A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR AND CITY CLERK TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT WITH ZYSCOVICH, INC. PURSUANT TO RESOLUTION NO. 2019-30914, WHICH PREVIOUSLY AWARDED REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS (RFQ) NO. 2019-234-ND FOR A LAND USE, MOBILITY, AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STUDY OF THE ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT TO ZYSCOVICH, INC., AS THE TOP-RANKED PROPOSER.

Authorize the Administration to execute an agreement pursuant to the consultant's proposal and utilizing funds identified by the Administration.

On May 10, 2019, the City issued RFQ No. 2019-234-ND for a land use, mobility and economic development study of the City’s Mixed-Use Entertainment (“MXE”) district, soliciting qualifications from multi-disciplinary teams to perform a district-wide study, encompassing Washington Avenue to Ocean Drive, 5^th Street to 17^th Street, as well as Collins Avenue and interior side streets. As noted in the solicitation document, any recommendations resulting from the study, as adopted by City Commission, would form the basis for more extensive projects within these interdependent corridors, specifically the voter-approved Ocean Drive and Washington Avenue G.O. Bond projects.

On July 31, 2019, per Resolution No. 2019-30914, the City Commission authorized negotiations with Zyscovich, Inc., d/b/a Zyscovich Architects, as the top-ranked bidder, and, if unsuccessful, with BusinessFlare, LLC, as the second-ranked bidder. The Resolution further authorized execution of an agreement if negotiations were successful.

In 2019, Zyscovich initially proposed a comprehensive scope of work in the amount of $984,560, which exceeded the City’s expectations for the project. Earlier this year, following attempts to fine tune scope and reduce costs, Zyscovich submitted a scaled down proposal, which was in line with the City’s expectations, but the proposed costs exceeded available funding. The study’s tasks and deliverables, as defined in the RFQ document, conform with the project descriptions for the G.O. Bond projects for Ocean Drive and Washington Avenue. However, these G.O. Bond funds are currently included in Tranches 2, 3, and 4. Since Tranche 2 funds would not be available until April 2022—at the earliest—identification of funding for the proposed study delayed the project’s commencement.

The City paused from enacting any broad planning initiatives or related expenditures during the immediate pandemic response. Nevertheless, the City Commission has recently taken the opportunity to reexamine the functionality of and long-term vision for the Entertainment District. The current initiative to reformulate the City’s cultural branding underscores the importance of implementing the RFQ’s study.

In a correspondence dated July 9, the South Beach Alliance, a coalition comprised of the Ocean Drive Association, Washington Avenue BID, Lincoln Road BID, Collins Improvement Association, and the Espanola Way Association, urged the City to finalize an agreement with Zyscovich Architects pursuant to the RFQ. (Attachment A Letter from South Beach Alliance dated July 9, 2020). This request was again expressed to City staff at the August 20 General Meeting of the Ocean Drive Association. 

On July 29, the City Commission referred to the Land Use and Sustainability Committee a workshop to examine proposed regulations for the district, including changes that address mobility, land use, and economic development. Synchronously with this process, the consultant will be instrumental in accomplishing the City Commission’s directives for the district.

Zyscovich’s latest proposal dated August 31, 2020, in the amount of $552,000.00, includes a world-class team of specialists, which served as one of the primary reasons the Evaluation Committee attributed for its top ranking. The roster of local and international expertise includes Gelhl Architects (planning and urban design), Kittelson & Associates (transit and mobility), Lambert Advisory (economic development), Town Square Corp. (placemaking and branding), and Raymond Jungles (landscape).

The City has identified $190,000 in South Beach Quality of Life (QOL) funds which could be used to commence implementation of the study. Although City Commission Resolution No. 2019-30914 has already authorized execution of an agreement pursuant to the RFQ, under the broader context of the districtwide rebranding, the Administration seeks confirmation regarding the study.

Specifically, the Administrations requests:

1. approval to engage Zyscovich Architects for the entire project scope, in the amount of $552,000; and
2. authorization to expend $190,000 earmarked as QOL funds and, further, to fund the remaining project costs when funding is identified.

$190,000 of the $552,000 has been identified. It is anticipated that additional funds will need to be identified prior to accessing those earmarked in the G.O. Bond.

Given the synergy with the City’s efforts to reexamine the character of the district and the vast public support behind this process, it is important to proceed with the study at this time.  

The Administration therefore recommends that the Mayor and City Commission approve a Resolution authorizing execution of an agreement pursuant to the consultant’s proposal.