LTC 488-2022 General Obligation Bond for Arts & CultureMIAMI BEACH
OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
LTC# 488-2022 LETTER TO COMMISS IO N
TO:
FROM:
Honorable Mayor Dan Gelber and Members of the City Commission
Alina T. Hudak, City Manag~
November 18, 2022 u~" \ DATE:
SUBJECT: General Obligation Bond for Arts & Culture
We are grateful to our voters who overwhelmingly supported the General Obligation
Bond for Arts and Culture. The passing of these bonds will be transformative to Miami
Beach -significantly elevating our museums, performance venues, artistic
playgrounds, senior/cultural centers, botanical garden, the future aquatic sculpture park
and related artist/workforce housing.
The $159 million bond program, which consists of 18 projects, creates a volume of
financing, planning, design and construction over and above the work currently being
managed. As such, under the leadership of Deputy City Manager Eric Carpenter, I have
directed staff to employ a team approach to oversee these important projects. Each
project is currently being evaluated and over the coming months we will recommend a
framework for the implementation.
Maria Hernandez will continue to provide the outstanding management oversight she
has provided to the 2018 GOB to both GOB programs. She and her staff will support the
GOB Oversight Committee and all that entails . They will also maintain the content of the
award-winning communications tools created to inform our residents on all aspects of
the GOB programs. Maria is well underway in leading a team review of the cash flow
needs of the projects in preparation for Committee discussion.
I have asked Adrian Morales to lead the construction management needs of the new
GOB program for all facilities that belong to the City. Adrian has excelled in all that he
has been challenged to do during his nine years with the City. His responsibilities have
grown substantially throughout the years and he has earned the respected designation
of a "can do" professional. He has already provided tremendous support to the process
of vetting the 18 projects in the GOB and is in the process now of working with the team
to determine the appropriate construction management methodology for each project.
Our Capital Improvement Department under the leadership of David Martinez will
continue to manage the over 40+ projects that are currently part of the existing GOB
program and the balance of the City's capital program. His Department will be tasked
with adding to the portfolio all new GOB projects that are major renovations or new
construction.
The recruitment for our future Chief Financial Officer is well underway and it is my goal
to hire someone that not only possesses critical financial skills and senior management
experience, but also brings joint public-private partnership development experience. The
number of unsolicited proposals presented to our City requires a level of expertise and
analysis that need to be augmented. It is my preference that we develop that expertise
in-house. In the interim, as you know, we are fortunate to have the experience and
knowledge of our former Interim Manager, Kathie Brooks who will serve as our Chief
Financial Officer and participate as part of this GOB team in preparation for all of our
future financial transactions.
All of this additional work will require additional City oversight resources and construction
management expertise. I have asked the Team to review those needs. At the
appropriate time, we will be back with the necessary budget amendment.
Once again, we are thankful to Miami Beach residents for prioritizing arts and culture as
we invest in our future.
ATH
CC : Executive Staff
Management Team