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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSEOPW OMNI CRA 2008-12-15 MinutesCity of Miami City Hall 3500 Pan American Drive Miami, FL 33133 www.miamigov.com CPI • IN Q9P 99 1i? ▪ I1JYD Meeting Minutes Monday, December 15, 2008 5:00 PM DOUBLE TREE GRAND HOTEL 1717 N. BAYSHORE DRIVE MIAMI, FL. 33132 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Michelle Spence -Jones, Chair Marc David Sarnoff, Vice Chair Angel Gonzalez, 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 15, 2008 Present: Commissioner Gonzalez, Commissioner Regalado, Chair Spence -Jones and Vice Chair Sarnoff Absent: Commissioner Sanchez On the 15th day of December 2008, 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 Doubletree Grand Hotel, 1717 North Bayshore Drive, Miami, Florida. The meeting was called to order by Chair Michelle Spence -Jones at 5: 09 p.m. and was adjourned at 6:21 p. m. ALSO PRESENT: James H. Villacorta, Interim Executive Director, CRA Gail A. Dotson, Assistant General Counsel, CRA William R. Bloom, Special Counsel, CRA Pamela E. Burns, Assistant Clerk of the Board FINANCIALS 1. 08-01464 CRA REPORT FINANCIAL SUMMARY THROUGH MONTH ENDING NOVEMBER 30, 2008. Financial Summary.pdf DISCUSSED Direction by Vice Chair Sarnoff to the Interim Executive Director to provide the Board with a list of all projects and the amount of funds encumbered by said projects. Chair Spence -Jones: Good evening and welcome to the CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) meeting for December 15, 2008. Happy holidays. We wanted to close out the year with a little Thanksgiving holiday feast. I hope you guys are enjoying it. Wanted to say thank you for all of the supporters over the last year of the CRA, and just want to thank staff for pulling that together. We are officially going ahead and -- get ready to start the meeting, but Madam City Clerk, I think you have some quick announcements, and then we will officially begin. Pamela E. Burns (Assistant Clerk of the Boarc): I just want to remind everyone that when the meeting starts, I need all of your cell phones either turned off or placed on vibrate, please. Thank you. Chair Spence -Jones: Okay. With that being said we're going to go head [sic] and officially start the meeting. I'm going to turn over item number 1, the CRA financial summary. Miguel, if you're ready. Miguel Valentin (Financial Officer, Community Redevelopment Agency): Good evening, Commissioners. On page 1, we have the combined statement of financial position as of November 30, 2008. On the first item, named as cash unrestricted, we are disclosing the amount of 100,000 under Southeast Overtown/Park West, and under Omni, we are disclosing the amount of 100, 000. For the affordable workforce housing project, as of to date, we have budgeted 7,260,142; of this amount 6,660,142 has been encumbered and 2,402,623 has been expended, leaving an available balance of 60 -- 600,000 available. That remaining balance is going to be allocated toward the Jint Holding project that is going to be presented on next board meeting. Also, I wanted to inform the Board that there is no reportable condition. The auditors, they have just released the external audit report. It was a clean opinion, and they are going to be presenting the audit report on next board meeting, and everything is fine. City of Miami Paget Printed on 1/6/2009 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes December 15, 2008 Chair Spence -Jones: Thank you, Miguel. Any questions from my fellow colleagues? Vice Chair Sarnoff I do. Chair Spence -Jones: Okay. You're recognized. Vice Chair Sarnoff Miguel, is there a list or a categorization that you put together of all projects that encumber the respective amounts? Mr. Valentin: Yes, sir. Vice Chair Sarnoff Could you send that to my office? Mr. Valentin: Yes, sir, I will, and I have it ready for your own assessment. Chair Spence -Jones: Okay. You're recognized. James H. Villacorta (Interim Executive Director, Community Redevelopment Agency): Yeah. It was included with the budget packages that were delivered, but we'll give you an updated one, as you requested. Chair Spence -Jones: Okay. Alrighty. I just -- Anything, Commissioner Regalado? Commissioner Regalado: No. Chair Spence -Jones: Okay. We're going to go head [sic] and move off this item. The only thing that I do want to say -- and Jim, I know that we had -- one of the biggest issues -- well, not issues -- one of the things that we really focused our attention on is affordable housing and rehabbing some of those units, so I want to commend you guys. No, we didn't get a chance to visit some of them at the grand opening, but I know that we just completed a new building on one of the Jint properties. How many units is that? Mr. Villacorta: Twenty-five units. Chair Spence -Jones: Twenty-five new rehabbed units, and there's another building that we also completed. How many units on that? Mr. Villacorta: Six units. Chair Spence -Jones: Okay, and we should be doing an official opening on those when, Jim? Mr. Villacorta: Next month -- Chair Spence -Jones: Okay, so all -- Mr. Villacorta: -- beginning of the month. Chair Spence -Jones: -- just in general, how many units have you rehabbed over the last six months? Mr. Villacorta: We have 33 that are just starting, so with that, it's about 120 units, 110 units, in that range. Chair Spence -Jones: Okay. And I just want to commend the staff on that and your whole team City of Miami Page 3 Printed on 1/6/2009 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes December 15, 2008 because we gave you a mandate of rehabbing some of these units that were in horrible conditions in the heart of Overtown to improve housing and that clearly is happening now so I wanted to at least acknowledge you guys for your great work on that and hopefully we can get families living and moving in the area. RESOLUTIONS 2. 08-01466 CRA RESOLUTION A JOINT RESOLUTION OF THE BOARDS OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST AND OMNI REDEVELOPMENT DISTRICT COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCIES ("CRAS") AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO RENEW THE CRAS' GROUP HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE WITH NEIGHBORHOOD HEALTH PARTNERSHIP, INC. FOR CALENDAR YEAR 2009, AT AN ANNUAL COST NOT TO EXCEED $45,000; 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 Form.pdf Backup.pdf Legislation.pdf Motion by Commissioner Gonzalez, seconded by Vice Chair Sarnoff, that this matter be ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote. Votes: Ayes: 4 - Vice Chair Sarnoff, Chair Spence -Jones, Commissioner Gonzalez and Commissioner Regalado Absent: 1 - Commissioner Sanchez CRA-R-08-0066 Chair Spence -Jones: Okay. We're going to go ahead and move on to item number 2. Jim, it's on you. James H. Villacorta (Interim Executive Director, Community Redevelopment Agency): Item number 2 is a joint resolution of the Boards of Commissioners of the Southeast Overtown/Park West and Omni Redevelopment District Community Redevelopment Agencies authorizing the executive director to renew the CRA's (Community Redevelopment Agency's) group health insurance coverage with Neighborhood Health Partnership, Inc. for calendar year 2009, at an annual cost not to exceed $45, 000. This is -- Commissioner Gonzalez: Motion. Vice Chair Sarnoff. Second. Chair Spence -Jones: I have a motion and a second. All in favor? The Commissioners (Collectively): Aye. Chair Spence -Jones: All right. This item passes. 3. 08-01465 CRA RESOLUTION A JOINT RESOLUTION OF THE BOARDS OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST AND OMNI REDEVELOPMENT City of Miami Page 4 Printed on 1/6/2009 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes December 15, 2008 DISTRICT COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCIES ("CRAS") AUTHORIZING REIMBURSEMENT OF FY 2008 TRUST REVENUES COLLECTED BY THE CRAS, IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $662,144, TO THE CHILDREN'S TRUST, MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, AN INDEPENDENT SPECIAL TAXING DISTRICT; AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO EXECUTE ALL DOCUMENTS NECESSARY FOR SAID PURPOSE; ALLOCATING FUNDS AS FOLLOWS: $215,813 FROM SEOPW TAX INCREMENT FUND, "OTHER CURRENT CHARGES AND OBLIGATIONS," ACCOUNT CODE NO. 10050.920101.549000.0000.00000; AND $446,331 FROM OMNI TAX INCREMENT FUND, "OTHER CURRENT CHARGES AND OBLIGATIONS," ACCOUNT CODE NO. 10040.920101.549000.0000.00000. Cover Memo.pdf Financial Form.pdf Back-up.pdf Legislation.pdf Motion by Vice Chair Sarnoff, seconded by Commissioner Gonzalez, that this matter be ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote. Votes: Ayes: 3 - Vice Chair Sarnoff, Commissioner Gonzalez and Commissioner Regalado Noes: 1 - Chair Spence -Jones Absent: 1 - Commissioner Sanchez CRA-R-08-0067 Direction by Chair Spence -Jones to the Interim Executive Director to schedule a meeting with the Children's Trust to identify target areas in the CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) that need the most funding from the Children's Trust. Chair Spence -Jones: We move on to item number 3. James H. Villacorta (Interim Executive Director, Community Redevelopment Agency): Item number 3 is a joint resolution of the Boards of Commissioners of the Southeast Overtown/Park West and Omni Redevelopment District Community Redevelopment Agencies authorizing the reimbursement of fiscal year 2008 Trust revenues collected by the CRAs (Community Redevelopment Agencies), in an amount not to exceed $662,144, to the Children's Trust, Miami -Dade County, an independent special taxing district, and authorizing the executive director to execute all documents necessary for said purpose. This is a -- the Children's Trust levies a half mill property tax over the CRA areas. The CRAs collect these funds, and if they are not needed to pay our outstanding bond obligations, we pay them back to the Children's Trust at the end of the year and they spend the money within the CRAs. We may have somebody from the Children's Trust here. Chair Spence -Jones: Is anybody here from the Children's Trust? Vice Chair Sarnoff. So moved. Commissioner Gonzalez: Second. Chair Spence -Jones: I have a motion and a second. I do have -- Any questions you have, 'cause I do, but I don't know if you have any? Commissioner Regalado: Yeah. I have one. Chair Spence -Jones: Okay. Commissioner Regalado, you're recognized. City of Miami Page 5 Printed on 1/62009 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes December 15, 2008 Commissioner Regalado: Why is it this year lower than last year? Mr. Villacorta: The -- Commissioner Regalado: Remember, last year it was like close to a million? Mr. Villacorta: I'm not sure it was that high last year. We -- for a number of years, we hadn't reached an agreement with the Trust to do this. We have to collect the money because we have outstanding bond obligations