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Let’s be crystal clear, the City of South Miami’s Mar. 19 Charter Amendment vote is not about approving City Hall redevelopment or deciding whether or not the project is going to move forward. This vote is about leasing the city land rather than selling a city asset and about maximizing the benefit for the residents.
The City Hall redevelopment is moving forward. The voters elected commissioners and a mayor who all campaigned on platforms to pursue this project and a Request For Proposals has been drafted and made public.
Debate on which proposals best serve the community and possible approval will take place in the months ahead. The Mar. 19 vote is about allowing the City of South Miami to negotiate a longer lease and get the best deal for its residents and taxpayers.
Currently, the city charter only allows for lease agreements of 50 years or less. This may be a long enough lease for smaller projects, but not for a project as complex as the one at City Hall. By extending the length of the lease the city can negotiate on behalf of residents for more funds from the winning bid and several capital improvements at no cost to taxpayers.
Actually, it is quite simple. Let the best proposal have a longer lease and the taxpayers get more in return. It almost seems silly that anyone would argue against significant benefits today versus limiting a lease to either 50, 75 or 99 years when no one reading this will witness the end of the contract.
So what exactly would the benefits be to extending the city’s ability to negotiate a longer lease:
• Lower property taxes with new revenues from bid;
• Require the winning bid to build a new city hall, police station and library at no additional costs to taxpayers;
• Require the winning bid to build a new library at no cost to taxpayers;
• New and improved parks and green space from project, and
• Added funding for public safety.
The redevelopment of South Miami City Hall has been discussed, considered and even attempted before. What’s different now is that in addition to a mandate from the voters, we now have a unique opportunity to negotiate excellent terms and truly deliver for our taxpayers and residents.
A YES vote on Mar. 19 is endorsed by the mayor and entire city commission as well as myself and Miami’s Community Newspapers.
ABOUT US:
For more Miami community news, look no further than Miami Community Newspapers. This Miami online group of newspapers covers a variety of topics about the local community and beyond. Miami’s Community Newspapers offers daily news, online resources, podcasts and other multimedia content to keep readers informed. With topics ranging from local news to community events, Miami’s Community Newspapers is the ideal source for staying up to date with the latest news and happenings in the area.
This family-owned media company publishes more than a dozen neighborhood publications, magazines, special sections on their websites, newsletters, as well as distributing them in print throughout Miami Dade County from Aventura, Sunny Isles Beach, Miami Beach, Coral Gables, Brickell, Coconut Grove, Pinecrest, South Miami, Kendall, Palmetto Bay, Cutler Bay and Homestead. Each online publication and print editions provide comprehensive coverage of local news, events, business updates, lifestyle features, and local initiatives within its respective community.
Additionally, the newspaper has exclusive Miami community podcasts, providing listeners with an in-depth look into Miami’s culture. Whether you’re looking for local Miami news, or podcasts, Miami’s Community Newspapers has you covered. For more information, be sure to check out: https://communitynewspapers.com.
If you have any questions, feel free to email Michael@communitynewspapers.com or Grant@communitynewspapers.com.
