CAO 99-19CITY OF MIAMI BEACH
CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
O~ko 99-1q
TO:
FROM:
DATE:
SUBJECT:
Commissioner David Dermer
August 4, 1999
Your inquiry of August 2, 1999 - Bureau Contract
The memo poses the following questions:
1)
Can the Commission approve a contract with the Greater Miami Convention and
Visitors Bureau (GMCVB) without approval by the Visitors Convention Authority
(VCA).
2) Can such a contract exceed a year in length?
3) Does such a contract require competitive bidding?
The City Commission, pursuant to recommendation of a Blue Ribbon Committee on Conventions
and Tourism, approved a three year (.plus two option years) contract with the GMCVB to handle
tourist promotional activities for the City as more fully spelled out in the contract. The contract is
funded in part by Resort Tax monies distributed to the VCA, which in mm distributes said funds to
the GMCVB.
The answers to your questions are as follows:
1)
Since the funding of the contraci with the GMCVB derives in whole or part from
Resort Tax funds distributed by the City to the VCA, the VCA's approval would be
required. The issue is scheduled to come before the VCA on August 9, 1999.
2)
The contract may exceed a year in length. The contract is between the City and the
GMCVB and the City is not prohibited from entering into multi year contracts.
3)
No. The contract is one for sen, ices which are "tmique in their nature and not subject
to competition". Said services axe excluded from those "certain contractual services",
as defined in Article VI, Section 2-312 of the City Procurement Ordinance, which
would require competitive bidding.
CC:
Mayor Neisen Kasdin
Members of the City Commission
City Manager Sergio Roddguez