In an effort to expedite a $4 million overhaul project for Miami Lakes Optimist Park and win back residents who use recreation facilities in Doral, Weston and Pembroke Pines, the Town Council was presented with three different finance proposals to supplant the pay-as-you go plan including a private partnership with a major athletic supplier company.
Although an agreement with a lighting vendor to cover a portion of the cost by utilizing the savings generated from the used of more energy efficient lighting, and revenues generated from a cell tower in the park seem appealing, Council members were leaning more to a partnership with Eastbay.
Eastbay is an American supplier of athletic footwear, apparel and sports equipment, which sells by direct mail, and the chief competitor for Nike and Under Armor.
Longtime Optimist Club member and coach Alex Castroman broached the idea to lawmakers, in which the company might cover most of the $2.8 million shortfall needed to complete the park’s master plan in exchange for the rights to use the park for sports events.
They include college scouts clinics and summer camps, hosting state regional high school sports events, and allowing high school football teams who don’t have their own field, including Goleman and Mater Academy, to play their home games.
“This brings sports back to life at the park,” Castroman said.
The three finance projects are essential to the town’s coffers since Miami Lakes was forced to use some of the park’s money for the clean-up and recovery efforts in the wake of Hurricane Irma.
Town Manager Alex Rey estimated Miami Lakes spent about $1.7 million for the damages the Category 3 storm caused, and FEMA may start reimbursing the town in the next six to 12 months.
Rey and his staff plan to evaluate the finance proposals and bring back the best option for Miami Lakes during a workshop to speed up the timetable which has been delayed for more than a decade.
The design of the park, which costs $200,000, is expected to be finished in the next two months. Replacing the lighting system at the park is the most expensive portion of the renovation project, costing an estimated $1.5 million.
Other improvements include remodeling the basketball and tennis courts ($550,000); field and fencing configuration ($550,000); walking trail and exercise equipment ($350,000); and an airnasium ($200,000).
“By then, we would know this is what we have and this is what we need to complete the project,” Rey said.
Council members were in favor of all three finance plans and would like to see residents use the park again.
“Bring some numbers back and let’s see where we are at that point,” said new Vice Mayor Frank Mingo.
“I would like to see an investment interest for the park,” said Councilmember Luis Collazo, who displayed his baseball trophy when he played in the park.
Mayor Manny Cid said “great” communities have great parks.
“They add to the property values,” he said.
The cell phone tower proposal sparked a health concern for Councilmember Marilyn Ruano.
“I don’t know enough about it but I have heard the danger to be exposed on a daily basis and kids are on the field each day,” she said. “I just want to know more about it.”
Miami Lakes was flirting with the idea of taking out a bank loan to complete the park but residents shot down the proposal.
“The expenditures of $4 million for the park is too steep,” said activist Mirtha Mendez. “We don’t borrow money.”
In other Council actions:
• Council members rejected a salary increase, based on this year’s Consumer Price Index, for the mayor but will address CPI adjustments in the future. The mayor’s annual salary of $18,000 has been the same since incorporation, and the CPI would put Cid’s pay at about $28,000.
Though council members said Cid, who recused himself from the discussion, is underpaid and has done an excellent job since he became mayor last year, the current CPI was high, and that residents should decide whether he deserves a raise during next year’s town election.
According to the town’s charter, the mayor is granted a salary but council members pick the amount he should earn.
• Council members gave their final approval for an ordinance that requires a public hearing before lawmakers for a vertical mixed-use zoning application within the Town Center zoning district that includes a request for height exemptions. This will achieve the Town Council’s expressed desire to increase awareness of such development projects.
• Lawmakers gave their final approval for an ordinance to amend the 2016-2017 budget in response to the town’s disaster fund for Hurricane Irma clean-up and recovery expenses.
According to Town Manager Alex Rey, Miami Lakes is projected to generate an operating surplus of $1.1 million, which includes the $1.3 million of carry forward approved by Council members for fiscal year 2017.
In addition, $500,000 was approved for carry forward to fiscal year 2017-2018, as litigation/settlement reserve and about $150,000 represents projects that were not complete within the fiscal year and will be programmed for this year.
The remaining $488,000 is the available surplus, which will be presented to the Town Council in the form of a carry forward budget amendment ordinance to appropriate funds to the 2017-2018 budget for one time projects.
• Council members approved a resolution to exempt itself from Miami-Dade County’s Mandatory Workforce Housing program due to the lack of available residential land for development and redevelopment and the high cost of such land.
• Council members approved a resolution to authorize the town manager to reach an agreement with Spin, a bike-share company, to start a six-month bike share pilot program in the town.
Residents can use a mobile app for reservations to use the station-less bike sharing system. The orange-colored bikes are equipped with onboard GPS units and cellular modems. Rides cost $1 for each 30 minutes.
• Council members authorized the town manager to execute a contract with Beefree (d/b/a Freebee) for on-demand transportation services for two years with three annual renewals.
The town currently spends about $75,000 a year to fund the free on-demand operation, while providing expanded service via Freebee is estimated at $123,333.
• Council members gave their initial approval for an ordinance to amend the town’s site plan review procedures and creating architectural review standards.
In February, Council members directed town staff to explore potential revisions of the town’s land development code and return with some recommendations.
The request followed in the wake of an active development cycle that brought to light concerns over quality design and compatibility of development.
The proposed measure addresses the use of recognizable architectural genres, building scale and massing, facade treatments and materials, windows and doors, pedestrian scale and other ancillary features.
Multifamily, commercial and Industrial developments requiring site plan review are subject to the new provisions and all require staff level review for compliance.
• Council members approved Cid’s proposal to amend the town’s strategic plan and stormwater master plan to ensure that Miami Lakes is mitigating flooding issues by planning for pressurized drainage improvements and outfall back flow preventers.
• Cid said MDX decided to include the 87th Avenue extension to I-75 and the Gratigny Expressway in its transportation improvement plans, four months after Florida Governor Rick Scott vetoed $1.5 million for the project.
Cid said ground breaking for the project is set to begin in the fall of next year.