Your presence is requested at this meeting
But rowers, paddlers and supporters of Virginia Key have been upset over planned changes that will turn the area too commercial for the small guy. There is a City Commission meeting on Wednesday, July 20 which may decide the fate of the existing bid for the Virginia Key Marina.
On this agenda is a resolution to throw out the bid altogether, and start fresh – with input from community leaders and organizations who have a vested interest in Virginia Key, the Miami Marine Stadium, and the basin. There is growing sentiment in this regard, which has been profiled in stories in the last couple of weeks.
According to Commissioner Ken Russell, two commissioners are firmly in the camp to throw out the bid, and they need one more for a positive vote in this direction.
“Continued public pressure and a good solid case for how the RFP violates the original master plan (aside from boats in the basin) may just get us that 3rd vote," said Ken.
People are being asked to show up at the meeting – 9:00 am on July 20.
This is a special meeting, and nothing else is on the agenda. Bodies always make an impression, so the more the better. At the last meeting on June 22, rowers, paddlers and citizens came in droves, and it made a difference. The commission was very surprised by the number of people who came to the meeting. It made a statement and they heard it.
Because of public outcry, the commission and the city, agreed to remove the wet slips in the basin at that meeting. By starting the bid process over, the vision of the people who wrote the Virginia Key Master Plan will be upheld, thus preventing any similar conflicts of interest from happening in the future.
Here is a form letter that can be emailed to the city commissioners. Their email addresses are at the bottom.
COPY & PASTE & PASS ON
TO OTHER SYMPATHIZERS - must be received
by July 19th
Email Headline:
REQUEST NEW PROPOSALS FOR VIRGINIA KEY MARINA
Email Headline:
REQUEST NEW PROPOSALS FOR VIRGINIA KEY MARINA
Dear Commissioners,
On July 20th, please vote to throw out the bid and proposals for the Virginia Key Marina expansion. We have been asking this for months, and now is the time to act.
The RFP violates the original
master plan in many ways, as those who have worked on the master plan can
attest.
It was already agreed at the
commission meeting on June 22nd that a marina in the historic basin
is not in keeping with the plan. This
should constitute a material change in the bid, and grounds to start over. And it’s not the only concern.
Starting over will allow organizations like Dade Heritage Trust and the Virginia Key Advisory Board to input on the bid, to make sure that the plans submitted will be embraced by the entire community.
Thank you for your time and consideration,
(sign your name)
(full address)
(phone number)
Save our basin
Redo the bids
posted by Tom Falco at 5:00 AM
YOU MAY NOT LIFT THE PHOTOS & TEXT. IT'S COPYRIGHTED INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY. YOU CAN HOWEVER SHARE A STORY ON SOCIAL MEDIA BY USING THE LINKS HERE.
For linking to this one story, just click on the time it was posted & just this story will open for sharing - only through social media. Not copying and pasting.
4 Comments:
I recall there was also public pressure to stop Christo from creating his Surrounded Island Art Installation in Biscayne Bay. Good thing that he was not stopped, since it help create excitement and place Miami on the international map. Its always more challenging to create than to demolish, but the rewards are better.
Virginia Key already has several marinas. The public is being served. At the moment the City and the winning bidder are pushing a massive super sized super commercial version of a marina. Plus, like idiots the City is offering a 99 year lease. There should be a new RFP.
I haven't seen the proposed marina for this site, but there is a severe shortage of marina space in the Miami area. Every marina I have spoken to, going as far south as Matheson, has a years-long waiting list.
On most weekends there is a line of cars or trucks sitting by the side of the road with a boat on a trailer in tow, waiting for a vacant boat ramp and praying for a parking space. Perhaps UBER Boat Service could come to the recue!
Post a Comment
<< Home