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RESOLUTION NO. ----
A Resolution opposing House Bill 165 and Senate Bill 306 and the expenditure of
public funds to offset the cost of expansion, renovations and upgrades to Sun
Life Stadium.
WHEREAS, it is proposed that upgrades and renovations to Sun Life Stadium be financed
via the use of tourist development tax revenues; and
WHEREAS, it is proposed that there be an expenditure of public funds to bring the issue to
referendum via a Special Election; and
WHEREAS, the City Commission of the City of South Miami is opposed to Senate Bill 306,
House Bill 165 and any other related legislation, and are opposed to the expenditure of public funds
for the purpose of upgrades and renovations to Sun Life Stadium; and
WHEREAS, the City Commission finds that this Resolution is in the best interest and
welfare of the residents of the City.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY
COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF SOUTH MIAMI, FLORIDA, THAT:
Section 1.
reference.
The above recitals are true and correct and are incorporated herein by this
Section 2. The City Commission is hereby opposed to Senate Bill 306, House Bill 165
and any other related legislation, and is opposed to the expenditure of public funds for the purpose of
upgrades and renovations to Sun Life Stadium.
Section 3. The City Clerk is hereby directed to transmit a copy of this Resolution to the
Governor of the State of Florida, President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of
Representatives.
Section 4. This resolution shall take effect immediately upon adoption.
PASSED AND ADOPTED THIS
ATTEST:
CITY CLERK
READ AND APPROVED AS TO FORM:
LANGUAGE, LEGALITY AND
EXECUTION THEREOF
CITY ATTORNEY
DAY OF ____ , 2013
APPROVED:
MAYOR
COMMISSION VOTE:
Mayor Stoddard:
Vice Mayor Liebman:
Commissioner Newman:
Commissioner Harris:
Commissioner Welsh:
Overview of the Sun Life Stadium Renovations Proposal
• Steve Ross, the owner of the Miami Dolphins, told the Miami-Dade County
public in late 2012 that renovations need to be made to Sun Life Stadium in order
for the venue to be competitive during the award process of future Super Bowls.
He has stated that the NFL will not award a Super Bowl without extensive
renovations (which will cost approximately four hundred million dollars).
Cite: January 14, 2013 Dolphins Press Conference
• Mr. Ross made a similar plea in January 2011 to the Broward County
Commission. In Broward County Mr. Ross told the Commissioners that he
needed two hundred and twenty-five million dollars to renovate his stadium. He
went on to suggest that Broward increase their bed tax to fund renovations
because they received a majority of the financial benefits from the Super Bowl
coming to South Florida. Cite: January 5, 2011 Sun Sentinel According to an
economic impact study of the 2010 Super Bowl, Broward realized direct spending
of$57.6 million compared with $39.6 million in Miami-Dade and $12.2 million
in Palm Beach. Cite: January 24, 2013 Sun Sentinel
• Two years later Mr. Ross has once again asked that the bed tax be raised to pay
for his renovations, except this time he is asking for Miami-Dade County to raise
taxes to help his private investment. To make matters worse, Mr. Ross has told
Miami-Dade County the costs for renovations have increased from the 225
million (which he asked Broward County to pay) to a staggering 400 million;
Cite: January 14, 2013 Dolphins Press Conference even though (according to an
independent study) Miami-Dade County only received 36% ofthe financial
benefits from the 2010 Super Bowl. Cite: January 24,2013 Sun Sentinel
• Of the 400 million projected costs for the renovations Steve Ross has pledged just
201 million (51 %) and he is looking for public financing of 199 million (49%).
Cite: January 14, 2013 Dolphins Press Conference Of the 199 million of public funds
the plan is for an increase of the Miami-Dade County bed tax (not including
Miami Beach) to go from 6% to 7% (which would make the tax the highest in the
State) which will total 109 million dollars. The State of Florida would have to
kick-in 90 million additional tax dollars (from the general fund). Cite: Florida
Senate Bill 306
I Authorized and paid for by Stop The Stadium Madness! (ECO) -18400 Franjo Road -Cutler Bay, FL 33157
• The Dolphins already receive a 2 million dollar a year subsidy from the State
dating back to Wayne Huizenga owning the team. Cite: Palm Beach Post February 12,
2013 The Dolphins are attempting to get an additional 3 million dollars a year
with a sales tax rebate from the State Budget for 30 years (90 million dollars).
