Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC 1977-03-14 MinutesRE; DOLPHINS NEGOTIATION, PREPARED BY THE OFFICE OFTY HALL THE CITY CLERK C MINUTES OP SPECIAL MEETINO OP THE CITY CttSSION OP MIAMI, PLOROA ********** 0n the 14th day of March, 1577, the City Commission of Miami, Florida, met at its regular meeting pace in eaid City in Special Session to consider business of public import. The meeting was called to order at 0:05 A.M. by Mayor Maurice A. Perre with the following members of the Commission presents Commissioner Manoio Reboso Commissioner J. L. Plummer, Jr. Commissioner Rose Gordon Vice Mayor (Rev.) Theodore R. Gibson Mayor Maurice A. Ferre ALSO PRESENT: Joseph R. Grassie, City Manager R. L. Fosmoen, Assistant City Manager George F. Knox, City Attorney Ralph G. Ongie, City Clerk Natty Hirai, Assistant City Clerk An invocation was delivered by Reverend Theodore R. Gibson, who then led those present in a pledge of allegiance to the flag. Mayor Ferre: Ladies and gentlemen this is a Special City of Miami Commission meeting to discuss our pending matters with the Miami Dolphins; and good morning to you Mr. Robbie, welcome home. We are glad to have you here, and at this time I turn it over to Joe Grassie, if you would Sir. Mr. Grassie: This meeting, Mr. Mayor, was scheduled by the City Commission with the principal intent that members of the City Commission have a chance to first, think about some of the proposals that have been made and then to formu- late in their own minds their thoughts with regards to some kind of an agreement, a basis for agreement, which would be satisfactory to them as a policy -setting body. So it may be appropriate at this time if you would like to ask your colleagues to express themselves in that regard. Mayor Ferre: Well, I think that the thing to do Mr. Grassie is, since we all really know where we've been and where we are at, I think you better bring us up to the date as to what your negotiation point is and then at that point I think the Commission can express itself, and then we'll hear from members of the public, I know Ernie wants to speak I do not know who else wants to speak. Mr. Grassie: I believe that you know, Mr. Mayor, that the City Commission had several major concerns. One of them had to do --and possibly the most eigni- ficant-- with the necessity to improve the Orange Bowl. I think that that is a major goal of several members of the City Commission. Part of that, a smaller part of that, has to do with the acquisition of a new scoreboard for the Orange Bowl. Now, those two things can only be achieved with a long-term agreement, and we are talking about a long-term agreement in the nature of 10 years. What I would suggest to you as an equitable arrangement between the City of Miami and the Miami Dolphins is that we suggest to the ownership of the Dolphins an agree- ment for a period of 10 years commencing in 1977 -the current season- that this agreement include terms for the year which has already gone by -1976, that the terms of payment be; 640,000 per game for 1976, $42,500 for 1977 -the current year, and $45,000 thereafter, Mow, in fairness to both parties, because we do have some unresolved questions,l think that the 10-year agreement should have these two clauses; 1) that at such time as the City of Miami would complete some major improvement -and a major improvement would be defined as something such as placing chair backs on all of the /over seats in the stadium, at ouch time as that would heppennthe contract would be opened up and an increase rate would be negotiated between the two partiee. The second clause would be that if during the ter of this agreement no significant improvements are made to the s MAR 141977 Orange Bowl, that on three -years notice that the dolphins would have the op= t1M of canceling the conttect if a major football stadium i built any plate within their franchise area. Their franchise area is defined ea a radius of 250 miles from the City of Miami. With those two clauses, one to protect the City and the other to protect the Dolphins 1 think that a 10=year agreement plus settlement of the year that has gone by is reasonable to both parties, and 1 would recommend it. Mayor Perm All right. Any questions Etta members of the Commission? Mrs. Gordon: 1976 amount you stated.. Mayor Perre: $40,000. Mr. Grassie: $40,000, Commissioner. Mrs. Gordon: Just one point, question with regard to a problem that needs to be resolved and that is parking. Was there discussion regarding a solution that We would be able to look into to provide additional parking closer to the stadium What is happening now? Mr. Grassie: That has been as you know a major concern of the team. We have not provided a specific solution to