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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSEOPW OMNI CRA 2006-12-18 MinutesCity of Miami City Hall 3500 Pan American Drive Miami, FL 33133 www.miamigov.com * IMCORP GROTED lEmSIE Co l 11, • Meeting Minutes Monday, December 18, 2006 5:00 PM THE DOUBLE TREE GRAND HOTEL (in the Grand Ballroom) 1717 NORTH BAYSHORE DRIVE MIAMI, FLORIDA SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Michelle Spence -Jones, Chair Angel Gonzalez, Vice Chair Marc David Sarnoff, 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 December 18, 2006 Present: Commissioner Regalado, Chair Spence -Jones and Commissioner Sarnoff Absent: Vice Chair Gonzalez and Commissioner Sanchez On the 18th day of December 2006, the Board of Directors of the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) for the Southeast Overtown/Park West and Omni Districts of the City of Miami met in regular session at the Double Tree Grand Hotel, Miami, Florida. The meeting was called to order by Chair Michelle Spence -Jones at 5: 09 p.m. and was adjourned at 6:42 p.m. ALSO PRESENT: James Villacorta, Interim Executive Director, CRA Kevin R. Jones, Assistant General Counsel, CRA William R. Bloom, Special 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... f " refers to discussions that were interrupted and later continued. FINANCIALS 1. 06-02208 CRA REPORT FINANCIAL SUMMARY THROUGH MONTH ENDING NOVEMBER 30, 2006 Financial Summary Through Month end Nov.30. 2006.pdf DISCUSSED Chair Spence -Jones: OK. As you can see, the agenda's a very short agenda today, and I want to try to get everyone out early enough to go home and do some Christmas shopping, right, so we're not going to be here long. I just want to start off with the number one thing, which is the CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) report. Can I get a financial summary? James H. Villacorta (Interim Executive Director, Community Redevelopment Agency): Our financial officer, Miguel Valentin, had a death in the family, and our condolences go out to him. He's in New York right now. Chair Spence -Jones: Wow. Mr. Villacorta: I can tell you that there are no deficit conditions in any account. There are no violations of the anti -deficiency act, and there are no reportable conditions. Chair Spence -Jones: Does anybody have any questions? Commissioner Regalado: No. Commissioner Sarnoff.• No. Chair Spence -Jones: OK. I just have one quick thing. In the last meeting we had, Jim, we talked about making sure -- because I had some concerns with the numbers. It was not -- the TIF (Tax Increment Fund) was not being reflected in it, and I want you to make sure that my colleagues understand why -- the next report will include it, but could you at least give them an update as to how this would change? Mr. Villacorta: Right. We don't show the TIF until we actually receive it, which won't be until the first week in January, and then it'll show up in the unrestricted cash funds. Right now, we're operating on the funds -- the carryover balances from last year. The TIF will show up -- hit the City of Miami Page 2 Printed on 12/28/2006 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes December 18, 2006 unrestricted cash portion of the financial statement in January, after we actually receive it. It's a more conservative way of reporting the income. Chair Spence -Jones: OK, and then as far as the affordable housing piece from the original -- Mr. Villacorta: Yes. I mean, previous, we showed $550,000 in Overtown as unrestricted cash, but when the Board directed to start budgeting $30 million over the next five years, we captured 500,000 of that and moved it into cash related to reserves and other accounts, so you saw the unrestricted cash decrease by a half a million dollars, but you may not have noticed that the cash related to reserves and other accounts increased by 500, 000, because we've started locking that money down towards the housing projects, as the Board requested. Chair Spence -Jones: OK. I just wanted to make sure that my colleagues, and especially you, Commissioner Regalado, for giving me that wonderful advice two months ago on making sure that, no matter what, it's very clear where this money's coming from so that stuff starts to happen now and not what -- five years from now after making a commitment. Commissioner Regalado: I just got a question. Chair Spence -Jones: Sure. Commissioner Regalado: Jim, when we get the TIF, will the TIF be with a discounted the Children's Trust? Because last year, we had to take money -- of the money we got to pay back the Children's Trust, so is it going to be like discounted and we know that this is what we really going to get or --? Mr. Villacorta: Actually, we receive the TIF from each taxing authority, so the County acts as the paymaster and collects the TIF on behalf of the -- Commissioner Regalado: Right. Mr. Villacorta: -- individual entities, and it remits them to the individual entities, so the Children's Trust, in our opinion, should have been paying that money to us; they have not. The Board, in the past, had said to work out an agreement, which we've drafted, to allow the half mill that they -- the voters passed to go to the Children's Trust, so we do not pay money to the Children's Trust. We have been allowing the Children's Trust not -- Commissioner Regalado: Yeah, but we don't get -- Mr. Villacorta: -- to pay us. Commissioner Regalado: -- money because of the Children's Trust. Mr. Villacorta: Right, right. There's a half mill that a portion should be coming to the CRA. The County has requested that all CRAs voluntarily agree to give that to the Children's Trust. This Board has, in the past, expressed their feelings that we should enable the Children's Trust. We have drafted an agreement; it just hasn't been executed by all the parties yet. Commissioner Regalado: Yeah, but last year we were bullied by the County. Mr. Villacorta: Yeah. Originally, the County told us we had to do that. We expressed a different view on that point of law. They then passed an ordinance requiring all CRAs to voluntarily pay over money to the Children's Trust, or they would not review any CRA items from that -- City of Miami Page 3 Printed on 12/28/2006 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes December 18, 2006 Commissioner Regalado: Yeah, yeah. Mr. Villacorta: -- CRA. Commissioner Regalado: Like voluntary work in Cuba, you know. Mr. Villacorta: Yeah. It's kind of a strong-armed voluntary -- Commissioner Regalado: I'm just saying because last year we thought we had more, and then we have to send back a check, like big-time money, so I figured, you know, might as well get the right numbers from the beginning, you know. Mr. Villacorta: We have never actually paid funds to the Children's Trust. What the County is doing is sending the funds directly to the Children's Trust, and they've told us, when we've inquired, that they remitted to the authorities that have the power to levy that millage, and it's up to us to retrieve it. The issue is that the Overtown CRA has bonds outstanding to which the TIF money is pledged, and for us to voluntarily give up collecting that money could put us into a violation of those bond agreements. Commissioner Regalado: I just think that the chairperson, who understand the area, the area Commissioner, should sit down maybe with you and say, well, OK, if we voluntary have to give the money, what's in it for us, in terms of how many --? You see, because the Children's Trust gives the City grants, but it's citywide, and so each park in the Omni area or maybe Overtown and Park West, or schools get some of the share, but this is a special area. Supposed -- we are supposed to reimburse everything, so what I am saying is that, you know, the Children's Trust -- I'm sure that the Children's Trust will be willing to listen to special needs in this area, and you know, they got to go to election on '08 anyways. Mr. Villacorta: What -- Chair Spence -Jones: I think -- I want to just also add to Commissioner Regalado. I do know that we have had a discussion -- staff and I -- regarding this issue with the Children's Trust, and one of the concerns that I had, as we began to take this in front of the -- with -- to the County, was the dollars that are set aside for Children's Trust -based projects in our areas, and I'm -- you correct me if I'm wrong, Jim -- but we were very clear that we wanted to make sure our dollars that come from us stay within the areas in which we service because a lot of the complaints that I receive from folks that are within my district that are -- fall within the CRA area, they're not getting any funds or really any real support from the Children's Trust -- Commissioner Regalado: That's what I'm saying. Chair Spence -Jones: -- so that's a problem, you know, especially -- Commissioner Regalado: That's what I'm saying. Chair Spence -Jones: -- if we're putting money in the pot, and then a lot of these organizations aren't receiving any dollars. Mr. Villacorta: Well, the agreement we've drafted requires the Children's Trust to spend the amount of money they receive from each of the CRAs within the CRA district. We don't feel we have the authority to forego that -- those funds and not put them -- and not have them brought into the district. That's a requirement of the TIF that we are to receive is that it be spent within our district, and the Children's Trust has agreed in principle to that, to be reimbursed at the end of the year -- to pay us the money, be reimbursed at the end of the year to the extent that money is not needed for the CRAss bonds, and to spend that money within each CRA, and that's a City of Miami Page 4 Printed on 12/28/2006 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes December 18, 2006 requirement of the agreement we've drafted and we hope to have signed by the Children's Trust and approved by the County as well. Chair Spence -Jones: OK. All right. Any other questions? OK. Commissioner Sarnoff No. Chair Spence -Jones: All in favor? Priscilla A. Thompson (Clerk of the Board): You don't -- Chair Spence -Jones: Do we have to do that to the report? Mr. Villacorta: No. We don't have to move the -- Chair Spence -Jones: OK, good. All right, wonderful -- Mr. Villacorta: -- financial -- Chair Spence -Jones: -- so any other -- RESOLUTIONS 2. 06-02209 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' GROUP HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE WITH NEIGHBORHOOD HEALTH PARTNERSHIP, INC. FOR CALENDAR YEAR 2007, AT AN ANNUAL COST NOT TO EXCEED $55,000; FUNDS TO BE ALLOCATED FROM GENERAL OPERATING FUND, "LIFE, HEALTH, AND DENTAL INSURANCE," ACCOUNT CODE NO. 10030.920101.523000.0000.00000. Cover Memo.pdf Financial Summary .pdf Back-up.pdf Legislation.pdf Motion by Commissioner Regalado, seconded by Commissioner Sarnoff, that this matter be ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote. Votes: Ayes: 3 - Commissioner Regalado, Chair Spence -Jones and Commissioner Sarnoff Absent: 2 - Vice Chair Gonzalez and Commissioner Sanchez CRA-R-06-0054 Chair Spence -Jones: We're going to go ahead and go into number 2, which is a resolution, and actually, I just want to say, before you start, Jim, this is actually in regard -- regarding to the health insurance coverage issue, right? James H. Villacorta (Interim Executive Director, Community Redevelopment Agency): Yes. Chair Spence -Jones: OK. I'll just wait for the number 3, but go ahead. You can -- City ofMiami Page 5 Printed on 12/28/2006 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes December 18, 2006 Mr. Villacorta: OK. Item number 2 is a resolution rating the executive director's renewal of the CRA's (Community Redevelopment Agency's) group health insurance coverage with Neighborhood Health Partnership, Inc., for calendar year 2007. The direct cost is $45, 000. We've added an additional $9, 000 to allow for those employees who are on their spouse's health plan, in case they want to come over to ours. This is a renewal with the same company we're using now. They were the lowest priced bidder, and it allows the employees currently at the CRA to retain their same health provider. Commissioner Regalado: I move it. Commissioner Sarnoff Second. Chair Spence -Jones: All in favor? The Commission (Collectively): Aye. Chair Spence -Jones: Motion passes. Item passes. 3. 