Analytical Report: The Change of Beneficiary in the Tropical Park Contract

Analytical Report: The Change of Beneficiary in the Tropical Park Contract. A Breakdown of Procedures and Ethics

I. Executive Summary: A Breakdown of Procedures and Ethics

This report provides a detailed analysis of the controversy surrounding the change of beneficiary in the Tropical Park Equestrian Center’s operating contract. The central issue originates from a resolution approved by the Miami-Dade County Commission, which designated A3 Foundation Corp., a newly created non-profit entity, as the sole recipient of an annual contribution of $250,000 to $300,000 from the concessionaire, Loud & Live Management Group, LLC.  

The key findings of this analysis demonstrate a series of operational, ethical, and transparency concerns. First, the selection of the A3 Foundation, which lacks a significant operational history and a public footprint, was made at the expense of the Parks Foundation of Miami-Dade, an established organization with a proven record of community service and verifiable programs. Second, the process that led to this decision bypassed standard county code procedures, including notice and protest protocols.

This procedural circumvention is a fundamental point of the controversy. Finally, the case highlights an ambiguity between public and private interests, where a fund provided by a private entity becomes a tool of public direction without proper oversight. This is evident in the interconnections of the main actors, including a County Commissioner, a high-ranking City of Miami official, and a prominent lobbyist. The precedent established could erode public trust and the integrity of future public-private partnerships in the county.

II. Introduction: The Genesis of the Tropical Park Controversy

2.1 The Tropical Park Contract

The origin of the controversy lies in the approval of a 20-year contract, with a 10-year renewal option, between Miami-Dade County and Loud & Live Management Group, LLC, for the operation of the Tropical Park equestrian complex. This agreement projects revenue of $40,281,893.00 for the Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department. A key clause of the contract obligates the concessionaire to make an annual contribution of $250,000, which will increase to $300,000 upon completion of improvements to the Ronald Reagan Equestrian Center. This contribution is intended for a non-profit organization focused on agriculture.  

2.2 The Procedural Anomaly

What has generated intense public and journalistic debate is the manner in which the beneficiary of this contribution was designated. The resolution that approved the contract, sponsored by Commissioner Anthony Rodriguez, not only awarded the agreement to Loud & Live, but also designated the A3 Foundation, Inc. as the recipient of the funds. This process was carried out with a waiver of the requirements of Sections 2-8.3 and 2-8.4 of the Miami-Dade County Code, which require a 10-day notice of award and protest procedures for bids.  

This dispensation from standard procedures is not a minor detail, but a central element of the problem. The omission of a protest process suggests a deliberate action to avoid public scrutiny and potential objections that an established organization, with a known history and programs, could have raised. The lack of a transparent selection process for the beneficiary, beyond the simple designation in a resolution, has raised questions about the fairness and justification of the choice.

III. Institutional Comparative Analysis: The Disparity of Two Foundations

The problem is not just the change of beneficiary, but the notable disparity between the two foundations in question. A comparison of their profiles reveals why the selection of the A3 Foundation has sparked such a profound debate.

3.1 The Incumbent: The Parks Foundation of Miami-Dade, Inc.

The Parks Foundation of Miami-Dade, Inc. is an entity with a consolidated trajectory, established in 2004 with document number N04000002584. Its mission is to mobilize financial support to advance and sustain the recreational, educational, environmental, and cultural life of the Miami-Dade county parks system.  

This foundation has a tangible and proven operational impact. A notable example is its support for the Fit2Lead Youth Internship program, an “award-winning and evidence-based” program that, according to reports, has achieved a 30% reduction in crime in the areas where it has been implemented.

The foundation has also supported other initiatives such as Neat Streets Miami and provided $608,500 to the county parks system in 2019. Financially, the foundation is a robust entity with assets totaling $1.84 million in 2023 and has received significant grants, including a 5-year award for $1.8 million from The Children’s Trust. The foundation’s Vice President, José Félix Díaz, is a former state legislator and a prominent lobbyist who serves as the registered agent for the organization.  

