HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC 2020-02-13 MinutesCity of Miami
City Hall
3500 Pan American Drive
Miami, FL 33133
www.miamigov.com
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Meeting Minutes
Thursday, February 13, 2020
9:00 AM
Regular
City Hall
City Commission
Francis X. Suarez, Mayor
Keon Hardemon, Chair, District Five
Ken Russell, Vice Chair, District Two
Alex Diaz de la Portilla, Commissioner, District One
Joe Carollo, Commissioner, District Three
Manolo Reyes, Commissioner, District Four
Emilio T. Gonzalez, City Manager
Victoria Mendez, City Attorney
Todd B. Hannon, City Clerk
City Commission Meeting Minutes February 13, 2020
9:00 AM INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Present. Chair Hardemon, Nce Chair Russell, Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla,
Commissioner Carollo, and Commissioner Reyes.
On the 13th day of Februaty 2020, 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 Hardemon at 9: 00
a.m., recessed at 12:41 p.m., reconvened at 3:18 p.m., recessed at 7.00 p.m., reconvened at
7.01 p.m., recessed at 7.59 p.m., reconvened at 8:45 p.m., and adjourned at 9:28 p.m.
Note for the Record. Commissioner Reyes entered the Commission chambers at 9: 02 a. m.,
Commissioner Carollo entered the Commission chambers at 9:15 am., Nce Chair Russell
entered the Commission chambers at 9:16 am., and Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla
entered the Commission chambers at 9:26 a.m.
ALSO PRESENT.
Nzeribe Ihekwaba, Chief of Operations/Assistant City Manager
Victoria Mendez, City Attorney
Todd B. Hannon, City Clerk
Welcome to the February 13, 2020 meeting of the Miami City Commission in these historic
chambers. The members of the City Commission are Alex Diaz de la Portilla, Joe Carollo,
Manolo Reyes; Ken Russell, the Vice Chair; and me, Keon Hardemon, the Chairman. Also, we
have Emilio Gonzalez, our City Manager; Victoria Mendez, our City Attorney; and Todd
Hannon, our City Clerk. I will open the meeting with a prayer, and will lead you in the pledge
of allegiance. All rise, please.
(Invocation and pledge of allegiance delivered.)
Chair Hardemon: You may be seated.
PART A - NON -PLANNING AND ZONING ITEM(S)
PR - PRESENTATIONS AND PROCLAMATIONS
PRA PROTOCOL ITEM
7164
Honoree
Presenter
Protocol Item
City of Miami Employees
Mayor and Human Resources
Pins
City of Miami Police Department
Craig Harley — Executive Director of CALEA
TRI-ARC Award
........ ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ..................
RESULT: PRESENTED
1) Mayor Suarez and Commissioners recognized various City of Miami Employees for their 25
years and 30 years of service; presenting them with Service Milestone Awards and
commending them for their dedication and commitment to the City if Miami; furthermore,
thanking them for their dedication as City Employees.
2) The Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA) presented an
award of excellence to the City of Miami. The CALEA TRI ARC Award is given to the
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governing body (or bodies) and agencies that have concurrent CALEA accreditation for their
law enforcement, public safety communications and public safety training. CALEA is a
credentialing authority (accreditation), based in the United States, whose primary mission is to
accredit public safety agencies, namely law enforcement agencies, training academies,
communications centers, and campus public safety agencies.
Chair Hardemon: We will now make our presentations and proclamations.
(Presentations and proclamations made.)
ORDER OF THE DAY
Chair Hardemon: We will now begin our regular meeting. The City Attorney will start to read
the procedures to be followed during this meeting.
Victoria Mendez (City Attorney): Thank you, 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 the 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
www. municode. com. Any person making a presentation, formal request or petition to the City
Commission concerning real property must make the disclosures required by the City Code in
writing. A copy of this Code section is available at the Office of the Clerk or online at
www.municode.com. The material for each item on the agenda is available during business
hours at the City Clerk's Office, and online 24 hours a day at www.miamigov.com. Any person
may be heard by the City Commission through the Chair for not more than two minutes on a
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 Clerk's Office and
at the podium for your 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 www.miamigov.com. No cell phones or other noise -making devices are permitted in
chambers; please silence those devices now. No clapping, applauding, heckling or verbal
outbursts 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 maybe subject to arrest. No signs or
placards shall be allowed in Commission chambers. Any person with a disability requiring
assistance, auxiliary aids and service 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 at the conclusion of the deliberation of the agenda item being
considered at 10 p.m. or at the conclusion of the regularly scheduled agenda, whichever
occurs first Please note, Commissioners have generally been briefed by City staff and the City
Attorney on items on the agenda today. PZ (Planning and Zoning) items shall proceed
according to Section 7.1.4 of the Miami 21 Zoning Ordinance. Before any PZ item is heard,
all those wishing to speak must be sworn by the City Clerk. The members of the City
Commission shall disclose any communications pursuant to Florida Statute 286. 011(5). Staff
will briefly present each item for applications requiring approval. The applicant will present
its application or request to the City Commission. If the applicant agrees with the staff
recommendation, the City Commission may proceed to its deliberation and decision. The
order of presentation shall be as set forth in Miami 21. The appellant will present its appeal to
the City Commission for appeals, followed by the appellee and staff will be allowed to make
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any recommendations they may have. The City of Miami 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 pursuant to Section 2-8. Any documents
offered to the City Commissioners that have not been provided seven days before the meeting
as part of the agenda materials will be entered at the City Commission's discretion. At this
time, the Administration will announce if any items are being withdrawn, deferred or
substituted. Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: You're recognized, sir.
Nzerie Ihekwaba (Chief of Operations/Assistant City Manager): Good morning, Mr.
Chairman, Mr. Vice Chair, 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
withdrawn, PA.1; PA.1, personal appearance by Emilio T. Gonzalez; to be withdrawn, PA.2,
personal appearance by Mr. Rodney Barreto.
Commissioner Carollo: I'm sorry. Can you go over those again and make sure I understand?
Mr.Ihekwaba: Sure.
Commissioner Carollo: "P" -- which one?
Mr. Ihekwaba: PA.1, to be withdrawn.
Commissioner Carollo: PA.1. Which is PA. 1 ?
Mr. Ihekwaba: Personal appearance by Mr. Emilio T. Gonzalez.
Commissioner Carollo: Didn't he defer this; that he didn't want to come last time we met?
Mr. Ihekwaba: That is a request for it to be withdrawn unless it is the wish of the Commission
to defer.
Commissioner Carollo: I understand that. But my question is --
Chair Hardemon: Commissioner, can we just --? Let us get through the rest of them and then
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah, because at this meeting --
Chair Hardemon: -- because you have the right to accept or deny the withdrawal.
Commissioner Carollo: Well, I have no problem with it.
Chair Hardemon: All right.
Commissioner Carollo: But the point that I'm trying to make is that this was withdrawn by him
at the last meeting. I did not hear any request that the gentleman wanted to have it at this
meeting, so it is deferred now is what you're saying.
Chair Hardemon: I think at the last --
Mayor Francis Suarez: No, no, it was withdrawn.
Chair Hardemon: I think this one was from the meeting that it was --
Mr. Ihekwaba: Was -- it rolled over from the --
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Commissioner Reyes: It's a rollover.
Mr. Ihekwaba: --first meeting in January.
Commissioner Carollo: Well, then let me just say this before you could go to the next one: Let
it be perfectly clear and stand in the record that in one meeting that not just this item, but all
the other items were cancelled for the one meeting; that then a small group of people used it as
saying that we did not let the City Manager speak, which is not the case and never was the
case. Let it stand in the record today and forever that the last meeting, he didn't want to come
and speak. In this meeting, he did not want to come and speak. Thank you.
Mayor Suarez: Mr. Chair, if I may?
Chair Hardemon: Sure, Mr. Mayor.
Mayor Suarez: Yeah. The City Manager resigned and was not allowed to speak at that
meeting. I just want to clarify factually for the record he was not allowed to speak at that
meeting. Thank you.
Commissioner Carollo: What do you mean he was not allowed to speak at the meeting?
Mayor Suarez: He was not allowed to speak at that meeting. The meeting was adjourned
before he was allowed to speak is that --
Commissioner Carollo: Nobody spoke. Don't -- look, you're playing with words, Mr. Mayor,
with all frankness. The City Manager did not speak like other people's items were not heard,
because the meeting was adjourned. But it's a big difference between a meeting being
adjourned and someone not being allowed to speak.
Mayor Suarez: Mr. Chair, if I may?
Commissioner Carollo: That's a big difference. But beyond that, if you like, I will make a
motion later on in this meeting, because this is the legislative Commission meeting. You're the
executive branch. Frankly, out of all the different Executive Mayors that have passed by,
you're the only one that's been sitting up here, trying to influence this body constantly at the
same time that you want to be exempt from the sunshine law, and you can't have it both ways.
So I would greatly advise you that you table this so we could go on, because you're not going
to like my future motions --
Mayor Suarez: Mr. Chair, if I may?
Commissioner Carollo: -- if you want to keep going at this.
Chair Hardemon: Mr. Mayor.
Mayor Suarez: Yeah. Look, you're not going to bully me today, tomorrow, any day into
whatever it is that you think you're going to control about what I say or don't say, period.
That's number one. I'm the presiding officer of this body. Right now, I have designated that
presiding officer status to the Chairman, who is chairing this meeting. I have every right to be
here. You, yourself have chaired this meeting from up there. And so, I'm -- you're not going to
come here and try to rewrite history and talk about how, you know, a person was able to speak
when they were notable to speak. You're not going to be correcting the record or establishing
your own record however and whenever you want. It's not going to happen while I'm here.
Okay? So if you want to go back and forth all day, you want to make motions all day, you can
do that. And I'll sit here as the Mayor, and be the Mayor, and you'll sit there, and you'll be the
Commissioner and that'll be the way it -- that we'll handle this all day long. Make as many
motions as you want. Pass as many items as you want. That's your prerogative. You are a
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Commissioner. You have a -- you know, there's a -- this is a Commission. But I'm not going to
sit here and allow you to tell me when and how to do my job, and where to do it and how to do
it. I was elected by 86 percent of the residents to be the Mayor of Miami for four years, and
until that day ends, I'm going to be the Mayor of Miami in the way that I choose to be the
Mayor of Miami. And I'm going to work collegiately with all of you, because I always have
and I always will. And I will always strive to work professionally, including with you, who I
may have many personal differences with. But I'm not going to allow you to tell me how to do
my job, when to do it and in what fashion to do it. It's just not going to happen. And you're not
going to be able to rewrite the record, or recreate the record or create a record that you want
to create; just not going to happen, not on my watch. Thank you.
Commissioner Carollo: Well, let me say this to the Mayor: You like being called "Mayor " so
we'll call you "Mayor. " If you would've presented this same attitude, this macho type attitude
that you're trying to present today, maybe you wouldn't have the mess that you have up on the
second floor with your esteemed former advisor, Communications Director Mr. Pedrosa.
Chair Hardemon: Can we move on?
Commissioner Carollo: Maybe that's the attitude that you should have taken in that situation.
But last that I'll say to clarify the record -- and he is totally wrong in what he's saying -- he is
the presiding officer. If he wants to sit up here and preside this meeting, this is the way our
Charter works. This is why, for a short time when I was Mayor I was the presiding officer. I
didn't sit over there. I sat over here and I was the Chairman. But when you give the
chairmanship up, you can't say that you're still the presiding officer, because you cannot have
two presiding officers at the same time. The presiding officer is the Chairman that he chose,
and no other presiding officer at the same time. Now, if you want to be the presiding officer,
you know, I've offered that to you in the past and your answer was, "No, no, no, no; I want to
be in the other side. " That was before Emilio Gonzalez advised you after you lost as strong
Mayor that you needed to sit up there. But you want to be the presiding officer, then you need
to be up here and you need to chair the meeting.
Mayor Suarez: Mr. Chair, if I may?
Chair Hardemon: So I'm the presiding officer.
Mayor Suarez: No, Mr. Chair --
Chair Hardemon: No. I want to say this: I'm the presiding officer.
Mayor Suarez: Right.
Chair Hardemon: I chair the meeting. I give everyone here an opportunity to be heard,
especially members of the Miami City Commission. And I will recognize the Mayor to speak at
times when he requests for him to speak. He doesn't rule on any motions. He doesn't
determine what our discussion is. He is the Mayor, and I'm going to recognize him to speak.
Mayor Suarez: Thank you, Mr. Chair. And I'm going to -- this -- I don't really want to spend
all day going back and forth with Commissioner Carollo, and how he thinks the meeting
should be run, or how he thinks I should do my job, because he doesn't determine how I do my
job and the fashion that I do it. And you're not -- never going to determine that,
Commissioner. Just -- you know, and your office is not a paragon of how things should be run
in an office. You've had more turnover in your office and allegations of people that have done
things in your office than is -- But, of course, I know that you want to create a narrative where
you want to now put the focus on my office and mistakes that have been made and things that
I've been doing.
Commissioner Carollo: I know you have --
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Mayor Suarez: No.
Commissioner Carollo: -- you have.
Mayor Suarez: No, no, no. But don't worry about it. I'm going to remind people of the things
that are going on in your office, and the things that you're doing and the things that you've
done continually, as well. If you want to do that all day, we can do it all day. But what I
would prefer to do is --
Commissioner Carollo: You're already trying to --
Mayor Suarez: Thank you, sir.
Commissioner Carollo: -- recall me with that.
Mayor Suarez: Well, I'm not trying to recall you.
Commissioner Carollo: Of course, you are.
Mayor Suarez: No, but I will eventually. I will -- I may have to join that effort, because you're
more concerned about arguing with me and debating with me all day long, and trying to
manage and run the meeting and take over the City than you are about doing the work of the
people that are here waiting all day long for you --
Commissioner Carollo: Well, we're the ones that vote.
Mayor Suarez: Listen, that's it. That's it.
Chair Hardemon: Commissioner --
Commissioner Carollo: You don't vote.
Chair Hardemon: -- he has the floor. All right.
Mayor Suarez: Thank you. Thank you, Chair.
Chair Hardemon: We can continue hearing what our order of the day is.
Commissioner Carollo: Which is the next one that you said?
Chair Hardemon: We have PA.1. We have PA.2. What else do we have?
Commissioner Carollo: PA.2 is --
Mr. Ihekwaba: PA.2 is the personal appearance by Rodney Barreto in regards to the Super
Bowl.
Commissioner Carollo: Rodney Barreto?
Mr. Ihekwaba: Yes, sir.
Commissioner Carollo: Did he askfor another hearing --
Mr. Ihekwaba: To be withdrawn.
Commissioner Carollo: -- or is this an old one?
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Mayor Suarez: The Super Bowl happened, sir.
Mr. Ihekwaba: The Super Bowl has already passed, so.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay, all right; withdrawn.
Mr. Ihekwaba: To be withdrawn, RE.2 --
Commissioner Carollo: RE.2?
Mr. Ihekwaba: -- which is the noise waiver, which has already been taken care of --
Commissioner Carollo: The noise ordinance?
Mr. Ihekwaba: --at the January 17 meeting.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay.
Mr. Ihekwaba: To be withdrawn, RE.4, yes. RE.4 --
Commissioner Carollo: Which is RE. 4, please?
Mr. Ihekwaba: The appointment of John Elizabeth Aleman as the Executive Director of DDA
(Downtown Development Authority).
Chair Hardemon: Dr. Ihekwaba, when you say the number, can you just say what the item is,
as well?
Mr. Ihekwaba.- Sure.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you.
Commissioner Carollo: Thank you. I appreciate that; for me and for the public.
Mr. Ihekwaba: To be withdrawn, RE.6, the reappointment of the City Clerk, Todd Hannon,
which has already been approved. To be withdrawn, RE.7, the reappointment of the City
Attorney, Victoria Mendez; it's already happened. To be withdrawn, RE.8, the establishment
of the Miami 21 Task Force.
Commissioner Carollo: The Miami --?
Mr. Ihekwaba: 21 Task Force, which has already happened at the last meeting in --
Commissioner Carollo: Anything else?
Mr. Ihekwaba: To be withdrawn, RE.9, noise and alcohol waivers for the Super Bowl 2020;
it's already happened. To be deferred, RE.10, which is the acquisition of property at 1221
Southwest 14th Street.
Commissioner Carollo: Can you read that again?
Chair Hardemon: Commissioner --
Mr. Ihekwaba: To be withdrawn -- to be deferred --
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Chair Hardemon: -- I want to make this clear. If I haven't identified anyone to speak, the
Chairman has the floor. If you want to speak, please acknowledge the Chairman so that he
may acknowledge you to keep us from talking over each other.
Commissioner Carollo: No problem. I'm just trying to understand him.
Chair Hardemon: No, I understand. I understand. And I'm going to have our Assistant City
Manager read very slowly the number --
Mr. Ihekwaba: Okay.
Commissioner Carollo: Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: -- identify the item, and then again repeat it so they're not -- it's heard more
than once.
Mr. Ihekwaba: To be deferred, RE.10, acquisition of property at 1221 Southwest 14th Street.
Commissioner Carollo: Thank you.
Mr. Ihekwaba: To be deferred to the second meeting in February, RE.16, which is the lease
agreement for water taxi transportation services. To be withdrawn, FR.2, yes.
Chair Hardemon: It's FR. 2, as in "Frank"?
Mr. Ihekwaba: Yes. This is the food truck ordinance on private property. It was already
approved previously in the last meeting under a different file I.D. (identification). To be
deferred to the first meeting in March, FR.5, which is the amendment of Chapter 54 of the
Code for placement of signs, and also for communication kiosks.
Commissioner Carollo: That's for --?
Mr.Ihekwaba: FR.S.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay. Communi --
Mr. Ihekwaba: The pay phones and communication panels; the change in ordinance to allow
and permit those ones to happen.
Commissioner Carollo: I'm sorry, I didn't catch what you said before though.
Ms. Mendez: The kiosks were with --
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah, but he said some word before the kiosks. What --?
Mr. Ihekwaba: Communication; communication panels.
Commissioner Carollo: Oh, communication panel, yeah. Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: The -- I have a question for you in regard to that. I know that there's an
item which is --
Mr. Ihekwaba.- Yeah.
Chair Hardemon: Well, I'll let you continue.
Mr. Ihekwaba: Okay.
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Commissioner Carollo: Do you know -- excuse me, Chair. Can I --
Chair Hardemon: Yes, you're recognized.
Commissioner Carollo: -- ask on this one? Do you know how this FR. S got in the agenda?
Mr. Ihekwaba: It's been on the agenda for several months, since last year.
Commissioner Carollo: For -- no, but for this meeting.
Mr. Ihekwaba: For this meeting?
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah.
Mr. Ihekwaba: It was -- I believe it was deferred from the last meeting in December. The --
there was a (UNINTELLIGIBLE) from the December 12 meeting. It was on that agenda.
Several folks had written to request a deferral, including the vendor for the pay phones that
exist today in the City. They made an intervention, asking the Administration to defer to this
meeting.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay. Thank you.
Mr. Ihekwaba: To be withdrawn, with your permission, Discussion Item DI.1. It's discussion
of the keys to the City and City proclamations.
Commissioner Carollo: Which one is that? Because there's two items. I --
Mr.Ihekwaba: DI. I.
Commissioner Carollo: --placed one.
Mr. Ihekwaba: I think it was an item by you, which already was withdrawn at the last meeting.
Commissioner Carollo: No. This --
Mr. Ihekwaba: Some of these items were in the January 9 meeting.
Commissioner Carollo: Yes, but --
Mr. Ihekwaba: They can be rolled over.
Ms. Mendez: It's a repeat. Just to clam it's a repeat. So there's key to the City, keys to the
City; key to the City, keys to the City. So we're just taking out the redundant one --
Commissioner Carollo: Well --
Ms. Mendez: -- the one that was reset. We're going to hear them today; it's just the other
ones, remember, from the other meeting.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay, as long as you understand I have two on the keys.
Mr.Ihekwaba: Yes.
Commissioner Carollo: One on the keys; and the other, keys and proclamation that -- you
know -- you could take out whichever one is redundant, but as long as you leave one in each.
Mr. Ihekwaba: To be withdrawn, DI.3.
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Commissioner Carollo: "D" --?
Mr. Ihekwaba: 13, Discussion Item Number 3.
Commissioner Carollo: Which is?
Mr. Ihekwaba: Which is the discussion on racial equality within Miami Police, which already
happened. And to be withdrawn, DI4. It's another redundant item, discussion on the key to
the City.
Commissioner Carollo: You have another one?
Mr. Ihekwaba: Yeah. That's keys --
Commissioner Carollo: Which is the numberfor the other one that you have?
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: DI S.
Chair Hardemon: DI S.
Mr. Ihekwaba: DI S, I believe.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay.
Mr. Ihekwaba: Yes, DI S.
Commissioner Carollo: All right Thank you.
Mr. Ihekwaba: And there are some Planning and Zoning items that will happen in the
afternoon thatprobably will be deferred.
Chair Hardemon: Do we have the --? Well, I don't have that agenda in front of me.
Mr. Ihekwaba: If you want the numbers, I can actually read them out now.
Chair Hardemon: Yeah, give them to me now while I don't -- I know I don't have the agenda.
Mr. Ihekwaba: Okay.
Chair Hardemon: I know we can vote on it now.
Mr. Ihekwaba: Yes. It's going to happen after 2 p.m. To be deferred to the first meeting in
March, PZ3, which is a mural decision appeal on the relocation of a mural at 78 Northwest
37th Street.
Commissioner Carollo: Excuse me, Chair.
Chair Hardemon: You're recognized.
Commissioner Carollo: If I could ask him a question?
Chair Hardemon: Sure.
Commissioner Carollo: Was this part of the discussion that we had at the last meeting that
they came to an agreement, or is this a different one?
Mr. Ihekwaba: I couldn't hear you, sir.
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Commissioner Carollo: Sir?
Mr. Ihekwaba: Could you repeat, sir? Could you repeat?
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah. I'm saying is this withdrawn, part --
Mr. Ihekwaba: No, it's not a withdrawal. It's a deferral.
Commissioner Carollo: A deferral.
Mr.Ihekwaba: Yeah.
Commissioner Carollo: Is this deferral part of what we dealt with last meeting where you had
two different entities that were fighting for a mural?
Mr.Ihekwaba: Yes.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay. So it's the same thing.
Mr. Ihekwaba: I think they're here. Both of them had jointly requested for the deferral.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay. I thought it was taken care of last meeting; that's why I'm
asking.
Mr. Ihekwaba: Yeah. The both of them asked for this deferral.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Chairman, a question.
Chair Hardemon: You're recognized.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Does that include also PZ. 4 and PZ.S?
Mr. Ihekwaba: Yes, exactly. They're all part of the same items, all part --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: So 3, 4, and 5 will be deferred?
Mr.Ihekwaba: Yes.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Okay.
Chair Hardemon: Do you want to be recognized, sir?
Javier Avino: Yes, if I could. Javier Avino, with law offices at 1450 Brickell Avenue, and
Robert Fernandez. We're the -- representing the parties for P.3, 4, and 5, and we'd request
that they be deferred as the Assistant City Manager had indicated. And if we could take care
of that today -- I think there's no legal impediment to doing that this morning versus waiting till
2 p.m. -- we'd appreciate that.
Chair Hardemon: That's correct. Thankyou, sir.
Mr. Avino: Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you, gentlemen. Is there any other item?
Mr. Ihekwaba: No. We're done.
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Chair Hardemon: Is there any item from the Commission that you would like to see;
continuances, withdrawals, deferrals?
Commissioner Carollo: Maybe later, but what I -- once we're done with deferrals and
withdrawals, let me know, so I could try to get at some other items.
Chair Hardemon: Okay. Can you please repeat just the item numbers, so everyone has a full
list; make sure we have it all?
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): And Chair, my apologies. Mr. Ihekwaba, I will need to know
the date that you're deferring RE.10 to. I didn't catch that. I caught RE.16 as being deferred
to February --
Mr. Ihekwaba: I think it's going to be continued to the next like meeting.
Mr. Hannon: Understood. That'll be March 12.
Mr.Ihekwaba: Yeah.
Mr. Hannon: RE.10.
Mr. Ihekwaba: To be withdrawn, PA.1.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Hold on. Can you go slowly and --?
Mr. Ihekwaba: Okay.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Okay, from the beginning.
Mr. Ihekwaba: To be withdrawn, PA.1; PA.2, to be withdrawn; to be withdrawn, RE.3 -- RE.2
-- sorry; to be withdrawn, RE.4; to be withdrawn, RE.6; to be withdrawn, RE.7; to be
withdrawn, RE 8; to be withdrawn, RE.9; to be deferred, RE.10; to be deferred, RE.16; to be
withdrawn, FR.2; to be deferred, FR.S; to be withdrawn, DI.1; to be withdrawn, DI.3; then to
be deferred, PZs.3, 4, and S.
Chair Hardemon: Is there a motion in concurrence?
Unidentified Speaker: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Mr. Hannon: I also remember DI4 was going to be withdrawn; is that correct, sir?
Mr. Ihekwaba: Yes, DI4.
Mr. Hannon: Okay.
Ms. Mendez: And on the AC (Attorney -Client) sessions, there's also a duplicate, the shade
meetings, so we will be withdrawing one of those; AC.2, since that was also a duplicate.
Thank you.
Vice Chair Russell: Mr. Chairman?
Chair Hardemon: You're recognized, Mr. Vice Chair.
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you very much. I'd just like to note for the record I'd like to
sponsor PH2, the Scavenger 2000. And in my motion for the order of the day, I'd like to
include PZs -- what is it? -- 3, 4, and S? Yes.
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Chair Hardemon: It's been so moved; seconded by the Chair. Any further discussion on the
motion?
Mr. Hannon: I'm sorry.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: No, no, no. Wait, wait.
Mr. Hannon: I apologize, Chair.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: He would like to --
Mr. Hannon: What was that again, Vice Chair Russell?
Vice Chair Russell: Mr. Chairman?
Chair Hardemon: You're recognized.
Vice Chair Russell: I'd like to move the order of the day, including the deferrals of PZ 3, PZ. 4
and PZ. S.
Chair Hardemon: Okay.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: We already included them.
Chair Hardemon: Well, he just noted it, because this is the first time that we've actually done
it ahead of time, so he just highlighted it.
Commissioner Carollo: So did he include any other item, or did you --? Okay, just 3, 4 and S
that were here already.
Chair Hardemon: Correct.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay. Now, Mr. Chairman, since he said the order of the day, I want
to make sure that we --
Chair Hardemon: The order's not set yet.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay; that's what I want to make sure, is -- okay. You want to do it
now in the same motion, or do you want to leave it as a separate motion?
Chair Hardemon: Let's leave -- let's have this motion. So if there's no further motion --
discussion on this motion, then we can take whatever motion comes next.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay.
Chair Hardemon: Any further discussion? Hearing none, all in favor say "aye. "
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: Motion carries.
Mr. Hannon: And Chair, that was moved by Commissioner Russell; seconded by?
Vice Chair Russell: The Chairman.
Chair Hardemon: The Chairman.
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Mr. Hannon: Okay. Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: You're welcome. You want to be acknowledged, sir?
Commissioner Carollo: Yes. I appreciate it, Chair.
Chair Hardemon: You're recognized, sir.
Commissioner Carollo: I'd like to have time certain items right after our lunch break. The
motions that I have for keys and proclamations and keys, whatever numbers there. Staff could
figure it out so (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Chair Hardemon: Without objection, I'll recognize those items, but after we come back.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah. And one additional one, which will be a pocket item that has to
do with us and our staffs.
Chair Hardemon: Okay. Is it your pocket item or is it--?
Commissioner Carollo: My pocket item. Now, if there are any other pocket items that
anybody would like to bring up, it should come at that time. None of us should have first Bibs
over any others. So if you'd like, what I'll change it to is that pocket items with them also come
after I -- we deal with those two items and keys to the City.
Chair Hardemon: The only -- you want to be recognized, sir?
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Well, pocket items -- the purpose of pocket items is for
them to come whenever the person -- whatever person the pocket's coming out of, right? So it's
-- and we don't want to set a time certain for pocket items. It depends on what the discussion --
the flow of the day. So I don't understand the reasoning behind putting other pocket items
behind --
Commissioner Carollo: Okay. Well --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: -- after.
Commissioner Carollo: -- at least mine, I would like it at that time. But what I don't want to
engage in either is -- look, we are the legislative body. We set the agenda. We're the ones that
have a vote. There's a sixth elected official that is the executive branch, and it's a constant that
he wants to bring up whatever he wants to before the rest of us, and this is what it taking
sometimes a lot of our time, and eats into our time.
Mayor Suarez: Mr. Chair, if I may?
Chair Hardemon: Mr. Mayor, you're recognized.
Mayor Suarez: Thank you, Mr. Chair. What takes up a lot of our time, sir, is your voice. But -
Commissioner Carollo: Well, you're going to have it here for a long time, so get used to it.
Mayor Suarez: I doubt that. But, Mr. Chair --
Chair Hardemon: Yes.
Mayor Suarez: I do also have a pocket item; and so, whenever you think it's appropriate for
me to present this pocket item, which deals with -- and he's right. You know, you are the
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legislative body, and you decide whether any item that I present or that anyone presents,
whether it's the Administration or anyone gets voted up or down. But I just want you to know
that I have a pocket item, as well. I can circulate it to you now or whenever it's convenient for
you. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Chair Hardemon: I think it's already been circulated; at least, it's been put on mine. Thank
you, sir.
Mayor Suarez: Okay. Thank you.
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR ALL ITEM(S)
Chair Hardemon: All right. So what I would like to do now is actually open public comment.
so --
Unidentified Speaker: Do we have to do mayoral vetoes?
Chair Hardemon: -- I will open up public comment for today's agenda. That includes the PZ
(Planning and Zoning) agenda; not the items that were continued. So if you're a member of
the public and you'd like to speak on today's agenda, please approach any of the two lecterns.
Please state your first name, your last name; you may state your address, and what item it is
that you're referring to.
Commissioner Carollo: Chair, may --?
Chair Hardemon: Once again, I'm opening the floor for public comment. You can approach
any of the two lecterns. State your first name, your last name, what item it is that you're
speaking of and you may state your address.
Commissioner Carollo: Chairman, do we need to vote on what we just discussed and you
agreed to?
Chair Hardemon: No, no, I agreed to it. That's fine.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay. All right.
Chair Hardemon: As long as there's no objection.
Commissioner Carollo: All right.
Chair Hardemon: We'll hear your item after lunch. Who's on first? You're recognized, sir.
Hugo Guzman: All right Thank you. My name is Hugo Guzman. I'm hereto speak about the
fertilizer, the proposed fertilizer ordinance. If you'd just give me a minute, I have some
prepared statements. So today we're going to hear about a proposed fertilizer ordinance here
for the City of Miami. You will likely hear some scientific literature regarding the ecological
impact of fertilizer on our oceans and other ecosystems, and you'll also here about some
historical precedence, like the fact that there are similar ordinances in place in 32 counties
here in Florida and almost 90 municipalities. I'm not going to delve into that other than to say
that I concur with what you will hear. What I do want to submit to the Commission for the
public record is some of the scientific data pointing to the role that fertilizer plays in
perpetuating climate change, because I don't think you'll hear much about that today. So one
thing that you should know is that based on the EPA's (Environmental Protection Agency)
facility level information on Green Gases Tool -- or FLIGHT for short -- the industrial
processes that are required to manufacture fertilizer such as the mass production of ammonia,
emit tens of millions of metric tons of greenhouse gas into the atmosphere on a yearly basis;
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that's every year. And that's just the front end of the cycle of fertilizer consumption. There is
peer review to scientific literature that demonstrates that when fertilizer is added to lawns, like
lawns that we all have here in the City, those lawns become a net emitter of greenhouse gas.
So what that means is that your lawn, when it -- or any lawn -- when it is sprayed or when
fertilizer is applied, it emits more greenhouse gas into the atmosphere than it sequesters. All
right? So again, this ordinance that you're going to hear today, it's mainly being put forth on
the grounds of the ecological ramifications that fertilizer has on our City and our community,
but I just wanted to make sure that the council members and the general public are aware of
the climatological impact, as well. Thank you for your time.
Chair Hardemon: You're recognized, sir.
Michael Wohl: Thank you. Good morning.
Chair Hardemon: Good morning.
Mr. Wohl: Mr. Chair, Commissioners, my name is Michael Wohl. Some of you know me well.
I'm a proud resident of the City of Miami, and I'm here to talk on PZ.2, the -- you know, which
was sponsored by my friend, Manolo Reyes, who I love dearly, and -- but let me just tell you
that -- let me give you a little history, okay? So I've been in the affordable housing business for
22 years. My partners and I have built 75 affordable housing developments in three states, 26
of which are in Miami -Dade County, 15 of which are in the City of Miami. They're state -of -the
art. They're the best in class. I'm concerned about the City and its initiatives with respect to
affordable housing, because it seems like you don't understand the business of how to produce
it; and so, I'm really here to discuss that with you. I will give you -- I'll tell you that about a
year ago, I did walk into Mr. -- Commissioner Manolo Reyes' office, and offered to impanel an
expert group of blue --just a group of affordable housing folks to interact with the City to
discuss how to facilitate the development of affordable housing. I read the FIU (Florida
International University) Perez report. I think it's ambitious. Quite frankly, I think it's very
creative. I have some serious questions about the execution. Affordable housing was
developed in -- out of the 1986 Tax Act by Reagan, and there's two vehicles to finance
affordable housing. First is the procurement of the 9 percent tax credit, so-called low-income
housing tax credits, which are Federal subsidies that are administered by the State through the
Florida Housing Finance Corporation.
Chair Hardemon: Mr. Wohl?
Mr. Wohl: Yes.
Chair Hardemon: I have a question for you. Are you going to be here for the discussion on
the item?
Mr. Wohl: No.
Chair Hardemon: No? Okay.
Mr. Wohl: But I just wanted a comment. To give you some perspective, in the last three years,
here were nine projects that were issued by the -- that were approved by the Florida Housing
Finance Corporation. Two were in the City, totaling 225 units.
Vice Chair Russell: Mr. Chair?
Chair Hardemon: You're recognized.
Vice Chair Russell: Mr. Wohl, do you have any recommended amendments to the item, or are
you against the item?
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Mr. Wohl: No. I -- what I -- before you start legislating about affordable housing, what I'm
here to offer you and to encourage you to do is to have a workshop with people that are out
there, actually in the community, building affordable housing, because it's hard. You have
escalating renting costs, you have escalating construction costs, the subsidies are limited and
it's hard. And so, I'd like to -- it's -- you can see that in 1986, the -- really, the affordable
housing piece is Section 42 of the IRS (Internal Revenue Service) Code really talked about a
public/private partnership. At best, this business is the most successful public/private
partnership there is. So I -- you know, I don't have any problem with talking about the
ordinance, with talking about limiting the workforce housing piece, but I don't think that you
should be discussing this or legislating this in a vacuum. I think you need to understand how
affordable housing is developed and how we can best address the affordable housing issues. I
want to give you one example of that.
Chair Hardemon: Wait. Before you continue, because I know your time has expired, I want to
recognize Commissioner Reyes.
Commissioner Reyes: Yes. Mr. Wohl, I think you don't understand the -- what is the issue
here. The issue here is that affordable housing, the benefit; that developers come to us and
they ask for benefits, additional benefits. That's additional density, additional floors,
additional units. They will offer affordable housing in exchange for us granting that. And
among the affordable -- so-called affordable housing that they are offering, the majority has
been what is called workforce. And "workforce" has been misused, the name. It is total -- a
misnomer, because it is used as 140 of County AMI (area median income), which is $55, 000.
If you do the math, you can charge up to $2, 000 per month. That, my friend, is not affordable.
What this -- the only thing that this is doing, it is limiting the definition of "affordable" to the
maximum of 100 AMI, which is $55, 000. Still, it's very high and it is not affordable, because if
you get -- I ask anybody over here, how many of you make $55, 000? Or if you -- unless you
are working for the City of Miami or if you are a developer, but you are not making $55, 000.
A teacher, a teacher, when the teach -- and that's -- teachers are part of the workforce, and I
was a teacher, you see? Teachers, the entrance level is $37, 000, you see. What I'm saying is,
and according to a statics that was developed by our Planning Department, they -- we receive
twice as --from that benefit twice -- I mean two times the number of workforce housing than
any other type, like 60 percent, or 40 or 80 percent of AMI So it is an abuse, and it is a farce
and that's the only thing that is it. If you don't want to use it, don't ask for benefits. You see,
this is not going against the developers, whatever they want. It is -- this is -- you see, I'm a
capitalist. I believe in free enterprise and I taught economics, okay? I -- you can do with your
apartments and you can charge as much as you want. But if you have --
Mr. Wohl: No, we can't.
Commissioner Reyes: -- if you come here before this body and you ask for benefits in
exchange for affordable housing, please give us affordable housing that we can give to our
people that -- You know what is the AMI of the City of Miami?
Mr. Wohl: I know it well.
Commissioner Reyes: You know well? How much is it? Tell me. How much is it?
Mr. Wohl: It's in the 40s.
Commissioner Reyes: No. 35,000. 35, 000. And you mean to tell me that you're building
homes for people that are making $77, 000? And the only thing that I'm changing, I'm going to
Mr. Wohl: I am not. I am not building homes --
Commissioner Reyes: No, no. I'm saying that -- and that is the only thing, sir, okay?
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Chair Hardemon: So that's --
Mr. Wohl: And that's --
Chair Hardemon: --Mr. Wohl --
Mr. Wohl: -- that proves my point, and that is I think you guys need to understand the
business. But let me tell you one thing that was not included in the Perez report, because I
know my time is up.
Chair Hardemon: Your time has been up. And this is why I ask whether you're going to be
here during the discussion.
Mr. Wohl: This is why we need to have a --
Chair Hardemon: Mr. Wohl, listen to me.
Mr. Wohl: -- workshop.
Chair Hardemon: Hold on.
Commissioner Reyes: And by the way, we had many workshops and -- we had many
workshops and meetings that this was discussed.
Mr. Wohl: With who?
Commissioner Reyes: Well, with the people that were invited. I mean, we had one here that
was --
Mr. Wohl: I wasn't invited.
Commissioner Reyes: Well, maybe you don't keep up with the paper, sir.
Chair Hardemon: Commissioner Commissioner -- Mr. Wohl, I appreciate your comments.
Part of the reason why I was asking you if you were going to be here during discussion was
because I knew there was going to be a lot of lively discussion. But this is public comment
time, so we want to make sure that we continue on public comment to allow people to say what
they need to say and to move on. So I'm going to end your time. But if there's anything, I'm
sure we can call on you to speak, or you can speak to us at any other time. Okay?
Mr. Wohl: Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you, sir.
Commissioner Reyes: Thank you, sir.
Chair Hardemon: And before you introduce yourself, sir, I just want to make sure that we
acknowledge one of our fellow public servants. This is Mr. Marvin Wilmoth. He's the Vice
Mayor of Harbor Island. So thank you for coming, sir.
Marvin Wilmoth: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Again, my name is Marvin Wilmoth, Vice Mayor
of North Bay Village. Mr. Chairman, Vice Chairman, Commissioners, I thank you for having
me today. I'm here to speak very briefly in support of Item FR.3, 6789, the Florida fi^iendly
fertilizer ordinance. As we all know, Biscayne Bay is at a tipping point. And earlier last
summer, North Bay Village took the step to pass legislation also encouraging the reduction of
excess nutrients in our waterways. You know, we've seen the devastating effects that algae
blooms have on municipalities all across the State of Florida, and I think it's imperative that
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we all work together to pass this legislation in order to make sure we're improving quality of
life for our residents, as well as maintaining our economic vitality of the municipalities in the
surrounding areas. So I urge you guys to -- I urge you gentlemen to support this legislation.
And if there's any questions, I'm happy to answer those as an elected. Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you, sir.
Albert Gomez: Albert Gomez, 3566 Vista Court. I'm also a member of the Biscayne Bay
Marine Health Summit. I'm on their steering committee, which you guys supported. We
submitted recommendations. One of the recommendations also align with FR.3. You all stood
next to the NFL (National Football League). You had quite a few different events where you
were supporting the NFL's efforts. If you don't support FR.3, you're basically being
disingenuous with the initiatives that the Super Bowl and the NFL were supporting down here
in South Florida. So I would expect you to be consistent and support FR.3 if for just that. The
benefits that we get as a people based on the improvement of Biscayne Bay's health is beyond
that. I also support SR.1. It's about time we recognize the LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual,
Transgender, Queer) community. We support the Scavenger 2000, as well. We need more
cleanups. I'm a little concerned with SR.4. This is basically where this body has evolved. We
are also on this body. We are right now -- actually, we're above this body, because we're
speaking. And we are not seeing decorum at this body, and it's disappointing that we have
opportunities for headlines to make our City better, and it's stolen away by petty fights. And
all of us -- I don't care who you are and what side you are -- don't want to see this at this
Commission. All right? I don't care who's argument is what. You deserve better for your
office. You deserve better for us. And putting pocket items so that you can fight each other is
just further dissolution --devolution of this body. So start respecting us for once. We don't see
it. We're disappointed. We're hereon our own dime. And I got to see this? And I echo this
when everybody -- regardless of recalls or whatever, all of you need to step up your game and
have some decorum. Give some respect to this body and this City for crying out loud.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you, sir.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Is he speaking on an item, or it's just a political statement?
Chair Hardemon: He named a bunch of them.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Are we going --?
Chair Hardemon: Please, please, no. Listen, everyone --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Mr. Chairman, I want to be recognized, please.
Chair Hardemon: Let me say this.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I want to make --
Chair Hardemon: Let me say this first though. If you've never been here before, we don't
allow any outbursts, so no verbal outburst, no clapping, no heckling, no jeers. If you're
supportive of what someone has to say, you can simply show your support by making some sort
of hand gestures that are not -- you know -- confrontational to anyone. We call them spirit
fingers, if you will. But please, no clapping, no heckling. There are going to be lots of
speakers that may say some things you agree with, but you are not allowed to interrupt us that
way. You're recognized, sir.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: And no political statements, just -- the public testimony is
for what's on the agenda --
Chair Hardemon: I don't know if I'm --
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Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: -- and only what's on the agenda. Right?
Chair Hardemon: I know he --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Right, or am I wrong?
Chair Hardemon: Limiting the speech is the issue that I've never --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: It's not limiting speech. It's a point.
Chair Hardemon: No. What I'm saying --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: We're discussing the rules of the body.
Chair Hardemon: -- the rules of the body is this --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I served in the Senate, and we never had political speeches
on the floor of the Senate from people screaming and insulting sitting elected officials. So I
think if we allow the body --
Chair Hardemon: -- this is a body --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: -- I know, but we allow people to testify before -- the items
before us -- about the items before us, and that's it. If they want to give speeches, they could
get a permit or protest and do what they want, but not in this body. We have to respect for the
body and the institution, and I think that's important. And I know you've always done that, Mr.
Chairman, and I know you'll do it again today.
Chair Hardemon: You're recognized, ma'am.
Rachel Furst: Hi. My name is Rachel Furst. I am the current president of the Morningside
Civic Association, and for the last two years I have served in other capacities as officer. So
I'm here today to speak on the vote the Commission took on January 23 setting in stone the
location of the Morningside pool within Morningside Park. I want to ask this Commission to
reconsider that ruling. For the last two years at least, the entire neighborhood, along with
City staff and various City departments, has been involved in a collaborative planning process
about the future of Morningside Park, and where the various amenities -- how the various
amenities there might be improved, or maintained or renovated. This is not unlike an email I
got this morning about these sorts of -- I'm sorry. This process is not unlike an email that I got
this morning on the future of Jose Marti Park that invited public comment; said that public
comment was important, and it featured Commissioner Carollo's photo and invited members of
the community to come out and speak in favor. So we have been engaged in that process in
Morningside. Hundreds of neighbors have turned out for these community meetings. And as a
result of that process, the City developed a master plan that contemplated improvements to
various features of the park, not just the pool. For example, I last year advocated on behalf of
a group of nearly a hundred mothers whose top priority was renovation of the existing
playground, not the pool. We were disappointed to hear after the vote was taken on January
23 that a single resident of the community came before the Commission upon a personal
appearance, without notice to the rest of the community, and asked that this Commission vote
on the location of a single feature within the park -- the pool -- and this Commission took up
that request and voted in favor of freezing the location of that pool, which, as the Commission
knows, is an important feature of the park, but not the only park [sic]. So I am here simply to
ask that this Commission reconsider that vote and give the discretion and the authority to
continue to plan the future of Morningside Park back to City staff and City departments so that
the community can continue to be engaged in this park, which is so important to so many of us.
So I thank you for your time, and really hope that we can continue on that collaborative
process on behalf of Morningside and all park users. Thank you.
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Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much. Ma'am, you're recognized.
Maria Cristina Chicuen: Good morning. My name is Maria Cristina Chicuen, and I'm the
campaign organizer with Transit Alliance. I'm here to speak in support of Discussion Item 7,
regarding the retrofitting of the trolleys. As you all may know, for Transit Alliance, one of our
main goals is to improve public transit by advocating for a system that not only connects our
residents to, you know, critical services, jobs and opportunity, but, you know, we really want to
make sure that public transit is both useable and convenient. However, we've seen that for a
lot of our residents using trolleys, they are experiencing, you know, critical accessibility issues.
And so, we know that accessibility is not just, you know, reserved for our City's elderly and
disabled populations, but for anyone who may require additional assistance to navigate Miami
on trolleys. Transit Alliance first brought up this issue to the Commissioners' attention after
having conducted extensive workshops at several senior centers across the City of Miami, and
we heard repeated concerns about accessibility, so whether it was not being able to get on the
trolleys because of the steps, or the trolleys were moving too quickly, some seniors couldn't
hold on. So we believe that moving forward, all City of Miami trolleys should follow uniform
accessibility standards that include lifts, ramps and other securement devices. By retrofitting
these vehicles, and also increasing the fleet, this Commission is moving towards a trolley
system that is more equitable and more useable for the majority of the residents in our City,
and we're thankful that quick action is being taken on this matter. Thank you so much.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you. You're recognized, sir.
Collin Schladweller: Hello. My name's Collin Schladweller. I'm the outreach coordinator at
Miami Waterkeeper. I'm here to speak in proponent today of FR.3, the fertilizer ordinance.
This is an important ordinance for its limitations for fertilizer pollution and other nutrient
loading into Biscayne Bay. We all know that water quality is decreasing, so I will not even
bother you with that kind of information. But I do want to go over some key components of this
ordinance that I support that I outlined in this paper that I'll pass out. If you have any further
questions, you can ask later. Biscayne Bay is an ecological jewel in South Florida and Miami
wouldn't be the same without it. I think we all can agree with that. And while it has countless
ecological benefits, its economic important is just as great. And Biscayne Bay provides over
$60 billion in ecosystem goods and services; $6.3 million in income to County residents, and
over 100, 000 jobs. And I really hope that you all take this ordinance seriously. If you have
any questions, don't hesitate to ask.
Cris Costello: Good morning. I have a couple of things to handout there. It is a list of strong
fertilizer ordinances, the Tampa Bay Estuary Program model ordinance, and some items fi^om
the Green Industries BMP (Best Management Practices) Manual. I have nine copies, so there
should be plenty for everyone. Good morning. My name is Cris Costello. I'm representing the
National Sierra Club here today. My office is in Sarasota, Florida, the location of the first
strong County level urban fertilizer ordinance in 2007. The things I'm handing out today, one
is a list of the 13 counties and close to 90 municipalities that have already adopted similar
ordinances to the one that you're considering today. We are in full support of your voting
"yes" on that ordinance. This should be the easiest vote to take, ever, because this has already
been done for the last 13 years, with great success. I've been involved in most of these
ordinances; not only the adoption process, but also the implementation processes, the
enforcement processes and fighting the detractors, both at the local, regional and State level. I
will be here for the discussion item; and so, whenever that happens today, if you have any
questions for me later, I'd be happy to answer them. The other two documents I have, one is
the Tampa Bay Estuary Program model ordinance from 2008. If you follow the four -- the blue
dots, you'll find some critical information that is associated with what you've voting on today.
And then the last item I have is a list of items directly from the Green Industries BMP Manual
that support the reduction of nitrogen on urban lawns. Despite detractors, this is the easiest
thing to do. It's cheap, it costs almost no money and the successes across the State are
multiple. Thank you very much.
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Chair Hardemon: You're recognized, ma'am.
Rachel Silverstein: My name's Rachel Silverstein. I'm the Executive Director in Waterkeeper
of local nonprofit group, Miami Waterkeeper. We're at 2103 Coral Way. I want to speak in
favor of the fertilizer ordinance today, and I thank you all for your time and attention to this
important issue. I know Biscayne Bay water quality, and particularly algae blooms has been a
big subject of concern for the whole community, and I'm really pleased to see the City taking
leadership on enacting limits on the amount of nutrients or fertilizers that are getting into our
waterways that are causing these blooms. This is one of a number of ways that we're getting
this nutrient pollution in our waters, including sewage leaks and septic tanks, but this is a
really easy first step. And as Cris mentioned, this is probably the easiest vote you may ever
take. It's a win/win/win. It's good for the environment, because it limits the amount of
pollution that's getting into our waterways, but it also is going to save the City money, because
we aren't going to be putting fertilizer and chemicals that we don't need onto our landscaping,
because in the summer, for example, when you put fertilizer down on the ground, it's so rainy
that it almost immediately turns into pollution. It runs off into the waterways, and the plants
aren't taking it up, so it's really not helping the plants at all, and it's just turning into pollution
very quickly. So by eliminating that source of pollution, we're saving money, and we're not
putting fertilizers down by limiting the amount of fertilizer we're putting down while also
eliminating the amount of pests that we're getting, because excess fertilizer can lead to pests,
which means that we then have to treat the pests with other kinds of chemicals that also cause
money. So it's saving the City, it's saving homeowners, it's saving the environment and it's
really successful. A key piece of this is also the education of the public and the community.
We've already been working on outreach materials; we're happy to help with that. And also,
as Cris mentioned, this has been really successful in over 80 municipalities around Florida.
It's time for Miami to join them and to share in that success. Thank you so much for your time
and attention.
Valerie Robbin: Good morning. My name is Valerie Robbin, and I'm Sierra Club, Miami
Chapter -- outreach chair, that's me. Okay. 730 Palermo Avenue, Coral Gables, Florida. I
am also in favor of the proposed urban fertilizer ordinance; not just myself, but Sierra Club
also; all of Sierra Club, as has been mentioned. I would like to give Michael U, " who is
behind me, some of my time to speak, because he's traveled quite a way to speak up about this
same issue of the fertilizer ordinance. I hope that by reaching out to you will give us the
opportunity to protect our beautiful bay and waters. Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: Sir, you have three minutes to address the body.
Michael Juchnowicz: Good morning, gentlemen. How are you doing? My name is Michael
Juchnowicz. No one can pronounce my last name, so we'll just call me "Michael J. " I'm the
owner, founder, and president of Garden Masters of Southwest Florida, a fertilizer/pest control
company; been in business for almost 40 years. And we service over 20, 000 homes every
month, and over many millions and millions of square feet of turf every month in Southwest
Florida. We go south of Tampa all the way to Marco Island. I'm actually here for a proponent
of the fertilizer ordinances, and I was actually one of the first industry people to get onboard
on this in 2007. So with that being said, I actually applied -- because I called my fertilizer
supplier this morning -- 4,200, 000 pounds of fertilizer last year, 2019. Now, had we not had
these ordinances, I probably would have applied 8,200, 000 pounds --or 400, 000 pounds. So
these ordinances are very workable. I don't have an agenda here; just my agenda is clean
water, guys. I mean, for me, on the west coast of Florida, I make a personal impact on clean
water. And I took the initiative in 2007, and I didn't do it for myself. I did it for my family. I
also did it for my grandkids. So I'm going to tell you that fertilizer restrictions, like these other
people have said, is not an end-all; it's just one point on the compass. You will find that once
you get these restrictions in that other items are going to be addressed. Some frequently asked
questions that I get -- because I've spoken to the Senate, the House, many, many counties about
this -- but a lot of the Commissioners ask, "You know, can" -- "if you're in the pest control
business, fertilizer business, can you make money? Is this a viable alternative?" And the
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answer is, absolutely, yes. I mean my company is quite -- flagging quite well. And the
fertilizer industry is onboard with this; actually have plans for better compliant -- I mean, it's
really good. One other thing that was mentioned already before is there's a soft benefit to
fertilizer restrictions, and that is, because you're not over-lzutriating [sic] your nitrogen, a lot
of your chinch bug and a lot of your fungal activity is diminished. I have hard facts on that
that we actually spend less money on insecticides, and herbicides and pesticides that go under
the environment, and that's also a soft benefit of this. Last year we had a red tide event, a big
red tide event in Sarasota County, all up and down the coast. Well, let me tell you, the first
thing that they wanted to was take potshots at fertilizer okay? However, because we had the
restrictions in place, they quickly found out that actually, it was not the fertilizer, but they had
gone back to finding things, and now the media has actually been publishing waste water that's
been dumped into the bays and whatnot, like that. So I just want to thank you for letting me
come over here. It was a long drive, you have a lot of traffic, but I hope you guys vote on the
amendment.
Vice Chair Russell: Mr. Chairman?
Chair Hardemon: Thank you. You're recognized, sir.
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you. Mr. "J, " I just wanted to say thank you. I'm pleasantly
surprised. I really expected if the industry were to show up today, it would have been in
opposition. And so, I'm really glad to hear that this does not damage your business model, but
actually strengthens our ecology, and it lets us all work together. Thank you.
Mr. Juchnowicz: Because we have hundreds of new starts every month. So thank you very
much, gentlemen.
Chair Hardemon: You're recognized, sir.
Brett Bibeau: Good morning, honorable City Commission. Brett Bibeau, Managing Director
of the Miami River Commission, with offices located at 1407 Northwest 7th Street. I
respectfully recommend approval of PH.2, renewing the contract for the excellent services
provided by the Scavenger water decontamination vessel throughout the City of Miami. This
allocation was already included in the City's previously approved EY19/20 budget. A clean
and fresh -smelling waterfront is vital to economic growth, tourism and quality of life. The
Scavenger water decontamination vessel removes floating debris, and every hour,
decontaminates 600, 000 gallons of water, while injecting 150, 000 liters of oxygen into the
water. This significantly improves water quality, aesthetics and removes odors. This
invaluable and necessary service is provided along all of the waterfronts of the City of Miami
from Coconut Grove through downtown Miami and up to the Upper Eastside. The Miami
River and its tributaries are thankfully included. The Miami River is a destination landscape
for residents and tourists alike. The river has over 10,000 residences, 20 restaurants, 10
public parks, 6.5 miles of constructed public riverwalk. All appreciate and benefit from the
Scavenger vessel's continued excellent services being successfully provided under several
contracts with the City of Miami for over 17 years. Your support for the Miami River District
is sincerely appreciated. Thankyou, gentlemen.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you. You're recognized, ma'am.
Ligia Labrada: Thank you. Good morning. My name is Ligia Labrada, and I happen to be a
resident of the Morningside neighborhood, as well, where I live with my husband and two
small children, seven and eight. I also have the pleasure to serve as a member of the board of
the Urban Design Review Board, as appointed by Commissioner Joe Carollo. And I am here
today to echo our president of the association, Rachel Furst's sentiment, and ask that you
please reconsider the resolution to keep the Morningside pool in its current location. As you
know, Morningside Park is one of our -- among our waterfi^ont parks, and I know the City is
dedicated to creating a resilient city and developing solutions for this. So as we face climate
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change, it'd be a shame to disregard the amounts of studies, planning and outreach efforts, and
this is a perfect opportunity for the City to be in the forefront of readopting and redesigning a
resilient City park. And I want to thank you for your time for reconsidering.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you. You're recognized, sir.
Daniel Padilla Ochoa: Good morning. My name is Daniel Padilla Ochoa. I live and work in
Miami. I'm a trained city planner and environmental designer. I currently work with Ocean
Conservancy and National Marine Conservation, a nonprofit. And I'm actually working
already with the City in the Shores Forward Campaign, so the first municipal ocean
conservation initiative, so thank you. And you might have seen us at Super Bowl. We were
there at Bayfront Park as the Ocean partner. But I'm here today to support and highlight the
importance of the fertilizer ordinance. So as you know and the whole nation knows, Florida
has been suffering from algal blooms from west coast, east coast, and our freshwater and it's
really important that we take these steps. There are many steps to take, but this is the most
effective amelioration tool that we have to improve the water quality in here. So Miami is no
different; water's connected in every other way, just like New York, Boston and every other
metropolitan region. And so, when we spray commercial and noncommercial application of
this fertilizer with excessive nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus, it enters our water supply.
So either it filters through our ground soil, very shallow, so I don't have to tell you why it's a
had idea to poison our own water; or it goes into our canals, and eventually feeds out into
Biscayne Bay. Biscayne Bay is an economic juggernaut for the region. If we have more algal
blooms, it's a pretty easy equation to make. We're going to lose some money, we're going to
make some people sick and we're going to kill some animals. This is a very simple step to take
for the Commission. I appreciate you listening. I look forward to working with you, and I look
forward to working with the Office of Resilience and thank you.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you, sir. You're recognized.
Victoria Mendez (City Attorney): Mr. Chair, I apologize, but I forgot to mention that
Commissioner Reyes also wants to sponsor the fertilizer item, FR.3.
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): And then, Chair Mayor Suarez would also like to sponsor
FR. 3.
Chair Hardemon: You're recognized, ma'am.
Nancy Benouaich: Okay. My name is Nancy Benouaich. I'm the president of the Bay Heights
Improvement Association, and I'd like to first of all give a little history on -- and I'll be talking
about the peacock issue.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much.
Ms. Benouaich: First of all, I'd like to thank Commissioner Russell for sponsoring this issue
and trying to help us out. According to the article here in the Miami Today, dated January 16,
there are approximately 600 peafowl in the Grove. That's not to mention throughout the City,
you have in Coral Gables, South Miami, but a census was taken of 600, most of which are in
North Grove, where Bay Heights is, where -- near Mercy Hospital. And in -- we are happy
with what has been done, but we have a little question about Section 6-4, Article 1, Number 4,
and it's kind of vague about how this is going to take place, the census, and if it's going -- and
according to the article, it says that the study will be based on Rancho Verde -- Palos Verdes,
in California, where they use ortho as a way to keep the population down. But we have too
many. We have approximately 60 to 80 peacocks in an area of 190 homes. Can you imagine
that? So not only do we have the poop that they do, they're on the roofs. They're getting
aggressive, because it's mating season now, and we really need some help on that part of it.
We've had meetings and meetings. I've been at this for two years. As of March of this year, it's
been --actually three years. There was -- 2017, where we met with Mayor Regalado, Mayor
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Suarez in the Commission chamber. There was a lot of people there. I even got to the point
where I recorded the squawking and the screaming one night, and I put it on somebody's
answering service, and they said, "My god, I can't believe this. " Well, how would you like it at
4 o'clock in the morning, 5 o'clock in the morning to hear that? So we do want to thank you
for all you've done, but I think there's more work to be done. It needs to be fine-tuned. We
have somebody on (UNINTELLIGIBLE) in Natoma that feeds the peacocks every morning, and
it's just some -- we need to put some teeth in this ordinance. So I'm willing and able to help
you all and meet again. It's never too late to fine-tune it and get it even better. So thank you
for all that you've done. We really appreciate it. And let's just keep at it.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much.
Ms. Benouaich: Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: Sir, you're recognized.
Neil Robertson: Thank you. My name's Neil Robertson. I live at 5991 Northeast 6th Court,
Miami, Florida. I'm vice president of the Morningside Civic Association. I've resided in
Morningside since 1983. I may be the only Morningside resident still around who rented a
cabana at our pool when it had cabanas. I'm here to speak to ask you to reconsider your vote
at your last Commission meeting concerning the location of the new pool, and I want to
emphasize "new pool. " The one that exists, while it may be repairable, is not providing the
services that the community now needs. It may have been a wonderful thing in 1954 when it
was built, the year I was born, but it no longer services our community. We have had a
meeting. Everybody came to it. Your City representatives, Commissioner Russell came, Mr.
Anderson came, the Parks Department came. And we laid out what their plan was. And in
that plan, there was three locations considered for the pool. There was a lot of other items on
the agenda to discuss, but the one that's been a hot topic in our neighborhood for some time is
the pool. I cannot tell you that we reached agreement with everyone there, but the
overwhelming decision was of the community people -- not just from Morningside, but all the
other residents in Northeast Miami who use that facility -- was that it should move away from
the bay and over to the current playground area, for it to be on higher ground, a safer
location, cheaper to rebuild and would satisfy the needs of the community as it now stands.
When I arrived in Morningside, I was unique in that I had children. It wasn't a place for
children at that time. Now we have hundreds of children in our 400 homes, and we have
mothers that need a pool to go to that satisfies their needs. We need you to move forward on
this. We need you to move forward quickly on this. We have debated this over and over.
Thank you very much for your attention.
Chair Hardemon: Yes, sir.
Andres Candella: My name is Andres Candella. I am a retired physician. I live in 42 Bay
Height Drive. The issue I am talking about is more than a nuisance for all of us. It's an
overwhelming plague and infestation. My wife and I bought the home that we live in 1971. We
like to live there and we enjoy it. I think ever since in there, we raise our four children.
Throughout all these years we feel happy about our home, and our surroundings and
neighbors. I don't feel that lucky anymore. I am only -- and it is due to the massive infestation
of the peacock. For sure, they are nowhere here in 1971 where I move in. They run around in
group of 20, 30, or 40 or even more. Look, let me remind you all we are paying substantial
amount of money in property taxes, water, sewage to the City and the County. In addition, we
pay an impose to ourselves an special tax district to pay for 24-hour police patrol in our area,
which brings some relief to the police force of the City of Miami to take care to different other
part of the City. We keep our property freshly painted and spotted gardens. In other words,
we should not need this situation, and we do not deserve that. Please, I beg you to do
something about it. Try to feel sorry about us for one time. It's about our quality of life, the
quality of life that have -- it have changed for all of us. We would like to stay in our home, in
our neighborhood that we love during the remaining years of our life. I don't want to remain
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forgotten, a filthy, dirty peacock (UNINTELLIGIBLE) as hostage of a group of birds. I think
that is more than unfair. Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you, sir. You're recognized, sir.
Roy Hardemon: Thank you, Commissioner, Chairman Hardemon, Commission. I'm a former
representative, Roy Hardemon, 800 Northwest 56th Street. I was compelled to come back
again, because several things been occurring. Something like the hundred -million -dollar bond
issue that the college brought here the other day and did a report. But the community still
have not heard nothing that says the Liberty City area where it's the most povertized [sic] in
the County, and we can go as far as in the country. And no one takes Liberty City serious.
And, you know, when I look at the CRAs (Community Redevelopment Agency), and I look at
these bond issues, and I look at the empowerment zone that created the new Wynwood and
those four new communities where we advertised, we made something happen in these
communities. You know, I was here way back when, and nothing changed in my
neighborhood; no real economic development. You know, we get all this nonprofit stuff. We're
a dumping ground at this point for nonprofit. We getting ready to put a eight -story sickle cell
anemia in the middle of a community that need jobs. These are career jobs that they're
bringing, and I want them to stop it. You know, the fact is that the CRAs and stuff is good. I
fought for the CRAs in the -- while I was in Tallahassee. I'm going back and I'm going to fight
again. We need the money to fix our community. We want Liberty City to reflect the 103rd
Street Corridor when it comes to business development. When you look at Calle Ocho, it looks
great, and it has businesses. Liberty City haven't had a new business corridor built in decades,
ever since -- I'd say since the '80 riot. I wouldn't want Miami to look as if it is a banana
republic. I want us to fix these problems. I want us to do it now, because I'm going to be
personally looking at the fact that we need to pierce the corporate veil, everybody resolutions
and everything else until it's done for our community. Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: You're recognized, ma'am.
Pat Tzakis: Thank you very much. My name is Pat Tzakis. I'm a resident of Bay Heights and
a neighbor of Dr. Candella's, and I'm here to speak about the issue of the peafowl. And thank
you very much for bringing it up for discussion. It's not just a noise issue. It's not just -- we
think these creatures are magnificent and beautiful. People stop in our neighborhood and they
photograph them. But they're proliferating beyond any imagination that you can have unless
you actually live where they are. My house is not particularly affected, but I am affected as a
member of this community of more than a hundred homes. Just to give you a couple of
personal experiences, I walk a dog. I have a very small dachshund. And one day, I was
walking with my dog and -- on the sidewalk -- and we were about 10 feet behind an albino
peacock with her four young chicks. And we were 10 feet behind it, and all of a sudden, this
large creature goes up into the air and comes at me and my dog, with its talons out. We didn't
do anything to it, but it just unpredictably swooped on my dog. And I was fortunate to be able
to get away from it. I did notice on the same timeframe that albino peacock babies were
underneath the tree. And a lot of times, the peacocks go up in the tree limbs now when it
comes nighttime. And I saw a jogger going underneath that tree where the peacock as up in
the branches, and I told the jogger "Don't go under that tree, because the babies are there. " I
could imagine that somebody would get swooped on. I saw -- over the Halloween holiday, I
saw a little girl who was trick -or -treating She rang a bell, and there were peacocks on the
columns of the gate of that particular property, and one of the peacocks actually swooped
down and flew at her for no reason. She didn't do anything to the peacock, but it went and was
very aggressive towards the little girl, and I was afraid for her. Our neighborhood is taking
photographs and video in cooperation with EIU, because I hear that they're interested in
documenting these kinds of incidents; and so, we are trying to cooperate with them in
compiling other than anecdotal evidence of these episodes. Also, someone has mentioned the
poop. It's not routine poop. It's a very big perimetal [sic] poop that's slimy, and I'm
concerned that people who are walking in the neighborhood or jogging in the neighborhood
could someday have a severe accident. As a physician, I worry about that; senior citizens, and
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just people walking on the sidewalk. So they are a pest, they are noisy, they do poop, the poop
is significant and they are getting very aggressive over time. When I moved into the
neighborhood 25 years ago, they were mainly confined to 17th Avenue and Natoma, and now
we have about a hundred peacocks in our own neighborhood, which is small. So they're
getting aggressive as they multiply, so please help out in finding a solution for these
magnificent creatures.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you, ma'am.
Ms. Tzakis: Thank you very much.
Chair Hardemon: Sir, you're recognized.
Samuel Latimore: Good morning. My name is Sam Latimore, retired professor and law
enforcement officer. To the Chair Mayor, and members of the Commission, I want to thank
you for this opportunity that you give citizens to come and share information. None of that --
all of that information is not negative. First of all, I want to thank the Chairman, Keon
Hardemon. I've had a chance -- as you know, this is celebrate Black History Month. And
those of us who've been around and see the transition that this community are taking this
month as a point of starting something new and different for the future. Chairman Hardemon,
I want to appreciate what your staff has done to get that information out to the public. I also
want to thank the Mayor for his senior initiatives. I see that the County has adopted some of
the ideas. I was pleased to see that, but I want -- I tell them that it started in Miami. Many
seniors are benefiting and will benefit from that program. I want to thank the Manager's
office, because we have seen a dramatic improvement in the quality of life in areas of our
community. It is that partnership that we have formulated with the Manager's office's staff,
and I'm going back to Code Enforcement and Public Works, the NET (Neighborhood
Enhancement Team) office and all the others, and we thank you and we want to say to you
during Black History Month that you are making our children much more aware that they're
not some second-class citizens who do not deserve their communities taken care of. And so, on
behalf of the seniors at the -- throughout City of Miami and Dade County, I want to wish you
all -- or have you share with us, celebrating Black History Month in the City of Miami. Thank
you.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you, sir.
Elvis Cruz: Mr. Chair I'd like this gentleman to speak while the technicians plug me into the
screen, please.
Chair Hardemon: Sure, no problem. You're recognized, sir.
