Miami Today: Week of Thursday, July 19, 2018

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MIAMI TODAY

TODAY’S NEWS

The Insider VOLUNTARY REGISTER DEFERRED: A resolution directing the Miami-Dade County mayor’s office to study a possible program permitting residents to voluntarily register and make available to police information about family members with mental or developmental disabilities was deferred for future discussion by commissioners last week. Providing such information about ailments and conditions to law enforcement personnel prior to their arrival would “better address medical conditions during emergencies and improve interactions,” County Attorney Abigail Price-Williams wrote in a memo. Miami-Dade is home to the nation’s largest percentage of people living with serious mental disabilities in an urban community, according to the memo, which states information provided under the program would only be available to county police upon dispatch to a registered home.

INTELLIGENT TRANSPORTATION IN GABLES: Coral Gables will soon have technology that “enables fire trucks and ambulances to navigate congested intersections more effectively through an intelligent transportation system design,” according to a resolution the city commission passed unanimously. The cost is $475,000. The system, called Opticom Priority Control, extends the green light as emergency vehicles approach an intersection. An infrared emitter on the vehicle allows it to go through the intersection more quickly and safely. The source company, Global Traffic Technologies LLC, will provide the equipment, reporting and any necessary repairs. The city plans to install the transmitter on 11 fire trucks for about $5,000 per vehicle and at 31 intersections for about $11,000 apiece.

Opticom Priority Control is used in 41 states and has been test-piloted by the city of Miami and Broward County.

TRAURIG DIES AT 93: Robert H. Traurig, who helped create Miami land use law and was a top zoning expert, died Tuesday at 93. He was one of the three founders of global law firm Greenberg Traurig LLP just over 50 years ago that today has more than 2,000 attorneys in 38 offices worldwide.

In 1967, he partnered with Mel Greenberg and Larry Hoffman to establish Greenberg Traurig Hoffman. Mr. Traurig was the recipient of the Miami-Dade Beacon Council’s 2017 Jay Malina Award for contributions to Miami’s business community. His fundraising benefited the Historical Association of Southern Florida, the Robert Traurig Museum of Science, the Greater Miami Opera, and the Performing Arts Center Foundation of Greater Miami. Miami Today honored him five years ago as a Living Legend of Miami.

RED-LIGHT CAMERAS GET GREEN LIGHT: Following the lead of the Florida Supreme Court in an Aventura case, a federal judge has dismissed a class-action lawsuit that challenged the way red-light camera programs have been operated throughout the state. US District Judge Federico Moreno last week issued a two-page order dismissing the case, which was filed in 2014. He cited a May 3 ruling by the Florida Supreme Court that rejected a motorist’s challenge to the red-light camera program in the city of Aventura. The federal and state cases focused heavily on questions about whether local Federico Moreno governments had violated state law by giving too much authority to private red-light camera companies in operating the programs.

STARBUCKS COUNTY TRAINING: Miami-Dade County may use Starbucks anti-bias training to supplement its existing diversity curriculum. Commissioners in the Government Operations Committee on July 16 forwarded to a full commission vote a resolution directing Mayor Carlos Giménez to study adopting the program and return with a report in three months. The training program “may provide useful pointers and helpful guides which are worthy of being incorporated into the county’s own programs,” the resolution by Barbara Jordan states, by “focusing on employee interactions with the gen- Barbara Jordan eral public, understanding differences and fostering a culture of belonging.” For several hours May 29, the coffee giant closed 8,000 stores to train about 175,000 employees on how to address racial biases in response to public outrage over the April arrest of two African American men at a Philadelphia store. If adopted, the program would be added to current employee development classes like “Preventing Unlawful Harassment” and “Valuing Diversity,” which are part of the mandatory “Diversity Matters” e-learning program, as well as an optional “Respect and Civility” training course.

SOLAR POWER MOVE: Streamlined solar power permitting and a higher Solsmart rating could come to the Sunshine State’s most populous county, as commissioners unanimously moved July 16 to a future full commission hearing a resolution to simplify photovoltaic panel permitting and seek a “Gold” designation from the organization.

SolSmart, a multi-organizational nonprofit sponsored by the US Department of Energy, recognizes local government efforts through designations of SolSmart Gold, Silver and Bronze and provides no-cost technical assistance to help local governments become “open for D. Levine Cava solar businesses,” according to the resolution sponsored

by Daniella Levine Cava and co-sponsored by Javier Souto and Xavier Suarez. If passed, the resolution will direct Mayor Carlos Giménez to improve permitting and report in 90 days on the process and what the county will need to elevate its “Bronze” certification. Miami-Dade commissioners, the resolution states, previously approved an agreement with Broward County in developing an online permitting platform as part of a federal grant award. “We know from installers up and down the state that there is room for improvement,” said Solar United Neighbors of Florida volunteer Simon Rose. “Our elected officials constantly say we want to be seen as a leader in resilience. Here is an opportunity.”

CORRECTION: A headline last week on evaluations of the Melreese Golf Course property mischaracterized the nature of two appraisals of the property, which were of the whole golf course site, not just the portion sought by developers.

WEEK OF THURSDAY, JULY 19, 2018

Mayor’s budget targeting sea levels, transportation and safety; no layoffs

By Jesse Scheckner

Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Giménez on Monday unveiled his proposed $7.867 billion 2018-19 county budget, emphasizing a commitment to safety, transportation, and sea level rise and hurricane resiliency.

Taxpayers saved about $1.7 billion last year, or over $1,500 per homeowner, Mr. Giménez said, though there will be minor increases this year to certain fees, including funds to cover $306 million in solid waste management and about $571 million in water and sewer costs.

For every tax dollar county residents would pay under his budget plan: ■Thirty cents will fund public safety, including crime reduction, prevention and disaster management.

■Twenty-one cents will go to neighborhood and infrastructure costs, including water and sewer,

solid waste and animal services.

■Twenty cents is for transportation expenses, including aviation, PortMiami and transit.

■Ten cents will fund health and human services, including public housing and community development.

■Eight cents will be used for general government costs like internal services, elections and communications.

■Seven cents is for recreation and culture, including libraries and parks.

■Three cents will fund economic development, including the MiamiDade Economic Advocacy Trust.

■One cent will fund administration and policy services, including the offices of the mayor, county commissioners and attorneys.

About $2.5 billion in county funds will be spent over several years as part of a capital plan of more than 190 projects, he said.

Layoffs are not expected but

some unfilled county positions may be frozen to save money, said Mr. Giménez, who told reporters the budget was difficult to balance this year due to efforts to prevent school shootings and beef up the county’s intelligence programs.

The county received insufficient funds to train and place police at more than 100 schools throughout the county, he said, and up to $30 million in overtime will be paid to officers staffing nine “priority response teams” that will rapidly take action in a live shooter situation.

“This is the most expensive way to provide this vital service, [but] we don’t have enough resources,” he said, adding he was displeased with the funds allotted to the county for protective efforts. “The school board police department doesn’t have enough money and time to train the necessary police officers, so we’re going to step forward and work with the legislature to get adequate funding.”

