Miami Today: Week of Thursday, November 9, 2017

2017 Book of Leaders honoree Kurt Wagar receives a plaque memorializing his service as the US ambassador to Singapore from Michael and Carmen Betancourt-Lewis of Miami Today and Angel Medina Jr., president and CEO of Gibraltar Private Bank & Trust.

2017 honorees Ben Solomon, managing partner, ALG and Solomon, Furshman & Cooperman LLP, and Germany’s Consul General 2017 honoree Annette Alvarez, executive Annette Klein, with Turkey’s Consul General Burç Ceylan and director of Global Ties Miami, with Aymee Michael C. Sontag, executive vice president and general consul and secretary of Gibraltar Private Bank & Trust.

Zubizarreta of the zubizarretA group.

T h e Bo ok

Lisa Moore Brayer, Northern Trust executive vice president; former television news executive Judith Bishop; artist Sheila Elias; and luxury real estate specialist Macarena Uzcátegui Spittler.

2017 honoree attorney Julie Braman Kane, partner in Colson Hicks Eidson, with Miami Today’s Carmen Betancourt-Lewis and Angel Medina Jr., president and CEO of Gibraltar Private Bank & Trust Co.

of

Natasha Lowell, First National Bank of South Miami private banking manager; Jack Lowell, Colliers International executive vice president for Miami and Coconut Grove, and Miami Today VP Carmen Betancourt-Lewis.

Unveiling

L e a ders

Honoree Andrew Frey, principal of Tecela, with Miami Today’s Michael Lewis.

L. Robert Elias of The Elias Law Firm, honoree Carole Ann Taylor of Miami To Go and Little Havana To Go Marketplace, honoree Suzanne Batlle of Azucar Ice Cream Co., and Andy de la Fuente.

Global Brand Equity Solutions founder Jorge Galbis, Miami Today VP Carmen Betancourt-Lewis, Daniela Galbis, and Miami Today’s Michael Lewis.

Carmen Cason; 2017 honoree Gloria Marina Bellelli, consul general of Italy in Miami; and Hulvia Vidal, Keller Williams real estate agent in Miami and Puerto Rico.

2017 honoree Kathleen Moorman, corporate vice president of real estate for Baptist Health South Florida, with her plaque, Joining her are Michael and Carmen Betancourt-Lewis of Miami Today and Angel Medina Jr. of Gibraltar Private Bank & Trust.

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2017 honoree Maureen Gragg, president of Funding Arts Network, with Miami Today’s Carmen Betancourt-Lewis and Gibraltar Private’s President Angel Medina Jr.

MiaMiToday

Under the stars, guests applaud achievers of Book of Leaders 2017 Alejandra Collarte, director of international relations for university advancement at the University of Miami, and Book of Leaders 2017 honoree Steven Marcus, president and CEO of the Health Foundation of South Florida.

Lior Haiat, consul general of Israel in Miami; 2017 Book of Leaders honoree Annette Klein, consul general of Germany in Miami; and Ariel RomanHarris, director of media & cultural affairs for the Israeli consulate.

Honoree Suzanne Batlle, founder of Azucar Ice Cream Co., receives plaque from Miami Today’s Michael and Carmen Betancourt-Lewis and Angel Medina Jr., president and CEO of sponsoring Gibraltar Private Bank & Trust.

Veronica Birch Flores, executive vice president of First National Bank of South Miami, and Pedro Flores.

Past honoree Circuit Judge Celeste Hardee Muir and her daughter Jane Muir, partner in the Phillips & Muir law firm.

Past Book of Leaders honorees Ron Shuffield, president of EWM Realty International; Mike Carricarte, senior vice president of Pan-American Life Insurance Group; and Robert Berkowitz, president of Multivision Video & Film.

Under the stars and clear skies, 200 invited guests last week saluted the 52 community leaders who are featured in the 2017 Book of Leaders, which compiles a full year of Achiever profiles that are a hallmark of Miami Today.

Business, civic and government leaders – many of whom were recognized as Achievers in past years – gathered on the terrace of Gibraltar Private Bank & Trust at 55 Alhambra Plaza in Coral Gables to mingle with this year’s honorees. Nearly 1,800 leaders have been recognized since 1983.

Before the evening’s lavish buffet and cocktails, the awardees gathered for a private champagne reception in the penthouse to receive mementoes of the evening: engraved metal plaques of their profile articles from Miami Today publishers and Gibraltar Private Bank & Trust President and CEO Angel Medina Jr. Everyone left with a copy of the 21th annual Book of Leaders, the 248-page book that serves as a who’s who of Miami leaders and lists all Newsmakers and Achievers since 1983.

“We are proud to honor these stellar individuals,” said Miami Today Publisher Michael Lewis. “These leaders have done so much for this community and will do even more in the future.”

Copies of the 2017 Book of Leaders are available at www.miamitodaynews.com or by calling (305) 358-2663.

Miami Commissioner Frank Carollo; host Angel Medina Jr., president and CEO of Gibraltar Private Bank & Trust; and Jorge Martinez, vice president of the Conroy Martinez Group.

Deborah and James W. Davidson, chairman of the Coral Gables Trust Co. and a 2017 Book of Leaders honoree.

2017 Book of Leaders honoree Gandy Thomas, consul general of Haiti, with 2016 honoree Franz Hall, consul general of Jamaica.

Coral Gables Mayor Raul Valdes-Fauli with his predecessor as mayor, James Cason.

Miami Today Publisher Michael Lewis, honoree and County Commissioner Daniella Levine Cava, and Gibraltar Private Bank & Trust President and CEO Angel Medina Jr.

Puerto Rico business owner Felipe Vidal, Miami Today Vice President Carmen Betancourt-Lewis and 2017 honoree architect Bernard Zyscovich.

Veronica Pimstein of V. Pimstein Creative Direction, Camillus House VP for Marketing & Comwith Carlos and 2017 honoree Ramona Messore, gen- munications Sam Gil and its CEO Hilda Fereral manager of Saks Fifth Avenue-Brickell City Centre. nandez with 2017 honoree Steven Marcus.

2017 honoree Miami City Commissioner Ken Russell, Interaudi Bank Miami Branch President Nabil Achkar and Monaco’s Honorary Consul Tomas Abreu.

Photos by Sergio Alsina

Book of Leaders honorees Jay Pelham, president of TotalBank, and Ken Okaniwa, consul general of Japan, with Catherine Pelham.

Miami Today reporter Katya Maruri, Janel Allen of Prism Creative Group and Camila Cepero of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Miami, rear, and Miami Today’s Patricia Kierce, assistant to the vice president; reporter Gabi Maspons; and photographer Cristina Sullivan.

Gibraltar Private Bank & Trust executives Emilio Vazquez and Michael Goldberg, a past Book of Leaders honoree.

2017 honorees Aliette DelPozo Rodz, Shutts & Bowen partner and shareholder, and Aileen Bouclé, executive director of the Miami-Dade Transportation Planning Organization, with Aymee Zubizarreta of the zubizarretA group.

