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$95 Million For a Park?
Is It Worth It? Voters Will Be Asked To
Decide Nov. 6
By Ben Torter
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| This might be a park someday — if
voters don’t mind putting up the money for it. |
The possible sale of
the Miami Heart Institute site has become a key battlefield in
the political contest between commissioners Matti Bower and
Simon Cruz to become the next mayor of Miami Beach.
That fight intensified at Wednesday’s City
Commission meeting, in which Cruz got his way and Bower was told
she’d have to wait until next month.
Both candidates asked their fellow
commissioners to let voters decide Nov. 6 what to do with the
seven-acre site at 4701 N. Meridian Avenue should Mount Sinai
Medical Center sell the Miami Heart Institute.
Bower wanted to ask voters to approve a
charter amendment that would rezone the sites once the hospitals
are closed. The measure would revert the Miami Heart site to a
residential zoning more compatible with the surrounding
single-family neighborhood.
Cruz sought a referendum on a $95 million
bond to purchase the site from Mount Sinai Hospital and turn it
into a park.
It appeared that both Bower and Cruz would
get their proposals on the ballot. But Commissioners Richard
Steinberg and Jerry Libbin voiced their opinions it would be
confusing for residents to vote on both at the same time, and
that Bower's should go on the January ballot. The city attorney
told them that because Bower’s initiative is a charter amendment,
if commissioners wanted it on the January ballot the law
required them to wait until next month's meeting to vote. There
wasn't enough consensus on the dais for Bower's proposal. At one
point she became red-faced and appeared to be on the verge of
tears.
"Please," Bower exclaimed. "This is such a
sham to sit here and watch this."
Cruz promised to vote for her initiative
next month. Cruz’s bond referendum, on the other hand,
could be on the November ballot if the commission passed it
before midnight.
The commission voted 4 to 3 for Cruz’s bond
proposal. Commissioners Steinberg, Libbin, Michael
Gongora and Cruz voted in favor of the ballot question.
Commissioner Saul Gross, Mayor David Dermer and Bower voted
against it.
If the bond is approved by Miami Beach
voters, it will cost a primary resident with a $250,000 home
roughly $53 per year for 30 years, according to City Manager
Jorge Gonzalez.
“I don’t know how we can sit in this room
in good conscience and throw this thing on the ballot,” Dermer
said, explaining that more time is needed to prepare a bond
issue.
Cruz said if the commission didn’t vote for
his bond now, it could be too late.
“Rarely do we get an opportunity to buy
waterfront property that we can convert into a park,” Cruz said.
Since May, when it was first announced that
Mount Sinai was thinking about selling its Miami Heart campus to
someone other than a healthcare provider, residents fearful of
the site being redeveloped into high-rise condominiums have been
pushing to have the zoning revert to R-1, which would only allow
buildings 50 feet tall.
The zoning proposal championed by Gross has
pitted residents against board members and executives of Mount
Sinai who argued that the rezoning question “trapped” the
hospital and unfairly targeted the institution. Steven
Sonenreich, CEO of Mount Sinai, even claimed that the hospital
was no longer marketing the sale of Miami Heart and that the
nonprofit health institution may keep it for hospital use.
But those in favor of rezoning
argued that it doesn’t make sense to
wait for a sale, and that the city should be proactive to
protect neighboring residents.
At a July 11
meeting, commissioners voted to push the rezoning topic to the
planning board Aug. 28 for discussion. The planning board could
have then pushed the rezoning issue back to the City Commission
in October, just weeks before the Nov. 6 city election, in which
4 of 7 commission seats are up for grabs.
