Urban Paradise Guild seeks payment and formal partnership after years of volunteer maintenance

Representatives of the Urban Paradise Guild (UPG) told the City of North Miami on Wednesday that after 13 years of volunteer service at ACE Preserve they can no longer maintain the work without compensation.

"We can no longer sustain our support for the city on this level, and I need to train somebody who can do the field work before I die trying," Sam Van Leer, UPG president and founder, told the council. He requested payment for current invoices, a written partnership agreement for next fiscal year and clarity about whether the city intended for UPG to be a paid partner.

City staff responded that UPG had been operating as volunteers from the city’s perspective and later submitted invoices after federal grant funding lapsed. The manager said the city is willing to work with community groups but that retroactive payment requires documented vendor relationships and adherence to procurement processes. The manager added there are budgeted funds for work in the preserve area, but payments must follow established procedures.

What to watch: The council directed staff to follow up; UPG asked for a durable arrangement in writing and reimbursement for work already performed. The issue raises questions about how the city documents volunteer work that transitions into paid services and how federal reimbursement grants interact with city procurement rules.