would be a significant competition if this application were to
compete.
Mr. Gustafson: And we specifically haven't mentioned that because it was in their report, so
we're going to pursue funding strategies that don't compete, as a matter of agreement. We would
make sure it's revenue neutral, and then we would also make sure there's no City match. I can
still make that work within the funding categories I've identified, and it is on Page 3, that the
three recommendations -- four recommendations I made that, hopefully, you can act on, which
is, first, to recognize that the Miami At Midnight materials, with those caveats as herein
submitted, are the strategies that the Miami CRA will use to implement --
Mr. Rollason: Tom --
Mr. Gustafson: -- the redevelopment --
Mr. Rollason: -- let me stop you here for a minute because I'm not prepared to bring those three
before them. Whatl am prepared to do is, I would request a motion from the board for the
administration to go forward with continuing the contract with Nova, and bring that back to you
at the next meeting, under a resolution, to do that, and I think it's imperative that the direction be
in the motion that whatever we put together receives the blessing of the City, and we go together
when we go to the MPO, and that there is not one way as presented when we're here in public,
and another way presented when we're talking to people on the side. It has to be united.
We're -- this is a City project;; it's just being funded by us. It's not like we're building something,
or we shouldn't be, that the City does not want to have happen also.
Board Member Regalado: Wait, wait, Frank, Frank. I still have a little memory, but remember
reading several memos back and forth and e-mails back and forth about this project ftom the
administration, which, probably, Alicia didn't get, but it was -- I don't remember when it was
coming because there was a lot of confusion --
Mr. Rollason: Yes, sir.
Board Member Regalado: -- regarding this project and not a lot of support --
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Mr. Rollason: Yes, sir.
Board Member Regalado: -- from the administration on this project.
Mr. Rollason: But that memo was later recanted and was revised, and there was a new memo
that came out. I think that that was a little hasty, and there was some fear about us going after
the same money --
Board Member Sanchez: Right.
Mr. Rollason: -- and I think that those fears have somewhat been, you know, allayed, but it's
more than having fears allayed. It's us all talking with the same voice because we all deal with
the same people. When we talk at the MPO, if the Miami At Midnight project gets support of this
board and the support of the Commission, then that is the direction that we all go forward with,
and my position is, is that don't want to fry to force a project down somebody's throat that the
administration does notfeel -- the City administration does notfeel comfortable bringing before
the City Commission and supporting. By the same token, when we look at the funding, I look at
the trolley system as a -- if the City Commission decides this is a system, whenever it's presented
to go forward with it, that that certainly is an infrastructure system that we could come back to
this board and allocate TIF dollars for, so it's not like they've got a pot and we've got a pot. It's
like we should be working together and sharing the pot so that we can get these things done, and
if we go forward with Miami AtMidnight, it is done in a way that interfaces with whatever may
come with the trolley, or whatever may come with Baylink, and not that we try to build something
that, when the others come through, doesn't work. It's a team thing. It's just that we have
another source of funds, and we're able to bring a project that will enhance the Entertainment
District by connecting the Performing Arts Center, the Lyric Theater -- and this project, so that
you are aware, is the only element that even comes close to getting into the Overtown section.
When you look at the trolley project that is presented today, even with our recommendations to
bring it over to Northwest 1st as a boulevard, rather than trying to come down 2nd, which is
where the trucks and everything -- I don't know when that'll be relieved. We felt coming down 1
stAvenue would get us to where, at least, we're at the fringe of Overtown, and come and
circulate that way. For whatever reasons -- I mean, the -- you know, the planners that design
these things, the engineers, say that's not the way to go, so without the Miami AtMidnight
project, as close as you're going to get to the Overtown area is Northeast 2nd Avenue, so this
Miami AtMidnight would, with whatever configuration it comes up with -- even if it's not rail
and it comes up with a rubber tire type system or something like that prevails, it will connect the
Lyric Theater, the Performing Arts Center; it will connect -- this is just the demonstration
project, and it will connect the Entertainment District.
Chairman Teele: Butl think what we're saying here is this: We want to -- with the caveat that
we're not going to compete and the caveats that have been put on the record repeatedly now, we
want to go forward with this.
Mr. Rollason: Right.
Chairman Teele: And, unfortunately, the funding cycles don't sit around and wait on the City
and the CRA and the MPO. You either get in the game or you're not in the game. That's the
challenge.
Board Member Regalado: That's what I'm saying.
Chairman Teele: And so, what I'd like to do is at least -- we can terminate this contract at any
time with 30-day notice, right?
Mr. Rollason: That's right.
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Verbatim Minutes September 20, 2004
Board Member Sanchez: Absolutely.
Chairman Teele: Then what I'd like to do is extend the contract for the one year, with the
proviso that we can terminate the contract at any time with 30-day notice. Is there a motion?
Board Member Sanchez: So move.
Chairman Teele: Is there a second?
Board Member Regalado: Yeah, but --
Board Member Sanchez: Discussion.
Board Member Regalado: -- but (INAUDIBLE) --
Board Member Sanchez: Although, I am very comfortable with the statements made by the
Executive Director, we should not compete, and then again, the future is that we shouldn't even,
for whatever reason that may exist, cross some lanes or whatever. I mean, we should make sure
that we work together on this to make sure that it does happen. I mean, we're not here to
compete, so all the statements that you made that are on the record, you know, it's leaning me to
support it because I wasn't going to support it, to be honest with you. I was very skeptical about
it.
Chairman Teele: You what?
Board Member Sanchez: I was. I wasn't very comfortable with it. As a matter of fact, with the
conditions that are set forth now is -- because I'll tell you how I feel about it. Although, I -- we --
I think I look into the future. You're right about money doesn't sit around for us to do projects,
but what sense is it going to be for us to tap in and get federal dollars and compete with the City,
and jeopardize one or the other, when the City's got a much bigger project than this one here --
Mr. Rollason: Right.
Board Member Sanchez: -- but why would one jeopardize the other? It's not us versus them,
and it should never be them versus us on this.
Chairman Teele: It never should be.
Board Member Sanchez: So that's why I think that we need to make very clear that our is are
dotted and our is are crossed, to make sure that we could possibly get both done, and I think
that we stand a better position working together and going where we need to go, whether it may
be the MPO or may be the federal government going together and saying, look, we're joined
hands. I mean, this is a unity effort to get this accomplished. I'm more comfortable now with the
conditions that have been put on the record because I think both programs now will have a
better chance, so --
Chairman Teele: All right. We have a motion and a second. Is there objection?
Board Member Regalado: Mr. Chairman, I mean, the motion is just an extension of the contract
for Tom for one year --
Chairman Teele: Right.
Board Member Regalado: -- but --
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Verbatim Minutes September 20, 2004
Chairman Teele: Subject to a 30-day --
Board Member Regalado: Right. -- but the question is, are we giving him the green light to
start seeking funds for this project?
Chairman Teele: Let's do this motion first, and then let's do the second motion and the third
motion --
Board Member Regalado: OK.
Chairman Teele: -- or whatever is -- there is three people in consensus.
Board Member Sanchez: There won't be a second motion.
Chairman Teele: There won't be a second? All in favor, say "aye."
The Board Members (Collectively): Aye.
Chairman Teele: All opposed? Hold on. Is there another --
RESOLUTIONS
3 04-00822 CRA RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE OMNI
REDEVELOPMENT DISTRICT COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY ("
CRA"), WITH ATTACHMENT(S), APPROVING AND ADOPTING THE CRA'S
PROPOSED GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET AND TAX INCREMENT FUND
BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR COMMENCING OCTOBER 1, 2004 AND
ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2005; AND DIRECTING THE EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR TO TRANSMIT A COPY OF EACH BUDGET TO THE CITY OF
MIAMI AND MIAMI-DADE COUNTY.
OMNI BUDGET COVER LETTER.pdf
OMNI BUDGET YR END 2005-09-30.pdf
Legislation.pdf
Motion by Board Member Sanchez, seconded by Board Member Regalado, that this matter
be ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote.
Votes: Ayes: 3 - Board Member Sanchez, Board Member Regalado and Chairman Teele
Absent: 2 - Board Member Gonzalez and Vice Chairman Winton
CRA-R-04-0005
Chairman Teele: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to the CRA (Community
Redevelopment Agency) Board meeting. Would you please stand for a moment of silent prayer,
followed by the pledge of allegiance to the flag?
Prayer and pledge of allegiance.
Chairman Teele: Let me, again, welcome you and thank you for attending the CRA Board
meeting. This is always an exciting board meeting when we come here to what was once the
Overtown Ice House, now called the Ice Palace. Mr. Director, I'm aware that Commissioner
Winton will not be present.
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Frank Rollason (Executive Director, Community Redevelopment Agency): That's correct.
Board Member Sanchez: How about Commissioner Gonzalez?
Mr. Rollason: I did not hear on Commissioner Gonzalez.
Board Member Sanchez: I will be -- I would have -- be leaving at 7.
Chairman Teele: All right. We do have board members that need to leave at 7. We also are
here today on the budget items, as well as the other items, so why don't we --
Board Member Sanchez: Let's get the budget out of the way.
