LTC 231-2025 Letter to Commission and City Manager Regarding Oversight of the Miami Beach Marina & Lease AgreementMIAMI BEACH
OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
LTC #231-2025 LETTER TO COMMISSION
TO:Honorable Mayor Steven Meiner Members of the City Commission
Eric Carpenter,City Manager
Mark Taxis,Assistant City Manager
Ricardo J.Dopico,City Attorney
Rafael E.Granado,City Clerk ~
DA TE:06/03/2025
SUBJECT:Letter to Commission and City Manager Regarding Oversight of the Miami
Beach Marina &Lease Agreement
The purpose of this Letter to Commission (L TC)is to inform that the Marine and Waterfront
Protection Authority (MWPA)Board unanimously approved the attached resolution on May
13,2025,requesting active involvement in the oversight and renegotiation of the lease
agreement between the City of Miami Beach and Suntex Marina,the current lessee of the
Miami Beach Marina.
Members Present:Ben Mostkoff (Chair),John Gardiner (Vice-Chair),Julio Magrisso,
Amy Lites,Mike Gibaldi,Jose Frias,Chad Braver,and Tim Carr.
Motion:MWPA is charged with protecting and overseeing matters related to the City's
marine and waterfront assets.Given that Suntex Marina has reportedly violated provisions
of the lease-particularly payment obligations,as noted by the Office of the Inspector
General-and in light of recurring public complaints concerning noise,pollution,and
operational violations linked to the marina,the MWPA believes it is essential to be included
in the City's ongoing lease amendment process.
The attached resolution outlines MWPA's formal requests:to receive a copy of the current
lease,to be kept informed about violations and the status of negotiations,and to participate
directly,or through a designated sub-committee,in the City's lease amendment
negotiations.
FROM:
Resolution of the Marine &W aterfront Protection Authority
Whereas,the Miami Beach Marina is a prominent and heavily utilized waterfront facility
owned by the City of Miami Beach and leased to a third-party operator;
Whereas,the current lessee of the Miami Beach Marina is Suntex Marinas,which
assumed the lease under terms that currently extend through 2052;
Whereas,the Office of the Inspector General has identified violations by Suntex Marinas,
including failure to meet lease payment obligations;
Whereas,Miami Beach residents and City departments have reported ongoing issues
stemming from the marina,including noise,pollution,and regulatory violations;
Whereas,the City is currently engaged in negotiations with Suntex Marinas to clarify and
amend the existing lease agreement,including a possible extension of its term;
Whereas,the Marine and Waterfront Protection Authority (MWPA)is duly authorized to
provide guidance,oversight,and policy recommendations on matters affecting the City's
waterfront and marine environment;
Be it resolved,that the MWPA respectfully requests that the City Commission and City
Manager provide the MWPA with a complete copy of the current lease agreement with
Suntex Marinas for the Miami Beach Marina;
Be it further resolved,that the MWPA requests that the City Commission and City Manager
provide regular updates to the MWPA regarding lease violations,compliance efforts,and
the status of current lease amendment negotiations with Suntex Marinas;
Be it further resolved,that the MWPA requests that the City Commission and City Manager
allow representatives of the MWPA,or a designated subcommittee thereof,to participate
in the negotiation process relating to any amendment of the lease;
Be it further resolved,that the MWPA requests that the City Commission and City Manager
consult the MWPA on future oversight structures and management strategies related to
the Miami Beach Marina and adjacent waterfront areas.