Meeting Minutes 3.31.22
General Obligation Bond Oversight Committee
City of Miami Beach
MEETING MINUTES No. 32
March 31, 2022
Members in Attendance Via Zoom:
Karen Rivo, Chair
Jason Greene, Vice-Chair
Carmen Browne
Scott Needelman
Laura Veitia
Francisco Diez-Rivas
Adam Kravitz
Carolina Jones
Jason Koslowe
Adam Grieser
Absent:
Jack Glottmann
Staff and Guests Attendance:
Maria Hernandez, Liaison
Devin Ramirez
Thais Vieira
Allison Novack
David Martinez
John Woodruff
Alex Denis
Eric Garcia
Lauren Firtel
Ayanna Earle
Christina Ortega Castineiras
Josiel Ferrer
Lester Sola
Rodney Knowles
Elizabeth Estevez
Cristina Ortega Castineiras
Jose Del Risco
Deborah Tackett
Dexter Peralta
Frank Garcia
Giancarlo Pena
Amy Knowles
Maria Cerna
Omar Leon
Rickelle Williams
Tameka Otto Stewart
Kevin Pulido
Roland Aragunde
Jani Singer
Judy Hoanshelt
Robert Rabinowitz
Meeting Start Time: 4:30 pm
General Notes: These meeting minutes are condensed and seek to capture the overall intent of
discussions as interpreted by the meeting coordinator. Each paragraph indicates the time on the audio
recording where the discussion commenced during the meeting. For more detail on the discussion, please
refer to the audio recording in its entirety. All current and past meeting materials including agendas,
handouts, minutes, presentations, and audio recordings are available by visiting:
www.GOMBInfo.com/OversightCommittee/Meeting Records.
G.O. Bond Oversight Committee
Meeting Minutes No. 32
March 31, 2022
Page 2 of 9
I. Roll Call and Introductions
(Refer to the Meeting Audio Recording 03.31.2022 on the G.O. Bond Website.)
0:07 Chair Karen Rivo called the meeting to order. Roll call was completed.
2:49 Chair Karen Rivo reviewed the Committee Charge, found on the bottom of the meeting’s
agenda.
II. Committee Business
Adoption of Meeting Minutes from 01-27-2022
5:30 Chair Karen Rivo asked for a motion to approve the January 27th meeting minutes.
Motion:
5:35 Jason Greene made a motion to approve the minutes as presented.
5:39 Carmen Browne seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously.
Motions Log
(Refer to pages 2-4 on the Agenda & Handout Packet on the G.O. Bond website.)
5:50 Chair Karen Rivo reported that Carmen Browne reached out to Maria Hernandez regarding
the recording of motions. Moving forward, when the committee has a new motion, other than
the motion to approve meeting minutes, a roll call will be conducted to document how each
member voted.
6:36 Maria Hernandez reviewed the Motion’s Log, found on pages 2-4 on the Agenda & Handout
Packet. Since January 31, 2019, there have been 21 motions made by the Oversight Committee.
8:09 Carmen Browne asked what happens now after the motion made on January 27th regarding
project #1 72nd St Community Complex funding gap.
9:16 Maria Hernandez explained that the motions have weight because the City Commission
listens to their residents. Staff drafts Letters to Commission to the City Commission to keep them
updated and this is where some motions are shown to them. Some motions are sent as stand-
alone LTC’s.
10:40 John Woodruff explained that this Committee is an Advisory Committee, where the City
Commission does not have to do anything this Committee suggests. However, they do take the
motions into consideration and Staff makes sure to advise and remind them of the motions made.
13:01 Jason Greene asked about the purpose of the Motion’s Log.
13:28 Maria Hernandez answered that the log is to keep a record of all motions made by the G.O.
Bond Committee since its inception.
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March 31, 2022
Page 3 of 9
15:30 Carolina Jones referred to the motion made on January 27th, regarding project #1 72nd
Street Community Complex funding gap. She asked if the $557,619 includes Commissioner
Richardson’s proposal.
16:18 Maria Hernandez responded yes, the $557,619 funding gap is included in the
Commissioner’s proposal.
III. Community Outreach
(Refer to pages 5-6 on the Agenda & Handout Packet on the G.O. Bond website.)
Upcoming Public Meetings
17:09 Allison Novack discussed the Items Related to the G.O. Bond Program Projects at Various
City Commission & Committee/Board Meetings & Virtual Public Community Meetings list found
on pages 5-6.
19:05 Maria Hernandez noted that the items on this list are hyperlinked to the actual
memorandum or item on the agenda.
