HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC 2019-10-24 MinutesCity of Miami
City Hall
3500 Pan American Drive
Miami, FL 33133
www.miamigov.com
Meeting Minutes
Thursday, October 24, 2019
9:00 AM
Planning and Zoning
City Hall
City Commission
Francis Suarez, Mayor
Ken Russell, Chair
Wifredo (Willy) Gort, Vice Chair
Joe Carollo, Commissioner, District Three
Manolo Reyes, Commissioner, District Four
Keon Hardemon, Commissioner, District Five
Emilio T. Gonzalez, City Manager
Victoria Mendez, City Attorney
Todd B. Hannon, City Clerk
City Commission Meeting Minutes October 24, 2019
9:00 AM INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Present: Chair Russell, Vice Chair Gort, Commissioner Carollo, Commissioner Reyes and
Commissioner Hardemon.
On the 24th day of October 2019, the City Commission of the City of Miami, Florida, met at
its regular meeting place in City Hall, 3500 Pan American Drive, Miami, Florida, in regular
session. The Commission Meeting was called to order by Chair Russell at 9:51 a.m., recessed
at 12:08 p.m., reconvened at 2:21 p.m., recessed at 3:49 p.m., reconvened at 4:10 p.m., and
adjourned at 10: 03 p.m.
Note for the Record. Commissioner Reyes entered the Commission chambers at 9:52 a.m.,
Commissioner Carollo entered the Commission chambers at 10:10 a.m., and Commissioner
Hardemon entered the Commission chambers at 10:11 a.m.
ALSO PRESENT.
Joseph Napoli, Deputy City Manager
Victoria Mendez, City Attorney
Todd B. Hannon, City Clerk
Chair Russell: Welcome to the October 24, 2019 meeting of the City of Miami Commission in
these historic chambers. The members of the City Commission are Joe Carollo, Manolo Reyes,
Keon Hardemon; Wifredo "Willy" Gort, the Tice Chair; and me, Ken Russell, your Chairman.
Also on the dais are Emilio Gonzalez, the City Manager; b ictoria Mendez, the City Attorney;
and Todd Hannon, the City Clerk. The meeting will he opened with a prayer by Commissioner
Gort, and the pledge of allegiance. Please stand.
(Invocation and pledge of allegiance delivered)
Chair Russell: Thankyou. You may he seated.
PART A - NON -PLANNING AND ZONING ITEM(S)
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PR - PRESENTATIONS AND PROCLAMATIONS
PRA PROTOCOL ITEM
6645
Honoree
Presenter
Protocol Item
Commissioner Wifredo "Willy" Gort
Mayor
Video &
Proclamation
Kianna Gherardi
Mayor
Commendation
Gabriela Akel
Mayor
Commendation
Annabelle Ambroghi
Mayor
Commendation
Daniela Olvera
Mayor
Commendation
Maria F Pelayo
Mayor
Commendation
Dylan Vento
Mayor
Commendation
Isabela de la Grana
Mayor
Commendation
URGENT, Inc.
Mayor &
Commissioner
Hardemon
Certificate of
Appreciation
FF Tovakesha N Barnard
Mayor
Peer Recognition
Award (Plaque)
FF Bruno Fernandini
Mayor
Peer Recognition
Award (Plaque)
FF Orlando Rodriguez
Mayor
Peer Recognition
Award (Plaque)
Lt. Rudolph Augustave
Mayor
Peer Recognition
Award (Plaque)
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City Commission Meeting Minutes October 24, 2019
Lt. Gerardo Rodriguez
Mayor
Peer Recognition
Award (Plaque)
FF. Joey Santana
Mayor
Peer Recognition
Award (Plaque)
FF. Curtis Galvin
Mayor
Peer Recognition
Award (Plaque)
Lt. Ruben Behar
Mayor
Peer Recognition
Award (Plaque)
Lt. Shelly C. Santerre
Mayor
Peer Recognition
Award (Plaque)
Lt. Walter E. Meynard
Mayor
Peer Recognition
Award (Plaque)
Lt. Irving Bereao
Mayor
Peer Recognition
Award (Plaque)
Lt. Wilfredo A. Ocampo
Mayor
Peer Recognition
Award (Plaque)
Employee Service Milestone
Mayor & Human
Resources
Pins
RESULT: PRESENTED
1) Mayor Suarez and Commissioners honored and presented a Proclamation to
Commissioner Wifi-edo "Willy" Gort. Commissioner Gort was elected as a City of
Miami Commissioner on November 9, 2013 for District 1. In 1996, he was selected
to serve as Tice Mayor, a position he held for three months after the death of Mayor
Stephen P. Clarke. Commissioner Gort quickly developed a reputation as a fierce
community advocate as evidenced by his extensive community service and volunteer
work with several organizations including not -for -profit agencies offering social
services to the elderly, the young, and the small business community. He also took an
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active leadership role in these capacities including: Miami -Dade County League of
Cities (Former President), Little Havana Development Authority (Former President
and Founding Member), Miami Exhibition and Sports Authority (Former Treasurer
and Founding Member), Downtown Miami Business Association (Former President
and Executive Director), Youth Co -Op (Former President and Founding Member,
Christian Community Service Agency (Board Member), East Little Havana
Development Corp. (Board Member), Alliance for Aging (Founding Board Member),
United Way (Former Board Member), Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce
(Board of Governors), Miami Book Fair (Former Board Member & Founding
Member), and Kiwanis Club of Little Havana (Founding Board Member).
Commissioner Gort initiated much of his community involvement in the Latin
Chamber of Commerce (CAMACOL) as a Board Member and Founding Member.
Using this platform, he has become a pioneer in the international business sector
and for over 35 years, fostering close economic, social, and cultural ties with our
global partners. Commissioner Gort, as President and Founding Member of the
Little Havana Nutrition and Activities Center (LHNAC), led the way to provide a
wide range of social services to socially isolated and economically disadvantaged
seniors in the South Florida area. In 1994-1995, Commissioner Gort worked closely
and diligently with City directors and in collaboration with the unions to reduce the
City budget by over $20 million. As Commissioner, he also worked to enhance the
City 's Neighborhood Enhancement Team (NET), as a valuable resource for residents
throughout the City. The Elected Leadership paused in their deliberations of
governance to pay tribute and celebrate the many accomplishments and commend
his years of service to the City, thereby, proclaimed Thursday, October 24, 2019 as
"Commissioner Wifredo `Willy' GortDay" in the City ofMiami.
2) Mayor Suarez and Commissioners presented Certificates of Appreciation to the
seven (7) winners of the 2019 Latino Art Beat Competition winners and paid tribute
to their extraordinary artistic talents and eminent contributions to the elevation of
creative expression in South Florida; further pausing in their official deliberations in
order to honor their participation in this challenging undertaking that celebrates
youth and art.
3) Mayor Suarez and Commissioner Hardemon presented a Certificate of Appreciation
to URGENT, Inc. in recognition of their 25th anniversary. URGENT, Inc. was
founded by a group of concerned residents who wanted to see change in Miami's
urban core. The organization serves to empower young minds creating the next
generation of social change agents. Encompassing the principals of innovation,
growth, and transformation, URGENT, Inc. has cultivated several programs that
highlight the arts, youth development, and community engagement. The Elected
Leadership of the City of Miami paused in their deliberations of governance to honor
URGENT, Inc. for their 25 years of service and thanking them for elevating the
quality of life for the residents of the City ofMiami.
4) Mayor Suarez and Commissioners recognized and presented the Advanced Life
Support (ALS) Peer Recognition Award to City of Miami Fire Department
employees. The recipients of the award are members of the Advanced Life Support
Rescue Division, whose recognition is based on their colleagues' nomination. The
City ofMiami ALS employees have made a positive difference at their stations, while
on emergency calls and within the Fire Department. The Elected Leadership of the
City of Miami paused in their deliberations of governance to honor, commend and
thank the first responders.
5) Mayor Suarez and Commissioners recognized various City of Miami Employees for
their 25 years and 30 years of services presenting them with Service Milestone Pins
and commending them for their dedication and commitment to the City ofMiami.
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Chair Russell: We'll now complete the presentations and proclamations.
(Presentations and proclamations made)
AM - APPROVING THE MINUTES OF THE FOLLOWING MEETINGS:
AMA City Commission - Planning and Zoning - Jul 25, 2019 9:00 AM
ORDER OF THE DAY
MOTION TO: Approve
RESULT: APPROVED
MOVER: Joe Carollo, Commissioner
SECONDER: Ken Russell, Commissioner
AYES: Russell, Gort, Carollo, Reyes, Hardemon
Chair Russell: Can I get an approval of the meeting minutes from Planning and
Zoning, July 25, please?
Commissioner Carollo: Motion.
Chair Russell: Motion by Commissioner Carollo; seconded by the Chair. Any
questions or comments on the minutes? All in favor, say "aye. "
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Russell: Any opposed? Motion passes on AM.].
Chair Russell: All right. All of the pomp and circumstance out of the way, we are
ready to begin our meeting. Madam City Attorney, when you are ready, please
read the rules of the day.
Victoria Mendez (City Attorney): Thank you very much, Chairman. Any person
who is a lobbyist, pursuant to Chapter 2, Article 6 of the City Code, must register
with the City Clerk and comply with related City requirements for lobbyists before
appearing before the City Commission. A person may not lobby a City official,
board member, or staff member until registering. A copy of the Code section about
lobbyists is available in the City Clerk's Office, or online at wwwmunicode.com
[sic]. Any person making a presentation, formal request or petition to the City
Commission concerning real property must make the appropriate disclosures
required by the City Code in writing. A copy of this Code section is available at the
Office of the City Clerk, or online at wwwmunicode.com [sic]. Pursuant to Section
4(g)(5) of the City Charter, the Mayor may veto any items proposed by the City
Commission within 10 days. The material for this item on the agenda is available
during business hours at the City Clerk's Office, and online 24 hours a day at
wwwmiamigov.com [sic]. Any person may be heard by the City Commission
through the Chair for not more than two minutes on any proposition before the City
Commission, unless modified by the Chair. If the proposition is being continued or
rescheduled, the opportunity to be heard may be at such later date before the City
Commission takes action on such proposition. The Chairman will advise the public
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when the public may have the opportunity to address the City Commission during
the public comment period, or at any other designated time. When addressing the
City Commission, the member of the public must state his or her name, his or her
address, and what item will be spoken about. A copy of the agenda item titles will
be available at the City Clerk's Office and at the podium for ease of reference.
Anyone wishing to appeal any decision made by the City Commission for any
matter considered at this meeting may need a verbatim record of the item. A video
of this meeting may be requested at the Office of Communications, or viewed online
at wwwmiamigov.com [sic]. No cell phones or other noise -making devices are
permitted in chambers; please silence those devices now. No clapping, applauding,
heckling, or verbal outburst in support or opposition to a speaker or his or her
remarks shall be permitted. Any person making offensive remarks or who becomes
unruly in Commission chambers will be barred from further attending Commission
meetings and may be subject to arrest. No signs or placards shall be allowed in
Commission chambers. Any person with a disability requiring assistance or
auxiliary aids and services for this meeting may notify the City Clerk. The lunch
recess will begin at the conclusion of the deliberation of the agenda item being
considered at noon. The meeting will end either at the conclusion of the
deliberation of the agenda item being considered at ]Op. in., or at the conclusion of
the regularly scheduled agenda, whichever occurs first. Please note,
Commissioners have been briefed generally by City staff and the City Attorney on
agenda items today. At this time, the Administration will announce if any items are
being either withdrawn, deferred, or substituted. Thank you.
Chair Russell: Good morning, Mr. Napoli.
Joseph Napoli (Deputy City Manager): Good morning, Mr. Chairman, Mr. ice -
Chairman, Commissioners, Madam City Attorney, and Mr. City Clerk. At this time
the Administration would like to defer and/or withdraw the following items: To be
deferred to 11/21, CA.7.
Commissioner Carollo: Which one?
Chair Russell: CA.7.
Mr. Napoli: CA.7 to --
Commissioner Carollo: What is that item, please, for the record?
Mr. Napoli: It's the settlement for Ruben A. Sebastian.
Commissioner Carollo: Settlement?
Mr. Napoli: SettlementforMr. RubenA. Sebastian.
Commissioner Carollo: How much is that, the amount that was in question?
Lice Chair Gort: They don't have it.
Commissioner Carollo: What was the amount in question?
Mr. Napoli: Just one minute, Commissioner. I'm going to give it to you.
Ms. Mendez: 65,000.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay. Excuse me for a second, Deputy Manager. Where
is the Manager at; the Manager? Is he here or --?
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Mr. Napoli: He's in Tallahassee. He'll be returning later on today to join the
meeting.
Commissioner Carollo: What is going on in Tallahassee?
Mr. Napoli: He's meeting with several of the members. This is their -- the
Commission -- the committee meetings are this month, and he had several meetings
that they could only schedule for this week, to include his meeting with the Speaker
of the House this morning, and then he'll be returning.
Commissioner Carollo: And he's the only person that we have that handles that? 1
thought we had lobbyists that handle that. Has he become a lobbyist now, or is he
the Manager?
Mr. Napoli: He's the City Manager.
Commissioner Carollo: Well, I'm just surprised that on the day of a Commission
meeting, where there's so many items that are very important, and some of them
he's going to be asked -- and he knew -- questions directly about them that he is
conveniently in Tallahassee. And this is not the first time this has happened. So,
you know, just -- I'm putting it on the record -- in fact, maybe -- if not today, very
shortly -- I will put a resolution that the Manager cannot travel until he gets
permission from this Commission, because it's a constant matter. If we have
lobbyists, if we have others, they're the ones that take care of that for us, and if we
don't need all the lobbyists that we have, and other people, because the Manager
thinks he could do it all, then we should save all that money and not have all the
people that are lobbying for us in Tallahassee. I've never seen the likes of this,
especially this early on, that he has to be there, but so be it. I won't hold up the
meeting anymore.
Chair Russell: Thank you, Commissioner. The point is well taken. We do have a
lot to do. Please continue, Mr. Napoli.
Mr. Napoli: Yes, Mr. Chairman. To be indefinitely deferred, RE.10.
Commissioner Carollo: Can you state for the record on each one what it entitles so
that --
Mr. Napoli: Yes.
Commissioner Carollo: -- people that are here or at home would know what we've
taken out of the agenda?
Mr. Napoli: I will, Commissioner. To be indefinitely deferred, RE.10, direction on
the improper occupancy or use of City property. To be deferred to 11/21, DI.1,
discussion on Olympia Theater. To be withdrawn, D1.3, a discussion on -- to
validate Miami Forever Bond, Tranche 1.
Chair Russell: Is that all, Mr. Napoli?
Mr. Napoli: That's it, Mr. Chairman.
Chair Russell: Thank you very much. Are there any items that the Commission
would like to see withdrawn, deferred, or continued?
Commissioner Reyes: Yes, sir. I have a couple of items that I -- yesterday, I spoke
with Francisco about it; one is PZ.21 and PZ.25.
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Chair Russell: So we can't take action on those items right now, but I will make
note of it for the public --
Commissioner Reyes: That's right.
Commissioner Carollo: PZ (Planning and Zoning) --
Chair Russell: PZ --
Commissioner Reyes: 21 and 25.
Chair Russell: PZ.1 or PZ.21 ?
Commissioner Reyes: 21; 21 and 25.
Chair Russell: All right.
Commissioner Carollo: What is 21 and 25, Commissioner, for the record?
Commissioner Reyes: Yes, sir.
Commissioner Carollo: Thank you.
Commissioner Reyes: PZ.21 --
Chair Russell: PZ. 21 is inclusionary zoning --
Commissioner Reyes: -- inclusionary zoning --
Chair Russell: --in the Omni area --
Commissioner Reyes: That's right.
Chair Russell: -- of District 2. And PZ. 21 is Parks and Recreation --
Commissioner Reyes: Yes; and open -space elements.
Chair Russell: -- and open -space elements. So we cannot vote on these items at
this time, but we'll take --
Commissioner Carollo: 2.
Chair Russell: -- it up at 2 p. in., but your position is noted.
Commissioner Reyes: Thankyou, sir.
Chair Russell: You're welcome. Other items for deferral or withdrawal, or
continuance from the Commission? Seeing none, is there a motion on the
morning's agenda order of the day?
Commissioner Reyes: Move.
Chair Russell: Moved by Commissioner Reyes; seconded by the Chair. And Mr.
Clerk, if you could just read them backfor me, please.
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): Yes, sir. To defer to November 21, CA.7;
indefinitely defer, RE.10; defer to November 21, DI. 1; withdraw DI.3.
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Chair Russell: All right. Is there anyone from the public who has any comment on
the timeliness; the deferral, continuance, or withdrawal, any of those items? Seeing
none, I'll close public comment. Arty further comment from the dais? All in favor
of the motion, say "aye "
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Russell: Good morning. All in favor of the motion, say "aye. "
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Russell: Any opposed? Motion passes. Thank you very much, and that is the
order of the day.
Later...
Chair Russell: So let me tell the public, please, for those of you who come here,
thank you very much for your advocacy and interest in City Hall today and the
business before us. We are now dealing with the morning's agenda; that is
everything that is not a PZ item, a Planning and Zoning item. All of those items will
start at 2 p.m. So everything within the CA (consent agenda) agenda, the PH
(public hearing) agenda, the RE (resolution), the SR (second reading) and the FR
(first reading), the BU (budget) and the DI (discussion) agenda, that is the
morning's agenda that we're dealing with prior to noon, if we're lucky. So we're
going to move very swiftly. This is our largest agenda of the year. We have 60
items, and we have a couple of time certain that I'll tell you about now. If you are
here with regard to the soccer item, we'll be opening up discussion on all three
soccer -related items at 6 p.m. If you are here this morning or at 2 p.m., and you're
only able to be here at this time to speak on it, we will allow it. But really, the time,
if you'd like to be heard before this body for those items will be 6 p.m. to give the
public full access to be here after work, and those stakeholders who are interested.
Commissioner Carollo: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Chair Russell: For soccer; all three soccer items. So it would be --
Commissioner Reyes: Everything.
Chair Russell: -- PHA RE.20, and DI.4; those are at 6 p.m. It's been posted
outside, as well. Also, we have a couple of other time certain items within the PZ
agenda at 2 p.m.; one is RE.5, which would otherwise be on the morning's agenda
for the Ferris wheel. That's going to be at 2 p.m., along with its companion item,
which is PZ.13. And then we also have PZ.19 at 2: 30, which is a school item in the
PZ agenda; and then PZ.5, which is another school item in the PZ agenda. I did
get notice informally that one of those might be withdrawn. Do we have
confirmation of that so that we can just allow the public to know? PZ.19 will be
withdrawn?
Joseph Napoli (Deputy City Manager): The Brito School, yes, it will be.
Chair Russell: Okay. So that we can only do formally at 2 p.m., but to let the
public know, if you have interest in the issue with regard to the Brito School, that
item will be withdrawn, so we will not be dealing with that today, nor in public
comment.
Commissioner Carollo: Hold on, Chairman.
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Chair Russell: Yes, sir.
Commissioner Carollo: Isn't this the item that was up at the meeting that was
ended --
Chair Russell: The late -night meeting, yeah.
Commissioner Carollo: -- that supposedly, Joey Flechas wrote that people were
crying, little children were here late at night, because they needed that item done
right then and there? And here it is, and I'm not seeing women crying; I'm not
seeing anything else. All that I'm hearing is that it's being withdrawn now.
Chair Russell: Apparently, some settlement has happened amongst them, and so
Commissioner Reyes: There was a zone -- settlement among the people that were
objecting that they --
Chair Russell: So they already knew not to be here.
Commissioner Reyes: -- and school. They settling on the amount of police officers
that they're going to add, how they're going to take care of the school and all of
that.
Commissioner Carollo: But we still have to vote on that, right?
Commissioner Reyes: No. I mean, according to the City Attorney, they don't.
Victoria Mendez (City Attorney): No. It was an appeal, and they settled, so they
withdrew the appeal, and you don't have to hear it anymore.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay. See? That was settled through
(UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Commissioner Reyes: Absolutely. You could have solved that that day at 10
o'clock, you know.
Chair Russell: Commissioner Carollo saved us hours.
Commissioner Reyes: Probably was settled because of you.
Chair Russell: Thank you very much, Commissioner Carollo.
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR REGULAR ITEM(S)
Chair Russell: So that's basically the order of the day. So what we're going to do
first is we're going to open up public comment for all the morning's items; anything
on this morning's agenda that you'd like to address. We have a very full agenda, so
I'm going to ask that the public respect the brevity necessary. Everyone's going to
have two minutes to speak. And I'm also going to ask that our dais really work
together toward being efficient today. I know we have a lot of comments and
opinions, but if we can keep our comments brief, and bring everything through the
Chair, we can do it in an orderly way to really knock this day out and get a lot of
the City's business done. So without any further ado, I'm going to open up public
comment for any of the morning's items; none of the time certain items for the
afternoon. So if you'd like to speak on any of this morning's items, please come up
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to either of the two lecterns; form two lines. I will -- you'll each have two minutes
to speak. We only need to hear your name and the item you'd like to speak on. You
do not need to give your address, and you have two minutes. You'll hear a brief
beep. That means you've got about 30 seconds left, and that's about the time to
start wrapping it up. And we will be a little bit strict with the time so that we can
get through all 60 items we have today and our time limitations in the evening. So
please -- I know there's more people that would like to speak, so it'll go quicker if
you do line up, and I really appreciate all of you coming in and taking your time
today. Good morning, Ms. t iciedo.
Marta t iciedo: Is this on?
Chair Russell: Yeah, you're on.
Ms. b iciedo: Good morning. Marta T iciedo, 169 East Flagler Street. I'm here to
talk about Transit Alliance. I am -- the resolution is being passed around for your
consideration. We are asking that a pocket item be placed on your agenda -- and I
understand that it is a very full agenda, so this would be very quick -- to ask either
the Mayor to work with us for the City to come to the direction with the Better Bus
Project. The Better Bus Project was a project that we presented before you two
weeks ago; or that the City aligns with the County's existing position that is going
before the County Transportation Committee today at 2: 30 p. in. If the City does not
take a step today, they will not have a voice as to what the direction of the project
will be moving forward. The County is meeting -- the full Commission will meet on
November 19. Your next Commission meeting is not until November 21. And I hate
the idea as a City of Miami resident, as a business owner, as a -- somebody that's
founded several organizations here for the City not to have a voice in this process.
Thank you.
Chair Russell: Thank you. Is there a sponsor for this pocket item?
Lice Chair Gort: I'll sponsor it.
Chair Russell: Thank you. I'll be glad to co-sponsor with you, and we'll take it up
as soon as the public comment is done. I think it'll be a rather quick one. Next
speaker, please.
Nancy Benouacch: Okay. Good morning. My name is Nancy Benouacch. I'm
President of Bay Heights Homeowners Association, and my address is 243 Shore
Drive East. The reason I'm here is due to the overpopulation of peacocks that we
have.
Chair Russell: Item FR.5.
Ms. Benouacch: FR.5.
Chair Russell: Thank you.
Ms. Benouacch: Yes. Thank you. So the reason I'm here is because of the
overpopulation. We're not saying that we want to do away with all of them, but the
population has to be reduced. I've been in my home for 34 years, and only in the
last three to four years, I've been fighting. I've been President. I've been fighting
for the -- to reduce the population. We have gangs. You talk -- when you say
Miami has gangs, we have gangs of peacocks; 17 at a time going down the street.
They're picking at the flowers. They're on cars. I have pictures of them sitting on
cars. And you've seen the commercial on TF (television) where the emu picks at the
insurance? Well., they do that to cars on the paint jobs. So people are just like --
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and they're on the roofs. You know, we have Dairy Queen chocolate down the
sidewalk, shall we say. So, please, we need your help. We need the City. We need
to do this in an organized way so that periodically, we can go in -- and I spoke with
the gentleman outside that is doing a population study of the peacocks and found
that North Grove is -- has really the highest population of all. I know they're all
over South Miami, Coral Gables. Coral Gables is doing something about it. We
need your help.
Chair Russell: Thankyou.
Ms. Benouacch: Thankyou.
Chair Russell: Thankyou, Nancy. Good morning, Mr. Fried.
Jim Fried: Good morning, sir.
Commissioner Hardemon: Before he speaks --
Mr. Fried: Mr. Chairman --
Chair Russell: Just a moment.
Commissioner Hardemon: Ma'am --
Chair Russell: Commissioner Hardemon.
Commissioner Hardemon: --in the City of Miami, you have a choice. You choose
between chickens and peacocks.
Ms. Benouacch: Well, the chickens, you can eat. I don't know about the peacocks.
(UNINTELLIGIBLE COMMENTSMADE.)
Commissioner Carollo: Whoa, whoa, whoa.
Commissioner Hardemon: And you never tried to eat peacock.
Commissioner Carollo: (UNINTELLIGIBLE)
Commissioner Reyes: Let me tell you, you can eat those peacocks, too. They taste
good.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah.
i ictoria Mendez (City Attorney): Not in Miami.
Commissioner Reyes: They're so good.
Ms. Mendez: Not in Miami. We cannot eat either of them.
Chair Russell: The City Attorney has spoken.
Commissioner Carollo: Mr. -- Commissioner Hardemon, there is a big difference.
Peacocks, like the cows in India, are sacred; you can't touch it; roosters are not,
and just when I was thinking about giving roosters the same protection.
Chair Russell: Thankyou. Good morning, Mr. Fried.
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Mr. Fried: Good morning, Mr. Chairman. I can't attend at 6 o'clock, so I would
like to speak on Melreese. Miami ranks last in park space per capita. Miami needs
more grass and trees, not less. I oppose demolishing Melreese Park. I believe
County officials and airport officials are very concerned. Please protect Melreese
Park. Please do not destroy arty park. Thankyou very much.
Chair Russell: Thankyou, Mr. Fried. Good morning.
Brenda Betancourt: Good morning. Brenda Betancourt, 1436 Southwest 6th
Street. I want to just congratulate Commissioner Gort for the 26 years of
community work. We're going to miss you, and we're going to see how changed our
Commission is going to be when you're not going to be there. Sometimes the
balance of the experience is always needed. I just want to thank the Mayor and the
City Manager's Office for the help that they provide us for the event that we have
this past Saturday in Curtis Park, and I want to make sure that -- I want to thank
Mario Nunez, John Moy, and all the employees that were there to help. It was over
500 persons who participated. We have a great soccer game, which the Honduran
team won Miami (UNINTELLIGIBLE) 4-1, but that's okay. We can let them go.
Just want to make sure that we thank all of them, because sometimes we don't
understand how hard it is to get a special permit in the City of Miami. And I want
all of you to understand this: If the City of Miami doesn't put the special permit in
order -- that's why people don't come and do any events in the City ofMiami. It is a
small organization, because it's so hard to speak with the park, with the police, with
the -- and Miami Rescue, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera. And it's like one department
doesn't speak to the other. And sometimes, people almost get frustrated. I know
every single one of you. When I call every single one of you before last week, and I
had a hard time. What about person that is a regular citizen, who doesn't know
you? Could you please see if you guys can actually find away to easy that permits
for a regular person? I'm not saying that it's the employee fault, but the procedures
is not working.
Chair Russell: Thankyou.
Ms. Betancourt: Thankyou.
Chair Russell: You're absolutely correct. Thank you very much. Good morning,
Mr. Pichel.
Frank Pichel: Good morning. I'd like to thank Commissioner Gort for the many
years of service that he's provided to the citizens in the City of Miami. I also want
to personally thank him for allowing me to represent him in the district for all the
many years that I served as his representative on the Code Enforcement and
Nuisance Abatement Board. I also want to speak about Melreese, and how we need
more green space. But more importantly, I want to speak about public corruption.
Last week, I'm sure that you all saw the atrocity that happened at the
(UNINTELLIGIBLE) Towers, where a police officer was there harassing and
intimidating people with his gun, badge, and police radio, soliciting votes for
another candidate. I passed out Title 9, Chapter 104 of the State of Florida Law,
where it says: No officer or employee of the State or of any County, Municipal
thereof, exempt -- as hereinafter exempt from the provision shall use his or her
official authority and influence for the purposes of interfering with an election or a
nomination of office or coercing or influence another person's vote or affecting the
result thereof, directly or indirectly. That is punishable by a first -degree
misdemeanor in the State of Florida. Now, there's clear and present evidence that
the police officer in question was doing that, representing the City of Miami Police
Department with his badge, gun, and his radio, and I demand that that officer be
relieved of duty immediately, pending the outcome of the internal investigation. I've
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City Commission Meeting Minutes October 24, 2019
also written letters to the Department of -- Florida Department of Law
Enforcement, the Attorney General, and the Governor of the State of Florida. You
guys need to take control back of your employees that are abusing their authority,
their office and status to interfere with your elections -- our elections. Last week,
on the last Commission meeting, the City Attorney advised me that the matter
regarding Yariel Diaz was being handled by FDLE (Florida Department of Law
Enforcement). --
Chair Russell: Mr. Pichel.
Mr. Pichel: Will you give your two minutes to me?
Chair Russell: No. I -- Mr. Pichel --
Lazara Martinez: I respectedly [sic] give -- yield my two minutes to Mr. Pichel.
Chair Russell: Yes. Just a moment, but I'd like to pause for just a second, because
you --
Mr. Pichel: Yes.
Chair Russell: -- I'm glad to let you speak and air your grievance. I would ask that
you please do not make any personal accusations by name.
Mr. Pichel: I'm not.
Chair Russell: And after -- because I hear you're about to.
Mr. Pichel: Okay.
Chair Russell: And with the police officer, you were very respectful, and I
appreciate that.
Mr. Pichel: Okay. Well --
Chair Russell: And so, once your two minutes are -- your second two minutes are
over, I'd like to direct you to the City Manager and the Police Chief to file your
complaint so that a proper investigation could be formed, because this isn't --
Mr. Pichel: I've already done that.
Chair Russell: Okay, good. But this is not an investigative body up here right now.
Mr. Pichel: I understand that. I want to bring --
Chair Russell: So this is the moment to air your grievance.
Mr. Pichel: -- to your attention how your employees are out of control. Again,
Madam City Attorney, last Commission meeting, you told me that the matter in
question on the other issue was referred to FDLE.
Ms. Mendez: It could be if you weren't satisfied with --
Mr. Pichel: I was not, and I made it clear to you that I was not. But last week, a
Internal Affairs sergeant called me, asked me for the evidence and videotapes,
which is ridiculous to me, because everybody has it, and they're calling me to do it.
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Now, either it's going to be referred to FDLE or we lost all respect for law and
order in the City.
Ms. Mendez: I'll defer to the City Manager's Office and the Police Chief on that,
but it can be --
Mr. Pichel: I've asked repeatedly to do that.
Chair Russell: Through the Chair, please.
Mr. Pichel: Yes, sir. I've asked repeatedly to do that, and you all know it. It's been
videotaped and put on TT. Now, the last thing that I want to do is come and file a
complaint or charges against one of my brother and sisters in blue or firefighters.
This is the last thing I want to do being here. However, we must obey the law,
follow the law, and respect the law if we're going to continue as a governing body
and as law enforcers, and protectors of people's rights. This has got to stop. I want
it to stop. I'm willing to work with all of you to stop this, because this has gotten
out of control. And just to be on the record, because I heard the terrible things that
happened to Commissioner Carollo and his wife last week, I (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
I do have video cameras on all my cars. And if I should get stopped or pulled over,
or redlined for running a stop sign --
Chair Russell: Thank you.
Mr. Pichel: -- it won't go as easy as that. Thank you very much. Have a good day.
Chair Russell: Thank you very much. And for the Clerks' record, did you get the
name of the person donating their time for the record, please?
Ms. Martinez: My name is Lazara Martinez, 2289 Northwest 21st Terrace. Thank
you very much.
Chair Russell: Thank you very much.
Commissioner Carollo: Mr. Chairman.
Chair Russell: Yes, Mr. --
Commissioner Carollo: Wait one second, please. This has nothing to do with Mr.
Pichel; just general, altogether. I'm getting very concerned, especially with all the
items we have later on, of people being able to acquire two minutes from others that
are not going to speak anyway, and this is part of the reason these meetings are
taking so long. Individuals that should be limited to two minutes, they're acquiring
two and four and six and eight, and 10 additional minutes to be speaking here. So I
will leave it up to the Chair today, but if we don't control this, I'm going to come
back with a resolution that everyone is limited to two minutes, and they cannot
acquire minutes -- extra minutes to speak in the fashion that has been happening
here for months and months, and are prolonging these meetings to much later than
they should be.
Chair Russell: Thank you, Commissioner. It's always a balance of public input
and making sure we're respecting you and your time, but also for the whole City.
So I do understand the Commissioner's point. It's my habit to allow people to
donate their time if they've come here so that -- because otherwise, they could speak
for two minutes, as well, and we'd be here the same. But it is up to this body, so we
can consider that at a later time. Thank you very much. Good morning, sir.
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Sameer Mehta: Mr. Chairman, I'm representing FR.5. My name is Sameer Mehta.
I'm a cardiologist in Miami. For the last 20 years -- it's on record -- I have saved
the life of more Miami residents who are having a heart attack than anybody else.
In this job, I have to -- whenever I am on call, which is about 15 days a month -- 24
hours a day, I have to immediately speed to the hospital that am on call to save the
life of a patient who's having a heart attack. Every minute counts. This is not --
this is absolute science. You can have a patient immediately stable; next minute,
he's gone. It is now taking me more than five or six minutes to navigate amongst
the peacocks in Miami, in Bay Heights to reach a patient who's having a heart
attack. This is a most unique situation, and I would like the Chairman of the
Commission here -- I would like to go on record. What exactly should be my
priority? Am I supposed to be saving the life of a patient who's having a heart
attack, or try to navigate and save a peacock? Thank you so much.
Chair Russell: Thank you for your comments.
Renita Holmes: Good morning, Mr. Chairman.
Chair Russell: Good morning, Madam Holmes.
Ms. Holmes: Congratulations, first of all, to Commissioner Gort. You've been
phenomenal, and phenomenal with some of my leaders that told me about you long
before I met you, and it's proven true that you are just that type of guy that can
handle a feisty woman; big accolades to your wife, too, because I know behind
every good man -- or beside -- or sometimes even in front of -- most of the time,
opening the door to get out to go do what you got to do -- is a strong woman. And
so, with that, I'm here today. I'm Madam Renita Holmes, Executive Director and
founder of Wave of Women in Public Housing, Education, Finance and
Development; as well as Our Homes, Opportunities for United Restoration of Our
Homes. Just here to remind you that some victim/witnesses are arrested for
fighting back, and here on behalf of persons with disability, I'm wearing a back
brace. I still have to stand outside. So having a relationship and having trained
Officers, sometimes it's not our intention to be weak Sometimes we're not angry
with you; we're just fighting back. And when you arrive, I want you to consider that
there are niche services. A majority of those persons arrested for fighting back,
victim/witnesses are persons in public housing. I hear you discussing priorities,
and I know when we funded, we were listed as the priorities, but there are niche
groups that are being transitioned. And PH.1, PH.2, PH.6, PH.7, and good officers
like Officer Thorn, Officer (UNINTELLIGIBLE), Officer (UNINTELLIGIBLE), we
don't -- we compare ourselves, and we say how you handle poor folks, how you
handle LGBQT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Questionable, Transgender) youth, how
you handle persons with disability is based on your training; is based on who
makes you a priority in public service, and it's based on what organizations
actually reach you to give you that support. I just wanted to add that to today's
agenda from last agenda. I ask you, is it fair to punish people for fighting back?
And is it fair to punish people that have no home when they're fighting back? And
I'm just here to remind you again, and thank you for showing interest in our Niche
Program. I look forward to talking to you some more. And that's only to say,
again, having the Clerk's Office -- I had to really read and do the research, sir.
Our Clerk is bad; they are awesome. They actually made recommendations to
something to use data consistency to be able to coordinate things a lot better, and
to report with the intent of solving an issue, irregardless [sic] of the data being
negative. Now that's a taxpayer's dream. Thank you most of all. Keep them in the
right direction, and thank you for helping us to get the information that we need
publicly so that we can make things better. Appreciate you.
Chair Russell: Thank you.
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Ms. Holmes: Fall have a good day.
Chair Russell: I would have cut you off, but you were praising Team Todd, so I had
to let you go.
Ms. Holmes: Oh, yeah; I'm a fan.
Chair Russell: Thank you very much.
Ms. Holmes: He gave me a sandwich (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Chair Russell: Good morning, Ms. Morris.
Katrina Morris: Hi. Katrina Morris, 4130 Libya Avenue. I'm just here because I
was concerned with the -- what is it; FR.5?
Chair Russell: FR.5.
Ms. Morris: FR.5, peacocks; just the language that was introduced seemed really
vague, and it seemed like, okay, we'll just leave it up to the City Manager to handle
the situation. And my sister lives in Rancho Palace Verdes, as they call it, in
California; not that it is; it drives me insane. But they dealt with this in 2000, and
they have a really comprehensive pea fowl management plan, so I'm just going to
submit it to the record, because I think they got it right, and I think with boundaries,
everything's clear. We don't have arguments amongst neighbors, and we have good
boundaries to follow.
Chair Russell: Thank you very much. I'll be asking for the City Manager to take
that into consideration.
T ice Chair Gort: You going to extend that to the chickens?
Chair Russell: Good morning.
Haydee Rodriguez: Good morning.
Alfredo T arela: Good morning.
Ms. Rodriguez (As translated by Official Spanish Interpreter Alfredo T arela): My
name is Haydee Rodriguez. I live in the City of Miami. Since I can't be herein the
afternoon, I'd like to give my opinion regarding the football stadium. I think it's
marvelous for my grandchildren, for the young people ofMiami. It's going to bring
lots of work to Miami. It's going to be marvelous. That's all. Thank you.
Chair Russell: Thank you for your comments. 'Muchisimas gracias. " Good
morning.
Alex Fumogoli: Good morning, everyone. It's another great day for all of us to be
brought together. My name is Alex Fumogoli. I'm a local attorney here in Miami.
I'm here to voice my support for the Miami Freedom Park Project. Due to the
current state of our society, I believe what this community needs most is to be
brought together and be less divisive. The great thing about sports is that no matter
your race, your gender, or your social background, sports can always bring people
together and fill them with joy. The Miami Freedom Park Project will be able to do
just that. Besides the stadium and retail outlets, the project will provide 58 acres of
free public green space and parks for our community of adults and children to use.
It will include facilities for all types of sports, thereby bringing more opportunities
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for our community to unite and come together. Melreese is not a park; it is a golf
course. And at this time, the Melreese Golf Course limits the amount of community
members who can use that land, as they charge about $85 or so just to play golf
there. I know, because I, myself am a frequent visitor to that golf course. I
encourage you all to do the right thing for this community, and approve the Miami
Freedom Park Project. The community has already overwhelmingly voted for the
project, so I believe it's time for everyone here to listen. Thankyou.
Chair Russell: Thank you for your comments. Good morning.
Daniele Mugnai: Good morning. My name is Daniele Mugnai, from 74 Bay
Heights Drive. I'm also here for FR.S, for the peacocks. There's a couple of issues
that I would like to talk about. Number one, these peacocks are -- they're beautiful
animals, for sure. We -- when there was 10, 15, 20, they were beautiful to watch
and look, and enjoy. The problem is that they create diseases for our pets; create
diseases for our little ones; they damage roofs; they damage cars. And I think
everybody's freedom ends when the other person's begins. There has to be some
type of way to control the population since they have no natural predators. So it's
going to -- anything that's beautiful gets out of control when there's no control. In
addition, if we're going to enforce one way or the other, we also have to enforce
people feeding them, because that's not legal. When -- I've understood when we
spoke to the City Attorney, you're not supposed to feed these peacocks. So I think
that something has to be done in a humane way to take care of this problem. Thank
you.
Chair Russell: Thank you for your comments. Good morning, Mr. Baraloto.
Chris Baraloto: Good morning, everyone. My name is Chris Baraloto. I'm a
professor in biology at FIU (Florida International University). I also direct the
International Center for Tropical Botany here in Coconut Grove at the Kampong.
And I live on Kumquat Avenue herein Coconut Grove. We are here as scientists in
this community to support with data -driven solutions, two environmental
challenges, and one of those is being treated by this FR.5, concerning the peacocks
about which I'd like to speak this morning. As part of our Tropical Conservation
Internship Program, generously supported by the Pave the Way Foundation, we've
had several interns working to monitor peacock populations throughout Coconut
Grove for the last 16 months, and we plan to continue in partnership with the
District 2 office. I think it's very important for us all to participate in this and work
together. I agree with everyone who's spoken this morning, but we need to have
data to drive our management issues. And so, I would ask all of you to contact me
if you'd like to participate in this. There's several ways you can participate. You
can support the student interns as they conduct the inventories. You can agree to
be key informants, providing information we can't glean directly in our monitoring
activities, but rather to provide historical information as a key informant. And you
can participate in the inventories if you load the iNaturalist app for your Smart
Phone devices. It's run by National Geographic. You can download it, and we
have a project in which all you need to do is take a photo of any peafowl that you
see in your communities. The location is recorded and it can be fixed to our
project, and this is another means by which we can gather data as citizen scientists
to support data -driven solutions to this problem as we move towards a revision to
this ordinance.
Chair Russell: Mr. Baraloto, two questions. Has -- would FIU be open to assisting
the City with this scientific data so that we can make our decisions more carefully?
Mr. Baraloto: Completely and totally.
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Chair Russell: You already did a census. How many peacocks did you find --
peafowl did you find in the Grove?
Mr. Baraloto: We found a density of about one peacock every two hectares. That
gives us a population estimate for all of Coconut Grove of about 600. We're trying
to do what we call demographic modeling, which means that we can then project
whether the population is growing, stable, or declining. And we want to run these
models for each of the 17 different zones within the district to ask the questions of,
"Do we need different management interventions in different zones. "
Chair Russell: Thankyou. I'll be doing a floor amendment to ask the Manager to
work together with you. Thankyou.
Mr. Baraloto: Thankyou all very much.
Chair Russell: Good morning.
Samuel Latimore: Good morning. My name is Professor Sam Latimore, President
of the Charles Hadley Neighborhood Association.
Kerry Johnson: Board Member of Hadley Park Association.
Mr. Latimore: We're here to support the -- and to ask you to accept the Center
Healthcare Plan's donation to Hadley Park. As you know, those of its who rapidly
head toward the timeframe need to stay in shape, and this equipment will allow us
to work with our seniors, who are upwards of 96 and 97 years old, to maintain
some modicum of health, so we're asking that you accept that resolution.
Additionally, I'd like to remind everybody that November 11 is T eteran's Day, and
to encourage everybody to thank the persons who are veteran, who sacrificed for
you to be here, for their service. And lastly, I want to say to Mr. Gort if Ms.
Dawkins was here -- she's on another trip out of town -- she would say, "God bless
you." Thankyou very much, and you all have a nice day.
Chair Russell: Thankyou, sir. Is there anyone else here --
Kerry Johnson: Thankyou.
MV - MAYORAL VETO(ES)
NO MAYORAL VETOES
Chair Russell: -- who'd like to speak on any of the items on this morning's agenda?
This is your chance; this is your opportunity. And for those of you at home, if you'd
like to weigh in on future agendas, please go to miamigov.com. Click on "Your
Government, " and you'll find agendas that are up and coming, so you can come and
weigh in, as well, because it does make a difference, and it does alter our decisions,
so thank you very much for your public input. We'll be closing public comment at
this time.
Chair Russell: Are there any mayoral vetoes, Mr. Clerk?
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): Chair, there are no mayoral vetoes.
Chair Russell: All right.
END OF MAYORAL VETO(ES)
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CA - CONSENT AGENDA
The following item(s) was Adopted on the Consent Agenda
MOTION TO:
Adopt
RESULT:
ADOPTED
MOVER:
Joe Carollo, Commissioner
SECONDER:
Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
AYES:
Russell. Gort, Carollo, Reyes, Hardemon
CAA
RESOLUTION
6517
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
Office of Capital
ATTACHMENT(S), AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO
Improvements
EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT FOR WATER AND SANITARY
SEWER SERVICES, IN SUBSTANTIALLY THE ATTACHED FORM,
WITH MIAMI-DADE COUNTY WATER AND SEWER
DEPARTMENT ("WASD") AS PART OF THE CITY OF MIAMI
FLAGLER STREET RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT ALSO KNOWN
AS THE DOWNTOWN BEAUTIFICATION PROJECT, OFFICE OF
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS ("OCI") PROJECT NO. B-30606;
ALLOCATING FUNDS FROM OCI PROJECT NO. B-30606 FOR
SAID PURPOSE.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-19-0398
This matter was ADOPTED on the Consent Agenda.
Note for the Record. For minutes referencing Item CA.], please see "End of
C'onsentAgenda. "
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City Commission Meeting Minutes October 24, 2019
CA.2
RESOLUTION
6521
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
Office of Capital
ATTACHMENT(S), AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO
Improvements
ACCEPT AND APPROPRIATE GRANT FUNDS IN AN AMOUNT
NOT TO EXCEED ONE MILLION, FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND
DOLLARS ($1,500,000.00) ("GRANT FUNDS") FROM THE STATE
OF FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
("FDEP") FOR THE 'IMMEDIATE FLOOD CONTROL:
INSTALLATION OF BACKFLOW VALVES (PHASE I)," OFFICE OF
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS ("OCI") PROJECT NO. 40-13193800
("PROJECT") AND THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE MIAMI
BISCAYNE TIDAL WAVES AND STORMWATER IMPROVEMENTS;
FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE
AND EXECUTE A GRANT AGREEMENT, IN A FORM
ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY ATTORNEY, TO ACCEPT THE
GRANT FUNDS; FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER
TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE ANY AND ALL OTHER
NECESSARY DOCUMENTS, AMENDMENTS, EXTENSIONS,
RENEWALS, AND MODIFICATIONS TO THE GRANT
AGREEMENT, ALL IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY
ATTORNEY, FOR SAID PURPOSE.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-19-0399
This matter was ADOPTED on the Consent Agenda.
Note fiv the Record. For minutes referencing Item CA.2, please see "End of
ConsentAgenda. "
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City Commission Meeting Minutes October 24, 2019
CA.3 RESOLUTION
6512 A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION PURSUANT
Department of Fire- TO SECTION 18-111 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI,
Rescue FLORIDA, AS AMENDED ("CITY CODE"), AUTHORIZING THE
ACCESSING OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY ("MDC") CONTRACT NO.
FB-00583 FOR THE SERVICING OF VARIOUS SPECIALIZED FIRE
EQUIPMENT WITH VARIOUS VENDORS FOR THE CITY OF
MIAMI'S ("CITY") DEPARTMENT OF FIRE -RESCUE ("FIRE -
RESCUE") RELATED TO ALL NECESSARY LABOR,
TRANSPORTATION, MATERIAL, AND EQUIPMENT TO FURNISH
A COMPREHENSIVE SYSTEM FOR THE INSPECTION, TESTING,
AND CERTIFICATION OF THE CITY'S VARIOUS SPECIALIZED
FIRE -RESCUE EQUIPMENT, WHICH WAS COMPETITIVELY
SOLICITED FOR AN INITIAL TERM OF ONE (1) YEAR WITH AN
ADDITIONAL FIVE (5) ONE (1) YEAR OPTION TO RENEW
PERIODS, ON A YEAR-TO-YEAR BASIS, SUBJECT TO ANY
RENEWALS, EXTENSIONS, AND/OR REPLACEMENT
CONTRACTS BY MDC; ALLOCATING FUNDS FROM FIRE -
RESCUE ACCOUNT NUMBER 00001.184010.546000.0000.00000,
OR SUCH OTHER ACCOUNTS, SUBJECT TO THE AVAILABILITY
OF FUNDS AND BUDGETARY APPROVAL AT THE TIME OF
NEED; FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO
NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE ANY AND ALL OTHER
DOCUMENTS, INCLUDING ANY AMENDMENTS, RENEWALS,
AND EXTENSIONS, SUBJECT TO ALL ALLOCATIONS,
APPROPRIATIONS, AND PRIOR BUDGETARY APPROVALS, ALL
IN COMPLIANCE WITH ALL APPLICABLE PROVISIONS OF THE
CITY CODE, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, THE CITY'S
PROCUREMENT ORDINANCE, THE ANTI -DEFICIENCY ACT, AND
THE FINANCIAL INTEGRITY PRINCIPLES, ALL AS SET FORTH IN
CHAPTER 18 OF THE CITY CODE, ALL IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE
TO THE CITY ATTORNEY, AND IN COMPLIANCE WITH ALL
APPLICABLE RULES AND REGULATIONS, AS MAY BE DEEMED
NECESSARY FOR SAID PURPOSE.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-19-0400
This matter was ADOPTED on the Consent Agenda.
Note for the Record. For minutes referencing Item CA.3, please see "End of
Consent Agenda. "
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City Commission Meeting Minutes October 24, 2019
CA.4
RESOLUTION
6432
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION
Department of Fire-
ESTABLISHING A NEW SPECIAL REVENUE PROJECT TITLED
"FISCAL
YEAR 2019 — DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Rescue
FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY ("FEMA"),
URBAN SEARCH & RESCUE ("USAR") COOPERATIVE
AGREEMENT;" APPROPRIATING FUNDS IN AN AMOUNT NOT
TO EXCEED $1,191,104.00, CONSISTING OF A GRANT FROM
FEMA TO BE USED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FIRE -RESCUE TO
PROVIDE ADMINISTRATIVE AND PROGRAM MANAGEMENT,
TRAINING, SUPPORT, EQUIPMENT CACHE PROCUREMENT,
MAINTENANCE, AND STORAGE FOR THE SOUTH FLORIDA
USAR PROGRAM; AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO
ACCEPT SAID GRANT AWARD AND TO EXECUTE THE
NECESSARY DOCUMENTS, IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO THE
CITY ATTORNEY, IN ORDER TO IMPLEMENT THE ACCEPTANCE
OF SAID GRANT.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-19-0401
This matter was ADOPTED on the Consent Agenda.
Note for the Record. For minutes referencing Item CA.4 please see "End of
ConsentAgenda. "
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CA.5
RESOLUTION - Item Pulled from Consent
6518
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
Department of
ATTACHMENT(S), PURSUANT TO SECTION 38-66 OF THE CODE
Parks and
OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED, AUTHORIZING
Recreation
THE PLACEMENT OF A SIGN OR ADVERTISING, AS MORE
PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED IN EXHIBIT "B" OF THE DONATION
AGREEMENT, FROM SIMPLY HEALTHCARE PLANS, INC., A
FOR -PROFIT CORPORATION ("SIMPLY"), WITHIN HADLEY
PARK, A CITY OF MIAMI OWNED PROPERTY LOCATED AT 1350
NORTHWEST 50 STREET, MIAMI, FLORIDA ("HADLEY PARK");
FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ACCEPT A
DONATION FROM SIMPLY AT AN ESTIMATED VALUE OF
$21,179.00, IN THE FORM OF EQUIPMENT AND
IMPROVEMENTS AT HADLEY PARK; FURTHER AUTHORIZING
THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE AN
AGREEMENT, IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY
ATTORNEY, FOR THE PLACEMENT OF THE SIGN OR
ADVERTISING AND THE ACCEPTANCE OF THE EQUIPMENT
AND IMPROVEMENTS; FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE CITY
MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE ANY AND ALL
OTHER NECESSARY DOCUMENTS, ALL IN A FORM
ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY ATTORNEY, IN ORDER TO
IMPLEMENT THE ACCEPTANCE OF SAID DONATION.
MOTION TO: Continue
RESULT: CONTINUED
MOVER: Keon Hardemon, Commissioner
SECONDER: Ken Russell, Commissioner
AYES: Russell, Gort, Carollo, Reyes, Hardemon
Note for the Record: Item CA.5 was continued to the November 21, 2019, Regular
Commission Meeting.
Chair Russell: All right. Let's move to the agenda, please. I'll take up the CA
(consent agenda) agenda, except for Item C.4.7, which was removed CAs. I --
ConnnissionerHardemon: I'd like to continne Item C.4.5.
Chair Russell: CA.5 is accept ,Simply Healthcare Plans donation to Hadlev Park.
There's a move to continne that to the next like meeting; seconded by the Chair. Is
there anv comment on that? Being none, all in favor, sav "co.le. "
The Commission (Collectivelv): _41,,-e.
Chair Russell: Anv opposed? _1-1otion passes on continuing CA.5.
City of-lliami Page 24 Printed on 1 102020
City Commission Meeting Minutes October 24, 2019
CA.6
RESOLUTION
6487
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
Department of
ATTACHMENT(S), AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO
Police
EXECUTE A MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT WITH THE
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, BUREAU OF
ALCOHOL, TOBACCO, FIREARMS AND EXPLOSIVES ("ATF"), IN
SUBSTANTIALLY THE ATTACHED FORM, FOR THE MIAMI
POLICE DEPARTMENT'S ("MPD") PARTICIPATION ON THEIR
TASK FORCE, AT A REIMBURSABLE OVERTIME COST OF
$18,343.75 PER OFFICER, FOR UP TO TWELVE (12) OFFICERS,
FOR A TOTAL OF $243,853.37, OF WHICH $20,065.37 IS NON -
REIMBURSABLE AND WILL BE ABSORBED BY THE MPD
GENERAL FUND OPERATING BUDGET; FURTHER
AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO DESIGNATE THE CHIEF
OF POLICE TO EXECUTE ANY AND ALL OTHER NECESSARY
DOCUMENTS, ALL IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY
ATTORNEY, IN ORDER TO IMPLEMENT THE ACCEPTANCE OF
SAID REIMBURSEMENT FUNDS.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-19-0402
This matter was ADOPTED on the Consent Agenda.
Note for the Record. For minutes referencing Item CA.6, please see "End of
ConsentAgenda. "
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CA.7
RESOLUTION - Item Pulled from Consent
6642
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION
Office of the City
AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER OR HIS DESIGNEE TO
Attorney
EXECUTE A SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT AND THE DIRECTOR
OF FINANCE TO PAY RUBEN A. SEBASTIAN, WITHOUT
ADMISSION OF LIABILITY, THE AGGREGATE TOTAL SUM OF
SIXTY-FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS ($65,000.00) TO THE
PLAINTIFF IN FULL AND COMPLETE SETTLEMENT OF ANY AND
ALL CLAIMS AND DEMANDS, INCLUDING ALL CLAIMS FOR
ATTORNEY'S FEES, AGAINST THE CITY OF MIAMI AND ITS
OFFICERS, AGENTS, AND EMPLOYEES IN THE CASE STYLED
RUBEN A. SEBASTIAN VS. CITY OF MIAMI, ET AL., PENDING IN
THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT
OF FLORIDA, CASE NO.: 16-CV-20501-FAM UPON THE
EXECUTION OF A SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT AND GENERAL
RELEASE OF ALL CLAIMS AND DEMANDS BROUGHT FOR
EXCESSIVE FORCE AND VIOLATION OF CIVIL RIGHTS
PENDING IN FEDERAL COURT AND A DISMISSAL OF THE CITY
OF MIAMI AND ITS OFFICERS, AGENTS, AND EMPLOYEES
WITH PREJUDICE; ALLOCATING FUNDS FROM ACCOUNT NO.
50001.301001.545010.0000.00000.
MOTION TO: Continue
RESULT: CONTINUED
MOVER: Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
SECONDER: Ken Russell, Commissioner
AYES: Russell, Gort, Carollo, Reyes, Hardemon
Note for the Record. Item CA.7 was continued to the November 21, 2019, Regular
Commission Meeting.
Note for the Record. For minutes referencing Item CA.7, please see "Order of the
Day. "
CA.8 RESOLUTION
6643 A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION APPROVING
Commissioners THE COCONUT GROVE BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT'S
and Mayor ("BID") APPOINTMENT OF ABIGAEL MAHONY AS THE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE BID.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-19-0403
This matter was ADOPTED on the Consent Agenda.
Note for the Record. For minutes referencing Item CA.8, please see "End of
ConsentAgenda. "
END OF CONSENT AGENDA
ChairRnssell: Then we're dealing with 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 8. Is there a motion, please?
Commissioner Carollo: On what item?
ChairRnssell: All of the CA (consent (genda) agenda that's left.
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City Commission Meeting Minutes October 24, 2019
Vice Chair Gort: All the CA that's left.
Commissioner Carollo: CA?
Chair Russell: Yes.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay. All right. We go with the --I'll make the motion on it.
Commissioner Reyes: I'll second.
Chair Russell: Thank you, Commissioner Carollo; seconded by Commissioner Reyes.
Any further discussion? All in favor, say "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Russell: Any opposed? Motion passes on the CA agenda.
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PH - PUBLIC HEARINGS
PHA
RESOLUTION
6374
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION PURSUANT
Department of
TO SECTION 29-B(A) OF THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF MIAMI,
Housing and
FLORIDA, AS AMENDED, AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO
Community
SELL, WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING RESTRICTIONS AND
Development
AUTOMATIC REVERTER PROVISIONS, CERTAIN CITY OF MIAMI-
OWNED PROPERTIES LOCATED IN THE CITY OF NORTH MIAMI,
FLORIDA, TO KB FINANCIAL GROUP, LLC, A FLORIDA LIMITED
LIABILITY COMPANY ("KB"), FOR THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF
$825,000.00 FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF AFFORDABLE
HOUSING PROJECTS WITH SIX (6) UNITS SET ASIDE TO BE
USED FOR HOUSING FOR PERSONS WITH AIDS; FURTHER
AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND
EXECUTE ANY AND ALL NECESSARY DOCUMENTS, INCLUDING
AMENDMENTS, EXTENSIONS, AND MODIFICATIONS, ALL IN
FORMS ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY ATTORNEY, FOR THE
COMPLETION OF SAID TRANSACTION.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-19-0404
MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Joe Carollo, Commissioner
SECONDER: Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
AYES: Russell, Gort, Carollo, Reyes, Hardemon
Note for the Record. For additional minutes referencing Item PHI, please see
"Public Comment Period for Regular Item(s). "
Chair Russell: N-ou we'll take up the PH (public hearing) agenda, except for PH.8.
And some of these are fonr fifths, please keep in mind, gentlemen. So that's PHs.1
through 7. Is there a motion;"
Commissioner Carollo: Fes. I'd like to -- I don't want to withdrmr it nnless I have
to, depending on my answer, bnt I do need some info on PH.1. It talks about City -
owned property; that we're selling it for 825, 000.
Chair Russell: TFould you like the A=lanagement to present, please?
Connnissioner Carollo: Fes. Have we had appraisals on this property to see what
the worth is;"
George -1=1ensah: George -1Iensah, Director, (Iomlnnnity and Economic
Development. This -- no, I -- we did not do actual appraisals. ii'e looked at the
assessed valve.
Connnissioner Carollo: 0ka.y.
-1Ir. Jlensah: However, these are properties in forth -A-Iiami, which are HOPi A
(Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS) properties.
Connnissioner Carollo: 0ka.y.
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City Commission Meeting Minutes October 24, 2019
Mr. Mensah: And so, what we are doing --
Commissioner Carollo: These are properties that are outside the City of Miami?
Let me --
Mr. Mensah: Yes, yes.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay. All right.
Chair Russell: Thank you.
b ictoria Mendez (City Attorney): And at one point, they were unsafe structures that
the County wanted to demolish, so we've had a long history with these properties. If
someone's actually willing to buy them, it's a good thing.
ti ice Chair Gort: Mr. Chairman.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay.
Chair Russell: Bice Chairman.
Vice Chair Gort: Commissioner Carollo [sic], let me ask you a question. How
many Code violations have we had on that building? Because it goes way back.
We've had a lot of problem with that building.
Mr. Mensah: Yes, we've had a lot of violations on it.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay. And did we do anything about it, or did we just let it
go?
Mr. Mensah: We did a lot about it. I think our CityAttorney helped us a lot on it.
Commissioner Carollo: Well, let me not ask anymore questions. I might not like the
answer I get, so we'll let it be and sell it at the auction block.
Chair Russell: Is there a motion on PH.1 through 7?
Commissioner Carollo: There's a motion.
Commissioner Reyes: Second.
Chair Russell: Thank you, Commissioner Carollo; seconded by Commissioner
Reyes. Arty further discussion? All in favor, say "aye. "
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Russell: Any opposed? Motion passes. We are rocking and rolling,
gentlemen. Thank you.
Commissioner Reyes: Thank you.
Chair Russell: All right. That is the PH agenda.
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City Commission Meeting Minutes October 24, 2019
PH.2
RESOLUTION
6375
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
Department of
ATTACHMENT(S), AUTHORIZING THE ACCEPTANCE OF STATE
Housing and
OF FLORIDA HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PERSONS WITH
Community
AIDS ("HOPWA") PROGRAM FUNDS IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO
EXCEED $947,477.60 FOR FISCAL YEAR 2019-2020 FOR THE
Development
PURPOSE OF IMPLEMENTING PROGRAMS THAT HELP SUSTAIN
OR TRANSITION INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES TO STABLE
HOUSING; FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO
NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE ANY AND ALL NECESSARY
DOCUMENTS, INCLUDING AMENDMENTS, EXTENSIONS, AND
MODIFICATIONS, ALL IN FORMS ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY
ATTORNEY, SUBJECT TO ALL FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL
LAWS THAT REGULATE THE USE OF SUCH FUNDS FOR SAID
PURPOSE.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-19-0405
MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Joe Carollo, Commissioner
SECONDER: Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
AYES: Russell, Gort, Carollo, Reyes, Hardemon
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item PH.2, please see "Public
Comment Period for Regular Item(s) " and Item PH.].
PH.3
RESOLUTION
6376
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
Department of
ATTACHMENT(S), AUTHORIZING THE ALLOCATION OF STATE
Housing and
OF FLORIDA HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PERSONS WITH
Community
AIDS PROGRAM FUNDS IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED
$947,477.60 FOR FISCAL YEAR 2019-2020 TO THE
Development
DEPARTMENTS/AGENCIES SPECIFIED IN EXHIBIT "A,"
ATTACHED AND INCORPORATED; FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE
CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE ANY AND ALL
NECESSARY DOCUMENTS, INCLUDING AMENDMENTS,
EXTENSIONS, AND MODIFICATIONS, ALL IN FORMS
ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY ATTORNEY, SUBJECT TO ALL
FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL LAWS THAT REGULATE THE USE
OF SUCH FUNDS FOR SAID PURPOSE.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-19-0406
MOTION TO:
RESULT:
MOVER:
SECONDER:
AYES:
Adopt
ADOPTED
Joe Carollo, Commissioner
Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
Russell, Gort, Carollo, Reyes, Hardemon
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item PIL3, please see Item PH.].
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PHA
RESOLUTION
6377
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION
Department of
AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO GRANT AN EXTENSION
Housing and
OF TIME FOR FIFTEEN (15) ADDITIONAL MONTHS, FROM
Community
SEPTEMBER 30, 2018 TO DECEMBER 30, 2019, TO SOUTH
Development
FLORIDA PROGRESS FOUNDATION, INC., A FLORIDA NOT FOR
PROFIT CORPORATION, TO COMPLETE PUBLIC FACILITY AND
IMPROVEMENT ACTIVITIES; FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE CITY
MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE ANY AND ALL
NECESSARY DOCUMENTS, INCLUDING AMENDMENTS,
MODIFICATIONS, AND ADDITIONAL EXTENSIONS, ALL IN
FORMS ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY ATTORNEY, SUBJECT TO
ALL FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL LAWS THAT REGULATE THE
USE OF SUCH FUNDS, FOR SAID PURPOSE.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-19-0407
MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Joe Carollo, Commissioner
SECONDER: Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
AYES: Russell, Gort, Carollo. Reyes. Hardemon
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item PK 4, please see Item PH.].
PH.5
RESOLUTION
6409
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
Office of Grants
ATTACHMENTS, BY A FOUR -FIFTHS (4/5THS) AFFIRMATIVE
Administration
VOTE, AFTER AN ADVERTISED PUBLIC HEARING, RATIFYING,
APPROVING, AND CONFIRMING THE CITY MANAGER'S
WRITTEN RECOMMENDATIONS AND FINDINGS, ATTACHED AND
INCORPORATED HEREIN AS EXHIBIT "A," THAT THE
OVERTOWN YOUTH CENTER, INC. ("PROVIDER") IS A
QUALIFIED FIRM WITH THE REPUTATION, EXPERTISE, AND
INFRASTRUCTURE TO IMPLEMENT THE SUMMER YOUTH
EMPLOYMENT & FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM
("PROGRAM") AND THAT COMPETITIVE NEGOTIATION
METHODS AND PROCEDURES ARE NOT PRACTICABLE OR
ADVANTAGEOUS PURSUANT TO SECTION 18-85(A) OF THE
CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA AS AMENDED;
AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND
EXECUTE, IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY ATTORNEY,
AN AMENDMENT TO THE 2019 PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
AGREEMENT ("2019 AGREEMENT") EXECUTED WITH THE
PROVIDER, ATTACHED AND INCORPORATED HEREIN AS
EXHIBIT "B," TO INCREASE THE FUNDING IN THE NOT TO
EXCEED AMOUNT OF TEN THOUSAND, FIVE HUNDRED THIRTY
DOLLARS ($10,530.00) AND TO ALLOW FOR AN ADDITIONAL
OPTION TO RENEW THE PROGRAM, SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY
OF FUNDS, FOR THE PERIOD COMMENCING APRIL 1, 2020
THRU NOVEMBER 30, 2020 IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED
THREE HUNDRED FIFTY-THREE THOUSAND, THREE HUNDRED
SIXTY-FOUR DOLLARS ($353,364.00), UNDER THE SAME TERMS
AND CONDITIONS AS THE 2019 AGREEMENT.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-19-0408
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City Commission Meeting Minutes October 24, 2019
MOTION TO:
Adopt
RESULT:
ADOPTED
MOVER:
Joe Carollo, Commissioner
SECONDER:
Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
AYES:
Russell, Gort, Carollo, Reyes, Hardemon
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item PH.5, please see Item PH.].
PH.6
RESOLUTION
6411
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
ATTACHMENT(S), ACCEPTING THE PLAT TITLED "VERSAILLES,"
Department of
A REPLAT AND A SUBDIVISION IN THE CITY OF MIAMI OF THE
Resilience and
PROPERTY DESCRIBED IN ATTACHMENT "l," SUBJECT TO
Public Works
SATISFACTION OF ALL CONDITIONS REQUIRED BY THE PLAT
AND STREET COMMITTEE AS SET FORTH IN EXHIBIT "A,"
ATTACHED AND INCORPORATED, AND THE PROVISIONS
CONTAINED IN SECTION 55-8 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF
MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED; ACCEPTING THE DEDICATIONS
SHOWN ON THE PLAT; AND AUTHORIZING AND DIRECTING THE
CITY MANAGER AND CITY CLERK TO EXECUTE THE PLAT AND
CAUSE THE RECORDATION OF THE PLAT IN THE PUBLIC
RECORDS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-19-0409
MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Joe Carollo, Commissioner
SECONDER: Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
AYES: Russell, Gort, Carollo, Reyes, Hardemon
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item PH. please see 'Public
Comment Period for Regular Item(s) "and Item PH.].
Citj,- of-llialni Page 32 Printed on 1 10%2020
City Commission Meeting Minutes October 24, 2019
PH.7
RESOLUTION
6600
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
Commissioners
ATTACHMENT(S), PURSUANT TO SECTION 18-85(A) OF THE
and Mayor
CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED ("CITY
CODE"), BY A FOUR FIFTHS (4/5THS) AFFIRMATIVE VOTE,
AFTER AN ADVERTISED PUBLIC HEARING, RATIFYING,
APPROVING, AND CONFIRMING THE CITY MANAGER'S
FINDINGS, ATTACHED AND INCORPORATED AS EXHIBIT "A,"
THAT COMPETITIVE NEGOTIATION METHODS AND
PROCEDURES ARE NOT PRACTICABLE OR ADVANTAGEOUS
FOR THE CITY OF MIAMI ("CITY"); WAIVING THE
REQUIREMENTS FOR SAID PROCEDURES; AUTHORIZING THE
ALLOCATION OF FUNDS FROM THE DISTRICT 1
COMMISSIONER'S REVOLVING OFFICE ACCOUNT IN A TOTAL
AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED SIXTY THOUSAND DOLLARS
($60,000.00) TO LITTLE HAVANA ACTIVITIES AND NUTRITION
CENTERS OF DADE COUNTY, INC., A FLORIDA NOT -FOR -
PROFIT CORPORATION ("LHAC"), IN SUPPORT OF LHAC'S
PALERMO CENTER SENIOR MEALS PROGRAM; FURTHER
AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND
EXECUTE ANY AND ALL DOCUMENTS NECESSARY, ALL IN A
FORM ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY ATTORNEY, FOR SAID
PURPOSE.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-19-0410
MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Joe Carollo, Commissioner
SECONDER: Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
AYES: Russell, Gort, Carollo, Reyes, Hardemon
Note for the Record. For minutes referencing Item PH. 7, please see "Public
Comment Period for Regular Item(s) " and Item PH.].
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PH.8 RESOLUTION
6660 A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, TO
Commissioners APPROVE OR DENY, PURSUANT TO SECTION 29-B OF THE
and Mayor CHARTER OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED
("CHARTER"), ENTITLED "CITY -OWNED PROPERTY SALE OR
LEASE -GENERALLY," BY A FOUR -FIFTHS (4/5THS)
AFFIRMATIVE VOTE, WAIVING COMPETITIVE BIDDING AND
AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND
EXECUTE A GROUND LEASE, MASTER DEVELOPMENT
AGREEMENT, STADIUM LEASE, AND NON -RELOCATION
AGREEMENT, AND ALL OTHER ANCILLARY AGREEMENTS
("LEASE"), ALL IN FORMS ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY
ATTORNEY AND OUTSIDE COUNSEL, BETWEEN THE CITY OF
MIAMI ("CITY") AND MIAMI FREEDOM PARK, LLC ("MFP") FOR
APPROXIMATELY SEVENTY-THREE (73) ACRES OF CITY -
OWNED PROPERTY LOCATED GENERALLY AT 1400
NORTHWEST 37TH AVENUE, MIAMI, FLORIDA 33125,
COMMONLY KNOWN AS MELREESE COUNTRY CLUB
AND IDENTIFIED AS FOLIO NUMBERS 01-3132-000-0080 AND
01-3132-000-0090 ("DEMISED PROPERTY") WITH AN INITIAL
TERM OF THIRTY-NINE (39) YEARS WITH TWO (2)
ADDITIONAL THIRTY (30) YEAR OPTIONS TO RENEW, FOR A
TOTAL TERM OF NINETY-NINE (99) YEARS, WITH AN ANNUAL
BASE RENT EQUAL TO THE GREATER OF (A) FAIR MARKET
VALUE AS DETERMINED BY STATE CERTIFIED APPRAISERS
OR (B) FIVE PERCENT (5.0%) OF RENT FROM THE RETAIL,
OFFICE, AND HOTEL DEVELOPMENT WITHIN THE DEMISED
PROPERTY, BUT ANNUAL BASE RENT OF NO LESS THAN
THREE MILLION FIVE HUNDRED SEVENTY-SEVEN
THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED SIXTY-FIVE DOLLARS
($3,577,365.00), IN ADDITION TO A CONTRIBUTION TO THE
CITY OF TWENTY MILLION DOLLARS ($20,000,000.00)
PAYABLE OVER THIRTY (30) YEARS IN ANNUAL
INSTALLMENTS, AND ANY RENT INCREASES AND/OR
ADDITIONAL RENTS NEGOTIATED BY THE PARTIES;
AUTHORIZING THE USE OF THE DEMISED PROPERTY FOR A
SOCCER STADIUM, ENTERTAINMENT CENTER, INCLUDING
FOOD AND BEVERAGE VENUES, OFFICES, RETAIL, HOTEL,
AND CONFERENCE CENTER, AND OTHER ANCILLARY
COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT, WITH A MAXIMUM HEIGHT
NOT TO EXCEED FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION
AEROSPACE OBSTRUCTION STANDARDS, WITH
RESTRICTIONS, REVERSIONS, AND RETENTION BY THE
CITY OF ALL OTHER RIGHTS, GUARANTEEING A LIVING
WAGE FOR ALL ON -SITE EMPLOYEES; FURTHER REQUIRING
MFP TO UNDERTAKE THE REMEDIATION AND SITE
DEVELOPMENT FOR A PUBLIC PARK OF APPROXIMATELY
FIFTY-EIGHT (58) ACRES, AT NO COST TO THE CITY, TO BE
DEVELOPED ON PROPERTY ADJACENT TO THE DEMISED
PROPERTY ("NEW PARK") CURRENTLY USED FOR THE
MELREESE COUNTRY CLUB; PROVIDING FOR NO NET LOSS
OF PARK SPACE TO THE CITY; PROVIDING PROFIT SHARING
TO THE CITY IN THE FORM OF NAMING RIGHTS,
ADVERTISING, TV RIGHTS, SALE OR ASSIGNMENT, AND THE
LIKE; AND AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE FOR THIS
City of_AIiami Page 34 Pr-inted on I 10 2020
City Commission Meeting Minutes October 24, 2019
RESOLUTION.
MOTION TO:
Defer
RESULT:
DEFERRED
MOVER:
Joe Carollo, Commissioner
SECONDER:
Ken Russell, Commissioner
AYES:
Russell, Gort, Carollo, Hardemon
ABSENT:
Reyes
Note for the Record. Item PH.8 was deferred to the November 12, 2019, Special
Commission Meeting.
Note for the Record: For additional minutes referencing Item PH8, please see
"Order of the Day. "
t ictoria Mendez (City Attorney): I'm sorry, Chairman. And then I believe that Todd
just wanted to make sure that there is a motion to move these three items to that date.
Chair Russell: To defer them to the special meeting. Moved by Commissioner
Carollo.
Commissioner Carollo: Moved.
Chair Russell: Seconded by the Chairman. Any further discussion? All in favor,
say fraye. if
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Russell: Any opposed?
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): And again, that's PH.8, RE.20, and DI4 have been
deferred to November 12 --
Chair Russell: Correct.
Mr. Hannon: --for the special meeting.
END OF PUBLIC HEARINGS
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RE - RESOLUTIONS
REA
RESOLUTION
6262
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
Office of Capital
ATTACHMENT(S), AUTHORIZING AN INCREASE TO THE
Improvements
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH ATKINS NORTH
AMERICA, INC. ("ATKINS"), FOR THE PROVISION OF CAPITAL
PROGRAM SUPPORT SERVICES, FOR ADDITIONAL WORK IN
AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $1,750,000.00 FOR THE FIRST
OPTION TO RENEW PERIOD, THEREBY INCREASING THE
TOTAL COMPENSATION LIMIT FOR THE FIRST OPTION TO
RENEW PERIOD FROM $1,250,000.00 TO AN AMOUNT NOT TO
EXCEED $3,000,000.00; ALLOCATING FUNDS FROM THE
APPROPRIATE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS AND
DEPARTMENTAL BUDGETS, SUBJECT TO BUDGETARY
APPROVAL AT THE TIME OF NEED; AUTHORIZING THE CITY
MANAGER TO EXECUTE AN AMENDMENT TO THE AGREEMENT
WITH ATKINS, IN SUBSTANTIALLY THE ATTACHED FORM;
FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE
AND EXECUTE ALL OTHER DOCUMENTS, INCLUDING ANY
AMENDMENTS AND EXTENSIONS, SUBJECT TO ALLOCATIONS,
APPROPRIATIONS, AND BUDGETARY APPROVAL HAVING
BEEN PREVIOUSLY MADE, AND IN COMPLIANCE WITH
APPLICABLE PROVISIONS OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF
MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED, ("CITY CODE"), INCLUDING THE
CITY OF MIAMI'S PROCUREMENT ORDINANCE, ANTI -
DEFICIENCY ACT, AND FINANCIAL INTEGRITY PRINCIPLES, ALL
AS SET FORTH IN CHAPTER 18 OF THE CITY CODE, IN A FORM
ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY ATTORNEY, AND IN COMPLIANCE
WITH APPLICABLE REGULATIONS, AS MAY BE NECESSARY
FOR SAID PURPOSE.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-19-0411
MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Joe Carollo, Commissioner
SECONDER: Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
AYES: Russell, Gort, Carollo. Reyes. Hardemon
ChairRnssell: 11oving to the RE (resohrtion) agenda. Aside front --
Commissioner Carollo: RE.
Chair Russell: -- RE.10, which is indefinitely deferred, that is ont; and the time
certain, RE.20, on soccer, we'll tali that ont.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah. This RE.1, can we get an explanation on the record,
please?
Chair Russell: Absohrtely. Mr. Manager. This is allocating f rnds forAtlzns 'Forth
America.
