Miami-Dade County

Commission Pokes Holes in Effort to Lower Gas Prices

Relief isn’t necessarily in sight for gas consumers, even with a proposed temporary tax cut by the county.

By Angie Hargot

The Miami-Dade County Board of County Commissioners passed an ordinance on first reading suspending half of the county’s local gas tax for three months, but some debate arose over if and when the break would take effect.

The ordinance, which would need to be approved on second reading by July 1 to take effect next year, has come under heavy fire by commissioners and the media alike. Sponsored by District 11 Commissioner Joe Martinez, the ordinance would suspend two cents of the remaining three cents of the 1993-nickel tax, and is shadowed by a larger initiative to urge the state and federal governments “quickly to impose a temporary reduction in federal motor fuel taxes for a period of three months.”

The revenue from the county’s nickel tax currently goes to fund various transportation projects, including road and infrastructure improvement. Martinez proposed postponing some of those capital improvement projects while drivers enjoy the hypothetical tax break.

“What does it matter if I have a beautiful road if I can’t drive to work?” Martinez said Tuesday.

During discussion of the item, many commissioners said one problem with Martinez’s effort is that, in reality, the savings would not be passed on to consumers. There is no regulation of fuel prices, they argued, so the county can reduce the tax it charges, but gas retailers do not have to reduce the ultimate price that drivers pay — and the extra money could end up in the gas stations’ pockets.

And many feel Martinez’s solution to skyrocketing gas costs sidesteps a long-term solution to the political fuel quagmire.

“If I thought that they would pass it up to the consumers, that’s one thing,” District 8 Commissioner Katy Sorenson said. “But the people who might benefit [could be] in Kabul. What will consumers benefit most from?” Sorenson said it’s not a break in taxes now, but a solution to energy dependence: “Energy conservation … biofuels and improved mass transit,” offering that the measure would only encourage more dependence on foreign oil.

“There’s no guarantee that anyone is going to pass [savings] on to consumers, and they probably won’t,” Sorenson said.

With at least six weeks required between first reading and public hearing, and four weeks' notification to the county’s various municipalities before the hearing can be held, and taking into account an already set fiscal budget, the effects, if any, would not be felt during the summer driving boom, as Martinez hoped.

Commissioner Sally Heyman theorized the help at the pump for drivers would end up being “miniscule,” and was concerned about getting “a return for our constituents.”

County Manager George Burgess estimated the tax break would technically translate into about a $9.2 million break countywide for the three-month lag in the tax, distributed across the county’s municipalities based on a formula.

But “it’s not going to have any effect on the price at the pump,” Burgess predicted, and theorized that the capital improvement projects the taxes currently fund are “worth more than putting money in [consumers’] pockets.”

Burgess, responding to some commissioners’ speculation that prices would drop in the coming months anyway, offered that the efforts also may be in vain for this summer, when considering the calendar for legislative action, “… if not imposed by July 1 — for cities to be able to voice their concerns, and notifying the state to change the rate.”

He also waxed philosophic: “Even when [the gas tax] is reduced, it takes away from the county but it doesn’t help the constituents.”

Martinez fired back that with the county’s other transportation taxes in place, the lack of local option fuel tax revenue would not detract from ongoing projects, saying “with the half penny, GOB, and impact fees … you’re telling me that by delaying some projects it’s going to hurt anything?” He equated the three-month partial gas tax hiatus as akin to the county’s annual hurricane and back-to-school tax holidays.

Commissioners passed the item on first reading 7-5, but revisited the fuel tax relief issue later in the day.

Switching legislative focus, Martinez’s other item on the subject, which additionally urges Congress to temporarily reduce federal motor fuel taxes for three months, seemed a little more up the commission’s alley — characterized by District 9 Commissioner Dennis Moss to “launch an investigation” and urge the state Legislature to look into a more effective break for consumers.

“It’s not going to help the consumer,” Moss said. “We need to keep the money and improve transportation.”

District 6 Commissioner Rebeca Sosa offered up an amendment that the item, about to pass, require that the savings from gas tax breaks be passed on to consumers.

The temporary suspension of the local option fuel tax “might have an impact of $9 million,” Martinez said. “And I believe that it will help drivers. I really do.”

The local option fuel tax item will come before the Budget and Finance Committee on June 12.

