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98-22996 RESO RESOLUTION NO. 98-22996 A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, ACCEPTING THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE COMMUNITY AFFAIRS COMMITTEE REGARDING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A MEMORIAL GROVE AND SCULPTURE ON MIAMI BEACH IN DEDICATION TO PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV AND IN MEMORIUM TO VICTIMS OF AIDS; AND FURTHER REFERRING THE ITEM TO THE ARTS IN PUBLIC PLACES COMMITTEE FOR THEIR RECOMMENDATION(S) FOR A SUITABLE LOCATION FOR THE MEMORIAL. WHEREAS, on June 5,1998, Action for Aids, Inc. presented a proposal to the Community Affairs Committee to create a memorial grove with trees and sculpture in dedication to people living with HIV and in memorium to victims of AIDS (the Memorial); and WHEREAS, Action for Aids, Inc. explained that they had raised adequate funding for the Memorial and maintenance of same; however they requested an area of public land within a City park for them to develop as a site for the proposed memorial; and WHEREAS, the Community Affairs Committee reviewed the proposal and approved, in concept, the appropriateness of the subject matter; and WHEREAS, the Mayor and City Commission herein accept the findings of the Community Affairs Committee, and further refer the item to the Art in Public Places Committee, for their recommendation(s) for a suitable location for the Memorial. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOL VED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, that the Mayor and City Commission hereby accept the recommendation of the Community Affairs Committee regarding the establishment of a memorial grove and sculpture on Miami Beach in dedication to people living with HIV and in memorium to victims of AIDS; and further refer the item to the Arts in Public Places Committee for review and recommendation(s) as to a suitable location for the Memorial. PASSED and ADOPTED this 16th day of December 1998. ATTEST: APPROVED AS TO FORM & LANGUAGE ~ ~ & fOR EXECUTION CITYCL~ ~ ~fif!4 I'~b M:~ F:\CMGRI$ALLVUDY\COMMAFFICOMMMEMOlAlDSMEM2.RES HA VE A HEART & SUPPORT THE FIGHT AGAINST AIDS AIDS Memorial Grove and Sculpture As we approach the end of the second decade of this siege known as AIDS we are heartened by the results of so many good, new treatments which are not only prolonging life but also increasing its quality. Yet, hundreds of thousands of .Americans - and millions more worldwide _ haven't survived to this point As many as 10,000 of those lives lost were lived in the Miami area. The Board of Directors of Action For AIDS wants to provide a place where we can honor the memories of those women and men who were our daughters and sons, brothers and sisters, parents, neighbors, friends and lovers. A place where we can gather to remember them and comfort each other. A place so moving that it will not only remind us of those we've lost but also encourage us to continue to fight for the lives of those still living with HIV and to help educate our youth and all others to prevent further infections. We believe that we need our own "AIDS quilt", a Holocaust memorial to those lost in this current slaughter of humanity, a piece of art which will connect us to our memories and inspire us to move ever onward surrounded by a grove of trees whose life giving properties will forever provide beauty and comfort. It is our hope to plant a grove of trees and spur the creation of a piece of artwork in an honored (and accessible) location that all can regard as their own. Why do we need an AIDS Memorial if\ve already have the Quilt') The AIDS Quilt is a beautiful and moving piece of art that helps us to capture the life of each lost soul in 18 square feet But the quilt is constantly moving, rarely accessible to our local eyes and, due to its size, perhaps never to be seen in its entirety again. Today, here, we need something which we can visit each and every day, if we so desire, something which says that this life was lived here, that this place meant something, not unlike the monuments in towns small and lar;e to local kids who died in vvars. The benefit to the community is great A piece of art. in and of itself, is always a welcome addition to the landscape. It will draw people to it. reminding them of the need to constantly be aware, to take precautions, to be compassionate and to spread the word to others to take care. This artwork/memorial grove will also be a meeting place of sorts, both planned and spontaneous, for those people who need the solace, comfoI1 and community of others who are feeling the loss of companionship. 9595-0 N.t 1 Qth Avenue. N.Micmi Beach. FL 33179 305) 576-] 476 . FAX (305) 999-9934 Additionally, we envision it as a place where materials pertaining to ill VI AIDS can be placed for dissemination to the general public making this memorial a living, breathing work of an, an educational tool, if you \\<ill, to further the goal of ending the pandemic. Finally, and not leastly, by providing this local place, this piece of art, where a plaque \vith the names ofloved ones who have died ofHIV/AIDS can be permanently inscribed, and a tree representing their lives can be planted, we can raise money for the many still needed services provided by countless organizations in our community. From .I\IDS specific service organizations to religious groups and social service organizations allied in the fight, there are still so many who are in need of help that rely on these groups for assistance. Money is always needed and many sources are drying up. Federal, state and local dollars are being cut or are not forthcoming, Due to the widely reported effectiveness of new drugs and the decreases in death rates, a considerable amount of support is heading elsewhere. Yet, many in this community are still in need. Especially those who cannot afford the very expensive new treatments. The monies raised by this memorial will be funded back into our community in two ways: via grants from Action For AIDS to wonhy programs and via funds which go directly back to the cooperating organizations to use as they see fit. Action For AIDS prides itself in its cooperation with so many other AIDS related organizations in this area that have raised funds through us by the sale of our red ribbon pins. We provided the pins and a percentage of the proceeds to those bona fide organizations. Now we want to give them a chance to commemorate their loved ones while providing for those still in