HomeMy WebLinkAboutSEOPW OMNI CRA 2006-10-30 MinutesCity of Miami
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Meeting Minutes
Monday, October 30, 2006
5:00 PM
THE LYRIC THEATER
819 N.W. 2ND AVE.
MIAMI FL. 33128
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Community Redevelopment Agencies
Michelle Spence -Jones, Chair
Angel Gonzalez, Vice Chair
Linda M. Haskins, Commissioner
Joe Sanchez, Commissioner
Tomas Regalado, Commissioner
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CRA OFFICE ADDRESS:
49 NW 5th ST, SUITE 100, Miami, FL 33128
Phone: (305) 679-6800, Fax: (305) 679-6835
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Community Redevelopment Agencies
Meeting Minutes October 30, 2006
Present: Commissioner Sanchez, Commissioner Regalado and Chair Spence -Jones
Absent: Vice Chair Gonzalez and Commissioner Haskins
On the 30th day of October 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 Historic Lyric Theater, Miami, Florida. The meeting was called to
order by Chair Michelle Spence -Jones at 5: 06 p.m. and was adjourned at 7: 00 p.m.
ALSO PRESENT:
James H. Villacorta, Interim Executive Director, CRA
Kevin R. Jones, Assistant General Counsel, CRA
Priscilla A. Thompson, Clerk of the Board
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 06-01718 CRA REPORT
FINANCIAL SUMMARY THROUGH MONTH END SEPTEMBER 30, 2006.
DISCUSSED
Chair Spence -Jones: Yes. I'd like to officially call the meeting of October 30 to order. We're
going to start with the number one thing on the agenda, which is the financial report, the
financial summary through the month end of September 30.
Miguel Valentin (Financial Officer, Community Redevelopment Agency): Good evening,
Commissioners and the Chairman. As you can see on page -- as we're doing every month, we
are presenting the combined statement of financial position for the CRAs (Community
Redevelopment Agencies). As you can see on the first item, cash unrestricted, we are disclosing
the amount of $551,042 under Southeast Overtown/Park West, and under Omni, we are
disclosing the amount of 40,000. In addition to that, I already made you aware of that the
external auditors, they are conducting the audit. They are expecting to release the audit report
by January 2007, and in addition to that, there is no reportable condition to make you aware of.
Priscilla A. Thompson (Clerk of the Board): We do need a name for the record, please.
Mr. Valentin: Yeah. Miguel Valentin, CRA financial officer.
Ms. Thompson: Thank you.
Commissioner Sanchez: All right. Is -- did you state there are no reported conditions or
anything out of the norm that this legislative body of the CRA should be made aware of?
Mr. Valentin: No, sir.
Commissioner Sanchez: There are none.
Mr. Valentin: None.
Commissioner Sanchez: All right. All right. So move.
Ms. Thompson: You just -- you're just -- you don't have to take --
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James Villacorta (Interim Executive Director, Community Redevelopment Agency): Yeah.
Usually, we --
Ms. Thompson: -- any action on it.
Mr. Villacorta: -- take the report without taking any --
Commissioner Sanchez: You don't take action on --
Mr. Villacorta: -- action on it.
Vice Chairman Sanchez: -- financial reports?
Mr. Villacorta: No, just receive it.
Vice Chairman Sanchez: That's unusual.
Chair Spence -Jones: Oh, OK. Any other questions before we move to number 2?
RESOLUTIONS
2 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. (Deferred from September 25, 2006).
Cover Memo.pdf
Financial Form.pdf
Back Up.pdf
Legislation.pdf
cover memo v2.pdf
Financial Form v2.pdf
Back-up v2.pdf
Legislation v2.pdf
Motion by Commissioner Sanchez, seconded by Commissioner Regalado, that this matter
be ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote.
Votes: Ayes: 3 - Commissioner Sanchez, Connnissioner Regalado and Chair Spence -Jones
Absent: 2 - Vice Chair Gonzalez and Commissioner Haskins
CRA-R-06-0039
Chair Spence -Jones: OK. We're going to move to the second item on the agenda, which is the
CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) resolution. Jim, could you just give us --?
James Villacorta (Interim Executive Director, Community Redevelopment Agency): Yeah. This
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is a resolution of the Omni Redevelopment Agency, amending resolution 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 around the Performing Arts
Center.
Chair Spence -Jones: OK This is the item we talked about the last time. I know that there was
some --
Commissioner Sanchez: So move.
Chair Spence -Jones: -- questions -- you -- (UNINTELLIGIBLE) --
Commissioner Regalado: Bad luck today, only three here, and how many you need to approve?
Three, right?
Commissioner Sanchez: Three.
Commissioner Regalado: I still have a problem, and I understand and everything, but I just
want to know, has the work been done? Has the money been spent?
Mr. Villacorta: We have someone here from Capital Improvements to speak on the --
Commissioner Regalado: Can't see. The lights --
Chair Spence -Jones: I know. It's very dark.
Commissioner Regalado: -- but just -- we'll listen.
Lionel Zapata: Good evening. For the record, Lionel Zapata, CIT (Capital Improvements &
Transportation) Construction. I am -- I was the construction project manager on the
surrounding streets of the Performing Arts Center, and the answer to the question is yes. The
work has been completed; most of the punch list items have been addressed. Currently, we're
just looking to close out the project some time in the next 30 days, from a paperwork standpoint,
but as it relates to the work in the surrounding streets, the lighting, and all the associated items,
yes, sir, the work has been completed.
Chair Spence -Jones: So it's already been done?
Commissioner Regalado: It's already been done; gun to our head.
Commissioner Sanchez: Madam --
Chair Spence -Jones: My only concern is that, because the work has been done, and I -- believe
me, I agree with you, but at this point, we just need to get past it, so what do we need to do at
this point? What do we need to do?
Commissioner Sanchez: Madam Chair, this is a commitment that the CRA made. These
infrastructure improvements are the kind of things that the CRA should be doing, and therefore,
once again, I would make a motion to approve.
Commissioner Regalado: Yeah. Well, I'm going to support this because it's only three members
here and because we don't want to delay that anymore, but, yes, this is a commitment that the
CRA made, but the CRA made a commitment for certain amount of money. You know, somebody
has to send the message, somebody has to draw the line that, you know, CRA is not a piggybank
where you can just use the money to do whatever and, you know, thank God that the Flagler
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project doesn't fall within the CRA, but I'm telling you, I am supporting this because it would be
embarrassing not to, but, you know, if it were four, I'll be voting against. It's a shame that we
need to have this thing in public, you know, change orders and change orders and change order.
Somebody must have been doing something wrong because a block does not cost millions and
millions of dollars.
Chair Spence -Jones: So does that mean yes?
Commissioner Regalado: I'm ready to say yes.
Chair Spence -Jones: The item has been --
Commissioner Sanchez: That -- I made a motion. I guess he's seconding.
Commissioner Regalado: I second it.
Mr. Villacorta: All in favor.
Chair Spence -Jones: All in favor?
Commissioner Sanchez: All in favor?
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Spence -Jones: All opposed?
Commissioner Sanchez: Anyone in oppo --?
Chair Spence -Jones: No.
Commissioner Sanchez: It passes.
3 06-01866 CRA RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE OMNI
REDEVELOPMENT DISTRICT COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY
AUTHORIZING A GRANT, IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $250,000, TO
THE MIAMI WOMEN'S CLUB FOR THE RENOVATION OF THE ELEVATORS
AT THE MIAMI WOMEN'S CLUB, 1737 NORTH BAYSHORE DRIVE, MIAMI,
FLORIDA; AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, AT HIS
DISCRETION, TO DISBURSE THE GRANT ON A REIMBURSEMENT BASIS
FOR COMPLETED AND APPROVED WORK, OR DIRECTLY TO SUPPLIERS
AND VENDORS, UPON RECEIPT OF INVOICES AND SATISFACTORY
DOCUMENTATION; AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO
EXECUTE THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS, IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO
GENERAL COUNSEL; FUNDS TO BE ALLOCATED FROM OMNI TAX
INCREMENT FUND, "OTHER GRANTS AND AIDS," ACCOUNT CODE NO.
10040.920101.883000.0000.00000.
Cover Memo.pdf
Financial Form.pdf
Back-up.pdf
Legislation.pdf
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Motion by Commissioner Regalado, seconded by Commissioner Sanchez, that this matter
be ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote.
Votes: Ayes: 3 - Commissioner Sanchez, Commissioner Regalado and Chair Spence -Jones
Absent: 2 - Vice Chair Gonzalez and Commissioner Haskins
CRA-R-06-0046
Chair Spence -Jones: OK, so we're going to move on to number 3, which is the Women's Club.
Jim.
James Villacorta (Interim Executive Director, Community Redevelopment Agency): Yeah. This
is a resolution of the Board of Commissioners of the Omni Redevelopment District Community
Redevelopment Agency authorizing a grant, in an amount not to exceed $250,000, to the Miami
Women's Club for the renovation of the elevators at the historic Miami Women's Club building,
1737 North Bayshore Drive, and it authorizes the executive director, at his discretion, to
disburse the grant on a reimbursement basis for completed and approved work, or directly to
suppliers and vendors, upon receipt of invoices and satisfactory documentation.
Chair Spence -Jones: All right. Wonderful. I don't know if there's -- anybody has any comments,
but I think we all support, for the most part. Any comments on this?
Commissioner Sanchez: Does --
Mr. Villacorta: I --
Commissioner Sanchez: -- the elevators meet ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) standards?
Mr. Villacorta: I think we have some members of the Women's Club here. Perhaps --
Commissioner Sanchez: Please.
Mr. Villacorta: -- they could answer that.
Commissioner Sanchez: I'm in support of the item. I just want to make sure that --
Linda Joseph: Hi, Commissioners. I'm Linda Joseph. I am the director of the house of the
Miami Women's Club, and with me is several other officers and board members, Katherine
Kassner, Donna Cullen, and Dolly McIntyre. Yes, it does meet ADA standards, according to
today's permits and everything, and that's one of the other things that we're probably going to
have to come back for because it depends on what's going to happen there, whether we have to
have generators for those elevators. If it does, it's going to be another hundred and forty, fifty
thousand dollars. This is --
Commissioner Sanchez: All right.
Ms. Joseph: -- a five -story building with three little elevators, but it's just astronomical when
you start putting that stuff back together.
Commissioner Sanchez: Also, will we be able to use it for maybe CRA (Community
Redevelopment Agency) meetings in the future?
Ms. Joseph: I think that could be a possibility, certainly.
Commissioner Sanchez: OK. That'll be great.
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Ms. Joseph: OK
Commissioner Sanchez: All right.
Mr. Villacorta: Or perhaps --
Commissioner Regalado: Got a question.
Mr. Villacorta: -- if --
Commissioner Regalado: Just a question. The Women's Club is not going anywhere, right?
Ms. Joseph: No, it's not --
Commissioner Regalado: No condos, no --
Ms. Joseph: -- going --
Commissioner Regalado: -- nothing.
Ms. Joseph: No. Absolutely --
Commissioner Regalado: It is staying --
Ms. Joseph: -- not.
Commissioner Regalado: -- there, right?
Ms. Joseph: It's staying --
Commissioner Regalado: OK.
Ms. Joseph: -- right there.
Commissioner Regalado: OK I'm fine. I mean, that's a signature place and a signature
building, so that's the mission of the CRA.
Commissioner Sanchez: I would ask even more that somehow that something be placed, a
plaque, as to recognition of the support of the CRA for the Women's Club, and also, if we could
also use your parking while we attend our meetings --
Mr. Villacorta: At the Omni.
Commissioner Sanchez: -- at the Omni, if we could always -- I mean, we could use your parking.
Ms. Joseph: Well, it would depend on how many parking spaces you're talking about. We have
a limited space, and of course, at this time, we don't have any income from anything, so
everything that we have on that property is going to be something that we're going to be looking
at --
Commissioner Sanchez: Whenever it's available --
Ms. Joesph: Right, OK
Commissioner Sanchez: -- that we could also use it. I mean, I want to put some conditions into
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this money so --
Ms. Joseph: Right.
Commissioner Sanchez: -- we all walk away from the table winners.
Ms. Joseph: OK. I think that could be worked out.
Commissioner Sanchez: All right. Thank you so much.
Ms. Joseph: You're welcome.
Commissioner Regalado: I move it.
Commissioner Sanchez: There's already a motion and a second. All in favor?
Chair Spence -Jones: All in favor?
Priscilla A. Thompson (Clerk of the Board): No, no.
Mr. Villacorta: No.
Chair Spence -Jones: Nobody moved it yet.
Commissioner Sanchez: Well, he moves it. I'll second it.
Chair Spence -Jones: OK.
Commissioner Sanchez: I thought I had made the motion.
Chair Spence -Jones: OK. All in favor?
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Spence -Jones: None opposed. The item passes.
4 06-01901 CRA RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE
SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT
AGENCY AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO ISSUE A
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS ("RFP") FOR STREETSCAPE
IMPROVEMENTS CONSISTING OF THE BEAUTIFICATION OF THE
METRORAIL OVERPASS AREA AT NW 11TH STREET AND NW 3RD
AVENUE; DIRECTING THE 3RD AVENUE STREETSCAPE COMMITTEE TO
EVALUATE THE RFP RESPONSES AND TO PRESENT ITS
RECOMMENDATIONS, TO THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS FOR
CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL.
Cover Memo.pdf
Legislation.pdf
Motion by Commissioner Sanchez, seconded by Commissioner Regalado, that this matter
be ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote.
Votes: Ayes: 3 - Commissioner Sanchez, Commissioner Regalado and Chair Spence -Jones
Absent: 2 - Vice Chair Gonzalez and Commissioner Haskins
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CRA-R-06-0040
Direction by Commissioner Sanchez to the Interim Executive Director to meet with the 3rd
Avenue Streetscape Committee to determine what landscaping projects can be done
expeditiously along the 3rd Avenue Corridor; further directing the Executive Director to bring
any agreement made back for ratification by the Board, provided that the project is within
budget; further, requiring that the improved landscaping be maintained on an annual schedule.
Chair Spence -Jones: Moving on to number 4 on the agenda. Before we make comments or
bring any information on this, Jim, I just wanted to at least say to my colleagues, as you know,
this is a very important item for us in Overtown, and that is the beautification of the major
corridors in Overtown, 3rd Avenue, to be exact. As you know, next -- well, this coming
February, we have the major Super Bowl coming to Miami, and one of the things I observed in
visiting various cities over the last three months is -- the last Super Bowl was in Detroit -- of all
the work they did to kind of beauty the community before the Super Bowl got here, and as you
know, many of the activities and hotels are already sold out downtown, and much of the club
district is also booked for activities, and I just really wanted to make sure that, as people came to
visit our wonderful city and to the Overtown area, hopefully, at least, from a beautification
standpoint, we can begin to do stuff to landscape the areas to make it look better, so that's
basically what this is in reference to. There's a major Metrorail overpass on 11 th Street, as you
know, and 3rd Avenue, that looks horrible that we've been working along with the Metro Transit
to clean up, and they have, and they're also working to give us the additional space under --
eventually, to put parking for the businesses to support them in the area, so I would just ask Jim
to kind of go over kind of what we're suggesting to have done with this item, and then, if there's
any questions, please.
