A Singular Voice in an Evolving City
WEEK OF THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 2016
WWW.MIAMITODAYNEWS.COM $4.00 Doral Office Projects
COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE & OFFICE SPACE
MiamiCentral realty mix on track for 2017, pg. 13 ROYAL INNOVATION LAB: County commissioners have given Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. the go-ahead to add 20,000 square feet to its PortMiami building for an innovation lab that company executives say will help its team continue building industry-leading, innovative vessels. The cruise line anticipates spending about $10 million for design, site work, construction, equipment, machinery, labor and related expenses for the two-story building that will be attached to its 150,000-square-foot site used for offices and parking as well as ancillary building facilities. The original so-called 1080 Building lease Royal Caribbean had with the county in 1994 was for 20 years with extension options. On July 19, 2011, the commission approved an amendment to the lease with an extension through March 31, 2021, with two additional five-year terms. Under the second amendment that commissioners unanimously passed April 5, Royal Caribbean will complete the project by Jan. 31, 2017, with new premises of equal or better quality than the existing building. Royal Caribbean is finishing designs for permitting the new premises and anticipates breaking ground in May.
Seven office components headed for Doral, pg. 15
THE ACHIEVER
Carole Ann Taylor
Photo by Marlene Quaroni
Building on cultural and destination retail expansions The profile is on Page 4
10 early voting sites to add $12 million in labor BY SUSAN DANSEYAR
Miami-Dade commissioners are being asked to authorize $12.2 million for contract workers to service 10 added early voting sites for the presidential election, which officials say would save $1 million because the temp workers wouldn’t be entitled to benefits. The department is requesting an added $12.2 million to use contract workers instead of seasonal staff for the presidential preferences primary, primary election, presidential election and municipal elections, said Supervisor of Elections Designee Christina White. The money is already in the budget, with the request coming to commissioners just to shift staffing. In a Tuesday memo to commissioners, Deputy Mayor Alina Hudak wrote that use of contract workers in lieu of seasonal staff was included in setting the adopted budget. A modification for $4.3 million was approved under the mayor’s authority in March to support immediate department needs, Ms. Hudak said. The resolution, brought by the Internal Services Department, was added to the
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Source: City of Doral Planning & Zoning Department
Cruise ship expansions reverberate BY SUSAN D ANSEYAR
COPY RIGHTS: Miami-Dade’s Strategic Planning and Government Operations Committee pushed forward legislation Tuesday that would call a countywide special election in conjunction with the general election on Nov. 8 to ask voters whether to amend the county charter to include the right to copy county and municipal public records within the Citizen’s Bill of Rights. Currently, Miami-Dade is only required to let the public view these records. AWAITING COUNTY BAYLINK VOTE: County commissioners won’t vote before April 19 on whether to approve an agreement among MiamiDade, the Florida Department of Transportation and the cities of Miami and Miami Beach for development of the Beach Corridor Direct Connection project. On Feb. 4, the Metropolitan Planning Organization’s Policy Executive Committee – the mayors of Miami-Dade, Miami and Miami Beach and county commissioners Bruno Barreiro and Xavier Suarez – unanimously supported the agreement to build what’s termed Baylink, a fixed-guideway rail corridor linking downtown Miami near Government Center to the Miami Beach Convention Center via the MacArthur Causeway. At the county commission’s April 5 meeting, prime sponsor Mr. Barreiro moved that the resolution be deferred, which commissioners unanimously approved.
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Strategic Planning and Government Operations Committee agenda Tuesday. Members unanimously approved passing it on without recommendation to the full commission pending more information, but not before a long discussion peppered with concern whether spending that much is really necessary. “We need to be sure the election is done so the residents can express their opinion,� said Rebeca Sosa. “My understanding after the election took place with a terrible outcome a few years ago is we have to provide the right to vote to everybody.� By most accounts, early voting sites during the March primary had few problems. Four years ago, however, state lawmakers had cut out early voting the Sunday before the election, triggering long lines at many locations in South Florida. For the primary this year there were 20 early voting locations across the county. Ms. White said the number will be increased to 30 for November, with extended hours. However, Ms. Sosa said, the $12.2 million is taxpayers’ dollars. “Why so much money?� she asked. “I will not support an
item that does not give me an exact explanation that it is what we need.� Perhaps something else can be done to save the money for other important needs, Ms. Sosa said. “What will we do to educate the public about the change?� she asked. “I need an analysis of behavior patterns before agreeing to spend this.� Sally Heyman said that compared with other elections, the county has an increased population and number of voting sites so added money is needed to make adjustments. “We’re not going to be using county employees to work at the election so we’ll be saving money with restructured staffing levels.� Ms. Sosa asked that the commission be given a line item for the $12-plus million when it is ready to consider the resolution and a report “tracking down the difference it will make.� The full resolution requires a two-thirds vote to authorize increased spending of $12.7 million to support needs of the administrative office of the Courts and the Elections; Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces; and Corrections and Rehabilitation departments.
County commissioners are being asked to accelerate $38 million to improve PortMiami’s Terminal F for berthing MSC Cruises’ MSC Seaside starting in winter 2017. The Trade and Tourism Committee is to consider that resolution by Jose “Pepe� Diaz today (4/14). Under a commission-approved deal with MSC Cruises, the port must make the improvements to serve the 5,200-passenger Seaside. Although the port capped its agreement with MSC at $25 million, it retained the option for “up-sizing� the terminal to handle even larger ships. Deputy Mayor Jack Osterholt said the increase in passengers generated by the MSC Seaside will generate $3.5 million more revenue that will help to offset the $38 million investment in Terminal F. For the investment to offset the $38 million and add income for the port, Mr. Osterholt wrote, the port will have to attract another ship as big as or bigger than the Seaside. “At present, a large order book of cruise ships exists with multiple vessels requiring terminal capacities greater than those of the port,� he said. “These new vessels will, at full capacity, carry 6,000 or more passengers while the port’s largest existing terminals were designed and built for passenger loads up to 4,500.� Expansion of Terminal F is designed to not only accommodate the Seaside, he said, but also loads beyond the 6,000passenger level. The port is also trying to design and procure boarding bridges for the terminal to handle ships with even more capacity than the Seaside, he said. “Together, these improvements will enable the port to attract these larger 6,000 passenger vessels to both fully offset the $38 million investment in the improvements and to produce annual net positive income to the port above the $38 million investment.�
800-ROOM AIRPORT HOTEL REPLACEMENT IS IN WINGS ...
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VIRGINIA KEY OVERSIGHT BOARD COMING TOGETHER ...
