Miami Today: Week of Thursday, February 8, 2018

WEEK OF THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2018

A Singular Voice in an Evolving City

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COMMISSIONERS OVERRULE MAYOR, VOTE TO UPSIZE HIS BUDGET FOR A NEW COURTHOUSE, PG. 8 COMPENSATION COSTS LAG: Compensation costs for private industry workers rose less in Miami than the national average in December and far more slowly than the Miami increase in December 2016, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics reported this week. The cost of compensation for private workers here rose 2.2%, compared with 2.6% nationally and 3.4% in Miami in 2016, the bureau’s figures show. Nationally, the largest growth in a major metropolitan area was 6.9% in Seattle, home of Amazon, which is seeking a second corporate headquarters elsewhere in the nation. The lowest increases in the nation were 1.4% in both Atlanta and Minneapolis.

In terms of wages and salaries alone – which make up the largest share of compensation costs – Miami saw a 2.3% year-over-year increase, below the 2.8% national average gain. The largest national increase in wages and salaries was San Jose, CA, up 3.6%, the bureau reported.

The Achiever

By Gabi Maspons

MIAMI CIRCLE REPLICA: Plans to construct an above-ground replica of the Miami Circle for public viewing are frozen in time. The Miami Circle, at the mouth of the Miami River in Brickell, is where the Tequesta Indians are believed to have built the circle that measures 38 feet and consists of 24 holes, surrounded by other smaller holes. The 2,000-year-old structure was discovered in 1998, was then re-buried for its preservation from the elements, and in 2016 state officials entertained the possibility of creating a 3-D life-size replica artifact. “This is not in any of the official plans. It’s not off the table, but we’re not actively pursuing this,” Mark Ards, the Department of the State’s marketing director, told Miami Today last week.

HISTORIC MACY’S ON FLAGLER: Plans for what will happen to the downtown Macy’s at 22 E Flagler St. are still being drawn. On Jan. 4, Macy’s announced the store will close. The store was previously considered historic and a landmark in the downtown area. Elliot Zeitune, director of leasing at Aetna Realty, which is handling the building, said the owners of the property and the land are still discussing what they plan to do with the property but will make a decision in the next few weeks.

BUSINESS MISSION TO CHINA, JAPAN: To promote global business, Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Giménez and Commissioner José “Pepe” Diaz are traveling to the People’s Republic of China and Japan on a mission to help to push the county as a global gateway. Mr. Gimenez and Mr. Diaz will go on the trip from March 16-28 and hope to have mission participants come as well, a county release said. Mission participants will have the opportunity to meet with high-level business officials, businesses and much more. Details: Manny Gonzalez, oedit@miamidade.gov or (305) 375-1879.

Carolina Herrera

Photo by Cristina Sullivan

President of the Builders Association of South Florida The profile is on Page 4

Free county Wi-Fi bonanza signs off; to try again

By Sara Marino

A year-old Miami-Dade initiative that had promised free transit Wi-Fi, hundreds of Wi-Fi-enabled kiosks and security cameras throughout the county has fallen apart.

The contract with CIVIQ Smartscapes LLC has terminated because the county couldn’t provide enough locations in which the company would install Wi-Fi kiosks.

“They sent me on Jan. 10 a notice of termination letter, on the fact that... we were supposed to be at the first 150 locations, and we were unable to do that,” said Angel Petisco, director of Miami-Dade’s Information Technology Department. “Subsequent to that, I sent them a letter acknowledging their termination request and the contract has fallen through at this point.”

The contract spelled out minimum and maximum numbers of devices to be produced, set timelines for when devices were to be released, and said that after a specific period if the parties couldn’t agree on locations, either could terminate the contract. Under this clause, CIVIQ Smartscapes was able to terminate without penalties.

Tax district will collect transit fund

Previously, the county had struck a deal for the company to install 150 to 300 touch-screen kiosks at no cost to the county. The company had also agreed to provide Wi-Fi on every Metrobus, Metrorail and Metromover, which totaled 1,099 devices, as well as install 51 kiosk-like devices that would keep riders up to date on arrivals and departures at certain stations. CIVIQ Smartscapes didn’t respond to multiple phone calls.

The county is now considering requesting proposals to see if other companies are interested in a deal similar to the original plan with CIVIQ Smartscapes.

“We’re evaluating that and seeing when we can put together a plan,” Mr. Petisco said.

“At the moment, what we’re doing is we’re evaluating the original agreement and we’re putting together a shell of a request for a proposal,” looking for something as close to the original deal as possible.

“We do want to make sure that we have the Wi-Fi connectivity, that we have the kiosks and that we have everything we intended to do with this first go-around,” he said. “We want to try and keep everything as whole as possible.”

The county hopes to have a proposal finished by the end of March, he said.

“At that point we would start looking to put it on the county agenda,” he said. “If things go the way they should time-wise, I would say somewhere around June we should have something in front of the board [of county commissioners] requesting solicitation for companies to respond to this.”

Mr. Petisco said the county still believes free transit Wi-Fi and the kiosks are important. “I think the original idea was it’s an excellent information source, not only for residents but also for visitors. It was also going to continue on the digital divide, so more folks would have access to the internet.”

Along with the kiosks as a source of day-today information, Mr. Petisco said the county had planned to use the network to update the public during hurricanes and to help the public through the use of security cameras in the kiosks.

“For example, if we had an Amber Alert or a Silver Alert, through those cameras we could help analytics find those people,” he said. “It still remains as a really good thing to do and we’ll give it another try.”

Miami-Dade commissioners Tuesday created a tax increment district to raise revenue for a new trust fund for the SMART plan to add transit. The district will align with the plan’s six corridors and include all properties within a half mile of each but the East-West, where it will cover all within a mile.

In a memo, Mayor Carlos Giménez said he is concerned about including funds from the Unincorporated Municipal Service Area (UMSA) General Fund.

If UMSA revenues are allocated to the trust fund, “residents of UMSA would be contributing more to the public transit – through both their countywide and municipal taxes – than municipal residents,” he said.

Joe Martinez said he couldn’t support the tax if it doesn’t equally hit all transportation district residents. “We’re short money now and we will be again, and when the board hits UMSA for the money they’ll be taxed twice,” he said.