The proposal is that they will not have to pay 100% of the sales taxes on goods
and services that they currently collect at the stadium during football games,
concerts, and events. Cite: www.phinsider.com February 10, 2013 A Mason-Dixon poll
was conducted in Miami-Dade County for the Miami Herald in October 2012 and
only 16% of the voters supported public funding to add a roofto the stadium. Cite:
Mason-Dixon poll conducted Oct. 22-24 including 625 likely voters in Miami-Dade County
• The fight is not simply taking place in Miami-Dade County, Tallahassee will have
the final say as to if this proposal will go forward. The Legislation is being dual
tracked in the House and the Senate. Cite: House Bill 165 and Senate Bill 306 The
Senate passed SB 306 out of committee without objection. The legislation has not
been heard in committee in the House (which is more conservative and where the
legislation is expected to have some hurdles). Cite: Sunshine State News Feb. 5, 2013
• The Dolphins and the Super Bowl Committee will be submitting an application to
host the 2016 Super Bowl. Sun Life Stadium will be competing against San
Francisco for the 50 th Anniversary Super Bowl (the 2016 SB). If the Dolphins are
not awarded the 2016 Super Bowl they will compete against Houston for the 2017
Super Bowl. The 2016 and 2017 Super Bowls will be awarded at the NFL owners
meeting being held in Boston on May 22,2013. Cite: espn.go.com February 11, 2013
• Mayor Gimenez has proposed that the Sun Life issue be voted on by the Miami-
Dade County voters during a Special Election (at a cost of approximately 5
million dollars from the County's General Fund). State law says that a private
entity may not pay for the cost of this election. Cite: Palm Beach Post Feb. 11,2013
• Michael Putney asked CEO Mike Dee to respond to criticism that the plan is
"welfare for billionaires." Dee answered: "Just because somebody is wealthy
enough doesn't mean he should invest money in a way that is unwise." Mr. Dee
suggests that's its ok to be unwise for the taxpayers ... not for the billionaire Steve
Ross. Cite: The Michael Putney Show February 10, 2013
• Steve Ross can clearly afford to pay for the renovations of his private investment
better than the tax payers of Florida. Steve Ross is ranked the 83 rd richest person
in the United States (out of315,411,921 people who live in the US). Steve Ross
is the 36ih richest person in the World (out of 7,069,268,403 people who live on
earth). Cite: Forbes Magazine September 2012 1ssue
I Authorized and paid for by Stop The Stadium Madness! (ECO) -18400 Franjo Road -Cutler Bay, FL 33157
RESOLUTION NO. 13-08
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND TO\VN
COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF CUTLER BAY,
FLORIDA, OPPOSING HOUSE BILL 165 AND SENATE
BILL 306 AND THE EXPENDITURE OF PUBLIC
FUNDS TO OFFSET THE COST OF EXPANSION,
RENOVATIONS AND UPGRADES TO SUN LIFE
STADIUM; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE
DATE.
WHEREAS, it is proposed that upgrades and renovations to Sun Life Stadium be
financed via the use of tourist development tax revenues; and
WHEREAS, it is proposed that there he an expenditure of public funds to bring the
issue to referendum via a Special Election; and
WHEREAS, the Town of Cutler Bay (the "Town") Town Council are opposed to
Senate Bill 306~ House Bill 165 and any other related legislation, and are opposed to the
expenditure ofpubUc funds for the purpose of upgrades and renovations to Sun Life Stadium;
and .
WHEREAS, the TO\vn Council finds that this Resolution is in the best interest and
welfm:e of the residents of the Town.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND TOWN
COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF CUTLER BAY, FLORIDA, AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Recitals. The above recitals are true and correct and are
incorporated herein by this reference.
Section 2. Opposition. The Town Council is hereby opposed to Senate Bill 306,
House BiH 165 and any other related legislation, and are opposed to the expenditure of public
funds for the purpose of upgrades and renovations to Sun Life Stadium.
Section 3. Authorization. The Town Clerk is hereby directed to transmit a copy
of this Resolution to the Governor of the State of Florida, President of the Senate and Speaker
of the House of Representatives.
Section 4.
Attest:
VA 'C d .' ¥~i!J,< a_,~, ~4 /:r)(C$v;:l\'~
Debra E. Eastman, MMC
To.wn Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND
LEGAL SUFFICIENCYFOR THE
SOLE USE OF THE TOWN OF CUTLERBAY:
.. ISS SEROTA HELFMAN PASTORIZA
COLE & BONISKE, P.L.
To.wn Atto.rney .
Mo.ved By: VICE MAYOR SOCHIN
Seconded By: COUNCILMEMBER BELL
FINAL VOTE AT ADOPTION:
Mayor Edward P. MacDo.ugall YES
Vice Mayor ErnestN, Sochin YES
Councilmember Peggy R. Ben YES
Councilmember Mary Ann Mixo.n YES
Councilmember Sue Ellen Lo.yzelle YES
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