HomeMy WebLinkAboutR-26-0254City of Miami
Resolution R-26-0254
Legislation
City Hall
3500 Pan American Drive
Miami, FL 33133
www.miamigov.com
File Number: 19190 Final Action Date: 6/11/2026
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH ATTACHMENT(S),
AWARDING REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS NO. 16-17-011 ("RFP") FOR THE
LEASE OF CITY OF MIAMI-OWNED WATERFRONT PROPERTY FOR
MARINAS/RESTAURANT/STORE USES LOCATED AT APPROXIMATELY
3301, 3605, 3501, 3311, AND 3511 RICKENBACKER CAUSEWAY, MIAMI,
FLORIDA, AS MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED IN THE ATTACHED AND
INCORPORATED EXHIBIT "A" ("PROPERTY"), TO VIRGINIA KEY, LLC
("PROPOSER") SUBJECT TO APPROVAL BY A MAJORITY OF THE VOTES
CAST BY THE ELECTORATE AT A REFERENDUM ELECTION;
AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A LEASE AGREEMENT
("LEASE"), IN SUBSTANTIALLY THE FORM ATTACHED AND
INCORPORATED AS EXHIBIT "B," WITH PROPOSER FOR AN INITIAL TERM
OF FORTY-FIVE (45) YEARS, WITH TWO (2) FIFTEEN (15) YEAR RENEWAL
TERMS, AND PAYMENT TO THE CITY OF A MINIMUM GUARANTEED
ANNUAL RENT EQUAL TO TWO MILLION, TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND AND
00/100 DOLLARS ($2,200,000.00) INCREASED ANNUALLY, PLUS
PERCENTAGE RENT EQUAL TO SIX PERCENT (6%) OF GROSS REVENUES
FOR THE PRIVATELY FUNDED REDEVELOPMENT OF A MARINA ON THE
PROPERTY, INCLUDING BOAT STORAGE, RESTAURANTS, RETAIL, AND
PUBLIC PARKING, AS MORE PARTICULARLY SET FORTH IN THE LEASE,
SUBJECT TO APPROVAL BY A MAJORITY OF THE VOTES CAST BY THE
ELECTORATE AT A REFERENDUM ELECTION, AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH
THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE CITY CHARTER AND ALL OTHER
APPLICABLE LAWS; PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, the City of Miami ("City") owns the property located at approximately 3301,
3605, 3501, 3311, and 3511 Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami, Florida on Virginia Key, as more
particularly described in the attached and incorporated Exhibit "A" ("Property"); and
WHEREAS, the City issued Request for Proposals No. 16-17-011 ("RFP") on February
17, 2017, to solicit a plan to redesign, construct, renovate, redevelop, lease, manage, and
operate a mixed -use waterfront facility, including but not limited to a marina, boatyard, dock
master's office, store, dry storage, wet slip docks, and at least one (1) restaurant at the
Property; and
WHEREAS, three (3) proposals were received and deemed responsive in accordance
with the RFP's terms and conditions; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to the RFP, the City Manager convened a selection committee to
review and evaluate the proposals ("Selection Committee"), which ultimately recommended
Virginia Key, LLC ("Proposer") as the top -ranked proposer; and
City of Miami Page 1 of 3 File ID: 19190 (Revision:) Printed On: 6/23/2026
File ID: 19190 Enactment Number: R-26-0254
WHEREAS, the City Manager approved the recommendation of the Selection
Committee on June 15, 2017; and
WHEREAS, on June 27, 2017, the second ranked proposer filed a bid protest; and
WHEREAS, on July 20, 2017, in accordance with Chapter 18 of the Code of the City of
Miami, Florida, as amended ("City Code"), and the requirements of the RFP, a bid protest
hearing was held before a Hearing Officer; and
WHEREAS, on July 27, 2017, the Hearing Officer rendered an order denying the bid
protest and affirming the City Manager's recommendation to award a contract to the Proposer
as the highest ranked responsive, responsible proposer; and
WHEREAS, on August 8, 2017, the Hearing Officer entered a final order denying the bid
protest and affirming the City Manager's recommendation to award a contract to the Proposer
as the highest ranked responsive, responsible proposer; and
WHEREAS, on September 1, 2017, the second ranked proposer appealed the Hearing
Officer's decision by filing a Petition for Writ of Certiorari to the Circuit Court of the Eleventh
Judicial Circuit in and for Miami -Dade County, Florida ("Circuit Court"), styled Case No. 2017-
000335-AP-01; and
WHEREAS, the Circuit Court heard oral arguments on the matter and rendered an
opinion on September 11, 2018, denying the second ranked proposer's petition in Case No.
2017-000335-AP-01, thereby upholding the Hearing Officer's decision affirming the City
Manager's recommendation to award a contract to the Proposer; and
WHEREAS, on October 11, 2018, the second ranked proposer appealed the Circuit
Court's decision by filing a Petition for Writ of Certiorari to the Third District Court of Appeal of
Florida ("Third District Court of Appeal"), styled Case No. 3D18-2061; and
WHEREAS, on February 13, 2019, the Third District Court of Appeal issued an opinion
denying the second ranked proposer's petition in Case No. 3D18-2061, thereby upholding the
Hearing Officer's decision affirming the City Manager's recommendation to award a contract to
the Proposer; and
WHEREAS, on November 16, 2020, the City Commission passed Resolution No. R-20-
0361, rejecting all proposals in connection with the RFP; and
WHEREAS, thereafter, the Proposer filed a complaint against the City in the Circuit
Court, styled Case No. 2021-022931-CA-01, and on February 10, 2023, the Circuit Court
entered a final judgment in favor of Proposer, declaring that the City must award the RFP to the
Proposer, pending approval by the public; and
WHEREAS, on July 31, 2024, the Third District Court of Appeal issued an opinion
affirming the Circuit Court's final judgment in Case No. 2021-022931-CA-01 pursuant to Case
No. 3D23-436;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
MIAMI, FLORIDA:
City of Miami Page 2 of 3 File ID: 19190 (Revision:) Printed on: 6/23/2026
File ID: 19190 Enactment Number: R-26-0254
Section 1. The recitals and findings contained in the Preamble to this Resolution are
adopted by reference and incorporated herein as if fully set forth in this Section.
Section 2. The RFP is hereby awarded to Proposer subject to approval by a majority of
the votes cast by the electorate at a referendum election.
Section 3. The City Manager is authorized' to execute a lease agreement for the
Property, in substantially the form attached and incorporated as Exhibit "B," with Proposer for an
initial term of forty-five (45) years, with two (2) fifteen (15) year renewal terms and payment to
the City of a minimum guaranteed annual rent equal to Two Million, Two Hundred Thousand
and 00/100 Dollars ($2,200,000.00), increased annually, plus percentage rent equal to six
percent (6%) of gross revenues for the privately funded redevelopment of a marina on the
Property, including boat storage, restaurants, retail, and public parking, as more particularly set
forth in such lease agreement, subject to approval by a majority of the votes cast by the
Electorate at a Referendum Election, and in accordance with the requirements of the City
Charter and all other applicable laws.
Section 4. This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon its adoption and
signature of the Mayor.2
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND CORRECTNESS:
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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.
2 If the Mayor does not sign this Resolution, it shall become effective at the end of ten (10) calendar days
from the date it was passed and adopted. If the Mayor vetoes this Resolution, it shall become effective
immediately upon override of the veto by the City Commission.
City of Miami Page 3 of 3 File ID: 19190 (Revision:) Printed on: 6/23/2026