Miami Today: Week of Thursday, October 6, 2016

WEEK OF THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2016

A Singular Voice in an Evolving City

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CORAL GABLES

Retail district expands to meet ever-growing demand, pg. 13 CONSTRUCTION STARTS DOWN: As the value of construction starts in South Florida fell 22% in August from August 2015, the value of construction starts for the whole of 2016 slipped slightly into negative territory, down more than $11 million from the first eight months of 2015.

Construction starts for the year for Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties now total a bit more than $7.2 billion, according to Dodge Data & Analytics, which closely tracks construction in the area. In August alone, non-residential starts fell 31% in value for the area from August 2015 and residential starts fell 20%. For the whole year, non-residential starts are up 7% and residential starts down 4% in value, according to Dodge’s figures.

Business leaders unite to deal with streetscape issues, pg. 14

THE ACHIEVER

BY SUSAN DANSEYAR

MIA-ONTARIO FLIGHTS: Canadian carrier First Air will begin charter passenger flights to Miami International Airport from Hamilton International Airport in Mount Hope, Ontario, on Feb. 4, 2017, on behalf of Celebrity Cruises. The carrier will use B737-400 aircraft seating 136 passengers for the weekly charter service. First Air will add to MIA’s current service to Canada, which includes flights linking to Montreal by American Airlines and Air Canada, as well as to Toronto with American Airlines, Air Canada and WestJet. Canada is MIA’s eighth-busiest international market, with more than 765,000 passengers a year. First Air is the leading airline in Canada’s Arctic, wholly owned by the 9,000 Inuit of northern Quebec through the Makivik Corp.

BUS FARE CUT: To encourage more use of public transit, officials have cut fares for express Metrobus routes operating within Miami-Dade lines from $2.65 to $2.25. Routes 150, 338, 272, 288, 204, 34 and 95 Express Golden Glades now have a 40-cent lower cost per trip. The 301 DadeMonroe Express, 302 Card Sound Express and four 95 Dade-Broward Express routes remain at the old fares. Changes took effect Oct. 1. County commissioners approved Mayor Carlos Gimenez’s budget Sept. 22, which included the reduced fare. The resolution that led to the fare cut was sponsored by Daniella Levine Cava, who said express bus service like the 95 Express routes and Busway Flyer is important for thousands of people already and will be a critical link in the SMART plan that is eventually to add six transit routes. In a written statement, Director of Transportation and Public Works Alice Bravo said express Metrobus route fares now match Metrorail rates.

GAS TRICKLES UP: Miami retail gasoline prices averaged $2.25 a gallon as this week opened, 1 cent higher than last week but 4.4 cents per gallon lower than a year earlier.

Carole Kruse

Photo by Marlene Quaroni

Director prepares for Zoo Miami’s Everglades exhibit The profile is on Page 4

Casino giant Genting floats marina slips swap

BY JOHN CHARLES ROBBINS

Mega-yacht plans face manatee rules, pg. 12

Genting Group will wait no longer. The Malaysian casino giant, through its Resorts World Miami, is moving forward to build a mega-yacht marina at 1 Herald Plaza without first developing the upland, where it long has sought a mammoth gambling resort.

That’s the word from attorney Spencer Crowley, representing the company Monday before the Miami River Commission.

The commission voted 10-1 to recommend approval of a plan that would establish 50 boat slips in Biscayne Bay off the former Miami Herald headquarters site between the MacArthur and Venetian causeways.

The deal includes construction of a public shoreline baywalk and a Genting promise to pay to build part of the baywalk under I-395 connecting to the existing baywalk in front of the Pérez Art Museum Miami.

That slice of baywalk would be “a huge substantial benefit” that Genting is proud to offer, Mr. Crowley said.

Rules to protect manatees allow for one slip per 100 feet of owned shoreline, giving Genting eight slips. But Mr. Crowley said

Resorts World Miami intends to seek special permission to buy boat slips from two Miami River sites to bring the new marina’s slip count to 50.

The river marinas are Austral Marina near Northwest 16th Terrace and the South Fork property near Northwest 19th Court owned by Apex Marine, according to data provided to the river commission.

Horacio Stuart Aguirre, river commission chair, citing business and personal relationships with the two riverfront property owners, recused himself from the discussion and vote.

“The county has used the slip transfer in the past,” Mr. Crowley said. Resorts World Miami hopes to transfer the slips in order “to achieve the densities we want,” he said.

Mr. Crowley also said the marina would be a major economic engine for the city and increase the area’s marine industry.

“Big boats mean big jobs,” he said, and big money. “We see this as a great benefit to the Miami River,” Mr. Crowley said, saying the marina would help support marine uses and boat yards up and down the river.

AGENDA

Chamber, Beacon tie given push A merger would benefit the Beacon Council and Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce as a shared CEO and resources streamlined and strengthened economic development efforts, some leaders are saying.

County Commissioner Xavier Suarez said publicly this week that he agrees with a Sept. 8 Miami Today editorial that timing is perfect to search for just one CEO now that both groups are seeking one. The editorial said a merger could better lure top talent, sharpen focus and command more government respect.

In a formal meeting with Commissioner Daniella Levine Cava to discuss Beacon Council efficacy, Mr. Suarez told council Chair Jaret Davis that the $3.7 million a year the council gets from the business surtax would be more effectively used if the council and chamber merged.

Ms. Levine Cava said she shares the concerns of many that the county might not be getting the full value of the business tax and would like the Beacon Council to explain more clearly what it does.

She’s talked to people on both sides of the merger idea, although she said most don’t favor it.

Mr. Davis said the Beacon Council will investigate a merger. Several people have proposed it, he said. “We are open to the idea.”

In a written statement Tuesday, Mr. Davis said the Beacon Council has considered strategic partnerships with the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce and similar entities for years. “We recognize that the simultaneous vacancies in chief executive positions provide a natural catalyst to revisit these talks. As part of our fiduciary duty to our stakeholders, we are having informal discussions with local leaders.”

But, he said, “before any serious discussions of any strategic partnership may occur, we would need to analyze the risks and benefits.”

Genting has owned the Biscayne Bay waterfront for about five years while floating ideas for a billion-dollar resort on the 14-acre site. But attempts to get a casino approved in Tallahassee have been dashed repeatedly, and the land has remained barren.

Mr. Crowley said the developer has been working on this plan for several years. “The site is very well suited for a marina,” he said. A proposed layout shows the marina could handle 50- to 175-footlong vessels.

Initially, it was believed the submerged lands off 1 Herald Plaza belonged to the state, he said, but research revealed the state conveyed the submerged lands to the City of Miami in 1919, a fact confirmed by state officials.

Plenty must happen before the first 120-footer docks at the planned marina, including approvals from county, state and federal agencies. A key to the proposal is a lease of the bottomlands from the city.