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Steve Williamson: Sir, Steve Williamson, Director, Capital Improvements.
Chair Russell: Good morning. What would you like to know, Commissioner?
Commissioner Carollo: Just 1,750,000, if you could on the record just give us a
brief explanation.
Mr. Williamson: Yes, sir. So currently, the Office of Capital Improvement is staffed
for a requirement of 53 people. We currently have a total of 42 on hand -- excuse me
-- 41; we just lost one. So therefore, we look at Atkins to provide us consultants
when necessary. We want to make sure that we have the talent available, if
necessary, to hire.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay. All right.
Chair Russell: Thank you.
Commissioner Carollo: Let me just look at a couple more things.
Commissioner Reyes: Through the Chair.
Chair Russell: Yes.
Commissioner Reyes: Can I make a comment on this REJ?
Chair Russell: Commissioner Reyes.
Commissioner Reyes: And you see, I know that Capital Improvement is full of work
and I was one that suggested, also, that we outsource some of our work, because in
order to expedite all the projects that we are having and we are running behind, and
I think that we have to do better. Well, what's the scope of work? It's consulting,
project management drawings, community meetings, et cetera, and that's what I was
informed. And I was one of the -- I mean proposer of this when I met with Capital
Improvement, because now that when we get all our additional funds from the bond
issues, there are so many projects that are needed, because our streets are in very
bad shape and there's a lot of flooding and we need to keep those projects going, and
that was the reason that I was one of the proponents.
Chair Russell: Thank you very much. Thank you, Steve.
Mr. Williamson: Thankyou, sir.
Chair Russell: So we're looking at all of the RE agenda, aside from RE. 5, 10, and
20. So are there any other comments or questions on any of the other items before
we seek --?
Commissioner Carollo: 5, 10, and 20?
Chair Russell: Yeah. Those are -- well, those we're not dealing with right now.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah. 10 is being deferred?
Chair Russell: Correct.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay. And 5 is at 2 p. in., and 20 is at 6.
Chair Russell: 6 p. m.
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Commissioner Carollo: Yeah, there's a motion.
Chair Russell: A motion for the RE agenda, aside from those three items.
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): Chair --
Victoria Mendez (City Attorney): Chairman?
Chair Russell: Yes.
Mr. Hannon: -- RE. 4 needs to be amended.
Commissioner Hardemon: Unreadiness still?
Chair Russell: Commissioner Hardemon.
Commissioner Hardemon: RE.5?
Chair Russell: That is coming up at 2 p.m., so we're not dealing with that right now.
Commissioner Hardemon: So -- right. Just --I want to make sure. So you said the
RE agenda, so --
Chair Russell: RE agenda, minus RE.5, 10, and 20.
Commissioner Hardemon: All right.
Chair Russell: So we're dealing with 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9 --
Ms. Mendez: Chairman, on RE --
Chair Russell: Just a moment. -- 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, and 19. Yes, Madam
CityAttorney.
Ms. Mendez: On RE. 9, I believe it still says "approve or deny, " so maybe you would
want to take that motion separately --
Chair Russell: We can just --
Ms. Mendez: -- unless you say it right now.
Chair Russell: -- amend it at this point for approval if that's the choice of this board
on RE.9.
Ms. Mendez: That's the ad valorem tax one.
Chair Russell: Yes.
Commissioner Hardemon: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) hotel?
Chair Russell: Yes. So we have a mover and a seconder.
Commissioner Hardemon: That's the (UNINTELLIGIBLE) hotel.
Chair Russell: You want to look at RE. 9 --
Commissioner Hardemon: Move forward to --
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Vice Chair Gort: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) agree.
Chair Russell: You want to -- ?
CommissionerHardemon: That's the beautiful hotel, the -- RE. 9?
Chair Russell: Is there anyone --
CommissionerHardemon: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Lice Chair Gort: Nice to hear from staff.
Chair Russell: --here to present on RE -- ? Let's pull that item, RE.9.
Lice Chair Gort: No, no, no, no.
Chair Russell: It's for discussion.
Lice Chair Gort: Go ahead.
Chair Russell: We'll take it right now.
Ian Bacheikov: Thank you. Good afternoon, Chairman and the board. My name is
Ian Bacheikov, with Akerman, 98 Southeast 7th Street, here on behalf of the
applicant, HUSA LH JF, LLC. Prior to the meeting, I met with each of your offices
to discuss this, and why we're here today on this specific item. Essentially, my
clients bought this property, and one of the only incentives that the City gives when
restoring historic properties is that you can apply for a tax exemption from the City
and from the County for ad valorem property taxes. And so, it's done in two parts.
Part one, you go to the Planning and Zoning Appeals Board -- sorry -- Historic
Preservation Board to show them your plans. And at that point, they either approve
or decry your plans, and that's part one. In our instance, my clients'
predecessor/owner of the property went before the board, and they approved our
plans with one condition: That the windows on the front fagade would be exempt
from the tax exemption. My clients completed the work; came back to the Historic
Preservation Board, and received a staff recommendation of approval with the one
condition that those windows on the front fagade would be excluded from the
exemption. Unfortunately for us, the Planning and -- the Historic Preservation
Board, rather than looking at this as a rubber stamp and seeing that we followed the
rules, and did what was required of part one, said they didn't like the way it looks.
They got very passionate about how they thought the building looked, and
recommended denial; notwithstanding the recommendation of the Planning staff --
or -- sorry -- the Historic Preservation Board staff. And so, we then went back to the
staff and asked them, you know, did they, in fact, do what they needed to do to meet
the requirements of the part one approval, and Mr. Warren Adams confirmed that he
did. I was hoping he would be here to -- oh, he is here, and I'll let him speak to that.
And so, having done what we were required to do under part one of the approval,
we're here now; coming back, and respectfully requesting that the part two be
approved to grant the incentive.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay. What --
CommissionerHardemon: What's the name of the hotel again?
Mr. Bacheikov: It's the Jefferson Hotel --
Commissioner Carollo: Jefferson.
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Chair Russell: Commissioner Carollo.
Commissioner Carollo: Which --
Mr. Bacheikov: -- at 528 Southwest 9th Avenue.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay.
Commissioner Reyes: That's the wooden one, right?
Commissioner Carollo: Let me -- How long have you been representing the client?
Mr. Bacheikov: Since -- after they went to the Historic Board, they came to me --
Commissioner Carollo: When is that, approximately?
Mr. Bacheikov: I'm sorry?
Commissioner Carollo: When is that, approximately; time, date?
Mr. Bacheikov: That was sometime after July.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay. Of this year?
Mr. Bacheikov: Of this year, yes.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay. You workforAkerman?
Mr. Bacheikov: Correct.
Commissioner Carollo: You're a registered --
Mr. Bacheikov: I'm a registered lobbyist, yes.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay. For this project, correct?
Mr. Bacheikov: For this project, yes.
Commissioner Carollo: All right. Were you working under this project for any
other law firm before?
Mr. Bacheikov: No; no, sir.
Commissioner Carollo: Well, I'm confused, because isn't there something that
indicates in your filing that someone else was working on this project before?
Mr. Bacheikov: No. They had sent their general Manager, who works for the
applicant --
Commissioner Carollo: Oh, so they --
Mr. Bacheikov: -- so they represented themselves.
Commissioner Carollo: What I've been told, in the filing that you did, there is an
email on file with the Clerk's lobbyist form that you filled in that indicates, worked
for Lou Terminello that works for Greenspoon Marder, the Mayor's firm. So --
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Mr. Bacheikov: No. This has nothing to do with Greenspoon Marder.
Commissioner Carollo: Well, why would then that email be on file?
Mr. Bacheikov: I have no idea what email you're referring to.
Commissioner Carollo: Did Greenspoon Harder work at this at any point --
Mr. Bacheikov: Absolutely not.
Commissioner Carollo: -- in time, do anything?
Mr. Bacheikov: No, no, they did not.
Commissioner Carollo: Well, this is very confusing. Can we pull this, then --
Chair Russell: Of course.
Commissioner Carollo: --just --
Chair Russell: So we'll remove RE.9 from the item; the mover removes RE.9.
Commissioner Carollo: And we'll bring it back --
Chair Russell: Yeah.
Commissioner Carollo: --because I don't want them to be delayed. I just want to
see what's on file myself, and see it, because I'm really confused in all that; who's
representing who.
Mr. Bacheikov: No. The only lobbyist registration on file for this specific matter
should be my own with Akerman.
Commissioner Carollo: Well, I'm not saying that anybody else filed. I'm saying that
there was an email, I'm told, that indicated that someone else, the person that I
mentioned from the law firm that I mentioned, worked on this, and I'm just confused,
and I'd like to find out.
Mr. Bacheikov: No, not that I'm aware of.
Commissioner Carollo: Francisco --
Chair Russell: All right. So --
Commissioner Carollo: -- what say you on this; on the windows and everything and
Francisco Garcia (Director, Planning): Of the -- Francisco Garcia, Planning
Director. Thank you, sir. Of the only parties that we've been interacting with
regarding this particular matter are these attorneys, and formerly, the -- I believe the
person associated with the management of the property was also involved in
processing some of the paperwork. Other than that, we have not had any contact
with --
Commissioner Carollo: How many rooms is this?
Chair Russell: Looks like it's --
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Commissioner Hardemon: 33.
Chair Russell: --three stories.
Commissioner Hardemon: Maybe 33; at least that's what the property appraiser
says.
Chair Russell: Why don't we pull the item --
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah.
Chair Russell: -- and we'll deal with it separately.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay.
Chair Russell: We'll take up the rest of the RE agenda, removing RE.9.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah, moving RE.9. My motion stands for the rest of it.
Chair Russell: Thank you very much. Are there any further comments or questions
on the remainder of the RE agenda as stated?
Mr. Hannon: And so, Chair, RE.4 will be amended, in addition to --
Chair Russell: What is the amendment?
Mr. Hannon: It has to do with -- my understanding -- that's a memo that was issued
by the City Manager on October 21 for RE.4. The original resolution states an
increase of 250,000 to the Professional Services Agreement, from I million to
1,250,000. This substitute requests to change the Professional Services Agreement
for an additional amount not to exceed 450, 000 from the current PSA (Professional
Services Agreement) with WSP USA, Inc., of I million.
Chair Russell: Thank you. Does the mover and seconder accept that amendment on
RE. 4?
Commissioner Carollo: Yes.
Chair Russell: Thank you very much.
Mr. Hannon: And Chair, it's my understanding that you would like to co-sponsor
RE.14.
Chair Russell: I did not mention that, no.
Mr. Hannon: Okay.
Chair Russell: I'm in favor of it, but I didn't -- I don't believe I ever brought up a co-
sponsorship requestfor RE. 14.
Mr. Hannon: My apologies.
Chair Russell: All right. So now we're dealing with REs.l through 8; REs.11
through 19. There's a motion, there's a second, there's an amendment that has been
accepted. Any further discussion?
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1Ir. Hannon: Pin sorry, Chair. For the record, the mover is Commissioner Carollo;
seconded by --
Connnissioner Reyes: lle.
Chair Russell: Commissioner Reyes; that's correct.
1Ir. Hannon: Thank you.
Chair Russell: All in favor, say "aye. "
The Commission (Collectively): Ave.
Chair Russell: Any opposed? Motion passes, as amended.
Commissioner Carollo: I will be back: in two minutes.
Chair Russell: Thank von very much. if e'll hold RE.9 for you if vozr'd like.
C'ommissionerReves: Fes.
Chair Russell: All right. TI'e will move -- that is the RE agenda. Let me mark- it off,
exceptfor ?`'umber 20, which ive're taking up later.
RE.2
RESOLUTION
6390
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
Office of Capital
ATTACHMENT(S), AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO
Improvements
EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT, IN SUBSTANTIALLY THE
ATTACHED FORM, WITH THE MIAMI-DADE WATER AND SEWER
DEPARTMENT ("WASD") FOR THE PROVISION OF WATER AND
SANITARY SEWER SERVICES FOR PBA FERN ISLE PARK,
OFFICE OF CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS ("OCI") PROJECT NO. 40-
B40543; ALLOCATING FUNDS IN THE NOT TO EXCEED AMOUNT
OF FOURTEEN THOUSAND, FOUR HUNDRED TEN DOLLARS
AND SEVENTY-FIVE CENTS ($14,410.75) FROM OCI PROJECT
NO. 40-1340543 FOR THE PAYMENT OF WATER AND SEWER
CONNECTION CHARGES TO WASD.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-19-0412
MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Joe Carollo, Commissioner
SECONDER: Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
AYES: Russell, Gort, Carollo, Reyes, Hardemon
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item RE.2, please see Item RE.].
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City Commission Meeting Minutes October 24, 2019
RE.3
RESOLUTION
6391
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION
Office of Capital
AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ACCEPT A GRANT IN AN
Improvements
AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED ONE HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND
DOLLARS ($150,000.00) ("GRANT") FROM THE OMNI
REDEVELOPMENT DISTRICT COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT
AGENCY ("OMNI CRA") FOR THE INTERSTATE 395 (1-395")
OPEN SPACE AND MOBILITY CONNECTIVITY PLAN AND
APPROPRIATING SAID GRANT TO THE OFFICE OF CAPITAL
IMPROVEMENTS ("OCI") PROJECT NO. 40-13193621
("PROJECT"); FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO
NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE AN INTERLOCAL GRANT
AGREEMENT ("GRANT AGREEMENT"), IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE
TO THE CITY ATTORNEY, WITH THE OMNI CRA, AS WELL AS
ANY AND ALL OTHER NECESSARY DOCUMENTS,
AMENDMENTS, EXTENSIONS, RENEWALS, AND
MODIFICATIONS THERETO, ALL IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO
THE CITY ATTORNEY, FOR SAID PURPOSE AND FOR
COMPLIANCE WITH THE GRANT AGREEMENT; ADDITIONALLY
AUTHORIZING CERTAIN NECESSARY ACTIONS OF THE CITY
MANAGER AND DESIGNATED CITY OFFICIALS IN ORDER TO
UPDATE THE RELEVANT CAPITAL PROJECTS, FINANCIAL
CONTROLS, ACCOUNTING ENTRIES, AND COMPUTER
SYSTEMS IN CONNECTION WITH THIS GRANT IN PROGRESS
AND PROVIDING FOR INCORPORATION OF THIS GRANT FOR
THE PROJECT INTO THE CITY'S MULTI -YEAR CAPITAL PLAN,
AS AMENDED; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-19-0413
MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Joe Carollo, Commissioner
SECONDER: Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
AYES: Russell, Gort, Carollo. Reyes. Hardemon
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item RE.3, please see Item RE.].
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City Commission Meeting Minutes October 24, 2019
RE.4
RESOLUTION
6412
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
Office of Capital
ATTACHMENT(S), AUTHORIZING AN INCREASE TO THE
Improvements
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH WSP USA, INC.
("WSP") FOR THE PROVISION OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
SERVICES FOR MISCELLANEOUS PROJECTS — IINTERSTATE-
395 OPEN SPACE AND MOBILITY — PROJECT NO. 40-Bl93621
("PROJECT"), FOR ADDITIONAL WORK IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO
EXCEED $250,000.00, THEREBY INCREASING THE TOTAL
COMPENSATION LIMIT FROM $1,000,000.00 TO AN AMOUNT
NOT TO EXCEED $1,250,000.00; ALLOCATING FUNDS FROM
THE OFFICE OF CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS ("OCI") PROJECT
NO. 40-13193621, SUBJECT TO BUDGETARY APPROVAL AT THE
TIME OF NEED; AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO
EXECUTE AN AMENDMENT TO THE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
AGREEMENT WITH WSP, IN SUBSTANTIALLY THE ATTACHED
FORM; FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO
NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE ALL OTHER DOCUMENTS,
INCLUDING ANY AMENDMENTS AND EXTENSIONS, SUBJECT
TO ALLOCATIONS, APPROPRIATIONS, AND BUDGETARY
APPROVAL HAVING BEEN PREVIOUSLY MADE, AND IN
COMPLIANCE WITH APPLICABLE PROVISIONS OF THE CODE
OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED, ("CITY CODE"),
INCLUDING THE CITY OF MIAMI'S PROCUREMENT ORDINANCE,
ANTI -DEFICIENCY ACT, AND FINANCIAL INTEGRITY
PRINCIPLES, ALL AS SET FORTH IN CHAPTER 18 OF THE CITY
CODE, IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY ATTORNEY, AND
IN COMPLIANCE WITH APPLICABLE REGULATIONS, AS MAY BE
NECESSARY FOR SAID PURPOSE.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-19-0414
MOTION TO: Adopt with Modification(s)
RESULT: ADOPTED WITH MODIFICATION(S)
MOVER: Joe Carollo, Commissioner
SECONDER: Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
AYES: Russell. Gort. Carollo. Reyes. Hardemon
Note for the Record: For urinates referencing Item REM please see Item RE.].
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RE.5
RESOLUTION
6354
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION,
Department of Real
AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A FIFTH
Estate and Asset
AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDED AND RESTATED LEASE
Management
AGREEMENT (RETAIL PARCEL) ("LEASE") BETWEEN THE CITY
OF MIAMI ("CITY") AND BAYSIDE MARKETPLACE, LLC, A
DELAWARE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY, SUCCESSOR BY
MERGER TO BAYSIDE CENTER LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
("DEVELOPER"), IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY
ATTORNEY, FOR THE CITY -OWNED PROPERTY LOCATED AT
401 BISCAYNE BOULEVARD, MIAMI, FLORIDA, TO MODIFY
CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF THE LEASE, AS STATED HEREIN, TO
INCLUDE AMENDING THE HEIGHT LIMITATION FOR A
TEMPORARY FERRIS WHEEL ("FERRIS WHEEL") TO ONE
HUNDRED NINETY (190) FEET ABOVE GRADE, SUBJECT TO
ALL APPLICABLE LAWS, RULES, AND REGULATIONS, OF THE
CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED, WITH ADDITIONAL
TERMS AND CONDITIONS AS MORE PARTICULARLY SET
FORTH IN THE FIFTH AMENDMENT TO THE LEASE, WHICH
INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO: A) THE EXPRESS
RESERVATION OF ALL AIR RIGHTS TO THE CITY; B) THE
INCREASE IN HEIGHT FOR THE FERRIS WHEEL ONLY; C) THE
LOCATION OF THE FERRIS WHEEL AS DEPICTED ON THE
EXHIBIT TO THE FIFTH AMENDMENT; D) THE PAYMENT BY
DEVELOPER TO THE CITY OF THE SPECIFIED PERCENTAGE
OF GROSS RECEIPTS FROM THE FERRIS WHEEL; AND E) THAT
ALL OTHER HEIGHT LIMITATIONS REMAIN IN EFFECT.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-19-0428
MOTION TO:
Adopt with Modification(s)
RESULT:
ADOPTED WITH MODIFICATION(S)
MOVER:
Wifredo (Willy) Gort, Commissioner
SECONDER:
Ken Russell, Commissioner
AYES:
Russell, Gort, Hardemon
NAYS:
Carollo
ABSENT: Reyes
Note for the Record: For additional minutes referencing Item RE.5, please see
"Order of the Day" and Item RE.].
Chair Russell: [Fe will now leave the last item, which is the Special _l-Inster
Program, in the morning's agenda. TT"e71 move to the PZ (Planning and Zoning)
agenda. TTe have a time certain item for the Ferris wheel. Is there --?
Fictoria_11endez (City Attorney): Chairman, on the --
Chair Russell: Fes.
11s. Mendez: -- on that, I just wanted to -- since its a time certain and some
questions have come up with regard to the TT crterfront Advisory Board, and whether
or not this item went to the T ateif ront Advisory Board. fT hen I say, ,this item, " both
items; the lease amendment and the exception. Both items were presented to the
f-aterfrontAdvisory Board; however, there was no quorum, so no action was taken.
And the City Code, unfortunately, in 29-122, says that, "The board shall have the
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City Commission Meeting Minutes October 24, 2019
responsibility to review and evaluate issues related to the use and development of
City -owned waterfront property, and shall provide advice to the City Commission
concerning those issues, and only such other matters as referred to it by the City
Commission in regard to City and public land abutting the water. "
Chair Russell: Thank you, Madam City Attorney. Do you have the minutes from
that meeting?
Ms. Mendez: The minutes, I don't have them with me, but I have them and I can find
them.
Chair Russell: What I'd like to know is, you know, when the last time the Waterfront
Advisory Board had its quorum. We've had this problem for years, and I remember
this was brought up by one of their members three years ago, when we had a chance
to change the rule on quorum, because they simply weren't making quorum. When's
the last time they met, and what waterfront items have we approved without their
consent, because --?
Ms. Mendez: So they haven't met approximately seven months; however, just
because we have -- "we, " meaning the Commission -- has potentially approved
something that went to Waterfront Advisory Board, without a quorum, I can't -- now
that this is brought to -- been brought to my attention, I can't necessarily recommend
for you to do the same thing now. So I'm bringing that --
Chair Russell: No. I'd rather bring all those items back, because if their -- if our
votes on those items are invalidated, because the Waterfront Advisory Board that
never had a quorum that doesn't meet -- met, listened to it, talked about it, but didn't
take a vote, if that is a prerequisite for us dealing with these items, anything we've
dealt with up to now should be undone.
Ms. Mendez: We can look into that; however, a lot of that has to do with other
issues as to whether some -- whether there's a statute of limitations on that; whether
that has passed. So we can address those issues, definitely. I'm just, unfortunately,
telling you about this item, because it's been brought up to me, and if it's brought up
-- and I cannot in good conscience, obviously, tell you, "Go forward with this, and
we won't have an issue. " So I just have to bring it up.
Chair Russell: Well, we do have a lawyer on this dais, so I could use some -- a little
advice from my coun -- my second counsel. I have first counsel up there and I have
second counsel down here.
Commissioner Hardemon: I don't get paid enough for that.
Chair Russell: Okay. But the wording of the Code with regard to the mandatory
presentation before the Waterfront Advisory Board, does it require a vote of the
board, or for them to simply weigh in? Because what I'd like to know is if this went
before that board, they opened their meeting without a quorum, they couldn't take a
vote, but they weighed in on it and gave their advice, have we met the legal
requirement? Because, honestly, if that board's not meeting, we cannot stop the
entire business of the Cityfor them not having a quorum.
Commissioner Hardemon: I'm of the opinion that anything that we have below us --
I won't say "anything, " but most boards that are below us -- right? -- they cannot
hijack any of our decisions.
Chair Russell: We could override it.
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Commissioner Hardemon: Absolutely -
Vice Chair Gort: Well, let me -- yeah.
Commissioner Hardemon: When you --for instance, I'm looking at the scope that
you gave me. "The board shall have the responsibility to evaluate issues related to
use and development of City -owned waterfront property, and shall provide advice to
the City Commission concerning those issues, and only such other matters as
referred by the City Commission in regard to City or public land abutting water. "
And it -- but the next paragraph, then the next sentence says: "The City shall not be
bound by any recommendation or advice received from the board. " So if I'm not
bound by the advice, if I'm not bound by whatever movement or action they have, I
would think that you can move on, even without them, if there's --
Chair Russell: Should we propose a waiver of it?
Ms. Mendez: Right. So --
Commissioner Hardemon: Because, like -- for instance, like in -- the board it's
referring to here has a responsibility. They have a responsibility, but it's not
necessarily --
Ms. Mendez: Right. If they --
Commissioner Hardemon: -- our responsibility, because --
Ms. Mendez: -- if the board gives you a negative recommendation, you're not bound
to it.
Commissioner Hardemon: Right.
Chair Russell: And that's why I'd like to hear the minutes (UNINTELLIGIBLE) --
Commissioner Hardemon: But we're not bound by any recommendation, negative or
positive --
Chair Russell: Right.
Commissioner Hardemon: -- or advice.
t ice Chair Gort: They're just advisory board.
Commissioner Hardemon: Or advice.
Commissioner Reyes: Madam -- excuse me, Mr. Chair.
Chair Russell: Yes, Commissioner Reyes.
Commissioner Reyes: Madam City Attorney, what do you recommend? I always
follow your recommendation. You think that we should -- no, because I don't want --
I know that some recommendations, they were not followed, and it cost millions of
dollars, I mean.
Ms. Mendez: Based -- so, Commissioner --
Commissioner Reyes: Based -- I just wanted your honest opinion.
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Ms. Mendez: Right.
Commissioner Reyes: Shall we defer this, or shall we go ahead and vote on it? I
mean, because I will not vote against your professional --
Commissioner Hardemon: And before you're going to get into it, in the next
paragraph, Part "B" says: "The Miami Waterfront Advisory Board shall be
informed of all issues concerning the major development and/or disposition of City -
owned waterfront property for its input and advice in the conceptual planning stage
for such development and/or disposition (UNINTELLIGIBLE). " That's our
responsibility. We must -- we shall inform them. Then it says -- and then they tell
you how it's defined. But then it says: "It shall not encompass minor changes,
renovations and/or alterations to the existing City -owned waterfront property.
Nothing herein is intended to interfere or conflict with any existing provisions in the
City of Miami Charter and Code setting forth procedures concerning the
development and/or disposition of City -owned waterfront property. " It's almost as if
like we have a responsibility to tell them, and they have a responsibility to review it.
But if they don't review it because of lack of quorum, that's not our fault. Our fault --
our responsibility is to inform them.
Ms. Mendez: Right. So in the past -- because you brought up two separate points,
and I just want to clarify those for the record. You are correct that no board should
be able to hijack an item that is going to be set before the Commission; that is, it's
one thing to actually be able to review something and then decide not to give a
recommendation, and this Commission can take it as a negative vote. That is
different -- based on a hijacked item, or something that is reset over and over again
for six months, and, you know, effectively, that is a negative vote. They obviously do
not want that item to come before you. They want to negatively impact that item.
That is a totally different situation than not having quorum. Arguably, when you
don't have quorum on a board, then it is -- it -- more members should be appointed
to that board, or something -- With that said, I --
Commissioner Hardemon: Before you give your opinion --
Ms. Mendez: The question came out that --
Commissioner Hardemon: Right before, right before --
Chair Russell: That'd be good advice then.
Commissioner Hardemon: -- because, look, 'A" and "B"; 'A" and "B." 'A" is a
responsibility of the Waterfront Advisory Board, and it's a responsibility that the
Waterfront Advisory Board has, right? "B" is a completely different responsibility.
It's a responsibility put to the government -- to us -- to put things before that board.
Ms. Mendez: Right --
Commissioner Hardemon: So we don't -- we're not --
Ms. Mendez: -- because there's two things.
Commissioner Hardemon: -- right.
Ms. Mendez: You can send it back. So from --for right now, you can send it to the
newly -- the reason why the Waterfront Advisory Board was --
Chair Russell: Dissolved.
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Ms. Mendez: -- dissolved a couple weeks ago was for the same reason; they were
not having quorum. This Commission, along with the help of the Clerk, decided to
review those boards that were not being effective, and basically abolish them, or
consolidate them with other boards. There is presently as of a few weeks ago -- or a
week ago -- there is a new board that has the ability to do the same thing as the
WaterfrontAdvisory Board. It's the --
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): Climate Resilience.
Ms. Mendez: -- like CRC (Climate Resilience Committee), the old sea level rise, the
-- I'm sorry?
Mr. Hannon: Climate Resilience Committee.
Ms. Mendez: Right. So that board exists. To the extent that this has come up and it
was -- this issue has come up -- I want to make sure that if this board is going to
make a determination that they go forward with it, I cannot tell you that it's
complying with this section of the Code. So that is why I have to bring it up.
I ice Chair Gort: (UNINTELLIGIBLE.)
Ms. Mendez: It was -- you know -- the questions were asked of me, and I just had to
bring that up, because the last thing I want is for later somebody to say --
Chair Russell: Thank you, Madam City Attorney.
Ms. Mendez: -- "Madam City Attorney, you didn't" --
Chair Russell: No, I understand. But Counsel Hardemon brings up an interesting
point that the "shall go to their board" portion does not specifically say, "It cannot
be taken up by the City Commission prior to it going to them. " That is their
responsibility; it shall go to them, and it has. Now, if they're not able to meet
quorum -- and it should be noted that the board has been dissolved for lack of
meeting quorum, lack of dealing with issues, and now we have a new board. I would
believe -- and you can correct me if I'm wrong -- we can waive that requirement as a
Commission.
Vice Chair Gort: I think we can.
Ms. Mendez: It's not in the Code; that's the point. It's not in the Code, so that is the
only reason why I'm bringing it up that --
lice Chair Gort: Good.
Ms. Mendez: -- and it says: "It shall have the responsibility to review, and shall
provide advice to the Commission on public land" --
Chair Russell: Right.
Ms. Mendez: -- "on waterfront property. "
Chair Russell: Now --
Ms. Mendez: I'm just bringing it out --
Chair Russell: Understood -- no, no, please. If their minutes show that they gave
advice and feedback on the development -- which I would actually Love to hear,
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because that's what their job is --for me, that is sufficient. It has gone to the board;
that they presented to the board; the board gave advice; they didn't take a vote. It
doesn't say, "They must take a vote, " and now, we can consider it. I just don't see
why -- I mean, this --
Vice Chair Gort: Okay, let's go.
Chair Russell: -- has been a very long time coming.
Ms. Mendez: Just advising you what the Code says.
Chair Russell: Understood. So --
Ms. Mendez: It's pretty clear.
Lice Chair Gort: I think --
Chair Russell: -- where does the body stand? I'm sorry, T ice Chairman. You had
wanted to say something.
Lice Chair Gort: No, that's fine.
Chair Russell: All right. I'm comfortable hearing the item; at least on this --for that
Vice Chair Gort: I don't have any problem.
Chair Russell: --potential reason.
Commissioner Hardemon: Is this for Bayside Marketplace?
Tice Chair Gort: Yes.
Commissioner Hardemon: Oh. I don't want to --
Ms. Mendez: It's for the -- it's the Ferris wheel item that's on now; that's why I
brought it up before.
Commissioner Hardemon: Oh, it's a different story now. I thought this was like
something -- like less important.
Chair Russell: Oh, you were just talking from an academic perspective.
Lice Chair Gort: Right.
Chair Russell: This is the Ferris wheel (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Commissioner Hardemon: Any time Mr. Pathman is involved, things happen to get
very complicated.
Wayne Pathman: You have no idea.
Chair Russell: This is a threshold item for us, though. If she --
Commissioner Hardemon: No, I'm comfortable hearing it only because it was -- I
think our responsibility is to refer it to the lower board. I think we've fulfilled that
responsibility. And then the lower board has the responsibility -- where it says that
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they shall hear it -- right? -- or give some sort of advice or recommendation; and
that, they did not do. The question now becomes, "Is that critical; the fact that they
did not give advice; the fact that they did not make comment to us, who are not
required to abide by it, who are not required to honor it?" You know, it's just -- it's
an advisory committee. And so, you know, I would think in the end -- and I could be
wrong -- that an advisory committee that was not able to meet that did not give
recommendation, where the matter did come before them or was placed before them
and not heard, I don't think it -- I wouldn't think it would be critical of the item. I
think you could move -- I would think you could move forward, but that's just me
talking, right?
Chair Russell: Is there a motion on the item?
Commissioner Hardemon: You have case law; any case law with it?
Ms. Mendez: I'm just reading the Code section. It says, "shall" and "shall," you
know. I'm just advising you. I don't want us to move forward if something
(UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Commissioner Hardemon: What was your position, Mr. Pathman?
Chair Russell: Oh, we can only guess.
Commissioner Hardemon: Mr. Pathman, what was your position?
Mr. Pathman: Well, first of all, Wayne Pathman from Pathman Lewis, on behalf of
Bayside and Sky Views of America. My position is that we have met the essence of
what the Code is supposed to require us to do. We presented. DREAM (Department
of Real Estate and Asset Management), your organization, Mark Burns and Daniel
Rotenberg presented before the board. This board has only had one quorum, I
believe, in 16 or 17 months, so it's almost an impossibility of performance. You do
have an obligation to fill seats on this board, and you've now chosen to dissolve the
board and merge it with another board, which, hopefully, will correct the problem
going forward. But the wheels of progress should not stand still because a board
can't have a quorum. We did meet. We made a great presentation. The comments
that were received are all positive from those that -- members that were there. And I
think that this Commission should move forward. And however the City Attorney
may wish to look at this, but I think she's already admitted that you have precedent.
You've moved forward on a number of other items that have come --
Ms. Mendez: That means nothing.
Mr. Pathman: (UNINTELLIGIBLE.) All right.
Ms. Mendez: I haven't admitted to anything. I would have to review what has or has
not been --
Mr. Pathman: I understand that --
Ms. Mendez: Thank you.
Mr. Pathman: -- Madam City Attorney. But this Commission has taken up items
that either had a responsibility to go to the advisory board, and it didn't have a
quorum to vote; or they just didn't go to the board at all, and they came to the
Commission.
Ms. Mendez: I would have to research that, Mr. Pathman.
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Vice Chair Gort: Wait a minute. We understand. We got it.
Ms. Mendez: I'll take your word for it.
Commissioner Hardemon: You know, not at all. I'm comfortable with voting now.
Lice Chair Gort: Let's go.
Chair Russell: All right. Do we need a presentation, or is there a motion?
Lice Chair Gort: No; let's make a presentation. My understanding, we're talking
about the benefits to the City ofMiami at that time.
Chair Russell: So if we could just bring us back up to speed where we left off last
time, Mr. Pathman, there were some discussions about the financial remuneration to
the City. Have we come to any sort of consensus on that?
Mr. Pathman: I believe we have. Let me just take you through a couple of quick
points. We're seeking an exception and a waiver for the height. You already have a
Code amendment that's been approved by this Commission to allow the use for a
Ferris wheel; in this case, observation wheel. In addition to that, we are seeking a
lease amendment. Our current lease only allows 50 feet in height; however, once --
when that lease was created almost 35 years ago, the zoning in the area has
changed; it's now T6-8, which does permit a 12-story building. So depending upon
how you look at it, yes, we do need a lease amendment for the height, but we're only
seeking approximately 48 feet different than what the Code allows, but an additional
126 feet and 126 and a half feet from what the lease allows, so I just wanted to
clarify that. The deal that we have put on the table and that we tried to discuss three
weeks ago is that the City already receives a 6 percent of gross of what Bayside --
not Sky [iew, but Bayside --for the entire project, for the entire Bayside Project,
which would include the wheel. In addition to that, we are now proposing to give the
City 10 percent of gross of all ticket sales; not just from the Bayside side, but the
combined two partners, Bayside and Sky [iews ofAmerica.
Vice Chair Gort: Okay.
Chair Russell: Commissioner Gort.
lice Chair Gort: Well, I'll move it. We've been working on this for awhile now.
Chair Russell: All right.
[ice Chair Gort: My understanding, most of the residents right across the street
were in favor of it. And you need to make some changes. I mean, Bayside was made
about 20 -- almost 30 years ago. You have to renovate and you have to do
improvements to keep it moving.
Chair Russell: And this is --
Commissioner Hardemon: And the parking's so expensive. Do you park there? You
ever parked in Bayside? $7 for the first hour.
Chair Russell: This is PZ.13. Is there --?
Unidentified Speaker: And RE.5.
Commissioner Hardemon: It's RE.5, right?
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Chair Russell: And RE.5. Thank you very much.
Ms. Mendez: RE.5. Did Mr. Pathman, though, put on the record what the revenue -
sharing would be? Because I don't know if any of that --
Chair Russell: We're going to get into that right now.
Ms. Mendez: Okay, because I --
Commissioner Reyes: Madam City --
Ms. Mendez: -- there's no paperwork as to that right now.
Commissioner Reyes: --Attorney.
Chair Russell: Just a moment, please; just want to clarify the motion would be for
both PZ.13 and RE.5 together.
Commissioner Carollo: Well, these are separate motions.
Vice Chair Gort: Yeah.
Chair Russell: Okay. So which one would you like to move, Commissioner -- lice
Chairman Gort?
Vice Chair Gort: We'll begin with RE.5
Chair Russell: So he'd like to move RE.5, the executing of the fifth amendment for
the Bayside Marketplace lease. So on that one, let's go ahead and talk turkey then.
Where are we on the finances?
Mr. Pathman: Oh, like I said, very simply, the City would receive 10 percent of all
ticket sales of the operation of the wheel.
Chair Russell: Gross?
Mr. Pathman: Gross. And, well, we have to work out terms of when it would be
paid; typical standard language that you would typically have; any default language
and enforcement language, and so on. But it's really very simple, straightforward
accounting. We would be accounting to you, as we do already, for the 6 percent of
Bayside. We would be doing the 10 percent of gross of the operation of the wheel,
and we have to just determine how that would be paid, whether it's monthly,
quarterly, or annually.
Commissioner Reyes: That --
Chair Russell: Commissioner Reyes.
Commissioner Reyes: --is 10 percent of gross plus 6 percent of everything that you
receive -- that Bayside receive, which is -- I mean, they're going to receive the
remaining 50 percent of 90, which is 45 percent of the ticket sales. Out of that 45
percent of the ticket sale, we're going to receive 6 percent.
Mr. Pathman: Yes. You're going to --you're still going to receive -- that is why the
6 percent --
Commissioner Reyes: Going to be around, ifI'm not --
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Mr. Pathman: (UNINTELLIGIBLE.)
Commissioner Reyes: --we're going to be receiving around 20 -- 26 percent of what
Bayside receives. But I'm still hung up on what the City Attorney says, and I don't
see -- me personally, I don't see -- I mean, I don't like to go against the City Attorney.
I don't see why we have to move this so fast. I mean, I know that this is --
Commissioner Gort, this is your issue.
Vice Chair Gort: Yes, sir.
Commissioner Reyes: And you are the --
Lice Chair Gort: It's been here -- it's been in front of us quite a few times, and one
of the requests that the -- they wanted to expedite it, because they want to utilize
some of those facilities during the Super Bowl games that going to be taking place
next year, and that's one of the reasons. At the same time, we have the neighbors,
and you all know -- and you all are very familiar with the neighbors right there, right
across from Bayside, how they can come -- if they're against something, how they
show up in here. Today, my understanding is conversation with different people, the
neighbors are in favor of it, and they would like to see it. My understanding,
DREAM has been working with the applicant. They wanted to make sure that we get
the ride straight. The only thing I would like to add is maybe a covenant that the -- a
building will not ever be built there.
Commissioner Reyes: But this will require two readings?
Mr. Pathman: No.
Commissioner Reyes: Only one reading.
Ms. Mendez: No. It's simply a resolution.
Chair Russell: So I think we're clear on the point --
lice Chair Gort: 5 is a resolution; the other one is two reading.
Chair Russell: Yeah. All right. Seconded by the Chair. So this is RE.5.
Ms. Mendez: Is there also going to be ticket surcharge revenues?
Chair Russell: No. It's a gross --
Mr. Pathman: No. Its included.
Chair Russell: -- of all ticket sales.
Ms. Mendez: Okay. There is a ticket surcharge provision in the City Code.
Bice Chair Gort: Well, that's fine.
Ms. Mendez: All tickets that are sold out at a event/venue have a ticket surcharge.
So they need to understand that in addition to their -- all this that's being negotiated
now that it's the 10 percent of gross, 6 percent of the ticket sales, plus the ticket
surcharge.
Chair Russell: Whatever the Code requires.
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Ms. Mendez: Well, whatever the Code requires. I just need to make sure that they
understand that, because then --
Commissioner Carollo: What is the --?
Commissioner Hardemon: It's a lower amount per ticket, because it's a scale, too.
On that ticket surcharge --
Ms. Mendez: Right.
Commissioner Hardemon: -- it's a scale.
Ms. Mendez: Right.
Commissioner Carollo: What is the scale?
Commissioner Hardemon: What is the scale?
Chair Russell: It's a little complicated; there's like seven different levels of
surcharges.
Vice Chair Gort: According to the --
Ms. Mendez: Right. I wanted -- I don't know what the ticket amount is, so I can't
really tell you what it is, what the --
Tice Chair Gort: Yeah. Okay.
Chair Russell: I thought the ticket surcharge was for events, for a ticket to an event;
not for a ride on an amusement. Does it apply then?
Commissioner Reyes: This --
Ms. Mendez: It applies.
Chair Russell: It does.
Commissioner Reyes: Excuse me. This is not a surcharge. If we said we're going to
have a surcharge, a surcharge must have a set value.
Ms. Mendez: Yes.
Commissioner Reyes: This is not a surcharge. This doesn't have any set --
Chair Russell: But she's saying it's an addition. It is a surcharge in addition --
Commissioner Reyes: In addition to it, what is this? If they're selling the tickets at
$10, we get $1.
Chair Russell: Right.
Commissioner Reyes: If they sell it at $12, we get 1.20.
Commissioner Hardemon: Right.
Commissioner Reyes: And it is no scale, and there is no -- it shouldn't be, because
I'd be totally --
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Chair Russell: Commissioner, she's saying -- agreed to all that, but in addition to
that, there's a provision in the Code that requires an additional surcharge on any
ticket sold.
Commissioner Reyes: Oh. Well, an additional 10percent?
Chair Russell: Yes.
Commissioner Reyes: Ilike that.
Mr. Pathman: Commissioner Russell?
Chair Russell: Yes, Mr. Pathman.
Mr. Pathman: I think the easy --it doesn't affect the 10 percent. We're still offering
the 10 percent. If by Code there is a requirement for a surcharge, we will collect
that surcharge for the City. I'm not sure that that's the case; I'll need to review it
with the City Attorney. But if there is a requirement of the Code, we will honor that
in conversation (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Chair Russell: If it applies, it applies; if it doesn't, it doesn't.
Ms. Mendez: It applies.
Chair Russell: Are you saying --?
Ms. Mendez: It applies, so I just --
Chair Russell: And they just said they'll honor it. They said they'll honor it. So --
Ms. Mendez: That's not what he said, but --
Commissioner Hardemon: So we're not going with 40 percent?
Ms. Mendez: -- that's not what he said.
Commissioner Hardemon: We're not doing that anymore?
Chair Russell: Well, because in addition to all that, we still retain the 6 percent
flow -through, through the entire Bayside lease. So for me, this is a healthy
agreement with us to --you know.
Commissioner Carollo: How do you know?
Chair Russell: Because I don't want to (UNINTELLIGIBLE.)
t Ice Chair Gort: How do you know?
Commissioner Carollo: How do you know it's a healthy agreement? If you have --
like we did in Melreese -- a professional firm come in -- like we should in everything
we do from here on in this City -- analyze it; an independent firm to analyze what the
market value is for W " "Y, " 7, " that we do, you --
Chair Russell: All right. Let's do this right now. Mr. Pathman, how many tickets
can be sold in a given evening on the wheel if it were at full capacity?
Mr. Pathman: Let me ask my client. I'm not an expert on that. Let me ask my client.
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Chair Russell: We did this two weeks ago, and we asked these questions.
Mr. Pathman: We did provide information on what we thought the anticipated ticket
sales would be on a yearly basis. You're asking about an evening.
Chair Russell: Okay. If you've already done the calculation, what is the gross
revenue expected from ticket sales per year on the wheel?
Mr. Pathman: Let me introduce Joe Press from Bayside Ashkenazy.
Joe Press: Hi. Joe Press, with Ashkenazy Acquisition. We've projected 350, 000
people annually through the wheel at an average of $10 a ticket.
Chair Russell: Okay.
CommissionerHardemon: That's not enough. That's (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Mr. Press: Oh, I --
Chair Russell: That's an average capacity expectation.
Mr. Press: Right. And we truly hope that it's significantly more than that. Just from
the operators I've spoken to, they've always fallen short of expectation, so I'm trying
to control— hopefully, it's 4 or 500, 000 people, and, you know, maybe the price does
get a little bit more than that, so --
Chair Russell: So at 10 percent, that would yield the City --?
Mr. Press: So roughly 350, 000, plus whatever it does through the rest of Bayside, it
would be the 6 percent.
Chair Russell: If we have a ticket surcharge in addition; and so, that's for, you said,
350 rides per -- I mean --
Mr. Press: It's --
Chair Russell: -- how many total rides for the year?
Mr. Press: So it's 350, 000 people --
Chair Russell: So that's --
Mr. Press: -- at an average of $10 a ticket.
Chair Russell: So -- but 350,000 people -- Madam City Attorney, on a $10-a-ride
ticket, what is the surcharge that applies?
Ms. Mendez: 75 cents per ticket.
Chair Russell: So at 75 cents times 350, 000 -- can someone do some math?
Ms. Mendez: If it's $1 to $14.99, it is a 75-cent charge.
Chair Russell: Right. So what's 75 cents times 350, 000?
Ms. Mendez: I'm not a mathematician.
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Chair Russell: Commissioner Gort is taking care of it.
Commissioner Carollo: Well, let me --
Vice Chair Gort: 262 --
Chair Russell: 262, 500, in addition. So this is over half a million a year just on the
gross revenue plus the ticket surcharge, plus whatever the 6 percent flow -through
maybe. That at least gives us a rough feeling for what potential there is here.
Commissioner Carollo: No idea. Look, you guys could laugh, you could try to put a
cherry on top of the ice cream; whatever you want to do. But I'm hereto tell you the
truth, the reality. If for whatever reason you want to give them, anybody here
tonight or in the next meeting, or the future meetings sweetheart deals, that's fine.
You have that right to do it. I'm going to stick to why I came back to this
Commission, to truly do the very best that I can for the residents of Miami. Now,
let's begin how this started. Gentleman with the glasses and the beard was telling us
at the last time he was here this wasn't going to make any money for them; this was
just so they could bring extra people; no money for them. And from no money, now
we're going to 350, 000 people. We finally get a very low estimate that there's no
professionalism at all in how it was done from the City Administration that says that
the estimated revenue to the City ranges between 200 and 480, 000; that they'll make
between 2 million, 4,800, 000. That's not money. That's not that they're not going to
make any money. They're making money. But the bottom line here is that the
handful of places that were used by the Administration are not the ones that really
bring the figures we want to see. You could go to the internet right now --and this is
no trade secret, nothing else; just what you could find in the internet -- and you're
going to find that similar wheels in different places, some with the same
manufacturer that they have, have way different estimates than what we've gotten.
For instance, you go to T egas. Everybody knows T egas, right? I think everybody
would admit that Las T egas is a tourist town; just like, to a great extent, Miami is.
According to the Visitors and Conventions Bureau -- certainly, this is what Bayside
puts out -- there's some 23 million visitors that we get a year in that area there.
1 egas puts out that they get 39 million in T egas. So in this area of Miami, we get
some 23 million people that come a year; T'egas has 39 million. We have 60 percent
of the number of T egas. The wheel in Las T egas, if you go to the internet and, if my
memory is correct, supposedly makes about 60 million gross. 60 percent of that
would be $36 million; very clear, simple math. If you go to the internet and you go
to Steel Pier in New Jersey -- and this is in the internet -- wheels you could find
everywhere. What it tells you there in the estimates that different newspaper articles
have had therefor some time is that they were estimating no less at the time that they
were opening, 50, 000 riders, and I think, if I remember, one that said that it could --
they were hopeful that it could even go to a hundred thousand, but they were using
the 50,000 estimate. They were using $15 per person, and 12 for a child. So you
could figure out that the estimates, even at 50, 000 over there, in a place where they
can't operate year-round, because if it gets, as the articles say, cold to a certain
degree, they don't operate, and that brings a lot more. So gentlemen, look, how can
we truly make a decision what is the appropriate fair deal for the residents that we
represent or not if we have not had any kind of real market rate study by a
professional? And why should we leave any amount of dollars on the table? We talk
so much that we need -- and we do -- so much money for affordable housing, for
more City service, for the elderly, and here is a way out of so many that we have at
time, but this is one that's right here. Bayside, from what I've heard from them, has
not invested into this; it's been the people that brought the wheel. So they're in the
same situation that we are in. We haven't invested, either; they haven't. They're our
tenant. We own the land; the City of Miami. So how can anyone tell me that 10
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percent gross is a good deal or not when no one has really told me what is-- fair deal
for us to receive in this?
Commissioner Hardemon: Mr. Commissioner.
Chair Russell: Yes, Commissioner Hardemon.
Commissioner Hardemon: I -- so help me understand how it would become a good
deal, because if I were thinking about it as far as revenue projections are concerned,
I would think that the more money that they would make -- so say if they were
projecting, you know, $1 million a year, then say I million versus 5 million versus 10
million. I would think that a lower percentage point would be okay for a higher
yield. Say they were making $10 million, and we said -- if we had, you know, 5
percent of 10 million, we'd be doing good. If we had -- you know, I'm making up
numbers -- 4 percent of 7 million, we'd be doing good. If we had 2 percent of -- I'm
sorry -- going the other way. Basically, the higher revenue, then the lower the
percentage of revenue that we take in. And then the lower revenue -- say, for
instance, a million dollars --you have a 10 percent take, because you want to get --
you know, you want to earn a certain minimum dollar amount for the City. So I'm
trying to understand what makes it a better deal, because all of these are projections
Commissioner Carollo: Well, sure. If --
Commissioner Hardemon: -- because when -- like I lookup the Vegas --
Commissioner Carollo: And that, we agreed on; everything's projections,
everything. I mean, the economy could take a dive next year, and any projections in
anything across the country is upside-down, so these are all projections. But, see,
this is why you went into law and not into business --
Commissioner Hardemon: But at the end of the day --
Commissioner Carollo: -- with that kind of mentality. This is why these guys are in
business, because they have the shark mentality, because this is not projecting; oh,
we just want to get this out of it. This is about projecting. If they're going to be
making 'Y' amount, then we should have a percentage of that, because if -- let's say
that you've seen -- and I'm not saying that it's going to bring that -- the I'egas
comparison that I used; that it brings 60 percent of what I'egas does; it brings 36
million. And I don't know how they calculated all that necessarily, if it included just
a ride or anything else, but 10 percent of that is 3.6 million. But if you have a
quarter of all that, which is 50 percent of what Bayside would make, which is what I
originally threw out, now you could figure that out. It's going to be a heck of a lot
more.
Commissioner Hardemon: Right. So --
Commissioner Carollo: And you could really do a tremendous amount with it in the
City.
Commissioner Hardemon: -- it --
Commissioner Carollo: And this is something that -- look, we own those air rights.
We could give it or we don't have to give it. We're in the driver's seat in here, totally
in the driver's seat, and for the right reasons; for the people of the City; no other
reason than that.
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Commissioner Hardemon: Would it make more sense to have -- like, if they met a
certain projection, then we would get a higher percentage yield from that higher
projection? Like, you know how you have basically like at a -- if the revenue
projection was a million dollars or so for a certain amount of riders is this
percentage --
Commissioner Carollo: Well, look, I --
Commissioner Hardemon: --versus a million?
Commissioner Carollo: -- would even be willing to look at that; that you break it in
different scales, but, you know, scales are unreasonable. They're saying 350, 000
riders. Okay. We gain the 10 percent on that. But in the event that it goes to 350, to
500, 000, we get another higher percentage altogether. And then if it goes beyond a
half million, then we get even a higher percentage. You know, that's another way of
doing it, so if they fall --
Commissioner Hardemon: A progressive tax scale.
Commissioner Carollo: Well, it's not a progressive tax. This is not a tax.
Commissioner Hardemon: No, no, I'm saying --
Commissioner Carollo: This is what we approved to residents.
Commissioner Hardemon: No, no, no, not tax -- I'm talking about when you pay
your IRS (Internal Revenue Service) bill. The more money you make --
Commissioner Carollo: The bottom line is, what I don't understand, gentlemen, is if
we're in the driver's seat -- they're asking for something that they don't have a right
to receive. And as you heard here, Bayside has not invested in this ride anything.
They'll cry now and tell you they invested so much in the rest of Bayside and so on.
They were doing that anyway, and that was part of what they had promised before I
got back here; that when it went to another referendum for an extension on their
lease. Now, the bottom line is that they don't have a right to those air rights. We're
not being, I don't believe, harsh on asking for a fair piece of this. And what I'm
talking is Bayside's portion. I don't care what the wheel people make; that's their
business. I'm talking about the guy that -- the entity that we have the lease with.
These are the ones and the only ones that have the right to ask for an extension on
the lease; the ones that have the right to come here and ask us for us to give away
our air rights. And again, this started with the representative of Bayside saying this
wasn't bringing them any money, whatsoever, you know, nothing. It was just to
bring new customers in. And even with the projections, the very low projections, the
sobs with cherry on top projection that our Administration brought to us, you see
that his crying wasn't truthful. And when he says 350, 000 -- look, I've gone to the
internet. I've seen for quite some time what's in the internet about all these different
types of wheels, whatever they want to call it. And what it shows, either that some
brought in or the projections that some have brought in -- have put in the internet.
And you're taking that money from the residents of Miami that need it, so they could
put it in their pockets, and laugh to the bank when they deposit it, and that's the
problem that have with this whole thing.
b Ice Chair Gort: Okay.
Commissioner Carollo: You know what? No matter what threats are thrown at me,
no matter who wants to come at me, I'm going to represent the people that I should,
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and just come at me, because I know who's going to be left standing at the end, and I
know that I'm doing what's right. So --
Chair Russell: Thank you, Commissioner. And I respect the fight for yielding the
best for the City, and I understand what you're trying to do. For me personally, at a
dollar -- at 10 percent of $10 dollars, plus 75 cents surcharge, that's almost 20
percent of every ticket being sold. I'm fine with that. If they make a million -- I
mean, it's a flat rate. If they make a million, you know, we make our piece. If they
make 2 million, we make our piece. So I don't want to stifle their business. I do
want to see them successful. I do want to see Bayside earn more, so they can invest
more in that property. So I'm okay with the deal as it is. I am glad that you have
fought to get us to where we are, because we were just going to get the 6 percent
before you brought this up in the first place.
Commissioner Carollo: Well, what I do want -- well, thank you for at least giving
me credit for that, Mr. Chairman. I appreciate it, I truly do. But there's --just in a
couple other items -- about $300 million that each year grows in volume that since I
left the mayorship [sic] has been bringing to the City of Miami; that if I hadn't come
by here, this City would have missed out on some $300 million that grows every
year. And I don't know of anyone that could say they've done that for any
governmental agency down here. But Madam City Attorney, can you see if you
could find any of these fine chaps, all these colonels that worked intelligence or -- I
don't know what they did -- that can possibly find out for us the amount of surcharge
per ticket so that --? I mean, my God, we're voting for something, and we don't even
know what the surcharge is or not, on top of what is being discussed.
Chair Russell: Madam City Attorney.
Commissioner Carollo: I mean, it's something small that I'm asking for. So if they
could look for it, you know, just humor everybody here with the numbers, because, I
mean, we're talking about money that belongs to the residents ofMiami.
[ ice Chair Gort: I thought we had that.
Commissioner Carollo: This is not about liking someone --
[ice Chair Gort: (UNINTELLIGIBLE.)
Commissioner Carollo: -- being a good guy, "Gee, I'm grateful. You gave me
contributions to a campaign, " or anything other; or, "You paid for a New Year's Eve
party honoring me, " in a big yacht, the Pink Lady --
Chair Russell: Commissioner.
Commissioner Carollo: -- and stone crab were served, and big jumbo shrimp were
served, or anything else; not about any of that.
Commissioner Hardemon: Wait, wait, wait. You had that party? I wasn't invited?
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah.
[ice Chair Gort: We weren't invited.
Chair Russell: Commissioner, the Administration has (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Commissioner Carollo: I think if I had that party in my honor, you would have
heard about it.
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Chair Russell: The -- if the Administration would answer the Commissioner's
question, please. What is the surcharge?
Joseph Napoli (Deputy City Manager): 75 cents per ticket.
Chair Russell: Unequivocally. Okay. Thankyou.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah, but my question is, is this -- is it 75 straight, no matter
how much they charge, or is it a scale amount? I believe it's a scale amount
(UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Chair Russell: It's a scale amount.
Mr. Napoli: There is a scale amount, Commissioner.
I ice Chair Gort: It's a scale, I'm pretty sure.
Commissioner Carollo: Well, that's what I'm asking for; the scale amount.
Mr. Napoli: The scaled amount is from $1 to $14.99 is 75 cents per ticket.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay. It's for --
Mr. Napoli: So --
Commissioner Carollo: -- from $1 --
Mr. Napoli: -- to $14.99 is 75 cents per ticket.
Commissioner Carollo: 75 per ticket. Below that?
Mr. Napoli: There is nothing below that.
Commissioner Carollo: Excuse me --
Mr. Napoli: Above that --
Commissioner Carollo: -- above that.
Mr. Napoli: -- $15 to $29.99 is $1.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay, it's $1. So by them putting it at 14.99, they could
avoid being under the dollar, and we get 25 percent less in tickets. So that's
something that this Commission could always change on surcharges, and increase it
Lice Chair Gort: We could --
Commissioner Carollo: -- to a different amount.
b Ice Chair Gort: We can change all that in there.
Commissioner Carollo: That could be done, so that doesn't concern me as much, but
at least we've got it in the record what it could be. Now, this Commission could do
even more. Now, Madam City Attorney, if you could guide me in this, please. Does
this Commission have the right for something of this nature that they're talking
about, a new category, create different categories for surcharges? In other words,
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for this type of concert or this type of event, or this type of ride, do we have the right,
and will it hold in a court of law for us to give and place different surcharges for
different types of events in the City?
Ms. Mendez: I think the question you may be asking is: If we amend it after this,
will they be subject to it? Is that what -- more that you're asking --
Vice Chair Gort: Right.
Ms. Mendez: -- or just different types of events? In this particular case, as drafted,
they need to comply with our ticket surcharge.
Commissioner Carollo: I understand, but --
Chair Russell: So if you got --
Commissioner Carollo: -- what is now or in the future; that, I understood, I believe.
Ms. Mendez: Right. If it goes up, the way that the contract would be stated, in
addition to the different levels that we talked about, the 6 percent and the 10 percent,
it will also state the surcharge, as amended --
Commissioner Carollo: Now --
Ms. Mendez: -- that they need to comply with.
Commissioner Carollo: -- let me take it to the next step; that's the one that I'm really
trying to get to. Could you defend in court that we take certain types of concerts,
certain type of activities, certain type of rides, and provide different surcharges for
each one?
Ms. Mendez: We'd honestly have to do the research for that. I'm sure it has to do
with impact, and maybe there could be a natural nexus to that, but that's not how it's
drafted right now.
Commissioner Carollo: I understand that. But --
Ms. Mendez: We'd have to look at that.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay. Then let me rephrase this. Within the contract that
we have before us, if we draft a separate ordinance in the future that for 'Y' or this
type of contract, we will charge a surcharge of 'X" amount of cents or dollars?
Could we do it based on this contract?
Ms. Mendez: Well, since this contract is very bare bones at this time, we would have
to draft that provision into it that it would be the ticket sur -- that they would comply
with the ticket surcharge, as amended. They would have to agree to that --
Commissioner Carollo: Well --
Bice Chair Gort: That's the motion.
Ms. Mendez: -- if -- it's totally different. It's one thing to raise the fees, general, but
if we established a whole different category, again, I'd have to research that fully. It
would have to do with the nexus of the impact of the event, and all those issues, but --
Commissioner Carollo: Next question: Could this deal be approved for one year?
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Ms. Mendez: I mean, it could be approved for the length of time that you want,
obviously.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay. So, gentlemen, if the City Attorney is saying that we
could approve it for any length of time -- Mr. Administrator, I'd prefer, if you want
anything to say, if you say it publicly so that we all know what is being said.
Daniel Rotenberg (Director): Daniel Rotenberg, Department of Real Estate and
Asset Management. I was actually asking the City Attorney if what you consider as a
natural progression, if we can split off food and beverage, alcohol, because I think
that's what you're really asking for; different surcharges for different items.
Commissioner Carollo: Well, no, I'm not saying that. Look --
b ice Chair Gort: Let's go (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Commissioner Carollo: --I do believe --
Mr. Rotenberg: That's just what I said, though.
Commissioner Carollo: -- they have an argument to make that even though this will
bring more revenue, because of food, beverage, and whatever -- I've read in some
different websites, even pictures they take -- you know, I don't know in today's world
why you need to pay for a picture if everybody takes selfie, you know. Maybe that's -
- be a great job for the Colonel. But the -- so having said that, that will bring them a
lot more money. But I'm not counting that, and I'm going to tell you why, because I
do believe that they have an argument that that would be part of the ground lease in
Bayside. So I do believe that on that amount, they do have an argument to make that
that should only be on the 6 percent of the ground lease, because let's say that they
weren't going to do this here; they were just going to put a tiki but and a bar or
whatever, sell Cuban sandwiches, sell margaritas or mojitos. They pay 6 percent.
So this is why I'm not touching that. I'm only talking strictly on the ticket amount on
the ride. But since you brought this up, this is another example that they're going to
make even more that we're going to make very little on, on that, yeah, because --
Mr. Rotenberg: Through the Chair, may I make a suggestion?
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah.
Mr. Rotenberg: What's -- move the million, but let's revisit the surcharges in
another year, because what you're saying is correct, and they are going to go ahead
and make more money. We're getting the 6 percent; we're going to be getting the 10
percent off the top. That actually works out to about 20 percent after you take off
expenses.
['ice Chair Gort: Who is that; Manolo?
Commissioner Carollo: We lost quorum. Why don't we break for maybe five
minutes? You're the Tice Chair. You're the --
F ice Chair Gort: Let's break 10 minutes.
Mr. Hannon: So the Commission stands in recess for 10 minutes.
Later...
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Chair Russell: All right. So I believe we have an offer on the table that is of gross,
not net. We've established the surcharge. We've established a percentage of gross
ticket sales, and we've established the original 6 percent, which flows through.
Unidentified Speaker: Correct.
Chair Russell: There is a motion; there is a second. This would be a floor
amendment to memorialize these proffers; is that correct, Madam City Attorney?
Ms. Mendez: Yes. We --
Chair Russell: All right. So does --
Ms. Mendez: -- have to write all that out.
Chair Russell: -- the mover accept those amendments?
Commissioner Carollo: Yes.
Chair Russell: Yes. So does the seconder. Is there any --? We need to open this for
public comment at this point.
Mr. Hannon: No. It's Item RE 5.
Vice Chair Gort: So we have --
Mr. Hannon: When we get to PZ.13, there will need to be public comment.
Chair Russell: Fair enough. We did open public comment already for the morning's
items, except -- I did say at that time --for any of the time certain, I believe. Did I?
Mr. Hannon: If anybody wants to speak at this time, that's -- but you did open it up
to the public --
Chair Russell: Right.
Mr. Hannon: -- if they were here at that time.
Chair Russell: I'll --just in fairness, if there's anyone here to speak on the Ferris
wheel item, I'll open public comment. Is there anyone here who'd like to make a
public comment? Seeing none, I'll close public comment. Any further discussion
from the dais?
Commissioner Carollo: Yes.
Chair Russell: Commissioner Carollo.
Commissioner Carollo: Madam City Attorney, on the contract, proposed contract
that you have, is this going to come back to this Commission, or are you going to
finalize it based on the vote here? How will this proceed from here on?
Ms. Mendez: Right. So basically, we would make the amendments as described, and
we're also going to make sure that it's specific to the Ferris wheel; nothing else. So
that needs to be amended, plus the amendments and the proffers on the contract
numbers that you've discussed, plus adding the ticket surcharge. All that would be
placed into the contract, and then all of our standard clauses --
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Commissioner Carollo: Okay.
Ms. Mendez: -- with regard to that. Now, you had talked about a timeframe. I don't
think that's been discussed further, but -- so I'm just reminding you, you had
mentioned a timeframe.
Commissioner Carollo: Well, that's where we left it at before Commissioner Reyes
fell. And Hardemon, I don't believe what Crespo just put, that -- well, let me leave it
at that. I don't want to --
Commissioner Hardemon: For the record, it was a funny; it was sarcasm. You
didn't do that.
Commissioner Carollo: Well, I know it. I know it. I know it.
Commissioner Hardemon: The minutes don't really capture that.
Commissioner Carollo: I know it. I'm teasing you. But I think this Commission
needs to start more acting like a business board of directors when we're doing
business. If you swallow all the crying, if that's what it is and not that much money
they're going to make in the foot traffic and everything, and we're going to ignore
what all these wheels show on the internet as to gross or the amount of people they
get, what they charge, et cetera, and that's on the public domain, then we should go
forward and approve it for a one-year timeframe only. Give them a license if that's
the way that we could do it, and the City Attorney will guide us, for one year. And
then we could revisit what they really made if you're voting based on that, after one
year, and this could be looked at again.
Chair Russell: Commissioner Hardemon.
Commissioner Hardemon: The -- and the only reason that probably would not work
is because of financing. If they need to build it, they can't justify taking a loan out --
Commissioner Carollo: Listen. This -- somehow, the City has given them permits.
They've been building this. I had a meeting of the Bayfront Park Trust a couple of
days ago. They were building away there. So that's not the issue. If you ride
everywhere, they're building this wheel already, and ready to go, you know. So it's
not a financing issue from what I've seen, whatsoever. This -- and really, this item is
about air rights, and only air rights, and what do we want to sell to Bayside -- not to
the wheel operators -- our air rights for --
Chair Russell: We don't.
Commissioner Carollo: -- so they could use that? What I'm saying is look at that
possibility and move forward on what you have brought before here for one year
only, and we're revisiting the financial amounts afterwards. I really do think it's
wrong on Bayside's part to have shifted monies to the wheel operators that put up all
the money into this so they could make more. And --
Chair Russell: [ice Chairman -- I'm sorry. You weren't finished.
b Ice Chair Gort: Finish.
Commissioner Carollo: Go ahead.
tice Chair Gort: Finished? The reason I don't have a problem with this, first of all,
the investment is going to be quite a few million dollars investment. As a member of
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the finance, any time you get into an investment, you're going to have certain -- time
certain that you need to be able to recuperate your investment. But at the same time,
I don't have a problem with this, because I hope they sell $50 million, because
whatever -- if the bottom comes up, it just have to -- the benefit goes up to the City of
Miami, also. I think we worked out a good deal, and you helped a lot to work out a
very good deal, which I think we have at this moment, so I'm ready to vote on it right
now.
Commissioner Carollo: Guys, I do believe in that. And again, I thank you forgiving
me all the credit, but I don't feel I've gotten across that if we charge for our air
rights, what they're truly worth for this, the more it goes up, we're going to make a
lot more than the 10 percent right now, and we're in the driver's seat.
t ice Chair Gort: Right.
Commissioner Carollo: So understand that, because I'm not hearing too much
business -like opinions out of this dais today, and I hope going into the future that
changes, because I've seen better, savvier businesspeople crash with making even
better decisions than these in business, and I'm not seeing that these are savvy
business decisions that we're making today. And you mentioned about that
investment. Yeah, the wheel people invest, but Bayside, our leaseholder, they haven't
invested anything here.
Chair Russell: Correct.
Commissioner Carollo: That's the difference, and that's the point that I've been
making all along.
Chair Russell: All right.
Fice Chair Gort: Okeydoke.
Commissioner Carollo: But after this is done, I fully intend to come back to this
board for an ordinance change, and if need be, I'll put it as a Charter change.
Chair Russell: On the ticket surcharge?
Commissioner Carollo: No; that from here on, all these business deals like this, they
have to be done by getting outside expert firms that can tell us what they're really
worth. This Commission is not qualified to make those decisions, and I'm seeing that
more and more, that we're shortchanging the residents of Miami. So that's my
opinion on that. I just want to make sure now that the surcharge, it's spelled clearly
in the contract that they signed, Madam City Attorney, that these surcharges could
be raised or changed --
Ms. Mendez: As amended.
Commissioner Carollo: -- at any time by the City Commission, even before they
start in operation, or long after they begin.
Ms. Mendez: And Mr. Chairman, I just want a point of privilege if I can. I want to
say that I'm -- actually, as City Attorney for the City of Miami and defending the
rights of all the elected officials, doing their job on a daily basis, I will tell you that I
am very disappointed in this sub -lessee to Bayside trying to sue the City and keep an
elected official from voting on an item. I just want you to know that I feel that every
elected member of this board is able to do what they're supposed to do, pursuant to
Florida Statute, and required to do; they're required to vote on items. The fact that
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they did this, and obviously, they withdrew their temporary injunction, I just want to
say that I am disappointed in that type of action.
Vice Chair Gort: Good.
Chair Russell: Noted. Thankyou very much.
Commissioner Carollo: So they withdraw a temporary injunction, but not the final
hammer.
Ms. Mendez: Correct.
Commissioner Carollo: But --
Ms. Mendez: They still have the (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Commissioner Carollo: -- that's okay. I got some Psalm 91 all the way.
Chair Russell: Thank you very much. All right. Let's bring this item to a close.
Mr. Hannon: Chair.
Chair Russell: Is there arty further discussion from the dais? Yes.
Mr. Hannon: Chair, my apologies. Commissioner Carollo, was that a friendly
amendment that you're requesting from the maker of the motion regarding the
surcharges? Or -- I'm sorry.
Commissioner Carollo: Well --
Ms. Mendez: That's already incorporated in what we talked about.
lice Chair Gort: That's already in the contract. That's in the contract.
Ms. Mendez: As amended --
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah, but it's not --
Ms. Mendez: -- that we would amend -- the contract is also going to state that the
Ferris wheel will pay the parking surcharge, or as amended, pursuant to Chapter 53
of the City Code --
Chair Russell: Yes.
Ms. Mendez: --as amended
Commissioner Carollo: Last, but not least, so that my colleagues up here could all
be protected, in RE.5, since this is not a zoning item, it's only a financial item on the
air rights, nobody up here has to publicly divulge, like we do in zoning items, whom
they had met with or not, correct?
Ms. Mendez: We're only dealing with RE.5 right now.
Commissioner Carollo: Exactly; only RE.5; that's why I'm saying that.
Ms. Mendez: Right. For --
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Commissioner Carollo: All right. I want --
Ms. Mendez: -- RE.5, it's just the --
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah.
Ms. Mendez: -- City's lease.
Commissioner Carollo: I could --
Ms. Mendez: We will clearly define after we pass the exception what the feet will be
for this item, because the only thing that's being amended in this fifth amendment is
for the Ferris wheel. The location of the Ferris wheel is depicted with the attached
and where it is going to be located and the amount of feet, and no more than that.
Chair Russell: His only question was, is there a Jennings requirement?
Ms. Mendez: No.
Chair Russell: Thank you.
Commissioner Carollo: No.
Ms. Mendez: Not for this item.
Commissioner Carollo: No, that wasn't my question. I wanted to put it on the
record. I do want to bring something else up to this body that would be good if we
incorporate it into the contract; that the City has a right on a yearly basis to do an
audit.
T ice Chair Gort: Sure.
Ms. Mendez: That's per Section 2-67 of the City Code and other items.
b Ice Chair Gort: That's automatically.
Ms. Mendez: Yeah.
Bice Chair Gort: All leases in the City ofMiami has to have an audit.
Ms. Mendez: And that's also a provision -- our standard provision in the contracts.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay. Can you make sure it's in big bold letters so they
could read it?
Ms. Mendez: 14 font.
Lice Chair Gort: Now, we got to make sure the Administration -- you know -- people
does their job.
Chair Russell: Fair enough. RE.5 has been amended. It's been moved and
seconded. Is there any further discussion? Hearing none, all in favor, say "aye. "
[ice Chair Gort: Aye.
Chair Russell: Aye.
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Commissioner Carollo: Nay.
Chair Russell: Anv opposed?
Commissioner Carollo: Nay.
Chair Russell: Noted; 3-1. .11otionpasses. Thant you.
1=1r. Pathman: Thank von.
RE.6
RESOLUTION
6387
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION
Department of Risk
AUTHORIZING THE DIRECTOR OF FINANCE TO PAY TO
Management
MICHAEL COLOMBO, SUBJECT TO ALL CONDITIONS IMPOSED
BY CHAPTER 440, FLORIDA STATUTES, THE TOTAL SUM OF
$233,414.58, INCLUDING $100.00 FOR A SEPARATE GENERAL
RELEASE, IN FULL SETTLEMENT OF ALL CLAIMS AND DATES
OF ACCIDENT ALLEGED AGAINST THE CITY OF MIAMI, ITS
OFFICERS, AGENTS, AND EMPLOYEES, WITHOUT ADMISSION
OF LIABILITY, UPON EXECUTING A SETTLEMENT, HOLD
HARMLESS, AND INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT AS WELL AS
A GENERAL RELEASE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, ITS PRESENT
AND FORMER OFFICERS, AGENTS, AND EMPLOYEES, FROM
ANY AND ALL CLAIMS AND DEMANDS; ALLOCATING FUNDS IN
THE AMOUNT OF $233,314.58 FROM ACCOUNT NO.
50001.301001.524000.0000.00000 AND FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT
OF $100.00, FOR THE SEPARATE GENERAL RELEASE, FROM
ACCOUNT NO. 00001.980000.531010.0000.00000.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-19-0415
MOTION TO:
Adopt
RESULT:
ADOPTED
MOVER:
Joe Carollo, Commissioner
SECONDER:
Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
AYES:
Russell, Gort, Carollo, Reyes, Hardemon
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item RE.6, please see Item RE.].
City of-lliami Page 71 Printed on 1 102020
City Commission Meeting Minutes October 24, 2019
RE.7
RESOLUTION
6388
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION
Department of Risk
AUTHORIZING THE DIRECTOR OF FINANCE TO PAY TO AND
Management
ON BEHALF OF ISRAEL PEREZ-PEREZ, SUBJECT TO ALL
CONDITIONS IMPOSED BY CHAPTER 440, FLORIDA STATUTES,
THE TOTAL SUM OF $50,000.00, INCLUDING $100.00 FOR A
SEPARATE GENERAL RELEASE, IN FULL SETTLEMENT OF ALL
CLAIMS AND DATES OF ACCIDENT ALLEGED AGAINST THE
CITY OF MIAMI ("CITY"), ITS OFFICERS, AGENTS, AND
EMPLOYEES, WITHOUT ADMISSION OF LIABILITY, UPON
EXECUTING A SETTLEMENT, HOLD HARMLESS, AND
INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT AS WELL AS A GENERAL
RELEASE OF THE CITY, ITS PRESENT AND FORMER
OFFICERS, AGENTS, AND EMPLOYEES, FROM ANY AND ALL
CLAIMS AND DEMANDS; ALLOCATING FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT
OF $49,900.00 FROM ACCOUNT NO.
50001.301001.524000.0000.00000 AND FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT
OF $100.00, FOR THE SEPARATE GENERAL RELEASE, FROM
ACCOUNT NO. 00001.980000.531010.0000.00000.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-19-0416
MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Joe Carollo, Commissioner
SECONDER: Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
AYES: Russell, Gort. Carollo, Reyes, Hardemon
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item RE. 7, please see Item RE.].
RE.8
RESOLUTION
6398
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
Department of
ATTACHMENT(S), AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO
Police
EXECUTE A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING, IN
SUBSTANTIALLY THE ATTACHED FORM, TO ACCEPT FUNDS
FROM THE SCHOOL BOARD OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY
("SCHOOL BOARD") BY AND ON BEHALF OF THE MIAMI-DADE
SCHOOLS POLICE DEPARTMENT ("MDSPD") AND ALLOCATE
FUNDS IN THE POLICE GENERAL FUND ACCOUNT NUMBER
00001.190101.514000.0.0 FOR THE PROVISION OF SCHOOL -
BASED LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS TO SEVENTEEN (17)
PUBLIC SCHOOLS LOCATED IN THE CITY OF MIAMI'S ("CITY")
JURISDICTION IN THE AMOUNT OF $70,337.00 PER SCHOOL,
FOR A TOTAL OF $1,195,729.00, WITH NO MATCHING FUNDS
REQUIRED FROM THE CITY; FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE CITY
MANAGER TO DESIGNATE THE CHIEF OF POLICE TO EXECUTE
ANY OTHER NECESSARY DOCUMENTS, ALL IN A FORM
ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY ATTORNEY, IN ORDER TO
IMPLEMENT THE ACCEPTANCE OF SAID FUNDS.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-19-0417
City of_AIiami Page 72 Painted on 110 2020
City Commission Meeting Minutes October 24, 2019
MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Joe Carollo, Commissioner
SECONDER: Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
AYES: Russell, Gort, Carollo, Reyes, Hardemon
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item RE.8, please see Item RE.].
RE.9 RESOLUTION
6401 A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
Department of ATTACHMENTS, APPROVING/DENYING THE APPLICATION FOR
Planning A HISTORIC AD VALOREM TAX EXEMPTION, BASED ON THE
RECOMMENDATION OF THE HISTORIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL
PRESERVATION BOARD, TO THE OWNER, HUSA LH JF, LLC,
FOR THE HISTORICALLY DESIGNATED PROPERTY LOCATED
AT 528 SOUTHWEST 9 AVENUE, MIAMI, FLORIDA, WITHIN THE
RIVERSIDE HISTORIC DISTRICT.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-19-0427
MOTION TO: Adopt with Modification(s)
RESULT: ADOPTED WITH MODIFICATION(S)
MOVER: Joe Carollo, Commissioner
SECONDER: Ken Russell, Commissioner
AYES: Russell, Gort, Carollo, Reyes
ABSENT: Hardemon
Note for the Record: For additional minutes referencing Item RE.9, please see
Item RE.].