David Winker: Thank you. David Winker. I live and work in the City; here to speak on the
Morningside pool and in support of keeping at its present location. I'd like to read from an AP
(Associated Press) news story that came out in 2018 that's titled -- that sets some context for
what we're talking about. "Parents lineup for hours for lessons at Miami public pools. When
David Winker got to Shenandoah Pool at 12: 40 a.m. Monday to sign up his daughter for swim
lessons, he wasn't first in line. That title belonged to a man asleep in a silver four -door,
parked right in front of the pool gates. By 2 a.m., nine parents had lined up, equipped with
fold -up chairs, portable phone chargers, snacks and water. The October 22 registration is no
runoff. The City of Miami pools are for five levels of swim lessons in month -long bundles; $45
for eight twice -a -week classes. But with only 78 spots each month, they fill up quickly. 7 was
surprised and upset,' said City Commissioner Manolo Reyes, describing his reaction to
learning about the registration lines. 7feel had that we haven't provided the facilities for these
people to not be in line for five hours. "' I have to commend Commissioner Reyes. You quickly
fixed that problem, and I would urge the Commission to stick with their vote to keep
Morningside pool at its current location. It's been closed since the summer of 2016 Let's get
this done. Your decision was based on facts, including an engineering study, consultant study,
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elevation studies and the will of the people in the form of a 2,100 signature petition. Please
take the next step and move to fix the pool, which would be much faster and cheaper by at least
$3 million than building anew pool. Our children need swimming lessons. Thankyou.
Mr. Cruz: Thank you, Mr. Chair. Elvis Cruz, 631 Northeast 57th Street; 42 year resident of
Morningside; past president of the Morningside Civic Association. I'm here today to thank you
for your 5-0 vote to keep Morningside pool in its current location. I'm also here speaking to
thank you on behalf of the 2,100 Morningside Park users that signed a petition asking for that
pool to be repaired, to be fixed and kept in that same location, as well as the 65 percent
majority of the Morningside survey that asked for the pool to be fixed, and 60 percent majority
that asked that the pool not be moved. The Morningside Civic Association is currently not
supporting the majority position of its own survey. It is also contradicting itself.
Commissioner Russell, you'll recall that in December 2018, you came to a Morningside
meeting to tell us that you had a $600, 000 allocation to move Morningside pool. Here's the
letter that was sent to the City. The board immediately voted to turn away that $600, 000
because it called for moving the pool. That's the money that then went to Commissioner Reyes'
district, you'll recall. So here they specifically said, "Don't move the pool, " in 2018. Also, at
the last meeting, I mentioned it would take four years to build a new pool. It was said that that
might have been an exaggeration. It was not an exaggeration. This is from the City's own
documentation you can see underlined in red. They estimate four years to build a new pool.
And we all know about construction estimates. They almost invariably take longer. So, please,
take the logical next step. Move to fix the pool. That would be much quicker and would save
at least $2.9 million. As far as the Nature Conservancy and any shoreline treatment, I called
the Nature Conservancy, and I spoke with Mr. Rod Braun, a Manager there. They don't even
have designs yet, but he assured me that whatever they're going to do could be done without
conflicting the pool or vice -versa. So please fix the pool. It'd be quicker and cheaper. Thank
you.
Chair Hardemon: You're recognized, ma'am.
Brenda Betancourt: Good morning to all. I just have a question for ER.2, and I didn't catch
it; that's still going, or you guys are going to --? ER.2.
Chair Hardemon: That was withdrawn.
Ms. Betancourt: It was withdrawn. Okay. Then not a problem. I just want to support SR.3 for
the alcohol, and I hope that not just the alcohol sales, but all those renovation, they are done
over the weekend so people expand, the businesses is going to be taken care of. And the
reason I say is because we have couple buildings that they do some work in the middle of the
weekend. And sometimes, even if you take pictures and send it to Code Enforcement, we're still
having seen those. And one of the example is 12th Avenue and 5th Street, is a restaurant who
now it have a patio, which is not a patio. Now it's a restaurant, because then soon, it's going
to be walls on it. So that space, it used to be empty. It was the front of the house. Now it's
completely installed, have roof, have everything for the kitchen. So -- and we have report this
couple times, because it's illegal for you to cover the whole thing for couple years, and I'm still
haven't seen nobody going to that place. Southwest 12th Avenue and 5th Street, right in the
corner --
Commissioner Carollo: Chairman, that's my district.
Ms. Betancourt: -- which that place caught on fire the other day, because illegal construction,
as well.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay. So this is the one that had the fire.
Ms. Betancourt: Mm-hmm.
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Commissioner Carollo: Okay. Well, let me bring you an up to date as best as we can. Not
only was that restaurant there illegal, but the business next to it was illegal. There was no tax
BTRs (business tax receipts), and the building built right behind it, that there were three
apartments --
Ms. Betancourt: That's right.
Commissioner Carollo: -- was also illegal.
Ms. Betancourt: And we have report it for couple years, Commissioner.
Commissioner Carollo: And now --
Ms. Betancourt: And I'm still haven't get no answer.
Commissioner Carollo: -- but this is the problem that I am having in my district, but I'm
seeing it citywide. Code Enforcement is not enforcing on the business commercial properties
our laws, but then they go after the single homeowners --
Ms. Betancourt: Yes.
Commissioner Carollo: -- and they make their life a living hell.
Ms. Betancourt: That's exactly right.
Commissioner Carollo: But you send stuff to them and it's like a big sink hole. You never see
what happens.
Ms. Betancourt: I have -- City -- Code Compliance has passed three directors. I'm still
haven't get no answer, neither for the three that already gone and the one we have right now.
Commissioner Carollo: Well --
Ms. Betancourt: So to me, it's a concern about the alcohol, because we have plenty businesses,
and supposedly, they don't have a -- no liquor license, but they still sell alcohol in our
neighborhood. And to me, it just -- this is concerning, because we are supposed to be
following the law.
Commissioner Carollo: Hopefully --
Ms. Betancourt: So I hope that this law that you guys are creating is to regulate those who are
trying to sell alcohol everywhere, no matter where our location are.
Commissioner Carollo: -- when we get a new City Manager, he's going to make sure that
Code does what they're supposed to; no banker's hours, Monday through Friday; that
Saturday and Sunday will be regular days. In fact, maybe we need to put more people on
Saturday and Sunday. We need to have crews every night so that these kind of stuff won't
happen, and to hold people accountable, because how in the world can you tell me that
something's not going on if not only it's in plain sight of Code Enforcement officers, but on top
of that, if they're supposed to be checking BTR license, these places don't have them? So it's --
you know. But I brought others out and then they accused me that I'm targeting, when the only
person that's ever been target in the City has been me. But --
Mayor Francis Suarez: Mr. Chair, ifI may when he's finished? Thank you.
Ms. Betancourt: Can I --? I'm sorry to -- and it is my -- (UNINTELLIGIBLE). Was my two
minutes cut off in the middle? Have I nothing?
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Chair Hardemon: No. You actually still have some time left. Yeah, you're recognized.
Ms. Betancourt: Yes. I just want to see if it's possible for -- as the Commissioner say,
sometimes citizens feels -- they own houses, and you cannot even cut a branch without getting
a citation. But you have businesses or people, they are doing things around, renovation that
we report, and nobody show up, because that person is not going to be touched. So could you
guys please, since the five of you represent our City and create the laws, make sure that if
somebody reports a person who has a abandoned building and is doing renovation illegally
inside, and we almost see the materials going inside the building, when we report it that you're
actually going to do something? Or it's just -- it doesn't matter at this point, and the laws are -
- just throw them on the floor and just do all, whatever we want. I just -- to me, it's just
concerning. Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you. Mr. Mayor.
Mayor Suarez: Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yeah, I just want to respond to -- she's welcome to send
me -- you're welcome to send my office whatever email that you may have regarding a specific
case, and we'll forward it to the Code Enforcement Director at any given time.
Ms. Betancourt: I really appreciate it, Mayor. And believe me, I will make sure everybody get
a copy, so when I send next time, I can have a proof.
Mayor Suarez: Perfect. And then what we'll do is we'll provide for the Commissioner,
because I know that since I've been Mayor, our Code Enforcement cases have actually
increased by about 60 percent; at least that was the last time I reviewed the numbers. So our
Code Enforcement Department has never been more active in going after Code Enforcement
violators than we've ever been, at least in the foreseeable past. So I'll have them give you a
breakdown, Commissioner, of how many are commercial, how many are residential, and we'll
go back in time, as well, to see if that's a trend that continues from the past. I don't think that
there's any sort of -- you know, there may be, just based on the nature of what -- the complaints
that we receive.
Commissioner Carollo: Well --
Mayor Suarez: But we'll get -- we'll drill down on that and get you some information.
Commissioner Carollo: -- but I'm glad you got the hint --
Chair Hardemon: Commissioner Carollo.
Commissioner Carollo: -- of what I was talking about, Mr. Mayor, and I appreciate that, the
imbalance between commercial and residential. But most of all, what -- the residential side
certainly is what brought up the higher numbers that you're talking about. Certainly, in my
district, this is what I'm seeing, on the residential side. And on the commercial side, what
increase you might be seeing or not has to do with minor little stuff, not the areas that are
really affecting the life of people in the neighborhoods.
Mayor Suarez: I haven't seen the data on that, so I can't yet.
Commissioner Carollo: For instance, I could tell you right now that I have found shocking to
me, but that at least in one occasion, one address was kept from me. And I say it was kept from
me because of where it was and who it was that had a problem. But anyway, thank you for
taking notice in that.
Chair Hardemon: Sir, you're recognized. You're recognized.
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Steven Leidner: Commissioner and Mayor Steven Leidner, SSS Northeast 34th Street. I'd like
to complain about the traffic and -- but that's not why I'm here. I would like to bring out the
fact that within the next decade to two, almost a million species of marine and plant wildlife
will go extinct. One of the factors that's driving that extinction is nutrient -- excess nutrients in
our waterways, and that originates in fertilizer -- misuse of fertilizer. So I would like you all to
consider the fact that we are losing our wildlife at an unprecedented rate. This is the sixth
mass extinction in the history of the planet. Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you, sir.
Miguel Soliman: Good morning, Commissioners. Good morning, Mr. Chairman, Mr. Mayor.
I'm here -- Commissioner Carollo, just -- I wasn't going to speak on this point, but our Code
Compliance Department, the greatest problem we have is that compliance of what Code? City
Code. There is a South Florida Building Code, there's a Fire Code, there's a National
Electrical Code. There's all kinds of codes that --for instance, Miami -Dade County's Code
Compliance Department; that is the Code that -- those are the codes that they make sure that
businesses comply to. And like that business that caught on fire, if our Code Enforcement
Department, instead of enforcing the City Code, it would enforce the South Florida Building
Code, the National Electrical Code, the -- all the different codes that that's what those
departments are supposed to do, then they would be able to look out whether a business has a
fire sprinkler, whether it's illegal, whether it complies with means of egress. And our current
Code Compliance does not do that, and that is very, very dangerous for a city of our size. We
are ignoring the South Florida Building Code, the Fire Code, the National Electrical Code,
and I urge you to look at that department, and Mr. Mayor, and make sure that department is up
to par with what other departments are doing, such as the County; not only the City Code. The
other second thing I wanted to do, you're taking an initiative on alcohol, and I think that is a
very serious matter. There's a resolution going on right now to allow our Underline to have
kiosks to sell alcohol.
Commissioner Carollo: In kiosks?
Mr. Soliman: Kiosks to sell alcohol underneath our Underline. And you want to go a step
further? There's 23 pages to this resolution, and on Page 20 -- and it's not -- and on Page 20,
it's ex -- it's waiving the requirement for there to be a thousand feet between the sale of alcohol
and schools or churches. Now, this is not -- this is a resolution -- I'm sorry -- that's going on in
Miami -Dade County.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay.
Mr. Soliman: But it affects just about every single district that we have. This is unacceptable.
What are we going to have; someone in a scooter, riding on the Underline with a rum and
Coke on their hand? This is crazy. And next to it, within a thousand feet of a church; of a
school? How can the County do this to us? And most of all, this has gone already to the first
reading. It has been approved, and it's up for the second reading, if I'm not mistaken, in their
next meeting. So I urge you -- even though it is a County matter, it does affect every single one
of our districts directly, and it is a very serious matter.
Commissioner Carollo: Mr. Chairman?
Chair Hardemon: You're recognized.
Commissioner Carollo: Since you want to be a representative of the County, I'm sure that's
one that you want to take up, you know, sooner than later at the County level. This -- I'm very
grateful that you came here with this information today, because I knew nothing about it.
From the looks on my colleagues' faces, I don't think they knew anything about it.
Mr. Soliman: Yeah.
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Commissioner Carollo: And it's plain outrageous.
Mr. Soliman: I believe that it is.
Commissioner Carollo: Not to mention that we have some sizeable parks right next to the
Underline. In my district, we have Southside Park that is a major park for the area; in fact, the
major park for that whole West Brickell area. And a little further down, we have the back side
of another one of our parks where we're going to, in fact, make an additional park. And then
you go further down, and we have property where we're going to be building an additional
park in Silver Bluff. So this is plain outrageous; that we're going to have playgrounds, with
kids, where we're going to have teenagers playing basketball or soccer, families to gather that
the County is going to be approving, of all things, kiosks, so that they could sell alcohol. I
mean, this is just outrageous. And I think that this Commission should take a resolution, and
Chairman, whenever you think it's appropriate, I'd like to make a resolution today expressing
our opinions against this so we could send it to the County; furthermore, instructing our City
Attorney if there is anything that legally we could do within the law if they pursue this in
stopping them from doing it.
Ms. Mendez: If I may recommend, can -- on the break I pull all the legislation and see what it
actually is --
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah.
Ms. Mendez: -- and then you can have it for whatever resolution may come --
Commissioner Carollo: Sure.
Ms. Mendez: -- in the afternoon?
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah. Would you like for me to wait for this afternoon for a
resolution on that, Chairman? Or --
Chair Hardemon: I think it -- yeah. I think it's appropriate that we get the ordinance first, so
we know exactly what it says --
Commissioner Carollo: Okay.
Chair Hardemon: -- and we know what we're voting on.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay. Thank you. Thank you very much.
Mr. Soliman: And thank you, Commissioner. And Chairman Hardemon, I believe there are
some churches along the Underline in your section. And Commissioner Russell, think of the
businesses in Brickell that right now pay a license, have an establishment, a restaurant to sell
their liquor, and all of a sudden, someone's going to come and put a kiosk right in front of the
restaurant to sell liquor. That's unacceptable. It's unacceptable to that business, it's
unacceptable to our churches, to our school and our residents. Thank you.
Commissioner Carollo: How can they even get a license for that?
Mr. Soliman: I don't know, Commissioner. That's a very good question. How can they waive
a restriction and put -- to sell alcohol within a thousand feet of a church or a school? These
are all very good questions.
Commissioner Reyes: Let's take a break.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you, sir.
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Commissioner Carollo: Thank you.
Mr. Soliman: Thank you very much.
Jose Romero: Thank you, Mayor Chairman, Commissioners, for the opportunity to speak. My
name is Jose Romero, and I live off of 27th Avenue and Coral Way. I attended public and
private schools here in Miami, and I graduated from Belen, and I received my MBA (Master of
Business Administration) from the Yale School of Management. Prior to starting my own
development firm, I was Vice President of Development for Housing Trust Group, the largest
affordable housing provider here in Florida. I built their two largest deals, one market rate,
one affordable; Princeton Park down in Naranja. I am greatly concerned regarding the
proposed changes to the Workforce Housing Program. I feel compelled to express my -- the
economics of this decision and who it affects. I started my development company to fix our
affordability and wealth crisis. The density program must provide more benefit than cost in
order for developers to use it. Lowering the percentage to a hundred percent instead of the
mixed income approach will reduce those that can access this program, but more importantly,
the incentive to do it at all. Although a single person making 140 percent of AMI is $83, 020,
as mentioned in the papers, a household of two hard-working individuals making an average of
$22.82 or 47, 000, also make 140 percent of median income. That is basically the starting
salary for our teachers. I think if this change should be made, it maybe require two income
households, so you don't receive the single person. The two items that affect whether or not to
use this program for development is your land cost -- higher equals better -- and your
construction to product that housing. Lower. is better. The current program has a break-even
land cost of 46,290. Right now, there are still achievable select sections of T6 that meet this
requirement. At a hundred percent, that cost drops to 38, 000. This almost doesn't exist in our
current high -density zones. The break-even point for construction is currently 165, 000. For
one bedrooms and very, very small twos, that's still potentially possible. The new break-even
point would be 135, 000. That is not possible. The only place that would be possible is for
single-family homes, and you can't add density for single-family homes; it's the opposite of the
program. So this is not what we want; this is not something that is achievable. We need
something that is achievable, and that this current change is not the answer. I'm happy to
share my math, discuss ways to design better options to achieve your goals, or help in any way.
Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you, sir. Is there any other person here for public comment?
Ma'am, you're recognized.
Reagan Pace: Hi. My name is Reagan Pace. I'm a resident of Coconut Grove. And I'm just
coming to state my support for the fertilizer ordinance. On Key Biscayne Tuesday night, this
passed unanimously. I'm sure you guys are familiar with the ordinance. We're also -- there's
also one being worked through Coral Gables, the City of Coral Gables, as well. It's a 15 foot
setback, no fertilizer applied during the rainy season, 50 percent slow -release fertilizer, and
then no phosphorous application. I'm sure you've heard there's nutrient pollution in Biscayne
Bay, and just anything we can do to improve the quality of water in Miami.
Commissioner Carollo: Can I --Chair?
Chair Hardemon: You're recognized.
Commissioner Carollo: Can I recommend something to you --
Ms. Pace: Sure
Commissioner Carollo: -- and all the people that have come here?
Ms. Pace: Yeah.
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Commissioner Carollo: You should go to Miami -Dade County.
Ms. Pace: I have been.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah, but not for what I'm going to tell you.
Ms. Pace: Okay.
Commissioner Carollo: And demand --
Ms. Pace: I'll go.
Commissioner Carollo: -- that we get an ordinance creating the law of Miami -Dade --
Ms. Pace: Yeah.
Commissioner Carollo: -- that you could only sell and buy the 50 percent slow --
Ms. Pace: That's a great idea. I mean, there's other things you can do, as well, because I
know people are -- obviously, fertilizer companies are upset and --
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah.
Mr. Pace: -- pest control. But there's other options that you can use.
Commissioner Carollo: Sure, there's others. But beyond the problem with the water, I'm
going to tell you what another problem is that's even more serious to me and quicker, the
impact, and that's our kids that play in the lawns between the fertilizing that is put into them
and then the spraying for insects. We're killing our own kids, and then we wonder why are
they getting cancer at such rates, like they are.
Ms. Pace: Well, that's why I'm saying --
Commissioner Carollo: And it's a combination of both of these, so.
Ms. Pace: Okay. Thank you so much. I appreciate it. Have a good day.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you. Is there any --?
Ms. Mendez: Chairman?
Chair Hardemon: Yes.
Ms. Mendez: On all the fertilizer and chemicals in the water, remember that this Commission
and the Mayor had authorized us to fight against the State when they were trying to change the
contaminant levels, and based on all your work, you were able to get them to withdraw those
type of changes, so I just wanted to remind everybody of that. Thank you.
Commissioner Carollo: Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: Is there any other person that would like to speak for public comment?
Seeing none, I'm going to close the public comment section of the day.
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AM -APPROVING THE MINUTES OF THE FOLLOWING MEETINGS:
AMA City Commission - Planning and Zoning - Oct 24, 2019 9:00 AM
MOTION TO:
Approve
RESULT:
APPROVED
MOVER:
Joe Carollo, Commissioner
SECONDER:
Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
AYES:
Russell, Diaz de la Portilla, Carollo, Reyes
ABSENT:
Hardemon
Vice Chair Russell: We would like to take up Items AM.1 and 2, the meeting
minutes of October 24 and January 17. Is there a motion?
Commissioner Carollo: Would you say those again, please?
Vice Chair Russell: AM], AM.2. It's just the minutes of October 24 and the
minutes of January 17.
Commissioner Carollo: AM], AM.2, there's a motion for those.
Vice Chair Russell: Is there a motion to approve the minutes?
Commissioner Carollo: Yes, there's a motion.
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you. Motion seconded by Commissioner Reyes. All in
favor, say "aye. "
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Vice Chair Russell: Any opposed? Motion passes on AM.1 and AM. 2. Thank you.
AM.2 City Commission - Special Meeting - Jan 17, 2020 10:00 AM
MOTION TO:
Approve
RESULT:
APPROVED
MOVER:
Joe Carollo, Commissioner
SECONDER:
Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
AYES:
Russell, Diaz de la Portilla, Carollo, Reyes
ABSENT:
Hardemon
Note for the Record. For minutes referencing Item AM.2, please see Item AM.].
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MV - MAYORAL VETO(ES)
MV.1 RESOLUTION
6965 A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION DIRECTING
City Commission THE INDEPENDENT AUDITOR GENERAL TO INVESTIGATE THE
ACCUSATIONS PRESENTED AT THE DECEMBER 12, 2019 CITY
COMMISSION MEETING DURING THE DISCUSSION OF AGENDA
ITEM D1.5; FURTHER DIRECTING THE INDEPENDENT AUDITOR
GENERAL TO PROVIDE A STATUS REPORT ON THE
INVESTIGATION AT THE JANUARY 23, 2020 CITY COMMISSION
MEETING.
RESULT: ADOPTED - NOT SUBJECT TO MAYORAL VETO
Note for the Record. Pursuant to Office of the City Attorney Legal Opinion #19-002,
the City Commission took no action on the mayoral veto due to the City Attorney's
position that the resolution directing the Auditor General is not subject to veto by the
Mayor. As such, the resolution is adopted as originally passed at the December 12,
2019 City Commission Meeting.
Chair Hardemon: Mr. Clerk, are there any mayoral vetoes?
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): Yes. Mayor Suarez has vetoed Resolution R-19-0522 that
was passed at the December 12, 2019 City Commission meeting. Resolution R-19-0522
is a resolution of the Miami City Commission directing the Independent Auditor General
to investigate the accusations presented at the December 12, 2019 City Commission
meeting during the discussion of Agenda Item DI5; further directing the Independent
Auditor General to provide a status report on the investigation at the January 23, 2020
City Commission meeting.
Mayor Francis Suarez: Mr. Chair?
Chair Hardemon: You're recognized, Mr. Mayor.
Mayor Suarez: Thank you. You know, we've talked about this already before. I don't
think it's properly before you today, because my contention is that the mayoral veto
which was properly -- pursuant to our ordinance -- placed on the next available regular
Commission meeting as the first substantive item by the Clerk, as required by law. It was
not acted on by the Commission when the Commission was abruptly adjourned. There's
since been a special meeting where it was also not acted on by the City Commission. So
my contention is that the mayoral veto was sustained. Obviously, the City Attorney
disagrees and has issued an opinion essentially stating that the mayoral veto was not
proper. As I've mentioned before, I think that this requires -- and that this Commission
should want, frankly -- a judicial clarification on this issue. And the reason why I think
the Commission should want a judicial clarification on this issue is for a variety of
reasons. The first is, at some point, one of the Commissioners may be the Mayor, and I
think it's important to uphold the integrity of the Office of the Mayor and the Mayor's
authority. Secondly, the mayoral veto, which is the only act that the Mayor can take to
uphold the integrity of the legislative process is something that protects Commission
districts that are minority districts. And any one Commissioner can at some point want
the Mayor to veto something that is a legislative item. The third reason is we have a
scenario under which items that have been veto -able for 23 years under this system of
government are now magically not veto -able. So we are now getting -- and I'll give you
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two examples from the last Commission meeting. One of them was a noise waiver; the
other one was an appropriation, AN (Anti -Poverty Initiative). And I have examples here
where just two weeks before that API, which is -- which I agree should be veto -able. It's
something that, based on some changes that the City Attorney suggested or proffered that
this Commission approved in legislation is now all of a sudden not veto -able. So you
have significantly reduced the ability of the Mayor to veto items, which I think is
something that is a breach of our constitutional powers. In addition to that, you've given
the City Attorney unfettered ability to determine what is veto -able and what is not veto -
able. That is extremely dangerous, because now the signature report has been
diminished significantly on items that nobody disagrees were veto -able up until these
decisions were made. And so, I think the most prudent course is -- and I'm -- I have -- I
can get a law firm to represent the Mayor's interest, pro Bono, The City Attorney can
represent her opinion and the City's interest, and it won't cost the taxpayers any money,
but there will be judicial clarification on this issue, because this is something that is
extremely, extremely dangerous. Our residents -- you know, the only position in the City
government where all of our residents vote on is the position of Mayor. The Mayor does
not sit on the council -- does not sit on the Commission, does not have a vote. And so, the
Mayor's exercising of legislative prerogative is the exercise of the veto, which is the
Mayor's -- you okay?
Commissioner Carollo: I'm great, but I didn't realize that -- after this morning, you were
disagreeing with me. Now you're going to agree with me on what the Mayor's duties and
positions are. So I'm happy that, you know, you finally came along from earlier in the
morning in what your roles is in the City, that's all.
Mayor Suarez: Well, that's one of my roles.
Commissioner Carollo: Oh.
Mayor Suarez: I have several roles; that's one of them. So -- but it's an important one,
because it protects the integrity of the legislative process. And the way that our Charter
is set out, three Commissioners, in most cases, can approve legislation, the Mayor can
veto it, and then this Commission has a right to overturn that veto by a supermajority,
meaning four of the Commissioners; doesn't even require unanimity. So I would
respectfully request that the Commission authorize the City Attorney to allow me to hire
outside counsel. I'll do it at -- I will submit that it'll be at no cost to the City, it'll be a pro
Bono law firm, and that way, we can get judicial clarification on this, which I think is a
very important item for us to have judicial clarification on.
Chair Hardemon: Commissioner Reyes.
Commissioner Reyes: Mr. Mayor --
Mayor Suarez: Yes, sir.
Commissioner Reyes: -- as far as I know, you see, the veto -able items, they are very, very
well stated in our Charter. And because you are Mayor, you cannot veto whatever you
want. We are -- there's a set of rules that govern this City, and it's called a Charter. And
that Charter states specifically what is veto -able and what is not, you see; what is veto -
able and what is not. We have a City Attorney that interprets that, and I trust the City
Attorney. As a matter of fact, let me tell you, I have now working for me one of the
attorneys that used to work in City government; not only here, in other cities, also. And
that veto was reviewed. And today, I think that we talking about this is kind of moot, but
for the future, for the future, I have some legislation that it will be coming in March that
in order to clam this thing, we will, I mean, allow the -- anybody that has any questions
about if it is veto -able or not to go to a arbitrator, you see? That's what he wants. You
want to go to an arbitrator? Well, go to an arbitrator. But my opinion is that we are
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rules by our Charter. Our Charter is interpreted by the City Attorney. If you don't trust
the City Attorney when it goes against you, that's fine. But when it goes with you, then
you trust them. I mean, there cannot be -- we cannot be selective. We cannot be
selective. We have a City Attorney. Now, if you don't agree with her, I mean, and you
want to get an -- and you want to go into arbitration, fine; let's go. I mean, we have to
clear it, but I think that as it is your rule as a Mayor and ours as the City Commissioners
to be ruled by our Charter. And if the City Attorney -- if I present any legislation and the
City Attorney said, "No. That goes against the Charter, " I will abide by it. I will just -- I
mean, not because it is against me, I will have selective indignation that it doesn't -- that
now I don't trust them suddenly, you see. I believe how you feel, but one thing which is
clear in that Charter, you cannot veto everything you want, you see? It is clear in that
veto -- in that Charter. There are certain things that they are veto -able, I mean, and
certain things are not. And that's my opinion, sir. And if you want to go to -- we're going
to bring legislation to that effect in March.
Mayor Suarez: Is that legislation veto -able?
Commissioner Reyes: Hmm?
Mayor Suarez: Is that legislation veto -able?
Commissioner Reyes: Well, you should ask your outside counsel.
Mayor Suarez: Well --
Commissioner Reyes: Ask your outside counsel, and we'll go according to your outside
counselor interpretation or your in-house counselor.
Mayor Suarez: Right. So --
Commissioner Reyes: Okay?
Chair Hardemon: I'm going to recognize the Mayor, then the Vice Chair.
Mayor Suarez: Thank you, Mr. Chair. So first of all, there is a fundamental
disagreement with what the City Attorney believes the Mayor's veto provision of the
Charter allows for the Mayor to veto versus what it doesn't. And I'll give you an
example. For 23 years, for 23 years, certain items have been veto -able, for 23 years, and
now, all of a sudden, based on this interpretation that the City Attorney has taken, many
items are not veto -able. So it's not just about what I feel. It's not about whether I agree
or disagree, whether I trust her or don't trust her. It's -- it has nothing to do with that. It
has to do with the fact that for 23 years, items like the ones that I just mentioned -- the
noise waiver, an appropriation -- are veto -able by the Mayor, and now, all of a sudden,
they're not. That is an infringement on the Mayor's authority, that is an infringement on
the Charter, and it has a very, very slippery slope. You may be the Mayor tomorrow, and
if --
Commissioner Reyes: Who? Me? No. Heaven forbid.
Mayor Suarez: Yeah. Who knows? And the City Attorney all of a sudden says that no
items but for a very small percentage of the items are veto -able. So does that mean that
they are? I mean, in other words, there has to be a check and balance to everyone in this
government. There's a check and balance to the Commission, which is the Mayor.
There's a check and balance to the Mayor, which is the Commission. There are checks
and balances. If the City Attorney issues an opinion, we can agree with the opinion or
we can disagree with the opinion.
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Commissioner Carollo: Absolutely.
Mayor Suarez: The check and balance of that opinion is the court system. So I don't
understand why there would be any hesitation to put --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I don't have any hesitation.
Mayor Suarez: Okay. I just want to make sure. You're not -- you don't have any
hesitation with us submitting this to --
Commissioner Carollo: Absolutely.
Commissioner Reyes: I'm just going to ask you a simple question.
Mayor Suarez: Yes.
Commissioner Reyes: Have you ever thought that for 23 years, we were doing it wrong?
Mayor Suarez: Listen, it's possible.
Commissioner Reyes: Because it happens. It happens. You said, because it's been done
before. I have been in many companies that they have a system of doing things that they
were wrong, and said, "We've been doing this for the last 10 years. " Well, you were
wrong for the last 10 years.
Mayor Suarez: And it could be possible for the last 23 days we've been doing it wrong.
Commissioner Reyes: Absolutely, absolutely.
Mayor Suarez: Right. And so, that's why I think a judicial clarification is the only way to
have certainty in this process. Do you agree with that?
Commissioner Carollo: Could you have --provide us with all the items that you said that
Mayor Suarez: Sure.
Commissioner Carollo: -- were done in the last 23 years and what they were about?
And we could see it.
Mayor Suarez: Yeah.
Commissioner Reyes: That's a good idea.
Mayor Suarez: That's -- I'll -- you can -- you want 23 years' worth of agendas, of
signature reports?
Commissioner Carollo: Well, you're the one that brought up the 23 years, not me, so you
should have it.
Mayor Suarez: Yeah, right. Sure. So we'll give you 23 years' worth -- Mr. Clerk, the --
you know, the City Commission is asking for 23 years' worth of signature reports --
Commissioner Carollo: No, no, no.
Mayor Suarez: -- on items --
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Commissioner Carollo:
Don't get the Clerk involved now. He's got plenty of work.
Mayor Suarez: No, no.
He's the custodian of records.
Commissioner Carollo:
Yeah, but he's got plenty of work. You're saying 23 years --
Mayor Suarez: Right.
Commissioner Carollo:
-- like if you had it already --
Commissioner Reyes:
That's right.
Commissioner Carollo:
-- so if you have it, that's what I'm asking for.
Mayor Suarez: Yeah.
Commissioner Carollo:
Just give us what you have.
Mayor Suarez: Right.
I'll give you what I have, and I'll give you -- and I'll show you the
signature reports and
what has been taken out of the signature reports, which is a
significant amount of items.
Commissioner Carollo: Well, look, one other thing that we're in agreement on; happily
in agreement that we both feel that we don't need to take this item up today; for different
reasons, but we're in agreement with it. So I'm ready to move on to the next item that we
have for the day. But just for the record, don't get mad at me --
Mayor Suarez: I'm not mad.
Commissioner Carollo: -- don't get mad.
Mayor Suarez: I don't get mad, Commissioner.
Commissioner Carollo: You know, I don't want you to come out and -- you know -- put
one of those shirts on. Look how much time we waste constantly in this Commission
when you sit up there and you want to discuss, you want to argue. I mean, this is -- the
point that I --
Mayor Suarez: You want me to do --?
Commissioner Carollo: -- I just wanted to make the point.
Mayor Suarez: -- an analysis of how much you talk versus how much I talk in a
Commission meeting?
Commissioner Carollo: Well, but see, I'm here to talk. I'm the one and some other of us
are here to talk --
Mayor Suarez: No, no. I am, as well.
Commissioner Carollo: -- because we vote.
Mayor Suarez: And I got elected, and they voted for me --
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah, I know; 86 percent,• you spent 3 million bucks.
Mayor Suarez: -- not for you. And you didn't run.
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Commissioner Carollo: You spent 3 million bucks.
Mayor Suarez: Maybe you were afraid to run, but you didn't run.
Commissioner Carollo: You spent 3 million bucks.
Mayor Suarez: That's why you're not the Mayor; you're a Commissioner, and that's it.
Commissioner Carollo: You spent 3 million bucks, Francis --
Mayor Suarez: It's done.
Commissioner Carollo: -- with three guys, two that you put into the race; the socialist, I
don't think you did. I hope not. And they spent a thousand bucks between all three of
them. Look, I did much better when I was your age and got elected the first time. I've
had --
Mayor Suarez: No, you didn't get -- do much better, and barely got elected this time.
Commissioner Carollo: -- seven --
Mayor Suarez: Right.
Commissioner Carollo: -- total people in the race, and I got 76 percent. I didn't spend
anywhere near what you did, and my opposition spent as much and more than I did.
Mayor Suarez: Okay.
Commissioner Carollo: So.
Mayor Suarez: Thank you.
Vice Chair Russell: Gentlemen, let's -- I have one question, please, for the City Attorney
based on what Commissioner Reyes said. He stated that the Charter and Code expressly
state what cannot be vetoed. That's not my understanding from my reading of the
Charter and the Code. It does say what --
Commissioner Reyes: I stand corrected.
Vice Chair Russell: Just a minute, please.
Commissioner Reyes: Who's (UNINTELLIGIBLE)-?
Vice Chair Russell: I have a question to the City Attorney. Does the Code and the
Charter say what cannot be vetoed, or does it only expressly state what can be?
Commissioner Reyes: I misspoke, sir. What can be vetoed. It specifically says the items
that can be vetoed.
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you. So we agree the Charter -- it leaves interpretation for
what cannot be vetoed. So it does list what can be vetoed. Madam City Attorney, I just
want a clarification on that.
Victoria Mendez (City Attorney): Right. It only lists what the Mayor has authority to
veto. It says, "The Mayor has veto authority only over any legislative quasi-judicial,
zoning, master plan, or land use decision of the City Commission, including the budget,
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or any particular component contained therein which was approved by the City
Commission. "
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you very much.
Ms. Mendez: So it's listed out.
Vice Chair Russell: Mr. Mayor, you're recognized.
Mayor Suarez: Yeah. And so, I think what -- the issue I have is, "any legislative
decision" is a very broad category. And so, the City Attorney can interpret that however
the City Attorney pleases. And the City Attorney has interpreted that language differently
than it was in the past. And so, now, therefore, certain items that were previously veto -
able are now not veto -able.
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you.
Ms. Mendez: To clam whatever 23 years of signature reports exist, this was not an
issue. The previous Mayors would discuss the items they planned to veto. The signature
reports were given to the Mayor, because the Mayor was not always present at the
meetings; and so, he could have a briefing of the rundown of what occurred at every
meeting. Because now we have this disagreement on what's veto -able or not, we have
decided to hand over the items that are veto -able to limit any type of confusion so that we
don't take up the time of the Commission on these issues. I feel that it is clear in the
Charter what the Mayor can veto. This just was not an issue in the past.
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you. Mr.Mayor.
Mayor Suarez: Yeah. Thank you, Mr. Chair. And I think what the City Attorney doesn't
say is that I've been -- at least in two years, I can guarantee you, and I'm pretty confident
in saying in 23 years -- given signature reports that have items that are veto -able that
now are not veto -able. So I don't understand why an item --for example, a noise waiver -
- that was veto -able is now not veto -able if it was either a legislative item then, and that's
why it was presented to me in the form of a signature report with the option to sign or
veto it, just like the item that I vetoed in terms of the Commission action, because it is
very -- legislative decisions are a very broad category. And by the way, the courts have
interpreted them as a very broad category. So it's not what I think is veto -able; it's what
the courts that's binding precedent on this City believe are veto -able. And that's not
something that's even mentioned in the City Attorney's memo, which, frankly, I can't even
understand how -- even if it's to distinguish the controlling case -- you can write a memo
on vetoes without including the controlling case law in the State of Florida in the memo,
even if it's to distinguish it. So I just -- I can't even understand how you can get there.
Ms. Mendez: But you're citing Marbury versus Madison is correct, right?
Mayor Suarez: Marbury versus Madison --
Vice Chair Russell: Please, we don't need to litigate this at the moment.
Mayor Suarez: Right.
Vice Chair Russell: I think we need to move on at this point. So I think -- I definitely
wanted to hear what each Commissioner has to say, what the Mayor has to say, what the
Mayor Suarez: But Mr. Chair I just want to be clear that --
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Vice Chair Russell: -- but I don't think we need to go back and forth.
Mayor Suarez: -- the City Commission is okay with the City Attorney assigning conflict
counsel, because she has a conflict, to represent the Mayor at no cost to the City to
judicially determine this issue.
Commissioner Carollo: Mr. Chairman?
Vice Chair Russell: Yes, Commissioner Carollo.
Commissioner Carollo: Just one small last question. What kind of law do you practice,
Francis? Real estate?
Mayor Suarez: Yes; corporate real estate.
Commissioner Carollo: Right. I'd rather have the opinion from the City Attorney.
Mayor Suarez: Okay.
Commissioner Carollo: Thank you.
Mayor Suarez: That's fine.
Vice Chair Russell: All right. So --
Mayor Suarez: But Mr. Chair, just to be clear --
Vice Chair Russell: Yes, Mr. Mayor.
Mayor Suarez: -- that the City Commission is okay with her assigning conflict counsel
for the Mayor at no cost to the City to deal with this issue judicially.
Vice Chair Russell: Do you need a motion or a resolution on this item?
Commissioner Carollo: No, no. We do not.
Ms. Mendez: It would need to be a resolution if I am given that type of authority --
Commissioner Carollo: He --
Ms. Mendez: -- only there would have to be waivers on both sides --
Commissioner Carollo: -- right.
Ms. Mendez: -- if the City Attorney's Office is to represent the City on that.
Commissioner Carollo: If the Mayor --
Ms. Mendez: So it needs to be detailed.
Commissioner Carollo: -- Chair, if the Mayor wants to challenge the opinion of the City
Attorney, then he can go to court on his own accord. He always had that opportunity.
Now he wants to put the monkey on our back. So --
Mayor Suarez: I don't want to put the monkey on you back.
Commissioner Carollo: Of course, you do.
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Mayor Suarez: No. I'm just saying that --
Commissioner Carollo: You have the right to go to court on your own accord without
getting us involved. So why do you want to get us involved?
Mayor Suarez: Okay.
Vice Chair Russell: All right. So the veto is before us on this agenda. Whether or not we
agree with it being here, it is, so we must deal with it.
Commissioner Carollo: No.
Vice Chair Russell: By --
Commissioner Carollo: He just said --
Vice Chair Russell: It doesn't matter.
Commissioner Carollo: -- so.
Vice Chair Russell: It doesn't matter whether we want to deal with it or not. This is an
interpretation, and his issue, his case won't be ripe until there's an issue that -- a
violation in his opinion, of the opinion.
Commissioner Carollo: No, no. Now you're trying to be a real State Attorney.
Vice Chair Russell: Not at all. I --
Commissioner Carollo: Yes, you are.
Vice Chair Russell: -- currently am following the procedures of a mayoral veto, which it
must be heard as the first substantive item on the first meeting after the veto is held. It
wasn't held -- it wasn't heard.
Commissioner Carollo: Commissioner Russell --
Vice Chair Russell: It wasn't heard.
Commissioner Carollo: -- you just heard --
Vice Chair Russell: It supposedly --
Commissioner Carollo: -- your Mayor say that this is not properly before us, because his
position is, since we did not deal with it --
Vice Chair Russell: Correct.
Commissioner Carollo: -- at the last Commission meeting that we waived that already.
So he's stated that there's no reason for us to take a vote.
Vice Chair Russell: I happen to agree with that interpretation.
Commissioner Carollo: And my position is different, even though I'm in agreement that
we should not take a vote, but for a different reason, and that is that you cannot take a
vote on a veto on something that has been placed on the agenda illegally, because he
could not veto this item based on the rule of law that we have to follow from the City
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Attorney. So we're both in agreement, he and I, that this should not be taken up, for
different reasons.
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you. I've had --
Commissioner Carollo: I do want to insist, and keeping insisting -- and we'll spend an
hour in this, knowing you -- that we need to vote on it. Well, we don't. He just said it.
I'm expressing the same opinion for different reasons --
Vice Chair Russell: Understood.
Commissioner Carollo: -- why we don't need to vote on it.
Vice Chair Russell: And I agree that it shouldn't be on our agenda at this point, either.
Commissioner Carollo: Thank you. Can we move on, please?
Vice Chair Russell: So what it is -- so my question is, is there a motion on W..1, on the
veto?
Commissioner Carollo: There has to be no motion. We don't need to make a motion in
this.
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you. Then we will move on.
END OF MAYORAL VETO(ES)
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PA - PERSONAL APPEARANCES
PA.1 PERSONAL APPEARANCE
7007 MAY BE WITHDRAWN
PERSONAL APPEARANCE BY THE CITY MANAGER.
MOTION TO:
Withdraw
RESULT:
WITHDRAWN
MOVER:
Ken Russell, Commissioner
SECONDER:
Keon Hardemon, Commissioner
AYES:
Hardemon, Russell, Diaz de la Portilla, Carollo, Reyes
Note for the Record. For minutes referencing Item PA.], please see "Order of the
Day. "
PA.2 PERSONAL APPEARANCE
6690 A PERSONAL APPEARANCE BY RODNEY BARRETO
REGARDING AN UPDATE ON THE SUPER BOWL.
MOTION TO:
Withdraw
RESULT:
WITHDRAWN
MOVER:
Ken Russell, Commissioner
SECONDER:
Keon Hardemon, Commissioner
AYES:
Hardemon, Russell, Diaz de la Portilla, Carollo, Reyes
Note for the Record. For minutes referencing Item PA.2, please see "Order of the
Day. "
END OF PERSONAL APPEARANCES
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CA - CONSENT AGENDA
The following item(s) was Adopted on the Consent Agenda
MOTION TO:
Adopt
RESULT:
ADOPTED
MOVER:
Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
SECONDER:
Joe Carollo, Commissioner
AYES:
Russell, Diaz de la Portilla, Carollo, Reyes
ABSENT:
Hardemon
CA.1
RESOLUTION
7043
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION
Office of the City
AUTHORIZING THE DIRECTOR OF FINANCE TO PAY DOSHAWN
Attorney
MURRAY AND HIS ATTORNEYS, OBRONT COREY, PLLC,
WITHOUT ADMISSION OF LIABILITY, THE AGGREGATE TOTAL
SUM OF THIRTY-SEVEN THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS
($37,500.00) 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
DOSHAWN MURRAY VS. CITY OF MIAMI, PENDING IN THE
ELEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT COURT IN AND FOR MIAMI-DADE
COUNTY, FLORIDA, CASE NO.: 18-8800 CA 13, UPON THE
EXECUTION OF GENERAL RELEASES, SATISFACTIONS OF
JUDGMENT AS TO ALL CLAIMS AND DEMANDS, AND A
DISMISSAL OF THE CITY OF MIAMI WITH PREJUDICE;
ALLOCATING FUNDS FROM ACCOUNT NO.
50001.301001.545011.0000.00000.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-20-0008
This matter was ADOPTED on the Consent Agenda.
Vice Chair Russell: PAs.1 and 2 are withdrawn. CA.1, settlement, Doshawn Murray
versus City of Miami. Is there a motion?
Commissioner Carollo: Can we get a --
Commissioner Reyes: Move it.
Commissioner Carollo: -- an opinion that --?
Vice Chair Russell: Moved by Commissioner Reyes.
Commissioner Carollo: I'll second it, but can we get --
Vice Chair Russell: Second by Commissioner Carollo.
Commissioner Carollo: -- a statement from the City Attorney on the record on the
amount and why we're settling this?
Victoria Mendez (City Attorney): For CA.1, the amount is for $37, 500. The medicals
on this exceed 32, 000. The future meds on this is 80 to $90, 000. We have
eyewitnesses saying that our driver, our City driver was at fault, and this is a good
resolution for the City.
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Commissioner Carollo: Okay. What department was the driver from again?
Ms. Mendez: Building Department.
Commissioner Carollo: Building. Okay. All right.
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you. There's been a motion and a second.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah.
Vice Chair Russell: Any further discussion?
Commissioner Carollo: None.
Vice Chair Russell: All in favor say "aye. "
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Vice Chair Russell: Any opposed? Motion passes on CA.1. Thank you very much.
END OF CONSENT AGENDA
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PH - PUBLIC HEARINGS
PHA
RESOLUTION
6505
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI COMMISSION, WITH
Commissioners
ATTACHMENTS, BY A FOUR -FIFTHS (4/5THS) AFFIRMATIVE
and Mayor
VOTE, AFTER AN ADVERTISED PUBLIC HEARING, RATIFYING,
CONFIRMING, AND APPROVING THE CITY MANAGER'S
RECOMMENDATION AND WRITTEN FINDINGS, ATTACHED AND
INCORPORATED AS EXHIBIT "A," PURSUANT TO SECTION 18-
85(A) OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS
AMENDED; WAIVING THE REQUIREMENTS FOR COMPETITIVE
SEALED BIDDING METHODS AND PROCEDURES AS NOT BEING
PRACTICABLE OR ADVANTAGEOUS TO THE CITY OF MIAMI
("CITY"); AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A
RIGHT OF WAY ACCESS AND SERVICE AGREEMENT
("AGREEMENT"), IN SUBSTANTIALLY THE FORM ATTACHED
AND INCORPORATED AS EXHIBIT "B," WITH ILLUMINATION
TECHNOLOGIES, LLC, A FOREIGN LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY
REGISTERED TO CONDUCT BUSINESS IN THE STATE OF
FLORIDA ("ILLUMINATION TECHNOLOGIES"), INCLUSIVE OF
BONDING AND INSURANCE APPROVED BY THE CITY'S RISK
MANAGER, TO ALLOW ILLUMINATION TECHNOLOGIES ACCESS
TO CERTAIN RIGHTS OF WAY FOR THE INSTALLATION OF
MULTIPURPOSE POLES FOR THE PROVISION, AMONGST
OTHER THINGS, OF A VIGILANCE SECURITY NETWORK,
INCLUDING A VIGILANCE VIDEO CAMERA NETWORK, FLOOD
SENSORS, AND TAG READERS, ALL AT NO COST TO THE CITY,
FURTHERING THE INTERESTS OF THE PUBLIC'S HEALTH,
SAFETY, AND GENERAL WELFARE; FURTHER AUTHORIZING
THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE ANY AND
ALL AMENDMENTS AND EXTENSIONS THERETO, ALL IN A
FORM ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY ATTORNEY, FOR SAID
PURPOSE.
MOTION TO:
Continue
RESULT:
CONTINUED
MOVER:
Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
SECONDER:
Alex Diaz de la Portilla, Commissioner
AYES:
Hardemon, Russell, Diaz de la Portilla, Carollo, Reyes
Note for the Record: Item PH.] was continued to the March 12, 2020, City
Commission Meeting.
Vice Chair Russell: PH..1, right-of-way access, Illumination Technologies. Is there
a motion?
Commissioner Carollo: I'm going to make a motion for discussion.
Vice Chair Russell: It's been moved. Is there a second?
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I'll second it for discussion.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay.
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Chair Hardemon: It's been properly moved and seconded. Discussion. You're
recognized, sir.
Commissioner Carollo: There are two parts that I need answered, and begin with
the first one; it should be the quickest one. And I'm sorry that you've been thrown
into this role that we'll deal with a little later today, Mr. Assistant Manager. But by
the way, when did you know that you were going to be chairing -- or being --
representing the Administration here today?
Nzerie Ihekwaba (Chief of Operations/Assistant City Manager): I was informed
about a few days ago that the Manager would not be available at this meeting.
Commissioner Carollo: And do you think it was appropriate that you were informed
a few days ago that at least I -- I don't know if any of you -- got any other
notification that Mr. Gonzalez nor the Deputy Manager would be here today?
Mr. Ihekwaba: We had a meeting scheduled to brief you, but it was cancelled, I
believe, from your office.
Commissioner Carollo: No, no, no. Please, please. That meeting is for something
else.
Mr. Ihekwaba: It was for this afternoon.
Commissioner Carollo: In something of this matter, don't try to play that game with
me now, because you're going in the way of your predecessors, and you're going to
lose me real quick. Something of that nature should have come right from the
Manager; at least the Deputy Manager if the Manager was busy moving, to let us
know that they were not going to be here today. Certainly, if the Mayor wanted to
make an appointment of you today, which he has not, in violation of our Charter I
believe, he could have sent out a memorandum stating that neither one of those two
gentlemen would be here today and he would be replacing them. So this is
unfortunately the way that this City has been run with this past Administration, and
I'm just trying to bring it out. But let me go back. And I know you're in the spot, so
I'm not going to put your feet to the fire as much as I normally would in something of
this nature. This item has to do with monetary gain for the corporation, Illumination
Technologies, that wants something from the City, and we, like I always ask for
should be in a position to make a monetary gain ourselves if they're going to make
money into the future. Now, my question is, since I have no idea what this deal is
worth, has the Administration done any kind of studies to see what is the potential
gain that they will make in the future and what we should ask into the future if this
works for them? Because this is a pilot program as I understand it. Right?
Mr. Ihekwaba: Yes, sir.
Commissioner Carollo: If this works for them, and they want to proceed, and we
want them to proceed, what is the monetary gain that we estimate they'll make and
what percent does the Administration recommend that we ask from them? Is there
anything that's been done on that?
Commissioner Reyes: Mr. Chair, may I interject?
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah, but --
Commissioner Reyes: Oh.
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Commissioner Carollo: -- yeah. Let me just finish, because I got a couple of follow-
up questions for you.
Mr. Ihekwaba: Yes. The Administration had actually identified quite a number of
public benefits components.
Commissioner Carollo: I'm not talking of benefits now. I'm talking --
Mr. Ihekwaba: IfI may?
Commissioner Carollo: -- dollars.
Mr. Ihekwaba: If I may, while we were speaking with the individuals and their
company, there had been suggestion to follow the timeline and the plan that the City
had always historically adopted, which is to adopt a fair market gross value in terms
of percentage for most of our franchise agreements. That was on the table. This
reso had not been finalized until when it was placed on the agenda, I believe, for last
year, and the individuals requested for a deferral to this date; that's why it's back.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay.
Mr. Ihekwaba: Between the last date when it was scheduled to this date, there have
not been any further meetings between the Administration and them.
Commissioner Carollo: So the Administration don't have a recommendation, a
monetary recommendation in what the percentage that you recommended we make
in this deal?
Mr. Ihekwaba: To my knowledge, there had not been a firm recommendation.
However, our initial thought was to base -- start of discussions based on the
traditional historical level that we've operated on, which is typically about 60
percent of the gross revenue earnings that they're going to make. Now, keep in mind
that they don't have -- this is something that they're planning to do, and in
anticipation of getting utility owners to quote -- to be their clients -- and that had not
even been finalized. So there was really nothing to work on, other than to start off
with the public benefit component.
Commissioner Carollo: But my question is, if this is not finalized, then why did the
Administration put it in the agenda today? Furthermore, the 6 percent you're talking
about is not based on deals like this. It's made on real estate deals that we usually
go 6, 7 percent. So your statements to me are more than clear, no matter how you
want to describe it that the Administration is not ready for this today, even though --
not you -- the Deputy Manager that was actually running the City put it in the
agenda. Now, let me go to the area --
Mr. Ihekwaba: So ifI may, Commissioner?
Commissioner Carollo: Go ahead, sir.
Mr. Ihekwaba: The installations is not a real estate deal. This is an installation,
utility installation on a public street. It's not on private property. It's not on City -
owned facilities. This is just for poles, for SG (UNINTELLIGIBLE) in the City.
Commissioner Carollo: I understand all that, but my position is still the same. I'm
not getting a solid recommendation or any recommendation from the Administration
as to what we should be getting out of it. But let me go into the two over here that's -
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Mr. Ihekwaba: If I may, I just mentioned that there have been several public benefit
components to this, and so it's already --
Commissioner Carollo: I'm going there now.
Mr. Ihekwaba: --in the package.
Commissioner Carollo: I'm going there now.
Mr.Ihekwaba: Yeah.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay. The public benefits are some type of alarm system to
alert us to flooding, that's good; cameras, it says and tag readers. And here's my
next question, who is going to be in charge of all the information that's collected
from video cameras, from the tag readers and for how long will they have that
information?
Mr. Ihekwaba: I believe this was something that we worked out through the Miami
Police Department.
Commissioner Carollo: Excuse me?
Mr. Ihekwaba: Through the Miami Police so the police chief should be able to
provide some details of the request.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay. Well, where are they at so we could get that
information?
Michael Sarasti: Mike Sarasti, Director of Innovation and Technology for the City.
In the contract, it's explicitly stated that none of the data will flow to Illumination
Technologies. All of the data will explicitly be going only to the City, so be
responsible the same way they are for their cameras today --
Commissioner Carollo: Okay.
Mr. Sarasti: -- and will be going through
Commissioner Carollo: All right. Don't go yet; got more questions. Before I go
back to that, where are the servers that they're going to be using for all the
recordings that they're doing? Where are the servers going to be located at?
Mr. Sarasti: The servers will be going -- well, they're using the same servers in the
data center that we operate today. The police operate their own set of servers, so
they can speak to their side.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah, but I'm talking about theirs, where they're getting the
information from, and they'll store it before they send it to us.
Mr. Sarasti: So they can be confirming; they will not be storing anything on their
side. It's a fiber infi^astructure, only the hardware for the poles. I think they can
speak more directly to that. But there are -- their hardware will be transmitting
information directly to our servers.
Commissioner Carollo: But my question is, their servers, their main servers, they're
stored somewhere that to them, that information would come to us, where are they
located at?
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Mr. Sarasti: Let that -- technically maybe speak to how you're going to be
transmitting that information directly to our servers. Our understanding is that it
will not be stored at any point, at any time on their side.
Commissioner Carollo: But it'll be going through somewhere before it gets to our
Police Department.
Mr. Sarasti: Through the fiber; and through the routers and the switches, but I'll let
you speak to some of that.
Commissioner Carollo: Thank you.
Janna Lhota: Now is an appropriate time. Good morning, Chair, Vice Chair,
members of the Commission. My name is Janna Lhota. I'm an attorney with offices
at 515 East Las Olas, Fort Lauderdale; here acting as outside counsel for
Illumination Technologies. In response to your question regarding the servers, we
do not have any servers that will be provided as part of this agreement. We are
simply providing the public safety equipment, which includes the vigilant security
camera, which is the camera; the license plate readers; the floor centers, as well as
the other equipment that's outlined in the agreement. Included in that is the fiber
back haul, which is the fiber that connects the various sites to the City's data center,
and it is at that point where the data basically is -- terminates and stored by the City.
The agreement makes it abundantly clear that we have no control, access, or
operation at all over any of the data, or even over the equipment that we're donating
and dedicating to the City. That is completely within the City's purview, so as to the
use and storage, I would then defer back to the police.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay. All right. Thank you, ma'am. I'd like to get you back
on. How long is the City of Miami Police going to be storing people's stats and how
they're going from one place to another where they could eventually know the lives
of every person that travels through our City? How long are they going to be
keeping the videos that are going to be taken out in the street? We're getting to an
area here that every resident, every citizen in Miami should be very concerned. It's
Big Brother 2020. That readers, cameras, they're supposed to be -- truly, if you got
people that are criminals going through our City, they're wanted for something, you
could catch them immediately if something happens within a short period of time.
You know they went through, you catch them. But my concern is, how long will you
be storing and keeping this information?
Jorge Colina (Chief of Police): Just a couple of quick points of clarification,
Commissioner. This is not our item. This is not a Police item. This is a component
that elimination --
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah.
Chief Colina: -- is adding on there to make it more attractive to the City --
Commissioner Carollo: I understand that.
Chief Colina: -- the Police portion of it, so --
Commissioner Carollo: I understand that. But nevertheless, they're stating that
you're going to be the one that's going to be owning this.
Chief Colina: No, I understand. I just wanted to make that clear that --
Commissioner Carollo: Sure.
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Chief Colina: -- this is not a Police item.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay. I understand that. And while I find that there are
some good, legitimate reasons --
Chief Colina: Sure.
Commissioner Carollo: -- to have that, that would be very beneficial to the Police
Department, and frankly, to our citizens.
Chief Colina: Well, we believe --
Commissioner Carollo: My concern is, what happens after that?
Chief Colina: So the State of Florida says that you're allowed to hold LPR (license
plate recognition) data for three years. What we typically do is, we default to two
years, so we'll hold that data for two years. It is our data. We don't sell that to
anyone, we don't review it, we don't go back and develop trends or patterns from it,
like some other agencies do that are a little bit more aggressive in how they handle
their data. For us, it's more as an investigative tool after the fact; not to develop
trends during. So for LPRs, which is just the images of the license plate that will be
captured, we will keep that for two years if we're able to. If it becomes a matter of
storage, and we're unable to, and it becomes too expensive, then obviously, we'll
lower that. In terms of video, that's far more expensive to keep video storage, so all
we do with video is three months unless there is a crime that is -- that occurs, in
which case, depending on the statute of limitation of that crime, then we will use that
as the standard of how long to hold onto that video. So, for example, if there's a
video that we have of a murder that occurred, we would keep that record.
Commissioner Carollo: Obviously, Chief, and --
Chief Colina: Otherwise, after three months, sir; we get rid of it.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah. I don't think anybody would be in disagreement with
a situation like that.
Chief Colina: No. Tm just explaining the schedules of time.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah. And I appreciate that. But here, we have ongoing
lawsuits right now, some in the State; in fact, some right in this County; some in
other States with this issue, because people's -- you know -- private lives are sacred.
So there has to be a big balance between protecting the public and --
Chief Colina: Right to privacy.
Commissioner Carollo: --their rights to privacy.
Chief Colina: Agreed.
Commissioner Carollo: Now, I would be happy to go forward with this pilot
program even though the Administration has no idea what this is worth. They give
me 6 percent. That's for other real estate deals. And if I say anything, I'm a had
guy, "recall Joe. " But what I want from your department -- and I want this as part of
the ordinance, so it's the law -- that within 30 days, you do away with whatever tags
you took and whatever video you have, unless, of course --
Chief Colina: There's a crime.
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Commissioner Carollo: -- there's a crime that's committed and so on. Then you
have that right to keep it. We certainly would want you to keep it to be able to prove
it. But otherwise, there's no need to have all that storing for such along time. So I
would lean to move forward with this as a pilot program. I would like for it to come
back whenever the next Manager is here and gives us an idea what it's worth,
because I think we owe that to the public. But, you know, in as far as the storing of
this information, there has to be a limit to it.
Chief Colina: Just a point on that. I agree with you, Commissioner, on the right to
privacy. It's something that we discussed and that we weigh when we have our
discussions at the Police Department. One of the things that we've discussed -- and
I'll give you an example. We were discussing facial recognition, very controversial
item across the country, kind of similar to what you mentioned. Anything that has to
do with the right to privacy is probably something that we should have community
engagement on, where we go out and have meetings in the different communities,
and have our residents come up express their opinions on the matter. I think it's that
important, so I'm in agreement with you. I think it's something -- when we're going
to do something that involves a privacy issue, it's probably one of those items that I
think we should probably sit down with every Commissioner and find out exactly
what your thoughts are, because they are so controversial, and because, you know,
people, in fact, are a bit wigged out, as you mentioned, about the Big Brother issue.
So I think we're in complete agreement. The only caveat that I would mention in
terms of the storage if we are storing is sometimes we don't know what's important.
And so, for example, if we found out information on a crime that the person was in
this neighborhood and this occurred four months ago, for example, or six months
ago, having the ability to go back to see if that car did drive through that
neighborhood and a tag was captured would be a valuable tool. That's the only part
there where we got to weigh it.
Commissioner Carollo: It could be, Chief.
Chief Colina: Yeah.
Commissioner Carollo: But you know what? The rights, four months, a year, two
years later, of every other resident to their privacy outweighs that one or two crimes
that maybe you'll find. The real idea of this is to immediately find out if someone is
coming with a tag or a stolen vehicle, or someone that's wanted for something that
you know they've gone through your city, and you could go after them. The video,
which I was told was not going to be used, but I still see it in here, is basically the
same effect that you're having. So for the immediate impact, I think 30 days is more
than reasonable. And as you said, you weren't asking for this, so I would -- if the
seconder of the motion would agree -- change the ordinance, that we include that
there's a 30-day maximum storing of information, either tags that are read, or videos
that are taken; upon which time, they have to be deleted, destroyed from the system.
Chief Colina: And Commissioner, just so I understand, are you speaking solely on
whatever we may have with Illumination Technologies, or are you proposing that we
also follow that schedule for what we have currently? Because what we have
currently --
Commissioner Reyes: That's right.
Chief Colina: -- is different than what's being proposed, so.
Commissioner Carollo: I'm talking about now.
Chief Colina: For this one here?
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Commissioner Carollo: Yeah.
Chief Colina: Okay.
Commissioner Carollo: That's what I'm talking about. I'll be happy to sit with you
so you could brief me on some of the other stuff you have and what we should do
with it --
Chief Colina: Okay.
Commissioner Carollo: --afterwards.
Chair Hardemon: Mr. Vice Chairman.
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Chair Hardemon: Then Commissioner Reyes.
Vice Chair Russell: I am in support of what SG may bring for us in a positive. I
think our job is to make sure we fight for our residents; not only their quality of life
on the sidewalks, but the finances of the City to make sure we get the best deal. It
should be noted this is not a pilot program. If we approve this today, the agreement
shall commence on the date it's approved and continue for 20 years. And we don't
know what SG is going to mean right now. Each company is fighting for our turf, for
our sidewalk space to put in these poles. So if we're going to allow this, I really
want to make sure that the negative is mitigated with some positive. And I know this
is a four -fifths vote. My ask with regard to this is that, one, we get a fair shake for
the City, and I believe if there's -- if the City staff believes that 6 percent of gross is
fair, that would be my request as an amendment. And two, I think that what's going
on these poles for their business model is to allow providers, telephone
communications providers to sell service to SG to residents who happen to be
walking by and have SG within the range. I think they should also include a Wi-Ei
transmitter or a (UNINTELLIGIBLE) off the top of each pole for those who don't
have phone service, but they may have a device which can just use Wi-Ei for free,
and that's something that would not cost them a lot in the longer term on this. And
so, those are my only two asks as an amendment; otherwise, I'm a "no" vote.
Commissioner Reyes: Mr. Chair?
Chair Hardemon: I want to recognize Commissioner Reyes.
Commissioner Reyes: Well, I'm the sponsor of this bill, and let me tell you that I
really appreciate Commissioners' input in it. I think that makes it better. I do agree
that -- and I'm very concerned, also, and we stated it when we were talking with the
Police Department that -- about the time that the information was going to be
installed. You see, I do agree that there is no need; 30 days is maybe too long. But
because there is a concern in the population about our privacy that has been
violated, but the truth of the matter is that wherever we go, we find those cameras.
And this is what -- I think this is what it provides us. It gives us a lot of individual;
besides, it provides Wi-Ei to certain areas, like parks that we have here. And I do
agree with Commissioner Russell that it should also include, you see, providing
some type of Wi-Ei to people that doesn't have it, and try to expand the area of Wi-Ei
as much as they can, and that's why I've been in favor of this, because it gives us at
no cost at all the type of information to make our neighborhoods more secure, you
see; neighborhoods more secure. And that's what we are paying now to have, and
this is going to be as a public service, which was quantified at my request. And you
know that, Zeri. I asked to be quantified at my request -- I mean, to be quantified in
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order to have an estimate of how much contribution was -- or how much would it
cost us in order to implement this system.
Chair Hardemon: Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Just a question in process. Are we going to
allow Illumination Technologies to give -- I think they have a brief presentation or
an idea of what they want to do and why they think it's a good service? I think it's
fair if we're going to vote on it --
Commissioner Reyes: Yes, yes.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: -- that we allow them their brief presentation,
and then we take it from there. Are you going to be the sponsor?
Commissioner Reyes: Yes, sir.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I do agree with you so --
Commissioner Reyes: Absolutely, absolutely. I want you guys to be satisfied. And
another thing that -- because that's what we are; we're collegiate. And I see it as --
and it is beneficial to the City and to --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I also know it's a very limited area. It's a very
limited number of sites that we're doing that this project consists of --
Commissioner Reyes: Yes, sir.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: -- citywide or anything like this. I understand it's
a massive project, so I want to know what it is, how many sites, what benefits --
Commissioner Reyes: Sure.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: -- it has for our citizens.
Commissioner Reyes: And also --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: And where are we -- let me finish. I also agree
with Commissioner for a 30-day limit. I think it's a great amendment --
Commissioner Reyes: Yes, sir.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: -- to this idea that we're trying to do here today,
so --
Commissioner Reyes: Can I just state --?
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: -- those are my thoughts.
Commissioner Reyes: You see, this -- and the resolution also states that
(UNINTELLIGIBLE) the City Manager or the Administration would still be working.
This don't mean because by passing this it's going to be -- I mean it's going to be --
everything is going to be completed, no. It is stated that further association, the City
Manager negotiate and execute any and all amendments, you see? And whatever
other extension or whatever other form acceptable to the City Attorney.
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Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Well, I don't agree with that. I think that should
come back to us --
Commissioner Reyes: No, no, no.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: -- not to -- because we don't know who the --
Commissioner Reyes: Okay, but they --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: -- because we don't know who's going to be
sitting there next week. So we need to know -- everything needs to come back to us
for final approval.
Commissioner Reyes: Okay. Well --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I'm going to be very adamant about that. That's
important.
Commissioner Reyes: -- but I'm going to add to this, if there -- any major changes
occur, they have to come to us.
Unidentified Speaker: Okay.
Chair Hardemon: So --
Commissioner Reyes: Come back to us.
Lincoln Diaz-Balart: Mr. Chairman, Commissioners, it's a pleasure to be with you
this morning. The team -- the Illumination Technologies team is ready to answer any
questions with regard to the agreement that is before you. It's clear the -- we have
no problem at all, and think that Commissioner Carollo's suggestion with regard to
timeframe of information is very appropriate, very logical. The agreement already
calls, as you know, Commissioner Russell, for a fee per pole to be paid to the City.
Your most recent suggestion alters the agreement significantly. And as you know,
under the current law, poles -- they're in hodgepodge fashion. They're popping up
everywhere. And under this -- municipalities deny licenses to the telecoms --
permits. They're going to be placing those poles now for SG in many places. This is
an alternative. It's a test. It's 26 poles. It's an alternative of cooperation and
consultation with the municipality to try to take into account the priorities of each
and every one of you representing your citizens, your residents. So we ask that this
alternative be given a chance, consultation, cooperation, and aesthetics, and many
other ways. And -- but the agreement calls for an amount to be paid per pole
already.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: What's the amount?
Mr. Diaz-Balart: I believe it's $30 per pole. There's 26 poles. This is not a
moneymaker. In other words, this is a test. And I'm here representing Illumination
Technologies. The principal, Jorge Hernandez, my dear personal fi^iend, I've
traveled with him to multiple countries. He's a visionary. He -- I've seen him turn
dreams into goals, and goals into reality, and serve communities, and in many
instances, like in this proposal, at no cost -- be at no cost to the City, services
provided for the police, services provided like Wi-Fi; whatever your priorities are.
But in order for this model to work, the agreement cannot be altered significantly,
like you've proposed in your last statement, Commissioner Russell, but it's a very
impressive win/win, and I thank Commissioner Reyes for his leadership, for thinking
outside the box, representation of his constituents, and each and every one of you for
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your courtesy, meeting with us. I want to thank each and every one of you for your
courtesy and your representation of your constituents.
Chair Hardemon: Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla and then Commissioner
Russell.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: You said 26 poles. I think the sponsor of the
legislation, Commissioner Reyes has how many in his district? And then I think the
other district is yours, Commissioner Russell.