Sponsor Esteban Bovo Jr. said he’d work to make sure “there is no trapdoor that anyone falls into.”

Jose “Pepe” Diaz also said the legislation was unfair, as the EastWest Corridor extends a full mile where others extend only half.

“It has to do with the 836,” Mr. Bovo said.

Bruno Barreiro said he’d support the tax and municipal residents will ultimately pay the same when cities have to “pony up” to help with the plan.

Dennis Moss expressed support and said the commission had to unite in its decision. “We always find ourselves sidetracked when we discuss these issues and we won’t get anything done until we learn to stick together,” he said after Mr. Bovo and Mr. Diaz heatedly discussed the corridor.

After Barbara Jordan said she’d support the measure if it were amended to protect UMSA residents, Mr. Bovo agreed. “We could remove the UMSA portion and bring it back later,” he said.

Commissioners supported Mr. Bovo’s item 10 to 1. Xavier Suarez dissented.

MIAMI PUSHED TO REOPEN HISTORIC FORT DALLAS PARK ...

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BOAT SHOW ALTERS WAYS GUESTS CAN GET TO EVENTS ...

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VIEWPOINT: STUDY SHOWS COUNTY OFFICIALS UNDERPAID...

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RESTAURANTS-MARINA PLAN TO REMAKE WATERFRONT ...

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CHARTER TASK FORCE WOULD END COUNTY TERM LIMITS ...

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GROVE HOME RE-SALES BRINGING SIX-FIGURE INCREASES ...

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COUNTY OFFICIALS DEBATE ROAD LANDSCAPING, LOOKS ...

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DINNER KEY MARINA IS STILL REELING AFTER HURRICANE ...

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MIAMI TODAY

TODAY’S NEWS

The Insider COMMISSIONER WITH A CAUSE: While commissioners discussed next steps for the civil courthouse at the Miami-Dade County Commission meeting Tuesday, Rebeca Sosa said the county needs to be more actionoriented. “We can talk here for six hours and still do nothing,” she said. “I’m not going to be in the line of doing nothing anymore. There has to be respect at this table. We criticize past board for lack of transportation when we do the same.” She then pushed the commission to avoid getting sidetracked and be more mindful of the next steps when discussing legislation.

AGING ADMINISTRATION: When commissioners were questioning Budget Director Jennifer Moon on the funding source for the Independent Community Panel at the commission meeting Tuesday, she referred to her notes to find an exact figure. “This is the first time I’ve ever seen Jennifer have to look something up,” Commissioner Audrey Edmonson said laughing. “She usually has it at the top of her head.” Ms. Moon joked that she is “getting older.”

COUNTY OF CONTROVERSY: Before passing legis- Jennifer Moon lation to annex lands to Florida City at the Miami-Dade County commission meeting Tuesday, Commissioner Dennis Moss asked to move the item to the top of the agenda before other controversial items were discussed. “Is that not controversial?” Commissioner Esteban Bovo Jr. asked Mr. Moss jokingly. Mr. Moss responded by saying “everything is controversial,” before laughing.

SPECIAL TAXING DISTRICT DISCLOSURE: After a year of debate about special taxing districts residents impose on themselves for additional services, Miami-Dade commissioners Tuesday passed legislation requiring all sellers of county real estate to disclose to buyers if they are acquiring property in a special taxing district. “Disclosure is important,” said sponsoring commissioner Jose “Pepe” Diaz. “Some people haven’t understood that they are in an area that has to pay special fees and we worked with the real estate industry to make sure they Jose Pepe Diaz understand this need.”

HUMAN TRAFFICKING AWARENESS: After passing legislation last month making January human trafficking awareness month county-wide, Miami-Dade commissioners this week followed through on their action, enforcing the Florida statute that requires trafficking awareness signs be posted in “rest areas, airports, passenger rail stations, strip clubs, any business that provides massage or bodywork services that is not regulated by the health care profession,” the legislation says. Someone found in violation can “be subject to civil penalties, civil liability, attorney’s fees and enforcement proceedings,” the legislation says.

NONSTOP MILAN SERVICE: Italian airline Meridiana will start service to Miami International Airport on June 8 with four weekly flights linking Miami and Milan, the airline announced last week. Introductory economy roundtrips linking the two cities start at $489, the airline said. Miami already has nonstop service by American Airlines linking to Milan and by Alitalia linking to Rome. The airport said that the airport already serves more than 288,000 passengers a year flying to and from Italy.

PET ABUSER DATABASE: Technical issues have delayed Commissioner Daniella Levine Cava’s ordinance prohibiting animal abusers from adopting animals from the county’s pet adoption and protection center. The legislation will take effect in 180 days to “so every partner has time to get the databases up,” Ms. Levine Cava said. The next step is to extend the prohibition to all shelters and pet adoption centers in the county. “The issue – which isn’t anything new – is that this would only apply to Miami-Dade County Animal Services” and not all other pet distributers, said Alex Muñoz, animal services director. Though Mr. Muñoz says animal services has the largest group of animals in the county, with about 300 dogs coming in each week, he wants to make sure future legislation would apply to all groups. “We’re trying to find a way so that it doesn’t only apply to our shelters.”

STRONG SURVIVORS: Commissioner Joe Martinez sponsored legislation to create the Miami-Dade County Vilomah Award to recognize parents who, inspired by the memory of their lost children, have taken action to positively influence the community. In Sanskrit, the word “vilomah” means “against a natural order,” he said. Commissioners at the Government Operations Committee meeting commended Mr. Martinez for his ordinance before unanimously moving the item forward to the full commission for consideration. The biannual award is to “recognize the courage of parents that have survived the loss of a Joe Martinez child and taken that loss and turned it into positive actions,” a memo from Deputy Mayor Ed Marquez says. Each commissioner is to select one candidate from his or her district twice a year for the award.

HURRICANE SALES EMERGENCY: In the wake of Hurricane Irma, county commissioners in the Government Operations Committee moved forward legislation to allow home improvement stores to sell products outside of the building when the county is in a state of emergency. “This is not so we have a flea market year-round,” said sponsoring Commissioner Joe Martinez. “This is just a fix so people can get the supplies they need during a declared state of emergency, not a weekly thing,” he said. The ordinance is to also “provide for greater flexibility in outdoor display areas for such facilities generally,” the legislation says. When Dennis Moss asked about the extra provision, county attorneys said any store would need administrative site approval before selling products outside when not in a county state of emergency.