The marina proposal is under review currently, said Mr. Crowley, by Miami-Dade Commissioner Levine Cava seeks County Department of Environmental Refull audit of Beacon Council, pg. 11 sources Management and other agencies.

CLEANUP OF POLLUTED WATERWAYS YEARS BEHIND ...

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RUSSIA FLIERS DIP 37%, BUT AEROFLOT ADDING HERE ...

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ENDANGERED BEETLE NOW ENDANGERS THEME PARK ...

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ACCOUNTABILITY ISSUE STALLS HOUSING LAND TRUST ...

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VIEWPOINT: AERIAL BALLPARK TRANSIT A HOME RUN? ...

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CANADIAN HOTELIER PLANS TO BUILD IN EDGEWATER ...

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DOWNTOWN RETAIL SPACE TO QUICKLY EXPAND 23% ...

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AS FILM FEST EVENT OPENS, ‘INTERNATIONAL’ EXITS ...

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MIAMI TODAY

TODAY’S NEWS

WEEK OF THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2016

THE INSIDER NEW MEDICAL EXAMINER: Mayor Carlos Gimenez last week appointed Dr. Emma Lew director of the Miami-Dade County Medical Examiner Department. She had been acting medical examiner since April 18, when the mayor appointed her to that post after the death of Dr. Bruce Hyma, who had been medical examiner for more than 15 years. Dr. Lew, who has been in the department for more than 25 years, holds both a bachelor’s in physiology and a medical degree from the University of Saskatchewan in Canada.

GABLES ASKS FEDS TO RAISE PASSPORT FEES: The City of Coral Gables’ passport office has proposed a policy recommendation to the US Department of State to increase the execution fee for every new passport. The policy, if approved, would bump the execution fee to $35 from the current $25 – increasing the office’s revenue by 40%.

LEGISLATIVE MANAGEMENT: City of Miami offices have successfully implemented the Accela Legislative Management System, according to City Clerk Todd B. Hannon.

The system is designed to more efficiently manage and automate the agenda and legislative processes associated with the city commission and city boards, in addition to enhancing public access to agendas, minutes, legislation, videos and public notices. Be- The Seybold Canal entrance off the Miami River. Getting a cleanup contractor aboard has been sticky. fore the use of Accela, the public had to use multiple programs to find documents and videos. The Public Todd Hannon Portal function of Accela features “all-in-one” capabilities, allowing the public to search for and access agendas, minutes, legislation, videos and public notices, simplifying the effort required to search for information while enhancing user experience. Details: www.miamigov.com

City cleanup of polluted waterways flowing years behind, and counting

MONEY FOR COMMUNITY POLICING: The Department of Justice announced this week it has awarded the City of Miami Police Department $1.875 million in COPS (Community Oriented Policing Services) funding to hire 15 officers for community policing. Those officers will be assigned to Allapattah, Little Haiti and Liberty City to fight a growing wave of gunrelated youth violence. This is a three-year grant providing up to $125,000 per officer for salaries and benefits. Last week the Department of Justice also awarded the city police department $960,000 to purchase body-worn cameras, train 640 front-line police officers and enact a community engagement strategy. This will take place over a two-year period.

NEW GABLES BANK BRANCH: Weston-based Florida Community Bank held an official opening Monday for its new Coral Gables Banking Center at 2020 Ponce de Leon Blvd. The branch relocated to the site in August. Florida Community says it is the third-largest Florida-based independent bank, with assets of more than $8 billion. The bank was founded in 2010.

LINCOLN ROAD UPGRADES: Ground is to be broken in spring 2018 on upgrades to the Lincoln Road pedestrian mall that will include more public seating, spaces for art installations and a new pavement design. James Corner Field Operations, a New York-based landscape architecture firm responsible for The High Line in Manhattan, has a contract to oversee a three-phase master plan it created to update the mall. Phase one will upgrade Lincoln Road from Washington to Lenox avenues. Drexel and Pennsylvania avenues will both be pedestrianized in the first phase. Bike lanes are to be added to Meridian Avenue. The Lincoln Road Business Improvement District recognizes its commitment in building on the road’s legacy, said district President Steve Gombinski. “Revitalizing and updating the historic Morris Lapidus designed public space will ensure that Lincoln Road remains one of the most exciting areas in the county,” he said.

FINALLY, ZIKA FUNDS FROM CONGRESS: County Mayor Carlos Gimenez announced that a bill Congress passed last week will provide $1.1 billion in Zika funding. Hopefully, he said in a written statement,most of that funding will go to a vaccine and reimbursement of what Miami-Dade County has already spent. “The support of our state delegation was critical in urging its colleagues to do the right thing,” he said. “Miami-Dade County is now at a critical point in our mosquito-control efforts, and this funding will help us continue to keep our millions of Carlos Gimenez residents and visitors safe and informed.”

SUPPORT OF PUBLIC SPACE: Of the 19 projects selected as winners of the Miami Foundation’s 2016 Public Space Challenge, three were sponsored by the Miami Parking Authority. The initiative aims to discover the best ideas for creating, improving and activating parks, plazas and local gathering places. More than 400 ideas were submitted for this year’s program. The MPA-backed ideas included the use of a parking space to create a parklet in East Little Havana that would provide an open gathering space in a densely populated area; a temporary environmental art installation along a section of the Miami baywalk with the goal of generating discussion and action toward a permanently improved waterfront trail in downtown Miami; and the temporary transformation of three vehicular lanes and interior parking bays in downtown Miami into activated people spaces to promote a 24/7 livable city.

A SOLID PROPOSAL: City commissioners in Miami have initially approved an ordinance regulating concrete batching plants. On Sept. 22, commissioners supported legislation crafted by the Planning and Zoning Department to change the zoning code by modifying the definition of “Storage and Distribution” and establishing regulations for concrete batching plants, allowed only in D2 Industrial Transect Zones through a special conditional use decided administratively and subject to appeal by neighboring property owners first to the city’s Planning, Zoning and Appeals Board and then to the city commission. Rules for concrete batching plants could receive final approval in late October.

ANIMAL CHOW: Two companies have been chosen to provide horse feed and dog food for the Miami Police Department. City commissioners approved a contract with Robbie’s Feed & Supply Inc. and Royal Canin U.S.A. Inc. for police horse feed supplements and dog food. The contracts are for two years with the option to renew for two more two-year periods.

BY JOHN CHARLES ROBBINS

Even though the City of Miami has lined up the permits and money for a $23 million dredging and clean-up of Wagner Creek and Seybold Canal, work has not yet started.

Clean-up of the long-polluted tributary of the Miami River may not begin until 2017, according to officials with the Miami River Commission.

That would be two years after the city commission approved the Wagner Creek and Seybold Canal Maintenance Dredging and Environmental Cleanup Project.

The delay lies with difficulty in hiring a company to do the work.

