Two City of Miami referendums will greet Coconut Grove voters when they head to the polls Tuesday, Aug. 18. One would shift municipal elections to even-numbered years. The other would lock in a 40-year deal to restore and operate the Historic Miami Marine Stadium on Virginia Key, the waterfront island that connects to Key Biscayne via the Rickenbacker Causeway.

Early voting closes Sunday, Aug. 16. City of Miami voters can use any countywide early-voting site before the deadline. On Election Day, polls are open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at assigned precincts.

Referendum 1: moving city elections to even years

Miami currently holds municipal elections in odd-numbered years, separate from federal and statewide races. Referendum 1 would amend the City Charter to move those elections to even-numbered years starting in 2034 and 2036, depending on the office. Elections would then continue every four years.

The transition comes with a catch: officials elected in 2031 and 2033 would serve three-year terms instead of four.

The case for Yes: Elections held alongside county, state and federal contests draw significantly more voters, according to the Biscayne Neighborhoods Association's Aug. 9 voter guide. Supporters argue a larger electorate better represents the city's population. Sharing election infrastructure also saves money.

The case for No: Opponents say standalone elections give city races and neighborhood issues more visibility. On a crowded even-year ballot dominated by presidential and congressional contests, local questions could get buried.

Referendum 2: Miami Marine Stadium's 40-year management deal

This one hits close to home for anyone who crosses the Rickenbacker. The 1963 stadium, designed by Cuban architect Hilario Candela, has sat empty since Hurricane Andrew damaged it in 1992. The City of Miami designated it a historic site in 2008, and it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2018.

In February, the Miami City Commission unanimously approved an agreement with Global Spectrum L.P., a subsidiary of Denver-based Oak View Group, to restore and operate the venue. Now voters must authorize the deal.

The ballot spells out four terms: the city would receive 93% of gross event sales after a $33,333 monthly management fee; 85% of sponsorship revenues; Global Spectrum would contribute up to $10 million toward restoration; and the agreement would run 40 years.

The city authorized $45 million in revenue bonds in 2016 for the restoration and has already completed stabilization work, including new pilings beneath the portion of the stadium built over the water, according to Miami Herald reporting.

The case for Yes: Commissioner Damian Pardo, whose district includes Virginia Key, made the stadium's revival a campaign promise when he took office in 2023. "We need this stadium in Miami. There is nothing like it anywhere else in the world," Pardo said at a July 7 rally at the site.

Don Worth, who co-founded Restore Miami Marine Stadium, Inc. in 2015 after nearly a decade of earlier advocacy, and Stuart Blumberg, founder of the Greater Miami and the Beaches Hotel Association, wrote in an Aug. 7 Miami Herald op-ed that the restored venue could rival the Hollywood Bowl, The Sphere in Las Vegas and Red Rocks in Colorado. Oak View Group has operated the Miami Beach Convention Center for 13 years.

The case for No: Critics point to the 40-year length. Future administrations and generations of residents would inherit an arrangement approved by today's voters. Opponents also raise questions about how increased commercial programming fits with public access, recreation, traffic and the long-term character of Virginia Key, according to the BNA voter guide.

A similar proposal was expected on last year's ballot but was delayed after a federal indictment against Oak View Group's former chief executive. The current agreement proceeds following the commission's unanimous February vote.

A No vote would not kill the restoration. It would mean voters have not authorized this particular deal under these terms.

How to vote

Confirm your polling location and review your sample ballot at miamidade.gov/elections. Early voting runs through Sunday, Aug. 16, at any countywide site. On Election Day, Tuesday, Aug. 18, voters must use their assigned precinct. Polls close at 7 p.m.