James Villacorta (Interim Executive Director, Community Redevelopment Agency): Yeah. This
is a resolution of the Board of Commissioners of the Southeast Overtown/Park West Community
Redevelopment Agency authorizing the executive director to issue a request for proposals for
streetscape improvements consisting of the beautification of the Metrorail overpass area at
Northwest 11 th Street and Northwest 3rd Avenue; directing that the 3rd Avenue Streetscape
Committee evaluate the RFP (Request for Proposals) responses and present its recommendations
to the Board of Commissioners for consideration and approval.
Chair Spence -Jones: OK. Does anybody have any questions about this item?
Commissioner Sanchez: So move on the item.
Commissioner Regalado: Second.
Chair Spence -Jones: All in favor?
Commissioner Sanchez: I -- well, before -- I know that the RFP is in early stage --
Chair Spence -Jones: Yes.
Commissioner Sanchez: -- and the proposal will come back to us. Would we have a better idea
of a price estimate on the project itself --
Mr. Villacorta: Yeah --
Commissioner Sanchez: -- so we don't have to, you know, guesstimate?
Mr. Villacorta: Right. We've set money aside in the budget to beautify 3rd Avenue from 8th to
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14th Street, and this is an element of that, and we will ask the proposers to come back with a
budget for their proposal.
Commissioner Sanchez: Fine.
Mr. Villacorta: At the time that it comes back before you, it will have a proposer and a budget
attached.
Commissioner Sanchez: All right.
Commissioner Regalado: Yeah, but the question is timing.
Chair Spence -Jones: Right. I --
Commissioner Regalado: Is it --
Chair Spence -Jones: -- think --
Commissioner Regalado: -- going to be done like soon?
Chair Spence -Jones: -- that the -- to my understanding, what we're pushing to do, if I'm not
mistaken, is at least, from the landscaping portion of this, is to at least be able to get some of
those things. As you know, Roots in the City has been doing a lot of work already on 14th Street,
but they have not gone beyond that. What we have a lot of parking lots already on 3rd Avenue,
beyond 11 th Street that look horrible, so what we want to try to do is do some landscaping things
there, some gateway things into Overtown, from a landscaping perspective that -- which can be
done right now, and then the overall -- to my understanding, the overall streetscape or item that
we're going to actually put on the gateway -- the gateway feature will take place some time next
year; correct, Jim?
Mr. Villacorta: Yeah. The -- it was anticipated that some sort of mural -- or some sort of
artwork would be put on the north and south faces of the overpass, and in conjunction with that
would be landscaping and other beautification, and those would all be elements of the proposals
that you received.
Chair Spence -Jones: OK. I just want to be clear because if we're already in November now --
so will this have to come back? You'll go ahead and begin doing --
Mr. Villacorta: Right. We'll --
Chair Spence -Jones: -- this and then --
Mr. Villacorta: -- put it out for proposals immediately, and we'll try and get back before you in
November, but it'll --
Commissioner Sanchez: That's not going to be --
Mr. Villacorta: -- be a quick process.
Chair Spence -Jones: What were you saying, Commissioner?
Commissioner Sanchez: That's not going to be a problem at all.
Chair Spence -Jones: OK We just want to make sure, so it'll come back ratified as --
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Mr. Villacorta: At least, you know, the landscaping elements could -- it might take the artists a
little longer to do their proposal for the murals.
Chair Spence -Jones: CD -- St. Johns.
David Alexander: David Alexander, St. John CDC (Community Development Corporation), 3rd
Avenue Improvement Committee member. I was tasked at the last meeting to meet with Dr. Dunn
and to come up with a proposed development plan for 3rd Avenue. He's given us three different
iterations of what can be done. We have the proposal ready to be submitted. We thought that we
could ask you for the money tonight because it's going to take time --
Chair Spence -Jones: OK.
Mr. Alexander: -- and we're in November tomorrow -- day after tomorrow, so there was a
smorgasbord, and we would like the Board to authorize us to spend up to $213, 000 from 8th --
5th Street north to 14th Street. The -- I think, in conversation with the executive director, we
might be able to pick and choose some things that the Commissioner might like to see, but we
asking to give us a flexible budget that would take into consideration the time that is necessary.
Chair Spence -Jones: And these dollars are actually going to be taken, Jim, from the existing
budget we already have for the 3rd Avenue improvement project, right?
Mr. Villacorta: Right. I think we have a million dollars set aside for 3rd Avenue --
Chair Spence -Jones: OK, and I think --
Mr. Villacorta: -- between --
Chair Spence -Jones: -- one of the issues for my colleagues to understand is the 3rd Avenue
Street Committee [sic] has been meeting for I don't know, what, six or nine -- six months, seven
months already on this issue, and one of the things that they've discovered with the consultants is
that, definitely, a million dollars will not be enough to repave and redo the streets on 3rd
Avenue, to my understanding, to 14th Street from 8th Street, so the idea was to utilize some of the
dollars to now to beauty the existing area, you know, the landscape, (UNINTELLIGIBLE) the
parking spaces and, of course, put some art -based things to make the area look better for now,
and then the idea is -- they made presentations to the overall bond committee that was created to
ask for the additional dollars to repave it because -- understanding that the milling, and the
resurfacing, and the lighting, and the street fixtures was going to cost a lot more than what was
originally budgeted.
Mr. Alexander: And so, Commissioner, just to reiterate, we went a little bit further, at your
suggestion, and Dr. Dunn has agreed to work with the Veterans Association, Mr. Cutler, and to
make this a demonstration job training program for landscape maintenance in the community, as
well, so there would be at least three or four jobs because this money does include maintenance
through the end of the Super Bowl, but we would have to revisit further maintenance down the
road.
Commissioner Sanchez: This is the first that I hear of the scope of your committee, of what
you're presenting here. Let me see if I could simplify this in a way. I know that there are three
parts, to my understanding, right?
Mr. Alexander: Yes, sir.
Commissioner Sanchez: Totaling -- the money's in the budget for how much?
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Mr. Villacorta: A million dollars.
Commissioner Sanchez: A million dollars. Let me just make a recommendation to my
colleagues, and then we -- if they're OK with it, I'd like to put it for a vote. One is to direct the
executive director to sit down with your committee and see what could be done in a most
expeditious manner, whatever it may be, whether it's landscaping or whatever it may be, and
then in that time, if he's able to enter into an agreement, he could always bring it back, and as
long as it's in -- within the budget, I am prepared to make a motion to approve --
Mr. Alexander: Thank you, Commissioner.
Commissioner Sanchez: -- and to ratify it. Are you OK with that?
Mr. Alexander: Thank you, Commissioner.
Commissioner Sanchez: OK.
Mr. Alexander: We appreciate that.
Chair Spence -Jones: The only thing that I would like to just add to that, Commissioner Sanchez,
is that I do not want -- whatever their proposal is, it can't be just up until Super Bowl. It needs to
be a yearly maintenance program. Yes, because we don't -- I'm not trying to fix it up for Super
Bowl, and then when the people leave town, then, you know, everything goes to hell, so --
Mr. Alexander: OK.
Chair Spence -Jones: -- that's -- that was not my original intention of supporting the --
Mr. Alexander: Well, I'll be happy --
Chair Spence -Jones: -- initiative. It has to be --
Mr. Alexander: -- I'm happy to revisit it.
Chair Spence -Jones: -- provide people with a job for throughout the whole year, but to make
sure that the area stays maintained --
Mr. Alexander: Right. We --
Chair Spence -Jones: -- so I just want to make sure --
Mr. Alexander: -- understand --
Chair Spence -Jones: -- that --
Mr. Alexander: -- that now. I'm just representing the proposal as it was given to us, and we're
sure we'll be able to negotiate it.
Chair Spence -Jones: OK
Commissioner Sanchez: And I'm OK with it, as long as it's within the budget.
Mr. Alexander: Yes, sir.
Chair Spence -Jones: Commissioner Regalado, you have any comments on it?
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Commissioner Regalado: No. I think that whatever we can do and do it in a quick way to
showcase the area during the Super Bowl. After all, the DDA (Downtown Development
Authority), the CRA -- I don't know if Bayfront Trust, but everybody is pitching in to bring some
of the events for the Orange Bowl and the Super Bowl to this area, and I'm -- and, frankly, I have
to commend you for this project because it's something that we need to showcase the area, but
it's something that is going to stay when the Super Bowl is gone, so I'm all for it. I'm -- but the
sooner, the better because, you see, the problem with this is that it needs to be done so you can
send pictures and videos to the advance people --
Chair Spence -Jones: Yes.
Commissioner Regalado: -- of the media that will be producing programs around the area.
What they do, as you know, is they showcase the city where the Super Bowl is being held, but the
producers are in town like two weeks before the event, so they need to know --
Chair Spence -Jones: Where they could shoot --
Commissioner Regalado: -- what to show --
Chair Spence -Jones: -- yeah. OK, do I have a motion? I had a motion?
Priscilla A. Thompson (Clerk of the Board): Yes. You need to vote on it.
Chair Spence -Jones: OK. All in favor?
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Mr. Alexander: Thank you very much, Commissioner.
Chair Spence -Jones: The motion has passed.
Mr. Alexander: Thank you very much.
Chair Spence -Jones: OK. We're going -- no problem. Thank you, Mr. Alexander.
5 06-01719 CRA RESOLUTION
A JOINT RESOLUTION OF THE BOARDS OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE
SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST AND OMNI REDEVELOPMENT
DISTRICT COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCIES ("CRAS")
RATIFYING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S PAYMENT OF ADDITIONAL
FUNDS, IN THE AMOUNT OF $4,600, TO PREFERRED GOVERNMENTAL
INSURANCE TRUST FOR WORKERS' COMPENSATION INSURANCE
COVERAGE FOR THE PERIOD COMMENCING OCTOBER 1, 2005 AND
ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2006; AMENDING CRA RESOLUTION
CRA-R-06-0004 TO REFLECT THE INCREASE IN THE COST OF
COVERAGE RESULTING FROM THE CARRIER'S YEAR END AUDIT OF THE
CRAS' PAYROLL, FROM $5,594 TO $10,194; FUNDS TO BE ALLOCATED
FROM GENERAL OPERATING FUND, "INSURANCE LIABILITY," ACCOUNT
CODE NO. 689004.550011.6.650.
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Cover Memo.pdf
Financial Form.pdf
Back-up.pdf
Legislation.pdf
Motion by Commissioner Sanchez, seconded by Commissioner Regalado, that this matter
be ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote.
Votes: Ayes: 3 - Commissioner Sanchez, Commissioner Regalado and Chair Spence -Jones
Absent: 2 - Vice Chair Gonzalez and Commissioner Haskins
CRA-R-06-0041
Chair Spence -Jones: We're moving to item number 5.
James Villacorta (Interim Executive Director, Community Redevelopment Agency): This is a
resolution of the Southeast Overtown/Park West and Omni Redevelopment District Community
Redevelopment Agencies ratifying the executive director's payment of an additional amount of
$4, 600 to Preferred Governmental Insurance Trust, for worker's compensation insurance, for the
period from October 1, 2005 and ending September 30, 2006.
Commissioner Sanchez: Madam Chair, so move.
Commissioner Regalado: Second.
Chair Spence -Jones: All in favor?
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Spence -Jones: None opposed. This item is passed.
6 06-01862 CRA RESOLUTION
A JOINT RESOLUTION OF THE BOARDS OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE
SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST AND OMNI REDEVELOPMENT
DISTRICT COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCIES ("CRAS"),
RATIFYING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S RENEWAL OF THE CRAS'
WORKERS' COMPENSATION INSURANCE COVERAGE WITH PREFERRED
GOVERNMENTAL INSURANCE TRUST, FOR A PERIOD OF ONE YEAR,
COMMENCING OCTOBER 1, 2006, IN THE AMOUNT OF $9,286; FUNDS TO
BE ALLOCATED FROM GENERAL OPERATING FUND, "INSURANCE
LIABILITY," ACCOUNT CODE NO. 10030.920101.896000.0000.00000.
Cover Memo.pdf
Financial Form.pdf
Back-up.pdf
Legislation.pdf
Motion by Commissioner Sanchez, seconded by Commissioner Regalado, that this matter
be ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote.
Votes: Ayes: 3 - Commissioner Sanchez, Commissioner Regalado and Chair Spence -Jones
Absent: 2 - Vice Chair Gonzalez and Commissioner Haskins
CRA-R-06-0042
Chair Spence -Jones: Moving on to number 6.
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James Villacorta (Interim Executive Director, Community Redevelopment Agency): Item 6 is a
joint resolution of the Boards of Commissioners of the Southeast Overtown/Park West and Omni
Redevelopment District Community Redevelopment Agencies, ratifying the executive director's
renewal of the CRAs' (Community Redevelopment Agencies) worker's compensation coverage
with Preferred Governmental Insurance Trust, for the period covering October 1, 2006 to
September 30, 2007.
Commissioner Sanchez: Madam Chair, so move.
Commissioner Regalado: Second.
Chair Spence -Jones: All in favor?
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Spence -Jones: All opposed? None. This item has passed.
7 06-01864 CRA RESOLUTION
A JOINT RESOLUTION OF THE BOARDS OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE
SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST AND OMNI REDEVELOPMENT
DISTRICT COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCIES AUTHORIZING
GRANTS, IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $75,000, TO UNDERWRITE
EVENTS IN THE CRA REDEVELOPMENT AREAS IN CONJUNCTION WITH
THE 2006 ART BASEL EVENT; AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR,
AT HIS DISCRETION TO DISBURSE SAID GRANT FUNDS ON A
REIMBURSEMENT BASIS, OR DIRECTLY TO SUB -GRANTEES AND
VENDORS, UPON PRESENTATION OF INVOICES AND SATISFACTORY
DOCUMENTATION; PROVIDED THAT ANY GRANT OVER $4,500, SHALL
BE BROUGHT BEFORE THE BOARD FOR RATIFICATION; AUTHORIZING
THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO EXECUTE ALL NECESSARY DOCUMENTS
IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO GENERAL COUNSEL; FUNDS FOR THE
GRANTS, IN THE AMOUNT OF $37,500, TO BE ALLOCATED FROM OMNI
TAX INCREMENT FUND, "OTHER GRANTS AND AIDS," ACCOUNT CODE
NO. 10040.920101.883000.0000.00000 AND, IN THE AMOUNT OF $37,500,
FROM SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST TAX INCREMENT FUND,
"OTHER GRANTS AND AIDS," ACCOUNT CODE NO.
10050.920101.883000.0000.00000.
Cover Memo.pdf
Financial Form.pdf
Legislation.pdf
Motion by Commissioner Sanchez, seconded by Commissioner Regalado, that this matter
be ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote.
Votes: Ayes: 3 - Commissioner Sanchez, Commissioner Regalado and Chair Spence -Jones
Absent: 2 - Vice Chair Gonzalez and Commissioner Haskins
CRA-R-06-0043
Chair Spence -Jones: We're moving on to the next thing, number 7.
