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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSEOPW OMNI CRA 2006-09-25 MinutesCity of Miami City Hall 3500 Pan American Drive Miami, FL 33133 www.miamigov.com * IMCORP GROTED lEmSIE Co l 11, • Meeting Minutes Monday, September 25, 2006 5:00 PM THE DOUBLE TREE GRAND HOTEL in the Grand Ball Room 1717 NORTH BAYSHORE DRIVE MIAMI, FLORIDA SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Michelle Spence -Jones, Chair Angel Gonzalez, Vice Chair Linda M. Haskins, Commissioner Joe Sanchez, Commissioner Tomas Regalado, Commissioner ************************** CRA OFFICE ADDRESS: 49 NW 5th ST, SUITE 100, Miami, FL 33128 Phone: (305) 679-6800, Fax: (305) 679-6835 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes September 25, 2006 On the 25th day of September 2006, the Board of Directors of the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) for the Southeast Overtown/Park West and Omni Districts of the City of Miami met in regular session at the Double Tree Grand Hotel, Miami, Florida. The meeting was called to order by Chair Michelle Spence -Jones at 5: 47 p.m. and was adjourned at 8: 38 p.m. Present: Vice Chair Gonzalez, Commissioner Regalado, Chair Spence -Jones and Commissioner Haskins Absent: Commissioner Sanchez ALSO PRESENT: James Villacorta, Interim Executive Director, CRA, City of Miami Kevin Brown Assistant General Counsel, CRA William R. Bloom, Special Counsel, CRA Pamela E. Burns, Assistant Clerk of the Board Minutes are transcribed verbatim. Periodically, agenda items are revisited during a meeting. "[Later...J" refers to discussions that were interrupted and later continued. FINANCIALS 1. 06-01466 CRA REPORT FINANCIAL SUMMARY THROUGH MONTH END AUGUST 31, 2006 Financial Summary.pdf MOTION A motion was made by Vice Chair Gonzalez, seconded by Commissioner Haskins, and was passed unanimously, with Commissioner Sanchez absent, to accept the monthly financial summary report. Chair Spence -Jones: I'd like to, first of all, welcome everyone to the CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) meeting for September 25. We have a lot of items to cover. I'm going to turn it over immediately to staff with the -- I guess, the first item on the agenda, which is the financial summary. Miguel Valentin (Financial Officer, Community Redevelopment Agency): Good evening, Chairman, Commissioners. On page 1, you have the combined statement of financial position as of August 31, 2006. As you can see on the first item, you have cash unrestricted. Under Southeast Overtown/Park West, we are disclosing the amount of $551,042, and under Omni, you have 50,000. Also I wanted to tell you that we're carrying everything forward into 2007, as we said the last time, and also I wanted to let you know that the auditors -- we already started the conduction of the external audit for 2006. I'm hoping that we are going to be concluding the audit by the end of December 2006, and along with that, there is no reportable conditions that you should be aware of. Vice Chair Gonzalez: All right. Madam Chair, I move to accept the report. Commissioner Haskins: Second. Chair Spence -Jones: All in favor? The Commission (Collectively): Aye. Chair Spence -Jones: All right. Item is passed. City of Miami Page 2 Printed on 10/12/2006 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes September 25, 2006 RESOLUTIONS 2. 06-01666 CRA RESOLUTION A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY RATIFYING THE ACTIONS OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR IN MAKING PAYMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $104,490 TO DESIGN -BUILD INTERAMERICAN, INC. FOR EMERGENCY ROOF REPAIRS, NECESSITATED BY HURRICANE WILMA, TO THE HISTORIC GREATER BETHEL A.M.E. CHURCH; ALLOCATING FUNDS FROM SEOPW TIF FUND, "CONSTRUCTION IN PROGRESS," ACCOUNT CODE NO. 689001.550108.6.860. Cover Memo.pdf Financial Form.pdf Legislation.pdf Motion by Vice Chair Gonzalez, seconded by Commissioner Haskins, that this matter be ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote. Votes: Ayes: 4 - Vice Chair Gonzalez, Commissioner Regalado, Chair Spence -Jones and Commissioner Haskins Absent: 1 - Commissioner Sanchez CRA-R-06-0032 Chair Spence -Jones: We're going to move to number 2 on the agenda. It's a quick update that I guess we need to get. I'm going to ask Jim -- this is a CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) resolution, actually, the Board passed regarding the Hurricane Wilma emergency roof repairs. Jim, do you have any comments on that? I know -- James Villacorta (Interim Executive Director, Community Redevelopment Agency): Yeah. Chair Spence -Jones: -- we have somebody from BAME (Bethel African Methodist Episcopal), but if you could maybe perhaps just speak on -- just so that we can get through the items. Mr. Villacorta: At an earlier meeting, the Board authorized $100, 000 for roof repairs to the Greater Bethel AME (African Methodist Episcopal) Church. You asked that it be brought back before you to be ratified. The ultimate expenditure was $104,490. For this amount, we were able to reroof the church and the daycare center next door with a roof that is finished with 90 pound felt with a mineral surface, so it is impervious to the weather and can work as a finished roof until Greater Bethel can obtain the historic tile and finish the roof in the manner in which it was before the hurricane. I know we have someone from Greater Bethel that wanted to Chairman Gonzalez: I have a question. This includes the entire roof? Chair Spence -Jones: Um -hum. Mr. Villacorta: Yes. This is the -- Chairman Gonzalez: That would be a completed job? Chair Spence -Jones: Yeah City of Miami Page 3 Printed on 10/12/2006 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes September 25, 2006 Mr. Villacorta: It is complete -- completed. Vice Chair Gonzalez: Madam Chair, I'm ready to move -- Don Patterson: Excuse me. Vice Chair Gonzalez: -- to approve. Mr. Patterson: Can I answer that question? Vice Chair Gonzalez: Yes, sir. Mr. Patterson: The work is 90 percent complete. The (INAUDIBLE) -- Vice Chair Gonzalez: Yeah, but I mean, this amount of dollars will complete -- will do a hundred percent of the job. Mr. Villacorta: Yes. Chair Spence -Jones: Drying the building out. This does not have anything to do with the tiling on the top of the roof but the biggest issue for us regarding the actual item was the fact that it was hurricanes coming, and we didn't want the church to have anymore damage. Vice Chair Gonzalez: Right. Chair Spence -Jones: Now because the rain -- it did rain in the church, there is some damage inside of the church already, but we're looking at trying to find another way to address that. The most important thing was to stop some of the bleeding, which I want to commend the Board for making sure that we had that happen, but the most important thing it's no longer raining in Bethel AME. Correct. OK, so I don't know if you want to put on the record about the $58, 000 from -- Mr. Villacorta: Yeah -- Chair Spence -Jones: -- their insurance claim. You can -- Mr. Villacorta: The church did receive a $58, 000 payment from their insurance company. This included roof on the work and for the interior damage. We had our engineers look at it, and they thought only approximately 13,000 would have covered the work that we did on their roof. We completely reroofed the church and the daycare center next door. In light of the amount of damage on the inside of the church, we'd recommend that they just go ahead and apply that insurance payment to the interior renovations they need. Chair Spence -Jones: So Mr. Don, it will -- we will address the overall preservation of the church when we discuss the overall bonds, but for right now, the most important thing was that it's no longer raining in the church, so -- Mr. Patterson: Absolutely -- Chair Spence -Jones: OK. Mr. Patterson: -- and at the very least, I wanted to come up to the podium and say thank you all so much for such a quick response. I thought for sure that when I came before you that there'd be some haggling and a lot of justification required to try to support out numbers, but everyone just came and said what is it we need to do, and for that, on behalf of Greater Bethel, I want to City of Miami Page 4 Printed on 10/12/2006 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes September 25, 2006 say thank you so much. Chair Spence -Jones: Thank you too. Do we have a motion at all? Vice Chair Gonzalez: Madam Chair, I have a motion to approve the resolution. Commissioner Haskins: Second. Chair Spence -Jones: All in favor? The Commission (Collectively): Aye. Pamela Burns (Assistant Clerk of the Board): Excuse me. Could we have your name for the record, please? Mr. Patterson: Don Patterson, president and CEO (Chief Executive Officer) of BAME Development Corporation, affiliate of Greater Bethel AME Church. Ms. Burns: Thank you. 3. 06-01467 CRA RESOLUTION A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE OMNI REDEVELOPMENT DISTRICT COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY, AMENDING RESOLUTION NO. CRA-R-05-0044, AUTHORIZING THE EXPENDITURE OF ADDITIONAL FUNDS, IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $554,255.22, FOR A NOT TO EXCEED PROJECT TOTAL OF $5,054,255.22, FOR THE STREETSCAPE IMPROVEMENTS WITHIN AN APPROXIMATE TWO -BLOCK AREA SURROUNDING THE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER OF GREATER MIAMI; ALLOCATING FUNDS FROM OMNI TAX INCREMENT FUND, "FY 2007 OMNI BUDGET RESERVE," ACCOUNT CODE NO. 686001.590320.6.996. Cover Memo.pdf Financial Form.pdf Back Up.pdf Legislation.pdf DEFERRED A motion was made by Commissioner Haskins, seconded by Vice Chair Gonzalez, and was passed unanimously, with Commissioner Sanchez absent, to defer Item 4 until the Department of Capital Improvements provides a report to the Board regarding the item. Chair Spence -Jones: All right. We're going to go on to Item number 3, which is a CR [sic] resolution regarding the streetscape improvements for the Performing Arts Center. Do you have any comments on that at all? James Villacorta (Interim Executive Director, Community Redevelopment Agency): We recommend approval of the attached resolution amending the budget for the PAC (Performing Arts Center) superblock streetscape, in the amount of $554,255.22, which will bring a total budget for the project to $5,054,255.22. Chair Spence -Jones: I don't know if there's any comments. Is there anybody from Capital Improvements here regarding this item? City of Miami Page 5 Printed on 10/12/2006 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes September 25, 2006 Commissioner Regalado: Madam Chair. Chair Spence -Jones: Sure. Commissioner Regalado: OK. Jim, I have a question. I remember that in May 26 of last year, we approved a resolution to spend 5 million -- not to exceed $5 million -- Mr. Villacorta: Correct. Commissioner Regalado: -- on that superblock. Now my understanding -- I was reading some of the material -- 95 percent of the pavers are done; 95 percent of the light is done. The project is supposed to cost -- (AUDIO INTERRUPTED) -- only short $50,000. Chair Spence -Jones: That was my question too, Commissioner Regalado, earlier when we had our briefing. That's why I was hoping someone from Capital Improvements would have -- Mr. Villacorta: The -- in May 26, the Board passed a resolution authorizing $500, 000 towards design. In November 3, the Board -- Commissioner Regalado: No, no. On May 26, the Board passed a resolution authorizing the funding for the project not to exceed $5 million. This is -- I have it here somewhere. May 26, 2005. Now we're told that the project will be $5, 050, 000, but yet, they're asking half a million dollars, and by the way, this is something that the CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) is doing for the PAC, and it's fine and dandy, and although no streets in the City of Miami have ever cost $5 million, but that's another issue, and yet, we haven't had, from the County, the assurances that we are going to get the extension of the CRA up to 2027 because the County Commission has not approve it that you know of right? Mr. Villacorta: Correct. The reason given for the additional funding request was that it was not attributable to a change order or cost overrun, but rather to the final construction contract exceeding the original engineer's estimate. Though Capital Improvements isn't here to speak to this, I imagine that with the rise in construction costs from their -- over the last year and a half, the -- Commissioner Regalado: Yeah, yeah. I know the cement is going to China, but the thing is, here it says it cost 5, 050, 000, and you're asking half a million dollars, so what do we do with $450, 000 left over? We can hire a consultant or something, I guess. Chair Spence -Jones: And are we sure it's not going to be more than that? Commissioner Regalado: Huh? Chair Spence -Jones: I'm asking are we sure that that's going to be it, Jim? Mr. Villacorta: Yes. Commissioner Regalado: Oh, no. If it's more than that, I mean, I am going to have to go on the street and seek -- Commissioner Haskins: Is this Chinese water torture for a capital project? I mean, is this just going to keep dripping on our heads -- Chair Spence -Jones: Yeah. Commissioner Haskins: -- with more and more --? City of Miami Page 6 Printed on 10/12/2006 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes September 25, 2006 Mr. Villacorta: This is the final amount to complete the project. Commissioner Regalado: Sure. That's -- I mean, the Chairperson is here; the Vice Chair is here. The -- our Chairman in the Commission is here, but I think that somehow, somewhere, you have to draw the line, and you know, regardless of this project going overboard with $500 million and it's very beautiful and all that, and everybody's happy, but I mean, still I don't understand why do you need $450, 000 more. If 90 percent of the lighting is done; 90 percent of the pavers is done -- unless we're going to gold-plate the curbs, then it's OK, but I'm only voting for $50,000, and -- but the motion -- Chair Spence -Jones: Can I make a suggestion, Commissioner Regalado? Would you --? I mean, and you -- maybe you can respond to this because I'm -- again, I'm not understanding why we don't have anybody from capital improvements because we did ask -- Mr. Villacorta: We did ask -- Commissioner Regalado: Because they're used to change orders all the time, and -- Chair Spence -Jones: So would -- do we -- Commissioner Regalado: -- we -- Chair Spence -Jones: -- want to defer this item until we get --? Mr. Villacorta: Sure. Chair Spence -Jones: I mean, is this going to stop -- Vice Chair Gonzalez: That's -- Chair Spence -Jones: -- I mean, that would be my suggestion because, if you don't have an answer, I don't want to give them $50, 000 and -- Vice Chair Gonzalez: -- what I suggest that we do. We defer this until we get an answer because the problem is that every single project from CIP (Capital Improvements Program), every single project, they have -- they are overspending money. I don't know what the problem is. You know, they're supposed to have the most -- the best professional people in the entire United States, and maybe, all over the world, you know, and they don't seem to be able to work with numbers. They have a serious problem working with numbers. Chair Spence -Jones: So we're going to defer this item because I agree with Commissioner Regalado and Commissioner Gonzalez on this item, so we're going to move to defer this item until the next Commission [sic] meeting, and Jim, I just want to make sure you're real clear, you know, because I don't know when they're scheduled to officially do all their openings, that this will not happen for us until after we make a decision in October. Mr. Villacorta: Correct. Chair Spence -Jones: OK, so we're going to -- Commissioner Haskins: And you can add my name to -- Chair Spence -Jones: Oh, yeah, and Commissioner Haskins. City of Miami Page 7 Printed on 10/12/2006 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes September 25, 2006 Commissioner Haskins: -- agreeing with that, so -- Chair Spence -Jones: And Commissioner Haskins. Commissioner Haskins: -- I make a motion to defer this item till Capital Improvements can report -- Vice Chair Gonzalez: I second. Commissioner Haskins: -- to us. Chair Spence -Jones: OK. Item has been -- oh, all in favor? The Commission (Collectively): Aye. Chair Spence -Jones: OK. Item has been deferred. 4. 06-01469 CRA RESOLUTION A JOINT RESOLUTION OF THE BOARDS OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST AND OMNI REDEVELOPMENT DISTRICT COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCIES AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT, IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO GENERAL COUNSEL, WITH DOUG BRUCE AND ASSOCIATES FOR GOVERNMENTAL REPRESENTATION AND LOBBYING SERVICES IN TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA, FOR A TWO-YEAR PERIOD, COMMENCING JULY 1, 2006, IN AN ANNUAL AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $57,600 PLUS APPROVED EXPENSES NOT TO EXCEED $5,000, FOR A TWO-YEAR TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $125,200; ALLOCATING FUNDS AS FOLLOWS: $7,825 EACH FROM FY 2006 SEOPW TIF FUND, "PROFESSIONAL SERVICES - OTHER," ACCOUNT CODE NO. 689001.550108.6.270, AND OMNI TIF FUND, "PROFESSIONAL SERVICES - OTHER," ACCOUNT CODE NO. 686001.590320.6.270; $31,300 EACH FROM FY 2007 SEOPW TIF FUND, "PROFESSIONAL SERVICES - OTHER," ACCOUNT CODE NO. 689001.550108.6.270, AND OMNI TIF FUND, "PROFESSIONAL SERVICES - OTHER," ACCOUNT CODE NO. 686001.590320.6.270; AND $23,475 EACH FROM FY 2008 SEOPW TIF FUND, "PROFESSIONAL SERVICES - OTHER," ACCOUNT CODE NO. 689001.550108.6.270, AND OMNI TIF FUND, "PROFESSIONAL SERVICES - OTHER," ACCOUNT CODE NO. 686001.590320.6.270. Cover Memo.pdf Financial Form.pdf Back Up.pdf Legislation.pdf Motion by Vice Chair Gonzalez, seconded by Commissioner Haskins, that this matter be ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote. Votes: Ayes: 3 - Vice Chair Gonzalez, Chair Spence -Jones and Commissioner Haskins Noes: 1 - Commissioner Regalado Absent: 1 - Commissioner Sanchez CRA-R-06-0033 Direction by Commissioner Haskins to the Interim Executive Director to schedule a report to the City ofMiami Page 8 Printed on 10/12/2006 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes September 25, 2006 Board from Doug Bruce, CRA legislative consultant and lobbyist, at the CRA meeting currently scheduled for October 30, 2006. Chair Spence -Jones: All right. We're going to move to the next item real fast, which is number 4, which has something to do with the lobbying services. Jim, do you want to give us a briefing? James Villacorta (Interim Executive Director, Community Redevelopment Agency): Yes. Chair Spence -Jones: I do have some questions on this item myself, but -- Mr. Villacorta: This item is to renew our contract with Doug Bruce & Associates to provide legislative consulting services and lobbying initiatives at the state legislature level for a two-year period, beginning July 1, 2006, and ending July 30, 2008, for a fee not to exceed $57, 600 per year. Chair Spence -Jones: OK. I don't know if my colleagues have any questions regarding this item, but I -- again, in my briefings, I did. I just wanted to get on the record, Jim -- and I don't have a problem with the firm. I just have a question regarding -- we've had him on board for how long? Mr. Villacorta: For three years. Chair Spence -Jones: Three years, and part of them lobbying is to provide -- bring finding back from Tallahassee too, right? Identify -- Mr. Villacorta: That is one of their initiatives, is to obtain funding. They've helped us when we've applied for grants for the Ward Rooming House. Though we made it to the final round, because the building was in such a deteriorated condition, the panel -- Chair Spence -Jones: But -- Mr. Villacorta: -- did not feel they could award us funding. He's helped us obtain access to the legislature and provided information to them on the work that we're doing. We or -- he organized a tour of the CRAs (Community Redevelopment Agencies) for the Dade Delegation. They were very -- Chair Spence -Jones: Yeah. Mr. Villacorta: -- interested. I know recently he's been meeting with Commissioner Haskins, and she has some affordable housing initiatives that he is taking back to the Legislature to present our views. The -- I know he's been to the Affordable Housing Committee, and they will be coming around the state to take testimony -- Chair Spence -Jones: Yeah. Mr. Villacorta: -- and we look to him to have our Commissioners afforded the opportunity to testify before that housing committee. Chair Spence -Jones: I just want to make sure that I at least put it on the record, and I don't know if my colleagues have any questions. I just really would like to see -- I mean, we do have -- the City of Miami, we do have lobbyists that are in Tallahassee doing this kind of work for the overall city, and to me, if we've had him on board for three years, I think that we need to make sure that the firm itself focuses on ident Eying -- because I know throughout -- at least throughout my district, I have so many needs coming from Tallahassee, and if we're going to have a lobbyist up there, I don't mind him setting meetings. That's great, but at the end of the day, I want to see that some dollars are coming from Tallahassee into the Southeast Overtown/Park West area, City of Miami Page 9 Printed on 10/12/2006 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes September 25, 2006 Omni area also. I'm sure Commissioner Haskins feels the same way, so that's my only concern, is if we are going to approve it, it's that we give him some serious marching orders. You know, if we're paying him, we really want to see that some dollars are coming back home. Mr. Villacorta: It would not be a problem to make sure that he understands that one of the initiatives we want to see carried through is funding returning to us in excess of the dollars we're spending. Commissioner Regalado: Well, have him work for a percentage of what he brings. A lot of lobbyists do that. I mean, three years and the whole thing is a tour? I mean, I can organize a tour. Hilda can organize a tour. Chair Spence -Jones: I mean, that's -- that was my -- and you know, in my briefing today -- Commissioner Regalado: Hilda can organize a tour. Chair Spence -Jones: -- I have a big concern with it -- Mr. Villacorta: Sure. Chair Spence -Jones: -- but I mean -- Mr. Villacorta: If -- Chair Spence -Jones: -- if y'all have -- Is there a motion on this item? Mr. Villacorta: It's certainly a policy decision -- Chair Spence -Jones: I mean, is it necessary -- Mr. Villacorta: -- of the Board. Chair Spence -Jones: -- for us to do it -- Vice Chair Gonzalez: I'm ready. Chair Spence -Jones: -- right now? Vice Chair Gonzalez: I'm ready to move it if -- Chair Spence -Jones: OK Do -- he's -- Mr. Villacorta: It's certainly a policy decision of the Board as to whether they want to -- Chair Spence -Jones: I mean, any reason why it has to -- Mr. Villacorta: -- obtain -- Chair Spence -Jones: -- happen like right now? Is it because --? Mr. Villacorta: His contract has expired. Chair Spence -Jones: Oh, OK. Commissioner Haskins: I think we should (INAUDIBLE). City of Miami Page 10 Printed on 10/12/2006 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes September 25, 2006 Chair Spence -Jones: OK. Commissioner Haskins: I think we -- I -- you know, I have met with him. I thought he was talking with all the members of the CRA Board, butt think that it's really important, in any of these lobbying efforts, that there's a good coordination with the City lobbyists so that we're not at cross purposes with each other and that we're joining forces as much as possible, so you know Chair Spence -Jones: Do we have a motion? Commissioner Haskins: -- I would be able to move it, and hopefully, we can get a report from him in the next meeting, something like that to talk to him -- Mr. Villacorta: Yeah. Commissioner Haskins: -- about. Mr. Villacorta: Definitely. Chair Spence -Jones: So do I have a motion? I think had -- Vice Chair Gonzalez: You have a motion. Chair Spence -Jones: -- a motion. Do I have a second? Commissioner Haskins: Second. Chair Spence -Jones: OK. All in favor? Commissioner Regalado: No. One "no." Chair Spence -Jones: OK. Item has passed. 5. 