Chair Russell: I'd like to bring our attention back to FR.5; if l could get a motion for
first reading on FR.5, please.
Commissioner Carollo: Hold on.
Chair Russell: That's peacocks.
Commissioner Carollo: No, no, no. That was for discussion; it'll take a lot more on
that. If you want, we could take up RE.9.
Chair Russell: That's --
Commissioner Carollo: I've had the opportunity to look into during break.
Chair Russell: Yes.
Commissioner Carollo: I'll make the motion on it.
Chair Russell: There's a motion on RE.9; seconded by the Chair. Is there any
further discussion on RE.9? This is in favor of allowing; not disallowing, correct?
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah, allowing.
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Chair Russell: Yes. 11otion to allow the ad valorem tax exemption on Historic
Property 528: seconded Uy the Chair. Anv f rrther discussion? All in favor, say
aye.
The Commission (Collectively): Ave.
Chair Russell: Anv opposed?
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): As amended.
Chair Russell: 11otion passes, as amended. Thank von very much.
unidentified Speaker: Thankyou very much.
rice Chair Gort: Super.
RE.10
RESOLUTION
5757
MAY BE DEFERRED
Commissioners
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION DIRECTING
and Mayor
THE CITY MANAGER, CITY ATTORNEY, AND INDEPENDENT
AUDITOR TO TAKE ANY AND ALL ACTIONS NECESSARY
REGARDING ANY IMPROPER OCCUPANCY OR USE OF ANY
CITY OF MIAMI OWNED PREMISES BY UNAUTHORIZED
BUSINESS ENTITIES INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE
MELREESE GOLF COURSE LOCATED AT 1802 NORTHWEST 37
AVENUE, MIAMI, FLORIDA.
MOTION TO:
Indefinitely Defer
RESULT:
INDEFINITELY DEFERRED
MOVER:
Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
SECONDER:
Ken Russell, Commissioner
AYES:
Russell, Gort, Carollo, Reyes, Hardemon
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item RE.10, please see "Order of
the Day" and Item RE.].
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RE.11
RESOLUTION
6513
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
Commissioners
ATTACHMENT(S), PURSUANT TO SECTION 18-72 OF THE CODE
and Mayor
OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED ("CITY CODE"),
AUTHORIZING THE ALLOCATION OF GRANT FUNDS FROM THE
MAYOR'S SHARE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI'S ANTI -POVERTY
INITIATIVE IN A TOTAL AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED FORTY-SIX
THOUSAND, EIGHT HUNDRED DOLLARS ($46,800.00) TO
UNITED WAY OF MIAMI-DADE, INC., A FLORIDA NOT FOR
PROFIT CORPORATION, IN SUPPORT OF THE CENTER FOR
EXCELLENCE IN EARLY EDUCATION AND EARLY HEAD START
CHILD CARE PARTNERSHIP; FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE
CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE ANY AND ALL
NECESSARY DOCUMENTS, IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO THE
CITY ATTORNEY, FOR SAID PURPOSE.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-19-0418
MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Joe Carollo, Commissioner
SECONDER: Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
AYES: Russell, Gort. Carollo, Reyes, Hardemon
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item RE.11, please see Item RE.].
RE.12
RESOLUTION
6514
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION PURSUANT
Commissioners
TO SECTION 18-72 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI,
FLORIDA, AS AMENDED ("CITY CODE"), AUTHORIZING THE
and Mayor
ALLOCATION OF GRANT FUNDS FROM THE MAYOR'S SHARE
OF THE CITY OF MIAMI'S ANTI -POVERTY INITIATIVE IN A TOTAL
AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS
($10,000.00) TO PRESIDIO POLITICO HISTORICO CUBANO, INC.,
A FLORIDA NOT FOR PROFIT CORPORATION, IN SUPPORT OF
ITS HOUSING REPAIR/UPGRADE FOR ELDERLY PROJECT;
FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE
AND EXECUTE ANY AND ALL NECESSARY DOCUMENTS, ALL IN
FORMS ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY ATTORNEY, FOR SAID
PURPOSE.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-19-0419
MOTION TO:
Adopt
RESULT:
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item RE.12, please see Item RE.].
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RE.13
RESOLUTION
6524
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION PURSUANT
Commissioners
TO SECTION 18-72 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI,
FLORIDA, AS AMENDED ("CITY CODE"), AUTHORIZING THE
and Mayor
ALLOCATION OF GRANT FUNDS FROM THE MAYOR'S SHARE
OF THE CITY OF MIAMI'S ANTI -POVERTY INITIATIVE IN A TOTAL
AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED TWENTY FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS
($25,000.00) TO NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE
ADVANCEMENT OF COLORED PEOPLE, INC., A FOREIGN NOT
FOR PROFIT CORPORATION ("NAACP"), ON BEHALF OF THE
MIAMI-DADE BRANCH OF THE NAACP'S SUPPORT OF ITS
FREEDOM FUND; FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER
TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE ANY AND ALL NECESSARY
DOCUMENTS, ALL IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY
ATTORNEY, FOR SAID PURPOSE.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-19-0420
MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Joe Carollo, Commissioner
SECONDER: Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
AYES: Russell, Gort. Carollo, Reyes, Hardemon
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item RE.13, please see Item RE.].
RE.14
RESOLUTION
6462
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION DIRECTING
THE CITY MANAGER TO IMPLEMENT A PROGRAM TO MONITOR
Commissioners
REPEAT VIOLATIONS AS DEFINED IN CHAPTER 2, ARTICLE X,
and Mayor
SECTION 2-811 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI,
FLORIDA, AS AMENDED ("CITY CODE"), AND EXPEDITE REPEAT
VIOLATION CASES TO BE HEARD BEFORE THE CODE
ENFORCEMENT BOARD FOR ENHANCED PENALTIES
PURSUANT TO SECTION 162.09, FLORIDA STATUTES;
FURTHER URGING THE CODE ENFORCEMENT BOARD TO
ORDER REPEAT VIOLATIONS TO BE PLACED WITHIN THE
MONITORING PROGRAM IMPLEMENTED BY THE CITY
MANAGER AND UPON A SUBSEQUENT FINDING OF GUILT AND
TO IMPOSE ANY AND ALL ENHANCED PENALTIES ALLOWED
UNDER THE LAW, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO COSTS
AND ADMINISTRATIVE FEES INCURRED BY THE CITY OF
MIAMI; PROVIDING FOR AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-19-0421
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MOTION TO:
Adopt
RESULT:
ADOPTED
MOVER:
Joe Carollo, Commissioner
SECONDER:
Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
AYES:
Russell, Gort, Carollo, Reyes, Hardemon
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item RE.]-1, please see Item RE.].
RE.15
RESOLUTION
6484
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
ATTACHMENT(S), ALLOCATING GRANT FUNDS FROM THE
Commissioners
DISTRICT 1 COMMISSIONER'S SHARE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI'S
and Mayor
ANTI -POVERTY INITIATIVE ("API") FUNDS IN AN AMOUNT NOT
TO EXCEED ONE HUNDRED TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS
($102,000.00) TO THE CITY OF MIAMI'S POLICE DEPARTMENT
FOR THE ALLAPATTAH NEIGHBORHOOD ENHANCEMENT TEAM
CLOSED CIRCUIT TELEVISION CAMERA INITIATIVE.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-19-0422
MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Joe Carollo, Commissioner
SECONDER: Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
AYES: Russell, Gort, Carollo, Reyes, Hardemon
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item RE.15, please see Item RE.].
RE.16
RESOLUTION
6510
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION
Commissioners
AUTHORIZING THE CITY ATTORNEY TO TAKE ANY AND ALL
and Mayor
ACTION(S) NECESSARY, IN LAW OR EQUITY, WHETHER
LOCAL, STATE, OR FEDERAL, AS IT RELATES TO THE
DEPLOYMENT OF ADVANCED WIRELESS INFRASTRUCTURE
AND SMALL CELL WIRELESS FACILITIES AND TECHNOLOGY
(COLLECTIVELY, "SMALL CELL TECHNOLOGY AND
INFRASTRUCTURE"), THE PREEMPTION BY THE STATE OF
FLORIDA AND, THE REDUCTION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI'S
HOME RULE POWERS AS THEY RELATE TO SMALL CELL
TECHNOLOGY AND INFRASTRUCTURE, INCLUDING BUT NOT
LIMITED TO INTERVENING IN THE CASE OF FLORIDA LEAGUE
OF CITIES, INC. ET AL. V. LAUREL M. LEE, ET AL., CASE NO.
2019 CA 001948 (FLA. 2D CIR. CT.).
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-19-0423
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MOTION TO:
Adopt
RESULT:
ADOPTED
MOVER:
Joe Carollo, Commissioner
SECONDER:
Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
AYES:
Russell, Gort, Carollo, Reyes, Hardemon
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item RE.16, please see Item RE.].
RE.17 RESOLUTION
6543 A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION DIRECTING
Commissioners THE CITY ADMINISTRATION TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE AN
and Mayor INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT AND ANY AND ALL OTHER
NECESSARY DOCUMENTS, ALL IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO
THE CITY ATTORNEY, WITH MIAMI-DADE COUNTY FOR THE
DOWNTOWN MIAMI SIGNAGE AND WAYFINDING SYSTEM
PROJECT, CITY OF MIAMI OFFICE OF CAPITAL
IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT 40-1330941.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-19-0424
MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Joe Carollo, Commissioner
SECONDER: Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
AYES: Russell, Gort, Carollo, Reyes, Hardemon
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item RE.I7, please see Item RE.].
RE.18
RESOLUTION
6516
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION DIRECTING
THE CITY MANAGER TO AMEND THE "AUBURNDALE TRAFFIC
Commissioners
CIRCLE AT SOUTHWEST 32 AVENUE AND 2 STREET PROJECT,"
and Mayor
OFFICE OF CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS ("OCI") PROJECT NO. B-
173665 ("AUBURNDALE PROJECT"), TO INSTALL A RAISED
INTERSECTION INSTEAD OF A TRAFFIC CIRCLE; FURTHER
AUTHORIZING AND DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO TAKE
ANY AND ALL ACTION(S) NECESSARY TO EXPEDITIOUSLY
DESIGN AND CONSTRUCT THE AUBURNDALE PROJECT AND
THE "TRAFFIC CALMING DEVICE AT INTERSECTION OF
SOUTHWEST 32 AVENUE AND SOUTHWEST 5 STREET
PROJECT," OCI PROJECT NO. B-50505 WITH THE GOAL OF
COMPLETING CONSTRUCTION FOR SAID PROJECTS IN MAY
2020.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-19-0425
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MOTION TO:
Adopt
RESULT:
ADOPTED
MOVER:
Joe Carollo, Commissioner
SECONDER:
Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
AYES:
Russell, Gort, Carollo, Reyes, Hardemon
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item RE.I8, please see Item RE.].
RE.19
RESOLUTION
6424
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
Commissioners
ATTACHMENT(S), AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO
and Mayor
EXECUTE A COMBINED INTERLOCAL AND MUTUAL AID
AGREEMENT, IN SUBSTANTIALLY THE ATTACHED FORM,
BETWEEN THE CITY OF MIAMI AND THE CITY OF WEST MIAMI
PROVIDING FOR THE CREATION OF A JOINT ENFORCEMENT
ZONE, FOR THE PROVISION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT
SERVICES, AND CREATING A MULTI -AGENCY ANTI -
PROSTITUTION AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING TASK FORCE
PURSUANT TO THE MUTUAL AID ACT, CHAPTER 23, PART 1,
FLORIDA STATUTES; FURTHER DIRECTING THE CITY CLERK
TO TRANSMIT A COPY OF THIS RESOLUTION TO THE
OFFICIALS NAMED HEREIN.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-19-0426
MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Joe Carollo, Commissioner
SECONDER: Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
AYES: Russell. Gort. Carollo, Reyes, Hardemon
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item RE.I9, please see Item RE.].
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RE.20
RESOLUTION
6659
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION DIRECTING
THE CITY MANAGER AND THE MAYOR TO CEASE ANY AND ALL
Commissioners
NEGOTIATIONS WITH MIAMI FREEDOM PARK, LLC IN
and Mayor
RELATION TO THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT ON THE CITY -
OWNED PROPERTY LOCATED GENERALLY AT 1400
NORTHWEST 37TH AVENUE, MIAMI, FLORIDA ("PROPERTY"),
COMMONLY KNOWN AS THE INTERNATIONAL LINKS MIAMI -
MELREESE COUNTRY CLUB, AND DIRECTING THE CITY
MANAGER TO INITIATE AND PREPARE A COMPETITIVE
PROCUREMENT PROCESS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE
PROPERTY ENSURING THE BEST RETURN TO THE CITY OF
MIAMI, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO HAVING A LUXURY
HOTEL AND GOLF RESORT ON THE PROPERTY; DIRECTING
THE CITY MANAGER TO RETURN TO THE CITY COMMISSION
FOR APPROVAL OF SAID COMPETITIVE SOLICITATION PRIOR
TO ISSUANCE.
MOTION TO: Defer
RESULT: DEFERRED
MOVER: Joe Carollo, Commissioner
SECONDER: Ken Russell, Commissioner
AYES: Russell, Gort, Carollo, Hardemon
ABSENT: Reyes
Note for the Record: Item RE.20 was deferred to the November 12, 2019, Special
Commission Meeting.
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item RE.20, please see "Order of the
Day, " Item RE.], and Item PH. S.
END OF RESOLUTIONS
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SR — SECOND READING ORDINANCE
SRA ORDINANCE Second Reading
6586 AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
Commissioners ATTACHMENT(S), SUPPLEMENTING ORDINANCE NO. 11693
and Mayor ENACTED ON AUGUST 14, 1998, AS AMENDED AND
SUPPLEMENTED; AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF NOT TO
EXCEED SIXTY-TWO MILLION DOLLARS ($62,000,000.00)
AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF CITY OF MIAMI ("CITY")
PARKING SYSTEM REVENUE REFUNDING BONDS, TAX-
EXEMPT SERIES 2019 ("SERIES 2019 BONDS") ON BEHALF OF
THE CITY OF MIAMI'S ("CITY") DEPARTMENT OF OFF-STREET
PARKING A/K/A MIAMI PARKING AUTHORITY ("DEPARTMENT")
FOR THE PURPOSE OF REFUNDING ALL OR A PORTION OF
THE DEPARTMENT'S OUTSTANDING PARKING SYSTEM
REVENUE AND REVENUE REFUNDING BONDS, TAX-EXEMPT
SERIES 2009 ("SERIES 2009 BONDS") PREVIOUSLY ISSUED
ON BEHALF OF THE DEPARTMENT; PROVIDING FOR THE
FUNDING OF THE RESERVE ACCOUNT, IF REQUIRED;
PROVIDING FOR THE PAYMENT OF CERTAIN COSTS OF
ISSUANCE IN CONNECTION WITH THE ISSUANCE OF THE
SERIES 2019 BONDS; MAKING CERTAIN FINDINGS AND
DETERMINATIONS; DELEGATING TO THE CITY MANAGER
AND THE DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT ("DIRECTOR") THE
DETERMINATION OF CERTAIN MATTERS AND DETAILS
CONCERNING THE SERIES 2019 BONDS; APPROVING THE
SENDING OF A CONDITIONAL NOTICE OF REDEMPTION;
AUTHORIZING THE REFUNDING OF THE SERIES 2009 BONDS;
RATIFYING, CONFIRMING, AND APPROVING THE SELECTION
OF THE UNDERWRITERS AND THE FINANCIAL ADVISOR BY
THE FINANCE COMMITTEE AND THE DEPARTMENT FOR THE
SERIES 2019 BONDS; AUTHORIZING A NEGOTIATED SALE OF
THE SERIES 2019 BONDS; AUTHORIZING THE NEGOTIATION,
EXECUTION, AND DELIVERY OF A BOND PURCHASE
AGREEMENT BY THE CITY MANAGER AND THE DIRECTOR, IN
A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO THE DEPARTMENT'S CHIEF
FINANCIAL OFFICER ("CFO"), THE CITY'S CFO, THE FINANCIAL
ADVISOR, THE CITY ATTORNEY, DISCLOSURE COUNSEL,
AND BOND COUNSEL; APPROVING UNCERTIFICATED BOOK -
ENTRY ONLY REGISTRATION OF THE SERIES 2019 BONDS;
AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER AND THE DIRECTOR TO
DISTRIBUTE A PRELIMINARY OFFICIAL STATEMENT AND
OFFICIAL STATEMENT, IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY
ATTORNEY, DISCLOSURE COUNSEL, AND BOND COUNSEL;
DESIGNATING A TRUSTEE, PAYING AGENT, AND BOND
REGISTRAR; AUTHORIZING THE NEGOTIATION, EXECUTION,
AND DELIVERY BY THE CITY MANAGER AND THE DIRECTOR
OF A TRUSTEE, PAYING AGENT, AND BOND REGISTRAR
AGREEMENT, IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY
ATTORNEY AND BOND COUNSEL; AUTHORIZING THE
NEGOTIATION, EXECUTION, AND DELIVERY OF A
DISCLOSURE DISSEMINATION AGENT AGREEMENT BY THE
CITY MANAGER AND THE DIRECTOR, IN A FORM
ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY ATTORNEY, DISCLOSURE
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COUNSEL, BOND COUNSEL, AND DESIGNATING DIGITAL
ASSURANCE CERTIFICATION, L.L.C., AS DISSEMINATION
AGENT THEREUNDER; AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER
AND DIRECTOR TO OBTAIN A BOND INSURANCE POLICY
AND/OR RESERVE PRODUCT; AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY
MANAGER AND DIRECTOR TO NEGOTIATE, EXECUTE, AND
DELIVER ANY AND ALL AGREEMENTS IN CONNECTION
THEREWITH, ALL IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO THE
DEPARTMENT'S CFO, THE CITY'S CFO, THE FINANCIAL
ADVISOR, RISK MANAGEMENT DIRECTOR, THE CITY CLERK,
THE CITY ATTORNEY, DISCLOSURE COUNSEL, AND BOND
COUNSEL; AUTHORIZING CERTAIN OFFICIALS AND
EMPLOYEES OF THE CITY AND THE DEPARTMENT TO TAKE
ANY AND ALL ACTIONS DEEMED NECESSARY OR REQUIRED
IN CONNECTION WITH THE NEGOTIATION, ISSUANCE, SALE,
AND DELIVERY OF THE SERIES 2019 BONDS AND THE
REFUNDING OF THE SERIES 2009 BONDS, IN CONSULTATION
WITH THE CITY MANAGER, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
OF THE DEPARTMENT, THE DIRECTOR, THE DEPARTMENT'S
CFO, THE CITY'S CFO, THE FINANCIAL ADVISOR, THE CITY
ATTORNEY, DISCLOSURE COUNSEL, AND BOND COUNSEL;
PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; AND PROVIDING AN
EFFECTIVE DATE.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: 13866
MOTION TO:
Adopt
RESULT:
ADOPTED
MOVER:
Wifredo (Willy) Gort, Commissioner
SECONDER:
Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
AYES:
Russell, Gort, Carollo, Reyes, Hardemon
Chair Russell: All right. SR.1. Could it be read into the record, please?
Commissioner Carollo: lIlr. Chair. I'll be back: in two minutes to vote. so --
Chan-Russell: Sure. fT'e've got a little time. TTe won't vote withont von.
ConnnissionerCarollo: Thankyon.
ConnnissionerReves: Doinggood.
T'ictoria -11endez (CitvAttornev): Chairman, ii hich item?
Chair Rnssell: Actually, go ahead and start reading in the SR (second reading)
item, and I'll --
Tice Chair Gort: SR.1.
Chair Rnssell: -- SR.1, please.
The Ordinance was read by title into the public record by Depnty Citv Attornev
Barnabv Alin.
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Later
Chair Russell: I'll start with SR.1, the Miami Parking System Revenue Refunding
Bond.
ti ice Chair Gort: Move it.
Chair Russell: Moved by Commissioner Gort.
Commissioner Reyes: Second
Chair Russell: Seconded by Commissioner Reyes. Is there any discussion on this
item? Seeing none, all in favor, say "aye. "
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Russell: Any opposed? SR.1 passes. Thank you.
IN101exal; MNNQ0111VNFilW10[eye]VQ10Fil0[a]4
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FIR - FIRST READING ORDINANCES
FRA
ORDINANCE First Reading
6357
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI COMMISSION AMENDING
Commissioners
CHAPTER 2/ARTICLE X OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI,
and Mayor
FLORIDA, AS AMENDED ("CITY CODE"), TITLED
"ADMINISTRATION/CODE
ENFORCEMENT," MORE
PARTICULARLY BY REPLACING THE TERM "SPECIAL
MASTERS" TO "SPECIAL MAGISTRATES' THROUGHOUT
CHAPTER 2/ARTICLE X TO BE CONSISTENT WITH CHAPTER
162, FLORIDA STATUTES AND BY ESTABLISHING A NEW
SECTION 2-830, TITLED "ALTERNATE CODE ENFORCEMENT
SYSTEM"; PROVIDING FOR THE ADOPTION OF AN ALTERNATE
CODE ENFORCEMENT SYSTEM THAT GIVES SPECIAL
MAGISTRATES THE SAME AUTHORITY AS THE CODE
ENFORCEMENT BOARD TO HOLD HEARINGS AND IMPOSE
FINES, COST, LIENS, AND OTHER NON -CRIMINAL PENALTIES
AGAINST VIOLATORS OF THE CITY CODE; PROVIDING FOR
THE QUALIFICATIONS, APPOINTMENT, POWERS,
COMPENSATION, AND RETENTION OF SPECIAL MAGISTRATES;
CLARIFYING THE ROLE OF THE CITY ATTORNEY WITH
RESPECT TO SPECIAL MAGISTRATES; CONTAINING A
SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE
DATE.
RESULT: NO ACTION TAKEN
Note for the Record: Pursuant to Chapter 2, Article II, .Section 2-33(k), Miami City
Code, item FR.] was continued to the November 21, 2019, Regular Commission
Meeting.
ChctirRzrssell: Please read the FR (first reading) items, cis well, Barnaby.
Barnabv_llin (DepntyCii7,,Attornev): FR.1:
The Ordinance was read by title into the public record by Deputy City Attornev
Barnabv Alin.
_llr. Alin: FR.2:
The Ordinance was read by title into the public record by Deputy City Attornev
Barnabv Alin.
-A Ir. Alin: FR.3, I believe is deferred, correct? FR.4:
The Ordinance was read by title into the public record by Depxty City Attornev
Barnabv -Alin.
_1Ir.11in: FRS:
The Ordinance was read by title into the public record by Deputy City Attornev
Barnabv -Alin.
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Mr. Min: And FR.3, my mistake
The Ordinance was read by title into the public record by Deputy City Attorney
Barnaby Min.
Chair Russell: Thank you, sir. Thank you. So, gentlemen, we've read all the
ordinances into the record so that we can take them up one at a time, and amend as
necessary.
Later...
Chair Russell: FR.1, the Special Master Program.
Commissioner Carollo: Can we leave FR. 1 for later, when we have more time?
Chair Russell: We will table FR.1.
FR.2
ORDINANCE First Reading
6427
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI COMMISSION AMENDING
CHAPTER 17/ARTICLE I OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI,
Commissioners
FLORIDA, AS AMENDED ("CITY CODE"), TITLED
and Mayor
"ENVIRONMENTAL PRESERVATION/TREE PROTECTION IN
GENERAL;" MORE PARTICULARLY BY AMENDING SECTION 17-4
OF THE CITY CODE, TITLED "TREE PERMIT APPLICATIONS,
REQUIREMENTS, REVIEW AND FEES," TO PROVIDE AN
EXCEPTION FOR A COVENANT IN LIEU OF A TREE
PROTECTION BOND FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING
DEVELOPMENTS WHICH ARE PROCURED AND/OR FUNDED BY
THE CITY OF MIAMI; CONTAINING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE;
AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
MOTION TO: Pass on First Reading
RESULT: PASSED ON FIRST READING
MOVER: Wifredo (Willy) Gort, Commissioner
SECONDER: Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
AYES: Russell, Gort, Carollo, Reyes, Hardemon
Note for the Record. For additional minutes referencing Item FR.2, please see
Item FR.].
Chair Russell: FR.2, Environmental preservation; tree protection in general. I -- is
there an amendment on this item? No. FR.2; is there a motion on this item, please?
Vice Chair Gort: Move it.
Chair Russell: Moved by Commissioner Gort.
Commissioner Reyes: And I would like clarification on this. What this does is --?
Chair Russell: If the Administration --
Commissioner Reyes: The Administration, could you be more specific? Is this going
to strengthen our tree ordinance, or what is this going to do?
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Chair Russell: Who speaks for the trees?
Commissioner Reyes: We speakfor the trees, butt speakfor the people, too.
Chair Russell: Mr. Director.
Commissioner Reyes: See, Ilove trees, but Ilove people more.
Chair Russell: You'll like this one.
Francisco Garcia: Francisco Garcia, Planning Director. And in this particular
item, I am pleased to speak on behalf of affordable housing. What we are doing for
this particular amendment is allowing for affordable housing projects that are
somehow subsidized by the City of Miami to -- instead of having to pay a bond in
order to preserve the trees, to put forth a covenant in lieu of that bond --
Commissioner Reyes: In lieu of that bond.
Mr. Garcia: -- to stipulate to the --
Commissioner Reyes: This is Gort's --
Vice Chair Gort: Yes.
Commissioner Reyes: I am co-sponsor, but I wanted to make clear that we have that
covenant there.
Mr. Garcia: Absolutely.
Commissioner Reyes: Okay? I just want to put it in the record.
Commissioner Carollo: What --
Commissioner Reyes: Okay, good.
Commissioner Carollo: -- is the bond that is required? And explain on the record a
little more on thatprocess.
Mr. Garcia: Certainly. What we attempt to do in some projects where the
construction that is presented that may take place may have an adverse impact on
the trees, may affect the trees in some fashion, it's a surety bond so that if anything
happens with the tree, there is a financial backing to restore the tree, as appropriate.
Chair Russell: Thank you. So it's -- Commissioner Gort, had you already moved it?
I believe you did.
b Ice Chair Gort: I did.
Chair Russell: You want to second it?
Commissioner Reyes: I second. Moved by Gort.
Chair Russell: Moved by the T Ice Chairman; seconded by Commissioner Reyes.
Any further discussion on FR.2? Hearing none, all in favor, say "aye. "
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
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Chair Russell: Any opposed? Motion passes on FR.2.
FR.3
ORDINANCE First Reading
5988
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AMENDING
Commissioners
CHAPTER 62 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA,
and Mayor
AS AMENDED ("CITY CODE"), TITLED "PLANNING AND ZONING,"
SPECIFICALLY BY AMENDING SECTION 62-22 , TITLED
"SCHEDULE OF FEES," SECTION 62-23, TITLED "REQUEST FOR
REVIEW AND APPEAL," SECTION 62-25, TITLED "WAIVER OF
FEES," AND SECTION 62-32, TITLED "SCHEDULE OF FEES," TO
PROVIDE CLARIFICATION ON PLANNING AND ZONING FEES,
CAP CERTAIN PLANNING AND ZONING FEES, ADD FEE
SCHEDULES FOR CERTAIN PERMITS, PROVIDE FOR A
SCHEDULE OF REFUNDS FOR CERTAIN FEES, AND ENSURE
CONSISTENCY WITH OTHER CITY CODE SECTIONS
REGARDING FEES; CONTAINING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE AND
PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
MOTION TO:
RESULT:
MOVER:
SECONDER:
AYES:
Pass on First Reading with Modification(s)
PASSED ON FIRST READING WITH MODIFICATION(S)
Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
Ken Russell, Commissioner
Russell, Gort, Carollo, Reyes, Hardemon
Note for the Record: For additional minutes referencing Item FR.3, please see
Item FR.].
Chair Russell: FR.3, TDD (Transfer Development Density) fees.
Commissioner Reyes: Yes. I have an amendment.
Chair Russell: Yes.
Commissioner Reyes: Yes. The amendment that --
Chair Russell: Microphone, please.
Commissioner Reyes: --propose--
Chair Russell: Microphone, please.
Commissioner Reyes: Oh. The amendment proposed was on Page -- what's the
name -- number of the page? Well, it's -- on "P, " it says an additional amount equal
to 10 percent -- I mean 15 percent of the value of the capital improvement per
Charter 23 (UNINTELLIGIBLE) will be retained. Of that, 5 percent will be retained
for Historic Preservation Trust Fund, and 10 percent for the Public Benefit that --
Trust Fund; particularly for affordable workforce housing, as per Article 14, with
priority, and 5 percent for the City's Senior Rental Assistance Program, and S
percent for the City's Employee Homeownership Assistance Program; that the
remaining 5 percent will be divide -- I mean 10 percent will be divided among the
City's Senior Rental Assistance Program and the Employee Homeownership
Assistance Program that is going to be created, and that is the 15 percent that is
going to be retained, and that -- or going to be added -- it is going to be divided as
such.
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Chair Russell: Would you like to move the item with that amendment?
Commissioner Reyes: Yes.
Chair Russell: All right. Moved by Commissioner Reyes; seconded by the Chair.
Commissioner Carollo: Can you explain the changes?
Commissioner Reyes: The changes were the -- before, and -- because I have seen
this all been scratched out. Francisco -- Mr. Garcia, could you please explain how
did we reach this?
Francisco Garcia (Director, Planning): I'm happy to, sir. In this particular case,
what we are doing with the ordinance is taking the transfer of development density
fees that would otherwise have to be paid. The amount of those fees that remains
with the City that is paid to the City is increased through this amendment, an
additional 5 percent. So instead of 10 percent of those being retained by the City,
it'll be 15 percent, with a specific caveat that of the additional 5 percent, as the
Commissioner mentioned previously, that amount will go to the Public Benefits Trust
Fund, particularly for affordable workforce housing; and also, 5 percent will go to
the Senior Rental Assistance Program and the City's Employee Homeownership
Assistance Program. So in the end, we are funding two additional programs for the
benefit, as mentioned, of seniors and City employees.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay. Thankyou.
Chair Russell: Thank you. And —
Vice Chair Gort: And the 10 percent?
Mr. Garcia: I'm sorry, sir?
t ice Chair Gort: The 10 percent.
Mr. Garcia: It's made up of those two 5 percentages that I just addressed; senior
citizens and City employees.
Chair Russell: And if I could, I'd like to direct the Management to make sure and
advise City Commissioner staff when this becomes populated with funds --
Commissioner Reyes: Yes.
Chair Russell: -- so that we can start considering how it could be used --
Commissioner Reyes: Great idea.
Chair Russell: -- so it doesn't -- you know, it may grow and we not know about it, so
that's good, but it's a good amendment. Thank you very much. So it has been
moved, seconded, amendment, agreed.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah.
Chair Russell: Arty further discussion? All in favor, say "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
CommissionerHardemon: I will say --
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Chair Russell: Commissioner Hardemon.
Commissioner Hardemon: -- it says, "The funds to be allocated to private property
shall be managed through a grant process, administered by the Historic
Preservation Office in consultation with relevant City departments. " So it's the -- it's
them, looks like, who's going to be making that decision, right?
Chair Russell: No.
Mr. Garcia: No, sir.
Commissioner Hardemon: No?
Mr. Garcia: No. The disbursement of the funds is ultimately up to the
Administration, not the Preservation Board.
Commissioner Hardemon: Okay. I'm just reading from the last -- Page --
Chair Russell: IfI could?
Commissioner Hardemon: -- 7 of 8.
Chair Russell: So the main amount of the funds goes directly to that person who is
selling those transfer development density rights. It's only the fees that go to the City
that we're discussing the amendment on --
Mr. Garcia: That is correct.
Chair Russell: -- that we'll be managing.
Commissioner Reyes: Okay. Through the Chair?
Chair Russell: Yes.
Commissioner Reyes: Francisco, also, we included and we discussed additional
amendments. Are they taken into consideration and --?
Mr. Garcia: Yes. Those will be captioned in the revised ordinance.
Commissioner Reyes: Okay. Could you please read them?
Mr. Garcia: Would you like me to read them into the record?
Commissioner Reyes: Please.
Mr. Garcia: I'm happy to do so. So I would like to direct your attention to Section
62-663, and we are including language in Sub -Section -- I apologize; make that --
Commissioner Hardemon: You said it right.
Mr. Garcia: -- Section 6 --
Commissioner Reyes: You said it right.
Mr. Garcia: -- right. Here we are -- 62-663, and we are going to amend the
language to be as follows: "It is intended that the Historic Preservation Trust Fund
be established for funding to be made available for improvements to qualifying
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homes in T3 transects and historically -designated resources. " 'And" is the added
word there, as opposed to the confluence of 73 transect historically -designated
resources. " In Section 62-665, Sub -Section "C, " we are making the following
change: It said previously, "80 percent or more of funds will be allocated towards
improvements for qualifying homes, " and then it said, "Locally -designated historic
resources. " Now, instead, it says, "In T3 transects and locally -designated historic
resources," so all single-family residences are now eligible in T3 transects.
Additionally, two more changes. Sub -Section 62-665 (C)(1) will be left intact until
we get to the point where we say --
Commissioner Reyes: Historic significance of historic --
Mr. Garcia: My apologies.
Commissioner Reyes: -- is going to be scratched.
Mr. Garcia: In fact, if you'll indulge me, IZl read it in whole, and I think that will
make it simpler for your understanding and the public's notice. It says as follows:
"Funds to be allocated to private property shall be managed through a grant process
administered by the Planning Department and the City's Department of Housing and
Community Development in consultation with the relevant City departments, " and
then it required external experts. "Grant finds shall be allocated based on the
following criteria, in order of importance: One, priority in T3 transects that are
unable to sell development rights or density; two, economic hardship, as measured
by the income of the property owner; three, age of the property owner, with priority
given to property owners 60 years of age or older; four, ownership status, with
priority given to: First, to homestead property owners; second, to not -for -profit
entities, organizations or institutions providing affordable housing; third, for -profit
entities, organizations providing affordable housing; fourth, not -profit
organizations; fifth, all other applicants. " Indulge me a moment more. Sub -Section
5: "Ability to complete work within a reasonable timeframe"--
Commissioner Reyes: We're scratching where it says, "historic significance and
other historic resources"?
Mr. Garcia: Yes; that is correct. That has been deleted.
Commissioner Reyes: That's been deleted.
Mr. Garcia: Yes, sir. And last, but not least, Sub -Section 2: "Funds to be allocated
to publicly -owned resources will be approved by the Historic and Environmental
Preservation Board. Publicly -owned' for this sub -section shall mean owned by
governmental or public agencies. Up to 20 percent of the fees collected annually
may be allocated towards administrative costs and staffing associated with historic
preservation. " And that's all I have, gentlemen.
Commissioner Reyes: Okay, sir. Thankyou very much. Those are my amendments.
CommissionerHardemon: Mr. Chairman.
Chair Russell: Yes, Commissioner.
Commissioner Hardemon: I'd just like to say I'm happy to see that the
Administration really listened to the last time this came up, because a lot of these
recommendations that we're talking about to the T3 transect is to protect those areas
and to encourage not just the renovation and improvement of historic structures, but
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structures in general in those areas so that the entire block now looks presentable, so
I commend you on that. Thankyou.
Mr. Garcia: Thankyou, Commissioner Hardemon.
Commissioner Reyes: Okay.
Chair Russell: Thankyou. There's been a motion and a second, with amendment. Is
there any further discussion on FR.3? Hearing none, all in favor, say "aye. "
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Russell: Any opposed? Motion passes. Is the comp -- PZ.1 is not a
companion item of that one, is it?
Commissioner Reyes: Yes.
Commissioner Carollo: PZ (Planning and Zoning) --
Chair Russell: But that one is being deferred; am I not mistaken?
Victoria Mendez (City Attorney): PZ.1 will be deferred in the afternoon.
Chair Russell: Okay. That's a different item then. All right. Thank you. That is
FR.3 taken care of- and FR.2, we're good.
FR.4
ORDINANCE First Reading
6445
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
Commissioners
ATTACHMENTS, AMENDING CHAPTER 14/ARTICLE II OF THE
and Mayor
CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED ("CITY
"DOWNTOWN
CODE"), TITLED DEVELOPMENT/DOWNTOWN
DISTRICT/GENERALLY;" MORE PARTICULARLY BY AMENDING
SECTION 14-27 IN ITS ENTIRETY AND CREATING NEW
TERRITORIAL BOUNDARIES AS SET FORTH IN EXHIBIT "A",
ATTACHED AND INCORPORATED, TO INCLUDE THE RIGHT-OF-
WAY LANDS UNDERNEATH THE MIAMI METRORAIL, ALSO
KNOWN AS THE UNDERLINE, FROM THE MIAMI RIVER TO SE
15TH ROAD; CONTAINING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND
PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
MOTION TO: Pass on First Reading
RESULT: PASSED ON FIRST READING
MOVER: Joe Carollo, Commissioner
SECONDER: Ken Russell, Commissioner
AYES: Russell. Gort. Carollo. Reyes. Hardemon
Note for the Record: For additional minutes referencing Item FR.-I, please see
Item FR.].
Chair Russell: FR.4, Downtown Development Authority right-of-way lands -- I mean
Downtown Development right-of-way lands.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah. This is the one for West Brickell.
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Commissioner Hardemon: Oh. And also, for the record, I want the -- FR.3 -- well,
this is first reading. Don't worry about it.
Commissioner Reyes: We'll do it again.
Commissioner Hardemon: Yeah.
Chair Russell: FR.4.
Commissioner Carollo: This is for the West Brickell Park?
Chair Russell: Commissioner Carollo has some questions for the Administration.
Commissioner Carollo: No, no; no questions. I'm just asking you if this is the
extension for the land in West Brickell --
Chair Russell: Yes.
Commissioner Carollo: -- on IstAvenue? Okay. I'll make the motion.
Chair Russell: Thank you. FR. 4 is moved by Commissioner Carollo; seconded by the
Chair. Is there any further discussion?
Commissioner Reyes: Nope.
Chair Russell: All in favor, say "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Russell: Any opposed? Motion passes on FR.4.
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FR.5
ORDINANCE First Reading
6663
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI COMMISSION, WITH
Commissioners
ATTACHMENT(S), AMENDING CHAPTER 6/ARTICLE I OF THE
and Mayor
CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED ("CITY
"ANIMALS/IN
CODE"), TITLED GENERAL," MORE PARTICULARLY
BY AMENDING SECTION 6-4, TITLED "SHOOTING, TRAPPING,
ETC., BIRDS PROHIBITED; EXCEPTION," TO ALLOW FOR THE
RELOCATION OF PEAFOWL, A FLORIDA NON-NATIVE SPECIES,
IN A MANNER THAT DOES NOT PHYSICALLY INJURE OR HARM
THE PEAFOWL; FURTHER DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO
TAKE ANY AND ALL STEPS NECESSARY TO IMPLEMENT A
PEAFOWL MANAGEMENT PLAN TO RELOCATE PEAFOWL IN A
HUMANE MANNER, AS DESCRIBED IN EXHIBIT "A", ATTACHED
AND INCORPORATED; CONTAINING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE;
AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
MOTION TO:
RESULT:
MOVER:
SECONDER:
AYES:
Pass on First Reading with Modification(s)
PASSED ON FIRST READING WITH MODIFICATION(S)
Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
Ken Russell, Commissioner
Russell, Gort, Carollo, Reyes, Hardemon
Note for the Record: For additional minutes referencing Item FR.5, please see
"Public Comment Period for Regular Item(s) " and Item FR.].
Chair Russell: FR.5, I have some amendments, based on some of the
recommendations brought to us by residents and FIU (Florida International
University); ifl could just read them into the record.
Commissioner Carollo: Can we leave this one for later, too? Because this is going
to take a little longer.
Chair Russell: I think we'll be pretty quick unless you've got a lot of discussion on it.
Commissioner Carollo: I do. Peacocks are beautiful animals; they're delicate
animals.
CommissionerHardemon: Like cows.
Commissioner Carollo: I -- as you all know -- lived in the Grove for a long time, so
I'm familiar with a lot of the peacocks. I didn't particularly care that the only white
peacock that we had was taken out.
Chair Russell: He's still there.
Commissioner Carollo: No, no, no.
Chair Russell: I took a picture of him last night.
Commissioner Carollo: Well, it must be a new one.
Chair Russell: Okay.
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Commissioner Carollo: It must be a new one, because since three years back when I
moved out, that white peacock had been taken out several years before. But I
understand how some of the neighbors feel. But at the same time, this is part of
Coconut Grove, peacocks.
Chair Russell: Absolutely.
Commissioner Carollo: So I want to be very careful how we go about this, and truly
give everybody, pro peacock, not so much pro peacock, the opportunity to express
their views. And, look, it's part of what I consider now the tradition -- and many do -
- of Coconut Grove, and it's a beautiful white peacock. I'm glad someone brought
one white -- or maybe it was just a descendant of the white peacock that was taken
outyears back.
Chair Russell: The sad part is he's beautiful, but the female peacocks don't really
like him.
t ice Chair Gort: Mr. Chairman.
Commissioner Carollo: Well --
CommissionerHardemon: He's sick; that's why.
Commissioner Carollo: -- maybe --
Vice Chair Gort: I don't know if you guys looked up the -- you had an opportunity to
look up the --
Commissioner Carollo: I haven't; that's another thing.
Chair Russell: So this is -- so, gentlemen, no one would not survive this more than I
if we get this wrong. This is very crucial for my neighborhood. Obviously, the
priority is the preservation of peacocks in the neighborhood. Nobody is trying to
remove and eradicate them. What we have is a very high concentration in the north
area. If you can picture Bay Heights with a wall around it, and it's got U.S.Ion one
side and Bayshore on the other, it's sort of an enclosed enclave, and you've got a few
people that are doing a lot of feeding there. The population explosion there has led
to so much property damage. And what happens -- and it's very interesting -- the
male peacocks become very aggressive, because there's so much competition. They
see their reflection in darker cars -- black cars, red cars -- and they use their hind
claw, this is like a velociraptor, and they just start tearing up the cars. At that point
is when I realized we need to take a responsible action here with a balance, and the
amendments I'm going to make completely direct the Management to study the
Ranchos Palos I'erdes' management plan, which involves a study every year, which
FIU has offered to do with a census, where we only address the overpopulation
areas, with a very controlled relocation that's managed by the City -- not the
residents -- and through an RFP (Request for Proposals) for a very responsible
trapper, relocating to a very responsible sanctuary, a very controlled number, once a
year, not during mating season. So it is very well thought out, and I conferred with
the peacock lovers to make sure we get this right. But for me, it is very important
that we at least move first reading at this point with your support.
Commissioner Carollo: I will grant you a first reading. I mean, I won't try to delay
it, but I'd just like to at least have the opportunity to glance at that whole pamphlet
that was sent, and for us to take it up later today, because it will take a little more
time.
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Chair Russell: Oh, so you'd like to table the item?
Commissioner Carollo: Until later today.
Chair Russell: That's fine.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah, that's all.
Chair Russell: Thank you. Is there arty further comment on FR --
Commissioner Reyes: Chair?
Chair Russell: -- 5? Yes, Commissioner.
Commissioner Reyes: Mr. Chair, and in order to be clear, what you are proposing
is to relocate them?
Chair Russell: Yes.
Commissioner Reyes: Relocate them to other areas.
Chair Russell: Not to eat them.
Commissioner Reyes: Huh?
Chair Russell: Not to eat them.
Commissioner Reyes: You should try it.
Chair Russell: No, thank you.
Commissioner Reyes: They taste good. I ate them in Cuba. I'm --
Commissioner Hardemon: I believe you.
Commissioner Reyes: Yes, we did.
Chair Russell: So over the last few months, the Administration and the Legal
Department, they've studied best practices of other cities, and found the right
relocation centers, the right relocation specialists, and the right cities that have dealt
with this, and Ranchos Palos I "erdes has the absolute gold star version of this, which
prioritizes the safety and health of the peacocks. The overpopulation's also causing
them to get hit by cars as there's so many of them in the streets now in that one
neighborhood.
Commissioner Carollo: Well, the problem is not so much the overpopulation. The
problem is the size of the peacock's brains. They are one of the most beautiful
animals, but one of the ones with the smallest brains, so they don't realize how
they're crossing the street sometimes, and that's what the problem -- you know,
where the problem lies. But we'll discuss it later.
Chair Russell: Thank you.
Commissioner Carollo: Thank you.
Chair Russell: We'll table FR.5 for the moment.
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Later...
Commissioner Carollo: Can we jump into PZ (Planning and Zoning)?
Chair Russell: What did you move, Commissioner Gort?
Vice Chair Gort: No, I said "super. "
Chair Russell: Oh.
Lice Chair Gort: They're making great presentations; nice and quick.
Chair Russell: I'd like to see if we can finish up the morning's agenda, because I
believe PZ -- once we get into it, we are not getting out of it. So for me, my only
request -- and I'd love to add my amendments for the peafowl, so that may put you at
rest with regard to what we're trying to get through on first reading, but we can have
a much deeper dive on second, and I'm sure more residents will come.
Commissioner Carollo: Commissioner, we're going to be in these two for a good
hour, hour plus.
Chair Russell: Peafowl?
Commissioner Carollo: P.5 [sic] and the other one that we have from the morning
agenda.
Chair Russell: The -- well, the other item, the Freedom Park isn't till 6 p.m. The
FR.5 peafowl should be relatively simple for first reading, with the amendments I'd
like to make. And then I don't believe we have any other morning agenda items, if
I'm not mistaken. Mr. Clerk --
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): FR.1.
Commissioner Carollo: FR.1; that's a long one.
Chair Russell: Special Master Program.
Commissioner Carollo: That's a long one.
Chair Russell: Yes, I agree with you on that. Could we get FR.5 out of the way, if
there's a motion?
Commissioner Reyes: I move it.
Chair Russell: Moved by Commissioner Reyes.
Commissioner Reyes: Moveit --
Chair Russell: Seconded by the Chair.
Commissioner Reyes: -- on the condition that you don't eat it.
Chair Russell: That you don't eat them. Please.
Commissioner Reyes: And don't kill them.
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Chair Russell: So the amendment I'd like to add, please, Madam City Attorney, to
the title: An ordinance of the Miami City Commission; add "with attachments. " And
then right after the words, "steps necessary to implement, " add the words, "a
peafowl management plan." So that's where we'll start looking at this. We don't
have to implement the plan yet. We have first and second, and l want a meeting with
the residents before we go to second reading to take a look at the plan. I want the
words, "in a humane manner, " added after 'procedures to relocate peafowl. " And
then, I want added, "as described in Exhibit A,' attached and incorporated," and I'll
-- and I'd like this management plan that was presented by a resident to be added,
just into the record, for the Management to study.
Commissioner Carollo: I'd like for you to add that, "This does not apply to roosters
or chickens. "
Chair Russell: It does not apply to roosters or chickens; peafowl only; the male of
which is the peacock. Under Section 6-44, I'd like to add: "The City shall implement
a peafowl management plan to address the relocation of peafowl, as described in
Exhibit A, " and that will be the plan itself- Exhibit 'A" will be the plan. And in
Section 3, the words, "a peafowl management plan to relocate, " be added, "as
described in Exhibit A."' And then I'd like to add that we will work -- "The
Management will work together with FIU (Florida International University) for the
scientific steps necessary for census and management, " and that'll take a load off of
the Management side, as well, as they've offered to help us with that. Are there any
further comments on --
Commissioner Reyes: Yes.
Chair Russell: -- FR.S? Yes, sir.
Commissioner Reyes: Yes. I would like to add that this is not to eradicate them; that
to control the population of --
Chair Russell: Thank you.
Commissioner Reyes: -- and the population is going to be determined by the study
that you're going to do with FIU, and meetings with the community.
Chair Russell: So please add that as the very first "whereas" clause; "That the spirit
of this legislation is absolutely not to eradicate the peafowl population, but to
manage them in a healthy way. " And what was the other one?
Unidentified Speaker: Don't eat them.
Commissioner Reyes: That the population is going to -- have to determine what the
population is going to be, before they start --
Chair Russell: Yes, yes.
Commissioner Reyes: -- before you start the relocation of them.
Chair Russell: Yeah. And honestly, for the majority, 90 percent of the Grove, you're
not going to see any change. What we're going to see is a census count that will
show a very high concentration in two neighborhoods, and that's where we'll
implement the plan on a once -a year basis. All right. Is there arty further --?
t ictoriaMendez (CityAttorney): Chairman --
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Chair Russell: Thank you.
Ms. Mendez: --just to clarify, since you said that you may meet with neighbors in
between, when did you want this for second reading?
Chair Russell: I will -- if you want to manage that through my office, we'll
coordinate. Just any time between first and second, we'll put together --
Ms. Mendez: Right.
Chair Russell: --a stakeholder meeting.
Ms. Mendez: The problem is I need to know when second reading's going to be,
because if not, it's going to be placed in the November agenda, which is the next --
Chair Russell: But go ahead and place it in the November agenda.
Ms. Mendez: Okay.
Chair Russell: We'll have the meeting. And if we don't have the meeting, we'll just
defer it at that time, but we'll get it done. Arty further discussion on FR.5? Seeing
none, all in favor, say "aye. "
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Russell: Any opposed? Motion passes, as amended. Thankyou very much.
Mr. Hannon: As --
Chair Russell: Yes.
END OF FIRST READING ORDINANCES
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BU - BUDGET
BUA BUDGET DISCUSSION ITEM
4971 MONTHLY REPORT
Office of I. SECTION 2-497 OF THE CITY CODE OF ORDINANCES
Management and (RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE DIRECTOR OF MANAGEMENT AND
Budget BUDGET)
II. SECTION 18-502 (CITY'S ANTI -DEFICIENCY ACT)
III. SECTION 18-542 (FINANCIAL INTEGRITY PRINCIPLES)
RESULT: DISCUSSED
Chair Russell: FR.1, would you like to take that up now; the Special Master
Program?
Commissioner Carollo: No. Like I said --
Chair Russell: Okay.
Commissioner Carollo: --in the afternoon. There's no time for that now.
Chair Russell: All right.
Commissioner Carollo: If we could get maybe into --
Chair Russell: We have three remaining items on the morning agenda, which is the
budget items, Mr. Rose, and one discussion item.
Commissioner Carollo: D1.4, is that going to be --
Chair Russell: 6 p. m.
Commissioner Carollo: -- 6 p.m., also?
Chair Russell: Yes.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay.
Chair Russell: So Mr. Rose.
Commissioner Carollo: It's a companion item for (UNINTELLIGIBLE)?
Chair Russell: Yes.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay.
Christopher Rose (Director): Good afternoon, Commissioners. Chris Rose, Office
of Management and Budget. We have two items before you. BU.1 is a holdover
from the July 25 agenda and your offices all received that report back on July 25, so
if l could just ask that the Commission accept it, and we can move on to B U.2.
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Chair Russell: You need a motion for that?
Mr. Rose: I don't think I do, no.
Chair Russell: You do or do not?
Mr. Rose: I do not; no, sir.
Chair Russell: Okay. We accept.
Mr. Rose: Thank you. I just didn't want it to come back one more time.
BU.2 BUDGET DISCUSSION ITEM
4972 MONTHLY REPORT
Office of I. SECTION 2-497 OF THE CITY CODE OF ORDINANCES
Management and (RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE DIRECTOR OF MANAGEMENT AND
Budget BUDGET)
II. SECTION 18-502 (CITY'S ANTI -DEFICIENCY ACT)
III. SECTION 18-542 (FINANCIAL INTEGRITY PRINCIPLES)
RESULT: DISCUSSED
Mr. Rose: So the general ledger for the City soft -closed last Friday, on the 18th. We
are projected to hard -close tomorrow, so it really is a hard time to give you a solid
report on what's going on. We're 23 days into the new fiscal year, so there's nothing
to report on the new fiscal year yet. The old fiscal year, though, also remains hard
to project. There's a number of un posted accounts, accounts payables, journal
entries, planned transfers, employee payouts, and capital transfers still to be done,
so it's still in motion as the year ends. With that caveat said, we are expecting to
have a surplus at the end of this year. We are expecting to grow the City's general
fund somewhat, slightly, but I'm not willing to go on the record at this time as to how
much it is, because of so many things in play. The year-end closeout will come
before you at the November 21 agenda. We'll bring both an operating and a capital
before you; that is still being drafted. There are some changes that we do expect,
such as transferring funds that are in non -departmental right now into capital for the
Overtown Youth Center. There is an emergency repair at Blanche Park that we've
had to do, and some transfers to the Disaster Fund, associated with Dorian. Even
though Dorian did not hit the City of Miami, we did do a lot of preparation. We do
have three departments that we're looking at possibly going over budget at this time.
They are Public Works, Capital Improvements, and Human Services; most of it
having to do with timing, but we're still watching all of those things. Again, it's very
preliminary, and I'd be happy to take any questions that you may have.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay. I --
Chair Russell: Commissioner Carollo.
Commissioner Carollo: You just said that we have three departments that are going
to be possibly over budget.
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Mr. Rose: Yes, sir.
Commissioner Carollo: We just started the new fiscal year.
Mr. Rose: I'm sorry; I couldn't hear you.
Commissioner Carollo: We just started the new fiscal year.
Mr. Rose: No; over budget for last fiscal year that we were just -- that we just
ended.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay. So you're not extending this to this one; we're just
dealing strictly with last fiscal year's budget?
Mr. Rose: Correct.
Commissioner Carollo: And you don't know yet if we were over budget or not in
those departments?
Mr. Rose: It -- there's still a lot in play. I do believe that we're going to have three
of them over budget, but it could change between now and the final, final numbers.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah. That concerns me, Chris, because if you're going to
write a check, you better know what's in the bank account.
Mr. Rose: Yes, sir.
Commissioner Carollo: And --
Mr. Rose: And we will when we bring it to you
Commissioner Carollo: Well, yeah, but the problem is if you don't know now, that
doesn't give me a lot of comfort for what's been happening.
Mr. Rose: Well, the books are not closed yet, and that causes some uncertainty as
we go forward.
Commissioner Carollo: For sure. That leaves us -- so we could juggle around and
pay Peter and take it from Paul, or vice -versa, and --
Mr. Rose: Well, for instance, in Human Services, the Homeless Program, there is a
grant that we were expecting to come from the Homeless Trust that has not come yet,
so it's a timing issue. It'll be recognized in the new year. But the authority is not
therefor the last year, so we will need to bring this to you.
Chair Russell: [ice Chairman.
t Ice Chair Gort: Do we have a contract --
Fice Chair Gort: -- with Homeless Trust, where they have to pay an amount?
Mr. Rose: -- have a contract, but this -- but the functions that happened in that
actually did exceed, but we have assurances from the Homeless Trust that they will
cover it. In fact, Milton's going to be talking to them tomorrow about this very issue.
It actually -- the same exact thing happened last year. It --
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Vice Chair Gort: Did it exceed because of any emergencies or --?
Mr. Rose: It has to do with the families going into the hotels, the homeless families,
and we often lag on this one; in fact, it's happened the last two years.
Chair Russell: Any further questions for Mr. Rose? Hearing none, all -- no vote
necessary.
Commissioner Carollo: No vote.
Chair Russell: Thank you very much. Commissioner Carollo.
Mr. Rose: Thankyou, Commissioners.
Commissioner Carollo: No, there -- there's no vote.
Chair Russell: All right.
Commissioner Carollo: Did you have anything -- well, let's see.
END OF BUDGET
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City Commission Meeting Minutes October 24, 2019
DI - DISCUSSION ITEMS
DIA DISCUSSION ITEM
6417 A DISCUSSION ITEM, TO BE HEARD BY THE MIAMI CITY
Department of Real COMMISSION, REVIEWING THE ADMINISTRATION'S FINDINGS,
Estate and Asset RELATED TO OLYMPIA THEATER'S FUTURE OPERATION,
Management WHICH MAY INCLUDE, WITHOUT LIMITATION, PARTNERING
WITH MIAMI-DADE COLLEGE; RELEASING A REQUEST FOR
PROPOSALS; OR, SOME COMBINATION THEREOF.
MOTION TO:
Continue
RESULT:
CONTINUED
MOVER:
Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
SECONDER:
Ken Russell, Commissioner
AYES:
Russell, Gort, Carollo, Reyes, Hardemon
Note for the Record. Item DLI was continued to the November 21, 2019, Regular
Commission Meeting.
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item DZ1, please see "Order of the
Day. "
DI.2
DISCUSSION ITEM
6300
A DISCUSSION ITEM REGARDING A QUARTERLY REPORT OF
EXPENSES INCURRED, BUT NOT REIMBURSABLE, SHALL BE
Department of
PRESENTED TO THE CITY COMMISSION. THE FINANCE
Finance
DEPARTMENT HAS DETERMINED AND IS REPORTING FOR THE
QUARTER ENDED JUNE 30, 2019, THERE WERE NO GRANT
EXPENSES INCURRED DEEMED TO BE NON -REIMBURSABLE BY
THE RELATED FUNDERS.
RESULT: DISCUSSED
Chair Russell: The last remaining item for the morning is DI2, discussion on
unreimbursed grant expenditures.
Commissioner Carollo: That's the one.
Chan -Russell: Good morning.
Erica Paschal (Director): Good morning, Commissioners. Erica Paschal, with the
Finance Department. Per Financial Integrity Principles, we are required to report
anv non -reimbursable expenditures on a quarterly basis. For the gnarter ending
June 30, 2019, there are none to report.
Chair Rnssell: Thank von very ninth. Any questions? All right.
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DI.3 DISCUSSION ITEM
6559 A DISCUSSION REGARDING VALIDATING THE MIAMI FOREVER
City Manager's BOND TRANCHE 1.
Office
MOTION TO:
Withdraw
RESULT:
WITHDRAWN
MOVER:
Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
SECONDER:
Ken Russell, Commissioner
AYES:
Russell, Gort, Carollo, Reyes, Hardemon
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item DL3, please see "Order of the
Day. "
DI.4
DISCUSSION ITEM
6653
A DISCUSSION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION PROVIDING
AN UPDATE ON THE STATUS OF THE NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN
Department of Real
THE CITY OF MIAMI AND MIAMI FREEDOM PARK, LLC FOR THE
Estate and Asset
LEASE AND DEVELOPMENT OF A SOCCER STADIUM, PUBLIC
Management
PARK, TECHNOLOGY HUB, ART AND ENTERTAINMENT SPACES,
FOOD AND BEVERAGE VENUES, AND A HOTEL AND
CONFERENCE CENTER WITH ANCILLARY COMMERCIAL USES
AT 1400 NW 37TH AVENUE.
MOTION TO:
Defer
RESULT:
DEFERRED
MOVER:
Joe Carollo, Commissioner
SECONDER:
Ken Russell, Commissioner
AYES:
Russell, Gort, Carollo, Hardemon
ABSENT:
Reyes
Note for the Record. Item DI.4 was deferred to the November 12, 2019, Special
Commission Meeting.
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item DL4, please see "Order of the
Day" and Item PH.8.
END OF DISCUSSION ITEMS
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PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR PZ ITEM(S)
Chair Russell: All right. We do have a time certain item, which is the Centner
Academy appeal, which is --
Vice Chair Gort: We also have Smathers.
Chair Russell: What's that?
Vice ChairGort: Smathers.
Chair Russell: Smathers.
Unidentified Speaker: Yes.
Chair Russell: How much time do we need for the Smathers item? All right. So
what I'd like to do is open up public comment for all PZ (Planning and Zoning)
items remaining at this one time. So everyone -- anyone who is here to speak on
any of the remaining agenda, and that does not include soccer, because that is now
being deferred to another special meeting. If you are here to speak on any of the
Planning and Zoning items, please approach the lecterns. Hello. So you'll have
two minutes to speak. Please just give us your name and the item you're speaking
on. You'll hear a beep at the 30-second point, which is your moment to start
wrapping it up. And this is for any of the Planning and Zoning items remaining,
including the time certain items, as well. I can't hear you, I'm sorry.
Unidentified Speaker: She needs a translator.
Chair Russell: Translator? No problem. Do you want --? Is there anyone here to
speak that hasn't been sworn in yet? Are there folks who haven't been sworn in?
Mr. Clerk, if you could administer the oath once more, please.
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): For anyone that has not had the oath administered
and you're here to speak on any Planning and Zoning items, may I please have you
stand and raise your right hand? Again, that's for someone who has not had the
oath administered as of this time.
The City Clerk administered oath required under City Code Section 62-1 to those
persons giving testimony on zoning items.
Mr. Hannon: Thankyou, Chair.
Chair Russell: Thank you very much. Hello, ma'am. Your name and the item you'd
like to speak on.
Julia Pulles: Thank you very much. My name is Julia Pulles, at 2034 Southwest
22nd Terrace. I am hereto speak and ask you to please approve Ordinance PZ.24.
The reason why I'm here today in support of this is because it corrects the issues
which have arisen without -- why? Because it will allow for individual ownership
of the units on the lots. This helps to amend Ordinance 13114, Article 7, Section
7176 through the severability clause. Thank you very much.
Chair Russell: Thank you for your advocacy. "Hola, senor. "
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Jesus Barieras (As translated by Official Spanish Interpreter Alfredo T arela):
Good afternoon. I'm Jesus Barieras on the (UNINTELLIGIBLE) Association.
Chair Russell: Actually, if the translator could speak really clearly, please.
Mr. Barieras (As translated by Official Spanish Interpreter Alfredo T arela): We
had other buildings, one that would have --
Chair Russell: Again, I can't hear you. You need to speak super clear.
Mr. Barieras: "Nosotros teniamos" --
Chair Russell: "El esta Bien. " You, I need -- you, I can't hear.
Mr. T arela: I just needed him to repeat --
Chair Russell: Okay.
Mr. T arela: --so I could hear what he said.
Mr. Barieras (As translated by Official Spanish Interpreter Alfredo T arela): We
had several buildings -- one was 13 floors and one was six -- in Smart Plaza. Now
we have the new one that's five floors. What I'd like to bring forward to you is that
the residents there are very happy with what's been done with the building, and
everything that's been done there. Now we have 315 apartments and we have an
eating area within that area, and it's very necessary, because all the people there
are of the third age. And I've seen the plans, and I hope that it's going to be built.
From what I've seen, it's eight stories. So it's in the eating area that was there
before, but now we're going to have a new one; it's larger, modern, because the
other one was the construction for 67. And we need your help, because of Albert
Milo, the T ice President Albert Milo, and he's helping the elderly community
incredibly and we need 10 of him, and he's integrated himself with the people of the
third age in helping everybody.
Chair Russell: Thank you for your comments.
Mr. Barieras (As translated by Official Spanish Interpreter Alfredo T arela):
Please, I hope that the construction finishes as quickly as possible.
Chair Russell: Thank you for your comments. Good afternoon.
Frank Pulles: How are you doing?
Chair Russell: Good.
Mr. Pulles: Frank Pulles. I'm a homeowner on 22nd Terrace, a very long
homeowner; my childhood home. I'm seeking support from the Commission for
PZ.24, which calls for individual lot ownership, and we'd like to preserve that. This
is a neighborhood going back to the '40s that's always enjoyed and had that, and
we want to preserve that, so thank you for that.
Chair Russell: Thanks for your comment. Hello.
Brian Long: Hello. My name's Brian Long. I'm a homeowner on Buena T ista
West, as well as a small business owner. I'm here to support PZ.5, Centner
Academy. I think it's great that we are diversifying our neighborhood. I think the
children of the neighborhood need options, and there are a few options there. I
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think we can add some more options into the picture to make it a better environment
for all of our kids, and I think Centner is a great opportunity for the neighborhood.
Thank you.
Chair Russell:
Thanks for your comment. Hello, sir.
Alan Schwarz:
How are you?
Chair Russell:
Good. Thankyou.
Mr. Schwarz:
Good. I'm here to speak in support of PZ.12, which is the extension
of the use of the nightclub --
Mr. Hannon:
I'm sorry, Chair; if we could get the speaker's name.
Chair Russell:
I'll get it.
Mr. Schwarz:
Okay.
Chair Russell:
Your name, please.
Mr. Schwarz: My name is Alan Schwarz. I'm the President of the Marquis Owners
Association. The Marquis is a 65-story, 300-unit, 130-room hotel structure, which
occupies the block front between Biscayne Boulevard and 2nd Avenue. As such, we
are the closest building to the building which houses Ell even. Ell even is
separated from our building by a surface parking lot and a one-story chiller
building. Accordingly and simply stated, that building is our neighbor to the west
Of us. The structures -- the only new building that was built has been one that has
built -- been built west of us in the huge vacant area that is just east of Route 95.
Their presence and omnipresent security in the immediate area west of us is a huge
benefit to the Residential Towers, especially at night. Ell even has had a true good
neighbor policy, and, in fact, joined my tower in terminating the window -rattling
noise that came from the now silenced warehouse nightclubs between the
Residential Towers on Biscayne and their facility further to the west. On behalf of
the residents of the Marquis and the ownership of the Gabriel Hotel, which is
located in the base of our building, we respectfully urge your board to grant
Ell even their use extension that they are seeking. Ell even's continued presence in
our neighborhood is clearly an asset to our community. Finally, as I am sure you
all understand, Ell even is a custom purpose structure, unique for their use. If
Ell even does not have the ability to ensure the continued use in their current
facility, their commitment to --
Chair Russell: Thank you.
Mr. Schwarz: -- our area will, of course, decline, and that will, of course, be of no
benefit to the Residential Towers.
Chair Russell: Thank you very much. Could I ask --
Mr. Schwarz: Thank you.
Chair Russell: --the chambers just for some quiet, please? I know there's a lot of
conversations going on; if you could take them in the lobby. Thank you very much.
Good afternoon.
Michael Slyder: Good evening, Commissioners. My name is Michael Slyder.
There are two people that are going to yield time to me.
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Joseph Gajardo: My name is Joseph Gajardo. I'm going to give my time to Mike
Slyder.
Abraham Mendoza: My name is Abraham Mendoza, and I yield my time.
Chair Russell: Six minutes, please.
Mr. Slyder: Yes. Thank you. I would like to submit for the record a letter that I
sent to Jackie Ellis, Chief of Land Development, to request that the record be
corrected. There are a number of issues with this exception; not to mention that
Ell even, which used to be Gold Rush, never had adult use; never applied for it.
And Mr. Schwarz is incorrect, by the way. He's not the closest residential dwelling
to that establishment; Park Place is, and it's 387 feet away from Ell even. Part of
the problem with this exception is that it starts out with a gross misrepresentation.
They can only get 20 years extension according to 726(A); not 30 years. So it's 20
years they should be asking for. The operators have shown had faith and had
conduct over the last several years, including, but not limited to, they constructed
deliberately an open-air terrace, and played music for three and a half years,
deliberately and illegally violating not only Section 365, but also their 2013
warrant. Some of you know that I ran MEDA, the Miami Entertainment District
Association. And part of that -- Commissioner Gort, you and I worked together in
Allapattah with an Off -Duty Policing Program. Part of that was, as I said, the Off -
Duty Policing Program. I resigned MEDA in December 2017. Ell even took over,
killed MEDA, formed a new for profit company called Nas, and Nas runs the off -
duty program. FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) records show that Nas did not
pay their City surcharges for 11 months in 2018, and only recently paid them. The
application for the exception also includes another gross misrepresentation in that
the staff -- the Planning staff said, and I quote, "There were no calls for police
service since April 17, 2018. " I did a FOIA records request, and there are 453
calls for service. So it's not zero; it's 453 calls for service. And as I said in the
previous Commission hearing a month ago, 10 of those calls were illegally
redacted. They were illegally redacted, but they weren't done well, and we were
able to un-redact them. And for whatever reason, the Miami Police Department
has decided to redact eight aggravated assaults, presumably with weapons, and two
sex offenses. I'm requesting a few things from the Commission. One, I'd like the
Mayor and the Chief of Police to immediately suspend Nas' off -duty policing,
pending a full investigation. I think all of us have seen the NBC (National
Broadcasting Company) 6 video of the exotic dancer doing handstands on a police
car. That, by the way, was in the front of Club Ell even. 726(A), gentlemen, reads
as follows: "The Commission may grant by exception an extension for continuance
of the use for an additional term of up to 20 years. " I understand there's a lot of
different forces at play here, and I get it. I'm realistic. I don't think they deserve
one day of that 20 year extension, but please do not give them 20 years. Think
about giving them five. You may look at this audience and see that there's probably
no one here in opposition of this strip club; no resident. In fact, we just had a
resident support it. You may ask why. Well, recently, there was an email sent from
Mr. Schwarz, who appeared in support of Club Ell even, to Amal Kabbani, who is
the President of the Downtown Neighbors Alliance, and I read it as follows -- this is
a quote directly from an email from Mr. Schwarz -- "Amal, I have just gotten off the
phone with Louis Terminello, the lawyer who represents Ell even, and all the
surrounding property on 11 th Street is owned by that same owner. " Mr. Terminello
is the lawyer who worked with me to close Heart Nightclub. So I'm wondering why
a lawyer who's representing a nightclub is working with the Association President
of Marquis Condominium to close a competitive business. Mr. Terminello should
be looking to speak with you and other City officials. Mr. Schwarz should be
calling Code Enforcement and seeking violations. I wanted to say to you, I was
MEDA President for seven years. I volunteered thousands of hours of my time, and
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I think I did good work for the City, including many fundraisers for kids and for
seniors. Look, integrity counts for something. These guys, you cannot reward them
for their bad behavior. I'm asking you to look at the statute. It says very clearly in
the PZAB (Planning, Zoning and Appeals Board), Ms. -- Madam City Attorney --
the PZAB on July 17, your -- one of your attorneys said it is one shot they get for
the exception for up to 20 years; up to. I'm asking you to consider less than 20, and
I hope that you'll considerfive. Thankyou.
Chair Russell: Thank you for your comments. Is anyone else here for public
comment on any of the Planning and Zoning items for the afternoon? Please
approach the lecterns.
Joyce Frohman: Good day. My name is Joyce Frohman, and I am here to support
PZ.5 on behalf of the Centner Academy. I am a business owner, I am a mother of a
nine -year -old, and I believe this school should be allowed, because it's going to
help our community. It's going to help not only the community from the area, but
many children that need a different type of school. This school is going to bring a
different value to our children, and it should be allowed. And I also stand by the
belief that Leila and David Centner has a lot to add to our community; they already
have. Through my business, they have helped me bring 2,500 children. By the way,
I am the owner of FunDimension, in Wynwood, a family entertainment center for
those who know. And before I met them, I was able to bring by myself a year a
number of 300 to 500 children that could never afford to get a break to come to a
place and have fun, because they are allowed to smile. There's a lot of children in
Miami that will never make it close to Disney World or Miami Beach. And because
of Leila and David, my business now is bringing this year 2,500 children from
Overtown Youth Center, from Allapattah, from Wynwood, from -- everything --
from Homestead, from Hialeah. From everywhere in Miami, we're doing this. So I
believe that I'm here to support the school. Sorry for my -- I'm nervous. Sorry
about that.
Chair Russell: You did excellent. Thankyou very much --
Ms. Frohman: Thankyou.
Chair Russell: --for your comments. Good evening.
Arlene McPhee: Good evening. My name is Arlene McPhee, and I live directly
next door to the Centner Academy. I'm here to support them, and I'm here to speak
on behalf of my brother, Allen McPhee, and my mother, who's 85 years old. We've
been at that property since 1971. We've seen the changes in the neighborhood. My
brother died in that neighborhood. So I've seen the changes, and I didn't tell
anyone here about that, because I wanted to wait till the right opportunity. But that
opp -- that neighborhood has gone through numerous changes, and since they
decided to make a school, we see the difference. It's a beautiful addition to the
community. My mother support it. At 85 years old, she said she'd rather see a
school somewhere where children are laughing and playing, no matter where they
come from, no matter what economic background they are; children are children.
And any time you bring education to a community, that says something about your
community. I just want to let everyone know that we support it, and if there's to be
people who are angry and upset and not wanting the school, it should be my
mother. We're right next door. We were there when they were building the school.
We were there when they brought the bulldozers, the paint, all of the stuff. And I
could not say anything but positive things, and especially that it's going to be a
brain -- it's a great addition. That's all I have to say. Thankyou.
Chair Russell: Thank you for your comments. Madam Holmes.
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Renita Holmes: I apologize. I'm wearing a back brace and I'm trying my best to be
brief, as well. I came back for this item, because -- Madam Holmes again, WAT E
of Women in Public Housing, Our Homes. That's a neighborhood -- and my
condolences to the lady there. I know this very well. I live a couple of blocks up,
but the block adjacent to it, my niece was shot, over 347 bullets, and the young man
with her. We did not know while driving through traffic -- at that time, I lived much
further north of there, and I heard the shots 2 o'clock in the morning. By the time
we got there, there was no traffic. My sister-in-law worked at the post office very
close, and she was robbed. So I understand this neighborhood. But most
importantly, when we began to organize Buena I ista with Acorn, and we were
talking about the red -lining, I knew the (UNINTELLIGIBLE). In working with CAA
and Social Services, I learned that many of the Head Start vouchers that were taken
out -- because those funds, they are mostly use for Head Start vouchers. Head Start
Center was moved further south towards Brickell, and you would have to talk to
Eileen Higgins and the rest of them about that, and CAA. And so, being an
educated woman that lived in a neighborhood that lost blood, sweat, and tears, I
understand saying about many children that's coming, but I'm more concerned
about my children there, as I still have nieces, nephews, and cousins that live; at
least four houses in ownership. I'm concerned that this is precedent when we allow
certain commercial zoning or schools for other folks, and we're closing the schools
in the area; if not subjecting the parents who have a poverty that live exactly one
block away to not qualifying for schools like that. So I see the changes, too. But
how -- very most important, the day I see a change that I like is because Planning
and Zoning and the level of participation of working parents -- black ones, Haitian
ones, Spanish ones -- they're not here, that's who I want to hear from, because if'
you coming in my neighborhood to help other people and then you work and then
you leave and you go back to your neighborhood, and I can't come over there, and
tell you that I know most of the time when we're building schools this day and the
schools don't -- and all of them are being involved -- we're building buildings that
are going to expand, that the people are there are not affordable. And I live in
District 5. Don't give it to me. I've been lobbying all my life. I love patterns and
trends. But here's one that you all was trying to step away from the status quo, and
I'm so grateful for you. We allow one in on Miami 21, we have no foresight about
the expansion up. We have a neighborhood full of homeowners that are now
sequestered by tall buildings and traffic increases and things happen, and little
traffic reports --
Commissioner Carollo: Ma'am --
Ms. Holmes: -- if -- I'm closing -- traf -- but I'm talking about the prerequisites
about impact --
Chair Russell: Yeah.
Ms. Holmes: --knowing the full impact. I can close with this --
Chair Russell: Thank you.
Ms. Holmes: -- we have five homeowners association. I ain't heard an
(UNINTELLIGIBLE) about the project. Stop blaming and playing violins on
children to come, and deal with the children that still living in the streets and
crossing the streets. Thank you very much.
Chair Russell: Thank you for your comments. Thank you. If there's anyone else
who'd like to speak, please everybody, line up at the lectern so we can move
through it efficiently. I know it's been a long day for everyone. So, please,
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everyone come up to the lecterns, anyone who would like to speak on any of the
remaining Planning and Zoning items. Hello, sir.
Nicholas Osborne: Hello. Good afternoon. My name is Nicholas Osborne. I'm
here to support --
Chair Russell: If you could pull the mike up.
Mr. Osborne: -- PZ.5, in support of the Centner Academy. I was born and raised
in South Florida, and the one thing that made a lot of people from our generation
move or not do anything, or even go anywhere in life was fear. There's two
responses we know about fear; that's fight or flight. But I believe there's one more,
and that's to be frozen. If you can't run and you can't fight, you freeze. And I
believe that my generation, many people in this life are frozen. And one of the
things that has been on the back burner in our country has been education. How do
I know this? This is a personal example: I went to Kenya when I was 17 years old
-- I (UNINTELLIGIBLE) shared this story -- and I was in a school in the slums and
I seen a bunch of kids in a room and I looked at their paper, and I thought the
paper was black. But it wasn't black. It was a bunch of writing that was written
really small. And the kids were writing three to four different languages very small
so they could learn their lessons, because in their country, learning languages is the
key to success, so they can move on. The kid I talked to, I looked at his paper, he
was seven years old and he could speak my language, and he was living in a slum
area. And what I believe that this school will allow kids to do is push themselves,
and it will be a great place for people on the outside in this area to look and see
what kids can do when they're pushed to learn different things, different languages,
and all the things that the Centner Academy is pushing; as well as they're giving
opportunity for kids like me, who didn't have a lot growing up, to be educated and
pushed in this way. And as we all know, kids need education. We start in Miami
with education. Every day kids are born. The first thing we do is learn. So we
need to approve this and make sure that we get this going. So thank you for your
time, guys.
