HomeMy WebLinkAboutR-26-0021City of Miami
Resolution R-26-0021
Legislation
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.
SPONSOR(S): Mayor Eileen T. Higgins, Commissioner Rolando Escalona
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
City of Miami Page 1 of 2 File ID: 18662 (Revision:) Printed On: 1/21/2026
File ID: 18662 Enactment Number: R-26-0021
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 authorized1 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 IIV, C y 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.
City of Miami
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