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Meeting Minutes
Thursday, April 10, 2025
10:00 AM
City Hall
3500 Pan American Drive
Miami, FL 33133
SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency
Christine King, Chair, District Five
Miguel Angel Gabela, Board Member, District One
Damian Pardo, Board Member, District Two
Joe Carollo, Board Member, District Three
Manolo Reyes, Board Member, District Four
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Southeast Overtown/Park West CRA
Meeting Minutes April 10, 2025
CALL TO ORDER
Present: Chairwoman King, Commissioner Gabela, Commissioner Pardo,
Commissioner Carollo
Absent: Commissioner Reyes
On the I0th day of April 2025, the Board of Commissioners of the Southeast
Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of Miami met in
regular session at Miami City Hall located at 3500 Pan American Drive, Miami,
Florida. The meeting was called to order by Chairwoman King at 12:21 p.m., and was
adjourned at 12:48 p.m.
ALSO PRESENT:
James McQueen, Executive Director, CRA
Vincent Brown, Deputy Executive Director, CRA
Xavier Alban, Deputy City Attorney
Todd B. Hannon, Clerk of the Board
CRA PUBLIC COMMENTS
Chair King: Good afternoon, everyone. The public comment period is now open. Good
afternoon.
Marilyn Holifield: Good afternoon. Good afternoon, Chairwoman King and CRA
(Community Redevelopment Agency) board. My name is Marilyn Holifield, and I am a
senior partner at the law farm of Holland & Knight, and board chair, along with Hans
Ottinot, and co-founder of the museum -- Miami Museum of Contemporary Art of the
African Diaspora, known as Miami MoCAAD. Thank you for this opportunity to speak in
favor of the bond resolution, which will allocate $25 million to repurpose the former
women's detention center into the home of the Miami Museum of Contemporary Art of the
African Diaspora. It was wrong to build a jail across the street from Booker T.
Washington High School. No other school in Miami -Dade County has a jail greeting
students every day. Today we can make history by taking steps to right that wrong.
Instead of a symbol of low expectations and crime, Miami MoCAAD will inspire. From
ashes of despair, Miami MoCAAD, a museum of the future, will bring hope, creativity,
and innovation. Miami MoCAAD will leverage technology to offer tech -infused student
internships and provide artmaking and art -learning experiences for students. Miami
MoCAAD will energize and support the surrounding community with employment
opportunities centered around the repurposing of the abandoned jail and will ultimately
provide jobs needed for the day-to-day operations of the museum. This is a history -
making opportunity to place Overtown at the center of art, culture, and technology.
Thank you.
Chair King: Thank you. Good afternoon.
Pat Santangelo: Hi, my name is Pat Santangelo. I'm here to speak on behalf of her item.
One thing is when you have a project like what they're trying to do. The women's jail has
been a sad experience for me my whole career as a state trooper. More important,
sometimes, than the actual project is the people who are involved in the project. I know
Marilyn Holifield, I know Hans, I know the people who are on this board. These people
are of the highest integrity. These are not people who go around the community like some
of the poverty pimps that we see day in and day out in this building trying to get money
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from the city for frivolous projects. This is a real project turning a place that we try to
avoid, and our family tries to avoid at all costs, into a destination that the entire
community can learn about their brothers and sisters and neighbors in the city of Miami
and the community. And 1 hope that you will be in favor of this item.
Chair King: Thank you. Good afternoon.
Gene Tinnie: Good afternoon, Madam Chair, Commissioners. My name is Gene Tinnie. I
reside at 74 Northwest 5lst Street in the magic city of Miami. And I'm here to speak in
support of this item, underscoring the points that were already made. I don't think we -- it
all happened so fast. And, you know, some of us might still be just processing how much
of a hub Miami has become as a result mainly of Art Basel as a catalyst, but there were
things happening before that. And so, as a destination, this is a place that is -- you know,
we have just unprecedented opportunities to promote, celebrate art, you know, as never
before. I don't think the point could be underscored strongly enough of the proximity of
the museum to Booker T. Washington. The fact that here is a place where students can do
field trips, so to speak, be inspired by on a daily basis. And, you know, on that, we make a
lot of -- there's a lot of buzz about subjects like the STEM (Science, Technology,
Engineering and Math) agenda and so forth. When budgets get crunched, the first thing
to go is art, music, and so forth. These are the courses where students learn who they are.
