It's back to square one with the waterfront RFP's

As suspected, all the bids were thrown out for the waterfront property RFP's (Requests for Proposals) at the Scotty's Landing, Grove Marina and Chart House properties. The whole RFP process was done improperly, a lot of it in secret and rushed. It's nice to see that intelligent heads prevailed. I had this info early Thursday morning, but didn't think it was possible that this nonsense could be true. But then again, we are dealing with the City of Miami here.

The process will begin again. The three properties will go back up for bid.

It turns out that the $2.5 million in back taxes that the Marina and Scotty's owes is for 35 years. How do you get out of paying taxes for 35 years? If I am a month late in paying, I'm waiting for the phone to ring! When I am literally a day late in paying monthly sales taxes to the State, the State sends me an admonishing letter!

Another issue with the RFP was that no one with waterfront restaurant experience was on the selection committee and also many feel that someone from Coconut Grove should be on the committee, just to have a little Grove sensibility as part of the process. City Manager Johnny Martinez originally chose David One as the group who would move forward on the Scotty's property but it appears that the selection panel was asleep at the switch.

I love Jack King's take on the whole thing here in the Biscayne Times. He says, "The whole bidding process turned out to be another one the city’s famous clown shows. Some bids were not received within the time limit. The presentations from the bidders were held in secret with no residents or media allowed. Before the presentation, a city minion began handing out the bid documents to the media and then quickly snatched them back." Read his whole column, it's really good.

Is anything in this City done right and with respect? How about getting a panel that actually cares about what they are doing and has their head in the game?

So for all the Scotty's Landing lovers -- you have an extra year to enjoy Scotty's. Enjoy the view because we know that the food is not the reason you are visiting Scotty's. But maybe it's the ice cold beer, live music and camaraderie. That's always good at Scotty's.