and our bond obligations require us to collect the funds that are levied. For a couple of years, we didn't have an agreement with the Trust to rebate those monies back When that money was -- when that agreement was finally reached, there may have been a higher payment that first year because we were refunding more than one year's collections. Commissioner Regalado: But they are using the money within the CRA? Mr. Villacorta: Yes. They're required to spend the funds within the two -- Commissioner Regalado: Yeah. One thing -- Mr. Villacorta: -- redevelopment areas. Commissioner Regalado: -- is required -- Chair Spence -Jones: Required. Commissioner Regalado: -- but the other thing is if they are doing it. Mr. Villacorta: They have provided -- it's in your materials -- a breakdown of where the monies are being spent. And in Overtown, they show $1,588, 000 being spent in Overtown. Chair Spence -Jones: Where? Just so you could put it on the record. I think -- we just see the Children's Trust walking through the door now. Mr. Villacorta: Okay. Chair Spence -Jones: I think I see Mo. Mr. Villacorta: Mr. Abety, we're -- Chair Spence -Jones: Mo -- Mr. Abety, would you --? We're actually on your item. Mr. Villacorta: -- on your item. Chair Spence -Jones: Welcome. Modesto Abety: Oh, I'm sorry. Chair Spence -Jones: No problem. Commissioner Regalado was just -- had some very pointed questions. The item has actually been moved and second, but there are some questions on the item. Mr. Abety: Sure. Chair Spence -Jones: Commissioner Regalado, you're recognized. City of Miami Page 6 Printed on 1/6/2009 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes December 15, 2008 Commissioner Regalado: No. Just wanted to know the different programs that you have now in the Omni and the Overtown CRA area. Mr. Abety: Okay. Actually, I have a list of these for you, ifI might. Pamela E. Burns (Assistant Clerk of the Board): I'm sorry. We need your name for the record and if you could come closer to the microphone. Mr. Abety: My name is Modesto Abety. I'm president and CEO (Chief Executive Officer) of the Children's Trust. As relates to our investments in the CRA, I'm providing you with a list of those programs that are funded both in the Southeast Overtown/Park West CRA and in the Omni CRA. Our investments in the first of these, the Overtown/Park West, total over a million five eighty-eight, and in the Omni CRA, total about eight hundred and twenty-two thousand, seven hundred and seventy-two dollars. We have listed for you the sites where these programs are located. They correspond to the attached map on each of these, so you can see them on this map. And we provide also the name of the initiative, the amount that we fund, when the program is scheduled to end, and the number served per site. Chair Spence -Jones: We don't have the Omni listing. Do you have the Omni listing, Jim? Mr. Villacorta: Yeah. It's behind your map. The handout that he gave you is what's included in your materials. They did include, for instance, Booker T. Washington in Overtown, which is technically outside the boundaries -- Chair Spence -Jones: Yeah. That's one -- Mr. Villacorta: -- of the CRA. Chair Spence -Jones: -- of the questions I also had, Mo, when I saw the list is many of -- Well, first of all, let me let my colleague finish. Any additional questions you have on it, 'cause I know Commissioner Regalado: No. Chair Spence -Jones: -- I have a lot? Commissioner Regalado: No, no. That's it. Chair Spence -Jones: One of the concerns that I have on the item -- I know that both myself and Regalado have asked several times to have a representative come over to sit down and discuss with us what's happening with the dollars or creating some type of grand program for projects that we know that we need assistance with in the Overtown area and the Omni area. Most of -- a lot of these projects, at least from the Overtown area, really fall outside of the boundaries of the Overtown area, which -- the Overtown CRA, like Booker T. Washington. You do have a lot of them, but they're not based in the Overtown CRA. The other question I know that came up in the past was really making sure that many of the programs that service the youth there right there in the heart of Overtown are actually receiving the benefits for -- from the Children's Trust, meaning, you know, they're able to actually apply and actually be able to utilize those resources based upon initiatives that we already have going on in CRA to kind of provide support to those existing programs. And many of these things that I see on the list is kind of like really add-ons. It's like add-ons from the perspective of these are existing programs that are already going on through the Children's Trust and we're kind of just tapping into them and, you know, basically saying that these are programs that we're funding as a part of what we're giving you guys. City of Miami Pagel Printed on 1/6/2009 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes December 15, 2008 Mr. Abety: Well, let -- Chair Spence -Jones: And I know, from day one, one of the issues I had with that is that a lot of the smaller programs that are doing great work are, you know, starving or not having the kind of support they need in order to service the children of Overtown, and that was the reason why I asked the question from the Children's Trust that before anything went out, that we would sit down and at least you guys would get our goals and objectives of what we are trying to have happen within the CRA so that whatever you created you know, it just made sense, you know, and I can just look at this list now and see some of the names on this list, you know, which are big institutions, which is great, but I don't know how -- whether or not they're actually trickling down to the people. So I have a -- you know, I know you -- we have a motion and a second, you know, but it's very hard for me to support this item, you know, tonight because I really feel as though, you know, especially with all the issues we have on the -- going on in the heart of Overtown, especially with young people, clearly, if we had some of these dollars that could focus on the youth programs that could really keep some of these kids off the streets, involved in, you know, positive activities, then we probably wouldn't have as much crime and everything else that we have happening in Overtown. So I have a big issue and a big concern with this. And then when I look at the -- I'm not going to even begin to talk about the Omni list. I mean, that -- the district Commissioner is here and he really can make that decision himself, but I just have a -- and I love everything that you guys do, Mo, but I'm just telling you, you know, when I look at some of these organizations on here, you know, it's -- they're not really touching the people like we need for them to touch the people. Mr. Abety: Commissioner, there's not a large number of community -based organizations in the Overtown area that focus specifically on children and family that we're not funding. We did have a number of smaller community -based organizations -- we have established a fund to address issues of small community -based organizations, organizations who have overall budgets of less than 300, 000, in order to provide opportunities for small faith -based groups to participate and compete only amongst themselves, but we do have high standards, quality standards. We -- a fourth of everything that we fund goes to small community -based organizations with budgets of 300,000 or less. We did have a number of agencies that applied under that small CBO (Community -Based Organization) process from Overtown. They simply were nowhere near the cut-off point for an acceptable application in terms of the high quality that both you and I would want for the kids in that neighborhood. Chair Spence -Jones: Right. But let me just say this, Mo. And with all due respect, that was one of the reasons why -- and I don't want to spend a lot of time because we do have other items on the agenda, but I do want to make sure that I make a recommendation that as we move forward, that you really sit down with the CRA and create a program -- Mr. Abety: I've -- we've been -- Chair Spence -Jones: -- even if it means us creating -- providing the organizations with technical assistance so that they are able to compete and they are -- because you have people in Overtown -- I'm just speaking for Overtown. I can't speak for what's happening in the Omni CRA, but I can tell you this, that they're servicing children and they're doing an outstanding job. And maybe there's some things that they might be lacking on, but the reality is that's why we're here is to provide them with the technical assistance so they could better serve the children. Some of the -- Mr. Abety: Commissioner, we've -- Chair Spence -Jones: One second, sir. Mr. Abety: Yes. I'm sorry. City of Miami Page 8 Printed on 1/6/2009 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes December 15, 2008 Chair Spence -Jones: -- organizations -- I see one right here, Urgent, Inc., and they're not on the list, and I know that Saliha has been servicing the young people in the Overtown area and doing an outstanding job. Maybe it's not -- maybe (UNINTELLIGIBLE) -- Mr. Abety: Urgent, Inc. is one of the organizations that we do fund. Chair Spence -Jones: Okay, but not out of this money. Mr. Abety: Perhaps, not to address issues in Overtown. Chair Spence -Jones: Right. But my point is they're servicing the youth of Overtown in that area and they're doing an outstanding job. The Optimist Club, they have 500 young people there right in the heart of Overtown that their families come there every week, they're a captive audience, and it's a great group of kids and a great group of families that they need additional support. Well, you know, maybe there're some issues they need from a technical assistance standpoint, but why am I letting 500 families leave there and not have the kind of support they need if they live within the district? So I'm not going to make this a beat-up-the-Children's-Trust. I'm just simply -- I want you to hear my plea, and my plea is -- Mr. Abety: I hear you. Chair Spence -Jones: -- that you really need to sit down and work out with Jim to make sure that we're providing the support that's needed for the organizations in the area. Mr. Abety: Be glad to do that. Chair Spence -Jones: And that's not someone that's coming just in the area to deliver to the people. It's people that are there every single day in the struggle to make a difference in the lives of the people there. That's my point more so than anything else. Mr. Abety: It's part of our mission to do that. We embrace it. Chair Spence -Jones: So that was really my only point. Do you have another -- anything you want to add? Commissioner Regalado: You're aware that last Thursday there was a discussion at the City Commission meeting regarding a grant that the Children's Trust pulled from