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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC 2022-04-28 MinutesCity of Miami City Hall 3500 Pan American Drive Miami, FL 33133 www.miamigov.com * INCORP ORATES * 18 88 Meeting Minutes Thursday, April 28, 2022 2:00 PM Special Meeting City Hall City Commission Francis X. Suarez, Mayor Christine King, Chair, District Five Joe Carollo, Vice Chair, District Three Alex Diaz de la Portilla, Commissioner, District One Ken Russell, Commissioner, District Two Manolo Reyes, Commissioner, District Four Arthur Noriega, V, City Manager Victoria Mendez, City Attorney Todd B. Hannon, City Clerk City Commission Marked Agenda April 28, 2022 2:00 PM INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Present: Chairwoman King, Vice Chair Carollo, Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla, Commissioner Russell and Commissioner Reyes Note for the Record: Vice Chair Carollo entered the Commission chambers at 3:15 p.m. On the 28th day of April, 2022, the City Commission of the City of Miami, Florida, met at its regular meeting place in City Hall, 3500 Pan American Drive, Miami, Florida, in special session. The Commission Meeting was called to order by Chairwoman King at 3:07 p.m., recessed at 7:50 p.m., reconvened at 8:38 p.m., and adjourned at 8:44 p.m. ALSO PRESENT: Arthur Noriega, V, City Manager Victoria Mendez, City Attorney Todd B. Hannon, City Clerk (COMMENTS MADE OFF THE RECORD) Chair King: Good afternoon, everyone. As you are aware, today is Take Your Child to Work Day. And I have a special someone here to welcome you. Brielle Williams: Welcome to the Miami -- the City of Miami special meeting for the Miami Freedom Park, MFP. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Good job. Good job. Chair King: That was Miss Brielle Williams (phonetic) and at this point, I'm going to have Pastor Caudwell come and give us a prayer. He also was, for 12 years, the pastor for the University of Miami -- for 20 years, I'm sorry, the pastor for the University of Miami Hurricanes football team. Invocation delivered. Chair King: Thank you so much. Please be seated. Commissioner Reyes, would you give us the pledge of allegiance, please? Pledge of Allegiance delivered. ORDER OF THE DAY Chair King: Madam City Attorney, would you please read for the record the procedures for this meeting? Victoria Mendez (City Attorney): Thank you, Madam Chair. Any person who is a lobbyist pursuant to Chapter 2, Article 6 of the Code of the City of Miami must comply with the related City Code requirements for lobbyists before appearing before the City Commission. Any person making a presentation, formal request, or petition concerning real property must make the appropriate disclosures required by the City Code. A copy of this code section is available in the Office of the City Clerk or online at www.municode.com. The City of Miami requires that anyone requesting action by the City Commission must disclose before the hearing any consideration provided or committed to anyone for agreement to support or withhold objection to the requested action pursuant to City Code Section 2-8. Any person may be heard by the City Commission, through the Chair, for not more than two minutes unless modified by the Chair. Members of the public wishing to address the body may do so by submitting written City of Miami Page 1 Printed on 06/04/2024 City Commission Marked Agenda April 28, 2022 comment forms via online comment form. Please visit www.miamigov.com/meetinginstructions for detailed instructions on how to provide the public comment on the comment form. The comments submitted through the comment form will be distributed to the elected officials and the City Administration throughout the day so that the elected officials may consider the comments prior to taking any action. Public comment may also be provided live at city hall. If the proposition is being continued or rescheduled, the opportunity to be heard may be at such later date. When addressing the City Commission, the member of the public must first state their name, their address, and what item will be spoken about. Any person requiring assistance, auxiliary aids, and services for this meeting may notify the City Clerk. The City has provided different public comment methods to indicate, among other things, the public's support, opposition, or neutrality on the item in compliance with Section 286.0114 Florida Statutes. The public has been given the opportunity to provide public comment during the meeting and within reasonable proximity of the meeting. Please note Commissioners have generally been briefed by City staff and a City Attorney on items on the agenda today. Thank you. Chair King: Thank you, Madam City Attorney. PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ALL ITEM(S) 11928 DISCUSSION ITEM Office of the City Clerk PUBLIC COMMENTS SUBMITTED ONLINE BY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC FOR THE APRIL 28, 2022 SPECIAL CITY COMMISSION MEETING. RESULT: PRESENTED Chair King: Thank you. At this time, I will -- thank you. At this time, I will open the meeting up for public comment. Please do not block the entry ways when you line up to speak. Good afternoon. I know. Good afternoon, Mr. Winker. David Winker: Good afternoon. David Winker. I live at 2222 Southwest 17th Street. In a representative democracy, residents rely upon their elected leaders to shepherd community assets for the greater good. We rely on you, Commissioners, to fairly administer government services and represent our interests. Any deal that involves turning over public land to private development must be closely scrutinized, especially when a politically connected developer, such as Jorge Mas, seeks control of a public asset, in this case, 157 acre green space. How do we end up with the no bid Miami Freedom Park deal, which gives away the largest park in the City of Miami? Some commissioners, like the developer, may cite to the fiction that in voting for a lease, they're doing what voters ordered. Because in the 2018 referendum, 60 percent of voters agreed to allow commissioners to consider a lease. But the referendum only gave the power to negotiate, not enter into a bad deal. I would ask you to look closely at the track record of what happened in Fort Lauderdale. The park is still not built there. There are broken promises, and I ask that you preserve this green space for future generations. Thank you. Chair King: Thank you. Pat Santangelo: Good afternoon. My name is Pat Santangelo. I'm a co-founder and board member of Little Haiti FC Soccer Club. About 175 kids from the Little Haiti neighborhood. It's the only free youth soccer program in the whole State of Florida. I want to speak about the character of this organization. Three years ago, we had a tragedy. We had three of our children waiting for a bus to go to a soccer tournament, City of Miami Page 2 Printed on 06/04/2024 City Commission Marked Agenda April 28, 2022 and they were tragically killed by a drunk driver. This organization reached out to us, quietly, and paid for a very, very dignified funeraLfor those three children. Recently, there was a TV news article about the seniors in this program, all graduating high school, every one of the seniors of Little Haiti FC are going to college. This organization again reached out to us to honor the children at the friendly game between the Haitian national team and the Guatemalan national team, to give the kids one of the biggest days of their life. In addition to that, they are providing computers for all the 15 high school seniors on our U19 team. And that's something that they do quietly, they do it behind the scenes, without a lot of:fanfare. So, I felt compelled to come up here and let you know how I feel about the character of this organization. Thank you. Applause. Chair King: Please don't -- please don't clap. Please don't clap. I let it go a couple of times. If you want to clap, go like this. If you continue to clap, I will clear the chambers. Thank you. Good afternoon. Stanford Blake: Chairwoman King and other commissioners, my name is Stanford Blake. I live here in the City of Miami. I don't know how old Mr. Mas is. My folks moved from Detroit in 1949. I delivered the newspaper to Melreese, who lived on Poinciana and Le Jeune. My father owned Tobacco Road for 25 years. 1 wasn't smart enough to keep the bar when he sold it, and sold it for $13 million, but so be it. I think if the referendum was held today, it would not pass because now the community knows what's really happening. We have green space, and 1 know this Commission cares about green space. And you know, let's go ahead, it's not about a soccer stadium. I mean, this -- if this project was not making money for the Mas family, it would not be undertaken. We don't have to start a GoFundMe page. I don't have a PowerPoint today to put up there. I'm not spending a billion, point eight billion dollars to start, but it's a profitable thing for them. A million -- if it's only about a soccer stadium, you don't need a million square feet of office space. You don't need to have a new hotel. You don't need to have these things. We have one golf course. We have a wonderful city. Yes, Mayor, I do play golf and I play golf in Melreese, and I play golf there when it's a nine -hole course with Le Jeune Road taking a divot and hitting tin cans. But we have one golf course in our city, and we have one plot of a hundred and thirty whatever acres. So, let's go ahead and take the acres next to a water treatment plant that is going to now be the green space, and build a soccer stadium. Let's take the place next to Loan Depot, where there's parking and build a soccer stadium. It's not about a soccer stadium. It's about making money. And we have other green space if we want to build on it. We have Kennedy Park -- Chair King: Thank you. Mr. Blake: We have Pan America -- Chair King: Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Mr. Blake: But anyway, have the courage and vote no. Chair King: Thank you. Mr. Blake: Thank you. I didn't -- I'm sorry, Madam Chair. Chair King: Thank you. Good afternoon. Grant Stern: Good afternoon. My name is Grant Stern. I reside at 425 Northeast 22nd Street. I'm here in opposition of this no bid backroom deal. We just witnessed a City of Miami Page 3 Printed on 06/04/2024 City Commission Marked Agenda April 28, 2022 brilliant speech by a lobbyist named Jorge Mas, the sole beneficiary of this no -hid deal, but the City of Miami voters didn't know that until after the referendum because it wasn't disclosed. Nor were most of the lobbyists on the project, the numerous lobbyists disclosed. But Mr. Mas did make a very, very important and factually true point here, that this is basically the same backroom deal from 2018 being recycled. And why do I call it a backroom deal? Well, I'm just describing it the way that Commissioner Russell described it. He was here until 2 in the morning that night and he told us all on the dais. But I only got the document less than 24 hours before the emergency special hearing the next day, where I was prevented from giving comment. This entire deal was birthed in the dark of night. There are no bids, and frankly, there should be. This deal, if voters want it, should either be put to a referendum or put out to bid. A soccer stadium is one thing, but this is a massive commercial project. We don't even know all of the traffic impacts. Miami Today reported that the traffic studies are incomplete right now. So, nobody knows how this would affect the economic engine of Miami -Dade, which is our airport, our international airport located adjacent to the project. Mr. Mas' group already has another no -bid deal, which they defended in the courts and closed on in Overtown. If this is about a stadium, then they should be working on the Overtown site. I think it's a perfectly viable site. It's less than a mile from the Marlins Park. And otherwise, we need to see a referendum. I've spoken with Mr. Beckham. I've spoken with Mr. Clower, who left the project. And I can tell you that -- Chair King: Thank you, thank you. Mr. Stern: May I just finish one thing? Chair King: No, no, thank you. Good afternoon. Roce Simpson: Madam Chair and Commissioners. My name is Roce Simpson. I'm with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. Our offices are located at 1657 Northwest 17th Avenue. We started here in the City of Miami in 1905. We built that facility in 1949 and have been there ever since. I don't want to date myself, but I was born within probably two or three blocks of where I work now in 1943. So, I've seen a lot come and go. I'm kind of on just wanting to get on the record with a statement, but I have all the confidence. The Commission, the Mayor, have reviewed this for a great number of months, perhaps even a few years, and have weighed in on every aspect of whether this project should be voted in or out. They dedicate theirselves [sic] to working for the City ofMiami and the residents of the city of Miami. In my heart and mind, I have all the confidence in the world they're going to make the right decision, but I just want to go on record. This project should -- and we represent working men and women. We have an apprenticeship training program that trains young adults who maybe don't go to college, that they can enter into a field other than being a doctor, lawyer, or some other with a college degree, and earn a good living to raise their families and contribute back into the City of Miami. So, what we want to just ensure is that the City of Miami Responsible Wage and Benefit Ordinance for construction project would apply to this project. And if by -- and if in fact there should be no reason it shouldn't, if it does, if we have to add it to the lease agreement to ensure that it's there. And I thank you for allowing me these few minutes and I appreciate it. Thank you. Chair King: Thank you. Good afternoon. Gary Reshefsky: Good afternoon. My name is Gary Reshefsky and I'm joined here with my superstar, Chloe Reshefsky, today who's at the Take Your Child to the City Commission Day. So, we're happy to be here and we're a little excited. First of all, I just want to address you, Mr. Mayor, thank you for your comments about people that are in support of golf and that you respect our opinions. Obviously, that's where my City of Miami Page 4 Printed on 06/04/2024 City Commission Marked Agenda April 28, 2022 heart comes from. You know, those kids are not all here today, but we know that they have the largest LPGA girls' golf program in the United States. Mr. Mas, I know, is a very successful golfer and he respects that. There's a lot of comments out there about this place not being accessible. It's probably one of the most accessible public golf courses in the country and you guys know that. You've all been there so we don't need to really talk about that. But what I'm here to talk to you guys about today in the limited time that Madam Chair did give me is that 1 had the privilege of working here in 2000 and 2001 for the City Commission when you were Mayor, sir. And I was here during the debate on Bicentennial Park and the Florida Marlins at the time. And it was one of the most fascinating things you could ever do. And 1 would encourage you, before you make a decision, to read the transcripts from that time when there was a train wreck corning at the City to take that park. And what stopped that was careful planning. The City actually took the step on their own, went on offense, and created a master plan chaired by a very courageous commissioner from District 2, Johnny Winton at the time, and they stopped it. And today, we created a master plan for Bicentennial Park, and today we have one of the greatest parks in the United States, which I guess we call Maurice Ferre now with the museums in it. And that was, but for this Commission and you, Mr. Mayor, there at the time, would have been one big baseball stadium like they had in San Francisco, because that's what everybody wanted. And I think today we can be proud of what we have there. So, I would encourage you, if there was anything you could do, to come up with your own plan. Come up with your own plan with world -class planners like they did back then with Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk and a whole committee of people that were just interested. That's what we as citizens should do. Chair King: Thank you. Mr. Reshefsky: So, thank you, Madam Chair, for the time today. I appreciate it. Chair King: Thank you. Good afternoon. Mark Merwitzer: Good afternoon, Madam Chairwoman. My name is Mark Merwitzer. I just introduced myself this morning and I am here representing Transit Alliance. We are a proud member of the Public Land for Public Good Coalition. Public Land for Public Good Miami is a coalition of 35 organizations that advocate for collective action to ensure greater transparency, accountability, and community engagement in the decision and policymaking of our elected leaders. Before I begin, I want to emphasize a key point. Public land belongs to the public, not politicians or billionaires. We urge that the decisions like this today be deferred until the following criteria and values are incorporated in all decisions of publicly owned land in the City ofMiami and based on the following six criteria: Number one, affordable housing. Given our current affordable housing crisis, all of City of Miami projects should create or preserve affordable housing. Number two, displacement. Projects should not displace residents who have lived in neighborhoods for generations. Number three, resilience. Walk the talk. We are the first in line to be wiped out by climate change. Every project in Miami needs to address climate change and climate action. Number four, community engagement. It is absolutely essential that you respond to your constituents that voted you into office. Every project needs to ensure authentic community engagement and an education process, incorporate community feedback, and craft a community -informed proposal. Number five, stewardship of land. This is our land. Projects need community -led -- need to be community -led and meet the express needs of the community. Number six, community benefit. We need all proposals for the private use of public land to include a community benefits agreement that resulted from a meaningful community engagement session and expresses the needs and wants of the community. In sum, we ask that the City does not move. forward with the Freedom Park until all stakeholders are meaningfully engaged. Thank you. City of Miami Page 5 Printed on 06/04/2024 City Commission Marked Agenda April 28, 2022 Chair King: Thank you so much. Good afternoon. Michael Ridley: Good afternoon. And firstly, I just want to say what a privilege and honor it is to be here, especially when you look at what's happening in the world today. It's no more time, more important to understand democracy. And that's why we're here. And it's why I came here in 2000. When I came to the US, there was an immigration poster that said, welcome to the brightest beacon offreedom in the world. And I asked Tommy in Boston what he meant by that. And he said, well, in America, we're guided to do right by a democracy by looking at the facts and the truth. And that's something 1 think we need to do here today. Get rid of the swirl, and look at the facts and the truth. Right now, Melreese, and 1 respect all the golfers, don't get me wrong, you're playing on a contaminated site. Contamination is no good. You have to pay to play. It's not free. And it loses City money. That's not good. And that's a truth and a fact. So, let's look at the truth and fact of what Miami Freedom Park can bring to this City, what the freedom to dream can bring to this City. A world -class entertainment sport, 58-acre park, recreational destination, the heartbeat of the City for all Miamians and visitors to enjoy, not just pay to play. You know, and by doing this, we're going to create 15,000 direct and indirect jobs. Fact, truth, they matter. They matter in America. The club is going to pay 57 percent of the fair market value for the land. Fact. Truth. Facts and truth matter in America. $2.67 billion paid to the City over the lease term in rent. Fact. Truth.11l say it again, facts and truth matter in America. $6.3 billion in tax payments to the City. Fact. Truth. Say it with me, facts and truth matter in America. Let's be guided by them. $25 million contribution to parks. Fact. Truth. I'll say it again, facts and truth matter in America. Let's be guided by the facts and the truth, not the swirl. $36 million environmental remediation. Fact. Truth. They matter in America. Let's be guided by the facts and by the truth. Chair King: Thank you. Thank you. Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): Chair, ifI could get the speaker's name. Sir, ifI could just get your name for the record. Mr. Ridley: Michael Ridley, 2825 Coconut Avenue, City of Miami. Thank you. Chair King: Thank you. Good afternoon. Alex Lastra: Chairwoman, Commissioner, good afternoon. My name is Alex Lastra. My address is 3123 Gifford Lane, a resident of Miami -- of the City of Miami. I'm here to speak highly supportive of Freedom Park. I do not consider the Melreese Golf Park -- Golf Course an asset to us right now. It's utilized by very few people and what the Freedom Park and the Mas family is presenting is going to open up to the general public a much greater use and a much greater financial return to the city. So, in my mind, this is a no-brainer. I highly encourage you to support the application. Chair King: Thank you. Good afternoon. Bernard Toledo: Good afternoon. My name is Bernard Toledo. I am a City of Miami resident my entire life and I am currently -- sorry, a Miami -Dade County Public Schools teacher at Booker T. Washington Senior High School. As you can tell on my shirt, I'm a big Inter -Miami fan. I'm a member of Vice City 1896. We are a supporter's group that has done community work between beach cleanups, toy drives, and many other things that we do to help out the community, but not only that, support this soccer team. But it goes a little bit bigger than just supporting this soccer team. Being a supporter for a team like this means not only the world to me, but our children that we bring along with us. We're trying to pave the way for them to use this as an avenue to come together, to trust others, and to build a family. As we come City of Miami Page 6 Printed on 06/04/2024 City Commission Marked Agenda April 28, 2022 together every Saturday or every Sunday, we drive all the way to Fort Lauderdale. We waste a lot of our money, waste a lot of our resources, and as a teacher, we don't really make much. As we come together as this group, we help give each other jobs. We've helped our children become lifelong friends with each other. We've built bonds between family that are irreplaceable for life and I just want to thank everybody here for participating in their civic duty, for helping the City residents get the best deal possible. I believe our ownership is ready to give us the best deal. I think it's a way better deal than what's going on with the golf course. And it gives us an opportunity to come to a stadium that we can be proud of and come bring our kids here so they can be proud of it as well and build a legacy. So, it's up to you guys, up to everyone together to make the best decision and 1 trust that we will. And thank you very much. Chair King: Thank you. Good afternoon. Oscar Rodriguez: Good afternoon, thank you very much for affording me this opportunity. My name is Oscar Rodriguez, and I am the property owner of 2750 Northwest South River Drive, 1701 and 1801 Delaware Parkway, and I am a very proud alum ofPatato Pascual, which was done in Grapeland Park when I was a little boy. I think the single most important aspect of this entire proposal is the park aspect of the proposal, not only for the park that will be generated by the proposal, but the $25 million contribution to the parks. Parks are where we congregate. Parks are where we meet our community. Parks are where our children play. Approximately four years ago, the community spoke in overwhelming fashion. In any political election, you get 60 percent, you won in a landslide. They spoke, and they spoke loudly that the City should negotiate with this group, a group that has done nothing but -- but for their history comply and bring beautiful things to the City of Miami. And I can tell you from experience that negotiating with the Administration of the City of Miami is not a cakewalk in any way, shape or form. And that is exactly how it should be. They are there to do the people's work. And I believe when you look at the specifics of this proposal and the benefits, that the Administration has done exactly that. And you should all be very proud of that. Thank you very much. Chair King: Thank you. Good afternoon. Oscar Amuz: Good afternoon. Oscar Amuz, 13499 Biscayne Boulevard, North Miami. Thank you for having me here today. Honorable Mayor, thank you so much. Council members, thank you so much for this opportunity to speak. I will support Freedom of Park all the way. I'm an advocate to autism, soccer, and this is a fact. I've been rejected more than two times to do a walk or to do any kind of a golf tournament in that place. And since Inter -Miami is running the club, they've been supporting outings in soccer and support more than 3,000 kids in the last few years that they've been on board. So, I will say, please vote yes for the Freedom Park. Unidentified Speaker: Please vote yes for my future. Chair King: Thank you. Mr. Amuz: Thank you all. Chair King: Good afternoon. Thomas Kinnedy: Good afternoon. My name is Thomas Kinnedy. I reside in 2307 Southwest loth Street, Miami, Florida. So, I'll just -- I'll be quick. I think this is a terrible deal for the public. It's a ninety -nine-year no -bid deal to sell one of our largest public assets under market value. I just want to ask folks, whatever happened to free market capitalism, because what this sounds like to me is the City government putting their thumb on the scale on behalf of a billionaire. Meanwhile, under this City of Miami Page 7 Printed on 06/04/2024 City Commission Marked Agenda April 28, 2022 Commission's watch, Miami has become the most unaffordable city in the country, our public transportation is a mess, our infrastructure is decaying. 1 believe Grant Stern talked about this; 1 don't even want to think what traffic is going to look like if this is built. As I told you on my address, I live relatively close to the stadium. I'm just terrified by it. So, I'll just finish up by saying this deal is probably already cooked and the fix is in. I commend Commissioner Reyes, who I've been critical of in the past, but I think you've been spot on. You're my commissioner actually, I think you've been spot on. I think you're -- I commend you for criticizing this really bad deal. I urge all of you to vote no, especially you, Commissioner Russell, I think you should vote no. This is a crappy deal for the residents, and we have more pressing issues at hand, like figuring out how tenants can remain in this increasingly unaffordable city, not helping billionaires continue to profit off the back of the residents. Thank you. Chair King: Thank you. Good afternoon. Ricardo Blanco: Good afternoon. My name is Ricardo Blanco. I reside at 2333 Brickell Avenue. I'm here today to represent our future generations and global grassroots initiatives to ensure that sports and recreation are accessible to all and to prioritize the philosophy of utilizing sport as a platform to uphold the ideals offair play, leadership, diversity, and team spirit. I'm a true product ofMiami-Dade, born and raised here, to Cuban parents that have given everything for me to be here today, and I'm very prideful of that. The 50-year vision established in the Miami -Dade County Park and Open Space System Master Plan is that great parks, public spaces, natural and cultural areas, streets, greenways, blue ways, and trails will create the framework for a sustainable community. Such a plan for the public realm cannot be considered as an isolated system, but one that is integrated into the overall fabric of the community and one that will create the kind ofplace where residents want to live, employers want to do business, and tourists want to visit. So how do we create a seamless, sustainable system ofparks, recreation, open space, green land, for this and for future generations, for our kids, and hopefully for my own? It begins with voting yes to Miami Freedom Park. Thank you for all your time. Chair King: Thank you. Good afternoon. Mike Hill: Good afternoon, Madam Chair, Commissioners. My name is Mike Hill. I work with Unite Here Local 355. Our union represents hospitality workers here locally and across the country, including thousands of stadium workers and hotel workers. We're here to express our support for Miami Freedom Park, and let you know that they have complied with the City's labor peace requirement. Thank you. Chair King: Thank you. Good afternoon. Donald Lockerbie: Good afternoon. My name is Donald Lockerbie, 6205 Blue Lagoon. I work for the Parker Company. We are a 54-year-old Miami company with headquarters here in Miami, as well as London, Zurich, and Dubai. We have blossomed because we have been here in Miami. We have become a global firm because we have the beautiful Miami city to work with and have the resources to offer our services around the world. I manage the sports and events group at Parker. This - - what does that mean? What it means is that we have been working on stadiums all over the world. And in 2018, right after the vote was cast in November of 2018, I had the privilege and was brought on board by Jorge and Jose Mas, and with Mr. Alvarez as well, and David Beckham to begin master planning the opportunity of a sports stadium that ended up being the temporary stadium in Fort Lauderdale, and it was temporary from the day we conceived of it and as Jorge Mas has rightfully said, it was built in eight months, eight months because it was going to be built fast and well and full of quality but for the duration of the time that the team needed to be there because home was going to always be Miami, it was always going to be Miami. And I City of Miami Page 8 Printed on 06/04/2024 City Commission Marked Agenda April 28, 2022 would urge anybody here who has said and has been against this opportunity, and 1 hear about unaffordable housing being there, you know, let's -- ifI play golf there as well, and at 4 o'clock in the afternoon when the Lufthansa flight flies off to Germany, the whole place shakes. No one wants to live on that golf course. They'll want to enjoy it as a park, they'll want to enjoy it for shopping, and the two hours that they might be at a soccer match. That's the kind of land we're talking about giving to this team to turn it into billions of dollars of value when we all know that this city loses money every year maintaining that golf course. Thank you very much. Chair King: Thank you. Good afternoon. Leonardo Galarza: Good afternoon. My name is Leo Galarza. I reside at 1170 Northwest 11 th Street. As you can see, I'm wearing my pink jersey, as a part of the supporter's group, which is (Foreign Language). 