GAS HIGH BUT STEADY: Miami area gasoline prices have stayed absolutely in place in the past week at an average of $2.64 per gallon, according to gasoline price website GasBuddy.com. Meanwhile, the national average crept up 1.9 cents per gallon during the week to $2.60 per gallon. Prices at the start of this week in Miami were 25.7 cents per gallon higher than the same day a year ago and 14 cents per gallon higher than a month ago.

Nationally, prices rose 11.2 cents per gallon in the past month and 34 cents per gallon higher than a year ago.

WEEK OF THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2018

River Commission pushing for city to reopen historic Fort Dallas Park

By John Charles Robbins

The Miami River Commission is continuing to push City of Miami officials to do whatever is necessary to get historic Fort Dallas Park reopened.

The city owns the closed and fenced-off downtown park at 6064 SE Fourth St., home to The Flagler Worker’s House, the last known building in Miami directly associated with railroad magnate and developer Henry M. Flagler.

City officials have been working toward a restoration plan for the house, also known as Palm Cottage, and are in the process of writing a new request for proposals that might invite private developers to submit proposals for a publicprivate partnership to manage the prime riverfront land.

After hearing a status report on the city’s efforts Monday, the river commission unanimously approved a motion recommending the city request proposals for a restaurant in Fort Dallas Park subject to these conditions: ■Expedite completion of the city’s contracted structural analysis of the historic Flagler worker’s house, and expedite any time-sensitive structural repairs potentially reported in the structural analysis.

■No reduction of the size of the existing public riverwalk and public side yard, which provides access to the riverwalk.

■If the Fort Dallas Park dock isn’t going to provide dockage for waterborne transportation (water taxis, commuter ferries, etc.), then provide dockage for waterborne transportation immediately east of Fort Dallas Park.

■Expedite the process to re-open and re-activate this important and historic riverfront park.

■If no bids or proposals are received again to this site’s third consecutive request for proposals, then restore the historic house, improve the property and re-open the entire Fort Dallas Park.

Brett Bibeau, river commission managing director, was to present the vote and conditions in a letter to the city’s Historic and Environmental Preservation Board, which planned to discuss the historic property Tuesday.

Warren Adams, the city’s new historic preservation officer, told river commission members that he and the preservation board will be involved in the request for proposals process.

Mr. Adams said his department welcomes appropriate development of the park – a use that works well with a restored historical structure.

A main goal is to reopen the house and views to the river, he said.

City officials had reported to a river commission subcommittee that the structural analysis of the house was delayed when a possible asbestos issue was found. The committee was told the city needs an asbestos survey prior to Douglas Wood and Associates completing the structural analysis, and remediation work may be necessary.

For many years, seafood restaurant Bijan’s operated from a commercial building under a lease with the city. Litigation and allega-

Photo by John Charles Robbins

The house is the last known building associated with Henry Flagler.

tions of unpaid rent ensued and the eatery eventually closed. The legal fights are over but the park’s fate remains uncertain.

For the most part, the park has been blocked off and forgotten, attracting trash and the homeless.

The river commission has pushed the city for years to clean up and improve the park for public use.

A previous request for letters of interest and a request for proposals from potential operators of the property attracted no responses.

Renewed interest in the riverfront venue was spurred on by an unsolicited proposal in June 2017 by a company calling itself Sanctus Spiritus Hospitality LLC. The original unsolicited proposal came in a June 30 letter from Luis Esqueda to Daniel Rotenberg, director of the city’s Department of Real Estate and Asset Management.

That letter touted construction of a flagship restaurant with seating for at least 250, redevelopment of the historic house and capital improvements to the property.

By the time the unsolicited proposal reached the city commission for review in October, the offer had been modified somewhat but the basic idea remained.

In remarks to city commissioners Oct. 26, Ron Rick III said Sanctus Spiritus Hospitality wanted to clean up the site and redevelop it into “a modern urban city center” centered on a restaurant.

City commissioners generally liked the idea and voted to begin step one of a long process to review the proposal.

It was forwarded to these city boards for review and input: Historic and Environmental Preservation Board, Water Advisory Board, Miami River Commission and Miami Downtown Development Authority.

The process has resulted in city staff crafting a new formal request for proposals to redevelop the site, as the commission’s directive asked each board to consider what’s best for the property and weigh in on a scoring system for prospective developers or partners.

If commissioners accept a plan

to redevelop the park, a vote of city residents may be required as well, because it’s city-owned waterfront property.

Fort Dallas Park was established in 1897 by the Florida East Coast Railway. It was designated a city park in 1983.

The park came up in recent talks about redevelopment of nearby city-owned riverfront that’s home to a Hyatt Regency hotel and the James L. Knight Convention Center. Hyatt has proposed a major redevelopment but wants a new lease and control of the convention center.

City Commissioner Ken Russell had suggested a master plan for the entire riverfront, including the hotel and convention site and Fort Dallas Park.

Hurricane Irma destroyed a city dock hugging the shore of the park.

The city is seeking assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to rebuild the dock.

River commission members learned Monday that the city is seeking a state grant to help build new dockage at the hotel and convention center property.

A Singular Voice in an Evolving City

Phone: (305) 358-2663 Staff Writers:

Gabi Maspons gmaspons@miamitodaynews.com John Charles Robbins jrobbins@miamitodaynews.com Katya Maruri kmaruri@miamitodaynews.com Sara Marino smarino@miamitodaynews.com People Column people@miamitodaynews.com Michael Lewis mlewis@miamitodaynews.com

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VIEWPOINT

MIAMI TODAY

WEEK OF THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2018

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

Ethics study shows that county officials are short-changed An ethics commission study unveils new proof that salaries for Miami-Dade County’s commissioners and mayor are badly distorted.

Not that we needed proof that 13 commissioners who get Michael Lewis $6,000 full time to spend $7 billion a year are vastly underpaid. It’s unfair and unwise on its face.

But the Miami-Dade County Commission on Ethics and Public Trust, by studying pay in our 34 municipal governments as well as the county, created a valuable yardstick to compare data across governments varying widely in size. Startling results show that even the county mayor at $150,000 a year lags behind payouts in 22 of our far-smaller municipalities.

