3 - Meeting Minutes 7-18-24
General Obligation Bond Oversight Committee
City of Miami Beach
MEETING MINUTES No. 49
July 18, 2024
Members Present:
Karen Rivo, Chair
Jack Glottmann, Vice-Chair
Bruce Halpryn
Dana Martorella
Jason Koslowe
Kate Mosley
Laura Veitia
Non-Voting Members Present:
David Sexton
Donald Goldberg
Members Absent:
Dennis Scholl
Members Present (Not Part of Quorum):
Shari Gurkin
Non-Voting Members Absent:
Adam Kravitz
Jack Benveniste
Isaiah Mosley
Elected Officials Present:
Comm. Tanya Bhatt
Staff and Guests Present:
Maria Hernandez, Liaison
Thais Vieira
Amy Knowles
Ariel Guitian
Ayanna DaCosta-Earle
Colette Satchell
Cristina Ortega
David Martinez
Daniel Alzuri
David Gomez
Digna Abello
Elizabeth Estevez
Frank Garcia
Giancarlo Pena
Heather Shaw
Jani Singer
Jared Hooper
Kevin Pulido
Kristy Bada
Lauren Firtel
Lindsey Precht
Maria Cerna
Matthew LePera
Stephanie Rey Brooks
Adam Ganuza
Ainsworth Geddes
Brad Bonessi
Brandi Reddick
Brandon Lloyd
Cesar Sepulveda
Casey Steadman
David Phillips
Dries Darrow
Isabella Pedrosa
James Quinlan
Juan Jose Escalante
Miguel Rionda
Susan Gladstone
William Darrow
Meeting Start Time: 4:00 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. 49
July 18, 2024
Page 2 of 14
I. Roll Call and Introductions
(Refer to the Meeting Audio Recording on the G.O. Bond Website.)
0:04 Chair Karen Rivo called the meeting to order. Roll call was completed.
II. Committee Business
Welcome New Members
4:15 Chair Karen Rivo welcomed new members Bruce Halpryn and Kate Mosley.
Adoption of Meeting Minutes from 5-9-24
Motion:
6:35 Jason Koslowe made a motion to approve the minutes as presented.
6:37 Jack Glottmann seconded the motion. Motion passed.
Go Bond Program Information
7:07 Maria Hernandez provided a brief overview of the program information package sent via
email to all Committee members on June 28.
Sunshine Law
11:07 Assistant City Attorney Jared Hooper provided an overview of the Sunshine Law.
2018 G.O. Bonds
III. Neighborhood Improvement Plan Update (Stormwater MP)
(Refer to pages 3-13 of the Agenda & Handouts Packet on the G.O. Bond website.)
16:35 City Engineer Cristina Ortega gave a presentation about the City’s Updated Stormwater
Master Plan.
25:55 Laura Veitia asked about the proposed road elevation in relation to existing elevations.
26:10 Cristina Ortega answered that the City is following the road raising strategy that was
adopted in 2020. When implementing a project, they make sure that roads are above the sea
level, the high level and the groundwater level through its 30-year service life. 30 years is the
target. The City is very careful when evaluating existing conditions and providing the best
harmonization possible, minimizing impacts to private properties.
27:21 Laura Veitia asked about the funding for the below ground improvements. Cristina Ortega
advised that there are various funding sources, i.e stormwater, water and sanitary sewer
enterprise funding, and various bond issuances.
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27:56 Laura Veitia asked if it takes approximately 18 months to complete a project, once
construction commences. Cristina Ortega answered that it will take longer, depending on the
project.
28:57 Laura Veitia asked if there is a place where one could see where all the pump stations are
being considered. Cristina Ortega advised that the information is available on the project website.
29:42 Isaiah Mosley thanked the public works team for the forward thinking by adding the
membrane filter under the pumps, even though it is not yet required by the regulatory agencies.
He added that he was looking at videos from 2010 when he was walking home through flooded
streets, which doesn’t happen anymore. He added that the 71st Street cannot happen fast
enough.
