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1
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MINUTES PREPARED BY:
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REPORT:
Selena Brogdon, Commission Reporter
(305) 375-1475
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1A
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INVOCATION AS PROVIDED IN RULE 5.05 (H)
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REPORT:
The invocation was led by Commissioner McGhee.
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1B
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ROLL CALL
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REPORT:
Chairwoman Bastien called the Housing Committee (HC) meeting to order at 2:53 p.m.
In addition to Committee members, the following staff members were present:
Chief Community Service Officer, Cathy Burgos, Office of the Mayor;
Assistant County Attorneys Terrence Smith and Melissa Gallo; and
Deputy Clerk Selena Brogdon.
MOTION TO SET THE AGENDA
Assistant County Attorney (ACA) Terrence Smith announced that pursuant to Board Chairman Anthony Rodriguez's memorandum dated March 11, 2025, entitled "Requested Changes to the Housing Committee Agenda," Agenda Item 3D was added to the agenda.
Commissioner Higgins moved to approve today�s HC agenda with the aforementioned change. The motion was seconded by Vice Chairman Gonzalez and passed by a vote of 5-0.
Commissioner Higgins requested to pull Agenda Item 3A.
Later in the meeting, Commissioner McGhee moved to consider Agenda Items 2A, 2B, 2C, 3B, 3C, 3D, and 6A simultaneously. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Regalado and passed by a vote of 5-0.
NOTE: Agenda Items 2A, 2B, 2C, 3B, 3C, and 3D were forwarded to the Board with a favorable recommendation; and Agenda Item 6A was approved.
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1C
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PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
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REPORT:
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Commissioner McGhee.
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1D
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REASONABLE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PUBLIC TO BE HEARD AS PROVIDED IN RULE 6.06
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REPORT:
Chairwoman Bastien opened the reasonable opportunity to be heard, and the following individuals appeared before the Committee regarding Agenda Item 3A:
Ms. Sharon Frazier-Stevens, 145 Northeast 193rd Street, Miami, Florida, and Crime Watch Captain at Liberty Square, spoke regarding multiple agenda items. She requested clarification on Bill 1201 concerning the right to petition government and indicated that while the Crime Watch benefit package contained some positive elements, other provisions were not beneficial for the neighborhood.
Mr. Frank D'Angelo, 2860 Northwest 27th Avenue, Oakland Park, Florida, representing carpenters, pile drivers and millwrights in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties, expressed appreciation for SG Holdings' inclusion of worker protections in their project posting and urged that comprehensive worker protections including health, safety, wages and benefits be incorporated into the development agreement. He raised concerns about the hiring of illegal contractors, cash payment labor brokers, tax fraud, and wage theft.
Mr. Alexander Jiron, 1901 Northwest 22nd Court, Miami, Florida, spoke on behalf of community members. He acknowledged that SG Little River Holdings had begun negotiations with the community and emphasized the importance of the developer adhering to their written commitments to help the community.
Ms. Jenneva Clauss, 727 Almeria Avenue, Miami Beach, Florida, representing Build a Better Miami Coalition and People Acting for Community Together (PACT)Miami, advocated for comprehensive community benefits. She requested $500,000 be earmarked for the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) to offset rent increases that typically occur in areas surrounding new developments and an additional $1 million in allocations to support small businesses that would be impacted by the development. Ms. Clauss also commended the developer's commitment to heat protection standards for workers.
Mr. Nicholas Duran, 9860 Southwest 14th Street, Miami, Florida, representing Transit Alliance Miami, expressed support for the foregoing legislation particularly praising the dense, mixed-use housing development near transit with improved Tri-rail access. He noted that local wages and salaries had failed to keep pace with four years of inflation, resulting in longtime residents being priced out of their homes. He requested allocation of funds from the developer's revenue sharing agreement toward the Little Haiti Trust, emergency grants for historic small businesses, and funding for the Emergency Rental Assistance Program.
Mr. William Quinlan, 7221 Northeast 4th Court, Miami, Florida, expressed support for the development while acknowledging that community concerns were reasonable. He supported moving the project forward with appropriate protections for workers and the community.
Ms. Zaina Alsous, Miami Director for We Count and leader of Build a Better Miami Coalition, announced significant progress on heat protection advocacy. She reported that after constructive dialogue with Swerdlow Group, the developer had made a historic, precedent-setting public commitment to provide heat protections for workers throughout the project. She expressed hope that this commitment would establish a standard that spreads throughout Miami-Dade County to address the crisis in labor standards affecting workforce health and safety.
