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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMemorandumCITY OF MIAMI OFFICE OF THE CITY ATTORNEY MEMORANDUM TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Commission FROM: Victoria Mendez DATE: March 28, 2019 RE: City Commission Meeting — March 28, 2019 Retention of Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP as legal consultants, in consultation with the City Attorney, to provide subject matter expertise on negotiations between the City and Miami Freedom Park LLC File No. 5656 The attached Resolution requests authorization to retain Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP as legal consultants to work in consultation with the City Attorney to provide subject matter expertise on negotiations between the City of Miami and Miami Freedom Park LLC, with funding to be allocated from Non -Departmental Legal Services Account No. 00001.980000.531010.0000.00000. Attachment(s) cc: Emilio T. Gonzalez, City Manager Todd B. Hannon, City Clerk Miriam Arcia, Agenda Coordinator VM/BLM/DDD Attachment(s) 5656 Back -Up Documents 5656-Submittal-Commissioner Reyes -Florida Statute 215.472 Resolutions and Article Packet City of Miami Legislation Resolution File Number: 5656 City Hall 3500 Pan American Drive Miami, FL 33133 www.miamigov.com Final Action Date:3/28/2019 A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AUTHORIZING THE EXPENDITURE OF ATTORNEY'S FEES AND THE RETENTION OF HUNTON ANDREWS KURTH LLP AS LEGAL CONSULTANTS TO WORK IN CONSULTATION WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY AND TO PROVIDE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTISE ON NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN THE CITY OF MIAMI AND FREEDOM PARK LLC; ALLOCATING FUNDS FROM THE NON -DEPARTMENTAL LEGAL SERVICES ACCOUNT NO. 00001.980000.531010.0000.00000. WHEREAS, at the November 6, 2018 Special Election, City of Miami ("City") voters approved a referendum, by over sixty percent (60%), approving an amendment to Section 29-B of the Charter of the City of Miami, Florida, as amended, authorizing the City Commission to negotiate and execute a ninety nine (99) year lease with Miami Freedom Park LLC for approximately seventy three (73) acres of City land, waiving competitive bidding, converting Melreese Country Club (1400 Northwest 37 Avenue), at no cost to City, to a soccer stadium; a minimum of 1,000,000 square feet of office, retail, and commercial uses; a minimum of 750 hotel rooms; providing for a living wage for on -site employees; for a minimum rent of $3,577,365.00 and a twenty million dollar ($20,000,000) contribution to the City for a fifty-eight (58) acre public park or other green space ("Project"); and WHEREAS, Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP ("Hunton") has substantial relevant experience negotiating similar agreements; and WHEREAS, Hunton represented New York State Urban Development Corporation d/b/a Empire State Development in the development of a sports and entertainment destination in Belmont Park, which will include an eighteen thousand (18,000) seat arena for the New York Islanders National Hockey League franchise, as well as an adjacent "retail village," a hotel, commercial office space, community space, and parking; and WHEREAS, Hunton represented Clark County Stadium Authority d/b/a the Las Vegas Stadium Authority in the financing, development, construction, and leasing of a $1.9 billion dollar, sixty five thousand (65,000) seat domed stadium to serve as the future home of the Las Vegas Raiders National Football League franchise; and WHEREAS, Hunton represented Landry's Restaurants, Inc. in connection with the acquisition of the Golden Nugget Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas and Laughlin, Nevada; the acquisition of the Trump Marina Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey; the acquisition of the Isle of Capri Hotel and Casino in Biloxi, Mississippi; and the acquisition of the Golden Nugget Lake Charles Casino and Resort; and WHEREAS, Hunton represented the Harris County -Houston Sports Authority in connection with the development and leasing of Minute Maid Park, NRG Stadium, the Toyota Center, and the BBVA Compass Stadium, all in Houston, Texas; and WHEREAS, Hunton represented the City of Sugar Land, Texas in connection with the development of a minor league baseball stadium and a six thousand five hundred (6,500) seat performing arts center; and WHEREAS, the City Commission, at its meeting on March 14, 2019, pursuant to Resolution No. 19-0117, expressed an interest in being advised of and selecting all outside consultants, law firms, real estate appraisers or brokerage firms, surveyors, mappers, or any other vendor, contractor, or provider for this Project; and WHEREAS, for the reasons stated herein, the Office of the City Attorney requests authorization to retain Hunton as legal consultants to provide subject matter expertise on negotiations regarding the development and construction of the Project; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA: Section 1. The recitals and findings contained in the Preamble to this Resolution are adopted by reference and incorporated as if fully set forth in this Section. Section 2. The retention of the Hunton as legal consultants to work in consultation with the City Attorney and to provide subject matter expertise on negotiations regarding the Project is authorized.' Section 3. The expenditure of attorney's fees for the retention of Hunton with funds allocated from Non -Departmental Legal Services Account No. 00001.980000.531010.0000.00000 is authorized.' Section 4. This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon its adoption and signature of the Mayor.' APPROVED AS TO FORM AND CORRECTNESS: Barnaby I_. Min, Deputy City Attorney 3/19/2019 1 The herein authorization is further subject to compliance with all requirements that may be imposed by the City Attorney, including but not limited to, those prescribed by applicable City Charter and City Code provisions. If the Mayor does not sign this Resolution, it shall become effective at the end of ten (10) calendar days from the date it was passed and adopted. If the Mayor vetoes this Resolution, it shall become effective immediately upon override of the veto by the City Commission.