Comments? E-mail angie@miamisunpost.com.

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Miami Beach

Memorial Day Weekend

By Patrick Jordan

Miami Beach Police on Memorial Day weekend 2006. File photo by Erik Bojnansky.

The bass from car stereo systems echoes for blocks as half-dressed females and hormone-driven guys looking to have a good time in their own ways flood the streets as if Mardi Gras has found a new location.

Welcome to South Beach. It’s Memorial Day weekend.

People from all over the world come down to Miami Beach during this time to have fun and “party like a Rockstar.” A college-driven weekend, many students and young people, predominately young African-American visitors, are drawn to an area known for its celebrities and sexy image. But there’s another factor that comes into play for the predominately young, African-American visitors to South Beach during Memorial Day weekend: a heavy police presence. And now the NAACP and the American Civil Liberties Union are questioning why arrests doubled on Memorial Day weekend from 2005 to 2006. According to a 2006 SunPost article, 85 percent of the arrests made during last year’s weekend were misdemeanors. One of those who has questioned many of these arrests is Mel Reeves, president of the Miami-Dade NAACP.

“People were actually arrested for loud music and various other ludicrous things. We got reports from people getting arrested for standing on the sidewalks minding their own business. The NBA player Gilbert Arenas was arrested for asking police why his teammate was being arrested. It’s foolish, just foolish,” said Reeves.

In the years since Memorial Day weekend 2001, when large crowds of partiers overwhelmed Miami Beach police, the city has revved up its security presence. Last year the city announced a no-tolerance policy against infractions during Memorial Day weekend. “We don’t want to ruin that festive atmosphere, but by the same token people have to respect the law,” Det. Bobby Hernandez told the Miami Herald recently. “We’re a very small community and we have to have strict guidelines.”

When asked about his expectations and possible concerns for the weekend, Mervin Robinson, 29, a resident of Miami and a local club promoter, said, “Promoters like me look forward to this weekend for business. So, I hope the increase in arrests within the past two years does not put a damper on the crowd and festivities for this weekend.”

Can the presence of 100 or so individuals sporting bright gold T-shirts to identify them as “Goodwill Ambassadors” and acting as liaisons between visitors and the city help keep things under control?

“I really hope it does,” said Robinson. “Miami is the urban place to party on Memorial Day weekend. I understand that this is a small community and people have to obey the law, but I think sometimes the police get too obsessive with their arrests. For instance, a friend of mine got arrested last year on Miami Beach for assault because he was having a heated argument with his girlfriend. So, if the police continue on their arrest sweep, it might get crazy on the Beach this weekend.”

Carlene Sawyer, president of the ACLU’s Miami chapter, said her organization wants to make sure race doesn’t play a part in the high number of arrests.

“We want to make sure that racial profiling is avoided. It’s all about equal treatment and equal protection,” Sawyer said, adding that “the city manager [Jorge Gonzalez] has been really diligent. They’ve been very cooperative and we hope that people are treated the same regardless of what day it is.”

But is the city going too far in enforcing the law? Is race an issue?

“Absolutely not. It has nothing to do with color. It’s all based on numbers. The Miami Beach Police Department is doing a wonderful job and have done so with all of our events during occasions in which large numbers of people have come down to South Beach. The city makes all the necessary provisions to ensure public safety,” said A.C. Weinstein, senior advisor to Miami Beach Mayor David Dermer.

Reeves agrees with Weinstein, to a degree.

“There does seem to be a prejudice against young kids out here. It doesn’t just have to do with race. They’re here to have a good time, not to cause trouble. There’s a difference between enforcing the law and enforcing bias,” he said.

Reeves hopes Memorial Day weekend soon becomes a non-issue.

“We’ve been meeting with the ACLU and the Miami Beach Police. If they [the Police] take some of our recommendations, hopefully things will turn around. We don’t want to have to talk about this anymore,” he said.

Trained observers from the ACLU will be out during the weekend and Reeves says the NAACP has set up a hotline to record police complaints from anyone who wants to voice concerns about this issue. The number is 786-363-2729.

The city of Miami Beach Answer Center can be reached 305-604-2489.

—     Youseline Aldajuste and Erik Bojnansky contributed to this report.

