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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSEOPW OMNI CRA 2006-11-09 MinutesCity of Miami City Hall 3500 Pan American Drive Miami, FL 33133 www.miamigov.com * IMCORP GROTED lEmSIE Co l 11, • Meeting Minutes Thursday, November 9, 2006 9:00 AM (or thereafter) CITY OF MIAMI CITY HALL 3500 Pan American Drive Miami, FI SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Michelle Spence -Jones, Chair Angel Gonzalez, Vice Chair Linda M. Haskins, Commissioner Joe Sanchez, Commissioner Tomas Regalado, Commissioner ************************** CRA OFFICE ADDRESS: 49 NW 5th ST, SUITE 100, Miami, FL 33128 Phone: (305) 679-6800, Fax: (305) 679-6835 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes November 9, 2006 RESOLUTIONS 1 06-02056 Present: Vice Chair Gonzalez, Commissioner Sanchez, Commissioner Regalado, Chair Spence -Jones and Commissioner Haskins On the 9th day of November 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 special session at Miami City Hall, 3500 Pan American Drive, Miami, Florida. The meeting was called to order by Chair Michelle Spence -Jones at 4: 59 p.m. and was adjourned at 5:13 p.m. ALSO PRESENT: James H. Villacorta, Interim Executive Director, CRA Jorge L. Fernandez, General Counsel, CRA Priscilla A. Thompson, Clerk of the Board Pamela E. Burns, Assistant Clerk of the Board CRA RESOLUTION A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY AUTHORIZING A GRANT, IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $100,000, TO BET DIGITAL NETWORKS, LLC, D/B/A BET J , FOR THE 2007 BET J SUPERBOWL FESTIVAL AT THE LYRIC THEATER, 819 NW 2nd AVENUE, MIAMI, FLORIDA; 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 IN THE AMOUNT OF $100,000 TO BE ALLOCATED 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 back up.pdf Legislation.pdf 06-02056 Submittal.pdf Motion by Vice Chair Gonzalez, seconded by Chair Spence -Jones, that this matter be ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote. Votes: Ayes: 5 - Vice Chair Gonzalez, Commissioner Sanchez, Commissioner Regalado, Chair Spence -Jones and Commissioner Haskins CRA-R-06-0047 Chair Spence -Jones: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. This is a special CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) meeting. I'd like to officially call -- of November 9 -- I'd like to call this to order. The last Commis -- CRA meeting, we had a week and a half ago, it was brought up by two of the sitting Commissioners that was sitting at the CRA meeting to bring this back during this particular meeting because of the time issue. As you know, a few months ago, we passed, in the regular City Commission meeting, to pull together a Super Bowl Heritage Committee for the Super Bowl actually coming to Miami. As you know, it's scheduled to come for the month of February. During that particular meeting, the CRA meeting, there was a presentation regarding City ofMiami Page 2 Printed on 11/21/2006 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes November 9, 2006 BET, Black Entertainment Television, coming to do a special taping at the Lyric Theater in Overtown, which is going to be a great opportunity to kind of expose or promote the actual Overtown area and also, the new Lyric Theater, and of course, the new -- all of the developments that we're trying to do in the historic Overtown. Part of the presentation was centered around making sure that they had the necessary resources in order to actually bring the event or bring the activity to the Lyric Theater. I have the executive director -- if you can at least summarize where we are with this. You were to come back and bring a report to the overall CRA as to where we are with the agreement. James H. Villacorta (Interim Executive Director, Community Redevelopment Agency): Right. We've received a request for a grant in the amount of a hundred thousand dollars to produce two events at the Lyric Theater during the week of February 1 through 4. These events will be two jazz concerts that will be broadcast on BET. The resolution is a request to authorize a grant, in an amount not to exceed $100,000, to BET Digital Networks, for the 2007 BET J Super Bowl Festival at the Lyric Theater. The funds would be dispersed on a reimbursement basis or directly to subgrantees and vendors, upon presentation of invoices and satisfactory documentation. Chair Spence -Jones: OK. Priscilla A. Thompson (Clerk of the Board): Can