the City of Miami in Virrick Park, which is in the Grove, and you may be aware, probably, that the Parks Department sort of blame the Children's Trust. My understanding is different, that the Children's Trust did try to get this grant to work for two years, but unfortunately, they couldn't, but the point is that, you know, the City of Miami, it's a (UNINTELLIGIBLE) city. It's a huge amount of property values in the City of Miami. It's one of the main income, I'm sure, of the Children's Trust, downtown Brickell, the Grove. So -- and the Omni and the Overtown area are those -- I mean, the figures speak for themself. So I don't know if the Children's Trust -- and I do think the Children's Trust is doing a great job, but I don't know if the Children's Trust is really focused on the purpose and the spirit of the motion that was approved by this Board that this money needs to be spent in the Overtown area because, after all, if we won't give it to the Children's Trust, we could go on a legal battle, it would be used in Overtown and Omni, and some of these programs are not. They're funded, but they're not used within the Overtown and the Omni area, and that -- I think that that's the Chair point, and I think that it really deserve -- because, after all, we are taking this money from the Overtown and Omni residents and we're giving it to you. We could challenge this because it's a CRA, but -- and I think that -- I understand that point, and I don't know what else we can do or what else you can do, but I am very concerned that the money is not being used to target the Overtown and the Omni children, which we have many. City of Miami Page Printed on 1/6/2009 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes December 15, 2008 Mr. Abety: Commissioner, I understand what you're saying, and yet, I can assure you that the vast majority of these funds are being used to serve children from the Overtown area. Booker T. Washington is the school that serves these children at that grade level. And so, there may be programs that function outside of that area, but families and children are being provided with a significantly larger amount of funding than is required by our CRA agreement. We have reached out to your staff on a number of occasions to sit down and discuss funding decisions. We will continue to do that. Chair Spence -Jones: Any other comments, Commissioner? Commissioner Regalado: No. Chair Spence -Jones: Okay. Any other comments from --? Okay, so I think that's really -- do you want to make a comment at all, Commissioner --? Okay. All right. We basically had a motion and a second on the item, so the item has already passed. I just want to give a directive that I would like -- and this is like the third -- Commissioner Regalado: No. We need to vote. Chair Spence -Jones: Oh. Motion -- we had a motion and a second. All in favor? Commissioner Sarnoff. Aye. Commissioner Regalado: Aye. Chair Spence -Jones: All right. Let the record reflect I said no on this item. I would like to also make sure that there is a meeting that's set up for the next go -around to make sure we put programs together to really target the areas that need it the most. Mr. Villacorta: Okay. Chair Spence -Jones: Thank you. Mr. Abety: Thank you very much. 4. 08-01470 CRA RESOLUTION A JOINT RESOLUTION OF THE BOARDS OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST AND OMNI REDEVELOPMENT DISTRICT COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCIES, WITH ATTACHMENT(S), RATIFYING EXPENDITURES AND GRANTS IN SUPPORT OF 2008 ART BASEL EVENTS SET FORTH IN EXHIBIT "A;" ALLOCATING FUNDS AS FOLLOWS: $41,000 FROM SEOPW TAX INCREMENT FUND, "OTHER GRANTS AND AIDS," ACCOUNT CODE NO. 10050.920101.883000.0000.00000; AND $8,500 FROM OMNI TAX INCREMENT FUND, "OTHER GRANTS AND AIDS," ACCOUNT CODE NO. 10040.920101.883000.0000.00000. Financial Form.pdf Legislation.pdf Cover Memo.pdf Motion by Vice Chair Sarnoff, seconded by Commissioner Gonzalez, that this matter be ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote. City of Miami Page 10 Printed on 1/62009 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes December 15, 2008 Votes: Ayes: 4 - Vice Chair Sarnoff, Chair Spence -Jones, Commissioner Gonzalez and Commissioner Regalado Absent: 1 - Commissioner Sanchez CRA-R-08-0068 Chair Spence -Jones: All right. We're going to move on to item number 4. James H. Villacorta (Interim Executive Director, Community Redevelopment Agency): Item number 4 is a joint resolution of the Boards of Commissioners of the Southeast Overtown/Park West and Omni Redevelopment District Community Redevelopment Agencies, with attachments, ratifying the expenditures and grants in support of 2008 Art Basel events, as set forth in Exhibit A, and allocating funds from the -- $41, 000 from the SEOPW (Southeast Overtown/Park West) tax increment fimd and $8, 500 from the Omni tax increment fitnd Vice Chair Sarnoff. So moved. Commissioner Gonzalez: Second. Chair Spence -Jones: Had a motion and a second. All in favor? The Commissioners (Collectively): Aye. Chair Spence -Jones: All right. This item passes. And I just wanted to also mention real fast, as a part of the grand opening, we did have Art Basel event. I don't know if you've had a chance to see it on 3rd Avenue, but there was a beautiful mural that was put up on the gateway for Miami -Dade Transit. We had some great write-ups on behalf of various newspapers about Purvis Young; having a beautiful image of him in the neighborhood has been wonderful, so part of these dollars was used to definitely support that initiative, so I want to thank staff on that. 5. 08-01472 CRA RESOLUTION A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY AUTHORIZING POINCIANA VILLAGE CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION, INC. TO REALLOCATE THE REMAINING BALANCE OF GRANT FUNDS, IN THE AMOUNT OF $7,246.45, FOR FENCE REPAIRS. Cover Memo.pdf Legislation.pdf Motion by Commissioner Gonzalez, seconded by Commissioner Regalado, that this matter be ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote. Votes: Ayes: 4 - Vice Chair Sarnoff, Chair Spence -Jones, Commissioner Gonzalez and Commissioner Regalado Absent: 1 - Commissioner Sanchez CRA-R-08-0069 Chair Spence -Jones: Item number 5. James H. Villacorta (Interim Executive Director, Community Redevelopment Agency): Item number 5 is a resolution of the Board of Commissioners of the Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment Agency authorizing Poinciana Village Condominium Association, Inc. to reallocate the remaining balance of grant funds, in the amount of $7,246.45, for fence repairs. We previously gave this condominium association a grant for repair of life -safety items, City of Miami Page 11 Printed on 1/62009 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes December 15, 2008 including fire safety, exterior lighting, and some other cosmetic upgrades. They had a balance of $7, 000 -- Commissioner Gonzalez: Move item S. Mr. Villacorta: -- left and we could -- Vice Chair Sarnoff. Second. Chair Spence -Jones: We had a motion and a second. All -- Mr. Villacorta: -- would like to use it for -- Vice Chair Spence -Jones: -- in favor? Mr. Villacorta: -- fence repairs. The Commissioners (Collectively): Aye. Chair Spence -Jones: All right. This item officially passes. 6. 08-01469 CRA RESOLUTION A JOINT RESOLUTION OF THE BOARDS OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST AND OMNI REDEVELOPMENT DISTRICT COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCIES AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF AN AGREEMENT, IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO GENERAL COUNSEL, WITH AKERMAN, SENTERFITT & EIDSON, P.A. FOR REPRESENTATION AND LOBBYING SERVICES BEFORE CONGRESS AND FEDERAL AGENCIES REGARDING LEGISLATIVE ISSUES AND APPROPRIATIONS REQUESTS, FOR A TWO-YEAR PERIOD COMMENCING FEBRUARY 1, 2009, IN AN ANNUAL AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $48,000, FOR A TWO-YEAR TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $96,000, PLUS REASONABLE EXPENSES AS APPROVED BY THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR; ALLOCATING FUNDS AS FOLLOWS: $16,000 EACH FROM FY 2009 SEOPW TAX INCREMENT FUND, "PROFESSIONAL SERVICES - OTHER," ACCOUNT CODE NO. 10050.920101.531000.0000.00000, AND OMNI TAX INCREMENT FUND, "PROFESSIONAL SERVICES - OTHER," ACCOUNT CODE NO. 10040.920101.531000.0000.00000; $24,000 EACH FROM FY 2010 SEOPW TAX INCREMENT FUND, "PROFESSIONAL SERVICES - OTHER," ACCOUNT CODE NO. 10050.920101.531000.0000.00000, AND OMNI TAX INCREMENT FUND, "PROFESSIONAL SERVICES - OTHER," ACCOUNT CODE NO. 10040.920101.531000.0000.00000; $8,000 EACH FROM FY 2011 SEOPW TAX INCREMENT FUND, "PROFESSIONAL SERVICES - OTHER," ACCOUNT CODE NO. 10050.920101.531000.0000.00000, AND OMNI TAX INCREMENT FUND, "PROFESSIONAL SERVICES - OTHER," ACCOUNT CODE NO. 10040.920101.531000.0000.00000. Cover Memo.pdf Back-up.pdf Financial Form.pdf Motion by Vice Chair Sarnoff, seconded by Commissioner Gonzalez, that this matter be ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote. City of Miami Page 12 Printed on 1/6/2009 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes December 15, 2008 Votes: Ayes: 4 - Vice Chair Sarnoff, Chair Spence -Jones, Commissioner Gonzalez and Commissioner Regalado Absent: 1 - Commissioner Sanchez CRA-R-08-0070 Direction by Chair Spence -Jones to the Interim Executive Director to schedule a meeting with Vice Chair Sarnoff and his staff to create a legislative agenda package for the CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency), to be brought back at the CRA meeting currently scheduled for January 26, 2009. Direction by Chair Spence -Jones to the Interim Executive Director to schedule a meeting with Commissioner Regalado and Miami -Dade County regarding the Port of Miami and to report and discuss any findings at the next CRA meeting, currently scheduled for January 26, 2009. Chair Spence -Jones: We're going to move on to item number 6. James H. Villacorta (Interim Executive Director, Community Redevelopment Agency): Item number 6 is a joint resolution of the Boards of Commissioners of the Southeast Overtown/Park West and Omni Redevelopment District Community Redevelopment Agencies authorizing execution of an agreement, in a form acceptable to General Counsel, with Akerman, Senterfitt & Eidson, P.A., for representation and lobbying services before Congress and federal agencies regarding legislative issues and appropriations requests, for a two-year period, commencing February 1, 2009, in an annual amount not to exceed $48,000. Chair Spence -Jones: Any questions on this item? Do we have a motion? Any questions on this item? Commissioner Regalado: I have questions. Chair Spence -Jones: Okay. Commissioner Regalado: But you need a motion -- Chair Spence -Jones: Yeah. Do we -- Vice Chair Sarnoff I'll do a -- Chair Spence -Jones: -- have a motion? Vice Chair Sarnoff- -- motion. Chair Spence -Jones: Okay. We have a motion. Do we have a second? Commissioner Gonzalez: Second. Chair Spence -Jones: We have a motion and a second. Commissioner Regalado: Okay. Chair Spence -Jones: Discussion. Commissioner Regalado: Discussion. I mean, hey -- hi. The earmarks for the port tunnel were never approved, right? City of Miami Page 13 Printed on 1/6/2009 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes December 15, 2008 Mike Abrams: They're -- Chair Spence -Jones: Name. Mr. Abrams: Oh, I'm sorry. Mike Abrams. I'm with Akerman Senterfitt, 1 Southeast 3rd Avenue, 25th floor, Miami 33131. Commissioner Regalado: I'm referring to the letter, Mike, that -- Mr. Abrams: Yeah, right. Commissioner Regalado: -- you discussed the -- what the firm has done, you know, in terms of Camillus House and -- but -- Mr. Abrams: Right. Commissioner Regalado: -- there are two projects that I believe that are already been killed or will be killed by the State -- Mr. Abrams: Right. Commissioner Regalado: -- which is the tunnel and the streetcar. And so I'm just asking if those earmarks were approved or they were only on the pipeline? Mr. Abrams: No. I think all the earmarks in the last transportation authorization bill was drawn down -- was approved and drawn down, and that included money for the study for the port tunnel. Of course, the larger amount for the port tunnel, as we note today, which was after the report was written, you know, it's now imploded because of the inability of the, you know, financing component of the firm that was selected to provide the money. So -- am I wrong on that, Commissioner Sarnoff? Commissioner Regalado: No. The question -- Vice Chair Sarnoff.