30:25 Jack Glottmann asked if there are any considerations about re-prioritizing some of the
projects, as a result of the rain event experienced in June. Cristina Ortega answered that the
gauges recorded 11 inches in 24 hours in some areas, which exceeds the 100-year storm. So
considering that, as well as the fact that the City’s Neighborhood Improvement Plans (NIPs) are
designed for a 10-year storm, she would like to set the right level of expectation. The City’s design
criteria for a 10-year storm is quite high compared to a lot of places. The rainfall experienced in
June far exceeded anything that the existing system could take, and what the proposed system
will be able to take. However, the City Commission is always reconsidering priorities and may
elect to bump an area due to certain circumstances. There was a discussion about that at the
Land Use & Sustainability Committee. There are rankings for NIPs and rankings for Critical Needs,
which will address hot spots. The City is proposing to initiate design of 2 projects per year, for a
total of 20 project areas. Lakeview is currently #15 on the Critical Needs List, which is year 7.
Discussion continued.
35:21 Chair Karen Rivo asked how much of the $43 million for Above Ground Improvements from
the G.O. Bond has been spent. Maria Hernandez answered $1 million for Indian Creek.
35:31 Chair Karen Rivo asked if we are waiting for these projects to get going to begin to spend
down the GO Bond dollars. Maria Hernandez answered yes.
35:45 Jason Koslowe asked about coordination between different projects. For example, in the
case of Bayshore Park and Bayshore Traffic Calming which are both going into effect now. There
is supposed to be a stormwater tie-in between the neighborhood and the park.
37:54 David Gomez answered that the Bayshore Park Project has the connection points in place
already, so that when the neighborhood project comes along, they already know where they are
connecting to.
Discussion continued.
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July 18, 2024
Page 4 of 14
IV. Program General Status Update – Not Discussed
(Refer to pages 14-22 of the Agenda & Handouts Packet on the G.O. Bond website.)
V. Funding Swap - #7 La Gorce Park (Playground)
(Refer to pages 23-24 of the Agenda & Handouts Packet on the G.O. Bond website.)
01:38:19 Thais Vieira provided a brief overview of the protocols chart and explained the funding
swap being requested for La Gorce Park Playground. She mentioned that the Arts and Culture GO
Bond included funding for Artistic Playgrounds, and that the playground at La Gorce Park is one
of the proposed locations. The Parks Department is actively working on that project, and need
the funding that is currently allocated in tranche 2 of the 2018 Bond, in the amount of $150,000,
to be advanced to tranche 1. In order to do that, a funding swap, or a temporary realignment of
funding from the Skate Park is being proposed.
01:40:37 Laura Veitia asked when the Skate Park Project will move forward. Thais Vieira
answered that the Skate Park Project requires additional funding, which is not programmed until
FY 2026.
Motion:
01:41:13 Laura Veitia made a motion in favor of the funding swap for La Gorce Park from Skate
Park.
01:41:17 Bruce Halpryn seconded the motion. Motion passed.
VI. 2018 Bonds Project Update
(Refer to pages 25-33 of the Agenda & Handouts Packet on the G.O. Bond website.)
#45 Fire Station #1
41:36 David Gomez reported that last month the City Commission directed the Administration to
proceed with the Flamingo Park location, if the aggregate of all of the Miami Beach electorate
approves the Flamingo Park site on the August Referendum, (contingent of course on countywide
approval). And if the Miami Beach residents don’t approve it, the Administration will have to
request direction from the City Commission.
42:42 Chair Karen Rivo asked if everyone has seen the ballot question.
43:25 David Gomez read the ballot question.
43:59 Chair Karen Rivo reported that the GO Bond Oversight Committee (GOBOC) has made at
least 3 motions to move the project forward at the 6th Street site. This project was ready to go,
and then a few residents came forward saying they did not want the building (community center)
demolished. Alternate sites were looked at, ending in a potential site in Flamingo Park, which
requires the existing track to be relocated and an existing building to be demolished. The cost to
do this and the timeline is not insignificant. It moves this project down the road several years.
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She also added that she is very concerned about the ballot language. She asked for the
Committee members’ reaction and if they would like to make a motion.
