Private donors now have a formal way to help pay for public improvements in Miami’s District Two, which covers downtown, Coconut Grove and much of the waterfront. The Miami City Commission on Oct. 22 authorized the city manager to set up a philanthropic fund with The Miami Foundation and create a dedicated city account for the money.
Donations could support park and street projects, traffic calming, seawalls and flood control. Commissioner Damian Pardo, who sponsored the resolution, said residents have wanted to give to public work for years but the city had no clear process for accepting the money. He said some prospective donors lost interest while city staff worked out how to handle an offer.
Under the measure, gifts made through the foundation will be transferred to a city special revenue account called the “District Two Philanthropic Fund.” The city will then budget and allocate the money within the district. The resolution does not yet say how projects will be chosen or whether donors can steer their gifts to a specific improvement.
Pardo, a former Miami Foundation trustee, said the nonprofit could give donors a established structure and help build public confidence. In an Oct. 23 Instagram post, he said taxes and fees cannot be the only ways to raise city revenue. He invited residents to contact the District Two office to discuss the program.
