HomeMy WebLinkAboutEXHIBITSETTLEMENT AGREEMENT
In consideration of the following covenants and agreements, or other valuable
consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged and
conclusively established, South Florida Equitable Fund LLC ("SFEF"), Outlook Media of
South Florida LLC ("Outlook"), Santiago D. Echemendia, Harkley Thornton, and the
City of Miami ("the City") agree as follows:
RECITALS
A. The City has adopted ordinances that, among other things, regulate the size,
height, appearance, lighting, and landscaping requirements for outdoor
advertising structures ("Signs"). City ordinances have permitted Signs in certain
Zoning Districts and prohibited them in others. Certain Signs were erected in
accordance with the City's former zoning ordinances do not conform to the City's
current Sign regulations.
B. Prior to February 1, 2010, SFEF owned, controlled or operated two (2) Signs in
the City -- the `Boardworks Sign" located at 555 NW 79th Street, and the
"Hampton Inn Sign" located at 299 17th Road.
C. Neither Outlook, SFEF nor any of their subsidiaries, affiliated corporations, or
affiliated entities owned, controlled, or operated any other Signs in the City as of
the Effective Date of this Agreement.
D. Prior to May 20, 2010, SFEF applied to the City for a Settlement Agreement as
authorized by Miami Ordinance 11,000 (the Miami Zoning Ordinance) Section
10.4.5. that would provide, among other things, that the City would issue one
Amended Pen -nit for relocation and reconstruction of one Sign in exchange for
removal of the Boardworks and Hampton Inn Signs.
E. Since submission of that application, disputes have arisen between SFEF and the
City regarding City ordinances regulating Signs, the applicability of certain City
ordinances to Signs owned, controlled, or operated by SFEF, and the effect of
State laws on City ordinances and on the enforcement of such ordinances. These
disputes have resulted in Code Enforcement Case No. CE2010001599, on appeal
in South Florida Equitable Fund, LLC v. City of Miami, No. AP 10-192, in the
Circuit Court in and for Miami -Dade County, Florida ("Code Enforcement
Proceeding") and South Florida Equitable Fund, LLC v. City of Miami, No. 10-
21032-Civ-Ungaro, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of
Florida ("the Federal Litigation").
F. This Settlement Agreement will resolve the Code Enforcement Proceeding, the
Federal Litigation, and enable the parties to come to an agreement as to the
permitting of certain Signs and Digital LED faces.
G. The City acknowledges that SFEF has removed or will cause to be removed two
(2) Signs that were, are or will be owned, controlled, or operated by SFEF.
H. The City has a policy to reduce the number of Signs in the City.
In recognition of: (1) SFEF's removal of the Sign structures and Sign faces
described in this Agreement and waiver of just compensation therefore; (2) the
City's desire to encourage SFEF's voluntary removal of Signs within the City,
and (3) the surrender of certain valuable rights not surrendered by other outdoor
advertising companies, the City has agreed to allow SFEF to transfer the permit
rights associated with such Signs to Outlook, to allow Outlook to use those permit
rights at new locations within the City, and to allow the erection and maintenance
of Digital LED faces; and
J. The City, Outlook, and SFEF desire to resolve all disputes and the pending Code
Enforcement Proceeding, the Federal Litigation, and other litigation between
them in this Settlement Agreement ("Agreement").
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties, in consideration of the mutual covenants and
undertakings set forth in this Agreement and other good and valuable consideration, the
receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, agree as follows:
1. City Action to be Taken.
a. The City shall advertise and schedule a public hearing before the City
Commission on September 16, 2010, to consider adopting on first reading
an Ordinance in substantially the form attached as Exhibit A ("the
Ordinance"). If the Ordinance is adopted on first reading, the City shall
advertise and schedule a public hearing before the City Commission on
October 14, 2010, to consider adopting the Ordinance on second reading.