Chair Russell: Thank you for your comments.
Dorothy Flowers: Hello.
Chair Russell: Hello.
Ms. Flowers: I'm Dorothy Evans Flowers, a mother of seven young men; five have
graduated high school; two of the seven graduated college. That's my oldest there.
These are the younger three. But I come here to support PZ.5. Just knowing Ms.
Leila and her husband personally, and I know the support that he's given me along
the way, even though I'm retired from the postal service for 14 years; still, that
hand, they was always there for me. And it's a great opportunity for the kids to
learn a different language. Like three of my seven kids are -- they're not my
biological kids, but I've raised them, with the Lord's help. But I couldn't teach them
Spanish. The only Spanish I knew is from Ruben Dario at Miami Senior High. But
it's a great opportunity if they can learn another language. I'm just supporting --
here in support of that, knowing them personally, and I think it's a good idea. We
all can get along and build a community. That's just me.
Chair Russell: Thank you for your comments.
Ms. Flowers: Thank you.
Chair Russell: Does he have anything to say?
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Ms. Flowers: Yes. Tell him what you said outside. Tell him what you said. You
said, "yes, " right? Tell them, "I said 'yes.
Unidentified Speaker: Yeah.
Ms. Flowers: Amen, amen. Don't eat it now. Thankyou.
Chair Russell: Thank you for your comments. That was beautiful. Good evening.
Leila Centner: Hi, everyone; glad we're finally here; been a long journey this
summer, trying to get this face time. But what I want to say is that there's a lot of
fear that's been going around from certain neighbors, but we've spoken to many
neighbors, and we have petitions of over 80 people in the neighborhood that are all
in support of the school. We also already have three kids in the neighborhood who
are on scholarship for the school, specifically in the neighborhood; not to mention
the other scholarships that we have. This school is about happiness. This isn't
really about traffic. This is about egos that were bruised, because we didn't ask
permission the way the -- certain people in the association wanted us to ask
permission, and because we didn't do that, they're out to get us in this manner. In
addition, one of -- the main person who has filed an appeal -- and I'd like to put this
on record -- has requested $3 million for his home that's worth $400, 000, in order
for us to pull out of the appeal. So people are attacking us, because we have
money; yet, it's about the money. And I have witnesses that have heard this, and
I've got evidence in writing if that needs to come out. And for the record, his name
is KirkMunguia, Jr., and he is the one who requested $3 million for him to pull out
of this appeal, and I think that that's really wrong. You don't do that and then try
and defame us, and splash our name all over the news when you're the ones that are
trying to get money from us for your own needs. So I just wanted to make sure that
that got out there.
Chair Russell: Thank you for your comments.
Ms. Centner: Thankyou.
Mr. Hannon: Chair, if I could get the speaker's name.
Chair Russell: Your name, please, for the record, Ms. Centner.
Ms. Centner: Leila Centner, with CentnerAcademy.
Chair Russell: Thankyou. Mr. Fried.
Jim Fried: Hi, Commissioner. Thank you. Jim Fried, 555 Northeast 34th Street.
I'm here to speak on PZ.22 and PZ.23. These items pertain to the City of Miami
Riverside Center at 444 Southwest 2nd Avenue. I know that Commissioner Carollo
and Commissioner Gort have strong opinions on this issue. I look forward to
hearing their comments. I know that real estate deals are very complicated. There
appear to be marry unanswered questions on this particular transaction. I want to
thank everybody so much for taking another look
Chair Russell: I believe those two items have been continued to the next meeting in
November.
Mr. Fried: They've been continued? Okay. Thankyou so much.
Chair Russell: Thank you for your comments. Is there anyone else here who would
like to speak on any of the Planning and Zoning items; anything left on our agenda
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today? This is your opportunity. Please approach the lecterns; and everyone else,
line up so that we don't have to wait in between.
Ulysses Kemp: My name is Ulysses --
Chair Russell: Just a moment, Mr. Kemp; just one moment. So just two more
people, or is this line ready -- is this the line to speak? Thank you. I just really
appreciate it so we can sort of gauge the time of how marry folks we have left. Mr.
Kemp, please.
Mr. Kemp: I'd rather wait and let the attorneys go first.
Chair Russell: Okay. Hello, sir.
Kyle Lucy: Hello. So I've had the pleasure to get a relationship and start working
with the Centner family within the last couple of months, and kind of have been
through -- going through the situation.
Chair Russell: Can I get your name, please?
Mr. Lucy: Lucy.
Chair Russell: Thank you.
Mr. Lucy: And so, looking at the situation of the school opening up in the
neighborhood, I'm just looking at the broad scale of what it's doing for the planet,
as this is affiliated with the education system, and we see how that's been going
lately in society. And so, basically, what's happening is I see this is the beginning
Of reverse -engineering the education system of teaching children self-awareness
about spirituality, about happiness, emotional intelligence, learning different
languages, giving opportunity, and freedom. I'm looking at this for the kids; not
necessarily on what's going on in the neighborhood. There's always a lot of
variables that happen in different situations, but looking at what this is going to do
for the planet and where the planet is at -- Planet Earth, Gaia -- I think it's very
important, and this is, you know, catalytic for changing the consciousness and
evolution of this planet, starting with the preschool, kindergarten, then moving to
an elementary school, and then a middle school, a high school, a college, based on
optimizing what it means to be a human being here on Planet Earth. So it's just
kind of funny. It's a little no-brainer to me why I'm -- we're supporting the Centner
Academy and have been around them and the love that they have, and the power
that they can hold to really help change the world. So --
Chair Russell: Thank you for your comments.
Mr. Lucy: -- that is all.
Chair Russell: Thank you.
David Centner: Hi. David Centner. I'd like to speak out for Centner Academy.
It's hard for me to add anything additional to what my wife, Leila, and all these
other folks that have come out here to support the school. I also would like it to be
known that I was a witness, as well, to this attempt to ask us for money, a large sum
Of money, to make this matter go away; for closure, if you will, so I'd like that
known for the record. I appreciate all the time and thoughtful consideration,
Commissioners, that you've made for this school. As a relatively recent transplant
back to my native Miami, it's been a very interesting "How do you do?" coming
back to Miami. One would think it would be a no-brainer that this -- a school that
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promises to uplift humanity and give back to the community and support people
within the community, and make events open for the community that we would
under -- have such obstacles, and it's discouraging. And I hope that when we get
past this -- I hope we get past this in a favorable way -- that we can revisit the
process of appeals for people who try to do good things for the City and to help
streamline the process, because it's sort of discouraging that we have -- required to
contend with the process in this manner. Thankyou.
Chair Russell: Thank you for your comments. Is there anyone else here who'd like
to speak on any of the Planning and Zoning items?
L ice Chair Gort: This is -- we discussing all of them, right?
Chair Russell: All of them.
L ice Chair Gort: Okay.
Chair Russell: Any PZ item that's left on the agenda.
L ice Chair Gort: Is that --?
Chair Russell: Please, everybody, come on up to the lectern.
t ice Chair Gort: I have a Jennings disclosure for Number 5(UNINTELLIGIBLE)..
Chair Russell: Yes. We -- (UNINTELLIGIBLE)..
Rosa Ramos: Good afternoon. My name is Rosa Ramos. I live at 80 Northwest
41 st Street. I am a neighbor, resident of the Buena Vista Heights. There are some
things that are being said that aren't true. We tried working with them, for having
meetings with us. They've done everything the opposite. We wanted for them to
really come and talk with us, talk with the neighborhood. They go out and make
their own little meetings. The people that show up to their meetings are people that
don't live in the neighborhood. There was only three people there that were from
the neighborhood: This young lady right over here, with her babies; a guy by the
name of Fianz (phonetic), who lives in the neighborhood. I believe, also, there was
a young man that's been -- in the back. The rest have not been neighbors. They
don't live there. They don't know what goes on in our neighborhood. Yes, our
neighborhood has had problems. I've lived there 50-some years, okay? We've had
crime; we've had theft; we've had everything that you can imagine. But, you know,
our neighbors, they stick together, and when they see something going on, they call.
We have one gentleman who -- be on the phone every five minutes until we got a
police officer to stop the drugs in our neighborhood, and you know that's true,
okay? We've worked very hard to get our neighborhood back into its place. It's not
that we don't want the school; it's just that what is making us fight for our
neighborhood is the traffic, the movement, the upgrading of land that they've
bought to make it commercial, because they have to do that to make it a parking lot.
It's ruining our neighborhood. Investors are actually ruining our neighborhood,
and I kind of blame all of you --
Chair Russell: Thank you.
Ms. Ramos: -- all of you, because you're letting investors take over. We have a
bunch of empty lots, because people think that we're going to sell out so that they
can build.
Chair Russell: Thank you for your comments.
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Ms. Ramos: Okay? I hope you really listen to us and understand.
Chair Russell: Thank you.
Ms. Ramos: I have one more thing to say.
Chair Russell: Your time is up, ma'am; I'm sorry.
Ms. Ramos: But you had one talk a little longer. I wish I had the money to invest in
you, but I don't. Other people have invested in you, and you've kept quiet.
Chair Russell: Ma'am, thank you for your comments. The time is up.
Ms. Ramos: But I don't -- I think you need to think about that. Think your
conscience --
Chair Russell: Ma'am --
Ms. Ramos: -- and your -- and think --
Chair Russell: -- I'm going to turn off your microphone.
Ms. Ramos: -- really of what you're doing.
Chair Russell: Next speaker, please.
Robin Porter: Robin Porter, representing Buena t ista East Neighborhood
Association.
Commissioner Hardemon: I just want to give a shout out to my mother for
investing in me to making sure that I'm where I need to be, because, clearly, that's
who she's talking about -- right? -- my mother investing in me. Thank you.
Ms. Porter: All right. So we think that this was approved by the Planning and
Zoning Board in error. The traffic study -- there was no traffic study done by the
City, so we're going to have a huge issue with traffic once the railroad crossing at
42nd Street opens at Northeast 4th Court, and I'm hoping I could get everybody's
attention, but I had the attention of two and a half people. I'm a teacher; that
doesn't work. I really need your attention, please.
Unidentified Speaker: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Ms. Porter: Well, not only that, but we're missing two. The traffic study wasn't
done by the City; it was done by a private organization. They compared the area to
Brickell, which is non -similar, completely. This is an office building, zoned T4; it's
not a school. The parking is an issue. The parking lot that is T3-L, Miami 21
doesn't even talk about T3-L being converted to a parking lot for a commercial
property. The traffic has increased already because of the Design District and the
museum, the ICA (Institute of Contemporary Art). This is a regular problem. I
have two residents on that street that both have seen a tremendous increase in
traffic. And once the railroad crossing opens, that's a huge problem. They have
said they're going to cut the number of students down to 120, but they said they're
going to expand. And they currently have an application for up -zoning for the
entire corner, which they own all three properties. PZ.19-2801, as last checked, is
still active. We ask you to shut this down and approve the appeal. This does not
belong there. Schools are great. I am a public schoolteacher, 20 years; 20 years.
This doesn't help our neighborhood, because most of these people are coming from
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the South Beach, Coconut Grove; anywhere where they can afford $25, 000 tuition.
Our school -- I -- it's wonderful that they gave three scholarships, but it doesn't
support the burden that the rest of the neighborhood will have to bear. Thank you.
Chair Russell: Thank you very much. Next speaker, please.
Darina Munguia: "Hola, todo el mundo. You necesito tin interpreter."
Chair Russell: "Momento, por favor. "
Ms. Munguia: "You hablo un poco ingles. "
Ms. Munguia (as translated by Official Spanish Interpreter Alfredo b arela): Good
afternoon, everybody. God bless you all. Everything that I'm saying here is based
on God, because everything that I'm saying here is no lie; everything is based on
truth. My name is Darina Munguia. I'm living in 37 Northwest -- over 40 years.
My kids arrived there young. I'd like to tell you all the truth. I'd like to tell you the
truth about something that happened. A teacher there came with a list, and she told
us that we needed to sign. My husband then asked her, "For what?" They had told
us that it was to be able to open a school there. It seemed excellent for us based on
the way that she had told us; that it was going to be 95 kids only, and 95 kids is
nothing. But now she wants to grow, just like any other rich person. In that area,
my house is the one that's closest to the area. There was a lot of noise when they
were constructing that school. There was no peace; there was a lot of cars, there
was a lot of trucks, there was a lot of noise. My husband and I are already elderly
people, and we don't have the heart to think of something that's had. I come here to
speak the truth, to say that my child is a child of God, and that everybody that
speaks through God --
Chair Russell:
"Muchisimas gracias, senora. "
Ms. Munguia:
-- and whoever speaks the truth is a child of God.
Chair Russell:
Thank you very much for your comments. "Gracias. "
Ms. Munguia:
I'd like to tell you that my child doesn't need to accept any money,
glory to God.
And I don't think that my child has said -- or my son has said things
that are not true;
I don't think that, because, glory to God, we care for them all.
Chair Russell:
"Gracias, senora." Thankyou.
Ms. Munguia:
I leave it to --for it to be your criteria to decide, and that God be --
to be the final decider, to be just.
Chair Russell:
Okay. "Gracias. "
Ms. Munguia:
Because having a very tall school does not benefit us; a lot of
people, a lot of cars.
Chair Russell:
"Gracias. " Thank you. Okay. "Gracias, senora. " Thank you.
Thank you so much.
Ms. Munguia:
God bless you all.
Chair Russell:
Thank you. Are there any other speakers for public comment on all
Planning and
Zoning items? Anyone else? And I'd ask the appellant or appellees
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to not -- to wait for the item to come up. Are you a --? You're an appellant; am I
correct?
Mr. Kemp: Yes.
Chair Russell: Are you a member of the appellant?
Mr. Kemp: Yes.
Chair Russell: Yes. So why don't we wait until the item is up, and then we'll give
equal time to both sides.
Mr. Kemp: Thank you.
Chair Russell: At this point, we're just opening public -- comment from the public.
Is there any more public comment on any of the Planning and Zoning items
remaining? I'm about to close public comment if not. Ma'am, you already spoke, I
believe.
Ms. Flowers: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Chair Russell: I'm sorry?
Ms. Flowers: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Chair Russell: No, ma'am. I'm sorry; you already had the time.
William Riley, Jr.: Mr. Chairman, just as a point of order.
Chair Russell: Yes.
Mr. Riley: My name is Bill Riley. I'm an attorney, representing the Centner
Academy. I'm going to make an argument that Mr. Ulysses Kemp is not an
appellant, and if my argument carries today, he may want to speak now; but, of
course, it's up to the will of the board. But part of my argument is he is not an
appellant.
Chair Russell: Okay. Thank you. That's been noted. Commissioner -- Tice
Chairman.
Lice Chair Gort: I have a Jennings disclosure; that I met with the attorneys. I met
some of the people who live within the neighborhood.
Chair Russell: All right. Thank you. Mr. Kemp, that gentleman in front -- was just
in front of you; that gentleman right there. All right. Mr. Kemp, go ahead. I would
say -- give you two minutes. If you'd like to try to join as an appellant on the
discussion, it sounds like it's going to be challenged, but this will give you two
minutes now; and then, if you are an appellant, which will be determined, I -- we're
not aware of that -- then you'll be able to continue. But you get your two minutes
now regardless. That's not going to be held against you in any way.
Mr. Kemp: Okay. When I said that I was an appellant, I'm a supporting appellant.
The appellant that is actually on the paperwork is going to be Kirk Munguia and his
mother and father; however, Kirk is in the hospital at this point in time. He's been
in there since Monday, and right now, I'm not certain when he's going to come out,
but he is the actual appellant, and the attorney was going to speak on that;
however, since I'm going to be speaking anyway, I would like to let you know that
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the neighborhood associations have been trying to make -- organize and meet with
the Centners to try to get the neighborhood involved. I've been the President of
Buena L ista Heights Neighborhood for quite some time. When I send out my
paperwork, I get response; I get participation from the neighborhood. The
Centners, they came in and they decided that, initially, they were going to have a
meeting along with us. At the day that we were supposed to sit and make the
arrangements, which we had already gave a date and everything, they decided to go
out and post their own flyers to have a separate meeting the day before the meeting
was supposed to happen that we were supposed to have. Again, that was the initial
way they started working with the neighborhood, which was really not working with
the neighborhood at all. Also, we've been trying -- I've been trying to meet with
them on numerous occasions, even with the pastor in the neighborhood. I tried to
set up a meeting with Mr. David Centner. He agreed to it and then he cancelled it.
We need to know that we can get the participation -- Believe me, I'm not against a
school. I'm against the problem that we have with the traffic, the noise, and the
other things that's going to be associated with it, such as the facility, the food, the
trash pickup, the people coming and going. It's going to be an initial problem, no
matter how you put it. And also, the fact that they're planning to make this a
kindergarten right now is what they're proposing in front of you guys, but this is a
kindergarten that goes from "K" to the 12th grade. Now, you're talking about 120,
240, and you're talking about 480 cars per day at the kindergarten level. Now,
multiply that the next year and the following year and the following year, because
they're planning to increase each grade level every year. We're talking about over
5, 000 cars when we get to the 12th grade. When you get to the 12th grade, you're
going to be up there, and this neighborhood can't even support the 480 that they're
talking about. How can we have a neighborhood that's going to have that many
cars coming through? Because nobody's going to go down North Miami Avenue.
The traffic is extremely too busy in the morning and in the evening time. They have
no other choice other than to go down 1st Avenue or 2nd Avenue to try to go the
less route of resistance. This is horrendous to even think that they can do
something like that. And then, also, the parcel that they bought on the end of the
block and the Courtney Building, which they also are incorporating with this,
they're planning to change all the zoning on those to go up even higher to like a T6-
8 or something at the end of the block. That's going to look horrible in the
neighborhood; and then, too, on top of that, they're -- already bought houses within
the block, which they're planning to encroach further into the neighborhood.
Chair Russell: Thank you.
Mr. Kemp: This is just a horrible idea for the location of the school. Believe me, I
have absolutely no problem with the school. And Ms. Leila -- Ms. Centner, you
know, she's very passionate about what she's doing. I respect that; however --
Chair Russell: Thank you for your comments; time's up.
Mr. Kemp: -- I think it's the wrong time, wrong place for this to be.
Chair Russell: Thank you for your comments. Is there anyone else here? Oh, we
have one more behind you. Is there anyone else following for public comment?
Osband Thompson: How are you doing?
Chair Russell: Good afternoon; doing well.
Mr. Thompson: I think my mom downplayed my accomplishments. I graduated
college, and also the Firefighter Academy, also.
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Chair Russell: Nice.
Mr. Thompson: I'm just here to say, growing up, my only way out was football.
You know what I mean? Like, I wasn't necessarily the best in school. And I feel
like just having a school join the community will help kids like my younger brothers.
I'm actually in the hiring process to be a police officer with the City of Miami and
also Coral Gables. The reason I chose that, because I wanted to help kids. My
father wasn't around. You know what I mean? I feel like if I can actually go out
and help the community, not only be a security for the school, but also a police
Officer, and it'd help me; it'd help my brothers, also. I feel like the past is the past;
no disrespect to my elders. You know what I mean? But it's time we move on and
make a change. I've been working with the family for about three, four months, and
they always have my best interest. I actually do security for the school -- or I'm
going to once it opens up. I graduated, majored in psychology, and I'm just sitting
here, most thing I hear people talk about is the traffic. As I see, the other people
that are speaking, they care about their community, but, I mean, would you rather
crime or traffic? I feel like having traffic there will minimize the crime, if that's
what your main concern is. Also, I hear people talking about money. I was always
taught -- like you say, your mom invested in you. My mama always invested in me.
I was a (UNINTELLIGIBLE) when I went to school. I got loans myself. I felt like
everyone -- if you have an opportunity, you should take it. You know what I mean?
And these people are trying to give people opportunities, and I feel like the
community is a good -- I mean, the school is a great idea for the community. Thank
you.
Chair Russell: Thank you for your comments. Anyone left for public comment on
arty items? All right. So we're going to close public comment at this time for all
Planning and Zoning items.
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The following item(s) shall not be considered before 2:00 PM
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Chair Russell: Calling back to order. Good afternoon, everyone. Hope you had a
good lunch. Madam City Attorney, if you wouldn't mind reading the rules of the
Planning and Zoning agenda, please.
Victoria Mendez (City Attorney): We will now begin the Planning and Zoning
items. P&Z (Planning and Zoning) shall proceed according to Section 7.1.4 of the
Miami 21 Zoning Code. Before any PZ item is heard, all those wishing to speak
must be sworn in by the City Clerk. Please note, Commissioners have been briefed
by City staff and the City Attorney on items on the agenda today. The members of
the City Commission may disclose any communications pursuant to Florida
Statute 286.0115 and Section 7.1.4.5 of the Miami 21 Zoning Code. Any person
may be heard by the City Commission through the Chair for not more than two
minutes on any proposition before the City Commission unless modified by the
Chair. If the proposition is being continued or rescheduled, the opportunity to be
heard may be at such later date before the City Commission takes action on such
proposition. The Chairman will advise the public when the public may have the
opportunity to address the City Commission during the public comment period, or
at any other designated time. When addressing the City Commission, the member
of the public must first state his or her name, his or her address, and what item
will be spoken about. A copy of the agenda item titles will be available at the City
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City Commission Meeting Minutes October 24, 2019
Clerk's Office and at the podium for your ease of reference. Staff will briefly
present each item to be heard. For applications requiring City Commission
approval, the applicant will then present his application or request to the City
Commission. If the applicant agrees with staff recommendations, the City
Commission may proceed to its deliberation and decision. The applicant may also
waive the right to an evidentiary hearing on the record. The order of presentation
shall be as set forth in Miami 21 and the City Code, providing that the appellant
shall present first. For appeals, the appellant will present its appeal to the City
Commission, followed by the appellee. Staff will be allowed to make any
recommendations they may have. All persons testifying must be sworn in. The
City ofMiami requires that anyone requesting action by the City Commission must
disclose before the hearing anything provided to anyone for agreement to support
or withhold objection to the requested action pursuant to Section 2-8. Any
documents offered to City Commissioners that have not been provided seven days
before the meeting as part of the agenda materials will be entered into the record
at the City Commission's discretion. Thank you.
Chair Russell: Thank you very much. Mr. Clerk, if you would administer the
oath, please.
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. If you will
be speaking on any -- any of today's Planning and Zoning items, may I please have
you stand and raise your right hand?
The City Clerk administered oath required under City Code Section 62-1 to those
persons giving testimony on zoning items.
Mr. Hannon: Thank you, Chair.
Chair Russell: Thank you very much. If the Administration would like to let us
know of any withdrawals, deferrals, or continuances for the Planning and Zoning
agenda, please; if we could start with Administration, and then we'll do the --
Francisco Garcia (Director, Planning): I am happy to, sir. I have a few items,
and following Commissioner Carollo's lead, what I'd like to do is both call out the
item itself, the number, and briefly describe the item for the benefit of the public.
We would request that Item PZ.1 be continued. Item PZ.1 is an amendment to the
Comprehensive Neighborhood Plan on the -- of the City of Miami to discuss
transfer of development density. We would like to entertain -- and I believe that
there are representatives here who would like for you to entertain the continuance
ofltems PZ.2 and 3, both of which are companion items for a land use change and
a zoning change for properties at approximately 860 Northwest 1 st Street, and the
request there is to change the zoning from T5-0 to T6-8-0. I can discuss further if
needed.
Chair Russell: Microphone.
Commissioner Carollo: Is that coming from your department or from the
applicant?
Mr. Garcia: I believe the applicants are still in search of an attorney.
Commissioner Carollo: Well, they -- look, for whatever reason, an applicant
always has the right to hold an item back, so --
Mr. Garcia: Right.
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Commissioner Carollo: -- I'm just wondering. Thank you.
Mr. Garcia: My pleasure, sir; have some more items. Item PZ.19, we are going
to request that that item, in particular, be withdrawn, I believe, but let me confirm.
Yes, there is a request that that item be withdrawn. That was an appeal before you
for a school use, grades pre-K through 12, at an address of 3030 Southwest 22nd
Street. I would recommend that the Commission listen from the appellants, who
are withdrawing. They are here to make their case.
Chair Russell: That's the Brito School.
Mr. Garcia: Yes, sir.
Chair Russell: All right.
Commissioner Carollo: The one I resolved.
Mr. Garcia: Items PZ.22 and 23, we are requesting that those two items, which
are companion items, also be continued.
Commissioner Carollo: I'm sorry; what numbers?
Mr. Garcia: 22 and 23, sir; PZ.22 and PZ.23.
Commissioner Carollo: 22.
Mr. Garcia: These are City applications for a rezoning for the parcel at 444
Southwest 2nd Avenue; otherwise known as the Miami Riverside Center.
Commissioner Carollo: I'm sorry. I got -- on PZ --
Mr. Garcia: Right.
Commissioner Carollo: -- you just said 22 and 23?
Mr. Garcia: Correct, sir.
Commissioner Carollo: Mine started at 38 here, so maybe I'm --
Chair Russell: No. You got SR.38, so --
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah.
Chair Russell: -- go to the right of that, and it'll say the PZ number.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay, yeah. All right.
Chair Russell: Any others, Francisco?
Mr. Garcia: Yes, sir; one more. Item PZ.25, we are also requesting that that item
be continued. This is another amendment to the Comprehensive Neighborhood
Plan regarding parks, recreation, and open space; in particular, a no net loss
policy.
Chair Russell: That's 25.
Mr. Garcia: That's all have, sir.
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Chair Russell: All right. Thank you.
Commissioner Reyes: I would like --
Chair Russell: Commissioner Reyes.
Commissioner Reyes: PZ.21.
Chair Russell: 21 is the inclusionary zoning. I would like to try to move that
forward today; it's first reading. Is there a reason for the (UNINTELLIGIBLE)?
Commissioner Reyes: Yes. I have a bunch of questions that I have to clear with
the Planning Director, and I -- we spoke about it, and you agree on -- you're
agreeing on (UNINTELLIGIBLE). Just defer it to our next meeting.
Chair Russell: A continuance.
Commissioner Reyes: A continuance.
Chair Russell: Yeah.
Commissioner Reyes: That's good
Chair Russell: There -- I know there are some of the stakeholders here from the
Omni area who are interested in seeing this move forward. It is a large zoning
change.
Commissioner Reyes: Yes, but there is a lot of -- this is the one that says
workforce, right?
Chair Russell: Correct
Mr. Garcia: Yes, sir.
Commissioner Reyes: That's right. But there is a --I don't know if you remember
that I have been arguing all along that the use of the term, "workforce," it is a
misnomer. They are, according to Mr. Garcia, that the persons that they are
going to develop them, what it is called "workforce, " they are calculating
workforce as 120 percent of the --
Chair Russell: County.
Commissioner Reyes: --County --
Chair Russell: AMI (area median income).
Commissioner Reyes: -- AMI, you see, and that is not workforce, because that is --
if you do the math, that is close to $ 70, 000. People that make -- and you can -- if
you do -- I mean, you are going to charge 30 percent in order not to be -- I mean,
people don't be able to pay it --
Chair Russell: Yeah.
Commissioner Reyes: -- and that's going to be very close to $2, 000. And what I'm
proposing, and I proposed before is that if you're going to call it workforce, you
cannot go higher than 100 AMI, County AMI.
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Chair Russell: I do understand.
Commissioner Reyes: You see, and that is --
Chair Russell: I understand where you're coming from.
Commissioner Reyes: -- my opposition to it, and I would like to have more time to
speak with Francisco and see if we can find a solution for it, because "workforce"
is a misnomer; it's a misnomer. When you have a city like Miami that the median
income is $35, 000, and you're building apartments that are for people that are
making over 60, 000; 65, $67, 000, that's a misnomer.
Chair Russell: So if I could, Commissioner, I completely understand the spirit of
where you're coming from. And in the vast majority of the City, the County
workforce does not serve us. It doesn't provide a benefit to those who need any
lower level of housing. But I would challenge that in the downtown core where
this transect applies, the workforce is a discount; it is a savings. It is very hard to
live downtown and find those rates. And so, if you're finding a $1, 600 apartment
near the core of downtown -- This is not for the formerly homeless; this is not for
those at the truly affordable or ELI (extremely low income) level. This is for a
young professional. This is for a college grad who wants to not commute in our --
Commissioner Reyes: Well --
Chair Russell: -- from what the -- and we do need to serve that, because this is the
workforce of downtown. And so, they may work in a law firm. They make work at
a school. They may work in a firehouse.
Commissioner Reyes: Listen.
Chair Russell: We need housing for them, as well.
Commissioner Reyes: If you --
Chair Russell: Let me -- just let me finish, please, because if -- one -- the other
thing, we've studied this -- this has been an experiment now to study this zoning
transect now for three years, and three applicants have gone forward and done
this as an experiment under these rules and levels with fear, because they're not
affordable housing developers. They're not even workforce housing developers.
And it has truly proven successful, the carrot and stick method we're using. If we
force them to a lower AMI, it will upset the balance of carrot and stick, and they
simply won't develop. We're going to -- we'll be in a lawsuit.
Commissioner Reyes: Well, sir, I don't think that that'd be the case. Developers
develop; that's what they do. If they are going to receive any benefits from us, we
are in our right --
Chair Russell: Right.
Commissioner Reyes: --to demand.
Chair Russell: Agreed.
Commissioner Reyes: And that is the problem. That is my problem. And if they
want to develop and they can -- want to charge $2, 015, that's their problem.
That's the private sector.
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Chair Russell: Yeah.
Commissioner Reyes: But you are referring to the young professional to -- How
about a person that is working in the restaurants in there, in downtown; persons
that are working in offices in the downtown? You see, not everybody is making 60
-- You're talking about a teacher. You know, what is the entrance salary of a
teacher?
Chair Russell: Well, the household salary.
Commissioner Reyes: Well, a person, young -- most of these apartments are going
to be the single Jam -- I mean, will be either studios or one -bedroom, and all that.
What is the salary of a teacher? Now it was raised, $47, 000. You see, we are
talking apples and oranges here. If we are going to provide benefits -- I'm not in
favor to provide benefits without receiving in return some houses. I'm not even
calling them affordable housing, because they are at the hundred percent level of
the AMI, you see? But then we have to receive homes -- I mean some apartments
or units that they really help people that need -- I mean, that we are here to serve.
Chair Russell: No, no, I --
Commissioner Reyes: And that's it, and that's why I'm totally opposed to it,
because we are not using -- we are not even using the real AMI of the City of
Miami; we're using the County, you see? And we are in the City ofMiami, and we
are offering the benefits in the City ofMiami.
Chair Russell: Agreed.
Commissioner Reyes: You see? And we owe our self to the residents of the City of
Miami.
Chair Russell: Absolutely. But we did have the conversation months ago about
using County versus City, and if we converted to City, which I do agree with you in
the concept of it, it would completely upset our apples to apples work with HUD
(Department of Housing and Urban Development), with the County, with others,
and we would be at a detriment.
Commissioner Reyes: Yes, sir.
Chair Russell: So rather than changing the name, we need to work within
numbers.
Commissioner Reyes: Well, let's work with numbers; a hundred percent AMI
That's it; a hundred percentAMI. A hundred percent is for people that are making
$55, 000. It is more in line with a young police officer or with a teacher -- and not
even with a teacher, you see? That's -- the people that you want to attract, they
don't make that money, see? They don't make that money, Commissioner. This is
reality; it's reality. And the problem is that we, as a City, we want -- provide -- I
mean, we don't have the money to build all these apartments for the people that
are in need in Miami. What we're using is this incentive for the private sector by
receiving more density or whatever that they provide a percentage of the
apartments. But if we are going to do that, we have to in return obtain
apartments; that they are really going to serve the people that we want to serve.
And a $65, 000 salary, it is -- I mean, I bet you that if I ask everybody that is here,
"How marry of you are making $65,000 now?" there's very few; very few, okay?
And that is my only argument. And when we said -- I brought this since day one
that I was -- I mean, that I was sworn in, and since day one, I'm saying, okay, I
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know that it is almost impossible, because the developers are not -- won't have any
incentive, blab, blab, blah, but let's not go to AMI -- I mean, City AMI, but let's go
reduce the percentage of the County AMI in order to make it a little bit more real.
Chair Russell: Right.
Commissioner Reyes: And that is my only concern and --
Chair Russell: I do understand.
Commissioner Reyes: -- I mean, you can vote for it, but that's it
Chair Russell: Director Garcia, if I'm not mistaken, when we created T6-24-B
was the time to address the actual levels ofAMI At this point, we're just applying
the map for the given transect zone that we created before; is that correct?
Mr. Garcia: That is what's before you today, yes.
Chair Russell: Yes. And so, really, it's -- we had this discussion and debate back
at that time.
Commissioner Reyes: And I told him -- and I told him a long time ago -- that I
want a -- because I do understand. I do understand. If you're going to offer, let's
say, 10 apartments, that they are at 60 percent or 50 percent of Coumy AM[ --
Vice Chair Gort: Right.
Commissioner Reyes: -- I know that is low rent. And then you want to
compensate the other apartments that are -- or the other units, that they are
included in that offer, you see --
Chair Russell: Mm-hmm
Commissioner Reyes: -- with 100 and some of workforce, workforce, workforce. I
mean -- and then that they are workforce. But the problem is this: The problem is
that when you explain that you have -- are going to charge up to 140, I know that
it is custom. I know, but I'm not here to follow custom. I'm here to face reality,
what is going on in our City and in our County, you see. And when you say this is
going to be 140, that's much worse; close to 80,000. And 120 still is too high.
And then, when I said a hundred. Now, I -- let me tell you this, and I am going to
be very blunt, okay? If you want -- and that's the way that I said it. I don't have
anything against people making money, building, and doing whatever they want,
because that's the -- I -- that is our system that we have. It's a free enterprise, and
I will give my life for this system. But when you come to a government office,
when you go into a government body and you are asking that you're going to
receive benefits, you see, we should receive benefits that is going to help the
people that need it the most, okay? Now, if you don't want to charge those -- I
mean those rents or -- I mean, deal with people that are making -- if you want to
deal with people that are making 65, 000 and over, hey, don't ask for benefits. Go
ahead and develop, and that's it, you see?
Chair Russell: So I would love to have a sunshine meeting with you in the Omni at
one of these towers. You would be incredible --
Commissioner Reyes: Oh, let's. I understand --
Chair Russell: --please, let me finish.
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Commissioner Reyes: In Miami Beach if you want, okay?
Chair Russell: You would be incredibly impressed at the financial diversity of the
people that are living in these towers. These are non -affordable developers
producing workforce housing for our city in the downtown core, and these are -- it
is impressive, and it has worked. The three towers they've built are leased out.
They have 14 percent workforce in them. If they're a condo or for retail, they have
10 percent for sale. You know, it doesn't solve our problem and it would not even
put a dent in other parts of the City, but in our downtown core, I believe this is a
big solution. And we are holding the feet to the fire of a very large section of the
City in an unprecedented transect zone statewide to do this. So I want to see it
work. I don't want to squeeze it so hard that we lose the ability to actually
encourage them to produce it.
Commissioner Reyes: Yes.
Chair Russell: But what I'd hoped for is we could at least have this discussion
with the whole dais.
Commissioner Reyes: No. No, I'm not going for it. But we have -- I would make a
motion to defer it; a motion to vote on it, and with that, ask for denial. Let me tell
you this, Mr. Commissioner. This is -- I don't care how many people are living
there, probably, and they are different incomes, and some of them, they will be -- I
mean, they will be -- rent, the rent will cost them a lot of problem. I walk this City
all over, and I -- there are people that they are paying $1,600; they're paying
$1,600 in other areas. But they are using -- most of them be using probably 60 or
80 percent of their salary in rent, you see? I mean, because there are people that
are living there doesn't mean that they are not suffering, because maybe they are
making $50, 000 a year, but then they are using more than $1,600, because you
only -- I mean, the rule of thumb is 30 percent of your gross income. But what you
don't understand is we calculate the rent on gross income, but the people pay the
rent on net income. You know whatl mean? Which is a lot higher than 30 percent
of the gross income. You see what I mean?
Chair Russell: Of course.
Commissioner Reyes: Okay. And what I'm saying is you can -- I can show you
people that are living in Flagami that they are paying $1,400 for an apartment,
but the question is not how much they're paying. How much of their gross income
-- how much of the net income they have to dish out, and what do they have left?
You see, that is my problem.
Chair Russell: Here's my hope with this dais, because we do have different
philosophies of affordability. There's an affordable item in your district that
you're working on and that you -- I know you've been working directly with the
developer, and you know those residents very well, and I'd like to support you in
that item, as well. And I'd like your support, which may not be within -- fully
within your philosophy, because it doesn't go deep enough. And I understand the
want to go deeper, butt understand the limitations, so --
Commissioner Reyes: But --
Chair Russell: -- please let me finish. I let you finish. So I would either help,
work for your support, or just get out of the way. But to just defer, defer, defer if
you're never going to agree doesn't really help us.
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Commissioner Reyes: Let's not defer it. Let's go back down to a hundred percent,
and that's it. Everybody happy, and then we can just start dancing; that's it. I'm
not saying -- I'm not asking to defer for the sake of deferring --
Chair Russell: So is --
Commissioner Reyes: --because lam against. What I'm asking is for a fair, fair -
- what I consider fair rent that these people are going to receive in exchange for
additional density that we are giving them that we don't have to do it.
Chair Russell: I get it. I'm happy with the rent we're receiving, and it's going to
produce thousands of units in that district in workforce.
Commissioner Reyes: Well, then --
Chair Russell: And it's not as deep as you would want it to be, and I understand
that, but in order for us to incentivize carrot and stick, the development that
happens there to produce what we want on their voluntary basis is not an easy
task, but we're doing it.
Commissioner Reyes: I bet you three peacocks that if you go to a hundred percent
of AMI, none of them are going to say, "Oh, I'm not going to do anything. " It's
only about five or 10, 15 apartments, but you take the bet? Three --
Chair Russell: Three peacocks?
Commissioner Reyes: --peacocks.
Chair Russell: I haven't got them to give to you.
Commissioner Reyes: Okay.
Chair Russell: We haven't passed that legislation yet.
Commissioner Reyes: Well --
Chair Russell: We pass that, then we can talk.
Commissioner Reyes: Okay. And I'm going to support you on that one. Okay.
Chair Russell: All right.
b ice Chair Gort: Mr. Chairman.
Chair Russell: Yes, Tice Chairman.
['ice Chair Gort: Let me ask a question. What kind of benefits are these
individuals are receiving?
Mr. Garcia: I'm not sure. What is before you today is the actual implementation
of the ordinance.
b ice Chair Gort: Right, I know it.
Mr. Garcia: According to the ordinance, the benefit for the developer, for the
property owner is a significant increase in what we call FLR, floor/lot ratio, which
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is development capacity for the site, and that would jump from approximately 16
today to 22.4 --
Commissioner Reyes: See?
Mr. Garcia: -- which is significant. In exchange for that, then they have two
options, because this is inclusionary zoning.
Vice Chair Gort: Right.
Mr. Garcia: That development capacity is available by right, and in competition
for that, they would then have to provide either 14 percent of the units developable
at the workforce housing level, or 10 percent at the affordable housing level that is
-- that was at 60 percent. Those are the two settings today.
b ice Chair Gort: Let me give you a suggestion. I think maybe you should -- guys
have a sunshine meeting and look at it. Also, you know, we want affordable
housing and workforce, but we have to look at the workforce and assign the
workforce in certain places, and that's -- we need to analyze that, and we need to
look on that. We -- because you need people --for example, right now the -- in
Allapattah, you got the Health District. It's bringing a lot of professionals, a lot of
doctors, a lot of professionals that would like to live close to the neighborhood.
Commissioner Reyes: Yes.
b ice Chair Gort: And they might need that type of facility. I think -- and we
should discuss it with the -- also with the developer. Look, you're going to get this
benefit. Is it worth it or not? Then don't do that deal; just do regular
construction.
Chair Russell: So right now, this Omni area has been land -banked for years --
decades -- and not developed. The density is there and always has been, but the
FIR has never been there to unlock that density. So, clearly, they all want that
FIR. With or without it, the market rate luxury has been creeping westward. As
the crime rate goes down and as the capacity fills up at the waterside, this Omni
area is our next completely gentrified neighborhood. This is our chance to set
aside 14 percent of all the units developed here for this workforce level, and I
know with this formula it works. At a deeper formula, I don't know that it works.
And so, that's why I'm confident and comfortable that this will produce the
greatest amount of workforce housing we've ever seen in our downtown core, and
I'm happy to push it forward. I know it doesn't get full support, but I don't need
full support; I just need enough to get it passed. So that's where I'm just gauging -
Commissioner Reyes: You make reference to the -- my project that I have in my
district.
Chair Russell: Yes.
Commissioner Reyes: Well, the project that I have in my district is for senior
citizens; it's for senior citizens. You're comparing apples --
Chair Russell: No, I'm not comparing it at all.
Commissioner Reyes: Okay. If you want to try to kill that, kill it. But --
Chair Russell: I'm just saying --
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Commissioner Reyes: -- I am -- what I'm working is for those people that really
needs help, and both of the project that I have, it is to provide decent housing units
to people that makes 6 and 7 and $800 a month, and they live infixed income.
Chair Russell: Commissioner --
Commissioner Reyes: What I'm trying to do with workforce is that people -- I
mean, to try to provide units to people that they are not professionals; people that
are working; people that are -- they --I mean, they are -- they're very, very, very --
I would say stressed to make the payment, because I talk to them every day, you
see. I visit my neighborhood. I talk to people in a cafeteria and I talk to people in
restaurants and I talk to people on the radio when I am, and they call in. And they
are people that they are working and they are living in their homes, but they are
paying rent that they cannot afford. And it is not because they are paying 1, 600,
no. They are paying 14, 15, $1,600, and they cannot afford that. And those
people, they have a right, also. A person that is a bricklayer, a person that works
in some other place.
Chair Russell: b'ery well understood.
Commissioner Reyes: And that's why I am adamant about it, and I think it is our
duty to do that. And, you know, I follow my principles.
Chair Russell: Understood and respected. I understand from Commissioner Gort,
he'd like to see us work it out a little deeper, so fair enough. But I do resent one
thing you said. I would never try to kill an affordable project that you are working
on that you have put together with a community developer.
Commissioner Reyes: No, (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Chair Russell: So, please -- the only question I have is why you would do that to
me in my district. So I would like to work together with you, but we may not come
to a consensus. We may never come to an agreement; in which case, I'll be
seeking this board to move this forward for this community, because it is a big
win. It may not be the deep enough win that you would like, but I know if we go
too deep, we actually dis-incentivize the actuality of it. So for now, I will
completely accept your deferral request going in. I clearly don't have the votes to
move it forward here at this point today. We got way too much to deal with today
to take up too much time on this. So are there any other --?
b ice Chair Gort: Mr. Chairman, let me give you a suggestion.
Chair Russell: Yes, Tice Chairman.
I Ice Chair Gort: You already have three buildings that's been built in that area --
Chair Russell: Yes.
Fice Chair Gort: -- with the same system.
Chair Russell: Yes.
bite Chair Gort: Check with the people that live there.
Chair Russell: I have. It is a complete success.
bite Chair Gort: Okay. Get the information to them.
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Chair Russell: I will. It's a homerun. So we have deferrals from the
Management. Are there any others from the dais? Anyone -- anything else that
the Commission would like to see taken from the PZ agenda? All right. Seeing
none, Mr. Clerk, if you could read it back for us, please.
Mr. Hannon: To continue to November 21, PZ.1; to continue to November 21,
PZ.2 and 3; to withdraw, PZ.19; to continue to November 21, PZ.22 and 23; to
continue to November 21, PZ.25; and to continue to November 21, PZ.21.
Chair Russell: Thankyou very much. Is there a motion?
Commissioner Carollo: Hold on (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Chair Russell: Yes, Commissioner.
Commissioner Carollo: PZ.7, PZ.8.
Chair Russell: This is a land use change in your district, as well as Commissioner
Gort, going from T3-0 to T4-R.
Commissioner Carollo: I'd like for that one to be also deferred, if it'd be okay.
Mr. Hannon: Commissioner Carollo, to November 21, sir?
Chair Russell: The next meeting.
Commissioner Carollo: I would prefer in December, but if not, November 21.
Mr. Hannon: The meeting -- there's one meeting in December, which is December
12.
Commissioner Carollo: December 12.
Mr. Hannon: Understood, sir.
Chair Russell: Just a moment. I know this overlaps both Commissioner Gort and
Carollo's district, so I'd like to hear from the Tice Chairman, as this is his last
chance to weigh in on this item.
Commissioner Carollo: If the Commissioner wishes, it could be November 21.
T ice Chair Gort: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) made some changes in that area with
(UNINTELLIGIBLE). The reason we ask for analyze and do a computer study of
the whole area, because this area used to be a beautiful neighborhood, but it --
unfortunately, like many other constructions, the 836 cut that in half, so this
property that we changing the zoning is right next to the river, so it's a property
that's isolated; it's independent from the rest of the area properties.
Chair Russell: So you'd like to see it move forward today?
T ice Chair Gort: Yes, if possible.
Commissioner Carollo: But you have some of the property here -- that's what I'm
trying to understand -- that goes to Northwest 7th Street.
Vice Chair Gort: No.
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Commissioner Carollo: It says here, 'And portion of Northwest 7th Street. "
b ice Chair Gort: None of them go to Northwest 7th Street, because that's not my
district; that's yours.
Commissioner Carollo: I know; that's why I'm trying to figure out --
Lice Chair Gort: No, no.
Commissioner Carollo: -- what is it.
Lice Chair Gort: None of those places goes into Northwest 7th Street.
Mr. Garcia: It may be a typographical error, Commissioner Carollo; it may be
17th instead. It is certainly much closer to the 17th Street Bridge.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay. Well, if it's 17th, then --
Mr. Garcia: 17th Avenue Bridge; my apologies.
Commissioner Carollo: -- I'm willing to let it go, because --
Bice Chair Gort: Not 7th Street.
Commissioner Carollo: -- I couldn't understand that at all.
Bice Chair Gort: Okay.
Commissioner Carollo: I didn't know what it was.
Commissioner Reyes: And Commissioner --
Chair Russell: Commissioner Reyes.
Commissioner Reyes: -- if I am not wrong, the -- this was a petition from all the
neighbors, right?
Lice Chair Gort: Right.
Commissioner Reyes: All the neighbors that they once -- one of the lots -- they
were changed -- was a zoning change. Every single neighbor in -- along the river
lice Chair Gort: That's right.
Commissioner Reyes: --they asked for it.
Mr. Garcia: I could certainly (UNINTELLIGIBLE) to you that there is
widespread support, with no opposition that I am aware of by all the stakeholders,
sir.
Chair Russell: Is that ago?
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah.
Chair Russell: All right. So --
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Commissioner Carollo: They cleared up the (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Chair Russell: -- that will not be on the list. So we're clear on all requests. All
right. Arty further discussion from the dais? Is there anyone from the public that'd
like to comment only on the timeliness of the deferral of those items, or
continuance of those items? Yes; just your name and which item you'd like to
speak on.
Adam Gettinger: Yes. My name is Adam Gettinger. The item is PZ.8 that Mr.
Carollo was referring to, and I own one of the homes there. We've been working
on this for years now. And we've had a lot of meetings cancelled, postponed, and
I'd just like to know why; why we would do this again.
ti ice Chair Gort: No, no.
Chair Russell: We're not deferring it.
L ice Chair Gort: We're not deferring it.
Mr. Gettinger: Excellent.
Commissioner Reyes: Good to go.
Mr. Gettinger: Thankyou. Thankyou.
Chair Russell: Any other comments from the public? Hearing none, I'll close
public comment. Any discussion from the dais on this order of the day?
Commissioner Hardemon, anything to add? You're good. All in favor, say "aye."
Mr. Hannon: Is there a motion?
Lice Chair Gort: Move it.
Chair Russell: Moved by Commissioner -- [ice Chairman Gort; seconded by
Commissioner Reyes. All in favor, say "aye. "
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Russell: Any opposed? Motion passes. We have our agenda set. I would
like to bring our attention back to peafowl so we can finish that bet.
Tucker Gibbs: Excuse me.
Chair Russell: Can we get a first --? Yes. Did you want to make public comment
on the order of the day?
Mr. Gibbs: No. We just wanted to make sure that our -- the item, the Brito item
was withdrawn.
Chair Russell: It was.
b ice Chair Gort: Yes.
Mr. Gibbs: You have confirmed that. Thankyou very much.
Chair Russell: It was.
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Tice Chair Gort: Great presentation.
Chair Russell: ffell done. Tucker.
11=1i. Gibbs: That was especially for von on your last day.
PZ.1
ORDINANCE Second Reading
3698
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
ATTACHMENTS, AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 10544, THE MIAMI
Commissioners
COMPREHENSIVE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN OF THE CITY OF MIAMI,
and Mayor- PZ
FLORIDA, AS AMENDED ("MCNP"), BY ADDING A POLICY TO THE
FUTURE LAND USE ELEMENT OF THE MCNP TO ACCOMMODATE
A RESIDENTIAL DENSITY INCREASE WITHIN TRANSIT ORIENTED
DEVELOPMENT AREAS OF UP TO FIFTY PERCENT (50%) WHEN
NEW DEVELOPMENT TRANSFERS UNUSED DENSITY FROM
CONTRIBUTING HISTORICALLY DESIGNATED SITES AND CERTAIN
NON-CONTRIBUTING RESOURCES; MAKING FINDINGS;
CONTAINING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING FOR AN
EFFECTIVE DATE.
MOTION TO: Continue
RESULT: CONTINUED
MOVER: Wifredo (Willy) Gort, Commissioner
SECONDER: Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
AYES: Russell, Gort, Carollo, Reyes
ABSENT: Hardemon
Note for the Record. Item PZJ was continued to the November 21, 2019, Planning
and Zoning Commission Meeting.
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item PZ.1, please see "PZ Order of
the Day. "
City of-lliami Page 133 Printed on 1 102020
City Commission Meeting Minutes October 24, 2019
PZ.2
ORDINANCE First Reading
4196
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
Department of
ATTACHMENT(S), AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 10544, AS
Planning
AMENDED, THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP OF THE MIAMI
COMPREHENSIVE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN, PURSUANT TO SMALL
SCALE AMENDMENT PROCEDURES SUBJECT TO SECTION
163.3187, FLORIDA STATUTES, BY CHANGING THE FUTURE LAND
USE DESIGNATION FROM "MEDIUM DENSITY RESTRICTED
COMMERCIAL" TO "RESTRICTED COMMERCIAL" OF THE
ACREAGE DESCRIBED HEREIN OF REAL PROPERTY LOCATED AT
824, 826, 834, 842, 852, 860, 868, AND 876 NORTHWEST 1 STREET
AND 29 NORTHWEST 9 AVENUE, MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS MORE
PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED IN EXHIBIT "A"; MAKING FINDINGS;
CONTAINING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING FOR AN
EFFECTIVE DATE.
MOTION TO: Continue
RESULT: CONTINUED
MOVER: Wifredo (Willy) Gort, Commissioner
SECONDER: Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
AYES: Russell, Gort. Carollo. Reyes
ABSENT: Hardemon
Note for the Record. Item PZ.2 was continued to the November 21, 2019, Planning
and Zoning Commission Meeting.
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item PZ.2, please see "PZ Order of
the Day. "
PZ.3
ORDINANCE First Reading
4201
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
Department of
ATTACHMENT(S), AMENDING THE ZONING ATLAS OF ORDINANCE
Planning
NO. 13114, AS AMENDED, BY CHANGING THE ZONING
CLASSIFICATION FROM 75-0," URBAN CENTER TRANSECT -
OPEN, TO 76-8-0," URBAN CORE TRANSECT - OPEN, FOR THE
PROPERTIES LOCATED AT 824, 826, 834, 842, 852, 860, 868, AND
876 NORTHWEST 1 STREET AND 29 NORTHWEST 9 AVENUE,
MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED IN
EXHIBIT "A"; MAKING FINDINGS; CONTAINING A SEVERABILITY
CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
MOTION TO:
Continue
RESULT:
CONTINUED
MOVER:
Wifredo (Willy) Gort, Comrr
SECONDER:
Manolo Reyes, Commissioi
AYES:
Russell, Gort, Carollo, Reyes
ABSENT:
Hardemon
Note for the Record: Item PZ.3 was continued to the November 21, 2019, Planning
and Zoning Commission Meeting.
City Page 1,4 Painted on 110 2020
City Commission Meeting Minutes October 24, 2019
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item PZ.3, please see "PZ Order of
the Day. "
PZ.4
RESOLUTION
5902
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION
Department of
GRANTING/DENYING THE APPEAL FILED BY 79TH STREET
Planning
HOLDINGS LLC ("APPELLANT") OF THE DECISION OF THE
PLANNING, ZONING, AND APPEALS BOARD UPHOLDING THE CITY
OF MIAMI PLANNING DEPARTMENT'S ISSUANCE OF WARRANT
NO. 2018-0067, ISSUED PURSUANT TO ARTICLE 4, TABLE 3,
ARTICLE 7, SECTION 7.1.2.4, AND ARTICLE 7, SECTION 7.1.3.4 OF
ORDINANCE NO. 13114, THE ZONING ORDINANCE OF THE CITY
OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED ("MIAMI 21 CODE"), AND
ASSOCIATED WAIVERS PURSUANT TO ARTICLE 5, SECTION 5.5.4,
ARTICLE 6, TABLE 13, AND ARTICLE 7, SECTION 7.1.2.5 OF THE
MIAMI 21 CODE, TO ALLOW FOR THE OPERATION AND
CONSTRUCTION OF AN AUTOMATED CAR WASH FACILITY ON A
PARCEL ZONED "75-0," URBAN CENTER TRANSECT ZONE - OPEN,
LOCATED AT 1001 NORTHEAST 79 STREET, MIAMI, FLORIDA;
MAKING FINDINGS; CONTAINING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND
PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-19-0432
MOTION TO:
Adopt with Modification(s)
RESULT:
ADOPTED WITH MODIFICATION(S)
MOVER:
Keon Hardemon, Commissioner
SECONDER:
Ken Russell, Commissioner
AYES:
Russell, Gort, Carollo, Hardemon
ABSENT:
Reyes
Convnissioner Carollo: 01,-ay.
ChairRnssell: This is mine?
Commissioner Carollo: PZ.4 is the last item.
ChairRnssell: Let's hnrry np.
Commissioner Carollo: I make a motion --
Ines -Marrero: I can.punp right in.
ChairRnssell: I've alreadv moved it.
-1Is. -Marrero: -1Ir. Chairman, Tice Chairman, I'll make my notes when Tin done
abont your tenure and our appreciation. But this is not nzv appeal. There is -- a
neighboring property owner appealed our warrant.
Commissioner Carollo: Thev're not here tonight.
-lls. -Marrero: Pardon me;"
Commissioner Carollo: Thev're not here tonight, so --
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City Commission Meeting Minutes October 24, 2019
Ms. Marrero: They're not here.
Commissioner Hardemon: Wait, wait.
Ms. Marrero: My name is Ines Marrero. I'm an attorney, with offices at 701
Brickell Avenue. I am here on behalf of the appellee. We have sat in this chamber
for four consecutive PZ (Planning & Zoning) meetings.
Commissioner Carollo: And as --
Ms. Marrero: I will say the -- they had counsel --
Commissioner Carollo: -- it's been (UNINTELLIGIBLE) -- we've approved it.
CommissionerHardemon: Wait; we haven't approved anything.
Commissioner Carollo: We second it. We're getting ready to vote.
Commissioner Hardemon: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) we haven't approved anything. I
want to understand -- I want to hear what you're about to say, because I want to
understand where we are, because I know we have -- it was an appeal and -- First
Of all, with the appeal, is anyone here representing the appellant? I'm going to say
it again, just in case anyone's in the restroom. On Item PZ.4, is there anyone here
representing the appellant?
Francisco Garcia (Director, Planning): If you'd like, Mr. -- Commissioner
Hardemon, may I --?
Commissioner Hardemon: Did anyone call in --
Mr. Garcia: No, sir.
Commissioner Hardemon: --for the appellant?
Mr. Garcia: No, sir; no one did. I just wanted to make it clear that this was the
warrant issued for a property at 1001 Northeast 79th Street.
Commissioner Hardemon: No. I know where it is.
Mr. Garcia: Not for your sake, sir; for the sake of anyone else who might be here
for that item.
Commissioner Hardemon: Oh, okay. Thank you. Seeing that no one is here on
that, I move to deny the appeal.
Chair Russell: Second.
L ice Chair Gort: Its been moved and second. Is any further discussion? Being
none, all in favor --
Commissioner Hardemon: Do we need--?
i ice Chair Gort: -- state it by saying "aye. "
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): As amended.
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11s. Jlarrero: Commissioner Gort, its been nzv pleasure to come to this
Commission up here before you. You ivill be missed. You're a gentlemen. You're a
true servant to the City and to the residents ofvour district, who you always served,
and that was where your heart was. Ism tired, and its been a long day, but thank:
you. You will be missed. Thank you very much.
Chair Russell: All right. Chairman, bring us home.
11=Is. Marrero: Thanks, everybody.
Chair Russell: Bring us home, Chairman.
Tice Chair Gort: Okay.
11r. Hannon: There's one item left, FR.1.
Commissioner Carollo: 10 p.m. we said ive would do the last item; not go forward.
Chair Russell: TT'e can just defer it, ifvon like. All right, bring us home. Bring us
to adjourn. Hit that gavel. Hit that gavel, Chairman. All right.
Connnissioner Carollo: Good gavel.
(Applause)
PZ.5
RESOLUTION
6342
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
Department of
ATTACHMENT(S), GRANTING OR DENYING THE APPEAL FILED BY
Planning
PROSPERO MUNGUTA, DARINA MUNGUTA, KIRK MUNGUTA,
ULYSSES KEMP, ROSA RAMOS, GENA VEILLARD, BUENA VISTA
HEIGHTS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, AND BUENA VISTA
EAST HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION (COLLECTIVELY,
"APPELLANT") OF THE DECISION OF THE PLANNING, ZONING,
AND APPEALS BOARD ("PZAB") AND AFFIRMING OR REVERSING
PZAB'S APPROVAL WITH CONDITIONS OF AN EXCEPTION TO
ALLOW A PRE-SCHOOL EDUCATIONAL USE PURSUANT TO
ARTICLE 4, TABLE 3 AND ARTICLE 7, SECTION 7.1.2.6 OF
ORDINANCE NO. 13114, THE ZONING ORDINANCE OF THE CITY
OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED, ON LOTS ZONED "74-1_,"
GENERAL URBAN TRANSECT ZONE -LIMITED, AND 73-1_,"
SUBURBAN TRANSECT ZONE -LIMITED, AND GENERALLY
LOCATED AT 4136 NORTH MIAMI AVENUE AND 20 NORTHWEST 42
STREET, MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED
IN EXHIBIT "A"; MAKING FINDINGS; CONTAINING A SEVERABILITY
CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-19-0433
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City Commission Meeting Minutes October 24, 2019
MOTION TO:
Adopt with Modification(s)
RESULT:
ADOPTED WITH MODIFICATION(S)
MOVER:
Keon Hardemon, Commissioner
SECONDER:
Wifredo (Willy) Gort, Commissioner
AYES:
Russell, Gort, Hardemon
NAYS:
Carollo
ABSENT:
Reyes
Note for the Record. A motion was made by Commissioner Hardemon, seconded
by Chair Russell, and was passed unanimously with Commissioner Reyes absent,
to deny the procedural deficiencies regarding the filing of the appeal raised by the
Appellee andproceededto hear the appeals on the merits.
Note for the Record: For additional minutes referencing Item PZ.S, please see
"Order of the Day" and "Public Comment Period for Planning and Zoning
Item(s). "
Chair Russell: All right, PZ.5. This is an appeal of a PZAB (Planning, Zoning and
Appeals Board) decision, 4136 North Miami Avenue; otherwise known as the
Centner School. Mr. -- Director Garcia, if you could set the table for us. This is a
change of use request by exception, which was approved by PZAB, but has been
appealed by an appellant. Am I correct?
Francisco Garcia (Director, Planning): That is correct. The use itself -- in this
particular case, a preschool -- the use itself -- the use proposed -- in this particular
case, a preschool -- requires an exception permit. Exception permits are
considered and ultimately approved or denied by the Planning, Zoning and Appeals
Board. The Planning, Zoning and Appeals Board approved this particular
exception; however, it is before you as a de novo appeal.
Chair Russell: Thank you very much. And to approve an exception or to -- the
factors under which we will grant or deny this appeal are what?
Mr. Garcia: Well, we have recommended to you that you consider it favorably;
that you approve it with the conditions that the Planning, Zoning and Appeals
Board itself approved it. We have no additional recommendations at this time as
pertains to the conditions. And I will also set forth that we have thoroughly
reviewed the proposal, we have worked with the applicants to address any potential
adverse impacts, and we find that the proposal, as designed and as proposed to be
implemented, complies with all applicable regulations, and is a favorable use for
the site.
Chair Russell: Thank you. But to be clear on my question, as this is a quasi-
judicial hearing, a lot of things were stated about what people like about the school,
don't like about the school, traffic, no traffic. When an exception is brought before
us, it's the inverse of a normal application, of a waiver warrant, et cetera --
correct? -- where we need to disprove the allowance of the use. Am I correct?
Mr. Garcia: No, sir. I would submit to you that all the recommendations and all
the supporting material that you have in your packet is --
Chair Russell: Not in this case in particular. I'm talking about when handling an
exception for a change of use --
Mr. Garcia: Right.
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Chair Russell: -- in general, the factors that we need to consider for 'yes" or "no"
are what?
Mr. Garcia: Well, I'm submitting to you that you have all the information you need
to find that it should be approved, and I think the appellants are going to show to
you some items that may cause you to question that approval.
Chair Russell: Yes, and that's why I'm asking you what factors, what specific
factors. There are criteria for approval of an exception. What are those factors,
not in this particular case?
Mr. Garcia: I see, in general.
Chair Russell: Yes.
Mr. Garcia: Generally speaking, certainly compliance with all the applicable
regulations of Miami 21, and in particular, all the articles set forth -- all the
criteria set forth in Article 4/Table 12 of the Miami 21 Zoning Ordinance. That sets
forth a series of criteria that we then use to evaluate the particular proposal. All of
those have been complied with.
Chair Russell: Thank you very much. Good afternoon, Mr. Winker. I assume you
are representing the appellant?
David Winker: Yes. David Winker, here on behalf of Buena b ista West
Neighborhood Association, the Buena tista Heights Neighborhood Association,
and the Buena Fista East Historic Neighborhood Association, along with individual
members; Kirk Munguia, Ulysses Kemp, Rosa Kemp, Rosa Ramos, and Gena
t eillard, in connection with the zoning exception being south by the Centner
Academy, to place a for profit, $24, 000 per year, preschool at 4136 North Miami
Avenue.
Chair Russell: Thank you.
Mr. Winker: I'd like to start by --
Chair Russell: Before we get into it, though, I just want to set the ground rules.
Mr. Riley, you're representing the appellee? Am I --?
William Riley: I am representing the appellee. And before we proceed into the
merits of the application, I would like to start back on September 12, where we
mentioned that I had a challenge to the fact that this is not properly before the
board in our argument. We would like to present that challenge to you as an
objection, as a timely objection, because on September 12, you heard that there
could be litigation, and I need to preserve those timely objections appropriately. If
the rule of the board is to have me voice those objections now, I have a slide show
that will make it efficient to go through those objections, and I'm happy to proceed
however the board would like me to proceed.
Chair Russell: So just so I understand correctly, your objection is a threshold issue
as to whether or not we should even be considering an appeal?
Mr. Riley: That's correct, Mr. Chairman.
Chair Russell: Because what my intention here is for the appellant to present, 15
minutes. Would that be sufficient?
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Mr. Riley: Yes, sir.
Chair Russell: And to give equal time to rebut. And in that time, you'd be able to
rebut why not only, if necessary, their appeal is sufficient or insufficient, but if there
is a threshold issue, I think you could bring it up at that time. Is there a need to
bring it up beforehand?
Mr. Riley: There's not a need to bring it up beforehand, but I do have to advise the
Chairman and the Commission that the reasons for the objections are not lengthy,
but they are fact -intensive. I need to show some slide shows to show you why it's
deficient. My presentation itself is actually -- the case in chief is actually shorter,
so I may run into 20, 25 minutes, just as a housekeeping matter.
Chair Russell: Because my goal was to give, obviously, equal time to both sides --
Mr. Riley: Yes, sir.
Chair Russell: -- but I want you to be able to -- So your time will be shared
between threshold issues of whether or not the appeal should be before us at all,
and then substantive issues if we -- if it survives the threshold.
Commissioner Hardemon: Mr. Chairman, I wouldn't think that the -- you would do
it --I wouldn't think that you should share the time. I think --they have a argument
regarding a threshold issue (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Chair Russell: And that should be handled separately?
Commissioner Hardemon: Yeah, because it could --I mean, that issue --
Chair Russell: Would keep us from even going into substance?
Commissioner Hardemon: Could be.
Chair Russell: But it will create a back and forth, because they will obviously like
to rebutyour threshold argument, right?
Mr. Riley: Understood.
Chair Russell: So, in a sense, you're appealing the appeal; and so, we're going to
have -- we're going to treat that separately, and then we're going to go into the
substance, if we survive the threshold issue.
Mr. Riley: Understood.
Chair Russell: Is that sufficient, Madam City Attorney?
I ictoria Mendez (City Attorney): Yes. If he -- if you have some procedural
arguments to make, I believe he can make those before you get into your substantive
matter.
Chair Russell: Right.
Ms. Mendez: I do recommend, since we are here, for the Commission to reserve
ruling on the threshold procedural issues and just hear the whole thing, so that we
are not back here.
Chair Russell: So just take it and note it, but --?
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Ms. Mendez: I would --
Chair Russell: Understood.
Ms. Mendez: Yeah. You can --
Chair Russell: So --
Ms. Mendez: -- you could reserve ruling till the end on the procedural
(UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Chair Russell: How much time do you need -- Thank you -- to make the threshold
argument?
Mr. Riley: I think I can fly through it in 10 to 12 minutes.
Chair Russell: Perfect.
Mr. Riley: It'll be quick And if I'm going to have (UNINTELLIGIBLE) --
Chair Russell: And you'll have equal time to rebut the threshold that --
Mr. Riley: Sounds great.
Chair Russell: -- and then we can redirect, if necessary.
Mr. Winker: And let me --just a couple points while we're on that.
Chair Russell: Yes.
Mr. Winker: So, I think the idea is we usually do it where the appellant presents, I
present my evidence of standing --
Chair Russell: Yes.
Mr. Winker: -- and then he rebuts it. Are we going the reverse order? We're going
to let -- we're going to allow him --?
Ms. Mendez: No. I think it's -- there's two issues, Mr. Winker. It's very simple. He
basically has a procedural issue why we should not go forward with this appeal. So
you are correct; on the substantive appeal, if he had no issues, you would go first as
the appellant, and then he would rebut. Mr. Riley has procedural issues on why
this appeal should not be before the Commission, and that the Commission doesn't
need to go any further into your substantive issue. So I believe he's going to start
with those, then you would rebut that, then we would move on to you as appellant
and him as appellee.
Mr. Winker: Perfect. Then just one -- then the only question I have is, early --just
clarification is -- to answer your earlier question, Mr. Russell, you asked about
what the standard was. Under Miami 21, Section 7.1.2.6(d), the Centner Academy
does have the burden under this de novo review of demonstrating that the zoning
exception, quote, "conforms to the criteria of the Miami 21 Code. "
Chair Russell: Understood.
Mr. Winker: So, I just want to make sure we understand what the --
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Chair Russell: No, no. We can --
Mr. Winker: -- the burden --
Chair Russell: -- get into that on the --
Mr. Winker: -- the burden is.
Chair Russell: --under the substance and during your time for that. Do you have
any objection to the process, though, of dealing with the threshold issue and getting
equal time for that so that you may rebut their challenge to your appeal in general?
Mr. Winker: No, I have no problem with that. And the only other point of order
that I would like to bring up is a statement was made, which I believe is a
falsehood, concerning Kirk Munguia in a statement made by him, and I think that
we need to address that. My client is not here; he's in the hospital. I think that may
be one of the reasons the statement was made; he's not able to defend himself. I
spoke to him, and I would like, under any circumstance, to be able to address what
we believe is a falsehood about him offering money. That has been a repeat -- or
requesting money to drop the appeal. That has been a repeated statement made --
Commissioner Hardemon: But it was during --
Mr. Winker: -- in this case.
Commissioner Hardemon: --public comment.
Mr. Winker: Yes. But I said, I would like to -- because I do believe it's false, so I
would like an opportunity -- I don't know how it fits in. I've actually never seen this
before, where I have, you know, like -- I would like to address that, because that's
on the record, and it's not true. So, I'd like to -- and my appellant is in the hospital,
so I just raise it almost to preserve it and figure out a way to deal with it.
Chair Russell: Yes, sir. You're very welcome to put that on the record, and I would
say that would be during the -- during your presentation, as he is the appellant;
correct? Because I didn't realize that when they were saying he was the person that
was offering --
Mr. Winker:
The assertion (UNINTELLIGIBLE) was made that the appellant
requested --
Chair Russell:
Requested funding --
Mr. Winker: --
S3 million --
Chair Russell:
-- to purchase their property.
Mr. Winker: --purchase
of his home --
Chair Russell:
To make the appeal go away.
Mr. Winker: --
to drop the appeal.
Chair Russell:
Got it. I think that's a perfect thing you could bring up during
substance. All
right. Mr. Riley, so --
Mr. Riley: Thankyou, Mr. Chairman.
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Chair Russell: -- with regard to threshold, please, go ahead.
Mr. Riley: Thankyou.
Chair Russell: And you'll receive 12 --
Mr. Riley: Can everyone see the --?
Chair Russell: -- minutes? Is that what you said for this (UNINTELLIGIBLE)?
Mr. Riley: Yes. I'm going to fly through it.
Chair Russell: All right. 12 minutes, please.
Mr. Riley: Can everybody see the PowerPoint presentation?
Chair Russell: Yes, we can.
Mr. Riley: Okay. So, the Centner family respectfully submits that this application
is not properly before the Commission. The appeal fails to satisfy the minimal filing
requirements pursuant to your Code. Satisfaction of the minimum requirements is a
condition precedent to bringing an appeal and a requirement to vest the City
Commission with jurisdiction over the appeal. Moreover, the minimum
requirements must be applied equally to all appellants, without exception, and that
is to avoid arbitrary, capricious application of your Code. Simply stated, the rules
must apply equally to everybody. The minimum requirements are unambiguous and
exceedingly uncomplicated. There's two procedural requirements: One, the appeal
must be filed within 15 days from the decision of the PZAB. That's in Section 7.1.5
of Miami 21. The second procedural requirement is a payment of the required fee
must be made before the appeal will be accepted. There are four substantive
requirements. First is that the appeal letter shall state the specific reasons for the
appeal; the second, if it's filed by a corporation or an association, then the
corporate resolution from its board of directors must be submitted,- three, the
appellant must provide a certified list of adjacent property owners located within
500 feet of the subject property. They can do that by one of two ways. They can do
it either by providing a list of names and addresses of property owners on an Excel
file and a copy of it onto a CD-ROM (compact disk read-only memory), or "B, " they
can provide a list of names and addresses in printed format with two sets of mailing
labels prepared by a third party vendor. Most of those are what you see in your
agenda packet. Whichever option they pick, Mr. Chairman, Commissioners, they
must provide a signed certification by the person who prepared the list. And lastly,
the appellant is to provide any other pertinent documents that it would like to make
a part of the appeal. The reason for that is simple: It's a requirement to avoid a
hearing by ambush that causes a lengthy and unstructured arguments before this
board. The rules and regulations expressly prohibit untimely and defective appeals.
These are verbatim from your City's website and from your Code. Number 1, only a
complete, timely filed, and paid appeal will be accepted; 2, the filing fee must be
paid in full prior to the acceptance of the appeal; 3, the appeal will not be filed
until the paid invoice received is delivered to the Hearing Board section; 4, if the
I5th calendar day appeal period has closed, an appeal of the PZAB decision cannot
be filed; and 5, only -- and I stress "only" -- withdrawal letters shall -- not "may,"
but "shall" -- be accepted outside of an appeal period. Failure to enforce the
minimum requirements is a departure from the essential requirements of the law as
an arbitrary and capricious exercise. If the laws are not applied to everyone
equally, then the law becomes void of all meaning. I've provided you with a case
that talks about departures of the essential requirements of law. And basically,
what that means is that the City or a governmental body fails to apply the law or
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fails to apply the correct law. Over the next few slides, I'm going to demonstrate
the following: 1, the appeal filed to satis -- the appeal failed to satisfy every one of
the minimum requirements set forth in City of Miami Code; 2, the appellant
misrepresented itself on its application, an official government document, in an
attempt to sidestep the minimum filing requirements; 3, the appellant, who
supported the application before the PZAB, is truly a straw man, and the
misrepresentations made on the appeal were deliberate and self-serving, and
(UNINTELLIGIBLE) explain why. And lastly, the appeal., when filed, was, without
question, deficient, for the proponent driving the appeal was given extraordinary
leniency, leniency that is not permitted by your Code. When concluding, I'm going
to ask the City Commission to apply the Code as written, because it is
unambiguous. And we talked last time about the spirt and letter of the law. I'm
only talking about the letter of the law in this objection. There were two appeals
initially filed. The first appeal was filed by Sylvia Abraham. You heard her and her
family speak When they filed the appeal, they supported the application ahead of
time. We went to them as good corporate citizens. We said, "What happened?"
They said, "Well, we thought that at the PZAB" -- which they did not attend -- "we
thought that all the conditions that you provided to us you reneged upon. " I said,
"That's not true. Who told you that? Here's a copy of the PZAB order. Look at all
the conditions that we submitted. Every one of your requirements were included.
Watch the video tape. " "We'll get back to you in two days. " They got back to us in
two days, and you'll see that they are the abutting property owner. You'll see the
subject property highlighted in yellow; their property highlighted in blue. Just to
the right of it is a copy of their appeal. It was dated June 28. It's signed by the
abutting property owners. It's signed by Ulysses Kemp, who has admitted on
record that he is not the appellant. It's signed by Rosa Ramos. It's signed by Gena
t eillard. It is not signed by Buena t ista Heights Neighborhood Association or the
Buena b ista East Historic Association. Ms. Abraham, the only abutting property
owner, withdrew that appeal, because she said that all of the concerns -- and she
withdrew it two days after our discussion -- all of her concerns were fully addressed
within Section 2 of the exception, which was a section that sets forth all the
conditions of approval. We abided by our word. And a copy on the right-hand side
of your screen is her withdrawal of appeal, and it specifically says, "The
undersigned withdraws the appeal, because it was filed with a misinterpretation. "
The second appeal is a Munguia appeal. They filed as abutting property owners --
and this is going to be important in one moment -- but they're clearly not abutting
property owners. You see the subject property highlighted in yellow. If you're
abutting property owner, you either touch the property or you draw a line straight
across an alley or a street, and if you -- that line meets the property, you're
abutting. You're going to see the -- you can clearly see that the Munguia property,
highlighted in blue, is not abutting, but it was done intentionally. You'll see that the
appeal filed -- is on the right-hand side -- is also signed by the Munguia family, a
family that supported the application before the PZAB. It's also signed by Ulysses
Kemp, Rosa Ramos, Gina 1 eillard,• the same people that filed the other appeal that
was withdrawn based upon a misinterpretation. Now, this is a proposal and
Darian [sic] Munguia expressed support of the exemption.
Chair Russell: I believe it's "Munguia. "
Mr. Riley: Munguia.
Chair Russell: Is that correct?
Mr. Riley: I'm sorry if I'm butchering her name. I do apologize for that. On the
right-hand side of that screen, you're going to see their letter of support. It wasn't
unambiguous [sic]; it was direct. It talked about 195 student stations. It talked
about the address. They signed the letter of support. We spoke to them many times.
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And they actually did not appear at the PZAB hearing, because they were happy
with the application.
Chair Russell: Just a moment. Just a moment, please --
Mr. Riley: Yes, ma'am. Yes, sir.