James Villacorta (Interim Executive Director, Community Redevelopment Agency): Item 7 is a
joint resolution of the Boards of Commissioners of the Southeast Overtown/Park West and Omni
Redevelopment District Community Redevelopment Agencies, authorizing grants, in an amount
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Meeting Minutes October 30, 2006
not to exceed 75,000, to underwrite events in the CRA redevelopment areas, in conjunction with
the 2006 Art Basel. It authorizes the executive director, at his discretion, to disburse said grant
funds on a reimbursement basis, or directly to subgrantees and vendors upon presentation of
invoices and satisfactory documentation; provided that any grant over $4,500 shall be brought
back before the Board for ratification.
Chair Spence -Jones: OK. I want to just ask a quick question. This is the Art Basel project that
we all know about that takes place in the City of Miami, and I understand, in our last budget last
year -- correct, Jim? -- we funded the Art Basel -related projects, correct?
Mr. Villacorta: Yes. Last year, we funded the MiArt Foundation or MiArt Foundation to hold
an event in the Omni area, in the amount of $75, 000. Art Basel takes place primarily on Miami
Beach, but there's Art Basel listed events throughout the City. These events would be in
conjunction with 2006 Art Basel, and there would be $3 7,500 in funding in Overtown and the
same amount in Omni.
Chair Spence -Jones: OK I just wanted to make sure that I -- I don't know if I have any Art
Basel folks here tonight talking about this project, but to my understanding, this year, some of
the focus was going to be -- last year, I know we really didn't have the opportunity to get many of
the African American -based artists to be in the Overtown area, and we were looking at having
some sort of exhibit happening this time, right --
Mr. Villacorta: I know that --
Chair Spence -Jones: -- Dr. Fields?
Mr. Villacorta: -- there was an event proposed highlighting the work of Purvis Young --
Chair Spence -Jones: Yes.
Mr. Villacorta: -- and to place it along the 9th Street Mall. The funding they were looking for
was something like $65,000, so this would only provide for a portion of that, but it -- there are
events contemplated that -- highlighting the works of African Americans in Overtown, and I
know we've been approached in Omni, as well, for a -- an event to wrap some of the buildings
with --
Chair Spence -Jones: This is a recent thing --
Mr. Villacorta: -- artwork.
Chair Spence -Jones: -- right?
Mr. Villacorta: Yes.
Chair Spence -Jones: Is there any way that we can -- just to allow for the executive director to sit
and work out those details with --?
Mr. Villacorta: Right. This --
Chair Spence -Jones: Because I know this thirty -seven -five, I'm not really sure whether, but I'm
almost sure that that was not the full amount that was needed in order for them -- to assist them
with their event.
Mr. Villacorta: Right. Sixty-five thousand was the Purvis Young exhibit.
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Chair Spence -Jones: But we were not going to fund --
Mr. Villacorta: Usually --
Chair Spence -Jones: -- all of that.
Mr. Villacorta: -- yeah, usually, we don't fund a hundred percent. We ask for the --
Chair Spence -Jones: No.
Mr. Villacorta: -- artists to go out and get matching grants to try and leverage our money.
Commissioner Sanchez: Public.
Chair Spence -Jones: I don't want to take anything away from -- Steve, are you -- to talk about
this item?
Steve Hagen: Yes.
Chair Spence -Jones: OK, go ahead.
Mr. Hagen: Yeah. Steve Hagen, 725 Northeast 71 st --
Chair Spence -Jones: Sure.
Mr. Hagen: -- Street. An elementary question, first off, the funds that are in the CRA here, are
they both tax funds that would come from the City and the County, or are we just talking about
City portions here today?
Mr. Villacorta: These projects would be funded with the CRAss tax increment funds --
Commissioner Sanchez: TIF (Tax Increment Fund).
Mr. Villacorta: -- and those funds are not actually tax dollars, but they are an amount that's
related to the taxes that are generated within the CRA areas after the date that the CRAs are
created, above what would have been created had the --
Mr. Hagen: I understand that.
Mr. Villacorta: -- CRA not been here.
Mr. Hagen: I understand that, but -- so are we dealing with a combined group of funds that --
taxes that would be going to the City and would be going to the County, but they're coming to the
CRA?
Mr. Villacorta: The --
Commissioner Regalado: Yes.
Mr. Villacorta: -- it's not actually tax dollars, but it's an amount equal to the tax dollars that
would be coming to the City and the County had the --
Mr. Hagen: And the County, OK --
Mr. Villacorta: -- CRAs not been created.
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Mr. Hagen: -- so it's one pool of funds then?
Commissioner Regalado: Yeah, and --
Mr. Villacorta: Yes. It --
Commissioner Regalado: -- the School Board, too.
Mr. Villacorta: No. We don't actually get the School Board's millage. We just get the County
and the City's operating millage, net of bond millage.
Mr. Hagen: Well, so my question on this, and item number 8, as well, is if these -- if the Art
Basel and the next one, Orange Bowl Committee, part of their Beach Bash event, are worthy of
funding, should it not be coming from the City funds -- the City budget, and why are we taking
this money out of the CRA?
Mr. Villacorta: Well, the Orange Bowl Beach Bash is being funded two to one against our funds
by the City of Miami, and in this case, the Art Basel events, we're looking for the artists to go out
and get matching grants to meet and exceed the amount that we're donating.
Mr. Hagen: So is the City of Miami supporting Art Basel, as well?
Mr. Villacorta: I'm sure they have programs to support Art Basel, but these particular --
Chair Spence -Jones: And most -- I'm sorry -- of them --
Mr. Hagen: Do you know that for sure?
Chair Spence -Jones: -- to my understanding, are happening more in Design District, and not
happening in the -- like the urban areas, not here in Overtown --
Mr. Hagen: Well, my point is --
Chair Spence -Jones: -- or the Omni.
Mr. Hagen: -- that, you know, this is a citywide -- actually, a countywide event.
Chair Spence -Jones: Yeah.
Mr. Hagen: If it's worthy of being funded, why isn't it being funded out of the City funds instead
of out of the CRA funds?
Chair Spence -Jones: Because there's no funds there to do it.
Mr. Hagen: Well, maybe there shouldn't be funds here to do it.
Chair Spence -Jones: Well, they're already -- Mr. Hagen, they're already funding --
Mr. Villacorta: These events have to be in the CRA. That's part of --
Chair Spence -Jones: -- they're --
Mr. Villacorta: -- what we're doing is draw --
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Mr. Hagen: Well, let me just ask --
Mr. Villacorta: -- the people to the CRA.
Mr. Hagen: -- does the CRA --?
Commissioner Sanchez: Let me answer your question, Steve.
Mr. Hagen: Yes.
Commissioner Sanchez: Listen, the TIF money could only be utilized in the --
Chair Spence -Jones: In the --
Commissioner Sanchez: -- in this area, and what it does, these events promote this area, so
that's part of the mission of the CRA. In other words, you can't use the money outside of the
CRA.
Mr. Hagen: I understand that. I just want to make certain that tax dollars that could be coming
to the City and could be coming back to the taxpayers are used well, and in reference to number
8, I went to --
Chair Spence -Jones: OK. Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait.
Commissioner Sanchez: No, no, no.
Chair Spence -Jones: You're not going to run my meeting now. We're on number 7 right now --
Commissioner Sanchez: 7.
Chair Spence -Jones: -- so are you --
Commissioner Sanchez: Are you in favor --
Chair Spence -Jones: -- finished with number 7?
Commissioner Sanchez: -- or against this item?
Mr. Hagen: I'm against the both of these items.
Commissioner Sanchez: OK.
Chair Spence -Jones: OK, so you just spoke on 7, and your point is well taken.
Mr. Hagen: And I'll speak on 8 then.
Chair Spence -Jones: OK.
Commissioner Sanchez: All right.
Chair Spence -Jones: Dr. Fields.
Dorothy Jenkins Fields: Thank you. I just want to say that with Timbuktu, we're planning the
jazz and gospel stroll, as a tribute to Purvis Young, and the budget of $65, 000 is a very meager
one, and of course, this is the last two days of October, and for Marvin Weeks and Timbuktu to
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Meeting Minutes October 30, 2006
go out and raise the other half between now and tomorrow is going to be all but impossible.
They really need the money that they're asking for. They've been working very hard. This is not
the first time that we've had Art Basel in Overtown. Several years ago, we had it, and it was very
successful, and so we ask that you fund it as requested as much as possible.
Chair Spence -Jones: OK. I'm just going -- and I've been very clear, my position on all of the
events. We cannot be in the business of funding everything all the way outright, so while I
understand that half may be very difficult at this point, I'm going to -- I'd like to direct the -- at
least the acting executive director, Mr. Villacorta -- we're putting aside $75,000, correct? Is that
the total amount?
Mr. Villacorta: That's the total amount, half from each CRA, so that's all -- thirty -seven -five is
all that could be spent in each CRA to support these projects.
Chair Spence -Jones: OK. Is there any way that we can, you know, not exceed the amount that
we're saying and you can work out the details with both of the groups? Do you not feel
comfortable in doing that?
Mr. Villacorta: If they can get matching grants -- if the event in the Overtown CRA is more than
thirty -seven -five, that's the limit in Overtown --
Chair Spence -Jones: OK
Mr. Villacorta: -- and we were hoping that they would seek alternative funding for the
remainder of their costs, but if you wanted to direct a higher amount, you could.
Chair Spence -Jones: OK, but this is my question, I guess. The 75,000 I'm seeing here now, is
that the combination between both CRAs?
Mr. Villacorta: Yes.
Chair Spence -Jones: Oh, it's between --
Mr. Villacorta: It's half --
Chair Spence -Jones: -- both.
Mr. Villacorta: -- from each CRA. The 75,000 last year came from Omni alone for the MiArt
Foundation, but they were required to go out and get matching grants.
Chair Spence -Jones: Yeah, OK I'm going to just suggest that we keep it at the 75, and we have
to just figure out another way to get corporate support to support it, but I just -- I don't want to --
I'm already -- I don't want to be in a situation where we're constantly -- we have to figure out a
way -- and I was very clear from the onset that we don't want to be in a position where we're
constantly paying for the entire event, so are there -- let me ask you, before I ask for a motion on
this, is there -- have you guys raised any funds from anywhere else?
Ms. Jenkins Fields: We have some in -kind --
Chair Spence -Jones: Has the County put any money -- any dollars to the table on this?
Ms. Jenkins Fields: We have in -kind contributions.
Chair Spence -Jones: Right. Any -- has the County put any dollars in the project?
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Ms. Jenkins Fields: I don't know that Timbuktu has gone to the County.
Chair Spence -Jones: OK, and Timbuktu is not here?
Ms. Jenkins Fields: I don't see Marvin.
Chair Spence -Jones: OK, so I'm going to ask that it stays the same for now, and I will work and
commit myself to see if we can get some corporate support because I really want to get the
organizations to the point where they can at least be able to raise the additional funds to do what
they need to do. That's the only way we empower the groups.
Ms. Jenkins Fields: Thank you.
Chair Spence -Jones: OK.
Mr. Villacorta: And in the past, we required the events to be listed Art Basel events, and this
year, to reach out to some of the other artists, we were just asking that they be in conjunction
with Art Basel, which is in December.
Chair Spence -Jones: OK Do I have a motion? Did we get a motion on this?
Commissioner Sanchez: So move.
Commissioner Regalado: Second.
Commissioner Sanchez: And I have one more question --
Chair Spence -Jones: Sure.
Commissioner Sanchez: -- to the executive director, and it is pertaining to the 4,500 for the
single project that will come back for the Board for ratification. Wouldn't that be a problem
since the only meeting between now and the start of Basel is at the end of November, and that
would be too late to fund the projects?
Mr. Villacorta: It would come back for ratification, so I would -- any grant that was more than
4,500, I would issue the grant, but then bring it back to the Board for --
Commissioner Sanchez: For ratification.
Mr. Villacorta: -- ratification, so it could be done after the Art Basel event, just to make sure
that the Board is fully informed.
Commissioner Sanchez: All right. I'm OK with it.
Chair Spence -Jones: All in favor?
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Spence -Jones: None opposed. This item is passed.
8 06-01865 CRA RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE OMNI
REDEVELOPMENT DISTRICT COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY
AUTHORIZING A GRANT, IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $50,000, TO
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THE ORANGE BOWL COMMITTEE, INC. TO UNDERWRITE A PORTION OF
THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE 2007 ORANGE BOWL BEACH BASH
EVENT TO BE HELD AT MARGARET PACE PARK ON JANUARY 1, 2007;
AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, AT HIS DISCRETION TO
DISBURSE SAID GRANT FUNDS ON A REIMBURSEMENT BASIS, OR
DIRECTLY TO SUB -GRANTEES AND VENDORS, UPON PRESENTATION
OF INVOICES AND SATISFACTORY DOCUMENTATION; AUTHORIZING
THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO EXECUTE ALL NECESSARY DOCUMENTS
IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO GENERAL COUNSEL; FUNDS TO BE
ALLOCATED FROM OMNI TAX INCREMENT FUND, "OTHER GRANTS AND
AIDS," ACCOUNT CODE NO. 10040.920101.883000.0000.00000.
Cover Memo.pdf
Financial Form.pdf
Back-Up.pdf
Legislation.pdf
Motion by Commissioner Sanchez, seconded by Commissioner Regalado, that this matter
be ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote.
Votes: Ayes: 3 - Commissioner Sanchez, Commissioner Regalado and Chair Spence -Jones
Absent: 2 - Vice Chair Gonzalez and Commissioner Haskins
CRA-R-06-0044
Chair Spence -Jones: We're moving on to number 8.
Commissioner Sanchez: Steve Hagen.
Steve Hagen: This particular item, the City of Miami did something in Margaret Pace Park last
January, I think it was, or it could have been February. It was a music festival of sorts.
Commissioner Sanchez: Music Fest.
Mr. Hagen: Music fest thing. It was -- yeah, they had a separate tent set up for the music. They
had a nice tent set up, and they had food and wine that was donated, I guess, by somebody. It
was a fabulous event. There was only one problem with it. There wasn't anybody there. Less --
I'm -- surely, less than 200 people. I must have spoke to at least a hundred people that day
because I was doing a survey on parks, and I asked them how they learned about the event, and
almost, I would say, two-thirds of the people said, well, we live in the condos near, and we heard
the music. It wasn't promoted, and so -- there was a -- I mean, there were big tents set up. I
mean, this thing cost some money to put on. I guess it was the Parks Department, but -- and I'm
just wondering what criteria are you using -- this Beach Bowl Bash sounds like a new event -- to
throw $50, 000 at this?
Chair Spence -Jones: OK.
Commissioner Regalado: Can I answer that?
Chair Spence -Jones: Sure.
Commissioner Regalado: Just -- the Beach Bowl Bash was held for several years in Broward, in
Fort Lauderdale --
Commissioner Sanchez: Hollywood.
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Commissioner Regalado: -- or Hollywood --
Commissioner Sanchez: Hollywood.
Commissioner Regalado: -- and the Orange Bowl Committee decided to bring it back to
Miami -Dade, and especially, the City of Miami. I just think that -- on the other issue, Steve,
you're right. The promotion sucks. The way that these events are --
Chair Spence -Jones: Sucks?
Commissioner Regalado: Yes.
Chair Spence -Jones: OK
Commissioner Regalado: Sorry --
Mr. Villacorta: Just so we're clear.
