Resolution 2024-33265 RESOLUTION NO., 2024-33265
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, (1) SUSPENDING THE GRANT AGREEMENT AND
ALL RELATED GRANT DISBURSEMENTS BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE
SOUTH FLORIDA ART CENTER, INC. (OOLITE ARTS),AND(2) PAUSING THE
EXECUTION OF ALL FUTURE GRANT AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE CITY
AND THE SOUTH FLORIDA ART CENTER, INC. UNTIL OTHERWISE
DIRECTED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION TO ALLOW OOLITE TO
HIRE A NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND TO ENABLE THE CITY
COMMISSION TO REVIEW AND APPROVE OOLITE'S STATEMENT OF
INTERNAL CONTROLS.
WHEREAS, each Fiscal Year, the Miami Beach Culture and Arts Council ("CAC")
prepares, and the Mayor and City Commission approves, a budget for the implementation of arts
and culture programming around the City; and
WHEREAS, for Fiscal Year 2024, the Mayor and City Commission approved the CAC
recommended budget of$1,950,000 for arts and culture programs in the City; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to the CAC recommendation, Oolite Arts("Oolite")executed a grant
agreement with the City on December 11, 2023, and received a grant of$30,637; and
WHEREAS, on March 27, 2024, Oolite, as part of an installation designed to "highlight
water as a unifying focus that transcends borders and cultures," displayed artwork on a •
Walgreens storefront located at 67th street and Collins Avenue (the "Artwork"); and
WHEREAS, members of the Oolite leadership team were not aware of the content of the
Artwork until May 3, 2024, when members of the Miami Beach community contacted the
organization with concerns; and
WHEREAS, after speaking with concerned residents, Oolite confirmed that the artwork
violated the organization's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion policy ("DEI Policy") and had the
Artwork removed on May 3, 2024; and
WHEREAS, following its removal of the Artwork, Oolite temporarily suspended much of
its programming while the organization evaluated its future; and
WHEREAS, the City must balance its interest in funding high quality arts and culture
programming with its interest in cultivating an environment that makes residents and visitors feel
welcome in Miami Beach; and
WHEREAS, the Mayor and City Commission would like to suspend all current and future
grant agreements with, and distributions to, Oolite until Oolite hires a new Executive Director and
provides the City a statement reflecting the internal controls to be established to prevent a
recurrence of the incident involving the offensive Artwork; and
WHEREAS,the Administration is hereby directed to (1)suspend the grant agreement and
all related funding disbursements between the City and Oolite and (2) pause the execution of all
future grant agreements between the City and Oolite until otherwise directed by the Mayor and
City Commission to allow Oolite to hire a new Executive Director and to enable the City
Commission to review and approve Oolite's statement of internal controls.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT DULY RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY
COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, that the Mayor and City
Commission hereby(1)suspend the current grant agreement and all related grant disbursements
between the City and the South Florida Art Center, Inc. (Oolite Arts), and (2) pause the execution
of all future grant agreements between the City and Oolite Arts until otherwise directed by the
Mayor and City Commission to allow Oolite to hire a new Executive Director and to enable the
City Commission to review and approve Oolite's statement of internal controls.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this it day of 59124 lx(2024.
ATTEST: •
SEP 9 7 2624 ven Meiner, Mayor
Rafael . Granado, City Clerk
1 i3 �'1jIt
N' .
(Sponsor Vice-Mayor Alex J. Fernandez) .
Co-Sponsored by Commissioner David Suarez (IN CORP OKAYED
APPROVED AS TO
FORM &LANGUAGE
&FOR EXECUTION
ql¢l zQ4—
• City ttomey Date
2
Resolutions -C7 AO
MIAMI BEACH
COMMISSION MEMORANDUM
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Commission
FROM: City Attorney Ricardo J. Dopico
DATE: September 11, 2024
TITLE: A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, (1) SUSPENDING THE GRANT AGREEMENT AND ALL
RELATED GRANT DISBURSEMENTS BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE SOUTH
FLORIDA ART CENTER, INC. (OOLITE ARTS), AND (2) PAUSING THE
EXECUTION OF ALL FUTURE GRANT AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE CITY AND
THE SOUTH FLORIDA ART CENTER, INC. UNTIL OTHERWISE DIRECTED BY
THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION TO ALLOW OOLITE TO HIRE A NEW
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND TO ENABLE THE CITY COMMISSION TO REVIEW
AND APPROVE OOLITE'S STATEMENT OF INTERNAL CONTROLS.
RECOMMENDATION
BACKGROUND/HISTORY
ANALYSIS
The attached Resolution was prepared at the request of the sponsor,Vice-Mayor Alex Fernandez.
FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT
N/A
Does this Ordinance require a Business Impact Estimate?
(FOR ORDINANCES ONLY)
If applicable, the Business Impact Estimate (BIE) was published on:
See BIE at: https://www.miamibeachfl.gov/city-hall/city-clerk/meetinq-notices/
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
CONCLUSION
Applicable Area
Page 604 of 1377
' Citywide
Is this a "Residents Right to Know" item, Is this item related to a G.O. Bond
pursuant to City Code Section 2-17? Project?
No No
Was this Agenda Item initially requested by a lobbyist which, as defined in Code Sec. 2-481,
includes a principal engaged in lobbying? No
If so, specify the name of lobbyist(s) and principal(s):
Department
City Attorney
Sponsor(s)
Commissioner Alex Fernandez
Co-sponsor(s)
Condensed Title
Suspend/Pause Grant Agmt. and Disbursements related to So. FL Art Center(Oolite Arts).
(Fernandez) CA
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