GOB Dashboard Tutorial
20:20 Allison Novack reviewed the G.O. Bond website and dashboard as a refresher for the
existing members and as a tutorial for the newer members. The G.O. Bond website is found at
www.gombinfo.com. All projects are found on the dashboard with their schedules, financials,
and current updates. She noted that in the past month the dashboard received over 950 new
viewers after a blog post was sent to the community. She explained that the Progress Report is
updated daily with the latest information on the status of projects and their financial information.
She went over the Meeting Records page, which is where one can find all the past agendas,
meeting minutes and recordings of meetings.
Explanation continued.
IV. Program General Status, & Sub-Projects Update, T2 & T3, Closed Projects
(Refer to pages 7-17 on the Agenda & Handout Packet on the G.O. Bond website.)
41:27 Maria Hernandez reviewed the Program Progress Update found on pages 7-17. Currently,
there are 9 completed projects and 32 active ones. There are 36 completed sub-projects and 9
currently under construction. To date, $47.9M has been spent in Tranche 1. There have been 38
grant awards leveraged by G.O. Bond projects from 2018 to present, equaling $55.7 million,
where $24.2 million went directly to G.O. Bond projects. The G.O. Bond Project List -Savings
chart, found on page 15, lists all the savings to date of all closed and completed projects, which
is $3.7 million. The G.O. Bond Project List by Phase lists all projects and sub-projects in Tranche 1
by phases, which is found on pages 16 and 17.
V. Public Comment
48:11 Chair Karen Rivo asked if there was anyone in the public who would like to speak.
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Meeting Minutes No. 32
March 31, 2022
Page 4 of 9
No one from the public spoke.
48:30 Jason Koslowe asked if the City is using G.O. Bond projects to leverage grants, can funds
from those budgets be reallocated into G.O. Bond projects where there is a shortfall.
49:10 Maria Hernandez answered that Staff does not allocated money from projects that are not
a part of the G.O. Bond Program.
50:09 John Woodruff explained that the more likely scenario is the City receiving grant funding
for a G.O. Bond project, where grants may be used as needed, such as for cost increases. If funds
for a G.O. Bond project are not utilized because of a grant that was received, the savings will be
allocated to another project in the same bond category.
Explanation continued.
VI. Grants Update
(Refer to pages 21-24 on the Agenda & Handout Packet on the G.O. Bond website.)
56:00 Judy Hoanshelt reported that the City has received 38 grants in total, equaling to $55.7M,
by leveraging G.O. Bond projects. She discussed the Grants and Contracts that Support
GOMB2018 Projects list, found on pages 21-24. The green column on the far right lists the
amount of funds being allocated to a specific G.O. Bond project. There are 15 grant awards that
are going to the G.O. Bond Program, equaling to $24.2M. Since the last time this list was reported,
the City has been notified that they received 4 new grants. The new grants are for projects #30
Skate Park, #34 Above Ground Improvements, and #42 Neighborhood Traffic Calming and
Pedestrian-Friendly Streets.
59:10 Chair Karen Rivo asked if anyone has any questions for Judy Hoanshelt.
No one had any questions.
VII. Project Fund Transfers & Swaps
(Refer to pages 18-20 on the Agenda & Handout Packet on the G.O. Bond website.)
59:55 Maria Hernandez reported that the GOB Project Funds Transfer & Scope Change chart,
found on page 18, allows Staff to be transparent in how funds are transferred and swapped in
the G.O. Bond. She explained that a transfer of funds is a permanent transfer of money, while a
swap is a temporary transfer of money. She noted that today Staff is going to be asking for a
transfer of savings from the Public Safety Category, due to a budget shortfall, in order to move
forward project #48 Police Headquarters Facility. Staff prepared a memorandum explaining why
the funds are needed, which is found on page 19 of the handouts.
1:05:49 Public Safety Savings to Police HQ: Frank Garcia reported that staff is requesting a
transfer of savings of $1,073,272 for the shortfall of $2,584,921. The remaining shortfall of
$1,511,649 will be requested through the FY2023 Capital Budget process.
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March 31, 2022
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1:06:29 Chair Karen Rivo asked if anyone would like to make a motion to approve the transfer of
funds.
Motion:
1:07:12 Carmen Bowne made a motion to approve the transfer of savings of $1,073,272 to
project #48 Police Headquarters Facility.
Scott Needleman seconded the motion.
1:07:33 Carmen Browne asked what the total savings in the Public Safety Category is, since there
is still a shortfall after the transfer is completed.
1:08:15 Maria Hernandez explained that the total savings to date in the Public Safety Category is
$1,073,272, which is the amount being requested to be transferred.
1:09:32 Jason Greene confirmed that the savings of $1,073,272 ties back to the G.O. Bond Project
List -Savings chart, found on page 15.