Ms. Maxine Mason, 520 Northwest 73rd Terrace, Miami, Florida, and President of Tenant Council at Victory Homes, requested a pause in the project approval process. She stated that Victory Homes residents had not been provided adequate time or opportunity to engage with the development process, had not met with Swerdlow developers, and remained largely uninformed about project details. She emphasized residents' right to meaningful input and noted that required Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) meetings had not been conducted.
Ms. Alana Greer, 3000 Biscayne Boulevard, Miami, Florida, with Community Justice Project, praised the level of community engagement while raising specific concerns about housing unit replacement. She identified a discrepancy between the original Request for Proposal documentation showing Victory Homes with 148 units and the RAD replacement plan showing only 144 units. She emphasized that this four-unit shortage would leave four families without affordable housing and cited federal law requiring one-for-one replacement of all occupied and vacant occupiable units.
Mr. Dwayne Thwaites, 6944 Northeast 3rd Avenue, Miami, Florida, called upon the Committee to establish comprehensive standards for future developments. He requested requirements for responsible contractors, affordable housing, small business grant allocations, rental assistance grant allocations, permanent employment opportunities for project contributors, and robust enforcement mechanisms for developers. He emphasized the importance of these standards for Miami-Dade County's future and the legacy of current commissioners.
Mr. Noel Cleland, 5990 Southwest 50th Street, Miami, Florida, expressed support for the housing program as an important step in addressing Miami's housing crisis. He stressed the critical importance of putting community benefits in writing rather than relying on verbal promises to ensure developer accountability. He emphasized protecting worker rights and ensuring that affordable housing remains genuinely affordable over time.
Mr. Victor Bracamonte, 2186 West 3rd Street, Apartment 2012, Miami, Florida, advocated for comprehensive employment protections in the development project. He proposed specific measures including contracting exclusively with responsible contractors who maintained clean backgrounds, ensuring all contractors complied with safety and employment standards, verifying contractors for any prior violations, and conducting thorough analysis of contractor background information.
Ms. Patricia Salahuddin, member of PACT, thanked the Commission and the developer for including community benefits while raising concerns about genuine affordability. She noted the inability to locate planned rent rates to verify whether area residents could actually afford the proposed housing and requested information about monitoring measures for community benefits implementation. She expressed support for earmarking funds for the ERAP program and small business assistance, emphasizing the need to clearly define what "affordable" means for the intended beneficiaries.
Mr. Arturo Rizo, 515 Southwest 12th Avenue, Miami, Florida, a construction worker with 11 years of experience, discussed his involvement in a month-long campaign with unions and community organizations focused on the Swerdlow Group development. He emphasized the critical need for responsible contractors, noting that Miami construction work was both physically demanding and dangerous with inadequately low wages and frequent accidents. He reported the alarming statistic that a construction worker died every four days in Florida and expressed pride that after negotiations with Swerdlow Group, the company committed to contracting exclusively with responsible contractors who had not violated labor laws.
Mr. Luciano Pascual, 515 Southwest 12th Avenue, Miami, Florida, advocated for extreme heat protection as a priority for all Miami construction sites. He outlined specific needs including immediate access to cold drinking water upon arrival at work rather than after hours of heat exposure, availability of shaded rest areas, and access to medical assistance when workers felt ill. He noted that �We Count� had been advocating for these protections for years and expressed pride in the coalition's success in securing Swerdlow Group's public commitment to implement comprehensive safety standards against extreme heat.
Mr. Ruben Alvarez, 515 Southwest 12th Avenue, Miami, Florida, a construction worker with over 15 years of experience and �We Count� member, described the organization's multi-year campaign for extreme heat protections for outdoor workers in Florida. He highlighted the fact that Florida held the nation's highest rate of heat-related illnesses and expressed enthusiasm about collaborating with Swerdlow Group to implement historic worker protections.
Mr. Ashley Toussaint, co-lead organizer of Black Men Build Miami, lifelong Little Haiti resident, business owner, and Vice Chair of Little Haiti Trust, requested financial commitments from both Swerdlow Group and Miami-Dade County to protect historic small businesses. He advocated for partnering with the Little Haiti Trust as an established fiscal steward, noting the organization had already successfully allocated $1.5 million in grants to support small businesses. He specifically requested a minimum of $1 million for emergency small business grants to protect historic enterprises from displacement during the multi-year construction process.