3.2 The Challenger: A3 Foundation Corp.

In contrast, A3 Foundation Corp. was incorporated in 2023 with document number N23000010930. Its stated mission is to promote sustainable agriculture, advocate for educational opportunities, and create awareness of community priorities.  

However, unlike its counterpart, the A3 Foundation lacks a public operational footprint. Reports indicate it has no functional website or working phone number. Its main address is located at a residential single-family home. From a financial standpoint, the foundation had less than $25,000 in the bank the previous year, but has received considerable public funds prior to the Tropical Park contract, including $75,000 in grants and a $125,000 allocation from Commissioner Rodriguez’s budget. Its staffing structure is also unusual, as its director, Francisco Petrirena, is its only paid employee, with an annual salary of $80,000.  

The contrast between the two organizations is a demonstration of the non-meritocratic nature of the decision. The selection of a foundation without a proven track record, no tangible public programs, and a questionable financial structure, instead of a well-established organization with a verifiable history of positive impact, suggests that the selection criteria were not based on public benefit or the organization’s capacity. The decision appears to have been motivated by considerations unrelated to the foundation’s effectiveness or expertise.

Table 1: Comparative Profile of A3 Foundation vs. Parks Foundation of Miami-Dade

IV. The Web of Influence: Profiles and Connections of Key Actors

The controversy goes beyond a simple conflict between two non-profit organizations. The roles and relationships of the individuals involved suggest a network of political influence that directs public funds through a private mechanism.

4.1 Commissioner Anthony Rodriguez

Commissioner Anthony Rodriguez, who is the current Chairman of the County Commission , sponsored the resolution that designated the A3 Foundation. The foundation had already received $75,000 in grants and a $125,000 allocation directly from county funds under his direction. The selection of the A3 Foundation for the Tropical Park contract could be interpreted as an extension of a pattern of favoritism.  

4.2 Francisco Petrirena

Francisco Petrirena, who is the president and director of the A3 Foundation , also holds a full-time public position as Chief of Staff to the City of Miami Manager. His dual role is a point of particular interest, as he receives an $80,000 salary from the A3 Foundation, an organization that will now receive funds directed by a public entity. This creates the appearance that a public official is receiving indirect compensation through a private entity that is a beneficiary of a decision by another public body.  

4.3 The “Private Money” Fallacy

A key argument in defense of the decision is the assertion that the $250,000 contribution is “100% private money” from Loud & Live. Although the funds do not come directly from the taxpayer, the direction of their destination does. When a governmental body, such as the County Commission, dictates which private entity must be paid funds as a condition of a public contract, the private funds take on the nature of a public allocation, but without the scrutiny and procedures that normally accompany public grants. This mechanism creates a path for officials to direct funds to politically favored entities, bypassing the transparency and accountability inherent in public spending.  

4.4 José Félix Díaz

José Félix Díaz, as Vice President and registered agent of the Parks Foundation, and also as a senior executive at the lobbying firm Ballard Partners, represents a broader dimension of the situation. The presence of a former state legislator and lobbyist in one of the competing foundations elevates the debate from a dispute between organizations to a confrontation between political power networks.

The Miami-Dade County Code of Ethics has a “two-year rule” that restricts lobbying by former officials, but allows for uncompensated representation of non-profit organizations. The participation of such prominent figures suggests that the allocation of this contract was not a mere administrative decision, but part of a contest for influence and the direction of resources in the county.  

Table 2: Mapping of Actors and Their Connections

V. Legal and Ethical Analysis: The Underlying Problem

5.1 The Violation of Due Process and Transparency

The resolution that approved the Loud & Live contract was adopted with a waiver of Sections 2-8.3 and 2-8.4 of the County Code. These sections are designed to ensure transparency and allow bidders and interested parties to protest a contract award they consider unfair. By waiving these requirements, the Commission eliminated the possibility of an independent review or a legal protest of the process. This act deprives the community and potential alternative beneficiaries, such as the Parks Foundation, of a fundamental right to question the decision, which undermines the integrity of the public procurement process.  

