2010-0128 Special City Commission Meeting

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Summary Minutes: Regular City Commission Meeting January 28, 2010 City of Sunny Isles Beach, Florida 12B. Discussion regarding a Proposed Aquarium within the City of Sunny Isles Beach. Action: Vice Mayor Thaler reported, and introduced Arthur H. Hertz, CEO of the Miami Seaquarium. Public Speakers: Arthur H. Hertz; Eduardo Castifteira Mr. Hertz introduced Eduardo Castifteira, Architect President/CEO of Axioma3Architects, who handed out a booklet of renderings of the proposed project entitled "Wometco Aquatic Center, City of Sunny Isles Beach Town Center ", and he presented each of the renderings. He noted that it is located across from St. Tropez, in between Sunny Isles Boulevard East and West and bordering on Collins Avenue. He presented a five -level site plan including a parking garage, restaurants, shops, banquet halls, a three -story aquarium including a portion where stingrays may be petted, etc. The garage can accommodate 140 to 150 cars, and the two banquet halls can easily accommodate 1,000 people. The Commission was very pleased with this proposal, and Mayor Edelcup noted that this project meets the Comp Plan for pedestrian friendly, it is an educational process, family- oriented, includes banquet halls, and is very unique to all of South Florida. It would take over a portion of what the City has already acquired, and there is still an area to the west of that, and maybe combine ideas to fully develop the entire site so that we have an integrated project. Vice Mayor Thaler asked what the next step would be for the City, and Mr. Hertz said this was the first step, and now we will work on the financing portion which will take some time. After discussion it was the consensus of the Commission to move forward with this project and instructed staff to work with Mr. Hertz. 13. CITIZENS' FORUM: REQUESTS, PETITIONS & OTHER COMMUNICATIONS 14. ADJOURNMENT Commissioner Goodman moved and Vice Mayor Thaler seconded a motion to adjourn the meeting, and Mayor Edelcup adjourned it at 7:54 p.m. Respectfiilly submitted by: (�_� & �L� Rine A. Hines, CMC, City Clerk Approved by the City Commission on Feb. 18, 2010 N6rman S.