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3550 Biscayne Blvd., Suite #510, Miami, FL 33137-3855
Phone: (305) 571-8230 / Fax: (305) 571-8311
Email: vkbpteci.miami.fl.us
MEMORANDUM
Date: January 9, 2003
To: Joe Arriola, City Manager
City of Miami
From: M. Athalie Range, Chair
Virginia Key Beach Park Trust
Re: Virginia Key Beach Park Trust Annual Report
to the City of Miami Commission
Fiscal year 2002 — 2003 was a period of transition for the Virginia Key Beach
Park Trust that has proved to be both an important learning experience for
the Trustees of the board and a successful re -focusing of our efforts.
As Chairperson, I know that we have never stopped striving to fulfill the
mission the residents of Miami set forth; to restore Virginia Key Beach Park
in a manner that would honor the past and embrace the future.
The Trust has completed a great deal in a short time. We appreciate the help
and assistance we've received from the commission and other city departments
and look forward to continuing this productive partnership.
Pursuant to City Code Sec. 2-890 (Annual report of City boards and committees)
and City Code Sec. 2-892 (which references Virginia Key Beach Park Trust as a
City board to be reviewed) I have attached the following prepared document to
respond to these request.
Board of Directors: M. Athalie Range -Chair, Gene Tinnie-Vice Chair, W. Mark Walters -Secretary, Eugenia B, Thomas -Treasurer,
Miguel Germain -Trustee, Maud Newbold -Trustee, Enid Pinkney, Phd.-Trustee, Bernice Sawyer -Trustee, Dick Townsend -Trustee.
David Shorter - Executive Director
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Annual Report to the City of Miami
Virginia Key Beach Park Trust
3550 Biscayne Blvd., Suite #510
Miami, FL 33137
305-571-8230
Mrs. M. Athalie Range, Chair
Mr. David Shorter, Executive Director
VIRGINIA KEY bEACh PARK TRUST
Annual Report to the City of Miami
(1) Whether the board is serving the purpose for which it was created.
Residents from the city and other surrounding communities urged Miami's
leadership to respond to the public's need for additional park space and a
shorefront recreational venue for families and other visitors to enjoy.
Since its inception, the Trust has fulfilled its charge to restore Virginia Key Beach
Park's original features and upgrade its facilities for modern-day use.
(2) Whether the board is serving current community needs.
The Trust has continued to serve the community's needs through several
important means. The Trust has developed public relations materials that
highlight the importance of the park and its restoration process. The Friends of
Virginia Key, a group of concerned citizens and supports of the Trust, have
continued to assist the Trust in various projects and offer support when needed.
The Historic Preservation Committee of the Virginia Key Beach Park Trust is
continuing to formalize an oral history and historic memorabilia collection
process. All oral histories and collected items will be used to further Trust
restoration efforts and/or displayed in the Cultural Center & Museum Complex to
be constructed on Virginia Key. Community events, programs and concerts have
continued to be held on the Trust property allowing public interaction with the
park site.
(3) A list of the board's major accomplishment.
To serve the community need the Virginia Key Beach Park Trust has
accomplished the following important initiatives:
The Trust completed an eight month public site planning process facilitated by
design consultant Wallace, Roberts & Todd, LLC (WRT). The public meetings
allowed the community to express its ideas and participate fully in the Trust's
Master Plan for the complete "build out" and restoration of Virginia Key Beach
Park. The plan will serve as the blueprint for the future use of the park and the
addition of facility enhancements and attractions.
Friday, November 7, 2003 was a milestone for the Trust; it marked the start of
construction and the restoration of several existing structures on historic Virginia
Key Beach Park. The carousel building, bathhouses, concession stand and mini -
train tunnel are just a few of the historic features being restored following the
November 2003 groundbreaking ceremony.
The Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) is coordinating two major capital
improvement projects on Virginia Key Beach Park; shoreline re -nourishment and
ecosystem restoration. The shoreline project is scheduled to begin January 2004
with the ecosystem restoration project slated to follow in the Fall of 2004.
A Water & Sewer Agreement (WASA) between Miami -Dade County Water &
Sewer Authority and the City of Miami (on behalf of the Trust) was completed
pending one minor amendment. The final approval of this modification to the
agreement will open the way for a new sewer system improvement project at
Virginia Key Beach Park scheduled to begin in the Summer of 2004.
(4) Whether there is any other board, either public or private, which
would better serve the purpose for which it was created?
The Virginia Key Beach Park Trust was formed under unique circumstances;
board -based local community support spear -headed by concerned citizens from
Miami's African -American communities gained unanimous support from the City
Commission for the creation of the Trust. The Trust consists of local residents
with strong ties to Miami, South Florida and Virginia Key Beach Park.
The Trust has continued to gather support and praise from community members
and local elected leadership. Partnerships with neighbors on Virginia Key and
surrounding areas are a testament to the Trust's appropriateness and success as
the only entity that should lead this project.
(5)
Whether the ordinance creating the board should be amended to
better enable the board to serve the purpose for which it was
created.
Changes to Sec. 38-231 of Ordinance No. 12003 are provided below.
The change would allow the Trust to operate with some ownership of the land
and an increased ability to negotiate fully with partners and supporters.
Sec. 38-231. Jurisdictional authority.
The Trust shall exercise the powers and duties set forth in the Chapter
over the land area described in "Attachment A." through a lease from the City
of Miami for a period of 50 years, at a cost of $1 per year, with optional 10
year lease extensions pending commission approval, attached here to and
incorporated herein.
(6) Whether the board's membership requirements should be modified.
The existing membership eligibility requirements for Trustees should remain
unchanged at this time. The criteria set forth by the ordinance that created the
Virginia Key Beach Park Trust have served the Trust well.
(7) The cost, both direct and indirect, of maintaining the board.
(See attached financial report)
Fund Balance Analysis
Virginia Key Beach Park Trust
Interest on Investment
Gain / Loss Investments
Prior Year Encumb.IRollover
City of Miami Funding
Capital Improvement Funding
Donations
Total Funding
Administrative Expenditures
Capital Improvement Expenditure
Total Expenditure
'Fund Balance FY 2001-2004 End
Minor
94
749
713
192
988
FY 01
1,352
885
0
333,149
0
335,386
-25,562
0
-25,562
FY 02
8,882
-283
309,824
565,000
0
50
883,473
-395,455
0
-395,455
FY 03 June
Forecast
5,870
593
488,018
565,000E
0
A
1,059,481
-628,790
0
-628,790
FY 04
Budget
0
0
430,691
715,000]
676,500
0
1,822,191
-1,145,6911
-676,500
-1,822,191
Prior YR
Encumbrances
Included in FY
04 Budget
183,030
LTD
16,104
1,195
0
2,178,149
676,500
50
183,030 2,871,998
-183,030 -2,195,498
-676,500
-183,030 -2,871,998
309,824
488,018 430,691 0 0