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Herman’s Bank Adventure

Police Report Filed on Mayoral Candidate

By Ryan Brown

A Miami Beach police report was filed on a mayoral candidate after he was accused of harassing bank employees.

According to a police report dated April 20, Raphael Herman, a Miami Beach mayoral candidate, walked into Regions Bank on 41st Street on March 20 and “advised [the bank] that he is running for mayor of the city of Miami Beach and needs to open a campaign account.” Dario Coleman, the bank manager, replied that he had to “check the bank policy in reference to that type of account.” Several days later, a certified letter was sent from the bank notifying him that “the bank is not going to open the campaign account,” according to the police report, which goes on to state that Herman went back to the bank on April 20 and began to “harass the tellers” and tell Coleman to “be careful because he [Herman] was going to start following Mr. Coleman around town.”

Herman was gone when the police arrived, the report stated. Herman did not return phone calls from the SunPost.

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Miami

To Be Continued …

Missing Materials Halt Hearing for Controversial Supper Club

By Ryan Brown

A crowd of Coconut Grove residents seated in Miami City Hall readied themselves for a fight when liquor lawyer Louis Terminello approached the podium at the most recent Miami Zoning Board meeting on May 21.

But they didn’t get a chance to argue their case.

The topic of discussion was a proposed supper club in Coconut Grove at 2801 Florida Ave. Garvett Holdings, LLC and Florida Grove, LLC sought a special exception from the Zoning Board in order to open up a club that will serve alcohol until 5 a.m.

The project has created a backlash from nearby residents who feel it would create street congestion and disturbances throughout the Grove. They packed City Hall, many of them coming straight from work, to argue that the special exception should not be granted.

But the applicants were not present because of “pressing matters,” according to Terminello. He asked that the item be continued to a later date, making it a wasted trip for the Grove residents who saw the request as a stall tactic.

“We believe the only purpose of this, and the reason they’re not here tonight, is to try to wear us down,” said Michael Lauder, a Grove resident who lives near to the proposed club.

Lauder also noted that previous tenants of the location in question had requested, and were granted, four continuances for a similar proposed project.

The Zoning Board couldn’t have heard the case even if it wanted to — the project specs and planning recommendations had been removed from the members’ informational packets.

Zoning board member Ron Cordon noted that continuances are usually granted to first-time applicants and said that shouldn’t be changed “just because there’s a bunch of people here.”

Nevertheless, the board is supposed to be able to deny the continuance if it sees fit.

“But someone’s made that decision for us by not putting the materials in our packets,” said board member Joseph Ganguzza.

“We serve the people, and a lot of people took time out of their schedules to come out here to be heard. I think it’s our job to listen to what they have to say,” said board member Bret Berlin, who recommended finding the materials and hearing the case.

In the end, the board granted the continuance.

Miquel Gabela, another Zoning Board member wondered aloud whether continuances are really for emergencies and last-minute design changes or a means of stymieing residents who oppose a project.

“All too often we see these tactics used on these people,” said Gabela. “Frankly, I’m fed up.”

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Veterans Summit

Caleb Center Event to Address Re-entry Issues

By Ashley Davidson

Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, right, met with Iraqi war veteran Luis Puertas of Miami, at Walter Reed Medical Center. Puertas received surgery there after losing both legs in the war.

The inaugural Veterans Summit, sponsored by the Veterans Employment Transition Service, Inc. in partnership with the South Florida Veterans Resource Center, will be held at the Joseph Caleb Auditorium on Friday, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The auditorium is located at 5400 NW 22nd Ave., Miami.

More than 20 service providers, such as the American Red Cross, VA Medical Center and the Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust, will be present to educate veterans and their families about their options to get help.

“A lot of veterans, especially ones just returning from Iraq, don’t know about the services available to them,” explained Jameliya Hall, the director of the Miami-based Veterans Employment Transition Service (VETS). “We are going to try to have all the support service agencies come out and speak to veterans so they can get back to civilian life.”

The organization provides assistance to men and women suffering from physical and emotional disabilities, health care issues, unemployment and homelessness.

The free event is open to veterans and their families, as well as members of the community, and will have food and live entertainment.

VETS aids more than 500 veterans, including volunteer Charles Buford, a 100 percent disabled Vietnam veteran who has received legal advice from the organization.

