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HomeMy WebLinkAboutR-25-0320City of Miami Resolution R-25-0320 Legislation City Hall 3500 Pan American Drive Miami, FL 33133 www.miamigov.com File Number: 17911 Final Action Date: 7/24/2025 A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH ATTACHMENT(S), APPROVING, SETTING FORTH, AND SUBMITTING TO THE ELECTORATE A PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED ("CHARTER"); AMENDING SECTION 29-B OF THE CHARTER, TITLED "CITY -OWNED PROPERTY SALE OR LEASE — GENERALLY," TO AUTHORIZE THE CITY COMMISSION TO APPROVE THE SALE OR LEASE OF CITY -OWNED NON -WATERFRONT PROPERTY BY A FOUR -FIFTHS AFFIRMATIVE VOTE IF FEWER THAN THREE (3) PROPOSALS ARE RECEIVED FOLLOWING PUBLIC NOTICE SOLICITING PROPOSALS, PROVIDED ALL OTHER SAFEGUARDS, INCLUDING FAIR MARKET VALUE AND VOTER APPROVAL FOR WATERFRONT PROPERTY, REMAIN IN EFFECT; CALLING FOR A REFERENDUM AND PROVIDING THAT THE CHARTER AMENDMENT WILL BE SUBMITTED TO THE ELECTORATE AT THE REFERENDUM SPECIAL ELECTION SCHEDULED FOR NOVEMBER 4, 2025; DESIGNATING AND APPOINTING THE CITY CLERK AS THE OFFICIAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE CITY COMMISSION WITH RESPECT TO THE USE OF VOTER REGISTRATION BOOKS AND RECORDS; FURTHER DIRECTING THE CITY CLERK TO CAUSE A CERTIFIED COPY OF THE HEREIN RESOLUTION TO BE DELIVERED TO THE SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA NOT LESS THAN FORTY-FIVE (45) DAYS PRIOR TO THE DATE OF SUCH ELECTION; AND PROVIDING AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE FOR THIS RESOLUTION. WHEREAS, the City of Miami ("City") owns various parcels of real property, the sale or lease of which is governed by the Charter of the City of Miami, Florida, as amended ("Charter"); and WHEREAS, Section 29-B of the Charter currently requires public notice soliciting proposals for the sale or lease of City -owned property and, among other provisions, mandates that "there shall have been at least three (3) written proposals received from prospective purchasers or lessees; however, if there are less than three (3) such proposals received and if the guaranteed return under the proposal whose acceptance is being considered is equal to fair market value, the City Commission determines that the contemplated sale or lease will be in the City's best interest then, subject to the approval of a majority of the votes cast by the electorate at a referendum, the sale or lease may be consummated;" and WHEREAS, Section 29-B of the Charter further creates an exception to the above - referenced referendum requirement when the subject land to be sold or leased is non -waterfront and valued at five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) or less; and City of Miami Page 1 of 8 File ID: 17911 (Revision: A) Printed On: 8/19/2025 File ID: 17911 Enactment Number: R-25-0320 WHEREAS, the City Commission finds that incorporating clarifying revisions and modifying the requirement to receive at least three (3) proposals for the sale or lease of non - waterfront property is in the City's best interest, provided that such sale or lease is approved by a four -fifths (4/5ths) vote of the Commission, and all other safeguards set forth in Section 29-B remain in effect, including public advertisement, open solicitation of proposals, and the requirement to obtain fair market value; and WHEREAS, the City Commission finds that the recommended revisions will promote the efficient, transparent, and fiscally responsible management and disposition of City -owned non - waterfront property, particularly in instances where market interest is limited; and WHEREAS, on July 24, 2025, the Miami City Commission adopted Resolution No. R-25- 0319, directing the City Attorney to prepare a proposed amendment to Section 29-B of the Charter to authorize the City Commission to approve the sale or lease of City -owned non - waterfront property by a four -fifths (4/5ths) affirmative vote if fewer than three (3) proposals are received following public notice soliciting proposals, provided all other safeguards, including fair market value and voter approval for waterfront property, remain in effect; and WHEREAS, the City Commission wishes to submit the proposed amendment of the Charter to the electorate for approval or disapproval at the Referendum Special Election scheduled for November 4, 2025; 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 fully set forth in this Section and represent findings of the City Commission. Section 2. In accordance with the provisions of Section 6.03 of the Miami -Dade County Home Rule Charter, a Referendum Special Election is to be called and directed in the City of Miami, Florida, from 7:00 A.M. until 7:00 P.M. on November 4, 2025, for the purpose of submitting to the qualified electors of the City for their approval or disapproval of the proposed Charter Amendment to amend the language of the Charter to authorize the City Commission to approve the sale or lease of City -owned property by a four -fifths (4/5ths) affirmative vote if fewer than three (3) proposals are received after public notice soliciting proposals. Section 3. Section 29-B of the Charter is proposed to be amended in the following particulars:' "CHARTER AND CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA SUBPART A. THE CHARTER Sec. 29-B. City -owned property sale or lease —Generally. 