Virginia Key Advisory Board - Regular Meeting

Were there any requests for absence waivers? So we don't have a quorum. We're going to jump right into some discussion items, and everybody will get out early tonight. The first item Gary mentioned, we've had a legislative item that we sent to the city a while ago regarding to reduce the size of our quorum. I know it was in front of the city commission, and it wasn't heard four or five months ago. Can we get an update on where that stands?

Can you follow up on that? Yes. Or would the city attorney follow up? You'll follow up. Thank you very much. We'd like it back on the agenda.

It was previously approved, and it was on the City of Miami Commission agenda. Since it's already been approved and was on the City of Miami Commission agenda, can't you just send it to the agenda office and have them put it on the next commission agenda?

Well, it was approved. It was approved the first time and submitted and put on the agenda.

Do you know somebody on the city manager's staff that would help with that?

Yeah, so no background, no experience, no institutional knowledge. He's just showing up cold to the position. If you don't mind, can you maybe educate them and get it on the agenda again as soon as possible?

All right. Gary, do you have any comments on that item? The next item, discussion on events at Marine Stadium parking lot area. Has anybody seen anything lately or any comments on traffic or events at the, on the Marine Stadium parking lot? Our residents from Kepa Skane have any feedback or?

How's that? Discussion on the Rickenbacker Marina. As we all know, there was an RFP a number of years ago, and there was a winning bidder with the process was withdrawn by the former city manager. Does anybody have an update on what the status is with the Rickenbacker Marina? and who will be managing the Rickenbacker Marina? Hector, maybe? Anybody? Anybody heard anything pertinent?

Okay, thank you very much. That's certainly important to Virginia Key Park, and Virginia Key historic, the basin. Next item will be discussion on the proposed museum of the historic Virginia Key Beach Park. Is everybody familiar with that proposal for the museum? Anybody have any heard anything about the status of that lately? I haven't heard anything or seen anything in the media about that lately either. I guess it's in the works. I think there's $20 million coming from Miami-Dade County. Is that right, Ms. City Attorney Rafa? A $20 million was in a bond issue?

Oh, it might have been 20 million allocated in the Homeland Bond Fund 12 or 15 years ago with the city of Miami. Hector, do you remember the funding for the museum?

Do you recall the approximate square footage that the architect might be bidding on? I couldn't tell you, to be honest with you.

The director was here, presented to us four or five months ago of the trust, and I think Based on the budget and money that needs to be set aside for operating expenses, the maximum size of the museum would be approximately 11,000 square feet. I think she spoke about that. Anybody who was here recalls? Thank you very much, Hector. Thanks for your help. Any other questions?

Yes, I remember the item first came up almost 20 years ago, and it kept getting vetoed by the city manager, whoever was the city manager of the City of Miami. wouldn't let it go forward because no there was no operating funds available from the city or any other source and that put it like a 15 or 20 year delay on the process so maybe it's it's been rectified yes um so the next discussion item discussion item about the civitas plan for the parking lot areas is i think we all heard several presentations from civitas regarding their proposed plan for the parking lot area. Gary was here.

As far as what they have planned for the parking lot? I mean, I know what they do with the parking lot now is that's where basically all the events are. So I think it'll, I think once the stadium gets built, it'll take the stress of that and that'll be, I don't know if it's going to be compliant with what's actually in the plan for Virginia Key, but it'll become less event oriented and more, as I said, parking area, parks, and

Sorry about that. I don't have any individual insights beyond what we've been presented.

For a little bit of background, the city of Miami did a request for proposals for a landscape architect designer for the 15, approximately 15 acres adjacent to Marine Stadium. And they hired a firm out of Colorado called Civitas. And Civitas came up with a plan after being paid, I believe, a $900,000 fee. And they came up with a plan for the parking lot area. And the estimate to pay for that plan, the proposed plan, I think was originally $115, $120 million. It was elevated features and covered parking and things for children. And it was, you know, for $115 million, it would have been huge. An

Yeah. I'm not sure the management company's going to have the ability to change the design of what actually goes in there. I think they're more the event management company as opposed to the actual design of the facility. Maybe, like I said, I do know that the one company that won wanted specific areas for VIP parties and holding areas and stuff like that, but I don't think it reached out into what the Civitas part of this was. But I'd like a little more information on it, because you're right, we haven't heard anything about that in a long time.