Chair Russell: -- and just pause the time for a second; I have a question. Just
understand the timing on that. The support signature was before or after the
appeal?
Mr. Riley: Before the PZAB hearing on June.
Chair Russell: Before even the PZAB hearing. So, what you're inferring is that the
Munguia family was in support of it initially, but after PZAB was part of an appeal?
Mr. Riley: Yes, sir.
Chair Russell: Thank you. That's -- I just wanted to understand.
Mr. Riley: Now, I told you that the difference between abutting and non -abutting
appellants is a critical distinction. Let me explain why. If you're an abutting
property owner, you pay one fee. That's $4.55 per certified notice that needs to be
mailed out. If you're not an abutting property owner, you're going to pay --the fees
are located on the right-hand side of your screen. An appeal fee equivalent to the
application fee paid by the applicant, $4.50 per certified notice that needs to be
mailed out, and $1,500 for the advertising. The difference in this case is $661.50
versus $5,170.50. The Munguia appeal claimed to be abutting property owners and
were charged such fee, and it was not an issue where staff made an error; it was a
representation that they made on their appeal, but it wasn't paid by the Munguia
family -- and I get them -- mispronouncing their name -- it was paid by Ulysses
Kemp, who has already admitted that he is not an appellant. You'll see the
electronic signature on the screen below. You'll also see the receipt where they
paid the $600 as abutting property owners instead of non -abutting property owners.
Chair Russell: And another question: Are you implying that it must be the
appellant who pays, and nobody can pay on their behalf?
Mr. Riley: The Code even specifically says, Mr. Chairman, that the appellant has
to file it in person.
Chair Russell: Right. But as far as who pays, do you feel that that matters --
Mr. Riley: Yes, I do.
Chair Russell: -- who actually does pay?
Mr. Riley: I do.
Chair Russell: Why?
Mr. Riley: I do.
Chair Russell: Is that state -- spoken (UNINTELLIGIBLE) ?
Mr. Riley: Because what happens -- and I'm going to be able to prove it here -- is
you create a straw man. You create a straw man that wants to appeal to hold up a
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project but doesn't want to abide by the rules; wants to sidestep those rules and
doesn't want to pay the fee that's required by the Code.
Chair Russell: And pause the time for a second, if you would. Mr. Clerk, if you
could just pause the -- Mr. Clerk, if you could just pause the time for a second.
Madam City Attorney, is there anything in our Code which expressly states that it
must be -- that nobody can pay on behalf of an appellant?
Ms. Mendez: I will double check that for you.
Chair Russell: Thank you.
Ms. Mendez: I don't remember that being the case, but I'll double check.
Chair Russell: Thank you. I do understand what you are inferring with regard --
Mr. Riley: Yes.
Chair Russell: -- to the straw man, but I need to know from the letter of the law
whether there's anything that prohibits somebody from paying on behalf of
somebody else.
Ms. Mendez: We will look.
Chair Russell: Thank you. Please continue.
Mr. Riley: Now the appeal, when filed, was again, without question, deficient.
How do we know this? Because despite the City's unambiguous payment
requirements, the appellant was allowed to pay the correct non -abutting residential
filing fee 22 days after the appeal period had closed. That's against your rules, Mr.
Chairman, City Commissioners, because again, the rule specifically says that the
only withdrawal letters shall be accepted outside an appeal period. The rules
expressly state that only a complete, timely filed, and paid appeal will be accepted.
The fee must be paid in full prior to the acceptance of the appeal; and that the 15-
day calendar appeal period has closed, an appeal of the CZAB [sic] decision
cannot be filed. In this case, an extraordinary thing happened. The appeal window
was closed, and automatically and miraculously reopened 22 days later. And
again, the Munguia family did not pay the fee; Ulysses Kemp paid the fee. A copy
is -- on your screen is a copy of the receipt, and a copy of his check from the Fire
Department's credit union that was filed with the City. Mr. Kemp --
Chair Russell: And did he pay the abutting rate or the non -abutting rate?
Mr. Riley: First, he paid the non -abutting rate 22 days after the appeal window
closed, then he paid the non -abutting rate, because the City said, "You're non -
abutting, and you paid the wrong fee. " Now, unlike the appellant, who previously
supported the Centner Academy School, Mr. Kemp has been an active component.
Mr. Kemp filed the appeal, paid for the appeal, albeit untimely, and as shown on
the following slides, provided the documents required to made -- made a part of the
appeal. Mr. Kemp is not an abutting property owner. He is attempting to prevent
and has successfully delayed the opening of an emerging school for kids by
strategically and deliberately sidestepping the City's rules and regulations that
everyone else must follow. On that screen that I highlighted the subject property,
you see Mr. Kemp's house highlighted in blue. It's located down by the interchange
and the expressway. He's clearly not abutting. Now, Buena b ista Heights
Association is made up of Mr. Kemp, lice President Rosa Ramos, Gina I'eillard,
and Treasurer Lewis Gonzalez. Those are the same people that supported the
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appeal. Ms. Rosa Ramos, not an abutting property owner; you see her property
highlighted in blue. Ms. Gina T'eillard, not an abutting property owner; you see her
property highlighted in blue.
Chair Russell: I'm sorry; I couldn't see those.
Mr. Riley: Sorry; trying to move as fast as possible.
Chair Russell: I'm just seeing where the blue is.
Mr. Riley: So Gina I'eillard is highlighted in blue.
Chair Russell: Okay, I see it, I see it. Thank you.
Mr. Riley: And Ms. Rosa Ramos is also highlighted in blue. Now, that's not only
thing that they failed to comply with. The appeal also failed to satisfy Section
7.1.2.6 of Miami 21. The Code expressly states that the appellant must state
specific reasons for the appeal. Appellants are required to file --
Chair Russell: Mr. Clerk --just a moment. -- keep the time running so we can keep
track and give equal time to the other side, please. I'm interested
(UNINTELLIGIBLE) extent.
Mr. Riley: Appellants are required to file all of their reports, all of their reports,
letters ofjustification, and plans in the public record to afford a meaningful hearing
opportunity and avoid the trial by ambush effect. Your Code requires appellants to
do the same thing. Not only is the appeal not specific; it is simply wrong, and I
highlighted the reasons for the appeal. And the only thing that they put on the
appeal for the reason is, "The application fails to comply with all applicable
regulations, and other evidence will be presented at the de novo appeal hearing."
That's -- violates your Code, Mr. Chairman, Commissioners, and it is simply wrong,
and I'll tell you why it's simply wrong. On the right-hand side of your screen is a
staff analysis. Staff has determined that we satisfied every single criteria [sic]. I'm
going to fly through this. You see that red check mark of staffs finding. Your
Planning Director already mentioned this. Compatible, consistent, complied, not
applicable, consistent, consistent, consistent, consistent, subject to conditions; all
red check marks. The other requirements: Consistent, subject to conditions,
consistent, subject to conditions, consistent, consistent, subject to conditions,
consistent, consistent, consistent. They went to the NET (Neighborhood
Enhancement Team) Office; NET office had no objections. They went to Code
Compliance; Code Compliance had no objections. Went to the Office of Zoning;
Zoning recommended approval with those conditions. They went to the Miami -
Dade County Traffic Engineering Department.
Chair Russell: Mr. Riley, it sounds like you're getting into substance, though, of --
Mr. Riley: I'm going to fly through this real quick. And I'm not getting into
substance. I'm just showing that it -- their argument, one, doesn't satisfy the
specificity requirement.
Chair Russell: I understand.
Mr. Riley: And two, it's just simply wrong, but I'll fly through that. The rules and
regulations must be applied uniformly to avoid deprivation of due process and the
arbitrary and capricious application of all. You saw that one page appeal. I did a
public record's request that I have here that I can hand out of all appeals filed
before the Planning and Zoning Appeals Board to the City Commission for the past
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five years; not a single one of them is one page; not a single one of them says,
"We're just aggrieved. " They say that there's a problem with traffic. They say
there's a problem with parking. They say there's other issues with the area. This is
one that was filed by a pro Bono applicant; you can see how specific he was. He
went through 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. He mentioned all of his objections. Remember
that certification letter that I told you that they had to file? They didn't comply with
that, either, Mr. Chairman and Commissioners. What they did instead -- and you'll
see on your right-hand side -- is Mr. Kemp said, "I'd like to use the list provided by
the applicant. " He certified on a government document; "that I certify that the
attached ownership list" -- not provided -- "map" -- not provided -- "mailing labels"
-- not provided -- "are complete and accurate representation of the real estate
property and property owners within 500 foot radius of the subject property listed
above. The information reflects the most current records on file with the Miami -
Dade County Tax Assessor's Office. " That's not one of your two requirements of
the Code. He had options. He elected not to fulfill any of those options. Now, you
also were told that Mr. Kemp is not the appellant. He admitted that he wasn't the
appellant, but he filed a corporate resolution, and he filed that corporate resolution
on behalf of Buena i ista Heights Neighborhood Association. It's not dated. It's not
witnessed. It's not notarized. It doesn't even reference the Centner school. It's just
a blanket resolution from Ulysses Kemp to Ulysses Kemp. Now, you also -- I'm
going to skip over this, Mr. Chairman, because this might be getting into some of
the substance, and I'll come back to this later. But this is something that was posted
on "Nextdoor" app yesterday, saying that we're going to do a "K" through 8. We're
not here -- or "K" through 12. We're not here for a "K" through 12. But in
conclusion, Mr. Chairman, the appeal is facially defective and must be dismissed as
a matter of law. The appeal has failed, and as filed, violated the specificity
requirements set forth in 7 -- Section 7.1.5. It failed to provide --failed to meet the
contemporarious [sic] payment requirement set forth in your Section 7.1.2.6 of your
Code. Additionally, the appeal should be dismissed, because there's a lack of
standing, because the family that appealed it, the appellant, didn't appear at the
hearing, supported the application. And I provided a case law, and I provided that
to your City Attorney, saying that they don't have standing to pursue this appeal. I
ask you, our Commission, to apply the low -- provide -- apply the Code as it is
written, because it is unambiguous. The Citizens' Bill of Rights states that this
government has been created to protect the governed, and to ensure that all persons
are treated fairly and equitably. It goes on to say that the City shall abide by all of
its expressed provisions. And today, Mr. Chairman, Commissioners, we ask you to
enforce your Code. The rule should be applied uniformly and justly. And I thank
you for your time.
Chair Russell: Back up two slides, please
Mr. Riley: Yes, sir.
Chair Russell: No, no. No applause, please. You had mentioned -- one more. No.
Go forward two more; sorry. You had said that you don't believe that Mr. Munguia
has standing.
Mr. Riley: Yes.
Chair Russell: Is that because of the timing or because of the location? Because
he's a non -abutting by the line, but if he paid the additional amount, are you saying
he doesn't have standing because of payment or timing, or because of his --?
Mr. Riley: There's two different issues there. One is, is the appeal deficient
because it fails to satisfy your Code requirement?
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Chair Russell: That I get.
Mr. Riley: The second one is standing. Does an appellant who supports an
application, who doesn't come to the lower tribunal, doesn't --
Chair Russell: Oh, okay.
Mr. Riley: -- voice their objection, sits on their hands, at the last -- at the 12th
hour, do they have standing to come forward and file an appeal?
Chair Russell: Got it.
Mr. Riley: We believe that case law says, it does not, and it clearly does not.
Chair Russell: Got it. All right. Thank you very much. Those are your points for
threshold.
Mr. Riley: Yes. Sorry; I tried to move quickly.
Chair Russell: No, no, no. It's all important to note, and I just want to make sure
we give fair time to the other side to rebut. What are we looking at here? We had
initial 12, and then we added on -- what? -- about another five more?
Mr. Hannon: 16 minutes, sir.
Chair Russell: 16, total?
Mr. Hannon: Um-hm.
Chair Russell: Okay.
Mr. Winker: Yeah, and I -- like I said, I don't think need that entire time period.
I don't have a copy of his PowerPoint slides, but I would point out that there is a
dearth of citations to the actual Code, and I'm going to go over the one section that
he does cite, which has to do with Miami 21, Section 7.1.2. Most of the citations
that he has are to the City of Miami web site, concerning procedure on the PZAB
web site. And you will see that there are certain statements made there that --
about the timing of things and things that need to be -- that need to happen. If we're
going to dig into the Code, I would start with Miami 21, Section 7.1.2.61), which
provides the requirements for filing an appeal. 'Appeal of a decision of the
Planning, Zoning and Appeals Board shall be de novo, applying the exception
criteria in this Code and taken to the City Commission. The appeal shall be filed
with the Hearing Board's Office. Notification of the appeal shall be provided by the
City in the same manner as provided by the original application in Section 7.1.2.6C
of this Code. The filing of the appeal shall state the specific reason for such appeal,
together with payment of any required fee. The appeal may be filed only by the
applicant or any person who is aggrieved by the action of the Planning, Zoning and
Appeals Board. " I would proffer that the Centner Academy has failed to provide
any evidence that any of those requirements under Section 7.1.2.61) have not been
met. If we're going to dig into the facts of the payment of any required fee at the
time that it was submitted, the City reviewed the application and said, "This is the
fee that needs to be paid, " and as soon as -- and I will offer into evidence the
following email from the City concerning that process, as far as being notified that
the appeal didn't work. There is an email from Olga Zamora, Chief of Hearing
Boards, to Mr. Munguia. "Hearing Boards received your appeal on July 1, 2019,
in which you appealed the exception, approving a preschool. In your appeal, you
indicate that you are abutting residents living at" --and his address. "Chapter 62-
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22 of the City of Miami Code indicates that, Abutting owners who wish to appeal
an exception of the City Commission do not have to remit an appeal fee, advertising
fee, or noticing fee.' "Information has been provided to Hearing Boards indicating
your property does not abut either 4136 North Miami Avenue or 20 Northwest 40"
(UNINTELLIGIBLE). "Upon further review, it appears your property is nearby,
but not abutting, as defined by Miami 20 [sic]. As such, in order for your appeal to
not be deemed deficient, you must remit proof of payment for the appeal fee, the
advertising fee, and the noticing fee, totaling 5,170.50 by no later than 5 p.m. on
Monday, July 22. " Attached is the financial ID (identification). 'If you have any
questions, please contact me. "
Chair Russell: So, your point is that the incorrect payment made was on the fault of
the City in what they were billed?
Mr. Winker: Correct.
Chair Russell: And once the City recognized that fault --
Mr. Winker: Correct.
Chair Russell: -- (UNINTELLIGIBLE) paid the correct amount
(UNINTELLIGIBLE) --
Mr. Winker: And we paid --
Chair Russell: --and they (UNINTELLIGIBLE)?
Mr. Winker: -- in compliance, you know, with it. So I would proffer that the
Centners have failed to provide arty facts that show that arty failure to comply with
any actual Code -- and we can go point by point on his PowerPoint of, you know,
the statements that he made that are not cited to Code, but I would proffer that we
met the Code. As far as standing, the Florida Supreme Court has established that
once proximity to a property to be rezoned is directly related to one's interest for
the purpose of standing, Renard v. Miami -Dade County, 1972. More specifically,
one's inclusion among those who reside within the mandatory notice zone is an
important factor to be considered on the question of standing. The City of Miami
has acknowledged it had previously opined that an aggrieved party for standing
and zoning matters was a resident that lived within 500 feet of the property. That's
Miami -Dade County versus City of Miami. That's the Playhouse case. Mr.
Munguia lives within 50 feet of the Centner Academy, and therefore resides within
the mandatory 500 foot notice area under Miami 21. As such, Mr. Munguia has
standing under Florida law to challenge the zoning exemption. The Supreme Court
of Florida in Renard made clear that no showing of special injury is required,
finding that special damages need not be shown if the taxpayer is within the
affected range of the property, which requires actual notice before the rezoning
made may be considered by the legislative body. So I would put into evidence that
the -- Mr. Riley has failed to provide evidence of failure to comply with the actual
Code, and I think we should get a -- go ahead and get into the substance of the
argument, and I can address any questions.
Chair Russell: Yes. One of his arguments was that your client's appeal did not
include the specific reasoning for the appeal, and that causes it to be deficient. Do
you have any response to that?
Mr. Winker: Yeah. I think that -- I mean, I could -- it couldn't be clearer. And, you
know, again, going back to the Code, "Shall state the specific reasons for such
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appeal, " and we will show that the very reasons for the --for our appeal are exactly
what was stated, which is failure to comply with the Code.
Chair Russell: Okay. So, it's not new information. So from the City Attorney's
Office, there was question about whether or not the appeal was timely, was paid
correctly. And when I requested that of the City Attorney in my original briefing,
said those are really items for us as a body, as finders of fact, to carry. My question
is, does the City Attorney's Office -- or when they receive an appeal, do they
disqualify appeals, or they do -- do they accept everything and let us make the
decision of whether or not they met the threshold?
Amber Ketterer (Assistant City Attorney): So typically, the appeals are filed with
the Division of Hearing Boards, not necessarily our office. And I believe that the
Division of Hearing Boards has just minimum requirements, whether it was within
the period of time, whether there was -- whether the fee was paid, et cetera. They
don't assess the actual appeal. They just have their minimum requirements. And
they had determined that this met their minimum requirements and accepted the
appeal. We don't make those determinations, whether it's specific enough, for
example, things of that nature.
Chair Russell: Commissioner Hardemon.
Commissioner Hardemon: If the appeal stated as the reason for the appeal that we
are appealing, do you think --
Mr. Winker: I understand what you're saying. I think this goes -- sorry.
Commissioner Hardemon: Do you think that the -- that if I said, "We are
appealing, " without saying further what you read on the record --
Mr. Winker: Right.
Commissioner Hardemon: -- which was, it is not in -- well, I don't remember the
exact statement, but you read it on the record just a moment ago, what -- the reason
why they appealed. Do you think that would have been acceptable as an appeal?
Mr. Winker: No. I think that what they're getting at is you need to put on -- you
need to put your adversary on notice as to what exactly we're going to be talking
about. So, I think that just saying -- it's like in a courtroom, right? "I object."
That's not enough. You have to say, "I object; hearsay. I object; vague and
ambiguous, " or whatever the grounds are.
Commissioner Hardemon: Right.
Mr. Winker: In this case, I think it's very clear if -- and I would go back to the de
novo standard is specifically the burden -- the zoning exception must conform to the
criteria of the Miami 21 Code. What's the reason for the appeal? We don't think it
complies with the criteria of the Miami 21 Code, and I think they specified that.
Commissioner Hardemon: So, you believe then that -- in your example, you said, 7
object, "for instance; "hearsay. " If you said, 7 object, " there could be a plethora of
reasons why you object. Right?
Mr. Winker: Right.
Commissioner Hardemon: And you say "hearsay" to let the opposing counsel and
the judge know, "this is the issue that we're talking about. "
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Mr. Winker: Exactly.
Commissioner Hardemon: And he will rule on it one way or the other.
Mr. Winker: Yeah.
Commissioner Hardemon: So, what -- your position is that once they say, "I
appeal," and then they say the reason that they appeal is because it's not in
conformity --
Mr. Winker: Right.
Commissioner Hardemon: --you believe that it's sufficient for specificity?
Mr. Winker: Correct. So it would be, for example, (UNINTELLIGIBLE) -- I'll just
respond to that. So the idea here is they're on notice that we -- when it was filed by
my clients -- and I want to be clear to get the context right. This was -- this is what
Commissioner Hardemon: It wasn't you?
Mr. Winker: Cover my (expletive), yeah. It wasn't me, and I don't say that to cover
my --
Commissioner Hardemon: No.
Mr. Winker: -- butt, but to say, like, okay, it's residents doing this. This isn't --
Commissioner Hardemon: We're going to get into that.
Mr. Winker: Okay. I- so the idea here is, you know, tome, if you read the Code, I
think that you could say, "Yeah, this is sufficient. " We're not saying, for example,
they're not a proper party and interest. We're not saying that they are failing to --
they failed under some notice requirements for the PZAB. Our requirement is it
fails to comply with Miami 21, and I do think it's enough to get us past the
threshold.
Commissioner Hardemon: Right. And so, counselor, so why do you believe then
that it must have some specificity that is beyond what was stated on the record,
beyond "objection; hearsay"
Mr. Winker: Because your Code says, and whenever you do legislative intent, you
have to -- every word in a legislative document has to have meaning, and "specific"
means it has to have a meaning. And specific, just to say, 7 appeal," or "I'm
aggrieved, " does not comply with your Code. And we talked about the letter of the
law the other day, and the letter of the law says "specific, " and every other one of
your applications that come before you say, it's because of parking, it's because of
traffic, it's because of 'X", "Y" and "Z. " This says none of that. And I would just
add one other thing. He says we didn't prove that it was an error on their part. If
you look at the appeal, I didn't put in the appellant saying he was abutting property
owner. Your staff didn't put in that he was an abutting property owner. Your staff
accepted a document, a governmental document, sworn to, that he said he was
abutting property owner, and they charged him appropriately. So, I don't know
what better proof I can provide than their own signature on a government
document.
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Commissioner Hardemon: So in regards to specificity, do you not regard --? The
examples that you gave of other applications that were turned in for appeals --
Mr. Winker: Yes, sir.
Commissioner Hardemon: --you mentioned one of them was prose.
Mr. Winker: Yes, sir.
Commissioner Hardemon: Do you not regard that more as style? It goes further
necessarily than the minimum standard of specificity? So, for instance, if they say
that "I object" or "I appeal this docu" -- "I appeal this ruling, " but then left you no
reason of the appeal, so you had no notice, whatsoever, what it could be about, as
opposed to "I appeal it, because it's not in conformance with Miami 21, " which is --
Miami 21 is a rather large document to peruse in order to determine what the
objection really is about.
Mr. Winker: Yes, Commissioner.
Commissioner Hardemon: However, you at least know, because you have the facts
of your specific case; you can narrow it down.
Mr. Winker: Yes, Commissioner.
Commissioner Hardemon: Much like with the objection that was stated on the
record, "hearsay, " or so. He may not state the exact -- the hearsay was previously
stated on the record. And so, when you object and you say, "hearsay, " the listener
to the facts, the listener is saying, "Which of the things that were said will be
considered to be hearsay?"
Mr. Winker: Yes.
Commissioner Hardemon: So my point in this is that do you not consider when you
have an objection, or you have an appeal, and they say that it's not in conformance
with Miami 21, then as the hearer or the listener or the appellee, you then can say,
"Well, what things in Miami 21 does this affect?" We know it affects all the things
that were analyzed. It -- say traffic flow, parking, zoning, et cetera. So why is that -
- when they say it's not in conformance with Miami 21 not enough to get a -- kind of
just above this -- to meet the specificity argument? Because it doesn't say
specificity with detailed support. Specificity within the argument. It just states that
you want -- it's almost, as he put it, notice specifically what it's all regarded.
Mr. Winker: So, there's two answers I can give you to your question. One is the
appeal doesn't actually say we're appealing under Miami 21. The appeal
specifically says that, "The application fails to comply with all applicable
regulations as shown in two separate staff analysis. " Staff analysis, I showed you;
everything we complied with. And then it goes on to say, 'And other evidence that
we" -- "will be presented at a do novo appeal hearing. "
Commissioner Hardemon: Counselor, the --
Mr. Winker: That --
Commissioner Hardemon: --evidence that you just referenced --
Mr. Winker: Yes, sir.
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Commissioner Hardemon: -- as far as staff analysis, were there more than one
report of staff analysis? Was there one report -- like one staff analysis that was not
favorable to you, and then another one that came later that was favorable?
Mr. Winker: Yes, Commissioner. So actually, it was before the Planning and
Zoning Appeals Board three times. The first two times, there were different staff
recommendations, and we deferred; didn't even have a hearing. The third one,
which is the merits of this appeal, said that we complied with everything. The
reason we did that is because we worked with your professional staff, we worked
with the County professional staff- we made sure we complied with absolutely
everything. They had an opportunity at that time. And if there's something in that
staff report -- because there's a laundry list of things we have to meet -- if there's
something in that staff report, they could have said there's something in that staff
report.
Chair Russell: Okay.
Mr. Winker: That was an error.
Chair Russell: Just a moment. So just --I want to clarify the timeline then --
Mr. Winker: Yes, sir.
Chair Russell: -- because this is new information for me. So, you are admitting
that there were deficiencies with regard to staffs recommendations, but before it
went to PZAB, and you cured those to staffs satisfaction prior to it going to PZAB;
after which point -- so there may be --
Mr. Winker: Yes, Mr. Chairman.
Chair Russell: -- a point where there were deficiencies from where PZAB's
recommendations, but then you cured those prior to getting to PZAB?
Mr. Winker: Yes, Mr. Chairman.
Chair Russell: Is that correct? Now I understand. Okay, thank you.
Commissioner Hardemon.
Francisco Garcia (Director, Planning): I'm sorry; I'd just like to clarify that the
deficiencies were not with staffs recommendations; they were with the application,
and they were subsequently corrected.
Chair Russell: Got it. So, it wasn't with staff recommendation. It was with the
application --
Mr. Winker: Well, actually --
Mr. Garcia: You're correct.
Mr. Winker: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) plan modifications.
Chair Russell: All right.
Mr. Winker: I would like to clarify that (UNINTELLIGIBLE). My understan -- the
way -- my understanding was there are three analysis; one is undated, and that staff
analysis recommended denial. There's an analysis two, dated April 16, 2019; that
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recommended denial. And then there is a revision, dated May 24, 2019, that
recommended approval. So it was, in fact, denied twice, correct?
Mr. Garcia: Not exactly. There were two analyses, the first two you mentioned,
which you are correct; recommended denial. The defect, I insist, is not in the staffs
analysis; the defect -- or the shortcomings, let's call them, were in the application.
We are confident and comfortable that the deficiencies were subsequently
corrected, and those corrections in the additional materials and documentation we
received merited a revised analysis and a revised recommendation of approval with
conditions.
Chair Russell: Thank you.
Mr. Garcia: Said conditions (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Chair Russell: And we don't need to get into the substance of those deficiencies or
corrections at this point. It's just to understand from a threshold issue what their
appeal was based on and whether that's sufficient for filing an appeal. Am I
correct?
Mr. Riley: IfI may --
Mr. Garcia: Correct.
Mr. Riley: --just have two seconds just to make two items --
Chair Russell: Of course.
Mr. Riley: -- of rebuttal on this one objection? He mentioned a Supreme Court
case regarding standing, and that's aggrieved parties. I submit to this board, it's
nonsensical to be aggrieved party if you support the application, don't appear at the
hearing, and don't lodge any objections. Okay? So, I don't believe that that case is
applicable at all. Secondarily, that email that he wants to submit in the record
doesn't say anything other than what I said before. It said that you have to you --
you, the appellant --you have to come in and pay, because that's what your Code
says. Your Code says that the appellant has to come in. You can't have a straw
man where you find -- "I want to avoid the rules, so I'm going to find somebody
that's close by. I'm going to tell him that these people are bad people in order to
get 600" -- "pay $600 and not follow your rules. " That's sidestepping the law. And
that's something we were talking about the other day with letters of the law, and
what we're asking you to do is apply the letter of law today.
Commissioner Hardemon: So, I think it's pretty interesting -- right? -- the
argument that you're making about straw man paying, if you will.
Mr. Riley: Yes, sir.
Commissioner Hardemon: If this were campaign contributions --
Mr. Riley: Yes, sir.
Commissioner Hardemon: -- right? -- then that would certainly be against the law,
because the law specifically states that one cannot give a donation for a campaign
in the name of another person.
Mr. Riley: Yes, Commissioner.
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Commissioner Hardemon: So, I cannot use my money to give for another person,
and then title it with that person's name, so there's no record whatsoever that I used
my money to pay for that person.
Chair Russell: Commissioner?
Commissioner Hardemon: Right?
Chair Russell: So, I did ask the City Attorney that question earlier, and she came
over to me and said that the Code is silent on whether or not --
Commissioner Hardemon: Correct. This is my point.
Chair Russell: Okay.
Commissioner Hardemon: So, the law was -- is very clear in regard to that. As I
understand it, there are some friends of the President that recently got in trouble for
something like this, right?
Mr. Riley: Yes, Commissioner.
Commissioner Hardemon: Which is also the reason why I don't know why people
making this such a -- such an issue, but -- which is also the reason why the
campaign donations that are related to the -- to Centner, the family, that are made
to my campaign are very --
Mr. Riley: Yes, Commissioner.
Commissioner Hardemon: --plain for people to see. It's not a secret. It's in the
open. As opposed to necessarily someone else outside of the making donations on
their behalf with their money.
Mr. Riley: Yes, Commissioner.
Commissioner Hardemon: Right? That would be against the law. And so, here,
where you have someone who's making the payment for another person, because
that person may not have the funds; maybe they agreed with -- maybe it is what you
said; that they don't necessarily have an objection, but they're the person that's
being used. It doesn't appear from what I've seen just yet that there's anything that
is contrary to law that's going to allow them not to use their authority, their power,
their two minutes to say, "I disagree, and someone else is going to pay on my
behalf. " Now, the -- this is an interesting thing, because I think that your arguments
are good arguments. The fact of the matter is that on the application, the properties
were not abutting. In fact, no one did make the appropriate payment amount until
they were requested. It is clear that I don't necessarily agree with the specificity
argument. I understand that there could have been more, but maybe there wasn't
required to be more. Maybe that was specific enough. Right? And so, these -- I
think they're all very good arguments. But then we get into this whole issue with
who actually filed the appeal. It wasn't the lawyer that filed the appeal; it was a
resident. And so, how much deference do we give a resident who may be familiar
with the process or who may not be familiar with the process? But what deference
do we give them in starting the process of an appeal? And then the question
becomes -- and I'll let you answer that -- and then the question then becomes, who
is actually the person that accepts the appeal? Is it this body that accepts the
appeal, which is why they didn't want to deny it? So, is it this body that says, "You
know what? All things have been" -- "all" -- "the procedure that we used to get
here not only is it enough, but it can be cured from one step to the next step,"
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because I'll tell you, at the end of the day, the -- that the overwhelming issue here is
whether or not that someone in the community has a right to an appeal and to be
heard in a adversarial way. So beyond that of public comment, beyond that of, you
know, their two minutes that the State of Florida says that we have to give them --
that they can be, you know, opposed and (UNINTELLIGIBLE), and bring witnesses
and there forth -- should we deny them that? Because they are pro se at first, they
did make the wrong payment, they cured the payment; they had a very succinct,
specific reason for the appeal. Should we hear them, even though those things
occurred?
Mr. Riley: My answer to you, Commissioner, respectfully, is "no. " And the reason
is, is that when you go to court, even if you're pro se and you have a motion to
dismiss, if you don't follow the rules, then you aren't entitled to leniency. But in this
case, we weren't dealing with unsophisticated property owners. We're dealing with
the Buena Vista community. That's a pure Craig Robbins. In their appeal letter,
they cite specific sections of your Miami 21 Code. They put in the word "abutting. "
If he weren't sophisticated, why would you even think of putting in the word
"abutting"? I wouldn't. It doesn't seem to have any relevancy to it unless you
know the rules. In this case, we're not dealing with somebody that was
unsophisticated. You're dealing with people that knew the rules, but were
intentionally trying to sidestep those rules.
Commissioner Hardemon: But what evidence do you show that they intentionally
intended to sidestep? Maybe that evidence to intentionally sidestep the rule may be,
say, moving, but beyond the fact that the person wrote that they were abutting and
that a fee was paid -- I'm sorry; that they were -- yeah, abutting, and a fee was paid
in accordance with that. Beyond the fact that someone said, "Hey, you're not
abutting, so you need to pay this other fee, and they paid it, " what -- how can you
show that they --
Mr. Riley: Couple things.
Commissioner Hardemon: -- did that?
Mr. Riley: Couple things. One is, and I have it on my screen, but it's the appeal
itself, where they cite those specific sections of the Miami 21 Code. Not just one
section; multiple sections. He said, "abutting, " like I mentioned. Remember that
corporate resolution requirement that I talked to you about? If it was a family next
door that wasn't a corporation, and they were really the appellant, why file a
corporate resolution? They knew what they were doing, Commissioner. All the
evidence -- and if you want to call it circumstantial evidence, it's circumstantial
evidence, but all the documentary evidence that's in there proves that they were
trying to sidestep the Code. Everything that was signed, was signed by one person,
and that was Ulysses Kemp, except for the appeal, and he was a supporter of the
appeal. He filed the certification list. He paid all the fees. He's the person that
went to the Hearing Boards to pay for it, even though your Code specifically says
the appellant has to appear in person at the Hearing Boards. All of that shows that
they sidestepped your Code.
Commissioner Carollo: Good argument. Good argument.
Commissioner Hardemon: Counselor.
Mr. Winker: Yeah. I -- you know, to me, it's -- you guys are going to have a
problem if you read the Code in any other way than it is, which is, "together with
payment of any required fee. " I mean, I'm aware of a number of circumstances that
I've been involved with where the fee was waived; particularly in the West Grove,
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the City waived the fee. And we need to be careful with this idea of payment of any
required fee. We were told what the fee was. You know, the idea of abutting -- I
don't have the abutting property, but you can see the definition of "abutting, " it's --
you'd have to know what that definition is in Miami 21 to argue, okay, you're one
house over, right? The line doesn't quite reach your property. You're 53 feet away,
but you're not abutting. So I would argue that we're going to go down a slippery
slope if -- this isn't a motion to dismiss. This is a appeal by residents who are
saying, "Hey, this is the reason" -- I think they give sufficient reasons, and I think
they paid the fee in accordance with the Code. I will tell you, Mr. Riley's correct.
He's a good lawyer. And if you go to the PZAB site, it does say -- it has a bunch of
additional requirements that go well beyond, and that's what he cited. But when
you go to the Miami 21 Code -- I mean, when you go to Miami 21, all it says is,
"together with payment ol'any required fee. " My client showed up at the office and
said, "Here's my appeal. What's the required fee?" The minute they were told,
"Oh, you're not technically abutting under this definition, " they paid the
remainder. So to me, it's --
Chair Russell: And the payment of that initial fee was within the time period?
Mr. Winker: Yes, absolutely.
Chair Russell: So here --
Commissioner Hardemon: I have a question --
Chair Russell: Go ahead.
Commissioner Hardemon: --for Mr. Kemp. Mr. Kemp, can you step to the lectern,
please? And I want to remind you that you were sworn in.
Ulysses Kemp: Yes, sir.
Commissioner Hardemon: I have a very simple question for you. Did you
intentionally sidestep the procedures that are required to appeal in this matter as
what was described on the record?
Mr. Kemp: No way did I do anything intentionally of that nature.
Commissioner Hardemon: Okay. I don't have any other questions of him.
Chair Russell: Thank you very much, Mr. Kemp. So, for me, I don't have a
problem with someone paying for someone else's fee if the Code is silent to that, so
I don't think it's a big issue.
Commissioner Carollo: How much is the fee?
Chair Russell: Well, it grew --
Commissioner Hardemon: From 600 to like 4,500, I believe.
Commissioner Carollo: 600 to 4,500?
Commissioner Hardemon: Yes.
Mr. Winker: 600 to 4,500, yes, sir; for which, he went (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Commissioner Carollo: For residents to appeal?
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Commissioner Hardemon: It's a little bit more.
Mr. Winker: A non -abutting resident. So we filed the appeal. Mr. Munguia lives
53 feet away, but he's like kind of cattycorner, so he doesn't meet the definition of
"abutting, " and was able to file for the $600 fee, and then we were notified shortly
after the application that in order to -- because he was not abut -- City said, "We
found you're not abutting" -- I read the email into the record -- saying, "You're not
abutting; you owe the $5,100. "
Chair Russell: Thank you. So, let me just go through my list, if I could.
Commissioner Carollo: Well, that's another one I'm going to have to put to look to
change.
Chair Russell: Appellate fees.
Commissioner Carollo: That's not right that -- I mean, look, it's one thing if come
from another neighborhood and try to get in someone else's business.
Commissioner Hardemon: That's exactly what was happening,
(UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah, but —
t ice Chair Gort: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) happen.
Commissioner Carollo: --he says 51 feet.
Commissioner Hardemon: But not here, not here. Not in -- not necessarily in this
matter, but that's what was happening in the City of Miami. You were having
appeals from people who were across town.
Chair Russell: Right.
Commissioner Hardemon: I appealed (UNINTELLIGIBLE) --
Chair Russell: So, a higher burden (UNINTELLIGIBLE). Okay.
Commissioner Carollo: But --
Vice Chair Gort: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) competition (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Commissioner Carollo: -- when you give that legal — a long legal opinion -- I'm
glad that we don't have Eddy Leal as our City Attorney anymore, and you took over.
But when you give me that long legal opinion, you mentioned the President. You
weren't comparing yourself to something Trump did or didn't do?
Commissioner Hardemon: Well, I know I've never --I haven't violated the law.
Commissioner Carollo: Huh?
Commissioner Hardemon: I was just mentioning the fact that those individuals
were accused of that sort of matter. I wouldn't do anything like that.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay. What individuals?
Commissioner Hardemon: I don't know their names.
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Commissioner Carollo: Oh, you're saying from --
Commissioner Hardemon: I saw it on the news. I try not to watch too much news;
it's really depressing.
Commissioner Carollo: I just heard, "The President. "
Chair Russell: All right, guys.
Commissioner Carollo: I heard, "The President. "
Chair Russell: We got a long way to go; let's focus, let's focus, gentlemen. All
right, so my -- from my list, I don't have an issue with the abutting, non -abutting. I
think that cure was fine. I think it's okay for someone to pay for someone else. It's
not spoken to in the Code. The reasons given, I may have issue based on what --
when it says, "and other reasons to be brought up at the appeal, " we're going to
hear those on substance, and if they go so far above and beyond what is stated in
the appeal, that might be an issue; we'll see. And then --
L ice Chair Gort: Let's hear the thing.
Chair Russell: Yeah, I think that's where we're going, because -- and so, I don't
think that the threshold issue here -- I see the gray areas that have been brought up,
but I don't see anything here that disqualifies this appellant if they were within the
date and they are a neighbor. I don't think it's an issue that they supported at one
point, didn't show up at PZAB, but then later decided to appeal. I think that's
perfectly legal to change your mind in that sense, if someone changed your mind or
showed you other facts. I don't think that disqualifies you for standing.
Commissioner Hardemon: Right. So, I think that the argument that was made by
Mr. Riley is a good argument. I think it's a very good argument. Certainly, that is
the argument to make. However, when it comes to this sort of -- when it comes to
this, where the Code specifically says that it's the payment and it's the appeal, and
then it— it basically ends up before us --
Chair Russell: Yep.
Commissioner Hardemon: -- I think that enough, under the law, could have been
done. I think -- and the harm will be way too great to not hear it --
Chair Russell: Correct.
Commissioner Hardemon: -- rather than to deny -- well, the harm would be too
great. And so, with that being said, what I would do is instead of waiting
necessarily, I would actually move that we decry Mr. Riley's motion to keep the
appeal from being heard substantively.
Chair Russell: Understood. I don't know that we need to vote on that, because it
was simply a --
Commissioner Hardemon: Well, we should — it should -- it needs to be a will of the
body, at least.
Chair Russell: That's true.
Commissioner Hardemon: I just want it to be fair.
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Chair Russell: That's true.
Commissioner Carollo: What is the motion?
Chair Russell: So --
Commissioner Hardemon: The motion --
Chair Russell: He wasn't here when it first came up. So Mr. Riley says that they
shouldn't be appealing at all, because they didn't meet the threshold to be before us,
and that's what we've been arguing all this time. We haven't even gotten into the
substance yet. Commissioner Hardemon is saying it should be before us, so let's go
ahead and hear it; am I correct?
Commissioner Hardemon: Right. I'm saying that what was put on the record,
including the statement of Mr. Ulysses Kemp that was put on the record -- all the
evidence that was put on the record and the arguments were good arguments made
by Mr. Riley; however, I think that, at the end of the day, the spirit of why you have
an appeal process, the notice, the requirement for payment, et cetera, it's been
clearly met.
Chair Russell: So the City Attorney's recommendation was just to reserve judgment
on that.
Commissioner Hardemon: She was just saying reserve judgment. I think that the
City Attorney's --
Chair Russell: You'd rather make the judgment?
Commissioner Hardemon: Yeah. I think the City Attorney's position is probably a
safe one to take --
Chair Russell: Yeah.
Commissioner Hardemon: -- but it certainly is something that if, for instance, we
granted Mr. Riley's motion, what I believe she's saying is that the --
Chair Russell: He would have grounds. Sure.
Commissioner Hardemon: -- the appellant would have grounds to appeal, and then
Chair Russell: And I'd agree.
Commissioner Hardemon: --we'll be back here again. I don't think that anyone is
going to appeal --
ti ice Chair Gort: Let's hear the case.
Commissioner Hardemon: --this. What we're just (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Chair Russell: Got it. The only thing I'd like clarification on is Mr. Kemp's
involvement. Is he an appellant or not?
Mr. Winker: Yeah. He's listed on the appeal. I think where --
Chair Russell: So Munguia is the appellant.
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Mr. Winker: Right. Well, there's four --
Commissioner Gort: Four people are the appellant.
Mr. Winker: Let's be clear. There's an appellant; Munguia, and then there's three
other co -appellants. So the idea here is -- we could attack each one, but the idea is
— exactly, they're three --
Chair Russell: Well -- but (UNINTELLIGIBLE) being an appellant gives them
standing to be in the discussion, which is --
Mr. Winker: Correct.
Chair Russell: -- what was brought up before. He is representing a homeowners
association, correct; not as an individual?
Mr. Winker: No; as an individual.
Chair Russell: As an individual?
Mr. Winker: Yes.
Commissioner Hardemon: So how does he meet the definition of "appellant"?
Like, I understand the whole supportive thing, because the way that I see it is that,
at most, what he would be is a witness, and you could use him as a witness, because
you have --
Chair Russell: That's where I'm going.
Commissioner Hardemon: -- a correct appellant, right? But there's no further
right that he has than -- or equal right that he has to be appellant. For instance, he
can't call witnesses; the appellant can call witnesses. I would not expect him and
all the other individuals to call witnesses, because they're not the appellant.
Mr. Winker: Correct. So the idea is the person who lives within 50 feet, and that's
what Mr. Riley is calling the appellant.
Commissioner Hardemon: Correct.
Mr. Winker: Because, you know, if we had — if we get into a point where I have to
concede that Rosa can't call witnesses, like I'm. fine to go there, but the idea is when
they had filed, I think in their mind, "We are four individuals, lived in the
neighborhood, and we're filing this. " If you see, it's not signed on behalf'--
Commissioner Hardemon: Right.
Mr. Winker: -- the corporate -- of the nonprofits. But, yes, the idea is, in my mind,
personally, Kirk is the appellant.
Commissioner Hardemon: Right.
Mr. Winker: He would need that -- if I had to argue with you about it, I would be
zeroing in on him as my best argument.
Commissioner Hardemon: Okay, good.
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Chair Russell: I think we're clear. I'll second your motion, Commissioner. Mr.
Director.
Commissioner Carollo: Are you registered as a lobbyist or --?
Mr. Winker: Yes, sir.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay. Do the appellants have to be registered, too, as
lobbyists or not?
Chair Russell: No.
Commissioner Hardemon: Probablv not. They 're probably probably not. I don't
know. I do not know.
Chair Russell: Mr. Director, you had a comment? I'll let someone -- the City
Attorney answer you on that --
Mr. Garcia: Yes.
Chair Russell: -- when they find that information.
Mr. Garcia: Yes, I did have a comment, but it's not related to Commissioner
Carollo's question.
Chair Russell: Understood. They're going to look that up.
Mr. Garcia: T'ery well.
Chair Russell: I think we know the answer, but they're going to look it up.
Mr. Garcia: So for your consideration -- because it is certainly the case that,
ultimately, it is the Commission's decision as to whether or not there are specific
reasons for this appeal, an item that has been brought up. What I'd like for you to
consider, and I'd like to receive information -- and wherever this case ends up, I'd
like this issue to be further illuminated -- is this: There is, as part of your backup, a
15 page, thorough and detailed study and analysis, drafted by your Planning
Department, and other supporting departments that shows exactly why this
application meets the standards that allow it for recommendation for approval with
conditions, which are also very specific for your consideration; originally for the
Planning, Zoning and Appeals Board consideration, which concurred with the
Planning Department, and now an appeal for your de novo consideration. What I
will say is this: I certainly have never stated that I consider any of our analyses to
be perfect. I am certain that many have been flawed, and that probably all of them
can be improved. However, part of the reason for this process is that once we are
made aware of any potential defect in the application, any potential defect in our
analysis, we are then given proper chance to correct it. Receiving an appeal that
simply says, "The project does not comply with Miami 21, " is not helpful towards
that end at all. Thank you.
Chair Russell: Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Director.
Mr. Winker: And I'd like to address that, just to make sure that we're clear. Yeah, I
did not mean to imply in any manner that the process was any other than what
you're saying, which was application, recommend denial; they come back with a
revised application; recommend denial. They meet your criter — you know, in your
mind, the criteria that need to be met, and then they did it. So, I want to make sure
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you didn't think I was implying anything untoward happened during that process.
That's not at all what I -- that's not — No, I'm going to --
CommissionerHardemon: And —
Chair Russell: No, it's -- that's fair. So do you need a vote on this motion?
Commissioner Hardemon: Before we vote -- and I'm not sure if I did this at the last
hearing, but I also want to make a Jennings disclosure. I had an opportunity to
speak briefly with members in opposition; specifically Mr. Kemp, briefly, regarding
this application; also with the principals of the application and their lawyers, and I
will consider that -- and maybe lobbyists. And so, I just want that to be put on the
record that I had an opportunity to speak with everyone regarding the facts of this
application that is going forward today.
Chair Russell: Thank you, and I'm in the same position. Although I didn't have a
formal meeting with Mr. Kemp; we just bumped into each other at a separate
meeting in Morningside, where you mentioned your opposition to the situation and
the traffic issue. All right. So, there's a motion and a second with regard to
denying the threshold issue brought up by Mr. Riley. Is there arty further discussion
on that? All in favor, say "aye. "
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Commissioner Gort: Let's hear the case, and let's go.
Chair Russell: Any opposed? Okay. Hearing none, we'll move forward with
substance. Mr. Winker, you can start. How much time do you need?
Mr. Winker: I'll try to do it in about 10 minutes, 12 minutes.
Chair Russell: That sounds perfect.
Mr. Winker: If you want to put the buzzer on me, IZl wrap it up.
Chair Russell: We'll put it on 12.
Mr. Winker: David Winker, on behalf of the neighborhood associations and the
individuals we've been discussing. The City of Miami adopted the form -based
Miami 21 Zoning Code in 2009, after 60 public meetings and over 500 informal
gatherings, in order to decrease exceptions that had led to a hodgepodge of
incompatible buildings and uses and traffic problems, and to increase predictability
for residents. The idea was intended to promote more stable property values and
resident qualify of life. Yet, here we are again being asked by wealthy and
politically connected businesspeople that don't live in the neighborhood to force a
zoning exception over the vehement objection of residential neighborhoods and the
neighborhood associations. Once again, a residential neighborhood is being asked
to bear the burden while wealthy individuals reap the benefits. I often sit with
clients during the course of representation involving a conflict, and I ask them,
"Why do you think the other side is upset with you, prosecuting you, suing you,
.fighting you? " I find this a constructive exercise, because it allows the client to put
themselves in the other side's shoes and see the conflict from a different angle. Why
does the Buena i ista neighborhood almost unanimously oppose this project? I
have not had the opportunity to meet the Centners personally, but almost everything
that the Centners have done regarding the Centner Academy has been troubling.
My involvement in this case began with a threatening text from their attorney in
Connecticut to Mr. Munguia. "Mr. Munguia, my name is John Doroghazi. I am a
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litigation attorney at the law firm of Wiggins [sic] and Dana, which represents
Centner Academy and the Centnerfamily in various matters. Centner Academy and
its owners are considering taking a number of immediate legal actions, including
filing a lawsuit against you; seeking injunctive relief and monetary damages to
resolve your appeal of the board decision that is preventing the Centner Academy
from receiving its certificate of occupancy. I have advised them that before they
take that step, it might be beneficial for us to speak so that you understand what
that litigation would entail and to see if you would reconsider your decision to
press your appeal. " This text gives us insight to what is going on here. The
Centners are used to getting what they want. The text from their attorney reveals
that they do not want to engage with the neighborhoods, with the neighborhood and
its neighbors, but want to achieve their goes through threats, intimidation, and
political muscle. Why did the Centners choose this path rather than community
engagement? There was one public meeting on May 30, where the neighbors
expressed almost unanimous objection to the project. Neither the Centners, nor
their representatives, ever bothered to attend any of the numerous neighborhood
association meetings. This is a shame, because if the Centners had bothered to
engage the community, they would have found that Buena b ista has active and
involved neighborhood associations and residents that welcome and need smart
development. I think a lot of what has happened is due to the fact that the Centners
began construction without having the proper zoning. Despite not having zoning
for a preschool, they pulled a building permit to begin construction on November
28, 2018. They did not apply for an exception until five months later, on March 26,
2019. This evidence -- this could evidence arrogance, but it also characterizes how
the CentnerAcademy has gone about its business. It is also a calculated strategy to
pressure the City into approving what the Centners have already done. The
Centners' strategy is the oldest trick in the hook. Ask it's better to ask for
forgiveness than permission. They are arguing, "It wouldn't he a fair outcome. We
did all this construction. You need to approve our preschool and allow us to do
something that the Zoning Code doesn't allow us to do right now. " The Centner
Academy held a widely publicized grand opening in August, with representatives
from the Mayor's office, Commissioner Hardemon's office and Commissioner
Russell's office. As reported in the media, to commemorate the occasion --
Mr. Riley: Commissioner, I just need to object for the record. This has nothing to
do with Miami 21. We're getting way beyond the substance. We're getting into
building permitting issues. I just want to make the objection for --
Mr. Winker: I will. I --
Commissioner Hardemon: I assumed you had given us some long opening
statement, because it's certainly not evidence, right?
Mr. Winker: I will bring it to the evidence. The idea here is --
Commissioner Carollo: Mr. Riley, why didn't they invite me?
Mr. Riley: I'm sorry? I couldn't hear.
Commissioner Carollo: Why didn't they invite me?
Mr. Riley: Oh, no. You're always invited (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Commissioner Carollo: Oh. Now he don't mind talking about it, right? I'm
invited. That's okay. I --
Mr. Riley: Anything that I'm involved in, you're invited.
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Commissioner Carollo: I'd rather walk alone.
Vice Chair Gort: Don't feel bad; I didn't get invited, either.
Chair Russell: I'm sure Mr. Winker is getting to the Miami 21 section
(UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Mr. Winker: I will, (UNINTELLIGIBLE). At the party you missed the — a
performer from the Confucius Institute at Miami Dade College played a musical
piece.
Commissioner Carollo: Oh, my God.
Mr. Winker: All this was done --
Commissioner Carollo: Confucius Institute.
Mr. Winker: All this was done --
Commissioner Carollo: You're --
Mr. Winker: I'm sorry.
Commissioner Carollo: -- now I know why the Colonel wasn't here today; he's
trying to become President of Miami Dade, and they want to get rid of the
Confucius Institute, so he's -- he didn't want to be involved in that. I -- okay. I'm
sorry. Go ahead.
Mr. Winker: No. Yes, sir. All this was done without a certificate of occupancy, a
certificate of completion, or any temporary certificates to allow the public into the
building. As such, under City of Miami Code, no one was permitted to be in the
building, other than construction workers. Again, why are we here? The Centners
are not doing things the right way, and they're blaming the neighbors for the delay.
We respectfully request that the zoning exception requested by the Centner
Academy should be denied, because this is exactly the type of exception Miami 21 is
designed to avoid; neighborhood opposition is almost unanimous. The
underground parking plan that they have proposed results in a real and present
carbon monoxide danger to children, in violation of the Miami -Dade County Code.
The proposed zoning exception does not conform to the explicit criteria of Miami
21. Under Miami 21, Section 7.1.2.6, "The City shall consider the manner in which
the proposed use will operate, given its location and proximity to less intense uses. "
The City analysis, in an attempt to satisfy this requirement, states, "Educational
facilities tend to support the residential communities in which they are located by
providing a safe and easy way for families to access the preschool. " As we've
discussed, with an annual tuition of $24, 000, this for profit preschool is far more
expensive than will be affordable to the income level of residents in the Buena i ista
community. As such, the Centner Academy fails to support the surrounding
residential area. It supports wealthy individuals from other neighborhoods, who
will come in and impact our — and impact Buena b ista with traffic and noise, but it
will not benefit the community. The Child Drop -Off Plan is internally inconsistent
and illogical. Analysis I and 2 from the City contains the following statement:
"The surface parking is available.for parents. It is anticipated that most parents
will park and then walk their children to class. " This is a completely logical
statement to anyone who's had children and had to drop them off at a day care.
However, Analysis 3 changed. It does not contain a statement; rather, it states,
"Because of the physical constraints of the existing site, the applicant has agreed to
install a boom barrier at the entrance of the parking lot. The lot will be closed
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during the pick-up and drop-off periods. By preventing the drop-off and pick-up of
students on the surface lot during the busiest time of day, the number of conflicts
between the vehicles and pedestrians will be minimized. " If we jump into the City
analysis, I would start by saying that on Page 1, it talks about 195 students. Page 2
breaks it down into -- and you can see on the arrows -- three shifts of 67 students,
from 7 a.m. to I p.m.; 68 students on the next shift, and 70 students on the following
shift. That adds up to 205. So that's an additional 10 students that aren't
accounted for on the other part. This is the plan for picking up the students. I think
it's really important that we pay attention to what this is, because when you look at
this and follow it, you can see the absurdity of this model. I'll get to the life safety
issue in a second. But what you have is people pulling off the street, pulling
through the gray area into an underground garage; pulling around, parking;
someone taking the child out of the seat -- out of the car, and then if you see -- if
you follow the arrow, you can see the gray area I marked gray, "Area clear of
vehicle for turns," they -- the car has to swerve into oncoming traffic in order to
make the turn; bad planning, and I'll -- but I'll get into why I think it's a bigger
deal. This next slide is the original plan of the garage. This was designed as an
Office building with cars pulling into the garage, parking, going up and doing their
business, and coming back. As you can see, they've changed that where this
underground parking now is going to be a stacking area for running vehicles; 195
trips twice a day. Let's do the math. One minute each. It's very difficult to get a
car -- child out of the car, but I'll give you one minute each. That's 6.5 hours a day
there's going to be idling cars underneath this garage. Is the word, "carbon
monoxide, " mentioned anywhere in this report? It is not. And not only is it not
mentioned, but I would bring to your attention that under the Miami -Dade County
Code, any zoning -- Okay. So, leave that up. The Miami -Dade County Code comes
into play because this is a educational facility. Educational facilities are not able
to be addressed by the City Code. There's an exemption. There's preemption,
basically. So, you go up into the County Code.
Mr. Riley: Mr. Chairman --
Mr. Winker: Now, the County Code, which applies, specifically addresses the
carbon monoxide, and requires any zoning exception not result in a material
increase in the risk of potential for discharge or spillage of pollutants, or
generation of carbon monoxide at unsafe levels.
Mr. Riley: Mr. Chairman, I just need to object for the record. Mr. Winker is a
attorney; unsubstantiated testimony of counsel. He is not a traffic engineer. I just
need to make sure that that's timely for the record.
Mr. Winker: Yeah. I was just going to get to
Chair Russell: Noted. Thank you.
Mr. Winker: I'm going to read into the record -- I have a -- an architectural report
that I'd like to read into it. "My name is Melissa Meyer. "
Mr. Riley: Mr. Chairman, I object. I don't have an opportunity to cross-examine
anybody that is -- he's submitting an expert testimony for. I have my experts here. I
won't have an opportunity to cross-examine them. That is totally inappropriate.
Chair Russell: Mr. Winker, are you submitting an expert testimony?
Mr. Winker: Yes. Well, I'll submit my letter. But the idea here is, this is not
mentioned anywhere in the City analysis of how you deal with this carbon
monoxide. There is a ventilation system that was designed for a normal parking
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situation of cars pulling in; not for idling cars 6.5 hours a day. So I -- to me, this
needs to get sent back -- you know, I have a couple suggestions to wrap up. This is
not well thought out. I think that the idea -- this carbon monoxide problem presents
a real problem that I think needs to be addressed and incorporated into the study.
The plan as it stands, to me, presents a real dam -- a real danger to the employees,
whose job it is to stand inside that garage; for the people in the building, as it seeps
up into the building; 6.5 hour -- almost the entire day the car is running in there,
and then to the children themselves as they're exiting and entering the vehicles.
With that -- I just want to make sure -- there was a -- I'm done.
Chair Russell: Thank you. So, is there anything --? So I -- what I'm hearing is
recommendations for a better drop-off plan and a safer garage, but I'm -- what I
haven't heard is the specifics of Miami 21 with regard to the exception being
granted, which violates Miami 21 --
Mr. Winker: Perfect.
Chair Russell: -- should deny the exception.
Mr. Winker: Exactly. So, I will go through -- let me just raise those, and then we
can go through it. So as Igo back to the burden on the Centners, their burden is to
show that the exception conforms to the criteria of the Miami 21 Code. The first
exception I said that it does not comply with is that the City has not considered the
manner in which the proposed use will operate, given its location and proximity to
less intense uses. How does that manifest itself? The parking plan is not going to
work. I don't think parents are going to utilize it for a number of different reasons.
That traffic is going to back up into the street. Their street is going to become the
driveway for the parents as they drop off students. The next item that I was just
speaking of, of the carbon monoxide, that is specifically to your Code. It has to do
with -- there is a finding -- and Francisco can confirm it -- that they say that this --
there -- this is in compliance with the County Code requirements. I am saying, no,
that is not true. This does result in a material increase and the risk of potential for
Mr. Riley: Objection.
Mr. Winker: -- generation of carbon monoxide --
Mr. Riley: Objection, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Winker: -- at unsafe levels.
Mr. Riley: He's now testifying to what the County's Code applies to. He's not a
County official. He's not traffic expert. He's not a building contractor.
Chair Russell: All right.
Mr. Riley: We're getting way beyond any substance (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Mr. Winker: I'm a lawyer. I'm pointing out the County Code.
Chair Russell: What I'm learning is that lawyers throw the kitchen sink, trying to
keep an amount of standing; and then they throw the kitchen sink in trying to find
the substance, so we have to parch through all that, but thank you for bringing that
to light. I see Commissioner Reyes is back with us. There he is.
(Applause)
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Commissioner Reyes: Thankyou, thank you. Thankyou all. Thankyou very much.
I just came from the hospital. They did a scan, and I had a little concussion. They
sent me home and said, `Relax, " but I didn't. (UNINTELLIGIBLE). That's going
to be Manolo for a while. I mean, because for the next four years, you guys have to
deal with me, okay? Thankyou very much. God bless you all. Thankyou.
(Applause)
Commissioner Reyes: That's what I'm going to do. Do you need me for anything?
(UNINTELLIGIBLE)
Chair Russell: So, we're talking soccer? (UNINTELLIGIBLE) no.
Commissioner Reyes: Let's do it.
Chair Russell: You need the rest. You need the rest.
Commissioner Reyes: No, no. I mean, I'm ready, I'm ready.
Chair Russell: No, no. I knew you would say that, but I want you to rest.
Commissioner Reyes: (UNINTELLIGIBLE). I love you. Okay.
Commissioner Carollo: Let me help you, so we have Manolo for a long time.
Chair Russell: There's some steps over there; be careful.
Commissioner Reyes: Don't push me now.
Chair Russell: Yeah, I thought so, too. That's good to see. Mr. Winker, do you
rest? All right. For rebuttal.
Mr. Riley: Yes. Mr. Chairman, I also have a PowerPoint presentation, since this is
a de novo application. I'm going to fly through it as fast as I can. And I have it on
the screen. I don't know if you guys -- if the Commission can see it. But listening to
some of the testimony today, and listening to -- and reading the things that were
portrayed about the Centner family in the Crespogram, and other places --
Unidentified Speaker: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Mr. Riley: I thought I was representing like the Clinton Foundation, where people
were just making up things about the people that I was dealing with. But I just want
to show you one example of that before I get into the merits. This came out in the
Nextdoor app. When they say they have substantial support from Buena Vista to
oppose this application, again, simply not true. I passed out a booklet, and I want
to incorporate that booklet. That's the same booklet that was provided before the
Planning and Zoning Appeals Board. So, I'd like to incorporate that booklet and
the testimony before the Planning and Zoning Board in order -- into this
application just to shorten --for brevity purposes. But you'll see, this was written
by Ulysses Kemp. It says that, "We're going to have a 'K' through 12. " Not true.
Says, "We're going to increase grades every year. " Not true. None of ' this was
provided in this application, and none of this is pertinent to the discussions that are
before you. But let me show you what is pertinent to the discussions before you.
The Centner family is a family that is making Miami proud, and I'm here to tell you
that I was so impressed by them that I went in-house counsel and left my legal
career to join them, because they are amazing people. Okay? They even -- Leila
Centner started off by philanthropy. They're not developers. They started off by
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doing good. First thing that they did, as an example, is they created the David and
Leila Centner Culinary Experience at the Lotus House. That was helping transform
lives of homeless people and trying to create employment to go from homeless to
employment. They created an app on social media. They created it; called
"Gudly, " with cutting edge anti -bully architecture. They contributed to the
PACER's (Parent Advocacy Coalition for Educational Rights) National Anti -
Bullying Center. They have embarked upon trying to create a teachers' village
here in the City of Miami. When you talked about teachers before and low-income
housing, that's what the Centners are about. That's what the Centners have been
trying to do, and that's what their vision is. They give back to the community in
ways where people that are less fortunate than maybe myself or you can go out and
have fun with their families. The most recent part of them trying to be a good fabric
of the community is a event that they hosted, free of charge, to anybody that wanted
to come, the FunDimension. Now, to talk about the property itself. I mentioned
they weren't developers, and I hope that they are developers in the future, because
they have a great vision, but they didn't develop this property. This property was
developed when they bought it. It was developed as an office building. This is the
building as it appeared before they acquired the property. This is the lot, the
secondary western lot that is shown in your staff support -- staff recommendation.
That's what it looked like before they purchased the property. This is an aerial view
of the surrounding area. To the north of us is a vacant lot. To the north of that is
multifamily. To the eastern side of North Miami Avenue is multifamily. If you look
on the south view along North Miami Avenue, you'll see that there is an office
building directly to our south and a surface parking lot directly to our south. You'll
see that we're one block removed from the Miami Design District. You'll see that
whenever they first acquired the property, the property had that configuration of a
subterranean garage, and that's -- and that building was approved by the City of
Miami through a waiver application. It didn't go to public hearing. And there's
very important things within that waiver application. Before the property got
approved, before the waiver was approved, there was a 20-space parking lot, and it
was a dilapidated parking lot. The waiver that they got approved that Mr. Winker
spoke about approved the existing three-story building with ground floor retail,
including a bank, including upper -level offices, and an active roof deck, but more
than that, they got a 10 percent reduction in parking for that waiver -- for that
Office building. The application that was before Planning and Zoning Appeals
Board and before you today is variance free. It complies with every requirement of
Miami 21, and that office building if you -- and the Code that -- the section of the --
that you're looking at now provides for the Florida Building Code's table of
occupant load. That office building was built as 20,570 square feet. It had -- it
could have a 205-occupant load. Now, the school that's before you today, a
preschool, has a maximum student enrollment -- once we make maximum capacity,
if we're fortunate enough to do it -- of 120 student stations. Mr. Winker was talking
about 195. That's when we first started the application. We reduced our number.
We reduced our number at the Planning and Zoning Appeals Board. So that
testimony -- and I call it testimony, because it's unsubstantiated commentary from
counsel -- is also incorrect. They have 13 staff members within that preschool, and
120 student stations, and 13 staff members; substantially lower than 205 occupants
within an office building that they acquired. Now, let me talk to you about the
building use conversion. The building use conversion proposes a state-of-the-art
educational program for young children, between two and a half and six years of
age; not a X" through 12. The Centner Academy is devoted to assisting young
children develop a high level of thinking, listening, speaking, reading, and writing
proficiency, and Mandarin, Spanish and English, while also acquiring awareness of
and empathy for other cultures. The curriculum developed by Centner Academy
contemplates language acquisition with the involvement in world issues, local
associations, and contact with brand -- with broad diversity of school guests.
Mandarin will be used daily to provide content without repetition and translation
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into English and Spanish. I think that's amazing. I wish my kids would have gone
there, because I can harely speak English. So I'm very proud of what the Centners
are doing. I'm very proud of their vision. We talked about the garage. Let me tell
you about the garage. The existing subterranean parking garage will be
reconfigured to provide on -site vehicular queuing, containing both a bypass lane
and a drop-off lane. The garage will serve to provide an enclosed and secured
drop-off and pick-up point that few, if any, area preschools are able to offer.
Children will be dropped off in a totally secure space and will internally access the
school, accompanied by Centner Academy professional staff during elevator
vestibule. Traffic flow on site will be accommodated by a variety of enhancements,
including electronic notification programming, on -site traffic attendants, and
staggered arrival and dismissal times. One of those electronic program systems is
called "Remind: School Communication " system and the "ClassDojo " system. In
that handout, those are provided under Tabs 18 and 19. The western lot that we
were talking about, we didn't include that western lot in our original proposal, and
you heard previously that there were different staff recommendations. We didn't
include that western lot, because we were asked to include that western lot by
Miami -Dade County Traffic Engineering. We had enough parking within the
subterranean parking garage, but Miami -Dade County Traffic Engineering says --
told us, "no. " They didn't think it was going to work. They said they wanted the
bypass lane. They wanted the travel lane underneath the subterranean garage, but
we had to make it up, and we had to provide not only the parking that the Code
required, but we had to provide surplus parking. We're required to have 13
parking spaces. We have more than 13 parking spaces. We exceed the Code
requirements. Now that property that I was talking to you about at 4136, the
building -- the office building that was built, that's what it looked like before the
Office building was built; that dilapidated surface parking lot. That's what it looked
like whenever they built the building, before we purchased it. That's what it looks
like today, after we made aesthetic improvements to the building. And I'm not
going to just draw your attention to the aesthetic improvements. If you look closely
at the site, you're going to see a minimum in that one picture of the front entrance
of five security cameras. You heard from residents within the area that there's been
a history of crime and that they would like us to address the crime. One of the
concessions that we made with our neighbors through meetings -- and I'm going to
show you in a minute -- was to make sure we have an abundance of security
cameras, to make sure that we improve the area as good corporate citizens. That
surface parking lot that's adjacent, that the County required us to include, that's
what it looked like when we purchased it. That's what it looks like today. We
provided a privacy wall. We provided a privacy wall that wasn't required by your
Code, because the neighbor that was here to speak in favor of it, the one that lives
right adjacent to us, asked us to do it. We provided it to them, and we made sure
that we committed to our word. We provided an abundance of landscaping. The
operational restrictions for the school is going to be as follows: I mentioned that
we first proposed 195 student stations, and that was reduced to 120 student
stations. The proposed hours of operations are going to be from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, and it'll be 13 administrative teachers and staff on site.
The amenities are going to include a multiple of items. One is, we're going to have
over 7, 000 square feet of classroom space situated within 12 classrooms. What
does that mean on 120 students? That means 10 students per classroom. That is
well under the constitutional requirement, well under public schools, and well
undermost private schools that I have ever been able to research. We're going to
have nearly 5,000 square feet of outdoor recreational space. That recreational
space is going to be divided into two outdoor areas. The first is located on the
ground floor, on the south side of the building, existing -- of the existing building;
recess off of North Miami Avenue. That recreational area will be enclosed by
concrete walls, and it's located between two commercial uses. The second
recreational area will be located on the rooftop of the existing building. The
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rooftop recreational area will be shaded by canopies, which will serve as a dual
function of providing shade and absorbing noise. The rooftop deck located behind -
- will be located behind a solid parapet wall and a 58-inch high guardrail made of
Plexiglas. The use of the recreational areas will be staggered. No more than two
classrooms will be -- utilize the recreational area at any given time, which means a
maximum -- if we reach maximum enrollment, there'll be no more than 20 children
utilizing the recreational areas at any given time. Since there are two recreational
areas, the minimum number of shifts will be three per recreational space. Balls
used -- and we went to this type of detail -- within the recreational areas will be
restricted to the Wiffle Ball variation, balls that have low trajectory and low
velocity; balls that can't go outside of our property boundaries. That's the type of
detail that we worked with with your professional staff, and we engineered on our
own. We were talking about the traffic impact analysis. The preschool will have
three different arrival and dismissal times, which will be separated by at least 45
minutes in order to minimize overlapping of trips between shifts. The first will be a
maximum of 40 students and will operate between 7 a.m. and 1 p.m.; drop off, 7
a.m.; pick up, I p.m. The second shift, also 40 students, will operate at 7:45 drop
off- 2:15 p.m. for pick up. The third shift will be also 40 students, and will operate
from 8: 30 a.m. and pick up will be at 3 o'clock p.m. Drop off is limited between the
hours of 7 o'clock and 8:30. Pickup is limited between the hours of'1 and 3 p.m.,
well before rush-hour traffic. On -site queuing within the garage permits up to 20
cars at any single time. Traffic circulation attendants will also be used. Again, this
is the type of detail we went into. Traffic circulation attendants will be at the
entrance of the underground garage, as well as inside the underground garage.
They will aid with the traffic flow on site. These professionals will be tasked with
ensuring that vehicles are moving through the property at an appropriate pace and
will be enhanced by traditional operations through the use of that electronic
notification programming, like the Silent Dismissal Programming System.
Additional traffic -calming measures includes speed zones that would be required.
Now if many of you travel down North Miami Avenue, you know it doesn't have a
raised median in the middle. Sometimes that's used as a raceway. The speed zone
that's required, it's going to be critical as a traffic -calming element.
Chair Russell: We're about at the end of the time, so if you could get to --
Mr. Riley: I'm going to --
Chair Russell: All right.
Mr. Riley: -- go faster. We're going to have right -turn -only signs that require us to
go onto North Miami Avenue.
Chair Russell: That means no crossing traffic to turn the opposite direction?
Mr. Riley: Yes, Mr. Chairman. We're going to have parent contracts. If they don't
abide by our rules, three strikes and you're out. We're going to have other items.
Now, I'm going to skip through a few things, but I just want to mention one thing
right here. At one time during some of the press releases, it indicated that we're not
committed to Buena I ista, because in my letter of intent, I said we were in a good
location, that we were located on Miami -- on North Miami Avenue, with access to
Miami Shores, Lemon City, Buena I ista, Wynwood, Omni, Park West, downtown
Brickell, and so forth. That shows that when we looked at the property and we
decided where to have a preschool, we thought that was an ideal location. I'll tell
you why. Because preschools are not destination uses. Nobody comes from Doral
to drop their kid off at a preschool and adds additional traffic on the roads and
goes back to Doral. Maybe there's an exception for Ransom Everglades, but not for
your traditional preschool. These are people that live in the area or work in the
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area. They're pass -by trips. I'm going to skip through our slides, because I think
that you understand the building use program. I'm going to go through all of that.
We have a traffic engineer. Our traffic engineer professional is here to answer
your questions. I'm going to skip through his presentation. We have our architect
here. I'm going to skip through his presentation, but he's here to answer any
questions. But let me talk to you about the standard of review, because Mr.
Chairman, you brought this up. And this is what your Code says, specifically:
"Review and Findings. The Planning, Zoning and Appeals Board shall give full
consideration to the Planning Director's recommendations and shall determine
whether to grant an application for an exception, to grant the conditions and
safeguards or to deny the application. The Planning and Zoning Appeals Board
shall include a citation of legal authority for any denial of an exception. Approvals
shall be granted when the application complies with all applicable regulations.
Conditional approvals shall be issued when such applications require conditions in
order for it to be found in compliance with the applicable regulations, and denials
of applications shall be issued only if, after conditions and safeguards have been
considered, the application still fails to comply with applicable regulations. " The
appeal to City Commission has to comply with the same standards, and I provided
you the section of the Code, 7.1.5. This has been litigated, Commissioners. The
most recent time it was litigated was in the b illage of Palmetto Bay versus Palmer
Trinity Private School, decided by the Third District on July 5, 2012, and I'm going
to finish right after this. And what the Court said is, "An applicant seeking a
special exception" -- and that's what they call it in the County, a special exception -
- "must demonstrate to the decision -making body that its proposal is consistent with
the County's land use plan, that the use is specifically authorized in the applicable
zoning district, and that it require" -- "and the request meets the applicable Zoning
Code standards of review. If an applicant meets the burden, then the request must
be granted, unless the opponent carries his burden to demonstrate the applicant's
request does not meet the standards and are, in fact, adverse to the public interest. "
And in that situation, where the County Commission limited a request for 1,150
students and 950 students, this is what the Court concluded: There, as here,
professional staff recommended approval of the request. There, as here, neighbors
and a professional engineer appeared to oppose the request. There, as here, the
opposition witness testimony proved not to be competent substantial evidence on the
issue of the school's request. There, as here, removal of that unsupported condition
mandated approval of the school. And I'm going to skip through this, because
we've earned staffs recommendation of approval. We earned it through working
with Miami -Dade County Transit. We earned it through your Planning
Department. We earned it through your Zoning Department. We earned it by
unanimous approval of the Planning and Zoning Appeals Board. This is something
I showed you during my objections, how every single requirement, we met, and I'm
just going to skip through it, but we met every single standard that your Code
requires; every one, without exception. Now, do we comply with your zoning --
your land use designation? The answer's `yes. " To the right-hand side of your
screen is the land use designation for the school. It's low density restricted
commercial. Your Comprehensive Plan says, "This category also allows general
Office, clinics, laboratories, auditoriums, libraries, convention facilities, places of
worship, and primary and secondary schools. " The property located to the west is
duplex residential; places of worship, primary and secondary schools are
permissible. The answer is `yes, " we comply. Do we comply with your Zoning
Code for the T4-L? That's the section of the permitted uses. It says, "Elementary
schools and preschools are permitted by exception, not by a zoning change; by
exception. On the T3 lot, your permitted uses say the exact same thing:
"Elementary schools and preschools are permitted by exception. " We comply with
everything. I was going to talk to you about the conditions of approval. I'm going
to skip over that for brevity purposes, and I'm going to finish with this: The
Centner family respectfully requests that the Commission sustain the unanimous
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decision of the Planning, Zoning and Appeals Board that was supported by your
professional staff and Miami -Dade County. We thank you, and we know, if given
the chance, we will make you proud. And I appreciate the time, Mr. Chairman.
Chair Russell: Thank you. Can you go back to the slide that showed the
breakdown of the shifts and the --
Mr. Riley: Yeah.
Chair Russell: -- time with regard to drop off? Of the many things that we discuss
here, I think traffic is a very crucial issue.
Mr. Riley: Yes
Chair Russell: And if it's not gotten correct, it will have a negative impact on the
surrounding areas. So if I understand correctly, within the three shifts and the 45
minutes between, you're giving a little more than a minute per car to get through
this system.
Mr. Riley: Yes, sir.
Chair Russell: And obviously, they usually bundle up right closer to the time of
drop off, like when I drop my kids off. I don't quite fully understand this
underground system, but it sounds like --first of all, it's mandatory. They can't --
Mr. Riley: Mandatory.
Chair Russell: -- stop across the street and walk across the street. Parents have to
use that underground spiral.
Mr. Riley: Yes, Mr. Chairman.
Chair Russell: Is that right? How do we know that that's going to function and not
back up out onto the street? Because that's where we could have -- North Miami
Avenue is an artery. and if it does back up -- Is the ingress on Miami Avenue or on
the side road?
Mr. Riley: It's on the side street. It's not on North Miami Avenue.
Chair Russell: Okay.
Mr. Riley: Okay?
Chair Russell: And do they approach from Miami Avenue and then take a quick left
or right, and then go right into it, or they --
Mr. Riley: Yes.
Chair Russell: -- are they approaching from the neighborhood side?
Mr. Riley: No, they're approaching from North Miami Avenue, and that's why we
have that right -turn lane only, and we have the parent/teacher contracts, and that's
also what's in our traffic report. I can call my traffic engineer, and he can answer
your question, technically, if you would like, but on the queuing -- on the inside, the
reason we had that bypass lane and the travel lane is that we have enough queuing
on site to accommodate all that. We actually had enough queuing on site to
accommodate 195 students --
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Chair Russell: How many --
Mr. Riley: -- but we reduced it to 120
Chair Russell: -- yeah, that's my question. Like let's say there's a backup; some
parent can't find their phone in the backseat, or whatever, and they stop. How
many cars can queue up before it gets backed up onto the street?
Mr. Riley: Let me ask Joaquin b argas to come up, because he is the traffic expert
that was at our Planning and Zoning Appeals Board.