1 Words and/or figures stricken through shall be deleted. Underscored words and/or figures shall be added. The remaining provisions are now in effect and remain unchanged. Asterisks indicate omitted and unchanged material. City of Miami Page 2 of 8 File ID: 17911 (Revision: A) Printed on: 8/19/2025 File ID: 17911 Enactment Number: R-25-0320 Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained in this Charter or the City Code, and except as provided below, the city commission is prohibited from favorably considering any sale or lease of property owned by the city unless there is a return to the city of fair market value under such proposed sale or lease. The city commission is also prohibited from favorably considering any sale or lease of city -owned property unless (a) there shall have been, prior to the date of the city commission's consideration of such sale or lease, an advertisement soliciting proposals for said sale or lease published in a daily newspaper of general paid circulation in the city, allowing not less than ninety (90) days for the city's receipt of proposals from prospective purchasers or lessees, said advertisement to be no less than one-fourth (1/4) page and the headline in the advertisement to be in a type no smaller than 18-point and, (b) except as provided below, there shall have been at least three (3) written proposals received from prospective purchasers or lessees; however, if there are less than three (3) such proposals received and if the guaranteed return under the proposal whose acceptance is being considered is equal to fair market value and the city commission determines that the contemplated sale or lease will be in the city's best interest then, subject to the approval by 4/5ths of the city commission of a majority of the votes cast by the electorate at a referendum, the sale or lease may be consummated, and (c) in the case of waterfront property, the sale or lease has also been approved by a majority of the votes cast by the electorate at a referendum. Any lease for the development of improvements of city -owned property which has been approved by voter referendum shall require additional voter referendum approval for a development on City -owned property where the developer has not obtained the necessary building permits within four (4) years of the effective date of the lease. Such section shall not be applicable when the delay in the performance of any obligation is as a result of force majeure, or litigation that questions the validity of the vote, or the City Commission action to place the question for referendum, then the performance of such obligation shall be extended by the length of the delay. In the case of city owned property which is not waterfront, when the value of such property to be sold or leased {individual leaseholds within a jingle city owned property shall not be considered as a single parcel of property for such valua4e-n-p-69peses) is five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) or less, based on an appraisal performed by a state certified appraiser, the city commission, by a 'l/5ths affirmative vote, may yell or lease said city owncd property aftcr compliancc with the advertisement requirements yet forth above but without the necessity of a referendum. The above provisions and any other city requirements for competitive bidding shall not apply when: (a) conveying property to implement housing programs or projects which are intended to benefit persons or households with low and/or moderate income, the criteria of which to be provided for by federal and/or state law or by the city commission; (b) conveying property to implement projects authorized under the Florida Community Redevelopment Act of 1969, as amended; (c) conveying property to implement projects of any governmental agency or instrumentality; (d) disposing of property acquired as a result of foreclosure; (e) disposing of property acquired in connection with delinquent taxes which properties were conveyed to the city by the Miami -Dade board of county commissioners under the provisions of Section 197.592 Florida Statutes, as amended; and City of Miami Page 3 of 8 File ID: 17911 (Revision: A) Printed on: 8/19/2025 File ID: 17911 Enactment Number: R-25-0320 (f) disposing of non -waterfront property to the owner of an adjacent property when the subject property is 7,500 square feet or less or the subject non -waterfront property is non -buildable. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the city commission, by a 4/5ths affirmative vote, may: (a) grant a lessee of city -owned property a one-time extension during the last five years of its lease, without the necessity of a referendum, for the purpose of funding additional capital improvements. The extended term shall not exceed twenty-five percent of the original term or ten years, whichever is less. The granting of such an extension is subject to the lessee paying fair market rent as determined by the city at the time of such extension and not being in default of its lease with the city nor in arrearage of any monies due the city; and (b) amend the Lease Agreement between the City of Miami and Biscayne Bay Restaurant Corp., d/b/a Rusty Pelican, dated February 13, 1970, as amended, to (i) extend the lease for an additional term of fifteen (15) years, with the option to renew for two (2) additional five (5) year periods, (ii) increase the amount of the minimum guarantee to the City