we get your name for the record, please? Mr. Villacorta: James Villacorta, interim executive director of the Southeast Overtown and Omni CRA. Ms. Thompson: Thank you. Commissioner Sanchez: And the CRA will be doing the payment, right, based on --? Mr. Villacorta: The CRA would make the payments, on a reimbursement basis, for bills that were paid by BET or directly to vendors and subcontractors on presentation of invoices and satisfactory documentation. Commissioner Sanchez: For services. Mr. Villacorta: For services in connection with putting on these two concerts at the Lyric Theater. Chair Spence -Jones: And just so that my colleagues know -- I don't want to take a lot of time with the CRA issue. To me, this is a very important opportunity to be able to take this information or this -- and utilize this opportunity to create promotional and marketing materials for the new Overtown historic district, so this is a national television channel that's actually going to be coming in. They're going to air it like what, three times, is it? Mr. Villacorta: They'll be -- Chair Spence -Jones: Five. They're airing it five times on the network nationally, so this provides us with an opportunity to really be able to promote the area to, hopefully, encourage, one, people to, of course, hopefully, come to the theater or visit the theater, but also to, hopefully, attract people to want to come build and do different things in the area, so I want to be able to use it as a marketing piece to be able to support the Overtown area. Mr. Villacorta: They're committing to shoot two half-hour shows, which will air a minimum of four times and once on BET J's 2 a.m. eastern standard time time slot. The event is consistent with the redevelopment objective of programming, activities, and events that recreate the former City of Miami Page 3 Printed on 11/21/2006 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes November 9, 2006 vitality and atmosphere of the community, which is contained in the redevelopment plan at Section 4 and paragraph 4, page 97. Chair Spence -Jones: And they are bringing additional resources too, correct? Mr. Villacorta: They are going to seek additional sponsorships and use those funds for -- to offset part of their administrative costs, part of the costs of putting on the event in the Lyric Theater, and supporting events around the Lyric Theater at the same time, and any funds over their costs in supporting those events would be returned to us as reimbursement of the grant. Chair Spence -Jones: And I just want to add, this will be tying into our overall objective to at least drive people into neighborhoods during the Super Bowl period. As you know, hundred thousand -- thousands of people come to the City of Miami, but very seldom do they actually go into the neighborhood, so one of the things that we're working with the Convention and Visitors Bureau to do is to make this stop, along with Southwest 8th Street at the Tower Theater, also another stop so that they will be able to bounce from either downtown Overtown area to the Little Havana area. Mr. Villacorta: My understanding is the Greater Miami Conventions and Visitors Bureau will place this event on their Web site also. Commissioner Sanchez: And that's all they're going to do because I don't think they're going to give any funding or it's -- Chair Spence -Jones: For the -- Commissioner Sanchez: They're not -- Chair Spence -Jones: -- tour? Commissioner Sanchez: Zip -- well, I don't know about the tour. Chair Spence -Jones: I'm talking about the tour. Commissioner Sanchez: Well -- Chair Spence -Jones: There's going to be a bus that will be parked in front of the Lyric that will take them from one theater to the next. Commissioner Sanchez: Well, as it is, they won't be taking anybody nowhere else because we haven't been able to get anything done in Little Havana, but could I get the promoter to come up for a minute? Mr. Villacorta: Sure. Commissioner Sanchez: Just -- sir, could you state your name and address for the record? Phil Fisher: Phil Fisher, 1521 Alton Road, Miami Beach. Commissioner Sanchez: OK. Are you -- Mr. Fisher: Good afternoon. Commissioner Sanchez: -- affiliated with B -- City of Miami Page 4 Printed on 11/21/2006 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes November 9, 2006 Mr. Fisher: I'm a subcontractor of BET. Commissioner Sanchez: You're a subcontractor. Mr. Fisher: Yes. Commissioner Sanchez: Is this event going