Chairman Teele: -- take the budget item up first and foremost, and --
Mr. Rollason: All right. The first item then would be Number 3, which is the proposed budget
for '05 for the Omni CRA. This budget is the one that we distributed to you earlier in the -- this
year in May, really, for your review. I've met with your staffs and met with most of you
individually and gone over it, and any questions that you have on it, I'll be glad to answer them,
or --
Board Member Sanchez: Mr. Chairman.
Chairman Teele: Yes.
Board Member Sanchez: Frank, we went over the budget back and forth with my staff for
several months. I'll tell you, one of the things that I especially liked is the use of dollars to
improve water lines in the area. That's the kind of stuff the CRA should be doing to facilitate
future development in the area. I am prepared -- if there's no further discussion -- to make a
motion to approve the budget.
Chairman Teele: Is there a second?
Board Member Regalado: Second for discussion.
Chairman Teele: For discussion.
Board Member Regalado: Mr. Chairman, ifI may. Frank, I heard that the City administration,
specifically, the Budget Director, approached you to reduce the budget.
Mr. Rollason: That is correct, sir. He said that he would appear tonight to speak to the board.
Board Member Regalado: Tonight?
Mr. Rollason: Tonight. I invited him. I haven't seen him here, but that was -- my indication to
him -- or my response to him was -- is that I was pretty well set firm with what we'd put together,
and that he could make his presentation to the board, but my recommendation was that we stand
pat with what we have.
Chairman Teele: All right. Yes, sir. Public comments before we --
Board Member Sanchez: Frank, did you reduce it?
Mr. Rollason: No, sir.
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Verbatim Minutes September 20, 2004
Board Member Sanchez: The budget.
Mr. Rollason: No, sir.
Chairman Teele: Public comments.
Fred Joseph: Fred Joseph, president of the Omni Advisory Board. Thank you very much for
your consideration on the budget, and we worked very hard with Frank to try to get some of the
items in there that would be -- enhance the park.
Chairman Teele: All right. Further discussion on the budget. I'm in agreement with
Commissioner Sanchez regarding some of the infrastructure. I do think that the budget needs to
be reconsidered, if we can hear from the Performing Arts Center. I've said repeatedly, I think
that the first and the most important thing that we need to do in the Omni Board is to enhance
the Performing Arts Center. I am deathly afraid, board members, that, at the last minute, a last-
minute deal will be cut by somewhere -- where the CRA just, once again, just forks over a chunk
of money to the Performing Arts Center. That discussion is being held in a number of circles. I
would much rather carve out a specific project within the Performing Arts Center and look at
that, and to provide financial support to a project, as opposed to just throwing money into a
black hole, and I would hope that the Advisory Board and the board members would take this
under consideration. At the end -- when this Performing Arts Center is at the end, I sfrongly
believe that the CRA should commit dollars, as necessary, to bring the project to a logical
completion. However, I am totally opposed to just throwing money into a pot. There are a
number of projects that could be segmented, and we could consider those projects at the
appropriate time. I don't want to fry to do that here and now, but I do think that it's important
that we recognize that the Performing Arts Center is accelerating property values as much as
any single activity that has taken place, possibly with the exception of the Margaret Pace Park,
within that geographic area, and I would like to ask the board members to make yourselves
familiar with the Performing Arts Center because, in the end, they're going to come to the CRA,
tin cup in hand, begging for money, and I sfrongly support the notion that we should be there,
butt feel even more sfrongly that we should be there for a specific project. I note right now that
the City ofMiami is sort of an afterthought in the Performing Arts Center, and the first money
into the Performing Arts Center is the money from the CRA. We provide a million -- what is it?
Mr. Rollason: Four, thirty.
Chairman Teele: A million, four a year --
Mr. Rollason: Yes, sir.
Chairman Teele: -- against the bond issue of -- what was it, 25, 000, 000 or --
Mr. Rollason: About 27, 000, 000.
Chairman Teele: -- $27, 000, 000 and, you know, nobody says thank you, but that's neither here
nor there. The fact of the matter is, the next dollars in, we ought to at least carve out something,
if it's no more than being responsible for the grounds or a amphitheater or some component of
the facility, as opposed to just putting money into it, so I'm saying, very clearly, I support the
Performing Arts Center. I support the CRA, if we're required to be a partner in it, but I think it's
very important that we carve out a project, and a project not for the CRA, but for the City of
Miami --
Mr. Rollason: Right.
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Verbatim Minutes September 20, 2004
Chairman Teele: -- per se.
Board Member Sanchez: Mr. Chairman, out of just fiduciary responsibility, I think that when --
the Executive Director was asked to cut the budget, I think that he should put on the record as to
why he was not able to reduce the budget.
Mr. Rollason: Well, I'd be happy to do that. First, let me just make a comment to the
Chairman's -- in the capital projects, you will see the $1, 000, 000 that's set aside for the -- some
improvements at Margaret Pace Park, and also facility naming rights for the PAC (Performing
Arts Center), which is separate from any additional money that they may come to, and these
items will come back to you before any of these expenditures. This is just budgeting the money;
it's not spending it. Now, on the issue of the cut in the budget, what I think is necessary to bring,
or at least to mention and bring to light, are the issues dealing with the improvements or the
items that we give back to the City dealing with our particular budgets that we deal with. We
pay for the City Attorney. We pay for a clerk from that office. We pay the Clerk's office,
additionally, so of the other agencies that are within the, you know, quasi -- however you want to
place it with the City, I don't know that any of those pay those types of fees back to the City, so
even though we receive that general fund money, we, in turn, make payments back to the City
and, in addition, we have the ongoing litigation with Poinciana Village, of which the CRA is in --
paying that, over $100, 000 right now. We have not gone back to the City for money on that at
this point, so I look at the amount of money that we do put back, and even though it's not a direct
cut, it is a payment that is made to the City annually, and we also have an interlocal agreement
that stipulates exactly what the City shall give to us, which can be amended, of course, but my
position is, is that that money is due to us and, you know, we'll follow the direction of the board,
but that's my recommendation, is that we do give money back to the City right now. We've been
doing it all along.
Board Member Sanchez: And your recommendation is well taken. I just felt that you, as the
Executive Director of the CRA, instead of just saying, "No, we're not going to reduce the
budget, "I think that your authority and leadership, you should state what you just did, putting it
on the record as to why you did not reduce your budget, so I'm glad --
Rollason: I understand.
Board Member Sanchez: -- that you put that on the record.
Mr. Rollason: Yes, sir, and what we're talking about is a cut in the City contribution. Of course,
we would not be talking about the TIF (Tax Increment Fund) money that comes to us. What
they're asking --
Board Member Sanchez: No. Absolutely.
Mr. Rollason: -- or what Larry had spoke to me about was cutting the City amount.
Board Member Sanchez: Well, that's very clear.
Mr. Rollason: And what I recommended to him was to come tonight, and he said he would make
a presentation before the board and, you know --
Board Member Sanchez: All right. No further question. Call the question.
Chairman Teele: Further discussion. All in favor, say "aye."
The Board Members (Collectively): Aye.
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Chairman Teele: All opposed? I just wanted to add one thing. I think, given the County
guidance, which puts a percentage on the amount of dollars, I think it's really important that the
budget not be cut because the CRA -- I don't know about the DDA (Downtown Development
Authority) and MSEA (Miami Sports and Exposition Authority) and -- but the CRA is one of the
few agencies that really reimburses the City Attorney and reimburses the City Clerk's Office, and
I think it's really appropriate that that be done, and it should be done, and I think it would be
very instructive, also, to welcome the City Attorney to this meeting, and to indicate to the City
Attorney the concern that we have had in the past that we're supporting lawyers, and then the
lawyers have been pulled away and not been available, and it creates -- not just administrative
difficulty, but fiduciary difficulties, as well, so there's a lot of changes since you were here in that
regard, and I think it is a change that works well for your office, and we appreciate you being
here. Mr. Joseph, were you --
Mr. Joseph: Thank you again, and again, Chairman, when you were with the County -- it was
Dade County, I believe -- the object of the Omni Advisory Board and of the Omni was to help
with this performing arts, and when you came over to the City, we offered suggestions of maybe
naming rights, maybe that plaza crossing the boulevard, we would fund or operate, or
something, so they're all there, and I'd be happy to work with Mr. Rollason to see what we could
put together under your direction of the board.
Chairman Teele: Thank you so much, Mr. Joseph, and you've been a staunch ally of the
Performing Arts Center and the CRA for the last so many years.
Mr. Joseph: Twelve.
Chairman Teele: Twelve.
4 04-00830 CRA RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE SOUTHEAST
OVERTOWN/PARK WEST COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY ("CRA
"), WITH ATTACHMENT(S), APPROVING AND ADOPTING THE CRA'S
PROPOSED GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET AND TAX INCREMENT FUND
BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR COMMENCING OCTOBER 1, 2004 AND
ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2005; AND DIRECTING THE EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR TO TRANSMIT COPY OF EACH BUDGET TO THE CITY OF
MIAMI AND MIAMI-DADE COUNTY.
SEOPW BUDGET - COVER LETTER.pdf
SEOPW BDGT YR END 2005-09-30.pdf
Legislation.pdf
Motion by Board Member Sanchez, seconded by Board Member Regalado, that this matter
be ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote.