06-00914 CRA RESOLUTION A JOINT RESOLUTION OF THE BOARDS OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST AND OMNI REDEVELOPMENT DISTRICT COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCIES ("CRAS") RECOMMENDING THAT THE CITY ADMINISTRATION PREPARE LEGISLATION TO AMEND CHAPTER 4 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI ENTITLED, "ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES", TO MODIFY THE DISTRICT BOUNDARIES FOR THE PARK WEST ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT, THE OVERTOWN BLUES AND JAZZ ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT AND THE OMNI ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT (RESO PENDING). Cover Memo.pdf Back-up.pdf Legislation.pdf Cover Memo v2.pdf Back-up v2.pdf Legislation v2.pdf Cover Memo V3.pdf Back Up V3.pdf Legislation V3.pdf City ofMiami Page 11 Printed on 10/12/2006 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes September 25, 2006 Motion by Vice Chair Gonzalez, seconded by Commissioner Haskins, that this matter be ADOPTED WITH MODIFICATIONS PASSED by the following vote. Votes: Ayes: 4 - Vice Chair Gonzalez, Commissioner Regalado, Chair Spence -Jones and Commissioner Haskins Absent: 1 - Commissioner Sanchez CRA-R-06-0034 Chair Spence -Jones: OK. Then we're going to move to number 5, which is the joint CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) resolution. Jim, do you want to speak on that real fast just so that we can deal with this? We've kind of dealt with it a little bit, but -- James Villacorta (Interim Executive Director, Community Redevelopment Agency): Right. This resolution just asks that the City staff be -- that you ask the City Manager to direct City staff to work on amending the Zoning Code concerning alcoholic beverages, Section 4-11, to mod fy the boundaries of the Park West/Overtown and Media Entertainment Districts. Those modifications could include limiting the hours from what is there now and con -- reconfiguring the boundaries. We have suggested reducing the size of the 24-hour district, but at least making them contiguous, but again, it would be open to City staff to make a recommendation, and that's what you're asking them to do. Vice Chair Gonzalez: I'm willing to move the resolution, but that was a question that I had, you know, that if this could include also looking at regulating the hours. Mr. Villacorta: It's asking them to amend the boundaries. We could amend the resolution to ask them to consider changes -- Vice Chair Gonzalez: Yeah. Mr. Villacorta: -- to the hours of operation, as well, and you would take the recommendations of City staff. This is -- the City Commission would have to do this by amending their Zoning Ordinance. Vice Chair Gonzalez: Well, with that amendment, I'm ready to move 5. Commissioner Haskins: Is -- let me -- can I ask a question? Is this map on the last page here, is this -- are these new lines what you want to make the media district and the Overtown entertainment district and the Park West entertainment district? Mr. Villacorta: Those were the suggestions of the steering committee and the architects that prepared the -- the consultants that prepared the amended redevelopment plans. Commissioner Haskins: So if we vote yes on this, is this what you would go forward with? Mr. Villacorta: No. The -- Chair Spence -Jones: No. Mr. Villacorta: -- City staff would look at this and come back to you with a recommendation -- to the City Commission. Commissioner Haskins: I'm not -- I'm just not prepared to go here. Mr. Villacorta: Well, if you want to remove -- City of Miami Page 12 Printed on 10/12/2006 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes September 25, 2006 Commissioner Haskins: I'm just not -- I mean, 24 hours in this Park West entertainment district needs to change. I'm not sure why we need to have 20 -- why we need to have the entertainment districts go this close to Biscayne Boulevard, where we have a lot of residential, and even crossing Biscayne Boulevard, and we're going to end up with many issues for the people that live close to Margaret Pace Park and in that area. You know, I'd really like to, you know, understand what do we mean by this, what are the rules of the game, and the hours of operation -- you know, the hours of operation definitely have to be looked up. You know, this definitely -- I cannot support anything that's going to continue a 24-hour -- I won't, anywhere. Chair Spence -Jones: Commissioner Haskins, would you like to defer the item until they bring it back, or you want to -- how do you want to handle it? Commissioner Haskins: I'd like to defer it. Commissioner Regalado: No, but what you can do is direct the executive director to communicate to the City staff that it's the will of this Board that the 24-hour district be changed, and that the boundaries -- Commissioner Haskins: Be narrowed. Commissioner Regalado: -- would be narrow. That's all that there is to it. Commissioner Haskins: Away from Biscayne Boulevard. Commissioner Regalado: I mean, and you -- Chair Spence -Jones: Now -- Commissioner Regalado: -- save time because by deferring -- Commissioner Haskins: That's fine. Commissioner Regalado: -- you are deferring the inevitable, you know. Commissioner Haskins: I'm fine. Mr. Villacorta: Currently, the 24-hour district extends to Biscayne Boulevard. This suggestion here reduces it by about two-thirds -- Commissioner Regalado: But the -- Mr. Villacorta: -- along Biscayne Boulevard, but if you want to step back -- Commissioner Regalado: -- but she doesn't want -- Mr. Villacorta: Yes. Commissioner Regalado: -- 24 hours. Mr. Villacorta: Right. If you want to step back and also reduce the hours, that's something we could communicate to City staff and ask them to come up with recommendations for modfing the boundaries -- Commissioner Haskins: And -- City of Miami Page 13 Printed on 10/12/2006 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes September 25, 2006 Mr. Villacorta: -- and hours of operations. Commissioner Haskins: -- I'd like it to -- and we would have a review then. The City staff would make a recommendation to the CRA Board? Mr. Villacorta: They could do both, to the CRA and -- Commissioner Haskins: Yes. I'd like that. Mr. Villacorta: OK. Chair Spence -Jones: OK, so what is the -- Commissioner Regalado: First. Chair Spence -Jones: -- motion, guys? Mr. Villacorta: A motion to pass a resolution asking City staff to review the boundaries and hours of operations of the entertainment districts -- Commissioner Regalado: No, no, not to review, reduce. Mr. Villacorta: -- to reduce the hours of operations and the boundaries of the entertainment districts. Commissioner Regalado: Not review, reduce. Mr. Villacorta: To reduce. I'm sorry. Vice Chair Gonzalez: I had a motion, and so -- Chair Spence -Jones: Yeah. You -- Vice Chair Gonzalez: -- what I'm going to do is I'm going to accept the amendment. Mr. Villacorta: Accept the amendment. Vice Chair Gonzalez: OK. Commissioner Haskins. Commissioner Haskins: Yes. We want to review and reduce the hours of operation and the boundaries for these entertainment districts, and we would like it to come back to the CRA Board before going to the City Commission. Chair Spence -Jones: You say second. Commissioner Haskins: Second. Chair Spence -Jones: All in favor? The Commission (Collectively): Aye. Chair Spence -Jones: Item has been passed. Vice Chair Gonzalez: All right. City of Miami Page 14 Printed on 10/12/2006 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes September 25, 2006 6. 06-01470 CRA RESOLUTION A JOINT RESOLUTION OF THE BOARDS OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST AND OMNI REDEVELOPMENT DISTRICT COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCIES ("CRAS"), WITH ATTACHMENT(S), ACCEPTING THE REPORT OF THE COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT AND BEAUTIFICATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE, ATTACHED AND INCORPORATED, IDENTIFYING PROSPECTIVE CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT WILL IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE, INFRASTRUCTURE, AND AESTHETICS IN THE CRA REDEVELOPMENT AREAS; DIRECTING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO FORWARD THE REPORT TO CITY ADMINISTRATION WITH THE REQUEST THAT THE APPROPRIATE CITY STAFF MEET WITH THE PROPOSERS AND PROVIDE THEIR INPUT AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE BOARD. Cover Memo.pdf Legislation.pdf Motion by Commissioner Haskins, seconded by Commissioner Regalado, that this matter be ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote. Votes: Ayes: 3 - Commissioner Regalado, Chair Spence -Jones and Commissioner Haskins Absent: 2 - Vice Chair Gonzalez and Commissioner Sanchez CRA-R-06-0035 Chair Spence -Jones: OK We're going to move to the next item. As you know, Chairman Gonzalez had another engagement, so we're going to continue, and we're going to move to number 6 on the agenda. This was in reference to the Capital Improvements Beautification Advisory Committee, and as you know, over the last, I don't know, how many months -- many months it felt like -- James Villacorta (Interim Executive Director, Community Redevelopment Agency): Since May, we've met nine times -- Chair Spence -Jones: OK. Since May -- Mr. Villacorta: -- two of them -- Chair Spence -Jones: -- we met nine times, but as you know, I was actually appointed to this position by the Chairman -- Chairman Winton at the time -- regarding these bonds that we were going to be issuing. It was given to us that we needed to have it all done by October 1, and that we needed to have special meetings and public hearings to at least make sure that we got comments in from the public as to what type of projects needed to be included in the overall bond. The three areas that we had the most concentration -- or the three areas that we had the concentration on was, of course, affordable housing, being the number one; number two being infrastructure, and number three being historic preservation. We had several people come out, put information on the record, submitted some of their proposals. We had proposals that included 1-pagers, 1-liners, 20-pagers, 300-pagers, but most of the information was submitted in a public process because the idea was to make sure that we got the information on record. We had our last meeting on last Saturday to review all of the projects. As you see inside of your packages, it has a listing of the folks that have actually submitted their projects, and you have dollar amounts, and you have some sort of a grading system that was put in place. What I'd like to be able to at least put on the record, so that we're real clear, we are not approving any dollar amounts; that's not what we're doing. We're not approving any other priorities in which any -- City of Miami Page 15 Printed on 10/12/2006 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes September 25, 2006 this is put in as a part of the process. It was just a vetting process to collect the data and to make sure that everyone had the opportunity to participate and also to have a transparent process. At this point, I directed -- and the board directed the City staff, which is the Historic Preservation staff the Department of Community Development, along with -- am I missing -- who else? -- oh, Capital -- Mr. Villacorta: CIP (Capital Improvements Program). Chair Spence -Jones: -- Improvements to work on vetting these projects over the next 90 to 120 days. Currently -- so that we're all on the same page -- the County and our City staffers, Larry Springs [sic], continue to work with the County to expand the boundaries and the life of the CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency). Again, we will not be able to expand the life or do any of these things without expanding the life -- correct, Jim? Mr. Villacorta: Correct. Chair Spence -Jones: -- so I just want to make sure -- because I know that there was some confusion in the past about, you know, this sheet being circulated for a particular project. I believe that was happening in your district, and it kind of got out there, and that was not true. Everyone had the opportunity to put something on the record as to how much they felt they needed to support their project. We did not confirm or deny who we're spending dollars on. That's not what the process was for. My role as the chairperson of that committee was simply to provide the public with the opportunity to put information on the record. I have officially turned over the -- the board has actually sunsetted as of Saturday. The information is now with the City staffers to vet it through, and then they will be bringing it back to the CRA Board before we issue these bonds. Now I don't know if I said it all correctly but, Jim, you can straighten it up from that point. Mr. Villacorta: I think that's a good synopsis. I might also point out that items 12 and 21, submitted by Irby McKnight, he asked to have those included at the Saturday meeting, and we will be removing the withdrawn item next to those four projects. Again, it was a vetting process, where we're casting a wide net, inviting the public to submit any project they felt had merit, and those projects have been identified and will now move on to City staff for their help in fleshing them out. Many of them, like you said, were one- or two page proposals, and to have City staff come back with their recommendations as to what should be included, and to be cognizant that the County will also have things they would like to see, in all likelihood, in exchange for extending the life of the CRAs and/or expanding the boundaries. Chair Spence -Jones: I want to at least acknowledge some of our board members, like Fred Joseph, that was actually awesome in this whole process, and doing an outstanding job representing your district, and I don't know if I have any other of our committee members that also participated. I don't see any other, Fred, but they did an outstanding job. It was very difficult to kind of -- Are there any other board members at all? Fred Joseph: They were here. One just left (UNINTELLIGIBLE) -- Chair Spence -Jones: OK. Mr. Joseph: -- was giving you a report. Chair Spence -Jones: OK I just wanted to make sure that we at least publicly acknowledge you for your hard work and pulling that together, so today was really -- and I wanted to make sure that they -- you explained to them that we're not approving -- Mr. Villacorta: No. The committee was well aware at its Saturday meeting, last Saturday, that, City of Miami Page 16 Printed on 10/12/2006 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes September 25, 2006 again, this was just an identification process. They are not making a recommendation as to the amount of funding or which projects you'll be funding, but again, this is to move on to the next level, where City staff can help us to put the numbers to these projects and to properly evaluate them and bring those items back to the CRA Board, who will ultimately make the decision as to what would be included in the bond issue, and just to reiterate what you said, this committee worked very long hours, late nights and early Saturday mornings, and they're to be commended for the amount of effort they put into the work that you have before you today. Chair Spence -Jones: I just want to say to my colleagues to -- one of the things that we did, at least in the Overtown/Southeast Park West [sic] side of it, and especially in the Overtown area, is that we took what -- based upon whatever we're going to be able to bond out at and broke it down in different categories. We thought that affordable housing was the biggest issue for Overtowners, so we chose 60 percent of those dollars will go towards affordable housing; 40 percent will go towards infrastructure needs, and 10 percent will go towards -- Mr. Villacorta: Historic and facades. Chair Spence -Jones: -- historic and facades for the businesses in the area, and we did it like that because we felt that it was really, really important. I did hear and heed the call of many of my community groups, like Power U, like the Culmer Center, just different organizations, my OAB (Overtown Advisory Board) Board, stressing that we needed to make sure those dollars for affordable housing be pulled out for the bond as a part of it, so that's going to be a major initiative on that side for us on that end, but I don't know if Commissioner Haskins has a comment at all on it, and I know that my other colleague had one, and then, Fred, if you could allow for them to say something first, I'd greatly appreciate it. Commissioner Haskins: You know, I -- the -- this is really a very complicated process, and Commissioner Spence -Jones has just done a great job of leading this effort. What I'm really glad to see is, for the first time ever, this CRA is really taking a hard look at our affordable and workforce housing needs in the CRA. When you look at the funding that the City has available, we get $4 million a year from the federal government. We get $2 million a year from the State. We have a total of $6 million a year of funding for the City, if you can imagine, and the $2 million that we get from the State, we use for single family rehab for elderly residents that own their own home, but can't fix them up, so the CRA TIF (Tax Increment Fund) revenue can provide a significant source of funding for us to really address some of the gentrification and unaffordable living conditions that have come about in the City of Miami as a result of any number of things; insurance costs going up dramatically, land costs going up dramatically, because there's certainly a lot more interest in living and working in the City of Miami, so if we don't do something in an organized way to address affordable and workforce housing, we are really going to become, I think, the city of the very, very rich and the very, very poor, and I think the very, very poor end up then in Section 8 housing units run by the County, which is the worst of all worlds, I'm afraid, so I'm really glad to see that we're looking at 60 percent of the funding sources being devoted to providing affordable and workforce housing. I think that it's just great. I think the allocation makes a lot of sense, and I'm just glad to see that we're really stepping up to the plate with that. Chair Spence -Jones: Thank you. Commissioner Regalado. Commissioner Regalado: Just a question for Jim. Chair Spence -Jones: Sure. [Later...] Chair Spence -Jones: I just want to say, before I -- Fred, you just take a few minutes to at least City of Miami Page 17 Printed on 10/12/2006 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes September 25, 2006 give us your thoughts, but I do want to move the agenda along because we have several other items, but I just want to add, one of the things that I'm directing the executive director to do, it was actually put on the record, but we never got a proposal in, was the rental facilities or apartments in Overtown. We were waiting for -- I think Power U made a -- put it on the record, but we never actually got a official proposal at all from them regarding providing the support to local apartment owners in the area to help rehab because we -- all these projects we got were all projects that we're building up from the ground, and the reality is that there are a lot of people that are living currently in Overtown right now paying rent that we could take those dollars that we have now coming from the bond now, once we pull them down, and then rehab the existing buildings that are there, making sure that we protect the residents, because we don't want to fix them up, and then, after we fix them up, they raise the rent or kick the people out, but that is something that the legal team can put together to do that, so I just want to be clear that I add that to the record so that when staff meets, that they also -- because we have several Section 8 buildings I know that the City is associated with in the County in the Overtown area, so these are potential projects that can be made available to rehab now, instead of waiting four or five years for something to be built. Fred, if you have a quick -- Commissioner Haskins: But you've -- Chair Spence -Jones: -- com -- Commissioner Haskins: -- got to be careful with that as well because the way Mr. Jacobs and the Dade County property appraiser does his appraisals, as soon as we fix them up, then they're taxed at a higher value, and then the people that are there can't afford them, so we really have to address -- Chair Spence -Jones: The taxes. Commissioner Haskins: -- the tax issue head on because it -- Chair Spence -Jones: It's eventually going to affect it anyway. Commissioner Haskins: -- we -- we've got -- I've got e-mail (electronic mail) after e-mail, example after example of exactly that that's happened to some of these folks, so it's -- we've got to address the issue. Chair Spence -Jones: OK. Fred, you have a comment before we -- Mr. Joseph: Yes, Madam -- Chair Spence -Jones: -- move to the next item? Mr. Joseph: -- Chair. We'd like to thank you for chairing the capital improvement fund, and also, we'd like to also thank the Commission in their role that they'll have in approving some of the items. The most important thing the -- this dais can do is let the -- your constituents know to go to the County and say to them all -- by e-mail or by fax -- you need to expand this CRA and also the sundown rule on it, past the 27, or at least to the 27. If not, then there'll be a great amount of capitalization that won't be going to the performing arts and other items. Affordable housing, we have to expand it for the Omni to be able to take care of the affordable housing because it wouldn't be proper in the district that it's in now. We want -- we have to go west with the boundaries of it, so if you could let your constituents know it, then -- we all live in the same County, but we just need to get our people out there and calling on the people -- Commissioner Haskins: Correct. City of Miami Page 18 Printed on 10/12/2006 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes September 25, 2006 Mr. Joseph: -- but again, Madam Chair, we appreciate you chairing that committee, and we were happy to do it, and any time we can be of service to you -- Chair Spence -Jones: And I want -- Mr. Joseph: -- and that's as the president of the Omni Advisory Board. Chair Spence -Jones: -- to say thank you very much for being a great watchdog. Mr. Joseph: Thank you. Commissioner Haskins: Thank you. Chair Spence -Jones: We're going to -- I guess we have to -- Mr. Villacorta: Yeah. We need -- Chair Spence -Jones: Do I have a mo --? Well, I just lost a -- one of my -- Mr. Villacorta: I believe he's in the back of the room. Unidentified Speaker: He's in the back getting water. Chair Spence -Jones: -- Commissioners. We are taking comments from the public in the end. Derek Cole: OK. I just wanted to put something on the record regarding that issue. Chair Spence -Jones: Yeah, but we're going to do it at the end of the meeting, OK? I just -- he was a board -- he was actually the Chair of that committee. That's the reason why I let him speak. Commissioner Regalado -- Commissioner Regalado: Yes. Chair Spence -Jones: -- we can't move this item without you. Do I have a motion on this item? Commissioner Regalado: Yes. Mr. Villacorta: It's -- Commissioner Regalado: Yes. Mr. Villacorta: -- accepting the report. Commissioner Regalado: Yes, Madam Chair. Mr. Villacorta: The resolution is to accept the report and to forward it to the appropriate City staff, with the request that -- to the City Administration, with the request that the appropriate City staff meet with the proposers to provide their input and recommendations to the CRA Board, and you -- a motion and a second. Chair Spence -Jones: I need a motion. Commissioner Haskins: So moved. Commissioner Regalado: This is 6, right? City of Miami Page 19 Printed on 10/12/2006 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes September 25, 2006 Mr. Villacorta: Yes. Commissioner Regalado: OK, second. Chair Spence -Jones: All in favor? The Commission (Collectively): Aye. Chair Spence -Jones: OK. Item has been moved -- passed. 7. 