Ms. Eileen Malecki, 1040 Lenox Avenue, Miami Beach, Florida, a medical student with Dade County Street Response, emphasized Florida's unfortunate distinction as the nation's leader in emergency room visits and hospital admissions due to heat-related illnesses. She expressed appreciation for Swerdlow's commitment to having medical professionals on-site during heat advisories and advocated for employer-sponsored health insurance as a fundamental worker benefit.
Ms. Arlette Adams, 2455 Northwest 46th Street, Miami, Florida, representing Annie Coleman Resident Council, advocated for Victory Homes residents and requested a 60 to 90-day deferral of the item. She expressed concern that residents had been excluded from the input process and that development agreements had been drafted without meaningful resident participation. Drawing from her council's experience with similar redevelopment processes, she emphasized the importance of addressing resident concerns before reaching the approval stage.
Ms. Ravina Bhui, 950 Euclid Avenue, Miami Beach, Florida, a medical student with Dade County Street Response, provided heat-related statistics while praising Swerdlow's responsiveness to heat protection advocacy. She reported that during the previous year's May through August period, Miami-Dade experienced no days with heat index readings below 91 degrees. She noted that heat exposure killed an average of 34 people annually in Miami-Dade County and hospitalized hundreds more from severe complications including heat stroke, dehydration, and acute kidney injury. She emphasized that workers deserved air-conditioned recovery areas monitored by medical professionals and should not be required to work outdoors during heat advisories.
Ms. Erica Varela, 450 Northwest 73rd Terrace, Miami, Florida, a Victory Homes resident, expressed frustration and confusion about the project's impact on residents' daily lives. She emphasized that residents had not been consulted about the project affecting their community and requested an opportunity for dialogue with developers and Public Housing and Community Development staff before the item�s approval. She stressed residents' right to understand and provide input on proposals affecting their homes and community.
Ms. Paulette Darrow, 2422 Northwest 12th Avenue, Miami, Florida, a public housing resident, stated that the proposed package would not adequately serve public housing residents and requested the commission reconsider the terms with residents' needs in mind.
Ms. Sneha Kapil, 133 Northeast 2nd Avenue, Miami, Florida, a third-year medical student at University of Miami appeared on behalf of Dade County Street Response, emphasized the power of government decision-making in citizens' lives. She highlighted the Commission's opportunity to implement development practices that directly improved people's quality of life through community benefits agreements with private developers. From a healthcare perspective, she emphasized the critical importance of preventative health measures and accessible healthcare coverage, noting that patients without adequate insurance often delayed medical care until their conditions became severe and expensive to treat. She advocated for safe working conditions and heat protections as investments that prevented costly emergency room visits, reduced chronic disease progression, and improved overall worker productivity and community health.
Mr. Theophilus Williams, 1391 Northwest 95th Street, Miami, Florida, advocated for comprehensive protections for Victory Homes residents while raising broader questions about public housing funding accountability. He referenced Congressman Williams' securing of $90 million for public housing and low-income resident safety, questioning how those funds were being utilized. He expressed concern about inadequate communication with taxpayers and noted that residents with medical conditions were not receiving proper representation or information during rapid development processes. He cited historical patterns of public housing tenant displacement without adequate emergency housing assistance or financial support.
Ms. Melody Torrens, 2080 Northwest 13th Street, Miami, Florida, a PACT member, approached the issue as a proponent of responsible development who had thoroughly reviewed both the 322-page development agreement and the community benefits agreement. She identified two critical gaps in the Community Benefits Agreement: first, a $1 million fund for emergency grants to small businesses that would be impacted during the multi-year development process to prevent the loss of historic mom-and-pop businesses in Little Haiti; and second, a $500,000 allocation for the ERAP program to assist area tenants with housing costs.
Mr. Fernando Bueno, 1818 Southwest 1st Avenue, Miami, Florida, a fourth-year medical student with Dade County Street Response, acknowledged the developer's groundbreaking commitment to construction worker protections while emphasizing the critical importance of employer-sponsored health insurance. He highlighted that three out of four construction workers in Florida lacked health insurance coverage despite working in one of the State's most hazardous industries. He expressed appreciation for Swerdlow's commitment to compliance oversight through Community Awareness Construction Services for heat protection requirements and looked forward to collaboration with responsible contractors who prioritize worker health.