Chair Russell: For me, this is a pretty crucial issue. And then I have another
question about -- that was brought up with regard to the fees that are charged and
who the school is servicing, whether or not that's even relevant.
Joaquin l"argas: For the record, Mr. Chairman and Commissioners, Joaquin
L'argas, with Traf Tech Engineering. Your specific question is the amount of
vehicles that can be stacked. On the underground -- and this was worked very
closely with Miami -Dade County -- it can store eight vehicles at the underground.
The ramp can hold an additional four vehicles, and obviously, we have the surface
parking lot with 10 vehicles above grade. The analysis that we did that was
approved by Miami -Dade County assumed three shifts of about 65 students. With
65 students, the eight vehicles stacking at the underground floor was concluded to
be sufficient.
Chair Russell: So there's eight there; four on the ramp. Now, the parking -- the 10-
car parking lot, is that used for part of the stocking or is that just for staff?
Mr. largas: That is -- it will be available for overflow in case it's needed. We
don't think it's going to be needed, at all.
Chair Russell: But it is accessible -- it's en route to the ramp?
Mr. i argas: Yes.
Chair Russell: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) you could --
Mr. b argas: No, it isn't. Let me describe the flow inbound and the access to the
parking, as well. So the access, we have two access driveways off of 42nd Street.
There's no access off of North Miami Avenue, at all. So from North Miami Avenue,
traffic will enter onto 42nd Street, and off of 42nd Street, there are two driveways;
one that takes you to the underground -- and underground, there are parking
spaces for staff only -- and the circulation for the drop off and pick up.
Chair Russell: Okay.
Mr. b argas: And then there's another driveway next to the one that goes
underground, with a surface parking lot.
Chair Russell: And you're saying, if more than 12 get stuck in the ramp and the
underground that parents could pull into this surface parking lot?
Mr. largas: If needed. We don't see that as something that will happen. Miami -
Dade County, based on the studies that they have done, have concluded that for a
facility like this, you need stacking for about 10 percent of the student population.
Since we're going to have three shifts, in this case --
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Chair Russell: 40.
Mr. Largas: -- of 40 students, that's four cars. We have doubled that with the plan
that we have. I recently did a study for another day care facility in Coral Gables.
The day of the study, they had approximately 60 students, and there was a
maximum of five cars at once. Obviously, you have more vehicles, but not all arrive
at the same time. So we have more than ample stacking underground to
accommodate the anticipated queuing, and we have additional surplus on the ramp
and also on the surface parking lot.
Chair Russell: So I -- (UNINTELLIGIBLE) a perfect theoretical world, they're all
coming in periodic shifts, but if you've got 40 kids and they all have to be there, let's
say, by 8 a.m. or 8: 30, you're not going to have them spread out. Nobody's coming
40 minutes early for class. You're going to have 20 coming in in a five-minute
period closer to that deadline as a drop off.
Mr. Riley: And that's specifically why we've incorporated that electronic
notification system --
Chair Russell: Yes.
Mr. Riley: --because that's a direct app that you get on your phones --right? --to
let the parents know if there is any backup that we're extending the drop-off period.
Chair Russell: Now --
Mr. Riley: Some of the other schools don't have, but --
Chair Russell: Understood. The right -turn -only thing is also for ingress; meaning,
you can only be coming from the north and turn right?
Mr. Largas: No.
Chair Russell: Okay. So, you could be coming from the south?
Mr. Largas: For the ingress --
Chair Russell: Yes.
Mr. Largas: -- traffic -- the majority of the traffic will be coming from the south
and from the north, via North Miami Avenue.
Chair Russell: Correct.
Mr. Iargas: So we -- you will be having left turns onto 42nd from the south and
right turns if you're corning from the north. The egress movement -- and this is
something that was vetted out in detail with Miami -Dade County -- we evaluated
assuming for the egress. Once you exit, you're starting to go --
Chair Russell: You must turn right; that I understand.
Mr. Largas: Exactly. And that was done purposely to ensure that there will be no
backup blocking the exit (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Chair Russell: Understood on egress.
Mr. Largas: Correct.
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Chair Russell: But on ingress, for those turning left, who are heading northbound
on Miami Avenue, is there a designated stacking lane for turning left?
Mr. b argas: Yes.
Chair Russell: There's a center lane?
Mr. b argas: There -- it's a very short area that we have there, but there is room to
accommodate vehicles off of the travel lane.
Chair Russell: And then they pull into 40 --
Mr. i argas: 42nd.
Chair Russell: -- 2"a --
Mr. i argas: 42"d
Chair Russell: -- and that's when they can choose one of the two driveways?
Mr. I argas: That is correct.
Chair Russell: All right. The other question I had was with regard to the -- what is
the tuition for the school?
Mr. Riley: Okay. So, I wasn't able to get to that. The tuition is less than other
schools comparable with this type of facility. Right now, it's at $24, 000, okay, for
the year, but in addition to that, one of the conditions that we have is that at a
minimum, the Centners have dedicated 10 percent of full -ride scholarships for the
school. That's at a minimum. Let me explain to you what that means right now,
okay? So, for the first year of operation, I (UNINTELLIGIBLE) -- I was trying to
rush, but I was always saying that we're -- one day we'll hopefully get to the
maximum. For the first year of operation, we had 18 kids registered that -- we
didn't make the school year, but we had 18 kids registered. Nine of those kids were
on a full -ride scholarship.
Chair Russell: So half. But -- and I'm sorry if I forget. The total number of grades
once you're at full capacity is how many grades?
Mr. Riley: It's preschool and kindergarten.
Chair Russell: So you -- okay.
Mr. Riley: So it's (UNINTELLIGIBLE) and six.
Chair Russell: All 120 will be between those two (UNINTELLIGIBLE)?
Mr. Riley: Two and a half to six, yes, sir.
Chair Russell: Okay. So, it's not going into elementary.
Mr. Riley: No, sir.
Chair Russell: Just preschool and kindergarten. And so, at the 10 percent mark,
you're going to say, if you're at full capacity, at least 12 would be on full
(UNINTELLIGIBLE) ?
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Mr. Riley: Mandated upon its --
Chair Russell: Right.
Mr. Riley: -- as I know some of you may have heard about the Centners, they'll
probably do more than the mandated part, but that's our minimum -base threshold.
Chair Russell: But at the first year's enrollment of 18 students, half of them are not
paying anything?
Mr. Riley: Notpaying anything.
Chair Russell: And are those students selected from local area or --?
Mr. Riley: So Ms. Centner, during her public comment, mentioned that three or
four of them were from Buena i ista.
Chair Russell: So -- and I guess this is for the Director, as well. Mr. Director?
Mr. Garcia?
Mr. Garcia: Yes, sir.
Chair Russell: Is it -- so one of the things that's been brought up a lot is that by the
tuition rate being so high that this school isn't necessarily catering to the
surrounding residents of that Buena Vista neighborhood. Is that relevant when
considering an exception for change of use to school use for the building?
Mr. Garcia: No, sir. That is certainly not a zoning -related criterion that we would
evaluate. But to answer the question (UNINTELLIGIBLE), when considering the
appropriateness of the parking generated or the -- not the parking -- the traffic
generated by the use itself, when considering its appropriateness and it's
contextuality, we don't assume that everyone is going to come from the immediate
vicinity; we don't assume that everyone is going to be coming from the
neighborhood. We do assume that a significant component of the student body will
come from areas abroad and will generate additional traffic in the nearby road
network And so, all of that has been folded into our analysis. Whether the students
come from next door or from the other side of town, this particular facility, the way
it has designed, can accommodate (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Chair Russell: So that's pure traffic analysis. It's not within our jurisdiction to
judge whether or not the rates they charge are appropriate for the neighborhood,
or how many local students versus far -away students would be going; is that
correct?
Mr. Garcia: That's correct, sir, because the only relevance where the students
come from that would have to us is what traffic it might generate, and that has been
account for.
Chair Russell: Got it.
Mr. Winker: Could I address that?
Chair Russell: Yes, of course.
Mr. Winker: I'd like -- Section 7.1.2.6 of Miami 21, Francisco says that the City
shall consider the manner in which the proposed use will operate, given its location
and proximity to less intense uses. You guys, in your analysis, in an attempt to
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satisfy this requirement, stated, "Educational facilities tend to support the
residential communities in which they are located by providing a safe and easy way
for families to access the preschool. " I think it is relevant ij'a majority of students
are coming outside of the catchment area, because it's an extremely expensive
school and aimed at children outside. Is that correct?
Mr. Garcia: Right. And so, what I would answer to that is that relative wealth or
relative ability to pay for tuition is not a static factor; it is an evolving factor over
time. And as pertains to the appropriateness of the use in the context of the
neighborhood where it resides, our concern is to prevent or to mitigate potential
adverse impacts, and we feel that the proposal as submitted does that.
Mr. Winker: And it was interesting, because one of the comparables -- I believe it
was KLA on Brickell -- was included, and, you know, to me, that wasn't applicable,
because all the Brickell people use the Brickell KLA. It's not designed for people to
come outside. I would proffer that this is much closer to a MAST (Maritime and
Science Technology) Academy or a Ransom or a Carrollton model, where a
majority of the students are driving in in cars from outside.
Mr. Riley: Mr. Chairman?
Chair Russell: Just a moment. But the section -- Mr. Winker, the section that you
read used the verb -- you said, it "tends" to service the neighborhood. It didn't say,
it "should" or "shall" service the neighborhood.
Unidentified Speaker: Right.
Chair Russell: It just -- it was a description of what schools do to a neighborhood,
right?
Mr. Winker: Yes, sir, because what they were trying to do is they were meeting
their criteria. It was a City analysis, and they were trying to satisfy the criteria that
the City has considered the manner in which the proposed use will operate, given
its location and proximity to less intense uses.
Chair Russell: Gotit.
Mr. Winker: So, where I'm going with that is how do you in that analyze the use of
this school? You have to look at the tuition and the makeup of the student body that
comes in.
Chair Russell: Uh-huh.
Mr. Winker: You can't look at Ransom in a vacuum and say Ransom is like every
other school. Ransom has a traffic impact on the Grove; no one would deny that,
because people come from all over town to it. That is the model here. This is
$24, 000 a year. There are --students are going to come from allover.
Mr. Riley: And Ransom's almost double that tuition.
Chair Russell: Sure. I mean, apples to apples, Ransom --
Mr. Riley: I don't think that's relevant.
Chair Russell: -- I think they have something like a $2 million -a year scholarship
fund, where nearly half the kids are on some form of financial aid in order to attract
a diverse and even potentially nearby population, but no one could say that Ransom
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passes -- especially the middle and the high school -- the stacking test. Whatever
studies they did to get to where they are -- Tigertail is a mess. Bayshore -- not
Bayshore Drive, but Main Highway is a mess. It takes 30 minutes just to run that
gauntlet. And so, I would say, of everything we've discussed here today, traffic is
the key key element, and that's just my opinion on this board; that if the traffic plan
and the drop-off plan failed, the negative impact on this community will have failed.
Mr. Riley: Let me say three things.
Chair Russell: Yeah.
Mr. Riley: One is, an additional condition that we -- I didn't -- I skipped over was
that at least for the first month of operation, we agreed to -- we agreed, and we
reaffirmed that agreement, to hire security officers on site -- whether or not they're
police officers or professional security guards, or whatever the case may be -- to
make sure that's an additional traffic -calming device.
Chair Russell: For traffic control, yes.
Mr. Riley: Okay? For traffic control. We have that parent/teacher contract. And
also, wherever you have a school, you have to get your CU (Certificate of Use)
every year. If you start getting violations for that school, they can revoke your CU.
Okay? So there's a lot of mechanisms for a school to make sure that you operate
appropriately. When we went through Miami -Dade County Transit, they told us
"no" several times, and my clients always said, "Go back and try to engineer
whatever they ask you to do. " That's what we did.
Chair Russell: Understood. So for my part, to say that each shift is 40 students,
and that stacking within the ramp and the actual drop-off section is 12 cars, I
wouldn't count the actual surface lot, because I don't see that as -- I see when
parents are stacking to go in, they're not -- no one's going to divert and go wait off
on a (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Mr. Riley: But I just want to clarify one thing our expert said. It's actually 20,
because you got to remember the bypass lane and the travel lane.
Chair Russell: Okay.
Mr. Riley: So, you actually have more on there.
Chair Russell: Right. But for me, in the ramp and on the drop-offthat's the
question: Is that enough -- are those 12 cars in that queue enough to keep traffic
flowing for a 40-car shift? I'm not an expert. Your expert says it is, and that's the
big question before -- to me, anyway -- us in terms of negative impact on the
neighborhood. I would -- I'm trying to picture the school where I drop my children
Off --
Mr. Riley: Yes, sir.
Chair Russell: -- and about the space that's -- about the number that can stack in
there, and it's about something like that. It's probably eight or 10 cars, and I know
there's well more (UNINTELLIGIBLE) -- they have a one -shift drop-off for a few
hundred kids.
Mr. Riley: Yes, sir.
Chair Russell: So, I would say it's probably sufficient.
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Mr. Riley: Yes, sir
Chair Russell: And the right -turn -only lane is something I'd like to see more
schools take into account for egress, because that --
Mr. Riley: Yes, sir.
Chair Russell: -- that's a killer when they're crossing and waiting and holding up,
but -- I don't know. Commissioner Hardeman, this is your district; you know it
much better than I.
Commissioner Hardemon: So, I'm going to ask these questions --
Mr. Riley: Yes, Commissioner.
Commissioner Hardemon: --in order for you to give the facts and not me give the
facts. How many lanes are there on the main avenue?
Mr. Riley: There are four travel lanes and one turning lane, so it's a five -lane
highway.
Chair Russell: Two north, two south.
Commissioner Hardemon: It's a five -lane highway.
Mr. Riley: Five -lane highway.
Commissioner Hardemon: Yeah. And so, then, if you were traveling south then,
would you say that you would be occupying the far western lane to turn into the
property?
Mr. Riley: Yes, sir. Yes, Commissioner.
Commissioner Hardemon: And so, would there be a lane next to you that you could
-- that cars could use to continue traveling south?
Mr. Riley: They could. We're going to dis-encourage [sic] that.
Commissioner Hardemon: No, no. Not --
Mr. Riley: But they could.
Commissioner Hardemon: --not students, not your students.
Mr. Riley: Oh. Oh, yes. I'm sorry. I misunderstood the question. Yes. The
answer is, yes.
Commissioner Hardemon: So then, would you say that there could always be
traffic that would be traveling in the southward -- in the eastern lane, heading
south?
Mr. Riley: Yes, Commissioner.
Commissioner Hardemon: That would not be impacted by the traffic if there was a,
for instance, a queue line that backed up to Main Avenue?
Mr. Riley: Yes, Commissioner.
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Commissioner Hardemon: The -- are there other businesses that are aligned on the
main avenue?
Mr. Riley: So right next to us on the south side is the Courtney Building. That's an
Office building. This was also going to be that office building with a bank and
retail.
Commissioner Hardemon: Do you know what their parking (UNINTELLIGIBLE)
is like?
Mr. Riley: They have surface parking lot right in the rear. I have a picture of it. It
doesn't comply with Miami 21. It was built prior to Miami 21. But you can see it. I
apologize. I just want to find it. So you can see it. Where our surface parking lot
is, if you go directly to the south, you could see their surface parking lot.
Commissioner Hardemon: Okay. So, they would -- you would be traveling along
the -- once again, the far western lane; you would have to make a turn to make it
into their parking lot?
Mr. Riley: Yes. Yes, Commissioner.
Commissioner Hardemon: And then the other buildings that continue on south,
they also suffer the same sort of issue, where you would have to turn off of the --
that far western lane to turn into their property?
Mr. Riley: Yes, Commissioner. The -- anybody that would ever turn on the interior
lane to go east would be the people that are going to the Design District, but
generally, it isn't active during school hours.
Commissioner Hardemon: Okay. And generally, the middle lane is always clear,
except for cars that are turning eastbound -- well, if you were traveling southbound,
you would be turning eastbound, and if you were traveling northbound, you would
be turning westbound?
Mr. Riley: That's correct, Commissioner.
Commissioner Hardemon: The reason I'm bringing up these facts is because it
appears to be that, first of all, that avenue is a main thoroughfare. You know, it has
five traveling lanes. It's not two. It's not one going north, one going south. It's not
even three; where one going north, one going south, and you have a turn lane. And
so, there -- being on the main avenue, where, undoubtedly, this will continue to be
developed according to Code -- according to our Miami 21, or whatever it is that
this board decides that it's going to move forward with in the future. And so, when I
look at this, I'm not as concerned necessarily about that sort of traffic there. In
fact, it's probably going to have a more calming effect on the speed of traffic,
considering that you're going to have speed zones put into place, because there is a
school there, as compared to if it was an office space or a bar, or whatever it may
be. And so, I think that it's going to have a more calming effect, because that area
certainly has an issue with cut -through traffic, speeding, and that -- you know,
those are real concerns of the neighborhood.
Chair Russell: Traffic question that I forgot to ask.
Mr. Riley: Yes, Mr. Chairman.
Chair Russell: Let's say a student lives in Little Haiti, so they're coming from the
north.
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Mr. Riley: Yes.
Chair Russell: Easy right-hand turn to go in.
Mr. Riley: Yes.
Chair Russell: Right? When the parent exits, they're only allowed to turn right, so
they're heading south.
Mr. Riley: That's correct.
Chair Russell: How do they get back north
Mr. Riley: How would they get back north?
Chair Russell: Is everyone going to be doing U-turns in the middle of Miami
Avenue or a block south of here, is my question?
Mr. Riley: No. So, the way they would -- they'd have to go and they'd have to turn
and they would go through the Design District to get back on Biscayne Boulevard,
which is the next major thoroughfare.
Chair Russell: Got it.
Mr. Riley: But there's no U-turn for (UNINTELLIGIBLE) on North Miami Avenue.
Chair Russell: Right, but that's what parents do when they come out of my school.
They have to turn right --
Mr. Riley: And that's why --
Chair Russell: -- and they're not allowed to left. They go about a half a block and
they do illegal U-turn.
Mr. Riley: -- I glossed over it, but I want to make sure we have a commitment, and
I want to make sure my word is the bond. If we -- if that ever happens, if we get
Code Enforcement violations, we have a three -strike -and you're -out policy. We are
going to run our school. We are not developers that build a building and leave.
This is going to be a passion that the Centners wanted to have. We're going to be
operating that school. And if -- and we're going to have complete control over the
dynamics of that operation.
Chair Russell: Thank you. Commissioner Gort.
T ice Chair Gort: Let me ask a question: What was the use of the building before?
Mr. Riley: I'm sorry, Commissioner?
T ice Chair Gort: What was the use of the building before?
Mr. Riley: So the use of the building was built as a three-story office building, with
subterranean garage; on the ground floor was going to be a bank and retail uses.
lice Chair Gort: Any idea, more or less, how marry people worked in those
buildings?
Mr. Riley: 205.
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Vice Chair Gort: 205 people worked there.
Mr. Riley: 205.
t ice Chair Gort: All right. Let me tell you how I feel about this. I'm looking at the
building, and I understand people are very afraid, because you have somebody
that's going to have to pay 24, 000, whatever. But I think these people are willing to
move in there, maintain the building, and make it a very historical looking building.
I think sometimes things like that helps neighborhoods.
Commissioner Hardemon: Commissioner, I will tell you that there area number of
schools that are traditionally available. I'll give an example. I mean, we --on this
dais, we've -- I've certainly -- and I got to remember correctly, but I know I fought
against schools being put in the middle of residential blocks, even though the
zoning allowed for it to happen. We thought that that was too intrusive, where
someone would have to travel down towards the middle of a residential block to go
to a school. Certainly, near here, there are other schools that are more affordable.
There are more affordable options of schooling from some that are owned by the
City of Miami to other private ones, but there's a multitude of schooling options, so
I don't anyone to think that there's a -- this is an area where they do not have
schools. However, I will say that I'm one of those people that believes that areas
that are void of significant investment -- and that can be from schooling to
businesses to just resources in general -- will continue to be that way, unless
someone chooses to invest into those spaces. And so, you know, I'm not offended
that tuition is that cost. There are some people here who live in that area that can
afford to pay that cost, and there's others that need assistance from academic
scholarships. And so, you know, the fact that people -- when I look at -- what's --
it's a school -- when I look at -- there's other schools that's within the Little Haiti
area which is close to what's -- to where this is. Cushman, I believe is what it is.
Cushman has bought a number of different properties around it. That's an outlier.
It's a part of the facts that I'm describing, but what I will say is that if you look at
the housing that is surrounding it, the effect that it's had on the housing that's near
is something I think to be marveled at. It has led to the improvement of the
conditions of that area. Now, I know for -- because it was stated on the record that
the Centners have purchased housing that is around that area, but as I understood
the facts, that that housing was being provided for teachers at a below -market rate,
so that the teachers can actually walk to and from school. Is that fact still true?
Chair Russell: Please come to the microphone, whoever would like to respond to
that.
Leila Centner: Hi. Yes, that's actually very true. Right now, I have two of my
teachers who pay $500 a month for a beautiful place that we renovated right in the
neighborhood, and they can just walk to school and --
Chair Russell: How far away?
Ms. Centner: They walk across the street. And my other teachers that I will
eventually be hiring will -- I have options in other six houses for them that I'm
going to be cleaning up and doing the same thing.
Commissioner Hardemon: So, you know, it's interesting because when we talk
about buying and selling a property, you know, there has to be a willing buyer;
there has to be willing seller, and those in the neighborhood are selling their
properties to someone -- I know there was some mention of a 3, $4 million cost for
a home, which is probably quite a bit for that area, but people are -- if the Centners
would have bought that property, it would have been sold, right? And so, I say that
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to say that it -- just speaking generally upon not necessarily the substance of the
appeal, but when we talk about the conditions surrounding the school, it seems like
they're there to participate in the neighborhood and have a positive effect about --
on affordability and education, but that is of no matter when I'm considering what
we're doing right now. What we're doing right now is looking at the appeal, and
the question is, you know, is there competent substantial evidence that was -- or at
least, right? -- competent substantial evidence that was presented by the appellant
to -- in order for us to rule in his favor? And we've been at this matter for some
time now, and I have yet to see one piece of evidence that was put on. In fact, all
the evidence that I've been -- that I've witnessed has been put on by the appellee,
which is really supported by not only the expert testimony, but the application itself
and the details from the application.
Chair Russell: Well --
Commissioner Hardemon: And so, I'm saying that to say that, you know, I'm in a
position right now where I don't think that they've met their burden. That's my
point.
Chair Russell: I hear where you're going. The appellee did go quite over on time,
so I'm going to reserve a little bit of time for the appellant to rebut --
Mr. Riley: Thank you.
Chair Russell: -- (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Mr. Winker: And I just need maybe five minutes.
Chair Russell: Yes.
Mr. Winker: And I would respond, Mr. Hardemon, on the idea of they -- that's
appropriate, because they have the burden. You know, we don't -- we do not have
the burden.
Commissioner Hardemon: No, the appellant.
Mr. Winker: This is -- de novo -- let me go back.
Commissioner Hardemon: No, I understand.
Mr. Winker: De novo review where they have the burden -- I'm going to give you
an example (UNINTELLIGIBLE). So, they have the burden of demonstrating that
the zoning exception conforms to the criteria of the Miami 21 Code. So, like I
would start, for example, you know, look at Finding 2 of the City's reports. It talks
about compliance with the County Code. I'm showing you that the --you know, it's
like what are you going to believe; your lying eyes or the expert testimony that
they're proffering? This is going to result in a significant amount of carbon
monoxide. I'm showing you where it will not comply.
Commissioner Hardemon: Yeah, but I'm trying to understand where are you --
you're telling me this, but what facts --
Mr. Riley: The facts are -- if l could put my -- if l could put my thing up.
Chair Russell: IT (Innovation and Technology)? Are you plugged in?
Mr. Winker: Yes, sir. He just got to switch it over to the --
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Chair Russell: They will.
Mr. Riley: And I'm sorry to interject. I just want to say we passed every single
Building Code permit that we've applied for.
Chair Russell: Their implication is that if it were used for a one-time pull in
parking lot for employees, that's one thing, but sitting cars in a sitting drop-off line
can cause carbon monoxide to build up. Is that (UNINTELLIGIBLE)?
Mr. Winker: He's provided -- the idea here is what evidence have they provided
that their plan, which you see here -- this is from their example of the eight stacking
vehicles underneath, all day long, as these cars move back and forth. How -- what
evidence have they proffered that that will not result in any material increase in the
risk of potential -- I'm sorry -- the risk of generation of carbon monoxide at unsafe
levels? I would proffer that we need to have that study. You guys to need to say,
"Guys, this building was not designed to be a loading area with cars running
constantly underneath. " This, to me, is a major issue. It's a real life -safety issue.
This garage was not designed. I'm not saying, you can't design a garage for this,
right? The Miami airport is underground. This garage was designed for cars to
pull in as a bank park, leave the car; not cars running constantly. Where can this
carbon monoxide go? I would proffer to Commissioner Hardemon that that's not
my burden. It's their burden to show that they have complied with that requirement.
Where is the proof of what's going to happen to all this carbon monoxide of those
eight cars queuing constantly?
Chair Russell:
During that 40-minute drop-off period.
Mr. Winker: During the three -- it's more than one. It's three --
Chair Russell:
Right, three shifts.
Mr. Winker: --
and then pickup.
Chair Russell:
Right.
Mr. Winker: This is going to run six to seven hours a day of cars constantly queued
under. That's their design. I think it's a terrible idea. I think it's not going to work,
but, you know, what evidence do I have of how it's going to back up on the traffic?
You asked how people are going to go north. What are they going to do? They're
going to take a right-hand turn through the neighborhood. That's what they're
concerned about, right? I don't have a traffic expert. But on this, I don't have to
have an expert. I'm just showing you this is a terrible idea. This needs to be
addressed. Maybe the address is, "Guys, you need to have a study and get a big
fan in there and get this stuff pumped out of there and make sure it's not going into
the building, " but to me this is a real concern, and I don't -- you know, to me it is
inconsistent with the Code. This is the County Code that they are required, as an
educational facility, to comply with.
Chair Russell: Thank you.
Mr. Riley: Commissioner, he's citing Section 33-311.1 of the Miami -Dade County
Code that has no applicability to this hearing. It's for administrative site plan
review, and alternative site plans for repurposed properties; has nothing to do with
this. He's talking about Building Code requirements. He's giving you his opinion
on -- Your professionals have to come out and decide whether or not to give us a
building permit, because our garage is properly ventilated. This is getting way
beyond --
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Mr. Winker: No. I --
Mr. Riley: -- the merits of the Zoning hearing.
Mr. Winker: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) this is not correct.
Chair Russell: Under -- Mr. Director, you had a comment?
Mr. Garcia: I do, two fold, as pertains to this. And Mr. Winker is right to point out
that the concerns he raises are worth considering. And so, we've done two things.
We referenced the Code section from the County Code that Mr. Winker cites, as
that has been cited by Mr. Riley. That section is responding to other factors, not
necessarily educational facilities. Nevertheless, it is true that this building was
originally built and intended to be an office building, and at some point in time, it
obtained a certificate of occupancy and it received inspections. When it was
inspected, the parking garage component did not contemplate that there would be
pick-up and drop-offas now it will. So in conversations with Mr. Riley and in
conversations with the Deputy Fire Chief, we've agreed we should do properly is to
request that when or if the building goes through a certificate of use process for the
new use of an educational facility, and in particular, when the garage is being
tested for validity and appropriateness for the pick-up and drop-off function, that
there should be a study and a report produced that certifies that that condition is
safe for exactly the use that it's going to be put to, which is to pick up and drop off
children. So the Fire Department will review the results of that analysis and will
deem it safe for that particular use.
Chair Russell: Thank you very much. Is -- anything else to add?
Mr. Riley: We accept those conditions.
Chair Russell: All right.
Mr. Riley: We're happy to comply, just like we have with all Code requirements.
Chair Russell: Thank you.
Commissioner Carollo: When you say, "the Fire Department, "you're talking about
the Fire Marshall, right?
Mr. Garcia: City of Miami Fire Department. And I've said this, of course,
(UNINTELLIGIBLE)
Commissioner Carollo: Fire Marshall.
Mr. Garcia: Sorry?
Commissioner Carollo: Fire Marshall.
Mr. Garcia: The Fire Marshall's office, yes, sir. And I've said that just to put it on
the record. This has been in consultation with Chief Eloy Garcia, Deputy Fire
Chief.
Commissioner Carollo: Make sure that he doesn't send the same people that he's
used on 8th Street in the past that illegally let places open up with no fire
sprinklers.
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Chair Russell: All right. Is there anything left to --? I've heard both sides. I've
(UNINTELLIGIBLE) rebuttal.
Mr. Winker: Just one more point, and, you know, the -- we've talked a lot about
evidence versus -- you know, I would say the same thing; that the evidence on the
other side is proffered by the attorney, and I'm going to --just to impeach one thing
that was said is the Centners have been vehement that this is a preschool and
kindergarten. Their own web site states, "Centner Academy is a progressive
independent school that offers foreign language emersion and a values -based
education for children age two and a half to six years old, with grades I through 12
coming soon. "
Chair Russell: Right.
Commissioner Hardemon: I have a question.
Ms. Centner: May I just answer that, please?
Chair Russell: Just --
Commissioner Hardemon: Ms. Centner --
Chair Russell: Commissioner Hardemon.
Commissioner Hardemon: --are there any other school sites that you own?
Ms. Centner: We own another building on 19th Street that's 35, 000 square feet.
I've already addressed this, because they posted a nasty thing in one of these
neighborhood apps. And it already has zoning, and it already has a certificate, and
it's right next to a three -and -a -half -acre park, and we purchased this building from
a former charter school.
Chair Russell: This is the old ASPIRA School.
Commissioner Hardemon: Correct.
Ms. Centner: That's right. So --
Commissioner Hardemon: Do you plan on using that location as a school?
Ms. Centner: Absolutely, yeah.
Commissioner Hardemon: Do -- will your schools have any affiliation, the one that
is on -- in Buena I ista and the one that is located --?
Ms. Centner: Absolutely. It'll be a -- it's -- I'm partnering up with another school.,
so it's going to be a metropolitan Centner Academy middle school and high school.
Commissioner Hardemon: So, would the statement that he made on the record be a
correct statement, that you will have --?
Ms. Centner: We are going to be going up to Twelfth Grade, absolutely.
Commissioner Hardemon: But at this location, how many--?
Ms. Centner: But at this location at this moment, we're going two and a half to six.
And the reason why we -- in the last hearing, we accepted from 195 to 120 was to
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show you that we can actually handle all of the things that we're planning on doing.
And in the first year, I purposely am limiting it to 18 students, so that way we can
make sure we have everything down. That was the whole reason for voluntarily, on
our own, going way less than 120. Eventually, I'd like to get more than 120,
because the original capacity was going to be 205 or 195, but that's still for the
little guys, because I have my middle school and high school already set up.
Chair Russell: Mr. Director, if they were to go beyond, let's say, first grade
through fifth grade, would additional entitlement be required, or under this use,
would they be able to --?
Mr. Garcia: Absolutely. The exception that is before you today is solely for
purposes of a preschool; and the limitations, by definition of a preschool, is up to
and including sixth year, first grade; no more than that.
Chair Russell: Understood.
Mr. Winker: I'd like to respond to that. This, to me, sums up the problem that we
have of nowhere is the facts that were just disclosed contained in the analysis for
the exception.
Chair Russell: Does it matter?
Mr. Winker: If you want to know why the neighborhood's upset, if you want to
know what's happening to this neighborhood, you're looking at one small piece.
These are -- a number of schools are going to transform this neighborhood into
something different. This is a residential neighborhood. This is going to -- I'm
sorry.
Commissioner Hardemon: I think you misunderstood the fact. The school that she
described on the record is not located in that neighborhood.
Mr. Winker: I'm sorry; it's -- what?
Commissioner Hardemon: The school that she described just now on the record
was not to -- is not located in that neighborhood.
Chair Russell: You know, it's --
Mr. Winker: It's on the other --
Commissioner Hardemon: It's much further away.
Chair Russell: -- 30 streets away.
Commissioner Hardemon: Yeah.
Mr. Winker: But the idea is the traffic flow and the workings of all of this is not
limited to this one school. That is the concern. It was interesting, because Mr.
Kemp came up to me -- and not to disclose attorney/client privilege -- but he's like,
this -- that's exact -- "That statement is exactly why they need to be meeting with us
and working with us and reestablishing a relationship that works to make this
happen. " My clients have been painted as had guys. My clients have been painted
as people seeking money, which could not be further from the truth, as I said. But
the idea here is you're seeing something pushed. It -- I'm not a traffic expert. I can
tell you, this is going to back up. I'm not a traffic expert. I could tell you parents
are going to do what parents do, which is park and walk. My daughter goes to
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Sunset. We all park on people's lawns, and we walk over. That's what's going to
happen.
Mr. Riley: Don't judge us by his bad behavior, please.
Mr. Winker: Exactly. On the record, admitting to it. But here's -- this is the
problem that we're going to have, where to me -- you know, Mr. Reyes raised at one
point in one of the Commission meetings -- I don't know what happened with it --
this is why we need an independent traffic study, paid for the developer, on every
project, to know how is this going to impact. We're sitting here trying to figure it
out. When we look at this, it's like, this doesn't look like it makes sense to me, but
that's where we're at, where you guys are going to approve something that's going
to have, you know, a definite impact, and I -- you know, to me, it's the -- we want
development. We want smart development. I think you're in a position to say,
"Guys, we want your school. We want to make this happen, but you've got to make
it work with the neighborhood. " I think that creative thinking is something that we
could do to make it work. And I would say one last thing on the record about it is, I
think the developers are starting to feel a little bit of that pain, because the minute
they propose something to the neighborhood, what's the reaction of the
neighborhood? It's just like --
CommissionerHardemon: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Mr. Winker: -- it's up in arms. How are you going to take advantage of us? And
this is a perfect example of that, where -- you know, should a preschool be able to
work in this location? I do think, conceivably, it's a little weird. It's a little more of
an urban building, no outside play, but that's -- you know, that's not my business,
but the idea is could this be revised to work somehow? I've heard talk of an offsite -
- in the media, there was talk of an offsite plan to valet parents in. I mean, they --
you know, they're struggling with this. This building is not built for a preschool, so
I would just proffer that. To me, this is a PZAB issue, where this should have been
better planned out. I think we all know this has been (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Chair Russell: Thank you, Mr. Winker. So I'd like to close. I think we're done.
Mr. Winker, I think you've definitely represented the concerns of the neighborhood
well, but I don't see that you've brought the burden to deny an exception, in my
personal opinion. I'll --
Victoria Mendez (City Attorney): I just wanted to clarify something for the record.
If the applicant meets the criteria for a special exception in the Code, they're
presumed entitled to a special exception.
Chair Russell: Yes.
Ms. Mendez: Remember that I've told you, based on the case law, that it's a use
that's allowed. So if they want to use -- if they want the special exception and they
meet all the criteria --
Chair Russell: You have to give it to them.
Ms. Mendez: -- you have to give it to them, unless there are so marry factors that
are wrong with this exception, then you have to add conditions to address it. If
there are no conditions to address it, arguably, you could decry an exception.
Chair Russell: Of course. And that was my initial question to the Director, how an
exception is different than a warrant waiver, all the others.
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Ms. Mendez: Right. So you --
Chair Russell: This is a --
Ms. Mendez: -- remember that --
Chair Russell: -- de facto `),es" that has to be proven "no. "
Ms. Mendez: Right.
Chair Russell: And really, the staff recommendation, after going through all those
criteria, are what we are basing our decision on. Even though this is de novo, we
have gone through all of that. It wasn't up to them to -- as an appellant, you had to
punch holes in what they have presented as reasons to have applied to the
exception, and personally, I haven't seen -- because traffic was my biggest concern,
and that's why I had the most questions on that, and for their expert, but --
Mr. Winker: The one (UNINTELLIGIBLE), but the one thing I would say is, I don't
see on the record where any evidence was presented that they're in compliance with
not producing carbon monoxide, and I do think that's a significant violation of the
Code. You guys are proposing to address that through --
Chair Russell: The Fire Marshall, and if it meets their criteria. We're not the
experts on that.
Ms. Mendez: I believe that there is a staff report --
Chair Russell: Yeah.
Ms. Mendez: -- that -- and that is competent substantial evidence that these issues,
which are issues such as protect residential areas from excessive noise, fumes,
odors, commercial vehicle intrusion, et cetera. These are things that should be
addressed in the staff report, and I believe that Francisco has said that these issues
are addressed.
Chair Russell: Addressed.
Ms. Mendez: To the extent that you feel they're not, then that's when things can get
dicey, so.
Chair Russell: Thankyou. Is there a motion on PZ.5?
Commissioner Hardemon: There is. Considering what --the clarification of the
law that the City Attorney put into the record, and also the statements that the
Chairman made on the record in reference to the evidence that was put forth for
today, I would move to deny the appeal and grant the -- hold it. It would be deny
the appeal and uphold the PZAB recommendation for this matter. Did I say that
correctly? With the conditions that are stated in the record. Yes, sir.
Mr. Garcia: With your permission, sir, what I'd like to request is that instead of
conditions that were recommended by the Planning, Zoning and Appeals Board be
included as you mentioned, but I would like to propose a couple of amendments to
those conditions to, I think, enhance and respond to some of the testimony we heard
here today, and I have discussed these with the applicant, who is very much willing
to accommodate them. The changes are as follows: One is to clarify something
that has been said a number of times, but Condition Number 10 makes an erroneous
reference to "Enrollment shall not exceed 195 students. " We've all heard -- and it's
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been stipulated by the applicant -- that that number is not 195; that number is 120.
So Condition Number 10 should be amended to reflect 120 students maximum, and
of preschool age. That is already there. That's one minor change. And then two
additional conditions to suggest to you for your consideration: One would be that
upon approval of the exception, there be a study undertaken of the pick-up and
drop-off component of the building, and attested for safety levels, particularly for
carbon monoxide, and that an inspection is to be conducted ultimately by the City of
Miami Fire Department; the Marshall's Office, as stipulated by Commissioner
Carollo, to deem any such levels safe. I'm paraphrasing, but that should do the
trick. And one more condition to suggest, responding to the concern about traffic
and traffic intrusion into the residential area. Again, it is in the plans as submitted,
but it merits, I think; an additional condition that says that, "Signage shall be put in
place onsite, directing any and all trajjic emerging from the site to Miami Avenue. "
In that manner, we can enforce -- subject to zoning regulations, we can enforce that
all traffic is properly directed to Miami Avenue, which is the major thoroughfare.
Commissioner Hardemon: And my motion would include the statements that were
made on the record by our Planning Director.
Chair Russell: Thankyou. Is there a second?
Vice Chair Gort: Second.
Chair Russell: So, Commissioner Hardemon, the one thing that I'm curious about
on this is I really -- I'm really curious to see where the concept of the educational
paradigm of emotional intelligence goes and how this works. I don't fully
understand, but I'm curious to see it succeed, because if that philosophy takes hold
and kids, you know, have a different frame of mind as they grow up, that's a
tremendous opportunity. And the fact that it's now into a new neighborhood, to see
it accessible to those in that neighborhood, is great. The fact that half the students
there now are on scholarship is incredibly impressive. I would love to see those
ratios stay within that realm, and I see 10 percent is the minimum.
Unidentified Speaker: Minimum.
Chair Russell: You know, I understand it's got to be a sustainable business model.
No one's looking for a charity school. It is a private school. But many private
schools are able, through fundraising, through all sorts of models, to really boost
their scholarship program. And I think, if your true goal is about emotional
intelligence and happiness, and you have the opportunity to service a neighborhood
Of need, to really boost that scholarship program, I think is where the true success
will be here.
Mr. Winker: My clients hear you loud and clear. Like I said, I'm sure we're going
to do way more than the minimum. And if you give us the opportunity, we'll be back
before the board potentially in other schools or other projects. We will make this
Commission and this City proud. We just ask you to give us the opportunity.
Chair Russell: I ice Chairman.
Lice Chair Gort: Let me tell you, my past experience in seeing the neighbors worry
about the traffic and so on, when you look at this building, my understanding, that
building's been emptyfor a while. I know that area very well. We've had a lot of
crime. We had a lot of problems in there. You got buildings coming in that's going
to have new people. They're making an investment to -- for the teachers to live
close to it, but at the same time, you got five cameras, and you got people and
activity taking place in there, which will improve. My personal feeling is, it's going
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to improve the area. My advice, also, get together with the neighborhood and tell
them whatyou're doing, so they can better understand it. Okay.
Chair Russell: There's a motion. There's a second. Is there any further
discussion? All in favor of the item, say "aye. "
Vice Chair Gort: Aye.
Commissioner Hardemon: Aye.
Commissioner Carollo: Nay.
Chair Russell: Any opposed?
Commissioner Carollo: Nay.
Chair Russell: So three --any --
L ice Chair Gort: One "nay."
Chair Russell: One "nay"; three 'yea. " Motion passes to deny the appeal.
Mr. Winker: Thankyou, Commissioners.
Vice Chair Gort: PZ.6.
Mr. Winker: Thankyou, staff.
(Applause)
Chair Russell: PZ --
Mr. Hannon: And of course, that's as amended.
Lice Chair Gort: PZ.6.
Chair Russell: As amended, of course.
Lice Chair Gort: PZ.6.
Commissioner Hardemon: What did we do with PZ.4?
Ms. Mendez: PZ.4 remains.
Lice Chair Gort: I got 6 and 9.
Ms. Mendez: PZ.4?
Lice Chair Gort: PZ.4.
Commissioner Hardemon: Yeah. What did we do with PZ.4?
Chair Russell: All right.
Commissioner Hardemon: Did we hear PZ.4?
Chair Russell: Thankyou.
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PZ.6
ORDINANCE Second Reading
6119
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
Department of
ATTACHMENT(S), APPROVING AN AMENDMENT TO THE FIRST
Planning
DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT FOR THE RIVER LANDING SPECIAL
AREA PLAN ("RIVER LANDING SAP"), PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 163
OF THE FLORIDA STATUTES, BETWEEN R.L. MIAMI, LP F/K/A
RIVER LANDING DEVELOPMENT, LLC, A DELAWARE LIMITED
PARTNERSHIP, ("APPLICANT"), AND THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA,
TO GOVERN THE RIVER LANDING SPECIAL AREA PLAN (SAP)
DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT APPROVED MAY 23, 2013 AS
ORDINANCE NO. 13383 ("DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT"), BY
AMENDING THE SECTION RELATED TO PUBLIC BENEFITS IN THE
DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT AND REQUIRING CERTAIN
IMPROVEMENTS ON ABUTTING LAND OWNED BY AN AFFILIATE
OF THE APPLICANT OUTLINED IN THE DECLARATION OF
RESTRICTIONS THE APPLICANT HAS ENTERED INTO WITH MIAMI-
DADE COUNTY; AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE
THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT IN SUBSTANTIALLY THE
ATTACHED FORM FOR SAID PURPOSE; CONTAINING A
SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE
DATE.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: 13867
MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Wifredo (Willy) Gort, Commissioner
SECONDER: Ken Russell, Commissioner
AYES: Russell, Gort, Carollo, Hardemon
ABSENT: Reyes
Tice Chair Gort: P6 [sic].
Chair Russell: PZ.6. This is an amendment to the development agreement, 1420
and 1500 NorthuestforthRiver Drive. Is there apresentation ora motion?
Tice Chair Gort: -1=1ove it.
Chair Rnssell: Its been moved by Commissioner Gort.
Commissioner Carollo: TT -hat item is this now?
Chair Russell: This is the River Landing SAP (Special Area Plan), PZ.6.
Connnissioner Carollo: Hold on. Let's see irhich one it is. PZ.6, River Land [sic]?
Tice Chair Gort: River Landing. That's to rise some o f the fitinding for parks; create
a parkfor the benefit of the community.
ChairRnssell: Seconded by the Chair.
Connnissioner Carollo: PZ.6?
Chair Russell: Correct.
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City Commission Meeting Minutes October 24, 2019
Commissioner Carollo: Hold on for one second, if you don't mind?
Later...
Commissioner Carollo: We haven't touched 7 or 8 yet, right?
Chair Russell: That is correct.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay. All right. Okay, ready to go on 6.
Chair Russell: Thank you. Any further comments or questions on 6? Do you need
to read it into the record? Thank you.
The Ordinance was read by title into the public record by the City Attorney.
Chair Russell: Thank you. Any further discussion from the dais? All in favor of the
item, say "aye. "
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Russell: Any opposed?
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): And, Chair, for the record --
Unidentified Speaker: Thankyou.
Mr. Hannon: -- that'll be 4-0. Commissioner Hardemon is on the side of the dais,
but did vote in favor.
Chair Russell: He did wave. All right. Thank you. That's PZ. 6.
PZ.7
ORDINANCE Second Reading
6112
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
Department of
ATTACHMENTS, AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 10544, AS
Planning
AMENDED, THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP OF THE MIAMI
COMPREHENSIVE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN, PURSUANT TO SMALL
SCALE AMENDMENT PROCEDURES SUBJECT TO SECTION
163.3187, FLORIDA STATUTES, BY CHANGING THE FUTURE LAND
USE DESIGNATION FROM "SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL" TO
"LOW DENSITY MULTIFAMILY RESIDENTIAL" OF THE 4.9±ACRES
OF REAL PROPERTY LOCATED AT 1459, 1465, 1491, 1501, 1603,
1611, 1631, 1645, 1665, 1675, AND 1701 NORTHWEST SOUTH
RIVER DRIVE, 1001, 1007, 1111, AND 1015 NORTHWEST 17 COURT,
AND A PORTION OF 1389 NORTHWEST 7 STREET, MIAMI,
FLORIDA, AS MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED IN EXHIBIT "A";
MAKING FINDINGS; CONTAINING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND
PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: 13868
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MOTION TO:
Adopt
RESULT:
ADOPTED
MOVER:
Wifredo (Willy) Gort, Commissioner
SECONDER:
Ken Russell, Commissioner
AYES:
Russell, Gort, Hardemon
ABSENT:
Carollo. Reyes
Note for the Record: For additional minutes referencing Item PZ. 7, please see "PZ
Order of the Day. "
Chair Russell: PZ (Planning and Zoning) --
Vice Chair Gort: PZ. 7, I move it.
Chair Russell: What's that, 7 and 8?
Vice Chair Gort: 7 and 8, yes.
Chair Russell: There's a motion for PZ. 7 and 8. Commissioner Carollo?
Commissioner Carollo: No.
Chair Russell: You're not ready to vote on it or you're a "no" on it?
Commissioner Carollo: I am a "no" on it.
Chair Russell: So this is a motion for PZ. 7 and 8. Is there a second? Commissioner
Hardemon? Chair will second for discussion. This is a zoning from T3-0 to T4-R on
Northwest South River Drive.
b ice Chair Gort: It doesn't go all the way to Northwest 7th Street.
Chair Russell: That was the concern that was brought up.
Lice Chair Gort: That was the concern (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Chair Russell: Is there a typo, Mr. Director?
Francisco Garcia (Director, Planning): There isn't a typo, but let me explain for a
moment. It so happens that at the furthest east extreme of this subject land, subject to
the rezoning, there is the Robert King High Towers property that is owned by Miami -
Dade County. Now that property is 99 percent zoned T6-8L; however, there is a
small sliver that abuts 836, State Road 836, which is still zoned T3-0, and it is that
little sliver that is the subject of this rezoning, as well, to be in tandem with all the
other properties fronting the river. The address for the Robert King High Towers
property happens to be on Northwest 7th Street. That is the only address that is
affected that fronts on Northwest 7th Street.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah, but on PZ.7 you're changing the designation from
single-family residential to low density multifamily residentials [sic] for properties
located along Northwest South River Drive --
Mr. Garcia: Yes, sir.
Commissioner Carollo: -- Northwest 17th Court, and you told me that 7th Street was
a mistake. Now --
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Mr. Garcia: So --
Commissioner Carollo: -- my --
Mr. Garcia: I'm sorry; to correct the record, sir. Not a mistake -- my apologies -- not
a mistake. It's just that part of Robert King High Towers, which fronts on 7th Street --
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah.
Mr. Garcia: -- happens to be part of this application.
Commissioner Carollo: Right. But my question to you is the following: From single-
family residential, how many stories is this going to go?
Mr. Garcia: So, at present, two stories, and the change would make it three stories.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay. So the change would make it three stories?
Mr. Garcia: Yes, sir.
Commissioner Carollo: How many more units can they build there?
Mr. Garcia: The density would go from nine units per acre presently to 36 units per
acre.
Commissioner Carollo: Nine to 36?
Mr. Garcia: No, sir; 36 units per acre.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah, but from the present nine --
Mr. Garcia: From the present nine, yeah.
Commissioner Carollo: -- to 36 per acre?
Mr. Garcia: To 36, correct.
Commissioner Carollo: Considerable increase. And they could do that all in three
stories?
Mr. Garcia: Yes, sir. Well, to the extent that they can, they would.
Vice Chair Gort: Its a lot --
Mr. Garcia: To the extent they cannot, they won't.
Bice Chair Gort: Depends on the land itself.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay. Since we're discussing both of them, the other one
that's PZ.8, first reading; change zoning from T3-R limited to T4-R. What are we
changing there?
Mr. Garcia: Exactly the same thing.
Commissioner Carollo: Same thing.
Mr. Garcia: They're simply land use and zoning.
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Commissioner Carollo: Okay. That's a huge jump.
Mr. Garcia: Sir, to give you, if I may, a very quick background on this. The three
parcels right in the middle of this section of town -- right? --fronting the Miami River
were rezoned approximately less than a year ago --
Chair Russell: Yeah, I remember that.
Mr. Garcia: -- also from T3-R to T4-R. At the point in time, the argument that was
made to you, the Commission, is that many of those properties needed to be fortified
and incur expenses to fortify in front of the river, because they were subject to sea
level rise and also storm surges. And it was deemed at that point in time by the City
Commission that it would be prudent to up -zone them, to allow them to redevelop, and
also to require that they fortify and deed some areas and walkways in front of the
river for enhancement and public access.
Chair Russell: I remember a lot of residents came at that time, as well, that were in
favor of this --
Commissioner Carollo: Well --
Chair Russell: -- and it does bring a lot of value to them
Commissioner Carollo: -- we're bringing a huge bonus to the individuals that own
those properties right now; huge. I mean, if you could build from nine units to 36,
that's huge. So I --you know, I'm just not ready to --
Vice Chair Gort: Okay.
Commissioner Carollo: --vote in favor of this now. It's just a lot of land that we're
doing to this at one time, and --
Chair Russell: I'm okay with this step. It's an incremental step from T3-0 to T4-R. I
think it's -- And I remember the residents coming before and --
Mr. Garcia: In that regard to this, let me also give you assurances, Commissioners,
that we pursued this as a directive of the City Commission at the time, and we also
engaged the community, the stakeholders, in various meetings, and we received
originally very little pushback, and eventually, everyone was in consensus that this
should go forward for your consideration.
Chair Russell: Question for you, Mr. Director. Once it's T4, does the riverwalk code
apply?
Mr. Garcia: There is a requirement that the provider (UNINTELLIGIBLE) --
Chair Russell: Under T3 it would not have?
Mr. Garcia: That is correct.
Chair Russell: So now this will have a frontage of a riverwalk, which will also give
more fortification --
Mr. Garcia: That is correct.
Chair Russell: -- (UNINTELLIGIBLE) sea level rise issues.
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Mr. Garcia: That was part of the process, yes.
Chair Russell: All right. I'm certainly in favor of it. There's a motion. There's a
second. Is there arty further discussion on the item?
Mr. Garcia: I'm being reminded -- I'm sorry -- that there is a covenant to that effect,
actually.
Chair Russell: For the baywalk?
Mr. Garcia: For the baywalk --for the riverwalk in this case.
Chair Russell: Does it need one, though, because it's required?
Mr. Garcia: Not in T4-R by virtue of the fact that it's residential, but by covenant, it
is required.
Chair Russell: Oh, so T4-R does not require the --
Mr. Garcia: Not a T4-R. It begins --
Chair Russell: -- riverwalk?
Mr. Garcia: -- at T5-R and above, yes.
Chair Russell: It begins at T5 and above.
Mr. Garcia: Yes, sir.
Chair Russell: Thank you. My mistake. But it does have one. Yes, we're on PZ.7
and PZ.8.
b ice Chair Gort: Call the question.
Chair Russell: Thank you. Any further discussion? All in favor of PZ.7 and PZ.8,
say "aye. "
Vice Chair Gort: 'Aye. "
Chair Russell: Any opposed?
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): I'm sorry. Madam City Attorney, had you read in the
titles? Okay.
Chair Russell: I apologize; my fault.
The Ordinance was read by title into the public record by the City Attorney.
b ictoria Mendez (CityAttorney): PZ.8.
The Ordinance was read by title into the public record by the City Attorney.
Chair Russell: Thank you. I had wanted to give Commissioner Carollo a second to
join us, if he'd like his vote noted, but he did leave the dais during the item. How
many of the parcels are in Commissioner Carollo's district?
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11=1i. Garcia: I'm sorry. There are -- all of the properties that are actually on the
other side o f 836 are in Commissioner Carollo's District 3. They are -- three parcels
Pin looking at right now.
Chair Russell: Oh, on the east side?
11=1i. Garcia: On the easternmost side, yes.
Chair Russell: Southeast side. I understand All right. All in favor of the item, say
aye. ff
The Commission (Collectively): Aye
Chair Russell: Anv opposed? 11otion passes on PZ. 7 and S. Thank you very much.
PZ.8
ORDINANCE Second Reading
6113
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
Department of
ATTACHMENT(S), AMENDING THE ZONING ATLAS OF ORDINANCE
Planning
NO. 13114, THE ZONING ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI,
FLORIDA, AS AMENDED, BY CHANGING THE ZONING
CLASSIFICATION FROM 73-R," SUB -URBAN TRANSECT -
RESTRICTED, AND "T3-L," SUB -URBAN TRANSECT — LIMITED, TO
74-R," GENERAL URBAN TRANSECT — RESTRICTED, FOR
APPROXIMATELY 4.9 ACRES OF REAL PROPERTIES LOCATED AT
APPROXIMATELY 1459, 1465, 1491, 1501, 1603, 1611, 1631, 1645,
1665, 1675 AND 1701 NORTHWEST SOUTH RIVER DRIVE, 1001,
1007, 1015 AND 1111 NORTHWEST 17 COURT, AND A PORTION OF
1389 NORTHWEST 7 STREET, MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS MORE
PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED IN EXHIBIT "A"; ACCEPTING THE
VOLUNTARILY PROFFERED COVENANTS; MAKING FINDINGS;
CONTAINING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING FOR AN
EFFECTIVE DATE.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: 13869
MOTION TO:
Adopt
RESULT:
ADOPTED
MOVER:
Wifredo (Willy) Gort, Commissioner
SECONDER:
Ken Russell, Commissioner
AYES:
Russell, Gort, Hardemon
ABSENT:
Carollo, Reyes
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item PZ.8, please see "PZ Order of
the Day" and Item PZ. 7.
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PZ.9
ORDINANCE Second Reading
5899
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
Commissioners
ATTACHMENT(S), AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 10544, AS
and Mayor - PZ
AMENDED, THE MIAMI COMPREHENSIVE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN
OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, PURSUANT TO EXPEDITED
STATE REVIEW PROCEDURES UNDER SECTION 163.3184(3),
FLORIDA STATUTES, BY AMENDING THE INTERPRETATION OF
THE 2020 FUTURE LAND USE MAP FOR "MAJOR INSTITUTIONAL,
PUBLIC FACILITIES, TRANSPORTATION AND UTILITIES" TO ALLOW
GENERAL COMMERCIAL USES WITHIN THIS FUTURE LAND USE
DESIGNATION; MAKING FINDINGS; CONTAINING SEVERABILITY
CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: 13870
MOTION TO:
Adopt
RESULT:
ADOPTED
MOVER:
Wifredo (Willy) Gort, Commissioi
SECONDER:
Keon Hardemon, Commissioner
AYES:
Russell. Gort. Carollo. Hardemon
ABSENT:
Reyes
Chair Russell: I had a -- PZ.9, which is commercial allowed in CI (Civic
Institutional); PZ.9. It's been moved by Commissioner -- Vice Chairman Gort. Is
there a second?
Commissioner Hardemon: I'll second it.
Chair Russell: Seconded by Commissioner Hardemon. Is there any discussion on
the item?
Commissioner Hardemon: I just want to know from the Planning Director, the -- I
saw that the PZAB (Planning, Zoning and Appeals Board) voted it down, 8-1. And
I just want to know is it just a general mistrust of government that they voted it
down for, or is there some real lack of con -- was some real concern?
Francisco Garcia (Director, Planning): No, sir. I would certainly not think that is
the case. Let me tell you very briefly why this turned out at the PZAB the way it did.
Let me first tell you what this is. What this is is simply a realignment of the
Comprehensive Neighborhood Plan with the Zoning Ordinance. The Zoning
Ordinance makes it very clear that properties zoned CI and CI -HD (Civic
Institutional -Heath District) can have and have had historically and presently
general commercial uses. There is no ambiguity and no question about it in the
Zoning Ordinance. However, our Comprehensive Neighborhood Plan is less than
clear about this fact, and it makes simply illusions to the fact that there can be or
there could be, but certainly not that there is, general commercial uses in CI and
CI -HD -zoned properties. Frequently, when interacting with the State of Florida,
the Department of Economic Opportunity, and when applications come in
requesting, for instance, mural permits as part of the City's program, it is the
requirement of the State of Florida that these murals be implemented in buildings
that can have general commercial uses. The State of Florida looks at the Florida
statutes and at the Comprehensive Neighborhood Plan to try to ascertain that these
murals are -- that these buildings are eligible for the murals, and when they don't
see clear language in the Comprehensive Neighborhood Plan, they get a little bit
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City Commission Meeting Minutes October 24, 2019
nervous, and they certainly ask a lot of questions. We, in meetings personally with
the representatives of the Department of Economic Opportunity, have crafted this
language that is before you today to resolve that confusion and to clarify in the
Comprehensive Neighborhood Plan that general commercial uses can be present in
CI and CI -HD -zoned properties; and therefore, the mural program, in exactly the
same fashion as it is being run today, can also manifest itself in CI and CI -HD -
zoned buildings.
Chair Russell: Thank you, Mr. Director. So you're saying the Code is already
clear, the Future Land Use Map is already clear; this would bring the
Comprehensive Neighborhood Plan in line with those two?
Mr. Garcia: That is correct, sir. Just for --
Chair Russell: Was there anything stated on the record from PZAB as to the logic
to their "no"?
Mr. Garcia: No. In the end, there was a vote. All I can account for in the -- my
attempt to decipher exactly what the reasoning may be is that a lot of discussion
back and forth was had at the meeting about the mural program.
Chair Russell: Just that they're opposed to the mural program in general.
Understood.
Mr. Garcia: Or have concerns about it, yes, sir.
Chair Russell: Got it. I'm sorry; do we have a motion on this item yet?
Vice Chair Gort: Yes.
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): Yes. It was --
b ice Chair Gort: I moved it.
Mr. Hannon: -- moved by Commissioner Go"; seconded by Commissioner
Hardemon, but the title still needs to be read into the record.
Chair Russell: Thank you very much.
Victoria Mendez (City Attorney): And --
Chair Russell: Before we do, is there any discussion on the dais with the item?
Thank you. Madam City Attorney.
The Ordinance was read by title into the public record by the City Attorney.
Chair Russell: Thank you. All in favor of the item, say "aye. "
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Russell: Any opposed? Motion passes on PZ.9. Thank you very much.
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PZ.10
RESOLUTION
6334
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
Department of
ATTACHMENT(S), APPROVING, WITH CONDITIONS, THE
Planning
CLOSURE, VACATION, ABANDONMENT, AND DISCONTINUANCE
FOR PUBLIC USE A PORTION OF NORTHWEST 22 TERRACE
BETWEEN NORTHWEST 11 AVENUE TO THE EAST AND
NORTHWEST 12 AVENUE TO THE WEST, MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS
MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED IN EXHIBIT "A," ATTACHED
AND INCORPORATED, PURSUANT TO SECTION 55-15 OF THE
CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED; MAKING
FINDINGS; CONTAINING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND
PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-19-0434
MOTION TO:
Adopt
RESULT:
ADOPTED
MOVER:
Wifredo (Willy) Gort, Commis
SECONDER:
Joe Carollo, Commissioner
AYES:
Russell. Gort. Carollo. Hardem(
ABSENT:
Reyes
Chair Russell: Commissioner Hardemon, there's a PZ.4 appeal on the car wash
issue. There is a PZ.20 closure; both in your district.
Tice Chair Gort: PZ.10 also, which is next.
Chair Russell: Would you like to move PZ.10, Commissioner Gort?
Lice Chair Gort: Yes.
Chair Russell: All right. We have a motion on PZ.10. Is there a second? This is a
street closure for Northwest 22nd Terrace.
Commissioner Carollo: Second.
Chair Russell: Seconded by Commissioner Carollo. Can you read it into the record,
please?
Victoria Mendez (City Attorney): PZ.10 is a resolution.
Chair Russell: Oh, thank you. Of course it is. Is there any discussion on the item?
Hearing none, all in favor, say "aye. "
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Russell: Any opposed? Motion passes on PZ.10.
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PZ.11
RESOLUTION
6343
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION GRANTING
Department of
THREE (3) EXCEPTIONS, WITH CONDITIONS, PURSUANT TO
Planning
ARTICLE 4, TABLE 3; ARTICLE 6, TABLE 13; AND ARTICLE 7,
SECTION 7.1.2.6 OF ORDINANCE NO. 13114, THE ZONING
ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED, AND
PURSUANT TO SECTION 4-7 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF
MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED, TO PERMIT ALCOHOL SERVICE
ESTABLISHMENTS FOR AN INDIVIDUALLY DESIGNATED HISTORIC
STRUCTURE, COMMONLY KNOWN AS THE OLD UNITED STATES
POST OFFICE AND COURTHOUSE, APPROXIMATELY 35,455
SQUARE FEET IN SIZE, FOR A PROPERTY IN A "T6-80-0," URBAN
CORE TRANSECT ZONE, LOCATED AT APPROXIMATELY 100
NORTHEAST 1 AVENUE, MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS MORE
PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED IN EXHIBIT "A"; MAKING FINDINGS;
CONTAINING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING FOR AN
EFFECTIVE DATE.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-19-0435
MOTION TO:
Adopt with Modification(s)
RESULT:
ADOPTED WITH MODIFICATION(S)
MOVER:
Ken Russell, Commissioner
SECONDER:
Joe Carollo, Commissioner
AYES:
Russell, Gort, Carollo, Hardemon
ABSENT:
Reyes
Chair Russell: I'd like to move PZ.11, please. Im passing the gavel.
Connnissioner Carollo: ((,'_N'LN'TELLIGIBLE) PZ.11 ?
Chair Russell: Fes.
Commissioner Carollo: (t,ll-TELLIGIBLE). Tlhen staff -- onr staff meets with
an applicant, do we still disclose it;"
T'ictoria IIendez (City Attorney): TT -hen your staff -- if -- normally, no; unless
thev're, you know, giving you all sorts of information. If they're not, then -- if it's
just staff, it's not a problem.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay. lT ell, just to be transparent as we can, inv staff met
with the applicant in PZ.11.
Chair Rnssell: As did I
Commissioner Carollo: Oh, von did, too; not vour staff.
Chan-Rnssell: N-o. I --
Commissioner Carollo: But von have to disclose it.
Chair Rnssell: -- didn't meet with your staff. I met with the applicant and their
attorney.
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Vice Chair Gort: Okay. There's a motion.
Chair Russell: I've moved it.
Lice Chair Gort: It's moved. Is there a second?
Commissioner Carollo: Second.
Lice Chair Gort: Motion move and second. Any further discussion?
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): Excuse me. Tice Chair?
L ice Chair Gort: Yes.
Mr. Hannon: I just need to make a friendly amendment. In the title, if we could just
add "with attachments"?
Chair Russell: Accepted.
Mr. Hannon: Thank you.
Vice Chair Gort: Okay. And the seconder accept the amendment?
Francisco Garcia (Director, Planning): And if --
Commissioner Carollo: What was the amendment?
Mr. Hannon: It's just a simple amendment to the title; to add, "with attachments. "
Commissioner Carollo: What's that again?
Mr. Hannon: It's a simple amendment to the title of the resolution, to add --
Commissioner Carollo: To add what?
Mr. Hannon: -- "with attachments. "
Commissioner Carollo: With -- okay, with attachments.
Mr. Hannon: Yes, sir.
Lice Chair Gort: And you're recognized.
Mr. Garcia: Thank you, sir, very much. I also wanted to -- and I think in
concurrence with the applicant -- request that a change be made in one of the
"whereas" clauses. This may be perfunctory, but important. Let me read to you
what it should say. "Whereas it has been identified that each of the following three
establishments require an exception as each are over 5, 000 square feet: Number I -
- Tenant 1, consisting of Cabron, Frutonomy, Lobby Bar, and Nomada; 2, second
tenant, Biscayne Bay Brewing; and 3, third tenant, La Real, as described below. "
And this reason why this whereas clause is important is it makes specific reference
to all the establishments that are approved by this exception, and it allows us in the
future to hold each one responsible for compliance with the conditions as set forth.
And in addition, I believe that there is also a clarification that needs to be made to
the conditions. Conditions 4 and 6 pertain to noise generated by the alcohol
service establishments; the remainder remains the same, but it has to be specified
that the noise generated by the alcohol service establishments is the subject of
Conditions 4 through 6. That's all I have, sir.
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Chair Russell: Thank you.
Javier Avino: And we agree to those changes.
Vice Chair Gort: All right.
Mr. Hannon: If you can just state your name on the record, sir.
Mr. Avino: Oh. Javier Avino, with law offices at Bilzen Sumberg, 1450 Brickell
Avenue, for the record.
Commissioner Carollo: Javier, is there any pictures of how this looks like right
now in here?
Mr. Avino: Of the interior? This is an interior --
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah.
Mr. Avino: -- rehab of the old post office --
Commissioner Carollo:
Yeah, yeah, but --
Mr. Avino: --yes, there
are --
Commissioner Carollo:
Do you have anything here that we could see?
Mr. Avino: I'm sorry?
Commissioner Carollo:
Do you have anything here that we can see?
Mr. Avino: Yes, we can.
We can put up boards, if you --
Commissioner Carollo:
Yeah. Could you?
Mr. Avino: Sure.
Chair Russell: This applicant is (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Commissioner Carollo: I don't want you guys to think that he spent a lot of money,
and then, you know, it went to waste, so.
Chair Russell: This is adaptive reuse of a historic property.
Mr. Avino: So this is the exterior. It's the old post office in downtown. It's an
interior renovation for a series of food and beverage operations. There's -- on the
staff report, there's a detailed listing of them. We went through Historic
Preservation Board; received unanimous approval by the board. t ery minor
modifications to the outside to make it ADA (Americans with Disability Act)
compliant. Other than that, the building is being fully preserved.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay. Let's see the other pictures.
Mr. Avino: Sure. This is just some elevations.
T ice Chair Gort: Inside, inside.
Mr. Avino: Yeah.
Commissioner Carollo: Well, let's see them all.
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Mr. Avino: These are some of the interior layouts of the spaces, so this is the
proposed first floor. There's also a basement level, a second --
Commissioner Carollo: What's your occupancy rate?
Mr. Avino: I'm sorry?
Commissioner Carollo: What's the occupancy rate that you've been approved for?
Mr. Avino: The occupancy?
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah.
Mr. Avino: I'm going to ask the architect to give a full occupancy. And this is
before the Commission, because when the Commission adopted the modified
alcohol beverage regulations, it required that any time a venue was over 5,000
square feet, it required Commission approval (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Commissioner Carollo: How many square feet is this?
Mr. Avino: So -- give me one second. And it's broken up by tenant spaces. So bear
with me one second; I want to make sure I give you the right numbers. Here it is.
The -- Tenant I space is 14,000 square feet; Tenant 2 is 5,987,• and Tenant 3 is
3,138.
Commissioner Carollo: What are the three different tenants you're going to have
there?
Mr. Avino: So Tenant I consist of multiple venues within it, because it's multi -
floors.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah; they're 14, 000, I figured.
Mr. Avino: Yeah. And so, there is a few different concepts. There's a restaurant
concept, a fruit bar concept. There's also a lobby bar area. And the last is a -- sort
of a lounge area that's called Nomada. And then Biscayne Bay Brewing is a
brewery that's going to do some micro brewing on site, as well as a full restaurant.
And then La Real, which is on the top floor, is also another lounge space.
Commissioner Carollo: La Real is the 3,138 --?
Mr. Avino: Correct. And that space, the important thing there is the Code did not
make a distinction between what was counted in that 5, 000 square feet. So even
though the interior of the venue is 3,138, there's mechanical space around it, and
there's back of house that makes it larger than the 3,138, and that's why it exceeds
it.
Commissioner Carollo: What has -- I would imagine you guys gotten your CU
(Certificate of Use) already here or not?
Mr. Avino: No, we have not gotten CUs yet. We are already deep in processing of
permit plans.
Commissioner Carollo: Have you had fire marshals come in and measure
everything and give you (UNINTELLIGIBLE)?
Mr. Avino: So it has already been reviewed by the Fire Department, and they have
already --
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Commissioner Carollo: Okay. What is the occupancy load that they've given you
for these? IfI could get a --
Michael Ramirez: Michael Ramirez, on behalf of (UNINTELLIGIBLE)
Architecture, 278 Northwest 37th Street. So on basement level, we have a proposed
occupancy of 283.
Commissioner Carollo: That's the one with how many square feet?
Mr. Ramirez: This one is 7,497.
Commissioner Carollo: 7,419 [sic]. Is that part of the 14, 000?
Mr. Avino: That is.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay.
Mr. Avino: Yes.
Commissioner Carollo: Because if it wasn't, you gave me wrong numbers in the
others.
Mr. Avino: No. It was.
Mr. Ramirez: Ground level, we have a total proposed occupancy of 107.
Commissioner Carollo: How many square feet?
Mr. Ramirez: Total square footage is 8,103 on ground level.
Commissioner Carollo: On ground level. So the 283 -- or is that basement? The
283 is for the ground level or basement?
Mr. Avino: It's -- the ground level -- the basement and first floor have a combined -
- because the spaces, some of them are multi floors.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah.
Mr. Avino: So the first concept includes the basement, as well as a portion of the
first floor, which is 7, 497 square feet. So it's a multi floor space.
Commissioner Carollo: 4 -- 7,400 and what?
Mr. Avino: And 97 square feet.
Commissioner Carollo: And 97. But he said 8, 000 --
Mr. Ramirez: Because I'm giving you the occupancy per floor.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay.
Mr. Avino: L'ersus per concept.
Mr. Ramirez: b ersus per concept, correct.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay. So -- all right.
Mr. Avino: This, Commissioner, will give you a color -coded sort of layout of the
spaces.
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Commissioner Carollo: You know, I'm surprised they're giving you guys so little
occupancy load, and I got establishments in my district that somehow, with a
fraction of what you got and bars everywhere and chairs and dining tables and --
you can't even walk through without hitting something. I got a lot more than you
guys do, but I guess you're not connected. Anyway, interesting. I thought it'd be a
lot more than what you have here, and obviously, I'm not seeing what you have
inside, but for such large spaces, I can't imagine that everything you have is
furniture, or what have you. You got quite a bit of open space there, right?
Mr. Ramirez: There -- I mean, there's a combine of open space and furniture, yes.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay.
CommissionerHardemon: Mr. Chairman --
Commissioner Carollo: All right.
Commissioner Hardemon: -- I know we're getting dangerously close to our 10
o'clock hour.
Chair Russell: We're almost done. We're going to get there.
Commissioner Carollo: What's the matter with you guys?
Chair Russell: We're going to set a record here.
Commissioner Hardemon: Huh? I want a glass of Scotch.
Chair Russell: You make us nervous.
Commissioner Hardemon: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) me.
Commissioner Carollo: You want Scotch? I (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Vice Chair Gort: Okay.
Chair Russell: All right, Commissioner --
Commissioner Hardemon: Because (UNINTELLIGIBLE) a motion and a second
on this one. (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Commissioner Carollo: The other guy used to come with the --
Chair Russell: Commissioner Reyes.
Commissioner Carollo: -- long hair didn't drink.
Commissioner Hardemon: Exactly.
Commissioner Carollo: This new version --
Commissioner Hardemon: Losing my hair.
Vice Chair Gort: Okay. Any other -- any further questions?
Commissioner Carollo: Excuse me?
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rice Chair Gort: Anv further questions?
Commissioner Carollo: o. Good luck: to von.
=1r. Avino: Thank von.
Vice Chair Gort: Is anv further discussion? Being none, all in favor, state it by
saying „ave.
The Commission (Collectively): Ave.
11r. Avino: Thank von again. Appreciate it.
Chair Russell: I'd like to move --
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk:): As amended.
Chair Russell: 11r. --ves.
PZA 2
RESOLUTION
6335
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
Department of
ATTACHMENT(S), APPROVING, WITH CONDITIONS, AN
Planning
EXCEPTION PURSUANT TO ARTICLE 7, SECTION 7.2.6(A) OF
ORDINANCE NO. 13114, THE ZONING ORDINANCE OF THE CITY
OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED ("MIAMI 21 CODE"), TO ALLOW
AN EXISTING LEGAL NONCONFORMING ADULT ENTERTAINMENT
USE TO OPERATE FOR AN ADDITIONAL TWENTY YEARS AFTER
THE ADOPTION OF THE MIAMI 21 CODE ON A SITE LOCATED
WITHIN THE "T6-60A-O," URBAN CORE -OPEN, TRANSECT ZONE
FOR THE PROPERTY GENERALLY LOCATED AT 15 NORTHEAST
11 STREET AND 29 NORTHEAST 11 STREET, MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS
MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED IN EXHIBIT "A"; MAKING
FINDINGS; CONTAINING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND
PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-19-0436
MOTION TO:
Adopt with Modification(s)
RESULT:
ADOPTED WITH MODIFICATION(S)
MOVER:
Ken Russell, Commissioner
SECONDER:
Keon Hardemon, Commissioner
AYES:
Russell, Gort, Carollo, Hardemon
ABSENT:
Reyes
Note for the Record. For additional minutes referencing Item PZ.12, please see
"Public Comment Period for Planning and Zoning Item(s). "
Chair Russell: I'd like to move --
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): As amended.
Chair Russell: _llr. Chairman, I'd like to move PZ.12, please.
Commissioner Hardemon: Second.
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Commissioner Carollo: Hold on.
Chair Russell: Our Chairman's going to bring us home tonight.
Commissioner Hardemon: Second.
Commissioner Carollo: What -- let me ask --
Chair Russell: Chair.
Victoria Mendez (City Attorney): It's okay.
Commissioner Carollo: Ma'am, you're here for or against it?
Iris Escarra: I am here actually to see if there's any opportunity for PZ.4 to be
heard. This item has been pending for the last --
Chair Russell: That's the last item on the agenda.
Ms. Escarra: That was the first item on the "P" --
Chair Russell: No, that'll be the last item on -- that'll -- we'll be done.
Commissioner Carollo: You know what? Why don't --
Chair Russell: This is the second to the last item that I've moved.
Ms. Escarra: Okay. Thank you.
Chair Russell: And then that --
Ms. Escarra: I appreciate it.
Chair Russell: -- I will do right after.
Ms. Escarra: We've waited for this for four Commission meetings. Thank you, Mr.
Chairman.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay. PZ.4, is that a long item or --?
Ms. Escarra: It's not my appeal. We represent the appellee.
Chair Russell: Car wash versus car wash.
Commissioner Carollo: Is there somebody here on that appeal or --?
Chair Russell: Was there a second?
Commissioner Hardemon: Mr. (UNINTELLIGIBLE), what are you here for? What
case are you here on?
Commissioner Carollo: Well --
Commissioner Hardemon: 12?
Ms. Escarra: Then maybe nobody's here. We'll find out.
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Commissioner Carollo: Is there anybody else here for PZ.4?
Chair Russell: Chairman, was there a second to the motion?
CommissionerHardemon: I second it.
Vice Chair Gort: PZ.4 (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Chair Russell: We're on 12.
CommissionerHardemon: PZ.12.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah, yeah.
Lice Chair Gort: Oh, we're on 12. Okay.
Commissioner Carollo: But I was just wondering if there's anybody else here.
Lice Chair Gort: PZ.12.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay. Let me go to PZ.12.
Lice Chair Gort: A resolution -- Madam Attorney, you want to read --?