46:09 Commissioner Bhatt advised that nobody wants the level of service and the life safety
issues to not be addressed properly. The goal in identifying a very viable alternate site, was to
have a win-win situation for the City, so that it’s not a binary choice. Destroying a very significant
historic building, which is a Morris Lapidus building, and not one of his regular building style that
he is so well known for, makes it all the more interesting and important to keep. It was designated
by the Florida Historic Trust as one of their annual 11 buildings to save in 2021. It is important
not just because of the way it looks, but because of what it reflects in terms of our culture in
Miami Beach, the historical significance of the population shifts in Miami Beach, and the people
who were involved in getting it built. Today, it’s where working parents bring their kids to a robust
daycare, it’s where senior citizens can walk across their street to get their hot lunch in a sense of
community, and it’s a place where lots of government services, not-for-profit organizations had
their offices to serve residents in the City who need additional help. What we have before us
collectively, as a City, is the opportunity to great things: to build a fire station which remains
largely unchanged since it is not being designed from scratch. The existing design is being
retrofitted onto a space where it happens to fit perfectly. It looks like it was designed for that
space. At the edge of Flamingo Park there is a little underutilized strip of patchy grass where
people go now to stretch, that overlooks very noisy and smelly Alton Road. This facility looks
phenomenal. The Apollo murals are going to be installed on the western wall, so you will have
Apollo’s chariot across the skies overlooking the track, which seems like a perfect place for that
as well. It will be landscaped – there is a placeholder of a wall of bougainvillea so that you feel
like you’re in this multi-colored park end. The fire station itself, by virtue of the laws governing
how buildings are built, will have a great deal of green space, that can be planted with native
plants. There are costs attached, and she has worked with CFO Jason Greene. The $30 million
that has already been allocated to the project, will go forward as planned. The balance of the
monies, projected between $9 and 15 million, will come over subsequent years. She mentioned
she submitted an editorial to the Herald, which she hopes they will print. She asked at what price
do we value our legacy as a community. She went on to say that we are in a situation where
Tallahassee is telling us how we can and cannot conduct ourselves as a City; we cannot govern
short term rentals; we cannot talk about sea level change and resiliency; we cannot tell people
who want to put a 20-story building at Ocean Drive and 10th that it is not an appropriate place
for that building; we cannot tell developers that they are not permitted to destroy historic
buildings that have a lot of meaning for us. But, she said, we can do this: we can build a category
5, state of the art, fire station and emergency management building and preserve one of the
most interesting and important community centers in our city and in the state. And her ask is
that we do so.
00:51:54 Laura Veitia asked if the Flamingo Park Neighborhood Association was in favor of the
proposed location at the park.
00:52:24 Chair Karen Rivo replied that they are divided so they did not want to take formal
position.
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00:52:42 Commissioner Bhatt reported that they were adamant against it being placed in the
middle of the park.
00:52:47 Laura Veitia added that it was one of the reasons 6th Street was selected.
00:52:57 Commissioner Bhatt mentioned that across the street is another Morris Lapidus
building which is the current fire station, and the Police Athletic League has already expressed
interest in retrofitting that facility while keeping the historic elements. And the existing PAL
facility would either be minimized or repurposed and reconfigured. Opening up that space, and
relocating that function to the current fire station location, is something the Flamingo Park
Association is quite unified on.
00:53:43 Jack Glottmann said he appreciates everything Commissioner Bhatt has said, but having
been a part of the GOBOC for a long time, his understanding was that arrangements would be
made for the childcare center to be relocated in a way that they would not be impacted. But he
believes that additional costs and the fact that the project will be delayed potentially 2.5 years
must be taken into consideration. It would have been better for the ballot language to lay that
out.
00:54:36 Commissioner Bhatt replied that those factors will continue to be discussed and
considered in great detail. The language on the ballot is very specific, because it is not whether it
should be built. It is a charter question, because unless the County population gives approval to
build something in the park, it cannot be built. She added that Commissioner Fernandez, who
has also been working on this, worked with the City Attorney’s Office to make sure that the
question was explained as best as possible within the limited number of words. She added that
the results are not binding. So hypothetically, the County could come back overwhelmingly yes,
and the City of Miami Beach could come back overwhelmingly yes, and the City Commission
would still have the opportunity to not move forward.