that but it is one of those things that would have to be considered as subject of expenditure by the City and of course that would open up the contract for revision of the rates. Mayor Perre: Are there any other questions from members of the Commission? Mr. Plummer: $40,000 for 1976. What for 1977? Mr. Grassie: $42,500, Commissioner. Mr. Plummer: And for 1978? Mr. Grassie: $45,000. Mr. Plummer: And therein the remainder.. Mr. Grassie: Until such time as improvements are made. Mr. Plummer: 10 years with a three-year cancellation. Mr. Grassie: That is correct. Mr. Plummer: 0n either party. Mr. Grassie: Well, in our case it would not be a cancellation, it would be a question of opening up the contract to increase the rates. Mr. Plummer: Well, I would prefer that it be a three-year cancellation on either side, I. think that is fair for both. You know, it's just normal contracts are written that way and I think it should be either way. Mr. Grassie have you contacted the people. . . Mayor Ferro: Excuse J. L., let me ask you a question on that, because I understand the reason why the Dolphins would cancel with the City which is to build a new stadium. What reason would the City have to cancel with the Dolphins? Mr. Plummer, Flexibility, Mayor Ferro: To do what? Mr. Plummer: Whatever we want. Mayor Ferro; You mean, you just have an arbitrary right to cancel any tie? Mr. Plummer; Mr. Mayor, my thinking is that they want it for come reason,. Mayor Ferro: To build a stadium. Mr. Plummer; To build a stadium if it ie to come about. MAR 141977 Mayor Perte: Well, 1 think it should be restricted jot tO that ream, / don't think the Dolphinshould have any other out other than building a new atadium. Mr. Plummer: if that ia written into the contract aa the only reason, then I would say fine. Mayor Perre: And /111 tell you what, I'm sure Mr. Robbie wouldn't mind if we put the same cause in, that if we build a new stadium it's a 3-year contract, because obviously itla going to be the same thing..we are not going to build the new stadium without the Dolphins' so I think we can put it on both aides. Mr. Plummer: Okay, as long as that ia written in and that is the only 'out' I'll go along without the flexibility. Mr. Oreasie, the people who were going to put in the scoreboard had indicated that they could not proceed =- at least the indication to me --with less than 5 years theft they preEetted the 10. Have you proposed or spoken to the people On the scoreboard in reference to this latest proposals as to whether or not they will proceed to put the scoreboard at no expense to the taxpayers? Mt. Grassie: Neither I nor staff have discussed this particular proposal with the scoreboard people before bringing it to you, no. But, from our previous discussions with them we know with some certainty what their posi- tion would be and assuming that we can take care of the question of compati- bility of advertising with regard to the concessionaire in the stadium -the problem you know about- and the Dolphins have agreed with us that they would cooperate with the City in that regard so that we can solve that problem as far as the scoreboard people are concerned and assuming that we would talk about a scoreboard which, if necessary, could be moved if a new stadium were built, I feel confident that we can get a scoreboard. Mr. Plummer: All right, let me ask you this question. Is there in the contract or in the negotiation since no contract has yet been determined, is there a minimum number of games played annually? Mr. Grassie: Ten games. Mr. Plummer: That's minimum. So then we have an annual minimum guarantee.. of $442,000 next year and thereafter for every year to the tenth of $450,000 minimum dollars. Mr. Grassie: That's correct. Mr. Plummer: Does this same situation apply to additional games? In other words, one time we found that some frinction developed and I'm just trying to eliminate any in the future in reference to an additional game such as a play- off game. We went to 11 or 12 games. Does the same figure apply to those as regular games. Mr. Grassie: Yes, that's my impression, I don't have any reason to believe otherwise. Yes. (INAUDIBLE COMMENT) Mr. Plummer: Okay, please do. Mr. Colson: I think there are three points that I think we ought to clarify. One is that the negotiations have to do with a minimum of 9 games and not 10 games. We are in the pre -season games, there are even questions of how many regular seasons there are going to be. But as far as the contract today, -- that the minimum that I can see that we --I say we, I'm merely between the two -- but that we agreed on was 9 instead of 10 although we certainly talked about 10 and we are very hopeful that we'll certainly play 10. Second thing is