1 have been doing this since this was nothing. There was no name, there was no team, there were no players, there was nothing. I have seen how this project came all the way up since nothing. So, I think Miami needs just not a stadium, needs to get the community together. And the perfect way to get a community together is bringing football to Miami. I just ask the Commissioner to think about it. It's going to be a great way. I will see you for sure in Freedom Park and especially in the support section with us. Thank you. Chair King: Thank you. Good afternoon. Alex Avellaret: Hi, good afternoon. My name is Alex Avellaret, 3585 Poinciana Street. First, I commend you, Christine King. Welcome to the Commission of Miami, newly elected. First of all, I commend all of you for showing up here today after so many years in this, I will say battle, the right word is actually, battle with the City. I commend also Mayor Francis Suarez for his leadership on taking this step forward. And I have a simple one question for all the commissioners, elected officials, who have been opposing this throughout the years. I think there has been enough time for you guys to bring a viable project to the table that could slightly even compare to the magnitude of the benefits and great public benefits for the entire city. And I haven't heard one single one of you bring something to the table that residents can compare. So, I still don't get the fact that, you know, it keeps on getting opposed when it has been clear that 60 percent of the voters already said yes to this, and no other project will bring the value of over a billion that they will 100 percent fund. Thank you. Chair King: Thank you. Good afternoon. Estefania Jimenez: Good afternoon. My name is Estefania Jimenez and I reside in 111 Southwest Ist Avenue, Miami, Florida. And 1 come here today because I am in favor of the Miami Freedom Park Project, as I believe this will bring a positive impact and great opportunities for the community and the public,, with the amenities that it'll bring. For example, one being the largest park in the City, it would increase community engagement, promote public health, increase in tourism, and an opportunity to tap into the developing communities around and provide a safe places for the community. Thank you. Chair King: Thank you. Good afternoon. Fernando Fiore: Hi, thank you for the opportunity, to let me stand here. My name is Fernando Fiore and I live in 4775 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach. I will be short to the point. We did in 1998, we have a team that it was called Miami Fusion, and we ended up playing in Fort Lauderdale and the team disappeared. We have to reverse that. Our team is Inter -Miami, and they have to play in Miami because it's a great project. I see for the last three and a half years a lot off acts and truth like Mike Ridley said about numbers and good things that will happen with this project. I didn't see any one City of Miami Page 9 Printed on 06/04/2024 City Commission Marked Agenda April 28, 2022 of the haters to tell nze a different number or a different situation that it will make me change my mind. So, we have a project now that is going to be good not only for us but for the next generations. We think that the -- the people spoke in 2018, we give them the chance. There was a referendum that voted over 60 percent of the people said yes. So please remember, (Foreign Language). I want Inter -Miami. We have about three months ago, a lot of people outside of this same building asking for Miami to be a host city for the World Cup. This is the perfect combination. Vote yes. Thank you. Chair King: (Foreign Language). Hello. Raoul Bhandari: Hi, good afternoon. My name is Raoul Bhandari. I live at 5375 Northwest 7th Street. I'm a resident of Miami. This is a defining moment in our City's history. Miami Freedom Park is more than just a project or something to check off a list. This is the beginning of the future and to build it takes time, takes patience, takes a lot of support. To have that future, we must invest and build in it today, in the present. Soccer is the fastest growing sport in this country. In terms of average attendance, we are only behind football and baseball, in terms of attendance, despite their vast history in this country. Soccer came to this country in an exciting, palatable manner for the World Cup in 1994, where we hosted it. And then 1996, MLS (Major League Soccer) was born. That, just shows the growth and the history that we have in this country, that we have the ability to grow, that we have the freedom to dream. 1, myself attended a match, 2018, Real Madrid versus Manchester United, at Hard Rock Stadium. Sold out crowd of 64,000 people. That was one of the best experiences I've had in my short time on this planet. I'm as old as MLS. So, 1 think it's just a no- brainer for the City to consider this deal and look at all the options we have and picture the future, the posterity, the dreams and hopes that we hold dear to ourselves and for, again, the children. Think of the players who will want to break into the first team, who will go through the academy, who pick up a soccer ball and they play with their father in their backyard. That's where it begins. So, I just hope that the City takes this into consideration. And thank you for the opportunity to speak. I'm grateful for the freedom to dream. Chair King: Thank you. Good afternoon. Greivis Vasquez: Hello. Thank you for the opportunity. I'm Greivis Vasquez, former NBA (National Basketball Association) player. And being related with sports, I think this is a championship project. I truly believe talent wins games. We're working as a team. Working as a team wins championships. I think what the project is bringing to the city makes a tremendous impact in our youth. Being a parent, having a kid that plays soccer, unfortunately he doesn't play basketball, but he plays soccer, he loves soccer. I think just bringing our family together and making this tremendous impact on the community; the residents, is going to be important. So, I think it's going to separate our city from the rest of the city and it's going to make, obviously, it's already the best city in the United States of America. But right now, what Mr. Mas is doing is something that no one else is doing it, and we should consider that, and we should vote yes. So, thank you. Chair King: Thank you. Good afternoon. Scott Wood: Good afternoon, Commissioners. My name is Scott Wood. Ilive in South -- 68 Southeast 6th Street. I want to, first of all, thank you for allowing me to share my thoughts on this project. I think Miami Freedom Park is an amazing opportunity for the City of Miami and ourselves, the residences. I've seen and share the passion we have in this city for this global sport, and the eagerness to bring this amazing park where the community can come together. Today's golf course has limited our opportunity to use the green spaces efficiently. This new park will give us, the City of City of Miami Page 10 Printed on 06/04/2024 City Commission Marked Agenda April 28, 2022 Miami residences, a new, beautiful park with green spaces to enjoy without any expense. Thank you. Chair King: Thank you. Good afternoon. Alexis Castellano: My name is Alexis Castellano. I live at 900 Biscayne Boulevard. Ion a South Florida native. I grew up playing soccer here and then got the privilege to play at the University ofMiami. Playing soccer as a kid, it was always super hard to find fields that were open because there were always games going on on the weekends and throughout the week. So, 1 was even privileged to play soccer professionally abroad and 1 can -- I know how much influence this project will have on the fixture soccer stars of Miami. With the creation of the Miami Freedom Park, it will allow for so many young athletes and families to be able to find the space to train or enjoy the weather without being at the beach. Miami Freedom Park will also serve as a location for events ranging from tournaments to World Cups, that would benefit and bring in revenue to the City ofMiami. So, when considering the creation of this park, consider the future of Miami and the opportunity to change the city for the better. Thank you. Chair King: Thank you. Good afternoon. Andrew Zevallos: Good afternoon. My name is Andrew Zevallos. Actually, this is my daughter, and she was actually -- we used to live in Grapeland Park, and that's where she was born, and been a lifelong soccer fan here. And been waiting 40 years for a team to represent Miami and to be able to play in Miami. We're actually part of Vice City 1896, which is the same year you have on your seal back there, which is the City ofMiami when it was created. So, we don't want to wait another 40 years to have a team to be able to play in Miami. So, I just want you to vote yes for us. Chair King: Thank you. Mr. Zevallos: Thank you. Chair King: Good afternoon. Laurence McMillon: Good afternoon. Laurence McMillon, 1756 North Bayshore Drive, in the City of Miami, Miami resident, where I've lived for about 11 years. So, you know, over those 11 years, I've seen the city grow and evolve and change and, you know, really become my home. And I don't plan on leaving. You know, with that said, I'm raising two young sons. I grew up playing Little League football and baseball and basketball and was never really any good, butt developed lifelong friendships that I still have today. And the same thing is happening with my kids with soccer and sort of growing up playing soccer, and what better use of a space. So, soccer's super inclusive. It's one of the few sports that I found where, you know, you meet people and you're engaged and you're inclusive and the barrier to entry is really, really low. So, you know, I think it is a much better use of the space as opposed to what it is now. And really looking forward to this project coming to life. Thanks. Chair King: Thank you. Good afternoon. Lauren Voorhies: Good afternoon. Lauren Voorhies, 801 Brickell Key Boulevard. Born and raised Miamian. Second generation. Growing up, you know, I went to Dolphins games with my cousins and my dad, because that's what they did growing up, with my grandfather, who was also born and raised here. So, for us, you know, we've had many dinner conversations about this for, quite frankly, years and years, just in anticipation of the stadium finally getting here. For us, it's honestly just a no- brainer. I don't really even see why we wouldn't do it. It's going to bring 15, 000 jobs. City of Miami Page 11 Printed on 06/04/2024 City Commission Marked Agenda April 28, 2022 SP.1 11715 Commissioners and Mayor It's going to bring tons of tourists. You know, we want to cement ourselves as this, you know, international sports destination, and this would do that. We've got other sports. We saw the success of other teams. We've seen it around the world, and we would continue to be a sports destination for everyone to come. It's right next to the airport. I just can't see any reason why it wouldn't be the perfect fit. And again, just give back to the community and keep the sense of community that 1 think we've all spoken about today and how important that is. So, very much in support of this and I hope everyone else will vote yes as well. Thank you. Chair King: Thank you. Is there anyone else here that would wish to speak on behalf of this item? Anyone else for public comment? Okay at this time 1 am closing the public comment period. No, you're not -- Vice Chair Carollo: (INAUDIBLE). Chair King: Oh we have, you don't -- Vice Chair Carollo: I was sure he was going to be here today. Chair King: I don't know. Vice Chair Carollo: Billy? You out there anywhere? Billy? Chair King: Commissioner Carollo, the public comment period has now closed. Thank you, everyone, for your comments and thank you for coming. SP - SPECIAL MEETING DISCUSSION ITEM A DISCUSSION ITEM TO CONSIDER AND TAKE ANY AND ALL ACTIONS RELATED TO THE PROPOSED LEASE FOR THE MIAMI FREEDOM PARK (MFP) PROJECT. RESULT: DISCUSSED Chair King: At this time, we will hear from our mayor, Mayor Francis Suarez. Thank you. Mayor Suarez: Thank you, Madam Chair, members of the Commission. I sincerely appreciate you coming together on this special meeting for this important decision that the City of Miami has to determine and make. Some would argue that all sports deals with cities are bad. And unfortunately that's a prevailing notion today. But 1 would argue that that's nothing more than a David Blaine magic trick. I would argue that what this really is about is about the fundamental things that we talk about in public service, with our truth and trust. Now, it's easy to erode truth and trust in an era where we are in short supply of truth and trust. And so, if someone picks at a scab by saying things that are inflammatory, it gets traction. It's easy. It's the easier argument. It's the easier sell. Unfortunately, it's not the truth and it's sad. And it's why a lot of people don't want to get involved in politics, don't ever want to run for office, they don't want to subject themselves to what for many is torture. So, what is the truth? Well, the truth is that once this deal is completed at the current minimum rent, which I'm sure will change today based on public statements made by our Commission, which are the ultimate deciders of this deal, will generate for the City of Miami over 100 years with a 3.26 percent CPI (Consumer Price Index) adjustment, which is within the range of what the contract calls. fbr, $2.3 billion in revenue. Now where did I get that 3.26 number_ from? Did I just get it out of the air? I mean, did I City of Miami Page 12 Printed on 06/04/2024 City Commission Marked Agenda April 28, 2022 call a blogger? Did I call my former city manager? No. 1 googled it. What was the CPI, the consumer price index, for the last 100 years? Because 1 think it's pretty good to predict the next 100 years based on the last 100 years. And that number is 3.26 percent. The value that has been used, which by the way, was heavily negotiated in terms of how much of the remediation would be used to discount the property. Both came in, in terms of the appraisals that were used, discounting 50 percent, not 100 percent, 50 percent of the remediation of the land, which normally, if you're trying to lease land, you would get it ready to be leased. If you have an apartment, you fix it up for your next tenant, and your tenant pays you market rent based on your capital investment to fix up your apartment. That resulted in two independent appraisals by two reputable companies, national companies, 1 would argue international companies, Deloitte and Touche and Houlihan Lokey, and they were both reviewed by a third independent party. Fact number three, this deal will create the most living wage jobs in the history of the City of Miami. And you have that person right there next to me to thankfor it, Commissioner Russell, who made that a condition of the negotiations when we took it to the voters. It's also going to provide, in addition to the $2.3 billion, it's also going to provide $5 million for a baywalk that the Commissioner has been fighting for, for a long time, including getting parcels together, including having a baywalk Lone, and $20 million additionally for improvements. In addition to that, it's going to be detoxifying for the City of Miami residents at the team's cost, no matter what the amount is, the largest contaminated parcel in the City of Miami's inventory, depending on who you ask, is going to create somewhere in the vicinity of 80 acres of free public land, 58 acres in a park and 28 acres of soccer fields. And what was it before or what is it now? Now it's a golf course, for private use, for a fee, for which we derive nowhere near the same revenue. Now, if you are a golfer in this community, you have every right to oppose this deal. 1 have absolutely no problem with that. If somebody comes here to this Commission and says, hey, I play golf in this asset, and I love the asset. I think it's a great asset, and I think the City of Miami should keep it a golf course. I get it. I understand. I respect your perspective. I have absolutely no issue with that. The problem is, it's not my decision. It's a decision of my bosses, the residents of the City of Miami, the owners of the property. And what we put before them, by referendum, was a new vision for this property. We said, listen, you tell us what you want with your property. Do you want a golf course that arguably loses money when you consider capital expenses over time, which is a perfectly, perfectly acceptable use? Or do you want us to create a sports complex with a 58 acre park that everybody, in our city can enjoy, 20 additional acres of soccer fields, decontaminates the largest parcel in our arsenal, creates living wage jobs, creates billions of dollars of revenue. What do you want to do with your property? And they authorised us to negotiate a deal with InterMiami on those basic terms. Now, I have to say that, you know, there's been a lot said about, you know, comparing this to other deals in this community and other deals outside of this community, which I frankly find laughable. Today, I was on a television show, and they asked me, not about the Marlins deal, because frankly, no one talks about it nationally. They asked me about the Buffalo Bills deal. That's what they asked me about today. In the Buffalo Bills deal, the State of New York and the City of Buffalo are giving the Bills a combined $850 million. $850 million. Those who criticize this are saying that we're not getting enough money. That somehow, they know more than Deloitte and Touche, and somehow they know more than Houlihan Lokey, because they have licenses as appraisers? No. They don't have appraisal licenses. You know why they're saying that? Because it's easy to believe. And it's easy to believe because we live in a world without trust. We live in a world where it's easy to distrust your public officials. Somebody must be getting a job afterwards. Somebody's law firm must be getting a client. Somebody must be making money off this. It's too good to be true. It's impossible. How can the City negotiate a good deal? It's just not possible. It never happens. Well, I'm here to tell you there's a lot of things about this city that have never happened. And that's why Financial Times named us the most important city in America, because we do things here differently. What it takes to do something this City of Miami Page 13 Printed on 06/04/2024 City Commission Marked Agenda April 28, 2022 transformational for our community is two things. It takes courage and it takes compromise. Two things that are very difficult. Two things that we don't often see in a modern day political world. 1 have a lot of faith in this commission. I've seen them demonstrate both courage and compromise on many occasions, on many important things. And while we all get attacked viciously, inappropriately, and unfairly, and slanderously, we sit here, we come back to the table, we look at our residents in the eye, we listen to them. We follow their requests. And we get the hard things done because we care about our community and because we care not about us. We don't know if we're going to be here when this is finalized. But we know our children and our children's grandchildren are going to benefit from this. They're going to get to have Major League Soccer in their city. Many years ago, sports were leaving our city We have an opportunity to bring a sport into our city and to do it in a dramatically different narrative, in a different way, than the way everybody else in America is doing it. You know, 1 once -- and I've said multiple times that this is the best sports deal in the history of America, and I once challenged a local journalist to find me a better deal. I haven't fOund it yet. And so, I worked hard, I've worked with all of you on an individual basis. We've had tough moments. Not every moment has been a good moment. This has been a multi year process and I think this is a phenomenal deal for the residents of the City of Miami. I urge you and ask you that you move and pass this item, and that we take another step in the view of the City of Miami, which is about to embark on Formula 1, which is about to embark on a decision by FIFA, on who to give a World Cup to in 2026, and a decision by FIFA on where to locate their headquarters, and the World Cup on where to locate their headquarters. We have an opportunity to continue this momentum that we've seen from this Miami movement, which 1 had someone tell me recently was a Miami miracle. Let's do the right thing. Let's do the best thing for our community. Let's do what the owners of this property asked for. Thank you. Chair King: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. [Later...] Chair King: At this point I will give Miami Freedom Park an opportunity to make a presentation. Vice Chair Carollo: (INAUDIBLE). Chair King: Turn your mics on. Vice Chair Carollo: I'm just thinking out loud, of course the Chair can do it whichever way you'd like. It might serve all of us -- might serve all of us best if before they make any presentation, before any of us speak, we hear from the public. This way, if there's anything new that conies up, anything in particular that they hear today that they might want to address, they could start incorporating it into their presentation. And likewise, we could do the same in anything that we're going to ask of them and the Administration. Chair King: That is exactly my sentiment, except in the reverse, that perhaps they could make their presentation and they may answer some questions that the public has. And so, it's half a dozen. So, what do you -- Igo with the will of the body. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Why not let them make a presentation and then have the public -- Chair King: And then have the public -- City of Miami Page 14 Printed on 06/04/2024 City Commission Marked Agenda April 28, 2022 Commissioner Diaz de la Fonda- -- and then they come back, and go a little back and forth. You know -- Chair King: Okay. Alright. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: -- it's serving the sunshine, you know kind of everybody, knows where everybody stands. Chair King: We'll go with the will of the body, and have the Miami Freedom Park come up. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: You get a chance to come back. Vice Chair Carollo: I'll agree with the will of the body. Chair King: Okay. Please. Jorge Mas: My name is Jorge Mas. I reside at 6312 Riviera Drive, and I am a proud, born and bred Miamian. And Madam Chair, thank you, and Commissioners, thank you for the opportunity for us to present our vision of Miami Freedom Park. It was almost four years ago that I came before this body for the first time to talk about doing something transformational from our -- for our community based on bringing Major League Soccer to the City of Miami and doing something that truly is unprecedented in the history of American sports. In order to do that, this was all predicated by a phone call, which took place between Commissioner Carollo and my brother Jose. When an idea was presented about a site to build a stadium and to build a special place that our community could gather and share in the beautiful game, in the international game of football, but more importantly have a place where our neighbors and families can get together, where they can enjoy entertainment space, where they can be provided food and beverage, to have hotels where visitors and tourists to our cities can have an additional destination surrounding the stadium. As importantly, ambitiously at that time, trying to build a tech hub that we could build here in South Florida so young men and women could have the opportunity to have great paying jobs and to pursue a future in the tech industry and not have to go to New York, San Francisco, L.A., or other. In the last four years, we've seen a huge transformation in our city of how tech is coming to Miami and we're not exporting anymore. In the meantime, at that time we presented something that I thought was very innovative, which was a 100 percent privately financed stadium and development. And when we speak about that, because many times people speak about stadiums, I made a statement to all of you on this body, and to you, Madam Chair, and Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla, who are not here, that I did not believe that stadiums on a standalone basis were smart or intelligent or were economic drivers for our city and our community. And given the opportunity of designing something at Miami Freedom Park, it gave us the ability to do certain elements which are very unique. One, recognizing the fact that it is a golf course on contaminated land with significant limitations and restrictions as to the use of that land because of its location next to an airport. It is a piece of land that has restrictions of height, restrictions of use, and frankly we tried to design something that could incorporate the highest and best use for that property. And our original design had an entertainment district, hotels, had offices, and had a beautiful stadium where our community' could gather for Inter -Miami. During the course of those first meetings and times, we had just been awarded the franchise. We ended up going to the City of Fort Lauderdale and building a temporary stadium there in record time, in eight months. And I thought we did something very unique there as well. We were able to take a parcel of land that had two older stadiums, Lockhart Stadium and a minor league baseball facility, next to an airport, and convert it into today what I would say is probably the best soccer complex in the country, which has a 60, 000 foot training center, eight pitches where City of Miami Page 15 Printed on 06/04/2024 City Commission Marked Agenda April 28, 2022 all of our academy teams play, and a 19,000-seat stadium. In the meantime, in the course of that, we launched our team, successfully to serve our passionate fans in South Florida, and being able to see our supporters celebrate is something that gives us great satisfaction in having brought soccer here, but at the same time I want that in my city, in the City of Miami. And you know, we have two players from our team here today who also dream of playing in the City of Miami. And we have here Damian Lowe, who is our center backfrom Jamaica, a Jamaican international, and Victor Ulloa (phonetic), who is a midfielder, one of our team captains and originally from Mexico. And I mention that because it talks about the diversity of our city and what makes Miami different. And so, we came here, we knew that we could not present a project to the City of Miami residents or to the City of Miami Commission that had any type of public subsidy or public financing because there are scars and there are sins, with the Marlins deal, that we have to pay a price for. And putting aside that transaction and every other single sports facility in this county that all were built with public dollars or continue to receive public subsidy, this project is different. We came before you then, and we come before you today, and say that the building of this stadium and this development will not take one penny of taxpayer dollars, not one cent. And in order to be here before you today, when we were here four years ago, we, I think, took the ultimate test. We took our project and our ideas to the voters of the City ofMiami. And we asked them, would you like a decontaminated site, which will be the largest cleanup in the history of the City of Miami? We would like to create a 58-acre park out of that golf course for the enjoyment of our residents, all of our residents, not only golfers. We'd like to make a contribution of $25 million for park improvements. We will not, again, ask taxpayers for a penny. What impact will this have for our community? It is a project that will generate jobs. This is a project that will create 15,000 direct and indirect jobs and just under 2,000 permanent jobs at Miami Freedom Park. It will generate an excess of $40 million in annual taxes for our County, our School Board, our City, and the State of Florida. But more importantly, before the referendum, to differentiate this with sports deals from around the country, I said that this stadium has an element that is not shared by any other stadium in the United States of America. This stadium will sit on land that is paid for by the team and it will pay property taxes. There's no other stadium in this country that does that. And we sit here, coincidentally, before you today in the shadows of two announcements in these past 10 days, one which the Mayor, I think so eloquently alluded to, that is an $850 million contribution to an NFL (National Football League) team in Buffalo. In addition to that, there's going to be a new stadium in Nashville, Tennessee, for the Tennessee Titans. The public contribution for that stadium will be $1.4 billion shared between the State of Tennessee and the City of Nashville. That is your current sports landscape across the country. I could sit here and also talk about projects online over the next eight years, which will entail between $30 and $40 billion of public subsidies for sports franchises. There is absolutely nothing wrong with a public contribution and subsidy. for sports teams. There is nothing wrong with that. Because the amount of economic value that a team can derive for a city is justified and they can do their calculations. But we chose a different path. We chose a different path, because we like to put our money, where our mouth is, and we like to deliver something for our city which is unique. So, this referendum went out to the voters in November of 2018. And what was the result? Over 60 percent of City of Miami residents said, we want this project. Not only a stadium, they wanted the project. And the project entailed 750 hotel rooms, a million square feet of retail, office, and a minimum of 25, 000-seat stadium for our Major League Soccer team for Inter -Miami. We want the creation of a 58-acre park. We want the land cleaned up. We want good paying jobs. We want tax revenues, which will have the ability to give this body benefit directly to those who need it most, which are the humble men and women who get up every morning and work hard. Those are the people that are going to benefit from this project. That is why I stand here proudly before you today to represent the voters of the City of Miami and their desire, for a project of this magnitude. But at that time, we were given the green light to negotiate. And over the City of Miami Page 16 Printed on 06/04/2024 City Commission Marked Agenda April 28, 2022 course of the last three and a half years of negotiations, and albeit we went through a pandemic, and we went through COVID, we went through many different changes in economics and focus on health and things that frankly it was always my aspiration at that time that we could be back before this body in six months. As many of you remember, I wanted to come back in March of 2019 for approval of this project. Because one of the things that 1 want to make extremely clear here today, with exactly what we did in Fort Lauderdale, where we built a stadium and a facility in record time. When we are given the green light to build this project, we will start the next day. We will start remediating the property, we will start moving dirt, we will start building infrastructure to deliver public benefits for our city. And during the course of those negotiations, and during the last three and a half years, and 1 recall when I left here, the doubters, they'll never agree to everything that Jorge Mas put up and said before the body of the City of Miami Commission. Every single thing that I spoke about and that the team committed is in the current agreement that is being presented before you today. There is no public subsidy. There is a significant, significant economic benefit in all aspects in terms of tax revenues and jobs. And I would, you know, very much like, and you see the image of the project here, is to show something that is, I think to me, extremely important. And it's the economic impact during the first 39 years of this lease. And as you can see there, it says $11 billion. And that's not $11 billion taken out of the air or residual. This is direct and indirect effect in dollars measured through labor income. Again, it goes out to the men and women who are going to benefit from the benefits