171-1999 LTC
CITY OF MIAMI BEACH
CITY HALL 1700 CONVENTION CENTER DRIVE MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA 33139
http:\\ci.miami-beach.f1.us
L.T.C. No.
171-1999
LETTER TO COMMISSION
DATE: August 13, 1999
TO: Mayor Neisen O. Kasdin and
Members of the City Commission
FROM: Sergio ROdrigueA
City Manager ZdJ
SUBJECT: UPDATE ON FEDERAL PRIORITIES
Attached, please find a summary update on the City's legislative priorities at the federal level.
September and October will be very active with bills that provide funding for Miami Beach projects.
Please provide me with any comments or input that we can provide our lobbyists in an effort to
achIeve the City's federal legislative priorities.
SR!C~ar
F:\CMGRISALLIRAR\L TClFEDPRlORAUG
attachment
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lOZ5 THO/YtAS J:Ef~l!RSON STRJ::l!T. N .W.
SUITI! 400 EASt
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20007-0805
(2.01) 965-8100
TliLllCOPl,\;lt: (202) 965-8104
HTTP://www.I0lU)BNUSA.COM
777 Ba.lcKELL Avli.: lUB. SIJ'ITt 500
Mw.lI, FLO:lIDA 331;1-z803
(305) 371-:~600
TWlcorlJ!,R: (JOS) '7:t-~918
AUGUST 6, 1999
MEMORANDUM
TO: THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH
OFFICE OF TIlE CITY MANAGER
ATTN: CHRISTINA CUERVO
cc: KEVIN CROWDER
FOR FURTHER DISTRIBUTION
FROM: MARILYN BERRY THOMPSON
F. MARION TURNER
SUBJECT: MIAMI BEACH FEDERAL MATTERS UPDATE
-~ CONGRESSIONAL ACTION AND UPDATE
AS CONGRESS GOES INTO RECESS FOR
AUGUST
It is 5:00 p.m. on Friday, August 6, and Congress has gone into recess for exactly one month
A comprehensive update on all federal issues of concern to the City, its specific appr<'priations
projects and other key issues/concerns, is being prepared fOT your review during this crucial
break so that we can all be fully prepared for the key September-October period. Ho'vever,
because there was movement on several different fronts on Miami Beach projects, I vranted t:>
provide you with a quick and selective summary llpdate on certain matters to collect all ofth~
individual oral and/or vmtten reports on some of chese have been provided over the l:st few
days.
Overview
o The Tax Bill. Local Government Issues and The Historic Home Ownersl!.!R
Tax Credit
Congress did complete action on a tax bi II. While there were a number of
provisions of interest to local governments -- from community renewal and
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economic development incentives to low-income housing development,
retirement, savings, pension and emploYI:e benefit provisions to certain
environmental issues -- one of the major issues on which we had worked
was the Historical Home Ownership Tax Credit. Working with Clay Shaw
who sponsored this bill in the House, we worked intensively in the fmal day~
to save the provision. It had been put into the Senate bill by Chafee and
Graham, but faced very strong opposition in the House Committee.
Clay Shaw waged an incredibly active campaign to get it into the
final version, and very late Monday night/very early Tuesday a.m.,
it survived as a 50% tax deduction for eligible expenses. While not
a provision that directly affected local go vernment financing, this was
a high priority for Florida, and had been included as a priority issue
on the Miami Beach City agenda, and had been actively worked on
by individual members of the Commission, some of which worked
with us intensively in this last push to secure the provision. This was
considered a major victory.
A series of reports summarizing and high lighting the tax bill: and the
provisions affecting local govenunent were shared with the City over the
course of the last week. Despite the impending Presidential veto,
there is a strong chance that there will be a tax bill as part of a larger
package of agreements on spending, debt reduction, Medicare relief, and
Social Security. Accordingly, City officials should consider revie\\ing in
particular the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit provisions, the Community
Renewal, small business and economic ddvelopment provisions, and the pe~;ionl
employee benefits sections that have been provided and summarized.
Note also the education/school construction financing package as well.