Votes: Ayes: 3 - Board Member Sanchez, Board Member Regalado and Chairman Teele
Absent: 2 - Board Member Gonzalez and Vice Chairman Winton
CRA-R-04-0006
Direction to the Executive Director of the CRA by Chairman Teele to continue to seek property
that could be acquired to provide much needed parking; further to rent venues in the CRA
district, which pay taxes.
Frank Rollason (Executive Director, Community Redevelopment Agency): The next item is
Number 4, which is the budget for the Southeast Overtown/Park West. Again, the capital
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Verbatim Minutes September 20, 2004
projects are in the last page. The issue that I want to mention, or change from what we
originally had, was that we have other anticipated revenues that may come as a result of --
Board Member Sanchez: Right.
Mr. Rollason: -- land transactions that may take place, and what we've done is we have put
those in so they can be viewed upon as a potential revenue, but we have not allocated any of that
money, or tried to budget any of that money, so if that money comes, that is additional money
that we have not budgeted at this time, but it is there so that you can look at the total picture and
see that we have those potential revenues coming, whether it be Crosswinds or any other land
items that are under discussion at the present time.
Board Member Sanchez: It was my understanding that you prepared two budgets: One
conservative on the TIF (Tax Increment Fund) and the other one based on the land projection. I
wasn't here in one of the meetings but --
Rollason: No. It's in the same budget, but where you look at the revenues in the Southeast
Overtown/Park West, you'll see a separate split item that will show the land items coming in, and
those items are separated deliberately because there are other revenues that come in that we
absolutely know is coming, so that when you look at the revenues that have potential to come,
they are separated out.
Board Member Sanchez: How are you determining that?
Mr. Rollason: Of which is which?
Board Member Sanchez: Of which is which, and based on --
Rollason: Well, we're -- there're discussions going on with Crosswinds, so there's a
potential income there. We've taken a very conservative figure in dealing with that. There are
discussions going on with Bayview Towers for fee simple on the land under that, so that is
reflected there, and also reflected, they are using the same square footage rate as the Block 36
that we have out now, with the responses have come back that we're evaluating to bring to you.
We have that figure in there also, so those are three land -type deals that may or may not happen,
but rather than not make you aware that they're even there on the drawing boards, they're
showing as a potential revenue. What we didn't do was take that revenue from that and spend it,
or put it into a pot somewhere, so that would -- if that money were to come, it would go into a
fund balance, and then we would have to come back to the board to appropriate it, if that was
the desire of the board.
Chairman Teele: And, Frank, I want to express my appreciation, because I think that's what
budgeting is about. I mean, you're acknowledging here are some fund sources, but you're not
appropriating them, are you -- on a conservative level.
Mr. Rollason: Thank you. That I'm not appropriating; that is correct.
Chairman Teele: You're not appropriating; you're recognize --
Mr. Rollason: Not appropriating.
Chairman Teele: Oh.
Mr. Rollason: It's just shown as a revenue.
Chairman Teele: And I think that's very helpful, and I think that's very transparent.
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Verbatim Minutes September 20, 2004
Board Member Sanchez: I honestly don't see any harm in it.
Chairman Teele: All right. Further discussion. Is there a motion?
Board Member Sanchez: So move.
Board Member Regalado: Second.
Chairman Teele: Is there objection? All those in favor, say "aye."
The Board Members (Collectively): Aye.
Chairman Teele: All opposed? Before we move on, I would hope also -- we're here at Big Time
Studios -- I would hope also that we would continue to look at the acquisition of land for
parking. The last time we were here at Big Time Studios, the one thing -- the two things that they
said they need are assistance in the policing --
Rollason: And parking.
Chairman Teele: -- and lighting, and parking.
Mr. Rollason: That's correct.
Chairman Teele: And, again, I think we need to fry to reflect those priorities.
Mr. Rollason: I hear you.
Board Member Regalado: Well, this was two years ago.
Chairman Teele: It was a good two years ago.
Mr. Rollason: Well, a year and a half. Well, I guess that's when I was still with the City, so
you're right, it's two years ago.
Board Member Regalado: I was here --
Mr. Rollason: No, you're right.
Board Member Regalado: -- two years ago.
Mr. Rollason: That's when that art -- when we were dealing with the gallery we had it that night.
Chairman Teele: And, for the record, I also think it's a good idea to come to venues that pay
taxes and rent these facilities, because these venues are the reason that the CRA (Community
Redevelopment Agency) exists.
Mr. Rollason: Yes, sir.
5 04-00910 CRA RESOLUTION
A JOINT RESOLUTION OF THE BOARDS OF DIRECTORS OF THE
SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST AND OMNI REDEVELOPMENT
DISTRICT COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCIES AUTHORIZING THE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT, IN
SUBSTANTIALLY THE ATTACHED FORM, WITH AKERMAN, SENTERFITT &
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Community Redevelopment Agency
Verbatim Minutes September 20, 2004
EIDSON, P.A. (FORMERLY KATZ, KUTTER, ALDERMAN & BRYANT, P.A.)
FOR REPRESENTATION AND LOBBYING SERVICES BEFORE CONGRESS
AND FEDERAL AGENCIES REGARDING LEGISLATIVE ISSUES AND
APPROPRIATIONS REQUESTS, FOR A TWO-YEAR PERIOD COMMENCING
NOVEMBER 1, 2004, IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $48,000 ANNUALLY
OR $96,000 OVER THE TERM OF THE AGREEMENT, PLUS REASONABLE
EXPENSES AS APPROVED BY THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR; FUNDS TO
BE ALLOCATED IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $48,000 FROM SEOPW
TAX INCREMENT FUND - "PROFESSIONAL SERVICES - OTHER,"
ACCOUNT CODE NO. 689001.550108.6.270 AND IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO
EXCEED $48,000 FROM OMNI TAX INCREMENT FUND - "PROFESSIONAL
SERVICES - OTHER," ACCOUNT CODE NO. 686001.590320.6.270.
COVER MEMO-AKERMAN SENTERFITT.pdf
FINANCIAL INFO FORM.pdf
SEOPW R03-67 OMNI R03-50 BACKUP.pdf
Legislation.pdf
PROF SVC AGMT.pdf
Motion by Board Member Sanchez, seconded by Board Member Regalado, that this matter
be ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote.
Votes: Ayes: 3 - Board Member Sanchez, Board Member Regalado and Chairman Teele
Absent: 2 - Board Member Gonzalez and Vice Chairman Winton
CRA-R-04-0007
Direction to the Executive Director of the CRA by Board Member Sanchez to ensure that
lobbyists hired by the CRA are to generate as much revenues as possible; Chairman Teele
further directed that the lobbying firm representing the CRA provide an annual report to Board
Members of its activities.
Chairman Teele: All right. Next item.
Frank Rollason (Executive Director, Community Redevelopment Agency): We have -- if you
want to go back to the order of the agenda, or you want to take care of the things that need to --
to get the votes on? Because I know, Commissioner Sanchez, you need to --
Board Member Sanchez: Let's go with 5.
Mr. Rollason: OK
Chairman Teele: Is there a motion?
Board Member Sanchez: So move.
Chairman Teele: Is there a second?
Board Member Regalado: What -- what --
Mr. Rollason: This is --
Chairman Teele: Item Number 5.
Board Member Regalado: OK.
Chairman Teele: It's Katz, Kutter --
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Verbatim Minutes September 20, 2004
Board Member Regalado: OK.
Chairman Teele: -- Akerman.
Board Member Sanchez: Discussion.
Chairman Teele: We have a second. Discussion.
Board Member Sanchez: Frank, as the Executive Director, this is -- I mean, this is a great firm
and a great lobbying team but, Frank, I think that we need to make sure that people that we hire
to represent us in any way, really, we get the most buck that we can for our bang, you know.
Mr. Rollason: Well, I think you've been getting all the updates on the transportation legislation
that's been coming. They've been bird-dogging that for us and keeping us up to speed with that,
which is not only for the projects we're talking about, but when you talk about the City's projects
with the trolley and so forth, I mean, that's really keeping everybody abreast of what's happening
with that federal legislation. They're also working with us on any legislation that can help us (
UNINTELLIGIBLE) dealing with the homeless and Camillus House, and they keep us up to
speed with what's happening with the federal --
Board Member Sanchez: Well, but --
Rollason: -- picture.
Board Member Sanchez: -- but, once again, it's important that people know because, you know,
we -- you know, we -- people nowadays are, you know, consultants and then we're consulting
and how we hire people in firm. I think it's important that we, as the fiduciary responsible body
here, and you, as the Executive Director, you know, we need to basically say what they're doing
for us. We need to put it out to make sure that there isn't any question as to what the service
they're providing. They're providing a good service and they continue to provide a good service,
and we're going to continue to provide them --
Rollason: Yes.
Board Member Sanchez: -- with, you know, with a contract, so it's --
Mr. Rollason: And with --
Board Member Sanchez: -- important that we say that.
Mr. Rollason: -- negotiations with them this year, we got the fee lowered a little bit, too.
Board Member Sanchez: Well, that's always a --
Mr. Rollason: That helps.
Board Member Sanchez: -- that's always a plus.
Chairman Teele: All right. On the question -- motion, all in favor, say "aye."
The Board Members (Collectively): Aye.
