File Name: FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY METROPOLITAN CENTER
Introduced: 6/1/2016
Requester: Mayor
Cost:
Final Action: 9/7/2016
Agenda Date: 9/7/2016
Agenda Item Number: 2B7
Notes:
Title:
REPORT PREPARED BY FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY METROPOLITAN CENTER - DIRECTIVE 151021
Indexes:
NONE
Sponsors:
Daniella Levine Cava, Prime 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
9/7/2016
2B7
Accepted
P
REPORT:
Commissioner Levine Cava expressed her concern, noting that Miami-Dade County had become unaffordable for working families to reside in and that this report was critical to help identify strategies for helping citizens and finding solutions to this issue. She urged the Board to support this study.
Commissioner Sosa noted that she understood the interest of the city and community developments paying for a study for things that can benefit them financially. She noted that she was concerned about who provided the information contained in this study; upon reviewing the statistics contained in the review regarding the poorest districts, she did not see many of the areas where low income residents and seniors resided. She also pointed out the cost of the study was too high.
Commissioner Diaz noted the intent was good; however, all areas in each district needing support were not included. He said that although this was a report, it could become a future agenda item and that he would support the report if it was re-drafted and everyone included.
Commissioner Levine Cava noted that she respected her colleagues’ perspective; however, this was simply a report and the Commission always worked to implement programs countywide.
Economic Prosperity Committee
7/14/2016
7A
Report Received
P
REPORT:
Commissioner Levine Cava introduced the foregoing report. She said the report was prepared pursuant to Resolution No. R-454-15, which urged Florida International University (FIU) Metropolitan Center, to conduct an analysis and prepare a report, at no cost to the County, that examined the feasibility of establishing a community-based prosperity strategy for Miami-Dade County. Commissioner Levine Cava noted the resolution was co-sponsored by Commissioner Edmonson. She explained the report was requested as many Miami-Dade County residents were struggling financially; and identified solutions which the Board of County Commissioners would explore the feasibility, and subsequently determine whether to move forward with any policies. Commissioner Levine Cava pointed out these efforts were consistent with other countywide initiatives; and the strategies were focused on assets, not just income. She noted the report was paid for by Citi Community Development; and the contractual arrangement was between Citi and FIU. Commissioner Levine Cava thanked staff who worked with the County Attorney’s office to craft the original resolution. She advised the report was completed in a timely manner, and no one other than FIU prepared the recommendations in the report.
Commissioner Sosa expressed concern with the County being involved in a study that should be and must be independent. She pointed out the study only looked at 14 specific neighborhoods; and her Commission District (District 6) was number two in low-income residents. Commissioner Sosa said she had problems with targeting areas such as South Miami which had incredible businesses; and not selecting areas that were in great need, for example, areas within Hialeah, Flagami, the City of Miami, unincorporated areas surrounding Miami International Airport, as well as areas in other Commission Districts.
Commissioner Sosa noted her concerns with the report’s recommendation that Miami-Dade County taxpayers contribute between $9.6 to $10.2 million in funding to provide for 14 specific neighborhoods, which would only address the needs of approximately 2,310 households; the creation of a Community Land Trust; and the creation of employee owned business cooperatives. She opined that some very low poverty areas were not considered, and noted she was not in favor of only one group being involved with the Metropolitan Center. Commissioner Sosa added that she requested a meeting with FIU’s president regarding the One Community One Goal initiative. She expressed concern about sending the wrong message, and using taxpayers’ dollars. Commissioner Sosa also noted her concern regarding the word “directive” in the study. She remarked that the study should have included Florida City to the north, to the east, to the west; and associations that had been assisting communities for years. Commissioner Sosa said she believed the study should be unbiased, non-political, and non-influenced; and opined that by approving the foregoing report she would be approving the “directive.”
Chairman Suarez suggested a caveat be included in the motion stating that the Committee took exception to identifying the 14 specific areas without taking into account that the poverty percentages were not listed, or were not thoroughly considered. He indicated his support for the report; however, suggested “recommendation” be used instead of “directive.”
Assistant County Attorney Terrence Smith advised the Committee was taking no action other than to accept the report; and was not enacting any of the recommendations.
Commissioner Levine Cava indicated that each of the items in the report would be robustly debated if legislation was proposed. She noted it would establish a bad precedent to begin evaluating the individual recommendations of a report that was presented to inform and guide the Committee.
Chairman Suarez said he would accept Commissioner Levine Cava’s approach; however, he would send a letter to FIU stating that the word “directive” was not the ideal one; and to be more careful in selecting neighborhoods to be more reflective of those statistics.
Commissioner Sosa asked Deputy Mayor Russell Benford to determine who requested the study on prosperity initiatives; what was FIU’s role and whether it was for free; what statistics were used to select the median incomes, and whether the statistics used were the ones conducted by the County and created by the census.
There being no further discussion, the Committee proceeded to vote on the foregoing report as presented.
Economic Prosperity Committee
6/16/2016
7B
Deferred
7/14/2016
P
REPORT:
Chairman Suarez presented a reasonable opportunity for the public to be heard on the foregoing report.
Ms. Yvonne Strafford, 2404 NW 64 Street, spoke in support of community land trust.
Ms. Shekeira Brown, South Florida Community Development Coalition, spoke in support of the foregoing item. She recommended that in moving forward with any of the strategies outlined in the Prosperity Initiatives Feasibility report, equity must be included and should be the driver of policies and new programs being proposed; that a comprehensive County approach be considered when investing public dollars; and that community residents, government, private businesses, especially the non-profit private sector, must be involved in this process. Ms. Brown noted the Coalition would continue to work with Miami-Dade County, the staff and stakeholders to be a resource to advocate and work for better outcomes.
Madame Holmes, WAAIVE of Women in Public Housing, Education, Finance and Development, 350 NW Lebrae Place, appeared in connection with the foregoing item. She asked that input be received from low-income African-American women who were public housing residents.
In response to Ms. Strafford’s comment regarding community land trust, Commissioner Levine Cava said it was one of the recommendations in the report, and she would be bringing an item regarding community land trust to the Committee in July. She offered to meet with Ms. Stafford to obtain her input.
Commissioner Sosa inquired whether this was an independent study conducted by FIU; and when was it made. She observed that the target cities did not include some of the very poor areas in the County.
Chairman Suarez recommended the foregoing item be deferred as Commissioner Sosa had concerns.
Commissioner Levine Cava clarified the report was prepared pursuant to Resolution No. R-454-15.
There being no further questions or comments, the Committee proceeded to defer the foregoing report to the July 14, 2016 Committee meeting.
Legislative Text
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