5.2 Conflicts of Interest and the Miami-Dade County Code of Ethics

The Miami-Dade Code of Ethics and Conflict of Interest Ordinance prohibits public officials from using their office for private gain. The actions of those involved in this case come close to, if not constitute, a violation. The fact that Francisco Petrirena, a full-time public employee, receives a salary from an organization that is the beneficiary of a government-directed contract creates the appearance of impropriety. While the County’s Ethics Ordinance allows Commissioners to solicit gifts on behalf of non-profit organizations, the direction of a contractual obligation to a specific entity could be interpreted as an action to influence an outcome that benefits a party with whom an associate is directly connected, which goes against the spirit of the law.  

5.3 The Blurring of Public and Private Funds

The argument that Loud & Live’s funds are “private” does not hold up in the context of the County Commission’s action. The contribution is a contractual obligation imposed by a public entity as a condition for a lucrative agreement. The fact that the government has the authority to dictate where this money will be spent makes it a de facto public resource. The lack of an accountability process for these funds, similar to that which applies to public grants, sets a dangerous precedent. It allows political power to direct resources to allies without the necessary transparency or accountability, creating a form of patronage that bypasses normal checks and balances.  

VI. Conclusions

The Miami-Dade County Commission’s decision to change the beneficiary of the Tropical Park contract from the Parks Foundation to the A3 Foundation is problematic on multiple levels. It is not merely a change of beneficiary, but a process that bypassed transparency, omitted due process, and raised serious questions about potential conflicts of interest and the integrity of public-private partnerships. The selection of a little-known organization with a minimal operational history, to which Commissioner Anthony Rodriguez had already directed funds, suggests that the criteria for selection were more political than philanthropic or merit-based.

The controversy surrounding the Tropical Park contract underscores the need for constant vigilance to maintain public trust and integrity in government-private sector partnerships.

Sources used in the report

• miamidade.gov Legislative Matter – Miami-Dade County
• liveaparklife.org Objectives – Parks Foundation of Miami-Dade
• search.sunbiz.org Detail by Entity Name – SunBiz – Division of Corporations
• miamidade.gov About Miami-Dade Parks
• liveaparklife.org Parks Foundation of Miami-Dade: Creating a Thriving Park System
• miamidade.gov 2019 Annual Report – Miami-Dade County
• projects.propublica.org Parks Foundation Of Miami Dade Inc – Nonprofit Explorer – ProPublica
• liveaparklife.org Leadership – Parks Foundation
• nrpa.org NRPA Board of Directors, Leadership Biographies
• guidestar.org A3 Foundation Corp – GuideStar Profile
• pledge.to A3 FOUNDATION CORP – Pledge
• iheart.com Miami Dade County Commissioner Anthony Rodriguez Shady Deal with a Nonprofit in Connection to Tropical Park. – Alexander News Show | iHeart
• politicalcortadito.com Shady charity with political ties gets $450K from Miami-Dade …
• givemiamiday.org Parks Foundation of Miami-Dade Se abrirá en una ventana nueva
• miamidade.gov Miami-Dade Parks Kicks Off Park and Recreation Month with Spectacular Fourth of July Celebration at Tropical Park
• miami.gov Office of the City Manager – Miami
• ballardpartners.com Jose Felix Diaz – Ballard Partners
• ethics.miamidade.govTwo-Year Rule (Post-Employment Lobbying) – Miami-Dade
• loudlive.comHome – Loud And LiveSe abrirá en una ventana nueva
• en.wikipedia.orgJosé Félix Díaz – Wikipedia
• policycommons.netMiami-Dade County Conflict of Interest and Code of Ethics Ordinance | Policy Commons
• ethics.miamidade.govGift Disclosures – Miami-Dade Commission on Ethics and Public Trust
• ethics.miamidade.gov Request an Ethics Opinion – Miami-Dade Commission on Ethics and Public Trust

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