Did anybody else see that knife fight between Miami Commissioners Joe Carollo and Alex Diaz de la Portilla at the commission meeting last month? Ladra sure hopes someone in law enforcement was watching.
Sources say there is already an investigation into possible abuse of power and quid pro quo in the negotiations for a juicy marina contract that has been in the wind for years.
But the exchange between the two ex BFFs, with them often speaking over each other, was something to be seen. And heard. In fact, make some popcorn and go over to the city’s website so you can watch it. Start at about one hour and 29 minutes in.
The fight came about during discussion of the future of the city’s marinas. Carollo apparently wants to give a contract to develop and operate the Rickenbacker Marina to the same guy, Aabad Melwani, whose family has been running it since 1983. ADLP apparently wanted voters to consider another and last minute “unsolicited” proposal from Dallas-based Suntex Marina Investors.
But in a stunning display of how much power he now doesn’t have at City Hall anymore, ADLP — who is famous for burning bridges — couldn’t get a second for either of two motions. His push for Suntex ended when Carollo moved to approve a ballot measure for Biscayne Marine Partners instead.
That means that this November, voters could get a referendum asking if the charter should be amended so the city can waive competitive bidding and negotiate and enter into a 75-year lease of about 27 acres of waterfront public property at 3301 Rickenbacker Causeway with Biscayne Marine Partners. The ballot will including language about a minimum investment of $115 million and annual rent of $2.75 million and percentage rent for boat storage and fuel consumption. Commissioners voted 4-1 on that
The final ballot language was approved 4 to 1, with DLP dissenting.
If it is approved, the referendum gives City Manager Art Noriega the authority to negotiate and enter into a lease and development agreement for a mixed use facility, which is strangely (read: intentionally) not part of the ballot language. This facility is expected to include a boatyard, a dockmaster’s office, a dry boat storage rack, a fuel pump as well as retail stores and restaurants.
Know more: More questions than answers on makeovers for Rickenbacker, Venetian
That’s a long way off, however, and there is still a lot that has to happen. Ladra will definitely be following up on this.
In the meantime, the battle of the bros took the main stage. Especially since it’s an election year for Crazy Joe and you can tell that ADLP won’t help this time.
“I disagree with just about every statement Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla has made here… they are not factual,” Carollo shot.
“You’re not a judge. You don’t determine when my items are heard,” DLP shot back. “He does not want to have a debate on competition to the particular vendor that he supports.”
The Dean said the selection committee process was “somewhat rigged” and wanted the unsolicited proposal, which he said offered better terms, to be considered. He said the city deserves a “world class marina.”
“I haven’t heard you say anything new,” Carollo said. “All we’ve seen is tricks from the Suntex company.”
Commission Chair Ken Russell, who beat that gavel like never before, agreed that it was a “last minute Hail Mary” proposal and Carollo said that the commissioner’s brother Miguel, the former state senator, was pushing the Suntex group.
Know more: Miami bromance breaks up as Joe Carollo and ADLP bicker and brawl
“My brother has no interest in this. You have an interest in this,” ADLP said, adding that Carollo is taking campaign contributions from interested parties.
Countered Carollo: “You’re not bad, you just smell bad!”
He’s probably referring to that long-rumored investigation into the shake down of Melwani. Las malas lenguas — including insiders who have allegedly talked to investigators — say that ADLP outright asked for $50,000 in a meeting at the Brickell Centre hotel, where he’s allegedly been living.
It doesn’t make sense. More likely, he asked for a $50,000 donation to his political action committee. In any case, Melwani scoffed. Sources say he is cooperating with authorities.
Which makes one wonder how much Suntex paid and where.
Voters should reject this referendum anyway, because why should there be any no-bid contract. Especially for something so huge as a 75-year lease on 27 acres of public waterfront land.
And it’s already taken seven years. If the move is to keep it with the same person, why not just do that and spend more time getting it just right? Especially as the county gets into its own RFP for the Rickenbacker Causeway and how is that going to combine with this?
What the city should do is issue a request for proposals and then take the best one of those to voters. Why put the cart before the horse?
Oh, that’s right: Because Miami.
Miami commissioners spar over juicy marina contract that goes to voters added by Ladra on
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