The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About2006-26122 Reso RESOLUTION NO. 2006-26122 A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, APPROVING IN CONCEPT A GRANT FROM THE CITY TO THE JEWISH MUSEUM OF FLORIDA IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $500,000 FOR THE MASTER PLAN AND RENOVATION OF THE HISTORIC SYNAGOGUE LOCATED AT 311 WASHINGTON AVENUE; AND APPROPRIATING $500,000 FROM SOUTH POINTE CAPITAL FUND; AND DELEGATING AUTHORITYTO THE CITY MANAGER TO ENTER INTO A GRANT AGREEMENTWITH THE JEWISH MUSEUM OF FLORIDA, PROVIDED TERMS OF SUCH AGREEMENT ARE SATISFACTORY TO THE CITY MANAGER AND CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. WHEREAS, the Jewish Museum (Museum) of Florida, located at 301 Washington Avenue, first opened in Miami Beach on April 2, 1995 and the Museum is housed at the site of Miami Beach's first Jewish congregation; and WHEREAS, the Museum has embarked upon a four phase capital expansion program which consists of the following phases: · Phase I - Acquisition of property: On June 30, 2005, the Museum acquired three properties (two buildings and a parking lot) for a purchase price of $2.5 million; · Phase II - Development of a Master Plan forMuseum Expansion, which three properties acquired by the Museum Renovating the Beth Jacob synagogue (another historically significant building) located at 311 Washington Avenue; Moving functions from the 301 building to the 311 building to free up exhibit and public programming space; and · Constructing a new Collections and Research Center building overthe parking lot at an approximate cost of $3 million. · Phase III - Capital/Endowment Campaign: The Jewish Museum is embarking on a $20 million, multi-year fundraising campaign to raise funds for the Master Plan, construction, endowment and operating budget. · Phase IV- Construction: This phase includes the renovation of the 311 building to provide additional public display and meeting space, and enhanced storage capabilities, as well as the construction of a new Collections and Research Center above the parking lot to provide storage capacity, as well as comprehensive research facilities. The total project cost is estimated at $5.5 million; and WHEREAS, on January 19, 2006, the Finance and Citywide Projects Committee discussed the Jewish Museum's request recommended the City award the Jewish Museum of Florida a $500,000 capital assistance grant; and WHEREAS, if approved for this funding request, the Museum will extend free admission to Miami Beach residents on Wednesdays and Fridays, with proper identificatiorl and WHEREAS, the Administration recommends approval of the grant award to the Jewish Museum. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, that the Mayor and City Commission hereby approve in concept a grant from the City to the Jewish Museum of Florida in an amount not to exceed $500,000 for the Master Plan and renovation of the historic synagogue located at 311 Washington Avenue; and appropriating $500,000 from South Pointe Capital Fund; and delegating authority to the City Manager to enter into a grant agreement with the Jewish Museum of Flodda, provided terms of such agreement are satisfactory to the City Manager and City Attorney's Office. PASSED AND ADOPTED ATTEST: CITY CLERK Robert Parcher T:V~GENDA~2006\feb0806\consen~ewish Museum Reso.doc this 8th day of February?/~006./1 / David Dermer APPROVED AS TO FORM & LANGUAGE & FOR EXECUTION Condensed Title: COMMISSION ITEM SUMMARY A resolution approving in concept a grant to the Jewish Museum of Florida in an amount not to exceed $500,000 for the Master Plan and renovation of the historic synagogue located at 311 Washington Avenue. Key Intended Outcome Supported: IIncrease community rating of cultural activities. Issue: IShould the City award a grant in an amount not to exceed $500,000 to the Jewish Museum? Item Summary/Recommendation: A referral was made to the Finance and Citywide Projects Committee for the committee to consider a request by the Jewish Museum of Florida for capital funding assistance from the City of Miami Beach in the amount of $500,000 in order to begin work on their Master Plan relating to the renovation of the historic synagogue at 311 Washington Avenue. The Museum has embarked upon a four phase capital expansion program. On January 19, 2006, the request was discussed by the Finance and Citywide Projects Committee. At that time, the Administration recommended funding the museum in a similar fashion as the City funded the Wolfsonian-FI U, with the funding allocated to the renovations of the 311 