Vice Chair Russell: I got three parks.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I think -- you got the majority, I think, but I don't
remember the number now. How many in Commissioner Reyes' district?
George Moreno: Good morning --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Good morning.
Mr. Moreno: -- Commissioners and Chair. Yeah, we're going to have 26 poles in
total.
Chair Hardemon: Can you identify yourself for the record, please?
Mr. Moreno: I'm sorry; yeah, sure. George Moreno. I'm the engineer and Manager
at Illumination Technologies. And to answer your question, it's going to be 26 poles
in total, as you mentioned. It's going to be 11 poles in the Brickell area, and we're
going to have --five of them will have the ability to provide Wi-Fi right by the train
station, so this is going to be the component that you were mentioning, the Wi-Fi.
Then in Coral Way, we're going to have 15 poles to be providing services in that
area, as well.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: That's 25, right.
Mr. Moreno: It's going to be 26 poles; 11 -- I'm sorry -- in Brickell.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Oh, 11 in Brickell and -- okay.
Mr. Moreno: I apologize. 11 in Brickell, and then 15 in Coral Way.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: And 15 in District 4.
Mr. Moreno: Yeah. And we're going to have the Wi-Fi, of course, component to it.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: So what I want to hear now is where you stand
on this, Mr. Chairman, because it's a four -fifths vote.
Chair Hardemon: I think there's a lot of discussion that still needs to be had. I will
tell you that this idea is not novel. This is not the only company that does this. I,
myself, have traveled to another state in the United States of America that is leading
with creation of technology that is meant to host 5G technology. 5G technology is
going to be an interrupter to how we really conduct our cellular service, so it's going
to have the ability to really split the services; data based over here, cellular based
over here, and then start to communicate almost instantaneously from one coast to
the next. The reason that we're in the situation that we're in today with
telecommunication industries placing poles like, for instance, in the downtown area
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haphazardly is because the State of Florida wrote legislation that did this to us. And
so, I know of --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I've been telling you to go to Tallahassee with me
for months now.
Chair Hardemon: I missed you by a couple days.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I know.
Chair Hardemon: So I met specifically with the company that presented this sort of
idea long before this was ever put on the agenda in the last year, and they had the
same sort of idea, which is we can create a mechanism in which telecommunication
companies can post their radios onto these poles. We can make them aesthetically
pleasing. We will do it at no cost to the City. It is going to be how we try to
introduce slowly, really -- well, introduce SG into these communities. SG is going to
be the technology of the future. Most of our telecommunication devices will not be
able to operate on the SG system. It's going to revolutionize, really, what's
happening in the City of Miami and across this nation, like it's doing around the
world. However, you know, part of my -- you know, part of my negative thoughts
about what's happening is that -- The first thing I talked about in this resolution was
not that it be a non-exclusive thing, because I do realize that there are other
companies that provide this sort of service; that's first. This agreement is not that.
These poles -- this will not guarantee that other companies will place radios on their
poles. Yes, it may be able to save them money if they just place a radio on their pole
instead of building their own, but they still may want to build their own, wherever
they choose to put it, and the City of Miami is not allowed to stop that. I think the
State legislature, we need to see as a board along with this legislature to make it all
make sense. I don't -- I'm not saying that I don't think that something like this can't
move forward. I think it can move forward, but I think there are other players that
may want to also participate that I think makes sense. As was stated earlier on the
record, the whole $30 or so per pole, I mean, I think it's probably State -mandated
that we can't go over a certain cost per pole, and that's why the amount is so low.
Certainly, I don't know if -- because I haven't had an opportunity to review it in
relation to all these other things that we're considering right now -- there is an
opportunity for us to make money off of it, just the same way as they want to make
money, because, trust me, no one's building these poles not to make money, so
they're probably advertising opportunities there. There's the rental opportunities
these for space. I mean, there -- I mean, the list could go on as far as what could be
done with these sort of sites. These sites could be opportunities for people to gather.
There can be seating arrangements, like what we talked about around the parks. So
I think this is -- it's good legislation. It is something that is -- that has tremendous
opportunity. I do think that it probably needs some more baking though.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Is that a 'yes, " or --
Chair Hardemon: I think it --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: --for today?
Chair Hardemon: I think --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: To move it to maybe second reading or --?
Chair Hardemon: I want to recognize -- I know Commissioner Russell and then
Commissioner Reyes unless --
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Commissioner Reyes: Just a point of information. There is no advertising in this
one, no advertisement.
Chair Hardemon: You want to -- you're recognized, Commissioner Russell.
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you. They say this is not a money -making venture. I
don't believe that. It may take a while to ramp up and make money, and I hope they
do have success, and I do hope they grow. But Commissioner Carollo, the mover, is
never one to leave a had deal on the table or a penny on the table when the City
deserves its fair shake, and that's why I think even the percentage idea is even more
fair to them as if they make nothing, we make nothing. If -- and 6 percent -- I'm
trusting our staff that it is a legal request of them. It is not putting them in a bind
with telecommunications companies and it's not a big ask. But if this is a 20 year
agreement and the number of poles does grow, and this is very successful for them,
which I hope it is, I'd like to see the City come along for the ride. And then the other
thing is if they are willing to put Wi-Fi on some poles but not others, that's my only
other request as an amendment; that they do it on all 26 of the poles in this
particular case. I'm not asking for police cameras, flood sensors, all these other
things, and I know that's costing them a lot of money. Wi-Fi is not a major ask, and I
think it's an equitable thing to offer our residents who don't have phone service.
That can be very expensive.
Commissioner Carollo: Well, the --
Vice Chair Russell: So I just want to know if there's an agreement to my amendment,
so I know what my vote will be.
Commissioner Carollo: -- $30, as I understand it, is $30 per month that they're
offering. That's why we --
Vice Chair Russell: But we don't know how --
Chair Hardemon: Speak just --
Vice Chair Russell: They could make millions off of this.
Chair Hardemon: I think it's per pole or installation.
Commissioner Carollo: It's just per pole?
Chair Hardemon: Installation.
Unidentified Speaker: Per month.
Commissioner Carollo: Oh, per month. Okay. So I'm correct.
Unidentified Speaker: That's correct.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay. So it's 30 per month.
Unidentified Speaker: Per pole.
Commissioner Carollo: 360 a year per pole. Okay. So that's what they're offering;
360 a year per pole. Now, I have a question of the Assistant City Manager. Is this
something that they have a right by law, by the State law to put up without our
approval, or do they need our approval to do this? In other words, are they, out of
their own free will, giving us the $360 a year per pole or not?
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Mr. Ihekwaba: Commissioner, to my understanding, the utility companies apprise
these poles.
Commissioner Carollo: All right. So they don't have a right unless we give it to
them.
Mr.Ihekwaba: Yes.
Commissioner Carollo: And that's what I'm trying to get into the record. So the
Assistant City Manager, trying to be quick on his feet and knowing that -- I don't
know if I could call him his bosses, because I don't know where they are. I know
they're collecting a hefty paycheck, but where they're at, it's not working in the City.
He claims that 6 percent is something we used in the past, but not on something like
this. So I really think the City Administration should --first of all, this was put in a
little premature. We have no real knowledge if 6 percent is accurate or not. But at
best, I would like to see -- and I say, "at best, " because I don't have the final number.
They haven't done any study. It's $360 minimum, or 6 percent, whichever is greater.
So if -- at least we're guaranteed 360. But if they're making a lot more money, we at
least get 6 percent out of it. But, you know, we're --
Commissioner Reyes: Id --
Commissioner Carollo: Sorry. We're throwing 6 percent without --not having any
idea if it's high, if it's low, you know; no idea. Now, I did hear the advertising. Part
of this deal does not include that they could advertise on these poles at all, okay? So
Mr. Ihekwaba: It does not.
Commissioner Carollo: All right.
Mr. Ihekwaba: So for you to place advertisement on a public street, you need
specific legislation from this body authorizing that to happen.
Chair Hardemon: Right.
Mr. Ihekwaba: Pursuant to Chapter 54-9 of the Code.
Chair Hardemon: This is true. But we all understand how this works. You have an
infrastructure that's capable of advertising, then you have advertising. I'm not
saying that that's what's going to happen here. I'm saying that that is the potential.
You build a building with a flat side with no windows; an hour or more later, you
have a mural. Right? That's just how this thing goes. I will say that I think that
there's a lot that really has to be answered about this. I don't think that it's
necessarily had legislation. I think this is very well possible. But what I'm saying to
you here is that I know that this is not a telecommuni -- this is not a utility company.
Right? We can deny them having poles. We know that utility companies don't need
our permission. They can just put their poles. We know that the utility companies
don't have to go with them to put their radios on these poles. And so, the question
then becomes, well, if they're not a utility company, they don't have a right to the
space. Then we can create any sort of revenue agreement, I would think, that we
would want to. And I think that all these things probably need to be thought over so
that we have an agreement that we can all smile about and move forward. I know
Commissioner Carollo is always concerned about revenue when it comes to the City
of Miami. But what I want to caution everyone with is, you know, how we go about
with this item, because there are going to be other items that are going to come
before this board where we're going to have to discuss revenue.
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Commissioner Reyes: Let me just add, Mr. Chair, utility companies, they don't ask
for our permission, but they don't give us any benefits, either. You see, they do
whatever they want. They place it wherever they want, the style that -- whatever they
want, which is totally different than this. This is just a pole that is going to make the
whole area Wi-Ei, is going to offer a lot of benefits, like the tag readers, like
everything that keep our City secure, you see. That is -- that's my main concern; it is
security. And that's why I was interested on it. And when you cost the -- so what
would it cost us to provide Wi-Ei to Shenandoah Park and/or Coral Way Gate Park,
and all the parks that I want you guys to do it, you see? That's why I asked the
Administration to cost them out, and they came with a number. And I want you to
explain it a little bit better.
Ms. Lhota: If I may?
Chair Hardemon: And before you go on, but I want you to understand this,
Commissioner. Having a pole like this to provide Wi-Ei is like killing an ant with a
sledgehammer. Like, you know, this pole and the potential of the technology goes so
much further --
Commissioner Reyes: Yes, yes.
Chair Hardemon: --than Wi-Ei.
Commissioner Reyes: I do understand that. And it goes way beyond that. I mean, it
is -- the social benefit, it is great, and that's what --
Chair Hardemon: And you should also understand --
Commissioner Reyes: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Chair Hardemon: --for the SG technology to work that it needs to work, these poles
could be a certain distance from each other in order for the service to be what you
expect it to be. And so, even the whole skipping from your district to the downtown
area, there's this gap.
Commissioner Reyes: The aesthetic of the poles. We don't want just a pole there.
Chair Hardemon: Oh, absolutely not.
Commissioner Reyes: We want something -- because all the communications
companies, they come, and we don't have a say in type of pole. And you know that.
You just go around Biscayne Boulevard, and you're going to see how many poles
that they have placed, and we don't have a saying on it. We don't know how they
look, you see. We don't know how they look, and we don't get any benefits out of it,
you see?
Chair Hardemon: I'll recognize you now, ma'am.
Ms. Lhota: Thank you so much, Chair. Once again, Janna Lhota, outside counsel
for Illumination Technologies. There's been a lot that's been said, and I'm going to
do my best to respond to some of the items that's been brought up right now. Very
quickly, I was slated to talk a little bit about some of the key provisions of the
agreement, which I will get to in just a moment, because I do think that it will answer
some of the questions. But first and foremost, I just want to kind of quickly --
because I have been practicing in the area of telecommunications since the Telecom
Act of 1996 -- provide you with a real quick primer in terms of what is the legal and
regulatory framework and environment that the City of Miami is currently operating
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under with respect to the management of your rights -of -way. As you know, for a
long, long time, communication services providers have the legal right to place
facilities in your rights -of -way. More recently, the results of technological advances,
small wireless and wireless facilities are now able to be deployed, because they are a
communications service as defined under Florida law. The options available to
wireless carriers to deploy in the right-of-way are fairly limited. They can either
attach to an authority -owned City pole -- authority -owned utility pole, which can be
a City light pole, for example, or they can replace or repurpose that pole to allow
them to attach their equipment. The only thing that the City can ask for under the
State legislation is up to $1 SO per year per pole, the -- in exchange for the placement
of facilities on your pole. The other option available to wireless carriers is to place
a new utility pole, which they have the legal right to do, because they are a utility as
defined by Florida law. What you've probably seen is, I'm sure, an increase in the
structures that have been placed in the rights -of -way as carriers seek to density their
network, which is basically allow the greater capacity that residents, and businesses,
and visitors are demanding, and also to get their network ready for SG. What is not
available right now are ready-made poles that you will have provided for by this
agreement. In exchange for the placement of facilities in the rights -of -way by any of
the carriers or communications services providers that come to the City, the City
cannot ask for any additional compensation. You can't ask for any permit fee. You
can't ask for any in -kind contribution of goods or services. That is expressly limited
by Florida law, and that's because the City does receive the communications tax
revenue yearly from the communications services providers, and that is all pretty
jealously guarded by the providers as you probably know, for those that have been
working with them, deploying facilities in the rights -of -way. What this agreement
seeks to do is to bring a model that Mr. Hernandez has deployed successfully
throughout Latin America and other countries, where they partner with the City to
identify sites where they will install at their cost a multi purpose pole that will be co -
locatable immediately. It is designed to allow the co -location of not just one, but
multiple carriers on that pole; again, all at no cost to the City. That cost will
ultimately be underwritten for our client when down the line they get carriers that
decide to go on that pole. In exchange for that, exchange for the right to be able to
access the right-of-way to construct the pole, Illumination Technologies has agreed
to provide significant tangible and intangible benefits to the City. And what are
those? This is -- now I'm getting a little bit into the agreement. First, they're
agreeing to provide what we're calling a sensor package, and I'm going to describe
this, because I think it's important, because it goes to some of the points made by
members of the Commission. Sensor package basically includes the vigilant security
camera and equipment, the flood sensors, and the license plate readers. It also
includes the related back haul, which is all the fiber network to connect those
facilities to the City's central data center. They also have agreed to provide the
monitoring equipment at the data center. They've also agreed to maintain and
periodically upgrade this equipment when necessary, and also agreed to provide Wi-
Fi in three City parks, as well as Wi-Fi and cameras under poles that are adjacent to
the Metrorail.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Welcome, Mr. Chair.
Ms. Lhota: And one of the significant things that I think I wanted to point out is that
we've defined the sensor package because we wanted to build inflexibility. The City
can swap any of that equipment as long as it fits in the space with something else. So
if you decide it's not appropriate to have a security camera or an LPR, we just want
to have Wi-Fi and a flood sensor, or some other equipment that fits within that
valuation, we're happy to provide that.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much, ma'am. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla.
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Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: $o you're providing hardware, actual hardware?
Ms. Lhota: We are providing the actual equipment that we are going to -- basic --
how the agreement generally works is that before we decide to go and move to build
a pole, the City is to tell us what equipment they would like on that pole. They don't
have to put --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: And you will pay for that?
Ms. Lhota: And we're going to pay for the camera, the flood sensor, and the license
plate reader, and that has a valuation associated with it. $o we're paying for --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: And you'll have that valuation --
Ms. Lhota: -- and you can swap out as long as the equipment can fit on the space
that we're reserving for you on that pole.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Will you have that valuation for us, perhaps, if it
comes back again? It will come back again, I think, because I think --
Ms. Lhota: We actually -- I have --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: -- if I read my colleagues correctly, we don't
have four votes here today. $o if it comes back to us, will you be able to provide at
least a ballpark of what that valuation is, so we can have an idea of what kind of
benefits you're providing to --?
Ms. Lhota: We have some of that information for you today.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Oh, can you give me that information now then?
Ms. Lhota: Absolutely. I can -- I'll rattle off some numbers. Hopefully, I -- if I
speak too fast -- I'm from Connecticut. If you want me to slow down --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: That's okay. I have the same problem.
Ms. Lhota: $o just for example, the monitoring equipment for the City's central data
center, that totals almost $66, 000. The cost of the site preparation, the cost of the
multi purpose poles and the pole installation totals approximately 750 thou -- I'm
sorry -- that's about a million dollars -- right? -- if I'm adding it up right, so -- sorry.
The security cameras, LPRs and flood sensors totals $750, 000. The Wi-Fi for the
three City parks is $111, 000. The dedicated fiber strands, which is another thing
provided by the agreement, in addition to providing the back haul to connect the
various poles and the equipment that's on that pole for the City. $o basically, it's the
City equipment that we're providing at no cost to the City on the pole that you've
decided. That will be then connected through the fiber back haul to the City's
central data center. The -- in addition to that, we are agreeing to dedicate eight
strands of fiber that the City can use however you want; if you want to use it to
connect your libraries, or whatever. We've agreed to dedicate eight strands of fiber
to the City within the fiber that we lay.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: What's the value of that?
Ms. Lhota: That dedicated fiber strand is -- the materials cost is $459, 000, and then
there's obviously the installation cost, which goes on top of that.
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Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: So now it's beginning to add up, right? You have
a total at the end of the conversation?
Ms. Lhota: Well, some of this has obviously embedded in it, because as we're
installing your fiber, we're also installing the fiber for the back haul. But overall,
the overall value is about $8 million, all in. So it's a significant investment. And this
is the model which we've purposely limited the scope, and I understand that the
length of the term of the agreement is long. That's in part because it's going to take
us a while --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: And because --
Ms. Lhota: -- to recoup the investment, the initial capital outlay that we're making to
the City.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Right. So the 20 years is to -- because it's $8
million you're putting into it.
Ms. Lhota: We got to recapture that, right; it's going to be a while --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Right. So there won't be (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Ms. Lhota: -- because these are not macro sites. These are not the tall sites that you
see in City parks. These are small cell sites, which is why you see so many of them.
So you can imagine, small --
Chair Hardemon: Help me understand that.
Ms. Lhota: Okay. A macro --
Chair Hardemon: You said they're small sites --
Ms. Lhota: -- right.
Chair Hardemon: -- and that's why you see so many of them.
Ms. Lhota: Right. A wireless network is basically comprised of two components:
macro sites, which are the traditional monopole lattice with all 1 SO foot plus poles
that you see on private property throughout the City. I mean, that's the ones that you
see. Mono poles have the antennae rays attached to them and what not. Those are
macros. Those serve a much larger area. And if you can imagine, the best way I
explain to anybody how wireless works, envision a dark room with a flashlight that
you turn on. The higher up the flashlight, the wider the swath of light. A macro, the
taller you are, obviously, the wider coverage area you have. The capacity on these
macro sites is limited, though. What you're seeing then is the small wireless is
coming into one cell small coverage gaps where they exist, and using the right-of-
way is a logical way to do that. But more importantly, the small wireless that you're
seeing in the right-of-way is actually providing for the densification of the network,
and that is the capacity, because no longer do we have -- like when wireless was first
introduced -- cars driving down the highway and the calls bouncing from tower to
tower. You have people sitting in their homes, sitting on a park bench, sitting in
their offices using their phones; and using their phones now not just for text
messages and calls, but for streaming live video. And it's that data that is -- that
data, that's the densification that you're seeing with a lot of the facilities that are
being constructed in the right-of-way. But because they're small cells, the range of
those are -- that's why you're seeing as many as you're seeing --
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Chair Hardemon: Well, this -- but --
Ms. Lhota: -- because they don't reach a mile.
Chair Hardemon: -- you're speaking in relation to SG technology, and it's --
Ms. Lhota: It's 4G and SG.
Chair Hardemon: But what we're talking about, what you're preparing for is not
4G. We're moving away from 4G. 4G will be nonexistent.
Ms. Lhota: We -- but these facilities will be able to accommodate both --
Chair Hardemon: Today. But tomorrow --
Ms. Lhota: -- because you're seeing both being deployed today.
Chair Hardemon: So my thing is this: 4G is here today; it will not be here
tomorrow. All carriers will abandon their 4G technology. There are a few phones
today that have S -- true SG technology. Even if your phone right now says "SG" on
it, it does not mean that it's SG -capable. It's kind of like having a big hole in the top
and a funnel, and a small one at the bottom. It's coming in as SG, but it's not going
out as SG. So there's going to be a significant difference. And so, in order for you to
have the intense SG technology, especially in an area like the downtown area, you
have to have those sites close to each other, because it's so much information being
packed from so many different people streaming that you want to keep everything
moving at a SG technology speed.
Ms. Lhota: Which is --
Chair Hardemon: So we understand. We understand.
Ms. Lhota: -- why this agreement is really a win/win. One is that, as pointed out
earlier on, and I think you all have recognized, any carrier who comes into the City,
and even a passive infrastructure provider that's certificated is not going to offer the
City all of the items that we're providing to the City. It is that very same -- the items
that we are providing, which is what makes it extremely difficult to provide any type
of revenue share, because, I mean, quite frankly, even the most recent amendments to
provide the $30 per month was really taxing this agreement. We believe it's a
win/win. We've seen this happening in -- Mr. Hernandez is already through the
company out in California. For example -- and I thought this was a great example
you gave me the other day -- is that in California, they've been deploying these
facilities, and instead of LPRs, they are -- in some points in California are smoke
sensors. And so, they have literally smoke sensors and smoke alarms that are being
installed at their cost on the poles to the point where they have communities literally
asking them to come in and build these.
Chair Hardemon: But the difference between California and Florida I can't speak
to, only because our legislators did something that hurt us as municipals and
counties, and just the local places -- right? -- the ability to kind of make this make
sense for us. So like I said, I think that this could potentially be good. I think it
needs a bit more time, because we -- there are some things that we need to talk
about, and what I would recommend for us is a continuance so that we can have an
opportunity to really discuss these things and see what it is that we can do, and how
it relates to current law as it is today, because, like I said, one thing I can say flat
out, without apprehension: I know for a fact that there is another company that has
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approached -- maybe not all the members here, but at least this member about things
like this.
Vice Chair Russell: Yes.
Chair Hardemon: And so, we've been trying to learn much about it before this sort
of legislation came about.
Vice Chair Russell: You're recognized.
Commissioner Reyes: Yes. I want to tell you this, and this is not something that
happened overnight. And I -- you see, I'm sorry that the Administration didn't keep
you abreast, because we've been talking and going back and forth for the past two
years; past two years. And I bet you, you just learned about this, Commissioner
Hardemon, and Commissioner Carollo, he doesn't have all the information. And this
is something that in the future, we have to stop with the next Administration. They
have to keep us informed of every single project that is brought to any one of us, and
this is why we have all this vacuum of knowledge that we -- They come here before
you. You are asking questions that should have been answered --or you are making
suggestions that should have been made before. It's two years that I have been
meeting with them, meeting with the Administration, asking them -- I mean, quantify
the amount of money that they are giving us. Are there any other people in the
market? What benefit, additional benefits? Where can you install this? You should
have had the same opportunity, you see? You should have had the same opportunity.
And for the past two years, we've been working and we've been meeting with the
police and all of that. You see, that is why when you said you're going to continue
this -- these people have been dealing with the Administration and meeting with them
for the past two years; the past two years. You see?
Vice Chair Russell: I think --
Commissioner Reyes: I mean, it's incredible. This is very unprofessional.
Jorge Hernandez: Mr. Chairman, if you can give me a few minutes?
Chair Hardemon: Commissioner Carollo, and then I'll recognize you.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah. I'll be brief. I am shocked that Commissioner Reyes
just let us know that he had been speaking and you had been speaking to the
Administration for two years, and I have not gotten any information from the
Administration. And even today, what I'm getting is a quick in my feet. Well, other
similar stuff, we get 6 percent for. But no one can give me any solid information.
Your representative just stated that beyond the $8 million that you're assuming that
it's going to cost you to put all this together that the most that you could pay because
of that high amount is 360 per pole. But they're telling me that 6 percent. Well,
there's a major gap somewhere, which is telling me that -- and unfortunately, I can't
blame him, because he was thrown into the seat just two days ago or three, and we
weren't told again who was going to be here. But there's a big, big hole there
somewhere on the 6 percent that was thrown. You're saying 360 is the most that you
could pay, and at the same time, we have no idea the potential of what this could
bring in, and in two years' time, they should have had plenty of information from you
to have analyzed that.
Mr. Hernandez: I would like to -- I think that --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: So --
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Vice Chair Russell: There's a --
Chair Hardemon: I did recognize him. If you'd like for me to call on you --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I'll wait. I'll wait.
Mr. Hernandez: Yeah. Thank you. I think there's a very big misunderstanding that I
think --
Chair Hardemon: Could you state your name for the record, please?
Mr. Hernandez: Yeah, sorry. Jorge Hernandez. I live in California. I'm the
President of the group. I think there's a big misunderstanding, that I think it needs to
be clarified, and might not be understood before. We are giving this money
voluntarily. The -- we have another alternative. The permits the cities have to issue,
according to Florida law, have to be issued to infrastructure providers, like us,
without having to pay anything, or to telecommunication providers. So that's
something that's very important for all of you to know. And we can show you the
law. There is -- like companies like us, there are already companies here installing
it. Infrastructure passive providers -- I can name a few -- are already installing
without even having to give anything to the City, without even coming here to the
Commission. I know for a fact that there's hundreds and hundreds of sites being
deployed already in the City. I under -- I hear numbers, about 300 to 400 sites.
People --
Chair Hardemon: So then why are you here? Why would you come to us?
Mr. Hernandez: Because our business model has always been in the world, let's try
to give something for the city and the citizens. It's social responsibility. For us, it's
been super frustrating, because we could have started building this like two years
ago.
Chair Hardemon: But you could do the same thing. Like, from what you said to me
just now --
Mr. Hernandez: Yeah.
Chair Hardemon: --you could build your pole.
Mr. Hernandez: Yeah.
Chair Hardemon: You could provide Wi-Fi.
Mr. Hernandez: Yes. We don't need to provide Wi-Fi.
Chair Hardemon: But my point to you is that the give -back that you're describing,
you can do anyway. If FP&L (Florida Power and Light) -- FP&L has more poles in
our communities than any other service provider, probably. If FP&L wanted to put
a Wi-Fi --free Wi-Fi on their poles, they could do it.
Mr. Hernandez: Yes.
Chair Hardemon: So when you describe to me that you can do it anyway --
Mr. Hernandez: Because our business model has been super successful all over the
world, and we're trying to reverse -- What's the most important thing for the
citizens? What's the most important thing for the City? Let's try to work together
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instead of forcing and -- like they say, shoving towers down cities' throats, we say,
"How can we work with the City in solving their main problems? What are their
main problems? What's the main problem for the citizens? What do they want?"
Right? And like we were talking, in California, it's fire. Here, you like Wi-Fi and
flood sensors. We're a technology agnostic. We put whatever you guys want.
Right? After two years of negotiating with you, they told us that these kind of things
is what your Administration wanted. But for us, it's been super frustrating to see in
Brickell how they put these ugly poles, concrete poles. And again, this is companies
like ours. I'm not talking only about AT&T (American Telephone and Telegraph)
and Verizon. I'm talking about companies that do the same thing that we do; passive
infrastructure providers. They're putting it without -- giving zero to the City,
nothing. So our business model has always been if we work with the people, if we
work with the cities, then, you know, everybody's happy. Right? And we can work
together and organize the cities. For me, it breaks my heart to see Miami -- I love
Miami; it's my second city; been coming here since I was little. And seeing these
posts they have been putting with no aesthetic everywhere in the City. We counted
for the Super Bowl -- there were some towers that are very short, on the sidewalk,
with 13 or 12 antennas. Some antennas are almost at the height of a head of a
human being, with cables and stuff hanging out. That's what you guys are getting
now. So for us --for me, as someone who loves Miami, it really pains me, because
we've been trying to get this contract for the last two years, voluntarily giving things,
while everybody else -- again, which I think you guys should check -- our
understanding is hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of poles are being put up by
not only AT&T, but companies like ours. If we are able to work together with the
City and the citizens, and the citizens feel like this is something they are winning --
you know, in some cases, crime drops. In some countries, we find lost kids. In some
countries, we put water. So the people don't have water and we give them water. I
mean, we fix sustainably the problem long term for any -- for every single city or
community, because every community might be different. Some might want Wi-Fi;
someone want something else.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you. Thank you, sir. I'm going to recognize Commissioner
Diaz de la Portilla --
Commissioner Carollo: Can I ask him before he goes just a brief question? I'll be
real brief.
Chair Hardemon: -- and then Commissioner --
Commissioner Carollo: You stated, Mr. Hernandez --
Mr. Hernandez: Yeah.
Commissioner Carollo: -- that you don't need our approval to do this; that there are
other companies that are doing it already.
Mr. Hernandez: Yeah.
Commissioner Carollo: Then why has our Administration stated just a few minutes
ago that you did?
Mr. Hernandez: I think they're incorrect. And our lawyer, she was one of the ones
who participated in drafting the law.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah, but I'm --
Mr. Hernandez: So we could -- I mean --
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Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Well, that was my question.
Mr. Hernandez: I mean, if you guys want, she can --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Hold on, hold on.
Mr. Hernandez: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Mr. Ihekwaba: IfI may?
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Yes.
Mr. Ihekwaba: The question is whether you are a telecommunication company,
licensed in the State of Florida. And I've been advised by Public Works that you
don't have that license in the State.
Ms. Lhota: Right. Illumination Technologies is not a certificated wireless
infrastructure provider, which is why we're before you today --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: And that's what --
Ms. Lhota: -- seeking access to your rights -of -way --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Right.
Ms. Lhota: -- and in exchange, obviously want to do the right thing with what we've
done, and provide a very valuable benefit to the City.
Vice Chair Russell: Did she say she is or is not?
Ms. Lhota: However, however --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: She's not, she's not, she's not.
Chair Hardemon: So --
Ms. Lhota: No. But we do have the capability should we choose to through a
different vehicle to come to the City and place poles that is a certificated entity.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: But what Mr. Hernandez said is not correct.
Only telecommunications companies in Florida can do what he's saying he thinks he
can do. Is that correct?
Ms. Lhota: Technically, anybody --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: No; technically, no. It's either "yes" or "no. "
Can he do it or not? Can you guys do it or not unless you come to us?
Ms. Lhota: I'm sorry. Maybe you need a --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Can you do what he says he can do as a matter
of right that Florida law allows? I know he can't, but he's --
Ms. Lhota: Right.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: -- if he's not a telecommunications company, he
cannot do it in Florida without our explicit authorization. Is that correct?
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Ms. Lhota: Yes. As to this company, yes; that's correct.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: As to the only company that's before us today.
There's no other company here except you guys.
Mr. Hernandez: So we have --yeah. So we have two companies in Miami. Okay?
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: So it's -- can your second company do it --
Mr. Hernandez: Yeah.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: -- without our authorization?
Mr. Hernandez: My second company can do it, and this company can be
transformed very easily into the other one; it's just a matter of paperwork.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: So you're doing all this for social responsibility?
There's no --?
Mr. Hernandez: We have been doing this for social responsibility for a very
personal reason. My father was --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I don't want to be cynical. I believe that there
are companies that do that and definitely care.
Mr. Hernandez: Yeah, yeah. So for me, it's part of the family business. We already
have a company set up here in Miami that can do this without having to --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: What's the name of that company?
Mr. Hernandez: Vector Axis.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Vector?
Mr. Hernandez: Yeah.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Axis?
Mr. Hernandez: And this company, Illumination Technologies, can be very easily
transformed into a company that is approved to do that. It's just a matter of
paperwork. It takes like two months.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I'm not going to take you at your word. I'm
going to research it.
Mr. Hernandez: Please, please do.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I don't know what you want to do, Mr. Chairman.
I think you had a question. But I want to research this. In fact, he can't do it as a
matter of right, right now.
Mr. Hernandez: We can give you the law.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: No, you don't have to give me the law. I'll do --
I'll find it myself, don't worry.
Mr. Hernandez: Yeah.
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Chair Hardemon: I want to recognize --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I actually voted for the Telecommunications Act.
I don't want to show my age, but I actually voted for that act back in 1996.
Commissioner Carollo: I --
Mr. Hernandez: Sorry?
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I actually voted for the Telecommunications Act
in 1996.
Mr. Hernandez: Yeah, okay.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Because I was very involved in it, so to me, you
know, what you were saying --
Mr. Hernandez: There's a Federal law and a State law.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: There's a State law, correct; that's the one I
voted, was the State law.
Mr. Hernandez: Yeah.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I think maybe Congressman Diaz-Balart voted
on the Federal, some Federal legislation, yeah, that was also passed.
Mr. Hernandez: Yeah.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: But what you were saying, then that's incorrect
to me, and I want to make sure that when you come before us that you're correct in
what you say --
Mr. Hernandez: Yes.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: -- because we will do the homework. The
Administration, that -- a very quick comment -- the Administration has not said a
single word to me; not you. You're in the hot seat today, but the prior
Administration -- or the missing Administration today did not say a single word to
me; did not brief me on any of this. I did my own research. Mr. -- Congressman
Diaz-Balart came to visit me and talked to me about it, so -- and then I did my own
research. So I was brought -- it was the vendor who had to come and tell me this
was happening. I think that you should have someone on staff for future meetings
that knows Florida law, specifically on issues like this. You won't get caught flat-
footed like you did today in here.
Mr. Hernandez: We have changed the design several times, because when we
proposed the previous infrastructure --
Chair Hardemon: Sir I want to stop you, because the design is like really of no
concern --
Commissioner Carollo: Chairman --
Chair Hardemon: -- at this point. I want to recognize Commissioner Russell --
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you very much. So I think --
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Chair Hardemon: -- and then I'll recognize you.
Commissioner Carollo: --I'm just saying that --
Vice Chair Russell: -- so the --
Chair Hardemon: He got recognized first.
Commissioner Carollo: -- I have to go. We've gone half an hour and I would gladly
be willing to take this up when we come back. But, you know, we've gone over half
an hour already.
Chair Hardemon: Right.
Commissioner Carollo: We never do this.
Vice Chair Russell: It looks as though it's going to get deferred. I just wanted to
give some homework to the Administration in the meantime, so they can work
together with them and bring us something back that we can work with. So there's a
couple missing factors. A couple things were mentioned. One is that the
telecommunications companies have the right, but they're now talking about
infrastructure companies separately also having rights, and that there may be
hundreds of these in the City. I would like an analysis of that; you know what our
rights are with those companies and who's doing that, and if we can or cannot stop
them. Two, they mentioned a lot of their expenses and their investment in this, and I
can appreciate that. I do, however, want to be realistic, though. The additional
strands you're giving us are not the value of the total amount of what you're
investing. To put additional strands doesn't cost you extra millions of dollars. It's
really the investment of millions of dollars that allows you to put the strands you're
putting. The additional strands are not that much more as was said. So I just don't
want to get an exaggeration of the invest -- or the benefit we're receiving versus the
investment you're making. But fair enough; there is a significant investment that's
going to happen. The question mark, the blank we don't know about is the revenue
side of your model, and that's why I don't want us to get left behind. If $30 per pole
comes out to less than $10, 000 a year as a significant part of your revenue base, fair
enough. But if you are able to make millions and millions of dollars a year off of
this, if your model is so successful, I congratulate you, but I want us to be a part of it.
Mr. Hernandez: Yes.
Vice Chair Russell: And that's my only thing there. And to maybe find a little room
for you on this Wi-Fi situation, I'd like an analysis from the Administration before
this comes back, if this gets deferred, with regard to the flood sensors. We may not
need these flood sensors on every one of these poles where they've been analyzed.
They're going to be on the sidewalk a good -- you know -- six, eight inches above the
street as it is. If the flood sensors are not necessary, if they're not going in flood -
prone zones, maybe that's a little savings you can find there if the -- unless this is
something the Administration really, really wants. I haven't heard that from them.
The Wi-Fi is what I'm seeking for all of the residents in all of the locations, and then
the financial, and then I'm a "yes. "
Mr. Hernandez: Just if -- when you finish your analysis, this is what I would want
you to reconsider: Whatever you ask from us, if other people are not giving
anything, whatever we do -- Wi-Fi, percentage of revenues or whatever, it's
something that's going to affect this model. Right? So there -- it's -- there's a --
there's a no fair play. Right?
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Chair Hardemon: Well, it's not fair right now, because it's not fair to us as a city --
Mr. Hernandez: I know.
Chair Hardemon: -- because the State of Florida has given telecommunication
companies the right to do this. And then it's also --
Mr. Hernandez: And the infrastructure provider.
Chair Hardemon: -- it's not fair necessarily to you and your competitors, because
now you're asking us for an exclusive right and --
Mr. Hernandez: Not exclusive, not exclusive. We never asked for exclusivity.
Chair Hardemon: Okay. You might not have asked for it --
Mr. Hernandez: No, no, never.
Chair Hardemon: -- but it appears to be that is what you're getting.
Mr. Hernandez: No, we never asked for exclusivity.
Chair Hardemon: Okay. Understood.
Mr. Hernandez: We never asked for exclusivity. So just take that in consideration,
because what we wanted to make is Miami a model on the east coast. Right? So
we've heavily invested in a city in California to make it the model of the west coast.
Chair Hardemon: Understood.
Mr. Hernandez: And in this case, we're going to over -invest to make Miami the
model of how this should be done so that we can replicate it in many other cities. So
please take that inconsideration. We really don't expect to make money --millions
of dollars with these 26 sites.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you.
Commissioner Reyes: What I was going to stress once more is that it is a shame
that, you see, something like this, whatever other issues that come to us, and that
when we get them before us, we have not been totally informed. Some of you guys
have been not totally informed of what it is going on and how this business -- I have
a list here of meetings that I -- since 2008 -- 18, I'm sorry -- 2018. And I think that
we have to make it clear that any time that any project of this magnitude comes
before any one of us and the Administration is involved that we should be informed,
because we are the decision makers.
Chair Hardemon: Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I just want the record to reflect that Vector Axis,
LLC is a registered utility in the State ofFlorida, so Mr. Hernandez was correct. He
does have a company. You're at 2332 Galliano Street. You do have a company that
can do this as a matter of right. So he was saying -- he's being truthful. I just want
to make sure that my colleagues know that as we go to lunch. Right? Okay?
Chair Hardemon: Is there a motion to continue the item?
Commissioner Carollo: There's a motion to continue this item at another time.
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Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Do we want -- because they've been waiting two
years, Commissioner Carollo.
Chair Hardemon: I don't know that they've been waiting two years. I mean, I think
it's a matter of semantics.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Well, they've been waiting a year. They've been
waiting -- do you want to put a time?
Commissioner Reyes: Continue until when?
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Do you want to put a --? Commissioner Reyes is
the sponsor.
Commissioner Reyes: Continue until when?
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: You want to put some time limit on it so that we
can move quickly so we could --
Commissioner Reyes: That's right. I mean, the sooner, the better, because I'm
sincerely -- I'm ashamed that after all the back and forth and all the negotiations and
things like that --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I know, I know.
Commissioner Reyes: -- then because you didn't know; no because of you don't want
it --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: No, I knew.
Commissioner Reyes: -- because you were not informed.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: No, no, I knew about it.
Commissioner Reyes: No, it --there was --
Commissioner Carollo: But this is --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I just got here. I was informed by the vendor. I
had a meeting with him and he informed me.
Commissioner Reyes: Yes.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: And I read the agreement. But I think that in the
-- you know, we need to have finality and we don't need to stop discouraging people
from investing in our city, so that sense of finality that I was talking about --
Commissioner Reyes: Yeah.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: --I think it's important that we put a time limit on
it; 30 days.
Chair Hardemon: So --
Commissioner Reyes: I think that I heard that they're willing to do it on their own
and withdraw this.
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Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Well, I don't think there's a reason for drastic
action, not unless --
Commissioner Reyes: No, I don't know, because that's what I was informed. I mean,
they can do it on their own. They can do it on their own, and we don't get anything.
I mean, it is --
(MULTIPLE PARTIES SPEAKING IN UNISON)
Commissioner Reyes: I mean, it is -- because it is two years --
Chair Hardemon: So is there a motion to withdraw now?
Commissioner Reyes: -- I don't know. I mean, I don't know. It is two years of back
and forth, bickering and --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Commissioner Commissioner, don't let the
frustration get to you. I understand that you --
Commissioner Reyes: No, no, no. Listen, I'm too old to be frustrated.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I know. But let's give them 30 days and if we
want it -- let them think about it and we'll take it from there. Let us think about it,
too.
Commissioner Reyes: Okay.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: That's what I recommend.
Commissioner Carollo: I think it's just outrageous that the Administration that's
going out the door would not have told us -- some of us about what was going on
with this particular project for all this time, and that they let a corporation that is
clear now was trying to do what was right, and they could go on their own way and
do it without giving us a penny; that they would allow these people on the hook to be
waiting for so long, egging them on, and then they just throw this in the agenda on
their way out, without the Assistant Manager that's there really knowing anything
about it, not anybody else that I could see in staff that's here. So for the record, let it
be another prime example of why we presented a motion that a majority of us
supported on December 12 to fire the former City Manager.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: And for the record, let the record also reflect that
we perhaps lost up to $8 million in investment because of our lack of action on this,
our lack -- you know -- our frustration over the fact that we are not informed and not
kept abreast by an Administration that we potentially lost $8 million of investment.
They could do it as a matter of right anyway without giving us a dime. It's a no-
brainer to take the 8 million. As a City official, I'm very upset and frustrated myself.
I am frustrated. I'm not that old yet. I still get frustrated when these things happen,
especially when you lose 8 million --potentially $8 million.
Mr. Diaz-Balart: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Chair Hardemon: So is this -- sir, sir, no. Is this a motion to continue or is this a
motion to withdraw?
Commissioner Reyes: Well, let me ask them. Are you willing to continue, or you just
want to --just vote on it?
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Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: We could vote on it, and whoever wants to throw
away the $8 million, let them vote against it.
Mr. Diaz-Balart: Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla couldn't be any clearer.
(MULTIPLE PARTIES SPEAKING IN UNISON)
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Let the people know.
Mr. Diaz-Balart: There could be further and further discussion with -- and by the
way, I reiterate our gratitude for your courtesy, but I think that the issue is clear, and
there has been enough explanation. We would hope, as Mr. Hernandez said, that
Miami would be a model, that you would take this based on social responsibility
from this corporation these services for your constituents. And so, we're reiterating
our gratitude for your courtesy. I think it's time for you to sign.
Chair Hardemon: Congressman, I have the utmost respect for you and the work that
you do.
Mr. Diaz-Balart: Likewise.
Chair Hardemon: The City of Miami residents were dealt a had hand by the State of
Florida with what they put upon us. And, you know, in this situation, I would give
you all the deference that we need if you give additional time so we can sort these
things through. I do not want to be forced to vote on this item today, but if someone
calls for a vote, it will happen. I don't think that you would like it. You may be
moved to do whatever you choose to do after that. And, look, I'm not here to go back
and forth with you, because this is very simple.
Ms. Lhota: I was about to agree.
Chair Hardemon: Whatever motion comes up is the motion that we're going to vote
on. And so, if I were in your shoes, I would take a deferral. However, you're much
more better paid than I am. You're much more better looking. You've accomplished
much more in your life. You've done all these things. And if you want us to vote it
down, you can. I'm just -- I'm putting that for the record to be clear. Right? So, you
know, I don't think this is --
Ms. Lhota: I think what I'm about to say is going to help the matter. We are more
than happy to continue this matter. And in fact, because of the length of time that's
gone on, we may need to revisit some of the site, because obviously, they're only
good to the City if -- and to us -- is if they are viable from our standpoint. So we will
welcome the ability to continue this matter and further discuss the agreement with
the City. So with that, I'll sit down.
Chair Hardemon: (INAUDIBLE) 30 days? Let's set it to the -- 30 days is fine -- to
the March 26 meeting.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I second that. I second that.
Chair Hardemon: Then that'll give us an opportunity to talk more about it. There's -
- so that way, it's not lingering. If we want to continue doing it, we can do it. The
motion is made by Commissioner Reyes, seconded by Commissioner Diaz de la
Portilla.
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): And so -- and I'm sorry. Just for the record, so item -
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Chair Hardemon: Wouldn't it be a superseding --?
Mr. Hannon: Well, no. Either Commissioner Carollo -- right, yes. Understood.
Chair Hardemon: Right.
Mr. Hannon: Or they could just -- one of them can withdraw their motion and you
can just proceed cleanly.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah. Well, I withdraw my motion. Do you withdraw your
second?
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Okay, I withdraw it.
Commissioner Carollo: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Chair Hardemon: So the motion is noted for the record. Any further discussion on
the motion on the floor? Seeing none, all in favor say "aye. "
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: All against? That motion is approved. So now we're out for
lunch. Come back at 3 o'clock. That's fine.
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PH.2 RESOLUTION
6884
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
Department of
ATTACHMENT(S), BY A FOUR -FIFTHS (4/5THS) AFFIRMATIVE
Resilience and
VOTE, AFTER AN ADVERTISED PUBLIC HEARING, RATIFYING,
Public Works
CONFIRMING, AND APPROVING THE CITY MANAGER'S FINDING
OF A SOLE SOURCE, ATTACHED AND INCORPORATED AS
EXHIBIT "A," PURSUANT TO SECTION 18-92 OF THE CODE OF
THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED ("CITY CODE"),
WAIVING THE REQUIREMENTS FOR COMPETITIVE SEALED
BIDDING METHODS AND PROCEDURES, AND AUTHORIZING
THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE A
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT ("AGREEMENT")
BETWEEN THE CITY OF MIAMI ("CITY") AND WATER
MANAGEMENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC., A FLORIDA PROFIT
CORPORATION ("WMT"), IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY
ATTORNEY, FOR THE PROVISION OF WATER DEPOLLUTION
AND CONTAMINATION REDUCTION ("SERVICES") OF ALL
NAVIGABLE CANALS, OUTFALLS, AND THE BISCAYNE BAY
WATERS FOR THE CITY'S DEPARTMENT OF RESILIENCE AND
PUBLIC WORKS ("PUBLIC WORKS") FOR AN INITIAL PERIOD OF
THREE (3) YEARS WITH THE OPTION TO RENEW FOR TWO (2)
ADDITIONAL ONE (1) YEAR PERIODS; ALLOCATING FUNDS
FROM ACCOUNT NO. 00001.208000.534000.0000.00000 AND
SUCH OTHER FUNDING SOURCES 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, IN
COMPLIANCE WITH ALL APPLICABLE PROVISIONS OF THE CITY
CODE, INCLUDING THE CITY'S PROCUREMENT ORDINANCE,
ANTI -DEFICIENCY ACT, AND 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 LAWS, RULES,
AND REGULATIONS, AS MAY BE DEEMED NECESSARY FOR
SAID PURPOSE.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-20-0036
MOTION TO:
Adopt
RESULT:
ADOPTED
MOVER:
Ken Russell, Commissioner
SECONDER:
Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
AYES:
Hardemon, Russell, Diaz de la Portilla, Reyes
ABSENT:
Carollo
Note for the Record. For additional minutes referencing Item PH. 2, please see
"Order of the Day" and "Public Comment Period for all Item(s). "
Chair Hardemon: So we are at PH 2. Is there any discussion regarding PH 2 or
any motion?
Mayor Suarez: Mr. Chair, I just want to sponsor PH 2 as well.
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Chair Hardemon: Noted for the record. It's been properly moved. Is there a
second?
Vice Chair Russell: Second it.
Chair Hardemon: Any discussion? Hearing none, all in favor of the item, say
aye. Py
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: All against? Motion carries.
PH.3 RESOLUTION
6899 A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
Department of ATTACHMENT(S), BY A FOUR -FIFTHS (4/5THS) AFFIRMATIVE
Finance VOTE, PURSUANT TO SECTION 18-85(A) OF THE CODE OF THE
CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED ("CITY CODE"), AFTER
AN ADVERTISED PUBLIC HEARING, RATIFYING, APPROVING,
AND CONFIRMING THE CITY MANAGER'S FINDING, ATTACHED
AND INCORPORATED AS EXHIBIT "A", WAIVING THE
REQUIREMENTS OF COMPETITIVE SEALED BIDDING
PROCEDURES AS NOT PRACTICABLE AND NOT
ADVANTAGEOUS TO THE CITY OF MIAMI ("CITY") AND
APPROVING THE PROCUREMENT FOR THE CITY'S FINANCE
DEPARTMENT OF A FINANCIAL SERVICE INFORMATION, DATA,
SOFTWARE, AND EQUIPMENT TERMINAL SYSTEM FROM
BLOOMBERG FINANCE L.P. ("BLOOMBERG"); ALLOCATING AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS FROM THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT'S
BUDGET ACCOUNT NO. 00001.162000.534000.0000.00000,
SUBJECT TO THE AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS AND BUDGETARY
APPROVAL AT THE TIME OF NEED; AUTHORIZING THE CITY
MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE, IN A FORM
ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY ATTORNEY, A BLOOMBERG
TERMINAL USE AGREEMENT WITH BLOOMBERG FOR A TERM
OF NOT TO EXCEED TWO (2) YEARS FOR AN ANNUAL USE FEE
NOT TO EXCEED TWENTY-SEVEN THOUSAND DOLLARS
($27,000.00) PER YEAR FOR A TOTAL AUTHORIZED AMOUNT
NOT TO EXCEED FIFTY-FOUR THOUSAND DOLLARS
($54,000.00) IN ACCORDANCE WITH BLOOMBERG'S QUOTE;
FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE
AND EXECUTE ANY AND ALL OTHER DOCUMENTS, INCLUDING
ANY AMENDMENTS, RENEWALS, MODIFICATIONS, AND
EXTENSIONS, SUBJECT TO FUTURE ALLOCATIONS,
APPROPRIATIONS, AND BUDGETARY APPROVALS AT TIME OF
NEED HAVING BEEN PREVIOUSLY MADE, IN COMPLIANCE WITH
APPLICABLE PROVISIONS OF THE CITY CODE, INCLUDING THE
CITY'S PROCUREMENT ORDINANCE, ANTI -DEFICIENCY ACT,
AND 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
APPLICABLE LAWS, AS MAY BE NECESSARY FOR SAID
PURPOSE.
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MOTION TO:
Adopt
RESULT:
ADOPTED
MOVER:
Ken Russell, Commissioner
SECONDER:
Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
AYES:
Hardemon, Russell, Diaz de la Portilla, Reyes
ABSENT:
Carollo
Chair Hardemon: PH 3.
Vice Chair Russell: I'll move the item.
Chair Hardemon: It's been properly moved. Is there a second? It's been properly
moved and seconded. Any discussion on the item? Hearing none, all in favor, say
aye. Py
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: All against? Motion carries.
END OF PUBLIC HEARINGS
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RE - RESOLUTIONS
REA
RESOLUTION
7012
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION
Department of
AUTHORIZING AN EXTENSION OF TIME FOR THE 2017-2018
Housing and
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT ECONOMIC
Community
DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT ("AGREEMENT") BETWEEN THE
Development
CITY OF MIAMI AND MARTIN LUTHER KING ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, A FLORIDA NOT FOR PROFIT
CORPORATION ("MLKEDC"), FOR TWELVE (12) ADDITIONAL
MONTHS FROM MARCH 31, 2020 TO APRIL 1, 2021;
AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO FURTHER EXTEND THE
AGREEMENT, IF NECESSARY, WITHOUT FURTHER CITY
COMMISSION APPROVAL IN ORDER TO ACCOMPLISH THE
PURPOSES STATED HEREIN; FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE
CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE ANY AND ALL
NECESSARY DOCUMENTS, INCLUDING AMENDMENTS,
MODIFICATIONS, AND EXTENSIONS, ALL IN FORMS
ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY ATTORNEY, SUBJECT TO ALL
FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL LAWS THAT REGULATE THE
USE OF SUCH FUNDS TO COMPLETE THE ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-20-0038
MOTION TO:
Adopt
RESULT:
ADOPTED
MOVER:
Ken Russell, Commissioner
SECONDER:
Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
AYES:
Hardemon, Russell, Diaz de la Portilla, Reyes
ABSENT:
Carollo
Chair Hardemon: The Chair requests a motion to approve RE.1.
Vice Chair Russell: So moved.
Commissioner Reyes: Move it.
Chair Hardemon: It's been properly moved and seconded. Any discussion?
Commissioner Reyes: No.
Chair Hardemon: Hearing none, all in favor say "aye. "
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: All against? The motion carries.
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RE.2
RESOLUTION
6935
MAY BE WITHDRAWN
Commissioners
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
and Mayor
ATTACHMENT(S), PURSUANT TO SECTION 18-72 OF THE CODE
OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED, 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 FIFTEEN THOUSAND
DOLLARS ($15,000.00) TO PEOPLE UNITED TO LEAD THE
STRUGGLE FOR EQUALITY, INC., A FLORIDA NOT FOR PROFIT
CORPORATION ("P.U.L.S.E."), IN SUPPORT OF P.U.L.S.E.'S
YOUTH LEADERSHIP ACADEMY; 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.
MOTION TO:
Withdraw
RESULT:
WITHDRAWN
MOVER:
Ken Russell, Commissioner
SECONDER:
Keon Hardemon, Commissioner
AYES:
Hardemon, Russell, Diaz de la Portilla, Carollo, Reyes
Note for the Record. For minutes referencing Item RE.2, please see "Order of the
Day. "
RE.3
RESOLUTION
7141
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, 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-FIVE THOUSAND
DOLLARS ($45,000.00) TO CATHOLIC CHARITIES LEGAL
SERVICES, ARCHDIOCESE OF MIAMI, INC., A FLORIDA NOT
FOR PROFIT CORPORATION, IN SUPPORT OF ITS EFFORT TO
PROVIDE LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS
WITH MEDICAL VULNERABILITIES SO THEY CAN MAINTAIN
PUBLIC BENEFITS, SECURE PERMANENT RESIDENCY, AND
PROMOTE EMPLOYMENT; 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-20-0039
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MOTION TO:
Adopt
RESULT:
ADOPTED
MOVER:
Ken Russell, Commissioner
SECONDER:
Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
AYES:
Hardemon, Russell, Diaz de la Portilla, Reyes
ABSENT:
Carollo
Chair Hardemon: RE.3. Is there a motion to approve?
Vice Chair Russell: So moved.
Chair Hardemon: It's been properly moved. Is there a second?
Commissioner Reyes: Second.
Chair Hardemon: Any discussion? Hearing none.
Vice Chair Russell: RE.3?
Chair Hardemon: RE. 3.
Commissioner Reyes: RE.2 was withdrawn.
Chair Hardemon: RE.2 was withdrawn. All in favor; say "aye. "
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: All against? Motion carries.
REA RESOLUTION
6895 MAY BE WITHDRAWN
Commissioners A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
and Mayor ATTACHMENT(S), APPROVING THE APPOINTMENT AND
COMPENSATION OF JOHN ELIZABETH ALEMAN AS THE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE MIAMI DOWNTOWN
DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA.
........ ......... .........
MOTION TO:
......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... .................
Withdraw
RESULT:
WITHDRAWN
MOVER:
Ken Russell, Commissioner
SECONDER:
Keon Hardemon, Commissioner
AYES:
Hardemon, Russell, Diaz de la Portilla, Carollo, Reyes
Note for the Record. For minutes referencing Item RE.4, please see "Order of the
Day. "
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RE.5
RESOLUTION
7092
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
Commissioners
ATTACHMENT(S), APPROVING THE EXTENSION OF THE
and Mayor
MOTORIZED SCOOTER PILOT PROGRAM FOR AN ADDITIONAL
SIX (6) MONTHS, FROM FEBRUARY 15, 2020 TO SEPTEMBER 1,
2020, THEREBY PROVIDING THE CITY ADMINISTRATION THE
TIME NECESSARY FOR A COMPETITIVE SEALED SOLICITATION
PROCESS FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A PERMANENT
MOTORIZED SCOOTER PROGRAM; FURTHER APPROVING THE
ISSUANCE OF SAID COMPETITIVE SEALED SOLICITATION,
ATTACHED AND INCORPORATED, WITH CONSIDERATION FOR
AWARD OF THE SAME TO BE SET FOR A FUTURE
COMMISSION MEETING PRIOR TO CONCLUSION OF THE
EXTENSION ESTABLISHED HEREIN.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-20-0040
MOTION TO:
Adopt with Modification(s)
RESULT:
ADOPTED WITH MODIFICATION(S)
MOVER:
Ken Russell, Commissioner
SECONDER:
Keon Hardemon, Commissioner
AYES:
Hardemon, Russell, Diaz de la Portilla
NAYS:
Carollo, Reyes
Commissioner Reyes: RE. 4 was withdrawn.
Chair Hardemon: Yeah. Then we have RE. S. I don't know if you want to do that
now or if you want to kind of move forward through some more things.
Vice Chair Russell: It could be relatively quick. So moved.
Chair Hardemon: It's been properly moved. Is there a second?
Commissioner Reyes: What?
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Commissioner Reyes: What, what, what?
Vice Chair Russell: The scooters.
Commissioner Reyes: No, no scooters. No scooters. Do you know how many
people have been killed? 30 people.
Vice Chair Russell: In the City of Miami?
Commissioner Reyes: No. All over the United States, 30 people. I was finding that
out the other day. And I'm not going to have that in my -- and besides that, besides
that, you see, yesterday, I was on 8th Street. I was on 8th Street and 18th Avenue,
because I had a little meeting around there. We were having a coffee, a cortadito.
When I looked, there was a guy on scooter, middle of the street, taking one lane.
Right now, right now, right on this corner over here, there was a person with a little
girl, renting it and going around. I am not -- and besides that, the corral -- you
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know, one thing that, Commissioner, you see, when you said, "a corral, a corral, "
well, a corral is used to gather the animals and the cows. These people, they don't
know what a corral is, because they have that marking on the sidewalk, and they
are all over the place but in there, you see? I'm sorry, but I wish that I -- I don't
want to have that in my conscience.
Chair Hardemon: Any other discussion?
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Well, yeah. Do we have a second on the
motion?
Vice Chair Russell: Let me make a case to get a second.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Okay, make -- well, is that allowed?
Vice Chair Russell: Sure, you can have discussion.
Chair Hardemon: No, I mean, the Chair will second for discussion if there needs to
be discussion.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Okay. So it's the Chair seconding.
Vice Chair Russell: So if I could be recognized?
Chair Hardemon: You are.
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. So, Commissioner Reyes, I
recognize your fear and your concern, and I will have to admit that the
Administration and the scooter companies have not rolled out the education plan --
I won't even say "good enough"; I'll say, "at all." Right? There has been some
classes. The corral doesn't work. We call it a hub. I don't like the word, "corral. "
The hub doesn't work if people don't know about it or how to use it, and the scooter
companies aren't incentivizing the users to do it, and the people don't know how
they can get money back. So the idea in the RIP (Request for Proposals) is that the
company with the most innovative idea, willing to invest the most -- meaning give
money back to riders if they're willing to park in the right place -- those sorts of
incentives will get you a higher score, and we'll start seeing the behavior we want.
But I'm looking -- that we haven't seen it yet, and a good portion of that is because
the videos, the bus shelter advertising campaign, none of the education has
happened that I've asked for for the last six, eight months.
Commissioner Reyes: Sir --
Vice Chair Russell: And so, people don't know that kids can't ride. People don't
know that they're going to get fined. People don't know how to report had riding.
People don't know that they can get an incentive for parking in the right place. And
that is -- we're -- I'm very thankful we haven't had major, major injury or a fatality.
Commissioner Reyes: Yes.
Vice Chair Russell: And we really need to do a better job of this education
campaign, or you're absolutely right; it should go away.
Commissioner Reyes: This is -- you know, and I really admire you, because it's
your item, and you have stuck with it. They had promised you the world, because I
have seen them come here. They promise you that not a single minor is going to
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ride it; that there will be no scooter -- I mean, laying around. It doesn't happen.
You see them in the middle of the street. You see them anyplace. You see, most of
the people, most of the riders, see, particularly here in Coconut Grove, and I would
say also by Bayside and all of that, they are tourists or people -- or they are young
kids that they're riding around. They are not taking -- I mean, riding it because
they're going to go to Metrorail and go to work That first and second mile and the
last mile doesn't work, because they don't use it like that. I wish that they would
respect the law. I wish that they would be useful. I wish that we have a lane for
them. But when they are -- I have a bunch of friends that they live in Brickell, and
they are pleading to me, "Manolo, let's get rid of this. " The other day -- I mean,
there is -- they -- Luis Mata, for example, he's been in the street with his wife, and
the carriage with the little boy, and he had to -- I mean, almost -- they almost ran
into the carriage. And it's not only that they do that; then they insult you, because
you are in the middle of the street. "You should get away. " You see, those are the
things that -- they have promised you the world, and you have stuck with them. And
you are a very consistent person, and I know that you mean well. No, really, really,
I'm not trying to pull your leg. I know that you really hope that this work; you
really do, because you think that it could benefit. But I -- my opposition to it, it is
the fragility of our population, particularly in my district, of old people, and these
people going on the sidewalk at 15 miles an hour. If they collide with one -- with an
elder, they're going to kill them. You see? Or that person will go to a hospital.
The other day, in Channel 23, there was a report of a girl that she fell, and she
spent out -- I don't know how much time in a hospital. She had head injury and all
of that. And the mother came out, pleading, "Please take this away, " you see? I
mean, accidents happen, and I don't have it in my conscience. I don't want it. I
don't want to have it in my conscience that a person suffers major, major injuries or
die, and I voted in favor. I can't. I can't, sir. As much as I want to help you, I can't.
Chair Hardemon: You're recognized, Commissioner.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I have a question of the new sitting City
Manager now for the afternoon. We have a -- welcome. Welcome aboard. Be
careful what you ask for. Are you ready? So we have nine vendors right now that
are operating scooters in the City of Miami in District 2?
Fernando Casamayor (Chief Financial Officer/Assistant City Manager): That is
correct, sir.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: And they pay $50, 000 each?
Mr. Casamayor: Yes, sir; that's the application fee.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: That's the application fee.
Mr. Casamayor: Plus a dollar a day.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Plus a dollar a day.
Mr. Casamayor: Yes, sir.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Where are we with the RFP? I know you have a
preliminary RFP. I would like to get an update on that to see exactly how quickly
we're moving.
Annie Perez (Director, Procurement): Sure.
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Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: If you don't mind, Mr. Chair, just to have an
idea.
Ms. Perez: Good afternoon. Annie Perez, Director of Procurement. So in the
REP, one of the things we're doing is we're limiting it to four companies, so we're
reducing the amount of companies from nine or 10, or whatever we would have, to
four. We -- also in terms of revenue --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: And what does that do?
Ms. Perez: That's -- well, right now -- how many scooters do we have on the street?
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Nine; nine companies.
Ms. Perez: 30 -- we have 3,900 scooters on the street.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Okay.
Ms. Perez: We're also capping the amount of scooters to 2,499. So four
companies; 2,499 divided by four companies.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Right. So it's more scooters on the street.
Right?
Ms. Perez: No. We have more scooters now on the street.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: No. The math doesn't add up.
Ms. Perez: So it'll reduce it.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Let's do the math again.
Ms. Perez: We have about --
Mr. Casamayor: Sir, we have 3,957 scooters right now.
Ms. Perez: Yes, nine companies.
Mr. Casamayor: And that's the total. So this is the wording in it of 2,499.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Total; not per company?
Ms. Perez: Total.
Mr. Casamayor: Total. They would have to divvy it up amongst --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Total. I understood per company. Sorry.
Ms. Perez: Oh, no, no, no; total. So then divide it by four companies.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Okay.
Ms. Perez: Which is about 833 scooters per company.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: What's the reason to bring it down to four
companies? (UNINTELLIGIBLE) competitive?
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Ms. Perez: Well, yes. It'll be -- well, since this is going to be a revenue -generating
contract, the less number of firms, they're going to compete more to give us more
money, so that was one of the things. And also, I think we didn't want to -- I'll
speak on behalf of the Public Works Director, but we didn't want to have that many
companies to be overseen with all the issues of safety and things like that, so we
wanted to be able to control that a little more.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Okay. Continue, and then I'm going to ask you
about what safety measures you put, because that's a concern that I have, also.
Ms. Perez: Sure. So --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: So what do you imagine our Clerk --?
Ms. Perez: -- in the evaluation portion of the RIP, we're giving 30 points out of a
hundred to safety. So -- and like Commissioner -- Vice Chair Russell was stating,
we're looking for firms that will basically give us a plan. And another thing that the
RFP has, for example, if anybody under the age of 18 is caught riding on the
scooter, we will be charging the company, the scooter company $100 and --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: A hundred?
Ms. Perez: $100. And then the other thing that we did was, because the scooters
are -- sometimes the numbers on the scooters are very hard to identify, especially
because they're going so fast -- we're requiring the numbers -- the numbering of the
scooter to be at least three inches per number so that, you know, it's more visible,
so we can -- and then the other thing we're adding is that they can report any
infractions to 311, the County's 311 system. We also have the MPA (Miami
Parking Authority) as a partner that will basically -- if there's any infractions or
things like that, they can impound the scooter. They'll be charging the company
$25, and then $5 per day, up to 30 days. After 30 days, if they haven't picked up the
scooter, we have the option to sell it. So --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: So you have --you impound it up to 30 days and
you store it for them, and then --
Ms. Perez: Right. And we can charge them, also, for the storage fees.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Okay.
Ms. Perez: So in terms of safety, the $100 fine for riders that are under 18. We
also have a whole education campaign that the riders will have to basically do
before they can sign up to be a rider. Let me see what else.
Vice Chair Russell: May I ask you a question about the hundred dollar --
Ms. Perez: Uh-huh.
Chair Hardemon: You're recognized, sir.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Well --
Vice Chair Russell: Commissioner I didn't want to interrupt him, but I wanted a
clarification, because it's not as I understood it, honestly.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Okay, that's fine.
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Vice Chair Russell: The intention of the $1 00fine was to be passed to the user who
was violating their account; not just the company, because these big companies can
afford that, and they'd be happier to have tons of kids riding and pay these $100
fines. I really want parents to understand even as a deterrent that they could be hit
with a $100 fine, or lose their account if they're allowing their child to ride under
their registration. Is that part of it; that it's passed through?
Ms. Perez: Yes --
Vice Chair Russell: Okay.
Ms. Perez: -- because it'll be easier for us to charge the company -- or to fine the
company the $100 than for us to be dealing directly with, you know, riders.
Vice Chair Russell: Okay. They will charge the parents?
Ms. Perez: Yes.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: So now what you said, it's not the company. I'm
sorry, let me --
Ms. Perez: It's -- no. We fine the company the $100, and the company in turn will
fine the rider or whoever signed up to be the account holder.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: So the company doesn't pay anything. Okay.
Ms. Perez: The idea was, again, like the Commissioner said, to pass it on to the --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Well, you could fine them both.
Ms. Perez: --parents. We could. This is a --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I'm sorry; we'll continue with the RFPs, the
safety measures.
Ms. Perez: Yes. And again, this is just a draft. It's -- you know, we can obviously
make any changes to it as the Commission wishes.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Is that it?
Ms. Perez: Yes. We do emphasize a focus on the companies coming up with an
educational campaign to make sure about -- regarding safety -- to make sure that
the public is educated as to the safety measures for riding a scooter, so.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: So -- if I may, Mr. Chair?
Chair Hardemon: Please.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: So what's your timeframe -- so you have a draft
of an RFP?
Ms. Perez: Mm-hmm.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: What's your thinking? Waiting for the RFP to
go out --
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Ms. Perez: The RIP goes out.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla:
-- see who applies, and how long?
Ms. Perez: We're looking at about, Commissioner, six months.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla:
Okay.
Ms. Perez: You know, and that's --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla:
You'll do all that in six months?
Ms. Perez: -- again, we can get a protest, so that can --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Bid protest.
Ms. Perez: -- throw a monkey wrench. But if everything goes well, between five
and six months.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: But you're likely to get a bid protest. Right?
You know that, probably.
Ms. Perez: I can't --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Yeah, you can't predict it.
Ms. Perez: --determine those things. Sometimes I think they are, and they don't.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Okay. Well, thank you.
Ms. Perez: You're welcome.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I have a suggestion for the -- are you the
sponsor? I have a suggestion. I will -- I'm very concerned, as Commissioner Reyes
is, about safety. I haven't heard any real -- you know -- ground -breaking safety
measures in what you've described to me. I don't know if you're not briefed
completely on the RIP, or do you -- didn't finish your presentation, but I want to
see more safety concerns. I'm very concerned, like you are, Commissioner Reyes. I
don't want to kill the project, the program yet, and I think that some of those great
ideas that you mentioned, the RIP should maybe apply to the continuing pilot
program where we decide to extend this, the Commission decides to extend. I don't
want to take it for six months, Commissioner. I'm looking at three months. I'm also
looking at perhaps instituting that fine immediately on both the vendor and the
parent, so -- and much more than $100, because $100 is not going to deter any
vendor, or maybe not parents, especially in your district, because you live in a very,
very well-off district. So I would like a higher penalty applied to the pilot program.
