96-22177 RESO
RESOLUTION NO.
96-22177
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, AUTHORIZING THE ADMINISTRATION TO ENTER
INTO NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE MIAMI YOUTH MUSEUM TO LOCATE THE
MUSEUM IN THE NORTH BEACH AREA, PARTICULARLY WITH REGARD TO
CONSIDERATION OF THE CITY-OWNED PARKING LOT AT 72ND STREET AND
COLLINS AVENUE AND ITS VICINITY; AND DIRECT THE ADMINISTRATION TO
EXPLORE PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES IN FACILITATING THE
RELOCATION OF THE MIAMI YOUTH MUSEUM TO THE NORTH BEACH AREA
OF MIAMI BEACH AND TO FURTHER DISCUSS POTENTIAL FINANCING
MECHANISMS AND ECONOMIC INDUCEMENTS WITH THE MUSEUM
ADMINISTRA TION.
WHEREAS, the Miami Youth Museum (Museum) has invited municipalities within Dade County to
identify opportunities that exist within those municipalities for a permanent home for the Museum; and
WHEREAS, the Museum is also searching for sites that would showcase the institution and allow it
to fulfill its mission and maximize its potential as the premier children's museum in Florida; and
WHEREAS, the North Beach Development Corporation has advocated a 5.11-acre underutilized
municipal parking lot located at 72nd and Collins Avenue as an appropriate site to accommodate the new
Museum and the revitalizing neighborhood's parking needs; and
WHEREAS, by locating in Miami Beach, the Museum will be linked to other Miami Beach-based
cultural facilities, such as the South Florida Arts Center, the Colony Theater, the New World Symphony, the
Jackie Gleason Theater of the Performing Arts, the Miami City Ballet, and countless others, whose interrelated
roles will be enhanced by the Museum; and
WHEREAS, children represent one of the fastest growing segments of the City's population, growing
at a 12% rate, approximately 17% of the total 92,639 population are children under the age of 14 and there
are approximately 11,000 school-aged children attending Miami Beach schools; and
WHEREAS, the North Beach area of is a large and increasing population center, with thirty-eight
percent of the City's population residing in that area, and including large numbers of families with children
under the age of nineteen.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY
OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, that the Mayor and City Commission authorize the Administration to enter into
negotiations with the Miami Youth Museum to locate the Museum in the North Beach area, particularly with
regard to consideration of the City-owned parking lot at 72nd Street and Collins Avenue and its vicinity; and
direct the Administration to explore partnership opportunities in facilitating t location of the Miami Youth
Museum to the North Beach area of Miami Beach and to further discuss p en. I financing ec anisms and
economic inducements with the Museum administration.
PASSED AND ADOPTED THIS 23RD DAY OF OCTOB
I U i\ I.; i t ~. r t\ U 'J. u
Attest:
KOlutcr ~aN~
City Clerk
LEGAL DEPT.
By 111 ~
r'-l:e ~"II..i"_.,.
CITY OF MIAMI BEACH
CITY HALL 1700 CONVENTION CENTER DRIVE MIAMI BEACH FLORIDA 33139
TO:
FROM:
SUBJECI':
COMMISSION MEMORANDUM NO. 1~5"3 -q ~
Mayor Seymour Gelber and
Memben or the City Commission
October 23, 1996
DATE:
Jose Garcia-Pedrosa JIll
City Mauger "
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY
OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, AUTHORIZING THE ADMINISTRATION TO
ENTER INTO NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE MIAMI YOUTH MUSEUM TO
LOCATE THE MUSEUM IN THE NORTH BEACH AREA, PARTICULARLY
WITH REGARD TO CONSIDERATION OF THE CITY-OWNED PARKING
LOT AT 72ND STREET AND COLLINS AVENUE AND ITS VICINITY; AND
DIRECT THE ADMINISTRATION TO EXPLORE PARTNERSHIP
OPPORTUNITIES IN FACILITATING THE RELOCATION OF THE MIAMI
YOUTH MUSEUM TO THE NORTH BEACH AREA OF MIAMI BEACH
AND TO FURTHER DISCUSS POTENTIAL FINANCING MECHANISMS
AND ECONOMIC INDUCEMENTS WITH THE MUSEUM
ADMINISTRATION.