to at least $360,000 per lease year effective upon execution of the lease amendment, and (iii) require Rusty Pelican to complete capital improvements to the property, including a public baywalk, in the amount of not less than $3 Million, within twenty-four (24) months of the effective date of the lease amendment; and (c) waive competitive bidding and execute a lease with Dade Heritage Trust, Inc. for the City -owned building located at 190 Southeast 12th Terrace, for a term of thirty (30) years, with two (2) thirty (30) year renewals, for minimum annual rent of $600.00 with Consumer Price Index adjustments, with restrictions, reversions, and retention by the City of all other rights; and (d) waive competitive bidding and execute a Fifth Amendment to the Lease Agreement with Aligned Bayshore Marina, LLC, also known as Monty's, to extend the current lease term by an additional term of approximately thirty-two (32) years (to expire May 31, 2067), with two (2) ten (10) year options to renew for a total term of fifty-two (52) years (to expire May 31, 2087); which will increase minimum rent payment by an additional two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000.00) per lease year, for a minimum of ten million dollars ($10,000,000.00) over the base term of the amended Lease Agreement, or one and three quarters percent (1.75%) of gross rent receipts from the Property, whichever is greater, as additional rent due to the City and, commencing January 1, 2019, minimum annual total rent (inclusive of the additional minimum rent) shall be one million five hundred thousand dollars ($1,500,000.00), plus an additional twenty five thousand dollars ($25,000.00) to be paid on an annual basis for the full amended term to a special fund to be established by the City for the benefit of low income housing renovation; further providing capital improvements to the Property of a minimum of seven million five hundred thousand dollars ($7,500,000.00) to be spent within three (3) years of the electorate's approval of the Fifth Amendment to the Lease Agreement; further creating a capital account requiring a minimum additional investment in the Property of four million dollars ($4,000,000.00) over the amended Lease term, inclusive of the renewal options; requiring a Transfer Fee payment to the City if the Property is transferred or assigned; and further requiring a Refinancing Fee payment to the City should the Property be refinanced after the initial refinancing. City of Miami Page 4 of 8 File ID: 17911 (Revision: A) Printed on: 8/19/2025 File ID: 17911 Enactment Number: R-25-0320 (e) waive competitive bidding and approve the Fifth Modification to the Lease with ESJ JI Leasehold, LLC, which modifies the remaining term of approximately forty three (43) years and extends the Term from the year 2060 to the year 2099 and includes a Fifteen (15) year option to extend the Lease to the year 2114; providing an additional annual rent payment of Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($250,000.00) increasing, once the proposed hotel has stabilized, to the greater of One Million Two Hundred Twenty Thousand Dollars ($1,220,000.00) or Five Percent (5%) of annual hotel gross revenues from a new privately funded hotel development with a minimum cost of Fifty Million Dollars ($50,000,000.00) with a maximum of Three Hundred (300) rooms and a maximum height of One Hundred Thirty (130) feet, at ESJ's expense and option, and a design subject to City approval and successful land use and zoning changes, as necessary, with said rent being in addition to the currently received greater of annual rent of Five Hundred Two Thousand One Hundred Sixty Eight Dollars ($502,168.00) and percentage rent from Jungle Island revenue; with parking spaces sufficient to meet zoning ordinance requirements; ancillary improvements consisting of retail and/or restaurant space of up to ten thousand (10,000) square feet and meeting room space of up to thirty thousand (30,000) square feet; with an aggregate payment of Seven Hundred Thousand Dollars ($700,000.00) towards the Ichimura-Miami Japanese Gardens for construction of a walkway to Jungle Island and necessary repairs and maintenance of the Ichimura-Miami Japanese Gardens; payments totaling Seven Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($750,000.00) over a ten (10) year period to be used for affordable housing; establishing a reserve account for capital repairs of Two Hundred Thousand Dollars ($200,000.00) per year; implementing a transfer fee of Three Percent (3%) of gross sales proceeds if the Property is transferred or assigned; implementing a refinancing fee of One Percent (1 %) of refinancing loan proceeds if the Property is refinanced after the initial refinancing. (f) waive competitive bidding to negotiate and execute a Ground Lease and Master Development Agreement with Miami Freedom Park, LLC, for a total lease term of ninety- nine (99) years, for approximately seventy-three (73) acres of City -owned property located generally at 1400 Northwest 37th Avenue, Miami, Florida 33125, also known as Melreese County Club, with a minimum annual base rent payable to the City equal to the greater of (a) fair market value as determined by state certified appraisers or (b) five percent (5.0%) of rent from the retail, office, and hotel development within the Demised Property, but annual base rent of no less than three million