The key to the analysis is to set aside personalities, accomplishments and politics and focus on pay based on responsibilities. It’s easy to list shortcomings or achievements of any officeholder as evidence that the individual is either overpaid or underpaid in relation to accomplishments.

The trick is look at the job itself and try to set fair compensation based on our electing the right person, the job’s responsibilities and what others playing similar roles receive.

As we’ve said for years, our county commissioners deserve far more than a salary set in 1957 and never raised as the job has escalated. Commissioners in Florida’s other large counties get $99,997 by statute, but we opted out and stuck instead to our shameful $6,000.

The ethics commission’s study merely reinforces that finding. More than half of our 34 municipalities pay commissioners more than the county does, and all are part-time jobs. The top five are Miami at $58,200, North Miami at $47,910, Medley $39,652, Coral Gables at $31,076 and Bal Harbour at $24,000.

Of course, by population the county at 2.7 million is larger than any of its component municipalities. As a yardstick, Medley has 1,100 residents, Bal Harbour 3,050.

The inequities are so clear that County Commissioner Dennis Moss has promised legislation to set up an independent team to review what the county pays.

A focal point will be the mayor’s role.

Incumbent Carlos Giménez wants his salary restored. In hard times he voluntarily cut his predecessor’s $300,000 salary in half and in better times wants it back.

But it’s not clear who gets to do that.

Mr. Moss wants voters to create the independent team to set new pay levels. That could wind up on the November ballot.

If it does, the team will find that the county mayor is being paid far less than peers in 22 of our 34 municipalities – all of them vastly smaller governments than the county. That finding is the biggest eyeopener from the ethics commission study.

It’s not that the person titled “mayor” in 22 municipalities gets paid more than the county mayor does. Only two mayors get more, in Florida City (population 12,078) at $176,155 and in Medley (Population 1,100) $187,152. The mayor

L etters 2013 mayoral campaign featured aerial cable line

Your article about a cable proposed transit system has one glaring error in it. The idea is not new (“At least it’s new.”).

There is nothing new about this idea, and I’m surprised you didn’t mention my plan in your article. Not only did I propose this as the marquee part of my mayoral platform in 2013, but I had Sir Richard Branson’s support and pledge to finance its entire construction. Further, it was written about multiple times in the Herald, and even in the Huffington Post.

Lastly, I produced a very expensive video rendering of what it would look like with an award-winning visual effects artist.

All of my plans, videos, renderings and even music videos are still up on my website.

Perhaps you should give credit where credit is due.

Steve Berke

to the

of Hialeah also gets $150,000.

But mayors in most of the communities aren’t managing the government and staff day to day as Mr. Giménez does. The county’s mayor is one of five in Miami-Dade termed strong mayor – meaning not only are they the top elected official but they run the staff, as the mayors of Florida City, Medley, Hialeah and Hialeah Gardens do.

In the other municipalities the manager is paid the top salary to run things.

Of the 30 municipal managers, 20 get more than the county mayor, who not only does the manager’s job but also leads government politically. In MiamiDade’s county hall, the mayor is also the manager.

Among pure managers, Miami Beach City Manager Jimmy Morales, a former county commissioner, receives most, $282,535. Next is the new City of Miami Manager Emilio González, a former county airport director, at $265,000.

He’s followed by Aventura’s manager at $252,000, North Miami’s at $240,000 and Sunny Isles Beach’s at $232,557.

It’s much smarter to hire and fairly pay a professional manager to run a government than to elect a person who must be both a political leader and a professional

E ditor

How to Write

Letters for publication may be sent to the Editor, Miami Today, 2000 S. Dixie Hwy, Suite 100, Miami, FL 33133 or email to letters@miamitodaynews.com.

Letters may be condensed for space.

After years, Miami looks at Watson Island income

It is so interesting that the Miami City Commission is just now looking for “money-making ventures” [on Watson Island].

It allowed prime land to remain fallow for almost 20 years (Flagstone). It then allowed Jungle Island’s previous owner, Bern Levine, to be bought out by new developers without paying ALL the

monies owed to the city/ county/ state. It almost allowed Jungle Island to “expand its leasehold footprint” right over a viable Miami Yacht Club youth sailing program/ Japanese Garden/ boat ramp – until the community was informed and that idea died. It almost gave it to developer Jorge Perez/ Related until a lawsuit was filed regarding a traffic study.

This public land was deeded to the citizens of Miami. Put the parking lots back in and return it to a park, charging $4 per car like the other parks do, and allow all of us to enjoy one of the last open pieces of waterfront land not given to developers.

We do not need any more bottleneck traffic across our causeways. The semitrucks coming out of the tunnel now provide enough of this in westbound traffic.

Allow the citizens of this county some quality of life improvements – starting with the waterfront.

Tamme Flood

leader of staff who executes the policy set by others. It’s nearly impossible to do both jobs to the optimal level, and roles sometimes conflict.

But Miami-Dade today is stuck with a job that combines the conflicting roles.

We did and still do oppose it. But voters ordered it. So the mayor is also the manager and should be paid fairly for full-time management of a budget that’s larger than in many nations.

It’s clear that when 20 municipal managers receive more than the person who manages the entire county, we have an upside down pay scale.

We await Commissioner Moss’s legislation to set the wheels turning on a salary review whose results would be enacted under the county charter. That needed action would benefit mightily from the ethics commission’s salary review.

A team of $6,000 commissioners working with a $150,000 mayor-manager is unlikely to yield the best results for county taxpayers. It’s a structure built for less.

The county will change markedly in 2020 when the mayor and six commissioners leave because of term limits.

We’ll want the best candidates to run.

But at $6,000 few top-level residents will seek and then really work full time at a full-time commission job. And to show the distortion in pay, 20 top local municipal managers would have to take pay cuts to manage the county plus act as mayor.

The county is lucky that so few commissioners have augmented a $6,000 salary in the wrong way and that Mr. Giménez was once a Miami city manager as well as a county commissioner.

We’re unlikely to duplicate that resume – certainly not at $150,000, far below a manager’s pay in small cities, as the ethics commission’s study proves.