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MIAMI AGENCY AIMS TO CENTRALIZE VALET PARKING ...
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DOWNTOWN OFFICE PACE BOON TO OUTLYING AREAS ...
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VIEWPOINT: CONVENTION HOTEL QUEST GETS HARDER ...
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YOUNGEST BUSINESSES ADD MOST JOBS, STUDY FINDS ...
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STATE TEACHER SHORTAGE CRITICAL IN SEVEN FIELDS ...
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FOUR FIRMS VYING TO REDEVELOP GABLES GARAGES ...
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TODAY’S NEWS
MIAMI TODAY
WEEK OF THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 2016
THE INSIDER PROTECTING CAR RENTERS: With most toll roads in Miami-Dade becoming SunPass-only, county commissioners are protecting tourists and other unsuspecting rental car customers from hidden toll-related charges. The commission last week approved legislation sponsored Jose “Pepe” Diaz requiring rental car companies to provide customers notice of any administrative fees and surcharges associated with toll charges or toll violations while using the rental car. Car rental facilities will be required to post signs notifying customers Jose “Pepe” Diaz if they will be responsible for payment or reimbursement of toll charges or violations incurred during their use of the vehicle, and whether the car rental company imposes other administrative fees associated with the company’s processing of toll charges or violations. BIG PHARMA BUSINESS: Miami International Airport’s role in handling pharmaceuticals is expected to grow after it was declared the first pharmaceutical hub in the US late last year by the International Air Transport Association following a year and a half of negotiations. “MIA’s big pharma numbers have gone up 80% in the last five years without this designation... so this is a very important thing for us,” said Miami-Dade Aviation Director and CEO Emilio González. Officials, he Photo by Maxine Usdan said, plan to “aggressively” market MIA as an international air pharma Guests check in to 252-room county-owned Miami International Airport Hotel as new operator is sought. hub that allows companies to transport very high-value, low-weight items through Miami.
Bid to pilot airport hotel wait-listed with 800-room high-flier in wings
TEN MORE YEARS FOR TERMINAL: There is “too much traffic” in Miami International Airport’s central terminal, the airport’s oldest, to demolish and re-build it right now, said Miami-Dade Aviation Director and CEO Emilio González. Instead, the idea is to spend roughly $1 billion over the next 8 to 10 years to keep the run-down BY SUSAN DANSEYAR terminal operating. The long-range plan, Mr. González AND C AMILA C EPERO said, is to reconstruct the terminal as a very high-end “mall in and of itself,” citing Paris’s Charles de Gaulle The search for an operator Airport as inspiration. Emilio Gonzalez
COLLABORATING ON CLIMATE CHANGE: Miami-Dade’s Strategic Planning and Government Operations Committee on Tuesday forwarded legislation to the full county commission that would direct the administration to coordinate and collaborate with county municipalities on sea level rise and related issues as well as prepare a report for the commission. CONTRACT COUNTS: Miami-Dade’s Strategic Planning and Government Operations Committee on Tuesday advanced to the full county commission legislation that would require the administration to attach to all items recommending design or construction contracts of $1 million or more a list of all county contracts awarded in the previous three years and a summary of the county evaluations of the recommended contractor’s work. Additionally, the legislation would require all departments to complete contractor evaluations before closing out a contract and making final payment. BORDER OFFICER SHORTAGE: US Customs and Border Protection wait times at Miami International Airport are a “federal issue” that stakeholders need to understand, says Miami-Dade Aviation Director and CEO Emilio González. “Spending more time in line getting your passport stamped than on the flight getting here – that’s a problem,” he told the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce last week. The Transportation Security Administration’s staffing model calls for a 2% growth across the country, he said. MIA’s passenger growth is 10%, and of a recent hire of 2,000 new Customs and Border Protection officers, MIA only got 3% of them. BANKING TO BRICKELL: HSBC is moving its Latin American International Center to the Four Seasons Tower at 1441 Brickell Ave. from 55 Miracle Mile in Coral Gables by the end of September. HSBC, which already had retail, private and international banking in the building, is taking 8,000 square feet on the 11th floor for 10 years, bringing its total presence in the 1.5-million-square-foot, 70-story tower to more than 90,000 square feet. The new HSBC space was formerly occupied by PriceWaterhouse Coopers, bringing the 250,000 square feet of office space in the mixed-use building to near capacity. Gordon Gordon Messinger Messinger of Cushman & Wakefield represented building owner Millennium Partners; Scott Sheron of JLL represented HSBC in the lease. CLIMBING CHAMBER LADDER: Carnival Corp. Vice President of Corporate Affairs Carlos Orta last week stepped onto the ladder to chair the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce when he was named the chamber’s first vice chairman for the year that begins in mid-June at the chamber’s goals conference. At that session Mark Rosenberg, FIU president, becomes chairman and Gene Schaefer, Miami market president of Bank of America, becomes chair-elect. Current chair Christine Barney steps down then to become immediate past chair. MIA: INCLUSION, DIVERSITY: Miami International Airport was recognized last week by Airports Council International-North America (ACI-NA) – the industry organization representing the governing bodies that own and operate commercial airports in the US and Canada – with its top award for exceptional achievement in promoting and sustaining diversity. MIA received the ACI-NA 2016 Inclusion Champion Award in the Large Hub Airport category, which commends the steps taken by the Miami-Dade Aviation Department to achieve minority inclusion in its business contracts, workforce and employee development through a sustainable model. As a result of MIA’s efforts, small businesses accounted for $202.7 million, or 17.1%, of its $1.1 billion in contracts in fiscal 2015. Additionally, small business concessions generated $158 million in gross sales in fiscal 2015, which accounted for 35.1% of MIA’s $450.4 million in total gross. Additionally, the Aviation Department’s maintenance contractor program has grown to 42 small and minorityowned contractors since it was launched as a pilot program in 2014, and is expected to increase to 60 companies within 18 months.