These are -- so the presence of art cannot be, you know, overstated. And with that, just to
underscore Mr. Santangelo's point, the personnel, the folks who are actually working on
this, you know, when we invest, we always have to look at the individuals we're investing
in. And here, 1 think you have a very sound, you know, vote of confidence to go forward
with. Thank you very much.
Chair King: Thank you. Good morning. Good afternoon.
Howard Herring: Hi there. I'm Howard Herring. I'm the president of the New World
Symphony. I'm here to speak in favor of this project and the funding of this project. I
want to bring my perspective as president of the New World Symphony. Cultural
organizations lift neighborhoods, and I know this from my experience in developing the
New World Center, the home of the New World Symphony, and the site of a significant
number of community -based events. I believe in the power of artistic experiences for
everyone involved, students, artists, and the public. The Knight Foundation has proven
with statistics that culture stitches communities together through shared artistic
experiences. But there is a second consideration. In 1979, at the bottom of the real estate
market, property on Lincoln Road turned over for $12 a square foot. In 2015, at the top
of that market, the same property turned over for $7, 700 per square foot. What changed?
Culture came to Lincoln Road. The Miami City Ballet, the New World Symphony, Books
& Books, the Art Center of South Florida, and the Regal Cinema. Then, when two
derelict parking lots were identified as a possible home for the New World Center, we
made our move. You may be aware of wall cast offerings. I use this as an example.
Projection of our concerts on a 7, 000-square foot primary facade of our building. The
wall cast audience is an indicator of what happens when culture changes a
neighborhood. 80 percent of our audience comes to groups of five or more. It is instant
community. 75 percent have never purchased a ticket to the New World Symphony. It's a
second audience. 40 percent include Lincoln Road restaurant and retail in their wall cast
experience. It's a new economic center of gravity. In the new home for Miami MoCAAD,
they will stitch the community together. It will have significant economic impact. They
will be doing well and doing good. It's a sweet combination. Miami MoCAAD doing well
and doing good. We will all be proud of this investment. Thank you.
Chair King: Thank you. Good afternoon.
Cynthia Johnson -Stacks: Good afternoon, Chairwoman and Commissioners. My name is
Cynthia Johnson -Stacks. I'm a local government law attorney, having practiced
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representing local governments, including CRAs, for over 37 years. So, it's -- this is my
first time on the other side of the podium, so it's my honor to be here to speak on behalf of
this project that I feel so strongly about. And 1 appreciate the fact that you all are
considering it and see it in the same light. As has been -- I'm not going to repeat what
was stated, but I would just say from a personal perspective, I remember riding by the
women's detention center with my father, who would point it out, perhaps as a cautionary
tale of what we shouldn't do. But this is an opportunity to flip that narrative, to make
something as -- to bring the phoenix from the ashes, so to speak, to do something that
would be good, that would elevate the culture, that would elevate the neighborhood, and
that would continue to put the city of Miami on the path as a world -class city. I'm a
taxpayer in this city, and 1 wholly endorse this use of taxpayer funds for something that is
so important to our city. Thankyou so much.
Chair King: Thank you. Good afternoon.
Elvis Fuentes: Hi, good afternoon. My name is Elvis Fuentes, and I'm a resident of the
city of Miami. 461 Northwest 32nd Court, but I'm here speaking also as the -- sow, the
director of the Coral Gables Museum. A building that was former police and fare station,
but also, and many people don't know this, had a courtroom and a jail. So, when I
learned about this opportunity, this idea of having Miami MoCAAD, such an important
institution already. even though, you know, many of the projects happen online, I thought
it was just poetic justice that we have been working together with Miami MoCAAD,
collaborating, connecting community to our -- between Coral Gables and Overtown. And
I thought it was wonderful that we could also share this story of a jail turn into a place
where people go to heal, to learn about their history, to find pride in the history of the
community. And 1 think it's a wonderful opportunity. I hope -- 1 totally, as the former
speaker said, totally endorse my tax money going in this project. It's such an important
project. Thankyou so much.
Chair King: Thank you. Good afternoon.
Bill Talbert: Good afternoon. Bill Talbert, 1601 Nocatee Drive, Miami, Florida, 33133. I
have either lived or worked in the great city of Miami for 55 years. In fact, in this
neighborhood, I worked in Model Cities in the 70s before a lot of folks weren't even born.
But this is a great project. We're more than a beach. You know, we've heard that. We're
art and culture. We're neighborhoods. We're diversity. So, I'm here supporting this for
several reasons. I also want to say that Miami Museum of Contemporary Art of the
African Diaspora for the listening public. You hear acronyms? The Miami Museum of
Contemporary Art of the African Diaspora. I'll say it for my entire two minutes. I'm here
for several reasons, but one of the biggest reasons is Marilyn Holifaeld. We've worked
with her and followed her lead for many, many years. She called, she called many times
years ago, but she said, can you come and support projects in the future? And I said yes.