Instead the
planning board decided to take no action, a move seen by many as
a victory for Mount Sinai, which initially hindered the issue’s
progression. Residents criticized board member Robert Kaplan and
Matthew Adler for not recusing themselves from the vote because
of alleged conflicts of interest. Adler is a Mount Sinai
founder; his father, Michael Adler, is vice chairman of the
board of Mount Sinai. Kaplan worked at a real estate capital and
marketing firm that Mount Sinai hired to explore the possible
sale and is also a founder. City Attorney Jose Smith opined that
neither had a legal conflict of interest. Smith told the SunPost
the Miami-Dade Ethics Board agreed there was no legal conflict.
However many people still perceived it as a conflict of
interest.
Two days after
that planning board meeting, Bower announced her charter
amendment.
Two days later, Cruz announced his bond
proposal.
Henry Lowenstein, president-elect of the
Orchard Park Neighborhood Association, in the past said he
wished the entire commission was made up of Matti Bowers. Now he
said he is thrilled by Cruz’s bond referendum.
“Mr. Cruz’s proposal is an absolute win,
win, win situation,” Lowenstein testified at the meeting. He
would like to see Bower’s charter amendment pass as a backup.
Critics of Cruz said his proposal amounts
to a bailout of Mount Sinai.
“This is an extremely interesting political
move by Simon Cruz to reimburse Mount Sinai at a level it
probably couldn’t reach in the open market,” political activist
Frank DelVecchio told the SunPost in a telephone
interview.
But many residents living near Miami Heart
spoke Wednesday in favor of Mount Sinai receiving as much money
as possible as long as they would get a park.
“Shower Mount Sinai with money from this
bond issue and let them build this tower,” said Roger Merrit,
referring to a surgical tower that Mount Sinai has said it will
build from the proceeds.
In an earlier telephone interview with the
SunPost, Sonenreich said the hospital hadn’t asked for
any help.
“Mt. Sinai hasn’t asked anyone to
intervene,” he said when asked to comment on the view that the
bond would amount to a bail out for the hospital. “The planning
process, we feel is the way to go.”
At the meeting, Sonenreich testified that
the hospital was not in favor of Bower’s proposal, but liked
Cruz’s.
“It sounds like it may very well be a win,
win situation for all those involved,” Sonenreich said.
Comments? E-mail
ben@miamisunpost.com
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Miami Beach
Talkin’ Bijou
Developer
Says He Wants to Meet With Neighbors —Tonight
By Ben
Torter
After running into a wall
of resistance from activists over its proposed Bijou Hotel
at 315-320 Ocean Drive, developer Zedek Associates made some
architectural changes in an attempt to convince people the hotel
will not detract from the quiet South Beach neighborhood.
Zedek
developer Frederic Rado will explain those changes to the public
tonight from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at an open meeting in the lobby
of the Ocean Blue Hotel at 334 Ocean Drive.
“It’s
essential the neighbors realize we’re not a problem for the
neighborhood, but an enhancement,” Rado said Tuesday.
Rado
cited changes that include replacing an escalator with steps and
creating two loading zones so deliveries can be received inside
the building as opposed to on the street. The developer removed
from its plans a rooftop Zen garden, an art gallery space, a
lounge and outdoor tables, and added two meeting rooms.
The City
Commission approved site plans for a condominium last summer,
but the faltering housing market prompted Zedek Associates to
build a 130-room boutique hotel there instead. Activist Frank
Del Vecchio, who lives in a condominium next door at 301 Ocean
Drive, and other neighbors have been battling to stop the city
from approving the project.
Residents argue the hotel is nothing but a “Trojan horse” to
sneak in an entertainment complex similar to Nikki Beach Club or
the Shore Club.
Rado
called that assumption ridiculous.
“I don’t
know anyone who would invest $75 million in a disco,” Rado said,
explaining his plans for a high-end hotel. “We’ve hired an
acoustic engineer who works with Disney to make sure there is no
noise because we don’t want to disturb our neighbors or our
guests.”
