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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Item Cover PageAGENDA ITEM COVER PAGE File ID: #18662 Resolution Sponsored by: Mayor Eileen Higgins, Commissioner Rolando Escalona A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION PURSUANT TO SECTION 18- 112 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED, AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE A MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT, IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY ATTORNEY, WITH MIAMI DADE COLLEGE FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF THE TOWER THEATER, LOCATED AT 1508 SOUTHWEST 8TH STREET, MIAMI, FLORIDA, FOR A TERM OF NOT LESS THAN TWENTY (20) YEARS, INCLUDING AUTOMATIC RENEWALS EVERY FIVE (5) YEARS; PROVIDING THAT SUCH AGREEMENT SHALL BE EXECUTED WITHIN FORTY-FIVE (45) DAYS OF PASSAGE; FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE ALL NECESSARY DOCUMENTS, SUBJECT TO APPLICABLE LAW; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. City of Miami Legislation Resolution Enactment Number: R-26-0021 City Hall 3500 Pan American Drive Miami, FL 33133 www.miamigov.com File Number: 18662 Final Action Date:1/8/2026 A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION PURSUANT TO SECTION 18- 112 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED, AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE A MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT, IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY ATTORNEY, WITH MIAMI DADE COLLEGE FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF THE TOWER THEATER, LOCATED AT 1508 SOUTHWEST 8TH STREET, MIAMI, FLORIDA, FOR A TERM OF NOT LESS THAN TWENTY (20) YEARS, INCLUDING AUTOMATIC RENEWALS EVERY FIVE (5) YEARS; PROVIDING THAT SUCH AGREEMENT SHALL BE EXECUTED WITHIN FORTY-FIVE (45) DAYS OF PASSAGE; FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE ALL NECESSARY DOCUMENTS, SUBJECT TO APPLICABLE LAW; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. WHEREAS, the Tower Theater, located at 1508 SW 8th Street in the City's Little Havana neighborhood, first opened in 1926 and has stood for nearly a century as one of Miami's earliest and most enduring cultural institutions; and WHEREAS, following a 1931 Art Deco renovation, the Tower Theater emerged as a defining architectural and cultural landmark along Calle Ocho, becoming a centerpiece of community life in Little Havana; and WHEREAS, during the 1960s, as Cuban exiles reshaped the cultural fabric of Miami, the Tower Theater served as an important gateway for immigrant families, adapting its programming to include Spanish -language and subtitled films reflective of the community it served; and WHEREAS, after closing in 1984, the City of Miami acquired the Tower Theater in 1991 and undertook its restoration with the express purpose of preserving the building and reestablishing it as a center for international cinema and the performing arts; and WHEREAS, in 2002, the City Commission authorized a management agreement with Miami Dade College, commencing a partnership that successfully restored the Tower Theater to prominence as a premier venue for film, education, and cultural programming; and WHEREAS, over more than two decades of stewardship, Miami Dade College invested substantial financial and institutional resources into the Theater, revitalizing it into a thriving cultural hub without reliance on City operating subsidies; and WHEREAS, under Miami Dade College's management, the Tower Theater became home to numerous international film festivals, community programs, educational events, and arts initiatives that reflect Miami's diverse heritage and creative spirit; and WHEREAS, in January 2023, the City assumed direct operation of the Tower Theater, disrupting a long-standing and highly successful management model that had earned broad community support; and WHEREAS, residents, artists, educators, and cultural organizations have strongly advocated for the return of Miami Dade College's stewardship of the Tower Theater, recognizing the College's unique capacity to operate the venue in a manner consistent with its historic mission; and WHEREAS, the City Commission finds that the immediate return of the Tower Theater to Miami Dade College is necessary to preserve programming continuity, protect the Theater's cultural legacy, and ensure the long-term stability of this historic public asset; and WHEREAS, Section 18-112 of the Code of the City of Miami authorizes the City to enter into agreements with governmental and educational institutions without competitive bidding; and NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA: Section 1. The recitals and findings contained in the Preamble to this Resolution are adopted by reference and incorporated as if fully set forth in this Section. Section 2. The City Manager is authorized to negotiate and execute a management agreement, in a form acceptable to the City Attorney, with Miami Dade College for the management of the Tower Theater for a term of not less than twenty (20) years, with automatic renewals every five (5) years. Said agreement shall be executed within forty-five (45) days of the adoption of this Resolution. Section 3. The City Manager is further authorized to execute any amendments, renewals, or related documents necessary to effectuate the intent of this Resolution, subject to budgetary approval and compliance with applicable law. Section 4. This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon adoption. APPROVED AS TO FORM AND CORRECTNESS: rge = . Wyy ng II , C ty ttor -y 12/28/2025 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 City Charter and City Code provisions.