C7G - Approve Mural Incorporation into Community Complex

Resolutions - C7 G

COMMISSION MEMORANDUM

RECOMMENDATION

The Administration recommends that the Mayor and City Commission (City Commission) adopt the Resolution.

BACKGROUND/HISTORY

“The Glory of Old Glory” (Murals) were created in 1971 by Italian artist and sculptor Enzo Gallo, an immigrant who fled Italy for Cuba and subsequently emigrated to South Florida. The Murals depict the U.S. flag over time through scenes of American historical figures and events, including Abraham Lincoln, Betsy Ross, Man Lands on the Moon, and Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima. The mosaics also depict important U.S. government buildings as well as the State of Florida and its flag. They were previously installed and displayed on the Wells Fargo Bank building at 1200 Lincoln Road. The Murals were commissioned by the building's former owner, Shepard Broad, developer of the Bay Harbor Islands, and were displayed on the prominent corner of Alton Road and Lincoln Road for more than 50 years. The Enzo Gallo Murals are part of Miami Beach history and have high artistic value. They are one of the few public art works in the City depicting key elements of American history, making the preservation thereof important not just artistically, but as a matter of civic pride.

Prior to the building being demolished, members of the Miami Beach preservation community urged the City to take action to save the Murals as the private property owner had no obligation to save them. Subject to City confirmation, the owner's representatives indicated the owner would take steps to cut and remove the Enzo Gallo Murals in an effort to preserve them so long as the owner is not responsible for storing the Murals for future installation and provided that the removal does not delay the owner' s private project.

Consequently, on June 22, 2022, the City Commission adopted Resolution No. 2022-32204 directing the Administration to take all steps necessary to assist with the efforts to remove and

store the Murals at an appropriate, to-be-determined, temporary location, pending selection and approval of a suitable permanent location for the Murals. Additionally, said Resolution accepted the owner's donation of the Murals to the City, and referred the foregoing to the Art in Public Places (“AiPP”) Committee for an advisory recommendation as to potential locations for the placement of the Murals.

On May 15, 2024, the City Commission referred item C4 AJ, sponsored by Commissioner Alex Fernandez, to the Land Use and Sustainability Committee (LUSC) to discuss and identify potential sites for the installation of the Murals.

The Facilities and Fleet Management Department and Office of Capital Improvement Projects (CIP) considered City facilities with upcoming construction projects for which designs have not been finalized and that may be of acceptable size and location to accommodate the Murals in a prominent fashion. Several locations were identified and discussed. Among them, the Bass Museum expansion, the Art Deco Museum expansion, and the 72nd St. Community Complex On Feb 15, 2025, the City Commission referred item C4 O, sponsored by Commissioner Alex Fernandez, to the LUSC to discuss an expanded list of potential sites for the Murals, to include the 72nd St. Community Complex currently under design.

On April 15, 2025, the LUSC held a discussion regarding the possible locations which could accommodate the future installation of the Murals. City staff reported that they had reviewed various locations, including the 72nd St. Community Complex, currently under design. As such, the LUSC passed a motion recommending that the City Commission direct the Administration to consult with the 72nd St. Community Complex Project’s design consultant and construction manager on the feasibility of including the Murals at this location.

ANALYSIS

On March 27, 2023, the City Commission adopted Resolution 2023-32559 authorizing the administration to enter into negotiations with Wannemacher Jensen Architects, Inc. (WJA) for architectural and engineering design services for the 72nd Street Community Complex and on September 25, 2023, the City executed an agreement with WJA in the amount of $9,265,453.

On February 26, 2025 City Commission adopted Resolution No. 2025-33512 approving Amendment No. 1 to WJA for additional professional services to add a parking level and permanent pickleball courts for a not-to exceed amount of $486,812.

On April 22, 2025, WJA was asked to perform a basic review to identify if the murals could be installed inside the library space. If the murals could not fit, they were asked to propose potential exterior locations which might be able to accommodate the murals. On April 29, 2025, WJA confirmed that the scale of the murals was too large to integrate within the library or any other interior spaces. Based on a quick study, they were able to determine that the murals could potentially be installed on the exterior at the South-West and the North-West walls, however, the building design would need to be further studied and adjusted accordingly if additional structural modifications are required. They advised that while their recommendations were based on preliminary findings, an additional services proposal could be provided to properly study the request and explore potential solutions. Specifically, they would need to integrate the murals into their 3D models to fully understand the design implications.

WJA advised that while the aesthetics of the murals did not initially appear to align with the overall exterior design of the project, ultimately, the final review and approval would need be made by the Design Review Board (DRB).

Based on preliminary assessments from an art restoration specialist, contingent on the site conditions and nature of the installation, incorporating the Murals in a City facility will have an

estimated fiscal impact in excess of $2,000,000 for the restoration and reassembly of the Murals, exclusive of design, engineering, structural modifications or other hard/soft costs.

On May 21, 2025, the City Commission adopted resolution 2025-33650 accepting the recommendation of LUSC during its April 15, 2025 meeting, to direct the Administration to consult with the design team and construction manager for the 72nd Street Community Complex Project on the potential to include the Murals, within the project, and present any recommendations to the LUSC during their regularly scheduled June 2025 meeting.

On June 10, 2025, the LUSC discussed the desirability and appropriateness of incorporating the murals into the 72nd Street Community Complex Project. The LUSC adopted a motion recommending that the City Commission direct staff to complete a feasibility study and prepare a cost estimate for the inclusion of the Murals at the 72nd Street Community Complex Project and return to LUSC to present the feasibility study once completed.

On June 25, 2025, WJA submitted a proposal for the preparation of a feasibility and cost estimate, in the amount of $39,230, to integrate the Murals into their 3D model in order to fully evaluate the design and look for creative ways to incorporate the Murals into the project’s exterior walls.

City Staff have evaluated the proposal and found that the request for additional compensation is fair and reasonable, and commensurate with the effort required. This Amendment No. 2 (Exhibit A) will revise the total contract amount to $9,791,495.

FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT

Fiscal impact on the 72nd Street Community Complex Project, including the restoration of the Murals, installation and associated design and engineering cannot be determined without further analysis and evaluation. The proposed amendment will be funded utilizing previously appropriated Project funds.

Does this Ordinance require a Business Impact Estimate? (FOR ORDINANCES ONLY)

If applicable, the Business Impact Estimate (BIE) was published on: See BIE at: https://www.miamibeachfl.gov/city-hall/city-clerk/meeting-notices/

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

490-0820-061357-26-418-528-00-00-00-22150 $39,230.00

CONCLUSION

The Administration recommends that the City Commission approve the resolution.

Applicable Area

North Beach

Was this Agenda Item initially requested by a lobbyist which, as defined in Code Sec. 2-481, includes a principal engaged in lobbying? No

If so, specify the name of lobbyist(s) and principal(s):

Department

Capital Improvement Projects

Sponsor(s)

Commissioner Alex Fernandez

Co-sponsor(s)

Condensed Title

Amendment 2, Feasibility to Include Enzo Gallo Murals at 72nd Street Community Complex Project. (Fernandez) CIP

Previous Action (For City Clerk Use Only)