98-22976 RESO
RESOLUTION NO. 98-22976
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE
CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, APPROPRIATING FUNDS IN THE
AMOUNT OF $15,000, FROM BOND FUND 351 AND ESTABLISHING THE
NECESSARY WORK ORDER FOR PROFESSIONAL
ARCHITECTURAL/ENGINEERING SERVICES NECESSARY TO
PREPARE SCHEMATIC PLANS AND COST ESTIMATES FOR THE
MIAMI BEACH BOTANICAL GARDEN.
WHEREAS, since early 1997, the Administration, the Tourism and Convention Center
Expansion Authority (TCCEA) and other interested groups have been working together to develop
a list of needed improvements for the Miami Beach Botanical Garden; and
WHEREAS, at the City Commission meeting of September 10, 1997, the Mayor and City
Commission approved a resolution appropriating $176,100 from TCCEA for Phase One renovations
for the Miami Beach Botanical Garden; and
WHEREAS, the improvements were completed by May of 1998, at a total cost of$123,588,
leaving a balance of$52,512; and
WHEREAS, on June 3, 1998, the Mayor and City Commission adopted a resolution
reallocating the $52,512 balance, for the replacement of the roof and related asbestos abatement, and
related improvements within the Botanical Garden, as deemed appropriate by the Administration and
the Mayor's Ad Hoc Garden & Conservatory Committee; and
WHEREAS, the Administration, the members of the Miami Beach Botanical Garden,
affiliated garden clubs, the Mayor's Ad Hoc Garden & Conservatory Committee, and other interested
individuals have worked diligently to develop a shared vision of the future of the Botanical Garden
that requires professional architectural and engineering services to develop the schematic plans and
cost estimates for the Botanical Garden.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT DUL Y RESOL VED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY
COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, that the Mayor and City
Commission herein authorize the appropriation of funds, in the amount $15,000, from Bond Fund
351 and establish the necessary work order to obtain
professional architectural and engineering services to develop the schematic plans and cost estimates
for the Miami Beach Botanical Garden.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 18 th day of November, 1998.
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APPROVED 1-5 TO
MA YOR FORM & LANGUAGE
& FOR EXECUTION
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ATTACHMENT A
The following summary provides information on the items completed from June 1997 to May
1998 with the $176,100 appropriation of September 1997.
1) Fencing
2) Restroom Renovations
3) Painting of the interior and exterior of the Facility
4) Wood Trellis Reconstruction
5) Bench and Trash Receptacle Replacement
6) Security Locks
TOTAL:
Remaining Balance:
$123,588
$52,512
ATTACHMENT B
The following summary provides information on the items completed and balance
remaining of $52.512.
The following work has been completed or is presently in progress:
1) Asbestos Survey for the buildings at the Garden
2) Asbestos abatement work for the Garden buildings
3) Roof replacement for all the Garden buildings
4) Additional Fence section installed between the Board Room
and the Craft Shop at the Botanical Garden
5) Installation of new doors(French/ Solid) for all common
areas including hardware and finishing.
TOTAL $47,415
Remaining Balance: $5,097
A TT ACHMENT C
1) Replacement of the Electrical Switch Gear, which provides electrical service distribution
to the facility.
2) Replacement of the Central Air Conditioning units.
3) Retrofit of the lighting for all the buildings.
4) Replacement of the light fixtures under the Loggia at the facility.
5) Refurbishment of the American Garden Gazebo including repairs and painting.
6) Repairs/Painting of the wooden bridge in the Japanese Garden.
7) Remodeling/Painting in the Gift Shop, Board room, Auditorium, Multi-use room and
restrooms.
TOTAL:
$35,000
ATTACHMENT D
MIAMI BEACH GARDEN CLUBS
Mt. Sinai Garden Club
Mrs, Lois Lewin, President
Miami Beach Garden Club
Mrs, Lillian Fessenden, President
Mayor's Ad Hoc Garden & Conservatory Committee
Dr. Matthew 1. Freund, Chairperson
Tropical Garden Club
Ms. Francis Griffith, President
Miami Beach Garden Conservancy
Mr. Arthur Lauffenberg, President
ATTACHMENT E
CITY OF MIAMI BEACH BOTANICAL GARDENS
PROPOSED PROGRAMMING OPTION PLAN
A. Learning Center
1. The Miami Beach Botanical Garden will be a learning center for all ages. The focus will
include youth through multiple programs tied into the City of Miami Beach Recreation
Division, Schools, from the Elementary level thru to the High school level, Girl Scout / Boy
Scout troops, along with various Senior Citizen groups.
