Public Meetings - Miami, Florida

The Virginia Key Advisory Board met on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, starting at 5:40 PM. The meeting lacked a quorum, so discussions were held without voting. Key topics included welcoming new board members, board member term expirations, an update on the Marine Stadium management agreement, and plans for the next meeting. Discussion Items - Welcome of New Board Members: The board welcomed Chuck Ellis, Director of Parks, and Andres Rivero, appointee of Mayor Francis Suarez. Both expressed commitment to learning about Virginia Key Park. - Meeting Schedule: The board confirmed they meet every other month per bylaws, with the next meeting scheduled for April 28, 2026. - Quorum Legislation: Pending legislation to reduce the quorum requirement is expected to be scheduled before the city commission. Board members expressed interest in attending to speak in favor. - 2025 Annual Report: Rafaela sent the annual report to the city manager’s office in January 2026. Board members were asked to review it; future modifications are possible. - Board Member Term Expirations: Several long-serving members (up to 8 years) face term limits under City Code Section 2-885 (maximum 8 consecutive years). The board discussed whether a member could be reappointed by a different appointing organization, but the city attorney indicated the code may not allow that and will confirm. Appointing organizations have not yet been contacted to nominate successors. - Marine Stadium / Flex Park Management Update: Andrew Frey reported that on February 17, 2026, the City Commission unanimously awarded the RFP to Oak View Group (Global Spectrum). The agreement is split into three phases: 1. A short-term management agreement (up to 5 years) for the existing Flex Park, allowing Oak View to proactively book events. 2. A business consulting agreement to develop a financial and business model for renovating Marine Stadium, including evaluating revenue sources and design requirements. 3. A long-term management agreement contingent on voter approval in an August 2026 special election (since it involves waterfront property). Discussion included concerns about renovation costs (previously estimated at $65 million for a different design), the timeline for the business plan, and traffic management for events on the Rickenbacker Causeway. The board noted the importance of institutional memory and community input. - Election of New Chair and Vice Chair: Postponed to the April 2026 meeting, when new board members are expected to be appointed. Key Outcomes - No votes were taken due to lack of quorum. - The city attorney will research whether a board member termed out can be reappointed by a different organization. - Appointing organizations will be contacted to nominate new members for expiring seats. - Oak View Group will begin managing the Flex Park; further updates on the Marine Stadium renovation will be provided at future meetings. - The next meeting is scheduled for April 28, 2026.