Miami Today: Week of Thursday, November 23, 2017

WEEK OF THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2017

A Singular Voice in an Evolving City

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COMMISSIONERS FUME OVER TRANSIT CUTS, TALK OF AUDIT OF DEPARTMENT, NO-FARE RIDES, pg. 10 CONSUMER PRICES SOAR: Consumer prices rose 1% in South Florida over the past two months, driving the 12-month rise to 2.7%, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics reported last week. The 1% gain in two months is the largest increase in South Florida since 1.5% in February 2013, according to bureau statistics. Leading the rise was a 12.7% increase in the price of motor fuels in September-October, the bureau said. Over the past year, prices South Florida consumers pay for energy have risen 10.5%, with motor fuel up 11.3% and electricity up 10%. The cost of shelter in South Florida had a two-month jump of 0.9%, part of a 4.6% rise in the past 12 months. Medical care costs in the area rose 8.8% in the past year, the bureau reported.

The Achiever

By Gabi Maspons

HOTEL REVENUES CLIMB: The Miami hotel market posted a 13.3% increase in revenue per available room in October compared to October 2016, while occupancy rose 11.3% year over year, a national rating service reported Monday. The Miami area’s revenue per available room in October was $120.79, far above the US average of $90.56, according to STR, a firm that monitors the hotel industry. The growth in occupancy pushed the total to 74.6%, again far above the US average of 69.6%, which itself “was the highest for any October on record,” according to Jan Freitag, an STR senior vice president. Houston had the largest increase by percentage in the US in revenue per available room, to $98.01, and 32.6% in occupancy to 83.8%.

UNDERGROUND POWER LINES COMING: Miami-Dade commissioners voted Tuesday to urge the Florida legislature to require that overhead electric lines be moved underground. “Nearly everyone in Miami-Dade lost power for many days after Irma,” said Daniella Levine Cava, who sponsored the legislation. “Those places that never lost power and those that got power back the quickest seemed to be communities with underground power lines,” she said. “Putting the lines underground is fair to ratepayers and will make FPL customers more resilient to the next storm.”

COUNTY INCURRING DRUG COSTS: County commissioners voted Tuesday to urge the Florida Legislature to approve Gov. Rick Scott’s budget of $50 million to combat the opioid epidemic and to urge the federal government to declare the opioid crisis a national emergency. “We have had a loss of life and health and incurred many costs locally,” said Sally Heyman, who sponsored the legislation. “Jackson has incurred over $10 million and we need to compile more data to understand the enormity of the problem and get reimbursed for our costs.” Ms. Heyman directed the county attorney’s office to do an assessment to determine the best course of action to pursue litigation against “manufacturers, distributers, insurance companies” and other contributing entities.

Javier Holtz

Photo by Cristina Sullivan

Expands Marquis Bank to 10 times its size in 7 years The profile is on Page 4

698 housing units planned at Miami River bend

By John Charles Robbins

A developer plans nearly 700 residential units in two buildings on a large vacant lot at a bend in the Miami River.

The project is to include 1,000 feet of public riverwalk and a small public waterfront park with a playground.

The Miami River Commission is expected to review the project, called Miami River Walk, on Dec. 4. The developer made a presentation to a subcommittee of the commission Nov. 15.

Spring Garden residents may remember that Miami city commissioners approved two 27-story residential towers for the site nearly 15 years ago. The 6.3-acre site at 1001 NW Seventh St. is on the south bank of the river, just east of the Northwest 12th Avenue Bridge, and Spring Garden is across the river on the north.

Acompany called RoyalAtlantic got a special use permit to build the sprawling project and marketed it as Rio Miami, but it was never built.

For a time, the site was used as a staging area during construction of the Marlins ballpark, which is about three blocks to the west in East Little Havana.

Uber to pay citations at millions off

Today, Mast Capital is proposing to build two eight-story mixed-use buildings with about 2,795 square feet of ground floor retail. The building on the west is planned at 348 dwellings and the building on the east 350 units.

A site plan by Corwil Architects shows the project coming in two phases, with the west building rising first.

Each building is to have an internal sevenstory, 400-vehicle garage. The zoning code requires 1,125 parking spaces, and the developer is seeking a waiver of up to 30%, allowed for projects near public transit.

The project is to have more than 20,000 square feet of amenities, including two swimming pools and courtyards, a business center, game room, fitness center, and 1,000-squarefoot theater.

Carlos Lago, an attorney for the developer, told committee members of the previously approved plan from Royal Atlantic for two 27-story mixed-use buildings.

“This reduces the height and the intensity,” Mr. Lago said of the new proposal.

The developer plans a 1,000-foot-long public riverwalk, landscaped, with lighting and seating

and access from the on-road greenway on the west and east side yards.

Expanding on public benefits in Miami River Walk is a 4,000-square-foot open green space park on the site’s western edge with a playground and an interactive water feature, all tied into the riverwalk, said Mr. Lago.

“This is a huge public benefit,” he said.

On the west, the site abuts Miami-Dade County land that’s leased to New York fashion designer Naeem Khan, who plans a design studio and vocational school of fashion there.

Asked if there were approved boat slips at the 1001 NW Seventh St. property, Mr. Lago said no but owners are researching the site’s history.

The committee recommended approval to the river commission, with these conditions: return to the commission if boat slips are later added, make the riverwalk on the west a seamless connection with the proposed riverwalk on the county site, and make the public access on the east 8 feet of open walkway and 2 feet of landscaping.

The developer promised to meet with committee co-chair Ernie Martin, who wants a wider access.

After Uber racked up $4.5 million in citations, commissioners Tuesday settled for $2.4 million.

“From May of 2014 to 2016 Uber was operating illegally,” said MiamiDade Mayor Carlos Giménez, as drivers received 4,275 citations.

Without a settlement, over 2,000 hearings, one for each violator, would be held. “It could take us a few years,” the county attorney’s office told commissioners.

Mr. Giménez’s office and Raiser, Uber’s subsidiary, negotiated four options: 1. Raiser subsidize $4.3 million in UberPOOL transit site trips for more than one rider and spend $300,000 to promote the program.

