Loading...
01-19-1988 Regular MeetingMIAMI SHORES VILLAGE REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING JANUARY 19, 1988 The regular meeting of the Miami Shores Village Council was held on Tuesday, January 19, 1988, at Village Hall commencing at 7:30 p.m. with the following members present: Mayor Spero Canton Stephen Loffredo Robert S. Butler, Jr. Karen Kirby Marty Stofik Also present Elly F. Johnson, Village Manager William F. Fann, Jr., Village Attorney The meeting began with Rev. John McLaughlin, St. Martha's Catholic Church, giving the invocation followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. Mayor Canton with the assistance of Mobile Crime Watch Coordinator, Lela Jacobson, and Crime Watch Coordinator, Dottie Yates, presented hourly awards to Mobile Crime Watch Patrollers. MINUTES a. Regular Council Meeting 1/5/88. Mrs. Stofik made a motion to approve the minutes as written. Dr. Butler second the motion and It passed unanimously. b. PreCouncll Meeting 1/5/88. Mrs. Stofik corrected the time of the meeting as 7:00 p.m. and made a motion to approve the minutes as corrected. Dr. Butler second the motion and it passed unanimously. Receipt Acknowledged: c. Recreation Advisory Committee 1/14/87. d . Country Club Advisory Board 12/17/87. e. Pension Board 11/25/87. f. Downtown Revitalization Board 1/6/88. g . Planning and Zoning Board (Incomplete Minutes) 1/14/88 PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD ITEM a. Request for Approval of Plans for Elevations Altera- t ions, Item 3, Minutes of 1/14/88. Mr. John Militana, property owner, presented the plans for a facelift for buildings 8945 through 8995 on Biscayne B lvd. Mayor Canton Inquired about improvement to the worn and pitted parking lots. Mr. Militana advised he was not aware of any problem but would take care of it. Mr. Loffredo moved to uphold the decision of the Plan- Hing and Zoning Board which was to approve the plans. Dr. Butler second the motion and it passed unanimously. REQUEST FOR DESIGNATION OF HISTORIC LANDSITE Margo Newton, Chairman of the Historic Preservation Board, recommended the house at 389 N.E. 99th Street, for designation as an historic landmark. The home was built In 1926 and Is Mediterranean Revival style In architecture. Mrs. Newton stated the owners, Eric and Maria Schottenheimer, had signed the standard covenant with the Village. Mrs. Stofik made a motion to designate 389 N.E. 99th Street as an historic landmark of Miami Shores Village based upon the recommendation of the Historic Preservation Board. Dr. Butler second the motion and it passed unanimously. NEGOTIATIONS WITH BOND COUNSEL Mr. Johnson explained that the firm of Fine, Jacobson, Schwartz, Nash, Black, and England had proposed a fee not to exceed $8,000 for all work except an appeal to the Florida Supreme Court. This proposal equaled the lowest bid received. Mr. Loffredo made a motion to accept the bid. Mrs. Stofik second the motion. Mrs. Kirby preferred that negotiations with the bond counsel appear after the discussion on the theater bond which was the next Item on the agenda. The motion passed unanimously. RESOLUTION ON SPECIAL ELECTION REFERENCE THEATER BOND Mr. Loffredo discussed the spread between a lease buy out and a 1.7 million dollar bond issue of $100,000 a year based on the quick figuring presented at the Council workshop. He referred to his letter to the Council of Jan. 13. He stated it would cost $40,000 a year more to have the building and pay the debt on the whole building then to buy out the theater lease. (Minutes corrected at the Meeting of 2/16/88 to read $20,000 as an extra expense as against the rents). Based on his study of the leases, the option to purchase the prepaid 99 year lease still exists and there Is a possibility of using the $120,000 In credits In the lease. He did not think It was In the best interest of the Village to purchase the building and recommended considering alternatives. *Minutes were amended Meeting of 2/16/88 to Include: Mr. Loffredo as a point of reference used a figure of $850,000 as a preferred debt for purchasing the theater lease as opposed to $1.7 million for the entire