HomeMy WebLinkAboutCRA-R-26-0012 MemorandumOMNI Board of Commissioners Meeting
March 12, 2026
OMNI REDEVELOPMENT DISTRICT
COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY
INTER -OFFICE MEMORANDUM
Board Chair Damian Pardo
and Members of the CRA Board
Trnm. Carlos I. Suarez
Executive Director
Date: March 5, 2026
File: 19004
Subject: 4/ths Bid Waiver Grant Funding -
Greater Israel Bethel Primitive
Baptist Church
Enclosures: 19004 Exhibit A
19004 Backup
19004 Notice to the Public
BACKGROUND:
This memorandum recommends that the Board of Commissioners of the Omni Community
Redevelopment Agency ("CRA") adopt a Resolution, by a four -fifths (4/5ths) vote following an
advertised public hearing, to approve the Executive Director's recommendation. The Board is
asked to find that competitive negotiation is not practicable or advantageous under Sections 18-
85 and 18-86 of the City of Miami Code, waive competitive sealed bidding, and authorize the
Executive Director to negotiate and execute an Agreement and supporting documents to
allocate grant funding in an amount not to exceed One Million Five Hundred Thousand and
00/100 Dollars ($1,500,000.00) to Greater Israel Bethel Primitive Baptist Church, a Florida Not -
For -Profit Corporation, located at 160 North West 18 Street, Miami, Florida 33136 ("Project").
The Project consists of repairs, rehabilitation, and renovations to the Church facilities within the
CRA's redevelopment area.
Subsequent to the CRA's initial consideration, the Church has submitted quotes reflecting the
costs necessary to complete the Project. The funding is contingent upon the issuance of the
CRA's Tax Increment Revenue Bonds, Series 2026, and will address unforeseen and
necessary expenses to preserve the historic structure, ensure safety and functionality, and
maintain its continued service as a vital community and cultural institution.
This Project aligns with the 2019 Redevelopment Plan, supports the preservation of a historic
place of worship, enhances community assets, and addresses slum and blight within the CRA
boundaries.
RECOMMENDATION:
Based on the foregoing, it is recommended that the Board of Commissioners of the Omni
Community Redevelopment Agency adopt the attached resolution. By a four -fifths (4/5ths)
affirmative vote, the Resolution ratifies, approves, and confirms the Executive Director's finding
and authorizes the allocation of grant funding in an amount not to exceed One Million Five
Hundred Thousand and 00/100 Dollars ($1,500,000.00) to Greater Israel Bethel Primitive
Baptist Church for the completion of the Project, contingent upon the issuance of the CRA's Tax
Increment Revenue Bonds, Series 2026.
FUNDING:
The grant funding in the amount of $1,500,000 shall be contingent upon the issuance of the
CRA's Tax Increment Revenue Bonds, Series 2026.
City of Miami Page 2 of 5 File ID: 19004 (Revision:) Printed On: 4/6/2026
i
Omni
CRA
City of Miami
Legislation
OMNI CRA Resolution
CRA-R-26-0012
OMNI CRA
1401 N. Miami Avenue
Miami, FL 33136
www.miamicra.com
File Number: 19004 Final Action Date:3/12/2026
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE OMNI
REDEVELOPMENT DISTRICT COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY ("OMNI
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 AS EXHIBIT "A," THAT COMPETITIVE
NEGOTIATION METHODS AND PROCEDURES ARE NOT PRACTICABLE OR
ADVANTAGEOUS TO THE OMNI CRA PURSUANT TO SECTIONS 18-85 AND 18-86
OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED, AS ADOPTED BY
THE OMNI CRA; WAIVING THE REQUIREMENTS FOR COMPETITIVE SEALED
BIDDING AS NOT BEING PRACTICABLE OR ADVANTAGEOUS TO THE OMNI CRA;
AUTHORIZING THE ALLOCATION OF GRANT FUNDS IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO
EXCEED ONE MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS ($1,500,000.00), TO
GREATER ISRAEL BETHEL PRIMITIVE BAPTIST CHURCH, A FLORIDA NOT -FOR -
PROFIT CORPORATION, LOCATED AT 160 NORTHWEST 18 STREET, MIAMI,
FLORIDA 33136 ("PROPERTY"),CONTINGENT UPON THE ISSUANCE OF THE
OMNI CRA'S TAX INCREMENT REVENUE BONDS, SERIES 2026, FOR REPAIRS,
REHABILITATION, AND RENOVATIONS TO THE PROPERTY; AUTHORIZING THE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO DISBURSE GRANT FUNDS ON A REIMBURSEMENT
BASIS OR UPON THE PRESENTATION OF INVOICES OR SATISFACTORY
DOCUMENTATION; FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO
NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE A GRANT AGREEMENT, INCLUDING ANY AND ALL
OTHER DOCUMENTS NECESSARY FOR THE PURPOSE STATED HEREIN, ALL IN
FORMS ACCEPTABLE TO THE GENERAL COUNSEL; PROVIDING FOR THE