00:55:59 Jason Koslowe stated that he respects the local process. But this will delay the project
an extra 3 years, and probably cost 15 million extra. The location was well vetted, the historic
significance was well vetted, and the process was done properly. The location at the Lapidus
building (6th Street site) was considered the best. OIG has looked at this. There is always a give
and take in politics. In this case the trade off is, spending a lot of extra money, delaying a very
important public service for a very long time, in order to do something that is not worthwhile.
Services for people in need are not being cut, and he doesn’t believe in the significance of the
building. Politicians are entitled to their position, and the public is entitled to their position. His
job, as a Committee member, is overseeing how the GO Bond money is spent, and in his opinion,
it is a vey bad decision. It is the Committee’s job to make recommendations to the Commission,
and it’s their job to decide what to do. He has expressed his view many times.
00:58:25 Isaiah Mosley stated he has no objections to the preservation of the Morris Lapidus
building, but he believes that if you take this to the voters, saying “let’s take away some of your
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green space”, it will not be approved. Unless you make those renderings available to the public,
so they can actually see what it’s going to look like.
00:58:50 Chair Karen Rivo stated she believes the ballot language is deceptive; it is not telling the
whole story. She has no doubt that the referendum will pass.
00:59:12 Bruce Halpryn asked what the implications are by delaying this by 2.5-3 years.
00:59:51 Chair Karen Rivo stated that the current fire station is in disrepair and needs to be
replaced as soon as possible.
1:00:06 Bruce Halpryn asked if the public is at risk by delaying this project.
1:00:15 Commissioner Bhatt stated that Chief Virgil Fernandez, Chief Digna Abello and the Union
President all support the new location. They would not be doing it, and the new location would
not be considered if people’s lives were at risk.
01:01:00 Jason Koslowe suggested to ask the Fire Chief: are we as a public safer with the project
going forward right now at the old proposed location, or in 3 years at the new one?
01:02:06 Chair Karen Rivo asked if the Committee would like to take a position on this ballot
measure.
01:02:58 Chief Abello confirmed that herself, the Union President, and the former Fire Chief are
all very supportive. Regarding the level of service, the proposed location actually enhances it
(when compared to the current location). The issue is the health and safety of the firefighters
inside the existing fire station, which is in deplorable condition. So it is imperative that the
process continues to move forward by either repairing the existing fire station or at least getting
started building the new fire station.
01:04:13 Jason Koslowe asked if the community is safer at the 6th Street location with
construction starting this quarter or at the Flamingo Park location with construction starting in
2.5-3 years.
01:04:45 Chief Abello answered that with the new station, the islands will be getting the full
umbrella, so yes, everyone will be safer by adding in that umbrella. In addition, the new building
will be rated a category 5, and the existing building is not. If a category 4 or 5 hurricane were to
hit now, everyone from fire station 1 would either get moved over to station 2, which is category
5, or moved off Miami Beach.
01:05:43 Laura Veitia asked if the building at the 6th Street site will also be a category 5 building.
01:05:47 Chief Abello answered yes.
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July 18, 2024
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01:05:50 Laura Veitia asked if there is a big difference for the fire department whether it’s on 6th
street or Alton Road.
01:05:57 Chief Abello answered no, the 2 proposed locations are equal. She added, if you can
save a building and still get the same level of service wherever it is, it is going to be better than
what it is now.
01:07:19 Jack Glottmann said he is concerned with the safety of the firefighters that are in the
existing fire station. Are they at a greater risk, such that it is not worth delaying this project for
2.5-3 years.
01:07:50 Chief Abello answered that the firefighters cannot remain at that station as it is. All
renovations that could’ve been done have been done. We just need to move things forward
wherever that may be.
01:08:33 Kate Mosley said she understands the preservation of the building, but nowadays there
are ways to spare the building and still have it available for public use, and suggested finding the
right way to do it. She asked if the noise pollution from the fire station has been considered.
01:10:11 David Gomez answered that by policy, the firefighters don’t turn on the sirens when
leaving for a call to help mitigate the noise.
01:10:55 Dana Martorella asked if the Committee would like to add to the motion the their stance
regarding the ballot language.
01:11:08 Jason Koslowe answered that in his view, nothing can be done about it.