So, when she called, I said, you know, what can I do? But Marilyn, thank you for your
leadership. I'm here today because of you and this project, the Miami Museum of
Contemporary Art of the African Diaspora. Thank you very much.
Chair King: Thank you. Good afternoon.
Dwayne Robertson: Good afternoon. My name is Dwayne Robinson, 2525 Ponce de
Leon. I come to you on behalf of the historic and largest organization of black lawyers in
Miami -Dade County. That is the Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. Bar Association. Our board has
voted overwhelmingly to support Miami MoCAAD. This will be a tremendous jewel and
gem for not only Miami, but for Overtown. I won't repeat a lot of the comments said here
today, but I want you to keep something in mind. Miami is really the center of the
dispersed African people. Think about Haiti, Jamaica, the larger Caribbean, Brazil, the
Americas. Miami is at the center, and we have a chance to make a mark here. And so, we
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thank you all for your support. We thank you for your time, and please support this great
effort. Thank you so much.
Chair King: Thank you. Good afternoon.
Juny Francois: Good afternoon, Commissioners. Juny Francois, 1560 Meridian Avenue,
Miami Beach, Florida. I am an entertainment and technology attorney, but today I come
as a proud graduate of Miami Carol City High School. Why this museum is important to
me as a graduate of Carol City is because if a museum like this existed when I was
coming up in the public school systems here in Miami, it would have taught me my
culture, my history. As someone who has had the pleasure of traveling to Africa and back
several times, 1 know how important it is for a museum that represents people that look
like me and students that are coming up. So, 1 support this museum, I support Marilyn
and everything that she's doing, and I say let's go for it.
Chair King: Thank you. Good afternoon.
Kathleen Shea: Good afternoon. Good afternoon, Madam Chair, members of the CRA
Board. My name is Kathy Shea. I reside at 7865 Camino Real in Dade County, Miami -
Dade County. I'm a 40-year resident of Miami -Dade County, and although I live in
Kendall now, I lived in Coconut Grove and even served on the City of Miami Commission
on the Status of Women for a number of years. I'm here today in support of this bond
resolution and the allocation for Miami MoCAAD to return what was once a women's
detention center to a vibrant cultural and civic hub. Then and now, I'm a huge enthusiast
of initiatives that instill cultural pride. And I've known Marilyn for many decades. I've
seen Miami MoCAAD become from a dream, from a thought, to a vision, to a plan, to a
series of programs, and hopefully now, to a facility situated in Overtown. That's a
destination, as Marilyn has often said, for arts and culture and technology for around the
world, but also a destination for people like myself white people who live in Kendall,
who may not come to the city of Miami too often. So, I thank you for your consideration
of this wonderful initiative, and I look forward to seeing you all on opening day. Thank
vou.
Chair King: Thank you. Good afternoon.
Rick Beasley: Madam Chair, good afternoon and to our chair -- to our Commissioners.
Rick Beasley. I represent two hats here. One as a board member for the Miami Visitors
Convention -- Convention and Visitors Bureau, but also the leader of the Workforce
Agency for Dade County. So, this project has two fronts for me, not only from a cultural
side, but also building talent for our respective community. So, I stand on behalf to
express my unwavering support for this resolution to allocate $25 million for the Miami
Museum for Contemporary Art of the African Diaspora. This initiative represents a
transformative opportunity for Overtown and our broader community. As you all know,
historically, Overtown has been the beacon of African culture and heritage. And by
converting an abandoned jailhouse into a state-of-the-art museum, we're not only
revitalizing a negative structure, but also symbolizing the resiliency of this wonderful
community we call Overtown. This metamorphosis will energize Overtown positioning in
as a premier cultural destination in the 21st century. Miami, MoCAAD's commitment to
integrating art and technology will provide an invaluable resource for our nearby
institutions like Booker T. Washington High School. Students will be -- have the benefit
from interactive art experience, augmented reality workshops, paid internships, and
fostering both educational and professional growth. Furthermore, this museum has the
potential to become a global pilgrimage site for the African diaspora, attracting visitors
all across the world and solidifying Overtown's place on the international cultural map.
Supporting this resolution is not just an investment in building this new center, but also,
it's about investing for our future, for our community, our youth, and the preservation
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and celebrity, of our rich African culture. So, I urge you to vote in favor of this allocation
and be a part of this historical transformation.