- Yeah. I'm not sure -- I don't know that we should repeat that they can't do the project -- Pamela E. Burns (Assistant Clerk of the Board : Commissioner, if you would get closer to the microphone, please. Vice Chair Sarnoi I don't know that we should repeat that they can't do the project or that the State is not interested in doing the project. There may be a distinction with a huge difference there. Mr. Abrams: You know, but in terms of the port study money that was -- is cited, I'm 99 percent positive that was drawn down and utilized -- the port tunnel study money. Commissioner Regalado: But my question was -- because if there were some earmarks, can those -- within the transportation bill -- earmarks be changed for road improvement, Federal Highway Administration, I'm talking? Mr. Abrams: Well, I'm assuming that most of the earmarks in the last highway authorization bill has been drawn down already because it was several years ago, but I will tell you that the new -- the highway reauthorization bill is due to come up again this year, so there'll be another opportunity to submit a whole different slew of projects for the City. This is -- the highway authorization comes up once every -- City of Miami Page 14 Printed on 1/6/2009 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes December 15, 2008 Commissioner Regalado: Every five years. Mr. Abrams: -- six -- five years, six -- Commissioner Regalado: Yeah. Mr. Abrams: -- years. Now, frankly, I mean, there's some talk that it might be postponed or a lot of these project -- they're going to be projects that might be on line are going to be put into the stimulus bill at the beginning of the year, but we'll have to see how that sorts out. But the stimulus bill in itself represents a unique opportunity for the City, a very unique opportunity. Commissioner Regalado: Okay. Mr. Abrams: But I could -- to your point, generally, I could tell you that all the Camillus House money has been drawn down and 1.1 of the 1.7 Museum of Science money has been drawn down or is contractually committed, okay, and then there's additional Camillus money that was authorized in the House (UNINTELLIGIBLE) bill that we have to see how the Senate treats it in January, so we don't know about that. You know, we don't know how this year's money has -- in Camillus House is sorted out, but 1.3 -- well, really, more than 1.3 has been drawn down by Camillus House already. Commissioner Regalado: Okay. But on the museum, the museum still is not in the CRA area. Mr. Abrams: Right. That's true. Commissioner Regalado: So -- Mr. Abrams: That's true. Commissioner Regalado: -- that was a nice thing the Congress did, but it's not in the CRA. Mr. Abrams: Hopefully, it will be. Commissioner Regalado: But we don't know. No -- Okay -- Mr. Abrams: Yeah. Commissioner Regalado: -- thank you. Chair Spence -Jones: Any other comments on this item? Vice Chair Sarnof Yeah. Let me just -- Chair Spence -Jones: Yeah, sure. Vice Chair Sarnoff Mike, to a person watching this on TV (Television) or anyone in the audience, and they saw a law firm or a lobby firm getting $48,000 a year, what kind of return on their investment are they getting? Mr. Abrams: Well, if you just take the Camillus House money by itself, okay, as an example, you would at a very conservative estimate, you know, I think you're showing a 500 percent return on money that's been, you know, drawn down, and that would exclude -- you know, over the last five years -- that excludes the other projects. But I think, also for those -- you know, an untrained eye, $48, 000 a year for federal lobbying, that essentially includes expenses too, I think, Jim -- I City of Miami Page 15 Printed on 1/6/2009 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes December 15, 2008 don't know if we've added any expenses. It's sort of a friends and family rate, you know, by comparison, I think -- Vice Chair Sarnoff So -- Mr. Abrams: -- you know, what other federal lobbying firms charge. Vice Chair Sarnoff -- to an untrained eye, you'd be annualizing -- 48,000 would net you -- I guess, if you did five years and you said five hundred percent, that would be -- give me a ballpark. Mr. Abrams: Over a million. Vice Chair Sarnoff Right. That's what I thought. Mr. Abrams: Yeah, well over -- well, over a million, and the allocated amount is 1.35, plus the 450 that went to -- sort of accidentally went to Camillus in Naranja, which I somehow -- you know, I sort of consider fungible money myself. Vice Chair Sarnoff.- Okay. Mr. Abrams: And you say why Camillus House. That's basically been our charge. You're our client, you know, so if you say do something different this year, you know, then that's what we do. Chair Spence -Jones: Any other comments? Commissioner Regalado: No. Chair Spence -Jones: I just want to just add that -- like to instruct the staff to meet with Commissioner Sarnoff and, of course, my staff on putting together a real legislative agenda for DC (District of Columbia). Hopefully, we will have some real positive things happening on Capitol Hill now regarding infrastructure projects and also job training -related projects. I know, for instance, my hospitality institute, any monies that -- or support that can come through the Department of Labor, we need to have somebody fighting for us up there, Mike, and I know that you're a great fighter. I think that having Commissioner Sarnoff though, on that team to go to DC -- we went maybe a year or so ago, but I'm sure you can do a much better job than I did to really fight hard so that we can get some of those dollars coming to Miami. So I would ask that - - or instruct staff to sit down with you to at least come up with some sort of a legislative agenda for the CRA, if you're comfortable with that. Vice Chair Sarnoff.- Oh, no, no. Absolutely. I finally have a president I'd like to deal with. Mr. Abrams: Yeah. And for us, I mean, I think, as Commissioner Sarnoff at least knows, you know, we feel very comfortable the way we're positioned, you know, with the administration. We'll see what it all means, but you know, we were there early and often and I think that, you know, there are a lot of things outside the earmark process that hopefully we'll have capacity just because of the latitude they're going to be given. Chair Spence -Jones: Infrastructure, jobs. Vice Chair Sarnoff I agree. Mr. Abrams: Yes. That's all they want to know in immediacy. Chair Spence -Jones: Okay. Can I ask this question? When would that -- when would be the City of Miami Page 16 Printed on 1/6/2009 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes December 15, 2008 time to actually go to -- when does that process start for DC? Mr. Abrams: Well -- Vice Chair Sarnoff Inauguration day. Mr. Abrams: Yeah. You know, it's -- I mean, we're fortunate to have the Mayor chairing -- you know, presiding over the Conference of Mayors because of the Main Street project and the City is well represented in the Main Street project -- Chair Spence -Jones: So it would start in January some time? Mr. Abrams: Oh, yeah. Chair Spence -Jones: Okay. Mr. Abrams: Now, the normal deadlines for additional projects -- Chair Spence -Jones: Yes. Mr. Abrams: -- in the appropriations processes, we got to get them to the Delegation by the end of February -- Chair Spence -Jones: That's what I'm asking. Mr. Abrams: -- or mid -February, and then we have to get them to the senators by March 1. Chair Spence -Jones: Okay. Is there any way, for the next CRA agenda, that you guys could have the legislative agenda brought here in front of us for the upcoming agenda in January so at least we have -- know what you're going -- ideas of what you guys are going to be -- focus your energies on? And if our additional Commissioners -- any -- if you have any comments, then just let Jim know so that we could add that -- our comments to whatever we think is also, you know, necessary, and then at least Jim have it on the agenda for the end of the month -- end of January. Mr. Villacorta: Sure. We could work with the Commissioner's office and bring something back in January. Commissioner Regalado: Mike. Mr. Abrams: Yes, sir. Commissioner Regalado: Are you doing anything about the Port of Miami other than the tunnel? Mr. Abrams: Well, we represent the County, but we only represent the County essentially only health care issues assigned to us from the County. So from the County side, no; from the City side, it's up to you, you know, whether you want us to prioritize the tunnel. Commissioner Regalado: Well, no. I wasn't talking about the tunnel. Mr. Abrams: Oh, I'm sorry. You -- Commissioner Regalado: No. I was talking about the Port. Mr. Abrams: Oh, the -- well, the same answer. You know, it would be -- the Port is owned by City of Miami Page 17 Printed on 1/6/2009 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes December 15, 2008 the County, as you know, Commissioner. Commissioner Regalado: I understand that. Mr. Abrams: You know, if you wanted it to be a priority on the City federal agenda or the CRA federal agenda, you would have to -- you know, you would need to specifically direct us to do that because we're not assigned to that by the County. Commissioner Regalado: No, and I understand. The reason I'm saying this is -- Mr. Abrams: Okay. Commissioner Regalado: -- because, number one, we all know -- and I -- unfortunately, I disagree with