After the city commission approved the job in 2015, the city’s procurement department requested proposals and two companies bid. But after months of the companies tangling over which met or didn’t meet bid specifications, the city threw out both bids and started over, said Horacio Stuart Aguirre, chair of the river commission.

“Were we, the Miami River Commission, disappointed?

Sure we were. Was City Manager Danny Alfonso disappointed? Sure he was,” said Mr. Aguirre.

But because of the continued bickering between the bidders, he said, city staff determined that the best course was to start over.

This summer the city again requested proposals, and Mr. Aguirre learned last week that two bids are under review.

Asked this week by Miami Today when he anticipates the clean-up to start, Mr. Aguirre said, “My guess is January.”

The delays are costing the city more money.

At its Sept. 22 meeting, the city commission approved a second amendment to a contract with CH2M Hill Constructors Inc. for project management and oversight of the Wagner Creek and Seybold Canal project.

According to a staff memo, the commission hired CH2M for

up to $1 million on Sept. 11, 2007, to manage the project.

It took years to assemble all the necessary permits and money. Those efforts appeared to culminate in late 2014, when the city commission on Oct. 7 approved the first amendment to its contract with CH2M, increasing the amount by more than $2.4 million, to total up to $3,409,588.19.

The memo that explains last month’s second amendment reads: “The current remaining contract balance and project time is not sufficient to complete the services required for the Wagner Creek and Seybold Canal Waterways Restoration Project.

Specifically, Part A, Tasks 1 and 2, Project Planning and Support and Design Criteria Package Preparation and Proposal Evaluation requires additional time and resources due to the extensive effort required to support the Request for Proposals (“RFP”) resolicitation process.

“It is therefore necessary to enter into Amendment No. 2 with CH2M, increasing the expenditure limit and project time by an additional not to exceed amount of $90,000.00 and twenty-one (21) months respectively, to a total not to exceed amount of $3,499,588.19,” the memo says.

CH2M Hill Constructors Inc. is to continue to provide project management, technical procurement assistance, and construction support services.

Wagner Creek has been identified as having a high concentration of pollutants.

The project aims to remove accumulated sediments and dioxins (a hazardous chemical bound to the sediments), and subsequently restore stormwater capacity in both Wagner Creek and Seybold Canal, benefiting the community and South Florida’s natural aquatic resources, says a project summary.

Stormwater runs into Wagner Creek, which merges into Seybold Canal, from the surrounding area. The stormwater discharge has elevated concentrations of dioxins, total poly-

cyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and metals, officials have said.

Dredging is to begin where Wagner Creek flows out of a culvert at Northwest 20th Street and continue to where the Seybold Canal empties into the Miami River about 2.5 miles away.

Under an approved plan, the project is to safely excavate contaminated, accumulated sediment in six sections – five in Wagner Creek and one in Seybold Canal – and transport the sediment to a landfill, according to officials.

When city commissioners approved the project in early 2015, the total estimated cost for design, permitting and dredging was $23 million.

The city has received several grants from the Florida Inland Navigation District and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, and allocated stormwater utility funds to the project, and is expected to use a State Revolving Fund loan to cover the shortfall.

This week, Mr. Aguirre said Wagner Creek/ Seybold Canal continues to be considered the most contaminated waterway in Florida.

We want to hear from YOU! Phone: (305) 358-2663 Staff Writers: Camila Cepero ccepero@miamitodaynews.com Susan Danseyar sdanseyar@miamitodaynews.com John Charles Robbins jrobbins@miamitodaynews.com Letters to Editor editor@miamitodaynews.com People Column people@miamitodaynews.com Michael Lewis mlewis@miamitodaynews.com

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WEEK OF THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2016

TODAY’S NEWS

MIAMI TODAY

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Tiger beetle listed as endangered, endangering theme park

BY CAMILA CEPERO

The US Fish and Wildlife Service on Tuesday announced it was listing the Miami tiger beetle as endangered, meaning the beetle is in danger of extinction now or in the foreseeable future. The announcement comes in the wake of a nearly three-year review of the beetle’s possible habitat and threatens the development of the proposed Miami Wilds theme park.

The listing of the Miami tiger beetle as endangered becomes effective Nov. 4, exactly 30 days after its Oct. 5 publication in the Federal Register.

Considered to be extinct until 2007 when a small population was discovered near Zoo Miami, the beetle is now only known to survive in two separate populations in Miami’s disappearing pine rocklands.

The first location is the Richmond Pine Rocklands and the second location, which is three miles away and separated by urban development, was discovered in 2015.

The Richmond Pine Rocklands is a mixture of publically and privately owned land that retains the largest area of contiguous pine rockland habitat outside of Everglades National Park.

The US Fish and Wildlife Service began a review of the Miami tiger beetle’s status and threats in early 2014, according to a statement received Tuesday from the service.

In December 2014, the service received a petition requesting that the Miami tiger beetle be emergency listed as endangered and that critical habitat be designated under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).

Now that Miami tiger beetles will be listed and protected, federal agencies are required under the Endangered Species Act to consult with the service and consider the impacts to the species before taking an action, including land development or management, the statement said.

According to the service, critical habitat designation for the Miami tiger beetle is not part of the proposal at this time but will be proposed later in a separate action. The service anticipates proposing critical habitat for the Miami tiger beetle by September 2017.

Miami Wilds LLC, a proposed theme park at Zoo Miami, might face possible restrictions on development due to the beetle’s endangered listing. However, the land has not been fully surveyed for the beetle, so potential impacts to the species and its habitat cannot be fully assessed.

The land itself is currently government-owned US Coast Guard land and would only become part of the Miami Wilds project if the Coast Guard were to sell or transfer the land, as is planned.

Both the Coast Guard and Zoo Miami land have pine rocklands, so the sale or transfer of the land and would be reviewed by the US Fish and Wildlife Service under the National Environmental Policy Act. Surveys at the Coast Guard property are underway.

“The Miami tiger beetle is one of the smallest tiger beetles in the US,” said Larry Williams, Florida

Miami Wilds, encouraged by county officials, has sought a theme park in the Miami tiger beetle’s pine rocklands habitat near Zoo Miami.

state supervisor for the US Fish and Wildlife Service.

“It’s less than half an inch long and is actually a pretty fierce predator,” Mr. Williams said. “It preys on other insects... [and has] well developed jaws. It’s originally known from a single specimen collected 70 years ago.”

The beetle has a distinctive shiny dark green dorsal surface.

“We are listing the beetle to ensure its continued survival and conserve its shrinking habitat,” said Cindy Dohner, the US Fish and Wildlife Service’s Southeast regional director, in a statement.

“All information available to us when we proposed the tiger beetle for listing was carefully considered. We are working closely with prospective developers and key stakeholders in Miami-Dade County to ensure

that the Miami tiger beetle is considered in development or management plans.”