Chair King: Thank you. Good afternoon.
Alexis Brown: Good afternoon. Good afternoon, my name is Alexis Brown. I'm a native
of Miami, Florida. I also serve on the Multicultural Committee of the Tourism Board,
and I'm also the founder and CEO (Chief Executive Officer) of Social Exchange, which is
an entertainment agency that supports and celebrates black culture here in Miami.
Excited and also nervous. This is my first time ever speaking at a commission or a
chamber meeting. But the biggest thing that I want to share, in addition to all the things
that everyone has said before me, this is the first of its kind in South Florida. There is
nothing like this that currently exists. And as black people and people of color, we
deserve to have safe spaces to celebrate our culture, to celebrate our history, and to
allow for others to come and to learn our history. And so, I just wanted to thank you all
for this time, and hopefully all of you will support this resolution for this museum.
Chair King: Thank you. Good afternoon.
Curb Gardner: Good afternoon. My name is Curb Gardner. I am creative director, chief
strategy officer, and soon to be the CEO and executive director of the historic Hampton
House. When 1 arrived at the Hampton House, and in Miami, I'm not from here, I'm in
New York -- born in Tampa, but live here and in New York. And 1 thought about -- once I
got ingrained into Miami, I realized that Miami was -- could be an amazing gumbo. Like,
it could be an amazing gumbo. Why? Because it's got Haitian community, it's got the
Jamaican community, it's got a strong Jewish community, it has a white community, but it
all sits in the pot. And there's no heat, nobody's turning the heat on to mix these different
cultures in order to where we can experience them all. With the Jamaican community, not
speaking to the Bahamian community, because we all operate in our own different
segments, this institution is the right institution to bridge that divide. And where we can
go and understand the significance and the importance of art in the diaspora. We have,
at the Historic Hampton House, over the last two years have had Art Basel. We are part
of Art Basel VIP (Very Important Person), and in that space we are watching people
coming in from Finland and from Japan, all of these people that are coming in to
experience this culture in Miami beyond what they have now. So, an institution as
MoCAAD is so needed in -- in this area, such that people can get a real true flavor of
what all that makes up Miami. And so, you have an opportunity to turn this pot on to
make this amazing gumbo for the city. Thank you very much.
Chair King: Thank you. Is there anyone else that would like to speak on any item for the
Southeast Overtown/Park West CRA agenda? Seeing none, the public comment period is
closed.
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MINUTES APPROVAL
1. SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST CRA - REGULAR - DEC 12, 2024
10:00 AM
MOTION TO: Approve
RESULT: APPROVED
MOVER: Joe Carollo, Board Member, District Three
SECONDER: Damian Pardo, Board Member, District Two
AYES: King, Gabela, Pardo, Carollo
ABSENT: Reyes
Todd B. Hannon (Clerk of the Board): Chair? Chair?
Chair King: Hold on.
Mr. Hannon: Is there a motion to approve the minutes for December 12th?
Chair King: 1 forgot. That's right. May I have a motion to approve the --
Board Member Carollo: Move.
Chair King: -- minutes for December 12th, 2024 --
Board Member Pardo: Second.
Chair King: -- and January 23rd, 2025? I have a motion and a second. All in favor?
The Board Members (Collectively): Aye.
Chair King: Motion carries unanimously. And at this time, we will take up the Omni CRA
(Community Redevelopment Agency) meeting, chaired by Commissioner Damian Pardo.
Once Todd flips the tape.
Mr. Hannon: Yes, give us 60 seconds, and the Southeast Overtown/Park West CRA
meeting is officially adjourned.
Chair King: Closed. Concluded.
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2.
SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST CRA - REGULAR - JAN 23, 2025
10:00 AM
MOTION TO:
RESULT:
MOVER:
SECONDER:
AYES:
ABSENT:
Approve
APPROVED
Joe Carollo, Board Member, District Three
Damian Pardo, Board Member, District Two
King, Gabela, Pardo, Carollo
Reyes
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item Number 2, please see Item Number
1.
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CRA RESOLUTION(S)
1.
