A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, ACCEPTING THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE FINANCE AND CITYWIDE PROJECTS COMMITTEE TO DELAY THE GRANT FOR THE PURCHASE OF THE OUTDOOR CAFE FURNISHINGS AT THE BASS MUSEUM OF ART, UNTIL DECEMBER, 2018.

Adopt the Resolution. 

BACKGROUND

There is a high demand for concessions and outdoor dining options at the Bass Museum and Collins Park to serve visitors at the museum and promote activation of the Park. At the December 16, 2016 Finance and Citywide Projects Committee, it was recommended staff work with the Friends of the Bass Museum, Inc. (Bass) to identify a solution to provide an outdoor concession. The Committee was in favor of negotiating an agreement with the Bass for the outdoor concession area, including the City providing security services, and abatement of any financial consideration to the City.

The Bass issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) in June 2016 and selected Thierry Catering to operate its new indoor café, which opened in October 2017 with the re-opening of the Bass.  Staff has met with representatives from the Bass and discussed expanding the new indoor café to the exterior of the building in order to serve members of the public and further activate Collins Park. The Bass is agreeable to this plan and has already been in discussions with Thierry Catering to utilize their services for both the indoor café and the outdoor concession area.

To facilitate the opening of an outdoor café, the City allocated $100,000 to the purchase of furniture and fixtures for the Bass Museum Café as part of the FY 16-17 capital budget. Following the re-opening of the Bass in October 2017, staff began drafting a grant agreement between the City of Miami Beach and the Friends of the Bass Museum, Inc. to provide these capital funds to the Friends to purchase outdoor café furniture; including, tables, chairs, umbrellas and a serving kiosk, and to construct a storage area for said items. This grant agreement was sent to the Friends of the Bass Museum, Inc. on January 24, 2018.

On February 1, 2018 the Bass Museum requested the City not move forward with grant agreement at this time for the following reasons:

• Thierry’s did not generate much business during Art Basel 2017, which they feel represents the best case scenario audience.
• The Bass would like to test numbers, attendance and gross earnings for a full season.
• The Bass will activate the outdoor café area by creating a pilot program that will utilize the existing five tables and twenty chairs to fully understand the needs of operating an outdoor dining space.
• The required build out cannot happen until the Bass can close out the current city building permit, as related to the renovation project. As well, a Concession Permit can not be obtained until the building permit is closed.
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Following a full season of operating and launch of the outdoor café pilot program, the Bass would like to come back to the City with the exact cost of the furniture purchase and build out, including a business plan with learned knowledge.

At the February 23, 2018 Finance and Citywide Projects Committee, it was recommended that the grant agreement for the purchase of the outdoor café furnishings at the Bass Museum of Art be delayed until December 2018.