Gables clears way for developments in its ‘long neglected’ North Gables

By Katherine Lewin

“Long neglected” north Coral Gables could be seeing new development in coming years. At their July meeting, city commissioners unanimously passed three ordinances on first hearing to amend the city’s land use map to allow for mixed-use development and also approve a proposed Planned Area Development (PAD) for a project called “Regency on the Park.”

The first two ordinances expanded the north Ponce de Leon Boulevard mixed-use district to 100, 114, and 126 Calabria Ave. and 912 and 918 E Ponce de Leon Blvd.

Regency on the Park, a block east of Ponce de Leon Boulevard, very near the Douglas Entrance, would be a 12-story, 130-foot-tall building with 151 residential units, including eight live or work units, according to the ordinance. The total site area will be 1.21 acres and 180,000 square feet with 10 business units in 16,000 square feet of ground-floor commercial space.

The 231 parking spaces and 21,246 square feet of landscaped open space are also included, according to the ordinance.

The applicant and developer, Alliance Starlight LLC, is headed by Henry Paper as the lead developer.

Starlight submitted its application for a comprehensive plan map amendment, a zoning code map amendment, a PAD and a mixed-use site plan on June 13.

The process had picked up speed Jan. 25 when a development review committee met. The city’s board of architects met April 5 and a neighborhood meeting was held May 30.

The planning and zoning board for the Gables then met June 13 and discussed the project. Along with the neighborhood meeting, letters detailing the potential project were sent to all property owners within 1,500 feet.

Both Commissioners Vince Lago and Patricia Keon have championed

A Planned Area Development is proposed for Regency on the Park.

the project, with Mr. Lago particularly focusing on more green space and paseos. Sufficient areas for the public to enjoy are a major touch point for this project.

The plan provides for four times more open space than the existing regulations require and twice the open space that the PAD regulations require, according to the ordinance.

Vice Mayor Frank Quesada expressly asked for more oak trees instead of palms to provide more shade. The architect, Robert Behar of Behar Font & Partners, agreed.

The project also hopes to include an Art in Public Places installation in the public plaza on the project’s northeast corner.

Mr. Paper and Mr. Lago have been meeting to talk about this development for two years now, Mr. Lago said.

“This piece of property has been vacant for a long time, since they demolished those buildings. If you look at the project that has been designed today by Robert Behar and his partner, to me, this is what I think urban living should be,” Mr. Lago said. “We’re willing to give a little more density and a little bit more intensity, if the project really has that public benefit. You spent money buying the adjacent property so that you could have more open space. I think it’s going to change the character of the

neighborhood significantly.”

Mr. Lago also pointed out that a trolley stops right in front of the proposed project, which could also benefit future residents, employers and employees.

North Gables has long been neglected, said Mayor Raul ValdesFauli. “The ugliest building in Coral Gables is very close to there, so I think it’s a wonderful, wonderful thing you’re doing.”

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WEEK OF THURSDAY, JULY 19, 2018

TODAY’S NEWS

MIAMI TODAY

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County to vote on new courthouse site beside 1928 version

By Jesse Scheckner

Miami-Dade may soon have a set construction site for a new civil courthouse, as commissioners are to vote next week on a parcel just west of the crumbling one on Flagler Street.

Commissioners at the Chairman’s Policy Council on July 12 unanimously forwarded to a full commission vote a resolution to build the new courthouse between West Flagler and Northwest First streets.

The parcel was acquired using federal transit funds, according to the memo, which states annual rent payments would be paid to the county transportation department for transit operations and maintenance costs.

The other site being considered, adjacent to the Miami-Dade Children’s Courthouse on Northwest Third Street, would be maintained for parking and provision of other children’s programs and services, the resolution states.

“We’ve heard a lot of testimony on the need of a new courthouse and opinions about the location,” Sally Heyman, the measure’s primary sponsor, said after thanking its supporters. “At the end of the day, this is a significant pinnacle facility we must replace.”

The landmark courthouse at 73 W Flagler St., built in 1928, is under constant repair, costs millions annually in remediation, has three floors currently out of service and no longer meets the county’s needs.

On April 4, Mayor Carlos Giménez recommended in a memo to build the new courthouse adjoining the children’s courthouse, based on a site comparison issued by the Internal Services Department.

The site next to the current courthouse, he wrote, would limit the county’s revenue potential and be constrained due to its smaller size – 21,000 square feet, half the size of the site next to the children’s courthouse. Conversely, the children’s courthouse site was closer to being build-ready and would minimize risk of added costs and project delays.

The two courthouses “could share facilities and people could go to one place for court,” the mayor

A site beside Miami-Dade Children’s Courthouse would be set aside for parking and children’s services.

told commissioners later that month, sarcastically adding, “Gee, what a concept: to put two courthouses next to each other.”

But Ms. Heyman suggested the lot would be used in expanding child mental health services.

Community stakeholders, including court personnel, nearby business owners and the Miami Downtown Development Authority (DDA), agreed, asking the county to build next to the old courthouse, county attorney Abigail Price-Williams wrote in a July 12 memo. “[Without] adequate replacement, the absence of the employment activity would disturb the economic vitality of the Flagler District,” a Miami DDA resolution stated.

Keeping the facility in the area, where it would stand a short distance from Government Center, the Main Library and HistoryMiami, would preserve the historic value of the area, HistoryMiami Chairman Michael Weiser told commissioners last week.

“It’s a complex process that has a number of implications to it, but if done properly and if the right developer is selected, there’s a tremendous opportunity to build a civic center in the middle of Miami – something we can be proud of that speaks to the value of our community and raises up the civic life of our city,” he said.

Miami-Dade voters on Nov. 4,

2014, rejected issuance of $390 million in bond debt to build a courthouse. The county responded by soliciting public-private partnerships to design, build and maintain a replacement.

Last month, commissioners deferred to a full July 24 commission meeting a resolution to cancel such partnerships in favor of seeking a new hybrid joint venture and new construction timeline developed by BMO Capital Markets Corp., Perez & Perez Architects Planners and the county attorney’s office.

Commissioner Rebeca Sosa, who

asked about the possibility of selling the old courthouse site, expressed concern over whether choosing a site marked genuine progress for the long-stalled project or just the next chapter in a series of false starts in coming up with a solution to replace the decrepit building.

“Are we going to continue going back and forth, delaying the process?” she said. “As the actual building deteriorates even more, it can cost the county a lot of money.

Is this a step that is going to bring a solution faster, so we can stop using money to try to put a bandage on one

‘Are we going to continue going back and forth, delaying the process? As the actual building deteriorates even more, it can cost the county a lot of money.’

Sally Heyman floor [as] another floor breaks? Is this an advancement [of] our beautiful bureaucracy?”

Ms. Heyman requested a procedure waiver to allow the item, tentatively scheduled for a September hearing, to advance to a July 24 commission vote. Mr. Bovo, the commission chairman, confirmed it would.

“Beautiful bureaucracy,” Mr. Bovo said. “I didn’t know that existed.”

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MIAMI TODAY

VIEWPOINT

WEEK OF THURSDAY, JULY 19, 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

It takes guts to keep developers off city golf course’s turf “No guts, no glory” is something ex-soccer star David Beckham understands. Miami commissioners should too when it’s time to preserve the city’s patrimony of greenery.