building. Mayor Canton advised the Council that If the resolu- tion Is to be placed on the March 8 ballot, it must be received by the Elections Department by Jan. 25. Mrs. Kirby stated the Importance of taking control of the theater property and supported the Idea of take over of the 99 year lease but not to acquire the rest of the build- ing. Mrs. Stofik identified operating costs and the Impor- tance of the non-profit group to raise monies as theater enterprises do not run in the black. The current rents 'ncluding the theater are $143,441. Deductions Include $20,000 which the theater Is paying results In $123,441. .;osts not included to run the theater Include space for a wardrobe area, set storage, production office area. Buying the entire building would provide Income to offset the cost of the bonds. She questioned the amount of $450,000 for renovation as not enough and the time for renovations. Her calculations Indicate the loss Is less If the entire building is purchased. She also mentioned that Barry University was interested In using the theater. Franklin Grau of Miami Shores Mainstreet, Inc. at the request of Dr. Butler stated Ruth Forman Is currently paying about $40,000 for 300 seats. Present maintenance costs for the proposed buldling are about $38,000 which Includes about $5,000 for the theater. Mayor Canton stated basically the plan was to purchase the building and then In a few years to sell the building but keep the theater. He expressed concern over the yearly bond payments. His research Indicates that the bond payment with the revenue from the leases would be less If the building were purchased. Mr. Bennett explained that the maximum annual debt service occurs In 1997 and Is $205,872. Maximum annual debt service for only the theater Is $126,572. Dr. Butler expressed concern over renovation expenses. These expenses may result In the need for additional funds. He thinks It economically feasible to purchase the building as building and theater can be sold at a later date at a higher appraisal. He feels purchase of the building Is a more stable approach. Mrs. Kirby requested a copy of the financial statement of the Ruth Forman Theater. She stated a profit could be made from a lease purchase. Mr. Grau stated the property Includes the theater, attached office building, a small office building on 99th Street and a house on 99th Street. The property Is appraised at $1.1 million, however with the assumption of the theater lease the property Is appraised at $1.5 million. After much discussion with Mr. Pendleton of Ernest Jones & Company and Barbara North Burton, Mrs. Stofik made a motion to adopt the Resolution as presented with the following changes: Page 1, add the address 9802 thru 9840 N.E. 2nd Avenue and 160 thru 180 N.E. 99th Street and delete (b) In the last paragraph and change (c) to (b). Page 2, delete under Section 1, the words "of using certain of the adjacent stores and offices for the municipal purposes of the Village" and inserting in Section 2 the name "The Miami Review". Page 3, to Include the Resolution number and date of adoption, the addresses as on page 1 and deleting that portion of (c) which reads "utilizing certain of the offices and stores for municipal purposes". Page 4, Include the addresses of the polling places. Page 5, Include the name of the Village Clerk. Page 6, Include the addresses as page 1 and delete that portion of Item (c) which reads "utilizing certain of the offices and stores for municipal purposes". The motion was second by Dr. Butler and passed by a 3/2 vote with Mr. Loffredo and Mrs. Kirby dissenting. The Resolution being entitled: RESOLUTION NO. 827-88 A RESOLUTION EXPRESSING THE INTENT OF THE VILLAGE OF MIAMI SHORES, FLORIDA, TO ISSUE GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS OF THE VILLAGE IN AN AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $2,000,000 AT AN INTEREST RATE NOT TO EXCEED THE MAXIMUM RATE PERMITTED BY STATE LAW IN ORDER TO PAY THE COSTS OF CERTAIN CAPITAL ACQUISITIONS AND IMPROVEMENTS, IF SUCH ISSUANCE IS APPROVED BY A MAJORITY OF THE QUALIFIED ELECTORS OF THE VILLAGE; AUTHORIZING THE PLACEMENT OF SUCH ISSUE