(The Center Square) – A Florida judge has temporarily blocked Miami Dade College’s attempt to donate 2.6 acres worth about $67 million to the state of Florida for Donald Trump’s presidential library.
A judge ruled that the college’s board failed to give proper notice under the state’s open meetings law, when it met to decide on the donation. The meeting was also not livestreamed.
The Center Square was told by the office of Circuit Judge Mavel Ruiz the ruling was issued from the bench with a written decision to follow. The Center Square was unsuccessful prior to publication getting comment from Miami-Dade College.
Marvin Dunn sued Miami-Dade College earlier this month, saying the Board of Trustees violated the state open meetings law when it met Sept. 23 and approved the land donation.
“This action does not have to do with whether the District Board of Trustees made a wise decision,” Dunn’s lawsuit states. “It is not brought to lodge a political protest. Rather, it deals with the fact that, in making its decision, the District Board of Trustees unquestionably violated Florida’s sacrosanct Government in the Sunshine Act.”
The law requires ”reasonable notice” to the public of an upcoming meeting, Dunn said in his petition for an injunction.
“The notice in this case provided the opposite of reasonable notice,” the petition states. “The only thing that the college said to describe the purpose or agenda of the meeting was this: ‘At this Special Board Meeting, the District Board of Trustees will discuss potential real estate transactions.”
According to Dunn’s petition, the land the college wants to donate for the library is “extremely valuable.”
Miami-Dade County has set the appraised value and market value at about $67 million, Dunn’s petition states.
“It is widely known and understood that the published estimates of ‘appraised’ and ‘market’ value are substantially lower than actual market value,” Dunn’s petition states, referring to the property appraiser.
Florida law allows a college board of trustees to dispose of land, but only “in the best interests” of the college, Dunn’s petition states.
“Irrespective of the specific circumstances of this giveaway, the speedy and uncritical transfer of the land to the state for nothing, without any serious deliberation, without any economic analysis, and, on information and belief, solely because the governor or the President, or both, wanted the District Board to do so, was a violation of the duty of care owed to the College by the Board members,” Dunn said in his petition.