building. Representatives from the Jewish Museum requested $500,000 from the City to fund the Master Plan and a portion of the renovation of the 311 Washington Avenue building. After discussing the matter, the Committee recommended the City award the Jewish Museum of Florida a $500,000 capital assistance grant as requested by the Jewish Museum. Advisory Board Recommendation: I The Finance and Citywide Projects Committee recommended in favor of the grant award on January I 19, 2006. Financial Information: Source of Amount Account Approved 1 $500,000 South Pointe Capital Fund 2 $ 4 Total Financial Impact Summary: City Clerk's Office Legislative Tracking: IHilda M. Fernandez Si S: ""' /vO/a~'.a~men~~tor Assis. t;;~l~t .,~ty Manage.~r .\ ~ City Manager MIAMIBEACH AGENDA ITEM DATE C, 7.S MIAMIBEACH City of Miami Beach, 1700 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach, Florida 33139, www.miamibeachfl.gov COMMISSION MEMORANDUM TO: FROM: DATE: SUBJECT: Mayor David Dermer and Members of the City Commission Jorge M. Gonzalez, City Mana i,", ..' ' February 8, 2006 A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, APPROVING IN CONCEPT A GRANT FROM THE CITY TO THE JEWISH MUSEUM OF FLORIDA IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $500,000 FOR THE MASTER PLAN AND RENOVATION OF THE HISTORIC SYNAGOGUE LOCATED AT 311 WASHINGTON AVENUE; AND APPROPRIATING $500,000 FROM SOUTH POINTE CAPITAL FUND; AND DELEGATING AUTHORITY TO THE CITY MANAGER TO ENTER INTO A GRANTAGREEMENTWITH THE JEWISH MUSEUM OF FLORIDA, PROVIDED TERMS OF SUCH AGREEMENT ARE SATISFACTORY TO THE CITY MANAGER AND CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. ADMINISTRATION RECOMMENDATION Adopt the Resolution. FUNDING Funding is available in the South Pointe Capital Fund budget for Fiscal Year 2005/2006. ANALYSIS A referral was made to the Finance and Citywide Projects Committee for the committee to consider a request by the Jewish Museum of Florida for capital funding assistance from the City of Miami Beach in the amount of $500,000 in order to begin work on their Master Plan relating to the renovation of the historic synagogue at 311 Washington Avenue. The following provides background on the proposed project and request. Background The Jewish Museum (Museum) of Florida, located at 301 Washington Avenue, first opened in Miami Beach on April 2, 1995. The Museum is housed at the site of Miami Beach's first Jewish congregation. The Museum building, built in 1936, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and has recently undergone a $1.5 milliorl two-year restoration. The Museum locally hosts exhibitions, sponsors educational and cultural programs, and houses a Collections and Research Center. The Museum has embarked upon a four phase capital expansion program which consists of the following phases: · Phase I - Acquisition of property: On June 30, 2005, the Museum acquired three properties (two buildings and a parking lot) for a purchase price of $2.5 million; · Phase II - Development of a Master Plan for Museum Expansion: This master plan encompasses the three properties acquired by the Museurr[ · Renovating the Beth Jacob synagogue (another historically significant building) located at 311 Washington Avenue; · Moving functions from the 301 building to the 311 building to free up exhibit and public programming space; and · Constructing a new Collections and Research Center building over the parking lot at an approximate cost of $3 million. · Phase III - Capital/Endowment Campaign: The Jewish Museum is embarking on a $20 million, multi-year fundraising campaign to raise funds for the Master Plan, construction, endowment and operating budget. · Phase IV- Construction: This phase includes the renovation of the 311 building to provide additional public display and meeting space, and enhanced storage capabilities, as well as the construction of a new Collections and Research Center above the parking lot to provide storage capacity, as well as comprehensive research facilities. The total project cost is estimated at $5.5 million. The Museum currently receives operating and exhibition funds from the State of Florida, and operating funds from Miami-Dade County (approx. $150,000 annually) and the City of Miami Beach ($55,000 annually). The CAC also provides annual operational funding to the Jewish Museum. The City has previously provided capital funding support to the Museum. In 1994, the Museum received a loan of $500,000 for the renovation of their facility. This loan had a ten- year term with an 8% interest. A total of $213,912.45 was paid by the