On October 31, 2017, the Mayor and City Commission adopted Resolution No. 2017-30082, approving an Agreement with the Sabrina Cohen Foundation, Inc. (the “Foundation”), for the Foundation to raise funding and assume responsibility of all expenses related to the City’s design, development, and construction of an Adaptive Recreation Center (the “Center”), to be located within a portion of the City’s P72 surface parking lot at the 53^rd Street and Collins Avenue.

The Agreement between the City and the Foundation was executed on November 2, 2017 (Exhibit “B”), and states that the City will be the owner of the Center, and the Center’s primary purpose will be to provide the general public and specifically, persons living with physical and cognitive disabilities, including seniors living with disabilities and able-bodied individuals with temporary injuries, with an accessible entry point to the beach and related beach programming.

Subsequently, on July 2, 2018, pursuant to the Agreement’s terms, the Mayor and City Commission adopted Resolution No. 2018-30377, and approved, in the City’s proprietary capacity, the Foundation’s proposed concept plan for the Center. 

On January 16, 2019, the Mayor and City Commission adopted Resolution No. 2019-30671, approving Amendment No. 1 to the Agreement, thereby clarifying certain technical details consistent with the concept plan approved by the City and applicable provisions of the City Code (Exhibit “C”). 

On January 16, 2019, the Mayor and City Commission authorized the issuance of Request for Qualifications (RFQ) 2019-085-KB for architectural and engineering design services for Sabrina Cohen Foundation Adaptive Recreation Center. The City Commission authorized the issuance of the RFQ while the Foundation continued to raise funds for the design, development, and construction of the center.

On July 31, 2019, the Mayor and City Commission adopted Resolution No. 2019-30922, approving Amendment No. 2 to the Agreement, thereby extending the fundraising schedule and deadlines in section 7.1.B by twelve (12) months, to provide the Foundation with additional time to raise donations for the design and construction of the Center (Exhibit “D”).

On April 29, 2021, the Mayor and City Commission adopted Resolution No. 2021-31683, accepting a grant allocation in the amount of $577,000 from Miami Dade County, Florida for the design and construction of public infrastructure improvements associated with the Sabrina Cohen Adaptive Recreation Center Project. 

On June 23, 2021, the Mayor and City Commission adopted Resolution No. 2021-31751,

accepting the recommendation of the Finance and Economic Resiliency Committee, at its June 11, 2021 meeting, and authorizing the City to appropriate an amount not-to-exceed $2.5 million, for the City to match future donations made to the Sabrina Cohen Foundation, for the design and construction of the Sabrina Cohen Foundation Adaptive Fitness and Recreation Center to be located at 53rd Street and Collins Avenue, provided that the foundation raise the funds within a period of time to be determined by the Mayor and City Commission.  On July 28, 2021, Administration will be taking a companion capital and operating budget amendment to the City Commission for the allocation of the $2.5 million. 

On July 28, 2021, Administration will be recommending a Resolution accepting the recommendation of the City Manager to reject proposals received pursuant to request for qualifications (RFQ) 2019-085-KB for architectural and engineering design services for the Sabrina Cohen Foundation Adaptive Recreation Center.  The RFQ was initiated in January 2019, staff will be working with the Sabrina Cohen Foundation on the best path forward for both the accessible park and the adaptive recreation center.

Due to the COVID-19 emergency, the Foundation was entitled to an extension to their fundraising schedule and deadline, which is set to expire in September 2021.

The Foundation has worked with the County to secure funding for an accessible park and beach to complement the mission of the future Center. Funding has been secured through the Miami-Dade County Building Better Communities General Obligation Bond Program, from which the County has allocated $577,000 for the design and construction of public infrastructure improvements associated with the development of an inclusive outdoor park and beach. The funds will be provided to the City on a reimbursement basis. In addition to the $577,000 (Exhibit “E”), the Foundation has separately identified $73,000 in additional funds necessary to complete the project. The City Commission must accept the $73,000 identified by the Foundation and approve the scope and conceptual design prior to moving forward with the park (Exhibit “F”).

Administration is also seeking authorization via an amendment to the Foundation’s Agreement with the City, which will allow the City to work with the Foundation to leverage additional funding and offset costs for the outdoor park project. Additional funding will be secured through sponsorships in the form of, but not limited to, a brick paver program and the naming of park amenities such as the butterfly garden, fitness equipment, benches, playground components and more. These sponsorships will be recognized on these amenities in the form of a small plaque or on a donor board located within the park.

Regarding the Inclusive Outdoor Park and Beach, Administration is requesting the following action:

1. Committee approve the scope and conceptual design and direct administration to add this project to the City’s active capital project list.

2. Committee approve and accept Sabrina Cohen Foundation’s additional funding of $73,000, which they have independently obtained, to complete the Inclusive Outdoor Park and Beach project.

    

Regarding the Collaboration, Funding and Management Agreement between the Sabrina Cohen Foundation and the City, Administration is requesting the following action:

1. Authorization via an amendment to the Agreement, which will allow the City to work with the Foundation to leverage additional funding and offset additional costs for the outdoor park project and for the design and construction of the adaptive recreation center.