that the Playoff WAG specifically are under contract to the NFL. The Miami Dolphins even if they are in it they don't control that, but as far as any other games as tar as it being your point, I think-- that what about if we want to play more games? which could conceiveably happen, it's in the talking atage, then those would be, as 1 understand it, played at the same rate of whatever the yearly rate is per game. UR 1,41977 Mr, Plummet! Well, Bill, the reason for my queationa..in the old contract there was a phrase that said: Ito the regular reaaon.' and there wee an ada ditional game or two played in one year, and there wag some friction as to what rate it would be paid, go I'm trying to eliminate that friction having everything now down in black and white 60 we both underatand each other, Mr, Colsont t think that we do, I think that the per game of whether it is $40,000, $420500 or $45.000 will apply to any extra games other than play., offs and Superbowls, obvioualy which ate under the NP1,,,. Mr, Plummer! Okay. We are under a contract with NFL for that, Mr, Colson! That's correct, The third thing about the scoreboard ie,. although there has been a lot of work by Mr. Robbie and by Mr. Grassie and they've gotten out their files and they've worked on it, tone of that is it the contract itself, although there has been a lot of talk about it and there is an opportunity here but nothing will go under the contract with that. The one detail that I think we ate in complete understanding as to the three groups here --but / want to make sure that you all are-- is that in the event of the renegotiation is that there can be renegotiation, it's not dependant on whether or not any stadium is built, it is dependant on whether there are major improvements and if the increase in rent is a voluntary..it's voluntary on both parties to have the improvements, it's voluntary on both parts to enter into a new rental and that those go into effect at the time that the improvements go in. Mayor Ferre: Even though they could be pre -negotiated, for example, if we sit down with Mr. Robbie and say, look, we can probably increase parking by 4,000 or 5,000 spaces, here is what it is going to do and here is how we are going to work it, that's something that we could pre -negotiate before it's actually done. Mr. Colson: Right. And there is one thing on those negotiations that we had talked about at one time and both Mr. Robbie and Mr. Grassie agreed, is that the money for more studies will be out, since they feel that they can work with that without that and we had talked about that when we were here before. So I think that clears up the matter. Mayor Ferre: Mr. Colson, before you leave, since you are up on your feet at the microphone...(INAUDIBLE COMMENT) Of him? Mr. Plummer: Not necessarily, since he seems to be the spokesman I'll... Mayor Ferre: Let me ask this question on the record. I assume you are here representing the Chamber. Mr. Colson: Nobody else, yes Sir. Mayor Ferre: You are here as the President of the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce. Mr, Colson; Yes, Sir. Mayor Ferre: The Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce has been very helpful and very instrumental in this whole process. I assume that, obviously, this has your complete backing, Chamber's backing,. Mr. Colson; Yes, Sir, it does. Mayor Ferre; So you are recommending to the City Commisaion this proposed agreement' Mr. Colson; Yes, Sir, Mayor Ferre; All right, thank you. Mx. Plummer; The next question that I have, Mr, Crumb, I would like you to expand if you can •on the previous negotiation, It was aaid that Mr. Robbie would asatat in bringing the Superbowl and possibly 4 playoff POW to Miami. Would you let me, for the record, what if anything that assistance would be? MAR 141977 Mr. Greasier It has been expressed as a willingness on his part, first to confirm that he is going to do it, that he is going to cooperate with the City in securing those extra games, to give ua that in writing, and in ad- dition to that, to use every good office that he has to make sure that that gets accomplished for Miami. Now, t don't know that he can be more epeeifie than to indicate --and to give you his word, ae it were-- that he ie going to do that and the contacts that he makes are going to be personal contacts and he ie willing to use every good office that he has. Mr. Plummer: Well, just for the record, let me state this when Mr. Robbie and t were in San Diego last year, last March, he ade it quite clear to me) and we were having our differences at that time, that the Superbovl tas one thing and the Dolphins was another, And I'll tell you because 1 checked on him, that in fact that man assisted us in every way possible to