The U.S. Conference of mayors and National League of Cities were enlisted
to express their strong support for these components, even though their
jurisdictional role was not a direct one.
o Water Resources Development Act: Authorization Secured For
The Miami Beach Coastal Erosion Proiect
There was success as well here, as Senat< Ir Graham, supported by Senator
Mack and Congressman Shaw, succeeded in getting an authorization for our
coastal erosion project. Being an authori led Army Corps of Engineers Proje:t
should greatly advance our chances of securing additional funds for this proj.~ct
through the appropriations process.
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The House and Senate Conferees met throughout the week, and now that
joint agreement has been passed by both Houses as of midnight last night,
and will be sent to the President. He is e"pected to sign it.
Congressmen Shaw and Ros-Lehtinen helve again written to the Appropriati(lns
Committee asking for special attention t(1 this project. r should also note tha:
UM President Foote was in Washington for two days, and went door-to-door
meeting with most of the South Florida members personally, and lobbied the
Coastal Erosion project, wherein the City and University have collaborated.
o The Sand Issue
As you know, we were asked to pull tog ether a meeting for Shaw, Meek,
the County and the City to finalize an agreed upon strategy for resolving tilt:
the protection and the utilization of the $5.7 million we had secured in
funding last year for the foreign source ~and project. Should those funds
be diverted for other activities, then the:-- might not be spent on direct
Miami Beach needs. These meetings were held throughout the day last
Wednesday, almost five hours between city and county officials, and then
almost two hours with senior-most staB of Shaw and Meek. Progress
was made at several levels. Bruce Henderson represented the city with
us and his presentation and infonnation were considered critical. We
were next asked to finalize presentation~ and letters to the key Congress ion 11
leaders on this issue.
The final Energy and Water bill will not be detennined until September, ane. the
time between now and then will need tel be used to keep the momentum for this
project on within the Corps, ensure that the next round ofRFPs for sand SO'lrces
advances the Beach needs, and that the Congressional committees are furthf r
urged to resolve this issue for both the city and the county.
o Miami Beach Appropriations Proiect~
Most of the appropriations bills that wtmld contain specific funding for Miami
Beach ProjectS have not yet been finalized. To date, however, some speci:ic
progress has been made:
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__ Electro'Wave Shuttle Funding: The House bill provides us v..ith
an additional $750,000 in FY2000 support pursuant to our TEA~21
authorization. The Senate version of this bill specifically lists both
the Electrowave Shuttle and our Intennodal Project as recommendec
projects but does not -- yet -~ break out specific funding levels.
This will be resolved in Septem~er.
_ Sand FY2000: The House bill provides us with $5 million in new
funding. This was critical and a victory as the Administration and
Army Corps (DC-based) would :~upport only $2 million. The Senate:
bill provides the full AdministraLion request. This number, along Wiih
(a) our "foreign source sand issue" and (b) possible funding for the
Coastal Erosion Project, will be at stake and resolved in September.
__ North Shore Open Space ParklRecreational Corridor and Othe)' Projeds:
The bills involving our requests lor the North Shore Open Space
and Recreational Corridor, Juvenile Justice/Police Technology
Funds, and our educational/cultural projects requests have not
been finalized to any stage where project funding for these would
be broken out yet.
To this end. however. the officl;s of Congressmen Shaw and
Ros-Lehtinen called together a "pedal meeting at my request to
review once more the core Miami Beach requests and to
decide on further strategies to ensure funding of as many of these
as possible. As a result, both (:ongressmen sent detailed letters
to each of the subcommittee chairmen on our behalf again to
urge their support. (Copies attached). Similar discussions were
organized with and for the Mack offices as well.
o Federal Appropriations for Local Government Activities -- Generic
This was an especially intense period on appropriations for key federal-to~loc;ll
government programs. Detailed reports are forthcoming on agencies where
there was action. In short:
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House action on funding levels for key, generic programs on which we count f:om HUD
was not good news. Cuts in virtually all programs are currently planned. AUD h;'I.s
been holding strategy/lobbying sessions; \\ e have been involved. A much more targeted
report on this crucial bill follows. This sarne bill provides funding for EP A pn >grams, as
well as funding for FEMA and Americorpdcommunity service. They both face cuts as
well. The Senate has not yet acted.
