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ONE.WELCOME TO THE JUNE FINANCE AND ECONOMIC RESILIENCY COMMITTEE MEETING.
UH, WE ARE IN THE MIDST OF A ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL, THOUGH, A LITTLE BIT HOT SUMMER.
UM, BUT WE'RE GETTING INTO THE SWING THINGS, OUR SECOND FERC MEETING IN THE PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS.
WE'RE IN THE MIDST OF, UH, GOING THROUGH OUR BUDGET PROCESS.
SO WHY DON'T WE GO AHEAD AND GET THINGS KICKED OFF.
I KNOW WE HAVE A PRETTY JAM PACKED AND BUSY AGENDA HERE, MR. CFL.
I'LL TURN IT OVER TO YOU AND MR. CITY ATTORNEY AND THEN WE'LL GET, UH, INTO THE AGENDA.
TODAY'S MEETING OF THE FINANCE AND ECONOMIC RESILIENCY COMMITTEE HAS BEEN SCHEDULED IN A HYBRID FORMAT WITH A QUORUM OF THE COMMITTEE PHYSICALLY PRESENT AND REMAINING MEMBERS, STAFF, AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC APPEARING EITHER IN PERSON OR VIRTUALLY VIA ZOOM.
IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE IN TODAY'S MEETING, VIRTUALLY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC MAY DIAL 1-888-475-FOUR 4 9 9, AND ENTER THE WEBINAR ID, WHICH IS 8 6 3 6 0 5 9 5 4 6 2 POUND, OR LOG INTO THE ZOOM APP AND ENTER THE WEBINAR ID, WHICH AGAIN IS 8 6 3 6 0 5 9 5 4 6 2.
ANY INDIVIDUAL WISHING TO SPEAK ON AN ITEM MUST CLICK THE RAISE HAND ICON IF THEY ARE USING THE ZOOM APP OR DIAL STAR NINE IF YOU ARE PARTICIPATING BY PHONE.
WE HAVE A FEW DEFERRALS, UH, OB TWO OB FIVE MB ONE MB TWO MB FIVE MB EIGHT MB 17 MB 21 ARE ALL DEFERRED, UH, TO THE JULY UH, COMMISSION MEETING, UH, JULY FERC MEETING.
UH, THE FOLLOWING TWO ITEMS ARE LINKED, IF HEARD, MB FOUR MB 14 ON, ON GREEN ROOFS.
[NB 20. DISCUSS AN AMENDMENT TO THE RHYTHM FOUNDATION AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF THE MIAMI BEACH BAND SHELL TO INCLUDE A NINE-YEAR MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT EXTENSION AND AN INCREASE IN THE ANNUAL FUNDING CONTRIBUTION PROVIDED BY THE CITY TO BE CONSIDERED DURING THE FISCAL YEAR 2026 BUDGET PROCESS.]
WHY DON'T WE GET STARTED? UM, WE HAVE A BUNCH OF PEOPLE THAT, UH, ARE VISITING US FROM ONE OF OUR PRIZE, UH, CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS, THE RHYTHM FOUNDATION BAND, SHELL, UH, AND BANDSHELL, UH, MB 20, MR. CFO.UH, MB 20 DISCUSS AN AMENDMENTS OF THE RHYTHM FOUNDATION AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF THE MIAMI BEACH BANDSHELL TO INCLUDE A NINE YEAR MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT EXTENSION AND TO, AND AN INCREASE IN THE ANNUAL FUNDING CONTRIBUTION PROVIDED BY THE CITY TO BE CONSIDERED DURING THE FY 2026 BUDGET PROCESS.
ALRIGHT, AND, AND IF MEMBERS OF, UH, THE RHYTHM, WHOEVER WANTS TO, UH, BE THE KEY SPOKESPERSON, UNLESS IT'S A GROUP EFFORT, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO COME ON UP.
ALRIGHT, GOOD MORNING, JOHN REBAR, PARKS RECREATION DIRECTOR AND YES, IS, UM, JASON EXPLAINED.
UM, WE'RE HERE IN FRONT OF YOU TODAY.
WE'RE RECOMMENDING A NINE YEAR EXTENSION TO THEIR CONTRACT, UM, FROM PARKS RECREATION STANDPOINT.
UM, THEY HAVE REALLY, TRANS RHYTHM FOUNDATION HAS REALLY TRANSFORMED THE, THE BAND SHELL TO JUST AN AMAZING, AMAZING CULTURAL SPACE, UM, FOR THE COMMUNITY, FOR, YOU KNOW, THE THE LOCAL REGION AND FOR OUR, FOR OUR, UM, GUESTS OR FOR OUR VISITORS.
AND WE FULLY SUPPORT AN EXTENSION AND WE ALSO SUPPORT, UM, A FINANCIAL, UM, INCREASE THAT WOULD JUST BRING 'EM UP TO CPI.
THEY, THEY DID NOT RECEIVE FULL CPI OVER THE TERM OF THEIR CONTRACT, AND WE'D ALSO RECOMMEND TRUING THAT UP.
UM, WHATEVER THE APPROPRIATE CPI WOULD BE FOR THE YEARS THAT THEY, THEY DID NOT RECEIVE IT, BUT I BELIEVE ADAM IS HERE AND HE'D LIKE TO, UM, TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE RHYTHM FOUNDATION.
AND, AND JUST TO GET STARTED WITH SOME ELEMENTARY, UH, ITEMS, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT TOPPING UP FOR CPI, CAN WE TALK ABOUT ESSENTIALLY THE BASELINE, WHAT WE'RE PROVIDING NOW PER YEAR, UH, WHAT THE STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION IS, AND WHAT RHYTHM FOUNDATIONS, UH, ASK IS.
ARE YOU CAN COME SOME OF THE FINANCIALS OR DO YOU WANT ME TO GET, GET INTO IT ALL? HOWEVER YOU'D LIKE.
I I THINK YOU HAVE IT ALL HANDY.
I'M GONNA JUMP IN BECAUSE I KNOW HE PREPARED A NICE PRESENTATION.
AND, AND I'LL, AND I'LL JUMP, JUMP IN WITH ANYTHING BEFORE WE GET INTO THE MARCH OF THE RHYTHM FOUNDATION.
FULL DISCLOSURE, I THINK WHEN WE'RE GOING THROUGH THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN, WE WERE ASKED, UH, WHAT OUR FAVORITE, UH, CULTURAL INSTITUTION IS.
AND MY ANSWER WAS THE RHYTHM FOUNDATION.
UH, I THINK YOU ALL DO, UH, TREMENDOUS, UH, TO THAT COMMUNITY.
IT IS ACCESSIBLE WHETHER I WANT TO BRING MY 8-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER MYSELF OR MY 72-YEAR-OLD PARENTS.
UM, IT IS A WELCOMING, INCLUSIVE, AND GREAT PLACE FOR ALL, UH, AS THE CLUB WORLD CUP AND THE WORLD CUP COME UP.
I'M REMINDED OF LAST SUMMER WHERE WE HAD THAT FABULOUS COMMUNITY ACTIVATION FOR THE, UH, COP AMERICA.
AND, UH, WE FARED MUCH BETTER THAN HARD ROCK STADIUM DID FOR THE FINAL.
SO
AND, AND, AND, AND THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
UM, I DO, I HAVE PREPARED A BRIEF, UH, PRESENTATION, UM, FOR THE COMMITTEE THIS MORNING.
I ALSO HAVE SOME LETTERS OF SUPPORT THAT I'D LIKE TO, IF I MAY APPROACH THE DEUS TO YOU WANT ME TAKE OFF? YEAH.
I BROUGHT A COPY TO THE MEMBER AND I'LL, I'LL BE BLUNT, RIGHT? I THINK EVERYBODY LOVES THE RHYTHM FOUNDATION.
AND I DON'T WANNA SPEAK FOR EVERYBODY, BUT I WILL.
UM, WE ARE, UH, THIS WILL JUST COME DOWN TO, UM, HOW SUPPORTIVE CAN WE BE FROM A FINANCIAL PERSPECTIVE.
UH, I'LL KIND OF SHOW MY CARDS.
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RENEWING A LEASE VERY EARLY.RIGHT? I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU HAVE SOME, UH, CAPEX, UH, COMMITMENTS THAT YOU NEED TO COMMIT TO.
AND HAVING A LONGER TERM, UH, AGREEMENT IN PLACE IS GOING TO HELP YOU, UH, BE COMMITTED TO THAT, THAT THAT'S ELEMENTARY FUNDAMENTAL, AND I WANNA HELP YOU ACHIEVE THAT.
UH, IT JUST COMES DOWN TO, UH, WHAT TYPE OF FUNDING WE'RE ABLE TO GET.
WE'RE BEING PULLED BY EACH AND EVERY ANGLE IN HERE.
UH, SO LET'S GO AHEAD AND SEE WHAT WE CAN DO.
AND WE CERTAINLY, UM, APPRECIATE THE, THE SUPPORT AND THE RECOGNITION, AND WE'RE SO HAPPY TO HAVE YOU AND YOUR DAUGHTER AND, AND YOUR, YOUR, YOUR, YOUR MOTHER, UM, OVER WITH US AT, AT, AT THE BANDSHELL.
UM, TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION FROM EARLIER, WE PREVI, WE CURRENTLY RECEIVE $51,158.
THIS IS A CONTRIBUTION FROM THE CITY TOWARDS THE OPERATIONS OF THE VENUE.
IT'S SEPARATE FROM PROGRAM FUNDING, WHICH COMES THROUGH, UH, THE OFFICE OF TOURISM CULTURE, AS WELL AS, UH, FOR ONE BIG PROGRAM THAT COMES THROUGH THE PARKS DEPARTMENT FUND.
SORRY, IF YOU DON'T MIND, WE'LL JUST BE INTERACTIVE IN INFORMAL.
AND DO WE FUND, UH, LIZETTE? I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE IT, OR ADAM, IF YOU HAVE IT, FEEL FREE TO ANSWER.
DO WE FUND, UH, THROUGH TOURISM AND CULTURE KIND OF ON A YEARLY BASIS FOR THE PROGRAMMING? UH, YES.
UH, WE DO RECEIVE, UM, SOME FUNDING FOR THE, UH, THANK YOU.
THE SET, WE SEE, WE RECEIVE GRANT FUNDING FOR OUR ORGANIZATION, AND THEN SOME FUNDING THAT'S TIED SPECIFICALLY TO, UM, PROGRAMS. OKAY.
LET'S QUANTIFY THAT, UH, PER YEAR.
LET'S JUST USE THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS IF YOU HAVE THAT HANDY.
UM, I DON'T HAVE IT WITH YOU, BUT GOOD MORNING, MR. CHAIR.
COMMITTEE MEMBERS, ANTE DIRECTOR OF TOURISM AND CULTURE.
SO THROUGH THE CULTURAL ARTS COUNCIL GRANT PROGRAM, THE RHYTHM FOUNDATION RECEIVES AN AVERAGE ABOUT 30 TO 32,000 A YEAR.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, THROUGH THE NORTH BEACH SOCIAL, UH, OUR CULTURE CROP PROGRAM, THEY PROVIDE FREE PROGRAM EVERY THIRD THURSDAY OF THE MONTH.
AND WE ALSO DO ARTS IN THE PARKS.
UH, IT'S ALSO BELOW, UH, I BELIEVE BELOW 25,000 THAT THEY RECEIVE.
SO IN GENERAL, ABOUT ALL IN, FOR ALL CITIES, ABOUT A HUNDRED THOUSAND IS, UM, A LITTLE UNDER 60,000.
AND SO JUST FROM TOURISM AND CULTURE.
AND THEN WE HAVE THE, UH, KIND OF GENERAL FUND, SO ABOUT A HUNDRED THOUSAND, 110,000 PER YEAR.
THAT, THAT IS, THAT'S THE RIGHT BALLPARK.
UM, SO IF WE COULD GO TO THE, THE, THE PRESENTATION PLEASE, MAESTRO.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE, UH, THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING US, UH, FOR CONSIDERING OUR ITEM THIS MORNING.
YOU KNOW, OUR MEMO, OUR MO, AND THE KEY TO OUR SUCCESS, THE SUCCESS OF THE MIAMI BEACH BAND SHELL, IS THE LONGSTANDING, TRUSTED, AND HARMONIOUS PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY.
THAT IS ULTIMATELY THE MOST VALUABLE THING TO US.
THAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO OUR SUCCESS.
SO THIS, UH, THE POINT OF THIS BRIEF PRESENTATION THIS MORNING, I, I, IS TO OUTLINE THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT FOR THE, THE CITY THAT'S MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH THIS PARTNERSHIP.
SO I'M GONNA, I'M GOING TO KEEP IT VERY BRIEF.
I'M GONNA OUTLINE THE ROI IN THREE MAIN BUCKETS.
THE FIRST ONE IS AROUND ECONOMIC IMPACT.
THE SECOND IS ABOUT QUALITY OF LIFE AND COMMUNITY BENEFITS.
AND THE THIRD IS AROUND SHAPING THE PUBLIC IMAGE OF THE CITY.
SO, IF WE CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
THE BANS, SHELLS, AN ECONOMIC DRIVER OF NORTH BEACH.
THIS SLIDE SHOWS THE GROWTH OF OUR ECONOMIC IMPACT.
THIS IS ESTIMATED USING THE ARTS AND ECONOMIC PROSPERITY CALCULATOR.
THIS IS A TOOL THAT IS PUBLISHED BY A GROUP CALLED AMERICANS FOR THE ARTS.
IT'S THE LEADING NATIONAL ADVOCACY GROUP FOR NONPROFIT ARTS AND CULTURE.
IT'S A WIDELY ACCEPTED MODEL, AND THAT IT IS, AND IT IS, UM, VERY CONSERVATIVE IN ITS ESTIMATIONS.
SO, BY THIS CONSERVATIVE ESTIMATE LAST YEAR, UM, THE WORK AT THE BANDSHELL CONTRIBUTED DIRECT, UH, DIRECTLY CONTRIBUTED ABOUT SIX AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS OF ECONOMIC IMPACT INTO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE ATTRACT ABOUT 80,000 PEOPLE TO THE BANDSHELL PER PER YEAR.
A SUBSTANTIAL MAJORITY OF THOSE PEOPLE ARE FROM OUTSIDE THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH.
THOSE PEOPLE BRING WITH THEM THEIR DOLLARS.
THEY PAY FOR PARKING, THEY VISIT THE, THE RESTAURANTS AND OTHER LOCAL BUSINESSES.
YOU'LL SEE IN THAT STACK OF LETTERS OF SUPPORT THAT I HANDED TO YOU.
THE FIRST ONE, THERE IS A LETTER FROM BLOSSOM THAT'S A FANTASTIC PIZZA PLACE.
IT'S ABOUT A BLOCK AND A HALF FROM THE BAND SHELL.
BUT WE ALSO, UM, UH, ENJOY THE STRONG SUPPORT OF ONG BURGERS, BURGERS, AND SHAKES AND, AND SUSHI BEACHY.
UM, IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT ONE OF THE OTHER WAYS THAT WE CON THAT WE'RE CONTRIBUTING TO THE LOCAL ECONOMY IS, UH, BY NATURE OF THE FACT OF BEING A DESIRABLE
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AMENITY.UM, IT'S NOT A COINCIDENCE THAT EVERY NEW DEVELOPMENT THAT'S COMING UP IN NORTH BEACH LISTS, THE MIAMI BEACH BANSAL IS ONE OF THE PRINCIPLE AMENITIES OF THE, OF THE, OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND THUS, WE THUS CONTRIBUTE TO THE PROPERTY VALUE, UH, AND THUS THE TAX BASE OF THE, OF, OF THE CITY.
AND YOU CAN STOP ME AT ANY TIME IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
THE BANSAL SUPPORTS QUALITY OF LIFE IN THE, UM, IN THE NORTH BEACH NEIGHBORHOOD.
THAT IS PRINCIPALLY THROUGH OUR COMMUNITY PROGRAMS. WE HAD, THESE ARE SHOWS THAT, AND PROGRAMS THAT ARE FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
WE HAD 42 OF THEM LAST SEASON WITH AN APPROXIMATELY 23,000 ATTENDEES.
ALL OF THESE ARE EITHER PRODUCED OR SPONSORED BY THE RHYTHM FOUNDATION, MEANING THAT IF IT WERE NOT FOR OUR WORK OR THE INVESTMENT OF OUR DOLLARS THAT WE RAISE, THAT WE RAISE INDEPENDENTLY OR WE PULL FROM OUR GENERAL, GENERAL FUND, THEY, THEY WOULDN'T HAPPEN.
THERE'S AN ESTIMATED VALUE HERE, UH, FOR THESE, UH, PROGRAMS OF AROUND $575,000 THAT WE ALSO HAVE.
STARTING NEW THIS SEASON, WE, WE, UM, LAUNCHED A PROGRAM THAT WE CALL SENIOR DAYS, WHERE ONCE A MONTH WE HAND OUT FREE TICKETS TO MIAMI BEACH SENIORS FOR A WIDE VARIETY OF SHOWS.
IN THE COMING MONTHS, SINCE OCTOBER WHEN WE LAUNCHED THIS PROGRAM, WE'VE GIVEN OUT 562 TICKETS TO 56 DIFFERENT SHOWS.
THERE'S AN ESTIMATED VALUE THERE OF $25,000 FACE TICKET OF THE VALUE.
SOME OTHER WAYS THAT WE SUPPORT THE QUALITY OF LIFE INCLUDE ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY.
WE'RE A FOUNDING MEMBER OF THE PLASTIC FREE MB, UH, INITIATIVE.
AND AT LAST CHECK THE MIAMI BEACH BANDSHELL RECYCLES MORE, UH, THAN THE CONVENTION CENTER IN ABSOLUTE TERMS HERE.
SO NOT EVEN RELATIVE TO TO, TO OUR SIDE.
WE ALSO ARE VERY ACTIVE MEMBER, UH, ACTIVE PARTICIPANT, UH, FOR BEACH CLEANUPS AND THESE KINDS OF COMMUNITY, COMMUNITY LED, UH, ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMS. THEN, UH, LA ALSO, WE HAVE A SLATE OF HEALTH AND WELLNESS PROGRAMS THAT WE ARE, THAT WE CONTINUE TO DEVELOP TO DEVELOP.
THESE ARE THINGS LIKE YOGA CLASSES, YOGA RETREATS, SOUND HEALING, AND EVEN PARTICIPATION IN THE URBAN FITNESS LEAGUE.
UM, WHICH YOU CAN WATCH OUR EPISODE THAT WAS FILMED ON, IT'S ON TUBI.
IT WAS ORIGINALLY AIRED ON ONE OF THE ESPNS, BUT NOW IT'S ON THE INTERNET, UM, AVAILABLE FOR FREE.
IT'S ACTUALLY REALLY IMPRESSIVE.
AND AS ARTS AND CULTURE, THAT ALSO INCLUDES SPORTS AS PART OF THIS.
THIS IS AN IMAGE FROM THE COPPA AMERICA SCREENING THAT YOU, UH, THAT YOU REFER, REFER THAT YOU REFERENCED, UM, IN YOUR EARLIER COMMENTS, UH, MR. CHAIR, UM, WE ARE VERY MUCH RECOGNIZED, UH, NORTH BEACH AS SOCCER CENTRAL, AND WHEREAS SOME OTHER CULTURAL VENUES MAY HESITATE OR BALK AT THE PARTICIPATING, UM, IN SCREENING SOCCER GAMES, WE VERY MUCH WELCOME IT AND ARE ACTIVELY COURTING THESE, THESE, THESE OPPORTUNITIES.
NO, DON'T NEED BE PASSIVE AGGRESSIVE OF THE NEW WORLD SYMPHONY.
WELL, JUST, I'M NOT SAYING ANYBODY'S NAME.
BUT, BUT I WILL PUSH THAT FORWARD, THAT, THAT'S MY PASSIVE AGGRESSIVE WAY.
AND AT THAT, YOU KNOW, KIND OF FUN FACT HERE FOR THAT COPA AMERICA SCREENING OF LAST YEAR, WE WERE THE OFFICIAL AP WATCH, VIRTUAL WATCH PARTY, UM, THAT WAS VIEWED BY OVER 4 MILLION PEOPLE WORLDWIDE.
UH, WE CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
AND THAT TAKES US TO THE THIRD BUCKET OF OUR RETURN ON INVESTMENT, WHICH HAS TO DO WITH THE BANDSHELL HELPING TO SHAPE THE PUBLIC PERCEPTION AND IDENTITY OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH.
SO WE'RE IN, AND THAT'S PRIMARILY THROUGH OUR DIGITAL AND MEDIA PRESENCE.
WE'RE IN, WE ARE INCREASINGLY PRODUCING CULTURE FOCUSED MEDIA PROGRAM THAT HIGHLIGHTS MIAMI BEACH AS A CENTER FOR THE ARTS.
THAT'S HAPPENING ON, UH, THE INTERNATIONAL LEVEL WITH, UH, DISTRIBUTION PARTNERSHIP THAT WE HAVE WITH A COMPANY CALLED QUEST.
THIS IS PART OF THE QUINCY JONES KIND OF NETWORK OF BUSINESSES.
THEY'RE BASED OUT OF FRANCE, AND THEIR PRIMARY MARKETS ARE EUROPE AND THE AFRICAN CONTINENTS.
AND NATIONALLY WITH PBS, WE ARE IN DEVELOPMENT RIGHT NOW OF A MUSIC PROGRAM THAT, UH, IS SET TO, UH, BE DISTRIBUTED NATIONALLY ON PUBLIC TELEVISION.
AND WHICH WILL HIGHLIGHT, AGAIN, MIAMI BEACH AS THIS CROSSROADS WHERE ALL THESE CULTURAL, INCREDIBLE, UM, CULTURAL, UM, CULTURES FROM AROUND THE WORLD MEET AND, AND, AND INTERSECT.
AND THEN WE HAVE OTHER FUN STUFF LIKE THIS SUPER BOWL AD THAT WE HAD, UM, EARLIER THIS YEAR WHERE
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WE WERE VERY, VERY INTENTIONAL ABOUT CENTERING MIAMI BEACH IN THE NARRATIVE, UH, IN THE NARRATIVE FOR THAT ADVERTISEMENT.AND YOU CAN SEE THE POOL QUOTE RIGHT THERE KIND OF ILLUSTRATES THAT THIS AD, THIS, UM, 32ND AD SPOT ALONE WOULD BE ABOUT HALF A MILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF WORTH OF MARKETING, UM, MARKETING VALUE.
SO WE CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
AND SO THIS IS AN IMAGE FROM A, UH, PROGRAM THAT WE DID LATE LAST YEAR CALLED INFINITY MACHINE.
THIS IS INNOVATIVE, IT'S FRESH.
WE'RE PUSHING, WE'RE CREATING THIS WIDER PERCEPTION OF A WELCOMING AND COSMOPOLITAN, UM, UH, CITY, UH, IF WE CAN, UH, AND REALLY PUT INTO USE THIS GREAT TECHNOLOGY THAT'S BEEN IN, UH, THAT'S BEEN, UH, UH, UH, INVESTED INTO THE BAN OVER THE COURSE OF THE PAST FEW YEARS.
IF WE CAN GO TO THE, THE, THE NEXT, UM, SLIDE.
SO, UH, IN 2024, WE ENGAGED A MS, WHICH IS A NATIONAL CONSULTING FORM THAT THE CITY IS WORKING WITH SEPARATELY ON OTHER ARTS AND CULTURAL RELATED PROGRESS PROJECTS.
WE, UM, ENGAGED THEM TO DO A REPORT ON, UH, THE RHYTHM FOUNDATION TO LOOK INTO THE RHYTHM FOUNDATION.
THIS WAS PART OF THE SUCCESSION PLANNING THAT PROCEEDED MY APPOINTMENT AS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ORGANIZATION.
AND THESE WERE SOME OF THE KEY FINDINGS FROM THAT STUDY.
ONE, THAT OUR COMPENSATION LEVELS WERE BELOW MARKET VALUE, THAT WE RECEIVED DISPROPORTIONATELY LOW CITY SUPPORT RELATIVE TO PEER GROUPS, BOTH LOCALLY AND, AND NATIONALLY.
AND THIRD, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, THAT WE VERY MUCH PUNCH ABOVE OUR WEIGHT, MEANING THAT WE DELIVER OUTSIZED RESULT, UH, RESULTS FOR THE, UM, THE AMOUNT OF, OF INVESTMENT THAT WE, THAT WE RECEIVE, UM, THAT WE RECEIVE.
UH, THIS HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A VERY EFFICIENT OPERATION.
SO WE DO A LOT WITH A LITTLE, THE COUNTY AVERAGE FOR NONPROFITS.
THEIR, THEY'RE ADMINISTRATIVE, THE RATIO OF THEIR ADMINISTRATIVE TO THEIR TOTAL COST IS AROUND 35 TO 40%.
THAT'S IN THE SAME, UH, RANGE, UH, AS THE NATIONAL AVERAGE RHYTHM FOUNDATION IS IN THE LOW TWENTIES, UH, ON THAT.
SO SAME, UH, SAME, UM, UH, RATIO.
AND IF WE CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDES, THESE SLIDES ARE NOT MEANT TO, I SHOULD SAY, THEY'RE NOT MEANT TO DISPARAGE ANY OF OUR FELLOW CULTURAL ANCHORS, BUT THEY'RE ONLY MEANT TO BE ILLUSTRATIVE OF THE BROADER POINT THAT I'M, THAT I'M MAKING.
ON THE LEFT HERE, YOU'LL SEE THE LINE ITEM, CITY BUDGET, UH, SUPPORT FOR 23 AND 24 FOR THREE CULTURAL ANCHORS.
ON THE RIGHT, YOU'LL SEE THE ACTUAL ATTENDANCE FIGURES OF THOSE, OF THOSE, UM, ORGANIZATIONS.
I THINK THE, I THINK THE, THE, THE POINT HERE IS SORT OF SELF-EVIDENCE.
UH, AND THEN WE CAN ALSO LOOK AT THIS FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE COUNTY, IF WE CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, UH, IN COMPARING, COMPARING OURSELVES TO, UH, THE MOSS CENTER, WHICH IS AT THE, UM, SOUTH DAD CULTURAL ARTS CENTER AND, AND, AND, AND THE ARCH CENTER.
AND YOU CAN SEE THE, THE, THE RELATIVE FIGURES THERE.
SO, UM, WE ARE INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL AND, AND THANKFUL FOR THE CONSIDERATION OF THIS, UM, ITEM.
WE, UH, WE, UH, APPRECIATE THE, UM, THE VOTE OF CONFIDENCE AND SUPPORT FROM THE PART OF A PART OF THE CITY, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO A LONG, UH, CONTINUED, UH, TRUSTED AND HARMONIOUS PARTNERSHIP, UM, WITH THE, WITH THE CITY.
AND THAT, UH, THAT CONCLUDES MY PART OF THE, THIS PART OF THE PRESENTATION.
I'D LIKE TO, TO, TO WELCOME, UM, FORMER MAYOR KADEN, UH, TO, TO COME SAY A FEW WORDS AS WELL.
I'M HERE AS A RHYTHM FOUNDATION BOARD MEMBER.
UH, I WANNA BE RESPECTFUL OF YOUR TIME.
YOU HAVE A LONG AGENDA, UH, BUT I DO WANNA ADD A LITTLE ADDITIONAL COLOR, UH, TO THE REQUEST HERE.
FIRST, LET ME START WITH, UH, JAMES QUINLAN AND HIS WIFE LAURA, WHO FOUNDED THE RHYTHM FOUNDATION 37 YEARS AGO.
THEY HAVE BEEN BRINGING, UH, A BROAD ARRAY OF MUSE POPULAR MUSIC TO THIS CITY FOR ALMOST AS LONG AS ANYONE I KNOW, AND HAVE BEEN A UNIQUE FORUM FOR EMERGING ARTISTS TO BE ABLE TO PROGRESS IN THEIR CAREERS.
UM, THE STATISTICS AND THE ADAMS PRESENTATION TELL IT ALL.
AND BY THE WAY, YOU ALL KNOW THE RHYTHM FOUNDATION.
YOU KNOW WHAT IT DOES, YOU KNOW, THE COMMUNITY IT SERVES.
I DON'T, THERE'S NOTHING I CAN SAY THAT YOU DON'T ALREADY KNOW ABOUT WHAT THEY DO.
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BUT MY MAIN POINT IS THAT WE TRULY GET MORE BANG FOR THE BUCK IN TERMS OF SERVING BROADER AUDIENCES IN THIS COMMUNITY.IT IS CERTAINLY THE CULTURAL ANCHOR FOR NORTH BEACH.
AND IF ANY ORGANIZATION MERITS AN ENHANCED LEVEL OF SUPPORT, EVEN WITH CONSIDERATION FOR THE SERIOUS ECONOMIC TIMES WE'RE IN, AND, AND I RESPECT THIS COMMITTEE AND THE COMMISSION AND THE ADMINISTRATION FOR WANTING TO BE FISCALLY PRUDENT, I GET THAT.
BUT THIS IS AN ORGANIZATION THAT IF ANYONE, UH, UH, HAS GETS BANGED FOR THE BUCK AND SERVES THE CITIZENS OF OUR COMMUNITY, IT'S THIS, I'LL, I'LL END BY SAYING ONE THING.
UH, I, AT THIS POINT IN MY CAREER, I'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET OFF AS MANY BOARDS AS I CAN, AND I'VE BEEN PRETTY SUCCESSFUL.
UNLESS THEY'RE PAYING BOARDS, OF COURSE,
BUT WHEN, WHEN JAMES QUINLAN CALLED ME AND ASKED IF I WOULD HELP, WHEN I LOOK AT HIS LIFE'S BODY, HE IS IN LAURA'S LIFE'S BODY OF WORK IN THIS COMMUNITY, AND WHAT THE WORK THAT THE RHYTHM FOUNDATION DOES AND THE PRODUCT THAT THEY PRODUCED, I COULDN'T SAY NO.
AND THAT'S WHY I'M HERE TODAY ON BEHALF OF THEM.
UH, COMMISSIONER BOT, HOW DID YOU KNOW, I HAD SOME THOUGHTS ON THIS MATTER.
COULD HAVE ASKED IF YOU LIKED, IF IT WAS SUNNY OUTSIDE AND YOU'D HAVE A LOT OF THOUGHTS I TAKE.
NO, UM, YEAH, SO I, LISTEN, EVERYONE KNOWS THAT I'M A HUGE FAN OF THIS ORGANIZATION.
UM, EVEN BEFORE, UM, I WAS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL, I WAS A FAN OF THIS ORGANIZATION AND, AND SPENT TIME THERE A LOT OF TIME THERE.
UM, I KNOW THAT WE HAVE SOME VERY SERIOUS FINANCIAL ROUGH WEATHER AHEAD, AND WE ARE BEING VERY MINDFUL OF THAT.
BUT I WAS SHOCKED AND SLIGHTLY OFFENDED WHEN I SAW THE ADMINISTRATION'S RECOMMENDATION OF, OF A $20,000 BUMP.
UM, AND I, I, I RESPECT WHERE IT COMES FROM, BUT IT IS, IT IS COMICAL TO ME WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBERS OF WHAT THIS ORGANIZATION DELIVERS TO THE COMMUNITY AND TO THE CITY, THAT WE WOULD JUST MAKE THEM WHOLE ON, ON CPI LIKE THAT IS FOR START FOR SURE.
UM, I, YOU KNOW, WE HAD A, A FERC COMMITTEE MEETING, UM, A MONTH AGO, TWO MONTHS AGO.