INCORPORATION OF RECITALS AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, the Omni Community Redevelopment Agency ("OMNI 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 2019 Omni Redevelopment Plan (the "Plan"); and
WHEREAS, the OMNI CRA is tasked with reducing slum and blight within its boundaries;
and
WHEREAS, the Plan provides for the promotion of community development, including
the rehabilitation and improvement of property within the OMNI CRA area, and encourages
partnerships with nonprofit organizations to enhance community assets and the public realm;
and
City of Miami Page 3 of 5 File ID: 19004 (Revision:) Printed On: 4/6/2026
WHEREAS, the Plan on page 4-44 states, the OMNI CRA will "preserve historic
buildings and cultural heritage" and "continue to advocate for and participate in the preservation
of historic structures and properties within the OMNI CRA"; and
WHEREAS, on August 24, 2007, the City of Miami — Office of the City Attorney, acting as
General Counsel to the OMNI CRA, issued Formal Legal Opinion No. 07-014, opining that
the OMNI CRA may use Tax Increment Fund ("TIF") revenues to repair or
renovate churches within the redevelopment area for the purpose of improving the community;
and
WHEREAS, Greater Israel Bethel Primitive Baptist Church, a Florida Not -For -Profit
Corporation ("Church"), located at 160 North West 18 Street, Miami, Florida 33136, submitted a
request for grant funding to perform necessary repairs, rehabilitation, and renovations on its
facilities (the "Project"); and
WHEREAS, the OMNI CRA recognizes that historic places of worship, such as the
Church, are vital cultural and community landmarks that provide spiritual, social, and
educational support to the residents of the OMNI CRA area, and that preserving and
rehabilitating such institutions promotes the character, heritage, and well-being of the
community; and
WHEREAS, based on the submission of quotes for the Project, the OMNI CRA intends
to allocate grant funding in an amount not to exceed One Million Five Hundred Thousand
Dollars ($1,500,000.00) to underwrite the costs associated with the Project; and
WHEREAS, funding this Project is critical to addressing slum and blight, while enhancing
community facilities and public benefit within the OMINI CRA, consistent with the goals outlined
in the Plan; and
WHEREAS, based on the recommendation and finding of the Executive Director,
attached and incorporated as Exhibit "A," it is in the OMNI CRA's best interest 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 OMNI CRA, for the allocation of grant funds in an amount not
to exceed One Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($1,500,000.00) to be disbursed,
contingent upon the issuance of the OMNI CRA's Tax Increment Revenue Bonds, Series 2026,
on a reimbursement basis, or upon the presentation of invoices or proper documentation
submitted by the Church to the OMNI CRA for the Project;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF
THE OMNI REDEVELOPMENT DISTRICT COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY OF
THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA:
Section 1. The recitals and findings contained in the Preamble of this Resolution are
adopted by reference and incorporated herein as fully set forth in this Section.
Section 2. By a four -fifths (4/5ths) affirmative vote, after an advertised public hearing, the
Executive Director's recommendation and written finding, attached and incorporated as Exhibit
"A," pursuant to Sections 18-85 and 18-86 of the City Code, as adopted by the OMNI CRA, are
ratified, approved, and confirmed, and the requirements for competitive sealed bidding are
waived as not being practicable or advantageous to the OMNI CRA.
City of Miami Page 4 of 5 File ID: 19004 (Revision:) Printed On: 4/6/2026
Section 3. The allocation of grant funds in an amount not to exceed One Million Five
Hundred Thousand Dollars ($1,500,000.00) to the Church for the Project, contingent upon the
issuance of the OMNI CRA's Tax Increment Revenue Bonds, Series 2026, is hereby approved.
Section 4. The Executive Director is hereby authorized to negotiate and execute a Grant
Agreement, including any and all other documents necessary, all in forms acceptable to the
General Counsel, to provide for the funding for said Project.
Section 5. This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon its adoption.
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND CORRECTNESS:
ORGE W YkS ON III. ENERAL COUNSEL
City of Miami Page 5 of 5 File ID: 19004 (Revision:) Printed On: 4/6/2026