Meeting Minutes - March 8 2022 1700 Convention Center Drive Miami Beach, FL 33139
www.miamibeachfl.gov/northbeachcra
MEETING MINUTES Ad Hoc North Beach Community Redevelopment Agency Advisory Committee Tuesday, March 8, 2022 Normandy Shores Golf Course Clubhouse
2401 Biarritz Drive, Miami Beach, FL 33141
Members in Attendance: Chair Jose Smith, Vice Chair Betsy Perez, John Bowes, Ronnie
Issenberg, Romina Orozco-Encio, Betsy Perez, Manning Salazar,
and David Sexton
1. Welcome and Attendance
At 4:35 p.m., Committee Chair Jose Smith opened the meeting and welcomed all attendees
to the Committee’s first in-person quarterly meeting.
2. New Committee Member Introduction: Ronnie Issenberg
At 4:36 p.m., Committee Chair Jose Smith introduced and welcomed new Committee member
Ronnie Issenberg to his first meeting. Mr. Issenberg greeted those in attendance and the
Committee members, along with Rickelle Williams, Co-Committee Liaison and Economic
Development Director, and Ric Dopico, First Assistant City Attorney, each took turns
introducing themselves and welcoming Mr. Issenberg.
3. Approval of Meeting Minutes
• Motion: Approve the draft meeting minutes of the February 8, 2022 Committee meeting.
Made by: John Bowes Seconded by: Betsy Perez
Motion passed by acclamation
4. Update: Public Safety - Community Policing
At 4:49 p.m., Chair Smith introduced Officer Julio Blanco, Miami Beach Police Department (MBPD) North Beach Neighborhood Resource Officer, who provided the Committee with an update on MBPD’s community-based activities and resources in North Beach. Officer Blanco addressed topics such as neighborhood partnerships, the measured reduction in crime rates,
homeless outreach efforts, and general issues affecting public safety in North Beach. Officer
Blanco was accompanied by Sergeant Amel Soto, who answered questions from the Committee regarding MBPD’s community policing initiatives in North Beach.
North Beach CRA Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes – March 8, 2022
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5. Update: Byron Carlyle Theater At 5:14 PM, Rickelle Williams mentioned that Elizabeth Miro, Facilities and Fleet Management
Assistant Director, was unable to attend and Ms. Williams provided a brief update on the
status of City efforts to engage the community and plan for future programming of the Byron Carlyle site. Committee member Manning Salazar highlighted the importance of engaging local cultural organizations in North Beach and expressed his opposition to a discussion item at the March 9, 2022 City Commission meeting regarding including workforce housing in the
future redevelopment at the Byron Carlyle site.
6. Update: City Commission referrals: December 8, 2021: C4 M (Informational Business Guide) and C4 AF (North Beach office presence); January 20, 2022: C4 R (Renaming North Beach Bandshell)
At 5:21 p.m., Rickelle Williams, provided a status update on Committee motions picked up by the City Commission and referred to Commission committees. Vice-Chair Perez inquired about the North Beach CRA’s current budgeting capability for new projects. Ms. Williams discussed the status of the North Beach CRA budget and limitations on the CRA’s capacity
to obtain bond financing until such time as it has generated a moderate amount of tax increment financing (TIF) revenue. 7. Discussion: Housing and Homeownership Resources
At 5:27 p.m., Marcela Rubio, HOME/SHIP Projects Coordinator, Office of Housing and
Community Services, provided an introductory presentation to the City’s First Time Homebuyer Program, which provides very-low, low-, and moderate-income residents with down payment assistance to purchase a first home. Ms. Rubio responded to questions regarding program eligibility, income requirements, the application process, and challenges
encountered with implementing the program. Committee member Manning Salazar
suggested that the City focus additional resources to promoting the program to the service industry workforce.
(Note: the PowerPoint presentation delivered by the Office of Housing and Community
Services is available online with the Advisory Committee agenda materials, at
www.miamibeachfl.gov/northbeachcra). 8. Discussion: North Beach Oceanside Park Renovation project
At 5:45 p.m., the Capital Improvement Projects Department provided an update on the status
of the North Beach Oceanside Park Renovation project. Members of the Committee asked questions about the scope of the project and the expansion of the Beachwalk through the Park. At Vice Chair Perez’s request, Rickelle Williams and Dexter Peralta, North Beach Neighborhood Affairs Coordinator, agreed to provide the Committee with additional
information about the North Beach Oceanside Park Renovation project including a rendering.
9. Committee Member Comments
North Beach CRA Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes – March 8, 2022
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At 5:56 p.m., the Committee members provided final comments prior to the meeting’s end. Member Ronnie Issenberg suggested a map be created highlighting properties of interest in
the Redevelopment Area, for example, neglected parcels that require attention or are suitable
for redevelopment. Rickelle Williams offered to provide the Committee with the City’s Asset Inventory Report prepared by the Fleet and Facilities Management Department. Romina Orozco-Encio expressed disappointment that her children must travel to Flamingo Park in South Beach to play soccer and Vice Chair Perez requested that the Committee discuss
suggestions for future planning of the library site. David Sexton shared his vision of
reimagining the design of Normandy Plaza to accentuate the district’s French heritage. At the request of John Bowes for guidance as to how the Committee could plan and budget for future CRA projects, Rickelle Williams indicated that a five-year strategic plan will be drafted and the Committee would be invited to review and comment. Ms. Williams also offered to inquire about
the statutory authority of CRAs to temporarily abate tax assessments for individual properties.
Manning Salazar expressed his pleasure with the Committee’s first in-person meeting and complimented David Sexton for his successful activations at the Normandy Fountain. 10. Public Comment
At 6:12 pm, Daniel Veitia, North Beach resident, remarked about the recent advances in the North Beach real estate market and suggested that the City analyze new trends in ownership and investment in order to take advantage of these market changes.
11. Adjournment
Motion to adjourn at 6:28 p.m.
Next Meeting: Tuesday, April 12, 2022 at 4:30 pm