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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHPB Minutes 2015-0121 SUMMARY MINUTES City of Sunny Isles Beach Historic Preservation Board Meeting 18070 Collins Avenue, 1st Floor Meeting Room Wednesday, January 21, 2015, 7:00 p.m. 1. Call to Order by Chairperson: Action: Chairperson Jorge Camaraza called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m., and each Member introduced themselves. The following Board Members and City Officials were present: Committee Members: City Officials: Jorge Camaraza, Chairperson Deputy City Attorney Fernando Amuchastegui Shari Blank Consultant Ellen J. Uguccioni Loretta de Vries City Clerk Jane A. Hines, MMC Maynard Mast City Attorney Hans Ottinot Ari Steiger City Manager Christopher J. Russo Deputy City Manager Stan Morris City Liaison: David Udoff Absent: Natalie Minervina Warren J. Stamm (excused: out of town) 2. Approval of Minutes of the October 14, 2014 Historic Preservation Board Meeting. Action: City Liaison David Udoff noted a change on page 1 of the minutes under the Introduction of David Udoff. The sentence regarding"Are You Aware"was revised to"David said he also wrote the "Are You Aware" monthly column published in the Sunny Isles Beach Community Newspaper as well as on the City's website." Shari Blank moved and Ari Steiger seconded a motion to approve the above-mentioned summary minutes,as amended. The motion was approved by a voice vote of 5-0-2 [Natalie Minervina and Warren Stamm absent] in favor. Change Order of Agenda: It was requested that Item No. 4. Report from City Manager Russo, be heard after the Minutes. Shari Blank moved and Jorge Camaraza seconded a motion to change the order of the agenda by hearing Item 4 before Item 3. The motion was approved by a voice vote of 5-0-2 [Natalie Minervina and Warren Stamm absent] in favor. Summary Minutes: 2015-0121 HPB Mtu Page 1 of 7 3. A Report by City Liaison David Udoff concerning the Historic Preservation Board Annual Report to Miami-Dade County. Action: [City Clerk's Note: This item was heard after Item 41 David Udoff reported on the Annual Report to be sent to Harvey Ruyin. Clerk of the Courts, and to Kathleen Kauffman, Miami-Dade Historic Preservation Chief. Deputy City Attorney Amuchastegui noted that even' year the Historic Preservation Board is required to submit an Annual Report to Miami-Dade County. The materials before the Board tonight is a compilation of the Minutes and all the activities taken by this Board last year. Shari Blank moved and Ari Steiger seconded a motion to accept the Annual Report. The motion was approved by a voice vote of 5-0-2 [Natalie Minervina and Warren Stamm absents in favor. 4. Update/Report on the Sunny Isles Beach Fishing Pier: Photograph of the Old Pier to be placed at the Pier; and the Financial and Expense Report for Pier Admissions. Action: [City Clerk's Note: This item was heard after hem 2.] City Manager Christopher J. Russo thanked the Board for allowing him to go first as he has another meeting. He noted that the numbers he is going to give tonight are for a short period of time. We do not have a track record as we do not have a full year in yet. After the Pier was opened on June 13, 2014, we provided free access through September while the work was in progress with the restaurant. The total Pier Project was about $6.3 Million of which Dr. Cornfeld contributed $2 Million. Dr. Comfeld previously had a permit for the lease with the State for many years. In fact many people still thinks it is controlled by Dr. Comfeld and the Newport. After the Pier was destroyed during the Hurricane in 2005, it was very clear to Dr. Comfeld that he could not afford to rebuild that Pier when there were no economics past the business standpoint,and so the City stepped in. The City of Sunny Isles Beach spent $6.3 Million to rebuild the Pier for which Dr. Comfeld contributed S2 Million. The taxpayers of Sunny Isles Beach paid for over 2/3rds of that project. City Manager Russo said two separate fees were created for access to the Pier. For residents with their City I.D. cards, access for walking the Pier is free, and the fee to fish on the Pier is $2.00 For non-residents the fee to walk out on the Pier is$2.00 per person, and $5.00 per person to fish. The revenue to date has been very inconsistent,and actually the most consistency that we have started in October with the current 2014/2015 Fiscal Year, and it is still not enough to really give a true number. Right now it looks like our expenses for the first quarter were $61,000.00 and our revenue was about $56,000.00, most of that coming from the lease on the restaurant. It is $45,000.00 for lease on the restaurant, and $11,000.00 of access fees from the Pier. That is about $51,000.00 in expenses and $56,000.00 in revenue, and that will fluctuate. City Manager Russo said that last year was not a good year because we had a certain period of free access to the Pier, we had inconsistent access being handled by the Newport. Then there was a transition between the Newport and the Beach Bar Restaurant with their people overseeing it as part of their sub-lease with the Newport, and then our Management Agreement that we have for the Pier. Let me make one thing clear, the City did not lease the Pier to the Newport or the Beach Bar, we kept control of the Pier, we maintained the Pier, we are cleaning it, and we are regulating it. Dr. Cornfeld and the Newport