Those
who oppose the hotel hope the City Commission will pass an
ordinance Commissioner Saul Gross proposed in July to close an
“accessory use loophole” that allows thriving restaurants – like
Prime One Twelve in the historic Browns Hotel at 112 Ocean Drive
– to exist in the district. Accessory use means hotel
restaurants or bars there are supposed to be large enough only
to serve their hotel guests, not be the main business. The
Browns Hotel has nine guest rooms and a booming restaurant
business that floods the streets with drunken patrons, valets,
cabs and delivery trucks. Devito South Beach has a similar
story.
Gross’
ordinance would limit accessory use to one restaurant seat per
every two hotel rooms, which would limit Bijou’s proposed French
restaurant to 65 seats. Existing restaurants would be
grandfathered.
The ordinance suffered a setback at the Aug. 28
planning board meeting when members voted to continue it to a
later date. That means it may not go before the City Commission
until after the Nov. 6 general election.
Zedek Associates said it sent out more than 300
invitations to the presentation from a list of neighbors within
375 feet of the site.
South of Fifth Neighborhood Association President
Gerald Posner, an outspoken critic of the project, said he
cannot attend Rado’s presentation because he will be out of town
visiting his mother.
“I think
it’s great when businesses coming into the neighborhood want to
talk to the residents,” Posner said. “If he wants to talk to the
residents and present his case as to why he thinks Bijou is good
for the neighborhood, I welcome it.”
Del
Vecchio said he will participate in the presentation.
“I
encourage him to take heed to pursue a development that
is a true hotel and not a nightlife complex,” Del Vecchio said.
Zedek will present its plans for Bijou to
the Miami Beach Historic Preservation Board Sept. 11.
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Lower Taxes, Higher Fees
Added Charges Suggested to Balance
Budget
By Ben Torter
Taxpayers in the city of Miami Beach are
likely to see much of their promised property tax savings wiped
away by huge increases in water, sewage, sanitation and parking
fees.
The reasons for these proposed changes, and
the possible negative reactions, were discussed at a budget
workshop at Miami Beach City Hall last week. With four of seven
commission seats up for grabs on Nov. 6, commissioners seemed
acutely aware that raising fees could tinge voters’ opinions.
But with budget cuts necessary for the first time in years, none
could agree on where to cut the $10 million the higher fees will
generate, which are necessary to balance the budget in the wake
of state mandated property tax cuts.
If the proposed increase in water and sewer
fees becomes a reality, it will be the first in the city of
Miami Beach since fiscal year 1995/96. During that period the
costs associated with sewer and water system maintenance have
increased by 47 percent.
City Manager Jorge Gonzalez explained that
the city is like a retailer of water; it buys the water
wholesale from Miami-Dade County and sells it to residents and
businesses in Miami Beach. Because of increased costs, the city
will lose money if fees aren’t raised.
Just how much more might consumers be
charged? The price of water could jump from $2.79 to $3.45 per
thousand gallons, an increase of 24 percent.
City officials cite three reasons for this
66-cent increase. Five cents is due to the county raising the
wholesale cost of water. Forty-nine cents stems from an 18
percent decrease in water consumption, which is attributed to
the use restrictions imposed since April, and which city
officials expect to last through next fiscal year. The final 12
cents is attributed to operating cost increases and debt
service. During the last two years the city took approximately
$2 million from the general fund to cover increased water costs,
something it says isn’t possible in this year of downsizing.
Sewer fees could rise from $4.25 to $5.34
per thousand gallons, or 26 percent. Decreased water
consumption, meaning less down the drain, accounts for 93 cents
of the increase. Operating costs and debt service make up the
other 16 cents.
If these proposals are approved, the
average residential customer can expect a combined water and
sewer bill increase of $19.25 per month.
The proposed sanitation fee increase is
twofold. The franchise fee paid by commercial haulers would
increase 2 percent, as would the household fee.
Municipal parking permits, which are sold
to nonresidents for use in lots, would go up from $60 to $70 per
month. The special event rates would increase from $10 to $15.