Commissioner Regalado: -- but it's true, but it's true, but it's really true. The City spent a lot of
effort, a lot of money to do something in one park, and at the end of the day, people don't know
about it. About a week and a half ago, Commissioner Haskins and I, we went to Douglas Park
for a Halloween contest, and there were 300 people there, 300 -- maybe 400. About 100 kids
participate, and when I ask how did you find out, they said, well, you know, we came to the park.
We saw a sign; we told the neighbors, so it was word of mouth, and this is the problem that we
have that we have to fix. In the case of this, you have the backing of the Orange Bowl
Committee, which is a very professional entity that has the best promotion that you can buy, and
I'm sure that, you know, there's going to be a lot of people bringing back the Orange Bowl events
to where the Orange Bowl is. It's really something that we all should be proud of and trust me,
this is not going to be promoted by the City, but by the Orange Bowl Committee, hopefully.
Chair Spence -Jones: Well, I know we have a representative from the Orange Bowl here, if he
wants to speak.
Luin Frazier: Thank you, Commissioner. For those of you who don't know me, my name is Luin
Frazier. I serve as vice president of business development and special projects for the Orange
Bowl Committee. We are proud to be here before you today to talk about the event. I just want
to hit on a couple issues that Commissioner Regalado pointed out, and I do want to address
some of the concerns that are out there. First of all, from the standpoint of attendance, the
history of the event, we've been, four years prior to this, with the City of Hollywood. We just
finished a term last year with Hollywood. It was our mission to open up to see what municipality
fit us best for this event as we looked forward. As we did our research, we spoke with several
municipalities, and where we landed was with the City of Miami. Our first step was to get the
support of the City of Miami, and we were able to do that. With that, our track record tells us
that five to ten thousand people for the event is something that's very easy for us to get. Our
promotion efforts extend here in the local market, but as well as in the two markets from which
the two teams are coming now. This year, for those of us that are University of Miami or Florida
State fans, we're not doing too well, so it doesn't look like they will -- unless a miracle happens --
make it to the FedEx (Federal Express) Orange Bowl game because of their ranking within the
conference, so it looks like we're in a good line to end up with two teams from the -- out of the
state of the Flor -- from out of state. What does that mean for the event? What does that mean
for the City -- for the CRA? What does that mean for the City? That means you can look at
somewhere in excess of 45 to 60,000 people coming down here for one week. We hold another
event within the CRA boundary, which is the Orange Bowl Coaches' Luncheon, which takes
place every year. As a matter of fact, it'll take place on January 1, the same day as this event.
We have several hotels within the boundaries of the CRA, which we incorporate, and in addition
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to that, one of the things that we are very keen on is not just the marketing efforts, but our
programming. What can we do as a committee to incorporate the City? One of the things that's
key to this event that's new, that we didn't do this for Hollywood, but we're going to do for this
one is incorporate the local restaurants from the City of Miami, but especially those within the
CRA boundaries. I visited with a couple of restaurants within the 3rd Avenue corridor --
Chair Spence -Jones: Jackson Soul Food.
Mr. Frazier: Jackson Soul Food --
Chair Spence -Jones: I know the ones you -- Jackson Soul Food.
Mr. Frazier: -- but I also went a little bit outside, and I went to People's Barbecue, which I think
is right outside your boundaries, but even beyond that --
Chair Spence -Jones: We want to make sure they're in the boundaries.
Mr. Frazier: Yes, and they will be in the boundaries, and we will open it up, so we -- within the
event, we'll also create a Taste of Miami, so to speak, so the fans traveling from out of town can
get a feel for it, so this is the first year we do it. We look forward to a long-standing
relationship, and I'm here for any questions.
Chair Spence -Jones: I just want to just add real fast -- I think it's -- I'm great -- I'm glad that
you're adding the taste of the various restaurants. Omni has some great restaurants over there
too that should be also included in that, but there are a lot of local businesses --
Mr. Frazier: That's right.
Chair Spence -Jones: -- you know, T-shirt companies that are within the district; printing
companies that are within the district, and to me, those are the kind of things that we need to be
doing to really make sure that we're supporting those businesses there --
Mr. Frazier: Absolutely.
Chair Spence -Jones: -- so I'm hoping that we're going to see that kind of activity come out of it.
Mr. Frazier: And anything we can do, and we are a hundred percent open to incorporating all
the businesses within the CRA boundaries into the event. The event is right up the street at
Margaret Pace Park, so anything -- we'd be more than happy to sit down with any of the
businesses and incorporate them, whether it's T-shirts, whether it's any of those stuff. We'd be
more than happy to do that, and I think that's important to make sure that it's a win -win for all
parties involved.
Commissioner Regalado: We really need to treat them good because maybe they can bring back
the parade --
Chair Spence -Jones: Yes.
Commissioner Regalado: -- (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Chair Spence -Jones: That'd be great.
Mr. Frazier: No comment.
Chair Spence -Jones: Commissioner Sanchez.
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Commissioner Sanchez: Madam Chair, at first, I had some reservations about using the TIF
(Tax Increment Fund) dollars for these parties for the Orange Bowl and the Super Bowl and
these feel -good type of events, but when I do my homework, really, the good outweighs the bad
on this. This is really a signature event for our community, and the beauty of it is that these
types of events need community participation, and we could all take pride when we have these
great events come down here to South Florida, and although it's at Joe Robbie Stadium, it really
doesn't reach into the heart of our community, and this -- when you have these events where you
reach out into different neighborhoods and you have maybe children or people that would not be
able to participate, maybe go to the game and see the game, they take pride -- they feel that they
are a part of these events, so that's why I'm a supporter today, and also, let me tell you. At times,
I think that you really have to look at the overall scope of these events. These are great events,
but I'll tell you one of the events that I really enjoy, it's the Orange Bowl games with these
football players from all over the state. You know, when you see these kids, I mean, 80 pounds,
50 pounds, 60 pounds, 70-pound, 100-pound, 120 pounds, whatever, playing football. I mean,
these are the things that, really, you start to appreciate when we -- when you see an organization
that really reaches out to promote healthy, fun activities instead of having kids out on the street,
so that's why I'm a big supporter of --
Mr. Frazier: Thank you, Commissioner.
Commissioner Sanchez: -- your event, so I just wanted to state that for the record.
Mr. Frazier: Thank you.
Chair Spence -Jones: And I just want to add -- thank you, too, because I know that two of our
over -- two of our optimist clubs within -- three of our optimist clubs here within my district were
struggling this year, and you guys stepped up to the plate because many of those kids
participating in that program -- those -- the optimist club, at least, will stay off the street because
of your support, so I know the work that you do beyond just doing a game, and sometimes,
people do not understand that. They just see that it's a big party, and they don't see the other
work that goes into it, but because of you, we were able to at least provide these kids with
after -school programs and additional things in the Overtown area and other areas throughout
my district, so I do understand the value. Do I have a motion on this item?
Commissioner Sanchez: So move.
Commissioner Regalado: Second.
Chair Spence -Jones: All in favor?
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Spence -Jones: Item has passed.
Commissioner Sanchez: Thank you --
Mr. Frazier: Thank you, Commissioners.
Commissioner Sanchez: -- so much, and we'll see you at the event.
Mr. Frazier: Appreciate it.
Commissioner Sanchez: All right.
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9 06-01953 CRA RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE
SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT
AGENCY ("CRA") DIRECTING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO BUDGET
$30,000,000 OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS FOR LOW INCOME,
AFFORDABLE, AND WORKFORCE HOUSING TO BE BUILT IN THE
REDEVELOPMENT AREA, WITH A PARTICULAR FOCUS ON PROVIDING
HOUSING IN AND AROUND THE HISTORIC OVERTOWN FOLKLIFE
VILLAGE DISTRICT.
Cover Memo.pdf
Legislation.pdf
Motion by Commissioner Regalado, seconded by Commissioner Sanchez, that this matter
be ADOPTED WITH MODIFICATIONS PASSED by the following vote.
Votes: Ayes: 3 - Commissioner Sanchez, Commissioner Regalado and Chair Spence -Jones
Absent: 2 - Vice Chair Gonzalez and Commissioner Haskins
CRA-R-06-0045
Direction by Commissioner Sanchez to the Interim Executive Director to provide a report to the
Board, to be brought back at the CRA meeting currently scheduled for November 27, 2006,
outlining how the $30 million will be secured and budgeted and a clear definition of how the
affordable housing issue will be tackled; further providing that projects presented for use of
these funds include line item projects detailing how every dollar will be spent.
Chair Spence -Jones: OK. I know I'm going to lose somebody, so I'm going to try to get through
this item. This is -- we're going on to item number 9. As you know, just over the last couple of
months, and basically, talking to my colleagues, the City and the County has been rocked with
this whole affordable housing issue, and I have, myself, been struggling because many of those
vacant lots that we see within District 5 have been issues for a very, very long time, especially in
the Overtown and Liberty City area. I have been working along with local organizations and
local stakeholders in the community over the last ten months really trying to figure out solutions
and things that we could do to address this issue of housing in the Overtown area, and I wanted
to -- I know that we've been going back and forth. Our bond committee that -- some of the
members are here today -- have been working on these issues regarding what dollars would be
set aside for the long-term, after the items pass for the County, but as time went on, we really,
really realized that, you know, we can't wait six or nine months when we have real issues right
now, and as you know, last week we had a special press conference -- and I think MSC (Local
Initiative Support Corporation) is here, along with many other stakeholders -- has been working
with this group of stakeholders for the last -- I think it's the last, at least, four or five months, to
try to put together an overall plan for a new district, which will be considered the Overtown Folk
Life District. As you know, many city -- many areas throughout the cities, we have districts like
the Design District, Latin Quarters, Fashion District, but none to really highlight the
African American experience, and I'm so excited and thrilled that we officially will, you know,
work towards creating our overall district to highlight beautiful venues, like the Lyric Theater,
like the Masonic Lodge, and the wonderful churches that we do have in the area that have
historic significance to actually become a destination for people visiting our cities or our area,
so one of the things that we talked about that came up as a very big issue in many of the meetings
that I had with various groups throughout the Overtown area was that there was a request that
was made that they needed about $25 million to assist with housing, affordable housing,
low-income housing, rental, whatever within the Overtown area, and of course, my position has
always been we could only stay within those boundaries, which is the CRA, to be able to support
that, but we needed to ident fy dollars now that we can tap into to begin to address the current
issue. Now I know that we just had a Commission meeting on Thursday regarding this issue, and
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my colleague, Commissioner Sanchez, came with a -- up with a wonderful solution, which I think
-- or an addition, which was to take at least $5 million because, to my understanding from my
director, is that these dollars would have to be broken up over a certain period of time, and of
course, we have to go through the whole bond process and all of that, correct, Jim?
James Villacorta (Interim Executive Director, Community Redevelopment Agency): Actually,
under this scenario, regardless of whether we issued bonds or not, we would devote $30 million,
over the next five years, and take it from the TIF (Tax Increment Fund) income.
Chair Spence -Jones: OK
Mr. Villacorta: If we, ultimately, go out for bonds, this money would be excluded from the bond
-- the proceeds of the TIF funds that would be used to finance the bonds, so this is without
having to go out for a bond issue. We would devote $30 million over five years to --
Applause.
Mr. Villacorta: -- low-income housing.
Chair Spence -Jones: This is a huge commitment that we're making from a CRA perspective to
really try to do something to address this issue of affordable housing and housing, period. I
knocked on several of my doors in the Overtown area with many of my seniors and many of the
families that are really just trying to survive, and their living conditions are unbearable, so the
suggestion that was made about taking maybe the first 5 million to really go towards units --
existing units that are in the area or either creating a project, period, that we could, perhaps,
fund to get them -- and I agree with Commissioner Regalado's viewpoint is let's get the money on
the streets now because people need help now, and I just wanted to bring this up. It's not a part
of this overall resolution, but I'd like to make a motion to at least amend the resolution to
provide that at least the first $5 million be allocated towards low and affordable rentals within
the area, and I do want us to have a little flexibility on that because we can look at it also
assisting other housing -related issues within the -- in the -- within that particular -- within those
dollars, but for the most part, I want to make sure we're able to address the current issues right
now, and hopefully, Jim, you can work along with CD (Community Development) to develop a
program because what I do not want to have happen is that we provide funding to a lot of these
landlords that have not been taking care of their current residents, for whatever reasons, and
then there are some property owners that have had their businesses for a very long -- I mean,
had their buildings for a very long time, and they just -- and have been in their families for a
very long time, and just can't afford to really do the upgrades, but hopefully, we can develop
some type of program that locks them in that, once we do the upgrade on their facilities or their
units, our seniors and those folks that are struggling to pay their rents are not kicked out, and
then, hopefully, we can work along with our local CDCs (Community Development
Corporations), like St. Johns and BAME (Bethel African Methodist Episcopal) and the others to
help us develop a program to make sure we lock them in for 15, 20 years. I believe that's what
Commiss -- Reg -- Rodriguez [sic] has made mention of that make sure that these -- the current
residents aren't kicked out, so I don't know if you have any comments on that, but that is kind of
my statement.
Commissioner Regalado: I move the chairperson resolution, as amended --
Commissioner Sanchez: Second.
Commissioner Regalado: -- with -- and Madam Chairman --
Chair Spence -Jones: Yes, sir.
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Commissioner Regalado: -- congratulations. I think --
Chair Spence -Jones: Thank you, sir.
Commissioner Regalado: -- it's important.
Applause.
Chair Spence -Jones: Thank you, sir.
Commissioner Regalado: Let me tell you that at least the people of the area will have something
to hang on. The people of Overtown have been living with deferred hopes and promises that
have not been kept, and this commitment, which I think is great on your part, it's important for
the people and for the people to understand that, you know, this is the way that we're going to
keep them here, and I guess that we just need to put the money to work. Thank you.
Chair Spence -Jones: Thank you. Commissioner Regalado. Commissioner Sanchez?
Commissioner Sanchez: No. Let the public, and I'll speak after --
Chair Spence -Jones: Oh, OK.
Commissioner Sanchez: -- the public.
Chair Spence -Jones: Hagen.
Steve Hagen: Yeah. I just heard the executive --
Priscilla A. Thompson (City Clerk): His name.
Mr. Hagen: -- director say --
Ms. Thompson: Name.
Chair Spence -Jones: Your name on the record.
Mr. Hagen: Steven Hagen, 725 Northeast 73rd Street. I just heard the executive director say
low-income housing, but then, Chair, I heard you say low-income and affordable --
Chair Spence -Jones: Rentals --
Commissioner Sanchez: Rental.
Chair Spence -Jones: -- yeah.
Mr. Hagen: -- and then I heard -- and then I read that it says low-income --
Chair Spence -Jones: I just amended it. You --
Mr. Hagen: -- affordable, and workforce.
Chair Spence -Jones: Yeah, but you heard me amend it, too, also, right? I just amend it. I said
I'd like to make a motion to amend it to include those additional items.
Mr. Hagen: Low-income, affordable, and --?
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Chair Spence -Jones: Rentals, because before we were not focusing on rentals, and I think it's
important for us to focus on rentals.
Mr. Villacorta: The resolution reads low-income, affordable, and workforce, and she was
amending it to include rentals --
Chair Spence -Jones: Rentals.