06-02212 CRA RESOLUTION 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 ISSUANCE OF GRANTS IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE 2006 ART BASEL EVENT TO MR. MARVIN WEEKS FOR HIS "GOOD BREAD ALLEY" INSTALLATION, AND TO MS. BETTY ROSADO FOR HER "LIKE MINDS" INSTALLATION; EACH GRANT IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $37,500, FOR A NOT TO EXCEED TOTAL OF $75,000; FUNDS TO BE ALLOCATED AS FOLLOWS: $37,500 FROM OMNI TAX INCREMENT FUND, "OTHER GRANTS AND AIDS," ACCOUNT CODE NO. 10040.920101.883000.0000.00000, AND $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 Back-up.pdf Legislation.pdf Motion by Commissioner Regalado, seconded by Commissioner Sarnoff, that this matter be ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote. Votes: Ayes: 3 - Commissioner Regalado, Chair Spence -Jones and Commissioner Sarnoff Absent: 2 - Vice Chair Gonzalez and Commissioner Sanchez CRA-R-06-0055 Chair Spence -Jones: So we're going to move to number 3 real fast. James H. Villacorta (Interim Executive Director, Community Redevelopment Agency): Item number 3 is ratification of the grants that were given out pursuant to CRA Resolution 06-0043, which was passed on October 30. It set aside $37,500 from the Overtown CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency), and the same amount from the Omni CRA for Art Basel events. Each CRA had one event; Marvin Weeks put on a installation at the Lyric Theater highlighting the works of Purvis Young; and the Omni CRA, an artist named Betty Rosado put on an installation, City ofMiami Page 6 Printed on 12/28/2006 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes December 18, 2006 "Like Minds." This just ratifies the giving of those grants. Neither grant has been paid out in full, though the Omni grant has submitted enough reimbursable paid receipts to completely exhaust that grant. Chair Spence -Jones: Any questions from my colleagues? OK. I just want to add both -- I know Betty Rosado is actually here from "Like Minds," which was a pretty awesome project. You can just wave your hand so that folks see you. Really brought together just -- people from all over. I don't know if you got a chance to see the mural -type project that was on one of the buildings actually within your area, Marc, which is a great project. You should definitely check it out. The only thing that I suggested from the executive director is that the panels were actually on a very tall building, so you had to kind of look up to see them, so my suggestions to the executive director -- because it's a very positive message from the poetry -- that poem that was actually written -- to see if we could see some of those positive images and words throughout all both of our areas and in the CRA because it was very powerful, and it just seemed so that those kind of powerful messages should be spread throughout the community, so to my understanding, Jim is working on that, correct? Mr. Villacorta: Right. We've explored the possibility of reproducing some of the images on the bus shelters that currently have a sheet that says, "This is your bus shelter. Please take care of it, "so we were going to produce some -- reproduce some of those, if possible, into those shelter locations, and also, we're exploring a possibility of using some of that artwork on the Metrorail overpass on 3rd Avenue -- Chair Spence -Jones: OK -- Mr. Villacorta: -- and 11 th Street. Chair Spence -Jones: -- so it was a -- it was definitely a great project, and I wanted to be -- at least be able to acknowledge it, and then, of course, you know, in Overtown, they had "Good Bread Alley," highlighting Purvis, which was awesome. I don't see the Black Archives here, but I saw her walk out for a minute. To my understanding, it was very successful. A lot of people attended the actual event. It was the first time that Purvis has ever been really acknowledged by, really, the City at all, so it was a beautiful thing to be able to do that for him. Commissioner Sarnoff: And I went to that one. Chair Spence -Jones: OK, so March went, and you enjoyed it? Commissioner Sarnoff: Oh, very much. Chair Spence -Jones: Good, and -- Mr. Villacorta: And Mr. Young was there in person, and the artwork is still on display in the Lyric Theater. Chair Spence -Jones: So it's both -- you know, I think that we had a nice showing during Art Basel, and -- Commissioner Sarnoff: Very nice. Chair Spence -Jones: -- it turned out really well, so just want to thank staff for making sure that that happened, and you guys did a great job with -- Mr. Villacorta: Great. City of Miami Page 7 Printed on 12/28/2006 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes December 18, 2006 DISCUSSION ITEMS 4. 06-02213 Chair Spence -Jones: -- making sure -- I do know that we're still trying to clean up a lot of the little small issues with both organizations, but I'm sure you're going to make sure that that happens. Mr. Villacorta: Yes, and as part of that event, the Lyric took down the construction fence that was around it -- Chair Spence -Jones: Oh, yes. Mr. Villacorta: -- and it -- the plaza and the green areas around are really in a beautiful state. Chair Spence -Jones: OK, good. Thank you, Jim. OK, so do I have a motion on --? Commissioner Regalado: Yes. I move it. Commissioner Sarnoff: Second. Chair Spence -Jones: All right. All in favor? The Commission (Collectively): Aye. Chair Spence -Jones: All right. This item passes. CRA DISCUSSION STATUS OF THE INTERIOR BUILD -OUT OF THE WARD ROOMING HOUSE Cover Memo.pdf Back-up.pdf DISCUSSED Direction by Chair Spence Jones to the Interim Executive Director to schedule a meeting with the Black Archives to determine the amount of funds set aside in the County General Obligation Bond for the Ward Rooming House; further directing the Interim Executive Director to meet with all parties involved to receive input on the final use of the Ward Rooming House and the amount of dollars necessary to complete the building. Chair Spence -Jones: And we'll move on to discussion items. Again, number 4, we're dealing with the issue of the interior build -out of the Ward Rooming House. I do know that Capital Improvements has been working on this for a minute, but one of the things I want to say, this is one of the projects that, from day one after becoming elected, I had a big concern with the amount of dollars that was being spent to restore the Ward Rooming House. Not that I didn't want to restore the house, but when it was all said and done, when you -- on the inside of the Ward Rooming House, there's -- all the monies that we spent, there's no floor, there's no bathroom, there's no electricity, there's nothing in the building, so even after spending the dollars to rehab it, we still don't have any use for it, you know. At this point, we can't use it, so I think that we've passed -- James H. Villacorta (Interim Executive Director, Community Redevelopment Agency): Yes. Chair Spence -Jones: -- separately, some items to put dollars into actually rehabbing the inside of the building so that we can at least complete the project and that it can at least be something that's made available to the residents and for folks that are actually visiting the Overtown area, and we haven't decided exactly what all of the uses are, but there's a few things that are floating City of Miami Page 8 Printed on 12/28/2006 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes December 18, 2006 around. Of course, you know that the Lyric and the Black Archives needs additional office space in the area because, unfortunately, the Lyric Theater cannot accommodate the amount of office space that they need, so we're looking at that from a temporary standpoint. We also talked about -- or we've been chatting about -- with FIU (Florida International University) to try to get a university involved so that we're able to at least program it on the regular and not necessary [sic] rely on City or County resources to make sure that it happens by bringing in a university, so the president of the university has a big interest in taking some of his students that are involved in architecture and all of those things, historic preservation, to do some sort of outreach kind of activity in that building highlighting Purvis' life, and these students would work along with other young people from the area, but we haven't decided the use, but my concern more so than anything else -- and this is why I've asked Jim to put it on the agenda -- is, as we move -- I just want to make sure that this $100, 000 or $200, 000 does not become $400, 000 to do the inside of the building, and you know, right now, we're in a rock and a hard place because we've gotten the outside of the building done, and nothing's happening with the building at all. Right across the street, Chapter 2 has been doing really well for homeless women and providing support, you know, with that business, and it's doing really, really well, but to have a vacant building across the street from her is a problem, so I just really wanted to at least have the direct -- executive director give us an update on where we are with CIP (Capital Improvements Program). I'm not sure if CIP's even here. Mr. Villacorta: Yes. We have an engineer -- Chair Spence -Jones: OK, yeah. Mr. Villacorta: -- that's been working with us from CIP. They have identified some issues. The original thoughts were that we would put a mezzanine in the building and have it be an artist gallery, and you could exhibit taller artworks towards the front of the gallery. I think, after CIP's review, they think the mezzanine would be of such small square footage that it would be better to put a second floor and limit the size of the artwork that could be shown; that would provide for some small amount of offices on the upper floors. To use this as a gallery with sales will require rezoning. That area is zoned multifamily high -density residential. Across the street where Chapter 2 is is restricted commercial. Chair Spence -Jones: OK Mr. Villacorta: The block across the street is half restricted commercial facing 2nd Avenue and half high -density multifamily residential. That allows for some ancillary commercial uses in those buildings, if you were going to have a dry cleaning, pickup or something, but we're not sure that this area in the Zoning Code is in a little bit of flux right now; that the Miami 21 -- how they're going to treat that isn't quite clear, but that would be something, when that's brought to you, that you could -- at the Commission level -- put your input into ensuring that this property could be used as an art gallery. The -- CIP is recommending, I believe, that we put a complete second floor in, remembering that this building will require bathrooms, fire sprinklers, some sort of lift, an elevator of some type for handicap access to the second floor, and perhaps, another access out the back of the building for that second floor, so you'll have two means of egress. We've set aside $150, 000 at this point. We reprogrammed it from a planning study on 14th Street to getting the design and construction work underway on the Ward Rooming House. We're aware that it would not be enough to complete the Ward Rooming House interior, and we set 200,000 aside in this budget, which has been budgeted but not appropriated to this project. I know it seems expensive, but this is a very solid building now. In a hurricane, this would be the place to be. Chair Spence -Jones: Well, I don't know if CIP has any -- Thank you, Jim. I don't know if CIP has any comments before my colleagues, but if you want to add to it -- do you have anything to add? City of Miami Page 9 Printed on 12/28/2006 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes December 18, 2006 Fernando Paiva (Senior Project Manager): Good evening. Fernando Paiva, with CIP. Priscilla A. Thompson (Clerk of the Board): I'm sorry. We -- Mr. Paiva: No. At this moment, I don't have anything -- Chair Spence -Jones: She needs you to repeat. Mr. Paiva: OK. Commissioner Regalado: Fernando -- Mr. Paiva: My name is Fernando Paiva. I'm with the Capital Improvements, and good evening. I actually don't have much more to add. I think Villacorta covered pretty much all the issues. The building is pretty bad right now. It's just a shell. There's no electricity, no plumbing. There's no -- the second floor is missing. The first floor is (UNINTELLIGIBLE) missing, but we did meet with Zoning and with Building and Fire to figure out what would be needed in the building, and indeed, we would need -- depending on the uses of the building, we would need to have a fire safety system in there installed. We have to have accessibility for the handicap. We have to have some kind of elevator. They call it a LULA, a Limited Use, Limited Access ele -- lift to the second floor. Again, if we build a mezzanine, it will be only about 300 square feet, which is one-third of the size of the first floor. I -- we talked about it before, and I think that 300 square feet -- to go through the expenses to only have 300 square feet on the second floor will be unwise, I would think, so a second floor need to be built, and when we do that, we have to go through -- and you know, it's -- so -- Chair Spence -Jones: And I could just -- Commissioner Sarnoffjust wanted to be clear, so is it necessary to have an elevator in there? Mr. Paiva: Yes, yes, yes. Commissioner Sarnoff: If you had a mezzanine, would you have to have an elevator? Mr. Paiva: Yes, yes. They require not only an elevator, but they have to have some kind of -- you know, the staircase as a -- we can have the means of egress into the first floor within the building. Now, if you go with the second floor, we still have to have the elevator -- it's a lift, which is a small version of a full elevator, and the difference being that an elevator needs a pit, and a -- needs some clearance on the top. This will not need. It's the kind of machinery you bring it in and install it. It's all self-contained, all the equipment. You don't need a mechanical room or elevator room to have it. You need the staircase also going -- now, if you have a whole second floor, and depending on the usage, then you might, in addition to the elevator, have also a means of egress to the exterior of the building, meaning that we do have -- but no matter what happen there, we still have to meet with the Historic Preservation Board. We have to go through them, and the idea here would be -- the idea would be to also make the land historic. By making the land historic, then we could have the different usages. It could have like a exhibition hall or gallery or other uses, so it's a process that you have to go through, which not only -- you know, it's a lot of work, but a length -- the time is -- Chair Spence -Jones: Thank you. Mr. Paiva: -- also very -- Commissioner Sarnoff: Francisco, is it your understanding that, regardless of the square footage of this building, to get to the second floor, you need lift system under the ADA City of Miami Page 10 Printed on 12/28/2006 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes December 18, 2006 (Americans with Disabilities Act)? Mr. Paiva : Yes. I understand by the Building Department (UNINTELLIGIBLE) could -- I would have to double-check that, but I believe that we could request for a waiver, but -- Commissioner Sarnoff: Right. I'm sure you -- Mr. Paiva: -- most likely, they will not, you know -- Chair Spence -Jones: Please. Mr. Paiva: -- this is how it looks like now. Commissioner Sarnoff: My understanding is anything 2,000 square feet and below that is restored, either is not required or waivers are perfunctorily granted. I mean, just -- Mr. Paiva: The first person that we met after we received the instructions from CRA was to meet with the Building Department, and we explained to them that we need a mezzanine, and they told us (UNINTELLIGIBLE) have a small version -- not an elevator, but you need a lift. Commissioner Sarnoff: Lift. Mr. Paiva: Because of assembly. It's an assembly. Again, when we first approached them, the idea was to have an art gallery or exhibition hall. (UNINTELLIGIBLE) becomes an assembly, and if that's the case, then you do have to provide -- you can go for a waiver if you don't have present -- if you have other usages that's not an assembly. For example, if you have offices, in there, maybe you can go for a waiver in the State, and that's what we were told by the Building Department. Chair Spence -Jones: OK. Thank you, CIP. I don't know if my colleagues have any comments, but I just -- I wanted to bring this up as an issue, and I know I've been talking about the Ward Rooming House since I got here. We're talking about almost a million dollars. Commissioner Regalado: On the waive -- Chair Spence -Jones: Nobody's working there; nobody's living there; nobody's eating there, you know. Commissioner Regalado: On the waiver issue, I mean, the City has not been very successful in getting waivers. We remember what happened to the press box in the Little Haiti Park that we didn't get the waiver from the State, but the thing is that, you know, we need to make people -- other entities in the government to understand that this building is not only the responsibility of the City of Miami, and you know, we have a lobbying team in Tallahassee. The lobbying team can work on a waiver, on funding, on -- because, after all, one of the biggest thing in the past session of the legislature, the past three years, is historic preservation. Chair Spence -Jones: Historic preservation, yeah. Commissioner Regalado: They have approve a huge budget for the state of Florida. I mean, even the Ringling Circus got money, and so, you know, I think is -- Michelle is right. It has been -- this has been a money pit for the CRA, and -- but it's something that is worth looking at. It needs the support of the CRA, and it had had the support of the CRA for all these years, and it needs also the support, maybe, of the County, but especially, from the State of Florida, and I don't know how big is the lobbying effort of the CRA in the next regular session, but I would tell you that getting a waiver would not be that difficult if you go through the political channels. If City of Miami Page 11 Printed on 12/28/2006 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes December 18, 2006 you go through the technical channels, from one department to another, they say no. You don't get a waiver, but if we go -- if we lobby the waiver as part of a comprehensive project to have a building that everybody can be proud of you got it. That's what I think, but now it depends on the lobbying team. Chair Spence -Jones: I want to definitely make sure that -- I know I have lunch with Doug Bruce this week, which is our -- Mr. Villacorta: Yes. Chair Spence -Jones: -- lobbyist in Tallahassee. We'll make sure, Commissioner Regalado, that we bring that up to him as we discuss what we're going to be doing in Tallahassee, along with your other issue that you mentioned, which was this issue of insurance in the last meeting, so I know that those are going to be some of the things that we talk about. I just wanted to bring this Ward Rooming House issue out once again because I think it's important for us to understand what we're getting ourself [sic] into, and I wanted to make sure that if CIP is going to, you know, move ahead on getting this project completed, I don't want us to -- we already approved a certain amount, and then come back and say, well, that's not enough; we need another 300, 000. Now we at $1.2 million for a building that no one's living in, no one's eating in, no one's working in, you know. I can take $1.2 million and do a lot in my -- Mr. Paiva: Absolutely. Chair Spence -Jones: -- district. I mean, I'm just -- Commissioner Regalado: I -- Chair Spence -Jones: -- again, here's one of the many things that I've had to -- pills I've had to swallow after getting elected, which was not my thing, but I'm having to deal with it, but I think that I need to make sure that I keep, you know, my colleagues up-to-date and up -to -speed as to what's happening with it. Commissioner Regalado: And I really understand what you're saying because it's more important to have a street fix and to have facades and to have incentive for housing, and this is the way that the money should be used from the CRA. That's what I'm saying; that it shouldn't -- that the CRA should not take the brunt of the whole project because, like the chairperson said, I mean, we are over -- and trust me, you know, everybody love CIP, but the likely -- the probabilities are 100 percent that you will come back and say the cost is double. Chair Spence -Jones: No, I didn't say that. Commissioner Regalado: Huh? Chair Spence -Jones: I did not say that. Commissioner Regalado: I said that. Chair Spence -Jones: Oh, OK. You can say that. Not saying anything about you, but -- Commissioner Sarnoff: Let me just say a few things because when I first was introduced to this particular project -- not more than ten days ago -- and I learned that we had a million fifty thousand dollar building and it was 1,500 square feet, and I'm not the best with numbers, but to me, that's in the seven or eight hundred dollar a foot range of construction, and knowing that $350 gets you a Gables estate per foot, I asked myself, how do you get here, and then I sort of listened, and I hear we're not there yet, but we may need to put a sec -- well, we do need to put a City of Miami Page 12 Printed on 12/28/2006 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes December 18, 2006 second floor in, and maybe that's part of the extra 200, 000, but now we may need an elevator, and 1-- Chair Spence -Jones: And bathrooms. Commissioner Sarnoff: And bathrooms. Well, I would hope that 200,000 would cover a couple of Delta faucets, but I question -- if this is truly a historic building and that is why it has been rebuilt, then -- and forgive me for my lack of knowledge, but I have a -- I used to be an ADA lawyer, Americans with Disabilities Act. A historic building rarely ever has to comply with the ADA. That is the whole intent behind restoration of historic buildings. They could not be ADA compliant. Now Commissioner Regalado brought up the fact that that's how he got in trouble with Little Haiti Park, but Little Haiti Park is not historic. That -- trust me, that press box is not historic, or I don't think it is. Chair Spence -Jones: It's not there. Commissioner Sarnoff: Correct, but this is, and if this was intended to either -- either this is a restoration or it's an exact facsimile, and I guess, depending upon how far you went into the work, there's just no way that the federal government -- Mr. Paiva: (UNINTELLIGIBLE). Commissioner Sarnoff: -- would require you to be ADA compliant, unless we could recapture the cost of an elevator that most of us know what they look like. They -- Mr. Paiva: Right. Commissioner Sarnoff: -- if it's one of those lifts, it's going to sit there and probably never be used. Mr. Paiva: I think it's important to differentiate an elevator from what I mentioned earlier, which is a LULA, Low Use, Limited Access. I did a little research on that and that LULA lift is about $20,000, that equipment, which is about less than half than it would be to install an actual elevator. It's a small lift. It's about 18 square feet in size, so it's very small. Again, as an assembly, if you have an art gallery, then you have to provide that to -- would be probably a good thing to do to provide accessibility to the mezzanine or the second floor. Now, if you have offices, then you can designate offices on the first floor for the most used areas to the disabled and leave the second floor, you know, not -- so there is a -- yeah. You could probably (UNINTELLIGIBLE). I don't know if it'll be (UNINTELLIGIBLE) $20,000, something that you want to pursue. It's up to the City to decide that. Economically, more important than just having to spend that kind of money on a LULA would be actually to spend -- is the expenses of having to have -- to build all that second floor, the slabs, all the finishes. As you saw, it is not much there at all. I mean, they have to do all the finishes, provide the first floor slab. There's nothing there, and that's where the actually big -- the money is going to spent. You know, it's going to be expensive. We have to go in there, shore all of that from -- going through small doors to shore this to provide the -- to build the second floor, and -- so it's going to be quite expensive, I can tell you right now. I don't know -- Chair Spence -Jones: So let -- Mr. Paiva: A hundred and fifty thousand dollars, it will not do it. I can tell you right now, and I better be upfront right away, you know. We can expect to spend a little bit more than $150, 000 for construction. I have to be honest and -- Mr. Villacorta: And -- City of Miami Page 13 Printed on 12/28/2006 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes December 18, 2006 Commissioner Regalado: But the whole purpose of our discussion that began several years ago was to keep the place as it was -- Chair Spence -Jones: Yeah. Commissioner Regalado: -- not add like stuff, like -- Chair Spence -Jones: But it had a floor on it. Commissioner Regalado: Huh? Chair Spence -Jones: It had a floor. Commissioner Regalado: No, I understand that, but you know, most of the money, Commissioner Sarnoff, we spent on security guards. Mr. Villacorta: Yeah. We spent close to $200, 000 -- Commissioner Regalado: Right. Mr. Villacorta: -- clearing the title -- Commissioner Regalado: Right -- Mr. Villacorta: -- and for security -- Commissioner Regalado: -- and then because of the -- Mr. Villacorta: -- before construction began. Commissioner Regalado: -- hurricane and then because of Wilma, and then -- Mr. Villacorta: Yes. Commissioner Regalado: -- and the money was spent not on the building, but -- Mr. Villacorta: On shoring up what -- Commissioner Regalado: -- around the building -- Mr. Villacorta: -- we were trying to save, on security guards -- Commissioner Regalado: -- but -- Mr. Villacorta: -- when the shoring -- Commissioner Regalado: -- you know -- Mr. Villacorta: -- went missing. Commissioner Regalado: -- in this one, I am 100 percent with the chairperson here because we need to know, once we get into this project, that there are priorities in the area, and we just need to understand how much money and where the funding is coming from. City of Miami Page 14 Printed on 12/28/2006 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes December 18, 2006 Mr. Villacorta: At one point, this -- and we've also acquired the building behind this, the Divine Mission Church, and the idea was to have that become an artist residence, and then this would be -- and studio -- and then this would be the gallery where they would show their works. That was the will of the Board. This project -- the resolution to acquire the property that the Ward Rooming House is on passed in December of 2000, and it took that long to get the title cleared to get -- because the Board, rightfully at the time, said we don't want to put any construction money into this building while we don't have a clear title, and during that period, the second floor rotted away. There was a fire in the building. Commissioner Regalado: But at that time, there were like ten owners, right? Mr. Villacorta: Yes. The -- it had -- the title had become divided as it passed down through the heirs to the Ward Rooming House, and each generation further divided the title, and it was a major ordeal to contact all of them and to get them to transfer their small portion of the ownership to us. Chair Spence -Jones: I think I just want to add -- and I don't -- if we can close out on the discussion on this. I know that the Black Archives has worked very hard, and I'm almost sure that there's some money in the GOB (General Obligation Bond) to assist with the -- some of the works on the Ward Rooming House. My concern, when I came on board, is since we spent so much money on it, it makes sense only for us to have use of the building, and so I was trying to, over the last six months, work on at least getting some sort of use happening in the building, and at least partnering up with -- you know, if it's a university, so they could provide the staffing and the manpower and resources to assist with, you know, programming, that's what we were trying to do, but I just want to make sure that, before we move on, and I'm asking that the executive director is very clear with CIP, you know, what that dollar amount's going to be and what we're going to receive or get from the completion of the project. I think it's really important for us to understand that. Mr. Villacorta: In my conversations with CIP and when we appropriated the $150, 000, we knew that was not going to be enough, but since the planning study on the roadwork was no longer needed, and to keep the project moving, we had reallocated that -- those funds. CIP is optimistic that it can be brought in -- with the additional funding that we set aside of $200,000. Remember, there's also going to be parking for this building, which is not in their current cost estimate. The Chair Spence -Jones: So we're at $350, 000 possibly, that could be made for the inside of the building -- Mr. Villacorta: Right. I mean -- Chair Spence -Jones: -- plus the -- Mr. Villacorta: -- there's a lot of work. There's no -- Chair Spence -Jones: -- almost 800 that -- Mr. Villacorta: -- plumbing in the building. Chair Spence -Jones: -- we already spent. Mr. Villacorta: Well, we did seek a grant from the State of Florida, and Doug Bruce was very helpful in moving that grant application forward. It went to the final rounds, but because the building was so deteriorated and we had -- at that point, it had no roof, one of the walls had fallen down, the -- in Tallahassee, they were reluctant to give us the funding. I've directed staff, City of Miami Page 15 Printed on 12/28/2006 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes December 18, 2006 now that we've completed the shell, to go back to -- and file another grant application for a grant for historic preservation to work on the interior. The funding board in Tallahassee, that committee had thought this was a worthy project, but they thought the building was so far gone that we would not be able to bring it back. Now that we have, we want to go back to them and ask them to help us fund the interior renovations. Chair Spence -Jones: Colleagues, do you have any quest -- any more comments on this item before we --? Commissioner Sarnoff No. Chair Spence -Jones: OK. I just want to ask that, again, before anything is spent on the last phase of the project, that we understand what the final use is going to be of the building -- Mr. Villacorta: OK. Chair Spence -Jones: -- and we understand what those dollars -- what the dollars are that's going to be needed to complete the building, and I'd like to also request that at least you sit down with the Black Archives to really understand what's happening from the standpoint of what's in the GOB that's been set aside for it because maybe there's some other things that we can -- so it's not -- it doesn't become all of our burden, so if I can at least direct you to please make sure that you sit down with all the parties because I don't want to complete the building and then people are not happy with what we decided to do with it, so I think that it's important to include everybody's input in the project that's been going on since 2000, so we're almost talking about what, almost seven years now and nothing's been built -- or completed, I should say. Mr. Villacorta: The shell's been -- Chair Spence -Jones: Well, the shell. Mr. Villacorta: -- reconstructed -- Chair Spence -Jones: Yeah. Mr. Villacorta: -- and title, and we've gotten title. Chair Spence -Jones: Thank you, Jim, so we're going to move to -- Any other questions before we move? Because these are only discussion items. We have only two before we leave. 5. 06-02214 CRA DISCUSSION STATUS OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SEARCH Cover Memo.pdf DISCUSSED Direction by Chair Spence Jones to the Interim Executive Director to draft a resolution appointing James H. Villacorta as the CRA Executive Director at the CRA meeting currently scheduled for January 29, 2007. Note for the Record: Chair Spence -Jones stated that an item will be included in her blue pages (district items) at the City Commission meeting currently scheduled for January 11, 2007 regarding an extension of James H. Villacorta's tenure at the Office of the City Attorney. Chair Spence -Jones: The next one is the status of the executive director search. I don't see the City Manager here. First of all, I want to ask my colleagues if they have any comments first City of Miami Page 16 Printed on 12/28/2006 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes December 18, 2006 before I make a statement? Commissioner Regalado: Waiting for you. Chair Spence -Jones: OK. You have any -- Commissioner Sarnoff: No, go ahead. No. Chair Spence -Jones: -- comment? This -- somebody on this dais told me it wasn't going to be easy. I'm not going to say who that person is, the old wise one on this end. It's not going to be easy, and it has not been easy. We have probably gotten about 12 applications in through Personnel, and only four of them are OK. My concern in all of this is that we are in a very critical point at the CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) with all of the things that we have going on in the County, as you know, the huge, big issues that we need to work through from the -- from everything from the bond to the Parrot Jungle to everything else that still needs to be worked out, and one of the concerns I have, as the chairperson, is really making sure that we have somebody here in that post that understands how critical and how sensitive all these issues are. Commissioner Regalado mentioned to me some months back of how important it was to make sure that you had -- if you were going to do a search, to do it locally because at least they understand the local politics of what's going on and not to have someone coming from, I don't know, Idaho that really doesn't understand Miami and Miami politics or how to move things to get things done. I think we all agree -- and all of us are not sitting on the board right now; some of us are missing, but we all agree that Jim is definitely a staple and a wealth of knowledge at the CRA, and really is the glue that kind of keeps that whole thing together, and when you know that those kind of things are in place, you know, I think that it's important for you not to rock the boat. I have -- I'm going to be honest with you, as the CRA Chair, you know, I have a huge responsibility, and one of the concerns -- and Jim and I have had this discussion, so I'm putting it all out -- literally, putting it all out in the open right now -- was that I think that it's really important, when you have a CRA in a area, that the people and -- that there's a lot of passion around what you do, you know. Already, you know -- I'm speaking from the area that I represent, which is the -- well, actually, both of us represent Overtown -- that you have to really have people that are really passionate about, you know, what they're doing, who they're servicing -- serving, and that they're willing to go above and beyond the call of duty, and Jim and I have had discussions about this, you know, making sure that that happens, and if it's going to be under my watch, I really want to make sure that, you know, we -- at the end of the day, we have products that we all can be very proud of. I wasn't here when all of this stuff was going on with the CRA. I had absolutely nothing -- I'm -- and I'm glad I don't have the baggage nor the history attached to it, but sometimes my feeling about it is sometimes you can have all that baggage and history and it hinders you from focusing on the vision and the mission, and Jim, you know, we've had this discussion. You know, that sometimes the attorney hat -- I'm not saying anything about the attorney hat, Marc -- gets on and we forget the -- I'm not going to say common sense because you got common sense -- y'all got common sense too, but the people sense of it sometimes get lost, and in order to move what needs to happen, you know, throughout the whole entire CRA, you got to have people that understand the mission and the vision or at least paint the vision of what we need to see happen. There's no doubt in my mind that Jim definitely knows the CRA. There's no doubt in my mind that he's not passionate about what he does. I know this has been very difficult for Jim with, you know, trying to figure out, OK -- you can't really put 150 percent in because you don't really know whether or not you're going to be here or you're going to be gone, so -- and even through all of that, he's been an outstanding player, always seems to smile and keep it moving, even -- despite everything else that's going on, so my only -- and I wanted to at least share this with my colleagues, and that's why I have it on as a discussion item -- was, you know, at this point, I think that it would not be a wise thing at this point to begin to shift too much until we get some real things in order and accomplished or at least in place, and I think that we owe it at least to Jim to at least let him have a wonderful Christmas and New Year's Eve not stressing out and Blackberrying [sic] me at 2 and 3 o'clock in City of Miami Page 17 Printed on 12/28/2006 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes December 18, 2006 the morning about items happening, to at least let him know that we do believe in his leadership and his ability to get it done, and I would like to at least say to my colleagues at this point is, you know, the City Manager was to be here tonight. I'm not sure where he is at this point, but I would suggest that we at least keep Jim on board, and that maybe we need to look at the organization, Jim, and what you need to really help -- I mean, I think that most the staff folks that are sitting here, they've been beat up so much over the last three or four years trying to keep it going despite all of the negative stuff sometimes that have come from the CRA, and they stuck in there and they've done what they needed to do, and I'm sure they're on pins and needles because they don't know what the chairman or what the new Commissioner or all of us are going to do, but I want them -- I want to at least rest assured tonight that we're going to just focus on the mission of the CRA and doing what we must do, and if I could have the support of my Commissioners at this point to at least keep Jim on board and let's