try to get the Superbowi here and if he will guarantee tie that he will do to less now that tithes are good I'll be happy, and I'm sure that that will be the case. My final question. Mr. Manager, you've analyzed this proposed negotiation, you have seen also I'm sure and studied the proposals of improvements that the City feels are good improvements, needed improvements, how do you feel.. do you feel comfortable that with this proposed negotiation that the City can now proceed to start these improvements for the benefit of all? At. Grassier I think Commissioner that this agreement provides a first step and a solid foundation for those improvements, I'm not talking about $15,000,000 worth of improvements, but I'm taUits about significant improvements for less money than that. Now, there are vim additional things that will have to be done. We will have to take a look at the whole system of concessions and make sure that that system generate more income for the Orange Bowl than is now the case. Secondly, we are going to have to look at other use, use other than football use for that stadium and improve income from that source and you, two days from now, will have on your Agenda a first step towards moving the City in the direction of getting increased use of the Orange Bowl. If we do those two things in addition to the contract --the proposal that you have in front of you, we will have sufficient money to do significant improvements but I am not saying to you that that is at the level of $15,000,000. It'll be less than $15,000,000 but we will be able to afford significant improvements to the Orange Bowl, Mr. Plummer: But I mean, you feel that we can start in on the chair -back seats and things of that nature, those are two things that the public seems to be very concerned about, one is the chair -back seats and the other is parking... Mr. Grassie: That sort of thing, yes. Mr. Plummer: ..and I would say to you as one individual of this Commission that those are the two areas that should have the highest priority to start making improvements. Okay, as long as you feel comfortable that we can proceed, that's really what I'm looking for. Mayor Ferre: Are there any other questions from members of the Commission at this time? If not I'll recognize Mr. Ernie Fannato. Mr. Fannato Honorable Mayor, members of the Commission, Mr. Robbie, Ernie Fannato is my name. I'm President of the Taxpayers' League of Miami and Dade County and also the Homestead Tax Exemption League of Dade County. I am a football fan, I want football in Dade County and I want to commend Mr. Robbie for bringing football here and giving us a top-flight team and one of the beat Managers in the country. What I'm concerned about and I want to say it again..the amount of publicity that the Dolphins have given us could not be bought for millions and millions of dollars. I'm aware of that. Now, I'd like to go back to the history of what happened with the Dolphins. When the Dolphins came in to the City of Miami they were given a Lease of 4.52. The reason for that was they were building a football team and they wanted to give them a break. That's over 100% lees than any team in this country ever got, and I think it waa good, to give them a chance to build. Now, i think it's Mr. bobble's turn to say to the people of the City of Mid - L app reciate that and we're going to do better but I also am concerned on this 10 year contract when it can be broken in three years:. In other words, it's a long term contract of indebtedness that might AR 4 977 be given to the City taxpayers but a short term contract from Mr. Robbie. Now, Mr, Manager, how much money, in dollars and cents, approximately, are you anticipating on spending on chairs and so forth, improvements' Mr. Orassie: I don't know whether you want any response to this sort of question at this time, Mr. Mayor. Mayor Ferre: Well I think the 'point, Ernie, is that I don't think that we really have the figures in hand to give you that kind of... Mr. Fannato: Well, Mayor, l do want it because you're going to sign an agreement now. This is the time that he should know approximately. I'm not holding him down to exact money but when you Sign an agreement, you have to tell the taxpayers about how much the expenses are going to be, you just don't sign a contract. Mr. Plummer: Ernie, excuse me. Ernie, the Manager has answered my question and that's exactly what it was in a different terminology. Mr. Manager, do you feel comfortable that the improvements can be made at no expense to the taxpayers? The answer was "yes", not necessarily to the 15 or 18 million dollar figure but they can be made. Now I don't think you can pinpoint that down any closer than what he has answered to my question. Based