you that the tunnel is dead completely because of the different funding cycles and it will not be back in the stimulus program. That's my understanding because the State does not have the will to do it nor the company, you know, the company, (UNINTELLIGIBLE) and Brown; it's already dead. But having said that, it's not about the tunnel. It's about Customs. It's about Homeland Security, and it's about the feud that I think is going on within the Port security agencies, FDLE (Florida Department of Law Enforcement), Customs, Homeland Security. And I think that this is going to bring about a decision that Carnival will be pulling out of the Port because the Port only works until 4 p.m. I guess it's the only port with office hours in the United States. But imagine what would be for the CRA area if the cruise industry were to pull out from this Port of Miami and go to Port Everglades. It would mean the loss of hundreds of jobs within downtown Miami. Mr. Abrams: Well -- and by the way, very high paying jobs. You know, I think -- frankly, I think some of your concerns are legitimate, but on the other hand, I would say that, you know, we'll do what you want, but the Port is owned by the County -- Commissioner Regalado: No. I understand that. Mr. Abrams: -- you know, and it -- Commissioner Regalado: But since the County's not doing -- Mr. Abrams: -- you know, for you to carry baggage and carry their -- Commissioner Regalado: -- anything -- Mr. Abrams: -- do their lifting in Washington, you know -- Commissioner Regalado: -- I think that, you know, we are not within -- the CRA's not within the Port area, but what I'm saying is that not only high paying jobs. Remember -- Mr. Abrams: Very high paying jobs. Commissioner Regalado: -- those crew members stay in the hotels in Biscayne Boulevard, and the food is brought from the plaza, from, you know, Gonzalez, Angel district. So we're talking of a situation that would impact the City of Miami incredible, and I just don't know that the County's doing enough to address the issues within the Port. And I know -- I have -- the reason I know is because I'm doing several programs with truckers and people in the Port, and it's more difficult situation than we publicly know. But I'm just saying that we should protect the area by protecting the Port, you know. Mr. Abrams: Yeah. City of Miami Page 18 Printed on 1/6/2009 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes December 15, 2008 Commissioner Regalado: Thank you. That's all. Mr. Abrams: You probably know more than I do about the current state of affairs at the Port -- Commissioner Regalado: Okay. Mr. Abrams: -- frankly. Chair Spence -Jones: Any other questions? Vice Chair Sarnoff Yeah. I just -- Chair Spence -Jones: Commissioner Sarnoff. Vice Chair Sarnoff.- -- want -- I -- you know, there's going to be a press conference tomorrow for -- from the County Manager -- County Mayor, excuse me, as well as our Mayor, as to the Badcock and Brown -- I think it's Badcock and Brown contract -- Commissioner Regalado: Right. Vice Chair Sarnoff -- which is the funding source for the Port. And I think there's going to be something in the Miami Herald tomorrow, and I just think, number one, we should not write off that contract. Number two, that was the primary bidder. There's a secondary bidder. If it truly is a project that was worthwhile after two decades of work, then I think this city should do everything it can do to endorse and support this. And I would just say to everybody, if you don't get a port tunnel, watch out because Port Jacksonville, Port Tampa, Port Mariel, Savannah, collectively have put over $6 billion -- that's a "B" -- of infrastructure in their ports and they can't wait to watch Miami fail, and we'll fail because of our own inaction. And if you don't think it's important, I'll give you a few interesting statistics. Seventy percent of every African American that earned $70, 000 -- Mr. Abrams: Right. Vice Chair Sarnoff -- earns it in the Port. It's the 7/70 clause, as I call it. And if you look at the number of jobs that this job creates, in the South Florida area alone, it is the largest employer times two, secondarily is the airport. And would anybody here conceive or even think about saying, well, we don't need Miami International, you know, Fort Lauderdale's pretty close. Would anybody even think to let that go? No. So -- and that -- and if there is not going to be a port -- and this is why, Mike, maybe it is worth lobbying and maybe it is worth putting the port tunnel as part of the infrastructure that probably needs to be built. You're leaving two roads in Miami that will break us apart forever. You're never going to be able to build in Southeast Overtown/Park West. You are absolutely fracturing the City of Miami into two halves. You'll never mend itself. You'll never have a unified city, and I can't believe that anybody would not find the port tunnel to be an important project if, for no other reason, 2,700 jobs will be generated in the next two years just simply from that project alone. So maybe it goes to funding some other project or maybe it goes to paying a deficit, but you know what a budget is? It's about priority. It's about what is important to you, and I think Tallahassee should find that the money that they allocated many, many years ago is important to the City of Miami. Mr. Abrams: Well, Commissioner, ifI sounded cavalier about the port tunnel and the status of the port tunnel, I apologize 'cause I do agree it's very -- Vice Chair Sarnoff.- Everybody sounds cavalier about it, including the Commissioner to my left. Everybody sounds cavalier and it -- City of Miami Page 19 Printed on 1/6/2009 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes December 15, 2008 Mr. Abrams: No, but I -- you know, I mean, I agree with you that the tunnel is, you know, critical to the competitiveness of the Port of Miami. I mean, there's no question about it. You have eight or nine lights by the time you get off the expressway through the Port. We all know what it's like to get in Port Everglades. I mean, if you just take that fact alone or the fact that our security costs are three times that of any other port in Miami [sic], go on and on and on. You know, we're not entitled to the business, you know -- Vice Chair Sarnoff Right. Mr. Abrams: -- and I don't know this about Carnival, but if it's true, obviously, it's devastating. And your figures on African -American employment and the level of compensation are absolutely the same figures that I -- you know, that I'm familiar with, so -- Commissioner Regalado: But I think, Mike -- Mr. Abrams: -- I didn't mean to be dismissive. It's just -- Commissioner Regalado: -- and Commissioner Sarnoff, that everyone understands that the Port is what makes this community breathe. We all understand that. But the problem is -- and I think that it will be very healthy, Madam Chair, maybe in the future, since the port tunnel or the tunnel or the Port is right smack in the middle of both CRAs, it will be interesting to have sort of a seminar for CRA members and staff and the people about the Port of Miami, not the tunnel, but the Port of Miami, and let me tell you why. About four years ago, the Teamster Union asked me to do a blue ribbon committee, and we did, and we hold hearings in City Hall with the truckers. And we came up with this paper that they delivered to the County Commission about the situation of the Port, and there I understood the importance of the Port. But I think -- and I think that most of the important leaders are missing the point in saying that the tunnel is the only option for the Port. This port works only until 4 p.m. Truckers can only bring one container. There are truckers who have to wait on line inside the port. So they have cleared already the tunnel, if the tunnel is there, six hours because (UNINTELLIGIBLE), the company that owns the terminal, has priority for their trucks. And we have 700 independent truckers servicing the Port of Miami, and we need, as a CRA, to come up and make a statement saying that this Board, whether the tunnel is coming back or not, we're talking of a long term, but I'm telling you that the cruise industry is really considering moving, and that would be a catastrophe for the City of Miami. And I'm telling you that, as a CRA, we should take a position and ask the Port, which is owned by Miami -Dade County, to try to extend their hours. This is all about working hours. I mean, 1-395 is empty at 10 p.m. or at 4 a.m. And you know, Long Beach, California, has the busiest port in this hemisphere. Chair Spence -Jones: So, Commissioner Regalado, would you like to take a proactive role in getting with the County to figure out how we can work through those differences or work through those issues? Commissioner Regalado: I mean, I just think -- Chair Spence -Jones: I mean, if you're nominating yourself, I would -- Commissioner Regalado: No. I just think -- Chair Spence -Jones: -- gladly accept your nomination. Commissioner Regalado: No, no. I'm not nominating myself. God, no. Work with the County? I mean, my God. I will probably -- City of Miami Page20 Printed on 1/6/2009 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes December 15, 2008 Chair Spence -Jones: Would you like for staff to --? Commissioner Regalado: I have a lot of gray hair already and I don't really want to do that. But -- Chair Spence -Jones: Would you like to direct staff to perhaps begin to have those kind of talks? Commissioner Regalado: What I think is that the CRA have leverage to get some answers from the County and to get some proposals to the Port 'cause we are -- the CRAs are in the middle of the Port. Everything that deals with the Port happens through the CRAs -- Chair Spence -Jones: Okay. Commissioner Regalado: -- either north or west or east. So I'm just saying that we should know how we could change the way that the Port works because, you know, the tunnel -- if they do the tunnel, which I disagree -- but if they do the tunnel, it's not going to be in operation for the next six years maybe, six years. So short terms, we need jobs, but not construction jobs because this is not going to happen for two years, then you have to do the studies. So construction itself is not going to start until two years from now, when people just die of hunger, you know. Chair Spence -Jones: So that we can at least finish this item, can we direct -- we would direct Jim, the CRA director, to get with the County -- and the assistant director -- to -- first of all, get with Commissioner Regalado to put his issues and concerns down, and then begin to have talks with the County regarding the Port so that at least there's some movement, and if you can, bring back a report at the next CRA meeting -- Mr. Villacorta: Okay. Chair Spence -Jones: -- to see if they have an openness to it. Any other discussions at all on this item so we can move the item on? All right. Madam Clerk, we had a motion and a second? Ms. Burns: Yes, we do. Chair Spence -Jones: Okay. All in favor? The Commissioners (Collectively): Aye. Chair Spence -Jones: This item passes. Mr. Abrams: Thank you. 7. 