interested in running the aging but profitable Miami International Airport Hotel will extend a bit longer even while county aviation officials plan to develop a new four-star hotel on airport property. Meanwhile, aviation officials will review options to run the current 57-year-old hotel, including asking for proposals from companies that already bid as well as new ones that have since expressed enthusiasm as well as considering creative partnerships. Last week, county commissioners unanimously agreed to Aviation Department Director and CEO Emilio T. González’s request that they reject all proposals received to run the older hotel. It’s a mystery to commissioners why the hunt for an operator has been in a holding pattern for over a decade. Meanwhile, the county-owned MIA hotel is managed month to month by Hotels International Inc., which the commission and Aviation Department have long wanted to oust in the wake of an alleged overbilling scheme by some of its employees. “What seems to be the problem?” asked Dennis Moss at the April 5 meeting. “With all the hotel rooms we’ve got coming to Miami and a hotel at the airport that’s extremely convenient, why can’t we find someone who’s qualified to bid?” That’s a good question, Mr. González replied. “We do get people who bid,” he said, explaining that four firms responded on Nov. 24, 2014, to a project advertised Oct. 3, 2014, for a qualified organization “to manage, operate and maintain a first-class, full-service hotel and related amenities” at the airport. Three of the four did not meet bid parameters and the fourth was ultimately unable to reach a labor peace agreement as the county requires, Mr. González said. This is not the first time com-
missioners have been asked to reject bids for operating the airport hotel or expressed frustration with what appears to them a less than robust interest. “What is missing here?” asked Xavier Suarez. “I can’t believe it’s due to a lack of attention or energy on your staff,” he said to Mr. González. “But we don’t seem to have enough interest even with 44 million passengers going through an airport in an international city with a captive market.” Mr. Suarez said the Soffer family, which developed Aventura, expressed interest some four years ago and then – nothing. “Are our specifications on the bid setting the bar too high such that people are turned off?” Mr. Moss added that he wants to be sure the county is doing everything possible to find a qualified operator for the hotel. “Are we looking at what can be attractive to someone?” he asked. “Why isn’t a chain like Marriott interested?” The hotel inside the airport was built in 1959. “That’s quite an old building with a shelf life and anyone who bids now knows there’s a time limit,” Mr. González said. “The bigger chains take a step back because it’s an old hotel and they want to re-brand. There might be interest, but in a luxury hotel.” Interestingly, Mr. Gonzalez said, the aviation department has received communications from companies since the proposals were due back that said they would be interested in bidding should the opportunity arise again. There are no plans at this time to re-bid. Rather, Mr. González said, the department has a number of options to review, including exploring the new companies that have expressed interest and seeing if a local college or university with a school of hospitality might like to operate the hotel. Florida International University’s hospitality school for years has been rated among the best in the nation. The airport hotel is quite lucrative, Mr. González said. “Some months, occupancy is
over 100%, and the advertising budget is zero.” Speaking the day after the commission meeting at the Greater Chamber of Commerce’s trustee lunch, Mr. González said that 10 years from now the current hotel either must come down, be renovated or turned into offices. “At the same time, we’re looking at another project to build on airport property – more than likely a four-star hotel,” Mr. González said, explaining that the process leading up to soliciting proposals and selecting someone will probably start later this year. It’s necessary to begin work that far in advance, he said, because “bid protests could mean it would take years before that first shovelful of dirt is moved.” The MIA hotel, at concourse E, has 252 rooms. Mr. González said he has seen estimates that the airport needs a hotel with about 800 rooms. “At the rate we’re growing, we have people not just spend the night when they miss a flight, but also people who have early morning flights spend the night before so they don’t have to get up so early,” he said. “It’s a great business for us; a new hotel is on the horizon as part of our near-term plans.”
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MIAMI TODAY
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All transit system steps to be smartphone tools
Miami drives to centralize valet parking
BY CATHERINE LACKNER
BY JOHN CHARLES ROBBINS
It took some doing, but the Miami Parking Authority has taken the first step to centralize valets to make parking easier for drivers and share in valet parking revenues. The city’s Off-Street Parking Board last week approved a half dozen potential providers of centralized valet parking using the authority’s on- and off-street parking spaces. “We’re getting there,” said Authority CEO Art Noriega of the new program. The initial hubs of centralized valet parking will be in Coconut Grove, Wynwood, Flagler Street downtown and Jackson Memorial Hospital. The board first discussed centralized valets last October and authorized staff to seek qualifications from operators in order to build a pool of vendors that can be called upon for quotes to create centralized or individual site valet operations throughout the city. An introduction to the request for qualification stated, “A centralized valet program is beneficial in Central Business Districts and urban areas as it allows for increased business activity while insuring that there are no traffic tie ups or dissatisfaction by patrons who cannot find a space and need to circle. Having a centralized location and one vendor insures efficiency and convenience.” Mr. Noriega sees centralized valet parking as a revenue opportunity. He said the Business Improvement District boards in the Grove and Wynwood are open to having the parking agency organize a central valet program in their communities.
Photo by Maxine Usdan
Initial valet hubs will go in Grove, Wynwood, Flagler, Jackson hospital.
The program could be site specific too, Mr. Noriega said, offering an example of a public-private partnership between the authority and All Aboard Florida involving management agreements to provide valet parking at MiamiCentral, the new train station under construction downtown. Gathering the qualified vendors was “quite an exercise,” Mr. Noriega told the board last week. The first attempt only snagged one interested party, he said. “After a lot of outreach – coaxing and massaging it – we had a robust response,” he said. Of the nine respondents, the selection committee qualified six for a pool “that we can tap into” for centralized valet parking services, he said. Vendors the board approved are AmeriPark, DEC, MAC, Park 1, SP+ and VIP Parking. The original call for qualifications had a Nov. 20 deadline. After the dismal response, staff tweaked the request and set a new deadline of Jan. 6, and later Jan. 13. Plus, authority staffers actively sought proposals and interest from valet parking vendors. Revisions on the scope of the work and requirements were published by Rolando Tapanes, director of planning/ development and
procurement. Revisions included: The provision of parking management must be the primary focus of the business. A minimum of five years experience in valet parking management. The vendor must have planned, set up, managed and operated valet parking at mass gatherings such as restaurants, hotels and resorts, concerts, stadiums, sports arenas, festivals, health care facilities, airports and office buildings. References from at least five current service users. Offer automated solutions for revenue control, revenue streams and cost savings. Worked with police and departments of transportation in planning and executing valet parking. Offer eco-friendly golf carts for transfer and offer shuttle and transportation services. A selection committee used a points system to rate the most qualified companies. Board member Stephen Nostrand said he was impressed by the extra effort in lining up qualified valet services. “It’s a good example of reaching out,” he said.