Mr. Villacorta: -- in that.
Chair Spence -Jones: Because everybody will not be able to buy, so it's important for us to focus
on assisting --
Mr. Hagen: OK. I understand that, but then I heard the --
Mr. Villacorta: Yeah. I --
Mr. Hagen: -- director say low-income, so what are we really talking about?
Mr. Villacorta: No. I didn't hit all three, but it should be all three; low-income, affordable, and
workforce housing --
Mr. Hagen: OK.
Mr. Villacorta: -- in the CRA, with a focus on the Historic Folk Life Village District. The
Commissioner then amended it to say rental units, as well, in those categories.
Mr. Hagen: OK, but the resolution says "to be built, " so what are we talking about in this
resolution in terms of taking care of those existing businesses and residences?
Chair Spence -Jones: I just said to provide that the first $5 million be allocated to low-income,
affordable rentals.
Mr. Hagen: To be built.
Chair Spence -Jones: OK, so I will amend it again to -- just to make sure that there's clarity, Mr.
Hagen, I would like to make the motion to amend the resolution to provide that the first $5
million be allocated to low-income, affordable rentals for rehab. You like that?
Commissioner Regalado: I think it's great.
Mr. Villacorta: Yeah.
Chair Spence -Jones: Sounds awesome --
Mr. Villacorta: I think --
Chair Spence -Jones: -- so we've handled that issue.
Mr. Hagen: So then now you're saying now --
Commissioner Regalado: I'll second that.
Mr. Hagen: -- build existing buildings to be rehabbed?
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Chair Spence -Jones: I'm saying we're going to make some of these dollars made available to
some of the property owners in the area were con -- where existing residents are living now that
are living in unbearable conditions, that we can assist some of those property owners with
rehabbing those buildings so that those people could continue to stay there, and I've directed
staff to work along with CD to develop a program to make sure that if we rehab these buildings,
that these people will not be pushed out of where they're living.
Mr. Hagen: I understand that, so this is for rehab then, and this is not for new construction?
Chair Spence -Jones: It's for both. I just amended it to include --
Mr. Hagen: Well (UNINTELLIGIBLE) --
Chair Spence -Jones: -- the first $5 million of it.
Mr. Hagen: To be built and so -- but where --
Mr. Villacorta: I --
Mr. Hagen: -- how -- where's the proportions in here?
Chair Spence -Jones: OK. I'm going to let the executive director speak on this.
Mr. Villacorta: Could --?
Mr. Hagen: Well, let me just ask a further question because I'm a little bit confused here. I
know that there's federal programs that have to do with revitalization and redevelopment. I
know that there's a state documentary stamp program that provides for affordable housing or
low-income housing, and now we're doing this thing with the CRA. I don't understand -- and I
think the people really deserve to understand how all of this is supposed to function together.
Commissioner Regalado: If I can answer that, Steve. The problem is that the City of Miami,
year after year, has been cut from the federal funding for housing, for rehab, for community
development, especially for social services. The City does have some money for rehab, and we're
doing that throughout the City with some residentials [sic], but as of now, we just cannot
allocate, in the City, as a City Commission, $5 million, even if we want to, because every year we
are cut from Washington in the budget that we send. We have been cut from 28 million almost to
11 million, something like that, so what this project does is maybe we can use that money for
immediate rehab. I will say that if we do rehab to -- so people can live in a decent way --
Chair Spence -Jones: Yeah.
Commissioner Regalado: -- in an honorable way, that we put a clause to those landlords, say,
well, you know what? For certain time, you cannot raise the rent to these people, so we are
going to use this as a way to have some kind of rent control in the overtime [sic] area, which I
think it would be a pilot program throughout the City of Miami, if we can pull this off and
second, some of this money can be leveraged with --
Chair Spence -Jones: Other dollars.
Commissioner Regalado: -- the few money that we have from CD, Community Development, or
maybe a private investor says, you know what? If you help me, I'm going to do some rental. The
problem is that to do rental is really, really risky because you know that the property appraisal
[sic] will turn around next year and raise your -- the value of your property so much that the
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rental will cease to be affordable. That's why nothing is affordable, nothing is workforce.
Mr. Hagen: Well, that's the reason I have the concern about this resolution because I've seen it
happen so much in the City already. I have friends that own rental units in Little Haiti, and they
have to sell them because their tax -- because of the existing --
Commissioner Regalado: Because of the property value. It's -- but --
Mr. Hagen: The property value is going up and going up.
Commissioner Regalado: -- this is why I think that Michelle's idea is great in amending this
resolution and having rental because rental, you may say, well, you know, it's better to have
people own their homes, or their apartment, or their condos, but we have to face it. Some people
only can rent and some people only will be renting the rest of their lives, and if we want to help
some of these people, at least we can help them live in a very honest way, decent way, no -- you
know, no holes in the roof you know, nice rooms and all that. I think that what you will see is
that there will be priorities, and you know, to me, the priorities is to fix what we have instead of
going -- dreaming about what we could have, and that's what I think.
Chair Spence -Jones: Thank you, Mr. Hagen.
Mr. Hagen: Well, what I wanted to know in the resolution, though -- and the devil's into detail,
as we know. If you have a, say, three-story apartment building now and it's renovated and
turned into, you know, good housing, what prevents the landlord a block away from raising his
rent before, you know --
Chair Spence -Jones: Right.
Mr. Hagen: -- that place is renovated?
Chair Spence -Jones: I think we realize -- I think all of us realize that we have -- not only from a
City's perspective, but from a County's perspective, just South Florida period, we got a issue --
the issues that we have to address regarding the issues of the taxes. I mean, that's
across-the-board; that's affecting everybody, but this resolution is speaking to an issue that I
know my constituents and what their issues are --
Mr. Hagen: But are these concerns --
Chair Spence -Jones: -- and if you'd like to tour with me any time, I would be glad to take you to
many of those folks that's living off of 3rd Avenue that are struggling because their units that
they're currently living in are unbearable --
Mr. Hagen: I understand that.
Chair Spence -Jones: -- so do you have anymore comments so that we can allow for other people
to speak?
Mr. Hagen: I just don't see the details in this resolution.
Chair Spence -Jones: OK.
Commissioner Sanchez: Fine. You've made your point.
Dale Ayres: Good evening.
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Chair Spence -Jones: Yes, sir.
Mr. Ayres: My name is Dale Ayres, 201 Northwest 7th Street, right across the street. I'm a
clinical therapist, and I work for FIU (Florida International University), and I don't need to take
the tour. I go into the homes, and I see the people with the broke down air conditioning sitting
on their living room without any air, their windows cracked, and I want to basically work with
Jim from the CRA -- and he and I talked about this -- to work with Jim with the CRA because I
think it's important, and you did mention, to work within the program itself that, when the people
become renters, that they do take some sort of ownership, like if it could be some type of
long-term period, between five to fifteen years, or whatever, and within that process, that they
could be able to work within the home itself in the sense of their paint colors and things like
that; that it doesn't go back to Section 8 housing, like we're going to hire one contractor; they're
going to paint it all brown, and that's -- you know, because I really feel -- like you said, we're
always going to have renters, and in that particular case, we need to put, within the part of the
program, some type of ownership of -- and it's going to be difficult, but whoever applies, if they
want to take the opportunity to get vouchers to go to Home Depot or pick their paint color or
whatever, and they can -- however it needs to be worked out, but that's one thing. The other
thing is if you're doing this in a joint thing, and especially eliciting the first $5 million -- a
perfect example I said was the AC (air conditioning) unit sitting on the floor. Could we not buy
these in bulk or take, you know, within a project or within a certain section of you know, a
couple of blocks, look and see who needs, you know, these particular units, or I don't know if
you're doing appliances, or whatever you're going to be doing, but look at for more of a
cost-effective way? And Jim knows I fight him everyday. I drove him nuts, but the bottom line is,
$5 million --
Mr. Villacorta: We don't fight.
Mr. Ayres: -- is a lot of money, but we can work with Habitat for Humanity --
Chair Spence -Jones: I agree.
Mr. Ayres: -- who works with Home Depot and works with Lowe's, who gives -- who donates a
lot of things, a lot of the furniture. I go all the way to Fort Lauderdale and also by 112. I really
feel this is great. I really commend you for doing this, but I really feel that to make it work
effectively and to get the bottom line -- and I don't know what that man was talking about
because he's never been in any of these apartments because I go everyday -- and the bottom line
is, we need to do something, but I feel to make the most of it, we need to get the most AC units,
the most tile for the floors, the most hurricane proof windows, so they don't have to board up
their windows, you know, those type of things, so in my opinion, the program really should be set
up more explicit, and I commend you for doing that, and I would be willing to work with you,
Jim, on that, OK?
Mr. Villacorta: Great.
Chair Spence -Jones: Thank you so much.
Commissioner Regalado: If I may --
Chair Spence -Jones: Sure.
Commissioner Regalado: -- Madam Chairman [sic]. I think it's important to say and -- Steve,
being in the law profession, is -- was trying to get details about the resolution. It's not like if the
chairperson or the executive director of [sic] any board members are going to walk out of here
this afternoon and say, I'm going to fix that. I'm going to paint that.
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Chair Spence -Jones: There's going to be a process.
Commissioner Regalado: Oh, you know, I like that building; it's really rundown, and get a
million and fix it. It's a process, just like the gentleman said. I mean, you have people like
Habitat for America [sic]. You have the CD Department of the City of Miami. You have --
Chair Spence -Jones: Your local CDCs.
Commissioner Regalado: -- I mean, you know -- and you have a process, and I'm telling you, if
we can use this money to lock the rents of many rental buildings, we will be -- open a new
chapter in the history of this area. There is no reason at all why we don't have rent control in
the City of Miami. There is rent control in New York --
Chair Spence -Jones: Yeah.
Commissioner Regalado: -- and other cities throughout, and we missed the opportunity with
Hurricane Andrew, when we had an emergency. We could have done it and leave it like forever
with some -- what is going on in the rental business is outrageous.
Commissioner Sanchez: Yes, it is.
Commissioner Regalado: It's something that the poor people just cannot anymore pay their rent,
so I -- whatever plan will be announced, whatever project would have to be approved by this
board, so --
Chair Spence -Jones: And the community would have their input. We'll make sure --
Commissioner Regalado: -- and -- of course.
Chair Spence -Jones: -- that the community has an input in how we do the process. The most
important thing is to make sure we have the dollars identified for the issue.
Mr. Villacorta: Right. This resolution is to budget the funds. The individual projects will be
brought back under individual resolutions, just like when we budgeted funds at the beginning of
the year for insurance, and now the individual worker's compensation policy is coming back for
approval, so this directs the director to budget, over the next five years, $30 million, and the
individual projects, more detailed in scope, and hopefully, with the attached contracts behind
them, will come as separate resolutions spending the $30 million and funding those projects.
Chair Spence -Jones: Thank you, Jim. I just want to go ahead and get the community comments,
but we do need -- I know that I'm going to lose a quorum, and I can't use a quorum because I
have two --
Commissioner Sanchez: 6:40.
Chair Spence -Jones: -- OK. I have another item that I need to make sure I cover, but if you
guys can make it pretty quickly, I'd greatly appreciate it.
Irby McKnight: Irby McKnight, 1600 Northwest 3rd Avenue. First, I want to thank you so much
for the idea of doing renovation for existing buildings that are already occupied. Somehow
people have adjusted to these absolutely Third World living conditions. Now having served on
the CD citywide board and had been its chair for a number of years, I understand well that we
had a major problem in the Overtown/Liberty City/Little Haiti area with the facade program
with businesses for the simple reason that the proprietor did not own the building, and once the
proprietor agreed to have the facade done, they were kicked out of the building because the
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owner has a better building now that is much more attractive and is easily marketable to
someone else. The fact that you've already thought of this could happen with housing say that
you are on the right track. We cannot allow anyone to sidetrack this effort. This whole city
extends from this community. This neighborhood was established in 1896, the same year that the
City was, so there were people living here before they lived across 11 th Street because it stopped
at 11 th Street then; it didn't go any further. Once you got to 12th Street, you was somewhere
else, not in Miami, so to think of that say that we're on the right track, and as an activist in this
community that could raise the dead on the third day, I will definitely do whatever needs to be
done to make this happen. It doesn't matter who should be ran over, who should be knocked
down, whatever needs to happen for this to happen for the people of this community, you can
count on me to do that. Believe me, you can count on me to do it. I --
Chair Spence -Jones: Thank you, Mr. McKnight.
Mr. McKnight: -- do have some resources that are available to me, and I believe what Booker T.
Washington said, you have to use the resources you have to get where you want to go. Thank
you.
Applause.
Annetta Jenkins: Annetta Jenkins, Local Initiative Support Corporation, 150 Southeast 2nd
Avenue, Miami. I just want to applaud you all for taking this bold step, which is a multi pronged
comprehensive step to create new resources for very low, low and moderate residents in
Overtown. As you know, last week, we unveiled our draft plan for the historical Overtown Folk
Life Village District and surrounding neighborhoods. Dr. Fields is the president of the district
association, and our plan, we think, gives you a blueprint starting point for implementing the
various projects, and it very definitely looks at leveraging every single resource we can bring to
the table, so you have our support, our endorsement, and we really appreciate you all taking this
step, so thank you.
Chair Spence -Jones: Thank you, Ms. Jenkins.
Gertrude Clyde: Good evening. My name is Gertrude Clyde. I live in Town Park Plaza North,
supposed to be condo, but ain't nothing "do" about them; they "cons," yes. The reason why I'm
here tonight -- and I also want to thank the Commissioner, from what I heard tonight, in the
rehab of some of these monies that maybe we, the homeowners, might be able to get some to
rehab our units. Where I live -- I've been living there for 20 years. The building's been there for
a little over 30 years. We recently, in 2003, we were converted from co-op to condo by our
president, Mr. Willie Starks. They received monies to pay off HUD (Department of Housing and
Urban Development) existing mortgage, as well as renovations. Well, they paid off the existing
mortgage to HUD, but there was no renovations, so the conditions that we were forced to live in,
we're still living in those conditions today. Now those of us that didn't want to go for the
conversion, we received letters saying that we would forfeit our unit if we didn't convert. Now
the thing about it, what I have a problem with this is, Mr. Starks is back on board again, OK,
and he's not there to rectify the situation that he put us in in the first place with the monies that
he received from this bank for renovations, so what I'm afraid of here is that he's back at us
again because we just supposed to been receiving some insurance money from our claim from
the hurricane condition of last year. I was bumped down by him, OK, last month from president
because -- then he signed off on this money, but he's not there to recta what he has already left
in those conditions, so my thing is, can you all help us, as homeowners, maybe rehab our units
so we can live in better conditions, condo conditions, since we supposed to be condo because the
property is a valuable property, and it's a nice, decent place, and we can look like condo if we
get some monies to rehab these buildings, as well as about the landlords. Why can't we go back
to the old days? Make those landlords management company that receive these monies for this
property, make them be accountable for making us live in these deplorable conditions because
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they living the life, when we're living in those deplorable conditions, but yet and still, we don't
have no help, so can you all help us to rectify this situation? Maybe go back to the old days and
make these landlords and management live in those conditions until they fix them, like they used
to do? If we -- I really would appreciate if you all can help us at Town Park.
