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HomeMy WebLinkAboutOMNI CRA 2022-10-13 MinutesCity of Miami 3500 Pan American Drive Miami, FL 33133 www.miamigov.com 1ir .....av Ni..„. Omni C R A Meeting Minutes Thursday, October 13, 2022 9:30 AM City Hall 3500 Pan American Drive Miami, FL 33133 OMNI Community Redevelopment Agency Alex Diaz de la Portilla, Chair, District One Joe Carollo, Vice Chair, District Three Ken Russell, Board Member, District Two Manolo Reyes, Board Member, District Four Christine King, Board Member, District Five OMNI CRA OFFICE ADDRESS: 1401 N. Miami Avenue, 2"d Floor Miami, FL 33136 Phone: (305) 679-6868 www.miamicra.com OMNI Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes October 13, 2022 CALL TO ORDER Present: Chair Diaz de la Portilla, Vice Chair Carollo, Commissioner Reyes and Commissioner King Absent: Commissioner Russell On the 13th day of October 2022, the Board of Commissioners of the OMNI Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of Miami met in special session at Miami City Hall located at 3500 Pan American Drive, Miami, Florida. The meeting was called to order by Chair Diaz de la Portilla at 3:16 p.m., and was adjourned at 3:34 p. it. ALSO PRESENT: H. Bert Gonzalez, Executive Director, CRA George Wysong, Assistant City Attorney, Supervisor Todd B. Hannon, Clerk of the Board PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR ALL ITEM(S) Chair Diaz de la Portilla: We're going to open up for public comment. Any public comment on CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) Resolution 1 -- Resolutions 1, 2, 3, 4, or pocket item one? Any public comment? Seeing none, public comment is now closed. OMNI Community Redevelopment Agency Page 1 Printed on 3/14/2023 OMNI Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes October 13, 2022 OMNI CRA RESOLUTION(S) 1. OMNI CRA RESOLUTION 12760 A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE OMNI REDEVELOPMENT DISTRICT COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY ("CRA"), WITH ATTACHMENTS, DEALLOCATING FUNDS ASSOCIATED WITH CERTAIN PROJECTS AND ACTIVITIES, AS MORE SPECIFICALLY SET FORTH IN ATTACHMENT "A." ENACTMENT NUMBER: CRA-R-22-0040 MOTION TO: Adopt RESULT: ADOPTED MOVER: Christine King, Board Member, District Five SECONDER: Joe Carollo, Board Member, District Three AYES: Diaz de la Portilla, Carollo, Reyes, King ABSENT: Russell Chair Diaz de la Portilla: Good afternoon, everyone. I'm calling to order the October 13th, 2022, Omni CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) meeting. Good afternoon, welcome back. I hope you had a nice lunch. Commissioner Carollo, I hope you had a nice doughnut, and thank you for sharing. I always want to remind you that sharing is caring. Mr. Executive Director, please briefly read agenda item CRA Resolution 1, 2, 3, and Number 4, into the record. Bert Gonzalez (Executive Director, CRA): Thank you, Chairman, and Commissioners, good afternoon. The CRA has four items for you. The first one, a resolution of the Board of Commissioners of the Omni Redevelopment District Community, with attachments, deallocating funds associated with certain projects and activities, as more specifically set forth in Attachment 'A.' Number 2, a resolution of the Board of Commissioners of the Omni Redevelopment District Community Redevelopment Agency, CRA, authorizing the Executive Director to execute a third amendment to the agreement for the development of property with Wynwood Works, LLC, dated November 24th, 2020. In the agreement, to provide for an extension of the financing commitment, and closing dates in a form acceptable to the general counsel, further authorizing the Executive Director to negotiate and execute any and all other necessary documents, all in accordance with the terms and conditions of the agreement. Number three, a resolution of the Board of Commissioners of the Omni Redevelopment District Community Redevelopment Agency, CRA, authorizing the Executive Director to execute a first amendment to the economic incentive agreement for mixed -use, mixed -income project known as Uni-Tower, for the development of property located at 70 Northeast 17th Street, 90 Northeast 17th Street, and 1642 Northeast 1st Avenue, Miami, Florida, dated May 21st, 2020, as the agreement to provide for additional grant finding in the amount of $5, 000, 000, in a form acceptable to the general counsel, further authorizing the Executive Director to negotiate and execute any and all other necessary documents, all in accordance with the terms and conditions of the agreement. Number 4, a resolution of the Board of Commissioners of the Omni Redevelopment District, CRA, with