In the not-too-distant future, all modes and functions of the MetroDade transit system will be fully accessible to smartphone users, whether they want to buy tickets, track when the next train or bus will appear, or plan a trip that involves transit systems owned by several municipalities. “We are currently working with our fare-collection vendor,” Sandy Amores, Miami-Dade Transit’s chief of performance and materials management, told an April 6 meeting of the Citizens’ Independent Transportation Trust. “The app we have now is just the tip of the iceberg,” he said. “At some point, you’ll be able to pay with your phone; you don’t need the fare card. You’ll also have access to first-mile, last-mile [solutions], Citibike, all modes of transportation, through one single app.” The county is working with municipalities to get information on their shuttles, circulators and other forms of transportation so that they can be woven into one web that is easily accessible to the consumer, he said. “We’re working very, very strongly to get that to you,” said Rosie Perez, Miami-Dade Transit’s senior chief of information technology services, as she explained improvements to trust members. Some upgrades have already been made or will roll out shortly. They include an interactive system between buses and a central command center that not only will allow real-time tracking information to be available to app users, but will also alert the county’s maintenance shop to defects on the bus to allow mechanics to be ready with the right tools when the bus rolls into the facility, Ms. Perez said.
A gamechanger: Charles Scurr.
“This is really a game-changer, but I think the best is yet to come,” said Charles Scurr, trust executive director. He said he has used the app successfully, but recommended the county use on-camera tutorials to teach the public how to maximize the app’s benefits. Paul Schwiep, trust chair, said he had used the trip planner function of the app and had gotten good results. “It’s really pretty incredible. How much of the design is in-house versus an outside vendor? How much ability do you have, on the fly, to improve, update and alter the app’s functionality?” he asked Ms. Perez. The app is an in-house design, she said. “The vendor did have an app, but we’re using our own. Inhouse programmers did it, and the app continues to evolve.” So far, more than 300,000 iPhone users have downloaded the app, she said. As development goes forward, the app will become more mapfocused, like those of Uber and Lyft, which allow riders to track the vehicle as it comes closer to them, she said. And, like ridesharing service apps, it will include information about the bus driver. A security feature is also being included, she said. “If you feel you have a safety concern, you can text with central control, talk to them and get immediate attention.”
Junior League of Miami Launches Showhouse 2016 at Kampong The Junior League of Miami, long known for tireless volunteer efforts on a wide variety of community programs throughout Miami-Dade County, celebrated the launch of their exciting new design and architecture project: Showhouse 2016. At the center of celebration is The Kampong in Coconut Grove. Nestled within a picturesque botanical garden along Biscayne Bay, this historic site has been home to some of our area’s most colorful and influential settlers including Jolly Jack Peacock, Dr. Eleanor Galt Simmons and Dr. David Fairchild. At the heart of the The Junior League’s vision for Showhouse 2016 is the collaborative effort that brings world renowned interior designers, architects and artists together with a group of respected corporate sponsors… all
The public is invited to preview The Kampong Showhouse Tuesday through Sunday from 11:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. through April 24th. TICKETS: MiamiShowhouse.org
Photo by:Al Ricketts
On the evening of April 6th, Showhouse sponsors and community leaders gathered to preview the newly designed interiors in the Showhouse. EWM President Ron Shuffield, Showhouse co-chair Carla Crossno, Northern Trust Bank Senior V.P. Alex Adams, Junior League of Miami President Emilie Goldman Wernick, Showhouse co-chair Helen Picard and Mercedes-Benz of Coral Gables & Cutler Bay President Greg Barnes, at The Kampong Showhouse event.
with a shared focus: to capture the classic beauty of Miami while paying homage to The Kampong’s uniquely storied location. Working closely with The Kampong Board of Governors, the project has transformed rooms in The Kampong’s Fairchild-Sweeney House, Barbour Cottage, and Sausage Tree
Cottage, lending the iconic Coconut Grove venue an energizing wave of renewal. In keeping with the Junior League of Miami’s primary goal, resources generated by Showhouse will benefit programs targeting homelessness, family violence, child and women’s health, early childhood education and foster care.
JUNIOR
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SHOWHOUSE 2016
PRESENTING SPONSOR
PLATINUM SPONSOR
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COMMUNITY PARTNER
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Showhouse Living Room Designed by Hillary Littlejohn Scurtis and Monica James
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MIAMI TODAY
VIEWPOINT
WEEK OF THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 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
Now choices in Beach’s convention hotel quest get harder This week’s decision on how to get a companion hotel to serve a revamped Miami Beach Convention Center may be the easiest of up to 10 c h o i c e s needed to make the city’s $615 Michael Lewis million investment in the center pay off. Last month commissioners told City Manager Jimmy Morales to sort a list of choices and map a path to get a hotel. In response, he laid out the only roadmap that can get residents to vote on a hotel this fall. His recommendation: move ahead, survey voters for $100,000 about what tweaks might get them to okay a hotel they rejected last month, meet with both sides for feedback, renegotiate a plan with the only developer who’s interested, and by Aug. 9 get the issue on the November ballot. In reaching that conclusion, Mr. Morales showed why he doesn’t think a city subsidy can pass although every US convention hotel got one, why the chosen
site is the only one today, and why the city won’t develop its own hotel. The key is timing: only his course is rapid enough. The commission would be wise to follow his concise, thoughtful plan. Still, it might not work. Success will rest on how some of nine other questions are answered: 1. Will size stay at 800 rooms? Scaling back could be too small to lure meetings that need hotel rooms in a convention complex. 2. Will Atlanta-based Portman, the only developer that met criteria for the hotel, return after spending millions twice already to win work in the complex? The city and developers are silent on that. Tweaks to the deal might tilt Portman’s interest in either direction. 3. If Portman does play, how far will the city bend in dealing with a partner that has you over a barrel? If Jack Portman is the only provider for a hotel the city vitally needs and he knows it, he will negotiate from a position of absolute strength and the city might pay a high price. 4. Once voters are polled followed by a pro-con meeting, will the city and visitor industry end up on the same path? Whatever tweaks are made, hotel plans still must meet interests of both elected
officials and the industry. 5. Who will lead the drive to pass the measure and with what funds? A 60% vote is needed and the measure got less than 54% in April. Strong, well-funded leaders will be vital. 6. How will those leaders trumpet support and then turn out the vote? Strong opponents and proponents are the easiest to motivate. But 61% of city registered electors didn’t vote at all last month on the issue. Even with a presidential election, this year’s final candidates might not lure many Beach voters to the polls. Getting the missing 61% to vote will be vital. These questions all assume that the game plan Mr. Morales sketched plays out well. If it doesn’t, three others questions will need answers: 7. What if Jack Portman pulls out or the city can’t reach terms with him? Does the commission try something new in 2017 or beyond? The need for a convention hotel wouldn’t be a bit less because of a failure, but the will to proceed might be. 8. What if Portman stays in the race but voters say no in November? Would commissioners seek a new developer, or offer a 25% to 50% subsidy to lure a developer as Mr. Morales finds all other cities do, or develop the hotel itself, or