And I also want the -- how much do they pay now; 50, 000? I would like another
$50, 000 per vendor to continue participating in the project. So that's -- let's
generate some revenue for the City as we continue this pilot program. Let's make it
100, 000 per vendor of the nine vendors, and let's institute some penalties, some
high fines that are really deterrent to children and misuse. And with that, I can
probably support a three-month extension for now, and then we'll take it from there.
I would like to sit down with you and review the RIP, and as quickly as we can. It
really has to have a lot of those safety concerns that Commissioner Reyes spoke
about addressed. I don't want it based on ridership. That's an incentive for more
people to violate. I want it based on performance, and I want it based on past
performance, because past performance is a great indicator of what's going to
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happen in the future. But I think for now, it's very -- half of what you wanted.
Three months I can support, with those caveats that I've mentioned.
Vice Chair Russell: Mover accepts.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: The mover accepts it.
Chair Hardemon: The mover accepts.
Victoria Mendez (City Attorney): Commissioner, may I ask a question?
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Yes.
Ms. Mendez: I just wanted to make sure that the extra 50, 000 is going to go out in
the RFP; not at present.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: No. It goes out now.
Chair Hardemon: For the extension.
Ms. Mendez: You want it now?
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Yeah.
Chair Hardemon: For the extension.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Every vendor, every one of the nine vendors has
to pay 50k now --
Ms. Mendez: Okay.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: --for the three-month extension, additional.
Ms. Mendez: I believe we put 50, 000 in the ordinance, so I think we would need to
recodify that ordinance. I was just double-checking that.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Whatever you say, we will do.
Ms. Mendez: Because right now, we only have a resolution here for the extension,
and that was approved by the ordinance. We could definitely put it out in the RFP,
but I'm just --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: No. I want to put it now, Madam Attorney.
Ms. Mendez: Right. But we would need --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: So whatever the methodology is to do, whatever
method we need to use, and I want a $250 fine --
Ms. Mendez: Okay. So --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: -- both to the vendor and $250 fine for the
parent.
Ms. Mendez: -- I am going to double check --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: So with --
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Ms. Mendez: -- but I believe we would have to bring the ordinance back for two
readings in order to change the application.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Okay. You can't amend this? You can't amend
this one?
Ms. Mendez: A resolution can't really amend an ordinance, because I believe at the
present time, the ordinance states -- and that's what I'm double-checking right now
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Can a resolution add additional dollars from --
? Why not? From --
Ms. Mendez: It can't.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Are you sure?
Ms. Mendez: Yes.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Okay. You're not researching that; you have an
answer.
Chair Hardemon: The -- I'm going to call on Commissioner Reyes, then Vice
Chairman, then I'll recognize you.
Commissioner Reyes: It is -- I, as anybody else -- I mean, I think more than
anybody else -- I tried all the time to get revenues for the City of Miami, and as a
matter of fact, I was always asking for efficiency in our departments in order to
save money. But life safety issues, I mean, take precedent to any money that we are
going to receive. I have a report here that said that they are surveying 39, 000
scooter riders nationwide, who went to the emergency rooms with injuries in 2018.
I'm talking about 2018. It says that more than a third had head injuries. I have
pictures here of people, of girls, and young people on -- in the hospital. And more
and more information about how many people have been hurt, and particularly,
particularly, the most dangerous injury is head injuries. Of 39, 000, more than a
third had head injuries. You see, my problem with this is not that I -- I mean,
besides being a nuisance, that they leave it on the sidewalks; that they try to take
over the sidewalks; that they don't respect any laws, and they'll -- most of the riders
are young teenagers. If I were a teenager, I'd be running around in one of them,
you see, but that's a long, long time ago. But my main concern is that I don't want
to have in my conscience that one kid or one person is hurt and has head injuries
that would cause that person death or that person will be impaired for the rest of
their life. Not with my vote. Not with my vote. I mean, we have now some real
scooter -- electric scooter type, like Vespa, they go on the street, you see? They
have to respect the traffic laws. These people, they don't respect any traffic laws.
They're not supposed to be on the street, and they are on the street. They are
supposed to leave -- I mean, give way to pedestrians in the sidewalks, and they
don't, you see? And that's my only thing. I have nothing against the scooter people,
the businesses, but I don't want that on my conscience, and anyone, anybody that
wants to review this, you are welcome to it. These are publications that -- national
publications that shows how dangerous these things are. So, I mean, I don't care if
they give us $1 million. I won't vote for it. That's it. And I am only one vote, and
that's it. I just want -- make my point clear and for the record that the reason I
don't vote for it is because I want to go to sleep with my conscience clear.
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
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Chair Hardemon: The Vice Chairman and then Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla.
Vice Chair Russell: When we've extended in the past, we did recharge the licensing
fee, and I think in the first iteration of an extension, we did a 50, 000 for the six-
month extension for each company. Was that done by ordinance or by resolution?
Because my recollection -- I know we've done a couple of extensions now, and
we've done a few times where we've charged additionally. So wasn't that done by
resolution, or by -- simply administratively?
Ms. Mendez: No. It was done by the ordinance, because, remember, you had a
pilot. I believe it was a pilot by reso.
Vice Chair Russell: Mm-hmm.
Ms. Mendez: Then we codified the ordinance.
Vice Chair Russell: But don't we have --?
Ms. Mendez: And when that ordinance went into effect, that's when we recharged,
because we did the $50, 000 at that time.
Vice Chair Russell: Correct. Do we have the power administratively to charge
additionally?
Ms. Mendez: No, because now that the ordinance is in effect -- with the ordinance
in effect, unfortunately, it only states $50, 000. So we would have to -- if we are
going to charge it going forward, we need to recodify it.
Vice Chair Russell: Can we get a first and second reading at the next meeting and
the following meeting?
Ms. Mendez: We could do it for the 27th.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I'm not here the 27th, so that's on --
Ms. Mendez: For first read --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: -- it would have to be the next meeting after that
one, and then the second reading in the meeting after that one.
Ms. Mendez: Okay. We could do both --
Commissioner Carollo: You're not going to be here?
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: No, I'm not going to be here on the 27th.
Commissioner Carollo: Well, maybe we should look at changing the meeting date
so everybody could be here.
Chair Hardemon: Because of one person not being here?
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Well, it's -- I'm just not one person.
Chair Hardemon: You are one person.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: If I were special, Commissioner --
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Chair Hardemon: You are special; specially one person.
Commissioner Carollo: But a very smart person.
Chair Hardemon: That is true.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Thank you, Commissioner.
Vice Chair Russell: So then, just to finish up my question --
Commissioner Carollo: And certainly smarter than me, so.
Chair Hardemon: I hear you.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Well, that's what I read in the --
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: -- one of those blogs.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I don't remember the name.
Commissioner Carollo: Seven -time convicted felon.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Oh, that's the one.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah, yeah, yeah. But I agree.
Vice Chair Russell: Mr. Chairman, then my recommendation would be to put on
the books when available the ordinance change, allow for an extension at this point,
and then when the ordinance comes, retroactively charge them for the additional
time that they've gained through the resolution. Would that work?
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Well, it would be for the first meeting after the
February 27 meeting, then the next meeting. Right?
Vice Chair Russell: Yes.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: For the extension that we would do today would
be only for -- to cover that month and a half.
Vice Chair Russell: That's fine, too.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Right? Till we get through that process. And
then we add the 250 fine for the company, 250 fine for the parent, plus 50k more for
us, for the City.
Vice Chair Russell: That makes sense.
Ms. Mendez: And we would do that first reading in March and second reading in
the second meeting in March.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Yeah, that's fine. And I would move then to
extend until --for a month. Right? Or -- I'm sorry --for a month -- six weeks?
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Vice Chair Russell: Well, we need to get to second reading. We need to --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Well, will six weeks get us there? If it's --
when's the second meeting in March?
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): March 26.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: March 26 So six weeks does not get us there;
barely. We're a couple days short. Right? So for two months. We'll extend it for
two months and make sure we get it right. We'll extend it to make sure we --that's
what I would ask of the sponsor.
Vice Chair Russell: Mover accepts.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: The sponsor has accepted it.
Chair Hardemon: The seconder, as well.
Vice Chair Russell: I have a question.
Commissioner Carollo: Chair, before I forget -- we have a habit of forgetting some
things, I guess. The first meeting in March is what date; the 12th?
Mr. Hannon: Yes, sir; March 12.
Commissioner Carollo: Good date. Maybe we could bring the 27th meeting to the
5th.
Commissioner Reyes: Why? What?
Commissioner Carollo: The February 27 meeting, we could have it in the 5th then
Commissioner Reyes: Why?
Commissioner Carollo: -- of March. He's not going to be here, and we should
have everybody here for the meeting.
Commissioner Reyes: We -- everybody will be hereon --
Commissioner Carollo: Or have it on the 26th if you all don't mind, on Wednesday,
and there's no problem with that. Or since --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I'm gone from the 25th to the 29th.
Commissioner Carollo: 25th to 29th. Okay.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: The 26th to 29th, I think.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay. Maybe you'll invite me to one of these, so we could
bond.
Mayor Francis Suarez: Do you want to come? I don't know if I can get them to pay
for your ticket, too. Yours is coming.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I would really --
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Mayor Suarez: I will tell you --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: -- like to be here.
Commissioner Carollo: No.
Commissioner Reyes: Where are you going now?
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I really enjoy these meetings so --
(MULTIPLE PARTIES SPEAKING IN UNISON).
Commissioner Reyes: Can we -- do you know where you're going?
Mayor Suarez: We would have to notice it, because we'd have to bring the press
with us, and travel internationally.
Commissioner Reyes: Are you going to be traveling, too, Mr. Mayor?
Mayor Suarez: What's that?
Commissioner Reyes: Are -- you'll be traveling, too?
Mayor Suarez: Yes, sir.
Commissioner Reyes: Oh, both of you are going to travel together?
Mayor Suarez: Yes, sir.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: We're going to travel together.
Mayor Suarez: Yes, sir.
Commissioner Reyes: Oh. I just wanted to know.
Mayor Suarez: We can do that.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Yeah, we can do it.
Mayor Suarez: It's not a violation of the sunshine law.
Commissioner Reyes: Listen, I don't care if you hold hands and you go all the --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: No, we don't hold hands, but we'll travel
together.
Commissioner Reyes: You could go to the toilet, I don't care. I just wanted to
know.
Mayor Suarez: I would only hold hands if you traveled with me, Commissioner.
That's the only one I would hold hands with.
Commissioner Reyes: Well, we -- listen, listen, you might learn.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: You like them older.
Mayor Suarez: Listen, I think we're getting close to the line here, folks.
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Commissioner Carollo: The only thing I'll say to you is be careful with those
scooters where you're going.
Commissioner Reyes: That's right.
Commissioner Carollo: They're pretty wild over there. I was there recently.
They're --
Mayor Suarez: Gotcha. Thank you for the advice.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: They have no speed limit.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: But I think that's a different conversation. Let's
just get this done and then I agree with you, maybe we can reschedule that meeting.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah, we need to reschedule it, and if we could do it in
February, still. If you're leaving on the 25th, maybe we could do it sometime before
the 25th.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: We can or we can do it right after.
Commissioner Carollo: I'd prefer earlier. This way, we have it all done.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: There's a noticing requirement, right? So that
would be next week.
Commissioner Carollo: They'll have plenty of time --
Commissioner Reyes: Wait, wait, wait.
Commissioner Carollo: -- if we do it towards the end of next week, beginning of the
week.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Another Friday meeting. Oh, Commissioner
Reyes loves those Friday meetings.
Commissioner Reyes: No, wait a minute. Wait, wait, wait, are you moving it -- did
you say March 27?
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: No.
Commissioner Carollo: No, no; February 21 st.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: We're moving it up.
Commissioner Reyes: Okay, because March 27, if you move it -- I mean, March 27,
I won't be here, you see. I'm going to go on a vacation.
Commissioner Carollo: How about the 21 st; does that work?
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: On a Friday?
Chair Hardemon: Mr. Vice Chairman.
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Vice Chair Russell: Thank you. My question wasn't about scheduling; it was about
the RFP.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah, but I'm warming --
Vice Chair Russell: If you want to deal with the scheduling first, we can do that.
Commissioner Carollo: --up to you, Ken.
Mayor Suarez: Can we do --?
Commissioner Carollo: The 21 st -- on the item, I'm saying.
Mayor Suarez: What about Monday, the 24th?
Commissioner Carollo: That'll work, too.
Mayor Suarez: Monday, the 24th?
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah.
Mayor Suarez: Okay, okay. Thank you.
Vice Chair Russell: I'm sorry, we're moving --
Mayor Suarez: Monday, the --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Does that work? I don't know --
Mayor Suarez: Yeah, that works for me.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: -- okay. No, if that works for you, it works for
me, so I have no (UNINTELLIGIBLE) --
Mayor Suarez: I hope so. I hope so.
Vice Chair Russell: Are we talking about the second meeting in February?
Mayor Suarez: Come on. Hold hands? Really? Come on.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: The 24th --
Commissioner Carollo: I didn't say that. I didn't say that.
Commissioner Reyes: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: What about hugging?
Mayor Suarez: No, no hugging yet.
Vice Chair Russell: There's a CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) meeting
that day.
Ms. Mendez: So just to be clear, you are rescheduling the February 27 meeting --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: To the 24th.
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Ms. Mendez: -- to the 24th; February 24, under the provisions of --
Mr. Hannon: Section 2-32, Subsection "C. " The City Commission may, by
resolution, designate a substitute day or time upon which regular City Commission
meeting shall be held whenever, in the opinion of a majority of the members of the
City Commission, there is good cause for such substitution. So it's not a special
meeting; it's just a regular meeting, which the Code allows you by resolution to
change to a different date and time.
Mayor Suarez: On a different day. Makes sense. Makes sense.
Vice Chair Russell: Do we need a motion?
Mayor Suarez: Yeah.
Vice Chair Russell: We're in the middle of a motion.
Ms. Mendez: A resolution.
Vice Chair Russell: Let's finish our motion. So my question on the RFP is about
indemnification and data -sharing. Is the intent in the RFP to mirror what we've
had in the pilot, or are there changes to indemnification and data -sharing that
would take place?
Ms. Perez: There are changes to the indemnification. For example, they would be
indemnifying the City and the MPA. And we do have changes to the insurance, as
well.
Vice Chair Russell: Haven't they already been indemnifying the City and the WA?
Ms. Perez: I'm not sure about the WA, but -- they were? They have?
Vice Chair Russell: So then that's not a change. Okay.
Ms. Perez: Okay. I'm sorry.
Commissioner Reyes: Madam City Attorney --
Vice Chair Russell: And as far as data -sharing --
Commissioner Reyes: -- I have a question; have to do with changing. Does this
affect the deadline, agenda deadline that you have to bring it?
Ms. Mendez: You've gotten really good at this. Yes. We were going to talk about
that after, but I know we're in the middle of another motion, but, yes.
Commissioner Reyes: Because we have a requirement of the --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: That's right.
Commissioner Reyes: -- agenda deadline that we have to.
Ms. Mendez: Yes.
Vice Chair Russell: I think we're fine here.
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Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I think the 24th, we're fine. I think that's why
the Mayor said, 24th.
Mayor Suarez: Well, if the -- so the agenda would have to be printed tonight.
Unidentified Speaker: Seven days.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: 10 days -- tonight.
Mayor Suarez: Tonight. The thing would be that, obviously, every Commissioner
would have the five-day rule capability. If something were put on the agenda past
the print date, any Commissioner could automatically defer that item if they didn't
feel comfortable with the amount of time that they had to --
Commissioner Carollo: Or what we could do is, for this time only, we could vote to
extend that --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: And weigh that.
Commissioner Carollo: -- let's say, until the end of tomorrow at S.
Mayor Suarez: That's fine, too.
Commissioner Carollo: So that gives us one extra day.
Mayor Suarez: Waiving the five-day rule for that.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: No; waiving the printing --
Mayor Suarez: We can afford that.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah, printing the agenda.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: -- a day late.
Mayor Suarez: Well, I think the issue with the printing is to comply with the five-
day rule.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Right.
Mayor Suarez: In other words, to comply with the five-day rule, they print the
agenda a certain date. So you can waive the five-day rule, or you can just --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Mayor Suarez: -- enact the five-day rule if you feel that something is on the agenda
beyond that period.
Commissioner Reyes: The five-day rule will be waived for this meeting only.
Mayor Suarez: Correct.
Commissioner Reyes: I mean, that's not --
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Mayor Suarez: You can waive it for one meeting, exactly, if you want to. You don't
have to, either --
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah, we --
Mayor Suarez: -- because if it's printed today, it will comply with the five-day rule.
Commissioner Carollo: Sir, if we wait just one day until the end of tomorrow at S -
Mayor Suarez: As long as it complies with the five-day rule is the question.
Commissioner Carollo: We could waive that if need be, and it's --
Chair Hardemon: I couldn't imagine how we could waive the five-day rule,
because then you'll be waiving an individual Commissioner's right to five -day -rule
something.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Mayor Suarez: So can I just take a step back, Mr. Chair?
Commissioner Carollo: Let me --
Mayor Suarez: So to comply with the five-day rule -- right? -- which is a notice
requirement, essentially, for the Commissioners to get information in anticipation
of a meeting, the agenda would have to be printed tonight. Okay? If anything is
put on the agenda within that -- beyond tonight, something -- a substitution,
Commissioner, a Mayor or anybody who wants to put something on, it is -- it would
then be five-day-ruleable. All that means is that it would have to go to the next
meeting. It can be invoked by any one Commissioner. That's it. So I don't -- I
mean, I don't think it's a big deal if we print tonight.
Commissioner Carollo: But Madam --
Chair Hardemon: The only thing that I'm -- we've adjusted our meetings before;
that's not a big deal. We've also done it -- but there was always some pressing
reason why we had to do it. And we've had meetings where one Commissioner
wasn't present or two Commissioners were not present, we had a quorum, et cetera.
So -- don't worry about it.
Mayor Suarez: Listen, you can move it to the 24th. You can print tonight, and if
something happens within that five-day rule, you can defer it with invoking thefive-
day rule, or -- listen --
Chair Hardemon: Is this --
Commissioner Carollo: Wait, wait, wait
Chair Hardemon: -- to have this item on this agenda, 20 -- the item that we're
discussing now, is that on the agenda?
Mayor Suarez: It's got nothing to do with this item. I'm sorry. We got sidetracked.
It's got nothing to do with this item. This has to do with rescheduling a Commission
meeting from the 27th to the 24th --
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah
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Mayor Suarez: -- and what ramifications or repercussions there are from that.
Chair Hardemon: Got it.
Commissioner Carollo: By waiving the five-day rule by one day until tomorrow at
S, there's no harm done. We all know that.
Mayor Suarez: I have no issue with it. I'm just -- I have no issue with it. I just
don't know what the mechanics of that are.
Commissioner Carollo: Well, it gives everybody one day --
Mayor Suarez: Making it a four -- it's actually a four -day rule.
Commissioner Carollo: -- to put whatever they want, so they could print it.
Mayor Suarez: In other words, it's a four -day rule instead of a five-day rule.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Yeah.
Mayor Suarez: I don't know if that's doable under the Code. I don't know.
Chair Hardemon: Mr. Vice Chairman.
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you. It's -- I just wanted to dispense with the item on the
floor, so we can deal with that item. And I don't recall ifI got the answer to my last
question about data sharing. Is there any change in the REP for data sharing?
Michael Sarasti: Mike Sarasti, Director of Innovation Technology. No, sir, there's
no -- we had already made an adjustment to some specifics about real time sharing.
We're still requiring that the information is given to us in a mobility data standard.
The standard itself is evolving, so as other cities collaborate on that standard, there
will be, naturally, changes to the way that they're giving us information. But we are
still requiring that they give us the same format that they've given us in the past.
Vice Chair Russell: That's fine. In that case, the mover accepts the amendment to
two months from six months, and happy to move the question.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: One more question. We have nine vendors now.
When we started, how many did we have?
Vice Chair Russell: It was six.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: So is there -- can they now -- can new vendors
start appearing between now and then?
Vice Chair Russell: If they bring SO grand.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: If they bring -- no; they bring a hundred; if they
bring a hundred, because now it's a hundred. It was SO already, and SO more is a
hundred. So the new vendors come in. Right? They would have to pay a hundred.
Vice Chair Russell: They don't have to (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Chair Hardemon: Well, they pay an additional 50.
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Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: No. A total would be a hundred for one vendor,
and then the other vendor would have to pay a hundred, too; otherwise, it's not fair.
One vendor would be doing 50, and these will be doing a hundred.
Vice Chair Russell: These vendors all paid 50 to start.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: That's right; 50 more.
Vice Chair Russell: And then 50 for the extension.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: That's a hundred. So if a new vendor comes in,
they have to pay a hundred.
Vice Chair Russell: But up to now, every vendor that's come in has paid 50 to get
in, just as the originals did.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I know, but I want to change that.
Vice Chair Russell: Oh, well --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Every vendor that comes in, any new vendor
that comes in has to pay a hundred.
Chair Hardemon: Well, then, the next --
Vice Chair Russell: That would be in the ordinance.
Unidentified Speaker: Commissioner, that would be in the ordinance.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Yeah. The next -- the total would be a hundred
for the existing vendors.
Chair Hardemon: No, but my question is, so then for the next -- say, for instance,
there's a next extension. Say, in two and a half, three months, they need another
extension to keep it going, because they're not ready for the RFP yet, and the
program can die. That next extension, would it be for 50, or would it be for 100?
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I don't know yet. We'll see when we get there.
Chair Hardemon: Because what's happening is -- the reason, when you say "one
hundred, " it's -- the thought is that that would not be fair to the new guy that comes
on, because the new guy didn't have the benefit of the existing contract. So the
existing contract, they paid 50 to get in, and now they're paying another 50 to
continue it. And the new guy comes in, he says, "Well, this is my first time. Why do
I need to pay 50 for the past?"
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: So the solution is not to accept any new vendors
and today nine is fine.
Vice Chair Russell: That is not fair.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: You know, look, there's no new vendors; leave it
at nine. Okay? No one else could play in the game, and the existing nine would
have to pay 50 more. Right?
Vice Chair Russell: That would be in the ordinance. Okay
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Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Okay. So that would be in the ordinance that
we're going to do that you're going to sponsor.
Vice Chair Russell: Yeah.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Okay. And then we extend for two months as we
move.
Chair Hardemon: I'll recognize you, Mr. Zichella.
Eric Zichella: Mr. Chair, thank you very much. Eric Zichella, 2100 Coral Way, on
behalf of Spin, our clients. I would just respectfully suggest to you that the streets
are very cluttered. There's a lot of scooters out there. I think you should consider
capping the fleet sizes or freezing the fleet increases. There shouldn't be any
further fleet increases, I mean, from our perspective, as Spin. You wanted to roll
everybody back to 400 or 500, we wouldn't even care about that; not suggesting
that you necessarily should do that. I'm not suggesting that there might be claims
of fairness or whatever. But I just would suggest to you, absolutely, you should cap
the fleet sizes, and there shouldn't be any more changes.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Mr. Chairman, I would agree with that, because
the REP actually brings down the number of scooters. So I think it's -- you know, in
the spirit of that, that's a good idea; no more scooters.
Chair Hardemon: Mr. Vice Chairman.
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Madam City Attorney and Mr. City
Manager I understand that fleet size can be capped administratively for safety, for
clutter, for -- these are not things that need to change in the ordinance. But I -- if I
recall correctly in the original ordinance, we kept the ability to cancel the program
at any time, to change the amount on the street at any time, and I just want to make
sure we're legally within our bounds to cap the current number of scooters that are
out there this month for each company. I would be open to that -- well, that
wouldn't even be an amendment; it would just be a direction to Administration from
this point on in the pilot program, no additional new numbers of scooters to any
fleets. Yes?
Unidentified Speaker: Yes, Commissioner.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Okay. That's not part of the motion.
Chair Hardemon: Yes, sir. You're recognized, sir.
Javier Correoso: Javi Correoso, 80 Southwest 8th Street, representing Uber
Technologies and JUMP. I think there's very serious safety concerns that have
been brought up. Companies are still working with the City to address those. We
have no issue with Mr. Zichella's recommendation to cap the current fleet sizes, as
well, while we continue working with the City on a lot of these safety issues and
enforcement issues. Thank you.
Vice Chair Russell: Call the question.
Chair Hardemon: Any further discussion? Seeing none, all in favor with the
amended -- or modified resolution?
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Mr. Hannon: Yes, sir. And I just want to make sure we're clear. There's only been
one amendment to the resolution, and that's reducing from six to two, the extension
period.
Vice Chair Russell: Yes. Everything else is direction for a new ordinance that'll
come in another meeting.
Mr. Hannon: Understood. Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: All in favor; say "aye."
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Aye.
Vice Chair Russell: Aye.
Chair Hardemon: All against?
Commissioner Carollo: No.
Commissioner Reyes: No.
Chair Hardemon: Motion carries.
Mr. Hannon: And that'll be 312, with Commissioner Carollo and Reyes voting "no. "
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you.
Commissioner Reyes: Okay.
RE.6 RESOLUTION
6891 MAY BE WITHDRAWN
Commissioners A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION
and Mayor REAPPOINTING TODD B. HANNON AS THE CITY CLERK OF THE
CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA WITH COMPENSATION AND
EMOLUMENTS TO REMAIN THE SAME.
MOTION TO:
Withdraw
RESULT:
WITHDRAWN
MOVER:
Ken Russell, Commissioner
SECONDER:
Keon Hardemon, Commissioner
AYES:
Hardemon, Russell, Diaz de la Portilla, Carollo, Reyes
Note for the Record. For minutes referencing Item RE. 6, please see "Order of the
Day. "
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RE.7 RESOLUTION
6892 MAY BE WITHDRAWN
Commissioners A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION
and Mayor REAPPOINTING VICTORIA MENDEZ AS CITY ATTORNEY OF
THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA TO HOLD OFFICE AS PROVIDED
FOR IN THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS
AMENDED, WITH COMPENSATION AND EMOLUMENTS TO
REMAIN AS STATED HEREIN.
MOTION TO:
Withdraw
RESULT:
WITHDRAWN
MOVER:
Ken Russell, Commissioner
SECONDER:
Keon Hardemon, Commissioner
AYES:
Hardemon, Russell, Diaz de la Portilla, Carollo, Reyes
Note for the Record. For minutes referencing Item RE. 7, please see "Order of the
Day. "
RE.8
RESOLUTION
6991
MAY BE WITHDRAWN
Commissioners
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION
and Mayor
ESTABLISHING A MIAMI 21 REPORT AD HOC TASK FORCE
("TASK FORCE") TO WORK WITH THE CITY OF MIAMI'S
ADMINISTRATION FOR RECOMMENDATIONS ON POSSIBLE
CHANGES TO ORDINANCE NO. 13114, THE ZONING
ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED
("MIAMI 21 CODE"); STATING THE TASK FORCE'S PURPOSE,
POWERS, DUTIES, COMPOSITION, MEMBERSHIP
APPOINTMENT QUALIFICATIONS, AND REQUIREMENTS FOR
MEMBERSHIP; PROVIDING FOR OFFICERS, MEETINGS,
QUORUM, LEGAL AND STAFF SUPPORT, ASSIGNMENT OF
PERSONNEL, WAIVERS, AND PUBLIC NOTICE; AND PROVIDING
FOR AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE.
........ ......... .........
MOTION TO:
......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ..................
Withdraw
RESULT:
WITHDRAWN
MOVER:
Ken Russell, Commissioner
SECONDER:
Keon Hardemon, Commissioner
AYES:
Hardemon, Russell, Diaz de la Portilla, Carollo, Reyes
Note for the Record. For minutes referencing Item RE. 8, please see "Order of the
Day. "
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RE.9
RESOLUTION
6998
MAY BE WITHDRAWN
Commissioners
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION WAIVING
and Mayor
THE NOISE PROHIBITIONS FOR SUPER BOWL 2020 RELATED
EVENTS PURSUANT TO SECTIONS 36-4(A) AND (B) OF THE
CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED ("CITY
CODE"), TITLED "OPERATION OF RADIOS, PHONOGRAPHS OR
OTHER SOUND -MAKING DEVICES; BANDS, ORCHESTRAS AND
MUSICIANS -GENERALLY; EXEMPTION", AND EXTENDING THE
HOURS OF ALCOHOL SALES UNTIL 5:00 A.M. PURSUANT TO
SECTION 4-3(B) OF THE CITY CODE, TITLED "HOURS DURING
WHICH SALES ALLOWED; PERMITS AND PUBLIC HEARING
REQUIRED", FOR THE WYNWOOD BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT
DISTRICT DURING SUPER BOWL 2020 OCCURRING FROM
JANUARY 29, 2020 THROUGH FEBRUARY 2, 2020.
MOTION TO:
Withdraw
RESULT:
WITHDRAWN
MOVER:
Ken Russell, Commissioner
SECONDER:
Keon Hardemon, Commissioner
AYES:
Hardemon, Russell, Diaz de la Portilla, Carollo, Reyes
Note for the Record. For minutes referencing Item RE. 9, please see "Order of the
Day. "
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RE.10
RESOLUTION
6902
MAY BE DEFERRED
Commissioners
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, BY A FOUR
and Mayor
FIFTHS (4/5THS) AFFIRMATIVE VOTE, AUTHORIZING THE CITY
MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE A PURCHASE AND
SALE AGREEMENT ("AGREEMENT"), IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE
TO THE CITY ATTORNEY, BETWEEN THE CITY OF MIAMI
("CITY') AND ANA ELENA LEIGHTON ("SELLER") FOR THE
ACQUISITION OF REAL PROPERTY LOCATED AT 1221
SOUTHWEST 14 STREET, MIAMI, FLORIDA 33145 ("PROPERTY')
FOR A PURCHASE PRICE OF FOUR HUNDRED NINETY
THOUSAND DOLLARS ($490,000.00); ALLOCATING FUNDS
FROM THE OFFICE OF CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT ("OCI")
PROJECT NO. 40-Bl83415, DISTRICT 3 PARK LAND
ACQUISITION IN A TOTAL AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED FIVE
HUNDRED TWENTY THOUSAND DOLLARS ($520,000.00) TO
COVER THE COST OF SAID ACQUISITION INCLUSIVE OF THE
COST OF APPRAISALS, SURVEY, ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT,
TITLE INSURANCE, DEMOLITION, SECURING THE PROPERTY,
PROJECT SIGNAGE, AND RELATED APPLICABLE CLOSING
COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH SAID ACQUISITION AND IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE
AGREEMENT; FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO
NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE ANY AND ALL NECESSARY
DOCUMENTS, INCLUDING AMENDMENTS AND MODIFICATIONS
TO SAID AGREEMENT, ALL IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO THE
CITY ATTORNEY, AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO EFFECTUATE
SAID ACQUISITION.
MOTION TO:
Continue
RESULT:
CONTINUED
MOVER:
Ken Russell, Commissioner
SECONDER:
Keon Hardemon, Commissioner
AYES:
Hardemon, Russell, Diaz de la Portilla, Carollo, Reyes
Notes for the Record. Item RE.10 was continued to the March 12, 2020, City
Commission Meeting.
Note for the Record. For minutes referencing Item RE.10, please see "Order of
the Day. "
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RE.11
RESOLUTION
6990
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION DIRECTING
THE CITY MANAGER TO NOT EXPEND ANY ART IN PUBLIC
Commissioners
PLACES FUNDS ALLOCATED AND PLANNED FOR SOUTH
and Mayor
SHENANDOAH AND SWANNANOA POCKET PARKS ("SS & S
POCKET PARKS") UNTIL THERE HAS BEEN A DECISION BY THE
RESIDENTS WHO PATRONIZE THE SS & S POCKET PARKS;
FURTHER DIRECTING THAT THE ART IN PUBLIC PLACES
FUNDS OF TWENTY FOUR THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED
DOLLARS ($24,500.00) AS PREVIOUSLY ALLOCATED FOR THE
SS & S POCKET PARKS BE MAINTAINED AND HELD UNTIL
FURTHER NOTICE.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-20-0041
MOTION TO:
Adopt
RESULT:
ADOPTED
MOVER:
Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
SECONDER:
Keon Hardemon, Commissioner
AYES:
Hardemon, Russell, Diaz de la Portilla, Carollo, Reyes
Chair Hardemon: Commissioner Reyes, do you have a motion for RE.11 ?
Commissioner Carollo: Look, I know you really want to bring me, too, but --
Commissioner Reyes: Yes, sir. You have a motion?
Commissioner Carollo: -- even though I could probably take much better care of
you in sneakers, but --
Chair Hardemon: It's properly moved, and seconded by the Chair. Any discussion
on it? Seeing none, all in favor say "aye. "
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: All against? Motion carries.
Commissioner Carollo: What was that? RE (resolution) --?
Vice Chair Russell: IL
Commissioner Carollo: Okay, hold on. You're forgetting 9. All right. He's having
a good time now. I'll wait. That's how rude I am.
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RE.12
RESOLUTION
6999
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION WAIVING
Commissioners
THE NOISE PROHIBITIONS FOR MUSIC WEEK 2020 RELATED
and Mayor
EVENTS PURSUANT TO SECTIONS 36-4(A) AND (B) OF THE
CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED ("CITY
CODE"), TITLED "OPERATION OF RADIOS, PHONOGRAPHS OR
OTHER SOUND -MAKING DEVICES; BANDS, ORCHESTRAS AND
MUSICIANS -GENERALLY; EXEMPTION", AND EXTENDING THE
HOURS OF ALCOHOL SALES UNTIL 5:00 A.M. PURSUANT TO
SECTION 4-3(B) OF THE CITY CODE, TITLED "HOURS DURING
WHICH SALES ALLOWED; PERMITS AND PUBLIC HEARING
REQUIRED", FOR THE WYNWOOD BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT
DISTRICT DURING MUSIC WEEK 2020 OCCURRING FROM
MARCH 25, 2020 THROUGH MARCH 29, 2020.
MOTION TO: Withdraw by Sponsor
RESULT: WITHDRAWN BY SPONSOR
Chair Hardemon: RE.12. Is there a motion to approve RE.12?
Commissioner Reyes: I move it.
Chair Hardemon: Been properly moved.
Commissioner Carollo: This is the noise and alcohol waiver --
Commissioner Reyes: Yeah.
Commissioner Carollo: --for Music Week in Wynwood.
Chair Hardemon: Yes. Seconded by the Chair.
Commissioner Carollo: I -- look, I got a problem in Wynwood with information
that I received before this meeting. I -- can we have some time so that we could
vote upon this later, towards the end of the meeting, so we could deal with
Wynwood briefly? Let's go forward with it. Who made the motion? Was there a
motion made?
Chair Hardemon: Commissioner Reyes made the motion; I seconded it.
Commissioner Reyes: I made the motion and it was seconded, and that -- Chair?
Chair Hardemon: Yes.
Commissioner Reyes: Is this the same item that we leave a person out and they will
come back and try to get in? And are we leaving that person out again? That's
why -- Madam City Attorney --
Chair Hardemon: There will still be --
Commissioner Reyes: -- can you explain that?
Victoria Mendez (City Attorney): Yes.
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Chair Hardemon: There will still be always a special request for someone to
extend the alcohol sales to 7 o'clock a. m.
Commissioner Reyes: Yes. Which --
Chair Hardemon: I personally don't think it's -- you know, I don't think -- they
believe they have a right to it. I don't believe they have a right to it.
Commissioner Reyes: Okay. I just want to make sure.
Chair Hardemon: It comes, it passes many times, but --
Commissioner Reyes: It is your item, and I agree with you and then --
Ms. Mendez: Yeah.
Commissioner Reyes: -- you think that --
Ms. Mendez: The new request --
Commissioner Reyes: -- they should be carved out, okay. Okay.
Commissioner Carollo: All right. Right now, you're holding up the meeting. All
right.
Commissioner Reyes: What's the matter with you?
Chair Hardemon: I'm not going to let you whisper in my ear without everyone
hearing it, so if Fm wrong --
Commissioner Reyes: You know, you're wrong. Your mike was on. Do you know
that?
Chair Hardemon: You're saying that the Wynwood BID (Business Improvement
District) does not wish to move forward with this resolution today.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay. Well, then --
Chair Hardemon: Part of it is because -- well, we know this. Look, I'm not going
to be any -- Part of the reason that we try to ensure that we have these events in the
Wynwood area and some extension of hours during special event times is to
compete against our neighbors.
Vice Chair Russell: Right.
Chair Hardemon: I want to get as much of the business in our Wynwood
communities, our cultural communities as possible, and away from Miami Beach,
because we're the City of Miami. Right? So we want them to spend their money
here with us. And so, I think at the last Miami Beach Commission meeting, they
limited the hours of alcohol sales on Miami Beach, so they're coming to us anyway.
And then, on the river and other parts of our district -- well, not my district -- but --
Commissioner Carollo: Not mine. Not mine.
Chair Hardemon: -- there's further entertainment that goes on for 24 hours --
Commissioner Reyes: Not mine, either.
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Chair Hardemon: -- and a part that goes on in D2 (District 2) that brings in lots of
tax revenue and lots of people who are willing to have fun. So with that being said,
since I'm the sponsor of this one, may I withdraw this one, Mr. Clerk?
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): Yes, sir; it is your prerogative to do so.
Chair Hardemon: Well, I appreciate your acquiescence to that.
Commissioner Reyes: I have to withdraw the motion? Then I'll do it.
Chair Hardemon: There we go; it's withdrawn.
RE.13
RESOLUTION
6923
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION ACCEPTING
Office of the City
PAYMENT TO THE CITY OF MIAMI ("CITY") IN THE AMOUNT OF
Attorney
FIFTY ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS ($51,000.00) FROM HDR
ENGINEERING, INC., AND DRC, INC., IN FULL SETTLEMENT OF
ALL CLAIMS AND DEMANDS IN THE CASE OF CITY OF MIAMI V.
HDR, ENGINEERING, INC., ET AL., CASE NO. 11-03622 CA 01
(27), PENDING BEFORE THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE
ELEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MIAMI-DADE
COUNTY, FLORIDA, PURSUANT TO THE TERMS OF A
SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT AND RELEASE ("AGREEMENT");
AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE THE
AGREEMENT AND ANY AND ALL OTHER NECESSARY
DOCUMENTS, ALL IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY
ATTORNEY, TO EFFECTUATE THE SETTLEMENT.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-20-0042
MOTION TO:
Adopt
RESULT:
ADOPTED
MOVER:
Ken Russell, Commissioner
SECONDER:
Keon Hardemon, Commissioner
AYES:
Hardemon, Russell, Diaz de la Portilla, Carollo, Reyes
Chair Hardemon: RE.13, HDR (Henningson, Durham and Richardson, Inc) debris
cleanup.
Vice Chair Russell: I'll move the item.
Victoria Mendez (City Attorney): This is the settlement for HDR for 51, 000.
Chair Hardemon: That's not the same thing. Yeah, we don't have this; no, that's a
different -- well --
Ms. Mendez: They will be paying us --
Chair Hardemon: It's been properly moved by the Vice Chairman and seconded by
the Chair.
Ms. Mendez: -- 51, 000. I'm sorry I didn't say that.
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Commissioner Reyes: Take them.
Chair Hardemon: Any further discussion?
Commissioner Reyes: No.
Chair Hardemon: Hearing none, all in favor say "aye. "
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: All against? Motion passes.
RE.14
RESOLUTION
7127
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION
Office of the City
AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE ANY AND ALL
Attorney
SETTLEMENT DOCUMENTS, ALL IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO
THE CITY ATTORNEY, WITHOUT ADMISSION OF LIABILITY, IN
FULL AND COMPLETE SETTLEMENT OF ANY AND ALL CLAIMS
AND DEMANDS, INCLUDING ALL CLAIMS FOR ATTORNEYS'
FEES, AGAINST THE CITY OF MIAMI AND ITS OFFICERS,
AGENTS, AND EMPLOYEES IN THE CASE STYLED WEST
FLAGLER ASSOCIATES, LTD., VS. CITY OF MIAMI, PENDING IN
THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN
DISTRICT OF FLORIDA, CASE NO.: 19-21670-CIV-SCOLA.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-20-0048
MOTION TO:
Adopt
RESULT:
ADOPTED
MOVER:
Alex Diaz de la Portilla, Commissioner
SECONDER:
Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
AYES:
Hardemon, Diaz de la Portilla, Reyes
NAYS:
Russell, Carollo
Note for the Record. A motion was made by Hce Chair Russell, seconded by
Commissioner Carollo, to deny Item RE.14, which FAILED by the following vote:
AYES: Vice Chair Russell and Commissioner Carollo; NOES: Chair Hardemon,
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla and Commissioner Reyes.
Victoria Mendez (City Attorney): RE.14 is the settlement with West Flagler
Associates. We have a shade meeting scheduled. If you feel you do not need the
shade meeting --
Chair Hardemon: Is there a motion to approve RE.14?
Ms. Mendez: -- if you feel you don't need the shade meeting, we could --
Vice Chair Russell: Which one?
Chair Hardemon: It's been properly moved; RE.14. That's West Flagler Associates,
Ltd. versus City of Miami. Do you want to have a shade meeting and then come
back?
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Commissioner Reyes: Well, you -- I think that everybody should go to the shade
meeting and see why this is happening.
Chair Hardemon: I thought that we all --
Commissioner Reyes: That's right.
Chair Hardemon: -- got that individually.
Vice Chair Russell: We got briefed individually, but the five of us have never
conferred on this to strategize the case itself,- not only the legal side of it, the
political side of it, everything, the financial exposure side of it, so --
Commissioner Reyes: You have a point.
Vice Chair Russell: -- without a shade meeting, I would be voting "no. "
Commissioner Reyes: You have a point. You have a point. I agree. I remove my --
let's have a shade meeting, and then we -- everybody will be pleased.
Chair Hardemon: Typically, we handle our shade meetings at the end of the --
Commissioner Reyes: Well, one way or the other.
Chair Hardemon: -- agenda, because it never affects anything on the agenda.
Vice Chair Russell: Right.
Commissioner Reyes: Yeah, I hear you.
Chair Hardemon: So how would you like to handle this one? Would you like to take
a break --
Vice Chair Russell: No.
Chair Hardemon: -- to go to the shade meeting?
Commissioner Reyes: Let's keep rolling.
Chair Hardemon: Okay.
Later...
Chair Hardemon: Is there a motion regarding RE.14?
Vice Chair Russell: I would move that we do not settle.
Commissioner Carollo: Excuse me?
Chair Hardemon: That's the motion. Was there a second, not to settle?
Commissioner Carollo: I didn't hear it.
Chair Hardemon: His motion was not to settle.
Commissioner Carollo: That's the motion, not to settle?
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Chair Hardemon: That is the motion.
Commissioner Carollo: I will second that motion.
Chair Hardemon: It's been properly moved and seconded not to settle. Any
discussion?
Commissioner Carollo: Yes. I wish that we could make the former Zoning Director
pay for his mistakes between one after another after another -- if we could call them
mistakes -- but --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Turn your microphone on, Commissioner.
Chair Hardemon: Probably should.
Commissioner Carollo: The person that put this City in this situation was the former
Zoning Director that has made decisions and given opinions that, you know, there's
just no logic to them. I'm not even going to get into the one that he made in my
district. But he should be the one that should have been held responsible for this.
I'm going to vote in the negative on this out of principle, because, first of all, I don't
think the City should be in this situation because of one individual like this. This
should teach us that we got to change our rules so that no one individual can make a
decision behind closed doors that's not made up here in a transparent way by the
Commission as a whole. So based on that, I will be voting "no. "
Chair Hardemon: Okay. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I'm going to vote against the motion. I'm going
to be voting 'yes. " I think some of the evidence that we heard which will be made
public -- right? -- down the line. I didn't like -- and you're right. Mr. Cejas was
very, very responsible for a lot of the things that happened but that's not the reason
why we should cost the City of Miami more money. Again, I'm here -- I'm in the
business of saving the City dollars and getting dollars for the City, not costing them
money. So I'm going to vote against Commissioner Russell's motion.
Commissioner Reyes: I agree with Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla. The problem
is that there's more than one culprit here. There's more -- it's not only Cejas. There
is more than one culprit. We shouldn't be in this predicament and this should have
been handled differently. And also that I voted against the casino, but -- and against
the Jai -Alai but hearing what is going on and all the proof that they have, I don't
want to get the City in a deeper hole than what it is now. This is -- this could be
very, very, very costly. And I think that -- I don't know but my suspicion is that more
things are going to keep on coming out.
Chair Hardemon: Mr. Vice Chairman.
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I believe we wrote a good
ordinance. I believe our timing was good. I do not believe there was any personal
targeting of a single business. I think it's our job to fight for our residents. And
when anything heavily impactful like gaming is coming to a residential
neighborhood or being applied for if we legally can create a path for them that has
a -- that brings our residents to the table that has a high enough threshold that they
go through a process that makes sure that if it's coming to a neighborhood that we
mitigate those effects, it's not saying this is a ban on gambling. It's not saying we're
against gambling as a principle, and it's not saying we're targeting one company.
We are creating a process which will be good from here in perpetuity for our entire
City, and I do believe we brought it at a time that it was sufficiently before they had
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any vested rights to the card room that we are creating a path for. So they could
simply apply under the process, and if the votes are there, and the community is
supportive, and they get everything they need and all their cards straight, they get a
positive vote. But --
Commissioner Reyes: We're not talking about the cardroom.
Vice Chair Russell: -- so -- if I could, please. So I don't believe we're in the wrong
and I don't believe we were in the wrong then. So I believe it's too early to fold our
cards.
Commissioner Reyes: From what I heard, sir, I -- my opinion is we do it now and a
judge is going to tell us to do it later. That's what I believe. And then we're going to
incur a lot of money, and it could be worse. That's what --from what I heard.
Chair Hardemon: Any further discussion?
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: To further the analogy, you've got to know when
to hold them and you've got to know when to fold them.
Commissioner Reyes: That's right
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: And I think the evidence that was presented to us
about what happened during discovery that a lot of this was really driven by one
individual and one law firm, not by residents.
Commissioner Reyes: Yes
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I think, Commissioner, that's very troubling to
me. You made an argument that this is resident driven, but what was told to us a
little while ago is it was really law firm driven, one law firm who was hired by one
individual, and I don't think that should be the case. You should not let one
individual or one law firm determine what happens in a community. I think you have
to know when to fold them. And I think that Flagstone should have been a lesson to
all of us that we're not going to win this case. Let's just move on. We did, in fact,
change -- move the goal post on them after they had gone through the property.
They have a right to have a jai -alai fronton there. We imposed a four -fifth vote,
which is beyond the three -fifths that the state requires. And I think it's an unfair
process. They were perhaps targeted by this Commission. I wasn't here, but they
were perhaps targeted by this Commission and I think that we need to just move on.
Chair Hardemon: Seeing no further discussion, all in favor of the motion that was
made by the Vice Chairman, say "aye. "
Vice Chair Russell: Aye.
Commissioner Carollo: Aye.
Chair Hardemon: All against?
Vice Chair Russell: Oh, do we need public comment?
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): No, sir. But I just need to make sure I get the vote
clear.
Chair Hardemon: So I'll make sure. Let me -- so everyone understands. The motion
that has been made is for this Commission not to settle the lawsuit, West Flagler
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Associates, Limited versus the City of Miami. So at this time, I'll take a roll call vote
to make sure that the vote is clear for the record.
Mr. Hannon: Thank you, Chair. Roll call vote on RE.14. Commissioner Reyes?
Commissioner Reyes: No.
Mr. Hannon: I'm sorry, sir?
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: On the motion --
Commissioner Reyes: On the motion.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: -- to deny.
Mr. Hannon: Yes, on the motion to deny.
Commissioner Reyes: The motion to deny.
Mr. Hannon: You're for?
Commissioner Reyes: No. I'm --
Mr. Hannon: You're against?
Commissioner Reyes: --against denying.
Mr. Hannon: Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla?
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: No.
Mr. Hannon: Commissioner Carollo?
Commissioner Carollo: Yes.
Mr. Hannon: Commissioner Russell?
Vice Chair Russell: Yes.
Mr. Hannon: Chair Hardemon?
Chair Hardemon: Against.
Mr. Hannon: The motion fails 2-3.
Chair Hardemon: Is there any other --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I move that we accept the settlement.
Chair Hardemon: It's been properly moved. Is there a second?
Commissioner Reyes: I second.
Chair Hardemon: Seconded by Commissioner Reyes. Any discussion about this?
Seeing none, all in favor of the motion to accept the settlement, say "aye. "
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
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Commissioner Carollo: Nay.
Chair Hardemon: Sir, we had public comment.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: No.
Edward Martos: If I may. For the record, Edward Martos, offices at 25 --
Chair Hardemon: I'm sorry. We're in the middle of the vote. All in favor of the
motion, say "aye. "
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Aye.
Commissioner Reyes: Aye.
Chair Hardemon: All against?
Commissioner Carollo: Nay.
Vice Chair Russell: No.
Chair Hardemon: Motion passes.
Mr. Hannon: And that is Commissioner Carollo and Commissioner Russell as
voting no. Motion passes, 3-2.
Chair Hardemon: Okay. There are some other items -- some discussion items that
are still left; Discussion items 6 through 12.
Commissioner Carollo: Trolleys.
Mr. Martos: Commissioner, (INAUDIBLE) place an objection on the record.
Chair Hardemon: This is not a place for objections.
Mr. Martos: Okay. I just want to state for the record (INAUDIBLE) --
Chair Hardemon: Please don't make --
Victoria Mendez (City Attorney): Mr. Martos, there was time for public comment --
Chair Hardemon: The opportunity for the public comment --
Ms. Mendez: -- earlier in the day. I'm sorry.
Mr. Martos: (INAUDIBLE).
Ms. Mendez: You had -- no, no. The way it works is that there was public comment
at the morning when the Chair said it. If you wanted to say something, you should
have said something at that time. The opportunity to have been heard was given. So
I'm sorry and we'll disagree on that.
Mr. Martos: (INAUDIBLE).
Ms. Mendez: Okay, so thank you.
Mr. Martos: (INAUDIBLE).
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Later...
Chair Hardemon: Are all hearts and minds clear?
Vice Chair Russell: One question.
Chair Hardemon: Okay.
Vice Chair Russell: Just legally, I'd just like the City Attorney's opinion on RE.14,
the settlement. Is that the type of item that could be vetoed by the Mayor?
Ms. Mendez: No.
Vice Chair Russell: So when we make a resolution on a legal decision that's not
able to be vetoed?
Ms. Mendez: I'm sorry. Ask that question again.
Vice Chair Russell: So we made a resolution. We voted on an item to --
Ms. Mendez: It was under your executive power to settle on a matter.
Vice Chair Russell: Okay, just wanted to know.
Ms. Mendez: It's just the -- it's the nature of the legislation. It's executive -- it's your
power to deal with settlements, and handle settlements, and enter into contracts for
settlements, those things.
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you. Just trying to forecast --
Chair Hardemon: Seeing that all --
Vice Chair Russell: -- where this might go.
Chair Hardemon: -- hearts and minds are clear, this meeting is adjourned --
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: -- at 9: 29 p. m.
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RE.15
RESOLUTION
6886
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
Department of
ATTACHMENT(S), AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO
Police
EXECUTE MUTUAL AID AGREEMENTS, IN SUBSTANTIALLY THE
ATTACHED FORM, BETWEEN THE CITY OF MIAMI AND THE
FOLLOWING MUNICIPALITIES: VILLAGE OF MIAMI SHORES,
CITY OF DORAL, CITY OF MIAMI SPRINGS, CITY OF FLORIDA
CITY, VILLAGE OF BAL HARBOUR, CITY OF HIALEAH GARDENS,
TOWN OF SURFSIDE, TOWN OF BAY HARBOR ISLAND,
VILLAGE OF INDIAN CREEK, VILLAGE OF VIRGINIA GARDENS,
TOWN OF MEDLEY, AND CITY OF SUNNY ISLES TO RECEIVE
AND EXTEND MUTUAL AID IN THE FORM OF LAW
ENFORCEMENT SERVICES AND RESOURCES TO ENSURE
PUBLIC SAFETY AND ABILITY TO ADEQUATELY RESPOND TO
INTENSIVE SITUATIONS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO
NATURAL AND MAN-MADE DISASTERS OR EMERGENCIES AS
DEFINED IN PART 1, CHAPTER 23, FLORIDA STATUTES, THE
"FLORIDA MUTUAL AID ACT."
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-20-0043
MOTION TO:
Adopt
RESULT:
ADOPTED
MOVER:
Ken Russell, Commissioner
SECONDER:
Keon Hardemon, Commissioner
AYES:
Hardemon, Russell, Diaz de la Portilla, Carollo, Reyes
Chair Hardemon: All right. So can I --? The Char would like to entertain a motion
to approve RE.1 S.
Vice Chair Russell: So moved.
Chair Hardemon: It's been properly moved; seconded by the Chair. Any further
discussion? Hearing none, all in favor; say "aye. "
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: All against? Motion carries.
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RE.16
RESOLUTION
7013
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
Department of Real
ATTACHMENTS, AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO
Estate and Asset
NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE A TERMINABLE AT -WILL LICENSE,
Management
ACCESS, AND INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT, IN A FORM
ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY ATTORNEY, A DRAFT OF WHICH IS
ATTACHED AND INCORPORATED HEREIN AS EXHIBIT "A,"
BETWEEN THE CITY OF MIAMI AND POSEIDON FERRY LLC FOR
THE USE OF CITY -OWNED PROPERTY LOCATED AT THE MIAMI
CONVENTION CENTER FOR MIAMI-DADE COUNTY
SPONSORED WATERBORNE TRANSPORTATION SERVICES
PURSUANT TO MIAMI-DADE COUNTY RESOLUTION NUMBER R-
958-19, ATTACHED AND INCORPORATED HEREIN AS EXHIBIT
"B"; PROVIDING FOR USE FEES OF ONE THOUSAND, EIGHT
HUNDRED SEVENTY-FIVE DOLLARS ($1,875.00) PER MONTH
AND TICKET SURCHARGE REVENUE AND INCLUSIVE OF
THOSE CERTAIN TERMS AND CONDITIONS AS MORE
PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED THEREIN.
........ ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ..................
MOTION TO: Defer
RESULT: DEFERRED
MOVER: Ken Russell, Commissioner
SECONDER: Keon Hardemon, Commissioner
AYES: Hardemon, Russell, Diaz de la Portilla, Carollo, Reyes
Note for the Record. Item RE.16 was deferred to the Februaty 24, 2020, City
Commission Meeting.
Note for the Record. For minutes referencing Item RE.16, please see "Order of
the Day. "
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RE.17
RESOLUTION
6934
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
Office of
ATTACHMENT(S), AUTHORIZING AND ADDING CAPITAL
Management and
PROJECTS TO THE CITY OF MIAMI'S ("CITY") FISCAL YEAR
Budget
2019-20 MULTI -YEAR CAPITAL PLAN, ADOPTED WITH
MODIFICATIONS ON SEPTEMBER 26, 2019 PURSUANT TO
RESOLUTION NO. 19-0374, AS AMENDED AND/OR REVISED;
AUTHORIZING AND REVISING CURRENT APPROPRIATIONS
AMONG APPROVED PROJECTS; FURTHER AUTHORIZING,
ALLOCATING, APPROPRIATING, DE -ALLOCATING, AND RE -
APPROPRIATING FUNDING FOR THE EXISTING AND ADDED
PROJECTS AS SET FORTH IN EXHIBITS "A" AND "B", ATTACHED
AND INCORPORATED; ACCEPTING ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR
CERTAIN ONGOING CAPITAL PROJECTS DESIGNATED BELOW
AND RATIFYING, APPROVING, AND CONFIRMING CERTAIN
NECESSARY ACTIONS BY THE CITY MANAGER IN ORDER TO
UPDATE THE RELEVANT FINANCIAL CONTROLS AND
COMPUTER SYSTEMS IN CONNECTION THEREWITH FOR
ONGOING CAPITAL PROJECTS AND FOR GRANTS IN
PROGRESS.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-20-0044
MOTION TO:
Adopt with Modification(s)
RESULT:
ADOPTED WITH MODIFICATION(S)
MOVER:
Ken Russell, Commissioner
SECONDER:
Keon Hardemon, Commissioner
AYES:
Hardemon, Russell, Diaz de la Portilla, Carollo, Reyes
Chair Hardemon: There's RE.17, amendment to the capital budget.
Commissioner Carollo: What amendment is that?
Chair Hardemon: You're recognized, sir.
Christopher Rose (Director): Good afternoon, Commissioners. Chris Rose, Office
of Management and Budget. RE.17 is a recognizing of new appropriations from
sources such as the County, the Coconut Grove BID (Business Improvement
District), and special revenue, and it re -appropriates funds that are already in the
capital budget, as well. I do have three floor amendments.
Commissioner Carollo: Who's going to do the presentation; the Mayor or the
Budget Director?
Chair Hardemon: The mayoral Budget Director.
Vice Chair Russell: I'll move the item just to get us going.
Chair Hardemon: It's been properly moved; seconded by the Chair.
Commissioner Carollo: He wants to make sure you got the trip, all that down,
Chris.
Mr. Rose: Yes, sir. I do my best. I have three floor amendments.
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Mayor Francis Suarez: We had to add you to the ticket, so I wanted to make sure
that was included.
Commissioner Carollo: Add who?
Mayor Suarez: We had to add you to the ticket, so I wanted to make sure it was
included.
Mr. Rose: And for the record, I'm staying in Miami. I'm not going anywhere, so.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Well, we didn't invite you, so.
Mr. Rose: First, on Exhibit "A," the new appropriations, Line 11. This is the
funding from the Virginia Key Beach Park Trust. It's for the Museum Project.
After conferring with the Executive Director, it has not been approved by their
board yet, so I would add the following language; proffer it to the Commission:
"Contingent upon approval of the Virginia Key Beach Park Trust Board, and to be
reimbursed once funds are made available by Miami -Dade County. " So that's the
first floor amendment I would recognize. Second would be in Exhibit "B"; at the
request of the Mayor, a new Line 103 at the end, moving $350, 000 from "B"
Number 40B-40710, which is the Mayor's Parks, Streets and Lighting
Improvements Project, to a new project entitled Downtown Bathrooms. And the
third one would be -- again, at the request of the Mayor -- moving from the same
source 600, 000 -- excuse me -- $500, 000 from that "B" number and another "B"
number of the Mayor's capital projects.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I have a question.
Commissioner Carollo: How much on the bathrooms, Chris?
Mr. Rose: Excuse me?
Commissioner Carollo: The total price on the bathrooms?
Mr. Rose: Right now, we are only moving 350, 000 to a new project, so it --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: How many toilets?
Commissioner Carollo: But how much are the bathrooms costing us?
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: How many bathrooms?
Mr. Rose: I'm not sure how many bathrooms. We're kick-starting the project right
now.
Commissioner Reyes: May I answer that, please?
Mayor Suarez: Yes.
Commissioner Reyes: You see, at DDA (Downtown Development Authority), we
have been working -- I mean, they are -- we have been analyzing the cost on a
different bathroom that could be installed, and I would request that this amount of
money that you are assigning to bathrooms go through DDA so that give us the
prerogative of which -- where they should go since we are the ones that are
analyzing the need of those bathrooms.
Mayor Suarez: Mr. Chair, if I may?
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Chair Hardemon: You're recognized, sir.
Mayor Suarez: Thank you. Right. So --
Commissioner Reyes: And now that I have the floor I want to recognize and thank
the Mayor --
Mayor Suarez: Thank you.
Commissioner Reyes: -- for keeping his commitment to Shenandoah Park and to
DDA.
Mayor Suarez: Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chair. So just to clarify both, one is
the public bathrooms. I know that the DDA and the City have done one already,
and my understanding is the DDA is going to match this amount. And then there's a
private match from a third party, which I think is Camillus House, which will
provide the other 350, 000. So the 350 will be matched by 350 from the DDA, 350 --
and however many bathrooms that they can build. It's not set for a certain number
of bathrooms. If they can build the bathrooms less expensively, great. If they can
build them -- you know --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: My -- if I may?
Chair Hardemon: Yes.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: My question, Mr. Mayor, is that I think the first
bathroom was 380 --
Mayor Suarez: Yes.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: -- something in that range.
Mayor Suarez: That's correct.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: And I want to make sure that we are paying a
reasonable amount for these bathrooms.
Mayor Suarez: Right.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: If we could do seven, eight of them, whatever it
is, but I want to make sure that we're putting a million -- well, we're putting 700 of
City and DDA money combined, right? Another 350 of private.
Mayor Suarez: Correct.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: So -- of Camillus House.
Mayor Suarez: Commissioner --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: So in essence -- I'm still asking a question. So
is it going to be -- do you have any idea, any budgets? Because Commissioner
Reyes has just mentioned that he can get a better deal. I'm always looking to save
the City money if I can --
Mayor Suarez: Sure.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: -- or make the City money if I can --
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Mayor Suarez: Sure.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: -- if we can get a better deal. Have you spoken
to each other to see if -- what kind of (UNINTELLIGIBLE) -- he has on this?
Mayor Suarez: So the commitment was a financial commitment in terms of, you
know, the procurement, and design, and development, and the DDA is -- I have no
problem with the DDA being sort of the administrative agency and -- go ahead,
Commissioner.
Commissioner Reyes: Yes. I want to inform you that we had this discussion the
other day in our committee, and we are -- the figures or the numbers that we have is
for about three bathrooms, it's going to be around $500, 000. And that's -- all this
money is going to be used in trying to install as many bathrooms as we can, see,
and that would serve the purpose of trying to --
Chair Hardemon: Mr. Vice Chairman.
Commissioner Reyes: -- provide -- I mean, the facilities to people that require
them. They don't have to be -- not only homeless.
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. And thank you,
Commissioner Reyes, for continuing this effort on the bathrooms in the DDA and
the downtown. It's so necessary. And the first one has been such a success; over
130 uses a day, and not only by the homeless. It's just clean and safe enough for a
mother to change her child in. It's fully manned, it's safe, and we are hopefully
finding cheaper ways to do it. A lot of it, the -- if we use the Portland loo that was
sourced originally, it's over $100, 000 for the unit, the stainless steel unit, marine
grade steel. The other bulk of the expenses were in permitting and cost installation.
We're looking for better places and locations, and Alice Bravo at the County has
committed Metromover stations, exterior to the Metromover stations, which is
County land, so that shouldn't cost us anything, which is great. In the past, though,
the funding did not -- the funding went through the Capital Improvements
Department, who did all of the work, all of the permitting and the work, and I would
recommend we keep it that way. The DDA is still doing the planning, the design,
the locations, scouting, the sourcing of materials, and -- but this is tremendous.
Commissioner Reyes: Yes, sir.
Vice Chair Russell: The DDA hadn't come with this amount money in the last
iteration. The City really shouldered it last time. So for the DDA, the match is
huge. Thank you. And then to find private contribution, this -- between the two
toilets we have -- we have the Bayfront Park permanent toilet that's full-time
manned. We have the one down by -- on Elagler. This could add an additional four
or five. It could make a huge difference downtown. So thank you very much, Mr.
Mayor. Thank you, Commissioner Reyes. And that would just be my
recommendation; that the funding still flow through the City, through the Capital
Improvements Department.
Chair Hardemon: Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla.
Commissioner Reyes: Oh, excuse me.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I wouldn't characterize a $380, 000 public toilet
as a success to be honest with you. I also here there was lighting issues, because
there was some solar power lighting that you had requested at the time, and it
doesn't light -- provide enough light. So I want to make sure none of those issues
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are happening now; that we have enough lighting; that we are reasonable in the
amount of money we're going to pay for this.
Vice Chair Russell: Yeah.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I like Commissioner Reyes' stewardship of this
issue, but I agree that the Mayor was able to find the additional dollars from
Camillus House and it totaled over a million dollars, I think. And the County's
cooperation in providing the Metrorail sites, I think that that's great improvement
to begin to solve that problem. The other one -- quickly, Mayor. The other issue is
this idea that you close it at 6 p.m. is not a success, either. You have to man it 24
hours. People don't stop going to the bathroom, homeless people or anyone.
Commissioner Reyes: Yes, sir.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: They're still going to the bathroom at 6 p.m.
They go in the middle of the night. I think enough lighting and enough -- and 24-
hour -- manning it 24 hours is a good direction to go in for all these new bathrooms
we're building, and I think they'll go really fine, alleviating the problem that we
have with the homeless issue and the problems that we have in downtown.
Commissioner Reyes: I want to also -- I want to add that the $500, 000 that have
been -- the estimated $500, 000 also includes the -- manning the bathrooms, and
they are going to -- we're going to try to hire homeless that -- as have been done
now. And I am going to take this opportunity. Maybe if some other agency want to
contribute, you know, like for example, Bayfront Park. I'm just kidding. I'm just
kidding.
Commissioner Carollo: I'm sure the board of directors would love to give more
money, but unfortunately, you all took the $2 million from Ultra. But you got plenty
already. I'm sure you'll get it from there.
Mayor Suarez: Well, you guys are flush with cash, because you get 3 million, so.
Commissioner Reyes: Anyway, thankyou, Mayor.
Commissioner Carollo: We gave 3 million last year.
Mayor Suarez: Yeah.
Chair Hardemon: You're recognized.
Mr. Rose: Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just to finish the third floor amendment so that
it's clear, it would be moving $500, 000 from "B" Number 40710 to B78509, which
is the Shenandoah Pool. It has been alluded to; I just didn't get a chance to get it
out.
Commissioner Carollo: How much is he getting for the Shenandoah Pool?
Mr. Rose: 500, 000 from the Mayor's projects.
Commissioner Carollo: 500, 000.
Commissioner Reyes: (UNINTELLIGIBLE). Before I was elected that he is
committed to -- I mean, get that park totally renovated.
Mayor Suarez: Mr. Chair?
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Commissioner Carollo: If you would have gone with half a million, maybe you
wouldn't feel this way now.
(MULTIPLE PARTIES SPEAKING IN UNISON)
Mayor Suarez: Mr. Chair?
Chair Hardemon: You're recognized.
Mayor Suarez: First, the adage of, "Ask and you shall receive. " Right?
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Now I know.
Mayor Suarez: So the Commissioner came to me. Obviously -- you know -- look,
we've debated here even earlier today about the need for pools and public pools.
The one in Shenandoah is a little short of getting the money that it needs to be
completed. I know our Capital Improvements Department is going to start the
project. I think we'll still be -- I think half a million short, if I'm not mistaken. But,
you know, this is a very valuable thing. And of course, we then have to find the
money for the Morningside Pool, as well. Wherever it goes, and whether it's
renovated or rebuilt, we need to find the money to do that, because that community
deserves to have a top grade pool, like Shenandoah does, as well. As for -- I guess
that's it.
Chair Hardemon: This item was properly moved and seconded. Is there --? Yes.
Is there any special --?
Vice Chair Russell: I believe someone needs to proffer the amendment, or no?
Because we moved it before those were mentioned.
Chair Hardemon: Well --
Mayor Suarez: As amended.
Chair Hardemon: --as amended.
Vice Chair Russell: Mover accepts.
Chair Hardemon: Seconder, as well. Any further discussion? Hearing none, all in
favor, say "aye. "
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: All against? Motion carries.
Mr. Rose: Thankyou, Commissioners.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Good job, Chris.
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you, sir.
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RE.18
RESOLUTION
7117
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
Commissioners
ATTACHMENT(S), DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO
and Mayor
IDENTIFY FUNDING TO HIRE ANY AND ALL CONSULTANTS
NECESSARY TO PREPARE A FINDING OF NECESSITY
("STUDY") PURSUANT TO THE COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT
ACT OF 1969 FOR THE EXPANSION OF THE OMNI
REDEVELOPMENT DISTRICT COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT
AREA ("AREA") TO INCLUDE THE NEIGHBORHOOD COMMONLY
REFERRED TO AS "ALLAPATTAH" IN THE AREA; FURTHER
DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO HIRE ANY AND ALL
CONSULTANTS NECESSARY TO PREPARE THE STUDY;
AUTHORIZING THE EXPENDITURE OF SAID FUNDS IN AN
AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $25,000.00 FOR PREPARATION OF
THE STUDY; DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO SEEK
REIMBURSEMENT OF SAID FUNDS UPON APPROVAL OF A
COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT PLAN; AND 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-20-0045
MOTION TO:
Adopt with Modification(s)
RESULT:
ADOPTED WITH MODIFICATION(S)
MOVER:
Alex Diaz de la Portilla, Commissioner
SECONDER:
Joe Carollo, Commissioner
AYES:
Hardemon, Russell, Diaz de la Portilla, Carollo
NAYS:
Reyes
Chair Hardemon: RE.18. Is there a motion to approve it?