I DON'T REMEMBER WHERE WE TALKED ABOUT DOING, UM, ALLOCATING A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS TO DO A, AN EPHEMERAL, UM, LIGHTING EVENT FOR HALLOWEEN IN A DIFFERENT PART OF THE CITY.
AND THE COST WAS DRIVEN BY THE NUMBER OF PROJECTORS THAT WE WOULD NEED.
AND I'M NOT AGAINST DOING EPHEMERAL HOLIDAY EVENTS, BUT I'M THINKING IF WE'RE SPENDING A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR THAT FOR ONE EVENING, WOULDN'T WE BE BETTER, SIR, TO FIND A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS TO INVEST IN THIS ECONOMIC ENGINE? I'VE, I'VE GONE TO SO MANY EVENTS AT NORTH BEACH, AT THE BANDSHELL, UM, UH, YOU KNOW, IN THE EVENING ON A, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WEEK, UH, FESTIVALS OVER THE WEEKEND.
AND I HEAR PEOPLE SPEAKING EVERY POSSIBLE LANGUAGE, PEOPLE COMING FROM ALL OVER SOUTH FLORIDA.
UM, ONE OF MY FAVORITE QUOTES WAS, UM, FOR, IT WAS OVER THE COURSE OF A THREE DAY FESTIVAL.
THERE'S LIKE SOME BRO THERE, YOU KNOW, KIND OF A SURF EASY THERE, TANYA.
HE'S LIKE, DUDE, I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE I AM.
LIKE, IS THIS EVEN MIAMI? WHERE IS THIS? IT'S AWESOME.
THIS IS THE BEST FESTIVAL I'VE EVER BEEN TO.
UM, UH, YOU KNOW, NORTH BEACH IS EMERGING FINALLY FROM THIS COCOON, IF YOU WILL, TO PUT IT GENEROUSLY.
WE'VE GOT, UM, IN MY VIEW, OVERDEVELOPMENT THAT IS COMING IN, BUT IT'S COMING.
THERE'S NOTHING WE CAN DO ABOUT IT.
WE HAVE FLOURISHING NEW BUSINESSES DRIVEN BY THE, UM, THE NORMANDY BUSINESS, UH, NORMANDY FOUNTAIN BUSINESS ASSOCIATION THAT ARE ORGANICALLY OCCURRING AND NOT CHAINS.
UM, WE HAVE PEOPLE, UM, INVESTING IN THE, THEIR EXISTING BUSINESSES.
WHY WOULD WE PUT THE BRAKES ON THIS? THEY, YOU KNOW, YOU SAW FROM THE SLIDES, THIS IS ONLY A FRACTION OF THE DATA OF, OF THEM PUNCHING ABOVE THEIR WEIGHT, OF, OF THEM DRIVING THE BRAND THAT WE HAVE BEEN WORKING SO HARD TO, TO PIVOT TOWARDS SUCCESSFULLY, ALMOST ORGANICALLY.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE, ADAM AND I HAD A CONVERSATION RECENTLY ABOUT THE, THE COMMUNITY EVENTS, WHICH ARE FABULOUS.
UM, I DON'T REMEMBER THE NUMBER.
IT'S, UM, IT'S ABOUT, UH, ABOUT 40, 40%.
OKAY? SO ONE ALMOST EVERY WEEK, WHICH IS PRETTY GOOD.
AND, UM, AND, UH, THE RHYTHM FOUNDATION TAKES A LOSS DOING THOSE.
I KNOW THAT THERE'S FUNDING BESIDES THIS LINE ITEM, AND THERE'S FUNDING FROM THE SETS, UH, DEPARTMENT IN JOHN'S DEPARTMENT, AND I GET THAT.
BUT THEY TAKE A LOSS ON EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THOSE EVENTS.
[00:25:01]
SO SURE, WE CAN GIVE THEM 20 GRAND TO ROUND THEM UP FOR THEIR CPI, BUT THOSE EVENTS ARE GONNA BE THE FIRST TO GO BECAUSE THOSE ARE DISCRETIONARY.SO THAT, THAT MEANS THAT THE PEOPLE WHO CAN GO AND SEE ART AND CULTURE AND HEAR LIVE MUSIC AND EXPERIENCE WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT, UM, WILL BE THE ONES PUNISHED.
AND SO, UM, THE OTHER PART THAT REALLY MAKES ME UNCOMFORTABLE IS THAT IF WE DO A, YOU KNOW, THIS EXTENSION, WHICH I'M ALL FOR, FOR, YOU KNOW, FOR OBVIOUS REASONS, THAT MEANS THAT THEY CAN'T EVEN REALLY ASK FOR AN INCREASE FOR ANOTHER DECADE AND $20,000 A YEAR IN A DECADE FROM NOW, IS POCKET CHAINS CHANGE? SO, YOU KNOW, IF 200,000 IS TOO RICH FOR OUR BLOOD THIS YEAR, PERHAPS THAT THAT IS SOMETHING WE TAKE INTO ACCOUNT.
BUT I WOULD SUGGEST NO LESS THAN A HUNDRED THOUSAND THIS YEAR WITH AN OPTION TO RENEW, TO RENEGOTIATE IN FIVE YEARS WHEN WE ARE HOPEFULLY THROUGH THIS DIFFICULT PERIOD.
AND, AND ON THE UPSWING, IT, IT'S PRETTY FUNNY.
'CAUSE SOMETIMES PERSONALLY YOU AND I JOKE ABOUT, WE THINK ALIKE ON A LOT OF THINGS DESPITE US IN SOME AREAS BEING POLAR OPPOSITES.
BUT, UH, I HAVE IN MY NOTES HERE, AN X AMOUNT BUMP, UM, EXTEND THE FULL TERM OF THE LEASE, BUT COME BACK IN THREE YEARS TO LOOK, LOOK AT THE CITY'S COMMITMENT WITH A MINIMUM BASE AMOUNT OF WHAT'S AGREED UPON HERE TODAY, COMMISSIONER.
YEAH, I, I THINK WHEN WE PASSED THE GEO BOND CULTURE FUND, WHAT WAS IT, $160 MILLION, WE MADE A SERIOUS COMMITMENT TO ARTS AND CULTURE INFRASTRUCTURE AND TO NOT GIVE ADEQUATE, UM, OPERATING HELP.
NOW, THAT SAID, I SUPPORT, UM, WHAT COMMISSIONER BOT IS SAYING, IF THAT'S THE AGREEMENT THAT WE'RE COMING TO.
I DO THINK THOUGH, THAT WE NEED TO LOOK OVERALL AT EVERYTHING THAT WE'RE FUNDING WITH A RECURRING EXPENSE IN ARTS AND CULTURE AND SAY, HOW, HOW EVENLY IS THIS DISTRIBUTED? DO YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? BECAUSE WE REALLY NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT.
WE'VE NEVER DONE THAT AS A GROUP.
AND I THINK THAT WOULD GO A LONG WAY IN SEEING, YOU KNOW, WHAT, WHAT ARE WE FUNDING? I MEAN, HOW MANY CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS ARE WE FUNDING, JASON? DO WE EVEN KNOW WHAT ALL OF THOSE AMOUNTS ARE? AND COULD THERE BE, YOU KNOW, SOME SORT OF REDISTRIBUTION? BECAUSE IF NOT, WE AREN'T GETTING OURSELVES INTO THIS INFLATED OPERATING SITUATION ANNUALLY.
AND THAT IS WHAT IS GOING TO COME BACK AND EVENTUALLY HURT US.
BECAUSE WHAT WE'RE DOING IS WE'RE MOVING CAPITAL FUNDS INTO OPERATING AND WE CAN'T OPERATE THE CITY LIKE THAT.
SO I AM FAR, I MEAN, I WOULD GIVE THIS, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS TOTAL, OR A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS IN ADDITION TO WHAT THEY'RE CURRENTLY GETTING.
WHAT WAS YOUR, SO, SO THE INITIAL, THE ORIGINAL ASK WAS $200,000.
AND I WOULD SUGGEST INSTEAD OF 20, WE BUMP THAT UP TO A HUNDRED.
SO A HUNDRED PLUS THE 50, SO IT WOULD BE 150, RIGHT? SO THAT INSTEAD OF BEING AT TWO 50, THEY'D BE AT ONE 50 AND THEN COME BACK IN THREE YEARS TO RENEGOTIATE.
I MEAN, I THINK THAT THIS IS ONE OF OUR MOST SUCCESSFUL CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS.
AND NOW THAT WE'RE GOING NATIONAL WITH THE PBS, AND IF YOU LOOK AT AMOUNTS OF OTHER CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS THAT WE'RE FUNDING, WE COULD BE GIVING MORE FOR OTHER CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS THAT AREN'T NECESSARILY, YOU KNOW, PERFORMING AS WELL.
AND I'M NOT SAYING THAT I WANT TO CUT FUNDING FROM EVERYBODY.
I JUST THINK THAT BEING FAIR AND EQUITABLE, AND AS I WAS LOOKING AT, YOU KNOW, THESE DIFFERENT LETTERS, I MEAN, OF COURSE, BLAM AND THOSE RESTAURANTS NEED THE RHYTHM FOUNDATION 'CAUSE THEY'RE BRINGING IN A STEADY STREAM OF LOCALS ALL THE TIME.
AND I WENT TO THE, WHAT WAS THE LIGHT? THE, THE LIGHT CONCERT, WHAT IS IT CALLED WITH LAURA? THAT WAS A, UH, UH, A, AN ORIGINAL, ORIGINAL WORK THAT WE COMMISS COMMISSIONED THAT WAS CALLED SEEING DIFFERENTLY, HEARING DIFFERENTLY.
THAT WAS, UH, LAURA, UH, GOULD, YES.
FROM THE MIAMI COLOR THEORY WITH A FANTASTIC LOCAL, UH, BAND CALLED GOLD DUST LOUNGE.
SO THE NIGHT THAT I ATTENDED THE MIAMI COLOR THEORY EVENT, I REALIZED JUST HOW MANY RESIDENTS FREQUENT THE BANDSHELL ALL THE TIME.
SO IT'S NOT JUST A QUESTION OF NATIONAL PR LIKE WE'RE NOW GETTING WITH THIS, YOU KNOW, WITH PBS AND SOME OF THESE OTHER, UM, INSTITUTIONS.
AND BY THE WAY, INTERNATIONAL, BECAUSE I KNOW THAT DURING THE, UM, DURING THE SOUTH BEACH JAZZ FESTIVAL, YOU GUYS WERE ALSO, UH, FILMING THAT OR RECORDING IT, AND IT WAS BEING BROADCAST IN OTHER COUNTRIES, WHICH I FOUND REALLY IMPRESSIVE.
THAT WAS, THAT, THAT, THAT PARTICULAR SHOW WAS, UM, WAS LIVE STREAMED, UH, ONLINE, SO AVAILABLE, UH, ALL AROUND THE WORLD.
AND, AND JUST TO, TO ADD, UH, SOME, SOME EXTRA COLOR HERE.
LAST YEAR WE PRESENTED, UH, PROGRAMS, UH, WITH ARTISTS FROM 25 DIFFERENT COUNTRIES AND IN NINE DIFFERENT LANGUAGES.
SO SPEAKING TOWARDS THE INTERNATIONALISM OF, OF, OF THE, THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, HAVING THAT BEING REFLECTED IN THE, IN THE PROGRAMMING.
SO IF, IF THE A HUNDRED THOUSAND IS YOUR MOTION, I'LL, I'LL SECOND THAT MOTION.
AND, UM, I'M HOPING THAT, LET'S HEAR PUBLIC COMMENT.
[00:30:01]
FEW PUBLIC COMMENTS.DONALD D. WARD, PLEASE UNMUTE YOURSELF.
DONALD, PLEASE UNMUTE YOURSELF.
UH, MY NAME'S DON WIRTH AND I'M A RESIDENT AT 1390 OCEAN DRIVE.
UH, UH, I'M ALSO A BOARD MEMBER OF THE RHYTHM FOUNDATION, UH, AND I WAS GOING TO EXPLAIN SOME FACTS TO YOU ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION, ALTHOUGH I THINK ADAM HAS ALREADY DONE IT.
UH, THE LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WE HAVE, THE DIV DIVERSE AUDIENCES WE HAVE.
UH, AND, UH, THERE'S ONE THING THAT WE REALLY HAVEN'T DONE VERY WELL IN OUR TRAJECTORY.
UH, AND THAT'S PROPERLY ADVOCATING WITH THE CITY FOR A DEPENDABLE BASE OF OPERATING SUPPORT.
UH, AS YOU KNOW, WE'VE ASKED FOR AN ADDITIONAL $200,000, UH, UH, AND YOU'VE SEEN THE, UH, THE INFORMATION THAT ADAM HAS PROVIDED TO YOU ABOUT A MS UH, THE FEASIBILITY STUDY, HOW WE PUNCH ABOVE OUR WEIGHT AND OUR STAFF IS UNDERPAID AND OVERWORKED.
AND I DO THINK THAT, UH, IF YOU CALLED A MS AND ASKED THEM ABOUT US, THEY'D PROBABLY TELL YOU, I DON'T KNOW HOW WE DO IT.
AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT A FEW MONTHS AGO, UH, AS PART OF A PERFORMANCE REVIEW, I INTERVIEWED OUR STAFF, UH, AND THEY'RE EXHAUSTED FROM DOING 10 TO 12, UH, EVENTS PER MONTH.
WE SIMPLY NEED MORE OPERATING SUPPORT.
UH, MEANWHILE, AS TANYA MENTIONED, I THINK IT'S FRUSTRATING TO US WHEN WE SEE SHORT TERM EVENTS DONE BY OUTSIDE PROMOTERS RECEIVE MUCH MORE FUNDING THAN WE GET IN A YEAR.
HONESTLY, WE JUST WONDER IF WE'RE BEING TAKEN FOR GRANTED.
OH, THE RHYTHM FOUNDATION, THEY'LL FIGURE IT OUT.
UH, THEY DON'T NEED THE MONEY.
UH, HERE'S I THINK WHAT I'D REALLY LIKE TO TELL YOU.
I THINK, AS YOU KNOW, 10 YEARS AGO, THE BAN SHELL WAS CONSIDERED A WHITE ELEPHANT DERELICT, WORKING WITH A CITY WHERE NOT JUST ARTS AND CULTURE.
NOW, WHERE A MAJOR NEW ATTRACTION RECOGNIZED LOCALLY AND GLOBALLY, NOBODY WOULD'VE PREDICTED THIS LEVEL OF SUCCESS.
WE'VE GOT A DANIEL ERALDO, PLEASE UNMUTE YOURSELF.
COMMISSIONER IS DANIEL SERATO, CANDIDATE FOR MIAMI BEACH COMMISSION GROUP ONE.
BEFORE THAT, I WAS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE MIAMI DESIGN PRESERVATION LEAGUE, WHERE WE PUSH AMONG OTHER THINGS FOR THE HISTORIC DESIGNATION OF THE BANDSHELL AT A TIME WHEN ITS FATE AND THAT OF THE BYRON CARLISLE WERE UNCERTAIN.
THIS WAS PART OF THE NORTH BEACH MASTER PLAN, WHICH LED TO THE CREATION OF THE CRA AS WELL AS THE LARGEST HISTORIC DESIGNATION IN MIAMI BEACH.
IN 30 YEARS, PROTECTING HUNDREDS OF MIAMI MODERN MIM O BUILDINGS WHERE MANY OF OUR WORKFORCE HOUSING RESIDENTS RESIDE.
THE RHYTHM FOUNDATION HAS GIVEN A NEW LIFE TO THE BAN SHELL AND HAS REINVIGORATED THE HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOOD.
JAMES AND LAURA QUINLAN HAVE DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB AND DESERVE MUCH OF THE CREDIT FOR ITS SUCCESS.
IN ADDITION, ADAM IS DOING A GREAT JOB.
HE STARTED TOWARD THE END OF MY TENURE, AND AT THE TIME I WAS THE YOUNGEST EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE 16 CULTURAL ANCHORS IN THE CITY.
ADAM NOW HAS THAT WONDERFUL HONOR AS HE IS SLIGHTLY YOUNGER AND HE'S DOING AN EXCELLENT JOB AND REPPING WELL FOR THE NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS.
HE HAS ALSO GIVEN ME SOME VERY HELPFUL FASHION ADVICE.
THE FUTURE OF NORTH BEACH LOOKS BRIGHT, AND I URGE FULL SUPPORT FOR THE HISTORIC MIAMI BEACH BANDSHELL.
DO WE HAVE ONE MORE? LARRY SCHAFER, PLEASE UNMUTE YOURSELF.
GOOD MORNING, LARRY SCHAFER 2 3 3 80 FIRST STREET.
UM, I'M CALLING TO SUPPORT SOMEONE GIVING FASHION ADVICE TO DANIEL ALDO AS WELL.
UM, SO, BUT I AM CALLING TO SUPPORT THE RHYTHM FOUNDATION, MR. QUINLAN.
THE SLIDES THAT SHOW THE INVESTMENT WE PROVIDE IN THE ATTENDANCE THAT RESULTS, THIS IS A HUGE WIN.
LOOKING AT THIS LIKE AN ENTREPRENEUR, YOU HAVE A STARTUP HERE THAT'S PROVEN ITSELF.
IT'S GOTTEN THROUGH ITS FIRST PHASE.
IT'S IT'S PROGRAMMING LOVELY EVENTS THAT EVERYONE LOVES AT THE BAND.
AND I LOOK AT THIS AS SAYING, HOW CAN WE GO EVEN BEYOND THE BAND SHELL AND INCREASE THE, THE OPPORTUNITIES WE CAN HAVE WITH RHYTHM FOUNDATION BY HAVING THEM PROGRAM, UH, EVENTS ON THE NEW OCEAN TERRACE PARK THAT RAYMOND JUNGLES HAS PROVIDED.
MAYBE SOME OF THE FREE EVENTS CAN BE OUT THERE ON, THERE'S A LOVELY PEDESTAL.
IN ADDITION, WE HAVE ALTOS DEL MAR PARK, WHICH CAN ALSO MAYBE BE PROGRAMMED ONCE IN A WHILE WITH A CONCERT IN THE PARK.
SO IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH THE, THE, THE RHYTHM FOUNDATION, THEY'RE LIKE A STARTUP AND WE ARE LIKE A VENTURE CAPITALIST.
[00:35:01]
IN A LITTLE BIT OF MONEY WITH THEM, THEY TURN THAT INTO A LOT MORE MONEY.SO I THINK THAT I DON'T HAVE THE SPECIFICS OF WHAT WORKS, UH, ON THE NUMBERS, BUT THIS IS A BUSINESS.
I LIKE THAT THE, UH, THE IDEA OF HAVING SPECTATOR SPORTS.
I ALSO LIKE TO SEE FINAL FOUR COLLEGE, BA BASKETBALL, COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS WHEN JOE'S, PENN STATE NI LIONS ARE GONNA PLAY.
I'D LIKE TO SEE SOME ACTIVE FITNESS USES INSIDE THE BAND SHELL, SUCH AS KRISTEN SMITH AND HER MIAMI BEACH FIT CAMP, COMING IN AND CONDUCTING CLASSES THERE WHEN THERE AREN'T, UM, MUSICAL EVENTS, YOGA, EVEN BLUE ZONE COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES.
AND FINALLY, COMMUNITY USE OF THE BAND.
SHELL, UM, LOCAL NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS LIKE, UH, THE ALLISON PARK NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION HAS ALREADY ASKED TO USE THE BAN SHELL FOR COMMUNITY, UH, FORUMS FOR CANDIDATES DURING ELECTION YEARS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO I BELIEVE THEY DESERVE MORE MONEY FROM MIAMI BEACH, MORE MONEY FROM MIAMI-DADE COUNTY.
AND IS THAT THE ENTIRETY OF PUBLIC COMMENT? GO AHEAD, JOHN, PLEASE UNMUTE YOURSELF.
UM, THIS IS WAYNE ROBERTS, SOUTH OF FIFTH.
UM, LOOKING AT THE MATH, THAT 150,000 WITH THE ADDED A HUNDRED THOUSAND REPRESENTS, UH, $2 PER RESIDENT.
UH, I PAID THOUSANDS A YEARS IN A YEAR IN TAXES.
I CAN'T THINK OF A BETTER USE OF REVENUE THAN, UH, THAT
UM, I WAS FLABBERGASTED WHEN I WENT THERE IN TERMS OF, UH, THE AUDIENCE, THE, IT WAS, IT WAS, UH, PEOPLE OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, AND THOUSANDS OF THEM.
UM, AND THAT, UH, UH, UH, THE, UH, MAIN MAINTENANCE OF THE, OF THE, UH, PROPERTY WAS EXCELLENT AND THE PERFORMANCE WAS PHENOMENAL.
AND IT'S TO THE AVERAGE JOE, IT'S FOR THE AVERAGE PERSON.
SO CHAIR, I THINK TO YOU, JUST TAKING A COUPLE OF NOTES HERE, UM, ABOUT ADDING TO A MOTION RELATED TO ADDING AN OPTION TO RENEGOTIATE, I THINK IN FIVE YEARS AND JUST, UH, UNDERSTANDING, SO TO MOVING US FROM THE, THE EXISTING FUNDING TO A FLAT 150,000, IS THAT WHAT THAT COMMISSIONER BROUGHT? I THINK IT WAS THREE YEARS.
SO, UM, WHERE I'M GOING WITH THIS WEEK, EXTEND THE LEASE FOR THE FULL TERM RIGHT.
WITH AN ABILITY TO RENEGOTIATE IN THREE YEARS.
UH, BUT I ALSO WANNA PROVIDE THEM CERTAINTY WHERE THIS WILL BE THE FLOOR.
'CAUSE IF IT WAS A LONG TERM LEASE, THIS WOULD BE THE FLOOR THROUGHOUT.
I DON'T WANT THEM TO HAVE HUNG OVER THEIR HEAD.
THERE COULD BE SOME UPSIDE HERE.
BUT THERE COULD ALSO BE DOWNSIDE WHERE WE ACTUALLY TAKE AWAY, UH, SO, SO RENEGOTIATING THREE YEARS AND A POSSIBLE INCREASE.
UH, JUST HAVE THE AMOUNT THAT WE AGREE UPON TODAY MM-HMM.
WHICH I THINK WILL BE $150,000.
THAT'LL BE THE, UH, BASE FLOOR THAT WILL BE AVAILABLE.
SO WITH THE POSSIBILITY TO INCREASE.
SO IF I HAVE THIS RIGHT, RETURN TO COMMISSION WITH A FAVORABLE RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE THE MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT, UH, EXTENSION WITH AN OPTION TO RENEGOTIATE IN THREE YEARS FOR A POSSIBLE FUNDING INCREASE AND FOR A FUNDING ADJUSTMENT, UH, I'M SORRY FOR, FOR, UM, TO BRING THE TOTAL FUNDING TO $150,000 TO BE CONSIDERED AS PART OF THE 26 BUDGET PROCESS.
AND, AND I'D LIKE TO ADD TO THIS AND, UH, GAUGE HOW MY COLLEAGUES FEEL.
I WANNA GO FURTHER THAN THAT AND TRY AND HELP YOU.
AND I, I SPOKE WITH MR. KADEN ABOUT THIS, AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO COME BACK WITH AN ANSWER NOW, BUT IT'S SOMETHING WE WORK ON COLLABORATIVELY.
I DON'T KNOW IF WE'LL NEED TO, UH, IRON THIS OUT BEFORE THIS GOES TO FULL COMMISSION, BUT I WANNA FIND WAYS TO, OTHER WAYS TO RAISE REVENUES FOR YOU.
UH, AND WE CAN BE, UH, PUT ON OUR THINKING CAPS.
YOU HAVE A VERY, UH, CAPABLE BOARD, WHICH I'M SURE, UH, WILL BE FULL OF IDEAS, BUT PERHAPS IT'S HAVING SIX FLAGSHIP EVENTS THERE AND HAVING SOME SORT OF SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITY IN THE NAMING TITLES, RIGHT? MM-HMM
SO WE HAVE THE, UM, THE FIFA WORLD CUP VIEWING PARTY BROUGHT TO YOU BY CONE.
AT THE NORTH BEACH BANDSHELL MM-HMM
AND ARE CITY'S ABLE TO HELP MARKET THAT OR THINGS LIKE THAT? UM, OR COULD IT BE RENTED OUT ON TIMES WHERE, UH, YOU'RE NOT OPERATING IT FOR, UH, FITNESS OR COMMERCIAL USE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT? I'M NOT TIED TO ANY OF THESE.
I'M JUST BRAINSTORMING, UH, CERTAIN IDEAS.
UH, I, I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT, THAT, UH, SUPPORT, UH, MR. CHAIR.
AND WE WILL, UM, RETURN TO YOU WITH SOME IDEAS AND, AND WORK WITH YOUR STAFF TO SET A TIME FOR US TO, TO SIT DOWN AND WHITEBOARD OUT SOME OF THIS STUFF.
SO, UH, THAT MOTION IS, UH, IS THAT COMMISSIONER BOT MAKING THE MOTION? YEP.
[NB 3. DISCUSS POSSIBLE IMPLEMENTATION OF A HOTEL EMPLOYEE PARKING PROGRAM AT THE 17TH STREET GARAGE (G5).]
[00:40:01]
SFO.LET'S GO ON TO, UH, MB THREE HOTEL WORKFORCE PARKING RIGHTS.
MB THREE DISCUSS POSSIBLE IMPLEMENTATION OF A HOTEL EMPLOYEE PARKING PROGRAM AT THE 17TH STREET GARAGE.
HEY, HOW YOU DOING THIS MORNING, SIR? WILL MCDONALD, UH, DIRECTOR OF PARKING OF MIAMI BEACH? SO I KNOW THAT THE LAST MEETING, THIS, UH, ITEM WAS RUNNING IN CONJUNCTION WITH ANOTHER ITEM THAT GOT DEFERRED TODAY.
SO I JUST WANTED TO GET SOME GUIDANCE, UM, FROM THE COMMISSIONERS ON THAT, THAT ITEM WAS DEFERRED, IT WAS COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ, SO IT WASN'T, UH, ABLE TO ATTEND.
SO THIS ONE WOULD JUST BE RELATED TO THE HOTEL.
SO THE, THE CITY ADMINISTRATION, WE DO SUPPORT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS PROGRAM.
WE HAVE HAD SUCCESSFUL EMPLOYEE PROGRAMS, UM, IN A FEW DIFFERENT AREAS THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
UH, OUR ONLY CAUTION ON THIS ONE ITEM IS BECAUSE OF THE CURRENT SITUATION WITH THE PADELL COURTS.
AND I HOPE I'M SAYING PADDLE PADELL, I THINK IT'S PADELL.
UM, WE WOULD WANT TO GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHERE THOSE ARE GOING TO GO BEFORE WE MAKE THE, UH, UH, UH, FINAL DECISION ON WHETHER THIS WOULD BE G FIVE, WHETHER IT BE BG NINE, UM, ON WHERE THEY WOULD GO.
BUT I THINK WE CAN, UH, COME UP WITH, FOR EXAMPLE, RIGHT HERE ON OUR, UH, UH, G SEVEN, WE HAVE, UH, THE LINCOLN ROAD EMPLOYEE PROGRAM.
SO WE HAVE DEPLOYED THESE PROGRAMS WITH, UH, VARYING DEGREES OF SUCCESS IN OTHER PLACES WITHIN THE CITY.
AND I THINK WE CAN DO THE SAME THING HERE AS WELL.
AND, AND I ACTUALLY THINK THIS COULD ACTUALLY HELP, UH, RAISE PARKING REVENUES OVERALL.
IF I GO DOWN TO THE STREET END ON 17TH STREET, DESPITE OUR BEST EFFORTS, UH, IT IS STILL JUST ALL HANDICAPPED PARKING TAGS THAT SIT THERE ALL DAY.
AND THAT IS FROM THE, UH, EMPLOYEES OF THE HOTELS THAT ARE RIGHT THERE.
UM, IF WE GIVE THEM AN OPTION, A VERY CHEAP, AFFORDABLE OPTION TO PARK, YOU KNOW, WITHOUT WHAT CAN, WE SHOULD STEP UP ENFORCEMENT, BUT THEN PROVIDE THEM A MEANS THAT IS NOT STRETCHING THEIR BUDGET.
IN FACT, NOT ONLY THE 17TH STREET GARAGE, BUT I THINK A GREAT OPPORTUNITY WOULD BE THE NEW WORLD SYMPHONY GARAGE.
'CAUSE I THINK THE UTILIZATION RIGHT THERE IS EVEN LOWER.
UM, SO REALLY WHAT I'D LOOK TO TARGET ARE SOME OF THE, UH, ART DECO HOTELS THAT ARE IN THAT, UM, 17TH, 18TH, 19TH, 16TH STREET CORRIDOR.
IF YOU GO TO ANY OF THE STREET ENDS THERE, IN BETWEEN, UH, EAST OF COLLINS AVENUE, YOU'LL SEE HANDICAP TAGS JUST ON ALMOST EVERY SINGLE VEHICLE.
UM, LET'S MOVE THOSE EMPLOYEES INTO THE GARAGE AT AN AFFORDABLE RATE, AND THAT'LL OPEN UP THE STREET PARKING FOR OUR RESIDENTS, FOR OUR VISITORS, WHERE WE'LL ACTUALLY BE COLLECTING REVENUE THERE.
UM, I'LL LET YOU FIGURE OUT, YOU KNOW, THE SEMANTICS ABOUT WHAT RATE WE SHOULD BE CHARGING, BUT I THINK, UH, SOME SORT OF PROGRAM ON A MONTHLY BASIS, YOU KNOW, FOR EMPLOYEES TO PARK FOR 'EM, $30 PER MONTH OR SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES, UH, THAT CERTAINTY OF NOT THEN HAVING TO, YOU KNOW, PUT A FAKE HANDICAP PLACARD UP.
I, I THINK, YOU KNOW, THAT THAT COULD BE INTRIGUING.
WELL, AND TO ADDRESS THAT, UH, COMMISSIONER RIGHT NOW WITH MIAMI BEACH IS EXTREMELY GENEROUS, UH, SELF VOLUNTARY HANDICAP REGISTRATION PROGRAM.
UM, IT'S NOT ONLY TO RESIDENTS.
SO IF AN EMPLOYEE TRULY DOES HAVE A PLACARD RIGHT NOW, IF THEY GO DOWN TO OUR CUSTOMER SERVICE, BRING THEIR PLACARD AND UM, UH, VARYING AMOUNT OF INFORMATION, THEY CAN REGISTER AND ACTUALLY PARK AT NO CHARGE WITHIN OUR GARAGES.
UM, SO WHAT WE'LL TRY TO DO IS, UH, ONE, COMMUNICATE THE PROGRAMS THAT ARE OUT THERE FOR THESE INDIVIDUALS.
UM, AND THEN WE CAN OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, TRY TO PROVIDE AN, AN ITEM THAT IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO SERVE THEM, YOU KNOW, TO BE ABLE TO PARK, SERVE THE NEEDS OF THE PARKING BY, YOU KNOW, DRIVING REVENUE, BUT ALSO PROVIDE, UM, AN ITEM THAT THEY CAN UTILIZE WITHOUT, YOU KNOW, BREAKING THE BANK.
AND, AND THIS, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO BE PROACTIVE, RIGHT? SO, UH, I'LL WORK WITH YOU.
WE CAN BOTH GO AND SPEAK TO THE GMS OF EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THOSE HOTELS AND OPERATORS AND RESTAURANTS AND SAY, CAN YOU CALL A MEETING WITH YOUR STAFF? WE'LL SHOW UP TO IT.
UH, IN ONE HAND WE'RE GONNA COMMUNICATE THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE STEPPING UP ENFORCEMENT FOR ILLEGALLY, UH, UH, DISPLAYED HANDICAP TAGS ON THE STREET.