2. Raiser give the county $1 million, the clerk’s office $267,000, and $2 million in UberPOOL trips.

3. Raiser pay the county $2.4 million and the clerk’s office $267,000.

4. The county pursue hearings for all violations.

“These are the best four options we could come up with during negotiations,” the mayor said.

During the public hearing, an Uber representative supported Option 2.

“I am amazed that Uber tried to influence us,” said Barbara Jordan.

“They operated illegally and made a commitment to pay their tickets and it never happened. Why should we trust them now?”

Though commissioners were disappointed the county didn’t get paid in full, all but Bruno Barreiro agreed on Option 3.

“They owe us a lot more money than this, but this is the best we can do,” said Joe Martinez. “They did something illegal and got away with is. Let’s move on.”

Mr. Barreiro pushed to pursue every violation. “Uber should step up to the plate,” he said. “We’re leaving $2 million on the table.”

“I don’t disagree with Barreiro,” said Esteban Bovo Jr. “But it’s [not realistic] to go after this money for years.”

Of Uber’s $2.4 million, the African-American Museum gets $500,000, the Children’s Museum $500,000, the Veteran’s Court $100,000 and the Affordable Housing Trust Fund $1.3 million.

TERRORISM FEARS SHUT WYNWOOD ARTERY IN ART WEEK ...

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MIAMI MAY ALLOW MICRO-SIZE APARTMENTS OF 275 FEET ...

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EX-BEACON CEO SPEARHEADS PUERTO RICO’S STRATEGIES ...

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ART WEEK HOTEL ROOMS SOAR AS HIGH AS $5,500 A NIGHT ...

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VIEWPOINT: STAMP OUT THE NO-BID COUNTY CONTRACTS ...

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JET-SETTERS WILL FLY 800 PRIVATE PLANES TO ART WEEK ...

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DOWNTOWN AUTHORITY EXPANDS, INCLUDES UNDERLINE ...

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MIAMI PASSES LEGISLATION TO PROTECT SHOTGUN HOMES ...

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MIAMI TODAY

WEEK OF THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2017

TODAY’S NEWS

The Insider

Wynwood artery shut for Art Basel amid concerns about terrorist event

JOE CAROLLO RETURNS: Former Miami Mayor Joe Carollo returned to office Tuesday, winning a runoff race for the commission seat that had been held by his younger brother Frank Carollo, who was prevented by term By Catherine Lackner limits from running again. Joe Carollo defeated Alfonso ‘Alfie’ Leon for the post, winning 2,408 votes, 52.75% of those cast, to Mr. Leon’s 2,157, or Citing reports from US Homeland 47.25%. Of the total of 30,338 registered voters in the district area, 15.12% Security and chatter culled from cast ballots in the runoff election, the only measure being contested in the social media that a terrorist event county on Tuesday.

DUMPING DUE DILIGENCE: Miami-Dade’s Infrastructure and Utilities Committee last week recommended an Illegal Dumping Task Force be created to advice commissioners and the mayor on illegal dumping issues. “We all know the illegal dumping problems we have in our streets,” said Deputy Mayor Alina Hudak. The legislation directs the mayor’s office to consult and invite participants from the US Environmental Protection Agency, the US Attorney’s Office – Southern District of Florida, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Florida’s Departments of Transportation and Environmental Protection Alina Hudak and the State Attorney’s Office. Before the task force is created, the full county commission must approve the legislation.

LIVING ON THE RIVER: Land use changes and a rezoning to allow a planned residential building on the Miami River earned preliminary approval from the Miami City Commission on Nov. 16. JMG Miami River LLC proposes to clear land at 2222-2260 NW North River Drive of three buildings and construct a four-story residential building with about 30 dwellings and 40 parking spaces. The proposal requires a land use change from Duplex Residential to Low Density Multifamily Residential, and a zoning change.

The changes are recommended by the Miami River Commission and the city’s Planning, Zoning and Appeals Board. A final reading has yet to be scheduled.

ON THE DOCKET: Miami’s Downtown Development Authority voted unanimously last week to urge Miami to repair the docks at Fort Dallas Park, damaged by Hurricane Irma, as expeditiously as possible. If the city delays, another permit may be needed, further slowing the process. The authority mounted a campaign several years ago to get more dock space for pleasure craft downtown, arguing that it will bring more business to local restaurants and stores.

ASKED TO TASK: Authority board member Kim Stone, executive vice president and general manager of The Heat Group and AmericanAirlines Arena, said the Arts, Culture and Entertainment committee, which she leads, met with Robert Geitner, Olympia Theater executive director, and Daniel Rotenberg, director of Miami’s Department of Real Estate Asset Management. “We’re all going to work together and form a task force to determine the best next steps for the theater,” she said. Christine Rupp, executive director of the Dade Heritage Trust, and Warren Adams, City of Miami preservation officer, Kim Stone will be involved. The theater was recently the target of an unsolicited proposal by The Related Group, which was subsequently withdrawn. “I’d like to see a sunset date for the task force, because the goal is to come up with a request for proposals that the city could then issue,” said Ken Russell, authority chair and Miami commissioner.

ACQUIRING MINDS: Investor Moishe Mana has acquired vacant land at 151 NE First St., the 42nd downtown Miami investment in his portfolio. Mr. Mana bought the 15,000-squarefoot parcel for $9.27 million ($618 per square foot) from Erie Corp., which was represented by Jay Chung of Elijah Venture Corp. Mika Mattingly of Colliers International’s Urban Core Division represented Mr. Mana. “Downtown is humming, with the anticipated arrival of the Brightline and the arrival of new hotels like Yotel,” Ms. Mattingly said.

Mika Mattingly

MIDEAST CARGO FLIGHTS ADDED: Miami has added all-cargo service by the national airline of the United Arab Emirates with weekly flights by Etihad Cargo, the cargo division of Etihad Airways.

