Meeting Minutes - April 12, 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, April 12, 2022 4:30 PM
Members in Attendance: Chair Jose Smith, Vice Chair Betsy Perez, John Bowes, Ronnie
Issenberg, Manning Salazar, and David Sexton
Members Absent: Romina Orozco-Encio
1. Welcome and Attendance
At 4:39 p.m., Committee Chair Jose Smith opened the meeting and greeted all attendees.
2. Approval of Meeting Minutes
• Motion: To approve the draft meeting minutes of the March 8, 2022 Committee
meeting. Made by: David Sexton Seconded by: Betsy Perez
Motion passed by acclamation
3. Status Update: Byron Carlyle Theater At 4:40 PM, Elizabeth Miro, Facilities and Fleet Management Assistant Director, updated the Committee on the Administration’s planned charrette for seeking community input on future
planning for the Byron Carlyle site. Ms. Miro advised that architectural firm Allan Schulman and Associates will be leading the charette, scheduled for April 27th and April 28th via Zoom, with meeting access details to follow soon.
4. Status Update: City Commission referrals Debbie Tackett, Historic Preservation and Architecture Officer, was unable to attend today’s meeting to provide an update on the Historic Preservation Board’s (HPB) consideration of City Commission referrals of interest to the Committee because the April 12, 2022 HPB meeting
was still in progress at the same time as the Committee meeting. (Note: as detailed in LTC 155-2022, the HPB approved a motion urging the City Commission to consider reverting the name of the Bandshell to its previous name of “North Beach Bandshell” in order to reinforce
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the North Beach identity. In addition, the HPB voted unanimously to support the National Register Nomination for the Bandshell.)
5. CDBG/Home Community Development Needs and Funding Recommendations At 4:42 p.m., Marcela Rubio, HOME/SHIP Projects Coordinator, discussed existing housing affordability and community development concerns in North Beach, including background and history on the City’s HUD entitlement program participation and FY21 Action Plan, current
and anticipated applications for additional funding, and past and current nonprofit housing partners of the City, such as the Housing Authority of the City of Miami Beach and previous community housing development organizations (“CHDOs”) certified in Miami Beach, including the Miami Beach Community Development Corporation and Carrfour Supportive Housing. In light of Ms. Rubio’s indication that the City is actively seeking to partner with nonprofit
organizations certified to receive federal funding, Chair Smith requested that Committee Co-Liaison Rickelle Williams reach out to Ms. Stephanie Berman, President of Carrfour Supportive Housing, to explore potential collaboration surrounding federal grant money earmarked for Miami Beach.
6. Discussion: Miami-Dade County Emergency Declaration on Housing Affordability At 5:17 p.m., Marcela Rubio, HOME/SHIP Projects Coordinator, provided preliminary insights into Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava’s April 8, 2022 emergency order and
proposed assistance program, which is anticipated to include substantial funding for rental assistance for County residents. Rickelle Williams, Committee Co-Liaison and Economic Development Director, joined the Committee meeting and added that the County Mayor’s emergency order had been issued
very recently and the County was still formulating its proposed assistance program, therefore, the City Administration will advise Miami Beach residents of eligibility requirements and other details as soon as information becomes available. 7. Discussion: North Beach Entryway Signage Project
At 5:22 p.m., David Martinez, Committee Co-Liaison and Capital Improvement Projects Director, presented the initial conceptual design for entrance features and signage proposed for two separate roadway entrances into North Beach: at the north end, at Harding Avenue and 87th Street in North Shore, and east entry on 71st Street into Normandy Isle. Mr. Martinez
shared that, in 2019, the City Commission approved architect Allan Shulman’s design concept
for the entrance features. Mr. Martinez estimated that the Design Review Board (DRB) could review the signage project as early as July 2022, which would enable construction to commence in 2023. Chair Smith and Vice Chair Perez both urged Mr. Martinez to ensure that both projects incorporate attractive lighting at both signage locations.
8. Discussion: Opportunities and Priorities
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At 5:30 p.m., Rickelle Williams, indicated that she received feedback from 3 Committee members following her request for recommendations and planning ideas for the initial implementation of the Redevelopment Plan. Although the County has not yet released any
preliminary projections on tax growth, Mrs. Williams advised that the Administration will
consider initial plans and initiatives to recommend to the City Commission, with Committee participation throughout the process. Mrs. Williams invited Committee member David Sexton to introduce his proposal to rebrand
the character of the neighborhood around Place Vendome to celebrate the French heritage
of Normandy Fountain. Mr. Sexton advised that the French consulate expressed interest in assisting with bringing the proposal to life. Committee member Manning Salazar suggested improvements to the small 71st Street bridge located east of Normandy Fountain. David Martinez responded to Chair Smith’s inquiry and noted that the roadway belongs to FDOT,
because the City has tried to obtain FDOT assistance with the bridge in the past.
Rickelle Williams provided insight into how a potential façade improvement program could workand discussion ensued.
• Motion: To recommend that the City explore an architectural design or façade improvement program for the Normandy Fountain / Place Vendome area.
Made by: David Sexton Seconded by: Betsy Perez
Motion passed by acclamation 6 to 0.
(Not present: Committee member Romina Orozco-Encio) At 5:55 p.m., Mrs. Williams presented an initial list of proposed priorities which could be
suggested to the City Commission for NBCRA budget planning, such as a physical office at
the Building Department’s Normandy Drive satellite location. Mrs. Williams advised that a pilot initiative for administrative presence could be implemented at a relatively low cost in the beginning.
Mrs. Williams advised that it would be ideal if, at the next meeting of the Committee, a firmer
line-item budget could be prepared for review and approval. She requested that the Committee members submit additional suggestions by email. Vice Chair Perez stressed that enhanced sanitation services are badly needed in the area near the beachfront and in public parks.
9. Committee Member Comments Committee member Manning Salazar expressed his ongoing concern regarding the sanitary condition of waterways in and around Parkview Island. In response to an inquiry from
Committee member Ronnie Issenberg, Chair Smith noted that the Committee had not yet
made any recommendations regarding future use of the West Lots. Chair Smith offered praise to David Martinez for the recent construction and improvements to the Beachwalk. Manning Salazar inquired whether the City of Miami Beach has a sister city in the Normandy region of France which could provide an opportunity for partnership and David Sexton stated he would
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look explore further. 10. Public Comment
At 6:11 p.m., Chair Smith confirmed that no members of the public were present to provide
public comment. 11. Adjournment
Motion to adjourn at 6:12 p.m. Next Meeting: Tuesday, May 10, 2022 at 4:30 pm