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Absolutely. I move to approve.
Chair Hardemon: Is there a second?
Commissioner Carollo: Second.
Chair Hardemon: It's been properly moved and seconded. Is there any further
discussion?
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I'm sorry, there's an amendment. We do have
an amendment; sort of adjust the map, the boundaries to add the areas bounded by
Northwest 20th Street to the north, Delaware Parkway to the west, the southwest,
and Northwest 27th Avenue to the east, and the Miami River to the east.
Chair Hardemon: Sorry. Say it again so --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: All right. It's an amendment that -- it's on my
district, so don't worry.
Chair Hardemon: No, no, no, I just wanted to see it.
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Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: It's the area bounded -- it amends the CRA
(Community Redevelopment Agency) map for the Allapattah area, which is what
RE.18 does. It basically requests -- what it requests is a study. All we're doing is a
study here for --
Chair Hardemon: No, I got that part. I want to see what -- where you're moving
the --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: The area bounded by Northwest 20th Street to
the north, Delaware Parkway to the west, Northwest 27th Avenue to the east, and
the Miami River to the northeast. We're taking it down to the river. And the area
bounded by Northwest 27th Avenue to the west, Northwest 38th Street, so it goes
two blocks north of 36th Street, which was my original map. That takes it to 112,
basically, which is also my district in that part, between the areas of Northwest 19th
Avenue and 36th Street to the south. Yeah, I think you have a map. You should
have a map there that outlines (UNINTELLIGIBLE). Is it down to the river?
Chair Hardemon: On mine, it already says, "the river. "
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Right, because the map that you have in front of
you is not the amendment. The map you have in front of you is the underlying.
Chair Hardemon: The underlying one. No, I was just saying that on this one --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: The underlying item.
Chair Hardemon: -- it appears to be that it was on the river.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Yes, but --
Chair Hardemon: It's not?
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: It is. I misspoke; it is. We had already taken it
down. Initially, when I had drawn it up, it didn't include the river. We had already
taken that.
Chair Hardemon: You need the river.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: The amendment just takes it to -- north to 38th
Street.
Chair Hardemon: Got it.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: All right? So --
Chair Hardemon: I see it.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Yeah. But --
Chair Hardemon: I see it.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: -- I misspoke.
Chair Hardemon: So then --
Commissioner Reyes: Mr. Chair?
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Chair Hardemon: Yes, you're recognized.
Commissioner Reyes: Is the floor open for discussion?
Chair Hardemon: Of course.
Commissioner Reyes: Yes. I want to be clear that I always been consistent in my
opinion, always been consistent in what I have -- every time that I take a position.
And right now, I cannot support this, because I've been fighting Commissioner
Russell and his quest to extend Omni CRA to south of -- I mean to south -- the South
Grove, and it is not because I don't want it to be extended, or the need of those
areas to be -- some money be extended on them. It is because I am very loyal to my
belief that CRAs -- and I was one of the initiators of the CRAs in the City of Miami -
- that they have a purpose, and the purpose is to eliminate slum and blight. And I --
right now, I believe that Omni CRA should be allowed to sunset, and that fund -- I
mean that money or the revenues that they are produced by the Tax Increment
should come into the general fund, and those funds should be used in other areas.
And that has been my belief all the time, and that's the purpose of the CRA. Now,
having said that, I don't have any -- I mean, as a matter of fact, I will strongly
support that, given the conditions that the area in District 1, that the development
that is being initiated by the river and by all the -- by Jackson Memorial Hospital
and all that, that we use these funds, you know, to analyze and study the possibility -
- or the feasibility, which I think that it is right there, because of the amount of slum
and blight, to create a CRA for that area; that area, which will include Allapattah
and all of that, and then any tax increment that we receive from those developments
be used to improve the infrastructure of the Allapattah and the area surrounding it,
you see? I mean, I am all in favor of creating a CRA in that area. And when Willy
Gort was here, we even spoke about it. Remember? We even spoke about it, and I
supported it, and I will support it. And I believe -- and let me say something. I
don't know if it's a change, but at the time that I was dealing with CRAs, any time
that you have an extension, the process, the whole process have to start anew. You
see, like if you are going to extend the CRA, the Overtown/Park West CRA, the
process of establishing that CRA had to start allover. It will be more -- I would say
easier; it will be easier in my opinion, and it will be -- as a matter of fact, I think
that it will be much better for the City of Miami as a whole that we allow the other
CRA to sunset, we create this CRA as soon as we can, and we use those funds to
develop and eliminate slum and blight in Allapattah and on all those surrounding
areas.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Mr. Chairman?
Commissioner Reyes: But the Omni CRA, I -- it is my opinion -- and as a matter of
fact, it's the opinion of many people in the County, that they have to be counted on
this.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: The -- Mr. Chairman.
Chair Hardemon: You're recognized.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: RE.18 is just a study to --finding --for a finding
of necessity that the Mayor's Office would pay for. I think -- I'm going to take -- get
rid of a portion here that says that you're going to seek reimbursement from the
Community Development entity later on -- Agency later on. I want you to pay for it
for us and then it --
Mayor Suarez: Seek and you shall receive, right? Ask and you shall receive.
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Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: You read my mind, right. So I want to get rid of
that line, but this is a finding of --
Mayor Suarez: Just remember when I askfor an appropriations later on in the year
for more money and you guys -- I'll have to ask you, too.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I thought we just gave you one but --
Mayor Suarez: I'll also have to ask you, so, yes. It works both ways, but yes, happy
to do it.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: It's -- the language, it says, "Directing the City
Manager to seek reimbursement of said funds upon approval of a community
redevelopment plan," so they can pay for it. It's just a finding of necessity for the
study to see if we need it. The -- I don't believe in additional bureaucracy in
creating another -- I'm a good Republican in that sense. I don't believe in having
the same --
Unidentified Speaker: What?
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I don't believe in having two additional CRAB.
I think we do it all in one and I think that it's contiguous, unlike the West Grove that
was proposed before. It's contiguous to this CRA. I think it's a much -- it's an area
that's in my district that I know, and I think I know the district pretty well. And I
think that all we're doing is a study to see if there's blight that we need to address.
And I also -- and by the way, down the line, I probably will be seeking an extension
-- not only this expansion but and extension because we can't do -- as
Commissioner Russell well knows -- we cannot do probably six or seven projects
that we have there right now unless we extend that to 2048, because the financing
will not be in place for these developers that are redeveloping these blighted areas
in the existing CRA. So these things have to happen from my perspective, including
Allapattah, the area I represent, which is probably one of the poorest areas in the
City of Miami. It's important to me as a representative of that area. So all I ask is
for your support in doing the study, see what it looks like and we take it from there.
You can always vote against it down the line if you want.
Commissioner Reyes: Let me -- out of consistency -- and I was opposed to it when
Commissioner Russell wanted to do it.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: My feeling was that you had an agenda --
Commissioner Reyes: No, no. It's the same -- hold on a second. Let me finish.
You see, I don't think that it's even fair for any other districts, Carollo's district or
to Liberty City that we are going to use the tax increment that it is being generated
at the Omni area, and then bring them into another district. It doesn't matter if it's
contiguous or not, because if we are going to start doing that, well, how about
Liberty City? How about my district? How about Little Havana? I -- what I want
to do is -- and I think -- and tell me, this is not to -- me being on your good side or
anything. We need a CRA. Now we can't do it, because all the new development
that is taking place on that area around the river and around the hospitals, and use
the tax -- those tax increment, and invest them in Allapattah and all those areas,
you see. And I will love that this study -- what really -- what it would do, this study
will emphasize the creation of a CRA there and the potential for creating a CRA
based on -- I mean, I don't have to do the analysis to let you know that that area
has slum and blight, slum and blight. And the Omni area, it is not slum and blight
as defined anymore. You have empty lots, empty lots, but you don't have the slum
and blight. But Allapattah, Little Havana, Liberty City, they have all -- they have
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slum and blight, and that's what I want to do. What I want to do is let's analyze and
-- not let's analyze. Let's get the process started to develop a CRA in the Allapattah
area and hire the people. So --
Vice Chair Russell: Isn't that what you --? I'm not understanding the difference.
Chair Hardemon: He's saying --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: The difference is that he wants a new CRA.
Chair Hardemon: Correct.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: And I'm opposed to any additional CRA being
created. I want --
Commissioner Reyes: Well, then --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: The point of CRAs, right, is to --
Commissioner Reyes: No. I'm opposed of using one --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I know, I know.
Commissioner Reyes: -- money from one CRA into another district.
Chair Hardemon: So if --
Commissioner Reyes: I'm totally opposed to that.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Okay.
Chair Hardemon: If I may.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: That's fine.
Chair Hardemon: I understand every argument that we're making, and I
understand how you wanted to make some amendments to you map. I do think, you
know, being your neighbor to this area on the east and on the north side, I -- well,
further north than the boundary that you've created is also some additional areas of
Allapattah that I think are underserved. Further north of that is some areas of
Liberty City. And I think that considering some of the things that are going to be
happening on the eastern boundary of this map that you have -- so 7th Avenue --
and on the northern -- north of all of these --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: To 38.
Chair Hardemon: -- which is -- well, I know you're going to 38, but my -- what my
amendment that I would request of you will be to, of course, include everything that
you have, but then, on 17th Avenue, you go north to 62nd Street and then east to 7th
Avenue, and come back down so that it connects. It's not just your district, but it
goes through some of Liberty City --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I would agree -- I will --
Chair Hardemon: -- and Allapattah, then come down.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I would accept that amendment, absolutely.
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Commissioner Reyes: And sir, how about if we turn left and we go all the way to
Flagami?
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: No.
Commissioner Reyes: I mean, this is what I'm saying.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: No, no.
Commissioner Reyes: I mean, what we have to do --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: There's no blight in Flagami.
Commissioner Reyes: No, no, no, no.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: There's blight in this area we're talking about.
Commissioner Reyes: No, no. And that's the area you're talking about. You can go
south also -- I mean, you can go southwest and you can get other areas.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: He's talking about Liberty City.
Commissioner Reyes: No, no. Yes, and I'm talking about Flagami.
Commissioner Carollo: If I may suggest the following that I think will --
Chair Hardemon: Thank you for the --
Commissioner Carollo: -- appease everybody. I think we could all vote for this.
And the difference here is, Commissioner, that I see is that these are contiguous
areas. They're touching upon each other. It's not what we had before that we're
jumping across the bay to get to anew area. What I would suggest is so that you're
assured that we're not going to take money from one area to another that only the
dollars that are coming from the new area would be spent on that area. To be blunt
with you, right now all the funding that's there basically is more or less committed.
So you could start by doing that. You're going to use the funding that comes from
the new area only into the new area. You won't take from the other area towards
you and that appeases --
Commissioner Reyes: No, no, it doesn't appease me. Hold on a second.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I'm amenable ---
Commissioner Reyes: I just want -- where is the Budget Director here? Where is
he?
Chair Hardemon: While the Budget Director is coming, I'll call on the Mayor.
Commissioner Reyes: Okay, I just want to know -- we are losing -- every year,
we're losing over $12 million that could come to the general fund and be used on
streets and other needs that all the districts have; that's why I'm saying we have to
sunset it.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Well --
Commissioner Reyes: You see, what I don't want is -- I mean, there are -- most of
them is not committed, you see. What you are proposing, Commissioner Carollo, is
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about the same thing, is creating new -- I mean, the tax increment financing is
going to be only from that new construction of the new development within the area
ofAllapattah, the river, and all of that. And you don't want to touch the one -- all
the funds from the Omni.
Commissioner Carollo: Let me --
Commissioner Reyes: That is the same as creating a new CRA. What I wanted is to
sunset this when it comes, and it is fair to all the other districts to share the wealth,
you see. Auburndale, we don't have a CRA in Auburndale, and we have a lot of
need, and we have slum and blight there, you see. The thing is that because it is
contiguous doesn't justify that you are taking the funds from an area and you are
diverting it to that area instead of sending it back to the general fund and using it
for everybody in the City. It is my belief -- and listen, I am consistent in what I
believe, and I vote consistently, you see. And that's the way -- I'm sorry but that's
the way I feel. I'd rather do a new CRA. And besides that, when you have a CRA
and you have a CRA next to it -- and this idea of having only one administration
doesn't work; let me tell you why. Because there are different needs, there are
different conditions, there are different requirements, there are different population,
you see. I mean, you need to have people that they are specialized or they are
totally involved in that area that that CRAs have been created. And that's -- and
you're hearing from -- the first CRA that was done in the City of Miami was
Overtown/Park West, and I was the economist for that, you see; that's why I take
the position that I'm taking. And the principle behind all CRAs of the Community
Redevelopment Act is to promote development by reinvesting the additional taxes
that have been created in that area until slum and blight has been eliminated, and
then move those funds into the general fund to help the poorest area. That's the
way it is, you see.
Chair Hardemon: So I'm calling the Mayor, then Commissioner Carollo, then the
Vice Chairman.
Mayor Suarez: Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'll be brief. I just -- I know that we're
getting into a bigger discussion about whether we should have multiple CRAs or
expand the boundaries of CRAs, and how much the CRAs take from the general
fund. And I think those are all appropriate discussions. But this is about a finding
of disparity study alone, so this does not commit the Commission to expanding the
boundaries, making another CRA. I understand your arguments that there are
other areas that have needs and also the collapsing of -- potentially collapsing the
CRA and getting back the 12 million in revenue. But this alone is just -- it's a
precondition. You have to have a finding of necessity prior to doing anything and
that's part of the CRA law.
Commissioner Reyes: Yes, sir. I do understand that, but I want to make clear of my
position.
Mayor Suarez: Understood.
Commissioner Reyes: And I had that position when I was -- and when it was -- the
other analysis was being made. And I just want to make my position be extremely
clear, you see, that what -- expanding the CRA using the funds of one CRA into
development and the infrastructure in other areas -- it could be contiguous or it
could be across the bay -- that that is not the purpose of a CRA, and it is unfair for
the rest of all the districts. Creating a new CRA based on the needs, that is a
different thing.
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Mayor Suarez: Mr. Chair.
Chair Hardemon: Okay, I --
Commissioner Reyes: Okay, this is just an analysis, but I want to include in this
analysis -- if we're going to go -- I mean, to vote -- that to analyze the need for
creating -- or if the conditions for creating a new CRA in that area, if they exist,
okay?
Mayor Suarez: Mr. Chair.
Commissioner Reyes: You include that.
Chair Hardemon: I'm going to allow you to finish.
Mayor Suarez: Just real quick.
Chair Hardemon: And then Commissioner Carollo and then the Vice --
Mayor Suarez: I just want to ask the Commissioner if we create another CRA or if
we expand the CRA, is that something that I can veto or is that not something I can
Commissioner Carollo: No, you can't.
Commissioner Reyes: Well, you cannot veto that.
Mayor Suarez: Okay. I'm just curious. I just wanted --
Commissioner Reyes: You cannot.
Mayor Suarez: I want to understand the ground rules.
Commissioner Reyes: Can I -- hey, listen.
Mayor Suarez: I want to understand the ground rules.
Commissioner Reyes: Listen, do we have veto power here? Because Icon Id veto a
lot of things that you -- I could veto the way that you are now.
Mayor Suarez: I'm just asking a question. I want to know what your position --
Commissioner Reyes: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Don't be facetious.
Mayor Suarez: I'm not. I'm actually being honest. I want to know.
Commissioner Reyes: Don't be facetious.
Commissioner Carollo: You know, he could be kind of pleasant when he laughs
and jokes --
Commissioner Reyes: Yeah, sometimes, sometimes.
Commissioner Carollo: -- and don't take things so seriously.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: It's going great.
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Commissioner Carollo: He could be a regular old Mayor.
Mayor Suarez: Keep the ball rolling.
Commissioner Carollo: I like it. Anyway, I do want to opine on this issue.
Commissioner Russell, your mind is a little fresher than mine; it's younger than
mine. Whatever happened with the expansion that we voted upon into the Grove --
West Grove area.
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you. Mr. Chairman.
Chair Hardemon: You're recognized.
Vice Chair Russell: I appreciate the question and I do want a clarification, as well,
before I go into that recent history; maybe the Clerk can help, because
Commissioner Reyes, if Fm not mistaken, voted 'yes" and unanimous with this body
on that vote, on that issue to extend the life of the Omni CRA and expand it to the
West Grove. Am I incorrect that that was not a unanimous vote?
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): I'll have to check our records, sir, and get back to
you.
Commissioner Reyes: No, no.
Vice Chair Russell: Check on January 11, 2018.
Commissioner Reyes: No, it wasn't unanimous. What it was unanimous is to
analyze the extension of the CRA to Allapattah, Flagami, every place, Little Havana
and every place. And it was a study, it was an analysis made, and it was
impossible.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay.
Vice Chair Russell: I may be incorrect but --
Commissioner Reyes: Yes, you are.
Vice Chair Russell: -- the minutes that I have show you voting 'yes. "
Commissioner Reyes: I voted "yes, " to include the whole City as a CRA.
Vice Chair Russell: That was a later analysis which did come back and you're
absolutely --
Commissioner Reyes: I never voted to have you move the -- I mean, extend the CRA
to only to south -- to the South Grove, never --
Commissioner Carollo: Well --
Commissioner Reyes: -- because the same argument that I am using now, I used it
before.
Commissioner Carollo: Well --
Vice Chair Russell: So -- and if I could just go through that history because the --
here's how I recall it. I came into that day without one additional vote on that
issue, and the community came in support, the finding of necessity was valid, and
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we ended up with a unanimous vote. And that was probably the happiest day I've
ever had in this Commission, because it really meant a lot to me to see this body do
something so selfless as what happened in that moment, because it certainly doesn't
benefit the whole county or the whole City to trap money in one part of the City, but
to recognize the debt that's owed to a part of the City is how we help each other.
And in that moment I -- in my pleading, I said "When the time comes for your
district if you were to seek a CRA for a blighted part of your community, I'll be
therefor you as well," and I said that to Commissioner Gort at the time. So I would
love to learn more about this, and I could be in support of it, regardless of whatever
differences we've had.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Thank you.
Vice Chair Russell: We will sit together on a CRA board and we can balance the
spending in the various chapters of that redevelopment plan so that we don't rob
Peter to pay Paul, for example, and do it correctly. What happened at that point, I
was legally correct that we can have a noncontiguous CRA. There's legal
precedent for it and there's -- it's statutorily okay.
Commissioner Reyes: Yes, it is.
Vice Chair Russell: I did not calculate correctly the politics of what that does, and
it's similar to what you're talking about here, where money starts flowing between
other districts and now we're dealing with the County, as well, and that becomes an
issue. So it went up to the County as one item, an extension with an expansion, a
non-contiguous expansion outside of a County Commission district to another
County Commission district, and there it hit a wall that I really hoped and thought I
could get past, butt haven't been able to; and so it has sat in the wings --
Mayor Suarez: Bad timing.
Vice Chair Russell: -- still available to go to the County Commission. Now my
understanding is at the County Commission, they can unilaterally bifurcate that
request of extension and expansion, and they can extend the Omni CRA as one item;
they can extend the Overtown -- Southeast Overtown/Park West CRA as an item,
and they can create a new CRA in the West Grove based on the finding of necessity
that did pass by this Commission. We proved that there's slum and blight, and from
that day to now, that community even now doesn't look the same; more evictions,
more demolitions. Grand Avenue is completely bombed out and gone. My ask here
continues, and I will be supportive of an Allapattah CRA if this body is willing to
continue to support the concept that the Grove does get a CRA, whether it's
contiguous, whether it's non-contiguous. That's my ask, because that's what
predicated this entire conversation. And I'm here for your communities but I really
need help here.
Commissioner Reyes: Let me tell you this. I am in total agreement, in total
agreement wherever there is slum and blight that we use a CRA -- that we create a
CRA, as long as it is used for that purpose, not to be used for -- as a piggybank for
the Commissioner -- okay? -- that then can redirect the monies according to how
they feel, you see. And once the slum and blight, it is eliminated, it will sunset. If
you bring that up now, I will vote in favor of creating a CRA in that area as long as
-- as I will do it for Liberty City, you see, because there is a felt need. But under
those promises, and those were the promises by which we created Overtown/Park
West Redevelopment Project.
Commissioner Carollo: The --
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Commissioner Reyes: You see? I mean, if you're going to create a CRA based on
need, fantastic. Now when you're going to expand a CRA by using the area that
was developed through a CRA and now that they are -- that the -- they have a great
source of revenues and direct them to a particular place, that is when I -- what I
will oppose, and that's it. You want to create a CRA, sir, you have my backing.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: That's not what's discussed. It's clear what --
Commissioner Reyes: No, no. We are not discussing. I'm just answering to --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Oh.
Commissioner Reyes: -- what he says.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Okay.
Commissioner Carollo: The --
Chair Hardemon: You're recognized, Commissioner Carollo.
Commissioner Carollo: I'm glad you brought us up to date what had happened
with that, because I really didn't know what happened at the County. But let me
bring things in perspective, because we're having this whole deep discussion, and
the reality of the facts are that for us to be able to create a new CRA in Allapattah
or anywhere, there's no chance of that happening at all. You served in a very high
position in the Senate. You know what Tallahassee's like, and that's not even before
we get to the County Commission. You heard from Commissioner Russell what's
happened to the expansion to the West Grove. So for a new CRA, for us to say that,
that's a no-go from the beginning, because it will never happen. The chances are
zip, zero that that would happen. Now the other had news that I'll give all of you is
in this whole deep discussion is that the chances of expanding any CRA are
probably slim to none; just a little better than creating a new one. Now you might
be able to work it out, in particular with, you know, so many new Commissioners
coming in and the new Mayor. You know, maybe your dad will cut a deal here
somewhere and, you know, do something. But right now, I would say that it's slim
to none even to expand it.
Commissioner Reyes: It is, right.
Commissioner Carollo: So gentlemen, you know, I'll be very blunt with you. I can't
get all, you know, hot and bothered about this whole discussion that we're having,
because no matter which way we cut it, it ain't going to go anywhere as I'm seeing
it from over here.
Commissioner Reyes: You're absolutely right.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Oh ye of little faith.
Commissioner Reyes: You're absolutely --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: We'll see.
Vice Chair Russell: Got to be optimistic.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I'm an optimist. Thank you, Commissioner.
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Commissioner Reyes: And if you want --
Commissioner Carollo: No.
Commissioner Reyes: -- we're getting the minutes and the record --
Commissioner Carollo: To amuse --
Commissioner Reyes: Yes.
Commissioner Carollo: -- Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla, I'll go along with you
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I love to be amused.
Commissioner Carollo: --just to amuse you.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I love to be amused.
Commissioner Reyes: But I --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Thank you, Commissioner.
Commissioner Reyes: -- will vote in favor of this analysis if it includes the creation
of a new CRA.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I'm not going to include that.
Commissioner Reyes: Oh, well, then I cannot vote for it.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: That's fine.
Commissioner Reyes: I'm just one vote.
Chair Hardemon: All right.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: We're all one vote.
Chair Hardemon: So there is a motion. There were amendments made by
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla, as well as some friendly amendments accepted
by him, as well. Any further discussion on all of that?
Vice Chair Russell: Yes, because I didn't get a confirmation whether this body will
continue to support the concept of a Grove CRA, because we do -- we are a new
body now than when we voted on it. And if I'm not mistaken, Mr. Clerk, we did vote
unanimously on that day with regard to the --
Commissioner Reyes: We are getting the -- I'm getting the minutes, sir.
Vice Chair Russell: I've got them right here.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: But I would be --
Vice Chair Russell: It's not terribly relevant, because we're a new body now, and
that's why I'm appealing to our new member to see where we are on that.
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Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I will be amenable to creating a separate CRA
for you, if you want it, over there but not as part of this one. I have no problem with
that. I know the needs of the West Grove. I know that you've been working hard on
that issue for many, many years, and I'm willing to help you in that process and
also with the County, by the way. I have some pretty good relationships over there
and maybe I could help you there too, so yes, I'll be amenable to a different kind of
CRA but not as part of this one.
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you. I'll be in favor of a finding of necessity for
Allapattah.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: Seeing no further discussion, all in favor say "aye. "
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: All against? Motion carries.
Mr. Hannon: Motion passes 4-1, with Commissioner Reyes voting "no. "
Commissioner Carollo: Now when are we going to talk about creating a CRA for
Little Havana?
Chair Hardemon: RE.19.
Commissioner Carollo: I'm teasing.
RE.19
RESOLUTION
7118
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
ATTACHMENT(S), AMENDING THE CITY OF MIAMI'S
Commissioners
DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY
and Mayor
DEVELOPMENT'S SINGLE FAMILY REHABILITATION PROGRAM
("PROGRAM") POLICY IN ORDER TO CHANGE THE MAXIMUM
VALUE OF THE PROPERTIES THAT ARE QUALIFIED TO
BENEFIT FROM THE PROGRAM, AS MORE PARTICULARLY
DESCRIBED IN EXHIBIT "A," ATTACHED AND INCORPORATED,
WHILE USING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT
FUNDS AS WELL AS STATE HOUSING INITIATIVE PROGRAM
FUNDS; 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-20-0046
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MOTION TO:
Adopt
RESULT:
ADOPTED
MOVER:
Ken Russell, Commissioner
SECONDER:
Alex Diaz de la Portilla, Commissioner
AYES:
Hardemon, Russell, Diaz de la Portilla, Carollo
NAYS:
Reyes
Chair Hardemon: RE.19.
Commissioner Carollo: What number did you say?
Chair Hardemon: 19.
Vice Chair Russell: I'll move it.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay.
Chair Hardemon: It's been properly moved. Is there a second?
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I'll second.
Chair Hardemon: Moved and seconded. Any discussion?
Victoria Mendez (City Attorney): This is Commissioner Reyes' item on the state
housing initiatives and --
Chair Hardemon: Any discussion?
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: None.
Chair Hardemon: Hearing none, all in favor say "aye. "
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: All against? Motion passes.
RE.20 RESOLUTION
7079 A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION PURSUANT
Commissioners TO SECTION 4(H) OF THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF MIAMI,
and Mayor FLORIDA, AS AMENDED, FIXING AND ESTABLISHING THE
COMPENSATION FOR MAYOR FRANCIS X. SUAREZ.
........ ......... .........
MOTION TO:
......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ..................
Defer
RESULT:
DEFERRED
MOVER:
Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
SECONDER:
Joe Carollo, Commissioner
AYES:
Hardemon, Russell, Diaz de la Portilla, Carollo, Reyes
Note for the Record. Item RE.20 was deferred to the Februaty 24, 2020, City
Commission Meeting.
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Commissioner Carollo: All right, you have RE.20, salary and emoluments of the
Mayor that there's a companion item, DI.13, outside employment of the Mayor.
Wish your wife a happy birthday for me. And we're going to put that and defer it to
the next meeting.
Mayor Suarez: No, I would prefer to deal with it now, if you don't mind.
Commissioner Carollo: We'll defer that to the next meeting. It's going to take long.
It's going to take more than 45 minutes alone, and I want to deal with some of the
others that I've waited a lot longer in the past, and I've had here for some time. So
let me -- if I could go into those, and Chair, you had said after we would come back
from lunch we could deal with them. Let me see what I have here.
Chair Hardemon: Before we -- all right. So what are we going to do with -- are we
going to -- there's a motion and there was a second --
Commissioner Reyes: That's right.
Chair Hardemon: -- to defer --
Commissioner Reyes: We're going to --
Chair Hardemon: -- RE.20 and --
Commissioner Reyes: RE.20, I move it.
Chair Hardemon: -- DI 13 --
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah.
Chair Hardemon: -- I believe. There's a motion and a second. Any discussion on
that motion and second?
Commissioner Carollo: No.
Chair Hardemon: Seeing none, all in favor --
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): Chairman --
Chair Hardemon: What meeting?
Mr. Hannon: Yes.
Chair Hardemon: Yeah, what meeting is it that we're trying to move this to?
Mr. Hannon: Thank you.
Commissioner Carollo: 24th is fine, but if you'd like, you know, we can do it on
March 12.
Chair Hardemon: I know, Mr. Mayor, you want to handle it today, but what meeting
would you prefer?
Mayor Suarez: I mean, I'd like for you to just withdraw them. I don't see the
purpose of them, you know, frankly. If you really want to give her a present, you'll
withdraw, you know. I think my wife is --
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Commissioner Carollo: Are you still inviting me to the trip or not?
Mayor Suarez: Well, I -- we just got some more money in the budget. Actually, I just
lost 25 grand so --
Commissioner Carollo: Well, now we know who the real Manager is, but my god,
we've gone through four managers in the last month; Emilio, Napoli, Zerry and now
we've got Fernando. We got anybody else for tonight or is that it?
Mayor Suarez: This is an open interview. This is an open interview process.
Commissioner Carollo: You know.
Ms. Mendez: (INAUDIBLE).
Mayor Suarez: This is an open interview process. We're interviewing --
Chair Hardemon: I don't know. Commissioner Carollo, this is going to be the
quickest City Manager you've ever seen in the history of City Managers.
Commissioner Carollo: I would approve you like this for City Manager, except one
little problem. The Charter says you got to be out of office for two years. That
Charter, yeah. All right. Let me go to one that --
Commissioner Reyes: Can you veto that? Can the Mayor veto that?
Commissioner Carollo: Not the Charter. When the Charter is specific, nobody
could veto it This is a resolution of the Miami --
Chair Hardemon: Well, before -- so we had a motion and a second on a deferral to
the next meeting, which is the --
Commissioner Carollo: 24th.
Chair Hardemon: -- 24th.
Mr. Hannon: February 24?
Mayor Suarez: Deferred indefinitely.
Commissioner Carollo: February 24.
Chair Hardemon: You think we'll make it out by dinnertime on February 24?
Commissioner Carollo: I think so.
Chair Hardemon: Okay, I hope so.
Commissioner Carollo: It's not that much.
Chair Hardemon: I have plans.
Commissioner Carollo: Plus, we're going to have a new Manager.
Chair Hardemon: Seeing no --
Commissioner Carollo: I think.
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Chair Hardemon: We've already opened up the floor. No further comment. All in
favor, say "aye. "
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: All against? Motion carries.
RE.21
RESOLUTION
7163
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION DE -
ALLOCATING ANTI -POVERTY INITIATIVE ("API") FUNDS
Commissioners
PREVIOUSLY AWARDED IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED FIVE
and Mayor
HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS ($500,000.00) PURSUANT TO
RESOLUTION NO. 19-0350 ADOPTED ON SEPTEMBER 12, 2019;
REALLOCATING FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS
($500,000.00) TO THE DISTRICT 1 COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE
SHARE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI'S API FUNDS.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-20-0047
........ ......... .........
MOTION TO:
......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ...................
Adopt
RESULT:
ADOPTED
MOVER:
Alex Diaz de la Portilla, Commissioner
SECONDER:
Joe Carollo, Commissioner
AYES:
Hardemon, Russell, Diaz de la Portilla, Carollo, Reyes
Chair Hardemon: RE. 21.
Commissioner Carollo: 21 is -- is that one of yours?
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: These are --
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: This is half a million dollars that was allocated
by the former Commissioner that I want to bring back to my office so I could
consider and --
Commissioner Carollo: You have a right to; it's been done before.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: And we can reallocate them, perhaps, to
different entities.
Chair Hardemon: Commissioner --
Commissioner Carollo: There's a motion. There's a second.
Chair Hardemon: It's been properly moved. I'll take the motion from
Commissioner Carollo; second from the district Commissioner. I'll admit to you,
the money that he was using it for was a noble thing. I know that you're going to
use it for something just as equally as noble.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Always.
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Chair Hardemon: It gives me a little heartburn, you know, because that is what it
is, but I trust you.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: And you're the district Commissioner.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Thank you.
Chair Hardemon:
So I'm going to roll with what you, believe.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I trust you, too.
Chair Hardemon:
All right, absolutely.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Thank you.
Chair Hardemon:
Any further discussion?
Vice Chair Russell:
Yes, Mr. Chairman.
Chair Hardemon:
You're recognized.
Vice Chair Russell: I also have heartburn on this simply because I am so aware of
the good work that this organization does, and I'm a big supporter of them. Every
dollar I have that can go towards single-family home renovation, I trust them with
it. And if you aren't very well associated with them, I really hope that you do get to
know them, because they can do a lot of good in your district, and they're very
accountable with the funds, and the residents that need it really get it, and they
leverage the money. They -- if we give them a dollar, they turn it into four, six,
seven dollars, and it's a very good organization. And that's why it's difficult for me,
because I stood with the previous Commissioner when he allocated these funds. I
know that was on the way out. He didn't -- it didn't get spent before he left and
here it is so.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I think he allocated it right before he left.
Vice Chair Russell: Correct.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Which he shouldn't have done, because he knew
he was leaving, so he should respect the will of the people. They were electing a
new Commissioner and let that new Commissioner, as the duly elected
Commissioner from that district, determine what happens and what are worthy
organizations, and which organizations are not worthy. It's sort of like a bit
disrespectful if a Commissioner knowing he's on the way out allocates remaining
dollars from his API (Anti -Poverty Initiative) fund because he knows he's on the
way out and not giving any consideration. He could have called me and asked me,
"What do you think?" You know, being the guy coming in or called any of the
candidates. He didn't do that. He decided to do it on his own. Well, now we take it
back and I'm glad you trust me, Commissioner Hardemon. I've always known how
to spend public dollars well. Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: Seeing no further discussion, all in favor say "aye. "
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
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Chair Hardemon: All against? Motion passes.
END OF RESOLUTIONS
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SR - SECOND READING ORDINANCES
SRA
ORDINANCE Second Reading
6924
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AMENDING
Commissioners
CHAPTER 2/ARTICLE XI/DIVISION 2 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY
and Mayor
OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED, TITLED
"ADMINISTRATION/BOARDS,
COMMITTEES,
COMMISSIONS/STANDARDS FOR CREATION AND REVIEW OF
BOARDS GENERALLY", TO CREATE NEW DIVISION
25/SECTIONS 2-1350, TO BE TITLED "LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL,
TRANSGENDER, QUEER ("LGBTQ") ADVISORY BOARD", TO
PROVIDE FOR THE COMPOSITION AND DUTIES OF THE BOARD
AND OTHER RELATED MATTERS; CONTAINING A
SEVERABILITY CLAUSE AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE
DATE.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: 13891
MOTION TO:
Adopt
RESULT:
ADOPTED
MOVER:
Ken Russell, Commissioner
SECONDER:
Joe Carollo, Commissioner
AYES:
Hardemon, Russell, Diaz de la Portilla, Carollo, Reyes
Note for the Record. For additional minutes referencing Item SR.], please see
"Public Comment Period for all Item(s). "
Chair Hardemon: So now we're on our second reading ordinances. Madam City
Attorney, can you read into the record SR. 1 ?
The Ordinance was read by title into the public record by the City Attorney.
Chair Hardemon: So the only thing I'll say about this, gentlemen -- because I know
this is going to be a quick one; I'll just jump ahead -- is that I believe that the
LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer) -- I'll just say PLUS --
organization has the same task -- they fight the same issues. It's really all about
human rights, civil rights. And with that, I think they would be an amazing partner
with the Civilian Investigative Panel, which also fights human and civil rights. I
think it'll help ampler each of their voice to show solidarity, and that's why I would
always recommend in this instance to bring those two committees together to speak
in one voice.
Vice Chair Russell: Did you say CIP (Civilian Investigative Panel) ?
Chair Hardemon: I think it's CIP, isn't it?
Vice Chair Russell: That's the police oversight.
Chair Hardemon: No, not that one. The civilian --
Vice Chair Russell: You mean CAB (Community Advisory Board) -- CRB
(Community Relations Board) ?
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Chair Hardemon: What is it called?
Vice Chair Russell: Community Relations Board --
Chair Hardemon: CRB, I apologize.
Vice Chair Russell: -- or Community Advisory Board?
Chair Hardemon: It's too many acronyms, too many acronyms.
Vice Chair Russell: You meant CRB, yep.
Chair Hardemon: CRB, yeah. Thank you for correcting that on the record. Is there
a motion on the floor?
Vice Chair Russell: So moved.
Chair Hardemon: Does it include my amendment? Does it include my amendment?
Vice Chair Russell: The amend --
Commissioner Carollo: No.
Chair Hardemon: My amendment.
Commissioner Carollo: No.
Vice Chair Russell: The amendment to join it with another board? No.
Commissioner Carollo: No.
Vice Chair Russell: Sorry, Todd.
Chair Hardemon: Look, at least I did it slowly so you could understand exactly what
I was doing, right? It's been properly moved. I believe it was seconded.
Commissioner Reyes: Yes.
Chair Hardemon: Who is the seconder?
Commissioner Reyes: Yes.
Commissioner Carollo: I did.
Chair Hardemon: Commissioner Carollo. Any further discussion?
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: No.
Chair Hardemon: All in favor, say "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: All against? Motion passes.
Commissioner Carollo: I'd like to do a pocket item in the same spirit of what you're
talking about.
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Chair Hardemon: You just voted against my pocket item.
Commissioner Carollo: Since we have rotated Assistant City Managers to be
Managers, and we're in violation of the Charter, because we haven't approved any
one of them, I'd like to make a motion that we ask Ms. Sandra Bridgeman to come up
and be the City Manager for the remaining part of the day.
Chair Hardemon: I don't think --
Sandra Bridgeman (Assistant City Manager): (INAUDIBLE) midnight shift. It's not
midnightyet.
Chair Hardemon: Motion dies for lack of second. Can you read into the record
SR. 2?
Commissioner Carollo: I tried. I tried.
SR.2
ORDINANCE Second 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, SUCH MANAGEMENT PLAN SHALL BE
SIMILAR TO THE PLAN DESCRIBED IN EXHIBIT "A", ATTACHED
AND INCORPORATED; CONTAINING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE;
AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: 13892
MOTION TO:
Adopt
RESULT:
ADOPTED
MOVER:
Ken Russell, Commissioner
SECONDER:
Keon Hardemon, Commissioner
AYES:
Hardemon, Russell, Diaz de la Portilla, Carollo, Reyes
Note for the Record. For additional minutes referencing Item 8R.2, please see
"Public Comment Period for all Item(s). "
Chair Hardemon: Madam City Attorney, read into the record SR. 2.
The Ordinance was read by title into the public record by the City Attorney.
Vice Chair Russell: So moved.
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Chair Hardemon: It's been properly moved, seconded by the Chair. This is another
one I think is going to move pretty quickly. But Madam City Attorney, I'd like to ask
if this ordinance can be extended to include chickens.
Victoria Mendez (City Attorney): At this point, I don't --
Commissioner Carollo: No way.
Chair Hardemon: Wait, wait now. Wait, wait, wait, wait.
Unidentified Speaker: No, no, no, no.
Chair Hardemon: Let me finish. Let me finish my point --
Commissioner Carollo: They're sacred.
Chair Hardemon: --my request.
Commissioner Carollo: Just like the cows in India; they're sacred.
Chair Hardemon: Not all of them.
Commissioner Carollo: Especially roosters.
Chair Hardemon: Not all of them.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Roosters, roosters.
Chair Hardemon: Not all of them.
Commissioner Carollo: That's war.
Chair Hardemon: The chickens,I would dare to say, having researched it -- and I
am not a scientist. But I would dare to say chickens are in the bird family --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Yeah.
Chair Hardemon: -- such as peafowl.
Commissioner Reyes: Oh, they're cousins.
Chair Hardemon: And --
Vice Chair Russell: Exotic?
Chair Hardemon: -- they are -- they cause great disturbances in certain
neighborhoods. Some of them crow at the same time.
Commissioner Carollo: And people love to hear them crow.
Chair Hardemon: The people who love to hear --
Commissioner Carollo: Everybody loves to --
Chair Hardemon: -- what is the sound the peacock makes?
Commissioner Carollo: -- hear them crow.
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Chair Hardemon: But so my question is, can this legislation also include chickens?
Commissioner Carollo: No.
Chair Hardemon: And if not, tell me --
Commissioner Carollo: Let me tell you --
Chair Hardemon: -- why not.
Commissioner Carollo: -- the difference between the chicken and the peacock. The
peacock --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Peafowl.
Commissioner Carollo: -- you see why it's got such a little head? The brain is even
smaller. The roosters, they're smart, they're courageous.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: They're fighters.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah, that's right.
Chair Hardemon: I'm not talking about roosters. I'm talking about chickens.
Commissioner Carollo: No, no, no, no, no, no. Yeah, but chickens --
Chair Hardemon: The ones that lay eggs.
Commissioner Carollo: -- create roosters.
Chair Hardemon: That's an argument that goes way back. Is it the chicken --
Commissioner Reyes: Or the egg.
Chair Hardemon: -- is it the egg?
Commissioner Carollo: Chief, step in.
Ms. Mendez: I would have to look at the --
Chair Hardemon: I mean, we allow the giant roosters to be wherever they are in
various parts of our district. But the ones, you know, that cause my residents that
give me a call about chickens and the proliferation of chickens in the neighborhood -
- look, I -- when I was a kid, there was a chicken that was on our -- we had lots of
chickens, first of all. So I can tell you some of the things that involved chickens that
we've been apart of. But I will say that there was one chicken that we actually gave
a name to. He had one leg and we called him One Leg Willie, so I'm very familiar
with chickens growing up in the City of Miami. But increasingly so, they're
becoming an issue for people, as well. They're not as beautiful as the peacock that I
found one next door to my home. It's no longer there anymore but they are still
nuisances to the community if they are wild and about. They're free-range chickens
in the City of Miami. You're recognized, sir.
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. So there is one very big difference
between chickens and peafowl that is what really spurred me to bring the legislation,
because I'd really held off until then, and it's property damage to an extent you
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wouldn't believe. Mr. Bill Talbert brought his Toyota Prius here today to show us
what has been done.
Chair Hardemon: But see --
Vice Chair Russell: And if you can see -- I just want you to see one car in this one
neighborhood what is happening to it.
Chair Hardemon: But that --
Ms. Mendez: The definitions are different.
Vice Chair Russell: I'm sorry, Madam.
Ms. Mendez: I'm sorry.
Chair Hardemon: No, I --
Vice Chair Russell: So what -- because of the proliferation, because they're so
aggressive during the mating season, because there's so many males, they see their
reflection in cars and they scratch -- and that's not just one door. It's going all the
way around. He needs a complete new paint job. It's going to be thousands of
dollars. So when it came to property damage, that's when I knew we had to take
some sort of action here to regulate.
Commissioner Carollo: Were you looking at them when they went against the
window of the car?
Vice Chair Russell: I have video.
Commissioner Carollo: Maybe it wasn't the reflection.
Chair Hardemon: I dare to say that our dear executive director's car, his paint job
is not worth thousands of dollars. He better go to Maaco, first. Second, we don't
have any proof that chickens did this. This could have been the back of your pants
as you, you know, were on the car or a jealous lover, right? They tend to key cars,
as well. I want to know, can we get chickens in there?
Commissioner Carollo: Well --
Chair Hardemon: Any chickens? Tell me why; tell me why not.
Ms. Mendez: Okay. Right now in our restrictions on keeping poultry, fowl or
grazing animals, our definition for fowl is live (UNINTELLIGIBLE) -- I'm
mispronouncing it. Peafowls, pheasants, pigeons, et cetera. Then poultry is live
chickens, turkeys, ducks and geese. The -- this whole section that we've been talking
about the whole time was having to do with the peafowl. I mean, if you are going to
determine that you think it's one and the same and it wouldn't be an issue, we just
haven't -- we've been talking about peacocks the whole time. Everything that we've
done has been studies about peacocks, the amount of peacocks in a particular area,
the amount of peacocks that are breeding in the Grove. So we've just been really
specific to the peacocks. I would think that --
Vice Chair Russell: Please, Commissioner. I believe I have the votes to control
peafowl. You bring chickens into this, I may lose some votes here.
Commissioner Carollo: Commissioner Hardemon --
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Chair Hardemon: Say no more.
Commissioner Carollo: -- let me give you some political advice if I can. I've had
just a little bit of experience.
Chair Hardemon: Okay.
Commissioner Carollo: You have about 30 percent of the new district that you're
looking at that's Hispanic, more or less, 29, 30 percent.
Chair Hardemon: You've been doing your research on that district.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah, in case I got to get into it.
Chair Hardemon: I heard you're teaming up.
Commissioner Carollo: Not -- I'm not teaming up --
Chair Hardemon: Not yet?
Commissioner Carollo: -- with anybody. I'm independent.
Chair Hardemon: Okay.
Commissioner Carollo: If not, ask the newest Commissioner. I'm independent.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Somewhat, yes, I've heard.
Commissioner Reyes: Somewhat.
Commissioner Carollo: But I don't know what the percentage of Haitians are, but I
would imagine it's maybe 15 percent at least. Now you're at 45 percent of two
groups that I know love chickens and roosters. You know, I'd suggest maybe you
forget about that for now.
Chair Hardemon: Are you saying blackpeople love chickens and roosters?
Commissioner Carollo: No, no, no, no, no. I'm saying Hispanics --
Chair Hardemon: I'm messing with you.
Commissioner Carollo: I'm saying --
Commissioner Carollo: -- Caribbean people.
Chair Hardemon: No, of course. They use it for religious ceremonies, et cetera.
Commissioner Carollo: No.
Chair Hardemon: I understand that but --
Commissioner Carollo: It's got nothing to do with that. It's got to do with the eggs,
the eating, in some cases.
Chair Hardemon: Some (UNINTELLIGIBLE), yeah.
Commissioner Carollo: And just basically --
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Chair Hardemon: People have chicken coops.
Commissioner Carollo: -- they grew up with them. They like it. They enjoy it and
it's got, you know, nothing to do with that, except for a small group, very small.
Chair Hardemon: I understand. So then we move on. It was properly moved. It
was a motion and second.
Commissioner Carollo: The most delicious stuff is getting a freshly laid egg from a
chicken. It's great. Try it sometimes.
Chair Hardemon: I've had fresh -- I told you I grew up in Liberty City. We had
chickens and we did capture the eggs. So --
Commissioner Carollo: Have you ever had an egg from a peacock, Commissioner
Russell? See.
Vice Chair Russell: It's a delicacy.
Commissioner Carollo: You can't find it.
Chair Hardemon: Seeing no further discussion on the issue, Mr. Talbert, all in
favor, say "aye. "
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: All against? Congratulations. We still won't reimburse you for
your paint job on your car. It has to be -- what is that, a Prins?
Unidentified Speaker: A hybrid.
Chair Hardemon: A hybrid. I knew it, see.
SR.3
ORDINANCE Second Reading
6925
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI COMMISSION AMENDING
Commissioners
CHAPTER 4 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA,
and Mayor
AS AMENDED ("CITY CODE"), TITLED "ALCOHOLIC
BEVERAGES;" MORE PARTICULARLY BY CREATING A NEW
SECTION 4-13, TITLED "ENFORCEMENT," TO PROVIDE THAT AN
ALCOHOL SERVICE ESTABLISHMENT SHALL NOT BE ENTITLED
TO THE WAIVER OF ANY DISTANCE REQUIREMENTS
PROVIDED IN SECTIONS 4-4 THROUGH 4-6 OF THE CITY CODE
WHEN THE OWNER, AGENT, OR EMPLOYEE OF THE ALCOHOL
SERVICE ESTABLISHMENT HAS PROVIDED TO THE CITY OF
MIAMI AN ALCOHOL SURVEY THAT IS FRAUDULENT OR FALSE;
CONTAINING A REPEALER PROVISION AND A SEVERABILITY
CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: 13893
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,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, .,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,. .,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.
MOTION TO:
.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,., .,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,. .,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,. .,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,., .,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,. .,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,. .,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,...,.,.,.,.,.,.,..
Adopt
RESULT:
ADOPTED
MOVER:
Joe Carollo, Commissioner
SECONDER:
Alex Diaz de la Portilla, Commissioner
AYES:
Hardemon, Russell, Diaz de la Portilla, Carollo, Reyes
Note for the Record. For additional minutes referencing Item SR.3, please see
"Public Comment Period for all Item(s). "
Chair Hardemon: SR.3. Madam City Attorney, can you read it into the record?
The Ordinance was read by title into the public record by the City Attorney.
Chair Hardemon: Is there a motion to approve?
Commissioner Carollo: Move.
Chair Hardemon: It's been properly moved. Is there a second?
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Second.
Chair Hardemon: Moved and seconded. Any further discussion? Hearing none,
all in favor; say "aye. "
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: All against? Motion passes.
SRA
ORDINANCE Second Reading
6918
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AMENDING
CHAPTER 2/ARTICLE II/SECTION 2-33(C)(1) OF THE CODE OF
Commissioners
THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED, TITLED
and Mayor
"ADMINISTRATION/MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION/ORDER OF
BUSINESS AND RULES OF PROCEDURE," TO EXPRESSLY
PROVIDE THAT AN ELECTED OFFICIAL MAY PLACE AN ITEM
ON THE CITY COMMISSION AGENDA AT ANY TIME UP TO
NOON ON THE DAY THAT THE AGENDA IS REQUIRED TO BE
PRINTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 2-33 (F) OF THE
CITY CODE; CONTAINING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND
PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: 13894
........ ......... .........
MOTION TO:
......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ...................
Adopt with Modification(s)
RESULT:
ADOPTED WITH MODIFICATION(S)
MOVER:
Joe Carollo, Commissioner
SECONDER:
Ken Russell, Commissioner
AYES:
Hardemon, Russell, Diaz de la Portilla, Carollo, Reyes
Note for the Record. For additional minutes referencing Item SR.4, please see
"Public Comment Period for all Item(s). "
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Chair Hardemon: Madam City Attorney, SR. 4.
Victoria Mendez (City Attorney): SR. 4.
The Ordinance was read by title into the public record by the City Attorney.
Chair Hardemon: Commissioner Carollo.
Ms. Mendez: I thought --
Commissioner Carollo: I just need to make an amendment on that, except for this
next meeting.
Ms. Mendez: I just -- I don't believe that we picked the exact -- or were able to edit
this with the exact date. I believe that the suggestion was seven business days
before, which would usually place you on the Monday at noon. Seven business days
before at noon, and then that would take into account a holiday. So when you have a
Monday --
Chair Hardemon: How about this just goes into effect -- this only goes into effect
after the Mayor has signed it. So either we do it -- we make it go into effect given a
certain day, which is after the meeting date.
Vice Chair Russell: That's not what she's saying.
Chair Hardemon: No, I'm saying but -- we're worried about this next meeting date,
correct?
Vice Chair Russell: That's not what she's talking about.
Chair Hardemon: No? Okay, then I'm sorry.
Ms. Mendez: No, no. This is for the print deadline.
Vice Chair Russell: I'll proffer a fi^iendly amendment to that effect. It basically --
because there's vagueness in the language when it just says "noon on the print day. "
We don't have an established print day. So if we establish a date in the legislation,
seven business days before Commission day at noon will be the print day.
Ms. Mendez: And that's usually the Monday --
Vice Chair Russell: I'll second your motion and I'll (INAUDIBLE).
Ms. Mendez: -- at noon --
Commissioner Carollo: Thank you.
Ms. Mendez: -- or the Friday at noon if there's a Monday holiday.
Commissioner Carollo: With the clarification made, thank you.
Chair Hardemon: So the resolution has been modified.
Commissioner Carollo: Yes.
Chair Hardemon: Mover and seconder agree.
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Commissioner Carollo: The ordinance has been modified.
Chair Hardemon: Right, correct. Any further discussion? Hearing none, all in
favor, say "aye. "
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: All against? Motion carries.
Vice Chair Russell: As amended.
Chair Hardemon: As modified.
SR.5
ORDINANCE Second Reading
6893
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AMENDING
Commissioners
CHAPTER 2/ARTICLE XI/DIVISION 2 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY
and Mayor
OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED, TITLED
"ADMINISTRATION/BOARDS,
COMMITTEES,
COMMISSIONS/STANDARDS FOR CREATION AND REVIEW OF
BOARDS GENERALLY", TO CREATE A NEW SECTION 2-894
TITLED "MEETINGS", TO PROVIDE THAT ABSENT EXPRESS
APPROVAL OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, NO MEETINGS
OF ANY CITY BOARDS, COMMISSIONS, COMMITTEES, OR TASK
FORCES SHALL OCCUR ON ANY HOLIDAY RECOGNIZED BY
THE CITY OF MIAMI OR BY THE FLORIDA SUPREME COURT;
CONTAINING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING FOR
AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: 13895
........ ......... .........
MOTION TO:
......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ...................
Adopt
RESULT:
ADOPTED
MOVER:
Joe Carollo, Commissioner
SECONDER:
Ken Russell, Commissioner
AYES:
Hardemon, Russell, Diaz de la Portilla, Carollo, Reyes
Chair Hardemon: Madam City Attorney, read SR. 5 into the record, please.
The Ordinance was read by title into the public record by the City Attorney.
Commissioner Carollo: Move.
Vice Chair Russell: Second.
Chair Hardemon: Properly moved and seconded. Any discussion? Hearing none,
all in favor of the item, say "aye. "
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: Against? Motion passes.
END OF SECOND READING ORDINANCES
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FR - FIRST READING ORDINANCES
FRA
ORDINANCE First Reading
6874
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AMENDING
Commissioners
CHAPTER 2/ARTICLE XI/DIVISION 4 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY
and Mayor
OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED ("CITY CODE"), TITLED
"AUDIT
ADVISORY COMMITTEE;" MORE SPECIFICALLY BY
AMENDING SECTIONS 2-946 THROUGH 2-951 OF THE CITY
CODE; FURTHER AMENDING CHAPTER 18/ARTICLE III OF THE
CITY CODE, TITLED "CITY OF MIAMI PROCUREMENT
ORDINANCE," TO ADD A NEW SECTION 18-122; AND FURTHER
AMENDING CHAPTER 18/ARTICLE IX/DIVISION 2 OF THE CITY
CODE, TITLED "FINANCIAL INTEGRITY PRINCIPLES;" MORE
SPECIFICALLY BY AMENDING SECTIONS 18-541 THROUGH 19-
542 OF THE CITY CODE, ALL REGARDING EVALUATION
COMMITTEES FOR SOLICITATIONS FOR INDEPENDENT
EXTERNAL AUDITORS FOR COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION
218.391, FLORIDA STATUTES (2019), TITLED "AUDITOR
SELECTION PROCEDURES," AND FOR GENERAL
HOUSEKEEPING CLEAN-UPS OF THE CITY CODE; CONTAINING
A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE
DATE.
........ ......... .........
MOTION TO:
......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ..................
Continue
RESULT:
CONTINUED
MOVER:
Ken Russell, Commissioner
SECONDER:
Keon Hardemon, Commissioner
AYES:
Hardemon, Russell, Diaz de la Portilla, Carollo, Reyes
Note for the Record. Item FR.] was continued to the March 12, 2020, City
Commission Meeting.
Chair Hardemon: Mr. Manager, is there any time --for FR.1, is there a requirement
that this needs to be done immediately, or can we push it to another agenda?
Unidentified Speaker: No immediate need, sir.
Chair Hardemon: Okay. So what I want to do is not this next meeting that we have
in the short run, but the -- so not the February 24 meeting, but the March -- the first
March meeting. Is that fine?
Unidentified Speaker: March 12?
Chair Hardemon: Yes.
Unidentified Speaker: Yes, sir.
Chair Hardemon: So what I would request is a motion to continue this to the March
12 meeting.
Vice Chair Russell: So moved.
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Chair Hardemon: Just to give it some more thought. It's been properly moved,
seconded by the Chair. All in favor, say "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: Against? Motion carries.
FR.2
ORDINANCE First Reading
6900
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AMENDING
Commissioners
CHAPTER 31/ARTICLE II OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI,
and Mayor
FLORIDA, AS AMENDED, TITLED "LOCAL BUSINESS TAX AND
MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS REGULATIONS/LOCAL BUSINESS
TAX;" MORE PARTICULARLY BY AMENDING SECTION 31-51,
TITLED "FOOD TRUCKS OPERATING ON PRIVATE LAND," TO
REQUIRE SITE PLAN APPROVAL FOR FOOD TRUCKS ON
PRIVATE PROPERTY THAT PARK OVERNIGHT OR ARE
PRESENT MORE THAN THREE (3) DAYS A WEEK; CREATING
STANDARDS FOR SUCH SITE PLAN APPROVAL; PROVIDING
FOR AN EXEMPTION OF SUCH REQUIREMENTS FOR
PROPERTIES USED BY RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS;
CONTAINING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING FOR
AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
MOTION TO:
Withdraw
RESULT:
WITHDRAWN
MOVER:
Ken Russell, Commissioner
SECONDER:
Keon Hardemon, Commissioner
AYES:
Hardemon, Russell, Diaz de la Portilla, Carollo, Reyes
Note for the Record. For minutes referencing Item FR. 2, please see "Order of the
Day" and "Public Comment Period for all Item(s). "
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FR.3
ORDINANCE First Reading
6789
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AMENDING
Commissioners
CHAPTER 22.5 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA,
and Mayor
AS AMENDED ("CITY CODE"), TITLED "GREEN INITIATIVES", BY
"FLORIDA-FRIENDLY
ADDING ARTICLE VII, TITLED FERTILIZER
USE ON URBAN LANDSCAPES," TO REQUIRE FLORIDA-
FRIENDLY LANDSCAPE PRACTICES; TO PROVIDE FOR
COMPLIANCE WITH STATE LAW; TO PROVIDE FOR
DEFINITIONS; TO PROVIDE FOR OTHER GENERAL
REQUIREMENTS CONTAINED IN THE ORDINANCE;
CONTAINING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; PROVIDING FOR AN
EFFECTIVE DATE.
........ ......... .........
MOTION TO:
......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ...................
Pass on First Reading
RESULT:
PASSED ON FIRST READING
MOVER:
Ken Russell, Commissioner
SECONDER:
Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
AYES:
Hardemon, Russell, Diaz de la Portilla, Carollo, Reyes
Note for the Record. For minutes referencing Item FR.3, please see "Public
Comment Period for all Item(s). "
Vice Chair Russell: I'll move FR.3, Mr. Chairman.
Chair Hardemon: It's been properly moved, FR.3. Madam City Attorney, can you
read it into the record, please?
Vice Chair Russell: Fertilizer.
Victoria Mendez (City Attorney): FR.3.
The Ordinance was read by title into the public record by the City Attorney.
Commissioner Reyes: Madam City Attorney.
Ms. Mendez: And you're a cosponsor to this one, yeah.
Commissioner Reyes: I want to cosponsor this.
Chair Hardemon: I think you need a degree to follow this legislation but that's
neither here nor there. It has been properly moved by the Commissioner from our
second district. Is there any other Commissioner that would like to be recognized as
a second?
Commissioner Reyes: Second.
Chair Hardemon: Second by Commissioner Reyes. All in favor, say "aye. "
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): And Chair, again, just for the record, Mayor Suarez
also wanted to be a cosponsor, which was mentioned earlier.
Chair Hardemon: All in favor, say "aye."
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The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: All against? Motion passes.
FRA
ORDINANCE First Reading
7096
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AMENDING
CHAPTER 2/ARTICLE II/SECTION 2-33 OF THE CODE OF THE
Commissioners
CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED ("CITY CODE"), TITLED
and Mayor
"ADMINISTRATION/MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION/ORDER OF
BUSINESS AND RULES OF PROCEDURE," TO PROVIDE THAT
ANY LEGISLATION INVOLVING THE ESTABLISHMENT OR
CESSATION OF A POLICY SPONSORED BY THE CITY MANAGER
SHALL ADDITIONALLY REQUIRE SPONSORSHIP FROM AN
ELECTED OFFICIAL; PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE;
AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
MOTION TO:
Pass on First Reading with Modification(s)
RESULT:
PASSED ON FIRST READING WITH MODIFICATION(S)
MOVER:
Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
SECONDER:
Joe Carollo, Commissioner
AYES:
Diaz de la Portilla, Carollo, Reyes
NAYS:
Hardemon, Russell
Chair Hardemon: Can you read FR. 4 into the record, please?
Victoria Mendez (City Attorney): FR. 4.
The Ordinance was read by title into the public record by the City Attorney.
Ms. Mendez: This item also has an amendment, an additional amendment by
Commissioner Reyes, who is the sponsor. If I could read that into the record? "The
City Manager, including any department the City Manager has authority over, may
also place an item on the agenda if cosponsored by an elected official, except for the
following, which shall not require co-sponsorship: Non -legislative ministerial
agenda items, such as plats, awards of contracts, comprehensive plan amendments
not involving City property or in which the City is not an applicant or co -applicant;
quasi-judicial items, such as appeals, re -zonings and the like. " And I'm sorry. I
read you the whole paragraph for completion, but the only two words --four words
that we're adding is "grant items, budget items, " and then it continues the same: "Or
emergency items which involve serious public health and safety concerns. A single
Commissioner may not sponsor more than ten consecutive agenda items originated
from the City Manager requiring that all Commissioners be provided the right to
sponsor such legislation on a rotating basis. " Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: It's been properly moved by Commissioner Reyes. Is there a
second?
Commissioner Carollo: Second.
Chair Hardemon: Properly moved and seconded. Any discussion? Seeing none, all
in favor say "aye. "
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
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Chair Hardemon: Motion passes.
Vice Chair Russell: No, no, no. I'm against.
Chair Hardemon: Okay, two "nos."
Nicole Ewan (Assistant City Clerk): That's 312, with Chair Hardemon and Vice
Chair Russell voting "no. "
Vice Chair Russell: Yeah. Just for the record, I really believe we should be able to
sponsor as many items as we want in any given amount of time.
Commissioner Reyes: You don't understand what I'm saying.
Vice Chair Russell: I do.
Commissioner Reyes: (INAUDIBLE).
Chair Hardemon: Press it again.
Commissioner Reyes: As many as you want This is not to be surprised as we have
been for so long that we learn about any -- an ordinance, you see, that comes before
us, and we never seen it until the day that we have agenda prep. It doesn't mean that
you cannot -- you can sponsor whatever you want, you see, as many as you want.
But this is that we cannot be -- this is just we have to be informed. We have to be
informed. We cannot be surprised. And this is due to the fact that I have learned of
ordinance almost a day before we have to vote for it, you see, and that's what I am
looking for. What I'm looking is for information. Let me know what's going on
before you place it on the agenda. Let us know. And anybody can sponsor. I mean,
it doesn't limit the amount that you can sponsor. You can sponsor whatever you
want, you see. But nothing can go to the agenda before it has a sponsor, okay?
Chair Hardemon: Okay. Commissioners, this may be a good time to go into the --
Commissioner Carollo: Please, I wanted to invite you to dinner tonight.
Commissioner Reyes: He's buying tonight.
Commissioner Carollo: They didn't bring dinner for you. If you wait a little longer,
my treat. I'll take you all to dinner.
Unidentified Speaker: Maybe next time.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah. This way you get to see Little Havana.
Chair Hardemon: This might be a good time for us to go into the session.
Commissioner Reyes: You understand now, Commissioner Russell?
Unidentified Speaker: Thankyou.
Commissioner Reyes: You understand?
Vice Chair Russell: Yes. I still disagree.
Commissioner Reyes: It is -- it doesn't limit the number of -- that you --
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Chair Hardemon: Madam City Attorney.
Commissioner Reyes: We must have -- you must he informed of what's going on, and
if you want to sponsor, you sponsor it, okay?
FR.5
ORDINANCE First Reading
6841
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AMENDING
CHAPTER 54/ARTICLE I/SECTION 54-9 OF THE CODE OF THE
Department of
CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED, TITLED "STREETS AND
Resilience and
SIDEWALKS/IN GENERAL/PLACING SIGNS, ADVERTISEMENT,
Public Works
OR DISPLAYS ON ANY PORTION OF PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY,
STREET OR SIDEWALK SURFACE," BY ESTABLISHING
STANDARDS BY WHICH COMMUNICATION KIOSKS WITH
ADVERTISEMENTS MAY BE PERMITTED ON THE PUBLIC
RIGHT-OF-WAY; CONTAINING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND
PROVIDING FOR AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE.
MOTION TO:
Continue
RESULT:
CONTINUED
MOVER:
Ken Russell, Commissioner
SECONDER:
Keon Hardemon, Commissioner
AYES:
Hardemon, Russell, Diaz de la Portilla, Carollo, Reyes
Note for the Record. Item FR.5 was continued to the March 12, 2020, City
Commission Meeting.
Note for the Record. For minutes referencing Item FR.5, please see "Order of the
Day. "
END OF FIRST READING ORDINANCES
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AC - ATTORNEY -CLIENT SESSION
ACA ATTORNEY -CLIENT SESSION
7167 UNDER THE PARAMETERS OF SECTION 286.011(8), FLORIDA
Office of the City STATUTES, A PRIVATE ATTORNEY -CLIENT SESSION WILL BE
Attorney CONDUCTED AT THE FEBRUARY 13, 2020 MIAMI CITY
COMMISSION MEETING. THE PERSON PRESIDING OVER THE
COMMISSION MEETING WILL ANNOUNCE THE
COMMENCEMENT OF AN ATTORNEY -CLIENT SESSION,
CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC, FOR PURPOSES OF DISCUSSING
THE CASE OF WEST FLAGLER ASSOCIATES, LTD. VS. CITY OF
MIAMI, CASE NO. 19-CV-21670-RNS, PENDING IN THE UNITED
STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF
FLORIDA, TO WHICH THE CITY IS PRESENTLY A PARTY. THE
SUBJECT OF THE MEETING WILL BE CONFINED TO
SETTLEMENT NEGOTIATIONS OR STRATEGY SESSIONS
RELATED TO LITIGATION EXPENDITURES. THIS PRIVATE
MEETING WILL BEGIN AT APPROXIMATELY 10:00 A.M. (OR AS
SOON THEREAFTER AS THE COMMISSIONERS' SCHEDULES
PERMIT) AND CONCLUDE APPROXIMATELY ONE HOUR LATER.
THE SESSION WILL BE ATTENDED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE
CITY COMMISSION, WHICH INCLUDE COMMISSIONERS ALEX
DIAZ DE LA PORTILLA, KEN RUSSELL, JOE CAROLLO, MANOLO
REYES, AND KEON HARDEMON; CITY MANAGER EMILIO T.
GONZALEZ; CITY ATTORNEY VICTORIA MENDEZ; DEPUTY CITY
ATTORNEY JOHN A. GRECO; DIVISION CHIEF FOR GENERAL
LITIGATION CHRISTOPHER A. GREEN; AND ASSISTANT CITY
ATTORNEY KERRI L. MCNULTY. A CERTIFIED COURT
REPORTER WILL BE PRESENT TO ENSURE THAT THE
SESSION IS FULLY TRANSCRIBED AND THE TRANSCRIPT WILL
BE MADE PUBLIC UPON THE CONCLUSION OF THE ABOVE -
CITED, ONGOING LITIGATION. AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE
ATTORNEY -CLIENT SESSION, THE REGULAR COMMISSION
MEETING WILL BE REOPENED AND THE PERSON PRESIDING
OVER THE COMMISSION MEETING WILL ANNOUNCE THE
TERMINATION OF THE ATTORNEY -CLIENT SESSION.
RESULT: DISCUSSED
Chair Hardemon: Madam City Attorney, do you need to read something into the
record so we can walk up to the --
Victoria Mendez (City Attorney): Yes, Chairman.
Chair Hardemon: -- City Manager's room?