This Agreement does not bind the Commission in the exercise of its
governmental discretion, nor obligate it to adopt the Ordinance. If the
Ordinance is not finally adopted in substantially the form attached as
Exhibit A, this Agreement shall have no further force or effect.
b. If the Ordinance is finally adopted in substantially the form attached as
Exhibit A on October 14, 2010,
(1) The City shall:
(a) Allow Outlook to relocate to and reconstruct a Sign at 1700
SW 3rd Avenue or 299 SW 17th Road, City of Miami,
Florida, a site known to the parties as the Sevennine
(Monsalve) Site, with an Amended Permit issued by the
City. The Sign built on the Sevennine (Monsalve) Site may
be built substantially conforming to the generic sign plans
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attached as Exhibit, 31 of the Declaration of Harkley
Thornton filed in the Federal Litigation and may include
one LED Digital face. The actual structure may vary from
the generic plans to accommodate site specific
characteristics and as needed for installation of an LED
Digital face. After the Effective Date of this Agreement,
Outlook may submit Florida Department of Transportation
Form ("FDOT") 575-010-04 to the City seeking local
government approval of the Sign at the Sevennine
(Monsalve) Site. The City will stamp the form on the date
it is received. The City shall within five (5) days of receipt
deliver back to Outlook a completed and fully executed
FDOT Form 575-070-04 for the Amended Permit for a
Sign at the Sevennine (Monsalve) Site certifying that the
Sign is in compliance with all duly adopted local
ordinances and will be issued the necessary City permits.
The executed form and application for the Amended Permit
shall constitute approval of the Sevennine (Monsalve) Site,
which is the subject of the Amended Peiuiit, and no further
approvals from the City shall be required for the Amended
Permit. However, Outlook shall submit a building permit
application which shall comply with all ordinances relating
to structural, electrical and/or engineering requirements, or
other health and safety requirements (hereinafter the
"Technical Regulations") and all setback and encroachment
requirements. Additionally, Outlook will place all columns,
foundations and overhangs within the Base Building Lines
as that is defined in §§54.196 through 54-190 of the City of
Miami Code The City shall timely deliver back to Outlook
an issued building permit.
Issue to Outlook within 10 days of the Effective Date one
credit allowing Outlook to install one LED Digital face on
the Sevennine (Monsalve) Sign face that is viewable by
southbound traffic and a second credit allowing Outlook to
install a second LED Digital face on an outdoor advertising
sign owned or operated by it at a site to be determined.
Both credits shall be freely assignable to any entity that has
entered a Settlement Agreement with the City regarding
Signs. "LED Digital face" shall mean a sign that
incorporates a semiconductor diode that emits light when
conducting current and shall have the same meaning as
generally defined by the City in Division 6 of Chapter 62 of
the Code of the City of Miami, Florida.
(2) This Agreement shall release and forever discharge SFEF, its
agents, employees, officers, directors, subsidiaries, stockholders
and parent corporations from any and all claims, actions, causes of
action, damages and costs arising from violations, alleged or
actual, of the City's Sign regulations. It shall also operate to
release owners of property upon which SFEF's Signs are or were
located, to the same extent SFEF is released. This Agreement shall
not waive the City's right to enforce its ordinances against Signs
not identified as being owned, controlled or operated by SFEF, or
against Signs not authorized by an Amended Permit. In addition,
the City does not waive its right to enforce its ordinances against
the Hampton Inn Sign or the Boardworks Sign, or against a Sign
not authorized by an Amended Permit if the removal of those
Signs is required by this Agreement.