16688
CRA RESOLUTION
MAY BE WITHDRAWN
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE
SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT
AGENCY ("SEOPW CRA"), WITH ATTACHMENT(S), BY A FOUR -FIFTHS
(4/5THS) AFFIRMATIVE VOTE, AFTER AN ADVERTISED PUBLIC
HEARING, RATIFYING, APPROVING, AND CONFIRMING THE EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR'S RECOMMENDATION AND FINDING, ATTACHED AND
INCORPORATED HEREIN AS EXHIBIT "A," THAT COMPETITIVE
NEGOTIATION METHODS AND PROCEDURES ARE NOT PRACTICABLE
OR ADVANTAGEOUS TO THE SEOPW CRA PURSUANT TO SECTION(S)
18-85 AND 18-86 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS
AMENDED ("CITY CODE"), AS ADOPTED BY THE SEOPW CRA; WAIVING
SAID PROCEDURES FOR COMPETITIVE SEALED BIDDING;
AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO DISPERSE FUNDS, AT
HIS DISCRETION, ON A REIMBURSEMENT BASIS OR DIRECTLY TO
VENDORS, UPON PRESENTATION OF INVOICES AND SATISFACTORY
DOCUMENTATION, SUBJECT TO THE AVAILABILITY OF FUNDING, FROM
THE CORRESPONDING ACCOUNT NO. OTHER GRANTS AND AIDS,
ACCOUNT NO. 10050.920101.883000.0000.00000, IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO
EXCEED THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS AND ZERO CENTS
($300,000.00) ("FUNDS") TO MIAMI TOBACCO MANUFACTURER LLC, A
FLORIDA LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY ("M.T.M."), FOR THE EXPANSION
AND BUILD -OUT OF CREMO CIGAR FACTORY ("PROJECT") LOCATED
AT 1029 & 1033 N.W. 3RD AVENUE, MIAMI, FLORIDA 33136
("PROPERTY"); FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO
NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT, INCLUDING ANY AND ALL
DOCUMENTS NECESSARY, ALL IN FORMS ACCEPTABLE TO COUNSEL,
FOR THE PURPOSE STATED HEREIN; PROVIDING FOR
INCORPORATION OF RECITALS AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
MOTION TO: Withdraw
RESULT: WITHDRAWN
MOVER: Miguel Angel Gabela, Board Member, District One
SECONDER: Joe Carollo, Board Member, District Three
AYES: King, Gabela, Pardo, Carollo
ABSENT: Reyes
Chair King: Good afternoon. Good afternoon. Welcome to the Southeast Overtown/Park
West CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) meeting for April loth, 2025. Let me
start this meeting. Welcome to the Overtown Southeast/Park West CRA meeting. Mr.
Executive Director.
James McQueen (Executive Director): Good afternoon, Madam Chair. We are ready to
begin the meeting, so Mr. Brown, at the appropriate time, will read into the record the
items that will be presented.
Chair King: Thank you. Please go ahead so that we can --
(COMMENTS MADE OFF THE RECORD)
Chair King: Go ahead.
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Vincent Brown (Deputy Executive Director/Staff Counsel): Good afternoon. Item -- the
first item would be a motion to withdraw file number 16688. That item was previously
indefinitely deferred. We want to withdraw that item. We need a motion to withdraw that.
Board Member Carollo: Which one is --
Chair King: Which one is that --
Board Member Carollo: What -- which one?
Chair King: -- RE.1 [sic]?
Mr. Brown: RE.1 [sic] -- well, item number 1.
Chair King: Okay. Thank you.
Board Member Carollo: Okay. That's the one that says CRA Resolution?
Mr. Brown: Yes.
Chair King: Okay. May 1 have a motion to withdraw?
Mr. Brown: Yes, ma'am.
Chair King: RE.1 [sic].
Board Member Gabela: What are we doing? Withdrawing?
Chair King: Overtown meeting. We're withdrawing RE.1 [sic].
Board Member Gabela: Okay, motion.
Chair King: I got a motion. I have a second.
Board Member Carollo: Hold on, when you say RE.1 [sic], it's 1.
Chair King: This the --
Mr. Brown: It's ---
Chair King: -- the first item.
Board Member Carollo: Yeah.
Chair King: Grant to Miami Tobacco Manufacturer. We're withdrawing that item.
Mr. Brown: Yes, ma'am.
Chair King: Okay.
Board Member Carollo: Wait, wait, wait. I have a different one here on one.
Board Member Pardo: It might be Omni.
Board Member Carollo: What that?
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Chair King: Are you in the Omni or the CRA Overtown?
Board Member Carollo: Oh, no, no, no, on the CRA. 1 think it's the Omni that I'm in.
Chair King: Okay. We're in Southeast Overtown/Park West.
Board Member Carollo: Hold on.