Panama Papers will alter wealth management here The now-famous Panama Papers covering a leak of documents from Panamanian service company Mossack Fonseca has created a wave of interest and concern throughout the world. The bulk of the business of Mossack Seno Bril Fonseca consists of the creation and maintenance of socalled personal investment companies (PICs), which may also be called shell companies. Historically, these companies could have registered shares or be issued with bearer shares, which means that the company belongs to whoever holds these bearer shares. Compare this to the difference between a bank-issued check with both the names of the payer and the payee printed or written on the check, and a $100 US bill that can be claimed by whoever possesses the bill. PICs are not illegal in themselves and can have useful and legal purposes, mostly for estate planning and real estate holdings. However, these companies can easily be used for illegal purposes such as tax evasion and laundering of corruption or criminal money. Banks in Miami have long been uncomfortable with bearer shares personal investment companies, and nowadays it would be difficult to open or maintain a bank account for a bearer shares company. However, even companies with registered shares can be a source of concern when the official owner is in fact a straw man for someone else, be it a politician or drug trafficker. This is the underlying premise of Vladimir Putin’s friend, Sergei Roldugin, allegedly controlling PICs with billions of dollars transacting through
The Writer Seno Bril worked 31 years with the French BNP Paribas group, including in France, Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Panama, Mexico and Miami. He currently serves on the board of directors of a local community bank and is managing director of the 1826 Group, an international banking consultancy company. these companies. In principle, banks in Miami would identify such transactions as they compare account activity to the beneficial owner’s wealth, income and historical account profile. A musician with large amounts going through his account would normally generate an alert with a subsequent investigation to determine the legitimacy of the transactions. Without an acceptable explanation, the bank would probably file a suspicious activity report with Fincen, the Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, and consider closing the account. Other countries in the region and around the world do not necessarily have a similar robust approach, and even in the US a more sophisticated accountholder could be successful in channeling illegal funds through a bank account, with smaller amounts and genuine-looking invoices that seem to explain and justify the transactions. However, Miami-based banks up their game continuously to remain ahead of illegal schemes. There is, however, still a gap between the approach of American banks and what happens in less-sophisticated countries. This is one reason banks in Latin America find it so difficult to maintain correspondent banking accounts with
US banks, as the latter de-risk their business and limit correspondent banking accounts with counterparts that demonstrate that they have robust antimoney-laundering policies and procedures. But illegal funds not only are going through bank accounts, but also are used to buy luxury real estate, with not a small part in New York and Miami. Not surprisingly, Fincen recently set Manhattan and Miami-Dade as geographic target orders, which require title companies to identify the beneficial owners of cash-paid luxury real estate. The release of the Panama Papers will only increase the pressures on financial institutions to act as police and identify any suspicious activity. While, especially after 9/11, the focus has been on terrorist and drug money, the attention given to tax evasion will increase. Currently, US banks are not required to report the nationality of beneficial owners of personal investment companies. A British Virgin Island company would be reported with a BVI nationality, even though the beneficial owner might be a resident of a Latin American country. This leaves some space for the beneficial owner to not report his Miami bank account to the tax authorities of his home country, and currently US tax treaties limit this kind of exchange of information. But for how long? However, the Panama Papers will have a lingering effect on the countries, such as Panama itself, that specialize in the offshore companies business, possibly similar to the earthquake that changed Switzerland’s previously ironclad bank secrecy. They will also, again, change the nature of wealth management and simple checking accounts in Miami. Tax transparency and optimization are coming, tax evasion is going.
find a new site, or just give up? 9. If no way is found to get the hotel, would the city reverse course on its aim to seek meetings that need a convention center hotel – meetings that come from afar and spend big? That would mean returning to consumer and trade shows aimed at people in driving distance – shows likely to add auto traffic in the city. These decisions must be made while the City of Miami is deciding on its $115 million subsidy to an exposition center with 1,700 attached hotel rooms at Miami Worldcenter just north of downtown. This new center, while far smaller than the Beach’s, may be better positioned to lure high-spending out-of-town meetings upon which Miami Beach has set its sights. There is no reason that Miami and Miami Beach centers cannot succeed simultaneously – no reason other than the decisions both cities make about their involvements. Miami, inappropriately, is focused on a guarantee of neighborhood jobs rather than overall city gains, though it also may seek a cut of expo center revenues. Nonetheless, the jobs guarantee ultimately will be increased, the subsidy deal will be signed and a long-sought downtown expo center will advance. Miami Beach faces far more forks in the road to a center hotel than does Miami. But this week there’s only one fork on the table. It’s after Miami Beach say yes right now that the hard decisions begin.
L ETTERS
TO THE
E DITOR
No Brickell bridge, tunnel The congestion in the downtown/ Brickell area has reached an intolerable level. As anyone who crosses the Miami River with any regularity knows, bridge openings wreak havoc for drivers. Remove the bridge. We should create a new entrance ramp to I-95 at Southwest Seventh Street and Fourth Avenue. Drivers north and south of Miami River need to use the people-mover rather than cars. If they must drive, they should use I-95 rather than Brickell. Let’s all think out-of-the-box. If we build a tunnel, it should be along Southwest First Street and Flagler Street so there is a decent flow of traffic out of downtown. There is plenty of access to I-95 north and south, so surface traffic should only be east and westbound. Gary P. Simon
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WEEK OF THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 2016
TODAY’S NEWS
MIAMI TODAY
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Miami parking agency moves into county park BY JOHN CHARLES ROBBINS
The Miami Parking Authority extended its reach over the weekend, taking over parking management at a 500-plus-acre county park in Hialeah. The county parks department says the change will make it faster and easier to enter the park. On Saturday, the authority took over parking at Amelia Earhart Park, offering quick parking via online application PayByPhone, with Pay-by-Plate machines as a backup. The 515acre park at 401 E 65th St. in Hialeah includes five lakes and a fenced dog park. County Commissioner Esteban Bovo Jr., who represents the district, has been tweeting about the change and using his newsletter to get the word out. At the city’s Off-Street Parking Board meeting April 6, parking authority staffers acknowledged Commissioner Bovo for touting the new arrangement. PayByPhone is the most convenient way to pay for parking and will offer quicker and easier access to the park, county parks officials said. Patrons can register at PayByPhone.com and download the free app to smartphones, or call 1-866-234-7275. Fees may also be paid by credit card or cash at a Pay-by-Plate machine. The all-day, flat rate fee for Amelia Earhart Park is $7 per car and $15 per RV. Parking fees at the park apply only Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. Some county parks, like Haulover and Matheson Hammock, charge weekdays too. The parking authority, an arm of the city government, made a deal in October with Miami-Dade County to manage parking at eight county parks and marinas. The other parks transitioning to PayByPhone and Pay-by-Plate parking include Crandon Park and Marina, Haulover Beach Park and Marina, Matheson Hammock Park and Marina, Black Point Park and Marina, Homestead Bayfront Park and Marina, Pelican Harbor Park and Marina and Greynolds Park. The parking authority will get 5% of the gross revenues for the management. Expanding management responsibilities to include county parking came up during a discussion of how to grow authority revenue at a 2014 strategic planning session. Authority CEO Art Noriega said at that time there had been “a lot of conversation” with the county about how its assets were underutilized. Those talks considered the highest and best use of county facilities and what role the authority might play in their operation, he said. As part of the deal, the authority is to secure PayByPhone technology and Pay-by-Plate parking machines on behalf of the county, install the equipment and signage, train county employees to use the equipment, collect and report on parking revenue on behalf of the county and main-