Miami tiger beetles need bare or sparsely vegetated, sandy habitat patches that are found within pine rockland habitat to survive. Habitat loss, degradation and fragmentation have destroyed about 98% of the historical pine rockland habitat in Miami-Dade.

“When a federal agency like the Coast Guard is proposing any kind of official action, they have to consult with us,” Mr. Williams said. “So before the Coast Guard would transfer land out of Coast Guard ownership... by law they have to consult with us.”

“Basically, they have to get a permit to do that, and unless we approve it, it can’t happen.”

Another possibility, however, is that a conservation deed could

accompany the land transfer, essentially meaning that because of the deed, the new land owner would be unable to develop it.

Paul Lambert, an official of Miami Wilds LLC, previously told Miami Today that project partners had been anticipating the listing of the beetle as endangered and were evaluating a two-phased approach.

Phase I of the project could take place within existing county property and include a water park, limited lodging and some retail, he said then, and Phase II could include development on the Coast Guard land and include the theme park.

“As a stand-alone project, it’s still viable as long as Phase I doesn’t fall within the boundary of the endangered species, so for the portion on county-owned land,

we’ll only build on zoo property that’s paved or mowed,” he said.

However, according to the service, based upon available information to date, it appears that the proposed developments would have impacts on suitable or potentially suitable beetle habitat.

Mr. Williams said that in similar cases of endangered species and development issues, developers have been able to get permits to develop one-third of the land and conserve the remaining two-thirds with better management.

“That’s what we shoot for, to make the habitat and status of the species better,” he said.

The Miami Wilds project made changes to avoid negatively impacting the protected species and has no intention of disturbing the beetle’s habitat, Mr. Lambert previously told Miami Today.

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MIAMI TODAY

VIEWPOINT

WEEK OF THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2016

MIAMITODAY Miami Today is an independent voice of the community, published weekly at 2000 S. Dixie Highway, Suite 100, Miami, Florida 33133. Telephone (305) 358-2663

Aerial transit to ballpark could be home run for community A feasibility study has pinpointed costeffective, nowait transit for a niche Miami market that would maximize current resources while acting as a pilot for other micro mobility gains.

The Metro- Michael Lewis politan Planning Organization’s inquiry that we revealed last week looked at aerial cable transit, a sophisticated cousin of ski trams that would carry riders above both urban roadways and waterways.

The consultants looked at multiple routes but in the end focused on a six-minute trip from downtown’s Government Center to Marlins Park as the aerial line most likely to succeed.

At first blush this seems another giveaway to the Miami Marlins, who got an almost $3 billion – yes, billion – government gift in a new stadium yet saw ticket sales fall this year. They’re just 27th among the 30 big league teams in attendance.

Jeffrey Loria and Company would indeed win big with aerial transit, but follow the study’s reasoning to see why, if this cable line were properly funded, it could actually be a win-win for everyone.

First, this would initiate a reliable transit mode that doesn’t slow other traffic as riders glide, faster and safer than a bus or streetcar, 25 to 75 feet above ground.

If it works linked to the ballpark, it could relieve traffic elsewhere too.

The study notes that to preserve the skyline, Miami Beach officials rejected aerial cable in the city and then from the

city to Watson Island. PortMiami officials also said they want no aerial trams. A successful ballpark aerial system could open minds elsewhere.

Further, the Metropolitan Planning Organization limited the study to mid-county east-west trips. A successful ballpark line could fuel aerial transit outside that corridor to encompass other opportunities.

Second, aerial transit to Marlins Park would serve far more than its perhaps 90 events a year.

The greatest gain, the study points out, could be to fill 5,500 parking spaces that the City of Miami built at the stadium that are woefully underutilized. With aerial transit they would be just six minutes from Government Center downtown, offering parking to workers who now drive into the city’s core each day.

The Marlins play mostly nights and weekends. The parking sits empty other times. The study estimates – conservatively – that 1,000 to 2,000 cars a day would park there instead of flowing downtown.

Another beneficiary would be the nowrising MiamiCentral rail station and future All Aboard Florida rail operations, which would be just six minutes by aerial cable car from a trove of parking for passengers and staff.

Other beneficiaries, the study says, would be Little Havana residents who work downtown but lack transit. Plus, the study notes, Little Havana is a highly popular cultural attraction to visitors to Miami who could get there conveniently in six minutes via aerial transit.

Total estimated daily riders on the route: 2,500 to 5,200.

The study says the project would cost $40 million to build and could fund 58% of its operating expenses via fares. Both

metrics rank far ahead of other transit we have or propose in Miami-Dade and cost the public far less per passenger mile to build and run.

The study does say, however, that if government is serious about a stadium route – the planners support it – the project needs a more in-depth look, after which it could be built in 12 months, with no expensive right-of-way to acquire and only two stations needed.

The study doesn’t say so, but both stations could rise on government land, so nothing to acquire there either.

It’s not until their final three paragraphs that authors arrive at a key point that should be this transit plan’s touchstone: “Funding from a mélange of government and private resources would need to be explored. Since [aerial cable transit] tends to be a targeted point to point type service, institutions and communities that benefit most from the improved access might contribute specifically to the project.”

That’s where this aerial link to the ballpark sparkles. Just think about who those beneficiaries to be tapped for funding would be.

For one, Florida East Coast Industries, parent of the developers of All Aboard Florida rail service, the MiamiCentral station and the office buildings and apartments lining the rail route downtown.

This would be like building them a 5,500car parking hub.

Second, the Miami Parking Authority, which paid to build the garages at Marlins Park, operates them and is paid more than $10 per space by the Marlins for every ballgame. The authority also owns and tries to lease the 53,000 square feet of retail in those garages but has yet after five years to reach full occupancy, which means the authority is lagging on raising

cash to repay bonds that funded the garages.

And third, the Marlins owners, who would get dedicated transit directly to the ballpark. Moreover, they have a contract with the city to lease every parking space in those garages from the parking authority at just over $10 apiece but can then resell those spaces to the public for as much as team owners want to charge.

That’s all detailed in stadium contracts drawn eight years ago. Depending on the fine points of those contracts, the Marlins owners, more than the city, might be the big winners from parking space sales triggered by aerial mass transit 365 days a year.

This lawyer’s field day in the end might spur a new agreement with the city and county that would allow the team to pay its fair share of its aerial transit parking gains.

There they are, a massive developer, a baseball team and a highly profitable city parking operation, the key beneficiaries of aerial transit to the ballpark. All should be tapped to help fund both transit’s construction and its operating losses.

The study highlighted an aerial transportation niche that now operates in areas as diverse as Manhattan, Oregon, Bolivia and Colombia and is being considered in other urban areas globally. It points out that some federal funds could flow in for the project.