The House and Senate have advanced bills funding community policing, stat,~ and
local block grants for juvenile justice, criminal justice, juvenile justice
accountability and the local law enforcement block grant. We are pleased to repOIt
that Florida Congressman McCollum's bill for Local law Enforcement Block Grant
funding was successfully, fully funded -. as were the other state/local block grants
in the House bill. There are considerable increased funds overall for state/loc~llaw
enforcement activities; there are sharp diff-=rences among the approach taken t y the
Administration and Congress, and indeed, between the House and the Senate. More
detailed reports follow here too.
There was good news, however, on the Interior bill in House, and a chance for
good news in the Senate on funding for parks/green space, urban parks funding
In a separate memo, we reported that the I rouse did approve the reinstatement of
the State Land and Water Conservation fund which in turn supports land
acquisition, green space, and park proj'ds at the local level; and reinstat ~ment of
the Urban Parks RecreationlRehabilitation Program (UPARR). Amendrr,ents
to do the same are pending in the Senate.
Please note that Congress still needs to finalize the above referenced three bills for
HUD, for Commerce/Justice and for InteriOr. Final negotiations and decision; will not be
reached until September/October. In addicion, Congress has also not:
~_ finalized funding for the Transp,mation bill yet;
__ finalized the Energy and Water hill; or even
_~ considered the Labor, HHS, Education bill yet in either
body.
o Juvenile Justice Authorization/Gun Control
Congress also statted the formal House-S~nate conference on future funding
for juvenile justice programs -- including funding for local government initiatives and
plans. This legislation includes, however, all of the controversial amendments over
additional gun control measures. This is ,;onsidered one of the "big" legislati ve
hurdles for Congress to finalize before the new school year gets too far along
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We met for several hours late yesterday and into the early evening without resolution.
Negotiations will go on at the staff-lobbyist level throughout August, with the
Members returning in early September to finalize an agreement.
There is much more, but these are some of the highlights.
PLEASE NOTE:
September and October will be very intt'nsive months for federal action OJ 1
key federal funding programs for local governments. And there will undcubtedl;r
be a series of requests from the interest ~roups and from us for City letter;.
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qcongrt55 of tfJe 'ijilniteb ~tatii-U I IV' I\. r \v'i \VI,-"" ,\ -
~a51Jington, ~( 205\5
,.."..HVV''''~.'''
August 3, 1999
The Honorable H~ro1d Rogers
House Appropriations Subcorrnnittee on
Commerce, Justice. State., and Judiciary
H-309 Capitol
Washington, DC 205]5
Dear Chairman Rogers:
please allow us to first thank and congratu1at~ yOU on y(.ur fine work in crafting the FY 2000
appropriations bill for the Dep~ts of Commerce. ], !Stice, Sta.te, the Judiciary and Related
Agencies. Now. as we approach floor consideration of the bill, and an ultimate conference witt the
S~te. we would ljke to ask your support in including in the legislation the following jmportan.
initiative for Mlich the City of Miami Beach, Florida pr,,:sented tcstimony to yout subcommirte<<!.
We respectfully ask. for yOUT assistance ui providiog the City of Miami Beach with S 1 million cut of
the Department of Justice, Office of ]u~'eoile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) Ace )oot
for its Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Initiative. This innovative project ex.is~ as a
series of coordinated activities to link the resources of the City and its Jaw ecl'orcement agenci~;J the
schools and community resources, to prevent and to red'Jcejuvenile crime and delinquency, ac(l to
advance education and training opportunities for at-risk youth.
~ Juvenile Mentodng In.itiative: The City ofMiuni Beach bas partnered with oW" se:nicThigh
schoo] and has created on its O?fn a strong men10ring initiative involving students and Jaw
enforcement offic!T, one that has already recaved strong praise from the schoo~. the fa'Ililies
and the community. We are seeking federal assistance to further expand and support be
officers, the school, and the progtam snd event activities esseotial to the program .
. Juvenile Crime PreventiOn Initiatives: The City of Miami Beach has dedicated signtic:ant
resources and has made a major commit.ment to addressing underage drinking, and an
initiative to reduce nighttimejuvenile aimirial activity, and activities that might bann :It-risk
youth. A third component involves the profess; anal develop of specialized law en!oret ment
officers trained to specifically work \'.lith at-risk students both in-school and out-of-setool,
alternative settings; to serve a role models fOJ: et-riskjuveniles, working closely with s ~hool
faculty and officials.