focus on the mission, and then, if we have to revisit, for whatever reason, after Jim gets there and he sees that maybe we're too crazy and he doesn't want to stay, that then we will, you know, revisit it at that time, but I'm just so afraid to make any adjustments on the CRA at this point and then lose ground. You guys are quiet. Commissioner Sarnoff. No, no. I -- the way you were sounding, I thought we were just going to get him through Christmas and then decide, and I was like, can't we at least get him through New Year's? Chair Spence -Jones: No. Actually, I was saying, if we can just keep him on board to get through all these tough times that we have, and at least let him know that -- I know the biggest issue -- and the reason I have it on my agenda is the -- you know the City Attorneys been very clear that as of -- what day, Jim? Mr. Villacorta: December 31. Chair Spence -Jones: -- that he is going to be -- what, Jim? Mr. Villacorta: He can no longer -- Commissioner Sarnoff: A defrocked lawyer. Mr. Villacorta: -- hold my -- Commissioner Sarnoff Are you going to be defrocked? Are you no longer going to be a lawyer? That you have to give -- you're a legal eagle, but you have to give up your wings. Mr. Villacorta: Yeah. I think he's requested that. Commissioner Sarnoff• OK. Commissioner Regalado: Well, actually, it was December 31, but remember that I raised that issue and he said, well -- Chair Spence -Jones: He didn't answer. Commissioner Regalado: -- it doesn't mean December 31. It means that we can extend that. However, that extension is -- how long is it, I don't know, but the fact of the matter is that Jim cannot live with the threat of having the City Attorney say, well, I'm going to look for someone to replace you, and I'm going to look for this and that, so I mean, let me tell you something. What you said is true. The next six to seven month, at least, is going to be a very important period of time for the CRA because many discussions will be held with the County, and although, eventually, the City Commission will be engaged in that discussion, we need to look to the CRA City of Miami Page 18 Printed on 12/28/2006 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes December 18, 2006 executive director to get the right information and the right numbers, and I always say the wrong things, you know, and I get in trouble with that, but I really trust Jim and his information and his number. I didn't trust the past Administration at all. They got it wrong, for their benefit always, but you know, I think that, somehow, we need to figure out some stable position for him. I know for a fact that -- because I had that fit back in two or three month ago, we save how much money, from national to local search? Mr. Villacorta: Yeah, $60, 000. Commissioner Regalado: See, we saved $60, 000, and -- Chair Spence -Jones: Now we can put it on -- Commissioner Regalado: -- we still -- Chair Spence -Jones: -- Ward Rooming House. Mr. Villacorta: The parking lot. Commissioner Regalado: -- spend? Mr. Villacorta: We spent about $5, 000 on the -- Chair Spence -Jones: We didn't -- Mr. Villacorta: -- ads. Chair Spence -Jones: -- spend a lot. Commissioner Regalado: Yeah. We could have saved that too, but in the name of transparency -- but here, it's not about transparency. Here it's about get things done, and you know, this person have been the attorney and has been the executive director. What else, I mean, you need to do? And I just think that you're right. I don't know. Do we need to vote or something? I mean, we can do it. Chair Spence -Jones: I mean, I don't -- Commissioner Sarnoff. Grant him a contract now. Commissioner Regalado: We need to hear the third vote. Chair Spence -Jones: Yeah. Commissioner Sarnoff Oh. Well, let me just say this. Of the briefings I've had at the City -- and I don't know why they call them "briefings" because they seem like "longings." I didn't think there was anything brief about them. I thought Jim is the most understandable, and I figured it was because we spoke the same language, law, but now that he's going to be a defrocked lawyer, I won't be able to understand him, so I'm concerned about that, and I thought your only endorsement was going to go to December 26, and I said, well, I could support that, and I was more than willing to give you January 2, but why don't we give him a full year? Chair Spence -Jones: Yeah. Commissioner Regalado: Because this is something -- and I'm not a lawyer, but I understand him, but you know, you need, once and for all, to put some kind of stability in the minds of the City of Miami Page 19 Printed on 12/28/2006 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes December 18, 2006 staff and the executive director and the adversaries because the County, you know, might as well say, let's defer this because Villacorta is not going to be there and we can probably deal with somebody else who is more amicable to what we want to do, so I mean, they need to know also that we want to send the message and that the Board approved the policy and the executive director, whatever that policy is, follows through, but they also need to know that the guy is going to be here longer than they fear, so -- Chair Spence -Jones: Well, first of all, I want to tell my colleagues that I appreciate your support, and it has not been an easy decision for me to make, but for me, part of it is just being able to decide, OK, this is what it is. We'll make the minor adjustments that we have to make with the organization. Jim has been totally backlogged on many projects because he's trying to float between three and four different things. I only ask, Jim, that in -- whatever decision we're about to make right now, that you understand how important it is of the vis -- for the vision of the organization and the mission of the organization to outweigh anything else, and that's the only thing I really request of you. I have key projects that we must move that are being backlogged. Some of the folks are sitting in the audience now that I want them to feel -- or rest assure that projects will move, and I think that once we get you some help over there, that at least you don't have to have the -- all of the burden being placed upon you. Kevin has been trying to manage five and six different, you know, boards, you know, and you've been doing great with him to help bring him up -to -speed, but I think one of the biggest issues that the City Attorney has is you wearing both hats, you know, so you know that's one of the biggest issues that he has over there. Mr. Villacorta: Sure, but I remember that he said we've never known him to be unreasonable. Chair Spence -Jones: OK All right, so this is what I would like to ask of my colleagues at this point, because we do need to handle this with Jorge, is to allow for -- I believe we've had a discussion with the City Manager and we can at least -- because one of the issues with Jim -- with the City Manager is that he needs -- City Attorney, that he needs him off of his payroll so that he can open up that position to someone else. Commissioner Sarnoff• I want him to give up his Bar card too. I want to make sure that he's beholden to us and he wants this job. I don't want some damn lawyer thinking he can go back to being a damn lawyer. Chair Spence -Jones: So I wanted -- Commissioner Regalado: Yeah -- Chair Spence -Jones: -- to make -- Commissioner Regalado: -- but, I mean, we pay him, right? Chair Spence -Jones: I know. Commissioner Regalado: So what's the story here? Commissioner Sarnoff• I think he wants a raise. I think that's what it is. Chair Spence -Jones: No. It's the City Attorney -- the City Man -- the City Attorney feels as though, if he's falling up under his leadership, that he needs to either be with him or not with him. Commissioner Regalado: So, I mean, this is -- to me, this is very simple. The Board appoints the executive director. This agency has enough budget to pay the executive director and the employees. The executive director may want some kind of contract because of his family and -- City of Miami Page 20 Printed on 12/28/2006 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes December 18, 2006 Chair Spence -Jones: Yeah. Commissioner Regalado: -- future. Commissioner Sarnoffjust offer a year. I don't know what you think. As the chairperson, I'll look to you and to the area Commissioner because you guys understand much better the needs here. I don't think we should get the City Manager involved in this because this is an agency that has -- Chair Spence -Jones: Is separate. Commissioner Regalado: -- its own budget, and the Board decides whatever we want to do. The Board decides to hire you, to fire you, or whatever, and the City Attorney, I mean, you can just tell him, you know, I'm not going to work for you anymore. I mean, and that's it. Chair Spence -Jones: I think one of the issues Jim had was his -- because he's a long-time City employee, that if he stayed up under the City Manager, he would not lose any of his -- Mr. Villacorta: City benefits. Chair Spence -Jones: -- City benefits -- Commissioner Regalado: OK. Chair Spence -Jones: -- so if he stayed as a City employee up under the City Manager, even though we paid him from the CRA, then he will not lose what -- I'm seeing Madam Clerk over there. Is that not correct? I mean -- Priscilla A. Thompson (Clerk of the Board): I'm thinking you're meaning the City Attorney's Office, not the City Manager. Commissioner Regalado: No. He -- Mr. Villacorta: Well -- Commissioner Regalado: -- she means the City Manager -- Chair Spence -Jones: Yeah. Commissioner Regalado: -- which I don't know. You guys are attorneys, and I really have a problem because, remember, several -- I don't know. It was years or whatever or -- Chair Spence -Jones: I wasn't here then. Commissioner Regalado: Yeah. You weren't here. Chair Spence -Jones: Neither were you. Commissioner Regalado: That some of the members try to say, well, the executive director should work directly for the City Manager, so what's the purpose of the board? Chair Spence -Jones: That's true. I agree. Commissioner Regalado: So I don't know if working for the City Manager will mean that the City Manager has the authority to hire or fire the executive director because that authority is only -- City of Miami Page 21 Printed on 12/28/2006 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes December 18, 2006 Chair Spence -Jones: That's true. Commissioner Regalado: -- to the Board. William R. Bloom (Special Counsel, Community Redevelopment Agency): Commissioner, may I suggest -- I think it best -- the executive director should serve at the leisure of the Board -- Chair Spence -Jones: Right. Mr. Bloom: -- and I think what you're really talking about doing is appointing Mr. Villacorta the executive director who will serve at the leisure of the Board. You want him to get the same benefits he has as he currently has as an employee of the City Attorney's Office, and I think you just want to make a motion for the City Manager to coordinate that, the employment benefits, so that while he's an employee of the CRA, he gets the same benefits he would have had if he was still employed by the City. Commissioner Sarnoff: Well, if we were to give him a Christmas present, which is what we're trying to do, and you guys are hemming and hawing about a Christmas present here, which you never want to hem and haw with Santa Claus. Why don't we simply extend him an offer and he can get back to us, and he might say, I can accept your offer or I can accept your offer under the following conditions. This gives him then, I would think, the happiness that he would expect with him and his family for Christmas, and he comes back to us then. Chair Spence -Jones: Can I just add -- because I don't want any of my other colleagues that are - - that's not sitting on the dais to bite my head off coming back from the holidays. I would like to at least assure Jim so he could relax over the holidays and not worry about, you know, any of it, but to come back in -- for the next meeting with a proper resolution -- Mr. Villacorta: OK. Chair Spence -Jones: -- because I don't want any of my colleagues to say that we voted on any item that had anything to do with money and they knew nothing about it and we voted on it, so I want to respect my colleagues and ask that if we agree -- see, I learn fast, right, Commissioner Regalado? You see that, right? I'm just telling you. Commissioner Regalado: I'm -- Chair Spence -Jones: I don't -- I -- Commissioner Regalado: I was remember that, two Commissioners ago, they gave the Mayor a huge raise, and there wasn't that much discussion, for a Christmas gift, but -- Chair Spence -Jones: Be nice. Commissioner Regalado: -- if -- Chair Spence -Jones: Be nice. Commissioner