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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCRA-R-06-0033 Back UpDOURUCE August 28, 2006 ASSO ES'AT S Mr. James H. Villacorta Interim Executive Director City of Miami Community Redevelopment Agency 49 NW 5th Street, Suite 100 Miami, FL 33128 Dear Mr. Villacorta: Thank you for the opportunity to work with you and the Miami Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment Agencies. As you prepare the necessary legislative consulting contract documents for the Board to consider, I would like to bring two items to your attention: First, the proposal letter from me dated July 31, 2006, to the CRA contained an error in the suggested fee amount. It should be $4, 800 per month for a total annual fee of $57,600. I will agree to a multi -year contract if that is the desire of the Board. Second, I agree to remove Section 3 in Attachment "B" from the Contract. This is the "sub -consultant" language which has been included in prior contracts. Again, I am proud to represent the Miami Southeast OvertownlPark West Community Redevelopment Agencies in Tallahassee. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions. Sincerely, H. Douglas Bruce HDB;jk P.O. Box to855 (32302) a 106 SOUTH MONROE STREET E TALLAHASSEE, FL 32301 (85o) 402- 1 g00 a FAX (850) 402-1653 a HDBRUCE@EARTHLINK.NET DOUGRUCE A S S O G •A T E S July 31, 2006 Frank Rollason Executive Director City of Miami Community Redevelopment Agency 49 NW 5th Street, Suite 100 Miami, FL 33128 Dear Frank: Thank you for the opportunity to propose terms for Doug Bruce & Associates to continue to provide legislative and intergovernmental services to the Miami Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment Agencies. The agency has suffered through a difficult time, but it has been my honor to represent the agency through this cathartic period. You certainly are to be commended for your leadership. Dramatic changes are coming about in the area, and Miami CRA's will host the Florida Redevelopment Annual Convention in October, which is testimony to the recognition the authorities are receiving throughout the state. My firm's representation began in the fall of 2001. The Special Session of the Legislature, called to adjust the budget in the uncertain days following 9/11, provided the opportunity to address circuit court concerns over the constitutionality of the City of Miami's parking surcharge. Coordinating with the City's lobbying group, we successfully amended the law so that the parking surcharge was legally implemented. The following session, the Legislature passed a major rewrite of the Community Development Law. Again, we participated insuring that the changes did not adversely impact the Miami CRA and, envisioning the potential of including Biscayne Park in the CRA, adopted language which would have enabled CRA's to include governmentally owned property with adverse environmental conditions caused by public or private entities. Locally, as negative reports began to appear concerning the CRA, and a new executive director was appointed, i facilitated meetings for the new director to brief members of the Miami -Dade delegation on the future of the area. The patience and support of the delegation has been very helpful and appreciated. Most recently, the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling on the use of eminent domain for redevelopment purposes and the ongoing conflict between non -charter counties and cities P.O. Box 10855 (32302) 106 SOUTH MONROE STREET TALLAHASSEE, FL 323o1 (850) 402- 1900 FAX (850) 402-1653 a EIDBRUCE@EARTHLINK.NET attracted much legislative attention during the 2006 Session. The Miami CRA has not and does not plan to condemn properties for redevelopment purposes, therefore, the proposed constitutional amendment and statutory changes will not impact our CRA. Changes to the CRA law were significant, but again, efforts were successful to insulate the Miami CRA through grandfathering provisions. While our activity to this point has concerned CRA governance, the opportunity in the future should be more programmatic. For example, the state is grappling with the provisions of workforce housing. The CRA should participate in the initiatives to help create statutory opportunities for public service professionals to reside in old downtown areas generally revitalized through tax increment financing available to CRA's. I am available and glad to meet with individual board members in setting the legislative and governmental relations agenda for the Miami Community redevelopment areas. Doug Bruce & Associates will continue to provide legislative and governmental relation services at the current fee level of $48,000 per year, plus expenses subject to prior approval. Thank you again for the opportunity to work with the Miami Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment Agencies. Kind regards. Sincerely, c>rt 210' H. Douglas Bruce HDB:jk