(COMMENTS MADE OFF THE RECORD)
Board Member Carollo: No, I'm in the Southeast Overtown/Park West, but there's an
Item 1 here for $300,000. Is that the one we're talking about that we're withdrawing?
Mr. McQueen: Yes, sir.
Mr. Brown: Yes, sir.
Chair King: Yes.
Mr. Brown: We're withdrawing that number.
Board Member Carollo: Okay. All right.
Chari King: All right. So, 1 have a motion and a second. All in favor?
The Board Members (Collectively): Aye.
Chair King: Okay. Item has been withdrawn. Go ahead.
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2. CRA RESOLUTION
17450 A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ("BOARD") OF THE
SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT
AGENCY ("SEOPW CRA"), WITH ATTACHMENT(S), RESCINDING
RESOLUTION NO. CRA-R-24-0032, ADOPTED ON MAY 23, 2024, IN ITS
ENTIRETY AND ENACTING THIS NEW RESOLUTION TO CLARIFY
PROJECT DESIGNATIONS, AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
TO SEEK A NON -RECOURSE BOND ISSUE LOAN SECURED BY A
PLEDGE OF TAX INCREMENT FINANCING ("TIF") TO BE GENERATED
FROM WITHIN THE REDEVELOPMENT AREA, IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO
EXCEED ONE HUNDRED SIXTY MILLION DOLLARS AND ZERO CENTS
($160,000,000.00) ("FUNDS"), FOR FINANCING REDEVELOPMENT
PROJECTS AND ACTIVITIES IDENTIFIED IN REQUEST FOR
INFORMATION ("RFI") NO. 23-03, ATTACHED AND INCORPORATED
HEREIN AS EXHIBIT "A," ("PURPOSE") AND ACCEPTING THE EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR'S RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE PROPOSED BOND
PROJECTS ("BOND PROJECTS") LISTED IN EXHIBIT "B," ATTACHED AND
INCORPORATED HEREIN, FOR THE PURPOSE STATED HEREIN;
FURTHER DIRECTING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO PRESENT ANY
PROPOSED BOND AGREEMENT TO THE BOARD FOR ITS
CONSIDERATION AND, IF SATISFACTORY, APPROVAL; PROVIDING FOR
INCORPORATION OF RECITALS AND FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: CRA-R-25-0011
MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Joe Carollo, Board Member, District Three
SECONDER: Damian Pardo, Board Member, District Two
AYES: King, Gabela, Pardo, Carollo
ABSENT: Reyes
Vincent Brown (Deputy Executive Director/Staff Counsel): Item 2 is a resolution with
attachments rescinding CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) R-24-0023, approval
of bond proposals RFI 23-03 in its entirety and enact a new resolution to clarify project
designated -- listed in Exhibit B. Item number 3 is a resolution with attachments
rescinding CRA 23-003, an agreement for enhanced police services in its entirety, and
enact a new resolution to clarify the contract term provisions, authorize the executive
director to negotiate and execute an amendment to the enhanced police services
agreement, substantially in the same form as attached in Exhibit A, in an amount not to
exceed $955,,552.43. Item number 4 is a resolution with attachments by four-ffths vote,
ratifying, approving, confirming executive director's recommendation and finding
attached and incorporated as Exhibit A, approving additional funding in the amount of
$34, 725 to support renovations and relocation of the Dunn Josephine Hotel located at
1028 Northwest 3rd Avenue, Unit 104, Miami, Florida 33136, for a total project cost not
to exceed $932,021.20. Item number 5 is a resolution with attachments rescinding CRA
R-24-0067, series 2024 bond in its entirety, enact a new resolution providing for the
issuance of tax increment revenue bonds in an amount not to exceed $175 million to be
used for construction or rehabilitation of affordable housing, finance of construction, and
other capital improvements in the redevelopment area, refinancing certain outstanding
obligations. Those are your five items, Madam Chair.
Chair King: Thank you. And at this time --
Board Member Gabela: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
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Meeting Minutes April 10, 2025
Chair King: -- I'm sorry, would you like to?
Board Member Gabela: 1 got a motion.
Board Member Carollo: No, we have to hear from the public first.
Board Member Gabela: Oh, I'm sorry. I apologize. I jumped the gun.
Chair King: No, you're right. May I have a motion to set the agenda?
Board Member Carollo: It's a motion.
Board Member Gabela: Second.
Chair King: I got a motion and a second. All in favor?
The Board Members (Collectively): Aye.
Chair King: Agenda has been set.
[Later...)