Ms. Myeshia Bryant, 12026 Northeast 16th Avenue, Miami, Florida, representing Build a Better Miami and Black Men Build, focused on maximizing protections and benefits for both residents and workers in the face of new development. While expressing pride that thousands of affordable housing units would become available through the project, she raised concerns about true affordability based on area median incomes. Drawing from her 10 years of experience as an educator, she noted that income thresholds reaching $90,000 annually excluded many local families and community members from accessing supposedly "affordable" housing in their own neighborhoods. She advocated for income-responsible development that serves existing community members rather than displacing them.
Ms. Deventria Stratford, 720 Northwest 54th Street, Miami, Florida, a We Count member, expressed concern about patterns of prioritizing profit over people, particularly affecting Black and brown residents who had experienced broken promises in Liberty City, Brownsville, Scott Carver, and Liberty Square. She noted that Little Haiti and Little River residents now faced similar threats that would impact their communities, small businesses, and working families. She emphasized that residents deserved commitments rather than empty promises and highlighted the coalition's door-to-door community engagement and vision-building efforts.
Mr. Leroy Lee, 1131 Northwest 57th Street, Miami, Florida, a University of Florida College of Law graduate, provided historical and legal context by referencing legislation from 1930, 1968, and 1992 that specifically mandated tenant involvement in all planning phases from project inception through completion, including financial planning phases. He observed the irony that while workers were well-represented in the proceedings, tenant voices were notably absent despite legal requirements for their participation. He noted the concerning pattern of increasing development without corresponding increases in tax revenue or truly affordable housing units, urging adherence to statutory intent requiring meaningful tenant involvement throughout the development process.
Mr. Jose Felix Diaz, 2 Alhambra Plaza, Coral Gables, Florida, representing Swerdlow Group, brought personal perspective to the heat protection discussion by sharing his background as a construction worker before becoming an attorney. He described the physical reality of construction work in Miami's challenging heat conditions. He emphasized that Swerdlow Group had engaged with the community early in the process and made unprecedented commitments to heat protections. He distinguished his client from other developers by noting that unlike many in the industry, Mr. Swerdlow had not opposed heat protection measures when previously considered by the Commission, demonstrating genuine commitment to worker safety and continued community engagement.
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1E
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SPECIAL PRESENTATION(S)
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1F
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DISCUSSION ITEM(S)
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1G
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PUBLIC HEARING(S)
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2
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COUNTY COMMISSION
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2A
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250348
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Resolution
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Keon Hardemon
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RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING CONVEYANCE, PURSUANT TO SECTION 125.379, FLORIDA STATUTES, OF CERTAIN COUNTY-OWNED PROPERTY (FOLIO NO. 30-3115-040-0800) WHICH HAS PREVIOUSLY BEEN DECLARED SURPLUS AND PLACED ON THE INVENTORY LIST OF REAL PROPERTIES, TO AFFORDABLE LIVING OPPORTUNITY FUND, INC, A FLORIDA FOR PROFIT CORPORATION, AT A PRICE OF $10.00, FOR THE PURPOSE OF DEVELOPING SUCH PROPERTY WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO BE SOLD OR RENTED TO HOUSEHOLDS WHOSE INCOME DO NOT EXCEED 120 PERCENT OF AREA MEDIAN INCOME IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 125.379, FLORIDA STATUTES; DIRECTING THE COUNTY MAYOR OR COUNTY MAYOR�S DESIGNEE TO TAKE ALL ACTIONS NECESSARY TO ACCOMPLISH THE CONVEYANCE OF THE PROPERTY; AUTHORIZING THE CHAIRPERSON OR VICE-CHAIRPERSON OF THE BOARD TO EXECUTE A COUNTY DEED FOR SUCH PURPOSE; AND AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY MAYOR OR COUNTY MAYOR�S DESIGNEE TO EXERCISE ALL RIGHTS CONFERRED THEREIN, TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE A RENTAL REGULATORY AGREEMENT AND ENFORCE THE PROVISIONS THEREIN, AND TO ENSURE PLACEMENT OF APPROPRIATE SIGNAGE; WAIVING RESOLUTION NO. R-407-19 REQUIRING FOUR WEEKS ADVANCE WRITTEN NOTICE PRIOR TO BOARD CONSIDERATION, RESOLUTION NO. R-130-06 REQUIRING AGREEMENTS TO BE FINALIZED AND EXECUTED BY ALL NON-COUNTY PARTIES, RESOLUTION NO. R-758-21, REQUIRING THE DISCLOSURE OF THE OWNERSHIP INTERESTS OF ENTITIES TO OR FROM WHOM THE COUNTY CONVEYS OR LEASES REAL PROPERTY, RESOLUTION NO. R-376-11, REQUIRING PROVISION OF CERTAIN BACKGROUND INFORMATION CONCERNING THE PROPERTIES, AND IMPLEMENTING ORDER NO. 8-4 REGARDING GUIDELINES AND PROCEDURES FOR SALE, LEASE AND CONVEYANCE OF COUNTY REAL PROPERTY
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Forwarded to the BCC by the BCC Chairperson with a favorable recommendation
Mover: Kionne L. McGhee
Seconder: Raquel A. Regalado
Vote: 5 - 0
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REPORT:
The sponsoring commissioner requested that the foregoing proposed resolution be advanced to the March 18, 2025 Board meeting.