tain the equipment. The authority is to finance the county’s purchase of equipment and signs needed to run a PayByPhone and Pay-by-Plate parking system at the parks. For all the equipment and signs needed at the initial parks, the county is to pay $8,058.59 monthly. The five-year agreement may be renewed for five more years by mutual agreement. At the April 6 meeting, Mr. Noriega said the parking agency is pleased to initiate the deal. “It has evolved into a neat opportunity for the parks,” he said. “It’s great. We’re really excited about it.” Leading up to the switch in management, the county mayor’s office prepared a report at the request of Commissioner Sally A. Heyman evaluating parking fees at the county parks. The Jan. 15 report mentions the benefit of the new arrangement using PayByPhone and Pay-by-Plate. “In addition to the substantial savings to the county in operational costs, the handling of cash at park sites will be streamlined,” the report said. “The vehicle congestion that occurs on busy weekends and holidays will be alleviated,” it said. The county commission will determine which parks charge for parking and set rates. The authority now manages more than 36,000 parking spaces, including 14 garages, 86 surface lots and 11,300 on-street spaces, including about a dozen lots for the county under management/lease agreements. In a similar deal, the authority this year is to start managing parking at five City of Miami parks: Antonio Maceo Park, 5135 NW Seventh St.; Curtis Park, 1901 NW 24th Ave.; Virginia Key Beach on Arthur Lamb Road; Legion Memorial Park, 6447 NE Seventh Ave.; and Morningside Park, 5215 NE Seventh Ave. The parking board approved a deal with the city in December and later amended it to cut out a 5% management fee to the authority. The deal is to go to the city commission for approval, possibly in May. Staff pointed out that the parking authority routinely turns over its excess revenue to the city. In its current budget, the authority estimates an excess revenue contribution to the city of at least $7.2 million. The contract says the city will reimburse the authority for operations. The authority will set up PayByPhone parking at the selected parks and install and maintain Pay-by-Plate equipment. The authority will be responsible for parking enforcement, with uniformed parking enforcement officers at the parks at least daily to ensure that users are paying for parking and issuing citations if they spot violations. The authority must report to the city monthly on parking revenue and use at each park.
Photo by Maxine Usdan
Downtown Development Authority officials say Bayfront Park should help fulfill the desire for greenery.
Downtowners say they most need green space, perplexing authority BY CATHERINE LACKNER
Though none of them were startling, one finding from a February study launched by Miami’s Downtown Development Authority gave rise to discussion at the group’s March meeting. The survey was sent to everyone on the authority’s email list, so it was not intended to be a scientific query, “but rather one to gauge stakeholder sentiment to help guide the board as it sets priorities for the year,” said an authority source. Out of a total 12,000 addresses on the email list (which the authority acknowledged could include duplications and invalid addresses), there were 1,600 emails opened and 336 responses, yielding an 18% open rate, “which is above the industry standard for a survey of this kind,” the authority source said. Some answers were predictable: favorite things downtown were entertainment, dining, arts and culture. The top things re-
spondents would change are traffic, homelessness, cleanliness, safety and lack of public transportation. Farmers’ markets and community events were the most desired activities. One survey finding that had directors scratching their heads was the No. 1 answer to the question: “What do you need to make you more comfortable in downtown Miami?” More open green space was the most frequent answer, followed by more police officers, expanded retail options and enhanced lighting. “We’ve got Bayfront Park, Simpson Park, and a couple of other parks,” said board member Jerome Hollo, who is vice president of Florida East Coast Realty. Museum Park and Mary Brickell Park are also within the authority’s boundaries, said Alyce Robertson, authority executive director. “Add to that Margaret Pace Park, and we have enormous recreational resources downtown,” said board Vice Chair Neisen Kasdin, who is also of-
fice managing shareholder of the Akerman LLP law firm. “Maybe we should get the word out more,” Mr. Hollo suggested. “Sponsor events to create interest in the parks we have.” “We have it on the radar screen,” Ms. Robertson answered. “This survey was designed to ‘take the pulse’ of our stakeholders on the ground ahead of the DDA’s board retreat to have a better understanding of what is important to them as we set our priorities for the year,” Ms. Robertson said in a statement. “This was a complement to the conversations and dialogue we have on the street level every day and was very helpful in informing and guiding our strategic direction and how we plan to allocate our resources.” At the Feb. 27 retreat and at the subsequent board meeting, directors decided to take another look at the authority’s master plan and set up a workshop to tweak it if that is deemed necessary.
Homestead sewer waste slowly turns green BY CAMILA CEPERO
Homestead’s sewer waste treatment facility is steadily improving operational functioning although it’s not yet running at full capacity, says Julio Brea, the city’s director of public works and engineering. Opened almost two years ago and operated by the South Dade Soil and Water Conservation District, the facility transforms Homestead’s biosolid waste into a super-strength fertilizer. “The greatest benefit is that we don’t have to take our solid waste to the Miami-Dade landfill,” Mr. Brea said. By not having to pay for the trucking and tipping fees associated with the shipping, the city saves money. Before the facility opened, the city was spending an average of $75,000 a year in fuel, equipment and manpower transferring its waste to landfills. Since deciding to start the fertilizer enterprise, that figure has dropped dramatically. The city now spends an average of $4,000 a year shipping its unusable waste to a landfill, using
the savings in part to help pay off the equipment that it invested in to open the facility. In addition to becoming a great savings mechanism for the city, the facility is improving the environment, Mr. Brea said. “From an environmental point of view, we are reusing something that would otherwise be wasted.” It’s creating a second life for waste that would normally be dumped and forgotten about, he said. The equipment used to transform the sludge cost $500,000, purchased using Homestead’s water and waste fund because the project is an investment in a capital improvement for the city. It’s expected to pay for itself, thought that will take a couple of years. Overall, the operation is working well and meeting expectations, Mr. Brea said. “Every year there has been an increase in the amount of operation.” The South Dade Soil and Water Conservation District handles the marketing for the finished product and has begun advertising it for large-scale agricultural
uses. Right now, the district is focusing on making the product known, Mr. Brea said, and it is growing its client list and developing their market. “It’s encouraging to see that year by year they are increasing their reach to customers,” Mr. Brea said. Early marketing efforts involved the Florida Nursery, Growers and Landscapers Association. “The plan is to sell in bulk,” Mr. Brea said. Selling bulk quantities to large-scale users makes for a much easier project, he said. “The less you have to handle the material, the less it costs to produce.” The city is extremely happy with the progress of the project, Mr. Brea said, and is glad that it highlights the city’s efforts in not only being a good neighbor but finding alternative uses for its waste. “All of that material would end up at a landfill,” Mr. Brea said, and this enterprise provides a positive return from it while “helping the environment by creating a product that would be considered waste.”