2. SFEF Actions to be Taken. If the City finally adopts the Ordinance in
substantially the form attached as Exhibit A on October 14, 2010, SFEF shall file
within 10 days:
a. In the Federal Litigation a motion for an order providing that the lawsuit is
dismissed and that the dismissal shall be with prejudice after the
Sevennine (Monsalve) Sign has been built and the appropriate City of
Miami official signs off on, closes out, or otherwise gives the final
approval of pen -nits to Outlook that allow the construction, maintenance,
and operation of the Sevennine (Monsalve) Sign and two (2) LED Digital
faces on outdoor advertising signs. If the order is not granted, this
Agreement shall be of no further force or effect, SFEF shall surrender to
the City the permits granted to it pursuant to paragraph 1.b.(1), and the
release provided in paragraph 1.b.(2) shall no longer be valid.
b. An agreed motion to stay the Code Enforcement Proceeding pending
completion of construction of the Sevennine (Monsalve) Sign.
c. Within 30 days after the Sevennine (Monsalve) Sign has been constructed
and the City has completed its final inspection:
(1)
Remove at its sole cost and expense the Boardworks Sign. SFEF
already has removed the Hampton Inn Sign and has cancelled the
corresponding Florida Department of Transportation permit
CA179. The City acknowledges that the Hampton Inn Sign has
been removed and FDOT permit CA179 has been canceled.
(2) Waive any right to receive from the City just compensation or any
other relief it may have arising from the City's actions compelling
removal of the Boardworks or the Hampton Inn signs, except as set
forth herein, whether such claim for just compensation is
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(3)
predicated on Section 70.001, 70.20(9) or 479.15(2), Florida
Statutes; Article X, Section 6 of the Florida Constitution;
Amendments V and XIV of the United States Constitution; or any
other authority under state or federal law.
Dismiss with prejudice its petition for writ of certiorari in the Code
Enforcement Proceeding.
3. Outlook Actions to Be Taken. If the City adopts the Ordinance in substantially
the form attached as Exhibit A on October 14, 2010, and the Federal Litigation is
dismissed without prejudice, Outlook shall:
a. Within 10 days, withdraw its motion to intervene in CBS Outdoor, Inc. v.
Florida Department of Transportation, Case No. 10-0997 (FDOT File
Nos. 57570 and 57571) filed in the Florida Division of Administrative
Hearings.
b. Within 30 days after the Sevennine (Monsalve) Sign has been constructed
and the City has completed its final inspection make a one-time permit
amendment fee ("Permit Fee") of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000.00) to
the City.
c. Subsequent to the payment specified in paragraph 3.b., pay the City the
sum of One Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($1,500.00) per year
("Annual Fee"). Outlook shall continue to make payment to the City as
set forth above, so long as the Sevennine (Monsalve) Sign remains
erected. The City shall not increase the Annual Fee until 2015 when it
may be increased by the CPI cost of living increase from the prior year.
The City may increase the Annual Fee each year thereafter by an amount
not to exceed the CPI cost of living.
4. Fees & Costs. Each of the parties shall remain responsible for paying its own
attorneys' fees, costs and expenses arising out of or connected with all litigation
referenced in this agreement.
5. Waiver of Future Challenges.
a. After the appropriate City of Miami official signs off on, closes out, or
otherwise gives the final approval of permits to Outlook that allow the
construction, maintenance, and operation of the Sevennine (Monsalve)
Sign and two (2) LED Digital faces on outdoor advertising signs, the
dismissal of the Federal Litigation, as provided above, shall be with
prejudice without any further action by the Court or the parties and neither
Outlook, SFEF, Echemendia, Thornton, nor any combination of them will
assert any claims in any litigation seeking to invalidate Article XIII
sections 62.601 through 62.618 of the City Code; Section 10.4.5 of City of
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Miami Ordinance 11,000; Section 6.5.1.8 f. of the Miami 21 Code; or any
existing settlement agreements between the City of Miami, Clear Channel,
CBS Outdoor, Inc., Carter Pritchett Hodges, Inc. d/b/a Carter Outdoor,
Inc., SFEF or Outlook. This obligation shall be binding on not only these
parties, but also their personal representatives, heirs, past and present
representative officers, directors, agents, accountants, insurers, employees,
and any subsidiary, affiliated and parent corporations, collateral
corporations, or other business entities controlled directly or indirectly by
these parties now or in the future. Echerendia and Thornton join in this
provision in furtherance of the purposes of Outlook and SFEF.
b. Outlook shall not join the City as a party in any of the pending actions that
it has against CBS Outdoor, Inc. or Carter Pritchett Hodges, Inc. d/b/a
Carter Outdoor, Inc.