The scheduled freighter flights served by Boeing 777-200F aircraft link from Columbus, Ohio, to Miami International Airport, and then on to Amsterdam and Abu Dhabi. Miami also has Middle East all-cargo service via two weekly flights of Qatar Airways that began this year between Doha and Miami with stops in South America and Europe.

HEART HEALTHY COMMISSIONERS: When debating the cost of the living wage update at the county’s Government Operations committee meeting last week, Commissioner Joe Martinez noted that the stipend for insurance comes out to about $6,500 per county employee. When Mr. Martinez asked how much the commissioners’ own insurance costs, guessing it would be less, Deputy Mayor Edward Marquez responded, “the budgeted rate is over $12,000 a year. We have a very good plan.” Mr. Martinez then joked that he must be on a different plan. “I must be on the poor plan, because I just got my bill for the heart attack and I’m about to have another one.”

VOTE-BLIND COMMISSIONERS: During a hearing to increase the living wage last week, a resident asked county commissioners to keep constituents in mind when voting to increase, because residents will have the position to vote for the commissioners during the next election. Commissioner Rebeca Sosa then responded, “I sit at this table, elected by the public to represent them. The vote of a person doesn’t persuade me to do what is right. I vote with my conscience. I would like to clarify that for the record.”

NEW LEGISLATIVE CHAIRMAN: The Miami-Dade legislative delegation has elected Rep. Kionne McGhee chairman for the coming year and Rep. Bryan Avila vice chair “I will lead the charge for badly needed mass transit improvements in Miami-Dade, organize our membership to implement reforms to our justice system, and fight for our county’s priorities in the budget process,”: Rep. McGhee said. Rep. McGhee was first elected to the Florida House from District 117 in 2012. Rep. Avila was elected in 2014 from Kionne McGhee District 111.

may be brewing, the Miami Police Department will close most of Northwest Second Avenue in Wynwood – and possibly other streets – during the Friday, Saturday and Sunday of Art Basel (12/8 through 12/10).

Northwest Second Avenue is Wynwood’s main street, with clusters of restaurants, galleries and shops. Vehicular and pedestrian traffic is dense even without special events. The fear is that a drive-intothe-crowd attack – popular of late with terrorist factions – could kill and injure many.

“It’s way too dangerous” to leave Northwest Second Avenue open, said Albert Guerra, police commander for Wynwood and Edgewater. “We’re not going to risk that. It would be ignorant for us not to think we’re a prime target.

Wynwood is the place to be, and this is an international event.”

‘Safety is our paramount concern.’

Albert Garcia Cmdr. Guerra said he had not drawn a definitive map of closures when he spoke to directors of the Wynwood Business Improvement District (BID) Nov. 15. Police and government authorities continue to meet and formulate plans, he said.

But he and BID directors said they would work with businesses to minimize the economic impacts.

Because of Halloween street closures, “my business was cut in half,” said Rocco Carulli, executive chef and owner of the R House Wynwood restaurant at 2727 NW Second Ave. “I wait all year for Halloween and Art Basel.” Similar hard times befell restaurants on Northwest Second Avenue that were affected by closures, he said.

“We don’t want to clobber you,” said Albert Garcia, BID vice chair and chief operating officer of Mega Shoes. “Is there some way we can work it out?” He offered to meet with Mr. Carulli to try to find solutions.

“This is not Halloween,” which fell on a weekday this year, Cmdr.

Guerra said. “The closure map is still a rough draft. But do we want Second Avenue to be the way it is today, vibrant and alive, or do we want to have a memorial there, where 60 people were killed?”

“Safety is our paramount concern,” Mr. Garcia said. If an attack were to happen, “it would be way worse for Wynwood than Zika was.”

Beacon Council’s ex-CEO building new Puerto Rico economic strategy

By Catherine Lackner

Frank Nero, president and CEO of Miami’s Beacon Council from 1996 to 2013, has a new challenge on his hands: he and his Economic Solutions Group consulting firm have been charged with plotting an economic development strategy for Puerto Rico.

“I have an affinity for, and a lot of knowledge about, Puerto Rico,” Mr. Nero said this week. He was appointed during the Carter administration as the regional representative of the US Department of Labor for region 10 (New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands). Later, President Carter appointed him chairman of the Federal Regional Council, charged with coordinating 18 federal domestic agencies in the same region, reporting directly to the White House chief of staff.

“It was my first big responsibility,” Mr. Nero said. “To return to Puerto Rico and develop a strategy there would be the capstone of my career.”

On Aug. 30, he and a group of volunteers were invited to the island to discuss putting a strategy together. Puerto Rico was mired in a 10-year recession and suffering from other problems: among them, it had defaulted on bonds, had an inadequate infrastructure and high unemployment and was facing a brain drain as college graduates fled the island for jobs elsewhere.

The first trip was pro bono, Mr. Nero said, but there was a meeting of the minds.

“Then along came Maria, and all bets were off,” he said. He doubted he would hear from the business owners in Puerto Rico again, but they contacted him shortly after the storm. “They said, ‘We need you now more than ever,’ and said they needed a game plan right away,” Mr. Nero said.

Most people think that tourism is the dominant economic driver, but a significant portion of the island’s

team is developing blends successful techniques from Enterprise Florida and the Ohio Economic DevelopmentAssociation to develop sustainable jobs and lure investment dollars to the island. It will take at least a year to implement, he said, and is supported by a coalition of private businesses and academic institutions, with a liaison to government.

“The economy will come back,” Mr. Nero said. “Puerto Rico has a highly educated, excellent work force. They have a young governor.

‘The hurricane does give In Roosevelt Roads, they’ve got an them a blank slate. They airport and 5,000 developable acres of prime Caribbean land. My team can investigate different is excited about this project.” power sources. They can “The situation with the power grid has to be addressed,” he said. “But understand it’s a seminal, the hurricane does give them a blank benchmark time in their slate. They can investigate different history, and that the old power sources. They understand it’s a seminal, benchmark time in ways won’t work.’ their history, and that the old ways Frank Nero won’t work.”

gross domestic product is derived from manufacturing, he said.