06-01472 CRA RESOLUTION A JOINT RESOLUTION OF THE BOARDS OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST AND OMNI REDEVELOPMENT DISTRICT COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCIES ("CRAS"), WITH ATTACHMENT(S), AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT, IN SUBSTANTIALLY THE ATTACHED FORM, WITH COLIN BAENZIGER & ASSOCIATES, TO CONDUCT A NATIONWIDE SEARCH FOR QUALIFIED CANDIDATES FOR THE POSITION OF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE CRAS, IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $23,825; FURTHER AUTHORIZING PAYMENT OF EXPENSES CONNECTED WITH THE SEARCH IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $9,000; FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF $32,825 TO BE ALLOCATED FROM GENERAL OPERATING FUND, "BUDGET RESERVE," ACCOUNT CODE NO. 689004.550011.6.996. Cover Memo.pdf Financial Form.pdf Back Up.pdf Legislation.pdf Motion by Commissioner Haskins, seconded by Commissioner Regalado, that this matter be ADOPTED WITH MODIFICATIONS PASSED by the following vote. Votes: Ayes: 3 - Commissioner Regalado, Chair Spence -Jones and Commissioner Haskins Absent: 2 - Vice Chair Gonzalez and Commissioner Sanchez CRA-R-06-0036 Chair Spence -Jones: OK, so we're going to move to number 7, which is -- James Villacorta (Interim Executive Director, Community Redevelopment Agency): A -- Chair Spence -Jones: -- the search for the CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) director. As you know that we -- Jim has graciously -- Mr. Villacorta: Filled in. Chair Spence -Jones: -- filled in the boots of our CRA director, but I wanted him to at least give us an update as to where we are with the search committee regarding this issue. Mr. Villacorta: In accordance with the recommendation of the City Attorney's Office and the Purchasing Department of the City, we obtained quotes from three executive search firms, and this resolution asks that you authorize an agreement with Colin Baenziger & Associates to conduct a nationwide search for qualified candidates for the position of executive director. The City ofMiami Page 20 Printed on 10/12/2006 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes September 25, 2006 firms were evaluated on overall relevant search experience, general capability, time to completion, fees for services, payment schedule, insurance, warranty, and cancellation. It was submitted to our CPA (Certified Public Accountant), who prepared the enclosed chart. The firm he rated number one was Colin Baenziger & Associates, based on extensive municipal practice, focusing on executive level positions in municipalities. Their fee for services are a total of $32,825, including expenses for bringing qualified candidates to meet the Board. Chair Spence -Jones: Do I have a motion on this item? Commissioner Regalado: No. I don't have a motion, and I'll tell you why I don't have a motion. Chair Spence -Jones: OK. You know we need a director, and Jim is only going to be there -- Commissioner Regalado: I know, but you know what? It's -- it looks good to have a national search. It's the politically correct thing to do because you're not -- we're not accused of bringing like friends and all that, but at the end of the day, at least in the City of Miami, at least in the ten years that I've been in the City, every time that we spend a lot of money on a national search for someone, we wind up with a local, and in this case, it's important that we look for a local person for several reason. Number one, this CRA has a very unique history of problems and hopes. This CRA has gone through many hard experience. A person that directs this agency needs to understand both worlds, the world south of Biscayne and the world north of Biscayne. It's just not like an expert on CRA; it has to be an expert in the community. It has to be, you know, a person that understands the communities that we have here. It's not -- it's just not a number person. I am sorry that we are only three here because this is -- Commissioner Haskins: Are you reading my notes? Commissioner Regalado: -- going to go down, you know, but you know, if you want to, you can defer it for another time, but I would suggest -- Chair Spence -Jones: I just want to make sure we get -- we need -- Commissioner Haskins: Yeah. Chair Spence -Jones: -- somebody. Commissioner Regalado: Well, no, no. I'm not just I don't want it, and then I shut my mind. I think that Jim has been here for many years as the City Attorney's representative, and now he has this other hat. Michelle -- Chair Spence -Jones: And he's a contractor. Commissioner Regalado: -- knows the district. Linda not only knows her part of the district, but knows the in and outs of the City. You know, I think that we should look to the chairperson and the vice chair, and the executive director just to meet and consider a name. I mean, it has to be a way that qualified people, you know, apply. Maybe people have not applied because they know that Jim is here, and we don't know how long he can stay, but you know, I think -- I know it looks good for the Herald and all that, but it looks bad on us if we say, well, you know what? We don't have qualified people here in our area to be the executive director of the CRA because we do have qualified people because Jim was very qualified when you requested that he will stay, so I am -- look, I'm sorry. I'm -- Commissioner Haskins: No. Don't -- Commissioner Regalado: -- not the third vote. City of Miami Page 21 Printed on 10/12/2006 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes September 25, 2006 Commissioner Haskins: Can I --? Chair Spence -Jones: Commissioner Haskins. Commissioner Haskins: I -- yeah. I think you -- look, see what I circled, nationwide, with a question mark. You're reading my notes. I think so too. I think the CRA needs someone who understands Miami and understands the issues that are particular to this CRA, the history that's particular to this CRA, how the goals and objectives of the CRA can dovetail into those for the City, and so I had the issue with not so much using a search firm to help us, but doing a nationwide search -- and what I would like to see is -- and perhaps, using a search firm to help us, but have some -- but really concentrate that effort on a local search with people that are qualified locally, and there are tons of people that I can think of that are qualified. I don't know if I know tons that would be interested. It's a -- it is an interesting CRA, but it's certainly gotten a lot -- its -- a lot of its problems with Commissioner Spence -Jones taking over the chairmanship, so I would really like to see a concentration on a local search. Chair Spence -Jones: So are we saying that we want to do a search -- do we want to hire a firm to do the search, but not focus on nation -- on a national wide -- nationwide search, more of a local search? Or -- because I'm hearing two different -- Commissioner Haskins: Local search. Chair Spence -Jones: OK, so do we not need --? Because I'm seeing my colleague, you know, the look on his face is like we don't need a firm. Commissioner Regalado: You know me. I don't back down. I think you're qualified; I think Linda's qualified; I think Jim is qualified to interview people interested. I really think so. You know your stuff. You know the district. You know the needs. I mean, why don't -- I mean, we get a firm, and this firm, what they're going to do is going to bring to you the people -- Chair Spence -Jones: Yeah. Commissioner Regalado: -- and so, I mean -- Chair Spence -Jones: So Commi -- Commissioner Regalado: -- why don't we --? Chair Spence -Jones: So you want us to remove -- strike this one, and -- Commissioner Regalado: I -- Chair Spence -Jones: -- ask -- are you requesting that we meet with --? Commissioner Regalado: Requesting that you advertise, you know, the position, and then -- Chair Spence -Jones: Interview them. Commissioner Regalado: -- you know, the executive director meet -- you can even meet on the Sunshine board, the chairperson and the vice chairperson, and the executive director, and be, you know, the committee -- the search committee that'll interview people, and then you make the recommendation at the rest of the Board. I, for one -- you know, I'm telling you right now, I would accept the recommendation, not of a search firm, but of the chairperson and the vice chairperson because I know you know, and the executive director, so that -- City of Miami Page 22 Printed on 10/12/2006 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes September 25, 2006 Commissioner Haskins: Well -- Chair Spence -Jones: So to -- Commissioner Haskins: -- there could be advantages, though, in having a search firm assist us. Certainly not at this level, but there could be an advantage of having a search firm because when we get into people potentially being interested, they have issues with having their names disclosed. We have Sunshine Law getting kicked in and that sort of thing, so at least, for a screening perspective, without kicking in Sunshine rules -- the Sunshine Law and that sort of thing, it could be very -- that could be an -- of assistance to us in this process, and that's why - -maybe not necessarily up to $23, 000 plus $9,000 of out-of-pocket expenses, but at some other level that is more reflective of a locally -- localized search, but still be able to help -- assist us in that process. Commissioner Regalado: Yeah. I would support a firm if they worked for pro bono. No. Really Chair Spence -Jones: So -- Commissioner Regalado: -- if you think that you need some out-of-pocket expenses -- Chair Spence -Jones: -- what -- Commissioner Regalado: -- which you would set them -- Chair Spence -Jones: We have to advertise it and all of that, right? Commissioner Regalado: Yeah -- Commissioner Haskins: Um -hum. Commissioner Regalado: -- because you have to advertise, because you have to advertise even in a specialized, you know, magazines and publications, the CRAs and all that. That, I understand, and locally, you need to advertise. I am, you know -- I'm -- Chair Spence -Jones: So -- Commissioner Regalado: -- willing to support any out-of-pocket expense. My point is, one, that it looks bad on us to go out and look nationally. I mean, bring from Denver the CRA director, or you know, Louisville -- Chair Spence -Jones: Which we'll end up driving -- Commissioner Regalado: -- Kentucky -- Chair Spence -Jones: -- away anyway once he got here -- Commissioner Regalado: -- you know, and so -- Chair Spence -Jones: -- so -- Commissioner Regalado: -- Linda, you -- Chair Spence -Jones: -- are we saying -- City of Miami Page 23 Printed on 10/12/2006 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes September 25, 2006 Commissioner Regalado: No. Chair Spence -Jones: -- that we just want to do it on a local level at this point so we can --? Commissioner Regalado: Linda sets the amount. Chair Spence -Jones: So Linda, Commissioner Haskins, would you want it not -- to not to exceed $23,000, a local search? Mr. Villacorta: Would you like the executive director to work with the Chair on -- Chair Spence -Jones: Yes. We'd like for you -- Mr. Villacorta: -- performing a search and -- Commissioner Regalado: Yeah -- Mr. Villacorta: -- I have -- Commissioner Regalado: -- and authorize some money. Mr. Villacorta: -- authority up to 4,500? Anything beyond that, we'll bring back to the Board. That's the standard -- Commissioner Haskins: Why don't -- yeah. I mean, why don't we, instead of doing that -- because we don't want to hamstring -- Chair Spence -Jones: Yeah. Commissioner Haskins: -- him. Let's go up to the $24, 000 -- Chair Spence -Jones: Three -- yeah. Commissioner Haskins: -- and -- or $25, 000 -- Mr. Villacorta: OK. Commissioner Haskins: -- let's make it even -- Chair Spence -Jones: And the -- Commissioner Haskins: -- and you'd have to come back, but I think that's going to be -- Mr. Villacorta: Sure. Commissioner Haskins: -- it's a lot different search when it's a local. Chair Spence -Jones: -- and if we can at least put a time frame because I don't want it to, you know, go on and on. Commissioner Haskins: Right. Chair Spence -Jones: I really want to go into the new year having the person at least on board, so can we at least say by December -- City of Miami Page 24 Printed on 10/12/2006 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes September 25, 2006 Mr. Villacorta: By December 20 -- Chair Spence -Jones: --1 ? Mr. Villacorta: OK. Chair Spence -Jones: That will give you time to get it out there, get some applicants in for us to somewhat screen it, and then, you know, at the next -- Mr. Villacorta: Correct. Chair Spence -Jones: -- Commission meet -- I mean, next CRA meeting, if you can bring up -- Mr. Villacorta: A progress -- Chair Spence -Jones: -- your -- yeah, your strategies as to how you're addressing it. Mr. Villacorta: OK. Chair Spence -Jones: All right, so we are -- what did we do with this item? We're amending this item? Mr. Villacorta: Yes, amending this resolution to provide that the executive director shall work with the Chair to conduct a search, at a cost not to exceed 25,000, and report back at the next CRA meeting on the progress, with the intention to have this position filled by the end of the year. Commissioner Haskins: And those costs -- Chair Spence -Jones: Focus on a -- Commissioner Haskins: -- that include us using a search firm to help you. Mr. Villacorta: I guess. Commissioner Haskins: OK. Chair Spence -Jones: Right, and not going beyond the time frame that we -- Mr. Villacorta: Focusing on -- yeah. Chair Spence -Jones: OK. Do -- so do I have a - do I have to get a motion on this one? Mr. Villacorta: A motion -- Commissioner Regalado: And second. Chair Spence -Jones: No. I didn't -- I can't move -- Commissioner Haskins: I move it. Chair Spence -Jones: OK Commissioner Haskins: Second. City of Miami Page 25 Printed on 10/12/2006 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes September 25, 2006 Commissioner Regalado: Second. Chair Spence -Jones: All in favor? The Commission (Collectively): Aye. Chair Spence -Jones: OK. Commissioner Haskins: Got it. DISCUSSION ITEMS 8. 06-01473 CRA DISCUSSION PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT AT THE MEETING OF THE CRA BOARDS HELD ON JULY 31, 2006, A MOTION WAS PROFFERED BY BOARD MEMBER HASKINS, AND SUBSEQUENTLY PASSED BY THE BOARD, THAT THE ITEM BEFORE THE BOARD DEALING WITH CHANGING THE BOUNDARIES OF THE THREE ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICTS BE DEFERRED TO THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD IN SEPTEMBER OF 2006 AND THAT A DISCUSSION ITEM BE SCHEDULED TO EXPLORE ALL THE ELEMENTS OF THE IMPACT OF THE CLUBS WITHIN THE DISTRICTS IN RELATION TO SECURITY, NOISE, PARKING, TRASH, ETC., PRIOR TO THE BOARD CONSIDERING THE RESOLUTION TO CHANGE THE BOUNDARIES. Cover Memo.pdf DISCUSSED Chair Spence -Jones: We're going to -- actually, I'm going to ask for patience on this particular item. We're going to move to item number 5, but Pm actually going -- because we can't take one without taking the other. I know that the Chief has to leave. I don't know if he's -- where is Chief? OK, and this is regarding a serious issue that my colleague has had regarding the club -- entertainment-based district and some of the shootings that we've had over the last -- what, six months? -- for a while, and I think that before we could talk about having a discussion on the resolution itself we need to have a discussion first, so I'm going to actually turn it over to Commissioner Haskins because this has been a big, big issue for her. Commissioner Haskins: And my issue with the club district hasn't been just the shooting. It really centers on a number of issues. We've got a lot of noise coming from there now. The City is getting more residential. We have sound systems on roofs that weren't supposed to be on roofs, and -- but more than anything for me, it's an issue of what is the reason to have a 24-hour club district. We've got kids coming off the Beach stoned on God only knows what coming to these clubs staying until Monday afternoon at 2 o'clock when they're finally forced out. For me, it's -- look, I'm not part of the moral majority by any stretch of the imagination, but I don't know why we encourage this sort of activity in the City, and I just think there's -- not a good thing for the City to be encouraging. Chief you want to go ahead and make your report? Chief John F. Timoney (Police): Yeah, a few things. One, you are correct, Commissioner Spence -Jones. There have been numerous issues. I think at the beginning of the summer, there City ofMiami Page 26 Printed on 10/12/2006 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes September 25, 2006 have been some shootings. Actually, two people have been killed in and around the area of the clubs. The commander responsible, Commander Willie Alvarez, has been very, very aggressive over the last six, eight months trying to deal with this issue. We do have off -duty police officers assigned to some of the clubs. That's a separate concern, which we're going to deal with regarding how they are regulated and paid, but there are issues other than the shootings, including the noise complaints. I live right here, so I could hear them, but I'm not complaining. There is -- the -- I think the number one issue is this issue of being open till 2 in the afternoon. It's just incredible, so you know, I deal and I speak to, regularly, Chief Deluca on the Beach, and on the Beach, the vast majority of clubs close at 2, and the rest close at 4, but they're all closed by 4, and so what you have are really young kids, sometimes intoxicated, coming across the McArthur parkway on 41st Street, or what have you, and so the (UNINTELLIGIBLE) also, but by that time in the morning, if you're not on your way, then you're liable to get in trouble, and between fights and things of that nature, it's a problem. Then you have the issue of people -- well, there is some parking around the clubs. These young kids can't afford to park, so they'll park, you know, four, five, six blocks away. Then you have the issues of robberies and then car break-ins, and so the crime, even when it's not directly involving the clubs, it involves the patrons of those clubs, and either the person or their property, in terms of cars, sometimes four or five or six blocks away. It's required us to do a variety of things. While the clubs are correct; they pay for the off -duty police officers, we have a whole host of other officers that the City pays for on overtime to cover the area for about -- anywhere from ten blocks around those clubs, so it isn't -- the clubs can't make the argument that they -- you know, they're paying for the security. They're paying for the security in front of the club, but they're certainly not paying for all the security, and there's a lot of security, and I've been out there myself and Chief Fernandez, 2, 3, or 4 o'clock in the morning, and we're not being paid, and Commander Alvarez is there every weekend, 2, 3, or 4 in the morning, as are other supervisors, and then we have other supervisors coming in from different parts of the City that may be working, and so there are a whole host of indirect costs to the City involving policing those things. I think, if, at a minimum, we began with kind of standardizing the club closing hours at 4 a.m. to match what's going on at the Beach and other areas, that would be a step in the right direction. I can't begin to tell you whether it's - - you know, hear the stuff that goes on at 6 and 7 in the morning. By that time, it's really the losers out there getting involved in trouble, which winds up -- the Police Department having to pick up the pieces. Chief Fernandez or Commander Alvarez -- Willie. Commissioner Haskins: Can you go through --? Commander William Alvarez (Police): Basically, we've had ample meetings with the club owners, and we've met with them and tried to curtail these problems that have been created. Especially, our biggest concern was the safety issue for the people attending these clubs, and the issue for the people that are actually walking away from the clubs and getting in problems with people out there. The issue of the two murders -- downtown -- basically, a lot of people are not familiar. The downtown NET (Neighborhood Enhancement Team) area is encompassed from 17th Terrace all the way to the river; from the river, that side of 5th Street, all the way to the bay, and in that area, the only two murders that have occurred have occurred in this entertainment district, in the district here, and it's been basically outside violence; non -City residents basically coming to visit the downtown area, and then those things coming, and then sometime people get caught in those cross -fires, and that's what we're trying to avoid. We set our operational plans -- basically, two lieutenants have been -- the importance it is that we put two lieutenants also to assist with this on the weekends also to oversee the off -duty officers plus the additional overtime officers in that area, so Lieutenant (UNINTELLIGIBLE)'s in charge of that. He's the commander when I'm not there -- my presence -- when there's other activities going on in that area, so basically our operational plan is to curtail the violence; that's our number one objective, and then the quality of life issues in the area; traffic, the other type of issues that may come up. I had a meeting with Park West, some of the residents there at the apartment buildings, and their number one concern, again, was the loud music, the boom sound from there, shaking their windows in their apartment; couldn't let them sleep, so those are the City of Miami Page 27 Printed on 10/12/2006 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes September 25, 2006 issues that you're going to see, and now we have -- in speaking to some of the developers -- on Biscayne Boulevard, that corridor from 11 th Terrace all the way to 6th Street, all that's full of condominiums, new condominiums that are coming up, and you know, close to having their Certificate of Occupancy pretty soon, so we're going to get that, and you're going to have residents that are paying half a million dollars for a condominium, and they're going to want peace and quiet, so those are the type of issues that we're trying to foresee, and maybe the clubs correcting those issues of the noise and the safety issues, and we have the meetings with them. A lot of the clubs, not all of them, have been very cooperative, and they've come forward. They've upped their security measures, and things are getting better, but just -- Commissioner Haskins: Can I ask you -- Commander Alvarez: -- maybe something in place. Yes, ma'am. Commissioner Haskins: -- a question? Everybody's avoiding the drug word. I mean, your report -- you're avoiding the drug word. Are these kids getting high on Ecstasy inside these clubs, you think? I mean, the water's getting sold for $10 a bottle, and do you feel -- I mean, do the City of Miami cops go inside the clubs? Commander Alvarez: Well, in the off -duty jobs, the officers are supposed to stay outside. That's our departmental orders, but nobody's avoiding the drug word. The drug word is something that we actively are seeking inside there. As a matter of fact, we made arrests for that. We had under Commissioner Haskins: How many? Commander Alvarez: -- cover officers -- I don't have the exact number with me right now, but one particular operation - Commissioner Haskins: Um -hum. Commander Alvarez: There are ongoing investigations that we can't speak about -- Commissioner Haskins: OK. Commander Alvarez: -- but inside the operations -- we had an operation, which was called Safe Club, Chief Timoney, Chief Fernandez, and about another 13 officers and lieutenants involved in this operation. We targeted certain clubs. We checked that -- checked them for narcotics. We checked the liquor licenses, those type of things, and we netted arrests there in those clubs. Those are the type of things that are ongoing. We have ongoing narcotics investigations that are continuing, and no, we don't avoid the drug word, and we've made arrests in several of the clubs Commissioner Haskins: Is --? Commander Alvarez: -- and undercover officers -- Commissioner Haskins: Have you ever gone -- Commander Alvarez: -- have made those arrests. Commissioner Haskins: -- inside a club on an undercover operation and not had a drug arrest? Commander Alvarez: Well, one time. City of Miami Page 28 Printed on 10/12/2006 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes September 25, 2006 Commissioner Haskins: One time? Commander Alvarez: Yes. Commissioner Haskins: Do you think it's appropriate for City of Miami cops to be in uniform outside these establishments when we know that every -- almost every time we go in, we make drug arrests? Commander Alvarez: It's appro -- Commissioner Haskins: I mean, how do you -- Chief how do you