That would be great. Or David Snow, who was quarterbacking it originally. Thank you. Either one would be great.

All right. And then I'd like to talk about a suggestion from Gary Milano. The former aquarium site... And that's in Miami-Dade County, owned by Miami-Dade County, but it's pertinent to all of us because it's adjacent to Virginia Key Park, and it's on the causeway. Gary, can you, you want to suggest?

Even better would be somebody from the county who's handling the relationship between Terra and the county. Whatever works. Yes, that's right. Whoever's got substantial knowledge.

Andres, have you heard anything new about the post-sequarium site?

Well, as board members have been stating, it's a tough threshold to meet quorum, particularly when you've got two city employees who are both directors of their department that don't show up.

So looking on the same point, looking at the board members, I think only one is appointed by a city commissioner. Is that right? The District 2 commissioner appoints one board member of our board, and the mayor has an appointment?

All right. I mean, as Gary brought up, I'd like to point out that the attendance from the You know, the volunteer organizations has been very, very high on this board. Sierra Club, Dade Heritage Trust has been very high. Tropical Audubon UEL. So, yes, I guess there should be a phone call to some board members that don't show up very often to see if they'd like to resign because they're busy and other things. Thank you very much.

I have a last item on the agenda. It's this discussion about the history of Virginia Key Park. I'd like to hear from each of the board members for a minute or two on something that comes to mind related to Virginia Key Park, something that you recall either recently or from years ago that's pertinent to your thoughts on Virginia Key Park. Anybody like to start?

well junior key park i'll just share you know uh my memories as growing up you know we used to go to the beach as a family and then also um in the marine stadium uh you know watching miss budweiser race when i was a kid also jimmy buffett uh in concert so you know i have a very fond memories you know living in on the key for a very long time and and you know driving through and enjoying also In high school, you know, we'd all hang out in high school late nights. Maybe I shouldn't say that because sometimes we weren't allowed to be there. But it was a lot of fun to go by there as well. And I re

Great. Thank you so much for your thoughts. Absolutely. Nicholas?

Well, I mean, I actually, to piggyback on what Louis says, I have some very fond memories from my youth, but they're starting to fade, to be honest with you. Driving, I've lived in Key Biscay now, give or take about 25 years, and driving by that stadium every day, it's an embarrassment. It really is. It's an embarrassment to our community. The fact that I know it was, you know, there's been some great intentions and, you know, the potential that's there I probably brought this story up before, but it reminds me of what happened with the Biltmore, all those years the Biltmore was closed. even t

I do, thank you so much. I'm looking at an article from Preservation Today on the historic Miami Marine Stadium. This is from 2009.

I was looking for the piece on the deed revision that might be included that Andres was, maybe it's in here. You want to take a look, Andres? But I will make some comments from an email that I received today. And this is from a lady who uses the Miami Rowing Club, who's been at dozens and dozens of our meetings, Leah Kennard. All of you remember her. She spoke to our board many, many times, and she gives us an excellent personal perspective because she actually rows a boat in the Marine Stadium. And she sent me an email today, and it's very interesting. As you all know, for years we had a prob

Thank you. Thank you very much. Stephen, that was a good comment to make. My group, the Urban Environment League, we've spoken to one or two very competent applicants and waiting to hear if it's in their schedule. And other groups, too, will have to find applicants for us. I'll continue coming until that takes place. But we also will need a new chair. That can be on the next election for a new chair. And board members can vote for a new chair or keep your current chair for another meeting or two, whichever, whatever board members decide is best. And would anybody like to call for adjournment?

Thank you. Thank you all very much. Thank you, Andres. Thank you all for coming tonight. I know it wasn't easy, but we'll be here in two months.