Minutes 7.8.25 1700 Convention Center Drive
Miami Beach, FL 33139 www.miamibeachfl.gov/northbeachcra
NORTH BEACH COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY (CRA) ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
Tuesday, July 8, 2025 Normandy Shores Golf Club, 2401 Biarritz Drive
Members in Attendance
• Ronnie Issenberg, Chair
• Tom Richerson, Vice Chair
• David Cohen
• Manning Salazar
• David Sexton, ex officio
1. Call to Order & Attendance
Committee Chair Ronnie Issenberg called the meeting to order at 4:38 p.m.
2. Introduction of new Committee Member David Cohen
David Cohen introduced himself as the new Advisory Committee member occupying the attorney
member position. He has been a Miami Beach resident since 2007 and has always had an interest
in public service.
Committee Business
3. Approval of June 2025 Meeting Minutes
Committee member Tom Richerson made a motion to approve the minutes from the June 17,
2025, meeting. Committee member Manning Salazar seconded the motion. The minutes were
approved by acclamation.
4. Legislative Update
• Presenter: Farosha Andasheva, Office of the City Attorney
Ms. Andasheva, Senior Assistant City Attorney, provided an update on the North Shore Park
Tennis Center capital improvement project. After communication with the County and further
review, the City Attorney’s Office determined that the project could not be funded using NBCRA
funds because the Interlocal Agreement with the County restricts funding for projects that were
scheduled to be constructed within three years of the adoption of the Interlocal Agreement. Ms.
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Meeting Minutes – July 8, 2025 Page 2 of 5
Andasheva, however, explained that the City and the corresponding departments are exploring
different potential ways in which the expanded scope of the project can be funded, including
revisiting once outside the 3-year window of restriction or maybe re-submitting as phase 2.
Old Business
5. North Beach Streetscape Improvements & 71st Street Bridge Light Enhancement Project
• Presenters: Brad Kaine and Rodney Knowles, Public Works Department
Mr. Kaine, Public Works Director, greeted the Committee and began by addressing the
Committee’s inquiry into maintenance responsibilities for Collins Avenue, gave a quick historical
summary including an agreement between the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) and
the City of Miami Beach which established that maintenance of sidewalks that were not
conforming at the time with FDOT standards would be the responsibility of the City. Due to
disagreement on what constitutes nonconformance, to make progress at resolving the matter, the
City is now in communication with the Secretary of FDOT to achieve a satisfactory resolution. In
the meantime, Mr. Kaine informed the committee that the City on its own volition is inspecting
sidewalks and identifying critical repairs that need to be addressed. Conversation ensued
including Commissioner Bhatt discussing the state of sidewalks in different North Beach areas.
Commissioner Bhatt referred to her previous walks with City Staff around the North Beach area
and that at the time a City staff member had documented in great detail items that needed
attention. The commissioner requested that an update be prepared, including a spreadsheet
detailing the items previously identified, responsible parties, and interim actions to remediate
while the conversation with FDOT progresses.
Action Item: Prepare a spreadsheet for review by commissioner Bhatt before the
September Meeting.
Regarding potential initiatives for 71st Street Bridge enhancement, Mr. Kaine indicated that
enhancement and beautification of the bridge is not within the funded scope of current or planned
capital projects but will provide the committee with information on electrical power availability.
New Business
6. NBCRA Marketing Opportunities
• Presenter: Melissa Berthier, Marketing and Communications Department
Mrs. Berthier, the Director of the Marketing and Communications Department, shared ideas on
increasing exposure to the CRA, its programs, and North Beach businesses. She also discussed
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Meeting Minutes – July 8, 2025 Page 3 of 5
different alternatives, including printed mailers, and it was agreed that immediate action could
include website updates and providing CRA-related content for the city e-newsletter, while a long-
term marketing and promotional strategy is developed.