of this project. So, when you think about stadiums, when you think about developments, there's no stadium that generates $11 billion in economic impact and labor anywhere in the United States of America. So, I think that what we were able to put together, what we put before the voters, was extremely unique. And what are the benefits to the city as we talk as to financials? At the time of the referendum, there was a minimum rent established of I think, just under $3.6 million a year. And at the time, we had wondered, well, what is the fair market value? And you know, we did some estimates, and we sort of took a guess. After that, the City of Miami went ahead and hired three firms, Deloitte and Touche and Houlihan Lokey, to conduct comprehensive appraisals and a peer review of the processes and methodologies used by both appraisal firms by a firm called KTR, which is an internationally renowned peer review firm to conduct appraisals. Those appraisals came in and those appraisals were conducted with a date of September 2019. After reports which are hundreds of pages thick, running projections and values of land and in every single methodology, the peer review estimated and chose that the correct fair market value of this parcel that we are leasing, which is 72 acres, not 131 acres, it is 72 acres, is $2.2 million a year. So, we were faced with a minimum rent of $3.6 million, which is 57 percent in excess of the fair market value identified, because the fair market value also has to take into account the environmental remediation necessary to just begin building the project. This project is going to take over -- close to $1.2 billion to build, between the hotels and the offices and the entertainment district and the stadiums and all of the other infrastructure that goes with the project. And let's talk about that. What is Miami Freedom Park and Inter -Miami receiving? Well, we're frankly receiving the ability to spend money. We are receiving the permission to spend money. We're not receiving the permission to construct because you can construct absolutely nothing on that piece ofproperty today. Nothing. You cannot put a foot on that piece of land and golf course because there's signs all over it saying do not remove your shoes. Today. So, we are basically given a ticket to say, if you guys believe in this project, again, put your money, where your mouth is. So just to start, start vertical construction on the stadium, we're going to have to spend $120 million. We're going to spend $36 to $38 million in environmental remediation. We're going to spend, of the whole site, we're remediating not the 72 acres, we're remediating 131 acres. We're going to spend over $60 million in infrastructure to develop the whole site and create a park. And what is that? drainage, sewage, electrical lighting, foundations, roads, all of the above, for that whole parcel of $131 million. And we're also contributing $25 million. And one of the things that the City City of Miami Page 17 Printed on 06/04/2024 City Commission Marked Agenda April 28, 2022 negotiated over the course of the last three years is that I, number one, in order to build a stadium, 1 have to deliver the public benefits first. First. Everything that I just mentioned has to be done before 1 go up three feet on the vertical of the stadium. And the first and only thing that I can build to start is the stadium. This has nothing to do with a commercial development deal because there's no commercial development without the building of a stadium. The stadium will cost, let's say $350 million in today's numbers, in an environment where construction costs have skyrocketed over the last two or three years. Skyrocketed. And we're also faced in a development post- COVID, which was the holy trinity of what suffered during COVID. Hotels, office, and retail. Those are the only uses that can be in Miami Freedom Park. There's no residences. There's no housing. We can't build 20-story buildings like on Brickell. We can build absolutely nothing on the approach to the runways of Miami International Airport. Those are the only uses. So as part of this negotiation, we will be out of pocket and investing for our community $120 million before we start going vertical. The creation of the largest park in the city, and I think this is extremely important. You know, I grew up playing baseball at Grapeland, and for so many years, I would see the fence. And the fence that kept the golf course apart from the baseball fields, and the water park and the other amenities that are there now. I take great pride, as along I know I do, with the City of Miami Commissioners and the Mayor and everyone involved, to be able to open the doors of that property and give our residents the opportunity to be able to share in a family experience. As I walked the neighborhoods in District 1 for the referendum, there was one specific resident from there that said something that struck me and said, why not me? Why not me? Why do I have to go to Brickell, or out in Doral to the malls, to enjoy a meal or be able to take my kids and walk in a park? Why not me? And I said, you are absolutely correct and that is why we are persevering and pressing through three and a half years of negotiations that have been extremely difficult, many times contentious, but all in all, all good things come to those who want to do the right things for the city. I was born here, I lived here, live here, and we're not going anywhere. I love my city. This is a legacy project for our family because the opportunity to build something like this happens once in a lifetime. And I think the opportunities that we all have here is to do something once in a lifetime, something that no one in America and no one around the world thinks that we can do. Because as the Mayor said with me on a program this morning, and he started throwing the billions of dollars cost, and we're going to receive billions o_ f dollars, and we're not paying a penny, and I frankly for a second sat there and go, oh my God, I'm like, wow, what am I doing? This is crazy. He's right. But we have to do it the right way. And we have to get the best deal for our taxpayers, of I am one of them. I just moved out of the City of Miami, but I'm a huge taxpayer here through other sources and other developments. And we should have a good deal. Because where there is an economic benefit derived, it should be fair. And it should be the correct deal and it should be structured in the right way. So, as we, you know, look at the beautiful images in the park and, you know, talk about a tech hub, we have many times felt somewhat frustrated because we have had significant inbound from all over the world to want to come to Miami Freedom Park, to want to talk about moving there and developing. But we've been unable to because we do not have the green light. And one of the things that's important as well to note is the hard part of this project is actually building it and getting it done. That's the challenge. We cannot build a stadium and a development in a few months. It's going to take multiple years of getting this done. The sooner we start, the sooner we get the okay, the sooner that we agree is the sooner that we can go through a SAP (Special Area Plan) process and get zoning and get entitlements and start sharing our vision and really starting to talk about how we curate this amazing space and construct a world -class, not only soccer stadium, but hopefully a multi -use stadium that really can have a life of its own, more so that not only on event days, 17 games or 30, or concerts, or whatever it may be. When we talked about the -- also four years ago, we stood here and said our park improvements and park contributions will be $25 million, $20 million over 30 years and $5 million, for the bavwalk and riverwalk property as part of the City of Miami Page 18 Printed on 06/04/2024 City Commission Marked Agenda April 28, 2022 negotiations. You know, the $20 million is now not over 30 years. It's much sooner. It's money that's going to be up front and close to before we have CO (Certificate of Occupancy) of the stadium in order so that the body of the City of Miami and the Commissioners can put that money to the right and the proper use. And I think that's a good thing. One of the things that have also been negotiated are significant protections to the City of Miami. What happens if you don't build it? What happens if something happens? If it's not completed? And during the course of the negotiations, there are frankly draconian steps if we do not meet our commitments and we are not held accountable. To the point where the City of Miami could see it with six or seven or eight hundred million dollars of improvements, and if we don't meet a correct timeline to build a phase of commercial development, it goes back to the city. And we still have to pay All rent. So, there are many different elements in this lease that protect and insure the City, that help the taxpayers, but most importantly, hopefully, will allow us to achieve a project to derive the economic benefits that I've alluded to now besides bringing a team to our community. So again, I thank you for the opportunity to share this vision, to share our project, to share with you what has been the course of three or three and a half years to ensure that our residents and our taxpayers are getting a good deal. Thank you very much. Applause. [Later...] Chair King: I have one request of our City Attorney. Madam City Attorney, could you read into the record the Charter Amendment question that went before the voters because 1 had heard a couple of comments that I don't think was inclusive of what they voted for. Do you have the Charter Amendment? Victoria Mendez (City Attorney): I do -- Chair King: The question? Ms. Mendez: -- but I guess you're asking me to read the actual question? Chair King: Yes. Ms. Mendez: Like what was on the ballot? Chair King: That went before -- yes. I have it here if you need it. Ms. Mendez.: I have it. I have it. Thank you, Chair, for bailing me out just in case. Shall Miami's Charter be amended authorizing the City to negotiate, execute a 99- year lease with Miami Freedom Park LLC., for approximately 73 acres of City land, waiving bidding, converting Melreese Country Club, 1400 Northwest 37th Avenue, at no cost to the City. Two, soccer stadium, minimum one million square feet office retail, commercial uses, minimum 750 hotel rooms, living wage for on -site employees, $3, 577, 365 minimum annual rent, $20, 000, 000 for 58-acre public park or other green space? Chair King: Okay. Thank you, Madam City Attorney, because there were some who spoke and said that there was no stadium and the voters voted for this. And do you recall the percentage of the voters that voted in favor of this? Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): I'll have to look that up, Chair. Chair King: I have it here. It was 60 percent of the voters that voted in favor of and I'm bringing this to your attention to advise that here, our job is not to decide whether City of Miami Page 19 Printed on 06/04/2024 City Commission Marked Agenda April 28, 2022 or not we allow the Miami Freedom Park to be at the Melreese. That was decided by the voters. It is our responsibility today to make sure that the agreement makes sense for the residents of the City of Miami, that is our job today, before us. It is not to decide whether we have the stadium or don't have the stadium. And I just wanted to put that on the record. Commissioner Reyes: Madam Chair? Chair King: At this point, I will -- as I do with all of the Commission -- Commissioner Reyes: -- question -- point of clarification. Chair King: Point of clarification, go ahead. Commissioner Reyes: The -- the question is if the -- that authorizes the City to enter into negotiations, not that accept any negotiations, or -- or -- I mean, determine that the stadium must be built at that place. It just authorizes the City of Miami to enter into negotiations, because I don't want to be in a confusion that I have heard many times. The voters decided no. The voters were asked if because the bidding process was circumvented, the voters decided that the City of Miami shall enter into negotiating -- negotiation to build a stadium and the -- I mean, millions of construction that -- square feet that were going to be constructed there. If you read it, that's what it says. It's enter into negotiation, doesn't mean we have to, or the City of Miami should approve. Every -- every time that we are, that is -- Chair King: Thank you, Commissioner Reyes. It says to negotiate, to execute a 99- year lease converting the Melrose Country Club -- Applause. Chair King: -- no, no, no, no. Commissioner Reyes: Execute if we accept it. Chair King: Madam City Attorney, because I want this clear for the record, we are -- the voters voted to have the stadium at the Melreese Golf Course? Ms. Mendez.: They -- right, so everything had to do with this property, but I believe that what's being asked is that you're authorized, you're not forced. Like that's -- Chair King: Okay, all right. Now, so let me establish some rules. As I do with all of the Commission meetings, I'm going to go to my Vice Chair, and then I'm going to go to the district commissioner, and the commissioners, there on in numerical order. I'm going to ask that we limit our comments to 15 minutes and then if there's a second round -- Vice Chair Carollo: (INAUDIBLE). Chair King: -- that's good? Vice Chair Carollo: I'm sorry, but before I start my 15 minutes, give me a minute or two to get back to what Commissioner Reyes and you were discussing. Chair King: Okay, go right ahead. Vice Chair Carollo: In essence, the voters -- thank you. Thank you, Madam Chair. In essence, the voters approved to have this concept at the Melreese site. However, they City of Miami Page 20 Printed on 06/04/2024 City Commission Marked Agenda April 28, 2022 also authorized us to negotiate. It's not a given. And that's why we're here today. So, I think you both are right. Voters did authorize and approve for this to happen there, but they also authorized us to negotiate the deal for them. That's all have to say on that, so you can start my 15 now. Chair King: Mr. City Clerk. Vice Chair Carollo: Give me the slow watch. After three plus years that this has been negotiated back and forth, I mean, my God, why did it take so long? I know that partly we had COVID, and we had the pandemic, but still, this was not so difficult that it would have taken, even with a pandemic, three plus years to have negotiated. We're now at a point where, in weeks past, and let me say this first before I proceed with what I was going to say, everyone has their right to their opinion, no matter how right or wrong they're in their opinion, they have a right. And you have to respect it, whether you agree with it or you disagree with it. But what people don't have a right to do is to come and defame, to lie, to attack and try to bring something down, because they're getting paid to play, in some cases. And what have seen from some, I still can't believe it that the individual that freely admits and is proud of, I mean he's actually proud of it, and I'm not going to use the word that he used, but that he's proud that he stuck it to the City of Miami, the County, to our local governments, in what he accurately portrays as the worst deal ever with the Miami Marlins, would have the gall, with that ugly voice of his, to now come and be painted as the savior of this unholy alliance, to no matter what, kill the deal that voters approved, that they wanted us to negotiate. So, the guy that stuck it to our community in the worst deal ever, now wants to cone back and stick it to our community again in bringing down the best stadium deal that not only we have ever seen in South Florida, but I dare to say the State of Florida. I haven't traveled as much lately as the Mayor. He says in the U.S. I'll stick to the State untill can confirm otherwise. No other deal for a stadium down here in the past decades, with the exception of Joe Robbie, who was a dear friend and much more a dear friend when I was out of government than when I was in government, but he built Joe Robbie Stadium, and still call it that, and will always call it that, Joe Robbie Stadium, on his own dime, but the minute he passed, the government has come in and poured millions into it. But every other deal, even the Miami Heat deal, that frankly would not have happened if I hadn't been the mayor and had done a few things, including showing Mayor Pinellas where, when he thought that they didn't have the money to do it, where there were monies in the County for the deal to come forward from our side of it in the City, for us to be paid what we needed to be paid for our land. And that deal was sold to our whole community as the Heat, weren 't putting -- weren't taking any taxpayers money, that they were putting all the money in. Well, that's not the case. That's not the case. It's not a deal anywhere near as bad as the Marlins deal, but it was a very highly subsidized deal also, that I think it's just recently we started seeing a few dollars out of it, even after winning several national titles. Now, let me go back so that we can put things in perspective into the hypocrisy of all this. And, you know, I wonder if some people want to kill this just because is Jorge and Jose Mas involved. And at the same time, I will tell you, I don't think that they should get any kind of a deal just because they're Jorge Mas and Jose Mas. But at the same time, this deal should not be killed just because they're involved in it. Now, let me go into the hypocrisy of all this, because none of these people that are (UNINTELLIGIBLE) on this -- which, by the way, so few live in the City of Miami. Mr. Sampson doesn't live in the city. Little Billy doesn't live in the city. In fact, I almost feel bad because the last time I talked about where he lived. I think his grandfather got ticked off and he had to move out of the free rent he was getting, so now he's in the county. And, well, let me not go there, because maybe code enforcement from the county might show up. But the stuff that Samson was telling you about, that he stuck it to us in the worst deal and trying to compare it to this, a deal that not a cent of taxpayer's money is being put into it. Ask yourself why didn't he mention the name of who was mayor at the time? How interesting. Do you think that City of Miami Page 21 Printed on 06/04/2024 City Commission Marked Agenda April 28, 2022 Joe Carollo would have been the one that had pushed that and would have been the mayor? They wouldn't be throwing my name, crucifying me? You better believe they would. I'll tell you why. Because it was Manny Diaz, their great chairman of their statewide party, who was part of that clique trying to kill this project. Let's look at the hypocrisy of it. And Mr. Diaz was mayor for numerous years here. He knew this. Melreese Golf Course, in 26 years, I'm not going to start in '93, I'm going to start in '94, until the beginning of `20. We have one more year, but it's not audited, so I'm not going to use it. This is what it's cost the City of Miami in these 26 years, an average of $795, 700.96. This is what Melreese Golf Course has cost us in the 26 years from '94 to since the beginning of '20. I'm having to estimate, 1 have from 2006-7 to 2019- 20, $14, 688, 225.17, that included $5 million from the Sports Authority. Thank God that I was around here to remember that, because I would not have gotten that from the city either. Like more monies that 1 believe, that were spent there, that because it was so old and the city hasn't kept the best bookkeeping, I don't have. I'm estimating from 1994 to the end of '05, beginning of '06, at much less than the last amounts that I was given in 06-07, which was almost $600,000, and then 07-08, $549,000, because the City hasn't been able to find those numbers yet. But every year, they were very, large numbers that we were losing money. Why wasn't anyone outraged on that? Now, this wasn't a lease, it was a management contract. But why didn't the management contract, that was basically like a lease, with all that we were paying, why didn't any of these people ever complain that it had not gone out to bid when we were losing all this money. They had the best lobbyists you could have in the city throughout many years. But let's not just jump here and the golf course. Let's go next door to a 12-acre site that's got four baseball fields. From what I've been given, they started in the year 2011-12. In those nine years this site that is under another management contract, and guess what, it didn't go out to an RFP (Request for Proposal), to any kind of bid either. And I'm not hearing any of these people scream about it. It's costing the City, on the average of those nine years, 187, 097.44 for a total those nine years, $1,683,877. In Melreese Golf Course, we're looking at an approximate $20, 688,225.17. If we were to do a contract for soccer and the commercial site at these rates, can you imagine how little we will be getting, way below what's been negotiated already? So no matter what deal's before us, that 1 hear some, a few, scream so much of what a bad deal it is. It's a better deal than anything that I've shown you here that we've had there for years, and none of these people ever have been outraged or said a word. I'll grant this, it's green space, yes. It's not a park, because we can't use it, but even the green space that's out there, in order for you to be able to go into it, you have to pay $90. $90. And of course, you've got to keep your shoes on, because you don't if you'll start turning colors if you don't. How many of our residents do you think have been able to afford to go inside that green space that's not a park? Very, very few. Now, Madam Chair, would you like for me, at this point, or would you like for me to wait, and I'll reserve my, time, would anything more you would like to give me, to start going into changes that I will be proposing that are made to the contract that has been negotiated so far? Chair King: Five minutes? Five minutes is enough? Vice Chair Carollo: No, it won't be. I'd rather then wait and come back and save those jive minutes for whatever else I get and come back. Chair King: Okay. Vice Chair Carollo: The -- Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Madam Chair. Chair King: Yes? City of Miami Page 22 Printed on 06/04/2024 City Commission Marked Agenda April 28, 2022 Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: With your indulgence, l prefer to just yield my time to Commissioner Carollo to continue with his proposal. Chair King: It's the will of the body? Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Yes. Vice Chair Carollo: Okay. Commissioner Reyes: Fine with me. Chair King: Go right ahead, Vice Chair. Vice Chair Carollo: Look -- Chair King: Go right ahead, Vice Chair. Fifteen minutes. Vice Chair Carollo: Fifteen and five, twenty. Chair King: What? Vice Chair Carollo: Fifteen and five, right? Chair King: No. Vice Chair Carollo: We were getting fifteen apiece. I had five left, he's giving me fifteen. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Well, yielding my -- Chair King: No, no because you're going to want fifteen in a minute. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Of course, of course. Chair King: Of course, of course. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: But yielding my time -- yielding my time, means at least -- at least 15 minutes. Chair King: No, what I'm willing to concede to is that that was a preamble to where you want to go now with the -- now you're going to negotiate, so we're going to give you 15 minutes, because everyone is going to get 15 minutes for the negotiation process. So, we're going to give you another 15 minutes. Fair enough? Vice Chair Carollo: Plus my five, you said, right? Chair King: Well, the five comes after, the five conies after, because you're going to need that jive as well. So, the five comes after. Vice Chair Carollo: Well -- Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: 15. Chair King: 15. Vice Chair Carollo: You're going to want to hear this because, loolc, this truly right now is the most important contract that certainly this body will be negotiating in our City of Miami Page 23 Printed on 06/04/2024 City Commission Marked Agenda April 28, 2022 history. There might be some others out there that are worth as much, or more, but it's all on the private side. I stated that any deal that we would do here is head and shoulders above what deals that we've had for the last several decades over there. And I think you all understand why. All we've been getting over there is losing money. We haven't made a penny. And serious money, by the way. Not just a few hundred bucks here and there. The -- start on the financial side and then we can cover some other areas. What has been proposed is that, and this is what was approved, by the way, in the -- by the voters, was $3,577,365 that they would pay per year. We had three appraisals that were made. Two from national finns, and then you had a company that was what is called a peer review, to look at the other two appraisals and give their opinion. Two of those companies actually went below the amount that was approved by the voters for us to negotiate. The highest of the appraisals came from Deloitte and Touche, and it was an appraisal for clean land. And we all know, and we've heard here, this is not clean land that they're getting. Yes, the referendum says that we're not supposed to put a penny, but what this is talking about is in helping in the construction, et cetera. This is different, and particularly in the 58 acres that we're getting, that's going to be ours for a park, a real park that people don't have to pay $90 to go into it. That's what I call a park. So, what I am going to propose is the following. I'm going to be asking for $9,835,854 per year to begin. Ms. Mendez.: Say that again, sorry Commissioner. Vice Chair Carollo: $9,835,854 a year. Let me break it down to you because we -- we have to compare apples to apples, oranges to oranges. And I don't want to say, well, we're only getting so much when we're not accounting for tens of millions that we are getting that should be included in the full amount that we're showing on a yearly basis. Out of that amount, I want to receive, up front in cash, $4,300,000 to begin with. That's 16,500 more, actually, yeah, 16,500 more than the highest appraisal from any of the three companies based upon if the land was clean. In other words, not contaminated. And we're giving it to them contaminated. They're paying to clean it up. And in my best English, that wasn't part of the referendum. So, the other amount, this is how I would like to work it out. They're giving us a total of $25 million dollars, real money. $20 million was supposed to go to do the 58 acres of the park they were giving us. Is that correct, Commissioners? Well, that's no longer the case with what I'm proposing. I'm proposing that they give us the park, basically done, and we use that $20 million, plus an extra $5 million for baywalks. The $20 million would be used to acquiring additional parks or in spending it in improvement of parks citywide, and the $5 million would be used for the areas along the bay or river, in most in need of bay walks. And I'll gladly leave that up to Commissioner Russell to decide what those areas are. Now, in the contract, they weren't supposed to be paying all of that until much, much later. I want half of that, twelve million five -hundred thousand to be paid within the first 18 months. And then the second tranche of twelve and a half million to be paid upon permits. The permits to go forward. So, we would be assured of twelve and a half million within 18 months. And then the next tranche should be quite quick after that. So, we get our $25 million up front. If, for any reason, they don't get the -- their goal within the first 18 months', they decide to pull out, we'll return that twelve and a half million to them within six months at zero interest. But I don 't think that's going to happen. Now, the big park that you see in the middle there, 58 acres, I want them to pay for all the lighting, and when I mean all the lighting, not just the lighting in the walkways, the LCDs in the walkways, as you walk through, but actual expensive poles to the like of what they're going to put in their site so that they pay for all our lighting and infrastructure for that lighting. They pay for all the sod. And they pay for trees in that area. And trees of course could be also Royal Palms that are very becoming ofMiami, among other areas. That has surprised, and I discussed it in depth with the team of attorneys that we had, and we reached an amount that is a fair amount that's got a worth of about $60 million. You know how expensive it is, commissioners. Every time we want to do a park, it's a lot more than a million dollars City of Miami Page 24 Printed on 06/04/2024 City Commission Marked Agenda April 28, 2022 per acre. And this is basically what we're getting here, a hair more that we're giving them credit for. So, 60 and 25 that we're getting in the early stages up front, this $85 million. That $85 million at the rate of 6.5 percent, if you run it through the 99 years, brings you to $5,535,854 per month. And out of the amount that I talked of $9, 835, 854, I'm going to give them credit for $5,535,854 for this $85 million, and they're going to have to pay us even above the highest amount that we were given by the company that gave the highest amount as if the park was clean, Deloitte and Touche. And there's going to be another four million, three hundred thousand. But at least we're putting what we're getting in a clear way where -- and that's part of the deal. Because when you talk 5 million here, 20 there, 60 there, that's real money that's coming from their pockets, and we should acknowledge in some way, and I think this is the appropriate way of acknowledging it, and then you give them credit for that, that they're giving you. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Madam Chair, I want to ask the Commissioner a quick question. I'm not going to do a lot of this, just a few questions. What happens, Commissioner Carollo, if the remediation is more than $30 million? Vice Chair Carollo: I haven't even gotten there yet. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I know but -- Vice Chair Carollo: I'm going to address that next if you'll indulge me. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Okay. Okay. Vice Chair Carollo: The remediation, they estimate, is going to be upwards of $30 million dollars. We've only given them credit for 16 million. And even the people that want to destroy this project no matter what, because there's no amount that they could give you that the same people aren't going to say, kill it, we don't want it. So, we've only given them credit for maybe half, maybe $16 million of what they feel it would cost them. And our side certainly thinks that $16 million is a fair amount. How am I giving them credit for that? The first 18 months of the lease, there's nothing that's happening whatsoever. They're trying to get the SAP (Special Area Plan) done so that they could proceed and get them permits for construction. So those 18 months, it's a dead zone at that time. They're not paying anything, just like the contract that was proposed to us. But then the following four years, which I hope won't take four years, I hope will take two more years, and that they could have the stadium built by -- and open to play in March of 2025, but there's a lot of variables that neither the City nor do they control. So, for those four years, in the contract that we were given, it's asking for $500, 000 from them. I'm proposing that we ask the following. The first year, $4, 650, 000. Second year, $4, 750, 000. Third year, $4, 850, 000. Fourth year, $4,950,000. And that we give them credit each of those four years for $4, 000, 000 of that amount. For the $16,000,000, that's the only amount that we've given them credit for, and no matter how much they spend, double or more on the cleanup. Are you all following me so far? Chair King: Commissioner, what was the first -- hold on a second. Commissioner Reyes: He asked me -- Chair King: He asked all of us a question. What was the first year, the payment amount? Vice Chair Carollo: $4, 650, 000, the second year $4, 750, 000, the third $4, 850, 000, and the.fourth year $4,950,000. Commissioner? City of Miami Page 25 Printed on 06/04/2024 City Commission Marked Agenda April 28, 2022 Chair King: Commissioner Russell wants to know what does that equate to? Commissioner Russell: This is the contamination cost? Vice Chair Carollo: Well, the credit that I'm giving them each of those four years, on four million a year, which is 16 million, is the contamination credit that we've given them. I can't believe it's only going to be 16 million. I truly believe it's going to be more. Some might feel different, but even the people that have been attacking the most, they've been attacking and saying that it's going to be much more than $30 million. So, we've only given them credit for $16 million. But what I'm doing is, instead of just throwing a credit that is not acknowledged anywhere,l'm including it within the contract, and in those four years, that hopefully won't take that long, we're going to give them credit each year of those four for the amounts that I stated would be the rent amount for 4 million each year. If they finish the stadium in the second year or third year, then they just don't have to pay us that amount. It's going to be more because then we jump to the other amount that 1 discussed before. Commissioner Russell: I'm just a little confused. So, the credit is in the event that they remediate the land, but then let's say it doesn't happen? Vice Chair Carollo: No. Commissioner Russell: Why are we crediting them for the remediation is my question. Vice Chair Carollo: Well, we're crediting them, Commissioner, because, number one, we're taking and asking for even a higher amount that the highest appraisal came at if the property had been cleaned. We're not asking for what the appraisals say should be the amount, this fair market value, for unclean property. So, since we had agreed that we would only give them credit for $16 million out of what they estimated was more than 30 million, then I'm incorporating that credit in those four years while raising the initial cap that was 500,000 that they had to pay. So, in essence, we're going to be getting in the first year 150,000 more, second 200 more, third 250 more, then the last, fit reaches that 300,000 more than the original amount for those years, while they're under construction. Iffor any unforeseen reasons, from them, from us, whatever the case is, we have to go into a fifth year, then, I am going to propose that we ask them for aflat two million cash that will be in the form of a million rent, a million penalty. Full amount. And after that fifth year, if things aren't built, time's up. I believe they will get it done before, I have to believe that, because I don't think they want to wait. For that matter, I don't think the League wants them to be waiting to open up five years from now. The other factors that need to be presented here, that outside of the almost $10 million a year lease that I'm proposing, in the fashion that I proposed, there's another approximately, right now, 44 million a year that our communities, our county is going to benefit in actual dollars. The only part that I don't like out of that is how little the City. of Miami is getting. We're getting $6 million approximately. So now this turns into a $16 million a year, that deal. The approximate l0 plus 6. The County will be getting almost double this, 11 million. The State, around 23 million. The School Board, 3 and a half million. And other smaller tax entities, about half a million for a total of 44 million. One thing that I think is a must that we have to do, and I asked the Administration to pick Deloitte and Touche because they were the highest of the appraisal firms. I want to go back and do a reappraisal from the approximate 3 years that since we did one. I don't know if it's 3 years or you know maybe a couple of months. I know that you've heard a lot of talk that well rental prices on homes and apartments have gone up tremendously and we all know they have, I know mine has. But I don't see that this is going to take that jump, and I'm going to tell you why. There's a big difference. Unfortunately, we cannot build here any residential property, whether affordable, workforce, or market rate. We're not allowed to because of the vicinity to the airport, and that's really what will kick up a much higher City of Miami Page 26 Printed on 06/04/2024 City Commission Marked Agenda April 28, 2022 rate. In the commercial properties, especially retail, that quite hasn't been the case, hut nevertheless, 1 could be wrong. 1 think we owe it to the residents to find out how much, if any, has this contract in the appraisal gone up? Now, if instead of going up, it's gone down, because retail prices have not gone up, they've gone down, hotels don't fill like before, et cetera. They cannot go below the 4,300,000 regardless. One other factor that I want, and it's a must in this lease, is that for the full 99 years, they take full responsibility for the maintenance of numerous miles of new roads inside that project, the lights, that as years go by they could get quite expensive in their maintenance. The sidewalk, I asked the Manager earlier today to provide me with a breakdown that 1 think is extremely conservative of what those costs are. I haven't even had the time to add them up, but what he's given me is an average for the first 10 years. Obviously, there are newer roads, newer light poles, et cetera, of a little over 178,000 dollars per year. In the next 10 years it's 245, 382, the following -- in the span of 21 to 30, is $338,192. Next is, following 10 years, is $466,106. And again, this is the per year amount. And it goes all the way that in the last 10 years of the contract, it's an average per year of $2,317,877. Mr. Manager, can you add this up in the amounts that -- have someone add it up for me, in the amounts that you gave me in -- per year, every 10 year, what it comes to? Now. Arthur Noriega (City Manager): I have it. Vice Chair Carollo: Okay. Mr. Noriega: So, the totals at the end of the lease term for the regular maintenance is a total cost of about $70, 000, 000, a little over $70, 394, 000. Vice Chair Carollo: 70,394,000? Mr. Noriega: Correct. And then the cost, the total cost to mill and restripe over that 100 years of the roads themselves is about $27, 782, 000. The total -- Vice Chair Carollo: $27 million what? Mr. Noriega: 782, 000. Vice Chair Carollo: 782. Mr. Noriega: So, the total cost to maintain the roads and that infrastructure you highlighted over the course of the 99 years is $98,176,570. Vice Chair Carollo: 570, okay. Over $98, 000, 000. Commissioner Reyes: Madam Chair, just a question. I just want to clarify something. This is the cost through the length, I mean, life of the contract, which is 99 years. Mr. Noriega: Correct. Commissioner Reyes: That's right. That we have to pay this as -- I mean, in a yearly basis or as -- is needed? Mr. Noriega: Correct. Commissioner Reyes: Is as needed or there is a fixed amount that we're going to receive? Mr. Noriega: No, this is not. They're going to bear the responsibility for the maintenance. City of Miami Page 27 Printed on 06/04/2024 City Commission Marked Agenda April 28, 2022 Commissioner Reyes: That's right. Mr. Noriega: This is costing out that value. Commissioner Reyes: They're going to cost them, but -- I mean, what I'm trying to clarify it is that this is not an amount that they will have to come up and dish out this money every year. It is as needed -- Mr. Noriega: Correct. Commissioner Reyes: -- and what we are forecasting is that there is going to be some repairs requirement and all of that -- Mr. Noriega: Correct. Commissioner Reyes: -- and as they come up, they will be taking care of -- I mean, they are responsible for fixing everything that it is. Mr. Noriega: Yes sir. Commissioner Reyes: I just wanted to clarify that. Vice Chair Carollo: There's a net that you're estimating that could be higher, but you're estimate is almost $100 million through the life of the contract that is going to be required of maintenance, resurfacing of roads, lights, sidewalks, et cetera that they will be responsible for. Now, I wasn't quite sure -- Chair King: No cost to the City? Vice Chair Carollo: Huh? Chair King: No cost to the City? Vice Chair Carollo: Of course, no cost to the City. And this is in addition to everything else that we've gone over. I don't even know how to begin right now, especially since I got in late, and since it's not a fixed number every year, to incorporate this, like I did the others, into a yearly amount, but this is what I'd like to do with this amount. I want them to commit to the following. That in the new appraisal it will never go below of the actual paying amount that they're going to have to do each year, besides the ones that they're paying up front that then they're getting credit for. Never go below $4, 300, 000 per year. $4, 300, 000. Now if I can stop there before I go on, and I think it's important that I include this, this contract has a minimum of 2 percent CPI increase every year, it could go up to 4 percent. The average in the last 100 years has been 2.6. Mayor Suarez: 3.26. Vice Chair Carollo: 3 -- 2 point -- no not, yeah 3 point -- Mayor Suarez: 26 in the last 100 years. Vice Chair Carollo: -- 26. Mayor Suarez: Yeah. City of Miami Page 28 Printed on 06/04/2024 City Commission Marked Agenda April 28, 2022 Vice Chair Carollo: That's correct 3.26, that's the last 100 years. You have some years that have been higher, some lower, hut that's the average. Mayor Suarez: I think the highest was 20 percent and the lowest was negative 15 percent in that range. Average 3.26. Vice Chair Carollo: Sure. So, we have an average for the last 100 years of 3.26. I feel comfortable with the 4 percent cap that we have based on the 100 years average that we've got. With just the increase every year of 3.26, this contract by the end of year 99 would be paying at a minimum, at a minimum, $90,577,415.21. And for the full 99 years would have paid the City 2 billion, almost 740 million dollars, $2.74 billion. So, you can see that while maybe 3.26 doesn't sound awfully large, it is. Once you start compounding it every year, it adds up. Those that pay interest in their mortgages, when they just see a quarter of a percent increase, they know what I'm talking about. So, having said that, let me go back to where I was going. There's going to be a new appraisal to make sure what the market rate holds. Even if it's below, and it could come back on this project, that instead of going up, it could go down. I don't know. Because they're limited in what they could build there. They cannot build there, as I said before, any kind of residential. So, they could never go below $4, 300, 000 per year, plus the additional amount that we're asking and that we're going to give them credit for, because they're paying it up front. That brings it to the $9,83.5,854 a year. However, here's the area that l've looked at. We're charging them top price even above what the highest firm set the market rate polls, if the land was clean. It's not clean. So, what I propose is that if it comes higher, whatever that is, instead of lower, that we split the amount and the increase to the contract between unclean land and clean land. Commissioner Reyes: Can you explain that please? Vice Chair Carollo: Yeah. Commissioner Reyes: Be more specific, because I've got an idea (INAUDIBLE). Vice Chair Carollo: Sure. The appraisals that we have gotten have been based on what is the land worth if it's clean, no contamination. Commissioner Reyes: As is and (INAUDIBLE) -- Vice Chair Carollo: Yeah. And what is the land worth with contamination. I've been using the highest of the highest appraisals for clean land, not contaminated, what it is. So, what I am saying on the new appraisals, we've established the rates that we're going to charge them across the board now. But in the new appraisal, what I am proposing is that if it goes higher than 4-3, that the number we're going to use is going to be the middle number between unclean contaminated land and not contaminated land. Commissioner Reyes: (INAUDIBLE). Vice Chair Carollo: At the same time, let's say that the, you know, little Billy, you know, and his night of the living dead medical marijuana legion are correct, and this is going to go up, and you know it's going to be another $30 million worth and all this. Well, I will include in that that if for any unforeseeable reason the price is beyond what they would want to pay, what they think would be fair market value and they would want to pay, well they're already outside offair market value. We're charging them a lot more and getting a lot more from them. But if they don't want to accept whatever amount is in the. fashion that I described, they could get out of the project. City of Miami Page 29 Printed on 06/04/2024 City Commission Marked Agenda April 28, 2022 Commissioner Reyes: And if that -- excuse me, if that happens, if they get out of the project, and one thing that I really -- one issue that I have, they get out of the project, but I -- Vice Chair Carollo: So, you can understand we're talking weeks. Commissioner Reyes: Yes, I'm talking weeks, I mean, but it's just a clarification. If they get out of the deal, and meanwhile -- I mean before they get out of the deal, they have entered into subleases, then we are, we will be stuck with them for 99 years. I paean, I just want to clarify that. Vice Chair Carollo: That won't happen per legal conversations that 1've had with the City Attorney. So that can't happen. Commissioner Reyes: That cannot happen? City attorney that cannot happen? Vice Chair Carollo: That cannot happen per legal conversations that 1've had with them. Mr. Noriega: Yeah, Commissioner, if may, what he's proposing, if I understand it correctly, Commissioner, correct me if I'm wrong, they just simply would not execute the lease. If the appraisal came in higher, they wouldn't execute the agreement. Commissioner Reyes: Okay. Okay. I wanted to clarify because the -- what really, I mean, I felt concerned was that walk out of the deal. You see, that part of walk out of the deal. Walk out of the deal and what we are left with, you see? That's what -- the part that concerned me. Okay? What, I mean -- what responsibility we have and what we will do with -- and how we will repair any -- whatever has been done. Vice Chair Carollo: Now, I think I've gone through all the points that 1 wanted to bring. Mayor, Mr. Manager, remind me ifI left anything out. Mayor Suarez: I don't think so. Vice Chair Carollo: Okay, and by the way, I'd like to thank the Mayor and the Manager and the City Attorney. They've spent quite a bit of hours in trying to put this together. We didn't leave my, district office last night until 8: 00. The day before, the group we met was at night, 9:00 a.m. -- 9:00 at night, and Monday was close to 8:00 also. So, you know, I appreciate the work you've all done. There's one other area that I want to make part of this lease. University of Miami. If anybody had doubts that the Canes are back, they shouldn't anymore. Look at the recruiting that Cristobal's been doing, it's amazing. I mean it's -- this year alone I wouldn't be surprised at all if we finish in the top 10, if not more. Having said that, as part of this lease I would like to include a provision that we are making part of the lease, assigning to the organization that they meet with the University of Miami and I'm talking about not just meeting, saying hi, and giving a quick offer, and -- true meetings to by to get them to be part of the stadium deal. Obviously, the stadium then would have to grow larger from the 27,000, 28,000 that they're planning to 45, 50,000. But I think this is a once-in-a- lifetinae opportunity for the University of Miami, and the City of Miami too, to help in a new stadium, soccer, international soccer, and the University ofMiami football to be played. I would give you, because I know the time constraints that you have, so that you can give to them that we've given you in the contract 90 days for them to decide to come in or not. That's the last part that I would require, unless I, you know, forgot a smaller point or two, that then I will revisit later. You're a Cane fan, right Chairman? A big Cane fan I hear. Commissioner Reyes: You're a Cane? City of Miami Page 30 Printed on 06/04/2024 City Commission Marked Agenda April 28, 2022 Chair King: I'm not a Cane. But I'm a fan. Commissioner Reyes: Neither am I. Chair King: I didn't attend University of Miami. Vice Chair Carollo: It's okay. You can still be a Cane fan. Chair King: Still a fan. Still a Cane. Commissioner Reyes: Well, 1 don't have anything against the UM, although I'm a gator, but 1 have nothing against them. Vice Chair Carollo: Bottom line is, this deal has been sweetened by hundreds of millions of dollars during the life of this contract. So, and that's after they were negotiating for three -plus years. Commissioner Reyes: Okay. Chair King: Thank you, Vice Chair. Wow. Next up would be you, Commissioner Russell. Do you have anything to add? Commissioner Russell: District Commissioner first, you say? Chair King: He is not here, that's why I went to you. Vice Chair Carollo: He's calling the UM, letting them know. Commissioner Reyes: I was wondering who the telephone, I mean the -- Commissioner Russell: Got it. Thank you, Madam Chair. Chair King: You're welcome. Commissioner Russell: I agree with your sentiments earlier, Madam Chair, that this is not a political decision at this point. This is our job gatekeeping this deal to make sure it's as good as it should be for our taxpayers, our residents, our green space, and if it's not, we should reject it. But the voters seem to hope that we do. So, our efforts are to get to yes, but we must be vigilant in saying no if we cannot get consensus from our management, from each other, and from the development group to meet our needs. So, I believe we should be very firm on the things we're asking for. We've had lots of time to study this. Now the things that 1 asked for happened four years ago when it went to ballot, because it was very important to me that we don't put it to ballot unless it was something we knew that we could approve later on. And the problem for me was that a lot of what is in our Code and Charter is insufficient for a deal of this size. And here's what I mean by that. No net loss parks in our city is very vaguely laid out. It's a very poorly written piece of our Charter and Code. It doesn't talk about the time in which you need to replace lost green space. It doesn't talk about who needs to pay for it. It's simply a zoning exercise. It doesn't say if it has to be new land or your own existing land. And so, the base legal letter of the law requirement for no net loss is really nothing. And so, we worded the ballot very carefully. And the requirements we had of them went above and beyond our code and charter, at least in order to earn my vote that day. And we got there. And so, today's the day whether we see whether or not what our Administration has negotiated is sufficient. And what has been presented in the draft lease, as I mentioned in the last Commission meeting, is insufficient when it comes to no net loss to me. When a child walks into a park, they City of Miami Page 31 Printed on 06/04/2024 City Commission Marked Agenda April 28, 2022 can tell you if it's a park or not. That's the toddler test. And if they walk into a park that you've created, they'll tell you if it's a real park or not, or if it's a median, or if it's a parking lot. And they're leasing 70 acres for their commercial development, hotel, office, stadium, parking, restaurant, retail. But because of the way the Code is written, Charter is written, they're only replacing 20 acres of green space. And any child would look out there now and see a bunch of green, and they'd look out there later, and they would see of the 70 that was turned into commercial, only 20 is coming back as green. So, it's not enough. Now, I don't want to just utilize the weakness in the Code to reject it. I want to make it better so that it serves our city and its green space. For the reasons that Commissioner Reyes has been so opposed, rather than being a dead set no, 1 want to find a solution. And if it works, it works. So, Pin going to have a proposal in here to that effect. Contamination is the other issue. 1 wouldn't even be here today if it weren't for a contaminated park in front of my house. I was selling surfboards and teaching kite surfing. When they closed down Merrie Christmas Park, and playing yo-yos, I had retired from playing yo-yos. When they closed down Merry Christmas Park, I organized the neighborhood and took on the city and got that park remediated appropriately and paid for appropriately. There were five other contaminated parks in the city that many of you and I have worked on together. And in the last seven years, we as a Commission, have funded and chased down and remediated 85 acres of contaminated parks in our City of Miami that was discovered before I was elected. And in that process, I've learned about how remediation works. The one at Merrie Christmas was pretty basic. The one at Douglas Park was one of the most sophisticated remediation I've ever even heard of. Your new park, you're welcome. Commissioner Reyes: Thank you. Commissioner Russell: And the remediation that's being proposed here, whether it's $16 million or $30 million, I've seen the plans. And it is incredibly sophisticated. Not only does it involve removing contamination, it involves an impervious liner so that rainfall cannot get through to the contamination and contaminate our water table, which it currently is. Removing all of the surface, because as you know, not only the landfill that it was, but the golf course that it is, contributes to contamination within pesticides, fertilizers, weed killers, all of which can leach right to the Miami River, which it abuts. They're going to remediate all of that, and then the sophistication of the remediation is that as rainfall goes down and hits that liner, it goes to these chimneys that sends the water down clean, the water table. That's very expensive -- Commissioner Reyes: It is. Commissioner Russell: -- and I'm glad to see that that $30 million is in there and that they're honoring their commitment to remediate the park on their dime. But if we then rent to them at the value of a contaminated park, if we give them a discount, whether it's $16 million or $30 million discount on their rent, who's really paying for that remediation. We are. We are. And so, I believe that when the appraisal comes back, I don't believe we split the difference. I believe we take the proper highest appraisal for highest and best use for clean property. Because I don't see why we would shortchange our residents on the remediation that is on their shoulders and to get the highest possible rent from ours. And so, I spoke to our city attorneys and our outside attorneys to say, is that too much? Is that unreasonable? Are we double dipping here? Because they're saying, well, we're paying for the remediation, so we shouldn't have to pay for a clean park in the rent. But they're going to be getting clean rents from their tenants, not contaminated site rents. So that's what I'm comfortable with, is that they pay the highest rent. Because people are wondering, how come the rent seems low to us? We don't have an education in this, but for 70 acres, 3 and a half million just doesn't sound right. And I think we need to make sure our residents are getting the maximum rent for what's being asked. And if the promise was, we're going to City of Miami Page 32 Printed on 06/04/2024 City Commission Marked Agenda April 28, 2022 clean that park on our dime, that means we're not going to collect rent on a dirty park that's been cleaned. So that's important to me. The First Tee program, that was one of my asks four years ago. You've absolutely come through on that promise. I understand from their board that they are satisfied with their relocation, the funds, the new course that they'll be able to manage, and those kids will not have to go far away to continue learning how to golf The living wage ordinance was the thing we thought the hardest about four years ago, negotiated. There was a belief on the developer's side that they simply wouldn't be able to lease out to sub -tenants if they required them to also pay $15 an hour at the time, the living wage. But that's what we talked about until 2: 00 a.m. And they finally conceded and agreed to a $15 an hour living wage, which was unprecedented, never heard of in an unsubsidized stadium. That was four years ago. And the State actually caught up with us and maybe even proved them wrong. By the time this stadium is built, everyone in Florida will have to be paid a minimum wage of $15 an hour, because that's what Florida voters decided. So, their living wage is now going to be the minimum wage. So, I'd like to make sure that the words living wage is what is honored and that is defined in the County. And the living wage is defined, it's currently $18 because things move, and costs go up. And I'd like to see them honor that living wage for all employees on site, tenants and subtenants, for the life of the lease. Speaking of labor, they also agreed to 20 percent of union labor, organized labor, in the construction of everything there and of the workforce. I'd like to make sure that includes electrical, and I'd like them to honor the Responsible Wage in Construction section of our Code, which is 18-120, as it would apply to them in our already existing code. That was brought up earlier by the representative from IBEW (International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers). I required that they come to labor peace agreements in all hospitality, and they have honored that. We heard from UNITE HERE today that they came through. And if these things are honored, I'm satisfied that the jobs on this project will be the best jobs in town. Not only in the construction, but in the ongoing hospitality, right down to the ticket taker, right down to the guy parking the cars. They will be able to live in our city and not have to drive in from far away. The no net loss compliance is the part that I have the biggest problem with. Like I said, I got into this about parks and creating new parks has been my mission and cleaning up contaminated parks has been my mission. I cannot agree to a deal that reduces green space in the City of Miami. Even if they feel it complies with the letter of the law, my vote hinges on the spirit of the law and what that really, really means. And so, we need to create new parks in the city for the space we're losing. Now, they've offered the 20 million, which in the ballot language can be used on the 58-acre park on site or other green spaces. My interpretation of that is that it's meant to prioritize the new no net loss spaces, because those no net loss spaces are being found on city property. Vice Chair Carollo: That's what I included. Commissioner Russell: But they certainly shouldn't be paid for on the City dime to make them into real parks. Some of them right now are debris sites for hurricane mulch. Some of them are parking lots. Some of them are industrial sites where we have vehicles and such. So, there's going to be a lot of costs involved. And I appreciate you, Commissioner Carollo, for making sure that those funds can be used throughout for green space, not only green space acquisition, but green space improvement. Vice Chair Carollo: Those are the words I used. Commissioner Russell: And I think the priority though should be to take care of that no net loss. Because if they're identfing that minimum 20.7 acres, those should be the ones that are prioritized. Now, I don't mind if they're paid for by them by a foundation, by a third party, by an RFP, as long as it's not paid for by the City of City of Miami Page 33 Printed on 06/04/2024 City Commission Marked Agenda April 28, 2022 Miami taxpayers to create those new no net loss parks. It's already our land. We're going to rezone it, but somebody else should he paying for the creation of those. Vice Chair Carollo: Unlike, Commissioner, the agreement that's before us that doesn't include any of what you're saying and that obligates that $20 million to go to building that park, they have become fully responsible for the areas that I described herein, on building the foundation of that park, the 58-acre park that we'll have. And as I stated, the 20 million then that we're going to get much sooner, half of it will come, actually the 25 million with the baywalk money, half of it will come within 18 months could be used for anywhere we want to for acquisition of land or making improvements of land. And 1 agree with you, fully agree with you, that it should be used for the no net loss. And if you want to make that part of it, I have no problems with it. Commissioner Russell: And I believe the money will exceed the need for those parks because I believe we will find other ways to also pay for them through RFP, through other grants, donations, whatever, as long as it's not City of Miami taxpayers paying for them. And we did say back then, on the record, that we would identU those minimum no net loss spaces by lease and that they should be completed by CO (Certificate of Occupancy), the spirit of which that when they cut their ribbon, these new parks cut their ribbon. And then it can't be said that it was left for another 10 years before those parks were ever realized. And so, 1 like the concept that we're receiving that money and that we're receiving it sooner so that we can get to work. Because under the original schedule, if we were receiving that first payment at permit and the second payment at CO, there's no way they would be able to be completed by CO unless we were dipping into our funds and getting reimbursed. So, frontloading those funds for the $20 million is going to he a big help. I would have liked them at least signing, but 18 months is -- was your request, which is when they're supposed to get their SAP, correct? Vice Chair Carollo: That's correct. Commissioner Russell: So, identifying those parks are the four parks, and none of these are small pieces of land, but they've all been identified in the record before, but I wanted to make sure they are listed in this proceeding today. 