HOWEVER, WE DON'T WANT TO SIT HERE AND BURDEN YOU WITH, UH, PARKING FOR EIGHT HOURS AT A RATE OF, UH, FOUR OR $5 PER HOUR.
UH, WE WANT TO HELP OUR WORKFORCE AND THAT WAY WE'RE JUST ACCOMMODATING YOU SEVERAL BLOCKS AWAY.
IF I, IF I CAN, SO THIS IS AT, AT, 'CAUSE I SAID, LOOKING AT THE RECOMMENDATION THERE'S RELATED TO G FIVE AND G NINE.
IS THIS FOR BOTH GARAGES OR JUST THE G FIVE? SO, OR TO HAVE THE FLEXIBILITY? WE HAVE TO HAVE THE FLEXIBILITY JUST TO, DEPENDING, BECAUSE WHAT WE DON'T WANT TO DO IS ALL OF A SUDDEN, LET'S SAY FOR EXAMPLE, THE BEDELL COURTS GO ON THE TOP OF ONE AND WE'VE JUST ALLOCATED A FEW EXTRA A HUNDRED PARKERS THERE.
SO, SO CHAIR, MAYBE WE CAN HAVE AS IF THIS IS TO RETURN TO, TO COMMISSION
[00:45:01]
WITH A FAVORABLE RECOMMENDATION TO DIRECT ADMINISTRATION, IMPLEMENT A HOTEL EMPLOYEE PARKING PROGRAM AT THE G FIVE AND GG NINE PARKING GARAGES.IS THAT GOOD? AND IS THAT, UM, IS THAT THE NEW WORLD SYMPHONY LOG? ACTUALLY, THAT WOULD BE THE WORLD SYMPHONY.
IF WE INCLUDE THAT, WE COULD, UH, INCORPORATE A, WAIT, IT WAS G 12.
WHICH ONE IS G 12? THE, THE WORLD SYMPHONY? YEAH.
SO YOU WOULD RECOMMEND G FIVE, G NINE, G 12? I, I THINK THERE CAN BE SOME NO G 12 OR THE YEAH, I THINK IT'S G FIVE.
YEAH, G FIVE AND G NINE WORLD SIMPLY G NINE.
G, YEAH, G NINE'S THE, UH, PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, WHICH IS THE NEW WORLD.
UM, WHO, WHO WOULD BE MAKING THAT MOTION? I'LL MAKE IT.
I HAVE MB 25 ON THIS SHEET, BUT WHAT IS THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT FEES? MB 25? YEAH.
WE'RE GONNA CALL MB 25 ON, UH, HOLD ON.
YEAH, SO DO I BUT ON HERE IT'S LISTED AS 25 AND 35 AND 36.
WHERE'S THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT FEES? YEAH, IT 12.
[NB 12. DISCUSS A DISCOUNT FOR BUILDING DEPARTMENT PERMIT FEES FOR RENOVATIONS, AGE 65 & OLDER HOMEOWNERS]
DISCOUNT FOR BUILDING DEPARTMENT PERMIT FEES FOR RENOVATIONS AGE 65 AND OLDER HOMEOWNERS MB 12.WELL WAIT A SECOND OF THE, INTRODUCE MY ITEM.
UM, I SEE THAT THE ADMINISTRATION IS RECOMMENDING AGAINST THIS, BUT HERE'S HOW I WOULD ADVOCATE FOR THIS.
AND WHAT THIS ITEM IS, IS IT IS A DISCOUNT FOR BUILDING PERMIT FEES FOR RENOVATIONS IF YOU'RE 65 AND OLDER.
HERE'S THE SITUATION WE HAVE, I DID A, I DID A TALK SHOW, A RADIO SHOW, AND ONE OF THE SENIORS THAT CALLED IN SAID, YOU KNOW, WE CAN'T AFFORD THESE PERMIT FEES.
LIKE, YOU KNOW, I WANNA FIX MY FENCE.
AND I WENT THERE AND I GOT A VIOLATION.
SO IF YOU DON'T DISCOUNT A LOT OF OUR SENIORS THAT ARE ON SOME SORT OF FIXED INCOME, THEY'RE JUST GONNA DO THE WORK ILLEGALLY.
I WOULD RATHER THEM PULL A PERMIT SO THAT THIS WORK IS BEING COMPLETED THE CORRECT WAY.
SO I DO NOT AGREE WITH THE ADMINISTRATION'S RECOMMENDATION NOT TO HELP OUT OUR SENIOR CITIZENS AT A TIME WHEN THEY ARE SUFFERING.
DO YOU KNOW WHERE VINCE IS? BECAUSE I FIND THIS UNACCEPTABLE.
DO YOU HAVE NUMBER FOR THIS? I HONESTLY, I THINK THAT I'M GOING TO, I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT THIS.
WE COULD RAISE THE THRESHOLD FROM 65 TO POSSIBLY 70 YEARS OLD IF THAT WOULD MAKE YOU FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE.
UM, BUT TO NOT GIVE ANY DISCOUNT FOR OUR SENIOR CITIZENS THAT ARE APPLYING FOR PERMITS, FOR SIMPLE FIXES TO THEIR HOMES, UM, IS REALLY NOT UNDERSTANDING THE SITUATION THAT PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY ARE FACING.
AND I WAS ELECTED TO REPRESENT THEM AND I DON'T THINK THEY WOULD BE VERY HAPPY NOR WOULD OUR SENIOR COMMUNITY WITH THIS ADMINISTRATION'S RECOMMENDATION ON THIS ITEM.
UM, SO I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM OUR BUILDING DIRECTOR WHO IS NOT PRESENT RIGHT NOW, AND, UH, COMMISSIONER ROSE GONZALEZ, I APOLOGIZE, UH, FOR JUST RECOGNIZING YOU AS A VISITOR GIVING COMMISSIONER.
I BELIEVE YOU'RE ACTUALLY ACTING AS A VOTING MEMBER, UH, ALTERNATE.
SO I, I DON'T, I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR HOW YOU GUYS FEEL ABOUT THIS.
UM, AND MAYBE WE COULD HAVE A LIST OF SIMPLE ITEMS THAT WE WILL DISCOUNT OR MAYBE I'LL JUST ASK TO WAIVE FEES COMPLETELY FOR CERTAIN ITEMS THAT YOU NEED, LIKE FOR, FOR CERTAIN ITEM UPDATES.
UM, SIMPLY BECAUSE PEOPLE CAN AFFORD, THEY CAN'T AFFORD IT, AND THIS IS WHAT WE'RE GONNA GET IN, YOU KNOW, INTERIM.
HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT, RICK? THROUGH, THROUGH THE CHAIR.
UM, I HAD A CONVERSATION ABOUT A WEEK OR OR SO AGO WITH VINCE, AND I APOLOGIZE THAT I DID NOT, UM, COMMUNICATE TO YOU.
I BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE RESTRICTIONS UNDER THE BUILDING CODE THAT WOULD NOT ALLOW US TO DIFFERENTIATE THE FEES THAT ARE CHARGED BASED ON AGE.
I THINK WE HAVE TO ACROSS THE BOARD.
SO YOUR SUGGESTION NOW, WHICH IS THAT PERHAPS THERE ARE CERTAIN ITEMS, OR PERHAPS IT'S IF THE VALUE OF THE WORK IS LESS THAN X DOLLARS, BUT THERE ARE SOME, SOME TRAPS, UM, BECAUSE THE, THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT CAN'T JUST WAIVE FEES.
THEY COULD REDUCE THEM FOR CERTAIN SCOPES MAYBE, BUT, UM, BUT YOU HAVE TO TREAT EVERYONE THE SAME.
AND UM, THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT VINCE BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION, UM, ABOUT A WEEK OR WEEK AND A HALF AGO.
WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT BUDGET, AND JASON, THIS MIGHT BE A QUESTION FOR YOU, COMES FROM SMALL RESIDENTIAL PERMITS VERSUS
[00:50:01]
THESE REALLY LARGE PROJECTS, DO YOU KNOW? THAT I WOULD HAVE TO DEFER TO THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT.CARLOS DIAZ, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF BUILDING DEPARTMENT.
SO IT WOULD BE A SMALL PERCENTAGE WHEN YOU COMPARE IT TO THE LARGER PROJECTS.
LIKE WHAT KIND OF PERCENTAGE? I THINK IT'S DI MINIS.
I WOULD HAVE TO SAY PROBABLY 10, BETWEEN 10 AND 15%, BUT I'D HAVE TO LOOK INTO IT TO BE SURE.
NOW, I'M NOT SAYING SLASH THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT'S BUDGET, BUT I DO THINK THAT THERE ARE SIMPLE FIXES.
WHAT DO YOU, WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHERE YOU PLACE HERE.
THIS WOULD BE MY DIRECTION AS WE WORK ON THIS.
CAN YOU GIVE US A LIST OF THE TOP 10 VIOLATIONS THAT YOU GIVE OUT, WE CAN TO RESIDENTS.
AND THEN LET'S LOOK AT THOSE TOP 10 BUILDING VIOLATIONS THAT WE HAVE AND LOOK INTO A WAIVER OF FEES ON THOSE VIOLATIONS.
YEAH, AND THIS IS, UH,
I KNOW WE ARE MAKING SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES.
I APPRECIATE VINCE'S EFFORT, THE ENTIRE CITY'S EFFORT.
BUT THE AMOUNT OF, UH, MY TIME IN STAFF'S TIME THAT IS SPENT ON JUST INQUIRIES ON PERMITS AND BUILDING DEPARTMENT STUFF, AND WE REALLY CAN'T EVEN DO MUCH OTHER THAN JUST SAYING, HEY, LET, LET US TRY AND CONNECT YOU.
IT'S NOT AS IF WE CAN, YOU KNOW, UH, DO MUCH MORE THAN HELP NAVIGATE THE SYSTEM.
UM, SO GIVEN THIS NEW NEWS, I WAS GOING TO BE SUPPORTIVE OF THE AGE.
DO YOU WANT TO KEEP THIS HERE AS WE KIND OF, UH, GIVE DIRECTION TO THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT TO COME BACK WITH MORE INFORMATION SO WE CAN FIND SOME SORT OF CREATIVE WAY TO, UH, HELP REDUCE THE BURDEN ON OUR RESIDENTS? AND I, I THINK AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHERE A LOT OF THESE THINGS ARE LEADING BACK TO IS OVER THE YEARS AND YOU JUST SEE IT FROM ALL OF OUR MEETINGS, RIGHT? WE JUST CREATE, CREATE, CREATE MORE, MORE REGULATION, MORE, UH, MORE HOOPS THAT WE NEED TO JUMP THROUGH.
MAYBE WE'RE WORKING ON PULLING SOME OF THOSE BACK BECAUSE THAT'S REALLY WHAT'S DRIVING SOME OF, UH, UH, OUR RESIDENTS GETTING THESE VIOLATIONS.
MARIA HERNANDEZ, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER OVERSEEING BUILDING, UM, TO YOUR POINT, UH, UM, COMMISSIONER MAGAZINE, I THINK YOU WILL KNOW THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THE REALIGNMENT OF NOT ONLY THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT, BUT ALL THE DEPARTMENTS THAT, UM, HAVE THEIR HANDS IN A PERMIT FOR ABOUT A YEAR NOW.
AND WE'RE RIGHT ON THE CUSP OVER THE NEXT MONTH OR TWO TO REALLY MOVE THE NEEDLE ON THAT BECAUSE NUMBER ONE, WE'RE GONNA BRING BACK, UM, THE WALKTHROUGH PROCESS.
UM, BUT BUT MUCH MORE ROBUSTLY THAN WHAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW.
RIGHT NOW WE REALLY JUST DO A PILOT.
WE'RE GONNA BRING IT BACK LIKE IT WAS IN THE OLD DAYS, BUT BETTER BECAUSE WE'RE ALSO FIXING OUR TECHNOLOGY AND WE'RE BRINGING IN A SYSTEM THAT WILL HOPEFULLY ALLOW PEOPLE THAT WANT TO USE THE TECHNOLOGY TO DO IT IN A MUCH MORE STREAMLINED WAY.
BUT THEN RESIDENTS OR PEOPLE THAT HAVE A PROBLEM, UM, THAT REALLY DON'T WANNA USE THE TECHNOLOGY TO COME IN AND TO GET SERVICE MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY FROM EIGHT TO 12, THEY JUST COME TO THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT AND WE WILL HELP THEM AND WE WILL HOPEFULLY FIX THEIR PROBLEM AND THEY CAN WALK OUT WITH THEIR PERMIT.
WE'RE VERY CLOSE TO EXECUTING THAT A HUNDRED PERCENT.
WE HAVEN'T SENT OUT ANY INFORMATION YET, BUT IT'S ABOUT A MONTH OR TWO AWAY.
UM, SO TO YOUR POINT, WE'RE HOPING THAT THAT HELPS A LOT WITH WHAT YOUR CONCERNS ARE.
NOW TO, TO YOUR POINT COMMISSIONER, UM, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, WE HAVE TO TREAT EVERYBODY.
BY THE WAY, VINCE IS NOT HERE BECAUSE HE'S TRIPLE BOOKED IN SOME OTHER MEETINGS.
UM, IS CAN YOU SHOW ME WHICH LANGUAGE THAT IS? BECAUSE I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO EXPLORE WHICH LAW THAT IS THAT SAYS THAT THERE CANNOT BE A SENIOR DISCOUNT.
THIS MIGHT BE SOMETHING FOR OUR STATE LEGISLATORS TO CHANGE YEAH.
MOVING FORWARD IN THE FUTURE, ESPECIALLY FOR SENIORS.
BUT MY, MY DIRECTION TODAY WOULD BE GIVE ME A MONTH AND I WILL MEET WITH THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT TO SEE WHAT WE COULD DO WITHOUT, YOU KNOW, BREAKING THE BUDGET OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT BASED ON, YOU KNOW, OUR TOP 10 THAT WE THINK, UH, PEOPLE ARE NOT PULLING PERMITS FOR THE TOP 10 BUILDING PERMITS THAT WE'RE GIVING VIOLATIONS TO.
AND THEN WE CAN, UM, COME BACK, UH, NEXT MONTH.
YEAH, IF I CAN, I I THINK IT IS, IT STATES IN THE MEMO THAT, UM, IT'S UH, CHAPTER 5 53, SECTION 87 A THAT SAYS THAT THE ALL FEES HAVE TO BE CONSISTENTLY APPLIED.
I'VE, I'VE RUN INTO THIS IN PREVIOUS GOVERNMENTS THAT I, THAT I WORKED FOR, I WORKED FOR.
UH, BUT, UH, IF, IF IT SOUNDS LIKE, UH, THE COMMISSIONER WOULD LIKE TO JUST, WHICH WE COULD JUST SHOW THIS ITEM HEARD AND TO RETURN, UH, AT A, AT A LATER DATE.
AND THIS WOULD ALLOW THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT TO SIT DOWN WITH THE COMMISSIONER TO HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT SOME OPPORTUNITIES, UH, RELATED TO, UM, YOU KNOW, SENIOR DISCOUNTS, WHICH THIS ITEM SPECIFICALLY WAS ABOUT SENIOR DISCOUNTS.
'CAUSE THERE THERE WAS SOME GENERAL DISCUSSION ABOUT POSSIBLE OTHER THINGS, UH, RELATED TO SENIORS THAT THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT MAY NOT BE ABLE TO DO THAT ISN'T
[00:55:01]
STRICTLY, UH, WELL THIS WAS A SENIOR DISCOUNT.DISCUSS A DISCOUNT FOR BUILDING DEPARTMENT PERMIT FEES FOR RENOVATIONS AGE 65 OR OLDER HOMEOWNERS, RIGHT? CORRECT.
THIS, THIS IS YOUR, AND THIS IS YOUR ITEM.
SO, BUT YEAH, THEY, THEY CAN MEET WITH YOU OFFLINE TO HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT OPPORTUNITIES THERE ARE RELATED TO 65.
SO THAT, THAT WAS MY MOTION TO MEET AND THEN RETURN AND WE'LL BRING IT BACK NEXT MONTH.
AND VERY QUICKLY JUST YEAH, WE, IF IF THE SHARE'S OKAY, WE DON'T HAVE TO HAVE A MOTION, WE JUST, WE CAN, THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT I THINK HAS GOTTEN SOME FEEDBACK FROM YOU.
THEY'LL REACH OUT AND MEET WITH YOU OFFLINE AND WE'LL JUST SHOW THIS ITEM HEARD AND TO RETURN NEXT MONTH.
BECAUSE IT SAYS HERE, BECAUSE PROVIDING DISCOUNTS TO RESIDENTIAL HOMEOWNERS OVER THE AGE OF 65 MAY NOT COMPLY.
IT DOESN'T SAY IT DOES NOT COMPLY.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO GET TO YES.
AND FIND OUT WHY IT MAY NOT COMPLY INSTEAD OF COMPLYING.
SO, UM, WE'RE GONNA GET TOGETHER WITH RICK AND WE'RE GONNA PUT OUR HEADS TOGETHER AND COME UP WITH A WAY TO HELP OUR SENIORS AND FIND OUT HOW WE CAN GET TO YES.
ON FLORIDA STATUTE 5 53 0.80 BECAUSE IT DOESN'T SAY IT DOESN'T COMPLY.
WE'LL REACH OUT TO JACKIE AND SET UP A MEETING.
AND COMMISSIONER ROSE GONZALEZ, DO YOU WANT TO, UH, CONTINUE ON SOME ITEMS FOR YOU? UH, MB 22? YES.
[NB 22. DISCUSS A PROPOSED SECOND AMENDMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, A MUNICIPAL CORPORATION OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA (“CITY”) AND BOUCHER BROTHERS MIAMI BEACH, LLC. (“CONCESSIONAIRE”), TO AUTHORIZE THE SALE OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES AND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF ADVERTISING AND SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN THE DESIGNATED CONCESSION AREAS.]
YES.MB 22 DISCUSS A PROPOSED SECOND AMENDMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, A MUNICIPAL CORPORATION OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA CITY AND BOUCHER BROTHERS MIAMI BEACH, LLC CONCESSIONAIRE TO AUTHORIZE THE SALE OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES AND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF ADVERTISING AND SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN THE DESIGNATED CONCESSION AREAS.
AND B 22, MUCH NEEDED FOR, WE SPEND A LOT OF THESE COMMITTEES OF PUTTING MONEY OUT THE DOOR.
I ALWAYS WELCOME, UH, OPPORTUNITIES TO GET MONEY IN THE DOOR.
SO THANK YOU FOR THIS, OZZY, WHY DON'T WE, UH, TURN IT OVER TO YOU.
UH, MR. CHAIR, UM, COMMISSIONER AND STAFF, OZZY DOMINGUEZ, DIVISION DIRECTOR OF ASSET MANAGEMENT FOR THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH.
UH, THE CITY ENGAGED INTO A CONCESSION AGREEMENT WITH BOUCHER BROTHERS BACK IN 2012.
SINCE THEN, THERE HAS BEEN AN AMENDMENT TO THEIR AGREEMENT, AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE, UM, TO THE AMENDED AND RESTATED, UH, CONCESSION AGREEMENT.
UH, THERE IS NOW A PROPOSAL TO INTRODUCE THE SALE OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE AND ADVERTISING THROUGH THE CONCESSIONS AGREEMENT.
THEY ARE ALLOWED AS LONG AS THE, UM, THE, THE VOTE IS IN FAVOR.
BHA BROTHERS HAS PROVEN TO BE A VERY RESPONSIBLE, DEDICATED, UH, CONCESSIONAIRE.
THEY PROVIDE, UM, INCREDIBLE SERVICE.
THEY WORK WITH ALL CITY DEPARTMENTS, UM, BY ALLOWING THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO INTRODUCE A SALE OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE AND ADVERTISING, BUT ONE ON THE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE SIDE.
UH, WE WILL HOPEFULLY BE ABLE TO COMBAT AND ELIMINATE THE LEGAL SALES ON THE BEACH, ON THE SAND, UM, BY HAVING, UH, A, A, A PROGRAM THAT IS REGULATED AND THAT IS RUN BY, UH, A PROFESSIONAL, UH, ORGANIZATION.
UM, AND THEN ALSO ALLOWING THE ADVERTISEMENT THROUGH EITHER UMBRELLAS OR ON THEIR CONCESSION STANDS WILL ALSO ALLOW TO, TO BRING, UH, YOU KNOW, INCREDIBLE NEW PROGRAMS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADDITIONAL REVENUE FOR THE CITY.
WHEN I SPONSOR THIS, UM, I'M OKAY WITH THE ALCOHOL SALES PORTION, BUT I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE ADVERTISING PART.
I DON'T MIND A LITTLE BIT OF ADVERTISING ON UMBRELLAS, BUT I DON'T WANT ALL OF OUR BEACH STANDS TO HAVE ADVERTISING ON 'EM.
I THINK THAT THAT WILL CHEAPEN THE ENTIRE BEACH EXPERIENCE.
SO I WOULD BE OKAY WITH UMBRELLA ADVERTISING.
I DON'T WANT ANY ADVERTISING ON THE, UM, BEACH STAND.
AND THEN THERE'S ONLY ONE MORE THING, AND I DON'T KNOW WHY IT'S NOT WRITTEN HERE, AND THAT IS, IT SAYS AS REVENUE GROWS, SO TOO, DOES THE CITY SHARE UNDER THE AGREEMENTS PERCENTAGE BASED COMPENSATION STRUCTURE? WHAT IS THE STRUCTURE FOR THIS? FOR THE ALCOHOL SALES? UM, I BELIEVE ON, UH, ALL BEVERAGE SALES, WHICH WOULD INCLUDE THE ALCOHOL SALE, IT'S 30%, 30%.
THAT'S, WE NEED TO DOUBLE CHECK.
YEAH, WE NEED TO DOUBLE CHECK.
BUT IF YOU MOVE THIS ITEM, I WILL MOVE THIS ITEM WITH A 30%, BECAUSE THAT IS SERIOUS REVENUE FOR THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH.
AND, UM, COMMISSIONER, ALLOW ME TO DOUBLE CHECK BEFORE I MAKE THAT PROMISE.
THAT'S A BIG, THAT'S A BIG, UH, YOU KNOW, I, I THINK DOUBLE CHECK 25 OR 30, BUT I CAN CHECK REAL QUICK AND, AND GET BACK TO YOU AS IN REAL QUICK NOW.
YES,
SO WE'LL DISCUSS OZZY AND YOU GRAB THAT NUMBER TWO MINUTES.
WHAT ARE YOU PROJECTING IN TERMS OF SALES? THAT'S, THAT'S ACTUALLY A GOOD SPLIT.
[01:00:01]
TWO AREAS OF FOCUS, UH, WHAT TYPE OF REVENUE AND EXPLAIN THE ADVERTISING.UH, SO COMMISSIONER BOB, WHY DON'T YOU GIVE, UH, SOME OF YOUR THOUGHTS OR QUESTIONS IN OZZY? UH, THIS IS CUTTING INTO THOSE TWO MINUTES.
SO, UH, SO, UH, I'M, I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT TWO THINGS.
UM, WELL, VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE ADVERTISING.
UM, I THINK ONE OF THE CHARMING THINGS ABOUT OUR BEACHES, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING IN SOUTH BEACH AND YOU'VE GOT THE POSTCARD OF, UM, ART DECO AND OCEAN DRIVE, UM, IS THAT IT IS ADVERTISING FREE.
AND I WOULD ACTUALLY BE MORE INCLINED TO PUT A PLACARD ON THE KIOSK ITSELF.
UM, YOU KNOW, THIS, THIS BOOTH BROUGHT TO YOU BY WHATEVER, OR THIS DRINK BROUGHT TO YOU BY WHATEVER, THAN HAVING THE ADVERTISING ON THE UMBRELLAS, BECAUSE I THINK THAT REALLY CHEAPENS THE LOOK AND FEEL OF SOUTH BEACH, WELL, ALL OF MIAMI BEACH, BUT WHERE IT'S MOSTLY CONCENTRATED IS SOUTH BEACH.
SO I WOULD NOT BE SUPPORTIVE OF THIS WITH ADVERTISING ON UMBRELLAS.
THE OTHER THING IS, THIS IS A RADICAL CHANGE FROM WHAT WE HAVE DONE IN THE PAST AND WHAT WE'RE DOING CURRENTLY.
UM, WE ARE WORKING VERY HARD TO TURN OUR CITY AWAY FROM, YOU KNOW, PARTY TILL YOU DROP KIND OF STUFF.
AND, UM, I WOULD LIKE TO TRY THIS OUT IN A SECTION BEFORE WE ENTER INTO A CITYWIDE AGREEMENT FOR MULTIPLE YEARS BECAUSE, UM, YOU KNOW, THE, I THINK IN PRINCIPLE, THIS SHOULD BE GREAT.
AND SO IT DOESN'T BECOME, IT DOESN'T UNDO ALL THE WORK THAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO.
SO THOSE ARE TWO VERY BIG CONCERNS OF MINE.
IF IN QUESTION ABOUT WHERE WE STAND NOW, IF I, UH, HAVE A BEACH CHAIR AT SOHO HOUSE, RIGHT? AND RICK, MAYBE THIS IS TO YOU.
UM, I'M ABLE TO ORDER A DRINK THERE.
I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH WHETHER YOU CAN OR CANNOT, BUT OKAY.
NOT THAT SPECIFICALLY, BUT YOU'RE UP BEACH FROM A HOTEL LIKE THAT.
UM, I BELIEVE THAT HOTELS, IF, IF THEY CAN JOIN OR, OR SHOW THAT THEIR LICENSE PREMISES INCLUDES THE BEACH CONCESSION AREA, UM, THAT'S GONNA VARY PROPERTY TO PROPERTY.
I KNOW A LITTLE BIT JUST BASED ON MY PAST BACKGROUND, BUT, UM, BUT IT, BUT I HAVE SEEN LIQUOR SALES ON THE BEACH.
AND YEAH, I'M, I'M BACK AND FORTH ON THE ADVERTISING BECAUSE, UH, IT'S ONE OF THOSE, THE DEVIL'S IN THE DETAIL THINGS YOU CAN SEE GOING EITHER WAY.
I KNOW, UH, IN SOME OF THESE HIGH-END, UH, ON THE FRENCH RIVIERA AND THE A MAFI COAST, ACTUALLY, SOME OF THESE VERY HIGH-END BRANDS, UM, HAVE ROLLED OUT IN THE PAST TWO YEARS, THESE BEAUTIFUL, UM, UMBRELLA CONCEPTS.
AND IT'S ALMOST LIKE, YOU KNOW, CHRISTIAN DIOR UMBRELLAS AND IT LOOKS, IT'S STUNNINGLY BEAUTIFUL, BUT I ALSO DON'T WANT BUZZ BALL UMBRELLAS, UH, OR THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO I THINK WHATEVER DIRECTION, MAYBE WE'RE NOT THERE YET ON, ON SHORING UP EXACTLY WHAT THE ADVERTISING IS, BUT I KNOW THE ONE THING THAT WILL HAVE TO BE FRONT AND CENTER IS THE CITY MAINTAINS A CERTAIN DIS DISCRETIONARY AUTHORITY, UM, ABOUT THE TYPES OF ADVERTISING THAT WE COULD DO.
AND THERE HAS TO BE SOME SORT OF DECISION MAKER THAT WOULD HAVE ULTIMATE AUTHORITY TO SAY, NO, THIS ISN'T IN LINE WITH OUR BRAND.
CAN I, CAN I SAY SOMETHING? THE REASON WHY COMMISSIONER BOUGHT, I LIKE THE ADVERTISING ON AN, ON AN UMBRELLA VERSUS, UM, THE ACTUAL STAND IS BECAUSE RIGHT NOW IT'S ALREADY BEING ADVERTISED.
LIKE FOR EXAMPLE, IF THEY WERE SERVING WHISPERING ANGEL, IT COULD BE LIKE A PRINT UMBRELLA AND IT WOULD JUST SAY A LITTLE LIKE, WHISPERING ANGEL.
DO YOU UNDERSTAND? THE OTHER ONE IS KIND OF LIKE, AS YOU GO TO THE BEACH, IT'S IN YOUR FACE.
THAT'S WHY I'M SAYING IF WE DID DO IT, I WOULD HAVE A DISCRETIONARY, KIND OF LIKE WHEN YOU SEE ON THE BEACH IN ITALY, IT SAYS LIKE, YOU KNOW, AALL.
YEAH, I REMEMBER YOU AT THE AAL BEACH.
I REMEMBER YOU AT THE AAL BEACH.
YES, I WAS AT THE AAL BEACH TOO.
I WAS, SO, AND WE BOTH, UH, ENJOYED OUR FUN UNDER THE SUN.
SO I DO THINK THAT IT COMPLETES THE BEACH EXPERIENCE.
UM, BUT I DO THINK THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, COULD THERE BE SOME SORT OF LIKE, UH, ALMOST AKIN TO THE DESIGN REVIEW BOARD MM-HMM
NOT, NOT THE DESIGN REVIEW BOARD.
YOU'D HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, THE DESIGN WOULD HAVE TO BE PRESENTED TO, TO STAFF OR TO THE COMMISSION, UM, LIKE ART IN PUBLIC PLACE.
I DON'T, WE'LL SEND IT TO SOME COMMITTEE FOR, FOR TO BE APPROVED.
THERE NEEDS TO BE AN APPROVAL PROCESS FOR ANY, UM, I, I, I WOULD HESITATE TO DO ANYTHING BEYOND UMBRELLAS, BUT COMMISSIONER BOT DOESN'T WANT ANY, YOU DON'T WANT ANY ADVERTISING AT ALL.
AND THAT'S COMING FROM SOMEBODY WHO'S IN THE ADVERTISING AND BRANDING.
AND I UNDERSTAND THE REVENUE GENERATION THAT IT CREATES, BUT THE, THAT REVENUE IS NOT SHARED BY THE CITY, RIGHT.
ANY ADVERTISING, YES, IT WOULD BE SHARED, YES.
I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST, I ACTUALLY HAD INVERTED MY NUMBERS, MY APOLOGIES.
THE ADVERTISING SHARE IS 50% OF THEIR GROSS REVENUE FOR ADVERTISING.
[01:05:01]
AND ON THE ALCOHOL SIDE IT'S 15%.I, I REALLY DON'T WONDER IT ON THE KIOSK.
SO I THINK IT WILL CHEAPEN THE EXPERIENCE.
I'M NOT READY FOR THE ADVERTISING PORTION, BUT I AM, I WILL MOVE THE ALCOHOL FORWARD.
BUT I WOULD SUGGEST THAT, CAN WE DO IT IN A PILOT PROGRAM BEFORE WE DO IT CITYWIDE ONE BEACH AND A PILOT PROGRAM? I'D BE OKAY WITH THAT, BUT I WOULD LIKE THAT ALSO TO BE AT A 30% REV, AT LEAST MINIMUM 25, BECAUSE ALCOHOL HAS TREMENDOUS MARGINS.
YOU, YOU KNOW, ALREADY HAVE THE STAKE ON THERE.
TELL US WHERE THIS IS BEING PROPOSED AND CONTEMPLATED.
SO WHAT WE WERE THINKING, PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF, OMI PARK, RALPH ANDRADA HERE ON BEHALF OF THE BACHE BROTHERS.
UM, AND, AND WHAT I WOULD REQUEST IS, IS THAT, LOOK, THIS IS ALL SUBJECT TO FURTHER DISCUSSION, RIGHT? THE, THE ALCOHOL PIECE, THE, THE REVENUE SHARE, UH, THE ADVERTISING COMPONENT.