This has too much potential to overlook. Don’t relegate this study to a shelf to rot. It says up to 2 million riders a year could start taking aerial transit to and from Little Havana 12 months from the time a system got a go-ahead.

Look deeper into this and, if it passes muster, negotiate strong partnership contracts. We all have so much to gain.

Online sales in California, where hair cap can cost five figures According to a recent report, 69% of adults regularly shop online. For small businesses, that means reaching customers far beyond the boundaries of your neighborhood. But as a small business owner myself, I have two Richard Leebow words of advice for those looking to break into the online market: Be careful.

Late last April I received a notice that my beauty supply company, Betty Dain Creations, sold a product that exposed the public to chemicals in violation of Proposition 65, a California law.

I had no idea what Proposition 65 was, but as a responsible business owner, I believe strongly in the duty to ensure the safety of my customers. I believed every product I sold or distributed met federal safety standards. Yet suddenly, I was accused of exposing my customers to toxic chemicals – how could something so egregious have slipped past my notice?

Then I did a little digging.

Proposition 65 is a 30-year-old California law requiring the state to publish a list of chemicals “known” to cause cancer or reproductive harm. Products sold in the state must bear a conspicuous label warning consumers about the presence of these chemical hazards. Although Betty

Dain Creations is based in Miami, we were not beyond the reach of the California law.

While Proposition 65 was surely passed under the best intentions, its consequences have been negative and far-reaching, in part because the bar for establishing carcinogenicity or reproductive toxicity is unjustifiably low. In some cases, a chemical’s addition to the list was based on just a single study showing the development of cancer in rats (i.e., not humans). Even the American Cancer Society cautions that some compounds listed under Proposition 65 haven’t actually been proven by the scientific community to cause cancer.

As a result, California’s “right-to-know” list has ballooned to include almost 900 substances, most of which aren’t recognized by the federal government as a danger to human health. Now, nearly every product in California – from coffee mugs to your daily fiber supplement – carries the warnings.

As of 2013, the list included DINP. DINP is a plasticizer that improves the flexibility and durability of vinyl products.

It was listed under Proposition 65 after rats fed a diet high in DINP developed tumors.

The problem? According to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, the cellular mechanism that allows DINP to cause cancer in rats doesn’t exist in

humans. The federal agency called any risk to humans “extremely low or nonexistent.”

Alas, DINP was added to Proposition 65 and my company was one of 13 retailers targeted on the same day for selling vinyl gloves that supposedly exposed consumers to unsafe chemicals, despite exceeding every federal safety guideline.

Uniquely, Proposition 65 relies on enforcement through “concerned citizens” filing lawsuits rather than government regulators. That monetary incentive has created a cottage industry of high-frequency litigants and lawyers who prey on small businesses like mine and shake them down for five-figure checks, as most businesses decide to settle out of court.

Sometimes I wonder about the daily hand-wringing my own “concerned citizen enforcer” must experience, because after filing over 400 Proposition 65 suits, he is clearly very concerned. Luckily for him, though, that unease has been enough to earn him a six-figure salary from filing Proposition 65 suits alone.

If you think that sounds fishy, you’re not alone. California’s sitting attorney general expressed concern that the actions of the law firm representing my citizen enforcer “[did] not appear to be in the public interest.” In recent years, the California legislature has also passed several reforms to dissuade predatory liti-

gants from filing multiple suits.

As I discovered this summer, it hasn’t been enough. Aware of the precedent that we would settle, a second high-frequency plaintiff got almost $20,000 from my company over a shampoo hose and hairdying cap.

Proposition 65 has been devastating for my company and thousands of others. In our interconnected world, it’s important for business owners to know that the excessive regulations of one state can bleed out beyond its borders to impact retailers nationwide.

MIAMITODAY miamitodaynews.com FOUNDED JUNE 2, 1983 VOLUME XXXIV No. 19 ENTIRE CONTENTS © 2016

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8

MIAMI TODAY

TODAY’S NEWS

WEEK OF THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2016

Mixed-use Wynwood project echoes old Coca-Cola plant

BY JOHN CHARLES ROBBINS

An homage to the past is to come to life with a large mixeduse project in the Wynwood Arts District.

Developer Thor Equities is proposing to build Wynwood Plant at 286 NW 29th St. with 306 residential units in a 12story building, along with about 66,000 square feet of retail and parking for 673 vehicles.

The city’s Urban Development Review Board has recommended the project’s approval.

Attorney Steve Wernick, representing the developers, said the large property extends along Northwest Third Avenue toward Northwest 28th Street.

He said it is a true industrial site that includes a former CocaCola bottling plant.

The project varies in heights from eight to 12 stories, he said. Mr. Wernick called it a very exciting development with a goal of “really activating this area.�

The uses at Wynwood Plant are meant to be very active and lively, he said.

The new Wynwood Design Review Committee looked over the plan and had no issues with it, he told the board.

The developer is asking for waivers including permission to

Thor plans a 12-story building with 306 residences, 66,000 square feet of retail and parking for 673 cars.

increase allowable lot coverage by 10%, allow more service entries and a cross block pedestrian paseo and more.

Architectural firm Touzet Studio borrowed lines and images from the past to give the brand new structure an industrial plant look. Before designing the building, the architects studied the buildings of the neighborhood, including warehouses and former manufacturing plants, said Jacqueline Gonzalez Touzet, a founding principal of

Touzet Studio.

The design team embraced the urban, industrial grid. She said there is an honesty to the industrial look. “There is something nice in telling stories through architecture,� said Ms. Gonzalez Touzet. “This is very special to us.

It’s in our neighborhood,� she said, referring to her office location in Wynwood.

The development is to include a dog park, a pedestrian path or paseo, retail uses on two levels,

CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING The Miami City Commission will hold a Public Hearing on Thursday, October 13, 2016 at 9:00 $ 0 WR FRQVLGHU WKH DZDUG RI D FRQWUDFW WR WKH QRQ SUR¿W RUJDQL]DWLRQ OLVWHG EHORZ WKURXJK Anti-Poverty grant funds from the District 5 share of the City of Miami’s Anti-Poverty Initiative Program. Teens Exercising Extraordinary Success (T.E.E.S) is a 501 (c) (3) that provides youth with a secure positive family environment where they can learn life skills to lead a productive lifestyle free of peer pressure, gangs, and drugs; and, to consider the City Manager’s UHFRPPHQGDWLRQV DQG ¿QGLQJ WKDW FRPSHWLWLYH QHJRWLDWLRQ PHWKRGV DUH QRW SUDFWLFDEOH RU advantageous regarding these issues: • T.E.E.S – Squash the Beef educates men, women, and youth learn WR UHVROYH FRQÀLFWV DQG LGHQWLI\ HPRWLRQDO WULJJHUV Inquiries regarding this notice may be addressed to Malissa Treviùo, Project Manager for the 2I¿FH RI &RPPXQLW\ ,QYHVWPHQW 2I¿FH RI WKH &LW\ 0DQDJHU DW

This action is being considered pursuant to Section 18-85 (A) of the Code of the City of Miami, )ORULGD DV DPHQGHG WKH ³&RGH´ 7KH UHFRPPHQGDWLRQV DQG ¿QGLQJV WR EH FRQVLGHUHG LQ this matter are set forth in the proposed resolution and in Code Section 18-85 (A), which are deemed to be incorporated by reference herein and are available as with the regularly scheduled City Commission meeting of October 13, 2016 at Miami City Hall, 3500 Pan American Drive, Miami, Florida.