need. ARTWORK Like the quilt and our local Holocaust Memorial we envision a work of art as powerful and long- lasting as those two symbols of all that is good - and bad - in this world. In order to create such a vision we will conduct a contest for artists to submit their creations to be judged by a prestigious review board. With a set of guidelines outlining site specifications and encouraging the artistic use of certain symbols (i.e.: the red ribbon) we expect to receive some moving and intense testaments to the individual and collective lives of those members of our South Florida family who are lost to us now. GROVE This place of beauty will provide areas of serenity where people can be alone with their feelings and a large area where group gatherings can take place. In conjunction with the city's Parks Department and local landscape designers we will plant a grove that is ecologically sound, appropriate to its site and sensitive to the community in which it is surrounded. We are in discussions with owners oflocal groves to provide items for planting at reduced rates or for free. DONATIONS GENERATED We will raise funds from this project in two ways: For a set cost a donor can plant a tree, ill memOl)' only, of those who have passed away due to HIY/AIDS however, the artwork itself will provide a place where donors can honor worthy individuals and organizations in the HIV/AIDS community for their committment and/or can inscribe the names of deceased loved ones. Their will be different levels of support depending on size and placement of tree and/or plaque. We will provide "reserved" areas for different organizations to generate their own memorial clusters. Each organization will get a "co-op" donation for every tree or plaque purchase generated by their organization. This co-op will generally be 50% of the net proceeds for that item. Funds will be granted to bona fide 501 (c )(3) designated organizations in a process similar to that used in the funding cycles generated by the Florida AIDS Rides 1 and 2. Please refer to the Request for Proposals and Grant Application Guidelines enclosed in this proposal packet PROJECT FUNDING We will generate individual, organizational and corporate sponsorship to cover the costs of preparing the site (if needed), constructing the artwork and supplying the needed materials for the art and for the grove. HAVE A HEART & SUPPORT THE FIGHT AGAINST AIDS ACTION FOR AIDS, Inc. is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to raise and disburse funds to a variety of direct-relief and service agencies serving the person with HIV and AIDS, to educate the public, and to provide a means of fundraising to AIDS-related organizations We are the distributors of "A Symbol of Caring", a red enamel pin (in two sizes), fashioned after the red ribbon worn to demonstrate A1DSIHIV awareness. As a grant-making organization we were founded in 1992 to raise monev for the direct care of -. - - .I people with HIV/AIDS. Our volunteers have sold over 20,000 red ribbon pins. The money raised has been distributed to AIDS Service Organizations via grants for programming of direct client care. No funds are granted for general operating expenses or adminsitrative costs. ACTION FOR AIDS was responsible for bringing the ..<\merican .AJ:DS Rides to Florida and have been recipients, along with a consortium of.AJ:DS service organizations, of this incredible fundraising bike ride from Orlando to Miami. Next year's event, called the Red Ribbon Ride, will take place in November. ACTION FOR AIDS spent 3 years, ultimately unsuccessfully, trying to get legislation passed through the Floricfa state house in Tallahassee creating a Red Ribbon License Plate. A copy of the official registration and financial infonllation may be obtained from the Division of Consumer Sen' ices by calling toll-free 1-800-HELP-FLA (1-800-435- 7352) within the state. Registration does not imply endorsement. approval. or recommendation by the State. 1595-0 N.E. 10th Avenue' NMiami Beach. FL 33179 05) 576-1476 . FAX (305) 999-9934 CITY OF MIAMI BEACH CITY HALL 1700 CONVENTION CENTER DRIVE MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA 33139 http:\\ci.miami-beach.ft.ua COMMISSION MEMORANDUM NO. t.?:> 3B - 98 TO: Mayor Neisen O. Kasdin and Members of the City C mission DATE: December 16, 1998 FROM: Sergio Rodriguez City Manager SUBJECT: A RESO UTION ACCEPTING THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE COMMUNITY AFFAIRS COMMITTEE REGARDING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A MEMORIAL GROVE AND SCULPTURE ON MIAMI BEACH FOR THE HIV/AIDS COMMUNITY ADMINISTRA TION RECOMMENDATION Adopt the Resolution. BACKGROUND In December 1997, Action for Aids Inc. presented a proposal to the City for a Memorial Grove for the HIV / AIDS community. The agency met with members of the Administration to discuss and formulate the proposal. At the time there was no established policy to evaluate such requests. On March 18, 1998, the Community Affairs Committee was formed, and the proposal to create a memorial grove with trees and artwork for the HIV/AIDS community was heard at the first scheduled meeting of June 5, 1998. The proposers further explained that they had raised adequate funding for the memorial grove, artwork, and maintenance of the site, however they were requesting an area of public land within a park for them to develop as a site for the community. ANALYSIS The Community Affairs Committee reviewed the request and discussed the appropriateness of the proposal. The C-ommittee considered the ways in which such an important statement could be made. Additionally,several sites were discussed which might be compatible with this type of memorial. The conceptual proposal for the memorial grove was approved by the Community Affairs Committee and is now being presented to the City Commission for its review and recommendation. If the memorial is approved by the City Commission, the entire proposal will be referred to the Art in Public Places Committee for their recommendations on the location, aestht,tic quality and artistic merit of the work. Following a recommendation from the AIPP, the matter will be presented to the City Commission. CONCLUSION The City Commission should approve the resolution to accept the recommendation of the Community Affairs Committee regarding the appropriateness of establishing a memorial grove and sculpture on Miami Beach for the HIV/AIDS community and refer the matter to AIPP. ) \ .iJ.lk sR:1fs :.JH:jah Date ClG I ~ - \~-0 B Agenda Item