Week of July 5, 2012
FDOT
Work Program,
Public Hearing
AIRPORT HOTEL PACT: A new company spearheaded by Turnberry managing members Jacqueline and Jeffrey Soffer is being recommended to Miami-Dade County commissioners to manage the county-owned hotel at Miami International Airport, Hotel MIA. A memo from Deputy Mayor Jack Osterholt says the deal is estimated to result in $15.5 million annual gross revenue, with the county aviation department pocketing $5.2 million of that, or 34%, after paying management fees and operating expenses. The company, TB MIA LLC, would get a $575,000 yearly management fee under the seven-year deal. The county sought proposals for the hotel a year ago and got only two applicants. PKF Consulting, working for the county, told the negotiating committee that TB MIA's price is in line with industry standards. A commission committee is to vote Monday on waiving competitive bidding procedures to OK the deal. JUNGLE ISLAND DELAY: The Miami City Commission last week postponed action on a lease amendment requested by Jungle Island until July 12. The requested amendment proposes a restructuring of Jungle Island's payments to the city to a profit-sharing arrangement, thereby extending the lease — which has 49 years to run — to 99 years and increasing the attraction's space on Watson Island to take in nearby facilities, even though it owes a near $26 million debt to the city and county. The attraction says it needs the changes to remain afloat financially. ARTS IN SOUTH COUNTY: The county-owned South Miami-Dade Cultural Arts Center on Southwest 211th Street in Cutler Bay has held 48 events with total attendance of 33,760 since the center opened Oct. 1 of last year, according to a report going to county commissioners for a Monday committee meeting. The first season ended in May, with rental events in June presented by local schools and community-based arts organizations. The center's theater building seats 966. |
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