upon more importantly that the study which was done was done about 2 years ago or three. We all recognize the fact that inflation is going to raise those figures so I don't see how he can truthfully answer that question anymore pinpointed than that Mr. Pannato: Oh, yes he can, Mr. Plummer, otherwise it's not a good contract. Mayor Ferre: Ernie, going back to Mel Reese's time and Paul Andrews' time, we've studied this thing and came back with different ideas in engineering, those things are invalid now because they're obsolete. They're two or three years old. Now maybe they can be updated, im- proved or what have you but at this point we don't have any figures like that. Now listen to me. What we're doing here, if the Commission goes along, is we're making an agreement that would be a minimum agreement for a 10-year period. Now if beyond that we want to put chairbacks, buy more parking or make major improvements, at that point Mr. Robbie and this City have to sit down and see what he's willing to do and what the City is willing to do. Now,I want to tell you that up until now, the theory of this Commission and past Commissions has been not to spend any taxpayers' money for improve- ments to the Orange Bowl and as far as I know, we've never been told otherwise that that's what happened in the past. We spent no taxpayers' monies on the Orange Bowl. Now my personal opinion is that that should be continued as long as we're talking about the Orange Bowl but if, however, we go to a new stadium, we might want to change that but that's something that's not being decided today and that's something that has to be decided at a public hearing and if we're going to go spend taxpayers' monies, in my opinion, we'd have to put it through some kind of a referendum so that would be the time for the questions that you're asking. Mr. Fannato: Well now, Mayor, let's look at it this way. I don't quite agree to your philosophy here for the simple reason that I don't believe in verbal. agreements. This is going to be,.. Mayor Ferre: This is not verbal, this is going to be signed, Mr, Fannato; Well is it going to be a 10-'year agreement that can be broken in three yews. You know it's not a 0-year agreement, it's a three-year agreement, Mayor Ferre. That's correct. Mr. Fannato; So let's not kid the people about a 10,,, If it was a 10=year agreement, 1 would agree to thia whole thing but if it's a three-year agreement,.. Mayor Form Brnio .., MAR 41971 Mr. Pannai'4: Lust a minute, now, May We can't pay for the§e chaitbacks1,,, Mayor Ferret Nobody is going to put them be put in, don't you understand that? Mr Pannato: Mayor Ferret Mr. Pannato: The three=y r a in. They're When are they going to be put in? They are not going to be putiri. They're not going to be put in at all? reeMA tp not going to Mayor Perre: No, tero, not going to be put in inleawe come to an agreement with Mr. Robbie and the City and then we renegotiate and then you'll have your opportunity to say, wait a moment, I think it' a too expensive or we're not doing enough. Mr. Pannato: Well, in other words, what you've really got is a three..year contract. Mayor Ferret That's what we've really got. Mr. Pannato: Let's not kid the people. Mayor Perre: And it's not only a three.year contract, it' a three year contract at $40,000 per game. $42.500 and $45,000 beyond the third year. Mr. Pannato: I'm just going to have to say this here that a three- year contract, after giving Mr, Robbie a 10-year contract, is not the best of business. However, 1 would agree to a three-year contract but 1 think the amount of money that Mr: Robbie should pay depends on the amount of year contract that he gives us because we could get stuck for revenue in the Orange Bowl. Now let's look at it this way. Mr. Robbie has got everything his way. He can go and build a new stadium and leave Dade County and then the taxpayers who gave him a break for 10 years at 41/2%, the lowest rent in this country, then he will say, well, we're building a new stadium but what happened to all that good will that the people created and Robbie made millions of dollars with this low rent that the City of Miami gave them? What about that? So I say this here, that rent is a little too low for three years. If he wants to take a longer term contract, yes. I don't think we should settle for anything less than $45,000. think the taxpayers should have their term and that isn't high, that is only about 71/2%, that's all it amounts to and there isn't one stadium in this country that pays less than 10%, it's all 10 12gand 15%so I'm going to say this here. If you let Mr. Robbie have this lease for less than $45,000, you're letting down the taxpayers and the voters and the business people in this community. As