Meeting Minutes 1-10-2023 1700 Convention Center Drive
Miami Beach, FL 33139
www.miamibeachfl.gov/northbeachcra
MEETING MINUTES AD HOC NORTH BEACH COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY ADVISORY COMMITTEE Tuesday, January 10, 2023
Virtual Meeting
Members in Attendance: Chair Jose Smith, Vice Chair Betsy Perez, John Bowes, Ronnie Issenberg, Romina Orozco-Encino, Manning Salazar, and David
Sexton
1. Welcome & Attendance At 4:32 p.m., Committee Chair Jose Smith opened the meeting and greeted the attendees. 2. Approval of December 13, 2022 Meeting Minutes At 4:33 p.m. Chair Smith inquired whether the City Commission had re-established the Committee
for an additional year and reappointed the Committee members for an annual term. Rickelle
Williams, Assistant City Manager and Committee Co-Liaison, responded that a resolution to
accomplish this task will be considered by the City Commission on February 1, 2023, as a one-
year extension of the current members’ terms. Subsequently, an ordinance will be drafted to
establish the Committee on a permanent basis and thereafter avoid the need to reappoint
Committee members on an annual basis.
Motion: To approve the Committee’s December 13, 2022 meeting minutes.
Made by: Betsy Perez Seconded by: David Sexton
Motion passed by acclamation
3. Election of Committee Chair and Vice Chair At 4:35 p.m., Committee member David Sexton nominated Chair Jose Smith and Vice Chair Betsy Perez to continue in their elected positions as Committee Chair and Vice Chair, respectively, for the 2023 term. Vice Chair Betsy Perez also expressed her support for Jose Smith continuing as Committee Chair and Mr. Smith expressed gratitude. He shared that he had met with City Commissioner Laura Dominguez recently regarding the Committee where they discussed the Committee’s recent accomplishments and upcoming plans. Chair Smith shared that Commissioner Dominguez expressed interest in working with the Committee soon. Chair Smith led the Committee in a moment of silence for Harvey Ruvin, the Miami-Dade County Clerk of
Courts, who recently passed away.
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Meeting Minutes – January 10, 2023 Page 2 of 4
Motion: To re-elect Jose Smith as Committee Chair and Betsy Perez as Vice Chair in 2023.
Made by: David Sexton Seconded by: Romina Orozco-Encino
Motion passed by acclamation Old Business
4. Update: North Beach CRA District Office
At 4:38 p.m., Luis Wong, Economic Development Administrative Services Manager, reminded attendees of the upcoming community event to commemorate the opening of the North Beach
CRA District Office on Thursday, January 19, 2023 at 3:00 p.m. at the Normandy Fountain/ Vendome Plaza, adjacent to the office location at 962 Normandy Drive. The event will feature opening remarks from Miami-Dade County District 4 Commissioner and North Beach CRA Board Member Micky Steinberg, Vice Mayor and CRA Vice Chairperson Steven Meiner, and Committee Chair Jose Smith. As reported in Letter to Commission 504-2021, the establishment of a North Beach CRA administrative office within the CRA district was a recommendation made by the
Committee. 5. Update: Deauville Hotel
At 5:40 p.m., Dexter Peralta, North Beach Neighborhood Affairs Coordinator, provided an update
regarding demolition work at the Deauville Hotel site. Mr. Peralta shared that the City anticipates
the completion of principal demolition work in the next few months. Following demolition,
clearance of the property will include removal of the building foundation and installation of a
perimeter fence and landscaping. Chair Smith shared that he recently spoke with Neisen Kasdin,
whose law firm, Akerman LLP, represents a real estate developer interested in redeveloping the
property. Mr. Kasdin offered to provide further updates on project development plans when
available.