The Miami City Commission requests all interested parties be present or represented at the meeting and may be heard with respect to any proposition before the City Commission in which the City Commission may take action. Should any person desire to appeal any decision of the City Commission with respect to any matter to be considered at this meeting, that person shall ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made including all testimony and evidence upon which any appeal may be based (F.S. 286.0105).

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, persons needing special acFRPPRGDWLRQV WR SDUWLFLSDWH LQ WKLV SURFHHGLQJ PD\ FRQWDFW WKH 2IÂżFH RI WKH &LW\ &OHUN DW

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Todd B. Hannon City Clerk

# 22866

and restaurants.

The developer is targeting young professionals, and about two-thirds of the residential units will be one-bedroom and studios, said Ms. Gonzalez Touzet.

There will spaces for art throughout the project, she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s really about creating canvases,â&#x20AC;? she said, and artwork will help to break up the façade. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be curators and work with local artists,â&#x20AC;? she said. Even parts of the paseo, the sidewalks and street furniture will be considered for artful treatments. Those items can take on a new life in the hands of an artist, she said.

Board member Jesus A. Permuy said it was a compli-

cated project and a great idea, but he was having trouble seeing the integration.

Board member Willy Bermello called it an outstanding project. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m so tired of seeing bland [proposals] â&#x20AC;Ś this one addresses the vernacular and history of Wynwood. It is recalled in a very elegant way,â&#x20AC;? he said.

Although at 12 stories it would be one of the tallest structures in the booming neighborhood, Mr. Bermello said the architects made sure to break the scale down. The planned streetscape will be phenomenal, he said.

Board member Neil Hall also liked the proposal. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s evident you live and work there,â&#x20AC;? he told Ms. Gonzalez Touzet. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is echoed in your work â&#x20AC;Ś [itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s clear] you have a love for this project.

Mr. Hall shared that affection. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I love the spirit â&#x20AC;&#x201C; it feels like Wynwood. I like the industrial look. The building feels like art, in a very subtle way,â&#x20AC;? he said.

Dean Lewis, acting board chair, commended the developerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s team on the work. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It fits the site,â&#x20AC;? he said.

The north façade is not as successful as the façade proposed for the west, Mr. Lewis added, recommending the team reconsider the massing and façade planned on the north elevation.

Thor Equities develops, leases and manages commercial, residential, retail, hotel and mixeduse assets in premier urban locations, according to its website.

As MIA-Russia fliers decline 37%, Aeroflot is to add another flight

BY CAMILA CEPERO

Russiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Aeroflot is providing passengers from Miami traveling to Russia and back with non-stop service, but the market for such passengers has declined.

Aeroflot, which is the flag carrier and largest airline of the Russian Federation, is currently the only airline at Miami International Airport flying to Russia.

The carrier operates mainly out of its hub at Sheremetyevo International Airport, located in Moscow Oblast, and serves domestic and international passengers.

As of now, Aeroflot operates two weekly flights on Tuesdays and Fridays for its Moscow-

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s our privilege to serve our community

Miami-Moscow route, said Aleksander Lukashin, head of international public relations for the air carrier.

Flight SU110 leaves Sheremetyevo Airport at 10:15 a.m. local time and arrives at Miami International Airport at 3:25 p.m. local time, he said.

According to Miami International Airport, through June of this year, more than 33,000 passengers traveled between Russia and Miami. This is down 37.4% from the same time period in 2015.

Transaero, the former privately held Russian Airline, ceased operations at Miami International in the fourth quarter of 2015 after declaring bankruptcy and closing for business, said Suzy Trutie, spokeswoman for the Miami-Dade Aviation Department.

Aeroflot plans to add a third weekly flight during the upcoming season, Mr. Lukashin said.

The third flight would use an Airbus A330 and operate Saturdays.

The Airbus A330 family has five in-service airplanes spanning 200-440 seats and has the capability to perform up to 15hour long-haul flights.

WEEK OF THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2016

MIAMI TODAY

13

Coral Gables Gables plans probe US 1 corridor traffic, land use, zoning

BY CATHERINE LACKNER

Coral Gables officially kicked off a US 1 plan Friday with a trolley ride along the busy thoroughfare, also known as South Dixie Highway, said Javier Betancourt, city director of economic development.

The plan is being overseen by Cesar Garcia-Pons, associate principal at Perkins+Will, a firm chosen by the city to create the strategy, he added. It will study land use, design and zoning needs in a corridor from the Douglas Road to South Miami Metrorail stations, and the consultant will solicit input from cities that border Coral Gables along that route. A parallel traffic study is also underway.

Photo by Maxine Usdan

Planner Cesar Garcia-Pons, left, and Javier Betancourt in 2010 photo.

When it was discussed in February, the cost of the study was estimated at $150,000.

“I don’t have to tell you that South Dixie Highway is a criti-

cal and complex corridor for the city,” Mr. Betancourt told the city commission Feb. 23.

“It is the most traversed corridor in the city – by far – by both

cars and transit, and hosts some of the city’s most prominent destinations, including the University of Miami and the Village of Merrick Park.

“Those very characteristics are now attracting development investment interest along the corridor,” he continued. There are challenges, but also opportunities to create open spaces, parks, bicycle and pedestrian paths as well as “high-quality, right-sized development that enhances the corridor while honoring the city’s heritage and preserving the quality of life.”

The need for a cohesive plan came into focus last year, when the Paseo de la Riviera development was proposed on the site of the current Holiday Inn at

1350 S Dixie Hwy. After many months of intense negotiations, the developer made several concessions with some neighbors who opposed the complex, allowing it to move forward.

Another mixed-use project by the same developer, NP International, was approved by the city commission in July. Gables Station, a transit-oriented development, is to rise at 215 and 251 S Dixie Hwy. The three-building complex is to incorporate two residential towers of 148 feet each, a 160foot hotel, a large open space at ground level and a 2.9-acre park, part of which will host The Underline, an open space for pedestrians and bicyclists beneath the Metrorail.

Retail district growing to deal with ever-greater demand

BY CATHERINE LACKNER

Coral Gables’ retail star is undimmed by the streetscape project, and the city’s retail district is growing to accommodate ever-increasing demand, observers say.