five hundred seventy-seven thousand three hundred sixty-five dollars ($3,577,365.00), in addition to a contribution to the City of twenty million dollars ($20,000,000.00) payable over thirty (30) years in annual installments, and any rent increases and/or additional rents negotiated by the parties; authorizing the use of the Demised Property for a soccer stadium; with at least one (1) million square feet of art and entertainment center including food and beverage venues, offices, retail, and a hotel with at least 750 units and conference center with ancillary commercial uses, guaranteeing a living wage for all on -site employees, further requiring MFP to undertake the remediation and Site development for a public park of approximately fifty-eight (58) acres to be developed on property adjacent to the Demised Property as MFP's sole cost, with any restrictions, reversions, and retention by the City of all other rights including at least a one (1 %) transfer fee payable to the City, with such Lease and Master Development Agreement requiring City Commission approval by a four -fifths (4/sths) vote. (g) waive competitive bidding and approve an amendment to the Lease with Riverside Wharf LLC, to grant Riverside Wharf LLC one or more renewal options to extend the existing term by an additional term not to exceed fifty (50) years, to increase rent by fifty City of Miami Page 5 of 8 File ID: 17911 (Revision: A) Printed on: 8/19/2025 File ID: 17911 Enactment Number: R-25-0320 percent (50%) or, if greater, fair market rent, to require a private investment of at least 30 Million Dollars ($30,000,000), and also requiring that the tenant construct the project consistent with zoning, and resiliency requirements and construct a new seawall and publicly accessible riverwalk at its sole expense and at no cost to the city. (h) waive competitive bidding and approve an amended and restated Lease with HRM Owner LLC, to grant HRM Owner LLC a term not to exceed ninety-nine (99) years, to include the adjacent James L. Knight Center property, for fair market value rent, including the greater of participation rent of 2.5% of gross revenues and increased annual rent from $250,000.00 to $2,500,000.00, and also requiring that the tenant redevelop the property and include, at minimum, a 615-key hotel, 188,000 square feet convention/meeting space, 682 apartments, parking, a $25,000,000.00 affordable housing contribution to the City, additional public green space and an expanded Riverwalk at its sole expense and at no cost to the City. Notwithstanding anything in this Charter to the contrary, the City may enter into leases or management agreements, for any City -owned submerged lands, with entities having a possessory or ownership interest in the abutting riparian uplands for building marinas, docks or like facilities, using methods adopted by ordinance on the condition that such leases or management agreements result in a return to the City of at least fair market value." Section 4. The Referendum Special Election shall be held at the polling places in the precincts designated, all as shown on the list attached hereto and made a part hereof and referred to as Exhibit "A" or as may be designated by the Supervisor of Elections of Miami -Dade County, Florida, in conformity with the provisions of the general laws of the State of Florida ("State"). The Precinct Election Clerks and Inspectors to serve at said polling places on said Referendum Special Election date shall be those designated by the Supervisor of Elections of Miami -Dade County, Florida, for such purpose in accordance with the general laws of the State. A description of the registration books and records which pertain to Referendum Special Election precincts wholly or partly within the City and which the City is adopting and desires to use for holding such Referendum Special Election is all voter information cards, registration books, records and certificates pertaining to electors of the City and established and maintained as official by the Supervisor of Elections of Miami -Dade County, Florida, in conformity with the provisions of the general laws of the State, are hereby adopted and declared to be, and shall hereafter be recognized and accepted as, official registration cards, books, records and certificates of the City. Section 5. In compliance with Section 100.342, Florida Statutes, regarding any Special Election not otherwise provided for, there shall be at least thirty (30) days' notice of the Special Election by publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the City or publication on Miami - Dade County's website as provided in Section 50.0311, Florida Statutes, the City's website, or the Supervisor of Elections of Miami -Dade County, Florida website. The City Clerk is authorized and directed to publish notice of the adoption of this Resolution and of the provisions hereof at least twice, once in the fifth week and once in the third week prior to the week in which the aforesaid Referendum Special Election is to be held, which notice shall be substantially in the following form: "NOTICE OF REFERENDUM SPECIAL ELECTION TO AMEND THE MIAMI CITY CHARTER TO BE HELD TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2025 IN THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA PURSUANT TO RESOLUTION NO. R-25-0320 City of Miami Page 6 of 8 File ID: 17911 (Revision: A) Printed on: 8/19/2025 