Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutSubmittal-Brian May-Letters between MRC & RCI re-RFPMiami Rowing and Watersports Center, Inc. 3109 Grand Avenue, Suite 332, Coconut Grove, FL 33133 Coconut Grove, Fl. 33133 July 6, 2016 Mr. Daniel J. Alfonso City Manager 444 S.W. 2nd Ave. Miam, FL 33130-1910 Re: RFP No. 12-14-077 Dear Mr. Manager: At the Commission meeting of June 23, 2016, the Commission voted to deny the protests of Tifon and Suntex leaving RCI as the winning bid for the above cited RFP. The Commission also decided to delay giving you the authority to negotiate with RCI and to put that to a vote on July 201. In addition, The Commission will decide whether or not to throw out the RFP and start again. The Miami Rowing and Watersports Center's main concern during these deliberations has been the inclusion of a 300 Slip Marina within the historic basin and the hindrance of the myriad of water based activities that do and can occur in the basin. We appreciate very much that you and the Commission clearly heard that concern from the MRC Board and many others and have made it clear that these slips will no longer be a part of the project. As a result of these decisions, RCI reached out to MRWC to fully understand everything that happens in the basin currently and what other programs activities have been planned. The result of this meeting is outlined in a letter we have received from RCI and which we are making available to you and the Commission. It is a clear pledge to keep the basin free from a Marina and as free as possible from any significant intrusion based on RCI's need to operate their dry rack storage facility. We appreciate RCI's concern forthe Park and for the Programming in the basin and should the Commission vote to negotiate with RCI for this RFP, we feel comfortable that they will honor their word. In that instance, MRWC pledges to do everything we can, as we did with the Boat Show, to support the City and RCI in its effort to make their project a first class Marina and Marine facility. We would also like to thank you for initiating the process for issuing a City bond specifically for the Flex park and the Marine Stadium and for the Planning Department's work in the development of very creative programming for the flex park. This should turn out to be a very good 2017! Sincerely, Submitted into the public Sergio Mendoza record for item(s) SP.1 & SP.2 President on 07/20/2016, City Clerk Ib - 00`51 a ooq�� RC1 i 91 ,, ",Cc Miami Rowing and Watersports Center, Inc. 3109 Grand Avenue, Suite 332, Coconut Grove, FL 33133 Coconut Grove, F7. 33133 July 7, 2016 Mr. Robert Christoph, Jr. RCI Group Virginia Key, LLC 300 Alton Road Suite 303 Miami beach, FL 33139 Re: Rickenbacker Marina RFP Dear Bob: Thank you for your letter of July 6, 2016. Since we found out that a large wet slip marina was part of the RFP, the Miami Rowing and Watersports Center, Inc. (MRWC) has been steadfast in its opposition to any Marina at all and to any hindrances to water based activities and events in the Basin and for what we hope will be a renovated Marine Stadium. Based on the commitments clearly stated in your letter, and on the votes, so far, of the City Commission, in the event that the City Commission moves forward and awards this project to RCI, MRWC will no longer oppose the award of the RFP. Since the MRWC has been operating in the Basin for almost 40 years, we feel very protective of this unique Miami gem, not just for our programs and our members, but for MAST and the citizens of greater Miami. We will do whatever we can to continue to be good partners with the City of Miami, especially the Miami Parks and Recreation Department, and to do whatever we can to help RCI create a state of the art Marine facility. We wish you well in this endeavor. Sincerely, Sergio Mendoza President Submitted into the public record for item(s) SP.1 8t SP.2 on 07/20/2016, City Clerk July 6th, 2016 Mr. Sergio Mendoza President 3601 Rickenbacker Causeway The Miami Rowing Club Virginia Key, Miami 33133 RE: Rickenbacker Marina RFP Dear Sergio, Thank you for taking the time to meet with me regarding the Rickenbacker Marina RFP. As you know my company, Virginia Key LLC, is the first ranked and recommended proposer to the Rickenbacker Marina RFP. On June 22"d, the City Commission rejected bid protests from the 2nd and P ranked proposers, and as such both are no longer under consideration for award by the City Commission. On July 20th, the City Commission is scheduled to consider its options with regard to the RFP. It is our hope the City Commission will move forward with awarding the RFP. In the event it does so, the purpose of this letter is to memorialize in writing our commitment to be a good neighbor to the Miami Rowing Club, the Dragon Boat Club and other stakeholders and users of the historic Marine Stadium Basin (Basin). It was extremely