If voters enact an independent salaries study, it’s unlikely new salaries could kick in before 2020. While that’s not fair to those now in office, it’s smart to start a whole new salaries scale with those elected in 2020. That wouldn’t be self-serving for most present officials, although several may run for mayor, so one might benefit.

The faster we move on officials’ pay the better. The less we pay, the fewer qualified candidates for office we get.

If you like the present crop of officials, pay them fairly. If you don’t, pay fairly to get a better crop to run. It’s fair to them, and to us.

miamitodaynews.com FOUNDED JUNE 2, 1983 VOLUME XXXV No. 37 ENTIRE CONTENTS © 2018

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MIAMI TODAY

WEEK OF THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2018

TODAY’S NEWS

Commission overrules mayor, upsizes his courthouse plan

By Gabi Maspons

After Mayor Carlos Giménez asked his administration to reduce the cost and scope of a new county civil courthouse, MiamiDade commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday to approve the original master plan for the courthouse, rejecting Mr. Giménez’s recommendation.

“Today is a great day,” said Chief Judge Bertila Soto of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida at the commission meeting. “I cannot thank you enough. I’ve been saying there is an urgent need for four years, but today I feel like there’s a plan.”

The original master plan called for 600,000 square feet with 26 floors, costing an estimated $361 million. Mr. Giménez requested the administration cut the cost of the courthouse by $87 million, reducing the footprint to 525,000 feet with 20 floors.

At the Chairman’s Policy Council last month, Internal Services Director Tara Smith said the reduced scope of the courthouse would not affect its impact and would save the county money.

“This still allows us to immediately build 47 jury and non-jury courtrooms and expand the space to 55 courtrooms by 2035,” Ms. Smith said, “which exceeds the 52 courtrooms recommended by the master plan.”

Judge Soto told Miami Today this week that the mayor’s amended scope would slice the number of jury rooms in half.

“There are jury rooms and litigation spaces,” Judge Soto said, distinguishing between the two. “One of ISD’s suggestions was to build half of the jury-ready courtrooms and half not. Instead of the full

46 jury-ready courtrooms, half would have been hearing rooms.”

Though she wants the courthouse to be equipped with all of the latest technology, Judge Soto told Miami Today the number of jury rooms the county needs won’t be changing any time soon.

“The one thing unlikely to be affected is the constitutional right to a jury trial,” Judge Soto said, which requires a “live process and a live courtroom.”

Harvey Ruvin, the clerk of the courts, agreed with Judge Soto at the meeting, advocating for the commissioners to vote on the original master plan. Mr. Ruvin’s offices are at the existing courthouse site.

“I feel the same passion for the courthouse,” Mr. Ruvin said. “This is the people’s courthouse and we bring in over 1 million people a year through those courts and over 15,000 a year for jury duty.”

Mr. Ruvin reminded commissioners the county spent over $1 million on the master plan, “not counting the countless hours.”

“We need to keep faith with the master plan because we don’t want to build a building that will be obsolete within three years of being built.”

Judge Soto told Miami Today the new site has to be built soon as the current building is in perpetual disrepair.

“In the meantime we are dumping millions and millions of dollars into 73 W Flagler in a building that is too small and technologically impaired,” she said. “The need is established and the longer we’re there, the more money the county has to spend.”

The existing Dade County Courthouse on Flagler Street was begun in 1925, when

the county had only about 100,000 residents compared to today’s 2.7 million. The courthouse has long been deteriorating and is far smaller than is now needed. Its replacement has been debated at the county for years.

Judge Soto told Miami Today the courthouse needs to move forward quickly, and the master plan is the best option.

“If we minimized the footprint, we would be bidding against ourselves,” Judge Soto said. “We’re not just designing this for the next ten years. We think that the private sector will produce efficiencies,” Judge Soto said. “Let’s see what the market says before we undercut our own efforts.”

Commissioner Daniella Levine Cava asked Ms. Smith why commissioners needed to vote on the master plan immediately and not wait.

“It will allow us to move the project forward efficiently,” Ms. Smith said. “The RFP [request for proposals] is going to require a lot of work from myself and the stakeholders to decide on the size, shape and what the building will look like, and I want a smooth transition between the RFQ [request for qualifications] and RFP. Whether unsolicited or through the RFQ, there has to be a decision made about this courthouse,” Ms. Smith said.

Against the advice of Ms. Smith, commissioners last month decided to pursue a dual-track method when they issued an RFQ while an unsolicited proposal was already under review.

Under new legislation sponsored by Commissioner Jose “Pepe” Diaz last year, the administration has 30 days to respond to an unsolicited proposal. The

Public Notice

mayor can then take another 90 days to review the proposal and open it up to additional bidders.

Ms. Smith recommended to the commissioners last month that they wait for a response on the unsolicited proposal before issuing an RFQ, as it would be confusing to the market to have two options to bid on.

Commissioners instead voted to move forward with the dual track, issuing the RFQ last week.

Commissioner Rebeca Sosa said she was tired of the county delaying items and not taking action, and asked the county attorneys when the mayor is set to give a decision on the unsolicited proposal.

“If we don’t establish timelines, then we are in the same conversation three months later,” Ms. Sosa said.

County attorneys told Ms. Sosa that the administration has until Friday to decide if it would like to move forward with the unsolicited proposal and open it up to competition. The mayor then has an additional 90 days to review the proposal.

Ms. Heyman accepted an amendment from Ms. Sosa that reduced the mayor’s 90-day review to only 30 days.

Commissioners unanimously voted to keep the original master plan of the courthouse and expedite the process of the unsolicited proposal by reducing the mayor’s review time.

“We ask for the swiftest and most competitive process,” Judge Soto said. “This will be the people’s courthouse for the next 50-100 years, and today is the day that we begin building their courthouse.”

NOTICE IS GIVEN that meetings will be held before the following Committees on the dates stipulated below in the Commission Chambers, located on the Second Floor, of the Stephen P. Clark Center, 111 NW First Street, Miami, Florida, wherein, among other matters to be considered, a public hearing will be held relating to the following proposed ordinances/resolutions:

FIU hospitality school makes leadership shift

Housing and Social Services Committee (HSSC) Meeting – Monday, February 12, 2018, at 9:30 AM

By Sara Marino

• Ordinance relating to infill housing; creating an Infill Housing Initiative Multifamily Homeownership Demonstration Program; directing the County Mayor or County Mayor’s Designee to develop and implement guidelines for the program and to identify infill parcels suitable for the program; requiring restrictive covenants; providing sunset provision; requiring a report; creating Section 17-124.3 of the Code

FIU’s Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management appointed Michael Cheng interim dean last month as former Dean Mike Hampton returned to teaching.

