Frustrated with how long it took to get any type of contract moving at Miami International Airport, and the rising costs that’s come out of those delays, the county commission has restructured the government to give itself a greater play. Part of the problem, according to numerous published reports, has been Mayor Alex Penelas’ too cozy of a relationship with lobbyists plying their trade at the airport.

So now, with the commission more in control, the first test in a better system at the airport is off and running. Miami-Dade has just issued Request for Proposals (RFP’s) for a non-exclusive central terminal retail program developer at the airport. The successful proposer will be expected to develop the awarded spaces by engaging in the financing, design, leasing, tenant coordination, construction and property management of the facilities.

With Penelas termed out, the open seat in the 2004 county mayoral election is going to be a hard fought for post. One election issue will be the airport. How the new system works with this RFP can be great campaign fodder for both the incumbent commission candidates and challengers from outside Miami Dade government. Should be an interesting RFP to track.   

In last week’s action, the one-member short (Mel Schlesser absent) planning board reviewed the procedure of how the city commission appoints members to land use and zoning boards. Currently the commission requires a vote of five of its seven members to make an appointment. The planning board is sending a recommendation to the commission that, if approved, will change the procedure to a four of seven-commission member majority.

The planning board also reviewed the length of time the city allows a developer to obtain a full building permit. Currently the city allows one year with a one-year extension. The planning board is sending a recommendation to the city that will allow the developer eighteen months with the one-year extension. If the commission approves this recommendation, it will give the developer an additional six months to obtain a permit. The clock starts ticking when the project receives its approval from the city.

The board is also sending a recommendation to the commission to return the hours of operation for the sale of beer and wine for consumption off the premises from 8:a.m. back to 11:00 p.m. The commission temporarily extended the hours of operation the extra hour to midnight during the recent holiday season.

In other action the board denied the administration’s request to revoke a conditional use permit for an outdoor entertainment establishment conducted from the front porch of the Breakwater Hotel on Ocean Drive. The complaint centered around one female dancer who shook her booty for a few minutes on the porch, violating one of the city’s restrictions imposed upon that establishment.

The board, however, did grant the Royal Palm Crowne Plaza Hotel a continuance on its request for a conditional use permit to allow outdoor entertainment on the pool/patio deck.   

A discussion regarding the Española Way Association request for street closure of the 400 and 500 blocks and the group’s desire to have a fountain installed at the intersection of Drexel Avenue and Española Way gathered a number of interested parties at city hall last week. It appears a general consensus was reached on maintaining the spaces needed on the 400 block of Española Way as “loading zones’ for daytime use only. Everyone agreed the 500 block would remain available for parking.

Most of the folks in attendance at the meeting seemed to like the concept of the fountain being located at the intersection of Española Way and Drexel, but some believed a better location would be a tad south, closer to Fienberg-Fisher School.

A majority opinion also was expressed to continue the weekend market on the 400 block to the cul-de-sac on Drexel. An evaluation committee is currently reviewing a number of proposals from applicants who would like to manage and operate the Española Way market, as well as the markets on Lincoln Road and in North Beach.

Retirement Time? 

Bay Harbor Islands Town Manager Linda Karlsson announced her intent to resign in the very near future during a Tuesday planning and zoning meeting.  “It’s been my understanding that there are some things she wants to see through first,” said Mayor Robert Yaffe.  Her phasing out will be discussed at a future meeting to be announced.

Karlsson worked at Bay Harbor Islands for 28.5 years, starting out as a secretary and then “rising through the ranks” to town clerk and, finally, town manager in the early 1990s.  One of her less proud moments: when her administration neglected to amend its comprehensive plan to reflect the higher density proposed under a “planned redevelopment” ordinance that allowed high-rise development on a case-by-case, town council-approved basis. 

Opiate Update 

A hearing regarding the numerous noise violations racked up by the roofless club known as Opium Garden has been continued until February 11 as both the City of Miami Beach and the club tries to approach common ground.  Slightly nervous of the outcome:  anti-noise activist Morris Sunshine.  “We are totally in the dark,” Sunshine says.  (By “we” Sunshine means neighboring residents.)  What does Sunshine want? Continual pressure on the Opium folks to clamp down on the noise—and he’s not just talking about fines. 

Congratulations to Miami Beach residents Bonnie Young and Todd Bass for their incredible runs in the Miami Tropical Marathon. Young finished in 20^th place among women and Bass in 27^th place. There were more than 2000 runners in the field.