The Clerk of the Board received notice that the foregoing proposed resolution has been forwarded to the March 18, 2025 Board meeting.
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2B
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250371
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Resolution
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Keon Hardemon
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RESOLUTION APPROVING, AFTER PUBLIC HEARING, PURSUANT TO SECTION 125.379, FLORIDA STATUTES, THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF AN AMENDED AND RESTATED DECLARATION OF RESTRICTIONS (�AMENDED DECLARATION�) WHICH ORIGINAL DECLARATION OF RESTRICTIONS WAS PREVIOUSLY ENTERED INTO BETWEEN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY AND 0101 MIAMI PROPERTIES, LLC, AS GRANTEE, FOR FOUR SEPARATE PARCELS OF LAND, LOCATED AT 678/84/90 NW 7 STREET AND 566 NW 7 AVENUE, IN THE CITY OF MIAMI (FOLIO NUMBERS: 01-0105-010-1080, 01-0105-010-1100, 01-0105-010-1060, AND 01-0105-010-1120), TO ALLOW THE PARCELS TO BE UTILIZED FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING, TO BE SOLD OR RENTED TO HOUSEHOLDS WHOSE INCOME DOES NOT EXCEED 120 PERCENT OF AREA MEDIAN INCOME, FOR A 30-YEAR TERM, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 125.379, FLORIDA STATUTES; AND DIRECTING AND AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY MAYOR OR COUNTY MAYOR�S DESIGNEE (1) TO EXECUTE THE AMENDED DECLARATION, (2) TO TAKE ALL ACTIONS NECESSARY TO EXERCISE ALL RIGHTS CONFERRED IN THE AMENDED DECLARATION, AND (3) TO TAKE ALL ACTIONS NECESSARY TO EFFECTUATE SAME
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Forwarded to the BCC by the BCC Chairperson with a favorable recommendation
Mover: Kionne L. McGhee
Seconder: Raquel A. Regalado
Vote: 5 - 0
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REPORT:
The sponsoring commissioner requested that the foregoing proposed resolution be advanced to the March 18, 2025 Board meeting.
The Clerk of the Board received notice that the foregoing proposed resolution has been forwarded to the March 18, 2025 Board meeting.
