HomeMy WebLinkAboutCRA-R-25-0053 MemorandumSEOPW Board of Commissioners Meeting
September 25, 2025
SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST
COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY
INTER -OFFICE MEMORANDUM
To: Board Chair Christine King Date: September 25, 2025
and Members of the CRA
Board File: 18209
From: James McQueen
Executive Director
Subject: 4/5th Vote: Grant to Bendixen &
Amandi International, Inc.
Enclosures: File # 18209 - Notice to the
Public
File # 18209 - Exhibit A
File # 18209 - Backup
BACKGROUND:
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 Sections 18-85 and
18-86 of the Code of the City of Miami, Florida, as amended ("City Code"), as adopted by the SEOPW
CRA, and waiving said procedures, authorizing the issuance of a grant, in an amount not to exceed Three
Hundred Twenty -Five Thousand Dollars and Zero Cents ($325,000.00) ("Funds"), to Bendixen &
Amandi International, Inc., a Florida for -profit corporation ("Bendixen"), with a principal address at 3543
Loquat Avenue, Miami, Florida 33133, for an economic impact and feasibility analysis study in support
of establishing a branch campus of Howard University, a historically Black university, in the
Redevelopment Area ("Purpose").
It is recommended that the Board of the SEOPW CRA approve and adopt the attached Resolution,
authorizing the allocation of the Funds to Bendixen for the Purpose stated herein.
JUSTIFICATION:
Pursuant to Chapter 163, Florida Statutes, the Southeast Overtown/Park West Community
Redevelopment Agency ("SEOPW CRA") is responsible for carrying out community redevelopment
activities and projects within its redevelopment area ("Redevelopment Area") in accordance with the
2018 Updated Southeast Overtown/Park West Redevelopment Plan (the "Plan").
Section 163.340(9), Florida Statutes (the "Act") community redevelopment means "undertakings,
activities, or projects of a ... community redevelopment agency in a community redevelopment area for
the elimination and prevention of the development or spread of slums and blight...."
Section 2, Goal 4, of the Plan lists the "creati[on of] jobs within the community...that will provide life
sustaining jobs to residents," as a stated redevelopment goal.
Section 2, Goal 6, of the Plan, lists "improving the quality of life for residents," as a stated redevelopment
goal.
Lastly, Section 2, Principle 6, of the Plan provides that to "address and improve the neighborhood
economy and expand the economic opportunities of present and future residents ...," as a stated
redevelopment principle.
FUNDING:
$325,000.00 from Other Grant and Aids — 10050.920101.883000.0000.00000.
FACT SHEET:
Entity name: Bendixen & Amandi International, Inc.
Address: 3543 Loquat Avenue, Miami, Florida 33133.
Funding request: $325,000.00.
Scope of work or services (Summary): To support critical efforts for the expansion of Howard
University, a historically Black university, in the Redevelopment Area.
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AGENDA ITEM
FINANCIAL INFORMATION FORM
SEOPW CRA
CRA Board Meeting Date: September 25, 2025
CRA Section:
Brief description of CRA Agenda Item:
AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF A GRANT, IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED
THREE HUNDRED TWENTY-FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS AND ZERO CENTS
($325,000.00) ("FUNDS"), TO BENDIXEN & AMANDI INTERNATIONAL, INC., A
FLORIDA FOR -PROFIT CORPORATION ("BENDIXEN"), WITH A PRINCIPAL
ADDRESS AT 3543 LOQUAT AVENUE, MIAMI, FLORIDA 33133, FOR AN
ECONOMIC IMPACT AND FEASIBILITY ANALYSIS STUDY IN SUPPORT OF
ESTABLISHING A BRANCH CAMPUS OF HOWARD UNIVERSITY.
Project Number
YES, there
Account Code:
(if applicable):
are sufficient funds in Line Item:
10050.920101.883000.0000.00000 Amount: $ 3 2 5, 0 0 0.0 0
NO (Complete the following source of funds information):
Amount budgeted in the line item: $
Balance in the line item: $
Amount needed in the line item: $
Sufficient funds will be transferred from the following line items:
ACTION
ACCOUNT NUMBER
TOTAL
Project No./Index/Minot Object
From
$
To
$
From
$
To
$
Comments
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Approved by:
Approval:
Executive Director 9/18/2025
Miguel A Valcntiri, Finance Officer 9/18/2025
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Southeast Overtown/Park West
Community Redevelopment Agency
File Type: CRA Resolution
Enactment Number: CRA-R-25-0053
File Number: 18209 Final Action Date:9/25/2025
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 SECTIONS 18-85 AND 18-86 OF THE CODE OF
THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED ("CITY CODE"), AS ADOPTED BY
THE SEOPW CRA, AND WAIVING SAID PROCEDURES, AUTHORIZING THE
ISSUANCE OF A GRANT, IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED THREE HUNDRED
TWENTY-FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS AND ZERO CENTS ($325,000.00) ("FUNDS"),
TO BENDIXEN & AMANDI INTERNATIONAL, INC., A FLORIDA FOR -PROFIT
CORPORATION ("BENDIXEN"), WITH A PRINCIPAL ADDRESS AT 3543 LOQUAT
AVENUE, MIAMI, FLORIDA 33133, FOR AN ECONOMIC IMPACT AND FEASIBILITY
ANALYSIS STUDY IN SUPPORT OF ESTABLISHING A BRANCH CAMPUS OF
HOWARD UNIVERSITY, A HISTORICALLY BLACK UNIVERSITY, IN THE
REDEVELOPMENT AREA ("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, SUBJECT TO THE AVAILABILITY OF
FUNDING, FROM THE CORRESPONDING ACCOUNT NO.