Museum by 1999, at which time the loan agreement was modified. At that time, approximately $94,000 in prior interest payments were applied to the outstanding principal and all future interest payments were waived. All principal payments were waived in 1998-99. From 1999 until 2001, the City Commission approved the forgiving of $60,000 in annual loan repayments. On September 25, 2002, the City Commission abated the balance of the loan ($46,087) and the loan was considered paid in full. City staff has met and spoken with Museum staff in the past few months to discuss the proposed expansion, project expenses and funding needs. Discussions also included other available sources of operational and capital funding. City staff researched grant programs available for consideration, and has provided information as applicable to the Museum. For comparative purposes, as you may recall, the City approved a $500,000 grant to the Wolfsonian-FIU in 2003 for purposes of their expansion project. The total budget for the expansion project was $1,488,000. The $500,000 allocation was intended to provide assistance with cash flow until the Wolfsonian-FIU received an Economic Development Initiative (EDI) grant of $360,000 that had been approved, but had not been allocated. Under the terms of the grant agreement, the City's grant would be off-set with the receipt of the EDI grant funds. In addition, the Wolfsonian-FIU agreed to provide the City with non-exclusive use of the parking lot of the Miami Beach Women's Club for the next five (5) years as a means of alleviating parking congestion in the area. Additionally, the Wolfsonian-FIU agreed to provide free admission to City residents. During the course of preparing the grant agreement for execution, the EDI grant was received, and the final, total allocation of grant funds from the City to the Wolfsonian-FIU was $176,000, or 12% of the total renovation costs. On January 19, 2006, the request was discussed by the Finance and Citywide Projects Committee. At that time, the Administration recommended funding the museum in a similar fashion as the City funded the Wolfsonian-FIU, with the funding allocated to the renovations of the 311 building. Representatives from the Jewish Museum requested $500,000 from the City to fund the Master Plan and a portion of the renovation of the 311 Washington Avenue building. After discussing the matter, the Committee recommended the City award the Jewish Museum of Florida a $500,000 capital assistance grant as requested by the Jewish Museum. Public Benefits The Jewish Museum of Florida is an important tourist destination for the City of Miami Beach. As you know, Florida ranks number two in tourism dollars - more than $4 billion is spent annually by tourists who visited historic sites. A larger portion of these toudsts visit the Museum when visiting the City. Museum studies reflect that each dollar spent at the Museum generates $4 for the City. The Museum is open to the public 2,100 hours annually, Tuesdays-Sundays (10 am - 5 pm). Admission charges are $6.00 adults, $5.00 senior citizens or individuals in a group, $12.00 families and children under six are free. Currently, the Museum offers free admission on Saturdays. If approved for this funding request, they will extend free admission to Miami Beach residents on Wednesdays and Fridays, with proper identification. The Museum satisfies a number of Sunshine State Standards requisites therefore, schools book field trips to the Museum as part of the regular curriculum for middle and high school students. The Museum is also part of the Miami-Dade County Public School Museum Education Program with the school system providing an educator to the Museum oneday each week to arrange tours from the public schools. Pre-visit and post-visit lesson plans are produced for each exhibit and activities planned during Museum visits, as well. This partnership results in more than 4,000 student visits annually. Additionally, the Museum sponsors Teachers' Workshops for credits in the Miami-Dade County Public Schools system and Student Writing and Photo contests with cash prizes toencourage involvement in the exhibit themes and contemporary diversity issues. Administration Recommendation The administration supports the recommendation of the Finance and Citywide Projects Committee to award the Jewish Museum of Florida a $500,000 capital assistance grant. Furthermore, the administration supports enhancing the Museum's public benefits package to include free admission to Miami Beach residents on Wednesdays and Fridays, in addition to Saturdays. JMG/HMF/mas