does not operate the Pier itself, they have the lease Summary Minutes: 2015-0121 HPB Mtg Page 2 of 7 on the restaurant. Chair Camaraza said then that the revenue collected from people visiting,you are saying it is S11,000.00? City Manager Russo said yes, over that quarter,and we know it will fluctuate. We are no longer the seasonal community,even'month is the season here,it is not the way it was 15 years ago. The key facts are: • We spent$6.3 Million for the Pier Project,of which$2 Million was paid by Dr.Comfeld; • Our expenses for the first quarter are about$61,000.00,the revenue about$56,000.00,and he can fine-tune those numbers in a few months; and • Access fees are free for residents to walk out on the Pier, and $2.00 per person to fish. For non-residents it is $2.00 per person to walk out on the Pier, and $5.00 per person to fish. Chair Camaraza asked if there is any revenue split with Dr. Comfeld? City Manager Russo said yes, on the Pier access it is 50/50. Chair Camaraza asked how much does he estimate the expenses to be to manage the inflow and outflow of traffic on the Pier, cleaning hooks,keeping the Pier clean, and so nothing related to pilings or structures, or things like that. City Manager Russo said all the expense that he is talking about is our maintenance people, and they are on it constantly. It is occasionally the electrician,occasionally the plumber,but it is our maintenance people every day, multiple tines a day. We are going through a process now, the concept of keeping a soft-water pump operating 24/7 is impossible for that Pier. It never worked right when Dr. Comfeld had it or with the original steps of the Pier, and so we are switching over to potable water to be able to clean off the cutting boards on the Pier. Right now we are running the hose from the restaurant all the way out there. It is going to be regular fresh water through the pipe system, and that is going to change fairly soon as we have just about got a permit for that,and it is for the maintenance of Pier Park also. There is the Public Works maintenance of it which includes the daily cleaning and operating, it is the parking attendant,and occasionally one of our skilled laborers or workers or contractors if there is a plumbing or electrical issue. Chair Camaraza said then right now we are negative cash flow of $10,000.00 to $15,000.00 in a quarter? City Manager Russo said a little less than that,about$6,000.00 to$7,000.00. We don't really have enough of a track record yet,at this point it would be his advice to wait at least six(6) months. Shari Blank said when you put the fresh water in to do the Pier, there would be no sewage attached to that because the water goes back in. City Manager Russo said no,in fact we bring the hose out there now on a daily basis just to clean it off. Ms. Blank asked if we are paying sewage on water that is being used, and City Manager Russo said no. At some point we are going to resurface the Pier where there is fishermen activity. It comes clean in the power wash, the paint peels off and so we are looking for a better type of finishing for it, in fact we may just take all the paint off to try to get a uniform look but we are not sure yet. If you go out there you will see from power washing it and cleaning it in just this short time that the paint is not holding up. Chair Camaraza said then what is your recommendation to the Board? City Manager Russo said he would hold off for now,he doesn't know what his ultimate recommendation would be on that issue and he doesn't think it is fair to even think about it right now. We have to get at least three (3) more months to see where we are at, and then we could take up the issue again. The City's whole philosophy has been if we can do something free for the residents we would like to do it. City Manager Russo said he was thinking from a business standpoint that we have got to get some return, and this was $6.3 Million of which the City paid the main share of. Summary Minutes: 2015-0121 HPB Mte Page 3 of 7 Shari Blank said basically anyone that lives here that has the City ID can walk the Pier, and City Manager Russo said yes, and noted that we are trying to get all the residents to get the City identification card because that is important. For everything that is free, we want people to have that, and so we are trying to make it a requirement to have City ID. Chair Camaraza said he personally thinks that the ability for anybody to go up and down and use the Pier is an attraction for the City. A return on an investment could be maybe bumping up the new parking garage fee a nickel or dime. Ari Steiger asked if we still had parking in the garage at LaPerla, and City Manager Russo said no. City Attorney Ottinot said it was not working and LaPerla was complaining, and so LaPerla paid the City 5200.000.00. Ari Steiger said that three(3) months is no indication for the Pier, he thinks a year will tell you where you stand. City Manager Russo said he can come back any time to give an update but a year would give us a more precise number. Loretta de Vries said she was at the Pier for lunch the other day and they said if she parked her car at the hotel and brought the receipt from her lunch bill, it would cost her just $10. Chair Camaraza said he wants to know what the position of the Board members are in terms of whether or not we should pursue the idea of making Pier entrance free for the public or keeping it something for the residents