Chair Spence -Jones: Thank you, Sister Gertrude, for your comments. As you know, the first
phase of this -- the district, the boundaries -- part of what we need -- we're trying to work on with
the County now is to expand the boundaries so that the CRA does not end on 14th Street. That's
where it ends now, which does not include the Town Park area, so one of the things that Jim has
been working very hard, along with the City staff is to get the boundaries expanded to at least
20th Street -- to 20th Street, and then east -- or west to 7th Avenue, so there's new boundaries
that will allow at least -- all three of the Town Parks have issues --
Ms. Clyde: Right --
Chair Spence -Jones: -- so we're going to look at what -- addressing those, but this -- these
dollars are strictly for that particular area --
Ms. Clyde: OK, well --
Chair Spence -Jones: -- until we can get the County to expand the boundaries, which we would
need your support making sure we say that to the County folks, that the boundaries need to be
expanded.
Ms. Clyde: They really do because Overtown doesn't just stop at 14th Street --
Chair Spence -Jones: Oh, I agree.
Ms. Clyde: -- you know, so I don't think we should be forced to be out of the Empowerment
Zone, when we supposed to be living in Empowerment Zone --
Chair Spence -Jones: I agree.
Ms. Clyde: -- so can we get some support as well?
Chair Spence -Jones: We're pushing to do that.
Philip Bacon: My name is Philip Bacon. I'm with the Collins Center for Public Policy and the
South Florida Smart Growth Land Trust. I just wanted to say very quickly that, for the record,
we applaud this initiative of the district Commissioner and the CRA. We have been working,
over the last two years, on a plan, a high-level capacity plan that pinpoints areas of
rehabilitation, as well as areas of new building, which we will vet though the Folk Life Village
stakeholders group. We would look forward to an opportunity of -- when we vet that plan and
submitting the plan that we already had, but when we vet the mini plan, bringing that back
before the CRA for its consideration.
Chair Spence -Jones: OK. Thank you, Mr. Bacon. Mr. Cutler.
Charles Cutler: Yes. Charles Cutler, 706 Northwest 4th Avenue. I'm the CEO (Chief Executive
Officer) of the Veterans Employment and Transition Service. I applaud this plan. I've been
living in Overtown for over 30 years, and in the CRA district, where we have a lot of
appointment -- a lot of those apartments, we've got elderly residents living over there, and I'm a
part of the Wake Up Miami campaign, and going through that area, I encountered residents
that's living in deplorable conditions, and some of those places look good on the outside, but on
the inside, it's just like living in garbage, so I think that the CRA is moving in the right direction.
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A lot of those places still suffer hurricane damage and leaking roof so I think that this is a good
program and we fully support it. Thank you.
Chair Spence -Jones: Thank you, Mr. Cutler. Mr. Alexander.
David Alexander: Thank you, Commissioner. David Alexander, president/CEO of St. John
Community Development. Commissioner, we would like to make sure that we understand very
clearly that the 5 million for the rehab is not going to be directed south of ll th Street because we
really need some of that money right now. I have one building that I had to close down. It's 16
units that people could be renting --
Chair Spence -Jones: Yeah.
Mr. Alexander: -- but St. John CDC can't be a slumlord, you know. The board of directors of
the corporation decided to seal the building rather than keep the people in the conditions that we
inherited when we inherited the structures, so we're here today to make sure that we will be --
Chair Spence -Jones: That's what I was trying to make sure if it's true, but go ahead.
Mr. Alexander: Right. We'll be trying to get some of these funds. We had a second suggestion
for you, which is that maybe you should link this as a matching program to Community
Development Block Grant funding or HOME (Home Investment Partnership Program) funding.
The City of Miami has been receiving proposals from us for three years on that project, and each
time, we have not been funded because they seek other priorities. You know, Overtown needs to
be a priority for the City now, and if you're going to put CRA dollars to work here in this
community, I think -- can't think of a better way to leverage them than making sure that the City
of Miami can match the funding, if the community so desires. The third issue I'd like to bring to
each of the Commissioners, you know, we have a demonstration project to do exactly what it is
you have stated that you wanted to see tonight. At 1445 Northwest 1st Place, we took a ten -unit
building and we totally gut -- rehabbed that building over the course of 13 months; took us 13
months because we had to work around the people who lived in the building. We didn't want to
get them out --
Chair Spence -Jones: Yeah.
Mr. Alexander: -- and so, you know, that takes longer. It costs more, but there's the least
amount of disruption for the residents that you're trying to serve. We were unable to receive City
funding for that project, and we went to Community Development and they promised us that, in
this year, they would support us in that project, which they did not, but the reality is, we went --
got the money.
Chair Spence -Jones: Yes.
Mr. Alexander: We got the money from Miami -Dade County, and we spent $342, 000 to rehab a
ten -unit building. The building is not worth $342, 000, and the rent that we get from the tenants
cannot support that kind of debt service from the private sector, so there needs to be some
sensitivity at the City of Miami Community Development Department that will look at rental
rehabs. They cross those projects off their list, Commissioner. They're pretending like we don't
need rental rehab in this City. In every Commissioner's district, there is a -- there are poverty
pockets. In every Commissioner's district, they need to have rental rehab programs, so we
suggest to you -- we have capped our rents for the next 20 years to what the state says the
poverty level -- rent level must be. OK --
Chair Spence -Jones: Thank you.
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Mr. Alexander: - we did that, so it's in place, and I invite you to come and look at it, and I ask
for consideration because we really need that money right now. Thank you.
Chair Spence -Jones: Thank you, David. Last comment.
Pedro Martinez: Pedro Martinez, with Harbor House. We're a non -for -profit organization.
We're located -- well, one of our properties is located at 420 Northwest 10th Street. First of all, I
want to thank the Commissioners. I think this is an incredible opportunity for the neighborhood.
I come as a developer, property manager, and we came into the neighborhood around four years
ago. Our property was scheduled for demolition pretty much. It was in really bad shape. We
took our own funding, we rehabbed the building, and now we have 34 units that we house people
with special needs, meaning the lowest of the lowest of the income are housed there at Harbor
House. They -- the idea of using those monies to rehab existing rental properties, I think, is the
first shot to the neighborhood, but you also have to tie that in with the owners, like you say. Us,
the owners, that own properties, we need to have the incentive to be able to hold on to those
properties to offer them to the local community. If these property taxes continue to go up -- and
I'll give you an example. My property went from 25,000 to 45,000. Our rents are still the same,
so how are we, as investors, coming into the community are going to be able to offer housing for
those people that are here?
Chair Spence -Jones: Yeah.
Mr. Martinez: It makes it very difficult, so we need to somehow work out that those developers
that are able to set aside `X" amount of units for these type of -- for this type of population, that
maybe what we could do is hold off on some of those property taxes for "X" amount of years, or
if not, there's no incentive for us to rent them or even to receive those fundings.
Chair Spence -Jones: OK
Mr. Martinez: That's my piece. Thank you.
Chair Spence -Jones: Thank you, your comment. That was our last comment, Sister Renita,
because I'm going to lose a quorum, and I cannot lose a quorum. I got like four more items.
He's going to be leaving, so can you --?
Renita Holmes: Briefly --
Chair Spence -Jones: OK --
Ms. Holmes: -- I just wanted to mention --
Chair Spence -Jones: -- and Mr. Hagen, you've already spoken, so at this point, that'll be the last
comment, and then we're moving on to the next item.
Mr. Hagen: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) getting two.
Chair Spence -Jones: This is the first time she's spoken.
Ms. Holmes: No, and as a matter of --
Commissioner Sanchez: She hasn't spoken yet, Steve.
Ms. Holmes: -- fact, I did complete a newspaper --
Commissioner Sanchez: Now behave yourself.
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Chair Spence -Jones: You're getting her confused with somebody else in the audience. This is
the first time she's ever stepped to the mike.
Ms. Holmes: I know --
Commissioner Sanchez: Behave yourself, Steve.
Ms. Holmes: -- we all look alike from the rear, but --
Mr. Villacorta: We'll accept written comments.
Ms. Holmes: -- it's OK. I'm just coming back and leaving --
Ms. Thompson: Excuse me, excuse me. Can I have your name for the --?
Chair Spence -Jones: Right, and we're going to have order in this meeting, Mr. Hagen.
Mr. Hagen: (INAUDIBLE) your revitalization (INAUDIBLE).
Chair Spence -Jones: We're going to have order in this meeting.
Ms. Holmes: My name is Madam Renita Holmes, and I hope Mr. Hagen would allow me the
opportunity. Maybe I'll cover some of the anger that he has, but not. Anyway, I'm just asking
you, when we talk about renovation and restoration, and we talk about the profile of the
community, not only is it a benefit to the developers and to the City to utilize the profile, in this
community, there are many elders, disabled, single parents who do have reentry issues, and a
utilization of reentry person brings along a lot of tax credits for those developers, as employers
in the future. I'm hoping that somewhere we can structure along with the same redevelopment
practices that we've seen in other best practices, and I do have some available, without naming
any, that utilizes these people without ostracizing. I know that Villa Nova has one in Little Haiti
that allows persons between the income of 17,000 to 23,600, with some other budgets and some
leveraging resources, to participate, and the building, there is commitment from those who are
doing it to include some of those families who have reentry persons in them, and while I realize
that Habitat for Humanity has the ability to utilize equity, there are many other women building
organization and reentry building development corporation, such as WAVE, and a few others
that are here who have not spoken, who do utilize these people, who are residents, who have
proven and should not be double taxed because of what they've done in the past and do have
children to take care of and would love to restore the community, as well as restore their lives
the same way. Thank you.
Chair Spence -Jones: Thank you, Madam Holmes.
Ms. Holmes: You're welcome.
Chair Spence -Jones: OK. I -- Commissioner Sanchez, you have a comment before --? I think
we got a motion already on it, though.
Commissioner Sanchez: Yes. There's --
Chair Spence -Jones: OK, but --
Commissioner Sanchez: -- a motion.
Ms. Thompson: We're waiting on the vote.
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Commissioner Sanchez: Madam Chair, ifI could be recognized?
Chair Spence -Jones: Sure. You can be recognized.
Commissioner Sanchez: I think that faith and time come together at a certain place to determine
history, and today I think that the time is now, the place is the Lyric Theater, and the history is
the faith of affordable housing in our community. Let me just say that, based on certain things
that we need to do -- of course, there are the protection of the history of Overtown, the protection
of the culture of Overtown and its tradition by bringing economic vitality and opportunity to all
those who seek it. I just want to say that I was here about five years ago, six years ago when
Commissioner Teele, through this legislation [sic], committed $25 million of CDBG (Community
Development Block Grant) funds to the revitalization of Overtown, and I could honestly say that,
for whatever reasons, things did not work out, but I don't want to be in a situation where we have
new leadership in this community, someone who has basically done something that really took
courage to do, knowing that it's a sensitive issue, but it's the right thing to do, and by committing
$30 million to affordable housing, it is something that has never happened in this city. I thinkl
speak for the Chair -- and ifI do not, please do stop me.
Chair Spence -Jones: I will.
Commissioner Sanchez: You know, we must make sure that the money is available. We must
make sure that dreams are not taken away from people, OK? We cannot afford to take hope
away from people, so it is important that we move very prudent in this concept of the $30 million.
The executive director needs to come back and provide a report to us making sure that we could
come up with those $30 million because if he doesn't and I don't -- Irby McKnight is going to use
his resources to get rid of me, all right, and I don't -- you know, it takes a couple of months to
recover now from, you know, when you get your knees busted, so I just want to make sure that we
do have the funding in place. Look, we've learned from our mistakes, all right. I'm one to admit
that we've learned from our mistakes, but we have faith, OK? And as long as we have a plan and
a vision, we could get this done, all right? But I'll tell you what we learned from the past. One,
we cannot continue to throw away good money towards consulting, all right?
Applause.
Commissioner Sanchez: The money that is put forth needs to come to us with a clear definition
of how we're going to accomplish this issue of tackling a very tough issue, which is affordable
housing in our community today, OK? The projects that will be presented to us should be
presented line items, how that money is going to be spent. Let me tell you what I will be
championing on this, along with my colleagues. One, we must break away from the past of
where affordable housing stereotypes everyone, OK? We need to create affordable housing
where you look at a building and you do not know who lives in Apartment 10, 15, or 14, or 11.
In other words, you're not going to be able to tell whose affordable housing it is based on the
color of their skin or how much money they have in a bank account --
Applause.
Commissioner Sanchez: -- and it's working all over the United States. It's working. When
people are partnering up with the private sector, making sure that we do provide affordable
housing and people are not stereotypes, it is a great accomplishment and a great success to
economic vitality and improving the quality of life. The other issue that I want to put out and
make sure that the Admini -- the executive director comes back and reports to us is if we commit
these dollars, would it limit us to projects? Because I'll tell you this much, it is very important to
have affordable housing, but it also is very important to have the proper infrastructure, a safe
community, and a safe environment for all to enjoy because, if you don't have those things, you
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have nothing, and ladies and gentlemen, we have to start thinking outside the box, and that's all
that I ask for. Each of us up here will work with you to assure that we are able to provide that
opportunity, but I'll tell you this much. I will not sit up here and make empty promises to you
until I'm able to know that, one, we could come up with the $30 million; second, how we're going
to use that money, and it's up to the Chair and this legislative body to determine how we're going
to use that money to make sure we don't end up like the County because, at the end of the day,
once we do here -- the faith [sic] of Overtown lies in the hands of its people and the government
that leads them, so I just wanted to state that for the record and say that I am in full support, but
I've learned from mistakes in the past, and I am one who only trips on a rock once, not twice, so -
Chair Spence -Jones: Thank you.
Commissioner Sanchez: -- Madam Chair, you're recognized --
Chair Spence -Jones: Thank you --
Commissioner Sanchez: -- for a vote.
Chair Spence -Jones: -- Reverend Sanchez.
Applause.
Chair Spence -Jones: Let me just -- let's be very clear, and I want to be very clear because one of
the things that we talked about on Thursday regarding the issue of $30 million and the Tuesday
at the press conference is that we went back and forth with Budget, with our -- with Larry
Springs [sic], correct, Jim?
Mr. Villacorta: Yes. We went and made sure that --
Chair Spence -Jones: With our bond counsel.
Mr. Villacorta: -- the Budget Department and the CRA's financial consultants, their projection
for the TIF revenues over the next five years will allow us to do -- to reach these goals.
Chair Spence -Jones: So I wanted to make sure -- so I want to make sure we're clear on this and
I put this on the record, that before we made any announcements or we had any discussions, we
verified that we were able --
Mr. Villacorta: We used the most conservative projections of the financials department at the
City, and the CRA's financial consultants.
Chair Spence -Jones: And this actually came in lower than what they said could be done,
correct?
Mr. Villacorta: Right. This is --
Chair Spence -Jones: And I said I want to be on the safe side, correct?
Mr. Villacorta: Exactly. This only counts revenue that's projected from buildings --
Chair Spence -Jones: Just want to put that on the record.
Mr. Villacorta: -- that are permitted and under construction.