helpful-for—us to hear your concerns with regard to preserving, maintaining and improving the Basin for the continued operation of the Miami Rowing Club and all of your members. Specifically, we want to commit in writing the following for the protection of the Miami Rowing Club courses in the Basin, as well as the protection of the Basin, itself. We are fully committed to not developing any marina slips in the historic Marine Stadium Basin. The City of Miami Commission made it very clear on June 22nd that they don't wish to develop slips in the Basin and we have no objection and firmly believe that the removal of those slips by the Commission is allowed under the RFP and does not impair our ability to provide the revenue proposed in our proposal to the City. Submitted into the public record for item(s) SP -1 & SP.2 on 07/20/2016, City Clerk 300 Alton Road d Suite 303 • Miami Beach, Florida 33139 • • fax 305-673-5995 MCNINC. MARINE . July 6th, 2016 Mr. Sergio Mendoza President 3601 Rickenbacker Causeway The Miami Rowing Club Virginia Key, Miami 33133 RE: Rickenbacker Marina RFP Dear Sergio, Thank you for taking the time to meet with me regarding the Rickenbacker Marina RFP. As you know my company, Virginia Key LLC, is the first ranked and recommended proposer to the Rickenbacker Marina RFP. On June 22"d, the City Commission rejected bid protests from the 2nd and P ranked proposers, and as such both are no longer under consideration for award by the City Commission. On July 20th, the City Commission is scheduled to consider its options with regard to the RFP. It is our hope the City Commission will move forward with awarding the RFP. In the event it does so, the purpose of this letter is to memorialize in writing our commitment to be a good neighbor to the Miami Rowing Club, the Dragon Boat Club and other stakeholders and users of the historic Marine Stadium Basin (Basin). It was extremely helpful-for—us to hear your concerns with regard to preserving, maintaining and improving the Basin for the continued operation of the Miami Rowing Club and all of your members. Specifically, we want to commit in writing the following for the protection of the Miami Rowing Club courses in the Basin, as well as the protection of the Basin, itself. We are fully committed to not developing any marina slips in the historic Marine Stadium Basin. The City of Miami Commission made it very clear on June 22nd that they don't wish to develop slips in the Basin and we have no objection and firmly believe that the removal of those slips by the Commission is allowed under the RFP and does not impair our ability to provide the revenue proposed in our proposal to the City. Submitted into the public record for item(s) SP -1 & SP.2 on 07/20/2016, City Clerk 300 Alton Road d Suite 303 • Miami Beach, Florida 33139 • • fax 305-673-5995 We are fully committed to, and will pursue in our permitting applications with environmental regulatory agencies, staging area docks in our dry dock development that do not extend any more than 75 feet from the shoreline into the Basin, and therefore will help ensure that boats going to and from our dry dock facility do not impede on the Miami Rowing Club courses in the Basin. Coupled with our staging area docks, we are fully committed to work with the Miami Rowing Club, the City of Miami Parks Department and all Virginia Key stakeholders to establish a marked channel close to the shoreline to manage the flow of boats to and from our dry dock storage facility and Biscayne Bay so as to minimize interference with the rowing and paddling activities in the Basin. We pledge to work with the Miami Rowing Club and to assist you in anyway possible to establish a clearly marked mooring field in the middle portion of the Basin to manage the location of boats mooring in the Basin. Again, we appreciate your taking the time to speak with us and share your perspective with regard to preserving the historic use of the Basin by the Miami Rowing Club and improving conditions in the Basin in conjunction with any redevelopment of the Rickenbacker Marina. It is our hope that we have adequately addressed your concerns, and if asked, The Miami Rowing Club will be able to inform the City Commission that based upon our written commitments above Miami Rowing Club no longer opposes the award of the RFP. Should you have any questions or additional concerns, please feel free to contact me directly. We look forward to working with you as things progress. Sincerely, Robert Christoph, Jr. RCI Group Virginia Key, LLC cc: Monk Terry Rafael Montalvo Daniel Alfonso, City Manager, City of Miami Kevin Kern, Director, City of Miami Parks Department The Honorable Members of the Miami City Commiss;-' Submitted into the public record for item(s) SPA & SP.2 on 07/20/2016, City Clerk 300 Alton Road, Suite 303, Miami Beach, Florida 33139,(305) 672-5588 • FAX (305) 673-5995