“The first thing is that, 100%, Miracle Mile is still the heart of retail in the Coral Gables market,” said Justin Greider JLL’s vice president of agency leasing. “Demand has been and continues to be strong there, though rents are incredibly high for the space available.”

Tenants who choose not to pay the higher rents are moving a few blocks away, as was the case with Tap 42, a craft-brew and casual-dining restaurant at 301 Giralda Ave. “It was the perfect location for them and a perfect illustration of this trend,” Mr. Greider said. “They went a little to the north, and got a great retail space that met their needs.

“What you’re going to see is not a move from retail but an expansion of the retail district, and it will radiate 360 degrees from the intersection of Miracle Mile and Ponce de Leon Boulevard,” he said.

The greatest demand now is for restaurant space, he added.

“Coral Gables has had great success in this market; some of best restaurants in the country are there,” supported by an affluent community of residents.

“We have not seen fashion driving into Miracle Mile,” he said. “For fashion, people go to Merrick Park. As the home décor and fashion retail districts grow, you’ll have people come to Coral Gables to spend portion of a day or a day, as they do now on Lincoln Road.”

The construction on Miracle Mile is a “short-term pain, but when it’s done in 12 to 18

Photo by Maxine Usdan

Miracle Mile has long mixed retail and dining. Experts see the greatest demand now for restaurants.

months, it will result in a Coral Gables that works better. The city provides a unique experience in Miami-Dade County; it’s a little bit of the old world mixed with the urban setting that today’s shopper is looking for,” Mr. Greider said.

“I think it’s clear that the Coral Gables market is changing, especially given the addition of the streetscape,” said R a f a e l Romero, vice Rafael Romero president of CREC. Instead of being thought of as a prime location for offices, “the focus now is on having a place where people can work, live and play, and the city is creating an infrastructure so that people will want to spend time at night here.”

He also sees retail spreading out from the traditional hub of Miracle Mile, and many tenants who are switching locations, but staying in Coral Gables.

“Even Miracle Mile tenants are shuffling around,” he said.

Rental rates on Miracle Mile are $50-$60 per square foot, triple net, he said. Moving away from the signature street, rents drop to the mid-$30s per square foot, triple-net, he said. But wherever the tenant settles, he added, there is value in being in the city.

“The typical Coral Gables resident shopper appreciates being in the Gables and enjoys not having to leave the city,” he said. “I live here, and if there’s an opportunity to the stay local, that’s what I prefer to do,” even during streetscape renovations.

“The Gables has always been a strong market, and the city

and the Business Improvement District have had the foresight to say ‘We’ve got a great area; let’s improve it.’ There will be no exodus of tenants because of the streetscape.”

“Retail in Coral Gables is doing incredibly well, with a 1%-2% vacancy rate,” said John K. Crotty, a principal at Avison Y o u n g .

“There’s great John Crotty demand, and Miracle Mile continues to be a highly desirable location, even with massive construction underway. It’s still a premium high-street retail corridor.”

His company currently is marketing retail space at the eastern end of the street, on the southeast corner of Douglas Road and Miracle Mile. “We’ve had a

lot of interest in it from quality tenants,” Mr. Crotty said. “It’s just such an excellent location – everyone has to drive by on their way in and out of Coral Gables.”

He quotes rates for the entire Coral Gables market and being in the mid $40-per-square-foot range. “There have not been a lot of new projects delivered and, as a result, the market continues to stay strong. There are new mixed-use properties coming, with a street-level retail presence, but nothing like Brickell City Centre or the All Aboard Florida or Miami Worldcenter projects downtown.”

But there’s always room for a dissenting opinion.

“Occupancy in Coral Gables is very low at the moment,” said Cammi Goldberg, director of leasing and landlord representation at Franklin Street, via email. “There are a few retail redevelopments in the works on older properties that will increase availability over the next 18 to 24 months. Rents range from the low $30s per square foot on older properties to upwards of $60 per square foot on the newest and groundup opportunities.

“The retail mix in Miami, Coral Gables and Coconut Grove ranges from traditional retail to very upscale,” she continued.

“The trend now is mostly restaurant and entertainment tenants. In addition to seeing the traditional national brands opening, prominent restaurateurs are opening multi-brands. The push is to create a restaurant pod, which is a cluster of smaller restaurants that will generate traffic to a center, similar to an anchor tenant. Owners are also looking to give customers a dining and entertainment experience versus a traditional retail experience.”

TODAYâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S NEWS

WEEK OF THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2016

MIAMI TODAY

17

Film festival no longer â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;internationalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; by name as GEMS 2016 to open

BY CATHERINE LACKNER

Miami Dade Collegeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Miami Film Festival, set for March 3-12, 2017, will stay true to tradition, in more ways than one. The event, the only one of its kind to be staged by a university, has dropped the word â&#x20AC;&#x153;internationalâ&#x20AC;? from its name. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re reclaiming our roots,â&#x20AC;? said Jaie Laplante, the festivalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s executive director and director of programming. â&#x20AC;&#x153;When we were founded in 1984, that was the original name. In our third decade, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re returning to it.â&#x20AC;?

Though the schedule and film selections for the 34th edition wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be announced until late January or early February, its composition wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t vary much from that of previous years, he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t mess with success. We have great programming that appeals to Miami audiences and thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s how weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve carved out an identity.â&#x20AC;?

As a bonus, the 2017 festival will feature seminars (produced in conjunction with Google) for women who want to get into the technical and production side of film, which has historically been male-dominated, Mr. Laplante said.

Argentine designer, photographer and graphic artist Juan Gatti of Madrid has been chosen to design the 2017 poster. He has created unique credit and title sequences for filmmakers including Pedro AlmodĂłvar, Alex de la Iglesia, Manuel GĂłmez Pereira, Susan Seidelman and FĂŠlix Sabroso, according to a festival release.

The poster will be unveiled at the GEMS 2016 Festival, set for

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t mess with success. We have great programming that appeals to Miami audiences and thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s how weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve carved out an identity.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Jaie Laplante

F ILMING These film permits were issued last week by the Miami-Dade County Department of Regulatory & Economic Resourcesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Office of Film and Entertainment, (305) 375-3288; the Miami Mayorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Office of Film, Arts & Entertainment, (305) 8603823; and the Miami Beach Office of Arts, Culture and Entertainment-Film and Print Division, (305) 673-7070.

StudioNow Inc BluWave Video LLC. Nashville. Primary Medical Care Center. Oak Grove Park.

Stonehenge Circle/Warner Bros. International Television.

Cologne. Der Bachelor. Miami International Airport.

Machete Productions. Los Angeles. Wags Miami.

Countywide.