1:10:07 Sidewalks to 41st Street Corridor: Chair Karen Rivo did a roll call for all voting members
asking if they agree with the motion made by Carmen Browne. All voting members agreed.
Motion passed unanimously.
1:10:44 Maria Hernandez reported that there was a need to swap funds between tranches for
two projects within the same Category. She reminded the Committee that this swap (Protocol
#11) does not require Committee approval.
On September 17, 2021, the City Commission authorized the Administration to negotiate with
Brooks + Scarpa Architects, Inc., for Architectural and Engineering Design Services related to the
41st Street Corridor Project. The negotiated design fee and project management fees required
for the current fiscal year exceeds the funding amount currently allocated in Tranche 1. On March
9, 2022, the City Commission adopted the First Amendment to the FY 2022 Capital Budget
Amendment, which included the realignment (swap) of $580,318 of funds from the Sidewalk
Improvements Project (GO #37) to the 41st Street Corridor Improvements Project (GO #40), to
allow the Administration to proceed with the design and permitting of the 41st Street Corridor
Project.
1:13:11 Jason Greene asked what inhibits the contractors to continue to repair the sidewalks, if
funding is sufficient.
1:13:51 Thais Vieira reminded the Committee Members that when Staff did the Revised
Implementation Plan, Staff moved additional dollars to project #37 Sidewalk Improvements
Project. The Public Works Department has a plan of action for the rest of this year and they have
sufficient funding to complete the planned sidewalks.
Discussion continued.
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March 31, 2022
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VIII. Critical Targets Update
(Refer to page 33 on the Agenda & Handout Packet on the G.O. Bond website.)
1:20:20 Thais Vieira discussed the Critical Targets – Tranche 1 chart found on page 33. She
reported that a column showing what was previously discussed and a notes column were added.
She noted that a deeper dive into the individual projects will be discussed later in the meeting.
Staff is currently working on revised cashflows to report in May at the next Oversight Committee
Meeting what the affects are on the projects with these delays.
1:22:40 Chair Karen Rivo asked if anyone has any questions.
No one had any questions.
1:23:00 Maria Hernandez reported that Staff has been working on the cashflows of projects that
have delays. For example, the Parks Category is being projected to run longer than previously
reported, therefore the issuance of bonds for Tranche 2 will be delayed for this category.
IX. OIG Controls – New Policy / Ordinance
(Refer to pages 25-32 on the Agenda & Handout Packet on the G.O. Bond website.)
1:27:30 Alex Denis explained Resolution 2022-32047. This resolution was a suggestion from the
Office of the Inspector General (OIG) to have all the City’s policies and construction practices on
one document.
1:28:53 Chair Karen Rivo asked if anyone has any questions for Alex Denis.
No one had any questions.
X. Tranche 1 Projects Update
(Refer to pages 34-39 on the Agenda & Handout Packet on the G.O. Bond website.)
#1 72nd St Community Complex
1:29:20 David Martinez reported that the City Commission gave Staff direction on how to
proceed with the negotiations, which is being projected to be finished in May. Design activities
will then commence in summer. The relocation of the FPL transmission lines will begin in late
spring/early summer.
1:31:10 Carmen Browne asked if the negotiations with Haskell include price negotiations.
1:31:48 David Martinez answered yes to Carmen Browne.
#45 Fire Station #1
1:34:26 David Martinez reported that at the March 8th Historic Preservation Board Meeting the
Board approved the project design and the demolition of the existing building. This allows the
designer to continue designing the future project.
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#5 Flamingo Youth Center Facility
1:35:36 David Martinez reported that the current funding in Tranche 1 is $250,000, which allows
the City to begin look for a consultant to perform a feasibility and constructability analysis for the
project.
#31 Ocean Drive Corridor & #8 Lummus Park
1:37:12 Rickelle Williams reported that on February 23rd, Zyscovich Architects and City Staff
presented the ADCD Vision Plan that has been worked on for the past year. Administration asked
for authorization to prepare an RFQ for this project.
1:38:07 David Martinez explained that the RFQ would be for the hiring of the design consultant.
He expressed that there is a synergy between the Ocean Drive Corridor plan and Lummus Park in
the ADCD Plan. The consultant is going to begin the preliminary designs of both locations to
receive approval from the Historic Preservation Board.
#36 Washington Ave Corridor
1:43:30 Rickelle Williams reported that Washington Ave was considered in the ADCD Vision Plan.
Staff received preliminary cost estimates from Zyscovich, which came out to be above the G.O.
Bond budget. Staff is currently trying to identify additional funding sources.
1:44:17 Chair Karen Rivo asked Rickelle Williams what the cost estimate is.
