Omni CRA Board Meeting - June 11, 2026
Omni CRA Board Meeting - June 11, 2026
The Omni Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) Board met on June 11, 2026, at approximately 4:30 PM. The meeting began with approval of the May 28, 2026 minutes and proceeded to two resolutions: one establishing a tree preservation and relocation assistance program with a $500,000 allocation, and another authorizing forgiveness of a loan for 16 Corner Property LLC. All items passed unanimously.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Minutes: The board unanimously approved the minutes from the May 28, 2026 Omni CRA meeting.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No public comments were offered.
Discussion Items
- Resolution No. 1 – Tree Preservation and Relocation Assistance Program: Commissioner expressed strong support for the $500,000 program, noting the need for canopy in the Omni district compared to areas like Coconut Grove and Morningside. The program funds relocation of specimen trees (some over 100 years old) that would otherwise be destroyed, covering expenses for pre- and post-relocation care and one year of maintenance. The executive director is authorized to develop guidelines and disperse funds to eligible participants.
- Resolution No. 2 – Loan Forgiveness for 16 Corner Property LLC: The board authorized the executive director to negotiate and execute an agreement forgiving all remaining indebtedness on a CRA acquisition loan from July 30, 2018, and to release collateral documents while keeping the covenant and regulatory agreement in effect for the affordability period.
Key Outcomes
- Resolution No. 1 passed unanimously, appropriating up to $500,000 for the tree program.
- Resolution No. 2 passed unanimously, allowing loan forgiveness and release of collateral for 16 Corner Property LLC.
- The board commended Executive Director Carlos Suarez for his work on the tree program.
Meeting Transcript
Commissioner report I'm extremely grateful for your support uh throughout the when we started this about two years ago. So thank you very much. I appreciate that. Alaquetta appreciate that thank you. And Chair King, we're just flipping the tape. Uh for June 11th, 2026 of the Omni CRA. Is there a motion to approve the minutes for May 28th, 2026? Omni CRA? Motion. So exactly. All those in favor? Aye. Motion passes. Our attorney will briefly discuss and read the agenda items. See uh CRA resolution number one and two. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Uh Javi Aban, Deputy City Attorney and Counsel for the Omni CRA. Uh item number one is a resolution of the Board of Commissioners of the Omni CRA establishing the Omni CRA tree preservation and relocation assistance program for the purpose of assisting with the preservation and relocation of shade trees located within the boundaries of the CRA that otherwise would be destroyed due to development or redevelopment activities, allocating funds in an amount not to exceed $500,000 for the program, authorizing the executive director to disperse funds solely in his or her discretion directly to qualifying property owners, developers, contractors, vendors, arborists, tree relocation specialists, or other eligible participants upon the presentation of satisfactory documentation, further authorizing the executive director to develop guidelines, negotiate and execute any all documents necessary to implement the program in a form acceptable to general counsel. And item number two is a resolution of the Board of Commissioners of the Omni CRA authorizing the executive director to negotiate and execute an agreement with 16 Corner property LLC in a form acceptable to general counsel to forgive all remaining indebtedness and other sums due on the acquisition CRA loan dated July 30, 2018, and release all documents given as collateral security. The covenant and retin regulatory agreement for the project shall remain in full force and effect for the duration of the affordability period. The public comment period is now open for all items on today's agenda. No public comment. Okay. I'm gonna briefly um I want to discuss briefly resolution number one. And uh I know I don't say this enough, but executive director Carlos Suarez, you're doing a phenomenal job. I think this resolution points to really being able to take the spirit of what's happening in the district and throughout the city and incorporate it into omni CRA's work. A lot of folks know that our district encompasses morningside, it encompasses Coconut Grove. Those areas have beautiful canopies. The heat in those areas is much, much less than if you go to the Omni district, then if you go to Overtown, then if you go to Little Bahamas, then you go to Alapada, then you go to Little Havana, that you go to we all we all know that, right? So resolution number one is taking $500,000, setting it aside so that we can relocate really excellent trees that are specimen trees that some of them have you know over a hundred years and relocate them to another area to provide use in a park or pri provide use in a public space. A lot of folks think relocation is easy. Relocation is not easy. Relocation is extremely expensive. There's a whole process you need to do before relocation, after relocation. It's not always guaranteed that that tree is gonna survive. There's actually about a year of maintenance and very close care that has to follow that tree. So I want to commend you because omni district needs canopy desperately. And I think this is a great, great step forward. Thank you very much, Carlos. I think it's incredible. So that's all that's all I wanted to say. I don't know if anyone else would like to contribute. Okay. I I would second that. Yeah, I'm not because my comments become a meme. All right. Then is there a motion to pass resolutions number one and two? Motion move. All right.
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