feel about that? Chief Timoney: Well, I don't feel very good. It kind -- it rubs me the wrong way. It's something that I'm not used to. Coming -- up north, that doesn't -- I mean, the cops do not guard clubs, and so it may give the -- it gives a variety of impressions. One of them -- for example, we know some of the clubs are open to kids under 21, but not serving liquor, so if you're -- sometimes parents -- I have a parent that lives in my building whose daughter was in there, and you know, they see the cops there, and they figure, OK, that must mean it's legit. It doesn't necessarily mean it's legit at all. There could be drug dealing, and there has been drug dealing and drug use in some of these clubs, so just the fact that they're uniformed police officers there may, in fact, give you a false sense of security. It -- we're in the process of proposing to the City Manager and the Administration a different way of policing this because it does -- it leaves me, as it is presently set up, uncomfortable. Commissioner Haskins: What's the different way of policing that you would prefer? Chief Timoney: Well, I would think -- and this is something that I did in Philadelphia -- where the clubs chip in, pay for police, but it comes into a pot to the off -duty office. We assign -- there is no permanent officer. We assign officers on a rotating basis, and we decide where they go, what club they do, what the directions are. Right now, you could be left with the impression that much of -- if you see an officer at Publix, it's kind of an innocuous, harmless, and you understand it. Whereas somebody at a club, the notion that that officer is working at the direction of a club owner is kind of unsettling. Commissioner Haskins: And I think -- and that's the issue -- that's part of the issue that I have. I think we all know what happens -- Chief Timoney: Yeah. Commissioner Haskins: -- and why these clubs are open 24 hours, and we've all heard the stories of these kids under 18 -- which I don't know why kids under the age of 18 are out at 5, 6, 7 in the morning after being clubbing all night -- well, I do know why, but what I can't -- from a policy perspective from City of Miami, for us to be supporting this and supporting our police, and having our police show support, in effect, I have a problem with it because this is not the image we want for the City. We've tried to live down the Miami Vice image for a long time, and I just don't understand how we got here, and I'm not a proponent of maintaining it. Commissioner Regalado: If -- Commissioner Haskins: I don't think it's right. Commissioner Regalado: -- I may, Madam Chairman, and I would like to first commend Commissioner Haskins because she decided to speak about an issue that no one wanted to speak before, but listening to the Chief and the Commander, Miami Beach is the party capital of southeast United States, and yet, it closes at 2 a.m. and at 4 a.m. They have survived. City of Miami Page 29 Printed on 10/12/2006 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes September 25, 2006 Unidentified Speaker: Five. Commissioner Regalado: Oh, 5 a.m. The Chief said 4, so I'm following -- I trust him. Chief Timoney: Those are the numbers I got from Chief Deluca, but if I -- Commissioner Regalado: Well -- Chief Timoney: -- I stand corrected. Commissioner Regalado: -- and -- but it' s not like a 24-hour. Also, last year during the Winterfest Music Festival, there was a new and strict noise ordinance that got a lot of people arrested in Miami Beach, and Miami Beach is still the capital of all the party animals in the southeastern United States, so I don't understand why we won't follow the Chief advice and try to establish a uniform closing time for those clubs. I mean, if they like it, fine; if they don't, well, you know. Actually, they came here because they wanted the overflow from Miami Beach, but to be legit, you need to be offering quality, so I hope that this Board would follow the Chief advice, and you know, try to just make a uniform closing date, and we need to pass a very strict -- remember the noise ordinance that we dealt with, Chairman? Vice Chair Gonzalez: Yeah. Commissioner Regalado: It never came back, and it was because of you -- Vice Chair Gonzalez: I was a proponent. Commissioner Regalado: -- and be -- it was because of you because of the river and the noise, and it never came back because it affected many people, and this is a very friendly business administration, and -- but the fact of the matter is that in Miami Beach, it's working, and you know, the Commander is right. Those buildings are going to get the CO (Certificate of Occupancy) -- Vice Chair Gonzalez: Oh, yeah. Commissioner Regalado: -- and those buildings are going to be like boom, boom, so I just think -- I urge the Chairperson and the area Commissioner to just instead of approving the expansion, that we put some restrictions to all these clubs because, you know, we can change the way the police police the area. We can send the National Guard, but still the kids will be there at 7 and 8 a.m., and you know, I think that Miami doesn't have to cater to the people that want to be drinking and partying at 7 a.m. That's the time to have breakfast and go to work, you know. Vice Chair Gonzalez: That's right. Chief Timoney: If I might add, just to highlight that point you just made. What often happens with these clubs is that private promoters will rent out part of a club. There's one club over there that has five different clubs, and then this promoter will go over to Miami Beach and then hand out the flyers. You know, when you finish here, you know, come over here. We begin to party at 3 or 4, wherever it is, and so on and so forth, so it isn't this innocuous, benign, oh, they happen to be open. There's an aggressive sales campaign and marketing campaign to get the clubbers from the Beach. When you finish drinking over there at 2 or 3 or 4 in the morning, over here we're open till 2 p.m. Commissioner Regalado: And -- City of Miami Page 30 Printed on 10/12/2006 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes September 25, 2006 Chair Spence -Jones: And let me -- Commissioner Regalado: -- it's only -- if I may, just one brief -- going to get worse because, on September 12, the City of Miami Beach Commission, in a committee, approved a new ordinance that will forbid any party in a private -- in a residential area because promoters are doing now parties by invitation and they charge on Internet or something, and they're doing -- so when they close down those mansions on the island, they going to come here, so -- Chair Spence -Jones: I just want -- just real fast. We're really dealing with two items, which is number 5 and number 8, so we're going to close, at least, the discussion part of it. I do know that there are some club owners, and there's individuals probably from the audience that want to speak on this item. I'm suggesting that all of the speaking for today, like all my other meetings we have, is at the end of the meeting for public comments. We are not actually voting -- this was -- number 8 was really a discussion about the issue -- Chief Timoney: Right. Chair Spence -Jones: -- and for the Chief to come and give his recommendations regarding how to begin to address this issue. Now I know that before the former director left, there were several meetings and task force and all that the local NET in the area was working along with the club owners and police to identify something that could be done in the area to address the issue. As you know, of course, and I agree with my colleague, Commissioner Haskins -- it is her district -- but as I stated in the last meeting that we were in, originally, when this whole thing started with the club district, when no one wanted to go to those warehouses or come to downtown Miami, many of -- you know, that was a part of the marketing theme that was created by the CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) at that particular point -- correct, Jim? -- James Villacorta (Interim Executive Director, Community Redevelopment Agency): Correct. Chair Spence -Jones: -- to try to attract people to reinvest in aban -- this abandoned area. Now this so-called abandoned area ain't abandoned anymore. We got condos and everything else going on around it, so it's becoming, just like in South Beach, a nuisance, so I'm -- you know, I'm -- as I stated earlier, I am the youngest person on the dais. I don't party till 8 o'clock in the morning, but I probably have a little bit more sensitivity to the issue because, at one time or another, not too long ago, I was partying till that particular time, but I just want to make sure that those that did come out to speak on this item, we will take public comments at the end, but I just wanted the discussion part of it to be addressed by the Chief so that at least Commissioner Haskins and the Board would at least understand what we're doing. Can I at least understand, though, before we leave, what is the next step regarding the discussion item? Commissioner Haskins: I -- Chair Spence -Jones: Not the resolution, but the -- Commissioner Haskins: There is not a next step on the discussion item. The next one is to look at the expansion of this district -- Chair Spence -Jones: OK, so there's no -- Chief Timoney: Just -- the final thing -- the Police Department -- Commissioner Haskins: -- and -- Chief Timoney: -- and the prior administration was also consistent in that it objected to those hours. City of Miami Page 31 Printed on 10/12/2006 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes September 25, 2006 Chair Spence -Jones: Oh. Chief Timoney: It made it clear, and it was overruled. Chair Spence -Jones: Who was it over --? Well, I don't even want to ask who that was overruled by. Commissioner Haskins: That was when it was originally -- Vice Chair Gonzalez: Chief -- Commissioner Haskins: -- voted on? Vice Chair Gonzalez: I'm sorry. The duty of regulating the hours will belong to the City Commission, right? Deputy Chief Frank Fernandez (Police): That's correct. Vice Chair Gonzalez: It will be entire -- it will be up to the City Commission to regulate the hours of operation of these places, right? Deputy Chief Fernandez: Commissioner, to the best of my knowledge, it is the right of the Commission to edit the ordinance, but I'll leave it to the Legal Department to find out and see how you would go about doing that. I just want to echo what the Chief was saying. It was the previous administration that -- we've always had a standing policy in the Police Department that we do not police clubs. As a matter of fact, the test that we always had in place was that the consumption of food had to be 51 percent or greater. The -- actually, the revenues generated from the club or the restaurant to be 51 percent or greater had to come from the sale of foods. Pursuant to the entertainment district, the creation of it, they've since changed that, and our hand was forced to police these type of clubs, which we never did in the past. It has created a huge issue for us. We basically get the overflow from the Beach, and think about it. It defies logic when you think about someone, at 5 in the morning, as the Chief was saying earlier, coming across a causeway looking for the next club to go to to get the next high -- Chair Spence -Jones: Yeah. Deputy Chief Fernandez: -- and I'm not going to avoid the drug word, and I'll tell you -- is there drugs in the clubs? Absolutely. Vice Chair Gonzalez: Absolutely. Deputy Chief Fernandez: There is no excuse. There is no working around it. There are club -- and I do have a significant issue and problem with having an officer outside, as the Chief was saying, setting up a facade that we're completely controlling that. It's not the officers' fault. The officers have policies to go by, and that policy says you cannot go inside unless you're summoned inside there for a fight or an issue. They stay on the outside. Chair Spence -Jones: Thank you, Chief. Deputy Chief Fernandez: OK. Chair Spence -Jones: Can I get a motion on number 8, please? Vice Chair Gonzalez: So move. City of Miami Page 32 Printed on 10/12/2006 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes September 25, 2006 Commissioner Haskins: Second. Chair Spence -Jones: All in favor? The Commission (Collectively): Aye. [Later...] Chair Spence -Jones: Next person. Do they need to say their name? Shaun Shuhnazi: Hi. How are you? I'm Shaun Shuhnazi. Actually, I'm one of the club owners on 11 th Street -- Chair Spence -Jones: 11 th Street. Mr. Shuhnazi: -- along with (INAUDIBLE) -- Anthony Angelo: Hello. Anthony Angelo, in downtown. Chair Spence -Jones: Which club is it? Mr. Angelo: Goldrush. Chair Spence -Jones: Oh, Goldrush. Robert Jones: Robert Jones, with Nocturnal. Mr. Shuhnazi: Actually, I guess we had just quick few things regarding Commissioner Haskins regarding 24-hour district. One re -- Commissioner Regalado: On the mike. On the mike, please. Chair Spence -Jones: It's low. It's very low. Mr. Shuhnazi: One reason why we all invested in 11 th Street was the fact that they did a marketing campaign five years ago in order to bring us in. I know for myself we missed over $2.2 million. That doesn't include even the property by itself. When we came in, there was not a single soul on 11 th Street. We were the only one. It took us over $100, 000 (UNINTELLIGIBLE) spending every month in order to bring a crowd. Before then, there was no Winter Music Festival, none of that. All this comes -- arrives from all the money we spent in order to bring clientele. We don't want the drugs either, believe me. We have liability insurance because I'm personally liable on my own license. We have our own issues. Everybody's trying to work through it. With Commander Alvarez in the last three or four months, is the first time we've seen police presence in 11 th Street. After all the publicity that hit the Herald, we finally saw all the commanders and the lieutenants. Prior to then, we never seen them, and we've been there for five years. We even have over four off -duty police officers that work every single night we are open, and that's been the practice in the City of Miami for the last 15 years. You know, if they want to change it, we're willing to go with whatever changes that the Chief or the Commander approves of but we have been following their guideline of four officers, five officers, whatever it is, at $30 an hour, OK, and regarding to the 24-hour district for us, that's -- I know I speak for myself, and I'm sure, other people -- the only reason why I invested in there. If not, I would have stayed on South Beach, where there is over 5 million visitors, and it's a lot that you could make business of. City of Miami Page 33 Printed on 10/12/2006 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes September 25, 2006 Commissioner Haskins: Right. Mr. Shuhnazi: OK. I'm sure -- again, South Beach is 5 a.m. I think the Chief was -- misunderstood. The entire County, Dade County is 5 a.m., with the exception of Coral Gables. Everybody stops at 5 a.m. You know, this was supposed to be the special part. We were promised a renovation that looks like Bourbon Street if you come and invest your money. Five years later, we haven't seen one -- nothing on 11 th Street happen yet, but condominiums, $100 million here, everything's going up, but we are somehow -- and I hate to say I'm a victim of it because, you know, we have made money along the line, lost and made some. That's our line of work, but you know, we wanted to be part of the entire City process by making it better, and we just don't want -- now I don't want to be the victim and being all the blame for these other clubs now. All the shooting happens at clubs. It's been like that for the last 20 years in Miami. You know, you got the Camillus House in one house. You have everybody that gets out of the Dade County Jail gets freed on the other block. We just kind of get blamed for everybody that comes on the block; it's you, but it's just not all of us. As regarding the noise ordinance, which was -- you -- I think is an issue for everybody, I think that could be really easily solved, if they would have just get with the club owners, you know. Only few of the clubs right now have the music, as you suggested, on the rooftop. You know, I know -- speaking for one of the main club owners, and him and I are really good friends -- he's already looking into it prior to the buildings even going up, trying to take care of that problem; make sure it's indoor, make sure the noises stays in and none of that, so some of those issues can be worked, you know, through a small meeting like they did at the NET ( Neighborhood Enhancement Team) office, and so we can kind of like get along with that. That's basically only concerns I have. Commissioner Haskins: Now I mean, I understand that there was this effort from the CRA five years ago, and I understand that there have been investments in these properties. I'm not sure that it really picked up the area. I think the pickup in the area is despite the clubs, not necessarily because of the clubs, right? Because, you know, there's a change in the whole view of the City of Miami -- Mr. Shuhnazi: I understand. Commissioner Haskins: -- but if we can work with you on things like no one under the age of 21 is allowed, even in a private party -- Applause. Unidentified Speaker: Across-the-board. Commissioner Haskins: -- if we can work on those sorts of issues, OK -- I'm going to tell you. My real issue is -- I've drove over there a few weeks ago at 3 in the morning because I just wanted to see what it looked like, what's going on, and I was sick to my stomach to see the young kids that I saw. These, to me, are the forgotten children of the world. You know, I don't know how their parents are letting them out at this time of night, and going into these -- it's just not right, and I'm not a Holy Roller. I may -- I'm, you know, a nice Wisconsin girl who's very moral and -- you know, I am a Girl Scout, there's no doubt, but I think the things that we need to do to really address the issue -- because if we want this district to thrive long-term, we need to have that element -- the element going there that's a more mature element, and not these kids, not the private parties, not the "OK, it's OK if we have a private party with kids that are under 21 because we're not going to open the bar for it." I don't think that's right, and I really just don't think it's right because we're giving -- it's like putting the stamp of approval, the official government stamp of approval on child abuse almost, to the extent, you know, that, you know, these kids are just -- how can they be out at 5, 6, 7 in the morning? Mr. Jones: We agree. Every one of us agree. City of Miami Page 34 Printed on 10/12/2006 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes September 25, 2006 Mr. Shuhnazi: Well, we agree to that. One reason -- Mr. Jones: Every one of the club owners agree. Mr. Shuhnazi: I mean, a quick response to that, the reason why we did it, as business people, when the entire City does it, not just us -- Commissioner Haskins: Right. Mr. Shuhnazi: -- you know, we're in the business -- it's a very competitive business. When other parts of town, such as Kendall and all these teenager parties, during some special holidays -- Commissioner Haskins: Right. Mr. Shuhnazi: -- take place, club owners, end of the day, we got to pay the bills and everything else, so -- Commissioner Haskins: Right. Mr. Shuhnazi: -- OK, we try it. We do try to follow it by not serving alcohol, take all the alcohol out, but unfortunately, parents do take some responsibility in having their kids out. It's just -- Commissioner Haskins: Right. Mr. Shuhnazi: -- not us. You know, we're not out -- Commissioner Haskins: No. Mr. Shuhnazi: -- there marketing to it, but there isn't -- when there is a need for that, and some of the people do it, sometime our competitive edge takes the better of us, and we all agree to that that, for the better of downtown area and our livelihoods all in there, you know, we're willing to get in a meeting -- Commissioner Haskins: OK. Mr. Shuhnazi: -- and say, OK, you know what? Let's make some restrictions that we can all come up to and work, but again, understanding that it is a competitive market. Today we're all on one side, but when we're in that street, we're all competing for the same business. Commissioner Haskins: Right. Mr. Shuhnazi: You know, and the other point about expanding the area, which is kind of like we're a little confused on that. We have issues already for the area, where there's only 11 liquor licenses were supposed to be issued; only 7's in use right now; the other 4, somebody purchased it. We really don't know where it goes. What is the point of expanding it into Overtown and go further down if it's already a problem what we have in that one block -- Commissioner Haskins: Right. Mr. Shuhnazi: -- which we all are? We're all on 11 th Street, between -- Commissioner Haskins: I know. Mr. Shuhnazi: --1st and 2nd. You know, right now the area couldn't even handle a nightclub in City of Miami Page 35 Printed on 10/12/2006 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes September 25, 2006 Overtown because the security issues that it takes place, but you know, one way we telling us there's a problem, we want to control it, and another thing is let's expand it. Commissioner Haskins: I know. Mr. Shuhnazi: Let's get somebody else to pay another $200, 000 for a liquor license. It just doesn't make sense for us. Commissioner Haskins: That's why I wanted this to come back, and I want to have time. Look, I'm not -- you know, I'm -- I know that I've been very much the Girl Scout and the moralist tonight and all of that. You know, when I was in college, I could party too, but I'm an old fart now, so -- but it gives us time to work together on something, and what I really want to see is something that really doesn't give our police officers, and our firefighters, and the City a bad feeling that we're putting the stamp of approval on something that we really shouldn't be doing, OK? Mr. Angelo: Linda, how you doing? Commissioner Haskins: Fine. Mr. Angelo: And again, I agree with you on some of the cases also, you know. I have a mom. I have two sisters. I understand. My mom calls me the smut king of the world, you know, with the Goldrush and all, but we brought you a problem. We'd like to bring you the solution also. I agree on the 18 years of age. It's ridiculous. There's nobody under the 21 years of age should be out past midnight, my -- that would be my view, but -- and the rooftop party -- Commissioner Haskins: And you're not a Boy Scout, right, so -- Mr. Angelo: And I'm not a Boy Scout. Commissioner Haskins: -- OK, so then -- Mr. Angelo: Yeah, trust me. Commissioner Haskins: -- I don't feel so bad. Mr. Angelo: No, I'm not, and like I said, my -- you know, my mom had saw my business years ago. I left the Department of Corrections maximum security state prison to do what I do, OK Totally against it when I first started. Now she says, you know, but it all depends on the person running, you know, the project, any project. Every invention has its problems, you know, and we need to fix them. Again, like I said, you know, you spent -- the people are saying they're going to spend $875, 000 for a condo; they don't want to listen to noise, but yet, you go downstairs and you have the smell of you know, human -- in front of your beautiful place when you're driving your Mercedes out the way, so which one's worse in that case also, you know what I mean? But we're not really -- that's not an issue, really. Our issue is us. The 18 years of age - - the 24-hour license has nothing to do with the problem. Everything, first of all, that's ever happened in downtown happened before 5 o'clock, so the 24-hour license really doesn't -- the fact that we went into the late night or anything like that has nothing to do with any of that. Like I said, all three incidents that had occurred were before 5 o'clock, so they had nothing to do with the 24-hour license. The fact that also the problem occurred -- like I said, we run Goldrush. We run our clubs all the way across the United States. We have 40 strong. We do not allow anybody under 21 years of age in our clubs for the fact that it just makes sense, OK? And I think the 24-hour license doesn't belong to be revoked, but it needs restrictions. Twenty-one and under is not allowed. Whether you take the liquors off your shelf whether you do