Mr. Beckham is the front man allied with local executive Jorge Mas to develop a mixeduse project far larger than Brickell City Centre at the city’s only golf course. A soccer team is the bauble dangled before the commission and the public to get the public turf in a no-bid deal that the city never sought.

Because of that colorful bauble and its equally colorful proponents, officials will need the guts to say “no” to a takeover of the public fairways at the Melreese course for a massive private project. And “no” is our only shot, not a pass of the issue to a public vote, or even bargaining to get more money.

No, stop this giveaway now.

Guts are vital because a soccer stadium, which is just a small part of the package, is what the public is being shown to distract us from a real estate play that would be larger than Swire’s Brickell City Centre – at one point the nation’s biggest private construction project – and is just the first

step in developing 73 city-owned acres.

Think of this: Brickell City Centre has 500,000 square feet of retail, the 352room East hotel, 260,000 square feet of offices and parking for 2,600 cars. The Mas project – in every sense – now lists 600,000 square feet of retail, 750 hotel rooms, 400,000 square feet of offices and parking for 3,750 cars. The Brickell project has two condo towers; this one would have a 25,000-seat soccer stadium – plus acres and acres to add more if a contract did not bar it.

This newspaper opposes government aid for stadiums but strongly backs Mr. Beckham’s quest for a 25,000-seat soccer site here. If he and his backers are going to pay for the whole thing, as they have pledged for years, we see it as an asset for the community and a straight business deal for the partners.

We sincerely hope a stadium rises – but not at the cost of the city’s public open land that is also its only golf course.

The Beckham interests own other land, in Overtown. We supported a stadium there as a win for all.

If they don’t want to build in Overtown, they could buy land in the normal course of business, just as Swire carefully acquired about nine city blocks for its Brickell blockbuster. Most likely we’d support any of those choices as a business deal that’s good for all, as we do with Swire.

But using parkland is not the normal course of business anywhere but Miami, where officials are lured to flip almost anything if they can get payments plus more

L etters Don’t turn only golf course into a concrete giveaway

The City of Miami is seriously considering a proposal to approve the leasing and redevelopment of public land that is currently occupied by International Links Miami - Melreese Country Club for use as an MLS soccer franchise complex.

The city officials and commissioners are elected by the people and should work for all the people. Their job is not limited to seeking out the big romantic money. Community is not all about the money. We, as a community, want a great quality of life.

International Links Miami - Melreese Country Club is the only golf course in the City of Miami. Its restaurant, practice facility, golf course and learning center provide a unique community hub and it is nationally renowned.

Miami has recently spent $6.5 million on Melreese’s new clubhouse, its learning center, and on the remediation of the polluted land. In addition, the DeLuccas just rebuilt the entire golf course. Are you now throwing away all those tax dollars? Did we not do that already by knocking down a $60 million arena after only ten years of use?

The PGA now hosts an annual international event at Melreese, The Tour Championship for the PGA Tour Latinoamerica, bringing the world to Miami.

There are 35,000 local, regional, and international golfers who play golf on this wonderful course. How can you take this away from them?

Let’s not talk about losing money, since every public golf course loses money.

Melreese is run by the City of Miami. The

tax revenues. Protecting municipal assets is something Miami has been so bad at that commissioners themselves have criticized their predecessors’ fumbling efforts.

Those fumbles were costly because promoter after developer after sports team has sent in big-league pros to negotiate with government attorneys who are more likely to handle slip-and-fall cases than major deals. The public always loses.

In this case, too, the sketchy deal would shortchange the public. The city, were it in the market to dump one of its most valuable assets, should be getting far more.

But why worry about how bad a deal is when the city shouldn’t offload its prime open space in the first place? Just say “no” and move on, commissioners. Tell the soccer folks you love them, which we all do, but the public land is out of bounds. Just because they are not Jeffrey Loria does not make a bad deal worth doing.

The pivotal commission decision should be not the nature of the deal or when the public should vote, but whether to sell off parks. We don’t think any commissioner has enough guts to start a selloff of the city – at least, we pray they don’t.

Other sites exist in the city for a stadium, but none for another golf course.

As for the argument that a golf course loses money, think about all the public parks and green spaces and tell us which are profitable. Does historic City Hall turn a profit? One reason we pay taxes is to support municipal assets, not unload them.

Even if the commission decides in its wisdom to start peeling off city lands,

to the

budget comes from the city and is approved by the city. Audited financial statements show that they have only lost money when renovating the golf course and, even then, it was nominal.

International Links Miami - Melreese Country Club, with the leadership of Charles DeLucca Jr. and his son Charles DeLucca III, assist 5,000 kids a year through multiple programs with their creative and dedicated staff, many of whom have worked with them for 25 years, as well as numerous fulltime volunteers who work free.

They created “Charlie’s Kids” and then joined the International Professional Golfer’s Organization called the “The First Tee”. Their local program is the model for The First Tee programs nationwide. Every chapter sends representatives to visit their program, to learn from what they have done and what they have accomplished for the children.

The DeLuccas launched academic, as well as health and wellness, programs for all kids of all ages well before anyone else did. They were and continue to be the model. Don’t demean your local heroes with political rhetoric and spin.

It’s all about the kids with the DeLuccas!

Their disability program, with the Sandra DeLucca Disability Center, is one of a kind.

They take the disadvantaged and continue to assist them when other programs throw them out due to their age. This community is behind the DeLuccas, because they help their kids. The golf is secondary!

They offer numerous educational programs, including tutoring programs, health choice programs and mentoring programs.

Eighty-two percent of the students they

don’t mirror this faulty deal and just take the first offer – get bids.

As for letting the voters decide, what could they decide? No formal offer sits on the table, just a concept that can change – after all, three weeks ago the plan was 1 million square feet of offices and now it’s 400,000. It’s a shifting target that even the Mas interests haven’t pinned down.

How could the voters know key details like how the community would handle the added flood of traffic beside a rapidly growing international airport or who would pay how many millions to clear the toxic waste that underlies the golf course – especially in a ballot question of 75 words?

Voters should get to weigh in only if commissioners first bless the deal – and commissioners should not approve the green space loss in the first place. The city should be acquiring open public land, not yielding it.

After a public vote that allowed a deal to proceed, no commissioner would ever have the guts to say “no” – because backers would brand it “the will of the voters.”

We know there’s a rush to get this onto the ballot, but for stadiums a rush always prevents analysis – look at the speed that led off the baseball fiasco. A ticking clock is the promoters’ game plan.

In this soccer game of grabbing land, the city’s goal must be to defend what we have, not rush headlong to an election that leads to civic loss for a century or more.

They may love soccer as much as the public does, but commissioners need the guts to drive it off the tee at Melreese.

E ditor

serve are on free/reduced meal programs and cannot pay. They pay for them.