08-01468 CRA RESOLUTION A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY AUTHORIZING ISSUANCE OF A GRANT, IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $100,000, TO ROOTS IN THE CITY, INC. FOR BEAUTIFICATION, LANDSCAPE TRAINING, SIGNAGE, AND ONE YEAR OF LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE REDEVELOPMENT AREA; AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, AT HIS DISCRETION, TO DISBURSE THE GRANT ON A REIMBURSEMENT BASIS OR DIRECTLY TO VENDORS, UPON PRESENTATION OF INVOICES AND SATISFACTORY DOCUMENTATION; AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO EXECUTE ALL DOCUMENTS NECESSARY FOR SAID PURPOSE, IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO GENERAL COUNSEL; City of Miami Page 21 Printed on 1/62009 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes December 15, 2008 ALLOCATING FUNDS FROM SEOPW 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 Gonzalez, seconded by Commissioner Regalado, that this matter be ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote. Votes: Ayes: 4 - Vice Chair Sarnoff, Chair Spence -Jones, Commissioner Gonzalez and Commissioner Regalado Absent: 1 - Commissioner Sanchez CRA-R-08-0071 Chair Spence -Jones: We move on to item number 7. Vice Chair Sarnoff 8. James H. Villacorta (Interim Executive Director, Community Redevelopment Agency): Item number -- Chair Spence -Jones: 7. Vice Chair Sarnoff I'm sorry. You're right. Sorry. Mr. Villacorta: -- 7 is a resolution of the Board of Commissioners of the Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment Agency authorizing issuance of a grant, in an amount not to exceed $100, 000, to Roots in the City, Inc., for beautification, landscape training, signage and one year of landscape maintenance at various locations throughout the redevelopment area. It further authorizes the executive director, at his discretion, to disburse the grant on a reimbursement basis or directly to vendors. Commissioner Gonzalez: Move it. Chair Spence -Jones: Had a motion and a -- Commissioner Regalado: Second. Chair Spence -Jones: -- second. Any discussion? Commissioner Regalado: This is Marvin Dunn, correct? Chair Spence -Jones: It's Marvin Dunn. Mr. Villacorta: Yeah. Chair Spence -Jones: Dr. Dunn. All in favor? The Commissioners (Collectively): Aye. Chair Spence -Jones: This item passes. I just want to make a comment real fast. Dr. Dunn, I do see you here. I don't know if you want to step to the podium for a minute. I'm sure you guys have seen the garden on 3rd Avenue. I mean, it really is the gateway into Overtown. City of Miami Page22 Printed on 1/6/2009 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes December 15, 2008 Applause. Marvin Dunn: Thank you. Chair Spence -Jones: And it is -- it's amazing what has happened on those two lots. Not only is it beautiful for the community, but it's also feeding the community. Mr. Villacorta: Yes. Chair Spence -Jones: So that's been really, really great. I just want to make sure that we add in there this time to really work on -- I know that you have some employees that have come from the Overtown area that are being trained in the garden. I think one of the things that we're looking at doing different, right, Miguel, is to make sure that there's placement so these individuals move on to something else, hopefully, another landscape -based company or something along that lines because we really want to get people not so dependent on this grant or this program, but for them to be trained and ready to move on to the next level. The other part of this -- I've already given staff direction in our earlier meeting today that we do need to make sure we have a contract manager on all of the institute -- this is our landscape institute. We have three of them; one is culinary, which we've already approved; the hospitality one, and now the landscape. But we do need to make sure that Dr. Dunn has someone working hand in hand with him on that item. But I think the garden is a beautiful addition to these vacant lots in the heart of Overtown, so just want to commend you -- Mr. Dunn: Thank you. Chair Spence -Jones: -- for that. Mr. Dunn: Thank you very much. Chair Spence -Jones: Any comments you want to make on it? Mr. Dunn: Thank you for approving the resolution. We would ask that you consider that we do a lot of community engagement work in the garden. We have numbers -- large numbers of volunteers coming from different organizations -- Chair Spence -Jones: Oh, yeah. Mr. Dunn: -- Miami Dade, FIU (Florida International University), church organizations, and we don't get credit for that kind of work. We just get credit for the training part, so I want to ask the CRA to expand our mission a little bit so that we get credit for all the hours that we spend and resources we provide to the hundreds of volunteers who come to the gardens every year. Chair Spence -Jones: Yeah. I think that -- I don't know if you got a chance to see this, but they do have -- I mean, I've seen people from FIU out there. I've seen corporations out there volunteering in the garden. I do think that that's important because when you have a hundred volunteers coming, guess what? Guess where they go to eat breakfast, right across the street at Jackson Soul Food. And what happens is when you get that many people coming into the area to volunteer, they end up spending money in the area, whether or not it's to go to the store to buy a bottle of water or to buy some chips. And the idea is that once they come to Overtown, they see it's really not a bad place, so I think that that addition is a great addition. You just need to kind of work it out with Jim so that it makes sense. Mr. Dunn: All right. City of Miami Page23 Printed on 1/6/2009 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes December 15, 2008 Chair Spence -Jones: What's your thoughts on that, Jim? Mr. Villacorta: Yes. I mean, I think the training isn't just for the people that are receiving jobs, but we're also bringing in people from the community, students, various organizations, members of the public to come and work at the various locations and it's changing their perception of Overtown, as well as bringing money to those businesses along 3rd Avenue. Mr. Dunn: We will work out the words. Thank you very much. Chair Spence -Jones: Any other comments on this at all? All right. We had a motion and a second. All in favor? The Commissioners (Collectively): Aye. Chair Spence -Jones: The item passes. 8. 08-01467 CRA RESOLUTION A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY AUTHORIZING ISSUANCE OF A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR THE REDEVELOPMENT OF 1201-21 N.W 3RD AVENUE, MIAMI, FLORIDA. Cover Memo.pdf Back-up.pdf Legislation.pdf Motion by Commissioner Gonzalez, seconded by Commissioner Regalado, that this matter be ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote. Votes: Ayes: 3 - Vice Chair Sarnoff, Commissioner Gonzalez and Commissioner Regalado Absent: 2 - Chair Spence -Jones and Commissioner Sanchez CRA-R-08-0072 Chair Spence -Jones: All right. We move on to item number 8. James H. Villacorta (Interim Executive Director, Community Redevelopment Agency): Item number 8 is a resolution of the Board of Commissioners of the Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment Agency authorizing issuance of a request for proposals for the redevelopment of the property at 1221 --1201-21 Northwest 3rd Avenue. Commissioner Gonzalez: Move it. Commissioner Regalado: Second. Vice Chair Sarnoff. All right. We have a motion and a second. Any discussion on the item? Hearing no discussion, all in favor? The Commissioners (Collectively): Aye. Vice Chair Sarnoff. Okay. That item passes. 9. 08-01473 CRA RESOLUTION A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE City of Miami Page 24 Printed on 1/6/2009 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes December 15, 2008 SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY ("CRA") AUTHORIZING THE EXPENDITURE OF FUNDS PREVIOUSLY ALLOCATED BY RESOLUTION NO. CRA-R-05-0051 FOR SIDEWALK, CURB, AND GUTTER REPLACEMENT FOR CONSTRUCTION OF THE STREETSCAPE IMPROVEMENTS ALONG THE 3RD AVENUE BUSINESS CORRIDOR IN OVERTOWN FROM NORTHWEST 7TH STREET TO NORTHWEST 14TH STREET. Cover Memo.pdf Back-up.pdf Legislation.pdf Motion by Commissioner Gonzalez, seconded by Commissioner Regalado, that this matter be ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote. Votes: Ayes: 4 - Vice Chair Sarnoff, Chair Spence -Jones, Commissioner Gonzalez and Commissioner Regalado Absent: 1 - Commissioner Sanchez CRA-R-08-0073 Vice Chair Sarnoff. Iteni number 9. James H. Villacorta (Interim Executive Director, Community Redevelopment Agency): Item number 9 is a resolution of the Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment Agency authorizing expenditures of funds previously allocated by Resolution R-05-0051 for sidewalk, curb and gutter replacement for construction of the streetscape improvements along 3rdAvenue business corridor in Overtown. Commissioner Gonzalez: Move it. Commissioner Regalado: Second Vice Chair Sarnoff. All right. We have a motion and a second. Any discussion? Jim, I have a question -- Mr. Villacorta: Sure. Vice Chair Sarnoff. -- 'cause it's $4, 350, 000. Just describe this to us. Mr. Villacorta: The 3rd Avenue streetscape project was budgeted at $4.3 million. Vice Chair Sarnoff. Right. Mr. Villacorta: There's been approximately $1.3 million in additions to that project. The project -- the 4.3 budget contained a $600, 000 contingency number. This resolution was passed in '05 and was to be used for construction of sidewalks, curb and gutter. We're going to pull down those funds to make up the balance of the increase in scope on Northwest 3rd Avenue, mainly drainage, the replacement of the waterline on 3rd Avenue, and the uplighting accounts for about 75 percent of that. Vice Chair Sarnoff. Let me tell you how I'm understanding this -- Mr. Villacorta: Sure. Vice Chair Sarnoff. -- and show me if I'm wrong. You had budgeted $4.35 million -- City of Miami Page 25 Printed on 1/62009 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes December 15, 2008 Mr. Villacorta: Yes. Vice Chair Sarnoff -- for street improvements. In that number, there was $600, 000 for a contingency. Mr. Villacorta: Yes. Vice Chair Sarnoff But now you want to do a million three -- Mr. Villacorta: Right. Vice Chair Sarnoff -- for what reason? Mr. Villacorta: The breakdown of the additional items are in your materials right behind the memo. There's additional mobilization for the additional work, excavation and backfill, the water main at $200,000, additional drainage was added to the project at $468,000, additional asphalt at $25, 000, additional street lighting at $40, 000. Vice Chair Sarnoff Are these done? Are these -- let me say this right -- requests that have already been