Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution 2026-34069 RESOLUTION NO. 2026-34069 A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, APPROVING THE MATERIAL TERMS OF A PROPOSED SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY AND BALLET VALET PARKING COMPANY, LTD. ("BV") IN SETTLEMENT OF A LAWSUIT FILED BY BV AGAINST THE CITY ON MARCH 10, 2025 IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE ELEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, CASE NO. 2025-006551-CA-01, WHICH SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT WOULD (1) REQUIRE THE CITY TO COMPLETE CERTAIN REPAIRS TO THE MUNICIPAL GARAGE LOCATED AT 7TH STREET AND COLLINS AVENUE AND (2) MODIFY THE TERMS OF BV'S OPTION TO PURCHASE THE CITY'S INTERESTS IN THE GARAGE; AND FURTHER, AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND FINALIZE THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT CONSISTENT WITH THE MATERIAL TERMS REFLECTED IN THIS RESOLUTION AND IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY ATTORNEY; AND FURTHER, AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER AND CITY CLERK TO EXECUTE THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT. WHEREAS, the 7th Street Parking Garage is a mixed-use parking facility located at 7th Street and Collins Avenue in the South Beach area; and WHEREAS, the property consists of a multi-level structured garage containing 646 parking spaces, along with a ground-floor retail component that was incorporated into the original project design; and WHEREAS, the facility was developed as a combined parking and retail project, with shared structural and operational elements governed by a series of related agreements between the City of Miami Beach and the private developer, The Ballet Valet Parking Company, Ltd. ("BV"); and WHEREAS, the development of the garage originated with the City's issuance of RFP/RFLI No. 18-92/93 in December 1992, which sought proposals to develop parking facilities in the South Beach area. WHEREAS, following review by a selection committee and subsequent Commission direction, the City Commission authorized the Administration in July 1993 to negotiate a development agreement with BV for a parking project at 7th Street and Collins Avenue; and WHEREAS, on March 30, 1994, the City Commission approved an Acquisition, Construction, and Development Agreement among the City, BV, and the MacCarthy Brothers Company; and WHEREAS, the agreement established the framework for construction of the garage and retail space, the allocation of land and air rights, operational responsibilities, and the inclusion of a future purchase option held by the private party; and WHEREAS, in addition to the development agreement, the parties entered into related agreements governing parking operations, maintenance obligations(Maintenance Agreement), and management responsibilities for the facility. WHEREAS, collectively, these agreements defined the City's role in operating and maintaining the parking structure and BV's role in managing the retail component, as well as the financial and operational relationship between the parties over the life of the project; and WHEREAS, since the garage opened, the City has operated and maintained the parking facility in accordance with these agreements and has expended millions of dollars in capital investment related to structural repairs, drainage improvements, electrical work, and other capital projects undertaken over time as part of its ongoing obligations; and WHEREAS, under the current agreement structure, BV holds a purchase option for the City's interest in the garage; and WHEREAS, that option becomes exercisable on February 26, 2026, at which time the option holder has 30 days to exercise the option; and WHEREAS, upon exercise, the governing agreements provide for a 180-day period to complete the closing; and WHEREAS, on March 10, 2025, BV—represented by Etan Mark and the law firm of Mark Ferrer & Hayden—filed a lawsuit against the City in the Circuit Court of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit in and for Miami-Dade County, Florida, Case No. 2025-006551- CA-01 (the "Lawsuit"); and WHEREAS, in the Lawsuit, BV seeks (1) breach-of-contract monetary damages, (2) specific performance, and (3) damages for breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, all arising from the City's alleged failure to adequately maintain the Garage; and WHEREAS, BV asserts that its damages include "the cost of repairing damages to the Retail Space caused by the City's breach of the Maintenance Agreement, revenue loss, compensation for the substantial decline in value to the Retail Space, and devaluation of BV's future interest in the Garage." And as to specific performance of the Maintenance Agreement, BV alleges that the City should be required to undertake "millions of dollars of work" to restore the Garage to a "first-class retail/garage building."; and WHEREAS, pursuant to the Lawsuit, the City and BV were required to engage in Court-ordered mediation in efforts to reach an amicable