These programs include: The Stem Learning Program, which offers daily tutoring, computer programs, and college resume assistance; The National School Program, which trained over 80 elementary school teachers under the “Snag Program”; The Young Women’s Preparatory Academy, which helps teenage girls, with the support from the Orange Bowl Committee; The Drive for Excellence Program, which partners with the Orange Bowl Committee; a Mentor/ Mentee Program, which partners with numerous prestigious law firms throughout the City of Miami; the Special Olympics for 2,500 Miami-Dade public school kids that qualify to participate; HOPE (Help Our Patriots), which assists wounded veterans and welcomes them to the facility; LPGA USGA Girls Programs, which teach the 5 E’s; Year-round professional golf clinics for folks who can’t afford them, free of charge; College scholarship programs with Miami Dade College, through the Wolfson Foundation; programs with FIU professors to teach study skills and time management; college admission counseling and other college-bound programs.

What are the facts in this proposed giveaway? There are many unanswered questions. Who is Miami Freedom Park LLC that the city wants to entrust with a $200 million property? Have they reviewed their financials? Do they have personal guarantees? How much will the City of Miami spend building the “new park” and where will that money come from? How much will it cost?

Is the $20 million promised over 30 years guaranteed by anyone? What will the City of Miami do when they stop payments, as others did on Watson Island? Why are there not any set increases in the lease now, before it goes to vote? Why does the proposed lease say including but not limited to? We all know they will build much more square footage than proposed, perhaps as much as 5 million square feet!

Who will clean up the property for development when it is made public that this land is contaminated for the proposed uses? Are they putting the City of Miami on the hook for millions and millions of dollars in remediation costs? No bank will lend them money on contaminated land.

Daniel Baumgard

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WEEK OF THURSDAY, JULY 19, 2018

TODAY’S NEWS

MIAMI TODAY

9

Four-block stretch in Wynwood to become a street mural

By Catherine Lackner

Designers Sebastian Cuevas and Cristina Nunez, both based in Latin America, won a design competition to transform a fourblock stretch of Northwest Third Avenue in Wynwood into a street mural, directors of the Wynwood Business Improvement District (BID) learned July 11.

The artists chose a geometric leaf-shaped design in several shades of green. “The mural transforms the street into a temporal green space at the heart of Wynwood district,” the artists said in a statement submitted with the design. “The proposal is inspired by the native flora of Miami to create an organic pattern painted with different green tones. The intervention changes [Third] Avenue in a radical way and integrates it to Miami’s landscape.”

In May, the BID and the Street Plans Collaborative sent out an informal request for design proposals from artists. There’s no cash prize, so the organizers hoped that artists would compete just for exposure in this most art-centric of all neighborhoods. The collaborative, most likely using volunteer labor,

‘My understanding is that it’s going to be permanent.’

Albert Garcia

Sebastian Cuevas and Cristina Nunez designed this format for four blocks of Northwest Third Avenue.

is to convert the design into a stencil and then apply it to the street later this year.

While BID board members are generally supportive of the project, some raised questions.

Joe Furst, BID chair and Goldman Properties managing director for Wynwood, wanted to know the duration and budget

of the project and who would be responsible for maintain it.

“Can we get answers before they begin?”

He said when the project was first discussed, it included parklets, seating and other features.

“It was going to be a fun pilot program.”

“My understanding is that it’s

going to be permanent,” said Albert Garcia, BID vice chair and chief operating officer of Mega Shoes. Third Avenue, he added, “is not in the best shape today.”

Anything that goes there “is just going to increase awareness of Third Avenue,” said David Polinsky, BID board member

and principal of 250 Wynwood.

It could always be changed later, suggested BID board member Irving M. Lerner, a Wynwood property owner.

“I haven’t seen details,” said Manny Gonzalez, BID executive director. “I’m sure they’ll walk us through this.”

“To be brutally honest, there’s a chance it might not even happen,” Mr. Garcia said. “There are a lot of variables to deal with. We’re just not there yet.”

He counseled patience.

Launch of app to reward ride-sharing targets traffic tie-ups

By Alyssa Curtis

A new app to help address Miami’s traffic issue is expected to launch this fall, under the Fastrack Institute.

CitiMoov aims to downsize the number of vehicles on the street by rewarding those who carpool, use ridesharing apps, or take public transportation, explains Mike Lingle, CEO of CitiMoov.

“How do we get behavior change to happen? We’re not trying to re-create apps like Lyft and Uber. Instead, we’re trying to reward that [carpooling] behavior,” Mr. Lingle said.

Mr. Lingle says that the biggest problem in Miami is traffic, and while many people are working on it, nothing is getting done to fix it.

“Everyone is working on the traffic problem, but it’s disheartening that it’s not getting fixed. It’s actually going to get worse before it gets better. Population is rising but infrastructure is not improving fast enough,” Mr. Lingle said.

“How do we tackle the problem without building anything new?”

According to the US Census Bureau, Miami-Dade’s population in July 2017 was estimated at 2,751,796, up 10.2% from April 2010.

Mr. Lingle explained that one problem is that people are driving their cars around Miami with empty seats. According to Mr. Lingle, right now people are only taking up about 1.1 seats in a car, and if that number increased to just 1.4 seats there would be a huge difference on roads.

CitiMoov, he said, will work like this: Once someone is on a ride with someone, whether that be carpooling, ridesharing apps or public transit, the two or more people sharing a ride will input it into the app. The software will then work to confirm they are riding together, and then the app will reward the riders. Both riders must have the app to get rewarded. The more riders there are, the more points they will get.

“The more people on a ride together, the more points you receive. So the people on a bus or a train can all participate together

and work as a team. It’s like a giant game,” Mr. Lingle said.

As of now, in order to input the ride into the app with the co-rider, the two riders must converse and each person must put it in the information manually before the software confirms. Francisco D’Elia, the chief technical officer, says Fastrack is working on improving the software so it can potentially automatically detect other riders with the app instead of having riders talk to each other in a larger ridesharing setting such as a bus or metro ride.

“We are looking to create a way to find any active riders

F ilming

in

to join, and avoiding having to go and talk to someone,” Mr. D’Elia said. “People talking is a good thing, it gets them talking about the app and more downloads, but we are going to see if that deters people or brings people in.”

Points earned in CitiMoov can be redeemed for prizes such as

parking credits, Lyft credits and rebates on tolls. CitiMoov is partnered with Miami Dade Expressway and others to provide such prizes. The Fastrack Institute has provided the app introductions.

A demo app is on the CitiMoov website now, and the app is to be officially launched in October or November.

M iami

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.

Brinkworth Productions Ltd. United Kingdom. Secret Life of the Cruise. Port of Miami.

Pro One Productions Inc. Miami Beach. FWA Fashion Swim. Countywide, Miami Beach citywide, William Powell Bridge Turnaround.

A Family Tradition of Service Since 1932.

Located on the border of Miami-Dade and Broward Counties, Miami Lakes contiues to provide for easy commuiting and fast access to all the business, residential and recreational areas in South Florida.

Managing over 4 million square feet of Office, Industrial and Retail Space in Miami Lakes, The Graham Companies can find you the ideal space to fit you business needs.

Come Visit Us and Experience Today’s Miami Lakes!