UM, THERE'S GONNA BE A LOT OF TIME BETWEEN NOW AND, AND WHEN THIS ITEM GOES TO COMMISSION, TO HASH OUT THOSE DETAILS.
AND WHEN IT GETS TO COMMISSION, IF THE COMMISSION WANTS TO BIFURCATE THE TWO, IT CAN, YOU HAVE THAT OPTION.
IF YOU WANT TO GO WITH BOTH, YOU HAVE THAT OPTION.
BUT I THINK YOU WOULD BE WISE AND PRUDENT TO, YOU KNOW, FOR THE COMMISSION TO HAVE BOTH OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO YOU, UH, FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
UM, I WISH THAT WE WOULD'VE SAT DOWN AND REALLY HASHED THIS OUT BETTER BECAUSE I, I, I, I'M NOT, WE'RE NOT READY YET.
WE'RE, WE'RE GONNA HAVE PLENTY OF TIME BETWEEN NOW AND SEPTEMBER WHEN THIS WILL PROBABLY COME BACK TO THE COMMISSION.
DO YOU WANNA TALK OFFLINE RIGHT NOW AND BRING THIS BACK IN AN HOUR TODAY? I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE SOME DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THIS.
WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO ZERO IN ON SO WE CAN, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT OUR REVENUE SHARE IS AND WHAT YOU'RE PLANNING IN TERMS OF ADVERTISING.
AND, AND WHEN, SORRY, COMMISSIONER, ALL OF US DO FOR, WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TIMING, WHAT TYPE OF REVENUE ARE WE TALKING ABOUT HERE? ARE WE TALKING OZZY, DO WE PROJECT THE CITY TO RECEIVE $50,000 OR ARE WE TALKING THE CITY COULD RECEIVE A MILLION AND A HALF AND WHERE, OR, OR WHATEVER IT MAY BE.
AND WHERE I'M GOING WITH THAT IS, UH, IF IT'S IMPORTANT TO KEEP THIS TIMING ON TRACK, BECAUSE MR. CFO HELPED GUIDE ME HERE, I'M THINKING OF TIMELINE WITH OUR BUDGET.
TO GET THIS PROJECTED REVENUE IN FOR 2026, UM, IT WOULD SEEMINGLY HAVE TO BE HEARD BY COMMISSION BY, UH, SEPTEMBER.
NOT HAVING, I'M OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD HERE.
I'M THINKING, UH, NOT HAVING ANY, UH, PRIOR INFORMATION.
IT MIGHT BE DIFFICULT TO EXTRAPOLATE THAT.
SO I WOULD NORMALLY BE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE CONSERVATIVE WHEN IT COMES TO BUDGETING.
SO I PREFER TO HAVE ACTUAL DATA AND THEN REALLY PUT THIS IN THE 27 BUDGET.
UM, 'CAUSE WE JUST HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THOSE REVENUES WOULD BE.
UM, SO IT, IT, IT SOUNDED LIKE THE SPONSOR WANTED TO, I GUESS, PUT THIS ON HOLD AND HAVE IT RECALLED LATER IN THE MEETING, WHICH I, I BELIEVE, UNLESS RICK TELLS ME IS NOT ALLOWED, I THINK WOULD BE ALLOWED.
AND WE CAN MOVE ON TO ANOTHER ITEM.
AND THIS COULD BE RECONVENED LATER IN THE MEETING, RICK.
SO IF, IF, IF THAT'S WHAT APPEARS THE SPONSOR WOULD LIKE TO DO, WE CAN, WE CAN JUST, UH, PUT THIS ONE ON, ON ICE, AS IT WERE, AND, UH, CALL ANOTHER ITEM OR TWO.
I THINK ON THE ROCKS, I'M SURE BAD AND I EXPERTS THERE, I PREFER RICK'S.
UH, WE'LL PUT IT ON THE ROCKS FOR A LITTLE BIT AND, UH, WHEN THE SPONSOR WANTS IT TO BE RECALLED, SHE CAN REQUEST YOU TO DO SO.
AND WE CAN SHOW IT THAT WE'LL SHOW IT.
CAN I JUST ASK A QUICK QUESTION? LIKE, IF IT'S NOT GOING TO THE COMMISSION TILL SEPTEMBER, WHY DON'T WE JUST COME, HAVE COME BACK IN IN JULY? BECAUSE WE HAVE A, WE HAVE A FERC MEETING IN, IN JULY, AND, UM, WE CAN HASH EVERYTHING OUT AND HAVE IT FULLY BAKED AND COME BACK AND IT'LL STILL BE AT THE SEPTEMBER COMMISSION MEETING.
BIFURCATE THE TWO, BECAUSE I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT THE ADVERTISING IS.
ESPECIALLY BECAUSE IT'S SUMMER MOVING FORWARD WITH ALCOHOL ON THE BEACH, ESPECIALLY TO LEGALIZE THE ILLEGAL SALES.
AND JUST BECAUSE IT MAKES THE BEACH EXPERIENCE MORE COMPLETE AND IT ALLOWS OUR BEACHES, UM, TO COMPETE WITH EVERYONE ELSE'S
I'VE SPOKEN, UM, TO THE BOUCHER BROTHERS AND THEY'RE OFFERING 25% REVENUE SHARE.
I THINK THAT'S A VERY DECENT OFFER.
SO I WOULD, I WOULD MOVE IT AT THE 25% AND BIFURCATE, UM, AND, AND BIFURCATE THE ADVERTISING.
AND WE CAN, WE CAN BRING BACK THE ADVERTISING IF YOU LIKE, UM, IN A MONTH AND TALK ABOUT THAT LATER.
UM, BUT I WOULD MOVE IT FORWARD IN SUMMER, ESPECIALLY ITS SUMMER RIGHT NOW.
WHY NOT? IT MIGHT BE BEACH CAN MAKE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF REVENUE OFF OF THIS JUST FROM, YOU KNOW, SELLING WHISPERING ANGEL OR WHATEVER IT IS ON THE BEACH.
YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT A BIG DEAL.
SO A COUPLE OF LOGISTICS QUESTIONS.
ONE, WHERE'S IT CONTEMPLATED? TWO, WHAT TYPES OF ALCOHOL ARE, ARE WE TALKING? AND THEN THREE,
[01:10:02]
UM, PART OF THE OVERRIDING FACTOR FOR ME ON THIS IS TO CURTAIL THE BLACK MARKET ACTIVITY.AND, AND I'VE SAID THIS FOR A YEAR AND A HALF.
I, I LIKE TO GO TO THE BEACH OFTEN, AND IF I SIT ON A BEACH THAT IS NOT UPLAND FROM A HOTEL, YOU FEEL LIKE YOU ARE IN ONE OF THE WORST CRUISE DESTINATIONS, UH, THE CHEAPEST PLACE IN THE WORLD WITH ALL THE HAWKERS.
AND THAT IS SOMEWHAT OF A RECENT PHENOMENON, UH, JUST WITHIN THE PAST TWO YEARS.
AND IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS, IT'D BE GREAT TO SEND OUT CODE COMPLIANCE AND, UH, OUR POLICE, IT, WE'RE JUST, WE'RE STRETCHED, RIGHT? THERE'S A FINITE AMOUNT OF RESOURCES.
HOW CAN WE BE SURE THAT GOING FORWARD WITH THIS WILL HELP CURTAIL THE BLACK MARKET ACTIVITY? BECAUSE, UH, I'D RATHER HAVE SOMETHING THAT'S REGULATED THAN HAVING THINGS THAT ARE SOLD MARGARITAS SOLD OUT OF PEOPLE'S BACKPACKS AND, AND JUST THE UNPLEASANT EXPERIENCE OF JUST SITTING THERE AND BEING HAWKED OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
AND IT STARTED WITH MARGARITAS AND, AND NOW IT'S FROM EVERYTHING FROM EMPANADAS, THE WHEAT.
YOU KNOW, TODAY WE JUST INCREASED COMMISSIONER BOUGHT THE FUNDING FOR THE RI RHYTHM FOUNDATION.
SOMETHING THAT ALL OF US WANNA DO, BUT SOMETHING THAT ALSO WE REALIZED THAT WHEN WE ADD THESE RECURRING EXPENSES AND WE DON'T HAVE A COMPETING, UM, YOU KNOW, INCREASE IN REVENUE, WE'RE JUST GIVING IT OUT.
WE COULD ACTUALLY HAVE THIS DEDICATED TO ARTS AND CULTURE FUNDING IF YOU WANTED.
AND THAT MIGHT COVER EVERYTHING.
AND MORE LIKE IT COULD COVER ALL OF OUR RECURRING ARTS AND CULTURE FUNDING, AND ANY SURPLUS CAN GO INTO THE GEN, UH, YOU KNOW, GENERAL FUND.
I MEAN, IT'S ONE WAY TO, TO WORK THIS IF THAT WOULD BRING YOU ON BOARD, BECAUSE THEN WE KNOW AT LEAST WE HAVE A REVENUE SOURCE THAT WE'RE PEGGING TO SOME OF THESE, UM, ITEMS. I, I, I, I APPRECIATE THAT OFFER.
UM, I'LL THINK ABOUT IT FOR A SECOND, BUT I DO, I DO WANNA CORRECT THE MISNOMER THAT THE ARTS AND CULTURE FUNDING THAT WE PROVIDE IN THE CITY IS WHAT IS PUTTING OUR BUDGET OVER THE TOP.
I MEAN, 70% OF OUR BUDGET IS GOING TO, UM, FIRE AND POLICE AND, AND FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES AS, AND THAT IS A NORMAL, THAT IS A NORMAL THING IN A CITY.
SO THE A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS WE GAVE TO THE RHYTHM FOUNDATION IS AN ECONOMIC ENGINE, IS A DRIVER FOR CONTINUED GROWTH.
AND THE SAME THING WITH MIAMI NEW DRAMA.
YOU KNOW, IT'S PENNIES ON THE DOLLAR COMPARED TO WHAT WE SPEND, WHAT I FORGOT TO TELL YOU ABOUT THE, UM, UH, THE RHYTHM FOUNDATION, THEY HAVE THE PROJECTORS THAT WE WANT TO USE FOR THE BUILDING, UM MM-HMM.
SO WE CAN BORROW THEM FOR THAT.
I THINK WE'VE GOT THE PROJECTORS AT NO ADDITIONAL COST.
SO, YOU KNOW, THEREFORE WE'VE JUST SAVED A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS.
NOT BAD FOR, YOU KNOW, FOR, FOR A WORDS GIRL, NOT A NUMBERS GIRL.
BUT SO MY POINT IS THAT SURE, GOOD POINT.
I JUST LIKE, YOU KNOW, HESITATE WHEN I SEE STUFF, I'M LIKE, OH, YOU KNOW, I WANNA DO IT.
BUT THAT ISN'T WHAT'S DRIVING THE BUDGET, RIGHT? THAT IS NOT WHAT'S DRIVING THE BUDGET.
IT'S, IT'S, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE LOTS OF OTHER THINGS.
I'M NOT GONNA CALL THEM OUT, BUT GO AHEAD.
WE HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT WHERE WE'RE GONNA DO THIS AS A PILOT PROGRAM BECAUSE I DON'T, I DON'T WANT SHOTS SOLD.
YOU KNOW, I THINK WE NEED TO BE VERY MINDFUL ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING AND MAYBE HAVE A LIMITED MENU OF MIXED DRINKS.
I DON'T THINK THIS IS, YOU KNOW, IF SOMEBODY'S COMING DOWN, THEIR FRAT BROS COMING DOWN.
UH, UH, A UH, A UM, BACHELORETTE PARTY.
WE DON'T NEED PEOPLE DOING SHOTS ON THE BEACH AT THREE O'CLOCK IN THE AFTERNOON AND THEN BEING CARTED OFF BY EMERGENCY SERVICES AT SIX.
UM, SO I, I WANT THIS TO BE, IF WE WANT TO ENHANCE THE EXPERIENCE, LET'S THINK ABOUT HOW IT IS BEING USED IN EUROPEAN CITIES, WHICH ARE MORE SOPHISTICATED ABOUT THIS SORT OF THING.
AND WHAT, WHAT IS OFFERED, HOW IT'S MONITORED, WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE.
ARE WE GOING TO, UM, YOU KNOW, IS THERE GONNA BE A A THREE DRINK LIMIT? LIKE, I DON'T, I'M NOT SUGGESTING THAT, BUT LIKE, HOW ARE WE GONNA DO THIS SO THAT IT DOESN'T END UP WITH PEOPLE GETTING SUNBURNED AND ALCOHOL POISONING ON THE SAME DAY? YEAH.
AND I THINK TO ADD TO THAT, I THINK WE WOULD NEED SOME SORT OF STAFF REQUIRE SOME SORT OF STAFF TRAINING TO, UH, BE COGNIZANT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE OVERSERVED JUST LIKE A BAR WOULD HAVE OR THINGS LIKE THAT IF WE'RE GOING TO BE SERVING ALCOHOL, RIGHT? THAT RESPONSIBILITY HAS TO BE BORN BY THE PEOPLE THAT ARE, UH, ESSENTIALLY SERVING IT.
BECAUSE TO THAT, THAT POINT, YOU KNOW, YOU, YOU HAVE YOUR FIFTH DRINK IN AN HOUR AND A HALF AND YOU STAGGER OFF TO THE BEACH TO COOL DOWN TO THE WATER, TO COOL DOWN, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU FORGET HOW TO SWIM.
RIGHT? SO THERE, I KNOW IT, IT HAPPENS IN OTHER PLACES.
I'M NOT SAYING NO, I'M JUST SAYING WE'RE, WE'RE DOING THINGS DIFFERENTLY NOW.
WE NEED TO BE REALLY MINDFUL OF MAKING SURE WE DON'T DO SOMETHING THAT'S STUPID, THAT DOESN'T, NOT THAT THIS IS STUPID, BUT DO IT IN A STUPID MANNER SO THAT WE, UM, CREATE MORE PROBLEMS THAN WE'RE TRYING TO SOLVE.
IF I, I'M SORRY IF I MAY, 'CAUSE I KNOW THAT THERE WERE A LOT OF QUESTIONS AND A LOT OF GREAT COMMENTS, AND I WANT TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS, ADDRESS THEM NOW, UH, IN OUR DISCUSSIONS PRIOR TO THIS MEETING
[01:15:01]
AND OR IN PREPARATION FOR THIS MEETING, MY DISCUSSIONS WITH, UH, WITH THE BOUCHER BROTHERS ORGANIZATION, WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT CURTAILING THE BLACK MARKET.THEY'RE GOING TO BE INCREASING POLICING THROUGH STAFF AND THROUGH ADDITIONAL POLICE SERVICES ON THE BEACH TO PREVENT THAT BLACK MARKET FROM CONTINUING TO, TO ENTER OUR BEACH.
UH, IN ADDITION TO WHAT YOU WERE JUST MENTIONING, CAN I ASK A QUESTION? YES, MA'AM.
ADDITIONAL POLICE SERVICING, UH, OFF-DUTY POLICE.
SO THE BOUCHER BROTHERS WILL BE HIRING OFF-DUTY POLICE CORRECT.
SO IN ADDITION TO THEIR STAFFING POLICING, THEY'RE GOING TO BE HIRING OFF-DUTY POLICE.
WE WILL BE ABLE TO THAT DELINEATE ALL OF THESE DETAILS.
THAT WILL BE THE BOUCHER ROSE
WE WILL, UH, DETAIL ALL OF THIS IN THE COMMISSION MEMO WITH, WITH MORE INFORMATION ON IT.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, AS FAR AS THE MENU THAT YOU WERE JUST MENTIONING, COMMISSIONER, UH, WE WILL WORK TOGETHER WITH CHE TO HAVE A SET MENU OF WHAT THE OFFERINGS ARE SO THE COMMISSION CAN ACTUALLY SEE IT AND FURTHER COMMENT ON IT OR, YOU KNOW, APPROVE OR, OR EDIT IT AS NEEDED.
UH, BOUCHER HAS COMMITTED RIGHT NOW TO $10,000 A YEAR FOR THE NEXT NINE YEARS AS A PUBLIC BENEFIT TO THE BAN SHELL, UM, AS PART OF THIS, UH, AMENDMENT TO THEIR AGREEMENT.
AND, UM, WHERE, UH, MR. CHAIR, YOU HAD ASKED WHERE WE WOULD LIKE TO LAUNCH THIS PROGRAM, THE PREFERENCE IS LOOMIS BEACH.
UH, SO THEY HAVE LOOMIS BEACH 21ST AND 46TH.
IF YOU WANT TO JUST RESTRICT IT TO LOOMIS BEACH FOR THE, THE FIRST 21ST, GO AHEAD AND WE CAN LIMIT IT TO, WHAT ARE THOSE STREETS? LO IT'S LOOMIS 21ST AND 46TH STREET,
AND, AND I'M SURE WE ALL HAVE OUR FAVORITE REVENUE SOURCES THAT WE'D LOVE TO DEDICATE THIS TO, BUT I KNOW WE HAVE A BIG INITIATIVE TO EXPAND THE HEALTH AND WELLNESS OFFERINGS DOWN IN LOOMIS PARK AND ALSO IN NORTH BEACH.
GIVEN THAT THIS IS A BEACH ITEM.
UH, AND WE DO HAVE FUNDING FOR THE BANDSHELL, I THINK THAT WOULD BE A GREAT DEDICATED REVENUE SOURCE IN LINE WITH BLUE ZONES AND 25% I'M OKAY WITH IT.
WHAT I WOULD TELL YOU COMMISSIONER ABOUT ARE THE PEOPLE THAT ARE GETTING SUPER WASTED ON THE BEACH ARE NOT PAYING $15 FOR A GLASS OF ROSE.
THEY'RE GOING TO THE CORNER STORE AND BRINGING IN A BOTTLE.
AND THEY'RE DOING IT RIGHT NOW.
IT'S, IT'S WORSE THAN THAT, YOU KNOW, SO AT LEAST WE'RE GETTING A, A CUT OF, OF, OF REVENUE AND PEOPLE, YOU KNOW.
I THINK IT, I I'M TELL, I DON'T THINK IT'S GONNA BE A PROBLEM.
LIKE IF IT, IF IT WAS A PROBLEM, WE CAN REVISIT WHATEVER WE WRITE INTO THE CONTRACT IS IF WE FIND OUT THAT ONE BEACH IS OUT OF CONTROL OR SOMETHING, WE CAN, YOU KNOW, REVISIT THIS.
WE HAVE TO HAVE SOME SORT OF PROTECT.
AM I WRITING THAT YOUR, THAT CONCESSION AGREEMENT? YOU'RE ALREADY SERVING ALCOHOL ON THE BEACH FROM SOME OF THE HOTELS OR MAYBE A LOT OF THE HOTELS? A LOT OF THE HOTELS DO HAVE ALCOHOL SERVICE.
UM, SO YEAH, THERE, THERE'S ALCOHOL ON THE BEACH.
AND COMMISSIONER, WHAT I WAS SAYING IS IT'S, IT'S WORSE THAN THEM GOING, YOU KNOW, UP THE BLOCK TO THE STORE TO GET A DRINK.
THEY, THEIR FOLKS ARE ILLEGALLY SELLING THESE THINGS OUT OF SCHOOL BAGS, UM, ALONG THE BEACH, ENTIRELY UNREGULATED.
SO, SO, SO ESSENTIALLY WE'RE TAKING WHAT'S ALREADY HAPPENING AND JUST EXPANDING TO THESE TWO BEACHES.
AND YOU'RE LEGALIZING WHAT'S CURRENTLY A BLACK MARKET, AND I ACTUALLY THINK IT'S A HIGHER REVENUE SHARE.
'CAUSE I DON'T THINK WE GET THAT 25% REVENUE SHARE FROM THE HOTELS OR FROM THE ILLEGAL SALES VENDORS DON'T.
SO THIS IS A, THIS IS A GREAT DEAL.
THIS COULD BE A GAME CHANGER AND SERIOUS REVENUE SOURCE FOR US.
'CAUSE I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY CHAIRS THERE ARE AND WHAT THE PROJECTED SALES ARE, BUT AT 25% I THINK WE COULD HAVE SOME SERIOUS REVENUE.
SO CHEER FOR THE, FOR THE, UM, RHYTHM FOUNDATION, WHICH I HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH.
I, I WOULD MOVE IT FOR LOOMIS PARK AT THE 25% REVENUE SHARE, BIFURCATING THE ADVERTISEMENT FOR A PILOT PROGRAM PILOT.
IF I, IF I MAY, IF I TAKING SOME NOTES HERE, AND OBVIOUSLY THERE'S SOME MORE DETAIL STAFF IS DEFINITELY TAKING SOME NOTES.
AND WHEN COME BACK TO COMMISSION, OBVIOUSLY WITH THE FINAL AGREEMENT, WHICH WILL IRON OUT ALL OF THOSE FINAL DETAILS.
BUT I, I WOULD SAY, AND I WOULD SAY THAT THE MENU COULD BE LIKE ASPIRATIONAL.
I'M NOT GONNA PUT YOU WITH A FIXED MENU OF WHAT SELLS AND WHAT DOESN'T, BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY THESE THINGS ARE FLUID.
SOME DRINKS, NOT ALL DRINKS SELL EQUALLY.
SO, I MEAN, I WOULD NEVER, WHATEVER YOU WANT IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, UH, LIKE SHOWING US AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT YOU PLANNED TO SELL, THAT'S FINE.
BUT THAT COULD BE CHANGED IS THAT IT'S NOT SET IN STONE.
STEVE BOUCHER WITH THE BOUCHER BROTHERS.
BASICALLY WHAT MY FAMILY'S TRYING TO DO IS WE'RE TRYING TO CREATE THE SAME EXPERIENCE THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE GOTTEN BEHIND THE DELANO, THE SHORE, THE SOHO, UH, HOUSE AT THE, THE PUBLIC BEACH.
BECAUSE RIGHT NOW YOU CAN'T GET THAT EXPERIENCE.
WE'RE TRYING TO COMPETE WITH THE CARIBBEAN, WE'RE TRYING TO COMPETE MORE ANYWHERE ELSE.
THEY'RE TRYING, YOU'RE ACTUALLY DEMOCRATIZING IT BECAUSE THE PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO THESE BEACHES ARE STAYING IN THE SMALLER OFF WATER HOTELS.
SO IT IS KIND OF A DEMOCRATIZATION OF THE ENTIRE PROCESS BECAUSE THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO STAY AT SOME OF THOSE WATERFRONT HOTELS AND THEY DON'T GET THE SAME SERVICE.
BUT THIS WAY THEY WILL, UH, WITH A, A MORE INEXPENSIVE CHAIR.
[01:20:01]
AND BY THE WAY, I'VE SEEN THIS TOO, IN A, ACROSS EUROPE, YOU HAVE MUNICIPAL BEACHES THAT ALWAYS HAVE A CONCESSION, AND THEY HAVE, UH, YOU KNOW, CHEAPER PRICES THAN SOME FANCIER HOTELS.SO, I MEAN, LOOK, WE'RE GONNA TRY IT AND SEE HOW IT GOES.
AND RIGHT, RIGHT NOW ON, ON THE WEEKENDS, THERE COULD BE 50 PEOPLE SELLING, UM, ALCOHOL ILLEGALLY.
AND WE'RE GONNA OBVIOUSLY STOP THAT FROM HAPPENING ONCE WE START THE PROGRAM.
DO YOU HAVE ANY TYPE OF BACK OF THE ENVELOPE REVENUE PROJECTIONS, UH, FOR LOOMIS? UM, WE HAVEN'T REALLY DONE THAT STRUCTURE YET, BUT ONCE WE START NEGOTIATING WITH THE CITY, WE WERE GONNA GET ALL, GET INTO ALL THAT AND GET IT BACK.
YOU KNOW, WE CAN GET BACK TO YOU AS SOON AS POSSIBLE WITH THAT.
SO WE CAN GET TOGETHER WITH THAT.
SO I THINK THAT, UM, IF I HAVE MY NOTES RIGHT, THERE'S A LOT MORE NOTES THAT, THAT OZZY'S TAKEN IN.
OBVIOUSLY IT'LL INCORPORATE INTO THAT FINAL AGREEMENT THAT IT'LL GO TO COMMISSION AND DETAIL THAT OUT.
BUT I THINK THIS WOULD RETURN TO COMMISSION WITH A FAVORABLE RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE THE SECOND AMENDMENT TO THE BOUCHER BROTHERS MIAMI BEACH LLC CONCESSION AGREEMENT, UH, FOR THE SALE OF, UH, ALCOHOL AT THE LOOMIS PARK LOCATION WITH A 25% CITY REVENUE SHARE AND A $10,000 PER YEAR FOR NINE YEAR, UH, CONTRIBUTION TO SUPPORT THE BAN SHELL.
AND I BELIEVE THAT'S, UH, AND WE JUST GAVE THEM A LOT OF MONEY.
THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I'M GONNA ASK.
IF I CAN, PERHAPS TO BE DETERMINED INTO THE CITY, SOMETHING OPERATING IN THE LOOMIS PARK AREA.
IF, IF I CAN NOTE THE, THE EXTRA ADDITIONAL A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS, IT WAS A PER BENCH, SHE, WE DON'T HAVE FUNDING FOR, AND WE HAVE TO IDENTIFY THAT THROUGH CUTS IN THERE.
SO THIS WOULD ACTUALLY HELP MAKE THAT SUPPORT, IF THAT'S OKAY.
SO I BELIEVE COMMISSIONER AL, THAT WOULD'VE BEEN YOUR MOTION.
YOU HEARD, UH, YOU HEARD NEED A SECOND, BUT WHAT ABOUT THE, THE DURATION OF THE PILOT PROGRAM, THE NUMBER OF YEARS OF THE, WITH THAT WASN'T DISCUSSED THIS TIME.
THE, THE AMENDMENT WOULD HAVE THE, THE LIFE OF THE EXISTING AGREEMENT.
DID YOU WANNA HAVE A, A TRIAL PERIOD FOR THE SALE OF ALL? WE CAN DO THAT.
WE'LL DO ONE YEAR, WE'LL REVISIT IN A YEAR.
WE'LL HAVE A DISCUSSION SURROUNDING IT, AND THEN IF IT'S ALL GOOD, THEN WE CONTINUE.
AND WE'D LIKE TO BRING THIS BACK TO THE JULY COMMISSION MEETING, IF THAT'S FINE.
COMMISSIONER, WE HAVE A PUBLIC COMMENT? YES, PLEASE.
DANIEL ERALDO, PLEASE UNMUTE YOURSELF.
DANIEL ERALDO, SEVEN 30 10TH STREET.
I JUST GOT BACK FROM THE ITALIAN RIVIERA.
THERE'S A LITTLE BAY OF RAJI, WHICH IS A BEACH OF PORTOFINO, AND I WAS IMPRESSED TO SEE THE REVAMP BEACH CLUBS THERE, WHICH ARE NOW PARTNERED WITH TWO BRANDS, CHRISTIAN DIOR, ED, BONNIE FIORI, AND VESPA AT BB.
IT'S DONE VERY TASTEFULLY AND DOES NOT FEEL AT ALL LIKE ADVERTISING, BUT MORE LIKE AN ACTUAL EXPERIENCE.
I'M HAPPY TO MEET WITH THE TEAM TO SHARE THESE IDEAS.
I THINK THERE'S A WAY TO DO THIS TASTEFULLY, LIKE ON THE RIVIERA AND NOT LIKE CANCUN, BUT DESIGN GUIDELINES SHOULD BE CONSIDERED.
UM, AND EVEN MAYBE LITTLE CABANAS WOULD BE NICE SO THAT FOLKS COULD CHANGE OR WASH OFF.
UH, THIS WAY WE COULD BE A LITTLE MORE LIKE THE RIVIERA VISION OF TONY GOLDMAN, BARBARA KAMAN, AND OTHERS.
ACTUALLY, UH, WELL, I HAVEN'T SEEN IT IN PERSON.
THAT'S THE EXACT, UM, PLACE THAT I SAVED DOWN THAT CAUGHT MY EYE, UH, VERY TASTEFULLY DESIGNED, UH, UMBRELLAS AND FEEL FOR MR. CHAIR.
AND IT COULD BE, IT COULD BE A DESIGNER BEACH, LIKE DIOR BEACH.
I WOULDN'T, WHAT WHAT DANIEL JUST SAID WAS EXACTLY WHAT OUR, WHAT OUR THOUGHTS ARE ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WITH THE ADVERTISING AND THE EXPERIENCE WITH THE ALCOHOL.
MR. CHAIR, BEFORE YOU, UH, MOVE THIS ITEM, ARE YOU KEEPING THE ADVERTISING PIECE HERE SO WE CAN DISCUSS THAT AT THE JULY MEETING? I THINK THAT MAKES SENSE, RIGHT? I'M FINE WITH THAT.
WE CAN ADD, SO WE'LL ADD THAT THIS ITEM, UH, WILL BE RETAINED, WILL BE RETAINED TO RETURN, UH, RELATED TO DISCUSS THE ADVERTISING.
[NB 4. RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, DIRECTING THE CITY ADMINISTRATION TO EXPLORE FEASIBLE STRATEGIES FOR CREATING AND EXPANDING "GREEN ROOFS", AS WELL AS INCORPORATING GREENERY AND LANDSCAPING ON CITY BUILDINGS, AND PRESENT ITS FINDINGS TO THE LAND USE AND SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE AND THE FINANCE AND ECONOMIC RESILIENCY COMMITTEE WITHIN 90 DAYS OF THE ADOPTION OF THIS RESOLUTION.]
[NB 14. DISCUSS THE FEASIBILITY OF IMPLEMENTING A GREEN ROOF AT CITY HALL.]
14 GREEN ROOFS? THIS IS SOMETHING I ABSOLUTELY LOVE.COMMISSIONER BOT, WHY DON'T I LET YOU TEE THIS UP? UM, I HAD A SIMILAR ITEM, UH, MAYBE ABOUT A YEAR AGO THAT REALLY PERPLEXED ME, BUT JUST SEEMED TO BE SO INCREDIBLY COST PROHIBITIVE.
I'D LOVE TO FIND WAYS TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.
UM, I, I JUST, I DON'T KNOW HOW WE DO.
SO WITH THE NUMBERS THAT WERE PRESENTED BEFORE, UH, MR. CFO, UH, MB FOUR RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, DIRECTING THE ADMINISTRATION TO EXPLORE, UH, FEASIBLE STRATEGIES FOR CREATING, EXPANDING GREEN ROOFS, AS WELL AS INCORPORATING GREENERY AND LANDSCAPING ON CITY BUILDINGS.
AND THEY PRESENT ITS FINDINGS TO THE LAND USE AND SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE AND THE FINANCE AND ECONOMIC ECONOMIC RESILIENCY COMMITTEE WITHIN 90 DAYS OF THE ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION.
THAT IS MB FOUR, IT'LL BE HEARD THE SAME AS MB 14 DISCUSS THE FEASIBILITY OF IMPLEMENTING A GREEN ROOF AT CITY HALL MB 14.
[01:25:01]
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, YOU SEE IMAGES FROM COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD AND CITIES THAT ARE LESS WELL OFF THAN WE ARE, UM, THAT HAVE GORGEOUS GREEN LIVING WALLS AND GREEN ROOS.AND, UM, I KEEP THINKING IF THEY CAN DO IT, WE CAN DO IT.
AND I'M NOT SUGGESTING WE HAVE A MANICURED LAWN ON THE TOP OF A ROOF.
I, YOU KNOW, THERE, THERE'S A BOOK ACTUALLY THAT ERIC HAS, OUR CITY MANAGER HAS.
UM, AND I FLAGGED A WHOLE BUNCH OF PICTURES IN THERE THAT SHOW, YOU KNOW, THAT THERE ARE GREEN ROOFS DONE AND SORT OF POTTED PLANTS, UM, AND PORTIONS OF THE ROOF THAT ARE DONE.