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2C
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250421
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Resolution
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Kionne L. McGhee
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RESOLUTION APPROVING AMENDMENT TO CONTRACT FOR SALE AND PURCHASE AND DECLARATION OF RESTRICTIONS WITH RESPECT TO CONVEYANCE OF APPROXIMATELY 17.32 ACRES OF VACANT COUNTY-OWNED LAND IDENTIFIED AS FOLIO NUMBERS 30-6005-060-0060 AND 30-6006-029-0010 LOCATED AT SW 190TH STREET AND SW 108TH AVENUE, MIAMI-DADE COUNTY TO SG CUTLER BAY LLC, A FLORIDA LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY, FOR CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE OF A COSTCO WHOLESALE FACILITY APPROVED PURSUANT TO RESOLUTION NO. R-413-24; PROVIDING FOR, AMONG OTHER AMENDMENTS, A REVISED TIMELINE TO ALIGN WITH LEASE BETWEEN SG CUTLER BAY LLC AND COSTCO; AUTHORIZING AND DIRECTING THE COUNTY MAYOR OR COUNTY MAYOR�S DESIGNEE TO: (1) EXECUTE AMENDMENT AND, AT CLOSING, REVISED DECLARATION OF RESTRICTIONS AND TO EXERCISE ALL PROVISIONS CONTAINED THEREIN AND TAKE ALL ACTIONS TO EFFECTUATE SAME; (2) EXECUTE ESTOPPEL LETTER; AND (3) NEGOTIATE TERMS OF A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT WITH SWERDLOW GROUP, LLC, FOR DEVELOPMENT OF 400 UNITS OF WORKFORCE HOUSING ON THE WASD PROPERTIES LOCATED AT 11800 SW 208TH STREET AND 20900 SW 117TH AVENUE AND TO PRESENT SUCH AGREEMENT AND ANY RECOMMENDATION FROM THE COUNTY MAYOR WITH RESPECT THERETO TO THIS BOARD, SUBJECT TO CERTAIN CONDITIONS, OR TO PRESENT A REPORT TO THIS BOARD
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Forwarded to the BCC by the BCC Chairperson with a favorable recommendation
Mover: Kionne L. McGhee
Seconder: Raquel A. Regalado
Vote: 5 - 0
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REPORT:
Commissioner McGhee requested that the foregoing proposed resolution be forwarded to the March 18, 2025 Board meeting.
The Clerk of the Board received notice that the foregoing proposed resolution has been forwarded to the March 18, 2025 Board meeting.
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3
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DEPARTMENT(S)
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3A
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250354
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Resolution
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Keon Hardemon
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RESOLUTION APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY MAYOR OR COUNTY MAYOR�S DESIGNEE TO: (1) EXECUTE, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 125.35, FLORIDA STATUTES, AND SUBJECT TO THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT�S (HUD) APPROVAL, A 99-YEAR LEASE AND DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT (LDA) AND RELATED AGREEMENTS, INCLUDING AN OPTION TO LEASE AGREEMENT, WITH SG LITTLE RIVER HOLDINGS, LLC (SG) ASSOCIATED WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF VICTORY HOMES, NEWBERG, GWEN CHERRY 22, GWEN CHERRY 06 AND NEW HAVEN GARDENS (DEVELOPMENTS) IN THE TOTAL ESTIMATED AMOUNT OF $9,560,341,194.00 WHICH SUCH LDA INCLUDES ONE 99-YEAR OPTION TO RENEW, CAPITALIZED GROUND LEASE PAYMENT OF $45,840,000.00, ANNUAL LEASE PAYMENTS TOTALING $5,250,000.00, PAYMENT OF 30 PERCENT OF THE DEVELOPER FEES ESTIMATED AT $37,584,852.00, MONTHLY DAVIS BACON MONITORING FEES IN THE AMOUNT OF $3,000.00, ESTIMATED AT $144,000.00, AND 16 PERCENT OF THE NET PROCEEDS OF THE SALE OR REFINANCE OF THE SUBJECT PROPERTY, (3) EXERCISE ALL PROVISIONS CONTAINED IN THE LDA (4) SUBJECT TO HUD�S APPROVAL, EXECUTE ALL NECESSARY RENTAL ASSISTANCE DEMONSTRATION AND/OR MIXED-FINANCE AGREEMENTS AND ALL OTHER DOCUMENTS RELATED TO THE DEVELOPMENT; (5) SUBMIT A DEMOLITION AND/OR DISPOSITION APPLICATION TO HUD, IF REQUIRED; AND (6) EXECUTE AMENDMENTS TO ANNUAL CONTRIBUTIONS CONTRACTS, IF REQUIRED; AND WAIVING SECTION 2-10.4.2 OF THE CODE OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA
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Forwarded to BCC with a favorable recommendation
Mover: Raquel A. Regalado
Seconder: Eileen Higgins
Vote: 5 - 0
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REPORT:
Commissioner Higgins thanked the attendees for their participation and commended the developer for proactively meeting with the community. She expressed particular appreciation for the heat protection covenant received over the weekend, describing it as an innovative solution that allowed for heat protections despite State preemption preventing local government action on the issue.
Commissioner Higgins inquired whether community meetings had been conducted and would continue to ensure resident feedback was incorporated into the process.