so that we know what direction we are going in. Maynard Mast said it is going to take more than a year, the impact on the Pier is going to be dramatically changed once we get the parking across the street. He also thinks the goal should be to make it free for everyone, not just residents, up to a point. If it gets too crowded then you may want to start charging a fee. Ari Steiger said it costs money to maintain it and so you need to get some revenue for maintenance. Chair Camaraza said if we look at the numbers that we are looking at right now, we are negative cash flow of S 10,000.00 a quarter. that is$40,000.00 a year negative cash flow in maintenance of the Pier. Ari Steiger said you have to charge something, and Chair Camaraza said right, you have got to charge something if you are really looking to balance that particular line item but if we are looking at this as an historical icon of the City, then$40,000 is a small price to pay for people to come and enjoy the Pier. City Manager Russo said our expense side is certainly much heavier, it is not because people are just walking up and down the Pier, it is the fishing side. If there are any suggestions prematurely he would have it free for anyone that wants to walk but let's still charge for fishing, that is where the maintenance is. But again, it is still too early to tell, a few more months will give us a better idea. City Attorney Ottinot said that as a procedural matter, with regards to the entrance fee for the Pier, this Board can make a recommendation to the Commission. Loretta de Vries asked what you would or would not charge a fee for other than the fishermen, if you go to the restaurant are you talking about charging a $2.00 fee? City Manager Russo said no, the fee is just for the fishing. Shari Blank said even on the old Pier, there was a fee if you went beyond one particular point, you had to pay to fish and there was a bait station there where you could buy the bait and rent the fishing rods. It really hasn't changed that much, it might be less than what they would be charging now a days but it is still pretty much what it was originally. Chairperson Camaraza asked if we can move to review this in three(3)months once we have one more quarter in? Shari Blank moved to table it for right now and come back and revisit it in a couple of months and Ari Steiger seconded the motion and added to make a recommendation at that time. The motion was approved by a voice vote of 5-0-2 [Natalie Summary Minutes: 2015-0121 HPB Mtg Page 4 of 7 Minervina and Warren Stamm absent] in favor. Loretta de Vries said she was having lunch today with some ladies and one of them said she found in her home some videos of the early days. and Chair Camaraza said that we would be interested in them. She said she would follow through on it. David Udoff said he was asked at the last meeting to find an early photograph of the Pier to mount at the Pier for visitors to see, and so he did some research and found four (4) early photographs of the Pier, which he handed out. He said he had contacted many companies about signs, and he included in his report about the environment and the sand. One of the companies gave him an example of materials, and there are two types: high pressured laminates and aluminum. They would be able to engrave or print upon that material, and these signs are installed in museums, natural areas,and wetlands. Chair Camaraza asked if we had the rights to these photographs,and David Udoff said the first photograph of the girl at the Pier is from 1937, it is a press photograph, and he just bought it from eBay, and so the City owns it. The second photograph is on loan from Seth Bramson, the Honorary Member of the Board, and he has a negative of that photograph that can be reproduced into a print. The third photograph was from historymiami.org and they can provide us with a high resolution JPEG of it which we already have hanging on the wall on the 4'h floor of City Hall. The Board liked the third photograph of the Pier with a lot of fishermen. David Udoff said for the text, less is more. Consultant Ellen J. Uguccioni said she is not sure if there is a requirement for braille on the sign but she thinks it would be a good idea to incorporate that, and the Board agreed. Chair Camaraza moved to recommend to the City Commission that this photograph be used for the Pier, and City Attorney Ottinot said if the price is low,the City Manager can approve it. David Udoff said the cost could be anywhere from$5,000.00 to S10,000.00 and there may be an additional cost to add the braille. City Attorney Ottinot said that the Board can turn the motion into a Resolution and it can be submitted. If the City Manager wants to take it to the Commission, he can make that call, and he would need to get three (3) quotes. Chair Camaraza said we could say a certain number,and let's say less than$7,000.00 without us having to review this item again, and let the City Manager make the decision. Ari Steiger noted if it is under $25,000.00 the City Manager can make the decision. All the Board members were in favor of the third photograph. Chair Camaraza asked if we need to make a recommendation about placement, and City Attorney Ottinot said with your recommendation if the City Manager finds a location he will come back to the Board with it. Chair Camaraza said then that we will make a recommendation that prior to placement that the Board will be involved in the selection. Shari Blank moved and Ari Steiger seconded a motion that prior to placement of the photograph at the Pier that the City Manager will bring it back to the Board for their input. The motion was approved by a voice vote of 5-0-2 ]Natalie Minervina and Warren Stamm absent] in favor. [City Clerk's Note: Chair Camaraza went back to agenda Item 3.] 