075-2000 LTC
CITY OF MIAMI BEACH
CITY HALL 1700 CONVENTION CENTER DRIVE MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA 33139
http:\\ci.miami-beach.fl.us
L.T.C. No,75-2000
LETTER TO COMMISSION
April 12, 2000
TO:
Mayor Neisen O. Kasdin and
Members of the City Commission
Lawrence A. Levy ~
City Manager
FROM:
SUBJECT:
NEIGHBORHOODS COMMITTEE MEETING 4110/00
Chair:
Members:
Commissioner Jose Smith
Commissioner Matti Bower
Commissioner Luis Garcia (not in attendance)
Commissioner Nancy Liebman
Members of the Garden Conservancy (see attached attendance sheet)
In Attendance:
I. OPERATION OF THE MIAMI BEACH BOTANICAL GARDEN
BACKGROUND
This item was a referral from Sutnick Hour of February 9, 2000, The discussion ofthe facility uses,
management and operation was prompted by concerns that arose during the Boat Show.
DISCUSSION
The Botanical Garden is currently operated by the garden Conservancy under a concession
agreement with the City of Miami Beach. The Garden Conservancy is now seeking a long term
lease agreement with the City in order to "grow" the Botanical Garden as a cultural and tourism
oriented destination. They are seeking the development of a public/private partnership to enable the
not-for-profit, (I.R.S. Section 501 (c)(3)) Garden Conservancy to operate and maintain the Botanical
Garden. Representatives from the Garden expressed concerns regarding:
1, Desire to move oversight from the Parks Department to the Department of Arts, Culture and
Entertainment.
2. Coordination and delivery of City services.
3, The Garden Conservancy would like to takeover both the management and maintenance of
the Garden,
4. Ability to fundraise for long term capital campaign (15 million over 5-6 years including the
creation of a 10 million dollar endowment),
4/10/00 - Neighborhoods Committee Meeting
April!2, 2000
Page 2
A preliminary business plan was submitted which included a staged "take-over" as Garden
renovation is completed in phases. Improvements to the Botanical Garden include 1,5 million in G,
O. Bond Funds.
ACTION
The Commissioners requested that the following information be brought back to the Neighborhoods
Committee prior to any recommendations:
1. Costs of privatizing the Garden (Janet Gavarrete to provide current City costs)
2. Comparables - Examine how other cities are successfully funding their public gardens.
3. Explore moving programming role to Department of Arts, Culture and Entertainment.
4. Explore removing the maintenance responsibility from the Parks Department and giving that
budget to the Conservancy.
Item will return to this committee when above information is available.
LAUiis/rar
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