PH.6 - Allocate $250k to Heritage Center

WHEREAS, on July 24, 2025, pursuant to Resolution No. R-25-0305, the City of Miami (“City”) adopted the Fiscal Year (“FY”) 2024-2025 Mid-Year Budget, which included an earmarked allocation of Two Hundred Fifty Thousand and 00/100 Dollars ($250,000.00) for capital improvements associated with the Florida Cultural Heritage Center; and

WHEREAS, Colonial Heritage of Florida, LLC, a Florida limited liability company, doing business as the Florida Cultural Heritage Center ("FCHC"), operates a cultural and educational facility located at 3225 Northwest 8th Avenue, Miami, Florida, whose mission is to acquire, preserve, and make available to the public, today and in the future, the cultural and artistic patrimony of Florida, focusing on works reflecting the earliest Spanish Colonial influences throughout South, Central and North America and the Caribbean through the nineteenth century and, in special situations, the early twentieth century; and

WHEREAS, the FCHC's facilities and collections are directly tied to the cultural history of South Florida, Miami-Dade County, and the City and provide educational, cultural, research, exhibition, and community opportunities for residents and visitors; and

WHEREAS, FCHC has submitted a funding request and project proposal, attached and incorporated as Exhibit "A," requesting financial assistance for capital improvements to existing facilities housing historically significant collections, together with certain pre-development activities associated with a future cultural center expansion project, which details the scope of work, project budget, anticipated timeline, stakeholders, and expected outcomes associated with the Project; and

WHEREAS, the proposed scope of work includes: (i) replacement and installation of materials associated with the interior ceiling of La Merced Chapel; (ii) environmental remediation and preservation measures within the Cultural Center Library, including protection of historically significant books and archival materials; (iii) installation of impact-resistant windows and building hardening improvements to protect historic collections; and (iv) pre-development activities related to a future cultural center expansion, including site survey services, museum consulting services, architectural renderings, preliminary architectural design revisions, and associated legal and development-related services; and

WHEREAS, FCHC has requested funding in an amount not to exceed Two Hundred Fifty Thousand and 00/100 Dollars ($250,000.00) (“Funds”) from Project 40-B253109 for eligible costs associated with the Project described in Exhibit "A," including capital improvements, collection preservation activities, pre-development work, and related project administration and grant management expenses, provided that project administration and grant management expenses shall not exceed three percent (3%) of the total funding allocation; and

WHEREAS, the proposed project is expected to preserve culturally significant collections, protect historic facilities from environmental and storm-related impacts, expand future public access to educational and cultural resources, and enhance opportunities for research, exhibitions, and community programming within the City; and

WHEREAS, certain costs associated with the La Merced Chapel ceiling improvements consist of pending invoices for materials and installation previously incurred by FCHC and are proposed to be eligible for reimbursement, subject to verification, documentation, and compliance with the terms of the funding agreement approved by the City Attorney; and

WHEREAS, the City wishes to provide Funds from Project 40-B253109 for the Project described in Exhibit "A"; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 18-85(a) of the Code of the City of Miami, Florida, as amended ("City Code"), the City Manager has made a written finding, attached and incorporated as Exhibit "B," that competitive negotiation methods and procedures are not practicable or advantageous for the City's provision of the Funds described in Exhibit "A," attached and incorporated; and

WHEREAS, the City Manager is requesting authority from the City Commission to

negotiate and execute any and all documents necessary, all in forms acceptable to the City Attorney, for the allocation of the Funds for the Project;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA:

Section 1.  The recitals and findings contained in the Preamble of this Resolution are adopted by reference and incorporated herein as if fully set forth in this Section.

Section 2. Pursuant to Section 18-85(a) of the City Code, by a four-fifths (4/5ths) affirmative vote, after an advertised public hearing, the City Commission hereby ratifies, approves, and confirms the City Manager's written finding, attached and incorporated as Exhibit "B," that competitive negotiation methods and procedures are not practicable or advantageous for the City's provision of funds for the Project described in Exhibit "A," attached and incorporated, and hereby waives the requirements for said procedures.

Section 3. The City Manager is authorized to allocate Fundsfrom Project 40-B253109 to FCHCfor the Project described in Exhibit "A," attached and incorporated, including capital improvements, preservation and remediation activities, impact-resistant building hardening measures, eligible reimbursement expenses, pre-development services, project administration and grant management expenses, provided such expenses shall not exceed three percent (3%) of the total funding allocation, all subject to the terms and conditions of an agreement and in a form acceptable to the City Attorney.

Section 4.  The City Manager is further authorized1 to negotiate and execute any and all documents necessary, modifications, and amendments, all in forms acceptable to the City Attorney, for said purpose.

Section 5.  This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon its adoption and signature of the Mayor.