FIU gets quality-of-life study

Last Stand still protests the process

By Christie Phillips cphillips@keynoter.com

Despite continuing opposition from the activist group Last Stand, the Key West City Commission on Tuesday unanimously voted to award Florida International University a contract to conduct the city’s proposed Cruise Ship Quality of Life Study.

The $24,500 bid was the only one the city received from a statewide search for a university consultant on the study, which will aim to measure the impacts of the cruise industry on the city.

"Last Stand is deeply concerned with the lack of response to the [request for proposals] for the selection of a university to participate in preparing the scope of work and final review of the Quality of Life study," said Eileen Fesco, who spoke out against the proposal on Tuesday.

"We understand the importance of moving forward. However, it has already been three years since the city reluctantly agreed to commission this study. The failure on the city’s part to adequately broadcast the RFP or to allow sufficient response time should not now be the basis for a decision that is made in haste."

The environmental organization challenged FIU’s bid at a commission meeting last month, claiming the university has potential conflicts of interest. The commission tabled the issue to get a response from FIU on the accusations.

"The president of Carnival Cruise Line serves on the board of directors of the FIU Foundation," admitted Dario Marino, director of the Metropolitan Center at FIU. "But that’s a fund-raising foundation that does not deal with the governing body of the university," he assured.

Another potential conflict is that Royal Caribbean is a major donor to the university.

"Many large businesses contribute to the university," Marino said. "But there’s a firewall between the academic professors and the contributors."

"It may or may not be an issue that the president of Carnival Cruise Line is on the board of directors of the FIU Foundation," said Elliot Baron, speaking for Last Stand at the meeting. "It may or may not be an issue that Royal Caribbean Cruise Line is a major donor to the school. But even the appearance of conflicts detracts from the perception that the study will be based on sound science, rather than on politics."

Fesco said the environmental group is concerned about city policy in terms of requests for proposals.

"This brings up a point which has concerned us in the past," she said, quoting a letter from the group written in 2001. "Namely, that the dissemination of RFPs or [requests for qualifications] may sometimes be done on too limited a basis to guarantee a sufficient response."

"We went far beyond what the requirements are," countered City Manager Julio Avael when questioned by the commissioners. "FIU is a fine university and I believe they will be objective."

The commission, sitting as the Local Redevelopment Authority, unanimously approved to award the bid, with the exception of District V Commissioner Jeremy Anthony, who stepped off the podium for the entire hearing.