WEEK OF THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 2016
MIAMI TODAY
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Commercial Real Estate 2I¿FH 6SDFH Frenetic downtown office pace a boon to suburban markets BY CATHERINE LACKNER
Office leasing remains strong in the central business district comprising Brickell and downtown, and that has some tenants looking to less-frantic markets. “The pace of total office leasing activity across Miami-Dade slowed moderately to begin the year, as roughly 175 transactions of a median 2,000 square feet were signed during Q1 2016, versus a 2015 quarterly average of 220 transactions with a median size of 2,000 square feet,” says a first-quarter 2016 office leasing report by commercial real estate firm JLL.
“Miami’s CBD, however, bucked the trend: Brickell and Downtown Miami executed 70 transactions of a median 2,600 square feet in the first quarter (on pace with the 2015 quarterly average 70 deals of a median 2,200 square feet).” Average asking rents for class A space were $48 per square foot in Brickell and $43 downtown, the report noted. Brickell and downtown’s popularity has been, curiously, a boon for suburban markets, said Diana Parker, senior vice president of CBRE, which leases the Datran Center, a two-building complex with 470,000 square feet of offices, for owner USAA Real Estate Co.
Diana Parker: firms can’t expand.
“Because of the absorption of space, tenants are not having their expansion needs met.” Over the past two years, landlords have had to offer less
desirable space to any firm that wanted to expand because the market is so tight, she explained. “Add to that the unbelievable surge in traffic,” she said. “We have people who call and say, ‘I’ve got to get out of downtown. I just can’t take the traffic anymore.’ There has been a marked increase in demand from last year to now.” At least 40% of inquiries for space in Kendall and the Dadeland area are from downtown and Brickell firms, she said. The company is now negotiating for three leases in Kendall/Dadeland; two of the firms now are in Brickell and one is downtown, Ms. Parker added.
According to the JLL report, asking rates for class A space in Kendall/Dadeland are $38 per square foot, while Coral Gables, the next nearest market, averages $40 per square foot for class A space. “Sometimes that $2 or $3 difference can add up,” Ms. Parker said, particularly for tenants that want to lease a large space. Kendall/Dadeland draws many of its tenants from nearby Pinecrest, which boasted a median household income of $115,411 in 2012. “A lot of key dealmakers live in Pinecrest, and, with the new premium on personal time, they don’t want to commute to downtown or Brickell,” she said.
MiamiCentral’s retail, offices, commercial on track for 2017 BY JOHN CHARLES ROBBINS
The ground that once was home to Miami’s train station is today evolving on a daily basis with tons of new steel and concrete. MiamiCentral is on track for a 2017 opening, and with it, apartments, shops, offices and other companion commercial uses will debut downtown. The new station is more of a transportation hub, with connections to several modes of public transit. Its primary function is home to a new passenger rail service called Brightline. The new rail station is being integrated with the Miami-Dade County Metrorail and Metromover systems, and is being considered a major transit hub for the city with connections to buses, trolleys, taxis and more. Just west of the main construction, developer All Aboard Florida is also busy building a mixed-use project known as 3 MiamiCentral that will bring a grocer, along with office and retail uses to Overtown. “MiamiCentral is rising,” said Scott Sanders, executive vice president of development and construction for Brightline and All Aboard Florida. “More than 250 workers are on the 11-acre site each day and we are seeing the results of their efforts as our MiamiCentral buildings and train columns take shape,” he said. According to Mr. Sanders, here’s what’s happening at MiamiCentral: Casting of train structure columns. Forming of train structure column capitals. Installation of steel for building walls. Back-filling and grading for foundations. Site work and excavation
MiamiCentral is part of a 9-acre hub that will mix development uses and connect transportation modes.
continues throughout. Mr. Sanders said support work is also happening off-site as precast concrete panels that make up the giant V structures are being fabricated, along with other portions of the steel structural system. In the meantime, new steel rail is being delivered and installed along the route. This month, crews working for All Aboard Florida offloaded the sixth major shipment of new rail within the Florida East Coast Railway right-of-way throughout Boca Raton, Pompano Beach, Hallandale Beach and North Miami. All Aboard Florida selected Suffolk Construction Co. as general contractor for MiamiCentral, and site clearing and demolition began in late 2014. At MiamiCentral, the Brightline tracks and station will be elevated 50 feet to align with ex-
isting public transportation systems, with retail spaces beneath the tracks. The company says the innovative design will allow thru-streets to remain open to traffic and create an atmosphere of walkability, while creating a “landmark terminal.” The transit-oriented development encompassing nearly 3 million square feet spans two sites; a 9-acre transportation hub in downtown Miami just east of Miami-Dade County Hall and a 2-acre site in Overtown. “The transportation hub will include mixed-use development with residential, office, commercial and a retail concourse, while serving as a connector between Brightline’s passengers and Miami’s existing public transport systems,” said Mr. Sanders. The Overtown site will also be a mixed-use development with retail, commercial and parking
to support and enhance the transportation hub, he said. 3 MiamiCentral is rising on property hugged by Northwest Sixth and Seventh streets and Northwest First Court and Second Avenue. Its neighbor to the east is the Miami-Dade County Administration Building. Facchina Construction of Florida is the contractor. The 12-story building will house a grocer at about 29,000 square feet on the ground floor, nearly 97,000 square feet of offices, 33,161 square feet of commercial and retail use, and a garage for about 1,096 vehicles. One of the first tenants at 3 MiamiCentral will be All Aboard Florida, which will relocate its corporate headquarters there from Coral Gables. The company says it isn’t prepared to announce tenants, although representatives have said
they’re in discussions with many potential retail, commercial and restaurant/cafe tenants, including reaching out to local vendors and known names for the “foodie” space. “As the building continues, announcements about office tenants and food and beverage offerings will be forthcoming,” Mr. Sanders said this week. The retail component of MiamiCentral is to include about 200,000 leasable square feet on the street level and in the main terminal concourse. In September 2015, All Aboard Florida announced that excavation of the site along Northwest First Avenue had begun for what is planned as two apartment buildings offering more than 800 rental units, plus a 200,000square-foot office building. The Brightline station is expected to open in mid-2017 when service on the new express inter-city service from Miami to Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach is also to begin. A link to Orlando is expected to be complete in late 2017. In related news, Brightline on Monday announced its President and CEO Michael Reininger was awarded as one of Engineering News Record’s Top 25 Newsmakers, at the Newsmakers Awards Luncheon in New York. Newsmakers were chosen for accomplishments, leadership and innovative approach. Mr. Reininger joined Brightline in 2012 as chief development officer. He leads more than 50 people as president and is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the passenger rail service and 4 million square feet of urban real estate around the three South Florida stations. All Aboard Florida is a whollyowned subsidiary of Florida East Coast Industries, and the corporate parent of Brightline and MiamiCentral.