to be free to the public? Mr. Fisher: We will have a fundraising event and -- Commissioner Sanchez: No, no, no, no, no, no, no. Is this event free to the public? Are people going to be able to go in the theater, enjoy whatever -- they won't have to pay anything to get in, right? Chair Spence -Jones: Yeah. Mr. Fisher: There are two elements. One is a free activity, free events, and the other is a fundraiser. Chair Spence -Jones: For the Lyric. Mr. Fisher: For the Lyric itself. Commissioner Sanchez: And do we have all that in writing where -- 'cause listen, I'm the chairman of the Bayfront Park, all right, and you know, I deal with promoters. I wish that all the promoters were Class A, but I have been bitten by -- I've -- in other words, I have tripped on a rock every now and then, and I just want to make sure that, you know, whatever we're going to get, what the agreement is what we get, and everything is in writing, and so far, I want to have the assurance not only of the executive director, but also from you that whatever we work the agreement, it's there. Mr. Fisher: You know, sir, there are no proceeds from any fundraising that will go back to BET at all. That would all be to reside in the community for nonprofit support, nothing to BET. Commissioner Sanchez: And who are those nonprofit organizations that are going to be benefiting? Chair Spence -Jones: It'll be the Lyric. Mr. Fisher: The Black Archives. Commissioner Sanchez: OK. All right. Commissioner Haskins: You were -- Chair Spence -Jones: Can you please pass out the packet so at least they know that it's a credible organization that's actually doing the activity? Vice Chair Gonzalez: Madam Chair, I'm ready to -- Commissioner Haskins: Have you -- Vice Chair Gonzalez: -- move the resolution. Commissioner Haskins: -- ever been affiliated with any other activities in the City? City of Miami Page 5 Printed on 11/21/2006 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes November 9, 2006 Mr. Fisher: Yes. Ms. Thompson: You have to go on the mike. I -- Vice Chair Gonzalez: I'm ready -- Ms. Thompson: Sir. Vice Chair Gonzalez: -- to move the resolution. Ms. Thompson: Thank you. Commissioner Haskins: I just wanted to know if he was ever affiliated with any other activities - Chair Spence -Jones: Second. Commissioner Haskins: -- in the City. Mr. Fisher: Yes, I have. Commissioner Haskins: And what would those be? Mr. Fisher: I've worked on many different events, Heart of our Parks, the Haitian Bicentennial, the Reclaim the Dream campaign; the list is kind of endless, many, many events. Commissioner Haskins: Any other concerts or anything like that? Chair Spence -Jones: In other cities? Commissioner Haskins: Like at Knight Center, anything -- or at Bayfront Park ever? Mr. Fisher: Indirectly, at the Knight Center, yes, not that I -- Commissioner Haskins: Was that a B -- Mr. Fisher: I didn't produce it. Commissioner Haskins: Was that a (UNINTELLIGIBLE) -- also BET was involved in? Mr. Fisher: No. Commissioner Haskins: OK. Mr. Fisher: I personally have been involved in many events with the City in various different locations, different venues. Commissioner Haskins: And what are these expenses exactly for? Are these for bringing in entertainment? Is -- how -- what are these -- this grant, this $100, 000 grant, what are the allowable expenses? Mr. Fisher: Yes. The expenses will go to the production of the event, which includes the television production and all of the associated -- all of the talent -related event -- expenses, so there are talent fees and equipment and sound and lighting and cameras and a lot of production City of Miami Page 6 Printed on 11/21/2006 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes November 9, 2006 equipment and staffing, as well. Commissioner Haskins: And how do you get paid in this? Mr. Fisher: Actually, I don't expect -- Commissioner Haskins: Does BET pay you or --? Mr. Fisher: Me, personally -- Commissioner Haskins: OK. Mr. Fisher: Yes. Commissioner Haskins: So it's not paid out of this? Mr. Fisher: No. Commissioner Haskins: Just wanted to understand how this was working because I wasn't at the CRA meeting, so I wanted to understand how it was working. Commissioner Sanchez: All right. Commissioner Gonzalez: All right. Commissioner Sanchez: Motion and a second. Commissioner Gonzalez: I made a motion to approve the resolution. Chair Spence -Jones: Second. Commissioner Gonzalez: You need to ask "all in favor, say 