Philanthropists Trish and Dan Bell.

Miami Today’s Michael Lewis with John Murray, provost of Barry University and 2017 honoree.

BOOK OF LEADERS HONOREES 2017: JUAN ACOSTA · LUIS DE LA AGUILERA · STEVEN M. ALTSCHULER · ANNETTE G. ALVAREZ · SUZANNE BATLLE · GLORIA MARINA BELLELLI · AILEEN BOUCLÉ · JULIE BRAMAN KANE · ANA-MARIE CODINA BARLICK · IRA COLEMAN · ISABEL COSIO CARBALLO · MEG DALY · JAMES W. DAVIDSON · TRIPP DAVIS · ALIETTE DELPOZO RODZ · OSCAR FELDENKREIS · WALTER J. FOEMAN JR. · LAURENT FRATICELLI · JULIO FRENK · ANDREW FREY · CAROLINA GARCIA JAYARAM · MAUREEN GRAGG · JAMES R. HAJ · TINA D. HOWELL · ANNETTE KLEIN · CAROL KRUSE · DANIELLA LEVINE CAVA · ROBERT F. LEWIS · DIEGO LOWENSTEIN · STEVEN MARCUS · MARTIN MENDEZ · RAMONA MESSORE · JOSH MOODY · KATHLEEN MOORMAN · JOHN MURRAY · KEN OKANIWA · JAY PELHAM · JUAN PEREZ · MIKE REININGER · KEN RUSSELL · ELLEN SALPETER · BEN SOLOMON · FRANK STESLOW · CAROLE ANN TAYLOR · GANDY THOMAS · KURT TIDD · SCHEFFER TSENG · KIRK WAGAR · TERI WILLIAMS · JAMES WOLFE · MICHAEL ZINNER · BERNARD ZYSCOVICH

WEEK OF THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2017

TODAY’S NEWS

MIAMI TODAY

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Little Gables annexation at two years and talking

By Catherine Lackner

The Coral Gables City Commission was set to vote on the annexation of Little Gables Nov. 1, but because several people at a public meeting had questions, the vote was rescheduled for Nov. 14.

Another public meeting has been set at Coral Gables City Hall.

“Commissioners Frank Quesada and Michael Mena didn’t want to dismiss their concerns,” Karen Shane, president of the Little Gables Neighborhood Association, said Tuesday. It was also the will of the commission that there be a clear majority in favor, she added.

The push to annex Little Gables, an unincorporated neighborhood north of Coral Gables, began in earnest in late 2015, but it has been talked about even longer.

Voters in High Pines, an affluent neighborhood near South Miami, are also considering being annexed, but that is not as far along in the process.

At the Nov. 1 meeting, Mr. Mena posited that tax revenues from High Pines would offset additional expenses for extending services to Little Gables, and that the city should consider them as a package deal.

“I’m not comfortable proceeding with this tonight, especially as I’m not sure what the county is going to do with High Pines,” he said.

“If we wait for High Pines, I think that will kill the annexation,” said Mayor Raul Valdes-Fauli.

“I’ve been to the meetings, and even in that area they’re not sure what they want.” Nevertheless, the commission chose to defer the issue.

The office of Rebeca Sosa, county commissioner in whose district Little Gables lies, working with the county’s Elections

Department, sent out a survey to residents and absentee owners in the neighborhood to gauge interest. The majority – 68% – replied that they wanted to be part of Coral Gables.

“Following the survey, 24% of Little Gables voters submitted favorable petitions to the city, surpassing the county’s 20% requirement,” said Naomi Levi Garcia, government affairs manager for Coral Gables, last month. “Assessing resident support for annexation was a multi-step process.”

Little Gables, 205 acres in size, is south of Southwest Eighth Street between Graceland Memorial Park and Southwest 40th Avenue. High Pines (which includes Ponce Davis) comprises 675 acres and is southeast of the intersection of Sunset Drive (Southwest 72nd Street) and Red Road (Southwest 57th Avenue). While the population in each neighborhood is approximately 3,000, Little Gables has 1,624 voters, while High Pines has 2,382.

Those numbers are important because “they are the only ones able to vote” on annexation, Coral Gables Manager Cathy Swanson-Rivenbark has told the commission.

Surveys have not yet been circulated in High Pines.

Though Miami-Dade County first regarded them as a package deal, city officials have stressed that each area will be considered separately; if High Pines residents opt out, it would not interfere with the Little Gables annexation, they have said.

Noting that the Little Gables annexation was being discussed when he was in his first mayoral term (1993 to 2001), Mayor Valdes-Fauli told commissioners last month, “I look forward to welcoming Little Gables, as well as High Pines.”

Photo by Marcus Lim

Martine Vassal, Commissioner Rebeca Sosa, Mayor Jean-Claude Gaudin, Chairman Esteban Bovo Jr. and Commissioners Pepe Diaz and Jean Monestime at the signing of the sister city agreement Monday.

French team of 117 signs pact here

By Marcus Lim

Miami-Dade County has added a new partner, signing a sister city agreement with Aix-MarseilleProvence Metropolis, city of Marseille, France, on Monday to usher in a cooperation agreement where the two regions will begin a partnership for economic and tourism programs.

The signing came on the second day of a French delegation’s six-day trip that brought 117 participants, all from Marseille, including the mayor.

It was the largest delegation from abroad that Miami-Dade County has hosted, officials said.

“We work hard to engage our international partners, forge a friendship that goes long beyond a business, but in many cases, a personal relationship,” Esteban Bovo Jr., county commission chairman, said at the Stephen Clark Government Center where the signing took place. “We want to have good business, good economic opportunities between our two cities.”

The official visit is a direct result of a Miami-Dade business development mission to France in 2015. After visiting Marseille in the south of France, delegates felt a kinship with a city that excels in its port and tourism industry in Europe. They have

worked together ever since towards signing the sister city agreement.

The delegation came during the annual French Week, which aims to provide cultural awareness in Florida. Apart from a list of events, the French delegates’ visit was part of their city’s strategic international development to create opportunities in a new market. Mayor Jean-Claude Gaudin praised Florida for having the fourth-strongest economy in the US. “We want to develop close collaboration on industries that can benefit us both,” Mr. Gaudin said.

“We have strategic sectors we can work together on that will have high potential for both of us.”

Both areas excel in similar economic sectors. Marseille offered three roundtable talks on its port industry, which panelists said is the second-best in the Mediterranean, a thriving tourism industry, and a strong health sector.

“There is a lot of similarity between our two ports, so it was obvious we could benefit from this synergy,” said Christine Woehrel, CEO of Marseille Fos Port Authority. “On this trip, we can exchange best practices such as how to develop port business on one side and how to make it more

sustainable in our cities.”

Forty companies from Marseille met local counterparts in 200 business meetings organized by the FrenchAmerican Chamber of Commerce of Florida. Topics included how to start and open a business in Miami and Marseille, creating new business partnerships, and the process of getting a work visa.