UM, SO THERE ARE LOTS OF DIFFERENT WAYS TO DO IT THAN A UNIFORM, YOU KNOW, THE ENTIRE ROOF IS COVERED.
UM, I THINK IF THERE'S A WAY TO, YOU KNOW, WE TALK ABOUT HOW DO WE INCENTIVIZE PEOPLE TO DO THE RIGHT THING WHEN THEY COME TO US WITH BUILDING PROJECTS.
ONE OF THESE INCENTIVES COULD BE, UM, GREEN ROOF OR LIVING WALLS.
THAT COULD BE SOMETHING THAT WE DO.
UM, I KNOW THIS BUILDING THAT WE'RE SITTING IN RIGHT NOW WAS, WAS DESIGNED TO HAVE A FIFTH FLOOR.
SO IT CAN DEFINITELY WITHSTAND THE WEIGHT WE COULD DO.
UM, AND THAT COMES FROM OUR, OUR HISTORIAN, OUR ARCHITECTURAL HISTORIAN, DEBBIE TACKETT, SO THAT, YOU KNOW, WE COULD TRY SOMETHING HERE ON THIS BUILDING.
AND AGAIN, DOESN'T HAVE TO BE A FULL COVERAGE GREEN ROOF.
SO, UM, I WILL LET YOU TAKE IT FROM THERE, BUT THAT'S WHERE I'M COMING FROM.
RON MUON, DIRECTOR FACILITIES AND FLEET.
UM, I, I THINK WE'RE ALL AWARE THAT, THAT A LARGE PORTION OF OUR FACILITIES ARE DECADES OLD AND, AND THEY WERE NOT DESIGNED, THE ROOF DECKS WERE NOT DESIGNED TO SUSTAIN ADDITIONAL SOIL WATER DRAINAGE OPPORTUNITIES.
HOWEVER, WE DID LOOK AT A NEWER FACILITY, WHICH IS THE, THE FACILITIES BUILDING AT 1833 BAY ROAD BUILT IN 2015.
UH, WE'VE ESTABLISHED THAT THAT ROOF THAT CAN IN FACT, UH, TAKE ON, UM, A GREEN ROOF, UM, WHAT WE LOOKED AT WAS CREATING A PILOT PROGRAM POTENTIALLY, UM, UTILIZING THAT TO SEE HOW WE COULD FURTHER EXPAND ACROSS ALL OF OUR CITY FACILITIES.
NOW, NOT ALL OF OUR CITY FACILITIES COULD DO THAT, BUT THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WE COULD START WITH AND SEE HOW THAT LOOKS AND SEE HOW THAT, UH, I, I GUESS, EXPANDS ACROSS THE CITY.
WE ALSO, UH, AS WE LOOKED AT CITY HALL, UM, WE LOOKED AT THINGS LIKE THE, THE HEIGHT OF THE PARAPET WALL.
UM, SO THE PARAPET WALL IS, IS ABOVE THE ROOF DECK, WHICH WOULD PROVIDE ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITY FOR WIND AND RAIN SUPPORT, UM, AS OBVIOUSLY WE, WE KNOW WHERE WE LIVE AT AND, AND WHAT HAPPENS HERE DURING RAINY SEASON AND, AND HURRICANE SEASON.
SO WHAT WE'D LIKE TO DO IS, IS AGAIN, START WITH THAT THE, UH, PILOT PROGRAM AT 1833.
UH, OUR INITIAL, UH, ESTIMATES AT $750,000.
THAT WAS LOOKING AT THE TOTAL ROOF, WHICH WAS 600 SQUARE FEET OR 6,000 SQUARE FEET.
UM, SO, UM, UH, IF THE COMMITTEE WOULD ALLOW US TO DO THAT, WE COULD LOOK AT THAT.
NOW, GOING BACK TO CITY HALL AND, AND EXPANDING ON THAT, AGAIN, THE PARAPET WALL IS SO LOW THAT THERE IS NO PROTECTION FROM WIND AND RAIN AND ADDITIONAL, UM, ELEMENTS.
UM, WE'D ALSO HAVE TO LOOK AT THE MAINTENANCE, FUTURE MAINTENANCE OF THOSE, UH, ROOFS, UM, AS WE CONTINUE ON THROUGH THIS ENDEAVOR.
SO WHAT ABOUT DOING THINGS DIFFERENTLY, LIKE, YOU KNOW, PUTTING IN SEA OATS UP THERE, OR, UM, DIFFERENT KINDS OF CACTI THAT MIGHT NEED LESS, UM, LESS CARE AND MAINTENANCE AND HAVE FEWER WATER REQUIREMENTS.
UM, THE OTHER PLACE THAT WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT IS THE SESOR COMMUNITY CENTER, BECAUSE THAT IS, IS CEMENT BUNKER, AND IT WAS DESIGNED TO HAVE INDOOR OUTDOOR SPACES AND, AND THE ROOF WAS PART OF THAT.
SO I THINK WE HAVE THREE PLACES WHERE WE CAN, WE CAN TEST THINGS OUT AND MAYBE, YOU KNOW, EACH OF THE PLACES GETS A DIFFERENT TYPE OF GREEN ROOF, YOU KNOW, MAYBE ONE GETS SORT OF MORE NATIVE PLANTS AND ONE GETS SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT LIKE A BOX GARDEN.
AND, AND IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE, UM, YOU KNOW, PART OF THE APPEAL OF A, OF A ROOF IS THAT YOU CAN HAVE SEATING AREAS UP THERE, JUST WOODEN BENCHES UP THERE.
UM, AND THAT TAKES UP SOME OF THE SPACE, BUT IT INCREASES THE GREEN SPACE WITHIN THE CITY THAT CAN BE USED.
UM, I, I THINK WE REALLY NEED TO THINK OUTSIDE OF THE BOX ON THIS, AND I WOULD VERY MUCH ENCOURAGE YOU TO COME BACK WITH A REDUCED ESTIMATE OF WHAT THIS IS GONNA LOOK LIKE.
I MEAN, IF WE CAN SPEND, YOU KNOW, $600,000 ACROSS THE THREE BUILDINGS, UM, THAT WOULD BE AMAZING.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE COULD LEARN FROM THAT.
I DON'T WANNA SPEND A MILLION DOLLARS ON ONE THING AND IT DOESN'T WORK.
AND THEN WE'RE LIKE, OH, WELL IT DIDN'T WORK, THEREFORE WE'RE NEVER DOING IT.
LET'S, YOU KNOW, LET'S BE SCIENTIFIC ABOUT THIS AND FIGURE OUT WHAT WORKS, HOW, WHERE, YOU KNOW, GET A HOLD OF THAT BOOK THAT ERIC HAS IN HIS OFFICE AND, AND SEE THE PAGES THAT WERE FLAGGED.
WE WERE TALKING ABOUT IT FOR OTHER BUILDINGS THAT WERE BEING BUILT.
AND THEN, YOU KNOW, SEPARATELY, UM, MAYBE I CAN REFER RICK.
[01:30:01]
REFERRAL TO, UM, LAND USE, I GUESS AS A BUILDING INCENTIVE, UM, TO INCENTIVIZE BEHAVIOR THAT WE WANNA ENCOURAGE WITH NEW DEVELOPMENT AS GREEN ROOF OR LIVING WALLS? WE WOULD NEED TO PLACE AN ITEM ON THE COMMISSION AGENDA TO DO A REFERRAL TO LAND USE.YOU CAN'T DO IT DIRECTLY FROM HERE.
WELL, I, I WILL, UH,
UM, BUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT NEW DEVELOPMENT THAT THE CITY IS DOING, WHAT A GREAT WAY.
BUT THEN I THINK ABOUT LIKE 72ND STREET GARAGE GONNA BE ASKED LIKE PARKING ON TOP AND THE ROOF IS ACTIVATED ON THAT ONE.
YEAH, THAT, THAT ROOF, UH, SORRY, CHAIR.
AND WHAT IS, UH, AND NOT TO GET OFF THE PATH HERE, BUT WHAT IS THE PLAN FOR THIS KIND OF CAMPUS, THE, THE CITY FACILITIES HERE, THIS BUILDING, UH, WHAT, WHAT IS THAT BUILDING NEXT DOOR ABOVE THE PERMIT, DOCTOR? THAT, THAT IS AWFUL.
LIKE, THIS IS OUR CITY HALL AND WE'RE A BLOCK AWAY FROM LINCOLN ROAD, AND WE'RE ABOUT TO HAVE THE, UH, GRAND HYATT CONVENTION CENTER HOTEL.
WHAT, WHAT IS THAT THING? IS THAT A CITY OWNED BUILDING? DO WE WE HAVE THE OFFICE.
IT'S 1701 RHETORICAL QUESTION.
BUT WHAT IS, WHAT IS THAT? THAT, THAT'S AWFUL.
I THINK THE CITY PURCHASED AN OLDER OFFICE BUILDING THAT WAS ALREADY BUILT, RIGHT? YEAH, YEAH.
THAT WAS A, A PRIVATE BUILDING THAT THE CITY ACQUIRED, UH, DUE TO OFFICE SPACE NEEDS.
I, I MEAN, UH, I DON'T KNOW, MAY, MAYBE LET'S PUT OUR THINKING CAPS ON TO HAVE SOMETHING A BIT BETTER IN OUR CITY HALL CAMPUS RIGHT THERE.
UH, WHETHER IT'S SOME SORT OF P THREE OR, UM, HOW ABOUT FOR CITY HALL? IS, IS THIS BUILDING? ARE, ARE WE LIKE, COMFORTABLE WITH THE REMAINING LIFE OF IT? WHAT, WHAT'S THE REMAINING LIFE OF CITY HALL? UM, SO FRANK GARCIA, FACILITIES MANAGEMENT, UH, DIVISION, UM, YOU KNOW, WE, WE PUMP, UH, CAPITAL DOLLARS INTO, INTO THIS AND ALL OF THE BUILDINGS IN OUR MUNICIPAL PORTFOLIO, YOU KNOW, YEAR ROUND.
SO TO, TO ASSIGN A, A USEFUL LIFE EXPECTANCY TO, TO A BUILDING, IT'S REALLY VERY ROBUST.
UH, IT'S HARD TO SAY COMMISSIONER.
UM, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE CONSTANTLY EVALUATING AND RENEWING AND MAINTAINING OUR MECHANICAL SYSTEMS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS, PLUMBING SYSTEMS, ET CETERA.
HOW OLD IS THIS BUILDING HERE IN THE OFFICE BUILDING NEXT DOOR? I KNOW I'M CATCHING YOU OFF GOING, BUT I'M NOT SURE.
I BELIEVE THIS WAS 77 AND I DON'T RECALL THE 1701 BUILDING, BUT I'M NOT PARTIAL TO THE MUSTARD YELLOW ON THE FACADE EITHER.
IF I COULD JUST ADD, IF I COULD JUST ADD, I THINK ADD TO IT IS THAT, YOU KNOW, SOMEONE WHO, YOU KNOW, LIVES IN A CONDOMINIUM BUILDING, IT GOES TO, UH, IF YOU ARE CONTINUING TO MAINTAIN AND YOU ARE SPENDING THE DOLLARS YOU NEED TO, TO MAINTAIN, YOU KNOW, UH, WHETHER YOU'RE DOING THE WEATHERPROOFING AND THE PAINTING, YOU'RE DOING STUCCO WORK, YOU'RE DOING THE EXTERIOR, DOING THE ROOFS, YOU'RE DOING THE HVAC.
A BUILDING CAN CONTINUE FOR QUITE A LONG TIME.
AND YOU LOOK AT LIKE THE EMPIRE STATE BUILDING AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
BUILDINGS CAN BE MAINTAINED, I'M GONNA SAY IN PERPETUITY, BUT, UH, TO THE POINT WHERE AS LONG AS YOU ARE CONTINUING TO DO ALL THE THINGS THAT WE ARE SUPPOSED TO DO WITH YOUR CRR, THERE ISN'T A THING TO SAY, WE ONLY GOT 10 YEARS LEFT AND WE GOTTA, YOU KNOW, JUNK THIS AND, AND DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
JUST, JUST AS A POINT OF REFERENCE.
SO FOR ANY NEW BUILDING, YOU'LL SPEND ABOUT 10 TIMES THE AMOUNT YOU SPENT ON THAT NEW FACILITY OVER THE LIFE OF THE BUILDING ITSELF.
SO JUST TO GIVE YOU A PERSPECTIVE OF DOLLARS, RIGHT? AND AS ANYONE WHO'S ON A A CONDO LIVES IN A CONDO AND GETS THOSE ASSESSMENTS, KNOWS THAT YOU'RE CONSTANTLY, YOU HAVING TO DO ALL OF THAT MAINTENANCE WORK.
BUT SO IN THIS ITEM, IS THIS, UH, DID YOU GET ENOUGH DIRECTION? IS THE IDEA TO COME BACK WITH MORE WE'LL FIND THREE FACILITIES.
I THINK THAT WAS THE ASK AND, AND AND, AND POTENTIALLY SPREAD IT ACROSS.
AND I KNOW TALKING TO, TO VINCE, I'M SURE THEY TALKED TO BUILDING ABOUT SOME DIFFICULTIES RELATED TO EXISTING BUILDING, RETRO RETROFITTING SOME OF THESE.
BUT OBVIOUSLY SOME OF THIS WOULD BE JUST, UH, I THINK PART OF THAT DISCUSSION WAS REALLY IS IF THE CITY IS BUILDING ANY NEW FACILITIES THAT YOU KNOW, THAT THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT MAYBE COULD BE CONSIDERED AS PART OF A NEW BUILDING.
UH, A CITY IS, UH, NO, IT SHOULD BE A REQUIREMENT.
IT SHOULD BE A REQUIREMENT IF THE CITY IS BUILDING A NEW BUILDING.
IT SHOULD BE A REQUIREMENT, NOT A CONSIDERATION.
AND I'M GONNA REFER SOMETHING, UM, TO THE JUNE MEETING, UM, FOR NEW DEVELOPMENT WITHIN THE CITY ANYHOW.
UM, IT'S A, IT'S ASTONISHING THAT WE'RE NOT, WE HAVEN'T BEEN DOING THIS BEFORE.
AND I DO THINK THERE, YOU KNOW, WE DO HAVE THE THREE BUILDINGS THAT WE ARE ALREADY VERY STRONG.
THERE ARE LOTS OF DIFFERENT WAYS TO DO THIS THAT ARE CREATIVE AND INVENTIVE AND AREN'T GONNA BE BAZILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
UM, AND WE CAN DO A PORTION OF IT TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WORKS AND WHAT SURVIVES THE, WHAT WE DO WITH THE TREES.
I KNOW COMMISSIONER GON ROSE GONZALEZ'S FAVORITE TOPIC, THE TREES ON THE, IN THE NORTH BEACH PARK AREA.
UM, BUT LET'S, LET'S FIGURE OUT WHAT, WHAT THRIVES IN THIS SETTING.
AND THEN WE CAN EXPAND UPON IT.
I I DO QUESTION MY WORLDVIEW WHEN I SEE COLUMBIA IS SO EASILY ABLE TO DO THIS AND WE CAN'T HEAR MIAMI BEACH.
UM, SO WE HAVE A PUBLIC COMMENT.
WE HAD AN INITIATIVE, I JUST WANTED TO ADD
[01:35:01]
THIS A FEW YEARS AGO, WHERE WE WERE LIKE, CERTAIN CITIES WERE TRYING TO GET TO A POINT WHERE THEY WERE LIKE POWER NEUTRAL.LIKE THEY WERE GREENING THEIR BUILDINGS BY 2050.
AND WE WENT THROUGH OUR ENTIRE INVENTORY AND WE WERE TOLD, YOU KNOW, IMPOSSIBLE.
BUT THERE ARE CITIES AND IF YOU WORK IN FACILITIES MANAGEMENT, YOU SHOULD KNOW THIS, THAT THERE ARE MOVEMENTS FOR CITIES TO TRY TO, YOU KNOW, GET TO SOME POINT WHERE, UM, SOME OF THEIR BUILDINGS ARE COMPLETELY, UH, YOU KNOW, RESILIENT.
I MEAN, WE'RE NOT EVEN LIKE ELLIE, WHAT IS IT? LED COMPATIBLE, ELLIE, WHAT? LEAD, LEAD, CERTIFIED LEAD.
WE'RE NOT EVEN LEAD CERTIFIED, YOU KNOW? UM, SO I PICK ONE ROOF AND YOU GOTTA PUSH IT THROUGH.
WELL, I THINK WE'RE GONNA PICK ONE ROOF AND MEET EVERY MONTH UNTIL YOU DRIVE EVERYONE CRAZY AND WE GET IT DONE.
I THINK WE'RE GONNA DO THAT WITH THREE.
WE'RE GONNA DO THE THREE STRONGEST, MOST LIKELY CANDIDATES AND GO FROM THERE.
SO I THINK WE INCLUDE THE MOTION, DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE MUSTARD BUILDING IS SOULFUL
SO WE'LL SHOW THE ITEMS OF RETURN TO FERC FOR ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION AND MAYBE YOU CAN MEET WITH THE SPONSOR TO IRON SOME OF THAT DETAIL OUT.
AND THAT BE, THAT'LL BE FOR MB FOUR AND, UH, 1414, THANK YOU COMMISSION'S.
LARRY SCHAFER, PLEASE UNMUTE YOURSELF.
GOOD AFTERNOON, LARRY SCHAFER 2 3 3 80 FIRST STREET.
UH, I BELIEVE I HAVE A PROPERTY, UH, THAT'S ALREADY BUILT THAT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS.
IT MIGHT EVEN BE A PERFECT CHOICE.
AND IT'S THE UNIDA NORTH BEACH OCEANFRONT CENTER WAS ORIGINALLY BUILT IN 2012 BY A PLAZA CONSTRUCTION.
UH, CURRENTLY HAS SOME, UH, GEO BOND MONEY AND, AND SOME IMPROVEMENTS THERE AS WELL.
IT'S, IT'S LOCATION IS SEEN BY MANY.
AND, UH, LOOKING AT THIS SITE HERE FOR CLOSET SAYS IT'S SUPPORTED BY 262 PILES SIT SITTING 32 BELOW GRADE.
THE STRUCTURE IS CAST IN PLACE CONCRETE IN ADDITION TO BLOCK AND STEEL, AND IS BIG ENOUGH TO BE PROMINENT SMALL ENOUGH TO BE A SMALLER PROJECT.
THE ROOF MIGHT BE ABOUT 4,000 SQUARE FEET.
SO THIS IS VERY FRONT AND CENTER, UH, AND SEEMS LIKE IT COULD SUPPORT THE STRUCTURE, THE, THE WEIGHT AND, UM, IS NOT TOO BIG.
LIKE SOUTH SHORE COMMUNITY CENTER IS A REALLY BIG ROOF.
SO I'D LIKE TO SEE IF THE STAFF COULD POSSIBLY CONSIDER THIS ONE OPTION.
LARRY UNAD, HOW, HOW MANY HOURS OF THE DAY OR WEEK IS UNAD, UM, ACTIVATED? I MEAN, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT WAYS FOR THE CITY TO RAISE REVENUE, RIGHT? I GET THE SENSE THAT MAYBE JUST A COUPLE OF HOURS A DAY IF THAT.
UM, I MEAN, THERE'S A BEACHFRONT PLAZA.
PEOPLE COULD HAVE WEDDINGS, BAR MITZVAHS THERE.
UH, I AGREE, BUT I THINK THE WAY THAT IT WORKS IS THAT THAT REVENUE GOES TO UNI DOD, BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH IT'S OUR BUILDING, IT'S THEIR LEASE ON THE BUILDING.
BUT I DO THINK THAT THEY HAVE A CAPACITY THERE FOR A TREMENDOUS REVENUE STREAM IF THEY, YOU KNOW, GET AN EVENT COORDINATOR AND START TO PLAN.
I'VE SPOKEN TO THEM ABOUT IT A FEW TIMES, WHICH CONSIDER CALLING MB 16, BECAUSE I HAVE TO GO.
[NB 16. DISCUSS THE CURRENT AGREEMENT WITH 1ST CLASS PARKING CORPORATION FOR VALET PARKING CONCESSION AND THE POTENTIAL OF CREATING A SUBSIDIZED AND UNIFIED VALET PARKING SYSTEM OFFERING REDUCED RATES AND GREATER CONVENIENCE TO CUSTOMERS.]
16 DISCUSSED THE CURRENT AGREEMENT WITH FIRST CLASS, UH, PARKING CORPORATION FOR VALET PARKING CONCESSION, AND THE POTENTIAL OF CREATING A SUBSIDIZED AND UNIFIED VALET PARKING SYSTEM OFFERING REDUCED RATES AND GREATER CONVENIENCE TO CUSTOMERS MB 16.OKAY, SO BEFORE WE GO THERE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR DOING OUR SUNSHINE MEETING ON THIS REDUCED VALET PARKING.
ANYWHERE YOU GO IN CORAL GABLES, YOU PULL UP IT'S $5.
UH, YOU GO TO THE DESIGN DISTRICT, IT'S $5, AND THEN YOU COME HERE AND IT'S $25.
AND THAT'S REALLY THE REALITY OF, OF WHERE WE ARE IN THIS, UM, NORTH BEACH NEEDS SOME HELP.
NORMANDY NEEDS HELP IN THE CIRCLE WHERE THERE'S NOT ENOUGH PARKING.
AND ALSO, UH, THE CORRIDOR, THE COMMERCIAL CORRIDOR WHERE BLOSSOM IS, UM, THE RHYTHM FOUNDATION.
AND, UM, SUSHI BEACHY, THEY HAVE NO PARKING RIGHT NOW.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO EXPLORE HOW DO WE GET TO THE $5 VALET PRICE? WHAT WILL IT COST? AND, UM, HOW DO, HOW DO, WHAT WILL IT COST US AND HOW DO WE GET THERE? BECAUSE I WILL SAY THAT THE, UM, THE CRA IN NORTH BEACH, I KNOW WE'RE ALWAYS TALKING ABOUT IT.
IF YOU REALLY WANT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN NORTH BEACH, YOU NEED TO HAVE SOME CHEAP VALET PARKING, JUST LIKE WE WAIVE THEIR SIDEWALK CAFE FEES.
UH, WE NEED TO HELP THEM ALONG.
AND BY THE WAY, IN THE DESIGN DISTRICT, IT IS SUBSIDIZED BY THE DESIGN DISTRICT IN AN MOU WITH THE CITY OF MIAMI IN CORAL GABLES.
SO THIS HAS TO BE A POSSIBILITY.
[01:40:04]
GIVE USSO THE, THERE'S A, THERE'S A FEW POINTS THAT I WANNA BRING UP.
AND I, AND I'LL, I'LL USE A DESIGN DISTRICT.
SO WHILE THE DESIGN DISTRICT VALET IS SUBSIDIZED, IT'S SUBSIDIZED BY A PRIVATE DEVELOPER.
SO THERE ARE NO PUBLIC FUNDS USED TO SUBSIDIZE THAT VALET.
AND IT, IT DOES GET A LITTLE BIT TRICKY BECAUSE, UM, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT WITHIN THIS MEMO IS THAT WE ABSOLUTELY AGREE THAT THERE IS A ROAD TO HAVING, UM, VALET THROUGHOUT OUR CITY BE A LITTLE BIT MORE, UM, ECONOMICALLY VIABLE TO PEOPLE THAT ARE VISITING.
BUT WE FEEL THAT IS BETTER DRIVEN JUST LIKE THE DESIGN DISTRICT BY THE BIDS.
NOW I KNOW THAT NORTH BEACH IS A BIT OF A DIFFERENT, UM, BEAST BECAUSE I DON'T BELIEVE THERE IS A CURRENT BID IN PLACE IN THAT AREA.
UM, HOWEVER, UH, DURING THE SUNSHINE MEETING, I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF GOOD THINGS THAT CAME OUT, UH, FROM THAT BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME IDEAS WHERE WE CAN START PERFORMING, UM, UNDER OUR CURRENT AGREEMENT.
UM, WE CAN START WITH A PRE-SALE OF VALET, FOR EXAMPLE, ON, UH, UH, ON NIGHTS THAT THE BAN SHELL IS ACTIVATED.
WE CAN GO AHEAD AND SAY, HEY, WE'RE GONNA DO A PRE-SALE OF VALET WITH YOUR TICKET BECAUSE THE BAN SHELL HAS ALREADY MADE IT VERY CLEAR THAT THEY CAN PRE-SELL VALET WITH THEIR EVENT TICKETS.
WELL, UH, SORRY TO INTERRUPT, WHERE WOULD WE STORE THE COURSE? SO I THINK THAT'S THE BIGGEST ISSUE, RIGHT? YEAH.
WE'VE LOOKED AT A COUPLE PLACES.
SO THERE IS A, A P 1 0 6, A LIBRARY GARAGE, UH, THERE'S A FEW, I MEAN, SO THE LIBRARY LOT, UH, THERE ARE A FEW OTHER PARKING LOTS THAT ARE JUST NORTH THERE ARE UNDER UTILIZED.
AND I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CAME OUTTA THE SUNSHINE MEETING WAS THAT THERE'S NO SILVER BULLET RIGHT NOW TO NORTH BEACH BECAUSE THERE WERE, UM, I WENT ON A NIGHT, UH, THAT THE BANDSHELL WAS ACTIVATED TO GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING, UM, OF THE PARKING HABITS, THE TRANSPORTATION PATTERNS, WHERE THE PEOPLE WERE GOING, WHERE THEY WERE PARKING, WHERE THEY WEREN'T PARKING.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I NOTICED IS THAT, YOU KNOW, OUR VERY LARGE PARKING LOT, RIGHT THERE WAS PACKED, PEOPLE WERE CIRCLING AROUND, UM, FOR NO SPOTS TO BE HAD.
UH, P 1 0 6, WHICH IS RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM SUSHI, UH, SUSHI BEACHY, UM, HAD PROBABLY 20 EMPTY SPACES AND THEN JUST TWO BLOCKS NORTH, THERE WAS AMPLE PARKING IN THE LOTS.
BUT THERE HAPPENS TO BE SOME ISSUES WITH LIGHTING, AND IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE CAN FIX BECAUSE THE LIGHTING HAS TO BE THE WAY IT IS BECAUSE OF, I'M, I'M ASSUMING IT'S BECAUSE OF THE TURTLES.
UH, SO, SO THERE'S, YOU KNOW, I THINK THERE'S SOME THINGS WE CAN DO, UM, THAT ARE NOT JUST PARKING RELATED.
UH, NOT JUST, UH, NECESSARILY SUBSIDIZING THE PROBLEM, BUT BRINGING IN OUR TRANSPORTATION FRIENDS, BRINGING IN FREEBIE WITH THE GOLF SHUTTLES TO NOW START MAKING THESE, UH, LOTS THAT ARE TWO BLOCKS NORTH A LITTLE BIT MORE ATTRACTIVE.
UM, JUST BECAUSE WE HAVE THE CAPACITY IN THOSE AREAS, UM, WE JUST NEED A WAY TO GET PEOPLE ONE TO THOSE LOCATIONS AND GET 'EM TO THE BUSINESSES.
I'M NOT GOING TO ACCEPT THIS ANSWER, AND I WILL EXPLAIN WHY CORAL GABLES HAS IT EVERYWHERE, WHICH MEANS THAT A MUNICIPALITY CAN IN FACT SUBSIDIZE IT.
MY ASK ON THIS ONE, AND I THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR EXPLORING THIS, MY MOTION WOULD BE TO GIVE US THE PRICE OF WHAT IT WOULD COST TO HAVE $5 VALET PARKING IN TWO SPOTS IN NORTH BEACH EVERY EVENING, SO THAT PEOPLE GET USED TO THE FACT THAT THEY CAN PULL UP AND LEAVE THEIR CAR CHEAPLY AND WHAT THAT WOULD COST THE CITY.
AND THEN LOOKING AT THAT, WE CAN EITHER SAY, LET'S DO IT FOR THREE NIGHTS, LET'S DO IT FOR FIVE NIGHTS.
BUT I DON'T EVEN SEE A NUMBER IN THIS MEMO.
CAN YOU PLEASE FIND OUT? AND IF, YOU KNOW, I WOULD LIKE TO FIND OUT, AND MAYBE IT'S NOT, MAYBE IT'S NOT WITH A FIRST CLASS.
MAYBE THERE'S SOMEBODY WHO OUT THERE WHO'S WILLING TO DO IT, UH, CHEAPER.
AND WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THAT IS.
SO MY MOTION WOULD BE TO GET THAT INFORMATION, REACH OUT TO, YOU KNOW, A, A FEW, LIKE FIND OUT HOW IS CORAL GABLES DOING IT? GIVE US THE NUMBERS AND HAVE A RESEARCHED MEMO WITH LIKE NUMBERS ON IT SO WE CAN GET THIS DONE.
YOU CAN'T FIND PARKING SOMETIMES ON THE CIRCLE.
UM, YOU KNOW, DAVID SEXTON IS REALLY WORKING HARD TO PROGRAM THAT FOUNTAIN.
AND, UM, AND NOW WITH THE NEW PARKING PROGRAM, PEOPLE ARE, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE, THEY'RE NOT PARKED.
THERE IS MORE STREET PARKING AVAILABLE, BUT PEOPLE ARE NOT NECESSARILY ALLOWED TO PARK IN IT.
SO HOW ARE WE GONNA FILL THE GAP? AND I'D LIKE TO SEE COMMISSIONER BOT.
SO, UM, IN ADDITION TO THE NIGHTS WHERE THERE'S SOMETHING GOING ON IN THE BANDSHELL, YOU KNOW, WHAT HAPPENS WHEN, UM, THE NORMANDY FOUNTAIN AREA GETS PROGRAMMED AND THERE'S SMALLER EVENTS AND BIGGER EVENTS, RIGHT? SO THEY'RE NOT SO WORRIED ABOUT THE SMALLER EVENTS, BUT THERE ARE BIGGER EVENTS WHERE
[01:45:01]
HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE COME.AND YOU KNOW, WHAT I'M HEARING IS THAT PEOPLE WILL CIRCLE ONCE OR TWICE AND IF THEY CAN'T FIND PARKING, THEY'LL LEAVE AS OPPOSED TO DRIVING A FEW BLOCKS, UH, EAST OR NORTH OR WHATEVER.
UM, WHICH, YOU KNOW, AS SOMEBODY GREW UP IN CITIES, LIKE IF YOU FIND A PARKING SPOT WITHIN FIVE BLOCKS OF YOUR DESTINATION, THAT'S A HOME RUN.
SO DON'T QUITE UNDERSTAND THAT.
UM, UH, THE, THE QUESTION THAT, UM, CHAIR MAGAZINE ASKED ABOUT, WHERE ARE WE PUTTING THESE CARS HELPS, YOU KNOW, YOU ANSWERED FOR, FOR THE BANDSHELL, BUT IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY HELP FOR THAT MORE WESTERN PART OF NORTH BEACH WHERE YOU HAVE MORE RESTAURANTS HAPPENING AND MORE ACTIVATIONS HAPPENING.
WE HAVE, UM, A PARKING LOT, A CITY PARKING LOT THAT IS ACROSS THE, THE SMALL STREET FROM THE CHASE BANK THAT IS UNDERUTILIZED BECAUSE IT'S BEEN VACANT FOR YEARS.
