Minutes - February 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, February 8, 2022 4:30 PM
Members in Attendance: Chair Jose Smith, Vice Chair Betsy Perez, John Bowes, Romina
Orozco-Encio, Manning Salazar, and David Sexton
1. Welcome and Attendance
At 4:36 p.m., Committee Chair Jose Smith began the meeting and greeted all attendees.
2. Committee Re-Establishment and Membership Update
Rickelle Williams, Committee Co-Liaison and Economic Development Director, updated the
Committee regarding the process for filling the current vacant position on the Committee
created by the resignation of Daniel Veitia. The Committee discussed how the vacant seat
would be filled and Mrs. Williams explained that the City Clerk is observing its normal
procedure to fill the vacancy.
Chair Smith noted Commissioner David Richardson and aide Luis Callejas were present and thanked them for attending. 3. Approval of Meeting Minutes
Motion: To approve the draft meeting minutes of the January 11, 2022 Committee
meeting, subject to a modification by Manning Salazar that he had expressed opposition to the 72nd Street Community Center project.
Made by: Manning Salazar Seconded by: Betsy Perez
Motion passed by acclamation at 4:48 p.m. 4. Update: North Beach Grants At 4:52 p.m., Chair Smith introduced Judy Hoanshelt, Grants and Intergovernmental Affairs
Division Director provided a brief update regarding the recent news of an award of grant funds
to the City through the Resilient Florida Grant Program, with some applicable expenditure in North Beach. The Committee briefly discussed the expenditure of grants and funds for infrastructure projects in North Beach.
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Rickelle Williams offered to coordinate a future agenda item update to a previous presentation
regarding the Jacobs Engineering presentation on design plans for infrastructure improvements. David Gomez, Assistant Director of Capital Improvements Projects, greeted the Committee and offered to return with updates as they progress.
5. Update: Byron Carlyle Theater At 5:03 p.m., Elizabeth Miro, Facilities and Fleet Management Assistant Director noted that Commissioner David Richardson has a pending item on City Commission’s February 9, 2022 meeting agenda. Commissioner Richardson introduced his City Commission agenda item and
the mechanics of the public-private partnership proposal that he has been negotiating with a private developer. (Note: on February 9, 2022, the City Commission approved consent agenda item C4 G and referred the discussion item to the Finance and Economic Resiliency Committee. Commissioner Richardson’s companion item, R9 U, a discussion of future steps to move the Byron Carlyle site forward, was deferred to the March 9, 2022 meeting). At the
request of Chair Smith, Commissioner Richardson explained how unsolicited proposals function by law. At 5:13 p.m., Chair Smith welcomed David Sexton and Mr. Sexton apologized for joining the meeting late.
Manning Salazar inquired into the status of efforts in furtherance of the City Commission’s direction to conduct additional public meetings to solicit community input on planning for the Byron Carlyle site. Before departing the meeting, Commissioner Richardson noted that his efforts to explore a public-private partnership for the site were in addition to and not in replace
of the Administration’s efforts, in accordance with City Commission direction, to engage a vendor to perform these services. Manning Salazar requested a future report update regarding the Administration’s efforts with respect to the $400,000 allocated by the City Commission for Byron Carlyle planning.
Elizabeth Miro explained that her department was in the process of executing a contract service order for charettes and Chair Smith requested a future update at the next meeting. 6. Update: City Commission referrals
At 5:23 p.m, Rickelle Williams provided a brief update regarding several pertinent agenda
items referred recently by the City Commission to Commission committees (December 8, 2021 (C4 M) – referral regarding an informational resource guide to educate the public on opening a new business, (C4 AF) – a discussion on identifying funding for a North Beach CRA office or physical presence, and January 20, 2022 (C4R) – renaming of the North Beach
Bandshell).
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7. Update: 72nd Street Community Complex At 5:25 p.m., David Gomez, Capital Improvement Projects Assistant Director noted that following City Commission approval of the special funding plan, as recommended by the
Advisory Committee at its previous meeting, the CIP department is in active negotiations with
a contractor for design and construction of the project. 8. Discussion: Chicago and Miami Housing Initiatives
At 5:26 p.m., David Sexton discussed reporting regarding innovative public housing solutions
and two articles he had shared with the Committee regarding the topic. Chair Smith and Manning Salazar thanked Mr. Sexton for bringing this agenda item for discussion and Rickelle Williams responded to Chair Smith regarding the City’s efforts to promote homeownership. The Committee discussed the benefits of government housing initiatives and how local
governments can play a role. At the Chair’s request, Rickelle Williams offered to return with
an update regarding resources the City is devoting to the issue of housing and homeownership and how the private sector could be engaged in this process. 9. North Beach Private Sector Development Projects
At 5:39 p.m., Rogelio Madan, Chief of Community Planning & Sustainability, delivered a presentation highlighting renderings and background information regarding a handful of development projects within the North Beach CRA district that have recently received approval at land use board hearings.
10. Committee Member Comments At 6:00 p.m., the Committee members provided final comments including Vice-Chair Betsy Perez, who proposed that future meetings of the Committee incorporate discussion of more
diverse agenda topics, for example, public safety, community policing, and homelessness. Chair Smith concurred and proposed asking police command staff to update at the next committee meeting about public safety, crime, and homelessness. At the suggestion of Rickelle Williams, the Committee agreed by acclamation to adjust the
frequency of the two standing agenda items (72nd Street Community Center Complex and Byron Carlyle Theater) from monthly to quarterly updates. 11. Public Comment
At 6:05 p.m., Chair Smith confirmed that no members of the public desired to make public
comment.
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12. Adjournment The Committee members wished John Bowes a happy birthday and the meeting was
adjourned at 6:06 p.m. Next Meeting: Wednesday, March 8, 2022 at the Normandy Shores Golf Club