6. Replacement and Relocation of Signs. If Outlook determines, in its sole
discretion, to relocate and reconstruct the Sevennine (Monsalve) Sign or the LED
display faces permitted in accordance with paragraph 1.b.(1) or if the view of
either is impaired for any reason, the City will authorize Outlook to replace such
Sign or LED display faces along the enumerated portions of the interstate
highways and state roadways set forth in section 62-6'18.5(1) of the City Code, as
it may be amended from time to time, other than those portions designated by the
City as "gateways" to the extent section 62-618.5(2) would prohibit issuance of
the amended permit for the Sevennine (Monsalve) Sign, without payment of any
additional fees to, or the requirement of the removal of any additional Signs or
any further approval from the City, and the City shall amend the permit(s) to
reflect the new location(s). The City and Outlook further agree that LED Signs
facing in the same direction shall be placed at a minimum of six hundred (600) for
apart, irrespective of whether they are placed on the same or different sides of the
roadway, highway or expressway. In the case of LED Signs located on opposite
sides of the roadway, highway or expressway, the six hundred (600) feet shall be
measured excluding the width of the roadway, highway or expressway so long as
the requirement does not prevent the location an LED display face on the
Sevennine (Monsalve) Sign. Additionally, the City will execute any
documentation Outlook may require to obtain the necessary state permit for the
new location. This right to maintain, replace and relocate Signs shall expire and
terminate on the Termination Date unless the parties have extended this
Agreement.
7. Future Legislation. During the term of this Agreement, any ordinance adopted by
the City to regulate the size, height, appearance, location, lighting, and
landscaping requirements for Signs subsequent to the Effective Date and prior to
the Termination Date, shall not be applied retroactively to Outlook. This
provision shall not apply to Technical Regulations.
8. Property Owner Rights, Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed
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to permit the relocation, reconstruction, or installation of a Sign without the
consent of the owner of the real property where it will be located. Outlook and
the City acknowledge that Outlook bears the sole risk of finding, securing and
maintaining the Sevennine (Monsalve) Site for its Sign, including any
replacement Sign, and that its failure to find and secure a suitable replacement site
or to take advantage of the replacement right granted herein shall not give rise to
any claim for compensation or other relief from the City, and Outlook expressly
waives any such claim.
9. Non -Waiver of Legal Positions. The parties acknowledge that this Agreement is
a compromise resolution of disputed claims and agree that it shall never be treated
as an admission, or evidence of liability, by either of them for any purpose
whatsoever.
10. Condemnation Rights. Nothing in this Agreement shall affect in any way the
City's right to condemn a Sign in accordance with applicable eminent domain
laws, nor shall it affect Outlook's obligation to comply with applicable structural,
electrical and engineering requirements and other health and safety requirements.
If the City determines that any Sign structure has become unsafe so as to pose a
threat of bodily harm to the public, the City shall so notify Outlook and Outlook
shall immediately correct the problem, and if Outlook fails to immediately correct
the problem, the City may take any such enforcement action as allowed by its
police powers for the protection of public safety and health. Any such action by
the City shall not be used by Outlook as grounds to invalidate this Agreement.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, Outlook's limited
waiver of its statutory and constitutional rights to receive just compensation upon
removal of certain Signs identified this Settlement Agreement is expressly
conditioned upon the City's issuance of the Amended Permit for the Sevennine
(Monsalve) Sign and the permits for the two LED display faces.