Ms. Mendez: Yes, Chairman. Thank you. On December 12, 2019, under the
provisions of Section 286.01](8) Florida Statutes, I requested the City Commission
meet in a private session to discuss pending litigation in the case of West Flagler
Associates, Limited versus City of Miami, Case Number 19-CV-21670-RNS, pending
in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, to which the
City is presently a party. The subject of the meeting will be confined to settlement
negotiations or strategy sessions related to litigation expenditures. The City
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City Commission Meeting Minutes February 13, 2020
Commission approved my request, and now, at approximately 7 pm., commence a
private attorney -client session under the parameters of Section 286. 01 ] (8) Florida
Statutes. This private meeting will conclude approximately one hour later. The
session will be attended by the members of the City Commission, which include
Commissioners Alex Diaz de la Portilla, Ken Russell, Joe Carollo, Manolo Reyes,
and Keon Hardemon; City Manager -- scratch that -- City Attorney Victoria
Mendez; Deputy City Attorney John Greco; Division Chief for General Litigation
Christopher Green, and Assistant City Attorney Kerri McNulty. A certified court
reporter will be present to ensure that the session is fully transcribed and the
transcript will be made public upon the conclusion of the above -cited, ongoing
litigation. At the conclusion of the attorney -client session, the regular Commission
meeting will be reopened, and the person chairing the Commission meeting will
announce the termination of the attorney -client session. Thank you.
Nicole Ewan (Assistant City Clerk): And for the record, this meeting stands in
recess for the attorney -client session.
Later...
Unidentified Speaker: We just have two PZ (Planning & Zoning) items?
Chair Hardemon: Yeah, we have two PZs.
Ms. Mendez: So if we could table -- everybody please remember this script, because
you just heard it, and I will just say the new time change when we go up.
Later...
Commissioner Carollo: What's left?
Chair Hardemon: Is the court --
Ms. Mendez: The court reporter is here.
Chair Hardemon: --reporter here?
Ms. Mendez: The court reporter's here. I just need to --
Chair Hardemon: Amend the time.
Ms. Mendez: Yes. So I apparently said the date wrong. So on January 23, 2020, I
requested the City Commission to meet. And now, at approximately 7:59, we will
commence our attorney -client session.
Chair Hardemon: So the meeting's in recess --
Ms. Mendez: Yes.
Chair Hardemon: --until then.
Ms. Mendez: Thank you.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: You're welcome.
Later...
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Chair Hardemon: Calling the February 13, 2020 meeting back into order. Call our
attention to, I believe, RE.14.
Ms. Mendez: Yes, RE.14.
Chair Hardemon: Is there a motion?
Ms. Mendez: Chairman, that's a settlement.
Chair Hardemon: Is there a motion on RE.14?
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): Madam City Attorney, my apologies. You normally
just make a quick statement that the attorney -client session has ended.
Ms. Mendez: The attorney -client session ended and we're back. I believe the
Chairman said --
Mr. Hannon: Yes.
Ms. Mendez: -- something that --
Mr. Hannon: Sorry.
Ms. Mendez: -- gets us there, more or less. Thank you for making the record clear,
super clear that we're done.
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AC.2 ATTORNEY -CLIENT SESSION
6995 UNDER THE PARAMETERS OF SECTION 286.011(8), FLORIDA
Office of the City STATUTES, A PRIVATE ATTORNEY -CLIENT SESSION WILL BE
Attorney CONDUCTED AT THE FEBRUARY 13, 2020 MIAMI CITY
COMMISSION MEETING. THE PERSON PRESIDING OVER THE
COMMISSION MEETING WILL ANNOUNCE THE
COMMENCEMENT OF AN ATTORNEY -CLIENT SESSION,
CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC, FOR PURPOSES OF DISCUSSING
THE CASE OF WEST FLAGLER ASSOCIATES, LTD. VS. CITY OF
MIAMI, CASE NO. 19-CV-21670-RNS, PENDING IN THE UNITED
STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF
FLORIDA, TO WHICH THE CITY IS PRESENTLY A PARTY. THE
SUBJECT OF THE MEETING WILL BE CONFINED TO
SETTLEMENT NEGOTIATIONS OR STRATEGY SESSIONS
RELATED TO LITIGATION EXPENDITURES. THIS PRIVATE
MEETING WILL BEGIN AT APPROXIMATELY 10:00 A.M. (OR AS
SOON THEREAFTER AS THE COMMISSIONERS' SCHEDULES
PERMIT) AND CONCLUDE APPROXIMATELY ONE HOUR LATER.
THE SESSION WILL BE ATTENDED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE
CITY COMMISSION, WHICH INCLUDE CHAIRMAN KEON
HARDEMON, VICE-CHAIRMAN KEN RUSSELL, AND
COMMISSIONERS ALEX DIAZ DE LA PORTILLA, JOE CAROLLO,
AND MANOLO REYES; CITY MANAGER EMILIO T. GONZALEZ;
CITY ATTORNEY VICTORIA MENDEZ; DEPUTY CITY ATTORNEY
JOHN A. GRECO; DIVISION CHIEF FOR GENERAL LITIGATION
CHRISTOPHER A. GREEN; AND ASSISTANT CITY ATTORNEY
KERRI L. MCNULTY. A CERTIFIED COURT REPORTER WILL BE
PRESENT TO ENSURE THAT THE SESSION IS FULLY
TRANSCRIBED AND THE TRANSCRIPT WILL BE MADE PUBLIC
UPON THE CONCLUSION OF THE ABOVE -CITED, ONGOING
LITIGATION. AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE ATTORNEY -CLIENT
SESSION, THE REGULAR COMMISSION MEETING WILL BE
REOPENED AND THE PERSON PRESIDING OVER THE
COMMISSION MEETING WILL ANNOUNCE THE TERMINATION
OF THE ATTORNEY -CLIENT SESSION.
........ ......... .........
MOTION TO:
......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ..................
Withdraw
RESULT:
WITHDRAWN
MOVER:
Ken Russell, Commissioner
SECONDER:
Keon Hardemon, Commissioner
AYES:
Hardemon, Russell, Diaz de la Portilla, Carollo, Reyes
Note for the Record. For minutes referencing Item AC 2, please see "Order of the
Day. "
END OF ATTORNEY -CLIENT SESSION
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BC - BOARDS AND COMMITTEES
BCA RESOLUTION
6894 A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION APPOINTING THE MEMBERS OF
Office of the City THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AS VICE -CHAIRPERSON AND/OR MEMBERS ON
Clerk VARIOUS TRUSTS, AUTHORITIES, BOARDS, COMMITTEES AND AGENCIES FOR
TERMS AS DESIGNATED HEREIN.
APPOINTED AS VICE CHAIRPERSON:
Commissioner Joe Carollo of the Midtown Community Redevelopment Agency
APPOINTED AS MEMBER:
Commissioner Keon Hardemon of the Florida League of Cities
Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla of the Miami -Dade County League of Cities
Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla of the Miami River Commission
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-20-0049
MOTION TO:
Adopt
RESULT:
ADOPTED
MOVER:
Alex Diaz de la Portilla, Commissioner
SECONDER:
Keon Hardemon, Commissioner
AYES:
Hardemon, Russell, Diaz de la Portilla, Carollo, Reyes
Nicole Ewan (Assistant City Clerk): And we do have BC.1, which is the
Commission as members of different agencies and outside agencies. We do have
pending the Vice Chair of the Midtown CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency),
a member to the Florida League of Cities, a member to the Miami -Dade County
League of Cities, and a member to the Miami River Commission.
Chair Hardemon: So I think Commissioner Gort was a former member of the
Miami -Dade County League of Cities, so that's available for the district
Commissioner if he chooses, I guess.
Victoria Mendez (City Attorney): I believe, Chairman, you're about to be president.
Chair Hardemon: Right.
Ms. Mendez: So you need to stay on there.
Chair Hardemon: Well, so actually, I'm not the appointee from the City.
Ms. Mendez: Oh, okay.
Chair Hardemon: I was once appointed through the City, and then when I became
an executive board member, I'm now on it through that board.
Commissioner Reyes: Mr. Chair, can --
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Chair Hardemon: So we get two.
Commissioner Reyes: -- I nominate Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla to the
League of Cities?
Chair Hardemon: Sure, Miami -Dade County League of Cities, correct. And then
for the Florida League of Cities, though, I am the appointee there. And on that --
on the Florida League of Cities, I am --
Commissioner Reyes: Florida.
Chair Hardemon: -- on the -- Correct.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I nominate you. I nominate you.
Commissioner Reyes: Florida League of Cities.
Chair Hardemon: So is it -- there's two. Is there one more?
Commissioner Reyes: There is Dade --
Chair Hardemon: The Midtown.
Ms. Ewan: The Midtown CRA, there's pending the Vice Chair and the Miami River
Commission is pending a member.
Chair Hardemon: I know the Miami --
Commissioner Carollo: Do you want me to sacrifice myself and join you in
Midtown?
Vice Chair Russell: Welcome, welcome.
Chair Hardemon: You know, if there's --
Vice Chair Russell: Much work to do there.
Commissioner Carollo: No one's offering so I, you know --
Chair Hardemon: Commissioner, I know that I was approached about the Miami
River Commission, because the river touches my district as well. But you have
parts of your district that touch the river, as well, don't you?
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Yeah, I have a big chunk.
Chair Hardemon: So --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: 7th Avenue to 37th.
Commissioner Carollo: Well --
Chair Hardemon: So what do we want to do there?
Commissioner Carollo: What do I want to do with what?
Chair Hardemon: No, what do we want to do with the River Commission?
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Commissioner Carollo: Look, I'm not getting involved. I don't want anything else.
You guys decide. Whatever you guys decide, I'm fine with.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I'll take it. I'll take it if you don't want, because
I need to redevelop -- my part is -- your part's already developed.
Chair Hardemon: It's -- and more is coming.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: It's coming around, but my part needs a lot of
help, so I can work with my former opponent, Horacio Aguirre, on that Miami River
Commission. I'm sure he would enjoy that so it's an important --
Commissioner Carollo: Well, you know --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: -- part of my --
Commissioner Carollo: -- he's one of your nicer opponents.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I know, right?
Commissioner Carollo: The other two guys ---
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: You have to look at the whole lot, right?
Commissioner Carollo: -- they're showing up at these press conferences and they
got eight people and they're --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Wow.
Commissioner Carollo: -- 25 percent of the press conference.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I had two former opponents show up at the
press conference on Tuesday.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Wow.
Commissioner Carollo: Now, this is all your fault. I helped you and now they
come at me, you know.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Is that the reason?
Commissioner Carollo: Helping you --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Is that the reason?
Commissioner Carollo: --(INAUDIBLE) me.
Chair Hardemon: So then the total motion that will be made, I have the mover as
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla and as the Chairman, I'll second the motion. It is
for -- it's Midtown CRA Vice Chairman, Ken Russell; the River Commission,
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla; the Miami -Dade County League of Cities,
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla; and the Florida League of Cities, myself, Keon
Hardemon.
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Ms. Ewan: Just to confirm, Chair, I heard the Vice Chair of the Midtown CRA is
Commissioner Carollo. I just want to confirm that.
Chair Hardemon: Well, I wasn't -- I thought it was someone else.
Commissioner Carollo: Excuse me?
Chair Hardemon: Are --you're the -- oh, yeah, that's correct. You're right. I stand
corrected.
Commissioner Carollo: You had me (INAUDIBLE).
Chair Hardemon: I stand corrected. I stand corrected. Any further discussion?
Unidentified Speaker: No.
Chair Hardemon: Hearing none, say "aye. "
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: That motion carries.
Ms. Ewan: Thank you, Chair and Commissioners. That completes the board items.
Victoria Mendez (City Attorney): Commissioners --
Vice Chair Russell: Are we able to appoint to the new LGBTQ Advisory Board at
this time?
Commissioner Carollo: Not yet.
Ms. Ewan: No. It's 30 days to take effect, according to the legislation.
Chair Hardemon: I appoint the entire CRB (Community Relations Board)
Committee.
Ms. Mendez: Commissioners --
Chair Hardemon: That's a good idea.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Commissioner, I have a question for you, a
serious question.
Chair Hardemon: Yes.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: On the Miami River Commission, can I appoint
a surrogate? How is that done? To go to the --
Chair Hardemon: I'm not sure.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Okay. Maybe the City Attorney can help me.
They named me to the Miami River Commission. Can I appoint a surrogate to fill
in? Like I know Commissioner (INAUDIBLE) sends someone, a specific person
that they name. Do we do the same thing, or we can name anyone as we go --?
Ms. Mendez: Right. So the Miami River Commission is a creature of statute. I
would have to double check.
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Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Unfortunately -- yeah, I unfortunately
(INAUDIBLE) --
Ms. Mendez: I would have to double check that.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: (INAUDIBLE) a lot to do --
Ms. Mendez: I would have to double check that.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: We have a representative here of the Miami
River Commission, unfortunately, Manny Prieguez.
Chair Hardemon: You represent the Miami City -- Miami River ---
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Well, he's a member of it.
Chair Hardemon: Oh, he's a member.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Yeah.
Chair Hardemon: How many --
Manny Prieguez: Actually --
Chair Hardemon: -- things are you a part of? (INAUDIBLE) everything.
Mr. Prieguez: Manny Prieguez, 4000 Malaga Avenue. This vacancy is before you
today because I resigned my position as a member of the Miami River Commission.
And so, to answer the Commissioner's question, yes, you have the ability to
nominate a proxy on your behalf for days that you can't go to meetings and stuff
like that. So you have the ability through the bylaws or through statute to be able to
appoint someone.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Right so we don't need to take any more action
today. I'm the member right now and then when Igo to the meeting --
Mr. Prieguez: And then you could appoint someone -- you could ask so-and-so to
go in your stead. Commissioner --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: So I could appoint you, theoretically.
Mr. Prieguez: Well, but I just quit so --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Well, now if I ask you to serve there you're
going to have to go back, right?
Mr. Prieguez: Commissioner Barreiro would oftentimes ask --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Oh, yeah. I'm going to appoint him.
Mr. Prieguez: (INAUDIBLE). You can appoint --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: (INAUDIBLE).
Mr. Prieguez: You could designate somebody. There's no problem with
designating somebody.
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Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Okay. Thank you, Manny. I can't believe you
actually suggested that I appoint Commissioner Barreiro. Wow.
Commissioner Carollo: (INAUDIBLE).
Ms. Mendez: Well, we'll confirm all that. I'll take the law degree --purported law
degree under advisement over there, but we'll double check all that and get back to
you on the River Commission.
BC.2 RESOLUTION
7003 A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION APPOINTING A CERTAIN
Office of the City INDIVIDUAL AS A MEMBER OF THE AFFORDABLE HOMEOWNERSHIP LOAN
Clerk PROGRAM TASK FORCE FOR A TERM AS DESIGNATED HEREIN.
APPOINTEE:
NOMINATED BY:
Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla
........ ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ..................
RESULT: NO ACTION TAKEN
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BC.3 RESOLUTION
5544 A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION APPOINTING CERTAIN
Office of the City INDIVIDUALS AS MEMBERS OF THE ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT COUNCIL FOR
Clerk TERMS AS DESIGNATED HEREIN.
APPOINTEES:
RESULT: NO ACTION TAKEN
NOMINATED BY:
Mayor Francis Suarez
Mayor Francis Suarez
Mayor Francis Suarez
Mayor Francis Suarez
Mayor Francis Suarez
Mayor Francis Suarez
Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla
Commissioner Ken Russell
Commissioner Joe Carollo
Commissioner Manolo Reyes
Commissioner Keon Hardemon
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BCA
6672
Office of the City
Clerk
BC.5
6955
Office of the City
Clerk
RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION APPOINTING CERTAIN
INDIVIDUALS AS MEMBERS OF THE AUDIT ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR TERMS
AS DESIGNATED HEREIN.
APPOINTEES:
NOMINATED BY:
Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla
Commissioner Ken Russell
Commissioner Joe Carollo
Commissioner Manolo Reyes
........ ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ...................
RESULT: NO ACTION TAKEN
RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION APPOINTING A CERTAIN
INDIVIDUAL AS A MEMBER OF THE BAYFRONT PARK MANAGEMENT TRUST FOR
A TERM AS DESIGNATED HEREIN.
APPOINTEE:
Javier Banos
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-20-0050
MOTION TO:
Adopt
RESULT:
ADOPTED
MOVER:
Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
SECONDER:
Joe Carollo, Commissioner
AYES:
Hardemon, Russell, Carollo, Reyes
ABSENT:
Diaz de la Portilla
NOMINATED BY:
Commissioner Joe Carollo
Chair Hardemon: Well, first, are there any boards and committees that you need to
announce? You're recognized, ma'am.
Nicole Ewan (Assistant City Clerk): Good evening, Chair and Commissioners.
We'll do the boards and committees portion of the agenda. For BC.1, we do have the
Commission as members of the boards for outside agencies. We're going to come
back to BC.1, because we need a full Commission for that, because that's the one for
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BC.6
6956
Office of the City
Clerk
BC.7
6957
Office of the City
Clerk
the Vice Chair of Midtown (INAUDIBLE). For BC.S, Bayfront Park Management
Trust, Commissioner Carollo will be appointing Javier Banos.
Chair Hardemon: Is there a motion?
Commissioner Reyes: Move it.
Chair Hardemon: Is there a second?
Unidentified Speaker: BC. S.
Chair Hardemon: I'll assume Commissioner Carollo is the second. It's been
properly moved and seconded. Seeing no discussion, all in favor; say "aye. "
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: Motion carries.
RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION CONFIRMING THE
APPOINTMENT OF A CERTAIN INDIVIDUAL AS A MEMBER OF THE CIVILIAN
INVESTIGATIVE PANEL FOR A TERM AS DESIGNATED HEREIN.
APPOINTEE:
Gabriel Paez
NOMINATED BY:
Civilian Investigative Panel
........ ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... .................
RESULT: NO ACTION TAKEN
RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION APPOINTING CERTAIN
INDIVIDUALS AS MEMBERS OF THE CLIMATE RESILIENCE COMMITTEE FOR
TERMS AS DESIGNATED HEREIN.
APPOINTEES:
NOMINATED BY:
Mayor Francis Suarez
Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla
Commission -At -Large
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BC.8
6958
Office of the City
Clerk
BC.9
6330
Office of the City
Clerk
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, .,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,. .,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,. .,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,., .,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,. .,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,. .,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,., .,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,. .,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,. .,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,
RESULT: NO ACTION TAKEN
RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION APPOINTING A CERTAIN
INDIVIDUAL AS A MEMBER OF THE CODE COMPLIANCE TASK FORCE FOR A
TERM AS DESIGNATED HEREIN.
APPOINTEE:
NOMINATED BY:
Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla
........ ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... .................
RESULT: NO ACTION TAKEN
RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION APPOINTING CERTAIN
INDIVIDUALS AS MEMBERS OF THE CODE ENFORCEMENT BOARD FOR TERMS
AS DESIGNATED HEREIN.
APPOINTEES:
(Alternate Member)
NOMINATED BY:
Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla
Commissioner Ken Russell
Commission -At -Large
Commission -At -Large
........ ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... .................
RESULT: NO ACTION TAKEN
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BC.10 RESOLUTION
5547 A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION APPOINTING CERTAIN
Office of the City INDIVIDUALS AS MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY RELATIONS BOARD FOR TERMS
Clerk AS DESIGNATED HEREIN.
APPOINTEES:
RESULT: NO ACTION TAKEN
NOMINATED BY:
Mayor Francis Suarez
Mayor Francis Suarez
Mayor Francis Suarez
Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla
Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla
Commissioner Ken Russell
Commissioner Ken Russell
Commissioner Joe Carollo
Commissioner Joe Carollo
Commissioner Manolo Reyes
Commissioner Manolo Reyes
Commissioner Keon Hardemon
Commissioner Keon Hardemon
City of Miami Page 180 Printed on 0512112020
City Commission Meeting Minutes February 13, 2020
BC.11 RESOLUTION
6734 A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION APPOINTING CERTAIN
Office of the City INDIVIDUALS AS MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN
Clerk AND QUALITY OF LIFE COMMITTEE FOR TERMS AS DESIGNATED HEREIN.
APPOINTEES:
RESULT: NO ACTION TAKEN
NOMINATED BY:
Mayor Francis Suarez
Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla
Commissioner Ken Russell
Commissioner Joe Carollo
Commissioner Manolo Reyes
Commissioner Keon Hardemon
Commission -At -Large
Commission -At -Large
City Manager Emilio T. Gonzalez
City of Miami Page 181 Printed on 0512112020
City Commission Meeting Minutes February 13, 2020
13C.12 RESOLUTION
• iL•_W**i]��j1 lei kite] aIMMINoJII_1JIto] IW(K0]JI A1MCI Eel ►I_1w1i71►11111►[eZal=110lr_11►
Office of the City INDIVIDUALS AS MEMBERS OF THE EQUAL OPPORTUNITY ADVISORY BOARD
Clerk FOR TERMS AS DESIGNATED HEREIN.
APPOINTEES:
RESULT: NO ACTION TAKEN
NOMINATED BY:
Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla
Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla
Commissioner Ken Russell
Commissioner Ken Russell
Commissioner Joe Carollo
Commissioner Joe Carollo
Commissioner Manolo Reyes
Commissioner Manolo Reyes
Commissioner Keon Hardemon
Commissioner Keon Hardemon
IAFF
FOP
AFSCME 1907
AFSCME 871
City of Miami Page 182 Printed on 0512112020
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BC.13
6959
Office of the City
Clerk
BC.14
1599
Office of the City
Clerk
RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION APPOINTING CERTAIN
INDIVIDUALS AS MEMBERS OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE FOR TERMS AS
DESIGNATED HEREIN.
APPOINTEES: NOMINATED BY:
Mayor Francis Suarez
Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla
Commissioner Manolo Reyes
Commissioner Keon Hardemon
RESULT: NO ACTION TAKEN
RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION APPOINTING CERTAIN
INDIVIDUALS AS MEMBERS OF THE HEALTH FACILITIES AUTHORITY BOARD FOR
TERMS AS DESIGNATED HEREIN.
APPOINTEES:
NOMINATED BY:
Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla
Commissioner Ken Russell
Commissioner Joe Carollo
Commissioner Manolo Reyes
........ ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... .................
RESULT: NO ACTION TAKEN
City of Miami Page 183 Printed on 0512112020
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BC.15 RESOLUTION
5451 A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION APPOINTING CERTAIN
Office of the City INDIVIDUALS AS MEMBERS OF THE MAYOR'S COUNCIL ON GLOBAL
Clerk COMPETITIVENESS FOR TERMS AS DESIGNATED HEREIN.
APPOINTEES:
NOMINATED BY:
Mayor Francis Suarez
Mayor Francis Suarez
Mayor Francis Suarez
Mayor Francis Suarez
Mayor Francis Suarez
Mayor Francis Suarez
Mayor Francis Suarez
Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla
Commissioner Manolo Reyes
Commissioner Keon Hardemon
Commission -At -Large
Commission -At -Large
........ ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ..................
RESULT: NO ACTION TAKEN
City of Miami Page 184 Printed on 0512112020
City Commission Meeting Minutes February 13, 2020
BC.16
7156
Office of the City
Clerk
BC.17
6960
Office of the City
Clerk
RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION APPOINTING CERTAIN
INDIVIDUALS AS MEMBERS OF THE MIAMI 21 REPORT AD HOC TASK FORCE FOR
TERMS AS DESIGNATED HEREIN.
APPOINTEES:
Andrew Frey
(Elector)
Juan Mullerat
(Elector)
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-20-0051
MOTION TO:
Adopt
RESULT:
ADOPTED
MOVER:
Ken Russell, Commissioner
SECONDER:
Keon Hardemon, Commissioner
AYES:
Hardemon, Russell, Carollo, Reyes
ABSENT:
Diaz de la Portilla
NOMINATED BY:
Mayor Francis Suarez
Mayor Francis Suarez
Nicole Ewan (Assistant City Clerk): BC.16, Miami 21 Report Ad Hoc Task Force.
Mayor Suarez will be appointing Juan Mullerat and Andrew Frey to the elector
category with a preference in transportation planning.
Vice Chair Russell: So moved.
Chair Hardemon: Seconded by the Chair. All in favor, say "aye. "
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: Motion carries.
RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION APPOINTING A CERTAIN
INDIVIDUAL AS A MEMBER OF THE MIAMI COMPLETE COUNT COMMITTEE FOR A
TERM AS DESIGNATED HEREIN.
APPOINTEE:
NOMINATED BY:
Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla
City of Miami Page 185 Printed on 0512112020
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BC.18
5199
Office of the City
Clerk
BC.19
5039
Office of the City
Clerk
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, .,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,. .,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,. .,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,., .,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,. .,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,. .,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,., .,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,. .,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,. .,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,., .,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,..
RESULT: NO ACTION TAKEN
RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION APPOINTING CERTAIN
INDIVIDUALS AS MEMBERS OF THE MIAMI FOREVER BOND PROGRAM CITIZENS'
OVERSIGHT BOARD FOR TERMS AS DESIGNATED HEREIN.
APPOINTEES:
NOMINATED BY:
Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla
Commissioner Keon Hardemon
Commissioner Keon Hardemon
........ ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ...............
RESULT: NO ACTION TAKEN
RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION APPOINTING CERTAIN
INDIVIDUALS AS MEMBERS OF THE OVERTOWN ADVISORY BOARD/OVERTOWN
COMMUNITY OVERSIGHT BOARD FOR TERMS AS DESIGNATED HEREIN.
APPOINTEES: NOMINATED BY:
Mayor Francis Suarez
Commissioner Keon Hardemon
Commissioner Keon Hardemon
Commissioner Keon Hardemon
Commissioner Keon Hardemon
Commissioner Keon Hardemon
(Youth Member)
........ ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ...............
RESULT: NO ACTION TAKEN
City of Miami Page 186 Printed on 0512112020
City Commission Meeting Minutes February 13, 2020
BC.20 RESOLUTION
3693 A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION APPOINTING CERTAIN
Office of the City INDIVIDUALS AS MEMBERS OF THE STARS OF CALLE OCHO WALK OF FAME
Clerk COMMITTEE FOR TERMS AS DESIGNATED HEREIN.
APPOINTEES:
NOMINATED BY:
Mayor Francis Suarez
Commissioner Joe Carollo
Commissioner Joe Carollo
Commissioner Joe Carollo
Commission -At -Large
Commission -At -Large
Commission -At -Large
........ ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ..................
RESULT: NO ACTION TAKEN
City of Miami Page 187 Printed on 0512112020
City Commission Meeting Minutes February 13, 2020
BC.21
5453
Office of the City
Clerk
BC.22
5844
Office of the City
Clerk
RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION APPOINTING CERTAIN
INDIVIDUALS AS MEMBERS OF THE URBAN DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD
(UDRB) FOR TERMS AS DESIGNATED HEREIN.
APPOINTEES: NOMINATED BY:
Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla
Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla
Commissioner Ken Russell
Commissioner Ken Russell
Commissioner Joe Carollo
Commissioner Joe Carollo
Commissioner Manolo Reyes
Commissioner Manolo Reyes
Commissioner Keon Hardemon
Commissioner Keon Hardemon
........ ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ...............
RESULT: NO ACTION TAKEN
RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION APPOINTING CERTAIN
INDIVIDUALS AS MEMBERS OF THE VIRGINIA KEY ADVISORY BOARD FOR TERMS
AS DESIGNATED HEREIN.
APPOINTEES: NOMINATED BY:
Mayor Francis Suarez
Commission -At -Large
RESULT: NO ACTION TAKEN
City of Miami Page 188 Printed on 0512112020
City Commission Meeting Minutes February 13, 2020
BC.23 RESOLUTION
5550 A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION APPOINTING A CERTAIN
Office of the City INDIVIDUAL AS A MEMBER OF THE VIRGINIA KEY BEACH PARK TRUST FOR A
Clerk TERM AS DESIGNATED HEREIN.
APPOINTEE:
James Jackson
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-20-0052
MOTION TO:
Adopt
RESULT:
ADOPTED
MOVER:
Ken Russell, Commissioner
SECONDER:
Keon Hardemon, Commissioner
AYES:
Hardemon, Russell, Carollo, Reyes
ABSENT:
Diaz de la Portilla
NOMINATED BY:
Commissioner Ken Russell
Nicole Ewan (Assistant City Clerk): And BC.23, Virginia Key Beach Park Trust.
Vice Chair Russell will be appointing James Jackson.
Vice Chair Russell: Moved.
Chair Hardemon: Moved by the Commissioner, seconded by the Chair. All in
favor, say "aye. "
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: Motion carries.
Ms. Ewan: Thank you.
END OF BOARDS AND COMMITTEES
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DIA
6027
Commissioners
and Mayor
D1.2
7063
Commissioners
and Mayor
D1.3
7004
Commissioners
and Mayor
DI - DISCUSSION ITEMS
DISCUSSION ITEM
MAY BE WITHDRAWN
A DISCUSSION ITEM REGARDING KEYS TO THE CITY AND CITY
PROCLAMATIONS.
........ ......... .........
MOTION TO:
......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... .................
Withdraw
RESULT:
WITHDRAWN
MOVER:
Ken Russell, Commissioner
SECONDER:
Keon Hardemon, Commissioner
AYES:
Hardemon, Russell, Diaz de la Portilla, Carollo, Reyes
Note for the Record. For minutes referencing Item DIJ, please see "Order of the
Day. "
DISCUSSION ITEM
A DISCUSSION ITEM REGARDING KEYS TO THE CITY AND CITY
PROCLAMATIONS.
RESULT: DISCUSSED
Note for the Record. For minutes referencing Item DI.2, please see Item NA.4.
DISCUSSION ITEM
MAY BE WITHDRAWN
A DISCUSSION ITEM REGARDING RACIAL EQUALITY WITHIN
THE MIAMI POLICE DEPARTMENT.
........ ......... .........
MOTION TO:
......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... .................
Withdraw
RESULT:
WITHDRAWN
MOVER:
Ken Russell, Commissioner
SECONDER:
Keon Hardemon, Commissioner
AYES:
Hardemon, Russell, Diaz de la Portilla, Carollo, Reyes
Note for the Record. For minutes referencing Item D1.3, please see "Order of the
Day. "
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DIA
7008
Commissioners
and Mayor
D1.5
7065
Commissioners
and Mayor
D1.6
6928
Commissioners
and Mayor
DISCUSSION ITEM
MAY BE WITHDRAWN
A DISCUSSION REGARDING KEY TO THE CITY.
........ ......... .........
MOTION TO:
......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... .................
Withdraw
RESULT:
WITHDRAWN
MOVER:
Ken Russell, Commissioner
SECONDER:
Keon Hardemon, Commissioner
AYES:
Hardemon, Russell, Diaz de la Portilla, Carollo, Reyes
Note for the Record. For minutes referencing Item DI.4, please see "Order of the
Day. "
DISCUSSION ITEM
A DISCUSSION REGARDING KEY TO THE CITY.
RESULT: DISCUSSED
Note for the Record. For minutes referencing Item DI.5, please see Item NA.2.
DISCUSSION ITEM
A DISCUSSION REGARDING THE CODE COMPLIANCE TASK
FORCE.
........ ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... .................
MOTION TO: Defer by Unanimous Consent
RESULT: DEFERRED BY UNANIMOUS CONSENT
RESULT: DISCUSSED
Note for the Record. Item DL6 was deferred to the February 24, 2020, City
Commission Meeting.
Note for the Record. For additional minutes referencing Item DI.6, please see
"Part B: PZ-Planning and Zoning Item(s). "
Commissioner Reyes: Mr. Chair.
Chair Hardemon: Wait, DI 6. That was DI 6? Do we consider that to be DI 6?
Commissioner Reyes: DI 6; yes, sir.
Chair Hardemon: I know that was DI8.
Commissioner Reyes: DI8.
Chair Hardemon: DI 6 is the Code Compliance Task Force.
Commissioner Reyes: I don't see anybody here.
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Commissioner Carollo: It's the --yeah, it's DI 6 that he's talking about.
Commissioner Reyes: Yes.
Commissioner Carollo: This is going to take a little longer, I think, with this whole
Code Compliance Task Force. So I -- why is Commissioner Gort still the sponsor
here?
Commissioner Reyes: Well, because he was one of the sponsors when we --
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah but he's no longer around.
Commissioner Reyes: Well, let's change the name then.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: It's the ghost of Commissioner Gort, I think.
Commissioner Reyes: That's right.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: $o --
Commissioner Carollo: Do you want to be the sponsor of that?
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: The ghost. I got my first $500, 000 back, so I'm
moving in the right direction.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah, well good for you.
Commissioner Reyes: Okay. If I may, Mr. --
Chair Hardemon: $o wait. How are we disposing of DI 6?
Commissioner Reyes: What are we going to do with this?
Commissioner Carollo: Put it for the next Commission meeting, roll it over.
Commissioner Reyes: That's right.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah.
Chair Hardemon: $o you want to defer it to the next Commission meeting?
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah.
Commissioner Reyes: That's right.
Commissioner Carollo: Roll it over.
Chair Hardemon: Without objection, that motion will pass.
Commissioner Reyes: Yes.
Vice Chair Russell: I'm sorry. What was the motion?
Chair Hardemon: To defer it to the next Commission meeting.
Fernando Casamayor (Assistant City Manager): Is that the February 24 meeting?
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Commissioner Reyes: Yes.
Commissioner Carollo: Yes.
Commissioner Reyes: Yes.
Mr. Casamayor: February 24.
Commissioner Reyes: Yes.
Commissioner Carollo: So please don't come the 27th, because we won't be here.
Commissioner Reyes: Okay.
D1.7
DISCUSSION ITEM
7006
A DISCUSSION REGARDING OPTIONS AND QUANTIFIABLE
PROJECTED COSTS FOR RETROFITTING EXISTING TROLLEYS
Commissioners
AND PURCHASING NEW TROLLEYS THAT ARE ELDERLY
and Mayor
FRIENDLY, SUCH OPTIONS TO INCLUDE BUT NOT BE LIMITED
TO, SEATBACK GRIPS, BARS, OR OTHER DEVICES OR
MECHANISMS WHICH CAN BE HELD ONTO WHEN SITTING
DOWN OR STANDING UP.
........ ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ...................
RESULT: DISCUSSED
Note for the Record. For additional minutes referencing Item DI.7, please see
"Public Comment Period for all Item(s)" and "Part B: PZ-Planning and Zoning
Item(s). "
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Are we going to defer the items, Mr. Chairman?
Is that what you want to do or you want to do discussion items?
Chair Hardemon: It's not my discussion items. They belong --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I think two of them are mine, right?
Chair Hardemon: I'm not sure.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Whatever -- whichever ones are mine, I move to
defer them. I think I have two. I may have two.
Chair Hardemon: Do we know which items?
Victoria Mendez (City Attorney): So is everything going to -- whatever was not
heard today, are you making a motion to defer it to the 24th?
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I can only speak -- to the next meeting, yes.
Commissioner Carollo: The --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: To the 25th, I think it is.
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Commissioner Carollo: DL.7 [sic], on the trolleys, a discussion regarding options
and quantifiable projected costs for retrofitting existing trolleys and purchasing new
trolleys that are elderly -friendly; such options to include but not be limited to
seatback grips and bars, or other services -- or devices or mechanism which can be
held onto when sitting down or standing up.
Chair Hardemon: So DI 7 is discussed.
Commissioner Carollo: Yep.
Later...
Commissioner Carollo: DI. 7 then.
Chair Hardemon: Yes. We have left DI.7, 6, and 8.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay, 7, 6, and 8. Okay.
Commissioner Reyes: Excuse me. I want -- make sure that we are going to get
together and work on it.
Unidentified Speaker: (INAUDIBLE).
Commissioner Reyes: Okay, that's it.
Unidentified Speaker: DI.10.
Commissioner Carollo: 7.
Alan Dodd: (Director): (INAUDIBLE) Resilience and Public Works. We were
asked to look at different options in order to make the trolleys more elderly friendly.
We have a total of 42 trolleys that the City owns, a variety of styles, 28 of them 27-
foot long; 14 are (INAUDIBLE) foot long, so two different styles. And then we have
12 new trolleys that are coming in of which we received the first three, which are
more elderly friendly. And I believe you all received a memorandum from us early
this week with the PowerPoint presentation that talked through --
Commissioner Carollo: Yes, sir.
Mr. Dodd: -- the options. As we looked at the retrofitting of the older trolleys, we
really looked at two different options based on feedback from other cities and
trolleys. One is a vertical pole at each of the benches in order to assist with getting
up and down. The other was a horizontal pole on the back of each seat. The
feedback we got was that the horizontal pole would make it easier for getting up and
down. In all of the seat configurations, it reduced the amount of obstructions for the
driver, you know, to see what's going on in the vehicles, and so, it seemed like the
better option. You had asked for the cost differences.
Commissioner Carollo: Right.
Mr. Dodd: Really, there was very little cost difference between the two options. The
horizontal pole would cost approximately $103, 000 to retrofit all of our vehicles.
Commissioner Carollo: A hundred and three thousand?
Mr. Dodd: A hundred and three thousand. The vertical poles would be a total cost
of $86, 500.
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Commissioner Carollo: But you're recommending based on your studies the grip
pole.
Mr. Dodd: The horizontal pole on the back.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah, the horizontal one --
Mr. Dodd: Yes, Commissioner.
Commissioner Carollo: -- because it's a little more. Does that price include the
additions that we're going to include on the new trolleys that are coming in?
Mr. Dodd: No, that does not. That's approximately $20, 000, and we're already
incorporating that into the contractfor the delivery of those vehicles.
Commissioner Carollo: Where can we find the $103, 000 to retrofit the 40 plus
trolleys that we have now?
Chair Hardemon: Transportation Trust Fund?
Mr. Dodd: I am sure that we can work with the Director of Budget and come up
with that amount of money.
Commissioner Carollo: All right. I appreciate that, and I'd like to say publicly that
I thank you for the professionalism that you've been showing with my office in being
helpful to my district to provide service that the residents there need.
Mr. Dodd: Thank you.
Commissioner Carollo: I just wanted to thank you publicly.
Mr. Dodd: Thank you.
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you. Mr. Dodd, have you -- I've heard anecdotal reports
in my office and on social media about ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act)
access, about wheelchair accessibility of nonfunctioning wheelchair loaders.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: You got a lot of praise from Commissioner
Carollo. That's good. You're having a good day.
Mr. Dodd: It's a good day.
Commissioner Carollo: Listen, when --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: What about Chris Rose? What about poor Rose
over there?
Commissioner Carollo: Rose comes from the Merrett Stierheim school that it says --
what is that saying that you have up there on elected officials that's not too nice?
Okay, I do believe --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Sorry. I didn't mean to bring you into the fray.
Commissioner Carollo: -- seriously, I do believe that when directors and others try
to be professional and not be influenced by other factors, you should acknowledge it.
And I have no problem in doing that, because, after all, we're elected, but we can't
do anything for our districts if people purposely don't want to help us. And I
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appreciate from what my staff has told me, the feedback that I've gotten, that he has
been responsive in the things that directors should be responsive to. However, this
had become difficult in the Administration that we had before.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: You want to sit in that chair over there or --?
Mr. Dodd: No, that's okay.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I didn't think so.
Commissioner Carollo: You know, I thinkFernando's liking that chair too much.
Vice Chair Russell: Commissioners, I would like to get home to my 46 year -old
wife.
Victoria Mendez (City Attorney): Oh, you need to buy her a present, as well.
Vice Chair Russell: Oh, no.She's --
Commissioner Reyes: You are in trouble, man.
Vice Chair Russell: -- superfine. She's proud of her age. Mr. Director, this is
actually very serious, because we've received reports in my office and seen on social
media people with need of ADA access who are being denied. I don't want to give
merit to an unwarranted accusation, but I want to know if we've done an assessment
of the ADA access, the wheelchair access. Is it true that some of them do not
function or that the drivers have not been assisting those who need help getting on
the trolley?
Chair Hardemon: I don't think you should answer that question on the record.
Ms. Mendez: Yeah. So can we follow up because I know that we have a huge ADA
compliance program, and we are constantly monitoring that. I have an attorney
assigned to that. So can we give you a briefing?
Vice Chair Russell: I just want to know that we're taking it seriously and making
sure that those who need help have access to our trolleys.
Mr. Dodd: Commissioner, absolutely. And when we do get complaints about
anything along those lines, we immediately talk with the operator for the trolleys.
Every complaint is investigated. We have videos on the trolleys in order to see what
happened. And if necessary, we take appropriate actions, either with the operators
or with -- to resolve -- if it's a maintenance issue to make sure that it's being fixed.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay.
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you.
Commissioner Carollo: Thank you, Mr. Dodd. If I could make a motion to approve
DI 7, and the cost can come from whatever programs they see fit unless they want to
get it from the Manager's reserve fund.
Chair Hardemon: I don't think --
Commissioner Carollo: Another word for slush fund.
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Chair Hardemon: I don't think we could make the motion, because it has a financial
effect, but they're going to get it done.
Mr. Dodd: We received the directive and understand --
Chair Hardemon: Right.
Commissioner Carollo: It's been done. They've looked at it.
Chair Hardemon: Right. They're going to get it done.
Commissioner Carollo: Chris took it from his budget in his office.
Commissioner Reyes: Mr. Chair.
Chair Hardemon: Yes?
Commissioner Reyes: You finished?
Mr. Dodd: Yes.
Commissioner Reyes: I would like to ask Francisco a couple of things.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah, but we have to --
Vice Chair Russell: There's no --
Commissioner Carollo: -- vote for this.
Vice Chair Russell: -- need for a vote.
Commissioner Reyes: Oh, there's no vote?
Chair Hardemon: No, no. We don't need a vote.
Commissioner Reyes: There's no vote.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah -- no, no. There has to be a vote on this.
Chair Hardemon: Not on the financial.
Commissioner Reyes: No, no. We don't --it's a directive.
Commissioner Carollo: Well, Madam City Attorney, directives -- because I want to
make sure that we get this done on 7 -- DI. 7.
Ms. Mendez: Is this the trolley one?
Commissioner Carollo: That's correct, ma'am.
Ms. Mendez: Okay. I believe that that's something that's already budgeted.
Commissioner Reyes: Yeah, that's right.
Ms. Mendez: There's nothing to do at this time, I believe. Jump in whenever --
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Commissioner Carollo: Can we -- you tell us what is the best avenue for us to take
right now to make it official so nobody has a forgetful moment?
Fernando Casamayor (Chief Financial Officer): Sir, you have the commitment of
this Administration that we will --
Commissioner Carollo: What Administration? Who?
Mr. Casamayor: The ones in charge, sir.
Commissioner Carollo: Who's in charge? Who's in charge?
Mr. Casamayor: Zerry.
Commissioner Carollo: (INAUDIBLE), you know.
Mr. Casamayor: So we will -- we have begun implementing the program
(INAUDIBLE).
Commissioner Carollo: I'm seeing guys all day today come in and out of that chair.
No one has complied with the Charter. They tell us we got a City Manager. The last
time I saw him was in pictures with -- getting boxes out of here in the middle of a
press conference.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: His timing has been had.
Commissioner Carollo: The deputy -- I don't know. I guess I'll have to go see him in
Cooper City on Monday.
Mr. Casamayor: Sir, we got called up from the minor leagues. I'm sorry but we're
here.
Commissioner Carollo: Maybe you ought to bring Sammy Sosa, a major leaguer.
D1.8 DISCUSSION ITEM
7005 A DISCUSSION REGARDING THE CITY MANAGER.
Commissioners
and Mayor
........ ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ..................
RESULT: DISCUSSED
Note for the Record. For additional minutes referencing Item DI. 8, please see
"Part B: PZ-Planning and Zoning Item(s). "
Chair Hardemon: So we still have DI 6 and DI8.
Commissioner Carollo: DI8, yes. Since Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla has a
similar one that he's deferring to the next meeting, I guess I'll take mine up now.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I thought you were going to follow my lead,
Commissioner. I'm surprised.
City of Miami Page 198 Printed on 0512112020
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Commissioner Carollo: No, no, no, no, not on this one after what I heard yesterday.
Do we have the Code Enforcement Director anywhere in the building? And for that
matter, whoever's in charge since I think we got the same problem in the Building
Department, the director that -- well, director resigned. Okay.
Commissioner Reyes: Which one is that, Joe?
Commissioner Carollo: Hmm?
Commissioner Reyes: Which one is that?
Commissioner Carollo: The Building Director.
Commissioner Reyes: No, no, no. Which one is DI (Discussion) what?
Commissioner Carollo: DI B.
Commissioner Reyes: 8.
Adele Valencia: Adele Valencia, Director of Code Compliance.
Commissioner Carollo: Ms. Valencia, thank you --
Ms. Valencia: Thank you.
Commissioner Carollo: --for being here. There was an address that was the -- I
don't know if I should call him Manager, former Manager. I was told he was leaving
on the IOth; and I was told by the Mayor, no, the 14th. Then I heard somewhere it
was the 16th, and I'm hearing 17th. So regardless, the property address of Emilio
Gonzalez that on December 12, I showed explicit pictures of not only a huge tree,
huge, probably covered 2,500, 3, 000 square feet, had been taken out like if Agent
Orange had hit it, boom. I showed one huge royal palm, another smaller, and what
appeared to have been other trees that were either cut down or cut back in excess of
25 percent. There was also a 24 feet-by-24 feet deck that is clear that had no
permitting when it was built. We had asked the Deputy Manager that was so gung-
ho when he didn't like somebody to setup a task force just to go against him. When
he was going to go and take action in what he saw there -- and we had to do that
several times. Now I understand something was done; something. Could you tell me
what your department did, and who others participated and helped you with it?
Ms. Valencia: Yes. I'd be happy to.
Commissioner Carollo: Thank you.
Ms. Valencia: On December 12 at the Commission meeting, you raised allegations
that the Commissioner [sic,/not only had Code violations but that he had obtained a
building permit potentially through fraud and abuse of office. And at that
Commission -- excuse me?
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: The City Manager.
Vice Chair Russell: You said, "the Commissioner. "
Ms. Valencia: I'm sorry; the City Manager. I misspoke. Thank you.
Commissioner Carollo: Any of you guys did any of that or --?
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Ms. Valencia: Sorry?
Commissioner Carollo: No, no. I'm just asking them because of that we passed a
resolution that could send you up the chain. Go ahead, I'm sorry.
Ms. Valencia: I guess I'm too tired to get the jokes.
Commissioner Carollo: No, no.
Ms. Valencia: Sorry.
Commissioner Carollo: That's okay. I'm sorry.
Ms. Valencia: So you raised these allegations and you directed -- the Commission
directed the Independent Auditor to investigate all of those allegations.
Commissioner Carollo: Yes.
Ms. Valencia: At the January Commission meeting, you asked Deputy Manager
Napoli whether he had directed Code Compliance to investigate the allegations. He
had not. And subsequent to that meeting --
Commissioner Carollo: And he said -- when I asked him why, he said he didn't know
why.
Ms. Valencia: That's correct. And so, subsequent to that meeting, he convened
myself and the Chief of the --
Commissioner Carollo: No, not subsequent. It was after we sent several emails
trying to find out whatever happened.
Ms. Valencia: Right. Following the Commission meeting, we met. "We," being
myself, the Deputy Manager, and the Chief of Environmental Resources, who is the
City arborist and we reviewed the allegations. And at that time, it was determined
through the research of the subject matter expert, the City arborist, that a tree had,
in fact, either failed or been removed in November of 2007. Based on that opinion
and the personal inspection of the code compliance inspector, a ticket was issued for
the removal of a tree.
Commissioner Carollo: Personal inspection?
Ms. Valencia: It's required by Chapter 162 of the Florida Statutes that --
Commissioner Carollo: How can you get in his backyard if --?
Ms. Valencia: You -- they did not go in his backyard.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay.
Ms. Valencia: But from the public right-of-way, you can see -- based on what the
City arborist explained to us -- where the tree would have been.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay.
Ms. Valencia: And it was cited on that basis.
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Commissioner Carollo: Okay, how about the royal palms and the other trees that I
pointed out, and the possibility of those others?
Ms. Valencia: I understand that you pointed them out. After thorough review by our
City arborist, she could substantiate one failed tree. And it's sort of -- as you're
looking --you're standing in the public right-of-way looking at the front of the home,
it's towards the right back.
Commissioner Carollo: Right. What happened to the royal palms?
Ms. Valencia: I'm unclear about that. I'm not sure -- I don't know if she could
determine with any certainty whether it failed, but I don't want to speak for her.
Commissioner Carollo: But they're gone. They're gone, so she couldn't have the
same guy go from the street and see if they're there? But that's okay. At least we got
one big one, okay.
Ms. Valencia: So the City Manager was cited. It's a $500 ticket if you've removed a
tree without a permit on homestead property, which is what has happened. My
understanding is that he has paid the ticket. That's paid through Oracle to the
Finance Department. And the issue of the building permit, right, the work without
permits is that there is an active building permit currently open on the property. It
was obtained in May of 2019. It was extended in October of 2019. The scope of the
work is repair/remodeling of the subject deck.
Commissioner Carollo: Now I'm very confused on what you're telling me about the
reason that the deck was not cited, because he was issued a permit to repair. But
what I pointed out was that there was never a permit for that deck, and we all know
that. There's no permit that was ever issued for that deck. So what does it matter if
he was given a wrongful permit to repair something that was not permitted from day
one?
Ms. Valencia: I understand your question.
Commissioner Carollo: Why -- I mean, it just doesn't make sense to me and it
doesn't equate why he wasn't cited on that, too.
Ms. Valencia: Why he wasn't cited for the deck.
Commissioner Carollo: Why he wasn't cited on that. The fact --
Ms. Valencia: Sure.
Commissioner Carollo: -- that there could be a hundred investigations; the fact that
the Building Director, whether he was afraid that it was his boss or whatever the
case was, showed him how to go about getting the wrong type of permit so that it
would appear that he never put an illegal deck in his backyard, and everything else
that happened, because the 1999 survey that was handed in did not have a 24-by-24
deck. But then someone drew it in that survey, and that's where the biggest problem
lied.
Ms. Valencia: I understand.
Commissioner Carollo: But I cannot for the life of me believe that you're telling me
that if someone does not have a permit and that if it would have been anybody else,
you would not cite him.
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Ms. Valencia: May I respond, sir?
Commissioner Carollo: Yes.
Ms. Valencia: Thank you. So we have many inspector assets throughout the City of
Miami. You're familiar with this.
Commissioner Carollo: Excuse me?
Ms. Valencia: We have many inspector assets throughout the City of Miami who --
Commissioner Carollo: Inspector assets?
Ms. Valencia: They're different inspectors who do different things in different
departments throughout the City of Miami. Code Compliance may issue violations
for work performed without permits. As you well know, we're not the judge, jury and
executioner. We have to mount a legally sufficient case --
Commissioner Carollo: Of course.
Ms. Valencia: -- which is vetted by our Assistant City Attorney and then heard by a
neutral quasi-judicial body. The Building Department issues permits. They review
permits. They revoke permits. In the case of this deck, there is a permit to repair
and remodel and to --
Commissioner Carollo: But there's not a permit --
Ms. Valencia: I understand -- no, I under --
Commissioner Carollo: --for the deck itself.
Ms. Valencia: I understand what you're saying. And if I may finish, that permit will
end at some point and there will be a building inspection on that property. Code
Compliance violations don't expire. So whatever happens with the pendency of the
investigation by the Auditor General, or whatever happens with the repair and
remodel of the current building permit, there will be an inspection by the building
inspector. And if at that time it's ascertained that there's still work without permits,
we will gladly go and cite anything without permits.
Commissioner Carollo: No, listen.
Ms. Valencia: Yes, sir.
Commissioner Carollo: I don't buy that for one minute and I'm going to tell you
why.
Ms. Valencia: Okay.
Commissioner Carollo: Because the reason he went through that whole show of --
and horse pony was so that no one would know -- and I don't know why, because it
was so simple to say, "Hey, look, you know, I did this. I made a mistake, " whatever
he wanted to say and have gotten the right permits for a deck that did not have a
permit, or just to tear it down if he didn't want it. But the fact was that he didn't
want people to know, because when he went and got all that six days later, he sent a
task force to somebody and that's what he was afraid about, because he was forced
to do that to me. He was forced to. He didn't want to do it; he was forced to by
someone else in the City. And now, what you're telling me is that you can't cite him
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because of this sham permit to repair a deck that was never permitted. And I'm
going to tell you why this is wrong, because the reason that he was told and guided
to do this -- because he didn't know how to follow it. He was guided how to do it. --
was because if he would have gotten away with it, then he would have gotten
permitted through the backdoor what he never had a permit through the front door,
and then no one would have known what happened. And this is why whatever sham
they did there can never be finalized, because how in the world are they going to
legalize now with a sham permit something that he got illegally, the sham temporary
permit to repair this deck? I'm amazed that this is the story you're telling me. And I
understand. I fully understand how people in this City are still trying to protect him
but that's what it is. It's protection of the City Manager, the same City Manager that
abused his position to get this illegal process done. And if he's under investigation
by the Auditor General or anybody else, then it makes no difference, whatsoever; just
like it doesn't make any difference, whatsoever, that he got an illegal permit to repair
boards in a deck. The bottom line is what you have to make a determination on is,
did he have a permit originally for that deck or not? If he did not and he did not
have it, end of story. He's not in compliance with our laws. And the only reason that
I'm bringing all this out is to show what a farce this whole thing is, how this man
even today is being protected as much as people could protect him. But then don't
cry when I bring things out. And I say this to anybody that wants to hear.
Unidentified Speaker: Okay. Finished?
Commissioner Carollo: Thank you.
Ms. Valencia: Thank you, sir.
Commissioner Carollo: Who is in charge of the City?
Commissioner Reyes: Who's on first?
Commissioner Carollo: No, I mean really. Who -- you told me the Administration.
But who's in charge of the City today? Are you the City Manager? Is Zerry the City
Manager? Is Sandra the City Manager? Who is the City Manager?
Chair Hardemon: I know I'm the Chairman and we have DI 6.
Commissioner Carollo: No, no but really, I need to know this, because this is my
follow-up question to what I was asking here. Who is the City Manager -- or acting
City Manager should I say?
Fernando Casamayor (Assistamt City Manager): Sir, the City Manager is Emilio T.
Gonzalez until I believe February 18.
Commissioner Carollo: Well, now it's 18. This keeps getting extended and extended
and extended.
Chair Hardemon: Okay.
Commissioner Carollo: Now from the IOth to the 16th to the 17th. Now it's the
18th. Have any of you seen him working in the City of Miami? And when's the last
time any of you saw him working in the City?
Mr. Casamayor: I was out yesterday, sir, but I did see him the day before.
Commissioner Carollo: He was working or carrying boxes out?
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Mr. Casamayor: I don't know whether he was actually working or not.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay, well, those are the pictures that I was shown at
Shangri-la. And I'm asking this because I'd like to know who is in charge to follow
up in what I said on the Code violation on the deck and maybe have another look at
the trees that were missing.
Mr. Casamayor: Sir, between Zerry, Sandra and myself, we will follow up with
whatever it is that you request.
Commissioner Carollo: Well, then --
Commissioner Reyes: You got three for one.
Commissioner Carollo: -- I will take the word of the new City Manager that we
have, if I could call (UNINTELLIGIBLE). And look, if it would get the job done, I
don't mind having a (UNINTELLIGIBLE) for a Manager, three of you in one.
Chair Hardemon: Might be more efficient.
Commissioner Carollo: And we might be better off and get things better
accomplished than before.
Commissioner Reyes: Mr. Chair.
Commissioner Carollo: Thank you.
D1.9 DISCUSSION ITEM
7000 A DISCUSSION REGARDING THE CITY MANAGER.
Commissioners
and Mayor
........ ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ..................
MOTION TO: Defer
RESULT: DEFERRED
MOVER: Alex Diaz de la Portilla, Commissioner
SECONDER: Keon Hardemon, Commissioner
AYES: Hardemon, Russell, Diaz de la Portilla, Carollo, Reyes
Note for the Record. Item DL 9 was deferred to the February 24, 2020, City
Commission Meeting.
Note for the Record. For minutes referencing Item DI.9, please see "Part B: PZ-
Planning and Zoning Item(s). "
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D1.10
6926
City Manager's
Office
D1.11
7084
Commissioners
and Mayor
D1.12
7091
Commissioners
and Mayor
DISCUSSION ITEM
A DISCUSSION REGARDING INDEPENDENT TRAFFIC AND
ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES IMPLEMENTATION PLAN.
MOTION TO: Defer
RESULT: DEFERRED
MOVER: Alex Diaz de la Portilla, Commissioner
SECONDER: Keon Hardemon, Commissioner
AYES: Hardemon, Russell, Diaz de la Portilla, Carollo, Reyes
Note for the Record. Item DI.10 was deferred to the Februaty 24, 2020, City
Commission Meeting.
Note for the Record. For minutes referencing Item DI.10, please see "Part B: PZ-
Planning and Zoning Item(s). "
DISCUSSION ITEM
A DISCUSSION REGARDING THE DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT
AUTHORITY.
MOTION TO: Defer
RESULT: DEFERRED
MOVER: Alex Diaz de la Portilla, Commissioner
SECONDER: Keon Hardemon, Commissioner
AYES: Hardemon, Russell, Diaz de la Portilla, Carollo, Reyes
Note for the Record. Item DI.11 was deferred to the Februaty 24, 2020, City
Commission Meeting.
Note for the Record. For minutes referencing Item DI.11, please see "Part B: PZ-
Planning and Zoning Item(s). "
DISCUSSION ITEM
A DISCUSSION REGARDING THE CONSOLIDATION OF THE
COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCIES.
........ ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ...................
MOTION TO: Defer
RESULT: DEFERRED
MOVER: Alex Diaz de la Portilla, Commissioner
SECONDER: Keon Hardemon, Commissioner
AYES: Hardemon, Russell, Diaz de la Portilla, Carollo, Reyes
Note for the Record. Item DI.12 was deferred to the Februaty 24, 2020, City
Commission Meeting.
Note for the Record. For minutes referencing Item DI.12, please see "Part B: PZ-
Planning and Zoning Item(s). "
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D1.13 DISCUSSION ITEM
7080 A DISCUSSION ON THE OUTSIDE EMPLOYMENT OF THE
Commissioners MAYOR.
and Mayor
MOTION TO:
Defer
RESULT:
DEFERRED
MOVER:
Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
SECONDER:
Joe Carollo, Commissioner
AYES:
Hardemon, Russell, Diaz de la Portilla, Carollo, Reyes
Note for the Record. Item DI.13 was deferred to the Februaty 24, 2020, City
Commission Meeting.
Note for the Record. For minutes referencing Item DI.13, please see Item RE.20.
END OF DISCUSSION ITEMS
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PART B: PZ - PLANNING AND ZONING ITEMS)
Vice Chair Russell: Madam City Attorney, do we need to read something into the
record for the P&Z (Planning and Zoning) agenda?
Victoria Mendez (City Attorney): No. Since it's combined now, I read it in the
morning.
Vice Chair Russell: We already did it in the morning? Thank you very much. Do we
need to swear in anyone who would like to speak on PZ items for the afternoon?
Nicole Ewan (Assistant City Clerk): Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Are there
any members of the public that will be speaking on any Planning and Zoning items this
afternoon? Please 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.
Ms. Ewan: Thank you, Chair.
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you.
Later...
Chair Hardemon: So now we have left DI.6, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12. Are we moving those
to -- well, I know for sure you had DI.12. That would have been included. So I know
for sure DI. 12 was yours.
Commissioner Reyes: Yes. I mean, 7--
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I move to defer DI (Discussion) -- what is it, 12?
Chair Hardemon: DI 12.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: DI. 12.
Chair Hardemon: To which meeting?
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: To the next available meeting.
Chair Hardemon: Alright That's the motion; seconded by the Chair.
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): I'm sorry.
Vice Chair Russell: You have other items, as well, though.
Mr. Hannon: Chair --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Yeah. I think I have --
Vice Chair Russell: 11, 12.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: -- I don't have it in front of me, sorry. 11 -- DI 11,
12.
Commissioner Reyes: DI.10, which is mine.
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Chair Hardemon: You want to include that in the motion?
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: DI10.
Commissioner Reyes: To defer them.
Chair Hardemon: Defer.
Commissioner Reyes: Yes, because I --
Chair Hardemon: Okay.
Commissioner Reyes: -- I receive -- I think, sir, you and I, we have to keep on working
on this. And I expect you to meet with us and --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Commissioner Carollo, did you want to defer DI 7?
Commissioner Carollo: No. I'd like to take it up.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: You want to discuss it.
Chair Hardemon: I thought we did that.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Okay so --
Commissioner Carollo: You're going to defer, I think, DI9, right?
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I'm going to defer DI9 and D.11 [sic] --
Commissioner Carollo: Okay.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: -- and DI12.
Chair Hardemon: So now we have -- we're deferring DI9, 10, 11 and 12. That's the
motion --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: That's correct.
Chair Hardemon: -- as amended; seconded by the Chair. Seeing no further discussion
on that motion, all in favor say "aye. "
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: That motion carries.
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PZ.1
ORDINANCE First Reading
6595
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AMENDING
Commissioners
ORDINANCE NO. 10544, AS AMENDED, THE MIAMI
and Mayor - PZ
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:
Adopt
RESULT:
FAILED
MOVER:
Joe Carollo, Commissioner
SECONDER:
Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
AYES:
Carollo, Reyes
NAYS:
Hardemon, Russell, Diaz de la Portilla
Vice Chair Russell: Madam City Attorney, could you read both PZ.1 and PZ.2 into
the record, the ordinances, please, the titles?
Victoria Mendez (City Attorney) : Thank you.
The Ordinance was read by title into the public record by the City Attorney.
Ms. Mendez: And PZ.2, you want me to read that one?
Vice Chair Russell: Yes, please.
The Ordinance was read by title into the public record by the City Attorney.
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you very much. Is there anyone here for public comment
on those two items? You're recognized.
Iris Escarra: Good evening, everyone. Iris Escarra, with offices at 333 Southeast
2nd Avenue. I'm here this evening on behalf of PZ.1, which is a modification to the
comp plan. One of the things that this ordinance seeks to do is to actually add
additional requirements to the modification when you're rezoning from CS (civic
space) property on parkland. Here, one of the things that we are concerned about is
that historically, when a rezoning comes in from CS; on that same agenda comes the
rezoning from some other designation to CS. So there's an equivalency that the City
Commission hears on the same agenda. Therefore, that process has already been
established by precedent. That process has already been established by what this
City Commission does, and that is so that there is never a no net loss. Therefore,
that provision for adding for additional City Commission votes and all that, that's
already in the process. Secondly, there's a restriction with regards to a minimum of
40, 000 square feet to the extent that the space is to be made up. That precludes
neighborhood parks from being added in different areas of the City, because
neighborhood parks are anywhere from S, 000 up to an acre. Therefore, that
limitation of 40, 000 precludes from being able to provide much needed
neighborhood parks in areas that have no parks. That's it Thank you very much.
Commissioner Reyes: Are you representing yourself, or you're representing
somebody?
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Ms. Escarra: I represent Miami Freedom Park.
Commissioner Reyes: Oh, I could imagine, you see. So you're totally against it,
because you don't want to be able to add little pieces to the no net loss.
Ms. Escarra: I could tell you that we're working on it, and what this does is it
changes it for us, not necessarily --
Commissioner Reyes: No, it doesn't change.
Ms. Escarra: --we don't have all small little pieces and we don't have all big pieces.
As you know, it's about 20 acres that we have to make up.
Commissioner Reyes: Yes, and I just --
Ms. Escarra: And we're --
Commissioner Reyes: -- wanted to know that, if you were representing somebody
and that's it. Okay.
Ms. Escarra: Yes.
Commissioner Reyes: Thank you.
Ms. Escarra: Thank you.
Commissioner Reyes: You see, this -- we had a no net loss in the books and it is very
clear. And what I wanted is -- I mean, those of -- people that are always saying,
okay, we care about parks and all of that, I want to make -- strengthen -- make sure
that that no net loss, it is respected; if not, let's get it out of the book and let's be
honest and said, "Well, what we going to do, we're going to play around and we're
going to use it to our convenience. " And this is the only thing that clarifies the no
net loss. I mean, we cannot afford to be losing green space and being -- I mean, lose
the park and then be -- accept replacement of the land that has been used by any
small park, for example, and then you add them up instead when you're losing --
when you're losing, let's say, 16 acres, the no net loss says that you have to be
replaced with 16 acres, because it says -- what it says, it is -- I mean, it has to be on
the same form and it has to be equivalent to what you're losing. And that is the only
thing that this is saying. I mean, I don't see why there is any opposition to this. The
only thing that it's doing is claming. And this went to PZAB (Planning, Zoning and
Appeals Board). It went to PZAB and it was voted 8-1, approved 8-1 in PZAB, you
see. And there is no additional opposition to this, you see. And that's -- this is what
-- this is on first reading, and any other type of -- I would say if you want to include
anything or delete anything, well, let's work from here to the second reading. I
mean, this is something that I would like for everybody to consider if we really mean
that we are defending no net loss, you see. Oh, this is second reading? No, this is
first reading.
Vice Chair Russell: This is first reading.
Commissioner Reyes: First reading. This is first reading. And we have to wait until
we have second reading if -- I mean, between now and second reading, we can use
any modification on that. And I do understand the people that are trying to use our
parks, they will be opposed to it. And the people that plan in the future to try to build
in any of our parks and maybe this Commission will allow that, which I doubt that
we make that mistake again. But any person that is planning to keep on using our
parkland, then they will be opposing this, you see. But this, for now, the only thing
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that it does is that it makes sure -- assures Miamians that our parkland is going to
stay as parkland, or is going to be replaced in the same shape and form. That's the
only thing that it's saying, you see. And on those little pocket parks, you see, they -- I
mean, what we are saying is you don't use those little pocket parks and you add them
in order to replace a piece of park that we have replaced, you see -- that we have
lost. And that's the only thing.
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you very much. Mr. Director, the Planning Department
recommended denial on this. Could you walk us through your thought process there,
please?
Francisco Garcia: Thank you, Commissioner. For the record, Francisco Garcia,
Planning Director. I'll share a couple of thoughts. First, I am on record as saying --
and I will say again to you today -- that our present policy for no net loss, in
Particular, for parks and public spaces, is less than ideally robust, right? It doesn't
have as many criteria and as many regulations as one would like to have to make it
predictable and to yield a predictable result. And there I think we can all agree.
And I have been certainly an advocate to try to enhance and fortes the present no
net loss policy. In fact, the Comprehensive Neighborhood Plan, which is being
proposed for amendment as part of this ordinance, makes reference to some best
practices that were actually adopted and referenced by the approval of this no net
loss policy back in 2007, and those recommendations are present in the City of
Miami Parks and Public Space Master Plan. Those were some recommendations
that were made to add criteria, add guidelines, et cetera. Our concern with this
ordinance, as presented to you today, is that it makes it a requirement that any
parkland of any area be replaced by another park or another parcel of the same area
or greater, and that seems to be not addressing the intent of this policy in the first
place, because one could find another parcel elsewhere in the City of Miami of the
same or greater area that does not necessarily enhance or improve the City's park
and open space network. The intent of the policy is to maintain or enhance the City's
parks and public spaces network, and we would do better to have criteria and
guidelines that support that intent. So what I would say to this Commission is I'm
certainly happy to work with any or all of you to try to provide those criteria, to try
to provide those guidelines, and to ensure that the process is robust. This policy in
particular simply requires that area be replaced with like area in contiguous fashion,
and that falls short of the intended intent for the Comprehensive Neighborhood Plan.
Happy to answer any questions.
Commissioner Reyes: Sir, we waited almost a year for you to come up with some
solution to this. And we have a law on the books that is no net loss, and it states that
it has to be of the same amount, the same -- has to have about the same value and the
same service, provide the same type of services that it is providing. What you are
proposing is -- I don't know why -- what you're proposing is that we might break it in
little pieces, and we don't have to replace the amount of land that has been
destroyed, the amount of parks that have been destroyed with similar amount of land
so that it is -- "No net loss" means that we are not going to lose the quality and the
quantity of land that it is there. It is on the books. And either we accept it or we
erase it, and stop being liars -- okay? -- and hypocrites that we are telling the public
out there that we are protecting our parks, you see. And this is the only thing that
this is going to do. This is going to protect our green space and our parks, because
if tomorrow, somebody -- let's say that tomorrow this Commission is not here.
Somebody comes here to Peacock Park, you see, and the Commission decides that
they are going to develop that land over there, and then they have to replace it, and
they decide to replace it in pieces by little pieces by little pieces. It is not the same.
It is not the same. Then if -- what you're proposing it is what you want -- I mean, it's
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what we should do, then might as well just erase the no net loss from our books and
that's it. And that's it.
Vice Chair Russell: Mr. Chairman.
Chair Hardemon: You're rec -- well, I want to recognize --
Vice Chair Russell: I apologize.