much as I want to see football, for a three-year lease, nothing less than that. Anything over that, let him have it. Mayor Parra: Alright, thank you very much, Mr. Fannato, for your opinion. We always value it here on this Commission as you know. Is there any other member of the public that wants to say anything at this time? If not, Father Gibson. Rev. Gibson: Mr, Mayor, a lot of people felt and thought that I was opposed to doing business with the Dolphins which is not true, just felt that we should come together and reason this matter out and be sensible people and do what's right and fair and best and in the beat interest of the community. I'm in a line of business that you always hear from the public but I'm kind of surprised at hearing from a good number of people of the public about this natter. I thought that they thought,,. I feel like Ernie about $45,000 but Ernie, you know, I W4$ the one guy who was all gung-ho for a set fee and we have these people here now and we say we want to settle the matter, I would hope that since the chamber and all of these other people have reasoned the matter out and understand what we're trying to do, that we would go for the $40,000 and then the $42,500 and then the $45,000 based on what was said and hopefully we could", We would disappoint a lot of people if we disagreed here today . we would disappoint a lot of people who don't think we want to agree and after all, while we may NAR 141977 get $5,000 more, I think about some of those people out on the 'streets who wouldn't really understand what you and l are saying and I'm in the business where, man, most of the time they don't understand and yet they need the man I'm talking about, they lust don't pay it any mind. So f would suggest, and i would not be opposed if the Commission was ready to offer a motion, to go for the $40,000, $42,500 and then $45,000 and... Mrs. Gordon Second. Mayor Perre: Alright, there's a motion by Father Gibson that the Manager's recommendation be accepted and there's a second on the motion. Aright, at this time, before voting, I'd like to emtend Mr. Robbie the courtesy if he'd like to address the Commission in any way. Does anybody else want to address the Commission at this time? If not, call the roll. Mrs. Gordon: Did you want any discussion? If not, it's alright with me but I want to say that I think we are taking a very important step forward in this community to back-up what we have been saying verbally all along is that we want to increase the economy of this community and we want to improve upon the public relations of this City with the public and let me tell you that I go out in the public and people don't particularly know who I am, standing in a crowd and they say, oh my God, we might lose the Dolphins. I want you to know that these things are at home and very hard and I want to give credit to the Commission's attitude this morning and the Manager's hard work. I want to compliment him on what I consider a very well negotiated deal and I look forward to us doing the kinds of improve- ments that we are just alluding to very vaguely but I would hope that the Manager will proceed as I anticipate he will with a current study to tell us specifically what has to be done and that we go ahead and really move ahead with whatever means are at our disposal to fund those kinds of improvements and that we move forward in requesting the parking authority to investigate with a real determination the feasibility of placing a parking structure somewhere in that vicinity so that people would not have to walk enormous distances and pay enormous fees. I think if we do these things that I don't think Mr. Robbie is, going to want to move the Dolphins out of the Orange Bowl particularly because it's to his advantage, it's identified that the Dolphins and the Orange Bowl have been a marriage for many years and I honestly don't think he's going to want to move if we do what we have to do to make it appealing so I am totally in favor of what we're doing this morning and I want to congratulate everybody involved in the negotiations. Mayor Ferre: Further statements? Call the roll, please. Thereupon, the following motion was introduced by Vice -Mayor Gibson who moved its adoption: MOTION NO. 77-206 A MOTION AUTHORIZING AND DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH THE MIAMI DOLPHINS FOR A 10-YEAR PACT FOR THE USE OF THE ORANGE BOWL STADIUM AT THE FOLLOWING RATES 1. $40,000 PER GAME FOR GAMES PLAYED DURING THE 1976 SEASON; 2. $42,500 PER GAME FOR GAMES PLAYED DURING THE 1977 SEASON; 3. $45,000 PER GAME FOR THE REMAINING PERIOD OF THE AGREEMENT; SUBJECT TO A RENEGOTIATION OF THE RATE UPON MOTOR IMPROVEMENTS TO BE MADE TO THE ORANGE BOWL STADIUM AND STIPULATING THAT IF