11. Unsafe Structures. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, nothing in this
Agreement affects Outlook's right, if any, or the City's obligation to pay, if any,
just compensation if the City elects to remove any lawfully erected Sign
belonging to Outlook.
12. Beneficiaries. This agreement, as well as the obligations created and the benefits
conferred hereunder, shall be binding on and inure to the benefit of the parties
themselves as well as their personal representatives, heirs, past and present
representative officers, directors, agents, accountants, insurers, employees, and
any subsidiary, affiliated and parent corporations, collateral corporations, or other
business entities controlled directly or indirectly by the Parties. However, this
agreement and the benefits conferred hereunder, shall specifically not inure to the
benefit of CBS Outdoor, Inc. or Carter Pritchett Hodges, Inc. d/b/a Carter
Outdoor, Inc.
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13. Further Assurances and Cooperation. The City agrees to prepare and execute
such additional documents, and to take such other actions as may be necessary to
effectuate the purposes of this Agreement, and Outlook will assist in this effort as
requested by the City. As long as the City complies with this Agreement, none of
the parties to this Settlement Agreement nor any of their subsidiaries, or parent
corporations, or assignees, will sue the City on Sign issues, or provide financial or
in -kind support to others who sue the City regarding the City's Sign regulations.
The City will reasonably cooperate to resolve issues, if any, raised by Miami -
Dade County regarding Outlook's Signs and the Amended Permit for the
Sevennine (Monsalve) Sign and the two LED display faces issued pursuant to this
Settlement Agreement.
14. Notice. All notices or other communications required or permitted hereunder shall
be in writing and shall be delivered to the persons listed below:
As to SFEF or
Outlook: Harkley R. Thornton
2295 S. Hiawassee Road, Suite 203
Orlando, Florida 32835
Telephone: (407) 363-1212
With a copy to:
As to Thornton:
With a copy to:
As to Echemendia:
Santiago D. Echemendia
1441 Brickell Avenue
Four Seasons Tower, 15th Floor
Miami, FL 33131
Telephone: (305) 536-1112
Harkley R. Thornton
2295 S. Hiawassee Road, Suite 203
Orlando, Florida 32835
Telephone: (407) 363-1212
Santiago D. Echemendia
1441 Brickell Avenue
Four Seasons Tower, 15th Floor
Miami, FL 33131
Telephone: (305) 536-1112
Santiago D. Echemendia
1441 Brickell Avenue
Four Seasons Tower, 15th Floor
Miami, FL 33131
Telephone: (305) 536-1112
With a copy to: Harkley R. Thornton
2295 S. Hiawassee Road, Suite 203
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As to the City:
With a copy to:
Orlando, Florida 32835
Telephone: (407) 363-1212
City of Miami Carlos A. Migoya, City Manager
City of Miami
350 Pan American Drive
Miami, Florida 33133
Telephone: (305) 250-5300
Julie O. Bru, Esquire
City Attorney
City of Miami
444 S.W. 2nd Avenue, Suite 945
Miami, Florida 33133
Telephone: (305) 416-1800
15. Construction and Law Governing. Both parties drafted this Agreement, and
therefore any ambiguity shall not be construed against either party. In addition,
this Agreement has been executed and delivered in, and shall be interpreted,
construed, and enforced pursuant to and in accordance with, the laws of the State
of Florida without regard to its conflict of laws provisions and the language of all
parts of this agreement shall in all cases be construed as a whole. The parties
agree that any action to enforce this agreement shall be brought in the Eleventh
Judicial Circuit Court in and for Miami -Dade County, Florida. Moreover, each
party agrees and consents to the exercise of personal jurisdiction in these courts
for the purpose of any enforcement action.
16. Assignments/Binding Nature. This Agreement will be binding upon and will
inure to the benefit of any successor or permitted assigns of the parties hereto.