settlement; and 2 WHEREAS, all discussions related to that mediation are confidential under Florida's mediation privilege; and WHEREAS, the ultimate result of the mediation was to present to the City Commission the material terms of the proposed settlement, which, if approved, will be negotiated into a more fulsome settlement agreement; and WHEREAS, the proposed settlement terms address all claims in the lawsuit and, if the settlement terms are approved by the Mayor and City Commission, the City would agree in the settlement agreement to complete repairs that have already been budgeted for and commenced in the approximate amount of $1,996,000, of which approximately $580,602 has been completed and paid for and $1,415,398 is committed; and WHEREAS, the proposed terms of the settlement agreement would also modify the terms of BV's purchase option, comparing the existing purchase option terms pursuant to the Acquisition, Construction and Development Agreement and the new terms negotiated during the mediation as part of the overall settlement of BV's lawsuit; and WHEREAS, the proposed material terms of the Settlement Agreement are attached as Exhibit "A" to this Resolution and incorporated herein. 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 approve the material terms of a proposed settlement agreement between the City and Ballet Valet Parking Company, Ltd. ("BV") in settlement of a lawsuit filed by bv against the City on March 10, 2025 in the Circuit Court of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit in and for Miami-Dade County, Florida, Case No. 2025-006551-CA-01, which settlement agreement would (1) require the City to complete certain repairs to the municipal garage located at 7th street and Collins Avenue and (2) modify the terms of BV's option to purchase the City's interests in the garage; and further, authorizing the City Manager to negotiate and finalize the settlement agreement consistent with the material terms reflected in this resolution and in a form acceptable to the CityAttorney; and further, authorizing the City Manager and City Clerk to execute the settlement agreement. PASSED AND ADOPTED this 5 day of �� �ruG"y , 2026. ATTEST: FEB 1 9 2026 Steven Meiner, Mayor City Clerk APPROVED AS TO Rafael . Granado, FORM &LANGUAGE 8�FOR EXECUTION � �.B„��,, ���• ..cy,, ?�1�oLb : ; •: . 3 s ' �ty Attomey Date _ �IM[OAP ORATED•`• � %,�: ��: '',,4,4....� ��o�_ ,, CN..26 r ������.......�.�', Exhibit "A" Subject Matter Article IX(Development Agreement) (Material Mediated Settlement Terms) Option Grant&Timing Option exercisable 30 years after Garage opens Option exercisable within 1 year from final OR after City financing retired; the date on which appraisal determination; closing allowed BV may exercise the option is February 26,2026. up to 3 years from settlement agreement Pursuant to the terms of the Development date. Agreement, BV must exercise the option within 30 days and closing must occur within 180 da s. Purchase Price Basis Fair market value based on highest and best use Fair market value with a floor of$12.435M + Accumulated Deficit (NOTE: there is currently and a ceiling of $37M; appraisers must no Accumulated Deficit as garage revenues have assume privately operated garage (as covered all ex enses . o osed to munici al ara e . Appraisal Process Two appraisals; third if >20% variance; average Two jointly selected appraisers; third, if of two or three; BV pays costs. City selects the >20% variance, chosen by first two; no a raisers sub�ect to BV's reasonable a roval. rior a raisers allowed. Appraisal Timing No specific timeline for appraisal completion. Appraisers retained within 30 days of settlement agreement execution; FMV determined within 90 da s. Price Escalation Not adtlressed. The final appraised value will be escalatetl 0.33% per month starting 120 da s after last a raisal com leted. Inspection Rights BV has 40-day inspection period after Option No change. Notice; intlemnit re uired. Credits 1 Adjustments No credits; purchase is AS IS. Credits for unfinished work (100% if closing is before 12/31/26; 150% after); additional $3M credit for omitted facatle/elevator work. Closing Conditions Closing in Dade County, FL; BV pays all costs; No change but includes credits and property conveyed free of liens except those escalations. created b BV. Termination of Option Terminates if BV fails to exercise or close timely, Governed by settlement timelines or if BV sells/transfers interest reducing Anthony (exercise within 1 year, close within 3 Goltlman's heirs' majority ownership. years); same ownership condition a lies. Continued Operation as a Not addressed. BV agrees to maintain the property as a Garage garage and honor resident transient arkin rates throu h Februa 27, 2031 BV Spaces in Garage BV pays for 162 spaces at current monthly rate City to provide 162 spaces at no cost for ($132/space) a 12-month period from the date of the settlement a reement Ramp agreement Extended for 3 adtlitional years under existin terms Parking Lease Agreement Deadline to exercise option to extend will