“The previous dean stepped out to resume a profes- Michael Cheng sor position,” Mr. Cheng said. “The provost called me and I said OK; my interest has always been in competency-based learning.”

Prior to becoming interim dean, Mr. Cheng was a tenured associate professor at FIU with experience in food product development, introductory food science, restaurant development and other areas of food and beverage management.

Before FIU, he was the department chair at Southwest Minnesota State University.

“I was there for nine years and I started the hospitality program there as well,” Mr. Cheng said. “It’s nowhere near the size of what we have here in Miami.”

In terms of how Mr. Cheng is adjusting to the new position, he said “it’s wonderful.”

“It’s a very exciting job, not going to lie, there are a lot of great initiatives that the previous dean had, and what I want to focus on is to keep those initiatives alive and focus on the core of our school, which is hospitality.”

In the immediate future, Mr. Cheng said, his focus will be on making sure hospitality is the focus

Government Operations Committee (GOC) Meeting – Tuesday, February 13, 2018, at 1:30 PM • Ordinance relating to Contractor Certificates of Competency; modifying the requirements for exemption from continuing education requirements for renewals by persons who have reached the age of 65 years; modifying the condition that the person has never been found guilty of criminal or civil violation of laws governing the contracting profession to provide instead that the person not be found guilty of such violation during a certain period immediately preceding the application for exemption; amending Section 10-13 of the Code • Ordinance relating to environmental protection; creating definition for well stimulation, which includes but is not limited to fracking; revising environmental operating permit criteria; prohibiting certain facilities from conducting well stimulation or the receipt, storage, treatment, discharge, or disposal of waste or wastewater generated from well stimulation or ancillary or associated activities; prohibiting the issuance of certain permits; amending Sections 24-5 and 24-18 of the Code Parks and Cultural Affairs Committee (PCAC) Meeting – Wednesday, February 14, 2018, at 9:30 AM • Ordinance relating to Special Taxing Districts; providing for the merger of contiguous Street Lighting Special Taxing Districts under certain circumstances; creating Section 18-3.2 of the Code Transportation and Public Works Committee (TPWC) Meeting – Thursday, February 15, 2018, at 9:30 AM • Resolution approving the FY 2018-23 update of the five year People’s Transportation Plan (PTP) Implementation Plan Economic Development and Tourism Committee (EDTC)Meeting – Thursday, February 15, 2018, at 1:30 PM • Ordinance relating to Biscayne Bay Environmental Enhancement Trust Fund; allowing for funds from Biscayne Bay Environmental Enhancement Trust fund to be used for artificial reefs and mooring buoys in the coastal waters of MiamiDade County beyond Biscayne Bay; amending Section 24-40 of the Code All interested parties may appear and be heard at the time and place specified.

A person who decides to appeal any decision made by any board, agency, or commission with respect to any matter considered at its meeting or hearing, will need a record of proceedings. Such persons may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made, including the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be based.

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for students.

“We’re really looking at how our students learn, and how they prefer to learn today and what we need to do to adapt to their learning needs,” he said. “We have four generations of students and their learning needs are different.... A lot of them prefer to learn things sometimes faster than we can provide, so what I hope to do is be able to change our approach.”

The long-term goal, Mr. Cheng said, is to change the school’s “whole entire approach.”

“If we know the students are going to work in food and beverage, we need to make sure we’re getting them prepared before they ever go for their first interview,” he said. “In other words, I don’t want to have cookie-cutter curriculums. We want curriculums that are specific to what the students need in the industry they want.”

Currently, in order for students to graduate they have a 1,000-hour work requirement as well as a 300hour management requirement.

“What I want to do is find out what’s really crucial to the student and unbundle the whole thing,” Mr. Cheng said.

While Mr. Cheng said he’s enjoying his time as interim dean, he eventually does want to go back to teaching one class a semester.

“My immediate task is to create a strong foundation for whoever the permanent dean is going to be,” Mr. Cheng said. “There’s not really a rush. We don’t want to put ourselves in a rush and say we’ve got to fill this position by fall of 2018 or spring of 2019, and then when you do that and people are not the best, then you compromise.”

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WEEK OF THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2018

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TODAY’S NEWS

MIAMI TODAY

WEEK OF THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2018

County waives competitive bids for Underline management

By Gabi Maspons

Miami-Dade commissioners expedited the creation of the Underline this week by voting to waive competitive bidding procedures to grant The Underline Management Organization Inc. full responsibility to manage the right-of-way under the Metrorail.

“We complain a lot about how green spaces are not properly taken care of and it is an honor and a privilege to sponsor this item because it will make our community better,” said sponsoring commissioner Jean Monestime.

Joe Martinez was the only commissioner with reservations about the legislation waiving the competitive bidding requirement.

Mr. Martinez asked the percentage of the population that lives within the area of the underline.

Meg Daly, founder of Friends of the Underline, said about 100,000 residents live within one-third of a mile, or a ten-minute walk, of the Underline.

“The passion and knowledge they display is beyond,” Mr. Martinez said, “but I am concerned

about the cost.”

Ms. Daly said the ten miles would cost about $100 million and county would be committing to about $6 million.

Mr. Monestime pointed out that the county is by no means the prime investor in the linear park.

The county is to pay $35,888.26 per mile per year for the maintenance of the Underline, while the overall cost per mile is about $10 million.

“The county is putting a minuscule amount of the money and that’s why I took interest,” Mr. Monestime said. “It’s a wonderful vision they have put together. They have raised the funds and if their creation falls into the hands of others, the focus is lost.”

Mr. Monestime said he usually doesn’t support these types of items, but the Underline is an exception.

“When it comes to waiving competitive bidding, I usually don’t associate, but as a first-class city we have to make first-class decisions,” Mr. Monestime said.

The legislation waives all competitive bid procedures on the underline, granting The Underline Management Organization Inc. the

Meg Daly told commissioners 100,000 people live near the Underline.

right to manage, operate, maintain and serve as the county’s marketing partner for the linear park, the legislation says.