implemented or are things you want to see done? Mr. Villacorta: Except for the provision of the low voltage lighting at about $100, 000 to provide uplighting at the trees along the street, the rest of that work has been done. It was always anticipated that there would be an increase in scope on this project since the construction was begun before the designs were 100 percent finalized We included a contingency amount and planned to draw down these funds that had already been allocated for sidewalks, curbs and gutters. And what this resolution is really letting you know is that we are drawing those funds down for the 3rd Avenue streetscape project. Chair Spence -Jones: Isn't -- I'm sorry to interrupt -- CIP (Capital Improvements Program) here? They should be at the mike for a lot of these -- Ola O. Aluko (Director, Capital Improvements Program): Yes, CIP is, Madam Commissioner. Chair Spence -Jones: Okay. I just want to make sure that he's -- Vice Chair Sarnoff Well, I don't mind if I hear from Jim, as long as I hear from somebody with knowledge. Mr. Villacorta: Yes. Vice Chair Sarnoff So a million three, of which $600,000 is available? Mr. Villacorta: Is already covered in the -- Vice Chair Sarnoff So I would reduce the million three by 600, 000, correct? Mr. Villacorta: Yes. Vice Chair Sarnoff So I'd be -- then you're looking for 700,000 additional dollars? Mr. Villacorta: Yes. Vice Chair Sarnoff And -- City of Miami Page26 Printed on 1/6/2009 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes December 15, 2008 Mr. Villacorta: And we have a previously -authorized resolution that allows me to spend 850 for sidewalk, curbs and gutters. Vice Chair Sarnoff So you have $150, 000 savings. Mr. Villacorta: That's a way to look at it. Vice Chair Sarnoff Is that one way of looking at this? Mr. Villacorta: But we haven't closed out the project yet either. Vice Chair Sarnoff Will this close out this project? Chair Spence -Jones: No. I hope not. We wanted to expand it a bit. Mr. Aluko: As far -- excuse me. Ola Aluko, director of CIP, City of Miami. As far as the $1.3 million that the director -- the executive director just mentioned, that is the cap. We do not expect any more additional costs from the contractors, unless we have an owner -driven change, and of course, if the CRA desires to do additional improvements along the corridor, there would be additional costs. Vice Chair Sarnoff This is the 3rd Avenue improvements, right? Mr. Villacorta: Yes, yes. Vice Chair Sarnoff So -- go ahead. Mr. Villacorta: In effect, the total cost of those improvements is $5 million, and we're taking the original 4.3 and 700 from -- Vice Chair Sarnoff.- Right. Mr. Villacorta: -- a previously -authorized funding resolution. Commissioner Gonzalez: Five million dollars? Mr. Villacorta: Yes. Commissioner Gonzalez: How many blocks? Mr. Villacorta: From 7th to 14th. Commissioner Gonzalez: Seven blocks. Mr. Aluko: That's correct. And this includes, obviously, the -- as Jim just mentioned earlier, the water main upgrade from WASA (Water and Sewer Authority), the sidewalk widening, some electrical -- not some, several FP&L (Florida Power & Light) electrical lampposts, upgrades in the milling and resurfacing and crosswalks. I believe we discussed this at the -- about three meetings ago, where we clarified the $1.3 million. Chair Spence -Jones: And if I can just also add, I think that, you know, one of the biggest issues we've discovered going into it was the whole WASA issue. Mr. Aluko: That's correct. City of Miami Page27 Printed on 1/6/2009 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes December 15, 2008 Mr. Villacorta: Yes. Chair Spence -Jones: The WASA issue is out of control. I mean, I don't know what we can do -- Commissioner Gonzalez: I have always said it. Chair Spence -Jones: -- from a County perspective, if there's any way that we can -- we need a -- we need to do something. I mean, I can just tell you, even for the houses that I'm trying to build in Liberty City, I mean, sometimes the water upgrades are more than the houses. Commissioner Gonzalez: More than the house. Mr. Aluko: Unfortunately, Madam Commissioner and the Board, this is WASA's opportunity, just like when the City had a boom downtown with the developers where we -- where the City probably should have taken advantage or probably did take advantage of developers improving the roads, this is WASA's opportunity to upgrade all of their waterlines whenever a developer comes in. A six-inch waterline -- in this case, I believe it was three inches or was it six? Mr. Villacorta: I think it went from 12 down to 6 and then back to 12 -- Mr. Aluko: And up to 12. Mr. Villacorta: -- and there was a stretch of blocks that -- Mr. Aluko: This is their opportunity to increase all the waterlines and all their infrastructure for future developments, and -- Chair Spence -Jones: It's really a shame because it's on the backs, a lot of times, of people -- poor people. Mr. Villacorta: Well, this wasn't something that WASA -- Chair Spence -Jones: The people can't afford to -- Mr. Villacorta: -- asked for, but when we saw what was happening and we knew as soon as we start to get development there, we're going to have to go back, tear that street up and upgrade that line, so we chose to bite the bullet now. And we should be entitled to recover some of those costs as people connect to that line. Chair Spence -Jones: Okay. Vice Chair Sarnoff Wasn't this the issue Commissioner Regalado brought up when we were at the Performing Arts Center in the black box theater when there was a discussion about additional sums as a result of putting the electrical below the water main? Mr. Villacorta: Or the waterline was put within a setback for the electrical transmission line. This street has something like 34 different utilities, which is another reason it was a technically challenging street to upgrade. And the contractor, for whatever reason, the line was placed within the setback. He has moved it to an acceptable location at no additional charge. Vice Chair Sarnoff So this didn't cost us anything? Mr. Villacorta: The waterline cost us, but the misplacement did not. Mr. Aluko: The removal of the waterline from where they initially installed it to the correct City of Miami Page28 Printed on 1/6/2009 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes December 15, 2008 place did not cost the CRA any funds, and I believe I came back to the next CRA -- Vice Chair Sarnoff Right. Mr. Aluko: -- meeting to clarify that. Vice Chair Sarnoff And I'm trying to recollect it. I'm not -- Mr. Villacorta: Yeah. Vice Chair Sarnoff -- criticizing. I'm just -- Mr. Aluko: Yes. Vice Chair Sarnoff -- trying to recollect it. And so -- Mr. Aluko: Yes. That is it. Vice Chair Sarnoff -- what cost us was upgrading from a six-inch to a twelve -inch. Mr. Aluko: That's one of the reasons, yes. Mr. Villacorta: A major upgrade to this project was to put continuous drains down the sidewalk, and we discussed at a previous meeting that that upgrade to the drainage and the drainage structures that those continuous drains feed has resulted, after Hurricane Fay -- I spoke about being out there while the sidewalks were wet. There was no standing water up or down that street anymore. Chair Spence -Jones: So drainage has been improved big time. Mr. Villacorta: Yes. Commissioner Regalado: Hurricane Fay? There wasn't any Hurricane Fay. Mr. Villacorta: Or Tropical Storm -- Mr. Aluko: Tropical storm. Mr. Villacorta: -- Fay. Commissioner Regalado: Or tropical storm. We didn't have a tropical storm. Mr. Villacorta: Wind event -- wind and rain event. Commissioner Regalado: But you know, I think --- Chair Spence -Jones: You're recognized, Commissioner Regalado. Commissioner Regalado: Thank you. I think, you know, the WASA issue, we only have ourselves to blame for one reason. You know, WASA gets away with everything that they do. If we were more aggressive by holding WASA to the permits as we hold the regular resident when they dig a hole, when they build a driveway, and we would not have these issues with WASA because they would then consult everything with the City, but they just don't. And the time will come where we have to start thinking about litigation if we need to with WASA because they cannot come on and say to the City, we need to do this or we need to break whatever street you City of Miami Page29 Printed on 1/6/2009 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes December 15, 2008 guys did or we need to upgrade -- they need to have a master plan and they need to consult that with the City. And as long as we let them do whatever they're doing throughout the City -- because it's the same story in west -- in the west of the City, in Flagami, the same story, same story, same complaints, same destruction, same getting away with not fixing the streets, not fixing the swale areas. We will have a problem, unless we demand from WASA to have a master plan and tell us, you know, you think that there's going to be development here, well, how wide the pipeline should be and all that and when are you going to do it. Because, remember, they work at their pleasure. They work as they have the funding from the developers. They don't invest money. They work taking money from the developers and the City and the CRAB and all that. So I'm -- I just think that this is an issue for the future, but I'm telling you that if we don't fight WASA in terms of them doing -- why don't they do this in Coral Gables? Let me ask you this. 'Cause they won't get the permit. That's very simple. And so we need to be more proactive, and I guess that Ola is here and I know that it's not your issue. It's a Public Work [sic] issue, but I'm telling you -- and you know that -- and that they have come up and destroyed a lot of areas in the Flagami area and they just get away with it. Mr. Villacorta: We've had that issue around the Performing Arts Center where there's been some work done on the pavers in the PAC (Performing Arts Center) super block and they weren't reinstalled in an acceptable manner. The CRA is also moving in the Omni area. As you're aware, we've passed a resolution to upgrade all the waterlines in that CRA so that when developers come or when people want to build, they're not delayed by having to upgrade the waterlines, and that's something we're working on with CIP and Public Works and WASA as we speak. Commissioner Gonzalez: All right. Chair Spence -Jones: Any -- Commissioner Gonzalez: Call the question. Chair Spence -Jones: Okay. Do we have a motion or a second on -- Vice Chair Sarnoff Yeah. Chair Spence -Jones: -- this item? Chair Spence -Jones: We did? Pamela E. Burns (Assistant Clerk of the Board: Yes, we do. Chair Spence -Jones: All right. And we've answered all questions. Jim, are you comfortable with this item? Mr. Villacorta: Yes. Chair Spence -Jones: Okay. Ola, are you comfortable with this item? Mr. Aluko: Yes. We're good. Thank you. Chair Spence -Jones: All right. So we had a motion and a second. All in favor? The Commissioners (Collectively): Aye. Chair Spence -Jones: All right. This item passes. City of Miami Page 30 Printed on 1/6/2009 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes December 15, 2008 10. 