“We have companies here with the French mentality and understanding of the US market, providing insight for this delegation,” said Chloe Eck, business development consultant for the French American Chamber.

“It’s important to learn about the legalities, since France never had any work visas. Our companies here can be that guide.”

Julian Guedj, president of Color Bus in Marseille, a sightseeing tour bus, came to Miami with the delegation to learn from the “tourism experts” and said that the sister cities signing creates more opportunities, such as opening a branch in Miami.

“We have a lot to learn from how Miami operates. They have many tourists, and they work heavily with the cruise industry, like we do,” Mr. Guedj said. “They have professionalism here, and I know we can collaborate on how we both work.”

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MIAMI TODAY

VIEWPOINT

WEEK OF THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 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

Wage slowpoke Miami suddenly leads the national pack The labor market puzzle just got more perplexing.

Job demand is growing, unemployment is falling, yet wages seem stuck in place.

Or are they?

“Jobs Rebound, Wages Stand Still” was the Wall Michael Lewis Street Journal’s banner weekend headline as it reported a 17-year jobless low yet a national annual wage increase of only 2.4%.

What’s really happening?

In the Miami region, what’s happening is that we have in just one year gone from trailing the national average in wage growth, at just 1.9% a year here, to an annual growth of 3.9% as of September according to figures released Thursday, not only well above average but above every other US urban area.

Slowpoke Miami is now number one.

What does it mean? And is it an aberration or a trend?

Tony Villamil, an economist from the first Bush administration whose Washington Economics Group is a Miami fixture, is suspicious of the federal report that sees a Miami that was running behind the pack leading it in just one year.

“You don’t suddenly go in one year from being below national average in to-

tal labor cost to being above the national average,” he said Friday. “I would be highly skeptical that suddenly we have turned the corner here” in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties.

Viewed from Orlando, however, the jump in Miami area wages over other regions in Bureau of Labor Statistics figures is perfectly natural to Seth Snaith, director of the Institute for Economic Competitiveness at the University of Central Florida’s College of Business Administration.

“You can’t provide Gainesville wages in Miami” and expect to attract workers, he said.

Dr. Snaith sees a number of factors leading to faster wage rises in Miami than in any other metropolitan area.

Our housing bind is a key factor, he said, because it’s a vital element of the cost of living.

Miami housing costs have risen so fast that they have outpaced the ability of workers to keep up via wages. While wealthy outsiders have driven the rise at the top of the housing market since the recession, that market bears little relationship to housing for workers. Yet that rise has skewed the housing supply toward high-end buyers to the detriment of workforce housing – and Miami’s workforce is growing as more find jobs.

We’ve outpaced the national labor market in job creation and labor force growth for five years, Dr. Snaith points out, yet “wage and salary growth here has been pretty tepid.”

As employers compete to fill more jobs, wages are rising, Dr. Snaith said, which he sees as a trend. With a federal tax cut in the works, he foresees another boost in growth, feeding the process of demand for workers driving up wages.

A factor that’s not so apparent is Miami’s degrading commuting and traffic.

“All of these go into the calculus for workers when they decide where to live and work,” Dr. Snaith says.

Metropolitan areas across the nation have just finished trying to convince Amazon that each most deserves the Seattle corporation’s new 50,000-job headquarters site. One of Amazon’s key concerns in requesting site proposals was labor cost and availability. The company is well aware that its 40,000-plus jobs have skewed the Seattle market.

That outsize influence shows up in the figures for metropolitan area labor cost growth. In wages and salaries, Seattle’s 3.8% annual increase trails only Miami’s 3.9%. Moreover, in total cost of compensation – which includes both wages and benefits – Seattle registered a stratospheric one-year jump of 7.6%, far ahead of Miami’s second-ranked 3.7%.

Clearly, the pressures of Amazon’s vast growth are driving its own employment costs through the roof – a significant factor in why the company is seeking a headquarters elsewhere with lower labor costs. The question is whether those costs would remain low for long if Amazon did move in and raised demand for skilled workers by

the tens of thousands.

If it lasts, Miami’s sudden jump in wage growth is good news for workers, but it certainly won’t help in the race to lure Amazon here.

Any company looking for less wage escalation could start with the 1% annual gain in Minneapolis, where total compensation costs also had the lowest rise in the nation at 1.1%. Philadelphia was second lowest in wage gains at 1.8%, while Dallas was second lowest in annual compensation cost rise at 1.4%.

One thing certain in Tony Villamil’s mind is that Miami’s rapid growth in labor costs is well ahead of its annual growth in productivity, which Dr. Snaith says is about 3%. While Miami is becoming more competitive in ability to attract workers and meet employer demands to fill jobs, it is at the same time becoming more expensive for employers to do business here.

To Dr. Snaith, the wage level increases have been a long time coming – “I’m surprised it took so long.”

That said, he doesn’t anticipate South Florida wages rising as rapidly next year.

He’s forecasting 2% to 3%. Even that slower increase, however, would surpass past gains of less than 2% a year.

Whatever the future number, the Miami area’s wage and compensation rates clearly have broken out of their below-average levels. The unanswered question is whether this will make the area more or less successful in luring added high-wage employers.

Make the smart choice: ensure that transit taxes go to transit Ask anyone what they think about Miami and the answer is usually akin to “This city is amazing! There is so much to see and do here.”

Then there is the traffic. Good luck getting around without a car. Try Xavier L. Suarez traveling down US 1 at 8 a.m. on a weekday and you will find an experience similar to a Dadeland Mall parking lot the weekend before Christmas. Try getting from Kendall to Downtown using public transportation.

That frustrating experience may leave you wishing you had stayed home.

Public transportation should be convenient, reliable and efficient – three words nobody would use to describe the current state of Miami transit.

In 2002, after the county promised to expand the rail systems, voters approved a half-cent tax in hopes of addressing some of the transit woes the city was faced with. The tax proceeds were meant for capital expansion, meaning new public transit routes to expand the transit grid. Instead, the proceeds have been largely used to fund operations, which deals more with the maintenance of the current system.

Fifteen years later, we have about 3 miles of expansion to the county lines despite millions of dollars raised annually from the half-cent tax. This is unacceptable mismanagement and the taxpayers have a right to be frustrated

Fundamentally, the bills require that the tax proceeds be spent on transit Xavier L. Suarez is the Miami-Dade by mandating that no more than 25% of the proceeds go toward non-transit County commissioner for District 7. uses. Using the tax proceeds for salaries or other personnel expenses would be after seeing minimal returns on their prohibited, thus ensuring that more of the proceeds are directed to the planself-imposed tax increase.

That frustration, however, should not ning, development and expansion of lead to a rebuff of the system or the transit systems. tax, but to a renewed determination to achieve what was rightfully set out for.

L etters to The Strategic Miami Area Rapid the E ditor Transit (SMART) Plan is the clear choice for bringing functional public transit to Miami. The SMART Plan will add rapid transit corridors to augment the existing transit infrastructure. Riders will be able to use the existing north-south As a resident of Midtown, it would be line to reach new east-west lines, mak- a smart move for the developers at this ing it infinitely easier for commuters to point to work with the city on adding travel around Miami. The existing rail some stoplights and crossings to both lines would also be extended, further 29th Street/Midtown Boulevard and expanding access.

