2010-0218 Regular City Commission Meeting

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Commission Minutes: Regular City Commission Meeting February 18, 2010 City of Sunny Isles Beach, Florida 12. DISCUSSION ITEMS 12A. A Discussion regarding a Presentation by J. Milton and Associates on a Public /Private Partnership. Action: [City Clerk's Note: Joe Milton handed out an updated Book of Renderings of the Wometco Project.] Mayor Edelcup reported that last month we had the wonderful news that the Seaquarium was interested in our proposed new park area on Sunny Isles Boulevard and the Commission had asked that City Manager Conner meet with various parties to see if we could integrate the concept of that aquatic park along with the park and parking garage that we would hope to build on the property we own adjacent to that. Public Speakers: Joe Milton; Eduardo Castineira; Katy Steiger Joe Milton gave a brief history of St. Tropez and Town Center, and said Jack Luft's Evaluation & Plan for Open Space & Recreation, dated March 2008, is the basis of his presentation tonight. He read the following excerpts from that report: "The City has thought through its master planning process to create a true Town Center with a mix of public, private, commercial, residential, and civic uses that can provide a center of gravity and identity for an evolving sense of community. A major public space for community -wide events that appeal to broad and diverse segments of the community is needed." "The most suitable site in the preceding analysis of alternative locations for a park and open space that can fulfill the needs for a central gathering place for the Sunny Isles Beach community is the median area between the east and west bound lanes of Sunny Isles Boulevard." "A Park for All Residents ", and these are the things that he thought needed to be included in such a park: • A Facility for Destination Attractions: A multi - purpose convention center with flexible programmable spaces that can host traveling museums, exhibits, convention and meeting space, cultural performances and shows, art exhibitions, private receptions and events, civic events and educational activities. • A Performance and Event Stage & Plaza: A permanent stage and production equipment for outdoor concerts, rallies, group promotions, cinema and video exhibitions and festivals. • A Great Lawn or Commons: A green space for hosting festivals, specialty markets, free play and concert crowds with sculpture gardens and water features. • An Outdoor Cafe: A sidewalk cafe for small scale music events and for catering, Exhibition Center events. • A Public Parking Garage & Pedestrian Overpasses to Town Center & Beach/Pier. Mr. Milton said we have a huge need for public parking in that area of the City. Mr. Milton said this report inspired him to hire Architect Eduardo Castineira who had worked with him at St. Tropez, and he thinks this is a visionary, an incredible design, and with this guidance he came up with a concept that would work for this City. Mr. Castineira noted that he and Arthur Hertz of Wometco Enterprises and the Seaquarium, showed a proposal at the January 28, 2010 City Commission meeting, and tonight's presentation enhances that proposal, and he presented each of the renderings. A very important element that was expressed in Mr. Luft's report was the bridge that could take pedestrians from the park or the Wometco building and connect them to the beach. The idea of a skywalk, a pedestrian bridge, was fantastic because it eliminates the problem of a 8