“Manufacturing took a hit from Maria, as did small and medium businesses,” he said. “Right now, they’re in survival mode.”

That said, the situation in many parts of Puerto Rico isn’t as dire as is often depicted, said Mr. Nero, who returned Monday from a trip there.

“The hotels are open, the cruise ships are still coming in, and the banking district is fully functioning.”

At one time, Puerto Rico’s economy was “the jewel of the Caribbean,” Mr. Nero said. But several factors – the 2004 closing of the Roosevelt Roads Naval Station (at a cost of 6,000 jobs and an estimated $300 million blow), the repeal of the favorable 936 tax incentive program and the enforcement of the obscure Jones Act, which requires all goods shipped between American ports travel on US-flag vessels – contributed to its downfall.

The economic plan Mr. Nero’s

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MIAMI TODAY

VIEWPOINT

WEEK OF THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2017

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

Commissioners are right: stamp out those no-bid contracts

It’s wasteful that one-sixth of all MiamiDade product and service contracts have no competing bids. Government contracts without competition cost taxpayers more.

The trend is for most governments, not just Miami- Michael Lewis Dade, to contract more frequently without competition.

But that shouldn’t make residents feel better.

A government that plans to buy what a business is selling and won’t look elsewhere is likely to pay more or get less quality or service. Conversely, the greater the competition, the lower the price and better the quality and service.

So why, members of the county commission’s Government Operations Committee asked last week, are 17% of all county contracts not bid competitively? “It feels to me like we have a least 54%,” said Commissioner Jean Monestime.

The county’s Internal Services Department, which oversees purchasing, vowed in the future to “better describe” its efforts to get the best deal.

Still, Rebeca Sosa wants more than descriptions. She said she would write legislation to reduce the number of contracts the

county ever signs without bids.

Good for her. The county needs to steward our money and maximize what it gets.

The principle, as Nobel prize-winning economist Frederik Hayek noted, is that “the market price cannot be known until there is competition.” Dealing with only one vendor, therefore, can’t determine what the market price is – only the highest price that one uninformed buyer is willing to pay.

Government is only buying because it “needs” something, and you pay far more for a necessity than on impulse. If you’re wandering lost in the desert and someone turns up with cold bottle of water, you’ll pay more than if you could just open the tap.

Not that governments are lost in the desert, but it seems that way: In fiscal 2013, $164 billion in federal government obligations for goods and services – about 36% – were not competed, up from $115.2 billion the prior year. An audit by the New York State Comptroller eight years ago found that of 2,488 New York City Department of Education contracts that could have been awarded competitively, 291 were awarded without competition.And 59% of those non-compete contracts took effect even before they got a required approval to be offered. In testimony last month, the head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency testified to Congress that his agency didn’t know about the $300 million no-bid contract to renew Puerto Rico’s electrical grid until after it was awarded and probably

L etters Grove Garage will need adaptable design in mind

Based on projections by experts at this week’s FAV (Florida Automated Vehicles) Summit held in Tampa, very few people will be driving their own cars to this or similar garages in 20 years, and fewer yet will be parking there. Those experts included representatives of Ford, Tesla and Toyota as well as Audi, Siemens and multiple suppliers of vehicular technology.

One must hope that this garage will be designed with adaptability and re-use in mind.

John Dohm

Will mayors cut taxes?

We look forward to both newly elected mayors acting to improve the quality of life for their respective residents. Perhaps both can endeavor to reduce taxes and fees?

Ever-increasing taxes and fees have helped to increase the cost of affordable housing and accelerate the excessively high rental rates for retail and industrial landlords.

Peter R. Ehrlich Jr.

Professionals at Gusman could fill seats, turn profit

One thing that will help the Gusman is to let professional theater people book shows that will fill seats and make a profit.

One such London based company, Ambassador Theater Group (ATG), http://bit.ly/2iBBlVm is on a theater buying spree across North America. Who knows, they might actually be interested in buying and restoring the theater, like they did with Broadway’s historic and largest house, the Lyric Theater. Or at

would never have approved it.

Experts cite several musts before a government issues a contract without bidding.

Others seem to be common sense.

We’d suggest that Commissioner Sosa’s legislation consider these nine guidelines: 1. Require written justification why bids can’t be sought. Ms. Sosa’s efforts might have the commission’s own auditor review each justification for the almost 200 no-bid contracts that the Internal Services Department says are now in effect. Why weren’t other firms given the chance to save the public money?

2. Have a single county official vet every justification in advance. Was that done in every case?

3. Require government to post notice of each new or renewing contract to let others compete. To get smaller or startup firms involved, the county might publish notices in more than a single publication so wouldbe bidders can see opportunities. County purchasing experts might not know of some bidders who might offer a better deal.

4. Publicize an appeal process to let those who think they could fill a county need but weren’t clearly alerted because of no-bid offerings make an offer.

5. Make a list of all non-bid contracts in the county available.

6. Put strict time limits on no-bid contracts.

New providers, processes and products that become available could compete next year for a contract that isn’t locked in for years.

7. Require that contracts be offered early.

A $3 million contract for the California High

to the

E ditor

least taking on a 75-year lease.

If they see the potential and opt to buy, Letters for publication may be sent to the restoration costs the taxpayer nothing – in fact, the public will make money off Editor, Miami Today, 2000 S. Dixie Hwy, the sale (how rare is that?). If they pass, Suite 100, Miami, FL 33133 or e-mail to then the best we get is either one of those letters@miamitodaynews.com. Letters Frankenstein monsters proposed for the may be condensed for space.

Coconut Grove Playhouse.

DC Copeland is viewed as a positive solution to coastal erosion and flooding. In reality, beach renourishment is a band-aid over the much larger issue, which is sea level rise and climate change.