Regalado: -- I mean, yeah, but I think it's fine. It's a -- Chair Spence -Jones: I think -- Commissioner Regalado: -- I mean, I don't have a problem. I don't have a -- City of Miami Page 22 Printed on 12/28/2006 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes December 18, 2006 Chair Spence -Jones: Jim, you're com -- Jim, Jim, Jim, Jim, Jim, Jim, Jim. Are you comfortable with --? Mr. Villacorta: Sure. Maybe we can get the City Attorney to be reasonable and extend the loan. Chair Spence -Jones: I think that Commissioner Regalado -- Commissioner Regalado: Yeah. I was -- Chair Spence -Jones: -- can do that. Mr. Villacorta: And you're done. Commissioner Regalado: The City Attorney -- one thing that the City Attorney knows very well is that he sees the direction and he knows mathematics -- one, two, three -- and you know, I think it -- for the chairperson to have it in the blue page -- Chair Spence -Jones: Yeah. Commissioner Regalado: -- in the next Commission meeting and -- he said it on the record, that he was willing to extend -- Mr. Villacorta: Be reasonable. Commissioner Regalado: -- the deadline, so I don't know. I mean, you know, how much time you need or how much time we need? It's up to you. Chair Spence -Jones: I think we could be prepared for the next Commission meeting, right? You'll have it ready, right? We'll get it ready. I just want to make sure -- also, I want to respect my colleagues too, to at least make sure that they're in the loop of this, but I want to at least let Jim know and staff know to be -- they can breathe for a minute over the holidays, and then, when we come back, then Jim, you work out whatever the details are. Commissioner Regalado: So like you want a Christmas bonus or something? Mr. Villacorta: No. Well, thank you for your confidence. I like to think I have a quiet passion for the redevelopment, and those late -night e-mails (electronic mails) aren't coming from my Blackberry; they're coming from my desk. Chair Spence -Jones: Oh, good. No, I know you're committed. Commissioner Sarnoff.• Jim, from one lawyer to another, I just want to say to you, you should have carpe diemed [sic] it. Mr. Villacorta: OK. Chair Spence -Jones: So we're done with this item. I just want to add before -- just make sure that we get everything ready with staff so that we could have that and address that. We need to just meet with City Attorney to make sure he's on the same page with that, and then, also, I'd like to meet with you before the -- that meeting to really look at staffing and where we go from here because I do know that you need help -- Mr. Villacorta: Great. Chair Spence -Jones: -- OK, to make sure these projects move. City of Miami Page 23 Printed on 12/28/2006 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes December 18, 2006 Mr. Villacorta: Great. Chair Spence -Jones: All right. Thank you and welcome aboard, for the second time? Mr. Villacorta: Yeah. Chair Spence -Jones: Audience, can we give Jim a hand? Applause. Ms. Thompson: I'm sorry. Chair, I want to make sure that our -- Chair Spence -Jones: Yes. Ms. Thompson: -- record is clear. Chair Spence -Jones: Yes. Ms. Thompson: Are you giving instructions to the -- Chair Spence -Jones: Executive director. Ms. Thompson: -- executive director to draft, for the next CRA meeting, a resolution appointing the executive director? Chair Spence -Jones: Yes. Ms. Thompson: Is that what you're saying? Chair Spence -Jones: Yes, ma'am. Ms. Thompson: And what, if anything, is supposed to be going on the blue pages for Commission meeting? Commissioner Regalado: She was asking -- Chair Spence -Jones: About -- Commissioner Regalado: -- I suggested to ask an extension -- Chair Spence -Jones: For the City -- Commissioner Regalado: -- from they City Attorney's Office of his tenure there, and that's all that there is to it, so you can figure out in terms of the benefits. Mr. Villacorta: OK. Ms. Thompson: So that would be for your first meeting in January then? Chair Spence -Jones: Yes -- Commissioner Regalado: Yeah. Chair Spence -Jones: -- ma'am. City of Miami Page 24 Printed on 12/28/2006 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes December 18, 2006 Ms. Thompson: Thank you. Chair Spence -Jones: Thank you, Madam. 6. 06-02211 CRA DISCUSSION STATUS OF THE NEGOTIATIONS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF BLOCK 36 Cover Memo.pdf Back-up.pdf MOTION A motion was made by Commissioner Regalado, seconded by Commissioner Sarnoff, and was passed unanimously, with Vice Chair Gonzalez and Commissioner Sanchez absent, to direct the Interim Executive Director to issue an RFP for Block 36 after receiving input from the Black Archives/Lyric Theater, to include that a percentage of the TIF be used to create an endowment for the Lyric Theater. Chair Spence -Jones: All right. We're going to move to the last item, and that is the status of the negotiations for Block 36. I just want to add, this has been a year for me in the making just trying to really work hard on making sure projects happen without -- within my district, especially in the Overtown area, and I have to thank my colleagues for working very hard in supporting me on several issues regarding development happening in the Overtown area. We are now -- I really want to try to get an update on the status of the negotiations for Block 36, and really want to ask for your input on where we go from here. Mr. Hall and Dr. Fields and her organization's here tonight from Black Archives. I'd like for them to at least take a moment to at least kind of somewhat give us an update on where we are. I know that this project is a very important project for the Lyric Theater and for Black Archives. I know that they're very passionate about making sure some sort of development takes place with the Lyric Theater, and we just want them to know that we back them 100 percent, but we just need to figure out where do we go from here. I don't -- I didn't see Mr. John Hall. Did he leave? Unidentified Speaker: He's here. He's here. Chair Spence -Jones: OK. Mr. John Hall has worked very hard, along with the Lyric Theater, to work on that, so I just wanted to at least officially acknowledge him. Jim, do you want to start first, or do you -- would you like for them to start? James H. Villacorta (Interim Executive Director, Community Redevelopment Agency): Well, I can just give you a brief background. We issued an RFP (Request for Proposals) in January of '05, and received four proposals. In February of '05, the Board gave authorization to try to negotiate an agreement with Lyric Promenade Associates. We've diligently worked on that, as has Lyric Promenade Associates. I think the change in the real estate market has made the proposed development of a hotel, tax credit housing, and market rate housing problematic. We cannot allow them to change the proposal to drop out those elements that no longer work for them. At this point, it would seem that we might want to go back out for an RFP, and that RFP could encompass the idea of ongoing support and parking facilities for the Lyric Theater and Black Archives. Chair Spence -Jones: Thank you, Jim. Dr. Fields. Dorothy Jenkins Fields: Yes. Dorothy Fields and Gwendolyn Welters. We are members of the executive committee for the Black Archives, and we appreciate all the work that has been done and the patience of this board in trying to make it happen. It's been a gallant effort that has been put forth, and that's why we ask -- we're happy that John Hall is standing behind us City of Miami Page 25 Printed on 12/28/2006 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes December 18, 2006 because he has really put a lot of effort behind it. Unfortunately, the numbers have not worked for the needs of the Black Archives, namely, we need a revenue stream, and that's why we got into it. We need to have an endowment, and we need parking, and that just was not able -- that did not come forth with the efforts -- the gallant efforts that were made. Chair Spence -Jones: Mr. Hall, did you want to say anything? John Hall: Yes. I, too, would like to express the appreciation of our entire team for the patience and the support that came from the CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency), the director, as well as the Board. I think we're all aware that the market conditions and the condo market throughout Miami -Dade have changed dramatically. We had 160 units of condo in our project, and once those market forces changed, essentially, the house of cards (UNINTELLIGIBLE) on a mixed -use project -- as you know, in a mixed -use, all of the uses are symbiotically interrelated, and if one changes, it affects all of the others. We have not effectively been able to put back together a condo concept that was consistent with the original proposal, so we have no objection to what I understand is an agenda item to consider putting it back out for bid because we are not capable of doing it the way we proposed it, but we do believe this is an important anchor location for Overtown. We hope that the types of uses that come out in the next RFP are accommodateable [sic] to, again, the support for the Lyric Theater, as well as the parking. Thank you. Chair Spence -Jones: I just want to -- first of all, I don't know if my colleagues have any comments. No comments? Let me say this, for me, out of all of the things since being on this board, was a very difficult thing, and our attorney, Mr. William Bloom, can tell you this because many days I've sat to try to work through this issue because I understand how important it is for us to have a serious benchmark -type project happening in the heart of Overtown, and I just wanted to be very clear that while we're considering reputting [sic] this back out to bid, I would want to make sure, from our executive director, and also from my colleagues, that we make sure that Lyric and the Black Archives stays an intricate part of whatever development's going to take place on, behind, or close to, or whatever the case may be, as a part of the overall initiative or project. I think it's important that the history of African Americans in this town is not lost. I think it's important for the Lyric to be a part of that, so the only thing that I would really, really suggest and I'd like to make sure that we require have happen, is that the Lyric or the Black Archives remains a part of the overall project, as we look at where we go from here. Now I do want to also add that, you know, I know that we have time sensitive issues with the County, and I think that was one of the main concerns too, trying to meet these deadlines with the County. I think the land reverts back on a certain day and time and all of that, so even with that, it proposes some concerns, but the idea is to -- at least, I think that the relationship that Dr. Fields has in the County or the Black Archives has in this town that we be able to get the support that's necessary to make sure that the Lyric stays an intricate part of the Overtown Folklife Village. That is my only real comment regarding this issue. I don't know if my colleagues has -- have any statements on that or does Jim. Any --? Commissioner Regalado: I don't know. Is your plan or wish to have a motion to just -- directing the executive director to start on the RFP now or is it just --? Mr. Villacorta: Yeah. I think we would need a motion authorizing me to issue a new RFP for the project. Chair Spence -Jones: OK. Mr. Villacorta: We are under the time constraint of this property reverting back to the County in August 2007. Commissioner Regalado: Then I will move to direct the executive director to -- City of Miami Page 26 Printed on 12/28/2006 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes December 18, 2006 Chair Spence -Jones: Before you second it, I just want to make sure with Dr. Fields. I know that you came up and you -- are you comfortable with what we're proposing? Commissioner Regalado: I was going to say -- Chair Spence -Jones: OK. Commissioner Regalado: -- that the motion should include the chairman -- the chairperson statement that this RFP should look at this lot to be an intricate part of the Lyric and the Black Archives, and you know, I think that Dr. Fields and Mr. Hall should discuss the wording of the RFP in terms of you know, what could be the uses -- the preferred uses for this lot. William R. Bloom (Special Counsel, Community Redevelopment Agency): Commissioner, another suggestion I would have, because you're looking to get an endowment, some cash flow for the Lyric, and maybe, instead of having the developer get, you know, the use of a hundred percent of the TIF (Tax Increment Fund) generated by the project, that you require that whoever's the successful proponent give a percentage of the TIF goes directly to the Lyric