36th Street by Target. Midtown is basiThe SMART Plan has received tre- cally closed off on either side by these mendous support and is ensuring that two streets, which are currently lethal the promises made in 2002 are closer to to pedestrians and causing tremendous being fulfilled. As it stands, half of the traffic backups. funding needed for full implementation Adding thousands of more residents of the SMART Plan has been sourced, without addressing these access points but it needs additional funding. is negligent at this point.

HB 243, a bill introduced by Rep. Kevin Sprague Bryan Avila, Hialeah Republican, along with its companion SB 688, filed by Sen. Rene Garcia, a Hialeah Republican, could Wonderfully reported story on Zika be key to securing the remaining funds needed. The bills seek to enforce guide- research! I hope this important research lines on the usage of the half-cent tax sails smoothly from this point onward, proceeds so that they are put towards their with no further setbacks!

Aria Pahari initial purpose; expanding the rail system.

The Writer

Midtown bookend streets need stoplights, crossings

Major cities must have an effective public transit system. Miami is falling short of that requirement. There must be an improvement to the system that gets Miami residents from point A to point B reliably. Mothers and fathers should not have to spend hours commuting home to their families after long work days.

The first step toward improving Miami’s public transit system is to ensure that the tax proceeds intended for transit expansion are actually being spent on transit expansion.

Winston Churchill said, “It is no use saying ‘We are doing our best.’ You have got to succeed in doing what is necessary.” Expanding public transit lines is necessary. Stop-gap efforts and doing our best will no longer suffice.

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MIAMI TODAY

TODAY’S NEWS

WEEK OF THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2017

CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING The Miami City Commission will hold a Public Hearing on Thursday, November 16, 2017 at 9:00 A.M., to consider the award of a contract to the non-profit organization listed below through Anti-Poverty grant funds from the District 2 share of the City of Miami’s Anti-Poverty Initiative Program. Musicall, Inc. provides a music instruction to children of all ages, including three orchestra levels, and to consider the City Manager’s recommendations and finding that competitive negotiation methods are not practicable or advantageous regarding these issues: • Musicall, Inc. – after school music program at Frances Tucker Elementary School.

Inquiries regarding this notice may be addressed to Malissa Treviño, Project Manager for the Office of Community Investment, Office of the City Manager, at (305) 416-1005.

This action is being considered pursuant to Section 18-85 (A) of the Code of the City of Miami, Florida as amended (the “Code”). The recommendations and findings to be considered in this matter are set forth in the proposed resolution and in Code Section 18-85 (A), which are deemed to be incorporated by reference herein and are available as with the regularly scheduled City Commission meeting of November 16, 2017 at Miami City Hall, 3500 Pan American Drive, Miami, Florida.

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

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, persons needing special accommodations to participate in this proceeding may contact the Office of the City Clerk at (305) 250-5361 (Voice) no later than five (5) business days prior to the proceeding. TTY users may call via 711 (Florida Relay Service) no later than five (5) business days prior to the proceeding.

Todd B. Hannon City Clerk

# 29075

Reopened convention center will spur business: William Talbert III.

Meetings, conventions spending $842 million in a year, bureau states

By Katya Maruri

CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING A public hearing will be held by the City Commission of the City of Miami, Florida on Thursday, November 16, 2017, at 9:00 a.m. in the City Commission Chambers at City Hall, 3500 Pan American Drive, Miami, Florida 33133, for the purpose considering the following resolution: A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, BY A FOUR-FIFTHS (4/5THS) AFFIRMATIVE VOTE, AFTER AN ADVERTISED PUBLIC HEARING, RATIFYING, CONFIRMING, AND APPROVING THE CITY MANAGER`S RECOMMENDATION AND WRITTEN FINDINGS, PURSUANT TO SECTION 18-85 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED, WAIVING THE REQUIREMENTS FOR COMPETITIVE SEALED BIDDING AS NOT BEING PRACTICABLE OR ADVANTAGEOUS TO THE CITY OF MIAMI FOR PURPOSES OF ACCEPTING THE DONATION OF APPROXIMATELY $180,000 (“THE GIFT”), $120,000 IN IN-KIND SERVICES AND $60,000 IN MONETARY FUNDS FROM THE VAN ALEN INSTITUTE (“VAI”), A NEW YORK CITY 501(C)(3), NOT FOR PROFIT ORGANIZATION, TO BE USED FOR THE DESIGN DEVELOPMENT PHASE OF A NEW GENERAL PLAN FOR JOSE MARTI PARK (“THE PARK”), THIS DESIGN PHASE WOULD INVOLVE DEVELOPING A NEW GENERAL PLAN FOR THE PARK, TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION INCREASING FLOOD RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH SEA LEVEL RISE, UNIQUE CULTURAL HERITAGE OF LITTLE HAVANA, INCREASING USE RELATED TO DEVELOPMENTS SURROUNDING THE PARK, AND CONSIDERING PARKING, TRANSPORTATION AND ACCESS ISSUES (THE “PROJECT”), AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A GIFT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF MIAMI AND VAI IN SUBSTANTIALLY THE ATTACHED FORM, FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE ANY AND ALL AMENDMENTS, AND MODIFICATIONS TO THE GIFT AGREEMENT, IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY ATTORNEY, AS MAY BE NECESSARY FOR SAID PURPOSE. Inquiries from other potential sources who feel that they might be able to satisfy the City’s requirements for this purchase may contact Annie Perez, Procurement Director, in the City of Miami Procurement Department at (305) 416-1909.

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

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, persons needing special accommodations to participate in this proceeding may contact the Office of the City Clerk at (305) 250-5361 (Voice) no later than five (5) business days prior to the proceeding. TTY users may call via 711 (Florida Relay Service) no later than five (5) business days prior to the proceeding.

Todd B. Hannon City Clerk # 29074

The more Miami’s business community grows, the more companies flock here to host meetings and conventions, which bolsters the local economy, according to the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau.

“In the last fiscal year, 3.3% of almost 16 million overnight visitors created over $842 million in expenditures as a result of folks meeting and spending money in Miami-Dade County due to meetings and conventions,” said William D. Talbert III, the bureau’s president and chief executive officer.

A large portion of that number, he said, is attributed to spending at hotels, stores and restaurants throughout Miami during meeting stays.

“Every month the bureau conducts approximately 400 face-toface interviews throughout the community to find out the purpose of visits, what visitors spend on and what they don’t like,” Mr. Talbert said.

The purpose of doing these interviews, he told Miami Today, is to listen and learn more about the individuals who visit our community and whether their visit is for business or pleasure.

After the initial interview is completed, all the information is compiled in large databases where the data is viewed and analyzed.

