HomeMy WebLinkAboutR-21-0319City of Miami
Resolution R-21-0319
Legislation
City Hall
3500 Pan American Drive
Miami, FL 33133
www.miamigov.com
File Number: 8944 Final Action Date: 7/22/2021
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER
TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE AN AMENDMENT TO THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT
DATED APRIL 20, 2000, AS AMENDED AND ASSIGNED, BETWEEN THE CITY OF MIAMI
("CITY"), MIAMI-DADE COUNTY ("COUNTY"), AND ESJ JI LEASEHOLD, LLC ("ESJ"), IN A
FORM ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY ATTORNEY AND SUBJECT TO APPROVAL BY THE
COUNTY, PROVIDING FOR ESJ TO PAY A PORTION OF THE AMOUNTS DUE TO THE
CITY PURSUANT TO THE DEFERRAL OF PAYMENTS APPROVED BY RESOLUTION NO.
R-07-0405 IN A LUMP SUM PAYMENT OF EIGHT MILLION DOLLARS ($8,000,000.00) AND
PROVIDING THAT THE REMAINING BALANCE WILL BE REDUCED BY ONE MILLION
TWENTY ONE THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED TWENTY THREE DOLLARS ($1,021,923.00) IF
THE HOTEL CONSTRUCTION IS COMPLETED BY JUNE 30, 2026 AND WILL FURTHER BE
REDUCED BY TWO MILLION DOLLARS ($2,000,000.00) AND ACCRUED INTEREST WILL
BE WAIVED IF PAID IN FULL BY JANUARY 31, 2028; FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE
SUBORDINATION OF SUCH AMOUNTS OWED TO THE CITY TO ESJ'S INSTITUTIONAL
FINANCING FOR THE HOTEL CONSTRUCTION; FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE CITY
MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE A SIXTH MODIFICATION TO THE LEASE AND
DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT DATED SEPTEMBER 2, 1997, AS AMENDED AND
ASSIGNED, BETWEEN THE CITY AND ESJ, IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY
ATTORNEY, WHEREBY ESJ WILL BE GIVEN A RENT CREDIT OF SEVEN HUNDRED FIFTY
THOUSAND DOLLARS ($750,000.00) SPREAD EQUALLY OVER THREE (3) YEARS,
PROVIDING THAT THE BREAKPOINT FOR PERCENTAGE RENT OF THE PARK WILL BE
REDUCED TO EIGHTEEN MILLION DOLLARS ($18,000,000.00) AND THE BREAKPOINT
FOR PERCENTAGE RENT OF THE HOTEL WILL BE REDUCED TO TWENTY ONE MILLION
DOLLARS ($21,000,000.00) WITH RESTRICTIONS, REVERSIONS, AND RETENTION BY
THE CITY OF ALL OTHER RIGHTS; FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO
ACCEPT FROM ESJ AN AMOUNT EQUAL TO APPROXIMATELY EIGHT HUNDRED FIFTY
TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS ($852,000.00) AS FULL PAYMENT OF THE OUTSTANDING
RENT AND TAXES DEFERRED PURSUANT TO RESOLUTION NO. R-09-0178; RATIFYING,
APPROVING, AND CONFIRMING THE CONSENT TO THE YGRENE LOAN DATED AUGUST
9, 2017; FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE
ANY OTHER RELATED DOCUMENTS AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO ACCOMPLISH THE
PROPOSED TRANSACTIONS, ALL IN FORMS ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY ATTORNEY.