“When we came back from Vietnam, we didn’t even get a good thank you. But now we’re making sure that these young men and women are getting all the help that we can possibly give them, including employment,” the 62-year-old Buford said.

“We’ve given so much to this country and in turn this country now is beginning [to notice] vets coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan, who we are and what we’ve contributed to this great nation.” For more information call 305-677-0366.

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Coral Gables

Lights, Camera, Action!

Newly Renovated Garage to Be Turned Into Cinema

By Bonnie Schindler

The Coral Gables City Commission unanimously authorized the city manager to “commence negotiations with Coral Gables Cinemateque, Inc., for the management of an art cinema in the [Coral Gables] Museum garage,” Tuesday.

The 600-car parking garage was built with retail space that will be converted into a movie house. Thus, the space has parking already built in.

“I can’t wait for this theater to exist,” said William Rothman, a professor of motion picture and video at the University of Miami.

The approval will allow the next step: The manager will bring back a draft management agreement for the commission to consider.

The agreement will include funding options for the $400,000 it will cost to build the theater.

Cathy Swanson Rivenbark, development director for the city of Coral Gables, presented the commission a breakdown of funds allocated for the project, which will be located at 260 Aragon Ave., and will accommodate 144 seats; include a small art gallery, lobby and concession area; and offer aesthetics such as high ceilings.

By building on city-owned land, the theater, which will be run by a nonprofit corporation headed by Steve Krams, will be tax exempt.

If the deal is approved the city will provide the theater/garage $250,000, which is earmarked in the city’s 2006-2007 Capital Improvement Budget as a line item. The money would cover costs such as flooring, soundproofing, electrical and fire safety, and installing an air conditioning and ventilation system.

Another $100,000 has been donated from the estate of a private couple, Harry and Mary Perrin. Rivenbark expressed thanks for the gift.

“[They] had no children, [but] left a legacy of community funding,” she said.

The contribution is contingent on the inclusion of their names on the plaza in front of the cinema.

The remaining $50,000, Rivenbark said, will be generated by presale tickets at either $750 per seat, or two for $1,000. According to the item’s documents, “each reserved seat would have a plate inscribed with the patron’s name.”

The city hopes that the money invested in the project will return dividends by spurring a creative community that attracts patrons.

“The immediate community will be served with the addition of year-round offerings; emerging artists wanting affordable, yet professional, venues [will be able] to present their talent; and there will be a revitalization benefit as well, as people park in the garage, enjoy an event, and stroll the downtown for a meal or shopping before returning to their cars,” states project overview documents.

The venue is expected to screen both independent and Hollywood films daily, while also serving as a theater for a monthly Student Filmmakers Exhibition, which “allows emerging filmmakers to showcase their productions in a professional cinema environment at minimal expense. Plans are for special children’s screenings to be scheduled to coincide with the school calendar.

Carol Ann Lafferty, managing director of the Miami International Film Festival, came to the commission meeting to show her support. She said the University of Miami has been the other festival venue in Coral Gables, but since public parking is not permitted until after 6 p.m., screenings cannot start earlier than 7 p.m. She was excited about showing daytime films, a concept that most international film festivals take part in.

“This area loves culture,” she said.

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Sunny Isles Beach

Rascal House No More

New Project Won’t Include Decades-Old Deli

By Randy Abraham

Citing a change in market conditions, the owners of Rascal House received approval for a 15-story mixed-use facility on the site of the landmark deli at 17150-17190.

The new project, approved by the Sunny Isles Beach City Commission last Thursday, will include a condominium and an Epicure Supermarket, but not a renovated Rascal House.

Jason Starkman, vice president and director of Jerry’s Famous Del, which owns both Rascal House and the Epicure Market chain, noted that some people may miss the old restaurant, which has been serving New York-style deli fare for more than a half-century. He said Rascal House might live on in some way in the gourmet catering operation Epicure, which also has a Miami Beach location — maybe in name only, although final menu decisions haven’t been made.

“It’ll be a few years before we know for sure,” said Starkman. “And the Rascal House will be here until groundbreaking of the new project, which won’t be for another year. It was a hard decision, but it’s the same decision everyone else who’s developed here had to make.”

