On October 13, 2021, the Mayor and Commission of the City of Miami Beach (the “City”) referred an item to the Finance and Economic Resiliency Committee (FERC) to discuss the possible issuance of a General Obligation Bond (G.O. Bond) to fund arts and culture, which would be subject to voter referendum.

The FERC directed the Administration to work on an inventory of needs for the City’s arts and cultural assets; and on February 25, 2022, the FERC reviewed the inventory and directed the Administration to brief members of the City Commission with the funding requests.

At the March 30, 2022, FERC meeting, the Committee reviewed a revised project list for a possible arts and culture G.O. Bond and made a motion to have the item discussed for further direction by the City Commission at the May 4, 2022 Commission meeting; however, the item was deferred to June 22, 2022.

On June 22, 2022, the Mayor and City Commission favorably considered the idea of issuing a G.O. Bond for Arts and Culture, directing the existing G.O. Bond Oversight Committee to review and vet the proposed project list and to provide a recommendation; and on July 25, 2022, the Mayor and Commission approved the list submitted by the G.O. Bond Oversight Committee and further authorized submitting to the electorate, a special ballot question asking whether the city shall be authorized to issue a General Obligation Bond, not to exceed $159,000,000 to improve cultural facilities via Resolution No. 2022-32261.

On the November 8, 2022 ballot question, Miami Beach voters approved the issuance of the G.O. Bond.  On November 16, 2022, the Mayor and Commission approved Resolution No. 2022-32405, directing the Administration to negotiate and secure public benefits as part of the City’s grant agreements with the cultural organizations; and the Administration secured additional public benefits as outlined in Resolution No. 2023-32594.

At the March 27, 2023, Commission Meeting, the Mayor and Commission referred an item to the FERC to discuss budgeting for the production of a documentary to highlight the Arts and Culture G.O. Bond; and at the May 24, 2023 FERC meeting, the item was discussed, and the Administration confirmed they could produce a summary documentary with existing resources, where the Committee referred the item back to the City Commission with a positive recommendation.

Upon further review of City resources and expected deliverables, the Administration feels comfortable being able to produce this documentary in house, but would request an annual contingency fund of $25,000, not to exceed three (3) years to be used for miscellaneous production expenses as required.