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Chair Spence -Jones: OK, so you will bring us back something the end of November with some
sort of --
Commissioner Sanchez: In writing.
Mr. Villacorta: A report on the funding, yes.
Chair Spence -Jones: OK. All right, so -- did we get a motion?
Ms. Thompson: Yes.
Commissioner Regalado: Yes, we do have a motion --
Ms. Thompson: Yes.
Commissioner Regalado: -- and --
Chair Spence -Jones: You're going to turn on --
Commissioner Regalado: -- I just want to say that, from what we heard and from your
amendment, it's clear the priority in this area is to fix what we have. The property tax system is
broken --
Chair Spence -Jones: Yes.
Commissioner Regalado: -- and we cannot fix it here, but it's going to be fixed. There is a -- the
Governor's committee on tax reform has just met here the other day and is meeting throughout
the state, and there's going to be some new projects and -- but until the broken system is fixed,
we shouldn't be dreaming -- even dreaming about affordable because nothing is affordable
anymore with the taxes and the property value, so I think that you did the right thing by
amending this to include fixing the rentals. When the people see that the money that this area
generate is being put to use to fix what they have, they going to have a sense of being here, they
going to have a sense of neighborhood, and they will be assured that they can stay and they will
be not run over by bulldozers and demolition, so I don't know. It's something that this will be an
important day for the people of Overtown.
Chair Spence -Jones: I need a vote. Thank you, Commissioner Regalado.
Applause.
Chair Spence -Jones: Did we get a vote already?
Ms. Thompson: You have a motion and a second on your amended -- on the amended resolution
and you need to vote.
Commissioner Sanchez: As amended. Call the question. All in favor?
Chair Spence -Jones: All in favor?
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Spence -Jones: All opposed? The motion has passed. Let's give yourself a hand.
Applause.
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REPORTS
10 06-01867 CRA REPORT
REPORT ON THE ACTIVITIES OF DOUG BRUCE & ASSOCIATES.
Cover Memo.pdf
Back-up.pdf
DISCUSSED
Direction by Commissioner Regalado to the Interim Executive Director to direct the lobbying
team of the CRA to: 1) push for the constitutional amendment doubling the homestead
exemption for residents throughout the state of Florida to be placed in the next general election,
and 2) to have the Legislature place a regulation in property appraisals that properties be
appraised by income and not by the future use of the land.
Chair Spence -Jones: All right. We're losing --
James Villacorta (Interim Executive Director, Community Redevelopment Agency): Quorum.
Chair Spence -Jones: -- Sanchez, but we have some item -- other items we need to cover before
we go. Do we have a report on --? OK, I'm going to move on to number 10. Do we have a
report on the acitviites for Doug Bruce & Associates.
Mr. Villacorta: Yes. He provided a written report. It's in your package. No action is necessary.
If --
Chair Spence -Jones: OK
Mr. Villacorta: -- in the interest of time.
Chair Spence -Jones: Commissioner Regalado, do you have any questions about our lobbyist?
Commissioner Regalado: No.
Chair Spence -Jones: OK
Chair Spence -Jones: Well, I have one. With all these issues that are going on in the state
regarding the taxes and -- are we directing him to focus on affordable housing, any of this stuff?
Are we directing him to --?
Commissioner Regalado: Well --
Chair Spence -Jones: Can we give him some direction?
Commissioner Regalado: Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah, absolutely, absolutely. I would direct the
lobbying team of the CRA to do two things: Number one, to push for the constitutional
amendment doubling the tax -- the homestead exemption --
Chair Spence -Jones: We need quiet in --
Commissioner Regalado: -- for --
Chair Spence -Jones: -- the audience, please.
Commissioner Regalado: -- residents throughout the state of Florida to be placed in the next
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general election, which is being toyed with in the Legislature. They need to know that
redevelopment agencies are in favor because, you know, the governments are against this
proposal --
Chair Spence -Jones: I know.
Commissioner Regalado: -- because it's going to take a lot of tax money from the government,
but so be it; and the second is to have the Legislature place some kind of regulation in property
appraisals in terms of income, in terms of appraising the property by income --
Mr. Villacorta: By income.
Commissioner Regalado: -- not by the future use of the land, which is the concept being used
now --
Mr. Villacorta: The highest and best --
Commissioner Regalado: -- so --
Mr. Villacorta: -- yeah.
Commissioner Regalado: -- that's -- I mean, that would -- those two and having an elected
property appraisal [sic], like any other county in the state of Florida, will solve the crisis, I'm
telling you, but we need to work with the Legislature to -- in order to have the double tax
exemption. This will help a lot of people in Miami. You know, we don't realize, but there are
8,500 property owners in the City of Miami that do qualify for -- now for double tax exemption,
which means that these are people 65 years old, older, with an income of less than $22,000 a
year, so we're talking 8,500 in the city -- in the municipality, and it is -- these people are going to
lose their homes because they're losing their homestead exemption already because the property
-- three percent, three percent, three percent --
Mr. Villacorta: Yeah.
Commissioner Regalado: -- so that's all that there is to it, and you know, if they can achieve
that, God bless them, you know.
Chair Spence -Jones: We just need to give them direction because that was one of my biggest
issues and concerns is, you know, what are we getting back.
Mr. Villacorta: Exactly. I know he's met with the Legislature's subcommittee on affordable
housing and encouraged them to come -- he got them to come at least as far as Fort Lauderdale
to take public input, and he arranged for some of our Commissioners to meet with the head of
that subcommittee and arranged for them to have a slot to testify at the hearings when they were
in Fort Lauderdale. I know he knows that affordable housing is one of the main issues that we
want to see some movement on.
Chair Spence -Jones: OK. All right. Any other comments on that, Commissioner?
Commissioner Regalado: No.
Chair Spence -Jones: OK
Commissioner Regalado: I mean, I --
Chair Spence -Jones: I just want to make sure we get back from him, you know -- if we're
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spending the dollars to do that --
Mr. Villacorta: Exactly.
Chair Spence -Jones: -- we should at least have some tangibles that come back from --
Mr. Villacorta: And his agreement allows you to terminate it on 30 days notice at any time, so if
you don't feel that you're getting that -- and I can ask him for reports more often, if you don't feel
you're getting the value. It's very easy to terminate that agreement.
Chair Spence -Jones: OK, all right. Thank you. We're going to move on to -- It's not a report. I
don't have to say move -- I mean, we're just --
Mr. Villacorta: No, no. It's just --
Chair Spence -Jones: -- giving a report.
Mr. Villacorta: -- a report, right.
11 06-01868 CRA REPORT
REPORT ON THE BUILD -OUT OF THE RETAIL SPACE AT NEW ARENA
SQUARE.
Cover Memo.pdf
DISCUSSED
Direction by Chair Spence Jones to the Interim Executive Director and the CRA General
Counsel to provide a response in writing clarifying the process that will be followed for the
duration of the ongoing New Arena Square project, to be provided at the CRA meeting currently
scheduled for November 27, 2006.
Chair Spence -Jones: All right. We're going to move to the next one, which is the build -out of
the retail space at the New Arena Square. Jim, can you just give us an update so that at least we
know where we are?
James Villacorta (Interim Executive Director, Community Redevelopment Agency): Yeah. We
had met with Contractor's Resource Center that had solicited proposals for architecture firms to
do the work to renovate the business space in the bottom of the 3rd -- the New Arena Square
Apartments on 3rd Avenue. The Law Department's reviewing that process. I'm not optimistic
that we'll be able to piggyback on the work that they did. We may have to reissue the proposals
for architecture work to renovate that space. We also met with the owner of New Arena Square
and advised him that we'd want to see the leases that he was proposing to use, and that we would
expect a reduction in rent over some period, perhaps, five years, for whatever tenant was in the
space, not necessarily the one that we moved in, in case that business -- new business didn't
survive. He seems amenable to that. He recently -- I think, last Thursday or Friday -- provided
us with a floor plan of the building that we'll be able to use to have the architect not have to start
from scratch, and we received the lease, as well. It's been sent over to the Law Department for
their review.
Chair Spence -Jones: OK I know that our CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) attorney is
here, Kevin, correct, Kevin? What is the issue with having to put out the proposals? Do you
have any updates on that? Because I thought that we had the process all worked out, so now
we're saying that -- I mean, what are we saying? Has the City Attorney actually given -- gave --
he gave you the actual brief --? I mean, this is where the briefing's coming from, from him?
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Kevin Jones (Assistant General Counsel, Community Redevelopment Agency): No.
Chair Spence -Jones: OK
Mr. Jones: Is this on? The way it came over, Madam Chair --
Chair Spence -Jones: Name on the record.
Mr. Jones: Kevin Jones, City Attorney's Office. The way your request came over, there were two
questions asked. The first was whether or not we could contract with the CRC (Contractor's
Resource Center) directly, and the answer to that one is no. Given the way that the -- I guess,
the dealings worked out. The second question asked was whether or not we can adopt their
request for proposal process, and the answer to that is mostly likely no, and the reason for that is
it's not -- I would tell you it's not completely outside the realm of possibility that a governmental
entity can basically delegate its responsibility under the statute to an outside entity. It -- there
really are no cases that say absolutely not. It is, however, a process that's fairly unusual, given
the circumstances. The only way that could possibly involve the CRC, with regard to the way
they did the RFP, would be that we'd have to basically come in after they've already taken all
these steps and assure that they have followed the statute to the T. Any misstep in the statute
would render everything we did basically null and void, and we'd have to go back through it.
Chair Spence -Jones: Can we please get that in writing from the City Attorney? Because we've
been -- 60 days I've been waiting for an answer --
Mr. Jones: Yes, ma'am.
Chair Spence -Jones: -- and it really don't make that -- no sense to wait 60 days, and we've been
talking about this project for nine months.
Mr. Jones: OK
Chair Spence -Jones: I mean -- and this is the issue that I have. We have funding and dollars
allocated to do stuff, and we're not getting it off on the streets, so what happens is, a year goes
by, and then people say, I'm not making it -- you just got there -- but people complain because
nothing happens for the residents, and that's because we get caught up, you know, in this
whirlwind and nothing ever happens for the people that live here, so I'd like to make sure that,
coming back in November, Jim and then our City Attorney, that I have some sort of confidence in
the fact that we will have something that you will be presented saying, one way or the other, the
process is a new process, you know, that we're either going to do it along with Arena Square
Apartments manager or owner of the building, we're going to do it -- I want to understand, when
you come back to me in the end of November, what the process is and when we can expect for
this project to begin.
Mr. Jones: Right.
Chair Spence -Jones: I mean, that's -- I've already lost -- I had nine businesses in there. I've lost
two, almost three, that I went out to recruit to come that -- you know, TFC (Tools For Change)
worked with us to come there, and they had to go to other spaces because they can't just keep
sitting around waiting.
Mr. Villacorta: I'll work with the Law Department and we will have something for you in
November.
Chair Spence -Jones: OK
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12 06-01869 CRA REPORT
REPORT ON THE STATUS OF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SEARCH.
Cover Memo.pdf
DISCUSSED
Chair Spence -Jones: Commissioner Regalado's item is the report on the status of the executive
director.
Commissioner Regalado: Oh, my God, so how much are we going to spend in the -- is it a local
search?
Chair Spence -Jones: It's just a local search and --
James Villacorta (Interim Executive Director, Community Redevelopment Agency): Right.
We've prepared a job description and are working with Rosalie Marks [sic] to run the ads in the
paper. It would be, I guess, under $10, 000 to run the ads. That's about what we spent
advertising P-3.
Chair Spence -Jones: And we're keeping the process transparent, so she's going to work along
with us to --
Mr. Villacorta: She is working along with us.
Chair Spence -Jones: -- collect the applications. I want to be done with this. Come January, we
want to know who is -- who's officially going to be the person running the CRA (Community
Redevelopment Agency) so that we can -- at least from a Chair standpoint, I know who I'm
working with.
Commissioner Regalado: Right --
Chair Spence -Jones: That's all I'm asking.
Commissioner Regalado: -- and the people do deserve to know who to talk to, the board
member, but you know, this is not about transparency or this is not about process. This is having
the person that is right for the job --
Chair Spence -Jones: Exactly.
Commissioner Regalado: -- because, you know, you can bring someone from Pasadena,
California, and with all the credentials, and it doesn't work, you know. There's got to be
someone that understands this unique organization, that understand the area, that know the
players, that know the residents, and that's it. This -- we don't have to be afraid of you know,
looking -- being looked at because we didn't look at all the resumes. We pick up whoever the
person we believe is the right person for us. That's a -- that was my point from the beginning,
you know. It's -- looking for somebody national, we wound up spending the money and getting a
local person, so I think you're right. I think it is not fair for the acting executive director. It's not
fair for you because you cannot plan --
Chair Spence -Jones: I can't --
Commissioner Regalado: -- long term. It's not fair for the --
Chair Spence -Jones: Public.
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Commissioner Regalado: -- people of Overtown and the Omni --
Chair Spence -Jones: Omni.
Commissioner Regalado: -- so, you know, might as well get it over with.
Chair Spence -Jones: And at least we know.
Commissioner Regalado: I mean -- and let me tell you something. Let me tell you something.
Just as a on -the -record thing, the staff of the -- what it's called, Human Resources or whatever?
Mr. Villacorta: Employee Relations.
Chair Spence -Jones: Employee Relations.
Commissioner Regalado: Employee -- they change all the time. OK, so the staff think that they
know better and they should be the one picking up the person. It is this Board who is going to
pick --
Chair Spence -Jones: I agree.
Commissioner Regalado: -- that person. It is this Chairman -- person, it is this Board who's
going to pick, so just don't get an ideas --
Chair Spence -Jones: Right.
Commissioner Regalado: -- you know.
Chair Spence -Jones: All they're doing is process.
Commissioner Regalado: You know --
Chair Spence -Jones: They're not doing any selections.
Commissioner Regalado: -- they're not doing the picking.
Chair Spence -Jones: Right.
Commissioner Regalado: We are doing the picking. You're just doing the advertising.
Chair Spence -Jones: All right, so, Jim, with that said, hopefully, Rosalie -- when is it -- when
will we officially advertising it?
Mr. Villacorta: Hopefully, I guess, it'll go out this week.
Chair Spence -Jones: OK --
Mr. Villacorta: All right.
Chair Spence -Jones: -- and then we'll just, at that point, convene and then decide how we will
make the selection --
Mr. Villacorta: Correct.
Chair Spence -Jones: -- or at least bring the names towards -- to the Commissioners --
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Mr. Villacorta: Exactly.
Chair Spence -Jones: -- to my colleagues. All right, and --
Commissioner Regalado: All right.
Chair Spence -Jones: -- Jim has been doing an outstanding job, so this is not about Jim. This is
just --
Mr. Villacorta: And working late.
Chair Spence -Jones: -- making sure that, you know, we know -- we put it out there, give other
people opportunities. All right. Is there anything else? I think that was the last item on the
agenda. It was a great meeting. I -- any other comments before we close out? Madam Clerk,
are we OK?
Priscilla A. Thompson (Clerk of the Board): Yes.
Chair Spence -Jones: OK
Commissioner Regalado: We are fine.
Chair Spence -Jones: OK. Then --
Mr. Villacorta: When the quorum left, I guess.
Chair Spence -Jones: Anything else, Jim --
Mr. Villacorta: No.