1680 Northwest 5th Street, 1950 Northwest 12th Avenue, 3851 Rickenbacker Causeway, and 150 Northeast 19th Street. And by coincidence, these are in districts 2 on Virginia Key; we have District 3 near the Marlins Park; District 5 has the cemetery site, which was listed here as well, and District 1 has the GSA (General Services Administration) site. And so, it can be added to, but this just gives them the minimum threshold that there will be 20 acres by the letter of the law of the Code that must become park. But 20 acres doesn't really get us there for what's going on in this operation. So, I wanted to try to, find ways to go beyond. How can we create new park space? So, we put in there 3851 Rickenbacker Causeway. Not for the no net loss, but for the additional park land contribution, because I know we'll all be looking for different things if there is surplus on where it can be spent. I'd like to prioritize 3841 Rickenbacker Causeway. If you're not familiar with it, it's because we haven't set foot on it in years. It is 116 acres of remediated land that our Administration has sat on and not created into park space for the Virginia Key Master Plan, which calls for sporting fields. And between 3841 Rickenbacker, which is on Virginia Key, and 3851 Rickenbacker, which is on Virginia Key, we'd have over 120 acres out there, which was meant for free, open, organized sporting for our kids. And I'd love to see a portion of this go toward the start, the kickoff of that. I don't want it to eat up this $20 million to make it disappear. It is a very large project, and I'm sure we'll be finding other partners for it, but we need to get started. And this, this 116 acres, which is not being realized by the City of Miami and is not. funded at all, far and above makes up for the loss of any green space at City of Miami Page 34 Printed on 06/04/2024 City Commission Marked Agenda April 28, 2022 Melreese. And finally, the baywalk contribution, and you all know how -- what the hay walk means to me. Commissioner Reyes: Yeah, you asked for it. Commissioner Russell: And they agreed to it four years ago, five million. And so, what 1 want to do in today's lease is identify the priority connections. I want to make sure that five million is not spent on existing baywalk, but that it is spent on connecting the missing connections to get us a real baywalk, because it doesn't exist until it's connected. And whether it's in a temporary or final version, four missing connections in Brickell and Downtown, if we can complete these 'our missing connections, which are not very complicated, we will have an additional 10-acre linear park on the bay. Vice Chair Carollo: Commissioner, I will join you in that, but that should not be part of the contract, that's between us. Put an ordinance for the next commission meeting, and I'll second it. Commissioner Russell: I simply want to identify the sites, the five million is already dedicated, you've already set a great schedule for it to be paid, butt would like it concretized within this that we're identifying the priority sites. You know, and some of these are not fully within our control, the Manager already hired CBRE, and 1'd like to direct the Manager today to come back within one month to give us an update on what is needed for these four locations from a logistic and potentially financial perspective to open them up. Maybe five million dollars gets us there, maybe it's not, maybe not, but I also have other funding sources that 1 am utilizing to finish those connections and let me just name them. 1201 Brickell Bay Drive and 890 Brickell Bay Drive. That is what was the Villa Magna parking lot site which was just recently sold. I'm getting in touch with the new owners. And that is also The Four Ambassadors, which is Vice City Marina. Both of which have a bay walk, but they're simply closed off. So, the expense needed to actually open those will be quite insignificant and the agreement that the City can strike with them is that once they do fulfill their obligation of vertical construction, they would actually pay us back. And then the other two locations, a little more complicated, are in the downtown side. It's the under 395 MacArthur Causeway connection, which connects to the Underdeck and also connects through to the north so that the museums and of course everything to the south down to Brickell Bay Drive will be one continuous connection all the way up to Margaret Pace Park. This is that full 10 acres. It would be the 1-395 MacArthur Causeway connection and the Genting-Herald Plaza connection. Now they are required to produce their bay walk even under RTZ (Rapid Transit Zone). There was an amendment made. But I'd like to see them create the temporary version for everything we've given them over the last 10 years in -- in permitting for events and everything else and signage, you name it. We should be able to do that. And if not, we own the submerged lands in front of it and we can go right around without their permission. So those are the four locations I simply want identified and directed the Manager to come back with a plan for those. Those are the no net loss parks that have been identified by the Administration and the developer that we need to prioritize with a plan and funding. And then the 116 acres is the real dream that takes us over the top for all of us. That's not a District 2 asset by any means. That will service every kid in this entire city who has a dream of learning to play baseball, soccer, football, whatever we want to put out there with an organized sporting system that we don't currently have. Let me just make sure there's nothing else I've forgotten. And I certainly hope that you all agree with me on all these points, because if not, I'm a no vote. I really appreciate it. Thank you. Vice Chair Carollo: Can I have a point of information? City of Miami Page 35 Printed on 06/04/2024 City Commission Marked Agenda April 28, 2022 Chair King: Sure. Vice Chair Carollo: Commissioner, the site that you mentioned on Virginia Key. When I was mayor, that was my idea to do a regional sports complex for kids there for soccer, baseball, tennis, basketball, but emphasizing in baseball and soccer. Out of everything in the original master plan that we did in Virginia Key, what stayed basically the same was that master plan. It could actually be more than 116 acres. And let me give you some good news. My understanding, unless they're delayed at the county, should be done early next year with the environmental, because we have problems in that land also, for the cleanup. 1 have met with someone that 1 have to get back to, but they're willing to come in with sufficient dollars to make all that we've discussed here, a reality. So, I'm going to visit with them again this coming week, and through the Manager, I'll give them a report of where we're at so that they could meet with you also and fill you in on what we're trying to do there. But everything that's been in that master plan, we want to make it into a reality. Commissioner Russell: Thank you. And one last point that I forgot to mention, we had said that the parks and the spaces in the baywalk connections would be completed by CO. Some of that is out of their control and maybe even out of our control. What we could guarantee though is that the monies are spent by the time they get their CO. If those parks aren't fully completed or if the connections aren't fully made for whatever logistic or legal reasons, it'll show that we are on our way. So, the $20 million and the $5 million must be spent by the time they get their CO. And that's on us. Commissioner Reyes: Okay. Vice Chair Carollo: That's a fair offering. And frankly, if it's not spent, then we've got a problem. Commissioner Russell: Yeah. Chair King: Thank you, Commissioner Russell. Commissioner Reyes? Commissioner Reyes: I have an ask also. And you see, although many people counted me as a solid no, the contract as it was presented to me, I was solid no, you see, I was a solid no. Vice Chair Carollo: It was what? Commissioner Reyes: I was totally no on it. I mean, the way that it was presented, I never agreed with it, and I told the Manager, if -- but he said, they never will go that high. I said, well, but I think that we owe deference to the City Commissioner that it is -- where the -- this development is going to take place. I want to -- first of all, I want to tell you Jorge and Jose, it's not personal, man. I have nothing against you guys. On the other hand, I always like you and I like your dad a lot, a lot. This is business, and I have been saying this publicly, it is business. We're in two different types of business, and God bless you for being such good businessmen, because that is our economic system working. But we, you and I, at this moment are in different type of business. Your business is to make money. My business is to protect the people as much as I can, you see. That's why they elected me. And you fulfill your obligation as a businessman, but I fulfill mine too, you see. I hope that I -- I never insulted you guys personally. Butt have --I have a proposal, you see, that I've been working. And this is the first time, the first time that 1 have gone below Carollo -- I mean, above Carollo. He always goes above what I ask. But as you well know, I always was an advocate of competitive bidding. And competitive bidding, in my opinion, is -- it will bring the competition, which that is our system, which is competition, will bring a higher, I would say, return, for that land, see. A higher return. for that land. And I -- what I want City of Miami Page 36 Printed on 06/04/2024 City Commission Marked Agenda April 28, 2022 to propose is -- and 1 hope, and I'm going to ask that after this, that the City Manager and you guys, and you have time, we have to give you time to chew on this, on what everybody is asking, and you come back with a proposal and see if it is possible or not. I have told the Manager once, remember, that 1 said I wanted to go $14, $15 million? And he said, you want me to go tell them? I said, they will never go for it. But I'rn asking for $15 million a year, which is a little higher than Joe's. I know that we have -- that we are capping the increases on a 4 percent maximum. I can live with that. I can live with that, that's fine, okay. But one thing that really -- I was not in agreement is that the timing of paying, you see. When you lease or you rent any, or you enter into an agreement of leasing land, you pay from the moment of execution. When the contract is executed, you start paying. That's the nature of the business. But here, that was -- I mean, it was postponed until it could have taken 10 years or 5 years. And knowing how our City, that it is not too -- doesn't work that fast, that could take that long, okay. But I would like to have $3 million rent starting day one of the lease agreement. Balance -based rent at the issuance of the building permits for the commercial portion of the development. Yeah, you see, I was very concerned, and I have been very, very concerned with the no net loss. And the way that was placed -- I mean, it was put to me, I did not agree, because the City was going to take a hit. Right now, Commissioner Russell, he identifies certain plots of land that could be converted into park. And you guys know, as well as I do, that those -- those parcels, they have a potential of income generating properties, you see. If we did, which I don't agree that with the GSA we convert it into park because we have a potential of entering into an agreement with anybody that wants to develop it, it will go into the tax roll and the City could demand rent from it, you see. That is a cost to the City, you know that. That's a cost to the City. So, 1 do agree on the $30 million for park and -- parks citywide, you can buy park citywide, or enhancement to a land that is acquired. There are some areas that they are -- they will not be income -generating property that they could be enhanced and accounted for no net loss, or other properties. For example, you have a land in Overtown. Can you deal that land and turn it into a park? That would be about eight acres, right? I mean, how much you are -- how big is the track of land? Yeah? Eight to nine acres? Maybe you want to make a deal with that and account for it within the $30 million that it is, yeah? Okay. You see, one thing that I always am concerned, you see, Commissioner Russell is always concerned about baywalk. But how about riverwalk? How about riverwalk? If we are asking for money for baywalk, we should ask for riverwalk also, which is an integral part of our city, you see? So, we need about, probably match the amount that it's going to get for baywalk. The remediation is 100 percent, no public funding, but I am going to give you, because I am being very harsh, asking a lot of money. If you get -- if you can get brownfield money, you see, I -- I'm not going to count that, although it comes from our taxes, you see, but it's a program that you could benefitfrom, you see. I'm not going to hold that against you guys. Also, Miami Freedom Park will develop and complete the 58-acre public land at its own cost, condition to the design approved by the City Commission and Parks Director, including something that to me is extremely important. I want to see it on every, single park. You see, you want -- I want every single park to be able to have 5G Wi-Fi. You see, we're going to have a park, and I'm going to try to do that in the parks that I am working on in my district, okay? And also, it is important that I know that Commissioner Russell asked about the minimum wage. Well, Commissioner Russell, nowadays, today, $15 is almost the minimum wage. I have a grandson that is working at Chick fil-A that they're paying him $18 because people don't want to work, you see. But 1 agree with the minimum wage. And also, I will love and I will ask you guys that at least, at least 50 percent of the construction crews and the workers that you're going to have be from the City of Miami, be residents of the City of Miami. We have the poorest city in almost the United States. We don't have -- we have a lot of people that they are not trained to work in other areas of the economy, so they need jobs, and they need -- they need good paying jobs and besides they need steady jobs, steady jobs. And those are residents of the City of Miami, and I believe that we've got to benefit them, okay? You City of Miami Page 37 Printed on 06/04/2024 City Commission Marked Agenda April 28, 2022 see, bond coverage. One thing that did not agree is that the only -- you have a coverage for 250 million, right? It is. No, what is because of the according to what I have here in all the information that I got from the attorneys it was 250 million.1 would like to have -- over -- I mean 100 percent okay which is if the cost is going to be $450 million, it should go to $450 million, okay? Also, one -- one item that we haven't touched here, it is traffic. Traffic. We have -- we need, we need to have new traffic study, and we have to have -- we have to have, I would say, it's going to require a lot of investment in traffic mitigation in the area. When I say traffic mitigation, you see, I' n concerned about the neighborhoods that people that come out you'll have to - - one exit and what, well you have two roads that are the only way that you can get in and out. One is 14th Street and the other one is 37th Avenue. And I'm concerned that people are going to go in and going to have a lot of cut -through traffic, and they're going to go into the neighborhoods. So, I will have about --1 will ask that you set aside $5 million for traffic mitigation, you see, for traffic mitigation. And also, 1 have a question thatl want you to answer. You see, every single sport, like swimming, you go -- you go to a swimming pool, you pay for it. You go to play golf, you pay for it. You go to play tennis, you see in Moore Park, they have a tennis, you play, you pay. You 're going to build soccer fields for being -- I mean to be used by our youth, right? Is there going to be any fees charged to those -- to use those? It's going to be pay to play like it was done in Fort Lauderdale? Speak, man. I mean, if want to send me to hell, just tell me. Or say something. Richard Perez:: No, no, no. We were -- Commissioner Reyes: Okay. Chair King: Go ahead, please. Mr. Perez: So let me start just with Richard Perez, 701 Brickell Avenue, representing Miami Freedom Park. So let me start with the first one, because one of the questions that you had for us was on the payment and performance bond. I think that's the first question you had for us. And there has been some confusion with regard to what the payment and performance -- sorry I'm very tall, apologies. What the payment and performance bond obligations are in the contract. The payment and performance bond obligations in the contract is that we must comply with State Statute, right? And what we handed out was the State Statute, right? And what the state statute says, if you turn to the second page, it's 255.05(g). Commissioner Reyes: I read the statute also. Mr. Perez: Okay, great. Commissioner Reyes: It's a -- it's minimum of 250. Mr. Perez: It's not a minimum of 250. What it says is that the -- that the amount of the bond is the full amount of the contract value. And what's important, and I think you understand that, it's not the project value, right? Some folks have said, well, it's the project value and the project is going to be $450 million. It's the contract value. For a project like this, you're going to have multiple primes, right? And so those contract values, you know, might -- one might be 100 million, one might be 150 million, one might be 200 million. Commissioner Reyes: How much is this contract value? What is the contract value? Mr. Perez: We don't know because we haven't -- we haven't -- we don't have all the -- we haven't got out and gotten contractors yet. City of Miami Page 38 Printed on 06/04/2024 City Commission Marked Agenda April 28, 2022 Commissioner Reyes: Okay. Mr. Perez: Until we get the lease, and hopefully we get the lease today, we can run out and grab -- and start that process. So, what you're bonding is the contract, right? Because it's a payment in performance bond with regards to the contract, right? So, you're bonding that contract. So, the fact that the stadium is $450 million is completely, irrelevant to the question, right? So that's one. Then what the statute says is, okay, well, if that contract value exceeds $250 million and the governmental entity, and it spells it out here, you don't have to guess, the governmental entity determines that there are no bonds in that amount that are reasonably available in the marketplace. Again, it's your determination of this. Then you, meaning the City, determines how much the bond is going to be in that occasion, but it could never be less than $250 million, right? So, we have no say in what the bond amount is and we have no say as to whether or not the market is -- that market is available or not available, right? So, we're out of this equation entirely and I will also add that it's a very rare circumstance where you have the entire bond market frozen up, that those types of bonds aren't available, right? So, you are fully protected with regards to 255.05(g)(1), right? It's your decision. You decide. You set the number. So. Commissioner Reyes: It would be our decision to ask for an increase in the bond. Mr. Perez: No. We must comply with the statute which says we must give you a full -- Commissioner Reyes: You just said it's your decision. Mr. Perez: No, at all. We have to give you a bond equal to the full contract value, period, stop. Commissioner Reyes: How do you determine the contract value? Mr. Perez: It's what's in the contract. Commissioner Reyes: What's in the contract? And if the contract is more than $250, 000 and we want to be covered, can we come back to you and say, let's cover this? Yes, sir. Pablo Alvarez: Pablo Alvarez. Commissioner Reyes: Yeah, Pablo. Mr. Alvarez: How are you? And I'm not an economist, but I do have a master's in finance. So, we sort of speak the same language. Commissioner Reyes: Yes. Mr. Alvarez: The bond is going to stack so that when you have a plumbing contractor for a 100 million dollars, he will put a bond for a 100 million dollars, Commissioner Reyes: Okay Mr. Alvarez: When you have a plumbing -- when you have a concrete contractor and his contract is 75 million, his bond will be 75 million, and at the end of the package you will have 10 bonds, the sum of covering 100 percent of the exposure. It would be in the eventuality that one contractor for one scope of work got a contract that was so large that it exceeded $250 million, and then in the eventuality that the market would not underwrite a bond, for $250 million, you will make that determination. But we, as a developer, would never get into any contract with any contractor who would not City of Miami Page 39 Printed on 06/04/2024 City Commission Marked Agenda April 28, 2022 post a bond for 100 percent of the value of the scope of work that he has to perform. Therefore, I'm fully protected because I'm giving you a performance bond and you're fully protected. Commissioner Reyes: So, you're stacking it up. Mr. Alvarez: What's that? Commissioner Reyes: You're stacking it up. Mr. Alvarez: You have to. That's how it works. Commissioner Reyes: Okay, okay, that's fine, that's great. Mr. Alvarez: Did that explain it? Commissioner Reyes: Yes, that's explained it. Mr. Alvarez: Thank you. Commissioner Reyes: Okay. But I was concerned about if-- that's right. Mr. Alvarez: And just to, something you had mentioned before, the concept of where you begin to pay rent day one, what the developer or what the landlord does is gives a credit to the tenant and they call it rent abatement. Commissioner Reyes: Yes, I know. Mr. Alvarez: It could be in the form of -- it could be -- no, you said that you start paying day one, dollar one, but if the site needs improvements, the landlord will either pay for the improvements or abate rent, which means you don't pay for a certain period of time until the tenant recovers the expense of the improvements on the site. I just wanted to clam that. Commissioner Reyes: That's right, but that's why I'm asking for $3 million instead of $100, 000. You see, because it's going to b --, you won't pay the full amount until it says, and it's a building permits for the commercial portion of the development. You don't start paying until you start building, okay. That's what I was saying. About the question about the pay to play or you are going to let everybody go and play there, I don't know. Because you go to Tamiami Park, and they have a bunch of soccer fields and you have to rent it. Mr. Perez: Sure. So, the commitment that's in the agreement, and I've been at this for a very long time, and I tend to remember every section of this agreement because after three and a half years you tend to memorize these things, but I can't remember this particular section. But the -- what the agreement indicates, and I'll get you the section reference so that you can take a look at it, what the agreement indicates is that for kids, City of Miami residents, I think it's 16 years and younger, that they will be admitted to those soccer fields free of'charge. We will be running leagues there, I mean full disclosure, and there may, be occasions where the leagues are playing there, but kids will be given free admission into that area, you know, when the fields are available, and that is a commitment that we made from the very beginning and it's a commitment. Commissioner Reyes: Over 16, they will -- it will be pay to play. City of Miami Page 40 Printed on 06/04/2024 City Commission Marked Agenda April 28, 2022 Mr. Perez: Over, not necessarily, I don't know exactly what the business model is. 1 mean, there are going to be -- there are going to he leagues. The commitment is, as you indicated, for kids in the community, there is a commitment for kids in the community to have free access to those locations. Commissioner Reyes: And over 16, if they are residents of the City of Miami, will they have a discount? Mr. Perez: I don't recall what the language says, butt will give you the reference of the language so we can give it. It is one of the, yeah. So, 1 apologize for that, but we'll give it. Commissioner Reyes: Well, it is important because you're going to have a -- I mean, we're talking about you have to pay to play or whatever. Mr. Perez: Right. Commissioner Reyes: It is important that if we're going to have this, that they have full access to it. And if they have it -- if they are resident, those that have to pay, if they are resident of the City of Miami, they get a discount because they are playing in their field. Mr. Perez: Understood. Oh, wait. Vice Chair Carollo: Richard, you're not going to charge 90 bucks to get in, right? Mr. Perez: It will not be 90 dollars. I'm pretty sure of that. So, it's in Section 2.5. (MULTIPLE PARTIES SPEAKING IN UNISON) Mr. Perez: It's in Section 2.5 of the -- Commissioner Reyes: You don't play soccer either? Vice Chair Carollo: No, I don't play any of it anymore. Commissioner Reyes: Oh, okay. You should start. You see. Mr. Perez: So, so, register that are both -- Commissioner Reyes: Really, I'm going to start doing exercises. Vice Chair Carollo: Good. Good. Mr. Perez: So, it's in Section 2.5 of the construction, it's Section 2.5 of the construction administration agreement. Commissioner Reyes: What does it say? Mr. Perez: I just closed it. So, it says, I'll read you the -- the pertinent part. It's all registered users that are both residents of the City and 16 years of age or younger, to use -- will be permitted to use such fields in courts without charge subject to such regional validation, access, and use restrictions as established by MFP. Obviously, you know, it's -- Commissioner Reyes: But does it say anything about over 16 that are Miami residents having a -- City of Miami Page 41 Printed on 06/04/2024 City Commission Marked Agenda April 28, 2022 Mr. Perez: It does not. It speaks only to the children. Commissioner Reyes: I would like to see that. Mr. Perez: Okay, understood. Thank you. Commissioner Reyes: To be included. You see -- well, this one, and I was going to ask for the full list of properties that they were being considered because -- for no net loss. And I think that Commissioner Russell did a good job on it, but I want --1 want to make it clear that any land that is -- that belongs to the City of Miami that is not zoned as park, and it is zoned a park, that land had the potential -- has a potential is about opportunity cost for the City of Miami because by converting it into parks, then it precludes the city to obtain revenues if they lease it or they develop it, you see. Am 1 right, Mr. Alvarez? Okay, Ijust wanted you to understand that. And that's why we have to be very careful and use this $30 million to acquire new land if possible, okay? Or areas that are a track of lands that they are not going to be developed, that they cannot be developed, well, you use those funds in order to develop -- I mean, to convert it into park. But not those -- those tract of lands that could develop should be used, okay? You understand? Chair King: Yes. Commissioner Reyes: Okay. Vice Chair Carollo: Can you repeat that again? Commissioner Reyes: If we have a tract of land like the GSA, okay, and that is converted into park, that land has a potential for a development to come into that place and get into the tax rolls or also -- and also us ask for rent or whatever, part of the deal or whatever, and we will have revenues. By converting it into -- converting it to park, then you take that potential away, which is, we have to be -- count it as a loss to the City, okay? That is -- Vice Chair Carollo: Very interesting. Commissioner Reyes: Well, Madam City Attorney -- Madam Chair, I have a -- I don't know, I'm going to propose that everybody -- I mean, Commissioner Russell has his proposal, Commissioner Carollo has his proposal. If you have a proposal, if you're proposing or asking, that after you finish, you know, we provide -- give them time to chew on it and come back and accept or not accept what everybody had asked, come with a new -- and we can, I mean, next time that we can meet next week or whatever or next meeting. Vice Chair Carollo: Next year. Commissioner Reyes: Next year. Vice Chair Carollo: Yeah. Commissioner Reyes: Well, I mean, you have time. I know you have a lot of time. You see, you're retired, you don't do anything. Chair King: We're going -- we're going to move along to Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla. City of Miami Page 42 Printed on 06/04/2024 City Commission Marked Agenda April 28, 2022 Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Finally. 1 love it. I think the most important thing is the district that 1 represent, that I was elected to represent by over 60 percent of the people in that district. And I've been fascinated, not in a bad way Commissioner Carollo, but fascinated how everybody has divvied up with $20 million that is supposed to go to District 1 because that's where the impact is. So, Grapeland and surrounding areas, that's where the impact is. Originally, when I've spoken, I've had a number of private meetings with the Mas family and with our City Manager and others and our Mayor, and we talked about the idea that this money should stay where it should stay. All of a sudden, Commissioner Russell, you're very creative. You already got $5 million for your district like three years before 1 was here. Now you want more. Now you want more. And you want to identify the parcels because 1 think some of the parcels are in Commissioner Carrollo's district, or in the Bayfront Park that he represents, or he chairs. So, all of a sudden you say only the areas that are not -- that are not in the areas that Commissioner Carrollo represents. Commissioner Reyes has always been opposed to the deal, so no matter what we do, Commissioner Reyes, at the end of the day you're going to vote against it, right? We understand that and that's cool. We're good to go with that. But the idea that the $20 million, for starters -- Commissioner Reyes: Could you repeat that again? Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Yeah, you're against the idea from the beginning. You've been adamantly -- Commissioner Reyes: (UNINTELLIGIBLE). Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: You've been against the concept. Commissioner Reyes: The concept? The way that it was presented? Yes. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Yeah, yeah, yeah. You've been against the concept from the beginning. So whatever changes in reality that you're proposing today are not going to make a difference. You're still going to vote against it, right? Commissioner Reyes: (INAUDIBLE). Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Well no, but -- Commissioner Reyes: You're assuming -- Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I'm assuming that, well, I'm not assuming. I'm concluding. I don't want to get into an argument. I have the floor. Just let me finish. I'm going to be like -- Commissioner Reyes: I haven't said how I'rn going to vote. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I'm going to take like three minutes. I'in going to be quick. I'm not going to do a whole -- well, Commissioner Carollo, you have been against this idea for three and a half years. And that's okay. That's your right. Vice Chair Carollo: You get the wrong commissioner. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: No, I'm talking about Commissioner Reyes. Vice Chair Carollo: You said Carollo before. City of Miami Page 43 Printed on 06/04/2024 City Commission Marked Agenda April 28, 2022 Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: No,1 was going to talk about you, but then he interrupted, so 1 addressed him. Commissioner Reyes: Listen, I -- I -- Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: What Commissioner Carollo is proposing and has proposed and negotiated from the dais, makes sense, because he valued the property a little bit over $9 million, and he took away what they're doing to remediate the property right, and -- which brings it about to $4.3 million. I think it should be a little bit more, but you know, $4.3 million works. I believe we should get a little bit more of the gross retail, perhaps maybe 6 percent instead of 5, and move that up a little bit. I believe, and 1 know, and by the way, I'll be a no vote if 1 don't get all those additional millions of dollars. Well, you know what, that's not what happens here. What happens here, everybody here negotiates for their district, rightfully so, but when you get what you ask for, you get what you ask for, you get it. You don't come back and ask for another bite of the apple. You got your five million. We can very easily reconsider that today because we have the right to do that and kick that out. And we may probably have the vote to reconsider that, Commissioner, but that's not the way we're supposed to do things. There's a collegiality here that exists, that should exist. You don't come back here and say, oh, I got 5 million of 25 million, and I want another 5 million, I've identified this park and that park and that park. 20 million is for District 1. If the Mas family and the conglomerate that is putting this together, the association is putting this together, wants to give additional dollars to different districts, that's a different conversation. IfI am in a somewhat giving mood and 1 say, you know what, fine, two and a half million for District 5, and two and a half million for District 3, and the people that are going to support this project, we do that. But what we cannot do is the area that's being impacted -- because when you walk those neighborhoods and you go across the street and you go to Grapeland, that's the area that's being impacted. You talked about traffic, it's not happening in your district, Commissioner Reyes, it's happening in mine, the one that represent. You talk about all the issues that are impacting the particular area, it's my district. But this is a citywide project. And it is, I think, a good thing for Miami to think like a big city, not a small town. And I think Miami needs to have things like soccer and museums and things that matter. I've said it from the beginning. I said it when I was campaigning. I said it when I've been here, and I continue to say it. But it's got to be a good deal for Miami. And in particular, if it's going to impact District 1, then I want the $20 million to go to District 1. That's a conversation I had with both of you on Saturday in your home when we spoke about it. And that's a commitment that want you to keep with me. 20 million goes to District 1. Not to Grapeland Park, not to the area, not to Melreese, but to District 1. If additional dollars need to go to other parts that are needed, for example, I'll give you a great example, because by the way, district boundaries are artificial political boundaries that people draw. We drew a whole bunch a month ago, right? (UNINTELLIGIBLE) Moore Park, it's in your district, right, Commissioner King? It's right across the street from mine, 36th Street. A lot of my kids go play there. So, I don't mind if two and a half million or three million goes over there because it's the same kids. North, south, south, north. So, I'm okay with all that. But the idea that you, Commissioner Russell, who represents the richest district in the city, you want more additional dollars for people that live on Biscayne Boulevard in front of the water with the beautiful views, to me that's just, that's not equitable. Let's send it to Overtown, let's send it to Allapattah, let's send it to Little Havana, to the river walk, like you said Commissioner Reyes, that's what's right. So, and you say, well, if don't get all these perks, or all these benefits for a very rich district, I'm a no vote? Anybody here can say they're a no vote. Does it need to be perfect because we already know Commissioner Reyes, you opposed it. By the way, that's a principal stance that you've taken from the beginning, and I respect that. So, the other'bur are either yes votes, one is a no vote, yeah everybody has a certain amount of leverage, but is that what we're doing here today? That's not what we should be doing here today, what City of Miami Page 44 Printed on 06/04/2024 City Commission Marked Agenda April 28, 2022 Commissioner Carollo did was outline a specific -- the first time 1 heard it really, 1 heard some rumors about it, outlined a specific proposal that makes it a better deal for Miami. And I think it's brilliant. We get more for our city, and we build what we need to build. When I was campaigning, I could not eat anywhere in District 1 at 8:30, when I finished at night. I had to drive to, you know where? Wynwood or 8th Street. Not any of the places you don't like. I mean, some of the (UNINTELLIGIBLE) and all those places. But I had to drive to Wynwood, to Kush on 2nd Avenue. And I had to leave because there was no nightlife. There was no place to eat at night. There was no entertainment. And when I started campaigning, the first precinct that I walked was the one across the street from Melreese. And 1 said, let me find out. I said to myself, let me find out if this is something that people are really opposed to, or they like. 1 knew what the vote was, by the way. In that precinct, that referendum won with 62 percent of the vote. Citywide, it was 60 percent. In that precinct, across from Melreese, it was 62 percent. Higher number than it was in the rest of the city. Okay, your district voted against it. But the Coconut Grove area voted against it. So, what happened? So, I said, let me double check. And maybe, of course, campaigns are influenced by dollars. We all know that. But 1 said, let me walk it. I'm just a candidate, walking, knocking on doors. And I asked. And it was about a 50-50 split in that precinct, but probably more in favor of the stadium against it. And I concluded at that moment that that issue was not a political liability, but a political asset. Because people want jobs. And you go through the list. Over 15,000 new jobs. Expanded tax base. Creating something where there is nothing. This is not park space. You are creating the park space. You are creating public access to green space because right now, no one, it's not 90, it's $110 to get in there. Okay, and no one in that surrounding neighborhood can pay $100, $110 to get into that (UNINTELLIGIBLE). So, this is a soccer park that we're creating. You're creating green space. And this whole false narrative that I've been hearing over and over again by four or five people that have their own agendas, and we know who they are, it's four or five people, by the way. It's no more than that. They're creating this false narrative, oh, they're getting rid of green space, oh, it's terrible. These are bad billionaires. Well, number one, no one creates jobs -- no poor person has ever created a job or built anything. Rich people, you guys happen to be very well off. I congratulate you. I'm proud of the fact that you are -- you honor our community by being successful. Successful Cuban -Americans, the son of an immigrant that fought for not only the freedom of his country, but fought to be successful in the United States, you should be proud of that. And we should honor that. And the fact that you happen to have a lot of money, good for you. There are a lot of people with a lot of money that come here and do the same thing. But no, I'd rather be a homegrown product like you two and your family. So, to me, I agree with the project. I think it's a good deal. I think what Commissioner Carollo negotiated is a better deal. The $20 million stay in District 1. If you want to give more money to the other districts, that's, well, it's going to cost you a little bit more. You know, you just got to figure out a way to make more somewhere else, okay? But the $20 million stays here in 1. Why? Because that's the area that's impacted. And that's fair. And the 6 percent over a 99-year lease makes sense because it's 1 percent or more that over the long term represents billions of dollars for the City of Miami. And that's why I'm going to support this today. I represent the area. I like the idea. I think it's a good deal for Miami. As I always said from the beginning, and let's just go ahead and do it and stop delaying it, because the back and forth and what about this, what about that, all the ifs and buts, that's all fine. But right now, they've been waiting, and we've been waiting, both of us have been waiting, three and a half years. Let's move forward. And we'll have, by the way, an opportunity to have other conversations about other things because a whole bunch of other votes are going to take place here anyway. I'm supporting the project. Vice Chair Carollo: Chair? Chair King: I think the Mayor was signaling me he'd like to -- City of Miami Page 45 Printed on 06/04/2024 City Commission Marked Agenda April 28, 2022 Vice Chair Carollo: I'll be real quick. Mayor Suarez: You want me to yield? Yeah. Vice Chair Carollo: Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla. Chair King: Can't hear you. Mayor Suarez: Give him the mic. Give him the mic. Vice Chair Carollo: I'm afraid to talk too loud, or they'll accuse me of shouting. (COMMENTS MADE OFF THE RECORD) Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: That's what they did to me too. Vice Chair Carollo: I'm glad you mentioned that we have parks in common and so on. You of course have been aware of Ruben Dario Park that is one block away. In fact, half or more of the people who will be using it will be coming from your district. And I think you expressed to me that you wanted your name on that big plaque there too, right? Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Yes sir. Vice Chair Carollo: Okay. I'll tell you afterwards how many millions it would cost of the 20 to get it in the plaque. For the park. For the park, because look, you mentioned at the last meeting that more than 20 million should go to District 1, and I agree. You're the commissioner there. Actually, it's the biggest park in the City, if we're going to call it a park, but it's not. It's going to become a park now, the biggest with 58 acres. What I did here is try to present something for the whole city, not looking at my district. I haven't asked anything for my district. I just want to make sure that we get a solid deal, because I will tell you how I feel. If we miss this opportunity, more decades are going to go by that we're not going to do anything there. We're going to keep losing money there. We're making very, very little. And we won't have an opportunity again for something of this magnitude. So, I will trust you if the $20 million goes to you that you're going to be fair with the other districts, especially when you have parks next to you. And the Administration, Commissioner Russell, touched upon four park areas that need to be finished first in those 20 acres. One piece is in his district. I don't mind helping there to get that accomplished one way or another. And I also, as you heard explained to him, that I'm looking to do that whole master plan. I mean, to me it's just unreal that when I was here at my last meeting as Mayor of this City in late November 2001. I went through a series of properties and my recommendations of what a future commission should do to bring millions in revenue to the city. One of them was precisely the one we're discussing now with exactly what we're discussing now except a stadium, and that nothing was ever done. And we kept losing to the tune of $800,000 average -- Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Every year. Vice Chair Carollo: -- a year. So, as I see it, this is a once -in -a -lifetime opportunity. Stadiums, you know why they fail? Because you don't have all the surrounding that we're bringing in here. We're bringing in here the shopping. We're bringing here the hotel. We're bringing the retail and a few other things that, you know, at the right time well discuss here that will go there also to make sure that this is a success. To have a park there now in such a central location, it's 58 acres, a real park. My God, it's City of Miami Page 46 Printed on 06/04/2024 City Commission Marked Agenda April 28, 2022 something that we've never have had. This is why all this false narrative that, oh my God, we've taken over a park. When was that ever a park? You take your shoes off -- Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: It's a lie. Vice Chair Carollo: -- who knows what's going to happen to you? That's why they got signs all over the place. You've got to keep your shoes on. Truly, I don't know how that place is still open after all these years, because everybody knows, the County, the City, knows, you know, what that place is like. So -- Commissioner Reyes: Madam Chair? Vice Chair Carollo: -- I'm just trying to see if we can move this jbrward. And for my side, 1 will work with you, Commissioner Russell, in whichever way that I can. In fact, the five million that you asked for, you don't have to spend any in my district here out of that. I, you know, I'm not going to even ask for any of that. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: And if I may Madam Chair. And for you, Commissioner Russell, for your comfort level, I am willing to have conversations through the Mayor, of course, and through the City Manager, about how we can use some of those dollars for some of the areas that will affect no net loss here in your district. So, the $20 million, as long as we understand in principle, that it should go to the district it impacts, I'm a pretty generous guy. You know, there will be two and a half million here, two and a half million, nothing here cause you're going to vote against us, doesn't matter that's a different conversation, but two and a half million there, and two and a half million there, and two and a half million there, we're good to go. And we're good to go, and we pass it, and we move forward, and we can have a debate about the rest of it, the zoning and everything else. But of course, let's be honest here, the 20 million was always intended for District 1. I'm willing to be generous enough, and you guys will do good stufffor the different districts along the way because you have -- you've done a lot ofphilanthropy through the years and I've seen -- I know the work you do. And you're homegrown guys and you care about our community. You're not going to run away anywhere. So, you know what? Maybe there is two and a half million, maybe there's two and a half million, maybe there's two and a half million, maybe that's all available, right? That's fine. Because the point is to move it forward. There's a bigger picture here. There's a bigger vision here. Let's be a big city. Let's be a big city and let's tell the world -- tell the world that we are ready for this. Chair King: Hold on a second. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: So, I want to move the issue. Chair King: Okay, so -- Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Cause it's my district, may I make the motion. After you speak, of course. City of Miami Page 47 Printed on 06/04/2024 City Commission Marked Agenda April 28, 2022 SP.2 RESOLUTION 11637 Commissioners and Mayor A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH ATTACHMENT(S), BY A FOUR -FIFTHS (4/5THS) AFFIRMATIVE VOTE PURSUANT TO SECTION 29-B(F) OF THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED, AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE A GROUND LEASE FOR THE MIAMI FREEDOM PARK SOCCER STADIUM IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY ATTORNEY ("STADIUM LEASE") BETWEEN THE CITY OF MIAMI ("CITY") AND MIAMI FREEDOM PARK, LLC ("MFP") WHEREBY THE CITY SHALL LEASE APPROXIMATELY TWELVE (12) ACRES OF CITY -OWNED PROPERTY IDENTIFIED AS PARCEL 1 IN THE SURVEY ATTACHED AND INCORPORATED AS EXHIBIT A ("STADIUM PROPERTY") WITHIN THE CITY -OWNED PROPERTY LOCATED GENERALLY AT 1400 NW 37 AVE ("PARENT TRACT") TO MFP FOR AN INITIAL TERM OF THIRTY (30) YEARS WITH TWO (2) ADDITIONAL OPTIONS TO RENEW FOR A TOTAL TERM NOT TO EXCEED NINETY-NINE (99) YEARS, WITH AN ANNUAL RENT EQUAL TO SEVENTY FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS ($75,000) DURING THE CONSTRUCTION PERIOD AND INCREASING TO FIVE HUNDRED EIGHTY EIGHT THOUSAND SEVENTY-NINE DOLLARS ($588,079) AFTER THE CONSTRUCTION PERIOD AS FURTHER DEFINED IN THE STADIUM LEASE, PROVIDING FOR THE DEVELOPMENT AND LEASE OF AN APPROXIMATELY TWENTY-FIVE THOUSAND (25,000) SEAT SOCCER STADIUM AND RELATED FACILITIES, WITH TERMS AND CONDITIONS AS MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED IN THE STADIUM LEASE; FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE A GROUND LEASE FOR THE MIAMI FREEDOM PARK COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY ATTORNEY ("COMMERCIAL LEASE") BETWEEN THE CITY AND MFP WHEREBY THE CITY SHALL LEASE APPROXIMATELY SIXTY-ONE (61) ACRES OF CITY - OWNED PROPERTY IDENTIFIED AS PARCEL 1 AND PARCEL 2 IN THE SURVEY ATTACHED AND INCORPORATED AS EXHIBIT B ("COMMERCIAL PROPERTY") WITHIN THE PARENT TRACT TO MFP FOR AN INITIAL TERM OF THIRTY-NINE (39) YEARS WITH TWO (2) ADDITIONAL THIRTY (30) YEAR OPTIONS TO RENEW, FOR A TOTAL TERM NOT TO EXCEED NINETY-NINE (99) YEARS, WITH AN ANNUAL RENT EQUAL TO FOUR HUNDRED AND TWENTY FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS ($425,000) DURING THE CONSTRUCTION PERIOD AND INCREASING AFTER THE CONSTRUCTION PERIOD TO THE GREATER OF TWO MILLION NINE HUNDRED EIGHTY-NINE THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED EIGHTY-SIX DOLLARS ($2,989,286) OR FIVE PERCENT (5%) OF GROSS REVENUES AS FURTHER DEFINED IN THE COMMERCIAL LEASE, PROVIDING FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A MINIMUM OF ONE MILLION (1,000,000) SQUARE FEET OF OFFICE, RETAIL AND ENTERTAINMENT USES AND SEVEN HUNDRED FIFTY (750) HOTEL ROOMS AND CONFERENCE SPACE, WITH TERMS AND CONDITIONS AS MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED IN THE COMMERCIAL LEASE;AFTER THE CONSTRUCTION PERIOD THE COMBINED ANNUAL RENT OF THE STADIUM LEASE AND COMMERCIAL LEASE SHALL NOT BE LESS THAN THREE MILLION FIVE HUNDRED SEVENTY SEVEN THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED City of Miami Page 48 Printed on 06/04/2024 City Commission Marked Agenda April 28, 2022 AND SIXTY-FIVE DOLLARS ($3,577,365); FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE A CONSTRUCTION ADMINISTRATION AGREEMENT ("CAA"), IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY ATTORNEY, BETWEEN THE CITY, MFP, AND INTER MIAMI STADIUM, LLC WHICH SHALL GOVERN THE CONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE STADIUM, COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT, AND PUBLIC BENEFITS UPON AND AROUND THE PARENT TRACT AND WHICH SHALL PROVIDE FOR MFP TO DEVELOP A FIFTY-EIGHT (58) ACRE PUBLIC PARK, PROVIDING FOR MFP TO CONTRIBUTE TWENTY MILLION DOLLARS ($20,000,000.00) TO BE UTILIZED BY THE CITY FOR THE ADJACENT PUBLIC PARK AND FIVE MILLION DOLLARS ($5,000,000) TO BE UTILIZED BY THE CITY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE BAYWALK-RIVERWALK, FURTHER PROVIDING FOR MFP TO REMEDIATE THE ENTIRE PARENT TRACT IN ORDER TO RECEIVE A NO FURTHER ACTION DETERMINATION, WITH TERMS AND CONDITIONS AS MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED IN THE CAA; FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE A NON -RELOCATION AGREEMENT ("NON - RELOCATION AGREEMENT"), IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY ATTORNEY BETWEEN THE CITY, MFP, AND INTER MIAMI CF, LLC ("TEAM") WHEREBY THE TEAM SHALL PLAY AT THE NEWLY CONSTRUCTED SOCCER STADIUM FOR A MINIMUM OF THIRTY (30) YEARS, WITH TERMS AND CONDITIONS AS MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED IN THE NON -RELOCATION AGREEMENT; FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE ANY AND ALL NECESSARY DOCUMENTS, ALL IN FORMS ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY ATTORNEY, TO EFFECTUATE THE AGREEMENTS STATED HEREIN. ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-22-0156 MOTION TO: Adopt with Modification(s) RESULT: ADOPTED WITH MODIFICATION(S) MOVER: Alex Diaz de Ia Portilla, Commissioner SECONDER: Joe Carollo, Commissioner AYES: King, Carollo, Russell, Diaz de Ia Portilla NAYS: Reyes Chair King: Of course, because I haven't said anything as yet. So, we need to hear from my -- my perspective on what's going on. And while I do agree that there is a bigger picture here, we cannot forget the residents of District 5. This is a city project. It is not a district project. It is a city project. And I can't, in good conscience, support this project unless we look at the impact that it will have on District 5. I agree with my colleagues that we should have an appraisal. We should know what the fair market value is. My Vice Chair did a great job of coming up with a compromise for the new appraisal, and I agree with that. What I am concerned about is how this project will affect District 5 because I am the representative for the poorest district in the City of Miami, and you are number two. So, I do want to see some of this money come into District 5 so that I can continue to improve the lives of the residents of District 5. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: You have my, word that I will work with -- through the City Manager to get that done, make sure that happens. Chair King: Okay. City of Miami Page 49 Printed on 06/04/2024 City Commission Marked Agenda April 28, 2022 Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: You have my word on that. Chair King: Wonderful. Vice Chair Carollo: By the way, Ruben Dario is going to cost between $15 to $18 million, including the land acquisition, and that doesn't include the cost of the plaque with the names on it. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Ruben Dario -- Vice Chair Carollo: That's an extra. Chair King: So, let me continue. The living wage is great, but I'd also like to see responsible wages for the construction of the stadium as well as for the commercial lease space. That is important for the workers. I applaud you for including the unions in the hospitality piece. Responsible wages are important for me, as well as a compliance component to ensure that we are -- the employees are getting a responsible wage. And I'd like for the compliance piece, for you to reimburse the City for the monitoring of the living -- the responsible wages. And we've had conversations about this, and I'd like it to mirror what we've done in the CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) and your team has that information where the compliance piece, we have a compliance piece because it's one thing to say, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, but then nobody is following up or making sure that it is actually happening. So, I'd like to add a compliance piece to this project, responsible wages, and looking forward to when you do have a stadium, and the commercial piece of it, I'd like to see minority participation both in concession and in the commercial retail space, which we've -- we've talked about, and -- because what I'm trying to do for my district is to create wealth. And that is how we will do that, to give the residents of District 5 a seat at the table, a real seat, with being able to have a piece of the concession, being able to have some of the commercial space. And I'd like the rent to be included -- the taxes to be included in the rent, so that some portion of that money will be a stream of revenue for District 5, because it is absolutely 99 years of opportunity for the residents of District 5. And there is a lot that we can do to improve the lives of the residents of District 5. I'd also like to revisit the Underdeck. I understand that there's some legislation that was created that would exclude it from being included in the no net zero portion. And it will be a park. So, I'd like that piece of -- I'd like for us to revisit that, for the Underdeck, because that is going to be an important parcel in Overtown and I want it to be the best that it can be. Commissioner Russell: Madam Chair, just a quick note on that. The Bay Walk Ordinance uses a greenway mechanism that could be applied exactly to the Underdeck, and I'd be glad to co-sponsor that with you. Mayor Suarez: And I would sponsor it with both o f you. Chair King: Thank you. Commissioner Russell: A new version of it. Chair King: Thank you. And then the property that's located, Overtown, that you were looking at, and I know it's a backup plan for you, once we move forward with this, if we move forward with this, I would like for you to consider either selling that property, at cost, to the Overtown CRA or working with the Overtown CRA to develop that property for something that would benefit the residents in Overtown. And I think therein lies my ask for -- also, but you're already doing it for the soccer team in the district and some other stuff, but you're already taking care of that. But lbr me, those City of Miami Page 50 Printed on 06/04/2024 City Commission Marked Agenda April 28, 2022 things are important that can continue to build wealth in District 5. And 1 believe that this is a way to do it, that we will he looking out for the residents of District 5, through this City of Miami project. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: City of Miami, I agree. Chair King: City of Miami project. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I said that. Chair King: You did say that. You did say that. And now 1 believe our Mayor would like to say a few words. Mayor Suarez: I think you guys have handled it on your own, frankly. Sometimes I think 1 want to interject and then I see you guys sort of working through this and compromising with each other. You know, I hope that we just keep the personal stuff a little bit lower because I don't want people to get emotional and I understand. We all get emotional, I get emotional, and I've been, at times, heated on this project in internal meetings that I've had because I've gotten worked up, and -- and, you know and it's -- and I apologize for that because I don't think that's appropriate when I do that, but it's been out of the passion that I have for this. So, I think we've -- I mean, I want to hear from the team, obviously. I think you've outlined -- you've all outlined a series of asks, if you will. Many of them, I think, dovetail together, if not all of them or most of them.l think there are some that maybe are a bit inconsistent, but not much. And 1 think -- I think what I'm proud of is it seems like you all have articulated a path forward. And that's what I'm proud of. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: And of course, Iris or Richard or George or Jose or whoever, Pablo, not Pablo, I see Pablo sitting down. He's a little bit aggressive. Nice guy, but a little bit, anyway. But Richard, you guys are okay with what we articulated today and sort of defined in broad terms? Chair King: Please. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: George, please. I'm asking through you, Madam Chair. Mr. Mas: Again, thank you, Madam Chair, Commissioners. That's a lot, but we'll go over all of it, to the best of my recollection, and we can address these issues. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: But you're okay with everything that we've outlined? Mr. Mas: What -- what -- Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Not more or less. Mr. Mas: What I'm actually extremely satisfied by is to see the will of this body reflect the will of the voters and trying to get some things done and move forward. As well as Commissioner Reyes, who has, from the beginning, been against the project for whatever reasons there may be, and I have an enormous amount of respect for his position, agree or disagree. But today he has, you know, put on the table things that are important to him that doesn't close the door to a yes vote from Commissioner Reyes. Although I do anticipate he will vote no, my personal opinion, butt appreciate that. Because it's never been personal, it's transactional. Commissioner Reyes: (INAUDIBLE). City of Miami Page 51 Printed on 06/04/2024 City Commission Marked Agenda April 28, 2022 Mr. Mas: I know, but -- but we've been seeing -- we'll end up in a good place. To Commissioner Carollo, who as 1 alluded to at the beginning of my presentation, has really, from the beginning here along with Commissioner Russell who was here before, allowed this project to move forward, to allow the voters to give us direction and where to go. And Commissioner Carollo is, I think, very eloquent and very much having and defending the interests of the taxpayer, I think, did something that have potentially been unable to do during the course of this, which is to try to really show our community and the world the value of this deal. Because during my presentation, 1 didn't say it, I have a sheet here that says that the total economic value of this lease, dollars and cents, based on $3.6 million, it's a $203 million value deal over time, which is approximately $11 million a year during their first tranche, I've been ineffective in getting that narrative. I think you very, again, repeat, eloquently and intelligently put the numbers where they truly are, because as 1 did try to explain, we're spending over $120 million without going vertical. That's real money. On the environmental remediation, and we're paying for the environmental remediation, but we cannot ignore the fact that it's a contaminated piece of land. That land today, as is, you can't build on it, so its practically worthless, but we're getting no credit for the environmental remediation, Commissioner Russell. Remembering then, that am environmentally remediating the whole site and (UNINTELLIGIBLE) Park, which in a scenario where you weren't including a new park, we wouldn't have to remediate that area. What I'm getting to also is the following, and I've heard a discussion about the 58-acre park, and some of the no net loss, and I'm bouncing around a little bit here, but we're creating a new 58-acre park. It's a new park. And we're not getting credit for it. We're getting credit for it in the narrative, we're getting credit for it in your building it, we're doing something about it. It's a new park on City rules. Melreese is not a park. What green space definitions, what Iris does, it's not a park. So, we are spending money, significant money, close to $90 million to give the City a new park. That matters. That should count. Because otherwise you wouldn't have a new park. There wouldn't be a 58-acre new park on the rolls, forgetting now the designations, et cetera. And as we move towards the values and the economics and the finances, when you look at that, it's $4.3 million. And I'd like to look at this in its entirety. So, we'd be, you know, paying $4.3 million, given the credit there. As we go down the list, Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla, you asked for a 6 percent number rather than a 5 percent number, and we would agree to that, which I think is something that's fair, because in the raising of the $4.3 million where the lines cross, it would be a fair number for the taxpayers. And it would only be based on if the project is more successful, everyone should benefit. And I have always said that from the beginning. In terms of our park contribution of $25 million that we did, frankly, and I have heard this discussion here and I think a lot of the plans are amazing of what you're trying to accomplish and do, but it is a little bit out of my purview and responsibility. I am not a member of the body. So as I listen to you, and I will give you my personal opinion, I do agree that a lot of this money should stay in District 1 and stay at Grapeland, although we are delivering because one of the things Commissioner Carollo, which we will agree to, is negotiated a much more enhanced park than when we walked in this morning because there is significant lighting, significant improvements to that park now that weren't before, which we will also agree to do. So, on the $25 million, you know, this project has to -- has to be built. All I am looking for is to build a financial package that will allow us to build this project. During the course of the three and a half years, and with all due respect, Commissioner Reyes, the amount you said makes this project unbuildable. To go through an exercise (UNINTELLIGIBLE) then to not build a project, doesn't solve anyone's, I think, desires here, because our desire is to fill the tax rolls of the City of Miami. It's to give you the ability to give our residents benefits, either direct or indirect, or cut their taxes. This will give you the ability to cut our residents' taxes. That will be your choice. But besides the $25 million, the 4.3, the 6 percent, there were other issues as well. Iris, let me see your paper that I want to address. I want to City of Miami Page 52 Printed on 06/04/2024 City Commission Marked Agenda April 28, 2022 address Commissioner and Madam Chair. So don't worry, 1 know Madam Chair. You don't have to show me Madam Chair. I know, I got Madam Chair don't worry. 