ON THE BALLOT TO BE USED IN THE MUNICIPAL ELECTION SCHEDULED FOR MARCH 8, 1988; PROVIDING THE METHOD AND MANNER FOR NOTICE OF SAID REFERENDUM; AND APPROVING THE FORM OF SAID BALLOT. After a 15 minute break, the meeting reconvened at 9:45 p.m. Mrs. Kirby was not present. REQUEST FOR PARTICIPATION IN FIU STUDENT INTERN PROGRAM Mr. Johnson requested $1,800 be transferred from the Repair and Maintenance budget of the Police Department to the Village Manager's budget to cover expenses for a graduate student Intern from Florida International Universlty. The Intern would assist In reviewing and updating personnel rules and regulations. The internship will be completed In April. Dr. Butler made a motion to approve the transfer of $1,800. Mrs. Stoflk second and it passed unanimously. VILLAGE MANAGER'S REPORT Country Club Financial Report For month to date, the total operating revenue is up from $153,865 last year to $186,026 this year. For December to date the net profit last year was $24,131 and this year Is $10,385. Year to date, this year Is a plus $4,919 as compared to last year's negative of $1,502. Country Club Membership Report Membership Is higher than last year: 1,367 compared to 1,230. There are some problems with the Corporate Member- ships and the Business and Professional Special Memberships which will be reviewed before the next budget year. Mrs. Stofik expressed concern that there are more func- tions and more members but less money. Mr. Johnson stated he would review and advise. Investment Report The value of portfolio Is $3,462,340.06 with an Increase from November's $2,691,978.08. The average return Is 5.80%. ANNOUNCEMENTS As noted on the agenda. COUNCIL COMMENTS Mrs. Stofik suggested putting together a fact sheet on the theater Issue for publication In the Chamber Newsletter and the Village Hall News. Dr. Butler thanked all those who donated items, attended and worked on the Miami Shores Country Club Foundation Auction. Mr. Loffredo stated he met with a Hialeah Councllmember and the President of the Hialeah PTA due his continuing Interest In the school system. He encouraged residents to attend the Chamber of Commerce meeting on February 10 to listen to Dr. Fernandez. Mayor Canton commended Dr. Butler for his work In the community. He expressed concern about the lack of code enforcement In neighboring cities and Is meeting with 5 mayors on January 28 to discuss what can be done to stiffen the county's code enforcement regulations. He Is also concerned about the high school options for the Village and commended Mr. Loffredo for his efforts In trying to find a solution. PUBLIC COMMENTS At the request of Mr. Loffredo, Robert J. Rossi, Chairman of the Planning and Zoning Board, spoke about the Council's request for change of zoning to mixed use zoning on N.E. 2nd Avenue from 95th to 91st Street. The Board felt it could not adopt as presented due setbacks and parking In relation to other ordinances. The Board also questioned the need to rezone In this area and the Impact on neighboring residences. Dr. Butler stated the Intent was to maintain positive visual continuity while at the same time making It more viable to maintain property values and even stabilize the Impact of the neighboring south. Mr. Loffredo stated he had received some negative com- ments from neighboring residences and was concerned about Its Impact on vacancies In the designated revitalization area. Mrs. Stofik was concerned about the Board's reacting to the proposal versus planning for this area. Mayor Canton recommended a public hearing on the Issue to hear all sides of the Issue. He stated the Council would review and present again to the Board. Edward P. Swan, 1099 N.E. 99th Street, commended Dr. Butler and Barbara North Burton for their work on the Founda- tion Auction. He expressed concern about the condition of the golf course particularly the spread of crab grass. Arthur Leeds, 53 N.W. 93rd Street, stated the Village's debt if theater bond issue is approved will be approximately $6.8 millon. The meeting adjourned at 10:35 p.m. ATTEST: Elly F. Johnson Village Manager BY: Aria Clayton Deputy Village CI Sp-ro Can Mayor