Outlook shall have the right of assignment of rights and obligations under this
Agreement. However, no attempted assignment by Outlook will be valid unless:
(1) the assignee shall execute an Agreement to be bound by the terms and
conditions of this Agreement and to accept all of the rights and obligations of
Outlook under this Agreement; and (b) the assigmnent is approved in writing by
the City Commission. The parties acknowledge that the City Commission shall
have the right to reject a proposed assignment if the assignee does not fully adopt
the terns of this Agreement. Any such assignment shall not relieve Outlook of its
obligations under this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no approval by
the City Commission shall be required for any assigmnent between Outlook and
SFEF or any entity controlled, controlling or under common control with Outlook
or SFEF, provided such assignee assumes the obligations of Outlook under this
Agreement. Any attempted assignment in violation of this Section shall be void.
Nothing in this paragraph shall limit the assignment rights conferred by the City
on Outlook through paragraph 1.b.(1)(b).
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17. Compliance With Codes, Setbacks and Encroachments Indemnification. Outlook
acknowledges and agrees that this Agreement does not in any way alleviate
Outlook's responsibility to comply with all Technical Regulations in removing,
relocating, maintaining, repairing or in reconfiguring any Sign face or Sign
structure, and Outlook shall not be excused from complying with the Technical
Regulations, and set back and encroachment requirements, in effect at the time a
building or electrical permit application filed in connection with construction or
reconstruction of an existing Sign. Additionally, Outlook will ensure that all
columns, foundations and overhangs are within the Base Building Line. The City
will issue Outlook any permits or authorization that may be required to enable
Outlook to comply with this paragraph. Further, Outlook will indemnify and hold
the City harmless and defend the City from any injury, or claim of injury, either to
person or property, that results from a Outlook Sign structure or associated Sign
face.
18. Amendments. No change in, or addition to, this Agreement shall be enforceable
unless evidenced by a writing executed by the parties. Any such enforceable
amendment(s) shall become effective on the date stipulated therein.
19. Waiver. Any condition to a party's obligation hereunder may be waived by that
party, provided such waiver is in writing. However, the waiver by any party of a
breach or violation of any provision of this Agreement shall not operate as, or be
construed to be, a waiver of any subsequent breach of the same or any other
provision hereof. The failure by any party to timely enforce any of the provisions
of this Agreement shall not be deemed a waiver thereof. Neither Outlook nor the
City shall be deemed to have waived any right to bring an action to enforce the
terms, conditions and limitations of this Agreement.
20. Invalidity. If any section, phrase, or portion of this Agreement is for any reason
held invalid or unconstitutional by any court of competent jurisdiction, such
portion shall be deemed a separate, distinct and independent provision, and such
holding shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions hereof. In the event
this Agreement is invalidated by a Court when challenged by a third party, then
the parties hereto shall be returned to their respective legal positions as such
existed on the date one day prior to the Effective Date of this Agreement.
21. Authority. Each person signing this agreement on behalf of a party represents and
warrants that he or she has full power and authority to enter into this Agreement
and to fully, completely, and finally settle the lawsuit, including but not limited to
any and all claims and counterclaims which were or could have been asserted in
the lawsuit.
22. Entire Agreement. The parties acknowledge that this agreement contains the full
and complete agreement between and among them, and that there are no oral or
implied agreements or understandings not specifically set forth herein. Each party
acknowledges that no other party, or agent or attorney of any other party, or any
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person, firm, corporation or any other entity has made any promise,
representation, or warranty whatsoever, express, implied, or statutory, not
contained herein, concerning the subject matter hereof, to induce the execution of
this agreement. Each signatory also hereby acknowledges that he or she has not
executed this agreement in reliance on any promise, representation, or warranty
not contained herein. The parties further agree that no modifications of this
agreement may be made except by means of a written agreement signed by each
of the parties.
23. Effect of Non -Enforcement. The parties agree that the waiver of any breach of
this agreement by any party shall not be a waiver of any other subsequent or prior
breach.