Dumping massive amounts of sand on Five years ago, I purchased a 1946 shotthe beach is a misguided attempt to prevent gun home in the West Grove, and love it. erosion and actually has negative impacts It has an immense charm and I am proudly on the health of our coral reef and seagrass restoring it. ecosystems. It suffocates these ecosystems, My property is surrounded on each side, leading to the loss of biodiversity that we by the same model of shotgun homes, which depend on. are left to deteriorate. The owner of both If we really want to prevent beach eroof these (my property is in the middle) is sion and flooding, we need to find solutions a pure slumlord who leaves the houses to climate change, the root cause of sea to decay and charges astronomical rents. level rise. The issue of climate change, is As a European, I wanted to buy them a huge concern to Florida now more than from him to create a historic nest and get ever because a new executive order issued them back to their old charms. Will not

by President Donald Trump in April would happen as he is speculating to sell to deopen up the coast of Florida to offshore velopers. I understand that it is his right, drilling (Executive Order 13795). however it is always sad to see parts of As history shows, when we drill, we history begin destroyed. spill. We are in a vital time now to oppose Sandrine Quenee this and prevent offshore drilling in order to protect our coastal ecosystems. My entire family and I, alongside thousands of other families in South Florida, depend on the health of our coasts for every part The article “Trucks filled with fresh sand of our life.

While beach renourishment is a shortrolling to Sunny Isles Beach” by Marcus Lim provided an interesting perspective on term temporary fix to erosion, we need to be thinking about longer-term solutions to the topic of beach renourishment.

As a marine educator and conservationist truly protect our beaches. We need to tell at Florida International University, it sad- our representatives and elected officials to dens me to read that beach renourishment keep offshore drilling off the Florida coast

How to Write

Will sell shotgun homes in Grove for development

Beach renourishment not solution to beach erosion

Speed Rail Authority was presented just 17 days before the old one expired. Surely the date didn’t take anyone by surprise.

8. Limit contract amendments, which commissioners are constantly being asked to approve for many millions of dollars more.

An amendment can’t be competitively bid and is a frequent way to skirt bidding.

9. Disallow contracts that start before they have been formally approved as procedures require. Look at that 59% in New York.

In a county of small businesses, no-bid contracts tilt the playing field toward large, long-established vendors that purchasers know well. But newcomers might offer the best price. Without testing via bidding, the county will never know.

The smaller the pool of vendors, the more likely the county is to overpay or not get the best products. No-bid contracts assume the county knows just who should provide what.

The public should not accept that assumption when we provide the dollars that are at risk.

As Ms. Sosa crafts her legislation, she might also request from Internal Services a breakdown of no-bid contracts not just by percentage of all contracts but by percentage of the value of all contracts. She’s likely to learn that the value of no-bid contracts exceeds 17% of the value of all county contracts because they tend to be bigger. The question is, by how much?

It’s poor business to ignore potential vendors by assuming that the one you like is the best. The county needs to formally limit its one-supplier offerings to protect taxpayers.

and be increasingly aware that in order to really renourish our beaches, we need to continue the fight against climate change.

Cathy Guinovart Student Education and Outreach Coordinator Aquarius Reef Base

Area’s unbridled building cause of traffic congestion

Let’s not forget that the Miami River bridge openings are not the cause of the Downtown/Brickell area traffic congestion.

The unbridled and explosive building in this area – without proper transportation planning – is the primary and underlying cause of the traffic congestion in and around Brickell Avenue/Downtown.

Let’s build the tunnel.

Mike Thomas

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MIAMI TODAY

WEEK OF THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2017

The Builders Association of South Florida (BASF) held its 2018 Installation Gala on Saturday, November 4, 2017 at Miami’s fabulous EAST hotel in Brickell City Centre.

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TODAY’S NEWS

MIAMI TODAY

WEEK OF THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2017

Miami may cut size of micro-apartment units to 275 feet

By John Charles Robbins

Building smaller apartments and condo units may help ease Miami’s critical shortage of affordable housing. That’s the thought behind legislation that would allow micro-sized residential units in areas of the city.

The city commission on Nov. 16 gave preliminary approval to an ordinance that allows “micro dwelling units” within Transit Oriented Development areas by reducing minimum unit size from 400 square feet to 275 and cutting the parking requirement from 1.5 spaces per unit to 1.

The sponsor was Francis Suarez, former commissioner and newly-elected mayor. As a commissioner, Mr. Suarez advanced several measures to encourage affordable and workforce housing.

At the meeting, his first as mayor, Mr. Suarez asked for support of the ordinance, which he says will give developers the flexibility they need to be creative in residential design and build projects with smaller units.

Mayor Suarez said the city has a housing crisis at various income levels. This proposal would allow for projects near mass transit to have smaller

Wynwood 29 project will have dwellings from 416 to 892 square feet. Proposed law may allow 275 feet.

dwellings and is written with protections so as not to infringe on neighborhoods or singlefamily homes, he said.

Commissioner Ken Russell said he wanted to co-sponsor the ordinance and work with the new mayor on making sure the proposed change to the city’s Miami 21 zoning ordinance doesn’t drive up costs per square foot.

Mr. Suarez said he understood Mr. Russell’s concern, and said

he looks forward to working with him on the final version of the ordinance. More than once during the meeting, Mr. Suarez noted the past frustration of not being able to meet one-on-one with fellow commissioners on city matters due to Sunshine Law restrictions.

The language of the ordinance notes the current zoning regulations do not allow for dwellings to be constructed with less than

400 square feet.

The change would allow micro dwellings “and support a shifting demographic of single-person households with a preference for smaller living spaces,” the ordinance reads.

Urban Land Institute studies indicate that micro dwellings have stronger occupancy rates than typical apartments and individuals choosing to live in the smaller units are attracted

to them “because of a desire to sacrifice space for lower per unit cost and proximity to transit, employment, and vibrant mixeduse neighborhoods.”

Micro dwellings allow developers to fit more units in the same building area, thus increasing the housing stock without the need for larger development projects, it says.

The city’s land development regulations encourage highdensity residential developments and redevelopments close to Metrorail and Metromover stations, and the projects with micro dwellings would be limited to transit oriented development areas.