10050.920101.883000.0000.00000 "OTHER GRANTS AND AIDS"; 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.
WHEREAS, the Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment Agency ("SEOPW
CRA") is a community redevelopment agency created pursuant to Chapter 163, Florida Statutes, and is
responsible for carrying out community redevelopment activities and projects within its Redevelopment
Area in accordance with the 2018 Updated Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment
Plan ("Plan"); and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 163.340(9) Florida Statutes, "community redevelopment means
projects of a ... community redevelopment agency in a community redevelopment area for the
elimination and prevention of the development or spread of slum and blight"; and
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WHEREAS, Section 2, Goal 4, of the Plan lists the "creat[ion of] jobs within the community," as
stated redevelopment goal; and
WHEREAS, Section 2, Goal 6 of the Plan, lists "improving the quality of life for residents," as a
stated redevelopment goal; and
WHEREAS, Section 2, Principle 6, of the Plan provides to "address and improve the neighbor-
hood economy and expand the economic opportunities of present and future residents and businesses," as
a stated redevelopment principle; and
WHEREAS, the SEOPW CRA has a need for an experienced and qualified firm to provide
economic impact and feasibility analysis consulting services for the establishment of a branch campus of
Howard University, a historically Black university, in the Redevelopment Area; and
WHEREAS, Bendixen & Amandi International, Inc., a Florida for -profit corporation
("Bendixen"), with a principal address at 3543 Loquat Avenue, Miami, Florida 33133, is a full -service
management and communications consulting firm, specializing in qualitative and quantitative opinion
research; and
WHEREAS, Bendixen, in partnership with Howard University and its Chadwick A. Boseman
College of Fine Arts, seeks financial assistance to enable critical efforts in examining the project's
practicability, including the project's financial viability and workforce implications, and deliver a
rigorous evaluation of its impact on the community and surrounding area ("Purpose"); and
WHEREAS, the Board of Commissioners wishes to authorize grant funds to Bendixen, in an
amount not to exceed Three Hundred Twenty -Five Thousand Dollars and Zero Cents ($325,000.00)
("Funds") for the Purpose stated herein; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Commissioners finds that authorizing this Resolution would further the
SEOPW CRA redevelopment goals and objectives; and
WHEREAS, based on the recommendation and findings of the Executive Director, attached and
incorporated herein as Exhibit "A," it is in the SEOPW CRA's best interest for the Board of
Commissioners to authorize, by an affirmative four -fifths (4/5ths) vote, a waiver of competitive sealed
bidding procedures, pursuant to Sections 18-85 and 18-86 of the Code of the City of Miami, Florida, as
amended ("City Code"), as adopted by the SEOPW CRA, to allocate said Funds, subject to availability,
and to authorize the Executive Director to negotiate and execute any and all agreements necessary, all in
forms acceptable to Counsel, for said Purpose;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE
SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY:
Section 1. The recitals and findings contained in the Preamble to this Resolution are
adopted by reference and incorporated herein as if fully set forth in this Section.
Section 2. Pursuant to Sections 18-85 and 18-86 of the City Code, as adopted by the
SEOPW CRA, by a four -fifths (4/5th) affirmative vote, after an advertised public hearing, the Executive
Director's recommendation and written findings, attached and incorporated herein as Exhibit "A," that
competitive negotiation methods and procedures are not practicable or advantageous to the SEOPW CRA,
and waiving the requirements for said procedures, are hereby ratified, approved, and confirmed.
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Section 3. The Executive Director is hereby authorized to disperse the Funds, subject to the
availability of funding, at his discretion, from Other Grant and Aids — 10050.920101.883000.0000.00000
to Bendixen for the Purpose stated herein.
Section 4. The Executive Director is authorized' to negotiate and execute an agreement,
including any and all documents necessary, all in forms acceptable to Counsel, for said Purpose.
Section 5. Sections of this Resolution may be renumbered or re -lettered and corrections of
typographical errors which do not affect the intent may be authorized by the Executive Director, or the
Executive Director's designee, without need for public hearing, by filing a corrected copy of same with
the City of Miami City Clerk.
Section 6. This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon its adoption.
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEGAL SUFFICIENCY:
4
yirt'531.4144r8tall-n—msel 9/18/2025
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 State law, City Charter and City Code provisions, as
adopted by the SEOPW CRA.
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