For leasing information please contact Steve Style, Vice President of Marketing, 305-817-4025 steve.style@grahamcos.com www.MiamiLakes.com The Graham Companies 6843 Main Street Miami Lakes, Florida 33014

WEEK OF THURSDAY, JULY 19, 2018

MIAMI TODAY

TODAY’S NEWS

11

Gables sees $325,000 income from centralized valet service

By Katherine Lewin

Coral Gables’ central business district will be seeing major changes to its valet parking. The city commission has voted to let the city negotiate a three-year contract with Park One LLC to create a city-managed centralized valet system. The estimated annual revenue to the city is $325,000.

Full implementation probably won’t be possible until October, according to Kevin Kinney, parking director for Coral Gables. The parking department intends to have personal contact with every business that is even near a valet stand in order to fully explain the changes, Mr. Kinney said.

The contract with Park One LLC, the winner among the five final proposers, lasts three years with an option to renew for two additional two-year periods.

Commissioners Patricia Keon, Vince Lago, Michael Mena and Vice Mayor Frank Quesada voted in favor of both measures. The first resolution approved the change to a centralized valet system and the second awarded the contract to Park One. According to the resolution, a centralized valet system would open up about 30 on-street parking spaces. Hotels in the central business district would continue to use their own valet companies.

“One of the prime moving issues was to try and reduce the number of spaces that were dedicated to valet. When we first looked at this, there were 27 different valet stands downtown.

Today I think there are 22,” Mr. Kinney said. “Our proposal in the centralized valet program is to have 12 or 13. It’s to reduce the amount of our right-of-way that is dedicated to this service.”

Only Mayor Raul Valdes-Fauli voted against both resolutions.

“I think 100% of the people in Coral Gables are very satisfied with the way the valet is working and with the kindness and politeness of the people that are currently staffing the valets,” Mr. Valdes-Fauli said. “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. I don’t think we’ve had accidents and I don’t think we’ve had problems.”

Under the new contract, valet parking will cost $8 per car and will rise to $10 per car only during special events, said Mr. Kinney.

The resolution cited inconsistent pricing for service among the different valet companies downtown as a major concern, along with inconsistent customer service and parking violations by the valet companies.

Mr. Kinney said he collected $2,000 in valet parking fines in May alone from the Coral Gables central business district and said he thinks that he already had around $2,000 in fines for July.

“It’s like the wild, wild West out there. The people who are manning the valet stations are eating, they’re drinking and some of them don’t even speak English.

It’s a problem,” Commissioner Vince Lago said. Mr. Lago also brought up parking violations and safety issues.

“When all these bagged and un-bagged meters are filled with VIP Ferraris, Lamborghinis,

‘It’s like the wild, wild West out there. People who are manning the valet stations are eating, they’re drinking and some of them don’t even speak English. It’s a problem.’

Photo by Cristina Sullivan

Vince Lago

Valet in front of Bocas House at 2 Aragon Ave. prepares to take a customer’s car for parking on Saturday.

Mercedes and Porsches, they’re paying $25 and $50 per car and elderly people are forced to get out of their cars in the middle of Miracle Mile and walk,” Mr. Lago said. “I can only imagine the countless individuals who have fallen because people are forced to get out of their car because bagged and un-bagged meters are completely occupied with VIP service. I’ve caught people parking at meters when they’re not supposed to. With all of the effort that we have made in the downtown, this is one of the final pieces that are missing.”

Improved technology, consistent branding under one company and fewer valet stands overall will hopefully improve customer experience and convenience and cut down on violations, according to the resolution. Currently 22 valet stands operate in the central business district and while some violators are caught and fined, it’s impossible to have someone monitoring each stand, Mr. Kinney said.

“We believe technology will help us reach the standards and the enforcement that we need.

What I’ve been promised in the proposal is that I will have a dashboard and I can see, for example, there were four cars picked up at 200 block and four cars entered the garage,” Mr. Kinney said.

“We’re doing a couple of different things in this contract to try and help with enforcement. We can put language in that contract that is a little more onerous than a $150 fine if you get caught. We’re requiring technology.”

Both Mr. Lago and Mr. Mena compared the future system in the central business district to Miami’s Design District, which has centralized valet and technology allows people to drop off and pick up their cars at different places and use an application to request that their car be ready and waiting at a certain location.

Switching to a centralized valet system has been a long time in the works. Since June 2006, there has been a centralized valet system exclusively on Miracle Mile operated by the Gables Business Improvement District.

Gables city staff has been analyzing the need for a centralized valet system in the central

business district since 2014 and has made three separate presentations to the commission on the findings. Staff presented findings during commission meetings on July 11, 2017, Oct. 24, 2017, and Jan. 9, 2018.

The city requested proposals April 9. On May 15, five valet firms submitted proposals: American Parking Systems LLC, Commodore Parking, DEC

Parking Way LLC, Park One of Florida LLC and Miami Parking Inc. The entire evaluation committee ranked Park One first. DEC Parking was second and Commodore Parking third.

Lawyers for one valet company spoke out at the meeting in defense of their client, calling for a 30-day deferment to allow restaurant owners and valet vendors

to meet with city staff.

“As you go to this centralized system and pick one vendor, who sounds great, remember that you are displacing existing businesses that have done business with the existing restaurants for years and years and sometimes decades,” said Paul Savage, representing VIP Parking Specialist. “This will lay all of those relationships asunder; they will put all of those businesses out.”

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, July 26, 2018 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, WITH ATTACHMENT(S), BY A FOUR-FIFTHS (4/5THS) AFFIRMATIVE VOTE, AFTER AN ADVERTISED PUBLIC HEARING, RATIFYING, APPROVING, AND CONFIRMING THE CITY MANAGER’S FINDING, ATTACHED AND INCORPORATED AS ATTACHMENT “A,” THAT COMPETITIVE NEGOTIATION METHODS AND PROCEDURES ARE NOT PRACTICABLE OR ADVANTAGEOUS, PURSUANT TO SECTION 18-85(A) OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED; WAIVING THE REQUIREMENTS FOR SAID PROCEDURES; AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE THE HOST CITY AGREEMENT AND THE PARK USE AGREEMENT, IN SUBSTANTIALLY THE ATTACHED FORM, BY AND BETWEEN THE CITY OF MIAMI, THE BAYFRONT PARK MANAGEMENT TRUST, SOUTH FLORIDA RACING, LLC., AND FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP LIMITED, FOR A TEN (10) YEAR CONTRACT FOR THE RUNNING OF THE FORMULA 1 MIAMI GRAND PRIX STARTING IN OCTOBER OF 2018 WITH A FAN FESTIVAL AT BAYFRONT PARK AND COMMENCING WITH FORMULA ONE GRAND PRIX RACING FROM OCTOBER 2019 THROUGH OCTOBER 2029 WITH AN OPTION FOR A FURTHER TEN (10) YEAR EXTENSION AND WITH TERMS AND CONDITIONS MORE PARTICULARLY SET FORTH IN SAID AGREEMENT. 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 # 31304

12

MIAMI TODAY

TODAY’S NEWS

WEEK OF THURSDAY, JULY 19, 2018

Deal outlines development and parking at Grove playhouse

By John Charles Robbins

The city’s Off-Street Parking Board has approved a memorandum of understanding with MiamiDade County for a new parking garage and related development next door to the Coconut Grove Playhouse.

The unanimous vote by the parking board came July 11.