The ordinance says the city recognizes growing demand for accessible housing options, including micro unit concepts, incorporated in urban center and urban core Transit Oriented Development areas where there is significantly less reliance on automobiles and enhanced utilization of bicycle and transit facilities that connect to places of employment and other services.

The proposal is recommended for approval by the city’s planning department, and the Planning, Zoning and Appeals Board.

A final vote is yet to come.

Fuming commission talks of free transit, audit of department

By Gabi Maspons

With declining transit revenues and not enough money to subsidize all services, Miami-Dade’s Department of Transportation and Public Works had to cut services to balance its budget earlier this year. While voting on a pre-approved bus service adjustment on Tuesday, county commissioners said they would be evaluating transit to push for more creative solutions.

Earlier this year, the commission fought with the administration about transit cuts during budget hearings.

The budget department identified about $3 million in overhead savings within the transit department and suggested using People’s Transportation Plan money intended for transit expansion projects to cover operating costs. The commission compromised and approved the $4.4 million in savings for the bus route adjustments to balance the transit department’s budget.

“We are here for the public hearing process for what the board already adopted,” Budget Director Jennifer Moon said Tuesday. “A budget was adopted and you approved eliminating these routes because it is going to have the least impact. We’re just trying to impact the fewest number of people.”

Commissioners took the opportunity to discuss transit more broadly, calling Transportation DirectorAlice Bravo to explain the cuts.

“We keep telling people to get out of their cars, and then we chop off routes that don’t have sufficient riders,” said Commissioner Sally Heyman. Ms. Heyman said one route deleted leaves a portion of Miami Beach without a transit option south of 41st Street. “I can’t support this unless I have a commitment from Ms. Bravo that something will be looked at, because we can’t leave them totally isolated.”

‘I am not supporting this item and I will request a report to audit the details of transit with a list of specifics.’

Barbara Jordan “We will work with Miami Beach to find an option to provide a lifeline service there,” Ms. Bravo assured Ms. Heyman.

Commissioner Barbara Jordan said she was concerned that the county isn’t being sensitive to the needs of the riders, using a medical metaphor for the county’s transit system.

“The patient is dying on the table and we’re cutting service lines,” Ms. Jordan said. “We’re fighting against ourselves.”

Commissioner Daniella Levine Cava took the opportunity to voice concerns about a transit desert in District 8. “There are 11,000 people without access to transit. We have to go to where the people are,” she said.

“We’ve only been looking at ways to cut the budget, not ways to invest.

I’m not going to be supporting the plan at this time.”

‘If not these routes, we will have to make frequency changes on heavier routes.

If we stretch ourselves too thin, we will be impacting the people who use our services the most.’

‘Maybe we need to change it to a no-fare system until people begin utilizing and gaining more trust in us. We need to retool our current system.’

Alice Bravo

Bruno Barreiro

By making the service adjustments, the transit department would save $4.4 million, Ms. Bravo said.

When Commissioner Dennis Moss asked what would happen if the route changes weren’t approved, Ms. Bravo said the department would have to reduce service in other ways to make up for the deficit.

“We’re already targeting the areas where we have the smallest amount of riders,” Ms. Bravo said.

“We have limited resources and people are using other means of transportation. If not these routes, we will have to make frequency changes on heavier routes. If we stretch ourselves too thin, then we will be impacting the people who use our services the most.”

Ms. Moon chimed in, saying if the commission didn’t approve the cuts, the department would have to find $4.4 million in its budget

by making deeper cuts to services.

“We will be forced to make reductions in headway across all routes and reduce frequency,” Ms. Moon said. “Federal law means we can do this without going before the board.”

“We are not proposing that this is beneficial to the county in any way; it is just what must be done to balance our budget,” she said.

Ms. Jordan said she will be putting in a formal request to have the Department of Transportation and Public Works audited. “I am not supporting this item and I will request a report to audit the details of transit with a list of specifics,” she said.

Commissioner Jean Monestime added to Ms. Jordan’s request.

“My office will work with the county attorney’s office to do an independent study of mass transit in this county,” he said.

Before voting, commission-

ers pushed to have more creative transit solutions developed so they wouldn’t have to vote on making additional route cuts.

“We’re going to be in this quagmire until the department comes up with a creative way to make do with what it has,” Commissioner Esteban Bovo Jr. said. “We need to be bold with transportation, but until then we will need to adjust routes.”

Mr. Bovo said the county will suffer until transportation is revamped.

“Transportation is the key to affordable housing, workforce housing and economic stability. We aren’t going to lureAmazon to South Florida” with our current transit system, Mr. Bovo said. “We don’t have the ability to let an extra 50,000 people move in our community. We’re putting more cars on the roads and our buses are in the same traffic patterns as the cars.”

Mr. Moss agreed, saying, “I don’t understand where we will end up if we keep cutting services every year.”

Commissioner Bruno Barreiro suggested a fully subsidized transit system.

“We are going to keep finding ourselves in this position, so we have to start thinking outside of the box,” Mr. Barreiro said. “Maybe we need to change it to a no-fare system until people begin utilizing and gaining more trust in us. We need to retool our current system. Our riders deserve it and our region deserves it.”

Commissioner Joe Martinez agreed that the county needs a new system, but said commissioners should be realistic about funding options when revenues are insufficient.

“When we have this bold discussion, let’s also have an honest one” Mr. Martinez said. “It means telling people that we need to raise their taxes because there are no revenues coming in. They may choose to raise them themselves or choose to get rid of what they had already taxed themselves.”

MIAMI TODAY

WEEK OF THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2017

13

Art Basel Art Basel opens in season of rebirth for the arts in Miami

By Catherine Lackner

This year’s Art Basel Miami Beach opens amid a season of rebirth for the arts: The Bass Museum is re-opening after being renovated and the Institute of Contemporary Art will move into its new location in the Design District.

The main show, held at the Miami Beach Convention Center, will feature works from 268 galleries in 32 countries, with some of the galleries new to the show this year. The new exhibitors hail from the Americas (10), Europe (8) and Asia (3). Exhibitors include Applicat-Prazan, Tyler Rollins Fine Art, Múrias Centeno, Inman Gallery and Isla Flotante, Patron, among others.