CAN WE, I, AND I KNOW WE'VE TALKED TO THE GUY FOR SOME PERIOD, BUT LIKE AT, AT SOME POINT, CAN WE JUST NOT BUY THAT LOT AND, AND COMBINE AND BUILD SOMETHING THERE THAT IS, I AND I, I HATE USING MONEY TO BUILD A PARKING STRUCTURE, BUT WE'RE BUILDING A MASSIVE, MASSIVE, I KNOW, BUT IT STRUCTURE, WE'RE BUILDING A MASSIVE, MASSIVE STRUCTURE THAT'S ONLY ADDING ABOUT A HUNDRED SPOTS OR 120 SPOTS.
THAT IS KIND OF CRAZY, ISN'T IT? WELL, THAT'S WHY I WOULD LIKE US TO GET GOOD AT THIS.
LET'S JUST SEE HOW, HOW CAN CORAL GABLES GET THERE? AND WE CAN'T, THAT WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND HOW WE GET TO A PLACE WHERE WE HAVE THE EXPENSIVE, I DON'T ANSWER THAT, BUT I WELL, THAT'S WHY WE NEED TO, BUT I, I VENTURE THAT THEY ALSO HAVE MORE PLACES TO PARK THINGS, WHICH WE DON'T HAVE IN NORTH BEACH.
WE JUST DON'T HAVE THE PHYSICAL SPOTS.
WE CAN BE CREATIVE IN THE NORMANDY AREA.
WE CAN, WE HAVE TO FIGURE IT OUT.
UM, YOU KNOW, THE BUSINESSES HAVE COME TO US AND SAID, YOU KNOW, WE'RE DESPERATE, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE WE'RE CLOSING THAT PARKING LOT WHERE, UH, THE BAN SHELL OPERATES AND THEN THERE'S GONNA BE NO PARKING.
NO, THAT'S NOT TRUE BUSINESSES, THAT'S NOT TRUE.
THERE IS GOING TO BE THE VILLE PARKING LOT WITH A SHUTTLE OPERATING WELL WHEN THAT IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT A GREAT SOLUTION, BUT IT'S NOT NO PARKING.
WELL, IF, IF AND WHEN THAT PASSES.
AND WE DON'T KNOW FOR SURE IF THAT, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, I'D LIKE TO TELL YOU THAT IT'S HAPPENING, BUT THAT'S NOT A CERTAIN, MY, MY POINT IS LET'S, LET'S TRY TO GET THIS RIGHT.
LET'S LIKE KEEP IT, GET MORE, MORE INFORMATION, MORE PARKING IS BETTER THAN YOUR QUESTION.
SO MY MOTION WOULD JUST BE TO GET A, UM, A MEMO WITH A ACTUAL NUMBERS AND INFORMATION FOR THE NEXT MEETING.
IS THAT OKAY WITH YOU GUYS? YEAH, OF COURSE.
YOU KNOW, I THINK WHERE THIS HINGES IS IF WE DON'T HAVE UNDERUTILIZED PARKING IN THAT AREA, HOW ARE WE GOING TO HAVE ROOM FOR VALET? AND THAT'S NOT UNIQUE TO THAT AREA.
IT'S JUST SIMPLISTICALLY HOW THIS WOULD WORK ANYWHERE, RIGHT? WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO HAVE VALLEY PARKING ON LINCOLN ROAD IF WE HAD NO CAPACITY ON LINCOLN ROAD, BUT WE HAVE THE 17TH STREET GARAGE, NEW WORLD SYMPHONY GARAGE.
UH, IS THIS GOING TO BE CONTINGENT ON ACQUIRING SOMETHING LIKE THE, THE VILLE GARAGE OR HAVING ADDITIONAL PARKING CAPACITY? SO I WOULD SAY IT DEPENDS.
AND SO I YOU BROUGHT UP A GOOD POINT COMMISSIONER THAT, UH, VALET, WHILE IT'S NOT A SILVER BULLET, AND SO WE STILL NEED TO PARK THE CARS AND WHILE IT CAN BE, WE COULD STORE THE CARS IN UNDERUTILIZED AREAS THAT ARE A BIT FARTHER AWAY, UH, THERE NEEDS TO BE THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THOSE, UH, THOSE VALETS THAT ARE EMPLOYED ALSO NEED TO RUN BACK.
AND IF, IF IT'S REALLY FAR, THEN THEY NEED TO HAVE A GOLF CART THAT'S OPERATING TO BRING THEM BACK.
SO, UM, THAT'S WHY I, WHENEVER WE LOOK AT THE CHALLENGES WITHIN THE NORMANDY FOUNTAIN AREA AS WELL AS WITHIN THE BANDSHELL AREA.
UM, WE'RE GONNA BE TAKING A, A MULTIFACETED APPROACH BECAUSE IT, ONE THING ISN'T JUST GOING TO SOLVE WHAT'S GOING ON THERE RIGHT NOW.
AND WHILE I ABSOLUTELY AGREE, YOU KNOW, THERE IS A, THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES TO INCREASE CAPACITY.
WE ALSO KNOW HOW LONG, UH, MUNICIPAL PROJECTS TAKE.
AND ALSO, I JUST BRING UP THAT IN MIAMI BEACH OR IN SOUTH FLORIDA IN GENERAL, THE AVERAGE COST OF A SPACE FOR A NEW PARKING STRUCTURE IS ABOUT $50,000 A SPACE, WHICH MEANS THAT TO PAY A BOND WOULD BE ABOUT, I WANNA SAY $2,800 PER YEAR PER SPACE FOR A 20 YEAR BOND.
SO, AND WITH OUR PARKING RATES, OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, NOT THERE, UM, WE HAVE TO TAKE A REALLY HARD LOOK AT WHERE WE CAN BE EXTREMELY CREATIVE WITH TRANSPORTATION SOLUTIONS MIXED IN WITH PARKING SOLUTIONS, NOT TO, NOT TO BRING IN OUR, OUR DIRECTOR.
I THINK WE SHOULD TAKE A FIELD TRIP TO CORAL GABLES AND GO SIT DOWN WITH THEIR PARKING DIRECTOR AND HAVE A DISCUSSION.
AND I THINK WE HAVE TO BE CREATIVE BECAUSE MAYBE YOU JUST NEED A GOLF CART.
WE'VE GOT ALL THE PARKING IN THE WORLD ON THOSE WEST LOTS THAT HAPPEN TO BE EMPTY AT NIGHT.
SO IF WE COULD EASILY HAVE A GOLF CART JUST GO BACK AND FORTH, AND IT'S LESS THAN A MILE AWAY.
SO IT WOULD JUST BE ZIP UP THE STREET AND ZIP BACK PERHAPS WE, OR FIND, UH, JOE GOMEZ, WHO'S AN ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER NOW FOR, OKAY.
SO YOU KNOW WHAT, WE SHOULD, I'M GONNA REACH OUT, WE'RE GONNA REACH OUT TO YOU AND, UM, AND SCHEDULE A MEETING POSSIBLY WITH A, OR AT LEAST
[01:50:01]
A ZOOM CALL WITH A PARKING DIRECTOR THERE SO THAT WE CAN FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET IT DONE.AND, AND HOPEFULLY BETWEEN NOW AND OUR NEXT FINANCE MEETING, WE'LL HAVE DONE THAT.
WE'LL HAVE SPECIFIC NUMBERS, WE'LL HAVE A PLAN.
AND, UM, AND YOU KNOW, AND I, I WANT EVERYBODY TO BE OPEN-MINDED BECAUSE IT ISN'T SOMETHING, I DON'T JUST WANT THIS ON NIGHTS WHEN THE BAND SHELL IS OPERATING.
I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT THEY CAN JUST PULL UP AND PARK AND GO TO OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES.
I WANT PEOPLE TO PULL UP, PARK, GO TO SUSHI BEACHY.
AND HE'S A REALLY SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS.
WE TOOK AWAY THAT PARKING WITH NO PLAN TO, UH, REPLACE IT WITH ANYTHING.
AND, UH, NOW WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO SUBSIDIZE THAT, UNFORTUNATELY.
SO, AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN, WE CAN, WE CAN GET THERE.
SO IF I CAN JUST ADD, SO JUST THE TWO ELEMENTS, I THINK WE CAN SHOW THE ITEM TO RETURN, UH, TO FERC WITH ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AS REQUESTED.
AND I KNOW OUR PARKING DIRECTOR, UH, SHOULD BE ABLE TO CONTACT THEIR PARKING DIRECTOR.
'CAUSE IT'S OUR, OUR PRIOR PARKING DIRECTOR.
UH, WHO WAS OUR PARKING AND PEARL GABLES? CORRECT.
SO YEAH, THE STAFF CAN INTERFACE WITH HER AND DISCUSS IF THERE IS, UH, SOME OTHER OPTION.
YEAH, BECAUSE THIS REFERRAL, I WANTED YOU TO COME BACK WITH A SPECIFIC PLAN AND NUMBERS, AND ALL I GOT WAS A NEGATIVE, UM, NEGATIVE.
AND I KNOW THAT YOU, YOU CAN DO THIS, WE CAN DO THIS.
AND IF FIRST, FIRST CLASS CAN'T, THEN THERE'S A COMPANY IN CORAL GABLES THAT CAN, AND WE'LL FIGURE THAT OUT.
LARRY SCHAFER, PLEASE UNMUTE YOURSELF.
HELLO, THIS IS LARRY SCHAFER, 2 3 3 80 FIRST STREET.
I HAVE ONE QUICK CREATIVE IDEA.
WE HAVE A MASSIVE VACANT LOT AT THE VILLE SITE THAT HAS GRASS ON IT.
IS IT POSSIBLE TO PARK CARS ON THAT HUGE SITE, UM, AND NEGOTIATE THAT AS PART OF AN AGREEMENT WITH THE DOVAL, UH, PROPERTY OWNERS? I ALSO THINK THE WEST LOTS HAVE ROOM FOR, UH, VALET PARKING QUITE OFTEN.
SO I THINK YOU WANT TO TALK TO THE PARKING DEPARTMENT ABOUT THE UTILIZATION OF THOSE LOTS.
I, I ALWAYS APPRECIATE THE INSIGHT.
UM, DO WE WANT TO, UH, KEEP WILL HERE AND COMMISSIONER BOT, UM, HERE, OB FOUR? SURE.
[OB 4. DISCUSS THE POSSIBILITY OF THE CITY ENTERING INTO ONE OR MORE AGREEMENTS WITH PRIVATE PARKING FACILITY OPERATORS IN NORTH BEACH IN ORDER TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF AVAILABLE PARKING SPACES FOR NORTH BEACH RESIDENTS.]
DISCUSS THE POSSIBILITY OF THE CITY, CITY ENTERING INTO ONE OR MORE AGREEMENTS WITH PRIVATE PARKING FACILITY OPERATORS IN NORTH BEACH IN ORDER TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF AVAILABLE PARKING SPACES FOR NORTH BEACH RESIDENTS.BUT BEFORE, UH, YEAH, IT DOES SOUND VERY LINKED.
AND IT'S BEEN AROUND FOR A LITTLE WHILE, SO I REALLY JUST WANNA GET AN UPDATE, UM, FOR WHERE WE ARE NOW.
UM, IT'S, IT'S FRUSTRATING THAT WE ARE NOT MAKING MORE PROGRESS ON THIS.
UM, I KNOW THAT THE FOLKS AT THE SHERRY FRONTENAC HAVE A LOT THAT THEY WOULD LOVE TO MAKE A PARKING LOT.
IT'S NOT SUPER HELPFUL FOR THAT PART, THE NORTHERN PART OF NORTH BEACH, BUT IT'S AN ADDITIONAL AVENUE.
UM, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A, THERE'S THE, THE LITTLE MULTIFAMILY UNIT, UM, ACROSS FROM 900 BAY DRIVE THAT HAS A HUGE PARKING LOT AND, AND IS USES 10 SPOTS OUT OF THE 40 OR SOME ODD THAT ARE THERE.
AND THAT PERSON, THAT OWNER DOESN'T WANNA BE BOTHERED WITH IT.
SO CAN YOU UPDATE ME ON WHERE YOU ARE AND IF WE CAN GO BACK AT SOME OF THESE AND, UM, I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE SWEETEN THE POT A LITTLE BIT OR, YOU KNOW, JUST SO YES.
SO WE, WE HAVE BEEN ACTIVELY LOOKING INTO THIS.
WE JUST HAD A MEETING THE OTHER DAY, UM, WHERE IT WAS, UM, TWO INDIVIDUALS ACTUALLY WANTED TO BUY OUR PARKING LOTS TO BUILD OR TALK ABOUT BUILDING PARKING STRUCTURES ON THEM.
I'M SORRY, SAY THAT ONE MORE TIME.
UH, WE HAD, UM, UH, TWO INDIVIDUALS COME IN AND, AND THEY WERE INTERESTED IN BUYING PARKING LOTS TO BUILD PARKING STRUCTURES ON THEM WITH OTHER DEVELOPMENTS.
UM, I MEAN, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT URBAN PLANNING AND SO HAVING ALL OF THESE SURFACE PARKING LOTS AROUND OUR CITY, IT IS ABSOLUTELY AWFUL.
IF YOU JUST, I'D LOVE YOUR INSIGHT HERE, BUT I, I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT PLAGUES LINCOLN ROAD, RIGHT? IT'S NOT THAT WE HAVE NOT AMPLE PARKING, RIGHT? WE HAVE 1400 SPOTS ACROSS THE STREET.
WE HAVE 600 SPOTS OF THE NEW WORLD SYMPHONY, BOTH AROUND 50% UTILIZATION, NEW WORLD SYMPHONY, EVEN LOWER.
AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT TRAFFIC, IT'S BECAUSE PEOPLE ASSUME, OH, THEY'RE PROGRAMMED TO THINK, OH, ALL MY PARKING IS AT P 26 AND P 27.
SO THEY JUST CIRCLE AND CIRCLE UNTIL THEY CAN FIND THAT IT TAKES ONE RIPPING OF THE BANDAID OFF OF, UM, CHANGE IN THINKING, PUT PEOPLE IN THE GARAGE, OR WE COULD SET UP A VALET AND THE VALET PARKS IT IN THE GARAGE.
AND THEN WE HAVE A MORE, UH, UTILIZED USE OF THAT SPACE, WHETHER IT BE, UH, AROUND LINCOLN ROAD OR IN OTHER AREAS OF THE CITY.
BUT NO SERIOUS CITY NOW HAS THE TYPES OF SURFACE PARKING THAT WE DO.
YEAH, MY, I CAN, I CAN ONLY ASSUME THAT THE, I GUESS THE, THE
[01:55:01]
LARGE AMOUNT OF, OF INTERESTINGLY SIZED PARKING LOTS THROUGHOUT THE CITY HAVE JUST HAPPENED OVER TIME.UM, WHERE THE CITY ACQUIRED SITES AND, YOU KNOW, THE SITE, YOU KNOW, SERVED A PURPOSE, UH, FOR SOMETHING ELSE, OR IT DIDN'T SERVE A PURPOSE FOR ANYTHING ELSE.
AND SO THE CITY DECIDED TO HAVE A PARKING LOT THERE, REGARDLESS OF HOW SMALL, HOW BIG, UM, I DON'T DISAGREE WITH YOU, FOR EXAMPLE, ON THE LINCOLN ROAD, I THINK FOR ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE COULD DO A LITTLE BIT BETTER IS WHEN WE ARE FOCUSING ON, UM, UM, IMPROVING THAT GARAGE, IMPROVING THE TECHNOLOGY, IMPROVING THE CLEANLINESS IS ALSO IMPROVE THE PATHWAY FROM THE GARAGE TO LINCOLN ROAD.
YOU KNOW, THERE, THERE IS AN ALLEYWAY IN BETWEEN THOSE.
NOW, AS FAR AS KIND OF GOING BACK ONTO THE BIGGER ASPECT, THE ONE CHALLENGE WHEN IT COMES TO GOING TO PRIVATE ENTITIES TO SAY, HEY, WE WOULD LIKE TO UTILIZE YOUR PARKING LOT FOR X.
UM, I, I DID IT ALL THE TIME WHEN I WAS ON THE PRIVATE SIDE, YOU KNOW, WE WOULD SAY, HEY, WE WANNA DO A REVENUE SHARE.
UM, THE CHALLENGE IS THAT USUALLY THE JUICE ISN'T WORTH THE SQUEEZE FOR THOSE PROPERTY OWNERS BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENS IS, IS THEY OPEN THEMSELVES UP TO LIABILITY IF SOMEBODY TRIPS ON THEIR PROPERTY, EVEN IF WE'RE OPERATING THE PARKING LOT.
AND SO IF WE SAY, HEY, WE'RE GONNA DO A, A REVENUE SHARE, WE'RE GONNA PAY YOU X.
UM, THEY JUST DON'T WANNA BE BOTHERED WITH IT, CAN WE, CAN'T WE, UM, INDEMNIFY THEM SO THAT WE CARRY THE RISK? I, I WILL DEFER TO RICK, I APOLOGIZE THE QUESTION AGAIN, CAN WE NOT, WE, THE CITY NOT INDEMNIFY A PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNER, IF WE DO A REVENUE SHARE PARKING SITUATION SO THAT WE CARRY THE RISK AND THEY DON'T, THE CITY DOES NOT GENERALLY INDEMNIFY, THERE ARE VERY LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES IN IN WHICH WE WOULD, IT WOULD HAVE TO BE A, YOU KNOW, REALLY SIGNIFICANT PUBLIC PURPOSE TO DO SO.
LIKE I THINK WE INDEMNIFY IF WE ARE ENTERING INTO AN EASEMENT AREA TO DO WORK, ET CETERA.
UM, AND HERE WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS VALET OPERATORS.
THAT WOULD BE, OR JUST PARKING? JUST PARKING.
UM, I, I THINK THAT THE BETTER COURSE WOULD BE FOR THE PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNER TO HAVE ADEQUATE INSURANCE AND THEN THE CITY COULD POTENTIALLY HELP COVER THAT IF THAT'S THE DIRECTION WE WANT TO GO IN.
AND I CAN GET WITH OUR RISK MANAGEMENT TO GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT INSURANCE THOSE ARE, THE INSURANCE LEVELS WOULD LOOK LIKE TO MAKE ALL PARTIES FEEL COMFORTABLE.
UM, BUT THAT, THAT GENERALLY IS THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE IS BECAUSE WHEN YOU, THE, IN THE LOCATIONS THAT HAVE THESE LARGE PARKING LOTS, UM, WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE KIND OF REVENUE, OBVIOUSLY BECAUSE OUR RATES ARE FAVORABLE TO THE AREA, UM, IT GETS CHALLENGING TO SHOW ANY FINANCIAL INCENTIVE TO THEM ON THE PRIVATE SIDE.
UM, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE'RE NOT GONNA TRY, THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE'RE NOT GONNA UNTURN OR TURN OVER EVERY SINGLE STONE THAT WE CAN IN THIS AREA.
BECAUSE I AGREE WITH YOU, THERE ARE SEVERAL, YOU KNOW, IN THE NORTH BEACH AREA, IN THE SUNSHINE MEETING THAT COMMISSIONER ROSA GONZALEZ HAD REGARDING, UM, EVERYBODY TALKED ABOUT THE PUBLIX PARKING LOT AFTER CLOSING.
EVERYBODY TALKED ABOUT THE WALGREENS PARKING LOT WAS ALWAYS EMPTY IN THE CHASE BANK PARKING LOT.
UM, BUT WHEN YOU GO TO THESE LARGE CORPORATIONS, THEY GENERALLY JUST AREN'T GOING TO BE RECEPTIVE TO THINGS OF THAT.
SO IN YOUR MEMO, YOU HAVE 68 50 BAY DRIVE AND MUNICIPAL PARKING LOT P 89, UM, WITH POSSIBLE FOLLOW UP.
HAVE, HAS THERE BEEN FURTHER DISCUSSION SINCE THIS WAS DRAFTED? 'CAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S, UM, AN OLDER MEMO.
AND SO P 89, THE, THERE'S A, THERE IS A PROPERTY THAT BORDERS P 89, UM, THAT I HAD SPOKEN WITH OUR TEAM ABOUT TO GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF EXACTLY WHAT WE COULD DO THERE REGARDING MAYBE NOT NECESSARILY A GARAGE, BUT FOR EXAMPLE, A SINGLE DECK.
UM, BECAUSE WHEREAS YOU'RE NOT GONNA BE BURDENED AS MUCH, IT WON'T COST AS MUCH PER SPACE.
IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT PUTTING A DECK OVER OR OVER AN EXISTING PARKING LOT, IT'D BE EFFECTIVELY TWO FLOORS PARKING ESSENTIALLY.
UM, AND, AND I THINK THERE'S SOME THINGS WE CAN DO THERE THAT CAN BE A LITTLE BIT MORE, UM, ECONOMICALLY SUSTAINABLE WHILE ALSO PROVIDING A SUBSTANTIAL, UH, UH, A SUBSTANTIAL FOOTPRINT, UM, UH, BECAUSE YOU WOULD NEED LESS RUN THERE.
THERE'S JUST A LOT OF BENEFITS TO A DECK.
AND I, I MEAN ALSO IT, IT ALSO DEPENDS ON WHAT KIND OF GROWTH, YOU KNOW, WE ARE PROJECTING IN THE AREA.
AND I WILL, YOU KNOW, KIND OF TALK WITH OUR OTHER INTERNAL DEPARTMENTS TO GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT'S GOING ON OVER THERE, WHAT'S PLANNING TO GO OVER THERE, AND THEN WHAT SOME OF OUR INTERNAL REQUIREMENTS ARE, FOR EXAMPLE, ON ANY NEW CONSTRUCTION WITH PARKING MINIMUMS OR THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
SO TO THAT END THERE, THERE ARE A WHOLE BUNCH OF NEW BUILDINGS GOING UP.
UM, AND OVER THE YEARS THEY, I'VE HEARD LOOSELY,
[02:00:01]
YEAH, YEAH, YEAH.THERE WILL BE PUBLIC PARKING SPACES AVAILABLE, ET CETERA.
SO I, I DON'T BELIEVE WE HAVE ANY LEVERAGE NEGOTIATING WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY PERMITTED AND WORKING ON BUILDING.
BUT CAN WE DO A SURVEY OF WHAT WILL ACTUALLY BE AVAILABLE AND WOULD THEY BE WILLING TO HAVE, YOU KNOW, A, A DISCOUNTED RESIDENT FEE, UM, YOU KNOW, A FEW NIGHTS A WEEK OR ALL THE TIME OR WHATEVER.
LET, LET'S FIND OUT WHAT THAT IS, WHAT THAT IS GOING TO BE, WHAT THAT UNIVERSE LOOKS LIKE, AND THEN FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN MAXIMIZE THAT.
I MEAN, UM, 72 PARK IS GOING LIVE AS WE SPEAK.
UM, SO THAT SHOULD BE THE FIRST ONE.
AND THEN THERE ARE TWO OR THREE OTHERS THAT ALREADY HAVE, YOU KNOW, MACHINES ON THE LOT.
AND, AND THEN WE HAVE ANOTHER, I THINK SEVEN OR EIGHT IN, IN THE BACKGROUND THAT ARE GONNA BE OVER THE NEXT NUMBER OF YEARS.
BUT IF THOSE FOUR, THREE OR FOUR BUILDINGS WOULD MAKE A PORTION OF THEIR RESPONSE ACCESSIBLE FOR RESIDENT RATES, THAT WOULD ALLEVIATE A LOT OF ISSUE.
UM, SO LET'S, LET'S TRY TO FIND OUT COMPREHENSIVELY WHAT IT MIGHT BE AVAILABLE.
I, I DON'T REMEMBER THE DETAILS WITH THE SHERRY FAC.
THERE'S, I, I KNOW THEY'RE INTERESTED IN DOING IT.
THEY HAD TO MEET CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS.
I DON'T THINK THEY WERE SUPER EXCITED ABOUT THE IDEA OF SPENDING THE MONEY TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS, BUT MAYBE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT COULD BE REVISITED.
NO, I, YOU FINISHED YOUR THOUGHT 'CAUSE MINE WAS GONNA GO OFF ON A DIFFERENT TANGENT.
UM, AND YEAH, JUST MAYBE COME BACK TO US WITH SOME DETAILS ABOUT A, YOU KNOW, PUTTING WHAT THE COST IS ON PUTTING A DECK OVER SOME EXISTING LOTS.
OH, YOU STARTED, WILL, YOU STARTED TALKING ABOUT SOMEBODY APPROACHED THE CITY ABOUT BUYING SOME LOTS TO DO A MIXED USE, INCLUDING PARKING.
AREN'T YOU GLAD YOU SAID YES TO THIS JOB? ABSOLUTELY,
ALBERT, ALBERTO VENTURA, ASSISTANT PARKING DIRECTOR.
WE HAD A MEETING WITH MR. BRILL WHO WAS LOOKING TO, THEY'RE LOOKING TO BUY THE GROCERY STORE AT THE CORNER ON BAY DRIVE AND, UH, THE BAY SUPERMARKET.
AND THOSE, THAT IS A THRIVING ACTIVE BUSINESS AS WELL AS THE AUTO PARTS STORE.
AND SINCE OUR PARKING LOT IS ADJACENT TO THAT, MAKING THAT A WHOLE PROJECT WHERE WE WOULD GET PARKED ADDITIONAL PARKING THERE.
SO THAT WAS ONE OF THE, THAT WAS THE CONVERSATION THAT WE HAD LAST WEEK WITH THEM.
WHAT, WHAT DOES THE OWNER OF BAY SUPERMARKET HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THIS? WE DON'T KNOW.
THEY'RE THE ONES THAT WANTED TO SPEAK TO US IN REFERENCE TO THAT.
I MEAN, HE'S BEEN THERE FOR 30 YEARS, UNLESS YOU FIND, NOT YOU, UNLESS HIS LOCATION IS MOVED TO SOMEPLACE EQUALLY AWESOME AS THAT CORNER LOCATION.
I THINK THAT WOULD BE A CHALLENGE.
IS IT? WELL, SIMPLY FROM THEM, LIKE THEY ALREADY HAD TO HAVE DISCUSSIONS AND THAT THERE IS INTEREST IN THAT.
SO DO THEY OWN THE PROPERTY, THE BAY SUPERMARKET? THEY'RE LOOKING TO PURCHASE THAT TO PURCHASE IT, AND THEN OH, BUILD, OH, BAY SUPERMARKET IS LOOKING TO, YEAH.
BAY SUPERMARKET NOT, NOT BAY SUPERMARKET, THE IS A PRESIDENTIAL OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
THE TROPIC TROPICAL RIGHT NEXT TO LA BACA.
UM, OH, WHERE THE AUTO PARTS STORE IS AT? YEAH.
OH, SO IT'S NOT THE BASE SUPERMARKET? NO.
IT'S THE, IT'S THE, OH, IT'S THE OTHER, IT'S SMALLER SUPERMARKET ON THE OTHER SIDE.
AND BECAUSE THEY'RE, THEY'RE TRYING TO PURCHASE THAT SUPERMARKET ALONG WITH THE ADVANCED AUTO PARTS STORE.
AND SINCE OUR PARKING LOT IS ADJACENT TO THAT, THEY WANTED TO DO A WHOLE PROJECT IN THAT.
AND WHAT, WHAT IS THEIR PROJECT COMPRISED OF? SO, I I, WE DIDN'T GET TOO MUCH INTO DETAILS WITH, WITH WHAT THE TOTALITY OF THE PROJECT WAS, BECAUSE THAT WAS A LITTLE BIT OUTSIDE OF OUR PURVIEW.
I KNOW THEY, THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT A FEW DIFFERENT THINGS THAT THEY COULD DO.
UM, UH, WE WERE REALLY MORE FOCUSED ON, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE A SET AMOUNT OF SPACES IN THE, I BELIEVE THAT'S P 89 OR THAT YEAH, P 89.
SO WE HAVE A SET AMOUNT OF SPACES ON THERE.
AND THEN, YOU KNOW, THEY WANTED TO KNOW FROM PARKING'S PERSPECTIVE, YOU KNOW, WHAT WOULD BE, WHAT THE THINGS THAT WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT, SHOULD WE LOSE THAT LOT? 'CAUSE OBVIOUSLY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A PLACE WHERE WE ALREADY HAVE A PARKING DEFICIT.
UM, SO WHAT WOULD WE NEED TO HAVE ACCESS TO FROM THE, FROM THE PARKING SIDE FOR US TO LOOK FAVORABLY UPON ANY TYPE OF DEVELOPMENT THAT WENT IN WHERE WE ACTUALLY HAD A NET LOSS OF PARKING, WHAT WOULD WE GAIN ON THE AFTER, AFTER THE PROJECT WAS DONE? SO THAT WAS REALLY WHERE OUR CONVERSATIONS WERE MORE HEADED.
WHO KNOWS WHAT THAT PROJECT IS EVEN BEING CONTEMPLATED, BUT IF IT WAS SOME SORT OF A MULTI-USE PROJECT THERE THAT COMBINES THOSE THREE SITES, WHAT A GREAT PLACE FOR LIKE AN ALDI OR SOMETHING.
THOSE, IT'D BE AN AMAZING PLACE FOR AN ALDI.
[02:05:01]
HOUSING.YOU KNOW, THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE NEED.
I ENVISION MAYBE, YOU KNOW, HOUSING ON TOP AND AN ALDI ON THE BOTTOM.
SO, BUT, BUT OBVIOUSLY WHEN ANYONE PARKING IN BETWEEN TALKS ABOUT REMOVING, YOU KNOW, PARKING SPACES OUT OF A, OUT OF A LOT, YOU KNOW, OUR FOCUS IS GOING TO BE GETTING A NET POSITIVE NO MATTER WHAT, YOU KNOW, ONCE ANY PROJECT IS COMPLETE, BECAUSE WE'RE NOT GONNA, UH, TURN AN AREA THAT'S ALREADY A PARKING DESERT INTO A DRIVER, MORE OF A PARKING DESERT.
WELL, ONE THING, UH, I'LL ASK YOU TO MONITOR, IT'S PROBABLY TOO EARLY TO DO SO NOW, BUT IN SOME OF THESE CITIES THAT ARE ROLLING OUT, UH, THE WAYMO'S AND THE ROBO TAXIS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, WHAT IMPACT, YOU KNOW, IT HAS ON THEIR OVERALL PARKING SITUATION, UM, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, UH, MAYBE IN AUSTIN IT WAS ROLLED OUT AND I THINK WILL HAVE SOME SOCIETAL IMPLICATIONS.
UH, BUT THE, THE EFFICIENCY OF SOME OF THE ROBO TAXIS VERSUS JUST THE USUAL UBERS, UM, ARE DRAMATIC, VERY, VERY DRAMATIC WHEN I BELIEVE WAYMO'S HIT MIAMI NOW.
SO, SO, UM, I KNOW WE CAN, WE CAN TALK TO OUR PARTNERS, UH, YOU KNOW, ACROSS THE WATER, TALK TO THEM ABOUT HOW, IF THEY'VE SEEN ANY IMPACTS ON WHERE IT'S BEING DEPLOYED.
I DON'T THINK IT'S OF A SCALE YET WHERE WE'D BE ABLE TO SEE TO MIAMI, BUT I THINK IT IS MORE PREVALENT IN, IN SOME OF THE, UH, CITIES OUT WEST, RIGHT? YEAH.
YEAH, IT'S VERY IN SAN FRANCISCO.
AND, UM, ONE OF MY STOPS BEFORE I CAME TO THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, UM, I WAS, UH, WITH THE DOT WITH PASADENA.
AND SO I ALREADY HAVE A VERY GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH, UH, SOME CONTACTS IN SAN FRANCISCO WITH PARKING.
SO I CAN REACH OUT TO THEM SHORTLY AND GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING IF THEY'VE SEEN ANY IMPACT IN THE OPERATIONS THROUGHOUT THEIR COMMUNITY.