Theater to create an endowment. That way, without them being partners in -- necessarily, in the entity, you're able to pick the best project that is compatible with the neighborhood, and the Lyric will benefit by direct -- getting directly from the CRA, a percentage of the TIF generated by that project. Chair Spence -Jones: I definitely want to make sure they def -- I think that's a brill -- that's a -- hey, that's why we pay you, huh? That's a brilliant suggestion, but I want to also add, I think it's important for them to also have ownership. I mean, that's fine for the TIF part of it, but I think that it's important for people from the community to see that there is some ownership from the people that have truly made a serious investment in the area and have been there for God knows how long, so if we could do both, that would be great, and I think your suggestion what you just made, which I thought was awesome, is making sure that they're involved in the process from the beginning on shaping what the -- is that what you -- is that -- that was --? Commissioner Regalado: Yeah. Chair Spence -Jones: OK Commissioner Regalado: That's exactly what I said. I mean -- Mr. Villacorta: The CRA statute requires us to consider any proposal that comes in, but it could be a part of the RFP that we are more interested in looking at proposals that would provide ongoing support and parking for the Black Archives and the Lyric Theater, but we would have to consider any proposal that was presented. Chair Spence -Jones: OK Commissioner Regalado: Of course you consider any proposal, but you also have a selection committee, and it happens all the time that the selection committee chooses, you know, what's best and what's the intent and -- of the Board and of the community and all that, so I don't think a problem with that. Chair Spence -Jones: So what is the action we're taking now? Mr. Villacorta: So -- Commissioner Regalado: A motion to -- City of Miami Page 27 Printed on 12/28/2006 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes December 18, 2006 Mr. Villacorta: Direct the ex -- Commissioner Regalado: -- direct the executive director to start drafting the RFP for Lot [sic] 36 -- Mr. Villacorta: To issue the RFP. Commissioner Regalado: -- to issue one, OK. All right, after the input of the Black Archives and the Lyric Theater and it's discussed and it's included in -- and the suggestion of Mr. Bloom that part of the TIF -- so people would know -- would go for endowment for the Lyric. Mr. Villacorta: Well, the TIF would come to the CRA. In the past, some developers have asked us to pay that over to them as a portion of funding their project, but we can say that we are not going to make the full TIF available to them if they wanted to do that. We are planning on setting aside -- or if we do -- Commissioner Regalado: Right, but they need to know -- Mr. Villacorta: -- we expect it to pass through. Commissioner Regalado: -- but they -- Mr. Villacorta: Yes. Commissioner Regalado: -- need to know. They need -- Mr. Villacorta: Yes. Commissioner Regalado: -- to know, so -- because they make the numbers thinking on the TIF number, and they need to know that part is going to be for an endowment for the theater. Commissioner Sarnoff: Can I amend your motion and add to it -- Commissioner Regalado: Absolutely. Commissioner Sarnoff -- that it also contain a component affordable housing? A component that would allow for (UNINTELLIGIBLE) of affordable housing as a part of the project. Commissioner Regalado: OK, but like really affordable? Chair Spence -Jones: Real affordable. Commissioner Regalado: OK. Commissioner Sarnoff• I didn't say workforce. I said affordable. Commissioner Regalado: OK. Chair Spence -Jones: So do I have -- so I have a motion -- Commissioner Regalado: We have a motion. Chair Spence -Jones: -- but do we have -- City of Miami Page 28 Printed on 12/28/2006 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes December 18, 2006 Mr. Villacorta: A second. Chair Spence -Jones: -- to amend -- Commissioner Regalado: We have a motion, as amended. Commissioner Sarnoff. Right. Second that motion, as amended. Chair Spence -Jones: All in favor? The Commission (Collectively): Aye. Chair Spence -Jones: Item -- all opposed? Item passes. Ms. Jenkins Fields: Thank you for your continued support. Chair Spence -Jones: No problem. NON -AGENDA ITEMS NA.1 06-02293 CRA DISCUSSION SWEARING IN OF COMMISSIONER MARC SARNOFF AS A MEMBER OF THE SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST AND OMNI COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCIES BY CLERK OF THE BOARD PRISCILLA A. THOMPSON. DISCUSSED Chair Spence -Jones: Yes. I would like to officially call the meeting for the CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) -- December 18 meeting to order, and before we get officially started, we have someone new joining us as a CRA member that we have to officially swear in at this point, so you have two swearing -ins [sic]. Commissioner Sarnoff. Gees. My parents aren't here, wait. They like all swearing -ins. Commissioner Regalado: They really (UNINTELLIGIBLE). Chair Spence -Jones: So Madam Clerk, what's the next step? Priscilla A. Thompson (Clerk of the Board): The next step is he needs to stand and raise his right hand. Commissioner Sarnoff The next step is he should have wore [sic] a tie. The City Clerk administered oath to Commissioner Marc Sarnoff as a member of the Southeast Overtown/Park West and Omni Community Redevelopment Agencies. Chair Spence -Jones: Welcome aboard. You don't have to do a speech this time, Marc. Commissioner Sarnoff• Well, then why did I even -- NA.2 06-02296 CRA DISCUSSION DISCUSSION REGARDING AUTHORIZING INTERIM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO IDENTIFY RENTAL BUILDINGS FOR REHABILITATION. City of Miami Page 29 Printed on 12/28/2006 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes December 18, 2006 MOTION Direction by Chair Spence Jones to the Interim Executive Director to work with Barbara Gomez -Rodriguez, Director, Department of Community Development, to craft a proposal that guarantees buildings receiving rehabilitation funds stay affordable for a predetermined period of time, and that, when working with homeless -related facilities, individuals participating in the rehabilitation program must work along with contractors assisting with the rehabilitation of the units; further, directing the Interim Executive Director to ident fy locations that can be rehabbed immediately and present a list of same at the CRA meeting currently scheduled for January 29, 2007. A motion was made by Commissioner Regalado, seconded by Commissioner Sarnoff, and was passed unanimously, with Vice Chair Gonzalez and Commissioner Sanchez absent, to authorize the Interim Executive Director to explore and grant contracts for rehabilitation of existing buildings where work can begin immediately and to bring the grants back for ratification at the earliest CRA meeting possible. Chair Spence -Jones: All right. We are actually getting ready to close out. I just want to just say to Jim, in closing, I'd like to direct Jim -- we've been talking back and forth around these dollars that we set aside for the affordable housing, the $30 million, and then I think that Commissioner Regalado asked that we pull out 5 million of that now. There's only about -- I believe, about two -- close to 2 million that would be available now to utilize it for rehabs. I've had a chance to meet with Barbara Rodriguez, and I think we met. We met all -- James H. Villacorta (Interim Executive Director, Community Redevelopment Agency): Yes. Chair Spence -Jones: -- both of us met last week to see if there's some units now in Overtown -- currently in the Overtown area within the CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) area that can be rehabbed immediately. Today, we went to look at a building in the heart, actually, of the Overtown area, and there's about 30 units there. You know we're having a serious homeless issue. You're on the Homeless Trust, and we have these buildings with no bodies in them, so here's an opportunity where we can take some of these dollars that we have right now to provide shelter or to provide housing for those individuals. The only thing that I would request is that you work along with Barbara Rodriguez to craft some sort of proposal so that if we put any dollars into any of these buildings, that they have to stay affordable for a certain period of time, and that those individuals, if you plan on working with anyone in the homeless -related organizations, that part of the individual's responsibility would be to work along with the contractors to assist with the rehab, meaning help do the painting and all of that to get the units available. I want to ask my colleagues if they're comfortable with that because this is something that we can do like now to really deal with this issue of the folks that need a place to live. I want to see that you guys are comfortable with that. Commissioner Regalado: Like -- is this like rentals? Chair Spence -Jones: Yes. Commissioner Regalado: I think it's great. Commissioner Sarnoff.• Yeah, that's fine. Commissioner Regalado: I think it -- Chair Spence -Jones: Do I have to do that in the form of a --? Commissioner Sarnoff.• Motion. City of Miami Page 30 Printed on 12/28/2006 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes December 18, 2006 Mr. Villacorta: That was just a direction to the -- Chair Spence -Jones: OK, so you don't -- Mr. Villacorta: -- executive director. Chair Spence -Jones: -- need -- you don't -- so do we need to come -- does it need to come back to us? You're going to come back to us in January saying we've identified these locations that can be rehabbed immediately that can assist us with these homeless -related issues that we're having or any of that, working along -- Commissioner Regalado: No, but I think that the direction was that particular building that you identified already. Chair Spence -Jones: OK. Mr. Villacorta: I can come back to you in January and schedule it as a report item. Chair Spence -Jones: OK As a report item, as a --? Mr. Villacorta: It's a direction for me to work with Barbara Rodriguez to make a rental rehabilitation -- to start the -- Commissioner Regalado: Assessment -- Mr. Villacorta: -- rental rehabilitation. Commissioner Regalado: -- on that building. Mr. Villacorta: Yes, on that building, to require that the buildings remain affordable, and to report back to you in January. Chair Spence -Jones: Right, and I want to leave it open. Not just that building, but they may find another building. I mean, this is one we saw today for 30 units, but they can still come back and report. He may come back and find a building that's in better shape that won't require as much, but we'll be able to service more people, so I want to leave it open. Commissioner Regalado: Of course, and how long would that take, the rehab? Mr. Villacorta: It depends on the amount of work. Some of those buildings are in pretty poor shape. I mean, there's wooden buildings with -- you'd have to upgrade the electrical system once you've begun -- you've gone beyond a certain point of renovating the building -- Chair Spence -Jones: See, that's the attorney in him right there. Mr. Villacorta: -- you've got to bring -- Chair Spence -Jones: You see that? Mr. Villacorta: -- the entire -- Chair Spence -Jones: You see that attorney thing coming out right here. William R. Bloom (Special Counsel, Community Redevelopment Agency): You're not allowed to City of Miami Page 31 Printed on 12/28/2006 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes December 18, 2006 do that anymore. Chair Spence -Jones: You see this? You see it? He's -- Mr. Bloom: Your wings have been clipped. Chair Spence -Jones: -- putting it on the record right now. Commissioner Regalado: You work for CIP (Capital Improvements Program) or what? Mr. Villacorta: Well, I'm also a general contractor -- Chair Spence -Jones: See. Mr. Villacorta: -- so -- Chair Spence -Jones: You've got about five hats. Commissioner Regalado: But listen -- Mr. Villacorta: -- I mean, there could be substantial costs involved -- Chair Spence -Jones: We want the one that does not -- we want the units that does not require a lot of -- Mr. Villacorta: You want the most -- Chair Spence -Jones: -- you know, just -- Mr. Villacorta: -- bang for your buck. Chair Spence -Jones: Yes. Commissioner Regalado: But let me just say this because this is a -- it's a very sensitive and uncomfortable thing to even discuss in public, but the area Commissioner and the chairperson has a situation whereby she needs to show that we are really meaning what we promised, and this is why my question when this will be done or how long would it take