Res. No. 038-01-11186RESOLUTION NO.38-01-11186
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
SOUTHMIAMI,FLORIDA,RELATINGTOTHOROUGHBREDRACING;
PETITIONINGTHEFLORIDALEGISLATURETOGRANTEQUAL
OPPORTUNITY TO HIALEAH PARK WITH THE ISSUANCE OF NON
CONFLICTING RACING DATES WITH ANY OTHER RACING FACILITY IN
SOUTH FLORIDA,TO CONTINUE ITS SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY;
PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS,forover75years,HialeahParkhasbeentheCenterpiece of Thoroughbred Racingin
the Miami-Dade County area;and
WHEREAS,the State of Floridaisamongthetops of thenationinthebreeding,training and
racing of thoroughbreds;and
WHEREAS,HialeahParkhasaneconomicimpactontheCity of Hialeah,aswellasMiami-
Dade County;and
WHEREAS,HialeahParkisrecognizedthroughouttheworldfor it's worldclassracing;and
WHEREAS,HialeahParkis designated aBirdSanctuarybytheNational Audubon Society forits
worldfamouspinkflamingos;and
WHEREAS,HialeahParkiswildly considered the World's MostBeautifulRaceTrack.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF
THE CITY OF SOUTH MIAMI.FLORIDA;
Section 1.ThattheCity Commission hereby petition the Florida Legislature togrant equal
opportunity to Hialeah Park with the issuance of non conflicting racing facility in South Florida,to
continue its service tothe community.
Section 2.Thisresolutionshalltakeeffectimmediatelyuponapproval.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this ?Qthday of Marrh
ATTEST:
CITY CLERK
READ AND APPROVED AS TO FORM:
CITY ATTORNEY ~^
,2001.
APPROVED:
^U 'ffcrto'
MAYOR
Commission Vote:4-0
iMayor Robaina:Yea
Vice Mayor Feliu:out of town
Commissioner Wiscombe:Yea
Commissioner Bethel:Yea
Commissioner Russell:Yea
Additions shown by underlining and deletions shown by ovcrstriking.
Excellence,Integrity,Inclusion
To:HonorableMayor,ViceMayor
andCityCommission
From:Charles Scurr
CityManager
REQUEST
MEMORANDUM
Date:March 20,2001
Re:AgendaItem
Support of Thoroughbred RacingatHialeah
Park
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY
OF SOUTH MIAMI,FLORIDA,RELATING TO THOROUGHBRED RACING;
PETITIONING THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE TO GRANT EQUAL
OPPORTUNITY TO HIALEAH PARK WITH THE ISSUANCE OF NON
CONFLICTING RACING DATES WITH ANY OTHER RACING FACILITY IN
SOUTH FLORIDA,TO CONTINUE ITS SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY;
PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS
TheattachedresolutionsponsoredbyMayorRobainapetitionstheFloridaLegislaturetogrant
equalopportunitytoHialeahParkwiththe issuance of non conflicting racingdateswithanyother
racing facility inSouth Florida,inordertocontinueitsservicetothe community.
HialeahParkisthreatenedandforcedtoclose,whichwouldendracinginthisarea,asaresult of
legislation,which will expireJune30,2001.TheonlyhopethatHialeahParkhasisthesupport
ofthecommunityinSouthFlorida.
RECOMMENDATION
Approvalis recommended.
HIALEAH,INC.
RO.BOX 158 •HIALEAH.FLORIDA 33011 •(305)885-8000 •FAX:(305)887-8006
JOHN J.BRUNETTI
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
March 2,2001
Honorable Julio Robaina
6130 Sunset Drive
South Miami,FL 33143
Dear Mayor Robaina:
For over 75 years,Hialeah Park has been the centerpiece of Thoroughbred Racing in the
Miami-Dade County area.Not only was racing begun in Florida,at Hialeah Park in 1925,but the
tradition,prestige and beauty of the "World's Most Beautiful Race Course"reminds the country of
a racing treasure.
Now,Hialeah Park is threatened to be forced to close,and end racing,asa result of
legislation to expire June 30,2001.The only hope that Hialeah Park has to continue is the support
of your and other communities in South Florida.
We respectfully request that you consider the passage of a Resolution we can carry to the
State Legislature voicing your support for Hialeah Park to continue its tradition and be given a fair
and equitable opportunity to conduct Thoroughbred racing in the future.The threat from the out-
of-state corporate conglomerates is upon us.
We thank you for your support,in the past,and we hope you will support us now.This is
truly a grave situation.
Hoping we will hear from you.
Yours very truly,
fat
John J.Brunetti
Chairman of the Board
JJB:cc
WHEREAS,theStateofFloridaisamongthetopsofthenationinthe
breeding,trainingandracing of thoroughbreds;and
WHEREAS,HialeahParkwasthefirstwinterattractiontotheState of
Florida,datingbackto1925andmaikedthe beginning ofSouth Florida's tourist
season;and
WHEREAS,HialeahParkhasaneconomicimpactontheCity of
Hialeah,aswellasMiami-Dade County,and
WHEREAS,HialeahParkis recognized throughout theworldforit's
world class racing;and
WHEREAS,HialeahParkis designated aBirdSanctuarybythe
National Audubon Societyfor it's world famous pink flamingos;and
WHEREAS,Hialeah ParkiswildlyconsideredtheWorld'sMost
Beautiful Race Track.
THEREFORE,beitresolved that we,the City of ,do
hereby petition theFloridaLegislaturetograntequal opportunity to
Hialeah Park with the issuance of non conflicting racing dates,with any
other racingfacilityinSouth Florida,tocontinueitsserviceto the
community.