NO SIG- NIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS TO THE ORANGE BOWL STADIUM ARE MADE DURING THE TERM of THIS AGREEMENT, THAT ON A TREE -YEAR NOTr THE MIAMI DOLPHINS HAVE THE OPTION or CANCELLING THECONTRACT IF A MAJOR FOOTBALL STADIUM IS BUILT WITHIN THEIR FRANCHISE AREA. MAR 41977 Upon being seconded by Commissi ner Cordon, the main was passed and adopted by the following vote- AYES: Commissioner J. t. Plummer, Jr Commissioner Manta() Rabe'so Commissioner Rose Gordon Vice -Mayor (Rev.) Theodore Gibson . Mayor Maurice A. Perre NOES: None. N ROLIA CAW Mr. Ong .e: Mr. Plummer? Mr. Plummer: Rased on the Manager's feeling that it's comfortable, that improvements could be made at no cost to the taxpayers, it is my feeling that there is no stadium going to be built in the immediate future because of costs involved. t think the contract, as presented here this morning for final draft, is sufficient to accomplish what needs to be accomplished and I vote "yes". Mr. Ongie: Mr. Reboso? Mr. Rebosot Voting "yes" 1 want to state that I was opposed to a four-year contract but I am very much satisfied with a 10-year contract even though it has the three-year cancellation clause. I think this is going to guarantee that the Dolphins are going to be in town for the next 10 years at Yeast. Mr. Ongie: Reverend Gibson? Rev. Gibson: I vote "yes' with this comment. Two men have changed my mind. Ernie Pannato stayed on the phone night and day talking with me. Bill Colson assured me that we were getting a fair break. I trust your judge- ment. I can't count, 1 could only save souls and that's why 1 depend upon your comments and I vote "yes". Mayor Ferre: Mr. Robbie, Mr. Joe Robbie: Mayor Ferre and members of the Commission, I want, to thank all of you for approving a new lease arrangement with the Miami Dolphins for the next 10 years. J. L., my reason for not taking the rostrum before your vote is because 1 run a long losing streak and I didn't want to do anything to influence the vote ad- versely.. Mayor Ferre: I might then add that this might be very significant and we expect the same kind of record this next season. Mr. Robbie: The National Football League does meet on March 29th at its annual meeting in Phoenix. It will meet for a week and I expect to see some of you-there.I have supported the Super Bowl coming to Miami everytime that it has come here and sometimes when it hasn't and I will fully support and help you present the case for Miami having the super' Bowl in January of 1979. I expect that it will be placed here. I can tell you that it's a headache to us. We never unlisted our telephone at home until my wife was answering everybody in town who wanted to know why they weren't sitting in their same seats and ticket location at a Super Bowl in which the Miami Dolphins were not involved but we'll do everything we can this year and always in the future to bring the Super Bowl to this area. I'particularly want to extend my appreciation to Bill Colson,as President of the Chamber of Commerce,and to Lester Freeman, as Executive Vice -President,, and to Ray Goode, as the third member of a three-man committee that, on behalf of the Chaffer of Commerce, came to ste and brought us together on this week's arrangement which has been concluded this morning. I think that Bill's leadership in the Chamber of Commerce has given us the best civic support we've had in the 11 years we've played football here and we're signed up for 10 more years effective thus morning so 1 hope now we can get back to the business of producing championship s MAR 1,41977 football for Miami fans and get away from business at theconference table and back to the football team, (APPLAUSE) Mr. Pannatot t'd like to make a complimentary statement if it's passible. tia like to make this statement, Mr. Robbie, you are one of the best businessmen in bade Caunty, Number one is Mitchell Woifsoti and you're right there with him and i want to tall you you'll never go broke. t do want to say that the youth in bade County and the City of Miami have won this battle, You know, when you go to football games and you see family people together and young people with them, they can't commit crimes at football games and Mr. Robbie, I did want to compliment you for having a wonderful team that you've given the people in Dade County. Mayor Perre: Alright, thank you, Mr. Pannato. Ladies and gentlemen, now that this vote is over and we've got this behind @St t'd like to make reference to several things here trecognie that we had to get this behind us so that perhaps we could take some other moves in the future. Mr. Robbie, 1 only disagree with one statement that you made and that is that we're not through with the conference table yet. 1 would