“The formula we use to calculate the estimated costs of meetings and conventions throughout the city,” he said, “is an industrywide standard practice that provides us with a general idea as to how these events will impact the city from a financial standpoint.”

However, Mr. Talbert said, while meetings and conventions do play a large role in regards to creating revenue for the community, hotels are another major fac-

tor that contribute to the economy.

From January to September, the number of hotel room nights sold in Greater Miami increased 3.1% from the same period in 2016, according to the bureau’s latest findings.

Room occupancy reached 76.6 %, a decline of 1% from the previous year.

The average daily room rate fell 3% and the revenue per available room dropped 3.9%.

However, despite these minor declines during January to September, Greater Miami’s hotel market ranked among the top ten in the US, according to industry observer STR’s trend report.

“Hotels,” Mr. Talbert said, “have provided companies with meeting space and accommodations for their employees, which has played a large role in contributing to the economy.”

Looking forward, though, Mr. Talbert said, “we are looking forward to the Miami Beach Convention Center reopening in 2018.”

“The convention center’s four exhibit halls have been completely reimagined,” he told Miami Today, “The new convention center will provide companies with ample space to host their meetings and conventions and will provide us with the opportunity to book more meetings in advance.”

Already scheduled in the convention center, Mr. Talbert said, is the American Health Information Management Association in September 2018, followed by CA Technologies.

“The combined estimated economic impact from both meetings, which will occur back to back, is $9.3 million,” Mr. Talbert said.

“Between the new convention center and meeting spaces provided by hotels,” Mr. Talbert told Miami Today, “I think that we will have great success in booking more meetings and conventions.”

MIAMI TODAY

TODAY’S NEWS

WEEK OF THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2017

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Wynwood Park is to open in early 2019. Leasing has already begun.

Wynwood Park to meld retail with curated food

By Katya Maruri

Wynwood Park, a mixed-use project by ASG Wynwood LLC, an affiliate of ASG Equities and the Gindi Family, which is set to open in early 2019, has set its sights on creating a retail experience focused on international curated food and beverage options combined with progressive retail.

“It’s all about the experience,” said Tony Arellano, executive vice president at Metro 1 Commercial.

“We are looking to provide visitors and guests with progressive retail options focused on fashion, design and technology.”

Metro 1 Commercial and Whitehall Realty Group, which handle landlord representation and leasing services for the project, have already begun to negotiate and sign leases with potential tenants.

However, Mr. Arellano said, it is too early to list any specific tenants due to leases still being negotiated.

As for availability for tenants, Mr. Arellano said sites vary in rentable square feet between 964 and 9,914 on the first level of Wynwood Park, while second level availability varies between 770 and 8,432 rentable square feet, with bi-level rentable

F ilming These film permits were issued last week by the Miami-Dade County Department of Regulatory & Economic Resources’ Office of Film and Entertainment, (305) 375-3288; the Miami Mayor’s Office of Film, Arts & Entertainment, (305) 860-3823; and the Miami Beach Office of Arts, Culture and Entertainment-Film and Print Division, (305) 673-7070.

Stonehenge Circle/Warner Bros. International Television.

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Expectation Entertainment. London. Dale’s Florida Fly Drive. Coral Castle, Robert is Here, Schnebly Redland’s Winery & Brewery, SW 217th Avenue.

Fox Entertainment Group/RMTV. Los Angeles. AC53.

Collins Avenue/41st to 87th streets, Collins Avenue/Fifth to 17th streets, Haulover Beach, Ocean Drive/Fifth to 15th streets, South Pointe Pier.

The Beach Bum Film Holdings LLC. Miami. The Beach Bum. 42 Star Island, 46 Star Island, Haulover Beach Park, William Powell Bridge Turnaround.

Telemundo Studios/NBC Universal Media LLC. Miami. Mi Familia Perfecta. 140-Metro Flagler Building.

Cineflex (Cities) Inc. Toronto. Sinking Cities. Miami-Dade Public Library System.

Paradiso Pictures. Miami. MTV SwipeDate. Amelia Earhart Park.

NFGTV Inc. D/B/A Eastern. New York. Love & Hip-Hop Miami. Countywide, Miami Beach citywide, Miami International Airport.

N House Productions. Miami. Carters. Countywide.

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‘Our goal is to make Wynwood Park the fun place to be where you can dine out and shop while being surrounded by art, design and creativity in the heart of Wynwood.’

Tony Arellano square feet totaling up to 18,346 square feet.

“Our goal,” he said, “is to make Wynwood Park the fun place to be where you can dine out and shop while being surrounded by art, design and creativity in the heart of Wynwood.”

in

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The Production Factory LLC. Miami Beach. Monsoon.

Countywide, Crandon Park Beach, Flamingo Park, Miami Beach citywide.

Pro One Productions Inc. Miami Beach. Sheego Fashion.

Countywide, Miami Beach citywide.

Spike Productions Corp. Biscayne Park. Madeleine.

Countywide, Miami Beach citywide.

Harbour Films Inc. Coconut Grove. Bon Prix. Countywide, Miami Beach citywide.

Direct Shading Studio. Miami. Gothicc “The Story of an American SJW.” Tropical Park.

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CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING A public hearing will be held by the City Commission of the City of Miami, Florida on Thursday, November 16, 2017, at 9:00 A.M., at City Hall, located at 3500 Pan American Drive, Miami, Florida 33133, for the purpose of granting the following: A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, BY A FOUR-FIFTHS (4/5THS) AFFIRMATIVE VOTE, AFTER AN ADVERTISED PUBLIC HEARING, RATIFYING, APPROVING, AND CONFIRMING THE FINDINGS, UNDERTAKINGS, AND DETERMINATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER AND THE NECESSARY CITY DEPARTMENTS REGARDING THE NECESSITY OF UPGRADING THE CITY OF MIAMI’S (“CITY”) ETHERNET CAPACITY AND SERVICES AND WAIVING COMPETITVE BIDDING BY AN AFFIRMATIVE FOUR-FIFTHS (4/5THS) VOTE, AFTER A DULY NOTICED PUBLIC HEARING, PURSUANT TO SECTION 18-85(A) OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, AS AMENDED, AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE, EXECUTE, AND RENEW, IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY ATTORNEY, FOR A ONE (1) YEAR PERIOD AND EXPAND NECESSARY SERVICES UNDER AN THE CITY’S AGREEMENT WITH AT&T FOR METRO ETHERNET SERVICES (“AT&T METRO ETHERNET AGREEMENT”) BY AN ADDENDUM THERETO (“ADDENDUM”) INCREASING THE ANNUAL CONTRACT CAPACITY BY AN ANNUAL AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $168,000.00, THEREBY INCREASING THE TOTAL ANNUAL CONTRACT CAPACITY FROM AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $432,000.00 TO AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $600,000.00, TO ALIGN WITH HISTORICAL USAGE AND ANTICIPATED FUTURE UPGRADED CAPACITY AND RELATED EXPENDITURES, AS STATED HEREIN FOR ETHERNET SERVICES CITYWIDE PURSUANT TO THE AT&T METRO ETHERNET AGREEMENT; ALLOCATING FUNDS FROM THE VARIOUS SOURCES OF FUNDS, SUBJECT TO THE AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS AND BUDGETARY APPROVAL AT THE TIME OF NEED; FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO RENEW, EXTEND, MODIFY, OR AMEND, IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY ATTORNEY, THE AT&T METRO ETHERNET AGREEMENT AND THE ADDENDUM FOR THE SAME NOT TO EXCEED CONTRACT AMOUNT FOR AN ADDITIONAL ONE (1) YEAR PERIOD. The Miami City Commission requests all interested parties be present or represented at the meeting and may be heard with respect to any proposition before the City Commission in which the City Commission may take action. Should any person desire to appeal any decision of the City Commission with respect to any matter to be considered at this meeting, that person shall ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made including all testimony and evidence upon which any appeal may be based (F.S. 286.0105).