Chairman Teele: All opposed? Would you also, Frank, get them to give us a report -- annual
report, and I think --
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Verbatim Minutes September 20, 2004
Mr. Rollason: Activities.
Chairman Teele: -- that's a good point. I also think it's important to note that every time the
Camillus House has come before this board, they have acknowledged the CRA (Community
Redevelopment Agency) Board and this law firm, and their assistance in helping to get money to
address the homeless problem, which is a very real problem in the CRA. All right. Next item.
Mr. Rollason: We'll do that.
6 04-00987 CRA RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE SOUTHEAST
OVERTOWN/PARK WEST COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY
RATIFYING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S ISSUANCE OF WORK ORDER
NO. 04-27, ON AN EMERGENCY BASIS, TO T.Y. LIN INTERNATIONAL/H.J.
ROSS FOR ARCHITECTURAL AND ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR THE
WARD ROOMING HOUSE, 249-255 NORTHWEST 9TH STREET, MIAMI,
FLORIDA, IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $80,541.50; FUNDS TO BE
ALLOCATED FROM SEOPW TAX INCREMENT FUND - "CONSTRUCTION IN
PROGRESS," ACCOUNT CODE NO. 689001.550108.6.860.
WARD RMG-COVR MEMO.pdf
WARD BUDGET -Winton Rpt.pdf
WARD- FINAN INFO FORM.pdf
WARD -BACKUP DOCUMENTS.pdf
Legislation.pdf
Motion by Board Member Sanchez, seconded by Board Member Regalado, that this matter
be ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote.
Votes: Ayes: 3 - Board Member Sanchez, Board Member Regalado and Chairman Teele
Absent: 2 - Board Member Gonzalez and Vice Chairman Winton
CRA-R-04-0008
Direction to the Executive Director of the CRA by Chairman Teele to work with Black Archives
to obtain the history of the Ward Rooming House.
Frank Rollason (Executive Director, Community Redevelopment Agency): The next item deals
with the Ward Rooming House. This is a ratification of my order that I issued a work order to H.
J. Ross to get going on the design, on an emergency basis, to try to keep the rest of that building
from falling down.
Board Member Sanchez: So moved.
Chairman Teele: Is there a --
Board Member Regalado: Second.
Chairman Teele: Is there objection? All in favor, say "aye."
The Board Members (Collectively): Aye.
Chairman Teele: Restoration of historic properties is very expensive, and it's much easier to
bulldoze it and build something new but, once you do that, it's no longer historic, it's no longer a
part -- and this building -- and I really wish we could get a good history of the building, or
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maybe we can cooperate with Dr. Fields and the Black Archives because this was a very
important building where a number of personalities and notables would live when they didn't
want to live in hotels and, Dr. Fields, I saw you here.
Minda Logan: She's gone but we'll be happy to provide that for the board.
Chairman Teele: All right. Thank you very much.
Mr. Rollason: There are continued issues that, as you well know, come up dealing with the
historical aspects of Overtown, and so what I have requested the Black Archives to do is to put
together a package for me so that I could bring it to the board on some type of a monthly
retainer basis that we could have them and their use, rather than coming on each little item and
saying I need 2, 000 for this or whatever. I think we can come up with a figure that we would pay
them monthly because we're continually using them. We're wanting to put some historic signs up
now on some of the properties, and would like a little bit of research from them and, of course,
that's what they do. That's how they make their living, is providing that research, and they
certainly should be paid for that.
Chairman Teele: Well, on thatpoint, I would welcome -- and on thatpoint, we also committed,
as a part of the Southeast Overtown new master plan, that we would give them funding to update
their Folk Life Village, and that has not come forward either.
Mr. Rollason: You're right.
Chairman Teele: That they would have the funding to hire a planning consultant and update the
Folk Life Village, so we really need to move on both of those projects.
Mr. Rollason: Understand.
Chairman Teele: Thank you.
7 04-00990 CRA RESOLUTION
A JOINT RESOLUTION OF THE BOARDS OF DIRECTORS OF THE
SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST AND OMNI REDEVELOPMENT
DISTRICT COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCIES ("CRAS"),
RESCHEDULING THE OCTOBER, NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER, 2004,
BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETINGS.
COVR MEMO-MTG DATES.pdf
BACKUP-CALEN DAR. pdf
Legislation.pdf
Motion by Board Member Sanchez, seconded by Board Member Regalado, that this matter
be ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote.
Votes: Ayes: 3 - Board Member Sanchez, Board Member Regalado and Chairman Teele
Absent: 2 - Board Member Gonzalez and Vice Chairman Winton
CRA-R-04-0009
The next three meetings of the CRA are scheduled for October 18th, November 15th and
December 13th.
Board Member Sanchez: So move 7.
Chairman Teele: Is there a second on 7? Second by Commissioner Regalado -- Board Member
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Regalado. Is there objection? All those in favor, say "aye."
The Board Members (Collectively): Aye.
Chairman Teele: All opposed? And on 8?
Frank Rollason (Executive Director, Community Redevelopment Agency): Let me ask on 6 to
make sure.
Board Member Sanchez: Oh, 6?
Mr. Rollason: Are we --
Board Member Sanchez: We didn't vote on 6? Did we vote on 6 or not?
Priscilla A. Thompson (Clerk of the Board): Yes, you did.
Board Member Sanchez: We did?
Mr. Rollason: Yeah.
Ms. Thompson: Yes.
Board Member Sanchez: We voted on 6.
Mr. Rollason: But is this a ratification? Am I all right with these three?
Ms. Thompson: I'm sorry?
Mr. Rollason: OK All right.
Chairman Teele: It says that --
Mr. Rollason: We're good.
Chairman Teele: -- ratifying the Executive Director's --
Mr. Rollason: Yes, sir.
Chairman Teele: -- issuance of work orders.
Mr. Rollason: I just didn't know ifI needed the number up here.
Chairman Teele: All right. We voted on Number 7, which is the board dates.
Mr. Rollason: That's correct.
8 04-01013 CRA RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE SOUTHEAST
OVERTOWN/PARK WEST COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY ("CRA
"), INCREASING FUNDING FOR THE GRAND PROMENADE INTERIM
RENOVATION PROJECT IN THE AMOUNT OF $200,000 TO A TOTAL OF $
700,000 BY AUTHORIZING AN INCREASE OF $145,328.84 IN THE
CONTRACT PRICE AS DEFINED IN THE CONSTRUCTION MANAGER -AT -
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RISK AGREEMENT WITH MCM CORP., AND AUTHORIZING INCLUSION OF
A PROJECT RESERVE OF $54,671.16.
COVER MEMO.pdf
BUDGET (Winton Form).pdf
FINANCIAL INFO FORM.pdf
SEOPW R03-55 BACKUP.pdf
SEOPW R03-62-BACKUP.pdf
Legislation.pdf
Motion by Board Member Sanchez, seconded by Board Member Regalado, that this matter
be ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote.
Votes: Ayes: 3 - Board Member Sanchez, Board Member Regalado and Chairman Teele
Absent: 2 - Board Member Gonzalez and Vice Chairman Winton
CRA-R-04-001 0
Direction to the Executive Director of the CRA by Board Member Sanchez to provide a monthly
status report on the progress of the Grand Promenade Renovation Project.
Chairman Teele: And then, Number 8.
Frank Rollason (Executive Director, Community Redevelopment Agency): All right. Number 8
is an increase to the Grand Promenade. We're about ready to -- and I mean, really close to
breaking ground. We've got, I think, one more meeting with Community Development. We
submitted all of our paperwork to make sure that it's all CD (Community Development)
qualifiable [sic]. They have some new staff people that have been going over things with a very
fine-tooth comb, as they should, and we think we have met all the requirements. Now that we're
going to do all three phases at one time, which is really an economy of scale to be able to do
this, we need to increase that third leg. The increase is 145,328 that you see there, and the rest
of the money would be kept, the 54,000, in the event that we have any cost over -- you know,
some type of thing that we're not -- contingency that we're not aware of at this point.
Chairman Teele: Project reserve.
Mr. Rollason: But we're not giving that to the contractor. We're keeping that, and they would
have to come to us, and we would come back to you if we had to spend it.
Board Member Sanchez: I -- listen, I'm all for bricks and mortar, projects. I want to see
projects. The more money you spend on -- in the area and you put bricks and you put stuff up,
and people see it, the less criticism we could get -- we get. When people see money being spent
on studies and in consulting, and this and that, I mean, it just -- you know, it puts the pressure on
us, so I'm all for it.
Mr. Rollason: This one should break ground by the middle of October and we should be --
Board Member Sanchez: Notice that every time that you do a project, we're praised by it. I
mean, every time that you do a project and it's done, people praise it, but once, you know, you
don't do projects and you continue to spend money, we're just going to continue to be criticized
and be put on the spot, so --
Chairman Teele: Would you move the item?
Board Member Sanchez: So move.
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Chairman Teele: Would you second the item?
Board Member Regalado: Second.
Chairman Teele: Is there further discussion?
Board Member Sanchez: Frank, also, can you provide us on -- when the project starts, on a
monthly report, as to the status of the reports?