hope that after things settle down that we might progress in better defining exactly what needs to be done and I hope that this Broward County move will be over soon so that we can settle down to either coming to an agreement on what needs to be done to improve the orange Bowl or if a new stadium is feasible that we would go ahead with building a new stadium in this community. Now the first thing 11/ having trouble with that turf, we appointed a committee to look into /*II like to do, if I may, is, you all recall that back when we were it and that committee, 1 think, did a fantastic job and they came back and they helped and they came back with very specific recommen- dations. I would like to appoint that committee over again not for the purposed of looking into a new stadium because that's something that may come beyond this but I'd like to appoint Art Bruns who happens to be here, as Chairman and appoint the same people that did the job before and perhaps add a few. Jean Hancock, Barbara Weintraub, who is also here, Jean Marks, Dr. Jimmy James, Garth Reeves, and Mr. Peter Bernal along with Bill Colson, Lester Freemen and Ray Goode... Jim Billings. (INAUDIBLE COMMENTS) Mayor Ferre: Alright, then we'll appoint Ray Goode to represent the Chamber through that committee. Now let me repeat again the charge to this committee. The charge to this committee would be those improvements in the. Orange Bowl that have priority that are needed and specifically talking about such things as the purchase of addi- tional property for parking, the idea of a double -deck parking space there, working with Metropolitan Dade County and the hospitals for shuttles and that type of things and the chairbacks. Those improve- ments that would help the Miami Orange Bow]Stadium to be improved and if any other members of the Commission want to add any names, of course I welcome any suggestions or recommendations. I think it's a pretty good committee. Let me repeat it again. Chairman, Art Bruns, Jean Hancock, Barbara Weintraub, Jean Marks, Dr. Jimmy James, Garth Reeves, Peter Bernal and Ray Goode. Rev. Gibson; If you need a motion, I move you. Mrs. Gordon; Second' Mayor Ferro; Moved and seconded. Further discussion? Call the roll. 10 MAR 141977 Thereupon, the following motion was introduced by Vie =Nay r Gibson who moved its adoption: MOTION NO, 77-207 A MOT ON TO ESTAtLISH A COMMITTEE TO STUDY AND RtCOMM2ND A PRIORITY OF NEEDED IMPROVE- MENTS TO THE ORANGE BOWL STADIUM, SUCH AS PAR1 IRO OR A PARKING STRUCTUA20 Ct AtRBACXS, E'TC, # 'THAT SUCH RECOMMENDATIONS POSSIBLY INCLUDE OTHER FUNDING SOURCES tN ADDITION TO REVENUE PRODUCED, AND THAT SUCH PROPOSALS BE BROUGHT RAGE TO THE CITY COMMISSION, SUCH COMMITTEE SHALL CONSIST OF THE FOLLOWING PERSONS: 1. ARTHUR BRUNS, CHAIRMAN 2. JEAN HANCOCR 3. BARBARA WEINTRAUB 4. JEAN MARKS 5. DR. JIMMY JADES 5. GARTH REEVES 7. PETER BERNAL S. JIM $FLINGS 9. RM GOObE Upon being seconded by Commissioner Gordon, the motion was passed and adopted by the following vote- AYES: Commissioner J. L. Plummer, Jr. Commissioner Manolo Reboso Commissioner Rose Gordon Vice -Mayor (Rev.) Theodore Gibson Mayor Maurice A. Ferre NOES: None. Mayor Ferre: I would like Mr. Bruns, for you to make timely reports as Chairman and I would say hopefully that within the next month or two you could come back with a preliminary direction, say, within the next two months, as to what improvements you feel might be advisable and I think you ought to work directly with the Administra- tion so that it will be a good relationship between the administration and the committee. Alright, is there anything else? Mrs. Gordon: Mr. Mayor, would you include in the charge to the committee the possibility of other funding sources so that the extent of the improvements might be of a larger nature than just the revenue that's produced would permit. Mayor Ferre: Yes Ma'm,.. that's fine and I think that's inherent that we, and I'm glad you clarified it. I might point out that 1 did not include a new stadium in that charge for this reason, that we do have a committee in existence already that should be coming forward with a report within the next 30 days on the stadium and hopefully at that time, once that recommendation is made, we might either expand this committee or merge the two committees or restructure it somehow de- pending on what the circumstances are at that time so we will take a look at that in the future. Anything else to come up before this Commission at this time? We stand adjourned ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business to cane before the City Commission at this time, the meeting was adjournedat 9:55 A.M.. ATTEST: RALPH G. ONGIE City Clerk NATTY HIRAI Assistant City C],erk MAURICE A. FE MAYOR 11