UM, WHEN YOU COME BACK WITH YOUR FUTURE UPDATE, WOULD YOU BE SO KIND AS TO ACTUALLY UPDATE THE MEMO? BECAUSE THIS INFORMATION, UM, IS ALMOST A YEAR OLD.
THAT'S NOT A A I DIDN'T MEAN THAT AS A SNARKY THING.
NO, I WAS JUST LOOKING AT IT AND I'M LIKE, WAIT, BUT YOU'VE, THERE'S ALREADY UPDATED INFORMATION THAT WASN'T REFLECTED IN HERE, SO, UM, I THINK IT'S JUST BECAUSE IT'S BEEN ROLLED OVER SO MANY TIMES, SO THAT WOULD BE AWESOME.
SO CHAIR, WE'LL SHARE THIS ITEM DISCUSSED AND TO RETURN A FE FERC WHEN APPROPRIATE.
COMMISSIONER BOT, DO YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN ON THE WEST LOTS? UH, MB 10,
[NB 10. DEVELOP A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TO INTEGRATE UNDERGROUND CISTERNS WITHIN THE WEST LOTS]
UH, SURE.MB 10, DISCUSS A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TO INTEGRATE UNDERGROUND CISTERNS WITHIN THE WEST LOTS.
MB 10, I ALWAYS PICK UP A SCRABBLE WORD, UH, HAVING A MEETING WITH YOU AND I WILL BE ADDING CISTERNS TO THAT.
UM, SO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, THERE'S A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT'S GOING TO BE HAPPENING WITH THE WEST LOTS.
UM, I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF INTEREST IN DOING PASSIVE KINDS OF UPDATES TO IT SO THAT IT'S NOT A LOT OF INFRASTRUCTURE ON TOP, BUT IT'S FLEXIBLE PROGRAMMING, THINGS LIKE THAT.
BUT, UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE WRESTLE WITH OBVIOUSLY AS CITY AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO MORE AND MORE IS THE RAIN BOMBS.
UM, AND EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN DO TO HELP, UM, MITIGATE SOME OF THAT DAMAGE AND FIND MORE PLACES FOR WATER TO GO.
I WAS, UM, READING SOMETHING ABOUT COPENHAGEN THAT LITERALLY HAS BUILT TUNNELS, UM, TO ACCOMMODATE.
THEY HAD A, A, A RAIN BOMB, I DON'T KNOW, A DECADE AGO MAYBE.
AND THEY'VE BEEN BUILDING TENS OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF DAMAGE TO THE CITY, AND THEY'RE SPENDING AN EQUAL AMOUNT IN BUILDING TUNNELS THAT CAN FILL UP TO HOLD THE WATER UNTIL IT DISSIPATES.
SO I'M NOT SUGGESTING THAT I'M NOT COMPLETELY DELUSIONAL, BUT, UM, AND I DON'T KNOW IF CISTERN ARE THE RIGHT DEVICE AT THE WEST.
LOTS AND, AND I DON'T KNOW THE MECHANICS OF CAN WE GO IN AND BUILD THIS PRIOR TO ANYTHING ELSE HAPPENING? BUT THERE IS LITERALLY AND FIGURATIVELY FALLOW GROUND THERE THAT CAN, YOU KNOW, ON THE SURFACE IT CAN ABSORB WATER, BUT IT IS SPACE THAT COULD BE USED TO HOLD MORE WATER BESIDE WHAT IT CAN NATURALLY ABSORB.
UH, RODNEY KNOWLES, THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR FOR THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.
UM, AND I GUESS I'LL START BACKWARDS, UM, REGARDING YOUR STATEMENT ABOUT NOT KNOWING IF SYSTEMS ARE THE, UM, RIGHT SOLUTION FOR THIS PARTICULAR, UH, LOCATION.
UM, THE DEPARTMENT DOESN'T RECOMMEND, UH, THE CISTERNS FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS OUTLINED WITHIN THE MEMO.
UM, BECAUSE WE'VE DONE OUR STUDY RELATED TO, UM, BLUE-GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE, ET CETERA, AND WE BELIEVE THAT THOSE SOLUTIONS WOULD PROBABLY BE MORE APPROPRIATE AS OPPOSED TO THE CISTERNS, UM, DUE TO THE AMOUNT OF EXCAVATION AND COST REQUIRED.
UM, ALSO BUILDING THE INFRASTRUCTURE IN ORDER TO COLLECT ROUTE, UM, REDISTRIBUTE THIS WATER.
UM, YES, THE CISTERNS WOULD BE GOOD TO COLLECT THE FIRST FLUSH, WHICH IS USUALLY THE MOST CONTAMINATED, UM, PORTION OF ANY RAIN BOMB,
[02:10:01]
ANY KIND OF, UM, MOVING WATER.BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT EVERYTHING THAT GOES INTO, UM, GETTING US THERE WHERE WE HAVE THE CISTERNS IN THE GROUND AND MAINTAINING THAT AND CREATING THE INFRASTRUCTURE REQUIRED, UM, IT'S NOT COST EFFECTIVE.
AND WE BELIEVE THAT THERE'RE BETTER, UM, OPPORTUNITIES OUT THERE.
AND THAT WHATEVER IS PLANNED FOR THE WEST LOTS IS PART OF A LARGER, MORE COMPREHENSIVE, UM, WATER, UM, SOLUTION FOR THE ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOOD AS OPPOSED TO FOCUSING EXCLUSIVELY ON THE WEST LOTS.
AND WE'RE ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT THE, THE DEWATERING THAT WOULD HAVE TO HAPPEN IN ORDER TO, UM, CREATE THE SPACE TO ACCOMMODATE ANY DECENT SIZED CISTERNS IN THE AREA.
SO WHAT, WHAT CAN BE DONE WITHOUT, UM, A HUGE AMOUNT OF COST AND WITHOUT WAITING FOR SOME KIND OF OVERARCHING NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENT PROJECT, UM, SOONER RATHER THAN LATER? IS THERE ANYTHING THAT'S THAT'S OUT THERE THAT WE CAN, THE GOOD THING IS THAT BECAUSE THE WEST LOT'S ON THE EAST SIDE OF, UH, THE ISLAND, UH, WE HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPLORE SOME CREATIVE FRENCH DRAIN SOLUTIONS, UM, TO COLLECT A DECENT AMOUNT OF THE WATER.
IT'S NOT A SOLUTION TO TOTALLY ERADICATE THE PROBLEM.
UH, BUT WE HAVE HAD A LOT OF SUCCESS ON THE EASTERN SIDE OF THE ISLAND JUST BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT OF, UH, SPACE BETWEEN THE WATER TABLE AND WHERE THE, UM, ELEVATION IS WHERE WE CAN CREATE THAT VOID.
UH, SO THAT, AND SOME OF THE SOLUTIONS IN OUR BLUEGREEN MASTER PLAN WITH, UH, PERMEABLE PAVEMENT, ET CETERA, UM, TO TRY AND COLLECT SOME OF THAT.
AND EVEN WITH ANY, UM, LET'S SAY FOR EXAMPLE, UH, PARKING SPACES, ET CETERA, THAT CREATED, AND WE WERE TO USE SOME KIND OF SUSPENDED PAVEMENT SYSTEM, CREATING A BIT OF A VOID TO COLLECT THAT WATER UNDERNEATH AND LET THAT PERCOLATE NATURALLY.
THOSE ARE SOME OF THE OPPORTUNITIES, UM, THAT WE COULD EXPLORE.
SO HOW WOULD THE FRENCH DRAIN HELP? WHERE DOES IT COLLECT TO? WHAT THE FRENCH DRAIN'S GONNA DO IS IT'S GOING TO CREATE, UM, THIS VOID THAT'S PROBABLY BACKFILLED WITH SOMETHING LIKE, UH, P ROCK 57 ROCK WHERE THE WATER'S COLLECTED IN THERE AND IT EVENTUALLY PERCOLATES INTO THE GROUND.
THE TRICK WITH THAT IS IT'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE BUILT, UM, LARGE ENOUGH WON'T BE ABLE TO GET SUPER DEEP, BUT LARGE ENOUGH SO THAT, UM, WE'RE ABLE TO COLLECT THAT AND ALLOWED TO DISSIPATE NATURALLY.
UM, BUT WE'RE AT A CHALLENGE HERE IN THE CITY WITH REGARD TO THE AMOUNT OF SPACE BETWEEN THE WATER TABLE AND OUR COLLECTION POINT.
IT, IT'S TOUGH, BUT YOU SAID ON THE EAST SIDE WE HAVE THE BENEFIT OF HAVING A LITTLE BIT MORE SPACE NATURALLY OCCURRING.
AS OPPOSED TO THE WEST SIDE, CLOSER TO THE BAY.
SO IF WE WERE TO DO FRENCH DRAINS ON THE, UM, ON THE WEST LOTS, HOW MUCH WATER COULD THAT CONTAIN FOR US? HOW MUCH, HOW MUCH OF AN IMPACT WOULD THAT HAVE? I DON'T HAVE THAT ANSWER RIGHT NOW.
UM, BUT WE CAN LOOK INTERNALLY TO EXPLORE WHAT THOSE OPTIONS ARE AND TO TRY TO COME UP WITH SOME, I GUESS, NUMBER FOR WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE.
AND I THINK WE SHOULD FIGURE OUT WHAT THE COST MIGHT BE AND WHAT KIND OF RESILIENCY GRANTS MIGHT HELP DEFRAY SOME OF THIS COST.
I MEAN, WE ARE, WE'RE SCRAMBLING IN EVERY WAY POSSIBLE.
UM, AND IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT COULD HAVE A GOOD SIZE IMPACT WITH A, YOU KNOW, WITH A, A NOT OUTSIZED PRICE TAG, UM, THAT DOESN'T DISRUPT PEOPLE'S ABILITY TO GET TO AND FROM THEIR HOMES AND TO AND FROM WORK, UM, AND IT COULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN, IN HOW WE HANDLE THESE RAIN EVENTS, I THINK THAT WOULD, I THINK THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
UM, BUT I, I LOVE YOUR IDEA ABOUT THE CISTERN, ALTHOUGH IT MIGHT NOT BE THE BEST SOLUTION BECAUSE IT, IT WOULD BECOME A NEIGHBORHOOD PROJECT, RIGHT? BUILDING THE COLLECTION SYSTEM.
I, I UNDERSTOOD THAT YOU WANTED TO USE IT AS IRRIGATION, UH, TO IRRIGATE.
UM, BUT ANYWAY, SO, UM, NO, I WASN'T THINKING THAT, THAT, OKAY.
SO, UM, WITH, WITH THE FRENCH FRENCH DRAINS HERE IN THE CITY, IT'S KIND OF TRICKY WITH SEA LEVEL RISE.
UM, THERE'S LESS AND LESS SPACE TO, TO PUT FRENCH STRAINS.
THEY, WHAT WE HAVE AN ISSUE IN PARTS OF THE CITY IS THE WATER'S COMING UP THROUGH THOSE FRENCH.
AND OUT AND, AND COSTING THAT SUNNY DAY FLOODING.
SO I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND ANY MORE FRENCH DRAINS EVEN ON THE WEST, ON THE EAST SIDE WHERE WE JUST HEARD THAT IT, YEAH, BECAUSE IT, THERE'S ENOUGH AS SEA LEVEL RISES IT.
SO ARE YOU SAYING THERE IS NO, NO OPPORTUNITY FOR IMPROVING WHAT WE HAVE ON THE WEST LOTS? THE, THE, WELL, NOT, NOT ON THE FRENCH, BUT FRENCH DRAINS, I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND FRENCH DRAINS.
SO WHAT WOULD YOU RECOMMEND, UM, FOR THE WEST? LOTS? I, I DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER RIGHT NOW FOR THAT.
'CAUSE ANYTHING THAT YOU WOULD COLLECT WOULD ANY, ANY WATER THAT YOU WANTED TO COLLECT,
[02:15:01]
YOU WOULD HAVE TO BUILD AN INFRASTRUCTURE TO COLLECT THAT WATER AND TRANSPORT THAT TO THAT LOCATION.AND IF YOU'RE PUTTING, UH, STORM DRAINS, BIG STORM DRAINS, IT BECOMES A NEIGHBORHOOD PROJECT BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO RELOCATE WATER, SEWER, THEN IT, IT JUST BECOMES A NEIGHBORHOOD PROJECT.
YOU, YOU WOULD PUT WATER, NEW WATER NEW.
IT JUST, IT'S JUST ANYTHING THAT YOU WANNA COLLECT, IT JUST BECOMES, BECOMES A BIG PROJECT.
IF, IF I MAY TO, TO, TO ASSIST MAYBE PERHAPS IF THIS, THIS ITEM HAS EVOLVED A BIT, UH, NOT ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR SOLUTION, BUT A, THE PROBLEM OF DRAINAGE IN THE WEST.
LOTS AREAS, PERHAPS PUBLIC WORKS CAN COME BACK AND DISCUSS.
'CAUSE YOU KNOW, WE HAVE, UM, A STORMWATER MASTER PLAN.
THERE ARE MANY PROJECTS I JUST MASTER BOTH NPS AND INDIVIDUAL CRITICAL NEEDS PROJECTS.
I WAS JUST GONNA ASK, THEY'RE ALL, YOU KNOW, ALL COMPETING WITH EACH OTHER.
UM, OF WHICH CURRENTLY MOST OF IT IS NOT FUNDED, UM, AS OF RIGHT NOW.
UH, BUT PERHAPS MAKE HIM LOOK AND CASE, WHY IS THAT NOT FUNDED? AGAIN, REMIND US,
JOE, WOULDN'T IT BE A GREAT IDEA IF WE COULD, UM, FIND A WAY TO FUND THAT? IF I RAN ON THE PLATFORM FOR RESILIENCY? I WOULD.
SO PER PERHAPS IS THE, THE PUBLIC WORKS CAN GO BACK AND REVIEW, UM, ALL OF THE PROJECTS THAT ARE IN THAT AREA.
UH, 'CAUSE I THINK, I THINK PART OF THE ISSUE IS THAT NOT ISSUANCE, BUT THE POSITIVE IS THAT THAT AREA IS UP ON THE COASTAL RIDGE.
SO IT ACTUALLY IS PROBABLY SOME MORE OF THE MORE ELEVATED AREAS.
SO WHEN IT COMES TO DOLLARS AND ALLOCATING IT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A WHOLE LIST OF CRITICAL NEEDS IN TRYING TO HIT THE, THE WORST OF THE HOTSPOTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
BUT THE, MAYBE THEY CAN COME BACK AND TELL WHAT IS IN THE WEST LOTS AREA THAT'S IN OUR PLAN.
AND WHEN IT IS PROGRAM DEBATE.
AND I THINK MAYBE THAT WOULD, UM, TO HELP.
'CAUSE IT'S REALLY LESS ABOUT, BECAUSE YOU HEAR OF A SOLUTION, BUT IT'S REALLY THE PROBLEM YOU'RE TRYING TO ADDRESS.
SO MAYBE YOU CAN GO BACK WITH THAT, THAT AREA AND JUST DISCUSS WHAT NIPS OR, UH, OTHER CRITICAL NEEDS STORM WATER MASTER PLAN PROJECTS IN THAT AREA AND WHEN THOSE ARE, ARE SCHEDULED, UH, TO BE IMPLEMENTED.
AND SO IF THAT'S OKAY, WE'D RETURN, UH, PUBLIC WORK FOR THAT INFORMATION.
UH, I BELIEVE COMMISSIONER DOMINGUEZ IS ON ZOOM.
UH, WOULD LIKE TO HEAR SOME OF HER ITEMS. ONE WHICH YOU CO-SPONSOR, COMMISSIONER BOT.
[NB 18. DISCUSS APPROVED DEAUVILLE FINES AND LAWSUIT SETTLEMENT]
UM, MB 18.DISCUSS APPROVE, APPROVE DOVAL FINES AND LAWSUIT SETTLEMENT.
ALRIGHT, SO THE CITY, I'M HEARING AN ECHOES THERE.
SOMETHING I NEED TO DO ON MY END NOT TO HEAR THAT.
UH, THE CITY REACHED A $6.3 MILLION SETTLEMENT RELATED TO THE VO PROPERTY WITH OVER 5.3 MILLION STEMMING FROM SPECIAL MAGISTRATE FINES.
AND PER THE CITY POLICY, 20%, 1.07 MILLION IS REQUIRED TO BE ALLOCATED TO MASS TRANSIT OR CAPITAL ACQUISITION COSTS 30% OF THE FINES, 1.29 MILLION TOWARD A ONE-TIME GRANT PROGRAM TO HELP NEARBY RESIDENTS FUND BUILDING REPAIRS AND SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS FOR PROPERTY OWNERS IN NORTH BEACH, NORTH OF 73RD STREET.
AND THIS PROGRAM WILL HELP HOMEOWNERS IN A HISTORICALLY LOWER INCOME NEIGHBORHOOD GET THEIR FAIR SHARE OF THE CITY, SETTLE SETTLEMENT WITH THE VILLE OWNERS, AND PREVENT DISPLACEMENT OF RESIDENTS BY PRESERVING PROPERTY VALUES AND PREVENTING HOMES FROM GETTING SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS AND VIOLATIONS.
THE PROGRAM WILL HELP KEEP PEOPLE IN THEIR HOMES AND STOP THE PREDATORY BUYERS FROM BUYING A BUILDINGS, UM, THAT ARE FALLING BEHIND ON REPAIRS AND DISPLACING THE RESIDENTS.
I THINK THERE WAS ONE FINAL NOTE.
UM, THERE'S OVER 400 DIFFERENT BUILDING CODE VIOLATIONS FOR OVER 200 DIFFERENT PROPERTIES THAT HAVE BEEN ISSUED IN NORTH BEACH, MOST OF WHICH ARE FOR UNSAFE STRUCTURES.
SO THIS FUNDING WOULD REALLY HELP A NEIGHBORHOOD IN THAT, UH, NEEDS IT.
UH, SO I'LL JUST, UH, ADD, ADD ON TO THAT AS I, I ASSIST, UH, PREPARING THIS ITEM.
I THINK THE COMMISSIONER, UH, LABELED IT OUT ALL CORRECTLY WITH THE 6.3, THE PAYING OFF OF THE OUTSTANDING AMOUNTS TO 5.3 AND THEN THE RESOLUTION THAT REQUIRES, UH, THE KNOW THE DEPOSIT INTO A TRANSPORTATION FUND.
SO LEAVING THAT NET AMOUNT, UM, I THINK HER REQUEST WAS TO UTILIZE, UM, 30% OF THAT FOR THAT ONE TIME GRANT PROGRAM TO ASSIST WITH FUNDING REPAIRS AND SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS SURROUNDING BUILDINGS THAT WE'VE $1.3 MILLION.
[02:20:01]
JUST THE, THE, THE ADMINISTRATION JUST WANTS TO, YOU KNOW, REEMPHASIZE OUR LARGE UNFUNDED CAPITAL LIENS PROGRAM.UH, WE DO NOTE THAT WE, WE WILL BE DISCUSSING OUR CAPITAL PROGRAM THIS FRIDAY.
UH, AND THERE ARE A NUMBER OF, I THINK WE'VE OR, YOU KNOW, BE FUNDING AROUND, UM, 50% OR 40%, I'M SORRY, OF OUR CAPITAL PROGRAM FOR NEXT YEAR.
AND THEN WE HAVE IN JULY 11TH, OUR BUDGET WORKSHOP, UH, WHICH, UH, WE'LL BE DEALING WITH OPERATING ITEMS BOTH RECURRING AND, UM, AND ONE TIME, AND YOU KNOW, WE, I THINK AS THE CHAIR HAS MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, WE WILL HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF A DIFFICULT BUDGETARY SEASON COMING IN.
AND I'M NOT SURE I, I GUESS I, I, AND THIS MIGHT BE FOR, FOR RICK TO FIND THIS, THESE, THESE PAYMENTS WOULD BE MADE NO MATTER THE DISPOSITION OF THE FINAL AGREEMENT.
SO I'M NOT SURE IF WE'RE AHEAD OF THE CURVE HERE OR, OR, OR NOT.
THESE PAYMENTS WOULD BE ACTUALLY BEING MADE NO MATTER WHAT.
SO, UM, I THINK IT'S JUST AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE COMMISSION TO REALLY DETERMINE THEIR, THEIR BEST USE.
YOU KNOW, WE KNOW THAT THERE'S A NUMBER OF THINGS IN HERE.
I HAD MENTIONED IN HERE, THE, THE, THE TRANSFER OF THE BETSY PEREZ HOUSE IS, IS FOR SOME COMMISSIONERS, A VERY BIG PRIORITY, UH, BEING PURCHASED FROM THE BUILDING FUND.
SO THERE ARE SOME LARGE, UH, NEEDS IN THE BUDGET GOING FORWARD.
SO IT'S JUST SOMETHING TO, UH, TO CONSIDER.
UM, SO WHETHER YOU WANTED TO MAKE THAT DECISION NOW OR GO THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS, WAIT FOR THE FUNDS TO COME IN AND MAKE THAT DETERMINATION ON HOW YOU WANT TO ALLOCATE THAT.
BUT SO IS, IS THIS ALMOST LIKE A BIFURCATED ITEM, MR. CFO? OF COURSE, I WANT TO POSITION THE CITY TO ACCEPT THESE FINES MM-HMM
RIGHT? AND GET THIS MONEY INTO THE DOOR.
ARE WE ABLE TO, ESSENTIALLY, IS THERE ANYTHING THAT A PROACTIVE ACTION IS NEEDED TO DO THAT? NO, THE COMMISSION ALREADY APPROVED THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT AT THE APRIL 23RD MEETING.
THIS IS PURELY ABOUT THE POSSIBLE USE OF A PORTION OF THE FUNDS YEAH.
FOR THE PURPOSE SPECIFIED IN THE MEMO TO ASSIST THESE HOMEOWNERS, THE ADMINISTRATION'S JUST BRINGING THE POINT THAT WE'RE IN OUR BUDGET SEASON AND THERE'S A LONG LIST OF, UM, ENHANCEMENTS, NON-FUNDED CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT ARE REQUESTING DOLLARS IN THIS UPCOMING YEAR.
AND JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT MAYBE BEFORE SOME DECISIONS ARE MADE ON THE ALLOCATION OF THOSE FUNDS, THAT, UH, IN CONTEXT, AS I OFTEN TALK ABOUT, THAT YOU SEE ALL OF THE THINGS, UM, THAT ARE FUNDED UP.
AND I KNOW MAYBE WE STILL HAVE BRIEFINGS WITH THE CHAIR LATER TODAY AND COMMISSIONER BOT TOMORROW ON OUR, ON OUR CAPITAL PROGRAM.
AND YOU MIGHT WANNA SEE THE TOTALITY OF, OF THE BUDGET PROCESS PRIOR TO MAKING A DECISION ON FUNDING AND BREAK DOWN THE NUMBERS OF THIS, UH, ONE MORE TIME.
UH, SO IT STARTED AT 6.3 AND COMMISSIONER DOMINGUEZ HAD IT RIGHT ON THE YEAH.
AND I FEEL VERY STRONGLY ABOUT THIS.
I, I DID HAVE MY BRIEFING AND, UH, THIS IS A SMALL AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT'S GOING TO HELP OVER 400 BUILDINGS POTENTIALLY IF THEY APPLY FOR A GRANT TO GET APPROVED.
OF COURSE, UH, IN NORTH BEACH, THEY'VE BEEN CRYING FOR HELP.
LIKE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE COMING OUT OF FINES, AND IT'S JUST A SMALL PERCENT THAT I'M REQUESTING TO BE ALLOCATED TO NORTH BEACH MAY.
UM, I I'M VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THIS, AND I THINK THAT IT IS IN THE GRAND SCHEME OF OUR BUDGET, I MEAN, A MILLION DOLLARS IS AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF MONEY TO ME.
BUT, UM, IN THE SCHEME OF OUR BUDGET, IT IS, IT'S NOT A HUGE AMOUNT OF MONEY.
UM, AND THE RESIDENTS IN THIS AREA HAVE BEEN ADVERSELY AFFECTED SINCE 2015 WHEN THE DOE VILLE WAS LED TO START TO DETERIORATE.
AND, UM, PROPORTIONATELY THESE SMALL GRANTS TO THESE 400 BUILDINGS WILL HELP STAVE OFF THE PREDATORY, UM, DEVELOPERS WHO WILL BE, WHO ARE CIRCLING ALREADY IN NORTH BEACH AND LOOKING TO COME IN AND, UM, AND, AND BUY UP PROPERTIES AND TURN THEM INTO THINGS THAT WILL NOT BE SUPPORTIVE OF OUR NATURALLY OCCURRING AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
SO I THINK IN THE GRAND SCHEME OF THINGS, THIS IS A VERY WISE USE OF MONEY, AND I'M NOT BEING CAVALIER ABOUT THE POTENTIAL BUDGET SHORTFALLS THAT WE MAY BE FACING AS WE, UM, FACE REDUCED TOURISM AND OTHER PRESSURES.
BUT I THINK THIS IS A GOOD SHORING UP OF A COMMUNITY THAT HAS BEEN AFFECTED FOR A DECADE BY THESE DERELICT OWNERS.
AND I THINK IT IS, UM, JUSTICE WELL SERVED TO HELP THEM WITH SOME OF THE PROCEEDS FROM THE OWNERS FINES.
I AM, I WOULD MOVE TO SUPPORT THIS.
AND, AND MR. CFO, HOW WOULD WE DO THIS? DO WE ESSENTIALLY PUT THIS AS A, A, A BUDGET ITEM FOR 2026? I WOULD SEE THIS, IF, IF THIS IS THE, THE COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATION IS THAT THIS WOULD RETURN TO COMMISSION WITH A FAVORABLE RECOMMENDATION TO ALLOCATE 30% OF THE NET FINES FOR A ONE
[02:25:01]
TIME, UH, RESIDENT GRANT PROGRAM TO ASSIST IN FUNDING AND REPAIRS AND SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS, UH, IN THE SURROUNDING RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS.AND THEN WE WOULD HAVE TO WORK TO SEE HOW THAT WOULD BE ALLOCATED OUT.
SO IF IT WAS, WAS TO BE ALLOCATED, I'D TO SEE WHEN THE REVENUE IS BEING RECOGNIZED AND SEE WHETHER WE WOULD BRING A, AN AMENDMENT IN THE 25 BUDGET OR, OR, OR IN THE 26TH, I JUST HAVE TO LOOK.
I THINK THE PROPER WAYS TO PUT THIS, YOU KNOW, JUST LIKE ALL OF OUR OTHER LINE ITEMS. YEAH.
THAT, THAT WOULD BE ANOTHER WAY OF DOING IS, IS WHICH HAS BEEN, YOU KNOW, THE PURVIEW OF THE FERC IS THAT THIS COULD BE SENT TO THE COMMITTEE TO ALLOCATE 30% AND TO BE CONSIDERED AS PART OF THE 26 BUDGET PROCESS.
SO THAT WOULD ALLOW IT TO BE CONSIDERED A PRIORITY OF, UH, YOU KNOW, THE, THE FERC WE WOULD BRING IT TO, UH, THE COMMISSION FOR APPROVAL OR THE TIMING WISE.
WE'LL MAKE SURE IT GETS, UH, IN THE AGENDA FOR THE JULY 11TH AT THE VERY LEAST, UH, WORKSHOP.
AND IT COULD BE CONSIDERED THERE.
I HAVE A QUESTION THOUGH, IF I MAY.
UM, WE, HIS, I DON'T WANNA JINX IT, BUT WE TYPICALLY HAVE A, UM, A DELTA AT THE END OF OUR YEAR FOR 25, AND WE'LL HAVE A, A LITTLE POT OF MONEY THAT DIDN'T GET SPENT OR THAT WE ANTICIPATED COMING IN LOWER THAN IT DID.
WE DID LAST YEAR AT THE END OF, I THINK YOU'RE SPEAKING ABOUT IT IN NOVEMBER WHEN WE BRING THE, UH, THE PRAYER YEAR CLOSE OUT.
IF THERE'S ANY GENERAL FUND SURPLUS.
WE HAVE A, THE CITY HAS A CURRENT POLICY ON THE USE OF THOSE FUNDS, WHICH IS TO TOP OFF THE CITY'S RESERVES TO MAKE SURE THAT WE MEET OUR 25%, UH, GOAL, AND THEN THE REST GETS ALLOCATED TO CAPITAL PROJECTS.
COULD WE NOT, UM, USE SOME OF THAT MONEY TO GO TOWARDS THIS SO IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE PART OF THE 26, UM, BUDGET PLANNING PROCESS.
THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING TO BE DETERMINED IN NOVEMBER, UH, WHEN THAT SURPLUS WOULD BE, UH, DISCUSSED.
CAN WE BRING THIS BACK, IF IT'S THE WILL OF, UH, THE FINANCE COMMITTEE RIGHT NOW, UH, WITH A FAVORABLE RECOMMENDATION TO THE JULY MEETING COMMISSION MEETING? I, I'D BE WILLING TO DO THAT AND BE ON BOARD AS A FAVORABLE RECOMMENDATION TO BE HEARD AS PART OF THE BUDGET PROCESS AS PART OF, AND I'M ON BOARD WITH THIS.
WE CAN DO IS THEN WE'LL CREATE THIS AMOUNT AS A, AS A BUDGET ENHANCEMENT, AND WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT GETS CONSIDERED AND GETS IN FRONT OF THE COMMISSION FOR THEM, MAKE THE FINAL DETERMINATION.
SO WE'LL SHOW IT AS A RETURN TO COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION.
ALLOCATE 30% OF THE NET FINES FOR ONE-TIME RESIDENT GRANT PROGRAM TO ASSIST IN FUNDING REPAIRS AND SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS AND SURROUNDING BUILDINGS TO BE CONSIDERED AS PART OF THE 26 BUDGET PROCESS.
YEAH, AND I THINK WHERE THAT'S IMPORTANT AND CRITICAL, RIGHT NOW WE HAVE A 6.9%, UM, PROPERTY VALUATION, UH, EXPECTATION.
IF, GOD FORBID, KNOCK ON WOOD, THAT TOTALLY COMES IN FLAT.
WE CAN REEVALUATE ALL OF THESE THINGS THAT WE'VE SENT TO THE BUDGET, YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE THE RIGHT AMOUNTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO I, I THINK THAT THAT'S GOOD TO HAVE IT AS PART OF THE OVERALL MOSAIC.
AND WE'LL SHOW 'CAUSE OF THE MEMBERS HERE.
WE'LL SHOW COMMISSIONER BOT MAKING THE MOTION BEING SECONDED BY, UH, COMMISSIONER MAGAZINE.
WE COULD DO THAT FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE ITEMS. YES.
COMMISSIONER'S PUBLIC COMMENT? YES.
LARRY SCHAFER, PLEASE UNMUTE YOURSELF.
HELLO, LARRY SCHAFER, TWO THREE 3D FIRST STREET.
I'M READING THROUGH THE, UH, THE SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION FOR THIS, AND THE ADMINISTRATION WANTS TO EMPHASIZE THAT THE, THIS COULD, THESE FUNDS COULD POSSIBLY BE USED FOR THE PURCHASE OF 76 0 5 COLLINS AVENUE THAT WE PURCHASED FOR $6.5 MILLION.
AND I DON'T WANT TO TAKE AWAY FROM LAURA'S STRONG OPINIONS ON ALL THIS AND WHERE THIS IS GOING, BUT I JUST WANNA SAY, WOW, THIS IS GREAT THAT THE ADMINISTRATION IS POINTING OUT IN THIS DOCUMENTATION THAT WE MIGHT USE THIS FOR SOMETHING, UH, YOU KNOW, THAT WE NEED TO RESOLVE, WHICH IS THE PURCHASE OF THAT AND USE OF THAT ASSET AT 76 0 5 COLLINS.