Chair Spence -Jones: -- before we close out? This meeting has officially been adjourned.
13 06-01870 CRA REPORT
REPORT ON THE STATUS OF THE REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR
DEVELOPMENT OF PARKING LOT P-3.
Cover Memo.pdf
MOTION
A motion was made by Commissioner Sanchez, seconded by Commissioner Regalado, and was
passed unanimously, with Vice Chair Gonzalez and Commissioner Haskins absent, to direct the
Interim Executive Director to work along with the City of Miami Economic Development staff to
come back with a recommendation for the development of the CRA-owned parking lot P-3, at the
CRA meeting currently scheduled for November 27, 2006.
Chair Spence -Jones: I know that I'm getting ready to leave -- one of my Commissioners. The
other ones are actually basically reports, but I do want to do, if I can take number 14 real fast,
and I just need -- if I could deal with 13 really quickly, just as a comment before you leave
because it's really important that we do that, and 10, 11, and 12, we'll deal with as you're gone,
Commissioner Sanchez; is that OK?
Commissioner Sanchez: Yes.
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Chair Spence -Jones: OK. All right. This is the report on the status of the request for proposals
for the development of parking lot P-3.
Commissioner Sanchez: Which is that one?
Chair Spence -Jones: I want to make --
James Villacorta (Interim Executive Director, Community Redevelopment Agency): That's the
parking lot across from Jackson Soul Food. We put out an RFP (Request for Proposals) --
Chair Spence -Jones: We put an RFP out.
Commissioner Sanchez: On the side?
Chair Spence -Jones: Yes. On --
Mr. Villacorta: Yes, on the north side --
Commissioner Sanchez: Oh, OK.
Mr. Villacorta: -- the 50-space parking lot.
Chair Spence -Jones: Right, on the west side.
Commissioner Sanchez: OK, fine.
Mr. Villacorta: No. We received a unsolicited proposal to develop housing on the lot. The
Board directed us to put out an RFP, which we're required to do before we dispose of any
interest in CRA property. We received two proposals; the original proposal for housing, which
now includes a technical school for medical arts, and a second proposal for an office building.
Chair Spence -Jones: OK, so we got two proposals in --
Mr. Villacorta: Right, and --
Chair Spence -Jones: -- and the only reason I wanted to mention this -- we have two proposals
in. I'm speaking to both my colleagues now, and here's a perfect example of how we can get
some projects moving almost immediately, so what I want to do is just make sure that I direct
City staff that's here from Economic Development to work along with Jim so that we can come
back in November with whoever's being recommended, so that we can immediately start on that
particular -- whatever the project is at that particular time.
Mr. Villacorta: I've gone ahead and provided the proposals to Ms. Mazique, the executive
director -- or the director of Economic Development, and I'm awaiting her input on the projects.
Commissioner Sanchez: I will move that motion --
Commissioner Regalado: Second.
Commissioner Sanchez: -- presented by the Chair.
Chair Spence -Jones: All in favor? All in favor?
Commissioner Regalado: Say --
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The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Spence -Jones: Oh.
Commissioner Sanchez: Aye, aye.
Chair Spence -Jones: That motion --
Mr. Villacorta: Got a pirate.
Chair Spence -Jones: -- that issue is passed.
Commissioner Sanchez: Got a pirate now, aye, aye.
14 06-01908 CRA DISCUSSION
PROMOTING OVERTOWN BUSINESSES DURING THE UPCOMING
NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE'S SUPERBOWL.
Cover Memo.pdf
DISCUSSED
Direction by Chair Spence Jones to the Interim Executive Director to schedule a special CRA
Meeting for November 9, 2006 to review a full proposal by BET (Black Entertainment
Television) representatives for jazz and Super Bowl events in the Overtown area; further
directing that dollars provided for the project also be used to hire young people from Booker T.
Washington Senior High School and local residents to work along with BET staff.
Chair Spence -Jones: Before I leave -- lose you, and it seems like tonight we just have a lot of
activity happening in Overtown, which I'm very excited to have happen. The number 14 item is
something that is really, really -- has come on my radar screen, and Commissioner Sanchez and
I had actually talked about this a few months ago with the Super Bowl Committee and how a lot
of times these projects come in town or programs come in town and we never see it in our
neighborhoods; we never see the people in our neighborhoods.
Commissioner Sanchez: Make a motion.
Chair Spence -Jones: What's -- make a motion for what? You don't --
Commissioner Sanchez: You're making a motion, right?
Chair Spence -Jones: I'm making -- well, I'm making a motion -- I wanted to tell you what the
project is for two seconds. I know you got to go.
Commissioner Regalado: Well, I'm making a motion --
Chair Spence -Jones: But we don't know what we're making a motion about.
Commissioner Regalado: Let -- hear me out.
Chair Spence -Jones: OK.
Commissioner Regalado: I know the concept.
Chair Spence -Jones: Yeah.
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Commissioner Regalado: The Super Bowl, it's an event that is worldwide --
Chair Spence -Jones: Yeah.
Commissioner Regalado: -- and there's got to be some way to showcase and -- but not only to
showcase, but to have people participate in some events in the area of Overtown, people that will
not be left out, and I would suggest to you to have a giant screen in this theater and have a free
Super Bowl party for the residents of Overtown. The people do deserve to have this kind of
party, and you know, if we have to spend the money, so be it. This is the people's money of this
area. This is the people that are going through changes to -- so we can grow as an area, so I
understand the concept. I don't know what the -- where the money is coming in, but I have an
idea. Instead of spending the money on a national search for executive director --
Chair Spence -Jones: Oh, here --
Commissioner Regalado: -- we use the money for this party here --
Chair Spence -Jones: We --
Commissioner Regalado: -- in the --
Chair Spence -Jones: -- that's a separate pot of money --
Commissioner Regalado: No. I mean, you know --
Chair Spence -Jones: -- Commissioner Regalado. Can I just say this real fast? Because I do
have -- I want to -- I know you got to go. One of the things that we're trying --
Commissioner Sanchez: You're about to lose a quorum.
Chair Spence -Jones: I'm losing you. I don't want to lose you guys. -- is we are really trying to
drive people to our communities, not just Overtown, because we're working on making sure that
we have the same thing happening in --
Commissioner Sanchez: Little Havana.
Chair Spence -Jones: -- Little Havana, so we're doing actually a tour between Overtown and
Little Havana as a part of this whole thing, and BET (Black Entertainment Television) has
expressed a interest to have, which will be awesome, here in Overtown, to tape three of their live
shows right here in this theater with well-known jazz artists to air later on as a part of their
programming, which will include, you know, two shows on -- here in the Lyric, live from the
Lyric, and then two shows -- correct, Phil? -- on the outside. You want -- do you -- can you just
take two seconds because I'm going to leave them, and --
Phil Fisher: Yes. I'll be very brief. Phil Fisher. Thank you for having me. The shows are two
BET Club J series, concert series performances that would take place here, airing four times
nationwide to 26 million viewers, and as well as additional activities outside. We have been in
discussion about how we could afford to show the Super Bowl for free, hopefully, outside in the
parking lot so that it actually would accommodate many more people than what -- than those
that could fit here. I have a lot more to say, but I'll answer just whatever you'd like.
Chair Spence -Jones: So this is a big thing for us in Overtown. I mean, it's a really big thing that
we can do a lot of great things. I'm taking my own personal money out of my parks to support
assisting the concert, but what I'd like to have -- I do have dollars left -- available for the
Overtown area. I would like to utilize some of those -- at least put a -- what do you call it? -- a
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cap on it to have -- come back -- because we're dealing with a very short time frame, correct?
Mr. Fisher: Yes.
Chair Spence -Jones: And I need to let them know immediately if we could have the --
Commissioner Sanchez: How much money?
James Villacorta (Interim Executive Director, Community Redevelopment Agency): How much
funding are --
Commissioner Sanchez: How much money?
Mr. Villacorta: -- we --?
Chair Spence -Jones: So I think it was --
Commissioner Sanchez: How much are we talking about?
Chair Spence -Jones: -- I think we were asking for -- it's a hundred thousand dollars, correct,
that would be the cap?
Mr. Fisher: The -- actually, the original request was for 150. I don't know if that was possible,
and we still would need to figure out how to cover the screen portion of it because that's really
the show itself.
Chair Spence -Jones: They got to get sponsors to do that.
Mr. Fisher: Yes.
Commissioner Sanchez: A hundred thousand dollars?
Chair Spence -Jones: Um -hum. Do we have it, Jim?
Mr. Villacorta: I believe so. I think our financial -- our accountant left, but I'm showing it
available. It might have to be reprogrammed from another account, but I think we could do it.
Chair Spence -Jones: Is there any way that you can come back the -- for November to at least
bring us back to let us know that?
Mr. Villacorta: Sure. I mean --
Chair Spence -Jones: OK.
Mr. Villacorta: -- if you want to bring an agreement back in November -- is that what --?
Chair Spence -Jones: At least in front of the Commissioners so they have an understanding --
Commissioner Sanchez: What does the NFL (National Football League) stand for?
Mr. Fisher: National Football League.
Chair Spence -Jones: Football League.
Commissioner Sanchez: You know what it stands for?
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Chair Spence -Jones: What?
Commissioner Sanchez: No Freaking Limit, all right? Y'all got plenty of money.
Chair Spence -Jones: That's not NFL.
Mr. Fisher: I'm not with the NFL, sir.
Chair Spence -Jones: He's not with the NFL.
Mr. Villacorta: But we need a matching grant --
Mr. Fisher: We're just trying to --
Mr. Villacorta: -- from them.
Mr. Fisher: -- bring some excitement to Liberty City and the --
Chair Spence -Jones: Overtown.
Mr. Fisher: -- Lyric The -- Overtown, excuse me, and the Lyric Theater.
Commissioner Sanchez: Well, we need to get them here because you know what? They got
plenty of money.
Mr. Fisher: Yes. I would agree, I would agree.
Commissioner Sanchez: Plenty of money.
Mr. Fisher: Yes.
Chair Spence -Jones: So if I can ask my colleagues to please allow for me -- this would be
something that I do -- I will take less on other activities that I have throughout the whole year
because I think that's it's going to bring a masses -- masses of --
Commissioner Sanchez: But from the --
Chair Spence -Jones: Yeah.
Commissioner Sanchez: -- Overtown budget --
Mr. Villacorta: The CRA.
Chair Spence -Jones: Yeah.
Commissioner Sanchez: -- the CRA
Chair Spence -Jones: Um -hum.
Commissioner Sanchez: -- budget?
Chair Spence -Jones: Yeah.
Commissioner Sanchez: If we have it budgeted -- if we don't have it budgeted, I'm not going to
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support it.
Mr. Villacorta: Well --
Commissioner Sanchez: Do we have it budgeted?
Mr. Villacorta: -- it appears so, that we have money that could be reprogrammed to fund that. I
can bring a resolution back at the November meeting with an agreement specfying exactly
what'll be done for the hundred thousand.
Commissioner Regalado: See what I told you from the beginning? Take it from the national
search.
Chair Spence -Jones: No. I don't want to take it from the national --
Commissioner Sanchez: No. If you take it from the national search -- not going to do that today.
Look, let's ident the funds. Come back --
Commissioner Regalado: Why --
Commissioner Sanchez: -- at the next Commission -- I mean, the next meeting, and we'll address
the issue.
Mr. Villacorta: With the proposal and an agreement to --
Chair Spence -Jones: Do we have --
Commissioner Regalado: Why don't we --?
Chair Spence -Jones: -- a time -sensitive issue, the question is? Because if we can at least bring
it back to ratify, that's fine, but what I don't want to have happen is they're going to use this as
an opportunity to do a lot of pre promotion to -- before the Super Bowl, and that's the issue.
Commissioner Regalado: Yeah.
Chair Spence -Jones: I need people coming here or choosing this as a destination --
Commissioner Regalado: To --
Chair Spence -Jones: -- to promote it nationally. That's the purpose of it.
Commissioner Regalado: -- be fair with them, you need plenty of time for promotion --
Chair Spence -Jones: Yeah, I know.
Commissioner Regalado: -- so you can't let them hold until last day of November. I would
suggest to you, as the chairperson, that during the 9th Commission meeting, somehow you ask
for time and convene a CRA meeting --
Mr. Villacorta: A special CRA --
Commissioner Regalado: -- just for this --
Chair Spence -Jones: Oh, OK.
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Commissioner Regalado: -- item --
Chair Spence -Jones: OK. That'll be good.
Commissioner Regalado: -- and you know --
Chair Spence -Jones: Are you OK with that, Commissioner Sanchez?
Commissioner Sanchez: Yes.
Chair Spence -Jones: Are you -- would you guys be prepared to have them come back to, at
least, present exactly --?
Mr. Fisher: Yes.
Commissioner Regalado: And have him --
Mr. Fisher: When would that be?
Commissioner Regalado: -- bring, before the 9th, a full --
Mr. Fisher: The 9th?
Commissioner Regalado: -- program, you know.
Chair Spence -Jones: Yeah.
Commissioner Regalado: You don't have to do a presentation there, but just give us -- give the
board member the proposal, and then the executive director will tell us if they have the budget,
and it'll be easier.
Chair Spence -Jones: And my only concern, if whatever dollars we put in towards this, I want to
make sure those dollars go into hiring people to work that week while they're here. That's really
important for me. The young people that attend Booker T. Washington, this gives them the
opportunity to work along with the BET folks that are coming in, and also the local residents.
This gives them an opportunity to work too while they're here, so that's my only real condition is
to make sure that that happens.
Mr. Fisher: Yes.
Mr. Villacorta: Right. I mean, there'll be a number of parameters that'll have to be worked out.
The Lyric Theater will have to agree. We'll have to see what sort of arrangement we're going to
make with them. There's insurances that'll --
Chair Spence -Jones: No. I think that was all --
Mr. Villacorta: -- be required.
Chair Spence -Jones: -- included in --
Mr. Villacorta: It's already been --
Chair Spence -Jones: -- everything.
Mr. Villacorta: -- agreed on? OK.
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Chair Spence -Jones: Yeah.
Mr. Villacorta: Well, I'll get with Dorothy, and we'll meet and bring something --
Chair Spence -Jones: Jim --
Mr. Villacorta: -- back in November 9.
Chair Spence -Jones: -- just do me this.
Commissioner Sanchez: Everything is ironed out.
Chair Spence -Jones: Do me a favor. Make sure -- because we can't do anything that we can't
do --
Mr. Villacorta: Well have a --
Chair Spence -Jones: -- so just be straight. Do -- you know, we're going to come back on
November 9 --
Mr. Villacorta: Right.
Chair Spence -Jones: -- during the City Commission meeting, and hopefully, you can tell us
whether or not we can make this --
Mr. Villacorta: Right. I mean, I would hope to have a whole package and a resolution
authorizing --
Chair Spence -Jones: Yes --
Mr. Villacorta: -- the agreements.
Chair Spence -Jones: -- so if you guys can get together, that'd be great.
Mr. Villacorta: Great.
Mr. Fisher: Yes.
Chair Spence -Jones: All right. Thank you --
Mr. Fisher: Thank you very much.
Chair Spence -Jones: -- Mr. Fisher.
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