attachments authorizing an agreement with KSF and Associates, LLC, for a contract period of one year, with one year extension option to renew, totaling an amount not to exceed $125,000, subject to annual budget approval. Further authorizing the Executive Director to execute all documents necessary for said purposes. Authorizing the Executive Director to disperse funds at his discretion on a reimbursement basis or directly to vendors upon OMNI Community Redevelopment Agency Page 2 Printed on 3/14/2023 OMNI Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes October 13, 2022 presentation of invoices and satisfactory documentation, allocating funds and providing for an effective date. Chair Diaz de la Portilla: Thank you, Mr. Gonzalez. [Later... ] Chair Diaz de la Portilla: Any additional comments by the members of the Board? Board Member Reyes: Yes. Chair Diaz de la Portilla: Commissioner Reyes, you're recognized. Board Member Reyes: We are contributing $5 million and what are we receiving in exchange? Mr. Gonzalez: Well, this -- Chair Diaz de la Portilla: Mr. Gonzalez. Board Member Reyes: You mentioned workforce, right? Mr. Gonzalez: It is the -- truly, 100 percent workforce attainable housing project. The Department of HUD (Department of Housing and Urban Development) was here originally to support and assist Mr. Shoshani's (phonetic) project. I was there personally. It is taking fruition. They have up to the second floor built. He is a very serious developer in our area. Committed not only to the -- his developments for the community. So -- Board Member Reyes: It is 100 percent AMI or below. Mr. Gonzalez: Yes, sir. Board Member Reyes: Okay. Okay, I have no more questions, Mr. Chair. Vice Chair Carollo: Okay. Chair Diaz de la Portilla: Thank you, Commissioner. Any additional questions? That's it? Okay. Board Member King: I motion to move the items. Chair Diaz de la Portilla: It is now moved by Chairwoman King. Vice Chair Carollo: Second. Chair Diaz de la Portilla: Seconded by Commissioner Carollo. All those in favor, say aye. The Board Members (Collectively): Aye. Chair Diaz de la Portilla: Opposed? Nay. Aye. I'm an "aye, " obviously. All right, no further business to discuss, we're now adjourned. OMNI Community Redevelopment Agency Page 3 Printed on 3/14/2023 OMNI Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes October 13, 2022 2. OMNI CRA RESOLUTION 12761 A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE OMNI REDEVELOPMENT DISTRICT COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY ("CRA") AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO EXECUTE A THIRD AMENDMENT TO THE AGREEMENT FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF PROPERTY WITH WYNWOOD WORKS, LLC, DATED NOVEMBER 24, 2020 ("AGREEMENT") TO PROVIDE FOR AN EXTENSION OF THE FINANCING COMMITMENT AND CLOSING DATES, IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO THE GENERAL COUNSEL; FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE ANY AND ALL OTHER NECESSARY DOCUMENTS, ALL IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE AGREEMENT. ENACTMENT NUMBER: CRA-R-22-0041 MOTION TO: Adopt RESULT: ADOPTED MOVER: Christine King, Board Member, District Five SECONDER: Joe Carollo, Board Member, District Three AYES: Diaz de la Portilla, Carollo, Reyes, King ABSENT: Russell Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item Number 2, please see Item Number 1. 3. OMNI CRA RESOLUTION 12762 A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE OMNI REDEVELOPMENT DISTRICT COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY ("CRA") AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO EXECUTE A FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE ECONOMIC INCENTIVE AGREEMENT FOR MIXED -USE AND MIXED -INCOME PROJECT KNOWN AS "UNI-TOWER" FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF PROPERTY LOCATED AT 70 NE 17TH STREET, 90 NE 17TH STREET, AND 1642 NE 1ST AVENUE, MIAMI, FLORIDA DATED MAY 21, 2020 ("AGREEMENT") TO PROVIDE FOR ADDITIONAL GRANT FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF FIVE MILLION AND 00/100 DOLLARS ($5,000,000.00), IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO THE GENERAL COUNSEL; FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE ANY AND ALL OTHER NECESSARY DOCUMENTS, ALL IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE AGREEMENT. ENACTMENT NUMBER: CRA-R-22-0042 MOTION TO: Adopt RESULT: ADOPTED MOVER: Christine King, Board Member, District Five SECONDER: Joe Carollo, Board Member, District Three AYES: Diaz de la Portilla, Carollo, Reyes, King ABSENT: Russell OMNI Community Redevelopment Agency Page 4 Printed on 3/14/2023 OMNI Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes October 13, 2022 Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item Number 3, please see Item Number 1. 