HomeMy WebLinkAboutSubmittal-1MIAMI
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Rosa Naccarato
Chairperson
Joan Sampieri
1st Vice Chairperson
Carmen Elias -Levenson, CPA
2nd Vice Chairperson
Gerri Rocker
Member at Large
Maria E. Roberts
Immediate Past Chair
COMMISSION MEMBERS
Barbara Buxton, Esq.
Elena de Jongh, Ph.D.
Mikele Aboitiz Earle
Anastasia Garcia, Esq.
Norville A.S. Holyfield
Gwen Jennings Kidney
Bess McElroy
'von Mesa
Grace M. O'Donnell
Miriam Placer -Valdes
Barbara Schwartz
Diana Shinaberry
Gloria Simmons
Regina Suarez
Leona Johnson Swilley
Bea Weaver, Ed.D.
Paula Xanthopoulou
PAST CHAIRPERSONS
Maria E. Roberts
Magali R. Abad
Maribel Balbin
Ana Magda Guillen
Kay M. Sullivan
Evelyn Shea
Lynn Leight, Ph. D.
Cary de Leon
Yvonne B. Burkholz
Karen Kelly
Jamiss E. Sebert
Dorie Lurie
Rosario Kennedy
Carolyn Furlong
Monna Lighte
Juanita Greene
Dorothy Yates
Marvelle Colby
Anne Wilson
Mollie Brilliant
Hon. Elaine Bloom
Laura C. Morilla
Program Officer/Director
SUBMITTED INTO THE
PUBLIC RECORD FOR
ITEM Da I ON a-av-os
inmi-dade county
commission Por
wo , en
STEPHEN P. CLARK CENTER
1 1 1 N.W. 1st STREET
SUITE 660
MIAMI, FLORIDA 33128-1919
(305) 375-4967
FAX (305) 375-5715
www.miamidade.gov/commwomen
Email: morilla@miamidade.gov
JULIA TUTTLE STATUE PROPOSAL
Project proposal- The Miami -Dade County Commission for Women (CFW) and
the City of Miami Commission on the Status of Women (Miami COSW) are
proposing that a statue of Julia Tuttle, the founder of the City of Miami, be erected to
honor and remember her efforts and contributions.
Why we need a statue- Julia Tuttle was a Miami pioneer and visionary who was the
first to recognize Miami's potential as a great city. She predicted that "Miami will
eventually be one of the greatest and most important cities, financially, commercially
and residentially, as well as the most important deep water port in all of the
southland." It was Julia Tuttle who finally convinced railroad magnate Henry Flagler
to extend his railroad to Miami. This led to Miami's incorporation in 1896. As a
landowner in the area of present day downtown Miami, she also had extensive
influence over the early development of Miami. No other city in the United States
can claim that it was founded by a woman. Her achievements are all the more
remarkable given the limitations placed on women at the time and their less than equal
status in society. Presently, there is no public tribute to Julia Tuttle. Besides the Julia
Tuttle Causeway, there is no statue, no historical marker and no street named after her.
There is no public recognition of her importance to the City of Miami.
Location of the statue- The most appropriate place for the statue would be in the
heart of the downtown Miami area where Julia Tuttle lived and owned property. This
would be the area around the Hyatt Hotel/Knight Center complex and the Dupont
Plaza complex. A location along the lower part of the Miami River in downtown
would also be appropriate. Now is the ideal time to adopt this project, as downtown
Miami is experiencing a redevelopment boom that will attract thousands of new
residents, and the Miami River is also targeted for improvements. The statue can be
incorporated as part of a new development or it can be erected on city land. Wherever
it is erected, it should also be easily accessible to the public. As Miami builds
towards the future, it should not forget its past.
Cost and funding- The estimated cost of the statue is between $250,000 and
$300,000, based on a similar project of a George Merrick statue that will be put up in
Coral Gables very soon. Proposals and renderings would be requested from various
artists/sculptors and a winning design would be selected. Depending on the location
of the statue, some landscaping and architectural changes are also envisioned.
Founded b Roxcy Bolton and established by Miami -Dade Coun
�•� 7/ )421— /
Ordinance No. 71-11 in 1971.
Funding could come from various sources- the City of Miami, Miami -Dade County
and its general obligation bond funds, the State of Florida, and private fundraising.
The Miami COSW has raised $30,000 since 1996 (the year of the City's Centennial)
toward this project, which is currently in a City trust fund. The CFW has a 501(c) (3)
charitable organization that can be used for additional fundraising purposes.
Submitted Into the public
record in connection with
item 1)?. • I on - ?4- 65-
Priscilla A. Thompson
City Clerk