Oct. 13-16 and a precursor to the 2017 festival. Tickets are on sale to the public. Its lineup includes: Â&#x201E;â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Rolling Stones OlĂŠ OlĂŠ OlĂŠ: A Trip Across Latin America,â&#x20AC;? directed by Paul Dugdale, which chronicles the groupâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tour through Central and South America this year. Â&#x201E;â&#x20AC;&#x153;Inseparables,â&#x20AC;? directed by Marcos Carnevale, re-imagines the French film â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Intouchables.â&#x20AC;? Kristen Stewart in â&#x20AC;&#x153;Certain Women,â&#x20AC;? which tells the story of three formidable women in rural Montana. Â&#x201E;â&#x20AC;&#x153;Certain Women,â&#x20AC;? directed

by Miami native Kelly Reichardt, tells the story of three formidable women in rural Montana. Â&#x201E;â&#x20AC;&#x153;Christine,â&#x20AC;? directed by Antonio Campos, is the true story of Sarasota TV news anchor Christine Chubbuck. Â&#x201E;â&#x20AC;&#x153;Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t Call Me Son,â&#x20AC;? directed

by Anna Muylaert, explores the mysteries of maternal love. Â&#x201E;â&#x20AC;&#x153;Gimme Danger,â&#x20AC;? directed by Jim Jarmusch, deals with the career of Iggy Pop, Miami resident and punk-rock legend. Â&#x201E;â&#x20AC;&#x153;I, Daniel Blake,â&#x20AC;? directed by Ken Loach, chronicles the struggles of a working-class man fighting a soulless bureaucracy. Â&#x201E;â&#x20AC;&#x153;Kiki, Love To Love,â&#x20AC;? directed by Paco LĂŠon, is a playful Mick Jagger and Keith Richards star in â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Rolling Stones OlĂŠ OlĂŠ OlĂŠ: A Trip Across Latin America.â&#x20AC;? comedy about self-actualization through sexual fulfillment. Â&#x201E;â&#x20AC;&#x153;Neruda,â&#x20AC;? directed by Pablo Larrain, explores the intersection CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA of art, ambition and politics in 1940s Chile.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING Â&#x201E; â&#x20AC;&#x153;Old Stone,â&#x20AC;? directed by Johnny Ma, is a thriller and Kafkaesque nightmare of bureau- The Miami City Commission will hold a Public Hearing on Thursday, October 13, 2016 at 9:00 $ 0 WR FRQVLGHU WKH DZDUG RI D FRQWUDFW WR WKH QRQ SURÂżW RUJDQL]DWLRQ OLVWHG EHORZ WKURXJK cratic stupidity. Â&#x201E;â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Salesman,â&#x20AC;? directed by Anti-Poverty grant funds from the District 5 share of the City of Miamiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Anti-Poverty Initiative Asghar Farhadi, portrays changes Program. Higher Education Scholarships aims to assist residents of District 5 of the City of in the lives of two actors in a Miami with education assistance up to the amount of $2,000, which will be paid to the school production of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Death of a Sales- directly on behalf of the recipients; and, to consider the City Managerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s recommendations and man,â&#x20AC;? after a brutal attack. ÂżQGLQJ WKDW FRPSHWLWLYH QHJRWLDWLRQ PHWKRGV DUH QRW SUDFWLFDEOH RU DGYDQWDJHRXV UHJDUGLQJ Â&#x201E;â&#x20AC;&#x153;Soy Nero,â&#x20AC;? directed by Rafi these issues: Pitts, deals with the fate of a DREAM-act teenager of Mexican â&#x20AC;˘ Higher Education Scholarships â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Scholarships for District 5 residents descent who fights to live where in the City of Miami he was born. Â&#x201E;â&#x20AC;&#x153;Toni Erdmann,â&#x20AC;? directed by Maren Ade, is a German comedy Inquiries regarding this notice may be addressed to Malissa TreviĂąo, Project Manager for the that reflects on the maelstrom of 2IÂżFH RI &RPPXQLW\ ,QYHVWPHQW 2IÂżFH RI WKH &LW\ 0DQDJHU DW

parental love.

The films are chosen for their 7KLV DFWLRQ LV EHLQJ FRQVLGHUHG SXUVXDQW WR 6HFWLRQ $ RI WKH &RGH RI WKH &LW\ RI 0LDPL diversity, Mr. Laplante said, and )ORULGD DV DPHQGHG WKH Âł&RGH´ 7KH UHFRPPHQGDWLRQV DQG ÂżQGLQJV WR EH FRQVLGHUHG LQ are well-regarded artistically. WKLV PDWWHU DUH VHW IRUWK LQ WKH SURSRVHG UHVROXWLRQ DQG LQ &RGH 6HFWLRQ $ ZKLFK DUH â&#x20AC;&#x153;Toni Erdmannâ&#x20AC;? was a great hit at deemed to be incorporated by reference herein and are available as with the regularly schedthe Cannes Film Festival and is an uled City Commission meeting of October 13, 2016 at Miami City Hall, 3500 Pan American Oscar candidate for best foreign- Drive, Miami, Florida. language film. Pablo Larrainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;Neruda,â&#x20AC;? is also receiving Oscar The Miami City Commission requests all interested parties be present or represented at the buzz, he said.

Attending the GEMS festival â&#x20AC;&#x153;is meeting and may be heard with respect to any proposition before the City Commission in a great way to stay in touch and to which the City Commission may take action. Should any person desire to appeal any decispeak with artists, who will be sion of the City Commission with respect to any matter to be considered at this meeting, that present at the event,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It person shall ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made including all testimony will whet appetites for the 2017 DQG HYLGHQFH XSRQ ZKLFK DQ\ DSSHDO PD\ EH EDVHG ) 6

Miami Film Festival and is something you must not miss.â&#x20AC;?

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, persons needing special acFRPPRGDWLRQV WR SDUWLFLSDWH LQ WKLV SURFHHGLQJ PD\ FRQWDFW WKH 2IÂżFH RI WKH &LW\ &OHUN DW

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Stonehenge Circle/Warner Bros. International Televi-

IN

M IAMI

sion. Cologne. Warner Bros. Miami International Airport.

Underdog Inc. Miami. Saboreando. Countywide.

Univision Communications Inc. Miami. Miami Tour Promo. Ocean Drive/Fifth to 15th streets.

N House Productions. Miami. Carters. Countywide.

Pro One Productions Inc. Miami Beach. Summer Fashion 1. Countywide, Miami Beach citywide.

Pro One Productions Inc. Miami Beach. Summer Fashion 2. Countywide, Miami Beach citywide.

Markus Mueller Productions. Miami Beach. Kidâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 1.

Countywide, Crandon Park Beach, Crandon park Gardens, Miami Beach citywide.

Found Productions Inc. New York. Amtrak. Miami Beach Residential, Port of Miami-Old Port Bridge.

David Calderon Vizcaya. Key Biscayne. The Fixer.

Laurenzoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Italian Market.

Todd B. Hannon City Clerk

# 22870