1 know Madam Chair, 1 got the Madam chair, I thought 1 spoke about Madam Chair a lot. Madam Chair, on -- on District 5 with a minority program, and I will tell you in whatever way, shape, or form, I do believe it should be part of this process, I think businesses in District 5 should have an opportunity, not only to have space and their businesses there, but also to actively participate there. So, in whatever way, shape or form my team, we'd be amenable to making that, to making that happen. I think that's extremely important. On the Overtown site and land, as I told you personally, we will sit down with the CRA and see how we can benefit the CRA in a way for it -- and work together so that the benefits of that development, whatever it may end up being, are benefits for District 5 and for that neighborhood and for that area. You have our commitment on that, as I've told you before, and I've had conversations with Mr. McQueen about sitting down, hopefully, after this is passed and we move forward because we have been -- had our hands tied because as the Miami Herald wanted, that is where they want the stadium. I do not think the stadium should be in Overtown. The stadium should be in Melreese. So, once we move past that, I think we can -- we can get that done. Commissioner Russell as to, you know as we spoke about before, you know I think every commitment that we, as a team, that we made when we were here three and a half years ago, we've met. And I think we've exceeded. You know, with the baywalk, with the park contribution, working with our team on trying to help find improvements and -- and how is this land, you know, worked. But again, I view that as a process within the city. And 1 have always been willing to try to help and assist in whatever I can do, and in this case giving $25 million to by to help you among yourselves. How do you solve this? But I think it's only fair that it's recognized that we're building a 58-acre park, you know, we're contributing $25 million. We've been trying to find, you know, ,funding and improvements and I've talked to the City Manager and the Mayor because this is not the only source of funding. This is going to bring benefits. This is between the rent that comes in, the taxes that are going to be generated. I think it would behoove all of you to see where it is best served in your districts. But that's something that is outside of my decision making or power. What I do stand you here today and in general as, you know, as Commissioner Carollo laid out the whole financing and structure of this, as the request of Commissioner King and also on the unions, it is important with the electrical workers, have a good relationship. As you know, we're in the construction business, so there's not going to be any issues there with unions or others. But everything, Commissioners, that we committed to on, you know, First Tee, UNITE HERE, or everything, you know, we've delivered. And you have our commitment, we will continue to help. But 1 think that within the parameters that we spoke about, we would be agreeable to. And moving forward, it's a challenge. It increases the hurdles of getting things done, but we've never shied away from challenges. So, in general, Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla, in the way that we said, I would be amenable to accept what I alluded to now in terms of Commissioner Carollo, King, Diaz de la Portilla. Vice Chair Carollo: Thank you. Before you step down, Mr. Mas: Yes. Vice Chair Carollo: I have one other small ask. This is not monetary, it's an easy one. But I have a niece, nay brother Frank's daughter, who I'm very fond of but she's a very good soccer player -- Mr. Mas: Okay. Vice Chair Carollo: -- excellent soccer player. And she just text me that she's not sure if you guys have any of your sports academies, for girls. So, she wants to make sure that I ask that there's going to be gender equality -- City of Miami Page 53 Printed on 06/04/2024 City Commission Marked Agenda April 28, 2022 Mr. Mas: Okay. Vice Chair Carollo: -- as you proceed forward. Mr. Mas: Okay. Vice Chair Carollo: So, if we could include that there, that you're going to have gender equality, where you have academies for girls too that could participate. Mr. Mas: It has been and always -- you know, our aspiration to develop the girls. So, you can tell your niece that the answer to that is yes. It's our anticipation that when Inter -Miami is playing here in Miami, that our Fort Lauderdale facility would have a women's team, a professional team. Our sporting director, Chris Henderson, is here, so we can tap on -- on the women's side of that. And let me allude to you something that you said earlier, Commissioner, about the University ofMiami. Because I think, again, as you said, this is a once -in -a -lifetime opportunity. You know my desire to move very quickly on this project, and I will have one ask of the Commission, because I do have one ask. But on the University of Miami, I think it's a brilliant idea, and it would behoove my brother and I over the course of hopefully the next 90 days that the University ofMiami can make a decision if they'd like to house the University of Miami football team, my alma matey, where 1 and my brothers and my whole families and my son's alma matey; so we can bring football to the City of Miami. There'd be nothing that would make us prouder. You know, we've been very engaged with the football program over the last few months. Vice Chair Carollo: I've heard rumors. Mr. Mas: Heard rumors. And we'll be very active. There is nothing that I would be more proud of than not only having Inter -Miami playing at Miami Freedom Park Stadium, but having our University of Miami Hurricanes there, where finally the students of the University ofMiami can go to a game. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: But Jose never introduced me to Mario, okay? Chair King: One question, I didn't hear. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I met him, but he didn't do it. Chair King: Are you okay with the compliance component and the reasonable wages? Mr. Mas: Yes. Chair King: I didn't hear you say that. Mr. Mas: Well, I -- because -- I didn't forget, I got everything. On the compliance component, yes, and on the reasonable wages, I know that we had had that included on the stadium. On the stadium, on the commercial, well, hopefully we're allowed to build a commercial development. On the stadium, for sure, yes. On the commercial development, I'll ask you if you have any difference. That sounds, that one's a little, that one's different. Vice Chair Carollo: There's something that you haven't brought forward that want to discuss, but I want to discuss it in a fair way, of what is real. But before I do that, I think we need to kind of regroup and put our feet on the ground. Chair King: Take a break? City of Miami Page 54 Printed on 06/04/2024 City Commission Marked Agenda April 28, 2022 Vice Chair Carollo: Well, no, no, 1 don't mean that. I mean we could because there's some other things maybe that need to be discussed before we have a final vote. But what I'm talking about is the realities of what the appraisers have given us and what they're giving us, above and beyond that. We had three appraising companies look at this, and they've given us amounts of what were fair market rate appraisals, as is, contaminated, and clean, not contaminated. We're talking about 131 acres. You know, I still can't understand. Melreese always said 132 acres. Where did we lose an acre? But if you guys figure it out, let me know. But it's 58 acres for our park, 73 acres more or less, for the development, including the stadium. Houlihan Lokey, on October 19, came with the following numbers. They came with an appraisal $2,280,000 per year as is, and $3,600,000 as the fair market value, if it was clean land that we're giving them. Deloitte came with, on the same October 19th, with the amount of $3,178, 500 as is, and they came with $4, 283, 500 if it was clean land. And then we had KTR, also in October 19, come with the same amount as Houlihan Lokey that they thought was of $2,280,000, as is, $3,600,000 clean. Now, just in the actual money that we're getting from them, we're already getting more than the highest amount that we've been given in the appraisal as if it was clean land and it's not. On top of that, and, you know, I want to go over this so we can understand the reality of this because I don 't want to see us ask so much we break this deal. They're spending out of their money what comes to giving us a new park, because it is a new park. What's there now, yeah, you can call it a green space, but the most expensive green space that we have in Miami if you want to go in it, and please don't take your shoes off because you might be radioactive by the time you go out. So, they're giving us $60 million that they're spending up front in the first couple of years to give us a whole brand new park, with sod, with lighting, electrical poles, trees, palms. On top of that, they're giving us the $25 million that's been discussed here again. Real money, just like the first $60 million. Then we're going into the amount that they're having to spend to clean up the place. Their estimation has always been that it's over $30 million. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: 37, ifI remember correctly. Vice Chair Carollo: Well, that's the amount that they use. You're correct, 37. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: 37, I remember. Vice Chair Carollo: Yeah. I've said over 30 because it's really unknown. It could be less, who knows if it could be more. Our team hasn't wanted to give them more credit because for somehow, they think that it could be done for less, but this is the first time that I've ever heard from anybody say that it could all be done for $16 million. They agreed to that, that we would only give them credit fOr 16 million. So, at the very least, you've got 16 million there in additional real money, they're spending, but most likely it's going to be, you know, maybe double up, maybe as high as 37, maybe less, this is real money also. On top of that, and we've gotten this from our own people in the city, not from them, that through the life of this project it's going to cost them, at the very least, $100 million for the maintenance, the redoing of roads that you've got to do every 10 years, the maintenance of those roads, the light poles, the sidewalk, et cetera, etcetera. Look, this is real money that we're asking from them. So, the -- you know, I would just caution everybody that while we all would like to, you know, squeeze an orange to get the last drop, you know, there's so many drops that an orange has, you know, before what you get is just plain skin coming off. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: And we squeezed it. Vice Chair Carollo: Well. So, now going into what I said before I went to this scenario, and I don't want to throw a number out that just sounds great, I want to be realistic. Jorge, I don't know if you're the best guy for this or it's Jose or somebody City of Miami Page 55 Printed on 06/04/2024 City Commission Marked Agenda April 28, 2022 else in your group, what percent of workers do you think -- there's two phases, the construction phase, the secondary, the phase of getting workers, even though not all depends on you because it's going to depend on a lot of the people that you lease to, who they hire, but certainly the stadium is one of yours, what percent of those workers in the two phases, before you open up, in other words during construction and after construction, do you feel comfortable, that it's a real number that you could hire from within City of Miami, and then greater Miami? Obviously, we are looking more at the City of Miami, but knowing that some percentage of that you need to go outside, I at least want it to be in Miami -Dade and not from Broward or somewhere else that's going to be brought in. Mr. Mas: I think, Commissioner, the best way to handle that, and it's a very fair question. Remembering that the stadium construction, which is difficult, which has very sophisticated trades of steel. A lot of those people are super specialized, hard to train here, et cetera. I think what we can do, because I'm from here, is I think we should do a preference. There would be a preference to businesses that employ residents of the City of Miami or greater Miami, and I think that will serve the purpose of incentivizing hiring within city limits, and I keep the city limits, that then therefore they get a benefit, the businesses and the employees get a direct benefit in the project, both during construction and then obviously after. The people who are actually working in stores and the stadium would generally, you would think, be within 30-40 minutes of the stadium. I think preferences would be preferable if that would work. Vice Chair Carollo: Well, I think it should be first and foremost City of Miami residents. Mr. Mas: I agree. Vice Chair Carollo: And secondary, the greater Miami -Dade residents. Mr. Mas: And county. Vice Chair Carollo: Chair. Commissioner Reyes: I have a question, Chair. Vice Chair Carollo: Hold on, I'm not done yet. Can you weigh in on your opinion on what we should discussed here? Chair King: I actually have local preference in my notes, and I forgot to -- I forgot to check that one, so I was going back to it. Obviously, we want to hire from within the City of Miami local preference, so if we could have job fairs and advertise it properly Mr. Mas: Yes. Chair King: -- so that our residents will have an opportunity again to continue to grow and prosper as a result of this project. I'm certainly in support of that and I would ask you to look at the City of Miami residents first to have an opportunity to work and earn a living in helping to make this project a reality for the City of Miami. Mr. Mas: You have our commitment. Vice Chair Carollo: We should make that part ofthe contract. Chair King: Yes, we should. We should include -- City of Miami Page 56 Printed on 06/04/2024 City Commission Marked Agenda April 28, 2022 Vice Chair Carollo: We're not going to include any percentages, but we -- you know, unless it's the will of the Commission, but what we're trying to do here is all of us working together. If there's one group that I know is going to try to work with minorities the most, and especially from the City of Miami, it's this group, so -- Chair King: And when possible, I would like you to consider hiring ex -felons, you know, folks who have made a mistake, but now they are back in society and turning their life around, I would not like them to be excluded. We gave money today from the Overtown CRA to a program that helps ex -offenders transition back into society, so they should have an opportunity, too. We need to break down the barriers that keep them out of the playing field, the employment field. So, I would like for you to advance that as well. Mr. Mas: Okay. Commissioner Reyes: Just a simple question. Mr. Mas: Yes, sir. Commissioner Reyes: Commissioner Carollo was talking about the appraisal. Do you have in that contract any reappraising every so many years? Mr. Mas: No, the mechanism that best serves the city is the increases, the CPI (Consumer Price Index). Any type of reappraisal or reset is a poison pill and would make the project unbuildable. We've had this discussion. Commissioner Reyes: That is not included. Mr. Mas: No sir. Commissioner Reyes: It's not even considered. Mr. Mas: No, sir. Vice Chair Carollo: Let me go back to this, to make sure I heard you right before. You said you were willing to go on the CPI to what percentage, max? Mr. Mas: Two to four. Vice Chair Carollo: Two to four. Mr. Mas: Yes, sir. Vice Chair Carollo: Okay, but there was another request from -- Mr. Mas: From Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla. Mayor Suarez: (UNINTELLIGIBLE). Mr. Mas: -- which is, right now as I read, it's 3.6 or 5 percent, whichever is greater. So, take the 5 percent to 6 percent. Because if -- if the project takes off, you're going to get more from the 6 percent than the CPI in the lease, hopefully. Vice Chair Carollo: Well, and particularly since we brought everything up on you, you're given a lot more now. City of Miami Page 57 Printed on 06/04/2024 City Commission Marked Agenda April 28, 2022 Mr. Mas: Yes. So, in reality, if you did math, we're probably paying in the early years 15 percent. You know, because the numbers are, it's a huge number. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Of course. Mr. Mas: And -- and -- Vice Chair Carollo: It is, it is a huge number. Mr. Mas: And also, because we agreed to the -- there was a construction rent portion, which is now much more, $650, $750, $850, $950, if1'm not mistaken, with -- with a calculation. And one of the things, and 1 think is important to note is our commitment to this project, and especially directed to Commissioner Russell, that at month 18, when we make that first $12.5 million contribution, whether it's a loan or not, we're doing that because we want you to have the tools to make a difference. Because at that point in time, we will have nothing. There will be no revenue producing on the property. All we'll be doing is spending money. So, I would like to note that it has been our intent to make sure that everything that we do has value to our community as soon as possible. That is why the 58-acre park coming online before the stadium, because that's what's going to happen, because it's a requirement, is important to us. But I think it's important to know, too, as a narrative, and everyone who's been here today, the 58-acre park is a real park. This is going to be a real park. You are going to be able to take your shoes off. Vice Chair Carollo: Okay now, Commissioner Russell, I will do the following. The 5 million, just like 1 told Commissioner Diaz of de la Portilla, 1 was going to take a leap offaith. What's the tallest building now that we have here in Miami? How many stories is their tallest building that we have? Mayor Suarez: 80 plus Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: 82. Vice Chair Carollo: I'm taking one from the 80 plus floor, that he is going to be fair with those $20 million, especially Ruben Dario, because his constituents that are going to use it even more than mine, or at least pretty close. I will do the same with the 5 million on the baywalk, with you, that it goes to District 2, and you be fair where you think it should go. Does that suffice? Commissioner Russell: For that portion, yeah. Vice Chair Carollo: Okay. Now, what is left? Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Can I call the question? Because I need to go to the restroom just for -- Vice Chair Carollo: Yeah, but we -- well, I think we're going to break for a few minutes, so you could have time. But what other areas are left that you need to be answered -- Commissioner Russell: Thank you, Commissioner. Vice Chair Carollo: -- if any? Commissioner Russell: I did not hear an agreement to going with the highest and best appraisal on clean market -- clean market value land. That was a requirement. City of Miami Page 58 Printed on 06/04/2024 City Commission Marked Agenda April 28, 2022 Vice Chair Carollo: The highest and best appraisal. Commissioner Russell: So, when the appraisal comes back, that we go with the highest number. That's what we should be fighting for, for our residents. Vice Chair Carollo: Right, but then let me present this to you. We still have -- Commissioner Russell: Let me just go through the list and then you can -- Vice Chair Carollo: Right, right, but let me throw this out so we can discuss it. Remember what 1 said before, this orange has got practically no juice left. We give him credit for 16 million on the cleanup, but that could be another amount that we don't know if it's another 16, if it's more, if it's less, that's out there. But what we do know is that there's approximately $100 million, which is probably more, that they're going to have to spend during the life of this project to maintain, repave the roads, fix the sidewalk, redo the lightning poles, et cetera, and they're not getting any credit fOr that. At least through this, they should get some credit for that. Commissioner Russell: Commissioner, we are asking above and beyond what we would of a standard development deal. And I think that a big reason for that -- Vice Chair Carollo: We've gone -- we've gone, you know, based on whatl read to all of you here, that three, not one, three different companies, certainly two of them, are two of the largest and best known in our country, we have gone way above and beyond anything that we were told that we should ask for. But what I'm trying to say is -- what I'm trying to do here is make sure that we get a deal, this doesn't go south. We still have, at the very least, and we know for a fact., $100 million that the Manager stated to me, he went through our people, that they should get some credit for on taking all that maintenance. And that's not even including any other additional areas on the cleanup. And I think you and I are going to agree, and I think all of us will, it's going to require more than $16 million to clean that up, no matter what we have heard from anybody. Commissioner Russell: Can I address, can I finish? Vice Chair Carollo: Of course. Commissioner Russell: The way we brought this forward to the voters was that they were going to pay for the remediation. What don't want is for us to give them a break in some way that could then be challenged as a violation. Just a minute, please. Someone could come back and file a lawsuit and say, all right, they paid for the remediation, then the City gave them credit for the remediation on the rent. So, who really paid, for the remediation? I don't want that. If you want to give them credit for the lights, for the plumbing, for something else, but that remediation should be borne by them, and the rent should not reflect a discount for that remediation. Vice Chair Carollo: Well, I disagree with you on that, that what was voted by the voters does not address remediation. What I understand it to mean is that it addresses that we're not going to give them money for construction or anything of the sort to actually build something. Now, but we don't even need to go there. We have the $100 million that they've offered to do today, early on, on the maintenance of everything there that would fall upon us, all those roads. Cause there are roads that are going to be built there. There are going to be our city streets. The lights that are going to be put in there are going to be our city light poles. How can we work it out so they get some acknowledgement of that? I mean, maybe at the end of the day, whatever comes doesn't make a difference, which -- City of Miami Page 59 Printed on 06/04/2024 City Commission Marked Agenda April 28, 2022 Jose Mas: Commissioner, may 1 say something? Vice Chair Carollo: Yes. Jose Mas: So, Commissioner Russell, I think that the issue here is multiple, right? We started with two appraisals. The problem with the reappraisal now is you've picked the highest appraiser at the highest value, even though the peer review picked the lower appraiser as the accurate appraiser because they found flaws in the highest appraiser's methods. So, you've asked us to reappraise, which we're completely in favor of but then you're asking us to go to the appraiser whose appraisal methods were questioned by the peer reviewer and just happened to be the highest appraisal, and you're asking us to fully trust their highest number. That's why we think it's fair for there to be the double appraisal that includes remediation and to at least have a mechanism where it would be the average of the two. Richard Perez: Let me add something that's incredibly important for us, because there is no bait and switch with regards to what was approved in the referendum. We were, until 2 o'clock in the morning, negotiating the term sheet that I just put in front ofyou. And just let me read to you what the term sheet that we all negotiated three years ago and what farmed the basis of the referendum in terms of what formed the basis of fair market value. It reads, and there's no question here,, fair market value will be based on the highest and best use of the demised premises, taking into consideration the actual cost of the environmental remediation for the property, the site development cost for the park, and such other impositions and limitations on the use of the property consistent with the uniform standards of professional appraisal practice. We've been very, very clear from the very beginning with this property and to the voters that this property was going to be valued considering the environmental condition and the cost of environmental remediation. What we've agreed to do is to cap that at $16 million, which is significantly less than half of the amount of the actual remediation. And it's important to them that we're not -- we have never asked for anything that we haven't been absolutely clear to the voters about, and that was absolutely, clear to whomever wanted to inform themselves about what was being voted on. So, it's just important for us. Thank you so much. Commissioner Russell: Thank you. Richard the very next paragraph in the term sheet that you mentioned states, for avoidance of doubt, the City will have no obligation to pay for any portion of the development of the soccer stadium or the ancillary development, including any cost associated with the environmental remediation, and to me to offer a discount on rent based on the remediation, in a sense, is coming back and getting a discount for that remediation. So, who's really going to be losing money on that at the end of the day? And I've talked about this from the very first day we talked about appraisals. It all depends on how you model the appraisal. You get an appraisal back and you get multiple values. Well. I want the clean value. I've always wanted the clean value. Mr. Perez. And Commissioner, I'm sorry. Jose Mas: Commissioner again, I think I may have a solution that will fix this, and I think everybody will be amenable to it. Our issue isn't with the clean appraisal. We're okay with a clean appraisal. I'm trying to find a balance to the appraiser that you've chosen because the reality is that you've chosen the appraisal and you've asked me to pay for it, which is fine, but you picked the one appraiser that the peer reviewer found faults with. So how about we pick two appraisers, let us go to a second appraiser, appraise it as only clean, and we take the average of the two. How's that? Commissioner Russell: That is more in line with what I would be thinking. City of Miami Page 60 Printed on 06/04/2024 City Commission Marked Agenda April 28, 2022 Jose Mas: Perfect. Commissioner Russell: But let me tell you why -- let me tell you why I'm -- we're being extra harsh here. Because this is a no bid deal, we don't know what someone else would have bid or fought with you in order to get this deal. Because it's such a large property that goes beyond the stadium and into development, there's a lot here going for you, and because we're being asked to vote on this without actually seeing the appraisal, of course I'm going to fight for the highest value for our residents. We really owe that to them. And if it's going to cost you a little bit extra to make sure we meet the letter of what we promised them, I'm okay with that. Now, I would be more comfortable with the average of two appraisals going for the clean value. Jose Mas: That's what I said. Commissioner Russell: Okay, yes. Yes, which is not what I said earlier. Jose Mas: So only clean -- it was not what was said earlier. So, I'm offering it as a compromise. Commissioner Russell: Yeah. Jose Mas: We'd hire two appraisers, clean only appraisals, the average of the two -- Mayor Suarez: Can I just -- Jose Mas: -- to compare against the $4.3 million that Commissioner Carollo negotiated. Commissioner Russell: That's fair. Mayor Suarez: Thank you. Can we -- just for the sake of expediency, could we agree to be the same two appraisers or do you want to pick another two appraisers? Vice Chair Carollo: No, no, let's use the same two. Mayor Suarez: Yeah, that's what I think. Vice Chair Carollo: We used one already, let's use the other one. Mayor Suarez: I just want to be clear. Commissioner Russell: That way you get apples to apples from four years ago. Mayor Suarez: I want to be clear; that's all. I'm just asking for clarity's sake. Vice Chair Carollo: Let's use the same two since there was no -- Mayor Suarez: Yeah, Fru just asking for clarity's sake. Commissioner Russell: And some appraisers might say we are being harsh on you. And they say, well, we would, in a normal commercial deal, value it this way. We're being harsh. We want the best for our residents. We want to be sure that -- you know, lacking a competitive process, that we're fighting for the best possible scenario. All right. Let me just for time, I think we're in agreement on this. I don't think we need to go further. Vice Chair Carollo: That's great. But -- City of Miami Page 61 Printed on 06/04/2024 City Commission Marked Agenda April 28, 2022 Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: We're good. Vice Chair Carollo: -- I think we've moved tremendously. But I need to make a correction then in what I said before based upon what you're stating. I mean, I have to bring this up now. On the four years that's supposed to be under construction, or should I say the up to jbur years that we're giving them. I sure as heck hope the construction is done before and that stadium is up before the Mayor and I walk out of here. I don't want you guys to force me to have to stay around longer somehow. But I had put down the -- for the four years, beginning with $4, 650, 000, $4, 750, 000, $4, 850, 000, $4, 950, 000, and we were discounting for them $4, 000, 000 based upon the $16, 000, 000 that we had given them credit for it. So, what I preferred to do than give them the discount, leave it like that, but give them the discount based on the $100 million that the Manager brought that's going to be through the life of the project on the maintenance that they're going to be having to do. Commissioner Russell: Got it. Rather than a discount on the remediation. Vice Chair Carollo: Yeah, so this way it meets with what you're saying, and frankly I'd rather move even more -- with more cautious -- more caution. This way whatever frivolous lawsuits there are, they could get rid of them even quicker in the court. Commissioner Russell: Thank you. Vice Chair Carollo: So that's the change that I'm making if it's understood by all of you. Commissioner Russell: Got it. Let's get to the other ones. The living wage ordinance under the county guidelines throughout the life of the lease, we're good with that? We said it on the record? Unidentified Speaker: Yes. Commissioner Russell: Thank you. Responsible wage in construction is in our Code. So even though we're making an ask of it here, it should be required under the Code. So that doesn't seem to be something that's negotiable. Victoria Mendez (City Attorney): So, it's -- you would have to ask them to agree with it because it's when we put it out for bid, and this one we're not putting out for bid. That's the little minor, one little word. Vice Chair Carollo: Alright, so that's going to be part of it. Mayor Suarez: That's the nuance. Commissioner Russell: So, responsible wage and construction, all construction, not just the stadium. These are a lot of great jobs. Iris Escarra: Right. Commissioner, at this point, the stadium, because we know the stadium, we know the construction, we know what we got to do there. With the other pieces, we still have to coordinate those components of the commercial for the responsible wage. We have to assess that, we have to look into that, so we can agree to assess that, but we can't necessarily agree to that at this point because we have to assess how those transactions are going to be financed and funded. Commissioner Russell: Madam City Attorney, I -- City of Miami Page 62 Printed on 06/04/2024 City Commission Marked Agenda April 28, 2022 Ms. Escarra: We still have in our lease a 20 percent union commitment. Commissioner Russell: Yes, and that's for all -- Ms. Escarra: That's everything. That's everything. Just this particular responsible wage compliance, we can affirmatively say yes to the stadium today, but as to the commercial, we need to assess that a little bit and I can discuss it with you between now and my SAP (Special Area Plan), which I would love to get to the zoning. Thank you. Commissioner Russell: All right. So, Madam City Attorney, 1 would like a further interpretation on that first sentence in the responsible wage ordinance, which says, when bid. I've seen it. I've seen it. (COMMENTS MADE OFF THE RECORD) Chair King: But they just agreed to it for the stadium, correct? Ms. Escarra: Correct. Commissioner Russell: They haven't -- Ms. Escarra: And a commitment to -- Commissioner Russell: But the stadium is one part of the much larger, there's a lot of good jobs there. Chair King: I understand that, but they agreed to it for the stadium, responsible wages for the stadium. Commissioner Russell: Yes, we're going to study this further; but we'll keep talking. I'm okay with the stadium and responsible wages. Vice Chair Carollo: Keep in mind that they can -- I mean, I think you understand what I'm going to say. Commissioner Russell: Yeah. Chair King: And the compliance piece as well? Ms. Escarra: Yes. Chair King: The stadium and the compliance piece for responsible wages? Ms. Escarra: Correct. Chair King: For the stadium. Ms. Escarra: For the stadium. Chair King: Okay. Commissioner Russell: The final one is where it seems that we're at an impasse because Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla is insulting my interest in helping the whole city versus just wealthy residents. I don't get where that's coming from. This whole no net loss involves parks in all of our districts -- City of Miami Page 63 Printed on 06/04/2024 City Commission Marked Agenda April 28, 2022 Commissioner Reyes: Absolutely. Commissioner Russell: -- and to fight for those is to fight for all of us. There is no current funding source identified for any of the no net loss sites except for the one in Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla's District. I'd like to ask our City Attorney where and when in the ballot language, the term sheet, the original discussions on the dais, anything that happened before this went to ballot that stated that $20 million would be captured in District 1. Vice Chair Carollo: Commissioner, there's nothing there and look -- Commissioner Russell: Okay, but it was said on the record that it was always there. I would like to clarify that it was not. Vice Chair Carollo: It was not but let me say this. Look, one way or another; we put the money up for the other piece because it's part of the 20 acres, no net loss. I don't care if Diaz de la Portilla wants to hold on to that 20. I know he's going to share with the Chair, he's going to share with me because we've got parts that are, I mean, less than a block from each other. So, I have no problem in doing that. Commissioner Russell: I do. Vice Chair Carollo: If not, he's not getting his name there and he's not getting invited to the groundbreaking. But 1 don't want to beat this anymore. Commissioner Russell: Okay. Vice Chair Carollo: I think we're getting there. The only last request that I'm going to make, again, my request are community requests, there's no money involved, for the inner city, meaning the City of Miami, Overtown, Liberty City, Little Havana, like Miami High, high schools, for their football team. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Allapattah. Vice Chair Carollo: Yeah, you do. You use that stadium. And then some of the, you know, other little leagues in football, if they need to use the stadium because they don't have a place, for you to put your best effort in accommodating them. Obviously can't be during game times or game days, et cetera. (COMMENTS MADE OFF THE RECORD) Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): Chair. Jose Mas: You have our commitment on that, and just as an example, our stadium in Fort Lauderdale, DRV PNK, just hosted the Florida State High School Championships. Unfortunately, Columbus didn't participate. Vice Chair Carollo: So that will be part of the contract, a little line to that effect. And again, this is for the whole community. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: For clarification purposes Madam Chair, there was some discussion about 20 million dollars, what was that discussion about? Vice Chair Carollo: We took it away from you. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Oh good, okay. City of Miami Page 64 Printed on 06/04/2024 City Commission Marked Agenda April 28, 2022 Vice Chair Carollo: We're giving you Miami Villas -- Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I just heard it, 1 had some coffee, I came back, and I heard it. Okay, we're good to go. Did we vote on it? Chair King: Mr. Mayor. Mayor Suarez: Let me just say, I think we're therefrom what I heard. It appeared to me that there was a -- a recognition from the District Commissioner from where the project is that he have some level of control over the $20 million, but there was also a recognition from him that he would be conscientious -- Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Yes sir. Mayor Suarez: -- in how he would share that $20 million with other districts, including District 2, including District 5, and including District 3. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Yes. Mayor Suarez: And I think there was a recognition -- Vice Chair Carollo: Because there are four projects that need to be finished. Mayor Suarez: Right. Correct. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Of course. Vice Chair Carollo: To meet the no net loss. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Yes. Mayor Suarez: Correct. And I think -- and then I think the other recognition, if I may - Commissioner Reyes: And my district is not recognized? Mayor Suarez: It doesn't have a project that was identified, and then I think -- and I think -- Vice Chair Carollo: You want more money? You'll be getting more money than anybody, you still want more? Mayor Suarez: And I think -- Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: But if you vote yes, it's actually more likely. Mayor Suarez: And I think there was also a recognition on Commissioner Carollo's part, who I think has been a great statesman today. There's been a recognition on Commissioner Carollo's part that he will defer to Commissioner Russell on the $5 million -- Vice Chair Carollo: That's correct. Mayor Suarez: -- that Commissioner Russell specifically negotiated for his district -- Vice Chair Carollo: Yeah. City of Miami Page 65 Printed on 06/04/2024 City Commission Marked Agenda April 28, 2022 Mayor Suarez: -- during the time of the lease. Commissioner Reyes: Was that a quid pro quo? Commissioner Carollo: No. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: And the final point, Mr. Mayor, that we spoke about -- Mayor Suarez: My thing -- my only request, l only have one request, okay? My only request is that, as we've agreed on the appraisal and the methodology, my only request is that the contract, if it's agreed to by this Commission, be ready for execution. This is something that I heard from many of you when 1 spoke to you. Wait a minute, one second, let me finish. Be ready. I've heard this from many of you about the speed with which you wanted this project to commence and how you wanted this to happen as fast as possible. So what I'm requesting that be incorporated as a directive, resolution, whatever you think is appropriate, Mr. Clerk, that this contract and its drafting of these additional provisions, be ready for signature when the appraisal is finalized, the two appraisals that are going to be halved, and that that number is plugged in to the contract, and that that is the number that is the contract number -- Vice Chair Carollo: And again, Mayor -- Commissioner Reyes: Madam Chair. Vice Chair Carollo: -- we're using the same two companies. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: To move it quicker -- Mayor Suarez: The same two appraisers, the clean version, which is the most expensive of all the versions, and -- and I think that's the articulation. Commissioner Reyes: Madam Chair. Chair King: Yes, hold on one second. Hold on one second. Do you mind if I say something? Commissioner Reyes: No. Chair King: I want to make sure that, Madam City Attorney, how do we ensure that the team will work with organizations that are truing to have ex felons employed? Is that something that we have to -- Ms. Mendez: Put in the contract. Chair King: We have to put that in the contract, that you will work with organizations in District 5 that help to find ex -felons, not only jrothe construction jobs, but also after the stadium is built. So that they have -- Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: But Madam Chair, not only District 5, District 1, where it's going to be built. Chair King: Okay. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Is that lair? City of Miami Page 66 Printed on 06/04/2024 City Commission Marked Agenda April 28, 2022 Chair King: Yes, that is fair. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: 1 and 5, right? Chair King: Yes, 1 and 5. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: The two poorest city in the city of Miami. Chair King: But the point I'm trying to make is that ex felons have an opportunity. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Yes, ma'am. Chair King: Ex -felons have an opportunity. So, I'd like to see that in the contract in addition to all of the other things that we've talked about. I think we are really close. I believe my colleague, Commissioner Reyes, would like to say something. Commissioner Reyes: I just wanted to have a question -- I mean ask a question. Do we have the right to question or challenge the appraisal? The -- also as a Commission -- Chair King: The who? Commissioner Reyes: You know, because you were talking about appraisals, right? And 1 wanted to know that if -- can we challenge the appraisal if we don't agree with it or we believe that is low or if it is too high, we're not going to challenge it. But it's just out of curiosity. Chair King: I don't think that we have the expertise to challenge an appraisal. I think that the companies that we are hiring, that is their expertise. Commissioner Reyes: Can we get -- Chair King: That is their -- Vice Chair Carollo: Commissioner, Commissioner truly -- Chair King: That's their expertise. Commissioner Reyes: Can we get -- it's just a question Commissioner Carollo. Hold your horses. Vice Chair Carollo: Yeah, but we -- floor -- Commissioner Reyes: Hold your horses. Chair King: Hold on, hold on, hold on. Commissioner Reyes: Hold on. Vice Chair Carollo: (UNINTELLIGIBLE). Commissioner Reyes: I'm not -- Chair King: Let me -- let him speak -- Commissioner Reyes: Don't interrupt me, please. Chair King: Let him speak. Go ahead. City of Miami Page 67 Printed on 06/04/2024 City Commission Marked Agenda April 28, 2022 Commissioner Reyes: Okay. It is -- let's say that -- that -- I mean we feel or we get -- there is -- we get help from somebody that comes and say, hey listen, we want to take this appraisal and go to an expert and say, what do you think about this? I just want -- it is a question that I just want to know if we have the right. That's it. Vice Chair Carollo: By the majority of the Commission. Commissioner Reyes: Okay. Chair King: Yes, but as a safeguard, there's a peer review -- Commissioner Reyes: Okay. Chair King: -- of the appraisals. So, I believe that would be a safeguard with the peer Ms. Mendez: I don't, I don't -- Chair King: (UNINTELLIGIBLE). Ms. Mendez: So, there was on the first round. Chair King: There was on the first -- Ms. Mendez: But right now, requested the -- Chair King: Because we're going with two. Ms. Mendez: Right. Chair King: Okay, because we're going with two and we're getting the average of the two. So, I think we're -- and again, they are the experts. I don't have the expertise to challenge an appraisal unless the appraisal came in at $100,000. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: That's not going to happen. Vice Chair Carollo: Now -- Ms. Escarra: If I may, Madam Chair? Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I think the Mayor -- I think the Mayor -- no, that's fine. I think the Mayor has something. Mayor Suarez: Are we ready? Okay. I would request that the District Commissioner make a motion incorporating the items that have been agreed to by the Commission and by the team, including the additional items as articulated by Commissioner Russell. And I think that there's a fair compromise here, which is what I said at the beginning of this. We needed to have the courage to do this, and we needed to compromise with each other. I've seen an incredible level of cooperation and collaboration and compromise. And I think, you know, it's requiring a certain amount of trust, which is another word that 1 use. We're trusting Commissioner Reyes -- Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla to be fair in his distribution of those funds. We're trusting Commissioner Russell to be fair in the distribution of those funds and how they're allocated in his district and other parts of the baywalk. And I think that's a fair compromise on that issue. And I think we've dealt with all the other issues. We conceded on the appraisal, that it be a clean appraisal as opposed to appraisal that City of Miami Page 68 Printed on 06/04/2024 City Commission Marked Agenda April 28, 2022 discounts for remediation. And I think, you know, Commissioner Carollo did an excellent, job in explaining to the public the true economic cost of this, and increasing the rent, which was further increased by Commissioner Russell and his identification - Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: By a million bucks. Mayor Suarez: Right, and his identification of the no net loss parcels, including other parcels that he identified for no net loss, and including some other items that I think are missing that have to do with the baywalk, and have to do with the Underdeck, that 1 think are items that 1 would like to sponsor and see this Commission move forward on because 1 don't think that they should be left out of what has been created in terms of park space in the City by and through this Commission's action Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: So moved. Vice Chair Carollo: Second Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Second by Commissioner Carollo. Chair King: Okay And 'just like to add some percentages. For the 3 percent fbr Commission and 3 percent for the commercial and retail space for District 5 minority participation. Mayor Suarez: As amended by both the mover and the seconder. Chair King: All in favor? Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Aye. Commissioner Russell: Going to be a no. Commissioner Reyes: No. Chair King: I'm sorry, what? Commissioner Reyes: No. Commissioner Russell: How clear do I have to be? It's going to be a 3-2. Commissioner Reyes: It's going to be a 3-2. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Are you going to be a no? Chair King: Well, hold on a second. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Then I move to reconsider the baywalk thing that we passed last Commission meeting. Commissioner Russell: Okay, take away the bay walk. Chair King: III may, hold on -- (MULTIPLE PARTIES SPEAKING IN UNISON) Chair King: -- hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on. City of Miami Page 69 Printed on 06/04/2024 City Commission Marked Agenda April 28, 2022 Mayor Suarez: Commissioner -- Commissioner, calm down. Commissioner Russell: I've been trying to be heard for the last hour and 1 continually get cut off and denied. And I'd like to speak. The Mayor said everything that Commissioner Russell asked for is not in here. Vice Chair Carollo: What is missing Ken? Commissioner Russell: Plenty and I was trying to get through a list. Mayor Suarez: Okay, let's hear what Commissioner Russell. Let him finish. Chair King: Commissioner apologies, 1 don't think that I've cut you off at all. Mayor Suarez: Let him finish. Let him finish. Chair King: Go ahead. Mayor Suarez: Go ahead. I apologize ifI misinterpreted as well. Commissioner Russell: If you think I'm going to let this whole project go just because I'm getting five million dollars for a baywalk, I can find other ways to get five million dollars for a baywalk. Vice Chair Carollo: Of course. Of course. Commissioner Russell: That's not all I want. This is about the whole Citv's project and making sure we get this right for everybody. Vice Chair Carollo: We're going to need a lot more than five million for the baywalk to finish it. Commissioner Russell: Please, let me speak. Vice Chair Carollo: Go ahead. Commissioner Russell: You spoke earlier about congeniality on this dais. There is no congeniality on this dais. You spoke about trust on this dais. There is no trust on this dais. There is transaction. There is power. There is ego. The personal attacks that you all have leveled against me. I'm here despite the fights, despite the negative, because I believe this project has a chance to be good for the city. But I won't let it go until I believe it is correct. And I'm trying to get it there, but you're not listening to me. There is nothing in the original agreements' that say District 1 will marshal the entire $20 million, which is in the ballot language, for other green spaces, meaning to help mitigate the no net loss. So, without that, just by trusting Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla, I'm to assume that the no net loss parks will get funded. But we have no guarantee here today that the no net loss will get funded -- Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: My word. Vice Chair Carollo: That was part of what we put in the motion. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: My word. Vice Chair Carollo: That the 'bur -- the four parks that were identified for the no net loss have to get funded with or without or with additional monies beyond the 20 million that it might require. I don't know. City of Miami Page 70 Printed on 06/04/2024 City Commission Marked Agenda April 28, 2022 Commissioner Russell: And 1 have his word? Vice Chair Carollo: Well, it's part of the motion that we're making. They have to he funded. Commissioner Russell: Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla, if I had a nickel for every time I trusted your word, I could f and this baywalk myself. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Oh, Lord Almighty. Oh, Lord Almighty. Chair King: Wait, hold on. Mayor Suarez: Guys, guys. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: You're the same guy who popped $150, 000 into my opponent's campaign when I was running. Chair King: Turn the mics off, because I can't turn the mics off Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: If you want to play a game, let's play a game, we'll play it as long as you want to play it. Alright. Chair King: Hold on. Commissioner -- Mayor Suarez: Guys. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Your word is the one that isn't worth anything, You got what you wanted and now you're walking away, you're breaking your word to everybody, else out there. Mayor Suarez: Guys. Chair King: I can't turn the mics off. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: You're breaking your word to everybody. Mayor Suarez: We're going to take a break. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: You already gave them your word. Mayor Suarez: Let's take a break. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Take a break. Chair King: Let's take a break. Let's take a recess for 15, 30 minutes. Mayor Suarez: Yes. Chair King: We'll recess for 15, 30 minutes and come back. Mayor Suarez: You got it. Commissioner Reyes: I think that everything we have to -- Chair King: Commissioner Russell, would you like to begin? City of Miami Page 71 Printed on 06/04/2024 City Commission Marked Agenda April 28, 2022 Commissioner Russell: Thank you Madam Chair, and I apologize for my outburst. I rarely get passionate on this on this dais, and this is very important for all of us, and 1 know tensions are high. My apologies. The remaining points I'm trying to clam and get consensus on are really important to me. The 20 acres that are being made up by Code are simply not enough for me fir my vote. And so, we've assembled beyond the 20 what could equal 150 acres. If you include the site that we were talking about, Commissioner Carollo, on Virginia Key, I know this won't cover all of it, but it'll get it started in a way that it won't stop. But it'd need a mechanism to ensure that. And that 20 million funding is our seed money for these parks. By the ballot language, it's for Freedom Park and other green spaces. And so, one, my ask is that we can include the 116 acre park in the priority list. And then two, 1 think we should divide the 20 million in a fair and equitable way, the majority of which should of course go to District 1, where Freedom Park is, where the most of it will probably be spent in embellishing that beyond the park that they're delivering us. There's also a no net loss park in District 1 and who knows, maybe there's pocket parks to be bought, maybe there's other things we can do and create, but I think each district commissioner where the no net loss is being found could have that freedom without having to go to another commissioner. And so, my recommendation would be that half of the 20 million stay in District 1, and then two and a half be a set aside for each of the no net loss parks. Now it's flexible, it may -- let's say we find another funding source for one of those parks, that money is then free to buy some new parks somewhere else. But that would be 1,250 for District 1. Vice Chair Carollo: 1,250? Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: 1,250. Mayor Suarez:12 million 500. Commissioner Russell: Yeah, meaning 10 and then his 250. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: 12,500. Vice Chair Carollo: Okay. That's fine. Commissioner Russell: And then 250 where the other no net loss parks have been identified. Vice Chair Carollo: I'm fine with that. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I think I am, but one question though, if I may Commissioner Russell. What happens with your five million? Do we divvy that up two to four ways, or how do we do that? Five ways? The original five million you got. What happens with that? Commissioner Russell: I've identified the four priority locations that will complete a ten acre linear park on the bay. If there is surplus beyond that, I'm happy for it to go anywhere, all the way up the river. And I have more funds as well that I'm bringing .for -- Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: So, it can go, I'm sorry ifI may Madam Chair. Chair King: Of course. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: So, it can go up through you of course? So, it will go up the river, right? So, it could include Commissioner Carollo's district and perhaps -- right? City of Miami Page 72 Printed on 06/04/2024 City Commission Marked Agenda April 28, 2022 Vice Chair Carollo: I stand by what I said before. I trust Commissioner Russell with those five million, to put it in the best area as possible and to be fair with it. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: And I'll agree to that. Chair King: Okay. Can I -- Mayor Suarez: Madam Chair, if may just say that then the motion as made previously, is amended to include the additional conditions by Commissioner Russell. Chair King: Yes. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Correct. Correct. Chair King: Is there any further unreadiness? Vice Chair Carollo: Yes. Mayor Suarez: Just, can the mover and the seconder agree to that amendment? Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I agree to it. I'm moving it. Vice Chair Carollo: (UNINTELLIGIBLE). Mayor Suarez: Okay. I just want to be clear for the record. Vice Chair Carollo: Yes, I want to emphasize. I expect you guys tomorrow to start in the phones calling the AD (Assistant Dean) at UM (University of Miami), calling the President. You and they and us have a window of 90 days. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Yes. Vice Chair Carollo: So -- Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Yes. Commissioner Russell: And please recall, Mr. Manager -- I'm sorry, Madam Chair and through the Chair. Chair King: Go ahead. Commissioner Russell: Mr. Manager, we gave direction earlier to work with our offices and come back to this Commission with a report, a status report, not only on these no net loss parks and how we're going to achieve them, but what CBRE has been working on with the baywalk. So, we know what we need to do. Vice Chair Carollo: The last thing that I'd like to bring up is that, Mr. Manager, you have to make sure that we put these two further appraisals in an expedited manner so we get them back as quickly as possible. I don't want to be waiting here for two, three months before we get something back because each week is killing the possibility that they might have to open up in March 2025. Chair King: Yes. Mayor Suarez: Perfect. City of Miami Page 73 Printed on 06/04/2024 City Commission Marked Agenda April 28, 2022 Chair King: Mr. Mayor? Mayor Suarez: I would like to incorporate my small request of -- Chair King: Go ahead. Mayor Suarez: -- that the contracts be ready for execution on the moment that the two appraisals are finished, the two clean appraisals. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Yes. Chair King: Got it. All in favor? Vice Chair Carollo: Aye. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Aye. Mr. Hannon: Chair, is there any unreadiness? Chair King: I already asked that question, Todd. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Yes. Chair King: 1 asked that question. Thank you. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Let the vote happen, Todd. We're ready to go home. Chair King: We're voting on approving -- Commissioner Reyes: (INAUDIBLE). Chair King: No, there was no previous vote. Commissioner Reyes: Okay. Mayor Suarez: Okay. Right. Chair King: So, all in favor? Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Aye. Vice Chair Carollo: Ave. Commissioner Russell: Aye. Chair King: Aye. Motion carries 4-1. Mr. Hannon: As amended. Applause. City of Miami Page 74 Printed on 06/04/2024 City Commission Marked Agenda April 28, 2022 SP.3 RESOLUTION 11716 Commissioners and Mayor A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH ATTACHMENT(S), BY A FOUR -FIFTHS AFFIRMATIVE VOTE WAIVING COMPETITIVE BIDDING, AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE A TEMPORARY CONSTRUCTION EASEMENT AGREEMENT ("CONSTRUCTION EASEMENT AGREEMENT"), IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY ATTORNEY, IN FAVOR OF MIAMI FREEDOM PARK, LLC, A LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY ("MFP"), FOR A TEMPORARY, NON-EXCLUSIVE EASEMENT OF APPROXIMATELY FIFTY-EIGHT (58) ACRES OF CITY OF MIAMI ("CITY") OWNED PROPERTY WITHIN A PORTION OF LAND LOCATED AT 1400 NORTHWEST 37 AVENUE, MIAMI, FLORIDA ("PARENT TRACT"), AS MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED IN THE SURVEY ATTACHED AND INCORPORATED AS EXHIBIT A, FOR THE LIMITED PURPOSE OF CONSTRUCTION AND STAGING FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE DEMISED PROPERTY IMPROVEMENTS AND PARK IMPROVEMENTS AS DEFINED IN AND PURSUANT TO THE CONSTRUCTION ADMINISTRATION AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY, MFP, AND INTER MIAMI STADIUM, LLC ("CAA") AUTHORIZED BY THE CITY COMMISSION FOR NEGOTIATION AND EXECUTION BY THE CITY MANAGER SIMULTANEOUSLY WITH THIS CONSTRUCTION EASEMENT AGREEMENT, FOR A TERM NOT TO EXCEED THE EARLIER OF (1) TERMINATION OF THE CAA OR (2) AN EARLIER DATE MUTUALLY AGREED TO BY THE CITY AND MFP, PROVIDING THAT UPON COMPLETION OF THE PARK IMPROVEMENTS, THE SCOPE OF THE CONSTRUCTION EASEMENT AGREEMENT SHALL BE REDUCED TO ONLY THAT ACCESS REASONABLY NECESSARY TO COMPLY WITH THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE PROVISIONS CONTAINED IN THE CAA; FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE AN INGRESS, EGRESS, AND UTILITY EASEMENT AGREEMENT ("ACCESS AND UTILITY EASEMENT AGREEMENT"), IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY ATTORNEY, IN FAVOR OF MFP, PROVIDING FOR A TEMPORARY, NON-EXCLUSIVE EASEMENT OF A COMBINED TOTAL OF APPROXIMATELY ELEVEN (11) ACRES WITHIN THE PARENT TRACT, AS MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED IN THE SURVEYS ATTACHED AND INCORPORATED AS EXHIBIT B, FOR THE LIMITED PURPOSE OF PEDESTRIAN AND VEHICULAR INGRESS AND EGRESS, AND FOR THE CONSTRUCTION, OPERATION, AND MAINTENANCE OF UNDERGROUND UTILITIES AND PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE, FURTHER PROVIDING FOR A TEMPORARY, NON-EXCLUSIVE EASEMENT OF A COMBINED TOTAL OF APPROXIMATELY ONE- HALF (1/2) ACRE WITHIN THE PARENT TRACT, AS MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED IN THE SURVEYS ATTACHED AND INCORPORATED AS EXHIBIT C, FOR THE LIMITED PURPOSE OF PEDESTRIAN INGRESS AND EGRESS AND CONSTRUCTION OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF THE PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE, FOR A TERM NOT TO EXCEED THE LATER OF (1) THIRTY-NINE (39) YEARS FROM THE LEASE COMMENCEMENT DATE, AS DEFINED IN THE COMMERCIAL LEASE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY AND MFP ("COMMERCIAL LEASE") AUTHORIZED BY THE CITY COMMISSION FOR NEGOTIATION AND EXECUTION BY THE CITY MANAGER SIMULTANEOUSLY WITH THIS ACCESS City of Miami Page 75 Printed on 06/04/2024 City Commission Marked Agenda April 28, 2022 ADJOURNMENT AND UTILITY EASEMENT AGREEMENT OR (2) EXPIRATION OF THE TERM OF ANY SUBLEASE IN EFFECT AND SUBJECT TO A NON -DISTURBANCE AGREEMENT, AS DEFINED IN THE COMMERCIAL LEASE. ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-22-0157 MOTION TO: Adopt RESULT: ADOPTED MOVER: Joe Carollo, Commissioner SECONDER: Alex Diaz de Ia Portilla, Commissioner AYES: King, Carollo, Russell, Diaz de Ia Portilla ABSENT: Reyes Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): Chair, Chair, Chair, we still have SP.3. We still have SP.3 to vote on. SP.3 is the easement. Chair King: Hold on. It was for all of them, Todd. It was for everything. The easement as well. Yes. Meeting adjourned. Mr. Hannon: No, no, no, no, no. You still have to vote on SP.3. Chair King: SP.3 we -- we still have to vote on SP.3. Okay. Do I have a motion? Vice Chair Carollo: Moved. Chair King: Do I have a second? Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: So moved. Chair King: All in favor of SP.3? The Commission (Collectively): Aye. Mr. Hannon: Yes, motion passes 4-0 with Commissioner Reyes absent. (COMMENTS MADE OFF THE RECORD) END OF SPECIAL MEETING The meeting adjourned at 8: 44 p.m. City of Miami Page 76 Printed on 06/04/2024