Mr. Rollason: Yes, sir. We've put together a capital improvement report and every month, just
before the meeting, you get an updated status on every project to go into that binder, so if you,
you know, get with your staff people, is who I give it to, that report is in there, and you'll see
right to that date as to where we are on those particular projects. There are about a dozen of
them in there.
Chairman Teele: Is the consulting engineer here today?
Mr. Rollason: Yes, sir, he is.
Chairman Teele: Are they on top of this project?
Mr. Rollason: Yes, sir. Chuck Deeb is here --
Chairman Teele: Chuck, would you just --
Mr. Rollason: -- from H.J. Ross.
Chairman Teele: -- comment very briefly? Are you all in support of this project, as proposed?
Chuck Deeb: Chuck Deeb.
Chairman Teele: And when we say we're going to do all three phases, are we going to cross the
railroad track all three times or twice?
Mr. Rollason: That is not in the part of these three. That's the part that we're working on now
with obtaining that land from the railroad and then combining it with crossing the 9th Street
Mall and the Grand Promenade, all at one time.
Board Member Sanchez: But wait a minute.
Mr. Rollason: That'll be another phase.
Board Member Sanchez: How can you do all three phases when you don't own one piece of the
property?
Mr. Rollason: No, no. We own all for these three.
Board Member Sanchez: Oh, oh, OK.
Chairman Teele: We own all three pieces of property, but there is a concern that I've had raised
and that is, at the original 9th Street Mall, there is a component that's over ten years old that has
been outstanding, where we would actually take them all across the railroad track, and we have
said, look, if we're going to cross -- if we're going to do anything on the FEC (Florida East
Coast) Corridor, we need to go ahead and negotiate that with the FEC and to get that down.
He's advising me that that is not a part of this phase --
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Mr. Rollason: That is correct.
Chairman Teele: -- but the three phases would be between Biscayne and 2nd, and 2nd and 1st,
and 1st and Miami --
Mr. Rollason: 2nd and 1st --
Chairman Teele: -- andMiami andMiami.
Mr. Rollason: -- 1st and Miami, and Miami and 1st.
Chairman Teele: And Miami and 1st. Actually, Biscayne and 2nd is not in it.
Mr. Rollason: That's correct. That is correct.
Chairman Teele: You're in support, Chuck?
Mr. Deeb: That's correct. Chuck Deeb with TYLin/H.J. Ross, general consultants, and we
support that, doing the three blocks, as we call it, because of the economy of scale. It's going to
be a much nicer project from one end to the other.
Chairman Teele: OK. All right. All right. We have a motion and a second. We have the
question. All those in favor, say "aye."
The Board Members (Collectively): Aye.
Chairman Teele: All opposed?
REPORTS
9 04-00907 CRA REPORT
ERNEST BURKEEN, DIRECTOR, CITY OF MIAMI DEPARTMENT OF
PARKS AND RECREATION, REPORT ON MARGARET PACE PARK:
UPDATE STATUS OF THE MARGARET PACE PARK RANGER
PROGRAM & PHASE II CONSTRUCTION PROJECT
COVER MEMO.pdf
DISCUSSED
Chairman Teele: We're delighted to have the Director of the Parks Department, Mr. Burkeen
and, Mr. Burkeen, just know that the Margaret Pace Park is probably the most loved park in the
City, and we have a lot of people that are here, as you've heard from the Omni Advisory Board.
There're probably at least five committees that oversee some component of that park -- citizens'
committees, and so just know that that park was designed largely by the community and, as a
result of two years of public hearings and discussions and consensus fielding, so we're delighted
you're here, and we're also -- would like to put on the record that we're deeply concerned about
the overuse of that park, which this board has probably been as much of a contributing factor as
anything else. We're very proud of the park, but we're going to have to slow down on the uses of
the park for the galas and the activities because the neighborhoods are beginning to raise some
concern so, again, we welcome you, and as the Parks Director, we're delighted to be your
partner in the park and to continue to provide support because, as you appreciate -- our job is to
assist in the redevelopment. The park is probably one of the clearest examples of a magnet for
redevelopment, as you can see in every corner of that park, in every nook and cranny, there --
where there is private land, there is a redevelopment project going on and everybody wants to be
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near the park. In fact, there was a lawsuit; two developers were trying to slow each other down
just to see which one could get up and build across from the park first, so please know that that
park is very important to the neighborhood, the Omni neighborhood. Thank you for being here.
Ernest Burkeen: Ernest Burkeen, Director of Parks and Recreation. I'd like to thank you for
inviting me, particularly, the Executive Director, Frank, to give you an update on the Ranger
Program. The program began May 3, 2004. The hours of operation is that Sundays and
Saturdays, the ranger is there from 9 to 6. He's there Monday, Tuesday and Friday from 2 p.m.
to 10 p.m.; Wednesdays and Thursdays are the two days that he has off. About two weeks ago,
we began to look at a facility activity log so that we can tell you exactly how many people are
using the park on a daily basis. For the last eight days, we have had a total of 1, 600 people and
it breaks down like this: 302 people are using the park to walk their dogs. We had about 89
people in the picnic area. We had 364 people walking and jogging. We had 104 people in the --
playing in the children's area. I'm sorry, 312 people in the children's area. We had 85 people
on bikes and skates; 82 on tennis courts; 36 on the volleyball court; 95 on the basketball court;
215 on the soccer field, and we had about 30 vagrants. It's a total of 1610 for eight days. We
plan to do these activity logs for the month, and at each -- at the end of each month, I can give
you the total of use. Initially, there were problems with male prostitution, and with a number of
patrons who had dogs and did not recover their dog waste, but because the ranger is there and
he's gotten assistance from the Police Department, those things have changed drastically so, all
in all, it looks like it's a good program. The park is going to be protected and, you're right,
many people want to use the park, and we are going to work with the group to see if we can
determine the level of use for special events.
Chairman Teele: Ernest, one of the --
Mr. Burkeen: That concludes my report.
Chairman Teele: -- there are one or two issues. Is the Parks Director there -- here? Is your
Parks Director -- the director of the --
Mr. Burkeen: Park Manager?
Chairman Teele: -- Manager of that park?
Mr. Burkeen: No.
Chairman Teele: There are one or two issues. I guess I should yield to the public. Did you
want to say anything, Mr. Joseph?
Fred Joseph: We had a very good meeting with the Parks Director, Frank Rollason and myself
and other committee members. What we have a major problem with is --
Chairman Teele: Fred Joseph --
Mr. Joseph: Yeah.
Chairman Teele: -- representing the --
Mr. Joseph: Omni Advisory Board. What we had most of our concerns about is events that want
to come in the park and they're overloading or overbearing. We've got one request right now
from an organization that has gone through the Mayor's Office and looking to have something at
the park for profit, and that was highly against anything that we wish to do in the park ever. We
know that the concerns of certain entities, the developers, the one that you mentioned that
brought some action because of some activity in the park, has now turned around and wants to
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use the park for public things. Those are good things. The other items that we have concern
about is, for example, we were a party to it ourselves at our own function that we had in the park
for the City's birthday. We had a few hundred cars parking on the grass in the park. Those are
things that the director had -- we have brought to his attention, and he has agreed to help solve
those items, and I think we'll have a very good working relation with him, but the items that you
have to be conscious of are the items that Frank Rollason andl talked about, these entities that
want to come in the park and kind of take over. They've got other -- they've got Bicentennial
Park they can do for profit or Bayfront Park they can pay and do for profit. I beg you never to
allow this to ever happen because we'll lose complete control of the park. Thank you.
Board Member Sanchez: It won't happen because you won't allow it.
Mr. Joseph: Well, that's going to be with your good auspice because, otherwise --
Board Member Sanchez: OK.
Mr. Joseph: -- they write -- I'm holding a letter that will not put on open mike, but you're
welcome to pick it up, but this is directed to the -- they go above us to other entities and they --
Board Member Sanchez: Who is "we"? Who is "they go above us"?
Mr. Joseph: I'm sorry. You'll have to obtain the letter. I'm not at liberty to open mike on it.
Mr. Rollason: Fred, that is public record. That's on the City Commission meeting coming
up on --
Chairman Teele: Yeah, but one of the concerns that have is that --
Mr. Joseph: Well, I'd rather --
Chairman Teele: Fred, one of the concerns -- and you need to answer the Commissioner's
question -- but one of the concerns that have is that the CRA (Community Redevelopment
Agency) has no jurisdiction over the activities --
Board Member Sanchez: Of the park.
Chairman Teele: -- of that park. Those -- that park is a function of the City ofMiami. All we do
is write the checks and give the City money and support for that park because that park is an
integral part of our redevelopment strategy, but -- and we can have events there, assuming the
Parks Director and the Manager will agree to it, butl think the real complaints that you're
raising -- which you should answer the Commissioner's question -- is really more appropriately
addressed at the City Commission because we don't have jurisdiction over who's using that park
and who's not using that park. That is a City park and one of the big confusions, I think, that the
management has always had is the role of the CRA.
Mr. Joseph: Mr. Commissioner. (INAUDIBLE)
Board Member Sanchez: Thank you. But the beauty of it is that you, as a resident, and your
organization's working with the Parks Director can make sure that that is a first-class park, and
I know that it's a park that's heavily used with soccer because, basically, they contacted us at
Bayfront Park and now, through the -- Commissioner Johnny Winton's office and Bayfront Park,
we have added another soccer field because, of course, you know that soccer is the international
sport, so they're playing out there now because they complained that they didn't have enough
fields in that park and, of course, you know, the park is there. It's not a very big park but it is a
very beautiful park, and it's up to the residents in the City to make sure that it's a safe and clean
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park.
