Draft of Proposed Virginia Key Planning Oversight Board

DRAFT

A Resolution By the City of Miami Commission to Create a Virginia Key Planning Oversight Board

A Resolution of the Miami City Commission establishing a Virginia Key Planning Oversight Board that will provide continuing oversight of the 2010 Master Plan for the entire island, collaborating with other existing jurisdictions and organizations including the County, the Miami Marine Stadium Steering Committee and the Virginia Key Park Trust, and establishing ongoing procedures to create a place of great pride and a model of public planning for the City of Miami.

Whereas the history of Virginia Key has resulted in a hodge-podge of poorly planned land uses since World War II and is now made up of a confusing array of parcels of land owned by the City of Miami and Miami Dade County, and

Whereas after protracted, unprecedented and organized public input promoted by the Urban Environment League and the University of Miami School of Architecture led to a major revision of the earlier City of Miami/EDSA proposed Master Plan and eventuated in a new consensus Master Plan; and

Whereas the public/consensus Master Plan for Virginia Key was unanimously approved by the City Commission in July 2010; and

Whereas a central component of the Master Plan called for a multijurisdictional Virginia Key Planning Oversight Board focusing on the entire island; and

Whereas a clear commitment was made by the Master Plan to keep hotels and “shopping malls” out of the Marine Stadium basin; and

Whereas no residents live on the key while numerous institutional and jurisdictional interests remain and are in need of a central forum to make recommendations to the City and County commissions; and

Whereas numerous groups remain interested in seeing a vital and open public process continue to provide island-wide oversight that assures coherent planning for the island’s future; and

Whereas without a Virginia Key Planning Oversight Board, a looming set of issues including the disposition of the 110 acre landfill, Jimbo’s, and the Marine Stadium, etc. will unloosen a scramble of private development interests and haphazard decision making in the future decisions shaping the island – a condition that must be avoided; and

Whereas the City Commission has passed a MOU on March 8, 2012 to establish a Steering Committee for the Miami Marine Stadium charged with creating a financial plan (due in six months) for the design and rehabilitation of the stadium and the immediate prescribed area as well as adequate ongoing operational revenue; and

Whereas both the historical character and existing deed restrictions of Virginia Key Beach Trust as well as the Marine Stadium need to be fully respected; and

Whereas the Sadowski critical wildlife area, and other environmental concerns should remain a central component of any ongoing planning effort; and

Whereas as the Master Plan stated, transportation connectivity and thematic integration of the entire island also remain central to any future planning/development efforts; and

Whereas the Master Plan and bond commitments of the 2004 GOB Bond funds for Historic Virginia Key Beach Park should be respected as well as further attention paid to the public use and enjoyment of the park; and

Whereas professional planning, public input, environmental considerations, as well as the compelling revenue needs of the city all need to be factored into forthcoming decisions regarding the island; and

Whereas Virginia Key has a number of different jurisdictional partners whose concerns need orderly consideration in future decisions.

Be it therefore resolved that

1. A Virginia Key Planning Oversight Board be created with the following mission: To provide ongoing implementation of the Master Plan for Virginia Key, through continuing public input, multi-jurisdictional and professional oversight, sensitivity to the natural and cultural environment, generation of revenues to benefit the focused development of the Key, and coherent public use of island resources.

2. The goals of the oversight Board shall be to: a.) Coordinate and oversee implementation of the 2010 Master Plan; b.) Oversee principles of planning, sustainability, historic preservation, and procedures established by the Master Plan to assure public access, use of island resources; c.)  Define an orderly RFP process with the City’s Dept of Capital Improvements; d. Coordinate potentially competing venues, revenue and funding sources with other public bodies and Trusts, specifically the Marine Stadium and the Virginia Key Park Trust. Finally, the Board shall e.) assure regular public input into the planning process and respect for the natural and cultural environment.

3. The Board’s membership consist of the following fifteen Voting Members; with yearly terms to commence in May 2012; chosen in consultation with the Planning Director, ratified by the City and (in one case) County Commissioner and consisting of the following:

a. An education representative rotating on a yearly basis from among the following: NOAA, UM Rosenstiel, Mast Academy

b. A commercial representative rotating on a yearly basis from among the following: the marine industry/island restaurants/the Seaquarium

c. An historical representative from the Historic Virginia Key Park Trust

d. A representative from the Urban Environment League;

e. A representative from Miami Neighborhoods United;

f. One representative on a rotation basis from among Non-Profit Advocacy groups including: the, Tropical Audubon, Friends of Va Key, Urban Paradise Guild, the Sierra Club.

g. A representative chosen by the district City Commissioner;

h. A representative chosen by the district County Commissioner;

i. A representative chosen on a rotation basis from recreation groups including the Miami Rowing Club, Windsurfers, Bikers, Dragon Boats and others

j. A representative from the Marine Stadium Steering Committee;

i. A representative of the public chosen at large by members of the board

j. Two financial experts chosen by the City of Miami Manager.

k. A representative from the Miami Waterfront Board.

l. A representative chosen by the Mayor of Miami

4. That Ex Officio members shall include but not limited to representatives of the City Planning Dept, City of Key Biscayne, National Park Service, Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserve, City Parks Dept Appointee, County Parks Dept Appointee, Derm, Public Works

5. That a Marine Stadium Steering Committee established in April 2012 shall report to the Oversight Board on a regular basis about future design and revenue plans for the immediate- defined area.

-That if any discrepancy shall exist between the recommendations of the Marine Stadium Steering Committee and the Oversight Board – that both reports shall be transferred to the City Manager and Commissioners for their consideration.

6. No regular staff will be required for the Va Key Planning Oversight Committee but any costs for meeting notice, minutes, facilitation, and website shall be administered through the City Planning Dept , City Clerk’s or other appropriate city office.

7. The chair of the Oversight Board shall be chosen by members who themselves will be ratified by City Commission. The affairs of the Board shall be governed by Sunshine Law standards.

8. Meetings of the Oversight Board will be televised and held on a regular monthly basis; there will be public notice of meetings with the public able to speak at meetings as well as a web presence provided by the city. Yearly written reports shall be conveyed by the Board to the City and County Commissions and other interested bodies.

9. A quorum of the Oversight Board will consist of five members.

10. Members shall be chosen and ratified no more than 90 days after the enabling legislation is passed.

11. Any member who fails to attend more than three consecutive Board meetings without cause will automatically be replaced.

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