Mr. Alex Ballina, Director, Public Housing and Community Development (PHCD), confirmed that a meeting had been held on March 6, 2025 with approximately 200 participants at St. Mary's Cathedral community room. He explained that the meeting covered the RAD process, residents' rights, and presented details of the new redevelopment plans. Mr. Ballina committed to scheduling additional meetings, including one in mid-March and approximately four to five more throughout the process to keep residents engaged and informed.
Commissioner Higgins inquired about incorporating community feedback from the meeting into the final community benefits package and asked whether $1 million was adequate funding to support neighborhood small businesses and prevent adverse impacts from the development.
Michael Liu, Chief Strategy Officer and Executive Vice President for Swerdlow Group, responded that the company would engage with the community to discuss economic development initiatives. He noted that Miami-Dade County and Public Housing and Community Development would be included in these discussions. Mr. Liu reported that Swerdlow Group would provide Miami-Dade County $9.5 billion throughout the term of the lease and suggested collaborative discussions between the community, Miami-Dade County, and PHCD to determine appropriate utilization of funds for small business assistance.
Commissioner Higgins encouraged Mr. Liu to increase engagement with small businesses and acknowledged both Mr. Ballina and the Swerdlow Group for their professional contributions. She highlighted that their collaborative efforts would produce significant community benefits including 2,300 affordable units, an additional 1,400 workforce-priced units, and a new tri-rail station, describing it as a precedent-setting project.
Commissioner Regalado recommended implementing virtual meetings to maintain community information flow throughout the development process. She suggested conducting webinars when milestones were achieved, followed by physical meetings, and utilizing QR codes with links to keep the community connected and informed. She referenced successful implementation of this approach in previous projects.
Mr. Mike Swerdlow, the developer, assured the Committee that no small businesses would be relocated or adversely affected by the project. He stated that the development would instead create opportunities for small business revitalization in the area. Mr. Swerdlow described negotiations with large national retailers including Publix, Home Depot, and BJ's, with agreements already completed or near completion. He explained that the project design included 30-40 small store spaces expected to be occupied by small businesses that would benefit from proximity to the large retailers and the planned train station.
Chairwoman Bastien inquired about community outreach methods to ensure accurate feedback collection and how community input from the current meeting would be incorporated into the community benefits package.
Mr. Ballina explained that for public housing residents, staff conducted door-to-door outreach and distributed flyers. For the surrounding neighborhood, he advised PHCD collaborated with Swerdlow Group's community outreach team to engage area residents.
Mr. Ballina clarified that the public housing component was part of a larger master plan involving 314 units scheduled for redevelopment, with each unit being replaced to ensure no net loss of affordable housing. He assured Committee members that there would be no resident displacement or multiple relocations because residents would move directly from existing units into newly constructed buildings.
Regarding incorporation of community feedback from the meeting, Mr. Ballina stated that staff was scheduling another community meeting and would consult internally with departmental attorneys to determine whether additional items raised during public testimony could be incorporated into the final community benefits package.
Chairwoman Bastien requested Mr. Ballina to obtain contact information from the various community groups present at the meeting to ensure they received notification of future community meetings.
Chairwoman Bastien acknowledged the Swerdlow Group for their collaborative work with �We Count� and encouraged continued community engagement throughout the development process. She also commended Commissioner Higgins for the efficient execution of her housing project.
Chairwoman Bastien referenced her own housing project at 2750 Northwest 20th Street, noting that it had been approved over six months prior but had experienced significant delays due to what she characterized as unreasonable requests and demands that prevented the developer from proceeding. She requested a meeting with the administration during the week to identify solutions for advancing her project.
There being no other comments or objections, the Committee proceeded to vote on the foregoing proposed resolution, as presented.