Chair Hardemon: Okay, Vice Chair and then Commissioner --
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you. I was just following upon my earlier question. The
Planning Department was a "no, " but the PZAB was an 8-1 approval. What was
their thought process for the most part?
Mr. Garcia: I believe the Planning, Zoning and Appeals Board was persuaded, as
we are persuaded, that there need to be more robust measures to defend our parks
and open space. I don't think anyone disagrees and I certainly don't disagree with
that. So in that regard, sir, we are in perfect alignment. The discrepancy happens to
be that our professional opinion is that the guidelines, the standards to accomplish
that intent should be set forth; and that, frankly, replacing a like -sized parcel with
another like -sized parcel falls short of that standard.
Vice Chair Russell: But when you say they were persuaded, if the Planning and
Zoning -- if the Planning Department was presenting, who was persuading them?
Who is in favor of this?
Commissioner Reyes: Not me. I wasn't there.
Mr. Garcia: The Planning Department did not necessarily make a presentation at
that point in time. We were there to answer questions. As Commissioner Reyes
appropriately points out, this was an ordinance originally drafted by the -- or
promoted by the District 4 office and they were presented with it. And they were
convinced this might be an improvement upon our present policy. But again, they
were not presented with an alternative. In that, Commissioner Reyes is correct.
Vice Chair Russell: But the staff was present? I mean, the staff --
Commissioner Reyes: No.
Vice Chair Russell: The Commissioner's staff made the presentation --
Commissioner Reyes: No.
Vice Chair Russell: -- to --
Commissioner Reyes: No, they didn't.
Vice Chair Russell: That was my understanding that I learned in briefing
Commissioner Reyes: No, no, no. Listen, they misinformed you. Whoever informed
you misinformed you. There was nobody present in this PZAB meeting from the
Commission staff. There was none.
Vice Chair Russell: Am I thinking of the affordable housing ordinance that's the
next one?
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Commissioner Reyes: The next one, and my Chief of Staff was coming by, and he
heard something, and he can tell you what happened. But in this one, nobody was
there, so you were misinformed, sir.
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you very much. So it seems there's just a confusion on
the two items. What I would like, though, is to understand what our ability is as
Commissioners with regard to lower boards. So if we could -- I'd like to get an
opinion from the Commission on Ethics, because the course that I had to take this
weekend says we're not allowed to talk to the lower boards. My question is, is staff -
- is our staff allowed to talk at the lower boards to sway their opinion one way or the
other?
Commissioner Reyes: Sir, the City Attorney was present when --
Ms. Mendez: Yeah. I --
Vice Chair Russell: My question is to the Commission on Ethics, honestly.
Commissioner Reyes: Okay but -- and this -- that question should be referred to the
City Attorney, not this gentleman over here.
Ms. Mendez: We --
Commissioner Reyes: This gentlemen over here doesn't have nothing --
Ms. Mendez: I --
Commissioner Reyes: -- to do with it. If you want to make a case of it, ask the City
Attorney.
Vice Chair Russell: No. For all of our benefit and for the future, if we are allowed
to do this through our staff --
Commissioner Reyes: Okay, just --
Vice Chair Russell: -- I'm glad.
Commissioner Reyes: -- ask the City Attorney.
Vice Chair Russell: If we're not, I don't want us to do it.
Ms. Mendez: Right. So you are, of course, entitled to ask the Commission on Ethics.
I will tell you what I told -- I do not mind when staff goes to lower boards to explain
a policy and what have you, that they worked on something, that they're interested in
passing a certain piece of legislation. I do -- even though Commissioners can go to
lower boards, I do not usually like for them to go, because depending on the, you
know, tone or how passionate a Commissioner can be, that could be misconstrued as
something else. So to the extent -- I -- both a Commissioner and staff can go. I
prefer that staff goes than a Commissioner. But you can obviously ask the
Commission on Ethics. I did advise our Chief of Staff for District 4 that he could
attend and explain the reasons why they were interested in any of these policy items.
Vice Chair Russell: It's more for future reference so that we don't fall on the wrong
side of a Commission on Ethics opinion and so I would like to hear -- because in my
class on Commission on Ethics, they were very explicit that we should not -- we
cannot go. It is a violation of the Code of Ethics for us to influence a lower board in
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anyway. So I want to make sure we don't --hut you're saying it's okay. So I would
like to get their official opinion.
Ms. Mendez: And that's definitely on behalf of a -- and we could also clarify that --
third party you're definitely not allowed to go before the lower boards. But we'll get
clarification on --
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you.
Ms. Mendez: -- that for you.
Commissioner Reyes: Okay. Is that clear or do you want me to answer -- you want
to ask any questions from Chief of Staff? I mean, you're welcome to it and it's great.
The thing is --
Chair Hardemon: As long as we can swear him in.
Commissioner Reyes: I would swear him in. I mean, there was no violation of any
ethics or anything. If you want to do -- (INAUDIBLE) do it. If you want to make a
complaint, do it. But this is not what we --
Vice Chair Russell: To clarify, I'm not filing any complaint.
Commissioner Reyes: Okay.
Vice Chair Russell: This is for all of our benefit so that we all know what we are
allowed to do and not allowed to do, and I want to make sure we follow the rules.
Commissioner Reyes: And I do understand. And I would like to call the roll on this
if -- I'm moving it and I don't know if I have a second. I'm moving this -- the
ordinance.
Commissioner Carollo: First reading, right?
Commissioner Reyes: Yes, first reading.
Commissioner Carollo: I'll move it for the sake of further discussion on first
reading.
Commissioner Reyes: And I will second it and let's vote on it because --
Chair Hardemon: Commissioner, you want to say something on this one? The
motion -- let's be clear. Is that for PZ.1 and PZ.2?
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: No. It's on PZ 1 --
Chair Hardemon: Only on I?
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: -- only. I think --
Chair Hardemon: Okay.
Commissioner Reyes: PZ.1.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: -- that's what we're discussing now, right? And
this is a singularly focused issue for Miami Freedom Park.
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Commissioner Reyes: It is --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: That's what you're doing, right?
Commissioner Reyes: No. It falls on that. That is partly true, but it is in order to
respect --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Is itpartly true or is it completely true?
Commissioner Reyes: No, no. It is true and this is to respect -- because I know that
there were certain shenanigans that was trying to do, adding little pieces and little
pieces to Miami Freedom -- I mean, to no net loss. And I said, "Well, let's get it
straight. " Okay, and this is what it is.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I think we're going to have -- Commissioners, I
think we're going to have a debate. Maybe Ms. Escarra can come up again. I want
to ask her a few questions. I think that the people of Miami voted -- I think 60 to 40
percent -- actually, 62 to 40 -- to 38 percent in District 1, the district I represent, in
favor ofMiami Freedom Park. I haven't made a decision on Miami Freedom Park.
I'm waiting for it to be a really, really good deal for the City of Miami. I know we're
waiting for you guys to come to us again with additional information. You know the
litany of issues that we're discussing and we need to discuss moving forward. You're
coming back in May, I believe it is, maybe April or May or --
Ms. Escarra: Hopefully, before, but yes.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Hopefully before, but I thought at our last
meeting -- at one of our meetings when we discussed it, we talked about April but
that's okay. You're coming down --you're coming in a few months so we can go over
all the important issues. It's a very important project. It's in my district, the district
I represent. And I --this is clearly a poison pill for that particular project. It's not
based on parkland. It's not based on green space or any of that. I would venture to
say there is no 20 acres of contiguous space -- I would say for sure there's not 20
acres of contiguous space there next to Miami -- where Miami Freedom Park would
be in Grapeland Park -- or I'm sorry, in Melreese Golf Course. So it requires a
unanimous vote which also makes it a poison pill, because we kind of know how to
count votes here.
Commissioner Reyes: I --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: And so --
Commissioner Reyes: --this is no poison pill, sir.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Excuse me?
Commissioner Reyes: And this is no poison pill. This allows that we can swap land
if they find it.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: No, this is --
Commissioner Reyes: It allows --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Well --
Commissioner Reyes: -- in order to keep on negotiate --
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Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Well, I haven'tfinished, Commissioner. It's not -
- it wasn't meant to offend you in any way.
Commissioner Reyes: Okay.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I see it as a poison pill for a bigger project. I
think your real intent here -- and I think people need to know what the real intent is.
It doesn't mean it's a had intent. I mean, it could be your opinion and your idea and
everyone knows what your opinion is. But --
Commissioner Reyes: No, no, no. That is a fact. I think --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Yeah.
Commissioner Reyes: -- and I -- and let me correct you on something that you said.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Well, I don't want to have a debate.
(INAUDIBLE) we'll have an opportunity to have a debate. But I will tell you that
this is my -- the district I represent now and I think the people elected me to
represent this district. I think we have a policy -- maybe not a written policy but it
was -- a certain amount of respect for the Commissioners from their districts and
what happens in their districts -- a deference, if you want to call it that. And so, I
want to wait to see what this project offers to my constituents, what jobs it creates,
what the people in my district want, what community benefits we can get from them,
how much money we can get for the City. And I want to see all sides of an argument
before I make a decision. I like to make decisions based on the merit of the
arguments not on emotion, but rather on the merits and I haven't seen that yet. Sol
think this is clearly a "no. " It's a poison pill -- not in a had way but it's a poison pill
for the entire project, so I'm going to vote against it, so you know, and that's my
comments.
Commissioner Reyes: Let me correct you in something that you said, that people
voted for the -- for Freedom Park. People voted, you see -- and you have to
understand this. By -- you see, the only thing that the Administration did was to
gather three votes to place on the ballot a question that will bypass, you see, any -- I
mean, competitive bidding. And the people voted to authorize the City
Administration or the City of Miami to enter into an agreement -- or into
negotiations without having competitive bidding, okay? That's all. They didn't vote
(INAUDIBLE).
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: No, I agree.
Commissioner Reyes: It was a mandate saying you have to build.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Well, you were here; I wasn't.
Commissioner Reyes: Huh?
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: You were here. I was not here when that
happened.
Commissioner Reyes: Okay but I --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I would -- I mean --
Commissioner Reyes: That's what I --
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Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I never -- probably never would have voted for a
single bidder. I've never voted in 16 years in Tallahassee for any process that --
Commissioner Reyes: Absolutely.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: --is a single bidder process.
Commissioner Reyes: And that's why --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: So I would have voted against that. I would have
tried to persuade my colleagues to vote against that kind of a process, but that's a
process we've had. That's already voted on. I had nothing to do with that. Now I'm
here and I'm the new Commissioner for the area and I consider this specifically
targeted towards destroying an idea that hasn't really had an opportunity to get the
input and the debate that it deserves. It's a big project, a big ticket item for the City,
the whole city, but in particular, for District 1. So for me, it's important that we get -
- have the whole debate and not try to kill it at its inception. So I'm going to vote
against it, Commissioner, with all due respect.
Commissioner Reyes: I don't think that this is going to kill it, because when they
stood up here, we asked about no net loss, and that was my question. They said,
"Don't worry about it. We will provide the same amount of land and we will find it."
I mean, that was part of the conversation here. And Mr. Mas, he told us and he told
the Commission that that was no problem, just as he promised a lot of things. And
that was one of the questions that were placed to him. So if he committed himself to
that -- I mean, to comply with the requirement, he shouldn't be afraid of this
ordinance here; him, nobody else. The only thing that I want is -- and it just
happened that this is the so-called Freedom Park, which is -- it wasn't called
Freedom Park. It was the stadium -- soccer stadium. If this is not -- I mean, if no
net loss is not applied and it is not enforced, then what most of us that are -- or most
of us, everybody that is always, always claiming that they are protectors of green
space, that they are protectors of parks, they're lying and that's what it is. They are
hypocrites. They are lying, because this is just to protect what many people are
saying. You laugh but you all --you were the green space Commissioner when I first
got here. Okay, now anybody can vote for it. That's it.
Chair Hardemon: You're recognized, Commissioner Carollo.
Commissioner Carollo: Can--?
Chair Hardemon: Iris Escarra.
Commissioner Carollo: What have the principals of the project done to find
additional park space anywhere in the City?
Ms. Escarra: We've actually been working a lot with the Administration to find a
variety of different locations. We have found some locations that are actually owned
by other jurisdictions to see if there's a way that we can add more parkland to the
City. We're doing a bunch of --we're looking for parkland everywhere. We're also
working on finding parks where there are no parks, because part of the criteria in
the Code has to be that there are areas of the City that have no parks, right? So
there has to be a usefulness. There has to be a location. So there's a variety of sites
that we will be coming before you to walk you through them and show you all the --
Commissioner Carollo: Well, the first thing you said concerns me. The
Administration. Because the Administration that we had before, as you could see, is
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no longer here. In fact, I don't know where they're at, but they're still collecting
checks. So maybe the City Attorney could explain to me -- I think now we're in our
fifth City Manager with Francisco -- three in one day alone -- and the other two guys
are gone.
Ms. Mendez: Francisco is just doing the PZs.
Commissioner Carollo: And what's happened to the Charter --
Ms. Mendez: Don't give him a hard time. He's just --
Commissioner Carollo: -- in naming --
Ms. Mendez: -- doing the PZs.
Commissioner Carollo: -- like the Mayor's supposed to. But --
Ms. Escarra: And if I could just clarify. I've actually met several times with your
Planning staff, because they're the ones that are -- interpret the comp plan, and
that's what we've been working on.
Commissioner Carollo: Well, but you haven't met with the individual
Commissioners.
Ms. Escarra: No, no. We're trying to put that package together to meet with each
Commissioner on the list of the sites.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah, but see, this is the problem. You're coming with
packages instead of speaking to us, the ones that know our district better than
anybody else.
Ms. Escarra: I'm happy to do that. I'm happy to meet with each one of you, go
through each one of your districts.
Commissioner Carollo: For instance, do you know which is the district with the
least amount of parks?
Ms. Escarra: Yours
Commissioner Carollo: You got it.
Ms. Escarra: And actually, Commissioner Hardemon's is second in line.
Chair Hardemon: Yes.
Commissioner Carollo: Well, he's got a lot.
Chair Hardemon: I've got a lot of parks.
Ms. Escarra: In the sense of parkland?
Chair Hardemon: Oh, you mean like the aggregate amount of parks.
Ms. Escarra: Yeah. His is first and yours is --
Chair Hardemon: Because I have a lot of -- I know I have a lot of parks.
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Commissioner Carollo: But --
Ms. Escarra: Yeah, in quantity.
Commissioner Carollo: -- I'm by far the smallest. In fact, Mr. Barreiro made sure
that three acres of our parklands would be taken away when he fixed the deal with
the Marlins, the worst deal we've ever made ever in the history of Miami -Dade or the
City of Miami that we'll be paying into the next generations tens of millions of
dollars -- hundreds of millions of dollars. There's three acres there that we lost; they
took away in parkland. That whole area of Little Havana does not have a park.
Ms. Escarra: Yeah.
Commissioner Carollo: So the Administration I'm sure told you to go somewhere
else. They didn't tell you to go into that area of Little Havana. And I could show
you other areas. So I would suggest --
Ms. Escarra: I'll meet with each one of you. Yes, I'm happy to.
Commissioner Carollo: --we meet so that you could see what areas we're in need of
in District 3, which you've acknowledged is the district with the least amount --
Ms. Escarra: It is.
Commissioner Carollo: -- of parkland. Now if I may ask you, what is the amount of
dollars that have been put aside for this, the acquisition?
Ms. Escarra: The amount of -- I don't understand your question.
Commissioner Carollo: Well, you're going to buy the new land for parks. How
much --?
Ms. Escarra: I don't know -- that has not been finalized with regards to acquisition
of land. Some of the land is current City land that's allocated for parks that we will
be improving as parks. Some of the land will be new land that's going to be added.
It's a combination of all different options.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah but is there an amount?
Ms. Escarra: I have not come up with that number yet, because we don't have
necessarily a targeted list yet. What we've been working on is mapping out the --the
City's been working on mapping out all the City parks and all the areas that need
parks that have no parks, so we could focus on the areas that have no parks.
Commissioner Reyes: You're not including the circles and all --
Ms. Escarra: No, no, sir. No, no.
Commissioner Reyes: No, like before, you see --
Ms. Escarra: No circles, no little rights -of -way.
Commissioner Reyes: -- you're not including circles and little piece of land and this
pocket park and all of that.
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Ms. Escarra: We understand we're under a lot of scrutiny. We've been very careful
in trying to find nice -- as big and chunky as possible, actually.
Commissioner Carollo: Well, I hope that you're not going to be visiting members of
the Commission the day before --
Ms. Escarra: Oh, no.
Commissioner Carollo: -- there's a vote on this.
Ms. Escarra: That's not my style.
Commissioner Carollo: Thank you.
Ms. Escarra: Thank you.
Commissioner Reyes: Okay.
Chair Hardemon: Any further discussion? Seeing none, all in favor of the motion,
say „aye. "
Commissioner Reyes: Aye.
Nicole Ewan (Assistant City Clerk): Chair, just for the record --
Commissioner Carollo: What motion?
Ms. Ewan: --public hearing is closed?
Commissioner Carollo: What motion?
Chair Hardemon: Well --
Commissioner Reyes: Motion to pass it.
Commissioner Carollo: Oh, motion to pass.
Chair Hardemon: Yes. And we had public hearing this morning so technically --
but the public hearing is closed.
Commissioner Carollo: I --
Chair Hardemon: All in favor of the motion, say "aye. "
Commissioner Reyes: Aye.
Chair Hardemon: All against?
Commissioner Carollo: I will vote "aye" only in first reading, reserving my right to
change my vote on second reading. First of all, I would like to meet with the new
Administration to go over this very carefully. I do believe that this has the possibility
of killing this whole deal. At the same time, I don't know if we're going to have a
deal at the end or not. It's going to depend, as I stated, at least my vote, if once we
get the appraisals of market rate value, if they're going to be willing to pay that or
not. And I'm -- been very clear on this all along where my vote is going to depend.
And I don't think they're going to come back anywhere near the amount that was
offered originally. But at the same time, if we're going to be talking about parkland,
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I have to see parkland created in areas that truly need it and District 3 is one, and
particularly areas of Little Havana that have very little parks. And while I would
love to see parkland in adjoining area and so on, that area is going to end up with
enough parks (INAUDIBLE) will have the largest park inside the City if we don't
include Virginia Key. So we have to spread some of it out. And that's my position,
but this will come backfor second reading.
Chair Hardemon: Mr. Clerk, roll call vote.
Ms. Ewan: Roll call vote on item --
Commissioner Carollo: Did we have it already?
Chair Hardemon: I couldn't understand the vote so roll call vote.
Ms. Ewan: Roll call vote on Item PZ 1. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla?
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: No.
Ms. Ewan: Commissioner Reyes?
Commissioner Reyes: Yes.
Ms. Ewan: Commissioner Carollo?
Commissioner Carollo: Yes, on first reading and for the reasons stated.
Ms. Ewan: Vice Chair Russell? Is that a "no"?
Vice Chair Russell: No.
Ms. Ewan: And Chair Hardemon?
Chair Hardemon: Against. Motion fails.
Ms. Ewan: Motion --
Commissioner Reyes: It fails.
Ms. Ewan: --fails, 2-3.
Chair Hardemon: Correct.
Commissioner Reyes: Okey dokey.
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PZ.2
ORDINANCE Second Reading
6798
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AMENDING
Commissioners
ORDINANCE NO. 13114, THE ZONING ORDINANCE OF THE CITY
and Mayor- PZ
OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED ("MIAMI 21 CODE"); MORE
SPECIFICALLY BY AMENDING ARTICLE 1, SECTION 1.2, TITLED
"DEFINITIONS OF TERMS"; ARTICLE 3, SECTION 3.14, TITLED
"PUBLIC BENEFITS PROGRAM"; AND ARTICLE 3, SECTION 3.14,
TITLED "WORKFORCE HOUSING SPECIAL BENEFIT PROGRAM
SUPPLEMENTAL REGULATIONS," TO MODIFY THE AREA MEDIAN
INCOME FOR WORKFORCE HOUSING IN THE MIAMI 21 CODE;
CONTAINING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING FOR AN
EFFECTIVE DATE.
MOTION TO:
Indefinitely Defer
RESULT:
INDEFINITELY DEFERRED
MOVER:
Joe Carollo, Commissioner
SECONDER:
Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
AYES:
Hardemon, Russell, Diaz de la Portilla, Carollo, Reyes
Note for the Record. For additional minutes referencing Item PZ.2, please see
"Public Comment Period for all Item(s)" and Item PZ.1.
Chair Hardemon: PZ.2 was read into the record. Is there any motion on PZ.2?
Commissioner Reyes: Move it.
Commissioner Carollo: Excuse me, what -- PZ.2?
Chair Hardemon: Yes.
Commissioner Reyes: The AMI (area median income).
Commissioner Carollo: Is there a motion?
Commissioner Reyes: Move it.
Chair Hardemon: It's been properly moved. Is there a second?
Commissioner Carollo: Second.
Chair Hardemon: Properly moved and seconded. Any discussion?
Vice Chair Russell: Only that I still stand firm. I really believe that workforce
housing is an important part of the entire spectrum that allows developers -- it
attracts more developers in who can self -subsidize using workforce and even
market rate so that they don't rely on us completely for the subsidy. I believe
Commissioner Reyes' legislation -- his heart's in the absolute right place on this to
make sure our subsidies serve the least fortunate. But I think we're taking a tool off
the table that helps others help us in this process. And for that reason, I'm against
it.
Commissioner Reyes: I --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I -- go ahead.
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Chair Hardemon: Commissioner Reyes.
Commissioner Reyes: Go ahead.
Chair Hardemon: Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I find myself agreeing with Commissioner
Russell way too many times today and against my good fi^iend, Commissioner
Reyes. I agree with you, Commissioner. As chair of the Omni CRA (Community
Redevelopment Agency) now, this argument against mixed income, we can't make a
lot of these projects work unless we have workforce housing and affordable housing
in the same buildings. I think it would allow more -- it would also attract low-
income residents to our City. I think it's a formula really for downward economic
development. I think it's -- it may have the potential of creating ghettos without
having that mixed use that is so essential, especially in the Omni CRA. And
hopefully, I know Commissioner Carollo thinks it's 'pie in the sky" thinking, but an
Allapattah CRA that can also benefit from workforce housing near the health
district. And I think that mixed use is essential to have the kind of combination that
we need for these developers to be able to come and build and get the financing that
they need. And I want housing built, and I don't want just one kind of housing, so
I'm going to vote against this, also. I think it treats the entire City as a whole
without looking at the differences in the City and different parts of the City. I
represent a very, very poor area of the City. I'm a big proponent of affordable
housing, but I'm also a big proponent of workforce housing for all the people that
need to live near the urban core, that need to live near the health district, and that
they need to have developments that are affordable to them and that are -- they can
live in so they don't have to travel far to get to their jobs. So I don't agree with a
"one -size -fits -all" formula that you've come up with here. I don't think it works for
a new Miami and certain parts of Miami. I think it may work in your district and
maybe in parts of mine, but it doesn't work for all Miami. It definitely doesn't work
for the Omni area and it doesn't workfor the East Allapattah area in particular. So
I'm going to vote against it, Commissioner.
Commissioner Reyes: Yes, sir. And you have the right to vote with whoever you
want. But obviously, you don't understand this, because this --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: (INAUDIBLE).
Commissioner Reyes: No, you don't. Let me --because this is --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: No, no. (INAUDIBLE).
Commissioner Reyes: -- this -- the only thing that it does -- that this does is that
those people that come and they want us to give them additional density and -- in
exchange for affordable housing, that they really provide affordable housing. And I
don't know if you understand that what they call now workforce, the only thing that
is limiting that, the denomination of workforce, it is based on the -- I mean, on 100
percent of the AMI and not in 140, which is geared to those earners of 77, 000. But
listen, I mean, you can do whatever you want and that's it.
Commissioner Carollo: Let me withdraw my motion and second it. And I'd like to
make a new motion to defer this item.
Commissioner Reyes: Well, I accept deferral.
Chair Hardemon: It's been properly moved and seconded to defer the item. Is
there any discussion on that motion?
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Vice Chair Russell: Which date?
Commissioner Carollo: I don't know until we have a new Manager that could have
the time to sit down with me and some of you guys, if you wish to discuss this with
you. I think both of you have made statements that are accurate. You need a
balanced housing, but also, what Commissioner Reyes is saying is true. We're
given this carrot by a lot of developers and it's usually not the small developer.
They're pretty upfront in what they do. It's the big developer. They come in with
the big projects. They get the big bonuses --
Commissioner Reyes: Yes.
Commissioner Carollo: -- the 40, 50,60 percent more that they could build and
they dangle that carrot. And then you find out that what you really thought was
workforce housing is not as much workforce housing as you thought it was. Then
who enforces it? So that's another problem that we have within the City of Miami
that we have to correct. If we're going to be accepting workforce housing in
exchange and giving people the right to build more units and more traffic and more
use of water and everything, then we have to make sure that they're going to abide
by their commitments. Right now, I truly feel that you have a lot of developers that
are laughing at us, that in the past years they've gotten huge benefits, and, you
know, no one's there to look at it, enforce it, you know. You come here, you
promise the world and you go out and you don't do anything. So I think if we get
true workforce housing at a level that would make it workforce housing in the City
of Miami, yes, it's a balance we need, but "How do we make sure that's going to
happen?" is the other question. So I -- you know, instead of just killing it now, I
really think that we owe it to ourselves but even more so to the residents to see what
we can come up with that might be a better solution for the residents. We certainly
have to look at -- this can't go on like this, that we're giving away huge bonuses to
developers without us getting any real hard dollars back from it. And I know it's
great come campaign times for all of us. These guys want to be your best buddies.
But this is not where it's at. We have to get a percentage, a reasonable percentage
of their potential profits so that we could create not only workforce housing and
affordable housing, but that we could spend in all the additional people that these
projects are bringing into our neighborhoods. We're going to need more fire
stations, you know, probably police substations. We're going to have to hire more
firefighters, more police officers, more sanitation workers. Our streets are going to
be taking a real hit that we're going to have to pave them more often. So these are
all the stuff that we have to consider, and we better start doing it quickly, because
in the next few years we could be approving thousands upon thousands of new
units. And if we don't have a plan in place, we're going to do a tremendous
disservice to the future of Miami.
Commissioner Reyes: And if I may add that when we ask for affordable housing,
we have to make sure that it's affordable. And the only way that we can offer
affordability is if we use the right measure; the right measure that whatever they
are going to charge in rent, it is payable, it is accessible to those people. But let's --
I mean, I accept the suggestion. I will withdraw it and I'll bring it back some other
time, or we just defer it.
Chair Hardemon: So the Chair will --
Commissioner Reyes: That's fine.
Chair Hardemon: -- take that as a motion to defer indefinitely.
Commissioner Carollo: I think that will be appropriate to indefinitely defer until --
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Commissioner Reyes: That's right.
Commissioner Carollo: -- we could be ready to bring it back.
Chair Hardemon: Okay. All in favor of the --you're recognized, Commissioner --
Vice Chair Russell: Just a point of decorum. Commissioner Reyes, I see that you
just tweeted -- and I don't know how you did it, because you're sitting right here --
disappointed in my colleagues, Ken Russell, Miami; Alex Diaz de la Portilla and
Keon Hardemon.
Commissioner Reyes: I'm not -- listen, I'm not quitting. I don't quit. I know when
you're ganging on me. I know when you guys are ganging on me.
Vice Chair Russell: You're disappointed in us.
Commissioner Reyes: You see, no, no, no, no. Listen --
Vice Chair Russell: Why are you tweeting this?
Commissioner Reyes: --I mean, this is --
Vice Chair Russell: How did you do that?
Commissioner Reyes: -- not a surrender. It's a tactical retreat, okay? I'm not
quitting. I'm just going to defer it and that's it. But I'm still -- and even the
professors from FIU (Florida International University) that really understand
what's going on, they gave me the -- I mean, they agreed with me and they agreed
with mein my observation and what l proposed as affordable housing. They agreed
with me. PZAB agreed with me, 9-0, you see. And this is something that we either
have to face it and do it or not. But listen, let's vote on it and keep on moving,
because I mean I don't want to be here until 10 o'clock, okay?
Commissioner Carollo: Call the question.
Commissioner Reyes: Call the question.
Chair Hardemon: All in favor of the motion for indefinite deferral, say "aye. ".
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: All against? Motion carries.
City of Miami Page 225 Printed on 0512112020
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PZ.3 RESOLUTION
6931 A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION
Office of Zoning GRANTING/DENYING THE APPEAL FILED BY BECKER BOARDS
MIAMI, LLC AND REVERSING/AFFIRMING THE DECISION OF THE
CITY MANAGER'S DESIGNEE PURSUANT TO SECTION 62-609(B)
OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED,
FOR THE LOCATION CHANGE OF MURAL PERMIT NO. 19-0012 TO
THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 78 NORTHWEST 37TH STREET,
MIAMI, FLORIDA BY NTWW, LLC.
MOTION TO:
Continue
RESULT:
CONTINUED
MOVER:
Ken Russell, Commissioner
SECONDER:
Keon Hardemon, Commissioner
AYES:
Hardemon, Russell, Diaz de la Portilla, Carollo, Reyes
Note for the Record. Item PZ.3 was continued to the March 12, 2020, City
Commission Meeting.
Note for the Record. For minutes referencing Item PZ.3, please see "Order of the
Day. "
PZ.4 RESOLUTION
6983 A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION
Office of Zoning GRANTING/DENYING THE APPEAL FILED BY SET MIDTOWN, LLC
AND REVERSING/AFFIRMING THE DECISION OF THE CITY
MANAGER'S DESIGNEE PURSUANT TO SECTION 62-603 OF THE
CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED, OF THE
APPROVAL OF BECKER BOARDS MIAMI, LLC AS A QUALIFIED
APPLICANT.
........ ......... .........
MOTION TO:
......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ...................
Continue
RESULT:
CONTINUED
MOVER:
Ken Russell, Commissioner
SECONDER:
Keon Hardemon, Commissioner
AYES:
Hardemon, Russell, Diaz de la Portilla, Carollo, Reyes
Note for the Record. Item PZ.4 was continued to the March 12, 2020, City
Commission Meeting.
Note for the Record. For minutes referencing Item PZ.4, please see "Order of the
Day. "
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PZ.5 RESOLUTION
7022 A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION
Office of Zoning GRANTING/DENYING THE APPEAL FILED BY SET MIDTOWN, LLC
AND REVERSING/AFFIRMING THE DECISION OF THE CITY
MANAGER'S DESIGNEE PURSUANT TO SECTION 62-609(B) OF
THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED, FOR
THE LOCATION CHANGE OF MURAL PERMIT NO. 18-0041 TO THE
PROPERTY LOCATED AT 70 NORTHWEST 37 STREET, MIAMI,
FLORIDA BY BECKER BOARDS MIAMI, LLC.
MOTION TO:
Continue
RESULT:
CONTINUED
MOVER:
Ken Russell, Commissioner
SECONDER:
Keon Hardemon, Commissioner
AYES:
Hardemon, Russell, Diaz de la Portilla, Carollo, Reyes
Note for the Record. Item PZ.5 was continued to the March 12, 2020, City
Commission Meeting.
Note for the Record. For minutes referencing Item PZ.5, please see "Order of the
Day. "
END OF PLANNING AND ZONING ITEMS)
a W 111111rIJc7N1IxMIl;9wevill1[•7ki
FL.1
ORDINANCE
5131
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AMENDING
Department of
CHAPTER 62 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA,
"PLANNING
Planning
AS AMENDED, TITLED AND ZONING",
SPECIFICALLY BY AMENDING ARTICLE III, SECTION 62-17,
TITLED "PLANNING, ZONING AND APPEALS
BOARD/PROCEEDINGS OF PLANNING, ZONING AND APPEALS
BOARD"; AMENDING ARTICLE VI, SECTION 62-22, TITLED
"ZONING AND PLANNING FEES/SCHEDULE OF FEES"; AND
REMOVING ARTICLE VI, SECTION 62-24, TITLED "ZONING AND
PLANNING FEES/FEE PAYMENT DEFERRED" TO REMOVE
REFERENCES TO SPECIAL AREA PLANS; CONTAINING A
SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE
DATE.
........ ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ..................
RESULT: NO ACTION TAKEN
END OF FUTURE LEGISLATION
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NA - NON -AGENDA ITEM(S)
NA.1 RESOLUTION
7208 A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION
City Commission RESCHEDULING THE CITY COMMISSION MEETING
SCHEDULED FOR THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2020 TO
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2020 AT 9:00 A.M.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-20-0032
........ ......... .........
MOTION TO:
......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ..................
Adopt
RESULT:
ADOPTED
MOVER:
Alex Diaz de la Portilla, Commissioner
SECONDER:
Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
AYES:
Hardemon, Russell, Diaz de la Portilla, Carollo, Reyes
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Are we going to? -- Mr. Chairman, before you -
Commissioner Reyes: Auburndale, I need one.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: -- do the next, can we discuss -- did we ever
resolve the meeting issue and all that, when we're going to be meeting?
Commissioner Carollo: We should do it now, because we're going to keep
forgetting.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Before -- if that's okay with you.
Victoria Mendez (City Attorney): We need to discuss it, because there may be some
advertising issues, and we may have to take items off that cannot be heard on that
date, and we'll give you a list once --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Okay, can? -- Well, I don't know if the Mayor -
Mayor Suarez: Yes.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: -- if you're amenable to this, if we do March --
like the March right after that, February 27?
Commissioner Carollo: No, no. We need to do this in February.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Okay, February 25. (INAUDIBLE)
Commissioner Carollo: You don't get back until when?
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Some items cannot be on the agenda because --
Commissioner Carollo: When do you guys get back?
Mayor Suarez: I think it's the 29th, I think.
Commissioner Carollo: 29th.
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Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: It could be that Monday instead of --
Commissioner Carollo: Monday, what? The --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Immediately after the 27th.
Mayor Suarez: Yeah, but that would be the 2nd.
Commissioner Carollo: The 2nd?
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: 2nd. If you're okay with that, I mean. I'll do --
Commissioner Carollo: Can you do it on the 2nd?
Mayor Suarez: I could do it the 2nd. I just -- I can do it the 2nd. I have something
at 2:30 that I have to be at, butt can do it the 2nd.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Okay.
Mayor Suarez: I'll step out for that.
Vice Chair Russell: I'm sorry, this is --
Commissioner Carollo: How about the rest of you? Can you all do it on the 2nd or
-- 9
Vice Chair Russell: Of March?
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Yes.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah.
Mayor Suarez: I just want to be clear that if we don't do the 24th, I'll probably
have to call a special meeting to rates the Manager.
Commissioner Carollo: Well, okay.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: That's okay.
Commissioner Carollo: Then -- no, no, no, no, no.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Well --
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah, but the special meeting, when is it going to be
called? So I think we probably need to do it then on the 24th.
Mayor Suarez: It's fine with me. I don't have a problem with the 24th.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah, but it would make more sense.
Mayor Suarez: The 24th would comply with the time requirements for the
Manager.
Commissioner Carollo: And then --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: So that's the reason. Okay, that's work. What
items -- may I ask the City Attorney or the Manager? --
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Deputy City Attorney Min: Just to let you know, on some of these, we're continuing
to a date certain of February 27. So if we're going to change it to an earlier date,
there's notice issues, which means we would not be able to meet those notice
requirements, so it would be Art in Public Places, it would be a school appeal of
1267 Southwest 22nd Street. It is the land use and zoning changes for 3040 Carter
Street. It is a Code amendment to Chapter 2 of the City Code concerning when
meetings are adjourned.
Commissioner Carollo: Those could all be put into the March 12 meeting
Deputy City Attorney Min: Commissioner Reyes is sponsoring marinas in a CS
(civic space), requiring an exception. That would have to roll over to March. The
public storage facilities moratorium in District 1 would have to roll over.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah. That's going to have to wait, too, yeah.
Deputy City Attorney Min: And then the food truck legislation would have to roll
over.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay. That's nothing there that can't wait until the 12th.
Do you agree, Mr. Mayor?
Mayor Suarez: Yeah, I'm fine with that. I'm fine with that.
Commissioner Carollo: All right.
Mayor Suarez: I'm fine with that.
Commissioner Carollo: So the 24th okay then for everybody?
Mayor Suarez: I'm fine with that.
Commissioner Carollo: All right and we have until tomorrow. We're going to give
it a four -day --
Mayor Suarez: Right.
Commissioner Carollo: -- we have until tomorrow at S and to --
Mayor Suarez: Like I think we'll publish it tomorrow -- I mean, I'm sorry; instead
of today, tomorrow. We'll do -- but he's saying to have it one more day. In other
words, Monday --publish on Monday.
Unidentified Speaker: Monday's a holiday.
Mayor Suarez: So it would have to be Tuesday. So it would just be compressed. In
other words, it would be three days. I mean, look, if any Commissioner feels
uncomfortable, they can five-day rule it. They can five-day rule an item.
Commissioner Carollo: Well, but a five-day rule now would require a majority to -
Mayor Suarez: No. Any one Commissioner can invoke a five-day.
Commissioner Carollo: No, that was --
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Victoria Mendez (City Attorney): Both right. One Commissioner can invoke,
majority to -- that's what he's saying, the majority to override it.
Mayor Suarez: Oh, there's a majority for it now?
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah, we made a change to that.
Mayor Suarez: Is that new? Okay.
Ms. Mendez: It used to be unanimous.
Mayor Suarez: Right.
Ms. Mendez: We changed it to majority.
Mayor Suarez: Got it.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah.
Mayor Suarez: So majority could overrule the one Commissioner.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah.
Mayor Suarez: Understood.
Commissioner Carollo: That's true. Okay and you can't veto that.
Mayor Suarez: No? I don't know. We got to take a look at that. We're going to
take a look at that.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah, but which is the cleanest way that we could do it,
Madam Ci ty A ttorney, so we don 'tget into any of that?
Ms. Mendez: Well, if you --
Commissioner Carollo: If we make a resolution here that we're waiving only for
this meeting the five-day rule and make it -- you said three days, or is it four days?
Mayor Suarez: But I think -- Commissioner, in practical matters, the agenda is
going to be published with three days. That wouldn't technically comply, so any
Commissioner could theoretically on any item invoke the five-day rule. The
Commission could, as you have just restated the rule, then override that
Commissioner if the Commission feels that they want to hear the item. You
understand what I'm saying? So there's no real need to, I don't think, suspend the
five-day rule, per se. If you want to do that too, you can do that. I mean, that's on -
Commissioner Carollo: I prefer to do it cleaner if we do that. This way there's no
misunderstanding on anything.
Ms. Mendez: All right. So if you would want to suspend the five-day rule, the thing
is that it's -- normally, you have to invoke it to then suspend it. So you're asking to
peremptorily do it and I don't know --
Chair Hardemon: I don't think you have the right to do that.
Ms. Mendez: I don't know that that can be done, because it just -- it says
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Chair Hardemon: It's supposed to be at the time of, right?
Ms. Mendez: Once the rule is invoked, no action can be taken on the resolution or
ordinance unless the rule is suspended by the majority vote of the Commissioners
present. The point is if nobody invokes it, there's no problem.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay, so what --
Ms. Mendez: The agenda -- the whole agenda could be heard.
Commissioner Carollo: What we will need to do then is to make a resolution for a
three-day rule and if nobody invokes it, it passes. And the Mayor, I guess, will state
that he won't veto it, and we're home free. You okay with that?
Ms. Mendez: The thing is that --
Mayor Suarez: It's an ordinance.
Ms. Mendez: -- the rule --
Mayor Suarez: It's an ordinance.
Ms. Mendez: -- is deemed suspended unless invoked by a Commissioner --
Mayor Suarez: Right.
Ms. Mendez: -- before the Commission takes action on the resolution or ordinance
in question. So you could hear the whole agenda as long as nobody invokes the
rule wiping out the whole agenda --
Mayor Suarez: But even if someone invokes the rule --
Commissioner Carollo: The whole agenda. On the whole agenda, we're talking
about.
Mayor Suarez: Right. But even if anyone invokes the rule with regard to the whole
agenda or any one item, the Commission still has a right to overrule, right? The
Commission still has a right --
Chair Hardemon: Now it's the majority; before it used to be --
Mayor Suarez: No, it was only one Commissioner could --
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah.
Chair Hardemon: Right, I know, but only --
Commissioner Carollo: Now it's the majority. It's just the majority.
Ms. Mendez: Unless someone invokes the rule, we don't have a problem.
Mayor Suarez: Right.
Ms. Mendez: If somebody invokes the rule --
Mayor Suarez: You still don't have a problem.
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Ms. Mendez: -- then you need to vote majority to listen to it, so you're fine.
Commissioner Reyes: Then you need the commitment of everybody here that they
don't change their mind and they don't invoke the rule.
Ms. Mendez: Mr. Min says that if you would like, you can invoke the rule now and
then vote --
Commissioner Reyes: That is --
Ms. Mendez: -- peremptorily but that -- I just don't -- I don't think it's necessary.
Commissioner Reyes: That is figuratively now, right?
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah, let's just do it, okay, so let --
Chair Hardemon: There's no agenda. Why do you want to complicate things --
Unidentified Speaker: Yeah.
Chair Hardemon: --Mr. Min?
Ms. Mendez: I think that we are better off just knowing that we have the three days.
If there are some items like the Mayor had advised that someone feels
uncomfortable with, you invoke the rule and usually the -- everybody, you know,
can address it at that time.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay.
Ms. Mendez: But as it's set, you will have until when to turn in an item maybe?
(INAUDIBLE COMMENTS MADE OFF THE RECORD)
Ms. Mendez: A distribution --
Mayor Suarez: Five business days.
Ms. Mendez: Well, Tuesday.
(INAUDIBLE COMMENTS MADE OFF THE RECORD)
Mayor Suarez: Yeah, so any additional items that want to be on an agenda would
have to be submitted by tomorrow. Fair enough?
Commissioner Reyes: Fair enough.
Mayor Suarez: Noon tomorrow.
Commissioner Reyes: Okay.
Mayor Suarez: Noon tomorrow for a deadline then for submission.
Chair Hardemon: So is there a motion to set --
Commissioner Carollo: You know, look --
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Mayor Suarez: Remember, we don't have Monday. We don't have Monday.
Monday's a holiday.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah, but I -- that's right. We forgot about that. Monday's
a holiday. But I'm going to be on the radio in the morning, so I need a little time.
Commissioner Reyes: Waive the five-day rule. Let's waive the five-day rule.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: S p. m. instead of 12.
Chair Hardemon: Look, I -- you know, some of us plan our schedules around --
like I plan my schedule around --
Mayor Suarez: At S -- okay, so S p.m.? Okay, so S p.m.
Chair Hardemon: No, no.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: S p. m. is fine.
Mayor Suarez: No?
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: No, I mean the deadline for tomorrow.
Chair Hardemon: Oh, the deadline.
Mayor Suarez: The deadline.
Chair Hardemon: Oh, okay. I thought you said the meeting time.
Mayor Suarez: No, no, no, no, no. The deadline. The deadline is S p.m. then.
Deadline of S p.m. tomorrow, so you have all day tomorrow. You can get off the
radio --
Ms. Mendez: Just one --
Mayor Suarez: -- after beating up on me, and then you can go and submit --
Ms. Mendez: -- I am not --
Mayor Suarez: I'm just messing with you. I'm messing with you.
Ms. Mendez: -- I would like to --
Commissioner Carollo: You're trying to bond with me, you know.
Mayor Suarez: You want to go on the radio together?
Commissioner Carollo: I never thought I d get an invite. I almost started thinking -
Mayor Suarez: We can go --
Commissioner Carollo: -- you didn't like me.
Mayor Suarez: -- on the radio holding hands.
Commissioner Carollo: Otherwise, I'd get invited.
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Ms. Mendez: I would just like to bring up that it is the Friday before a long
weekend and some people had plans. If it could be a little earlier, like 2 p. m. --
Mayor Suarez: Can we do 2 p. m. ?
Ms. Mendez: I'm going to be here all weekend, so it won't matter.
Mayor Suarez: Can we do 2 p. m. ?
Ms. Mendez: But I'm just saying for other colleagues who won't be here.
Mayor Suarez: How about 2 p. m. ? Is 2 p. m. okay, 2 p. m. so that? --
Commissioner Carollo: Mayor --
Ms. Mendez: Just to have a little cushion to be able -- because after you provide us
with legislation, then the real work begins, so --
Commissioner Carollo: Okay, let's make it at least 3, you know.
Mayor Suarez: Fine.
Commissioner Carollo: One hour more.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: 2: 30.
Mayor Suarez: Can we do 2:12 and 30 seconds? No, I'm just kidding. 2: 30, 2: 30.
Everybody agrees on 2: 30? Okay, 2:30. 2: 45?
Commissioner Carollo: Well, as long as you don't give me that hour and 23
minutes that Emilio got, you know, that's pretty quick.
Mayor Suarez: Come on, man. Let it go. Have you ever seen the movie Frozen?
Let it go, let it go. Just let it go, man.
Commissioner Carollo: So those are the movies you like, huh?
Chair Hardemon: It's a very popular song.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay.
Chair Hardemon: Very popular song.
Commissioner Carollo: Now you know what you're going to watch on the plane.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I like Frozen.
Chair Hardemon: So is there a motion?
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I move it.
Commissioner Reyes: Second.
Chair Hardemon: It's been properly moved and seconded that we -- well, it was
captured on the record.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: 2: 30.
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Commissioner Carollo: What is?
Chair Hardemon: Everything was captured on the record, I'm sure. Seeing no
further discussion, all in favor say "aye. "
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): Chair, fi^iendly reminder, public hearing.
Chair Hardemon: On the scheduling of a meeting?
Mr. Hannon: Madam City Attorney, is a public hearing required for this resolution
or no?
Ms. Mendez: To set the new meeting, technically, yes.
Chair Hardemon: Before we take a vote, I'll open the floor for public comment. Is
there anyone from the public that would like to speak on this resolution?
Commissioner Reyes: No.
Chair Hardemon: It's been identified by the non -lawyer in the group that there's no
one here for public discussion, so I'll close for public comment. All in favor of it,
say „aye. "
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: All against?
Mayor Suarez: Mr. Chair, if I may ask for a favor from the Commission.
Chair Hardemon: You may do so.
Mayor Suarez: Today is my wife's 40th birthday so, yeah, if any items related to me
Vice Chair Russell: I don't know if you were supposed to say the age. You were
supposed to say it's her birthday but I don't know if you were supposed to --
Ms. Mendez: But he's got a great present.
Mayor Suarez: I want to (INAUDIBLE).
Ms. Mendez: He's got a great present he's about to give her.
Mayor Suarez: I want to emphasize the significance of it because it's not just a
regular birthday, right? So any items related to me, if you can -- if we can have
them done by the next 45 minutes, I would appreciate it. So, Commissioner, if you
want --
Commissioner Carollo: Let me --
Mayor Suarez: -- let the punching begin. You can punch --
Commissioner Carollo: Let me --
Ms. Mendez: She's entitled to a big gift. I hope it's a big gift.
Mayor Suarez: I just want to be there, you know. I want to be there.
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NA.2 RESOLUTION
7209 A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AFFIRMING
City Commission THAT ANY MUSICAL GROUPS THAT SUPPORT DICTATORIAL
REGIMES AND THEREBY REAP THE REWARDS OF THEIR
COMPLICITY WITH SUCH REGIMES ARE NOT WELCOME IN THE
CITY AND ANY SUCH GROUPS THAT HAVE RECEIVED
CEREMONIAL KEYS TO THE CITY OR SIMILAR
PROCLAMATIONS SHOULD IMMEDIATELY RETURN SAID KEYS
AND PROCLAMATIONS UNTIL SUCH GROUPS ARE WILLING TO
STAND WITH THE FREEDOM LOVING PEOPLE OF THE CITY
AND DENOUNCE THE CUBAN REGIME, AND OTHER SIMILAR
DICTATORIAL REGIMES, AND DEMAND RESPECT FOR THE
BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS OF ALL OF THE VICTIM'S OF SUCH
REGIMES.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-20-0033
MOTION TO:
Adopt
RESULT:
ADOPTED
MOVER:
Joe Carollo, Commissioner
SECONDER:
Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
AYES:
Diaz de la Portilla, Carollo, Reyes
ABSENT:
Hardemon, Russell
Commissioner Carollo: All right. If I could bring the motions that I had and one
pocket. I'm going to bring the motion that I had -- I don't know what number you
guys gave it since you put it twice and you took one out. It's the resolution about
the key.
Victoria Mendez (City Attorney): The keys or the key?
Commissioner Carollo: No, "the" key. "The" key. It's a resolution of the Miami
City Commission arming that any musical groups that support dictatorial regimes
and thereby reap the rewards of the complicity with such regimes are not welcome
in the City, and any such groups that have received ceremonial keys to the City or
similar proclamations should immediately return said keys and proclamations until
such groups are willing to stand with the freedom -loving people of the City and
denounce the Cuban regime and other similar dictatorial regimes, and demand
respect for the basic human rights of all the victims of such regimes. Whereas, in
2016, Mayor Tomas Regalado and members of the Miami City Commission
presented a Cuban musical group, Genie de Zona, with a ceremonial key to the City
of Miami, Florida; and whereas, subsequent to this goodwill gesture from the City
of Miami, the group, Genie de Zona, was observed sharing the stage in Havana,
Cuba with Raul Guillermo Rodriguez Castro, grandson of Raul Castro, the
strongman of the Cuban Regime; and whereas, Genie de Zona, while performing in
Cuba, called the Cuban Dictator Miguel Diaz-Canel their President and asked for
applause for him; and whereas, Genie de Zona have taken their picture with the
Cuban flag with the picture of Che Guevara on it; and whereas, all of the stated
above were highly perceived as insensitive to the plight of the Cuban diaspora in
Miami; and whereas, thereafter, there was a groundswell of citizens' anger in
Miami over the group's insensitivity, which caused a cry from the community to
rescind the good will gesture and demand a return of the leys to the City; and
whereas, the group's attitude towards the Miami community has been considered as
an offense to the many Cuban exiles in Miami who had been victims of the Cuban
dictatorial regime and whose wounds have not yet healed; and whereas, the former
Mayor publicly demanded for the keys to the City to be returned, however no record
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of its return has been found; and whereas, the Miami City Commission recently
resolved the support for freedom of expression and found that it should be available
to all and not just a favored few; and whereas, the Miami City Commission wishes
to rearm that musical groups that support dictatorial regimes and thereby reap
the rewards of their complicity with such regimes are not welcome in the City, and
any such groups that have received ceremonial keys to the City should immediately
return said keys until such groups are willing to denounce the Cuban regime and
demand the respect for basic human rights for all Cubans, and similar victims of
other dictatorial regimes; and whereas, pursuant to Section 2-33(fi of the Code of
the City of Miami, Florida, as amended, the City Commission unanimously deems
this Resolution to be of an emergency nature in order to immediately protect the
public health, welfare, and safety of the City's residents, now therefore, be it
resolved that the Commission of the City of Miami, Florida, Section 1, the recitals
and findings contained in the Preamble of this Resolution are adopted by reference
and incorporated as fully set forth in this Section. Section 2, the Miami City
Commission hereby resolves that any musical groups that support dictatorial
regimes and thereby reap the rewards of their complicity with such regimes are not
welcome in the City and any such groups that have received ceremonial keys to the
City or similar proclamations should immediately return said keys and
proclamations until such groups are willing to stand with the freedom -loving people
of the City and denounce the Cuban regime, and other similar dictatorial regimes,
and demand respect for the basic human rights for all of the victims of such
regimes. Section 3, this Resolution shall be effective immediately upon its adoption.
I so make a resolution -- a motion for the approval of this resolution.
Commissioner Reyes: I will second this resolution but I want to also add that any
other performer or actor or actresses not -- of any nationality or race that goes to
Cuba and act like -- I will say, act like they sympathize with the regime, because a
key was awarded also to Will Smith, who is a regular in Cuba and he even goes and
he participates in marathons and he goes to run -- to race marathon, to learn how
to dance salsa, and take pictures with -- under the Che Guevarafigure.
Commissioner Carollo: I accept that, Commissioner, even though I thought it was
kind of clear here but to make it clearer, I accept that. It's no problem. Okay.
Commissioner Reyes: Who is? --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: All those in favor? I'll chair, if you want.
Commissioner Reyes: Who has the gavel?
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I will; don't worry.
Commissioner Reyes: Joe, chair the -- like when you were --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: All right.
Commissioner Reyes: They don't want you, man.
Victoria Mendez (City Attorney): Commissioner.
Commissioner Reyes: Why didn't you give it to Joe?
Commissioner Carollo: Hey, he's had practice too, as the -- well, what was it that
you were, up there? Pro --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Pro temp.
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Commissioner Carollo: Okay.
Commissioner Reyes: Pro temp.
Commissioner Carollo: Pro something, I knew.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Yeah, pro --
Commissioner Reyes: Okay, Senator. I'll say, "Mr. President."
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: All those in favor say "aye. "
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): I'm sorry, Commissioner. Public hearing.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Is there anyone from the public who wants to
address the Commission? Seeing no one, all those in favor say "aye. "
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: What's the next item you want to hear,
Commissioner?
Commissioner Carollo: Let me bring --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I would request, Mr. Secretary -- Mr. Clerk, if
you can get the other Commissioners here. We just read, I think, a very important
resolution for -- especially for the Cuban American members of this Commission. I
think it would be respectful if they would be here during those kind of resolutions to
the rest of the body and to the majority of the people of the City of Miami.
Ms. Mendez: And it was as amended.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: As amended.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah, as amended.
Mr. Hannon: It's a pocket item.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Pocket item.
Commissioner Carollo: It wasn't a pocket item. It was in the --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: It was handed out as a pocket item, right?
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah. This was duly put in place on the agenda.
Mr. Hannon: There's a discussion item on the agenda pertaining to --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: There's a discussion item but the --
Mr. Hannon: -- keys to the City.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: -- resolution --
Mr. Hannon: But the resolution isn't on the agenda.
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Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: -- is a pocket item.
Mr. Hannon: So when the resolution is introduced, we consider that a pocket item
because —
Commissioner Carollo: It shouldn't have been placed as a discussion but that's
fine. You're technically correct in what you're saying, Mr. Clerk.
Mr. Hannon: Yes, sir. And Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla, you would like all
five Commissioners on the dais to vote on this?
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: No, we already voted.
Commissioner Carollo: We already voted.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: That's just a statement --
Mr. Hannon: Recognize --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Yeah.
Mr. Hannon: -- the significance of this resolution.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Yeah.
Mr. Hannon: Yes, sir; one moment.
NA.3 RESOLUTION
7210 A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION DIRECTING
City Commission THE CITY MANAGER TO TAKE ANY AND ALL STEPS
NECESSARY TO DEVELOP A MEMORANDUM OF
UNDERSTANDING ("MOU") WITH THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT
OF LAW ENFORCEMENT ("FDLE") AND/OR THE FEDERAL
BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION ("FBI"), AS APPROPRIATE, TO
DIRECT ALL CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS OF CITY OF MIAMI
ELECTED OFFICIALS AND THEIR PRESENT AND FORMER
PERSONNEL TO FDLE AND/OR THE FBI FOR APPROPRIATE
INVESTIGATION IN ORDER TO AVOID ANY PERCEIVED
CONFLICTS IN ANY SUCH PROCESS; FURTHER DIRECTING
THAT THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING SHALL BE
BROUGHT BEFORE THE CITY COMMISSION FOR APPROVAL
WITHIN THIRTY (30) DAYS; AND FURTHER DIRECTING THE
CITY MANAGER, IN THE INTERIM PERIOD, UNTIL THE MOU IS
APPROVED BY THE CITY COMMISSION, TO FORWARD ANY
PENDING CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS OF CITY OF MIAMI
ELECTED OFFICIALS AND THEIR PRESENT AND FORMER
PERSONNEL TO FDLE AND/OR THE FBI.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-20-0034
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MOTION TO:
Adopt
RESULT:
ADOPTED
MOVER:
Joe Carollo, Commissioner
SECONDER:
Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
AYES:
Russell, Diaz de la Portilla, Carollo, Reyes
NAYS:
Hardemon
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Commissioner, you wanted to address some of the
matters --
Commissioner Carollo: Yes, I do.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: The Mayor had requested that you wanted to
address a discussion, key to the City.
Commissioner Carollo: I have two more. Well, before I bring the key to the City, let
me bring one that's quicker. This is a pocket item and I will read it. I think it was
passed out. It's a resolution of the Miami City Commission directing the City
Manager to take any and all steps necessary to develop a Memorandum of
Understanding with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and/or the Federal
Bureau of Investigation, as appropriate, to direct all criminal investigations of City of
Miami elected officials and their present and former personnel to FDLE (Florida
Department of Law Enforcement) and/or the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation)
for appropriate investigation in order to avoid any perceived conflicts in any such
process; further directing that the Memorandum of Understanding shall be brought
before the City Commission for approval within 30 days; and further directing the
City Manager, in the interim period, until this is approved, the MOU is approved by
the City Commission, to move forward any pending criminal investigations of City of
Miami elected officials and their present and former personnel to FDLE and/or the
FBI Whereas, the need for criminal investigations into elected officials of the City of
Miami or their present and former personnel, occasionally arises; and whereas, the
handling of such investigations by the City of Miami Police Department may create
the perception of conflict or impropriety; and whereas, the Miami City Commission
desires that any such investigations proceed in a transparent manner, free from
potential or perceived conflicts; and whereas, in accordance with Section 2-33(f) of
the City Code of the City of Miami, by a majority vote, hereby deems this Resolution
to be of an emergency nature; now, therefore, be it resolved by the Commission of the
City of Miami, Florida: Section 1, the recitals and findings contained in the
Preamble of this Resolution are adopted by reference and incorporated as fully set
forth in this Section. Section 2, the City Commission hereby directs the City Manager
to take any and all necessary steps to develop a Memorandum of Understanding with
the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and/or the Federal Bureau of
Investigation direct all criminal investigations of City of Miami elected officials and
their present and former personnel to FDLE and/or the FBI, as appropriate, for
investigation, in order to avoid any perceived conflicts in any such process. Section
3, the Memorandum of Understanding shall be brought before the City Commission
within thirty days of its approval. Section 4, in the interim, until the Memorandum of
Understanding is approved by the City Commission, the City Commission hereby
directs the City Manager to forward any pending criminal investigations of City of
Miami elected officials and their present and former personnel to the Florida
Department of Law Enforcement and/or the FBI Section S, this Resolution shall
become effective immediately upon its adoption. Yes.
Commissioner Reyes: Could you please explain Section 4?
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Commissioner Carollo: Yes.
Commissioner Reyes: I mean, make it clear.
Commissioner Carollo: (INAUDIBLE) including any investigation of any elected
official, any one of our employees or former employees, it should be sent either to the
Florida Department of Law Enforcement or the FBI, depending which is the
appropriate agency.
Commissioner Reyes: Or cooperate with them, work with them, too.
Commissioner Carollo: Well, if they want cooperation, they'll be the ones directing
it, but they have to send the investigation to one of those two agencies for those
agencies to be the ones that handle it. Obviously, in the present case we have, there --
there's work that's been done already that they're going to have to bring those
agencies up to date on it. But once that's done, anything in addition that comes up,
those agencies will be the ones handling it.
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you. Chief, you'd like to be recognized?
Chief Jorge Colina: Yes, just a couple of points, where you may want to consider
amending. It's a lot of employees when you say, 'past employees"; and so, you may
want to consider a timeframe.
Unidentified Speaker: Yeah.
Chief Colina: Past employees of the last year something like that.
Commissioner Carollo: That's a good way of looking at it, Chief. I think within a
two-year span I think should be sufficient, but that's a good point. I appreciate that.
Vice Chair Russell: Commissioner, you're recognized.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: This applies only to investigations that are being
handled by the Miami Police Department right now?
Commissioner Carollo: This applies to investigations of the Miami Police
Department now or in the future.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: But only to investigations by the Miami Police
Department?
Commissioner Carollo: That's correct. That's only what we could deal with; that any
investigations that they would have before -- basically what we're saying is they
cannot investigate elected officials, City employees or former City employees that
have been --former, within the last two years. They have to pass it down to either the
State Florida Department of Law Enforcement if it's a State issue or to the Federal
Bureau of Investigation, if it's a Federal issue.
Chair Hardemon: So does that mean that a City of Miami --? So the immediate thing
that I think about is obviously there's been more than one Commissioner that's been
investigated by Miami City Police. But the one that I most think about is Arthur
Teele; where he pulls over, basically an unmarked police car who is supposedly
identified as a City of Miami police officer, and the officer won't identify himself. In
that interaction, he ends up being arrested and charged with a crime or two. And, of
course, in that situation, I think he was -- that person was following his wife is what
he said.
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Commissioner Reyes: That's right.
Chair Hardemon: So what you're saying is that a City of Miami police officer could
not follow --
Commissioner Carollo: Exactly.
Chair Hardemon: -- and investigate --
Commissioner Carollo: Exactly.
Chair Hardemon: -- Arthur Teele.
Commissioner Carollo: Anything they have that they feel, should it be investigated,
they need to send it to one of the two agencies that we've put forth in this resolution.
Chair Hardemon: And what about -- even a special agency, like if there's a task force
that's duly knighted by the FBI or something that works hand in hand with the police?
Commissioner Carollo: Well, this is Florida Department of Law Enforcement. This
is the FBI that would be handling this.
Chair Hardemon: And the only other question is, is this -- is -- can we do this? Can
we do this?
Victoria Mendez (City Attorney): We presently have an MOU (Memorandum of
Understanding) with FDLE where we send the police -involved shootings, and death
incarcerations, there's another one somewhere. So, yes, we can amend that one with
FDLE and add these types of incidents that involve elected officials and personnel
investigations if you so direct.
Commissioner Reyes: This does not mean that any type of investigation could be sent
-- I don't think --
Ms. Mendez: No, no. It's limited to just elected officials and their --
Commissioner Reyes: Elected officials or --
Ms. Mendez: --personnel.
Commissioner Reyes: -- any type of --
Ms. Mendez: Criminal investigations.
Commissioner Reyes: -- criminal investigation but what type --? Define "criminal. "
Ms. Mendez: Anything that is criminal in nature against, you know --
Chair Hardemon: Punishable by --
(UNINTELLIGIBLE, MULTIPLE PARTIES SPEAKING IN UNISON)
Commissioner Reyes: They have different type --
Ms. Mendez: Punishable by jail.
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Commissioner Reyes: -- of crimes, you see. Is driving on DWI (driving while
intoxicated) a criminal offense?
Ms. Mendez: It depends. Driving while license suspended knowingly is.
Commissioner Reyes: And will that be, Commissioner, also referred to -- or more --
be more specific on the type of criminal activities that should be referred.
Ms. Mendez: So those are called criminal traffic violations.
Commissioner Reyes: You see, I mean that's --
Commissioner Carollo: Well, you could take traffic out of there, if it pleases
everyone.
Commissioner Reyes: That's right.
Commissioner Carollo: You could say non -traffic but --
Commissioner Reyes: No, no. What I'm saying is that if the -- once the -- I mean, the
action of calling FBI and saying, "Listen, I'm investigating Manolo, because they told
me that --" "Oh, well, he was driving while he left Mr. Hardemon bar and he had a
couple of drinks and he was stopped, " you see. And I mean that kind of investigation
shouldn't be --
Commissioner Carollo: We're not talking about that.
Commissioner Reyes: No, that's --
Commissioner Carollo: And that will cover what you're saying.
Commissioner Reyes: That's right.
Commissioner Carollo: That would cover traffic stuff. They're not going to be
calling -- First of all, the FBI would not have any jurisdiction over that.
Commissioner Reyes: Yes. But what I want to do is be more --
Chair Hardemon: Unless you have drugs and a gun.
Commissioner Reyes: -- what kind of a -- because I know where you're heading and I
agree with you that they should be investigated if the crime that is committed is --
Commissioner Carollo: We're talking about serious criminal wrongdoing. If this
department would have any solid information of any criminal wrongdoing of any
elected official, people that have worked for the elected officials or people that have
worked for us within the past two years that it be sent to the Florida Department of
Law Enforcement or the FBI. And frankly, I think they should be relieved of that
because that's a no -win for any police department in any part of the country to get
involved in -- with elected officials or people that work for them and that's the way it
should be.
Commissioner Reyes: That's a good point.
Commissioner Carollo: Now, supposedly, there was a rule within the Police
Department that that was not done, at least with elected officials, that it was referred.
But as you pointed out, it was not all the time. And what we're doing is we're making
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it official now that this is the policy of this Commission and will be the policy of the
City of Miami. And you can't be any more transparent than this.
Chief Colina: Mr. Chair.
Chair Hardemon: You're recognized. Well, no.
Vice Chair Russell: I'm sorry. Chief, please.
Chair Hardemon: Vice Chairman, after you speak.
Vice Chair Russell: No, please, Chief. Go ahead.
Chair Hardemon: Go ahead, Chief.
Chief Colina: Our current policy is that we don't have any investigations against any
sitting Commissioner. If there was information on corruption on any City of Miami
Commissioner, what we'd do is we, in fact, defer that; that way, there is absolutely no
conflict. No one can claim that this is driven by personal agenda. So if we had
something, we would already be deferring that, so I have no objection whatsoever.
The only caveat I would add though, something to consider, I don't know if we can
add language as -- obviously if there was something that was real-time, that is
unavoidable, you know, something -- Commissioner Reyes gave an example of if you
pull somebody over because they happen to be DUI Obviously, that's not a situation
where we're going to call another agency. Or if a Commissioner is stopped
soliciting, you know --
Chair Hardemon: Prostitution?
Chief Colina: Those things happen. I'm just giving you -- those are things that --
Commissioner Carollo: Chief.
Chief Colina: -- at the time, obviously, if it's real-time, we wouldn't be able to -- you
know, that would be real time. But in terms of a protracted investigation, I don't have
any objection if it's a protracted investigation turning that over --
Commissioner Carollo: And this is what we're talking about, Chief.
Chief Colina: Yeah.
Commissioner Carollo: I mean, something like that, you would have to make the
arrest and immediately give it then to FDLE to handle.
Commissioner Reyes: Okay.
Chair Hardemon: Vice Chairman.
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you very much. And Commissioner Carollo, I understand
where you're going with this and I do support it. I have a lot of questions, though,
and that's -- I want to make sure we get it right. And I'm wondering if maybe the
smarter thing is to take this up at a coming meeting after we can talk with the City
Attorney, talk with the Chief.
Commissioner Carollo: Well --
Vice Chair Russell: For example, I --
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Commissioner Carollo: -- the Chief has made his statement.
Vice Chair Russell: Yeah, and that is very helpful. That gives me a lot of comfort
here, because what I want to make sure is this actually doesn't slow down our ability
to get to the bottom of a situation --
Commissioner Carollo: No.
Vice Chair Russell: -- by passing it off to a Federal agency --
Commissioner Carollo: No.
Vice Chair Russell: -- that may not have its boots on the ground as quickly or a case
where -- I don't know. I just don't want to hamper an investigation --
Commissioner Carollo: Not at all.
Vice Chair Russell: -- that should move more quickly. And then what about the State
Attorney's Office? I notice that's not mentioned in here. So -- because they have a
Public Corruption Unit, actually.
Unidentified Speaker: They do have a Public Corruption Unit, the State Attorney's
Office.
Vice Chair Russell: Yes. So is that not -- are you excluding them purposely or --?
Commissioner Carollo: No. We're -- I mean, we could even use the Miami -Dade PD
(Police Department). The reason I put in these two agencies --
Vice Chair Russell: You just want to take out the conflict
Commissioner Carollo: -- they're the -- Take out all the conflicts. And these are the
two biggest investigative agencies, per se, in name that we have. Florida Department
of Law Enforcement is like our state FBI The FBI is the FBI You know, this is not
that we don't want anybody else in or not. It's that we're going to the two biggest
names that we have, State level and Federal level to voice totally all conflict that
there could be at the local level.
Vice Chair Russell: Do you intend for this to include Administration, as well, or just
elected and elected employees?
Commissioner Carollo: No, no, no, no. Look, the Administration and other
employees are the Administration and other employees.
Vice Chair Russell: That's fine. Okay.
Commissioner Carollo: They could decide if they feel that they need to do that, that's
fine but that's different.
Vice Chair Russell: Would you include the State Attorney's Office in this if -- as an
amendment so that they have the freedom to work together with them, as well, or are
we purposely excluding them?