01:11:13 Dana Martorella agrees that nothing is going to change, but asked if it’s worth making
a statement about it.
01:11:22 Jason Koslowe replied that he is not willing to say that what they did wasn’t proper.
Every election ballot is meant to be a piece of advocacy because you have a limited number of
words.
01:12:05 Dana Martorella clarified that the public should be aware that the Committee feels that
there is a big component that wasn’t expressed in the ballot language.
01:12:16 Jason Koslowe stated that he agrees that there is a problem in the public discourse. He
thinks the public is not being presented with the choice between getting a service years late,
costing a lot more money, versus… they should be presented with that choice.
01:13:02 Chair Karen Rivo suggested the motion could perhaps incorporate the concern about
additional funds, and additional timeline.
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01:13:10 Laura Veitia suggested adding that currently there is a part of Miami Beach that isn’t
being serviced by that station.
01:13:35 Commissioner Bhatt clarified that they do service them, the issue is about timing. She
asked to make sure that it is not misrepresented to residents that there are areas not currently
serviced by the Fire Department.
Motion:
01:13:58 Jason Koslowe made a motion recommending to the City Commission to proceed with
the Fire Station 1 project at the Lapidus site (South Shore Community Center site), and not
proceed with the Flamingo Park location, regardless of the Referendum, because of concerns
over the costs spent to date, significant cost increase, and reduction of fire safety services (due
to project delays).
Jack Glottmann seconded the motion. Motion passed (6 members in favor, Bruce Halpryn
abstained).
#1 72nd Street Complex
01:16:04 David Gomez gave a brief presentation about the project, which included a project
timeline. 30% design will be presented to the GOB Oversight Committee (GOBOC) and
community in October, followed by Design Review Board (DRB). Once approved by DRB, the
design team will proceed to 60% design which will be presented to the GOBOC, community and
City Commission in May of 2025. 90% design documents are expected in November of 2025, and
construction is anticipated to commence in May of 2026 and take about 2 years.
01:22:26 David Sexton reported that many residents and businesses in North Beach are really
concerned about a net gain of only 200 parking spaces. The existing surface parking lot is already
very busy, and North Beach is expected to continue to grow. He asked if there is a way to look at
the design to see if additional spaces can be added to the program in lieu of the commercial
spaces since there are lot of vacant commercial spaces in the area.
01:23:30 David Gomez answered that there is always a way, with the input from the community,
input from the GOBOC and direction from the City Commission, to alter the program. The 500
spaces criteria was based on a parking study that was done when the project started.
01:24:07 Commissioner Bhatt reported that the City Commission is trying to put together a
parking program for North Beach (which is getting mixed reviews) and buying lots in North Beach.
She would rather reimagine how to best use the space than spend $15 million to buy surface lots
to build garages on. It would be imprudent to spend about $100 million for 3 garages, versus
trying to figure out how to better utilize the space. She added that more retail space is not needed
since there is additional retail space coming with the Byron Carlyle Project and other new
buildings.
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01:25:05 Chair Karen Rivo stated that there are a lot of issues about parking, which are beyond
the scope of the GO Bond, and suggested that the subject should be discussed in a different
meeting.
01:25:27 Isaiah Mosley asked why the pool is proposed to be elevated, and what is the additional
cost to have it elevated. David Gomez answered that the cost is really not a big driving factor
since the water table in Miami Beach is high, so the offset would be the dewatering costs to build
the pool at ground level. In addition, there are synergies between the aquatics program and the
fitness center, so it makes sense to group these programs. And the reason why it is proposed to
be elevated is that it was one of the proposals that came up in the early stages of the project, to
be able to look out over the park and the beach.
01:26:16 Jason Koslowe mentioned that one of the features of parking garages in the Lincoln
Road area is an elevated piece at the rooftop level that can be rented out. He suggested that
could also be considered as a concept.
#40 41st Street Corridor
01:26:58 Colette Satchell gave a presentation about the history, scope, and design of the project.