2. Classes will be offered to all with a nature theme, such as plant identification, floral
arrangement, terrarium making, arts and crafts, photography, butterfly gardening, orchard
growing, pressed flowers, insect identification, yoga, and tai chai. Exhibits to display the
aforementioned talents and crafts which the students have made during the participation in
these classes.
3. Usage by the Recreation Division playground/youth center programs to schedule special
events (i.e. pioneer or frontier days)
4. Guest speakers to lecture on nature related topics such as Gardening, aquaculture, Bonsai,
Integrated Pest Management
B. Outreach Center
The Garden will provide outreach to other components of the community, including the
families of City, and the physically/mentally challenged children and adults in our
Community. With the assistance of local service groups construct a sensory garden to be
utilized by persons with disabilities.
C. Support Center
Miami Beach Botanical Garden will operate as a support center, meeting location, and
organizational focus for the volunteer garden programs (Garden Clubs, Master Gardeners,
Plant Societies to include but not limited to, International Palm Society, Flowering Tree
Society, Native Plant Society and the Dade County Cooperative Extension Service, Classes,
Public Lectures, Plant Sales).
D. Community Resource
The Miami Beach Botanical Garden is a community resource and will coordinate its
programs with the Miami Beach Convention Center and its activities, The Garden will
coordinate activities whenever possible, with those of the Miami Beach Convention Center
and with other City of Miami Beach agencies (e.g. Art Deco District Tour) so as to be an
asset to Miami Beach tourism. Hours of operation will be extended to allow for full
utilization of the Botanical Gardens. The Miami Beach Botanical Garden, will develop a
mutually beneficial working relationship with the Holocaust Memorial.
E. Welcome Center
1. The Miami Beach Botanical Garden will become a place of refuge from the urban
environment surrounding the premises, which promotes the cultural and entertainment
resources of Miami Beach. The Miami Beach Botanical Garden will operate as a center to
welcome our visitors to Miami Beach.
2. The Garden, through its associated Master Gardener program, will serve local residents
with advice and consultation on horticultural questions and provide reference capability (via
CD rom, Seflin, and Internet) through its computer terminals.
3. Displays of local art and unusual botanical specimens along with botanical memorabilia
will provide a positive impression of Miami Beach to our visitors.
4. The Garden will offer souvenirs related to Miami Beach, along with gifts, books and
specialty hand tools. Additionally, hand crafted items and other art objects will be offered
for sale.
F. Botanically Diverse Garden
The Miami Beach Botanical Garden will operate an aesthetically pleasing Garden, designed
to give Miami Beach residents, all Floridians and visitors from out-of-state and abroad, a
horticultural experience highlighting subtropical and tropical flora. Special emphasis will
be placed in amassing extremely high quality botanically representative plant material.
The Miami Beach Botanical Garden will include the display of native Florida flora.
Xeriscape principles will be demonstrated and taught for use in the home garden and public
landscape, as will the need to conserve and replant our native landscape (and it's associated
animal life) these, will be taught in an ecological context.
G. Working Garden
1. The Miami Beach Botanical Garden will operate as a working Garden based on partial
funding by the City of Miami Beach, State and Federal grants, public donations and revenues
generated thru rental of the facilities, along with possible admission fees.
2. The Garden will operate with a full time staff subtropical/tropical horticulturist, three full
time grounds maintenance employees, plus the input of volunteers. The consultation of the
University of Florida through its Cooperative Extension Service/County Agent/Master
Gardener program will also be sought on a regular basis.
3. The emphasis will be the introduction and care of the display plant materializing the most
recent and successful horticultural practices. The Garden will primarily maintain a formally
cultivated appearance to encourage strong maintenance practices, with the possible inclusion
of less formally maintained sections, within the Center.