There was little debate about the necessity
to raise fees until Commissioner Simon Cruz, a mayoral
candidate, burst into the meeting more than an hour late.
“I don’t think this works,” Cruz said of
raising fees. “The big beef out there is that government is fat
and happy.”
Cruz’s statements set off a heated exchange
between him and his opponent for mayor, Commissioner Matti
Bower.
“If you have any ideas on how to fix this,
I’m open,” Bower said to Cruz.
Cruz’s answer was that “government has to
shrink.”
Earlier in the budget season the commission
instructed City Manager Jorge Gonzalez not to mess with police
and fire and other essential services, leaving only a small
portion of the budget to trim.
“We may have to put some of these sacred
cows back on the table,” Cruz said. “And not because it’s an
election year, but because people are fed up and our taxes are
through the roof and we just have to cut back and not put it
back on people’s shoulders.”
But Cruz’s words may be too little, too
late for this budget. Taking jobs from police and fire would
require declaring a fiscal emergency and reopening all the union
contracts. Besides there being little time left before the
budget is voted on at public hearings on Sept. 17 and 26,
unions would likely fiercely fight any such attempt.
Richard McKinnon, president of the CWA
Local 3178, stood up at the very mention of members’ jobs being
threatened. The CWA represents about 450 government employees
including clerical workers, 911 center employees, lifeguards,
pool guards, building inspectors and others.
The City Commission approved CWA’s contract
Sept. 5.
“I represent people who actually perform
services for the city of Miami Beach,” McKinnon said. “I mean
we’re not losing any jobs right now, but if you’re going to have
to cut, I think we’re a muscle — you have to cut the fat.”
Gonzalez retorted that 40 of the 96
positions set to be cut are in management. Of the 96, 30 are
currently filled.
South Beach Hotel and Restaurant
Association President David Kelsey suggested that a 5 percent
across the board salary decrease would show voters their
concerns were heard.
“It would be a serious policy change to
reduce the cost of government,” Kelsey said.
“David is exactly right, except you would
have to declare fiscal emergency and open all the contracts,”
Gonzalez replied. “I’m not sure we meet the criteria of a fiscal
emergency.”
Eventually it was decided to stay on track
with the fee increases, and to look for areas to trim the
budget.
The commission will vote on the finalized
2007-08 city of Miami Beach budget at public hearings to be held
at City Hall. The first will occur on Sept. 17 and 26.
Comments? E-mail ben@miamisunpost.com.
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Sunny Isles Beach
Sunny Qualifying
Period for
Candidates Who Want to Run for Two Vacant Commission Seats
Coming Soon
By Randy Abraham
Election season for Sunny Isles Beach
may soon be heating up with qualifying periods approaching for
two City Commission seats.
On Tuesday, Nov. 6, elections will be
held for Commission Seats 1 and 3. Candidates must be residents
of their respective district for at least one year and pay a
$100 fee to qualify. Residency requirements, however, only apply
to candidates, not residents. Elections are citywide, and all
residents can vote for all candidates.
Candidates must qualify between 9 a.m.
Monday, Sept. 10, and 4 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 13, at the City
Clerk’s Office at the Government Center, 18070 Collins Ave.
Vice Mayor Lewis Thaler has announced he
will run for re-election for the Commission Seat 1 he occupies,
which runs from 175th Street to the city boundary with the town
of Golden Beach. In 2003, Thaler, as a political newcomer, upset
incumbent Lila Kauffman by an almost 2-1 margin by promising a
less pro-developer stance. Turnout in that election was about 22
percent of registered voters.
Also up for
grabs is Seat 3, which is being vacated because of term limits
by Commissioner Dan Iglesias, who has served since the city’s
inception in 1997. Recently George “Bud” Scholl has opened a
campaign account to run and said he plans to qualify as a
candidate. Seat 3 is the city’s southern election district and
runs south of the Winston Towers condo complex to Haulover
Beach.
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