County officials are moving forward with the plan to restore the front of the historic theater, build a new 300-seat theater and ancillary uses on the footprint of the large and dilapidated auditorium, and be a partner in a plan for a public garage framed by commercial square footage.

The site at 3500 Main Highway in the Grove has been closed more than a decade, as state, county and city officials debated its fate. The theater is owned by the state and leased to Miami-Dade County and Florida International University (FIU).

The county-approved redevelopment plan would basically save and restore the front of the theater – sometimes referred to as the eyebrow due to its angular shape – and demolish the larger auditorium and build a state-of-the-art theater with about 300 seats, to be operated and programmed by GableStage Inc. The city’s Urban Development Review Board on Feb. 21 voted

Rendering shows how finished development at the Coconut Grove Playhouse might appear from street.

6-0 to recommend approval of the restoration as presented, many complimenting the design to revive the famous venue.

On the heels of last week’s action by the parking board, on behalf of the Miami Parking Authority (MPA), the county’s plan was to go before the city’s Planning, Zoning and Appeals Board on July 18.

The county is asking for an exception and for some waivers to allow for the restoration, alterations, expansion and master planning of the locally designated Coconut Grove Playhouse on a parcel zoned Civic Institutional Transect Zone “CI” within the Neighborhood Conservation District (NCD-3).

Listed as the applicant is Michael Spring, on behalf of the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs.

In a letter to the city’s planning director, Mr. Spring wrote, “The County seeks to restore the iconic front building to its 1927 glory, to return great theater to the historic home of theater in Coconut Grove in a new 300-seat theater that honors the past, and to create a hub for the community with its pedestrian-friendly spaces.”

He goes on to say a parking garage with office space lining the building’s street frontage is proposed for the north side of the site where surface parking currently exists.

“The garage will serve the needs of the theater as well as nearby merchants and the Grove community and it will include food and beverage, retail, and office space facing both Main Highway and the residential neighborhood to the west, providing the parking garage with people-friendly facades,” wrote Mr. Spring.

Parking Authority CEO Art Noriega prepared a background report for the parking board, touching on the history of the playhouse project and the MPA’s involvement.

Miami-Dade County and FIU are joint lessees to a lease agreement with the State of Florida, dated Oct. 8, 2013, regarding the lease of the property known as the Coconut Grove Playhouse.

The term is set for 50 years commencing on Oct. 15, 2013, with two additional options to renew for 25 years each.

Pursuant to the lease, the county and FIU “may enter into agreements with outside parties for the purpose of managing, operating and/or maintaining all or a portion of Lessees’ operations and/ or leased premises, including, without limitation, ancillary and supporting functions such as vehicular parking, with the State reserving the right to review any proposed agreement.”

The county contracted for development of a master plan and design documents for the leased premises which include, among other things, the addition of a garage situated at the current location of surface parking on the north part of the site, retail space at the ground level of the parking garage facing Main Highway, and a food and beverage establishment between the theater and the garage.

“The development and operation of these facilities will complement the long-term success of the theater by helping to ensure its economic viability,” Mr. Noriega wrote. “Providing a parking facility and compatible development also supports the County’s plan to reactivate the Coconut Grove Playhouse and provide community benefits by adding parking capacity that serves audience members and staff of the theater, visitors, merchants, office workers, patrons, residents, the adjacent business district and area schools.”

After the lease was signed, the county entered into a Management and Operating Agreement with the Department of Off-Street Parking – the Miami Parking Authority – regarding the parking on the leased property and allowing the MPA the right to manage and operate the

existing surface parking at the site.

That agreement also provides the MPA with the first option to present a plan to the county for future development, which may include expanded parking, a residential component, and a retail component.

Mr. Noriega said the county and MPA want the new memo of understanding to set up the structure by which they may enter into future agreements for the funding, design, bidding, construction, and operation of project components.

The memo of understanding lists six project components, estimated square footage, and what entity would be in charge of operation and management.

They include: 1. Theater 300 seats, 19,310 square feet, operated and managed

by GableStage Inc. 2. Rehearsal, Costume and Scene Shop, 9,150 square feet, operated and managed by GableStage Inc. 3. Historic Front Building, 13,750 square feet, operated and managed by developer/operator, and/or MPA. 4. Restaurant/Retail, 4,700 square feet, operated and managed by developer/operator, and/ or MPA. 5. Garage, 300 parking spaces, operated and managed by MPA. (Square footage is not listed for the garage.)

6. Office, 33,580 square feet, operated and managed by developer/operator and/or MPA. The new agreement reads, “MPA shall take the lead on drafting and issuing a solicitation for the selection of a developer/ operator for Project Components Nos. 3, 4, 5 and 6, in cooperation with and subject to the approval of the County.”

The new agreement lists funding resources for parts of the project.

It says the county has secured $20 million ($15 million from the Building Better Communities General Obligation Bond and $5 million from Convention Development Tax bond proceeds) for development of the theater.

It says the MPA will secure all resources necessary to develop the garage.

The agreement notes that the parking authority sold the Oak Avenue Parking Garage in the Grove with the intention of reinvesting $6 million of the proceeds in the playhouse garage and related developments, and the Coconut Grove Business Improvement District has committed to providing MPA with $3 million for the playhouse garage.

The aging theater shut down in 2006 after financial woes strapped the group in charge.

Some preservationists have been fighting to save the entire building, including the large auditorium, and some have supported third-party plans for a much larger theater.

The Mediterranean Revivalstyle structure had been acquired by the state in 1980 when it agreed to purchase its $1.5 million mortgage, according to a Miami city report on the site.

Originally, the theater could seat 1,500 and the building housed seven ground-floor storefronts, 10 second-floor offices and thirdfloor apartments.

16

TODAY’S NEWS

MIAMI TODAY

WEEK OF THURSDAY, JULY 19, 2018

School, county officials voice support for soccer complex

By John Charles Robbins

The plan to redevelop Melreese Golf Course into a billiondollar mixed-use office tech hub anchored by a soccer stadium is supported by county and school board representatives for the promise of new jobs and money to the area.

At a marathon meeting of the Miami City Commission on July 12, the chairman of the MiamiDade County Commission and a member of the School Board of Miami-Dade County each spoke favorably of the sweeping proposal being pitched by David Beckham’s group.

The two officials were among scores of folks speaking for and against the proposal to lease more than half of the city-owned golf course to Beckham’s group to build Miami Freedom Park and Soccer Village.

More than 8 hours of debate and discussion ended with a deferral to Wednesday of this week.

No further public comment was to be allowed, according to notices the city published Monday.

Two proposed resolutions before the commission, if approved, would put the matter to a vote of residents in November, as the city charter requires.

The City of Miami owns the 18-hole course at 1400 NW

37th Ave., but private DeLucca Enterprises runs it.

The golf course of about 131 acres hugs the city’s Grapeland Water Park and is next door to Miami International Airport.

The five-member city commission seemed split, with Commissioner Ken Russell deemed a swing vote.

Mr. Russell on July 12 pressed for promises from David Beckham and partner Jorge Mas with the goal of gaining more financial benefit to the city, fighting for park and greenspace, and making certain the public isn’t stuck with paying even one cent toward what was expected to be costly environmental remediation. The golf course was reportedly built upon fields of contaminated ash.