5. Update/Report on Designating Artifacts as Historic. Action: Chair Camaraza said we had talked about researching if there are any items in the City regardless of who they belong to, if there was anything else that the Board would consider designating as historic. City Liaison David Udoff said he had talked to Warren Summary Minutes: 2015-0121 HPB Mte Page 5 of 7 Stamm about the Thunderbird Sign, and he conveyed to him that we should go forward. He distributed a report on existing artifacts that the City already has. The most recent one is on the first page which is the Carriage Light that was installed about two months ago and it has a plaque now. He did an inventory of everything from 2003 to the current time, and it is ongoing. The City has a lot of memorabilia including postcards, brochures, photographs, etc. For artifacts,there are possibly some of the Rascal House items that the City gave to the Dezer Auto Museum,and he talked to them and they mentioned that they would spend some time researching to see if they can find any of these items there. Chair Camaraza said the origin of this item was that we basically discussed that regardless of who owns the item, the question is, should it be deemed historic, and that came from the discussion of the camels and the Thunderbird sign. Letters were going to go out and he asked if we got any responses back from those letters. David Udoff said he sent the letters out but has not received any responses, there are no real artifacts out there that we can find right now. Chair Camaraza said then that the only thing on the table that we know of to pursue are the camels, and the Thunderbird Sign. City Attorney Ottinot said the other thing that Consultant Ellen J. Uguccioni said was to amend the Code by saying "historic objects" instead of "artifacts". This Board may be inclined to designate items that are historic objects and not artifacts. There is a different connotation and he asked Ms. Uguccioni to explain this further. Consultant Ellen J. Uguccioni said the word"artifact"has a specific meaning to it and it has to do with archeology and archeological digs to when you excavate something. An"object" is something that is associated with physical activity,human activity,mostly or often artistic in nature, a fountain, a horse and carriage, something that has to do with history, it does not have to be artistic in nature. In order for you to be right on the money in terms of consistency with everyone else, she had written a memo regarding a proposed amendment to the City Code to include a definition of"historic object." City Attorney Ottinot said to send it to City Clerk Hines and she will send it to the Board members. Ms. Uguccioni recommended that we add to the list of definitions in the City Code to include both "artifacts" and `objects" that can be designated as historic. First we have to have the definition written and brine it to the Historic Preservation Board to review. Loretta de Vries suggested to contact previous owners of the property before they sold it to the developers and ask them if they have saved anything from the hotel. Chair Camaraza agreed and said we should reach out to anyone who had a major stake during that time period because you don't lose anything by doing that and you don't know what you may get back. In the meantime he would like to make a motion to designate the camels as historic items, and he would also like for the Thunderbird Sign to be requested back because apparently the City already gave that to them, to see if it is still available. City Attorney Ottinot said procedurally, if this is a desire of this Board to designate the camels and what we should do is to put a notice in the newspaper and also put it as an agenda item for the next meeting so that we will all know what is required. Chair Camaraza asked if that was the opinion of the rest of the Board members because we have new members tonight and the last time we were pretty much unanimous on that idea, and the Board agreed. Summary Minutes: 2015-0121 HPB Mtg Page 6 of 7 Shari Blank moved and An Steiger seconded a motion to proceed in executing the proper procedure for the designation of the camels as historic. The motion was approved by a voice vote of 5-0-2 INatalie Minervina and Warren Stamm absent] in favor. 6. Old Business. None 7. New Business. • Selection of Vice Chairperson. Action: Chairperson Camaraza asked Shari Blank to become Vice Chairperson and she accepted. • Discussion on Changing the Time of When the Historic Preservation Board Meets. Action: After discussion, it was decided to change the time of all future Board meetings from 7:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. 8. Date and Time of Next Meeting. • Action: After discussion it was decided to schedule the next meeting on Wednesday, April 22, 2015 at 6:00 p.m. 9. Adjournment. Action: Shari Blank moved and An Steiger seconded a motion to adjourn the meeting, and Chairperson Camaraza adjourned it at 7:54 p.m. Respectf y submitted, 41W-- a/At ' ►� . June 24. 2015 ane A. Hi es. MMC. ity Clerk Date Summary Minutes: 2015-0121 HPB Mtg Page 7 of 7