File ID: 17911 Enactment Number: R-25-0320 A Referendum Special Election will be held on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, from 7:00 A.M. until 7:00 P.M. in the City of Miami, Florida, at the polling places in the several Referendum Special Election precincts designated by the Supervisor of Elections of Miami -Dade County, Florida, as set forth herein, unless otherwise provided by law, and submitting to the qualified electors of the City of Miami, Florida, the following question: "SHALL THE CITY CHARTER BE AMENDED TO ALLOW THE CITY COMMISSION, BY A FOUR -FIFTHS VOTE, TO APPROVE THE SALE OR LEASE OF NON -WATERFRONT CITY -OWNED PROPERTY WHEN FEWER THAN THREE PROPOSALS ARE RECEIVED AFTER PUBLIC NOTICE, PROVIDED THAT OTHER SAFEGUARDS, INCLUDING FAIR MARKET VALUE AND VOTER APPROVAL FOR WATERFRONT PROPERTY, REMAIN IN EFFECT?" This Charter Amendment will amend Section 29-B of the Charter to allow the City Commission, by a four -fifths vote, to approve the sale or lease of City -owned non -waterfront property when fewer than three proposals are received after public notice soliciting proposals, and further clarifies that any sale or lease of waterfront property will require voter approval. By order of the Commission of the City of Miami, Florida. Section 6. The official ballot to be used at said Referendum Special Election shall be in full compliance with the laws of the State with respect to vote -by -mail ballots and to the use of the mechanical voting machines or the Computer Election System, and shall be in substantially the following form: "Official Ballot" Referendum Special Election, November 4, 2025 Miami, Florida: Charter Amendment to Authorize Non -Waterfront Property Sales or Leases With Limited Market Interest "Shall the City Charter be amended to allow the City Commission, by a four -fifths vote, to approve the sale or lease of non -waterfront City -owned property when fewer than three proposals are received after public notice, provided that other safeguards, including fair market value and voter approval for waterfront property, remain in effect?" YES NO Section 7. The form of the ballot shall be in accordance with the requirements of general election laws. Electors desiring to vote in approval of the Question described above shall be instructed to vote their selection next to the word "YES" within the ballot containing the statement relating to the Question. Electors desiring to vote to disapprove the Question shall be City of Miami Page 7 of 8 File ID: 17911 (Revision: A) Printed on: 8/19/2025 File ID: 17911 Enactment Number: R-25-0320 instructed to vote their selection next to the word "NO" within the ballot containing the statement relating to the Question. Section 8. The City Clerk shall cause to be prepared vote -by -mail ballots containing the Question set forth in Section 6 above for the use of vote -by -mail electors entitled to cast such ballots in said Referendum Special Election. Section 9. All qualified electors of the City shall be permitted to vote in said Referendum Special Election and the Supervisor of Elections of Miami -Dade County, Florida, is hereby requested, authorized, and directed to furnish, at the cost and expense of the City, a list of all qualified electors residing in the City as shown by the registration books and records of the Office of said Supervisor of Elections and duly certify the same for delivery to and for use by the election officials designated to serve at the respective polling places in said Referendum Special Election precincts. Section 10. For the purpose of enabling persons to register who are qualified to vote in said Referendum Special Election on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, and who have not registered under the provisions of the general laws of the State and Chapter 16 of the Code of the City of Miami, Florida, or who have transferred their legal residence from one voting precinct to another in the City, they may register Monday through Friday, from 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. at the Miami - Dade County Office of the Supervisor of Elections located at 2700 Northwest 87th Avenue, Miami, Florida, within such period of time as may be designated by the Supervisor. In addition to the above place and times, qualified persons may register at such branch offices and may also register to vote online for the purpose of voting in the herein described Referendum Special Election during such times and on such dates as may be designated by the Supervisor. Section 11 Todd B. Hannon, the City Clerk of the City of Miami, Florida, or his duly appointed successor, is hereby designated and appointed as the official representative of the Commission of the City of Miami, Florida, in all transactions with the Supervisor related to matters pertaining to the use of the registration books and the holding of said Referendum Special Election. Section 12. The City Clerk shall deliver a certified copy of this Resolution to the Supervisor not less than forty-five (45) days prior to the date of the Referendum Special Election. Section 13. This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon its adoption and signature of the Mayor.2 APPROVED AS TO FORM AND CORRECTNESS: rge ng II , Cty ttor -y 8/6/2025 2 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. City of Miami Page 8 of 8 File ID: 17911 (Revision: A) Printed on: 8/19/2025