WHEREAS, the City of Miami ("City") is the owner of that certain tract of land on Watson
Island located at 1111 Parrot Jungle Trail, Miami, Florida ("Property"); and
WHEREAS, the City leased the Property to Parrot Jungle and Gardens, Inc. ("Prior
Lessee") by way of that certain Lease and Development Agreement dated September 2, 1997,
which was thereafter modified, assigned to, and assumed by the current tenant, ESJ JI
Leasehold, LLC ("ESJ") (collectively, "Lease"); and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Resolution No. R-00-264, the City Manager was authorized to
execute a development agreement with Miami -Dade County ("County") and the Prior Lessee
establishing the terms and conditions of the Prior Lessee's repayment of the HUD Loan, as
City of Miami Page 1 of 5 File ID: 8944 (Revision: B) Printed On: 5/29/2025
File ID: 8944 Enactment Number: R-21-0319
hereinafter defined, and the City's future involvement as guarantee replacement of eighty
percent (80%) of the County's obligation, subject to the City's approval of all loan documents,
which was executed on or around April 20, 2000 and thereafter modified, assigned to, and
assumed by ESJ (collectively, "Development Agreement"); and
WHEREAS, on January 9, 2001, the County made a loan guaranteed by the United
States Department of Housing and Urban Development pursuant to the Section 108 Loan
Guarantee Program to the Prior Lessee in an amount equal to twenty-five million dollars
($25,000,000.00) for the construction and operation of the project referred to in the Lease as
Parrot Jungle and Gardens of Watson Island ("HUD Loan"); and
WHEREAS, on July 10, 2007, pursuant to Resolution No. R-07-0405, the City
Commission approved the City's assumption of eighty percent (80%) of the County's interest
and obligation in the HUD Loan and approved the deferral of the Prior Lessee's obligation to
pay the HUD Loan amounts due from August 2006 through and including the payment due in
August 2011 ("HUD Loan Deferral"); and
WHEREAS, the HUD Loan Deferral authorized the deferral of approximately seventeen
million two hundred seventy-seven thousand four hundred three dollars ($17,277,403.00) due
and payable on August 1, 2019 unless extended, in which event such amount plus interest at
the rate of five percent (5%) would be due and payable in installments beginning on January 1,
2020; and
WHEREAS, the City's interest in the payments due by ESJ under the HUD Loan
Deferral equals approximately thirteen million eight hundred twenty-one thousand nine hundred
twenty-three dollars ($13,821,923.00) plus the interest accrued ("City's Portion"); and
WHEREAS, ESJ has agreed to make an eight million dollar ($8,000,000.00) partial
payment of the City's Portion to the City paid in a lump sum within twelve (12) months following
the City's execution of a Second Amendment to the Development Agreement, in a form
acceptable to the City Attorney, and further subject to review, approval, and execution by the
County; and
WHEREAS, subject to ESJ's payment and the City's receipt of the eight million dollars
($8,000,000.00) noted above, the remaining balance of the City's Portion will be approximately
five million eight hundred twenty-one thousand nine hundred twenty-three dollars
($5,821,923.00) plus the interest accrued ("City's Remaining Portion"); and
WHEREAS, the City has agreed to subordinate the City's Remaining Portion to the
institutional lender that provides financing for the hotel construction and holds a first leasehold
mortgage over ESJ's leasehold interest in the Property; and
WHEREAS, in the event ESJ completes construction of the hotel as required by the
Lease on or before June 30, 2026 ("Hotel Deadline") as evidenced by a temporary or permanent
certificate of occupancy, the City shall forgive and reduce one million twenty-one thousand nine
hundred twenty-three dollars ($1,021,923.00) of the City's Remaining Portion; and
WHEREAS, the City shall grant ESJ an additional forgiveness and reduction of two
million dollars ($2,000,000.00) of the City's Remaining Portion and shall further forgive any and
all interest accrued therein in the event that the City's Remaining Portion, as may have been
reduced and forgiven, is paid in full by January 31, 2028; and
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File ID: 8944 Enactment Number: R-21-0319
WHEREAS, if the City's Remaining Portion is not paid in full by January 31, 2028, the
City's Remaining Portion, as may have been reduced subject to compliance with the Hotel
Deadline, will amortize over five (5) years with five percent (5%) interest compounded annually
and with payments beginning February 1, 2028; and
WHEREAS, the Lease provides for the City to receive percentage rent equal to five
percent (5%) of Gross Revenues up to twenty million dollars ($20,000,000.00) and six percent
(6%) of Gross Revenues over twenty million dollars ($20,000,000.00) ("Park Percentage Rent");
and
WHEREAS, the Park Percentage Rent shall be amended to equal five percent (5%) of
Gross Revenues up to eighteen million dollars ($18,000,000.00) and six percent (6%) of Gross
Revenues over eighteen million dollars ($18,000,000.00); and
WHEREAS, the Lease further provides for the City to receive additional percentage rent
equal to five percent (5%) of hotel revenues exceeding the Hotel Base Rent, which is defined in
the Lease and with such breakpoint growing periodically throughout the term of the Lease
("Hotel Percentage Rent"); and
WHEREAS, the Hotel Percentage Rent shall be amended to equal five percent (5%) of
hotel revenues exceeding twenty-one million dollars ($21,000,000.00), which breakpoint shall
not grow throughout the term of the Lease; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Resolution No. R-09-0178, the Prior Lessee was granted a
forty-eight (48) month deferment of rent in the amount of four hundred thousand dollars
($400,000.00) per year for an aggregate amount of one million six hundred thousand dollars