For the first time, off-site shows are being held at the former Miami Herald site on Biscayne Bay in the Omni area.

As in the past, satellite shows will take place in Wynwood, Midtown and around downtown and Miami Beach.

Because the convention center is in the midst of a multi-year renovation, “this year’s show will feature an expanded exhibition layout and enhanced show design that will allow for larger booths, wider aisles and improved lounging and dining options,” said a show release.

The show is divided into sections. Galleries, the main section, will feature 198 exhibitors specializing in modern and contemporary art; several are “graduating” into the Galleries section after having exhibited in the Feature or Survey section in past years. They include Canal and Bureau from the US, Kalfayan Galleries from Europe, and Tokyo Gallery + BTAP from Asia.

The Nova section, presenting works created within the past three years, will feature 29 galleries, of which five are new to the show this year. The Positions

section is dedicated to solo projects; of the 14 galleries presenting, seven are new. Now in its fourth year, the Survey section includes 16 galleries presenting artworks created prior to 2000.

The Kabinett section allows galleries to display curated exhibitions within their booths.

There are 25 projects this year, ranging from thematic group exhibitions to art-historical showcases and solo shows for rising stars. More than half of the participants are presenting works by female artists.

The Public section in Collins Park (just northeast of the convention center) presents sculptures and live performances.

This year, critic Philipp Kaiser will curate Public for the first time. Artists include Frida Baranek, Yto Barrada, Daniel Buren, Abraham Cruzvillegas, Philippe Decrauzat, Noël Dolla, Cyprien Gaillard, Daniel Knorr, Harold Mendez, Manuela VieraThe Positions Sector of Art Basel Miami Beach provides a platform for galleries to present one major Gallo and Brenna Youngblood. project by a single artist. This year Positions will showcase 14 solo booths. The photo is from 2016 event.

The Banyan Room at the Miami Beach Botanical Garden, adjacent to the convention center, will host Conversations, the fair’s slate of lectures and discussions with leaders of the international art scene. “Is Culture in the Americas in Big Trouble?” addresses the current threat to art and culture amid a major conservative shift in politics, while “Beyond Collecting: What is Patronage?” focuses on collectors who have moved beyond simply purchasing to open foundations and support museums.

The Film section, at the Colony Theatre, presents movies selected by David Gryn, director of Daata Editions and Artprojx.

New York-based film curator Marian Masone will also select a feature-length film for a special screening.

The fair begins with by-invitation events Dec. 6 and is open to the public from Dec. 7-10.

The main show is to feature 268 galleries from 32 nations. Larger booths and wider aisles are planned.

Positioning of Art Basel on tourism scene year-round effort

By Catherine Lackner

Art Basel Miami Beach is such an iconic event it would seem to promote itself. But that’s not entirely true, said Rolando Aedo, executive vice president and chief marketing officer of the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Just as there was a concerted effort by local leaders in both Rolando Aedo the private and public sectors to bring the fair here more than 16 years ago, “we are constantly looking at how we can position Art Basel and Miami as top-of-mind,” he said.

It’s a multi-pronged approach that leverages the area’s growth as a cultural

destination as well as beaches and other attractions, he explained. “We were the first tourism organization to have a cultural director. We hired George Neary away from the Miami Design Preservation League in 1998,” where he had created a marketing plan for Miami Beach’s Art Deco district.

Visitors seeking cultural experiences tend to be well-heeled, to stay longer and spend more during their visits, Mr. Aedo added.

“We camp out inside Art Basel to serve as concierges, encouraging visitors to see the community as whole,” he said. “We bring attention to Design Miami and the satellite shows. We also want visitors to experience the art scenes of Overtown, Little Haiti and the West Grove, to spread the wealth of tourism to those neighborhoods.”

To that end, the bureau created Art of Black Miami, which highlights African-

American art and culture, including events at the historic Lyric Theatre in Overtown, as well as other shows and performances that take place in neighborhoods off the beaten path.

Some merchants hosting events and shows had experienced little in the way of tourism, so the bureau created a business enhancement training program, which has already graduated several classes, he said.

Attendees included gallery operators who were suddenly seeing an uptick in visitors, he added.

On an international level, “We also identify, curate and bring top journalists to Miami to cover the event,” Mr. Aedo said. Bureau representatives also attend Art Basel in Hong Kong and in Basel, Switzerland, he said. “Hong Kong and Miami are analogous; both are cosmopolitan, multicultural destinations that support cultural

tourism. There’s a natural synergy.”

He also credits Art Basel Miami Beach with sparking the renovation of the Miami Beach Convention Center, one of the bureau’s priorities. “Its leadership made a long-term commitment to keep the show in Miami, which is validation for us.

“The beauty of Art Basel goes beyond the show,” he said. “It elevated the discussion of art in Miami and attracted new talent, new artists. It’s not a coincidence that the art scene here has grown along with Art Basel over the past 16 years. Its impact on areas like Wynwood and Little Havana can’t be overestimated.

“Even before the show, we had a great cultural scene, with Judy Drucker and others promoting theater, music, opera,” Mr. Aedo said. “Art Basel put culture on steroids and allowed Miami to grow as a global, tropical, cultural destination.”

14

MIAMI TODAY

ART BASEL

WEEK OF THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2017

Convention center revamp gives Art Basel new show design

By Katya Maruri

As Miami Beach gears up to host the 16th edition of Art Basel, local and international art aficionados can look forward to seeing 268 galleries from 32 countries across North and South America, Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Africa within an entirely new floor plan, along with artworks ranging from modern masterpieces and historical projects to new works by both established and emerging artists.

This year’s show, which has a new floor plan and show design due to the Miami Beach Convention Center’s ongoing renovation, will exhibit sculptures, installations, drawings, paintings, photographs, prints, film, editioned works and digital art from more than 4,000 artists.