Commissioner Carollo: I -- look, we just had a case that the State Attorney's Office --
Vice Chair Russell: Conflicted themselves.
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Commissioner Carollo: -- excused themselves. And when you're talking about
elected officials and their personnel, that could happen quite often. I will tell you in
the past when we had a City Manager that ended up -- and former Police Chief, for
that matter that ended up being arrested by the FBI, and when I fired him, he came
with all kinds of wild stories about me. The State Attorney recused herself, because
she knew me and so on. The Governor gave it to another State Attorney that found
that I had done nothing wrong, whatsoever. And the chap that made the accusations
went to jail for stealing while he was a City employee. So this is why I think it's best
that we leave it this way. I mean, you're going to two of the biggest agencies. Then
they could be accused that they're shopping this from one to the other. You know, I
even thought of maybe including Miami PD, but then they could be accused -- well,
why not one -- what -- and not the other? If we're putting down Florida Department
of Law Enforcement, that's where it's going to go if it's a State crime. If it's the
Federal Bureau of Investigation, they could go there if it's a Federal crime. If it's
both, they have the option if the Federal Bureau of Investigations don't want to take
it, then they could bring it to the State.
Vice Chair Russell: I'm, thankfully, not familiar with this. So what is the difference
between what the FDLE would investigate and what the State Attorney's Public
Corruption Unit would investigate? Because if this is their only job, the Public
Corruption Unit of the State Attorney, is to come after us if we do wrong, they ain't
going to have any work.
Chair Hardemon: So speaking -- I will tell you --
Commissioner Carollo: They got the rest of the other 33 cities in the County to deal
with.
Chair Hardemon: Miami-Dade's Public Corruption Task Force is made for you.
Vice Chair Russell: Me, personally?
Chair Hardemon: Made for you. No, butt want to make that personally for you. It is
made for you --
Vice Chair Russell: Yeah.
Chair Hardemon: -- and other people that are like you, but mostly you. And so, they
can be just as -- and they probably will say that they are not -- but they can be just as
biased, influenced, moved -- either good or had -- by the things that you do as other
people that are close to you, for instance, that may work for the City of Miami. If he's
trying to avoid what he's saying, I wouldn't recommend leaving it to them, as well.
Vice Chair Russell: Understood.
Chair Hardemon: They'll put a two-year investigation on you for --
Vice Chair Russell: But if their charge is to --
Chair Hardemon: -- a misdemeanor.
Vice Chair Russell: -- watch us, do we have the legal ability to exclude them?
Chair Hardemon: I don't think we have the ability to exclude them. That's why I --
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Vice Chair Russell: We can refer to who we want, the FBI and the FDLE, I mean, say
we'd like the State Attorney to come in and we don't have the jurisdiction to tell them
they can't investigate.
Chair Hardemon: No, absolutely not.
Chief Colina: No, you do not.
Chair Hardemon: They have the jurisdiction. And that's why in this -- I don't
understand why necessarily this has to be an emergency measure.
Vice Chair Russell: Agree.
Chair Hardemon: I think that it takes some time, because I want to make sure that
we're doing it right. I practice criminal defense law by trade. And there are lots of
things that come to mind when you think of something like this. But I will say that
when you take a look at the fact of the matter with the Public Corruption Task Force,
they're going to do what they're going to do. This seems to be just focused on the
Miami City Police Department and to eliminate any --
Vice Chair Russell: Pass it on.
Chair Hardemon: -- bias in that department towards elected officials. It appears to
be it can relieve Commissioners, elected officials, Mayors and their staff of any
perceived bias against them for whatever action they complete while they're elected
officials. I think that's the comfort that Commissioner Carollo seeks in this measure.
But that doesn't stop the Police Department from saying, "Hey, we think there's an
issue, " and then saying to the FDLE or any other department that, "You should
investigate this issue, " and then they go about doing it.
Chief Colina: And I think, Commissioner --
Chair Hardemon: I just need to know what uniform that they normally wear. I know
that our undercover is usually blue jeans and a t-shirt. You know, what's the uniform
of the FDLE?
Chief Colina: The color of the day. The -- again, my only concern would be I think
that's the spirit of it, if it's something protracted, a long-term investigation or
something. My only concern is I don't want there to be an issue if there's a neighbor
dispute that got violent with a Commissioner and their neighbor, for example, and
we're calling FDLE, because this exists and they're saying, "We're not going out for
that. "
Chair Hardemon: Right.
Chief Colina: Those are just the kinds of things that are popping into my head that I
think obviously --
Commissioner Reyes: That's precisely what I was trying to define.
Chief Colina: Yeah, just as long -- I think the spirit is right on, which is --
Commissioner Reyes: The spirit is -- I agree with it, but I wanted to define that.
Commissioner Carollo: I think that if we would include felonies, not misdemeanors,
that would more than cover any concerns that have been brought up, whatsoever.
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Chair Hardemon: But Commissioner, a felony can be the fact that they accused a
Commissioner of paying them $300, you know what I mean? And then they would do
the investigation. So, I mean, a felony could be exactly what you're trying to
(INAUDIBLE) as well. I just want to -- I think -- I don't think that this is necessarily
an emergency measure. I think it's something --
Commissioner Carollo: Well, I think we do have one here. If you want to take until
our next meeting to look at all this, then let's limit this to any present investigations
that we have, and I only know of one that we have. And then let's bring it back for
everybody. But we cannot be in a situation where there are going to be accusations
no matter what is done that someone was taken out because of political reasons or
someone received leniency because of political reasons. It's a no -win for the Police
Department or for anybody up here.
Vice Chair Russell: So it would be amended, is what you're saying, for immediate
investigations of electeds or their employees to be referred to the FDLE and the FBI,
and then we'd bring this back for future issues or to really think it through and hash it
out?
Commissioner Carollo: Well --
Vice Chair Russell: Is that -- and in that case, does it need to be a motion and a
resolution or can we just give a direction?
Commissioner Carollo: It's a resolution.
Chair Hardemon: The only thing that scares me about this is that when we're talking
about -- and I don't know about any immediate, you know, investigations. But I don't
want to find myself in a position where I'm obstructing justice. And so, you know, I
think that's a real thing that we have to think about. Madam City Attorney, you were
a prosecutor and so --
Ms. Mendez: Right. So I thought that the main concerns that the Chief and some of
you are exhibiting could be dealt with that anything other than a misdemeanor can be
transferred out, because the things that he's been describing are misdemeanors, like a
misdemeanor stop for a DUI, a misdemeanor -- driving while license suspended, a
misdemeanor battery. You know, these are the things that happen right away. You're
in the present. You get arrested. You get booked and it's done.
Chair Hardemon: Yeah, but so is a felony battery.
Ms. Mendez: I'm sorry?
Chair Hardemon: So is a felony battery.
Ms. Mendez: Well, but the -- usually --
Chair Hardemon: A felony battery --
Ms. Mendez: -- after it's charged by information.
Chair Hardemon: It depends on how had --
Ms. Mendez: There's more witnesses gotten.
Chair Hardemon: It depends on how bad you look, right?
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Commissioner Reyes: How about domestic violence? That's a felony.
Commissioner Carollo: No.
Chief Colina: It's not.
Ms. Mendez: It depends; some are misdemeanors.
Chief Colina: Yeah, but it can be a felony. It depends on the circumstances.
Ms. Mendez: Right. It depends how egregious.
Commissioner Reyes: I mean, and that should be investigated by the FBI of --?
Ms. Mendez: That would probably be -- if it's a felony, could be sent --
Commissioner Carollo: It would be a State crime.
Commissioner Reyes: It's a State crime.
Commissioner Carollo: State crime.
Ms. Mendez: But I think that covers -- that could be a possible amendment but just --
Chair Hardemon: But specifically about the -- if there's an investigation going on
currently, being able to say to an investigative body, "Stop what you're doing and give
it to someone else. " That's the part that I'm -- you know, we're being asked to discuss
at this point. And that part is what kind of makes me concerned.
Chief Colina: And Mr. Chair, there's a -- the prosecutor that's assigned to the case is
from Broward County. I would not be comfortable making any decision on that
investigation without speaking to that prosecutor and how they would feel about
who's handling and what's --
Chair Hardemon: Oh, so you're talking about that one. Oh, okay. Now, I
understand. I didn't know what we were talking about. I just -- listen, it's a lot of
elected officials, a lot of public officials, a lot of people in our offices, so you know --
Commissioner Carollo: Well, see, this is the other point. We don't know what
conversations are going to go on with thatprosecutor, what is the prosecutor going to
be told by your department or not, and this is part of what I'm trying to avoid.
Furthermore, the prosecutor really has no say in what policy we put here, whether
he's from Broward, or you know, up north, anywhere.
Chief Colina: No, but I'm talking about --
Commissioner Carollo: He was --
Chief Colina: -- preserving the integrity of the case itself. The prosecutor is typically
the person that says, "What I'm comfortable with is" -- you know, ultimately, they're
the ones that have to present the case in court. And so typically after --
Commissioner Carollo: But see --
Chief Colina: -- there's an investigation, we follow the lead of the prosecutor.
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Commissioner Carollo: There's a case that's gone up to here. There's a lot more that
has to be developed and done in this case, and you know that, Chief- a lot more.
You're only here. You're just starting to scratch this case. If that prosecutor wants,
he could put his own people from Broward County. We can't say anything to that. In
fact --
Chief Colina: Right, but that would be their decision. That's what I'm saying. That
would be that prosecutor's decision.
Commissioner Carollo: That would be their decision to do.
Chief Colina: Yes.
Commissioner Carollo: But we have every right in deciding that we don't want any
kind of conflicts or perceptions of any kind of conflicts to fall upon us, and we want
another agency to take it from here on. Now does that mean that if they're asking for
assistance in bringing people up to date in a sense, we can't do it? No, because it's
helping another body, bringing them up to date. Does that mean that what you've
done up to now, our officers cannot be brought in to testes as witness or so on? Of
course not. That's not the case. What I'm trying is to take away any potential
accusations, or conflicts, or perceived conflicts that could come our way from
anybody. And I'm not saying anything more than that. I was also trying to establish
some guidelines for how to proceed in the future, but I could go either way. I could
limit it to what we have now, where we're looking at the guidelines, or we could take
it all at one time.
Chair Hardemon: You're recognized.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Is that case currently in Broward's hands,
completely in Broward's hands?
Chief Colina: The prosecutor is from the Broward County State Attorney's Office so
that prosecutor -- the crime occurred here so that prosecutor is assigned to Dade
County.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: The investigation --
Chief Colina: The investigation --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: -- is in your department, correct?
Chief Colina: -- is handled -- has been handled by the City of Miami.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: (INAUDIBLE) different entities.
Chief Colina: No, I understand that.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: And you're --
Chief Colina: There's a prosecutor that is assigned to the case. So once there's an
investigation that's ongoing, typically what happens is you are being guided by the
person that's ultimately going to prosecute the case. So the legality of something
whether you're getting a warrant -- whatever the case might be, this is the person that
you're working with. So without consulting that person and saying we're going to
turn this over to another agency that has zero intimate knowledge about the crime,
who did what, when and where. You know, you can brief somebody, certainly, but it's
not the same as having a complete new team take over a case in the middle of an
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investigation. I think if you speak to any prosecutor, they would agree with that
statement. The decision is yours. If this is what you deem best for this investigation,
at minimum, I would suggest that you at least get the advice -- not my advice -- but at
least speak with the prosecutor who's ultimately charged with holding the person
accountable to the fullest extent of the law and let them have some say, I think, would
be the most appropriate thing to do.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: But the investigation is different than the
prosecution, correct?
Chief Colina: They go hand in hand. They go hand in hand.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: So --
Chief Colina: On a case like this, the prosecutor is working with the investigators
hand in hand.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: In your experience, have you been doing an
investigation and another -- the FBI comes in and says, "We're taking over this
investigation, " and has that happened to you ever?
Chief Colina: Typically, what will happen is that you will then work hand in hand
with the other agency.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: But you have passed it on to the FBI or the
FDLE?
Chief Colina: Not mid -investigation, not that I recall. If there's something where
there's now a nexus to Federal charges -- so let's say it started as a State case and
now we find that there's a nexus to a Federal charge, we will then have to bring in the
Federal agency, because we don't have the ability to charge Federal charges.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: And the FDLE --
Chief Colina: In those circumstances --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Forget about the Federal -- the FDLE.
Chief Colina: But even with FDLE, typically what we will do -- if the investigation is
halfway in -- not in the beginning. In the beginning, it's easy. We have information
on a sitting Commissioner, like Commissioner Carollo stated. That gets sent over and
they can investigate it from the onset. If something is already haWay through, three
quarters of the way through and you wanted to bring another agency in, FDLE,
typically what will happen there is then you just work hand in hand together.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I don't know if you can answer this question, but
are you haWay through, or are you at the beginning of this investigation you're
speaking about?
Chief Colina: I'm sorry, sir; say again.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Are you at the beginning of this investigation?
Chief Colina: No, I would say --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Are you haway through? Are you two-thirds
through, or do you know?
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Chief Colina: At least halfway. The only thing that we're doing now is going through
additional electronic devices that were seized. We're working with the Secret Service
on that component. Obviously, if someone new came forward, an additional victim
decides that they want to come forward, if there is additional victims, that would add
to the investigation. But at this point, the only thing that's left is the scrutinizing of
those electronic devices to see if there's evidence where you can charge federally or
additional charges, violations, etcetera.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Okay.
Commissioner Carollo: Which that in itself is a huge job that would take
considerable time. And just to go into some of the many different sites that you're
going to be going to is going to take a long, long time. And whatever is found
obviously might lead you to much, much more, so it's impossible for the Chief to be
placed in a situation where he could say this is halfway, this is one -tenth of the way,
this is three quarters of the way.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: That's why I asked him.
Commissioner Carollo: They really don't know.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Because there's no way of you knowing --
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: If there's another victim or two victims, so you
can't say that you're haWay through.
Chief Colina: Right.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: That was the premise of what you said that --
Chief Colina: We can speak to what we know right now. We can speak to what we
know right now. Obviously, additional victims comes in, that changes the element.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: That was my point. My point was that he can't
say, so you could very well be at the beginning of this. We don't know. So you -- if
you are at the beginning, you can pass it to the FDLE, for example. You don't know
how far into it, unless you're concluding before the investigation that's all there is.
And that's why, you know, you're two-thirds in or half in. You can't know if you're
half in.
Commissioner Reyes: Commissioner, I think that what you're trying to determine is
at what time, at what point in the investigation you can pass it on. You pass it on at
what point, right?
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Right.
Commissioner Reyes: At what point of the investigation you can pass it on. When
you started it, and when you're in the middle of an investigation, and when you have
determined that it has been criminal activity, you see, that's -- I think that's a question
that I have and --
Chief Colina: No. I think for any other investigation, I think that's clear. If someone
has a complaint or an allegation, I think that's simple to take that, and if it involves an
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elected official or anyone in their office, that's easy to then pass that on. I don't think
that's any -- I don't think there's a concern or a question with that.
Commissioner Carollo: Chief, what would happen here, which is extremely normal,
the next agency would come in and they take over the investigation, and they will
bring -- they would ask for the people that you have had working on this to work hand
in hand with them --
Chief Colina: Yes, that's typically what would happen.
Commissioner Carollo: -- until it's either finished or they feel comfortable they don't
need that assistance in whichever way this goes. And that, I see perfectly fine with the
intent of this resolution, because in essence, it would be another agency running the
investigation, and in essence, these will be sworn law enforcement officers that
happen to be Miami police officers that are going to be working for another agency.
So it's not that it's Miami ID (Police Department) per se doing the investigation. It's
another agency that's using some of our people now because of the circumstances to
do it. And there's nothing in this resolution that says that can't happen.
Chief Colina: Yeah, and that seems far more reasonable, that element of it, that you
work with someone when they're comfortable enough -- and by the way, if there is
additional victims, then certainly, they can take those additional victims and
investigate that, that that would be --
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah.
Chief Colina: -- there would be nothing wrong with that.
Commissioner Carollo: But --
Chief Colina: My only fear here is I don't want there to be -- and I think
Commissioner Hardemon mentioned it. I just don't want there to be a (INA UDIBLE).
Commissioner Carollo: Well, I --
Chief Colina: That's my only concern. I just want to make sure that were not
harming our own case.
Commissioner Carollo: I agree with you and this is why I want to make that very
clear. Now with the statements I've made, does that make it clear to you and give you
a comfort level now?
Chief Colina: Yes. If someone else comes on and we're working hand in hand and
then at some point they're comfortable or there's additional victims that come
forward and then they handle that entirely, I'm completely cool with that.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay, well that's -- and again, we have a protection then that
no one can say, "Aha, you did this. "
Chief Colina: And I think -- I like -- you know, that's the part that's appealing to me,
and that's why if something new were to come in a different case, I'm all for let's let
someone else handle it, because I agree with you in that component. My only concern
or the only questions that I've raised is I don't want our case to take a step
backwards; that's all.
Commissioner Carollo: And we're all in agreement with that.
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Chief Colina: Okay.
Commissioner Carollo: And again, this resolution has no limitations. If any
department wants to -- and they're going to need to, frankly -- use our officers to move
on this investigation that's going to hinder that --
Chief Colina: Yes, that's reasonable.
Commissioner Carollo: -- as they're going to be the ones in charge of them, of the
investigation, using whatever resources they need from us. And this way there's no
chance that this investigation could be hindered. And hopefully, this will be the end of
it. But as we well know and your experience with this, you know, chances are that
there's going to be more unpleasant revelation, because it's the nature of the crime.
So, you know, I'm glad that we're both in agreement on the issue before us. And I
thank you for your frankness.
Chief Colina: Thank you, sir.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay. It's a motion; there's a second.
Chair Hardemon: Who was the mover? Who was the seconder?
Commissioner Carollo: I made the motion. Commissioner Reyes seconded, if I'm
correct.
Commissioner Reyes: Right.
Chair Hardemon: You have that, Mr. Clerk? Or you have it now?
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): Yes, sir.
Chair Hardemon: It's been properly moved and seconded. Any further discussion?
Vice Chair Russell: Last comment or question. I just want to make absolute sure that
by doing this as a pocket with notice issues or public hearing issues, nobody could
make any accusation of us that this decision can affect in a negative way or weaken a
case that is currently pending, because I do not want to weaken any case that's out
there.
Ms. Mendez: No. It was --
Commissioner Carollo: The Chief just --
Ms. Mendez: -- clear that they're going to work hand in hand. There's going to be no
hampering of any type of investigation. They will work hand in hand.
Vice Chair Russell: No, no, no. My point was that since this is being brought as a
pocket, someone could say, "Well, this isn't an emergency, so there should have been
public notice, public comment, everything, " that we are somehow messing with an
investigation that's currently ongoing.
Ms. Mendez: The Chief made it perfectly clear --
Vice Chair Russell: You're good.
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Ms. Mendez: -- that he did not want to hand something over, toss it over and let it --
it's going -- they're going to work hand in hand on any pending investigation. It will -
- it's fine that way.
Vice Chair Russell: Alright.
Commissioner Carollo: If anything, you're going to have more eyes on it than ever.
Chair Hardemon: I'll open the floor for public comment. Is there anyone from the
public that would like to comment on this item? Newspapers, you could say it now.
All in favor of the item, say "aye. "
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: All against? Note me as against. Motion passes.
NAA RESOLUTION
7211 A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION DECLARING
City Commission A NEW POLICY THAT ALL KEYS TO THE CITY,
PROCLAMATIONS, AND OTHER PROTOCOL ITEMS SHALL
HENCEFORTH BE PRESENTED ONLY WITH THE APPROVAL OF
THE CITY COMMISSION; AND FURTHER DIRECTING THE CITY
ATTORNEY TO AMEND CHAPTER 2, ARTICLE II, SECTION 2-
33(M) OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS
AMENDED, ("CITY CODE") ENTITLED "ADMINISTRATION/MAYOR
AND CITY COMMISSION/ORDER OF BUSINESS AND RULES OF
PROCEDURE" TO CODIFY THIS POLICY.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-20-0035
MOTION TO:
Adopt
RESULT:
ADOPTED
MOVER:
Joe Carollo, Commissioner
SECONDER:
Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
AYES:
Diaz de la Portilla, Carollo, Reyes
NAYS:
Hardemon. Russell
Commissioner Carollo: Okay. And this is the one that has been lying for some time
in the agenda that we never got into it until now. I apologize, Mr. Mayor. I thought
the other item was going to be a lot quicker than that, but we'll try to make this as
quick as you like. This is a resolution of the Miami City Commission declaring a
new policy that all keys to the City, proclamations and other protocol items shall
henceforth be presented only with the approval of the City Commission; and further
directing the City Attorney to amend Charter [sic] 2, Article II, Section 2-33(MI) of
the Code of the City of Miami, Florida, as amended, ("City Code') entitled
"Administration/Mayor and City Commission/Order of Business and Rules of
Procedure: to codes this policy. "
Chair Hardemon: Madam City Attorney, when was this created? I'm asking that
because —
Mayor Suarez: I would like to know, too, because --
Chair Hardemon: -- pocket items are pocket items. I understand that.
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Mayor Suarez: We asked— I asked for a public records request on this.
Chair Hardemon: But you know, this type of thing has been on for a long time and
we're getting these things less than --
Victoria Mendez (City Attorney): We hand delivered it.
Mayor Suarez: No.
Chair Hardemon: -- and I have to read it on the dais.
Ms. Mendez: Yes.
Chair Hardemon: It makes it a bit difficult.
Commissioner Carollo: Well --
Chair Hardemon: I'm not talking -- I'm not referring directly to you and about
anything that you're doing.
Mayor Suarez: When was this given to us?
Commissioner Carollo: There were some changes that I made -- you know, quite a
bit of changes, frankly, just before this was brought up here during the lunchtime.
Mayor Suarez: This is the first time I see this.
Commissioner Carollo: And the computers will show at what time the changes were
made.
Mayor Suarez: Mr. Chair.
Chair Hardemon: You're recognized.
Mayor Suarez: Well, first of all, I think this resolution is unconstitutional. It
violates the Charter of the City of Miami where it deems the Mayor to be the head of
government for all ceremonial purposes. I also asked fora public records request. I
don't believe I was given this as a public record.
Ms. Mendez: You were.
Mayor Suarez: Okay, well we can check that.
Commissioner Carollo: The last changes that were made, you were not, because
they were made in the afternoon. Your public records requests were made before
that.
Mayor Suarez: No problem. So I still think that this violates the Charter of the City
Commission. And frankly, you have vetoed legislation similar to this in nature when
you were Mayor, when you came back in '97, because the City Commission tried to
make the Commission Chairman the signer of proclamations, and you vetoed it. And
in your veto message, you assert your authority under the Charter, where you say
that you are the ceremonial head of the government for all ceremonial purposes. I
can give you a copy of that veto if you need to see it.
Commissioner Carollo: That's fine. But I think that veto was very different than
what we have here. You might see it not so but it is different.
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Mayor Suarez: Again, I think it's unconstitutional. So, you know, I think this is just
another unconstitutional attempt to --
Commissioner Carollo: Well, I'm not trying nor is this resolution trying to take your
right to be the main signatory as Mayor to be the presenter, if you would like to, et
cetera. What we're talking about, Mr. Mayor, is that we need a real transparent
process on how we're going to be giving keys to the City, proclamation declaring
days for people in the City of Miami. We need to establish a policy of, who do we
give it to; what are the criterias [sic] of people that we give it to? And, you know,
Commissioner Reyes brought one example, and I don't want to bore this Commission
with a lot of examples. He brought in the name of Will Smith. Now you were against
Genie de Zona performing, like I was, and I thank you that you followed in my
footsteps at the time for the reasons that we all stated before in the past resolution.
But here you have Will Smith that, while he was in Cuba, he was present when the
now President of Cuba, who is called the President, and is still a dictator; was the
previous Vice President under Raul Castro. In (UNINTELLIGIBLE) the Alicia
Alonso Performing Arts Center, whatever they call it, and they were there
applauding Diaz Canal --
Mayor Suarez: Are you talking about Will Smith?
Commissioner Carollo: -- in a similar way when he was announced as Genie de
Zona were. Now, I don't believe Mr. Smith went to the extent that Genie de Zona
went in asking the, you know, the public to applaud for him. But nevertheless, he
was promoting a regime that has been oppressive to a lot of us. Does that make --
without knowing that he was promoting it, I would say. Does that make Will Smith a
had guy? No, I'm not saying that. But I think we should be making it clear to -- we
are going to have a policy of who we want to give our key to, and we certainly don't
want to be promoting that. But let me go beyond Will Smith. And I started with him
because Commissioner Reyes brought him up. Prime example, Genie de Zona.
Genie de Zona, I will tell you, if I would have been here as a Commissioner I would
have fought tooth and nail not to give them the key to the City, because there's no
doubt in my mind that we would have ended up the way that we did with their
background, and here we are today with Gente de Zona. And they still haven't given
us the key back; hopefully, they will now. We go into Mr. Robbins (phonetic) that
you gave the key to the City. I mean, you asked for a public records request and I
believe my office gave you a stack of articles across the whole country on Mr.
Robbins and all the allegations that have been lodged against him. Now are they
true or not? I don't know and, you know, I'm not a jury to decide if they are or not.
But, you know, there are so many of them; some are scary. And we -- I feel -- needed
to decide as a body and needed to have given the public the opportunity to opine if
that's the type of person we wanted to have given a key to the City to. Furthermore,
we don't have a policy, and that has to be established for you, for any Mayor of the
future. And frankly, it should have been established some time back for everyone
else that has come before you.
Chair Hardemon: Mr. Mayor.
Mayor Suarez: Mr. Chair, if I may.
Commissioner Carollo: I --
Mayor Suarez: Oh, go ahead. I'm sorry, finish.
Commissioner Carollo: I could go into other areas. I mean, you gave a key to the
City, I believe, to -- if you remember Juan Carlos Escotet Rodriguez, remember?
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Mayor Suarez: No.
Commissioner Carollo: You don't?
Mayor Suarez: I don't.
Commissioner Carollo: That was on February 18, 2019, over at Vizcaya.
Remember the party?
Mayor Suarez: Sorry, I don't remember. I don't remember it, so.
Commissioner Carollo: Surprised that you don't remember.
Mayor Suarez: I don't remember.
Commissioner Carollo: Well, that was --
Mayor Suarez: I don't remember every party that I go to. I apologize.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah, but you don't remember every party at Vizcaya and
some other places.
Mayor Suarez: I don't remember it, Commissioner. I'm sorry.
Commissioner Carollo: He was the President of Abanca, the banking institution
from Spain. In fact, it's from the province of Galicia, Spain. You decided to give him
the key to the City, a banker, President of a bank from Spain here. But a few months
before, you had the President of Galicia, Spain. It's a semiautonomous region of
Spain, up in northwestern Spain. The President of Galicia came and instead of
giving him the key to the City, you just gave him a scroll. I never even knew we had
a scroll like that of some papers wrapped up. I never have seen that before. Why in
the world would you give the President of Galicia, probably the second or third most
important guy in all of Spain a little bunch of papers in a scroll -- I don't know what
it said. We were both there together when you gave it to him, even though you didn't
invite me to be with you, but that's okay. But then you're going to give it to the
President of a bank in Vizcaya.
Mayor Suarez: Mr. Chair, if I may.
Chair Hardemon: Yes.
Commissioner Carollo: I mean --
Mayor Suarez: Again --
Commissioner Carollo: -- I can't believe that --
Mayor Suarez: -- you can --
Commissioner Carollo: -- the President of a bank is more important than the
President of Galicia.
Mayor Suarez: So just to be clear --and I'll just go back to the record. In March of
1998, you vetoed an ordinance by the City Commission which said any Commission
who -- any Commissioner who so desires may be a signatory on City of Miami
proclamations. In the event of a vacancy in the Office of Mayor, as contemplated,
Section 12 of the City Charter, the City Commissioner designated as a presiding
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officer and in the absence of the same, the City Commissioner designated as the Vice
Chair, or in the absence of both, a City Commissioner appointed by the majority of
the City Commission shall serve as the ceremonial head of City government until the
mayoral vacancy is filled and you vetoed that. And your veto message was short and
sweet. Due to the fact the position of mayor is no longer vacant and to prevent any
confusion that Resolution 98-299 might create in regards to ceremonial protocol, I
have respectfully chosen to veto the above resolution. It is in contradiction of
Section 4(g)(2) of the Charter of the City of Miami, which states that he, "the
Mayor, " shall be recognized as the official head of the City for all ceremonial
purposes. You can like what I give someone or not like what I give someone in my
role as the ceremonial head of government. You have every right to criticize it.
Commissioner Carollo: That's right.
Mayor Suarez: You have every right to object to it and you can -- there's many
different forms of expression where you can express your dissatisfaction with it. You
just can't change it, because it's part of the Charter. And this continual effort to
diminish the authority of the Mayor is extremely problematic, particularly because
it's a violation of the Charter. And so, I think it is very problematic. This will be
legislation which I will veto, assuming that we all agree I can veto it, which -- Can I
veto this?
Ms. Mendez: This item, you cannot veto.
Mayor Suarez: Okay.
Ms. Mendez: This resolution. However --
Mayor Suarez: Right.
Ms. Mendez: -- the ordinance that comes from it can be vetoed.
Mayor Suarez: Okay.
Ms. Mendez: So the ordinance that he is requesting can be vetoed.
Mayor Suarez: Just like he vetoed --
Ms. Mendez: This resolution cannot.
Mayor Suarez: -- this ordinance.
Ms. Mendez: He vetoed --
Mayor Suarez: Right.
Ms. Mendez: -- an ordinance, no?
Mayor Suarez: An ordinance, right.
Ms. Mendez: Yeah.
Mayor Suarez: So okay.
Ms. Mendez: Which you could veto an ordinance.
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Mayor Suarez: So apparently, I can't veto resolutions even though our Code says I
can veto resolutions.
Ms. Mendez: Only certain resolutions --
Mayor Suarez: Oh, certain resolutions.
Ms. Mendez: -- of executive, administrative, inherent. You can definitely --
Mayor Suarez: Okay.
Ms. Mendez: -- do legislative items.
Commissioner Carollo: You can decipher that later, what you can veto or not.
Mayor Suarez: Sure, but this is --
Commissioner Carollo: But what you have there is still different than what I'm
bringing forth now. They are different.
Mayor Suarez: Yeah, they are different. Yeah, I will submit that there are
differences.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay.
Mayor Suarez: But I would say that --
Commissioner Carollo: And --
Mayor Suarez: -- not only is it a violation of the Charter but it's bad public policy
because we -- I mean, imagine if I get invited to an event as the Mayor and someone
says, "Hey, can I -- can you present me with a key to the City?" And I have to say,
"Wait a second. I can't. I have to notice it for a meeting. It has to be, you know, two
weeks away. " That's not the way it works. You were Mayor for four years so you
understand.
Commissioner Carollo: No. I was the mayor for six years.
Mayor Suarez: Okay, you were mayor for six years. I'll check the dates on that, but
Commissioner Carollo: Check the date and make sure that you read the --
Mayor Suarez: No problem. You were Mayor for six years.
Commissioner Carollo: -- Supreme Court's decision --
Mayor Suarez: I'll take your word for it.
Commissioner Carollo: -- the appellate court's decision --
Mayor Suarez: I'll take your word for it.
Commissioner Carollo: -- and the lower court's decision --
Mayor Suarez: I'll take your word for it.
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Commissioner Carollo: -- that the less than four months that someone else that stole
an election was there that that doesn't count.
Mayor Suarez: Right.
Commissioner Carollo: That their names had to be taken off from the record.
Mayor Suarez: Right. So --
Commissioner Carollo: And that's what the courts ruled, but --
Mayor Suarez: That's not what the courts ruled but that's okay.
Commissioner Carollo: That's fine.
Mayor Suarez: All right.
Commissioner Carollo: Whatever you say on that, I'd like to stick to this.
Mayor Suarez: Sure.
Commissioner Carollo: What was the date, I'm curious, that you said there again,
March the what?
Mayor Suarez: Are you talking about for your veto?
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah, the veto.
Mayor Suarez: The legislation -- the veto was March 20, 1998.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay, March 20, 1998.
Mayor Suarez: Yeah.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah, that was shortly after I came back.
Mayor Suarez: Yeah.
Commissioner Carollo: I came back on March 12 that -- (INAUDIBLE) make sure
we're -- I think we're both in agreement.
Mayor Suarez: I think we're both in agreement.
Commissioner Carollo: Now, you said what's there (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Mayor Suarez: I think you were Mayor, (INAUDIBLE) ceremony of (INAUDIBLE)
because (INAUDIBLE) --
Commissioner Carollo: (INAUDIBLE). Now we're not infi^inging anything for you
to do. What we're saying is that we deserve a process. We deserve transparency.
Look, you've been giving away keys to numerous media people in town,
commentators that is not appropriate. They have --
Mayor Suarez: That's your opinion.
Commissioner Carollo: Well --
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Mayor Suarez: That's your opinion.
Commissioner Carollo: -- it is my opinion --
Mayor Suarez: And you're welcome to it.
Commissioner Carollo: -- and I'm going to give it to you. And this was being
guided to you so you could buy favors with them, and that's the case. Now, you
know, I don't want to really go into some other areas here, Mr. Mayor, because,
frankly, this date and the place that I brought up that you don't remember, I'm in
shock that you don't remember.
Mayor Suarez: I remember it now.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay. Well, go see how much your wife was paid for the
party that she did for these people in the bank that you gave the key to the President
of this bank but you would not give the key to the City to the President of the whole
area of Galicia, the semiautonomous area of Galicia, one of the most important
parts of Spain.
Chair Hardemon: Mr. Mayor.
Commissioner Carollo: So --
Mayor Suarez: Thank you, Mr. Chair. I mean, I think, you know, crossing the line
has become, you know, commonplace for Mr. Carollo -- or Commissioner Carollo.
Commissioner Carollo: No, it's not crossing the line.
Mayor Suarez: Of course, it is but that's okay.
Commissioner Carollo: It's a conflict of interest and this is what I'm trying to point
out.
Mayor Suarez: It's not a conflict of interest.
Commissioner Carollo: This is why we need --
Mayor Suarez: It's not a conflict of interest.
Chair Hardemon: I recognize the Mayor.
Commissioner Carollo: This is why we need --
Mayor Suarez: It's not a conflict of interest. If a President of a bank or any bank
asks me to give the key to the City and there's someone who -- by the way, they were
creating a bank here in Miami, so they were bringing a bank to Miami.
Commissioner Carollo: The bank was already here.
Mayor Suarez: They were bringing the bank to Miami.
Commissioner Carollo: The bank was already here.
Mayor Suarez: Okay, well --
Chair Hardemon: Mr. Carollo.
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Commissioner Reyes: Mr. Chair.
Mayor Suarez: You know more about it than I do then.
Commissioner Reyes: Mr. Chair.
Chair Hardemon: Wait, the Mayor has the floor. I'm actually waiting to say
something so --
Mayor Suarez: And I need to leave, because I want to go and be with my wife on her
40th birthday. I don't want to be here arguing about something that's an
infringement on our Charter. So, first of all, I think this is an infringement of our
Charter. Second of all, if this does come before me, I will veto it at some point when
I'm allowed to, according to the City Attorney. And we definitely need judicial
clarity on these things, because I think this is -- one of the enumerated powers of the
Mayor is to be the ceremonial head. It's -- it is what it is. You can like it; you can
dislike it. You can like what I do; you can dislike what I do. And it's okay and you
can run for -- you can run against me if you want to.
Commissioner Carollo: And we're not taking that power from you.
Chair Hardemon: So --
Commissioner Carollo: Just like the queen of England --
Mayor Suarez: You're restricting it.
Commissioner Carollo: -- we'll let you wear the hat, get the scissors and cut the
ribbons.
Chair Hardemon: So --
Commissioner Carollo: You have that right.
Chair Hardemon: -- I'll say -- you know, because I actually have a vote on this
matter.
Mayor Suarez: Right, thank you.
Chair Hardemon: I'll say, out of everyone that you named that you gave the key of
the City to, the only person I know is Will Smith.
Mayor Suarez: The only one --
Chair Hardemon: The only person I recognize that was said was Will Smith.
Mayor Suarez: Well, Martin Lawrence too. I gave him --
Chair Hardemon: You said Martin?
Mayor Suarez: Yeah.
Chair Hardemon: I recognize Martin Lawrence. All the other individuals, they're
leaders of countries, banks, I have no idea. In fact, I don't want to opine about who
it is. I find it very uncomfortable to already give opinions about matters that I'm not
very well versed on that I'm introduced to, especially at last minute and I'm asked to
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make -- I mean, just like one of the, you know, resolutions that we have before and
we have them occasionally. They're issues that I'm not educated on that we're not
given much information about, and the only thing that I have to reference is a
resolution that's in front of me, and I take that resolution at its worth, because my
Commission colleagues put it before me. They speak about it passionately and then
we make this vote. But I'll tell you that's probably the same thing that happened
when Nelson Mandela was shunned from the City of Miami, that same sort of
rhetoric. And so, for me, it always makes me extremely uncomfortable. As a matter
of fact, I got -- I remember I got an email from some media source that I have no
idea who they are. And they made a reference to the fact that I was outspoken about
a certain issue where we said that someone was a person non grata or --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Grata.
Chair Hardemon: Right.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Persona non grata.
Chair Hardemon: Persona non grata, right. And they said that I was outspoken
about the issue, because I voted on it, right? And to this day, that person, I don't
know who that person is, but I did it because it was before me. I cannot abstain from
a vote and I took a vote up here. And so I said all that to say that if the Mayor does
something that is going to embarrass the Mayor then that's on the Mayor, whoever
the Mayor is. I don't want to be responsible for what he decides to do with the key. I
certainly -- I want to make sure that I'm voting on each one of them. I don't like
giving keys out myself, you know, so that's not something I necessarily want to be
involved in. So besides that and the Mayor believing that it's a Charter issue, it's
just not something that I want to be involved in. I got lots of things to do than worry
about who is going to get the key to the City at a certain time, because I would admit
to you that when it comes to recognizing individuals for excellence, that in and of
itself should be a job, because it takes a great deal of deference, of understanding, of
studying, of, you know, a number of different things to recognize someone. And I'll
end by saying this: In -- recently in the news, there was much discussion about the
Medal of Freedom award, which is the highest -- the nation's highest civilian honor
that can be bestowed upon someone. And an individual named Rush Limbaugh was
given that award by President Trump. President Trump apparently has the authority
to give the award to anyone that he chooses. The Congress can't override it or tell
him what to do. And the reason I'm bringing this up is because a lot of people feel
very strongly about Rush Limbaugh, one way or the other, as they do about issues in
the United States of America. And apparently, Rush Limbaugh has now joined the
likes of Mother Teresa, Nelson Mandela, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Cesar Chavez
and Dr. Hector P. Garcia, right, a few of those people who've ever received this
award. And so the question is, is Rush Limbaugh worthy of the Medal of Freedom
award? That can be debated. But what can't be debated is that the President has
the ability to give that award. So if we like it or we don't, that's where it is. And the
-- I liken that to this: It's like our Mayor is the person that's able to give the keys to
the City out. He takes the blame, the controversy. He takes everything with that
decision. And an individual, like Commissioner Carollo, who you -- I mean, you're a
wealth of knowledge and you understand many things that go on between the
relations between this country and other countries, and not to mention what happens
within your district. I think that it's -- you're going to always hold someone like that
Mayor accountable for his actions and I think that's where we should -- that's the
democratic process --
Commissioner Carollo: The --
Chair Hardemon: -- and let it be.
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Commissioner Carollo: -- problem here is that --
Chair Hardemon: And then I'll call on Commissioner Reyes.
Commissioner Carollo: -- you know, we're not Congress; he's not Donald Trump.
What happens in Washington is Washington. This is different. We're bound by a
Charter. Its called the key to the City; not the key to the Mayor. It's a big
difference. It represents all of us, the whole City of Miami. And I could have come
up with many other examples that, by the way, they're all up here. That's why you
didn't get anything else. You got everything that was on paper in my office and I try
to keep as much here as I can.
Mayor Suarez: There are many more than that.
Commissioner Carollo: At my age -- I'm not as young as you, you know. I don't
have as much storage capacity, but enough to deal with what I need to deal with, you
know.
Mayor Suarez: How many gigabytes?
Commissioner Carollo: I -- well, let me say this to you: I'm better in one cylinder
than you with eight.
Mayor Suarez: Oh, well --
Commissioner Carollo: But anyway --
Mayor Suarez: -- the voters of Miami think differently.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay, yeah. Three million dollars against a thousand
dollars.
Mayor Suarez: Brother, bring it any time and I'll do it all over again, just come,
whenever you want. The Clerk's Office is right over there.
Commissioner Carollo: I know. You're a tough guy with everybody but with Rene
Pedrosa, but that's fine. But we're talking about keys here, not about being tough,
not about taking me on in an election or anything like that. This is the key to the City
not the key to the Mayor. You have been using the key for your personal advantage -
Mayor Suarez: No.
Commissioner Carollo: -- in different ways. You have even given keys out where
you have had elected officials present in this Commission and you have done what
I've never seen a Mayor in the history of this City in 40 plus years have done; not
invite them up with you when you're giving a key or a proclamation. Now, you're
going to say to me, "I could do whatever I want. " Well, that's your opinion. But the
lack of courtesy that you have had with some of us up here has never, never been
seen in this City before. But the bottom line is that this Commission, as much as you
dislike it, has the right to dictate the process, not taking away from you then the right
to give a key, to cut a ribbon. We have a right to dictate, first of all, that we want
procedures. We want transparency. And once it's voted upon, you could do that.
This is not like you trying to say before that you're at a party and someone asks you
for the key. Boy, you're going to pull one out of your wallet or ask, you know, an
aide to go to the car and get one out of the trunk and you'll give the key so you could
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be the, you know, life of the party. But it doesn't work that way. And unfortunately,
it seems to me this has been happening this way.
Mayor Suarez: Mr. --
Commissioner Carollo: So if you have a difference of opinion, we could do this
resolution. And frankly, we don't have to go into an ordinance; a resolution since
with this. But I do agree with the City Attorney on an ordinance. The difference
between that and this resolution -- but with this resolution, it since without us
having to go into an ordinance, I believe. But I will stand by whatever the City
Attorney so rules. The bottom line is I'm one vote, as Commissioner Reyes and
others say so many times. This body gets to decide if you want the key to the City to
be the key to the Mayor and for the process to go the way it's been going, that's fine.
Mayor Suarez: Mr. Chair.
Commissioner Carollo: I don't want that any longer.
Chair Hardemon: Commissioner Reyes.
Commissioner Reyes: Yes. Let me make my position very clear. You see, the
problem that we have with this City, it is that it is a very -- I mean, this City has -- is
composed of many people that have been traumatized by persecution, by abuses, by
discrimination. And given the -- I mean, the biggest problem that I see here is that
there is not a process of vetting who are we going to give the City -- I mean, a key to
the City. As Commissioner Carollo stated, the key to the City -- in my opinion -- I
never received one, you see. In my opinion, it's a very high honor from the people,
represents the government and the people of the City. And I will never, never accept
that our government or our City gives the key to a white supremacist, neither to a
Nazi or a person that it is in cahoots -- I mean, it is a sympathizer and goes to
Castro's Cuba and mingles with them, dances with them and then come back here
and receive the key to the City, because there are too many people that have suffered
prison, you see. We cannot -- I will never -- I mean, my mind will never accept that
we will give the key to the City to a guy that belongs to the Ku Klux Klan. I mean, I
will stand up and leave. Why? Because there is a great amount of people here that
have been victims of racial discrimination and persecution from that group. The
same thing applies to us Cubans, to the Jews, to the Venezuelans, you see, people
that have suffered. That's why I am asking you that --or this Commission to develop
a process where we can vet. You see, people have to be vetted that we don't insult
and we don't hurt that part of the population, because we are honoring somebody
that has been a part of the suffering of any one of those groups or sympathizes with
the persecutors.
Mayor Suarez: Mr. Chair, if I may.
Commissioner Reyes: You see, that's the only thing that I want. I want to be very
careful, because when I mentioned Will Smith it's because if you Google "Will
Smith, " you see him dancing in the streets of Havana. You see him going back and
forth and all of that and taking pictures with the effigy of Che Guevara. And when
Gente de Zona and all of those people, it's just like if I -- I mean, applaud that you
give a key to the City to a person that it is in a white hood and with -- burning a
cross, you see. Come on, guys. You see, we are a population -- I mean, the citizen --
the residents of the City of Miami, I will tell you, most of us, we're traumatized. We
have pain. We have suffered or our parents have been -- they were persecuted and
they have suffered and endured a lot of persecution. And that is why it is very, very,
very sensitive to anybody that -- to witness our government honoring a person that it
is part of those people that persecuted one of us.
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Mayor Suarez: Mr. Chair, if I may.
Chair Hardemon: You're recognized.
Mayor Suarez: Thank you. So first of all, it's not the key to the Mayor. It's the key
to the City, because it's the Mayor who is the only elected official that's elected
citywide. And the Charter that was approved by the citizens of the City designate the
Mayor, the only citywide elected official, with that function. And so, we do have a
vetting process. You know, again, we could give a key to someone that, you know,
the Commission may not like. They can pass a resolution saying that they don't like
it. They can, you know, do whatever they want. But it's impractical on a multitude
of different levels. For example, I got a call a day before an event to give the keys to
the City to Jim Brown. Jim Brown is -- was number one on the top 100 NFL
(National Football League) players in the history of NFL players. He's a civil rights
activist. So now I have to tell --
Commissioner Reyes: Why didn't you Google it?
Mayor Suarez: I did Google him. That's why I gave him the key.
Commissioner Reyes: Did you Google (INAUDIBLE) ?
Mayor Suarez: So now I would have to -- under this rule, I would have to go -- I
couldn't give him the key. I'd have to say, 'Mr. Jim Brown, I'm sorry. I can't give
you the key, because I have to go to the Commission meeting two weeks from now" --
you know what I mean? -- "to get permission from my Commission to give a key. " So
it's not only unconstitutional. The reason why it was done this way was because it's
impractical. And that's why --
Commissioner Carollo: I'm sorry. It's not impractical.
Mayor Suarez: It is impractical. If I get a call -- again, if I get a call --
Commissioner Carollo: Its impractical in your style that you work it that way. If
someone would want a key for most people like this, they would call in advance and
give dates before --
Mayor Suarez: It doesn't always work that way.
Commissioner Carollo: No one really --
Mayor Suarez: It doesn't always work that way.
Commissioner Carollo: -- can expect that they're going to call you a day before and
there's going to be a key that pops up. It doesn't work that way.
Mayor Suarez: Okay. Well, I disagree with you.
Commissioner Carollo: You know, maybe with you, maybe it's the way that it's done,
but I never saw that done before when I served as Mayor of the City.
Mayor Suarez: Miami is a little bit different than 1997.
Commissioner Carollo: Well, I know that it is.
Mayor Suarez: It's a little better from that.
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Commissioner Carollo: But it's not that different --
Mayor Suarez: Oh, it is much different.
Commissioner Carollo: -- as far as the way the people handle --
Mayor Suarez: Very different. We have much more global attention. We have much
more interest from people constantly. So again, I think it's unconstitutional, and I
think it's impractical, and bad public policy to do it that way.
Chair Hardemon: Any further discussion? Was there a motion?
Commissioner Carollo: There's a motion and a second.
Chair Hardemon: Okay. So there is a motion by Commissioner Carollo; I'm
assuming a second by Commissioner Reyes --
Commissioner Carollo: Yes.
Commissioner Reyes: Yes.
Chair Hardemon: -- because he announced his support.
Commissioner Reyes: I would like to -- if Commissioner Carollo accepts it, I want to
know the opinion of the City Attorney, and I want any recommendation how we can
make this thing, you see -- I mean, how can we control and make a process? I think
that we have to develop a process more than anything else because, as
Commissioner Carollo stated, there's not a process, you see. There's no process.
And I would like to amend this that we create a process for the keys, you see, in
which every time that a person that is going to receive a key, it must be vetted in
order to find if that person had any connections with any group that it has -- I mean,
that insults or any of the -- anybody on the City of Miami -- I mean, any population,
any group in the City of Miami, like members of the Ku Klux Klan and members of
white supremacists, the Nazi party and --
Mayor Suarez: Mr. Chair, if I may.
Commissioner Reyes: -- Communist sympathizers and so on.
Mayor Suarez: You know, again, you know, you have two internationally recognized
movie stars in Will Smith and --
Commissioner Reyes: I don't care if they're the Pope.
Mayor Suarez: Let me finish, please. Will Smith and you have Martin Lawrence.
They're coming here. They're making a movie about Miami. You have to look at the
totality of their career, right? And I, frankly, did not know that they had any
connection to Cuba, because that is not what they're known for. I've never -- with all
due respect, I wouldn't -- the first thing that comes into my mind when I think of Will
Smith is not that. The second thing that comes into my mind when I think about Will
Smith --
Chair Hardemon: Give me some.
Mayor Suarez: -- is not that. The third thing, the fourth thing, the fifth thing, the
tenth thing that I think about -- Will Smith is not known for that. The fact that he
may have, you know, gone to another country and maybe did something that we
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would find inappropriate, it's something that if I ever had an opportunity to talk to
Will Smith about it, I would talk to him. And I would tell him, "Listen, I just want
you to know that in Miami we're sensitive to this issue. "
Commissioner Reyes: It is.
Mayor Suarez: So -- but that doesn't mean that I would deny him the keys to the
City, somebody who is an internationally recognized movie stay, who is putting
Miami -- and branding Miami and putting Miami on the map. I think that would be
an equally insulting gesture to --
Commissioner Carollo: Well, the same thing --
Mayor Suarez: -- a large -- listen, to a large part -- let me finish -- of our
community. So you have to weigh those things. You know, to reject the key to
someone of that stature could also offend a tremendous amount of people, as well, so
I have to weigh those things and I have to make what I think is the best decision.
Ultimately, if I run for office -- if I run for reelection, I'm sure all my
(UNINTELLIGIBLE) are going to show all the keys that I've given to people who,
you know, are people that you don't like, and you know, that'll be -- that's -- the
people ultimately decide -- the residents of Miami ultimately decide who their Mayor
is and vested in that is the right to be the ceremonial head of the City.
Commissioner Reyes: Listen, I don't want to take no power away from you. I don't
want to take any of your activities. The only thing that I don't want is that we have to
-- either you or anybody else have to be very careful that we don't offend, I mean, the
residents of the City of Miami. The biggest part of the residents of the City of Miami
are traumatized, and you know that.
Mayor Suarez: Of course, Commissioner. Of course
Commissioner Reyes: And because there is a lot of blood, a lot of suffering, a lot of
incarceration, a lot of persecution and a lot of beatings, and a lot of discrimination,
even a lot of hangings.
Mayor Suarez: Commissioner, I agree with you.
Commissioner Reyes: We have to be careful with how we -- who are we are going to
honor.
Mayor Suarez: I agree.
Commissioner Reyes: For me, that's the only thing that I'm saying. And I mean, you
are too fast on the draw, because immediately when you see -- there's this guy,
whoever it is, "Oh, I'll give him a key of -- to the City. " Take it easy. Vet him and
look at him. You know how I found out that Will Smith is a regular in Cuba? By
Googling him. And there was dances, meetings where they were with government
officials and all of that, you see. And when I say Will Smith, I will say anybody that
comes that it is a sympathizer of any groups that has been oppressive of any of our
residents here and that's it. Now this might be too restrictive and I don't know if
Commissioner Carollo will like to make it a little less restrictive so we demand that
people be vetted before you give a key to the City.
Mayor Suarez: I take that -- I will take that as constructive feedback. I absolutely
have no problem. If you want, we'll add as a Google search term "Cuba" to any
person that we --
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Commissioner Reyes: Now you are being facetious.
Mayor Suarez: I'm not being facetious. I'm being serious.
Commissioner Reyes: No, no, you're not being serious.
Mayor Suarez: I'm just saying -- listen, I just put in --
Commissioner Reyes: Listen.
Mayor Suarez: Listen, I'm not being facetious.
Commissioner Reyes: (INAUDIBLE).
Mayor Suarez: I'm not being facetious. Why do you take what I'm saying as being
facetious? How -- I'm just saying that --
Commissioner Reyes: You are being sarcastic --
Mayor Suarez: I'm not being facetious.
Commissioner Reyes: --ironic --
Mayor Suarez: I'm not being sarcastic. I'm not being sarcastic, I'm not.
Commissioner Carollo: Canyon call the question and let it be what it'll be?
Mayor Suarez: I'm not being sarcastic.
Commissioner Carollo: I made my statements.
Commissioner Reyes: You are being sarcastic.
Mayor Suarez: I'm not being sarcastic.
Commissioner Carollo: Mr. Chairman --
Mayor Suarez: I'm not.
Commissioner Carollo: -- can you call the question, please?
Chair Hardemon: Not yet. So if there's anyone from the public that would like to
speak on this question, the floor is open for public comment. If you're a member of
the public and you want to speak on this item, the motion that's on the floor --you're
recognized, sir.
Ernesto Cuesta: My name is Ernesto Cuesta. I'm the President of the Brickell
Homeowners' Association. I think this is ridiculous what is happening in the City of
Miami. This is a show and I'm going to continue saying that. And I know that --
Commissioner Carollo: Is he supposed to be talking about this? He is a big
supporter of the Mayor. He was on the radio recently attacking three of us on this
Commission. If he wants to address this issue, then let him address this issue. But
just to come up here and attack us, no. This is not what the rules are of this
Commission and this body.
Mr. Cuesta: I --again, this is democracy.
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Commissioner Carollo: That's right.
Mr. Cuesta: I mean and I --
Commissioner Carollo: And we have rules to follow, sir.
Mr. Cuesta: Sir, can I talk freely? I'm a taxpayer. I'm a decent man and I have the
right to speak. I want to say something. I'm in agreement with Commissioner Reyes.
I think that there should be a process. And by the way, I'm not a communist. My
family is Cuesta, so you cannot accuse my family nor myself --
Commissioner Carollo: Who the heck's accused you of being a communist?
Mr. Cuesta: No, because you know --
Commissioner Carollo: Please don't come play this game here, okay?
Mr. Cuesta: Sir, sir; sir.
Commissioner Carollo: You have supported this man and it is your right --
Mr. Cuesta: No, I support --
Commissioner Carollo: --all you want.
Mr. Cuesta: Sir.
Commissioner Carollo: But don't come to try to turn this around now.
Mr. Cuesta: Sir, sir. I support whoever I want to support.
Commissioner Carollo: That's right.
Mr. Cuesta: Decently and with respect.
Commissioner Carollo: But I'm not going to stand here and have you say that we're
calling you a communist --
Mr. Cuesta: No because (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Commissioner Carollo: -- when we haven't even gotten near that.
Mr. Cuesta: It's your typical approach to (UNINTELLIGIBLE) people.
Commissioner Carollo: So this is the point that I'm saying. He doesn't want to
speak about the issue.
Mr. Cuesta: No, I am.
Commissioner Carollo: He wants to come --
Mr. Cuesta: You are interrupting me. You are interrupt me.
Commissioner Carollo: So --
Mr. Cuesta: I'm in agreement with --
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Chair Hardemon: Sir, before you move on --
Mr. Cuesta: I am in agreement with --
Chair Hardemon: One second, sir. Can you reset his time, please? We're going to
allow him to speakfor his two minutes. He has the right to speakfor two minutes.
Commissioner Carollo: He does, but to the issue.
Chair Hardemon: Regard --
Commissioner Carollo: To the issue.
Chair Hardemon: Listen to me, Commissioner. Commissioners, I want everyone to
listen to me.
Mr. Cuesta: I'm in agreement with Commissioner --
Chair Hardemon: One second, sir, please.
Mr. Cuesta: I'm in agreement --
Chair Hardemon: He has a -- one second, one second -- right to speak to the issue.
But certainly, Commissioners, our conduct on the dais is reasonably related to this
issue, because this is -- what we're witnessing is us battling with each other.
Commissioner Carollo: No, because then --
Chair Hardemon: As long as he's not speaking of any political races, any endeavors
that are outside of the purview of this business, then he should be able to speak.
Commissioner Carollo: You opened this up for anybody that wanted to speak on this
issue to speak. We had public hearings on anything else earlier today.
Mr. Cuesta: I'm in agreement with Commissioner Reyes. I think that the key to the
City should not be given to anybody. And I think that there are sensitivities in this
City by Cubans, and I don't think that this City or the keys of the City should be given
to anybody just like that. By the same token, I think that the Mayor has the right to
provide the -- and give the City keys to anybody, but you have to take in
consideration the issues that Commissioner Reyes have brought to the Commission.
Thank you so much. Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: Is there anyone else that would like to speak on the issue? Seeing
none, I'll close public comment at this time. All in favor of the resolution, say "aye. "
Commissioner Carollo: We're voting. Aye.
Chair Hardemon: All in favor of the resolution, say "aye. "
Chair Hardemon: All against?
Vice Chair Russell: Nay.
Chair Hardemon: Enter me as a "nay, " as well. Motion passes.
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Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): 312 with Commissioner Russell and Commissioner
Hardemon voting no.
Mayor Suarez: Thank you.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Happy birthday to your wife.
Commissioner Reyes: Yes.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: And don't say her age again. Don't say her age
again.
Commissioner Reyes: I am --listen, I --
Mayor Suarez: I thought I might get more sympathy but apparently, I didn't.
Commissioner Reyes: Mr. Mayor --
Unidentified Speaker: It didn't work.
Unidentified Speaker: Commissioner Carollo has a bone to pick with me.
Commissioner Reyes: -- if I may?
Mayor Suarez: Yeah.
Commissioner Reyes: If you come back with a process on how to -- I mean, to select
people that are -- the keys are being given, I will reconsider this.
Mayor Suarez: Okay, I will --
Commissioner Reyes: Because what I want is a process and people to be vetted.
And as Mr. Cuesta said, we have to be --
Mayor Suarez: That's fair.
Commissioner Reyes: -- very careful who we give the city -- the City is, in my
opinion, it's a great honor.
Mayor Suarez: I agree and that's fair.
Commissioner Carollo: The process, Commissioner, has to be by more than one
person.
Commissioner Reyes: What?
Commissioner Carollo: And he, himself stated he had a vetting process. Well,
where was the vetting for Tony Robbins? Where was the vetting for Genie de Zona?
Where was the vetting for Will Smith? Which, by the way, I don't think you were
even invited to that, Commissioner Hardemon.
Chair Hardemon: No, I wasn't invited.
Commissioner Carollo: I wasn't invited, being the district Commissioner, which is
another problem of what is going on with the key to the City. It's the key for the
Mayor, not the City. And I could go on and on and on. So this has to stop
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somewhere and the public needs to have transparency in how the vetting process will
be done, and it should be done in public, not in private.
Mayor Suarez: Mr. Chair, if I may, just quickly respond to a few things.
Chair Hardemon: Yes.
Mayor Suarez: All the people that we've given the keys to have been vetted,
including Tony Robbins.
Commissioner Carollo: So what did you do to vet Tony Robbins?
Mayor Suarez: Google search.
Commissioner Carollo: Oh, Google search, okay.
Mayor Suarez: Yeah, and so those --
Commissioner Carollo: Butyou didn't Google search --
Mayor Suarez: -- articles came out --
Commissioner Carollo: -- Will Smith that --
Mayor Suarez: I did Google search him.
Commissioner Carollo: -- Manolo brought up.
Mayor Suarez: When you Google search him, that's not what comes up.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay.
Mayor Suarez: Google search Will Smith right now on your phone. That's not what
comes up. It won't be the first 1, 000 hits on Google Smith, unless you put in a
different -- that's why I wasn't being facetious when I said we need to add a term to a
Google search. I wasn't being facetious and I wasn't being sarcastic. So I'd be
happy to do that. As to -- I forget the third point that you made. Forget it. I lost
track of what you were saying.
Commissioner Carollo: Don't worry.
Mayor Suarez: Yeah, I won't.
Commissioner Carollo: Go to your wife. Enjoy.
Mayor Suarez: You got it in all the terabytes up there, right?
Commissioner Carollo: Go to your wife and enjoy.
Mayor Suarez: Thank you.
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NA.5 DISCUSSION ITEM
7216 DISCUSSION BY THE CITY ATTORNEY REGARDING PROPOSED
City Commission LEGISLATION BY MIAMI-DADE COUNTY REGARDING PLACING
KIOSKS IN THE UNDERLINE.
RESULT: DISCUSSED
Victoria Mendez (City Attorney): I just briefly wanted to talk about -- we talked
about the RTZ, Rapid Transit Zone, and the sale of alcoholic beverages. That came
up, remember, and I offered to find the ordinance with regard to the Underline. We
were able to speak to some people in the County. But basically right now, the
County allows alcohol in their parks already. This ordinance does allow additional
uses, such as special events, and structures, and decorative features, and food and
beverage establishments, and all the distance limitations from schools, religious
facilities; all that alcohol legislation does not apply. So it is based on special
events that the County advised that they plan to have close to the nodes which are
the Underline nodes that are closer to the bigger areas. And nothing -- it's
supposed to be on the right -of ways [sic], you know, their paths. So nothing that --
in the areas where the paths are narrow, the County does not plan to put any kiosks
and special events. This is more for the wider areas but they do -- are waiving
alcohol.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Is it -- Mr. Chairman.
Vice Chair Russell: Yes, you're recognized.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Is this a continuing presence of alcohol sales or
just for special events?
Ms. Mendez: For special events is what the County advised, but this is -- as
drafted, it doesn't limit it to special events, but that is their general intent.
Vice Chair Russell: Mr. Zichella, you're a member of the board of the Underline?
Eric Zichella: Yeah.
Vice Chair Russell: Would you like to be recognized?
Mr. Zichella: I am a member of the board. Eric Zichella, 2100 Coral Way. We
also represent the Underline for the City and the County. The sale of alcohol is
governed by the agreement between the Friends of the Underline, and the
Underline Management Organization, and the County. And it does permit the sale
of alcohol. I can tell you that --at least in terms of the vision for the Friends of the
Underline and the Underline Management Organization, which in this case is more
relevant, the programming that is envisioned is entirely for special events in
specific areas of the Underline. And it's not permitted in any area that immediately
abuts residential neighborhoods.
Vice Chair Russell: Mr. Zichella, the kiosk concept, though, is an idea of trying to
activate spaces with some retail, food and beverage. Is that special event only, as
well, or is that meant to be permanent, or every weekend kind of thing?
Mr. Zichella: There may be kiosks during other times, as well. But those kiosks
that are there are intended to be permanent kiosks that will be something that is
always the same vendor or whatnot.
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Vice Chair Russell: Right.
Mr. Zichella: What I compare it for you to is like if you have ever walked down the
Highline in New York City. On a warm summer day, there might be a kiosk selling
ice cream or ice pops, or something like that. And the next day that kiosk might not
be there; maybe it's in a different location. But that's part of the programming that
the Underline Management Organization will undertake.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: May I --?
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you. Of course, you're recognized.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: You said that it can't be in areas abutting
residential neighborhoods.
Mr. Zichella: No, it cannot.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: But the first -- if I'm correct, the first phase is
the Brickell Station, correct? Is that the first part they're going to develop? That
abuts apartment buildings and residential areas, right? So --
Mr. Zichella: Yeah. So to be clear, single-family residential neighborhoods --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: That's what you mean but not --
Mr. Zichella: -- is what I intended to be --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: -- the -- not all those apartment buildings.
Mr. Zichella: Yeah, those are commercial districts, essentially, at the end of the
day so --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Well, they're residential. They're multifamily
residential on the north --
Mr. Zichella: Correct.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: -- on the west side.
Mr. Zichella: I think the zoning on the properties would be more than -- they'd be
more intense uses than a typical T3 zoning.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Okay.
Ms. Mendez: So based on this ordinance, as drafted, I don't --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Thank you.
Ms. Mendez: -- see any of those anti -residential, you know, restrictions, so maybe
we could recommend that, or I will talk to the County Attorney's Office and confirm
where that's listed. I wasn't able to find that in here but it is for -- as described
earlier.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Well, I'll tell you, Mr. Zichella -- Eric, I will tell
you that the Vizcaya Station in Commissioner Carollo's district is all surrounded by
residential.
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Mr. Zichella: To be clear, I don't believe -- that's not one of the areas that we
envision having any special events in. The three areas are --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Where are the three areas? Yeah.
Mr. Zichella: The Brickell backyard which is under --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Okay.
Mr. Zichella: -- construction today. The area that runs through Commissioner
Carollo's district is phase two of the Underline, and it's primarily trail and parks
associated with that. And I don't believe that there'd be any special events in any of
those locations.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: The Vizcaya Station, which is Carollo --
Mr. Zichella: At the Vizcaya Station or anywhere along those trails. The next
activity node, if you will, or activity hub would be around the University of Miami.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Right.
Mr. Zichella: And the third and final one would be around Dadeland Station.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Okay.
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you very much.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: And nothing into Allapattah yet, right?
Mr. Zichella: Only if you want it.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Well, I do so you have to start looking -- you
have to start heading north. You got to look north.
Mr. Zichella: We've got to build transit there first and then we'll --
Commissioner Reyes: You going to extend --
Mr. Zichella: --put something underneath.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: We're working on it.
Commissioner Reyes: Eric, are you going to extend the Underground [sic] to
Allapattah?
Mr. Zichella: Come again.
Commissioner Reyes: Are you going to extend the Underground [sic] to
Allapattah?
Mr. Zichella: That would be "Underline."
Commissioner Reyes: Underline, the Underline to Allapattah.
Mr. Zichella: We would love to extend the Underline --
Vice Chair Russell: (INAUDIBLE) underground.
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Mr. Zichella: -- to other places. We've got to finish these ten miles that we've --
Commissioner Reyes: Okay.
Mr. Zichella: -- started first.
Commissioner Reyes: Okay.
Vice Chair Russell: Commissioner, thanks for your time. You're recognized.
Mr. Zichella: Anything else?
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: That's it.
Vice Chair Russell: Okay, thank you. Thank you, Mr. Zichella.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Thank you.
NA.6 DISCUSSION ITEM
7217 DISCUSSION BY COMMISSIONER REYES REGARDING
City Commission DIRECTIVE GIVEN DURING THE NOVEMBER 21, 2019 CITY
COMMISSION MEETING (FILE NO. 6836) CONCERNING BOATS
AND RECREATIONAL VEHICLES IN NON -CONFORMING T3
RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES.
........ ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ..................
RESULT: DISCUSSED
Commissioner Reyes: I have a question for Francisco. See, you commend people
when they do a good job and all that. Well, I want to ask Francisco why he hasn't
done this. Francisco, just -- I mean, you see, in -- I don't know if you remember in a
regular Commission meeting on November 21, I gave you a directive, requested
that regarding the direction of the City Administration to present the City
Commission by January 2020 legislation addressing boats and recreational
vehicles in nonconforming T3 residential properties on a case -by -case method. I
have an email that was sent to you, you see, in which it says, "Dear Francisco and
Jeremy, is there legislation to address this discussion item that was on November
21, 2019 City Commission agenda regarding direction to the City Administration to
present the City Commission by January 2020 legislation addressing boats and
recreational vehicles in nonconforming T3 residential properties on a case -by -case
method? Please advise at your earliest convenience. Thank you, Amber L.
Ketterer, Assistant City Attorney." Okay, what is the file for the legislation that
resulted from this discussion in November? I mean, I want to know why we request
-- or I request that -- I request -- this is what -- the irony of this is that I request
legislation to address a problem that affects the resident and I get nothing. And out
of the blue skies, most of the times I get legislation from you without me knowing
what it is, because you believe that that's what it's going to be. That is my problem
with the Administration -- part of the Administration being the legislative body.
What happened with this? I mean, what's the status of this?
Francisco Garcia (Director, Planning): Sir I will be frank and straightforward
with you. We are remiss in complying with the deadline provided. We are now
behind that deadline, and we will certainly provide that draft legislation for your
review promptly. By 'promptly, " I mean no later than by the end of next week. My
apologies.
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ADJOURNMENT
Commissioner Reyes: Okay, sir. Okay, thank you. I don't like beating a dead
horse but I --you understand why I get frustrated?
Mr. Garcia: I do, sir.
Commissioner Reyes: Do you understand?
Mr. Garcia: I do, sir.
Commissioner Reyes: Okay, thank you, sir.
Mr. Garcia: Thank you.
The meeting adjourned at 9: 28 p.m.
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