Potential yes votes were seen from Joe Carollo and Keon Hardemon, while no votes were expected from Manolo Reyes and Wifredo “Willy” Gort at July 12’s session.

Mr. Russell took to Twitter over the weekend to reiterate demands from the developer.

On Sunday, he tweeted: “The requirements I put forward last week: 1)Zero loss of park/green space in @CityofMiami 2)Zero cost to taxpayers for anything including cleanup 3)Living wage of $15 4)Labor Peace agreemt 5)

The soccer stadium would take the smaller slice of the development.

Fairmarket rent + 5% of revenue + 1% of capital transactions 6)@ firstteemiami stays.”

The golf course operates a popular program aimed at youngsters called First Tee. A parade of young and old in orange First Tee t-shirts spoke against the plan to redevelop the golf course. Mr. Mas said First Te e w o u l d have a place to continue and grow at the Miami Freedom Park.

Among the financial ben- Lubby Navarro efits being touted by Beckham’s group, it

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, July 26,

2018 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 COMMISSION, WITH ATTACHMENT(S), BY A FOURFIFTHS (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(a) OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED; WAIVING THE REQUIREMENTS FOR COMPETITIVE SEALED BIDDING METHODS AS NOT BEING PRACTICABLE OR ADVANTAGEOUS TO THE CITY OF MIAMI AND/FOR TO THE BAYFRONT PARK MANAGEMENT TRUST, A LIMITED AGENCY AND INSTRUMENTALITY OF THE CITY, TO ESTABLISH A SOLAR CIRCLE(S) AND RENEWABLE ENERGY PROGRAM (“PROGRAM”) FOR THE INSTALLATION OF SOLAR CIRCLE(S) AND RENEWABLE ENERGY GENERATING EQUIPMENT TO BE PLACED IN BAYFRONT PARK LOCATED AT APPROXIMATELY 301 BISCAYNE BOULEVARD , MIAMI , FLORIDA, AND POSSIBLY OTHER PARKS OF THE CITY OF MIAMI (“CITY”), AS APPROVED BY THE CITY, AND TO PROVIDE A MECHANISM TO REVIEW ANY FURTHER SUITABLE LOCATIONS FOR INCLUSION IN THE PROGRAM; FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ADMINISTRATIVELY NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE THE SOLAR LICENSE AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY AND FLORIDA POWER AND LIGHT COMPANY (“FPL”), IN SUBSTANTIALLY THE ATTACHED FORM, AND ANY AMENDMENTS AND EXTENSIONS THERETO, IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY ATTORNEY, AND FURTHER IN COMPLIANCE WTH ALL OTHER APPLICABLE LAWS AND REGULATIONS, IN ORDER TO IMPLEMENT SAID PROGRAM. 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) 2505361 (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 # 31305

said last week that the development would result in $44 million in annual tax revenue for city, county, state and the school board.

The group said the development would lead to 11,000 jobs in the next three years, and 2,300 permanent jobs.

Jobs and tax revenue were at the forefront of thoughts from the first speaker July 12, Lubby Navarro, who represents District 7 on the school board.

She spoke positively about the potential tax revenues generated by redeveloping the Melreese site, and said news of the proposed soccer park comes at a critical time for public schools.

“School boards across the state have been cash-strapped this year,” Ms. Navarro said.

“It’s been a very difficult year.

So upon me reading about this plan I saw that local tax funding will be able to be generated to school boards. Immediately, I said ‘wow, this is not even on our horizon.’”

She said school boards are currently in the thick of budgeting and are trying to deal with a lack of funding.

“So an opportunity for us to get money for the school board is very important. I wanted to express to you, this to me is a great proposal,” she said.

She acknowledged the city commissioners had a tough decision.

“I know you have a difficult decision in front of you. I feel your pain. But I look at it for us in terms of local government to provide education and services to our children. Any opportunity to get funding for us is a great opportunity,” said Ms. Navarro.

She pointed out she was speaking for herself, as one of nine board members.

Ms. Navarro said the project would create much-needed jobs.

“I’ve lived in this community for many years and I know the lack of jobs this community faces every year and the hardships.

This project will provide jobs for our community and revenue for our school board. So I just wanted to express to you my support,” she said.

She spoke of the growing popularity of soccer and said it is played in every park throughout the unincorporated area of Kendall.

“I know this project will benefit our entire community,” she said.

The potential financial boost to the city and county’s economy was also noted by Esteban Bovo

Jr., chair of the county commission.

Mr. Bovo’s emphasis was on calling for the city commission to allow the city’s voters to decide the fate of the property.

“I’m here in favor of giving the voters of the City of Miami an opportunity,” he said. “I know there’s been a lot of talk about this may have been rushed, but in all honesty what you’re debating here today and what you’re deliberating is giving folks an opportunity.

“An opportunity not only to opine but also to hold public hearings, to be able to vet the entire project and go through all the details that have raised so many questions. And I think at the end of the day what makes us effective or try to be effective as we can as leaders is when we get to listen to the public and get their input and their thoughts on this,” Mr. Bovo said.

He said he believes the project has potential for widespread benefits.

“I would tell you that if we want Miami to continue to be that Capital of the Americas that we all aspire to, that beacon where folks come and invest in our community and diversify our economy, these are the kind of projects, quite honestly, that we should be endorsing and supporting,” he said.

Mr. Bovo said he thinks city voters should have the chance to weigh in at the ballot box.

“They should be at the table to discuss these items, and they should have that ample time if it goes before them in the month of November, you’re talking literally four months of debate, public hearings, analysis of the numbers, and I think at the end of the day it makes all of us, on the county commission, and you here in the City of Miami on your commission, I think it will make you better public servants ... So I would encourage you to allow the debate to go forward and allow the voters of the city to opine,” Mr. Bovo concluded.

The original draft of proposed legislation involves Miami Freedom Park LLC leasing 73 acres of the site for a 25,000-seat Major League Soccer stadium, technology hub, entertainment center including food and beverage venues, offices, retail, hotel and conference center, and other ancillary commercial development.

The lease is proposed for 39 years, with two 30-year options to renew for a total of 99 years, with an annual base rent equal to the greater of $3,577,365, or fair market value as determined by two state certified appraisers, “in addition to any rent increases and/or additional rents negotiated by the parties.”

The proposed resolution would also authorize creation of a Park Infrastructure Fund by the city to which Miami Freedom Park would contribute $20 million (payable in equal yearly installments for 30 years) to defray the site development and other infrastructure-related costs for a public park of about 58 acres to be developed on adjacent property, currently used for the Melreese Country Club.