It also included a project timeline. The team is moving forward to 90% documents, which are
expected to be completed by the end of 2024. Permitting process will follow, and construction is
expected to commence in November of 2025. The Office of Capital Improvements team is
coordinating with other City departments, including Public Works. This project will be
constructed in conjunction with the replacement of existing water transmission and distribution
lines along the 41st Street corridor. Construction is expected to take 3 years because it will be
executed in segments. The GO Bond budget is $15 million, and the estimated construction cost
is $10 million.
01:34:28 Jason Koslowe asked if there has been any coordination with the 41st Street pilot project
(one-way conversion of Royal Palm and Sheridan St). He also mentioned that there was a
question, as part of the public comment, about reducing the bump outs on the cross streets to
allow more traffic flow out of Bayshore South.
01:35:00 Colette Satchell advised that they are in constant communication with the
Transportation Department to make sure projects are being coordinated. The GO Bond project
is ahead of the project from the Transportation Department, but as they move through their
process, staff will need evaluate how the final study and recommendations will affect the 41st
Street GO Bond Project.
01:35:41 Kate Mosley commented that she used to work on 41st Street. She likes the design, and
the idea of a smooth sidewalk surface. She also mentioned that it takes a long time to cross the
road and asked if anything is being done about that. Colette Satchell replied that there are no
changes proposed to the traffic signalization as part of the project, because that is controlled by
Miami-Dade County, and would require quite a bit of analysis of the entire corridor.
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Motion:
01:37:50 Laura Veitia made a motion to move forward with the 41st Street Corridor
Improvements Project as presented.
01:38:00 Jack Glottmann seconded the motion. Motion passed.
#39 Seawalls, #38 Streets and #37 Sidewalks: Not Discussed
VII. Public Comment
01:41:38 Chair Karen Rivo asked if anyone from the public would like to speak.
01:41:43 Brad Bonessi, from Ocean Terrace, mentioned he was on the Mayor’s Blue Ribbon
Committee for North Beach, and asked how much has been allocated to the relocation of the
underground utilities at the 72nd Street Complex Project site. David Gomez answered that the
cost is included within the $70 million construction budget.
01:42:50 Chair Karen Rivo advised that this is a public comment section, and not supposed to be
an exchange. She asked Mr. Bonessi to reach out to David Gomez offline.
01:43:15 Brad Bonessi stated that only 110 parking spaces are being added, and asked if there is
any way to add funding for additional spaces. He also menioned that there are some amazing
existing trees at the site, which should be relocated.
01:44:16 Dries Darrow, mid-beach resident, stated that he just finished his Master in
Entrepreneurship at the University of Amsterdam. He would like to set up a business on 41st
Street and has received a grant from the Knight Foundation to be able to do so. He is very
interested in what the G.O. Bond will do for 41st Street. He loves the renderings but believes that
41st Street needs to be revitalized through businesses. He is interested in starting pop-ups but it
has been difficult to get in contact with the right people at 41st Street, and reported that there
has been some resistance.
01:45:16 Chair Karen Rivo asked him to reach out to Maria Hernandez offline, to make sure he
has the correct contacts for the people who run the Business Improvement District (BID) and the
41st Street Mayor’s Blue-Ribbon Committee.
2022 G.O. Bonds for Arts & Culture
VIII. Grant Projects Scope Variation
(Refer to pages 34-40 of the Agenda & Handouts Packet on the G.O. Bond website.)
01:46:01 Maria Hernandez reported that the 2 requests that are being presented today are
already included as part of the July City Commission meeting agenda. She reported that there
are 2 grant recipients that need to make some changes to the scope of work previously approved
for their projects: New World Symphony (NWS) and Jewish Museum. NWS would like to swap
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out the roof pergola scope of work for the replacement of the cameras and robotic control
system in the Michael Tilson Performance Hall. Staff has no objections to that and have also
checked with Bond Council and Tax Council to make sure that it is allowed. There is no additional
cost to the City. She requested a motion from the Committee.
Motion:
01:47:50 Jack Glottmann made a motion endorsing the New World Symphony’s request to
substitute the pergola scope of work for the replacement of the cameras and robotic system in
the Michael Tilson Performance Hall.
01:48:10 Dana Martorella seconded the motion. The motion passed.
01:48:25 Maria Hernandez added that the City Manager and staff do not have the ability to do
this without City Commission approval.