WEEK OF THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 2016
TODAY’S NEWS
MIAMI TODAY
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Florida teachers still critically short in seven content areas BY JOHN CHARLES ROBBINS
The ranks of new teachers in Florida continue to grow, but state education authorities say there continues to be a teacher shortage, and the word “critical� remains a qualifier. State law requires the State Board of Education to annually identify critical teacher shortage areas based on the recommendations of the Commissioner of Education. This list of shortage areas is used to identify high-need content areas. According to the latest report from the state education department, critical teacher shortage areas for the 2015-16 school year include English, exceptional student education, reading, foreign language, English for speakers of other languages (ESOL), science and mathematics. These shortage areas represent certification types where substantial proportions of teachers are being hired to teach courses without the appropriate certification, where significant vacancies exist, or where post-secondary institutions don’t produce enough graduates to meet the needs, state officials said. This information can be used to determine the current and projected needs of classroom teachers for specific subject areas. Locally, there continues to be a special need for exceptional student education teachers for Miami-Dade County Public Schools. Currently, the Miami-Dade County district employs 19,653 instructional personnel, according to Ana M. Rasco, assistant superintendent for the Office of Human Capital Management. A year-to-year comparison is conducted when the school year closes. In October 2014, instructional personnel numbered 20,619. “As the fourth largest school district in the country, MiamiDade County Public Schools has fluid instructional openings and recruits year round. Currently, as in other school districts across the nation, an area of need is in exceptional student education,� said Ms. Rasco. In Florida, children with disabilities who need specially designed instruction and related services are called exceptional students. The special help they are given at school is called exceptional student education (ESE). The purpose of ESE is to help each child with a disability progress in school and prepare for life after school. ESE services include specially designed instruction to meet the unique needs of the child. The services may also include technology devices, therapy, special transportation or other supports. A team of people makes decisions about the child’s needs and ESE services, and the child’s parents are part of this team. This process is based on the requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). “Highly Qualified Exceptional
Student Education (ESE) Teachers Wanted,� reads a heading on the Miami-Dade district’s website listing teacher job openings. The Instructional Recruitment and Staffing Office is maintaining a database of highly qualified Exceptional Student Education Teachers (K-12). This database will be used to keep eligible applicants up to date on current and anticipated vacancies district-wide. “If you are a highly qualified ESE teacher seeking employment, we want to hear from you,� says the posting. There are immediate openings for part-time audiologists to provide services to students in school settings as part of the Division of Exceptional Student Education. The Miami-Dade district is also is in the midst of a targeted recruitment campaign aimed at attracting individuals with a strong STEM (science, technology, engineering and math)
‘Miami-Dade County Public Schools has fluid instructional openings and recruits year round.’ Ana Rasco background for a highly selective summer program, the TEACh Strong Summer Academy. This summer immersion program will prepare participants to become STEM teachers. According to federal regulations, a teacher shortage area means an area of specific grade, subject matter or discipline classification, or a geographic area in which the US Secretary of Education determines that there is an inadequate supply of elementary or secondary school teachers. Districts prefer to hire appropriately certified teachers when possible. “However, specialized
subject area knowledge is critical for some content areas that results in a greater risk that children will not be taught the standards at the level or rigor required if the teacher they have is not certified,� according to the state. Most of the recommended critical teacher shortage areas for 2015-16 are among those with the highest projected vacancies and the highest number of current vacancies for 201415. Low performing and low-economic urban schools have a higher proportion of courses taught by teachers without the appropriate certification. Schools receiving a grade of “F� experience the largest proportion of out-of-field teachers. Miami-Dade County Public Schools had more than 30 “Low Performing� schools in the latest state report. There are 466 schools in the county’s system. In general, a larger percent-
Health update
2016
1E] ÿĀ
Healthcare reform issues and the impact on healthcare options continue to be burning issues. Miami Today will update readers in this special section on the economics of health issues here and the link between medicine and our community. If you are a healthcare institution, provider or offer healthcare insurance options, then your message should be here. Miami Today is the right prescription for your ad message: r KPĆƒ WGPVKCN DWUKPGUU TGCFGTU YKVJ FGEKUKQP OCMKPI CWVJQTKV[ r QYP VJGKT QYP DWUKPGUU r /GFKCP JQWUGJQNF KPEQOG r /GFKCP CIG #NN Ć‚ IWTGU HTQO C UWTXG[ TGNGCUGF D[ $GJCXKQTCN 5EKGPEG 4GUGCTEJ
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MIAMITODAY A Singular Voice in an Evolving City
age of teachers are teaching out-of-field in the high priority school locations compared to the statewide total of teachers teaching out-of-field. For example, 4.3% of teachers are teaching out-of-field across the state, 7.6% in F Schools and 5.6% in Urban/ Low-Economic Schools. Rural/ Low-Economic Schools (5.5%) and D Schools (7.3%) also have a higher percentage of teachers teaching out-of-field compared to the statewide total (4.3%). Low-economic schools are those that have 75% or more students who receive free or reduced lunch. State statistics show that among the 194,733 teachers in 3,211 schools statewide, 186,395, or 95.7%, are teaching “in-field,� and 8,338, or 4.3%, are teaching “out-of field.� One year ago, there were 194,030 teachers statewide and 183,445, or 94.5%, were teaching “in-field.�
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