Miami-Dade Legislative Item
File Number: 131988
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File Number: 131988 File Type: Resolution Status: Adopted
Version: 0 Reference: R-867-13 Control: Board of County Commissioners
File Name: FIU'S DESIRED EXPANSION ONTO TAMIAMI PARK Introduced: 10/8/2013
Requester: NONE Cost: Final Action: 10/22/2013
Agenda Date: 10/22/2013 Agenda Item Number: 11A10
Notes: Title: RESOLUTION URGING THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE TO COMMIT STATE FUNDING IN SUPPORT OF FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY’S (FIU) REQUEST FOR FUNDING FOR COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE RELOCATION OF THE MIAMI-DADE COUNTY FAIR AND EXPOSITION, INC. AND FIU’S DESIRED EXPANSION ONTO TAMIAMI PARK, SUBJECT TO A COUNTYWIDE REFERENDUM, AND TO IDENTIFY THIS LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY AS A CRITICAL COUNTY PRIORITY FOR THE 2014 SESSION
Indexes: FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY (FIU)
  LEGISLATURE
Sponsors: Juan C. Zapata, Co-Prime Sponsor
  Sen. Javier D. Souto, Co-Prime Sponsor
  Bruno A. Barreiro, Co-Sponsor
  Esteban L. Bovo, Jr., Co-Sponsor
  Jose "Pepe" Diaz, Co-Sponsor
  Jean Monestime, Co-Sponsor
  Xavier L. Suarez, 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 10/22/2013 11A10 Adopted P
REPORT: County Attorney Robert Cuevas read the foregoing proposed resolution into the record. Commissioner Zapata acknowledged Florida International University (FIU) President Mark B. Rosenberg and members of their Board for their presence. He pointed out that the foregoing proposed resolution requested that the State of Florida fund the relocation of the Miami-Dade County Fair and Exposition, Inc. (Youth Fair) in order to accommodate FIU’s expansion into Tamiami Park and discussed the economic impact this expansion bring to the community. It was moved by Commissioner Heyman that the foregoing proposed resolution be adopted as amended to remove the wording relating to it being a critical legislative priority. This motion was seconded by Commissioner Bell. Commissioner Zapata noted he believed that FIU’s expansion and finding a new home for the Youth Fair was critical. He said this was a $900 million proposed construction project with a one-half billion in economic activity for this community. Commissioner Zapata pointed out that every great city had great public universities and FIU was ours. He discussed that this proposal would have a recurring economic impact; that it was equivalent to investments made at our airport and seaport; and that FIU educated the future leaders of our local economy. Commissioner Zapata said it was important for FIU’s leadership to hear from this Board that we considered them to be a critical County priority. Commissioner Edmonson noted her support for the proposed resolution; however, noted that the Youth Fair had a lease with the County and any relocation needed to be acceptable to all parties. Commissioner Bovo concurred with Commissioner Zapata over the critical need when considering the impact of FIU’s expansion to our community and the local economy. He noted concern about the existing lease between the County and the Miami-Dade County Fair and Exposition, Inc. which he would address at another time. Commissioner Bovo questioned the viability of using land owned by FIU located outside the Urban Development Boundary (UDB) solely for the purpose of the Youth Fair, considering the current limited us of that property. Mayor Gimenez noted his opposition to a land swap with FIU because the property was located outside the UDB. He said the site would require mitigation, water and sewer infrastructure improvements and additional construction. Commissioner Bovo pointed out that the potential impact for FIU warranted further conversation and needed to be pursued. Mayor Gimenez said he fully supported the foregoing proposed resolution asking the State to pay relocation costs. He noted agreement that FIU’s use of the Youth Fair site would serve a greater public purpose; however, noted concern that the County was obligated to provide the Youth Fair with an alternative site, but did not have the funds to pay the moving costs. Mayor Gimenez said that site development plans, mitigation, landfill, and environmental considerations needed to be explored along with associated costs before the Board could make a final decision on the feasibility of this location. Commissioner Bovo said he concurred with Mayor Gimenez that all options needed to be considered by both the County and FIU. He noted he supported the foregoing proposed resolution; that it was a critical item; and that he was opposed to the proposed amendment. Chairwoman Sosa noted that a land swap agreement to an area outside the UDB was not part of the proposed resolution and that she was opposed to moving the UDB. She said that the residents living in neighboring communities should be included in future discussions because of the increased traffic which the proposed expansion would have on the surrounding area. Chairwoman Sosa pointed out that the resolution was sending a message to the State that they needed to take care of FIU, and that it was not asking for a public vote on taxes. Commissioner Diaz pointed out that the Youth Fair property was used for other events throughout the year in addition to the Youth Fair. He said that this proposal was critical to FIU’s future growth; that he fully supported the proposed resolution as presented; and that a traffic study was needed. Commissioner Jordan concurred with Commissioner Bovo that alternative plans needed to be evaluated. She pointed out that Article 7 related to the rules and policies on other usages of park land, noting that those provisions could be bypassed, as was done in Crandon Park, as long as the process was completed respectfully and properly. Commissioner Jordan noted that a critical priority was warranted because FIU was an excellent educational institution needing to expand; that the Youth Fair was a premier community-wide fair; and that the County could not afford to relocate the Youth Fair, yet it was obligated to do so. She said she did not support removing the critical priority at this time, noting that the Board would formalize its final critical priority list at a later date. Commissioner Bell noted she supported the proposed resolution; however, this was inconsistent with today’s (10/22) previous decision on Agenda Item 11A8 Substitute, where the Board decided that all critical priorities would be decided when they established the State legislative priorities list. She pointed out that the County was always seeking State funding; however, she could not support the item as a critical priority at this time. Commissioner Souto spoke in support of the foregoing proposed resolution, noting it affected a large number of residents, the local economy, the County and our world presence. He said that caution was needed because of the location of the facility and the impact on the surrounding community. Commissioner Souto noted that the Youth Fair could not disappear and that it might reinvent itself. He said that a balance act was needed to help FIU maintain its mission while ensuring the Youth Fair’s survival. Commissioner Souto suggested proceeding carefully and those public meetings be held to engage the community and obtain input. Commissioner Moss said that although he supported this proposal, the Board needed to consider FIU, the Youth Fair, the neighborhood and traffic issues together. Upon further questioning, Chairwoman Sosa confirmed that the critical priority language would remain in the foregoing proposed resolution. Hearing no further questions or comments, the Commission proceeded to vote on the foregoing proposed resolution as presented. Following the vote, a representative from FIU expressed his appreciation to the County Commission for their favorable decision, noting FIU looked forward to working with this Board to make great things happen in this community. Chairwoman Sosa noted the importance for FIU to work together with the County Commissioners representing the area and the residents in the surrounding neighborhoods.