01:48:41 Maria Hernandez reported that the Jewish Museum reached out to the City to advise
that the air conditioning system replacement is an emergency. It is a $300,000 item and they
would like to swap it out for $307,000 worth of miscellaneous items (highlighted in yellow on
page 35 of the Agenda & Handouts Packet). And again, there is no additional cost to the City
associated with this. Staff, Bond and Tax Council have no objections.
01:49:48 Jason Koslowe asked if they are still planning to execute the miscellaneous scope of
work that is being removed.
01:50:18 David Sexton added that some of the scope of work, such as the emergency generators,
seem really important.
01:50:29 Susan Gladstone reported that they have consulted with the architect who has been
working with the Jewish Museum on repairs from the beginning and have selected items they
can live without at this time. They will address as much as they can, and seek additional funding
for the remaining.
01:51:46 Jack Glottmann asked if what is proposed is the replacement of the entire air
conditioning system. Susan Gladstone answered yes, it is for all the parts of the air conditioning
system.
Motion:
01:52:03 Jason Koslowe made a motion endorsing the Jewish Museum of Florida’s request to
delete certain scopes of work to be able to perform a full replacement of the facility’s air
conditioning system.
01:52:04 Kate Mosley seconded the motion. Motion passed.
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IX. Arts & Culture Program General Status Update – Not Discussed
(Refer to pages 41-47 of the Agenda & Handouts Packet on the G.O. Bond website.)
X. 2022 Bonds Projects Update
(Refer to pages 48-51 of the Agenda & Handouts Packet on the G.O. Bond website.)
Fillmore (Jackie Gleason)
01:52:36 Facilities & Fleet Assistant Director Daniel Alzuri reported that there will be a
presentation from Live Nation at the July 26 Finance and Economic Resiliency Committee
meeting, with 2 proposals: one for a new building, which was proposed last year, with an updated
rough order of magnitude; and one for the renovation of the facility.
Byron Carlyle Theater
01:53:20 Daniel Alzuri reported that the City Commission has selected the option with workforce
housing which opens up opportunity for quite a bit of additional funding. The administration has
also received authorization to continue with AMS Research and Planning. Over the next 5-6
months the Administration, with the assistance of AMS, will explore models for operating
partners and governing structures to best deliver the project and manage the cultural center.
01:54:04 Commissioner Tanya Bhatt reported that she championed both of those initiatives:
having the Fillmore come back with options, so that it’s not an all or nothing kind of thing, and
the Byron Carlyle with workforce housing option, which passed unanimously.
Botanical Garden
01:54:41 David Gomez reported that the Botanical Garden had a restructuring of their Board, and
asked the City for more time until the new Board was installed. The Board is now in place, and
staff has had productive meetings with them and the architecture firm - Alan Shulman and
Associates. They are hoping to have them on board by the end of the month to be able to begin
the project.
01:55:08 Jason Koslowe asked if the timeline is still current. David Gomez replied yes.
Aquatic Sculpture Park (Reefline)
01:55:19 Maria Hernandez reported that all agreements have been executed. They are currently
working on Phase 1 and hope to have it deployed by the end of the year, hopefully before Art
Basel.
01:56:05 Bruce Halpryn said this project is incredible and was such an innovative idea.
01:56:36 Isaiah Mosley stated he is really excited about this project but reported that he was
recently at the Jose Cuervo Reef and noticed the accretion from the longshore drift accumulated
sand, covering about half of it. He advised that to be aware that this is being place down in an
area that is just going to fill up with sand. So this isn’t permanent unless it is moved further north.
G.O. Bond Oversight Committee
Meeting Minutes No. 49
July 18, 2024
Page 14 of 14
01:57:25 Jack Glottmann asked how many years it took for that to happen. Isaiah Mosley
answered about 10-15 years.
XI. Community Outreach
(Refer to pages 52 and 53 of the Agenda & Handouts Packet on the G.O. Bond website).
01:57:58 Maria Hernandez advised that a revised list of meetings will be sent once the City
Commission agenda is published.
XII. Public Comment
No one from the public asked to speak.
XIII. Adjournment
2:02:39 Meeting adjourned.