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, persons needing special accommodations to participate in this proceeding may contact the Office of the City Clerk at (305) 250-5361 (Voice) no later than five (5) business days prior to the proceeding. TTY users may call via 711 (Florida Relay Service) no later than five (5) business days prior to the proceeding.

# 29077

Todd B. Hannon City Clerk

9

MIAMI TODAY

WEEK OF THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2017

13

Good Life in Miami & Luxury Gifts First-class international airport flies high on first-class seats

By Gabi Maspons

As the second busiest US airport for international passenger traffic, Miami International Airport has recruiting new international air carriers down to a science. Airport Director Emilio Gonzalez says one factor in luring in airlines is the number of first-class seats they can fill through a Miami connection.

“When we discuss starting a route to Miami, one of the things that is of great interest to passenger airlines is first class,” Mr. Gonzalez said. “They want to make money, and first class is where they make the most.”

When airlines develop new routes, seat configuration is not merely chosen based on available planes in a fleet but on the projected demand, said Ralph Lopez-Massas, VP of American Airlines’ Miami hub.

“We consider the demand first and foremost before we invest in putting in an asset – an aircraft – into a route,” Mr. Lopez-Massas said.

American Airlines accounts for about 68% of passenger traffic at MIA and meticulously connects aircrafts to routes.

“We have a very robust network planning department that looks at demand, connecting traffic and premium versus leisure demand,” Mr. Lopez-Massas said. “The purpose is to tie the density of the aircraft to that demand.”

Photo by Cristina Sullivan

When American develops its routes, seat configuration is critical, said Miami VP Ralph Lopez-Massas.

When developing routes or making investments in new airports, the seat configuration is even more important, Mr. Lopez-Massas said.

To gauge local interest in international flights and advise potential Asian air carriers on the demand in the Miami market, MIA created an Asia Task Force.

“The task force is made up of business leaders with interests in places like Japan, China, Vietnam and the Philippines,” Mr. Gonzalez told Miami Today in August.

The airport meets with the task

force to survey interest and frequency of travel. MIA compiles the information to pitch to airlines so they understand the market.

“When we had the task force do a poll, half of everybody polled said they would travel to Asia through business class,” Mr. Gonzalez said. “Most of the travelers to Asia would have their travel expenses covered by their company. Flying to Asia is a long trip, and you want all the comfort you can get,” he said. “If your company is paying for it, you take advantage.”

Of the routes at MIA, Mr. Gonzalez said long international routes fill up the first class seats the most.

He said that most of the flights he has taken to Europe, Asia and the Middle East have had full first class sections.

“It’s very attractive for a new carrier to be able to fill those seats,” he said. “If you fill the first class cabin on an international flight, you’re doing okay.”

However, building in additional first-class seats isn’t always a winning idea. Mr. Gonzalez says that

shorter, local flights don’t do as well filling first-class cabins.

“Many don’t want to spend money on a first class ticket to Orlando, so you have to look at the market. Most airlines wouldn’t put 45 first class seats for a route like that,” he said.

The airport doesn’t directly benefit from airlines filling up their first-class cabins, as it collects revenues based on number of tickets bought, not the amount passengers pay.

“We get paid by seats, not by how much a passenger spends,” Mr. Gonzalez said. “If they can pack more passengers on the plane, that means more non-aviation revenues for us.”

Though the airport doesn’t directly benefit from filled first-class cabins, half of the 44.6 million passengers who went through MIA last year were international, so the airport is invested in understanding the demand to better attract new international airlines.

In 2017 MIA welcomed eight new international airlines, and Mr. Gonzalez told Miami Today it is committed to building up its brand as a global gateway.

“International routes are always important to us,” he said. “Airlines are our partners. We lobby them, have strategic plans, think of the routes we would like to have and which we need, and then we actively market our airport to international airlines.”

For Europeans, Miami now about real life, not just tourism

By Catherine Lackner

Europeans have discovered Miami, and they like what they see, observers say.

“I think the European story is the Miami story,” said Nir Shoshani, one of the founders of NR Investments, developers of the Canvas condominium project near Wynwood.

“Just 15 years ago it was about the beach and the nightlife, but it’s become about something else. For a first-tier city in the US, we’re still very young, and we still have quality-of-life issues,” he said. “But there are new leaders, like Alice Bravo at Miami-Dade’s Department of Transportation & Public Works. There is Brightline, which is a start. This is the right time for this kind of leadership.

“Europeans are pleasantly surprised when they come here,” Mr. Shoshani said.

“The city is becoming more international; we see it at Canvas and at The Filling Station. They see it as a place to stay, not just a place to play. The justice system here gives them peace of mind, and many look at Miami as their second home city.

“Miami has become about real life, not just tourism,” he said. “I’m optimistic: I feel it’s only going to increase as we go along.”

“The good news for us is that there has been a big push by Europeans in the past six months or so,” said Inigo Ardid, copresident of Key International. “They like the price point, they like the amenities, and

they like to be near the water.”

Key International developed The Harbour, a two-tower waterfront condo building in North Miami Beach, with 13th Floor Investments. The building is 90% sold.

“Many of the European buyers have friends and family here, and it’s an easy hop to get here, which makes it attractive for a second home,” Mr. Ardid said.

Many buyers are not interested in spending $3 million or $4 million, especially if they are looking for a second home, but “they can a smaller unit much cheaper here than in Europe, and it’s a better bite for them.”

While Miami lacks the public transportation for which European cities are known, “I haven’t noticed any complaining,” he said. “The price point makes up for it.”

In fact, he said, there hasn’t been much complaining at all from the Europeans.

“So far, so good!”

“Miami has become a true melting pot, and we’re starting to see more and more Europeans,” said Alexander Wertheim, president and founder of SPACiO Design Build.

“They’re very attracted to new design, as well as to Art Deco A. Wertheim restorations. They like the cultural scene, including Art Basel and Pérez Art Museum Miami. Europeans like museums, they like parks, they like having hundreds of restaurants from which to

choose, and having a choice of direct flights to Europe. They also like fine things.”