County Attorney 10/8/2013 Assigned Monica Rizo

Legislative Text


TITLE
RESOLUTION URGING THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE TO COMMIT STATE FUNDING IN SUPPORT OF FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY�S (FIU) REQUEST FOR FUNDING FOR COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE RELOCATION OF THE MIAMI-DADE COUNTY FAIR AND EXPOSITION, INC. AND FIU�S DESIRED EXPANSION ONTO TAMIAMI PARK, SUBJECT TO A COUNTYWIDE REFERENDUM, AND TO IDENTIFY THIS LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY AS A CRITICAL COUNTY PRIORITY FOR THE 2014 SESSION

BODY
WHEREAS, the Lease grants the County a right to terminate the Lease should the County require the leased premises for a County purpose in the public interest and provided that certain other conditions are met, including providing a replacement site for The Fair and providing funding for the replacement of The Fair improvements; and
WHEREAS, in the fall of 2010, representatives from the County�s administration participated in, along with Florida International University (FIU) and The Fair, a Joint Relocation Task Force whose main purpose was to assess the viability of relocating The Fair so as to enable FIU to expand onto County land now leased to The Fair and to allow The Fair to continue its established mission at a new location; and
WHEREAS, all parties recognize that many steps need to be taken in order to effectuate any potential relocation and expansion by FIU onto Tamiami Park, including but not limited to, a countywide referendum to allow such expansion by FIU onto County park land; and
WHEREAS, the Joint Relocation Task Force studied the issue of a new site for The Fair carefully, examining 24 sites for the potential relocation of The Fair, and the group agreed to complete an in-depth analysis of 3 sites; and
WHEREAS, on September 11, 2013, FIU, the Fair and representatives from the County�s administration all agreed to continue the efforts to relocate The Fair; and
WHEREAS, relocation will allow FIU to expand onto County land now leased to The Fair and, in turn, relocating The Fair to another site will allow The Fair to develop a new, world-class facility; and
WHEREAS, any mutually beneficial option being considered must be economically feasible and respectful of the other parties� respective legal rights, operational structure and mission of service to our community; and
WHEREAS, in order to continue to move the process forward in a productive and realistic manner, FIU will need to secure state funding for the relocation of The Fair and its expansion onto Tamiami Park; and
WHEREAS, both The Fair and the County desire to jointly support FIU�s advocacy for State funding of the project,


NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that this Board:
Section 1. Urges the Florida Legislature to commit funding to Florida International University for the relocation and the replacement costs associated with the relocation of The Fair to another site. This Board further urges the Florida Legislature to commit funding to FIU for its desired expansion of FIU onto County park land currently leased to The Fair, subject to the voters approving such expansion in a countywide referendum.
Section 2. Identifies the issue set forth in Section 1 above as a critical County priority for the 2014 state legislative session.
Section 3. Directs the Clerk of the Board to send a certified copy of this resolution to the Governor, Senate President, House Speaker, and the Chair and Members of the Miami-Dade State Legislative Delegation.
Section 4. Directs the County�s state lobbyists to advocate for the passage of State legislation and State funding as set forth in Section 1 above, and authorizes and directs the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs to include this item as a critical County priority in the 2014 State Legislative Package when it is presented to the Board.



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