Mr. Joseph: And that's why we enjoy the luxury of meeting with the new director, and we've
expressed these items to him, and we have -- hoping that they go to -- back to your ears, as the
City at your other hat you wear, so that he can come back and say, you know, this has been
mandated by my bosses, not by just us, the local residents. I mean, he's a very nice gentleman
and he said he would do all he could.
Chairman Teele: He can do it all. Well, again, I guess the two concerns that had in going
through the park and listening to some of the business owners, we've asked the hotels -- the
Radisson, the Marriott, and the --
Mr. Rollason: Grand.
Chairman Teele: -- Doubletree -- to adopt the park. We've asked them to be our partners
because we're the ones writing the checks to maintain that park, and we will continue to do that
because that park is an important tool toward our redevelopment in that entire area, but one of
the things that the people from the Doubletree had said is that they need more -- or an additional
two tennis courts. Is that under consideration or discussion, Mr. Director?
Mr. Rollason: I can tell you, in the capital project for next year, the items that we discussed that
we had funding for and the items that were brought forward from the Parks Department was the
riffraff along the eastern shore, the improvements on the tot lot, which includes the poured in
place concrete padded surface so it'll meetADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) requirements,
and the sunshade over that. The other issues dealing with expanding the tennis courts and so
forth, the Parks Director wanted to meet with the community and do some further research
before he bought into that particular issue. The other thing I want to mention is, is that we
continue to talk about the hotels but, to me, the people that are directly across the street in those
developments that are coming, those are people that I'm looking to pay a major play -- that was
a Freudian slip there -- but to help us maintain that park because that's their front door and
that's also their benefit that nothing will be in front of them in front of that bay, so I think very
much so that when you look at any of their brochures, that's the first thing they show is that park,
and they need to get on board with us and help support the park also, and we plan on meeting
with them.
Chairman Teele: I fully agree. The condo associations just generally are real stingy when it
comes to the money, butl think we ought to stay in there with them, and I also think we should
keep the hotels engaged. I do note that the Marriott, last year, chose that park as the venue for
their annual employee --
Mr. Rollason: Right.
Chairman Teele: -- hotel -- picnic, and I thought that was a very good use of the park, again, as
a neighborhood draw, so whatever we can do, we're open, and any capital requests that the
Margaret Pace Park has -- you know, unfortunately, it's not in my district per se, but it's an asset
of the redevelopment agency and it's very important to what we're doing. Please know that we
will receive any request that you have for enhancements -- capital improvement enhancements. I
should also note that the rangers are being funded by the CRA; is that right?
Mr. Rollason: That is correct.
Chairman Teele: And that, again, is another $100, 000 over a three-year period of time, and I
would hope that the Budget Director would take note of this. I mean, you know, sometimes you
can kill the goose, so that's $100, 000 of money that really should be coming -- eventually,
hopefully, will come from the general fund, or 30,000 or so a year. Ernest, thank you so much
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for being here and we look forward to --
Mr. Burkeen: Thank you.
10 04-00909 CRA REPORT
CITY OF MIAMI - CIP REPORT: NORTH 11TH STREET REBUILD
PROJECTS
COVER-1.pdf
04-00909-memo-2
04-00909-metric engineering letter-3.pdf
04-00909-map-4
DISCUSSED
Chairman Teele: Madam Director -- Madam Manager.
Alicia Cuervo Schreiber: Good evening, Chairman, members of the board. Alicia Cuervo
Schreiber, Chief of Operations. I'm here to discuss Northeast 9th, loth and 11 th Streets. As you
know, the portion that goes from -- just Northeast 2nd Avenue to Biscayne Boulevard is a portion
that the City ofMiami designed and forwarded to the Florida Department of Transportation to
incorporate into their recent -- their project that's coming up. Construction should begin June
2005 and end around June 2006. Our design has already been incorporated into their leading
package for bid. The second -- in addition to that, the CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency)
office asked the CIP (Capital Improvement Projects) Office to look at that portion that's just west
ofI-95, to the east of Northeast 2nd Avenue. The discussion has always been -- in 9th, 10th and
11 th -- was to convert those sections to two-way street conversions. However, in -- from the west
sections, on 10th Sfreet and 11 th Sfreet, we were looking at many options. We were looking at
drainage. We looked at sidewalk. We looked at a plethora of different feasibility alternatives,
and we prepared some cost analysis and some proposals so that the CRA could look at this and
incorporate it into their capital plan, and pick and choose what was appropriate in those
corridors. They asked us to look at valet. This was a feasibility study that was done as part of
the CIP projects for the City, and I've incorporated that in a booklet and, attached is the (
UNINTELLIGIBLE) engineering consultants concepts that they looked at, as well, and I'm happy
to go over them with you. They have typical sections of the different areas in the Entertainment
District -- separating the Entertainment District from 11 th Street so that you could have a bird's-
eye view into the different alternatives.
Chairman Teele: Alicia, are we talking about two-waying 1lth Street?
Ms. Cuervo Schreiber: I'm sorry. There would be a two-waying, but not of the portion where
you have spoken to me before, as it relates to the Entertainment District. That portion could still
remain one-way. This is just the portion that goes from 2nd Avenue to Biscayne Boulevard on 9
th Sfreet, 11 th Street and 12th that connects to the Biscayne Boulevard project with FDOT (
Florida Department of Transportation); those would be one-way.
Chairman Teele: So --
Mr. Rollason: No. I think 9, 10 and 11, right?
Ms. Cuervo Schreiber: 9, 10 and 11. I apologize.
Mr. Rollason: 9, 10 and 11.
Chairman Teele: So Biscayne to 2nd would be two-way?
Mr. Rollason: Right.
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Ms. Cuervo Schreiber: Biscayne to 2nd would be converted to two-way, and from the west --
Chairman Teele: Does that allow for ingress and egress from the condominiums and all of that (
INAUDIBLE) ?
Ms. Cuervo Schreiber: Yes, sir, it does. That's one of the primary reasons to give that
circulation and not cause the congestion in that area. A traffic study was done. We completed
the final design plans and forwarded that to FDOT.
Chairman Teele: Bottom line, when would 11 th Sfreet -- under this plan, when will 11 th Street
be completed -- started and completed with reconstruction?
Ms. Cuervo Schreiber: According to -- FDOT has not provided us a construction schedule, but
they are beginning construction on that entire project in June of 2005. The Entertainment
Disfrict, we've given the CRA office, in this package, different alternatives and cost breakdowns.
It ranges from $2, 000, 000 to $4, 000, 000, if you do the total reconstruction with drainage, and
there were some issues with utilities. That would be something that the board would need to
decide, and then design plans could -- would be brought forward or --
Mr. Rollason: This is the first I've seen this, so I haven't had a chance to go over it.
Ms. Cuervo Schreiber: We just got this from Metric Engineering.
Mr. Rollason: No. I understand, but I'm just saying is that -- I'm not prepared to comment on
it, but we'll have to look at it and see what the rebuilds are, and if it falls in line with the things
we're looking to do. The one thing I noticed on the map, we're still showing 10th Street being
one-way all the way and, in meeting with the Club District and the club owners and the
businesspeople along 10th Street, east of 1st Avenue, they prefer 10th Sfreet to be turned two-
way, so there was some discussion about doing that two-way all the way down to Northwest 1st
and leaving the section that is within Overtown. The Overtown people were very strong on
wanting to keep 11 th Sfreet and 10th Sfreet one-way going through their neighborhoods, so I
mean, I don't know if that option is here, but we'll just --
Ms. Cuervo Schreiber: Yes, it is.
Mr. Rollason: -- have to evaluate it and see what was there.
Ms. Cuervo Schreiber: Specifically, in the Over -- the Entertainment Disfrict, that remains one-
way.
Chairman Teele: Well, this is new information, I would assume. I just think that we really need
to fry very hard to address the redevelopment of the streets in the Entertainment District. You
know, we pretty much indicated that we would fry to have this completed by January '05; we're
going to be starting in June of '05, so -- and then, I think it needs to be well phased and
coordinated so that we're not tying up 11 th and 10th at the same time, if possible, or it just needs
to be staffed and coordinated, and vetted by the appropriate business owners so we're not
shutting down anybody's business.
Mr. Rollason: No. And those items that you bring up have been brought to us by the business
owners, Captain Harry's, in particular. I mean, he just about gets killed when you close 11 th
Sfreet down. He just can't operate; there's no way to get to him, so it has to be phased in a way
that we're paving at night, or that type of thing so that they can stay open with at least one lane
during the day, but those things can be worked out.
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Ms. Cuervo Schreiber: And, Chairman, we have discussed this with FDOT, at least the FDOT
portion. They have assured us that we would be reviewing with the CRA Office the maintenance
of traffic plans for their approval, that they would keep one lane of traffic open at all times.
Chairman Teele: Thank you.
Ms. Cuervo Schreiber: Thank you.
Chairman Teele: All right. Thank you so very much for the report.