Chair King: And I would just like to add one thing. Overtown has two amazing
elementary schools, Frederick Douglass Elementary School and Dunbar Elementary
School. And more than just the high school, if we can get those little babies interested in
art and show them a new creative space, we are going to be making history. Just the
exposure alone to our little ones. And we have the opportunity to show them this
throughout their educational career, from kindergarten all the way up to high school.
We're going to get some artists coming out of that space. We are going to expose them to
art and they're just going to take off. And it's going to be a wonderful, wonderful addition
to Overtown and for the families and the entire community and the U.S. And the U.S. So,
thank you, Marilyn, for your vision, and I'm so honored to be a part of it. Commissioner?
Board Member Carollo: My request is very simple. Marilyn and the rest of you, I just
want you to make sure that you get all the good football players at Booker T. to go to the
U. Okay? Not Florida, not Florida State. The U. That's all.
Chair King: May I have a motion for --
Board Member Carollo: Move.
Chair King: -- RE.2 [sic], 3, and 4?
Board Member Carollo: Move.
Board Member Pardo: Second.
Chair King: I have a motion and a second. All in favor?
The Board Members (Collectively): Aye.
Chair King: Okay.
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Meeting Minutes April 10, 2025
3. CRA RESOLUTION
17451 A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE
SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT
AGENCY OF THE CITY OF MIAMI ("SEOPW CRA"), WITH
ATTACHMENT(S), RESCINDING RESOLUTION NO. CRA-R-23-0003,
ADOPTED ON JANUARY 26, 2023, IN ITS ENTIRETY AND ENACTING A
NEW RESOLUTION TO CLARIFY CONTRACT TERM PROVISION,
AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO NEGOTIATE AND
EXECUTE A FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE AGREEMENT, IN
SUBSTANTIALLY THE ATTACHED FORM, ATTACHED AND
INCORPORATED HEREIN AS EXHIBIT "A," WITH THE CITY OF MIAMI
("CITY") FOR THE PROVISION OF ENHANCED POLICE SERVICES WITHIN
THE SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST REDEVELOPMENT AREA
("PROGRAM"); FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO
CONTINUE ALLOCATING FUNDS ON AN ANNUAL BASIS TO THE CITY IN
AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED NINE HUNDRED FIFTY-FIVE THOUSAND
TWO HUNDRED FIFTY-TWO DOLLARS AND FORTY-THREE CENTS
($955,252.43) ("FUNDS") FROM THE SEOPW CRA'S TAX INCREMENT
FUND, ENTITLED "OTHER GRANTS AND AIDS," ACCOUNT CODE
NO.10050.920101.883000.0000.00000, SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY OF
FUNDING, TO CARRY OUT THE PROGRAM ("PURPOSE"); FURTHER
AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO NEGOTIATE AND
EXECUTE ANY AND ALL DOCUMENTS NECESSARY, ALL IN FORMS
ACCEPTABLE TO COUNSEL; PROVIDING FOR INCORPORATION OF
RECITALS AND FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: CRA-R-25-0012
MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Joe Carollo, Board Member, District Three
SECONDER: Damian Pardo, Board Member, District Two
AYES: King, Gabela, Pardo, Carollo
ABSENT: Reyes
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item Number 3, please see Item Number
2.