24. Cooperation. From time to time at the request of any of the parties to this
agreement, without further consideration and within a reasonable period of time
after request hereunder is made, the Parties hereby agree to execute and deliver
any and all further documents and instruments and to do all acts that any of the
parties to this Agreement may reasonably request which may be necessary or
appropriate to fully implement the provisions of this Agreement.
25. Counterparts and Facsimile Signatures. This agreement may be executed in
counterparts, each of which so executed shall be deemed an original irrespective
of the date of its execution and delivery and said counterparts together shall
constitute one and the same instrument. It is agreed that the parties may rely upon
telefaxed or emailed copies of any other party's signature.
26. Miscellaneous.
a. Any City Sign regulation adopted after the Effective Date of this
Agreement shall not be applied to diminish Outlook's rights under this
Agreement.
b. Nothing contained herein shall prevent the City from enforcing its police
powers and safety regulations in a manner not inconsistent with this
Agreement.
27. Tenn and Expiration. This Agreement, and all rights and obligations of the parties
hereunder, shall teiniinate and expire twenty-five (25) years after its Effective
Date unless extended by Agreement of the parties. The parties shall, five (5) years
prior to the Termination Date, enter into negotiations to extend this Agreement,
upon mutually acceptable terms. Any such extension of this Agreement will
require that the fees to be paid by Outlook to be renegotiated.
28. Headings. The various headings used in this agreement are solely for the
convenience of the parties and shall not be used to interpret this agreement.
29. Effective Date. This agreement shall be effective as of the date that the
agreement has been signed by all the parties for whom signature lines appear
below and not before.
Dated An Authorized Representative of
South Florida Equitable Fund LLC
Dated An Authorized Representative of
the Outlook Media of South Florida LLC
Dated Santiago D. Echemendia
Dated Harkley Thornton
Dated An Authorized Representative of
the City of Miami
Approved as to form and correctness: Approved as to Insurance Requirements:
Title: Title
Dated: Dated:
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EXHIBIT A
..Title
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AMENDING CHAPTER 62/ARTICLE
XIII/DIVISION 6 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED,
ENTITLED "ZONING AND PLANNING/ZONING APPROVAL FOR TEMPORARY USES AND
OCCUPANCIES; SPECIAL PERMIT REQUIRED/BILLBOARDS", BY CREATING A NEW
SECTION 62-618.8 ENTITLED "NEW RELOCATION AND RECONSTRUCTION
AGREEMENTS," CONTAINING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE, AND PROVIDING FOR AN
EFFECTIVE DATE.
..Body
WHEREAS, South Florida Equitable Fund, LLC ("SFEF") has filed suit against the City
of Miami ("City") challenging the constitutionality of the City's sign regulations; and
WHEREAS, uncertainty exists with respect to how that litigation will be resolved in the
courts; and
WHEREAS, the pendency of the litigation is depleting City resources that could be put
to better uses; and
WHEREAS, the City and SFEF desire to settle the litigation in accordance with the
terms and conditions of a settlement agreement that will become effective upon the City's
adoption of this amendment creating new Section 62.618.8 of the Code of the City of Miami,
Florida, as amended ("City Code");
WHEREAS, the settlement agreement will directly and materially advance the City's
substantial and important interests in eliminating visual blight and deleterious effects to it's
neighborhoods resulting from billboards and in preventing the proliferation of illegally
constructed billboards throughout the City; and
WHEREAS, the City also has a substantial and significant governmental interest in
preventing the proliferation of illegally constructed billboards throughout the City; and
WHEREAS, the City also has a substantial and significant governmental interest in
promoting public safety and welfare by providing reasonable protection to the visual
environment and by ensuring that billboards do not interfere with traffic safety or otherwise
endanger public safety; and
WHEREAS, the Florida Legislature, by the enactment of Section 70.20, Florida Statutes
(2002), has empowered the City, for the purpose of accomplishing public goals, to enter into
relocation and reconstruction agreements, on whatever terms are agreeable to the sign owner
and the municipality, to provide for relocation and reconstruction of signs by ordinance,
without the expenditure of public funds, and while allowing the continued maintenance of
private investment in signage as a medium of commercial and noncommercial
communication; and
WHEREAS, it is hereby declared public goals of the City to reduce the number of
billboards within its neighborhoods, and to prevent the proliferation of illegally constructed
billboards throughout the City; and
WHEREAS, in conformance with powers granted to the City by virtue of Section 70.20,
Florida Statutes (2002), the City entered into relocation and reconstruction agreements with
SFEF;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
MIAMI, FLORIDA:
Section 1. The recitals and findings contained in the Preamble to this Ordinance are
adopted by reference and incorporated as if fully set forth in this Section.
