Miami Today: Week of Thursday, May 19, 2016

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A Singular Voice in an Evolving City

WEEK OF THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2016

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City of Miami office offering extended second time, pg. 15 HERE COMES THE SUN: Imagine a bike path that generates electricity. That’s what energy-conscious inventors have considered, and beyond. Miami commissioners last week directed the city administration to study “installing, maintaining and operating solar roads” that use advancements in photovoltaic technology to produce renewable and sustainable energy. The city manager has three months to complete the study. By affixing photovoltaic surfaces to roadways, new technology has the capability of converting miles of roadway that contribute to the urban heat island effect into a potential source of green energy, the resolution reads. Commissioner Ken Russell sponsored the legislation. “This could be the future. Sunshine’s out there. We should be using it,” he said.

After Worldcenter deal flops, Macy’s still sits pretty, pg. 16

THE ACHIEVER

BY CATHERINE LACKNER

MORE TRANSPARENCY: County commissioners passed legislation Tuesday requiring greater finance transparency beginning in 2017. The ordinance, sponsored by Daniella Levine Cava, obliges elected officials and candidates in Miami-Dade to disclose when they solicit funds for a political committee by filing a statement of solicitation with the Elections Department or the clerk of their municipality. The Elections Department will publish the reports online and provide a link to municipal reports. This type of disclosure previously wasn’t required at the local level and will align county regulations with state law. In addition, commissioners passed a resolution sponsored by Ms. Levine Cava that requires elected officials to report to the Clerk of the Board if a conflict of interest exists with a matter the commission is considering. The resolution calls for commissioners to announce the nature of the conflict before the matter is heard, excuse themselves from voting and file a written disclosure of conflict with the Clerk of the Board within 15 days. Currently, in the case of a conflict of interest county commissioners are only required to recuse themselves from voting. MORE PLACES TO SLEEP: The Miami River Commission has supported the city police department’s homeless program. As city leaders are preparing to author the 2016-2017 budget, the river commission recommended continued funding for 75 shelter beds for the police intervention program, along with an additional 20 cots. Officer James Bernat, Miami Police homeless coordinator, told the commission just under 1,000 homeless persons live in Miami-Dade County and most – 640 – are in the City of Miami. The police department’s program has a goal of helping individuals transition into a life off the streets.

Laurent Fraticelli

Photo by Marlene Quaroni

Preparing to open new Asia-oriented hotel in Brickell The profile is on Page 4

3 China airlines ask trade team for Miami flight BY SUSAN D ANSEYAR

Three leading China passenger airlines expressed interest in nonstop Miami flights during a county-led development trip to mainland China and Taiwan in April, one of many outcomes participants said should reap long-term benefits. Miami International Airport did well; meetings with government officials including mayors opened doors for the future; and mission members were widely welcomed in Shanghai, Hangzhou and Guangzhou, China, and Taipei, Taiwan, Manuel Gonzalez, county economic development and international trade director, told the Miami-Dade commission’s Trade & Tourism Committee last week. With an objective to foster bilateral trade, commerce, tourism and cultural exchanges, it was the county’s largest trade mission to date, Mr. Gonzalez said. Seven of 33 participants were from government, 25 from business. County Commissioner Jose “Pepe” Diaz, chairman of the International Trade Consortium Board, led the delegation Mr. Diaz and Deputy Aviation Director Ken Pyatt led talks with three Chinese

AGENDA

Under gun, downtown rail on track

New planes key to nonstop Asia link, pg. 12 will grow to 630 million, 45% of total airlines – China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines and Hainan Airlines – regarding nonstop service to Miami. All showed interest, Mr. Gonzalez said. The trip was a landmark in ongoing pursuit of nonstop passenger flights to Asia, said Aviation Director Emilio González in a written statement. “The renewed interest by these Chinese airlines is very promising, and we look forward to continuing our discussions. There are now a number of strong prospects for the first Asia-Miami passenger route.” Delegates also learned of China’s demand for US products, particularly through e-commerce. “For the first time, we engaged in an investor forum and did a Chinese version of ‘Invest Miami,’” Manuel Gonzalez said. The outreach paid off in a number of ways, he said. “By September, we’ll have a mission on industrial life sciences for the hotel industry coming here from our relationships made in Shanghai.” China was our number-three trade partner in 2015 at $6.4 billion. County data estimate that by 2022 China’s middle class

population, and will consume $3.4 trillion in goods and services, 24% of gross domestic product. Commissioner Xavier Suarez asked about barriers to trade and whether anyone addressed a $500 billion US trade deficit with China. “Talking about two-way trade and investment will take more trips, but we have entrée to 1.36 billion people,” Manuel Gonzalez replied. “The Chinese have been told by central government they need to invest in foreign markets. They realize we all live in a world economy and are opening markets for consumer products.” Relations formed on the mission can’t solve a $500 billion deficit, Manuel Gonzalez said, but “the biggest opportunity we have is e-commerce.” A key thing the delegation heard, in addition to a direct Miami flight, is “they’re interested in P3s [public-private partnerships],” Mr. Diaz said. “They want to come in and do business with us, so this is the start of something.” The goal was to wake everybody up to Miami-Dade, he said. “Anything we can do to bring these folks in will help.”

Under the gun to wrap up a deal for a Tri-Rail connection to the new MiamiCentral station downtown, county commissioners Tuesday unanimously approved reimbursing All Aboard Florida $13.9 million for costs, sealing their part of the bargain. All Aboard had set Tuesday as a drop-dead day to seal the deal for the link to MiamiCentral, where both Brightline bullet trains and Tri-Rail commuter trains are to have their southern terminus. The City of Miami and the Citizens Independent Transportation Trust both agreed last week to revised agreements. The same will be asked soon of Miami’s Downtown Development Authority, the Bayfront Park Management Trust, and both the Omni and Southeast Overtown/Park West community redevelopment agencies. None is being asked to spend more than is already agreed. All Aboard Florida, a subsidiary of Florida East Coast Industries, “has advanced construction of the commuter rail platforms and is incurring significant costs since the station has gone vertical and columns have been erected,” county transit chief Alice Bravo wrote May 2. “If we are not able to execute agreements by the aforementioned date, All Aboard Florida has advised us that they will be forced to cease construction on the commuter rail infrastructure. “Without a definitive plan of action and inter-agency coordination to pursue new agreements, we could forfeit this unique opportunity to bring commuter rail to the central business district.” “We are in the process of confirming the other partners’ commitments to the timeline so we can continue construction at the station,” said Francois Illas, vice president of Florida East Coast Industries. “If this timeline is not met, we will have no choice but to stop construction immediately on the Tri-Rail station.”

PETITION’S BID TO CUT CAMPAIGN FUNDING HITS HOME ...

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DESPITE PROMISES, NO SOCCER PARK FOR VIRGINIA KEY ... 11

FRUSTRATION MOUNTS ON LACK OF TRANSIT ANSWERS ...

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LENNAR CAN BUILD HOUSING DESPITE ARSENIC ON LAND ... 11

VIEWPOINT: NO FREE PASS IN COURT FOR LAWBREAKERS ...

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PARTNERS FLOWER AS TEAM SPREADS MILLION ORCHIDS ... 17

92-MEMBER EXPORT TEAM SET TO BUILD MEXICO TRADE ... 7

MIAMI SPENDING $2.8 MILLION ON A NEWER HELICOPTER ... 18


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