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HomeMy WebLinkAboutWaterfront Advisory BoardApril 10, 2018 Emilio T. Gonzalez, Ph.D., City Manager City of Miami 3500 Pan American Drive Miami, FL 33133 RE: Waterfront Advisory Board Annual Report (2017) Dear Mr. Gonzalez: As Vice Chairperson of the Waterfront Advisory Board (WAB), and pursuant to City Code Sec. 2-890 regarding the annual report requirement of City boards and committees, I provide you with this annual report for calendar year 2017. Is the board serving the purpose for which it was created? The WAB was created to provide a public forum for the review and evaluation of issues related to the use and development of city -owned waterfront property, consideration of waterfront policy, and to be a sounding board regarding major development and/or disposition of City - owned waterfront property for its input and advice at the conceptual planning stage for such development and/or disposition. While there is great interest and passion among active members of the WAB to provide input and direction to the City Administration and City Commission on matters within the WAB's purview, the WAB is not being fully enabled to serve the purpose for which it was created, pursuant to Chapter 29, Section 29-121, et seq. of the City's Code of Ordinances. The ordinance creating the scope / purview of the WAB does not make clear to the City Administration and relevant departments exactly which items and when items should be brought before the WAB for its review and input. While the WAB has made progress on these points by communicating its preferences directly to the City Manager and the Department of Real Estate Asset Management, the WAB felt it necessary to adopt a resolution suggesting a broad set of amendments to Chapter 29 with the goal of memorializing in a clear manner, the responsibilities placed on the City Administration when presenting items to the WAB. It is the WAB's desire for City Commission to consider such amendments as it believes it will improve the effectiveness of the WAB and better allow it to serve the purpose for which it was created. Is the board serving current community needs? The WAB serves current community needs. The WAB has acted in a professional manner in serving community needs by evaluating issues related to the use and development of City - owned waterfront property and providing advice to the City Commission relating to waterfront issues. Much of the value of the WAB continues to be the public forum it provides for the presentation and discussion of development of City -owned waterfront property and other public land that abuts the water - whether Biscayne Bay, the Miami River, the Little River, or other navigable waterways within the City's boundaries. What are the board's major accomplishments? Between January 2017 and December 2017, the WAB reviewed and evaluated the following significant items: ■ Passed a motion adopting the Official Rules of Procedure of the City of Miami Waterfront Advisory Board ■ Passed a motion requesting the City Commission consider the WAB's amendments to Chapter 29 / Article IV of the City Code as originally recommended and approved in October 2016 pursuant to WAB 2016-03 ■ Passed a motion supporting the City of Miami's General Obligation Bond with specific consideration given to waterfront related projects and waterfront related resiliency measures ■ Passed a motion supporting the proposed City of Miami ordinance to ban polystyrene containers in city -owned parks and recreation facilities, including beaches ■ Passed a motion recommending that Spoil Island "A" identified on the Coconut Grove Waterfront Master Plan be officially re -designated by the City of Miami as "Captain Stuart Sorg Island" in memory of Capt. Stuart Sorg, for his dedication to the City of Miami waterfront and the WAB ■ Engaged in ongoing discussions with the Department of Real Estate Asset Management regarding improvements to the process by which the WAB reviews and evaluates leases, licenses and use and development of City -owned waterfront properties, primarily ensuring the WAB has sufficient time and information to properly conduct its review and evaluation ■ Provided or withheld support for various proposed uses and / or actions by the Department of Real Estate Asset Management related to City -owned waterfront property Is there any other board, either public or private, which would better serve the function of the board? No, the WAB is charged with the responsibility to review and evaluate issues related to the use and development of City -owned waterfront property and shall provide advice to the Miami City Commission concerning those issues and only such other matters as are referred to it by the City Commission regarding City or public land that abuts water. Should the ordinance creating the board be amended to better enable the board to serve the purpose for which it was created? Yes, the WAB recommends, as it did in October 2016 when it passed WAB-2016-03, that the City Commission consider amending the existing ordinance by which the board was created to provide more clarity to the City Administration on the nature and timing of action items that should come before the board, in order to provide for more meaningful input by the board at the appropriate time(s) and thus allow the WAB to better fulfill its mission for the benefit of the public and the citizens of the City of Miami. The WAB proposed amendments to Chapter 29 / Article IV of the City Code include clarifications related to the appointment and removal of board members, amending quorum requirements, and ancillary changes including the annual presentation of grants sought by the City of Miami from the Florida Inland Navigation District for its input and recommendations prior to review and formal action by the City Commission. As 2 mentioned above, in December 2017, the WAB unanimously passed a motion requesting the re - transmittal of WAB-2016-03 to the Office of the Mayor, City Manager and Agenda Coordinator to be placed on the City Commission agenda for consideration. Should the board's membership requirements be modified? Yes, the membership requirements should be modified in order that the quorum reflects a majority of the "active" members in good standing who are regularly engaged and attending meetings in compliance with the requirements imposed by the City's Code of Ordinances. The cost, both direct and indirect of maintaining the board. The City's Manager's Office has assigned Mr. Robert Weinreb, who is a subject matter expert, to provide information to the WAB. The Hearing Boards Division within the Planning department provides the WAB with administrative support, such as preparing meeting minutes, maintaining board correspondence, posting meeting notices, filing reports and performing other support functions, as necessary. WAB meetings are televised through City of Miami television with the help from Office of Communication and Internet Technology Department staff, who are present at every scheduled meeting to assist with any broadcasting and technological needs that may arise. The City Attorney's Office has also assigned one Assistant City Attorney to serve as counsel for the board, charged with attending monthly meetings to provide advice of counsel. Based on information provided by Hearing Boards Division, the direct cost of maintaining the WAB is approximately $25,000.00 Should you need further information, please feel free to contact me through the City of Miami's Hearing Boards Division at 305-416-2030. Sincerely, Cody Courbier Chairperson, City of Miami Waterfront Advisory Board (WAB) Respectfully submitted this day of April , 2018 3