7. Love is Love Festival 2025
• Presenter: Hopi Noel Morton, Hopi Works Founder and Love is Love representative
Ms. Morton gave a presentation about what the Love is Love Festival, and its interactive art
installation where artists will create the art piece in real time. As the festival received a North
Beach CRA grant in 2024, it is the hope of the organizers to make this sponsorship of the art
installation a continuous annual tradition. The committee moved to make a motion recommending
a contribution from the North Beach CRA in the amount of $7,500.
Motion: Funding for Art Installation – Love is Love Festival
The Committee recommends that the North Beach CRA allocate up to $7,500 in
support of the public art installation and participating artist services at the annual
Love is Love Festival. Scheduled to take place within the CRA district at the
Normandy Fountain Plaza in November 2025.
Motion made by: Tom Richerson
Seconded by: Manning Salazar
Vote: Passed unanimously (4 – 0)
8. Proposed Redevelopment of 6979 and 6985 Collins Ave.
• Presenters: Michael Larkin, Esq. and Dan Golberg, Esq. and Kobi Karp, Architects.
Mr. Dan Golberg gave an in-depth presentation of the proposed BHK Crystal Beach Development
as a representative of the joint venture group involved in the project.
The proposed plan involves replacing the Crystal Beach Hotel and the now vacant Normandy
Plaza Hotel with a 37-unit, 17-story residential building with ground floor retail. After discussion to
clarify certain aspects of the project including potential impacts and benefits to the community,
the Committee proposed to support the project with certain conditions, as contained in the
following motion.
Motion: BHK Crystal Beach Development Proposal
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Meeting Minutes – July 8, 2025 Page 4 of 5
Following the presentation on the proposed redevelopment of the property located
at 6969 and 6985 Collins Avenue, the Committee recommends approval of the
project as outlined in the July 8th presentation, contingent upon:
• The developer proffers a legally binding restrictive covenant prohibiting
short term rentals on the property; and
• The proposed driveway entrance be designed in a manner that mitigates
any potential adverse traffic impacts to Collins Avenue.
Motion made by: Tom Richerson
Seconded by: Manning Salazar
Vote: Passed unanimously (4 – 0)
Project Updates
9. Normandy Fountain Shade Structure Proposal Update
• Presenter: Ariel Guitian, Division Director, Capital Improvement Projects
Mr. Guitian provided an update on the May 13, 2025 recommendation of the Committee in support
of the proposal, which was transmitted to the City Commission via Letter to Commission (LTC)
214-2025; however, an item sponsor was not identified for the June 2025 Commission meeting.
Commissioner Bhatt indicated that she would sponsor the item at the next Commission meeting
in July. Based on the suggestion by Committee member David Sexton that a local resident and
vendor offered to donate material for the shade structure, Commissioner Bhatt instructed that the
funding proposal include a request for waiver of the competitive bidding process in order to
accelerate project implementation.
Action Item: Prepare resolutions for the July 23, 2025 Commission Meeting for
consideration of the funding request and competitive bidding waiver.
10. North Shore Park Tennis Center Capital Improvement Project
An update was provided by Ms. Andasheva in her legislative update.
11. Good and Welfare
Committee member Manning Salazar asked about the process of placing items on the meeting
agenda. North Beach resident and business owner Laura Veitia introduced herself, expressed her
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Meeting Minutes – July 8, 2025 Page 5 of 5
interest in occupying one of the open seats on the Advisory Committee, and indicated that a
Commissioner is willing to nominate her for consideration.
Committee member Tom Richerson added clarification to previous meetings’ discussion about
beachfront concession agreements between the City and Bouchers Brothers, which includes
areas of North Beach.
12. Public Comment
There were no public comments.
13. Approval of Bi-annual report
Committee member Tom Richerson made a motion to approve the Bi-annual report. Committee
member Manning Salazar seconded the motion. The report was approved by acclamation.
14. Adjournment
A motion to adjourn was approved, and the meeting was adjourned at 6:19 p.m.
Next Meeting: Tuesday, September 9, 2025, at 4:30 p.m. – Normandy Shores Golf Club