6. Update: Ocean Terrace Project
At 5:42 p.m., David Martinez, Director of Capital Improvement Projects and Committee Co-Liaison, began his status update on the Ocean Terrace development by distinguishing between the project’s public and private components, as governed by the Development Agreement with the City (Resolution No. 2019-30927 approved on July 31, 2019). Mr. Martinez clarified that he is only providing an update concerning the public component, which includes a public park and streetscape improvements. Per the Development Agreement, the developer is obligated to begin constructing the public improvements in advance of the project’s private components. Mr. Martinez shared that the Development Agreement establishes timeframes for reaching development milestones on the public component including obtaining a building permit, commencement of construction, and substantial completion by around August 2027. Mr. Martinez and Deputy City Attorney Ric Dopico both provided background as to events which have affected development progress, including amendment of the Development Agreement, a settlement agreement to litigation between the developer and the City, revision of the milestone
deadlines, and permitting delays. Chair Smith expressed uncertainty as to whether the developer has complied with his obligations to timely perform and Mr. Martinez informed that the Public
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Safety and Neighborhood Quality of Life Committee is monitoring the project, with a discussion on project progress anticipated for January 11, 2023. New Business 7. Discussion: Byron Carlyle Theater Request for Letters of Interest (RFLI) At 4:55 p.m., Elizabeth Miro, Assistant Director of the Facilities and Fleet Management
Department, commenced the discussion topic by noting that the Arts & Culture General Obligation (G.O.) Bond, approved by voters on November 8, 2022, included $30.570 million for redevelopment of the Byron Carlyle Theater site. On December 14, 2022, the City Commission
directed the Administration to prepare a Request for Letters of Interest (RFLI) for cultural organizations and cultural facility operators, to determine how the respondents envision future activation of the space, which will aid the City Commission in planning for design and construction
of a new cultural arts facility. Ms. Miro shared that the Administration anticipated issuing the RFLI very soon. Frank Garcia, Facilities Management Division Director, added that the City Commission’s direction included gathering input from the Committee and the G.O. Bond Oversight Committee. Committee discussion ensued about Byron’s future use, including David Sexton’s recommendation to cast a wide net when seeking RFLI responses from arts operators throughout Miami-Dade County. Manning Salazar advocated for repairing the existing theater structure without demolition. Chair Smith inquired whether the project would be administered through the G.O. Bond program and Assistant City Manager Rickelle Williams explained that the G.O. Bond Oversight Committee, with support from G.O. Bond Program Director Maria Hernandez, will
oversee prioritization of the Arts & Culture G.O. Bond projects. John Bowes and other Committee members continued to discuss the subject, expressing their commitment to planning for the future of the Byron Carlyle property and offering recognition that those behind past efforts to preserve
the structure were also motivated by a genuine concern for progress in North Beach. Deputy City Attorney Ric Dopico also answered Mr. Salazar’s general inquiry regarding the steps in the procurement process.
Chair Smith felt that a Committee recommendation concerning the project programming and prioritization would be premature at this time and should be deferred to a subsequent meeting when the Committee has become better informed. In the meantime, he requested that Assistant City Manager Williams send the Committee members the RFLI, including a list of the organizations that will receive it, as well as the City consultant’s feasibility study, referenced today by Mr. Salazar, which outlines different redevelopment and preservation options. 8. Discussion: Vacant Storefront Registry Ordinance
At 5:35 p.m., Luis Wong, Economic Development Administrative Services Manager, informed the Committee that the Administration was directed to prepare a commercial vacant storefront registry program. The purpose of the vacant storefront registry is to collect data on vacant properties, protect property value, maintain neighborhood integrity, and promote the safe and sanitary maintenance of commercial properties. Creating a registry program will assist the City in working
with property owners and their representatives to better understand and address the city’s commercial vacancies. Mr. Wong noted that City staff are currently obtaining input from stakeholders including commercial property owners and the City’s business improvement districts
(BIDs), with consideration of an ordinance by the City Commission in the near future.
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9. Committee Member Comments At 5:43 p.m., David Sexton shared his excitement for the opening of the North Beach CRA District Office, which will involve participation from local businesses in the immediate area. He also advertised the Normandy Fountain Business Association’s Pawpalooza event on January 22, 2023.
Vice Chair Betsy Perez expressed her satisfaction with today’s discussion about the Byron Carlyle Theater. She voiced concern about the condition of the public sidewalks along 72nd and 76th street which need attention, suggesting it could perhaps serve as a future CRA beautification project.
At 5:44 p.m., Romina Orozco-Encino echoed Vice Chair Perez regarding the Byron Carlyle and agreed that she looks forward to the North Beach CRA District Office opening, with hopes that it
will bring new business and customers to the area. At 5:47 p.m., John Bowes believes that the Committee expends significant time discussing a handful of recurring subject matter and suggested that time be devoted to items that could bring about change more rapidly. In response to Chair Smith, Ms. Williams noted that the City Commission requested the Byron Carlyle Theater discussion on the Committee’s agenda today. At 5:51 p.m., Manning Salazar requested a future update on the North Shore Open Space Park and the status of ongoing renovations. He also suggested that a future in person Committee meeting be scheduled at the North Beach Youth Center, possibly with a tour of the property, if the facility is able to accommodate the technical needs of Committee meetings. Chair Smith asked
Assistant City Manager Rickelle Williams if she would explore the possibility of a future meeting at the Youth Center and Ms. Williams affirmed she would look into coordinating the request with the Parks Department.
At 5:52 p.m., Rickelle Williams shared that Joe Gomez, Public Works Director, has been invited to the February 14, 2023 Committee meeting to deliver an update on projects in North Beach. Ms.
Williams suggested that any of the Committee members’ ideas for new agenda items be submitted to her for discussion with Chair Smith. 10. Public Comments At 5:56 p.m., Chair Smith confirmed that there were no comments from members of the public. 11. Adjournment Motion to adjourn was made at 5:56 p.m.
Next Meeting: Tuesday, February 14, 2023 at 4:30 pm Zoom webinar: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85384824423