08-01476 CRA RESOLUTION A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY AUTHORIZING EXPENDITURE OF FUNDS, IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $50,000, FOR CONSTRUCTION OF A MINI PARK AT 1016 N.W. 3RD AVENUE, MIAMI, FLORIDA; AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO EXECUTE ALL DOCUMENTS NECESSARY FOR SAID PURPOSE; ALLOCATING FUNDS FROM SEOPW TAX INCREMENT FUND, "CONSTRUCTION IN PROGRESS," ACCOUNT CODE NO. 10050.920101.6700000.0000.00000. Cover Memo.pdf Financial Form.pdf Back-up.pdf Legislation.pdf Motion by Commissioner Gonzalez, seconded by Vice Chair Sarnoff, that this matter be ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote. Votes: Ayes: 4 - Vice Chair Sarnoff, Chair Spence -Jones, Commissioner Gonzalez and Commissioner Regalado Absent: 1 - Commissioner Sanchez CRA-R-08-0074 Direction by Chair Spence -Jones to the Interim Executive Director to create a green space plan for the CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) to be brought back at the next CRA meeting, currently scheduled for January 26, 2009. Chair Spence -Jones: We moved on -- move on to item number 10 on the agenda. James H Villacorta (Interim Executive Director, Community Redevelopment Agency): Item number 10 is a resolution of the Board of Commissioners of the Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment Agency authorizing expenditures of funds, in an amount not to exceed $50, 000, for construction of a mini park at 1016 Northwest 3rd Avenue. Commissioner Gonzalez: Motion. Chair Spence -Jones: We had a motion. Commissioner Sarnoff. Second. Chair Spence -Jones: All in favor? The Commissioners (Collectively): Aye. Chair Spence -Jones: I -- any other additional comments, Jim? Mr. Villacorta: This is a mini park that will be built along 3rd Avenue just north of Jackson Soul Food. Ultimately, we plan to develop this property as part of the Jazz Village Complex, and in the meantime, this will provide an area for the residents who currently -- Chair Spence -Jones: Play dominoes. Mr. Villacorta: -- play chess and checkers and dominoes. City of Miami Page 31 Printed on 1/6/2009 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes December 15, 2008 Chair Spence -Jones: Okay. The only thing that I wanted to make sure I see on here -- in our last meeting that we had, I requested, I believe, a green space sort of plan for -- Mr. Villacorta: Yes. Chair Spence -Jones: -- both CRAs, and I know this is addressing the one on 3rd Avenue, but we also talked about the one on Northwest 2nd Avenue that is not on the agenda. Mr. Villacorta: Yeah. Because of the short time between the last meeting and this meeting, we're going to bring that back to you in January. Chair Spence -Jones: For the next meeting. Mr. Villacorta: Yes. Chair Spence -Jones: Because one of the things that we want to try to do, like you're doing on Brickell with that particular park, any green space -- there are a lot of developers that bought in Overtown and that bought with the purpose of you know, speculating something big happening. Well, now they're not doing anything to these lots and they look horrible. So one of the things I'm asking for Jim to do is see if we can change them to either tot lots or some sort of green space so that at least people have something decent to look at. I'm not sure if the same thing is happening in the Omni area, but I'm sure you have some pockets also in the Omni area that can be also transformed -- you actually have a lot of vacant parcels, you know, next to the railroad and just different areas that development is not happening and that'll be nice if it could be at least some upgraded green space. That's the one thing the CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) can do. Vice Chair Sarnoff No, I agree. I agree. Chair Spence -Jones: So I'm asking for Jim to actually bring that back. Mr. Villacorta: Sure. City of Miami Page 32 Printed on 1/6/2009 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes December 15, 2008 NA.1 08-01501 CRA DISCUSSION DISCUSSION CONGRATULATING FELLOW COMMISSIONERS AND STAFF FOR A SUCCESSFUL GRAND OPENING ON 3RD AVENUE. DISCUSSED Direction by Chair Spence -Jones to the Interim Executive Director to meet with Vice Chair Sarnoff to research and create a plan for assistance for the businesses located near the Performing Arts Center and the businesses in the Omni CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) district. Chair Spence -Jones: All right. So we're going to go head [sic] and move on to the next item. I -- we don't have a really long agenda tonight, but I just wanted to at least make sure we hit some important things before the new year. Also, I did want to also congratulate staff and all the Commissioners that were able to be with us and those that couldn't for a very successful opening that we had for 3rd Avenue. I don't know if you've had a chance to go back down 3rd Avenue, but it's amazing how positive the response that we've gotten from the residents and the business owners in the Overtown area. And I drove through here on the way coming to the meeting today and just the -- how positive people feel about what's happening finally in Overtown is amazing, and riding down that street, to see no trash on the streets. It's like people are taking pride with putting their trash in the garbage cans. And I just want to commend the staff for doing an outstanding job. The restaurant looks awesome. Twelve new positions are getting ready to go -- these are the kind of things that we need to have happen in the heart of the CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency). So I want to thank my fellow colleagues for your support. We still have a lot more work to do to get the people trained and ready to go to make sure they maintain what they got, but we also need to, as I said in our staff meeting today, that we need to also focus some of our energies also in the Omni area for 2009 by supporting many of the businesses because they are -- they're going to need a lot of help. And I've asked for Jim to also work along with Commissioner Sarnoff to hopefully come up with something creative to assist those businesses near the Performing Arts District and also in the Omni area because I know that they need something. They need some sort of help. So, hopefully, Jim will be working along with you, Commissioner Sarnoff, to create something. NA.2 08-01502 CRA DISCUSSION DISCUSSION THANKING CRA COMMITTEE CHAIRS FOR THEIR EXCELLENT WORK AND SUPPORT. DISCUSSED Direction by Chair Spence -Jones to the Interim Executive Director to schedule an item on the February CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) agenda, currently scheduled for February 23, 2009, to provide a report on two new development projects located in the CRA area, the Jazz Village project and the Dev-con project. Chair Spence -Jones: All right. The only thing that I want to add in closing -- we will not see you until the new year. As we move into next year, 2009, I just want to make sure that my committee chairs for each area, which have done -- you guys have been doing a great job and I really appreciate all your support, but we're going to move in -- move these projects along. One, Commissioner Gonzalez's focus for us as the committee chair of the new development, and since him becoming the chair of that, we have two major projects happening in the CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency), which have not happened for a very long time, which is the Jazz Village project, which I really appreciate your insight on, and the new Dev-con project that is happening on Northwest 3rd Avenue. Commissioner Gonzalez: But I also want to thank the executive director and also the staff for City of Miami Page 33 Printed on 1/6/2009 SEOPW and OMNI Community Redevelopment Agencies Meeting Minutes December 15, 2008 working with me. Chair Spence -Jones: So we -- for the first time ever, we have two new developments happening because our chair has really pushed and given at least the staff some sort of clear direction on what needed to happen to move projects, so I'm very excited about that, and if you can -- at least not at the next meeting, but the February meeting, bring back reports on where we are with those projects because I want to make sure the residents stay informed. Commissioner -- I want to also acknowledge Commissioner Regalado for his support for all of the housing -related projects that are happening in the Overtown area. He toured with us earlier this year, had looked at many of these low-income units that we had and walked the streets of Overtown and made sure that these units were moving. And because of him, you heard earlier we have close to 100 new units that are coming out in the Overtown area, but that came from your leadership, so I'm hoping that you'll continue to chair, providing housing, affordable housing for low-income residents in the Overtown and in the CRA area. I really appreciate everything that you've done from a leadership standpoint. Commissioner Sarnoff now is taking on, thank God, the responsibility of the legislative agenda for both the state and the federal government, which means, hopefully, for the first time, we will have a focused agenda on what we need to get from the state, which probably won't be much this year, but I think that they really need -- the lobbyists need direction, and hopefully, you can work with them to make sure that that happens. So I want to at least be able to acknowledge your future work on that, but also your guidance that you have provided Jim regarding the issue of some of the major projects from the global agreement perspective, so I wanted to at least publicly acknowledge you that, but also say we still need you for next year to make sure you push that. Vice Chair Sarnoff The heavy lifting's done. We got the right President. Chair Spence -Jones: And then last, but not least, Commissioner Sanchez is not with us here, but a lot of his focus was centered around the bond -related issues and making sure that we ident key projects and breaking them down from a percentage standpoint to make sure the money actually filters out to the businesses and the people, and hopefully, he will continue to do that. But I just want to thank all of my fellow colleagues, all the City staff and also the CRA staff for their outstanding job for this year. I think the CRA has accomplished a lot in one year. We have much more to do, but on behalf of the CRA and on behalf of the City, we want to say Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa, and Happy New Year. Anybody else I forgot? Have a blessed evening and thank you for coming out for the CRA agenda. The meeting is officially adjourned. City of Miami Page 34 Printed on 1/6/2009