because, you know, you can promise heaven and say, well, you know, delays, maybe if you die young, you go, or maybe you have to wait until you are 90 years, but if you have a timetable, at least you have some people committed to help you in certain amount of time, and you can solve some collateral problems that you have in the area in terms of people in need of housing, so I'm just -- the reason I ask is because it's important that a certain date -- estimate date should be convey to some people that are really in need of housing. Mr. Villacorta: I think we could come back in January with having identified buildings that would be available and -- Commissioner Regalado: Well, like she needs to go tomorrow, I'm telling you. Mr. Villacorta: Well, I think you'd want to identi the properties; find those owners that are willing to enter into agreements to make their buildings affordable, which would have to be some sort of deed restriction so that they would then receive the tax benefits and not have their property taxes keep climbing while their rents were limited. We would -- Chair Spence -Jones: Put a covenant. City of Miami Page 32 Printed on 12/28/2006 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes December 18, 2006 Mr. Villacorta: -- use January -- Yeah, a covenant running with the land. We would then use February to obtain bids, and then come back to you for authorization to hire those contractors or to make those grants in March -- Commissioner Sarnoff: You're looking at -- Mr. Villacorta: -- is probably what -- Commissioner Sarnoff -- yeah, you're looking at -- Mr. Villacorta: -- you're looking at. Commissioner Sarnoff• -- not even the summer maybe. Mr. Villacorta: I mean -- Commissioner Regalado: Well -- Chair Spence -Jones: Commissioner Regalado, do you have a faster way to do it? Because if -- we can authorize the doll -- up to a certain amount right here, and then he can come back -- Commissioner Regalado: You know -- Chair Spence -Jones: -- and -- Mr. Villacorta: Well, right now, we've set aside $500, 000 for this program -- Commissioner Regalado: You know -- Mr. Villacorta: -- if you want to -- Commissioner Regalado: -- sometimes, to do the things by the book, we have to do it in a process and very slow, but there are some other people that have a sense of urgency -- Chair Spence -Jones: Emergency. Commissioner Regalado: -- and they're living in places that they should not be living, and at least, if you get a bus -- and I want to show you something. Get in this bus. This is what we're doing, and you see something going on. You have a silver lining, you know, that you can look at it, but if we're talking a process of probably, most likely, one or two years, there's no sense in promising anything at all because it doesn't solve -- Chair Spence -Jones: The immediate issue. Commissioner Regalado: -- the immediate issue. That's -- that was my only question in terms of how long, and in terms of how we can show that the words of the boards are being put into the work that needs to be done. Would it take month? Yes, but at least somebody's doing something, you know. Mr. Villacorta: I mean, there -- you could get into -- and not to wear the attorney hat, but you could get into the issue of having to have plans drawn for these buildings, getting building permits. To actually get the construction underway by March, I think would be -- I mean, we'd be moving quickly, and I think that would be not too overly optimistic. If the Board wanted to, we have set aside $500, 000 immediately for this grant program. If the opportunity came where a City of Miami Page 33 Printed on 12/28/2006 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes December 18, 2006 building owner had already gone out for bids and had bids, you could authorize me to give a grant out of those funds and come back to the Board for ratification, much like we did for the Art Basel events, where we were under a short time frame. That would let us move forward on this timeline, and if something comes across earlier, where they have bids, they have plans, they're ready to go, I can make the grant, get them started, and not have to wait for a meeting to get that project underway. Chair Spence -Jones: And I do know, for instance, Community Development, Barbara has a couple of buildings that have already been bidded [sic] out, and that -- for other things that she was working on that we could make available immediately. My issue, though, is I was trying to get the vacant buildings because, you know, it's OK for me to rehab the existing buildings with people in there, but I won't be getting any new units. Commissioner Regalado: Right -- Chair Spence -Jones: Here, I'm trying to -- Commissioner Regalado: -- and that's -- Chair Spence -Jones: -- get units that are like nobody -- Commissioner Regalado: -- and that is -- Chair Spence -Jones: -- living in. Commissioner Regalado: -- the point. That's the whole point of this project when you thought about it, to bring new units, to bring new people, to bring people in need, to bring people that, as we speak, they're living in conditions that are unacceptable, and you know, the good thing is that, you know, the executive director is an attorney, and he almost -- I'm sure he will throw a monkey wrench in any process, but at the same time, he's a general contractor, and he will not be fooled by other people. I mean, he knows exactly -- looking at the building, he knows exactly -- at least a timeline and the thing that he needs, so I would -- I'm just saying that you, personally, and the Board needs to show something moving. That's all that I'm saying because there is great need out there, and you know, the County seems not to move in any direction at all. They are confused and they're under attack by new revelations everyday, and so if we can only offer one small project, small as it is, people at least will understand that we just want to try to solve the problem. That's all that we're saying, so there's a motion. I don't know. Commissioner Sarnoff: I'll second the motion, as amended. Chair Spence -Jones: All in -- what -- well, first, let me be clear. What is the motion? Mr. Villacorta: It's a motion -- Chair Spence -Jones: Because I done got lost. Commissioner Regalado: The motion is very clear. The executive director has 500 -- Mr. Villacorta: Is authorized to issue -- Commissioner Regalado: The executive director is authorized to explore and authorize contracts for rehab in buildings that are being accepted by the executive director and by Miami's Community Development, and start immediate work, if that is the case that he can -- that he understands that that building can be rehabbed with the support of the CRA and the Community Development agency of the City. Is that --? City of Miami Page 34 Printed on 12/28/2006 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes December 18, 2006 Mr. Villacorta: And I can make a grant and I'll bring those grants back to the Board for ratification. Chair Spence -Jones: In January. Mr. Villacorta: Yes. Chair Spence -Jones: We don't want to be in summer, the people, you know -- Mr. Villacorta: No. As soon as we identify buildings that have contractors ready to go and a permit, we'll make the -- we'll make grants on a reimbursement basis to those contractors for work completed, and I'll bring the grants back to the Board for ratification at the earliest possible CRA meeting, and that you want to see results now. Commissioner Sarnoff: I'm trying to see what my amendment was. Chair Spence -Jones: The housing. Commissioner Sarnoff: I was (UNINTELLIGIBLE). I'll second his motion. Chair Spence -Jones: OK. All in favor? The Commission (Collectively): Aye. Chair Spence -Jones: None opposed. This meeting is officially adjourned, but before we do that, we're going to have a Christmas carol by Commissioner Sarnoff and Commissioner Regalado -- Commissioner Regalado: Really, no. Chair Spence -Jones: -- to close us out because we won't see you until new -- in New Year's, so you guys ready? Commissioner Regalado: I -- Chair Spence -Jones: On the count of three. Commissioner Regalado: -- can only say that, you know, we all wish everyone a happy holidays, Merry Christmas, and of course, we know that 2007 will be a better year, and we are going to have fun on the City Commission level, that's for sure. Commissioner Sarnoff: I'm probably the only person sitting here that got everything that they wanted in 2006, so I'm sitting here very happy and content, and I want to thank everybody who helped me get the support to be here, and even those that didn't -- Chair Spence -Jones: That's fine. Commissioner Sarnoff: -- and just say that it's truly exciting to be here. It's truly a very interesting process. Being briefed or "longed" by the City of Miami -- because there is no such thing as a brief meeting -- is a very interesting process, and I think the professionalism that I've seen from the City has been a very welcome treat for me, and I know when I celebrate the holiday season, Christmas and Hanukah, that I'll give thanks to everybody from the City of Miami and the citizens who put me here, so to everybody, I would say Merry Christmas, Feliz Navidad, and Happy Hanukah. City of Miami Page 35 Printed on 12/28/2006 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes December 18, 2006 Commissioner Regalado: That's cool. Mr. Villacorta: Kwanzaa. Chair Spence -Jones: I guess I'm the last one, huh? I just -- again, this has definitely been a very interesting year for me being in this seat a year. I am extremely excited about where we're going from a CRA perspective. I'm going to make sure that I keep the vision and the mission of the CRA first. I'm going to always make sure that I put people before politics because, at the end of the day, that's why we were elected. I want to also make sure that -- I love being on this CRA with all this leadership. Commissioner Regalado's been awesome and has pulled my coattail a couple -- or my skirt tail a couple time, and even though, Commissioner Sarnoff, you're right, I wasn't on your team in the beginning, but we are on the same team now -- Commissioner Sarnoff.• Exactly. Chair Spence -Jones: -- and I do respect when a district speaks and who they choose as their leader, that we all must follow, and to the staff of the CRA, and to Jim, and everybody else, I look forward to working with you for 2007, but the mission has to always come first, and I want us to be able to look back next year and see houses really built; see apartments really rehabbed; see things happening in both sides of the CRA. We see Omni is moving, thanks to Fred -- I don't know where Fred Joseph is. There's Fred. -- and his hard work, and things are moving on the Overtown side too. We just want to physically see some buildings and things happening, and I think we're well on our way with that. I just want to make sure that, in the midst of all this, you know, Jazz Village and the other projects that we must move, just stay on top of them to make sure that they move, and I'm -- I guess I got to say Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukah, Happy Kwanzaa -- I don't want to forget that -- and a Happy New Year. God bless everyone and see you next year. Applause. Fred Joseph: Madam Chair, the Omni would like to -- Chair Spence -Jones: Now you're going to mess up our little -- Mr. Joseph: -- your Commissioner -- you're a new Commissioner to the Omni and we're very pleased to have you -- Chair Spence -Jones: OK. Mr. Joseph: -- whether we voted for you or not. We want you to be welcome in our district and we are on your team now -- Chair Spence -Jones: OK. Mr. Joseph: -- and we are real happy your district is in the CRA as well, and as for the Omni Advisory Board, thank you for coming on board with us. Commissioner Sarnoff.• Thanks, Mr. Joseph. Mr. Joseph: It took a lot to put your hat in the ring, and I -- Commissioner Sarnoff.• It did. Mr. Joseph: -- appreciate it. City of Miami Page 36 Printed on 12/28/2006 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes December 18, 2006 Commissioner Sarnoff It did. Chair Spence -Jones: And Mr. Joseph, I just also want to make sure that I also thank the Clerk staff -- Mr. Joseph: Absolutely. Chair Spence -Jones: -- for their outstanding work. Madam Clerk -- Priscilla A. Thompson (City Clerk): Thank you. We appreciate it. Applause. Chair Spence -Jones: -- and your wonderful team; Pam Burns -- who else am I missing? Mr. Villacorta: Teri. Ms. Thompson: See Teri. Mr. Villacorta: Teri. Chair Spence -Jones: Teri. We really appreciate you guys. (UNINTELLIGIBLE) -- and Communications. I believe in thanking everybody, and if I didn't remember you, I'll tell you in person. God bless you and have a great holiday. City of Miami Page 37 Printed on 12/28/2006