150-1999 LTC
CITY OF MIAMI BEACH
CITY HALL 1700 CONVENTION CENTER DRIVE MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA 33139
http:\\ci,miami-beach,fLus
L.T.C. No.
150-1999,
LETTER TO COMMISSION
July 6, 1999
TO: Mayor Neisen O. Kasdin and
Members of the City C mission
FROM: Sergio Rodriguez
City Manager
SUBJECT: STATE LOBBYING ACTIVITIES
Attached, please find a report provided by the City's lobbyists in Tallahassee regarding their
activities on behalf of the City of Miami Beach. This report was prepared in response to questions
raised at the June 9, 1999 City Commission meeting regarding the lobbyists' efforts on behalf of the
Miami Beach Community Development Corporation (MBCDC). This issue will be heard at the July
21, City Commission meeting at 4:00 pm, and the City's lobbying team and Denis Russ ofMBCDC
are scheduled to be in attendance to answer any questions.
SR:cmt;l~/kc
Attachment
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RtrT:r~DG}lJ. ECENI.A, PURNELL & HO]'FMAN
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION
ATlORNEYS AND COUNSELORS AT LAW
STF.PHEN A. ECENIA
JOHN R. ELLIS
KENNET~ p.. HOFFMAN
THOMAS W. KONRAD
MICHAEL G, MAII)A
J. STEPHI;N MENTON
f\. DAVID "~E9COTT
HAROLD F. X. PURNEll.
GAtlV R. RUTlEDGE
POST OFACE BOX 551. 3230Z-<l551
215 SOUTH MONROE STREET. SUITE .420
T....L.LAHASSEE. FLORIDA 32301-1841
OFCQUNSI<L
CW>RLES F. DUDLEY
TEI.EPHONE (8S0) 681-6'788
TELECOPIER (SSO) 681-6515
GOVIlRNMENTAL CONSU1.TANTS:
PATRICK R. MAlOY',
AIoN J. YOUNG ..
MEMORANDUM
VIA FACSIMILE TRANSMISSION
TO:
. Christina M. Cuervo, Assistant City Manager
City of Miami Beach
FROM:
Gary Rutledge
Fausto Gomez
Robert Levy
Margie Mendwri
DATE:
June 21, 1999
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RE:
Appearance Before City Commission
First let me apologize for being unable to provide the information contained herein by June
18. 1999. as requested in your memo dated June 15. 1999. As I advised Randy Marks in a brief,
telephone conversation last week, I was out of town last week and. unable to review your nlemo and
prepare this information by June 18, 1999. I did however briefly report to Randy concerning this
matter. Finally, as I also indicated to Randy during our telephone conversation, it is not possible for
me to appear at the July 7, 1999 City Commission meeting inasmuch as I have long planned to take
a vacation out of state with my family during that week. I understand Fausto Gomez and Bob Levy
may also have conflicts on that day . We will however be glad to attend at another time or respond
to any remaining issues which are not covered in our telephone conversations and this memo.
Specifically you requested certain info1.1T13,tion be provided to you. In response thereto please
be advised as follows. All lobbying conducted by the lobbying team was believed to be on behalf
of the City of Miami B~ach inasmuch as no memhers of the lobbying team represent the Miami
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HTJTLF..DGF... ~JCENIA. PuRNELL & HOFFMAN
MEMO
June 21. 1999
Page 2
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Beach Community Development Corporation C"MBCDC"). The only matters of which I am
personally aware of interest to MBCDC during the past year have to do with funding for what I
believe is the Miami Beach Community Development Corporation's Seymour Hotel project. The
lobbyists had occasional communications with the City concerning such funding for the Seymour
Hotel project including with the Mayor. City Commissioners and staff as further outlined herein.
The issue involving MBCDC as set forth above had to do with mon~y being provided for the
restoration of the Seymour Hotel and we -monitored the providing of money by the Florida .
Department of State for same. More specifically, there is an independent process involving the
Department of State which ranks certain historical projects available for funding with such listing
being forwarded to the legislature fOT action. A grant in the amount of $174,926 was appropriated,
along with many other projects by the Florida Legislature, as recommended by the Department of
State. The lobbying team was not involved in lobbying the legislature on behalf of MBCDC. but
was rather supportive of having the greatest amount of money available for grants to benefit various
projects in the state including the Seymour Hotel and the Bass Musewn which also received
significant monies. ,
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In addition there was discussion as to whether or not a long outstanding loan being repaid
by MBCDC to the state in the amount of $50,000 per year should be llforgivenll inasmuch as the
A program which authorized such loans had been abolished. I believe that I spoke with Denis Russ
on occasion concerning ihis matter and also believe that there were brief discussions with a few
legislators, including Senator Silver who had discussed the matter directly with Mr. Russ. It was
believed by the lobbying team that the efforts by MBCDC regarding the Seymour were efforts which
the City welcomed and if any assistance could be provided that we should do so, although it was also
expressly recognized that such efforts were not 3. top priority of the City and therefore our efforts
primarily focused on other issues on behalf of the City. All of our activities were open and reported
periodically to the City including VJit:b. regards to the Seymour Hotel in memos dated September 18,
1998. February 22, 1999, March 15, 1999, March 22, 1999, March 29, 1999 and May 3,1999.
No one directed the lobbyists to lobby on behalf ofMBCDC, but rather we believed that such
non-profit corporation's interests were in line with the City's overall interests and that if any
assistance or information could be provided to MBCDC that the City would welcome same.
As you know, both prior to and during each legislative session we meet with all
commissioners and staff who are desirous of discussing legislative issues. As you also know, there
are numerous occasions when we have provided information and assistance to entities from Miariti.. \
Beach that we believed the City welcomed. These have ranged from projects and funding for the
Wolfsonian, the Bass Museum. the New World Symphony and other organizations and entities. In
addition, we have on occasion met in conjunction with City officials and staff. with representatives
of the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce and others to advance the goals of the City of Miami
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RUTLEJJGE, ECENIA. Pt.rnNELl:.. & HOFFMAN
MEMO
June 21, 1999
Page 3
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Beach. If at any time any of these activities should be modified or discontinued we of course will \
follow the City's instructions. I hope that this answers the inquiries raised in your June 15, 1999
memo.
GRR:sp
CC: Sergio Rodriguez, City Manager
Randolph Marks, Assistant Director7 Commwrity/Economic Development
Kevin Crowder 7 Legislative Coordinator
Denis Russ, Miami Beach Community Development Corporation
Roberto Datoxre, Miami Beach Community Development Corporation
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