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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCRA-R-26-0028 MemorandumOMNI Board of Commissioners Meeting June 11, 2026 OMNI REDEVELOPMENT DISTRICT COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY INTER -OFFICE MEMORANDUM Board Chair Damian Pardo and Members of the CRA Board �rnm. Carlos I. Suarez Executive Director Date: June 3, 2026 File: 19415 Subject: OMNI CRA Tree Preservation and Relocation Assistance Program Enclosures: BACKGROUND: The 2019 Omni CRA Redevelopment Plan states that "the CRA should be a part of the review of any project and encourage components such as preserving trees," and the CRA is responsible for carrying out redevelopment activities within the Omni Redevelopment Area consistent with that Plan. Ongoing redevelopment and construction activities within the Area may result in the unnecessary destruction of viable shade trees that could otherwise be preserved through relocation to alternative locations within the Area or to other suitable locations approved by the CRA . Recognizing the importance of preserving mature trees to enhance environmental sustainability, neighborhood aesthetics, pedestrian comfort, and overall quality of life, the attached resolution establishes the Omni CRA Tree Preservation and Relocation Assistance Program to assist with the preservation and relocation of shade trees located within the boundaries of the CRA that otherwise would be destroyed due to development or redevelopment activities. JUSTIFICATION: The Program provides targeted financial assistance to relocate eligible shade trees that would otherwise be removed, thereby aligning project delivery with Plan objectives while maintaining critical canopy and associated community benefits. Eligibility for assistance is based upon an evaluation prepared by a licensed or certified arborist determining the health, survivability, and suitability of the tree for relocation prior to any relocation efforts, together with any post - relocation monitoring or documentation that may be required by the CRA . The Executive Director is authorized to disburse funds, in his/her sole discretion, directly to qualifying property owners, developers, contractors, vendors, arborists, or tree relocation specialists upon presentation of satisfactory documentation and invoices, and is further authorized to develop guidelines and negotiate and execute all documents necessary to implement the Program in a form acceptable to the General Counsel. FUNDING: The resolution allocates funding for the Program in an amount not to exceed Five Hundred Thousand and 00/100 Dollars ($500,000.00) from Account No. 0040.920501.883000.0000.00000 . Program funds may be utilized for costs associated with the relocation, transportation, planting, preservation, monitoring, and survival of eligible shade trees located within the boundaries of the CRA, including associated arborist evaluations and reports. City of Miami Page 2 of 4 File ID: 19415 (Revision:) Printed On: 6/22/2026 -•••1111, Omni CRA City of Miami Legislation OMNI CRA Resolution CRA-R-26-0028 OMNI CRA 1401 N. Miami Avenue Miami, FL 33136 www.miamicra.com File Number: 19415 Final Action Date:6/11/2026 A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE OMNI REDEVELOPMENT DISTRICT COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY ("CRA"), ESTABLISHING THE OMNI CRA TREE PRESERVATION AND RELOCATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR THE PURPOSE OF ASSISTING WITH THE PRESERVATION AND RELOCATION OF SHADE TREES LOCATED WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF THE CRA THAT OTHERWISE WOULD BE DESTROYED DUE TO DEVELOPMENT OR REDEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES ("PROGRAM"); ALLOCATING FUNDS IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND AND 00/100 DOLLARS ($500,000.00) FOR THE PROGRAM; AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO DISBURSE FUNDS SOLELY IN HIS/HER DISCRETION DIRECTLY TO QUALIFYING PROPERTY OWNERS, DEVELOPERS, CONTRACTORS, VENDORS, ARBORISTS, TREE RELOCATION SPECIALISTS, OR OTHER ELIGIBLE PARTICIPANTS UPON PRESENTATION OF SATISFACTORY DOCUMENTATION; FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO DEVELOP GUIDELINES, NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE ANY AND ALL DOCUMENTS NECESSARY TO IMPLEMENT THE PROGRAM, ALL IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO THE GENERAL COUNSEL; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. WHEREAS, the Omni Redevelopment District Community Redevelopment Agency ("CRA") is responsible for carrying out community redevelopment activities and projects within the Omni Redevelopment Area ("Area") in accordance with the 2019 Omni CRA Redevelopment Plan ("Plan"); and WHEREAS, the Plan on pages 4-22 and 4-23 states that "To this end, the CRA should be a part of the review of any project and encourage components such as preserving trees"; and WHEREAS, the Board of Commissioners of the CRA recognizes the importance of preserving mature trees within the Area in order to enhance environmental sustainability, neighborhood aesthetics, pedestrian comfort, and overall quality of life; and WHEREAS, redevelopment and construction activities within the Area may result in the unnecessary destruction of viable trees that could otherwise be preserved through relocation to alternative locations within the Area or other suitable locations approved by the CRA; and WHEREAS, the Program is intended to provide financial assistance for the relocation of shade trees located within the boundaries of the CRA that otherwise would be removed or destroyed as part of development or redevelopment activities; and WHEREAS, eligibility for assistance under the Program shall be based upon an arborist report prepared by a licensed or certified arborist determining the health, survivability, and City of Miami Page 3 of 4 File ID: 19415 (Revision:) Printed On: 6/22/2026 suitability of the tree for relocation prior to relocation efforts, together with post -relocation monitoring or documentation as may be required by the CRA; 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 hereto and incorporated herein as if fully set forth in this Section. Section 2. The Program is hereby established with funding in an amount not to exceed Five Hundred Thousand and 00/100 Dollars ($500,000.00) allocated from Account No. 0040.920501.883000.0000.00000. Section 3. Program funds may be utilized for costs associated with the relocation, transportation, planting, preservation, monitoring, and survival of eligible shade trees located within the boundaries of the CRA, including associated arborist evaluations and reports. Section 4. The Executive Director is authorized to disburse funds in his/her sole discretion directly to qualifying property owners, developers, contractors, vendors, arborists, or tree relocation specialists upon presentation of satisfactory documentation and invoices. Section 5. The Executive Director is authorized to develop guidelines, negotiate and execute all documents necessary to implement the Program, all in a form acceptable to the General Counsel. Section 6. This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon its adoption. APPROVED AS TO FORM AND CORRECTNESS: K ORGELi. WYSONIII. ENERAL COUNSEL City of Miami Page 4 of 4 File ID: 19415 (Revision:) Printed On: 6/22/2026