Commissioner Carollo: How many years do they have left in this nonconforming
use? Mr. Planning Director, how many years do they have here left?
Francisco Garcia (Director, Planning): They are presently requesting an extension.
Commissioner Carollo: I know that, but how many years do they have left now?
Mr. Garcia: Well, that is subject to some conversation that will happen before you
today. The -- my reading of Miami 21 is that they have the ability through an
extension, which is what they are requesting today --
Commissioner Carollo: Right.
Mr. Garcia: -- to extend their sunset clause by an additional 20 years. So if -- and
I'll be brief about this, and you'll hear more about it. So if this use is considered
legal nonconforming from the adoption of Miami 21 in the year 2010, that would
give them a sunset clause of 20 years. And through an exception, in principle, they
would be able to get an extension for another 20 years, which would then sunset
them in 2040, subject to your approval of that extension for the additional 20 years.
What you will hear from them today -- and IZl yield very quickly to the applicant -- is
that they, through some additional filings they have, are entitled to an additional 10
years, and we will certainly chime in and opine on that as well.
Commissioner Carollo: That they're entitled to 10 years, plus the 20 they're asking?
Mr. Garcia: Right. For a total of up to 2050, the year 2050.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay. So one is 40 years versus 30 years?
Mr. Garcia: That's correct.
Lice Chair Gort: Yes, sir.
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Jose Diaz: Jose Diaz, 2 Alhambra Plaza, Suite 102, Coral Gables, Florida, on
behalf of the applicant, GR OPCO. I would like the record to reflect that I was
substituted as the counsel for this on September 16, taking the place of Greenspoon
Marder, the prior law firm on record. As the Planning Director has already said, we
come before you today to request an exception to allow the extension of the existing
legal nonconforming use of this property, through and including May 20, 2050,
pursuant to Section 7.2.6(a) of Miami 21. Your professional staff has recommended
approval of this item, as it is compatible with the surrounding neighborhood, and it's
within the Parkwest Entertainment District. In their report, the staff acknowledges
that Code Enforcement in the Downtown NET (Neighborhood Enhancement Team)
Office expressed no concerns with this extension. Similarly, we're happy to report,
that not one single neighbor or neighborhood association has come out in opposition
to our request. The mention to the extension was that in 2013, on January 24, the
City ofMiami's Zoning Administrator issued a zoning verification letter, allowing for
the continuance of the nonconforming use from the effective date of Miami 21, thus,
giving us till 2030; meaning that our extension right now is through 2030, but
because we want to remodel the property -- we have about 13 acres and 18 lots, 10
million square feet of developable space -- we want to refinance everything, and it
takes a longer period. So if you go to the market right now, it's about 30 years to
refinance something.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay. So basically, the reason you're coming -- when you
have, whether it's 20 years or 10 years, depending which way it's going to be
interpreted, it's still substantial --
Mr. Diaz: Yeah.
Commissioner Carollo: -- 10 or 20 --is that you're trying to refinance?
Mr. Diaz: Yeah. We're trying to do more with the surrounding neighborhood, now
that we've acquired more parcels, and we will be looking for financing mechanisms
and --
Commissioner Carollo: Is the refinancing part to enclose roofs and what have you
for that --?
Mr. Diaz: Yes. We've been allowed to enclose the roof. There'll be no expansion of
the existing use right now, so it's not like we're going to build more of the adult
space; that's already constricted.
Commissioner Carollo: And is that a covenant that you're going to be placing, that
you're going to enclose that roof space?
Mr. Diaz: Yes.
Commissioner Carollo: You are willing to --
Mr. Diaz: We have agreed to certain conditions.
Commissioner Carollo: -- proffer a covenant that -- under the conditions that you
enclose that roof.
Mr. Diaz: Yes.
Commissioner Carollo: Mr. Planning Director and Madam City Attorney, what kind
Of complaints have we gotten in the past -- when I say, "in the past, " not just in the
last two years, but prior to that. I've only been back for not quite two years --from --
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when I left here in two -- November 2001, that area hadn't been built out like it is
now, with so many new condominiums that actually brought real people as residents
there. And one of the concerns that we should have in one of the areas that I believe
I read about and heard was that a lot of the neighbors have complained that the
noise is spreading. And, you know, when you have buildings and a lot of open air
that noise travels. So my question is, how much complaints have we gotten in the
past from this particular club and location?
Chair Russell: Mr. Chair?
b ice Chair Gort: Yes, you're recognized.
Chair Russell: As the district Commissioner, we received a lot of complaints
originally when I first came into office, and they were actually hitting a couple of the
two or three strikes with the noise ordinance. I have to say, since then, it's gotten a
lot better. It has. We get much less.
Commissioner Carollo: Is the problem that they had open space?
Chair Russell: The open rooftop was part of the problem.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay. So that's the only area that you have open?
Mr. Diaz: Correct, that's the only area we had open. And in the last year, there
were two noise complaints, and they were both dismissed.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay. So if you enclose that --
Mr. Diaz: It should resolve everything.
Commissioner Carollo: -- it should resolve it. And in what time period will you
resolve it, if this is approved?
Mr. Diaz: It should not take too long. I would have to speak with the client, but it
should be closed within six months to a year.
Commissioner Hardemon: I always thought it was an interesting thing -- like I've
obviously been on the rooftop before, because they have -- part of it is an enclosed
restaurant --
Commissioner Carollo: Excuse me. You've been there?
Commissioner Hardemon: --on the rooftop.
Commissioner Carollo: They told me there was a Commissioner --
Commissioner Hardemon: Part of it is an enclosed restaurant.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay.
Commissioner Hardemon: It has great food.
Commissioner Carollo: Giving yourself up, Hardemon.
Commissioner Hardemon: It's a great family location for tapas.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah, yeah. I know.
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Commissioner Hardemon: It's the truth.
Commissioner Carollo: I know, yeah.
Commissioner Hardemon: And so -- and then the other part is outdoors. So for
those of us who like cigars, or something like that, you could be up top. And it's just
a --
Commissioner Carollo: Don't smoke too much; it'll kill your growth.
Commissioner Hardemon: So -- but my point is, is that in the City of Miami, we
really have to take a look about how we look at these outdoor venues, because part
of the allure of being on the rooftop is the open air. The complaint is the noise that
comes from --for instance, they had DJs (disc jockeys) up there, and they're blasting
music, but certainly, I mean, all of us would agree, if you go to our own backyard
and you turn on some music, you enjoy that space. And so, enclosing a space like
that is like -- it's almost like a tragedy. It reminds me of -- okay, imagine we have all
of these high-rises that have pools on the 12th floor, the -- you know, whatever floor
it may be. Imagine that they had to enclose the pool space, because they said, "Oh,
there's too much noise, " right? It's not the same.
Commissioner Carollo: So what you're trying to tell us is that when you go back
you prefer it open, not enclosed?
Commissioner Hardemon: That's right. Just like the Marlins Stadium -- right? -- it's
an open-air venue. They can close it, but it's an open-air stadium, and there's lots of
people, there's lots of noise; they have fireworks, and they're losing, but --
Commissioner Carollo: Is that part of your budget, that you could close it or open
it?
Commissioner Hardemon: No, I'm sure it's not. But -- no, but the point is, is that
there's value, obviously, to open air things; that's why ballparks have it; that's why,
you know, pools have them.
Commissioner Carollo: I agree with you. The only problem here is that --
Commissioner Hardemon: So we have to figure out how we have to, as a city --
Commissioner Carollo: -- when it's after hours or even below hours, and then you
have people trying to get sleep, and that music is traveling.
Commissioner Hardemon: Right. That's my point.
Commissioner Carollo: That's (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Commissioner Hardemon: We're blasting music.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah.
t ice Chair Gort: One at a time, please. Yes, sir, you're recognized.
Chair Russell: Thank you. So -- and I agree with you, Commissioner. We do want
to have good outdoor spaces, good event venues. This one was really too loud, and
they -- after the citations, Code did come down on them; it did get better, but part of
this getting better was the agreement to the enclosure, and they have agreed to it.
And I think, in the end --
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Commissioner Carollo: Well --
Chair Russell: -- their venue will --
Commissioner Carollo: --is the Building Director here? Well, I guess --
Mr. Diaz: Can I mention something about the conditions?
Commissioner Carollo: Did he go to Tallahassee, too, or --?
b ice Chair Gort: Go ahead.
Commissioner Carollo: Do we have --?
Mr. Diaz: Yeah. I was just going to mention that separate and apart from closing,
there's a condition, Condition 12, that disallows any music in the upstairs open area
from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. So even if you don't close it right away, as soon as this
passes, there'll be no music after 11 p.m., per the City's request.
Commissioner Hardemon: None, whatsoever? Huh? Man.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah.
Commissioner Hardemon: Sucks.
Mr. Diaz: It's something we agreed to, and staff recognizes.
Commissioner Carollo: I see Hardemon knows a lot more about this than any of us
do.
Commissioner Hardemon: Yeah, I'm not -- I can't go there anymore. Now I'll have
to go to Little Havana.
Mr. Diaz: You're all welcomed to come for a dinner.
Commissioner Carollo: I'll assure you, you're not going to get the same enjoyment
in Little Havana.
b ice Chair Gort: We're getting close to 10 o'clock.
Commissioner Carollo: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) there.
Chair Russell: We are.
Bice Chair Gort: Okay.
Chair Russell: So my Jennings disclosure, I met with the previous representative,
but not with Mr. Diaz on this issue, but I'm --
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah.
Chair Russell: -- satisfied on the covenant. I'm satisfied on the --
Commissioner Carollo: Well, I met and my staff, I think, met with some of the
representatives that they have, not Mr. Diaz. The -- and I met with some additional
people that were opposing it, also, and so did my staff, so we met across the board
with people, and that's --
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Commissioner Hardemon: And in an abundance of caution --
Commissioner Carollo: -- the best of my knowledge who we met with.
Commissioner Hardemon: -- I probably should give a disclosure --
Vice Chair Gort: Disclosure also.
Commissioner Hardemon: -- because there's other -- at least one of the owners,
proponents of it, we may have had conversation about this particular --
Commissioner Carollo: But was it --
Commissioner Hardemon: --you know, ordinance.
Commissioner Carollo: -- up on the rooftop or --?
Commissioner Hardemon: No, it wasn't at the rooftop. It wasn't on the rooftop.
Lice Chair Gort: Jennings disclosure. I had a conversation Mr. Diaz also. Okay.
Chair Russell: Mr. Chairman?
Commissioner Carollo: The --
lice Chair Gort: Any further discussion?
Chair Russell: Last question.
Commissioner Carollo: No, no, no.
Chair Russell: -- Madam City Attorney --
Commissioner Carollo: I have questions on this.
Chair Russell: -- during public comment, several legal things were brought up by
Mr. Slyder. Do any of those issues affect what we're voting on here today?
bictoria Mendez (City Attorney): The issues that -- I believe that staff has looked at
all those issues, and they have been dealt with in their analysis. He did bring up
issues with the police -- that I don't know about -- with regard to --
Commissioner Carollo: Okay. Well --
Ms. Mendez: -- issues with that, but
Commissioner Carollo: --the other issues -- and I don't want to go into an area that
we're not allowed to by law and put us in harm's way, butt do want to ask something
that's unrelated to this, if you don't mind answering it. Do you all pay cash to off -
duty police officers?
Mr. Diaz: No, we do not.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay. That's something that's of great concern. So, at least
we have one establishment that's not doing it. Anyone's heard from the Building
Director, the Assistant Building Director? Anybody that could put blocks together,
Legos?
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Vice Chair Gort: Anyone from the Building Department here?
Commissioner Carollo: Well, anybody around? Yes. Who's there? Oh. Did --
Tice Chair Gort: All right.
Commissioner Carollo: Hold -- no, no, no, no. This is important for this, because to
me --
Lice Chair Gort: Do we have anyone from the Building Department?
Commissioner Carollo: -- a lot of where my vote goes depends on the guarantees of
what happens in that rooftop that Hardemon likes so much. If I'm to consider voting
for this, I need to make sure that the noise problem that a lot of neighbors have had
in the past is resolved. If it's going to be resolved, then I don't mind giving them an
extension so they could get financing for that, even though --
Commissioner Hardemon: Yeah, I assure you --
Commissioner Carollo: -- you know, I --
Commissioner Hardemon: --they don't make their money on the roof.
Commissioner Carollo: I -- even though this is not, you know, the kind of
establishment that, you know, I really care about, but this -- I can't make my
decisions on that. I got to make it on the laws and what we have before us. But --
Chair Russell: While we're waiting, Mr. Chairman --
Commissioner Carollo: -- I need someone that --
Chair Russell: Yeah, they're getting somebody.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay.
Chair Russell: Mr. Chairman, just an announcement.
Lice Chair Gort: Yes.
Chair Russell: I've been informed there's a white b'olvo SUF (sports utility vehicle)
that's going to get towed outside; it's blocking a charging station. If anyone here has
a white SUF T'olvo.
Commissioner Carollo: What's it blocking?
Chair Russell: A charging station.
Commissioner Carollo: A charging station?
Chair Russell: Electric vehicle.
Commissioner Carollo: White SUI , I'olvo. No.
Francisco Garcia (Director, Planning): IfI may, very briefly, Mr. Chair. We would
like for a moment to hand out the substitute fact sheets, which represent Mr. Diaz
properly as the attorney for the matter.
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Commissioner Carollo: Well, we could go on in other stuff on this item, but, you
know, until someone shows up to --
CommissionerHardemon: Who was the --
Commissioner Carollo: -- try to answer my questions.
CommissionerHardemon: --previous attorney on the item?
Mr. Diaz: Previous attorney was Greenspoon Marder.
CommissionerHardemon: Greenspoon. Oh, okay. NotMr. Solowsky?
Mr. Diaz: Not who?
CommissionerHardemon: Mr. Solowsky.
Mr. Diaz: No.
CommissionerHardemon: Jay Solowsky.
Commissioner Carollo: We --
CommissionerHardemon: Little known fact: Jay Solowsky --I met Jay Solowsky on
the day that I found out that I passed the bar. I'll never forget that fact. He didn't
hire me.
Commissioner Carollo: Thank God. I thought you were --
Vice Chair Gort: No wonder you (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Commissioner Carollo: -- I thought he was going to hand you up and say, "He
might be on the rooftop. " But the --
Chair Russell: Do you want to table it and move to PZ.4? Because that's our last
item.
Commissioner Carollo: Well --
Ms. Mendez: Commissioner, did you want to put a condition of time? Is that what
you were looking for on --
Commissioner Carollo: No. I --
Ms. Mendez: -- (UNINTELLIGIBLE) construction of the rooftop?
Commissioner Carollo: -- want to be assured of something in particularly, that
Building --
Bice Chair Gort: Can be enclosed.
Commissioner Carollo: -- does, and I want to get it on the record, because that's the
only way that I see that you have a shot at getting something accomplished in the
City; getting it on the record. Even that, you know, is 50/50 or less.
Chair Russell: Mr. Chairman?
Lice Chair Gort: Yes, sir.
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Chair Russell: My understanding, it's also the enclosure. It's soundproofing, as
well. It's --
Mr. Diaz: There's soundproofing and a total --
Chair Russell: Right.
Mr. Diaz: -- disallowance of any music. The actual language is, "It shall be
unlawful to play or operate music boxes, juke boxes, radio, and musical instruments"
Chair Russell: Photographs.
Mr. Diaz: -- yada yada yada, 'from 11 to 7 a.m. the following day. "
Chair Russell: That's for the enclosure.
Mr. Diaz: Yeah, and that's on the rooftop. So there'll be no outside music.
Chair Russell: Once the enclosure is there, there Zl be music; am I correct?
Mr. Diaz: There will be, but if it's open -- so long as it's open --
Chair Russell: Correct.
Mr. Diaz: -- they cannot --
Chair Russell: No music.
Mr. Diaz: -- have anything from 11 p.m. till 7 a.m. And even now they have -- only
have two noise complaints in the last year, and both were dismissed.
Commissioner Carollo: How many square feet do you have there?
Mr. Diaz: 15,997 square feet.
Commissioner Carollo: 997. I thought that would be a lot bigger.
Mr. Diaz: No. That's the square footage of the structure.
Commissioner Carollo: And the upstairs, how big is it?
Mr. Diaz: I would imagine it's 6, 000 or so.
Commissioner Carollo: Hardemon, is that accurate or not?
Commissioner Hardemon: I don't know; I had my eyes closed when I was passing
through.
Commissioner Carollo: Well, tell them to take their hands off your eyes next time, so
you can see.
b Ice Chair Gort: Okay.
Mr. Diaz: Yeah. The resolution has a "whereas" clause, where the site contains an
existing legal nonconforming commercial structure consisting of approximately
15,997 square feet.
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Commissioner Carollo: Parking, what do you guys do for parking there? Where do
you have parking?
Mr. Diaz: There's a valet right across the street, and then there's lots all around;
you know, perimeter parking.
Commissioner Carollo: Is the valet hired by the establishment or --?
Mr. Diaz: Yes, it is.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay. That's another good point. Is the valet up to date in
paying the City's surcharge? Because that's another one of the things that I ran into
Mr. Diaz: Yes, sir.
Commissioner Carollo: -- in the past, where valets weren't paying the right amount.
They might be up to date, but are you guys --
Mr. Diaz: We are.
Commissioner Carollo: -- becoming responsible that since you hire them --
Mr. Diaz: Yeah.
Commissioner Carollo: -- that they are paying the amounts --
Mr. Diaz: Yeah.
Commissioner Carollo: -- that they're supposed to?
Mr. Diaz: Yeah. Because of the scrutiny that a club like this has, we're extra careful
with everything.
Commissioner Carollo: I hope so. Now, there was an incident that was reported
some time ago by a television station. I don't know if it was in front of your place or
somewhere else.
Mr. Diaz: It was in front of our place, but it was not one of our employees.
Commissioner Carollo: It was not one of your employees?
Mr. Diaz: It was not; it was a bartender from another area, not from our place and
not one of our employees.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay. So she was a bartender from another area?
Mr. Diaz: Correct.
Commissioner Carollo: So she wasn't --
Mr. Diaz: That's what was communicated to me.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay.
Mr. Diaz: We're actually the ones that submitted that video to the police.
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Commissioner Carollo: Okay. And my biggest concern is not the bartender,
whatever she was. My biggest concern was the people that are being hired off -duty
for security that --you know, they were just standing there and --
Mr. Diaz: Yeah. She was neither an employee of ours, an independent contractor of
ours, or had any affiliation with our club.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay.
ti ice Chair Gort: Okay.
Chair Russell: If we get out of here by 10, we can go check it out.
Commissioner Carollo: No, no, no. Hardemon's our point person on this. He's
familiar with it already.
Commissioner Hardemon: I can't wait --
Lice Chair Gort: Okay.
Commissioner Carollo: He's familiar with it.
Commissioner Hardemon: -- to pull you in.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah. No.
Commissioner Hardemon: I can't wait to pull you in.
Vice Chair Gort: My understanding is, as long as there's no roof, you cannot play
music from 11 to 7; am I correct?
Mr. Diaz: Correct.
Vice Chair Gort: All right.
Commissioner Carollo: The --
Lice Chair Gort: Arty further discussion?
Commissioner Carollo: Well, I need to get something on the record on this
gentlemen that is really the genesis for the problems that we've had there so that I
could be assured that it's going to be resolved, and --
Commissioner Hardemon: It seems like it is.
Commissioner Carollo: I don't know. I mean, it's not our policy anymore to keep
staff from all the departments in case something comes up, or are we saving money
or --? (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Lice Chair Gort: We've been asking for anyone from the Building Department
(UNINTELLIGIBLE) have a question of.
Joseph Napoli (Deputy City Manager): Mr. Lice Chairman, we'll have someone
from the Building Department here in less than 10 minutes.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay
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Vice Chair Gort: Well, you want to table this and let us get 4?
Commissioner Carollo: No.
Commissioner Hardemon: I want to call the question.
Commissioner Carollo: Let me ask you something else on this.
Mr. Diaz: Yes, sir.
Commissioner Carollo: What can we put in a covenant -- and I'm not trying to get
you to give me a number (UNINTELLIGIBLE) you will live to; if it's six months, it's
six months; or it's a year, it's a year; if it's a year and a half, it's a year and a half.
But what I want is a commitment that whatever date you give me today -- that should
give you some wiggle room -- that by that date, you will have that whole rooftop
enclosed in such a way that it would be as soundproof as you can make it. It's not
easy necessarily to do it, if you got glass and you want glass, for people to be able to
enjoy it. If you got it all enclosed, then you don't need a rooftop, because they could
go into the lower parts. But I want to be sure that in part of the covenant of what
you're going to offer, part of it is going to be that you will have it finished by certain
amount of time; otherwise, you lose what we gave you.
Mr. Diaz: Well, I don't have authority to commit them to a time right now. But I
want to explain the rooftop for a second.
Commissioner Carollo: Can you call someone and they could --
Mr. Diaz: I can.
Commissioner Carollo: -- give you an estimate?
Mr. Diaz: I can, but want to explain the rooftop for a second --
Commissioner Carollo: Okay.
Mr. Diaz: -- which is there already is an enclosed portion. There's a restaurant
operating upstairs that is enclosed. The portion where it's open, where the music
was an issue, is to the side; and already, again, just as what was agreed to with staff
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah, but it's 6, 000 square feet; that's huge.
Mr. Diaz: That was a numbed pulled out of the hat. I cannot --
Commissioner Carollo: That's huge up there.
Mr. Diaz: -- even attest to that number being the number of the upstairs. I could
make a call and find out --
Commissioner Carollo: Okay, that -- it will be good.
Mr. Diaz: -- when the appropriate soundproofing and measures will be taken into
place to accommodate your concerns.
Commissioner Carollo: That would be very, very helpful to me in doing that. We
have anybody from the Building Department here yet?
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Chair Russell: Apparently not.
Commissioner Carollo: Well, this is what I thought, too, Chairman, that all
Directors had to stay, but, you know, this is the new wave that we have here.
Ms. Escarra: IfI may, Commissioners? Good evening.
Chair Russell: Why don't we table this item and take up PZ.4?
Commissioner Carollo: Are you part of this, too?
Ms. Escarra: I am part of this team.
Commissioner Carollo: My God.
Ms. Escarra: Iris Escarra, with offices --
Commissioner Carollo: How many people do we have here?
Ms. Escarra: -- at 333 --
Commissioner Carollo: You're not going to put a wheel there, are you?
Ms. Escarra: No, no, no; no wheels.
Commissioner Carollo: Man, it's -- they had everybody here.
Ms. Escarra: -- Southeast 2nd Avenue, with regards to the master plan. So I'm
working with them on the master plan for the site. The site right now -- the building,
in and of itself, is going to stay in its same format. So, for example, the two stories
that are enclosed with the adult use and the open -- the third level --
Commissioner Carollo: Okay. When you say, "the two stories enclosed" --
Ms. Escarra: The two stories are enclosed.
Commissioner Carollo: -- where are they at?
Ms. Escarra: The first story and the second story --
t ice Chair Gort: On the second floor.
Ms. Escarra: -- are enclosed, and that's where the adult use is. The third floor used
to be a restaurant,* that is now not being activated. It's not currently in use.
Commissioner Carollo: Is that a restaurant now?
Ms. Escarra: It's not a restaurant, no.
Commissioner Carollo: I thought you told me, Hardemon, you were going there to
eat.
Bice Chair Gort: Excuse me.
Commissioner Hardemon: I haven't been there in a long time.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah, yeah.
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Ms. Escarra: I apologize.
CommissionerHardemon: I told you (UNINTELLIGIBLE) make any money.
Ms. Escarra: I apologize.
Commissioner Carollo: That's not what I hear.
Ms. Escarra: The restaurant is still there?
Commissioner Gort: Okay.
Ms. Escarra: It's still open?
Unidentified Speaker: Yeah.
Ms. Escarra: Oh, I'm -- I apologize; I misspoke. The restaurant is still there. I
haven't been there in a long time. So the restaurant is still open.
Commissioner Gort: People can go in and out.
Commissioner Carollo: Whoa. You too?
Ms. Escarra: It's a great club, it's a great club, and they play good music.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay. Looks fool, huh?
Ms. Escarra: So then, we wanted to just put on the record that the building's going
to be staying in its current format (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Commissioner Carollo: Why are you blushing?
Ms. Escarra: Huh? I'm sorry?
Commissioner Carollo: Why are you blushing?
Unidentified Speaker: Why are you blushing?
Ms. Escarra: Why am I blushing?
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah.
Ms. Escarra: Because you made my laugh.
Commissioner Carollo: Oh, okay.
Ms. Escarra: You made me laugh. It's the lights --
Commissioner Carollo: I'm glad. I like to make people laugh.
Ms. Escarra: So regarding the building, the building is going to stay in its current
format for along period of time. It's part of a bigger redevelopment plan. But that
third floor, with these restrictions, is going to stay in its format, so we're not going to
be enclosing it any time soon, which is your question. But once the site, probably in
the future when it gets redeveloped, it'll -- you know, it's T6-60. It's allowed 80
stories -- it's allowed -- sorry -- 60 stories, up to unlimited height, so it will
eventually get redeveloped some day in the future, but this is the last component.
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Commissioner Carollo: But Iris, what I'm --
Vice Chair Gort: Excuse me.
Commissioner Carollo: -- trying to ascertain is by when are you going to enclose
that?
Ms. Escarra: That's the problem; we don't have a date.
Lice Chair Gort: They're not going to give you the answer. Let's table this and go
(UNINTELLIGIBLE) to 4, PZ.4.
Commissioner Carollo: Well --
Ms. Escarra: We --
Commissioner Carollo: -- the --
bite Chair Gort: We can bring it back.
Commissioner Carollo: -- by when -- I'd like to finish it tonight for them, but --
Fice Chair Gort: No, I want to finish it tonight also.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah, but by when --
Ms. Escarra: That's the pro --
Commissioner Carollo: -- are you going to enclose it?
Ms. Escarra: I can't necessarily give a date, because we don't have a date.
Commissioner Carollo: I don't care if you give me a long date, but I don't want you
to tell me that it's going to be 20 years from now.
Ms. Escarra: I was about to say, 2050, but no. I -- honestly, I don't have a date. I
wouldn't fool you and tell you a date that's not an accurate date.
Commissioner Carollo: Well --
Ms. Escarra: They have no plan right now to enclose it, because they're just trying
to refinance that existing structure and focus on developing another one. So that one
-- they're willing to accept all the restrictions, which -- the noise and everything
that's happening on that ground level, but they're not going to be closing it. So that's
why I don't have a date.
Chair Russell: Chairman?
Commissioner Carollo: Well, this is --
bite Chair Gort: Excuse me.
Commissioner Carollo: --it's concerning. I thought we were going in the right path
here.
Ms. Escarra: Yeah.
bite Chair Gort: Let me recognize -- Yes, sir.
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Chair Russell: I just wanted to, if I could, colloquy with Commissioner Carollo.
Why do we care about when they enclose it? Because if they're --
Commissioner Carollo: Well, because if they do, then we're guaranteed that there's
not going to be noise to bother and keep people --
Chair Russell: But they're already --
Commissioner Carollo: --up in your district.
Chair Russell: --they're stuck to the no noise covenant on the open air after]] p.m.
until they enclose it, so I don't really care --
Commissioner Carollo: Well --
Chair Russell: -- if and when they enclose it.
Commissioner Carollo: -- while that sounds good, Commissioner, my experience
has been then, who the heck enforces it? And let me tell you what then happens.
This is why we have to change this whole system that we have here. The neighbors
complain to the Police Department. The Police Department has now sent regular
units that are on duty. They're going to send the complaints to the off -duty units.
You think guys that are working week after week, in the same place, are going to
shut them down? No way. That's what happens all the time. And this is across the
board, across the City, across all districts. And this is my concern then. Code, they
come in. The police officers trump the power over them, and, you know, most of the
Code people we have are very new, also, and young, so they let the police officers
handle it, and the music will go on. So I need some restrictions that will guarantee
that during the time they're going to have open air that is not enclosed, so that
Hardemon could enjoy his fresh air, that if there are any complaints, whatsoever,
that there was music there, that they're going to be fined severely -- they volunteer
that without arguing, so that we could have your neighbors in your district assured
that, you know, what we did tonight really was to their benefit.
['ice Chair Gort: Mr. Chairman, you're recognized.
Chair Russell: Trust me, these neighbors are some of the highest maintenance when
it comes to noise. This is the high end residential, fronting Ferre Park, and it got
really bad. It did get had. And they almost lost their license. Code did their job.
The police did their job. And they are now being a good --
Commissioner Carollo: How long ago was that?
Chair Russell: -- they are being -- IfI could finish? -- a good neighbor at this point,
so I do trust that this --
Commissioner Carollo: I'm not doubting that.
Chair Russell: Yeah. I'm okay with this.
Commissioner Carollo: I don't know what's been going on there. I got enough
problems in my own district to try to meddle in anybody else's. I only will step into
someone else district when people from that district come to my office; and even so, I
walk very lightly in that, because I am respectful of other Commissioner's district.
But I'm trying to have a system in place that will assure the neighbors that they're
going to get what we -- I promised that they're going to get; peace and quiet. And
counselor, can you help us in what you could offer that would put some teeth then
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into the law that we have? You were doing better on your own. Iris got in there, and
you know -- we were going real good, until Iris got in there. She's still in Freedom
Parkin the Melreese. She hasn't shifted gears yet.
Mr. Diaz: What Ms. Escarra is saying is that since we've been cited before
previously, and it was longer than a year ago, if we're cited again, there could be
higher penalties because of those previous violations. So if you want to put that on
the record, you can. You could put it under Condition 12 --
Commissioner Carollo: Okay.
Mr. Diaz: -- that, you know, due to previous violations -- or previous historic
violations, any additional fines will be at the highest level levied by the City.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay.
b ice Chair Gort: We have somebody from the Building Department.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay.
Ms. Mendez: That's a thousand dollars per day.
Mr. Diaz: If there's a new fine.
Commissioner Carollo: How much?
Mr. Diaz: And when you're found guilty.
Ms. Mendez: No, no. I understand. But if you're agreeing to that, it's a thousand -
Mr. Diaz: Understood.
Ms. Mendez: -- that's like the highest fine we have.
Commissioner Carollo: Hey, that's nothing. They make that in one minute.
Tice Chair Gort: Okay. We have a question --
Commissioner Carollo: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) --
Vice Chair Gort: --for the Building Department. Commissioner, you got somebody
representing the Building Department.
Jose Camero (Director, Building): Hello, sir.
Commissioner Carollo: Director, thank you for being here. I won't get into why you
weren't, but I want to go right to the point; it's late, and we're trying to get out of
here quickly. There this Club El ]even; you're familiar with it?
Mr. Camero: Correct.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay. I'm assuming you're familiar with it for the right
reasons, so I won't go there.
Mr. Camero: Okay.
Commissioner Carollo: I'll leave that to one of my colleagues. But my questioning,
why I needed someone here, and I'm glad it's you, because you're the maximum
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authority in Building. We're talking that they're going to enclose that top floor at
some point in time; soundproof, hopefully. My question to you is, within the Building
Code that you know much better than I do -- I'm a novice -- in fact, worse than a
novice in Building Codes -- can they legally enclose that upstairs, that terrace?
Mr. Camero: From a Building point of view --
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah.
Mr. Camero: -- it could be done.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay.
Mr. Camero: It could be -- depending what material they use --
Commissioner Carollo: Sure, sure.
Mr. Camero: -- it could be soundproof, it could have a blanket, and it could absorb
the sound, from a Building point of view.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay.
Mr. Camero: I am not talking about area. I'm not talking --
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah.
Mr. Camero: -- about zoning --
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah.
Mr. Camero: -- or any other (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Commissioner Carollo: Right. I understand that.
Mr. Camero: Yes.
Commissioner Carollo: You know, all that, you know, obviously we, you know,
could do here if it would be required.
Mr. Camero: Sure. There is no -- I'm sorry, sir. -- there's no plans, so I cannot --
Commissioner Carollo: Sure. Yeah.
Mr. Camero: -- tell on the structure what kind of roof it has, what kind of support.
All of that, I don't have any of that information.
Commissioner Carollo: That's understandable, because they've admitted here they
don't have any plans yet; otherwise, I would have been asking to see them next. So I
got trumped before I could ask a question. But your opinion, for the record, is in
that particular location, in that rooftop, there could be a rooftop made in the fashion
that we've discussed here, that it could be soundproofed and so on, that's enclosed.
Mr. Camero: That is enclosed.
Commissioner Carollo: The only question that I've asked that you can't certify, you
don't know about the zoning and other matters like that?
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Mr. Camero: And I don't know about the structure. I don't know the levels.
Commissioner Carollo: Sure.
Mr. Camero: I don't know --
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah, yeah, I understand that.
Mr. Camero: -- but it could be done.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah.
Mr. Diaz: And Commissioner, we can proffer something else --
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah.
Commissioner Carollo: -- which I know has been a concern for you. You asked
about the police. We're willing to be the poster child for a new way, where we
actually will pay for the City police through a third party entity. That will also add, I
would imagine --
t ice Chair Gort: Okay.
Mr. Diaz: -- better communications with the Police Department, and --
Commissioner Carollo: Okay. Well --
Mr. Diaz: -- we'll be your poster child for that.
Commissioner Carollo: -- this I'm interested --
Lice Chair Gort: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Commissioner Carollo: -- in. You're willing --
Mr. Diaz: Yes.
Commissioner Carollo: -- to go through a third party entity --
Mr. Diaz: Yes.
Commissioner Carollo: --so that you would pay that third party to take care of the
police and pay us --
Mr. Diaz: Yes, sir.
Commissioner Carollo: -- a surcharge?
Mr. Diaz: We would do that.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay.
Ms. Mendez: You mean like an ADP?
Mr. Diaz: What a third party --either a nonprofit or a profit company that would be
the one that would be managing the police on site. We would (UNINTELLIGIBLE)
them, and then they would be responsive to that company and not to us, so there will
be no conflict of interest.
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T -ice Chair Gort: Excuse me, excuse me. Excuse me a minute. I appreciate if you
go through me, okay?
Mr. Diaz: Yes, sir.
Chair Russell: Mover accepts. I'd Like to call the question.
Commissioner Carollo: You will --
CommissionerHardemon: Second.
Commissioner Carollo: --will you put that as part of your covenant?
Mr. Diaz: We'll put it as part of the covenant.
ti ice Chair Gort: You already made a commitment on the record, so that's going to
be part of the (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah.
Vice Chair Gort: My understanding is, the answer's been -- there's already a
building that exists upstairs, so this will be the extension of existing building
upstairs. Okay?
Commissioner Carollo: Okay.
Lice Chair Gort: The question's been called.
Commissioner Carollo: Thank you very much, Director. I appreciate it.
Commissioner Gort: Okay. Arty further discussion? Being none, all in favor --
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): Chair -- sorry. Lice Chair, I do not have a mover.
Chair Russell: Yes, you do.
Mr. Hannon: Okay.
Vice Chair Gort: Yes.
Mr. Hannon: You moved it and then you seconded?
Commissioner Carollo:
Hardemon seconded. Now --
Lice Chair Gort: Okay.
All in favor, state it by saying "aye. "
Commissioner Carollo:
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.
Chair Russell: Aye.
Commissioner Carollo:
Hold -- whoa, whoa --
Chair Russell: This is it.
Commissioner Carollo: -- whoa, whoa, whoa. We got the covenants to put in there
that's --
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Chair Russell: It's done.
Commissioner Carollo: I want to have the covenants (UNINTELLIGIBLE) --
Vice Chair Gort: The amendments.
Commissioner Carollo: -- make sure we're protected.
Chair Russell: Mover accepted already. Question's been called; we're on the vote.
Commissioner Carollo: Yes.
Lice Chair Gort: Okay. All in favor, state it by saying "aye. "
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Lice Chair Gort: Perfect.
Ms. Mendez: As amended with --
Vice Chair Gort: As amended with all the --
Ms. Mendez: -- all the proffers on the record that we will include either in the
exception or as a covenant.
Chair Russell: Thank you. I'd like to move PZ.4.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay. All right.
Vice Chair Gort: PZ.4.
Mr. Hannon: Sorry. Chair, was that 4-0?
Commissioner Carollo: No.
Tice Chair Gort: No.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah. It's only four of us here.
Mr. Hannon: Okay, 4-0.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah.
Chair Russell: I'd like to move PZ.4.
Mr. Garcia: And if I may, very briefly after the fact -- I apologize.
Commissioner Carollo: Hold on. PZ --
Mr. Garcia: Housekeeping; my apologies. The --
Chair Russell: No.
Mr. Garcia: -- City Clerk is insisting --
Chair Russell: We're one minute till 10 p.m.
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CommiiissionerHardemon: That's right.
Chair Russell: So ire just need to make sure --
1=Is. 1=1endez: Todd --
Chair Russell: -- there's a live item.
1=Is. 1=1endez: -- as amended You got that?
llr. Hannon: Yes.
lls. Mendez: As amended.
llr. Hannon: PZ.12, as amended.
llr. Garcia: As amended.
llr. Hannon: And its now 10 o'clock, so I do need -- a statement that --
Tice Chair Gort: No.
lh. Hannon: -- I need to read into the record. Commissioners, the time is noli, 10
p.m. lliani City Code Section 2-33 states the Commission meeting shall adjourn at
the conclusion of deliberation of the agenda item being considered at 1Op. in., unless
the time is extended by unanimous agreement of the members -- of the Cite
Commission then present.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay.
lh. Hannon: TFith this in mind --
PZA 3
RESOLUTION
6336
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
Department of
ATTACHMENT(S), APPROVING, WITH CONDITIONS, AN
Planning
EXCEPTION TO ALLOW THE INSTALLATION OF AN AMUSEMENT
RIDE (FERRIS WHEEL) PURSUANT TO ARTICLE 4, TABLE 3;
ARTICLE 6, TABLE 13; AND ARTICLE 7, SECTION 7.1.2.6 OF
ORDINANCE NO. 13114, AS AMENDED, THE ZONING ORDINANCE
OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA ("MIAMI 21 "); AND APPROVING A
WAIVER TO ALLOW AN EXTENSION ABOVE THE MAXIMUM
HEIGHT PURSUANT TO ARTICLE 7, SECTION 7.1.2.5(A)12 OF MIAMI
21 ON A SITE WITHIN A "76-8-0," URBAN CORE - OPEN TRANSECT
ZONE, FOR THE PROPERTY GENERALLY LOCATED AT 401
BISCAYNE BOULEVARD, MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS PARTICULARLY
DESCRIBED IN EXHIBIT "A"; MAKING FINDINGS; CONTAINING A
SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE
DATE.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-19-0429
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MOTION TO:
Adopt with Modification(s)
RESULT:
ADOPTED WITH MODIFICATION(S)
MOVER:
Wifredo (Willy) Gort, Commissioner
SECONDER:
Ken Russell, Commissioner
AYES:
Russell, Gort, Hardemon
NAYS:
Carollo
ABSENT:
Reyes
Note for the Record. For additional minutes referencing Item PZ.13, please see
"Order of the Day"
and Item RE.S.
Chair Russell: And then the companion item, please, is PZ.13.
b ictoria Mendez (City Attorney): As amended, by the way, all that --
Chair Russell: Yes.
Ms. Mendez: --that (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Vice Chair Gort: As amended, yeah.
Chair Russell: PZ.13 is a companion item within zoning for the Ferris wheel. Is
there a motion on PZ.13?
Vice Chair Gort: I want to do a Jennings disclosure. I met with the -- our staff, and
the proponent of the Ferris wheel.
Chair Russell: Is there a motion on PZ.13?
Vice Chair Gort: Move it.
Chair Russell: Moved; seconded by the Chair.
Commissioner Carollo: On --for Jennings, anybody else has to make any Jennings
declarations here?
Chair Russell: Yes; if you'd like the whole formal statement or just --?
Ms. Mendez: Just that you met with --
Commissioner Hardemon: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Chair Russell: Sure. We met with the applicant and attorney.
Unidentified Speaker: And Brian.
Commissioner Hardemon: No one met with me on it. Brian, Brian. So I need to
make a Jennings disclosure. I believe I met with one of the members of the team,
Brian, for the Ferris wheel.
Chair Russell: And altogether, this meeting has no impact on the impartiality in this
matter and that -- which we can hear in a neutral manner (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Commissioner Carollo: How far back, Madam City Attorney? How far back in
Jennings do we disclose?
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Ms. Mendez: What I've -- if you were talking about this item that you're going to
vote on, as many times as this item came up --
Commissioner Carollo: Well --
Ms. Mendez: -- this particular item. Remember that there were --
Commissioner Carollo: This particular item, yeah.
Ms. Mendez: -- other amendments that we made to the -- that wouldn't require
Jennings. This one has only come up twice before -- or once before, I believe.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay.
Ms. Mendez: So whenever --
Commissioner Carollo: Can you, for the record, explain what this item is about?
Ms. Mendez: This item for -- it's an exception to allow a Ferris wheel, and also a
height waiver. But Mr. Garcia is here, and he could explain it, exactly what it is for,
but it is an exception to allow the use of a Ferris wheel and a height waiver. And if
you can also state the feet that we -- the approximate feet, because we're going to
make sure that we amend the agreement to state that; the feet for the Ferris wheel or
the stories, or what have you.
Francisco Garcia: So be it. For the record, Francisco Garcia, Planning Director.
So Item PZ.13 is before you as an exception, which requires City Commission
approval; some don't, but this one does. And it also incorporates as a lower permit
a waiver. On the exception side, the exception is for the use; in this case, an
amusement ride, and in particular, a Ferris wheel, or sky wheel, as it's being called.
On the waiver side, the waiver is required, because the height limit for this
particular zoning designation, T6-8-0, would otherwise be approximately 165 feet.
The actual height limit is set forth in stories, so it's 12 stories, each measured at 14
feet, approximately. Because a Ferris wheel does not have stories proper, there is
an alternative measurement, which has wordage such as "monuments, belfries, bell
towers, " et cetera, which typically don't have stories. And through that measurement
and through a waiver, they are able to get to -- I believe the Code says 190 feet.
They are not requesting 190 feet. They are requesting 180 feet. Both the exception,
with City Commission approval, and the waiver are before you for your
consideration, and to either approve, deny, or approve with conditions, as you see
fit.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay. Now, voting for this has nothing to do with the item
that we just voted upon that was the air rights; that's a total separate matter,
correct?
Mr. Garcia: That is correct, sir. The development capacity of the property remains
untouched.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay.
Mr. Garcia: And the height provided here is specifically for this item, nothing else.
Commissioner Carollo: All right. Thank you.
Mr. Garcia: Thankyou.
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Chair Russell: Thank you.
Commissioner Carollo: For Jennings, the Executive Tice President, I think is his
title -- I believe his name is Joe Press, who was here -- met with me on the Monday, I
believe, after the meeting. And after the conversation was not to his good graces is
when they took certain action against me, when they saw that I don't roll over and
play dead. So I just wanted to put it on the record, as per Jennings, that I met with
him.
Chair Russell: Thank you very much. There's been a motion; there's a second. Are
there any amendments? Is there any further discussion on the dais? hearing none,
all in --
Commissioner Carollo: Could we get a roll call on this?
Chair Russell: Of course. And we've already opened for public comment on the RE
(resolution) section, but for the PZ (Planning and Zoning) item, is there anyone here
who would like to speak on the Ferris wheel exception?
Commissioner Carollo: I think you mentioned that before and nobody --
Chair Russell: Well, it was on the other item.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay.
Chair Russell: I just want to make sure we follow all procedure. Hearing none, I'll
close --
Renita Holmes: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Chair Russell: Hello.
Ms. Holmes: Hey, how you doing?
Chair Russell: Madam Holmes.
Ms. Holmes: Madam Holmes again, the Executive Director of Our Homes,
Opportunities for United Restoration; just a quickie. Watched this thing from along
time ago, when they planned to have this big, spiraling thing. I live on the other
side; remembering Bayside was built by a lot of men and women. I slept on the floor
many a night, trying to get overtime to get there. I wanted to work that job at the
time to pay for law school and to pay for my small business, so I'm grateful for
Bayside. But there's still a lack of occupying some of the local black and/or women -
owned businesses. So when you talk about growth and expansion, I've got my
priorities, too. When we talk about environment, I'm concerned about my rights to
clean air and my rights to a great view, and what happens to the environment
(UNINTELLIGIBLE) when so many people are treachering [sic] and tropping [sic]
and so forth, and the (racking that will occur to get things done. I'm concerned
about the expansion. But more so, (UNINTELLIGIBLE), I'm concerned about a
covenant that was made between the community and small businesses in the area.
And although we have scholarships, that air does not belong to Bayside alone; it
belongs to all of us in downtown. That view, that promise, that covenant was made
to us; not just between City government. So it's the negotiating -- also the
negotiating of our right to know what the clean air effect is. Isn't there a right to
know for every citizen on every project what the clean air issue would be? Isn't it
our right to know what the environmental impact will be? And so, I'm just asking
intelligent questions, because there are intelligent requirements that are being
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(UNINTELLIGIBLE), and I haven't heard any respective answers as of yet. But most
of all and last of all, I thank you for having this discussion, but this is not the
discussion that -- I heard about this down at the County, and you know, as a lobbyist
and an advocate, I'm constantly attending one meeting. So what's the input on them
when it comes to this? Because there was a covenant on some land, very, very close.
How is this going to affect that land, and how is it going to affect the environment. I
appreciate your thoroughness, but this is going to impact people in Overtown; not
just on this side by Bayside, but those on the other side of that FDOT (Florida
Department of Transportation) 836 and all that. So what are we starting here, and
how are we going to assure that it's finished well? You've set some limits -- and I
appreciate that, Commissioner Carollo -- and some oversight, but I don't -- want to
make one thing clear. That air ain't just air for people on the east side of I-95; it's
for us on the other side, Overtown. And that promise made for those as women,
business owners that worked, built brick and mortar on Bayside has yet to be meet
[sic]. Please be very thorough, be very limited, and keep the promises, because I'm
sick and tired of men building fun things that women get naked pictures on top of,
and then when we ask the intelligent questions, we can't get them; let alone, I can't
afford the space over there. So tankyou very much.
Chair Russell: Thank you, Madam Holmes. Can I get a roll call on PZ.13, please?
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): Roll call on Item PZ.13: Commissioner Hardemon?
Chair Russell: Microphone.
Commissioner Hardemon: For.
Mr. Hannon: Commissioner Carollo?
Commissioner Carollo: "No, "for the reasons that I stated before. But while I vote
"no" on this, I want to make clear, I'm in favor a hundred percent of the wheel
concept. What I'm not in favor of is for Bayside to profit so heavily when they
haven't put a penny there, and we get such a small amount, and that we haven't even
taken a real market study, like I demanded and we finally are getting on Melreese.
Chair Russell: Thankyou very much. So that's -- continue, please.
Mr. Hannon: Commissioner Gort?
Vice Chair Gort: Let me make a little statement. The reason I'm for it, this -- we've
been going through this for about a year and a half, and anything that -- any
property that the City ofMiami rents out and that we can acquire a lot more funding,
or we can get additional funding for the general funds, I'm in favor of it. And by the
way, let me tell you something. I have not received any donation from Bayside
Foundation; on the contrary, I have given to Bayside Foundation funds to do
additional scholarship. For -- that for those reasons, I vote 'yes. "
Mr. Hannon: Chair Russell?
Chair Russell: Yes.
Mr. Hannon: The motion passes, 3-1.
Chair Russell: Thank you very much.
Unidentified Speaker: Thankyou very much, Mr. Chairman and Commissioners.
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Chair Russell: All right. Now we do have a time certain --
Ms. Mendez: Mr. Chairman --
Chair Russell: Yes.
Ms. Mendez: -- I just wanted to make sure it's as amended, and with regard --
Mr. Hannon: Yes.
Ms. Mendez: -- to the feet, I need to make sure that that's clear in the resolution.
Thank you so much.
Chair Russell: For the PZ item.
Ms. Mendez: The feet that was stated --Yes; for the PZ item that was stated on the
record by Francisco Garcia. Thankyou.
Chair Russell: That was clear. Thank you very much.
PZ.14
ORDINANCE First Reading
6339
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, AMENDING
Department of
THE ZONING ATLAS OF ORDINANCE NO. 13114, THE ZONING
Planning
ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED, BY
"75-R,"
CHANGING THE ZONING CLASSIFICATION FROM URBAN
CENTER — RESTRICTED TRANSECT ZONE, TO 76-8-0," URBAN
CORE — OPEN TRANSECT ZONE, OF THE PROPERTY, LOCATED
AT APPROXIMATELY 790 NORTHWEST 44 AVENUE, MIAMI,
FLORIDA, AS MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED IN EXHIBIT "A";
ACCEPTING THE VOLUNTARILY PROFFERED COVENANT
ATTACHED AS EXHIBIT "B"; MAKING FINDINGS; CONTAINING A
SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE
DATE.
MOTION TO:
Pass on First Reading
RESULT:
PASSED ON FIRST READING
MOVER:
Wifredo (Willy) Gort, Commissioi
SECONDER:
Joe Carollo, Commissioner
AYES:
Russell. Gort. Carollo. Hardemon
ABSENT:
Reyes
Chair Russell: Come on, Commissioner Gort; you're on a roll. What's next?
b ice Chair Gort: 14.
Chair Russell: PZ.14. This is a rezoning; 790 Northwest 44th Avenue. Is there a
presentation or a motion on this item?
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah, there's a presentation.
Vice Chair Gort: Move it.
Chair Russell: It's been --
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Commissioner Carollo: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Chair Russell: -- moved by Commissioner Gort. Is there a second?
Commissioner Carollo: I'll only second it for discussion. I want to see the
presentation.
Chair Russell: All right. Seconded by Commissioner Carollo. IfI understand, we
have a denial from both department and PZAB (Planning, Zoning and Appeals
Board); is that correct, on this item?
Francisco Garcia (Director, Planning): Sorry. That is correct, sir.
Chair Russell: Can you set the table on this one, Mr. Director?
Mr. Garcia: I'm happy to. What you will find in our recommendations and our
analysis when we come before you is that at any point in time that there is a
significant deviation or change in the zoning line, we will typically recommend -- or
make a recommendation to you for the straightest possible version of that line. It is
the case here that the property that is seeking the rezoning, if zoned, would
generate an anomalous, sort of crenelated line. You've heard me use that term
before. It simply means that there is a bleep on the line, if you will, and for that
purpose, it can begin to have a disproportionate impact on the properties across the
street or immediately behind it. That is so in the abstract. In this particular case,
we happen to know that the use that is proposed for this site is rather benign and
would result in positive development; however, it doesn't meet the criteria, strictly
speaking, that we typically use. What we would ask this Commission to consider, if
this particular rezoning request is granted, is to please request from us that -- or
direct us even -- to please look at the area in general and see if other properties in
similar situation would also be good candidates for rezoning.
Benjamin Fernandez: Yeah
Chair Russell: So that sounds like a soft "no. " What about the Planning, Zoning
and Appeals Board? They don't usually --
Mr. Garcia: I believe they sided with us for the purpose of that recommendation. I
would yield to the applicants in making their proposal. I believe, again, it's worthy
of your consideration.
Chair Russell: Thank you. Commissioner Gort
T ice Chair Gort: If you recall, we had a lot of neighbors that came here in favor of
this facility, and they spoke about the -- in need of having some kind of a
supermarket within the area, because a lot of the people do their buying within
walking distance, and we have -- a lot of our apartment buildings, they're right
behind that zone, which is a lot of the elderly people that live there. So they were
here earlier today also, and unfortunate, they had to go home.
Mr. Fernandez: That's right. Commissioners, good evening. Ben Fernandez, 200
South Biscayne Boulevard, here tonight on behalf of the applicant. This is for a
Sedano's Grocery Store. This is an area on 7th Street, West Flagami, that is really
what could be characterized as a food desert. There are very few grocery stores
within a five -mile radius of this property. We are coming back with an application
for an exception that will show you, essentially, the details of the plan that you see
before you in this rendering. We went before staff, as well as the Planning, Zoning
and Appeals Board, and neither one of those boards could consider the covenant
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that we had proffered that says, essentially that if this small parcel, which is only a
7, 000-square foot component of the entire parcel, that if the rezoning were
approved from T5 to T6-8 that the only use that would be allowed on this site would
be surface parking to serve the grocery store. The only other use that could be
permitted outside of surface parking would be the uses that are already permitted
under T5-R. Staff does not discuss that. They recognize that the covenant was
proffered, but they don't discuss it in their analysis. Their analysis is based solely
on the fact that the potential rezoning to all of the array of uses and intensity that is
allowed by T6-8 would be potentially incompatible with the neighborhood, but that
is not what we're proposing. What we're proposing is strictly surface parking in
order to make this a grocery store that would be on par with every other grocery
store in the City of Miami that provides parking in excess of what the Miami 21
Code requires for parking today for grocery stores. The problem is that your
current Code is simply unrealistic when it comes to restaurants and grocery stores.
Three parking spaces per thousand just doesn't work for a major grocery store, and
it doesn't work for a busy restaurant, and you've seen marry applications come
before you.
Commissioner Carollo: Did you say three parking spaces per a thousand square
feet?
Mr. Fernandez: That's right. Most grocery stores have far in excess of that, and
they're still short of parking. For instance, the --
Commissioner Carollo: I agree.
Mr. Fernandez: -- Publix on Coral Way and 27th, which is down the street from
you, has many more parking spaces than that. The Publix on 57th Avenue and 7th
Street also has many more parking spaces. In order for us to achieve that amount
of parking on this site, we need to utilize this additional 7, 000-square foot lot. In
addition to that, we're not here for a land use change. You'll notice that this is only
a zoning change, and that's because the land use designation for this site is already
restricted commercial. It already anticipates that this will be a T6-8-zoned parcel,
because that is the zoning transect that is consistent with the restricted land use
designation that it has. It's also across the street from an existing commercial
parking garage. So what we're doing through this application is actually creating a
greater buffer between the nearest residential and the future commercial
supermarket. We think that this is going to bring tremendous service to this area.
We had over 400 supporters, and this has been submitted for the record at the
PZAB as a copy that we have here before you. We had zero objectors. We had one
objector at the PZAB that really didn't understand the application. They never came
back at the Commission. So I think that this is a good application. It's going to
bring a great grocery store to this area that lacks grocery stores. As you know, the
Blue Lagoon Lake area is going to see increased density as a result of recent
applications that have been approved to intensify the number of units around those
lakes. This is the grocery store that will provide service to all of those new units.
Chair Russell: So the -- by pushing T6-8 further into the T5 creates a better buffer
for the T5. Is that what you're saying?
Mr. Fernandez: Yes. And if you can see, we're really not pushing it further in. It's
-- it already is that far on the property immediately to the east.
Chair Russell: I'm sorry; I'm confused. Mr. Director, there's a -- in the City of
Miami --
CommissionerHardemon: Yeah.
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Chair Russell: -- 'Analysis for Rezoning, " the very first diagram at the top doesn't
seem to make sense to me. If you can -- You have it up? Under "A, " general
information, it shows the current zoning and then it shows the proposed zoning.
And on the picture on the left for current zoning, it shows the red square with T6-8
in it, and then for proposed zoning, it shows it browned out, as if it's going to T5. Is
that an error in the documentation?
Commissioner Hardemon: That's supposed to be flipped. It seems like Figure I
should be actually Figure 2 --
Chair Russell: Looks like a down zoning.
Commissioner Hardemon: -- and Figure 2 should be actually Figure 1. It's black
and white, but it's clearly --
Vice Chair Gort: Just a little piece.
Commissioner Hardemon: --probably (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Mr. Garcia: Right. And so, as I --
Chair Russell: Maybe it's a typo. Maybe (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Mr. Garcia: -- am looking at the graphics, the -- I am showing -- the existing shows
the parcel to the north in brown, as appropriate for T5-R, and the proposed one in
a lavender color as T6-8-0, in lavender.
Mr. Fernandez: I think he's right, Francisco. I think it's reversed; Figure I and
Figure 2.
Mr. Garcia: Yes. Here, they are flipped. In mine, they are (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Yes. For the record, it seems like the graphic you have received is actually
reversed.
Commissioner Hardemon: Right.
Mr. Garcia: Let me clarify that what you see -- what you should see in brown is
T5-R; that is the existing zoning designation. What you see in lavender is T6-8-0,
and that should be the proposed zoning designation. I regret that that was
incorrectly captioned in your sheets.
Vice Chair Gort: And you proffered a covenant. Right.
Mr. Fernandez: Yeah. You can see -- If I can get the video from this PowerPoint
up. But Commissioner Russell is exactly correct. And if you reverse those images,
you'll notice that what we're proposing is entirely consistent with the zoning extent -
- here, you see it on this image -- of the zoning that is existing to the east. It is
already T6-8.
Commissioner Carollo: How many square feet is the store that you're putting
there?
Mr. Fernandez: 38,000 square feet, approximately. And we also have,
Commissioner, a transmission line, a large powered transmission line that I will
show you. These are just -- right here in this --
Commissioner Carollo: What kind of food store is it going to be?
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Mr. Fernandez: A Sedano's Grocery Store.
Commissioner Carollo: A Sedano's, okay.
Mr. Fernandez: But the transmission line prohibits us from doing structured
parking.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah.
Mr. Fernandez: This is not a small line. This is a major transmission line that we
cannot underground, and so, we have to have surface parking. And the surface
parking, in order to have sufficient surface parking, we're requesting the rezoning
of this small lot.
Commissioner Carollo: And how much parking will you acquire then once you do
this, altogether? How many parking spaces?
Mr. Fernandez: Altogether, we have about 95 spaces, and we add --
Commissioner Carollo: 95?
Mr. Fernandez: -- we add about --14? -- 13 spaces by adding this lot.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah, but altogether?
Mr. Fernandez: Altogether, about 95. And the thing is that this lot has --
Commissioner Carollo: But altogether, the full parking that you'll have?
Mr. Fernandez: Yes, but it's for the grocery store, and it's also for the retail
(UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Vice Chair Gort: Got to get on the microphone.
Chair Russell: Microphone, microphone.
Commissioner Carollo: The retail is how many square feet?
Mr. Fernandez: Thank you. This is the retail. The retail is 1, 400 square feet. So
this is required by Miami 21. You can't just leave a corner exposed. So we have
the corner parcel. We have the transmission lines that then separate the property
from the rest, which is the Sedano's.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay. So the full amount of parking spaces, altogether,
that you're going to be having for the grocery store and the small retail will be how
much again?
Mr. Fernandez: 95.
Commissioner Carollo: 95. Plus the 13?
Mr. Fernandez: No.
Commissioner Carollo: Or is that included?
Mr. Fernandez: That's -- includes the 13.
I Ice Chair Gort: Including the 13.
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Commissioner Carollo: Well, then, you're going to have less than three per
thousand square feet that is required.
Mr. Fernandez: It's only -- the -- only counted for the sales area, so that's the gross
number, but the parking is based on the area of use for the grocery and for the
retail. So it's not based on the net area.
Commissioner Carollo: All right. Well, the part for the public --
Mr. Fernandez: Mm-hmm.
Commissioner Carollo: -- the actual grocery store just where the public moves
around and picks up cans, milk, frozen goods --
Mr. Fernandez: Considerably less.
Commissioner Carollo: -- how many square feet will that be?
Mr. Fernandez: About 17, 000.
Commissioner Carollo: 17,000. So that gives you about six per thousand --
Mr. Fernandez: Right.
Commissioner Carollo: -- twice what they're asking, but I don't know. I think you
still have a very low number. Our Code, I think, is obsolete. My concern will be
just the opposite of what --
Mr. Fernandez: Well --
Commissioner Carollo: -- maybe someone else is showing. My concern will be
that you're not going to have sufficient parking, and it's going to spill into the
surrounding areas.
Mr. Fernandez: Well, and the issue also is that many other similarly situated
properties have on -street parking that they can rely on; this one doesn't. So it's that
much more important for us to provide this amount of parking on site.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah. For instance, the Sedano's on 8th Street
Mr. Fernandez: Mm-hmm.
Commissioner Carollo: -- what's the size of that store and the size of the retail
area? Do you know?
Mr. Fernandez: That one is about 23, 000 square feet, gross, and it has 76 parking
spaces. You see it right here on the image before you, with six on -street spaces
additional.
Commissioner Carollo: But --
Mr. Fernandez: So it's got about 82 spaces, and it is a considerably smaller store.
Commissioner Carollo: The 23, 000, is it retail or the gross in the store?
Mr. Fernandez: It's gross, right.
Commissioner Carollo: Well, that proves my point that --
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Mr. Fernandez: Yeah.
Commissioner Carollo: -- I think the problem that I see here is not enough space,
parking spaces. Why are we only requiring three spaces instead of more in these
projects? It doesn't make sense --
Mr. Garcia: The re --
Commissioner Carollo: --that only three spaces per thousand square feet of retail
space.
Mr. Garcia: So what I will submit to you, Commissioner, is that that is best
planning practice these days. I would ask you to consider that it is most often the
case in commercial establishments, and big -box commercial establishments are of a
particular nature. Roughly 90, 95 percent of the time, the totality of the parking
inventory is left unoccupied. So typically, you drive by a city and you see empty
parking lots, seas of asphalt that is simply empty and barren. Ideally, the
requirement would be to have them stack up and make more efficient land use,
instead of simply having these surface parking lots, which are, in the end, not very
sightly, but that is costly. And so, the fine balance between asking for too many
parking spaces and asking that the amount of parking area be compressed is to
establish a minimum that we think for most uses applies -- perhaps big boxes are
not a good example -- and then, of course, allow the applicants, allow the
developers to determine what the optimal number is based on their demand, and
then provide those.
t ice Chair Gort: Okay.
Chair Russell: I --
Commissioner Carollo: What did you recommend to make your recommendations
(UNINTELLIGIBLE) ?
Mr. Garcia: Sothis is the first step. This is the rezoning request so that they can
make that land eligible for parking, which, if they are successful, they might be able
to then bring in as part of an application. And then as part of the application, we
will have a meaningful conversation about what the right amount of parking is.
Chair Russell: They've -- they recommended "no," because it juts up into the T5.
What I can't yet understand is why PZAB voted 4 to 5 against. Was there
neighborhood opposition that came at PZAB to push it in that direction?
Mr. Garcia: Not so much that. As part of the analysis, what we also noted, and a
concern that we had, is that much of the development in the immediate area is still
residential, especially immediately to the north. And so, that was part of the
concern that was expressed also that the residential -- nearby residential --
Chair Russell: It's pushing up into it.
Mr. Garcia: -- residents might experience some kind of an impact. We are -- we're
comfortable that they can implement this project. Again, the project is not before
you today. We're comfortable that the project can be implemented and be a great
benefit to the neighborhood generally, and they can contain any impact on site
rather nicely. The site is large. That said, it was a concern that was expressed.
Chair Russell: I'm sorry. You're saying you're comfortable that they can carry out
the project under the current zoning without crenellating into the --?
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Mr. Garcia: No. With the additional space, especially for parking, we are
comfortable that it can be a successful project. Right? So -- but again, the project
is not before you today.
Vice Chair Gort: Residential --
Chair Russell: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) sets it up, though.
Lice Chair Gort: -- area to the north is all the apartment buildings, three stories,
four stories high.
Chair Russell: Right.
V ice Chair Gort: So it's not a single-family residential. It's multi family
residential.
Mr. Garcia: That's correct.
Chair Russell: So, Commissioner -- Tice Chairman, you're strongly in favor of it?
Lice Chair Gort: Yes. There's a great need in that area. Like I said -- I've stated
before, we got a lot of the people that live in the area that were talking in favor of
this.
Chair Russell: My concern is I've got a Planning Director recommending "no";
PZAB, 4 to 5, recommending "no. " I've got errors in the backup documentation.
And so, I have concerns. That's all.
Victoria Mendez (City Attorney): And I just want to clarify. Is there a covenant
that's being --
Vice Chair Gort: Yes.
Ms. Mendez: -- proffered with this? Because it's not -- I don't think it's been
submitted.
Mr. Fernandez: It's referenced in the staff application.
Ms. Mendez: I -- right, but I don't know that it's an attachment. Is it already an
attachment? Yes?
Mr. Fernandez: Yeah.
Mr. Garcia: Yes.
Mr. Fernandez: Of course.
Commissioner Carollo: Is there any other areas that's not going to cost you an arm
and a leg, like where those multi family buildings are, that you could possibly
acquire for additional parking spaces?
Mr. Fernandez: It would have to be offsite --
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah.
Mr. Fernandez: -- in the area.
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Commissioner Carollo: And I'm saying that because -- Look, I think
Commissioner Gort is absolutely correct; you have a tremendous need for a
grocery store there. You have just as much need for the jobs that that store is going
to bring to the area, because the majority of the people that are going to be hired
are going to be from the neighborhood. So you accomplish two things.
Mr. Fernandez: That's right.
Commissioner Carollo: You make it easier for people to shop in a grocery store
that's, you know, not as expensive as a Publix --
Mr. Fernandez: Right.
Commissioner Carollo: -- or even a Winn -Dixie; and two, you're creating jobs for
the people in the area. My only concern is that -- and I see it in some of the grocery
stores that I shop. I shop at your Sedano's on 8th Street. I shop in Presidente, on
both of them; on 8th Street, the one on 19th, and the one at 5th Avenue, and
sometimes it's a real mess to try to get in there, because of so marry people going
there. And all of these stores that I mentioned are much smaller than the one that
you're proposing.
Mr. Fernandez: You're absolutely right. And there's on -street parking at many of
those --
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah.
Mr. Fernandez: --Coral Way and 27th Avenue has it.
Commissioner Carollo: Well, I don't have problems with giving you what you want
for your additional 13 spaces. My problem is it's not enough; that you need more.
Chair Russell: Right.
Mr. Fernandez: And I think the problem -- maybe, Commissioner Russell, your
problem with the record emanates from the fact that the staff recommendation is for
denial, because they're not considering the covenant; only you can consider the
covenant in their staff analysis. The PZAB vote was 4 to 5. It was a very close
vote, but they sided with staff, as many times they do when they receive a
recommendation for denial. So it sort of sets the stage for a negative vote. And
then, you know, the applicant has to come before you to explain the need for this.
But I think it's obvious to anyone that shops at any store, even your more recent
stores -- like the Publix on Biscayne Boulevard. You know, that's probably the most
recent one that I can think of in the City of Miami -- they all have struggles with
parking. If you apply the Miami 21 standard to any of these stores, you're going to
have all the neighbors from the surrounding area coming here and complaining all
the time.
Chair Russell: All right. There's a motion. There's a second. Is there any further
discussion or questions?
Commissioner Carollo: Who made the second?
Chair Russell: You did.
Vice Chair Gort: You did.
Commissioner Carollo: I did?
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Chair Russell: For discussion.
Commissioner Carollo: Oh, that's right. I thought you had.
Chair Russell: No, I didn't.
Commissioner Carollo: (UNINTELLIGIBLE). Call the question.
Chair Russell: All right. Commissioner Gort, this is your going -away present to
the neighborhood, a new grocery store.
Commissioner Carollo: Well, it's a good going -away present, because he's given
that neighborhood something they badly need, and he's given them more jobs. By
the way, how many jobs will this create?
Mr. Fernandez: We're creating --
Commissioner Carollo: Permanent and part time.
Mr. Fernandez: -- 95 to 100 jobs.
Commissioner Carollo: Well, that's significant.
Vice Chair Gort: Yeah.
Commissioner Carollo: That's --
Vice Chair Gort: It's an economic impact in the area.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah.
Vice Chair Gort: Thank you.
Chair Russell: Thank you. Arty further questions? All in favor, say "aye."
Mr. Fernandez: Mr. Chair?
Chair Russell: Sorry; you need to read it.
Mr. Fernandez: It needs to be read into the record.
Chair Russell: Thank you.
L ice Chair Gort: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) read it.
Chair Russell: Getting sleepy.
Daniel Goldberg (Assistant City Attorney): My apologies.
Chair Russell: Go ahead; read it into the record, please.
The Ordinance was read by title into the public record by Assistant City Attorney
Daniel Goldberg.
Chair Russell: All in favor of the item, say "aye. "
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
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Chair Russell: Any opposed? 11otion passes.
llr. Fernandez: Thank you.
PZ.15
ORDINANCE First Reading
6337
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
Department of
ATTACHMENT(S), AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 10544, AS
Planning
AMENDED, THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP OF THE MIAMI
COMPREHENSIVE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN, PURSUANT TO SMALL
SCALE AMENDMENT PROCEDURES SUBJECT TO SECTION
163.3187, FLORIDA STATUTES, BY CHANGING THE FUTURE LAND
USE DESIGNATION FROM "MEDIUM DENSITY MULTIFAMILY
RESIDENTIAL" TO "HIGH DENSITY MULTIFAMILY RESIDENTIAL" OF
THE ACREAGE DESCRIBED HEREIN FOR THE PROPERTY
LOCATED AT APPROXIMATELY 1040 SOUTHWEST 29 COURT,
MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED IN
EXHIBIT "A"; MAKING FINDINGS; CONTAINING A SEVERABILITY
CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
MOTION TO: Pass on First Reading
RESULT: PASSED ON FIRST READING
MOVER: Wifredo (Willy) Gort, Commissioner
SECONDER: Joe Carollo, Commissioner
AYES: Russell, Gort, Carollo, Hardemon
ABSENT: Reyes
Note for the Record. For additional minutes referencing Item PZ.15, please see
"Public Comment Period for Planning and Zoning Item(s). "
Chair Russell: Commissioner Gort, von wanted to take lip the Smathers item first?
Tice Chair Gort: Fes.
Chair Russell: Is it a brief item?
Tice Chair Gort: I think- they've been waiting for a long time; thev're senior
citizens.
Chair Russell: Everybody has, but --
Tice Chair Gort: I know everybody has.
Chair Russell: And I kilow Commissioner Reves was -- this one was important to
him, so let's justknock: this one ont, and then we can take the --
Commissioner Carollo: Gentlemen --
Chair Rnssell: -- gnasi judicial item up very carefzdly.
Commissioner Carollo: -- since we do not have 1=lelreese on the agenda, do von
think- that ire can finish by -- the last item at 10 o'clock:?
Chair Russell: I bet we can.
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Vice Chair Gort: We hope so.
Chair Russell: Let's get rolling. All right, so for Smathers, is there a presentation,
or is there a motion?
bictoria Mendez (City Attorney): Which -- can you tell me the PZ (Planning and
Zoning) really quick? I'm sorry.
Chair Russell: This is -- I'm sorry.
Francisco Garcia (Director, Planning): PZs.15 and 16.
Chair Russell: PZ.15 and 16.
Lice Chair Gort: 16.
Chair Russell: To start with, is there a motion on the item? Is anyone --?
Lice Chair Gort: Move it. My understanding, the Commissioner assistant made a
statement that they would like to have it approved.
Chair Russell: Thank you. It's been moved. Is there a second?
Commissioner Carollo: This Item 15?
Chair Russell: 15 and 16.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay.
Chair Russell: You can go ahead and present.
Commissioner Carollo: I'll second it.
Chair Russell: Seconded by Commissioner Carollo.
Commissioner Carollo: Do they have to be voted upon separately?
Chair Russell: No.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay.
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): The titles will just need to be read into the record,
both titles, before a vote is taken. One vote is taken on both items.
Chair Russell: All right. Is there any presentation from the Administration on this
item?
Mr. Garcia: Simply to state for the record that we've vetted the item, and we have
recommended approval, as did the Planning, Zoning and Appeals Board.
Chair Russell: Thank you very much. You have a statement at all?
Javier Avino: We will yield and answer any -- available to answer any questions.
Javier Avino, with Bilzen Sumberg, for the record.
Chair Russell: Are there any comments or questions from the board?
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Commissioner Carollo: Question.
Chair Russell: Yes, sir.
Commissioner Carollo: How marry units are we talking about here?
Mr. Avino: The proposal is to add 139 units. They are all elderly affordable units.
Commissioner Carollo: Every one of them?
Mr. Avino: Yes.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay.
Chair Russell: Are there floor amendments that need to be made on this item? All
right.
Mr. Avino: There is a proffered covenant that has already been proffered.
Chair Russell: Because I -- yes, because I -- my understanding from my briefing was
there are some changes from the last time this was discussed --
Mr. Avino: No.
Chair Russell: --through Commissioner Reyes. No?
Ms. Mendez: This is --
Chair Russell: Okay.
Ms. Mendez: --first reading, though.
Mr. Avino: Correct, this is first reading.
Chair Russell: Yeah.
Mr. Avino: So if there's anything, we can address it at second.
Chair Russell: Got it. And the covenant has been proffered?
Mr. Avino: Yes.
Chair Russell: Can you explain it?
Mr. Avino: The covenant is to provide a buffer. This property abuts -- a portion of it
abuts T3, so there is a 50 foot buffer that is being provided to make sure that we're
providing sufficient space.
Chair Russell: Got it. Thank you very much. Is there any further questions or
comments from the dais? Hearing none, all in favor, say "aye. "
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Russell: Any opposed?
Nicole N. Ewan (Assistant City Clerk): Chair, the title.
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Chair Russell: Thank von. -l-Iadcm City Attorney.
The Ordinances were read by title into the public record by the City Attorney.
Chair Russell: Thank von. All in favor, say "ave. "
The Commission (Collectivelv): Ave.
Chair Russell: Anv opposed? 1=1otion passes on first reading.
-1Ir. Avino: Thank von.
Chair Russell: Thank -Yon very ninth for vozn- patience.
PZA6
ORDINANCE First Reading
6338
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
Department of
ATTACHMENT(S), AMENDING THE ZONING ATLAS OF ORDINANCE
Planning
NO. 13114, THE ZONING ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI,
FLORIDA, AS AMENDED, TO CHANGE THE ZONING
CLASSIFICATION OF THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT
APPROXIMATELY 1040 SOUTHWEST 29 COURT, AS MORE
PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED IN EXHIBIT "A", FROM 75-R," URBAN
CENTER TRANSECT ZONE — RESTRICTED, TO 76-8-R," URBAN
CORE TRANSECT ZONE - RESTRICTED; MAKING FINDINGS;
CONTAINING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING FOR AN
EFFECTIVE DATE.
MOTION TO: Pass on First Reading
RESULT: PASSED ON FIRST READING
MOVER: Wifredo (Willy) Gort, Commissioner
SECONDER: Joe Carollo, Commissioner
AYES: Russell, Gort, Carollo, Hardemon
ABSENT: Reyes
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item PZ.16, please see 'Public
Comment Period for Planning and Zoning Item(s) "and Item PZ.1 5.
City of-llianii Page 251 Printed on 1 102020
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PZA7
ORDINANCE First Reading
6340
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
Department of
ATTACHMENT(S), AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 10544, AS
Planning
AMENDED, THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP OF THE MIAMI
COMPREHENSIVE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN, PURSUANT TO SMALL
SCALE AMENDMENT PROCEDURES SUBJECT TO SECTION
163.3187, FLORIDA STATUTES, BY CHANGING THE FUTURE LAND
USE DESIGNATION FROM "LIGHT INDUSTRIAL" TO "GENERAL
COMMERCIAL" OF THE ACREAGE DESCRIBED HEREIN OF REAL
PROPERTY LOCATED AT APPROXIMATELY 3640 BIRD AVENUE,
3601 BIRD ROAD, AND 3555 SOUTHWEST 29 TERRACE; AND BY
CHANGING THE FUTURE LAND USE DESIGNATION FROM "LOW
DENSITY RESTRICTED COMMERCIAL" TO "GENERAL
COMMERCIAL" OF THE ACREAGE DESCRIBED HEREIN OF REAL
PROPERTY AT 2990 SOUTHWEST 36 COURT, MIAMI, FLORIDA, ALL
AS MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED IN EXHIBIT "A"; MAKING
FINDINGS; CONTAINING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND
PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
MOTION TO: Pass on First Reading
RESULT: PASSED ON FIRST READING
MOVER: Wifredo (Willy) Gort, Commissioner
SECONDER: Ken Russell, Commissioner
AYES: Russell, Gort, Carollo, Hardemon
ABSENT: Reyes
Chair Russell: Commissioner Gort --
ConnnissionerHardemon: All right.
Chair Russell: -- before we -- that's an S,4P (,Special Area Plan) item -- could we
take up 17 and 18 veiv picklv;" That's a rather innocuous zoning issue in nuy
district; PZ.17 and 18.
Tice Chair Gort: TThat is it;"
Chair Russell: Its the T'olvoDealership.
Tice Chair Gort: The who?
Chair Russell: T'ol -- the T'olkswagen Dealership on Bird Road.
Unidentified ,Speaker: Deel Realty.