1:44:20 Rickelle Williams answered that for Washington Ave the cost estimate is approximately
$28 million, where about $8.5 million is for infrastructure, which is coming from an alternative
funding source. The G.O. Bond budget is $10 million so there is a budget shortfall of $9.5 million.
XI. Brief Updates
(Refer to pages 40-45 on the Agenda & Handout Packet on the G.O. Bond website.)
#10 Maurice Gibb
1:45:26 David Martinez reported that within the next two weeks the Invitation to Bid (ITB) for
construction will be ready to be issued. Staff hopes to bring an award to City commission in
July.
#15 Par 3/Bayshore Park
1:46:05 David Martinez explained that Staff is staggering this project 30 days between Maurice
Gibb to not overwhelm the construction market. Staff plans on releasing the ITB in May and
present the award for approval to the City Commission by September.
1:47:17 Jason Kaslowe asked if the City is still pending anything from DERM.
1:47:23 David Martinez responded that Staff is now working with the technicalities of each
department, including DERM, but that Staff did not want to hold off the project any longer.
1:48:00 Jason Kaslowe asked if the project will be shovel ready by the end of this year.
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1:48:10 David Martinez responded yes.
#43 Chase Ave/34 St Shared Use Path
1:49:00 David Martinez reported that at the February 2nd Community Meeting the project was
well received. Since the meeting, Staff has proceeded with design, which is currently at 60%. The
design will be presented at the Design Review Board on May 3rd.
#43 23 St Streetscape Improvements
1:51:22 David Martinez reported that this project is being supplemented by an FDOT grant
because they want to continue the project to Collins Ave. Once Staff reviews the 90% design
submittals, permitting will begin.
#43 Alton Road Shared Use Path
1:53:04 Thais Vieira stated that this project is funding in both Tranche 1 and Tranche 2, with only
$170,000 in Tranche 1. FDOT is funding the design and Staff has recently received 60% design
submittals.
#9 MSD Playground and Sidewalks
1:55:12 Liz Estevez reported that the contractor commenced work on March 3rd and is currently
performing demolition work. The playground equipment has been delivered to the site. The
project is on time to be completed by June 3rd.
1:55:40 Jason Greene asked if the June 3rd finish date means the public can access the park.
1:55:54 Liz Estevez explained that the park will be accessible to the public 2-3 weeks after June
3rd.
1:56:17 Chair Karen Rivo stated that she read on Facebook that residents were concerned that
the park was closed, and no work was being done.
1:56:34 Liz Estevez explained that there wasn’t temporary fencing available due to Ultra Music
Festival and Spring Break.
1:57:40 Chair Karen Rivo stated that she also read a comment on Facebook regarding the two
street ends at the Middle Beach Beachwalk are still closed.
1:58:03 Maria Hernandez explained that project #24 Middle Beach Beachwalk has had beneficial
use since May 2021, which is why it is considered complete.
1:58:40 David Martinez reported that these 2 final street ends are projected to be completed by
the end of May.
XII. Reforestry Initiative
(Refer to page 46 on the Agenda & Handout Packet on the G.O. Bond website.)
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#33 Tree Planting – Tranche 1
1:59:36 Amy Knowles reported that Staff has about 100 more trees to plant in the Mid Beach
area. The City hired a public information firm to help coordinate with the residents. At the
February 9th City Commission Meeting, Commissioner Rosen Gonzalez introduced an item to add
more trees in North Beach. This item was approved. This approved resolution will allow the
planting of 70 trees in 100 days. The Urban Forester, Omar Leon, and his team have located areas
in North Beach to begin the planting in the next few months.
2:02:54 Francisco Diez-Rivas reported that he has heard residents make comments about
whether the trees selected are complaint and resilient with the weather.
2:03:56 Amy Knowles explained that the City undertook the Urban Forestry Master Plan which
guides Staff in selected the best trees for Miami Beach.
Discussion continued.
XIII. Public Comment
2:05:56 Chair Karen Rivo asked if anyone from the public would like to speak.
No one spoke.
2:07:40 Francisco Diez-Rivas suggested that if there is extra money in project #37 Sidewalk
Improvements Project, the sidewalks on Collins Avenue from 41st to 50th could use some tender
loving care.
2:08:40 Maria Hernandez explained that Collins Avenue is not the City’s jurisdiction, but Staff can
reach out to the Public Works Department.
2:10:03 Lauren Firtel reported that FDOT recently posted a public meeting regarding the Collins
Avenue Corridor and roadway configurations.
2:11:00 Francisco Diez-Rivas asked Lauren Firtel to include him in the FDOT public meetings.
XIV. Adjournment
Meeting was adjourned.