be same as deadline to exercise urchase o tion Resolutions - C7 I MIAMIBEACH COMMISSION MEMORANDUM TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Commission FROM: Eric Carpenter, City Manager DATE: February 5, 2026 TITLE A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FIORIDA, APPROVING THE MATERIAL TERMS OF A PROPOSED SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY AND BALLET VALET PARKING COMPANY, LTD. ("BV") IN SETTLEMENT OF A LAWSUIT FILED BY BV AGAINST THE CITY ON MARCH 10, 2025 IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE ELEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, CASE NO. 2025-006551-CA-01, WHICH SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT WOULD (1) REQUIRE THE CITY TO COMPLETE CERTAIN REPAIRS TO THE MUNICIPAL GARAGE LOCATED AT 7T" STREET AND COLLINS AVENUE AND (2) MODIFY THE TERMS OF BV'S OPTION TO PURCHASE THE CITY'S INTERESTS IN THE GARAGE; AND FURTHER, AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND FINALIZE THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT CONSISTENT WITH THE MATERIAL TERMS REFLECTED IN THIS RESOLUTION AND IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY ATTORNEY; AND FURTHER, AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER AND CITY CLERK TO EXECUTE THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT. RECOMMENDATION It is recommended that the Mayor and City Commission of the City of Miami Beach adopt the Resolution. BACKGROUND/HISTORY The 7th Street Parking Garage is a mixed-use parking facility located at 7th Street and Collins Avenue in the South Beach area. The properry consists of a multi-level structured garage containing 646 parking spaces, along with a ground-floor retail component that was incorporated into the original project design. The facility was developed as a combined parking and retail project, with shared structural and operational elements governed by a series of related agreements between the City of Miami Beach and the private developer, The Ballet Valet Parking Company, Ltd. ("BV"). The development of the garage originated with the City's issuance of RFP/RFLI No. 18-92/93 in December 1992, which sought proposals to develop parking facilities in the South Beach area. Following review by a selection committee and subsequent Commission direction, the City Commission authorized the Administration in July 1993 to negotiate a development agreement with BV for a parking project at 7th Street and Collins Avenue. On March 30, 1994, the City Commission approved an Acquisition, Construction, and Development Agreement among the City, BV, and the MacCarthy Brothers Company. That agreement established the framework for construction of the garage and retaif space, the allocation of land and air rights, operational responsibilities, and the inclusion of a future purchase option held by the private paRy. 302 of 2180 In addition to the development agreement, the parties entered into related agreements governing parking operations, maintenance obligations (Maintenance Agreement), and management responsibilities for the facility. Collectively, these agreements defined the City's role in operating and maintaining the paricing structure and BV's role in managing the retail component, as well as the financial and operational relationship between the parties over the life of the project. Since the garage opened, the City has operated and maintained the parking facility in accordance with these agreements and has expended millions of dollars in capital investment related to structural repairs, drainage improvements, electrical work, and other capital projects undertaken over time as part of its ongoing obligations. Under the current agreement structure, BV holds a purchase option for the City's interest in the garage. That option becomes exercisable on February 26, 2026, at which time the option holder has 30 days to exercise the option. Upon exercise, the governing agreements provide for a 180- day period to complete the closing. ANALYSIS On March 10, 2025, BV—represented by Etan Mark and the law firm of Mark Ferrer& Hayden— filed a lawsuit against the City in the Circuit Court of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit in and for Miami- Dade County, Florida, Case No. 2025-006551-CA-01 (the "LawsuiY'). In the Lawsuit, BV seeks (1) breach-of-contract monetary damages, (2} specific performance, and (3) damages for breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, all arising from the City's alleged failure to adequately maintain the Garage. BV asserts that its damages include "the cost of repairing damages to the Retail Space caused by the City's breach of the Maintenance Agreement, revenue loss, compensation for the substantial decline in value to the Retail Space, and devaluation of BV's future interest in the Garage." And as to specific performance of the Maintenance Agreement, BV alleges that the City should be required to undertake "millions of dollars of work" to restore the Garage to a "first-class retail/garage building." Pursuant to the Lawsuit, the City and