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3B
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250200
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Resolution
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Keon Hardemon
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RESOLUTION APPROVING THE CONVEYANCE OF A NON-EXCLUSIVE PERMANENT EASEMENT TO FLORIDA POWER & LIGHT COMPANY (FPL) FOR A NOMINAL AMOUNT FOR THE PURPOSE OF FPL CONSTRUCTING, OPERATING AND MAINTAINING UNDERGROUND ELECTRIC UTILITY FACILITIES, INCLUDING CABLES, CONDUITS, APPURTENANT EQUIPMENT, AND APPURTENANT ABOVE-GROUND EQUIPMENT, FOR THE LIBERTY SQUARE PHASE FOUR DEVELOPMENT; AND AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY MAYOR OR COUNTY MAYOR�S DESIGNEE TO EXECUTE THE EASEMENT CONVEYANCE DOCUMENT, TO TAKE ALL ACTIONS TO EFFECTUATE SAME, AND TO EXERCISE ALL PROVISIONS CONTAINED THEREIN
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Forwarded to BCC with a favorable recommendation
Mover: Kionne L. McGhee
Seconder: Raquel A. Regalado
Vote: 5 - 0
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3C
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250320
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Resolution
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Keon Hardemon
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RESOLUTION APPROVING OF AND AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY MAYOR OR COUNTY MAYOR�S DESIGNEE, SUBJECT TO THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT�S APPROVAL, IF NECESSARY, TO EXECUTE AN AMENDMENT TO THE GROUND LEASE WITH LIBERTY SQUARE PHASE FOUR, LLC, A FLORIDA LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AND AN AFFILIATE OF RELATED URBAN DEVELOPMENT GROUP, LLC, TO EXTEND THE TERM OF THE GROUND LEASE FROM 75 YEARS TO 99 YEARS AS REQUIRED BY THE FLORIDA HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION AND SECTION 196.1978(4), FLORIDA STATUTE; AND AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY MAYOR OR COUNTY MAYOR�S DESIGNEE TO EXERCISE ALL PROVISIONS CONTAINED IN THE GROUND LEASE
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Forwarded to BCC with a favorable recommendation
Mover: Kionne L. McGhee
Seconder: Raquel A. Regalado
Vote: 5 - 0
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3D
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250558
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Resolution
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Eileen Higgins
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RESOLUTION APPROVING THE AWARD OF DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS TO RUDG, LLC (RUDG) FOR THE DEVELOPMENT IN ACCORDANCE WITH REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) PM-EVN0004629, 1175 N.W. SOUTH RIVER DRIVE DEVELOPMENT PROJECT; APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY MAYOR OR COUNTY MAYOR�S DESIGNEE TO: (1) EXECUTE A MASTER DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT (MDA) WITH RUDG IN THE TOTAL ESTIMATED AMOUNT OF $270,169,284.00; (2) EXECUTE, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 125.35, FLORIDA STATUTES, A 99-YEAR GROUND LEASE (LEASE) WITH RUDG, IN THE TOTAL ESTIMATED AMOUNT OF $265,552,717.00, (3) EXERCISE ALL PROVISIONS CONTAINED IN THE LEASE AND MDA (4) SUBJECT TO THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT�S (HUD) APPROVAL, EXECUTE ALL NECESSARY RENTAL ASSISTANCE DEMONSTRATION AND/OR MIXED-FINANCE AGREEMENTS AND ALL OTHER DOCUMENTS RELATED TO THE DEVELOPMENT; AND (5) EXECUTE AMENDMENTS TO ANNUAL CONTRIBUTIONS CONTRACTS, IF REQUIRED BY HUD
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Forwarded to BCC with a favorable recommendation
Mover: Kionne L. McGhee
Seconder: Raquel A. Regalado
Vote: 5 - 0
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REPORT:
Commissioner Higgins requested that the foregoing proposed resolution be forwarded to the March 18, 2025 Board meeting.
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4
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COUNTY MAYOR
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5
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COUNTY ATTORNEY
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6
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CLERK OF THE BOARD
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6A
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250355
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Report
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Clerk of the Board |
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APPROVAL OF THE CLERK�S SUMMARY OF MINUTES FOR THE FOLLOWING HOUSING COMMITTEE MEETING(S):
� JANUARY 14, 2025
� FEBRUARY 11, 2025
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Approved
Mover: Kionne L. McGhee
Seconder: Raquel A. Regalado
Vote: 5 - 0
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6B
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250405
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Report
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Clerk of the Board |
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APPROVAL OF THE CLERK�S SUMMARY OF MINUTES FOR THE OCTOBER 7, 2024 AND NOVEMBER 12, 2024 HOUSING, RECREATION, CULTURE & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETING
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Approved
Mover: Kionne L. McGhee
Seconder: Raquel A. Regalado
Vote: 5 - 0
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7
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REPORT(S)
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8
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ADJOURNMENT
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REPORT:
There being no further business to come before the HC, the meeting adjourned at 3:57 p.m.
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| 8/7/2026 |
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Agenda Key: 5235 |