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Meeting Minutes April 10, 2025
4. CRA RESOLUTION
17452 A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE
SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT
AGENCY ("SEOPW CRA"), WITH ATTACHMENT(S), BY A FOUR -FIFTHS
(4/5THS) AFFIRMATIVE VOTE, AFTER AN ADVERTISED PUBLIC
HEARING, RATIFYING, APPROVING, AND CONFIRMING THE EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR'S RECOMMENDATION AND FINDING, ATTACHED AND
INCORPORATED HEREIN AS EXHIBIT "A," THAT COMPETITIVE
NEGOTIATION METHODS AND PROCEDURES ARE NOT PRACTICABLE
OR ADVANTAGEOUS, PURSUANT TO SECTION(S) 18-85 AND 18-86 OF
THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED ("CITY
CODE"), AS ADOPTED BY THE SEOPW CRA; WAIVING SAID
PROCEDURES FOR COMPETITIVE SEALED BIDDING; 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,
SUBJECT TO THE AVAILABILITY OF FUNDING, FROM THE
CORRESPONDING ACCOUNT NO. 10050.920101.883000.0000.00000
"OTHER GRANTS AND AIDS"; AUTHORIZING ADDITIONAL GRANT
FUNDING IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED THIRTY-FOUR THOUSAND
SEVEN HUNDRED DOLLARS AND TWENTY-FIVE CENTS ($34,700.25)
("ADDITIONAL FUNDING") FOR A TOTAL PROJECT COST OF NINE
HUNDRED THIRTY-TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-ONE DOLLARS AND
TWENTY CENTS ($932,021.20) ("FUNDS") TO ASSIST J.E.J. PROPERTIES,
INC., A FLORIDA FOR -PROFIT CORPORATION ("JEJ"), FOR THE
RENOVATION AND REHABILITATION OF THE DUNNS-JOSEPHINE
HOTEL, LOCATED AT 1028 N.W. 3RD AVENUE, MIAMI, FLORIDA 33136
("PROPERTY"); FURTHER CLARIFYING THAT FUNDS MAY BE USED
TOWARDS PROJECT RELATED SOFT COSTS INCLUDING INSURANCE,
ENGINEERING FEES, AND PERMIT FEES ("PURPOSE"); FURTHER
AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO NEGOTIATE AND
EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT, INCLUDING ANY AND ALL DOCUMENTS
NECESSARY, ALL IN FORMS ACCEPTABLE TO COUNSEL, FOR THE
PURPOSE STATED HEREIN; PROVIDING FOR THE INCORPORATION OF
RECITALS AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: CRA-R-25-0013
MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Joe Carollo, Board Member, District Three
SECONDER: Damian Pardo, Board Member, District Two
AYES: King, Gabela, Pardo, Carollo
ABSENT: Reyes
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item Number 3, please see Item Number
1.
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Southeast Overtown/Park West CRA
Meeting Minutes April 10, 2025
5. CRA RESOLUTION
17453 A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE
SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT
AGENCY ("SEOPW CRA"), WITH ATTACHMENT(S), RESCINDING AND
REPLACING RESOLUTION NO. CRA-R-24- 0067 ADOPTED ON OCTOBER
24, 2024, IN ITS ENTIRETY, AND ADOPTING A NEW RESOLUTION
PROVIDING FOR THE ISSUANCE OF TAX INCREMENT REVENUE BONDS,
SERIES 2025 ("SERIES 2025 BONDS"), IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED
ONE HUNDRED SEVENTY-FIVE MILLION DOLLARS AND ZERO CENTS
($175,000,000.00) TO BE ISSUED IN ONE OR MORE SERIES, FOR THE
PURPOSE OF FINANCING CERTAIN GRANTS TO BE USED FOR THE
CONSTRUCTION OR REHABILITATION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING,
FINANCING THE CONSTRUCTION OF OTHER CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE REDEVELOPMENT AREA, AND REFINANCING CERTAIN
OUTSTANDING OBLIGATIONS; DELEGATING THE AWARD OF THE SALE
OF THE SERIES 2025 BONDS TO THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR;
PROVIDING FOR SECURITY FOR THE HOLDERS OF SUCH SERIES 2025
BONDS; APPROVING THE FORM OF A PRELIMINARY OFFICIAL
STATEMENT AND DELEGATING TO THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR THE
AUTHORITY TO DEEM FINAL FOR CERTAIN PURPOSES AND APPROVE
THE USE OF AND DISTRIBUTION OF THE PRELIMINARY OFFICIAL
STATEMENT AND FINAL OFFICIAL STATEMENT WITH RESPECT TO THE
SERIES 2025 BONDS; APPOINTING A REGISTRAR, PAYING AGENT AND
FISCAL AGENT; APPOINTING AN ESCROW AGENT; APPOINTING A
VERIFICATION AGENT; PROVIDING CERTAIN OTHER COVENANTS AND
AGREEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH THE ISSUANCE THEREOF;
PROVIDING CERTAIN OTHER DETAILS WITH RESPECT THERETO;
PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: CRA-R-25-0014
MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Miguel Angel Gabela, Board Member, District One
SECONDER: Damian Pardo, Board Member, District Two
AYES: King, Gabela, Pardo, Carollo
ABSENT: Reyes
Note for the Record: For additional minutes referencing Item Number 5, please see
Item Number I.
Chair King: And because I wanted it to take it separate so there is no confusion, may I
have a motion for RE.5 [sicJ?
Board Member Gabela: A motion.
Board Member Pardo: Second.
Chair King: All in favor?
The Board Members (Collectively): Aye.
Chair King: Motion carries unanimously. Thank you all.
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Meeting Minutes April 10, 2025
ADJOURNMENT
James D. McQueen (Executive Director): Thank you very much.
The meeting adjourned at 12:48 p.m.
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