HomeMy WebLinkAboutSubstitution Memo from City AttorneyCITY OF MIAMI
OFFICE OF THE CITY ATTORNEY
MEMORANDUM
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Commission
FROM: George K. Wysong III, City Attorney "ec''�x. WysoWrrr
DATE: July 8, 2024
RE: Substitution of Item RE.8 on the July 11, 2024, City Commission Meeting;
Upon approval by the electorate, amend Section 29-C of City Charter to
authorize City Commission by 4/5 affirmative vote, to waive competitive
bidding, authorize City Manager to negotiate the sale or lease of +5.4 Acres
of City -owned land located at Watson Island for fair market value for
residential condominium form of ownership, cancellation of existing lease,
redevelopment of +13.3 acres for park purposes and other community
benefits.
File No.: 16232
Item RE.8 on the July 11, 2024, City Commission Meeting Agenda proposes,
upon approval of the electorate, amendment of Section 29-C of the City Charter to
authorize the City Commission by 4/5 affirmative vote, to waive competitive bidding and
authorize the City Manager to:
• Negotiate the sale and conveyance of the +5.4 Acres to permit
condominium form of ownership
The Legislation is being substituted to provide clarification that:
• Approval of the Resolution authorizes the sale or long-term lease of the
±5.4 Acres, to permit condominium form of ownership
• Certain, additional, community benefits will be provided as mutually
agreed by the City and Developer Parties
cc. Arthur Noriega V, City Manager
Marie Gouin, Director of Management & Budget
Miriam Santana, Agenda Coordinator
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City of Miami
Resolution
Legislation
City Hall
3500 Pan American Drive
Miami, FL 33133
www.miamigov.com
File Number: 16232
Final Action Date:
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION DIRECTING THE CITY
ATTORNEY TO PREPARE, IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY
ATTORNEY, A PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE CHARTER OF THE CITY
OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED ("CHARTER") FOR CONSIDERATION AT
THE GENERAL ELECTION SCHEDULED FOR NOVEMBER 5, 2024,
PROPOSING, UPON APPROVAL OF THE ELECTORATE AND OTHER
CONDITIONS THE CITY MAY REQUIRE, TO AMEND SECTION 29-C OF THE
CHARTER, TITLED "WATSON ISLAND," TO AUTHORIZE THE CITY
COMMISSION, BY A FOUR -FIFTHS (4/5THS) AFFIRMATIVE VOTE, TO
WAIVE COMPETITIVE BIDDING AND AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO
NEGOTIATE THE SALE OR LEASE OF +5.4 ACRES OF THAT CERTAIN
PROPERTY LOCATED AT 1111 PARROT JUNGLE TRAIL ("PROPERTY") FOR
FAIR MARKET VALUE TO ECORESILIENCY MIAMI, LLC, FOR RESIDENTIAL
AND COMMERCIAL USES, SUBJECT, BUT NOT LIMITED TO
CANCELLATION OF THE EXISTING LEASE, PAYMENTS TO CITY,
DEVELOPMENT OF A NEW +13.3-ACRE PUBLIC WATERFRONT PARK ON
THE REMAINDER OF PROPERTY AT NO COST TO THE CITY AND
PROVISION OF CERTAIN COMMUNITY BENEFITS, WITH RESTRICTIONS, ..
REVERSIONS, AND RETENTION BY THE CITY OF ALL OTHER EXISTING
CITY RIGHTS, AS MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED HEREINBELOW
SPONSOR(S): Commissioner Damian Pardo
WHEREAS, the City of Miami ("City") is the owner of that certain tract of land on Watson
Island comprising approximately 18.7 acres and located at 1111 Parrot Jungle Trail, Miami,
Florida ("Property"); and
WHEREAS, ESJ JI Leasehold, LLC ("ESJ") and the City are parties to that certain Lease
and Development Agreement, as modified from time to time (collectively, the "Lease") for the
Property; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Lease and other entitlements received from the City, ESJ is
authorized to develop a theme park, themed hotel, and related retail and entertainment on the
Property; and
WHEREAS, Ecoresiliency Miami LLC, in collaboration with ESJ (together "Developer
Parties"), desire to acquire +5.4 acres of the Property ("Residential Parcel") to develop
residential and commercial uses with required parking ("Residential Development"); and
WHEREAS, the City and Developer Parties desire to enter into a Conveyance
Agreement ("Agreement"), in a form acceptable to the City Attorney, which will allow the sale or
lease of the Residential Parcel for fair market value, for construction and operation of the
Residential Development subject, but not limited to: City approval; approval of any necessary
zoning changes; cancellation of existing Lease; construction of a new public waterfront park on
City of Miami Page of File ID: 16232 (Revision: A) Printed On: 7/8/2024
File ID: 16232 Enactment Number:
the remainder of the Property at no cost to the City; annual and up -front payments to the City;
repayment of the existing loan of approximately $32,000,000 due to City and Miami -Dade
County and of the existing Ygrene C-Pace loan of approximately $1,200,000 pursuant to the
existing Lease; approval by the Florida Board of the Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust
Fund and provision of certain Community Benefits; and
WHEREAS, the sale or lease of the Residential Parcel to Ecoresiliency Miami LLC will
be subject to other restrictions, reversions, and retention by the City of all other rights;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
MIAMI, FLORIDA:
Section 1. The recitals and findings contained in the Preamble to this Resolution are
adopted by reference and incorporated as if fully set forth in this Section.
