A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A GRANT AGREEMENT, SUBSTANTIALLY IN THE FORM ATTACHED TO THIS RESOLUTION, BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE MIAMI BEACH WATERSPORTS CENTER INC., IN THE TOTAL AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $85,000.00, TO SUPPORT THE PARA-ROWING PROGRAM AT RONALD W. SHANE CENTER.

Administration respectfully requests approving and authorizing the City Manager to execute a Grant Agreement between the City and the Miami Beach Watersports Center Inc., for a total sum not to exceed $85,000.00, to support the para-rowing program at the Ronald W. Shane Center.

The Miami Beach Watersports Center Inc. (“MB Watersports”) is a Florida not-for-profit organization that runs a premier rowing club with over 250 members, mostly Miami Beach residents. They offer a para-rowing program, which teaches people with disabilities how to row and provides a training facility for competitive para-rowers. MB Watersports has been designated as the Paralympic Sport Club by the US Olympic Committee and has already qualified two members to the national para-rowing team. The program has grown in popularity and needs financial assistance to expand. The annual cost to run the program is estimated at $150,600 annually.

During the City’s FY 15/16 budget process, a Budget Enhancement Request of $85,000.00 for 2015-2016 was granted to partially fund the para-rowing program at the Ronald W. Shane Center. A Grant Agreement was executed for the past two years and MB Watersports has purchased adaptive equipment to support the para-rowing program. They have worked with the Parks and Recreation Department on providing proof of purchase and payment, and continue to be reimbursed accordingly.

MB Watersports is grateful for the City’s continuous support and accomplished the following in FY 16/17 because of the City’s support:

• March 2016 - Won U.S. Trials in the Trunk/Arms Mixed 2x

  • The athletes raced in a boat that was purchased using funds from the City of Miami Beach Grant Agreement

• May 2016 – Competed for Team USA at the Final Paralympic Qualification Regatta in Gavirate, Italy

  • This was the final opportunity to qualify for the 2016 Rio Paralympics. The athletes trained at the Miami Beach Rowing Club in equipment purchased using funds from the City of Miami Beach Grant Agreement

• September 2016 – Finished 10^th at the 2016 Rio Paralympics

  • The athletes trained at the Miami Beach Rowing Club in equipment purchased using funds from the City of Miami Beach Grant Agreement

• October 2016 – Won a Gold Medal at the Head of Charles Regatta in Boston MA

  • This is the largest and most prestigious regatta in the world. In the last few years they have added para events. Both the boat and the oars were purchased with the funds from the City of Miami Beach Grant Agreement.

• March 2017 – Provided equipment for an International Para Rowing Camp in Sarasota, FL

  • In this camp, they trained para athletes from counties such as Mexico, Trinidad & Tobago and The Grenadines. Miami Beach Rowing Club was the largest equipment provider for this camp. All equipment that was taken and used was purchased with the funds from the City of Miami Beach Grant Agreement.

• Held monthly outreach events at both Jackson Memorial Hospital’s and the Miami VA Hospital’s Spinal Cord Injury Rehab Unit

  • Ergometer and fixed seats, purchased through the Grant Agreement, were used to the rehab units to expose patients to some different athletic opportunities.

Funding is included as part of the Parks and Recreation Department’s Current Service Level Budget for FY 17/18.  Administration recommends entering into a third Grant Agreement with MB Watersports for $85,000.00. The Grant Agreement will mirror the same requirements as in past agreements, which requires the grantee to provide a report on the number of participants trained, how the funds were spent and the program’s accomplishments in relationship to the funds provided by the City. Priority shall be given to Miami Beach Residents and U.S. Military Service Members. MB Watersports proposes to use the grant funds to purchase the equipment outlined in Exhibit A.