ADMINISTRATION RECOMMENDATION:
Adopt the Resolution.
BACKGROUND:
The Miami Youth Museum, a non-profit organization, has invited municipalities within Dade County
to identify opportunities that exist within those municipalities for a permanent home for the
Museum. The mission of the Museum is to serve, on a community-wide basis, families with young
children. The Museum is.12 years old and has grown significantly in terms of programming and
exhibits. It is currently housed in the Bakery Center, its third home. It is now searching for a
permanent site that would showcase the institution and allow it to fulfill its mission and maximize
its potential as the premier children's museum in Florida. The North Beach Development Corp. has
advocated a 5.11-acre underutilized municipal parking lot located at 72nd and Collins Avenue, as
an appropriate site to accommodate the new Museum and complement the revitalization efforts
in the area.
On October 7, 1996, the City's Land Use and Development Committee discussed a proposal by
the Miami Youth Museum to relocate to the municipal parking lot located between Collins and
Harding Avenues and 72nd and 73rd Streets in North Beach. The issue was referred to the Capital
Improvements/Finance Committee meeting of October 10, 1996 and the Administration was
AGENDA ITEM R, 9 G
DATE rD.~ 3-g~
COMMISSION MEMORANDUM
OCTOBER 23, 1996
PAGE TWO
directed to assemble an appropriate team to work with the Miami Youth Museum. In follow-up to
the Committee's recommendations, on October 17, 1996, a team made up of Commissioner
Pearlson, members of the Administration, and representatives of the North Beach Development
Corp., met with the Building Committee of the Miami Youth Museum. The City's presentation was
received very warmly by the Museum.
ANALYSIS:
The City of Miami Beach has always had a deep commitment to the welfare of its children.
Children represent one of the fastest growing segments of the Miami Beach population (growing
at a 12% rate.) Approximately 17% of the total 92,639 population are children under the age of 14
and there are approximately 11,000 school-aged children attending Miami Beach schools. The
North Beach area of Miami Beach is a large and increasing population center. Thirty-eight percent
of the City's population resides in that area and this includes large numbers of families with children
under the age of nineteen.
By locating in Miami Beach, the Miami Youth Museum will be linked to other Miami Beach-based
cultural facilities, such as the South Florida Arts Center, the Colony Theater, the New World
Symphony, the Jackie Gleason Theater, the Miami City Ballet, and countless others, whose
interrelated roles will be enhanced by the Miami Youth Museum.
To the north of the site is the Harding Townsite Commercial District, and the 34-acre, State-owned
North Shore Open Space Park; to the west is the City-owned North Shore Park; and to the east,
the beach, an amphitheater and community center area (the site of the Band Shell) and the recent
Ocean Terrace improvements, making the site ideal for its intended use.
The Museum has already secured grants in excess of $3 million. It still has a major task ahead of
it to raise additional funds, but cannot fully move ahead until it has a specific location secured.
Discussions have occurred with several cities and institutions. The museum has a mid-November
deadline to utilize its State-funded grants or possibly lose them.
At this point in time, the Museum's Board needs a strong indicator from the City that it is interested.
By passing the attached Resolution, the Commission will be indicating its strong support and desire
to move ahead with a site in Miami Beach. The language of the Resolution allows the
Administration to begin negotiations with the Museum, but does so in a way that the City and the
Museum can further evolve the partnership and iron out the critical issues of ownership, timeline,
amounts of matching funds from other sources, including the extent and ability of the Museum to
raise private funds.
CONCLUSION:
I n order for the City to be seriously considered as a party to negotiations, the Administration
recommends that the Mayor and City Commission adopt the Resolution.
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