Legislative Matter

Miami-Dade Legislative Item
File Number: 080294

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Clerk's Official Copy

File Number: 080294

File Type: Resolution

Status: Adopted

Version: 0

Reference: R-273-08

Control: Board of County Commissioners

File Name: FUNDING FOR CONSTRUCTION OF COMFORT HOME AT THE VA HOSPITAL

Introduced: 1/30/2008

Requester: NONE

Cost:

Final Action: 3/4/2008

Agenda Date: 3/4/2008

Agenda Item Number: 11A36

Notes:

Title:

RESOLUTION APPROVING FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,000,000 FOR PURPOSES OF CONSTRUCTION OF A COMFORT HOME ON THE GROUNDS OF THE VETERAN'S ADMINISTRATION MEDICAL CENTER AND DIRECTING THE MAYOR OR HIS DESIGNEE TO IDENTIFY AND INCLUDE CERTAIN PROPOSED APPROPRIATION IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET PREPARED FOR FISCAL YEAR 2008-2009 [SEE ORIGINAL ITEM UNDER FILE NO. 080043]

Indexes:	VETERANS
	FUNDS
	HOSPITALS

Sponsors:	Jose "Pepe" Diaz, Prime Sponsor
	Audrey M. Edmonson, Co-Sponsor
	Carlos A. Gimenez, Co-Sponsor
	Sally A. Heyman, Co-Sponsor
	Joe A. Martinez, Co-Sponsor
	Katy Sorenson, Co-Sponsor
	Rebeca Sosa, Co-Sponsor
	Sen. Javier D. Souto, Co-Sponsor
	Bruno A. Barreiro, Co-Sponsor
	Dennis C. Moss, Co-Sponsor
	Dorrin D. Rolle, Co-Sponsor
	Barbara J. Jordan, Co-Sponsor

Sunset Provision: No

Effective Date:

Expiration Date:

Registered Lobbyist:

None Listed

Legislative History
Acting Body	Date	Agenda Item	Action	Sent To	Due Date	Returned	Pass/Fail

Board of County Commissioners	3/4/2008	11A36	Adopted				P
REPORT:	Commissioner Diaz noted he wanted to ensure that veterans received continued medical care. Colonel Lettie Bien expressed appreciation to all members of the Board that had co-sponsored the foregoing proposed resolution. Dr. Ron Tolchin spoke in support of this proposed resolution. Commissioner Diaz expressed appreciation to Mayor Carlos Alvarez for his support of the foregoing proposed resolution. Hearing no other questions or comments, the Commission proceeded to vote.

Board of County Commissioners	2/19/2008	11A1	Deferred				P
REPORT:	During consideration of the changes to the agenda, the foregoing proposed resolution was deferred, as requested by Commissioner Diaz.

County Attorney	1/30/2008		Assigned	Eugene Shy		1/30/2008

Budget and Finance Committee	1/28/2008	2A AMENDED	Forwarded to the BCC by the BCC Chairperson with a favorable recommendation				P
REPORT:	Assistant County Attorney Jess McCarty read the foregoing proposed resolution into the record. It was moved by Commissioner Diaz that this proposed resolution be forwarded to the County Commission with a favorable recommendation. This motion was seconded by Commissioner Sorenson. Commissioners Gimenez, Sosa, Sorenson, and Chairman Martinez asked that they be listed as co-sponsors. Commissioner Sosa questioned whether the County Commission would limit the funding sources the County Manager could suggest for the $1 million that would be approved in this proposal. She further questioned what funding sources, besides property taxes, were available for constructing the comfort home in this proposal. Commissioner Diaz explained this proposed resolution did not identify a specific funding source to allow the County Manger to evaluate all funding sources. Chairman Martinez pointed out that a scrivener’s error existed on handwritten page three (3) and it should be corrected to change “more then” to “more than.” Chairman Martinez asked Special Assistant to the County Manager Jennifer Glazer-Moon to provide a report to Committee members, before this proposal came before the full Commission, detailing the proposed revenue streams for the $1 million that would be approved in this proposed resolution, and detailing the projects that would be impacted by the County funding the project in this proposal. Discussion ensured among Committee members concerning Commissioner Sosa’s concern regarding the funding source being unidentified in this proposed resolution. Chairman Martinez pointed out that a comfort home on the grounds of the Veteran’s Administration Medical Center would be a Budget and Finance Committee budget priority for fiscal year 2008-09. Hearing no other questions or comments, the Committee proceeded to vote to forwarded the foregoing proposed resolution to the County Commission with a favorable recommendation with committee amendment(s) to change on handwritten page 3, "more then" to "more than."

Legislative Text

TITLE
RESOLUTION APPROVING FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,000,000 FOR PURPOSES OF CONSTRUCTION OF A COMFORT HOME ON THE GROUNDS OF THE VETERAN'S ADMINISTRATION MEDICAL CENTER AND DIRECTING THE MAYOR OR HIS DESIGNEE TO IDENTIFY AND INCLUDE CERTAIN PROPOSED APPROPRIATION IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET PREPARED FOR FISCAL YEAR 2008-2009

BODY
WHEREAS, the Fisher House Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization ("Fisher House") which has as its mission the construction, furnishing and donation of "Comfort Homes" which are built on the grounds of major military and VA medical centers for the purpose of enabling family members to be with and assist their service member or veteran while simultaneously receiving support and encouragement from others in similar circumstances; and
WHEREAS, the Fisher House program is a unique public-private partnership that supports America's military by providing humanitarian needs beyond that provided by the Department of Defense and Veterans Affairs; and
WHEREAS, while there is a Comfort House at every major military center, there is not one in the Miami-Dade County area and, recognizing this in 2006, Fisher House and the VA found there was a need for a Comfort Home at the Miami VA Healthcare System ("VAHS") and recommended the site for a new 15,000 square foot Comfort Home containing 21 private guest suites; and
WHEREAS, the Miami VAHS treats over 55,000 veterans every year with more than 6,000 inpatient admissions and 565,000 outpatient visits each year and has enrolled over 3,400 local returning veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan for medical care; and
WHEREAS, annually, over 400 military and veteran families have been required to expend unreimbursed personal funds to stay in Miami area hotels in order to be close to and assist loved ones during extended recuperative illnesses and rehabilitation; and
WHEREAS, a local Task Force has been formed to generate interest, provide the fund-raising focus and expedite the construction of the Comfort Home in Miami-Dade County; and
WHEREAS, the Miami Comfort Home needs seed capital to augment the initial construction costs and in that regard seeks the financial support of Miami-Dade County; and
WHEREAS, the federal government will provide the land located on the campus of the VAHS facility near Jackson Memorial Hospital and the Fisher House will fund the remaining $4-6 million necessary to design, construct and furnish the Comfort Home and once completed, title to the Comfort Home will be transferred to the VAHS-Miami, which will maintain and operate the facility in perpetuity; and
WHEREAS, a robust committee of Miami-Dade, Broward and Monroe County citizens will comprise the various Sub-Committees that will engage in the formal campaign that will commence in 2008 with a goal of raising $2 Million Dollars with projected ground breaking in 2009,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that the Board approves funding in the amount of $1,000,000 for purposes of construction of a Comfort Home on the grounds of the Veteran's Administration Medical Center. Further, the Board directs the County Mayor or his designee to identify and include in the proposed budget prepared for fiscal year 2008-2009 a proposed appropriation from the general fund or such other fund as they deem appropriate in the amount of $1,000,000.