HomeMy WebLinkAboutCRA-R-08-0029 Back-up0
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May 14, 2008
Mr. Jim Villacorta, Executive
Director
City of Miami
Southeast Overtown/Park West
Community Redevelopment
Agency
49 NW 5th Street, Suite 430
Miami, FL 33128
Dear Jim:
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.
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, l 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 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 out CRA. Changes to the CRA law were significant, but again, efforts were successful to
insulate the Miami CRA through grandfathering provisions.
We have been successful the past two sessions in securing appropriations for the Community
Budget Issue Requests: $300,000 in 2007, which was ultimately vetoed, and $100,000 this year, which is
under consideration by the Governor.
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.
P.O. Box 10855 (32302) 7. 106 SOUTH MoNROE STREET ' TALLAHASSEE, FL 32301
(85o) 402- 1 C)OO FAX (85o) 402-1653 HDBRUCE@EARTHLINK.NET
Doug Bruce & Associates will continue to provide legislative and governmental relation services
at the current fee level of $57, 600 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.
HDB:rh
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Kind regards.
Sincerely,
H. Douglas $nice