'aye.'" Chair Spence -Jones: All in favor? The Commission (Collectively): Aye. Chair Spence -Jones: All opposed? This motion is carried. Commissioner Gonzalez: Right. Mr. Fisher: Thank you. NON -AGENDA ITEMS NA.1 06-02078 CRA DISCUSSION Discussion concerning term of office for Assistant City Attorney James Villacorta as interim director for the Community Redevelopment Agencies. DISCUSSED Chair Spence -Jones: And this -- Commissioner Regalado: Madam Chairman -- City of Miami Page 7 Printed on 11,21,2006 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes November 9, 2006 Chair Spence -Jones: Sure. Commissioner Regalado: Just before you close the CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) meeting. Chair Spence -Jones: Sure. Commissioner Regalado: I think we going to have a problem here because I was reading a memo to James Villacorta from the City Attorney saying that his temporary appointment as Assistant City Attorney terminates on December 31, and in the last meeting, I remember, at the CRA that we decided that -- or you decided that we may have an idea of the new executive director by the end of the year -- Chair Spence -Jones: Oh, yeah. Commissioner Regalado: -- so what happens to him? He's hanging -- are we going to cut the floor from him and --? Chair Spence -Jones: No. We would never want to cut the floor from anyone. Commissioner Regalado: (UNINTELLIGIBLE). Chair Spence -Jones: I do know that they officially will advertise the position in about four papers. Rosalie has been working along with them to actually pull that process together. Hopefully, we should be getting some resumes in from that, and hopefully, by the end of November, the next City -- excuse me, CRA meeting, we should be able to have a sense of the different applications that we receive. I think it's just important to at least make the process transparent and at least try to figure out if there's any other individuals out there that could be good for the agency. Commissioner Regalado: Look -- Chair Spence -Jones: I think Jim has done a great job, and I'm not trying to take anything -- and it may be Jim because Jim is applying also. Commissioner Regalado: No. I'm just saying that we may got -- we may be cut off in between dates, you know, because we may need some more time to assess the applicants, and then, so -- but -- Jorge L. Fernandez (General Counsel, CRA): Clearly, if the CRA needs an additional two, three weeks, whatever -- Commissioner Regalado: OK. Mr. Fernandez: -- the City Attorney -- Commissioner Regalado: That's -- Mr. Fernandez: -- is -- but I just wanted to make sure that both Mr. Villacorta and the CRA Board understood that, five months in the making -- you know, he's a senior attorney. I would sorely hate to lose him if, in fact, he's fortunate enough to obtain this position, but meanwhile, I need to be able to run an office with a lot of very complex, complicated transactions that Mr. Villacorta is ideally suited to handle as an assistant city attorney, so if not December 31, clearly, I would continue to push so that the CRA makes a decision as soon as practical. City of Miami Page 8 Printed on 11/21/2006 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes November 9, 2006 Commissioner Regalado: No, no. I'm just saying because the chairperson said we want to have an executive director by the end of the year, and I remember, but that's -- might not be the case because she and the vice -- are you the vice chair? Yeah, maybe or -- they're in charge of you know, interviewing the candidates and all that. They may need some time, and then, you know, come 2007, when the -- when we hear the 12 bells, you know, he'll be out of a job. Mr. Fernandez: Now when have you known your City Attorney to be unreasonable? Never, so of course -- Chair Spence -Jones: No. Commissioner Regalado: Really? Mr. Fernandez: -- that would never -- Commissioner Regalado: Really? Mr. Fernandez: -- happen, Commissioner. Commissioner Regalado: Really? Oh, I didn't know that. Oh, thank you. I just found out something. Commissioner Gonzalez: All right. Chair Spence -Jones: I just want to say, for Personnel's standpoint, they said in the next two weeks we should be able to close out on that process, so -- Commissioner Gonzalez: All right. Are we ready to close the CRA meeting? Chair Spence -Jones: We'd like to officially close the CRA meeting of November 9. Commissioner Gonzalez: All right. City of Miami Page 9 Printed on 11/21/2006