Gilberto Pastorizo: Yeah.
Tice Chair Gort: But (E IN-TELLIGIBLE) -- I want to woke sure we hear urine's
[sic] before --
Chair Russell: Absolutely.
Tice Chair Gort: -- 7 o'clock:. That's (V IN-TELLIGIBLE).
Chair Russell: (V IN%TELLIGIBLE), we got good time. This is a -- rather quickly.
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Vice Chair Gort: On you.
Chair Russell: 12.
Victoria Mendez (City Attorney): Chairman, 17 and 18?
Chair Russell: Yes.
Ms. Mendez: Yes? Can I read the titles? Start reading, anyway.
Chair Russell: So we're going to take 17 and 18, then we'll take Number 6, and
then we'll take PZ.12. Hello.
The Ordinance was read by title into the public record by the City Attorney.
Ms. Mendez: PZ.18.
The Ordinance was read by title into the public record by the City Attorney.
Chair Russell: Thank you. That's both 17 and 18? That was both. Madam City
Attorney --
Unidentified Speaker: That was both.
Chair Russell: -- that was both 17 and 18? All right. We're shy one sheet for
quorum. Commissioner Hardemon's on the wing. Good evening.
Mr. Pastoriza: Good evening.
Chair Russell: You're the applicant.
Mr. Pastoriza: Hi. Gilberto Pastoriza, on behalf of -- with my partner, Alex Uribe,
on behalf of Deel Realty. Listen, we have positive recommendations from staff and
Planning and Zoning Board. And I believe that everybody's very familiar with the
application, and we seek your approval.
Chair Russell: Thank you very much. Mr. Director, do we have any letters of
opposition from neighbors with regard to this application? I haven't seen anything
on my side.
Francisco Garcia (Director, Planning): No, sir, none on the record.
Chair Russell: And I --
I ice Chair Gort: Move it.
Chair Russell: -- have met with the applicant and their attorney. It's been moved
by Commissioner Gort; seconded by the Chair. This is first reading, correct?
Mr. Pastoriza: Yes, Chair.
Unidentified Speaker: That's correct.
Chair Russell: And I do understand you're working on a jobs program for local
applicants; that may be something you could proffer on --
Mr. Pastoriza: That's correct.
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Chair Russell: --second reading. Thank you very much. We have Commissioner
Hardemon on the dais. All right. Is there any further comment, question from the
dais? Hearing none, all in favor, say "aye "
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Russell: Any opposed? Motion passes on first reading.
Mr. Pastoriza: Thank you.
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): For the record, that's 3-0, with Commissioner
Hardemon --
Chair Russell: Correct.
Mr. Hannon: -- in favor.
Chair Russell: That is correct.
Later
Mr. Hannon: And briefly, Chair, I just wanted to clarify for the record; for PZ.17
and 18, that was 4-0, with Commissioner Carollo voting in favor.
Chair Russell: You did.
Mr. Hannon: He was off to the side on the dais.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah.
Mr. Hannon: Yes. So only Commissioner Reyes was absent.
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PZ.18
ORDINANCE First Reading
6341
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
Department of
ATTACHMENT(S), AMENDING THE ZONING ATLAS OF ORDINANCE
Planning
NO. 13114, THE ZONING ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI,
FLORIDA, AS AMENDED, BY CHANGING THE ZONING
CLASSIFICATION FROM "D1," WORK PLACE TRANSECT ZONE, TO
'75-0," URBAN CENTER — OPEN TRANSECT ZONE, FOR THE
PROPERTIES LOCATED AT APPROXIMATELY 3601 BIRD ROAD,
3640 BIRD AVENUE, AND 3555 SOUTHWEST 29 TERRACE; AND BY
CHANGING THE ZONING CLASSIFICATION FROM "74-1-," GENERAL
URBAN — LIMITED TRANSECT ZONE, TO '75-0," URBAN CENTER —
OPEN TRANSECT ZONE, FOR THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 2990
SOUTHWEST 36 COURT, ALL AS MORE PARTICULARLY
DESCRIBED IN EXHIBIT "A"; MAKING FINDINGS; CONTAINING A
SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE
DATE.
MOTION TO:
Pass on First Reading
RESULT:
PASSED ON FIRST READING
MOVER:
Wifredo (Willy) Gort, Commissioner
SECONDER:
Ken Russell, Commissioner
AYES:
Russell, Gort. Carollo. Hardemon
ABSENT:
Reyes
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item PZ.I8, please see Item PZ.I7.
PZ.19
RESOLUTION
6486
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
Department of
ATTACHMENT(S), GRANTING OR DENYING THE APPEAL FILED BY
Planning
OSCAR RODRIGUEZ AND ALBERT A. RINCON OF AN EXCEPTION
AND A WARRANT PURSUANT TO ARTICLE 4, TABLE 3 AND
ARTICLE 7, SECTIONS 7.1.2.4 AND 7.1.2.6 OF ORDINANCE NO.
13114, THE ZONING ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI,
FLORIDA, AS AMENDED, TO ALLOW A PRIVATE SCHOOL FOR A
MAXIMUM OF ONE HUNDRED FIFTY NINE (159) STUDENTS ON A
SITE LOCATED WITHIN A "74-R," GENERAL URBAN CORE
TRANSECT ZONE, AND "75-0," URBAN CENTER TRANSECT ZONE,
LOCATED AT APPROXIMATELY 3030 SOUTHWEST 22 STREET,
MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED IN
EXHIBIT "A"; MAKING FINDINGS; CONTAINING A SEVERABILITY
CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
MOTION TO:
Withdraw
RESULT:
WITHDRAWN
MOVER:
Wifredo (Willy) Gort, Comrr
SECONDER:
Manolo Reyes, Commissioi
AYES:
Russell, Gort, Carollo, Reyes
ABSENT:
Hardemon
Note for the Record. For minutes referencing Item PZ.I9, please see "Order of the
Dad," and "PZ Order of the Day. "
City Page 25 Painted on 110 2020
City Commission Meeting Minutes October 24, 2019
PZ.20
RESOLUTION
6529
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
Department of
ATTACHMENT(S), APPROVING, WITH CONDITIONS, THE
Planning
CLOSURE, VACATION, ABANDONMENT, AND DISCONTINUANCE
FOR PUBLIC USE OF A PORTION OF A RIGHT-OF-WAY,
GENERALLY LOCATED ON THE SOUTHERN PORTION OF THE
PROPERTY AT 1095 NORTHEAST 83RD STREET, AS MORE
PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED IN EXHIBIT "A," ATTACHED AND
INCORPORATED, AND AS LISTED IN SECTION 55-15(C) OF THE
CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED;
CONTAINING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING FOR AN
EFFECTIVE DATE.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-19-0431
MOTION TO:
Adopt
RESULT:
ADOPTED
MOVER:
Keon Hardemon, Commissioner
SECONDER:
Ken Russell, Commissioner
AYES:
Russell, Gort, Carollo, Hardemon
ABSENT:
Reyes
Chair Russell: Commissioner Hardemon.
Commissioner Hardemon: There's a young man here by the name ofMr. Savage; is
he still present?
Paul Savage: Yes.
Commissioner Hardemon: Paul Savage?
Mr. Savage: Yes, sir.
Commissioner Hardemon: How you're doing, sir?
Chair Russell: He's looking for 19, I believe.
Mr. Savage: I'm (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Commissioner Hardemon: Right.
Chair Russell: Number 20.
Commissioner Hardemon: 20, right? Great presentation. I move to approve.
Chair Russell: PZ.20 has a motion to approve. Is there a second?
Commissioner Carollo: What is this all about?
Chair Russell: It's a street closure in Hardemon's district.
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): I'm sorry, Chair. Who made the motion?
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Commissioner Hardemon: I did.
Chair Russell: Commissioner Hardemon did
Vice Chair Gort: Second.
Chair Russell: Seconded by the Chairman.
Commissioner Carollo: Can I see --
Commissioner Hardemon: It's kind of not really a street closure.
Commissioner Carollo: -- a picture of what --
Commissioner Hardemon: It's like an abandonment of --
Chair Russell: A vacation?
Commissioner Hardemon: Yeah.
Commissioner Carollo: -- we're going to be closing?
Chair Russell: It's a vacation of a street. Let's all take a vacation.
Commissioner Hardemon: I thought about putting a --making that little part of it a
public park, but I didn't think it was enough space.
Chair Russell: All right.
Commissioner Hardemon: No?
Chair Russell: Seconded by the Chairman.
Commissioner Carollo: How marry square feet are we talking about here?
Chair Russell: Here we go.
Paul Savage: It's approximately 2,600 square feet, but I think the main fact, just to
get to the point -- we're way out of time -- is that this -- we're basically correcting
an accident of history. It's a cul-de-sac, cutting through a front yard, and we can
find no evidence that it ever existed in reality. There's really nothing changing in
the real world. It's a 90-degree street. There's no change in the vehicular traffic.
There's no change in the pedestrian flow. All of the factors in Chapter 55 are
satisfied. The PZAB (Planning, Zoning & Appeals Board) voted 8-0 in favor, and
there's a favorable staff recommendation. It's basically a -- some sort of an
accident in history on -- in the old plat; that there was a cul-de-sac that was never
constructed.
Commissioner Carollo: Well, let's find out a little bit more about this accident of
history. What kind of a structure do you have here on this lot?
Mr. Savage: The lot is currently unimproved.
Commissioner Carollo: What is it zoned?
Francisco Garcia (Director, Planning): T3-R.
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Vice Chair Gort: TR-3 [sic].
Commissioner Carollo: Huh?
Mr. Garcia: T3-R.
Chair Russell: T3-R.
Mr. Garcia: Single-family residential.
Commissioner Carollo: Huh?
Mr. Garcia: Single-family residential.
Commissioner Carollo: Single-family residential, okay. So did you own that or --?
Mr. Savage: Yes, sir. I'm here on behalf of the owner.
Commissioner Carollo: No, no, I didn't mean that. I was wondering if you were
the owner, but you've answered the question.
Mr. Savage: No. Okay. So just to clear up the record, my name is Paul Savage,
with law offices at 2555 Ponce de Leon Boulevard, Coral Gables, Florida. I'm here
representing the applicant on PZ.20, Sunshine Land Development, LLC (Limited
Liability Company), concerning property at 1095 Northeast 83rd Street.
Commissioner Carollo: Now, Mr. Planning Director, can -- is this property prime
in the future to maybe come back here for a zoning change and we make it
multifamily, or anything like that, or is that farfetched?
Mr. Garcia: I would characterize it as very farfetched.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay.
Mr. Garcia: It is a single-family residential lot in the midst of a very well -
established single-family residential area.
Commissioner Carollo: All right. All right. That answers --
Chair Russell: There's a motion. There's a second.
Chair Russell: Is there arty further discussion?
Commissioner Carollo: -- one of my concerns. But 2,679 square feet is worth
something that they're getting. So I propose that, if you want to -- no one's making
you --you volunteer a contribution that when Commissioner Hardemon retires next
year, you pay for the plaque that he's going to get.
Commissioner Hardemon: $1.
Chair Russell: All right. We have a motion. We have a second. Is there any
further discussion?
Commissioner Carollo: None.
Chair Russell: All in favor, say "aye. "
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The Commission (Collectively): Ave.
Chair Russell: Any opposed'? Do von need to read anvthing into the record?
ConunissionerHardemon: A_o. Its is a resolution.
Chair Russell: Thank von veiv much. .1lotion passes on PZ.20.
PZ.21
ORDINANCE First Reading
6530
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
Department of
ATTACHMENT(S), AMENDING THE ZONING ATLAS OF ORDINANCE
Planning
NO. 13114, AS AMENDED, BY CHANGING THE ZONING
"76-24-A-O,"
CLASSIFICATION FROM URBAN CORE TRANSECT-
OPEN, TO 76-24-13-0," URBAN CORE -OPEN TRANSECT ZONE,
FOR APPROXIMATELY 35.7 ACRES GENERALLY LOCATED AT 15,
23, 27, 35, 41, AND 79 NORTHEAST 17 TERRACE; 1300, 1301, 1317,
1306, 1330, 1334, 1348, 1350, 1353, 1367, 1368, 1401, 1501, 1511,
1527, 1635, 1729, 1765, 1755, AND 1749 NORTH MIAMI AVENUE; 31,
38, 42, 48, 52, 64,108, AND 128 NORTHEAST 17 STREET; 1301,
1304, 1312, 1315, 1326, 1334, 1344, 1350, 1415, 1421, 1425, 1433,
1442, 1445, 1502, 1512, 1518, 1524, 1529, 1536, 1540, 1552, 1635,
1650, 1643, 1748, AND 1749 NORTHEAST MIAMI COURT; 21, 45,
AND 140 NORTHEAST 16 STREET; 1304, 1310, 1311, 1325, 1326,
1361, 1400, 1422, 1442, 1452, 1502, 1512, 1516, 1532, 1542, 1598,
1600, AND 1629 NORTHEAST 1 AVENUE; 1302, 1324, 1370, 1600,
1622, 1644, AND 1652 NORTHEAST 2 AVENUE; 1410, 1420, 1424,
1425, 1432, 1433, 1441, 1442, 1452, 1515, 1525, 1531, 1537, 1545,
1550, 1553, 1602, 1610, 1616, 1624, 1632, AND 1642 NORTHEAST
MIAMI PLACE; 18, 50, 75, AND 84 NORTHEAST 15 STREET; 30, 47,
55, 65, 73, AND 124 NORTHEAST 14 STREET; 14, 18, AND 59
NORTHWEST 14 STREET; 17 AND 33 NORTHWEST 13 STREET;
1311, 1331, 1341, 1351, AND 1361 NORTHWEST MIAMI COURT;
1305, 1315, 1330, 1346, 1367, 1610, AND 1655 NORTHEAST 1
COURT; AND 125 NORTHEAST 13 STREET, ALL AS MORE
PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED IN EXHIBIT "A," ATTACHED AND
INCORPORATED; MAKING FINDINGS; CONTAINING A
SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE
DATE.
MOTION TO: Continue
RESULT: CONTINUED
MOVER:
Wifredo (Willy) Gort, Commissioner
SECONDER:
Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
AYES:
Russell, Gort, Carollo, Reyes
ABSENT:
Hardemon
Note for the Record. Item PZ.21)vas continued to the November 21, 2019, Planning
and Zoning Commission Meeting.
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item PZ.21, please see "Order of the
Day" and "PZ Order of the Day. "
City of_lliami Page 259 Printed on 1 102020
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PZ.22
ORDINANCE First Reading
6531
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
Department of
ATTACHMENT(S), AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 10544, AS
Planning
AMENDED, THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP OF THE MIAMI
COMPREHENSIVE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN, PURSUANT TO SMALL-
SCALE AMENDMENT PROCEDURES SUBJECT TO SECTION
163.3187, FLORIDA STATUTES, BY CHANGING THE FUTURE LAND
USE DESIGNATION FROM "MAJOR INSTITUTIONAL, PUBLIC
FACILITIES, TRANSPORTATION AND UTILITIES' TO "RESTRICTED
COMMERCIAL" OF THE ACREAGE DESCRIBED HEREIN OF REAL
PROPERTIES LOCATED AT APPROXIMATELY 444 AND 460
SOUTHWEST 2 AVENUE, AS MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED IN
EXHIBIT "A"; MAKING FINDINGS; CONTAINING A SEVERABILITY
CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
MOTION TO: Continue
RESULT: CONTINUED
MOVER:
Wifredo (Willy) Gort, Commissioner
SECONDER:
Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
AYES:
Russell, Gort, Carollo, Reyes
ABSENT:
Hardemon
Note for the Record. Item PZ.22 was continued to the November 21, 2019, Planning
and Zoning Commission Meeting.
Note for the Record. For minutes referencing Item PZ.22, please see "PZ Order of
the Day" and "Public Comment Period for Planning and Zoning Item(s). "
PZ.23 ORDINANCE First Reading
6532 AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
Department of ATTACHMENT(S), AMENDING THE ZONING ATLAS OF ORDINANCE
Planning NO. 13114, THE ZONING ATLAS OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA,
AS AMENDED, TO CHANGE THE ZONING CLASSIFICATION OF THE
PROPERTIES LOCATED AT APPROXIMATELY 444 AND 460
SOUTHWEST 2 AVENUE, AS MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED IN
EXHIBIT °A", FROM "Cl", CIVIC INSTITUTION TRANSECT ZONE, TO
"76-3613-0", URBAN CORE TRANSECT ZONE — OPEN; MAKING
FINDINGS; CONTAINING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND
PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
MOTION TO: Continue
RESULT: CONTINUED
MOVER:
Wifredo (Willy) Gort, Commissioner
SECONDER:
Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
AYES:
Russell, Gort, Carollo, Reyes
ABSENT:
Hardemon
Note for the Record. Item PZ.23 was continued to the November 21, 2019, Planning
and Zoning Commission Meeting.
Cztj,- of-llzamz Page 260 Panted on 1 102020
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Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item PZ.23, please see "PZ Order of
the Day" and "Public Comment Period for Planning and Zoning Item(s). "
PZ.24
ORDINANCE First Reading
6546
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AMENDING
ORDINANCE NO. 13114, THE ZONING ORDINANCE OF THE CITY
Commissioners
OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED ("MIAMI 21 CODE"), BY
and Mayor- PZ
AMENDING ARTICLE 7, SECTION 7.1.7.6., TITLED "COVENANT IN
LIEU OF UNITY OF TITLE," TO PROVIDE FOR THE ACCEPTANCE
OF COVENANTS IN LIEU OF UNITY OF TITLE FOR PROPERTIES IN
A 73-0," SUB -URBAN TRANSECT ZONE — OPEN, IN ORDER TO
ALLOW FOR INDIVIDUAL OWNERSHIP OF UNITS ON LOTS IN SAID
TRANSECT ZONE; CONTAINING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND
PROVIDING FOR AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE.
MOTION TO:
Pass on First Reading
RESULT:
PASSED ON FIRST READING
MOVER:
Wifredo (Willy) Gort, Commissic
SECONDER:
Ken Russell, Commissioner
AYES:
Russell, Gort. Carollo. Hardemon
ABSENT:
Reyes
Chair Russell: All right. Commissioner Gort, this is your show today. PZ. 24, text
amendment; covenant in lieu of Unity of Title. This is to fix the T3-0 situation; am
I correct?
Commissioner Carollo: 24?
Chair Russell: Yes.
Francisco Garcia (Director, Planning): That is correct, sir.
Chair Russell: This is where duplex properties have separate ownership. Is there a
motion?
Commissioner Carollo: Whoa. Sep -- what is this all about?
Unidentified Speaker: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Chair Russell: It's been moved by Commissioner Gort; seconded by the Chairman.
Commissioner Carollo: For discussion. Who's representing this?
Chair Russell: This is the -- this is Commissioner Gort's item.
Commissioner Carollo: Right, right, but I was just wondering who's representing
this.
Chair Russell: The Administration, I assume.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay. Well --
Mr. Garcia: We are the applicant; sorry. It's an amendment to the Zoning
Ordinance, and it does one thing only, but a very important thing, we feel, which is
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to allow for T3-O-zoned properties, duplex zoned properties in order for the
property owners to own each side of the property, each half of the property in fee
simple through a covenant in lieu of Unity of Title. Presently, that's not an option.
And what it creates very often is a situation where in a duplex site, the owners own
the unit, but the perimeter yard is a common element, and there are many tensions
that are created by that that we would like to avoid. This takes care of that.
Chair Russell: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) seen it.
Commissioner Carollo: And so, this would be citywide then (UNINTELLIGIBLE)?
Mr. Garcia: Absolutely. Citywide, yes.
Commissioner Carollo: Do we have a lot of situations like this
(UNINTELLIGIBLE) ?
Mr. Garcia: It happens frequently, sir, yes.
Commissioner Carollo: Really?
Chair Russell: What you'll get is a duplex owner suing the other duplex owner over
their hedge or the flowers they use, or whatever, and this will separate their
ownership so they can deal with their own yards.
Commissioner Carollo: Then I think we need to make this the "Willy Gort PZ.24
Item, " so that future owners know why there was peace and tranquility.
Chair Russell: The "Willy Gort Amendment. "
Commissioner Carollo: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) lives.
Chair Russell: All right.
Commissioner Hardemon: But I'm confused, though. Right now the duplex is
owned by one person, correct? One person owns both sides.
Mr. Garcia: Or three condominium.
Commissioner Hardemon: Right.
Mr. Garcia: Each unit can be owned separately, and then the perimeter yard is a
common element.
Commissioner Hardemon: No, no. Okay. Help me understand this. Right now
today, if I own a duplex or a triplex, can I sell -- in a duplex, for instance, can I sell
the interest in one of those --
Mr. Garcia: Yep.
Commissioner Hardemon: --part--places?
Mr. Garcia: Yes. Yes, sir, as a condominium unit.
Victoria Mendez (City Attorney): Right now it's an illegal subdivision. If you do
something like that -- if you have a lot that's 7,500 square feet, and you draw an
imaginary line down the middle, and you deed out, you know, the westerly half and
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the easterly half, it's an illegal subdivision. What you would have to do is do
something along these lines, which is --
Commissioner Hardemon: The covenant --
Ms. Mendez: -- have them as a -- create a covenant in lieu of Unity of Title so it --
Commissioner Hardemon: What I'm trying to understand --
Ms. Mendez: -- could be one plot and one parcel for purposes of zoning and for
purposes of folio numbers, and the fact that you're not going to create a lesser lot,
because the smallest lot size is, arguably --
Mr. Garcia: 5, 000 square feet.
Ms. Mendez: Right. So this allows for you not to have to condominiumize [sic],
because the way that now it's legitimately done is that you have one parcel of land,
a condominium, a shell condominium that owns all the common areas, and then
each one -- each portion of the townhome or the condo is owned in fee; separately,
I mean.
Commissioner Hardemon: So --
Ms. Mendez: Butyou have to have a condominium association, because you cannot
Commissioner Hardemon: Right. So we create a condominium association that the
two private owners contribute to.
Ms. Mendez: Are part of it, right
Commissioner Hardemon: So you're going to eliminate that and have where you
can actually condominium --
Ms. Mendez: You'll do covenant in lieu of Unity of Title instead. So it'll be one
parcel plot of land. For zoning purposes, you still need each other at the end of the
day, but you can have two owners in that one covenant in lieu of Unity of Title.
Commissioner Hardemon: And you're saying that they already do that now, but
they just do it through the condominium route, two owners, so I could be -- I could
have a duplex with two owners.
Ms. Mendez: Yes
Commissioner Hardemon: We're in one duplex. He owns one part; I own another
part.
Ms. Mendez: Yes.
Commissioner Hardemon: That happens.
Chair Russell: The common areas are where the disputes happen, even in --
Ms. Mendez: Right.
Chair Russell: --the condominium version.
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Ms. Mendez: Or you have the illegal -- there are a few illegal subdivisions in the
City of Miami. When we do find those, we Code enforce them, because they're
illegal.
Commissioner Hardemon: Okay.
Chair Russell: All right.
Commissioner Carollo: This is going to make a new condominium industry in
Miami, where you're going to have a lot of people wanting to do condos or duplex,
or even those -- we don't have as many -- triplex; most will be duplex. So --
Commissioner Hardemon: And that's --go ahead.
Commissioner Carollo: -- this could --you don't do real estate, do you?
Commissioner Hardemon: No.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay. Now you7l be conflicted out of this one. But this is
going to be big, I think. I think it's going to be good for people to be able to have
their own condo and, you know, maybe get another relative, or live in one part of it
as your own condominium and sell the other part. I think you're going to see this
take off.
Commissioner Hardemon: And that's --
Chair Russell: Thank you.
Commissioner Hardemon: -- what I'm wondering. I'm like, is this a good thing for
that?
Commissioner Carollo: Well --
Commissioner Hardemon: I get it in the sense of the multi --
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah.
Commissioner Hardemon: -- family buildings, the larger buildings, but for the
smaller spaces, the -- you know, the duplex, is that necessarily a good thing, you
know? That was my mindset.
Chair Russell: Thankyou. Please read the title.
Commissioner Carollo: It's, you know, something that we need to think about. This
is first reading on it?
Chair Russell: It is.
Ms. Mendez: It's first reading.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah, but I -- you know, I think it's going to be popular.
Chair Russell: The Gort Amendment, please read the title.
The Ordinance was read by title into the public record by the City Attorney.
Chair Russell: All in favor, say "aye. "
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The Commission (Collectively): Ave.
Chair Russell: Any opposed? 11otion passes.
PZ.25 ORDINANCE First Reading
6595 MAY BE DEFERRED
Commissioners AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, AMENDING
and Mayor- PZ ORDINANCE NO. 10544, AS AMENDED, THE MIAMI
COMPREHENSIVE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN OF THE CITY OF MIAMI,
FLORIDA ("MCNP"), BY MODIFYING THE PARKS, RECREATION,
AND OPEN SPACE ELEMENT OF THE MCNP TO PROVIDE
REQUIREMENTS FOR REPLACEMENT OF CONVERTED PARK
LAND; MAKING FINDINGS; CONTAINING A SEVERABILITY
CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
MOTION TO:
Continue
RESULT:
CONTINUED
MOVER:
Wifredo (Willy) Gort, Commissioner
SECONDER:
Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
AYES:
Russell, Gort, Carollo, Reyes
ABSENT:
Hardemon
Note for the Record. Item PZ.25 was continued to the November 21, 2019, Planning
and Zoning Commission Meeting.
For minutes referencing Item PZ.25, please see "Order of the Day" and "PZ Order
of the Day. "
I;IkiImZ9]a»_1kiIkiIIki Lou kiIotke7kiIIki Cell kI;ILTA w
City of-lliami Page 265 Printed on 1 102020
City Commission Meeting Minutes October 24, 2019
NA - NON -AGENDA ITEM(S)
NAA DISCUSSION ITEM
6718 VICE CHAIR WIFREDO "WILLY" GORT THANKED THE MAYOR,
City Commission CITY COMMISSION AND ADMINISTRATION FOR THE SPECIAL
PRESENTATION AND VIDEO RECOGNIZING HIS
ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND YEARS OF SERVICE AS AN ELECTED
OFFICIAL. FURTHERMORE, HE THANKED FAMILY, FRIENDS
AND ALL THOSE WHO WERE IN ATTENDANCE FOR HIS
SPECIAL TRIBUTE.
RESULT: DISCUSSED
Vice Chair Gort: Mr. Chairman.
Chair Russell: And so, those are our time certain items. Commissioner Gort.
b ice Chair Gort: First of all, I want to thank all of you for the surprise you gave
me today, and I apologize; we're a little late because of that, so my apologies to the
public that had to wait about a half an hour. But thank you for the whole thing. It
was a big surprise. Thankyou very much.
Chair Russell: You're very, very welcome and it's very well deserved, b ice
Chairman -- or my forever Chairman.
NA.2 DISCUSSION ITEM
6725 DISCUSSION BY THE CITY COMMISSION REGARDING TRANSIT
City Commission ALLIANCE'S BETTER BUS PROJECT DRAFT RESOLUTION.
RESULT: DISCUSSED
Chair Russell: Commissioner Gort, if you'd like to make a motion on your non -
agenda item, I'd be glad to second that, with the transit issue.
t ice Chair Gort: Yes. I would move it --
Chair Russell: Moved and --
t ice Chair Gort: -- the reason being that we need to be part of it. It doesn't mean
this is going to be the final document, but at least we'll have an input. And I really
analyzed them both. One --and I think the one that creates the ridership is the most
importantfor the City ofMiami.
Chair Russell: Thank you. And I'll --
Commissioner Reyes: Which has --
Chair Russell: Ridership model. There's two models that Transit Alliance has
offered for us to --
Commissioner Reyes: Okay.
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Chair Russell: -- look at and consider.
Commissioner Reyes: But -- well, you are making a motion, and it is about this --
what this group --
Chair Russell: Transit Alliance.
Commissioner Reyes: -- Transit Alliance, it is proposing?
Chair Russell: Yes.
L ice Chair Gort: It's the analysis they did.
Commissioner Reyes: That's right. But I want to know one thing, and I want to
know it for sure. Those -- by adopting that resolution, does this holds us -- I mean,
bound us from doing anything else that they said? We --
Chair Russell: No.
Commissioner Reyes: Do we have to follow their instruction or anything?
Chair Russell: No.
Commissioner Reyes: Because if that's the case, I had my disagreements with what
they are suggesting, so I'm --
Chair Russell: And very much agreed, Commissioner Reyes. I think what we need
to do with this is it directs our Manager to start working together with them, and
without this resolution, our Management's hands are tied to be at the table. And
there is a time urgency to it, as well.
Commissioner Reyes: There is an emergency for this?
Chair Russell: I wouldn't -- it is an urgency with regard to our transit crisis, and
the entire sys --
Commissioner Reyes: This is not going to solve our transit crisis.
Chair Russell: It won't solve it, but without us being at the table --
Commissioner Reyes: Okay.
Chair Russell: -- we are the major operator of public transit, especially free public
transit --
Commissioner Reyes: But the only thing that I want to know is, I don't want to be
bound --
Chair Russell: Correct.
Commissioner Reyes: -- by -- I mean to this group, in any shape or form, whatever
suggestions they make. We make the final decision.
Chair Russell: We are an --autonomous (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Commissioner Reyes: Autonomous, and just they -- what they are presenting is just
a suggestion --
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Chair Russell: Correct.
Commissioner Reyes: --it's not a rule.
Chair Russell: Correct. And I've spoken to some County officials, as well, that see
that -- it'll probably be a hybrid model between the two --
Commissioner Reyes: Sure.
Chair Russell: -- where necessary -- we concentrate on ridership, and where
necessary, we concentrate on (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Commissioner Reyes: Absolutely, absolutely.
Chair Russell: But I do support Commissioner Gort in the ridership concept, so I'll
second his motion. Yes.
Nzerie Ihekwaba (Chief of Operations): Good morning, Mr. Chair and the
Commission. Zerry Ihekwaba, Assistant City Manager. I just want to place on the
record that what has been presented to you is for you to support what they call the
ridership concept. The Administration has seen the preliminary report of the study.
The study focus on two concepts, (UNINTELLIGIBLE) coverage; our ridership.
You have been asked to support only the ridership concept, and that ridership
concept requires a recommendation to eliminate the free trolley service to Flagami
Commissioner Reyes: That's right.
Mr. Ihekwaba: -- Liberty City, and parts of Little Haiti. So I caution you to either
vote to delete that section of the recommendation, and have the Administration
work with them to start de novo, and look at the entire concept; both concepts.
Commissioner Reyes: That was --
Chair Russell: Just a moment.
Commissioner Reyes: Through the Chair, through the Chair. That was --
Chair Russell: Just a moment; Tice Chairman and then Commissioner Reyes.
Commissioner Reyes: Okay.
T ice Chair Gort: We can ask for -- make an amendment to see both; I don't have
any problem with that. But I want somebody to sit down with them and they -- most
important. As you negotiate -- and I'm not going to be here, but you got to consult
with the Commissioners. You got to make sure you consult with the Commissioners
and we'll let you go to the County, and come back here, because we seen what
happened with the trolleys. And let me tell you, I'm not an expert. I got a major in
transportation, and one of the problems that we have, we selected our routes
according to that professional study or analysis, just -- so I think we need to -- the
County needs to take over. I mean, the County's responsibility is transportation,
and if we, a city, can help with the trolley, we should do so --
Commissioner Reyes: Absolutely. But--
T ice Chair Gort: --and better for the City. I don't have any problem with that.
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Chair Russell: Commissioner Reyes.
Commissioner Reyes: --absolutely. But my disagreement with them was that they
just came and said, "Oh, we have to eliminate it, because it cost too much. " And I
tried, by all means, tried to change -- maybe we can change the route, because the
service that we are providing to our -- particularly in my district -- to elders that
need (UNINTELLIGIBLE) come and they take the kids -- grandfathers that take the
kids to different schools that are close to trolley stops. I don't think that nobody can
come and tell us what to do. And if this bounds us to their recommendations, I will
totally be opposed.
Chair Russell: Understood.
Commissioner Reyes: It has to be bounded -- I mean, if -- we will accept the
recommendation, but the final decision is us. We are not bound to do what they
say, because I don't want the trolleys in Liberty City or in Little Havana, or in --
Chair Russell: To disappear.
Mr.Ihekwaba: Flagami.
Commissioner Reyes: -- Flagami be done away with, because we have some
experts that comes in. That doesn't work We owe it to our residents, also.
Chair Russell: Thank you. Tice Chairman.
t ice Chair Gort: I'll accept the amendment; friendly amendment to have both
cases be suggested, but at the same time, before any decisions being made, they got
to come to us and we got to agree to that.
Chair Russell: Agreed.
b ice Chair Gort: And also, my understanding is that we should be part of the
programs as we -- talking to the County, we should be aware of what's happening
with -- and we should have our input, also. Okay?
Chair Russell: Madam City Attorney, have you seen the pocket item?
Victoria Mendez (City Attorney): Yes. And -- but I do suggest that it be a more
generic resolution than just -- you know -- have the Administration work with them
versus based on --
Chair Russell: So --
Ms. Mendez: -- versus picking --
Chair Russell: Understood, and I would agree. I don't want to bind us. I don't
believe anything in here does bind us, but it sets a -- by choosing one or the other, it
sets us in a direction of where we stand. I do believe we, as a Commission, believe
that ridership is important; that if they don't come every 15 minutes, for example,
people aren't going to use them, and they need to be able to rely on them. So that --
to me, that's the first priority, and then coverage comes secondary. But it's going to
be a hybrid. It's got to be a hybrid of the two. We can't be binary, one or the other.
So I'm open to an amendment, as well, that --
Commissioner Reyes: Through the Chair.
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Chair Russell: Yes.
Commissioner Reyes: I -- one of my suggestions was an -- that we should analyze a
-- trolley systems of feeders to our buses. And I suggested that, and I was totally
rejected. It was, "No, we have to do away with" -- I mean, you are not thinking
about the best of the community, you're not thinking about ridership, and I cannot
accept that.
Vice Chair Gort: Commissioner, for the last -- I think six years -- I've been talking
about that this should be a feeder system.
Commissioner Reyes: Yes, sir.
L ice Chair Gort: When they first started talking on metro -- about Metrorail, I
recall one of the most important thing that was going to go with Metrorail was
going to be the riders -- the system to take the people to the --
Commissioner Reyes: That's right.
L ice Chair Gort: -- (UNINTELLIGIBLE.)
Commissioner Reyes: But by eliminating -- just taking that radical approach
without trying to -- that's why I cannot support anything --
t ice Chair Gort: Make the amendment. Make the amendment.
Commissioner Reyes: Okay.
t ice Chair Gort: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) amendment, right?
Chair Russell: Commissioner Hardemon. ,lust a moment. Commissioner
Hardemon.
Commissioner Hardemon: So if I'm looking at the correct organization, the Miami -
Dade Transit Alliance is an organization that has some board members. One lives
on -- well, the address is 701 Brickell Key Boulevard, who is the Chairperson --
well, 701 Brickell Key Boulevard; 169 East Flagler Street; 169 East Flagler Street,
which is probably office space, and -- well, maybe not -- 5966 South Dixie
Highway. You know, there's an organization that was put together to come up with
a plan to present to government. They had a special interest to do that, and that's
what they did; whereas, when I look at the individuals that came before this
Commission, especially with the trolley in Liberty City and Little Haiti, these were
all members of our community that live in our districts that said, "We want better
access to a system of transit that other parts of the City has. " And so, what I don't
appreciate about the resolution is that it forces us to choose a side, choose a path,
and that path has a detrimental effect upon the people who fought so hard just, I
mean, a few months ago in my district to have a benefit that they did not have
before that really gave them a sense of pride in their community. And so, you know,
the issue that I have with this is that they're forcing us to kind of take a position
now, because the resolution says, "Now, therefore, be it resolved that the City
Commission supports the ridership concept; that is, instead of the coverage
concept. " And then, it also states that it directs Transit Alliance to return to this
Commission with a proposed realignment to the City Charter as part of the final
network plan. So they say here to realign this differently -- right? -- which is -- I
think is problematic for me. I think, if we're trying to have a conversation between
a non -for -profit called the Miami -Dade Transit Alliance -- which I believe that's
what it's called -- and the City of Miami, I think we do that. But I don't think that
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it's -- I don't think that we take a position on it right now. But we -- I know we took
a position -- well, they gave us a document maybe at the last meeting, or maybe the
meeting before --
Chair Russell: Last meeting.
Commissioner Hardemon: -- and told -- and, you know, wanted our vote then. And
now, this being sprung upon us at this way, you know, I'm just not prepared to vote
for it, and if (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Chair Russell: Understood. And I'd like them to speak, as well, but before -- and
what may be missing in this entire plan is the desensitivity [sic] of politics, what --
they're looking at this from a ridership and coverage model and the logistics, and
from a data -driven perspective. Politics are very key, obviously, and those in more
rural areas could suffer if the ridership is prioritized 100 percent, because that
could mean less lines for more ridership in denser areas. This model also considers
no additional funding, which is why its real binary choice, it is difficult. You're
definitely giving up something to go to -- one way or the other. If we were to invest
more or the County would invest more, there may be a hybrid model that covers a
little bit of both; gets better ridership, maintains coverage. But I understand where
you're coming from. This is very sensitive. So I'd like to ask Mr. Chougle or Ms.
t iciedo to speak to this in what you're hoping to see from this body, and what it
would allow you to work with our Administration and the County. And the last
thing I'd like to say is, I was very proud of bringing a trolley up through Golden
Pines, only to see the County then remove the more important bus system that
covered that route, and the gains we got in the trolley were outweighed by the
losses of that bus. So there's a cooperation problem. And a hybrid map is great,
but the governments have to work together, or it all fails. Would either of you like
to address this item before we take it up?
Marta t iciedo: (UNINTELLIGIBLE.) First of all, I want to be very respectful of
your time. I know that you're putting this in as a pocket item, and I'm very grateful,
so I want to keep this as brief as possible. I only want to put for the record --
Commissioner Hardemon, I'm actually a resident in your district. You're absolutely
right; 169 East Flagler is in downtown, but I live 915 Northwest I st Avenue. I am
one of your constituents.
Azhar Chougle: Good morning. My name is Azhar Chougle. (UNINTELLIGIBLE)
169 East Flagler, which is where I work. I think the three important salient points
is that, Commissioner Hardemon, these methods are staffed twice. And things that
we measure, we'd love to discuss in more detail, because, again, you're not voting
on a final plan. You're voting on allowing us to come up with a way in which --
how can we frame the City of Miami trolley system? Now, our recommendation
and the measures that we presented to you last -- about two weeks ago -- which is,
how can we make the City of Miami trolley system work together with the County
system to maximize opportunities? (UNINTELLIGIBLE) specifically, we measure
within the current system what those gains are; another 15 to 20 percent gains in
terms of people's mobility and access to jobs. Is it perfect? Absolutely not. But
we're not here to say, "This is the plan. " The Liberty City trolley in particular has
no data; there's nothing to analyze for us, so it's still too early in the process to
even know what do we do, because -- and that's why it's not -- there's no
recommendation at this moment, because it's too early in the process. What we're
asking is that the City of Miami receives the most mass transit in the County. By
not taking a position, you're stepping back away from the County and saying that,
"We don't want to work with you to maximize that access, " because, remember, the
County is the one that's bound to provide that regional service. You can't go
beyond your municipal boundaries. If there is no cooperation, we can't maximize
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access for the majority of your residents. And Commissioner Reyes, I deeply
respect you. I appreciate that you were willing to continue this dialogue open. I
have something -- I have some ideas to come back with you at and continue this
dialogue; for example, between 57th and 62nd Avenue, very specific ideas. But I
think the most important part today is to continue the dialogue.
Chair Russell: Commissioner Gort.
Commissioner Reyes: I just --
L ice Chair Gort: Let me ask you a question so we can clarify this. How many
studies do we get a year from different items? How many studies do we get from --?
I can show you a whole cabinet full of studies that have not been implemented. This
is another study that has been done to look at how we can improve traffic. A vote
here today is not going to say we got to do it this way. My understanding is we
need to negotiate with -- even if we say we're going to look at this
(UNINTELLIGIBLE), we're looking at the study, but we got to sit down with the
County and we got to work as a team. If we're going to say we're not going to work
with the County, let's forget about it then. Let's (UNINTELLIGIBLE). Don't vote
on this then.
Chair Russell: Thank you.
Commissioner Reyes: Commissioner --
Chair Russell: b ice Chairman --I mean -- I'm sorry --Commissioner Reyes.
Commissioner Reyes: Through the Chair. Listen, I do agree, and I was a
consultant, and let me tell you, I did a lot of studies, also. Some of them were
implemented and some of them were not. But what I really am in disagreement or
I'm questioning, it is there is a lot of emphasis on bringing people to work and
people to -- not to work We have -- particularly in my district, we have a lot of
people that they don't go to work; they go to a doctor or they go to the senior center
or they go to Sedano's or they go to Tropical, or they go to Walmart, you see? And
those are people that they are elders, and -- which I have a huge population, and
we have to also take them into consideration and try to provide the service for them.
So that radical approach that -- it was presented to me that we have to get rid of
Flagami trolley. We got to get rid of this? I will never accept that. I will never
accept, and I will -- always will vote against it. And I think that we should -- if
you're going to pass this, you have to make an amendment that nobody can touch
those trolleys until -- unless we take -- I mean we decide. And instead of doing
away with them, let's make them better and more efficient that -- let's use them as
feeders. But that's not what they are proposing, sir.
Chair Russell: Thank you. So the first amendment has to do with adding this
phrase in Section 1, after the word, "ridership: " 'And coverage hybrid concept."
And then Commissioner Reyes is proposing an amendment to make sure -- if it's not
in here already -- that we retain unilateral decision -making on our bus routes.
Ms. Mendez: I --
ti Ice Chair Gort: One more question of the Administration. My understanding that
this goes to the County. The County's going to look at it, but we have to approve it,
anything to do with the trolleys in the City ofMiami.
Chair Russell: It's ours.
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Vice Chair Gort: Let us know. Are we --
Mr. Ihekwaba: Sir --
Vice Chair Gort: -- willing to negotiate --
Mr. Ihekwaba: -- Zerry Ihekwaba.
Vice Chair Gort: -- and make some of the changes, or it's not going to happen?
Mr. Ihekwaba: Commissioner, with all due respect, to be very clear, the County
has exclusive jurisdiction on transportation --
L ice Chair Gort: Mm-hmm.
Mr. Ihekwaba: -- according to the County Code.
L ice Chair Gort: Mm-hmm.
Mr. Ihekwaba: So that reinforces the need for us to cooperate with the County in
the study. Our concern is that the Administration never had a hand in drafting this
reso. The first time we saw this reso is about five, 10 minutes ago.
Vice Chair Gort: Well --
Mr. Ihekwaba: And it is proposing to take an extreme action to support only the
ridership concept, and we have a problem with that.
Vice Chair Gort: I think for the last half an hour, we've been talking about making
some changes to the motion, the way it is.
Mr. Ihekwaba: Yeah.
Vice Chair Gort: I think we been discussing that with Manolo Reyes,
Commissioner Reyes, so (UNINTELLIGIBLE) wanted to do.
CommissionerHardemon: So we will strike then the Section I clause --
Vice Chair Gort: Right.
CommissionerHardemon: -- of the "therefore" --
Chair Russell: No. We Zl be adding the words, "And coverage hybrid concept. " So
it's ridership and coverage, because those are the two choices; ridership or
coverage.
L ice Chair Gort: Those are the two choices.
CommissionerHardemon: You're saying add "coverage "to the --
Chair Russell: Yes.
CommissionerHardemon: --Section I --
Chair Russell: Yes.
CommissionerHardemon: -- to the "therefore" clause?
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Chair Russell: So, "The City Commission supports the ridership and coverage
hybrid concept. "
Commissioner Hardemon: But see, that's also specific --
Vice Chair Gort: The study.
Chair Russell: Well, there's really only two choices they've given us; the ridership
model or the hybrid -- or either the coverage model. And when you do more
ridership, you give up some coverage. We believe a hybrid will be the end result.
And so, that way, we're sitting on the fence a little bit, you know. We're not taking a
solid position, but we're at the table. The problem is when we make our own
decisions on trolleys, we're being counterproductive with the County, and they start
removing County routes.
Commissioner Hardemon: No. They do that because they have a losing business
model.
Mr.Ihekwaba: Exactly.
Chair Russell: That, too.
Commissioner Hardemon: They're losing money.
Mr. Ihekwaba: That's what it is.
Commissioner Hardemon: Either -- they charge too much, right? They haven't
adopted new ridership concepts, new technology. No one wants to ride it.
Chair Russell: Right.
Commissioner Hardemon: It's not pleasurable, you know. So I
(UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Chair Russell: We're suckers if we just let our trolley take over their bus routes,
and all the money falls on our shoulders.
Commissioner Hardemon: Right.
Chair Russell: We should work together. We should work together.
Commissioner Hardemon: The trolley system is certainly something that is meant
for short -distance traveling. It's meant for pleasure, if you will. It gets not only
tourists, but our locals, they have an opportunity to get on it and enjoy that concept;
go from one distance to another. The bus system I look at as completely different.
The bus system is meant to take you from -- you know -- from 42nd Street all the
way to 199th Street, right? That's what it's for.
Lice Chair Gort: So you can go to work.
Commissioner Hardemon: So you can go to work, right.
Lice Chair Gort: So you can move on the outskirts and you can get to work.
Commissioner Hardemon: So I think that two -- they have two different things. I
just -- any time I'm being forced to make a decision about something where I'm not
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sure what my decision is, you know, I'm pushed to say, "no. " And I don't want to
say, "no, " necessarily. And I don't think that the County --
Commissioner Reyes: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Commissioner Hardemon: -- the big bad County is going to make a decision about
changing their trolley and their -- or their bus system next week.
Chair Russell: Would you be open to this with the reso -- with the amendment? I
don't believe it binds us. This really just brings us to the table.
Later...
L ice Chair Gort: Look, this is my last one here. I'll retire my motion.
Chair Russell: All right. Commissioner Gort has withdrawn. Commissioner
Carollo --
Commissioner Reyes: Well, but it is not necessary. I will support it if we have all
the amendments; that we are not bound, and they don't dictate what we could do
with our trolley system; and as a matter of fact, they will come and work with as,
since they are experts, on how to use our trolley system a better way and as feeders
to bus routes, and also taking our people -- or neighborhood, because this is -- the
trolley system is made for neighbors and to serve neighborhoods --
Vice Chair Gort: Right.
Commissioner Reyes: -- because it goes inside the neighborhoods; how do -- we
can do it better, not eliminate them.
t ice Chair Gort: Mr. Chair.
Chair Russell: Yes, 1 ice Chairman.
T ice Chair Gort: My understanding is last week, we discussed it. We told the
Administration to look at it again, and you come up with this -- with a draft. They
didn't come up with anything. And something that's -- my understanding is the
County Commission's going to make a decision on this today. I'd like to have some
input. I think there should have been a lot of legislation taken place before
anything takes place, and they got to come and talk to us.
Chair Russell: Yeah.
Lice Chair Gort: And what --I'm asking Administration to keep the Commissioners
aware of everything that takes place.
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NA.3 RESOLUTION
6719 A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION
City Commission SUPPORTING TRANSIT ALLIANCE'S OBJECTIVES
CONCERNING INTERCONNECTIVITY OF CITY OF MIAMI
TROLLEYS WITH MIAMI-DADE COUNTY'S TRANSPORTATION
SYSTEM; DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO COLLABORATE
WITH THE CITY COMMISSION AND TRANSIT ALLIANCE TO
EXPLORE HOW TO ACHIEVE THE OBJECTIVES PROPOSED BY
THE BETTER BUS PROJECT.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-19-0430
MOTION TO:
Adopt
RESULT:
ADOPTED
MOVER:
Joe Carollo, Commissioner
SECONDER:
Ken Russell, Commissioner
AYES:
Russell, Gort, Carollo, Reyes, Hardemon
Commissioner Carollo: Mr. Chair.
Chair Russell: Yes, Commissioner Carollo; your microphone.
Commissioner Carollo: I had from before a resolution on this item, but we could
make a hybrid with what Commissioner Gort has there, and I think it meets more of
the intent of what everybody's talking about. It's a resolution of the Miami City
Commission supporting Transit Alliance's objective concerning the interconnectivity
of City trolleys with Miami -Dade County's transportation system; directing the City
Manager to collaborate with the City Commission and the Transit Alliance to
explore how to achieve the objectives proposed by the Better Bus Project. This one
we're moving forward, but we're not bound to anything, and, as you said, puts us in
the table. So I just submit this for you guys to look at it and do what you think is
best. We could combine them both, you know; use one or the other; whatever it is,
but on a -- I do agree with the Administration on this one that we can't be in a
situation -- and I agree with Commissioner Reyes -- we can't be in a situation where
the County is going to dictate to us what we could do or not with our transit.
Chair Russell: All right. I've looked at both of them, and they are similar in spirit,
but Commissioner Carollo's is less binding in terms of taking a position on one
model or the other, but it brings us to the table.
Later...
Chair Russell: Vice Chairman, Commissioner Carollo's legislation actually does
take care of everything you're looking for. Once we've amended it, it actually makes
it more -- closer to what he's looking at, and it directs the Administration to work
together with Transit Alliance and bring something back. So I do think it -- I think it
achieves your goal, if that's all right.
Vice Chair Gort: That's fine. No, I don't have any problem; as long as we get it
done.
Chair Russell: All right. So there's a withdrawal of -- and --
lice Chair Gort: I want to make sure we get -- I've been asking for 10 or 15 years
an analysis, because we're taking over responsibility, like social services and
transportation --
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Commissioner Reyes: Everything.
Vice Chair Gort: -- and it's the County's -- and we have a limited budget, and we
don't have the budget. We don't charge it, which is -- ours is free, so -- and costs us
more every day. Now, they have problems all the time whenever you ask for new
trolley routes. They don't know where they're going to get the money from, because
we ran out of grants.
Chair Russell: All right.
bite Chair Gort: And that's something -- and I'm not going to be here. I mean, it's
(UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Commissioner Reyes: Yes. You guys have to --
bite Chair Gort: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) next year.
Commissioner Reyes: I do understand what you're saying, Commissioner Gort. And
also, I foresee that pretty soon, we are going to be made responsible for housing,
also, for affordable housing, because I see the -- I can foresee the County, you know
-- it's a backstroke. I'm going to -- we going to leave this to our municipalities, and
that is had. We got to be ready.
Commissioner Hardemon: They're going to privatize it; they're already starting it.
Chair Russell: So I'll second Commissioner Carollo's motion.
Commissioner Hardemon: I do want to make an amendment to the resolution.
Chair Russell: Yes.
Commissioner Hardemon: In the first "whereas" clause, can you add Liberty City as
one of the neighborhoods that the trolley services?
Chair Russell: There's an "and," so let's put it right after that.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah.
Chair Russell: 'And Liberty City."
bite Chair Gort: AndAllapattah.
Chair Russell: Mover and seconder approves.
Tice Chair Gort: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Commissioner Hardemon: Allapattah.
Chair Russell: I'd like to open the item for public comment.
Commissioner Reyes: And also, does that include Flagami?
Commissioner Carollo: Yes.
Chair Russell: Yes.
Commissioner Reyes: It says --where?
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Commissioner Carollo: Well --
Chair Russell: It does not list -- does not specifically say "Flagami. "
Commissioner Carollo: -- include Flagami.
Chair Russell: It says Allapattah, Biscayne, Brickell, Coconut Grove, Coral Way,
Downtown Health District, Little Havana, Overtown, Wynwood, and
(UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Commissioner Carollo: Flagami (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Ms. Mendez: So we are adding Flagami and Liberty City?
Chair Russell: Yeah; and Liberty City.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah.
Chair Russell: Yeah.
Commissioner Carollo: Any other areas that we forgot to include?
Chair Russell: Just add the words, "et cetera. "
Commissioner Carollo: Et cetera.
Chair Russell: All right. Is there anyone from the public who'd like to speak on this
concept? Seeing none, I'll close public comment. Any further comment from the
dais? All in favor of the item as amended, say "aye. "
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Russell: Any opposed? Motion passes. Thank you very much, Commissioner
Gort, Commissioner Carollo, and Transit Alliance.
NA.4 DISCUSSION ITEM
6728 DISCUSSION BY COMMISSIONER CAROLLO REGARDING THE
City Commission CITY MANAGER'S TRAVEL ON CITY COMMISSION MEETING
DATES.
RESULT: DISCUSSED
Chair Russell: Gentlemen, we have five minutes left in the morning, and we have
about three items that we did not take up this morning. I'm just going to review them
to see if there's any appetite to do that, because we have -- very packed afternoon
agenda.
Commissioner Carollo: Well, now --
Chair Russell: Let me just go through them, so we know what we're dealing with.
RE (resolution) -- I'm sorry. Let me start at the beginning.
Commissioner Carollo: You have RE.9.
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Chair Russell: We took up everything except RE.9 is still on the table; that is the ad
valorem tax exemption, historic property. You wanted to study further on that during
lunch.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah. I need to get something that --
Chair Russell: That's absolutely fine.
Commissioner Carollo: -- I will get just now.
Chair Russell: And then --
Commissioner Carollo: We have FR.1 --
Chair Russell: -- FR.1 --
Commissioner Carollo: -- and --
Chair Russell: -- is the Special Master Program --
Commissioner Carollo: -- FR.5.
Chair Russell: -- and FR.5 --
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah.
Chair Russell: -- is the relocation of peafowl. You'd like to table all those to the
afternoon?
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah, if we could. There's only four -- three minutes left, so
Chair Russell: Of course. Gentlemen, is there anything else you'd like to take up on
the morning's agenda before we breakfor lunch and come back --?
Commissioner Carollo: Yes, one last item. It's a pocket item. It's got nothing to do
with the budget or making any impact to the budget. It's a quick resolution that from
now on, whoever the City Manager is, now and into the future, before they travel,
they get permission from this Commission as to where they're going, so we know that
they're traveling. I find it totally unacceptable that in a meeting that has such
important items, the City Manager is not here today. And we all been around the
block, and we know that in October, you're not needed that much in Tallahassee for
anything; besides that, that's what we got lobbyists for. If you're telling me it's in
March, that's a different story; that's when they're voting. So it's just a simple
resolution so that if a City Manager is going to be absent for things that are
important to this Commission that we make a decision whether he should go or not.
Now, this has been happening all too often that we don't know where our Manager
is. We're not informed, and we find out by pure coincidence that he's out when we
see a selfie somewhere that's being put out. So it's a motion that City Manager of the
City of Miami, now and into the future, will provide permission requests to this
Commission before they travel outside of Miami -Dade County. They don't need it if
they want to go to Hialeah, but they do if they're going to travel outside of South
Florida.
Commissioner Hardemon: How will we manage that? How would he get
permission from the board? If he wants to -- if he needs to travel somewhere, and
the only time we meet is when we sit here today, how is it that we give the
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permission? And -- you know -- say, for instance, if he sends a memo to all of us,
and say each of us, individually, says 'yes. " If there's one objector, then do you
consider that to be approval? If -- how -- what's the mechanic of that?
Commissioner Carollo: Well, this would be a majority vote that is requested.
Vice Chair Gort: Right.
Commissioner Carollo: But I think that it's something that simple. It should be done
at a meeting, because there's plenty of time from one meeting to whenever he's going
to travel again.
Chair Russell: bite Chairman.
bite Chair Gort: I understand where you're coming from, and I don't have any
problem with it, but I think sometimes emergency traveling might come up. And I
think the Law Department uses a system with their -- when they close a case, if
they're trying to settle a case. They'll send us a memo, and we say we agree or
disagree. And if it's an emergency, I think we should do that --
Chair Russell: First --
Vice Chair Gort: -- and allow that to take place.
Chair Russell: --is the Manager going to be here for this afternoon's session?
Joseph Napoli (Deputy City Manager): Yes; he's scheduled to come back this
afternoon.
Chair Russell: So he will be here for the major items we're dealing with, and that's -
Mr. Napoli: Not the 2 o'clock item, but the 6 o'clock item.
Chair Russell: But the 6 o'clock item. Okay. That -- because I believe that's where
this is coming from, very importantly.
Commissioner Carollo: No. It's coming from everything that we have here.
Chair Russell: Understood.
Commissioner Carollo: Obviously, the 6 p.m. item is very important to the City's
future.
Chair Russell: Yes. So I do -- my concern would be on Commission days,
specifically. I don't want to tie the Manager's hands to move very freely and nimbly
to do the business of the City, so I don't want him to have to wait for a Commission
meeting to get permission to change his calendar. What I would recommend, if the --
if this body would like to keep record of and have the right to disapprove travel that
the Manager issue a memo requesting any time he's leaving the Miami -Dade County
area, and if three Commissioners or more protest it, then it could be an issue.
Commissioner Hardemon: I like the way -- I mean -- okay. There's some things I
like and I don't like. Obviously, we need the City Manager here. He has a capable
staff, but we -- you want your City Manager --
Chair Russell: Yeah.
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Commissioner Hardemon: -- here when you have a public meeting. The only issue
that I have is I don't want any misinterpretation of what we're saying by creating a
pocket item. I would at least like to see something that we can read and say, "You
know what? That makes sense; that doesn't make sense. "
Chair Russell: We're creating a procedure.
Commissioner Hardemon: Right. You know, and at least consult with the City
Manager before we make the decision. I think what you're saying in spirit is right;
that we want our City Manager present when we're doing -- when we're conducting
the business. This is an important day for him, as it is for us.
Commissioner Carollo: It's not the first time it's happened, that's the problem.
Commissioner Hardemon: No, and I understand that. And -- but I do think that --
Commissioner Carollo: And he's been told
Commissioner Hardemon: -- we should at least come -- have something that we can
read, so there's no misunderstanding.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah. Furthermore -- look, let me lay it out on the table as
clear as I can. Let me lay it out on the table as clear as I can. I always believe that
when you make policy, it should be good now and into the future; you just don't make
it now for any particular reason or individual. So I believe in this policy now and
into the future. But beyond that and having said that, the Deputy Manager has been
applying for positions indifferent places. The City Manager, I know for a fact that --
has been talking to get a position outside of our City. And there was a name
mentioned in -- particularly up here when I asked what he was doing that could very
well be a reason why he's also not here that could help him with a particular job that
I know for a fact he was interested in getting. So I don't want to be in a situation that
beyond all the reasons that I stated -- and I think we all agree that our Manager
should be here on Commission meetings -- that no City employee, beginning with the
Manager, and particularly the Manager is using time out on excuses of City -related
reasons to travel where he's also going to use it to try to find himself employment
somewhere else. That, I have a real problem with, and I think we all should.
Chair Russell: Commissioner Carollo, I support you, as Commissioner Hardemon
does. And I think the most important is that -- the presence on Commission day, and
if there's any reason he's not going to be present on Commission day that -- some
sort of process. Beyond that, I'm open to it, as well, but I think I'd like to see a
process created. If you've got any patience for this, we'll put it together in a way that
makes sense.
Commissioner Carollo: No, but -- look, this isn't something that we need to do today
Chair Russell: Okay.
Commissioner Carollo: -- that the City is going to have the roof cave on it if we
don't do it today. But there has to be, as you both stated, some procedures, rules and
regulations that the City Manager has to follow. The attitude that I've seen here now
for too long is that we're not his bosses; that, you know, he's got leeway to do as he
pleases, because there can never be four of us that could come to a consensus to
make him do what's right, and I'm tired of seeing this time and time again. I'm tired
Of self e after selfie -- you know -- since I've been here. And, in fact, you can look
back when I was Mayor. I don't charge when I go out to eat with people. I'm seeing
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selfies all the time with the Manager having lunch after lunch after lunch with all
kinds of people. And it's great that he's doing this, it's fantastic, but is the City being
charged? I would imagine. I don't know. And these are the kind of stuff that I'm
very concerned about. When I have to find out through a selfie, or because someone
told me that the City Manager has flown off somewhere, and he's not in the City, not
even a note, "Dear Joe, I will be gone for three, four days, " not even that. So I've
never seen the likes of it. I mean, I know that he doesn't consider, certainly, me his
boss. Reyes is not far behind, and the rest of you are somewhere in there. I've heard
him several times talk about who his real boss is. The others here, you know, we're
just chopped liver. But that's not the way it works in this government. And this is
affecting the attitude and the work performance of everybody down below him. So,
you know, I've said my take on it. We'll deal with it at another occasion. And we
need to do it.
b ice Chair Gort: Instead of "Dear Joe, " it should say, "Dear Commissioners. "
Commissioner Carollo: Well, I figure, you know, since Commissioner Hardemon
said, you know, he could send us all a little note, you know, he doesn't have to call
me "Ex -Lord Mayor, " or anything else. He could just call me "Joe. " I got no
problem with it.
Vice Chair Gort: Great.
Commissioner Carollo: You could -- in fact, you could all address me as "Joe. "
Commissioner Hardemon: (UNINTELLIGIBLE.)
Commissioner Reyes: I got no problem. I'm just going to make a comment. I do
agree that we need our Manager. And I know that we have to set procedures when
Manager is not going to be here, and I think that we need to be advised -- I mean,
that he's not going to be here. But I also don't want to tie the hands of the Manager
if there is an emergency, just as Mr. Gort stated. But we have to be informed. We
have to know, and we'll have to know why; there must be an excuse. Any other day I
don't think, but I -- during Commission meetings, they are -- we are taking very
difficult -- making difficult decisions here, and we need to have the Manager, who is
the -- supposedly the person that runs the City. Manager is the person that runs the
City. We don't run the City, you see. We don't run the City.
Commissioner Carollo: Well, Commissioner, in all my years in government, I've
never seen a Manager that takes off and doesn't inform his Commission that he's
leaving. When I was Manager in Doral, I wouldn't have dared have left the City and
not informed the Council. They have a Council, and not a Commission. So, you
know, I think everybody gets the picture, and I move --
Chair Russell: I believe you -- yes. And I believe you have our support. So the
motion's withdrawn for now, but I imagine we'll be seeing something soon.
Commissioner Reyes: Yes.
Chair Russell: Thank you very much, gentlemen, and we did clear off a lot of work.
The morning's agenda is complete but for a couple items. We're going to break for
lunch for two hours and reconvene just after 2 o'clock to take up the time certain
items. Thank you very much. We'll see you soon.
Commissioner Carollo: 2:15?
Chair Russell: Yes, sir.
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CommissionerCarollo: Okay. Thankyou.
NA.5 DISCUSSION ITEM
6727 STATEMENT BY COMMISSIONER REYES REGARDING HIS
City Commission DESIRE TO DEFER MIAMI FREEDOM PARK ITEMS SCHEDULED
ON THE OCTOBER 24, 2019 CITY COMMISSION AGENDA TO A
FUTURE SPECIAL CITY COMMISSION MEETING IN NOVEMBER.
RESULT: DISCUSSED
Chair Russell: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) for the interruption. Commissioner Reyes had
a little spill, but he is doing okay. He's going to come in and speak to the -- in the
chambers for a minute, but I think we're going to get him checked out, but he is on
his own power. All right.
(Applause)
Chair Russell: Come on, come on. Can't keep a "guajiro " down.
Commissioner Reyes: You know, with this welcoming, I'm going to fall every day,
you know. Thank you very much for your concern. And this wasn't planned; I just
miscalculated the steps, and I really hurt my elbow, and I hit my head against the
wall. I'm still woozy. The Fire Chief and my son, they think that I'm going to go, but
I'm not going to go. They will have to take me to --for -- to Mercy Hospital for a
couple of checks, and I'm -- hopefully, I'm going to ask, Mr. Chair, that we defer
those items for a special meeting in November, like the I5th or something like that,
so we will be here. And I'm going to request that particularly in the contract that the
Administration and the officers from the --Mr. Mas and his attorneys do whatever is
possible to have a contract that we can vote on, as the voters of Miami mandated
that we have a contract in front of the Commission to be voted on, and that's my only
request. If I get out of there early, I'm going to come back, and thank you again.
Thank you.
(Applause)
Chair Russell: Commissioner Reyes, just for the record, you'd like us to take up the
Smathers item?
Commissioner Reyes: Yes, sir.
Chair Russell: Okay. Thank you.
Commissioner Carollo: (UNINTELLIGIBLE)
Chair Russell: All right. Thank you all for your patience. Commissioner Reyes is
doing well, but he's going to get checked by the EMT (Emergency Medical Team).
They're going to take him to the hospital. His request was, of the items that he has
remaining on the agenda, he is encouraging us to take up the Smathers item, which
is PZs.15 and 16. How many people are here on that item? If you could please --
just the front, four, five, six people. Okay. Thank you. We will take up that item for
sure. His other request was that we defer the 6 p.m. time certain items that were
three -- obviously, he was the sponsor of one of them -- to a special meeting in --
within the second week of November so that Commissioner Gort would still be in
Office and able to attend.
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Commissioner Carollo: Which items?
Chair Russell: This is all of the soccer items, which would be the discussion item,
the lease item, and the --
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): PH.8, RE.20, and DI4.
Chair Russell: Thank you, Mr. Clerk.
Commissioner Carollo: PH.8?
Mr. Hannon: RE.20 and DI4.
Commissioner Carollo: D1.4.
b ictoria Mendez (CityAttorney): And I just want to -- Are you going to consider the
special meeting date at this time?
Chair Russell: His Chief of Staff requested the 14th of November; and so, if each
member's staff could look at that date and see if that's possible, we could continue on
Ms. Mendez: So I just wanted to clarify with the Clerk, though, since there is the
question of who will be in office, if there is no runoff, what is that date that the next
Commissioner would be with the five-day canvassing period. I'm sorry to put you on
the spot, Todd.
Mr. Hannon: Oh, no worries. So if there is no runoff, I would get the certified
election results on November 7. The earliest that the incoming elected official could
assume office would be November 12, at noon.
Ms. Mendez: Okay. So that's what I thought based on my rough calculations. So
you need to check that date; what date you want then.
Commissioner Carollo: If you do have a runoff, when's the earliest that you
anticipate that a new Commissioner --
Mr. Hannon: Understood
Commissioner Carollo: -- would be able to be sworn in?
Mr. Hannon: Yes, sir. So if there is a runoff, I would receive the certified election
results on November 22. The earliest that the incoming elected official could take
Office is November 27, at noon.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay. 27th at noon. And if there's no runoff, the earliest is
when?
Mr. Hannon: November 12, at noon.
Commissioner Carollo: November 12, at noon. All right.
Chair Russell: So, Steve, is there a preference? Have you looked at some polling?
Esteban Ferreiro (Chief of Staff, District 4): Commissioner Reyes will kindly
request that we set November 14 as the date --
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Chair Russell: That's okay with me.
Mr. Ferreiro: --for the item scheduled for 6 o'clock.
Chair Russell: That's all three items, and that's -- that works for me. Other
Commissioners, I'll let you look at your calendars or your staff to see if that works.
Vice Chair Gort: I may be in Hawaii.
Chair Russell: Commissioner Gort may be in Hawaii, or may be working on this
issue. He thought this was his last. We're going to have a whole other party over
again; more cake. So we just need to set a date. And is Commissioner Hardemon's
staff here?
Commissioner Carollo: You -- Commissioner Gort, you want to be here on the 14th
or not?
Lice Chair Gort: (UNINTELLIGIBLE.)
Commissioner Carollo: No, I'm saying if you want to. No?
Vice Chair Gort: Hey, I have no problem.
Commissioner Carollo: If not -- so I'll know how hard I have to work or not work,
so there won't be a runoff if you want to be here. You want to be here but work as
hard, we'll get a runoff.
T ice Chair Gort: (UNINTELLIGIBLE.)
Mayor Francis Suarez: I'm not here on the 14th, either. Sorry.
Chair Russell: All right.
Mr. Ferreiro: Okay, he's not -- it's November 14? No.
Unidentified Speaker: November]].
Chair Russell: And honestly, earlier is better. That's b'eterans Day, actually.
CommissionerHardemon: November 11 is t'eterans Day.
Mr. Ferreiro: Okay.
Commissioner Hardemon: I work on 1 eterans Day. I mean, we -- you know we --
Mr. Ferreiro: I don't.
Ms. Mendez: November 12, at 9 a.m.?
Mr. Ferreiro: We're good with that.
Ms. Mendez: It could be earliest, but -- I mean, I'm sure you could have your
meeting in the morning.
Commissioner Carollo: I would need to bring it to the following week. I have --
20th, 21st.
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Mr. Ferreiro: Well, I think we have special circumstances, unfortunately, and that's
what Commissioner Reyes would like to see. If you want to hold off and get a status
Commissioner Carollo: I could be there on the 14th.
Mr. Ferreiro: Okay.
Chair Russell: The Administration is not available on the 14th, so I'm -- I believe the
12th was another alternative. I'm available on the 12th; that's a Tuesday.
Commissioner Carollo: Can we do it --? Steve, they're saying they can't do it on the
14th.
Mr. Ferreiro: Right.
Commissioner Carollo: Can we do it on the 20th or 21 st?
Chair Russell: Well, we --
Mr. Ferreiro: The day of the 14th is at -- you know, there's seven candidates
running in District 1. More than likely, there will be a runoff- more than likely,
Commissioner Gort will still be here, and Commissioner Reyes's will is for
Commissioner Gort to have some input into the voting of the contract.
Commissioner Carollo: Well, he'll still be here on the 20th if there's no --
Mr. Ferreiro: If there's no runoff.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah. But if there's a runoff --
Chair Russell: Let's table the scheduling for a moment.
Mr. Ferreiro: All right.
Chair Russell: Each of the Chiefs of Staff can work together on their calendars with
the Administration and your office, as well, and we'll come back to the setting of the
date for this moment.
Mr. Ferreiro: He wanted me to also put on the record that he supports the PZ
(Planning and Zoning) items for Smathers. I know he won't be here to vote on them,
but he would like for that to be put on the record on his behalf.
Mr. Hannon: And Chair, my apologies, but I just want to make sure PZ.24 is also
sponsored by Commissioner Reyes. Did you want to proceed with PZ.24? Because
there are some people here for that, Item PZ.24.
Chair Russell: Yeah. My understanding is he's comfortable with everything else on
the agenda.
Mr. Ferreiro: Yes, yes, we are.
Chair Russell: Thank you. All right. This -- it stresses me out a little. This -- these
are like my children. As the Chair, although I'm a little young for it, it really -- you
know, we have our moments between us, but there is a brotherhood up here, and it
really hurts to see anyone get hurt. It really -- it's really upsetting. And I'm glad to
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see him walk out on his own power, because that's a -- I have a good feeling you
can't keep a "gualiro" down, so.
Commissioner Hardemon: "Crespogrcan" said that Carollo pushed him. Is that
true?
Commissioner Carollo: Xow you confirmed that you can't believe anvthing he puts
down there.
Chair Russell: Fozr knot-r, more likely, its Ferris wheel vertigo, so ifwe can get back
to the issue at hand.
NA.6
RESOLUTION
6729
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION
Office of the City
SCHEDULING A SPECIAL CITY COMMISSION MEETING ON
Clerk
NOVEMBER 12, 2019 AT 9:00 A.M. AT MIAMI CITY HALL, 3500
PAN AMERICAN DRIVE, MIAMI, FLORIDA FOR THE PURPOSES
OF (1) A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, TO
APPROVE OR DENY, PURSUANT TO SECTION 29-B OF THE
CHARTER OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, A LEASE AND ASSOCIATED
DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS REGARDING THE
CONSTRUCTION OF SOCCER STADIUM, PUBLIC PARK,
TECHNOLOGY HUB, ART AND ENTERTAINMENT SPACES,
FOOD AND BEVERAGE VENUES, AND A HOTEL CONFERENCE
CENTER WITH ANCILLARY COMMERCIAL USES AT 1400
NORTHWEST 37TH AVENUE, AND (2) A RESOLUTION OF THE
MIAMI CITY COMMISSION DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER AND
THE MAYOR TO CEASE ANY AND ALL NEGOTIATION WITH
MIAMI FREEDOM PARK, LLC REGARDING THE PROPOSED
DEVELOPMENT AND CONSTRUCTION OF A SOCCER STADIUM,
PUBLIC PARK, TECHNOLOGY HUB, ART AND ENTERTAINMENT
SPACES, FOOD AND BEVERAGE VENUES, AND A HOTEL
CONFERENCE CENTER WITH ANCILLARY COMMERCIAL USES
AT 1400 NORTHWEST 37TH AVENUE, AND (3) A DISCUSSION
OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION PROVIDING AN UPDATE ON
THE STATUS OF NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN THE CITY OF MIAMI
AND MIAMI FREEDOM PARK, LLC FOR THE LEASE AND
DEVELOPMENT OF A SOCCER STADIUM, PUBLIC PARK,
TECHNOLOGY HUB, ART AND ENTERTAINMENT SPACES,
FOOD AND BEVERAGE VENUES, AND A HOTEL CONFERENCE
CENTER WITH ANCILLARY COMMERCIAL USES AT 1400
NORTHWEST 37TH AVENUE.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-19-0437
MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Joe Carollo, Commissioner
SECONDER: Ken Russell, Commissioner
AYES: Russell. Gort. Carollo. Reyes. Hardemon
Chair Russell: Just for the record, I believe we have consensus on a time for the
special meeting. Has all of the Chiefs of Staff conferred with the Clerk;"
Commissioner Carollo: On the 1 dt0
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Chair Russell: I believe it's the 12th. You don't have that, Mr. Clerk? I'll wait till
someone's conferred it to you.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay.
Chair Russell: I just had word from Steve that -- Have you spoken with all the
Chiefs of Staff?
Commissioner Carollo: At what time is the meeting proposed for? At 12 of 12. Is
that in --?
Esteban Ferreiro (Chief of Staff/District 4): I've spoken to all the Chiefs of Staffs
[sic], and the Mayor, the Manager, and the City Attorney, to do the 12th, 9 a.m.
Chair Russell: Special meeting, three items.
Mr. Ferreiro: The three items that were time certain at 6 o'clock.
Commissioner Carollo: The Manager, don't worry about; he's paid by us, he's our
employee --
Mr. Ferreiro: He'll be here.
Commissioner Carollo: -- he's got to be here. So, you know, that's one you don't
have to worry about. Now, is -- you know, the reason we had the problem with the
14th is because the Mayor's off and abouts [sic] again, flying off somewhere.
Mr. Ferreiro: I believe Commissioner Hardemon was also going to be out on the
14th.
Commissioner Carollo: You too? You got another trip with him, or is he going
alone on this one?
Commissioner Hardemon: I'm representing this fair City in the Florida League of
Cities Legislative Conference.
Commissioner Carollo: What now?
Commissioner Hardemon: The Florida League of Cities Legislative Conference. I
am --
Commissioner Carollo: That's legitimate.
Commissioner Hardemon: -- I'm a -- right. I think it is.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah. Where's it at?
Commissioner Hardemon: It is about four and a half hours north of this location.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay. So you're driving; Disney World.
Commissioner Hardemon: I refuse to answer questions on the record about
(UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Chair Russell: All right, but we're square then. We're good. Is that noted for the
record, special meeting, the 12th, at 9a.m. ?
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Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): No. We're going to pass a resolution.
Commissioner Carollo: Well --
Mr. Hannon: Sorry; this is traditionally what we've done in the past. Since we
have the Commissioners here all present at once, we can pass a resolution.
However, per the Code, we do -- if I could just have some verbiage as to what this
special meeting is being called for, which we'll put in the notice.
Chair Russell: Thank you. And you've already stated which items we'll be
discussing specifically, and that's it.
Mr. Hannon: And we're going to take actions on those after we pass this resolution
here. That'll be PH.8, RE.20, and DI. 4, but we normally will say specifically what
the meeting is called for. Is it to just address Miami Freedom Park?
Chair Russell: Correct.
Mr. Hannon: One second.
Commissioner Carollo: And only that.
Victoria ItMdez (City Attorney): Specifically, these --
Chair Russell: Three items.
Ms. Mendez: -- three items as titled on today's agenda, just so that it's crystal
clear.
Chair Russell: So you need a motion for --
Commissioner Carollo: You got to --
Chair Russell: --a special meeting.
Commissioner Carollo: -- say the item. Someone's got to say it.
Chair Russell: He already did. So you need a motion for the special meeting?
Mr. Hannon: Yes, please.
Chair Russell: Is there a motion, please, for the 12th --
Commissioner Carollo: Motion.
Chair Russell: -- at 9 a.m.? Moved by Commissioner Carollo; seconded by the
Chairman. Is there arty further discussion? Any comment from the public? All in
favor, say "aye. "
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Russell: Any opposed? Motion passes. Could we do PZ.11 ?
Ms. Mendez: And then --
Mr. Ferreiro: Thankyou, gentlemen.
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ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 10: 03 p. m.
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