4. Integrated Pest Management principles, will be in use at the Garden to reduce the use of
chemicals and to demonstrate to the general public the importance of these practices.
H. Rental Facility
1. The Miami Beach Botanical Garden will become a location to host meetings of all types.
The Auditorium with modifications and updates will provide meeting space, with an
emphasis on providing an environment conducive to professional, orderly and productive
meetings for the private business sector, the City of Miami Beach Administration, and the
many horticultural groups interested in the site. The smaller Board room will serve as a
alternative to the larger Auditorium, with the same emphasis,
2. The Garden will serve as a location for weddings, with the emphasis on the entire location
to facilitate formal garden weddings, incorporating the auditorium.
3. The Botanical garden will serve as a venue to be utilized by fund raising organizations,
private holiday and theme parties, along with various special events.
I. Facility Upgrades
The Miami Beach Botanical Garden, will base its activities on continuity, that is based on
the conservation and modernization of the existing buildings (auditorium, kitchen, patio,
loggia and three meeting rooms) for historical and aesthetic reasons, with the construction
of new facilities as required.
ATTACHMENT F
Memo to:
Janet Gavarrete, Assistant City Manager
From:
Claire Tomlin
Date:
November 12, 1998
Subject:
Miami Beach Botanical Garden Fundraising
The following 1998-99 efforts are in place for raising funds for the restoration of the
Miami Beach Botanical Garden.
1. Miami Beach Garden Conservancy (non-profit corporation with IRS 501(c)(3)
status:
a. membership ($6,055 - 1998)
b. corporate matching funds program ($1,950 - 1998)
c. memorial and honorarium fund ($2,675 - 1998)
d. grantwriting - city and county support (actively pursuing)
e. grantwriting - South Florida foundation support (actively pursuing)
h. grantwriting - national foundation support (actively pursuing)
i. gift shop and plant sales ($300 - 1998)
e. pro bono legal, accounting, landscape architectural and public relations
support
f. fundraising Gala planned for February 27, 1999 w/Lauren Hutton as
celebrity guest
g. development of plant socieities
h. marketing the garden for special event use
i. marketing "adopt a park" program ($200 - 1998)
j. working with TECCA for additional funds
k. alliance with the Sister Cities Committee -
(1) Fujisawa working on Japanese Garden restoration project
(2) all Sister Cities are working on art contributions
1. working with Morikami Museum and Japanese Garden on Miami
Beach Japanese Garden
1. 1998 - 6,000+ volunteer hours @ $1 O/hr. = $60,000
m. in-kind $500 postage, printing; $300 television, $300 plants, $500
vegetable garden
2. Garden Club contributions:
a. a dedicated fund has been started for the restoration of the Japanese
Garden $1,000
b, provided a new refrigerator ($75)and microwave (gift) to the Garden
kitchen
3. City of Miami Beach is coordinating a major orchid show to be held at the Garden
April 9 - 11 - Garden to receive 1/3 of profits.
4. Florida Master Gardener Program/the University of Florida
a, donated a computer to the Garden library
b. offers the public horticultural assistance
c. provides horticultural literature
5. Gift of700 orchids to the City of Miami Beach by Arthur Lauffenburger
:;ITY OF MIAMI BEACH
:ITY HALL 1700 CONVENTION CENTER DRIVE MIAMI BEACH. FLORIDA 33139
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COMMISSION MEMORANDUM NO.
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TO: Mayor Neisen O. Kasdin and DATE: November 18, 1998
Members of the C~'ty C ,mmission
FROM: Sergio Rodriguez , I...
City Manager .
I
SUBJECT: ST A TUS REPORT ON MIAMI BEACH BOTANICAL GARDEN AND
REQUEST FOR DIRECTION FOR THE FUTURE RESTORATION,
RENOVATIONS AND THE APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION
APPROPRIATING $15,000 FROM BOND FUND 351 FOR PROFESSIONAL
ARCHITECTURAL/ENGINEERING SERVICES NECESSARY TO
PREP ARE SCHEMATIC PLANS AND COST ESTIMATES FOR THE
BOTANICAL GARDEN.