Section 2. Chapter 62 of the City Code, entitled "Zoning and Planning", is further
amended in the following particulars:{1}
"CHAPTER 62
ZONING AND PLANNING
ARTICLE XIII. ZONING APPROVAL FOR TEMPORARY USES AND OCCUPANCIES;
PERMIT REQUIRED
*
*
*
DIVISION 6. BILLBOARDS
* * *
Sec. 62-618.7. Relocation and reconstruction agreements -Previously existing agreements.
Prior to the effective date of Ord. No. 13181, pursuant to the powers granted the city under F.S.
§ 70.20, the city entered into relocation and reconstruction agreements, concerning billboards
located within the city, on terms agreeable to the sign owners and the city, with the following
sign owners: Carter Pritchett Hodges, Inc., d/b/a Carter Outdoor Advertising, Inc. ("Carter");
Clear Channel Outdoor, Inc. ("CCO"); and CBS Outdoor, Inc. ("CBS"). The terms of these
preexisting relocation and reconstruction agreements, as they may be amended from time to
time, between the city and Carter, the city and CCO, and the city and CBS, shalt remain in full
force and effect, the terms of which shall govern the billboard inventory enumerated in these
agreements, and, furthermore, section 62-618.5 hereof shall not apply to those billboards.
Sec. 62-618.8.
agreements.
New Relocation and Reconstruction Agreements- Subsequent
Subsequent to the effective date of Ordinance 13181, pursuant to the powers granted the City
under s. 70.20, F.S. (2002), the City entered into a relocation and reconstruction agreement,
concerning billboards located within the City, with South Florida Equitable Fund LLC, Outlook
Media of South Florida, LLC, and other parties. The terms of that relocation and reconstruction
agreement, as it may be amended from time to time, shall remain in full force and effect, the
terms of which shall govern the billboard inventory allowed by the agreement, and, furthermore,
subsections 62.618.5(3), (4) & (12) hereof shall not apply to that inventory; subsections
62.618.5(1), (2) & (5) shall not apply to the extent that they would prohibit issuance of the Sign
permit identified in paragraph 1 of the agreement and the LED permit for that Sign but
subsections 62.618.5(1) & (2) shall apply to the second LED permit identified in paragraph 1 of
the agreement; and subsections 62.618.5(11) shall not limit the assignment rights under the
agreement.
Section 3. If any section, part of section, paragraph, clause, phrase or word of this
Ordinance is declared invalid, the remaining provisions of this Ordinance shall not be affected.
Section 4. This Ordinance shall become effective immediately upon its adoption and
signature of the Mayor.(2)
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND CORRECTNESS:
JULIE O. BRU
CITY ATTORNEY
..Footnote
{1 I} Words/and or figures stricken through shall be deleted. Underscored words and/or figures
shall be added. The remaining provisions are now in effect and remain unchanged. Asterisks
indicate omitted and unchanged material.
{2} If the Mayor does not sign this Ordinance, it shall become effective at the end of ten
calendar days from the date it was passed and adopted. If the Mayor vetoes this Ordinance, it
shall become effective immediately upon override of the veto by the City Commission.