22

MIAMI TODAY

WEEK OF THURSDAY, JULY 19, 2018

TODAY’S NEWS

South Dade pressure builds for rail

current study could delay development, cause confusion and repel Miami-Dade commissioners potential state, federal and publichaven’t yet decided what upgrades private partnership funding. the county will make to the South Instead, the county, which curDade Transitway, but according rently lacks the funds necessary to Commissioner Dennis Moss, to commit to a comprehensive anything but rail would be a disoverhaul of the transitway, should service to residents. consider a phased approach in At the commission’s July which construction would be done 12 Chairman’s Policy Council on facilities that need to be built meeting, Mr. Moss argued for his regardless of what transit method resolution directing the mayor’s is ultimately determined, he said. office to find funding to alter a “Commissioner [Bruno] Barcurrent study by Aecom Technical reiro used to say, continuously, Services Inc. to include commuter that if we had dedicated a mile a rail, like Tri-Rail. year, by now we’d have not only After more than an hour of the South Corridor done, but heated discussion, commissioners another corridor done,” he said. unanimously forwarded the item “We need to be up-front with without recommendation for a full folks. We don’t have the money commission vote July 24. today to go to rail, but the work “That’s what we promised to the is being done, I believe, to get us people,” Mr. Moss said, adding where we want to go.” he’d also mentioned expanding If residents are getting any the study to ground-level Memixed signals, Mr. Moss said, it’s trorail at a July 9 Transportation because they’re being told buses Planning Organization (TPO) are the only option for the easiest meeting. of the six Strategic Miami Area On Tuesday, Commissioner Rapid Transit (SMART) Plan Daniella Levine Cava issued a corridors on which to develop. statement in support of such a “There is a trust factor, and we measure. don’t pass the trust factor smell Photo by Cristina Sullivan “The towns and cities along test,” Mr. Moss said. “We don’t Weekend opening of Umbrella Sky Project brought Gables crowds. the route, as well as the county have a good reputation of history through the unincorporated arin Miami-Dade County of followeas, have already prepared for ing through on promises to build Metrorail by changing their codes transit in this community. If we to encourage pedestrian friendly continue down this road, we’re town centers around major stanever going to build anything.”

Gables Community Foundation and

By Katherine Lewin the city. The Business Improvement CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA Over 70,000 people visited District for Coral Gables is also a NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING Giralda Plaza in Coral Gables last partner, according to a notice from weekend to walk underneath hun- the city.

“Umbrellas serve dual purposes.

The Miami City Commission will hold a Public Hearing on Thursday, July 26, 2018 at 9:00 dreds of colorful, swaying umbrellas a.m., to consider the award of contract to the for-profit organization listed below through pass- that cost the city about $100,000, ac- They add a bright pop of color and through funds from The Children’s Trust, for the 2018-2019 contract period. Families First cording to Mayor Raul Valdes-Fauli. are wonderful for photographing, but The newest art installation for the it also shaded the pedestrian plaza in parenting program is designed to incorporate literacy skills, parent-child activities, strengthen area, called the Umbrella Sky Proj- the middle of the summer months,” oral language development, give parents a venue to share concerns, learn new behavior ect, opened to the public July 13 and Mr. Valdes-Fauli said in an email. strategies, and connect parents to a variety of support services and other such activities in will be available for viewing for two “The afternoon sun is no longer conjunction with the following grant from The Children’s Trust to the City, and to consider the months. This is the first city in South deterring people from having lunch City Manager’s recommendations and finding that competitive negotiation methods are not Florida the project has flown over. outside; it’s a welcoming experience practicable or advantageous regarding these issues: The umbrellas’ floating appear- all the way around.” ance is created by metal cabling Umbrella Sky is the creation of • School Year “Families First Parenting Program”, various childcare centers throughout that is threaded through the tops of Portuguese company Sextafeira, the umbrellas to hold them together. which means “Friday” in Portuthe City, —Exceptional Consulting for Educational Leaders, Inc., The umbrellas are also spaced out guese, according to a news release. It Inquiries regarding this notice may be addressed to Esther Balsera, Education Initiatives Co- from each other and held in place has been featured all over the world, with additional wiring. Each long including Paris, Lisbon and Madrid. ordinator, City of Miami Office of Grants Administration, at (305) 416-1532. string of umbrellas is then attached Coral Gables will be just the third US to a metal truss structure. city to welcome this world-famous This action is being considered pursuant to Section 18-85 (A) of the Code of the City of MiThe idea to bring the Umbrella installation that was previously in ami, Florida as amended (the “Code”). The recommendations and findings to be considered Sky Project to Coral Gables came Pensacola and Pittsburgh, accordin this matter are set forth in the proposed resolution and in Code Section 18-85 (A), which from Mary Snow, executive direc- ing to the city. This is the largest are deemed to be incorporated by reference herein and are available as with the regularly tor of the Coral Gables Community Umbrella Sky installation of the three scheduled City Commission meeting of Thursday, July 26, 2018 at Miami City Hall, 3500 Pan Foundation, Mr. Valdes-Fauli said. that have been in the US. American Drive, Miami, Florida 33133.

Ms. Snow saw the Umbrella Sky inThe Umbrella Sky Project is at stallation in Pensacola and proposed the pedestrian promenade at the 100 The Miami City Commission requests all interested parties be present or represented at the a partnership between the Coral block of Giralda Avenue. 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).

CITY HONORS PAST COMMISSIONER: The Miami City Commission

By Jesse Scheckner

tions and have worked to integrate local transit to connect to the Transitway,” she wrote.

Installing Metrorail along the South Dade Corridor was once estimated to cost about $700 million.

That amount has since ballooned to $1.3 billion, TPO Executive Director Aileen Bouclé confirmed.

That price tag has led many, including Mayor Carlos Giménez, to consider bus rapid transit (BRT) as the only realistic option.

But Mr. Moss isn’t having it.

“We already got buses,” he said.

“Since cost seems to be behind the move to expand with BRT, I’m asking that we look at some alternatives in making our decision about the locally preferred alternative.”

Transportation and Public Works Director Alice Bravo said that after a year of meetings, workshops and studies, disregarding her department’s recommendations would cost the county further time and resources.

Residents would have little benefit from having a rail service, she said, and because of standard train operations, the number of stops along the corridor would drop from 14 to about eight.

“As a result, we know ridership would be lower,” she said, adding that the cost for commuter rail and Metrorail would be comparable and much higher than a bus option.

Chairman Esteban Bovo Jr. said requesting a change to the

70,000 heads turned up at Umbrella Sky Project

T he L ast W ord

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.

J. L. Plummer

Todd B. Hannon City Clerk # 31301

is supporting the co-designation by Miami-Dade County of Southwest 17th Avenue (a county road) between US 1 and South Bayshore Drive, as “J.L. Plummer Avenue.”

The resolution says Joseph Lionel “J.L.” Plummer was born in Miami in 1936, and graduated from Miami Senior High School in 1953. In 1966 he was appointed to the city’s zoning board. Mr. Plummer was appointed to the city commission in 1970, was elected in 1971 and served on the commission as District 2 Commissioner for 29 years. During his tenure he helped transform Miami into the world-class city it is today, the resolution says.

MEAL PROGRAM GETS A BOOST: Miami city commissioners approved an added $33,000 for meal services for the Families First Parenting Program. The move increases the contract beyond the $50,000 that the city manager approved with The ILS Group LLC d/b/a Classic Caterers to cover expenses through the program cycle ending Aug. 31, allocating funds from The Children’s Trust Grant and other sources. The increase brings the total program cost to $83,000.

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WEEK OF THURSDAY, JULY 19, 2018

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