C4C-Ref- FCWPC - Food-Bev Concessions-Soundscape Collins Prk And Botanical GardE MIAMIBEACH
City of iliomi Baoch, 1700 Convention Center Drive, Miomi Beoch, Florido 33139, www-miomibeochfl.gov
COMMI ON MEMORANDUM
TO:
FROM:
DATE:
SUBJECT:
Mayor Philip Levine and Members
Jimmy L. Morales, City Manager
May 21,2014
REFERRAL TO THE FI
COMMISSION COMMITTEE - A
OR NOT TO PURSUE FOOD AND
SOUNDSCAPE PARK, COLLINS
BOTANICAL GARDEN.
mtsston
AND CITYWIDE PROJECTS
USSION REGARDING WHETHER
BEVERAGE CONCESSIONS FOR
PARK, AND THE MIAMI BEACH
ADMINISTRATION RECOMMENDAT]ON
Refer discussion to Finance and Citywide Projects Commission Committee as
recommended by the Administration.
BACKGROUND
Over the past few years the City has invested millions of dollars to create and
improve Collins Park and SoundScape Park. The City and New World
Symphony (NWS) successfully partnered to provide programming in
SoundScqpe Park. The programming attracts thousands of people to view NWS
Wallcasts"'' and the City's SoundScape Cinema Series. The City has also
worked with the Bass Museum to provide temporary public art and other sporadic
Arts in the Parks Programs in Collins Park. However, there are significant
periods of the time when these parks are fairly empty. That is because these
parks offer nothing to attract nearby workers, visitors, or residents.
ln recent months, the City Administration has been discussing methods to better
activate Collins Park and SoundScape Park during the day. Those discussions
have included the Collins Park Neighborhood Association and New World
Symphony to ensure their interests are preserved. The City is currently working
with those entities to provide free yoga in Collins Park several days each week
and to provide a consistent schedule of daytime music in SoundScape as just
one method to attract more daytime use.
The Miami Beach Botanical Garden is another facility identified as an area that
could benefit from more pedestrian activity. Visitors to the Garden frequently
seek food and beverage options while in the facility, but currently only have
vending machine options.
Agenda ttem CVC
Date S-p/_ff
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Refeml Potential Park Concessions
City Commission Meeting
May 21 , 2014
Page 2 of 3
concession contractors to provide food and beverage services to the public are
another method that has been successfully used in most other cities to activate
parks. A single well planned concessionaire can offer the public something to
do, something to eat, and an opportunity to siUrelax amongst other people. More
importantly, they contribute to safety or the feeling of safety. Well planned
concessionaires can complement their surroundings while also adding to the
richness of parks and the urban experience.
SOUNDSCAPE PARK
SoundScape Park ls located at the SW corner of Washington Avenue and 17th
Street and is widely considered to be the front door of the New World Center,
which is home to New World Symphony. The park was designed with restrooms
and a variety of shaded areas for seating, but lacks a fixed concession building.
Because the park doesn't have a concession facility the City has initiated
discussions with NWS to determine if their exclusive cater, Thierry Catering and
Event Design, could provide concession services in SoundScape. NWS and
Thierry Catering have expressed interest and are in the process of developing a
concept for review and consideration.
COLLINS PARK
Collins Park is located between 21 and 22 street on Collins Avenue and is
considered the front door of the Bass Museum of Art. The Park used to also be
the site of the Miami Beach Public Library. The library was demolished in 2005
and relocated to a new facility on 22no street bordering Collins Park. The
Rotunda, which is the former reading room of the library, was the only portion of
the former structure to remain when the park and was renovated. However, the
Rotunda renovation focused on the restoration of the exterior reliefs and does not
allow the public to use the inside.
Past discussion have centered on activating the Rotunda with arts related ideas,
but substantial funding would be required to make the Rotunda suitable for public
use and arts activities typically require annual operating subsidies. The
Administration would like the City Commission to consider leasing the space to a
concessionaire for food and beverage services. lf leased, the lessee could be
required to fund build-out of the space and the City could provide tenant
improvement credit in exchange for their investment. lf the City Commission
agrees with this concept, the City would need to issue a solicitation (RFP, RFQ,
ITN) to secure a commercial real estate broker to assist the City is securing a
viable tenant.
BOTANICAL GARDEN
The City, in partnership with the Miami Beach Garden Conservancy, completed a
$1.3 million renovation of the Miami Beach Botanical Garden. The project
included demolishing the existing concrete features; removing the existing
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Refenal Potential Pa* Concessions
City C o m mi s sion Meeti ng
May 21 , 2014
Page 3 of 3
fencing and replacing it with monolithic walls; relocating the entrance of the
garden; constructing water features and ponds; constructing hardscape paths,
plazas and patios; relocating landscaping and plantings; and instatling new
lighting and irrigation.
Miami Beach Botanical Garden, located at 2000 Convention Center Drive, Miami
Beach, is owned by the City of Miami Beach and operated by the Miami Beach
Garden Conservancy. The City administration has contacted the Garden
Conservancy who is interested in the concept, but expressed a concern with the
volume of regular traffic needed to make the concession financially viable.
Another consideration is that Art Basel in Miami Beach currently uses the
Botanical Garden during their show and they contract with an independent
operator for a caf6 and sit down restaurant.
CONCLUSION
The Administration recommends the referral of the discussion regarding whether
or not the City should pursue food and beverage concessions for Soundscape Park,
Collins Park, and the Miami Beach Botanical Garden to the Finance and Citywide
Projects Committee.
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