Starkman said this will be the first mixed-use project his firm has undertaken, though he noted that he and his father, Isaac “Ike” Starkman, have developed 20 restaurants nationwide. “…We’re working with a great team,” he said, referring to the developer’s architectural firm Martin A.D. Yabor & Associates.

The retail space on the lower floors will be 38,463 square feet while the office space will be 44,689 square feet. The condo will have 243 units, including 21 townhouse residences. The condo units will range from 900 to 2,100 square feet while the townhouse residences will range from 1,800 to 2,200 square feet.

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Men at Work

Developer Expresses Concerns That Road Project May Affect His Future Condo Complex

By Randy Abraham

The Sunny Isles Beach City Commission picked a general contractor for a road improvement project slated for Sunny Isles Boulevard.

Williams Paving Asphalt Inc. was selected to work on the Florida Department of Transportation-funded road project.

But prior to their awarding the $2.63 million contract, city officials heard from developer Joe Milton, who has started building the four-tower San Tropez mixed-use project on the south side of the boulevard directly in front of the planned road project.

Milton, who unsuccessfully bid to do the roadwork project himself, expressed concerns that unless the city and his firm work closely together the project could result in a snafu. He said the city’s decision to hire an outside engineering firm to oversee the FDOT project was a good start, but feels the city needs an in-house staffer to coordinate it.

“A middle man is not enough,” Milton said. “You need a point man for the city.”

Milton stated that the projected completion dates for his St. Tropez towers are July and December 2008 and March 2009, with heavy construction activity expected up until those dates, which would coincide with the roadwork project. Milton feared that the brick pavers and landscaping — which includes palm trees that cost several thousand dollars each — could be destroyed if their installation were not well coordinated with his project. “To put those out in a year would be impossible; I promise you the finished product you put there would not last,” added Milton.

But Rick Conner, the city’s director of Public Works, assured city officials that he intended to coordinate the road and condo projects. He also urged them to go ahead with the road project before the city was forced to forfeit a $2.5 million FDOT grant contingent on the project starting this fiscal year. “Delays could cost money, but less than the loss of the grant amount if the grant award is lost,” Conner said.

Afterward, Commission Dan Iglesias, himself an engineer with FDOT, said the city made the right decision in moving forward.

“I feel confident because we could do the roadwork first and then do the landscaping and pavers afterward,” said Iglesias. “We have to get it going by June 30.”

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Bay Harbor Islands

Office Space

Petition Fails to Keep Mixed-Use Condo From W. Bay Harbor Drive

By Gillian Boyce

Representatives for Monarch at Bay Harbor, LLC, a proposed seven-story condominium development, went before the Bay Harbor Islands Planning and Zoning Board seeking site plan approval and rezoning to accommodate the commercial portion of the project.

The property, located at 9540-80 W. Bay Harbor Drive, will consist of a 38-unit mid-rise condominium and 3,276 square feet of retail and office space.

Because the project did not provide for enough parking to accommodate the commercial portion of the project, the developers would be required to purchase additional parking from the town for off-site parking as part of the approval process, said Town Planner Michael Miller.

Attorneys for the development assured the board that the project conforms to the town’s zoning and height limits and that a planned expanded promenade will enhance the pedestrian experience.

Councilman Alberto Ruder expressed concerns that the project was too massive and did not fit in with the spirit of the town.

Miller told the board the properties north and south of the project, the St. Regis and the Island Manor condominiums, were comparable to the Monarch in lot size and shape.

Several Bay Harbor residents signed a petition, which was presented to the board, objecting to the project.

“The people who bought at the St. Regis and Island Manor are the ones most affected by this project,” said David Houser, an attorney representing residents opposed to the development.

Houser said when those residents purchased, they expected that the area would always be low density and residential, and did not want the traffic that comes with transient customers of retail stores.

The P&Z board unanimously approved the site plans presented by Monarch Condominiums and also approved rezoning of the site to put a commercial space in a residential zone.

Resident Paul Vlakovich angrily told the board that it had “opened up the floodgates” in allowing the project to go forward and that “it did not matter to any of you what happens,” he said.

“That’s the way life is as long as it meets the code,” replied Mayor Peter Lynch.

The project is expected to begin construction in six months and to be completed in 18 months.

Comments? E-mail letters@miamisunpost.com.

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