Curiously, goods from top European designers can be had much less expensively here, he added. When he designed the sales center for Armani/Casa Miami, he said, all of the products came from Italy and were a bargain compared to what they would have cost in Europe; that’s also the case for Arte Facto products from Brazil. “They want to buy here, because it’s so much cheaper.”

Europeans, who are not as car-centric as Americans, appreciate areas like downtown and Brickell, Mr. Wertheim said. “These are like a college campus; everything you need is there: grocery store, gym, public transportation, Greek food, Chinese food.

That’s what they’re most attracted to.

Without exaggeration, you don’t ever need to leave Brickell.”

“Europeans realize that we have become a true global city, and we continue to grow,” said Jason Zarco, an associate at EWM Realty International, via email. “We offer unique experiences within each of our neighborhoods, independently provid- Jason Zarco ing their own character and cultural vibe. This reminds them of their lifestyle back home, but with incredible weather and beach living year-round.

“Our culinary scene has grown by leaps and bounds, along with the quality of luxury

hotels, esteemed architecture, the best of retail, and arts and entertainment,” Mr. Zarco continued. “The most paramount of all is that they feel safe and relaxed here.

In addition, our barrier to entry for luxury real estate is relatively low in comparison to what they’re used to.”

“The feedback I’m hearing from my European clients is that they feel Europe has become challenging for business,” said Louis Archambault, real estate partner at Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr LLP, via email. “They feel they’re unable to grow financially due to heavy taxes and anti-business sentiment in their countries.

My clients feel like they are surviving in Europe, not living. They say Miami is full of opportunities where they feel safe to grow while enjoying a great lifestyle.

“Many Europeans are relocating their families while maintaining their businesses in their home countries with the intention of eventually moving here. Every European is different; it really depends on the person on what they are looking for in Miami.

Miami is a luxury city with a high tolerance for high-net-worth individuals. If you are wealthy, you don’t have the insecurity that you may have in your hometown where you feel like you don’t fit in.

Miami winds up meeting their expectations and more. The only surprise currently is currency conversion rates, since the dollar has become so strong. From a real estate and relocation perspective, Miami exceeds expectations.”

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GOOD LIFE IN MIAMI & LUXURY GIFTS

MIAMI TODAY

WEEK OF THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2017

Condo price reductions from list price just 1.1%

By Catherine Lackner

Miami has seen a recent boom in not only condominium construction and sales but also resales.

While many buildings are still in the pre-construction or construction stages, there is always a demand for units in existing buildings, observers say. Of the 50 most expensive, prices range from $13.9 million for a 6,120-square-foot unit on Fisher Island to $55 million for a penthouse at Faena at 3315 Collins Ave. on Miami Beach. The five-bedroom, five-bath unit features 8,273 square feet of living space.

Though sellers of single-family homes priced at more than $1.5 million have had to drop their prices an average of 3.8%, condo prices were reduced by only 1.1%, according to the Multiple Listing Service.

“The top of the market is stable,” said Alicia Cervera, managing partner and principal of Cervera Real Estate. “It’s not a raging market –

which everybody prefers – but it’s not in freefall, either.”

There’s no shortage of buyers, but different factors motivate them to buy, she said. “The reality is, you’re selling to a very small pond, maybe 5% of the population. People at this level have the cash; it just depends on when they want to pull the trigger.”

Cervera Real Estate advertises both locally and in targeted luxury publications. “The big shift is that you don’t market geographically, but to other demographic factors: where they go, what luxury items they consume. What appeals to them? Is it the boat show, is it Art Basel, is it the Miami 500 races? We advertise in our own backyard, too, because we know wealthy people from around the world come here.”

In Miami, luxury condo buyers want to be on the water, near upscale restaurants and luxury shopping, Ms. Cervera said. Edgewater, where Cervera Real Estate is marketing Elysee Miami and Biscayne Beach, is near

The greatroom in the $39 million, 17,000-square-foot penthouse of the Regalia on Sunny Isles Beach.

the Design District, as is Aria on the Bay; Aston Martin Residences is downtown, close to Zuma and DB Moderne restaurants, she added.

Other properties the group represents are The Grove at Grand Bay and The Markers in Coconut Grove and The Bond and Smart Brickell in Brickell.

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MIAMI TODAY

WEEK

Robert F. Lewis, Chair of the Alcohol Beverage Group and the Managing Shareholder at the Downtown Miami office, and Marbet Lewis, Shareholder in the Alcohol Beverage Group.

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MIAMI TODAY

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MIAMITODAY A Singular Voice in an Evolving City

ings are proceeding at different schedules, to accommodate those who want to move in right away, as well as those who can wait, she added.

“It’s good to have some that are close to finishing; Aria on the Bay will be finished in January. We sold it out, and people want to move in.

Biscayne Beach is finished. Life changes quickly, and it’s hard to know where you’ll be in four years.”

A major change in this building boom is that more people will occupy their units, even if on a part-time basis, she said. “Someone has to call it home, even if it’s one week or one month a year, so it’s not idle.

In Miami, that hasn’t been an issue.

In fact, we have buildings being occupied very quickly.”

“It’s the definition of luxury,” said Chad Carroll of Douglas Elliman, describing the $39 million penthouse on which the company has an exclusive listing in the Regalia in Sunny Isles Beach. With nearly 17,000 square feet, it is the second most expensive condominium unit for sale in Miami-Dade County.

The two-story penthouse at Regalia comprises 10,700 square feet (at $3,600 per square foot) with a 7,000-square-foot rooftop terrace and private pool reached by glass elevator, dual master bedrooms, a great room, movie theater, game and family rooms, private spa, wine cellar and guest room with its own living space.

Finishes include Nikzad wood and Blanco Sevilla stone flooring, Kreon designer lighting, custom speakers and millwork, Falma Italian closets, and programmable controls for lighting, shades, temperature and music. “No expense was spared,” Mr. Carroll said.

Designed by Arquitectonica’s Bernardo Fort-Brescia, the building itself offers only 39 units, he said, with unit prices starting from $8 million. They have 360-degree wrap-around terraces that offer unobstructed views of the Atlantic Ocean, Golden Beach, the Intracoastal Waterway and the skylines of Miami, Miami Beach and Fort Lauderdale.

Another listing in the Regalia is a six-bedroom, six-bath “beach house” comprising 10,515 square feet, with a private pool, sauna, steam room and spa. It is listed for $29 million, he said.

“We have had interest from hedge fund managers, European families, Brazilians. It’s a very diverse group,” Mr. Carroll said. “The ultra-wealthy just love the building because it makes them feel at home. We’ve been very active.”

16

MIAMI TODAY

GOOD LIFE IN MIAMI & LUXURY GIFTS

WEEK OF THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2017

Luxury yacht industry powering forward on record pace

By Marcus Lim

The luxury yacht industry in Florida is enjoying its most successful year, with record numbers of boats sold and registered.

Multiple companies in Miami have reaped the benefits, saying that 2017 has been their best year in selling yachts and they expect more with over a month left and the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show just concluded.