We consider this a worthwhile project that is ve:r:y important to tbe youth of Miami Beach. Al'lY
assistance you could provide in dedicating specific funding to this project would be greatly
appreciated. We thank you in advance for your Clttentic1n to this matter.
\ ~~_y~nc~~Y,
IifOna Ros-Lehtinen -4
E~~L
'R",no eN ~'" I.l:C '.""R
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Q[ongres5 .of tbe 'Qltniteb ~tates'
gas1)ington, 1B( 20515
August 3, 19~)9
The Honorable James Walsh
Veterans Affairs, Housing and Urban Development, at1 d
Independent Agencies Subcommittee
House Appropriations Committee
H-143 The Capitol .
Washington, D.C. 20515
Deat Chainnan Walsh:
Please 3l1ow us ttl first thank. and congratulate you on :/our fine work in cra.fting the FY 2000
appropriations bill for the DepartmentS of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urba.l1 Developrr~nt and
Independent agencies. Now, as we approach floor COD'iideration of the bill. and an ultimate ee nferenc~
with the Sena.te, we would like to ask your support in i:'\cluding in the legislation the following important
initiative for whicn the City of Miami Beach, Florida f,mnally presented testimony before you :
subcommittee.
The North Shore Open Space I North Beach Recreational Corridor is an integrated bike tzail that
will link the North and South Beach with a series of re.;reational amenities along the pathway. Including
North Shore Open Space Park, at 34.61' acres, the: la.rg~t oceanfront park 011 Miami Beach ar:d a highly
treasured natural resource.
The Cit)! ofMiaroi Beat;h P3.1"X'S Master Plan places great emphasis on preserving and enhancins the
coastal dune system, native ve:~tion and Dade Coun)' Sea Turtle Hatchery Program. A new
interpretive/recreational native c~er is proposed at th,~ North Shore. Open Space Park to streJ Igthen and
reinforce the success of this educational programs and other nature related activities.
New native vegeUtion plantings are proposed betWeen the back dune and coastal hanunock a.r :as,
linking the twO habitatS, creating a. stronger dune community. Selectively clear exotic vegetati on will
create a visual link from land 'to sea. and provide a m\l~h needed sense of openness and securi1y. Public
,emooms throughout the park will be renovated. Add'uonally, the existin,g boardwalk systerc will be
renovated to develop a north/south corridor that conne.;ts with the North Beach Recreilticinal Corridor
The total project cost is estimated at $7..1 million. To date, the City has secured $31 million :rom the
Miami Dade County Safe Neighborhood Park Bond ar,d $840,000 from State Transportation
Enhancement Funds. The City of Miami Beach is seeJ.ing an additional 53 million to complet;: this
important project.
Again, thank you for all your past and .furore support. We look forward to any assistance YOt. can
provide in this matter.
Sincerely,
I1~-q~
~
~AIN'f(CI ON JOEl:' Cl.SQ "~C.
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~ongress of tbe mnitetJ ~tates
1mta5i)(ngton. ;i:lQC 205t5
AugUSt 3, 1991}
The Honorable Alan Mollohan
VeteranS Affairss Housing and Urban Development, ane!
Independent Agencies Subcommittee
House Appropriations Committee
H-143 The Capitol
Washington. D.C. 20515
D~r Congressman Mollohan:
Please allow us .to first thank and congratulate you on your fine work in crafting the FY 2000
appropriatior..s bill for the DeparuneotS ofVete:rans Afiws and Housing and Urban Developm!:nt and
Independent agencies. Now, as we approach floor considera:tion of the bill, and an ultimate CO;lference
with the Senate. we would like to ask your suppon in ulcluding in the legislation the following importallt
initia.tive for which the City of Miami Bea.ch., Florida formally presented testimony before YOUI
subcommittee.
'The North Shore Open Space I North Beach Recreational Corridor is an integrated bike: tr lil that
will link the North and South Beach with a series ofrer.reational amenities along the path'':'I.oay. Includi:1g
North Shore Open Spa.ce Park, at 34.61 acres, the largest oceanfront park on Miami Beach an ~ a higb.:y
treaSutcd na.tural resource.