Mr. Monestime said the Underline mirrors many other “great cities” that have created linear parks and this is the one of many steps to keep the county green for residents and visitors.

The Underline is not only a resource to county residents, Mr. Monestime said, but will also be-

come a “green oasis” that attracts tourists in the future.

The Underline consists of “improvement and programming” for the 10-mile corridor within the Metrorail right-of-way from the Miami River north of the Brickell Metrorail Station to the Dadeland South Metrorail Station.

The legislation says that the Underline will create a “heavily landscaped, attractive recreational amenity underneath the elevated

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guideway of the Metrorail.”

The concept of creating a green linear park under the Metrorail is not novel, but was conceived when the Metrorail was first developed, the legislation says.

The Underline is to enhance the bicycle and pedestrian pathway, add native landscaping, lighting, signage, drainage and recreational facilities. It is also to have amenities and recreation-related concessions, the legislation says.

Commissioner Dennis Moss waived his hands in support of the legislation.

At the transportation and public works committee meeting last month Mr. Moss said the county needs to be maintaining more green spaces.

“To me, aesthetics are important,” Mr. Moss said last month. “We keep saying we want to be a world-class community, but we look like a thirdworld country because we don’t maintain our roadways and major gateways.”

Mr. Moss has long been a defender of creating more green spaces in the county and thanked Ms. Daly for “being a champion” of the underline project.

Commissioner Bruno Barreiro expressed his support for the Underline, saying the impact figures are conservative.

“I have to believe that the residents affected are well over 100,000,” Mr. Barreiro said. “The population in this corridor is growing and the figures are changing.”

The need for the park is clear and it is “crucial” that the county stay actively involved throughout the project, Mr. Barreiro said.

Commissioner Jose “Pepe” Diaz said the Underline is “huge” for Miami-Dade County and will become a resource for all residents.

“Everybody has participated in making this happen,” Mr. Diaz said.

The City of Miami has contributed $50 million and the Underline continues to lobby for more money, he said.

Commissioner Sally Heyman said that the Underline is not only aesthetically beneficial to the community, but also enhances mobility and connectivity.

“It’s not your usual bicycle trail, but has many features and activities that will make it a world-class destination,” Ms. Heyman said.

Ms. Heyman said her husband was recently struck by a hit-and-run driver while cycling and was lucky to have only hurt his arm.

“We have one of the highest rates of pedestrian bicycle deaths in this country,” Ms. Heyman said. “It’s expensive because it’s important.”

Stuart Blumberg, director emeritus of the Performing Arts Center, advocated for Ms. Daly, quoting her father, who passed away this year: “Parker Thomson [Ms. Daly’s father] stood at this podium with me while we talked about the vision of the Performing Arts Center. He said, ‘if you dream it, you can do it and if it’s easy, then it’s not worth it.’ Here Meg is 26 years later and she’s dreaming it and she can do it,” Mr. Blumberg said. “This is an unbelievable project for the county and a legacy that will last forever.”

The commissioners unanimously passed the legislation, granting the Underline Management Organization the right to manage, operate, maintain and serve as the county’s marketing partner.

12

MIAMI TODAY

TODAY’S NEWS

WEEK OF THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2018

Boat show alters ways it gets guests to events

By Katya Maruri

With the 77th annual Miami International Boat Show around the corner, transportation options such as water taxis and shuttle buses from Downtown Miami to Virginia Key will be offered to guests as part of the show’s enhanced transportation plan, according to show manager Larry Berryman.

“This year we have really focused our efforts on creating a dynamic transportation plan,” he said. “During the past couple of years over 50,000 attendees have traveled back and forth to the show using water taxis.”

As a result, he said, “this year we decided to have stops located at Bayfront Park and the AmericanAirlines Arena, which has a decent-size boat slip.”

The free water taxi pick-up and drop-off locations, which will be at both water taxi locations, Mr.

Berryman said, will begin operating at 9 a.m., one hour before the show opens, and conclude at 7 p.m., one hour after the show closes.

Water taxi locations include: ■Bayfront Park, 100 Chopin Plaza ■AmericanAirlines Arena, 601 Biscayne Blvd.

In addition, he said, the water taxis, which will be provided by Mike Simpson, the president of Island Queen Cruises, will offer guests an extensive range of vessels to choose from to get to and from the show, with boats ranging from 30 to 100 feet.

As for other transportation options, he said, “we will also have complimentary shuttle buses, which are provided by Hello!

Florida, running to and from the parking hub in downtown Miami at the AmericanAirlines Arena, getting more people to and from the show in less time.”

77-year-old Miami International Boat Show will spend its third year at marine stadium on Virginia Key.

Other locations that the shuttle buses will run from include: ■Lot A - Arthur Lamb Jr. Road & Rickenbacker Causeway, Virginia Key ■Lot B - Historic Virginia Key Beach, 4020 Virginia Beach Drive, Virginia Key ■Lot C - Seaquarium, 4400 Rickenbacker Causeway, Virginia Key All shuttle buses, Mr. Berryman said, will run all show days from 9 a.m.-7 p.m.

“Lots A and B are our primary lots and cost $35 to park at,” he said. “We will also have FreeBees, which are electric golf carts, transporting guests from the parking lots directly to the entrance of the show.”

Parking at Lot C, which is one of the show’s preferred lots, he said, costs $50, while Lot D, which is run by valet and located next to the Miami Marine Stadium at Whiskey Joe’s Bar & Grill at 3301

Rickenbacker Causeway, costs $100 for valet parking.

“At the end of the day, it’s all about convenience,” he said. “All transportation options are free and of no charge. All you need to do is just show your ticket and you can hop one of our water taxis or shuttle buses and enjoy the show.”

Details: http://www.miamiboatshow.com/.

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Sandy Lighterman cites projects.

TV series pilot may film here

By Katya Maruri

With MTV’s “I Am Frankie” expected to shoot in Miami sometime in March or April, Sandy Lighterman, the film and entertainment commissioner at the Miami-Dade Office of Film & Entertainment, looks to add the potential filming of a pilot for a TV series to the February agenda.

“In February the pilot for a TV show is hoping to be filmed here,” she said, “so that’s a possibility.”

