On July 20, 2022, the Mayor and Commission approved Resolution 2022-32261, authorizing a special election, submitting to the electorate of the City of Miami Beach the question asking whether City shall be authorized to issue general obligation bonds, not exceeding $159,000,000, to improve facilities for resiliency of arts and cultural institutions throughout the city, including museums, performance venues, artistic playgrounds, senior/cultural centers, Botanical Garden, aquatic sculpture park, and related artist/workforce housing.

 On November 8, 2022, the voters of the City of Miami Beach approved the issuance of $159 million in Arts and Culture Bonds.

The final approved list of projects (Attachment A) included a $3 million allocation for Miscellaneous Arts & Culture Projects, to be vetted at a future date.

The City is currently working on the renovation of an iconic structure, the Collins Park Performing Arts Venue Rotunda (Rotunda) located in Collins Park at the Southwest corner of 22^nd Street and Collins Avenue along with the Bass Museum and Miami City Ballet. The area is considered to be the City's cultural hub. This project will renovate the Rotunda to a performing arts venue and will provide a space for presenting arts organizations and artists to create, display and perform. Currently, the City’s cultural facilities are designed only for larger scale performances.  This will provide smaller organizations with an affordable venue. This renovation will result in additional and varied cultural events and performances, increased cultural enrichment, improved quality of life and increased economic impact for local restaurants and hotels.

The Rotunda building, as it exists today, contains deficient structural, mechanical, and electrical systems, a series of code violations including building code, structural and ADA violations that need to be corrected.  In addition, the stage/performance area needs to be renovated.  The Rotunda was constructed in 1961 and remains unchanged from the original construction.    

The Rotunda is approximately 1,830 square feet in total with 1,346 square feet being assembly area to serve 192 occupants.  Currently, the Rotunda is not habitable and does not contain life safety systems, running water, HVAC, electricity, ADA accessibility and restrooms, among other needs. The scope includes renovation of the Rotunda, as well as the addition of restrooms and covered walkways (Attachment B).

The project is currently in the permitting phase. It has been approved by the Historic Preservation Board and Miami Dade County DERM, and is under review by the City of Miami Beach Building Department. Upon approval of all permits, an Invitation to Bid will be issued, for the selection of the General Contractor for the project. Construction is anticipated to commence Fall 2023 and last for 9 months.

The total budget required for the renovation of the Rotunda and the construction of new restrooms and covered walkways is anticipated at over $2.6 million. The current approved project budget is $1.2 million. The anticipated funding gap is estimated at over $1.4 million. The City was presented with an opportunity to submit a grant application through the State of Florida Cultural Facilities program in the amount of $445,419. If the City is successful in securing the grant awarded, the funding will assist in reducing the funding gap.  

The administration recommends including the Collins Park Rotunda in the list of projects to be funded by the Arts and Culture Bonds - Miscellaneous Arts & Culture Projects in the amount of up to $1.5 million, to cover the current project funding gap.