($1,600,000.00) from April 1, 2009 through March 31, 2013 ("Deferred Rent"); and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Resolution No. R-09-0178, if the HUD Loan were to be paid in
full on or before August 1, 2020, the Deferred Rent minus eight hundred thousand dollars
($800,000.00) ("Deferred Rent Remaining") would convert to and become a permanent
abatement, with the Deferred Rent Remaining and any corresponding taxes and fees due on or
before December 31, 2020; and
WHEREAS, ESJ has certified to the City that the HUD Loan has been paid in full on or
before August 1, 2020; and
WHEREAS, within sixty (60) days following the approval of this Resolution by the Miami
City Commission, ESJ shall pay off the Deferred Rent Remaining at the discounted rate of
approximately eight hundred fifty-two thousand dollars ($852,000.00), which is inclusive of sales
tax; and
WHEREAS, the deadlines set forth above shall be extended in the event of (i) force
majeure, including but not limited to a natural disaster or future pandemic unrelated to the Novel
Coronavirus ("COVID-19") or (ii) declaration of a state of emergency, not including any state of
emergency regarding COVID-19; and
WHEREAS, the City's Department of Real Estate and Asset Management ("DREAM")
recommends that the City accept these amendments and discounts in an effort to collect a
majority of a long outstanding debt and enable ESJ to obtain the necessary financing to
complete the construction of the hotel and additional improvements required in the Lease, as
well as improving the City's position to ensure future continued rent payments from ESJ; and
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File ID: 8944 Enactment Number: R-21-0319
WHEREAS, the Lease provides for ESJ to develop a green energy educational facility
on the Property if the Master Permit for the hotel was issued and the City executed the
documents required for the Lessee to obtain funding from PACE or similar green energy
program; and
WHEREAS, on August 9, 2017, the Director of DREAM executed a consent on behalf of
the City authorizing ESJ to enter into an agreement with Ygrene Energy Fund, Inc. for the
financing of certain improvements and for the provision of certain energy related cost savings,
with such financing paid through annual assessments added to ESJ's tax bill for the Property
("Ygrene Loan");
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 City Manager is authorized' to negotiate and execute an amendment to
the Development Agreement, in a form acceptable to the City Attorney and subject to approval
by the County, providing for ESJ to pay a portion of funds owed by ESJ under the HUD Loan
Deferral in an amount equal to eight million dollars ($8,000,000.00) paid in a lump sum and
providing for the forgiveness and reduction of the HUD Loan Deferral in an amount equal to one
million twenty one thousand nine hundred twenty three dollars ($1,021,923.00) if the hotel is
completed by June 30, 2026 and providing for the forgiveness and reduction of the HUD Loan
Deferral in an amount equal to an additional two million dollars ($2,000,000.00) plus accrued
interest if the remaining amounts due on the HUD Loan Deferral are paid by January 31, 2028.
Section 3. The City Manager is further authorized1 to negotiate and execute such
agreements, all in forms acceptable to the City Attorney, as may be reasonably required by
ESJ's institutional lender to subordinate only the City's Remaining Portion to the institutional
lender that provides financing for the hotel construction and holds a first leasehold mortgage
over ESJ's leasehold interest in the Property, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the
Lease.
Section 4. The City Manager is further authorized' to negotiate and execute a Sixth
Modification to the Lease and Development Agreement between the City and ESJ, in a form
acceptable to the City Attorney, whereby ESJ will be given a rent credit of seven hundred fifty
thousand dollars ($750,000.00) spready equally over three (3) years, providing that the
breakpoint for the Park Percentage Rent will be reduced to eighteen million dollars
($18,000,000.00) and the breakpoint for the Hotel Percentage Rent will be reduced to twenty
one million dollars ($21,000,000.00) with restrictions, reversions, and retention by the City of all
other rights.
Section 5. The City Manager is further authorized1 to accept from ESJ an amount equal
to approximately eight hundred fifty-two thousand dollars ($852,000.00) as full payment of the
outstanding rent and taxes deferred pursuant to Resolution No. R-09-0178.
1 The herein authorization is further subject to compliance with all legal requirements that may be
imposed, including but not limited to, those prescribed by applicable City Charter and City Code
provisions.
City of Miami Page 4 of 5 File ID: 8944 (Revision: B) Printed on: 5/29/2025
File ID: 8944
Enactment Number: R-21-0319
Section 6. The City's consent to the Ygrene Loan is hereby ratified, approved, and
confirmed and the provisions of the Lease prohibiting the same, including without limitation
Sections 6.2 and 29.2, are hereby waived for the sole and exclusive purpose of permitting the
subject Ygrene Loan. There shall be no other waiver of any Lease provisions nor shall such
consent be construed to relieve ESJ from the full and faithful observance and performance of its
covenants and obligations as provided in the Lease.
Section 7. The City Manager is further authorized' to negotiate and execute any and all
other related documents as may be necessary to accomplish the proposed transactions, all in
forms acceptable to the City Attorney.
Section 8. This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon its adoption.
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND CORRECTNESS:
ndez, ity Attor
ey
6/1/2021
ndez, ity Httor
ley ) 7/22/2021
City of Miami Page 5 of 5 File ID: 8944 (Revision: B) Printed on: 5/29/2025