whatever, it's just not allowed. Rooftop parties, end them at 5; end them at 6. The Beach did the same thing. City of Miami Page 36 Printed on 10/12/2006 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes September 25, 2006 The Beach, eventually, they brought them in -- and again, we feel like we're being used because we bought in -- and let me tell you, those condos that are being built on the end, they wouldn't have built there if we didn't come there. Chair Spence -Jones: Yeah. Mr. Angelo: OK, Space was the first people came in; Goldrush was the second. Nobody else would have ever came there if we didn't come there first. It's a homeless, you know, rough neighborhood. Nobody wanted to go there. We brought it in; we woke it up. We made it alive. We shouldn't be punished for that. A few of us made small mistakes. We're willing to come forward; said hey, we're sorry. Let's make them happen, and let's put restrictions instead of you know, going at a -- Commissioner Haskins: Well, I think that's what we need to look at, and I think that's what the resolution today said, is that -- Mr. Angelo: All right. Then -- Commissioner Haskins: -- staff is going to work on this, and certainly, they need the input of the business owners, and I understand. I am a business person. I cut my -- Mr. Angelo: We brought here the problems -- Commissioner Haskins: -- teeth in business, not in government, so I understand the dilemma here, and I would like to come to a reasonable solution with all of this. I really would. Mr. Angelo: You know, I mean, because we all do have major investments, and these guys are all right. You know, a $15 million building is not worth 5 bucks after this, you know, so to hurt everybody and to bring that thing -- I just think we just need a bunch of restrictions on it, and I'm on your side for that because, like I said, since I've run Goldrush for six years, I've had nothing - - not even a firecracker go off in front of it; never been raided. We've never been -- had any problems. Now we've had these other clubs with the 18 and all that in there, and they've all heard me, trust me. I've yelled at them a thousand times about it. I said, you know, let's cut this out. We brought that problem in upon ourselves. That's what we need to do. Commissioner Haskins: OK. Thank you. Mr. Jones: I'd just like to add -- I'm Bob Jones, with Nocturnal. I represent -- Commissioner Haskins: Hi, Bob. Mr. Jones: -- a $12 million investment. I have 101 employees. We're there to make the area better, not bring it down. The young kids don't help the area. They don't help the allure. They don't help any of that, and I just want to be able to open a dialogue up before -- the 24-hour license, if I didn't have it, I wouldn't be open. It's very important to our business as far as attracting the Super Bowl clientele. I'm looking at a half a million dollar weekend because I have 24-hour capabilities there. It's huge revenues, huge revenues for the City, and the idea of just kind of blanketly [sic] saying, "Oh, there's our problems. We'll take the 24-hour license away and that solves it." It doesn't solve the problems. It's -- the problems can be solved with an open dialogue and understanding our businesses and resolving the issues. That's -- Commissioner Haskins: Well, let's open the dialogue then. Mr. Jones: I would love that. Thank you. City of Miami Page 37 Printed on 10/12/2006 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes September 25, 2006 [Later... J Chair Spence -Jones: I'm going to officially adjourn the meeting. Mr. Villacorta: Or did you have one more? Chair Spence -Jones: One -- come on. Last person. I -- we kind of went over the one -minute time frame. Hopefully, you could do it in one minute or less. Kurt Van Nostrand: Thank you. I'm going to try to wrap it up in a minute. Chair Spence -Jones: Thanks. Pamela Burns (Assistant Clerk of the Board): And your name for the record, please. Mr. Van Nostrand.• Sure. My name is Kurt Van Nostrand. I'm actually the owner of the Pawn Shop Lounge, one of the, I guess, infamous clubs, as you guys say, in the downtown area. I wanted to kind of speak to you guys on a little -- more of an outside perspective -- or outside -inside, per se. I'm not in the 24-hour district. I'm actually in the 5 a.m. district, but I do have a few valid points I wanted to bring up about some of the comments that I've been hearing because, on a business perspective, it would behoove me for all the clubs to be on the same playing field, so to speak, of 5 a.m., but unfortunately, I disagree with actually the changing of the hours. I think I agree that there should be some discussions, and not just across-the-board. I agree with what we said before, that having -- just cutting out the 24-hour hours on liquor is not just going to solve the problem. I think it'll actually create more issues and problems. I think the businesses in those area still can serve alcohol up until 5 a.m., if it's across-the-board, but then, you're going to open up other issues of after-hours without alcohol, and you can pretty much do the math of what will be involved with that, the same issue that the City of Miami Beach had. I wanted to kind of use another analogy as well about Fort Lauderdale in the '80s, where, you know, they complained and really had problems with all the spring breakers and the, you know, crime and the -- people throwing up, and they pretty much chased them out of town, and a lot of the businesses then, as you said, starting folding and all the hotel, so I just wanted to use, you know, that analogy of kind of careful about a slippery slope, about going a little bit too far in one direction or the other, and the other issue about the drugs. I was a little bit offended saying that most -- you know, every single nightclub encourages or basically has a drug issue. I -- unfortunately, maybe I'm the only one in this industry that does not, but -- Commissioner Haskins: Are you the one that they went into and didn't find drugs, the one time? Mr. Van Nostrand.• I won't open a can of worms, but -- Commissioner Haskins: Oh, you are? Oh, really? Fantastic. Mr. Van Nostrand.• -- no. I think -- I said there -- I mean, there's drug use in every industry in this world. I don't think you could specifically say it's just, you know, the nightclubs, and the other kind of issue was, you know, I've heard, not just in our discussions about, you know, the Super Bowl, the NFL (National Football League), that all the - that's bringing, you know, major international businesses, major international, you know, companies down here, and I just -- you know, like I said, I just feel that I don't want this kind of issue going to one extreme because I think it will hurt a lot of businesses on the whole, so I think that's about -- Commissioner Haskins: Like I said, I'm a businessperson by training -- Mr. Van Nostrand.• Yeah. City of Miami Page 38 Printed on 10/12/2006 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes September 25, 2006 Commissioner Haskins: -- and have been for a long time -- Mr. Van Nostrand: Because I think -- Commissioner Haskins: -- and I know that, you know, the issues in Fort Lauderdale, but that has a little bit of a different -- we don't have -- these kids aren't staying in hotels down here, and you know, it is the sales tax revenue, I guess, and maybe some parking surcharge revenue, but it's not necessarily the same impact as spring break. However, I know that there are lots of business issues, and if we can work cooperatively on a business basis and address these issues -- I'm a very reasonable person. I understand the business side of the issues very well, understand what it means to have to close at 5, versus being able to be open later than that and generate revenues, and what that means on returns, especially when you're only open one day -- night a week, or whatever it is, but -- Mr. Van Nostrand: Three. Commissioner Haskins: -- we need to be able to look at this responsibly, and that's all I'm really asking for, and sometimes you got to put a sledgehammer down to get the point through that this is really serious, and it is serious. Mr. Van Nostrand: Oh, I agree. I mean, I get a lot of the backlash in dealing with the press, and as you said, the -- relentless of lumping everybody in the same group, and I guess, one last issue -- I just wanted to make a point is I disagree with the, in theory, about the 18 and over issue. I think it should be regulated. I personally will never market or never promote to an 18 and older, but I don't think it should be across-the-board. There are certain events that come in on a yearly basis, the Winter Music Conference through other venues that actually promote live bands and such, and I think if you do lump them all in one category, it can be detrimental on some of those huge events and some individual bars that do do that. I think it -- like I said, it needs to be very clear of how it's regulated, rather than just, you know, a big rubberstamp saying 24-hour bad or 18 bad. That's it. Chair Spence -Jones: Thank -- Commissioner Haskins: But for those special events, you don't need to be doing the special events at 5 in the morning, so those special events can be done and end at midnight. Chair Spence -Jones: Thank you so much for your comments. Commissioner Regalado: Can I --? Chair Spence -Jones: As you can see -- Mr. Van Nostrand: Yeah. Thanks for your time. Chair Spence -Jones: -- Commissioner Haskins will not be hanging out with you at the Pawn Shop, OK? All right. Commissioner Regalado: Can I -- Chair Spence -Jones: We are going to -- Eugene. Commissioner Regalado: -- just -- Chair Spence -Jones: Sure. City of Miami Page 39 Printed on 10/12/2006 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes September 25, 2006 Commissioner Regalado: -- say something to the gentleman and the other that have been so graciously waiting and hoping to communicate? What they said, it makes sense, in terms of business. What they also said is that, you know, the City promised a lot, and the City hasn't come through, and this is true, but you see, whatever harm the City can do by new laws and regulations and ordinance, is minimum -- minimal compared to the damage that the area can suffer if more incidents of this type continues. Once an area is branded a problem area, it's very difficult and costly, in terms of advertising, to bring back the area. It is very unfortunate, but we have to say that downtown Miami -- there's still the perception of downtown Miami being unsafe, and as you've heard the commander, there have been no murders in downtown Miami for years, and yet, if we go out anywhere in Miami -Dade County and say, let's go to downtown. Say, are you crazy, at 5? You know, everybody leave and there's a problem, so I just hope that all of you can work with the City, but you know, try -- my advice to you, as a guy who has been in the City Commission for ten years now, and who actually have seen it all, is, yes, work with the staff, but the staff always goes by the book, by the book, by the book, and it doesn't have a sense of timing, that is, they don't care about the time. If you work with staff, fine, for the details, but also consult the elected leaders of the area. They know. They have the pulse. They know what is good. They know what is bad, so I'm just hoping that all of you can -- Commissioner Haskins: They can have the -- Commissioner Regalado: -- work out. Commissioner Haskins: -- meetings in my conference room. Commissioner Regalado: Yeah. I mean, you know. Chair Spence -Jones: OK Commissioner Regalado: I'm telling you, I'm telling you -- Chair Spence -Jones: We're going to have to get room keys in a minute for Doubletree upstairs. Eugene Rodriguez: My comment's quick. Commissioner Haskins: Hey, Eugene. Mr. Rodriguez: Hi. Chair Spence -Jones: Yes, Eugene. We're going to always -- Mr. Rodriguez: It's quick. Chair Spence -Jones: One of the pioneers of the district. Mr. Rodriguez: I'm not going to repeat what they all said because I think, with this meeting with the Commissioner, it can be worked out, but one thing I will say, these districts were designed to have fluidity between -- Chair Spence -Jones: Yeah -- Mr. Rodriguez: -- the performing arts, the media district, and 11 th Street -- Chair Spence -Jones: -- and -- Mr. Rodriguez: -- and -- City of Miami Page 40 Printed on 10/12/2006 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes September 25, 2006 Chair Spence -Jones: -- the jazz and blues district. Mr. Rodriguez: -- the jazz and blues district, completely -- and that's the expansion. That's why the expansion's kind of important, is to -- Chair Spence -Jones: Right. Mr. Rodriguez: -- include that district. There's no question, and the district should be different, but for instance, when I'm hiring six to fifteen off -duty police officers at the Ice Palace for the restaurant, for the grand opera, and for Univision, and -- the Commander Alvarez tells me there's only four officers available for all of downtown at night, I seem to find that there's a problem there. I would prefer to see these off -duty officers paid overtime with the City policing, and have the CRA, the private sector, pay for a private service with colored golf carts, whatever, going through the district, where people can see -- because this connectivity is never going to happen -- Chair Spence -Jones: Yeah. Mr. Rodriguez: -- ever, and we're going to have people mugged and hurt. All this crime we're talking about happens to involve, maybe perhaps some of the 18 -- but it has to do with the fact you cannot walk in that neighborhood at all, so we have qualified police officers standing in front of clubs, not policing really, you know. I think it's -- I think the resources have to be -- I think they should make the money they make, but they should be policing when they're making it, and you know, I think there has to be a reevaluation because if you're having problems recruiting police officers -- you can't get enough of them, right? Yet, the officers want to make their overtime, that's fine, but let them get it policing, you know -- Commissioner Haskins: Right. Mr. Rodriguez: -- so that we have police out there, and let's create the visual eyes in the street, another way so there's connectivity. We're going to have problems. Commissioner Regalado: What I suggested, when we met at your place three month ago, was exactly that. Only one murder had been reported at that time, and you know, I said, look, CRA should pay for security cars to make people understand and believe that the streets are safe; that you don't have to deal with the homeless trying to take care of your car -- Mr. Rodriguez: Yeah. Commissioner Regalado: -- and insisting, and you know, chasing you. You don't have to deal with break-ins. I was told no because the County does not allow the CRA to pay for police, and I said, not police. I said security guards. Mr. Rodriguez: Yeah. Commissioner Regalado: Security guards, you know, with a very recognized national company. You know, they can carry even weapons, in some cases, with their golf carts going around and -- Mr. Rodriguez: Yeah. Commissioner Regalado: -- going around, that will be the sense -- that will bring a sense of safety to all the area, and that is exactly, my colleagues, what I proposed about three month ago, and then, boom, another crime -- City of Miami Page 41 Printed on 10/12/2006 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Mr. Rodriguez: Well, that needs to happen because that's the only thing. Right now you cannot walk -- Meeting Minutes September 25, 2006 Commissioner Regalado: -- and that would be the only solution -- Mr. Rodriguez: -- from one block to another. Commissioner Regalado: -- you know what? Because the commander told you -- do not ever repeat what the commander told you because I'm going to tell you something. At night, on the Flagami watch, which is the largest geographical district that the City of Miami Police has, from North River Drive, Northwest 20th Street, all the way west to Palmetto Expressway, it's a huge area. They have only three police -- Mr. Rodriguez: It's actually less. Commissioner Regalado: -- ofcer, and you know what? There is about 40,000 to 50,000 residents in that area, and in downtown, 17 blocks, you know, downtown, four police officers. Well, I mean, fine, downtown, but I'll tell you, there is no way that we'll be able, ever, to have police swarming the streets of -- Mr. Rodriguez: Yeah. Commissioner Regalado: -- this district -- Mr. Rodriguez: Yeah. Commissioner Regalado: -- never ever. You know, whatever they tell you about having more police officer and -- Mr. Rodriguez: Yeah. Commissioner Regalado: -- more police officer, smoke and mirrors. They are retiring more than we can hire them, and if we, as CRA, do not come through with a security plan for the whole area paying for -- I mean, if we're willing to pave with gold a little block, half a million dollars, you know -- Mr. Rodriguez: Yeah. Commissioner Regalado: -- we can pay -- Mr. Rodriguez: Well, actually I think -- Commissioner Regalado: -- to secure an area, you know. Mr. Rodriguez: -- it'll pay for itself because -- Chair Spence -Jones: Yeah. Mr. Rodriguez: -- if that area -- if you could have the fluidity -- Chair Spence -Jones: Yeah. Mr. Rodriguez: -- all those businesses will start opening, and the -- Chair Spence -Jones: Yeah. City of Miami Page 42 Printed on 10/12/2006 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes September 25, 2006 CRA REPORTS 9. 06-01474 Mr. Rodriguez: -- taxes will go up, so I think it's an investment that will pay for itself. Commissioner Regalado: But I'll tell you something else. Meanwhile, I really support Linda in her views that we got a problem. I mean, this is a major problem, and we need to address that, and hopefully, with (UNINTELLIGIBLE) -- hopefully, this session has been shock therapy for everyone and people would understand. Chair Spence -Jones: Thank you so much -- Mr. Rodriguez: Thank you. Chair Spence -Jones: -- Eugene. We really appreciate it. Ms. Burns: Eugene, could I have your last name for the record, please? Mr. Rodriguez: Rodriguez. Ms. Burns: Rodriguez. Thank you. CRA REPORT PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT, AS DIRECTED BY THE BOARD AT ITS JULY 31, 2006 MEETING, CRA GENERAL COUNSEL WILL GIVE A REPORT ON THE STATUS OF THE LITIGATION WITH JACKSON SOUL FOOD, RESTAURANT, INC. AND J.E.J. PROPERTIES, INC. CONCERNING THE BILLBOARD ERECTED ON PARKING LOT P-5. Cover Memo.pdf Back up.pdf MOTION A motion was made by Commissioner Regalado, seconded by Commissioner Haskins, and was passed unanimously, with Vice Chair Gonzalez and Commissioner Sanchez absent, to authorize the Interim Executive Director to move forward with the grant to Jackson Soul Food Restaurant, provided that the lawsuit against the CRA regarding the grant and attorneys' fees is dimissed; further authorizing the Interim Executive Director to move forward with the construction manager at -risk contractor or rebid the contract, as necessary; further, directing that the litigation concerning the billboard be determined by the court. Chair Spence -Jones: All right. We're going to move on to number 9. We're slowly, but surely getting done with this. As you know, this has been a very, very heated issue for me since being on the dais. I have had the opportunity to talk back and forth with staff, the executive director, and even the folks involved in what's going on left and right between the parties, and I'm sure that our attorney can tell you that we've at least gotten to the point that we're able to at least sit down in the room to discuss moving ahead. I just want to appeal to my board members from a personal perspective, and I'm going to ask for my -- the residents of my district -- and I have to say this -- and the employees of my district because, at this point, the largest employee [sic] that I have in the Overtown area is Jackson Soul Food, so I'm going to ask for them to at least stand up for me, please, and at least come towards the front of the house, and I think that it's really important for me to say this because, over the last 90 days, I have really worked hard with trying to put things in place and initiatives in place to support local businesses in the area, to attract new businesses in the area, and it is just been, for me, it's heartrending to see where we are now with one of the oldest black restaurants that I have within my district that is only able, at this City of Miami Page 43 Printed on 10/12/2006 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes September 25, 2006 particular point, to open up for breakfast because they're not able to expand beyond that lunchtime and dinner because they don't have the resources necessary to expand their kitchen, and they've been waiting on this since 1998, OK I don't know in anybody else's book, but that's a long time to be waiting on a grant. Now I can't speak for anybody else's district, but I can speak for my district. My district -- again, this is one of the oldest businesses, African American -owned businesses in my district, and they employ, at least in the morning time, at least 13 employees, which is one of the largest employees -- employers, and not to say that everybody standing here, but one of the biggest issues I have when I did my door-to-door campaign, as a part of the Wake Up Miami issue was, as I knocked on those doors in Overtown, many of those residents that I knocked on those doors said to me, Commissioner, I can't get a job. I can't get a job because I might have had a felony. I can't get a job because I don't have a degree. I can't get a job -- or whatever the issues were. Those -- that really hit me very hard, and here I have an employee -- employer, a business that provides jobs to people in my district, and I do understand the issues regarding the transaction or the problem that took place regarding the land and the billboard, and all the other stuff that's going on, but from day one, when I asked for a briefing on this issue from, at the time, our City Attorney -- or our attorney from the CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency), it was very clear to me, at that particular time, that the CRA never had an issue -- correct? -- with separating the two items. I want to -- for you to officially put it on the record. Jim, that's what was communicated, correct? James Villacorta (Interim Executive Director, Community Redevelopment Agency): The issue of the billboard is a dispute with a company called JEJ Properties. The issue of the grant for the restaurant is with Shirlene Ingraham -- or with Jackson Soul Food Restaurant, Inc. The -- there is some interlocking ownership between the two companies, and the parking lot was conveyed to JEJProperties as a way of assuring parking for the restaurant, but they are two different entities and two different agreements. Chair Spence -Jones: Now was that not -- I just want to be clear -- was it not communicated to me that those two items, however, the grant, which took place in 1998, around 1999, was a separate issue, and it was communicated to me, at that particular time, that they should not be tied together, and that it was even put on the record back then regarding this issue; is that correct? Mr. Villacorta: That was the Law Department's opinion at the December meeting where we were asking for funding for the -- to actually allow us to enter into a contract to begin the restaurant renovations. The funding had already been appropriated for the restaurant. At that time, one of the neighbors stood and complained about the violation of the deed restriction by the other company -- Chair Spence -Jones: OK. Mr. Villacorta: -- and the Board chose to not go forward with the grant as long as the deed restriction was in violation, though they are two separate companies and two separate agreements. Chair Spence -Jones: OK. Let -- Thank you for making that clear. I just want to say this, and -- I don't know if my chairman of MMAP (Metro -Miami Action Plan) -- are you here? Mr. John Jones, and I appreciate you actually stopping by -- which is very much involved in the very beginning on this whole issue of trying to provide support to Jackson Soul Food, and had even given them dollars to get started on this whole process, and everything has been on hold because of this issue of the billboard, and I'm just going to say this, and this is just real, you know. I don't -- I have had the opportunity to talk to Clear Channel, and they are willing to make the necessary