NEW BUSINESS  8.

COMMITTEE MEMORANDUM

HISTORY:

On January 27, 2017 a discussion was held at the Neighborhood/Community Affairs Committee Meeting regarding the proposed Site Plan for North Shore Open Space Park. During this discussion, the Neighborhood/Community Affairs Committee recommended further discussion regarding possible funding for Art in Public Places in North Shore Open Space Park. Since this time, staff worked to identify possible funding sources, including Art in Public Places funding generated from the proposed renovations of North Shore Open Space Park and remaining funds from the Terra Development contribution to the North Beach area.

The item was discussed at the July 28, 2017 Neighborhood/Community Affairs Committee Meeting.  Staff was directed to collaborate with the park designer, West 8 Urban Design & Landscape Architecture, to determine possible areas for the integration of public art. As the proposed renovations for North Shore Open Space Park would result in an allocation of $61,313 for Art in Public Places, a motion was made to refer a discussion for possible additional funding to the Finance and Citywide Projects Committee. On September 25,  2017, the City Commission referred the discussion to the October 13, 2017 meeting of the Finance and Citywide Projects Committee.

The Art in Public Places Ordinance (No. 95-2985) was adopted in 1995 and was created to “enhance the aesthetic environment of the City of Miami Beach by including works of art on public property within the City and in City construction projects.”  The Art in Public Places program is funded by 1 ½ % of all “hard costs” of City capital construction projects, including new construction, additions, and costs for construction of joint private/public projects. As provided in Sec. 82-562 “Powers and Duties of the Art in Public Places Committee, the Art in Public Places Committee shall recommend to the City Commission whether a particular proposed city construction project is an appropriate site for works of art and whether all or a part of the appropriation required by section 82-587 should be utilized at the site or, reduced or waived in its entirety or, placed, whether in its entirety or a portion thereof, in the art in public places fund for other acceptable uses. The city commission shall also consider whether the funding source for a particular city construction project is restricted by public bond covenants; federal, state or local laws; and/or legal parameters which would require that the appropriation be utilized on the particular city construction project site.

The provisions of this article shall not apply to the new construction of, renovations, or additions to the following city construction projects:

a.   Water and sewer related facilities, such as pump stations, water mains, water lines, sewer lines, treatment facilities, etc.

b.   Storm drainage infrastructure.

c.   Road construction or bridges.

d.   Streetscape beautification projects, which include but are not limited to, one or all of the following elements: resurfacing, new curbs, gutters, pavers, sidewalks, landscaping, lighting, bus shelters, bus benches, street furniture

      and signage.

e.   City construction projects undertaken to replace, reconstruct, or repair an existing public building or facility damaged or destroyed by a sudden       unexpected turn of events, such as an act of God, riot, fire, flood, accident, or other urgent circumstance.

f.   The construction, remodeling, repair or improvement to a public electric or gas utility system.

g.  Where the city construction project is undertaken as a repair or maintenance of an existing public facility.

ANALYSIS:

The Office of Capital Improvement Projects has submitted a Capital Budget Request for the North Shore Open Space Park as part of the proposed FY 2018 budgeting process. The request estimates construction cost of approximately $9,000,000, which would result in an allocation of $61,313 for Art in Public Places based on the proposed cost of new construction and major renovations associated with this project. As referenced in Section 82-587 (c) 3. of the Art in Public Places Ordinance, if a particular city construction project is not an appropriate site for works of art, the City Commission may, by resolution, elect to place all or a portion of the required appropriation in the Art in Public Places fund for use at another site unless restricted by public bond covenants; federal, state or local laws; and/or legal parameters which may require that the appropriation be utilized on the particular city construction project site. The funding for the North Shore Open Space Park is not anticipated to have these funding restrictions, thereby allowing the funds to be used on site or elsewhere.

In addition, as part of their negotiations with the City, the Terra Development project is contributing $10.5M to the North Beach area. Of the $10.5M, the Office of Capital Improvement Projects has allocated approximately $6.5M for renovation of North Shore Open Space Park. The remainder has not been formally earmarked, although there are several competing interests.

At this time, the Art in Public Places fund balance (147)  is $887,147 which is net of projects previously approved by the Mayor and Commission, including Miami Beach Convention Center Renovation and Expansion Projects and SoundScape  Park Project. The balance of $887,147 also needs to provide funding for AiPP funding for the following:

·   site specific projects funded by Miami-Dade County General Obligation Bond, including Flamingo Park, Fire Station 2 and Lummus Park; which have not yet been appropriated and are restricted by public bond covenants

·   additional funding for the Miami Beach Convention Center AiPP projects as approved through Resolution 2016-29480; and

·   Annual program administration and future maintenance of the public art collection.

The Art in Public Places fund balance (147) is delineated as follows:

As part of the collection, Art in Public Places has three public art installations in North Beach, including the Beatles Mandala (2014) at North Beach Bandshell by Kevin Arrow, Circle (2004) located at North Shore Youth Center by Connie Lloveras and the city-wide manhole cover project entitled Urban Deco by Garren H. Owens.

Should the Committee wish to consider additional funding for a North SHore Open Space Park AiPP project, Resort Tax Qulaity of Life funding could be considered as a potential funding source during the FY 2018/19 budget development project.

CONCLUSION:

The Administration seeks general direction on how to proceed regarding possible additional funding for Art in Public Places at North Shore Open Space Park project.