4. OMNI CRA RESOLUTION 12763 A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE OMNI REDEVELOPMENT DISTRICT COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY ("CRA"), WITH ATTACHMENTS, AUTHORIZING AN AGREEMENT WITH KSF AND ASSOCIATES, LLC; FOR A CONTRACT PERIOD OF ONE (1) YEAR, WITH ONE (1) ONE (1) YEAR OPTION TO RENEW TOTALING AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $125,000.00, SUBJECT TO ANNUAL BUDGET APPROVAL; FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO EXECUTE ALL DOCUMENTS NECESSARY FOR SAID PURPOSE; AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO DISBURSE FUNDS, AT HIS DISCRETION, ON A REIMBURSEMENT BASIS OR DIRECTLY TO VENDORS, UPON PRESENTATION OF INVOICES AND SATISFACTORY DOCUMENTATION; ALLOCATING FUNDS; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. ENACTMENT NUMBER: CRA-R-22-0043 MOTION TO: Adopt RESULT: ADOPTED MOVER: Christine King, Board Member, District Five SECONDER: Joe Carollo, Board Member, District Three AYES: Diaz de la Portilla, Carollo, Reyes, King ABSENT: Russell Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item Number 4, please see Item Number 1. NA - NON -AGENDA ITEM(S) 1. OMNI CRA DISCUSSION 12776 DISCUSSION BY THE OMNI CRA BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS REGARDING TAX INCREMENT FUND ("TIF") REVENUES AND PAYMENTS FOR PROJECTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE 2007 GLOBAL AGREEMENT. RESULT: DISCUSSED Chair Diaz de la Portilla: We also have a pocket item. We'll call it pocket item number one. Can you introduce it, sir? H. Bert Gonzalez: I have copies for the Board, please. In this pocket item -- Chair Diaz de la Portilla: Make sure every board member has a copy, please. Board Member Reyes: I don't have any copy. OMNI Community Redevelopment Agency Page 5 Printed on 3/14/2023 OMNI Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes October 13, 2022 Chair Diaz de la Portilla: And our City Attorney. We're coming to you now, Commissioner. Board Member Reyes: Okay. Mr. Gonzalez: At the Omni CRA, we have, under the global and interlocal agreements to reimburse or pay back through the Performing Arts Center and the County, a certain amount of the TIF (Tax Increment Financing) revenues that we receive. We did a study, since the beginning -- inception of the CRA, you'll find the letter there giving you a brief description. But in shortness, up to 2021, the CRA has received, through TIF funding, $111,578,123, of which we have paid back, to the County, a total of $91,598,839. Roughly speaking, there's a difference of about $20 million. What fails to be expressed, or understood in some cases, is that not only do we pay back the TIF to the County, but the Omni CRA has been obligated to assist and fund many other projects such as Museum Park, the super block around the Performing Arts Center, the Miami -Port Tunnel, the SFRTA (South Florida Regional Transportation Authority) Brightline project, and so forth and so on. I don't have numbers how much we spent on those projects, but in my opinion, it is more than $20 million that we have netted in the course of the last 20 years or so. So, I open to your awareness what exactly is the funding that we are getting. It's practically nothing, no TIF benefit from the County. Chair Diaz de la Portilla: And perhaps, Mr. Gonzalez, Mr. Valentin can give a little bit more precise, a more detailed -- of some of the issues that we're dealing with, if you could take the microphone here. I won't take up much of your time. Okay. Mr. Miguel Valentin: Miguel Valentin, CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) financial consultant. Well, in a nutshell, using as a punchline, but as Mr. Gonzalez said, it's been a wash. All the revenues that we have received from the County, they -- we have reverted that money to the County at the same time. And the monies that we're using in order to carry out the redevelopment activities in the Omni CRA, those revenues derive from the City of Miami, directly. Chair Diaz de la Portilla: Which sort of defeats the purpose of a community redevelopment agency, because when we're funding projects, Commissioners, that are like a port tunnel, a performing arts center where people -- rich people can go watch their opera or their Broadway plays. It kind of defeats that purpose, right? So, our goal is to beginn the conversation to how we redirect those dollars back into the Community Redevelopment Agency and the ability to fix some of the issues that are serious issues -- that have been serious issues for the past 40 years, in the Omni CRA, the Overtown CRA, and other areas, areas that need help from our community redevelopment agencies. Same thing is happening Downtown Development Authority. We see a relationship with the County and let's not even talk about the fact that -- I'll just bring it up, the fact that they took over $27 million away from our trolley system that feeds our poor and allows our poor to move from place to place. We have to take a very strong position on where we are with our relationship with Miami -Dade County. And I have -- I thought he was going to be in the room, but I thought Commissioner Rene Garcia was here earlier and so was Commissioner Hardemon, to see what the County's perspective is, but we've gotten from -- an idea from the letters they've sent us, and from the things they're doing, the threats they're issuing right now, that they're going to play hardball with us. If they want to play hardball with us, then we can play hardball right back. That's the purpose of the pocket item, is to have a unified voice in telling Miami -Dade County and the Miami -Dade County government, that Miami, the urban core of Miami -Dade County, deserves to be respected and treated the way that it deserves to be treated. Commissioner Carollo and then Commissioner Reyes. Vice Chair Carollo, please. OMNI Community Redevelopment Agency Page 6 Printed on 3/14/2023 OMNI Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes October 13, 2022 Vice Chair Carollo: Thank you. Chair Diaz de la Portilla: And then Commissioner Reyes. Vice Chair Carollo: I have a question. The -- on the Museum Park project page, you have here the special funding grant the Omni CRA has provided to the Perez Art Museum, a grant in the amount of one million to embrace the PAMM's (Perez Art Museum Miami) community programs for local residents, students, and visitors. This grant will help and assist to support the PAMM's educational and outreach program. When was this given? When was the amount given? Because it don't have a date. It wasn't recent, was it? Chair Diaz de la Portilla: No, it was last year. Vice Chair Carollo: It was last year? Chair Diaz de la Portilla: Yeah, I believe it was in last year's fiscal budget, which was Mr. Gonzalez: Last year's fiscal budget, we contributed $3 million. Chair Diaz de la Portilla: $3 million. Mr. Gonzalez: $3 million. Chair Diaz de la Portilla: Yeah. Vice Chair Carollo: No, no, no, no, but I'm talking strictly to the Perez Museum. You 're talking $3 million that went to -- Mr. Gonzalez: If I recall, that was -- around 2015 or so. I don't have the number, Commissioner. Vice Chair Carollo: Okay, so it was some years back. Mr. Gonzalez: Yes, sir. Vice Chair Carollo: It's not recent. Okay, those were the years that monies were being kept from -- Chair Diaz de la Portilla: I thought you were talking about the $3 million. Vice Chair Carollo: No, no, the $3 million was directed to the Trust. Chair Diaz de la Portilla: Right. Vice Chair Carollo: But I was talking about $1 million that it says here that went directly to the Perez Museum. Chair Diaz de la Portilla: Yes. Vice Chair Carollo: And it -- I saw that it talked about programs for local residents, students, visitors, to assist PAMM's educational and outreach programs, and two things came to mind. One, why would you be giving them that money when the Omni CRA still owes back money to us, and I think you've answered the question for me. This happened in '15, before you were on board, and when monies were being withheld from the Trust. OMNI Community Redevelopment Agency Page 7 Printed on 3/14/2023 OMNI Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes October 13, 2022 Chair Diaz de la Portilla: We call that the Russell Administration. It's a different administration now. Vice Chair Carollo: Yeah, secondly, it kind of brought flashbacks to me of the summer of 2020, when I was shown that apparently there was some program that had this gal there working. Maybe it was with this money, that she was hired. Maybe not. Maybe that all got spent and some new funding -- that was a member of the Che Guevarra Bolivian Venezuelan group that received other forms of encouragement and training in Caracas. So, I was just wondering if we were contributing to any of that here or not with our money. So -- but you wouldn't have that answer for me because this came in `15 and maybe that money was used quickly, maybe it wasn't, but it's obvious that that's then, this is now. Mr. Gonzalez: We have not contributed any additional money to the PAMM or the science museum. Vice Chair Carollo: By the way, when do we have our next