The Virginia Key Marina Question, Explained

The Deal

What am I actually voting on?: Whether the City of Miami leases roughly 27.62 acres of public waterfront on Virginia Key — Rickenbacker Marina and Marine Stadium Marina — to Virginia Key LLC for a 45-year initial term with two 15-year renewals at the tenant's discretion. Up to 75 years. Our position: Vote NO.
Who is Virginia Key LLC?: A joint venture between Suntex Marinas, based in Dallas, Texas, and RCI Marine Group. If Referendum 2 passes, they control Miami's public shoreline for up to three quarters of a century.
Who runs the marinas today?: Rickenbacker Marina has been locally operated since 1983 by the Melwani family through Biscayne Marine Partners. Marine Stadium Marina is one of the City of Miami's remaining public marinas.
Does the ballot describe the whole deal?: No. The ballot refers to the 'existing Rickenbacker and Marine Stadium Marinas,' but the executed lease conveys five separate parcels — 3301, 3605, 3501, 3311 and 3511 — including restaurants, retail and uplands. Voters are being asked to approve considerably more public land than the ballot discloses.

Why do people call it a 2017 deal?: Because the financial terms were negotiated in 2017 and never refreshed. Everything Miamians pay for has climbed since — rent, insurance, groceries, taxes — but the operator's obligations are frozen at nine-year-old values, and the City is set to collect less than it does today.
Isn't the $80 million investment good for the City?: A pending lawsuit alleges the $80 million figure is not an enforceable obligation in the executed lease: no required construction schedule, no penalties for underinvestment. A promise you cannot enforce is a press release, not a contract.
What does 'environmentally sensitive' mean in the lease?: According to the lawsuit, nothing enforceable. The executed lease contains no environmental performance requirements matching that ballot promise.
Is it really 75 years?: Effectively, yes. The two 15-year renewals belong to the tenant, not the City, so Miami has no leverage to walk away at year 45.
Is this about better public parking and access?: The lease reportedly allows the tenant to modify parking at its sole discretion. The ballot presents it as a firm commitment; the contract treats it as flexible.

Does a court order mean I have to vote yes?: No. A court ordered that a referendum be held — it cannot tell voters how to vote. A NO vote defeats this lease and sends the City back to negotiate at current market terms.
Won't voting NO leave the marinas to fall apart?: No. The locally operated marinas have run successfully for more than 40 years and continue operating. A NO vote forces a restart on 2026 terms.
Is this just about protecting the current operator?: No. The 2021 referendum defeated a version of this benefiting a different operator, and voters were right then too. Miami's public waterfront should not be locked up for 75 years for any private company.
Didn't the Commission want this?: Commissioners had to place a referendum on the ballot — not this specific language. On June 11, 2026, Commissioners said on the record that absent legal pressure they would have voted the deal down that day.

Who gets to vote on this?: Only registered voters who live inside the City of Miami. Residents of Coral Gables, Key Biscayne, Miami Beach, Doral, Hialeah or unincorporated Miami-Dade cannot vote on this measure.
When is the election?: Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Vote by mail (request by Oct 22, ballot must be received by 7 p.m. on Nov 3), vote early Oct 24–31, or vote at your precinct on Election Day, 7 a.m.–7 p.m. Registration deadline is October 5, 2026.
How do I check my registration?: Use the voter lookup tool on the Miami-Dade Supervisor of Elections website, and update your address before October 5, 2026.
Is anything else on the ballot?: Yes — November 3, 2026 is a statewide general election including Florida Governor. Vote every race, and vote NO on the Virginia Key marina referendum.