11 04-00911 CRA REPORT
DEPARTMENT OF OFF-STREET PARKING (DOSP): STATUS OF
PARKING UNDER 1-395 PROJECT
COVER MEMO.pdf
DISCUSSED
Chairman Teele: Is there anybody here from Off -Street Parking?
Roamy Valera: Yes.
Frank Rollason (Executive Director, Community Redevelopment Agency): Yes. We got the
dynamic duo, Roamy --
Chairman Teele: The duo.
Mr. Valera: Good evening.
Mr. Rollason: -- Roamy.
Mr. Valera: Roamy Valera, deputy director for the parking authority. Good evening, Mr. Chair.
Chairman Teele: Welcome.
Mr. Valera: Provide you a brief overview of the project, as it relates to the parking lots
underneath I-395. The current moment, we are in the process of permitting the project for
construction, and we're looking to break ground in the early part of November. We've had to go
back and done some reengineering as it relates to drainage, as a result of some
(UNINTELLIGIBLE) technicals that we received, hence the delay of the project for a few months
-- over the last couple of months. That's where we stand. We look to open the lot in March of
2005, and looking forward to move the project forward. We're in the final stages.
Chairman Teele: Nobody believes you, nor me, on this, so eyes are glazing over, I guess. Are
there any questions about this? Thank you very much and we appreciate your -- how many
parking spaces initially?
Mr. Valera: 314. The original -- we expanded the original scope of the project. It was two
phases; we've added a third phase that goes all the way to the railroad tracks.
Chairman Teele: Great, great.
Mr. Valera: It'll cover 314 spaces.
Chairman Teele: All right. Thank you very much. Madam Manager, is there any way at all that
we can do an emergency French drain or something on the corner of Northeast 1st and 11 th
Street? That area is totally under water when it rains. You know, where the --
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Mr. Rollason: It's been addressed. It's -- Public Works already took care of the problem. It
turned out there was a -- well, you may know, you know. I know what happened.
Ms. Cuervo Schreiber: Frances is here but, yes, Public Works did address that.
Chairman Teele: There was a blockage.
Mr. Rollason: There was a major obstruction in there, and Metro -Dade came out because that
is -- the drain is on the County side, and I just happened to be going by there one day with a
flood, and I stopped and talked with them, and I don't know if they found a cow in there or what,
but they found something that closed it off and they got in there and got it out and now, with the
rains we've been having, it's been running great.
Chairman Teele: And while we're here on 14th, on 14th and Miami Avenue, when it rains very
hard -- is that correct, Big Time?
Eugene Rodriguez: It still floods.
Chairman Teele: On 14th, on the --
Mr. Rodriguez: The entrance (UNINTELLIGIBLE) --
Chairman Teele: -- on the southeast side of 14th, as well as the west side of 14th. On both sides,
catty -corner --
Mr. Rodriguez: Well, this is primarily right on the corner of the coconut -- North Miami Avenue
and 14th --
Priscilla A. Thompson (Clerk of the Board): I'm sorry, Commissioner.
Chairman Teele: OK. You're going to have to get on the mike. What he's saying is, right here
on -- by the coconut free, on the northwest side of --
Mr. Rollason: Miami Avenue.
Chairman Teele: -- Miami Avenue, where it intersects with 14th, and then on the southeast side
of 14th, going toward the --
Mr. Rollason: By the bank building, the old bank building.
Chairman Teele: -- by the bank building, just east of the bank building; that is totally under
water when it rains, as well, and it's probably something in there, meters or something. That's
what people do. They open up those meters --
Mr. Rollason: Right, and throw them in there.
Chairman Teele: -- and throw them in the drain.
Mr. Rollason: I'll send an e-mail to Public Works, and Frances has been great with following up
on those. Also, the one on 12th Street by Parking Lot P-2, the problems we had there, that's
being addressed also --
Chairman Teele: Great.
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Mr. Rollason: -- where it floods there.
Chairman Teele: Mr. Joseph.
Fred Joseph: A major traffic light at the northeast -- I'm sorry, northwest corner of the Omni
has been out for months. They had an accident there and knocked it out, and now all they have
up there is stop sign, and that's been out for months.
Mr. Rollason: Fred, get with Frances right there and give him the direction --
Mr. Joseph: Thank you.
Mr. Rollason: -- and he'll work it with Dade County Public Works or traffic.
Mr. Joseph: Thank you.
Chairman Teele: All right.
Mr. Joseph: And that has a light and everything, transmission box.
Chairman Teele: All right. We'll go back to Mr. Gustafson.
12 04-00912 CRA REPORT
SUBMISSION OF PRINTED STATUS REPORT ON PENDING LEGAL
AGREEMENTS (NO BOARD ACTION REQUIRED)
DISCUSSED
NA.1 04-01105
Chairman Teele: We have the financial item and we have anything from law. Does legal have
anything?
James Villacorta (Assistant General Counsel): Not at this time. Our contracts report is included
in the agenda.
CRA DISCUSSION
Introduction of new General Counsel Jorge L. Fernandez.
DISCUSSED
Chairman Teele: All right. Frank, the next item.
Frank Rollason (Executive Director, Community Redevelopment Agency): Just before we go to
the next item -- and I'm sort of remiss in doing it -- I did want to introduce to you, formally, the
new general counsel for the CRA and Jorge Fernandez. I mean, we've sorted take it as granted
with him being the new City Attorney, but he is here tonight, and we welcome him on board, and
I certainly wanted to make a formal introduction. If he had any comments he wanted to make, I
think this would be appropriate.
Jorge L. Fernandez (General Counsel): None other than very pleased to be here.
Mr. Rollason: Thank you.
NA.2 04-01106 CRA RESOLUTION
A JOINT RESOLUTION OF THE BOARDS OF DIRECTORS OF THE
SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST ("SEOPW') AND OMNI ("OMNI")
REDEVELOPMENT DISTRICT COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCIES
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("CRAS"), RELATED TO THE MIAMI CARNIVAL PARADE 2004, CO-
SPONSORED BY THE CRAS, THE CITY OF MIAMI, AND THE PRIVATE
SECTOR, TO BE HELD ON OCTOBER 10, 2004; AUTHORIZING THE
ALLOCATION OF FUNDS, IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $25,000, TO
ASSIST WITH POLICE SERVICES FOR SAID PARADE; FUNDS TO BE
ALLOCATED FROM ACCOUNT CODE NO. 686001.590320.6.940, ENTITLED
OMNI TIF-OTHER GRANTS AND AIDES ($19,000), AND ACCOUNT CODE
NO. 689001/550108.6.940, ENTITLED SEOPW TIF-OTHER GRANTS AND
AIDES ($6,000).
Motion by Board Member Sanchez, seconded by Board Member Regalado, that this matter
be ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote.
Votes: Ayes: 3 - Board Member Sanchez, Board Member Regalado and Chairman Teele
Absent: 2 - Board Member Gonzalez and Vice Chairman Winton
CRA-R-04-001 3
Chairman Teele: Listen, there is this carnival/parade I did want to bring up sort of as a pocket
item that's going to come through the -- hopefully, come through the Park West/Overtown area.
Frank Rollason (Executive Director, Community Redevelopment Agency): Well, I think it comes
through the Omni, too. Comes down northeast, too.
Chairman Teele: Omni, exactly.
Board Member Sanchez: As long as it comes through.
Chairman Teele: Can we authorize the Executive Director to work with the City ofMiami Police
and Fire and the carnival organizers, and to expend money for police -- municipal -- only for
municipal services for some percentage of the parade?
Board Member Regalado: Where is the parade? When?
Board Member Sanchez: Well, I don't think we're going to have time because that's --
Mr. Rollason: In early October, I think.
Board Member Sanchez: Yeah.
Chairman Teele: It's in early October.
Board Member Regalado: Huh?
Chairman Teele: What do you mean you won't have time?
Board Member Regalado: When is the parade?
Board Member Sanchez: It's going to come back.
Chairman Teele: Well -- but it's yearend money. How much yearend money do you have?
Mr. Rollason: Well, I don't want to tell you that, but you tell me how much you want and I'll -- I
don't want to open -- but think we can certainly --
Board Member Regalado: Well, let's --
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Mr. Rollason: -- I think we can certainly assist them.
Board Member Regalado: Let's assume. It's a parade, so you need street closing, right? So
let's --
Mr. Rollason: Street closing. Then you need Police, Fire, probably some clean up.
Board Member Regalado: OK.
Chairman Teele: This thing is going to cost over $75, 000 in police costs, I'm telling you.
Mr. Rollason: I don't have that. I do not have that.
Board Member Sanchez: In police costs?
Chairman Teele: I didn't say the whole thing. I'm just saying, the City's going to have to do
something, butt was just trying --
Mr. Rollason: Right.
Chairman Teele: -- to get the CRA --
Mr. Rollason: We can certainly -- like events, if you wanted to authorize $25, 000, I've got that.
Chairman Teele: All right.
Board Member Regalado: OK.
Chairman Teele: Did anybody want to move it?
Board Member Sanchez: Motion to direct the Executive Director to provide assistance not to --
in Fire and Police --
Chairman Teele: Fire and Police and --
Mr. Rollason: And Solid Waste.
Chairman Teele: -- and Solid Waste.