Open to the public Dec. 7-10, the fair will also include an array of receptions, panel discussions, guided tours, film screenings, collection visits, receptions, breakfasts, brunches, debates, talks and more.

This year’s art fair will feature nine diversified and well-known sectors: Galleries, Positions, Edition, Nova, Kabinett, Public, Film, Magazines and Survey.

The Galleries Sector returns with over 200 international modern and contemporary art galleries, which will display paintings, sculptures, installations, photography, film, video and digital art ranging from

Sara Cwynar Tracy’s “Stepping Forward, Stepping Backward” will be seen in Art Basel’s Nova section.

editioned pieces by young artists to museum-caliber works.

Other sectors such as Nova, which is designed for galleries to present one, two or three artists showcasing works created within the last three years, will feature never-before-seen pieces from the artist’s studio along with works that aim to present strong juxtapositions.

The Positions Sector, will provide

a platform for galleries to present one major project by a single artist and will also showcase 14 solo booths featuring works such as a series of ceramic pot sculptures and typographic prints that examine how religious activities have influenced Chinese society by artist Xu Qu, along with works by 13 other artists.

As for Art Basel’s other sectors, guests can anticipate seeing lead-

artists in Collins Park, along with a dynamic program of films displayed on a 7,000-square-foot projection wall at the New World Center as part of the Film Sector, and can view art publications from around the world in single-magazine stands or at a collective booth at this year’s Magazine Sector.

As for what’s new to this year’s show, Art Basel’s talk series, Conversations, will feature 19 talks

by Agustín Arteaga, Yto Barrada, Stefania Bortolami, José Carlos Diaz and many other artists as they discuss a wide range of topics concerning the global contemporary art scene, creating a platform for dynamic dialogues between members of the international art world as they provide their unique perspective on producing, collecting and exhibiting art.

In regards to other new additions to the art fair, the public sector will be curated for the first time

by Philipp Kaiser, an independent curator and critic, who has selected the theme “Territorial” for this year’s public sector, which will include 11 site-responsive works by established and emerging artists along with the premiere of ‘The Rinse Cycle’, a progressive rock opera, which has been 10 years in the making, by Jim Shaw and the D’red D’warf band.

ing publishers of editioned works, prints and multiple exhibits at the Edition Sector, followed by a curated exhibition by participating galleries at the Kabinett Sector, along with a presentation of 16 historical projects at the Survey Sector.

As for this year’s Public Sector, guests can expect to see large-scale Details: www.artbasel.com/en/ sculptures and installations by miami-beach. leading and emerging international

As Art Week checks in, hotel rooms soar as high as $5,500

By Marcus Lim

Most hotels in South Beach already are near full occupancy for the peak dates of this year’s Art Week events. Hotels report having only a few rooms left, and those who are

willing to be in a hotel that is a walkable distance from the Miami Beach Convention Center, site of Art Basel Miami Beach, have to pay more than three times the standard room price.

More than 15 hotels sit in a onemile radius of the convention center,

a 10- to 15-minute walk, according to hotel spokespersons. That’s a strong selling point, because guests don’t have to take a car to the convention center-based main event, which faces traffic snarls during Art Week.

The comfort of being in walking

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distance of one of Miami Beach’s most visited events is “priceless” to guests who aren’t deterred by a hotel’s asking price, where room rates will rise as much as 300% during the week. Some hotels see more than half their rooms spoken for a year beforehand, a trend that increases every year.

Guests include Americans, South Americans, Europeans, vacationers and art collectors who even book a room for their art brokers. The event lures everyone who loves art, and the hotel industry ensures that these people have comfortable accommodations.

Hector Diaz, director of revenue management for the Loews Miami Beach Hotel, said about 90% of the hotel’s 790 rooms are booked a year in advance for the week. The hotel currently is at 95% occupancy, with just a few rooms left.

“For us, we consider it the Super Bowl to Miami,” Mr. Diaz said.

“Hotel demand has increased over the years at Loews – busiest time of the entire year.”

Regular daily rates for a standard room at the Loews are about $250.

For this year’s Art Basel, the rooms cost around $750 and can range up to $5,500 for top suites.

Mr. Diaz noted that Wednesday and Thursday during Art Basel are the busiest, since that’s when the events kick off. Loews prices this year saw a 5% to 10% increase from last year’s Art Week rates.

Nautilus, a SIXTY hotel, one of three official hotel partners ofArt Basel, experienced the same situation.

Jimmy Blakeslee, director of sales, has said that last year the hotel was at 90% occupancy, or 225 rooms filled during the peak Art Basel dates, and that this year the hotel hopes to be at 92% to 95% occupancy, or 230 to

237 rooms filled.

Rates for rooms rise as much as 300% during the week at Nautilus.

The hotel is also expecting rates for the week to grow year over year by about 3%, or $12 to $15 added per night.

“This is our third year being one of the official hotel sponsors of Art Basel and we feel very fortunate to be a part of such an amazing event,” Mr. Blakeslee said. The founder and co-owner of SIXTY Hotels, Jason Pomeranc, is an avid art collector and wanted to ensure that the hotel had a partnership, Mr. Blakeslee said.

Another official hotel ofArt Basel is The Betsy, which had 100% occupancy during Art Basel last year.

Owner Jonathan Plutzik said people choose The Betsy because its luxury boutique environment embraces arts and culture. The Betsy also has VIP packages that include access to fairs such as Untitled and PRIZM, and to events on property. For high-end guests, the hotel also offers access to the official Art Basel program, along with “distinctive exhibitions” in-house and a chance to meet artists.

“It is our pleasure to host artists and art lovers from around the globe,” Mr. Plutzik said. “The Art Basel corporate partnership underscores our commitment to arts and culture.”

Mr. Diaz said that 2016 was considered a “soft year” for the hotel industry during Art Basel. Though hotels were still near maximum occupancy, the demand was lower due to external factors such as the Zika virus scare.

“Bookings were made a year in advance and more and more people are coming down for the event,” Mr. Diaz said. “The demand is a lot bigger this year; we can feel the demand.”

WEEK OF THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2017

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