JUST A REMINDER CHAIR, WE HAVE A HARD CLOSE AT ONE 30 'CAUSE OF NEIGHBORHOODS.
SO WE STILL HAVE 20 MINUTES NOW.
[NB 15. REFERRAL TO THE FINANCE AND ECONOMIC RESILIENCY COMMITTEE AND THE QUALITY EDUCATION COMMITTEE TO CONSIDER EXPANDING THE CITY'S PREKINDERGARTEN SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM TO INCLUDE OPTIONS FOR THREE YEAR-OLD STUDENTS]
HEAR COMMISSIONER DOMINGUEZ'S, OTHER ITEM, UM, MB 15 MM-HMMMB 15 REFERRAL TO THE FINANCE AND ECONOMIC RESILIENCY COMMITTEE AND THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION COMMITTEE TO CONSIDER EXPANDING THE CITY'S, UH, PRE-KINDERGARTEN SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM TO INCLUDE OPTIONS FOR THREE YEAR OLDS.
ROSENFELD, HOW ARE YOU? GOOD AFTERNOON.
I DON'T THINK IT, NO ITEM WAS.
YEAH, I JUST SAID THAT WITHOUT EVEN THINKING.
UH, YES, COMMISSIONER, YOU CAN KICK IT OFF.
SO THE CITY'S CURRENT PRE-K SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM COVERS 2.5 HOURS OF PRE-K SCHOOLING FOR 4-YEAR-OLD KIDS.
THIS ACTS AS A SUPPLEMENT TO THE STATE'S VPK PROGRAM, WHICH COVERS THE FIRST THREE HOURS OF PRE-K SCHOOLING, FILLING THE GAP FOR A FULL DAY OF SCHOOL.
CURRENTLY, THE CITY'S PRE-K PROGRAM COVERS 219 KIDS WITH SCHOLARSHIPS
[02:30:01]
OF UP TO 3000 PER STUDENT.THE SCHOOL AGE POPULATION BIRTH THROUGH 19 IN MIAMI BEACH HAS INCREASED BY 16% FROM 2013 TO, UH, NOW IN 20, UH, IN 2022 WHEN IT WAS LAST MEASURED, 34.3%.
SO FROM 16% TO 34%, THE QEC COMMITTEE PASSED THE MOTION TO SUPPORT INCLUDING THREE YEAR OLDS AS PART OF THE PROGRAM.
AND THANK YOU COMMISSIONER, UH, FOR THAT, UM, SUMMARY.
WE CURRENTLY DO HAVE A CITY FUNDED, UH, PRE-K FOUR SCHOLARSHIP.
AS, UM, COMMISSIONER DOMINGUEZ INDICATED FOR UP TO 219 CHILDREN FOR THE 25 26 SCHOOL YEAR FOR UP TO 225 CHILDREN IN THE 26 27 SCHOOL YEAR.
THE POPULATION BASED ON CENSUS INFORMATION HAS GROWN.
THE REQUEST WAS TO CONSIDER FUNDING FOR THREE YEAR OLDS.
THERE IS CURRENTLY NO UNIVERSAL PROGRAM AVAILABLE FOR THE FUNDING OF THREE YEAR OLDS.
UH, MIAMI-DADE COUNTY RESIDENTS WHO, UH, MEET THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL MAY AVAIL THEMSELVES OF THE HEAD START PROGRAM, POTENTIAL FUNDING, AND THEN THE CHILDREN'S TRUST FAMILIES FORWARD FUNDING.
IN BOTH OF THOSE INSTANCES, THE QUALIFICATION IS THAT THEY MEET THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL BETWEEN A HUNDRED, UH, AT 150%, UP TO 300%.
UH, PER MY CONVERSATION WITH, UM, THE, UH, EARLY LEARNING COALITION IN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, OF THE 2,405 CHILDREN THAT CURRENTLY PARTICIPATE IN THE CHILDREN'S TRUST FAMILIES FORWARD, UM, PROGRAM ONLY ABOUT 24, UH, LIVE WITHIN OUR THREE ZIP CODES, THE MAJORITY OF WHICH ARE IN THE 3, 3 1 4, 1 ZIP CODE.
SO THEY COULD POTENTIALLY ALSO BE RESIDENTS.
UM, IN NORTH BAY VILLAGE, WE DIDN'T FLESH THAT OUT, BUT ONLY 24.
SO THE CURRENT CRITERIA FOR ELIGIBILITY FOR THE CITY'S PRE-K SCHOLARSHIP IS THAT THE CHILD IS AGE ELIGIBLE.
THEY'RE FOUR YEARS OLD WHEN THEY ENTER PRE-K THAT THEY'RE REGISTERING FOR PRE-K, AND THAT THE FAMILY IS A RESIDENT UPON APPLICATION FOR THE SCHOLARSHIP.
AND THROUGHOUT THE YEAR IN WHICH THE CHILD IS, UH, RECEIVING THE SCHOLARSHIP.
WE CURRENTLY HAVE 27 PRE-K PROVIDERS WHO PARTNER WITH US IN THIS ENDEAVOR.
AND THE PROGRAM HAS GROWN SUBSTANTIALLY, UH, SINCE ITS INCEPTION.
ORIGINALLY WE STARTED WITH 57 SCHOLARSHIPS, AS THE COMMISSIONER INDICATED, WE ARE AT 225 SCHOLARSHIPS.
SO APPROXIMATELY A 77% GROWTH, NOT ONLY IN, UH, STUDENTS PARTICIPATING, BUT ALSO IN FUNDING.
SO IF, AGAIN, THE, THE, THIS PROGRAM IS ONE THAT'S DEFINITELY, AS THE DOCTORS MENTIONED, HAS GROWN SIGNIFICANTLY.
OVER 400% IS NOW IN THE 6, 5, 6, $700,000 PER YEAR RANGE, AS IT WERE.
SO THIS IS, THIS IS THROUGH PRE-K, WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, A FORMAL EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM TO GET CHILDREN READY, YOU KNOW, FOR KINDERGARTEN.
UH, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE CONCERNS IF YOU GO TO THE 3-YEAR-OLD, IS THAT, LESLIE, PLEASE CHIME IN IF I'M, I'M OFF HERE.
IS THAT THERE ISN'T, UM, IN THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM, THE PA THE, THE PARADIGM OF OF EDUCATION, THERE ISN'T A, A, A PROGRAM REALLY FOR THREE YEAR OLDS, RIGHT? RIGHT.
IS IT MORE OF A DAYCARE KIND? AND THIS IS COMING FROM SOMEONE LIKE YOURSELF WHO WASN'T THAT MANY YEARS AGO, UH, YOU KNOW, HAD MY SON AT RAINBOW DOWN THE STREET, UM, YOU KNOW, THE FOUR YEAR OLDS WAS A PRE-K SCHOOL, SCHOOL PROGRAM.
THREE YEAR OLDS WAS MORE OF A, A DAYCARE, MORE OF A SITUATION.
YOU KNOW, SOME, OBVIOUSLY SOME EDUCATIONAL ELEMENTS THAT ARE IN SOME OF THOSE PROVIDERS.
SO THERE'S JUST SOME KIND CONCERNS RELATED TO THAT.
AND IF YOU WERE TO EXPAND THE, UM, NOT THE DOLLARS, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY 'CAUSE WE'RE, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, BUDGETARY CONSTRAINTS, BUT IF YOU EXPANDED THE AVAILABILITY TO INCLUDE THREE YEAR OLDS UP FOR DAYCARE, COMPETING AGAINST FOUR YEAR OLDS THAT ARE ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, GETTING EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING, IT COULD, UH, WHAT YOU COULD HAVE AS YOU HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE MAYBE NOT GETTING THAT SCHOLARSHIP, AGAIN, IT'S A SCHOLARSHIP, NOT A GRANT WHERE EVERYONE GETS IT.
BUT TRADITIONALLY, THE, YOU KNOW, UH, WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT YOU'LL HAVE THE APPLICATIONS THAT THEY COME IN HIGHER.
A LOT OF TIMES THE COMMISSIONER WILL SEE THAT THERE'S 20 NAMES THAT DIDN'T, YOU KNOW, GET ON THE FUNDING LIST AND WE'LL TRY TO DO A MOTION TO, YOU KNOW, EXPAND FUNDING.
AND THIS WILL JUST PUT MORE BUDGETARY PRESSURES ON THIS PROGRAM, WHICH COULD HAVE CONCERNS ON GROWTH DOWN THE LINE.
SO, AND, AND WHEN WE LOOK AT THIS AS, UH, EDUCATIONAL, IF I RECALL, AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, UM, BUT I TRIED ENROLLING MY DAUGHTER IN THIS, UH, AND I, I ACTUALLY WON, HOWEVER, HER SCHOOL WASN'T A PARTNER, SO I WASN'T ABLE TO AVAIL MYSELF OF IT.
UM, BUT IT WAS ALMOST, UH, BORN IN THE LENS OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND ATTRACTING YOUNG FAMILIES TO OUR CITY.
SO IT WASN'T EVEN SO MUCH AS SAYING, WELL, WE NEED TO PROVIDE THESE EDUCATIONAL ENHANCEMENTS, BUT IT WAS RECOGNIZING THAT, UH, PARENTS OF YOUNG CHILDREN NEEDED TO, UH, HAVE DAYCARE EDUCATION,
[02:35:01]
WHATEVER IT MAY BE.AND WHAT A GREAT WAY TO KEEP YOUNG FAMILIES LIVING IN MIAMI BEACH WHERE WE DON'T HAVE AN AMPLE AMOUNT OF, UM, DAYCARE PROVIDERS.
AND THIS WOULD BE SAYING AS A WAY, OKAY, IF YOU'RE A YOUNG FAMILY LIVING IN MIAMI BEACH, WE'LL GIVE YOU THIS EXTRA INCENTIVE TO STAY HERE.
UH, HERE'S THIS PARTIAL SUBSIDY FOR YOUR DAYCARE RESPONSIBILITIES.
WHAT, WHAT, UH, DOCTOR, CAN YOU QUANTIFY, WHAT'S THE AMOUNT FOR THE, UH, PRE-K PER FAMILY? IS IT LIKE $2,700 PER YEAR? IF I, THE CURRENT SCHOLARSHIP HAS A VALUE OF UP TO $3,000.
OF COURSE, THAT'S BASED ON A MULTIPLIER OF 2.5 HOURS A DAY, NO MORE THAN 6.6, UH, $6 PER HOUR FOR A MAXIMUM 180 DAYS.
SO IF A SCHOOL HAS LESS THAN 180 DAYS, THE VALUE OF THE SCHOLARSHIP IS LESS THAN 3000.
IF THE FAMILY PAYS LESS THAN $6 AND 66 CENTS AN HOUR, THE VALUE OF THE SCHOLARSHIP COULD POTENTIALLY BE LESS THAN, UH, 3000.
AND GIVEN SOME OF THE BUDGETARY RESTRAINTS THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, AND THIS IS A PROGRAM THAT DOESN'T CURRENTLY EXIST, SO ANY AMOUNT WOULD, UH, BE HELPFUL, I DON'T WANNA SAY PROGRAM, BUT A ELIGIBILITY CLASS, UH, WOULD IT MAKE SENSE TO HAVE THIS PROGRAM AS BROAD AS POSSIBLE AND SAY, YOU KNOW, IT, MAYBE IT'S NOT $3,000, BUT $1,500 FOR THREE YEAR OLDS IS STILL SOMETHING, AND THEN THE PARENTS HAVE THE EXTRA INCENTIVES TO STAY IN MIAMI BEACH.
'CAUSE THE NEXT YEAR IS AN EVEN GREATER ENHANCEMENT OF $3,000.
SO WOULD THAT BE A POSSIBLE WAY TO INTRODUCE, UH, THE PROGRAM? I'LL KICK THAT OVER TO, UH, COMMISSIONER DOMINGUEZ, IF SHE'D BE OPEN TO SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
I WOULD BE OPEN TO WHAT, UM, GIVEN THAT THE THREE YEAR OLDS, UH, DON'T HAVE THE ELIGIBILITY NOW, UH, ESSENTIALLY, AND SOME OF THE, TO KEEP THIS AS BROAD AS POSSIBLE AND TO APPEAL TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE, UH, FOR THE THREE YEAR OLDS, YOU KNOW, HAVING THAT, UM, AMOUNT THAT THEY QUALIFY FOR PERHAPS UP TO $1,500 AND THEN KEEPING THE THREE K, THAT'S 3000.
SO, SO IF I, IF I MAY, UM, IF, IF, IF, IF, IF THE CONCEPT IS TO TRY TO KEEP WITHIN OUR BUDGETARY BOUNDS OF THE, THE AMOUNT THAT'S FUNDED, IF YOU'RE SPEAKING THAT, UM, THAT YOU WOULD EXPAND THAT THE EXISTING BUDGET, BUT IT WOULD ALLOW NOT ONLY FOUR YEAR OLDS, BUT ALSO THREE YEAR OLDS TO COMPETE, BUT THE THREE YEAR OLDS WILL GET 1500.
IS THAT FOR THE SAME NUMBER OF, FOR THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY? RIGHT.
SO CURRENTLY WE'RE AT $675,000.
SO IF YOU HAVE A CHILD THAT'S GOING INTO, IF YOU WIN OUR LOTTERY AND YOUR CHILD'S GOING TO PRE-K FOUR, THEY CAN HAVE A SCHOLARSHIP UP TO $3,000.
AND IF YOUR CHILD IS GOING, UH, TO A PROGRAM FOR THREE YEAR OLDS, THEY COULD HAVE A SCHOLARSHIP UP TO $1,500, AND WE JUST EXHAUST ALL FUNDS UP TO THE CURRENT 675 WITHOUT ADDING ADDITIONAL, I THINK, I THINK WE COULD, UH, LOOK AT THIS AS A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT WAYS, AND EITHER WAY, IT'LL HAVE TO BE EVALUATED IN THE 2026.
WELL, IF I MAY, IT WOULDN'T, IF, IF WE'RE NOT EXPANDING TO THE 6 75, THEN WE WOULDN'T HAVE TO.
SO IF, IF IT'S JUST TO EXPAND THE ELIGIBILITY, THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT CAN APPLY AND WIN THE SCHOLARSHIP.
BUT IF YOU HAPPEN TO WIN THE 3-YEAR-OLD SCHOLAR, IF YOU'RE A 3-YEAR-OLD APPLYING, YOU WOULD GET 1500 AND THE NEXT YEAR YOU COULD APPLY AND GET, POTENTIALLY GET THE 3000.
BUT IF, IF THAT DEC, IF THE WILL OF THE COMMISSION IS TO ALLOW THE FAMILY TO RECEIVE THE SCHOLARSHIP TWICE, IT COULD ALSO BE ONE TIME.
BUT THAT WOULD OBVIOUSLY DISCOURAGE FAMILIES FROM APPLYING TO THE, FOR THE THREE-YEAR-OLD BECAUSE THEY COULD POTENTIALLY, UH, NOT RECEIVE THE SCHOLARSHIP FOR THEIR CHILD WHEN THEY'RE FOUR YEARS OLD.
HOWEVER, UM, IF THEY ATTEND A SCHOOL LIKE BISCAY BEACH ELEMENTARY WHERE THERE IS NO FAMILIAL CONTRIBUTION, THEN THEY WOULDN'T BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE PRE-K FOUR SCHOLARSHIP ANYWAY.
SO TO REMEMBER THAT ON THE PRE-K, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, YOU KNOW, SOUTH POINT, I WENT INTO THE LOTTERY FOR MY SON JACK, AND WE DIDN'T MAKE IT THERE.
SO I, SINCE WE DIDN'T GET THE FREE ONE AT SOUTH POINT, WE HAD TO FIND A PRIVATE PROVIDER AND PAY OUT OF POCKET, WHICH IS WHERE THE SCHOLARSHIP WOULD COME INTO HANDY HERE.
I THINK JUST THE, YOU KNOW, FROM THE ADMINISTRATION'S PERSPECTIVE OF TRYING TO DO OUR BEST TO MANAGE WITHIN OUR BUDGETARY MEANS, SO IF IT'S, WE'RE ABLE TO STICK WITHIN THE 6 75, BUT IT'S JUST A RETURN TO COMMISSION WITH A FAIR RECOMMENDATION TO EXPAND THE, THE, UM, ELIGIBILITY, THE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA OF THE, THE PRE-K PROGRAM, UH, TO INCLUDE ALSO THREE YEAR OLDS.
BUT THREE YEAR OLDS WOULD ONLY BE ELIGIBLE FOR UP TO A $1,500 ONE.
I THINK THAT WOULD NOT REQUIRE GOING THROUGH THE 26 BUDGET PROCESS BECAUSE, AND, AND HOW MANY, UH, CHILDREN AVAILED THEMSELVES TO THIS? SO FOR THE 25, 26 SCHOOL YEAR, WE HAVE 219.
WHEN WE RAN THE LOTTERY IN DECEMBER, THE SCHOLARSHIP CAP WAS AT 192.
BUT BECAUSE WE HAD 27 FAMILIES ON THE WAIT LIST, THE COMMISSION DECIDED, I BELIEVE, IN FEBRUARY TO
[02:40:01]
PROVIDE ADDITIONAL FUNDING SO THAT EVERY FAMILY THAT HAD WON OUR SCHOLARSHIP COULD RECEIVE IT.AND THEN THE COMMISSION ALSO DECIDED FOR THE 26 27 SCHOOL YEAR TO INCREASE THE SCHOLARSHIP COUNT TO 225.
THAT'S, THAT'S AN UP TO $3,000.
RIGHT? THAT WAS AN UP, THAT WAS A, THAT WAS A, A ONETIME, UH, BUDGET OUT, MIDYEAR BUDGET ALLOCATION FOR THIS YEAR THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE CONSIDERED IN, IN NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET, WHICH IS ALREADY LISTED AS ENHANCE OF CONSIDERATION.
AND THIS IS COMMISSIONER DOMINGUEZ'S ITEM.
SO I'LL LET HER RUN WITH WHERE SHE WANTS TO TAKE THIS.
BUT ONE POSSIBILITY JUST CAME HERE OFF THE CUFF, WE HAVE, UH, ROUGHLY 200, UH, FAMILIES THAT AVAILED THEMSELVES TO THIS.
IF WE WOULD ESSENTIALLY DO THE, UH, PRE-K, THE FOUR YEAR OLDS AT $2,500, AND THEN WE COULD DO $1,000 FOR THE THREE YEAR OLDS, WE WOULD ONLY NEED ABOUT A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS OF INCREMENTAL FUNDING THAT WE COULD PUT IN FOR THE 2026 BUDGET.
WELL, IF AGAIN, YOU WON'T, YOU WON'T KNOW UNTIL THE APPLICATIONS COME IN MM-HMM
BUT THAT WOULD, BY DOING THAT, YOU WOULD BE MORE THAN, WE WOULD MAKE IT MORE LIKELY THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO FILL ALL OF THE APPLICATIONS.
AGAIN, THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE A SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM, NOT NECESSARILY GRANT, IT WAS NEVER, IT WAS NEVER ANTICIPATED THAT EVERY SINGLE PERSON THAT WOULD APPLY WOULD GET IT.
BUT WE'VE KIND OF WORKED OUT, AND THIS IS ALSO WHY THE PROGRAM, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT OUR BUDGET GROWING, THAT PROGRAM HAS GROWN BY 400% IN THE PAST, UH, FOUR YEARS.
SO, UM, IF, IF, IF, IF THE, IF THE MOTION IS TO RETURN TO COMMISSION, TO, TO EXPAND THE ELIGIBILITY TO ALSO INCLUDE THREE YEAR OLDS, BUT THE, THE, UH, THE, THE, THE SCHOLARSHIP WOULD BE 2,500 FOR, UH, FOUR YEAR OLDS AND A THOUSAND FOR, FOR, UH, THREE YEAR OLDS.
AND AGAIN, STICKING WITHIN OUR OWN BUDGETARY ALLOCATION, THAT WOULD NOT REQUIRE A, ANY KIND OF BUDGET CONSIDERATION.
IT IF WE, IT WOULD BE FOR THE NEXT FUNDING YEAR.
BUT IF WE CAP, ARE WE STILL CAPPED AT 2 25, WHETHER IT'S 2,500 OR, WELL, IT WOULDN'T BE NUMBERS, IT WOULD JUST BE BASED ON DOLLARS.
IT WOULD JUST BE TO ALL DOLLARS ARE ALLOCATED.
I, I THINK IT WOULD ONLY BE RIGHT.
WHERE IF WE'RE LOOKING TO EXPAND THIS TO A LOWER AGE, WE WOULD LOOK FOR SOME SORT OF BUDGET ENHANCEMENT OR TOP UP.
UM, BUT IF WE WOULD LOWER THAT $3,000 AMOUNT TO 2,500 FOR THE FOUR YEAR OLDS AND THEN EXPAND THE THREE YEAR OLDS AT, AT A LOWER NUMBER, LIKE A THOUSAND DOLLARS, THAT WOULDN'T BE SUCH A CONSEQUENTIAL BUDGET.
IT, IT MIGHT BE SOMEWHERE IN LIKE THE A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS RANGE.
WE WOULDN'T, I MEAN, WE WOULDN'T KNOW UNTIL THE ACTUAL APPLICATIONS ARE, ARE PUT OUT THERE WHEN DO, OR, OR WE COULD SAY WE JUST CA THE NUMBER AT THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE, THAT WERE ACCEPTED LAST YEAR.
WELL, IT GETS MIXED IS BECAUSE YOU HAVE TWO DIFFERENT FUNDING.
I THINK WHAT LIZ IS GETTING TO IS YOU DON'T HAVE ONE NUMBER NOW YOU HAVE TWO NUMBERS.
SO YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOUR MIX IS GONNA BE.
YOU COULD HAVE JUST A FEW THREE YEAR OLDS, OR YOU HAVE A TON OF THREE YEAR OLDS.
BUT WE COULD SAY, OKAY, FOR BOTH OF THOSE, YOU ARE CAPPED AT 220 INDIVIDUALS MM-HMM
WHICH IS WHAT WE'VE HAD IN YEARS PAST.
AND THE FOUR YEAR OLDS WILL GET $2,500 UP TO 220 OF THEM.
THE THREE YEAR OLDS UP TO 220 WILL GET A THOUSAND DOLLARS.
AND, YOU KNOW, ROUGH BACK OF THE ENVELOPE CALCULATION, THAT WOULD, UH, RESULT IN A BUDGET ENHANCEMENT OF ABOUT A HUNDRED HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS.
IT'S A, IT'S A BUDGET ENHANCEMENT.
SO IT'S, IT'S AN UP TO AMOUNT.
UH, SO WE, WE, BECAUSE, UM, WHAT THE FAMILY PAYS IS PART OF THE PROCESS OF, UM, OF, YOU KNOW, CONSIDERATION.
AGAIN, IF THE FAMILY IS PAYING LESS THAN AT THE END OF THE YEAR, THE SCO, THE, THE REMAINING FUNDS, UH, THERE WOULD BE FUNDS TECHNICALLY, UH, AVAILABLE.
BUT WE JUST DON'T KNOW UNTIL THEY'VE SELECTED THEIR SCHOOL BEEN ENROLLED AND WE KNOW WHAT THEY'RE PAYING.
AND COMMISSIONER DOMINGUEZ, I KNOW I KIND OF WRESTLED THAT ITEM, UH, FROM YOU.
IT'S EASY TO
UM, HOW AMENABLE WOULD YOU BE TO SOMETHING LIKE THAT WHERE WE DO SOMETHING ALONG THE LINES OF LIKE A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS BUDGET ENHANCEMENT.
WE BRING DOWN THE AMOUNT SLIGHTLY FOR THE FOUR YEAR OLDS, BUT THAT WAY WE COULD, UH, GREATLY EXPAND IT, UH, AT ALBEIT A REDUCED AMOUNT FOR THE THREE YEAR OLDS.
IS THAT SOMETHING YOU'RE OPEN TO? YEAH, I THINK THAT WOULD WORK OUT WELL.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT BEVERLY HELLER AND THE QEC WERE VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT, AND SO WHEN I SAW IT IN AN LTC, THAT'S WHY I SPONSORED IT.
AND I BELIEVE YOU'RE EVEN A CO-SPONSOR.
AND, UH, THANK YOU FOR HEARING MY ITEMS. THANK YOU.
JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, SO THIS IS FOR THE 26 27 SCHOOL YEAR.
YOU HAVEN'T HAD ANOTHER WRENCH IN THAT THINKS WE'RE, WE'RE THAT FAR OUT.
AND I, AND I ASKED THAT BECAUSE WE ACTUALLY WILL PROMOTE THE OPPORTUNITY BEGINNING IN SEPTEMBER FOR THE 26 27 SCHOOL YEAR, AND WE WILL RUN OUR LOTTERY IN DECEMBER.
SO WE WOULD NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE COMMUNITY WAS AWARE THAT THIS, UM, OPPORTUNITY EXISTED BECAUSE THEY WOULD BE SUBMITTING THEIR APPLICATIONS ALONGSIDE EVERYBODY ELSE.
UM, FROM SEPTEMBER TO DECEMBER, THE NUMBER WAS 220 OR 225.
WELL, CURRENTLY BY RESOLUTION, THE NUMBER OF PRE-K SCHOLARSHIPS WE
[02:45:01]
HAVE FOR 26 27 IS 225 PRE-K FOUR SCHOLARSHIPS.THAT'S WITHOUT THE, THAT'S WITHOUT THE ENHANCEMENT.
THAT WOULD BE CONSIDERED THE, THE BASE BUDGET IS 220.
YOU KNOW, THE, I MEAN, THE OTHER THING THAT WE COULD DO, I THINK IT'S 2 25, RIGHT? IS WE CAN ADVERTISE INITIALLY UNTIL WE KNOW WE HAVE EXTRA MONEY IN HERE.
WE SAY OUR CAP IS THE EXACT SAME AMOUNT OF CHILDREN THAT, UH, RECEIVED IT LAST YEAR.
AND IT'S NOT AS IF THERE'S A CHILD THAT RECEIVED IT LAST YEAR AND THEY'RE EXPECTING THE SAME AMOUNT.
'CAUSE RIGHT NOW IT'S JUST A ONE-TIME THING.
SO IT'S A TOTALLY UNIQUE POPULATION EVERY SINGLE YEAR.
WE COULD SAY WE'RE EXPANDING THIS, THE FOUR YEAR OLDS THIS YEAR WILL GET $2,000.
THE THREE YEAR OLDS WILL GET $1,000.
AND THEN IF WE'RE ABLE TO GET A BUDGET ENHANCEMENT OF LET'S SAY, UH, A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS, THEN WE CAN INCREASE, WE COULD EITHER EXPAND THE POOL OR INCREASE THE AMOUNT THAT THE FOUR YEAR OLDS RECEIVE TO 2,500.
COMMISSIONER, HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT.
UH, WAYNE
AND, AND YOU KNOW, JOE, YOU ARE A FATHER AND, UH, YOU KNOW, I, I SAW YOUR KID, UH, UH, GROW UP.
NOT THAT SHE'S GROWN UP COMPLETELY AT THIS POINT, BUT SHE'S OLDER AT THIS POINT.
UM, AND I JUST THINK, UH, THAT MIAMI BEACH DESERVES, UH, AN EFFECTIVE DAYCARE SYSTEM.
AND, UM, THE BUDGET AT $600,000 FOR THIS PROGRAM IS INADEQUATE.
UH, AND IT SHOULD INCLUDE THIRD AND THREE YEAR OLDS OR FOUR YEAR OLDS IN THE PROCESS, NOT JUST ONE AND 2-YEAR-OLD DAYCARE.
UH, IT SHOULD BE FOR EARLY LEARNING.
AND, UM, WE SPEND A BILLION DOLLARS A BILLION, AND WE DON'T, AND WE SPEND $600,000 ON, ON THIS PROGRAM TO, UH, EDUCATE AND TAKE CARE OF OUR WORKING PARENTS OR, OR KIDS.
AND, UH, I THINK ALLOCATIONS SHOULD BE REDIRECTED.
WE HAVE 2,400 EMPLOYEES THAT'S, UH, ONE OR TWO EMPLOYEES LESS OUTTA 2,400.
UH, WHERE ARE WE SPENDING OUR MONEY? HOW ARE WE SPENDING OUR MONEY IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN, YOU KNOW, UH, UH, THE, THE UP THE UPCHARGES FROM 150,000 TO 600,000 IN EXPENSES IS, WE'RE STILL UNDERSPENDING WHAT WE SHOULD TO, UH, RAISE OUR KIDS.
WAIT, AND, AND IS SOMEBODY THAT, UH, DOESN'T CURRENTLY HAVE, UH, A YOUNG CHILD THAT'S BEING RAISED IN MIAMI BEACH.
UH, YOU STILL CARE PASSIONATELY FOR EDUCATION AND, AND THE WELLBEING, UH, OF OUR NEXT GENERATION.
SO I, I, I THANK YOU FOR THAT.
I REMEMBER FONDLY THE PICTURE OF YOU AND MY DAUGHTER CAPRI OUTSIDE OF WHOLE FOODS WHEN WE WERE CAMPAIGNING.
UH, IT'S THE OLD ADAGE, UH, SHOW ME YOUR BUDGET.
I'LL SHOW YOU YOUR PRIORITIES, WHETHER THAT BE A CITY, A COMPANY, OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
SO, UM, I, I THINK THAT'S, THAT'S A GREAT STARTING POINT UNTIL WE KNOW WE CAN GET A BUDGET ENHANCEMENT WHERE WE SAY FOR THE, UH, FOUR YEAR OLDS, $2,000, THE THREE YEAR OLDS, $1,000, AND THEN IF WE CAN GET AN INCREMENTAL HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS IN THE BUDGET PROCESS THIS YEAR.
UH, THEN WE EXPAND THE AMOUNT THAT THE FOUR YEAR OLDS GET.
AND I'M GONNA TRY TO GET IT UNDER THE LINE HERE.
RETURN TO COMMISSION WITH A FAVORABLE RECOMMENDATION TO MODIFY THE PRE-K SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM FOR $2,000 PER FOUR 4-YEAR-OLD AT 220 KID, 20 STUDENTS, AND UP TO $1,000 PER 3-YEAR-OLD, UP TO 220, UH, CHILDREN WITH AN APPROXIMATE $100,000 BUDGET ENHANCEMENT FOR CONSIDERATION DURING THE 26, UH, BUDGET PROCESS.
COMMISSIONER, BUT I KNOW I CUT YOU OFF THERE.
YEAH, I, I WOULD FULLY FUND THIS EVERY WHICH WAY WE CAN.
SO I'M SUPER SUPPORTIVE AND IF WE CAN FIND A WAY TO DO MORE IN FUTURE YEARS, YOU KNOW, WE WILL SHOW COMMISSIONER BOT MAKING THAT MOTION.
WE'LL SHOW THE SECOND BEING COMMISSIONER MAGAZINE.
SO WE'RE GONNA PUT IN FOR AN ADDITIONAL A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS ENHANCEMENT.
I THINK IT'S, IT'S 195 OR 105.
I WAS DOING THE CALCULATION REAL QUICK.
THAT'S WHY WE USED THE WORD APPROXIMATE.
AND, AND JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, BECAUSE I WILL BE ASKED, UM, IF A FAMILY RECEIVES A SCHOLARSHIP FOR THEIR CHILD AT THREE, WOULD THEY STILL BE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE THE SCHOLARSHIP AT FOUR? YES.
WE'LL SHOW THE MOTION PASSED TO NOTHING AND WE'RE 30 SECONDS OVER.
SO WE'LL SHOW THE MEETING ADJOURNED.