Commission meeting? Next CRA, I apologize. Chair Diaz de la Portilla: The next Commission -- October 27th, sir. Vice Chair Carollo: October 27th. Okay. Chair Diaz de la Portilla: The next Commission meeting. Vice Chair Carollo: Yeah, since this is being an exhibit in CRA property, I think it would be appropriate for me to mention it here. Chair Diaz de la Portilla: Yes, sir. Vice Chair Carollo: We have the exhibition in Maurice Ferre Park right now of one of the most world-renowned sculpturers and artists. Many consider him one of the top five in the world. That, at his own cost and not a penny to the Trust, he's brought in an exhibition that he's shown in many other major cities around the world -- I think he last had it in Rome -- and made Miami the first major American city for it to be exposed in. That's Jorge Jimenez Deredia. And we have now, for anyone that would like to go and enjoy it, in Maurice Ferre Park, 14 of his sculptures to see. They're huge sculptures made of marble from Italy, Greece, other parts of Europe, in bronze statues. And if it's okay for this Commission, I'd like to bring him at our next meeting so that you could all meet him and we can honor him and thank him for that. Chair Diaz de la Portilla: Great idea. Vice Chair Carollo: Thank you. Chair Diaz de la Portilla: I agree. Commissioner Reyes. Board Member Reyes: Yes, as I was looking at in the first page -- in the first page you have a list of contributions there and I remember when the tunnel was being built, and I always wondered if it was legal to use CRA monies to finance the bonds for the tunnel because ifI don't remember wrong, the objective of the CRA, it is to use that TIF, that tax increment -- it's Tax Increment Finances of projects that will eliminate blight, you see, that it will eliminate the -- and redevelop the area, which encompasses the CRA not to -- it didn't go out of the CRA to finance other projects that they not were blighted areas, and which would try to eliminate it with new development by assisting developers, et cetera, et cetera. And that is something that I always thought, in my OMNI Community Redevelopment Agency Page 8 Printed on 3/14/2023 OMNI Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes October 13, 2022 opinion, 1'in not an attorney and 1 am not a --1 wasn't -- I didn 't research that the way that I should have, that I always questioned that contribution because 1 don't know how that effected or improved the Omni CRA area. You see, that is a very -- was very questionable to me, and this was during the -- our friend -- Chair Diaz de la Portilla: Be gentle. Board Member Reyes: Okay, but I'm not going to mention his name. Everybody knows who it is, but that was during that year. Vice Chair Carollo: Who -- Board Member Reyes: I just wanted to know if -- Vice Chair Carollo: Who are we talking about? Chair Diaz de la Portilla: Does he still live in District 2 or --? He's not here. Vice Chair Carollo: Oh. Board Member Reyes: But -- Vice Chair Carollo: Mr. Clerk. Chair Diaz de la Portilla: Mr. Clerk, does he -- Commissioner Carollo has a question for you, sir. Todd B. Hannon (Clerk of the Board): (UNINTELLIGIBLE). Chair Diaz de la Portilla: Well, I'm the Chairman. Board Member Reyes: No, but I would like -- Chair Diaz de la Portilla: You get the gavel back in about two minutes. Board Member Reyes: Now that this has been brought up, I would like to analyze it since you're saying that we are going to have some controversy, either to say that -- put it in a mild way, that is if it is legal to use those funds to back the bonds for the tunnel. Chair Diaz de la Portilla: It's a very good point, Commissioner, and I think we're going to continue this conversation on October 27th, in our next CRA meeting, but we want to vote on it to send a clear message today, and then we come back and we have all the questions that Commissioner Carollo and you have, sir, because they're upping the ante with us right now, trying to, you know, play hardball again, like I said earlier, and that's not going to be allowed. At least not by this Chairman, and I know, for a fact, not by this Commission and this board, because it's important for them to know that we're unified in our message to them, that we're speaking with one strong voice. Board Member Reyes: Okay. Chair Diaz de la Portilla: So, that's the pocket item we're going to open up. That's the only pocket item we have. ADJOURNMENT OMNI Community Redevelopment Agency Page 9 Printed on 3/14/2023 OMNI Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes October 13, 2022 The meeting adjourned at 3: 34 p.m. OMNI Community Redevelopment Agency Page 10 Printed on 3/14/2023