The City of Miami Beach Park's Master Plan places great emphasis on preserving and enhancing the
coastal dune system, na:tive veget3'tion and Dade Coumy Sea Turtle :ria.tchery Program. A n~ 1/
interpretive/recreational native centef is proposed at the: North Shore Open Space Park to stre11gthen aad
reinfort:c the suecess of this educa.tional programs and other nature related activities.
New nati'\:e vtgeta,tion plantingS are proposed betWeen the back dune and coastal hammock at ~as,
linking the twO habitats. creating a stronger d\\ne coxnrllunity. Selectively dear e<'C.otic vegetation will
create a visual link from land to sea, and provide a much needed sense of openness and securi1y. Public
restrooms throughout the park will be renovated. Add,ti~nally, the existing boardwalk system will be
renonted to develop a north/south corridor that conne...'tS with the North Beach Recreational Corridor
The total project cost is estimated at $7.1 million. To date, the City has secured S3.1 million from the
Miami Da.de County Safe Neighborhood Park Bond aIld $840,000 from Sta.te Transportation
Enhancement Funds. The City of Miami Beach is seeking an additional $3 million to c:ornple1 e this
important project.
Again,. thank you for all your past and future support. We look fOtWard to any assistaI'lce you can
provide in this matter.
Sincerely,
IlJi~-4/J;~
)
pArNt(C ON .'c "C\.CC'" 'A.PC.JI
AUG 06 '99 19:30
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..
Q[:ongrt5S' of tbt 'OHnitdJ ~tatt5
UaJf]ington. Il~ 20515
August 31 19~19
The Honorable Jose Serrano
House Appropri.:l.tions Subcommittee on
Commerce, Justice, Sta~ and Judiciary
H-309 Capitol
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Congressman Serrano;
Please allow us to first 1b.ank and congratulate you on y:rur fme work in craftin( the FY 2000
appropriations biJI for the Departml!:nts ofCan:unerce, JLlStiCe, State, the Judiciary and Related
Agencies. Now, as we approach floor coosideration ofrhe bill, and an ultimate conference witt the
S eoat~ we would like 10 ask your suppon in including in. the legislation the following irnportanl
initiative for which the City of Miami Beach, Florida pr~ented testimony to your subcommitteE'.
We respectfully ask for your assistance in providing the City ofMiarni Beach ",ith $1 million 0 It of
the Departmel1t of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) Accc ,urn
for its,JuveajIe Justice and Delinquency Prevention Initiative. 'This innovative project exists as a
series of coordinated activities to link the resources of th~ City and itS law enforcement agEnci~, the
schools and community resourc~~ to prevent and to remlce juvenile crime and delinquency, and to
advance education and training opportunities for at-risk youfu
- Juvenile Mentoring Initiative: The City of Miami Be.a.ch has pannered with our senior high
school and has created on its O'Ml a strong mentl Iring initiative involving students and la w
enforcement officer:, one that has already received strong praise from the school, the fan~1ies
and the community. We are seel<:iog federal as~i'l1ance to further e:tpand and support th,~
officers, the school, and the program and event activities essential to the program.
.. Juvenile Crime Prevention Initiatives: The City of Miami :Beach has dedicated sigaific am
resources and has made a ms.jor commitment to addressing underage dri.nking, and an
initiative to reduce nigbnirne juveoi1e criminal activity, and activities that might harm at. risk
youth. A third component involves the profession.al develop of speciali~ed law enforcerr em
officers trained 10 specifically work with at-risk students both. in-school and out-of-scho< 11,
altemative settings; to serve s. role models for at~riskjuveni)es, working closely with sc.h.)ol
faculty and officials.
We consider this a \VOrthMlile project tbat is 'Vel)' imporuUlt to the youth of Miami Beach. Any
assistance you could provide in dedicating specific funding to this project would be greatly
appreciated. We thank you in advance for your attention ,0 this matter.
& ~ .smc~,
\ fA//. -rli~
JJeana Roo-Lehtinen . v
)
"""",co 0" ~EC\O(:l,([> . '""C"
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