Statistics from the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) representing the nation’s recreational boat, engine and marine accessory manufacturers show sales of new boats 33 feet and over up 2.7% through August on a rolling 12-month, yearover-year basis. Association President Thom Dammrich has said that South Florida is one of the most popular places to own a boat due to the “superior weather and exceptional fishing,” making the area one of the top places to buy a yacht.

“Boating is integral to life in Florida. This is an industry that will outpace the rest of the country because this is integral to the state’s lifestyle,” Mr. Dammrich said. “Boating is also an appealing hobby, something a lot of people dream about.”

Mr. Dammrich and yacht sales firms have also attributed the increased sales to Florida’s stable economy. They said that because more people feel secure, they can afford to spend on comfort items, which includes yachts. Contrastingly, if the economy were to do badly, they said, boats would be among the first items people would sell.

“Banks have been flexible with financing and people are just buying. It’s one of the most lucrative years I have ever seen,” saidAntonio Maldonado, president of The Advantaged, a company that charters and sells yachts. “The interest rate is going up, not down, showing strength for the economy and making people feel secure, allowing them to enjoy life and spend some dollars for comfort on a yacht.”

The Advantaged is flowing along with the high sales of the boating industry. Usually selling an average of 10 to 15 boats a year,

by October the company has already doubled that number.

“This year has been the most amazing years we have seen in selling boats,” Mr. Maldonado said. “Everyone in our industry is benefiting right now. The hardest part is finding products to sell.” Previous reports show that sales of new powerboats, engines, trailers and accessories in Florida totaled $2.5 billion in 2016, up 4.7% over 2015, when sales ranked first in the nation. Last year, registrations in Florida amounted to 905,298 boats, 1.8% over 2015, when the state ranked first as well.

Data for this year are being recorded by the NMMA and will be released at the start of 2018.

Ralph Navarro, president of Florida Yacht International, which has been around 26 years, has said the demand in Miami

for boats is much higher now. This year, the company is currently at $78 millions of sales, up from last year’s $64 million.

Mr. Navarro said the company forecasted selling 140 boats and has already sold 115, the most ever.

He attributes part of the rise to friendly competition. When new competitors enter the market, he said, it is “not a cutthroat business” and companies do work together from time to time. He said a new group of buyers is entering the picture but they are a “trade secret.”

“Our sales are high because the economy is strong, gives people confidence to enjoy life more,” he said. “We also encourage people to try out the waters. It is a very relaxing life. When they experience the lifestyle, it is not uncommon for them to begin cultivating a dream of owning a boat.”

Details: National Marine Manufacturers Association, www.nmma.org/

Custom boat manufacturer close to financing its expansion

By Gabi Maspons

After running into environmental delays on its new site, SeaVee Boats is to close its financing agreement with Miami-Dade County’s Industrial Development Authority early next year.

“It’s a great company,” said James Wagner, executive director of the Industrial Development Authority. “It has achieved significant growth over the last several years and it’s a real success story for one of our local manufacturing companies.”

The 40-year-old custom-built boat manufacturing company makes about 108 high-performance fishing and cruising boats a year out of its 60,558-squarefoot building at 6900 NW 77th court. It received about $3 million in financing in industrial development revenue bonds in 2004 to build its current manufacturing plant, but has outgrown the space because of an increase in demand.

From 2014 to 2016, yearly sales increased by about 60%, growing from $34 million to $57 million, and boat orders are backlogged over 18 months.

To increase the production capacity, SeaVee is building a new 9.3-acre manufacturing plant at 11100 NW South River Drive in Medley.

SeaVee Boats, a 40-year-old maker of about 108 high-performance fishing and cruising boats yearly, is to close on financing early in 2018.

The project has three compo- and buy $900,000 worth of nents: acquire the land for $5.2 equipment. million, spend $10.64 million to SeaVee is putting up about $7 build the manufacturing plant, million equity for the project,

and is to receive $9 million in With the money, SeaVee says industrial development revenue it will create over 40 new local bonds. Wells Fargo is to purchase jobs and is to pay over $200,000 and hold the total bond issue. in impact fees.

The cost of a luxury boat just begins on day it’s purchased

By Marcus Lim

When it comes to buying a luxury yacht, spending the up-front cost for the vessel is the easy part, according to companies and boat owners. The hard part, is the ongoing maintenance, finding a slip to dock and the cleaning. The reward for it all, though, is worth it, they say: going on the ocean waters at any time.

When it comes to being on the ocean waters, National Marine Manufacturer Association (NMMA) President Thom Dammrich says it is a privilege to be able to glide in the waters and to fish leisurely. But there is a responsibility that comes with owning a boat. There is the cleaning, engine maintenance, storage, winterizing when owners don’t use the boat year-round and many other factors.

The costs can increase, and when telling people on how to be a responsible owner and how to enjoy boating recre-

ationally, Mr. Dammrich points them to Discover Boating, part of the NMMA’s public awareness efforts on the boating industry. The website helps new and veteran owners, even providing a budget list for those trying to buy a new boat and where to find one.

“There are a lot of overwhelming steps for new enthusiasts, so Discover Boating helps organize those thoughts clearly,” Mr. Dammrich said. “The amount of responsibilities can be off-putting but we want to ensure that there is an affordable and accessible way for everyone.”

The Advantaged, a luxury yacht service company, ensures that its customers understand the responsibilities that come with being a boat owner so that they would enjoy their vessel in the long run.

“The biggest problem is, some people think that buying a boat is like buying a car. In the boating industry, it is a big mistake,” said Antonio Maldonado, president of The Advantaged. “We try to

educate them so that they can maintain it. This to make sure the customer is happy after the buy, and they know how to maintain it to be happy.”

For owners who don’t have the time to personally do the cleaning and repairs, many companies offer packages to cover those. Jessica Londono-Sammet, a manager in The Advantaged, told Miami Today that there are different maintenance programs, ranging from tier one to three, which will send a crew to the customer’s vessel if there are any concerns.

The program is priced at $30, $60 and $90 per foot for the three tiers. All include washing the boat, checking the engine and simple maintenance. As the tier increases, there are more benefits.

At top levels there will be a captain on standby whenever they want to sail, propellers can be changed and hulls cleaned.

“We offer this as a monthly payment.

We want to give customers 80% plea-

sure and 20% comfort to know that any problems can be avoided,” Ms. LondonoSammet said.

To dock a boat, there are many slips in county marinas and private yacht clubs.

Companies where boats are bought also offer slips. There is always space, but costs are competitive throughout Miami since the best docking space is always in high demand. Prices average around $45 a foot plus electricity and water.

Leo Swayze, who has been in Miami since 1967, bought a boat at 1993 and has had it ever since. Annually he has to fund maintenance, fuel and a slip at the Key Biscayne Yacht Club. And when there’s a hurricane, “an owner’s worst nightmare,” he had to find a space up the Miami River and pay extra to make sure the boat was safe.

“You are always fixing something when it comes to a boat, and it will always cost you,” Mr. Swayze said. “But we all have our reasons for having a boat.”