ADMINISTRATION RECOMMENDATION:
It is requested that the Mayor and Members of the City Commission review the status report and
provide direction to the Administration as to how to proceed with the future restoration, renovations
and programming of the Miami Beach Botanical Garden, and approve the Resolution appropriating
$15,000 from Bond Fund 351 for the professional architectural/engineering services necessary to
prepare schematic plans and cost estimates for the Botanical Garden.
BACKGROUND
Since early 1997, the Administration, the Tourism and Convention Center Authority (TCCEA) and
other interested groups have been working together to develop a list of needed improvements for the
Miami Beach Botanical Garden. The Administration met with the TCCEA Board, and various
groups interested in the Botanical Gardens to develop a list of improvements,
This list of improvements was discussed by TCCEA on June 11,1997. At this meeting, TCCEA
passed a resolution recommending that the City Commission appropriate the necessary funds for the
improvements. At the Commission meeting of September 10, 1997, the City Commission approved
a resolution appropriating $176,100 from the Tourism and Convention Center Authority for "Phase
One" renovations for the Miami Beach Botanical Garden. The improvements, as described in
Attachment A of this report were completed by May of 1998 at a total cost of $123,588 leaving a
balance of $52,512.
On June 3, 1998, the City Commission adopted a resolution reallocating the $ 52,512 balance, for
the replacement of the roof and related asbestos abatement, and related improvements within the
Botanical Gardens as deemed appropriate by the Administration and the Mayor's Ad Hoc Garden
& Conservatory Committee. A summary of these improvements is described in Attachment B of
this report.
FUNDING APPROVED
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Mana..;erlent and Budget
AGENDA lTEM f<., ~_
DATEJ l l <6 18:
In addition to the work described above, the City's Property Management Division has also
completed repairs at the Botanical Garden totaling $35,000, with funding from Property
Management Division's budget, as described in the summary attached. See Attachment C.
ANALYSIS
Programmin~ Options for the Botanical Garden
The Administration has coordinated no less than fifteen (15) meetings with the members of the
Miami Beach Botanical Garden affiliated garden clubs, the Mayor's Ad Hoc Garden & Conservatory
Committee and other interested individuals to discuss various issues related to the future of the
Garden. All the meetings were well attended, with up to sixty (60) individuals present. The primary
focus of the meetings was the development of a number of programming options and physical
improvements for the Garden, with each of the Garden Clubs and Committees forming sub-
committees to work on this matter. A list of all garden clubs involved is attached as Attachment D.
On March 6, 1998, the Mayor's Ad Hoc Garden Center & Conservatory Committee reviewed a draft
for the utilization of the Miami Beach Botanical Garden. This draft program improvement plan has
been reviewed, modified and endorsed by all other affiliated garden clubs. The proposed
Programming Plan is attached. See Attachment E.
The Mayor's Ad Hoc Committee, the Miami Beach Botanical Garden affiliated garden clubs and the
Administration have concluded a thorough public process and are seeking the assistance of
professional architects and engineers in reviewing the program and physical needs of the Miami
Beach Botanical Garden. Professional services are required to develop a schematic plan with cost
estimates for the Garden. The schematic plans and cost estimates will serve the Mayor's Ad Hoc
Committee, the affiliated garden clubs and the Administration to pursue funding from the private
sector as well as foundation, county, state and federal grant sources for capital improvements and
programmmg.
The Administration recommends the remaining $5,097 balance from the original appropriation and
additional funding in the amount of $15,000 from Bond Fund 351 to be used for the preparation of
the schematic plan and cost estimates for the Botanical Garden,
The professional services necessary to accomplish this task will be provided from the City's rotating
architects contact list. It is anticipated that any expenditure from the $15,000 allocation will be
reimbursed back to the City from funds secured from private donations and grants. Please see
Attachment F for a list of potential fund raising opportunities currently being considered by the
various organizations participating in the botanical garden restoration. .
CONCLUSION:
It is requested that the Mayor and Members of the City Commission review the status report and
provide direction to the Administration as to how to proceed with the future restoration, renovations
and programming of the Miami Beach Botanical Garden, and approve the Resolution appropriating
$15,000 from Bond Fund 351 for the professional architectural/engineering services necessary to
prepare schematic plans and cost estimates for the Botanical Garden.
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