After Ultra, Should KB Pay for New Virginia Key Plan?

Less than an hour after word broke that the Ultra Music Festival was canceling its Virginia Key contract, Key Biscayne Mayor Mike Davey’s phone rang. It was Miami Mayor Francis Suarez on the line. Both mayors say it was an amicable conversation about how to work together on future development of the site. But even in that brief call, agendas were being set.

Suarez said that if Key Biscayne wants a role in Virginia Key’s future, it would “have to put skin in the game.” Suarez pointed out memories were still fresh of Key Biscayne’s costly lawsuit against the City over the Miami International Boat Show.

“You can be concerned about your neighbor, but you don’t own his property,” Suarez said, adding the City intends to use what it sees as a valuable asset. “We’re a poor city,” he maintained.  

As Miami scrambles to find new projects to replace the $2 million contract payment from Ultra, it continues to move ahead with a plan to renovate the Marine Stadium, which has been closed since Hurricane Andrew in 1992. Some $45 million in bonds were approved last year, but that’s only one component of the larger City property on Virginia Key.

During the Boat Show dispute, Miami offered Key Biscayne a seat at the table as part of a deal that would have cost Key Biscayne at least $6 million. It never came to a vote, as the Village balked. A subsequent attempt at a far less comprehensive deal also failed (you can read the opinion of three former Key Biscayne Village Council members about that history here).

Members of Key Biscayne’s Council say they want to work with the City, but some expressed caution. “I’m committed to try to build the relationship, but I can’t speculate,” said Vice Mayor Allison McCormick, who at first thought news of Ultra’s withdrawal was a belated April Fools’ Day prank.

Mayor Davey says he understands that for Miami, the loss of Ultra is “bittersweet,” but also says the Village’s priority is making sure future events are of “appropriate magnitude.”

If there is one bright spot, it may be on the staff level, were Village and City officials worked together closely before and during the concert. “It was totally professional, totally collegial,” said Village Manager Andrea Agha. “The seed of a very effective professional relationship on the staff level is there.”

As for any future role the Village will have with the City, Agha says to her way of thinking, such talks will amount to “a business decision.”

“What level of investment are they willing to make?”