“I Am Frankie,” which gained funding under Miami-Dade County’s film incentive program, is planning to film its second season in Miami after considering different locations during its first season, she said.

The 20-episode MTV Networks Latin America television series continuation received $100,000, which is the maximum incentive under Miami-Dade County’s new film incentive program.

As for other projects currently being filmed in Miami, she said, “a smaller indie has been shooting in town called Hurican, which can’t qualify for our incentive program because their spending is less than $1 million.”

However, she said, “we are working on a couple of movies to shoot later in the year, but those aren’t secured yet. We are very busy with TV commercials too.”

MIAMI TODAY

WEEK OF THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2018

13

Coconut Grove Restaurants-marina-retail mix soon to remake waterfront

By John Charles Robbins

The Chart House restaurant, a fixture of the Coconut Grove waterfront for more than 30 years, is history and the long-awaited redevelopment of the site is scheduled to begin in just a few weeks.

Litigation caused years of delay for The Harbour project, and Hurricane Irma was the latest challenge to mess with the plans in September.

But once demolition workers were done with Irma clean-up, they assembled again on the waterfront late last year and tore down the long-closed restaurant in preparation for construction of the multi-million dollar mixed-use development from Grove Bay Hospitality Group.

Company co-founder and CEO Ignacio Garcia-Menocal said this week the project is ready to go.

“We will begin construction on the site right after Coconut Grove Arts Festival,” he said.

The festival runs Feb. 17-19 and typically fills the waterfront with thousands of artists, craftsmen and art patrons.

The Harbour is to include two

Construction is to start on The Harbour immediately after the Coconut Grove Arts Festival ends Feb. 19.

upscale chef-driven restaurants, an expansive and elevated indoor/ outdoor event space overlooking Biscayne Bay, a casual outdoor restaurant with an entertainment area, a marina with 400 boat slips, a public baywalk with new floating docks and finger piers, retail shops geared to serve the marine community and local neighborhood needs, and a public

mini-park.

The plan is to remake the waterfront in an area that for years was home to Scotty’s Landing and The Chart House restaurants.

In the summer of 2013, the Miami City Commission agreed to lease about 7 waterfront acres to Grove Bay Investment Group LLC for $1.8 million annually upon completion, and the com-

mitment to invest millions for privately-funded improvements to redevelop a marina, construct restaurants, improve the baywalk, fund part of the parking garage and make other improvements.

City voters approved the plan in November 2013. Litigation stalled the project for more than two years.

The public-private project to

redevelop the city-owned waterfront north and east of Miami City Hall includes the realignment of Charthouse Drive to open up views of Biscayne Bay. A major component of The Harbour will be Grove Bay Garage, built and operated by the Miami Parking Authority, under the control of the city’s Off-Street Parking Board.

The Grove Bay group is contributing $4 million toward construction of the garage.

The public parking facility was redesigned, after bids came in more than double what was expected.

One major change will lower it from three levels to two, according to Authority CEO Art Noriega. Even with one less level, Mr. Noriega said, interior changes should result in about the same number of parking spaces: 333.

The garage will be framed by ground floor retail spaces.

The parking board in December authorized Mr. Noriega to execute a construction service agreement with Munilla Construction Management (MCM) to build the facility at a cost up to $13.7 million.

55th arts festival deletes carnival aspect, adds family zone

By Katya Maruri

The Coconut Grove Arts Festival returns next week for its 55th year, highlighting the works of 380 internationally recognized artists during its annual threeday festival.

This year’s art show will include works in mixed media, paintings, photography, digital art, printmaking & drawing, watercolor, clay works, glass, fiber, jewelry & metalwork, sculpture and wood pieces, according to the festival’s website.

“To determine, which artists are going to be in this year’s show we used an online database to review artists’ submissions,” said Katrina Delgado, art curator for the Coconut Grove Arts Festival. “Each artist created a Zapplication profile and uploaded images of their art so that it could be reviewed by the judges.”

“Over 11,000 to 15,000 applicants apply yearly,” said Monty Trainer, president of the Coconut Grove Art Festival, which is narrowed down to 380 artists by five judges over a two-day period.

On the first day of judging, Ms. Delgado said, “2D works, paintings, watercolors and photography were reviewed, and on the second day wood, clay and sculpture pieces were reviewed by five judges.”

The judges, she said, “have no idea who the artists are and are solely judging the art based on their first impressions.”

‘We have done away with the ziplines, rides and bounce houses and are going to have a very active kids area.’

Monty Trainer

The Coconut Grove Arts Festival will feature the work of 380 artists during the three-day presentation.

In addition to all of the art, this year’s festival will once again utilize Art Express buses as one of its main transportation options, Mr. Trainer said.

Guests can take the Metrorail and arrive at the Douglas Road station at 3060 SW 37th Court and get picked up by the Art Express bus, which will take guests to and from the festival.

Another transportation service available for guests is the green mobility free bike valet.

Last year 230 to 300 bikes used the valet service, said Mr.

Trainer, who expects to double last year’s numbers at this year’s festival.

As for what else is new at this year’s show, Mr. Trainer said, “our poster this year, which was created by pop artist Hector Prado, is all about the ‘age of empowerment of women,’ which we think will be a great addition to the show.”

Also, he said, “we have expanded our family fun zone to encompass all of Regatta Park, which is sponsored by Mayfair in the Grove and presented by

At least $20,000 in scholarship support is presented to 20 graduating seniors from local public magnet arts high schools each year, he said. “In fact, last year marked the 25th anniversary of the Arts Festival’s scholarship program for talented art students in Miami-Dade County.”

This year’s festival will take place Feb. 17-19, with tickets ranging downwards from $12 per person per day. A one-day pass for residents costs $5 and a family package for two adults and two children 12 years old and under costs $20.

FPL.” “We have done away with the ziplines, rides and bounce houses and are going to have a very active kids area,” Mr. Trainer said. “The festival was becoming too much of a carnival and not enough of an art show.”

Children will be able to participate in hands-on activities with the Miami FC soccer team, the Miami Marlins and more.

As for how the proceeds from the festival are utilized, Mr. Details: http://www.cgaf.

Trainer said, “all profits go back com/. into scholarships.”

24

WEEK OF THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2018

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