BV were required to engage in Court-ordered mediation in efforts to reach an amicable settlement. All discussions related to that mediation are confidential under Florida's mediation privilege. The ultimate result of the mediation was to present to the City Commission the material terms of the proposed settlement, which, if approved, will be negotiated into a more fulsome settlement agreement. The proposed settlement terms address all claims in the lawsuit and, if the settlement terms are approved by the Mayor and City Commission, the City would agree in the settlement agreement to complete repairs that have already been budgeted for and commenced in the approximate amount of $1,996,000, of which approximately $580,602 has been completed and paid for and $1,415,398 is committed. The proposed terms of the settlement agreement would also modify the terms of BV's purchase option. Below is a table comparing, as applicable, the existing purchase option terms pursuant to the Acquisition, Construction and Development Agreement and the new terms negotiated during the mediation as part of the overall settlement of BV's lawsuit. 303 of 2180 Subject Matter Article IX (Development (Material Mediated Agreement) Settlement Terms) Option Grant 8 Timing Option exercisable 30 years Option exercisable within 1 after Garage opens OR year from final appraisal after City financing retired; determination; closing the date on which BV may allowed up to 3 years from exercise the option is settlement agreement date. February 26, 2026. Pursuant to the terms of the Development Agreement, BV must exercise the option within 30 days and closing must occu�within 180 days. Purchase Price Basis Fair market value based on Fair market value with a highest and best use + floor of $12.435M and a Accumulated Deficit ceiling of $37M; appraisers (NOTE: there is currently no must assume privately Accumulated Deficit as operated garage (as garage revenues have opposed to municipal covered all expenses). garage). Appraisal Process Two appraisals; third if Two jointly selected >20% variance; average of appraisers; third, if >20% two or three; BV pays costs. variance, chosen by first City selects the appraisers two; no prior appraisers subject to BV's reasonable allowed. approval. Appraisal Timing No specific timetine for Appraisers retained within appraisal completion. 30 days of settlement agreement execution; FMV determined within 90 days. Price Escalation Not addressed. The final appraised value will be escalated 0.33% per month starting 120 days after last appraisal completed. Inspection Rights BV has 40-day inspection No change. period after Option Notice; indemnity required. Credits / Adjustments No credits; purchase is AS Credits for unfinished work IS. (100% if closing is before 12131126; 150% after); additional $3M credit for omitted facade/elevator work. Closing Conditions Closing in Dade County, No change but includes FL; BV pays all costs; credits and escalations. property conveyed free of liens except those created by BV. Termination of Option Terminates if BV fails to Governed by settlement exercise or close timely, or timelines (exercise within 1 0 if BV sells/transfers interest year, ciose within 3 years); reducing Anthony same ownership condition Goldman's heirs� majority applies. ownership. Continued Operation as a Not addressed BV agrees to maintain the Garage property as a garage and honor resident transient parking rates through February 27, 2031 BV Spaces in Garage BV pays for 162 spaces at City to provide 162 spaces current monthly rate at no cost for a 12-month ($132lspace) period from the date of the settlement agreement Ramp agreement Extended for 3 additional years under existing terms Parking Lease Deadline to exercise option Agreement to extend will be same as deadline to exercise purchase option Based on the foregoing, the Administration believes it is in the best interest of the City to authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute a settlement agreement with BV to settle all claims in the Lawsuit and include amendments to the existing agreements governing the 7'� Street Parking Garage, within the material terms and framework set forth in this memorandum, and subject to City Attorney approval. FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT Nf'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.govJcity-hall/city-clerklmeetinq-notices/ FINANCIAL INFORMATION N/A CONCLUSION It is recommended that the Mayor and City Commission of the City of Miami Beach adopt the Resolution. Applicable Area South Beach Is this a "Residents Ri�ht to Know" item, Is this item related to a G.O. Bond pursuant to City Code Section 2-17? Proiect? 305 of 2180 Yes No Was this Aqenda Item initially requested bv a lobbyist which, as defined in Code Sec. 2-481, includes a principal enqaqed in lobbving? No If so, specify the name of lobbyist(s) and principal(s): Depa�tment Parking Sponsor(s) Co-sponsor(s) Condensed Title Amend Agreement Governing the 7th Street Parking Garage. PK Previous Action (For City Clerk Use Only) 306 of 2180