adjustments, and Shirlene -- I don't know where Shirlene is, which is the owner of the restaurant, and Mr. Jackson -- where are you, Mr. Jackson? Just had a birthday. I think he's turned, what, 70, or something close to 70's -- have been really pushing to get their restaurant City of Miami Page 44 Printed on 10/12/2006 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes September 25, 2006 built, to expand their restaurant, and it is my responsibility. I would not be -- I wouldn't be a good Commissioner if I didn't push for the residents of my district to make sure that we separated these two issues. They have absolutely nothing to do with each other, and I do understand the thought where we need to have this leverage to stop it, but who is it really hurting? It's hurting my residents. It's hurting the folks that need to work those extra hours, those new people that could be hired in the area, and it's my district. At the end of the day, it's my district, and I would expect that, if there was anything that was happening in someone else's district, for me to provide the same support to them. These people came out on their evening schedule because they support the restaurant. They love the restaurant, and they're asking -- and I want -- I can't personally look at them and tell them that we can't support them. This grant for seven hundred whatever thousand dollars is not a grant that we're officially putting in their hands to utilize the contractors. We're hiring the contractors to do the work, so the one -- I just want to understand -- business that I have in Overtown that is the oldest business that's employing the most people that will allow for me to also double those numbers because they would be open beyond breakfast, which now becomes a destination -- when people come to Miami for Super Bowl and all of these things that they come to Miami, at the end of the day, they're always asking, where can I get some good soul food? They can get some good soul breakfast, but beyond that, we have nothing else to offer them, so I'm appealing to my wonderful Commissioner on my right-hand side, and really asking for her support because I believe, in our last meeting -- Commissioner Regalado, are you with me over there? Commissioner Regalado: Yeah. Chair Spence -Jones: -- provided me with the -- you know, with -- and I understood -- you know, Commissioner Haskins and I -- what are we? Thelma and Louise, so we -- I do understand her issues and her concerns, but I think it's time to bury that hatchet and allow for the people in Overtown to really have something. Mr. John Jones, before the attorney says anything, could you make -- at least put something on the record, please? John Jones: Yes. Good evening. John Jones, chairperson of the Metro -Miami Action Plan, address, 1717 North Bayshore Drive. Commissioner, I think that the Metro -Miami Action Plan, whose mission is to reduce disparities between the black community and others, I think that when you begin to look at the City of Miami specifically, and we're sitting about third in the poverty line in the country -- and back in 1998, we worked with a collaborative with the City of Miami that we would help the businesses of Overtown. The Metro -Miami Action Plan did its part. We went out and we solicited funds. We actually got a grant, an economic development grant from federal HUD (Department of Housing and Urban Development), and we came back and began to look at the businesses in Overtown and to find out the things that they needed in order to make them sustainable in this community and expand and grow. Jackson Soul Food was one of those restaurants, and as we've looked at Jackson Soul Food, one of the things that we understood was that it was a historical site. It was the oldest ongoing restaurant business in Overtown, and at that time, probably, and still now the largest employer, so when we began to talk about economic development in the City of Miami, we really have to carry out the things that we say that is part of our mission, and Overtown, as you know, is probably one of the very historic cities in our community, you know, and we tend to continue to support and help Jackson Soul Food Restaurant. Now -- Commissioner Haskins: How large a grant did Jackson Soul Food get from MMAP? Mr. Jones: I'm not sure. I think it was in the neighborhood about 150,000 initially, and then some technical assistance. I know -- Commissioner Haskins: How much was it in total? Mr. Jones: I don't remember. It's been several years ago, so I couldn't give you the exact City of Miami Page 45 Printed on 10/12/2006 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes September 25, 2006 number. Chair Spence -Jones: 1998. Mr. Jones: It's been since 1998, and we've helped a tremendous amount of businesses since then, but I know that we stepped up to the plate with the City of Miami, and we not only helped Jackson Soul Food Restaurant, but there were several other businesses in Overtown that we helped give grants -- Unidentified Speaker: Give them they [sic] money. Give them they [sic] money. Stop playing. Mr. Jones: -- and technical assistance -- Unidentified Speaker: That ain't y'all money. That ain't y'all money. Give them they money. Stop playing. Mr. Jones: -- and rendered with them some technical assistance in order to also make them whole in expanding their business. I know since then -- Commissioner Haskins: What are the revenues from the billboard, annual revenues from the billboard? Chair Spence -Jones: That would not be a question -- that would actually come -- Mr. Jones: We don't have anything -- Chair Spence -Jones: Yeah. Mr. Jones: -- to do with the billboard. Commissioner Haskins: OK. Mr. Jones: The only thing that we're here to do is support and sustain -- Chair Spence -Jones: Show their support the restaurant. Mr. Jones: -- the businesses of Overtown -- Commissioner Haskins: OK. Mr. Jones: -- and Jackson Soul Food Restaurant is one of those businesses. Commissioner Haskins: But that was one of the improvements in the business operations, right, was the placement of the billboard and the revenues from the billboard on that --? Mr. Jones: Billboard had -- Chair Spence -Jones: Nothing to do with that. Mr. Jones: -- nothing to do with MMAP -- Chair Spence -Jones: They're two separate items. Mr. Jones: -- supporting Jackson Soul Food. City of Miami Page 46 Printed on 10/12/2006 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes September 25, 2006 Commissioner Haskins: OK. Mr. Jones: Matter of fact, we had no knowledge of any billboard -- Commissioner Haskins: OK. Mr. Jones: -- and still have no knowledge of it. Chair Spence -Jones: And I want to just -- and thank you, Mr. Jones. I just want to say this real fast, and I'm going to let the attorney speak on this issue. Thank you so much for coming out to speak on the issue. I want to say, you know, my whole purpose of putting this item on is to separate the two, and that's because they always -- they were supposed to be separated, and personally, you know, there's a -- there was a big issue around -- it was communicated to me when I came on board as the chairperson, well, Commissioner, we don't want any billboards in Overtown. That's the reason why we want to knock -- that's why we want to take it off and for me, you know, when I ride on 54th Street and Biscayne Boulevard, where Soyka's is, where they have that huge, big billboard sitting there right in the center of Biscayne Boulevard -- Unidentified Speaker: Two. Chair Spence -Jones: -- nobody's saying anything about their billboard being there -- Commissioner Haskins: Oh -- Chair Spence -Jones: -- and then now you have a business -- Commissioner Haskins: -- yeah, they are. They are, right? Chair Spence -Jones: -- and it's very difficult for a business to survive, especially a restaurant business. I don't understand what difference does it make if that's -- if we provided them with the permit to put it there and they know that it was a issue before they put it there, I just -- what I want to have accomplished in this meeting right now, more so than anything else, I don't want these people that are standing before us not to have the opportunity to, one, get more hours working, to provide more jobs -- because I need them -- and to support the only oldest business that I really have within Overtown, and let's work through whatever our issues are, and I think, Mr. City Attorney -- not Mr. City Attorney -- Mr. -- our attorney -- Mr. Villacorta: Assistant. Chair Spence -Jones: -- has been working through some of those issues. I know that Clear Channel has communicated to me that they will work through those issues regarding the moving of it, and mind you, when I tell you, Commissioner Haskins and Commissioner Regalado, it's not like the billboard -- the billboard might be not even from here to here in space, so literally, all they're going to do is pick up the billboard and put it over where my City Clerk -- Assistant City Clerk is, so it's not like they're moving it a mile away, so what is the point? Are we trying to make a point? What is the point? Commissioner Haskins: I think the point is -- and it -- look, there's -- and you know, there's nobody that's tried to do more for jobs and affordable housing in this City than I have. Unidentified Speaker: Who? Commissioner Haskins: There's nobody that's done more in straightening out Community Development, stopping the poverty pimps from throwing away millions of dollars a year. You know, I don't go around planting 150 oak trees in Coconut Grove. I'm responsible for making City of Miami Page 47 Printed on 10/12/2006 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes September 25, 2006 sure that we got 3,600 affordable housing units planted in the City of Miami, either completed or under the -- in the ground today, and that's a far cry from where we were in the 90's, where we spent $10 million and got three houses out of it. It's a far cry, but this is a transaction that has history. It's got a lot of history. I know -- Commissioner Spence [sic], I respect you. You want them to be separate transactions. The parking lot was built to support Jackson Soul Food. The property was purchased for how much money? Mr. Villacorta: A hundred and -- well, 68,000 was the purchase of the property itself. Commissioner Haskins: Sixty-eight thousand dollars, purchase price on the property. How much did the CRA spend on improving that parking lot? Mr. Villacorta: Over a hundred and twenty, a hundred and thirty thousand. Commissioner Haskins: Over a hundred and twenty. We have $180, 000 into it, and what did we sell the property back for? Mr. Villacorta: Fifty thousand dollars. Commissioner Haskins: Fifty thousand dollars. We took $130,000 loss on this. OK. Just want you to understand. From my own perspective -- and honesty in government, that's my problem with this transaction because some things happened in the past that just weren't right. Nobody in their right mind buys a property for 68,000, unimproved; puts $128,000 into it, and then sells it for lower than what they paid in the first place. That's a problem to me, so I want you to understand that my issue with this transaction goes back historically to what in the heck has happened, what went on over the years. Now I'm sorry. I appreciate the working people in Jackson Soul Food and all of the businesses in the City of Miami. I have a lot of appreciation, and I have worked very hard to make sure that we have jobs in the City of Miami, but I have worked equally hard to make sure that these sorts of transactions that just don't smell right stop. Is that right? You know me, right? I've worked very hard to make sure that these transactions that don't smell right stop. They don't. Now I know that the CRA made a commitment in the 90's for a grant. They made a commitment to a business that didn't have a billboard on it, OK. Had - - it had an unimproved lot next to it that the City bought -- the CRA bought, improved, and sold for a $130,000 loss to the same people, and after that, a billboard goes on, and that billboard generates revenues, and I'll bet you that billboard generates 50, 60, 70, $80,000 a year in revenue to that business, and the number of years that it's been there -- Chair Spence -Jones: It's OK, Shirlene. Let her finish, let her finish. Commissioner Haskins: -- could pay for this improvements, OK, so my issue is not with the employees. It is -- it has to do with making a statement. Now I think that I've gotten it off my chest, and I've said it, OK, but I want folks to know that I can't -- I don't go along with this sort of stuff. I don't know what happened in the past, but it's never going to happen while I'm sitting as a Commissioner because we've got to fix this government and all governments. We can't have what's gone on in the County, where millions of dollars are spent on housing and they don't deliver housing. We can't have what's gone on in this CRA in the past, spending millions of dollars and getting nothing out of it, right? We've got to be doing the right thing, so my problem with this transaction is I don't know what happened in the past, but my issue with it was, for goodness sakes, for all the money that's gone into it, the -- it's not that difficult to try to follow one rule, and that was the deed restriction, but Michelle, in deference to you, because I know that this is important to you -- I had to get this off my chest, and I'll -- I will go along with it. Commissioner Regalado: Madam Chair. Chair Spence -Jones: Thank you, ma'am. City of Miami Page 48 Printed on 10/12/2006 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes September 25, 2006 Commissioner Regalado: Linda brought to the City discipline, and you know, I wish that she will be sitting next to me in the City Commission next month, next year because she helps us understand sometimes the convoluted business plans that someone thought and brought to the Board. I am always a very simple person, and I see things through the eyes of a journalist or a person that communicates and deals with public opinion, and what I see here that -- is that if we keep not separating both issues, and we will want to set an example for the future and for the past that we didn't control, then we will be creating a lot of collateral damage, and the collateral damage will be the employees, the hopes of the area, the possibility of having a historic restaurant open all day, instead of half a day, and this has been going on. I -- you know, the billboard thing is something that the City needs to address in every area, not only in that place, and hopefully, when we address it, it will be fair. It will be fair for everyone, and it will be fair for the people of Overtown, and for the residents of The Roads, or of the Biscayne Boulevard, but you know, I have the sad experience of looking at legal cases that drag on and on and on for years and years and years, and while we wait for the resolution of that billboard, the people that work for this restaurant and the people in the area will not be able to expand, will not be able to see a restaurant that should be the signature restaurant in the Overtown area for it has become a place to meet for many residents and visitors and workers. You know, CRAs are not in the business of making money. CRAs are in the business of doing business the right way, and Linda is right, but we are supposed to spend money to create development, to create progress, to create jobs, and you know, sometimes we need to focus on the priority, and the priority now is to create more jobs. The priority now is to help the people of the area to see that at least their agency is doing something to expand the business, to open more places for people to work, and probably, that will create a domino effect that some people will say, well, you know what? At least the CRA is working, but for the simple resident and people, it's very difficult to understand that the CRA has not been able to come through to help a business that is struggling because we have an issue with a billboard, and this is why I join my colleagues in supporting this resolution. Hopefully, the Legal Department will continue to work with the people about the billboard. Hopefully, that billboard will be resolved when other billboards throughout the City are resolved, but meantime, instead of breakfast and lunch -- Chair Spence -Jones: No lunch. Commissioner Regalado: -- well, instead of breakfast, let's have lunch, dinner, and you know, it is -- for the people that go to the entertainment district, can go and then have a late dinner at Soul Jackson Food [sic]. Commissioner Haskins: This is a reimbursement grant, right? This is as expenses are incurred? Mr. Villacorta: Actually, the CRA has retained -- the architect prepared the plans and was -- Chair Spence -Jones: Yeah. Mr. Villacorta: -- in the process of approving -- entering into the agreement with the contractor to begin the work when this started. We would then pay as the contractor made draws. Chair Spence -Jones: Let me just say something real fast. First of all, I want to thank my colleagues, especially the one to my right, you know. We share Overtown together. She has a part of Overtown, just like I do. I have more of it, but she knows how I am, and I am a bulldog when it comes to trying to do the right thing, and I won't stop until I understand why we're saying no. Now the one thing I love and respect about my colleague is that she wants to make sure that she does it right, and I have the utmost respect for her and her leadership, and just making sure that things are done right because she knows that -- and we both know, being ex -City staffers, that a lot -- not just in Overtown, but throughout the whole City -- City of Miami Page 49 Printed on 10/12/2006 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes September 25, 2006 Commissioner Haskins: System's abused. Chair Spence -Jones: -- yeah. It has been abused. You know, so this is never -- you know, it's never a question about why Commissioner Haskins is so firm on her feelings because whatever happened happened, and I'm going to be totally straight up and honest. That was really before I got here, and I'm not really interested in it, and all I'm interested in is these people right here that I got to walk into my district, that are my constituents, that I go and eat and sit down with, I cannot explain to them why they can't be open beyond breakfast, and at the end of the day, it's about people, and as Commissioner Regalado stated earlier, you know, when you're talking about a CRA -- that's the purpose of a CRA. I just left Detroit. I just left Chicago. I just left the Bronx, and looking at some of the models and things that they do in those particular areas, and that's the purpose of them, is to, you know, focus on supporting business in blight -- in improving blighted areas and -- Commissioner Haskins: And that's exactly what we should be doing. Chair Spence -Jones: Yeah, right. Commissioner Haskins: I mean, there's -- I mean -- and Michelle, you know how strongly I feel about it because whenever I've saved a dollar of waste, that means that something else is done -- Chair Spence -Jones: Right. Commissioner Haskins: -- that's right -- Chair Spence -Jones: Right. Commissioner Haskins: -- and you know my mantra. Chair Spence -Jones: Yeah. Commissioner Haskins: I mean -- Chair Spence -Jones: I allow -- let -- I allowed for you and Commissioner Regalado to -- Commissioner Haskins: -- you know -- Chair Spence -Jones: -- state what you stated, and I just simply wanted to at least respond to you, and I want to at least turn it over to the attorneys, first of all, to say thank you for your support. I just want to move the project so that they can be ready to go. Super Bowl is going to be here in February, and I -- as I said, I just left Detroit, and I look at all the things they did just to prepare for the Super Bowl coming. I'm never going to be able to have a restaurant up and running by February, but I got one right here now that I can run thousands of people through during that week the Super Bowl is here, you know, so it just does not make any sense for us not to have at least one showcase place where people can come sit down and eat, you know, within the CRA, so I just -- I want to say "thank you" for being the bull doe -- the bill dog -- how do you say -- Unidentified Speaker: Bull dog. Chair Spence -Jones: -- bulldog, and I -- Commissioner Haskins: And you -- thank you for being the bulldogs. Chair Spence -Jones: -- but I just really want to make sure the stuff gets done in our district, and City of Miami Page 50 Printed on 10/12/2006 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes September 25, 2006 I'm going to -- Commissioner Regalado: So the motion will be -- Chair Spence -Jones: To -- the -- Commissioner Regalado: -- to move forward with the -- Mr. Villacorta: With the grant agreement -- Commissioner Regalado: -- grant. Commissioner Haskins: And the settlement. Mr. Villacorta: -- provided that the Jacksons will settle their lawsuit over the grant. We could continue to move forward with the billboard litigation to enforce a deed restriction, since it's a separate company. Chair Spence -Jones: I want to be clear because, you know, sometimes that stuff gets all jumbled up that you're saying. Mr. Villacorta: Right. Chair Spence -Jones: Are -- we're saying that, at this point, what we're looking at doing is at least allowing for them to continue on the track of getting the -- pulling down the grant so that we can rehab their restaurant for them to get started on that part of it? Mr. Villacorta: Right. Chair Spence -Jones: Now I requested, in that -- the meeting we brought this up the last time, was $750,000. That's not money that's going to them, but I just felt that we needed to also look at -- I don't know what the former director did -- to put the bid out -- to at least look at what we're talking about from a cost standpoint to make sure because if that's not all that we need, then -- Mr. Villacorta: We could -- the -- Chair Spence -Jones: So I mean -- meaning it might be less than that. Mr. Villacorta: -- it is a large amount of money. We had hired a con -- the Board had selected a construction manager at -risk who had guaranteed a price. The -- I don't know if he's still going to be able to hold it this amount of time later, but it's -- Chair Spence -Jones: Oh, you don't think it's a smart idea just to put it out to bid again? Mr. Villacorta: That will involve developing specifications for the projects -- Chair Spence -Jones: Oh, OK. Mr. Villacorta: -- and putting -- Chair Spence -Jones: All right. No problem. Then we're going to -- Mr. Villacorta: -- it's going to be -- City of Miami Page 51 Printed on 10/12/2006 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes September 25, 2006 Chair Spence -Jones: -- go with what we have to at least get -- Mr. Villacorta: The project underway. Chair Spence -Jones: -- it started on that end. Mr. Villacorta: It -- to be done by January will be a tight squeeze. Chair Spence -Jones: OK. Mr. Villacorta: Also -- Commissioner Regalado: Yeah, but as long as the executive director, you know, approve every - Mr. Villacorta: Right. Commissioner Regalado: -- step. Mr. Villacorta: Yeah. You know -- Commissioner Regalado: It's no problem. Mr. Villacorta: -- the Board had selected this architect and contractor -- Chair Spence -Jones: OK. Mr. Villacorta: -- as the CM (construction manager) at -risk. He had guaranteed a price. We can get back in touch with him and make sure he can still do it for that price. If not, then we'll go out to bid. The motion might be to move -- and the CRA has moved forward with making this project come to fruition. We have been steadily working on re platting the block, which is a necessity to obtain the permits to do this construction. That has gone forward, and just today, Shirlene executed a covenant that was necessary to obtain that re plat. The motion could be to move forward on the grant, to continue to move forward on the litigation, and let a court determine whether we're correct as to the language in the deed restriction where it says "solely for parking," whether that prevents a billboard on the lot or not, and that would be conditioned on Jackson Soul Food dropping its claim on the grant. Chair Spence -Jones: I'm stopping you because I want to separate the two. Mr. Villacorta: They are -- Chair Spence -Jones: Let -- Mr. Villacorta: -- OK. Chair Spence -Jones: -- so let's deal with one issue, and that is to -- for them to move ahead on their -- William R. Bloom (Special Counsel, Community Redevelopment Agency): Excuse me. What Jim is saying, there's a lawsuit, as I understand it, regarding not moving forward with the grant. Chair Spence -Jones: Right. Mr. Bloom: What Jim is saying, the CRA will move forward with the grant, provided the City of Miami Page 52 Printed on 10/12/2006 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes September 25, 2006 Jacksons drop the lawsuit against the CRA for not -- Mr. Villacorta: Moving forward with the grant. Mr. Bloom: -- moving forward with the grant -- Chair Spence -Jones: OK. Mr. Bloom: -- so that's a settlement. You separate -- Commissioner Haskins: You have to have that. Mr. Bloom: -- the issue with respect to the billboard -- Commissioner Regalado: Right, but the -- Mr. Bloom: -- so that litigation moves independent -- Commissioner Regalado: -- billboard doesn't have to do anything with this resolution. Mr. Villacorta: Right. Commissioner Regalado: The -- Chair Spence -Jones: Yeah. Commissioner Haskins: It's just the litigation. Commissioner Regalado: The litigation -- Mr. Villacorta: Right. Commissioner Regalado: -- of course -- Commissioner Haskins: Is stopped. Commissioner Regalado: -- makes sense. It should stop. They're going to get the money, and they should stop the litigation, and that's it, and the billboard is a separate thing, so the resolution is only about the grant and dropping the litigation against the CRA. Chair Spence -Jones: And then I just want to also put on the record -- So are we clear on that, guys? Are we clear on that? Because you got the curious look. Are we clear on that? OK, so that handles the restaurant part of it. Do you want to at least give us --? Do we need to get a motion on that first, please? Mr. Villacorta: A motion to move forward with the grant, provided that the Jacksons drop -- Commissioner Regalado: City Attorney wants to -- Chair Spence -Jones: OK. Warren Bittner (Assistant City Attorney): Yes. Commissioners, I would -- we can do what you want to do, but I would condition your motion upon the dismissal of that lawsuit that they brought -- City of Miami Page 53 Printed on 10/12/2006 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes September 25, 2006 Chair Spence -Jones: OK. Mr. Bittner: -- for us to go forward. Otherwise -- Chair Spence -Jones: OK Mr. Bittner: -- we still have a lawsuit -- Chair Spence -Jones: OK. Mr. Bittner: -- for damages. Pamela Burns (Assistant Clerk of the Board): And your name for the record, please. Mr. Bittner: Warren Bittner, assistant city attorney. Commissioner Regalado: Yeah, but that's what we're saying. Mr. Villacorta: Yes. Commissioner Regalado: That's what -- Mr. Bittner: I just wanted to make it clear. Commissioner Regalado: -- a -- the executive director is moving forward with a grant with the condition that the lawsuit is dropped. I mean, we don't even have to meet again. The lawsuit is dropped tomorrow, they start getting the funding day after tomorrow. It's -- Mr. Villacorta: On the condition that they also drop any claim for attorneys' fees arising out of that lawsuit and costs, and the executive director is authorized to go forward with the CM at -risk contractor, or to rebid the contract, as necessary, but making clear that we will continue to allow the court to determine whether -- Chair Spence -Jones: The billboard stays -- Mr. Villacorta: -- solely for parking -- Chair Spence -Jones: -- or leaves. Mr. Villacorta: -- or goes. Chair Spence -Jones: Yeah. OK. I mean, are we OK with -- Commissioner Haskins: Um -hum. Chair Spence -Jones: -- that? Mr. Bittner: We can follow that direction. Chair Spence -Jones: OK, so -- Commissioner Regalado: But what about them? Mr. Villacorta: Are the --? City of Miami Page 54 Printed on 10/12/2006 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes September 25, 2006 Chair Spence -Jones: Are y'all OK -- Commissioner Regalado: What about them? Chair Spence -Jones: -- with that, Shirlene and Mr. Jackson? Y'all OK with it? Shirlene Ingraham: Yes, I'm OK. Chair Spence -Jones: OK All right. I thank y'all for y'all patience. Mr. Jackson, you know, you probably the legend in the room. Is there anything that you'd like to say -- Mr. Villacorta: We need a second and -- Chair Spence -Jones: -- before we close out on -- Mr. Villacorta: -- a vote. Chair Spence -Jones: -- this issue? Commissioner Regalado: Yeah. The -- Demas Jackson: Yeah. I'd just like to say -- Commissioner Regalado: On the mike, on the mike. Mr. Jackson: -- to the Commissioner and the whole staff that y'all really have put me through something, and I have tried every way I could -- see these children back here? Ms. Ingraham: Say "thank you." That's all. Just -- Mr. Jackson: And -- wait just a minute, just a minute. Mr. Jackson: They gets up 4 o'clock, 5 o'clock in the morning trying to repair [sic] food for our community and our peoples. All over the world, they come by. They wants to have 60 peoples on a bus, tourists. They want to -- that make us look bad, the city. It's not only make me because I don't have the room to support them. Thank y'all very much. Chair Spence -Jones: Thank you -- Ms. Burns: And your -- Chair Spence -Jones: -- Mr. Jackson. Commissioner Haskins: Thank you. Ms. Burns: -- name for the record. Mr. Villacorta: Demas Jackson. Mr. Jackson: Name is Demas Jackson. Ms. Burns: Thank you, sir. Chair Spence -Jones: And I just want to say thank you so much to my colleagues for having -- feeling -- having a heart today to make sure -- Let's give them a hand. I really appreciate it. City of Miami Page 55 Printed on 10/12/2006 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes September 25, 2006 Applause. Mr. Villacorta: And we need a motion -- Chair Spence -Jones: My first battle with you. I don't want too many of them. Commissioner Regalado: I move -- Commissioner Haskins: No. We're not going to have too many of those. Commissioner Regalado: -- it, and she second. Commissioner Haskins: Second. Chair Spence -Jones: All in favor? The Commission (Collectively): Aye. Chair Spence -Jones: All right. I think the last item we have -- Mr. Jones: Madam Chair, I just wanted to -- Chair Spence -Jones: Sure. Mr. Jones: -- say, on behalf of the Metro Miami Action Plan Trust, we thank this Board for your support and for your continued support to help us to reduce the disparities in the City of Miami. Chair Spence -Jones: Thank you, John. 10. 06-01672 CRA REPORT PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT BOARD CHAIR, COMMISSIONER MICHELLE SPENCE-JONES, HAS REQUESTED THAT GENERAL COUNSEL GIVE A REPORT ON THE STATUS OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT BEING CONDUCTED IN THE LITIGATION WITH POWER U, CENTER FOR SOCIAL CHANGE, INC. Cover Memo.pdf DISCUSSED Chair Spence -Jones: I just want to just -- OK, so we're going to -- I think we've done number 9. Oh, number 10 is the CRA report. Now this is in regards to the environmental assessment. Can you give us an update? I think this is in reference to the Power U -- James Villacorta (Interim Executive Director, Community Redevelopment Agency): Litigation. Chair Spence -Jones: -- law -- litigation, and again, I wanted to make sure that I'm very, very clear. This is in reference to the Crosswinds project. I want to make sure we put it on the record that I do not want anything to happen before this public process happens regarding the environmental, so I need to make sure I get an update from you regarding that issue. Warren Bittner (Assistant City Attorney): OK With regard to this lawsuit -- once again, Warren Bittner, assistant city attorney. I understand from CIP (Capital Improvements Program) that the supplemental environmental assessment will be completed the first week of October, and that -- City of Miami Page 56 Printed on 10/12/2006 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes September 25, 2006 Chair Spence -Jones: I'm listening. Mr. Bittner: -- the public comment period will be the week following. We have a hearing before the court this Friday, which we will be giving the court the same information, and so this should be all ready for you when you have the public hearing on the MUSP (Major Use Special Permit) on October 26. Chair Spence -Jones: OK When is the public hearing happening for the environmentals? Mr. Bittner: We understand from CIP, the second week of October. Chair Spence -Jones: The second week of October because I want to be very clear that, if this does not happen, it will not be happening on October 26. Mr. Villacorta: Correct. Chair Spence -Jones: I just want to make sure. Mr. Bittner: OK. Chair Spence -Jones: OK. That's not an item I need to vote on, right? Mr. Villacorta: No. Unidentified Speaker: (INAUDIBLE) public hearing? Chair Spence -Jones: OK Mr. Bittner: We don't -- CIP hasn't given us that date yet. Chair Spence -Jones: OK. All right. We're going to open up to the public in two seconds. I just wanted to make sure that it was put on the record so no one can say that we never, you know, did what we needed to do, and that was making sure this public hearing takes place, so it's happening, right? OK. I think that is -- this is not -- it's just a report. Mr. Villacorta: Just a report, yes. Chair Spence -Jones: OK. 11. 06-01627 CRA REPORT PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT CRA BOARD CHAIR, COMMISSIONER MICHELLE SPENCE-JONES, HAS REQUESTED THAT AN ITEM BE PLACED ON THE SEPTEMBER 25, 2006 CRA BOARD MEETING AGENDA TO REPORT ON THE "WAKE UP MIAMI" KICK OFF EVENT WHICH TOOK PLACE AT BOOKER T. WASHINGTON HIGH SCHOOL IN OVERTOWN ON AUGUST 5, 2006. Cover Memo.pdf Back Up.pdf Motion on Item 11 - CRA Sept. 25 2006.msg Motion on Item 11 - CRA Sept. 25, 2006.pdf MOTION City of Miami Page 57 Printed on 10,12,2006 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes September 25, 2006 A motion was made by Commissioner Regalado, seconded by Commissioner Haskins, and was passed unanimously, with Vice Chair Gonzalez and Commissioner Sanchez absent, to remove the restriction and mod fy CRA Resolution 06-0030 to allow the Interim Executive Director to utilize City of Miami general fund money for payment of portions of the Wake Up Miami survey conducted in the Greater Overtown area. Chair Spence -Jones: And then last, but not least, is number 11, which is the Wake Up Miami campaign. Jim, can you give us a quick update on that real fast? James Villacorta (Interim Executive Director, Community Redevelopment Agency): The survey and the meeting were held on September 25. The -- a portion of the survey involved residents outside the CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency). The City has agreed to give us general funds to spend in that regard, and I'd ask the Board that you entertain a motion to remove the restriction in the resolution that authorized the grant to allow us to pay for those portions of the survey, with the City's general fund money, that occurred in the Greater Overtown area. Chair Spence -Jones: OK. Did you understand that, Commissioner Regalado? All right. As you know, we launched the Wake Up Miami campaign. That's what all these -- Commissioner Regalado: I know. Chair Spence -Jones: -- buttons were for, and we're now -- Commissioner Regalado: I know. Chair Spence -Jones: -- it was very successful, and I wanted to say thank you. Commissioner Regalado: What we're going to save on the national search, we use on the -- Chair Spence -Jones: All right, so it was just a report. Mr. Villacorta: What -- well -- Chair Spence -Jones: Any -- Mr. Villacorta: -- do you want to entertain that -- a motion and a second on --? Commissioner Regalado: It needs to be a motion -- Mr. Villacorta: Yes -- Commissioner Regalado: -- because you're -- Mr. Villacorta: -- or we -- Commissioner Regalado: -- spend some money. I move -- Mr. Villacorta: Move the -- Commissioner Regalado: -- the expenditure of -- Mr. Villacorta: -- to allow the expenditure of City general fund monies provided to us -- Chair Spence -Jones: OK City of Miami Page 58 Printed on 10/12/2006 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes September 25, 2006 Commissioner Haskins: Second. Mr. Villacorta: -- to modify the Wake Up Miami resolution -- Chair Spence -Jones: All in favor? Mr. Villacorta: -- to be -- The Commission (Collectively): Aye. Chair Spence -Jones: Item is passed. Thank you very much. 12. 06-01671 CRA REPORT PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT BOARD CHAIR, COMMISSIONER MICHELLE SPENCE-JONES, HAS REQUESTED A REPORT ON THE SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST CRA'S 3RD AVENUE STREETSCAPE PROJECT AND OVERTOWN SMALL BUSINESS GRANT INITIATIVE. Cover Memo.pdf Back Up.pdf MOTION A motion was made by Commissioner Regalado, seconded by Vice Chair Gonzalez, and was passed unanimously, with Commissioners Haskins and Sanchez absent, to authorize the Interim Executive Director to spend up to $100, 000 for design services for businesses moving into New Arena Square and on 3rd Avenue; further, directing the Interim Executive Director to bring those items back for ratification at the next CRA meeting, currently scheduled for October 30, 2006. Direction by Commissioner Regalado to the Interim Executive Director to include the consideration of a bus shelter at the current bus stop in the proposed designs for the 3rd Avenue Streetscape project. Chair Spence -Jones: OK, moving right along. I've been asked by one of the individuals -- they have, unfortunately, another engagement -- if I can get you to at least move to number 12 real fast. We're jumping around, but we won't jump around after that, and that is regarding the 3rd Avenue Streetscape project and the Overtown Small Business Grant Initiative. As you know, one of the things I started when I came on board was really bringing more attention to supporting those businesses on 3rd Avenue. Tools for Change was actually brought on board to assist with us identfying the businesses that would be going into the Arena Square Apartments and some of the other buildings that are there, and I think that they have come up with a list of businesses that are going into the spaces and also supporting the existing businesses that are there. What I would like to do first, if you don't mind, we've also invited Contractors Resource Center, which is being brought in partnership with the Tools for Change partnership regarding the contractors and the architects that would be hired to do, I'm assuming, the businesses that are going to be going in there, and my concern -- and I wanted to let my colleagues know -- it's almost been six or seven months since we started this whole thing, and I'm losing businesses because we can't move, so I cannot -- I can't keep these businesses holding any longer, so ifI could have Elsie and then my 3rd Avenue Street Committee, if you could just be prepared to give us a very brief synopsis on the streetscape. Elsie Hamlen: Thank you, Commissioner. My name is Elsie Hamlen. I'm president of Contractors Resource Center, and in relations to the Arena Square project, we were directed to help determine an A & E (Architectural & Engineering) selection process for designing a white box build -out for these storefronts. Our design was to be consistent with the City of Miami's City of Miami Page 59 Printed on 10/12/2006 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes September 25, 2006 protocol to ensure that we were in compliance with what the City would want us to do, and so that we wouldn't have to keep going back and forth. We were referred to the City of Miami's Capital Improvement Office, and after discussions, we really didn't get a copy of their A & E selection process or whatever they use, so we, therefore, went forward with this plan. What we did, we developed our own A & E selection process. We announced the specifications to the A & E community. That was approximately 20 firms that we announced to, and of those, 12 of those firms responded, and actually three presented. Chair Spence -Jones: OK. Ms. Hamlen: We had a selection committee. It was an open and transparent process -- Chair Spence -Jones: OK Ms. Hamlen: -- and we ranked those three architectural firms, and now we are prepared to work with the executive director of the CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) to meet with the attorney to substantiate what we did, so we're very -- we're ready. Chair Spence -Jones: OK. Jim, if you can give us a quick update. Because I think one of the confusing things on this, Chairman -- I'm calling you Chairman -- Commissioner Gonzalez, was the issue of when we were asked to -- when they were asked, actually, to be directed to a department, they called Capital Improvements to see what the process was to select it, and they never really got a, I'm assuming, straight answer -- Ms. Hamlen: That's correct. Chair Spence -Jones: -- so at that point -- CRC (Contractors Resource Center) does a lot of stuff with Miami -Dade County already doing the same type of things, correct? Ms. Hamlen: That's correct. Chair Spence -Jones: Put a process in place to make sure that the information got out to all the architects in the area and did a selection process based upon that. Now I think what Jim needed to -- I think, Jim, you need to put something on the record regarding what was communicated to you regarding this issue and the -- your opinion -- well -- James Villacorta (Interim Executive Director, Community Redevelopment Agency): Well -- Chair Spence -Jones: -- I don't know if it's Kevin should be actually -- Kevin should be -- because you're not the -- Mr. Villacorta: Right. Chair Spence -Jones: -- official attorney. You are the -- Mr. Villacorta: Executive director. Chair Spence -Jones: -- executive director. Mr. Villacorta: Well, at a deference to -- Chair Spence -Jones: OK Mr. Villacorta: -- Capital Improvements, they may be unaware of who Contractors Resource Center was working with, and when they were queried, did not want to make an opinion -- or City of Miami Page 60 Printed on 10/12/2006 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes September 25, 2006 give an opinion as to what Contractors Resource Center was required to do. The City and the CRA are required to comply with certain statutes, the Contractors -- Chair Spence -Jones: OK. Mr. Villacorta: -- Competitive Negotiation Act. If Contractors Resource Center proceeds or complies with that act, then the CRA could help fund it, if that's your wish. We have put money in next year's budget to provide for design and build -out of businesses along 3rd Avenue to encourage those new and expanding businesses to come into the area. If the Board wanted to make a motion to allocate some sort of motion -- some sort of amount of that money towards design for these businesses that we feel we're in danger of losing at -- on 3rd Avenue, we could do that, subject to demonstrating that Contractors Resource Center has complied with the Consultants Competitive Negotiation Act. Chair Spence -Jones: OK. Elsie -- Ms. Hamlen, are you comfortable with that? Ms. Hamlen: I'm -- yeah. I'm prepared to work with the director to meet with City Attorneys staff or whatever to go over what we did. We've documented what we did. Chair Spence -Jones: OK Let me just put this on the record. You know, next year, as of February, we have -- it's a lot happening in this town. The Super Bowl is on its way here, and many of those folks will be coming into the City of Miami, and we need to shine brightly, and we really want to make sure that when people come to our particular communities, they see something happening there, and this is only one step in the direction of really improving those particular communities and -- yes, Ms. Hamlen. Ms. Hamlen: I all -- but I would also like to add, I heard something about next year's budget. What about --? Chair Spence -Jones: Next year is October 1 -- Ms. Hamlen: OK -- Chair Spence -Jones: -- for us. Ms. Hamlen: -- which is next week. OK, fine. Mr. Villacorta: It's next week's budget. Ms. Hamlen: Thank you. Chair Spence -Jones: All right. Thank you so much, and sorry for the hold up. Any other question on that issue? Mr. Villacorta: Whether the Board wants to -- Chair Spence -Jones: Oh. Mr. Villacorta: -- entertain a motion to authorize the executive director to spend up to $100,000 for design for businesses moving into New Arena Square and on 3rd Avenue, and to bring those items back for ratification at the next meeting, and that would let you begin work between now and the next CRA meeting. Chair Spence -Jones: Wonderful. Do I have a motion, please? City of Miami Page 61 Printed on 10/12/2006 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes September 25, 2006 Commissioner Regalado: Move it. Vice Chair Gonzalez: Second. Chair Spence -Jones: All in favor? The Commission (Collectively): Aye. Chair Spence -Jones: Thank you, Ms. Hamlen, and please just make sure you get with Jim. We're going to go ahead and move on real fast to the consultants that are working on the 3rd Avenue piece. As you know, this is something that we also passed as a part -- a few months ago, regarding upgrading 3rd Avenue. We had some money set aside -- I think it was only about $750,000, which is -- as we know, was not enough to take us from 8th Street all the way to 14th Street, but hopefully, through the new reissuing of the bonds, I think that we should have monies to really do a full upgrade, but in the meantime, we created our own superblock, like the Performing Arts Center -- Commissioner Regalado: Yeah, sure. Yeah, sure. Vice Chair Gonzalez: What item are we on now? Chair Spence -Jones: We're -- it's a part of the -- number 12. We're closing out on it -- which is from 10th Street to 11 th Street, so if you could give us a quick, brief update, that'd be great. Donald Ambroise: Good evening. My name is Donald Ambroise, and I'm representing EAC Consulting Group. We are basically the design consultant for the 3rd Avenue project that lies from 8th Street to 14th Street. Basically, we've been meeting with the ad hoc committee to determine the best way to rehabilitate and improve the corridor, and we have basically come up with different options and finalized one of the options to proceed with the design, and I'm here along with our sub -consultant Curtis & Rogers that basically responsible for the streetscape, which means the architectural -- the upgrading, the trees, and the different kind of design we can implement to upgrade the whole area, and again, as you can see on the boards that we have displayed, the typical section will be to have a ten foot lane on each side, each direction, and then we have parking on each sides, which can vary from block to block, depending on if it's commercial or residential, and along with that, I'd like Dick Rogers to elaborate more on the actual streetscape. Dick Rogers: Good evening. Dick Rogers with Curtis & Rogers. I think Donald's pretty well described the process. We've been meeting with an ad hoc committee. We've shown them a series of alternatives that range from what the potential is to do with the street cross-section. The street now is a 50-foot-wide right-of-way, of which there is five feet on either side devoted to the pedestrian; the rest of it is devoted to automobiles. There is no public amenity on the -- in the pedestrian part of that street at the moment at all, and so we've explored everything from furniture to lighting to the materials that you might use to construct, particularly, the pedestrian part of this street, and to what degree you can accomplish planting, and we've gone through a series of meetings in which we've looked at alternatives, and we have gotten direction from the ad hoc committee, and we have taken that direction and applied it to the street, block by block. There is a -- one of the blocks -- they're all here, but there's one of them that is up there on the easel, which shows the current state of where we are. This represents a consensus from the ad hoc committee of the sort of development that would go on. Let me just say, in summary, that it consists of the reducing of the parking at the corners of the streets, the intersections of the streets. These are areas in which, typically, parking is not allowed, in any event, for some distance set back. This results in reducing the distance that a pedestrian needs to traverse to cross the street, and it also provides an opportunity to put some planting in. There have been -- we have been given direction as regards lighting, the type of fixtures that we would apply there, City