Section 2. The City Attorney is directed to prepare a proposed amendment to the
Charter of the City of Miami, Florida, as amended ("Charter"), for consideration at the General
Election scheduled for November 5, 2024, proposing, upon approval of the electorate, to amend
Section 29-C of the Charter, entitled "Watson Island," to authorize the City Commission, by a
four -fifths (4/5ths) affirmative vote, to waive competitive bidding and authorize the City Manager
to negotiate and execute a Conveyance Agreement between the City and Ecoresiliency Miami
LLC, for sale or lease of the Residential Parcel, subject, but not limited to, the aforementioned
terms.
Section 3. This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon its adoption and
signature of the Mayor.'
1 If the Mayor does not sign this Resolution, it shall become effective at the end of ten (10) calendar days
from the date it was passed and adopted. If the Mayor vetoes this Resolution, it shall become effective
immediately upon override of the veto by the City Commission.
City of Miami Page of File ID: 16232 (Revision: A) Printed on: 7/8/2024
City of Miami
Legislation
Resolution
City Hall
3500 Pan American Drive
Miami, FL 33133
www.miamigov.com
File Number: 16232 Final Action Date:
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION DIRECTING THE CITY
ATTORNEY TO PREPARE, IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY ATTORNEY, A
PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA,
AS AMENDED ("CHARTER") FOR CONSIDERATION AT THE GENERAL ELECTION
SCHEDULED FOR NOVEMBER 5, 2024, PROPOSING, UPON APPROVAL OF THE
ELECTORATE AND OTHER CONDITIONS THE CITY MAY REQUIRE, TO AMEND
SECTION 29-C OF THE CHARTER, TITLED "WATSON ISLAND," TO AUTHORIZE
THE CITY COMMISSION, BY A FOUR -FIFTHS (4/5THS) AFFIRMATIVE VOTE, TO
WAIVE COMPETITIVE BIDDING AND AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO
NEGOTIATE THE CONVEYANCE OF 5.4 ACRES OF THAT CERTAIN PROPERTY
LOCATED AT 1111 PARROT JUNGLE TRAIL ("PROPERTY") FOR FAIR MARKET
VALUE TO ECORESILIENCY MIAMI, LLC, FOR RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL
USES, SUBJECT, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, COMPLETION OF PROPERTY
APPRAISALS, CANCELLATION OF THE EXISTING LEASE, PAYMENTS TO CITY,
AND DEVELOPMENT OF A NEW 13.3 ACRE PUBLIC WATERFRONT PARK ON THE
REMAINDER OF PROPERTY AT NO COST TO THE CITY, WITH RESTRICTIONS,
REVERSIONS, AND RETENTION BY THE CITY OF ALL OTHER EXISTING CITY
RIGHTS, AS MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED HEREINBELOW.
WHEREAS, the City of Miami ("City") is the owner of that certain tract of land on
Watson Island comprising approximately 18.7 acres and located at 1111 Parrot Jungle
Trail, Miami, Florida ("Property"); and
WHEREAS, ESJ JI Leasehold, LLC ("ESJ") and the City are parties to that
certain Lease and Development Agreement, as modified from time to time (as so
modified, collectively, the "Lease") for the Property; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Lease and other entitlements received from the City,
ESJ is authorized to develop a theme park, themed hotel, and related retail and
entertainment on the Property; and
WHEREAS, Ecoresiliency Miami LLC, in collaboration with ESJ (together
"Developer Parties"), desires to acquire 5.4 acres of the Property ("Residential Parcel")
to develop residential and commercial uses with required parking and accessory retail
("Residential Development"); and
WHEREAS, the City and Developer Parties desire to enter into a Conveyance
Agreement ("Agreement"), in a form acceptable to the City Attorney, which will allow the
conveyance of the Residential Parcel for fair market value, for construction and
operation of the Residential Development subject, but not limited to: City approval;
completion of Property appraisals; approval of any necessary zoning changes;
cancellation of existing Lease; construction of a new public waterfront park on the
remainder of the Property at no cost to the City; annual and up -front payments to the
City; repayment of the existing loan of approximately $32,000,000 due to City and
Miami -Dade County and of the existing Ygrene C-Pace loan of approximately
$1,200,000 pursuant to the existing Lease; and approval by the Florida Board of the
Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund through a modification of the existing
deed restrictions, including termination of the existing reverter and release of the existing
oil, gas and mineral reservations as to the Residential Parcel; and
WHEREAS, the conveyance of the Residential Parcel to Ecoresiliency Miami
LLC will be subject to other restrictions, reversions, and retention by the City of all other
rights;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COMMISSION OF THE CITY
OF MIAMI, FLORIDA:
Section 1. The recitals and findings contained in the Preamble to this Resolution
are adopted by reference and incorporated as if fully set forth in this Section.
Section 2. In accordance with Section 2-64 of the Code of the City of Miami,
Florida, the City Attorney is directed to prepare a proposed amendment to the Charter of
the City of Miami, Florida, as amended ("Charter"), for consideration at the General
Election scheduled for November 5, 2024, proposing, upon approval of the electorate, to
amend Section 29-C of the Charter, entitled "Watson Island," to authorize the City
Commission, by a four -fifths (4/5ths) affirmative vote, to waive competitive bidding and
authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute a Conveyance Agreement between
the City and Ecoresiliency Miami LLC, for conveyance of the Residential Parcel subject,
but not limited to, the aforementioned terms.
Section 3. This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon its adoption
and signature of the Mayor.'
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND CORRECTNESS:
1 If the Mayor does not sign this Resolution, it shall become effective at the end of ten (10) calendar days
from the date it was passed and adopted. If the Mayor vetoes this Resolution, it shall become effective
immediately upon override of the veto by the City Commission.