Board Member Sanchez: -- and Solid Waste, not --
Chairman Teele: Solid Waste and Public Works.
Board Member Sanchez: -- not to exist -- to except --
Chairman Teele: Exceed.
Board Member Sanchez: -- exceed --
Chairman Teele: $25, 000 --
Board Member Sanchez: -- 25,000.
Chairman Teele: --from the three -- from the two funding sources; that's Omni and Park West --
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Board Member Sanchez: And Omni.
Chairman Teele: Omni -- as appropriate. Is there a second?
Board Member Regalado: Second.
Chairman Teele: Is there objection? All in favor, say "aye."
The Board Members (Collectively): Aye.
NA.3 04-01108 CRA DISCUSSION
Entertainment District comprehensive plan.
Acknowledgement of Big Time Productions and Eugene Rodriguez.
Ad hoc business adivosry committee for Midnight Trolley Project.Players
Food and Games facility.
DISCUSSED
Direction to the Executive Director of the CRA to work with the City ofMiami Planning
Department to develop a comprehensive master plan of the CRA's Entertainment District within
the next 90 days.
Chairman Teele: And, Mr. Director, the only thing that I would like to request is, we really need
to look at this club district thing that just keeps coming back, and I would hope that you and the
Planning Department would -- we're losing the quorum -- within the next 90 days, could come
back with a comprehensive plan to rationalize --
Frank Rollason (Executive Director, Community Redevelopment Agency): On the Entertainment
Districts themselves.
Chairman Teele: On the entertainment, yeah.
Mr. Rollason: We have something that we put together --
Chairman Teele: We need to round out some stuff on the Omni, et cetera.
Mr. Rollason: -- and we want to meet with you first.
Chairman Teele: And the final thing -- we've lost the quorum. The final thing here is -- well,
two final things. Is the owner of Big Time here?
Mr. Rollason: Eugene's back --
Chairman Teele: Please, Eugene, would you come forward? We want to, again, acknowledge
this wonderful -- Eugene, come forward -- this wonderful reuse of this venue, which is really a
great asset to our community and our city, and --
(APPLAUSE)
Chairman Teele: Eugene, would you just tell us what you have planned here? We see all the
signs of the restaurant opening, and we'd like to, at least, promote it. It's being aired lived, and
we'd like for the public to know --
Eugene Rodriguez: Well --
Chairman Teele: -- that Big Time Studio is a film facility, and it's a reuse -- an adaptive reuse.
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It's --
Mr. Rodriguez: Well, this area --
Priscilla A. Thompson (Clerk of the Board): Chairman -- I'm sorry, Chairman. Can we get a
full name for the record so we --
Mr. Rodriguez: My name is Eugene Rodriguez. I'm the owner --
Ms. Thompson: Thank you.
Mr. Rodriguez: -- of Big Time Productions, which owns this facility. This area has been
designated the Media and Entertainment Disfrict, and we're trying, basically, to help it evolve in
that direction, which would involve media companies, movie studios, production facilities; all
revolving around entertainment, media, special events, and the arts, so that's what we do.
Chairman Teele: And the restaurant plan?
Mr. Rodriguez: And there're several restaurants going in that are also geared towards
facilitating services towards entertainment, food and beverage, that will help support special
events, and -- like tomorrow, there's a music video being shot in this room, so when you leave,
this is going to be emptied, and then they start building sets and -- so that's the dynamic nature
of the neighborhood is basically to encourage movies and, hopefully, television companies to
move in and network production companies to move in and keep this aspect, adjacent to the
Performing Arts and north of the Club Disfrict, as an earlier special events, movies, that type of
thing location.
Chairman Teele: And videos.
Mr. Rodriguez: Thank you.
Chairman Teele: Thank you.
Board Member Regalado: Eugene, just one. Have you been approached or have you
approached the -- one of the new departments that we have in the City called FACE (Film, Arts,
Culture and Entertainment), like they have this entertainment -- how is it called? FACE -- I
don't even know. I mean, it's -- every time there is a new department, but they deal with that and,
second suggestion, Miami Sports and Exhibition Authority, MSEA. I think that what you're
doing, frying to bring videos and companies here, is part of the mission ofMSEA, and I am
telling you, what you're doing here by yourself is a heroic event and you need help and, you
know, if we have money to support other activities, I think that we should think very careful how
to bring more events to this venue, now that you're ready to receive them, so --
Mr. Rodriguez: Well, we're always trying to get involved in pitching ideas and, you know, as
Commissioner Teele said earlier, about three years ago, we were asking just to help us with
parking, not only us, the whole neighborhood. There's a lot of big events coming here. We just
had the Puff Daddy's event with Maverick after the VH4s (Video Music Awards), and one of the
big issues in the neighborhood, there's a lot of people that are willing to come do very
interesting, creative globally covered events, but the problem is what do you do with 1,000 cars
when they show up, you know, and you're going to have the same problem with the Performing
Arts. I think we're lucky that we have the PeopleMover, which eventually will be used, I think,
and the trolley system that was announced, believe it or not, when you see it in the big picture of
the three entertainment districts -- the Jazz, Blues and Gospel District, the Club District and the
Media and Entertainment District -- adjacent to the Performing Arts, with all the residential on
the Biscayne Boulevard area, you do need a little shuttle that has a character that meets these
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entertainment districts would actually be -- I think there'd be a customer for that, and you have
to -- I think this area will be very oriented towards big events because of the arena, as well. You
have 16,000 people, and when you have a concert, you have an awards show, you have all those
people and you want to keep them in this neighborhood, if you want them to spend their dollars
in this neighborhood, and I think we have a great opportunity in this entire region to really
maximize all that so, you know --
Chairman Teele: Eugene and Mr. Director, I think this kind of dialogue is very important. Is
Speaker Gustafson still here? Tom, I think working under the Executive Director would be very
helpful if you could put forth sort of an ad hoc business advisory committee early on, and to just
sort of look at the project because I think what Eugene Rodriguez is saying now, and what other
business owners will say, will breathe more life into your project than, really, coming to us
because, at the end of the day, the MPO (Metropolitan Planning Organization) is a political
entity, even the City Commission is, to some extent, and I think if business owners that are
paying the taxes -- Eugene, candidly, your taxes have what?
Mr. Rodriguez: They doubled this year alone. They went up around 1000 percent since 1998,
when I started buying here, but --
Chairman Teele: Since 19 --
Mr. Rodriguez: -- this year alone --
Chairman Teele: Since 1998 --
Mr. Rodriguez: -- they doubled.
Chairman Teele: -- his taxes have gone up 1000 percent.
Mr. Rodriguez: Yeah, and --
Chairman Teele: And --
Mr. Rodriguez: -- I think his program, besides if it's designed properly and it brings character,
it will create a visual track connecting the neighborhoods, and then I think also, you know, if you
do it like San Francisco, the trolleys there, they have advertising. They have things on them that
would generate income on its own, so I don't -- and, also, the tax base here, with the
improvement of this area, your tax base will help compensate some of these costs, I would figure
it would.
Chairman Teele: Right.
Mr. Rodriguez: And it's almost like things like this and other symbolic things that tie the
neighborhoods together and say what they are, just the labeling of them, like the Jazz, Blues and
Gospel District for Overtown, and attaching it to 11 th Street, like you suggested, Commissioner
Teele, I think that's -- that flow of three different identities, three different neighborhoods, with
the Performing Arts attached, making the connectivity of those three neighborhoods only adds
value as a destination for the entire downtown area.
Chairman Teele: Thank you for opening your doors, and I hope that we will pay you on time.
Mr. Rodriguez: Oh, it's --
Mr. Rollason: We'll work that out, Gene.
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Mr. Rodriguez: Yeah. It's not a problem.
Chairman Teele: In conclusion, we would also like to announce, a new business has been
opened within the district. It's called the Players Food and Games facility. Jim --
Jim Melcher: Melcher.
Chairman Teele: -- Melcher, you're here and we're inviting, I assume, Jim, everyone over from
this facility -- it's just two blocks over from here -- to 11 th Streetand almost Miami Avenue, just a
little ways in.
Mr. Melcher: Correct. Thank you, Chairman and members of the board. It's Players Bar, Food
and Games. We're an interactive venue of games.
Chairman Teele: Give her your name for the record, Jim.
Mr. Melcher: My name is Jim Melcher. I'm one of the co -owners of Players, and we're an
interactive venue of video games, sporting events. We have all -- most major sporting events
around the world coming in through satellite. We have three high -definition nine by twelve foot
screens, and we have a bowling alley, billiards. It's an interactive venue for all ages and, after
this meeting, we have a reception there, so looking forward to seeing you all there. You can also
check us out at PlayersMiami. com. Thank you.
Chairman Teele: Well, again, we appreciate all of the businesses that are opening, paying --
(APPLA (APPLAUSE)
Chairman Teele: (INAUDIBLE)
Mr. Melcher: Thank you.
Chairman Teele: The meeting --
Mr. Rollason: Also, Mr. Chairman, can I add that parking for that tonight is directly behind the
club. You enter on Miami Avenue, just past 11 th Street. On your left, there's a big parking lot
there, and it'll -- the parking will be free.
Chairman Teele: Due to a loss of a quorum, the meeting is adjourned. Thank you.
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