of Miami Page 62 Printed on 10/12/2006 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes September 25, 2006 the kind of furniture, seating, as well as pavements. Another one of the interests of the ad hoc committee -- as you know, at the corner of 3rd Avenue and 9th Street today, there is a piece of crosswalk that is constructed, which is a part of this pattern of sidewalks that comes from the east and represents African art. There's a desire on the part of the ad hoc committee to extend that sort of expression into each of the intersections that we will be dealing with, not necessarily identical to what you see -- what is in the existing intersection, and in fact, probably each being different, but to take that vocabulary and extend it through the neighborhood. I'm here to -- Chair Spence -Jones: Thank -- Mr. Rogers: -- answer any questions. Chair Spence -Jones: -- you very much. I just want to thank you so much for coming and sharing this information. I do know that we have the chairwoman of the 3rd Avenue Ad Hoc Committee and some members of the ad hoc committee that have been doing an outstanding job that are residents of Overtown. Commissioner Regalado: Can I -- Chair Spence -Jones: Sure. Commissioner Regalado: -- just ask a question to the consultant? Chair Spence -Jones: Sure. Commissioner Regalado: Do you know what that bus line route goes? Mr. Rogers: Yes, sir. Yes, we do. Commissioner Regalado: Where to? Mr. Rogers: Oh, do -- I don't know where it goes to. I know where -- what portion of 3rd Avenue it -- Commissioner Regalado: It's a County Metrobus, right -- Chair Spence -Jones: Um -hum. Commissioner Regalado: -- route? Mr. Rogers: I hear it is, yes. Commissioner Regalado: OK. Most of these routes, they transport many, many working people, and I see here that you have a bus stop, and then you got some trees there, but that would be nice, but since the City doesn't have now -- it hasn't figured out yet the -- Chair Spence -Jones: Bus shelters. Commissioner Regalado: -- bus shelter and the bus benches contracts, I would recommend that you include, as part of the design, a shelter, a very nice shelter because people -- Chair Spence -Jones: It's hot. Commissioner Regalado: -- have to wait under the sun, wind, rain, and it's a lot of -- I'm sure there's a lot of foot traffic to get to the bus for people to go to work and come back and students City of Miami Page 63 Printed on 10/12/2006 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes September 25, 2006 and all that, so it would be great to have a shelter instead of just having the City place a bus bench there, and I think, you know, that -- the people of the area would love that because, you know, it protects them. Chair Spence -Jones: And I agree with you. I don't know why we don't have a bus shelter. I'm assuming we'll get to it soon. Commissioner Regalado: In the next five years. Chair Spence -Jones: OK, so let's -- if you can -- Commissioner Gonzalez: Well - Chair Spence -Jones: -- can you? Vice Chair Gonzalez: -- you said the shelters in the next five years? No. I think that -- Chair Spence -Jones: Yeah. Commissioner Regalado: I'm optimistic. Vice Chair Gonzalez: -- and this is Sunshine, so we can speak. I think that we -- you know, all of us need to bring the subject -- Commissioner Regalado: Yeah. Vice Chair Gonzalez: -- at the City Commission level because, you know, I have serious concerns with bus shelters in my district. I know that you have them, too, in your district, and you have them in your district, and I'm sure that Commissioner Sanchez also has them in his district, especially in Little Havana. Remember that poor neighborhoods, where people need to get up in the morning at 5 o'clock and go to work, and rich people -- Commissioner Regalado: They have to sit under rain, and they have to sit -- Vice Chair Gonzalez: -- they have cars -- Commissioner Regalado: -- under sun. Vice Chair Gonzalez: -- they have drivers; they have, you know -- Commissioner Regalado: And that was my point. Vice Chair Gonzalez: -- they don't have to -- they have limos. They don't have to worry, but working class, they have to get up and they have to go to a bus stop under the rain, under the sun, you know, and wait for the bus. Commissioner Regalado: And you know, that was my point. Since the City Administration have been dragging their feet because, you know, to be frank, they wanted to give the contract without bids, and that didn't work, but since they were -- since they are dragging their feet, now that you are designing this, it would be spectacular to have a nice shelter, you know, because that would protect the people from rain and -- Chair Spence -Jones: The elements, yeah -- Commissioner Regalado: -- sun, and the elements, you know. City of Miami Page 64 Printed on 10/12/2006 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes September 25, 2006 Chair Spence -Jones: -- but I think that, Chairman Gonzalez, you have a good point. I think that we should be looking at -- correct? Vice Chair Gonzalez: We need to bring that up at a Commission meeting. Chair Spence -Jones: We're going -- we have to bring it up. All right. Is there any other comments before we move to the next item? Commissioner Haskins: Yeah. It would be nice to have bus shelters in the City, wouldn't it? Vice Chair Gonzalez: I'm leaving. You have a quorum now. Commissioner Regalado: You need to hear from the -- Chair Spence -Jones: I think the only comment you had, probably, was regarding the public -- last public hearing, right? Stephanie Van Vark: Yes. We are going to have a public hearing on October 12 -- October 14, I'm sorry, Saturday. We'll be -- what we -- Chair Spence -Jones: OK Ms. Van Vark: -- where we will be presenting this to the community, the residents, and the business owners along the 3rd Avenue corridor, and we're also going to be giving a call to artists very soon, actually, to ask local artists if they can come up with a plan or a concept, and we would like to keep it in the vein of -- this vein, the original home for jazz and blues for the overpass on 11 th Street and the entrance at 8th Street along 3rd Avenue as well. Chair Spence -Jones: Thank you, Ms. Van Vark. Thank you, team, and -- Pamela Burns (Assistant Clerk of the Board): Excuse me. Your name for the record again, please? Ms. Van Vark: Stephanie Van Vark -- Ms. Burns: Thank you. Ms. Van Vark: -- chairperson. Chair Spence -Jones: OK. That was not a resolution. It was just a report. Mr. Villacorta: Right. [Later...] Chair Spence -Jones: We have -- I'm going to open it up two seconds per comment, any public comments. Mr. Cole: My name's Derek Cole, with Lofty Ideas. I wanted to put on the record my proposal that I -- the CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency), the committee that was scoring the proposals never got a chance to see my proposal for some reason, and I got a low score, and I wanted to put this on the record, and whoever -- Chair Spence -Jones: OK City of Miami Page 65 Printed on 10/12/2006 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes September 25, 2006 Mr. Cole: -- needs to -- Chair Spence -Jones: No problem. We could just submit it to staff. James Villacorta (Interim Executive Director, Community Redevelopment Agency): Sure. Chair Spence -Jones: Thank you, Dennis [sic]. [Later..] Commissioner Haskins: Here's Irby. Hi. Irby McKnight: Hi. Irby McKnight -- Commissioner Haskins: How are you tonight? Mr. McKnight: --1600 Northwest 3rd Avenue. First, I'm here because I submitted some projects to the Board for the bond that was withdrawn, and I want to commend both the interim director and the Commissioner for reinstating those projects, and I have that here in writing, but since we had some -- our earlier discussion by Commissioner Regalado about the CRA, I want to remind this Board that it was the residents of Overtown who lobbied the City and the County to create the CRA in the first place for the purpose of the TIF ( Tax Increment fund) coming for redevelopment in the Overtown community. The final public hearing on this was held at Booker T. Washington, at that time, a middle school. These 250-plus residents who attended this meeting was there to support the spokespersons who spoke up for it, including Ms. Athalie Range, Mr. Dorrin Rolle, and Mr. Charles McFaddin, Ms. Lucille Reddick, Ms. Ann Marie Acker, and Mr. Herbie Biggs, and myself. Mr. McFaddin, Ms. Reddick, and Mrs. Acker and Mr. Biggs have since passed away. Unfortunately, they saw absolutely no benefits to Overtown for their labor, and I know, in their -- in the great beyond, they would count on me to not forget that, and I'm standing right here alive, and I have not forgotten it. I have kept accurate records and notes because I remember what the County said must happen if they gave the City Commission the authority to sit as the CRA Board. I remember the arguments back and forth with us that said we didn't want the Commission sitting as the board. We wanted a board selected from the community, and that the Commission would have the last say-so. We said that because we knew nothing would happen to us. Since not any of you were Commissioners at that time, I would have to say, well, maybe that's not true today, but I'm going to ask you to please be forever vigilant and make certain -- go back. The County had a stenographer and a clerk at these meetings. I still have the records from them, so if we want to ask for the extension of the CRA and ask for them to do away with the sunset on it, then we need to really produce something in Overtown where the idea of a CRA came from. It didn't come from Park West, nor Omni. When they put that in, I went before the Commission, and I said they'll get all the money, and we'll just be left here. I was told by the then -Commissioners that you don't have anything in Overtown taxable enough to bring any relief. That's why we must do this. Well, that was a lie, but -- so never mind that fact. You're here now. There's a lot of changes from the time it was instituted until today. After Mrs. Acker, Mrs. Reddick, Mr. McFadden, and Mr. Biggs, who worked diligently, all of us as volunteers, after they have passed on and have seen absolutely nothing, what they wanted, they said we could use the TIF money and create rental affordable housing. The request I made happens to do with the fact that we are in a partnership with Dade County, the Empowerment Trust, MMAP (Metro -Miami Action Plan), the Collins Center, and Contractors Resource Center, and the purchasing of the TECO (Tampa Electric Company) plant, which will, if we do the infrastructure properly, bring in additional dollars that could be used to build rental units that the resident can afford because we are not a profit -making venture, so all the dollars that come in from the chiller services can go to subsidized housing. Now there has been a request from this building and the hotel next door for the TECO service here. If we are City of Miami Page 66 Printed on 10/12/2006 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes September 25, 2006 not allowed to do that, they are going to build their own chiller plant. Commissioner Haskins: Who -- didn't the County buy the TECO plant? Mr. McKnight: Yes, the County did, in partnership with us. That's correct. Commissioner Haskins: In partnership with? Mr. McKnight: The Overtown Civic Partnership, the Empowerment Trust, the Collins Center, and the -- MMAP. Chair Spence -Jones: Let me just add, because I know it's getting late, one of the things -- we have included Irby's request in the overall request, and Mary Conway, from Capital Improvements, will be working with Mr. McKnight on that request, and I'm assuming Irby will sit down with Mary Conway to make sure that you bring all the necessary data and the partnerships to the table, as a part of the overall request, correct? Mr. Villacorta: That's correct. Capital Improvements will be contacting you. I don't think that we knew that there were other partners with the County -- Chair Spence -Jones: Oh, I see. Mr. Villacorta: -- in the purchase of the TECO plant -- Chair Spence -Jones: OK Mr. Villacorta: -- so -- Mr. McKnight: Oh, yes, there are. Mr. Villacorta: Great. Mr. McKnight: As a matter of fact, the MMAP president is still here. We went before the MMAP Board with this some time ago and addressed the issue. They are helping us do this. Mr. Villacorta: Great, great. Chair Spence -Jones: All right, so we're going to address it with staff. Mr. McKnight: Thank you. Chair Spence -Jones: Thank you so much, Irby. Mr. McKnight: Thank you very much. NON -AGENDA ITEMS NA.1 06-01796 CRA DISCUSSION BRIEF DISCUSSION REGARDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING. DISCUSSED Commissioner Regalado: Do we know when is the County going to have the item of extending the life of the CRA in their agenda? City of Miami Page 67 Printed on 10/12/2006 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes September 25, 2006 Mr. Villacorta: They have authorize -- they passed a resolution authorizing their County Manager to negotiate with the City Manager regarding the extension, but at what point those negotiations will be finalized -- I understand they're in -- still in a very preliminary phase, and projections are being run as to the amounts of TIF that would be generated. I would think it's going to be another 60 or 90 days, at least, to get those kind of projections finalized and have the negotiations come to a point where they might be able to bring something back to their respective legislative bodies. Commissioner Regalado: And I'll tell you why. I think that this proposal that you all work on I - - and Commissioner Spence -Jones, you have to be commended for putting together this group and coming up with these priorities. I -- and Fred, you know, thank you, my friend. I know that you look to the big picture, not only for the Omni area, which is a very wealthy area, but for the whole city, but I think if we go to the County and say, look, to the County Commissioners, who now have the heat of the people of Dade County that are looking to them for affordable housing, and say, well, here's the thing. You guys approve the extension of the CRA, the CRA is committed to use a good amount of millions of dollars in affordable housing. That's a win -win situation for the County, and for the City, and for the CRA. Just a few days ago, a group of people, for the second time, went into the County Commission to ask for $200 million for housing, and mind you, $200 million is a small penance with all the problems that we have. We have $68, 000 -- I mean, 68,000 names in the list for public housing and Section 8 and people waiting for it. I think that if we lobby the County by saying we're willing to come up with some money for affordable housing, but you need to give us the two -- I really think that this will move farther. I know that there is a will with the Chairman. I spoke to the Chairman of the County Commission on Friday, and he's really concerned -- Joe Martinez is -- with the need for affordable housing here, so I promise you that we will have an ear by the County Commission because, you know, if we focus on the details of the whatever, the Parrot Jungle, who's going to pay this, and who's going to pay that, the fact of the matter is that the County, and the people in the City, and the CRA is losing a lot of time in trying to come up with ideas. At least for hope for the people without homes -- I mean, this is a community who even their hopes have been deferred because of the stealing of the millions of dollars and mismanagement of the -- that horrible thing that is the County housing office, so I would urge the Chairman of the CRA to communicate, at least, you know, to all the County Commissioners and to the Chairman of the Commission, that this is what the CRA is proposing. I think that would give a lot of leverage to the City Manager to the discussions. Commissioner Haskins: I think that's -- I -- you know, the fact that anything with Parrot Jungle is tied to the CRA and the CRA is trying to address slum and blight is just -- it should never have come to that at all, and the County has its own issues with what its done with its dollars available for housing for our citizens, and we've gone through the issues, you know, the challenges that we have as a result of various County actions. Number one, that there're -- you know, forty plus million dollars a year in surtax dollars aren't being spent appropriately. Number two, when we look at the Dade County tax assessor -- the property appraiser and how he's valuing our rental properties and how our elderly, our people on fixed income are being forced out of their apartments because the landlords can't raise the rent, the properties can't cash flow, so they have to cash out in this real estate market, and now to have the CRA's fate tied to Parrot Jungle is just wrong, and I'm glad you met with Chairman Martinez, and I'm hoping that there would be some movement so that we can move forward, at least of the CRA, let the Parrot Jungle be whatever the Parrot Jungle is going to be. Commissioner Regalado: Yeah, but what I mean, Linda and Michelle, is that we need to tell them that it's the will of the CRA, if we get the expansion, regardless of what happen with the Parrot Jungle, to work diligently in organizing this bond issue for housing, for affordable housing, and by the way, now that you mention, I know that this -- the whole City Commission is involved in trying to get some relief for property -- for people that own property, rental property, but I'll tell you something, in Broward, the rental property is appraised by income. City of Miami Page 68 Printed on 10/12/2006 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes September 25, 2006 Commissioner Haskins: I know. Commissioner Regalado: The Florida Supreme Court, in 1993, issued a ruling -- and I have it -- saying that property appraisal should be done by income on commercial property. That is the ruling, but the ruling left a small window, and this is the small window that the property appraisal is using here in Miami -Dade County. Recently, last -- as recently as last Friday, all the property appraisals of the state of Florida, with exception of Mr. Frank Jacobs, Miami -Dade County property -- signed a petition to have the portability homestead exemption placed on the ballot on the general election on 2008, and I think that we, as members of the Commission and board members of the CRA, should be more proactive in asking the people on November 7 to vote for Amendment 6, which will change the Constitution of the state of Florida so seniors over 65 years old with low income, $23, 000 or less a year, will be automatically given $25, 000 more, so $75,000 in homestead exemption, and trust me, there are 8,115 property owners in the City of Miami who are claiming now double homestead exemption. That means that 8,000 people could lose their homes because of the high taxes and all that. If we got out and vote, and you know, instead of -- we should take some of the -- a few dollars off the super -- whatever block it's called, and do some -- the CRA do some information campaign so we can get the people in the CRA area to go out and vote for Amendment 6 because, you know, it may not help you, but you'll be helping 8, 000 families in the City of Miami to keep their homes, and this is the right thing to do, so I think, you know, the best that you guys can come up with, these recommendations is what you've done, and I really support you. Chair Spence -Jones: Thank you, Commissioner Regalado. NA.2 06-01780 CRA DISCUSSION DISCUSSION REGARDING CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU AND ORANGE BOWL PLANS FOR SUPER BOWL. DISCUSSED Direction by Chair Spence Jones to the Interim Executive Director to provide a report on the Convention and Visitor's Bureau and the CRA's plans for the upcoming Super Bowl and activities at the Orange Bowl, to include how the Convention and Visitors Bureau and Orange Bowl Committee will be providing support to businesses in the CRA areas. Commissioner Haskins: Motion to adjourn. Chair Spence -Jones: Wait one -- Thank you very much, everyone, for coming out. I just wanted -- before we leave, I want to just direct our executive director -- we've been talking about the Super Bowl all night, and it will be here in February. If there's any way you can bring back a report from the Convention and Visitors Bureau to see -- because we -- apparently, we're putting money into the Super Bowl in February -- the City is. I would like to know what kind of plans they have in place to support the CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) district, whether or not it be the Omni, the Southeast Overtown/Park West area, and if you could come back with a, at least, report on what are our plans for Super Bowl because if we can drive people in to support these businesses, that would be awesome. James Villacorta (Interim Executive Director, Community Redevelopment Agency): We'll do that. Commissioner Regalado: Yeah, but -- Mr. Villacorta: We'll do that. City of Miami Page 69 Printed on 10/12/2006 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes September 25, 2006 Commissioner Regalado: -- before the Super Bowl, we have the Orange Bowl, and I -- it is my understanding that the Orange Bowl Committee wants to move the big party that they have -- Chair Spence -Jones: To Bayfront. Commissioner Regalado: -- from Broward to Bayfront -- Chair Spence -Jones: Right. Commissioner Regalado: -- and if they do move it to Bayfront, might as well move it to all the area, and this is where the CRA should get involved. You know, it is the logical thing to do. I don't know if the City ever came through with the request that they have. I, for one, was supportive of that request -- Chair Spence -Jones: Yeah. Commissioner Regalado: -- and I think that the CRA should get involved in the Orange Bowl because, when you do, you immediately connect the Orange Bowl with the Super Bowl; two different committees, but just the fact that we are receptive to the Orange Bowl party in the area, it would show the Super Bowl Committee -- because they don't have any reason to come here. I mean, they just -- you know that Broward just was able to get the Super Bowl Committee to, in the banner, said "South Florida Super Bowl," not Miami -Dade County Super Bowl, you know, and that's -- Chair Spence -Jones: So I just want to direct you to come back with a report on what we're going to do for Orange Bowl and the Super Bowl, and how the Bureau and the Orange Bowl Committee are looking at tying in something that will include those areas to provide support to those businesses. Mr. Villacorta: Actually, I've had a preliminary meeting with the Mayor's Office regarding bringing the Orange Bowl Beach Bash, which is -- Chair Spence -Jones: OK. Mr. Villacorta: -- being presented by the Orange Bowl Committee -- Chair Spence -Jones: OK Mr. Villacorta: -- to the CRA - Chair Spence -Jones: Good. Mr. Villacorta: -- and I'm meeting with them again on Friday -- Commissioner Regalado: Well, they want $80, 000 from the City. Mr. Villacorta: -- and an amount -- Chair Spence -Jones: And we want to make sure -- Mr. Villacorta: -- from the CRA. Chair Spence -Jones: -- our businesses benefit. Commissioner Haskins: Right. City of Miami Page 70 Printed on 10/12/2006 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes September 25, 2006 Chair Spence -Jones: Meeting is -- is that -- are we -- ? Mr. Villacorta: Motion. Commissioner Haskins: Motion to adjourn. Commissioner Regalado: Just a -- just, you know -- Chair Spence -Jones: You don't want to go home tonight? Unidentified Speaker: He wants a key. Commissioner Regalado: OK. I don't -- but listen, listen, listen. Chair Spence -Jones: OK. Commissioner Regalado: It's very simple. Always somebody has to shine with the money of the CRA -- Chair Spence -Jones: Yeah. Commissioner Regalado: -- and that is wrong, you know. That is wrong. They want $80, 000 from the CRA -- or from the City, and the City wants the CRA to foot the bill. Well, they have to come through for the CRA; simple as that. Chair Spence -Jones: You got that? Mr. Villacorta: Definitely. Chair Spence -Jones: Does that -- do I have a motion? Commissioner Haskins: Motion to adjourn. Commissioner Regalado: Motion to 24-hour CRA meeting. Commissioner Haskins: No, a 24-hour -- Mr. Villacorta: CRA meeting. Commissioner Haskins: -- CRA. Chair Spence -Jones: Good night. City of Miami Page 71 Printed on 10/12/2006